BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an assembled view of an electrical connector in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the case shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a side view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 1;
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the present invention in detail.
Referring to FIGS. 1-2, an electrical connector assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a camera module 3, a printed circuit board 2, a generally rectangular metal case 4, and a flexible circuit board 5 for bearing the camera module 3 thereon, and a board to board connector 6 attached one end of the flexible circuit board 5, and a reinforce plate 7 attached below the flexible circuit board 5.
Referring to FIG. 3, the metal case 4 is punched into shape by a metal plate and comprises a first sidewall 43, a pair of opposite second sidewalls 42 connecting with the first sidewall 43, and a pair of third sidewalls 44 connecting with corresponding the second sidewalls 42 respectively and a bottom wall 41 connecting with the first, second and third sidewalls 43, 42, 44. The first, second third sidewalls 43, 42, 44 and the bottom wall 40 are cooperative to provide an upper receiving cavity 40 for receiving the camera module 3 therein. A plurality of elastic pads 46 respectively inwardly and slantly extends from upper positions of the first and second sidewalls 43, 42 for securely engaging with the camera module 3. The case 4 further defines a pair of openings 422 beside the elastic pads 46 of the second sidewalls 42, and a pair of bended arms 423 downwardly extending from an upper end of the second sidewall 42, a bridge portion 424 extending from free ends of the bended arms 423 and connecting the bended arms 423 therebetween, an anchoring portion 425 downwardly extending from the bridge portion 424. The first sidewall 43 defines a plurality of elastic pads 46 spaced each other and extending through the receiving room respectively. The third sidewalls 44 with the bottom wall 41 cooperatively form a receiving slot for receiving the flexible circuit board 5 therein, and each third sidewall 44 defines the elastic pads 46 punched therefrom and extending inwardly for interfering contacting with camera module 3. The first sidewall 43 and third sidewall 44 each define a pair of securing members 47 each comprising a planar body 473 horizontally extending from the corresponding sidewall and an inserting portion. The inserting portion comprises a locking portion 471 upwardly extending from the planar body 473, and a pair of leading portions 470 extending from an upper end of the locking portion 471 and spaced each other, and a channel 472 formed between the leading portions 470. The leading portion 470 is configured as triangle shape and the locking portion 471 is formed as a descending size in a top to bottom direction. The widest portion of the locking portion 471 is an adjoining position between the leading portion 470 and the locking portion 471. The leading portion 470, the locking portion 471 and the channel 472 cooperatively form an inserting portion for inserting into the printed circuit board 2.
Referring to FIG. 2, the printed circuit board 2 defines a concave 22 for receiving the camera module 3 therein, a number of passageways 21 for receiving the securing portion 47 therein, the passageways 21 are plated with conducive materials, which makes the securing member inserted therein have conductive earth effect.
The camera module 3 is in a rectangular shape and comprises a pair of projections 320 extending from front and rear sidewalls, when the camera module is mounted into the receiving room 40 of the case 4, the anchoring portion 425 of the case is abutting against the projections 320 which prevent the camera module 3 from escaping off. In addition, the camera module 3 defines a number of conductive points on a bottom thereof. The flexible circuit board 5 comprises a first end 51 and second end 52, and a connecting portion 53 connecting the first end 51 with the second end 52. The first end 51 and the second end 52 define a same width, which is wider than that of the connecting portion 53. The first end 51 defines a number of conductive pads 510 corresponding to the pads of the camera module 3. When the camera module 3 is soldered to the first end 51 of the flexible circuit board 5 and then both are received into the receiving room 40 of the case 4, the first end 51 is sandwiched by the camera module 3 and the bottom wall 41 of the case 4. Then the board-to-board connector 6 is soldered to an upper surface of the second end 52, in addition, the reinforce plate 7 is attached below the flexible circuit board 5 to get a strengthened structure.
Referring to FIGS. 4-5, in assembly, the camera module 3 is firstly electrically mounted onto the first end 51 of the flexible circuit board 5, then the camera module 3 attached with the flexible circuit board 5 is inserted into the receiving room 40 of the case 4 in an upper-to-bottom direction, wherein a lower surface of the anchoring portion 425 of the case 4 is abutting against an upper surface of the projection 320, and the elastic pads 46 interfering engaging with sidewalls of the camera module 3. The opening 45 of the third sidewall is defined just enough for the connecting portion 53 of the flexible circuit board 5 passing through, and the first end 51 of the flexible circuit board 5 is enveloped by the first sidewall 43, the second sidewalls 42 and the third sidewalls 44 rightly. Then the camera module 3 with the first end 51 of the flexible circuit board 5 is assembled to the receiving room 40 of the case 4. Successively, the board to board connector 6 is mounted on the upper surface of the flexible circuit board 5, the reinforce plate 6 is attached below the second end 52 of the flexible circuit board 5, then the case 4 assembled the flexible circuit board 5 with the board to board connector 6 and the camera module 3 all mounted on to the printed circuit board 2 with securing portion 47 of the case 4 inserted into the passageways 21 of the printed circuit board 2. At the moment, the electrical connector assemble 1 are assembled. In addition, the securing portion 47 and passageways 21 can be plated solder plate for getting a tight engagement.
The case 4 assembled the camera module 3 is attached to the printed circuit board 2 by the securing portions 47, hence decreasing the accuracy of mate between the components and cost used thereof. In addition, the passageways 21 can be plated conductive materials, and the conductive earth effect realized by the engagement between the locking portion 471 and the passageways 21 cooperatively provides a static electricity screening effect.
The leading portions 470 defined on the securing portions 47 make the metal case 4 easily insert into the passageways 21 of the printed circuit board 2 and the channel 472 between the leading portions 470 can provide a good flexibility thereof and the planar portion 473 can provide a good engagement between the metal case 4 and the printed circuit board 2.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various alterations and modifications can be made to the embodiments without in any way departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.
Patent Application
20080026626
