Network connector module for a network connector

Abstract

An illustrative example embodiment of a network connector module for a network connector is adapted for network communication with data rates of at least up to 1 Gbit/s. The network connector module comprises a module housing of electrically insulating material wherein the module housing comprises at least two terminal receptacles that are arranged directly adjacent to each other, each of the terminal receptacles receives an electrical contact terminal. The network connector module comprises further an electrical shielding member made of cut and bent sheet metal, wherein the electrical shielding member at least partially surrounds the module housing. The electrical shielding member includes at least two contact elements for electrically contacting ground contacts of a corresponding counter connector. The contact elements are arranged lateral of the module housing, so as to be in a row with the electrical contact terminals. Further, the contact elements sandwich the electrical contact terminals.

Claims

1. A network connector module for a network connector adapted for network communication with data rates of at least up to 1 Gbit/s, the network connector module comprising: a cable that includes a shielding and at least two wires; at least two electrical contact terminals for electrically contacting data contacts of a corresponding counter connector, each of the electrical contact terminals being electrically connected to a respective one of the wires of the cable; a module housing made of electrically insulating material, the module housing comprising at least two terminal receptacles that are arranged directly adjacent to each other, each of the terminal receptacles receives one of the electrical contact terminals; an electrical shielding member made of cut and bent sheet metal, wherein the electrical shielding member is in electrical contact with the shielding of the cable, the electrical shielding member at least partially surrounds the module housing, the electrical shielding member includes at least two contact elements for electrically contacting ground contacts of the corresponding counter connector, the contact elements being arranged lateral of the module housing so as to be in a row with the electrical contact terminals received in the module housing, and wherein the contact elements sandwich the electrical contact terminals; and the electrical shielding member has a substantially rectangular cross section formed by a bottom wall, a top wall and two sidewalls, the top wall includes a cutout portion providing a receiving portion at a terminal end of the electrical shielding member, the cutout portion forming opposing guiding shoulders for linearly guiding the module housing during insertion of the module housing into the receiving portion, the module housing protruding through the top wall at the receiving portion with the network connector module assembled.

2. The network connector module of claim 1, wherein the contact elements protrude inwardly in the receiving portion, so that, when the network connector module is coupled to a corresponding counter connector, the contacting ground contacts and the data contacts of the corresponding counter connector are at least partly received in the receiving portion of the module housing.

3. The network connector module of claim 2, wherein the electrical shielding member has an inner height measured from the bottom wall to the top wall of the electrical shielding member in the range of 2.5 mm to 3.3 mm.

4. The network connector module of claim 1, wherein the electrical shielding member comprises a receiving portion for receiving the module housing; the receiving portion is substantially U-shaped; and the contact elements protrude outwardly from the receiving portion, so that, when the network connector module is coupled to the corresponding counter connector, the contacting ground contacts are not received in the receiving portion of the module housing.

5. The network connector module of claim 1, wherein the contact elements are embossed elements that are integrally formed with a respective side wall of the receiving portion.

6. The network connector module of claim 1, wherein the contact elements are contact arms that have a free end, and the free end faces in a mating direction.

7. The network connector module of claim 1, wherein at least one of the electrical shielding member and the module housing includes a latching element for latching with a network connector.

8. The network connector module of claim 1, wherein the contact elements and the electrical contact terminals are arranged so as to be adapted to electrically contact ground contacts and data contacts of the corresponding counter connector that have an equidistant pitch in a row direction, wherein the pitch is about 1.8 mm.

9. A network connector assembly capable of communicating at data rates of at least up to 1 Gbit/s, the network connector assembly comprising: a network connector housing, and at least two network connector modules according to claim 1, wherein the network connector housing comprises network connector module receptacles, for receiving the at least two network connector modules, and the network connector assembly includes: at least two network connector module seals that are received in the network connector module receptacles, and a seal retaining member that is adapted to be coupled to the network connector housing and to retain the network connector modules and the network connector module seals within the network connector module receptacles.

