A connector

Connector

Reference to relevant application

This application claims US Provisional Application No. 61/095,450 filed on September 9, 2008, US Provisional Application No. 61/110,748, filed on November 3, 2008, and US application on November 24, 2008 Application No. 61/117,470, US Provisional Application No. 61/153,579, filed on February 18, 2009, and US Provisional Application No. 61/170,956, April 20, 2009 Priority is claimed on U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 61/171,037, filed on Apr. 20, 2009, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. This application is filed at the same time as the following application, and the following application is not considered to be the prior art of this application and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety: application number (unavailable), application date (unavailable), the name is " Horizontal configuration connector (HORIZONTALLY CONFIGURED CONNECTOR)", with agent file A9-043A-PCT; and application number (unavailable), application date (unavailable), the name is "with integrated lock assembly CONNECTOR WITH INTEGRATED LATCH ASSEMBLY) and has the agent file A9-043B-PCT.

New background

The present invention relates to a connector. The present invention is generally directed to connectors suitable for transmitting data, and more particularly to input/output (I/O) connectors suitable for use in dense connector configurations using a vertical array of docking pads.

One of the more established views in recent communications developments is the need to increase performance. Similarly, there has been a need to make things more dense (eg, increase density). These requirements create problems for I/O connectors used in data communications. Using higher frequencies (helping to increase data speed) requires good electrical separation between the signal terminals in a connector (to reduce, for example, crosstalk), but makes the connector smaller (for example, making the terminal configuration more Dense) brings the terminals closer together and reduces electrical separation, which can result in signal degradation.

In addition to the need to increase performance, there is also a need to improve manufacturing. For example, as the transmit frequency increases, the tolerances of the terminal locations and their physical characteristics become more important. Therefore, an improvement to a connector design that facilitates fabrication and still provides a dense, high performance connector is desirable.

In addition, there is a need to increase the density of the I/O header connector and this is difficult to achieve without increasing the connector width. Increasing the connector width can make it difficult to plug the connector into a standard width router and/or server, and the user must purchase a non-standard device to accommodate a wider plug converter. Therefore, some people will need an improved connector with a higher density.

New summary

The present invention proposes a connector. In one embodiment, a connector having a housing is provided having a mating portion that supports a plurality of mating panels. The docking plates have a first edge and a second edge and the wires of the plurality of cables terminate along the second edge. The first edge of the abutting sheets has a plurality of electrically conductive contact pads disposed thereon to provide a plurality of points in contact with a plurality of terminals of a mating connector. The docking portion supports the mating panels in a vertically stacked manner. In an embodiment having a plurality of mating portions, the housing can include a plurality of portions that are joined together to form the housing and the mating portions The portions may be formed by two housing portions that are horizontally joined together along the vertical mating surfaces, and the mating surfaces may be disposed along a centerline of an associated mating portion. In one embodiment, the two portions forming the abutting portion may be joined together by a one of the consolidating members in the mating portion.

The housing can support two butted plates such that they are located between different horizontal planes of the two vertical partitions. The docking plate may be configured to engage opposing sidewalls of the mating portion of the connector housing and may include a plurality of tabs that are received in slots formed in the sidewalls of the mating portion. The tabs of the circuit card may be staggered to ensure proper orientation within the connector housing when the connectors are assembled, and may be sufficient for multiple operations of docking and separating an opposing connector The length of support provided by these circuit cards.

