CN116865052A - Electrical connector capable of detecting pulling-out action - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is an electric connector capable of detecting the pulling-out action, which is mainly characterized in that an electronic switch element is additionally arranged outside a male end connector and is electrically connected with a circuit board in the male end connector, and then the male end connector and the electronic switch element are partially covered by an external mold colloid; therefore, when the male connector is to be pulled out, a user can simultaneously contact the triggering part of the electronic switch element exposed on the outer mold colloid, and the circuit board in the male connector detects the pulling-out action of the user, so as to generate a power-off signal to a system power supply (such as a transformer or an electronic device) to ensure that the system power supply is disconnected before the male connector is pulled out, and avoid spark generation.

Description

Electrical connector capable of detecting pulling-out action

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly, to an electrical connector capable of detecting a pulling-out operation.

Background

At present, the electric connector also supports a power supply function besides data transmission, taking a Type-C male connector as an example, and a CC terminal of the electric connector is used as a power supply detection terminal; because the sizes and the positions of the plurality of terminals of the electric connector are standard, the front ends of the CC terminals are shorter than the front ends of the power terminals (VBUS and GND) in order to consider the power supply safety, so that the power terminals of the male and female connectors are contacted before the corresponding CC terminals of the male and female connectors are contacted; if the male end electric connector is a power supply party, the CC terminal detects that the male end electric connector is contacted with the CC terminal of the female end connector, and then the power supply is output to the power supply terminals (VBUS and GND). On the contrary, if the male connector is pulled out from the female connector, the corresponding CC terminals of the male connector and the female connector are disconnected from the power terminals, so that after the CC terminals detect that the CC terminals are disconnected from the power terminals, the output of power to the power terminals is stopped, that is, the power supply is interrupted before the power terminals of the male connector and the female connector are disconnected from the power terminals, so as to ensure the power supply safety.

However, because the front end of the CC terminal is not far enough from the front end of the power terminal at present, in the process of pulling out the male connector, the time for disconnecting the corresponding CC terminal of the male connector from the power terminal of the male connector and the power terminal of the female connector is too short, and the power output is not interrupted before the power terminals of the male connector and the female connector are disconnected, so that sparks (electric arcs) are generated at the moment of disconnecting the power terminals of the male connector and the female connector, and the sparks are oxidized, so that the impedance is increased or colloid is melted, and the electric connector is damaged; therefore, there is a need to improve existing electrical connectors to avoid spark generation when the male connector is pulled out.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the damage caused by the charging of the male connector, the present invention is directed to an electrical connector capable of detecting the pulling-out operation, so as to solve the unsafe charging problem of the male connector.

The main technical means for achieving the above purpose is to make the electrical connector comprise:

the male connector comprises a shell, a plug and a circuit board; the plug is fixed in the shell, protrudes from the front end opening of the shell and is electrically connected to the circuit board accommodated in the shell;

the electronic switch element is arranged on the shell of the male connector and is provided with a trigger part, and the electronic switch element is electrically connected with the circuit board of the male connector and forms a detection loop with the circuit board; and

an outer mold body partially covering the male connector and the electronic switch element; the plug of the male connector and the triggering part of the electronic switch element are exposed from the outer mold glue body.

As can be seen from the above description, the present invention mainly adds an electronic switching element outside the male connector, and is electrically connected to the circuit board in the male connector, and the male connector and the electronic switching element are partially covered by the molding compound to form an independent electrical connector; therefore, when the male connector is pulled out of the female connector, a user can contact the triggering part of the electronic switch element exposed on the outer mold colloid, the action of pulling out the male connector by the user is detected in advance by the circuit board in the male connector, and a power-off signal can be generated to a system power supply (such as a transformer or an electronic device) in advance according to the action, so that the system power supply is disconnected in time before the plug of the male connector is pulled out of the female connector, and dangerous situations such as spark and the like are effectively avoided.

For a better understanding of the above and other aspects of the invention, reference will now be made in detail to the following examples, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but are not intended to limit the invention.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an electrical connector according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of fig. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the line A-A of FIG. 1.

Fig. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the B-B cutting line of fig. 1.

Fig. 4B is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation of the electrical connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of a detection circuit of FIG. 1.

Fig. 5B is a schematic diagram of a detection circuit of another embodiment of the electrical connector of the present invention.

Fig. 5C is a schematic diagram of a detection circuit of another embodiment of the electrical connector of the present invention.

