1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an electrical connector, an electronic apparatus using the same, and an assembling method of the electrical connector; particularly, the present invention relates to a terminal structure of an electrical connector having better contact elasticity.
2. Description of the Related Art
Presently, the development of signal transmission standards of Universal Serial Bus (USB) has reached USB version (3.0). Electrical connectors in compliance with USB 3.0 standards not only can selectively electrically connect a USB 3.0 complementary electrical connector, but may also selectively electrically connect electrical connectors in compliance with USB 1.0/2.0 standards so that signal transmissions complying with the USB 1.0/2.0 standards may be conducted. In order to allow the USB 3.0 electrical connector to be compatible with USB 1.0/2.0 standards, the USB 3.0 electrical connector has a structure with a plurality of terminal sets. For instance, there may be at least a set of terminals for transmitting USB 1.0/2.0 signals, and a set of terminals for transmitting USB 3.0 signals.
Some examples of conventional USB 3.0 electrical connectors, such as Taiwan patent M346198, M346941, M348358, M357776, M366783, M370859, M376015, M405081, 200945689, 201125228, 201112540, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,972,151, U.S. Pat. No. 7,927,145, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,833,065, are primarily featured with a plurality of structures of terminals, an insulation body for carrying the structures of terminals, and a metallic shielding casing to house the insulation body. Due to the fact that the insulation body includes a plurality of discrete plastic elements, each discrete element needs to be manufactured individually and then assembled together in order to secure the aforementioned structures of terminals in the different layers within the assembled insulation body. However, this type of complicated and small-dimensional structure would not only require the use of many different molds to manufacture, the assembly tolerance and the difficulties involved in the assembling process would also be increased and cause the product yield to be decreased, which results in higher manufacturing costs. In addition, each USB 3.0 terminal of the mentioned structure of plurality of terminal sets includes a contact section whose surface evenly contact or is fixed on a wall surface of a corresponding passage on the insulation body so that there is no elasticity for mating. In this manner, when corresponding terminals of a complementary electrical connector is inserted into the conventional USB 3.0 electrical connectors to press against another corresponding surface of those contact sections, since the terminals lack any elasticity for buffering purposes, the structure of the USB 3.0 terminals is likely to be damaged by the direct strike during mating.
In other conventional USB 3.0 electrical connectors, such as Taiwan Patents M329880, M329877, M359066, M366792, M379191, 200910693, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,517,253, U.S. Pat. No. 7,625,243, U.S. Pat. No. 7,641,519, U.S. Pat. No. 7,736,184, U.S. Pat. No. 7,806,704, U.S. Pat. No. 7,806,735, U.S. Pat. No. 7,833,065, U.S. Pat. No. 7,837,510, U.S. Pat. No. 7,862,346, U.S. Pat. No. 8,002,589, U.S. Pat. No. 8,052,477, US2010/0322566, and US2011/0143599, although the complicated structure of the insulation body has been simplified slightly, the contact sections of the USB 3.0 terminals of the insulation body similarly includes a surface evenly contact or is fixed to a wall surface of a corresponding passage on the insulation body. When the corresponding terminals of the complementary electrical connector is inserted into the USB 3.0 electrical connector to electrically contact another corresponding surface of these contact sections, the structure of the USB 3.0 terminals is similarly likely to be damaged by the direct strike.
In order to solve the above problem of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector featured with a terminal structure comprising an elastic contact section and at least one elastic/non-elastic support section. When the corresponding terminals of a complementary electrical connector electrically contacts the elastic contact section, the at least one elastic/non-elastic support section may provide better contact elasticity so that damaging the terminal structure may be prevented.
In order to achieve the above objectives, a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an electrical connector for use in electrically connecting with a complementary electrical connector. The structure of the electronic connector includes a first terminal set, a second terminal set, an insulation body, and a positioning part.
The first terminal set includes a pair of first differential signal terminals and a pair of second differential signal terminals. The second terminal set includes a pair of third differential signal terminals. Each terminal of the first terminal set and the second terminal set has an elastic contact section, at least one elastic support section, at least one holding section, and a soldering pin section. For the first terminal set, two opposing sides of the elastic contact section respectively extend outward to form at least one wing section. For the first terminal set, the at least one elastic support section is connected to the elastic contact section, wherein at least a bend is formed at the connection point with the elastic contact section.
