US6746278B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interstitial ground assembly for connector
Assignee: Molex LLC
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Filing: 2002-11-29
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Granted: 2004-06-08
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Expires: 2022-11-29
Abstract
Abstract A high-density connector utilizes a plurality of terminal assemblies that are assembled together into a block, or single unit, to form a connector. Each terminal assembly of the connector utilizes a plurality of conductive terminals having contact portions for mating with an opposing connector, and body portions held within an insulative body portion of the assembly. The terminal assemblies support arrays of terminals arranged in a specific order of signal-ground-signal arrays. The terminal assemblies have at least two insulative housing portions that support the signal terminal arrays and an intervening ground terminal array, which may or may not be supported by an associated insulative housing. The ground members have a series of grounding tabs formed therewith with extend out from the plane of the ground members, on opposite sides thereof into contact with ground reference terminals of the signal terminal arrays. In this manner, a ground path is enabled between the signal terminal and ground terminal arrays.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard A. Nelson
- 👤 Gary A. Humbert
- 👤 Kathleen A. Sweeney
- 👤 Hazelton P. Avery
- 👤 Daniel B. McGowan
- 👤 Galen F. Fromm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 03:21
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; H01R12/716; H01R12/72; H01R12/722; H01R12/73; H01R12/735; H01R12/737; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/516; H01R13/518; H01R13/62; H01R13/629; H01R13/631; H01R13/6315; H01R13/646; H01R13/6461; H01R13/6471; H01R13/648; H01R13/658; H01R13/6581; H01R13/6585; H01R13/6586; H01R12/724; H01R13/514; H01R13/6587
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A high-density connector assembly comprising: a connector body assembled from a plurality of individual terminal assemblies, each terminal assembly having a plurality of signal terminal arrays and a first ground terminal array; each of the signal terminal arrays including signal terminals and ground reference terminals, each of said signal terminal array terminals including a contact portion for mating with an opposing connector, a tail portion for connecting to a circuit board and a body portion interconnecting the contact and tail portions together, the terminal body portions being supported within a signal terminal insulative housing portion; the ground terminal array including a body portion and a plurality of contact portions extending therefrom, the ground terminal array body portion further including a plurality of grounding tabs formed therein which project therefrom in opposing directions and into contact with said ground reference terminals of said signal terminal arrays, the grounding tabs being arranged in distinct sets that follow paths of corresponding ground reference terminal body portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A high-density connector assembly comprising: a connector body assembled from a plurality of individual terminal assemblies, each terminal assembly having a plurality of signal terminal arrays and a first ground terminal array; each of the signal terminal arrays including signal terminals and ground reference terminals, each of said signal terminal array terminals including a contact portion for mating with an opposing connector, a tail portion for connecting to a circuit board and a body portion interconnecting the contact and tail portions together, the terminal body portions being supported within a signal terminal insulative housing portion; the ground terminal array including a body portion and a plurality of contact portions extending therefrom, the ground terminal array body portion further including a plurality of grounding tabs formed therein which project therefrom in opposing directions and into contact with said ground reference terminals of said signal terminal arrays, the grounding tabs being arranged in distinct sets that follow paths of corresponding ground reference terminal body portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The high-density connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein said signal terminal insulative housing portions each include a plurality of openings formed therein, said grounding tabs extending through the openings into contact of said signal terminal array ground reference terminals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The high-density connector of claim 2 , wherein a single grounding tab extends through a single insulative housing portion opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The high-density connector of claim 3 , wherein said ground terminal array is held in an insulative support that engages said signal terminal insulative housing portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The high-density connector of claim 1 , wherein said ground terminal array includes a plurality of tail portions extending from said ground member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The high-density connector of claim 1 , wherein said ground terminal array includes a pair of ground members arranged next to each other and interposed between said signal terminal insulative housing portions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The high-density connector of claim 1 , wherein said ground terminal ground member includes a plurality of edges and said grounding tabs extend in a pattern between two of said edges.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The high-density connector of claim 7 , wherein said two edges are adjacent each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The high-density connector of claim 2 , wherein said ground terminal ground member includes a plurality of edges and said grounding tabs extend in a pattern between two of said edges, and said signal terminal insulative housing portion openings extend in a pattern between two edges of said signal terminal insulative housing portions, the opening pattern being identical to said grounding tab opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The high-density connector of claim 1 , wherein said terminals of said signal terminal array and said grounding tabs of said ground terminal array are arranged in distinct rows, said grounding tabs of one row contacting ground reference terminals of two corresponding rows of said signal terminal arrays.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The high-density connector of claim 1 , wherein said terminal assemblies are separated from each other within said connector body by intervening spaces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The high-density connector of claim 1 , wherein each of said terminal assemblies includes a second ground terminal which abuts said first ground terminal array, and said first and second ground terminal arrays are interposed between said signal terminal insulative housing portions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The high-density connector of claim 1 , wherein said ground terminal array body portion is planar and said grounding tabs project out a plane of said body portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
253 words
A connector, comprising: a connector body assembled from a plurality of individual terminal assemblies, each terminal assembly including at least two insulative body portions, and each of the terminal assemblies supporting a plurality of signal terminal arrays and a ground terminal array thereon; each of the signal terminal arrays including a plurality of signal terminals and ground reference terminals, each terminal of said signal terminal array including a contact portion for mating with an opposing connector, a tail portion for connecting to a circuit board and a body portion interconnecting the contact and tail portions together, the body portions of said signal terminal array terminals being supported on said terminal assembly insulative body portions; the ground terminal array including a planar body portion and a plurality of contact portions extending therefrom, the ground member body portion further including a plurality of grounding tabs formed therewith that project out from a plane thereof in opposing directions along opposite sides of said ground terminal array body portion and into contact of said ground reference terminals of said signal terminal arrays, said ground member body portion including a plurality of distinct edges, and the grounding tabs being arranged in distinct sets that follow paths of corresponding ground reference terminal body portions which extend between two of said ground member body portion distinct edges; and, said terminal assembly insulative body portions include a plurality of openings formed therein, said grounding tabs extending through the openings into contact with said ground reference terminals of adjacent signal terminal arrays.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
253 words
A connector, comprising: a connector body assembled from a plurality of individual terminal assemblies, each terminal assembly including at least two insulative body portions, and each of the terminal assemblies supporting a plurality of signal terminal arrays and a ground terminal array thereon; each of the signal terminal arrays including a plurality of signal terminals and ground reference terminals, each terminal of said signal terminal array including a contact portion for mating with an opposing connector, a tail portion for connecting to a circuit board and a body portion interconnecting the contact and tail portions together, the body portions of said signal terminal array terminals being supported on said terminal assembly insulative body portions; the ground terminal array including a planar body portion and a plurality of contact portions extending therefrom, the ground member body portion further including a plurality of grounding tabs formed therewith that project out from a plane thereof in opposing directions along opposite sides of said ground terminal array body portion and into contact of said ground reference terminals of said signal terminal arrays, said ground member body portion including a plurality of distinct edges, and the grounding tabs being arranged in distinct sets that follow paths of corresponding ground reference terminal body portions which extend between two of said ground member body portion distinct edges; and, said terminal assembly insulative body portions include a plurality of openings formed therein, said grounding tabs extending through the openings into contact with said ground reference terminals of adjacent signal terminal arrays.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The connector of claim 14 , wherein a single grounding tab extends through a single insulative housing portion opening.
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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) | 2007-06-08 | 2007-12-08 | 2008-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-06-08 | 2011-12-08 | 2012-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-06-08 | 2015-12-08 | 2016-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |