BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements in the figures and in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but viewed from another aspect;
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a corresponding plug for mating with the electrical connector;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an electrical connector assembly before mating the corresponding plug with the electrical connector; and
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the electrical connector assembly of the electrical connector and the plug.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, an electrical connector 100 mounted on a printed circuit board 7 (PCB, shown in FIG. 6) for mating with a corresponding plug 200. The electrical connector 100 comprises an insulative housing 1, a plurality of contacts 2 retained in the insulative housing 1 and a metal shield 3 enclosing the insulative housing 1. The electrical connector 100 in the preferred embodiment is a RF electrical connector.
Further referring to FIG. 4 in conjuction with FIGS. 2 and 3, the insulative housing 1 includes a rear portion 11, a first and a second side portion 12, 17 extending forwardly from opposite lateral sides of the rear portion 11, and a receiving space 18 disposed between the first and second side portions 12, 17. The rear portion 11 has a front face 111, a pair of first and second tongue plates 13, 14 integrally projecting forwardly from middle of the front face 111 and extending into the receiving space 18. The first and second tongue plates 13, 14 are probably of the same configuration and disposed parallel to each other. The first and second tongue plates 13, 14 are aligned with each other along a vertical direction, wherein the first tongue plate 13 is positioned over the second tongue plate 14. The metal shield 3 has a mating face (not labeled) at a front end thereof. The first and second tongue plates 13, 14 have a distal end (not labeled) located in the receiving space 18, wherein the distance between the distal end and the mating face is farther than that of the distal end and the front face 111 of the rear portion 11. A horizontal mating slot 15 is disposed between and separates the first and second tongue plates 13, 14. The first and second tongue plates 13, 14 respectively define a plurality of first and second passageways 131, 141 for receiving the contacts 2 therein. The first passageways 131 are aligned with corresponding second passageways 141 in the vertical direction. The second tongue plate 14 has a guiding face 142 with the second passageways 141 recessed therein. The rear portion 11 has a plurality of mounting holes (not labeled) respectively communication with the first and second passageways 131, 141 for the contacts 2 assembled through the mounting holes. The rear portion 11 further has a pair of engaging plates 16 on a lower position thereof for abutting against the metal shield 3. Each engaging plate 16 has a post 161 receivable in a hole (not shown) of the PCB 7 for fixing the electrical connector on the PCB 7. A pair of triangle-shaped wedges 122, 172 are formed on opposite inner surfaces of the first and second side portions 12, 17. The wedges 122, 172 connect with the front face 111 of the rear portion 11 to enhance a reliable configuration of the insulative housing 1 for mating with the corresponding plug 200. The wedges 122, 172 are respectively located adjacent to the opposite lateral sides of the tongue plates 13, 14. The first and second side portions 12, 17 comprise a pair of upper wing protrusions 121, 171 which face to each other and extend inwardly into the receiving space 18. The wing protrusions 121, 171 and the wedges 122, 172 are adapted for preventing improper connectors inserted into the electrical connector 100. Besides, the wing protrusions 121, 171 respectively define a slant wall 1211, 1711 communicating with the receiving space 18 and a rib 1212, 1712 on upper surfaces thereof for enhancing the connection with the metal shield 3. The slant walls 1211, 1711 are adapted for guiding the corresponding plug 200 smoothly inserted into the electrical connector 100.
The contacts 2 are stamped from a metal sheet for easily manufacturing. Each contact 2 is Z-shaped and comprises a flat body portion 21, a forked portion 22 extending forwardly from a first end of the body portion 21, and a horizontal soldering tail 23 extending rearwardly from a second end of the body portion 21 to be surfaced mounted to the PCB 7. The forked portion 22 includes an upper and a lower sections 221, 222 respectively received in the first and second passageways 131, 132. An upper surface of the lower section 222 is coplanar with the guiding face 142 for easily insertion of the plug 200. The upper section 221 has a contact portion 2211 at a distal end thereof and extending into the mating slot 15. The body portion 21 further has a plurality of barbs 211 for interference engaging with the first passageways 131. The electrical connector 100 can transmit multiple signals simultaneously with the plurality of contacts 2.
The metal shield 3 includes a top wall 31, an opposite bottom wall 32, a pair of side walls 33 connecting the top and bottom walls 31, 32, and a rear wall (not labeled) connecting the rear edge of the top wall 31 and cooperating with the pair of side walls 33. The soldering tails 23 are located inside the rear wall, which means the soldering tails 23 don't extend beyond the rear wall. The top and bottom walls 31, 32 respectively have a pair of engaging fingers 311, 321 stamped therefrom and slantly extending into the receiving space 18 for mating with the plug 200. The top wall 31 further includes a grounding finger 312 disposed between the corresponding engaging fingers 311. The grounding finger 312 is substantially narrower and longer than the engaging fingers 311 of the top wall 31. The grounding finger 312 comprises a free end located nearer to the rear edge of the top wall 31 than those of the engaging fingers 311. The side walls 33 further include a pair of soldering portions 331 extending outwardly to be soldered to the PCB 7.
Referring to FIG. 5, the plug 200 includes an insulator 4, a frame 5 protruding forwardly from the insulator 4 and a cable 6 electrically connecting the frame 5. The upper portion of the frame 5 is partially cut to form a pair of inclined edges for mating with the slant walls 1211, 1711 of the wing protrusions 121, 171. The frame 5 comprises a tongue portion 51, a plurality of pads 52 supported on the tongue portion 51 and a rectangle-shaped shell 53 enclosing the tongue portion 51. The shell 53 comprises a top wall 531, an opposite bottom wall and a pair of side walls 532. The top wall 531 defines a couple of engaging holes 5311 for mating with the corresponding engaging fingers 311. Each side wall 532 defines an inclined depress 54 extending inwardly thereof for receiving the wedges 122, 172.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, when the plug 200 is inserted into the electrical connector 100, the frame 5 is received in the receiving space 18 and the tongue portion 51 is inserted into the mating slot 15. The wedges 122, 172 of the first and second side portions 12, 17 are accommodated in the depresses 54. The upper sections 221 of the contacts 2 are elastically deformed in the first passageways 131 to electrically connecting with the pads 52 for transmitting RF signals received by an antenna to the PCB 7.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous, characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set fourth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosed is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of number, shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Patent Application
20080032552
