IP Library Granted Patent US 9,748,691
Granted Patent B2
US 9,748,691 · App. 15/156,283 · Granted Aug 29, 2017

Latch assembly for low-profile right-angle electrical connector

Inventors: Emad Soubh (Camas, WA); Jason Smith (Sartell, MN); John Grant (Sherborn, MA)
Assignee: AIRBORN, INC.
H01R13/6275H01R12/7082H01R12/716H01R12/724H01R13/627H01R25/006
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,748,691
App. No.
15/156,283
Granted
Aug 29, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A low-profile, right angle connector assembly comprises six cable connectors and six board-mount connectors housed within a PCIe bracket and EMI shell. The PCIe bracket and EMI shell are braced to a low profile PCIe card. Each board-mount connector is designed to receive a cable connector and allows for the transmission and processing of high-speed data with lower latency. A removable latch mounted on the cable connectors helps ensure the cable connectors remain physically connected to the board-mount connectors. The removable latch may be replaced as needed for breakage and wear and tear.

Claims (27)

1. An electrical connector assembly, comprising:

a board-mount connector having one or more differential signal pairs, each differential signal pair comprising a pair of signal contacts configured to transmit differential signals;

a cable connector configured to be detachably coupled to the board-mount connector;

an EMI shell substantially enclosing the board-mount connector, the EMI shell having a receptacle housing configured to receive the cable connector; and

a latch attached to the cable connector, the latch configured to releasably engage the receptacle housing of the EMI shell;

wherein the cable connector includes a latch anchor protruding from a top surface of the cable connector and the latch includes an anchor tab, the anchor tab configured to engage the latch anchor to releasably secure the latch on the cable connector, said anchor tab having an anchor opening formed therein that is sized and shaped to fit substantially flush around the latch anchor and thereby prevent movement of the latch back and forth and side to side on the cable connector;

wherein the differential signal pairs are socket contacts.

2. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the receptacle housing of the EMI shell includes a latch opening and the latch includes a latch stop configured to engage a side of the latch opening.

3. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a PCIe bracket bracing the EMI shell.

4. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the cable connector includes one or more slots and the latch includes one or more guide tabs configured to engage the one or more of slots to releasably secure the latch on the cable connector.

5. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the latch is removably attached to the cable connector.

6. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the differential signal pairs are pin contacts.

7. An electrical connector assembly, comprising:

a board-mount connector having one or more differential signal pairs, each differential signal pair comprising a pair of signal contacts configured to transmit differential signals;

a cable connector configured to be detachably coupled to the board-mount connector;

an EMI shell substantially enclosing the board-mount connector, the EMI shell having a receptacle housing configured to receive the cable connector; and

a latch attached to the cable connector, the latch configured to releasably engage the receptacle housing of the EMI shell;

wherein the cable connector includes a latch anchor protruding from a top surface of the cable connector and the latch includes an anchor tab, the anchor tab configured to engage the latch anchor to releasably secure the latch on the cable connector, said anchor tab having an anchor opening formed therein that is sized and shaped to fit substantially flush around the latch anchor and thereby prevent movement of the latch back and forth and side to side on the cable connector;

wherein the cable connector comprises seven overmolded lead frame assemblies.

8. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 7 , wherein each one of the overmolded lead frame assemblies comprises a lead frame and a pin wafer or a socket wafer.

9. An electrical connector assembly, comprising:

a board-mount connector having one or more differential signal pairs, each differential signal pair comprising a pair of signal contacts configured to transmit differential signals;

a cable connector configured to be detachably coupled to the board-mount connector;

an EMI shell substantially enclosing the board-mount connector, the EMI shell having a receptacle housing configured to receive the cable connector; and

a latch attached to the cable connector, the latch configured to releasably engage the receptacle housing of the EMI shell;

wherein the cable connector includes a latch anchor protruding from a top surface of the cable connector and the latch includes an anchor tab, the anchor tab configured to engage the latch anchor to releasably secure the latch on the cable connector, said anchor tab having an anchor opening formed therein that is sized and shaped to fit substantially flush around the latch anchor and thereby prevent movement of the latch back and forth and side to side on the cable connector;

wherein the board-mount connector has eight differential signal pairs.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT R/F 066749/0640 Recorded Dec 2, 2024
From: WELLS FARGO BANK
To: AIRBORN, INC.
Reel/Frame 069471/0141 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2024
From: LBC CREDIT AGENCY SERVICES, LLC
To: AIRBORN, INC.
Reel/Frame 068937/0557 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2024
From: AIRBORN, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 066749/0640 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 17, 2018
From: AIRBORN, INC.
To: LBC CREDIT AGENCY SERVICES, LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 047098/0653 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2017
From: SOUBH, EMAD; SMITH, JASON; GRANT, JOHN
To: AIRBORN, INC.
Reel/Frame 042652/0630 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 14317764 · Jun 27, 2014
Continuation 13675955 · Nov 13, 2012
Continuation In Part 13296166 · Nov 14, 2011
Continuation In Part 13296174 · Nov 14, 2011
Continuation In Part 13296179 · Nov 14, 2011
Related Publication 20160261067A1 · Sep 8, 2016