Patent Grant
11824305
This application claims priority to and the benefit of Chinese Patent Application Serial Nos. 202021981365.4 and 202010952023.8, both filed on Sep. 11, 2020. The entire contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
This application relates to interconnection systems for electronic devices, such as those including electrical connectors, used to interconnect electronic assemblies.
Electrical connectors may be used to provide an electrical connection between electronic systems, such as printed circuit boards (PCBs). One typical electrical connector is a card edge connector that may be mounted onto a first electronic system, such as a motherboard, so that tail portions of terminals of the card edge connector are electrically connected to conductive portions of the first electronic system by, for example, soldering. The card edge connector may also act as a female connector for interfacing directly with conductive portions on or near the edge of the PCB of a second electronic system, such as a solid state drive (SSD), such that the conductive portions of the second electronic system is in contact with the contact portions of the corresponding terminals of the electrical connector. In this case, the PCB itself acts as a male connector for interfacing with the card edge connector, without the need for a separate male connector. In this way, the conductive portions of the second electronic system may be electrically connected to the corresponding conductive portions of the first electronic system via the terminals of the card edge connector, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the first electronic system and the second electronic system.
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to robust and reliable high speed electrical connector assemblies.
Some embodiments relate to a shell for an electrical connector. The electrical connector may include an insulative housing and a plurality of terminals disposed in the insulative housing. Each of the plurality of terminals may include a contact portion and a tail portion, the tail portion protruding from a first mounting face of the insulative housing and capable of being mounted to a first circuit board. The shell may include a fixing mechanism for being fixed to the first circuit board. The shell may include a body configured to at least partially surround the insulative housing.
In some embodiments, the shell may include a locking assembly movably mounted to the body.
In some embodiments, the locking assembly may be configured for locking a second electronic system mounted to the electrical connector in place.
In some embodiments, the locking assembly may include a pivot mounted to the body; a locking member pivotally mounted to the pivot and capable of pivoting about the pivot in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction; and a bias member arranged to act on the locking member such that the locking member tends to pivot towards a locked position in the first direction.
In some embodiments, the locking member may include an actuation portion. The actuation portion, when actuated, may cause the locking member to pivot towards a released position in the second direction against the action of the bias member.
In some embodiments, the bias member may be a torsion spring, and the torsion spring may be disposed around the pivot.
Some embodiments relate to an electrical connector. The electrical connector may include an insulative housing; a plurality of terminals supported by the insulative housing, and a shell. Each of the plurality of terminals may include a contact portion and a tail portion. The tail portion may protrude from a first mounting face of the insulative housing and may be capable of being mounted to a first circuit board. The shell may include a body partially surrounding the insulative housing, and a locking assembly movably mounted to the body.
In some embodiments, the locking assembly may include a rod attached to the shell; a member comprising a latching feature; and a spring mounted around the rod and configured to bias the member to rotate about an axis of rotation such that the latching feature is biased into a latching position.
In some embodiments, the member of the locking member may include a pivot plate and the latching feature may extend from the pivot plate.
In some embodiments, the connector may include a position assurance device configured to: (a) fit between the latching mechanism and the shell when the latching mechanism is in a latched position; (b) block movement of the latching mechanism when fully inserted between the latching mechanism and the shell; and (c) abut the latching mechanism when the latching mechanism is out of the latched position so as to interfere with insertion of the position assurance device between the latching mechanism and the shell when the latching mechanism is out of the latched position.
In some embodiments, the connector may be in combination with a solid state drive. The solid state drive may include a housing comprising an edge having a complimentary latching feature. The complimentary latching feature may be engaged with the latching mechanism, thereby holding the solid state drive in a mated position with respect to the connector.
In some embodiments, the connector may be in combination with a printed circuit board. The tails may be surface mount soldered to the printed circuit board and the shell may be fastened to the printed circuit board with fasteners.
In some embodiments, the shell may include a cavity and a gap. The insulative housing may be disposed within the cavity. The edge of the solid state drive may be disposed within the gap.
In some embodiments, the shell may include a cross bar spanning the width of the cavity.
In some embodiments, the insulative housing may include a recess. The shell may include a tongue extending from the cross bar into the recess.
Some embodiments relate to a connector. The connector may include an insulative housing, a plurality of terminals supported by the insulative housing, and a shell partially surrounding the insulative housing. The terminals may include tails configured for connection to a printed circuit board. The shell may include an outer shell and an inner shell separated by a channel.
In some embodiments, the outer shell may include an L-shaped segment.
In some embodiments, the outer shell may include a second segment, separated from the L-shaped segment by a gap.
In some embodiments, the connector may include a latching mechanism disposed within the gap.
In some embodiments, the latching mechanism may include a rod having a first end coupled to the L-shaped segment and a second end coupled to the second segment. The rod may be elongated in a direction defining an axis of rotation. The latching mechanism may include a member that includes a latching feature mounted on the rod so as to rotate about the axis of rotation.
Some embodiments relate to a shell for an electrical connector. The electrical connector may include an insulative housing and a plurality of terminals disposed in the insulative housing, each of the plurality of terminals including a contact portion and a tail portion, the tail portion protruding from a first mounting face of the insulative housing and capable of being mounted to a first circuit board. The shell may include a body configured for at least partially surrounding the insulative housing and a fixing mechanism for being fixed to the first circuit board.
In some embodiments, the shell may include a locking assembly movably mounted to the body.
In some embodiments, the locking assembly may be configured for locking a second electronic system mounted to the electrical connector in place.
In some embodiments, the locking assembly may include a pivot mounted to the body; a locking member pivotally mounted to the pivot and capable of pivoting about the pivot in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction; and a bias member arranged to act on the locking member such that the locking member tends to pivot towards a locked position in the first direction.
In some embodiments, the locking member may include an actuation portion, the actuation portion, when actuated, causes the locking member to pivot towards a released position in the second direction against the action of the bias member.
In some embodiments, the bias member may be a torsion spring.
In some embodiments, the torsion spring may be disposed around the pivot with an end attached to the locking member and the other end attached to the body or the pivot.
In some embodiments, the locking member may include a pivot plate and a locking portion extending from the pivot plate.
In some embodiments, the pivot plate may be capable of being mounted to the body parallel to the first circuit board when the body is mounted to the first circuit board.
In some embodiments, the pivot plate may be capable of being mounted to the body perpendicular to the first circuit board when the body is mounted to the first circuit board.
In some embodiments, the locking assembly may include a position assurance member configured for retaining the locking member in the locked position.
In some embodiments, the position assurance member may include a tongue configured for to be inserted between the locking member and the body to block the locking member from pivoting in the second direction.
In some embodiments, the body may be formed with a groove and the locking assembly is disposed in the groove.
In some embodiments, the body further may include a second positioning mechanism configured for guiding a positioning of the second electronic system to the electrical connector, when the second electronic system is mounted to the electrical connector.
In some embodiments, the insulative housing further may include a first interfacing face and the body further may include a second interfacing face configured to expose at least a socket in the first interfacing face of the insulative housing. The second positioning mechanism prevents the second electronic system from moving in a direction of the second interfacing face, when the second electronic system is mounted in place.
In some embodiments, the second positioning mechanism is a slot recessed into the body from the second interfacing face.
In some embodiments, the slot may include at least one L-shaped section.
In some embodiments, in the case where the body is formed with the groove, the groove may extend into the slot.
In some embodiments, in the case where the locking assembly may include the locking member, the locking member is capable of being pivoted into the slot.
In some embodiments, the body may include a cavity configured for receiving the insulative housing, and the insulative housing is disposed in the cavity.
In some embodiments, the body may include at least one support mechanism configured for supporting the insulative housing in the cavity.
In some embodiments, the insulative housing further may include a first interfacing face, and the contact portion is accessible through a socket in the first interfacing face, and the support mechanism may include a first support structure configured for supporting the first interfacing face of the insulative housing.
In some embodiments, the first support structure may be a beam extending across an opening of the body that opens to the cavity.
In some embodiments, the insulative housing further may include a first guide mechanism and the body further may include a second guide mechanism The first guide mechanism and the second guide mechanism are configured to cooperate with each other such that the insulative housing is properly positioned in the cavity.
In some embodiments, the first guide mechanism may be a recess formed in the insulative housing and the second guide mechanism may be a platform configured for being inserted into the recess.
In some embodiments, the insulative housing further may include a first interfacing face, and the contact portion may be accessible through a socket in the first interfacing face, and the recess may be recessed into the insulative housing from the first interfacing face.
In some embodiments, the recess may be formed near the socket and the platform provides a mechanical support to the socket when inserted into the recess.
In some embodiments, in the case where the first support structure is the beam extending across the opening of the body that opens to the cavity, the platform may extend into the cavity from the beam.