Wherein, the reference numerals:

1 electric connector 10 male connector

20 casing 21 front opening

22 top surface 23 side

30 plug connector 31 metal shell

311 rear 312 front

313:32:terminal insulation base

321, slot 33, terminal

34 circuit board 341 electrical connection portion

342. 342a, 342b of the detection circuit 40, insulation base

401 horizontal part 402 vertical part

42 conductive member 421 first connecting portion

422 second connection portion 50 electronic switching element

51 key 511, peripheral edge

512 central pillar 513 conductive bottom

52, fixing seat 521, opening

54, light emitting portion 55, light receiving portion

56 induction electrode 60, outer mold colloid

61 top surface

Detailed Description

The invention aims at improving the electric connector, is helpful for avoiding dangerous situations such as sparks and the like, and the technical content is fully described by a plurality of embodiments in cooperation with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, an embodiment of an electrical connector 1 capable of detecting a pulling-out operation of the present invention includes a male connector 10, an electronic switch element 50 and an molding compound 60; the electronic switch element 50 is disposed outside the male connector 10, and the external mold body 60 partially encapsulates the male connector 10 and the electronic switch element 50 together to form an independent electrical connector 1.

The male connector 10 includes a housing 20, a plug 30, and a circuit board 34; wherein the housing 20 has a front opening 21; the plug 30 is fixed in the housing 20 and protrudes from the front opening 21 of the housing 20; the circuit board 34 is fixed in the shell 20 and is electrically connected with the plug connector 30 positioned in front of the circuit board; in this embodiment, the housing 20 is a metal housing; referring to fig. 3, the plug 30 includes a metal housing 31, a terminal insulator 32 and a plurality of terminals 33; wherein a rear portion 311 of the metal shell 31 is fixed in the housing 20, can be engaged with the circuit board 34, and is covered by the molding compound 60 at the junction with the front opening 21 of the housing 20, and a front portion 312 of the metal shell 31 is exposed out of the molding compound 60; the terminal insulator 32 is fixed in the metal housing 31, and has a front end with a slot 321 formed therein for the terminals 33 to be respectively arranged on the inner top surface and the inner bottom surface of the slot 321 of the terminal insulator 32, and the rear ends of the terminals 33 penetrate out of the terminal insulator 32 to be soldered on the circuit board 34.

The electronic switch element 50 is disposed on the housing 20 of the male connector 10 and has a trigger portion, and the electronic switch element 50 is electrically connected to the circuit board 34 of the male connector 10 and forms a detection loop with the circuit board 34. In the present embodiment, the electrical connector 1 further includes an insulating base 40 and two conductive members 42; the insulating base 40 is disposed outside the housing 20 of the male connector 10, and the two conductive members 42 are disposed on the insulating base 40 at intervals to electrically connect with the circuit board 34 of the male connector 10 and the electronic switching element 50. In this embodiment, the electronic switch element 50 is a physical key, and includes a fixing base 52 and a key portion 51, wherein the fixing base 52 is fixed on the insulating base 40, a space is kept between the fixing base 52 and the insulating base 40, and an opening 521 is formed, the opening 521 is not covered by the molding compound 60, the periphery 511 of the key portion 51 is sandwiched between the fixing base 52 and the insulating base 40, a central column 512 passes through the opening 521 of the fixing base 52, and the central column 512 has a conductive bottom 513 corresponding to the two conductive members 42 as a triggering portion of the electronic switch element 50, as shown in fig. 4A; the central column 512 moves within the space to contact or not contact the two conductive members 42. When the central column 512 moves downward to make the conductive bottom 513 contact the two conductive members 42, as shown in fig. 5A, the electronic switch element 50 and the circuit board 34 form the detection loop 342, i.e. the circuit board 34 can determine whether the physical key is pressed by detecting whether the loop is formed or not. In another embodiment, the central pillar may also be a conductive body, and the bottom thereof is the conductive bottom, but not limited thereto.

Referring to fig. 3, the molding compound 60 partially encapsulates the male connector 10 and the electronic switching element 50; the plug 30 of the male connector 10 and the triggering portion of the electronic switch element 50 are exposed from the molding compound 60. In the present embodiment, the opening 521 of the fixing base 52 and the central column 512 of the key portion 51 of the physical key are exposed from the molding compound 60 for being pressed by a user.

As shown in fig. 2 and 4, two electrical connection portions 341 are formed on opposite sides of the circuit board 34 facing the opposite sides 23 of the housing 20, and the two electrical connection portions 341 respectively penetrate out of the rear half portions of the opposite sides 23 of the housing 20; the insulating base 40 is in a U-shape, so it includes a horizontal portion 401 and two vertical portions 402 integrally formed; the horizontal portion 401 is disposed on the top surface 22 of the housing 20, and the two vertical portions 402 are respectively disposed on the front half portions of the two opposite sides 23 of the housing 20, and do not interfere with the electrical connection portions 341 of the two opposite sides of the circuit board 34 penetrating out of the housing 20; each conductive member 42 includes a first electrical connection portion 421 and a second electrical connection portion 422, wherein the first electrical connection portion 421 is fixed on the horizontal portion 401 of the insulating base 40 so as to face the electronic switch element 50, and therefore the triggering portion of the electronic switch element 50 is exposed from the top surface 61 of the molding compound 60; the second electrical connection portion 422 integrally extends downward from the first electrical connection portion 421 into the corresponding vertical portion 402 of the insulating base 40, and then extends rearward out of the rear end of the vertical portion 402 to be soldered to the corresponding electrical connection portion 341 of the circuit board 34.

As can be seen from the above-mentioned embodiment of the electrical connector 1 capable of detecting the pulling-out operation, the plug 30 of the male connector 10 is inserted into the corresponding female connector for data transmission and charging, and the electronic switch element 50 is disposed outside the housing 20 of the male connector 10 and does not overlap with the plug 30, so as to ensure that the plug 30 is successfully plugged into the female connector. Moreover, since the user pulls out the male connector 10 from the female connector, the user first grabs the molding compound 60 with his/her finger, and only presses the key portion 51 of the physical key exposed out of the molding compound 60 with his/her finger at the same time, so that the conductive bottom 513 of the bottom contacts the two conductive members 42 simultaneously, and forms a detection circuit with the circuit board 34, the male connector 10 can immediately determine that the physical key is pressed by the detection circuit to indicate that the user will pull out the male connector 10, so that the circuit board 34 can generate a power-off signal as soon as possible and notify a system power source (such as a transformer or an electronic device), and disconnect the system power source before the plug 30 of the male connector 10 is pulled out from the female connector, thereby effectively avoiding dangerous situations such as spark caused by too short terminal interval in the plug.

Referring to fig. 5B, a schematic diagram of a detection circuit 342 of another embodiment of the electrical connector of the present invention is shown; in this embodiment, the electronic switch element 50 is an optical sensor, and the circuit board 34 provides the working power of the optical sensor through the two conductive members, so that a light emitting portion 54 thereof continuously emits detection light to a light receiving portion 55 thereof, and forms a detection loop 342a with the circuit board; the path of the detection light is the triggering part of the electronic switch element 50, and since the triggering part is exposed out of the molding compound, the user can also intercept the path of the detection light with a finger, so that the light receiving part 55 no longer receives the detection light, and at the moment, the detection circuit 342a is formed with the circuit board 34; thus, the circuit board 34 can also detect the pulling-out operation of the user by turning on/off the detection circuit 342 a.

Referring to fig. 5C, a schematic diagram of a detection circuit of another embodiment of the electrical connector of the present invention is shown; in the present embodiment, the electronic switching element 50 is an electrostatic switch, and the circuit board 34 forms a detection loop 342b, the electrostatic switch has a sensing electrode 56, and the sensing electrode 56 is used as a triggering portion of the electronic switching element 50; since the trigger portion is exposed to the molding compound, the sensing electrode 56 is also exposed to the molding compound for the user to touch with the finger, and the capacitance of the sensing electrode 56 is changed by the finger, the circuit board 34 can determine whether the capacitance is greater or less through the detecting circuit 342b, so as to detect the pulling-out action of the user.

The above-mentioned physical keys, optical sensor and electrostatic switch are used as electronic switch elements, and the electronic switch elements of the present invention are not limited to these examples in order to provide a practical way for detecting the pulling and actuating of the fingers of the user.