Simple illustration

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the course of the detailed description, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. Front view of the connector; Fig. 3 is the same view as Fig. 1, but the latch assembly has been removed for clear display; Fig. 4 is the same view as Fig. 1, but the latch assembly, The actuator and the cable have been removed for clear display; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the fastening member of the connector of the first figure taken from the lower front end thereof, and the fastening member has a form of a continuous holding collar; 5A is a perspective view of another embodiment of a fastening member, wherein the fastening member has a substantially U shape and has an opening.Figure 5B is a perspective view of still another embodiment of a retaining member, wherein the retaining member is substantially C-shaped and has two free ends; Figure 5C is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of Figure 5; Figure 6 is a partial exploded view of the left side of the connector housing of the connector of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the series connector constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; Figure 8 is taken from Figure 7 A perspective view of the connector on the bottom side; Fig. 9 is the same view as Fig. 7, but the cable and the latch collar have been removed for clear display; Fig. 10 is the same view as Fig. 9, but shows The actuator is placed on the connector housing; Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the connector of Figure 9, and the right housing half has been removed; Figure 12 is the same as Figure 11, but taken from a forward Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 13-13 of Figure 12; Figure 13A is a plan view of one of the circuit cards used in the connector of the present invention; and Figure 14 is a connector of Figure 1. a partial exploded view, preferably showing the structure of the actuator and the connector housing; Fig. 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a tandem connector; Figure 16 is the same view as Figure 15, but the latch/fixing collar of the actuator has been removed for clear display; Figure 17 is the same view as Figure 15, but the left and right housings and washers Has been removed for clear display; Figure 18 is the same view as Figure 17, but the internal components have been removed for clear display; Figure 19 is a view similar to Figure 15, and the latch/fixed collar has been moved Divided by showing the combination with the actuator and the body portion of the connector housing; Fig. 20 is an enlarged detail view of the latch/fixing collar of Fig. 19; and Fig. 21 is another embodiment of a connector Fig. 22 is an exploded view of Fig. 21; Fig. 23 is the same view as Fig. 22, but the cable and the circuit card have been removed from the left casing for clear display; Fig. 24 is the 23rd A front view of the connector of the figure; and Fig. 25 is a front view of another embodiment of a connector.

Detailed description of the illustrated embodiment

The detailed embodiments are disclosed herein as needed; however, it is understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary and are in various embodiments. Therefore, the specific details disclosed herein are not to be construed as limiting, but as the basis of the scope of the claims and the invention The representative basis includes various features disclosed herein in combination with those not explicitly disclosed herein.

The features described below, at least in some embodiments, help provide a plug connector that has a higher circuit density without unduly increasing the connector width. The use of vertically stacked butt plates helps provide this functionality, but it will be appreciated that a particular embodiment may provide a wider or narrower plug depending on such factors as component cost and the need to decompose the connector. Connector.

For a connector aspect, it will be appreciated that a wide variety of possible configurations are possible and that various embodiments of possible connectors are shown in the drawings. It will be appreciated herein that the connector configurations include a one-piece consolidation of two parallel butt plates (e.g., circuit cards). The securing member holds the connector housing together and depending on its position, the securing member can also be used to stop to prevent the connector from being over-inserted into the mating socket (thus helping to prevent the pair of terminals and/or circuitry The card exerts too much power).

It can be appreciated that this allows the position of the circuit cards to be controlled with a high degree of accuracy and minimizes the cost of the components. In addition, since the portion of the connector having the circuit card will be located in the docking socket, the problem of shadowing does not occur.

It will be appreciated herein that a three-piece housing can be utilized, for example, a set of plug assemblies suitable for docking a pair of apertures relative to a set of 1 x 4 connectors.

Figures 1-4 show an exemplary embodiment of a connector 600. The illustrated connector 600 has a hollow connector housing 601 having an enlarged body portion 604 and an elongated abutment portion 605 having a pair of butts therein. A hollow recess 606 of the slab 607 (also known as a circuit card), and the respective wires 616 enclosed in the cable 615 terminate in the pair of docking slabs 607. The circuit cards 607 are butted and coupled to the conductive terminals of the opposite mating connectors (not shown) to connect the terminals to the wires 616 of the cables 615. In this regard, the circuit card 607 takes the form of what is sometimes referred to in the art as a "paddle card" and the circuit cards are arranged in a vertically spaced orientation, preferably parallel to each other. In this manner, the number of circuits in the connector 600 to which a relatively mating connector (not shown) is to be attached is increased (in the illustrated configuration, the number is doubled) and the width dimension of the connector 600 is not increased. The vertical orientation of the connector housing body portion 604 can be arranged perpendicularly to the two or more cables 615 that are coupled to the connector 600, preferably up and down such that the overall width of the connector does not increase. As described below, the connector housing 601 can be provided with a special configuration rear end to securely grasp the cables 615 and hold them in their preferred vertical orientation.

The connector housing body portion 604 is sized larger than its adjacent narrow abutment portion 605, particularly in terms of height dimensions. Therefore, the body portion 604 has a greater height than the abutting portion 605. The interior of the connector housing 601 includes a hollow inner recess 602 as shown in Figures 6 and 11. The inner pocket 602 occupies a majority of the connector housing 601, particularly its body portion 604, and it communicates with the inner recess 606 formed in the abutment portion 605.