In some embodiments, the second electronic system may be a solid state drive.
In some embodiments, the second electronic system may be a solid state drive including a housing, and the slot may be configured for receiving an edge of the housing of the solid state drive.
In some embodiments, the shell may be manufactured through die-casting, molding or machining; and/or the body has a thickness of being less than or equal to 10 mm.
In some embodiments, the body may include an inner shell and an outer shell separated by the slot.
Some embodiments relate to a shell for an electrical connector. The electrical connector may include an insulative housing and a plurality of terminals disposed in the insulative housing, each of the plurality of terminals including a contact portion and a tail portion, the tail portion protruding from a first mounting face of the insulative housing and capable of being mounted to a first circuit board. The shell may include: a body configured for at least partially surrounding the insulative housing; and a locking assembly movably mounted to the body.
In some embodiments, the locking assembly may be configured for locking a second electronic system mounted to the electrical connector in place.
In some embodiments, the locking assembly may include: a pivot mounted to the body; a locking member pivotally mounted to the pivot and capable of pivoting about the pivot in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction; and a bias member arranged to act on the locking member such that the locking member tends to pivot towards a locked position in the first direction.
In some embodiments, the locking member may include an actuation portion, when actuated, causing the locking member to pivot towards a released position in the second direction against the action of the bias member.
In some embodiments, the bias member may be a torsion spring.
In some embodiments, the torsion spring may be disposed around the pivot with an end attached to the locking member and the other end attached to the shell or the pivot.
In some embodiments, the locking member may include a pivot plate and a locking portion extending from the pivot plate.
In some embodiments, the pivot plate is capable of being mounted to the body parallel to the first circuit board, when the body is mounted to the first circuit board.
In some embodiments, the pivot plate is capable of being mounted to the body perpendicular to the first circuit board, when the body is mounted to the first circuit board.
In some embodiments, the locking assembly further may include a position assurance member configured for retaining the locking member in the locked position.
In some embodiments, the position assurance member may include a tongue configured for being inserted between the locking member and the body to block the locking member from pivoting in the second direction.
In some embodiments, the body may be formed with a groove and the locking assembly may be disposed in the groove.
In some embodiments, the body further may include a second positioning mechanism configured for guiding a positioning of the second electronic system to the electrical connector, when the second electronic system may be mounted to the electrical connector.
In some embodiments, the insulative housing further may include a first interfacing face and the body further may include a second interfacing face which may be configured to expose at least a socket in the first interfacing face of the insulative housing, and the second positioning mechanism may prevent the second electronic system from moving in a direction of the second interfacing face, when the second electronic system may be mounted in place.
In some embodiments, the second positioning mechanism may be a slot recessed into the body from the second interfacing face.
In some embodiments, the slot may include at least one L-shaped section.
In some embodiments, in the case where the body is formed with a groove, the groove may extend into the slot.
In some embodiments, in the case where the locking assembly may include the locking member, the locking member is capable of pivoting into the slot.
In some embodiments, the body may include a cavity configured for receiving the insulative housing, and the insulative housing may be disposed in the cavity.
In some embodiments, the body may include at least one support mechanism configured for supporting the insulative housing in the cavity.
In some embodiments, the insulative housing further may include a first interfacing face, and the contact portion may be accessible through a socket in the first interfacing face, and the support mechanism may include a first support structure configured for supporting the first interfacing face of the insulative housing.
In some embodiments, the first support structure may be a beam extending across an opening of the body that opens to the cavity.
In some embodiments, the insulative housing further may include a first guide mechanism and the body further may include a second guide mechanism, the first guide mechanism and the second guide mechanism may be configured to cooperate with each other such that the insulative housing may be properly positioned in the cavity.
In some embodiments, the first guide mechanism may be a recess formed in the insulative housing and the second guide mechanism may be a platform configured for being inserted into the recess.
In some embodiments, the insulative housing further may include a first interfacing face, and the contact portion may be accessible through a socket in the first interfacing face, and the recess may be recessed into the insulative housing from the first interfacing face.
In some embodiments, the recess may be formed near the socket and the platform may provide a mechanical support to the socket when inserted into the recess.
In some embodiments, in the case where the first support structure is the beam extending across the opening of the body that opens to the cavity, the platform may extend into the cavity from the beam.
In some embodiments, the second electronic system may be a solid state drive.
