Differential signal connectors with ESD protection
First Claim
1. A connector that provides improved electrostatic shielding by providing multiple ground connections between a connector plug half and a connector receptacle half before establishing a signal connection, each of the plug and receptacle halves including an upper housing portion having a plurality of passages arranged in rows and columns, each passages capable of accepting therein, a pair of differential signal conductors, said first upper housing portion being sized and shaped to be able to accept a mating second portion, a lower housing portion having a plurality of passages coupled to and substantially orthogonal to the passages of said upper housing portion;
- said passages of both said upper and lower housings receiving therein a plurality of differential signal conductors which are electrically isolated from said upper and lower housing portions, the differential signal conductors in said upper housing portions extending at least partially out from said upper housing portions;
outer surfaces of said upper housings of said plug and receptacle halves being electrically conductive to provide a reference potential for said differential signal conductors and having multiple means for contacting each other, the contact means extending outward from said upper housing portions for a greater extent than said differential signal conductors whereby said conductive surfaces of said upper housings contact each other prior to said differential signal conductors contacting each other when said plug and receptacle halves are mated together.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A connector assembly is provided with opposing and interengageable first and second connector components. Each of the two components preferably includes upper and lower housing formed from an insulative material coated with electrically-conductive material, with cavities formed therein that receive terminal assemblies. The upper and lower housings are formed with internal cavities that extend in orthogonal directions. Each cavity contains a terminal assembly of either plug or receptacle structure and may further include either a plurality of power terminals or differential signal terminals. The terminals have contact portions, tail portions and interconnecting portions that are partially encapsulated by an insulative outer shell. In assembling the first and second components, multiple ground connections are made in sequence before any signal or power supply connections are made. In disassembling the components, signals and power supply connections are broken first, then the ground connections are broken in a sequence that is the reverse of what was made during assembly.
43 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A connector that provides improved electrostatic shielding by providing multiple ground connections between a connector plug half and a connector receptacle half before establishing a signal connection, each of the plug and receptacle halves including an upper housing portion having a plurality of passages arranged in rows and columns, each passages capable of accepting therein, a pair of differential signal conductors, said first upper housing portion being sized and shaped to be able to accept a mating second portion, a lower housing portion having a plurality of passages coupled to and substantially orthogonal to the passages of said upper housing portion;
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said passages of both said upper and lower housings receiving therein a plurality of differential signal conductors which are electrically isolated from said upper and lower housing portions, the differential signal conductors in said upper housing portions extending at least partially out from said upper housing portions;
outer surfaces of said upper housings of said plug and receptacle halves being electrically conductive to provide a reference potential for said differential signal conductors and having multiple means for contacting each other, the contact means extending outward from said upper housing portions for a greater extent than said differential signal conductors whereby said conductive surfaces of said upper housings contact each other prior to said differential signal conductors contacting each other when said plug and receptacle halves are mated together. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A differential signal connector assembly for transmitting differential signals between two electronic components and having improved grounding capability, the connector assembly comprising:
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first and second connector housings, the first and second connector housings having a plurality of exterior surfaces, all of which are plated with a conductive surface such that said exterior surfaces conduct electricity;
a plurality of differential signal terminals supported in said first and second housings in opposing and interengaging pairs of differential signal terminals, the terminal pairs being supported by insulative support members and having contact portions which extend a preselected first length from respective mating faces of said first and second connector housings;
and, multiple means formed in said first and second connector housings for contacting each other before said differential signal conductors of said first and second connector housings make contact when said first and second connector said first and second connector housings are mated together. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification