CN217903496U - Ultrathin self-shorting connector insert and corresponding connector assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The application discloses an ultra-thin self-shorting connector ferrule and a corresponding connector assembly. A self-shorting connector ferrule according to the present application, comprising: an insulating core including a plurality of terminal holes; the self-short-circuit plug-in terminal comprises a plurality of plug-in terminals, wherein the plug-in terminals are arranged in corresponding terminal hole positions of the insulating core body, the plug-in terminals comprise first-type plug-in terminals, each first-type plug-in terminal comprises a wiring base part, a plug-in part and side leg structures, the self-short-circuit plug-in terminal spaces are symmetrically arranged in two rows of hole positions of the insulating core body to form one or more terminal pairs, two side leg structures of each terminal pair face each other and are in contact, self-short-circuit spaces are respectively arranged between every two pairs of terminal hole positions of the first-type plug-in terminals of the insulating core body, each self-short-circuit space is used for accommodating paired side leg structures of a pair of terminals, and an opening structure for inserting a self-short-circuit releasing structure of a paired connector plug core is arranged at the bottom of the self-short-circuit space.

Description

Ultrathin self-shorting connector ferrule and corresponding connector assembly

Technical Field

The present application relates to electrical connection apparatus, and more particularly to an ultra-thin self-shorting connector ferrule and corresponding connector assembly having a novel construction.

Background

In some electrical connection applications, at least some of the bits of a multi-bit connector (each "bit" corresponding to a terminal mounting location, sometimes referred to as "multi-way" or "multi-core") are required to have a self-shorting function to enhance system safety, such connectors being commonly referred to as "self-shorting connectors". Generally, when the self-short circuit connector is in an unplugged state, the short circuit mechanism works to short-circuit the contact (electrical contact) and the housing in the connector, that is, in a self-short circuit state; after the short-circuit connector and the mating connector are plugged, the short-circuit state caused by the short-circuit mechanism is automatically released, and the normal connection state is recovered.

The conventional self-shorting connector uses a shorting mechanism separate from the jack terminal, and thus requires the self-shorting connector to reserve a mounting space for both the jack terminal and the shorting mechanism in the width direction, which poses a challenge to the design of an ultra-thin connector.

Disclosure of Invention

The present application proposes a self-shorting connector of a novel construction that uses a novel terminal developed by the applicant to achieve self-shorting in the unplugged state and short-circuit relief in the plugged state without the need for a separate shorting mechanism.

The self-shorting connector provided by the application can also support mixed installation and anti-reverse installation of the self-shorting terminal and the non-self-shorting terminal.

According to one aspect of the application, a self-shorting connector ferrule is provided, comprising: the insulating core body comprises a plurality of terminal hole sites, and the terminal hole sites are arranged in two rows along the width direction of the connector ferrule; the self-short-circuit plug-in terminal comprises a plurality of plug-in terminals, wherein the plug-in terminals comprise a first type plug-in terminal, the first type plug-in terminal is a self-short-circuit plug-in terminal, the self-short-circuit plug-in terminal comprises a wiring base part, a plug-in part and side leg structures, the self-short-circuit plug-in terminals are arranged in two rows of hole sites of the insulating core body in a space-symmetrical mode to form one or more self-short-circuit plug-in terminal pairs, the side leg structures of two self-short-circuit plug-in terminals in each self-short-circuit plug-in terminal pair face to face and are in contact with each other, a self-short-circuit space is arranged between the terminal hole sites of each pair of first type plug-in terminals of the insulating core body, each self-short circuit space is used for accommodating the paired side leg structures of the self-short-circuit plug-in terminals, and an opening structure for inserting the self-short circuit releasing structure of the paired connector plug core is arranged at the bottom of the self-short circuit space.

In an implementation manner of the self-shorting connector ferrule, the insertion portion is connected with the connection base portion and extends outward from the connection base portion, the side leg structure is connected with the connection base portion and extends out from the connection base portion, and an extending direction of the side leg structure is substantially parallel to an extending direction of the insertion portion.

In the foregoing implementation manner of the self-short-circuit connector ferrule, the self-short-circuit plugging terminal is a female terminal or a male terminal.

In an implementation manner of the self-short-circuit connector ferrule, the plurality of plugging terminals further include a second-type plugging terminal, and the second-type plugging terminal does not have a side leg structure of the self-short-circuit plugging terminal.

In an implementation manner of the self-short-circuit connector ferrule, the second type mating terminal and the first type mating terminal have the same mating part structure, but do not have the side leg structure of the first type mating terminal.

In an implementation manner of the self-short-circuit connector ferrule, the plurality of plugging terminals further include a third-type plugging terminal, the third-type plugging terminal does not have a side leg structure of the self-short-circuit plugging terminal, and at least one of sizes and plugging polarities of the third-type plugging terminal and the second-type plugging terminal is different.

In an implementation manner of the self-short-circuit connector ferrule, the plurality of plugging terminals further include a third-type plugging terminal, the third-type plugging terminal does not have a side leg structure of the self-short-circuit plugging terminal, and at least one of sizes and plugging polarities of the third-type plugging terminal and the first-type plugging terminal is different.

In the above implementation manner of the self-shorting connector ferrule, further, the opening structure is a slot.

According to an aspect of the present application, there is provided a self-shorting connector ferrule, comprising: an insulating core including a plurality of terminal hole sites; the self-short-circuit plug-in terminals comprise a plurality of plug-in terminals and a plurality of side leg structures, wherein the plurality of plug-in terminals comprise first type plug-in terminals, the first type plug-in terminals are self-short-circuit plug-in terminals, each self-short-circuit plug-in terminal comprises a wiring base part, a plug-in part and a side leg structure, the self-short-circuit plug-in terminals are symmetrically arranged in two rows of hole positions of the insulating core body in a space mode to form one or more self-short-circuit plug-in terminal pairs, the side leg structures of two self-short-circuit plug-in terminals in each self-short-circuit plug-in terminal pair face each other and are in contact with each other, the plurality of plug-in terminals further comprise second type plug-in terminals, the second type plug-in terminals do not have the side leg structures of the self-short-circuit plug-in terminals, self-short-circuit spaces are arranged between the terminal hole positions of each pair of first type plug-in the insulating core body, each self-short-circuit space is used for accommodating the side leg structures of one pair of self-short-circuit plug-in the insulating core body, and anti-reverse hole position ribs are arranged in the second spaces.

In the above implementation manner of the self-short-circuit connector ferrule, further, the anti-reverse-installation rib forms interference with a side leg structure of the self-short-circuit plugging terminal inserted into the second space.

In an implementation manner of the self-shorting connector ferrule, further, in the insulating core, the terminal hole sites of the second type plug terminals are arranged at the same horizontal and longitudinal intervals as those of the terminal hole sites of the first type plug terminals.

In an implementation manner of the self-shorting connector ferrule, the second type of mating terminal and the first type of mating terminal have the same structure and size of the mating part and/or the mating base.

According to one aspect of the present application, there is provided a self-shorting connector assembly comprising: a first connector ferrule that is the aforementioned self-shorting connector ferrule; a second connector ferrule mated with the first connector ferrule.

In an implementation manner of the self-short-circuit connector assembly, the second connector ferrule is provided with a self-short-circuit removing structure, and the self-short-circuit removing structure is an insulating barrier corresponding to the opening structure of the first connector ferrule.

In the above-mentioned implementation manner of the self-shorting connector assembly, further, the insulating barrier comprises a boss structure and an insertion guide part formed at the top of the boss structure, and the insertion guide part is shaped to be inserted into the side leg structures of two adjacent self-shorting female-end pins.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a connector kit including a self-shorting female end ferrule and a mating male end ferrule according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the self-shorting female end ferrule shown in fig. 1.

Figure 3A is a perspective view of the self-shorting female end ferrule shown in figure 1.

Figure 3B is a top view of the self-shorting female end ferrule shown in figure 1.

Figure 3C is a schematic view of a localized area of the self-shorting female end ferrule shown in figure 1 containing a self-shorting 6 core.

Fig. 3D is another side view of the localized area shown in fig. 3C.

Fig. 4A is a perspective view of the male end ferrule shown in fig. 1.

Figure 4B is a top view of the male end ferrule shown in figure 1.

Fig. 4C is a schematic view of a partial region of a self-shorted 6 core of the male-end ferrule shown in fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a connector assembly including a self-shorting female end ferrule and a mating male end ferrule according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the self-shorting female end ferrule shown in fig. 5.

