CN107683551B

CN107683551B - Electrical connector

Info

Publication number: CN107683551B
Application number: CN201580081064.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 雷礼庆; 姚泽林
Original assignee: Amphenol FCI Connectors Singapore Pte Ltd
Current assignee: Amphenol FCI Connectors Singapore Pte Ltd
Priority date: 2015-04-30
Filing date: 2015-11-30
Publication date: 2020-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 2035-11-30
Also published as: WO2016175705A1; CN204927638U; CN107683551A

Abstract

An electrical connector is provided. The electrical connector includes a housing, a first terminal module disposed in the housing, a second terminal module disposed in the housing, and a plate disposed between the first terminal module and the second terminal module. The plate is in electrical contact with the ground terminals of the first terminal module and the ground terminals of the second terminal module.

Description

Electrical connector

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly, to a USB (universal serial bus) connector.

Background

USB 3.1 type C connectors provide improvements over previous versions by incorporating more power/ground pairs and signal channels (which are also configured to enable reverse plug connections). Developers are continually striving to make this type of connector more robust and reliable.

Disclosure of Invention

In one aspect, an embodiment provides an electrical connector including first and second terminal modules disposed in a housing and a conductive plate disposed between the first and second terminal modules. The plate is in electrical contact with the ground terminals of the first and second terminal modules. Near end crosstalk can improve the signal integrity of the electrical connector.

In another aspect, embodiments provide an electrical connector that includes first and second terminal modules disposed in a housing and a conductive plate disposed between the first and second terminal modules. An electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield is disposed around the first and second terminal modules. The EMI shield has first and second ends that are joined together to form a ring to secure the first and second terminal modules to one another.

In another aspect, embodiments provide an electrical connector that includes first and second terminal modules disposed in a housing and a plate disposed between the first and second terminal modules. The first terminal module includes a first engagement face, a first engagement projection, and a first engagement recess spaced apart from the first engagement projection. The second terminal module includes a second engagement face, a second engagement projection, and a second engagement recess spaced apart from the second engagement projection. The first support member is positioned with the first engagement surface facing the second engagement surface of the second support member. The first engaging convex portion engages with the second engaging concave portion, and the first engaging concave portion engages with the second engaging convex portion to fix the first terminal module and the second terminal module to each other.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, by way of example, illustrates the inventive concepts of the present invention.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention are disclosed below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of a USB receptacle connector according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B shows the USB receptacle connector of FIG. 1A, with the terminal module and the housing separated from each other;

FIG. 1C is an exploded view of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A shows the terminals and conductive plates of the USB receptacle connector of FIG. 1A prior to assembly;

FIG. 2B shows the terminals and conductive plates of the USB receptacle connector of FIG. 1A after assembly;

FIG. 2C is a right side view of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2D is a right side view of FIG. 2B;

FIG. 2E is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2F is a cross-sectional view taken along A-A of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2G is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 2F;

fig. 3A is an exploded top view illustrating a terminal module of the USB receptacle connector of fig. 1A;

fig. 3B is an exploded bottom view illustrating a terminal module of the USB receptacle connector of fig. 1A.

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate an assembly process of a terminal module of the USB receptacle connector of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 5A is a rear perspective view showing a USB plug connector according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a front perspective view of the USB plug connector shown in FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5C is an exploded view of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is an exploded view showing the terminals and plates of the USB plug connector of FIG. 5A;

fig. 6B is an exploded view of fig. 6A.

FIG. 6C is a perspective cross-sectional view of FIG. 6A taken along the direction B-B;

skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve the understanding of the embodiments.

Detailed Description

As shown in fig. 1A, 1B and 1C, the USB receptacle connector 100 includes a housing 110, first and second

terminal modules

130 and 120 disposed in the housing 110, and a conductive plate 140 disposed between the first and second

terminal modules

130 and 120. The support member 160 is molded to the plate 140. An electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield 150 surrounds and clamps the first and second

terminal modules

130 and 120 to each other. The first terminal module 130 includes a plurality of first terminals 132, and the first terminals 132 are fixed together by a first support part 134 insert-molded to the plurality of first terminals 132. The second terminal module 120 includes a plurality of second terminals 122, and the second terminals 122 are fixed together by a second support member 124 insert-molded to the plurality of second terminals 122.

