A shielding cage and an electrical connector assembly

Abstract

A shielding cage and an electrical connector assembly. The shielding cage is provided with a receiving channel for mating with an insertion module. The shielding cage has a top wall, a bottom wall, a left side wall, a right side wall, and a rear wall that enclose the receiving channel. A through hole for receiving an electrical connector is provided between the bottom wall and the rear wall. The shielding cage further includes at least two spaced walls disposed between the top wall and the bottom wall. The spaced walls are disposed opposite to the top wall and the bottom wall. An interval space is formed between the two spaced walls and divides the receiving channel into an upper receiving channel and a lower receiving channel. It further includes a left heat dissipation module and a right heat dissipation module. The left heat dissipation module is correspondingly combined with the outer surface of the left side wall, and the right heat dissipation module is correspondingly combined with the outer surface of the right side wall. The left heat dissipation module and / or the right heat dissipation module are formed with an extension module that protrudes into the interval space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present application relate to the field of communication transmission, and more particularly, to a shielding cage and an electrical connector assembly.

Background Art

[0002] Electrical connector assemblies allow users of electronic devices or external devices to transfer data to or communicate with other devices and apparatuses. Generally, an electrical connector assembly includes a pluggable module received within a receptacle assembly, and the receptacle assembly includes a receptacle connector removably coupled to the pluggable module. The receptacle assembly includes a metal cage having an internal compartment in which the pluggable module is received. The receptacle connector is held within the internal compartment of the cage for connection to the pluggable module when the pluggable module is inserted therein.

[0003] Pluggable modules are typically constructed according to established size and compatibility standards (e.g., Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP), XFP, Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable (QSFP), Micro Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable (Micro QSFP), or QSFP-DD (Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable Double Density)). XFP, QSFP, Micro QSFP, and QSFP-DD and the standard require the module assembly to be able to transmit data at high rates, such as 28 gigabits per second. As density, power output levels, and signal transmission rates increase, the circuits within the module assembly generate a greater amount of heat. The heat generated by the operation of these devices can cause serious problems. For example, if the core temperature of the module rises too high, some pluggable modules may experience a performance degradation or complete failure.

[0004] Known techniques for controlling the temperature of individual pluggable modules include using a heat sink grille and heat pipes docked with the pluggable module held by a cage. For example, heat dissipation of the pluggable module can be achieved by using a heat sink grille connected to the top of the cage. The heat sink grille includes a planar mating interface that presses against the flat top surface of the housing of the pluggable module to dissipate heat from the housing of the pluggable module. Heat from the electrical components is transferred into the housing of the pluggable module and then from the housing into the heat sink grille. However, the high thermal resistance of the interface between the heat sink grille and the top surface of the pluggable module greatly limits the heat transfer rate. Additionally, variations in manufacturing tolerances can result in cumbersome assembly and unreliable thermal contact at the interface between the heat sink grille and the pluggable module.

[0005] Design limitations restrict the docking with the heat dissipation grille of the pluggable module. For example, a typical pluggable module design is restricted by the geometry or external dimensions of the pluggable module because the pluggable module needs to be loaded into the front opening of the cage. The size of the pluggable module cannot be increased beyond the size of the front opening of the cage. Therefore, this limitation restricts the surface area of the docking between the heat dissipation grille and the pluggable module, thereby restricting the ease of heat transfer.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need for a heat transfer device for a pluggable module assembly with improved thermal resistance. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of the present application is to provide a new shielding cage and an electrical connector assembly with better heat dissipation performance.

[0008] To achieve the above purpose, the present application is implemented through the following technical solutions:

[0009] A shielding cage is used to be mounted on a circuit board. The shielding cage is provided with a receiving channel for a plug-in module to cooperate. The shielding cage has a top wall, a bottom wall, a left side wall, a right side wall, and a rear wall that enclose the receiving channel. A through hole for receiving an electrical connector is provided between the bottom wall and the rear wall. The shielding cage further includes at least two partition walls provided between the top wall and the bottom wall. The partition walls are disposed opposite to the top wall and the bottom wall. An interval space is formed between the two partition walls and the receiving channel is partitioned into an upper receiving channel and a lower receiving channel. It further includes a left heat dissipation module and a right heat dissipation module. The left heat dissipation module is correspondingly combined with the outer surface of the left side wall, and the right heat dissipation module is correspondingly combined with the outer surface of the right side wall. The left heat dissipation module and / or the right heat dissipation module are formed with an extension module that protrudes into the interval space.

[0010] Further, through slots are respectively formed on the left side wall and the right side wall. The right heat dissipation module extends to form the extension module. The extension module passes through the through slot of the right side wall and protrudes into the interval space and passes through the through slot of the left side wall to contact the left heat dissipation module.

[0011] Further, a groove is formed on the left heat dissipation module, and the extension module is inserted into the groove.

[0012] Further, a plurality of heat dissipation columns are protrudingly extended from one surface of the extension module, and the heat dissipation columns are accommodated in the interval space.

[0013] Further, a combined fin is combined with the inner surface of one of the partition walls facing the heat dissipation columns. The combined fin extends towards the side where the heat dissipation columns are located to form an elastic arm. The elastic arm elastically overlaps the heat dissipation columns. The combined fin is directly formed by stamping and bending through the partition wall, or the combined fin is an independent component fixedly connected to the partition wall.

[0014] Further, a relief hole is formed through the partition wall, and at least a part of the extension module passes through the relief hole and protrudes into the receiving channel for contacting the insertion module.

[0015] Further, it further includes a top heat dissipation module, the top heat dissipation module is combined with the top wall, a through hole is formed through the top wall, and the top heat dissipation module extends an extension block that passes through the through hole and protrudes into the upper receiving channel.

[0016] Further, the extension length of the left heat dissipation module in the thickness direction of the top wall is not less than 70% of the extension length of the left side wall, and the extension length of the right heat dissipation module in the thickness direction of the top wall is not less than 70% of the extension length of the right side wall.

[0017] To achieve the above object, the present application is also implemented through the following technical solutions:

[0018] An electrical connector assembly includes a shielding cage and an electrical connector as described in any one of the above. The electrical connector is combined in the shielding cage. The electrical connector is provided with an upper card receiving groove corresponding to and communicating with the upper receiving channel, and a lower card receiving groove corresponding to and communicating with the lower receiving channel. The electrical connector includes an insulating body, an upper terminal group and a lower terminal group combined with the insulating body. The upper terminal group corresponds to the upper card receiving groove, and the lower terminal group corresponds to the lower card receiving groove. Each terminal group includes two rows of conductive terminals formed by arranging a plurality of conductive terminals. Each conductive terminal is provided with a contact arm extending forward for electrically contacting the insertion module, a pin for mounting on a circuit board, and a connecting arm connecting the contact arm and the pin. When the insertion module is inserted into the receiving channel, it can enter the card receiving groove and conductively cooperate with the contact arm.

[0019] Further, the electrical connector assembly is one of an SFP type socket connector, an SFP-DD type socket connector, a DSFP type socket connector, a QSFP type socket connector, a QSFP-DD type socket connector, a CFP type socket connector, a CXP type socket connector or an OSFP type socket connector.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the present application has at least the following beneficial effects: It has better heat dissipation performance.

Description of the Drawings

[0021] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the electrical connector assembly of the present application;

[0022] Figure 2 is a front view of the left heat dissipation module, the right heat dissipation module and the top heat dissipation module of the electrical connector assembly of the present application as a whole separated from the shielding cage;

[0023] Figure 3 It is a three-dimensional schematic diagram after the left heat dissipation module, right heat dissipation module and top heat dissipation module of the electrical connector assembly of the present application are separated from the shielding cage;

[0024] Figure 4 It is from Figure 1 The cross-sectional view of the A-A line in;

[0025] Figure 5 It is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the combined fins of the electrical connector assembly of the present application;

[0026] Figure 6 It is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the electrical connector of the electrical connector assembly of the present application.

