TWI412193B - Electrical connector and method of assembling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides an electrical connector and the method of assembling the same. The electrical connector includes an insulative housing and a number of terminal modules. Each terminal module includes a base and a number of terminals. The base has a tongue having an upper face and an bottom face opposite to the upper face. The upper face defines a number of first slots. The bottom face defines a number of second slots. The terminals include a number of first terminals received in the first slots and a number of second terminals received in the second slots.

Description

Electrical connector and assembly method thereof

The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a structure of a terminal module of the electrical connector and a method of assembling the electrical connector.

US Patent Publication No. US6019631 discloses an electrical connector including a pair of connectors stacked one above another, the pair of connectors including a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector disposed under the first electrical connector . The first electrical connector further includes an upper terminal block and an upper terminal set received in the upper terminal block. The upper terminal set is provided with a carrier member and a plurality of upper butt terminals, wherein each of the upper butt terminals is provided with a butt end, a horizontal end extending from the butt portion and a vertical end extending perpendicularly from the end of the horizontal end, The horizontal end is integrally formed on the carrier, and the vertical end is mounted on the upper terminal block. The second electrical connector further includes a lower terminal block and a lower terminal set received in the lower terminal block. The lower terminal group is provided with a carrier and a plurality of lower docking terminals. Each of the lower docking terminals is provided with an abutting portion, a horizontal retaining portion that is bent and extended by the mating portion, and a vertical retaining portion that is vertically bent and extended from the end of the horizontal retaining portion, and the horizontal retaining portion is integrally formed on the carrier. The vertical holding portion is housed in the lower terminal block. The stacked electrical connector is provided with a plurality of terminal blocks, and each of the terminal blocks is provided with a bearing member for carrying the butting terminals, which has a large number of components, a complicated structure, a large number of assembling processes, and a high cost.

In addition, in order to make the structure simple, the industry also adopts a circuit board to carry the structure of the conductive terminals, and the use of the circuit board also requires an increase in the number of components, and also increases the cost.

Therefore, it is necessary to provide a simple structure, a small number of components, a small number of assembly processes, and a saving. The cost of the electrical connector.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector that is simple in construction and low in cost.

The purpose of the present invention is achieved by the following technical solutions: an electrical connector for mating with a mating connector, the electrical connector comprising an insulative housing and a terminal module received in the insulative housing, the terminal module The utility model comprises an insulating seat and a plurality of conductive terminals mounted on the insulating seat, wherein the insulating seat is provided with a tongue plate having opposite upper and lower end faces, wherein the upper end surface and the lower end surface are provided with a plurality of terminal slots. The conductive terminal is divided into an upper conductive terminal and a lower conductive terminal. The upper conductive terminal is mounted in the terminal slot of the upper end surface, and the lower conductive terminal is mounted in the terminal slot of the lower end surface.

Compared with the prior art, the stacked electrical connector of the present invention simplifies the overall structure of the terminal module, that is, the terminal block structure of the upper terminal group is simplified, and the same terminal block is used to simultaneously fix the docking terminal extending into the upper and lower interfaces. Compared with the prior art multiple terminal block structure, the components are few, the structure is simple, and therefore the assembly process is also small, so the cost is also small.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of assembling an electrical connector, which has fewer assembly steps and is simple to assemble, thereby saving man-hours.

The object of the present invention is achieved by the following technical solution: a method for assembling an electrical connector, comprising the steps of: 1) providing an insulating body provided with a plurality of plug connectors, the plug connectors being available for docking connectors from front to back 2) providing a terminal block, the terminal block is provided with a main body and a tongue extending from the main body, the tongue plate has opposite upper and lower end faces, and the upper end surface and the lower end surface are respectively provided with a plurality of a terminal slot, the tongue plate is provided with an opening, and the main body is provided with a plurality of first holding grooves at a position close to the tongue plate a plurality of second holding grooves are disposed at a position away from the tongue plate; 3) a plurality of first and second conductive terminals are provided, the first conductive terminals are provided with a first horizontal mounting portion, and the plurality of first horizontal mounting portions are connected to one On the tape, the second conductive terminal is provided with a second horizontal mounting portion, the plurality of second horizontal mounting portions are connected to a tape; 4) the second conductive terminal is mounted on the terminal groove of the end surface of the tongue plate and a second holding groove of the main body, and cutting the material tape connected to the second horizontal mounting portion at the opening; 5) loading the first conductive terminal into the first holding groove of the main body, and cutting and connecting to the first horizontal installation The strip of the part is further loaded into the terminal slot of the lower end surface of the tongue plate; 6) the terminal block is assembled into the insulative housing, and at this time, the first and second conductive terminals assembled to the terminal block are correspondingly received in the plug connectors. .

Compared with the prior art, the electrical connector of the present invention has fewer components, and therefore, the electrical connector has fewer assembly processes, is simple in assembly, can save man-hours, and further reduces costs.

100‧‧‧Electrical connector

1‧‧‧Insulating body

11‧‧‧ top wall

111‧‧‧ recessed hole

113‧‧‧ Extension board

115‧‧‧ card slot

12‧‧‧ accommodating space

13‧‧‧ bottom wall

131‧‧‧Storage trough

15‧‧‧ side wall

17‧‧‧ front end

171‧‧‧Interface

172‧‧‧Up to the interface

173‧‧‧ middle wall

174‧‧‧ interface

175‧‧‧ partition wall

176‧‧‧ notch

3‧‧‧With module

4‧‧‧Insulation seat

41‧‧‧ Subject

411‧‧‧ first bottom

42‧‧‧ upper end

421‧‧‧First terminal slot

423‧‧‧ card slot

43‧‧‧ tongue plate

431‧‧‧ openings

44‧‧‧ lower end

441‧‧‧Second terminal slot

45‧‧‧ First main body

451‧‧‧ first top surface

452‧‧‧ front side

453‧‧‧First holding slot

454‧‧‧Second holding groove

46‧‧‧Second Main Body

461‧‧‧Second top

462‧‧‧ Groove

463‧‧‧through hole

5‧‧‧Light guides

51‧‧‧Light pipe

511‧‧‧Display Department

513‧‧‧Light Receiving Department

53‧‧‧Connecting parts

531‧‧‧ horizontal department

533‧‧‧ hook

6‧‧‧Electrical terminals

60‧‧‧Material

601‧‧‧Material

603‧‧‧Material

605‧‧‧Material

61‧‧‧First conductive terminal

611‧‧‧First level installation

612‧‧‧First Matching Department

613‧‧‧First Holding Department

614‧‧‧First Board Installation Department

615‧‧‧ barbed

63‧‧‧Second conductive terminal

631‧‧‧Second level installation

632‧‧‧Second Matching Department

633‧‧‧Second Holding Department

634‧‧‧Second board installation

635‧‧‧ barbed

7‧‧‧Lighting module

71‧‧‧Second illuminator

73‧‧‧Second conductive pin

8‧‧‧Lighting parts

81‧‧‧First illuminator

83‧‧‧First conductive pin

831‧‧‧ bumps

9‧‧‧mask housing

The first figure is an assembled perspective view of an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention.

The second figure is a partially exploded view of the electrical connector shown in the first figure.

The third figure is a partially exploded view of another view of the electrical connector shown in the first figure.

The fourth figure is an exploded view of the electrical connector shown in the first figure.

The fifth figure is an exploded view of the mating module of the electrical connector shown in the fourth figure.

The sixth figure is an exploded view of another angle of view of the mating module of the electrical connector shown in the fourth figure.

The seventh figure is a combined perspective view of the mating module of the electrical connector shown in the sixth figure.

The eighth figure is a schematic view of the assembly of the mating module of the electrical connector of the present invention.

Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 for an electrical connector 100 according to the present invention. The electrical connector 100 is mounted on an external circuit board (not shown) and used for docking connectors (not shown). Show) match the connection. The electrical connector 100 includes an insulative housing 1 , a plurality of mating modules 3 mounted on the insulative housing 1 , a light guide 5 , a light emitting module 7 , and a mask housing 9 that is wrapped around the insulative housing 1 .

Referring to the first to third figures, the insulative housing 1 is provided with a top wall 11 , a bottom wall 13 opposite to the top wall 11 , and a pair of side walls 15 connecting the top wall 11 and the bottom wall 13 . The body 1 is also provided with a front end face 17 connecting the top wall 11 and the bottom wall 13.

The front end surface 17 is recessed and provided with a plurality of opposite pairs of interfaces 171 arranged in parallel, and each pair of the pair of interfaces 171 is vertically stacked to include an upper interface 172 and a lower interface 174. The upper interface 172 and the lower interface 174 are used. The mating connector is inserted into the mating connector (not shown). An intermediate wall 173 is disposed between the pair of adjacent interfaces 171. The intermediate wall 173 extends rearward to form a plurality of spaces between the side walls 15 for receiving the receiving space 12 of the mating module 3. A partition wall 175 is disposed between the upper pair of interfaces 172 and the lower pair of interfaces 174, and the partition wall 175 separates the upper pair of interfaces 172 and the lower pair of interfaces 174. The partition wall 175 is provided with a notch 176.

The top wall 11 is recessed from the front end surface 17 to form a plurality of recessed holes 111. The recessed holes 111 are disposed at the upper left and upper right sides of the upper pair of interfaces 172, and the recessed holes 111 extend rearward through the insulating body 1 . Top wall 11. The bottom wall 13 is recessed from the front end surface 17 to form a plurality of receiving slots 131. The receiving slots 131 are disposed at the lower left and lower right sides of the lower pair of interfaces 174. The top wall 11 defines an extension plate 113 extending rearwardly corresponding to each of the receiving spaces 12, and each of the extension plates 113 is provided with a card slot 115.

Referring to the third to seventh embodiments, the mating module 3 includes an insulating base 4, a plurality of conductive terminals 6 mounted on the insulating base 4, and a light emitting member 8. The insulating seat 4 has a main body 41 and a tongue 43 integrally provided with the main body 41. The main body 41 is provided with a first bottom surface 411. The main body 41 is provided with a first main body portion 45 and a second main body portion 46 integrally provided with the first main body portion 45, the first main body portion 45 The extension height in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction of the connector is smaller than the second body portion 46.

The first body portion 45 is provided with a first top surface 451 and a front side surface 452 perpendicular to the first top surface 451. The first top surface 451 is recessed with a plurality of first holding grooves 453, and the front side surface 452 is recessed rearwardly with a plurality of second holding grooves 454 extending from the first top surface 451 to the main body. The first bottom surface 411 of the 41.

The second body portion 46 is provided with a second top surface 461 which is disposed higher than the first top surface 451 of the first body portion 45. The second top surface 461 is recessed with a pair of grooves 462. Each of the grooves 462 is further recessed downwardly from a bottom surface thereof (not labeled) with a pair of through holes 463 extending to the first bottom surface 411.

The tongue 43 is formed to extend forward from above the first top surface 451 of the first body 45. The tongue plate 43 has an upper end surface 42 and a lower end surface 44 which are oppositely disposed. The upper end surface 42 is provided with a plurality of first terminal slots 421 and a holding slot 423 corresponding to the first terminal slot 421. The first terminal slot 421 has a lower end position than the intermediate portion, and the latching slot 423 is The first and last positions of the first terminal slot 421 collectively hold the conductive terminal 6 on the tongue plate 43. The lower end surface 44 is provided with a plurality of second terminal slots 441. The tongue 43 is further provided with an opening 431 between the first terminal slot 421 and the holding slot 423. The first holding groove 453 is disposed corresponding to the first terminal groove 421 , the second holding groove 454 is disposed corresponding to the second terminal groove 441 , and the second holding groove 454 is disposed below the opening 431 .

Referring to the fifth and sixth figures, the conductive terminal 6 includes a plurality of first conductive terminals 61 and a plurality of second conductive terminals 63. The first conductive terminal 61 is provided with a first horizontal mounting portion 611, a first mating portion 612 that is bent downwardly and then rearwardly from one end of the first horizontal mounting portion 611, and the other end of the first horizontal mounting portion 611 The first holding portion 613 extending vertically and the first plate mounting portion 614 formed by the end of the first holding portion 613. The first holding portion 613 is further provided with a plurality of barbs 615.

The second conductive terminal 63 is provided with the second horizontal mounting portion 631 and is terminated by one of the second horizontal mounting portions 631. a second engaging portion 632 extending upward and then extending rearward, a second holding portion 633 extending perpendicularly from the other end of the second horizontal mounting portion 631, and a second plate mounting portion 634 formed by an end of the second holding portion 633 . The second holding portion 633 is further provided with a plurality of barbs 635.

Before the assembly, the first mating portion 612 of the plurality of first conductive terminals 61 is connected to a strip 60. The intermediate position of the first horizontal mounting portion 611 is connected to a strip 601, and the second holding of the plurality of second conductive terminals 63 is performed. The portion 633 is coupled to a strip 603, and the intermediate portion of the second horizontal mounting portion 631 is coupled to a strip 605. And the first conductive terminal 61 and the second conductive terminal 63 share the same set of die stamping.

Referring to the fifth to seventh embodiments, each of the illuminating members 8 is provided with a first illuminant 81 and one of the ends electrically connected to the first illuminant 81 to the first conductive pin 83. The conductive pin 83 is provided with a protrusion 831. The first illuminating body 81 is received in the recess 462 of the second main body portion 46. Each of the first conductive pins 83 extends into the through hole 463 below the recess 462 and extends out of the first bottom surface 411 of the main body 41. In order to be electrically connected to an external circuit board (not shown).

Referring to the third and fourth figures, the light guide 5 is provided with a pair of light guide tubes 51 and a connecting member 53 connected to the pair of light guide tubes 51. Each of the light guide tubes 51 is provided with a display portion 511 and a light receiving portion 513 which is vertically bent by the display portion 511. The connecting member 53 is provided with a horizontal portion 531, and the horizontal portion 531 is provided with a hook 533. Each of the light guiding tubes 51 is received in the recessed hole 111 of the insulative housing 1 , and the display portion 511 extends to the front end surface 17 of the insulative housing 1 , and the light receiving portion 513 is disposed above the recess 462 of the insulating base 4 . The hook 533 of the connecting member 53 is received in the slot 115 to stably mount the light guide 5 in the insulative housing 1.

The light-emitting module 7 is provided with a second light-emitting body 71 and one of the ends of the second light-emitting body 71 electrically connected to the second conductive pin 73. The second light-emitting body 71 is received in the receiving groove 131 of the insulative housing 1 , and the second conductive pin 73 is extended and mounted on an external circuit board (not shown).

Compared with the prior art, the electrical connector 100 of the present invention integrates the first and second conductive terminals 61 and 63 of the upper and lower pair of interfaces 172 and 174 on the same insulating seat 4, and the insulating seat 4 is mounted on the same insulating seat 4 . The first and second conductive terminals 61 and 63 are disposed on the upper and lower sides of the same carrier, and the first and second conductive terminals 61 and 63 are fixed on the insulating seat 4, thereby greatly reducing the number of components of the carrier. In addition, the illuminator 81 for displaying the working state of the electrical connector 100 is also disposed in the insulating seat 4, and then guided to the front end surface 17 of the insulating body 1 through the light guiding tube 51, thereby further reducing the number of components of the carrier. The structure is simple, the manufacture is convenient, and the cost can be saved to a large extent.

When installing the electrical connector 100, follow these steps:

In the first step, the second conductive terminal 63 is bent into a predetermined desired shape, and then loaded into the second terminal slot 441 of the lower end surface 44 of the tongue 43 to cut off the material connected to the second horizontal mounting portion 631 at the opening 431. The belt 605 is then press-fitted and the strip 603 attached to the first retaining portion 633 is cut. At this time, the second horizontal mounting portion 631 is retained in the second terminal slot 441, and the second retaining portion 633 is retained in the second retaining slot 454 of the first body portion 45 by the latching action of the barb 635. The board mounting portion 634 extends from the first bottom surface 411 of the body 41.