In some embodiments, the second electronic system may be a solid state drive including a housing and the slot may be configured for receiving an edge of the housing of the solid state drive.
Some embodiments relate to a shell for an electrical connector. The electrical connector may include an insulative housing and a plurality of terminals disposed in the insulative housing, each of the plurality of terminals may include a contact portion and a tail portion, the tail portion may protrude from a first mounting face of the insulative housing and capable of mounting to a first circuit board. The shell may include a body configured for at least partially surrounding the insulative housing. The body may include a second positioning mechanism which may be configured for guiding the positioning of a second electronic system to the electrical connector, when the second electronic system is mounted to the electrical connector.
In some embodiments, the insulative housing may include a first interfacing face and the body may include a second interfacing face which may be configured to expose at least a socket in the first interfacing face of the insulative housing. The second positioning mechanism may prevent the second electronic system from moving in a direction of the second interfacing face, when the second electronic system is mounted in place.
In some embodiments, the second positioning mechanism may be a slot recessed into the body from the second interfacing face.
In some embodiments, the slot may include at least one L-shaped section.
In some embodiments, the body may include a groove which may be configured to dispose a locking assembly and extending into the slot.
In some embodiments, the body may include an inner shell and an outer shell separated by the slot.
In some embodiments, the outer shell may include a first L-shaped section and a second straight section separated from each other by the groove.
In some embodiments, the inner shell may include a cavity which may be configured for receiving the insulative housing, and the insulative housing may be disposed in the cavity.
In some embodiments, the inner shell may include at least one support mechanism configured for supporting the insulative housing in the cavity.
In some embodiments, the insulative housing may include a first interfacing face, and the contact portion may be accessible through a socket in the first interfacing face, and the support mechanism may include a first support structure configured for supporting the first interfacing face of the insulative housing.
In some embodiments, the first support structure may be a beam extending across an opening of the inner shell that opens to the cavity.
In some embodiments, the insulative housing may include a first guide mechanism and the inner shell may include a second guide mechanism. The first guide mechanism and the second guide mechanism may be configured to cooperate with each other such that the insulative housing may be properly positioned in the cavity.
In some embodiments, the first guide mechanism may be a recess formed in the insulative housing and the second guide mechanism may be a platform configured to be inserted into the recess.
In some embodiments, the insulative housing further may include a first interfacing face, and the contact portion may be accessible through a socket in the first interfacing face, and the recess may be recessed into the insulative housing from the first interfacing face.
In some embodiments, the recess may be formed near the socket and the platform may provide a mechanical support to the socket when inserted into the recess.
In some embodiments, in the case where the first support structure is the beam extending across the opening of the inner shell that opens to the cavity, the platform may extend into the cavity from the beam.
In some embodiments, the second electronic system may be a solid state drive.
In some embodiments, the second electronic system may be a solid state drive including a housing and the slot may be configured for receiving an edge of the housing of the solid state drive.
Some embodiments relate to an electrical connector assembly. The electrical connector assembly may include an electrical connector including an insulative housing and a plurality of terminals disposed in the insulative housing, each of the plurality of terminals may include a contact portion and a tail portion, the tail portion may protrude from a first mounting face of the insulative housing and may be capable of being mounted to a first circuit board; and the aforesaid shell, the body of the shell at least partially surrounding the electrical connector.
In some embodiments, in the case where the body may include the second guide mechanism, the insulative housing may include a first guide mechanism, the first guide mechanism and the second guide mechanism may be configured to cooperate with each other such that the insulative housing may be properly positioned in the shell.
In some embodiments, the first guide mechanism may be a recess formed in the insulative housing.
In some embodiments, the insulative housing may include a first interfacing face, and the contact portion may be accessible through a socket in the first interfacing face, and the recess may be recessed into the insulative housing from the first interfacing face.
In some embodiments, the recess may be formed near the socket.
In some embodiments, the insulative housing further may include a first positioning mechanism for ensuring that the electrical connector is properly positioned on the first circuit board, when the electrical connector may be mounted to the first circuit board.
In some embodiments, the electrical connector may be a right angle connector or a vertical connector.
These techniques may be used alone or in any suitable combination. The foregoing summary is provided by way of illustration and is not intended to be limiting.
The above and other aspects of the present disclosure will be more thoroughly understood and appreciated below when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. It should be noted that the appended drawings are only schematic and are not drawn to scale. In the appended drawings:
Described herein is an electrical connector assembly that provides robust and reliable electrical connections, such as to a solid state drive (SSD) or other electronic subassembly. The electrical connector assembly may include an electrical connector and a shell partially surrounding an insulative housing of the electrical connector. The insulative housing may have a mating face with a socket formed therein. The socket can receive a first printed circuit board of a first electronic device such as an SSD. The shell may include a die cast body that has an outer shell and an inner shell separated by a slot. The inner shell may include an opening and the insulative housing is disposed within the opening. The slot may receive an edge of a housing of the first electronic device. Such a configuration may prevent the SSD from moving in either the horizontal or vertical direction, which could cause the SSD to either come unmated or could provide a twisting force on the connector that might break surface mount solder connections between the connector and the mother board or otherwise damage the connector or the SSD. The shell may include features attached to a second electronic device such as a second printed circuit board (e.g., a motherboard). The shell may include a latching mechanism movably mounted to the body. Such configuration may enable a robust and reliable electrical connection between the first electronic system and the second electronic system.
Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below in conjunction with some examples. It should be appreciated by the skilled person in the art that these embodiments are not meant to form any limitation on the present disclosure.
Referring to
The plurality of terminals 200 may be housed in the insulative housing 100. Each of the plurality of terminals 200 may be formed of a conductive material. Conductive materials that are suitable for forming the terminals 200 may be a metal, such as copper, or a metal alloy. The plurality of terminals 200 may be configured to transmit differential signals between a first electronic system, such as a circuit board, and a second electronic system, such as an SSD. In some examples, the plurality of terminals 200 may be provided in a plurality of sets, with each set including three terminals 200, i.e., a ground terminal, a first signal terminal and a second signal terminal. The first signal terminal and the second signal terminal may constitute a differential signaling pair. Each of the plurality of terminals 200 includes a contact portion 201, a tail portion 203 and a body portion (not shown) extending between the contact portion 201 and the tail portion 203. The terminal 200 may be bent such that the tail portion 203 can extend at a substantially right angle relative to the contact portion 201. The tail portion 203 may be configured to be mounted (for example, by soldering) onto the first electronic system. The contact portion 201 may be configured to establish an electrical contact with a conductive portion of the second electronic system.
A plurality of sets of three terminals 200 may be arranged in terminal rows, with the terminals in each terminal row aligned therein. As shown in
In some embodiments, the insulative housing 100 may be overmolded directly around the terminals 200 to retain the plurality of terminals 200 in position relative to each other. In some embodiments, the right angle connector 10 may include at least one retention mechanism (not shown) to retain the plurality of terminals 200 in position relative to each other. The retention mechanism may be partially or entirely formed of an insulative material. Examples of materials that are suitable for forming the retention mechanism include, but are not limited to, plastic, nylon, liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polyphenyline sulfide (PPS), high temperature nylon or polyphenylenoxide (PPO) or polypropylene (PP). In some examples, at least one retention mechanism may be overmolded around a plurality of terminals 200. In some examples, at least one retention mechanism may be formed separately from the insulative housing 100 and be movably mountable into the insulative housing 100. It should be appreciated that the right angle connector 10 may have other suitable numbers/forms of retention mechanisms.
One of the four side faces of the insulative housing 100 may have at least one socket, such that the contact portion 201 of each of the plurality of terminals 200 is accessible through the socket. The side face may also be referred to as “a first interfacing face”. The second electronic system may be interfaced with the insulative housing 100 from the first interfacing face. For example, the conductive portion of the second electronic system, such as an SSD, may be inserted between two terminal rows through the socket in the first interfacing face, such that the conductive portion of the second electronic system is arranged in contact with the contact portions 201 of the corresponding terminals 200. In this way, the conductive portion of the second electronic system may be electrically connected to the corresponding conductive portion of the first electronic system, such as a motherboard, via the terminals 200, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the second electronic system and the first electronic system. The first electronic system and the second electronic system may communicate with each other through the right angle connector 10 using a standardized protocol, such as a PCI protocol. As shown in
With continuing reference to
The right angle connector 10 may further include a first positioning mechanism provided on the insulative housing 100 for ensuring the proper positioning of the right angle connector 10 on the first electronic system when the right angle connector 10 is mounted to the first electronic system, such as a motherboard, and for preventing the insulative housing 100 from moving along a surface of the first electronic system. For example, the first positioning mechanism may be in the form of a positioning protrusion, two positioning protrusions 115 are shown in
In order to allow the right angle connector 10 to provide a reliable electrical connection between the first electronic system, such as a motherboard, and the second electronic system, such as an SSD, the electrical connector assembly 1 may further include a shell 300 for improving the reliability of the connection among the right angle connector 10 and the first and second electronic systems.
With continuing reference to
The body 301 may further include a cavity 306 configured for receiving the insulative housing 100 of the right angle connector 10. As shown in
The shell 300 may further include a fixing mechanism being fixed to the first electronic system, such as a motherboard. In some examples, the body 301 of the shell 300 may be formed with a mounting hole.
With continuing reference to
When the electrical connector assembly 1 is fixed to the first circuit board 500 by the fixing mechanism of the shell 300, the body 301 of the shell 300 may at least partially surround the insulative housing 100 and provide a mechanical support to the insulative housing 100 so as to prevent the insulative housing 100 from moving away from its mounting position. This may improve the reliability of the connection between the right angle connector 10 and the first electronic system, such as the first circuit board 500, thereby allowing that the right angle connector 10 is mounted to the first electronic system in a more secure manner. In this way, it is possible to avoid the risk that the electrical connection between the right angle connector 10 and the first electronic system, such as the soldering between the tail portions 203 of the terminals 200 of the right angle connector 10 and the conductive portions of the first circuit board 500, is damaged, due to the movement of the insulative housing 100 away from its mounting position.
Since the movement of the insulative housing 100 along the surface 501 of the first circuit board 500 is prevented only by the cooperation of the first positioning mechanism on the insulative housing 100 with the corresponding positioning mechanism of the first circuit board 500, for example, when the second electronic system, such as an SSD, is pulled out of the socket 133 of the insulative housing 100, pulling force acts on a portion of the first positioning mechanism of the insulative housing 100 mating with the corresponding positioning mechanism of the first circuit board 500, which may result in a stress concentration between the first positioning mechanism of the insulative housing 100 and the corresponding positioning mechanism of the first circuit board 500. The stress concentration may cause damage to the first positioning mechanism of the insulative housing 100 and the corresponding positioning mechanism of the first circuit board 500, which may in turn result in the breakage of the electrical connection between the right angle connector 10 and the first electronic system.
To mitigate this stress concentration, the body 301 of the shell 300 may further include at least one support mechanism configured for supporting the insulative housing 100. In some examples, the body 301 includes a first support mechanism configured for supporting the first interfacing face of the insulative housing 100. As shown in
It should be appreciated that the body 301 of the shell 300 may optionally include a second support mechanism (not shown) configured for supporting the face of the insulative housing 100 opposite to the first interfacing face. For example, the second support mechanism may be configured for supporting the rear side face 107 of the insulative housing 100. The second support mechanism may provide a mechanical support to the insulative housing 100 when the second electronic system, such as an SSD, is inserted into the socket 133 of the insulative housing 100 so as to reduce or even eliminate the stress concentration that occurs between the first positioning mechanism of the insulative housing 100 and the corresponding positioning mechanism of the first circuit board 500, avoiding the breakage of the first positioning mechanism of the insulative housing 100 and the corresponding positioning mechanism of the first circuit board 500, thereby improving the reliability of the electrical connection between the right angle connector 10 and the first circuit board 500. It should also be appreciated that the second support mechanism may be in the form of a beam or any other suitable forms.
The insulative housing 100 may further include a first guide mechanism and the shell 300 may further include a second guide mechanism. The first guide mechanism of the insulative housing 100 and the second guide mechanism of the shell 300 may be configured to cooperate with each other such that the insulative housing 100 may be properly positioned in the cavity 306 of the shell 300. In some examples, as shown in
The shell 300 may further include a second positioning mechanism provided in the second interfacing face (i.e., the front side face 307), the second positioning mechanism may be configured for cooperating with the corresponding positioning mechanism of the second electronic system, such as an SSD, to ensure that the second electronic system is properly connected to the right angle connector 10 and to retain the second electronic system in place when the second electronic system is mounted in place and to prevent the second electronic system from moving along the plane of the second interfacing face. In some examples, the second positioning mechanism may be a slot recessed into the body 301 from the front side face 307 of the shell 300. In some examples, as shown in
The corresponding positioning mechanism of the second electronic system may be an edge of the housing or other mechanism provided on the housing of the second electronic system. When the second electronic system is mounted to the right angle connector 10, the slot may receive the corresponding positioning mechanism of the second electronic system to guide the second electronic system to be properly connected to the right angle connector 10 and to retain the second electronic system in place when the second electronic system is mounted in place and to prevent the second electronic system from moving along the plane of the front side face 307 of the shell 300. In this way, it is possible to improve the reliability of the connection between the right angle connector 10 and the second electronic system such that the second electronic system may be mounted to the right angle connector 10 in a more secure manner, thereby reducing or even eliminating the risk that the electrical connection between the right angle connector 10 and the second electronic system, such as the electrical connection between the contact portions 201 of the terminals 200 of the right angle connector 10 and the conductive portions of the second circuit board, is broken due to the movement of the second circuit board away from its mounting position.
