U.S. patent application number 12/555403 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-10 for modular connector system.
This patent application is currently assigned to TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION. Invention is credited to MICHAEL WARREN FOGG, BRIAN KEITH MCMASTER, JR., JOHN EUGENE WESTMAN.
Application Number | 20110059625 12/555403 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43617227 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110059625 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WESTMAN; JOHN EUGENE ; et
al. |
March 10, 2011 |
MODULAR CONNECTOR SYSTEM
Abstract
A connector assembly includes a subsidiary circuit board,
connectors, and an interposer assembly. The subsidiary circuit
board includes opposite sides. The connectors are mounted to the
opposite sides of the subsidiary circuit board and are electrically
coupled with the subsidiary circuit board. The connectors are
configured to mate with mating connectors. The interposer assembly
is joined with the subsidiary circuit board. The interposer
assembly includes a dielectric housing and elongated contacts that
extend between opposite outer ends along a vertical axis and are
held by the housing. The interposer assembly mates with the
subsidiary circuit board and is configured to mate with a main
circuit board such that the outer ends of the contacts electrically
couple the connectors mounted to the subsidiary circuit board with
the main circuit board.
Inventors: |
WESTMAN; JOHN EUGENE;
(HARRISBURG, PA) ; MCMASTER, JR.; BRIAN KEITH;
(MECHANICSBURG, PA) ; FOGG; MICHAEL WARREN;
(HARRISBURG, PA) |
Assignee: |
TYCO ELECTRONICS
CORPORATION
BERWYN
PA
|
Family ID: |
43617227 |
Appl. No.: |
12/555403 |
Filed: |
September 8, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/55 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 13/659 20130101;
H01R 13/514 20130101; H01R 13/658 20130101; H01R 12/722 20130101;
H01R 12/716 20130101; H01R 13/6474 20130101; H01R 31/005 20130101;
H05K 1/141 20130101; H01R 13/6595 20130101; H01R 13/6477 20130101;
H01R 13/6471 20130101; H01R 12/724 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/55 |
International
Class: |
H01R 12/00 20060101
H01R012/00 |
Claims
1. A connector assembly comprising: a subsidiary circuit board
including opposite sides; connectors mounted to the opposite sides
of the subsidiary circuit board, the connectors electrically
coupled with the subsidiary circuit board and configured to mate
with mating connectors; and an interposer assembly joined with the
subsidiary circuit board, the interposer assembly including a
dielectric housing and elongated signal and ground contacts
extending between opposite outer ends along a vertical axis and
held by the housing, the signal contacts arranged in pairs with the
pairs and the ground contacts disposed on opposite sides of lateral
interior walls of the housing and the signal contacts in the pairs
separated from each other by transverse interior walls of the
housing, wherein the interposer assembly mates with the subsidiary
circuit board and is configured to mate with a main circuit board
such that the outer ends of the contacts electrically couple the
connectors mounted to the subsidiary circuit board with the main
circuit board.
2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the pairs of the
signal contacts that are adjacent to one another along a lateral
axis of the interposer assembly are separated from one another by a
single ground contact.
3. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the pairs of signal
contacts that are adjacent to one another along a transverse axis
of the interposer assembly are separated from one another by a
single ground contact, the pairs of signal contacts that are
adjacent to one another along a lateral axis of the interposer
assembly separated from one another by a different single ground
contact.
4. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the signal contacts
within each of the pairs of signal contacts are separated from one
another by the transverse interior walls of the housing along a
transverse axis of the interposer assembly and the pairs of signal
contacts are separated from the ground contacts by air gaps along a
lateral axis of the interposer assembly.
5. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the signal contacts
are separated from the ground contacts by an air gap along a
lateral axis of the interposer assembly and separated from the
ground contacts by the lateral interior walls of the housing along
the transverse axis of the interposer assembly.
6. The connector assembly of claim 1, further comprising a
connector cage configured to be mounted to the main circuit board,
the connector cage comprising ports adapted to receive the mating
connectors, wherein the subsidiary circuit board, the connectors
mounted to the subsidiary circuit board, and the interposer
assembly are disposed within the connector cage such that the
connectors mounted to the subsidiary circuit board mate with the
mating connectors loaded into the ports.
7. The connector assembly of claim 6, further comprising a push
block disposed within the connector cage between the subsidiary
circuit board and the connector cage, the push block receiving a
loading force applied to the connector cage and transferring the
loading force to the contacts of the interposer assembly to mate
the contacts with the main circuit board.
8. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the contacts in the
interposer assembly electrically couple to the connectors mounted
to the subsidiary circuit board and the mating connectors with the
main circuit board via the subsidiary circuit board.
9. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the
connectors is mounted to one of the opposite sides of the
subsidiary circuit board and at least one other of the connectors
is mounted to the other of the opposite sides of the subsidiary
circuit board.
10. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing of the
interposer assembly extends between a mating side and a mounting
side, the mating side engaging the subsidiary circuit board, the
mounting side engaging the main circuit board when the interposer
mates with the main circuit board.
11. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the contacts in the
interposer assembly are elongated contacts that mate with and
extend between the subsidiary circuit board and the main circuit
board when the interposer assembly mates with the main circuit
board.
12. A connector assembly comprising: a connector cage including a
port that is configured to receive a mating connector into the
connector cage, the connector cage adapted to be mounted to a main
circuit board; a subsidiary circuit board disposed within the
connector cage between the ports; a connector mounted to and
electrically coupled with the subsidiary circuit board, the
connector disposed within the port of the connector cage and
configured to mate with the mating connector to electrically couple
the mating connector with the subsidiary circuit board; an
interposer assembly mounted to the subsidiary circuit board and
configured to mate with the main circuit board, the interposer
assembly comprising contacts that are configured to mate with and
electrically couple the subsidiary circuit board with the main
circuit board, the contacts including a ground contact and pairs of
signal contacts, the signal contacts within each of the pairs
separated from each other by a portion of the housing and separated
from the ground contact by an air gap along a lateral axis of the
interposer assembly; and a push block disposed between the
subsidiary circuit board and the connector cage, the push block
receiving a loading force applied to the connector cage and
transferring the loading force to the interposer assembly to mate
the interposer assembly with the main circuit board.
13. The connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the connector cage
includes a top wall, a rear wall, and opposing side walls joined
with one another, the push block disposed between the subsidiary
circuit board and the top wall, between the side walls, and between
the connector mounted to the subsidiary circuit board and the rear
wall.
14. The connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the push block
includes a tab that engages the connector cage and secures the push
block to the connector cage.
15. The connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the push block and
the connector are mounted to a common side of the subsidiary
circuit board, the push block having a height dimension along a
vertical axis between the subsidiary circuit board and the
connector cage that is larger than a height dimension of the
connector mounted to the subsidiary circuit board.
16. The connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the pairs of signal
contacts that are adjacent to one another along the lateral axis of
the interposer assembly are separated from one another by a single
ground contact.
17. The connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the pairs of signal
contacts that are adjacent to one another along a transverse axis
of the interposer assembly separated from one another by a single
ground contact, the pairs of signal contacts that are adjacent to
one another along the lateral axis of the interposer assembly
separated from one another by a different single ground
contact.
18. (canceled)
19. The connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the signal contacts
are separated from the ground contact by the housing along a
transverse axis of the interposer assembly.
20. The connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the connector is
mounted to a first side of the subsidiary circuit board and another
connector is mounted to an opposite second side of the subsidiary
circuit board.
21. A connector assembly comprising: a subsidiary circuit board
including opposite sides; connectors mounted to the opposite sides
of the subsidiary circuit board, the connectors electrically
coupled with the subsidiary circuit board and configured to mate
with mating connectors; an interposer assembly joined with the
subsidiary circuit board, the interposer assembly including a
dielectric housing; and elongated contacts disposed in the housing
of the interposer assembly, the contacts extending between opposite
outer ends, the contacts including ground contacts and pairs of
signal contacts, the signal contacts separated from the ground
contacts by an air gap along a first axis of the interposer
assembly and separated from the ground contacts by the housing
along a second axis of the interposer assembly, wherein the
interposer assembly mates with the subsidiary circuit board and is
configured to mate with a main circuit board such that the outer
ends of the contacts electrically couple the connectors mounted to
the subsidiary circuit board with the main circuit board.
22. The connector assembly of claim 21, wherein the signal contacts
within each of the pairs of signal contact are separated from one
another by the housing.
23. The connector assembly of claim 21, further comprising a
connector cage having a port configured to receive a mating
connector that mates with at least one of the connectors and a push
block disposed between the subsidiary circuit board and the
connector cage, the push block including a tab that engages the
connector cage and secures the push block to the connector cage,
wherein the push block is positioned within the connector cage to
receive a loading force applied to the connector cage and transfer
the loading force to the interposer assembly.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates generally to electrical connectors
and, more particularly, to a connector system that is capable of
mating with several mating connectors.
[0002] Known connector systems include several connectors within a
connector cage. The connector cage typically is a conductive body
that is electrically coupled with an electric ground reference. The
connector cage may include ports that are shaped to receive mating
connectors. The connectors located in the connector cage are
located within the ports such that these connectors mate with the
mating connectors when the mating connectors are inserted into the
ports. The connector cage may shield the connectors from
electromagnetic interference.
[0003] Some of these known connector systems provide two or more of
the connectors in the connector cage in a vertically stacked
arrangement. For example, a pair of the connectors may be disposed
above and below one another with the lower connector mounted to a
circuit board and the upper connector coupled with the lower
connector. By way of example only, the upper and lower connectors
may be included in a single, unitary common housing with separate
mating interfaces that mate with the mating connectors. The common
housing of the connectors can be mounted to a circuit board. The
connector cage of the system also may be mounted to the same
circuit board.
[0004] Typically, the connectors in the cage include contacts that
mate with and electrically couple with corresponding contacts of
the mating connectors. The contacts of the connectors in the cage
may extend from the mating interfaces of the connectors to the
circuit board to which the housing of the connectors is mounted.
Alternatively, the contacts may be electrically coupled with the
circuit board via one or more additional conductive components. In
either case, conductive signal paths for the contacts may extend
from the mating interfaces of the connectors to the circuit board
to electrically couple the mating connectors with the circuit board
when the mating connectors mate with the connectors in the
connector cage.
[0005] The signal paths for the contacts in the upper connector of
the connector cage may be significantly longer than the signal
paths for the contacts in the lower connector. For example, the
distances that data signals must travel through the connectors to
the circuit board may be greater for the upper connector than for
the lower connector. In connector systems where relatively high
data rates are used to communicate data using the connectors, the
increased distance that the signals must pass may increase
cross-talk in the signals.
[0006] A need exists for connector systems that include multiple
connectors capable of relatively high speed data communication
while reducing cross-talk among or between contacts or signal paths
associated with the connectors.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In one embodiment, a connector assembly is provided. The
connector assembly includes a subsidiary circuit board, connectors,
and an interposer assembly. The subsidiary circuit board includes
opposite sides. The connectors are mounted to the opposite sides of
the subsidiary circuit board and are electrically coupled with the
subsidiary circuit board. The connectors are configured to mate
with mating connectors. The interposer assembly is joined with the
subsidiary circuit board. The interposer assembly includes a
dielectric housing and elongated contacts that extend between
opposite outer ends along a vertical axis and are held by the
housing. The interposer assembly mates with the subsidiary circuit
board and is configured to mate with a main circuit board such that
the outer ends of the contacts electrically couple the connectors
mounted to the subsidiary circuit board with the main circuit
board.
[0008] In another embodiment, another connector assembly is
provided. The connector assembly includes a connector cage, a
subsidiary circuit board, a connector, an interposer assembly, and
a push block. The connector cage includes a port that is configured
to receive a mating connector into the connector cage. The
connector cage is adapted to be mounted to a main circuit board.
The subsidiary circuit board is disposed within the connector cage
between the ports. The connector is mounted to and electrically
coupled with the subsidiary circuit board. The connector is
disposed within the port of the connector cage and is configured to
mate with the mating connector to electrically couple the mating
connector with the subsidiary circuit board. The interposer
assembly is mounted to the subsidiary circuit board and is
configured to mate with the main circuit board. The interposer
assembly includes contacts that are configured to mate with and
electrically couple the subsidiary circuit board with the main
circuit board. The push block is disposed between the subsidiary
circuit board and the connector cage. The push block receives a
loading force that is applied to the connector cage and transfers
the loading force to the interposer assembly to mate the interposer
assembly with the main circuit board.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a partial cut-away view of a connector cage system
in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the connector cage system
shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an interposer assembly shown
in FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the presently
disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the interposer assembly
shown in FIG. 1 taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3 in accordance with
one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the interposer assembly
shown in FIG. 1 taken along line 5-5 shown in FIG. 3 in accordance
with one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a push block shown in FIG. 1
in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the push block shown
in FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] FIG. 1 is a partial cut-away view of a modular connector
system 100 in accordance with one embodiment of the present
disclosure. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the modular connector
system 100 in accordance with one embodiment of the present
disclosure. The system 100 includes a connector assembly 102
mounted to a main circuit board 104 and disposed within a connector
cage 106. The connector cage 106 may be mounted to the main circuit
board 104 to electrically couple the connector cage 106 with an
electric ground reference of the main circuit board 104. The
connector cage 106 may shield the connector assembly 102 from
electromagnetic interference by being joined to the electric ground
reference of the main circuit board 104.
[0017] The connector cage 106 is a conductive body that includes a
top wall 108, several opposing side walls 110, a rear wall 112, and
a bottom wall 114. A dividing or separator plate 118 is disposed
between adjacent pairs of the side walls 110 to form upper and
lower ports 116. One or more of the side walls 110 may include
retention slots 208, 210 (shown in FIG. 2). The retention slots
208, 210 engage tabs 212, 214 on the connector assembly 102 to
secure the connector assembly 102 to the connector cage 106. As
shown in FIG. 1, the connector cage 106 includes multiple ports 116
that are formed by the walls 108-114 and plates 118. The ports 116
receive mating connectors (not shown) that mate with the connector
assembly 102 to communicate data and/or power therebetween. By way
of non-limiting example only, the ports 116 may have dimensions
that are sized to receive a small form-factor pluggable connector
or transceiver that mates with the connector assembly 102.
[0018] The connector assembly 102 includes a subsidiary circuit
board 120 to which two connectors 122, 124 are mounted. By way of
non-limiting example only, the connectors 122, 124 may be mounted
to surfaces of the subsidiary circuit board 120 or through-hole
mounted to the subsidiary circuit board 120. The connectors 122,
124 are shown in a stacked arrangement with one connector 122
located above the other connector 124 along a vertical axis 132 of
the connector assembly 102. For example, the connectors 122, 124
are stacked above one another in groups or pairs in the illustrated
embodiment. Such an embodiment may be referred to as a vertically
stacked modular connector assembly. Alternatively, the connectors
122, 124 may be mounted side-by-side along a lateral axis 138 of
the connector assembly 102. The connectors 122, 124 are
electrically coupled with the subsidiary circuit board 120. For
example, the connectors 122, 124 may include contacts 130 that are
electrically joined with conductive traces (not shown) extending
along and/or through the subsidiary circuit board 120. The number
of connectors 122, 124 shown mounted to the subsidiary circuit
board 120 in FIG. 1 is merely an example. A different number of the
connectors 122, 124 may be provided. For example, only a single
connector 122, 124 may be mounted to the subsidiary circuit board
120. In the illustrated embodiment, the connectors 122, 124 are
mounted to different sides 126, 128 of the subsidiary circuit board
120. The sides 126, 128 are opposite one another such that the
connectors 122, 124 extend away from the subsidiary circuit board
120 in opposite directions.
[0019] The subsidiary circuit board 120 is positioned within the
connector cage 106 between the top wall 108 and the main circuit
board 104. The subsidiary circuit board 120 is disposed between the
ports 116 along the vertical axis 132 of the connector assembly
102. The subsidiary circuit board 120 may be located between the
ports 116 such that the connectors 122, 124 are aligned with
different ports 116 and positioned to mate with the mating
connectors (not shown) that are inserted or loaded into the ports
116 to electrically couple with the mating connectors.
[0020] An interposer assembly 134 is coupled with the subsidiary
circuit board 120. The interposer assembly 134 may be mounted to
and electrically coupled with the subsidiary circuit board 120. For
example, the interposer assembly 134 may include signal contacts
and ground contacts 200, 202 (shown in FIG. 2) having upper ends
322 (shown in FIG. 3) that mate with the subsidiary circuit board
120, and lower ends 324 (shown in FIG. 3) that mate with the main
circuit board 104 when the connector assembly 102 is mounted to the
main circuit board 104. The contacts 200, 202 of the interposer
assembly 134 electrically couple the subsidiary circuit board 120
with the main circuit board 104. The mating connectors (not shown)
that mate with the connectors 122, 124 may be electrically
connected with the main circuit board 104 via the subsidiary
circuit board 120 and the interposer assembly 134.
[0021] As described below, the interposer assembly 134 may arrange
the signal and ground contacts 200, 202 (shown in FIG. 2) in a
pattern that reduces or eliminates noise and/or crosstalk in
signals communicated using the signal contacts 200. The signal and
ground contacts 200, 202 may be arranged in the interposer assembly
134 to communicate data signals at relatively high data rates. By
way of example only, the connector assembly 102 may be capable of
communicating data signals through the interposer assembly 134 at
data rates of at least approximately 10 Gigabytes per second. In
another example, the data rate may be approximately 16 Gigabytes
per second or greater.
[0022] A push block 136 is provided within the connector cage 106
between the subsidiary circuit board 120 and the connector cage
106. In the illustrated embodiment, the push block 136 is located
on top of the side 126 of the subsidiary circuit board 120 between
the side 126 and the top wall 108 of the connector cage 106. The
push block 136 also is shown as being located behind the connector
122 between the connector 122 and the rear wall 112 of the
connector cage 106 and between adjacent side walls 110, with one of
the side walls 110 not shown in FIG. 1. The push block 136
transfers a loading force applied to the connector cage 106 to the
interposer assembly 134 to seat the connector assembly 102 onto the
main circuit board 104. For example, a loading force may be applied
to the top wall 108 of the connector cage 106 in a direction
generally along the longitudinal axis 132 and represented by the
arrow 140 in FIG. 1. The loading force may be transferred to the
subsidiary circuit board 120 by the push block 136. The loading
force may force the subsidiary circuit board 120 and the interposer
assembly 134 downward along the longitudinal axis 132 and toward
the main circuit board 104. The loading force seats or loads the
lower ends 324 (shown in FIG. 3) of the signal and ground contacts
200, 202 (shown in FIG. 2) of the interposer assembly 134 into
corresponding contact openings 204, 206 (shown in FIG. 2) in the
main circuit board 104. The lower ends 324 of the signal and ground
contacts 200, 202 are forced into the contact openings 204, 206 to
mount the connector assembly 102 to the main circuit board 104.
[0023] The push block 136 prevents the loading force from damaging
or altering the structure of one or more components of the
connector assembly 102. For example, the push block 136 may have a
height dimension 142 (shown in FIG. 1) measured in along an axial
direction that is oriented parallel to the vertical axis 132. The
height dimension 142 of the push block 136 may be greater than a
height dimension 144 (shown in FIG. 1) of the connector 122
measured in the same direction as the height dimension 142. The
greater height dimension 142 of the push block 136 results in the
loading force causing the connector cage 106 to contact and engage
the push block 136 prior to or without engaging the connector 122.
The push block 136 receives the loading force and prevents the
connector cage 106 from bending downward and damaging or contacting
the connector 122. In one embodiment, the height dimension 142 of
the push block 136 is the greatest height dimension of all
components and devices that are mounted or extending upward from
the side 126 of the subsidiary circuit board 120.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the interposer assembly 134
in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. The
interposer assembly 134 includes a housing 300 that extends between
a mating side 302 and an opposite mounting side 304 along the
vertical axis 132, between opposite front and rear sides 306, 308
along a transverse axis 310, and between opposite sides 312, 314
along the lateral axis 138. In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS.
1-3, the vertical, lateral, and transverse axes 132, 138, 310 are
disposed at right angles with respect to one another and intersect
one another within the interposer assembly 134. In the embodiment
shown in FIG. 1, the housing 300 extends between the subsidiary
circuit board 120 (shown in FIG. 1) and the main circuit board 104
(shown in FIG. 1). For example, the side 302 of the interposer
assembly 134 engages the side 128 (shown in FIG. 1) of the
subsidiary circuit board 120 and the side 304 of the interposer
assembly 134 engages the main circuit board 104 when the connector
assembly 102 (shown in FIG. 1) is mounted to the main circuit board
104. The housing 300 includes, or is formed from, a dielectric
material, such as one or more nonconductive polymers in one
embodiment. For example, the housing 300 may be molded from one or
more thermoplastic polymers.
[0025] The housing 300 includes the tab 214 projecting from the
side 312 in a direction parallel to the lateral axis 138.
Alternatively, the tab 214 may project from a different side 302,
304, 306, 308, 314 and/or in a different direction. The tab 214 may
be received in the retention slot 210 (shown in FIG. 2) of the
connector cage 106 (shown in FIG. 1) to secure the interposer
assembly 134 to the connector cage 106. In one embodiment, prior to
closing the rear side of the connector cage 106 with the rear wall
112 (shown in FIG. 1) by, for example, bending the rear wall 112
downward to enclose the rear side of the connector cage 106, the
connector assembly 102 (shown in FIG. 1) may be loaded into the
connector cage 106 through the rear side of the connector cage 106
by sliding the tab 214 into the retention slot 210. The engagement
between the retention slot 210 and the tab 214 may limit or prevent
movement of the connector cage 106 relative to the interposer
assembly 134 and/or connector assembly 102 in one or more
directions.
[0026] The housing 300 includes contact channels 318, 320 that
extend from the side 302 toward the side 304. In one embodiment,
the contact channels 318, 320 extend through the housing 300 from
the side 302 to the side 304. As shown in FIG. 3, the contact
channels 320 are wider in a direction along the lateral axis 138
than the contact channels 318 while the contact channels 318, 320
have approximately the same width in a direction along the
transverse axis 310.
