This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan patent application number 102128345, filed on Aug. 7, 2013.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical connectors, and more particularly to a USB/Mini USB convertible connector, which includes a mating connector configured subject to a first predetermined electrical connector standard for the connection of a first external mating electrical connector, and an adapter connector configured subject to a second predetermined standard and detachably connectable to the mating connector for the connection of a second external mating electrical connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
Following fast development of computer electronic technology, many high mobility electrical and electronic apparatus are well developed and widely used by people for different applications, bringing convenience to people and making people's life more comfortable. Further, high-speed, high-power and sophisticated mobile electrical and electronic devices and related products with large capacity and low profile characteristics have been continuously created. Further, many different transmission interfaces and connectors are widely used in electrical and electronic products for power and data transmission. For connecting different component parts, different transmission interfaces or connectors of different sizes and configurations must be used. Therefore, an electrical or electronic device needs to provide sufficient installation space for the installation of different types of transmission interfaces and connectors.
Further, it is the market trend to create mobility electronic apparatuses having light, thin, short and small characteristics. In consequence, circuit board electronic components must be made extremely strong, small and precise. Further, many different male and female electrical connectors are used in an electronic apparatus to connect different components and parts to a circuit board for the connection of mating electronic cards and/or connectors. These electrical connectors occupy much circuit layout space of the circuit board and the inside space of the electronic apparatus. It is quite important to fully utilize the circuit layout space of a circuit board and the internal space of an electronic apparatus.
The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a USB/Mini USB convertible connector, which requires less installation space and provides a wide range of applications.
To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a USB/Mini USB convertible connector of the present invention comprises a mating connector, and an adapter connector detachably connectable to the mating connector. The mating connector comprises an electrical insulating terminal holder, a conducting terminal set mounted in the electrical insulating terminal holder and an EMI shielding shell surrounding the electrical insulating terminal holder and the conducting terminal set and configured to fit a first predetermined electrical connector standard. The adapter connector comprises an electrical insulating terminal block detachably insertable into the mating connector, a signal terminal set mounted in the electrical insulating terminal block for conducting the conducting terminal set, and an EMI shielding cover surrounding the electrical insulating terminal block and the signal terminal set and configured to fit a second predetermined standard. Thus, the mating connector can be used independently for the connection of a first external connector. Alternatively, the mating connector can be used with the adapter connector for the connection of a second external connector. Therefore, the USB/Mini USB convertible connector of the invention saves much installation space and provides a wide range of applications.
Further, the conducting terminal set of the mating connector comprises a plurality of conducting terminals and transmission terminals. The conducting terminals and transmission terminals each comprise a contact portion located at a front end thereof and suspending in the electrical insulating terminal holder, and a bonding portion located at a rear end thereof and extended out of the electrical insulating terminal holder for bonding to an external circuit. The signal terminals of the adapter connector each comprise a mating contact portion located at a front end thereof and suspending in the electrical insulating terminal block, and an abutment portion located at an opposing rear end thereof for abutment against the contact portion of one conducting terminal or transmission terminal of the conducting terminal set of the mating connector.
Further, the bonding portions of the conducting terminal set of the mating connector can be arranged in a coplane manner for bonding to an external circuit board by SMT. Alternatively, the bonding portions of the conducting terminal set of the mating connector can be configured for bonding to an external circuit board in dual in-line package.
Further, the conducting terminal set comprises 5 pcs of conducting terminals and 4 pcs of transmission terminals. The 5 pcs of conducting terminals are configured to fit USB3.0 standard, and defined as a 1st grounding terminal disposed on the middle, a 1st differential signal terminal disposed at one lateral side relative to said 1st grounding terminal, a 2nd differential signal terminal spaced between said 1st grounding terminal and said 1st differential signal terminal, a 3rd differential signal terminal disposed at an opposite lateral side relative to said 1st grounding terminal, and a 4th differential signal terminal disposed at one lateral side relative to said 3rd differential signal terminal opposite to said 1st grounding terminal. The 4 pcs of transmission terminals are configured to fit USB2.0 standard, and defined as a 5th differential signal terminal, a 6th differential signal terminal, a 1st power terminal and a 2nd grounding terminal. The 5th differential signal terminal and the 6th differential signal terminal are arranged on the middle in a parallel manner. The 1st power terminal and the 2nd grounding terminal are respectively disposed at two opposite lateral sides relative to the 5th differential signal terminal and the 6th differential signal terminal.
Further, the signal terminal set comprises 4 pcs of signal terminals configured to fit Micro USB2.0 or Mini USB2.0 standard. These 4 pcs of signal terminals are defined as a 7th differential signal terminal and a 8th differential signal terminal arranged on the middle in a parallel manner, and a 2nd power terminal and a 3rd grounding terminal disposed at two opposite lateral sides relative to the 7th differential signal terminal and the 8th differential signal terminal. The signal terminal set further comprises a supplementary transmission conductor connected to an inner side of the 3rd grounding terminal adjacent to the 7th differential signal terminal, and adapted to match with the 4 pcs of signal terminals in fitting USB/OTG specifications. Further, the mating contact portion of the 2nd power terminal of the signal terminal set has an expanded width for high current load, defining two separated contact surfaces that constitute an open loop configuration.
Referring to
The mating connector 1 comprises an electrical insulating terminal holder 11, a conducting terminal set 12 and an EMI shielding shell 13. The electrical insulating terminal holder 11 comprises a plurality of openings 110 cut through opposing top and bottom walls thereof, a mating connection surface 111 at a front side of the openings 110. The conducting terminal set 12 is mounted in the electrical insulating terminal holder 11, comprising a plurality of conducting terminals 121 and a plurality of transmission terminals 122. The conducting terminals 121 and the plurality of transmission terminals 122 each have a contact portion 123 at one end thereof and a bonding portion 124 at an opposite end thereof. The contact portions 123 and bonding portions 124 of the conducting terminals 121 are respectively defined as first contact portions 1231 and first bonding portions 1241. The contact portions 123 and bonding portions 124 of the transmission terminals 122 are respectively defined as second contact portions 1232 and second bonding portions 1242. The first contact portions 1231 of the conducting terminals 121 are respectively suspended in the openings 110 of the electrical insulating terminal holder 11. The second contact portions 1232 of the transmission terminals 122 are extended to the mating connection surface 111 of the electrical insulating terminal holder 11. The first bonding portions 1241 of the conducting terminals 121 and the second bonding portions 1242 of the transmission terminals 122 are respectively extended out of the electrical insulating terminal holder 11 for bonding to an external circuit. The EMI shielding shell 13 comprises a mating chamber 130 extending through opposing front and rear sides thereof for accommodating the electrical insulating terminal holder 11 and the conducting terminal set 12. The EMI shielding shell 13 surrounding the electrical insulating terminal holder 11, defining therein an insertion space 131 that fits a predetermined electrical connector standard (USB3.0 or USB2.0).
The adapter connector 2 comprises an electrical insulating terminal block 21, a signal terminal set 22 and an EMI shielding cover 23. The electrical insulating terminal block 21 comprises a base portion 211, a front tongue portion 212 forwardly extended from the base portion 211, a recessed accommodation chamber 2110 defined in a rear bottom side of the 12 of the base portion 211, two hook blocks 213 respectively located at opposing top and bottom walls between the base portion 211 and the front tongue portion 212, and a plurality of terminal grooves 2120 defined in the front tongue portion 212. The signal terminal set 22 comprises a plurality of signal terminals 221 respectively mounted in the terminal grooves 2120. Each signal terminal 221 comprises an abutment portion 222 located at a rear end thereof and suspending in the recessed accommodation chamber 2110, and a mating contact portion 223 located at an opposing front end thereof and suspending in one respective terminal groove 2120. The EMI shielding cover 23 surrounds the front tongue portion 212 of the electrical insulating terminal block 21, comprising an accommodation chamber 230 extending through opposing front and rear sides thereof for accommodating the front tongue portion 212, two hook holes 231 located at a rear side thereof at different elevations and respectively forced into engagement with the hook blocks 213 of the electrical insulating terminal block 21. The adapter connector 2 can be configured to fit Micro USB2.0, Micro USB3.0, Mini USB2.0 or Mini USB3.0 standard.
After the mating connector 1 and the adapter connector 2 are respectively assembled, the electrical insulating terminal block 21 of the adapter connector 2 can be detachably inserted into the insertion space 131 defined in the EMI shielding shell 13 around the electrical insulating terminal holder 11 to abut the abutment portions 222 of the signal terminals 221 of the signal terminal set 22 against the respective contact portions 123 (first contact portions 1231 or second contact portions 1232) of the conducting terminals 121 or transmission terminals 122 of the conducting terminal set 12. Thus, the mating connector 1 can be used independently, or used with the adapter connector 2.
Referring to
Referring to
Further, the electrical insulating terminal block 21 of the adapter connector 2 can be detachably inserted into the insertion space 131 defined in the EMI shielding shell 13 around the electrical insulating terminal holder 11 of the mating connector 1 to abut the abutment portions 222 of the signal terminals 221 of the signal terminal set 22 against the respective contact portions 123 (first contact portions 1231 or second contact portions 1232) of the conducting terminals 121 or transmission terminals 122 of the conducting terminal set 12. Thus, the mating connector 1 can be used with the adapter connector 2 for the connection of a mating (Micro USB2.0/Micro USB3.0 or Mini USB2.0/Mini USB3.0) connector for signal transmission through the conducting terminal set 12 and the signal terminal set 22. Thus, the USB/Mini USB convertible connector of the invention can be configured and selectively used for different applications.
Referring to
In conclusion, the invention provides a USB/Mini USB convertible connector, which comprises a mating connector, which comprises an electrical insulating terminal holder, a conducting terminal set mounted in the electrical insulating terminal holder and an EMI shielding shell surrounding the electrical insulating terminal holder and the conducting terminal set and, is configured to fit USB3.0 or USB2.0 standard, and an adapter connector, which comprises an electrical insulating terminal block detachably insertable into the mating connector, a signal terminal set mounted in the electrical insulating terminal block for abutment against conducting terminals (or transmission terminals) of the conducting terminal set and an EMI shielding cover surrounding the electrical insulating terminal block and the signal terminal set and, is configured to fit Micro USB2.0/Micro USB3.0 or Mini USB2.0/Mini USB3.0 standard. Therefore, the USB/Mini USB convertible connector of the invention saves much installation space and provides a wide range of applications.
Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102128345 | Aug 2013 | TW | national |