Patent US6702590B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6702590B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High-speed mezzanine connector with conductive housing
Assignee: Molex LLC
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Filing: 2002-06-13
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Granted: 2004-03-09
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Expires: 2022-06-13
Abstract
Abstract A board to board connector for use in high speed signal transmission applications includes male and female connector components that interengage with each other. Each of the male and female parts has an insulative housing that holds a plurality of individual terminal assemblies in cavities defined by corresponding walls of each connector component. The exterior surfaces of the connector components are plated with a metal so as to provide a unitary grounding datum around each of the individual terminal assemblies. Each of the connector components may utilize a center engagement member that runs lengthwise through the connector components, one of the center engagement members having a contact blade formed integrally therewith and the other of the center engagement members including a plurality of spring arms, also integrally formed with the connector component so that the grounding shield portions of the two connectors make contact with each other first before the terminals of the connector make contact.
Inventors
- 👤 Victor Zaderej
- 👤 Kenneth M. Stiles
- 👤 Kent E. Regnier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:52
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/7082; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/28; H01R13/648; H01R13/658; H01R13/6598; H01R13/6599; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/931
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A board to board connector assembly, comprising: a male connector component and a female connector component, the two connector components including housings which are engageable with each other by way of at least a portion of said male connector component being received within a portion of said female connector portion, said two connector components including a plurality of cavities, each cavity including a terminal assembly, the terminal assembly including an insulative body portion and a pair of differential signal terminals disposed in the body portion; opposing portions of said male and female connector being plated with a conductive substance, the conductive substance being further disposed on portions of said male and female connectors that encompass each of said terminal assemblies so as to provide a reference ground for said differential signal pairs and to electrically isolate adjacent ones of said terminal assemblies; each of said male and female connector components further including means for engaging each other when said male and female connector components are assembled together, said engagement means being disposed on opposite ends of said male and female connector components and along a portion of a longitudinal axis of said male and female connector components.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A board to board connector assembly, comprising: a male connector component and a female connector component, the two connector components including housings which are engageable with each other by way of at least a portion of said male connector component being received within a portion of said female connector portion, said two connector components including a plurality of cavities, each cavity including a terminal assembly, the terminal assembly including an insulative body portion and a pair of differential signal terminals disposed in the body portion; opposing portions of said male and female connector being plated with a conductive substance, the conductive substance being further disposed on portions of said male and female connectors that encompass each of said terminal assemblies so as to provide a reference ground for said differential signal pairs and to electrically isolate adjacent ones of said terminal assemblies; each of said male and female connector components further including means for engaging each other when said male and female connector components are assembled together, said engagement means being disposed on opposite ends of said male and female connector components and along a portion of a longitudinal axis of said male and female connector components.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein said conductive substance is a metal coating.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
89 words
The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein said female connector component housing includes a central connector portion and an outer shroud extending around and spaced apart from said central connector portion by an intervening slot that encompasses said female connector component central connector portion, and said male connector component housing includes a central connector portion and an insertion wall that encompasses the male connector component central connector portion, the insertion wall being received within said female connector component slot when said male and female connectors are assembled together.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The connector assembly of claim 3 , wherein the outer shroud and insertion wall have a one-way symmetry that permits them to be assembled only when said shroud and insertion wall are aligned together.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein said male connector component engagement means includes a longitudinal slot and said female connector component engagement means includes a blade member projecting upwardly from said female connector component central connector portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The connector assembly of claim 5 , wherein said male connector component engagement means includes a plurality of spring arms formed integrally with said male connector component, the spring arms flanking both sides of said longitudinal slot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The connector assembly of claim 6 , wherein said spring arms include alternating wide an narrow spring arms.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein said engagement means includes opposing complementary posts and depressions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein said engagement means includes two sets of opposing projections and depression formed as part of sidewalls of said two connector components and extending longitudinally along said two connector components.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein said conductive substance is a metal coating that extends on all exterior surfaces of said two connector components.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
211 words
