Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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HIGH-SPEED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR
1
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[002] The present invention. relates generally to electrical
interconnection systems, and more specifically, to high speed,
high-density interconnection systems for differential and
single-ended transmission applications.
2. Discussion of the Background
-[003] Backplane systems are comprised of a..complex printed
circuit board that is referred to as the backplane or
motherboard, and several smaller printed circuit boards'that are
referred to as daughtercards or daughterboards that plug into
the backplane. Each daughtercard may include a chip that is
referred to as a driver/receiver. The driver/receiver sends and
receives signals from driver/receivers on other daughtercards.
For example; a signal path is formed between the driver/receiver
on a first daughtercard and a driver/receiver on a second
daughtercard. The signal path includes an electrical connector
that connects the first daughtercard to the backplane, the
-backplane, a second electrical connector that connects the
second daughtercard to the backplane, and the second
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daughtercard having the driver/receiver that receives the
carried signal.
[004] Various driver/receivers used today can transmit
signals at data rates between 5-10 Gb/sec and greater. A
limiting factor (data transfer rate) in the signal path is the
electrical connectors that connect each daughtercard to the
backplane. Further, the receivers may receive signals having
only about 5% of the original signal strength sent by the
driver. This reduction in signal strength increases the
importance of minimizing cross-talk between signal paths to
avoid signal degradation or errors being introduced into digital
data streams. With high speed, high-density electrical
connectors, it is even more important to eliminate or reduce
cross-talk. Thus, a need exists in the art for a high-speed
electrical connector capable of, inter alia, handling high-speed
signals that reduces cross-talk between signal paths.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[005] The present invention provides a high-speed electrical
interconnection system designed to overcome the drawbacks of
conventional interconnection systems. In preferred embodiments,
the present invention provides an electrical connector capable
of handling high-speed signals effectively.
[006] Although compliant pins have been widely used in
various other high speed interconnects, the embodiments
described herein have substantial improvements over existing
systems. For example, due to the size and routing of the
compliant feature, existing systems typically experience
performance issues, such as, e.g., impedance discontinuities and
cross-talk. On the other hand, preferred embodiments described
herein can enhance the tuning of the performance of a compliant
pin termination'to a printed circuit board. Among other things,
as described above, in preferred embodiments, the connector uses
broad-side coupled transmission lines with spatial relationships
that can, inter alia, promote a high degree of cross-talk
isolation.
[007] According to some embodiments, an interconnect system
is provided that includes: a first circuit board comprising (a)
a first differential interconnect path, (b) a first socket on a
surface of the first circuit board and (c) a second socket also
on the surface of the first circuit board, wherein the first
differential interconnect path comprises a first signal path
electrically connected to the first socket and a second signal
path electrically connected to the second socket; a second
circuit board comprising a second differential interconnect
path; and a connector for electrically connecting the first
differential interconnect path with the second differential
interconnect path, the connector comprising: an interposer
having a first face and a second face opposite the first face,
the first face facing the surface of the first circuit board,
said interposer including an array of apertures extending from
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the first face of the interposer to the second face of the
interposer; a first conductor having an end adjacent to the
second face of the interposer; a second conductor substantially
parallel with and substantially equal in length to the first
conductor, the second conductor also having an end adjacent to
the second face of the interposer; a dielectric material
disposed between the first conductor and the second conductor; a
plurality of cells located within said array of apertures, each
of said cells including a housing supporting a first elongated
contact member and a second elongated contact member; a first of
said first elongated contact members having a conductor contact
section, a board contact section and an interim section between
the conductor contact section and the board contact section, the
conductor contact section being in physical contact with the end
of the first conductor, the board contact section being in
physical contact with and compliantly engaged with the first
socket, and at least a portion of the interim section being
engaged with a first of said housings; and a first of said
second elongated contact members having a conductor contact
section, a board contact section and an interim section between
the conductor contact section and the board contact section, the
conductor contact section being in physical contact with the
first end of the second conductor, the board contact section
being in physical contact with and compliantly engaged with the
second socket, and at least a portion of the interim section
being engaged with said first of said housings.
[008] In some preferred embodiments, said housings are made
with dielectric material and said interposer is made with
conductive material or is coated with conductive material. In
some embodiments, the dielectric material disposed between the
first conductor and the second conductor comprises a third
circuit board having a first face and a second face. In some
embodiments, the first conductor is disposed on the first face
of the third circuit board and the second conductor is disposed
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on the second face of the third circuit board. In some
embodiments, the third circuit board is sandwiched between a
first spacer and a second spacer. In some embodiments, the
first spacer has a groove on a first face thereof and the groove
is aligned with and mirrors the first conductor. In some
embodiments, the first spacer has at least one finger for
attaching the spacer to the interposer and the interposer has at
least one recess for receiving the at least one finger. In some
embodiments, the second spacer has a groove on a first face
thereof and the groove is aligned with and mirrors the second
conductor. In some embodiments, said first of said housings
includes a slot configured to receive said a third circuit
board. In some embodiments, the first of said housings further
includes channels configured to receive said conductor contact
sections of said first and second elongated contact members. In
some embodiments, said conductor contact sections are flexibly
contained within said channels and wherein said channels extend
past distal ends of each of said first and second elongated
contact members. In some embodiments, said board contact
sections include pins with a diameter of less than about 0.04
inches, or, in some embodiments, less than about 0.03 inches,
or, in some embodiments, less than about 0.02 inches. In some
embodiments, said housings have widths of less than about 0.3
inches, or, in some embodiments, less than about 0.2 inches, or,
in some embodiments, less than about 0.15 inches. In some
preferred embodiments, said connector supports differential
applications at more than about 5 GBPS, or, in some embodiments,
at more than about 10 GBPS.
[009] According to some other embodiments, an interposer
assembly for high-speed and high density differential
applications is provided that includes: a) an interposer having
a first face and a second face opposite the first face; b) said
interposer including an array of apertures extending from the
first face of the interposer to the second face of the
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interposer; c) a plurality of cells located within said array of
apertures, each of said cells including a housing supporting a
first elongated contact member and a second elongated contact
member; d) said interposer being made with a conductive material
or coated with a conductive material; e) said housings each
being made with dielectric material; f) a first of said first
elongated contact members having a conductor contact section, a
board contact section and an interim section between the
conductor contact section and the board contact section, the
conductor contact section being configured to apply a pressure
contact without attachment to a first conductor, the board
contact section including a compliant pin having a diameter of
less than about 0.04 inches, and at least a portion of the
interim section being engaged with a first of said housings; and
g) a first of said second elongated contact members having a
conductor contact section, a board contact section and an
interim section between the conductor contact section and the
board contact section, the conductor contact section being
configured to apply a pressure contact without attachment to a
second conductor, the board contact section including a
compliant pin having a diameter of less than about 0.04 inches,
and at least a portion of the interim section being engaged with
said first of said housings.
[0010] According to some other embodiments, a connector for
high-speed and high density differential applications
electrically connecting a signal path on a first circuit board
with a signal path on a second circuit board is provided that
includes: a) an interposer having a first face and a second
face opposite the first face; b) said interposer including an
array of apertures extending from the first face of the
interposer to the second face of the interposer; c) a plurality
of cells located within said array of apertures, each of said
cells including a housing supporting a first elongated contact
member and a second elongated contact member; d) said interposer
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being made with conductive material or coated with conductive
material; e) said housings each being made with dielectric
material; f) a plurality of circuit boards extending generally
perpendicular to said interposer; g) a plurality of spacers
between said circuit boards; and f) said housings each including
a slot configured to receive an edge of a respective one of said
circuit boards.
[0011] In some embodiments, said first and second elongated
contact members include leaf springs that press against
respective conductors on said circuit boards. In some
embodiments, the said circuit boards include a plurality of
signal conductors, and wherein a number of signal conductors
disposed on a first face of one of said circuit boards is not
equal to a number of signal conductors disposed on a first face
of a second circuit board. In some embodiments, the number of
signal conductors disposed on the second face of the first
circuit board is one less or one more than the number of signal
conductors disposed on the first face of the second circuit
board. In some embodiments, each housing includes at least one
tab arranged to mate with at least one corresponding slot in
said interposer. In'some embodiments, said conductors of
adjacent circuit boards are staggered to increase distances
between said conductors of said adjacent printed circuit boards.
[0012] According to some other embodiments, a method of
manufacturing a connector is performed that includes: a)
providing an interposer with an array of apertures extending
from a first face of the interposer to a second face of the
interposer, wherein said interposer is made with conductive
material or coated with conductive material; b) providing a
plurality of cells each including a housing supporting a first
elongated contact member and a second elongated contact member,
each said housing being made with dielectric material, and each
said housing including a slot configured to receive an edge of a
respective circuit board; c) moving a plurality of printed
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circuit boards in a direction generally perpendicular to and
towards said interposer such that edges of said printed circuit
boards are received within respective ones of said slots in said
housings and such that said first and second elongated contact
members engage respective conductors on opposite sides of said
printed circuit boards.
[0013] In some embodiments, the first and second elongated
contact members engage respective conductors on opposite sides
of said printed circuit boards by providing said first and
second elongated contact members with leaf spring portions that
are displaced by the printed circuit boards upon insertion into
said slots. In some embodiments, the method further includes
aligning a plurality of spacers in between said printed circuit
boards by inserting protrusions extending from said spacers into
engaging recesses in said interposer. In some embodiments, the
method further includes inserting said housing into said
interposer until an outwardly extending tab is received within a
respective slot in said interposer.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated
herein and form part of the specification, help illustrate
various embodiments of the present invention and, together with
the description, further serve to explain the principles of the
invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to
make and use the invention. In the drawings, like reference
numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.
Additionally, to facilitate reference, the left-most digit(s) of
a reference number in many cases identifies the drawing in which
the reference number first appears.
[0015] In summary, FIGS. 1-36 are views of illustrative
preferred embodiments related to, inter alia, compression mount
connectors or interconnects, and FIGS. 37-46 are views of
additional preferred embodiments related to, inter alia,
compliant mount connectors or interconnects.
[0016] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a connector in
accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a view of a printed circuit board according
to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a front side view of the printed circuit
board shown in FIG. 2.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a spacer in accordance
with an example embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a top view of a first face of the spacer
shown in FIG. 4.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a top view of a second face of the spacer
shown in FIG. 4.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a front side view of the spacer shown in
FIG. 4.
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[0023] FIG. 8 is a top view of a first face of a second
spacer.
[0024] FIG. 9 is a top view of a second face of the second
spacer.
[0025] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an apparatus
consisting of a circuit board sandwiched between two spacers.
[0026] FIG. 11 is a front side view of the apparatus shown in
FIG. 10.
[0027] FIG. 12 illustrates an arrangement of multiple circuit
boards and multiple spacers according to an example embodiment
of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 13 is a top view of a first face of a circuit
board according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 14 illustrates how the alignment of the
conductors on an A type circuit board differs from alignment of
the conductors on a B type circuit board.
[0030] FIG. 15, illustrates a contact member according to one
embodiment of the invention.
[0031] FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate a cell according to one
embodiment of the invention.
[0032] FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate that cells may be
configured to fit into an aperture of an interposer.
[0033] FIG. 20 illustrates a finger of a spacer inserted into
a corresponding notch of an interposer.
[0034] FIG. 21 illustrates the arrangement of the interposers
180 in relation to board 120 and in relation to boards 2190 and
2180, according to one embodiment
[0035] FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of
the connector 100.
[0036] FIG. 23 illustrates an embodiment of backbone 150.
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[0037] FIG. 24 illustrates an embodiment of an end cap 199.
[0038] FIG. 25 is an exploded view of backbone 150 and an end
cap 199.
[0039] FIG. 26 is a view of a backbone 150 and an end cap 199
assembled together.
[0040] FIG. 27 is a view of a spacer connected to backbone
150.
[0041] FIG. 28 illustrates an embodiment of mounting clip
190b.
[0042] FIG. 29 is an exploded view of clip 190b and end cap
199.
[0043] FIG. 30 is a view of clip 190b having an end cap 199
attached thereto.
[0044] FIG. 31 illustrates an embodiment of shield 160.
[0045] FIG. 32 is an exploded view of shield 160 and an
interposer 180.
[0046] FIG. 33 is a view of shield 160 being connected to an
interposer 180.
[0047] FIG. 34 is a view of an assembled connector with an
interposer 180 and clip 190a omitted.
[0048] FIGS. 35 and 36 are different views of a connector 100
according to one embodiment assembled without cells in FIG. 35
and with 2 cells in FIG. 36.
[0049] As indicated, FIGS. 37-46 are views of additional
preferred embodiments related to, inter alia, compliant mount
connectors or interconnects.
[0050] FIG. 37 is a perspective front view of illustrative
components of a connector according to some illustrative
additional embodiments of the invention, including an insert-
loaded interposer, spacers, etc.
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[0051] FIG. 38 is a perspective side view, from a rear right
side in the direction of arrow 38 shown in FIG. 37, showing
illustrative components of a connector, showing, inter alia,
insert-loaded interposer and a spacer.
[0052] FIG. 39 is a perspective side view, from a rear right
side in the direction of arrow 39 shown in FIG. 37, showing
illustrative components of a connector, showing, inter alia, a
printed circuit board.
[0053] FIG. 40 is a close-up view of a portion of FIG. 37
showing a close-up view of a plurality of cells or inserts
loaded in the interposer.
[0054] FIG. 41 is an even closer-up view of a portion of FIG.
37 showing a close-up view of single one of the cells or inserts
loaded in the interposer.
[0055] FIG. 42 is a rough schematic representation that shows
the spatial relationships of the connector's electrical
components as they correspond to a motherboard or daughtercard
footprint, depicting, e.g., a connector loaded with a plurality
of generally parallel printed circuit boards and spacers.
[0056] FIG. 43 is a schematic representation of a rearward
cross-sectional view of a portion of the loaded interposer shown
in FIG. 37 taken in a direction as illustrated by the arrows A-A
shown in FIG. 42.
[0057] FIG. 44 is a top view of a cell or insert for loading
within the interposer according to some preferred embodiments of
the invention.
[0058] FIG. 45 is a front end view of a cell or insert shown
in FIG. 44.
[0059] FIG. 46 is a front perspective view of a cell or
insert shown in FIG. 44.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
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[0060] While the present invention may be embodied in many
different forms, a number of illustrative embodiments are
described herein with the understanding that the present
disclosure is to be considered as providing examples of the
principles of the invention and such examples are not intended
to limit the invention to preferred embodiments described herein
and/or illustrated herein.
[0061] The following description is presented in two parts:
Part 1 related to, inter alia, compression mount connectors or
interconnects described for the'most part in conjunction with,
e.g., FIGS. 1-36; and Part 2 related, inter alia, compliant
mount connectors or interconnects described for the most part in
conjunction with, e.g., FIGS. 37-46.
Part 1: Embodiments Related to, E.G., Compression Mount
Connectors and the Like:
[0062] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a connector 100 in
accordance with an example preferred embodiment of the present
invention. Some elements have been omitted for the sake of
clarity. As illustrated in FIG. 1, connector 100 may include at
least one printed circuit board 120 having electrical conductors
printed thereon. In the embodiment shown, connector 100 may
further include a pair of spacers 110a and 110b, a pair of
interposers 180a and 180b, a pair of end-caps 190a and 190b, a
backbone 150, a shield 160, and a pair of endplates 190 (i.e.,
190a and 190b). Although only one circuit board and only two
spacers are shown in FIG. 1, one skilled in the art will
appreciate that in typical configurations connector 100 will
include a number of circuit boards and spacers, with each
circuit board being disposed between two spacers, as will be
described herein.
[0063] FIG. 2 is a view of printed circuit board 120. In the
embodiment shown, circuit board 120 is generally rectangular in
shape. As shown, circuit board 120 may have one or more
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electrical conductors disposed on a face 220 thereof. In the
embodiment shown, board 120 has four conductors 201, 202, 203,
and 204 disposed on face 220. Each conductor 201-204 has a
first end, a second and an interim section between the first and
second ends. The first end of each conductor is located at a
point on or adjacent a first edge 210 of face 220 and the second
end of each conductor is located at a point on or adjacent a
second edge 211 of face 220. In many embodiments, second edge
211 of face 220 is perpendicular to first edge 210, as shown in
the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0064] Although not shown in FIG. 2, there are corresponding
electrical conductors on the opposite face of circuit board 120.
More specifically, for each conductor 201-204, there is a
conductor on the opposite face that is a mirror image. of the
conductor. This feature is illustrated in FIG. 3, which is a
front side view of board 120. As shown in FIG. 3, conductors
301-304 are disposed on face 320 of board 120, which face 320
faces in the opposite direction of face 220. As further
illustrated, conductors 301-304 correspond to conductors 201-
204, respectively.
[0065] When the interconnection system 100 of the present
invention is used to transmit differential signals, one of the
electrical conductors 201-204 and its corresponding electrical
conductor on the opposite face may be utilized together to form
the two wire balanced pair required for transmitting the
differential signal. Since the length of the two electrical
conductors is identical, there should be no skew between the two
electrical conductors (skew being the difference in time that it
takes for a signal to propagate the two electrical conductors).
[0066] In configurations where connector 100 includes
multiple circuit boards 120, the circuit boards are preferably
arranged in a row in parallel relationship. Preferably, in such
a configuration, each circuit board 120 of connector 100 is
positioned between two spacers 110.
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[0067] FIG. 4 is a perspective side view of spacer 110a
according to one embodiment of the invention. As shown, spacer
110a may have one or more grooves disposed on a face 420
thereof, which face 420 faces away from board 120. In the
embodiment shown, face 420 of spacer 110a has three grooves 401,
402 and 403 disposed thereon. Each groove 401-403 extends from
a point at or near a first edge 410 of face 420 to a point at or
near second edge 411 of face 420. In many embodiments, second
edge 411 of face 420 is perpendicular to first edge 410, as
shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0068] As further shown, face 420 of spacer 110a may have one
or more recesses disposed at an edge of face 420. In the
embodiment shown, there are two sets of four recesses disposed
at an edge on face 420. The first set of recesses includes
recesses 421a-d, and the second set of recesses includes
recesses 431a-d. Each recess 421a-d is positioned directly
adjacent to the end of at least one groove and extends from a
point on edge 410 of face 420 to a second point spaced inwardly
from edge 410 a short distance. Similarly, each recess 431a-d
is positioned directly adjacent to the end of at least one
groove and extends from a point on edge 411 of face 420 to a
second point spaced inwardly from edge 411 a short distance.
Accordingly, in the embodiment shown, there is at least one
recess between the ends of all the grooves. Each recess 421,
431 is designed to receive the end of spring element (see FIG.
16, elements 1520).
[0069] Although not shown in FIG. 4, there may be grooves and
recesses on the opposite face 491 of spacer 110a. In a
preferred embodiment, the number of grooves on the first face of
a spacer 110 is one less (or one more) than the number of
grooves on the second face of the spacer 110, but this is not a
requirement. Similarly, in the preferred embodiment, the number
of recesses on the first face of a spacer 110 is two less (or
two more) than the number of recesses on the second face of the
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spacer 110. This feature is illustrated in FIGS. 5-7, where
FIG. 5 is a top view of face 420, FIG. 6 is a top view of the
opposite face (i.e., face 491), and FIG. 7 is a front side view
of spacer 110a.
[0070] As shown in FIG. 5, grooves 401-403, recesses 421a-d,
and recesses 431a-d are disposed on face 420 of spacer 110a.
Similarly, as shown in FIG. 6, grooves 601-604, recesses 621a-c,
and recesses 631a-c are disposed on face 491 of spacer 110a,
which face 491 faces in the opposite direction of face 420.
[0071] Grooves 601-604 are similar to grooves 401-404 in that
each groove 601-604 extends from a point on a first edge 610 of
face 491 to a point on a second edge 611 of face 491. Likewise,
recesses 621 and 631 are similar to recesses 421 and 431. Like
each recess 421, each recess 621 extends from a point on edge
610 of face 491 to a second point spaced inwardly from edge 610
a short distance. Similarly, each recess 631 extends from a
point on edge 611 of face 491 to a second point spaced inwardly
from edge 611 a short distance. Each recess 621, 631 is designed
to receive the, end of a spring element (see FIG. 16, elements
1520).
[0072] The figures illustrate that, in some embodiments, the
number of grooves on one face of a spacer 110 is one less (or
.one more) than the number of grooves on the opposite face of the
spacer. And also show that the number of recesses on one face
may be two less (or two more) than the number of recesses on the
opposite face.
[0073] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-6, each recess on
one face is positioned so'that it is generally directly opposite
an end of a groove on the other-face. For example, recess 421a
is generally directly opposite an end of groove 604 and recess
621a is generally directly opposite an end of groove 403. This
feature can be more easily seen by examining FIG. 7, which is a
front side view of the spacer.
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[0074] Referring back to FIG. 4-6, FIG. 4 shows that spacer
110a may further include three fingers 435, 437, and 440. It
also shows that that spacer 110a may also include a slot 444 and
a first pair of bosses 450 disposed on and projecting outwardly
from face 420 and a second pair of bosses 650 disposed on and
projecting outwardly from face 491. Bosses 650 are provided to
fit in the apertures 244 of circuit board 120. This feature
enables board 120 to be properly aligned with respect to the
adjacent spacers 110a and 110b.
[0075] Finger 435 is located towards the top of the front
side of spacer 110a and finger 437 is located towards the front
of the bottom side of spacer 110a. Finger 435 projects
outwardly from the front side of spacer 110a in a direction that
is perpendicular to the front side of the spacer. Similarly,
finger 437 projects outwardly from the bottom side of spacer
110a in a direction that is perpendicular to the bottom side of
the spacer. Fingers 435, 437 function to attach spacer 110a to
interposers 180b, 180a, respectively. More specifically,
interposer 180a includes a recess 1810 (see FIG. 18) for
receiving and retaining finger 437. Similarly interposer 180b
includes a recess for receiving and retaining finger 435.
Fingers 435, 437 each include a protrusion 436 and 438,
respectively. The protrusions are sufficiently resilient to
allow them to snap into corresponding recesses in the
corresponding interposers.
[0076] Slot 444 is located towards but spaced apart from the
backside of spacer 110a. Slot 444 extends downwardly from the
top side of spacer 110 to form finger 440. Finger 440 and slot
444 function together to attach spacer 110a to backbone 150.
[0077] Referring back to spacer 110b (see FIG. 1), in the
embodiment shown, spacer 110b is similar but not identical to
spacer 110a. Accordingly, in some embodiments connector 100
includes two types of spacers: type A and type B. In other
embodiments, more or less than two types of spacers may be used.
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FIGS. 8 and 9 further illustrate spacer 110b (the type B spacer)
according to one embodiment. FIG. 8 is a top view of a face 820
of spacer 110b. Face 820 faces circuit board 120. As shown in
FIG. 8, face 820 is similar to face 491 of spacer 110a, which
also faces board 120. Like face 491, face 820 has four grooves
801-804, a first set of three recesses 821a-c, and a second set
of three recesses 831a-c.
[0078] Grooves 801-804 are similar to grooves 601-604 in that
each groove 801-804 extends from a point on a first edge 810 of
face 820 to a point on a second edge 811 of face 820. Likewise,
recesses 821 and 831 are similar to recesses 621 and 631. Like
each recess 621, each recess 821 extends from a point on edge
810 of face 820 to a second point spaced inwardly from edge 810
a short distance. Similarly, each recess 831 extends from a
point on edge 811 of face 820 to a second point spaced inwardly
from edge 811 a short distance.
[0079] FIG. 9 is a top view of a face 920 of spacer 110b.
Face 920 faces away from circuit board 120 in the opposite
direction of face 820. As shown in FIG. 9, face 920 is similar
to,face 420 of spacer 110a, which also faces away from board
120. Like face 420, face 920 has three grooves 901-903, a first
set of four recesses 921a-d, and a second set of four recesses
931a-d.
[0080] Grooves 901-903 are similar to grooves 401-403 in that
each groove 901-903 extends from a point on a first edge 910 of
face 920 to a point on a second edge 911 of face 920. Likewise,
recesses 921 and 931 are similar to recesses 421 and 431. Each
recess 421 extends from a point on edge 910 of face 920 to a
second point spaced inwardly from edge 910 a short distance, and
each recess 931 extends from a point on edge 911 of face 920 to
a second point spaced inwardly from edge 911 a short distance.
[0081] Spacer 110b also includes three fingers 835, 837, and
840, a slot 844, and a pair apertures 850 extending through
18
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spacer 110b. Apertures 850 are provided to receive bosses 650.
This feature enables spacer 110b to be properly aligned with
respect to spacers 110a.
[0082] Unlike finger 435, which is located towards the top of
the front side of spacer 110a, finger 835 is located towards the
bottom of the front side of spacer 110b. Similarly, unlike
finger 437, which is located towards the front of the bottom
side of spacer 110a, finger 837 is located towards the back of
the bottom side of spacer 110b. Finger 835 projects outwardly
from the front side of spacer 110a in a direction that is
perpendicular to the front side of the spacer, and finger 437
projects outwardly from the bottom side of spacer 110a in a
direction that is perpendicular to the bottom side of the
spacer. Like fingers 435, 437, fingers 835, 837 function to
attach spacer 110b to interposers 180b, 180a, respectively.
[0083] As discussed above, board 120 is positioned between
spacers 110a and 110b. This feature is illustrated in FIG. 10.
Although not shown in FIG. 10, bosses 650 of spacer 110a
protrude though apertures 244 of board 120 and through apertures
850 of spacer 110b. This use of bosses 650 facilitates the
proper alignment of spacers 110a,b and board 120. When board
120 is properly aligned with the spacers, conductors 201-204 and
301-304 are aligned with grooves 601-604 and 801-804,
respectively. This feature is illustrated in FIG. 11.
[0084] As shown in FIG. 11, grooves 601-604, which are
disposed on the side of spacer 110a facing board 120, are
positioned on the spacer to mirror electrical conductors 201-20`4
on p'rinted' circuit board 120. Likewise, grooves 801-804, which
are disposed on the side of spacer 110b facing board 120, are
positioned on the spacer to mirror electrical conductors 301-
304. Grooves 601-604 and 801-804, among other things, prevent
electrical conductors 201-204 and 301-304 from touching spacer
110a and 110b, respectively. In this way, the electrical
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conductors disposed on board 120 are insulated by the air caught
between board 120 and the grooves.
[0085] Spacers 110 may be fabricated either from an
electrically conductive material or from a dielectric material
and coated with an electrically conductive layer to
electromagnetically shield the electrical conductors of the
printed circuit board 120. Furthermore, the complex impedances
of the electrical conductors and their associated grooves can be
adjusted by varying the dimensions thereof. Still furthermore,
the grooves can include a layer of a dielectric material, such
as Teflon, to further adjust the complex impedances of the
electrical conductors and their associated channels as well as
adjusting the breakdown voltage thereof.
[0086] Referring now to FIG. 12, FIG. 12 illustrates an
example arrangement of spacers 110 and circuit boards 120 when
multiple circuit boards are used in connector 100. As shown,
boards 120 and spacers 110 are aligned in a row in parallel
relationship and each circuit board 120 is sandwiched between
two spacers 110. In the example shown, there are two types of
circuit boards (A) and (B), as well as the two types of spacers
(A) and (B) discussed above. The A type circuit boards are
identical to each other and the B type circuit boards are
identical to each other. Similarly, The A type spacers are
identical to each other and the B type spacers are identical to
each other.
[0087] In the embodiment shown, spacers 110 and boards 120
are arranged in an alternating sequence, which means that
between any two given A type spacers there is a B type spacer
and vice-versa, and between any two given A type boards there is
a B type board and vice-versa. Thus, an A type spacer is not
adjacent to another A type spacer and an A type board is not
adjacent to another A type board. Accordingly, in this example
configuration, each board 120 is disposed between an A type
spacer and a B type spacer.
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[0088] As can be seen from FIG. 12, each face of each board
120b (the B type board) has three conductors thereon. FIG. 13 is
a top view of one face 1320 of a B type board (the other face
not shown is a mirror image of face 1320). As shown in FIG. 13,
there are three conductors 1301, 1302, and 1303 disposed on face
1320. By comparing FIG. 13 to FIG. 2 (which is a top view of a
face of an A type board), one can see that the A and B type
boards are nearly identical. One difference being the number of
conductors on each face and the alignment of the conductors on
the face. In the embodiment shown, the B type boards have one
less electrical conductor than do the A type boards.
[0089] Referring to FIG. 14, FIG. 14 illustrates how the
alignment of the conductors 1301-1303 on the B type boards
differs from alignment of the conductors 201-204 on the A type
boards. FIG. 14 shows representative boards 120a and 120b in a
side by side arrangement so that a front edge 1401 on board 120a
is spaced apart from and parallel with a corresponding front
edge 1402 on board 120b. From FIG. 14, one can clearly see that
the ends of the conductors on the B type board located at edge
1402 are not aligned with the ends of the conductors on the A
type board located at edge 1401. For example, in the example
shown, the end of any given conductor on the B type board is
interstitially aligned with respect to the ends of two adjacent
conductors on the A type board. That is, if one were to draw
the shortest line from the end of each conductor on the B board
to the adjacent face of the A board, each line would terminate
at a point that is between the ends of two conductors on the A
board. For example, the shortest line'from the end of conductor
1301 to the adjacent face of board 120a ends at a point that is
between the ends of conductors 204 and 203. An advantage of
having the conductors be misaligned is that it may reduce cross-
talk in the connector.
[0090] Referring back to FIG. 12, one can clearly see that
each conductor on each board 120 is aligned with a groove on the
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spacer directly adjacent the conductor. That is, each groove on
each spacer 110 is designed to mirror a corresponding conductor
on an adjacent board 120. Because each conductor is aligned
with a corresponding groove, there is a space between the
conductor and the spacer.
[0091] When connector 100 is fully assembled, each conductor
on a board 120 comes into physical and electrical contact, with
two contact members (see FIG. 15 for a representative contact
member 1530a), an end of each of which fits into the space
between the adjacent spacer and the conductor. More
specifically, the first end of each conductor comes into
physical and electrical contact with the contact portion of a
first contact member and the second end of each conductor comes
into physical and electrical contact with the contact portion
second contact member, and the contact portions of the first and
second contact members are each disposed in the space between
the corresponding end of the conductor and the spacer. Each
contact member functions to electrically connect the conductor
to which it makes contact to a trace on a circuit board to which
the connector 100 is attached.
[0092] FIG. 15 illustrates a contact member 1530a, according
to one embodiment of the invention, for electrically connecting
a conductor 201 on a board 120 to trace on a circuit board (not
shown in FIG. 15) to which the connector 100 is attached. Only
a portion of contact member 1530a is visible in FIG. 15 because
a portion is disposed within a housing 1522.
[0093] As shown in FIG. 15, contact member 1530a contacts an
end of conductor 201 (the spacers and interposers are not shown
to better illustrate this feature). In some embodiments, the
ends of the conductor 201 are wider than the interim portions so
as to provide more surface area for receiving the contact
portion of the contact members.
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[0094] Partially shown in FIG. 15 is another contact member
1530b. Contact member 1530b has a bottom portion that is also
housed in housing 1522. Contact member 1530b contacts an end of
conductor 301, which can't be seen in FIG. 15. Housing 1522 is
preferably fabricated of an electrically insulative material,
such as a plastic. The electrical contacts 1530 of each housing
1522 can either be disposed within the housing during
fabrication or subsequently fitted within the housing.
[0095] Contact members 1530 may be fabricated by commonly
available techniques utilizing any material having suitable
electrical and mechanical characteristics. They may be
fabricated of laminated materials such as gold plated phosphor
bronze. While they are illustrated as being of unitary
construction, one skilled in the art will appreciate that they
may be made from multiple components.
[0096] As further shown in FIG. 15, housing 1522 may be
configured to hold two elongate springs 1520a and 1520b.
Springs 1520 extend in the same direction as contact members
1530 and 1531. The distal end of a spring 1520 is designed to
be inserted into a corresponding spacer recess. For example,
distal end of spring 1520a is designed to be received in recess
621c. The combination of the housing 1522, contact members
1530, and springs 1520 is referred to as a cell 1570.
[0097] FIGSS. 16 and 17 further illustrate cell 1570
according to one embodiment. FIG. 17 is an exploded view of
cell 1570. As shown, the housing 1522 is generally rectangular
in shape and includes apertures 1710 for receiving springs 1520
and apertures 1720 for receiving contact members 1530.
Apertures 1720 extend from the top side of housing to bottom
side of the housing so that proximal ends 1641 of contact
members 1730 can project beyond the bottom side of housing 1522,
as shown in FIG. 16.
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[0098] Apertures 1710 extend from the top surface of housing
1522 towards the bottom surface, but do not reach the bottom
surface. Accordingly, when a spring 1520 is inserted into an
aperture 1710 the proximal end will not project beyond the
bottom surface of housing 1522. While open apertures 1710 are
illustrated, it is understood that closed apertures can also be
used
[0099] As illustrated in FIG. 17, each contact member 1530,
according to the embodiment shown, has a proximal end 1641 and a
distal end 1749. Between ends 1641 and 1749 there is a base
portion 1743, a transition portion 1744 and a contact portion
1745. Base portion 1743 is between proximal end 1641 and
transition portion 1744, transition portion is between base
portion 1743 and contact portion 1745, and contact portion 1745
is' between transition portion 1744 and distal end 1749. In the
embodiment shown, base portion 1743 is disposed in aperture 1720
so that generally the entire base portion is within housing
1522, transition portion 1744 is angled inwardly with respect to
the base portion, and distal end 1749 is angled outwardly with
respect to the transition portion and therefore functions as a
lead-in portion.
[00100] In a preferred embodiment, the contact portion of a
contact member is not fixed to the end of the conductor with
which it makes physical and electrical contact. For example,
the contact portions are not soldered or otherwise fixed to the
board 120 conductors, as is typical in the prior art. Instead,
in a preferred embodiment, a contact member 1630 is electrically
connected to its corresponding conductor with a wiping action
similar to that used in card edge connectors. That is, the
contact portion of the contact member merely presses against the
end of the corresponding conductor. For example, referring back
to FIG. 15, the contact portion of contact member 1530a merely
presses or pushes against the end portion of conductor 201.
Because it is not fixed to the conductor, the contact portion
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can move along the length of the conductor while still pressing
against the conductor, creating a wiping action. This wiping
action may ensure a good electrical connection between the
contact members and the corresponding electrical conductors of
the printed circuit boards 120.
[00101] Referring now to FIGS. 18 and 19, FIGS. 18 and 19
illustrate that each cell 1570 is designed to fit into an
aperture 1811 of an interposer 180. In the embodiment shown,
each interposer 180 includes a first set of apertures 1811a (see
FIG. 19) arranged in a first set of aligned rows to create a
first row and column configuration and a second set of apertures
1811b arranged in a second set of aligned rows to create second
row and column configuration. In the embodiment shown, each row
in the second set is disposed between two rows from the first
set. For example, row 1931, which is a row of apertures 1811b,
is disposed between rows 1930 and 1932, each of which is a row
of apertures 1811a.
[00102] As shown in the figures, the second row and column
configuration is offset from the first row and column
configuration so that the apertures of the second set are
aligned with each other but not aligned with the apertures of
the first set, and vice-versa
[00103] An interposer 180 may electromagnetically shield the
electrical conductors of the printed circuit boards 120 by being
fabricated either of a conductive material or of a non-
conductive material coated with a conductive material.
[00104] As also shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, interposers 180
include notches 1810 along a top and bottom side. Each notch
1810 is designed to receive the end of a finger of a spacer 110.
Preferably, the finger snaps into a corresponding notch to
firmly attach the spacer 110 to the interposer 180. This
feature is illustrated in FIG. 20.
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[00105] When connector 100 is fully constructed, each aperture
in the first and second set receives a cell 1570. The housing
1522 of each cell 1570 has a tab 1633 arranged to fit within a
slot 1888 disposed within a corresponding aperture of the
interposer 180, which slot 1888 does not extend the entire
length of the aperture. The tab 1633, therefore, prevents the
cell 1570 from falling through the aperture. It is to be
understood that the specific shape of the cells and
corresponding apertures are merely for exemplary purposes. The
present invention is not limited to these shapes.
[00106] Additionally, when connector is fully constructed, the
interposers are arranged so that the contact portion 1745 of
each contact member 1530 contacts a corresponding conductor.
FIG. 21 illustrates this concept.
[00107] FIG. 21 illustrates the arrangement of the interposers
180 in relation to board 120 and in relation to boards 2190 and
2180. The spacers 110 are not shown in the figure to illustrate
that board 120 and interposers 180 are arranged so that the
front side 2102 of board 120 is aligned with the center line of
a column of apertures on spacer 180b and so that the bottom side
2104 of board 120 is aligned with the center line of a column of
apertures on spacer 180a. FIG. 21 also shows two cells 1570,
each disposed in an aperture of an interposer 180. As shown in
FIG. 21, a contact member 1530 of each cell 1570 makes physical
contact with a corresponding conductor.
[00108] Although not shown in FIG. 21, when connector 100 is
in use, the proximal end 1641 of each contact member 1530a,b
contacts a conducting element on a circuit board connected to
connector 100. For example, end 1641 of contact member 1530b
contacts a conducting element on circuit board 2190 and end 1641
of contact member 1530a contacts a conducting element on circuit
board 2180. Accordingly, FIG. 21 illustrates that there is at
least one electrical signal path from board 2190 to board 2180
through connector 100. This electrical signal path includes
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conductor 214, contact member 1530b and contact member 1530a.
As is appreciated by one skilled in the art, connector 100
provides multiple electrical signal paths from board 2190 and
2180, wherein each signal path includes two contact members 1530
and a conductor on a board 120.
[00109] According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 21,
each interposer is arranged in parallel relationship with one
circuit board connected to connector 100. More specifically,
interposer 180a is in parallel relationship with circuit board
2180 and interposer 180b is in parallel relationship with
circuit board 2190. Accordingly, one face of interposer 180a
faces board 2180 and one face of interposer 180b faces board
2190.
[00110] Referring now to FIG. 22, FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional
view of the connector 100 and shows that when connector 100 is
in use, as described above, each proximal end 1641 of each
contact member 1530 contacts a conducting element 2194 on
circuit board 2190. In a preferred embodiment, each conducting
element 2194 is a signal pad, and not a via. Accordingly, in a
preferred embodiment, connector 100 is a compression mount
connector because each proximal end 1641 merely presses against
the circuit board and is not inserted into a via in the circuit
board. However, in other embodiments, each element 2194 may be
a via or other electrically conducting element.
[00111] In a preferred embodiment, the board 2190 includes a
differential signal path that includes a first signal path 2196a
(e.g., a first trace) and a second signal path 2196b (e.g., a
second trace). As shown, the first pad 2194 is connected to the
first signal path 2196a and the second conducting element 2194b
is connected to the first signal path 2196b. It should be noted
that the second circuit board 2180 may also have a pair of
conducting elements, like elements 2194, electrically connected
to a pair of signal paths, like paths 2196.
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[00112] As shown in FIG. 22, a cell 1570 is inserted into an
aperture of interposer 180. As further shown, the distal end of
each contact member 1530 of cell 1570 extends beyond the upper
face 2250 of the interposer and the proximal end 1641 of each
contact member 1530 extends beyond the bottom face 2251 of the
interposer, which faces board 2190 and is generally parallel
thereto. Each proximal end 1641 presses against a conducting
element 2194 on board 2190. Likewise, each contact portion 1745
of contact member 1530 presses against a conductor on board 120.
Thus, a contact member 1530 electrically connects a conductor on
board 120 with a conducting element 2194 on board 2190. As
illustrated in FIG. 22, the ends of the conductors on board 120
are near the upper face 2250 of interposer.
[00113] When end 1641 of a contact member 1530 presses against
a corresponding element 2194 a normal force caused by the
element is exerted on the contact member. Because the contact
member 1530 is held firmly within housing 1570, the normal force
will cause housing 1522 to move in the direction of the normal
force (i.e., away from the circuit board 2190). However,
springs 1520 limit how far housing 1522 will move away from
board 2190 because when the housing 1522 moves away from board
2190, springs 1520 will compress and exert a force on the
housing in a direction that is opposite of the direction of the
normal force caused by board 2190. This is so because the
distal ends of the springs abut a surface of a spacer 110 and
the spacer is firmly attached to the interposer 180, which
itself does not move relative to the board 2190. Thus, springs
1502 will compress and exert a force on housing in a direction
opposite the normal force.
[00114] Referring back to FIG. 1, each spacer 110 may be
configured to attach to an elongate backbone 150. Additionally,
connector 100 may include two end caps 100a and 100b, each of
which is designed to attach to a respective end of backbone 150.
The backbone 150 and end caps 100 are discussed below.
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[00115] Referring to FIG. 23, FIG. 23 illustrates an
embodiment of backbone 150. Backbone 150, according to the
embodiment shown, includes bosses 2300 arranged to mate with the
end caps 100 as well as slots 2320, each arranged to receive
finger 440 of a spacer 110, as shown in FIG. 27. Backbone 150
may further include tines 2330 arranged to mate with the spacers
110.
[00116] Referring to FIG. 24, FIG. 24 illustrates an
embodiment of an end cap 199. End cap 199, according to the
embodiment shown, includes apertures 2402 arranged to mate with
bosses disposed on adjacent spacers as well as bosses 2300
disposed on the backbone 150. The end cap 199 further includes
both a screw 2420 and a pin 2410 arranged to mechanically
interface connector 100 with a circuit board, which may have a
large number of layers, for example, more than 30 layers, as
well as a tongue 2430 arranged to mate with an end plate 191b
(see FIGS. 1 and 25).
[00117] While the end cap 199 is illustrated as being
symmetrical, that is, can be used on either end of connector
100, separate left and right-handed end caps may also be used.
The screw 2420 and pin 2410 of the end cap 199 may be integrally
formed with the end cap 199 or may be attached thereto after
fabrication of the end cap 199. It has been found that it is
often necessary to utilize a metal rather than a plastic screw
2420 in view of the mechanical stresses involved. It is
understood that the present invention is not limited to the use
of a screw 2420 and pin 2410 but rather other fastening means
may also be used.
[00118] As noted previously, both the end caps 100 and spacers
110 can be fabricated of an insulative material, such as a
plastic, covered with a conductive material to provide
electromagnetic shielding or can be fabricated entirely of a
conductive material, such as a metal.
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[00119] FIG. 25 is an exploded view of backbone 150 and an end
cap 199 and FIG. 26 is a view of a backbone 150 and an end cap
199 assembled together.
[00120] Referring to FIGS. 25 and 26, the bosses 2300 of the
backbone 150 are disposed within corresponding apertures 2402 in
the end caps 100 forming a rigid structure. The use of bosses
2300 and apertures 2402 is for exemplary purposes and the
present invention is not limited thereto. That is, other
fastening means can be used to mechanically connect the backbone
150 to the end caps 100.
[00121] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 27, a combination of
fingers 440 and mating slots are used to mechanically connect
the spacers 110 to the backbone 150. The illustrated
combination is for exemplary purposes and the present invention
is not limited thereto. In a similar fashion, as discussed
above, the fingers 435, 437, 835, 837 of the spacers 110 are
arranged to mate with corresponding slots in the interposer 180.
The illustrated combination of fingers and slots is for
exemplary purposes and the present invention is not limited
thereto.
[00122] Referring back to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 shows that connector
100 may also include a two mounting clips 190a and 190b and a
shield 160. Mounting clips 190 and shield 160 are combined with
the above described parts of the connector 100 to form a
composite arrangement. The mounting clip 190 and shield 160 may
be electrically conductive so as to electromagnetically shield
the signal carrying elements of connector 100. The mounting
clip 190 and shield 160 will be discussed in detail below.
[00123] FIG. 28 illustrates an embodiment of mounting clip
190b. Mounting clip 190b, according to the embodiment shown,
includes: (a) pins 2860 arranged to mate with a hole in a
circuit board (e.g., board 2190 or 2180) and (b) slots 2870
arranged to receive the tongues and 2430 of the end caps 100.
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Pins 2860 function to connect clip 190b to a circuit board by
mating with the circuit board holes mentioned above. Pins 2860
may be electrically conducting and may electrically and
physically connect to a ground plane of the circuit board to
which it is connected.
[00124] FIG. 29 is an exploded view of clip 190b and end cap
199 and FIG. 30 is a view of clip 190b having an end cap 199
attached thereto. As shown in FIG. 30, tongue 2430 of end cap
199 is arranged to mate with a corresponding slot 2870 in clip
190b. As with the other illustrated fastening means, the
present invention is not limited to the use of a tongue and
corresponding slot.
[00125] Referring now to FIG. 31, FIG. 31 illustrates an
embodiment of shield 160. Shield 160, according to the
embodiment shown, includes hooks 3100 arranged to fit in slots
in an interposer 180. FIG. 32 is an exploded view of shield 160
and an interposer 180. FIG. 33 is a view of shield 160 being
connected to an interposer 180. FIG. 33 illustrates how the
hooks 3100 of shield 160 snap into slots in interposer 180,
thereby mechanically connecting the two.
[00126] FIG. 34 is a view of an assembled connector with an
interposer 180 and clip 190a omitted. FIGS. 35 and 36 are
different views of a fully assembled connector 100 according to
one embodiment. Referring to FIG. 35, FIG. 35 shows end caps
199a and 199b, shield 160, interposer 180a and clip 190b.
[00127] Referring to FIGS. 36, FIG. 36 shows end caps 199a and
199b, interposers 180a and 180b, and clips 190a and 190b. The
clip 190a may be attached to the overall assembly by any usual
fastening means and can include pins or other fastening means to
attach the assembled connector 100 to a daughtercard, for
example.
[00128] The additional interposer 180b and additional clip
190a may be identical to the interposer 180a and end plate 190b
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or can be different (or not present at all), depending upon the
application of the interconnection system assembly.
[00129] While the two interposers 180 have been illustrated as
being perpendicular to each other, the present invention is not
limited thereto. That is, for some applications, the planes of
the two interposers 180 can be at a 45-degree angle or other
angle, for example. Thus, connector 100 need not be a "right-
angle" connector.
[00130] As can be seen from FIGS. 34-36, the entire
interconnection system assembly attaches together to form a
rigid structure in which the electrical conductors on the
printed circuit boards 120 may be entirely electromagnetically
shielded.
Part 2: Embodiments Related to, E.G., Complaint Pin Connectors
and the Like:
[00131] FIGS. 37-46 show some additional preferred embodiments
of the invention. Among other things, the, the embodiments
shown in FIGS. 37-46 are generally similar to embodiments
described herein-above and have similar commercial applications
thereto. However, the embodiments shown in FIGS. 37-46
preferably include a 2-piece connector having compliant pin
connections.
[00132] The components depicted in FIGS. 37-46 can be employed
within a modified connector 100 that is general similar to that
of any of the embodiments described above with reference to
FIGS. 1-36. As with the embodiments described above, a modified
connector 100 preferably includes: two interposers 180-C having
arrays of apertures; cells 122-C inserted into the apertures of
the interposers; at least one printed circuit board 120-C having
electrical conductors thereon (e.g., printed or otherwise formed
thereon); and a plurality of spacers 110-C (such as, e.g.,
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spacers 110a-C and 110b-C shown). In addition, in some
illustrative embodiments, the modified connector also includes a
supporting, enclosing and/or the like structure for the
maintaining components described with reference to FIGS. 37-46,
such as, e.g., in some illustrative and non-limiting
embodiments, one or more, preferably all of the following can be
employed: a pair of end-caps (see, e.g., herein-above; not shown
in FIGS. 37-46); a backbone (see, e.g., herein-above; not shown
in FIGS. 37-46); a shield (see, e.g., herein-above; not shown in
FIGS. 37-46); and a pair of endplates (see, e.g., herein-above;
not shown in FIGS. 37-46). As with embodiments described above,
one skilled in the art will appreciate that in typical
configurations, a modified connector 100 will include a number
of circuit boards and spacers.
[00133] However, while the most preferred embodiments of the
compression mount versions described above involve a 1-piece
type of connector, the most preferred embodiments of the press-
fit mounted versions involve a 2-piece type of connector. In
this regard, for conventional 2-piece connectors one connector
half is typically affixed to a motherboard as a permanent or
semi-permanent fixture (such as, e.g., usually through some form
of press-fit method of attachment) and a second connector half
of the connector is attached to the daughtercard, again using
some kind of press-fit arrangement. The motherboard half (the
"header") mates with the daughtercard half (the "socket") when
the daughtercard is slid into the card cage.
[00134] In contrast to 1-piece connectors wherein, the
complete connector may be, e.g., fixed to a daughtercard, in the
preferred 2-piece embodiments described below, the components
are preferably mounted as follows. First, both interposers are
pre-assembled with cells 122-C. Then, a first interposer 180-C
is assembled to the connector body (including, e.g., the printed
circuit boards 120-C and spacers 110-C), such as, e.g., being
screwed, snapped, and/or in some other way permanently or semi-
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permanently affixed to the connector body. Then, this assembly
is press-fit onto the daughter card (such as, e.g., in a similar
manner to a conventional 2-piece connector socket). On the
other hand, a second interposer is mounted directly to the
motherboard (such as, e.g., in a similar manner to a header of
conventional 2-piece connector). Then, connection between the
two connector halves is made when the daughtercard is slid into
a card cage and the two connector halves are connected together
(NB: as described in further detail below, when the two
connector halves are connected together, slots within the cells
122-C preferably help to guide the printed circuit boards 120-C
into place). Preferably, to have the daughtercard-side
interposer permanently or semi-permanently affixed to the
connector body, a latching mechanism is provided to connect the
first interposer to the connector body. However, in preferred
embodiments, the daughtercard can be unplugged from the
motherboard when necessary, and no no latching mechanism is
provided between this second interposer and the connector body.
[00135] FIG. 39 is a perspective side view that shows, inter
alia, a printed circuit board 120-C. In the embodiment shown,
circuit board 120-C is generally rectangular in shape. As
shown,. circuit board 120-C may have one or more electrical
conductors disposed on a face 220-C thereof. In the embodiment
shown, board 120-C has three conductors 201-C, 202-C, 203-C, and
204-C disposed on the face 220-C. Each conductor 201-C to 204-C
has a first end, a second end and an interim section between the
first and second ends. As with the previously described
conductors, the first end of each conductor is located at a
point on or adjacent a first edge of the face 220-C and the
second end of each conductor is located at a point on or
adjacent a second edge of face 220-C. As with the foregoing
embodiments, while the configurations may be varied as desired
based on circumstances, in many embodiments, the second edge of
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the face 220-C is generally perpendicular to the first edge, as
shown.
[00136] As with the above-described preferred embodiments,
although not shown in FIG. 39, there are corresponding
electrical conductors on the opposite face of circuit board 120-
C. More specifically, for each conductor 201-C to 204-C, there
is a corresponding conductor on the opposite face that is a
mirror image of the conductor. This feature is illustrated in
FIG. 42, which is a view showing a broken-away front sectional
view of a plurality of boards 120-C having conductor pairs on
opposite faces of the circuit boards 120-C.
[00137] As described above, when the modified interconnection
system 100 is used to transmit differential signals, one of the
electrical conductors and its corresponding electrical conductor
on the opposite face may be utilized together to form the two
wire balanced pair required for transmitting the differential
signal. Once again, in preferred embodiments, since the length
of the two electrical conductors is identical, there should be
no skew between the two electrical conductors (skew being the
difference in time that it takes for a signal to propagate the
two electrical conductors).
[00133] In configurations where a modified connector 100
includes multiple circuit boards 120-C, the circuit boards are
preferably arranged in a row and in a generally parallel
relationship. Preferably, in such a configuration, each circuit
board 120-C of connector 100 is positioned between two spacers
110-C (see, e.g., spacers 110a-C and 110b-C, each of which is
also generically referred to herein by the reference number 110-
C).
[00139] FIG. 38 is a perspective side view of components of a
connector 100, including a spacer 110a-C according to one
embodiment of the invention. As shown, spacer 110a-C preferably
has one or more grooves disposed on a face 420-C thereof. In
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the embodiment shown, face 420-C of spacer 110a-C has three
grooves 401-C, 402-C and 403-C disposed thereon. Each groove
401-C to 403-C extends from a point at or near a first edge of
face 420-C to a point at or near second edge of face 420-C.
[00140] As shown in FIG. 38, the first and second edges of the
spacer 110a-C preferably include a plurality of recesses llOr at
each of the ends of the grooves configured to accommodate
housings 1522-C (discussed below) of the cells 122-C (discussed
below). Each recess preferably extends from a point at the edge
of the face to a second point spaced inwardly from the edge a
short distance. Accordingly, in the embodiment shown, there are
recesses at the ends of all of the grooves. Each recess is
designed to receive one side of a respective cell 122-C as shown
in FIG. 38.
[00141] As best shown in FIG. 42, while not shown in FIG. 38,
in some preferred embodiments there are similar grooves and
recesses on the opposite face (not shown) of spacer 110a-C (such
as, e.g., described above with reference to embodiments shown in
FIGS. 1-36). In some preferred embodiments, the number of
grooves on the first face of a spacer 110a-C is one less (or one
more) than the number of grooves on the second face of the
spacer 110a-C, but this is not a requirement. In various
embodiments the selection of spacers and grooves thereon can be
similar to that in any of the above-noted embodiments described
above with reference to FIGS. 1-36. As described above with
reference to FIGS. 1-36, by way of example, in some embodiments,
the number of grooves on one face of a spacer 110a-C can one
less (or one more) than the number of grooves on the opposite
face of the spacer.
[00142] As with the implementation of fingers shown in the
above-discussed embodiments shown, e.g., in FIGS. 4-6, the
embodiments shown in FIGS. 37-46 preferably include spacer
fingers 435-C and/or 437-C that extend within corresponding
receiving slots 1810-C (see FIG. 38) in the interposers 180-Cl
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and 180-C2 when the connector is fully assembled (such as, e.g.,
when both connector pieces of a 2-piece connector are attached
together as described above)(NB: each of the interposers can
also be generically referred to by the reference number 180-C).
The fingers are best shown in, e.g., shown in FIGS. 37, 38 and
40. As shown, in preferred embodiments, a plurality of, or
preferably all of, the spacers 110-C each includes at least one,
preferably two, projecting fingers for engaging with the first
interposer 180-Cl and/or each includes at least one, preferably
two, projecting fingers for engaging with the second interposer
180-C2, which fingers engage within respective receiving slots
within the respective interposers. Among other things, such
finger and slot engagements can be advantageous when assembling
a first interposer and connector body (e.g., attached to a
daughter card) and/or when connecting together two pieces of a
2-piece connector (e.g., when a daughter card is slid into the
card cage), such as, e.g., facilitating alignment of the printed
circuit boards.
[00143] Although not shown in FIGS. 37-46, in some
embodiments, each of the spacers 110a-C can include one or more
bosses (not shown) disposed on and projecting outwardly from its
faces that fit in respective apertures of circuit board 120-C.
As with embodiments described above with reference to FIGS. 1-
36, this feature can also be used to help enable the board 120-C
to be properly aligned with respect to the adjacent spacers
(such as, e.g., spacers 110a-C and 110b-C).
[00144] In some illustrative embodiments, each spacer includes
a finger 435-C that is located towards the top of the front side
of spacer 110-C and a finger 437-C that is located towards the
bottom of the front side of the spacer 110-C. As discussed,
similar fingers 435-C and/or 437-C can be used to help in the
attachment of the spacers 110-C to the interposers 180-Cl and/or
180-C2. More specifically, in some preferred embodiments, both
of the interposers 180-Cl and 180-C2 include two vertically
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aligned recesses 1810-C for receiving corresponding fingers 435-
C and 437-C from a respective spacer. In some embodiments, the
fingers can include protrusions that are sufficiently resilient
to allow them to snap-fit or to force-fit into the corresponding
recesses in the corresponding interposers.
[00145] Although not depicted, the embodiments shown in FIGS.
37-46 may, in some illustrative cases, include similar slots 444
and corresponding structure that attach to a similar backbone
150 (discussed further below).
[00146] As shown in FIG. 42, in some embodiments, two
different spacers types, 110a-C and 110b-C, are alternatively
positioned within the connector 100. Accordingly, in some
embodiments, the connector 100 includes two types of spacers:
type A (i.e., 110a-C) and type B (i.e., 110b-C). In some
embodiments, the two spacers types can be similar but not
identical to one another. In other embodiments, more or less
than two types of spacers may be used. As discussed above with
reference to embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-36, the two spacer
types A and B can be used, e.g., to enable adjacent printed
circuit boards to have conductors situated in a staggered
relationship, such as, e.g., shown in FIG. 43. Similarly, as
described above, the printed circuit boards 120-C can, thus,
also include two types A and B in order to, cooperatively with
the spacers, achieve this relationship.
[00147] In this regard, in the preferred embodiments, a
plurality of generally parallel printed circuit boards 120-C are
positioned in between alternating spacers types A and B, see,
e.g., spacers 110a-C and 110b-C. As discussed above, this is
best shown in FIG. 42.
[00148] Once again, although not shown, bosses of one of said
spacers can, in some embodiments, protrude though apertures of a
respective board 120-C and through apertures of another of said
spacers (e.g., similar to embodiments described herein-above).
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Among other things, this can facilitate the proper alignment of
spacers and the board 120, such that conductors on the boards
120-C are aligned with grooves on the spacers, respectively, as
depicted in FIG. 42.
[00149] In addition, as with embodiments described above, with
this alignment, the electrical conductor's disposed on board 120-
C can be insulated by the air caught between the board 120-C and
the grooves.
[00150] As with embodiments described above, in various
embodiments, spacers 110-C may be fabricated either from an
electrically conductive material or from a dielectric material
that is coated with an electrically conductive layer to
electromagnetically shield the electrical conductors of the
printed circuit boards 120-C. Furthermore, the complex
impedances of the electrical conductors and their associated
grooves can be adjusted by varying the dimensions thereof.
Still furthermore, the grooves can include a layer of a
dielectric material, such as Teflon, to further adjust the
complex impedances of the electrical conductors and their
associated channels as well as adjusting the breakdown voltage
thereof.
[00151] FIG. 42 shows an exemplary arrangement of spacers 110-
C and circuit boards 120-C when multiple circuit boards are used
in a connector 100. As shown, boards 120-C and spacers 110-C
are aligned in a row in a generally parallel relationship and
each circuit board 120-C is sandwiched between two spacers 110-
C. In the example shown, there are two types of circuit boards
A and B and two types of spacers A and B (as discussed above).
The A type circuit boards are identical to each other, and the B
type circuit boards are identical to each other. Similarly, the
A type spacers are identical to each other, and the B type
spacers are identical to each other. This is generally similar
to the embodiments described herein-above with reference to FIG.
12.
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[00152] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 42, spacers 110-C and
boards 120-C are arranged in an alternating sequence, which
means that between any two given A type spacers there is a B
type spacer and vice-versa, and between any two given A type
boards there is a B type board and vice-versa. Thus, an A type
spacer is not adjacent to another A type spacer and an A type
board is not adjacent to another A type board. Accordingly, in
this exemplary configuration, each board 120-C is disposed
between an A type spacer and a B type spacer.
[00153] By way of illustration, in some embodiments, each face
of each board B type board 120-C has three conductors thereon
(such as, e.g., shown in FIG. 39). As explained above with
reference to FIG. 13, in some embodiments, the A and B type
boards 120-C are nearly identical. One difference being the
number of conductors on each face and the alignment of the
conductors on the face. In some illustrative embodiments, the B
type boards have one less electrical conductor than do the A
type boards.
[00154] As described herein-above, one advantage of having the
conductors misaligned as shown in FIG. 42 is that it may, inter
alia, reduce cross-talk in the connector.
[00155] As shown in FIG. 42, each conductor on each board 120-
C is aligned with a groove on the spacer directly adjacent that
conductor. That is, each groove on each spacer 110-C is
designed to follow a corresponding conductor on an adjacent
board 120. In this manner, because each conductor is aligned
with a corresponding groove, there is a space between the
conductor and the spacer.
[00156] When a modified connector 100 is fully assembled, each
conductor on a board 120-C comes into physical and electrical
contact with two contact members 1530-C (best shown in FIG. 43),
which are each contained within the housing 1522-C of the cell
122-C, and which are located inside corresponding recesses 110r
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in spacers on opposite sides of the board 120-C. More
specifically, the first end of each conductor comes into
physical and electrical contact with the contact portion of a
first contact member and the second end of each conductor comes
into physical and electrical contact with the contact portion of
a second contact member, and the contact portions of the first
and second contact members are each disposed in a space between
the corresponding end of the conductor and the spacer. FIG. 43
depicts such contact members at one end of the conductors,, but
it should be understood that in the preferred embodiments
similar contact members are also provided at the other end of
the conductors. Each contact member functions to electrically
connect the conductor to which it makes contact to a trace on a
circuit board to which the connector 100 is attached.
[00157] With'further reference to FIG. 43, this figure depicts
contact members 1530a-C and 1530b-C (NB: each of the contact
members can also be generically referred to by the reference
number 1530-C), according to one embodiment of the invention,
for electrically connecting a respective conductor on a board
120-C to a respective trace on a circuit board to which the
connector 100 is attached. Although the full length of the
contact members are depicted in this partially cross-sectional
view, it should be understood that in preferred embodiments only
a portion of contact member would be exposed because a portion
is disposed within a housing 1522-C.
[00158] As shown in FIG. 43, contact member 1530a-C contacts
an end of conductor (not shown) in a manner similar to that
described above with reference to FIG. 15. In some embodiments,
as shown in FIG. 39, the ends of the conductors can be made
wider than the interim portions so as to provide more surface
area for receiving the contact portion of the respective contact
members. As shown in FIG. 43, the contact member 1530b-C is
generally similar to the contact member 1530a-C and has a bottom
portion that is also housed in the housing 1522-C.
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[00159] As with the housing described herein-above with
reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-36, the housing
1522-C is preferably fabricated of an electrically insulative or
dielectric material, such as a plastic. During manufacture, the
electrical contacts 1530-C of each housing 1522-C can either be
disposed within the housing during fabrication or can be
subsequently fitted within the housing.
[00160] Contact members 1530-C may be fabricated by commonly
available techniques utilizing any material having suitable
electrical and mechanical characteristics. For example, the
contact members may be fabricated of laminated materials such as
gold plated phosphor bronze. While the contact members in these
embodiments are illustrated as preferably being of a generally
unitary construction, it is contemplated that such may
alternatively be made from multiple components.
[00161] In contrast to embodiments described above employing
springs, in preferred implementations of the embodiments shown
in FIGS. 37-46, the housings are preferably fixed in relation to
the interposers during use (such as, e.g., by being press-fit
into the interposers and/or otherwise retained with respect to
the interposers once assembled). In the embodiments shown in
FIGS. 37-46, the combination of the housing 1522-C and the
contact members 1530-C are referred to as a cell 122-C.
[00162] In some preferred embodiments, the housing 1522-C can
be generally similar to that shown in FIG. 15, as long as the
housing 1522-C is configured to be substantially fixedly located
within the interposer. As best shown in FIGS. 41 and 45, the
housing 1522-C can include, e.g., generally rectangular
apertures 1522r for receiving contact members 1530-C. The
apertures extend from the top side of housing to bottom side of
the housing so that proximal ends 1641a-C and 1641b-C of the
contact members can project beyond the bottom side of housing
1522-C, as shown in, e.g., FIG. 43. With reference to FIG. 45,
in some preferred embodiments, the generally rectangular
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apertures are incorporated within a generally I-shaped
passageway 15221 that extends through the housing 1522-C. Among
other things, the use of a generally I-shaped passageway 15221
can facilitate insertion of the contact members into the housing
by, e.g., allowing for increased expandability of the housing
1522-C. As with the terminology v-shaped, the terminology I-
shaped is to be construed generally and does not require an
exact I-shaped, but encompasses any configuration in which
widened portions (such as, e.g., 1522r) are connected or
substantially connected via another portion.
[00163] As with the embodiment shown in FIG. 17, each contact
member 1530-C, according to some preferred embodiments, has'a
proximal end 1641-C and a distal end 1749-C. In the preferred
embodiments, in between the ends 1641-C and 1749-C, there is a
base portion 1743-C, a transition portion 1744-C and a contact
portion 1745-C. In the embodiment shown, the base portion 1743-
C is disposed in the aperture 1522r in the housing such that
generally the entire base portion is within housing 1522-C
(i.e., press-fit and/or frictionally engaged within the aperture
1522r section of the housing), the transition portion 1744-C is
angled inwardly with respect to the base portion (i.e., movably
supported within a board-receiving portion of the housing), and
distal end 1749-C is angled outwardly with respect to the
transition portion and therefore functions as a lead-in portion.
[00164] In a preferred embodiment, the contact portion of a
contact member is not fixed to the end of the conductor with
which it makes physical and electrical contact. For example,
the contact portions are preferably not soldered or otherwise
fixed to the board 120-C conductors. Instead, in the preferred
embodiments, each contact member is electrically connected to
its corresponding conductor through a resilient or pressing
force using a connection similar to that used in card edge
connectors. That is, the contact portion of the contact member
preferably presses against the end of the corresponding
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conductor. Among other things, although in the preferred
implementations of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 37-46, the
housing is fixed in relation to the interposer and the board,
this form of connection can help to, inter alia, ensure a good
electrical connection between the contact members and the
corresponding electrical conductors of the printed circuit
boards 120-C, can facilitate manufacture and assembly of
components, such as, e.g., facilitating the alignment of the
printed circuit boards, and/or the like.
[00165] As shown in FIGS. 37-41, similar to the embodiments
shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, each cell 122-C is designed to fit
into an corresponding aperture 1811-C of an respective
interposer 180-C. In these illustrative embodiments, each
interposer 180-C includes a first set of apertures arranged in a
first set of aligned rows to create a first row and column
configuration and a second set of apertures arranged in a second
set of aligned rows to create second row and column
configuration. In these embodiments, each row in the second set
is disposed between two rows from the first set in a manner
similar to the embodiments described herein-above with reference
to, e.g., FIGS. 18-19. As shown in the figures, the second row
and column configuration is offset from the first row and column
configuration so that the apertures of the second set are
aligned with each other but not aligned with the apertures of
the first set, and vice-versa.
[00166] In illustrative embodiments, an interposer 180-C may
electromagnetically shield the electrical conductors of the
printed circuit boards 120 by being fabricated either of a
conductive material or of a non-conductive material coated with
a conductive material.
[00167] When the connector 100 is fully constructed, each
aperture in the first and second set preferably receives a cell
122-C. The housing 1522-C of each cell 1570 can, if desired,
include a tab similar to tab 1633 shown in FIG. 16 arranged to
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fit within a slot disposed within a corresponding aperture of
the interposer 180-C, to help prevent the cell 122-C from
falling into the aperture.
[00168] As best shown in FIG. 46, in some preferred
embodiments, the housing 1522-C can include a generally T-shaped
construction with two laterally extending tabs 1633-C. In
addition, the interposers 180-C can include a groove or recess
extending between a plurality of the recesses 1811-C, such as,
e.g., a lateral groove 180g extending along rows of the recesses
as shown in FIGS. 37, 40, 41 and 44.
[00169] However, the structure of the housing can be selected
based on circumstances at hand and may, preferably, be
configured in a manner to be reliably fixed in relation to the
position of the interposer during use. It is to be understood
that the specific shapes of the cells and corresponding
interposer apertures are merely for exemplary purposes. The
present invention is not limited to these shapes, but may employ
a wide variety of shapes.
[00170] As schematically depicted in FIG. 44, when the
connector 100 is in use, each of the proximal ends 1641-C of
each contact member contacts a respective conducting element on
a circuit board 2190-C connected to connector 100. Accordingly,
in preferred embodiments, there is at least one electrical
signal path from a board 2190-C to the boards within the
connector 100. As would be appreciated by one skilled in the
art, the connector 100 can provide multiple electrical signal
paths from board 2190, wherein each signal path includes two
contact members 1530-C and a conductor on a board 120-C.
[00171] As schematically shown in FIG. 44, as with embodiments
shown in, e.g., FIGS. 21-22, each interposer 180a-C and 180b-C
cab be arranged in parallel relationship respective circuit
boards connected to connector 100. More specifically, the
interposer 180a-C can be located in a parallel relationship with
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a first circuit board (similar to board 2190-C shown in FIG. 44)
and interposer 180b-C can be located in a parallel relationship
with another circuit board (similar to board 2190-C shown in
FIG. 44). Accordingly, in such embodiments, one face of
interposer 180a-C faces a first board and one face of interposer
180b-C faces a second board.
[00172] Similar to the embodiments shown in FIG. 22, each
proximal end 1641-C of each contact member 1530-C preferably
contacts a respective conducting element 2194-C on a circuit
board 2190-C. In a preferred embodiment, each conducting
element 2194-C is a female socket for receiving the proximal end
1641-C of a respective contact member.
[00173] In the preferred embodiments, the connector 100 is a
compliant mount connector and each proximal end 1641-C forms a
pin that fits within a respective female socket. However, in
other embodiments, each element 2194-C may be a via or another
electrically conductive element capable of compliantly receiving
the contact member.
[00174] In a preferred embodiment, the board 2190-C includes a
differential signal path that includes a first signal path
(e.g., a first trace) and a second signal path (e.g., a second
trace). As with the embodiment shown in FIG. 22, a first
element 2194-C is connected to the first signal path and a
second conducting element 2194-C is connected to the second
signal path. It should be noted that the second circuit board
(e.g., proximate the other interposer) may also have pairs of
conducting elements, like elements 2194-C, electrically
connected to respective pairs of signal paths, in a like manner.
[00175] With reference to FIGS. 37-41, each cell 122-C is
inserted into an aperture of a respective interposer 180-C. In
some embodiments, the distal end of each contact member 1530-C
of a cell 122-C extends beyond an upper face of the respective
interposer (see FIGS. 38-39 and 43-44) and the proximal ends
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1641-C of each contact member extends beyond a bottom face of
the respective interposer (see, e.g., FIGS. 37, 40 and 41). As
discussed above, when fully assembled, the interposers 180-C
will face and be generally parallel to respective boards (such
as, e.g., a motherboard and a daughercard). By way of example,
FIG. 42 schematically shows an interposer 180-C that faces and
is generally parallel to a board 2190-C.
