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Title:
CONNECTOR WITH TOP- AND BOTTOM-STITCHED CONTACTS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2020/010245
Kind Code:
A4
Abstract:
To help maintain and improve signal integrity, a connector housing can include one or more of the following: asymmetric keying features, asymmetric alignment features, and alternating stitched electrical contacts.

Inventors:
MUSSER RANDALL E (US)
BUCK JONATHAN E (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2019/040584
Publication Date:
February 27, 2020
Filing Date:
July 03, 2019
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
SAMTEC INC (US)
International Classes:
H01R13/24; H01R43/00
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
MEDLEY, Peter (US)
Download PDF:
Claims:
AMENDED CLAIMS

received by the International Bureau on 31 December 2019 (31.12.2019)

Claims

[Claim 1] An electrical connector comprising:

a connector housing that extends along a longitudinal centerline and has a median centerline that is perpendicular or substantially per pendicular to the longitudinal centerline, the connector housing including a first end wall and a second end wall opposed to the first end wall;

a first, a second, a third, and fourth rows of electrical contacts that are spaced apart in parallel rows, each of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth rows of electrical contacts extend parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline;

the first row of electrical contacts is spaced from the second row of electrical contacts by a first row pitch;

the third row of electrical contacts is spaced from the second row of electrical contacts by a second row pitch greater than the first row pitch;

the fourth row of electrical contacts is spaced from the third row of electrical contacts by the first row pitch;

a first keying structure is positioned adjacent to the first end wall of the connector housing and adjacent to a mating side of the connector housing; and

a second keying structure is positioned adjacent to the second end wall of the connector housing and adjacent to the mating side of the connector housing; wherein

the first keying structure and the second keying structure are positioned non- symmetrically about both the longitudinal centerline and the median centerline.

[Claim 2] The electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising:

a first alignment peg positioned adjacent to the first end wall of the connector housing and adjacent to a mounting side of the connector housing; and

a second alignment peg positioned adjacent to the second end wall of the connector housing and adjacent to the mounting side of the connector housing; wherein

the first alignment peg and the second alignment pegs are both po sitioned non- symmetrically about both the longitudinal centerline and the median centerline.

60 [Claim 3] The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein the connector housing further comprises an inner rib that extends along the longitudinal centerline and carries the second row and the third row of electrical contacts, the inner rib defines at least one air void that also extends along the longitudinal centerline, and the at least one air void is po sitioned between a mating end of an electrical contact in the third row of electrical contacts and a mating end of an electrical contact in the fourth row of electrical contacts.

[Claim 4] The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein the connector housing further comprises an inner rib that carries the second row and the third row of electrical contacts, the inner rib defines at least one air void, and the at least one air void is positioned between a mounting end of an electrical contact in the third row of electrical contacts and a mounting end of an electrical contact in the fourth row of electrical contacts.

[Claim 5] The electrical connector of claim 2 wherein the connector housing further comprises a first plug rib that extends parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline and carries the first row and second row of electrical contacts, the first plug rib defines at least one air void that extends parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline, and the at least one air void is positioned between a mating end of an electrical contact in the first row of electrical contacts and a mating end of an electrical contact in the second row of electrical contacts.

[Claim 6] The electrical connector of claim 5, wherein the connector housing further comprises a second plug rib that extends parallel or sub stantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline and carries the third row and the fourth row of electrical contacts, the second plug rib defines at least one air void that also extends parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline, and the at least one air void is positioned between a mating end of an electrical contact in the third row of electrical contacts and a mating end of an electrical contact in the fourth row of electrical contacts.

[Claim 7] The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is devoid of shields and power contacts between the first row of electrical contacts and the second row of electrical contacts.

[Claim 8] The electrical connector of claim 7, wherein the electrical connector is devoid of shields and power contacts between the second row of electrical contacts and the third row of electrical contacts.

61 [Claim 9] The electrical connector of any one of claims 1-8, wherein the first keying structure and the second keying structure are offset mirror images about the median centerline.

[Claim 10] The electrical connector of any one of claims 3-6, wherein the at least one air void is a plurality of air voids.

[Claim 11] The electrical connector of any one of claims 1-8, wherein the first keying structure is a first recess.

[Claim 12] The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the first recess is defined by at least four sides.

[Claim 13] The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the first recess is defined by at least five sides.

[Claim 14] The electrical connector of any one of claim 1-8, wherein the second keying structure is a second recess.

[Claim 15] The electrical connector of claim 14, wherein the second recess is defined by at least four sides.

[Claim 16] The electrical connector of claim 14, wherein the second recess is defined by at least five sides.

[Claim 17] The electrical connector of any one of claim 1-8, wherein the first keying structure is a first protrusion.

[Claim 18] The electrical connector of claim 17, wherein the first protrusion is defined by at least four sides.

[Claim 19] The electrical connector of claim 17, wherein the first protrusion is defined by at least five sides.

[Claim 20] The electrical connector of any one of claim 1-8, wherein the second keying structure is a second protrusion.

[Claim 21] The electrical connector of claim 20, wherein the second protrusion is defined by at least four sides.

[Claim 22] The electrical connector of claim 20, wherein the second protrusion is defined by at least five sides.

[Claim 23] The electrical connector of any one of claims 1-8, wherein the first keying structure is positioned entirely on a first side of the longitudinal centerline, and a second keying structure is positioned entirely on a second side of the longitudinal centerline opposite to the first side.

[Claim 24] The electrical connector of any one of claims 1-8, wherein the first keying structure abuts the longitudinal centerline.

[Claim 25] The electrical connector of any one of claims 1-8, wherein the second keying structure abuts the longitudinal centerline.

[Claim 26] The electrical connector of any one of claims 1-8, wherein the lon-

62 gitudinal centerline passes through a portion of the first keying

structure.

[Claim 27] The electrical connector of any one of claims 1-8, wherein the lon gitudinal centerline passes through a portion of the second keying structure.

[Claim 28] The electrical connector of any one of claims 1-8, wherein each of the respective first, second, third, and fourth rows of electrical contacts contain at least one hundred electrical contacts that each terminate with a respective fusible element.

[Claim 29] The electrical connector of any one of claims 1-8, wherein the first row pitch is 2.2+0.05 mm and the second row pitch is 2.4+0.05 mm.

[Claim 30] The electrical connector of any one of claims 1-8, wherein the electrical connector has a data rate of at least 32 Gbits/sec with an insertion loss between 0 dB and -1.5 dB.

[Claim 31] The electrical connector of any one of claims 1-8, wherein the electrical connector has an aggregate data rate of at least 4096 Gbits/sec with an insertion loss between 0 dB and -1.5 dB.

[Claim 32] The electrical connector of any one of claims 1-8, wherein the electrical connector has a data rate density of at least 2088 Gbits per square inch or 13467 Gbits per square centimeter, with an insertion loss between 0 dB and -1.5 dB.

[Claim 33] The electrical connector of any one of claims 1-8, wherein electrical contacts in the first row of electrical contacts are alternatingly stitched into a top of the housing and a bottom of the housing.

[Claim 34] An electrical connector comprising:

a housing that defines at least four consecutive, immediately adjacent cores positioned on a common line;

a first electrical contact that defines a first retention shape, the first electrical contact positioned in a first one of the four consecutive, im mediately adjacent cores;

a second electrical contact that defines a second retention shape, the second electrical contact positioned in a second one of the four con secutive, immediately adjacent cores, the second electrical contact po sitioned immediately adjacent to the first electrical contact;

a third electrical contact that defines the first retention shape, the third electrical contact positioned in a third one of the four consecutive, im mediately adjacent cores, the third electrical contact positioned im mediately adjacent to the second electrical contact; and a fourth electrical contact that defines the second retention shape, the fourth electrical contact positioned in a fourth one of the four con secutive, immediately adjacent cores, the fourth electrical contact po sitioned immediately adjacent to the third electrical contact, wherein the first electrical contact and the third electrical contact are inserted into the housing in a first direction, the second electrical contact and the fourth electrical contact are inserted into the housing in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, and the first, second, third ,and fourth electrical contacts all lie on a common centerline.

[Claim 35] The electrical connector of claim 34, wherein the second retention shape of the second electrical contact is inserted completely in the second one of the four consecutive, immediately adjacent cores.

[Claim 36] The electrical connector of claim 34 or 35, wherein the electrical connector is a mezzanine connector that mates with another mezzanine connector.

[Claim 37] The electrical connector of claim 34 or 35, further comprising a fusible member attached to the first electrical contact prior to reflow.

[Claim 38] The electrical connector of claim 34 or 35, wherein the electrical connector is an open pin field connector.

[Claim 39] The electrical connector of claim 34 or 35, wherein the electrical connector is devoid of crosstalk shields.

[Claim 40] An electrical connector comprising:

a housing including a linear array, column, or row of at least three contacts, wherein

the at least three contacts include at least one first contact with a first securing structure and at least one second contact with a second securing structure,

the first and second the securing structures engage the housing at different heights of the housing, and

the first and the second securing structures are identical.

[Claim 41] The electrical connector of claim 40, wherein the first and the second securing structures each include at least one of a wing, a wedge, a protrusion, a lead-in, or a bump.

[Claim 42] The electrical connector of claim 40 or 41, further comprising a fusible member attached to each of the at least three contacts.

[Claim 43] The electrical connector of claim 40 or 41, wherein:

the housing includes first and second cores; the at least one first contact is included in the first cores;

the at least one second contact is included in the second cores; and shapes of the first and the second cores are different.

[Claim 44] The electrical connector of claim 40 or 41, wherein:

the housing includes first and second cores;

the at least one first contact is included in the first cores;

the at least one second contact is included in the second cores; and shapes of the first and the second cores are the same.

[Claim 45] An electrical connector comprising:

a connector housing that extends along a longitudinal centerline and has a median centerline that is perpendicular or substantially per pendicular to the longitudinal centerline, the connector housing includes a first end wall and a second end wall opposed to the first end wall;

first, second, third, and fourth rows of electrical contacts that are spaced apart in parallel rows, each of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth rows of electrical contacts extend parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline;

the first row of electrical contacts is spaced from the second row of electrical contacts by a first row pitch of 2.2+0.05 mm;

the third row of electrical contacts is spaced from the second row of electrical contacts by a second row pitch of 2.4+0.05 mm;

the fourth row of electrical contacts is spaced from the third row of electrical contacts by the first row pitch of 2.2+0.0.05 mm;

a first keying structure positioned adjacent to the first end wall of the connector housing, adjacent to a mating side of the connector housing; a second keying structure positioned adjacent to the second end wall of the connector housing, adjacent to a mating side of the connector housing;

the first keying structure and the second keying structure are positioned non- symmetrically about both the longitudinal centerline and the median centerline; and

the first keying structure and the second keying structure are mirror images about the median centerline.

[Claim 46] The electrical connector of claim 45, further comprising:

a first alignment peg positioned adjacent to the first end wall of the connector housing and adjacent to a mounting side of the connector housing; and

65 a second alignment peg positioned adjacent to the second end wall of the connector housing and adjacent to a mounting side of the connector housing; wherein

the first alignment peg and the second alignment pegs are both po sitioned non- symmetrically about both the longitudinal centerline and the median centerline.

[Claim 47] The electrical connector of any of claims 45 and 46, wherein the first alignment peg has a diameter of 0.8+0.05 mm and the second alignment peg has dimensions of 0.8+0.05 mm by 0.6+0.05 mm.

[Claim 48] A printed circuit board comprising:

a first pad row of at least one hundred pads;

a second pad row of at least one hundred pads;

a third pad row of at least one hundred pads;

a fourth pad row of at least one hundred pads;

the first pad row of pads spaced from the second pad row of pads by a first pad row pitch of 2.2+0.05 mm;

the third pad row of pads spaced from the second pad row of pads by a second pad row pitch of 2.4+0.05 mm;

the fourth pad row of pads spaced from the third pad row of pads by the first pad row pitch of 2.2+0.05 mm;

a first alignment hole; and

a second alignment hole, wherein

the first alignment hole has a diameter of 0.8+0.05 mm and is po sitioned along a same line as the third pad row, and

the second alignment hole has dimension of 0.8+0.05 mm by 0.6+0.05 mm, is positioned on a centerline positioned equidistant between and parallel or substantially parallel to the second and third pad rows, and is positioned adjacent to a first pad in the second pad row.

[Claim 49] A printed circuit board comprising:

a first pad row of at least one hundred pads;

a second pad row of at least one hundred pads;

a third pad row of at least one hundred pads;

a fourth pad row of at least one hundred pads;

the first pad row of pads spaced from the second pad row of pads by a first pad row pitch of 2.2+0.05 mm;

the third pad row of pads spaced from the second pad row of pads by a second pad row pitch of 2.4+0.05 mm;

the fourth pad row of pads spaced from the third pad row of pads by the

66 first pad row pitch of 2.2+0.05 mm;

a first alignment hole; and

a second alignment hole, wherein

the first alignment hole has a diameter of 0.8+0.05 mm, is positioned on a centerline positioned equidistant between and parallel or sub stantially parallel to the second and third pad rows, and is positioned adjacent to a last pad in the second pad row, and

the second alignment hole is positioned along a same line as the second pad row of pads and the second alignment hole has dimensions of 0.8+0.05 mm by 0.6+0.05 mm.

[Claim 50] The electrical connector of any one of claims 1-8, wherein each of the respective first, second, third, and fourth rows of electrical contacts includes at least one hundred electrical contacts that each terminate with a respective press-fit pin.

[Claim 51] The electrical connector of any of claims 34 and 35, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth electrical contacts each terminate with a press- fit pin.

[Claim 52] The electrical connector of any one of claims 45 and 46, wherein each of the respective first, second, third, and fourth rows of electrical contacts each terminate with a respective press-fit pin.

[Claim 53] The electrical connector of any one of claims 45 and 46, wherein each of the respective first, second, third, and fourth rows of electrical contacts each terminate with a respective fusible element.

[Claim 54] The electrical connector of any one of claims 1-8, wherein the first keying structure includes a canted side wall that abuts the longitudinal centerline.

[Claim 55] The electrical connector of any one of claim 1-8, wherein the first

keying structure includes a canted side wall that passes through the lon gitudinal centerline.

[Claim 56] The electrical connector of claim 54, wherein the second keying

structure includes a first side wall the is parallel to the longitudinal centerline.

[Claim 57] The electrical connector of claim 54, wherein the second keying

structure includes a first side wall positioned adjacent to, but spaced away from, the longitudinal centerline.

[Claim 58] The electrical connector of claim 55, wherein the second keying

structure includes a first side wall the is parallel to the longitudinal centerline.

67 [Claim 59] The electrical connector of claim 55, wherein the second keying

structure includes a first side wall positioned adjacent to, but spaced away from, the longitudinal centerline.

[Claim 60] The electrical connector of any of claims 1-8, wherein the first keying structure includes a canted plug side wall that is spaced from the lon gitudinal centerline.

[Claim 61] The electrical connector of claim 60, wherein the second keying

structure includes a first plug side wall that is parallel to the lon gitudinal centerline.

[Claim 62] The electrical connector of claim 60, wherein the second keying

structure includes a first plug side wall that is positioned adjacent to, but spaced away from, the longitudinal centerline.

[Claim 63] The electrical connector of any one of claims 45 and 46, wherein the first keying structure includes a canted side wall that abuts the lon gitudinal centerline.

[Claim 64] The electrical connector of any one of claims 45 and 46, wherein the first keying structure includes a canted side wall that passes through the longitudinal centerline.

[Claim 65] The electrical connector of claim 63, wherein the second keying

structure includes a first side wall the is parallel to the longitudinal centerline.

[Claim 66] The electrical connector of claim 63, wherein the second keying

structure includes a first side wall positioned adjacent to, but spaced away from, the longitudinal centerline.

[Claim 67] The electrical connector of claim 64, wherein the second keying

structure includes a first side wall the is parallel to the longitudinal centerline.

[Claim 68] The electrical connector of claim 64, wherein the second keying

structure includes a first side wall positioned adjacent to, but spaced away from, the longitudinal centerline.

[Claim 69] The electrical connector of any of claims 45 and 46, wherein the first keying structure includes a canted plug side wall that is spaced from the longitudinal centerline.

[Claim 70] The electrical connector of claim 69, wherein the second keying

structure includes a first plug side wall that is parallel to the lon gitudinal centerline.

[Claim 71] The electrical connector of claim 69, wherein the second keying

structure includes a first plug side wall that is positioned adjacent to,

68 but spaced away from, the longitudinal centerline.

69