Electrical connectors, electrical connector assemblies and electrical connection devices

Abstract

An electrical connector includes an insulating base, a first terminal row, and a second terminal row. The first terminal row includes a plurality of differential signal terminal pairs and a plurality of first ground terminals. The differential signal terminal pairs are spaced apart along a first direction. Each differential signal terminal pair includes two signal terminals. Each signal terminal has a tail. The second terminal row is spaced apart from the first terminal row along a second direction. The second terminal row includes a plurality of ground terminal assemblies spaced apart along the first direction. Each ground terminal assembly has two tails. Each tail of the ground terminal assembly is aligned with the tail of the corresponding signal terminal of the first terminal row in the second direction. This effectively improves signal integrity performance.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising: an insulating base; at least one first terminal row disposed on the insulating base and including a plurality of differential signal terminal pairs and a plurality of first ground terminals, the differential signal terminal pairs being spaced apart along a first direction, each differential signal terminal pair including two signal terminals spaced apart along the first direction, each signal terminal having a tail, and at least one first ground terminal being disposed between every two adjacent differential signal terminal pairs; and at least one second terminal row disposed on the insulating base and spaced apart from the first terminal row along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the second terminal row including a plurality of ground terminal assemblies spaced apart along the first direction, each ground terminal assembly having two tails, each tail of the ground terminal assembly being aligned with the tail of the corresponding signal terminal of the first terminal row in the second direction.

2. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein, Each tail of the grounding terminal assembly and the tail of the corresponding signal terminal of the first terminal column are arranged together in a straight line in the second direction, and the two straight lines formed by the tails of the grounding terminal assembly and the tails of the corresponding signal terminals are parallel to each other.

3. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, comprising multiple rows of first terminal columns and multiple rows of second terminal columns, the first terminal columns and the second terminal columns being arranged alternately at intervals along the second direction, each row of the first terminal columns being spaced between corresponding two rows of the second terminal columns, each differential signal terminal pair having at least one first ground terminal on each of its two opposite sides, and each differential signal terminal pair being surrounded by the corresponding first ground terminal and the corresponding ground terminal assembly.

4. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The second terminal block also includes a plurality of functional terminals arranged at intervals along the first direction, each functional terminal being located on one side of the corresponding grounding terminal assembly, and each functional terminal corresponding to the position of the first grounding terminal in the second direction of the first terminal block.

5. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein, Each of these functional terminals is a grounding terminal.

6. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein, Each of the signal terminals is a high-frequency signal terminal configured to transmit high-frequency signals, and each of the functional terminals is a low-frequency signal terminal configured to transmit low-frequency signals.

7. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The insulating base includes a first end face and a second end face spaced apart along the second direction, and a surface connected between the first end face and the second end face. The electrical connector also includes two support modules protruding from the surface and respectively adjacent to the first end face and the second end face.

8. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein, Each of the support modules includes a plurality of support components spaced apart along the second direction.

9. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 8, wherein, The surface is recessed to form a plurality of retaining grooves adjacent to the first end face and the second end face, and each of the support components includes a connector that is inserted into the retaining groove and partially protrudes from the surface.

10. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 9, wherein, The connector has a plug-in piece that plugs into the retaining groove, and at least one tail extending from one end of the plug-in piece and protruding from the surface. Each of the two opposite sides of the plug-in piece has a plurality of retaining protrusions that interfere with the insulating base. Each of the support components also includes at least one solder ball soldered to the tail.

11. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein, Two first grounding terminals are respectively provided on two opposite sides of each differential signal terminal pair, and two first grounding terminals are provided between every two adjacent differential signal terminal pairs. The first terminal array includes a plurality of first terminal modules mounted on the insulating base and arranged at intervals along the first direction. Each first terminal module includes the differential signal terminal pair and a first insulating frame integrally formed to partially cover the differential signal terminal pair.

12. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 11, wherein, Each of the first terminal modules further includes two first ground terminals located on opposite sides of the differential signal terminal pair, and the first insulating frame integrally partially covers the first ground terminals. The second terminal array includes a plurality of second terminal modules mounted on the insulating base and spaced apart along the first direction. Each of the second terminal modules includes the ground terminal assembly and a second insulating frame integrally partially covers the ground terminal assembly.

13. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein, The second terminal block also includes a plurality of third terminal modules mounted on the insulating base. The third terminal modules are arranged alternately with the second terminal modules along the first direction. Each third terminal module includes two functional terminals spaced apart along the first direction and a third insulating frame integrally formed to partially cover the functional terminals. Each functional terminal corresponds to the position of the first grounding terminal in the second direction of the first terminal block.

14. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 13, wherein, The insulating base has a plurality of first receiving slots and a plurality of second receiving slots. Each of the first receiving slots is for mounting the corresponding first terminal module. The second receiving slot corresponding to the position of the differential signal terminal pair is for mounting the corresponding second terminal module. The second receiving slot not corresponding to the position of the differential signal terminal pair is for mounting the corresponding third terminal module. The insulating base includes a plurality of first partition walls and a plurality of second partition walls. Every two adjacent first receiving slots are separated by the corresponding first partition wall, and every two adjacent second receiving slots are separated by the corresponding second partition wall.

15. The electrical connector of claim 13, comprising multiple rows of first terminal blocks and multiple rows of second terminal blocks, the first terminal blocks and the second terminal blocks being alternately arranged at intervals along the second direction, the insulating base comprising multiple first sidewalls, multiple second sidewalls, multiple first connecting assemblies, and multiple second connecting assemblies, the first sidewalls and the second sidewalls being alternately arranged at intervals along the second direction, the first connecting assemblies and the second connecting assemblies being alternately arranged at intervals along the second direction, each of the first connecting assemblies comprising multiple first partition walls connected between adjacent corresponding first sidewalls and corresponding second sidewalls and spaced apart along the first direction, and two first sidewalls connected between adjacent corresponding first sidewalls and corresponding second sidewalls and located on opposite sides of the first partition walls, the first partition walls and the first sidewalls being connected to the corresponding first sidewalls and corresponding second sidewalls. A first receiving slot is defined by a side wall and the corresponding second side wall, which together define a plurality of first receiving slots spaced apart along the first direction. Each first receiving slot is for mounting the corresponding first terminal module. Each second connecting assembly includes a plurality of second partition walls connected between adjacent corresponding first and second side walls and spaced apart along the first direction, and two second side walls connected between adjacent corresponding first and second side walls and located on opposite sides of the second partition walls. The second partition walls and the second side walls, together with the connected corresponding first and second side walls, define a plurality of second receiving slots spaced apart along the first direction. The second receiving slot corresponding to the differential signal terminal pair is for mounting the corresponding second terminal module, and the second receiving slot not corresponding to the differential signal terminal pair is for mounting the corresponding third terminal module.

16. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 15, wherein, The height of each of the first sidewalls along a third direction is greater than the height of each of the second sidewalls along the third direction, which is perpendicular to the first and second directions. Each second sidewall corresponding to the first receiving slot is provided with a first wall holding part. The first insulating frame has a first frame holding part that is held in place by the first wall holding part. Each second sidewall corresponding to the second receiving slot is provided with a second wall holding part. The second insulating frame has a second frame holding part that is held in place by the second wall holding part. The third insulating frame has a third frame holding part that is held in place by the second wall holding part.

17. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 16, wherein, The first wall holding part is a protruding rib extending from the second side wall corresponding to the first receiving groove toward the first receiving groove. The first frame holding part is a groove for engaging the protruding rib. The second wall holding part is a protruding rib extending from the second side wall corresponding to the second receiving groove toward the second receiving groove. The second frame holding part and the third frame holding part are each grooves for engaging the protruding rib.

18. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 15, wherein, The height of each of the first sidewalls along a third direction is greater than the height of each of the second sidewalls along the third direction, the third direction being perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. The first insulating frame has a first interference protrusion that interferes with the corresponding second sidewall, the second insulating frame has a second interference protrusion that interferes with the corresponding second sidewall, and the third insulating frame has a third interference protrusion that interferes with the corresponding second sidewall.

19. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 15, wherein, The height of each of the first sidewalls along a third direction is greater than the height of each of the second sidewalls along the third direction, which is perpendicular to the first and second directions. Each first receiving slot has two first slots on its corresponding first sidewall. The first insulating frame has two first blocks that engage with the first slots respectively. Each second receiving slot has one second slot on its corresponding first sidewall. The second insulating frame has a second block that engages with the corresponding second slot. The third insulating frame has a third block that engages with the corresponding second slot.

20. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 15, wherein, The height of each of the first sidewalls along a third direction is greater than the height of each of the second sidewalls along the third direction. The tail of each signal terminal protrudes from the first insulating frame. Each signal terminal also has an elastic contact portion protruding from the first insulating frame. Each first grounding terminal has an elastic contact portion and a tail portion protruding from the first insulating frame. The tail portions of each grounding terminal assembly protrude from the second insulating frame. Each grounding terminal assembly also has two elastic contact portions protruding from the second insulating frame. Each functional terminal has an elastic contact portion and a tail portion protruding from the third insulating frame. The elastic contact portions of the first terminal modules, the second terminal modules, and the third terminal modules respectively arranged on both sides of the first sidewall are arranged in opposite directions and each bends and extends towards the first sidewall. The tail portions of the first terminal modules, the second terminal modules, and the third terminal modules respectively arranged on both sides of the first sidewall all bend and extend in the same direction.

21. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 13, wherein, The first insulating frame partially covers the differential signal terminal pair and the first ground terminals by insertion molding, the second insulating frame partially covers the ground terminal assembly by insertion molding, and the third insulating frame partially covers the functional terminals by insertion molding.

22. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 21, wherein, Each signal terminal and each first ground terminal has a first through hole formed in the area covered by the first insulating frame. The first insulating frame has a plurality of first retaining inserts, each of which is embedded in and retained in the corresponding first through hole. Each ground terminal assembly has at least one second through hole formed in the area covered by the second insulating frame. The second insulating frame has a second retaining insert embedded in and retained in the second through hole. Each functional terminal has a third through hole formed in the area covered by the third insulating frame. The third insulating frame has two third retaining inserts, each of which is embedded in and retained in the corresponding third through hole.

23. An electrical connector comprising: an insulating base; at least one differential signal terminal pair disposed on the insulating base and including two signal terminals, each signal terminal having a tail; and at least one ground terminal unit including two first ground terminals disposed alternately on the insulating base and surrounding the differential signal terminal pair and at least one ground terminal assembly, the differential signal terminal pair being located between the first ground terminals and the ground terminal assembly, the ground terminal assembly having two tails, each tail of the ground terminal assembly being aligned with the tail of the corresponding signal terminal.

24. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 23, wherein, Each tail of the grounding terminal assembly and the tail of the corresponding signal terminal are arranged in a straight line, and the two straight lines formed by the tails of the grounding terminal assembly and the tails of the corresponding signal terminals are parallel to each other.

25. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 23, wherein, The first grounding terminals and the grounding terminal assembly are arranged in a triangular pattern, and the first grounding terminals and the grounding terminal assembly are arranged in two substantially parallel columns. The first grounding terminals are located in one of the columns and the grounding terminal assembly is located in the other column. The differential signal terminal pair is located between the first grounding terminals in one of the columns and corresponds to the grounding terminal assembly.

26. The electrical connector of claim 23 further comprises a first insulating frame integrally partially covering the differential signal terminal pair and the first ground terminals and held in the insulating base, and a second insulating frame integrally partially covering the ground terminal assembly and held in the insulating base.

27. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 23, wherein, The grounding terminal unit includes two grounding terminal assemblies. The first grounding terminals and the grounding terminal assemblies are arranged in a ring shape and surround the differential signal terminal pair. Each tail of each grounding terminal assembly and the tail of the corresponding signal terminal are arranged in a straight line. The two straight lines formed by the tails of each grounding terminal assembly and the tails of the corresponding signal terminals are parallel to each other.

28. An electrical connector comprising: an insulating base; at least one differential signal terminal pair disposed on the insulating base and including two signal terminals, each signal terminal having a tail; and at least one ground terminal unit including two first ground terminals and two ground terminal assemblies staggered on the insulating base and surrounding the differential signal terminal pair, the first ground terminals and the ground terminal assemblies being arranged in three substantially parallel rows, the first ground terminals being located in one of the rows and the ground terminal assemblies being located in the other two rows, the differential signal terminal pair being located between the first ground terminals and between the ground terminal assemblies, each ground terminal assembly having two tails, each tail of each ground terminal assembly being aligned with the tail of the corresponding signal terminal.

29. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 28, wherein, Each tail of each grounding terminal assembly and the tail of the corresponding signal terminal are arranged in a straight line, and the two straight lines formed by the tails of the grounding terminal assemblies and the tails of the signal terminals are parallel to each other.

30. The electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims 28 to 29, comprising two differential signal terminal pairs and two ground terminal units, the ground terminal units being adjacent to each other and sharing a ground terminal assembly, the first ground terminal of each ground terminal unit and the ground terminal assembly surrounding the corresponding differential signal terminal pair.

31. An electrical connector comprising: an insulating base; two differential signal terminal pairs disposed on the insulating base, each differential signal terminal pair including two signal terminals, each signal terminal having a tail; and a ground terminal unit including a ground terminal assembly disposed on the insulating base, the ground terminal assembly and the differential signal terminal pairs being arranged in three substantially parallel rows, the ground terminal assembly being disposed in one of the rows and the differential signal terminal pairs being disposed in the other two rows respectively, the ground terminal assembly being located between the differential signal terminal pairs, the ground terminal assembly having two tails, each tail of the ground terminal assembly being aligned with the tails of the corresponding two signal terminals of the differential signal terminal pair.

32. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 31, wherein, Each tail of the grounding terminal assembly and the tails of the corresponding two signal terminals of the differential signal terminal pair are arranged in a straight line, and the two straight lines formed by the tails of the grounding terminal assembly and the tails of the differential signal terminal pair are parallel to each other.

33. The electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims 31 to 32, wherein, The grounding terminal unit also includes four first grounding terminals. Each differential signal terminal pair has a corresponding first grounding terminal on each of its two opposite sides. The signal terminals of each differential signal terminal pair and the corresponding two first grounding terminals are located in the same column.

34. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 33, wherein, It also includes two first insulating frames and a second insulating frame, each of the first insulating frames being integrally formed to partially cover the corresponding differential signal terminal pair and the corresponding first grounding terminal and being held in the insulating base, and the second insulating frame being integrally formed to partially cover the grounding terminal assembly and being held in the insulating base.

35. An electrical connector assembly comprising: two electrical connectors as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 34, the electrical connectors having the same construction and mating with each other.

36. An electrical connection device comprising: two circuit boards; and an electrical connector assembly including two electrical connectors as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 34, the electrical connectors having the same construction and mating with each other, the electrical connectors being electrically connected to the circuit boards respectively.

37. An electrical connection device comprising: two circuit boards; and an electrical connector assembly including two electrical connectors having the same structure and mating with each other, the electrical connectors being electrically connected to the circuit boards respectively, each electrical connector including an insulating base, at least one first terminal row, at least one second terminal row, and two support modules, the insulating base including a spaced-apart first end face and a second end face, and a surface connected between the first end face and the second end face and facing the corresponding circuit board, the first terminal row being disposed in the insulating base and between the first end face and the second end face and including a plurality of differential signal terminal pairs and a plurality of first ground terminals, the differential signal terminal pairs being spaced apart along a first direction, each differential signal terminal pair including two signal terminals spaced apart along the first direction, each signal terminal having a... At the tail end, at least one first ground terminal is provided between every two adjacent differential signal terminal pairs. The second terminal column is arranged on the insulating base and between the first end face and the second end face. The second terminal column and the first terminal column are spaced apart along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second terminal column includes a plurality of ground terminal assemblies spaced apart along the first direction. Each ground terminal assembly has two tail ends. Each tail end of the ground terminal assembly is aligned with the tail end of the corresponding signal terminal of the first terminal column in the second direction. The first end face and the second end face are spaced apart along the second direction. Support modules protrude from the surface and are respectively adjacent to the first end face and the second end face. The support modules abut against the corresponding circuit board and support the insulating base.

38. The electrical connection device as claimed in claim 37, wherein, Each of the support modules includes a plurality of support components spaced apart along the second direction and abutting against the corresponding circuit board.

39. The electrical connection device as claimed in claim 38, wherein, The surface is recessed to form a plurality of retaining grooves adjacent to the first end face and the second end face. Each support component includes a connector and at least one solder ball. The connector has a connector piece that is inserted into the retaining groove and at least one tail extending from one end of the connector piece and protruding from the surface. Each of the two opposite sides of the connector piece has a plurality of retaining protrusions that interfere with the insulating base. The solder ball is soldered to the tail and the corresponding circuit board.

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