Shielded cable connector

• US 6,565,388 B1
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FCI Americas Technology Incorporated (FCI)
• Original Assignee: FCI Americas Technology Incorporated (FCI)
• Inventors: Van Woensel, Johannes M. B., Volstorf, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, TULSIDAS C
• Application Number:
  US09/194,891
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 439/610, 439/607, 439/608, 439/357, 439/358, 439/906
• US Class Current: 439/607.48
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/514 composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6582 with resilient means for engaging mating connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6593 the shield being composed of different pieces

Abstract

A shielded cable connector (20) which minimizes EMI and crosstalk between closely situated assembly modules is disclosed. The shielded cable connector comprises a connecting latch (28). The shielded cable connector facilitates insertion of the shielding housing (20) into a shielded header connector (24), and prevents inadvertent removal of the shielding housing (20) from the shielded header (24).

Claims

1. A shielded cable interconnection for reducing EMI and crosstalk comprising:

an assembly module having a front end and a rear end, said front end containing front receptacle contacts and said rear end adapted to be attached to a cable, said assembly module having a constant width from said front end to said rear end;

a header connector adapted for accepting said assembly module;

EMI shielding forming an outer housing of said shielded cable interconnection and enveloping said assembly module and spanning from said front end to said rear end of said assembly module and completely enveloping said front receptacle contacts, said shielded interconnection outer housing comprising generally rectangular surfaces; and

a latch member for securing said shielding housing and said assembly module to said header connector, said latch positioned to allow multiple assembly modules to be positioned in said header in close contact with each other.

2. The shielded cable interconnection of claim 1, wherein said header connector includes a side wall and said latch member is mounted on said side wall.

3. The shielded cable interconnection of claim 1, wherein said latch member comprises a leg end and a spring end.

4. The shielded cable interconnection as recited in claim 1, wherein said header connector comprises:

a first sidewall;

a second sidewall;

a rear header wall having multiple terminals extending therefrom for receiving said assembly module;

wherein said first sidewall and said second sidewall have at least three receiving slots for guiding said shielding housing into said shielded header connector;

said first sidewall and said second sidewall each further comprising at least two grounding springs;

said second header sidewall having a recess located therein for accepting said latch member.

5. The shielded cable interconnection as recited in claim 1 wherein said shielded header connector comprises:

a means for guiding said assembly module into said shielded header connector;

a means for grounding said shielding housing when inserted into said header connector;

a means for accepting said connecting latch for holding said shielding housing to said shielded header connector.

6. The shielded cable interconnection as recited in claim 5, wherein said shielding housing comprises two opposite exterior surfaces having at least one dimple recess formed on each of said opposite exterior surfaces, wherein said means for guiding said assembly module into said shielded header connector comprises:

receiving slots located in a first sidewall and a second sidewall, said slots accepting said at least one dimple recesses when the shielding housing is inserted into said shielded header connector.

7. The shielded cable interconnection as recited in claim 5, wherein said shielding housing comprises two opposite exterior surfaces having at least one dimple recess formed on each of said opposite exterior surfaces, wherein said means for grounding said assembly module into said shielded header connector comprises:

at least two grounding springs connected to a first sidewall and a second sidewall, said at least two grounding springs contacting said at least one dimple recess when said assembly module is inserted into said header connector.

8. The shielded cable interconnection as recited in claim 5 wherein said means for accepting said connecting latch for holding said shielding housing to said header connector comprises:

a receptacle located in a sidewall whereby one end of said latch connector is inserted into said receptacle and a second end of said connecting latch is attached to said shielding housing.

9. The shielded cable interconnection as recited in claim 1 wherein said header connector is electrically shielded.

10. The shielded cable interconnection as recited in claim 1 wherein said shielding housing is formed from electrically conductive material.

11. The shielded cable interconnection as recited in claim 10 wherein said shielding housing is formed from metal.

12. The shielded cable interconnection as recited in claim 1 wherein said shielding housing comprises:

a first half shell for enveloping a portion of said assembly module;

a second half shell for enveloping another portion of said assembly module; and

means for attaching said first half shell with said second half shell so as to form shielding around the perimeter of said assembly module.

13. The shielded cable interconnection as recited in claim 12 wherein said means for attaching said first half shell with said second half shell comprises:

at least one latch extending from either said first half shell or said second half shell, wherein said latch comprises a detent member located on a tab; and

at least one relief slot located in either said first half shell or said second half shell for accepting said at least one latch.

14. The shielded cable interconnection as recited in claim 13, wherein said relief slot comprises a flat lug displaced from a surface of said shielding housing.

15. The shielded cable interconnection as recited in claim 13, said assembly module having at least one stud extended from a side surface, said first half shell and said second half shell comprising:

at least one side recess through which said at least one stud extends from a side surface of said assembly module so as to insure that said assembly module is properly located within said first half shell and said second half shell.

16. The shielded cable interconnection as recited in claim 12, said shielded header connector having at least one slot located in a first sidewall and a second sidewall, said shielded header connector further having at least one grounding spring located on said first sidewall and said second sidewall, said assembly module having a stud extending from a lateral surface, wherein said first half shell and said second half shell comprise:

at least one raised dimple recess located on an opposing exterior wall of said first half shell and said second half shell, where said at least one raised dimple recess cooperates with said at least one slot in said header connector when inserted into said header connector so as to facilitate entry of said shielding housing into said shielded header connector, and where said at least one raised dimple recess contacts said at least one grounding spring located on said first sidewall and said second sidewall so as to provide adequate grounding to said shielding housing;

at least one lateral recess located on a lateral surface of said first half shell and said second half shell, where said at least one lateral recess receives said lateral stud extending from said assembly module so as to secure said first half shell and said second half shell around said assembly module.

17. The shielded cable interconnection as recited in claim 1 wherein said latch member comprises:

an elongated distal object having at least one first leg end for insertion into said header connector, and a second spring arm end located remotely away from said first end for connecting to said housing, so as to immobilize the relative movement of said shielded header and said housing and prevent inadvertent disconnection of said shielding housing from said header connector.

18. A shielded cable connector comprising:

an assembly module having an insulative body and a row of contact terminals received in the front of the body, the contact terminals being adapted to mate with an intermating contact terminal and receive a wire from a cable, and

EMI shielding forming an outer housing of said shielded cable interconnect comprising;

a first half shell enveloping a first portion of said assembly module;

a second half shell enveloping the remaining portion of said assembly module; and

means for attaching said first half shell with said second half shell so as to form shielding around the entire surface of said assembly module, including said front of the body, said shielded interconnection outer housing comprises generally rectangular surfaces such that multiple assembly modules can be placed in close contact with each other.

19. The shielded cable connector as recited in claim 18, wherein said means for attaching said first half shell with said second half comprises:

at least one latch extending from either said first half shell or said second half shell, wherein said latch comprises a detent member located on a tab; and

at least one relief slot located in the other of said first half shell or said second half shell for accepting said at least one latch.

20. The shielded cable connector as recited in claim 19, wherein said relief slot comprises a flat lug displaced from a surface of said shielding housing.

21. The shielded cable connector as recited in claim 20, said assembly module having at least one stud extended from a side surface, said first half shell and said second half shell comprising:

at least one side recess through which said at least one stud extends from a side surface of said assembly module so as to insure that said assembly module is properly located within said first half shell and said second half shell.

22. A shielded cable interconnection for reducing EMI and crosstalk comprising:

a plurality of individual assembly modules each adapted to be attached to a cable and having a plurality of outer surfaces;

a header connector adapted for accepting said plurality of individual assembly modules in a stacked manner, said header connector further comprising guide slots for guiding said assembly modules into close stacked proximity with each other;

an EMI shielding housing for enveloping said plurality of outer surfaces of each of said individual assembly modules and having protrusions on two of its outer surfaces for interacting with said guide slots for guiding said assembly modules into close stacked proximity with each other and having two of its other outer surfaces without protrusions in close stacked proximity; and

a latch member for securing said shielding housing and said assembly module to said header connector, said latch positioned positioned to allow multiple assembly modules to be positioned in said header in close contact with each other.