The shell 300 may further include a locking assembly 400 configured for locking and unlocking the second electronic system connected to the right angle connector 10 through the socket 113. In other words, the locking assembly 400 is configured for locking the second electronic system to the right angle connector 10. In some examples, the locking assembly 400 may be configured for being movably mounted to the shell 300. As shown in
With continuing reference to
Turning back to
With continuing reference to
As shown in
The body 301 of the shell 300 may have a thickness in the range of 1 mm to 10 mm, wherein the thickness of the body 301 refers to a vertical distance from the top face 303, the left side face 311 and/or the right side face 313 to the cavity 306 of the body 301. In some examples, the vertical distance from the top face 303 to the cavity 306 of the body 301 may be in the range of 1 mm to 10 mm. In some examples, the vertical distance from the left side face 311 and/or the right side face 313 to the cavity 306 of the body 301 may be in the range of 1 mm to 10 mm. In some examples, the body 301 may have a uniform or non-uniform thickness around the cavity 306. The relative small thickness of the body 301 of the shell 300 may reduce a footprint of the shell 300 on the first circuit board 500 and thus reduce that of the electrical connector assembly 1 on the first circuit board 500. It should be appreciated that the body 301 of the shell 300 may have any other suitable thickness.
The body 301 of the shell 300 may be made of a metallic or non-metallic material, preferably of a metal alloy, more preferably of a zinc alloy. The body 301 may be manufactured using any suitable process, for example the body 301 may be manufactured by molding or machining. In some embodiments, the body 301 may be manufactured using a die casting process. Manufacturing the body 301 using the die casting process may make the body 301 more suitable for providing mechanical support and mechanical positioning, and in the case where the shell 300 includes the outer shell 301a and the inner shell 301b separated by the slot, manufacturing the body 301 using the die casting process may allow the outer shell 301a and the inner shell 301b easier to be formed. It should be appreciated that the shell may also be a two-piece shell, i.e., the outer shell 301a and the inner shell 301b may be manufactured separately and then joined together.
Although the present disclosure is described in detail above in connection with the right angle connector 10, it should be appreciated that the present disclosure is also applicable to vertical connectors and other suitable types of electrical connectors. Unlike the right angle connector 10, in a vertical connector, a socket is formed in the top face of the insulative housing opposite to the bottom face (in other words, in a vertical connector, an interfacing face is provided opposite to a mounting face), and the terminals of the vertical connector are configured such that the contact portions of the terminals are accessible via the socket. The vertical connector may also be used to connect the second electronic system, such as an SSD, to a first electronic system, such as a mother board. In some examples, the vertical connector may be configured to be mounted to the first electronic system, such as a motherboard, such that the tail portions of the terminals of the vertical connector are electrically connected to the conductive portions (for example, conductive traces) of the first electronic system. The second electronic system, such as an SSD, may be inserted into the socket such that the conductive portions of the second electronic system are disposed in contact with the contact portions of the corresponding terminals. In this way, the conductive portion of the second electronic system may be electrically connected to the corresponding conductive portion of the first electronic system via the terminals of the vertical connector, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the second electronic system and the first electronic system. The first electronic system and the second electronic system may communicate with each other by transmitting signals using the vertical connector using a standardized protocol, such as a PCI protocol.
It should also be appreciated that the terms “first”, “second” and “third” are only used to distinguish an element or component from another element or component, and that these elements and/or components should not be limited by the terms.
The present disclosure has been described in detail in conjunction with specific embodiments. Obviously, the above description and the embodiments shown in the appended drawings should be understood to be exemplary and do not constitute a limitation on the present disclosure. For a person skilled in the art, various variations or modifications falling within the scope of the present disclosure can be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202010952023.8 | Sep 2020 | CN | national |
| 202021981365.4 | Sep 2020 | CN | national |
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