Electrical connector assembly

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly, which includes an electrical connector and a circuit board. The electrical connector has a shielding sheet and a plurality of terminals. The shielding sheet separates the terminals into two parts, and the shielding sheet has a first side surface. The circuit board is assembled to the electrical connector. The circuit board has a plurality of pads, a second side surface, and a top surface and a bottom surface that are opposite to each other. The pads are respectively disposed on the top surface and the bottom surface, and the second side surface is adjacent between the top surface and the bottom surface. The circuit board also has at least one grounding line that is exposed from the second side surface and faces the first side surface, so that when the circuit board is assembled to the electrical connector, the shielding sheet is electrically connected to the grounding line through the first side surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly. Background Art

[0002] Recently, as people's demands for transmission rate and storage capacity are getting higher and higher, the transmission rate of USB has now developed to the USB3.1 Super Speed+ specification. In particular, the new specification of USB Type-C can provide a maximum transmission rate of up to 10 Gbps and can obtain a faster transmission rate while transmitting large-capacity files, thus effectively shortening the transmission time.

[0003] With the significant increase in the transmission speed of high-speed transmission interfaces, the number of conductive terminals increases and they are densely distributed. Since the conductive metal conductors of the current universal serial bus interface are quite close in the spatial arrangement distance, the phenomenon of capacitive coupling will inevitably increase during signal transmission, thereby increasing the interference during signal transmission, reducing the stability of signal transmission, and impedance mismatch will interfere with signal transmission and synchronously reduce the stability of signal transmission, resulting in deficiencies such as poor use quality and unstable signals.

[0004] Taking an electrical connector assembly as an example, it includes an electrical connector and a circuit board assembled with each other. Although a shielding sheet is provided between the terminals of the electrical connector to serve as a shield for separating the two terminals, the shielding sheet still has to be connected to the ground pads on the upper and lower surfaces of the circuit board in order to effectively provide grounding and shielding effects. However, this approach is tantamount to going the long way around and resulting in limited effectiveness.

[0005] Accordingly, how to provide an appropriate configuration to meet the transmission rate of the existing new specification, while at the same time making the electrical connector assembly tend to be thinner, lighter, shorter and more convenient to use is actually a problem that those skilled in the relevant art need to consider and solve. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention provides an electrical connector assembly, which exposes the grounding line on the side of the circuit board adjacent to the shielding sheet, so that the shielding sheet of the electrical connector is directly electrically connected to the grounding line on the side, thereby improving the shielding effect of the shielding sheet on high-frequency signals.

[0007] The electrical connector assembly of the present invention includes an electrical connector and a circuit board. The electrical connector has a shielding sheet and a plurality of terminals. The shielding sheet separates the terminals into two parts, and the shielding sheet has a first side. The circuit board is assembled to the electrical connector. The circuit board has a plurality of pads, a second side, and a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to each other. The pads are respectively arranged on the top surface and the bottom surface, and the second side is adjacent between the top surface and the bottom surface. The circuit board also has at least one grounding line, which is exposed from the second side and faces the first side, so that when the circuit board is assembled to the electrical connector, the shielding sheet is electrically connected to the grounding line with the first side.

[0008] Preferably, the above-mentioned shielding sheet has at least one first convex portion located on the first side surface, extending toward the second side surface and structurally abutting against the second side surface, and the shielding sheet electrically conducts the grounding line through the first convex portion.

[0009] Preferably, the above-mentioned first side surface and the second side surface are parallel to each other and maintain a gap.

[0010] Preferably, among the above-mentioned terminals, the positive projection range of the high-speed signal transmission terminal pair on the plane where the shielding sheet is located partially overlaps with the first convex portion.

[0011] Preferably, the above-mentioned electrical connector assembly is a Type-C electrical connector, and the above-mentioned shielding sheet has a pair of first convex portions, and the first convex portions respectively shield between the TX+ / TX- terminals and the RX+ / RX- terminals.

