EMI suppression for electrical connector

• US 7,896,672 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2009
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Felisilda De La Cruz, Robert Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Zarroli; Michael C
• Application Number:
  US12/510,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20110028037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 439/188, 439/51.1, 439/620.17, 439/620.18, 439/620.23, 439/607.28
• US Class Current: 439/188
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6464 by adding capacitive elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6594 the shield being mounted on a PCB and connected to conductive members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6625 with capacitive component
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/703 operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. dual-continuity coupling partH01R13/71 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/719 specially adapted for high frequency, e.g. with filters
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45

Abstract

An electrical connector includes a housing having a cavity configured to receive a plug therein. Contacts are arranged within the cavity for mating with a plug. The contacts include shield interfaces. A metal strip is arranged within the cavity and is electrically connected to a ground. The shield interfaces of the contacts engaging the metal strip when no plug is loaded in the cavity, and the shield interfaces disengaging from the metal strip when the plug is loaded in the cavity.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising:

a housing having a cavity configured to receive a plug therein, the housing being shielded by a housing shield;

contacts arranged within the cavity for mating with a plug, the contacts including strip interfaces; and

a metal strip arranged within the cavity, the metal strip being electrically connected to a ground through a capacitor, the metal strip being electrically connected to the housing shield through the capacitor, the strip interfaces of the contacts engaging the metal strip when no plug is loaded in the cavity, the strip interfaces disengaging from the metal strip when the plug is loaded in the cavity.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein a grounding circuit is created between the metal strip and the ground, the capacitor being provided within the grounding circuit.

3. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the contacts is configured to transmit power, the capacitor preventing power from shorting to the ground.

4. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector constitutes a Power Over Ethernet connector, the contacts being configured to transmit data signals and being arranged in differential pairs, at least one of the contacts being configured to transmit power, the capacitor preventing power transmitted by the electrical connector from shorting to the ground.

5. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the metal strip electrically connects the contacts to ground when the strip interfaces engage the metal strip.

6. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the contacts are movable between a grounded position and an ungrounded position, the contacts engaging the metal strip in the grounded position and the contacts being held away from the metal strip in the ungrounded position.

7. The electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising a circuit board held within the connector, the circuit board being electrically connected to the ground, the capacitor being connected to the circuit board, the metal strip being connected to the ground via the circuit board.

8. The electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising a magnetics assembly having a circuit board, the contacts being terminated to the circuit board.

9. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the contacts include a base and a tip, the strip interfaces being positioned proximate to the tip, the base being coupled to one of a circuit board and a wire.

10. An electrical connector comprising:

a housing;

signal contacts arranged within the housing in differential pairs configured to transmit differential signals, the signal contacts being deflected when mated with a modular data communication plug from a relaxed state to a deflected state;

a metal strip positioned within the housing, wherein the signal contacts engage the metal strip when the signal contacts are in the relaxed state; and

a grounding circuit being electrically grounded, the grounding circuit having a capacitor, the metal strip being electrically connected to the grounding circuit.

11. The electrical connector of claim 10, wherein at least one of the contacts is configured to transmit power, the capacitor preventing power from shorting to the ground.

12. The electrical connector of claim 10, further comprising a circuit board held within the connector, the grounding circuit having traces routed along the circuit board, the circuit board being electrically connected to the ground, the capacitor being connected to the circuit board, the metal strip being electrically connected to the traces on the circuit board.

13. The electrical connector of claim 10, wherein the metal strip electrically connects the contacts to ground when the contacts engage the metal strip.

14. The electrical connector of claim 10, wherein the contacts are held away from the metal strip by the plug in the deflected state.

15. The electrical connector of claim 10, further comprising a magnetics assembly having a circuit board, the contacts being terminated to the circuit board.

16. The electrical connector of claim 10, wherein the housing is shielded by a housing shield, the metal strip being electrically connected to the housing shield.

17. An electrical connector comprising:

a housing having a cavity configured to receive a plug therein;

a circuit board held within the housing, the circuit board includes a capacitor, the circuit board being electrically connected to a ground through the capacitor on the circuit board;

contacts arranged within the cavity for mating with a plug, the contacts being terminated to the circuit board; and

a metal strip arranged within the cavity, the metal strip being electrically connected to the circuit board, the metal strip being connected to the ground via the electrical connection with the circuit board through the capacitor on the circuit board, the contacts being configured to engage the metal strip when no plug is loaded in the cavity, and the contacts being configured to be held away from the metal strip by the plug when the plug is loaded in the cavity.

18. The electrical connector of claim 17, wherein the contacts are movable between a grounded position and an ungrounded position, the contacts engaging the metal strip in the grounded position and the contacts being held away from the metal strip in the ungrounded position.

19. The electrical connector of claim 17, wherein the housing is shielded by a housing shield, the circuit board being electrically connected to the ground through the housing shield, the metal strip being electrically connected to the housing shield through the circuit board and the capacitor on the circuit board.