An electrical connector, suitable for use in high-speed signal transmission applications, comprising: an insulative housing, the housing having a bottom for mounting to a circuit board and a top, opposing the bottom, for mating to an opposing connector, and a body portion interconnecting said top and bottom together, the body portion including a plurality of cavities formed by the intersection of a center wall of said housing with a plurality of transverse walls, each cavity including a terminal assembly; each terminal assembly including an insulative body portion and a pair of differential signal terminals disposed in the terminal assembly body portion, each terminal having opposing contact and tail portions extending from said terminal body portions, said terminal assemblies being received in said housing body portion cavities so that said terminal tail portions extend from said housing bottom and said terminal contact portions are accessible from said housing top; said housing having a plurality of exterior surfaces, and at least the exterior surfaces of said center and transverse walls being plated with a conductive metal coating so as to substantially encompass said terminal assemblies with a conductive ground shield; and, said housing including means integrally formed therewith for engaging said opposing connector when said housing and said opposing connector are mated together.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
211 words
An electrical connector, suitable for use in high-speed signal transmission applications, comprising: an insulative housing, the housing having a bottom for mounting to a circuit board and a top, opposing the bottom, for mating to an opposing connector, and a body portion interconnecting said top and bottom together, the body portion including a plurality of cavities formed by the intersection of a center wall of said housing with a plurality of transverse walls, each cavity including a terminal assembly; each terminal assembly including an insulative body portion and a pair of differential signal terminals disposed in the terminal assembly body portion, each terminal having opposing contact and tail portions extending from said terminal body portions, said terminal assemblies being received in said housing body portion cavities so that said terminal tail portions extend from said housing bottom and said terminal contact portions are accessible from said housing top; said housing having a plurality of exterior surfaces, and at least the exterior surfaces of said center and transverse walls being plated with a conductive metal coating so as to substantially encompass said terminal assemblies with a conductive ground shield; and, said housing including means integrally formed therewith for engaging said opposing connector when said housing and said opposing connector are mated together.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The connector of claim 11 , wherein said engagement means includes a pair of latching lugs disposed on opposite ends of said housing and aligned therewith, and an elongated engagement member extending longitudinally along said housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The connector of claim 11 , wherein said engagement member includes a blade member that projects up from said connector housing, said conductive metal coating also extending over the blade member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The connector of claim 11 , wherein said engagement member includes a longitudinal slot that is flanked by a plurality of spring arms.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The connector of claim 14 , wherein said spring arms include a plurality of wide and narrow spring arms, said wide spring arms being attached to said transverse walls.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The connector of claim 11 , wherein said engagement means includes a plurality of complementary, alternating projections and depressions formed in sidewalls of said housing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The connector of claim 11 , wherein said connector housing includes a central connector portion and a shroud wall that surrounds the central connector portion, the shroud wall being separated from said central connector portion by an intervening slot.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The connector of claim 11 , wherein said housing includes a key formed at one end, the key being received within a slot of said opposing connector, and said connector housing being pivotally movable about said key when mating to said opposing connector.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
139 words
A connector assembly for effecting a connection between two circuit boards, comprising: a plug connector and a receptacle connector, the plug and receptacle connectors including housings that are plated on exterior surfaces with an electrically conductive metal coating, each of said plug and receptacle connector housings further including a plurality of cavities formed therein; and, a plurality of terminal assemblies received in each of said cavities, each terminal assembly including and insulative body portion that supports a pair of differential signal terminals and insulates the terminals from contact with said connector housing conductive metal coating, said plug and receptacle connector housings being matable together so that exterior surfaces of said plug and receptacle connectors touch each other and said metal coating encompasses each of said terminal assemblies to provide reference ground shielding for each pair of differential signal terminals.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
139 words
A connector assembly for effecting a connection between two circuit boards, comprising: a plug connector and a receptacle connector, the plug and receptacle connectors including housings that are plated on exterior surfaces with an electrically conductive metal coating, each of said plug and receptacle connector housings further including a plurality of cavities formed therein; and, a plurality of terminal assemblies received in each of said cavities, each terminal assembly including and insulative body portion that supports a pair of differential signal terminals and insulates the terminals from contact with said connector housing conductive metal coating, said plug and receptacle connector housings being matable together so that exterior surfaces of said plug and receptacle connectors touch each other and said metal coating encompasses each of said terminal assemblies to provide reference ground shielding for each pair of differential signal terminals.
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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) | 2007-03-09 | 2007-09-08 | 2008-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-03-09 | 2011-09-08 | 2012-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-03-09 | 2015-09-08 | 2016-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |