TWM574347U - Electrical connector cage assembly, electrical connector, and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical connector cage assembly includes a connector casing, a heat-dissipating structure, and an elastic attaching part. The connector casing forms an insertion slot and has an outer side wall. The outer side wall has a window. The window connects with the insertion slot. The heat-dissipating structure is disposed on the outer side wall and includes a heat pipe. The heat pipe is disposed outside the outer side wall and has a heat-absorbing section corresponding to the window. The heat-absorbing section extends parallel to the outer side wall and partially enters the insertion slot through the window. The elastic attaching part is engaged to the connector casing so as to elastically clamp the heat-dissipating structure between the elastic attaching part and the outer side wall. The heat-absorbing section can move relative to the window. An electrical connector uses the electrical connector cage assembly. An electronic apparatus includes the electrical connector and a side plate of an apparatus casing. The heat pipe is thermally coupled to the side plate.

Description

Electrical connector housing assembly, electrical connector and electronic device

The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector having a heat dissipation structure.

Electrical connectors have been widely used in environmental requirements for power or signal connections, such as electronic host devices being connected to external devices. As the electrical connector is subjected to a substantial increase in transmission speed, the heat generated is also greatly increased. In the application of the plug and socket connector combination, the heat dissipation fins are generally fixed directly on the outer casing of the socket to facilitate heat dissipation. However, when the plug is connected to the socket and operated, the heat source is concentrated on the inside of the plug. If the heat inside the plug is too high, the plug will be ineffective. Therefore, the heat generated inside the plug needs to be transmitted to the outer casing of the socket first. It can be dissipated through the fins. Moreover, the outer casing of the socket is generally not in direct contact with the heat source, and the heat generated by the heat source may be transferred to the outer casing of the socket inefficient. Therefore, the way in which the heat sink fins are fixed only on the outer casing of the socket has a limited heat dissipation effect on the connector.

In view of the problems in the prior art, the present invention provides an electrical connector housing assembly having a heat dissipation structure that can extend into the connector housing to improve heat dissipation efficiency.

The electrical connector housing assembly according to the present invention comprises a connector housing, a heat dissipation structure and an elastic fastener. The connector housing defines a slot and has an outer sidewall having a window that communicates with the slot. The heat dissipation structure is disposed on the outer sidewall and includes a heat pipe disposed outside the outer sidewall and corresponding to the window having a heat absorption portion extending parallel to the outer sidewall and partially entering the window through the window Slot. The elastic fastener is coupled to the connector housing to elastically sandwich the heat dissipation structure between the fastener and the outer sidewall, and the heat absorption section is movable relative to the window. Therefore, when a plug-in module is inserted into the slot, the heat-absorbing section can directly contact the plug-in module under pressure by the elasticity of the elastic fastener relative to the outer sidewall, thereby improving heat dissipation efficiency.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having the combination of the electrical connector housing having the heat dissipation structure as described above, so that the heat dissipation efficiency is improved.

The electrical connector according to the present invention comprises a circuit board, an electrical connector and a combination of electrical connector housings as described above. The electrical connector housing assembly is fixed to the circuit board. The electrical connector is electrically connected to the circuit board and located within the connector housing and exposed to the slot. Similarly, when a plug-in module is inserted into the slot and combined with the electrical connector, the heat-absorbing segment can directly contact the plug-in module by being elastically moved relative to the outer sidewall through the elastic of the elastic fastener. To improve heat dissipation efficiency.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device having an electrical connector housing assembly having a heat dissipation structure as described above, and the heat dissipation structure is thermally coupled to the structural side plates of the device housing to improve heat dissipation efficiency.

The electronic device according to the present invention comprises a device housing, a circuit board, an electrical connector and a combination of the aforementioned electrical connector housings. The device housing forms an accommodation space and includes a structural side panel. The circuit board is disposed in the accommodating space. The electrical connector housing assembly is secured to the circuit board and the thermal conduit is thermally coupled to the structural side panel. The electrical connector is electrically connected to the circuit board and located within the connector housing and exposed to the slot. Similarly, when a plug-in module is inserted into the slot and combined with the electrical connector, the heat-absorbing segment can directly contact the plug-in module by being elastically moved relative to the outer sidewall through the elastic of the elastic fastener. . The heat pipe transfers the absorbed heat to the side plates of the structure to improve heat dissipation efficiency.

The advantages and spirit of the present invention can be further understood by the following embodiments and the drawings.

Please refer to Figure 1 to Figure 3. The electrical connector 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a circuit board 12, two electrical connectors 14a, 14b and an electrical connector housing assembly 16. The electrical connector housing assembly 16 is secured to the circuit board 12. The electrical connectors 14a, 14b are electrically connected to the circuit board 12 and are located within the electrical connector housing assembly 16, which are shown in solid squares in the figures for simplicity of illustration. In practice, the electrical connectors 14a, 14b can be structurally integrated into a single component for ease of assembly. The electrical connector housing assembly 16 includes a connector housing 162, a heat dissipation structure 164, and two resilient fasteners 166. The connector housing 162 has four outer side walls 162a-d and a partition 162e. The outer side walls 162a-d are connected to form an accommodating space 1620. The partition 162e is connected to the outer side wall 162a, 162c in the accommodating space 1620 to divide the accommodating space 1620 into a first slot 1622 and a second slot 1624. The electrical connectors 14a, 14b are respectively exposed in the first slot. The slot 1622 and the second slot 1624. The first slot 1622 has a first inlet 1622a and the second slot 1624 has a second inlet 1624a. The outer sidewall 162a has a first window 1626 and a second window 1628 that communicate with the first slot 1622 and the second slot 1624, respectively.

The heat dissipation structure 164 is disposed on the outer sidewall 162a, and the elastic fastener 166 is coupled to the connector housing 162 to elastically sandwich the heat dissipation structure 164 between the elastic fastener 166 and the outer sidewall 162a. The heat dissipation structure 164 includes a heat pipe 1642. The heat pipe 1642 is disposed outside the outer wall 162a and has a first heat absorption portion 1642a, a second heat absorption portion 1642b, and a connecting portion 1642c. The connecting portion 1642c is connected to the first heat absorption portion 1642a and the first portion. a second heat absorption section 1642b, the first heat absorption section 1642a is disposed corresponding to the first window 1626 and extends parallel to the outer sidewall 162a and partially enters the first slot 1622 via the first window 1626, and the second heat absorption section 1642b is disposed corresponding to the second window 1628 and Extending parallel to the outer sidewall 162a and partially entering the second slot 1624 via the second window 1628. To simplify the illustration, the heat pipe 1642 is shown solidly in the figures. In practice, the heat pipe 1642 can use a heat pipe having a substantially flat elliptical cross section, and a protruding structure is formed at both end portions thereof (for example, a heat pipe is shaped, for example, by a die extrusion heat pipe). The two end portions serve as the first heat absorption portion 1642a and the second heat absorption portion 1642b. The protruding structure can enter the first slot 1622 and the second slot 1624, and the intermediate portion serves as the connecting portion 1642c. Alternatively, the three tubes are shaped to form the first heat absorbing section 1642a, the second heat absorbing section 1642b, and the connecting section 1642c, and are joined to form a heat pipe 1642.

The heat dissipation structure 164 also includes a heat sink that is thermally coupled to the heat pipe 1642. In this embodiment, the heat sink includes a base 1644 and a plurality of fins 1646 extending from the base 1644. The susceptor 1644 is thermally coupled to the heat pipe 1642. The pedestal 1644 has a first recess 1644a and a second recess 1644b. The first heat absorbing section 1642a is received in the first recess 1644a, and the second heat absorbing section 1642b is received in the second recess 1644b. In practice, the first heat absorption section 1642a and the second heat absorption section 1642b are soldered to the first recess 1644a and the second recess 1644b, for example, between the first recess 1644a and the first heat absorption section 1642a. The gaps are filled with solder. In addition, the connecting portion 1642c is also soldered to the base 1644. In practice, it can also be fixed by adhesive and thermal pad, and will not be described again.

