Shielded connector assembly

#The present disclosure relates to shielded connectors, in particular shielded electrical connectors.

#Shielded board connectors are known in the art. In connectors comprising plural signal terminals, shields are used to isolate signal terminals from each other and/or reduce cross talk between nearby signal terminals. Some connectors comprise isolation of pairs of terminals forming differential signal pairs. The shields are preferably conductive and connected to a reference voltage or ground.

#For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,566 discloses an electrical board connector assembly having a header connector and a receptacle connector matable with one another. An array of signal contacts are secured to the header connector and arranged as differential contact pairs. An array of L-shaped ground shields are secured to the header connector. Each ground shield is arranged to partially surround and isolate a corresponding differential contact pair from adjacent differential contact pairs. The L-shaped ground shields and contact spacing cooperate to electromagnetically couple signal contacts in a differential contact pair more closely to one another than to signal contacts in adjacent differential contact pairs.

#The above-described aspects will hereafter be more explained with further details and benefits with reference to the drawings showing an embodiment of the invention by way of example.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an assembly of two circuit boards interconnected with a mating connector assembly;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a circuit board;

#It is noted that the drawings are schematic, not necessarily to scale and that details that are not required for understanding the present invention may have been omitted. The terms “upward”, “downward”, “below”, “above”, and the like relate to the embodiments as oriented in the drawings, unless otherwise specified. Further, elements that are at least substantially identical or that perform an at least substantially identical function are denoted by the same numeral.

#FIG. 1 shows an assembly of two circuit boards 1, 3 interconnected with a mating connector assembly 5 in turn comprising a header connector 7 and a receptacle connector 9. FIG. 2 schematically indicates a generally known circuit board 1 having a plurality of substantially identical contact sites, here in the form of contact holes 2, to which conductors (not shown) are or may be connected. In the shown circuit board the contact holes 2 are arranged substantially equidistantly in columns, which columns are arranged substantially equidistantly in a row. The circuit board 3 may be different or substantially similar to the circuit 1. FIG. 3 shows the connector assembly 5 in more detail, the receptacle connector 9 is shown in more detail in FIG. 4.

#The receptacle connector 9 comprises a plurality of insert molded lead frame assemblies 11 (IMLAs) mounted in a housing 13. In the receptacle connector 9 a number of IMLAs 11, identified with reference numeral 11A, is shielded as will be discussed below in more detail. Within the scope of this disclosure a receptacle connector may comprise more, less and/or differently formed IMLAs. In the embodiment shown, the receptacle connector 9 is an angled connector, in particular a right-angle connector, for connecting circuit boards 1 and 3 substantially perpendicular to each other.