1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a board-to-board connector assembly.
2. The Related Art
A conventional board-to-board connector assembly includes a receptacle connector and a plug connector. The receptacle connector has a plurality of first terminals each having a contact portion. The plug connector has a plurality of second terminals each having a contact arm. When the plug connector is mated with the receptacle connector, the contact portions electrically contact the corresponding contact arms to make the first terminals and the corresponding second terminals electrically interconnected. However, each of the first terminals contacts the respective second terminal merely in one single point. As a result, when the board-to-board connector assembly is shaken in use, the contact portion is apt to depart from the corresponding contact arm that makes signal transmission between the first terminal and the corresponding second terminal broken easily. Therefore, a board-to-board connector assembly capable of overcoming the above-mentioned problems is required.
An object of the present invention is to provide a board-to-board connector assembly including a receptacle connector and a plug connector mated with the receptacle connector. The receptacle connector includes a receptacle housing having a flat base board and two sidewalls protruding upward from two opposite sides of the base board and extending longwise, and a plurality of first terminals. A receiving recess is defined between the sidewalls. Each of the sidewalls defines a plurality of first passageways extended longitudinally to the base board and communicating with the receiving recess for receiving the respective first terminals therein. Each of the first terminals has a bar-shaped base portion extending longitudinally. Two opposite ends of the base portion extend oppositely and longitudinally to form a first soldering portion and a first elastic portion inclining upward. A free end of the first elastic portion protrudes upward to form a first contact portion stretching into the receiving recess. The base portion further extends upward to form a first fixing portion adjacent to the first soldering portion and a second elastic portion adjacent to the first elastic portion. The second elastic portion inclines toward the first elastic portion and a free end thereof protrudes toward the first contact portion to form a second contact portion stretching into the receiving recess. The plug connector includes a plug housing having a base body received in the receiving recess of the receptacle housing, and a plurality of second terminals disposed at two sides of the base body. Two opposite outsides of the plug housing define a plurality of second passageways. Each of the second terminals has a second fixing portion fastened in the base body and extending vertically. A bottom end of the second fixing portion extends longitudinally and inclines downward to form a first contact arm stretching out of a bottom surface of the base body. A free end of the first contact arm extends upward to form a second contact arm inclining toward the second fixing portion and received in the corresponding second passageway. A top end of the second contact arm extends longitudinally to form a second soldering portion protruding out of the base body. Wherein the first elastic portion and the second elastic portion of the first terminal elastically clip the first contact arm and the second contact arm of the corresponding second terminal therebetween, the first contact portion and the second contact portion of the first terminal elastically contact the first contact arm and the second contact arm of the corresponding second terminal respectively.
As described above, the board-to-board connector assembly of the present invention utilizes the first contact portion and the second contact portion to elastically contact the first contact arm and the second contact arm respectively so that the first terminal and the second terminal can be always electrically connected with each other steadily even if the board-to-board connector assembly is shaken. Furthermore, the first elastic portion and the second elastic portion respectively cooperate with the first contact arm and the second contact arm to enable the plug connector to be restored to a right position in the receptacle connector that further ensures the first terminal and the second terminal electrically connected with each other steadily.
The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
With reference to
Referring to
The receptacle housing 11 has a rectangular base board 111 disposed levelly. Two opposite sides of the base board 111 protrude upward to form a pair of sidewalls 112 extending longwise and defining a receiving recess 113 therebetween. Two opposite ends of each sidewall 112 oppositely extend outward to respectively form a first end-wall 114. Each first end-wall 114 defines a first fixing aperture 115 vertically passing therethrough. An inside of the first end-wall 114 further defines a first fixing groove 116 vertically passing therethrough and longitudinally communicated with the corresponding first fixing aperture 115 at top. A middle portion of each of two opposite ends of the base board 111 protrudes outward to form a rectangular locating board 117 located vertically between the two corresponding first end-walls 114. The locating board 117 is higher than the base board 111 and has a substantially same height as the sidewall 112. A free end of the locating board 117 is spaced away from a vertical plane on which the first fixing aperture 115 and the corresponding first fixing groove 116 are located. Each of the sidewalls 112 defines a plurality of first passageways 118 arranged at regular intervals along a longwise direction thereof. Bottom ends of the first passageways 118 are further extended to the base board 111. Each of the first passageways 118 has a fixing perforation 1181 vertically passing through the corresponding sidewall 112, a receiving cavity 1182 extending longitudinally from a bottom end of the fixing perforation 1181 to the base board 111 and further penetrating through the base board 111 vertically to communicate with the receiving recess 113, and a receiving channel 1183 passing vertically through an inside of the corresponding sidewall 112 to communicate with the receiving recess 113 and further having a bottom end communicated with the corresponding receiving cavity 1182.
Each of the first terminals 12 has a bar-shaped base portion 120 extending longitudinally. Two opposite ends of the base portion 120 extend oppositely and longitudinally to form a first soldering portion 121 and a first elastic portion 124 inclining upward slightly. A free end of the first elastic portion 124 protrudes upward to form a first contact portion 125. The two ends of the base portion 120 further extend upward to form a first fixing portion 122 adjacent to the first soldering portion 121 and a second elastic portion 123 adjacent to the first elastic portion 124. The second elastic portion 123 inclines slightly toward the first elastic portion 124 and a free end thereof protrudes toward the first contact portion 125 to form a second contact portion 126.
