Connector assembly

• US 20050255720A1
• Filed: 05/14/2004
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RGB Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RGB Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Geil, Jacob, Keung, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,163,405 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/63
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/746 using a screw ring
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/50 mounted on a PCB [Printed Circuit Board]

Abstract

A connector assembly and a method of utilizing a connector assembly to enhance performance, improve reliability and provide ease of assembly of electronic equipment are presented. The connector assembly comprises a rigid bracket capable of holding multiple connectors. The bracket acts as a common ground for all of the connectors. The connector assembly has multiple legs and connector conductors that insert into corresponding apertures on a PCB. The legs of the connector assembly are configured to permit the placement of circuit traces on the PCB in the spaces between the legs. After placement of the connector assembly onto the PCB, soldering or other techniques may be used to secure the connector assembly to the board and to connect the proper circuits to the connectors. Because the connectors are installed on the rigid bracket, repeated physical stresses induced on the ports or jacks do not affect the integrity of the PCB.

Claims

1. A connector assembly comprising:

a structure comprising a first flange, a second flange, and a plurality of connector apertures; and

a plurality of connectors coupled to said structure, wherein each connector of said plurality of connectors comprises a first conductor electrically coupled to said structure, and a second conductor extended through a respective connector aperture;

wherein said first flange and said second flange each comprise one or more legs, and wherein said legs and said second conductors are physically configured to be seated into an aperture pattern of a substrate.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said structure provides a common ground plane to said plurality of connectors.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said connectors comprise BNC connectors.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said structure further comprises a top section with said first flange and said second flange extending from said top section.

5. The connector assembly of claim 4, wherein said top section comprises said plurality of connector apertures.

6. The connector assembly of claim 4, wherein said first flange and said second flange extend perpendicular to said top section from respective edges of said top section.

7. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein each leg is configured with a step surface for abutting said substrate when said leg is seated in said aperture pattern.

8. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said step surface is configured to prevent a lower edge of a respective flange from abutting said substrate.

9. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of connectors is an input jack.

10. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of connectors is an output jack.

11. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of connectors is a video jack.

12. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of connectors is an audio jack.

13. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of connectors are configured in a linear manner.

14. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of connectors are configured in a matrix.

15. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said second conductors extend through a spatial cavity defined by said top section, said first flange and said second flange.

16. A connector assembly for electronic equipment comprising:

a substrate having an aperture pattern formed thereon;

a rigid structure comprising a plurality of legs seated in said aperture pattern; and

a plurality of connectors coupled to a surface of said rigid structure, each of said connectors comprising at least one connector conductor extending into said aperture pattern.

17. The connector assembly of claim 16, wherein said subtrate is a printed circuit board.

18. The connector assembly of claim 16, wherein said legs and said connector conductors are soldered to said substrate.

19. The connector assembly of claim 18, wherein said subtrate comprises one or more circuit traces electrically coupled to said connector conductors.

20. The connector assembly of claim 18, wherein said substrate comprises one or more circuit traces electrically coupled to said legs.

21. The connector assembly of claim 16, wherein said plurality of connectors comprise BNC connectors.

22. The connector assembly of claim 16, wherein said structure provides a common ground plane for said plurality of connectors.

23. The connector assembly of claim 16, wherein said structure comprises a plurality of flanges extending from a top section, each of said flanges comprising one or more of said plurality of legs.

24. The connector assembly of claim 23, wherein said top section comprises a plurality of apertures within which said plurality of connectors are coupled.

25. The connector assembly of claim 23, wherein one or more of said plurality of legs comprises a step surface abuting said substrate and defining a gap between a lower edge of a corresponding flange and said substrate.

26. The connector assembly of claim 25, further comprising one or more circuit traces on a surface of said substrate, wherein said traces pass through said gap.

27. A method for assembling an electronic device comprising:

coupling a plurality of connectors to a surface of a structure to form a connector assembly;

forming a pattern of apertures on a printed circuit board;

inserting said connector assembly into said pattern of apertures; and

affixing said connector assembly to said printed circuit board.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein coupling said plurality of connectors to said structure comprises:

electrically coupling a first conductor of each connector to said structure; and

extending a second conductor of each connector through said structure.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein forming a pattern of apertures comprises:

forming a plurality of conductor apertures, wherein each of said conductor apertures is configured to receive a respective second conductor; and

forming a plurality of leg apertures configured to receive a plurality of legs of said structure.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein inserting said connector assembly comprises simultaneously inserting said second conductors into said plurality of conductor apertures and inserting said plurality of legs into said plurality of leg apertures.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein affixing said connector assembly to said printed circuit board comprises:

placing solder within one or more of said plurality of leg apertures and one or more of said plurality of conductor apertures.

32. A connector assembly for assembly with a printed circuit board having a plurality of leg apertures and a plurality of conductor apertures, said connector assembly comprising:

a bracket comprising a top section and a plurality of flanges;

said top section comprising a plurality of connector apertures;

said plurality of flanges comprising a plurality of legs, said legs each having a first surface configured to abut said PC board;

a plurality of connectors seated in said plurality of connector apertures, each of said connectors comprising;

an outer conductor electrically coupled to said bracket, said outer conductor having a hollow bore, said outer conductor extending through said aperture a majority of a first distance from said top section to said first surface; and

a signal conductor within said hollow bore, said signal conductor configured to be inserted into one of said conductor apertures when said plurality of legs are inserted into said plurality of leg apertures, said signal conductor extending beyond said first distance.

33. The connector assembly of claim 32, wherein a second distance between said end of said outer conductor and said first surface is equal to or less than 0.5 inches.

34. The connector assembly of claim 32, wherein said bracket comprises a common ground plane for said plurality of connectors.

35. The connector assembly of claim 34, wherein said plurality of legs are configured to couple to ground traces of said PC board.

36. The connector assembly of claim 32 wherein said first surface forms a step in each of said plurality of legs, which is configured to support a lower edge of at least one of said plurality of flanges away from said PC board.

37. The connector assembly of claim 32, wherein said plurality of connectors are configured in-line in said bracket.