Figure 7A is a perspective view of the self-shorting female end ferrule shown in figure 5.

Figure 7B is a top view of the self-shorting female end ferrule shown in figure 5.

Figure 7C is a schematic view of a partial region of the self-shorting female end ferrule shown in figure 5 containing a plain 6 core.

Figure 7D is another angular view of the view of figure 7C showing an anti-back-up arrangement provided in a localized area of the insulating core of the self-shorting female stub other than the mounting location of the self-shorting female stub.

Fig. 8A is a perspective view of the male end ferrule shown in fig. 5.

Fig. 8B is a top view of the male end ferrule shown in fig. 5.

Fig. 8C is a schematic view of a partial region of the self-shorting 6 core of the male-end ferrule shown in fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a self-shorting female pin used in an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 10 is a schematic view of the assembled relationship of a self-shorting female terminal pin and spring and push block used in an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of a non-self-shorting female pin used in an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram of a male pin used in an embodiment of the present application.

Some of the reference numbers:

1. spring push block

2. Cover for portable electronic device

3. Spring

5. Male end contact pin

6. Fixing piece

7. Insulating core

8. Grounding screw

9. Grounding connecting strip

20. Self-short circuit female terminal contact pin

210. Wiring base

211. Substrate

212. A first wall

213. The second wall

220. Plug-in part

230. Side leg structure

235. Short-circuit arc part

236. Tail hook

40. Non-self-short-circuit female-end contact pin

50. Male end contact pin

1710. Self-short-circuited space

1720. Insulating wall

1730. Narrow slot

2730. Insulating barrier

2735. Insertion guide

3710. Second space

3715. Anti-reverse rib

Detailed Description

In the following description, the invention is described with reference to various embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the embodiments may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other alternative and/or additional methods, materials, or components. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of embodiments of the invention. Similarly, for purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced without specific details. Further, it should be understood that the embodiments shown in the figures are illustrative representations and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, several configurations of the jack terminal involved in several embodiments of the present application will be described.

One type of mating terminal used in embodiments of the present application is a self-shorting female terminal pin, and fig. 9 is an exemplary schematic diagram of such a self-shorting female terminal pin. Specifically, fig. 9 shows a self-shorting female terminal pin 20, which may be a structure of a metal sheet subjected to multiple bending processes, and includes a base connection portion 210 and a plug connection portion 220, where the base connection portion 210 and the plug connection portion 220 are connected. In fig. 9, the insertion part 220 is configured to extend along the insertion direction (wire feeding direction) of the terminal. The wiring base 210 is configured as a frame body formed of a base sheet 211 and first and second walls 212 and 213 at both ends thereof. A leg structure 230 is connected to the first wall 212 at one end of the substrate 211 and extends from the first wall 212. The extension direction of the leg structure 230 and the extension direction of the mating part 220 are substantially parallel, i.e. extend along the mating direction of the mating terminal. Fig. 10 is a schematic view showing the assembly of the self-shorting female terminal pin 20 in combination with the spring 3 and the spring pusher 1. As will be understood from fig. 2 and 10, the restoring force of the spring 3 for pressing the wire can clamp the wire located in the space of the wiring base 210. When the wire needs to be withdrawn, the spring pushing block 1 is pushed downwards by a tool, so that the spring 3 is deformed, and the wire clamping arm of the spring 3 is unlocked.

Additional features that may be provided by the self-shorting female terminal pin 20 for the purposes of the present application are described in the applicant's filed and published patent application CN214068948U, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Another type of jack terminal used in some embodiments of the present application is a non self-shorting female terminal pin, and fig. 11 is an exemplary schematic diagram of such a non self-shorting female terminal pin. Specifically, fig. 11 shows a non-self-shorting female terminal pin 40, which is mainly different from the self-shorting female terminal pin 20 of fig. 9 in that it does not have a special leg structure of the latter, so that two non-self-shorting female terminal pins 40 mounted in pair cannot realize self-shorting contact by means of their own structures. Other features than the self-shorting female terminal pin 40 (including the front mating portion and the rear wire clamping portion) may be the same as or different from the self-shorting female terminal pin 20, except that they do not have special leg structures, and this aspect is not intended to limit the present application.

