CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (a)-(d) of Chinese Patent Application No. 202322877072.1, filed on Oct. 25, 2023.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector and a connector assembly comprising the connector.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A flexible circuit board connector typically includes a housing and a Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC). The flexible circuit board is inserted into the housing for electrical contact with terminals of a mating connector inserted into the housing. Due to the sheet-like and flexible nature of the flexible circuit board, it is difficult to achieve sealing between the flexible circuit board and the housing using a sealing ring. Therefore, there is often no sealing between the flexible circuit board and the housing, and water vapor can easily enter the housing through the gap between the flexible circuit board and the housing. Existing flexible circuit board connectors are not waterproof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A connector includes a housing having a slot and a first glue filling cavity communicated with the slot, a flexible circuit board inserted into the housing through the slot, and a first sealant formed by a glue filled into the first glue filling cavity and the slot. The first sealant is bonded with the flexible circuit board and the housing to seal between the flexible circuit board and the housing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Features of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows an illustrative perspective view of a connector assembly according to an exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 2 shows an illustrative exploded view of a connector assembly according to an exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a connector assembly according to an exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal exploded sectional view of a connector assembly according to an exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 5 shows an illustrative exploded sectional view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment; and
FIG. 6 shows an illustrative exploded sectional view of a mating connector according to an exemplary embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to the attached drawings, wherein the like reference numerals refer to the like elements. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiment set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.
In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a connector 1 is disclosed. The connector 1 includes a housing 10, a flexible circuit board 11, and a first sealant 12. The housing 10 is formed with a slot 101 and a first glue filling cavity 103 communicated with the slot 101. The flexible circuit board 11 is inserted into the housing 10 through the slot 101. The first sealant 12 is formed by glue filled into the first glue filling cavity 103 and the slot 101. The glue is filled into the first glue filling cavity 103 and flows into the slot 101. The first sealant 12 is bonded with the flexible circuit board 11 and the housing 10 to achieve sealing between the flexible circuit board 11 and the housing 10. In this way, it is possible to prevent water vapor from entering the housing 10 through the gap between the flexible circuit board 11 and the housing 10.
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, in the illustrated embodiments, the connector 1 further comprises a sealing ring 13, which is mounted on the housing 10 and is suitable for being compressed between the outer peripheral surface of the housing 10 and the inner peripheral surface of the mating housing 20 of the mating connector 2, for achieving sealing between the housing 10 and the mating housing 20. In this way, it is possible to prevent water vapor from entering the housing 10 and the mating housing 20 through the gap between the housing 10 and the mating housing 20.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, in the illustrated embodiments, the connector 1 comprises two flexible circuit boards 11, which are spaced apart in the height direction of the housing 10 and overlap with each other. There are two slots 101 formed in the housing 10, and two flexible circuit boards 11 are respectively inserted into the housing 10 through two slots 101.
As shown in FIG. 4, in the illustrated embodiments, the housing 10 has a front housing portion 10a and a rear housing portion 10b opposite to each other in its axial direction, and a receiving chamber 102 is formed in the front housing portion 10a that allows for the insertion of a tongue portion 20c of the mating housing 20. The slot 101 is formed in the rear housing portion 10b and communicated with the receiving chamber 102 to allow the flexible circuit board 11 to be inserted into the receiving chamber 102 through the slot 101.
As shown in FIG. 4, in the illustrated embodiments, a sealing ring installation groove 10c is formed on the outer surface of the front housing portion 10a, and the sealing ring 13 is installed in the sealing ring installation groove 10c.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the illustrated embodiments, the receiving chamber 102 of the front housing portion 10a has a pair of opposite inner wall surfaces in the height direction of the housing 10, and the front ends of two flexible circuit boards 11 are respectively pressed against the pair of inner wall surfaces of the receiving chamber 102 for electrical contact with two rows of terminals 21 on the front and back sides of the tongue portion 20c inserted into the receiving chamber 102.