The elastic fastener 166 is coupled to the outer sidewalls 162b, 162d across the heat dissipation structure 164. In the present embodiment, the elastic fastener 166 has a substantially U-shaped structure, and has two card holes 166a and 166b at two ends thereof, and the outer side walls 162b and 162d respectively have two hooks 162f and 162g. The snap fasteners 166 are detachably engaged with the outer side walls 162b, 162d by the hooks 162f, 162g being inserted into the card holes 166a, 166b. In practice, the elastic fastener 166 is also mounted on the connector housing 162 by pivoting one end and snapping the other end. In addition, in the embodiment, the elastic fastener 166 is elastically sandwiched between the elastic fastener 166 and the outer sidewall 162a through the plurality of fins 1646. On the other hand, the base 1644 is not provided with the fins 1646 corresponding to the elastic fasteners 166, and the middle portion of the elastic fasteners 166 connecting the two ends can directly abut the base 1644. By the elasticity of the elastic fastener 166, the clamped heat dissipation structure 164 can still be forcedly moved (or floated) in design, in other words, the first heat absorption section 1642a can be moved relative to the first window 1626, and the second heat absorption section 1642b It is movable relative to the second window 1628.

For example, the plug-in module that matches the electrical connector 14a (ie, the connector that mates with the electrical connector 1 is shown in dashed box in FIG. 3) is inserted into the first slot 1622 from the first inlet 1622a and is electrically connected. During the connection of the connecting seat 14a, the first heat absorbing section 1642a partially enters the first slot 1622, and the plugging module contacts the first heat absorbing section 1642a and pushes the first heat absorbing section 1642a, so that the first heat absorbing section 1642a Moving outward relative to the first window 1626 (ie, moving upward in FIG. 3, or perpendicular to the direction in which the outer sidewall 162a extends). Because of the elasticity of the elastic fastener 166, the first heat absorption section 1642a and the plugging module can maintain a relatively good contact force, which is favorable for heat conduction between the plugging module and the first heat absorption section 1642a. In this embodiment, the portion of the first heat absorption section 1642a that enters the first slot 1622 has a contact plane 1642d, which is matched with the contour of the plugging module to facilitate the connection between the plugging module and the first heat absorption section 1642a. Heat conduction. The above description also applies to the second heat absorption section 1642b, which will not be described again. In addition, the heat pipe 1642 utilizes its working fluid phase change to rapidly transfer heat from the plug-in module to the susceptor 1644, thereby dissipating through the fins 1646.

In the present embodiment, the heat dissipation structure 164 is mounted on the upper side of the connector housing 162 (ie, the outer sidewall 162a) in accordance with the arrangement of the first slot 1622 and the second slot 1624 (ie, horizontally aligned). In practice, if the first slot 1622 and the second slot 1624 are vertically arranged, the heat dissipation structure 164 may also be disposed on the left or right side of the connector housing 162 (ie, the outer sidewall 162d or the outer sidewall 162b). In addition, in the embodiment, the electrical connector 1 is exemplified by a two-slot, and the heat dissipation structure 164 provides heat dissipation effects to the first slot 1622 and the second slot 1624, but the implementation is not limited thereto. As in the foregoing embodiment and its related description, the heat pipe 1642 passes through the first window 1626 to partially enter the first slot 1622, so that the heat pipe 1642 can directly contact the plug-in module to quickly access the plug-in module. Heat is transferred to the heat sink (which in this embodiment includes a pedestal 1644 and a plurality of fins 1646) and dissipates. Therefore, in practice, the architecture can be applied to a single-slot or more-slot electrical connector and modified based on the needs of the actual electrical connector structure based on the foregoing embodiments and their associated descriptions. Also detailed. For example, the heat dissipation structure 164 may omit the susceptor 1644 and the fins 1646 thereon, and the connection section 1642c is provided with a plurality of fins (for example, copper sheets with holes for being sleeved on the connection sections 1642c) as Heat sink. For example, in a single-slot electrical connector, one end of the heat pipe is used to absorb heat from a plug-in module, and the other end can be directly sleeved with a plurality of fins as a heat sink or a base.

Please refer to Figure 4 to Figure 6. An electronic device 3 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a device housing 30, a circuit board 32, two electrical connectors 34a, 34b, and an electrical connector housing assembly 36. The device housing 30 includes a lower housing 302 and an upper housing 304. The lower housing 302 and the upper housing 304 are coupled to form an accommodation space 306. The circuit board 32 (such as but not limited to the system motherboard of the electronic device 3) is disposed in the accommodating space 306. The electrical connector housing assembly 36 is secured to the circuit board 32. Electrical connectors 34a, 34b are electrically coupled to circuit board 32 and are located within electrical connector housing assembly 36. The electrical connector housing assembly 36 includes a connector housing 362, a heat dissipation structure 364, and two resilient fasteners 366. The connector housing 362 has four outer side walls 362a-d and a partition 362e. The outer side walls 362a-d are connected to form an accommodating space 3620. The partition 362e is connected to the outer side wall 362b, 362d in the accommodating space 3620 to divide the accommodating space 3620 into a first slot 3622 and a second slot 3624. The electrical connectors 34a, 34b are respectively exposed in the first slot. The first slot 3622 of the slot 3622 and the second slot 3624 has a first inlet 3622a, and the second slot 3624 has a second inlet 3624a. The outer sidewall 362d has a first window 3626 and a second window 3628 communicating with the first slot 3622 and the second slot 3624, respectively. In this embodiment, the first slot 3622 and the second slot 3624 are vertically arranged, and the electrical connectors 34a, 34b are integrated into a single component, but the implementation is not limited thereto.

The heat dissipation structure 364 is disposed on the outer sidewall 362d, and the elastic fastener 366 is coupled to the connector housing 362 to elastically sandwich the heat dissipation structure 364 between the elastic fastener 366 and the outer sidewall 362d. In this embodiment, one end of the elastic fastener 366 is pivotally connected to the connector housing 362, and the other end is engaged with the connector housing 362. However, in practice, the elastic fastener 366 can also be used with the elastic fastener. The manner in which the connector 166 is coupled to the connector housing 162 will not be described again. The heat dissipation structure 364 includes a heat pipe 3642. The heat pipe 3642 is disposed outside the outer wall 362d and has a first heat absorption section 3642a, a second heat absorption section 3642b, a connection section 3642c, and an extension section 3642d. The connection section 3642c is connected to the first. The heat absorption section 3642a and the second heat absorption section 3642b extend from one end of the first heat absorption section 3642a. The first heat absorption section 3642a extends parallel to the outer side wall 362d and partially enters the first slot 3622 via the first window 3626, and the second heat absorption section 3642b extends parallel to the outer side wall 362d and partially enters the second slot via the second window 3628. 3624. For details of the structural details of the first heat absorption section 3642a and the second heat absorption section 3642b, reference may be made to the related descriptions of the first heat absorption section 1642a and the second heat absorption section 1642b, which will not be further described.

Similarly, the elastic fastener 366 has an elastic structural restraining effect on the heat pipe 3642, which has the same effect as the elastic structure of the elastic fastener 166 on the heat pipe 1642, and will not be further described. In addition, a portion of the heat pipe 3642 that enters the first slot 3622 and the second slot 3624 has a contact plane, and a plug-in module for inserting the first slot 3622 and the second slot 3624 (shown by a dashed box) The contour of Figure 6) facilitates heat transfer between the plug module and the heat pipe 3642. In addition, in practice, the heat dissipation structure 364 can also include a pedestal and a plurality of fins extending from the pedestal, and the heat pipe 3642 is also thermally coupled to the pedestal (eg, as in the foregoing pedestal 1644, fin 1646 and The heat pipe 1642 is configured to improve heat dissipation.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the connector housing 362 is located on one side 32a of the circuit board 32, and the lower housing 302 has a structural side panel 302a adjacent to the side 32a. The first inlet 3622a and the second inlet 3624a face the structural side panel 302a. The structure side plate 302a has a through hole structure 302b (shown in broken line in FIG. 5, for example, it includes two through holes corresponding to the first inlet 3622a and the second inlet 3624a), so that the first inlet 3622a and the second inlet 3624a pass through The hole structure 302b is exposed. The extension 3642d of the heat pipe 3642 is thermally coupled to the structural side plate 302a (e.g., by soldering). The heat absorbed by the first endothermic section 3642a and the second endothermic section 3642b can be conducted to the structural side panel 302a via the extension section 3642d. In practice, the extension 3642d may also be thermally coupled to other structural side panels of the lower housing 302 (eg, the structural side panels 302c), as well as providing heat dissipation through the device housing 30.

The above descriptions are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and all changes and modifications made by the scope of the patent application of the present invention should be covered by the present invention.

