Board-to-board connector and method of forming the same

Abstract

The present invention provides a board-to-board connector, comprising: a male end having at least three rows of male plug-in terminals thereon; a female end having at least three rows of female plug-in terminals thereon, the number of rows of female plug-in terminals being equal to the number of rows of male plug-in terminals; wherein a male end window is provided in an area on the male end near the middle row of male plug-in terminals, and the male end window is formed during the injection molding process by a clamping component in the male end injection mold for clamping the middle row of male plug-in terminals; wherein a female end window is formed in an area on the female end near the middle row of female plug-in terminals, and the female end window is formed during the injection molding process by a clamping component in the female end injection mold for clamping the middle row of female plug-in terminals. The connector of the present invention can meet the actual demand of connecting a large number of plug-in terminals while occupying a small space; in addition, the present invention also provides a method for forming a board-to-board connector.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of electronic technology and relates to a board-to-board connector and a forming method thereof. Background Art

[0002] BB connectors (board-to-board connectors) are widely used in electronic products, especially mobile devices like cell phones. Their primary functions include connecting components, connecting PCBs (printed circuit boards) to each other, and transitioning between rigid and flexible boards. They expand the functionality of the main PCB and increase layout area, while also accommodating complex spatial environments, such as those with varying heights and orientations.

[0003] As electronic products continue to increase in functionality and performance, device density is increasing, driven by shrinking product dimensions and limited internal layout space. This has led to an increasing number of pins required for BB connectors. This has become a major conflict between the need for smaller BB connectors and the increasing number of pins, necessitating a solution with high area utilization.

[0004] Existing BB connectors usually use Figure 1 、 Figure 2 The structure of the upper and lower rows shown in FIG. Figure 1 For the female end, Figure 2 The male terminal is required to increase the number of pins. This can only be achieved by increasing the left and right lengths of the connector. This results in an increasing amount of lateral space occupied on the PCB layout, directly impacting PCB utilization. Furthermore, connector length cannot be increased indefinitely. Excessive increases in the number of pins will lead to structural and process limitations, making it difficult to maintain the flatness of the slender connector. This directly impacts the soldering quality of the BB connector pins and can cause poor contact.

[0005] In addition, in order to solve the need for multiple PIN pins, the prior art also adopts the following method: Figure 3 The solution shown here uses multiple BB connectors for connection. However, the soldering and assembly requirements between the BB connectors result in a large space occupation. This increases the difficulty of layout and routing within limited space, reduces PCB space utilization, and goes against the demand for product miniaturization. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the defects of the above-mentioned prior art and propose a board-to-board connector that is suitable for electronic products that require connectors and can meet the actual needs of connecting a large number of plug-in terminals while occupying a small space; in addition, the present invention also provides a method for forming a board-to-board connector.

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object of the present invention, the present invention provides a method for forming a board-to-board connector, which includes:

[0008] forming a male end having at least three rows of male connector terminals;

[0009] forming a female end having at least three rows of female plug-in terminals, the number of rows of female plug-in terminals being equal to the number of rows of male plug-in terminals;

[0010] A male terminal window is formed in the area of ​​the male terminal near the middle row of male plug-in terminals, and the male terminal window is formed by a clamping component in the male terminal injection mold for clamping the middle row of male plug-in terminals during the injection molding process;

[0011] A female end window is formed in the area near the middle row of female plug-in terminals on the female end, and the female end window is formed by a clamping component for clamping the middle row of female plug-in terminals in the female end injection mold during the injection molding process.

[0012] Wherein, the at least three rows of male plug-in terminals include:

[0013] A first row of male connector terminals and a second row of male connector terminals are formed on opposite sides of the male end;

[0014] at least one row of male connector terminals formed on the male end and located between the first row of male connector terminals and the second row of male connector terminals;

[0015] Wherein, the middle row of male connector terminals is at least one row of male connector terminals.

[0016] Wherein, the at least three rows of female plug-in terminals include:

[0017] A first row of female plug-in terminals and a second row of female plug-in terminals are formed on opposite sides of the female end;

[0018] At least one row of female plug-in terminals formed on the female end and located between the first row of female plug-in terminals and the second row of female plug-in terminals;

[0019] Wherein, the middle row of female plug-in terminals is at least one row of female plug-in terminals.

[0020] Wherein, the two ends of the middle row of male plug-in terminals located on both sides of the male end window are respectively injection-molded into the body of the male end.

[0021] On the other hand, the present invention also provides a board-to-board connector, comprising: a male end having at least three rows of male plug-in terminals thereon; a female end having at least three rows of female plug-in terminals thereon, the number of rows of female plug-in terminals being equal to the number of rows of male plug-in terminals; wherein a male end window is provided in an area on the male end near the middle row of male plug-in terminals, and the male end window is formed by a clamping component in the male end injection mold for clamping the middle row of male plug-in terminals during the injection molding process; wherein a female end window is formed in an area on the female end near the middle row of female plug-in terminals, and the female end window is formed by a clamping component in the female end injection mold for clamping the middle row of female plug-in terminals during the injection molding process.

[0022] Among them, the at least three rows of male connector terminals include: a first row of male connector terminals and a second row of male connector terminals arranged on two opposite sides of the male end; at least one row of male connector terminals arranged on the male end and located between the first row of male connector terminals and the second row of male connector terminals; wherein the middle row of male connector terminals is at least one row of male connector terminals.

[0023] Among them, the at least three rows of female plug-in terminals include: a first row of female plug-in terminals and a second row of female plug-in terminals arranged on two opposite sides of the female end; at least one row of female plug-in terminals arranged on the female end and located between the first row of female plug-in terminals and the second row of female plug-in terminals; wherein the middle row of female plug-in terminals is at least one row of female plug-in terminals.

[0024] Wherein, the two ends of the middle row of male plug terminals located on both sides of the male end window are respectively injection-molded as one piece with the male end body.

[0025] The middle row of male plug terminals has a contact arm located at the male end window, and both ends of the contact arm located on both sides of the male end window are respectively injection-molded as one piece with the male end body.

[0026] Wherein, the middle row of female plug-in terminals has a contact arm exposed outside the female end window.

[0027] Compared with the prior art, the board-to-board connector and the method for forming the same according to the embodiments of the present invention have the following advantages:

[0028] 1. The board-to-board connector of the present invention has at least three rows of plug-in terminals. By appropriately expanding the width of the board-to-board connector, the number of plug-in terminals is increased, strengthening the engagement force between the male and female terminals and improving contact reliability between the male and female terminals. Because the plug-in terminals are implemented on the same board-to-board connector, the distance between rows can be minimized. This significantly improves space utilization compared to the prior art method of using two identical board-to-board connectors with two rows to increase the number of plug-in terminals.

[0029] 2. The board-to-board connector of the present invention adds a transparent window at the middle row of plug-in terminals, which ensures the welding strength of the middle row of plug-in terminals and can also perform welding reliability inspection and maintenance.

[0030] 3. The board-to-board connector of the present invention forms a transparent window at the middle row of plug-in terminals during the injection molding process through the clamping components in the mold for clamping the middle row of plug-in terminals. While facilitating the welding inspection of the middle row of plug-in terminals, it also improves the production and processing technology and facilitates the mold processing of the middle row of plug-in terminals. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a female end of a board-to-board connector with two rows of female plug-in terminals in the prior art;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a schematic structural diagram of a male end of a board-to-board connector with two rows of male plug-in terminals in the prior art;

[0033] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a board-to-board connector used when increasing the number of plug-in terminals in the prior art;

[0034] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure of the male end of the board-to-board connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the structure of the female end of the board-to-board connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 6 A perspective view of a male end of a board-to-board connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 7 A perspective view of the male end of the board-to-board connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention from another perspective;

[0038] Figure 8 A perspective view of the female end of the board-to-board connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention from one perspective;

[0039] Figure 9 A perspective view of the female end of the board-to-board connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention from another perspective;

[0040] Figure 10 This is a perspective view of the assembled male and female ends of the board-to-board connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 11 A perspective view of the male and female ends of the board-to-board connector ready for assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 12This is a cross-sectional view of the male and female ends of the board-to-board connector of the first embodiment of the present invention when they are ready to be assembled;

[0043] Figure 13 This is a partial enlarged view of the male and female ends of the board-to-board connector ready for assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the preferred embodiments described below are only used to illustrate and explain the embodiments of the present invention and are not used to limit the embodiments of the present invention.

[0045] The present invention provides a board-to-board connector, comprising: a male end having at least three rows of male plug-in terminals thereon; and a female end having at least three rows of female plug-in terminals thereon, the number of rows of female plug-in terminals being equal to the number of rows of male plug-in terminals; wherein a male end window is provided in an area of ​​the male end near the middle row of male plug-in terminals, and the male end window is formed during the injection molding process by a clamping component in a male end injection mold for clamping the middle row of male plug-in terminals; wherein a female end window is formed in an area of ​​the female end near the middle row of female plug-in terminals, and the female end window is formed during the injection molding process by a clamping component in the female end injection mold for clamping the middle row of female plug-in terminals.

[0046] The board-to-board connector of the present invention may have three, four or more rows of plug-in terminals. The structure of the board-to-board connector of the present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with specific embodiments.

[0047] Example 1

[0048] like Figure 10-12 As shown, this embodiment provides a board-to-board connector with three rows of plug-in terminals, including: a male end having three rows of male plug-in terminals thereon; a female end having three rows of female plug-in terminals thereon; a male end window is provided in an area near the middle row of male plug-in terminals on the male end, and the male end window is formed by a clamping component in the male end injection mold for clamping the middle row of male plug-in terminals during the injection molding process; wherein, a female end window is formed in an area near the middle row of female plug-in terminals on the female end, and the female end window is formed by a clamping component in the female end injection mold for clamping the middle row of female plug-in terminals during the injection molding process.

[0049] Specifically, the board-to-board connector of this embodiment includes a male end 1 and a female end 2. The male end 1 is as follows Figure 4 、 Figure 6 、 Figure 7 The structure shown in FIG. 2 is as follows: Figure 5 、 Figure 8 、 Figure 9 The structure shown.

[0050] like Figure 4 、 Figure 6 、 Figure 7 As shown, the male terminal 1 of this embodiment comprises a body and male connector terminals. The body is provided with three parallel rows of male connector terminals. These rows include: a first row of male connector terminals 10 and a second row of male connector terminals 12, disposed on opposite sides of the body; and an intermediate row of male connector terminals 11, disposed on the body and located between the first and second rows of male connector terminals. Each row of male connector terminals includes multiple male connector terminals arranged in parallel.

[0051] A male terminal window 13 is provided in the area of ​​the male terminal body 1 near the middle row of male plug terminals 11, and the male terminal window 13 is formed by a clamping component for clamping the middle row of male plug terminals in the male terminal injection mold during the injection molding process.

[0052] Since the middle row of male connector terminals includes a plurality of male connector terminals arranged in parallel, the male end window 13 located near the middle row of male connector terminals also includes a plurality of small windows arranged at intervals, that is, there is a male connector terminal between adjacent small windows.

[0053] By providing a male terminal window that penetrates the thickness of the male terminal body, the processing technology of the middle row of male plug-in terminals and the strength and reliability of the welding between the male plug-in terminals and the corresponding pads on the circuit board can be ensured.

[0054] During production, both ends of each male plug-in terminal in the middle row, located on both sides of the male end window, are overlapped with the body, that is, they are injection molded into one piece with the body. Figure 12 As shown, each male plug-in terminal in the three rows of male plug-in terminals of this embodiment includes a contact arm 101 for electrically connecting to a circuit board (not shown) adapted for the male end and a conducting arm 100 perpendicular to the contact arm 101 and for electrically connecting to the female end 2.

[0055] For the middle row of male connectors, their contact arms 101 are located between adjacent small windows within the male terminal window, while the ends of the contact arms 101, located on either side of the small windows, are integrally molded with the connector body. This structure ensures the strength of the male terminal body after the male terminal window is opened, adapting to the reliability of the connector during repeated insertion and removal of the male and female terminals, and effectively preventing the male terminal window from becoming the weakest point where stress concentration is concentrated.

[0056] like Figure 5 、 Figure 8 、 Figure 9As shown, the receptacle 2 of this embodiment comprises a body and female plug-in terminals. The body of the receptacle 2 is provided with three parallel rows of female plug-in terminals. The three rows of female plug-in terminals include: a first row of female plug-in terminals 20 and a second row of female plug-in terminals 22, disposed on opposite sides of the body; and an intermediate row of female plug-in terminals 21, disposed on the body and located between the first and second rows of female plug-in terminals 20, 22.

[0057] A female terminal window 23 is provided in the area of ​​the body of the female terminal 2 near the middle row of female plug-in terminals 21, and the female terminal window 23 is formed by a clamping component in the female terminal injection mold for clamping the middle row of female plug-in terminals 21 during the injection molding process.

[0058] Since the middle row of female plug-in terminals 21 includes a plurality of female plug-in terminals arranged in parallel, the female end windows 23 located near the middle row of female plug-in terminals are also separated into a plurality of small windows by the plurality of female plug-in terminals 21 .

[0059] Similarly, by providing a female terminal window that penetrates the thickness of the female terminal body, the processing technology of the middle row of female plug-in terminals and the strength and reliability of the welding between the female plug-in terminals and the corresponding pads on the circuit board can be ensured.

[0060] like Figure 12 As shown, each of the three rows of female plug-in terminals in this embodiment includes a contact arm 210 for electrically connecting to a circuit board (not shown in the figure) adapted for the female end, and a conducting arm 212 connected to the contact arm 210 via a connecting arm 211 and for electrically connecting to the conducting arm 100 of the male end 1.

[0061] During manufacturing, the contact arm 210 of each female plug-in terminal 21 in the middle row is located at the female end window 23. That is, the contact arm 210 of each female plug-in terminal 21 is exposed in the female end window 23, and the female end window 23 is isolated into multiple small windows by multiple contact arms 210, while the portion of the connecting arm 211 connected to the contact arm 210 is injection molded as one piece with the body. The contact arm of the female plug-in terminal is arranged parallel to the contact arm of the corresponding male plug-in terminal. Similarly, adopting this structure can ensure the strength of the female end body after the male end window is opened, adapt to the reliability of the plug-in terminal during multiple insertions and removals between the female and male ends, and effectively prevent the female end window from becoming the weakest point where stress concentration is concentrated.

[0062] In order to ensure that the corresponding male plug-in terminals and female plug-in terminals can be reliably connected and effectively prevent loosening after the connection after the male end 1 and the female end 2 are plugged in, as shown in the figure below: Figure 12 、 Figure 13As shown, this embodiment also includes an anti-loosening structure, which includes an external boss 100a provided at the bottom end of the conductive arm 100 of the male connector and an internal groove 211a provided on the connecting arm 211 of the female connector. When the male connector is inserted into the female connector, the external boss 100a fits neatly into the internal groove 211a, preventing it from loosening.

[0063] In addition, the conductive arm 212 of the female plug-in terminal of this embodiment has a hook-shaped portion with a certain tilt angle relative to the extending direction of the contact arm 212, which can also effectively prevent the male plug-in terminal and the female plug-in terminal from loosening after insertion.

[0064] When the male end 1 is inserted into the female end 2, the hook-shaped portion of the female plug-in terminal on the female end 2 can form a conductive contact for abutting against the conductive arm of the corresponding male plug-in terminal on the male end 1, thereby connecting the circuit.

[0065] In addition to the above-mentioned structure, the male and female plug-in terminals of this embodiment may also adopt other structural forms known in the art, as long as the two are overlapped and form a reliable circuit connection.

[0066] In addition to the structures mentioned above, other parts of the connector of this embodiment may also adopt structures of the prior art, which will not be described in detail here.

[0067] The board-to-board connector of the present invention does not need to unilaterally increase the length of the connector when the number of connector plug-in terminals needs to be increased. Instead, the number of rows of plug-in terminals is increased by expanding the width of the connector, thereby enhancing the flatness of the SMT (Surface Mounted Technology) patch of the connector. At the same time, by increasing the number of engagement rows, the bite force of the male and female ends is strengthened, and the contact reliability between the male and female ends of the board-to-board connector is improved. In particular, by locally providing windows at the male and female ends, the production and processing technology is improved, and the mold processing and welding inspection of the middle row of plug-in terminals are facilitated.

[0068] Example 2

[0069] This embodiment provides a board-to-board connector (not shown) having four rows of plug-in terminals. This embodiment differs from Embodiment 1 in that four rows of male plug-in terminals are provided on the male end. That is, in addition to two rows of male plug-in terminals provided on opposite sides of the male end, an intermediate row of male plug-in terminals including two rows of male plug-in terminals is provided in the middle. A male terminal window is provided at each row of male plug-in terminals in the intermediate row. The contact arms of the row of male plug-in terminals are exposed through the window, and the ends on both sides of the window are injection molded into the body.

[0070] Correspondingly, four rows of female plug-in terminals are provided on the female end, and an intermediate row of female plug-in terminals including two rows of female plug-in terminals is provided in the middle of the female end body. A female end window is provided at each row of female plug-in terminals in the intermediate row of female plug-in terminals, and the contact arms of the row of female plug-in terminals are exposed in the window.

[0071] Example 3

[0072] In addition to providing the above-mentioned board-to-board connector, the present invention also provides a method for forming the board-to-board connector, which includes:

[0073] forming a male end having at least three rows of male connector terminals;

[0074] forming a female end having at least three rows of female plug-in terminals, the number of rows of female plug-in terminals being equal to the number of rows of male plug-in terminals;

[0075] A male terminal window is formed in the area of ​​the male terminal near the middle row of male plug-in terminals, and the male terminal window is formed by a clamping component in the male terminal injection mold for clamping the middle row of male plug-in terminals during the injection molding process;

[0076] A female end window is formed in the area near the middle row of female plug-in terminals on the female end, and the female end window is formed by a clamping component for clamping the middle row of female plug-in terminals in the female end injection mold during the injection molding process.

[0077] Specifically, when forming a male end having at least three rows of male connector terminals, the at least three rows of male connector terminals include:

[0078] A first row of male connector terminals and a second row of male connector terminals are formed on opposite sides of the male end;

[0079] at least one row of male connector terminals formed on the male end and located between the first row of male connector terminals and the second row of male connector terminals;

[0080] The middle row of male connector terminals is at least one row of male connector terminals.

[0081] When forming a female end having at least three rows of female plug-in terminals, the at least three rows of female plug-in terminals include:

[0082] A first row of female plug-in terminals and a second row of female plug-in terminals are formed on opposite sides of the female end;

[0083] At least one row of female plug-in terminals formed on the female end and located between the first row of female plug-in terminals and the second row of female plug-in terminals;

[0084] Among them, the middle row of female plug-in terminals is at least one row of female plug-in terminals.

[0085] Among them, the contact arm of the middle row male plug-in terminal is located at the male end window, and the two ends of the contact arm located on both sides of the male end window are respectively injection molded into the male end body, and the contact arm of the middle row female plug-in terminal is exposed in the female end window.

[0086] The present invention forms the male end and the female end by an injection molding method. During the injection molding, corresponding male end injection molds and female end injection molds are used. The structures of the male end injection molds and the female end injection molds are basically the same as the corresponding injection molds in the prior art. The difference is that one or more rows of one or more clamping components for clamping the plug-in terminals are provided in the middle of the corresponding injection molds, and the corresponding windows are automatically formed by the clamping components during the injection molding process. In this way, while increasing the number of plug-in terminals and facilitating the detection of the welding reliability of the plug-in terminals through the windows, it also facilitates mold processing and increases the applicability of the connector.

[0087] The structure of the formed board-to-board connector is as described in Examples 1 and 2, and will not be described in detail here.

[0088] Although the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art can make modifications based on the principles of the present invention. Therefore, all modifications made in accordance with the principles of the present invention should be understood to fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for forming a board-to-board connector, characterized in that: include: forming a male end having at least three rows of male connector terminals; forming a female end having at least three rows of female plug-in terminals, the number of rows of female plug-in terminals being equal to the number of rows of male plug-in terminals; A male terminal window is formed in the area of ​​the male terminal near the middle row of male connector terminals, and the male terminal window is formed during the injection molding process by a clamping component in the male terminal injection mold for clamping the middle row of male connector terminals; the middle row of male terminal windows has multiple small windows separated by contact arms of the middle row of male connector terminals; Among them, a female terminal window is formed in the area on the female end near the middle row of female plug-in terminals, and the female terminal window is formed during the injection molding process by a clamping component in the female end injection mold for clamping the middle row of female plug-in terminals; the female terminal window in the middle row has multiple small windows isolated by the contact arms of the middle row of female plug-in terminals.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The at least three rows of male connector terminals include: A first row of male connector terminals and a second row of male connector terminals are formed on opposite sides of the male end; at least one row of male connector terminals formed on the male end and located between the first row of male connector terminals and the second row of male connector terminals; Wherein, the middle row of male connector terminals is at least one row of male connector terminals.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The at least three rows of female plug-in terminals include: A first row of female plug-in terminals and a second row of female plug-in terminals are formed on opposite sides of the female end; At least one row of female plug-in terminals formed on the female end and located between the first row of female plug-in terminals and the second row of female plug-in terminals; Wherein, the middle row of female plug-in terminals is at least one row of female plug-in terminals.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The two ends of the middle row of male plug-in terminals located on both sides of the male end window are respectively injection-molded into the body of the male end.

5. A board-to-board connector, characterized in that: include: a male end having at least three rows of male connector terminals thereon; A female end having at least three rows of female plug-in terminals, the number of rows of female plug-in terminals being equal to the number of rows of male plug-in terminals; The male end has a male end window in the area near the middle row of male connector terminals, and the male end window is formed during the injection molding process by a clamping component in the male end injection mold for clamping the middle row of male connector terminals; the middle row of male end windows has multiple small windows separated by contact arms of the middle row of male connector terminals; Among them, a female terminal window is formed in the area on the female end near the middle row of female plug-in terminals, and the female terminal window is formed during the injection molding process by a clamping component in the female end injection mold for clamping the middle row of female plug-in terminals; the female terminal window in the middle row has multiple small windows isolated by the contact arms of the middle row of female plug-in terminals.

6. The board-to-board connector according to claim 5, wherein: The at least three rows of male connector terminals include: A first row of male plug-in terminals and a second row of male plug-in terminals are provided on opposite sides of the male end; At least one row of male connector terminals disposed on the male end and located between the first row of male connector terminals and the second row of male connector terminals; Wherein, the middle row of male connector terminals is at least one row of male connector terminals.

7. The board-to-board connector according to claim 6, wherein: The at least three rows of female plug-in terminals include: A first row of female plug-in terminals and a second row of female plug-in terminals are provided on opposite sides of the female end; At least one row of female plug-in terminals disposed on the female end and located between the first row of female plug-in terminals and the second row of female plug-in terminals; Wherein, the middle row of female plug-in terminals is at least one row of female plug-in terminals.

8. The board-to-board connector according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that The two ends of the middle row of male plug-in terminals located on both sides of the male end window are respectively injection-molded as one piece with the male end body.

9. The board-to-board connector according to claim 8, wherein: The two ends of the contact arm located on both sides of the male end window are respectively injection-molded into one piece with the body of the male end.

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