A high-speed electrical connector

Abstract

A high-speed electrical connector includes a terminal module, the terminal module comprising a support body and a plurality of terminals coupled to the support body. The support body is formed by stacking a plurality of insulating substrates, each of the insulating substrates having at least one terminal coupled thereto. Each terminal includes a fixed segment coupled and fixed within the insulating substrate, a contact segment extending from one end of the fixed segment and correspondingly contacting a docking module, and a docking segment extending from the other end of the fixed segment and extending from the insulating substrate. The contact segments are arranged in at least one row along the stacking direction of the insulating substrates. The connector also includes a spacer having a spacer portion disposed between two adjacent contact segments along the stacking direction of the insulating substrates. The connector has improved structural stability.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The embodiments of the present application relate to the field of communication transmission, and in particular to a high-speed electrical connector. [Background Technology]

[0002] An electrical connector assembly allows users of electronic devices or external devices to transfer data to or communicate with other devices and apparatuses. Typically, the electrical connector assembly includes a pluggable module received within a receptacle assembly, which includes a receptacle connector that removably connects to the pluggable module. The receptacle assembly includes a metal cage having an interior compartment that receives the pluggable module therein. The receptacle connector is retained within the interior compartment of the cage for connection to the pluggable module, such as an SFP, QSFP, etc., when the pluggable module is inserted therein.

[0003] Such socket connectors in the prior art generally include an insulating base, a plurality of terminals incorporated within the insulating base, an insulating housing sleeved around the insulating base, and a metal cage encased within the insulating housing. The insulating housing forms an insertion cavity at the front end, and each terminal forms a cantilevered contact segment protruding into the insertion cavity to mate with a docking module. The contact segments are arranged in two rows, one above the other, in the left-right direction. The upper and lower rows of contact segments are typically offset in the left-right direction (i.e., they do not correspond to each other in the up-down direction; in other words, the upper and lower rows of contact segments are not mirror-symmetrical in the up-down direction). Therefore, when forming the contact segments, the metal sheet is often bent or twisted, resulting in the extension path of a completed terminal not being in a single plane. When the terminal is inserted and assembled into the insulating housing, this structure requires the bent contact segment to give way. This creates a significant potential for displacement along the arrangement direction (left-right direction), which is detrimental to the overall stability of the socket connector and its docking stability with the docking module. Furthermore, the longer cantilevered contact segments are prone to deformation, leading to misalignment with the docking module and resulting in defective connections.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to design an improved connector to solve the above technical problems. [Summary of the invention]

[0005] The purpose of this application is to provide a new high-speed electrical connector with better structural stability.

[0006] In order to achieve the above objectives, this application is implemented through the following technical solutions:

[0007] A high-speed electrical connector includes a terminal module, the terminal module includes a support body and a plurality of terminals combined with the support body, the support body is formed by stacking a plurality of insulating substrates, each of the insulating substrates is combined with at least one terminal, each terminal includes a fixed section combined and fixed in the insulating substrate, a contact section extending from one end of the fixed section outside the insulating substrate and corresponding to contact with the docking module, and a docking section extending from the other end of the fixed section outside the insulating substrate, the contact sections are arranged in at least one row along the stacking direction of the insulating substrates, and also includes a spacer, the spacer is provided with a spacer portion, and the spacer portion is arranged between two adjacent contact sections along the stacking direction of the insulating substrates.

[0008] Furthermore, the spacer includes a positioning portion connected to the spacer portion, and the positioning portion is clamped and fixed between two adjacent insulating substrates.

[0009] Furthermore, each adjacent surface of the two adjacent insulating substrates is concavely formed with a concave groove, and the two adjacent concave grooves are surrounded and defined to form a fixed cavity, and the positioning portion is fixed in the fixed cavity.

[0010] Furthermore, the fixing cavity forms an opening, the cross-sectional area of the positioning portion at the opening is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the positioning portion within the fixing cavity, and the fixing cavity forms a shape matching the positioning portion.

[0011] Furthermore, after being fixed in the corresponding fixing cavity, the positioning portion cannot move relative to the insulating substrate in the up-down, left-right and front-back directions.

[0012] Furthermore, the contact segments are arranged in two rows, the two rows of contact segments are correspondingly arranged along the up and down directions, and the spacer separates two adjacent contact segments in each row.

[0013] Furthermore, the projection of each of the contact segments in the up and down directions is non-linear, and each of the contact segments includes a base segment integrally connected to the fixed segment, a bending segment connected to one end of the base segment away from the fixed segment, and a connecting segment connected to one end of the bending segment away from the base segment. The connecting segment is used to electrically contact the docking module, and the base segment and the connecting segment both extend along the plugging and unplugging direction of the docking module, and the positioning portion at least separates the base segment and the bending segment of two adjacent contact segments.

[0014] Furthermore, at least four contact segments extend from each of the insulating substrates, and the contact segments are arranged to form two rows of front contact segments and two rows of rear contact segments. The two rows of front contact segments are correspondingly arranged along the up and down directions, and the two rows of rear contact segments are correspondingly arranged along the up and down directions. Along the pull-out direction of the docking module, the two rows of front contact segments are located in front of the two rows of rear contact segments, and the spacer portions are arranged correspondingly to the rear contact segments.

[0015] Furthermore, each of the insulating substrates includes a main body and at least a pair of extension portions formed by extending forward from the front side edge of the main body, the front contact segment protrudes forward from the extension portion in a cantilever shape, and the rear contact segment protrudes forward from the main body in a cantilever shape. In the up and down directions, the two rear contact segments and the spacer portion on the same insulating substrate are both located between the two extension portions.

[0016] Furthermore, the plurality of terminals include a plurality of signal terminals and a plurality of ground terminals. Each of the insulating substrates incorporates a signal terminal or a ground terminal. Along the stacking direction of the insulating substrates, two insulating substrates incorporating ground terminals sandwich two insulating substrates incorporating signal terminals. The high-speed electrical connector also includes an insulating housing and a metal cover. The terminal module is inserted and assembled into the insulating housing from back to front, and the metal cover is disposed around the outer periphery of the insulating housing.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the present application has at least the following beneficial effects: better structural stability.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the high-speed electrical connector disclosed in this application, wherein only one terminal module is schematically shown in the metal cage to cooperate with it;

[0019] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a medium- and high-speed electrical connector viewed from another angle;

[0020] Figure 3 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a connector module of the high-speed electrical connector of the present application;

[0021] Figure 4 It is a partial exploded perspective view of a connector module of the high-speed electrical connector of the present application;

[0022] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Enlarged view of the structure within the middle dashed box;

[0023] Figure 6 The positional relationship between two adjacent insulating substrates with terminals and corresponding spacers of the high-speed electrical connector of the present application;

[0024] Figure 7 It is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a terminal module of the high-speed electrical connector of the present application;

[0025] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 Enlarged view of the structure within the middle dashed box;

[0026] Figure 9This is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the terminals of the terminal module of the high-speed electrical connector of the present application and the corresponding spacers. [Specific implementation method]

[0027] To make the purpose, technical solutions, and advantages of this application more clear, the technical solutions of this application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the specific embodiments of this application and the corresponding drawings. Obviously, the embodiments described are only some of the embodiments of this application, not all of them. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0028] It should also be noted here that in order to avoid obscuring the present application due to unnecessary details, only structures and / or processing steps closely related to some embodiments of the present application are shown in the accompanying drawings, while other details that are not closely related to some embodiments of the present application are omitted.

[0029] In addition, it should be noted that the terms "comprises," "includes," "has" or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or apparatus that includes a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also includes other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements that are inherent to such process, method, article or apparatus.

[0030] The present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and in conjunction with the embodiments. Figure 3 The X-axis is defined as the left-right direction, with the positive direction of the X-axis being left. The Y-axis is defined as the front-back direction (i.e., the direction of the docking module insertion and removal), with the positive direction of the Y-axis being rear. The Z-axis is defined as the up-down direction, with the positive direction of the Z-axis being up. The directions of up, down, left, right, front, and back are relative and are used for reference only and do not constitute limitations on implementation.

[0031] Please refer to Figures 1 to 9 FIG. 1 shows a high-speed electrical connector disclosed in the present application, comprising a connector module 10 and a metal cover 20 disposed around the periphery of the connector module 10. The connector module 10 comprises a terminal module 1 and an insulating housing 4 coupled to the periphery of the terminal module 1. The terminal module comprises a support body 11 and a plurality of terminals 12 coupled to the support body 11.

[0032] Please refer to Figures 4 to 9As shown, the support body 11 is formed by stacking a plurality of insulating substrates 111. Each insulating substrate 111 is combined with at least one terminal 12. Each terminal 12 includes a fixed segment 121 fixed to the insulating substrate 111, a contact segment 122 extending from one end of the fixed segment 121 and correspondingly contacting a docking module (not shown), and a docking segment 123 extending from the other end of the fixed segment 121 and correspondingly contacting a docking circuit board (not shown).

[0033] Specifically, the contact segments 122 in the present application are arranged in at least one row along the stacking direction of the insulating substrates 111. The high-speed electrical connector further includes a spacer 3 having a spacer portion 31 disposed between two adjacent contact segments 122 along the stacking direction of the insulating substrates 111. The spacer 3 includes a positioning portion 32 connected to the spacer portion 31, and the positioning portion 32 is clamped and fixed between the two adjacent insulating substrates 111.

[0034] Please refer to Figures 4 to 9 As shown, in the present application, each of the adjacent surfaces of the two adjacent insulating substrates 111 is recessed to form a recessed groove 1110, and the two adjacent recessed grooves 1110 are surrounded and defined to form a fixed cavity (unnumbered), and the positioning portion 32 is fixed in the fixed cavity. Specifically, the fixed cavity forms an opening 1112, and the cross-sectional area of the positioning portion 32 at the position of the opening 1112 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the positioning portion 32 in the fixed cavity. Specifically, it can be embodied as follows: the positioning portion 32 is divided into a square columnar first positioning portion 321 integrally connected to the spacer 31 and a second positioning portion 322 integrally connected to the first positioning portion 321 away from one end of the spacer 31, the second positioning portion 322 also having a square columnar structure, and the cross-section of the second positioning portion 322 is larger than that of the first positioning portion 321. In addition, the fixed cavity forms a shape that matches the positioning portion 32. Such a design enables the positioning portion 32 to be fixed in the corresponding fixed cavity and cannot move relative to the insulating substrate 111 in the up and down, left and right, and front and back directions. Of course, the shape of the positioning portion 32 can be changed in other ways. For example, the first positioning portion 321 can be designed as a square column, and the second positioning portion 322 can be designed as a spherical shape. This can also achieve the same effect. The key point of the deformation design here is: when the positioning portion 32 is fixed in the corresponding fixed cavity, the positioning portion 32 cannot move relative to the insulating substrate 111 in the up and down, left and right, and front and back directions.

[0035] Please refer to Figures 4 to 9As shown, the projection of each contact segment 122 in the vertical direction is non-linear. Each contact segment 122 includes a base segment 1221 integrally connected to the fixed segment 121, a bent segment 1222 connected to the end of the base segment 1221 away from the fixed segment 121, and a connecting segment 1223 connected to the end of the bent segment 1222 away from the base segment 1221. The connecting segment 1223 is used to electrically contact the docking module. The positioning portion 32 at least separates the base segment 1221 and the bent segment 1222 of two adjacent contact segments 122. Furthermore, the contact segments 122 are arranged in two rows, with the two rows correspondingly disposed in the vertical direction. The spacing portion 31 separates two adjacent contact segments 122 in each row.

[0036] Please refer to Figure 4 and Figure 6 As shown, at least four contact segments 122 extend from each of the insulating substrates 111, and the contact segments 122 are arranged to form two rows of front contact segments 12201 and two rows of rear contact segments 12202. The two rows of front contact segments 12201 are correspondingly arranged along the up-down direction, and the two rows of rear contact segments 12202 are correspondingly arranged along the up-down direction. Along the removal direction of the docking module, the two rows of front contact segments 12201 are located in front of the two rows of rear contact segments 12202, and the spacer 31 is arranged corresponding to the rear contact segment 12202.

[0037] Please refer to Figure 4 and Figure 6 As shown, each of the insulating substrates 111 includes a main body 1111 and at least a pair of extension portions 1112 formed by extending forward from the front side edge of the main body 1111, the front contact segment 12201 protrudes forward from the extension portion 1112 in a cantilever shape, and the rear contact segment 12202 protrudes forward from the main body 1111 in a cantilever shape. In the up and down directions, the two rear contact segments 12202 and the spacer portion 31 on the same insulating substrate 111 are both located between the two extension portions 1112.

[0038] Please refer to Figures 1 to 9As shown, the terminals 12 include signal terminals 1201 and ground terminals 1202. Each insulating substrate 111 incorporates four signal terminals 1201 or four ground terminals 1202. Along the stacking direction of the insulating substrates 111, two insulating substrates 111 incorporating ground terminals 1202 sandwich two insulating substrates 111 incorporating signal terminals 1201. The front end of the insulating housing 4 is recessed to form two docking cavities 41, while the rear end of the insulating housing 4 is recessed to form a mounting cavity 42. The two docking cavities 41 are spaced apart vertically and communicate with the mounting cavity 42 in the front-to-back direction. The terminal module 1 is inserted and assembled into the mounting cavity 42 of the insulating housing 4 from back to front. The contact segments 122 and extensions 1112 both protrude forward into the corresponding docking cavities 41. The docking module is inserted between two rows of front contact segments 12201 and two rows of rear contact segments 12202. The metal cover 20 is disposed on the outer periphery of the insulating shell 4 .

[0039] In the present application, by providing a spacer 3, it is possible to achieve position limiting between the longer rear contact segments 12202, preventing the contact segments 122 of the terminals 12 from excessively deflecting (primarily along the arrangement direction) and causing malfunctions when the high-speed electrical connector is docked with the docking module. The spacer 3 of the present application is easy to assemble and has a good position limiting effect.

[0040] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that the technical solutions of the present application may be modified or replaced by equivalents without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present application.

[0041] The above description is only part of the implementation methods of the present application, not all of the implementation methods. Any equivalent changes made to the technical solution of the present application by ordinary technicians in this field after reading the description of the present application are covered by the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A high-speed electrical connector, comprising a terminal module, the terminal module comprising a support body and a plurality of terminals coupled to the support body, the support body being formed by stacking a plurality of insulating substrates, each of the insulating substrates being coupled to at least one terminal, each terminal comprising a fixed segment coupled to and fixed within the insulating substrate, a contact segment extending from one end of the fixed segment and extending outside the insulating substrate to contact a docking module, and a docking segment extending from the other end of the fixed segment and extending outside the insulating substrate, the contact segments being arranged in at least one row along the stacking direction of the insulating substrates, characterized in that: The device further comprises a spacer, wherein the spacer comprises a spacer portion and a positioning portion connected to the spacer portion, wherein the spacer portion is provided between two adjacent contact segments along the stacking direction of the insulating substrates; The contact segments are arranged in two rows, the two rows of contact segments are correspondingly arranged in the up and down directions, and the spacer separates two adjacent contact segments in each row of the contact segments; The projection of each contact segment in the up and down directions is non-linear, and each contact segment includes a base segment integrally connected to the fixed segment, a bending segment connected to one end of the base segment away from the fixed segment, and a connecting segment connected to one end of the bending segment away from the base segment. The connecting segment is used to electrically contact the docking module. The base segment and the connecting segment both extend along the plugging and unplugging direction of the docking module, and the positioning portion at least separates the base segment and the bending segment of two adjacent contact segments.

2. The high-speed electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The positioning portion is clamped and fixed between two adjacent insulating substrates.

3. The high-speed electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein: Each adjacent surface of the two adjacent insulating substrates is concave to form a concave groove, and the two adjacent concave grooves are surrounded and defined to form a fixed cavity, and the positioning part is fixed in the fixed cavity.

4. The high-speed electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein: The fixing cavity forms an opening, the cross-sectional area of the positioning portion at the opening is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the positioning portion in the fixing cavity, and the fixing cavity forms a shape matching the positioning portion.

5. The high-speed electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein: After being fixed in the corresponding fixing cavity, the positioning portion cannot move relative to the insulating substrate along the up-down, left-right and front-back directions.

6. The high-speed electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: At least four contact segments extend from each of the insulating substrates, and the contact segments are arranged to form two rows of front contact segments and two rows of rear contact segments. The two rows of front contact segments are correspondingly arranged along the up and down directions, and the two rows of rear contact segments are correspondingly arranged along the up and down directions. Along the pull-out direction of the docking module, the two rows of front contact segments are located in front of the two rows of rear contact segments, and the spacer portions are arranged correspondingly to the rear contact segments.

7. The high-speed electrical connector according to claim 6, wherein: Each of the insulating substrates includes a main body and at least a pair of extensions formed by extending forward from the front side edge of the main body, the front contact segment protrudes forward from the extension in a cantilever shape, and the rear contact segment protrudes forward from the main body in a cantilever shape. In the up and down directions, the two rear contact segments and the spacer on the same insulating substrate are both located between the two extensions.

8. The high-speed electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: Several of the terminals include several signal terminals and several ground terminals. Each of the insulating substrates is combined with a signal terminal or a ground terminal. Along the stacking direction of the insulating substrates, two insulating substrates combined with ground terminals are sandwiched between two insulating substrates combined with signal terminals. The high-speed electrical connector also includes an insulating shell and a metal cover. The terminal module is inserted and assembled into the insulating shell from back to front, and the metal cover is arranged on the outer periphery of the insulating shell.

Images