JPH10149858A - Key mechanism for electric connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric connector having a standard housing and merely required to replace the faceplate of the housing for changing a key mechanism. SOLUTION: Multiple keyways are formed at least on one side face of the housing of a cable plug 18 in this key mechanism for an electric connector. A faceplate 86 fitted to the housing includes at least one key notch aligned with one of the keyways. The other keyways are blocked by the faceplate 86. A frame forming a receptacle for accepting the cable plug 18 is provided. The frame includes the key notch and key tabs 48 extended to the keyways. Different layouts of the tabs 48 of the frame can be accepted when only the faceplate 86, not the housing, is replaced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to electrical connectors, and more particularly, to a key mechanism for an electrical connector.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Electrical connectors are often provided with a key mechanism to ensure that a given electrical connector can only be connected to its appropriate mating connector or other connection device with the correct signal transmission. For example, a key mechanism is required to prevent a given plug connector from being inserted only into a particular receptacle while other plug connectors are being inserted into that receptacle. Such a key mechanism is similar to a polarized mechanism in which the connector must be mated only in a predetermined orientation to ensure that the mating terminals are properly engaged.

[0003]

In such a key mechanism, the key projection can be inserted into the key groove only when the arrangement of the key projections matches the arrangement of the key grooves. One problem with such a key mechanism is that it is expensive.

[0004] In other words, if a plug connector mates only with its complementary receptacle connector, the two connectors must be "custom" as a particular key mechanism. To prevent "mis-fitting" of other connectors, the other connectors must be custom ordered with different key mechanisms. This successive change to prevent improper mating involves significant manufacturing and inventory costs.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to overcoming these problems in a unique configuration that significantly reduces manufacturing costs. For example, the present invention describes a cable plug connector that includes a standard housing for all connectors and requires only that the faceplate of the housing be changed to change the key mechanism. Furthermore,
A key mechanism will be described for a shielded signal transmission system comprising a stamped and formed conductive receptacle having a plurality of unbent keytabs, wherein a plurality of different key configurations can be obtained by simply bending the keytabs. Alternatively, pre-bent tabs can be cut to obtain different key configurations.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved key mechanism for an electrical connector.

The key mechanism of the present invention describes a ground shroud assembly for receiving a cable plug. The cable plug includes a housing that includes at least one key recess at a selected side position. The ground shroud assembly includes a conductive frame having a base and at least one pair of side walls extending from the base, which defines a receptacle for receiving a cable plug. At least one of the side walls has at least one key protrusion for extending into the key recess. A conductive spring is disposed around at least one side wall of the conductive frame.

The conductive frame is formed by stamping and molding a metal material, and the key projection is a tab bent inward on at least one side wall. The sidewall includes a plurality of stamped unbent tabs, so that one or more tabs can be bent inward to form one or more key protrusions. In a grounded shroud assembly, the conductive springs are generally U-shaped, and the conductive frames are also generally U-shaped and are nested within the U-shaped springs.

According to the present invention, the housing of the cable plug includes a plurality of keyways on at least one side thereof. The face plate is attached to the housing,
The faceplate includes at least one key notch aligned with the keyway to form the key depression. Other keyways are blocked by the faceplate. Therefore, a different arrangement of key projections can be accommodated simply by replacing the faceplate without replacing the entire housing. This significantly reduces manufacturing and inventory costs.

The novel concept of the present invention is not limited to a ground shroud assembly for receiving a cable plug. The invention is equally applicable to a wide variety of electrical connectors.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a ground shroud assembly 12 according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, this ground shroud assembly 12
Is mounted in the opening 14 in the panel 16 and is shown receiving the cable plug 18 on one side of the panel 16 and the contact pins 20 from the printed circuit board 22 on the other side of the panel 16.

FIG. 2 shows the ground shroud assembly 12 mounted in the opening 14 in the panel 16. The ground shroud assembly 12 is shown in FIG. 2 mounted on a printed circuit board 22 such that contact pins 20 project into the assembly 12. Cable plug 18 can be inserted into ground shroud assembly 12 in the direction of arrow A.

In this regard, the printed circuit board 22 comprises
It is generally of a normal configuration, with a normal contact pin 20 protruding therefrom. The panel 16 is formed of a conductive material and is a part of a shield case for protecting electric components on the printed circuit board 22 from electromagnetic radiation. Except for the key mechanism described below, the cable plug 18 is of a conventional structure having an outer shield and has a contact pin 2
A plurality of female terminals for receiving 0 are attached.
The female terminals are terminated to conductors within the shield or coaxial cable 24.

Referring to FIG. 3, the ground shroud assembly 12 includes two main components, a frame 26 and one or more springs 28. The illustrated ground shroud assembly 12 is designed to receive a pair of cable plugs 18 and thus split plate 66 (hereinafter described) to split the frame 26 into two separate receptacles for the two plugs 18. Is used. Correspondingly, two separate springs 28 are used.

Referring to FIG. 4 in conjunction with FIG. 3, the frame 26 of the ground shroud assembly 12 is generally U-shaped and includes a base or bottom wall 30 and a pair of side walls 32 extending upwardly therefrom. Have. Frame 26 is stamped and formed from a conductive sheet metal material such as brass, and base 30 and side walls 32 form a receptacle therebetween for receiving one or more cable plugs 18.

The frame 26 is formed on the printed circuit board 22.
A plurality of holes 34 for receiving contact pins 20 from
36 and 38 are also provided. The holes 34 are generally rectangular and freely accept ground pins from the printed circuit board 22. The holes 36 are circular and also accept freely ground pins from the printed circuit board 22. Hole 3
Numeral 8 is circular and larger than hole 36 to receive signal contact pins from printed circuit board 22.

Further, the frame 26 includes a slot 40 in the side wall 32 and a notch 42 in the upper edge of the side wall 32. These slots 40 and notches 42 are provided for attaching a conductive dividing plate 66 described below. Tabs 44 project longitudinally outward from both ends of side wall 32, and base 30 has notches 46 at both ends. Tabs 44 are provided for attaching conductive end plates 80, as described below. Notch 46 facilitates mounting of spring 28.

Further, a plurality of key tabs 48 are formed from the side wall 32 and are bent inward of the frame 26. FIGS. 3 and 4 also show an unbent keytab 48a. These keytabs cooperate with the keying of the cable plug 18 as described below.

Referring to FIG. 5 in conjunction with FIG. 3, each spring 28 is stamped and formed of a conductive spring metal such as beryllium copper and has a base 50 for enclosing a generally U-shaped frame 26. And a pair of upright side walls 52 extending therefrom. The side wall 52 has a protrusion in the form of an integral outwardly curved portion 52a, which extends through the opening 14 in the panel 16 to attach the ground shroud assembly 12 to the panel 16 as shown in FIG. Engage with the inner wall. The spring 28 also includes an integral inwardly bent portion 52b that extends inwardly of the side wall 32 of the frame 26 to frictionally and electrically engage the outer shield of the cable plug 18. .

Each spring 28 of the ground shroud assembly 12 has a plurality of holes 54, 56 and 58 through its base 50. The hole 54 is provided with a pair of opposing tabs 54.
The tabs 5 are H-shaped so as to form a.
4a deforms and grasps the ground contact pin 20A when it extends through the hole 54. This serves to attach the ground shroud assembly 12 to the printed circuit board 22, as shown in FIG. Hole 56 is circular and is free to receive another ground pin 20B from printed circuit board 22. Not all holes for receiving ground pins are H-shaped to avoid excessive mounting forces. Hole 58
Accepts signal contact pins 20C from printed circuit board 22 freely. The H-shaped hole 54 of the base 50 of the spring 28 is formed in the rectangular hole 3 of the base 30 of the frame 26.
4, the small round hole 56 of the spring 28 is aligned with the small round hole 36 of the frame 26, and the large round hole 58 of the spring 28 is aligned with the large round hole 38 of the frame 26. In addition, tabs 60 project outwardly from base 50 at the end of each spring 28 for the purposes described below.

The U-shaped conductive spring 28 is attached to the U-shaped conductive frame 26 by sliding it toward both ends of the frame 26 in the direction of arrow B in FIG. FIG. 6 shows two springs 28 fully attached to and surrounding frame 26. In this fully installed position, the tab 60 at the end of the base 50 of the spring 28 is bent into a notch 46 in the base 30 of the frame 26.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show contact pins 20 from printed circuit board 22 inserted into holes in base 50 of spring 28 and base 30 of frame 26.
More specifically, the contact pin 20A of FIGS. 6A and 6B is a ground pin inserted into the H-shaped hole 54 of the spring 28 and the rectangular hole 34 of the frame 26. Opposing tabs 54a grip this ground pin 20A and effectively attach the ground shroud assembly 12 to the printed circuit board 22. 6A and 6B is another ground pin that extends freely from the printed circuit board 22 through a small round hole 56 in the spring 28 and a small round hole 36 in the frame 26. The contact pin 20C in FIGS. 6A and 6B
Signal pins that extend freely from the printed circuit board 22 through the large round hole 58 in the spring 28 and the large round hole 38 in the frame 26. These signal pins are routed through large holes adapted to the impedance characteristics to be achieved at the connector.

Referring to FIG. 7, the dividing plate 66 comprises:
A pair of mounting legs 70 include a generally flat body 68 projecting downward. The pair of arms 72 are outwardly spaced from both edges of the main body 68 to form a groove 74. The arm 72 terminates in an outwardly projecting stop flange 76. The split plate 66 is stamped from a conductive sheet metal material having substantially the same thickness as the sheet metal material of the frame 26.

A split plate 66 is attached to the frame 26 in the direction of arrow C and assumes the position shown in FIG. 8 to split the frame 26 into two separate receptacles for a pair of cable plugs 18. When the dividing plate 66 is attached to the frame 26, the side wall 32 of the frame 26 moves into the groove 74 inside the arm 72 of the dividing plate 66, and the bottom of the groove 74 eventually becomes the top of the side wall 32 of the frame 26. Settled in the notch 42. The mounting feet 70 at the bottom of the split plate 66 extend into mounting holes 78 (FIG. 8) in the printed circuit board 22.

As shown in FIG. 8, a pair of end plates 80 are used to close the ends of the ground shroud assembly 12. End plate 80 has substantially the same structure as split plate 66, and therefore, similar portions of end plate 80 corresponding to the same portions of split plate 66 are indicated by the same reference numerals. As is apparent from FIG. 8, the end plates 80 are attached to both ends of the frame 26, and both ends of the side walls 32 of the frame 26 are pressed into the grooves 72 inside the arms 72 of the end plate 80. The mounting legs 70 of the end plate 80 are provided with mounting holes 78 of the printed circuit board 22.
Project to

After the ground shroud assembly 12 has been mounted on the printed circuit board 22 as shown in FIG. 8, the subassembly is mounted in the opening 14 in the panel 16 and
The panel 16 includes a split plate 66 and an end plate 8.
Abuts on the stop flange 76 of No. 0.

The frame 26 forms a rugged receptacle for receiving the cable plug 18 if it is formed of a strong, thick material such as brass. A spring 28 formed of a thin resilient material, such as beryllium copper, has a resilient structure for attaching it to the opening 14 in the panel 16 and for gripping the plug 18 and the contact pin 20 in the H-shaped hole 54. Form the body. In addition, the uninterrupted surface of the spring 28 is provided with key tabs 48, 48a.
Provides a shielding effect against electromagnetic radiation passing through the opening formed by.

FIG. 9 shows a cable plug 18 having a mating end surface 82 having a plurality of passages 84 for receiving contact pins 20 from a printed circuit board 22. Passageway 84 leads to a plurality of female terminals or contacts in cable plug 18 that mate with contact pins 20 from printed circuit board 22. The mating surface 82 is defined by a face plate 86 attached to the insulating housing 88 of the cable plug 18.

The grounding shroud assembly 12 and the cable plug 18 described with reference to FIGS. 1-8 are unique keys to prevent a given cable plug 18 from being inserted into the wrong receptacle of the grounding shroud assembly 12. It has a mechanism. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of keyways 90 are provided on both sides of the housing 88 of the cable plug 18. Face plate 8
6 is provided with a plurality of key notches 92. These key notches 92 align with the selected keyway 90. For example, in FIG. 9, the key notch 92 at the top of the faceplate 86 is aligned with the outermost keyway 90 of the housing 88. However, the key notches 92 at the bottom of the face plate 86 are, as viewed from the left in FIG.
Is aligned with Therefore, the top of the cable plug 18
The key configuration is different from the bottom.

Referring to FIGS. 9A and 9B, the key configuration at the top of the cable plug 18 is the cable plug 1 of FIG.
8 is the same as the key configuration of FIG. In other words, the key notches 92 of the face plate 86 open to the two outermost keyways 90 of the housing 88. Housing 88
The two central keyways 90 at the top of are blocked by a faceplate 86.

However, as can be seen from the bottom of the cable plug 18 shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the face plate 86 of FIG. 9A is provided with two key notches 92 at its right end, and The face plate 86 is provided with two key notches 92 at the left end. Therefore, the cable plug 18 shown in FIG.
Is different from the cable plug 18 shown in FIG. 9B.

As is apparent from FIG.
Is bent inward from the side wall 32 of the frame 26 to match the key notch 92 of the faceplate 86 of the cable plug 18. In other words, the cable plug 18 shown in FIG. 9A can be inserted into the ground shroud assembly 12 at the top of FIG.
The cable plug 18 shown at B can be inserted into the ground shroud assembly 12 at the bottom of FIG. These two cable plugs 18 cannot be replaced in each receptacle on both sides of the split plate 66 due to the different key configuration.

As shown in FIG. 9, the plug housing 88
Having a plurality of keyways 90, exposing some or all of the keyways 90 to accept keytabs 48 of shroud assembly 12 simply by replacing faceplate 86 with key notches 92 in a selected arrangement. Can be done. Therefore, it is not necessary to replace the entire plug housing 88 to change the key configuration. To change the key mechanism, it is only necessary to replace the faceplate 86 with the selected arrangement of key notches 92. Similarly, the key tab 48 on the side wall 32 of the frame 26
Can be easily bent inward or cut at a selected position corresponding to the position of the key notch 92 of each cable plug 18. Even when the spring 28 is already installed and cannot access the frame 26, the keytab 48 can be cut with a small cutting tool.

[0034]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a connector having a unique configuration that significantly reduces manufacturing costs, includes a standard housing for all connectors, and includes a key mechanism. A plug connector for a cable is provided which only requires replacing the faceplate of the housing to change, and further comprises a stamped and formed conductive receptacle having a plurality of unbent keytabs, wherein multiple keytabs are provided by simply bending the keytabs. Connectors having different key configurations are provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded end view of a ground shroud assembly of the present invention, showing from top to bottom a printed circuit board having cable plugs, panels, and contact pins.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing a ground shroud assembly attached to the panel and connected to a printed circuit board, and a cable plug is about to be inserted into the ground shroud assembly.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a frame and a pair of springs of the ground shroud assembly.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a frame.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one spring.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a spring attached to a frame.

FIG. 6A is a partial view of three contact pins protruding through holes in a spring and a frame.

FIG. 6B is a partial top view of the structure of FIG. 6A as viewed from below.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but showing a state in which the split plate of the ground shroud assembly is about to be mounted.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a completed ground shroud assembly attached to a panel opening and a printed circuit board.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a fitting end of the cable plug.

FIG. 9A is a partial perspective view showing a fitting end of a cable plug having a different key configuration.

FIG. 9B is a partial perspective view showing a fitting end of a cable plug having a different key configuration.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing two cable plugs having the key mechanisms of FIGS. 9A and 9B inserted into a ground shroud assembly having the same key configuration.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 Ground Shroud Assembly 14 Opening 16 Panel 18 Cable Plug 20 Contact Pin 22 Printed Circuit Board 24 Cable 26 Frame 28 Spring 30 Base 32 Side Wall 34, 36, 38 Hole 40 Slot 42 Notch 44 Tab 48 Key Tab 48a Unflexed Key Tab 50 Base 52 Side wall 52a Outwardly bent portion 52b Inwardly bent portion 54, 56, 58 Hole 54a Tab 66 Split plate 68 Body 70 Mounting leg 72 Arm 74 Groove 76 Stop flange 80 End plate 82 Fitting end face 84 Passage 86 Face Plate 88 Housing 90 Keyway 92 Key notch

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. The keying mechanism of a ground shroud assembly (12) for receiving a cable plug (18), wherein a housing (88) of the cable plug (18) has at least one key recess (90) in a selected position on a side surface thereof.
The conductive frame 26 of the ground shroud assembly 12 has a base 30 and at least one pair of side walls 32 extending from the base 30 to define a receptacle for receiving the cable plug 18. And a key projection (48) extending from at least one of the side walls (32) to project into the key depressions (90, 92). 2. The key mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a conductive spring is provided around at least the one side wall of the conductive frame. 3. The key mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said frame is stamped and formed from a metallic material, and said key projections are tabs bent inwardly of said at least one side wall. . 4. The at least one sidewall 32 includes a plurality of stamped unbent tabs 48a, one or more of which may be bent inward to form the key projections 48. 3. The key mechanism according to 3. 5. The conductive spring 28 is generally U-shaped.
3. The key mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the conductive frame is also generally U-shaped and is nested in the generally U-shaped spring. 6. The housing 88 includes a plurality of keyways 90 on at least one side thereof, and a faceplate 86 is mounted on the housing 88, the faceplate 86 forming the key recesses 90,92. The key mechanism according to claim 1, including a key notch (92) aligned with one of said keyways (90), and another of said keyways (90) is blocked by said faceplate (86). 7. It is attached to the opening 14 of the panel 16,
And in the key mechanism of the ground shroud assembly 12 receiving the cable plug 18 on one side of the panel 16 and receiving the contact pins 20 from the printed circuit board 22 on the other side of the panel 16, the housing 88 of the cable plug 18 At least one key recess 90 in the selected position of the
92, a generally U-shaped conductive frame 26 includes a base 30
And at least one pair of side walls 3 extending from the base 30.
2 and the cable plug 1 between them.
8 defines a receptacle for receiving the contact pin 20.
4, 36, 38, at least one of the side walls 32 having at least one key projection 4 extending into a key recess 90, 92 of a housing 88 of the cable plug 18.
8 and a generally U-shaped conductive spring 2
8 includes a base 50 and at least a pair of side walls 52 extending from the base 50 to surround the generally U-shaped conductive frame 26 and to couple the ground shroud assembly 12 to the panel 16. The base 50 of the spring 28 has holes 54, 56, 58 aligned with the holes 34, 36, 38 of the base 30 of the frame 26 to receive the contact pins 20 so as to be easily mounted in the opening 14. A key mechanism characterized in that: 8. The housing 88 includes a plurality of keyways 90 on at least one side thereof, and a faceplate 86 is mounted on the housing 88, the faceplate 86 forming the key recesses 90,92. The key mechanism according to claim 7, including a key notch (92) aligned with one of the keyways (90), and another of the keyways (90) is blocked by the faceplate (86). 9. A key mechanism for an electrical connector, comprising: a cable plug including a housing; and a plurality of key grooves formed in at least one side of the housing; Attached, this face plate 86
Includes at least one key notch 92 aligned with one of the keyways 90, the other of the keyways 90 being blocked by the faceplate 86,
The receptacle 26 further includes a receptacle 26 for receiving the cable plug 18, the receptacle 26 including a key tab 48 extending to each of the key notch 92 and the key groove 90, whereby the housing 88 can be replaced without replacing the housing 88. By replacing the face plate 86, the receptacle 2
A key mechanism characterized in that a different arrangement of six key tabs 48 can be received. 10. The receptacle 26 is stamped and formed from a metallic material, and the key tab 48 is bent inward of the side wall 32 of the receptacle 26.
The key mechanism according to 1. 11. The receptacle 26 includes a plurality of unbent tabs 48a, one or more of which are bent inward,
The key mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the key tab (48) can be formed. 12. The housing 88 has a plurality of key grooves 90 on both side surfaces thereof, and the face plate 86.
Has at least one key notch 92 aligned with a keyway 90 on each side of housing 88 on each of a pair of opposite sides.
The key mechanism according to claim 10, wherein at least one key tab 48 is formed on each of both side walls 32 of the receptacle 26.