In the second step, the first holding portion 613 of the first conductive terminal 61 is pressed into the first holding groove 453, and then the strip 601 connected to the first horizontal mounting portion 611 is cut off, and then the first horizontal mounting portion 611 is bent. Folding and pressing into the first terminal groove 421 and the holding groove 423 of the upper end surface 42 of the tongue plate 43, finally, the first engaging portion 612 connected to the first horizontal mounting portion 611 is bent into a predetermined shape and cut and connected. The strip 60 of the first mating portion 612. At this time, the barb 615 of the first retaining portion 613 is engaged with the first retaining groove 453, and the first retaining portion 613 is fixedly received in the first retaining groove 453, and the first plate mounting portion 614 extends out of the main body 41. A bottom surface 411.

In the third step, the illuminating member 8 is fitted into the second body portion 46. At this time, the first illuminating body 81 of each illuminating member 8 is received in the recess 462 of the second main body portion 46, and each of the first conductive pins 83 extends into the through hole 463 below the recess 462 and extends out of the main body 41. a first bottom surface 411 for electrically connecting to External circuit board (not shown).

In the fourth step, the assembled mating module 3 and the light guiding member 5 are loaded into the insulative housing 1. At this time, the light guide tubes 51 of the light guide 5 are received in the recesses 111 of the insulative housing 1, the display portion 511 extends to the front end surface 17 of the insulative housing 1, and the light receiving portion 513 is disposed in the recess of the insulating housing 4. Above the slot 462. The hook 533 of the connecting member 53 is received in the slot 115 to stably mount the light guide 5 in the insulative housing 1.

In the fifth step, the mask case 9 is wrapped around the periphery of the insulative housing 1.

Compared with the prior art, the electrical connector 100 of the present invention involves fewer components, and therefore, the electrical connector 100 has fewer assembly steps and is simple to assemble, thereby further reducing costs.

In addition, the structure of the electrical connector 100 is not only applicable to an electrical connector having a pair of pairs of interfaces stacked on top of each other, but also to an electrical connector having a plurality of pairs of interfaces.

In summary, the creation has indeed met the requirements of the invention patent, and the patent application was filed according to law. However, the above-mentioned embodiments are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and those skilled in the art will be able to make equivalent modifications or variations in accordance with the spirit of the present invention. It should be covered by the following patent application.

3‧‧‧With module

4‧‧‧Insulation seat

41‧‧‧ Subject

42‧‧‧ upper end

421‧‧‧First terminal slot

423‧‧‧ card slot

43‧‧‧ tongue plate

431‧‧‧ openings

45‧‧‧ First main body

451‧‧‧ first top surface

452‧‧‧ front side

453‧‧‧First holding slot

454‧‧‧Second holding groove

46‧‧‧Second Main Body

461‧‧‧Second top

462‧‧‧ Groove

61‧‧‧First conductive terminal

611‧‧‧First level installation

612‧‧‧First Matching Department

613‧‧‧First Holding Department

614‧‧‧First Board Installation Department

615‧‧‧ barbed

63‧‧‧Second conductive terminal

631‧‧‧Second level installation

632‧‧‧Second Matching Department

633‧‧‧Second Holding Department

634‧‧‧Second board installation

635‧‧‧ barbed

8‧‧‧Lighting parts

81‧‧‧First illuminator

83‧‧‧First conductive pin

831‧‧‧ bumps

Claims (12)