As shown, the connector housing 601 is formed from two distinct portions, as shown, as housing halves 610, 611 that are respectively arranged in left and right or first and second housing halves. The housing halves 610, 611 can be mirror images of each other if desired. The housing halves 610, 611 can be combined together in a horizontal or width direction and can be held together by at least two consolidation members along the opposing abutment faces. The front consolidation member 612 is disposed adjacent to the connector housing abutment portion 605, and the rear consolidation member clip 620 is preferably disposed on the connector housing body portion. It can be seen that the two fastening members exert a fastening force on the connector housing 601 to maintain the first and second housing halves 610, 611, and the fastening force can be as needed. Compressive force, or a clamping force. The two securing members can force the two connector housing halves to contact each other in a longitudinal direction through opposite vertical abutting faces of the connector housing 601, as shown in the embodiment of Figures 1-6, the mating faces Aligned along a vertical axis and conforming to one of the longitudinal centerlines of the connector, but it will be appreciated that the pair of wires may be offset from each other, i.e., the bottom edge of the first connector housing half 610 may extend beyond its edge Further, as shown in the embodiment shown in Figures 21-25.

To apply the desired fastening force at the mating portion 605 of the connector, the front consolidation member can include a horizontally extending consolidation post 630 (Fig. 6). The post can have any desired shape, such as a cylindrical or square shape. The housing halves allow themselves to be easily fabricated by a casting method and, therefore, the consolidation post 630 can be integrally cast with one of the housing halves 610. The illustrated post has a narrow swaged projection 631 at its free end 632 that is preferably received in a hole 633 formed in the opposing connector housing half 611. When the housing halves are combined, the protrusion 631 can be swaged or formed into the pile head for the purpose of connection. Alternatively, a consolidation such as a screw with a threaded projection or rivet may be used.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first securing member 612 is preferably located in a vertical intermediate space between the two circuit cards 607a, 607b and, advantageously, does not increase the overall height of the mating portion 605, but has The advantage of separating the space of the two circuit cards 607a, 607b is as shown in Fig. 13A. The circuit cards 607a, 607b have a plurality of contact pads 607c arranged along their leading edge 607f for connection to terminals of an opposite mating connector and arranged along the trailing edge 607g for termination of the connector. Wire 616 of cable 615. As shown in FIG. 6, positioning the front consolidation post 630 between the two circuit cards 607a, 607b also allows the post 630 to act as a stop to limit the extent to which the connector 600 can be inserted into a receptacle connector. .

As previously mentioned, the body portion 604 is larger than the abutment portion 605, particularly for its height. This is important because it allows the cables 615 to be stacked or aligned vertically as they enter the body portion behind the housing 601. In this manner, an increase in circuit density in the connector 600 does not result in an increase in the overall width of the connector. In this regard, the body portion 604 preferably has an irregular polygonal configuration and is shown in a trapezoidal configuration in Figures 1-13, but may be used as in the embodiment of Figures 21-25. A rectangular polygon such as a rectangular body or a stepped configuration.

The circuit card 607 can include a structure that facilitates orients itself within the hollow interior 606 and incorporates the housing halves 610, 611, which can be formed in one of the opposite sides of the card 607 or The plurality of notches 607d and the notches 607d accommodate projections or columns (not shown) that can be formed in the surfaces of the casing halves 610, 611. The notches 607d can also be used in embodiments in which the connector body portion is molded over the circuit cards 607a, 607b. In this case, the molded alkaline earth metal will flow into and fill the gaps 607d to hold them in place, particularly in the horizontal direction.

Further, a fin or tab 607e which protrudes outward in the width direction by the circuit card bundle carrying portions may be used. The tab 607e incorporates a slot 6070 formed in the housing halves 610, 611. The tab 607e can be extended by the circuit card enough to allow the tab 607e to extend into the slot 6070 a sufficient distance to A securely supported distance is provided in the connector housing, but does not extend as far as the tab 607e protrudes excessively through the outer surface of the connector housing abutment portion 605. In addition, it has been determined that a fin extending approximately 1.5 mm (0.045 inch) can provide reliable support.