The first terminal module 130 and the second terminal module 120 are positioned to face each other. First terminal module 130 is attached to first surface 140A of plate 140. The second terminal module 120 is attached to the opposite second surface 140B of the board 140.

As shown in fig. 2A to 2G, the first terminals 132 are arranged in parallel with each other. The first terminal 132 includes

first ground terminals

1322 and 1324 arranged at outermost positions and a first signal terminal 1326 between the

first ground terminals

1322, 1324. The first ground terminal 1322 has a first contact portion 1322A, the first contact portion 1322A protruding toward the board 140 and contacting the board 140. The first ground terminal 1324 has a first contact portion 1324A, and the first contact portion 1324A protrudes toward the board 140 and is in contact with the board 140.

The second terminals 122 are arranged in parallel with each other and with the first terminals 132. The second terminal 122 includes

second ground terminals

1222 and 1224 arranged at outermost positions and a second signal terminal 1226 between the

second ground terminals

1222, 1224. The

second ground terminals

1222 and 1224 each have a

second contact portion

1222A and 1224A, respectively, the

second contact portions

1222A and 1224A projecting toward the board 140 and contacting with the board 140. The first contact portion 1324A and the second contact portion 1224A are positioned along an alignment direction 146 that is perpendicular to the major plane 148 of the plate 140, as shown in fig. 2C.

In one embodiment, the plate 140 includes first and second contact arm pairs 142A, 142B, 144A, 144B positioned at respective opposite side portions of the plate 140 and oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction 140L of the plate 140. The

contact arms

142A and 144A extend outwardly from the first surface 140A of the plate 140 toward the

first ground terminals

1322, 1324. Contact

arms

142B and 144B extend outwardly from the second surface 140B of the plate 140 toward the

second ground terminals

1222, 1224.

As shown in fig. 2B and 2D, the

contact portions

1322A, 1324A of the

first ground terminals

1322, 1324 press the

first contact arms

142A, 144A toward the board 140. Likewise, the

contact portions

1222A, 1224A of the

second ground terminals

1222, 1224 press the

second contact arms

142B, 144B toward the board 140. The first and

second contact arms

142A, 142B, 144B are resiliently biased against the first and

second ground terminals

1322, 1324, 1222, 1224. Thus, the

first ground terminals

1322, 1324 are in electrical contact with the

second ground terminals

1222, 1224 through the plate 140. With the above structure and configuration, improved near-end crosstalk of signal integrity may be obtained in the electrical connector.

As shown in fig. 3A and 3B, the first support member 134 has a first engagement surface 1340. A pair of

protrusions

1344, 1345 extending from the first engagement face 1340 and a recess 1347 between the

protrusions

1344, 1345 are formed at one side of the first engagement face 1340. A pair of

recesses

1341, 1342 recessed into the first engagement face 1340 and a protrusion 1348 rising from the engagement face 1340 and positioned between the

recesses

1341, 1342 are formed at opposite sides of the first engagement face 1340.

The second support member 124 has a second engagement surface 1240. At one side of the second interface 1240 are formed a pair of

protrusions

1244, 1245 extending from the second interface 1240 and a recess 1247 between the

protrusions

1244, 1245. A pair of

recesses

1241, 1242 recessed into the interface 1240 and a protrusion 1248 rising from the second interface 1240 and positioned between the

recesses

1241, 1242 are formed at opposite sides of the second interface 1240.

The

protrusions

1344, 1345 and the

recesses

1341, 1342 of the first support member 134 are matched in shape and size to each other. The shape and size of the recess 1347 and the projection 1348 of the first support member 134 match each other. Similarly, the shapes and sizes of the

protrusions

1244, 1245 and

recesses

1241, 1242 of the second support member 124 match each other. The shape and size of the recess 1247 and the projection 1248 of the second support member 124 are matched with each other.

The second support member 124 is the same shape and size as the first terminal module 130 and may be made of the same mold. In particular, the

protrusions

1244, 1245 and the recesses 1247 of the second support member 124 have the same shape and size as the

protrusions

1344, 1345 and the recesses 1347 of the first support member 134, respectively. In addition, the

recesses

1241, 1242 and the protrusion 1248 of the second support member 124 have the same shape and size as the

recesses

1341, 1342 and the protrusion 1348 of the first support member 134, respectively.

The first terminal module 130 and the second terminal module 120 are positioned such that the first engagement face 130 and the second engagement face 120 face each other to sandwich the board 140 therebetween. The

protrusions

1344 and 1345 of the first support member 134 are fitted into the

recesses

1241 and 1242 of the second support member 124, respectively. The protrusion 1248 of the second support member 124 fits into the recess 1347 of the first support member 134. At the same time, the

protrusions

1244, 1245 of the second support member 124 are fitted into the

recesses

1341, 1342 of the first support member 134, respectively. The protrusion 1348 of the first support member 134 fits into the recess 1247 of the second support member 124.

Fig. 4A, 4B, and 4C illustrate a process of assembling the EMI shield 150 to the first and second

terminal modules

130 and 120. The EMI shield 150 is used to secure the first terminal module 130, the second terminal module 120, and the plate 140 together. The EMI shield 150 is a stamped metal component having a first end 152 and a second end 154. Prior to assembly to the first and second

terminal modules

134, 124, the EMI shield 150 is in the shape of an open ring having first and second ends 152, 154 spaced apart from one another to provide a wider interior space 156 to facilitate placement of the first and second

terminal modules

134, 124 and the plate 140 therein.

After the first terminal module 134, the plate 140, and the second terminal module 124 are assembled into the scoop 156 of the EMI shield 150, the first end 152 and the second end 154 are connected together, as shown in fig. 4C, to form a closed loop to tightly clamp the first terminal module 134, the plate 140, and the second terminal module 124 together.

Fig. 5A to 5C show a USB plug connector 500 according to one embodiment of the present invention that can be mated with a USB receptacle connector as described above. The USB plug connector 500 includes a housing 550, a first terminal module 530 and a second terminal module 520 provided in the housing 550, and a board 540 provided between the first terminal module 530 and the second terminal module 520. A PCB560 is provided at the rear of the housing 550, and the board 140 and the terminals of the first and second

terminal modules

530 and 520 are mounted and electrically connected to the PCB 560. The cover 510 is attached to the rear of the housing 550 and surrounds the PCB 560. The first terminal module 530 has first terminals 532 and first support parts 534 fixed to the first terminals 532 by, for example, insert molding. The second terminal module 520 has second terminals 522 and a second support member 524 fixed to the second terminals 522 by, for example, insert molding.

As shown in fig. 6A, 6B, and 6C, the first terminal 532 includes

first ground terminals

5322 and 5324 disposed at outermost positions and a first signal and power terminal 5326 between the

first ground terminals

5322, 5324. Each

ground terminal

5322, 5324 has a

first contact arm

5322A, 5324A extending towards the plate 540.

The second terminals 522 include

second ground terminals

5222 and 5224 disposed at the outermost positions and a second signal and power supply terminal 5226 between the

second ground terminals

5222, 5224. Each

second ground terminal

5222, 5224 has a

second contact arm

5222A, 5224A extending toward the board 140.

The first terminal module 530 is attached to a first surface 540A of the plate 540. The second terminal module 520 is attached to the opposite second surface 540B of the board 540. The

first contact arms

5322A, 5324A and the second contact arms and 5222A, 5224A are resiliently biased against the first surface 540A and the second surface 540B, respectively, of the biasing plate 540. Thus, the

first ground terminals

5322, 5324 and the

second ground terminals

5222, 5224 are brought into electrical contact with the board 540, thereby being electrically connected to each other.

While exemplary embodiments have been presented in the foregoing detailed description of the invention, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. For example, one skilled in the art will recognize from the teachings herein that the present techniques may also be applied to other electrical devices to reduce electromagnetic interference when grounded.

