Electrical receptacle connector compatible with existing electrical plug and complementary plug

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a high speed high density electrical receptacle connector and complementary plug, and particularly to the compatibility of the electrical receptacle with an existing electrical plug.

2. Description of Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 6,517,382 discloses a single port electrical connector and a shielding receptacle (or cage) for a pluggable transceiver module. U.S. Pat. No. 7,070,446 discloses a tall electrical connector having stacked ports and a shielding cage. U.S. Pat. No. 7,674,133 discloses an electrical connector having stacked ports with low profile.

An improved high speed high density electrical connector is desired.

In order to resolve such a need, the present invention provides an electrical connector having a first mating slot and a second mating slot vertically stacked above and backwardly offseted from the first mating slot, each mating slot extending transversely and facing forwardly for respectively receiving a front card edge of a mating plug therein, the electrical connector comprising a plurality of first contacts transversely arrayed under the first mating slot, a plurality of second contacts transversely arrayed above the first mating slot, a plurality of third contacts transversely arrayed above the second contacts and under the second mating slot, and a plurality of fourth contacts transversely arrayed above the second mating slot. The second mating slot is backwardly offseted from the first mating slot so that a vertical distance between the third contacts and the second contacts could be decreased and a profile of the electrical connector could be lower.

The present invention also provides an electrical plug comprises a shielding case, a first mating card horizontally fastened in the shielding case, and a second mating card horizontally fastened in the shielding case and stacked above the first mating card, the first mating card having a front card edge equipped with an interface at a first place, the second mating card having a front card edge equipped with another interface at a second place forwardly offseted from the first place.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembly of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention with a shielding cage removed;

FIG. 2 is a partly exploded view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a contact module shown in FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the assembly shown in FIG. 2 from another view point;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the electrical connector and a mated electrical plug according to the embodiment of the present invention in a mated state;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 7 except that the assembly shown in FIG. 1 is removed;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the electrical plug shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 ;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the electrical plug shown in FIG. 9 ;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a first assemblying process of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 10 ;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a second assemblying process of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 10 ; and

FIG. 13 is an exploded view similar to FIG. 10 from a different viewpoint.

Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail.

Referring to FIGS. 1-8 , an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The electrical connector includes a subassembly 100 and a shielding cage 300 . The subassembly 100 has a first mating slot 120 and a second mating slot 140 vertically stacked above the first mating slot 120 . Each mating slot 120 , 140 extends transversely and faces forwardly for respectively receiving a front card edge of a mating plug 600 (shown in FIG. 9 ) therein. The electrical connector is matable with an existing QSFP plug (not shown) and the first mating slot 120 is mated with a front card edge of the existing QSFP plug. The second mating slot 140 is compatable with an interface of a front card edge of an existing QSFP plug.

The subassembly 100 of the connector comprises a unitary housing 10 and a plurality of contact modules 20 transversely stacked in the housing 10 . Each contact module 20 comprises an insulator and four different contacts 21 - 24 inserted-molded in the insulator. The four contacts 21 - 24 are shaped in right angle and arrayed in a vertical plane in such manner that a first contact 21 has a horizontal contacting cantilever disposed under the first mating slot 120 , a second contact 22 has a horizontal contacting cantilever disposed above the first mating slot 120 , a third contact 23 disposed above the second contact 22 and under the second mating slot 140 ; and a fourth contact 24 has a horizontal contacting cantilever disposed above the second mating slot 140 .

The second mating slot 140 is backwardly offseted from the first mating slot 120 so that a vertical distance between the third contacts 23 and the second contacts 24 could be decreased and a profile of the connector subassembly 100 could be lower. The offset distance has one more advantage is to provide an access for receiving a part of existing QSFP plug (not shown).

The unitary housing 10 defines a cavity receiving the stacked contact modules 20 , and the first to fourth contacts 21 - 24 of each contact module 20 having foot extending downwardly out from the housing 10 and arrayed in a line from front to rear. The housing has a front protrusion with the first mating slot 120 defined therein and a rear step face above the front protrusion with the second mating slot 140 defined therein.

The metal cage 300 has a top wall 31 , a bottom wall 34 and a pair of side walls 32 , 33 jointly defining a passageway opening forwardly to receive the mating plug 600 . The metal cage 300 further has a rear vertical wall 36 jointly with the top wall 31 and the pair of side walls 32 , 33 defining a cavity. The cavity communicates a bottom open defined in the bottom wall 34 . The housing 10 is received in the cavity with the foot portions of the contacts 21 - 24 extending out through the bottom open, and the first and the second mating slots 120 , 140 communicating the passageway. It is understandable that the passageway has a same width and a same height as a passageway of a shielding cage of an existing QSFP connector.

In other embodiment of the present invention might be an electrical connector matable with an existing SFP plug, the electrical connector having a first mating slot are matable with the SFP plug and a second mating slot being compatible with a front card edge of the existing SFP plug.

The electrical plug comprises a shielding case 72 , 74 , a first mating card 62 and a second mating card 64 . The first mating card 62 and the second mating card 64 are horizontally fastened and vertically stacked in the shielding case 72 , 74 . The first mating card 62 has a front card edge equipped with an interface at a first place. The second mating card 64 has a front card edge equipped with another interface at a second place forwardly offseted from the first place. The shielding case 72 , 74 comprises a top cover 74 and a bottom cover 72 coupled to define a passageway receiving the first mating card 62 and the second mating card 64 . The bottom cover 72 has a bottom wall 727 and two side walls 728 , 729 upwardly extending from opposite side of the bottom wall 727 , jointedly defining a lower portion 720 of the passageway. The top cover 74 has a top wall 747 and two side walls 748 , 749 downwardly extending from opposite side of the top wall 747 , jointedly defining an upper portion of the passageway. Each of the side walls 728 , 729 of the bottom cover 72 defines a first step 722 upwardly supporting the first mating card 62 and a second step 724 upwardly supporting the second mating card 64 . Each of the side walls 748 , 749 of the top cover 74 defines two third steps 742 , 743 downwardly pressing the first mating card 62 and a fourth step 744 downwardly pressing the second mating card 64 . The shielding case 72 , 74 defines a guiding rib 726 vertically extending along the side walls 728 , 729 and innerwardly protruded. The first mating card 62 and the second mating card 64 each defines a guiding slot 626 , 646 engaging the guiding rib 726 . The second mating card 64 defines a pair reccesses 643 each receiving one of the third steps 743 .

The disclosure is illustrative only, changes may be made in detail, especially in matter of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention.