Electrical connector assembly including polarization member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9711901-B2
Application number	US-201415023134-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 10, 2014
Priority date	Sep 18, 2013
Publication date	Jul 18, 2017
Grant date	Jul 18, 2017

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly can include a polarization member that is configured to prevent first and second electrical connectors from being mated to each other in an incorrect orientation. The polarization member abuts the first electrical connector such that the first electrical connector provides structural support to the polarization member when the second electrical contacts the polarization member. The polarization member is received by the second electrical connector when the second electrical connector is mated to the first electrical connector in a predetermined orientation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
a first electrical connector including a connector housing and a plurality of electrical conductors supported by the connector housing, the first electrical connector movable relative to a second electrical connector in a forward mating direction so as to mate with the second electrical connector; and
an EMI shielding cage that includes a cage body that at least substantially surrounds the connector housing, the EMI shielding cage including a polarization tab that extends from the cage body,
wherein the polarization tab:
comprises an upward fold of a flap partially cut from the cage body;
is aligned with the connector housing;
is positioned to be received by the second electrical connector when the second electrical connector is mated with the first electrical connector when the second electrical connector is in a predetermined orientation with respect to the first electrical connector,
is positioned to interfere with a housing of the second electrical connector so as to prevent the second electrical connector from mating with the first electrical connector when the second electrical connector is in a second orientation with respect to the first electrical connector, the second orientation being different than the predetermined orientation with respect to the first electrical connector.

2. The electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the cage body that at least substantially surrounds the first electrical connector, and the polarization tab is monolithic with the cage body.

3. The electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the connector housing defines a mating interface configured to mate with the second electrical connector and a mounting interface configured to be mounted to an underlying substrate.

4. The electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 3 , wherein the cage body defines a base that is configured to be disposed between the connector housing and the substrate when the first electrical connector is mounted to the underlying substrate, and the polarization tab extends up from the base to the location aligned with the connector housing.

5. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
a first electrical connector including a connector housing and a plurality of electrical conductors supported by the connector housing, the first electrical connector movable relative to a second electrical connector in a forward mating direction so as to mate with the second electrical connector; and
an EMI shielding cage that includes a cage body that at least substantially surrounds the connector housing, the EMI shielding cage including a polarization tab that extends from the cage body,
wherein the connector housing defines an aperture, and the polarization tab extends into the aperture so as to be aligned with a surface of the connector housing that at least partially defines the aperture.

6. The electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 5 , wherein the polarization tab extends into a base of the connector housing.

7. The electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 6 , wherein the base defines a lower surface that is configured to face an underlying substrate when the first electrical connector is mounted to the underlying printed circuit board.

8. The electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 7 , wherein the lower surface of the connector housing faces a downward direction, and the electrical conductors define mounting ends that extends from the connector housing in the downward direction so as to be mounted to the underlying substrate.

9. The electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 5 , wherein the aperture extends into the mating interface.

10. The electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 9 , wherein the polarization tab extends from the cage body to the location that is aligned with the mating interface of the connector housing in the rearward direction.

11. The electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising the second electrical connector.

12. The electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 11 , wherein the second electrical connector is an optical transceiver.

13. The electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 11 , wherein the second electrical connector comprises a housing and at least one printed circuit board that is configured to be inserted into a gap between rows defined by mating ends of the electrical contacts of the first electrical connector so as to be placed in electrical communication with the electrical conductors of the first electrical connector.

14. The electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 11 , wherein the second electrical connector defines a polarization slot that extends into the housing of the second electrical connector, the polarization slot positioned to receive the polarization tab only when the second electrical connector is mated to the first electrical connector in the predetermined orientation.

15. The electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the polarization tab abuts the connector housing.

16. The electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 11 , wherein the housing of the second electrical connector is positioned to urge the polarization tab against the connector housing of the first electrical connector when the second electrical connector is in the second orientation.

17. The electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 14 , wherein the housing of the second electrical connector defines a mating interface configured to mate with the first electrical connector, and the polarization slot extends into the mating interface of the second electrical connector along the forward mating direction.

18. A method of mating a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector, wherein
the first electrical connector comprises a connector housing and a plurality of electrical conductors supported by the connector housing, the first electrical connector movable relative to the second electrical connector in a forward mating direction so as to mate with the second electrical connector; and
the first electrical connector is part of an electrical connector assembly comprising an EMI shielding cage that includes a cage body that at least substantially surrounds the connector housing, the EMI shielding cage including a polarization tab that extends from the cage, wherein the polarization tab:
comprises an upward fold of a flap partially cut from the cage body;
is positioned to be received by the second electrical connector when the second electrical connector is mated with the first electrical connector when the second electrical connector is in a predetermined orientation with respect to the first electrical connector,

is positioned to interfere with a housing of the second electrical connector so as to prevent the second electrical connector from mating with the first electrical connector when the second electrical connector is in a second orientation with respect to the first electrical connector, the second orientation being different than the predetermined orientation with respect to the first electrical connector,
the method comprising:
inserting the polarization tab into the housing of the second electrical connector when the second electrical connector is in a predetermined orientation with respect to the first electrical connector,
wherein the second electrical connector interferes with the polarization tab when second electrical connector is in a second orientation with respect to t

Assignees

• Fci Americas Technology Inc
• Fci Usa Llc

Inventors

• Scholeno Michael

Classifications

• G02B6/4277

  Protection against electromagnetic interference [EMI], e.g. shielding means (shielding of electric apparatus H05K9/00, of instruments G12B17/00) · CPC title

• H01R13/645

  by exchangeable elements on case or base · CPC title

• H01R13/518

  for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames · CPC title

• G02B6/4284

  of optical modules with disconnectable electrical connectors (latching arms for electrical connectors H01R13/627) · CPC title

• H01R13/6335

  comprising a handle · CPC title