Detailed Embodiments

[0027] To make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the technical solutions of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the specific embodiments of the present application and the corresponding drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative work fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0028] Here, it should also be noted that in order to avoid obscuring the present application due to unnecessary details, only the structures and / or processing steps closely related to some embodiments of the present application are shown in the drawings, while other details less related to some embodiments of the present application are omitted.

[0029] In addition, it should also be noted that the terms "include", "comprise", "have" or any other variant thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device including a series of elements not only includes those elements, but also includes other elements not explicitly listed, or further includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device.

[0030] In addition, for the accuracy of the description of the present application, all directions involved in the present application shall be uniformly based on Figure 1 As a reference, the extension direction of the X-axis is the left-right direction of the electrical connector assembly (that is, the transverse direction of the electrical connector assembly); the extension direction of the Y-axis is the front-back direction of the electrical connector assembly (that is, the plugging direction of the insertion module, and at the same time, the longitudinal direction of the electrical connector assembly), where the positive direction of the Y-axis is the back; the extension direction of the Z-axis is the up-down direction of the electrical connector assembly (that is, the thickness direction of the docking circuit board), where the positive direction of the Z-axis is up. The present application will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings and in conjunction with the embodiments. For convenience of description, the upper, lower, left, right, front, and back orientations in the present application are relative positions and do not constitute a limitation on the implementation.

[0031] Please refer to Figures 1 to 6 As shown, the present application discloses an electrical connector assembly, including a shielding cage 1 and an electrical connector 2, and the electrical connector 2 is combined within the shielding cage 1. The entire electrical connector assembly is used to be mounted on a circuit board (not shown) and electrically connected to the circuit board to achieve signal transmission, and the electrical connector assembly is used to dock with an insertion module (not shown) to achieve signal transmission.

[0032] Please refer to Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the shielding cage 1 is provided with a receiving channel 101 for the insertion module to cooperate with. The shielding cage 1 has a top wall 11, a bottom wall 12, a left side wall 13, a right side wall 14, and a rear wall 15 that enclose the receiving channel 101. A through hole (not labeled) for receiving the electrical connector 2 is provided between the bottom wall 12 and the rear wall 15. The shielding cage 1 further includes at least two partition walls 16 provided between the top wall 11 and the bottom wall 12. The partition walls 16 are disposed opposite to the top wall 11 and the bottom wall 12. An interval space 103 is formed between the two partition walls 16 and the receiving channel 101 is partitioned into an upper receiving channel 1011 and a lower receiving channel 1012. The electrical connector assembly further includes a left heat dissipation module 31 and a right heat dissipation module 32. The left heat dissipation module 31 is correspondingly combined with the outer surface of the left side wall 13, the right heat dissipation module 32 is correspondingly combined with the outer surface of the right side wall 13, and the right heat dissipation module 32 is formed with an extension module 321 that protrudes into the interval space 103.

[0033] Please refer to Figures 1 to 4 As shown, specifically, through grooves 104 are respectively formed on the left side wall 13 and the right side wall 14. The extension module 321 passes through the through groove of the right side wall 14 and protrudes into the interval space 103 and passes through the through groove 104 of the left side wall 13 to contact the left heat dissipation module 31. In the present application, a groove 310 is formed on the left heat dissipation module 31, and the extension module 321 is inserted into the groove 310. A plurality of heat dissipation columns 3211 protrude and extend from one surface (the upper surface in this embodiment) of the extension module 321, and the heat dissipation columns are received in the interval space 103.