The insulation body has a base part and a mating part that extends outward from the base part to an end. A mating surface is formed on the mating part to correspond to the connection of the complementary connector. The insulation body comprises a plurality of first terminal set passages and a plurality of second terminal set passages to be respectively configured with the first terminal set and the second terminal set. The first terminal set passage and the second terminal set passage extend to the base part and mating part of the insulation body, wherein the first terminal set passage extends and passes through an end of the mating part, and at least one blocker is formed in at least one inner side wall of the first terminal set passage to correspond to at least one wing section of the first terminal set.
When the first terminal set and the second terminal set are respectively configured in the first terminal set passage and the second terminal set passage, at least one holding section of the first terminal set and the second terminal set separately fixes the first terminal set and the second terminal set in the first terminal set passage and the second terminal set passage of the insulation body. At least one elastic support section of the first terminal set is located in the first terminal set passage, and the elastic contact section of the first terminal set and the elastic contact section of the second terminal set is distributed on the mating surface of the mating part, wherein the distribution position of the elastic contact section of the first terminal set is closer to the end of the mating part than the distribution position of the elastic contact section of the second terminal set.
When the elastic contact section of the first terminal set of the electrical connector contacts the complimentary connector, at least one elastic support section of the first terminal set provides flexibility the elastic contact section of the first terminal set requires for the elastic contact section of the first terminal set to elastically move within the first terminal set passage. However, at least one blocker of the first terminal set passage will block the movement of the at least one wing section of the elastic contact section of the first terminal set, limiting the elastic movement distance of the elastic contact section of the first terminal set in the up or down directions. In the present embodiment, the at least one blocker of the first terminal set passage includes an upper blocker and a lower blocker. The upper blocker is used for blocking the movement of the at least one wing section within the first terminal set passage in the upward direction, limiting the upward elastic movement distance of the elastic contact section of the first terminal set. The lower blocker is used for blocking downward movement of the at least one wing section to limit the downward elastic movement distance of the elastic contact section of the first terminal set.
The positioning part is disposed on the base part of the insulation body, and the soldering pin section of the first terminal set and the soldering pin section of the second terminal set extend outward of the base part of the insulation body and pass through the positioning part.
According to another preferred embodiment of the electrical connector, the first terminal set further includes an elastic slice section which is a bend starting from the elastic contact section and extending towards the mating surface of the insulation body. The elastic slice section is used for contacting the complementary electrical connector.
According to another embodiment of the electrical connector, at least one bend of the first terminal set is exposed out of the end of the mating part of the insulation body.
According to yet another embodiment of the electrical connector, the at least one elastic support section of the first terminal set includes a first elastic support section and a second elastic support section. The second elastic support section is pre-compressed and connecting against a sidewall in the first terminal set passage. The at least one bend includes a first bend and a second bend, wherein the first bend is formed on the connection between the first elastic support section and the elastic contact section, and the second bend is formed on the connection between the second elastic support section and the elastic support section.
According to another embodiment of the electrical connector, each terminal of the first terminal set has an elastic contact section and at least one support section. A portion of the at least one support section is fixed within the first terminal set passage, wherein at least one bend is formed in the connection between the elastic contact section of the first terminal set and the at least one support section. In this manner, the elastic contact section of the first terminal set elastically moves within the first terminal set passage, using the connection between the elastic contact section and the at least one support section as a fulcrum. The two opposing sides of each elastic contact section of the first terminal set separately extend outward to form at least one wing section, and at least one blocker is formed in at least one inner sidewall of each first terminal set passage of the insulation body to correspond to the at least one wing section. When the first terminal set is accommodated in the corresponding first terminal set passage, at least one blocker of the first terminal set passage is used for limiting the movement of the at least one wing section of the first terminal set in a vertical direction such that the upward or downward elastic movement distance of the elastic contact section of the first terminal set is restricted, wherein the at least one blocker may also be used to limit movement of at least one support section of the first terminal set in a horizontal direction.
According to another embodiment of the electrical connector, the first terminal set having at least one support section includes an elastic slice section that is a bend formed in the elastic contact section and extends toward the mating surface. The elastic slice section is used for contacting a complementary electrical connector.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, an electronic device is provided that includes the various above mentioned embodiments of the electrical connector.
In addition, according to another embodiment, an assembling method of the electronic connector is provided and includes the following steps:
The first terminal set is loaded into the plurality of first terminal set passages from a first end of the insulation body, wherein the insulation body has a base part and a mating part, the mating part extends outward from the base part to the first end and the mating part comprises a mating surface, and the first terminal set passage has a pair of first differential signal terminals and a pair of second differential signal terminals.
A second terminal set is loaded into a plurality of second terminal set passages of the insulation body. The second terminal set has a pair of third differential signal terminals, wherein each terminal of the first terminal set and the second terminal set has an elastic contact section and at least one support section that is connected to the elastic contact section, and the elastic contact section of the first terminal set is distributed on the mating surface of the mating part. At least one support section of the first terminal set comprises at least one elastic support section. The at least one elastic support section is an elastic arm structure, wherein a portion of the elastic support section is connected against the wall surface of the first terminal set passage to provide elasticity such that the elastic contact section of the first terminal set may elastically move within the first terminal set passage. The elastic contact section of the second terminal set is distributed on the mating surface of the mating part, and the distribution position of the elastic contact section of the first terminal set is closer to the first end of the mating part than the distribution position of the elastic contact section of the second terminal set.
According to another embodiment of the assembling method of the electrical connector, the assembling method includes the following different step: loading the first terminal set into the plurality of first terminal set passages from a second end formed opposite the first end on the insulation body.
According to another embodiment of the assembling method of the electrical connector, the assembling method includes the following different step: when loading each of the first terminal set into the first terminal set passages, the at least one support section comprises a non-elastic support section, the at least one support section fixedly leans against a wall surface of the first terminal set, and a fulcrum is formed in the connection between the at least one support section and the elastic contact section of the first terminal set to make the elastic contact section of the first terminal set to elastically move into the first terminal set passage.
Each terminal structure includes an elastic contact section and at least one elastic/non-elastic support section. When corresponding terminals of a complementary electrical connector electrically contacts against the elastic contact section, the at least one elastic/non-elastic support section can provide better contact elasticity by producing elastic deformation or by providing the fulcrum in order to prevent damage from occurring to the terminal structure. According to the assembling method of the electrical connector, the above simplification of the insulation body structure is not only easy for assembling, it can also increase product yield such that manufacturing costs are decreased.
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The shielding housing 10 primarily is formed from four wall surfaces, wherein an accommodating space 12 is formed within the confines of the four wall surfaces for accommodating the insulation body 20. A hook 14 is formed recessing inwards on the left and right wall surfaces of the four wall surfaces.
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According to another embodiment of the present invention, an electronic device is provided with the mentioned embodiments of the electrical connector 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 installed therein. The electronic device may include laptop computers, tablet computers, mobile phones, digital cameras, handheld storages, and the like.
In addition, according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention, an assembling method of the electrical connector is provided. To facilitate better understanding of the assembling method, please refer to
From a front to back direction, the first terminal set 30 is respectively loaded into the plurality of first terminal set passages 242 from the front end 246 of the insulation body 20.
Then, the holding section 304 of the first terminal set 30 is fixed within the first terminal set passage 242 underneath the insulation body 20 such that the elastic support section 302 of the first terminal set 30 is positioned in the first terminal set passage 242. The position of the elastic contact section 300 of the first terminal set 30 is distributed on the mating surface 240 of the mating part 24 near the front end 246. In addition, the elastic contact section 300 of the first terminal set 30 is accommodated in the slit 2465 of the first terminal set passage 242, wherein the two wing sections 3002 of the elastic contact section 300 lies between the upper and lower blockers 2461, 2463 (ex. wing section 3002 pressing against the bottom of the upper blocker 2461). The mechanical structure formed between the elastic support section 302 and the elastic contact section 300 is akin to forming a cantilever structure. The elastic support section 302 will provide the left side of the elastic contact section 300 the required elasticity. Since the two wing sections 3002 of the elastic contact section 300 is limited to only be able to elastically move in the slit 2465 between pairs of the upper and lower blockers 2461, 2463 within the first terminal set passage 242. Therefore, the elastic contact section 300 of the first terminal set 30 will not extend overpasses the mating surface 240 of the mating part 24. The soldering pin section 306 extends along the vertical wall surface 2221 of the recessed portion 222 of the base part 22 and overpasses the horizontal wall surface 2223.
From a top to bottom direction, the second terminal set 40 is loaded into the plurality of second terminal set passages 244 from the above of the base part 20 and the mating surface 240 of the insulation body 20. Then, the plurality of vertical holding sections 404 and 405 of the second terminal set 40 is separately inserted and fixed in the front and back vertical second terminal set passages 244. The elastic contact section 400 of the second terminal set 40 extends outward and overpasses the mating surface 240 of the mating part 24, wherein the distribution position of the elastic contact section 300 of the first terminal set 30 is closer to the front end 246 of the mating part 24 than the distribution position of the elastic contact section 400 of the second terminal set 40 (as shown in
A pair of wedge blocks 54 of two opposites sides of the positioning part 50 is fastened to cavities (not shown) at two sides of the horizontal wall surface 2223 of the recessed portion 222 below the insulation body 20, such that the positioning part 50 is installed in the space formed by the recessed portion 222. In this instance, a plurality of sockets 52 of the positioning part 50 is used for letting the soldering pin section 306 of the first terminal set 30 and the soldering pin section 408 of the second terminal set 40 to pass through and to be positioned.
The insulation body 20 is accommodated in the accommodating space 12 of the shielding housing 10. Hooks 14 on two side wall surfaces of the shielding housing 10 are used to correspondingly to the left and right two sides of the base part 22 of the insulation body 20 so that the shielding housing 10 can be sleeved onto the insulation body 21.
In addition, according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention, an assembling method for an electrical connector is provided. To facilitate better understanding of the assembling method of the tenth embodiment, please refer to
From a back to front direction, the first terminal set 30 is respectively inserted and disposed into the plurality of first terminal set passages 242 from the back end of the insulation body 20 (i.e. at the vertical wall surface 2221 of the recessed portion 222 opposite the front end 246). Then, the holding section 304 is fixed in the first terminal set passage 242 below the insulation body 20, wherein the position of the elastic contact section 300 of the first terminal set 30 is distributed on the mating surface 240 of the mating part 24 close to the front end 246. In this instance, the elastic contact section 300 of the first terminal set 30 is accommodated in the slit 2465 of the first terminal set passage 242. The two wing sections (not shown) of the elastic contact section 300 lies between the upper blocker 2461 and the lower blocker 2463 within the first terminal set passage 242. At least one bend 3032 formed at the connection between the elastic contact section 300 and the second elastic support section 303′ is exposed at the front end 246 of the mating part 24 of the insulation body 20. Since the bottom end of the second elastic support section 303′ is preloaded and connected against the wall surface of the passage wall 2422 of the first terminal set passage 242, elasticity can be provided to the left side of the elastic contact section 300. In this manner, through the mechanical structure formed as an upward-downward moving cantilever between the first elastic support section 302′, the elastic contact section 300, and the second elastic support section 303′, the two sides of the elastic contact section 300 of the first terminal set 30 may more stably move within the first terminal set passage 242. In terms of the other steps, since they are the same as the ninth embodiment, they will not be further discussed here.
In addition, according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention, an assembling method for an electrical connector is provided. To facilitate better understanding of the assembling method of the tenth embodiment, please refer to
After the first terminal set 30 is loaded into the plurality of first terminal set passages 242, the at least one bend 3022 formed at the connection between the elastic support section 302 and the elastic contact section 300 is exposed at the front end 246 of the insulation body 20 while providing the required elasticity for the left side of the elastic contact section 300. In terms of the other steps, since they are the same as the ninth embodiment, they will not be further discussed here.
In addition, according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention, an assembling method for an electrical connector is provided. To facilitate better understanding of the assembling method of the tenth embodiment, please refer to
Along a back to front direction, the first terminal set 30 is respectively inserted and disposed within the first terminal set passages 242 from the back end of the insulation body 20 (i.e. vertical wall surface 2221 of the recessed portion 222). In terms of the other steps, since they are the same as the eleventh embodiment, they will not be further discussed here.
In addition, according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention, an assembling method for an electrical connector is provided. To facilitate better understanding of the assembling method of the tenth embodiment, please refer to
When loading the first terminal set 30 into the plurality of first terminal set passages 242, the non-elastic support section 302″ is fixedly connected against the lower blocker 2463 on the wall surface of the first terminal set passage 242 to form a non-elastic support section. By utilizing an orthogonal connection, such as the bend 3022, between the non-elastic support section 302″ and the elastic contact section 300 of the first terminal set 30, a rotational fulcrum is formed such that the elastic contact section 300 of the first terminal set 30 may elastically move within the first terminal set passage 242. In terms of the other steps, since they are the same as the ninth embodiment, they will not be further discussed here.
In summary of the above, the electrical connector and the electronic device including the electrical connector of the present invention can not only simplify the insulation body to decrease the usage quantity of molds to lower manufacturing costs, each terminal structure also includes an elastic contact section and at least one elastic/non-elastic support section. When the corresponding terminals of a complementary electrical connector are electrically contacting the elastic contact section, the at least one elastic/non-elastic support section can provide better contact elasticity or flexibility to prevent the terminals structure from sustaining damage. As well, according to the assembling method of the electrical connector of the present invention, through the simplification of the insulation body, the assembling is easier, which results in higher product yields and decreased manufacturing costs.
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, the above description is merely illustrative. Further modification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61586713 | Jan 2012 | US |