IDC Connector Having EMI Shield

The present invention relates to an IDC connector, and more particularly to an IDC connector having an EMI shield.

1. Description of Prior Art

As the speed of signal transmission through a cable assembly increases, the need to isolate and protect the signals from electrical noise becomes important. One existing method for achieving this is performed by using a ground plane ribbon cable. The ground plane acts as a barrier to shield the signal lines from noise. However, conductors within an IDC connector are not well shielded by an EMI device whereby the EMI shielding effect is hindered.

2. Summary of the Invention

An objective of this invention is to provide an IDC connector having an EMI shield assembled thereto thereby ensuring reliable signal transmission.

Another objective of this invention is to provide an IDC connector with an EMI shield wherein the shield clamps a portion of a cable thereby ensuring a reliable connection between conductors of the cable and insulation displacement sections of the IDC connector.

In order to achieve the objectives set forth, an IDC connector in accordance with the present invention comprises a dielectric housing defining front and rear faces. An array of passageways is defined between the front and rear faces. Each passageway securely receives a terminal therein. Each terminal forms an insulation displacement section extending beyond the rear face and a pin section extending beyond the front face. A cover is assembled to the rear face for facilitating termination of a flat flexible cable at the insulation displacement sections. An EMI shield is assembled to the housing. The EMI shield includes an upper shell having a shroud surrounding the pin sections. A plurality of flaps extends downward from lower longitudinal sides of the shroud to abut against outer faces of the housing. A lower shell is assembled to the upper shell for enclosing the cover and a portion of the cable.

According to an aspect of the invention, the lower shell includes an outwardly extending platform for supporting the cable. A pressing plate is assembled to the platform of the lower shell for securely positioning the cable against the platform.

The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an IDC connector in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an assembled view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an IDC connector in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but viewed from a reverse angle;

FIG. 5 is an assembled view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an IDC connector in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an assembled view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along line 8--8 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along line 9--9 of FIG. 5.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 8 an IDC connector 10 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention includes a trapezoidal dielectric housing 11 having front and rear faces 11a, 11b. An array of passageways (not labeled) is defined between the front and rear faces 11a, 11b. Each passageway receives a terminal 12 therein. Each terminal 12 forms an insulation displacement section (not shown) extending beyond the rear face 11b and a pin section 12a extending beyond the front face 11a. A cover 13 is assembled to the rear face 11b for facilitating termination of a flat flexible cable 70 (FIG. 3) at the insulation displacement sections. The housing 11 defines two pairs of recesses 14 in opposite walls 11c thereof. Each recess 14 is formed with a shoulder 14a at a bottom periphery thereof and a wedge 15 having an inclined leading face 15a and a stopping face 15b. Each recess 14 is further defined with an indent 14b adjacent to the wedge 15.

An EMI shield 20 assembled to the housing 11 includes an upper shell 21 and a lower shell 26. The upper shell 21 forms a shroud 22 for surrounding the pin sections 12a of the terminals 12. Three spaced flaps 23 extend downward from lower longitudinal sides 22a of the shroud 22 for abutting against the walls 11c of the housing 11 when the upper shell 21 is assembled thereto. Buckles 24 extend downward from the lower longitudinal sides 22a between adjacent flaps 23. Each buckle 24 defines an elongate slot 24a for engaging with the wedge 15 of the housing 11.

The lower shell 26 is assembled to the upper shell 21 thereby enclosing the housing 11. The lower shell 26 includes a base 27 having a longitudinal wall 27a and two end walls 27b extending from a periphery thereof. A pair of clips 28 extends from the longitudinal wall 27a for engaging with the buckles 24 of the upper shell 21. The clip 28 includes a corner 28a for being supported on the shoulder 14a of the recess 14 and a tip 28b extending into the elongate slot 24a when the lower shell 26 is assembled to the upper shell 21.

The lower shell 26 further includes a platform 29 extending outwardly therefrom for supporting the cable 70. The platform 29 forms a pair of side wings 29a at opposite ends thereof. A rib 29b is longitudinally formed on the platform 29.