As shown in FIG. 2, in the illustrated embodiments, an elastic buckle 14 is formed on the top wall of the housing 10, and the elastic buckle 14 has a snap slot 14a suitable for engagement with the protrusion 24a formed on the mating housing 20 of the mating connector 2 to lock connector 1 and mating connector 2 in the mating state.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a connector assembly is also disclosed. This connector assembly includes a connector 1 and a mating connector 2. The mating connector 2 is mated with the connector 1.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the illustrated embodiments, the mating connector 2 includes a mating housing 20, at least one row of terminals 21, and a second sealant 22. The mating housing 20 is formed with at least one row of sockets 204 and a second glue filling cavity 203 communicated with the at least one row of sockets 204, as shown in FIG. 6. At least one row of terminals 21 is inserted into the mating housing 20 through at least one row of sockets 204. The second sealant 22 is formed by the glue filled into the second glue filling cavity 203 and the sockets 204. The glue is filled into the second glue filling cavity 203 and flows into the sockets 204. The second sealant 22 is bonded to the terminals 21 and the mating housing 20 to achieve sealing between the terminals 21 and the mating housing 20. In this way, it can prevent water vapor from entering the mating housing 20 through the gap between the terminals 21 and the mating housing 20.
As shown in FIG. 4, in the illustrated embodiments, the mating housing 20 includes an outer peripheral wall 20a surrounding an inner cavity 201. The front housing portion 10a of connector 1 is inserted into the inner cavity 201 of the mating housing 20, and the seal ring 13 of the connector 1 is radially compressed between the outer peripheral surface of the front housing portion 10a and the inner peripheral surface of the mating housing 20, as shown in FIG. 3.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, in the illustrated embodiments, the mating housing 20 further comprises an end wall 20b connected to the front end of the outer wall 20a, the second glue filling cavity 203 and the socket 204 are formed in the end wall 20b of the mating housing 20 and communicated with the inner cavity 201.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, in the illustrated embodiments, the mating housing 20 further includes a tongue portion 20c, which is located in the inner cavity 201 and connected to the end wall 20b. The terminal 21 includes an elastic arm 21a which is positioned in the positioning groove 202 formed on the tongue portion 20c. The tongue part 20c is inserted into the receiving chamber 102 of the front housing portion 10a, and the elastic arm 21a of the terminal 21 is in electrical contact with the flexible circuit board 11.
As shown in FIG. 6, in the illustrated embodiments, the terminal 21 includes a first fixing part 21b, a second fixing part 21c, and a soldering leg 21d. The first fixing part 21b is fixed in the end wall 20b of the mating housing 20. The second fixing part 21c is fixed in the second sealant 22. The soldering leg 21d is exposed from the bottom of the second sealant 22 and is used for soldering to a circuit board. The first fixing part 21b extends along the longitudinal direction of the mating housing 20, the second fixing part 21c extends along the height direction of the mating housing 20, the first fixing part 21b is connected between the elastic arm 21a and the second fixing part 21c, and the second fixing part 21c is connected between the first fixing part 21b and the soldering leg 21d.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, in the illustrated embodiments, the mating connector 2 comprises an upper row of terminals 21 and a lower row of terminals 21 adjacent to the upper row of terminals 21. A row of positioning slots 202 is formed on the front and back sides of the tongue portion 20c, respectively. The elastic arms 21a of the upper row of terminals 21 are positioned in the row of positioning slots 202 on the front side of the tongue portion 20c, and the elastic arms 21a of the lower row of terminals 21 are positioned in the row of positioning slots 202 on the back side of the tongue portion 20c.
As shown in FIG. 2, in the illustrated embodiments, a protrusion 24a is formed on the top surface of the mating housing 20, which engages with the snap slot 14a of the elastic buckle 14 on the top wall of the housing 10 to lock the connector 1 and the mating connector 2 in the mating state.
In the aforementioned exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the sealant formed by the glue filled into the housing can achieve sealing between the flexible circuit board and the housing, resulting in a higher waterproof level of the connector, such as achieving the waterproof requirements of IP67 or IP68.
It should be appreciated for those skilled in this art that the above embodiments are intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, many modifications may be made to the above embodiments by those skilled in this art, and various features described in different embodiments may be freely combined with each other without conflicting in configuration or principle.
Although several exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
As used herein, an element recited in the singular and preceded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural of said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present invention are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property.
Patent Application
20250141151