It should be further appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, operation, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the invention; it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, comprising:

a housing;

a first terminal module disposed within the housing, the first terminal module including a first ground terminal and a plurality of first signal terminals;

a second terminal module disposed within the housing, the second terminal module including a second ground terminal and a plurality of second signal terminals;

a plate disposed between the first and second terminal modules, the plate including a first contact arm extending toward the first ground terminal and a second contact arm extending toward the second ground terminal;

wherein the plate is in electrical contact with the first ground terminal and the second ground terminal;

wherein the first ground terminal has a first contact portion projecting toward the board and electrically contacting the board, and the second ground terminal has a second contact portion projecting toward the board and electrically contacting the board;

wherein the contact portion of the first ground terminal presses the first contact arm toward the plate, the contact portion of the second ground terminal presses the second contact arm toward the plate, the first and second contact arms are resiliently deflected against the first and second ground terminals such that the first ground terminal is in electrical contact with the second ground terminal through the plate.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the first and second contact portions are positioned along an alignment direction that is perpendicular to a major plane of the board.

3. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the first and second contact arms are resiliently biased to bias the first and second contact portions, respectively.

4. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the first terminal module includes a first support member secured to the first ground terminal and the first signal terminal, the second terminal module includes a second support member secured to the second ground terminal and the second signal terminal, wherein the first support member is attached to a first surface of the board and the second support member is attached to a second surface of the board.

5. The electrical connector of claim 4, wherein the first terminal module includes a first engagement face, a first engagement projection, and a first engagement recess spaced apart from the first engagement projection; the second terminal module includes a second engagement face, a second engagement projection, and a second engagement recess spaced apart from the second engagement projection, wherein the first support member is positioned with the first engagement face facing the second engagement face of the second support member, the first engagement projection is engaged with the second engagement recess, and the first engagement recess is engaged with the second engagement projection.

6. The electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising an electromagnetic interference shield surrounding and securing the first and second terminal modules to each other, wherein the electromagnetic interference shield has a first end and a second end that are connected together to form a ring to secure the first and second terminal modules to each other.

7. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the first contact portion is in contact with a first surface of the board and the second contact portion is in contact with a second surface of the board.

8. The electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising a support member molded onto the plate and shielded from the first signal terminal, first ground terminal, second signal terminal and second ground terminal front ends.

9. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the first and second contact arms are aligned along a long axis of the board.

10. An electrical connector, comprising:

a housing;

a first terminal module disposed within the housing, the first terminal module including a plurality of first terminals secured together by a first support component, the first support component including a base and a tongue;

a second terminal module disposed within the housing, the second terminal module including a plurality of second terminals secured together by a second support member, the second support member including a base and a tongue; and

an electromagnetic interference shield disposed around the first and second terminal modules,

wherein the EMI shield has a first end and a second end connected together to form a loop around the tongue portions of the first and second support members to secure the first and second terminal modules to each other, and further comprising a rear portion extending over a surface of the base portions of the first and second support members.

11. The electrical connector of claim 10, further comprising a plate disposed between the first and second terminal modules, wherein the plate is in electrical contact with the ground terminals of the first terminal module and the ground terminals of the second terminal module.

12. An electrical connector, comprising:

a housing;

a first support member and a first terminal group fixed to the first support member, the first support member having a first engagement face, a first engagement projection, and a first engagement recess located spaced apart from the first engagement projection;

a second support member and a second terminal group fixed to the second support member, the second support member having a second engagement face, a second engagement convex portion and a second engagement concave portion located apart from the second engagement convex portion, and

an EMI shield positioned around and securing the first terminal set and the second terminal set, wherein the EMI shield is a ring-shaped member having an opening prior to assembly,

wherein the first support member is positioned with the first engagement surface facing the second engagement surface of the second support member, the first engagement convex portion is engaged with the second engagement concave portion, and the first engagement concave portion is engaged with the second engagement convex portion,

wherein the first support member and the second support member have the same shape and size and can be made from the same mold.

13. The electrical connector of claim 12, further comprising a plate disposed between the first support member and the second support member, wherein the plate is in electrical contact with the ground terminals of the first terminal set and the ground terminals of the second terminal set.