1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical connectors, especially to an electrical connector assembly provided for electrically connection between two circuit boards.
2. Description of Related Art
A variety of electrical connectors have been used to make electrical connections between the circuits on different printed circuit boards. These printed circuit boards must be joined together with connectors in a manner to effectively and reliably interconnect the circuits on one circuit board to the circuits on another circuit board. This is done by a pair of mating connectors which are surface mounted connectors and may include a male or plug connector mateable with a female or receptacle connector to form a board-to-board electrical connector assembly.
As stated above, both connectors of the electrical connector assembly are surface mounted connectors. Both connectors typically have a low profile and have some form of mechanism to hold the connectors together. The holding mechanism preferably aligns the connectors, prevents the two connectors from wobbling and maintains the terminals of the connector in good, positive interengagement.
WO Publication No. 2004-10538 A1 discloses a conventional board-to-board connector assembly comprising a first connector engaged with a first PCB, a second connector engaged with the first connector and a second PCB. The first connector comprises a first housing and a plurality of first terminals received in the first housing. The second connector comprises a second housing and a plurality of second terminals received in the second housing. The first terminal is formed a single metallic sheet by stamping and curving. The first terminal comprises an integral spring portion, an inverted U-shaped retaining portion and a soldering portion. The retaining portion defines a first wall, a top portion, a second wall, a first curved portion formed between the first wall and the top portion, and a second curved portion formed between the top portion and the second wall. The second terminal is formed a single metallic sheet by crimping and has a P-shaped cross-sectional configuration. The second terminal comprises a first contacting portion defined a protrusion thereof, a second contacting portion, a top end and a tail portion. When the first and second connectors are assembled each other, the first terminal of the first connector is electrically engaged with the second terminal of the second connector. At this time, the protrusion of the second terminal fixedly locked under a bottom end of the second curved portion of the first terminal and electrically connecting with the second wall of the retaining portion so as to obtain reliable orientation between the first and second connectors.
However, because the first terminal is formed a single metallic sheet by stamping and curving, which make the configuration of the first terminal and manufacture of the first terminal are so complicated. Furthermore, when the first connector engages with the second connector, the orientation between the first and second connectors is only obtained by the engagement between the first and second terminals. Which is insufficient to prevent the first and second connectors from wobbling.
Therefore, an improved board-to-board connector assembly is desired to overcome the disadvantages of the prior arts.
An object of the present invention is to provide a board-to-board connector assembly for effecting a connection between two circuit boards.
In order to achieve above-mentioned object, an board-to-board connector assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a first connector and a second connector engaged with the first connector. The first connector comprises a first insulative housing, a plurality of first terminals received in the housing and four first metal ears engaged with corresponding corners of the first housing. The first housing defines a first peripheral wall defining a first opposite longitudinal walls and a second opposite transverse walls connecting with the first longitudinal walls, a main body formed in a middle portion thereof around the first peripheral wall, and two engagement passages formed between the first peripheral wall and the main body. The first longitudinal wall defines a plurality of passageways therethrough, while main body defines a plurality of mounting holes therethrough and connected with the engagement passages. The first terminal comprises a first tail, a first retaining portion secured in the passageway and a first contacting portion received in the mounting hole.
The second connector comprises a second insulative housing, a plurality of second terminals received in the housing and a pair of second metal ears engaged with two opposite ends of the housing. The peripheral wall defines a second peripheral wall a second opposite longitudinal walls and a second opposite transverse walls connecting with the second longitudinal walls, and a receiving cavity formed between the second longitudinal and transverse walls. The second longitudinal wall defines a plurality of receiving holes therethrough. The second terminal comprises a second retaining portion, a second contacting portion, a connecting portion connecting the second retaining portion and the second contacting portion, and a second tail soldered onto a printed circuit board. The second terminal also defines a protrusion formed between the connecting portion and the second retaining portion, while the second metal ear defines a block thereof. The first peripheral wall defines a rib and a locking portion on its inner portion toward to the engagement passage, respective engaged with corresponding to the protrusion and the block of the second connector during the first and second connectors engaged each other.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the preferred embodiment of the present invention in detail.
Referring to
Referring to
Each of the first terminal 20 is formed from a metal sheet by stamping and has an F-shaped cross-sectional configuration. The first terminal 20 comprises a base portion 21 received in the engagement passage 14, a first retaining portion 22 extending upwardly from a lateral side of the base portion 21 for be received in the passageway 113, a first contacting portion 23 extending slantly and upwardly from one end of the base portion 21 and received in the mounting hole 132, and a first tail 24 extending from the opposite end of the base portion 21 for soldering onto the first PCB (not shown). The first retaining portion 22 defines a barb 221 for wedging into the passageway 113. Both the base portion 21 and the first contacting portion 23 are formed a same side of the first retaining portion 22, a connecting point 231 is formed at a distal end of the first contacting portion 23 for engaging with the second terminal 40.
Each first metal ear 60 is engaged with the corresponding securing recess 117 of the first longitudinal wall 11a and defines a vertical portion 61 having two fixing legs 63 formed at two opposite ends thereof and provided for engaging with the securing portion 118 of the securing recess 117, a planar portion 62 extending from a bottom end of the vertical portion 61 for soldering the first metal ear onto the first PCB.
When in assembly of the first connector 100, the first terminal 20 is firstly mounted onto the housing 10 from a bottom portion of the housing 10 via the barb 221 of the first retaining portion 22 of the terminal 20 wedging into the corresponding passageway 113 of the housing 10, at the same time, the first tail 24 of the first terminal 20 is extended outward of the peripheral wall 11 of the housing 10. Then the four first metal ears 60 are respectively fixed onto the housing 10 via the corresponding the fixing legs 63 interferentially engaged into corresponding securing portions 118 so as to fix the metal ears 60 into the securing recesses 117, while the planar portion 62 of the first metal ear 60 is also extended outward of the peripheral wall 11 of the housing 10, together with the first tail 24 of the first terminal 20, to solder the first connector 100 onto the first PCB. Thus, electrical connection between the first connector 100 and the first PCB is obtained.
Referring to
Each of second terminal 40 has a P-shaped cross-sectional configuration. The second terminal 40 comprises a second contacting portion 41, a second retaining portion 42 parallel to the second contacting portion 41, a connection portion 43 connecting the second contacting portion 41 and the second retaining portion 42, and a second tail 44 extending parallel from an end of the second retaining portion 42. A U-shaped configuration is formed between the second contacting portion 41 and the second retaining portion 42. A protrusion 431 is formed on a junction connecting the second retaining portion 42 and the connection portion 43 and provided for engaging with the rib 114 of the first housing 10 to secure the first and second connectors 10, 30 together.
Each of second metal ear 50 is formed a metal sheet by stamping and comprises a solder 51, an U-shaped portion 52 engaged onto the second transverse wall 31b from the cutout 311 to the notch 312, and a pair of mounting portions 53 extending from two lateral ends of the U-shaped portion 52 and received in the cutout 311. The U-shaped portion 52 defines a first wall 521, a second wall 523 and a connecting wall 522 connecting the first and second walls 521, 523. A projection 54 is extended outwardly from a middle portion of the first wall 521, and a gap 55 is formed a bottom end of the second wall 523.
When in assembly of the second connector 200, the second terminal 40 is interfrentially fixed into the corresponding groove 35, the second contacting portion 41, the second retaining portion 42 and the connection portion 43 cooperative formed an U-shaped configuration received in the groove 35 and engaged with the second longitudinal peripheral wall 31a to make the second tail 44 extending outward of the longitudinal peripheral wall 31a. At the same time, a space is formed between the protrusion 431 of the second terminal 40 and an inner face of the groove 35.
Referring to
However, the disclosure is illustrative only, changes may be made in detail, especially in matter of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention.
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