[0012] Preferably, the above-mentioned shielding sheet has a recess and a pair of first convex portions located in the recess and opposite to each other. The circuit board has a second convex portion and a pair of grounding lines located on the second convex portion and facing away from each other. The second convex portion is assembled in the recess so that the first convex portions respectively abut against the grounding lines.

[0013] Preferably, the above-mentioned first side surface and the second side surface are complementary in contour to each other.

[0014] Preferably, the above-mentioned first side surface and the second side surface are respectively in a stepped contour.

[0015] Preferably, the above-mentioned shielding sheet further has a pair of grounding pins, which are respectively arranged on a pair of grounding pads in the pads, and the first side surface is located between the grounding pins.

[0016] Preferably, the above-mentioned electrical connector further has an insulating body, and the terminals and the shielding sheet separated into two places are layered on the insulating body. The above-mentioned shielding sheet further has a pair of buckling arms located on opposite sides of the insulating body, and the above-mentioned first side surface faces away from the buckling arms.

[0017] Preferably, the direction in which the above-mentioned shielding sheet electrically conducts the grounding line through the first side surface is consistent with the plugging and unplugging direction of the electrical connector assembly.

[0018] Preferably, the direction in which the above-mentioned shielding sheet electrically conducts the grounding line through the first side surface is orthogonal to the plugging and unplugging direction of the electrical connector assembly.

[0019] Based on the above, in the above-mentioned embodiments of the present invention, the circuit board exposes its grounding layer from the second side surface to form a grounding line, so that while the circuit board and the electrical connector are assembled into an electrical connector assembly, the first side surface of the shielding sheet is directly electrically conducted to the exposed grounding line. Therefore, for the electrical connector assembly, the above configuration provides a shorter grounding path, and effectively improves its grounding and shielding effects. Description of the Drawings

[0020] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an electrical connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2 is Figure 1 an exploded view of the electrical connector assembly.

[0022] Figures 3A to 3D are respectively schematic diagrams of partial components of the electrical connector assembly from different perspectives.

[0023] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of an electrical connector assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Symbol Description

[0025] 100, 200: Electrical connector assembly

[0026] 110, 210: Electrical connector

[0027] 111: First housing

[0028] 112: Second housing

[0029] 113: Terminal

[0030] 113A: First terminal group

[0031] 113B: Second terminal group

[0032] 114: Insulating body

[0033] 115, 215: Shielding sheet

[0034] 115a, 115b, 215a, 215b: First convex portion

[0035] 115c: Grounding pin

[0036] 115d: Buckling arm

[0037] 120, 220: Circuit board

[0038] 121, 221: Grounding line

[0039] 122: Pad

[0040] 122a: Grounding pad

[0041] 215d: Depression

[0042] 223: Second convex portion

[0043] F1, F2: Bonding force

[0044] G1: Gap

[0045] S1, S5: First side

[0046] S2, S6: Second side

[0047] S3: Top surface

[0048] S4: Bottom surface

[0049] T1, T2, T3, T4…T10, T11, T12: Numbers

[0050] X - Y - Z: Rectangular coordinates. Detailed implementation manner

[0051] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an electrical connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is Figure 1 an exploded view of the electrical connector assembly. Please also refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , in this embodiment, the electrical connector assembly 100 includes an electrical connector 110 and a circuit board 120 assembled together with each other. Here, a Type - C electrical connector (and especially a plug electrical connector) is taken as an example, and rectangular coordinates X - Y - Z are provided at the same time to facilitate the description of components, wherein the insertion and extraction direction of the electrical connector assembly 100 is substantially along the Y - axis.