In summary, the electronic switch element is added outside the male connector and electrically connected with the circuit board in the male connector, and the male connector and the electronic switch element are partially covered by the molding compound to form an independent electrical connector; therefore, when the male connector is pulled out of the female connector, a user can simultaneously contact the trigger part of the electronic switch element exposed on the outer mold colloid, the action of pulling out the male connector by the user is detected by the circuit board in the male connector, and a power-off signal can be generated to a system power supply (such as a transformer or an electronic device) in advance according to the action, so that the system power supply can be disconnected before the plug of the male connector is pulled out of the female connector, and dangerous situations such as sparks and the like caused by too short terminal intervals in the plug are effectively avoided.

The foregoing description is only illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention, but is not to be construed as limiting the invention, and any and all simple modifications, equivalent variations and adaptations of the foregoing embodiments, which are within the scope of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (8)

1. An electrical connector capable of detecting a pulling-out action, comprising:

the male connector comprises a shell, a plug and a circuit board; the plug is fixed in the shell, protrudes from the front end opening of the shell and is electrically connected to the circuit board accommodated in the shell;

the electronic switch element is arranged on the shell of the male connector and is provided with a trigger part, and the electronic switch element is electrically connected with the circuit board of the male connector and forms a detection loop with the circuit board; and

an outer mold body partially covering the male connector and the electronic switch element; the plug of the male connector and the triggering part of the electronic switch element are exposed from the outer mold glue body.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the over-molding compound further comprises:

the insulation seat is arranged outside the shell of the male end connector; and

the two conductive pieces are arranged on the insulating base at intervals and are electrically connected with the circuit board of the male end connector and the electronic switch element.

3. The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein the electronic switching element is a physical key comprising:

the fixing seat is fixed on the insulating seat, a space is kept between the fixing seat and the insulating seat, an opening is formed, and the opening is not covered by the outer mold colloid; and

a key part comprising a periphery and a central column; the periphery is clamped between the fixed seat and the insulating seat, the central column penetrates through the opening of the fixed seat, the central column is provided with a conductive bottom corresponding to the two conductive pieces, and the key part is used as a triggering part of the electronic switch element; the conductive bottom of the central column moves in the space to contact or not contact the two conductive pieces; wherein when contacting the two conductive members, a detection loop is formed with the circuit board.

4. The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein the electronic switch element is an optical sensor, and the circuit board provides the optical sensor with the working power through the two conductive members, so that a light emitting part of the circuit board continuously emits detection light to a light receiving part of the circuit board to form a detection loop with the circuit board; the path of the detection light is the triggering part of the electronic switch element.

5. The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein the electronic switching element is an electrostatic switch, and wherein an inductor thereof is a trigger portion of the electronic switching element.

6. The electrical connector of any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein:

two opposite sides of the circuit board outwards form two electric connection parts towards the two opposite sides of the shell, and the two electric connection parts respectively penetrate out of the rear half parts of the two opposite sides;

the insulation seat is shaped like a U, and comprises:

a horizontal part arranged on the top surface of the shell; and

two vertical parts respectively arranged at the front half parts of the two opposite sides of the shell;

each of the conductive members includes:

the first electric connection part is fixed on the horizontal part of the insulating seat so as to be opposite to the electronic switch element; and

the second electric connection part integrally extends downwards from the first electric connection part to penetrate into the corresponding vertical part of the insulating seat and then extends backwards to penetrate out of the rear end of the vertical part so as to be electrically connected to the corresponding electric connection part of the circuit board; and

the triggering part of the electronic switch element is exposed from the top surface of the outer mold colloid.

7. The electrical connector of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein:

the shell is a metal shell; and

the plug comprises:

the rear part of the metal shell is fixed in the metal shell, the junction with the front end opening of the metal shell is covered by the outer die colloid, and the front part of the metal shell is exposed outside the outer die colloid;

a terminal insulating base fixed in the metal shell, a front end of which forms a slot backwards; and

and the terminals are respectively arranged on the grooved inner top surface and the grooved inner bottom surface of the terminal insulating seat in parallel, and the rear ends of the terminals penetrate out of the terminal insulating seat backwards so as to be welded on the circuit board.

8. The electrical connector of claim 6, wherein:

the shell is a metal shell; and

the plug comprises:

the rear part of the metal shell is fixed in the metal shell, the junction with the front end opening of the metal shell is covered by the outer die colloid, and the front part of the metal shell is exposed outside the outer die colloid;

a terminal insulating base fixed in the metal shell, a front end of which forms a slot backwards; and

and the terminals are respectively arranged on the inner top surface and the inner bottom surface of the groove of the terminal insulating seat in parallel.