10. A method of assembling a network connector assembly according to claim 9, the method comprising: inserting each network connector module in a respective network connector module receptacle of the network connector housing, and latching the network connector module with the network connector housing.

11. A method of assembling a network connector module according to claim 1, the method comprising: inserting the module housing in the receiving portion of the electrical shielding member, and locking the module housing with the electrical shielding member.

12. The network connector module of claim 1, wherein the contact elements protrude outwardly from the receiving portion, so that, when the network connector module is coupled to the corresponding counter connector, the contacting ground contacts are not received within the receiving portion of the module housing and the data contacts of the corresponding counter connector are at least partly received in the receiving portion of the module housing.

13. The network connector module of claim 1, wherein each of the electrical contact terminals include a primary locking element removably received in a corresponding through opening in the module housing for locking electrical contact terminals to the module housing the electrical shielding member leaving the primary locking elements exposed via the through openings with the network connector module assembled.

14. A network connector module for a network connector adapted for network communication with data rates of at least up to 1 Gbit/s, the network connector module comprising: a cable that includes a shielding and at least two wires; at least two electrical contact terminals for electrically contacting data contacts of a corresponding counter connector, each of the electrical contact terminals being electrically connected to a respective one of the wires of the cable; a module housing made of electrically insulating material, the module housing comprising at least two terminal receptacles that are arranged directly adjacent to each other, each of the terminal receptacles receives one of the electrical contact terminals; an electrical shielding member made of cut and bent sheet metal, wherein the electrical shielding member is in electrical contact with the shielding of the cable, the electrical shielding member at least partially surrounds the module housing, the electrical shielding member includes at least two contact elements for electrically contacting ground contacts of the corresponding counter connector, the contact elements being arranged lateral of the module housing so as to be in a row with the electrical contact terminals received in the module housing, and wherein the contact elements sandwich the electrical contact terminals, wherein the electrical shielding member comprises at least one locking element that is adapted to engage with a corresponding locking element of the module housing for locking the module housing with the electrical shielding member, the electrical shielding member has a substantially C-shaped cross section formed by a bottom wall and two sidewalls providing a receiving portion for the module housing on an open side extending an entire longitudinal length of the electrical shielding member opposite the bottom wall.

15. The network connector module of claim 14, wherein at least one locking element is a latching arm provided on a rearward portion of the electrical shielding member at a bottom wall of the electrical shielding member.

16. The network connector module of claim 14, wherein at least one locking element is a through opening provided in a side wall of the receiving portion of the electrical shielding member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention are described in relation to the accompanied figures, wherein

(2) FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view of a network connector module, according to a first embodiment;

(3) FIG. 1B is a schematic exploded view of the network connector module, as shown in FIG. 1A;

(4) FIG. 1C is further a schematic perspective view of a network connector module, as shown in FIG. 1A;

(5) FIG. 2A is a schematic perspective view of an electrical shielding member of a network connector module;

(6) FIG. 2B is a schematic front view of an electrical shielding member of a network connector module;

(7) FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of electric contact terminals of a network connector module;

(8) FIG. 4A is a schematic perspective view of a network connector module, according to a second embodiment;

(9) FIG. 4B is a schematic exploded view of a network connector module, as shown in FIG. 4A;

(10) FIG. 5A is a schematic top view of two network connector modules;

(11) FIG. 5B is a schematic top view of two network connector modules;

(12) FIG. 6A is a schematic exploded view showing parts of a network connector;

(13) FIG. 6B is a schematic front view of a network connector;

(14) FIG. 7 is a schematic exploded view of a network connector; and

(15) FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a network connector being plugged to a corresponding counter connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(16) FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view of a network connector module 10 according to a first embodiment. The network connector module 10 is adapted for network communication with data rates of at least up to 1 Gbit/s. The network connector module 10 comprises a shielded cable 400 that may be held in the electrical shielding member 100 by means of a cable reception 160. Cable reception 160 may be provided with retaining protrusions 166 that protrude inwardly in the substantially cylindrical portion of the cable reception 160, thereby increasing the retention force of the cable 400 from the electrical shielding member 100.

(17) The electrical shielding member 100 comprises a receiving portion 110 for receiving a module housing 300. Further, the electrical shielding member 100 may comprise a latching element 120 for latching the network connector module 10 with a network connector (not shown). Further, the electrical shielding member may at least partially surround the module housing 300 on a bottom side 116 and at least partially on two sides, i.e. at sidewalls 118, 119.

(18) The electrical shielding member includes at least two contact elements 130, 140 for electrically contacting ground contacts of a corresponding counter connector (not shown). The contact elements 130, 140 may be provided in respective sidewalls 118, 119 of the receiving portion 110 of the electrical shielding member 100.

(19) The network connector module 10 may comprises data pin receptacles 14a, 14b and ground pin receptacles 16a, 16b. Those receptacles are arranged in a row wherein the contact elements of the electrical shielding member are adapted for electrically contacting ground contacts (ground pins) of a corresponding counter connector and the contact terminals (not shown) are arranged for contacting data contacts (signal pins). As the contact elements sandwich the electrical contact terminals, the contact elements 130, 140 and the contact terminals are adapted to contact respective ground contacts and data contacts of a corresponding counter connector (not shown), wherein the ground contacts and the data contacts are arranged in at least one row having a repeating contact pattern of ground contact-data contact-data contact-ground contact (GSSG). Multiple GSSG contact patterns may be arranged in a row of the interface, resulting in a repeating . . . GSSGGSSG . . . contact arrangement within one row (cf. FIG. 5A).

(20) The ground pin receptacle and signal pin receptacle may have a pitch s, wherein the pitch s may be about 1.5 mm, or about 1.8 mm, or about 2.0 mm Other pitches may be used instead. Further, the module housing may have corresponding locking elements 331, 341 that are adapted to be locked with primary locking means 531, 541 of electrical contact terminals 530, 540, as shown in FIG. 3. Those corresponding locking elements 331, 341 may be provided as locking appertures.

(21) FIG. 1B is a schematic exploded view of the network connector module as shown in FIG. 1A. As shown, cable 400 may be a shielded cable that comprises an electrical shield 410 and two wires 430, 440 for transmitting network communication data. The wires 430, 440 may be electrically connected to respective contact terminals 530, 540. These contact terminals 530, 540 may be received within the module housing 300. The module housing 300 is received within a receiving portion 110 of the electrical shielding member 100.

(22) The shield 410 of the cable 400 can be folded back and can be secured by means of an inner ferrule 200. The inner ferrule 200 forms a sleeve that is formed from cut and bent sheet metal and may surround the cable 400 at least partially. Then, the cable reception 160 can be crimped over the ferrule 200, thereby securing the cable 400 and the ferrule 200 within the electrical shielding member 100.

(23) FIG. 1C shows a schematic perspective view of the network connector module 10, as described above. In particular, FIG. 1C provides a bottom view of the network connector module 10. As shown, bottom wall 116 may be a divided wall. In particular, bottom wall 116 can be assembled by two bottom wall parts, each having a contoured locking edge 112, 114 that engage with each other. The contoured locking edges 112, 114 may comprise a puzzle shape form.

(24) On a rearward portion of the electrical shielding member 100, preferably on a bottom wall 116, locking elements 152, 154 may be provided which lock with a corresponding locking element 352 of the module housing 300. Thus, the module housing 300 can be secured (locked) in the electrical shielding member 100. The cable reception 160 may also be assembled (joint) by respective contoured edges 162, 164 that may comprise a puzzle shape form. The contoured locking edges of the divided bottom wall and the cable reception allow for a stable and reliable connection of the edges. Further, the electrical shielding member 100 may be formed from a single piece of sheet metal. Thereby providing a low-priced shielding member.