[0027] The signal and ground contacts 200, 202 are disposed within
the contact channels 318, 320. The signal and ground contacts 200,
202 extend between an outer end 322 and a lower end 324 which may
simply be termed opposite outer ends. The outer ends 322, 324 may
differ from one another or be substantially the same. For example,
in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the outer ends 322 of the signal
and ground contacts 200, 202 differ from the outer ends 324 of the
signal and ground contacts 200, 202. The outer ends 322 are loaded
into or otherwise mate with the subsidiary circuit board 120 (shown
in FIG. 1) while the outer ends 324 are loaded into or otherwise
mate with the main circuit board 104 (shown in FIG. 1) to
electrically couple the subsidiary circuit board 120 with the main
circuit board 104. The illustrated outer ends 322 are solder tail
contact ends that may be loaded into openings (not shown) in the
subsidiary circuit board 120 (shown in FIG. 1) and soldered to the
subsidiary circuit board 120. The illustrated outer ends 324 are
eye-of-needle (EON) contact tails that may be press-fit into the
contact openings 204, 206 (shown in FIG. 2) of the main circuit
board 104 (shown in FIG. 1).
[0028] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the interposer assembly
134 taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3 in accordance with one
embodiment of the present disclosure. The tab 214 (shown in FIG. 2)
is not shown in FIG. 4. The signal and ground contacts 200, 202 are
elongated contacts oriented in directions along the longitudinal
axis 132 (shown in FIG. 1). The signal and ground contacts 200, 202
have corresponding length dimensions 412, 414 that are measured
between the tips of the outer ends 322, 324 in directions parallel
to the longitudinal axis 132. The length dimensions 412, 414 may be
approximately the same or may differ from one another.
[0029] The outer ends 322, 324 of the signal contacts 200 are
interconnected by a body section 404. The body sections 404 of the
signal contacts 200 have approximately constant width dimensions
406 in directions parallel to the lateral axis 138 in the
illustrated embodiment. The outer ends 322, 324 of the ground
contacts 202 are interconnected by a body section 408. The body
sections 408 of the ground contacts 202 have approximately constant
width dimensions 410 in directions parallel to the lateral axis 138
in the illustrated embodiment. The body sections 408 of the ground
contacts 202 may have greater width dimensions 410 than the width
dimensions 406 of the signal contacts 200.
[0030] The outer ends 322 include the portions of the signal and
ground contacts 200, 202 that protrude from the body sections 404,
408 of the signal and ground contacts 200, 202. For example, the
outer ends 322 of the signal and ground contacts 200, 202 may
include the sections of the signal and ground contacts 200, 202
that have substantially identical dimensions and that protrude from
one of the sides 302, 304, 306, 308, 312, 314 of the interposer
assembly 134. Alternatively, the outer ends 322 of the signal and
ground contacts 200, 202 may differ from one another. The outer
ends 324 of the signal and ground contacts 200, 202 extend from the
body sections 404, 408 in an opposite direction than the outer ends
202. As shown in FIG. 4, the outer ends 324 protrude from the side
304 of the interposer assembly 134. The outer ends 324 may be
eye-of-needle pins that are inserted into the main circuit board
104 (shown in FIG. 1) to electrically couple the signal and ground
contacts 200, 202 with the main circuit board 104. Alternatively,
the outer ends 324 may have different dimensions and/or sizes.
[0031] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the interposer assembly
134 taken along line 5-5 shown in FIG. 3 in accordance with one
embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 illustrates the
pattern, or spatial arrangement, of the signal and ground contacts
200, 202 relative to one another in a plane disposed parallel to
the sides 302 (shown in FIG. 3) and 304 in one embodiment. The
pattern shown in FIG. 5 includes several rows 500-510 of the
contacts 200, 202. The rows 500-510 include sets or groups of the
signal and ground contacts 200, 202 with the contacts 200, 202
linearly aligned with one another in directions oriented along the
lateral axis 138. For example, the planar bodies 404, 408 (shown in
FIG. 4) of the signal and ground contacts 200, 202 in each row
500-510 may be disposed in a common plane with one another, with
the common plane oriented approximately parallel to the front and
rear sides 306, 308 of the interposer assembly 134.
[0032] In each of the rows 500-510 shown in FIG. 5, the signal
contacts 200 are arranged in several pairs 512, with two signal
contacts 200 disposed adjacent to one another in each pair 512. A
single one of the ground contacts 202 is located between adjacent
pairs 512 of the signal contacts 200 in the rows 500-510.
Alternatively, a different number of signal contacts 200 may be
provided in groups along each row 500-510 instead of the signal
contacts 200 being provided in the pairs 512. In another
embodiment, a different number of ground contacts 202 may be
provided between adjacent groups or pairs 512 of the signal
contacts 200. The ground contacts 202 are separated from adjacent
pairs 512 of the signal contacts 200 by a lateral air gap 526. The
lateral air gap 526 may be a spatial separation between the ground
contacts 202 and the signal contacts 200 in directions along the
lateral axis 138 where no portion of the housing 300 or other
component is disposed.
[0033] The signal and ground contacts 200, 202 also are arranged in
several columns 514-520 in the pattern shown in FIG. 5. The columns
514-520 may be oriented along linear directions that are oriented
perpendicular to the rows 500-510. For example, the columns 514-520
include several of the pairs 512 of the signal contacts 200 and
several of the ground contacts 202 aligned with one another along
directions that are parallel to the transverse axis 310. The bodies
404, 408 (shown in FIG. 4) of the signal and ground contacts 200,
202 in each column 514-520 are oriented in planes that are not
common with one another. For example, the planar bodies 404, 408 of
the signal and ground contacts 200, 202 in each column 514-520 may
be oriented approximately parallel with respect to one another and
approximately perpendicular to the linear direction over which each
column 514-520 extends. Each column 514-520 includes pairs 512 of
the signal contacts 200 that are separated from one another by a
single one of the ground contacts 202. For example, the pairs 512
of the signal contacts 200 that are adjacent to one another in each
column 514-520 are separated from one another by a single ground
contact 202. Alternatively, a different number of the ground
contacts 202 may be provided between adjacent pairs 512 of the
signal contacts 200 along the columns 514-520. The signal and
ground contacts 200, 202 may be arranged in the rows 500-510 and
columns 514-520 such that an individual ground contact 202
separates adjacent pairs 512 of the signal contacts 200 along the
rows 500-510 and a different individual ground contact 202
separates adjacent pairs 512 of the signal contacts 200 along the
columns 514-520.
[0034] The housing 300 of the interposer assembly 134 includes
lateral interior walls 522 that extend between the opposite sides
312, 314. The lateral interior walls 522 are oriented approximately
parallel to one another and to the front and rear sides 306, 308 of
the interposer assembly 134. As shown in FIG. 5, the lateral
interior walls 522 are oriented parallel to the lateral axis 138.
The lateral interior walls 522 may extend from the mating side 302
(shown in FIG. 3) to the mounting side 304 of the housing 300. The
lateral interior walls 522 separate the rows 500-510 of the
contacts 200, 202 from one another. For example, each lateral
interior wall 522 may separate adjacent rows 500-510 of the signal
and ground contacts 200, 202 from each other. As shown in FIG. 5,
the contacts 200, 202 in adjacent rows 500-510 abut opposite sides
of the lateral interior walls 522. For example, the signal and
ground contacts 200, 202 in the row 500 and the signal and ground
contacts 200, 202 in the row 502 abut the opposite sides of the
lateral interior wall 522 that separates the rows 500, 502 from one
another. The lateral interior walls 522 separate the ground
contacts 202 from the pairs 512 of the signal contacts 200 within
the columns 514-520. For example, the ground contacts 202 are
separated from adjacent ones of the pairs 512 of the signal
contacts 200 by the lateral interior walls 522 within each of the
columns 514-520. The signal and/or ground contacts 200, 202 may be
separated from an adjacent lateral interior wall 522 by a
transverse air gap 528. The transverse air gap 528 is a spatial
separation between a signal and/or ground contact 200, 202 and a
lateral interior wall 522 in a direction along the transverse axis
310. In one embodiment, no portion of the housing 300 or any other
component is provided in the transverse air gap 528.
[0035] The housing 300 shown in FIG. 5 includes transverse interior
walls 524 that extend between the lateral interior walls 522. For
example, the transverse interior walls 524 couple adjacent ones of
the lateral interior walls 522 with one another. The transverse
interior walls 524 are oriented approximately parallel to one
another and to the opposite sides 312, 314 of the housing 300. As
shown in FIG. 5, the transverse interior walls 524 also are
oriented parallel to the transverse axis 310. The transverse
interior walls 524 may extend from the mating side 302 (shown in
FIG. 3) to the mounting side 304 of the housing 300. The transverse
interior walls 524 are portions of the housing 300 that separate
the signal contacts 200 from one another in the groups or sets of
signal contacts 200. For example, the transverse interior walls 524
separate the signal contacts 200 in the pairs 512 of signal
contacts 200 from one another. As shown in FIG. 5, the signal
contacts 200 on opposite sides of the transverse interior walls 524
abut the opposite sides of the transverse interior walls 524.
Alternatively, an air gap or separation gap may exist between the
signal contacts 200 and the transverse interior walls 524.
[0036] The location or arrangement of the signal contacts 200,
ground contacts 202 and one or more portions of the housing 300 may
reduce cross-talk and/or electromagnetic interference in the
interposer assembly 134. For example, the lateral interior walls
522 located between the ground contacts 202 and adjacent pairs 512
of the signal contacts 200 in directions parallel to the transverse
axis 310 may increase the coupling between the signal and ground
contacts 200, 202. The coupling between the signal and ground
contacts 200, 202 may be energy coupling, capacitive coupling,
and/or inductive coupling. Increasing the coupling between the
signal and ground contacts 200, 202 using the dielectric lateral
interior walls 522 may increase an electric impedance
characteristic of the interposer assembly 134. For example,
increasing the coupling between the contacts 200, 202 via the
lateral interior walls 522 may increase an electric capacitive
characteristic of the interposer assembly 134. As a result,
cross-talk between the signal contacts 200 may be reduced.
Providing ground contacts 202 between the pairs 512 of signal
contacts 200 in directions parallel to the lateral axis 138 may
reduce electromagnetic interference in the interposer assembly 134.
For example, the ground contacts 202 may be coupled with an
electric ground reference of the main circuit board 104 (shown in
FIG. 1) to transfer electromagnetic interference in the interposer
assembly 134 to the ground reference.
[0037] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the push block 136 in
accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is
another perspective view of the push block 136 in accordance with
one embodiment of the present disclosure. The push block 136 may
include, or be formed from, a dielectric material. For example, the
push block 136 may be molded from one or more polymers.
Alternatively, the push block 136 may include, or be formed from, a
conductive material, such as a metal or metal alloy. The push block
136 extends between opposite top and bottom sides 600, 602 in a
direction along the vertical axis 132, between opposite sides 604,
606 in a direction parallel to the lateral axis 138 (shown in FIG.
1), and between opposite front and rear sides 608, 610 in a
direction parallel to the transverse axis 310 (shown in FIG. 3)
[0038] The push block 136 includes tabs 612, 700 (shown in FIG. 7)
that protrude from the sides 604, 606. One or more of the tabs 612,
700 may be received in retention slots 208 (shown in FIG. 2) in the
connector cage 106 (shown in FIG. 1) to secure the push block 136
to the connector cage 106. For example, the tab 612 may be slid
into the retention slot 208 and the tab 700 may be slid into a
similar retention slot (not shown) in one of the side walls 110
(shown in FIG. 1).
[0039] The push block 136 includes crossing interior walls 614,
616. The interior wall 614 is oriented approximately parallel to
the vertical and lateral axes 132, 138 (shown in FIG. 1) and the
interior wall 616 is oriented approximately parallel to the
vertical and transverse axes 132, 310 (shown in FIG. 3). The
interior wall 614 extends between the sides 604, 606 and from the
top side 600 to the bottom side 602. The interior wall 616 extends
between the front and rear sides 608, 610 and from the top side 600
to the bottom side 602. The interior walls 614, 616 intersect one
another within the interior of the push block 136. In the
illustrated embodiment, the interior walls 614, 616 define four
channels 702-708 that extend through the push block 136 from the
top side 600 to the bottom side 602. Alternatively, a different
number of interior walls 614, 616 and/or interior channels 702-708
may be provided.
[0040] The interior walls 614, 616 and/or the sides 604-610 receive
the loading force applied along the direction of the arrow 140
(shown in FIG. 1) at the top side 600 and transfer this force to
the bottom side 602 of the push block 136. The loading force is
transferred to the subsidiary circuit board 120 (shown in FIG. 1)
to push the contacts 200, 202 (shown in FIG. 2) into the main
circuit board 104 (shown in FIG. 1) to seat the contacts 200, 202
in the main circuit board 104, as described above.
[0041] It is to be understood that the above description is
intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the
above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in
combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be
made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings
of the invention without departing from its scope. Dimensions,
types of materials, orientations of the various components, and the
number and positions of the various components described herein are
intended to define parameters of certain embodiments, and are by no
means limiting and merely are example embodiments. Many other
embodiments and modifications within the spirit and scope of the
claims will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing
the above description. The scope of the invention should,
therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims,
along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are
entitled. In the appended claims, the terms "including" and "in
which" are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective
terms "comprising" and "wherein." Moreover, in the following
claims, the terms "first," "second," and "third," etc. are used
merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical
requirements on their objects. Further, the limitations of the
following claims are not written in means--plus-function format and
are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 112,
sixth paragraph, unless and until such claim limitations expressly
use the phrase "means for" followed by a statement of function void
of further structure.
* * * * *