Another type of jack terminal used in embodiments of the present application is a male pin, and fig. 12 is an exemplary schematic view of such a male pin. Specifically, fig. 12 shows a male pin 50 having a male portion in the form of a pin that is received in a female portion of a mating female pin. The other structural portions of the male terminal pin 50 (i.e., its rear wire-clamping portion) may be the same as or different from the self-shorting female terminal pin 20, except for the configuration of the mating portion, which does not limit the present application.

Next, embodiments of the present application are described with respect to an ultra-thin self-shorting connector. In the present application, the connector ferrule is mainly described. It should be appreciated that the connector insert is a modular connector member known in the art and may be mounted on a panel or further mounted in a connector housing depending on the application.

First embodiment

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a connector assembly including a self-shorting female end ferrule and a mating male end ferrule according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the connector assembly includes a self-shorting female end ferrule 100 and a mating male end ferrule 200. As shown in fig. 1, the female-end ferrule 100 can be loaded with two rows and sixteen columns of terminals, the corresponding position of the male-end ferrule 200 can be loaded with two rows and sixteen columns of mating terminals, and when the molded housing parts of the self-short-circuited female-end ferrule 100 and the male-end ferrule 200 are plugged together, the terminals assembled respectively are plugged together in a one-to-one correspondence manner, so as to establish a conductive connection. It should be noted that the reference to the ferrule 100 as a "female-end ferrule" is merely a nomenclature agreed upon in the context of the present application intended to make it more distinguishable in name from the mating ferrule 200 (e.g., the ferrule 100 is also referred to as a "female end" in view of the self-shorting female-end pin 20 shown in fig. 9 being mounted in the insulative core 7 thereof), but the nomenclature itself is not intended to impose any constructional limitations on the ferrule 100.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the self-shorting female end ferrule 100 shown in fig. 1. As shown in fig. 1, the female-end ferrule 100 includes the following components: spring ejector pad 1, lid 2, spring 3, from female end contact pin 40 of short circuit, public end contact pin 50, mounting 6, insulating core 7, ground screw 8, ground connection strip 9.

Figure 3A is another perspective view of the self-shorting female end ferrule 100 shown in figure 1; figure 3B is a top view of the self-shorting female end ferrule 100 shown in figure 1; fig. 3C is a schematic view of a localized area of the self-shorting female end ferrule 100 shown in fig. 1 containing a non-self-shorting 6 core, and fig. 3D is another side view of the localized area shown in fig. 3C. With reference to fig. 2 and fig. 3A-3B, the terminal hole sites provided in the self-shorting female terminal ferrule 100 are divided into three regions, namely, a first region 100A on the left side of the view of fig. 3B, a second region 100B in the middle, and a third region 100C on the right side, wherein 8 terminal hole sites of the first region 100A are used for mounting 8 self-shorting female terminal pins 20, 18 terminal hole sites of the second region 100B are used for mounting 18 male terminal pins 50, and 6 terminal hole sites of the third region 100C are used for mounting 6 self-shorting female terminal pins 20.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the male end ferrule 200 shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 4B is a top view of the male end ferrule 200 shown in FIG. 1; figure 4C is a schematic view of a localized area of the male end ferrule 200 shown in figure 1. It is understood that the exploded view structure of the male-end ferrule 200 may also include a spring push block, a cover, a spring, a fixing member, an insulating core, a grounding screw, and a grounding connecting strip, and the terminals installed in the terminal holes of the male-end ferrule 200 and the terminals installed in the terminal holes of the female-end ferrule 100 form a matching relationship (i.e., the male end corresponds to the female end). In the male-end ferrule 200, the terminals of the terminal hole sites of the first region 200A and the third region 200C corresponding to the first region 100A and the third region 100C of the female-end ferrule 100 may be male-end pins as shown in fig. 12, and the terminals of the terminal hole sites of the second region 200B corresponding to the second region 100B of the female-end ferrule 100 may be female-end pins (different in size) as shown in fig. 11.

The mating configuration of the third region 100C of the female end ferrule 100 and the third region 200C of the male end ferrule 200 is described below in conjunction with fig. 3C and 4C. As shown in fig. 3C and 3D, a special side leg structure (e.g., the self-short circuit space 1710 where the side leg structure 230 shown in fig. 9 is disposed) for short-circuiting the female terminal pins 20 is defined (disposed) between two adjacent terminal receptacle positions in the width direction in the third region 100C of the female terminal ferrule 100. Two adjacent self-short circuit spaces 1710 are separated from each other by an insulating wall 1720 in the length direction. An opening structure, which may be a slot 1730 as shown in the figure, is disposed at the bottom of each self-short circuit space 1710 (on the mating face side of the connector). As shown in fig. 4C, an insulating barrier 2730 is disposed at a position opposite to the slot 1730 of the female terminal ferrule 100 in the third region 200C of the male terminal ferrule 200. When the male terminal ferrule 200 and the female terminal ferrule 100 are mated and mated in place, the insulating barrier 2730 in the male terminal ferrule 200 passes through the slot 1730 and enters between two adjacent self-short circuit female terminal pin structures in the female terminal ferrule 100, so that the electrical connection between the two self-short circuit ferrules is released.

Insulating barrier 2730 may include a boss structure, and an insertion guide 2735 formed at the top of the boss structure. The insertion guides 2735 are shaped to facilitate insertion into the legs of two adjacent self-shorting female end pins 20. For example, the insertion guide portion 2735 may be shaped as a pair of inclined surfaces whose mutual distances gradually decrease and finally intersect.

As further shown in fig. 4C, a plurality of insulating spacers 2730 are provided, the number of which is the same as the number of pairs of self-shorting female pins 20 in the female ferrule 100. Between the respective insulating barriers 2730, a support wall structure extending in the width direction may be provided for separation from each other.

Although only the third region 100C of the female end ferrule 100 and the third region 200C of the male end ferrule 200 are shown, it is understood that the first region 100A of the female end ferrule 100 and the first region 200A of the male end ferrule 200 have a mating configuration similar to the third region.

By installing the self-short-circuiting female terminal pins having a special configuration in the female terminal ferrule 100 and forming the self-short-circuiting releasing structure as shown in fig. 3C-3D and 4C in the corresponding installation areas of the female terminal ferrule 100 and the male terminal ferrule 200, it is possible to realize the self-short-circuiting function while keeping the width size of the connector ferrule small and without adding separate parts.

Second embodiment

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a connector assembly including a self-shorting female end ferrule and a mating male end ferrule according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the connector assembly includes a self-shorting female end ferrule 300 and a mating male end ferrule 400. As shown in fig. 5, the female-end ferrule 300 can be loaded with two rows and sixteen columns of terminals, and the male-end ferrule 400 can be loaded with two rows and sixteen columns of mating terminals at corresponding positions, and when the plastic housing portions of the female-end ferrule 300 and the male-end ferrule 400 are plugged together, the terminals assembled by the female-end ferrule 300 and the male-end ferrule 400 are plugged together in a one-to-one correspondence manner, so as to establish a conductive link. It is also noted that the designation of the ferrule 300 as a "female-end ferrule" is merely a nomenclature agreed upon in the context of this application intended to make it more readily distinguishable from the mated ferrule 400 (e.g., the ferrule 300 is also referred to as a "female end" in view of the self-shorting female-end pin shown in fig. 9 being mounted in the insulating core of the ferrule 300), but the nomenclature itself is not intended to impose any constructional limitations on the ferrule 300.

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the self-shorting female end ferrule 300 shown in fig. 5. Compared with the exploded view of fig. 2, the self-shorting female-end ferrule 300 shown in fig. 6 includes the non-self-shorting female-end pin 40, and the other components (the spring push block 1, the cover 2, the spring 3, the self-shorting female-end pin 20, the male-end pin 50, the fixing member 6, the insulating core 7, the grounding screw 8, and the grounding connecting strip 9) in fig. 6 are substantially identical to the self-shorting female-end ferrule 100 shown in fig. 2.

Figure 7A is another perspective view of the self-shorting female end ferrule 300 shown in figure 5; figure 7B is a top view of the self-shorting female end ferrule 100 shown in figure 5; FIG. 7C is a schematic illustration of a localized area of the self-shorting female end ferrule 300 shown in FIG. 5 containing non self-shorting 6 core female end pins; fig. 7D is another angular view of the view of fig. 7C. With reference to fig. 6 and fig. 7A-7B, the terminal hole sites disposed in the self-shorting female plug insert 300 are divided into three regions, namely a first region 300A on the left side, a second region 300B in the middle, and a third region 300C on the right side of the view of fig. 7B, wherein 8 terminal hole sites of the first region 300A are used for mounting 8 self-shorting female pins 20, 18 terminal hole sites of the second region 300B are used for mounting 18 male pins 50, and 6 terminal hole sites of the third region 300C are used for mounting 6 non-self-shorting female pins 40.

In the insulating core 7, the hole sites of the non-self-shorting female terminal pins 40 and the hole sites of the self-shorting female terminal pins 20 are substantially the same in size, lateral spacing and longitudinal spacing.

Fig. 8A is a perspective view of the male end ferrule 400 shown in fig. 5; fig. 8B is a top view of the male end ferrule 400 shown in fig. 5; figure 8C is a schematic view of a localized area of the male-end ferrule 400 shown in figure 5. It is understood that the exploded view structure of the male ferrule 400 also includes a spring push block, a cover, a spring, a fixing member, an insulating core, a grounding screw, and a grounding connecting strip, and the terminals installed in the terminal holes of the male ferrule 400 and the terminals installed in the terminal holes of the female ferrule 300 form a matching relationship (i.e., the male end corresponds to the female end). In the male-end ferrule 400, the terminals of the terminal holes of the first and third regions 400A and 400C corresponding to the first and third regions 300A and 300C of the female-end ferrule 300 may be male-end pins as shown in fig. 12, and the terminals of the terminal holes of the second region 400B corresponding to the second region 300B of the female-end ferrule 300 may be female-end pins (different in size) as shown in fig. 11.

The mating structure of the third region 300C of the female ferrule 300 and the third region 400C of the male ferrule 400 is described in conjunction with fig. 7C and 8C. As shown in fig. 7C, the third region 100C of the female ferrule 300 is intended to mount a non-self-shorting female pin, and thus the region need not be provided with a self-shorting release structure. Likewise, the third region 400C of the male-end ferrule 400 need not be provided with a corresponding self-shorting release structure.

Fig. 7D shows an anti-reverse configuration provided in a local region 300C of the insulating core of the self-shorting female ferrule 300, not at the mounting location of the self-shorting female pin 40. Specifically, in the structure shown in fig. 7D, a second space 3710 having the same shape as the self-short-circuit space 1710 shown in fig. 3D is provided, and the second space 3710 is provided with an anti-reverse rib 3715 along the width direction of the ferrule, so that interference is formed on the side leg structure of the self-short-circuit female pin 20 inserted into the second space 3710 by mistake, and the self-short-circuit female pin 20 cannot be installed into the terminal hole, but the installation of the non-self-short-circuit female pin 40 is not affected.

Other variant embodiments

In the first and second embodiments of the present application, the self-shorting structure of the terminal is formed on the female terminal pin, however, it is understood that the male terminal pin may have a leg structure for self-shorting, and therefore, a self-shorting connector and a connector kit implemented based on any self-shorting jack terminal (which may be a male terminal pin or a female terminal pin, or using other named jack terminals) are included in the scope of the present disclosure.

In the present application, the tail end connection manner of the self-shorting pin is merely an example, and various other connection manners known in the art (for example, a cage spring link, a bolt link, a crimping connection, etc.) may be extended or replaced.

In this application, "connector" is intended to encompass various connection schemes implemented based on connector ferrules, including but not limited to schemes implemented with ferrules mounted to equipment panels, as well as schemes implemented with ferrules mounted into connector housings.

While the terminal insert is shown herein as supporting the mounting of multiple types of terminals, it is understood that terminal inserts supporting the mounting of more or fewer types of terminals (including mounting only a single type of self-shorting terminal) are also included within the scope of the present disclosure.

Having thus described the basic concept, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing disclosure is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the present application. Various modifications, improvements and adaptations to the present application may occur to those skilled in the art, although not explicitly described herein. Such alterations, improvements, and modifications are intended to be suggested herein and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the embodiments herein.