Each of the first auxiliary members 13 has a rectangular first base plate 131 extending longitudinally and disposed vertically. Two opposite ends of a top of the first base plate 131 protrude oppositely and longitudinally and then extend downward to form a pair of first fixing arms 132. A middle portion of the top of the first base plate 131 defines a receiving fillister 134 and a middle portion of a bottom thereof bends sideward to form a first soldering foot 133.
When the receptacle connector 10 is to be assembled, the first terminals 12 are received in the corresponding first passageways 118 of the receptacle housing 11. The first fixing portion 122 is inserted in the respective fixing perforation 1181. The base portion 120 and the first elastic portion 124 are received in the corresponding receiving cavity 1182 and the first contact portion 125 stretches into the receiving recess 113. The second elastic portion 123 is received in the corresponding receiving channel 1183 and the second contact portion 126 stretches into the receiving recess 113. The first soldering portion 121 is located under the corresponding sidewall 112 for being soldered to the female printed circuit board to electrically connect with each other. The first auxiliary members 13 are mounted to two ends of the receptacle housing 11 and across the corresponding first end-walls 114. Two ends of the first base plate 131 are buckled into the corresponding first fixing grooves 116 and the first fixing arms 132 are inserted in the respective first fixing apertures 115. The first base plate 131 is spaced away from the free end of the corresponding locating board 117. The first soldering foot 133 is located back to the locating board 117 and between the corresponding first end-walls 114 to be soldered to the female printed circuit board for ensuring that the first terminals 12 are electrically connected with the female printed circuit board steadily.
Referring to
The plug housing 21 has a rectangular base body 211 corresponding to the receiving recess 113 of the receptacle housing 11. Two opposite sides of the base body 211 define a plurality of second passageways 212 arranged at regular intervals along a longwise direction thereof. Two opposite ends of the base body 211 oppositely extend outward to respectively form a second end-wall 213. A middle portion of each of the second end-walls 213 defines a rectangular locating slot 216 vertically and transversely passing therethrough. Each second end-wall 213 further defines a pair of second fixing apertures 214 vertically passing therethrough and located at two sides of the corresponding locating slot 216. A bottom end of each second fixing aperture 214 transversely extends outward and then extends upward to form a second fixing groove 215 passing through an outside of the corresponding second end-wall 213.
Each of the second terminals 22 has a second fixing portion 221 extending vertically. A bottom end of the second fixing portion 221 extends longitudinally and inclines downward to form a first contact arm 223. A free end of the first contact arm 223 extends upward to form a second contact arm 224 slightly inclining toward the second fixing portion 221. A top end of the second contact arm 224 extends longitudinally and oppositely the second fixing portion 221 to form a second soldering portion 222.
Each of the second auxiliary members 23 has a rectangular second base plate 231 extending longitudinally and disposed vertically. Two opposite ends of a bottom of the second base plate 231 bend toward one side and then extend upward to form a pair of second fixing arms 232 facing each other. A middle portion of a top of the second base plate 231 bends toward the other side opposite the second fixing arms 232 and then extends to form a second soldering foot 233. The second base plate 231 further protrudes toward the same side as the second soldering foot 233 to form a fastening rib 234 on a bottom middle.
When the plug connector 20 is to be assembled, the second fixing portion 221 of each second terminal 22 is fastened in the base body 211 of the plug housing 21 and the first contact arm 223 stretches out of a bottom surface of the base body 211. The second contact arm 224 is received in the respective second passageway 212. The second soldering portion 222 stretches out of the corresponding side of the base body 211 for being soldered to the male printed circuit board to electrically connect with each other. The second auxiliary members 23 are mounted to the respective second end-walls 213 of the plug housing 21. Two ends of the second base plate 231 are buckled into the corresponding second fixing grooves 215 and the second fixing arms 232 are inserted in the respective second fixing apertures 214. The second base plate 231 is located across the corresponding locating slot 216. The second soldering foot 233 is located back to the locating slot 216 to be soldered to the male printed circuit board for ensuring that the second terminals 22 are electrically connected with the male printed circuit board steadily.
Referring to
In use, when the plug connector 20 moves downward relatively to the receptacle connector 10, the contact between the first contact portion 125 and the first contact arm 223 is further enhanced because of the first elastic portion 124 inclining upward such that ensures the first terminals 12 and the second terminals 22 electrically connected with each other steadily. When the plug connector 20 moves upward relatively to the receptacle connector 10, the contact between the second contact portion 126 and the second contact arm 224 is further enhanced because of the second elastic portion 123 cooperated with the corresponding second contact arm 224 such that ensures the first terminals 12 and the second terminals 22 electrically connected with each other steadily. Furthermore, the relative elasticity of the first elastic portion 124 and the second elastic portion 123 cooperates with the first contact arm 223 and the second contact arm 224 to enable the plug connector 20 to be restored to a right position in the receptacle connector 10. Therefore, the first terminals 12 can be always electrically connected with the corresponding second terminals 22 so as to further ensure the printed circuit boards electrically connected with each other steadily.
As described above, the board-to-board connector assembly of the present invention utilizes the first contact portion 125 and the second contact portion 126 to elastically abut against the first contact arm 223 and the second contact arm 224 respectively so that the first terminals 12 and the second terminals 22 can be always electrically connected with each other steadily even if the board-to-board connector assembly is shaken. Furthermore, the first elastic portion 124 and the second elastic portion 123 respectively cooperate with the first contact arm 223 and the second contact arm 224 to enable the plug connector 20 to be restored to a right position in the receptacle connector 10 that further ensures the first terminal 12 and the second terminal 22 electrically connected with each other steadily.