An electrical connector for mating with a mating connector, the electrical connector comprising: an insulative housing; a terminal module received in the insulative housing, comprising an insulative housing and a plurality of conductive terminals mounted on the insulative housing, wherein The insulating seat is provided with a tongue plate having opposite upper and lower end faces, wherein the upper end surface and the lower end surface are respectively provided with a plurality of terminal slots, and the conductive terminals are divided into an upper conductive terminal and a lower conductive terminal. The conductive terminal is mounted in the terminal slot of the upper end surface to cooperate with the mating connector, and the lower conductive terminal is mounted in the terminal slot of the lower end surface to cooperate with the mating connector, the insulating seat is provided with a main body, and the tongue plate extends outward from the main body. The main body is provided with a front main body and a rear main body connected to the front main body, and the front main body is provided with a plurality of first retaining grooves at a position corresponding to the end surface of the tongue plate at a position away from the tongue plate, and is adjacent to the tongue plate The terminal slot corresponding to the lower end surface of the tongue plate is provided with a plurality of second retaining slots, and the first and second retaining slots are configured to hold and receive the conductive terminals. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the tongue plate is integrally provided with the body. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is further provided with a plurality of light-emitting members, wherein the light-emitting members are mounted on the main body, and each of the light-emitting members is provided with an illuminant and a plurality of illuminants Conductive pins. The electrical connector of claim 3, wherein the electrical connector is further provided with a plurality of light guiding members, the insulating body is provided with a front end surface, and the front end surface is recessed with a plurality of concave holes. The light guide is received in the recess for guiding light emitted by the light emitting member. The electrical connector of claim 4, wherein the light guiding member is provided with a plurality of light guiding tubes and an intermediate conduit connected between the light guiding tubes, wherein the intermediate conduit is provided with a hook, The hook is clamped on the insulating body to fix the light guide in the insulating body. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the tongue plate is provided with an opening, and the conductive terminal is connected to a tape when the insulating seat is installed, and the tape can be cut off at the opening when the conductive terminal is assembled. A method for assembling an electrical connector, comprising the steps of: 1) providing an insulative housing having a plurality of plug connectors, wherein the plug connectors can be inserted into the mating connector from front to back; 2) providing a terminal block, the terminal The base is provided with a main body and a tongue extending from the main body, the tongue plate has opposite upper and lower end faces, and the upper end surface and the lower end surface are respectively provided with a plurality of terminal slots, and the tongue plate is provided with an opening. The main body is provided with a plurality of first holding grooves at a position away from the tongue plate, and a plurality of second holding grooves are disposed at a position near the tongue plate; 3) providing a plurality of first and second conductive terminals, wherein the first conductive terminal is provided a first horizontal mounting portion, the plurality of first horizontal mounting portions are connected to a strip, the second conductive terminal is provided with a second horizontal mounting portion, and the plurality of second horizontal mounting portions are connected to a strip; 4) Loading the second conductive terminal into the terminal slot of the lower end surface of the tongue plate and the second retaining groove of the main body, and cutting the strip connected to the second horizontal mounting portion at the opening; 5) the first conductive terminal Loading into the first retaining groove of the main body , cutting the strip connected to the first horizontal mounting portion, and then loading into the terminal slot of the end surface of the tongue plate; 6) installing the terminal block into the insulating body, and assembling the first and second conductive terminals of the terminal block at this time Correspondingly accommodated in each plug interface. The method of assembling an electrical connector according to claim 7, wherein the tongue plate is integrally provided with the main body. The method of assembling an electrical connector according to claim 7, wherein the electrical connector further comprises a plurality of illuminating members, wherein the illuminating members are mounted on the main body, and each of the illuminating members is provided with an illuminant and is connected to the illuminating device. A plurality of conductive pins of the body. The method of assembling an electrical connector according to claim 9, wherein the body is perpendicular to The mating direction of the electrical connector is provided with a recess for receiving the illuminator, and the conductive pin extends out of the rear body. The method of assembling the electrical connector of claim 10, wherein the electrical connector further comprises a light guiding member, wherein the light guiding member is provided with a plurality of light guiding tubes and is connected between the light guiding tubes The intermediate conduit is provided with a hook, and the hook is clamped on the insulating body to fix the light guide in the insulating body. The method of assembling the electrical connector of claim 7, wherein the insertion interface comprises upper and lower insertion interfaces stacked on each other, and a partition wall is disposed between the upper and lower pair interfaces, and the partition wall is provided with The recess for receiving the tongue plate.