Patent US2645991A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6786755B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Differential signal connector assembly with improved retention capabilities
Assignee: Molex LLC
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Filing: 2003-03-27
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Granted: 2004-09-07
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Expires: 2023-03-27
Abstract
Abstract A connector provides mechanical strength and impedance-conforming coupling between conductors in a cable and conductors on a circuit board. The conductors in the cable and the circuit board carry differential signals. The connector is comprised of a dielectric plug that has conductive terminals installed in it which comprise an electrical triad. A dielectric inner body has at least one triplet of three conductive terminals that extend into corresponding slots of the dielectric plug. The dielectric inner body has latching arm slots that receiving a latching arm of a mechanical coupling link member. A protective cover extends over a wire management support member and the dielectric inner body portion and at least partially over the dielectric plug member. The protective cover has retention openings that engage an actuator leg of a latching member. The protective cover also has at least one bias leg recess, for receiving a bias leg of the latching member. A latching member has bias legs that extend into the bias leg passages of the dielectric plug member. The latching member locks the dielectric plug member, the dielectric inner body and the protective cover together.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip J. Dambach
- 👤 Kent E. Regnier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 08:37
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/62; H01R13/627; H01R13/6271; H01R13/6273; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/72; H01R12/722; H01R12/724; H01R13/646; H01R13/6461; H01R13/6471
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
A latching connector for use in differential signal applications, comprising: an insulative housing supporting a plurality of conductive terminals in at least two rows of terminals, the housing including a body portion and a mating plug portion extending outwardly therefrom, the terminal rows being disposed on opposite surfaces of said mating plug portion, each of said terminals including at least a contact portion and a tail portion, the terminal contact and tail portions extending out from opposite sides of said housing body portion, the housing mating plug portion is engageable with said housing body portion and said housing mating plug portion includes a plurality of slots disposed therein which receive said terminals therein; preselected groups of three of the terminals defining distinct differential signal transmission channels in the housing, each of the differential signal transmission channels including a pair of differential signal terminals disposed adjacent each other in one of said terminal rows and a ground terminal disposed in the other of said terminal rows in opposing relationship to the ground terminal, the differential signal transmission channels being arranged consecutively along the rows in an alternating, inverted sequence such that within each of said rows, said pair of differential signal terminals of one of said differential signal transmission channels is adjacent to a ground terminal of a different differential signal transmission channel; and a latching assembly supported by said housing for engaging a mating connector and holding said connect and the mating connector together in a mated condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
248 words
A latching connector for use in differential signal applications, comprising: an insulative housing supporting a plurality of conductive terminals in at least two rows of terminals, the housing including a body portion and a mating plug portion extending outwardly therefrom, the terminal rows being disposed on opposite surfaces of said mating plug portion, each of said terminals including at least a contact portion and a tail portion, the terminal contact and tail portions extending out from opposite sides of said housing body portion, the housing mating plug portion is engageable with said housing body portion and said housing mating plug portion includes a plurality of slots disposed therein which receive said terminals therein; preselected groups of three of the terminals defining distinct differential signal transmission channels in the housing, each of the differential signal transmission channels including a pair of differential signal terminals disposed adjacent each other in one of said terminal rows and a ground terminal disposed in the other of said terminal rows in opposing relationship to the ground terminal, the differential signal transmission channels being arranged consecutively along the rows in an alternating, inverted sequence such that within each of said rows, said pair of differential signal terminals of one of said differential signal transmission channels is adjacent to a ground terminal of a different differential signal transmission channel; and a latching assembly supported by said housing for engaging a mating connector and holding said connect and the mating connector together in a mated condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The latching connector of claim 1 , wherein said differential signal and ground terminals of each of said differential signal transmission lines are arranged with pieces of an imaginary triangle when viewed from a front of said connector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The latching connector of claim 1 , wherein the latching assembly includes a pair of latching member disposed on opposite ends of said housing, each latching member including a cantilevered latching arm that extends forwardly of said housing outside of said terminals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The latching connector of claim 3 , wherein said latching arms include free ends that terminate in latching hooks, the latching hooks being maintained at a level spaced apart from an insertion axis of said housing plug portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The latching connector of claim 4 , wherein said latching arm and latching hooks are maintained above the housing plug portion insertion axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The latching connector of claim 3 , further including a cable holder associated with said housing for holding a plurality of cables in a preselected position with respect to said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The latching connector of claim 6 , wherein said latching members are held in place in said connector between said housing and the cable holder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The latching connector of claim 7 , wherein said latching members include retention legs that respectively engage said housing body and said cable holder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The latching connector of claim 8 , wherein each of said latching members includes a body portion and the retention legs project outwardly from two sides of the body portion and said latching arm projects outwardly from another side of said body portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The latching connector of claim 9 , wherein said retention legs project from two opposing sides of said body portion and said latching arm projects from said body portion intermediate said retention legs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The latching connector of claim 1 , further including a conductive shield encompassing said housing and terminals, to define a hollow enclosure that receives a portion of a mating connector therein, the latching assembly including a pair of spaced apart latching members that extend alongside said housing within the conductive shield hollow enclosure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The latching connector of claim 11 , wherein said latching members are spaced apart widthwise of said connector housing a preselected distance so as to engage a mating connector outside of points of attachment of the mating connector to a circuit board.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The latching connector of claim 11 , wherein said latching members are structured and arranged to resist separation of said connector from a mating connector by a separation of force of less than thirty pounds (30 lbs).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The latching connector of claim 11 , further including a cable holder for holding cables in position with respect to said hosing body portion and said latching members include a pair of retention legs that respectively engage the cable holder and said housing body portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The latching connector of claim 11 , wherein said latching members include actuator arms for disengaging said latching members from a mating connector.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
79 words
The latching connector of claim 15 , wherein said latching members each include a body portion supported by said housing, a latching arm extending from the body portion and terminating in a latching hook, the actuator arm being disposed on the latching arm at a location between the latching hook and said body portion, said conductive shield including openings disposed therein in opposition to said actuator arms so that said actuator arms are received within the conductive shield openings.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The latching connector of claim 16 , wherein said latching arm extends above said latching member body portions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
192 words
A connector for use in differential signal applications, comprising: an insulative housing supporting a plurality of conductive terminals in at least two rows of terminals, preselected groups of three of the terminals defining distinct differential signal transmission channels in the housing, each of the differential signal transmission channels including a pair of differential signal terminals disposed adjacent each other in one of said terminal rows and a ground terminal disposed in the other of said terminal rows in opposing relationship to the ground terminal, the differential signal transmission channels being arranged consecutively along the rows in an alternating, inverted sequence such that within each of said rows, said pair of differential signal terminals of one of said differential signal transmission channels is adjacent to a ground terminal of a different differential signal transmission channel; a latching assembly supported by said housing for engaging a mating connector and holding said connector and the mating connector together in a mated condition, the latching assembly including a pair of spaced-apart latching members that are supported between said housing and an end member, each latching member including a latching arm that extends forwardly of said housing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
192 words
A connector for use in differential signal applications, comprising: an insulative housing supporting a plurality of conductive terminals in at least two rows of terminals, preselected groups of three of the terminals defining distinct differential signal transmission channels in the housing, each of the differential signal transmission channels including a pair of differential signal terminals disposed adjacent each other in one of said terminal rows and a ground terminal disposed in the other of said terminal rows in opposing relationship to the ground terminal, the differential signal transmission channels being arranged consecutively along the rows in an alternating, inverted sequence such that within each of said rows, said pair of differential signal terminals of one of said differential signal transmission channels is adjacent to a ground terminal of a different differential signal transmission channel; a latching assembly supported by said housing for engaging a mating connector and holding said connector and the mating connector together in a mated condition, the latching assembly including a pair of spaced-apart latching members that are supported between said housing and an end member, each latching member including a latching arm that extends forwardly of said housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The connector of claim 18 , wherein the end member supports a plurality of cables in a preselected position with respect to said housing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
205 words
A latching connector for use in differential signal applications, comprising: an insulative housing supporting a plurality of conductive terminals in at least two rows of terminals, and a conductive shield encompassing the housing and terminals, to define a hollow enclosure that receives a portion of a mating connector therein; preselected groups of three of the terminals defining distinct differential signal transmission channels in the housing, each of the differential signal transmission channels including a pair of differential signal terminals disposed adjacent each other in one of said terminal rows and a ground terminal disposed in the other of said terminal rows in opposing relationship to the ground terminal, the differential signal transmission channels being arranged consecutively along the rows in an alternating, inverted sequence such that within each of said rows, said pair of differential signal terminals of one of said differential signal transmission channels is adjacent to a ground terminal of a different differential signal transmission channel; and, a latching assembly supported by said housing for engaging the mating connector and holding said connector and the mating connector together in a mated condition, the latching assembly including a pair of spaced-apart latching members that extend alongside said housing within the conductive shield hollow enclosure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
205 words
A latching connector for use in differential signal applications, comprising: an insulative housing supporting a plurality of conductive terminals in at least two rows of terminals, and a conductive shield encompassing the housing and terminals, to define a hollow enclosure that receives a portion of a mating connector therein; preselected groups of three of the terminals defining distinct differential signal transmission channels in the housing, each of the differential signal transmission channels including a pair of differential signal terminals disposed adjacent each other in one of said terminal rows and a ground terminal disposed in the other of said terminal rows in opposing relationship to the ground terminal, the differential signal transmission channels being arranged consecutively along the rows in an alternating, inverted sequence such that within each of said rows, said pair of differential signal terminals of one of said differential signal transmission channels is adjacent to a ground terminal of a different differential signal transmission channel; and, a latching assembly supported by said housing for engaging the mating connector and holding said connector and the mating connector together in a mated condition, the latching assembly including a pair of spaced-apart latching members that extend alongside said housing within the conductive shield hollow enclosure.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The latching connector of claim 20 , wherein said members include free ends that terminate in latching hooks, the latching hooks being maintained at a level spaced apart from an insertion axis of said housing plug portion.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The latching connector of claim 21 , wherein said latching hooks are maintained above the housing plug portion insertion axis.
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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) | 2007-09-07 | 2008-03-08 | 2008-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-09-07 | 2012-03-08 | 2012-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-09-07 | 2016-03-08 | 2016-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |