Connector assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9690056-B2
Application number	US-201514749570-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2015
Priority date	Jun 25, 2014
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

A system includes a substrate including a first row of first receptacles, a cradle including an opening and a spring member, connectors located within the opening, and cables connected to the connectors. The cradle is configured to connect each of the connectors simultaneously or nearly simultaneously to a corresponding first receptacle, and the spring member pushes on the connectors with a force greater than an insertion force of the first receptacle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a substrate including a first row of first receptacles;
a cradle including an opening and a spring member;
connectors located within the opening; and
cables connected to the connectors; wherein
the cradle is configured to connect each of the connectors simultaneously or nearly simultaneously to a corresponding first receptacle; and
the spring member pushes on each of the connectors with a force greater than an insertion force of the corresponding first receptacle.

2. A system of claim 1 , wherein the cables are optical fibers.

3. A system of claim 1 , further comprising a lever configured to move a portion of the cradle to cause each of the connectors to simultaneously or nearly simultaneously be connected to the corresponding first receptacles.

4. A system of claim 3 , wherein the lever extends along an edge of the cradle.

5. A system of claim 3 , wherein the lever extends from the opening.

6. A system of claim 1 , wherein there are three or more connectors within the cradle.

7. A system of claim 1 , wherein the first row of first receptacles is located in a middle of the substrate.

8. A system of claim 1 , wherein the connectors are located side-by-side.

9. A system of claim 1 , wherein:
the substrate further includes a second row of second receptacles; and
the cradle is configured to connect each of the connectors simultaneously or nearly simultaneously to a corresponding second receptacle.

10. A system of claim 9 , wherein the second receptacles are positive latch connectors.

11. A system of claim 1 , wherein:
the cradle includes grooves corresponding to each of the connectors;
each of the connectors includes a groove; and
each of the grooves in the cradle is aligned with a groove in a corresponding connector.

12. A system of claim 1 , wherein the first receptacles are edge-card connectors.

13. A system of claim 1 , further including a rod inserted through holes in the cradle to secure the connectors in the cradle.

14. A system of claim 1 , wherein the cradle includes a base with pins that engage with holes in the substrate.

15. A system of claim 1 , wherein each of the connectors includes a groove configured to secure each of the connectors in the cradle.

16. A system comprising:
a substrate including a first row of first mid-board receptacles and a second row of second mid-board receptacles;
a cradle including an opening;
connectors located within the opening; and
cables connected to the connectors; wherein
the cradle is configured to connect each of the connectors simultaneously or nearly simultaneously both to the corresponding first mid-board receptacle and to a corresponding second mid-board receptacle.

Assignees

• Samtec Inc

Inventors

• Zbinden Eric
• Mongold John Allen

Classifications

• G02B6/4292

  the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements · CPC title

• G02B6/4249 Primary

  comprising arrays of active devices and fibres · CPC title

• G02B6/4269

  with heat sinks or radiation fins · CPC title

• G02B6/3879 Primary

  Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector plugs · CPC title

• G02B6/3897

  Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards (G02B6/44528 takes precedence) · CPC title