[0034] Please refer to Figures 2 to 5 As shown, along the up and down direction, a bonding fin 17 is combined at the inner surface position of the upper partition wall 16 facing the heat dissipation columns 3211. The bonding fin 17 extends towards the side where the heat dissipation columns 3211 are located (downward) to form an elastic arm 171, and the elastic arm 171 elastically overlaps the heat dissipation columns 3211. In the present application, the bonding fin 17 is an independent metal sheet structure, and it can be assembled and fixed to the partition wall 16 by snap-fastening or can be fixed by welding. Of course, in other embodiments, the bonding fin 17 can also be directly formed by stamping and bending the partition wall 16.

[0035] Please refer to Figures 2 to 4 As shown, a relief hole 161 is formed through the partition wall 16, and at least a part of the extension module 321 passes through the relief hole 161 and protrudes into the receiving channel 101 for contacting an insertion module (not shown).

[0036] The upper receiving channel 1011 and the lower receiving channel 1012 of the shielding cage of the present application are used for the insertion module (not shown) to be inserted thereinto. The intermediate formed spacer space 103 can be used for air circulation to achieve heat dissipation on the one hand, and can be used for assembling a light guiding structure (not shown) on the other hand. In the present application, a left heat dissipation module 31 and a right heat dissipation module 32 are respectively assembled (combined) on the left and right sides of the shielding cage. The extension module 321 formed on the right heat dissipation module 32 is inserted into the spacer space 103 and correspondingly contacts the left heat dissipation module 31 to achieve fixation, and at the same time achieve mutual heat conduction, so as to achieve a better heat dissipation effect. It can quickly export the heat generated by the insertion module inserted into the receiving channel 1012 to the outside of the connector assembly.

[0037] For a better heat dissipation effect, the extension length of the left heat dissipation module 31 in the thickness direction of the top wall 11 is not less than 70% of the extension length of the left side wall 13, and the extension length of the right heat dissipation module 32 in the thickness direction of the top wall 11 is not less than 70% of the extension length of the right side wall 14. In addition, a grid-like structure is formed on the outer surfaces of the left heat dissipation module 31 and the right heat dissipation module 32, so as to increase the heat dissipation area. The surface of the extension module 321 protruding into the spacer space 103 is flat, so as to ensure a larger contact area with the insertion module.

[0038] Please refer to Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the electrical connector assembly of the present application further includes a top heat dissipation module 33. The top heat dissipation module 33 is combined with the top wall 11. A through hole 111 is formed through the top wall 11. The top heat dissipation module 33 extends an extension block 331 that passes through the through hole 111 and protrudes into the upper receiving channel 1011. The extension block 331 is used for contacting the insertion module to achieve heat conduction.

[0039] Of course, in other embodiments, the extension module 321 may also be extended from the left heat dissipation module 31.

[0040] Please refer to Figure 6 and in combination with Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the electrical connector 2 is provided with an upper card receiving groove 201 corresponding to and communicating with the upper receiving channel 1011, and a lower card receiving groove 202 corresponding to and communicating with the lower receiving channel 1012. The electrical connector 2 includes an insulating body 40, an upper terminal group (not labeled) and a lower terminal group (not labeled) combined with the insulating body 40. The upper terminal group corresponds to the upper card receiving groove, and the lower terminal group corresponds to the lower card receiving groove. Each terminal group includes two rows of conductive terminals (not labeled) formed by arranging a plurality of conductive terminals. Each conductive terminal is provided with a contact arm (not labeled) extending forward and corresponding to electrically contact the insertion module, a pin (not labeled) for mounting on the circuit board, and a connecting arm (not labeled) connecting the contact arm and the pin. At least part of the connecting arm is fixed to the insulating body. When the insertion module is inserted into the receiving channel, it can enter the card receiving groove and electrically cooperate with the contact arm of the conductive terminal correspondingly. In the electrical connector 2 of the present application, at least one pair of high-speed terminal pairs (not labeled) for transmitting high-speed differential signals and two ground terminals (not labeled) located on both sides of a pair of high-speed terminal pairs are included in the same row of conductive terminals.

[0041] The electrical connector assembly in the present application is one of an SFP type socket connector, an SFP-DD type socket connector, a DSFP type socket connector, a QSFP type socket connector, a QSFP-DD type socket connector, a CFP type socket connector, a CXP type socket connector or an OSFP type socket connector.