[0052] In this embodiment, the electrical connector 110 includes a first housing 111, a second housing 112, a plurality of terminals 113, an insulating body 114, and a shielding sheet 115. The shielding sheet 115 is made of a conductive material, and it separates the terminals 113 into two parts to form a first terminal group 113A and a second terminal group 113B, and the first terminal group 113A, the shielding sheet 115, and the second terminal group 113B are laminated on the insulating body 114 along the Z - axis by means such as in - mold injection. Then, the second housing 112, the first housing 111, and the circuit board 120 are sequentially combined to complete the assembly process of the electrical connector assembly 100. It should be mentioned that, as Figure 2As shown, the shielding sheet 115 has a first side surface S1 facing the negative Y-axis direction. The circuit board 120 has a top surface S3 and a bottom surface S4 opposite to each other along the Z-axis, and the circuit board 120 also has a plurality of pads 122 disposed on the top surface S3 and the bottom surface S4 respectively, a second side surface S2 adjacent to the top surface S3 and the bottom surface S4, and a ground line 121 exposed from the second side surface S2 and facing the first side surface S1. Here, the ground line 121 substantially faces the positive Y-axis direction, and the ground line 121 is an extension of the ground layer (not shown) in the circuit board 120 to the second side surface S2 and is exposed. In the above assembly process, when the circuit board 120 and the electrical connector 110 are assembled together, the shielding sheet 150 electrically conducts the ground line 121 located on the second side surface S2 with the first side surface S1.

[0053] Figures 3A to 3D They are schematic diagrams of some components of the electrical connector assembly from different perspectives. Please first refer to Figures 3A to 3C , it should be noted that here different component parts (shielding sheet 115, first terminal group 113A and circuit board 120) are shown in combination in order to clearly identify the corresponding relationship between the components.

[0054] The shielding sheet 115 has at least one first convex portion 115a, 115b located on the first side surface S1, extending toward the second side surface S2 and structurally abutting against the second side surface S2, and the shielding sheet 115 electrically conducts the ground line 121 with the first convex portions 115a, 115b. Specifically, the first side surface S1 and the second side surface S2 of this embodiment are parallel to each other (also parallel to the X-Z plane) and maintain a gap G1. It can also be considered that the first side surface S1 and the second side surface S2 are pushed away from each other due to these two first convex portions 115a, 115b, so that the first convex portions 115a, 115b directly structurally abut against the second side surface S2 of the circuit board 120 and thus electrically conduct with the ground line 121 smoothly. In other words, the direction in which the shielding sheet 115 electrically conducts the ground line 121 with the first side surface S1 is the same as the plugging and unplugging direction of the electrical connector assembly 100, that is, both are along the Y-axis direction. In another embodiment not shown, the first convex portions 115a, 115b can also be omitted, and the first side surface S1 and the second side surface S2 are directly abutted against each other to achieve the required electrical conduction effect.

[0055] The so-called electrical conduction described here means that it can be completed through physical structure contact, auxiliary structure (such as lapping), or through a conductive medium (such as welding the two together with a welding material), so the connection structure or means is not limited.

[0056] Furthermore, please refer to Figure 3B and Figure 3C, here, the first terminal group 113A, which is a Type-C electrical connector, is numbered T1, T2, T3, T4... T12. Among them, the numbers T2 and T3 are, for example, the TX+ / TX- terminals, and the numbers T10 and T11 are, for example, the RX- / RX+ terminals. In other words, in the second terminal group 113B (not shown), the terminals corresponding to the numbers T2 and T3 will be the RX+ / RX- terminals, and the terminals corresponding to the numbers T10 and T11 will be the TX- / TX+ terminals. Accordingly, the orthographic projection profiles of the first terminal group 113A and the second terminal group 113B on the X-Y plane will overlap each other. Therefore, Figure 3B Taking only the first terminal group 113A on one side as an example, in this embodiment, for the high-speed signal transmission terminal pairs in the terminals 113, that is, the aforementioned TX+ / TX- terminals and RX+ / RX- terminals, the orthographic projection range on the plane where the shielding sheet 115 is located (i.e., the X-Y plane) will partially overlap with the first protrusions 115a and 115b of this embodiment. That is, the first protrusions 115a and 115b of the shielding sheet 115 can shield between the TX+ / TX- terminals and the RX+ / RX- terminals.

