Patent Grant
10164379
This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on Patent Application No. 201510599513.3 filed in China, P.R.C. on 2015 Sep. 21, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The instant disclosure relates to an electrical connector, and more particular to an electrical receptacle connector.
Generally, Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a serial bus standard to the PC architecture with a focus on computer interface, consumer and productivity applications. The existing Universal Serial Bus (USB) interconnects have the attributes of plug-and-play and ease of use by end users. Now, as technology innovation marches forward, new kinds of devices, media formats and large inexpensive storage are converging. They require significantly more bus bandwidth to maintain the interactive experience that users have come to expect. In addition, the demand of a higher performance between the PC and the sophisticated peripheral is increasing. The transmission rate of USB 2.0 is insufficient. As a consequence, populations of faster serial bus interfaces such as USB 3.1, increase gradually, which may provide a higher transmission rate, e.g., up to 10 Gbs, so as to satisfy the need of a variety devices.
For a conventional USB connector, a plastic core (insulated housing) having a tongue portion is formed firstly followed by inserting terminals into the insulated housing. Alternatively, the terminals may be molded with the insulated housing by an insert-molding procedure. An outer shell encloses the insulated housing. The outer shell is provided for, mainly, shielding the electromagnetic waves generated by the terminals to prevent from noise interferences.
However, the front ends of the terminals of the conventional connector may be detached from the insulated housing easily because the connector is used improperly or when the connector is used for a long period. As a result, the connector may be damaged. Upon a connector is damaged, not only the motherboard has to be detached from the connector for replacement, but also the connector itself has to be replaced. Therefore, the cost for the repair of the connector is expensive.
In addition, a USB 3.1 connector can transmit a speed up to 10 Gbs. Therefore, it can be applied as the interface of a high frequency, a radiofrequency, a wireless, or a Bluetooth emitter. When only the outer shell is provided for shielding the electromagnetic waves, the shielding performance may be reduced because the gaps formed on the outer shell. As a result, when the connector is adapted for high frequency, radiofrequency, wireless, or Bluetooth signal transmission, the quality of the signals is undesirable.
Therefore, how to improve the plug-and-unplug durability of the connector as well as the shielding performance, how to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radiofrequency interference (RFI), and how to improve the efficacy and the life time of the product are issues.
In view of this, an embodiment of the instant disclosure provides an electrical receptacle connector. The electrical receptacle connector comprises a mount member, an insulated housing, a plurality of first receptacle terminals, a plurality of second receptacle terminals, and a shielding plate. The insulated housing is molded with the mount member and comprises a tongue portion extending along a direction. The first receptacle terminals are on the mount member and the insulated housing. Each of the first receptacle terminals comprises a first flat contact portion, a first body portion, and a first tail portion. The first body portions are held in the mount member. Each of the first flat contact portions is extending forward from the corresponding first body portion in the rear-to-front direction and protruding from the mount member, and each of the first tail portions is extending backward from the corresponding first body portion in the front-to-rear direction. The first flat contact portion is on a lower surface of the tongue portion, and front ends of the first flat contact portions are held in the tongue portion. The first tail portions are protruding from the mount member. The second receptacle terminals are on the mount member and the insulated housing. Each of the second receptacle terminals comprises a second flat contact portion, a second body portion, and a second tail portion. Each of the second flat contact portions is extending forward from the corresponding second body portion in the rear-to-front direction, and each of the second tail portions is extending backward from the corresponding second body portion in the front-to-rear direction. The second flat contact portions are on an upper surface of the tongue portion, and front ends of the second flat contact portions are held in the tongue portion. The second tail portions are protruding from the insulated housing. The shielding plate is on the tongue portion and between the first receptacle terminals and the second receptacle terminals.
In one embodiment, the electrical receptacle connector further comprises a first conductive sheet and a second conductive sheet. The first conductive sheet and the second conductive sheet are above and below the insulated housing, respectively, for shielding the first receptacle terminals from the second receptacle terminals. Moreover, the first conductive sheet has two first contact legs at two sides thereof. The two first contact legs pass through two first through holes of the insulated housing and are in contact with two first ground terminals which are at two sides of the first receptacle terminals, respectively. In addition, the second conductive sheet has two second contact legs at two sides thereof. The two second contact legs pass through two second through holes of the insulated housing and are in contact with two second ground terminals which are at two sides of the second receptacle terminals, respectively. Accordingly, a grounding circuit is established and the shielding performance of the connector can be improved to prevent from electromagnetic interference.
In one embodiment, the electrical receptacle connector further comprises an inner shell assembled to the outside of the insulated housing and the mount member and being in contact with the first conductive sheet and the second conductive sheet. Moreover, the shielding plate further has two connecting members at two sides thereof. The two connecting members are extending from two sides of the mount member and in contact with the inner shell. The two connecting members are between the mount member and the insulated housing. Additionally, the mount member comprises a supporting portion and two holding portions at two sides of the supporting portion. The shielding plate is engaged onto the holding portions and positioned with the mount member. The connecting members are on the respective holding portions. The insulated housing is assembled with the supporting portion and the holding portions, and the tongue portion is positioned between the holding portions.
Moreover, the electrical receptacle connector further comprises an outer shell assembled to the outside of the inner shell and in contact with the inner shell. Accordingly, a grounding circuit can be established to improve the shielding performance.
In one embodiment, the mount member and the first receptacle terminals are pre-molded to form a terminal module. Moreover, the shielding plate and the second receptacle terminals are pre-molded, assembled with the terminal module, and enclosed by the insulated housing.
In one embodiment, an upper surface and a lower surface of the shielding plate are processed with an insulating treatment. The shielding plate is above the mount member and the first receptacle terminals and below the second receptacle terminals. Moreover, the upper surface and the lower surface of the shielding plate comprise a plurality of protruding ribs. The protruding ribs respectively form a plurality of channels on the upper surface and the lower surface of the shielding plate. The first receptacle terminals and the second receptacle terminals are respectively positioned in the channels on the upper surface and the lower surface of the shielding plate.
In one embodiment, the shielding plate comprises a flat portion and an end portion extending from the flat portion. The end portion partially shields the first tail portions from the second tail portions.
In one embodiment, each of the first tail portions is bent at an angle relative to the corresponding first flat contact portion. In another embodiment, each of the second tail portions is bent at an angle relative to the corresponding second flat contact portion.
In one embodiment, the front end of each of the first flat contact portions comprises a first engaging portion held in the tongue portion. In another embodiment, the front end of each of the second flat contact portions comprises a second engaging portion held in the tongue portion.
Another embodiment of the electrical receptacle connector comprises a mount member, an insulated housing, a plurality of first receptacle terminals, a plurality of second receptacle terminals, and a shielding plate. The mount member is integrally formed with the first receptacle terminals. Each of the first receptacle terminals comprises a first flat contact portion, a first body portion, and a first tail portion. The first body portions are held in the mount member. Each of the first flat contact portions is extending forward from the corresponding first body portion in the rear-to-front direction and protruding from the mount member, and each of the first tail portions is extending backward from the corresponding first body portion in the front-to-rear direction. The shielding plate is on the mount member and above the first receptacle terminals. The second receptacle terminals are above the shielding plate, so that the shielding plate is between the first receptacle terminals and the second receptacle terminals. Each of the second receptacle terminals comprises a second flat contact portion, a second body portion, and a second tail portion. Each of the second flat contact portions is extending forward from the corresponding second body portion in the rear-to-front direction, and each of the second tail portions is extending backward from the corresponding second body portion in the front-to-rear direction. The insulated housing comprises a base portion and a tongue portion extending from one end of the base portion. The base portion and the mount member are pre-molded. The tongue portion is integrally formed with and covering the first receptacle terminals, the shielding plate, and the second receptacle terminals. The first flat contact portions are on a lower surface of the tongue portion, and front ends of the first flat contact portions are held in the tongue portion. The second flat contact portions are on an upper surface of the tongue portion, and front ends of the second flat contact portions are held in the tongue portion.
Accordingly, the front portions of the terminals are fixed during the terminals are insert-molded with the insulated housing. Therefore, during the connector is mated with a mating connector, the terminals can be firmly positioned on the tongue portion to prevent from being damaged by the mating connector. Furthermore, the terminals are designed in a simple way without several bending portions. Moreover, the shielding plate can be provided for establishing a grounding circuit, improving the shielding effect. Therefore, the efficacy of the connector in high frequency signal transmission can be improved.
Detailed description of the characteristics and the advantages of the instant disclosure are shown in the following embodiments. The technical content and the implementation of the instant disclosure should be readily apparent to any person skilled in the art from the detailed description, and the purposes and the advantages of the instant disclosure should be readily understood by any person skilled in the art with reference to content, claims, and drawings in the instant disclosure.
The instant disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus not limitative of the instant disclosure, wherein:
Please refer to
In one embodiment, each of the first receptacle terminals 11 comprises a flat contact portion 111 and a tail portion 113 extending from one end of the flat contact portion 111. In detail, each of the first receptacle terminals 11 comprises a flat contact portion 111, a body portion, and a tail portion 113. The body portions are held in the mount member 13, each of the flat contact portions 111 is extending forward from the corresponding body portion in the rear-to-front direction and protruding from the mount member 13, and each of the tail portions 113 is extending backward from the corresponding body portion in the front-to-rear direction. Each of the tail portions 113 is bent at an angle relative to the corresponding flat contact portion 111; for example, the tail portion 113 may be vertical to the flat contact portion 111.
The mount member 13 comprises a supporting portion 131 and two holding portions 133. The flat contact portion 111 of each of the first receptacle terminals 11 is partially held in the supporting portion 131 and extending in a first direction. Similarly, the tail portion 113 of each of the first receptacle terminals 11 is partially held in the supporting portion 131 and protruding from the supporting portion 131 in a second direction. The angle between the first direction and the second direction is equal to the angle between the flat contact portion 111 and the tail portion 113. The two holding portions 133 are at two sides of the supporting portion 131, and the first receptacle terminals 11 are positioned between the two holding portions 133. After the insert-molding procedures, the tongue portion 41 is positioned between the holding portions 133.
The shielding plate 20 is between the first receptacle terminals 11 and the second receptacle terminals 30 for preventing from the crosstalk between terminals. The inner layer of the shielding plate 20 is a metallic plate. To prevent from getting short circuit, an upper surface and a lower surface of the shielding plate 20 are processed with an insulating treatment. The shielding plate 20 comprises a flat portion 21. A plurality of protruding ribs 211 is formed on an upper surface of the flat portion 21 and a lower surface of the flat portion 21 respectively to define a plurality of channels 213. The channels 213 are for positioning the first receptacle terminals 11 and the second receptacle terminals 30. The shielding plate 20 is engaged and positioned with the two holding portions 133. The shielding plate 20 further comprises two connecting members 23 at two sides thereof. The connecting members 23 are extending upwardly and outwardly from two sides of the flat portion 21. Each of the connecting members 23 has a horizontal height which is higher than the flat portion 21. The two connecting members 23 are respectively protruding from the two holding portions 133. The connecting members 23 are conductive and are not processed by the insulating treatment. Moreover, the mount member 133 has two positioning grooves 135 concaved from the holding portions 133. The two connecting members 23 are positioned at the positioning grooves 135. Please refer to
The second receptacle terminals 30 are above the shielding plate 20 and positioned between the two holding portions 133. The second receptacle terminals 30 are positioned by the protruding ribs 211. Each of the second receptacle terminals 30 comprises a flat contact portion 311 and a tail portion 313 extending from one end of the flat contact portion 311. In detail, each of the second receptacle terminals 30 comprises a flat contact portion 311, a body portion, and a tail portion 313. Each of the flat contact portions 311 is extending forward form from the corresponding body portion in the rear-to-front direction, and each of the tail portions 313 is extending backward from the corresponding body portion in the front-to-rear direction. Each of the tail portions 313 is bent at an angle relative to the corresponding flat contact portion 311; for example, the tail portion 313 may be vertical to the flat contact portion 311. In one embodiment, as shown in
After the first receptacle terminals 11, the mount member 13, the shielding plate 20, and the second receptacle terminals 30 are insert-molded with each other, the insulated housing 40 is formed out of the assembly of the first receptacle terminals 11, the mount member 13, the shielding plate 20, and the second receptacle terminals 30 to enclose the assembly. The insulated housing 40 comprises a tongue portion 41 extending therefrom. The flat contact portions 111 and the flat contact portions 311 are respectively held in a lower surface and an upper surface of the tongue portion 41. Moreover, front ends of the flat contact portions 111, 311 are held in and positioned with the front portion 411 of the tongue portion 41. After the assembling and molding procedure, the tail portions 113 are protruding from the mount member 13, and the tail portions 313 are protruding from the insulated housing 40. In addition, the shielding plate 20 is on the tongue portion 41, and two sides of the shielding plate 20 are exposed from two lateral surfaces of the tongue portion 41.
Furthermore, as shown in
Please refer to
As shown in
As shown in
Furthermore, the connecting members 23 at two sides of the shielding plate 20 are between the mount member 13 and the insulated housing 40. For example, the connecting members 23 are respectively disposed on the holding portions 133. During the insert-molding procedures, the insulated housing 40 is formed on the supporting portion 131 and the holding portions 133, so that the connecting members 23 can be fixed. The connecting members 23 are extending from two sides of the mount member 13 and in contact with the inner shell 70 to form a grounding circuit.
Please refer to
In addition, the first receptacle terminals further comprise first signal terminals and power terminals. for example, as shown in
Furthermore, the specification for transmitting the first signals is conformed to the specification for transmitting the second signals. The dual or double orientation design enables an electrical plug connector to be inserted into the electrical receptacle connector 1 in either of two intuitive orientations, i.e., in either upside-up or upside-down directions.
Accordingly, the front portions of the terminals are fixed during the terminals are insert-molded with the insulated housing. Therefore, during the connector is mated with a mating connector, the terminals can be firmly positioned on the tongue portion to prevent from being damaged by the mating connector. Furthermore, the terminals can be designed in a simple way without several bending portions. Moreover, the shielding plate can be provided for establishing a grounding circuit, improving the shielding effect. Therefore, the efficacy of the connector in high frequency signal transmission can be improved.
While the instant disclosure has been described by the way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention need not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 1 0599513 | Sep 2015 | CN | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9865974 | Chen | Jan 2018 | B2 |
| 20160134059 | Deng | May 2016 | A1 |
| 20160149350 | Kao | May 2016 | A1 |
| 20160197443 | Zhang | Jul 2016 | A1 |
| 20160380389 | Ju | Dec 2016 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20170085038 A1 | Mar 2017 | US |