Preferably, the circuit card tab 607e is sized to fit tightly into the connector housing abutment portion sidewall slot 6070. In this manner, the top and bottom edges 6071 of the slot 6070 enclose the circuit card 607a. The 607b is vertically fixed in the connector housing 601, and the circuit cards 607 are horizontally fixed in the connector housing 601 by the front and rear edges 6072, for example, the slots will be The circuit cards are secured to the connector housing. In this manner, the slots simultaneously and horizontally join and support the circuit cards. The tabs 607e of the circuit cards 607 must have a length that is long enough to support the circuit cards and resists bending due to the forces they are subjected to when docking the new connector and the opposing connector, the lengths LW1, LW2 (Fig. 13A) is preferably chosen such that they will provide this support. It should be noted here that although a single fin is shown, more than one flap may be used on one side of the circuit card. If a single fin is placed on each side of the circuit card, it is found that at least 33% of the total length of the circuit card is required. In one embodiment, the length of the flap may be between 40% and 60% of the total circuit card length. In one embodiment, the tabs 607e provide the circuit card 607 in a T-shaped configuration.

The use of such a tab-slot support structure also facilitates reducing the width of such a connector as compared to a connector that uses a horizontal support edge on the inner wall of the connector housing. In such a connection, due to the conductive nature of the molded housing, the width of the circuit cards will have to be increased so that the circuitry thereon does not contact any of the supports (eg, the supports will face the circuit) The circuit on the card extends). However, with the fins 607e, the tabs can extend into the connector housing sidewall slots 6070 without fear of any short circuit contact. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 13A, the fins 607e may have different lengths (or may be offset) and the notches 607d located at the intersection of the leading edge of the tab 607e and the edge of the portion of the circuit card body may deviate from each other. . This provides a locating feature to properly integrate the circuit cards 607a, 607b into the connector 600. The offset distance "D" (Fig. 13A) of the fins 607e (and the notches 607d) and the difference in fin lengths ensure that the circuit card is combined in the housing in the desired orientation.

In addition, the gaps 607d are offset to prevent them from being aligned with each other to avoid shrinking the width of the circuit card between the two notches 607d, and the reduction causes the structural integrity of the circuit cards to be weakened. Moreover, the fins 607e are located on the circuit card 607 and the fins 607e intersect the side edges 607h of the body portions of the circuit cards 607. The vertical edges of the slots 6085 can contact the leading edges of the fins instead of the chamfers that would exist between the side edges 607h and the tabs 607e. In fact, the notches 607d serve as a plurality of concave notches which cause the hard right-angled corners where the leading edges of the fins 607e and the side edges 607h of the body portions of the circuit cards are joined.

The rear consolidation clip 620 also applies a fastening force to the two housing halves 610, 611. The rear consolidation member clip 620 can take the form of a buckle that preferably includes a loop portion 621. The portion 621 at least partially surrounds and preferably completely surrounds the outer perimeter or perimeter of the connector body portion 604 proximate the tail or proximal end of the connector 600. The collar portion 621 slides over the body portion 604 and preferably engages the housing body portion 604 in an interference fit to press the two housing halves along opposite opposing faces of the two housing halves. Together.

As shown in FIG. 5A, a retaining member 700 can have a generally U-shape and have a stem portion 701 and two legs 702 that terminate in a free end 703. A plurality of coupling members 704 can be stamped or formed in the fastening member 700 to join a plurality of recesses 614b formed in the connector housing 601 and particularly in the housing passage 625a. The fastener engaging members 704 are shown arranged adjacent to the free ends 703, adjacent the junction of the trunk portion 701 and a leg portion 702, and on the trunk portion itself. The length of the legs 702 is such that the retaining member 700 can contact one or more of the circumference of the connector housing as needed, such that the retaining member will exert a grip on the two connector housing halves 610, 611. force. This length should preferably extend through the line "C" shown in Figure 6a, which is the midpoint of the length of the leg. The rear structural member joins the connector housing in a circumferential manner, indicating that it is sufficiently joined at the periphery to exert a clamping force on the two housing halves 610, 611. As previously mentioned, this would normally require it to extend over one-half of the circumference of the connector housing, but it should be noted that in a square or rectangular housing, combining the three sides of the four sides would provide a clamping force. . Preferably, as shown in Figure 5A, the leg portion of the buckle has at least some of the engaging members 704 adjacent the free ends thereof.

