US6206729B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High density electrical interconnect system having enhanced grounding and cross-talk reduction capability
Assignee: Winchester Interconnect Corp
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Filing: 2000-08-21
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Granted: 2001-03-27
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Expires: 2020-08-21
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an electrical interconnect system using multiple grounding methods to reduce or prevent spurious signals from interfering with high density contacts carrying high speed transmissions. A first connector includes an insulative pillar partially surrounded by a plurality of signal contacts. A ground contact is at least partially located within the insulative pillar. A second connector includes a corresponding plurality of flexible signal contacts for mating with the signal contacts adjacent the insulative pillar. The second connector also includes a ground contact for receiving the ground contact of the first connector. The ground contacts provide a first method of providing a ground path to reduce spurious signals from entering the signal path. An electrically conducting shield is located outside the signal contacts when the first and the second connectors are mated. The first connector includes a member which provides a ground path between the first connector and the electrically conducting shield. Advantageously, the electrical interconnect system has two grounding methods which are particularly important in a high density electrical interconnect system where the contacts are closely spaced and susceptible to noise and other spurious signals.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert M. Bradley
- 👤 Michael N. Perugini
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:23
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/648; H01R13/40; H01R13/405; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R13/46; H01R13/502; H01R13/658; H01R13/6581
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
An electrical and optical interconnect system, comprising: a first electrical connector having a plurality of spaced apart sets of electrically conductive contacts, each said contact set having multiple signal contacts spaced outwardly from a central optical cable, each of said optical cables having an end for transmitting light with a first printed circuit board and a connector end, each of said signal contacts having a card end for contact with a signal path in the first printed board and a connector end; a second electrical connector having a plurality of spaced apart sets of electrically conductive contacts, each said contact set having multiple signal contacts spaced outwardly from a central optical cable, an insulator at least partially surrounding said central optical cable and multiple signal contacts spaced outwardly from said insulator, each of said optical cables having an end for transmitting light between a second printed circuit board and a connector end, each of said signal contacts having an end for contact with a signal path in the second printed circuit board and a connector end, wherein when said first electrical connector is mated with said second electrical connector, said optical cables in said second electrical connector and said first electrical connector are in optical contact and said signal contacts in said first electrical connector and said second electrical connector are in electrical contact.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
An electrical and optical interconnect system, comprising: a first electrical connector having a plurality of spaced apart sets of electrically conductive contacts, each said contact set having multiple signal contacts spaced outwardly from a central optical cable, each of said optical cables having an end for transmitting light with a first printed circuit board and a connector end, each of said signal contacts having a card end for contact with a signal path in the first printed board and a connector end; a second electrical connector having a plurality of spaced apart sets of electrically conductive contacts, each said contact set having multiple signal contacts spaced outwardly from a central optical cable, an insulator at least partially surrounding said central optical cable and multiple signal contacts spaced outwardly from said insulator, each of said optical cables having an end for transmitting light between a second printed circuit board and a connector end, each of said signal contacts having an end for contact with a signal path in the second printed circuit board and a connector end, wherein when said first electrical connector is mated with said second electrical connector, said optical cables in said second electrical connector and said first electrical connector are in optical contact and said signal contacts in said first electrical connector and said second electrical connector are in electrical contact.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The electrical and optical interconnect system of claim 1 , wherein said second electrical connector has at least one wafer including a left half and a right half each made of electrically insulating material, said wafer including one column of contacts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrical and optical interconnect system of claim 1 , wherein each of said contact sets includes said central optical cable and four of said signal contacts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrical and optical interconnect system of claim 2 , further comprising a stiffener for holding together said left half and said right half of said wafer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical and optical interconnect system of claim 4 , further comprising a ground contact connecting said stiffener to a ground plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrical and optical interconnect system of claim 1 , wherein said second electrical connector is a right angle connector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrical and optical interconnect system of claim 5 , wherein said stiffener is formed of an electrically conductive material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The electrical and optical interconnect system of claim 1 , wherein said first electrical connector is mounted to a backpanel and said second electrical connector is mounted to a daughter card.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The electrical and optical interconnect system of claim 1 , wherein said first electrical connector includes a body formed of electrically insulating material, said body including a base and a plurality of spaced apart elongate pillars extending from said base, each of said optical cables at least partially located within one of said pillars.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The electrical and optical interconnect system of claim 1 , further comprising, for each set of contacts, an electrically insulating pillar positioned between said central optical cable and said multiple signal contacts.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrical and optical interconnect system of claim 2 , further comprising a hood enclosure connected to said wafers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electrical and optical interconnect system of claim 10 , wherein said pillar is hollow and has a rectangular cross-section and each of said signal contacts is positioned against a wall of said pillar.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrical and optical interconnect system of claim 12 , wherein said pillar extends beyond said signal contacts.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrical and optical interconnect system of claim 1 , wherein said multiple signal contacts of said first electrical connector are substantially freestanding and flexible.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The electrical and optical interconnect system of claim 11 , further comprising a closed entry plate positioned within said hood enclosure, said plate having a plurality of openings, wherein a set of contacts of said first electrical connector extends through a corresponding one of said plurality of openings.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The electrical and optical interconnect system of claim 12 , wherein said pillar has a recess in each of said walls and each of said signal contacts is at least partially positioned in a corresponding one of said recesses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical and optical interconnect system of claim 1 , wherein said optical cables contact first and then said signal contacts mate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrical and optical interconnect system of claim 1 , wherein said optical cables and said signal contacts are brought into contact sequentially.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The electrical and optical interconnect system of claim 16 , wherein said signal contacts of said second electrical connector each include a curved surface for mating with a corresponding curved surface of said signal contacts of said first electrical connector.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The electrical and optical interconnect system of claim 4 , further comprising an interconnect attached to said first connector and an electrically conductive surface on a body of said second connector, said interconnect providing a second ground path between said stiffener and said electrically conductive surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical and optical interconnect system of claim 15 , wherein said first electrical connector and said second electrical connector are polarized.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electrical and optical interconnect system of claim 1 , wherein the optical cable includes a central optical fiber and a fiber housing and an electrically conductive case.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical and optical interconnect system of claim 22 , wherein some of the optical cables have an electrically conductive spring member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrical and optical interconnect system of claim 23 , wherein said electrically conductive case and said spring member form a ground path.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electrical and optical interconnect system of claim 1 , wherein said optical cables include optical fibers which are optically flat at a distal end thereof.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-03-26 | 2004-09-25 | 2005-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-26 | 2008-09-25 | 2009-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-26 | 2012-09-25 | 2013-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |