Overmolded lead frame providing contact support and impedance matching properties

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11923640-B2
Application number	US-202117462311-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2021
Priority date	Jun 15, 2016
Publication date	Mar 5, 2024
Grant date	Mar 5, 2024

Abstract

An electrical connector includes first and second adjacent electrical contacts that each define respective first and second mating ends, the first mating end of a first one of the first and second adjacent electrical contacts defines a first contact surface, the second mating end of a second one of the first and second adjacent electrical contacts defines a second contact surface electrically isolated from the first contact surface; and a dielectric material positioned between the first and second adjacent electrical contacts. When a mating connector applies a force to the first contact surface and the second contact surface, the first and second mating ends and the dielectric material all move in a first direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical connector comprising:
a dielectric wafer;
a first stamped electrical contact with a first mating surface; and
a second stamped electrical contact with a second mating surface; wherein
the first and the second stamped electrical contacts extend from the dielectric wafer and are positioned adjacent to each other; and
a movable cantilevered dielectric material that extends from the dielectric wafer at least partially in between the first and the second stamped electrical contacts and that terminates prior to the first mating surface.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the movable cantilevered dielectric material is a web integral with the dielectric wafer.

3. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein, when a mating connector applies a force to the first and the second mating surfaces, the first and second stamped electrical contacts and the movable cantilevered dielectric material all move in a first direction.

4. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the movable cantilevered dielectric material is cantilevered with respect to a pivot point adjacent to the dielectric wafer.

5. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein:
the first and second stamped electrical contacts each define two opposed edges; and
the movable cantilevered dielectric material physically connects the first and second stamped electrical contacts.

6. The electrical connector of claim 1 , further comprising a dielectric button positioned only between the first and second stamped electrical contacts.

7. The electrical connector of claim 6 , wherein the dielectric button anchors the movable cantilevered dielectric material to the first and second stamped electrical contacts.

8. The electrical connector of claim 1 , further comprising a third stamped electrical contact positioned immediately adjacent to the second stamped electrical contact; wherein
the electrical connector is devoid of dielectric material other than air between the second and the third stamped electrical contacts where the second and the third stamped electrical contacts extend from the dielectric wafer.

9. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein:
the dielectric wafer is located within an injection-molded dielectric housing; and
the first and the second stamped electrical contacts and the movable cantilevered dielectric material are each cantilevered with respect to the dielectric wafer.

10. The electrical connector of claim 1 , further comprising third and fourth stamped electrical contacts.

11. The electrical connector of claim 10 , further comprising:
a first dielectric button positioned between the first and second stamped electrical contacts; and
a second dielectric button positioned between the third and fourth stamped electrical contacts.

12. The electrical connector of claim 10 , wherein no dielectric button is positioned between the second and third stamped electrical contacts.

13. The electrical connector of claim 10 , further comprising:
a ground shield positioned adjacent to the dielectric wafer.

14. An electrical connector comprising:
a first stamped electrical contact with a first mating surface;
a second stamped electrical contact with a second mating surface, the first and the second stamped electrical contacts are positioned adjacent to each other; and
an injection-molded dielectric housing that includes a movable cantilevered dielectric material that extends from the injection-molded dielectric housing and at least partially in between the first and the second stamped electrical contacts and that terminates prior to the first mating surface, wherein
the movable cantilevered dielectric material is cantilevered with respect to a pivot point adjacent to the injection-molded dielectric housing and pivots at the pivot point.

15. The electrical connector of claim 14 , wherein the movable cantilevered dielectric material is a web integral with the injection-molded dielectric housing.

16. The electrical connector of claim 14 , wherein, when a mating connector applies a force to the first and the second mating surfaces, the first and second stamped electrical contacts and the movable cantilevered dielectric material all move in a first direction.

17. The electrical connector of claim 14 , wherein the movable cantilevered dielectric material physically connects the first and second stamped electrical contacts.

18. The electrical connector of claim 14 , further comprising a dielectric button positioned only between the first and second stamped electrical contacts.

19. The electrical connector of claim 14 , wherein
the first and the second stamped electrical contacts and the movable cantilevered dielectric material are each cantilevered with respect to the injection-molded dielectric housing.

20. The electrical connector of claim 14 , further comprising:
a ground shield positioned adjacent to the injection-molded dielectric housing.

21. A connector assembly comprising:
a cage that is configured to receive a transceiver;
a receptacle connector including:
an opening that receives an edgecard of the transceiver when the transceiver is plugged into the connector assembly; and
first and second wafers arranged such that:
first and second top contacts are provided on a top side of the opening; and
first and second bottom contacts are provided on a bottom side of the opening,

wherein

each of the first and second top contacts and the first and second bottom contacts includes a beam that:
is cantilevered from the first wafer or the second wafer,
defines a mating surface, and
is in direct physical contact with a corresponding flexible cantilevered portion of an overmolded plastic material such that the beam and the corresponding flexible cantilevered portion move together when the beam is deflected, wherein
the corresponding flexible cantilevered portion of the overmolded plastic material terminates prior to the mating surface.

22. The connector assembly of claim 21 , wherein the corresponding flexible cantilevered portion is anchored with the beam.

23. The connector assembly of claim 21 , wherein the corresponding flexible cantilevered portion provides structural support for the beam.

24. The connector assembly of claim 21 , wherein
the first and second top contacts are stabilized to maintain a constant distance when deflected, and
the first and second bottom contacts are stabilized to maintain a constant distance when deflected.

25. The connector assembly of claim 21 , wherein
the first and the second top contacts are provided in a first top row; and
the first and the second bottom contacts are provided in a first bottom row.

26. The connector assembly of claim 25 , further comprising:
third and fourth top contacts provided in a second top row; and
third and fourth bottom contacts provided in a second bottom row.

27. An electrical connector comprising:
a dielectric housing;
a first electrical contact carried by the dielectric housing, the first electrical contact defines a first contact surface;
a second electrical contact carried by the dielectric housing and positioned adjacent to the first electrical contact to define a differential signal pair with the first electrical contact, the second electrical contact defining a second contact surface electrically isolated from the first contact surface; and
a dielect

Assignees

• Samtec Inc

Inventors

• Mongold John A
• Buck Jonathan E

Classifications

• H01R13/6477 Primary

  by variation of dielectric properties · CPC title

• H01R12/724

  containing contact members forming a right angle · CPC title

• H01R13/41

  by frictional grip in grommet, panel or base · CPC title

• H01R13/514

  composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them · CPC title

• H01R13/6315

  allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection (for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence) · CPC title