Printed circuit connector assembly

• US 7,156,678 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2005
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Castiglione, Joseph N., Feldman, Steven, Meredith, Kevin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prasad; Chandrika
• Application Number:
  US11/101,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20060228952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 439/326, 439/341, 439/495, 439/497, 439/499, 439/578, 439/352, 439/582
• US Class Current: 439/326
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/57 surface mounting terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/592 connections to contact elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/598 Each conductor being individually surrounded by shield, e.g. multiple coaxial cables in flat structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/712 co-operating with the surface of the printed circuit or with a coupling device exclusively provided on the surface of the printed circuit H01R12/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/79 connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6273 comprising two latching arms
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/024 comprising preapplied solder
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/0235 for applying solder H01R43/0228 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/26 for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/05 for coaxial cables

Abstract

A connector assembly includes a connector portion and a frame. The connector portion includes a connector body, a shield member, and a plurality of signal contacts. The connector body is configured for receiving a plurality of cables. The conductive shield member is attached to the connector body and is configured for connection to ground conductors of the plurality of cables. The plurality of signal contacts each have a terminal end configured for connection to a signal conductor of a corresponding cable. The frame is configured for mounting on a printed circuit, and includes at least one conductive portion configured for connection to a ground of the printed circuit. The frame is configured to direct the connector portion into a receiving space at an oblique insertion angle with respect to the printed circuit.

Claims

1. A connector assembly comprising:

a connector portion comprising;

a connector body configured for receiving a plurality of cables, the cables each of the type having a signal conductor and a ground conductor;

a conductive shield member on a top surface of the connector body, the shield member configured for connection to ground conductors of the plurality of cables;

a plurality of signal contacts extending from a bottom surface of the connector body, each signal contact having a terminal end configured for connection to signal conductors of the plurality of cables; and

a frame for mounting on a printed circuit, the frame including at least one conductive portion configured for connection to a ground of the printed circuit, the frame defining a space for receiving the connector portion therein, and configured to direct the connector portion into the receiving space at an oblique insertion angle with respect to the printed circuit such that the signal contacts extending from the bottom surface of the connector body engage contact pads on the printed circuit.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame is configured to provide a wiping action between the signal contacts of the connector portion and contact pads of the printed circuit when the connector portion is inserted into the frame.

3. The connector assembly of claim 2, wherein the frame is shaped to provide a wiping action between the conductive shield member of the connector portion and the conductive portion of the frame when the connector portion is inserted into the frame.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive shield is divided into at least two isolated ground segments.

5. The connector assembly of claim 4, wherein the conductive portion of the frame is divided into isolated ground segments corresponding to the at least two isolated ground segments of the conductive shield.

6. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive portion of the frame comprises a printed circuit.

7. The connector assembly of claim 6, wherein the printed circuit is a flexible circuit.

8. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises at least one insulative portion.

9. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector body of the connector portion includes a plurality of solder wells positioned adjacent the terminal end of each of the plurality of signal contacts.

10. The connector assembly of claim 9, further comprising one of a solder preform and solder paste retained within the solder wells of the insulative connector body.

11. The connector assembly of claim 9, wherein the conductive shield includes solder barriers positioned between adjacent solder wells.

12. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive shield member of the connector portion, the conductive portion of the frame, and a ground plane of the printed circuit are electrically connected with each other, and cooperate to provide electrical shielding on all sides of the connector assembly.

13. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector body is formed from an insulative material.

14. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame is formed from a conductive material.

15. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame is formed from metal.

16. The connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the frame is fabricated from a single piece of sheet metal.

17. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame includes an insertion guide configured to direct the connector portion into the receiving space at an oblique insertion angle with respect to the printed circuit.

18. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the cables are coaxial cables.

19. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the cables are twinaxial cables.

20. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector and frame have a mated height of less than about 1.2 millimeters.

21. A connector assembly comprising:

a connector coupled to a plurality of cables, the connector comprising;

a dielectric connector body;

a conductive shield member covering a top surface of the dielectric connector body, the conductive shield member electrically connected to shields of the plurality of cables; and

a plurality of signal contacts adjacent a bottom surface of the dielectric connector body, the signal contacts connected to signal conductors of the plurality of cables;

a conductive frame mounted on a printed circuit and electrically connected to a ground of the printed circuit, wherein the frame defines a connector receiving space having a plurality of printed circuit contact pads therein, the frame having a first guide member adjacent a front portion thereof and a second guide member adjacent a back portion thereof, the first and second guide members cooperating to direct the connector into the receiving space at an oblique insertion angle with respect to the printed circuit such that the signal contacts of the connector contact the printed circuit contact pads with a wiping action.

22. The connector assembly of claim 21, wherein the first guide member adjacent the front edge of the conductive frame is configured to capture a front edge of the connector as the connector is inserted into the receiving space of the frame.

23. The connector assembly of claim 22, wherein the first guide member is configured to make electrical contact with the conductive shield member of the connector.

24. The connector assembly of claim 22, wherein the second guide member forms a spring member biased toward the printed circuit.

25. The connector assembly of claim 21, wherein the frame further comprises a latch member for retaining the connector within the receiving space of the frame.

26. The connector assembly of claim 25, wherein the latch member is positioned adjacent a back edge of the connector.

27. The connector assembly of claim 21, wherein the printed circuit is rigid.

28. The connector assembly of claim 21, wherein the printed circuit is flexible.

29. The connector assembly of claim 28, wherein the frame further comprises a support member extending under the contact pads of the flexible printed circuit.

30. The connector assembly of claim 21, wherein the frame is fabricated from a single piece of sheet metal.

31. The connector assembly of claim 21, wherein the connector and frame have a mated height of less than about 1.2 millimeters.

32. The connector assembly of claim 21, wherein the frame is mounted away from an edge of the printed circuit.

33. The connector assembly of claim 21, wherein the conductive shield member of the connector further comprises a cable alignment and strain relief portion adjacent a back edge of the connector.

34. The connector assembly of claim 33, wherein the cable alignment and strain relief portion is configured to retain one of a solder preform and solder paste.

35. The connector assembly of claim 21, wherein the conductive shield is divided into at least two isolated ground segments.

36. The connector assembly of claim 35, wherein the isolated ground segments are routed to the ground of the printed circuit by a circuit positioned within the receiving space of the frame.

37. The connector assembly of claim 36, wherein the circuit positioned within the receiving space of the frame is a flexible circuit.

38. The connector assembly of claim 21, wherein the printed circuit includes a ground plane extending under substantially all of the receiving space defined by the frame and isolated from the printed circuit contact pads by a dielectric material.

39. The connector assembly of claim 38, wherein the signal contacts, shield member, printed circuit ground plane, dielectric connector body and printed circuit dielectric material form a controlled impedance stripline structure when the connector and frame are in a mated condition.