A pressing plate 30 is assembled to the platform 29 of the lower shell 26 thereby pressing the cable 70 to the platform 29. The pressing plate 30 includes a base 30a corresponding to the platform 29 and a pair of short wings 30b extending downward from opposite ends thereof. The height of each short wing 30b is designed to be equal to or less than the thickness of the cable 70 whereby the cable 70 is securely clamped therebetween. The base 30a further forms a pair of ribs 30c having a staggered relationship with the rib 29b of the platform 29. By this arrangement, the cable 70 is further clamped therebetween.

A pair of clips 30d extends from a longitudinal side of the pressing plate 30 for engaging with the buckles 24 of the upper shell 21. Each clip 30d includes a corner 30e for being supported on the shoulder 14a of the recess 14 and a tip 30f which extends into the slot 24a of the buckle 24 when the pressing plate 30 is assembled to the upper shell 21.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 9, an IDC connector 110 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention has the same configuration as the IDC connector 10 of the first embodiment except that the pressing plate 30 is omitted. The IDC connector 110 includes a trapezoidal dielectric housing 111 having front and rear faces 111a, 111b. An array of passageways (not labeled) is defined between the front and rear faces 111a, 111b. Each passageway receives a terminal 112 therein. Each terminal 112 forms an insulation displacement section (not shown) extending beyond the rear face 111b and a pin section 112a extending beyond the front face 111a. A cover 113 is assembled to the rear face 111b for facilitating termination of the flat flexible cable 70 at the insulation displacement sections. The dielectric housing 111 defines two recesses 114 on opposite walls 111c thereof. Each recess 114 is formed with a shoulder 114a on a bottom periphery thereof and a wedge 115 having an inclined leading face 115a and a stopping face 115b. The recess 114 is further defined with an indent 114b adjacent to the wedge 115.

An EMI shield 120 assembled to the housing 111 includes an upper shell 121 and a lower shell 126. The upper shell 121 forms a shroud 122 for surrounding the pin sections 112a of the terminals 112. Three spaced flaps 123 extending downward from each of lower longitudinal sides 122a of the shroud 122 abut against the walls 111c of the housing 111 when the upper shell 121 is assembled thereto. Buckles 124 extend downward from the lower longitudinal sides 122a between adjacent flaps 123. Each buckle 124 defines an elongate slot 124a for engaging with the wedge 115 of the housing 111.

The lower shell 126 is assembled to the upper shell 121 thereby enclosing the housing 111. The lower shell 126 includes a base 127 having a longitudinal wall 127a and end walls 127b extending from a periphery thereof. A pair of clips 128 extends from the longitudinal wall 127a for engaging with the buckles 124 of the upper shell 121. The clip 128 includes a corner 128a for being supported on the shoulder 114a of the recess 114 and a tip 128b extending into the elongate slot 124a when the lower shell 126 is assembled to the upper shell 121.

The lower shell 126 further includes a platform 129 extending horizontally therefrom for supporting a portion of the cable 70. The platform 129 forms a pair of side wings 129a at opposite ends thereof. A rib 129b is longitudinally formed on the platform 129.

The upper shell 121 includes a pair of end flaps 125 defining an opening 125a therein. The end wall 127b of the lower shell 126 is formed with a clip 127c corresponding to the opening 125a. When the lower shell 126 is assembled to the upper shell 121, enhanced engagement therebetween is achieved by the engagement between the opening 125a and the clip 127c. In addition, the side wings 129a are directly deformed to clamp the cable 70 whereby the provision of the pressing plate 30 of the first embodiment is unnecessary.

FIGS. 6 and 7 disclose a variation of a cable 170. The cable 170 includes a ground plane 171 directly connected to the side wings 129a thereby establishing a grounding path therebetween.

It can be noted that in the first embodiment the rib 29b and the ribs 30c can clamp the cable therebetween, so the shield 20 cooperating with the pressing plate 30, may function as a strain relief. Similarly, in the second embodiment the rib 129b and the wings 129a can clamp the cable therebetween and also function as a strain relief. In other words, the invention provides both EMI shielding and strain relief functions, whereas the traditional IDC connector provides only strain relief and no shielding function.

It is also seen that in the second embodiment (FIG. 9), the cable extends along an inside of one side and the bottom of the lower shell 126 between the lower shell 126 and the housing 111 and is exposed to an exterior on the other side of the housing 111, thus enhancing the engagement between the cable and the housing.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.