[0042] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application and not to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that the technical solutions of the present application can be modified or equivalently replaced without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present application.

[0043] The above is only a partial embodiment of the present application, not all embodiments. Any equivalent changes made by those of ordinary skill in the art to the technical solutions of the present application by reading the specification of the present application are covered by the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly, comprising a shielding cage and an electrical connector incorporated within the shielding cage. The shielding cage is provided with a receiving channel for mating with an insertion module. The shielding cage has a top wall, a bottom wall, a left side wall, a right side wall, and a rear wall that enclose the receiving channel. A through hole for receiving the electrical connector is provided between the bottom wall and the rear wall. The shielding cage further includes at least two partition walls disposed between the top wall and the bottom wall. The partition walls are disposed opposite to the top wall and the bottom wall. An interval space is formed between the two partition walls, and the receiving channel is partitioned into an upper receiving channel and a lower receiving channel. It is characterized in that: It further includes a left heat dissipation module and a right heat dissipation module. The left heat dissipation module is correspondingly incorporated on the outer surface of the left side wall, and the right heat dissipation module is correspondingly incorporated on the outer surface of the right side wall. The left heat dissipation module and / or the right heat dissipation module are formed with an extension module that protrudes into the interval space; The electrical connector is provided with an upper card receiving groove corresponding to and communicating with the upper receiving channel and a lower card receiving groove corresponding to and communicating with the lower receiving channel. The electrical connector includes an insulating body, an upper terminal group, and a lower terminal group incorporated on the insulating body. The upper terminal group corresponds to the upper card receiving groove, and the lower terminal group corresponds to the lower card receiving groove. Both the upper terminal group and the lower terminal group include a plurality of conductive terminals. Each conductive terminal is provided with a contact arm extending forward for electrically contacting the insertion module, a pin for mounting on a circuit board, and a connecting arm connecting between the contact arm and the pin. When the insertion module is inserted into the receiving channel, it can enter the card receiving groove and conductively cooperate with the contact arm correspondingly; The upper terminal group and the lower terminal group include grounding terminals.

2. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: Through grooves are respectively formed on the left side wall and the right side wall. The right heat dissipation module extends to form the extension module. The extension module passes through the through groove on the right side wall and protrudes into the interval space and passes through the through groove on the left side wall to contact the left heat dissipation module.

3. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: A groove is formed on the left heat dissipation module, and the extension module is inserted into the groove.

4. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: Several heat dissipation columns are protrudingly formed on one surface of the extension module. The heat dissipation columns are accommodated in the interval space.

5. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that: A combined fin is incorporated on the inner surface of one of the partition walls facing the heat dissipation columns. The combined fin extends towards the side where the heat dissipation columns are located to form an elastic arm. The elastic arm elastically overlaps the heat dissipation columns. The combined fin is directly formed by stamping and bending through the partition wall, or the combined fin is an independent component fixed to the partition wall.

6. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: A relief hole is formed through the partition wall. At least a part of the extension module passes through the relief hole and protrudes into the receiving channel for contacting the insertion module.

7. The electrical connector assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: It further includes a top heat dissipation module, the top heat dissipation module is combined with the top wall, a through hole is formed through the top wall, and the top heat dissipation module extends an extension block that passes through the through hole and protrudes into the upper receiving channel.

8. The electrical connector assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The extension length of the left heat dissipation module in the thickness direction of the top wall is not less than 70% of the extension length of the left side wall, and the extension length of the right heat dissipation module in the thickness direction of the top wall is not less than 70% of the extension length of the right side wall.

9. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electrical connector assembly is one of an SFP type socket connector, an SFP-DD type socket connector, a DSFP type socket connector, a QSFP type socket connector, a QSFP-DD type socket connector, a CFP type socket connector, a CXP type socket connector or an OSFP type socket connector.

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