Other fasteners may also have a more rounded C-shaped configuration than the rectangular and U-shaped configuration shown. As shown in Figures 5B and 5C, the retaining member 770 can be semi-circular or generally C-shaped and have a stem portion 771 from which the arms that terminate at the free end 772 extend. These free ends 772 include a plurality of joining members that are shown in the form of tabs 773 that are stamped or formed in the collar 770. In this alternative embodiment, the rear end 775 of the connector housing body portion 604 can be cylindrical and include a channel 625a in which the retaining member 770 is received. The fastening member 770 is coupled to the periphery of the connector housing 601, that is, an outer periphery thereof, and a portion of the connector housing half 610, 611 is biased by an arc length.<i>Φ</i>"(or a majority of its outer circumference) should be greater than 180°, as shown schematically in Figure 5C. We can see that the free ends 772 extend through a half-length point represented by "θ" in Figure 5C length.

As shown, the connector housing body portion includes a channel (recess) 625 that extends around the perimeter of the body portion to define a passageway for receiving the fastener member 700. The channel 625 can have a depth sufficient to allow the fastener to be flush with respect to the outer surface of the connector housing to maintain the desired dimensions of the connector.

Here, it can be seen that the first consolidation member applies a linear consolidation force horizontally along the line F1 in FIG. 1 , and the second consolidation member applies a circumferential force along the contour F2, and preferably also A consolidation force is applied in the vertical direction or along the line F2 in Fig. 1.

The collar portion 608g can have a plurality of engaging tabs 614a formed therein by, for example, stamping or the like. These engaging tabs 614a are preferably formed on opposite portions of the retaining collar as shown and four combinations The tab 614a is shown disposed adjacent the corner of the buckle collar. Although shown as being formed in the vertical wall portion thereof, the bonding tabs 614a may be formed in the horizontal wall portion thereof.

The engaging tabs 614a assist in holding the collar portion 621 on the connector housing body portion 604, the connector housing body portion 604 including a plurality of recesses or slots formed in the outer surface thereof 614b, and the number of the recesses corresponds to the number of the engaging tabs 614a such that a single engaging tab is received in a single recess 614b. The recesses 614b have a plurality of shoulders 618 that serve as stop surfaces against which the bonded tab free ends 619 abut. This mutual facing relationship can be used to position the collar in a channel adjacent the end of the body portion 604. As shown in FIG. 4, the recesses 614b can have a variable depth that increases toward the rear of the recess at the shoulder 618. This interference mode positions the collar on the connector housing and prevents it from disengaging when the connector is attached to or detached from a device. In this regard, the rear catch 620 can be considered to be secured to the connector housing until it is removed, at which point it must be picked up or cleaved.

As shown in Figures 1-3, the connector 600 can also include an operable latch member 608 having a longitudinal latch arm 608a that terminates in a free end 608b and a pair of latch hooks. 608c are disposed on the free end 608b and are separated from each other in the width direction. The general structure of such a latching member is shown in U.S. Patent No. 7,281,937, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The latch hooks 608c are received in corresponding holes formed in a housing of an opposite mating connector (not shown) that extends longitudinally along the connector body portion 604 and preferably along Its top side extends and has a predetermined longitudinal length 603 (Fig. 4). An actuator 601 is provided for operating the latch member and having an elongate longitudinal body portion 601a having a pull or push tab 601b at one end thereof and a cam surface at an opposite end thereof Member 601c. The actuator body portion 601a can include a guiding member for at least partially positioning the actuator 601 on the connector 600, and the guiding member is shown as a slot 601d in the figure. The slot 601d incorporates a projection or the like formed on any of the connector housing body portions 604, or a projection formed on the latch member 608 on the collar portion 608d thereof as shown in the drawing. 608e.

Figure 7-13 shows a tandem connector 635, in this embodiment a central member 640 that interfaces with the left and right housing halves 610, 611 to increase the dimension of the connector in the width direction And providing a pair of hollow abutting portions 605 extending from the body portion 604. Each docking portion 605 includes a pair of circuit cards 607a, 607b, 607a' and 607b', not only in which the circuit cards in each pair are preferably parallel (i.e., in parallel planes), but also two different pairs of circuit cards. Preferably, it is located in each plane (ie, cards 607a and 607a' are located in a first horizontal plane H1, while cards 607b and 607b' are located in a second horizontal plane H2, as shown in Figure 7,) It means that the circuit cards of each pair are in two different parallel planes, and the corresponding circuit cards between the different pairs are consistent with each other. Preferably, the first and second horizontal planar paths are substantially parallel to each other such that they can easily interface with an opposing connector.

The two abutting portions 605 are separated by a slot 642 that extends rearwardly from its leading edge to the front wall 644 of the body portion 604. This slot 642 allows the two abutting portions 605 to be hollow enclosures having side walls 646 and top and bottom walls 647, 648, respectively, but it also has other functions. For example, it can be combined with a partition wall that separates two opposing socket connectors that interface with the central member 640, and it also provides a pair of EMI gaskets 649 (Fig. 7) or a single hole single washer (not shown). ) One part of the channel. In addition, it provides a slot relative to the free end 6323 of the front consolidation post 630, and a plate can be inserted into the slot to act as a reaction surface when the front consolidation member projections 631 are swaged, such that The swaging process does not cause the consolidated post to protrude through the inner sidewall 646 of the central member 640. The central slot 642 also communicates with the peripheral groove 650, and the peripheral groove 650 extends completely around the abutting portion and recesses the washer 649.

The central member 640 has opposing abutment faces 645 (FIG. 11) that abut the contact surfaces of the two housing halves 610, 611. The connector housing can be provided with a plurality of cable support walls 651 followed by a partition 652, each of which The cable support wall 651 contains a plurality of grooves 653 that are configured to grip the cables 615 and hold them in the desired position upward. The walls 651 can be separated from each other to provide stress relief to the cables 615, and the plurality of grooves can be used to effectively separate the inner pockets 602 into equal regions for the cable wires 616 to extend to the Circuit cards 607a, 607b. Since the cable wires 616 are much smaller than the cable 615 and are spread out when mounted to the circuit card, the trapezoidal configuration of the inner recess provides sufficient internal space for the wires and the circuit board to remain The overall size of the connector is small.

Figure 14 shows an embodiment of a connector 800 that uses a housing 801, an actuator 802, and a latch assembly 803. As shown, the actuator 802 has a pair of ribs 802a and a cam member 804 at a front end 805 thereof, and the connector housing 801 has a recess 807 that receives the cam member 804. The cam member 804 is shown in the form of a cylindrical roller pin 809, although other shapes may be used. Both the actuator 802 and the latch collar latch arm 810 are received in a channel formed in the top of the connector housing 801.

The two housing halves 812a, 812b are joined together along a line that conforms to the centerline of the housing, but it should be understood herein that the top and bottom of the pair of wires are offset to provide another means of mating to each other. The housing 801 can include a groove similar to the aforementioned groove 650 to receive a resilient or other type of gasket 815 to reduce EMI. The housing may include one or more inner blocks 816 that serve as stops for the circuit cards 607 or as pre-molded supports for the free ends of wires (not shown) that exit the cables 817. This embodiment also uses a pair of consolidation posts 830 having opposite ends, each opposite end having a swaged projection 833 disposed thereon. The posts 830 are inserted between the abutting portions of the connector 800 such that their projections 833 extend through corresponding holes 835 in the sidewalls and are then swaged.

Figures 15-20 show an embodiment of a series connector 850. As can be seen from Fig. 16, a consolidation clip 851 (which is shown as a set of rings) includes a latch arm 852 having a variable width, the latch arm 852 having an enlarged width, wherein its width is determined by the latch One of the first widths of the top of the lock arm w₁Change to a second width w at one of its free ends 853₂. The narrow upper portion of the latch arm assists in operating the latch arm and serves to reduce the pulling force or thrust required to translate the latch arm. As shown in Fig. 16, the consolidation clip 851 can be stamped and formed from a single piece of metal. The stamping portion has two free ends 854 joined together by a dovetail configuration 856, the trailing edge of the housing 801 having slots and a pair of profiles configured to grasp the ends of the cable 817 to secure them thereto a rib 820 in the housing.

As is generally the case with other tandem embodiments, the previously shown consolidated member is disposed between the top and bottom circuit cards 607a, 607b and the two consolidated members having the form of the post 830 are used to form the housing half. The parts are held together in the nose.

With this horizontal structure, the combined cost and inventory of parts can be reduced. The right and left housing halves can be mirror images of each other such that in order to combine a plurality of rows of connectors, only two sides and an intermediate member are required to form a double row of series connectors. Other rows may be attached using additional central members, for example, the two central members and the two side members may be combined to form a three row connector. Additional center members can be used to expand the number of docking portions. In the illustrated embodiment, the number of docking portions will always be one more than the number of central members.

