US 7,841,900 B2 · High speed electrical connector having improved housing for harboring preloaded contact

Abstract

An electrical connector (300) includes a number of wafers (30) and each wafer including an insulative housing (31) and a number of contacts (32). The housing defines a mating surface (311) and a mounting surface (312), and a plurality of passages (313) concaved from the mounting surface. The housing has a platform (314) formed in each passage and two cavities (315) defined on opposite sides of the platform. The platform has a pair of protruding portions (316) disposed above the cavities respectively. Each cavity has an opening (317) defined in the mounting surface. The contacts are received in the passages of the insulative housing. Each contact includes a receptacle (321) formed with a pair of legs (324). Each leg has a preloaded portion (325). The preloaded portion is insertable into the cavity via the opening along a mounting direction perpendicular to the mounting surface while spreading out the legs.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims12

Dependent claims

An electrical connector comprising:

a plurality of wafers aligned in parallel fashion, each wafer comprising:
an insulative housing defining a mating surface and a mounting surface perpendicular to the mating surface, a plurality of passages concaved from the mounting surface, the insulative housing having a platform formed in each passage and two cavities defined on opposite sides of the platform, the platform having a pair of protruding portions formed thereon and disposed above the cavities respectively, each cavity having an opening defined in the mounting surface;
and
a plurality of contacts received in the passages of the insulative housing, each contact comprising a receptacle formed with a pair of legs, each leg having a preloaded portion, the preloaded portion being insertable into the cavity via the opening along a mounting direction perpendicular to the mounting surface while spreading out the legs;
wherein said platform is formed with a pair of side walls, the distance between the side walls is larger than the distance between the pair of the legs, and said preloaded portions of the legs respectively resist against the side walls;
wherein said platform defines an engaging hole between the pair of the side walls, the engaging hole extending through the mating surface and communicating with the passage for insertion of a pin of a mating connector.

3 more elements

An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a first connector comprising a shroud defining a receiving space and a plurality of pins disposed in the receiving space;
and
a second connector comprising a plurality of wafers for inserting into the receiving space of the first connector, each wafer comprising:
an insulative housing defining a mating surface and a mounting surface perpendicular to the mating surface, a plurality of passages concaved from the mounting surface, the insulative housing having a platform formed in each passage and two cavities defined on opposite sides of the platform, the platform having a pair of protruding portions formed thereon and disposed above the cavities respectively, each cavity having an opening defined in the mounting surface;
and
a plurality of contacts received in the passages of the insulative housing, each contact comprising a receptacle formed with a pair of legs, each leg having a preloaded portion, the preloaded portion being insertable into the cavity via the opening along a mounting direction perpendicular to the mounting surface while spreading out the legs;
wherein said platform is formed with a pair of side walls, the distance between the side walls is larger than the distance between the pair of the legs, and said preloaded portions of the legs respectively resist against the side walls;
wherein said platform defines an engaging hole between the pair of the side walls, the engaging hole extending through the mating surface and communicating with the passage for insertion of a pin of a mating connector.

5 more elements

An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a plurality of wafers side by side intimately stacked with one another;
each of said wafer including an insulative housing defining a front connector mating port and a rear board mounting port in a front-to-back direction, and two opposite transverse surfaces in a thickness direction perpendicular to said front-to-back direction;
a plurality of non-linear passageways defined in the housing and communicating said mating port and the board mounting port, said passageways extending through one of said two opposite transverse surfaces;
and
a plurality of contacts assembled into the corresponding passageways, respectively, along said thickness direction through said one of the transverse surfaces, each of said contacts defining a contacting section with a preloaded portion at a free end thereof;
wherein
a protruding portion is formed on said one of the two opposite surfaces to shield said preloaded portion along said thickness direction after said preloaded portion is moved to a final preloaded position after assembled;
wherein the other of said two opposite surfaces defines therein an opening in alignment with said protruding portion in said thickness direction so as to form said protruding portion during injection molding said wafer;
wherein said housing defines a platform in front of the corresponding passageway and between said protruding portion and said opening in said thickness direction, which said preloaded portion abuts against;
wherein said one of the two opposite surfaces defines another opening beside said protruding portion in a vertical direction so as to allow the corresponding preloaded portion to pass therethrough during assembling and successively moved to the final preloaded position behind the protruding portion;
wherein said preloaded portion is forcibly deflected during passing through said another opening.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description1,573 words

Summary527 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to an electrical connector for transmitting high speed signal, and more particularly to an electrical connector having an improved housing for harboring preloaded contacts.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

Brief description of the drawings6 figures

#FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view of an electrical connector assembly in accordance with the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first connector and a second connector of the electrical connector assembly as shown in FIG. 1;

#FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the second connector as shown in FIG. 2, when a stiffener has not been mounted on the wafers of the second connector;

Detailed description920 words

#Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail. FIGS. 1-6 show a high speed electrical connector assembly 1. The electrical connector assembly 1 includes a first connector 100 and a second connector 300. The first connector 100 is attached to a backplane (not shown). The second connector 300 is attached to a daughter card (not shown).

#Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first connector 100 comprises a shroud 10 defining a receiving space 101, a plurality of pins 11 and shielding members 12 retained in the receiving space 101. The shroud 10 is preferably injection molded from a plastic, polyester or other proper insulative material. The pins 11 are retained in the shroud 10 in columns. The shielding members 12 are retained in the shroud 10 in parallel arrangement. Each shielding member 12 is disposed adjacent to a column of pins 11.

#Referring to FIGS. 1-3 and 5, the second connector 300 comprises a plurality of wafers 30 and a stiffener 50 mounted on the wafers 30. The wafers 30 are stacked side-by-side and tied together by the stiffener 50. The stiffener 50 is preferably stamped and formed from a metal strip. Each wafer 30 includes an insulative housing 31, a column of contacts 32, a shielding plate 33 and an insulative cover 34.

Facts

Application

12/512,346Filed 30 Jul 2009

Published

US 2010/0035470 A111 Feb 2010

Granted

30 Nov 2010

Term ends

30 Jul 2029

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification6 codes

H01R 13/514
Bases; Cases: composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact…
H01R 12/585
Terminals for insertion into holes: terminals having a press fit or a compliant portion and a shank passing through a hole in the printed circuit…
H01R 13/6586
Shielding material individually surrounding or interposed between mutually spaced contacts: for separating multiple connector modules
H01R 12/727
Coupling devices mounted on the edge of the printed circuits: coupling devices presenting arrays of contacts

High speed electrical connector having improved housing for harboring preloaded contact

Life of this patent

High speed electrical connector having improved housing for harboring preloaded contact

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims12

Description1,573 words

Drawings

Classification6 codes

Life of this patent

Description1,573 words