1‧‧‧Electrical connector

12, 32‧‧‧ circuit board

32a‧‧‧ side

14a, 14b, 34a, 34b‧‧‧ electrical connectors

16, 36‧‧‧Electrical connector housing combination

162, 362‧‧‧ connector housing

162a-d, 362a-d‧‧‧ outer side wall

162e, 362e‧‧ ‧ partition

162f, 162g‧‧‧ card hook

1620, 3620‧‧‧ accommodating space

1622, 3622‧‧‧ first slot

1622a, 3622a‧‧‧ first entrance

1624, 3624‧‧‧ second slot

1624a, 3624a‧‧‧ second entrance

1626, 3626‧‧‧ first window

1628, 3628‧‧‧ second window

164, 364‧‧‧ heat dissipation structure

1642, 3642‧‧‧ heat pipe

1642a, 3642a‧‧‧ first heat absorption section

1642b, 3642b‧‧‧ second heat absorption section

1642c, 3642c‧‧‧ Connection segment

1642d‧‧‧Contact plane

3642d‧‧‧Extension

1644‧‧‧Base

1644a‧‧‧first groove

1644b‧‧‧second groove

1646‧‧‧Fins

166, 366‧‧‧ elastic fasteners

166a, 166b‧‧‧ Kakon

3‧‧‧Electronic devices

30‧‧‧ device housing

302‧‧‧ Lower case

302a, 302c‧‧‧ structural side panels

302b‧‧‧through hole structure

304‧‧‧Upper casing

306‧‧‧ accommodating space

1 is a schematic diagram of an electrical connector in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is an exploded view of the electrical connector of FIG. 1. 3 is a schematic view of the electrical connector of FIG. 1 taken along line X-X. 4 is a schematic diagram of an explosion of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a portion of the electronic device of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the electronic device of FIG. 4 taken along line Y-Y.

Claims (10)

An electrical connector housing assembly includes: a connector housing defining a first slot and having an outer sidewall, the outer sidewall having a first window, the first window communicating with the first slot; The structure is disposed on the outer side wall and includes a heat pipe disposed outside the outer side wall and having a first heat absorption section corresponding to the first window, the first heat absorption section extending parallel to the outer side wall The first window partially enters the first slot; and a resilient fastener is coupled to the connector housing to elastically sandwich the heat dissipation structure between the elastic fastener and the outer sidewall, the first heat absorption section It can move relative to the first window. The electrical connector housing assembly of claim 1, wherein the portion of the first heat absorption segment that enters the first slot has a contact plane. The electrical connector housing assembly of claim 1, wherein the heat dissipation structure includes a heat sink that is thermally coupled to the heat pipe. The electrical connector housing assembly of claim 3, wherein the heat sink comprises a base and a plurality of fins extending from the base, the base being thermally coupled to the heat pipe, the base having a a recess, the first heat absorption section being received in the first recess. The electrical connector housing assembly of claim 4, wherein the resilient fastener passes through the plurality of fins. The electrical connector housing assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector housing defines a second slot, the outer sidewall has a second window, the second window communicates with the second slot, the heat conduit Having a second heat absorption section and a connection section connecting the first heat absorption section and the second heat absorption section, the second heat absorption section is disposed corresponding to the second window and extends parallel to the outer sidewall and via the second The window partially enters the second slot. The electrical connector housing assembly of claim 6, wherein the heat dissipation structure comprises a heat dissipating member, the heat dissipating member comprising a base and a plurality of fins extending from the base, the heat sink passing through the base The heat pipe is thermally coupled, the base has a second recess, and the second heat absorption section is received in the second recess. An electrical connector comprising: a circuit board; the electrical connector housing assembly of any one of claims 1 to 7 fixed to the circuit board; and an electrical connector electrically connected to the The circuit board is located in the connector housing and exposed in the first slot. An electronic device comprising: a device housing forming an accommodating space and including a structural side plate; a circuit board disposed in the accommodating space; as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 and The electrical connector housing assembly is fixed to the circuit board, the heat pipe is thermally coupled to the structural side plate; and an electrical connector is electrically connected to the circuit board and located in the connector housing and exposed to the first One slot. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the connector housing is located on a side of the circuit board, the structural side panel being adjacent to the side.