[00176] When an end 1641-C of a contact member 1530-C is
pressed within a corresponding element 2194-C, a normal force
caused by the element is exerted on the contact member. Because
during use, the contact member 1530-C is fixedly located with
respect to the housing, and the housing is fixedly located with
respect to the interposer, the contact member can be readily
compliantly connected to the element 2194-C.
[00177] As discussed above, in some embodiments, the devices
shown in FIGS. 37-46 can be configured to attach to an elongated
backbone similar to the backbone 150 described above with
reference to FIGS. 1-36. In addition, the modified connector
100 may also include two end caps similar to the end caps 100a
and 100b discussed above, each of which can be, .e.g., designed
to attach to a respective end of backbone 150. As with
embodiments described above with reference to FIGS. 1-36, both
the end caps and the spacers can be fabricated of an insulative
material, such as a plastic, covered with a conductive material
to provide electromagnetic shielding, or can be fabricated
entirely of a conductive material, such as, e.g., a metal. In
some embodiments, the various features related to the backbone,
end caps and related structure can be like that described above
with reference to FIGS. 1-36. However, in preferred 2-piece
connector embodiments, allowance would be made to have one of
the interposers connected to the connector body, while having a
second of the interposers separate therefrom as a second
connector piece that can be connected together therewith when a
daughercard is slid into a card cage as described above.
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[00178] In addition, in some embodiments, the modified
connector 100 can also be configured to include one or more
mounting clip similar to the above-described mounting clips 190a
and 190b and a shield similar to the above-described shield 160.
As described above with reference to embodiments shown in FIGS.
1-36, in some embodiments the mounting clips and shield can be
combined with the above described parts of the connector 100 to
form a composite arrangement. As described above, in some
embodiments the mounting clips and shield may be electrically
conductive so as to electromagnetically shield the signal
carrying elements of connector 100. In some embodiments, the
various features related to the mounting clips and the shield
can be like that described above with reference to FIGS. 1-36.
However, in preferred 2-piece connector embodiments, allowance
would again be made to have one of the interposers connected to
the connector body, while having a second of the interposers
separate therefrom as a second connector piece that can be
connected together therewith when a daughercard is slid into a
card cage as described above.
[00179] As with embodiments described above with reference to
FIGS. 1-36, while the two illustrative interposers 180a-C and
180b-C have been shown as being generally perpendicular to each
other, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is,
for some applications, the planes of the two interposers 180 can
be at about a 45-degree angle or at another angle, for example.
Thus, the modified connector 100 need not be a "right-angle"
connector.
[00180] As with embodiments described above with reference to
FIGS. 1-36, in some preferred embodiments, when both connector
pieces are attached together in an assembled state, the entire
interconnection system preferably forms a substantially rigid
structure in which the electrical conductors on the printed
circuit boards 120-C may be electromagnetically shielded.
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[00181] As shown in FIGS.38, 39, 43, 44 and 46, in some
preferred embodiments, the housing 122-C is formed so as to
include a receiving slot 122s configured to receiving an edge of
a printed circuit board. In this regard, FIG. 39 illustrates a
printed circuit board 120-C as received within a plurality of
housings. Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 39, 43 and 44, the
housing projects within the interposer 180-C and the receiving
slot 122s extends within the housing to proximate the front of
the interposer, such that the board 120-C can be moved to or
substantially to the front of the interposer. In some
embodiments, the housing 122-C can include an inclined or
chamfered from edge 122i on one or more side of the slot 122s to
facilitate insertion of the printed circuit board 120-C.
[00182] As also shown in FIGS. 38, 39, 43, 44 and 46, the
housing preferably includes internal channels 122c configured to
receive the flexible ends of the contact members, including
portions 1744-C, 1745-C and 1749-C, described above.
[00183] In the preferred embodiments, an insert-loaded
interposer can be provided (i.e., wherein the cells 122-C are
referred to in this context as inserts that are inserted into
the interposer). In addition, in preferred embodiments, during
construction, the contacts are preferably pre-assembled into
these "inserts." For example, in some embodiments, the contacts
can be pressed into these dielectric or plastic "inserts," such
as, e.g., by pressing the contacts therein in the direction of
the arrow Al shown in FIG. 46. Then, the "inserts" can, in
turn, be loaded into the interposer, such as, e.g., by pressing
the cell therein in the direction of the arrow A2 shown in FIG.
46. In addition, as described above, the spacers preferably
include recesses llOr that accommodate these "inserts."
[00184] In addition, as described above, during assembly these
"inserts" can essentially function as guides for the printed
circuit boards by way of, e.g., the slots 122s (and optionally
the inclined edges 122i) of the cells 122-C. In this manner,
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the preferred embodiments help to ensure that, inter alia, the
printed circuit boards will be in the proper position with
respect to the contacts. In this manner, previously-confronted
problems related to achieving contact with printed circuit
boards can be substantially reduced. In addition, these
embodiments also enable the contacts to be protected from the
overstressing (such as, e.g., by containing the contacts within
the housing 1522-C rather than extending them outwardly from the
housing) that may otherwise cause a problem when errors are
encountered during assembly. As described above, this structure
can be advantageous in both the assembling of a first connector
half that has, e.g., a first interposer connected to a connector
body and in the connecting of the second connector half
therewith when a daughtercard is connected to a motherboard
using the 2-piece connector.
[00185] In some preferred applications, embodiments described
herein may be designed, e.g., for ultra high speed, high density
differential applications, such as, e.g., more than 2.5 GBPS,
or, in some embodiments, more than 5 GBPS, or, in some
embodiments, up to about 10 GBPS, or, in some embodiments, more
than 10 GBPS. In some illustrative embodiments, the connector
includes more than 25 pairs of differential signal pairs per
linear inch, or, in some embodiments, more than about 35 pairs
of differential signal pairs per linear inch, or, in some
embodiments, more than about 45 pairs of differential signal
pairs per linear inch.
[00186] In some illustrative and non-limiting embodiments, the
device can include components having at least some, or
preferably all, of the following dimensional sizes: a) a board-
to-board distance (shown by reference number 0.080 in FIG. 42)
of about 0.080 inches; b) a spacer groove depth (shown by
reference number 0.039 in FIG. 42) of about 0.039 inches; c) a
spacer groove width (shown by reference number 0.044 in FIG. 42)
of about 0.044 inches; d) a spacer groove staggering separation
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distance (shown by reference number 0.094 in FIG. 42) of about
0.094 inches; e) a housing 1522-C depth distance (shown by
reference number 0.24 in FIG. 43) of about 0.24 inches; f) a
housing 1522-C width distance (shown by reference number 0.13 in
FIG. 43) of about 0.13 inches; g) a contact pin extension
distance (shown by reference number 0.04 in FIG. 43) of about
0.04 inches; and h) a contact pin separation distance (shown by
reference number 0.06 in FIG. 43) of about 0.06 inches.
[00187] In some preferred embodiments, the proximal ends
1641a-C and 1641b-C of the contacts can be formed so as to have
a construction substantially similar to that shown in FIGS. 37,
40 and 41. In this regard, with reference to the close-up view
shown in FIG. 41, the pins can be formed with a configuration
referred to herein as a v-pin configuration. In such a v-pin
configuration, the pins are formed with a substantially v-shaped
cross-section (as shown). In this disclosure, the terminology
v-pin configuration and/or v-shaped is a general term that
encompasses, e.g., u-shaped configurations, and other
configurations having two arms sections extending from a base
section. This term encompasses, but does not require, that the
arms extend outward at angle from one another, but includes,
parallel arms, inwardly angled arms and/or other variations.
[00188] In some illustrative embodiments, a v-shaped
configuration can be achieved by, e.g., forming techniques, such
as, e.g., coining, cold-forming, forging, press-forming and/or
the like. In some illustrative embodiments, in the formation of
the v-shaped configuration, the contact members are initially
formed from substantially flat members (which may be, e.g.,
about 20 thousandths of an inch thick), then the contact members
are further pressed or stamped to form an end having a reduced
thickness (which may be, e.g., about 4 thousandths of an inch
thick). Then, the v-shape can be imparted by folding over the
reduced thickness end using appropriate forming and/or the like
techniques.
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[00189] Although such v-pin configurations are described, it
is contemplated that various other pin configurations can be
employed in other embodiments. Pins having virtually any
appropriate cross-sectional shapes can be employed in other
embodiments of the invention. In addition, while the
illustrative pins have a generally constant cross-sectional
shape in some illustrative embodiments (i.e., except for a front
chamfered portion in the illustrated examples), other
embodiments can have pins with discontinuous or otherwise varied
cross-sectional shapes.
[00190] In addition, in some preferred embodiments a compliant
pin can be created that has a complaint section with a diameter
of less than about 0.025 inches, or, in some embodiments, less
than about 0.020 inches, or, in some embodiments about a 0.018
inches, or less.
[00191] In contrast to compression mount connectors, such as,
e.g., related to compression mount embodiments described above
with reference to FIGS. 1-36, a compliant mount connector can
beneficially avoid some obstacles related to, e.g., co-planarity
of compression contacts, latching strength and accuracy issues,
as well as related to control needed in an axis normal to the
mating interface to maintain a stable interface in compression
mount connections.
[00192] Although compliant pins have been widely used in
various other high speed interconnects, the embodiments
described herein have substantial improvements over existing
systems. For example, due to the size and routing of the
compliant feature, existing systems typically experience
performance issues, such as, e.g., impedance discontinuities and
cross-talk. On the other hand, preferred embodiments described
herein can enhance the tuning of the performance of a compliant
pin termination to a printed circuit board. Among other things,
as described above, in preferred embodiments, the connector uses
broad-side coupled transmission lines with spatial relationships
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that can, inter alia, promote a high degree of cross-talk
isolation.
[00193] While various embodiments/variations of the present
invention have been described above, it should be understood
that they have been presented by way of example only, and not
limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present
invention should not be limited by any of the above-described
exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance
with the following claims and their equivalents.
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