As shown in FIGS. 19-20, the latch assembly clip 851 can be stamped or forged to form an inwardly curved engagement tab 822, and the engagement tabs 822 are received in corresponding slots 823. The slots 823 are formed on the outer surface of the connector housing and on its collar mounting channel or recess. As shown, the free end of each of the engaging tabs 822 can be seen against a wall or shoulder 828 of the slot 823, and the tab 822 is used to secure the collar 803 to the connector. On the housing 801. Similarly, the collar 803 can have another tab 824 disposed in the top thereof, the other tab 824 extending through a hole 825 disposed in the actuator to hold the actuator in place On the connector housing 801. In an embodiment, the collar 803 can also have a size slightly smaller than or equal to the trailing edge of the connector housing 801 to provide a tight interference fit on the connector housing and to form the housing. A consolidation pressure is applied to most of the components.

Figures 21-24 illustrate another embodiment of a connector 880 having sides or housing halves 881, 882 that are secured together by screws or similar consolidating members in holes 883a, 883b. The holes 883a, 883b are arranged adjacent to the periphery of the connector housing. The holes are disposed in the two housing halves 881, 882 such that the consolidating member can be inserted into the hole 883a of the right housing half 881 and the hole 883b of the left housing half 882 shown by a broken line. To apply a uniform, balanced consolidation force.

In this embodiment, the connector supports a majority of the pair of circuit cards 607 in a vertical butt arrangement. The circuit cards 607a, 607b have a leading edge as a mating protrusion of the connector, and the leading edges are partially protected by a plurality of pairs of flanges 885 disposed on the top and bottom of each circuit card pair. . The flanges 885 can be constructed such that they have different protruding lengths. In the illustrated embodiment, the top flange 885a is shorter than the bottom flange 885b and this allows the bottom flange 885b of each pair of circuit cards 607 to be a majority A key used to dock an opposite connector. In one embodiment, the key can be disposed on the bottom flange by using the flange itself or by forming a recess or ridge as shown in Figures 1-6.

The circuit cards 607a, 607b of this embodiment may also include a plurality of fins 887 on most sides of the circuit card, the fins 887 being received in the side walls 889 formed in the mating portions 890 of the connector 880. Slot 888. In this manner, the circuit cards of each pair of circuit cards can be oriented parallel to one another and parallel to the other pair of circuit cards. Figure 25 shows how the three circuit cards 607 are arranged between the two flanges 885 in a vertical manner. As such, a stack connector having two or three or more pairs of circuit cards can be provided.

It should be understood that various modifications of the foregoing illustrated embodiments can be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, such as many variations and modifications of the connector assembly and/or assembly. This combination of features disclosed herein, individually or as claimed in the claims, obviously includes additional combinations of these features, or other types of contact array connectors. Also, there are many possible variations on materials and configurations. These modifications and/or combinations are within the skill of the art and are within the scope of the following claims. It is to be noted that, as is conventional in the art, a single element is intended to cover one or more of such elements.