Claims (15)

1. A self-shorting connector ferrule (100, 300), comprising:

the insulating core body comprises a plurality of terminal hole sites, and the terminal hole sites are arranged in two rows along the width direction of the connector ferrule;

a plurality of jack terminals disposed in corresponding terminal hole locations of said insulating core, wherein said plurality of jack terminals include a first type of jack terminal (20), said first type of jack terminal being a self-shorting jack terminal, said self-shorting jack terminal including a terminal base portion, a jack portion and leg structures, said self-shorting jack terminal being spatially symmetrically received in two rows of hole locations of said insulating core to form one or more pairs of self-shorting jack terminals, the leg structures of two self-shorting jack terminals in each pair of self-shorting jack terminals facing and contacting each other,

the insulating core body is provided with self-short circuit spaces (1710) between terminal hole positions of each pair of first type plug terminals respectively, each self-short circuit space is used for accommodating a pair of paired side leg structures of the self-short circuit plug terminals, and the bottom of each self-short circuit space is provided with an opening structure (1730) for inserting a self-short circuit release structure of a paired connector plug core.

2. The self-shorting connector ferrule as recited in claim 1 wherein the mating segment is connected to and extends outwardly from the wiring base, the leg structure is connected to and extends from the wiring base in a direction generally parallel to the direction of extension of the mating segment.

3. The self-shorting connector ferrule of claim 1, wherein the self-shorting plug terminal is a female pin terminal or a male pin terminal.

4. The self-shorting connector ferrule of claim 1, further comprising a second type of patch terminal (40) in the plurality of patch terminals, the second type of patch terminal not having a leg structure of the self-shorting patch terminal.

5. The self-shorting connector ferrule of claim 4, wherein the mating portion structures of the second type of mating terminal and the first type of mating terminal are identical but do not have the leg structure of the first type of mating terminal.

6. The self-shorting connector ferrule of claim 5, wherein the plurality of patch terminals further include a third type of patch terminal (50) that does not have a leg structure of the self-shorting patch terminal, and wherein the third type of patch terminal and the second type of patch terminal differ in at least one of size and terminal polarity.

7. The self-shorting connector ferrule of claim 1, wherein the plurality of patch terminals further include a third type of patch terminal (50) that does not have a leg structure of the self-shorting patch terminal, and wherein the third type of patch terminal is different from the first type of patch terminal in at least one of size and terminal polarity.

8. The self-shorting connector ferrule of claim 1, wherein the opening structure is a slot.

9. A self-shorting connector ferrule (300), comprising:

an insulating core including a plurality of terminal holes;

a plurality of jack terminals disposed in corresponding terminal hole locations of said insulating core, wherein said plurality of jack terminals include a first type of jack terminal (20), said first type of jack terminal being a self-shorting jack terminal, said self-shorting jack terminal including a terminal base portion, a jack portion and leg structures, said self-shorting jack terminal being spatially symmetrically received in two rows of hole locations of said insulating core to form one or more pairs of self-shorting jack terminals, the leg structures of two self-shorting jack terminals in each pair of self-shorting jack terminals facing and contacting each other,

the plurality of jack terminals further including a second type of jack terminal (40) that does not have a leg structure of the self-shorting jack terminal,

in the insulating core, a self-shorting space (1710) is provided between the terminal hole sites of each pair of first type of jack terminals, each self-shorting space for receiving a pair of self-shorting jack terminal leg structures,

in the insulating core body, a second space (3710) is further arranged between terminal hole positions of each pair of second-type plug terminals, and anti-reverse ribs (3715) are arranged in the second spaces.

10. The self-shorting connector ferrule of claim 9, wherein the anti-reflection ribs (3715) interfere with leg structures of the self-shorting jack terminal inserted into the second space (3710).

11. The self-shorting connector ferrule of claim 9 or 10, wherein the terminal hole sites of the second type of patch terminal are arranged at the same lateral and longitudinal spacing as the terminal hole sites of the first type of patch terminal in the insulative core.

12. The self-shorting connector ferrule of claim 9 or 10, wherein the structures and dimensions of the mating portions and/or the wiring bases of the second type of mating terminals and the first type of mating terminals are the same.

13. A self-shorting connector assembly, comprising:

a first connector ferrule that is the self-shorting connector ferrule of any one of claims 1-12;

a second connector ferrule mated with the first connector ferrule.

14. The self-shorting connector assembly according to claim 13, wherein the second connector ferrule includes a self-shorting-relief structure thereon, the self-shorting-relief structure being an insulating barrier (2730) corresponding to the opening structure (1730) of the first connector ferrule.

15. The self-shorting connector assembly according to claim 14, wherein the insulating barrier includes a boss structure and an insertion guide (2735) formed at a top of the boss structure, the insertion guide being shaped to be inserted into the leg structures of two adjacent self-shorting female-end pins.

Images