Patent Application
20240204440
The present disclosure relates to an electrical connector, which belongs to a technical field of connectors.
An existing electrical connector includes an insulating body and a plurality of terminal modules installed to the insulating body. The plurality of terminal modules include a first terminal module and a second terminal module. The first terminal module usually includes a first insulating block and a plurality of first conductive terminals. The second terminal module usually includes a second insulating block and a plurality of second conductive terminals. Each first conductive terminal usually includes a first fixing portion insert-molded with the first insulating block, a first elastic arm extending from the first fixing portion, and a first fixing leg extending from the first fixing portion.
In order to improve the structural strength of the first conductive terminal so as to improve the reliability when mated with a mating module, a portion of the first fixing portion of the first conductive terminal embedded in the first insulating block is usually designed to be longer. The problem brought by this design is that the overall length of the first insulating block is relatively long, which is not beneficial to miniaturization of the electrical connector.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide an electrical connector with high structural reliability and easy to realize miniaturization.
In order to achieve the above object, the present disclosure adopts the following technical solution: an electrical connector, including: a first terminal module including a first insulating block and a plurality of first conductive terminals fixed to the first insulating block, at least one of the first conductive terminals including a cantilever-shaped first elastic arm extending beyond the first insulating block and a supporting portion extending from the first elastic arm, the first elastic arm including a first mating portion protruding forwardly along a mating direction and upwardly relative to the mating direction, the supporting portion being connected to the first mating portion; wherein the supporting portion is exposed from the first insulating block, and the electrical connector further includes a supporting block located behind the supporting portion along the mating direction and abutting against the supporting portion.
In order to achieve the above object, the present disclosure adopts the following technical solution: an electrical connector, including: an insulating body, defining a mating slot configured to receive a mating module; a first terminal module, at least partially received in the insulating body, the first terminal module including a first insulating block and a plurality of first conductive terminals insert-molded with the first insulating block, at least one of the first conductive terminals including a first elastic arm, the first elastic arm including a first mating portion and a first end portion connected to the first mating portion, the first mating portion protruding into the mating slot; and a second terminal module, at least partially received in the insulating body, the second terminal module including a second insulating block and a plurality of second conductive terminals insert-molded with the second insulating block, at least one of the second conductive terminals including a second elastic arm, the second elastic arm including a second mating portion and a second end portion connected to the second mating portion, the second mating portion protruding into the mating slot; wherein at least one of the first conductive terminals includes a supporting portion extending from the first elastic arm, the supporting portion is exposed from the first insulating block, the electrical connector further includes a supporting block located behind the supporting portion along a mating direction and abutting against the supporting portion.
In order to achieve the above object, the present disclosure adopts the following technical solution: an electrical connector, including: an insulating body, defining a mating slot configured to receive a mating module; a first terminal module, at least partially received in the insulating body, the first terminal module including a first insulating block and a plurality of first conductive terminals fixed to the first insulating block, at least one of the first conductive terminals including a cantilever-shaped first elastic arm which includes a first mating portion and a first end portion connected to the first mating portion, the first mating portion protruding into the mating slot; and a second terminal module, at least partially received in the insulating body, the second terminal module including a second insulating block and a plurality of second conductive terminals fixed to the second insulating block, at least one of the second conductive terminals including a cantilever-shaped second elastic arm which includes a second mating portion and a second end portion connected to the second mating portion, the second mating portion protruding into the mating slot; wherein the first elastic arm and the second elastic arm are disposed at intervals along a mating direction; wherein the first insulating block includes a partition wall extending along a transverse direction perpendicular to the mating direction; the first elastic arm and the second elastic arm are separated by the partition wall; the partition wall defines a receiving groove in which the second end portion is received; and wherein at least one of the first conductive terminals includes a supporting portion extending from the first elastic arm, the supporting portion is exposed from the first insulating block, the electrical connector further includes a supporting block located behind the supporting portion along the mating direction and abutting against the supporting portion.
Compared with the prior art, at least one of the first conductive terminals disclosed in the present disclosure includes the supporting portion. The supporting portion is exposed from the first insulating block, thereby shortening the length of the first insulating block. The electrical connector further includes a supporting block located behind the supporting portion along the mating direction and abutting against the supporting portion. By providing the supporting block, the structural reliability of the first conductive terminal is improved.
Exemplary embodiments will be described in detail here, examples of which are shown in drawings. When referring to the drawings below, unless otherwise indicated, same numerals in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The examples described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. Rather, they are merely examples of devices and methods consistent with some aspects of the application as detailed in the appended claims.
The terminology used in this application is only for the purpose of describing particular embodiments, and is not intended to limit this application. The singular forms “a”, “said”, and “the” used in this application and the appended claims are also intended to include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates other meanings.
It should be understood that the terms “first”, “second” and similar words used in the specification and claims of this application do not represent any order, quantity or importance, but are only used to distinguish different components. Similarly, “an” or “a” and other similar words do not mean a quantity limit, but mean that there is at least one; “multiple” or “a plurality of” means two or more than two. Unless otherwise noted, “front”, “rear”, “lower” and/or “upper” and similar words are for ease of description only and are not limited to one location or one spatial orientation. Similar words such as “include” or “comprise” mean that elements or objects appear before “include” or “comprise” cover elements or objects listed after “include” or “comprise” and their equivalents, and do not exclude other elements or objects. The term “a plurality of” mentioned in the present disclosure includes two or more.
Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the case of no conflict, the following embodiments and features in the embodiments can be combined with each other.
Referring to
The electrical connector 100 includes an insulating body 1, a terminal module 2 at least partially received in the insulating body 1, and a metal shell 3 enclosing the insulating body 1.
Referring to
The insulating body 1 includes a mating surface 101 and a mounting surface 102. In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the mating surface 101 is located at a front end, and the mounting surface 102 is located at a rear end. The mating slot 10 extends forwardly through the mating surface 101. The insulating housing 1 further includes an installation space 103 extending backwardly through the mounting surface 102. The electrical connector 100 includes a spacer 104 which divides the mating slot 10 into a first mating slot 10a and a second mating slot 10b with different widths, so as to play a certain degree of foolproof function. In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the spacer 104 and the insulating body 1 are integrally formed. The spacer 104 is connected between the first wall portion 11 and the second wall portion 12. Of course, in other embodiments, the spacer 104 can also be provided separately from the insulating body 1. The spacer 104 may be metal or plastic. The spacer 104 is adapted to be received in the notch 302 of the mating module 300.
The first wall portion 11 includes a plurality of first positioning grooves 111 communicating with the mating slot 10. The first positioning grooves 111 are arranged side by side along a transverse direction N-N (i.e., a left-right direction) perpendicular to the mating direction M. The first positioning grooves 111 do not extend forwardly through the mating surface 101.
Similarly, the second wall portion 12 includes a plurality of second positioning grooves (not shown) communicating with the mating slot 10. The second positioning grooves are arranged side by side along the transverse direction N-N. The second positioning grooves do not extend forwardly through the mating surface 101. In addition, the second wall portion 12 further includes a guiding bar 122 protruding upwardly, and the guiding bar 122 extends along the mating direction M.
The metal shell 3 is roughly sleeve-shaped and includes a top wall 31, a bottom wall 32 and two side walls 33. The top wall 31 includes a raised portion 311 and a cavity 312 located in the raised portion 311. Referring to
Referring to
Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the lower terminal module 20a includes a first terminal module 21 and a second terminal module 22. The first terminal module 21 and the second terminal module 22 are at least partially received in the insulating body 1. The first terminal module 21 includes a first insulating block 211 and a plurality of first conductive terminals 212 fixed to the first insulating block 211. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first conductive terminals 212 are insert-molded with the first insulating block 211. Of course, in other embodiments, the first conductive terminals 212 may also be fixed to the first insulating block 211 by means of assembly or the like.
The first insulating block 211 includes a plurality of receiving grooves 2111 and a plurality of partitions 2112. The receiving grooves 2111 are arranged side by side along the transverse direction N-N. The partitions 2112 are arranged at intervals along the transverse direction N-N.
In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the first conductive terminals 212 includes a first elastic arm 2121, a supporting portion 2122 extending from the first elastic arm 2121, and a first fixing tail 2123. The first elastic arm 2121 has a first mating portion 2121a and a first end portion 2121b connected to the first mating portion 2121a. The first mating portion 2121a and the first end portion 2121b protrude forwardly beyond the first insulating block 211. The first end portion 2121b is received in a corresponding first positioning groove 111. That is, the first end portion 2121b is hidden in the first wall portion 11. This arrangement can prevent the mating module 300 from being inserted into a bottom side of the first end portion 2121b, thereby damaging the first elastic arm 2121.
The first mating portion 2121a protrudes upwardly into the mating slot 10 to be electrically connected with the mating module 300. The first fixing tails 2123 are adapted for being soldered or welded to the circuit board 200. In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the first fixing tails 2123 are soldered or welded to the circuit board 200 by solder balls or welding devices.
In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the supporting portion 2122 is exposed from the first insulating block 211. This arrangement shortens the length of the first insulating block 211 that needs to cover the first conductive terminals 212, which is beneficial to the miniaturization of the electrical connector 100. The electrical connector 100 further includes a supporting block 4 located behind the supporting portion 2122 along the mating direction M and abutting against the supporting portion 2122. In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the supporting block 4 and the first insulating block 211 are integrally formed to save cost and improve reliability. Of course, in other embodiments, the supporting block 4 can also be arranged separately from the first insulating block 211, and the supporting block 4 is fixed to the first insulating block 211.
Specifically, the supporting portion 2122 is formed by bending the first elastic arm 2121. The supporting portion 2122 includes a first end surface 2122a (i.e., a front end surface) disposed along the mating direction M and a second end surface 2122b (i.e., a rear end surface) opposite to the first end surface 2122a. The first end surface 2122a is exposed from the first insulating block 211. The supporting block 4 abuts against the second end surface 2122b. Compared with the prior art, when the first insulating block 211 is shortened in the present disclosure, by setting the supporting block 4 to limit the first elastic arm 2121, it is possible to avoid improper squeezing of the first conductive terminal 212 when the mating module 300 is inserted. This configuration improves the structural reliability of the first conductive terminal 212. The first end surface 2122a and the second end surface 2122b of the supporting portion 2122 are both perpendicular to the mating direction M. Referring to
The second terminal module 22 includes a second insulating block 221 and a plurality of second conductive terminals 222 fixed to the second insulating block 221. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second conductive terminals 222 are insert-molded with the second insulating block 221. Of course, in other embodiments, the second conductive terminals 222 may also be fixed to the second insulating block 221 by means of assembly or the like.
In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the second conductive terminals 222 includes a second elastic arm 2221 and a second fixing tail 2223 extending from the second insulating block 221. The second elastic arm 2221 includes a second mating portion 2221a and a second end portion 2221b connected to the second mating portion 2221a. The second end portion 2221b is received in the receiving groove 2111. The second mating portion 2221a protrudes upwardly into the mating slot 10 to be electrically connected with the mating module 300. Two adjacent second elastic arms 2221 along the transverse direction N-N are separated by one partition 2112 located between the two second elastic arms 2221. The second fixing tails 2223 are adapted for being soldered or welded with the circuit board 200. In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the second fixing tails 2223 are soldered or welded to the circuit board 200 by solder balls or welding devices.
The first mating portions 2121a are arranged in a first row, and the second mating portions 2221a are arranged in a second row parallel to the first row. The first elastic arms 2121 and the second elastic arms 2221 are arranged in a front-to-back alignment along the mating direction M.
The first terminal module 21 and the second terminal module 22 are assembled with each other along an installation direction parallel to the mating direction M. The first insulating block 211 and the second insulating block 221 are provided with a groove 2114 and a protrusion 2214 which are mutually matched with each other so as to prevent the first terminal module 21 and the second terminal module 22 from being separated from each other in a direction (i.e., a vertical direction) perpendicular to the mating direction M. Referring to
The upper terminal module 20b and the lower terminal module 20a are symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the mating slot 10. Preferably, the upper terminal module 20b and the lower terminal module 20a can be shared so as to save costs.
Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the upper terminal module 20b includes a third terminal module 23 and a fourth terminal module 24. The third terminal module 23 includes a third insulating block 231 and a plurality of third conductive terminals 232 fixed to the third insulating block 231. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the third conductive terminals 232 are insert-molded with the third insulating block 231. Of course, in other embodiments, the third conductive terminals 232 may also be fixed to the third insulating block 231 by means of assembly or the like.
In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the third conductive terminals 232 includes a third elastic arm 2321 and a third fixing tail 2323. The third elastic arm 2321 includes a third mating portion 2321a. The third mating portion 2321a protrudes downwardly into the mating slot 10 to be electrically connected with the mating module 300.
The fourth terminal module 24 includes a fourth insulating block 241 and a plurality of fourth conductive terminals 242 fixed to the fourth insulating block 241. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the fourth conductive terminals 242 are insert-molded with the fourth insulating block 241. Of course, in other embodiments, the fourth conductive terminals 242 may also be fixed to the fourth insulating block 241 by means of assembly or the like.
In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the fourth conductive terminals 242 includes a fourth elastic arm 2421 and a fourth fixing tail 2423. The fourth elastic arm 2421 includes a fourth mating portion 2421a. The fourth mating portion 2421a protrudes downwardly into the mating slot 10 to be electrically connected with the mating module 300.
The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present disclosure and not to limit the technical solutions described in the present disclosure. The understanding of this specification should be based on those skilled in the art. Descriptions of directions, although they have been described in detail in the above-mentioned embodiments of the present disclosure, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can still be made to the application, and all technical solutions and improvements that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the application should be covered by the claims of the application.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202120901625.0 | Apr 2021 | CN | national |
This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/728,163, filed on Apr. 25, 2022, which claims priority of a Chinese Patent Application No. 202120901625.0, filed on Apr. 28, 2021 and titled “ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR”, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17728163 | Apr 2022 | US |
| Child | 18588254 | US |