(25) FIG. 2A shows a schematic perspective view of an electrical shielding member 100 for a network connector module 10. The electrical shielding member 100 has a substantially rectangular cross section, when seen from a direction against the mating direction A. The rectangular cross section is formed by a bottom wall 116 and a top wall 117 as well as by two sidewalls 118, 119. The top wall 117 may have a stepped portion that forms guiding shoulders 172, 174. These guiding shoulders 172, 174 serve for guiding the module housing (respectively corresponding guiding shoulders 372, 374) during inserting the module housing 300 in the receiving portion 110 of the electrical shielding member 100. The top wall 117 may comprise a cutout portion 170 for receiving the module housing 300. This cutout portion 170 may have a rearward abutment face 176 for abutting the module housing 300 and thereby limiting the insertion depth of the module housing 300 in the electrical shielding member 100. The contact elements 130, 140 are provided in the shown embodiment laterally at sidewalls 118, 119, and protrude inwardly in the receiving portion 110. The contact elements 130, 140 may be provided as embossed elements that are connected with the sidewall on at least two sides thereof. Further, each contact element 130, 140 may be provided with at least one contact face 132, 142 which is adapted to electrically contact a respective ground contact of a corresponding counter connector.

(26) FIG. 2B shows a schematic perspective front view of the electrical shielding member seen in a direction against the mating direction A. The contact elements 130, 140 may protrude inwardly in the receiving portion 110. Further, each of the contact elements 130, 140 may be provided with at least one contact face 132, 142. Further, locking elements 152, 154 may protrude inwardly in the receiving portion and thus may be adapted for locking the module housing 300 when it is received in the shielding member 100.

(27) FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of electric contact terminals 530, 540 of a network connector module 10, 10′, 10″. The electrical contact terminal 530, 540 may have a primary locking element 531, 541 and the module housing may have a corresponding primary locking element 331, 341, that engage with each other when the terminal 530, 540 is assembled. Further, the electrical contact terminal 530, 540 may have a secondary locking element 533, 543 and the connector housing may have a corresponding secondary locking element (not shown), that engage with each other when the terminal is assembled.

(28) The primary locking element 531, 541, the corresponding primary locking element 331, 341, the secondary locking elements 533, 543, the corresponding secondary locking elements may be arranged so that, when pulling the cable 400 out of the connector module 10, 10′, firstly the primary locking elements 531, 541 and the corresponding primary locking elements 331, 341 abut each other. Subsequently, the secondary locking elements 533, 543 and the corresponding secondary locking elements may abut each other. Thus, the cable 400 can be held reliable with in the network connector module, without losing its electrical connection.

(29) The primary locking elements 531, 541 of the electrical contact terminals 530, 540 may be provided as latching arms and the secondary locking elements 533, 543 may be provided as locking recess that receive a corresponding secondary locking element.

(30) The terminals 530, 540 may be provided with crimping means 535, 545 for electrically contacting the wires 430, 440 of the cable 400. Further, each terminal 530, 540 comprises a contact pin receptacle for receiving and electrically contacting a respective data contact or signal pin.

(31) FIGS. 4A and 4B show a schematic perspective and exploded view of a network connector module 10′. The connector module 10′ comprises a shielded cable 400, a U-shaped shielding member 100′ and a module housing 300′. The electrical shielding 410 of the cable 400 may be electrically connected to a shielding contact means 165′ of the electrical shielding member 100. The shielding contact means 165′ can be crimped around the electrical shielding 410 and/or an inner ferrule 200.

(32) Further, the electrical shielding member 100′ may comprise a cable reception 160′ for receiving the cable 400. The cable reception 160′ may be provided with a retaining protrusion 160′ that protrudes inwardly into the cable reception 160′ and thereby improves the connection between the cable and the shielding member 100′. The electrical shielding member 100′ has a substantially U-shaped cross section when seen from a direction opposite to the mating direction A. Further, the electrical shielding member 100′ comprises contact elements 130′, 140′ that protrude outwardly from the receiving portion 110′. These contact elements may be provided as contact arms, each having a free end facing in mating direction A.

(33) As the contact elements 130′, 140′ protrude outwardly from the receiving portion 110′, the network connector module 10′ can be coupled to a corresponding counter connector, so that the contacting ground contacts are not received within the receiving portion 110′ of the module housing wherein the data contacts of a corresponding counter connector are at least partly received in the receiving portion 110′ of the module housing. The network connector module 110′ comprising outwardly protruding contact elements 130′, 140′ is adapted to contact respective ground contacts (G) and data contacts (S) of a corresponding counter connector having a . . . GSSGGSSG . . . contact arrangement (cf. FIG. 5A) or having a . . . GSSGSSG . . . contact arrangement (cf. FIG. 5B).

(34) The shielding member 100′ may comprise locking elements 150′, 153′, 154′, 155′, provided as locking through holes in sidewalls 118′, 119′ of the receiving portion. The housing 300′ comprises corresponding locking elements 352′, 353′ that can engage (lock) with the locking elements of the shielding member 100′. Shielding member 100′ surrounds the module housing 300′ at least partially, wherein it covers the bottom and the sides of the module housing 300′ at least partially.

(35) Further, housing 300′ may comprise a tertiary locking element 320a′. The tertiary locking element 320a′ may be arranged on the housing 300′ at a front portion of the network connector module 10′ (i.e. adjacent to an end of the network connector module facing in mating direction A). Further, the tertiary locking element 320a′ may protrude outwardly from housing 300′. The tertiary locking element 320a′ may serve to lock with a secondary locking device (CPA) of the network connector and/or with a TPA (Terminal Position Assurance) member of the network connector. This allows for redundant locking of both the contact terminals 530, 540 and the network connector module with the network connector.

(36) FIG. 5A shows a top view of two network connector modules 10a, 10b that are coupled to ground contacts 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d and data contacts 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d of a corresponding counter connector (not shown). The ground and data contacts 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d are provided as contact pins having an angled form. Further, the ground and data contacts 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d are provided in a repeating GSSG-pattern forming a . . . GSSGGSSG contact arrangement.

(37) The mating direction A of the angled contact pins lies within the image plane of FIG. 5A, wherein the mounting direction of these pins may be perpendicular to the image plane (not shown). The pins have a pitch s which may be about 1.5 mm, or about 1.8 mm, or about 2.0 mm. Accordingly, the cables 400a, 400b of the modules 10a, 10b may have a distance d of about four times the pitch s (d=4×s), i.e. of about 6 mm, or of about 7.2 mm, or of about 8 mm In case that angled contact pins are used as data and ground contacts, a network connector typically has a single row of network connector modules. In case that straight contact pins are used as data and ground contacts (i.e. the mounting direction lies within the plane of the mating direction A), multiple rows of network connector modules may be provided in a single network connector. A network connector may comprise in a row at least two network connector modules, preferably at least four network connectors modules and most preferably at least six network connector modules and even more preferably at least eight network connector modules.

(38) FIG. 5B shows a top view of two network connector modules 10a″, 10b″. The network connector modules 10a″, 10b″ comprise contact elements that protrude outwardly from the receiving portion, so that, when the network connector module 10a″, 10b″ is coupled to a corresponding counter connector, the contacting ground contacts are not received within the receiving portion of the module housing and the data contacts of a corresponding counter connector are at least partly received in the receiving portion of the module housing.

(39) The network connector modules 10a″, 10b″ are coupled to ground contacts 6a′, 6bc′, 6d′ and data contacts 4a′, 4b′, 4c′, 4d′ of a corresponding counter connector (not shown). The ground and data contacts 6a′, 6bc′, 6d′, 4a′, 4b′, 4c′, 4d′ are provided as contact pins having an angled form. Further, the ground and data contacts 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d are provided in a repeating GSSG-pattern forming a . . . GSSGSSG contact arrangement. Particularly, adjacent GSSG contact patterns of FIG. 5B share a common ground contact 6bc′, resulting in a repeating . . . GSSGSSG . . . contact arrangement within one row.