<p>600. . . Connector</p><p>601. . . Connector housing</p><p>601a. . . Body part</p><p>601b. . . Pull or push the tongue</p><p>601c. . . Cam surface or member</p><p>601d. . . Slot</p><p>602. . . Inner cavity</p><p>603. . . Longitudinal length</p><p>604. . . Body part</p><p>605. . . Docking part</p><p>606. . . Inner recess</p><p>607. . . Docking plate (circuit card)</p><p>607a, 607b, 607a', 607b'. . . Circuit card</p><p>607c. . . Contact pad</p><p>607d. . . gap</p><p>607e. . . Wing</p><p>607f. . . Leading edge</p><p>607g. . . Trailing edge</p><p>607h. . . Side edge</p><p>608. . . Latching member</p><p>608a. . . Latch arm</p><p>608b. . . Free end</p><p>608c. . . Latch hook</p><p>608d. . . Loop part</p><p>608e. . . Protruding</p><p>608g. . . Loop part</p><p>610,611. . . Half of the housing</p><p>612. . . Front consolidation</p><p>614a. . . Combined tongue</p><p>614b. . . Concave</p><p>615. . . Cable</p><p>616. . . wire</p><p>618. . . Shoulder</p><p>619. . . Free end</p><p>620. . . Rear consolidation clamp</p><p>621. . . Loop part</p><p>625a. . . aisle</p><p>630. . . column</p><p>631. . . Protruding</p><p>632. . . Free end</p><p>633. . . hole</p><p>635. . . Tandem connector</p><p>640. . . Central component</p><p>642. . . Slot</p><p>644. . . Front wall</p><p>645. . . Docking surface</p><p>646. . . Side wall</p><p>647. . . Top wall</p><p>648. . . Bottom wall</p><p>649. . . washer</p><p>650. . . Perimeter groove</p><p>651. . . Cable support wall</p><p>652. . . Rear partition</p><p>653. . . Trench</p><p>6070. . . Slot</p><p>6071. . . Top and bottom edge</p><p>6072. . . Front and rear edge</p><p>6085. . . Slot</p><p>6323. . . Free end</p><p>700. . . Holder</p><p>701. . . Main part</p><p>702. . . Leg</p><p>703. . . Free end</p><p>704. . . Combined member</p><p>770. . . Buckle (loop)</p><p>771. . . Main part</p><p>772. . . Free end</p><p>773. . . Tab</p><p>775. . . rear end</p><p>800. . . Connector</p><p>801. . . case</p><p>802. . . Actuator</p><p>802a. . . Rib</p><p>803. . . Latch assembly</p><p>804. . . Cam member</p><p>805. . . front end</p><p>807. . . Concave</p><p>809. . . Cylindrical roller pin</p><p>810. . . Latch collar latch arm</p><p>812a, 812b. . . Half of the housing</p><p>815. . . washer</p><p>816. . . Inner block</p><p>817. . . Cable</p><p>820. . . Rib</p><p>822. . . Combined tongue</p><p>823. . . Slot</p><p>824. . . Another tongue</p><p>825. . . hole</p><p>828. . . Wall or shoulder</p><p>830. . . column</p><p>833. . . Protruding</p><p>835. . . hole</p><p>850. . . Series connector</p><p>851. . . Consolidation clip</p><p>852. . . Latch arm</p><p>853,854. . . Free end</p><p>856. . . Iris structure</p><p>880. . . Connector</p><p>881,882. . . Half of the housing</p><p>883a, 883b. . . hole</p><p>885. . . Flange</p><p>885a. . . Top flange</p><p>885b. . . Bottom flange</p><p>887. . . Wing</p><p>888. . . Slot</p><p>889. . . Side wall</p><p>890. . . Docking part</p>

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a multiple edge card connector;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the connector of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is the same view as Figure 1, but the latch assembly has been removed for clear display;

Figure 4 is the same view as Figure 1, but the latch assembly, actuator and cable have been removed for clear display;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the retaining member of the connector of Figure 1 taken from the lower front end thereof, and the retaining member has a form of a continuous retaining collar;

Figure 5A is a perspective view of another embodiment of a fastening member, wherein the fastening member has a substantially U shape and has an open end;

Figure 5B is a perspective view of still another embodiment of a fastening member, wherein the fastening member has a substantially C shape and has two free ends;

Figure 5C is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of Figure 5;

Figure 6 is a partial exploded view of the left side of the connector housing of the connector of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a series connector constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the connector taken from the bottom side before the seventh drawing;

Figure 9 is the same view as Figure 7, but the cable and latch collar have been removed for clear display;

Figure 10 is the same view as Figure 9, but showing the actuator placed on the connector housing;

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the connector of Figure 9, with the right housing half removed;

Figure 12 is the same as Figure 11, but taken from a forward angle;

Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 13-13 of Figure 12;

Figure 13A is a plan view showing a circuit card used in the connector of the present invention;

Figure 14 is a partially exploded view of the connector of Figure 1, preferably showing the structure of the actuator and the connector housing;

Figure 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a tandem connector;

Figure 16 is the same view as Figure 15, but the latch/fixing collar of the actuator has been removed for clear display;

Figure 17 is the same view as Figure 15, but the left and right housings and washers have been removed for clarity;

Figure 18 is the same view as Figure 17, but the internal components have been removed for clear display;

Figure 19 is a view similar to Figure 15, and the latch/fixing collar has been removed to show its combination with the actuator and the body portion of the connector housing;

Figure 20 is an enlarged detail view of the latch/fixing collar of Figure 19;

Figure 21 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a connector;

Figure 22 is an exploded view of Figure 21;

Figure 23 is the same view as Figure 22, but the cable and circuit card have been removed from the left housing for clear display;

Figure 24 is a front view of the connector of Figure 23; and

Figure 25 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of a connector.