(40) The mating direction A of the angled contact pins lies within the image plane of FIG. 5B, wherein the mounting direction of these pins is perpendicular to the image plane (not shown). The pins have a pitch s which may be about 1.5 mm, or about 1.8 mm, or about 2.0 mm. Accordingly, the cables 400a, 400b of the modules 10a″, 10b″ may have a distance d′ of about three times the pitch s (d′=3×s), i.e. of about 4.5 mm, or of about 5.4 mm, or of about 6 mm In case that angled contact pins are used as data and ground contacts, a network connector typically has a single row of network connector modules. In case that straight contact pins are used as data and ground contacts (i.e. the mounting direction lies within the plane of the mating direction A), multiple rows of network connector modules may be provided in a single network connector. A network connector may comprise in a row at least two network connector modules, preferably at least four network connectors modules and most preferably at least six network connector modules and even more preferably at least eight network connector modules.

(41) FIG. 6A shows an exploded view of some parts of a network connector. In particular, an outer housing 20 of the network connector is shown. This outer housing 20 may receive a signal terminal 60. The signal terminal 60 may provide multiple digital signal pins for transmitting digital I/O signals. Further, the outer housing 20 may comprise a row of network connector module receptacles provided as cavities, for receiving network connector modules 10, 10′. Optionally, a network connector module seal 41a-41f may be inserted in the respective network connector module receptacle. To secure the network connector modules 10, 10′ and the respective seals 41a-41f in the network connector module receptacles, a seal retaining member 50 can be provided. The seal retaining member 50 may comprise cable passages 52a-52f, being provided as cutout portions. These cable passages allow to guide the cables 400a to 400f of the respective network connector modules 10, 10′. Further, the seal retaining member 50 may comprise a locking element 54 that is adapted to be locked with a corresponding locking element 21 of the outer housing 20 of the network connector. Thus, the seal retaining member 50 may be locked with the outer housing 20 and may reliable retain the network connector modules 10, 10′ in the network connector module receptacles. Alternatively, the above described network connector modules 10, 10′ and 10″ may be used in an unsealed network connector

(42) FIG. 6B is a schematic front view of a network connector seen in a direction against the mating direction. The network connector 1 may comprise a lever 80 for securing the network connector 1 with a corresponding counter connector (not shown). Further, the network connector 1 may comprise a secondary locking device 30 also known as CPA member. CPA-members are known in the art and prevent that the connector becomes lose and/or that an electrical contact is interrupted during use of the connector.

(43) Further, as shown in the front view, the network connector 1 comprises a signal terminal 60 having multiple signal pins for transmitting digital I/O signals. In a top row, there are six network connector modules 10a to 10f provided.

(44) FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of an example network connector. The network connector shown, comprises six network connector modules 10, an outer housing 20 and an inner housing 22. The inner housing can be sealed by means of a seal 42 to the outer housing 20. Further, the network connector modules may be received in the outer housing and may be sealed with seals 41. A seal retaining member 50 retains the network connector modules 10 and the seals 41 within the outer housing 20. The outer housing 20 may be covered with a cover 24. Further, the network connector 1 may comprise a secondary locking device 30, also referenced as connector position assurance member (CPA). The secondary locking device 30 provides an additional lock and prevents the network connector from being unplugged unintentionally. Further, a lever 80 is provided that allows a secure fixation of the network connector 1 with the corresponding counter connector 2. Further, the network connector 1 may comprise a signal terminal 60 that may be sealed with a terminal mat seal 46. A rear grid 62 may be provided for providing a defined grid of the pins of terminal 60.

(45) FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a network connector 1 being plugged to a corresponding counter connector 2. The corresponding counter connector 2 comprises two network connector receptacles 2a, 2b, wherein the network connector 1 is plugged to the network connector receptacle 2b. The corresponding counter connector 2 may also comprise a single network connector receptacle or multiple network connector receptacles. With the network connector and/or the network connector module, network communication with data rats of at least up to 1 Gbit/s can be achieved.

(46) The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this invention. The scope of legal protection given to this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.