[0057] Accordingly, in addition to being directly electrically connected to the grounding line 121 of the circuit board 120 to provide a shorter grounding path, the first protrusions 115a and 115b located on the first side S1 further shield between the above-mentioned high-speed signal transmission terminal pairs. Therefore, when the electrical connector assembly 100 performs high-frequency signal transmission, the shielding sheet 115 can effectively reduce the crosstalk interference generated by high-frequency signals due to the first protrusions 115a and 115b, thereby improving its shielding effectiveness.

[0058] In addition, please refer to Figures 3B to 3D , the shielding sheet 115 of this embodiment further has a pair of grounding pins 115c and a pair of fastening arms 115d. Among them, the grounding pins 115c are respectively arranged on a pair of grounding pads 122a in the pads 122, and the first side S1 is located between the pair of grounding pins 115c. The fastening arms 115d are located on opposite sides of the insulating body 114 along the X-axis, and the first side S1 faces away from the fastening arms 115d. The fastening arms 115d are used to hold another electrical connector (such as a socket electrical connector, not shown) that is docked with the electrical connector assembly 100 to prevent the electrical connector assembly 100 from falling off the socket electrical connector, so as to improve the stability of the signal transmission process.

[0059] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of an electrical connector assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to Figure 4, the electrical connector assembly 200 of this embodiment includes an electrical connector 210 and a circuit board 220 assembled together with each other. Different from the foregoing embodiment, in the electrical connector assembly 200 of this embodiment, the shielding sheet 215 further has a recess 215d and a pair of first protrusions 215a, 215b located in the recess 215d and opposite to each other, and the circuit board 220 further has a second protrusion 223 and a pair of ground lines 221 located on the second protrusion 223 and facing away from each other. Among them, the second protrusion 223 is assembled in the recess 215d so that the first protrusions 215a, 215b are respectively abutted against the ground lines 221. As Figure 4 shown, the abutting direction of the first protrusions 215a, 215b and the ground lines 221 is along the X-axis, that is, equivalent to being orthogonal to the plugging and unplugging direction (Y-axis) of the electrical connector assembly 200. As Figure 4 shown, the resultant force F2 is orthogonal to the Y-axis.

[0060] It should be noted that Figure 4 the electrical connector assembly 200 shown still retains the first protrusions 115a, 115b and the ground lines 121 of the foregoing embodiment, and the resultant force F1 generated by them, so that the circuit board 220 and the shielding sheet 215 of this embodiment are in a state where their contours are complementary to each other on the first side S5 and the second side S6, that is, the first side S5 and the second side S6 are respectively in a stepped contour, so as to produce a structure in which the circuit board 220 and the shielding sheet 215 are interference-fitted with each other. In this way, the bonding strength between the two can be effectively improved.

[0061] However, it should be mentioned that it can be easily inferred from the foregoing embodiment that in Figure 4 the embodiment shown, only the resultant force F2 or only the resultant force F1 exists, and the assembly of the shielding sheet 215 and the circuit board 220 can be successfully completed.

[0062] To sum up, in the above embodiments of the present invention, the circuit board exposes its ground layer from the second side to form a ground line, so that while the circuit board and the electrical connector are assembled into an electrical connector assembly, the first side of the shielding sheet is directly electrically connected to the exposed ground line. Therefore, for the electrical connector assembly, the above configuration provides a shorter ground path, effectively improving its grounding and shielding effects. Furthermore, the shielding sheet is further abutted against the ground line by the first protrusion, and at the same time, the first protrusion also shields between the high-speed signal transmission terminal pairs separated at two opposite places of the shielding sheet, so that the problem of crosstalk interference caused during high-frequency signal transmission can be effectively prevented. In addition, the circuit board and the shielding sheet reach an interference-fitted bonding state due to their complementary contours, thereby improving the structural strength of the electrical connector assembly and effectively avoiding possible detachment.

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly, comprising: An electrical connector having a shielding piece and a plurality of terminals, the shielding piece separating the terminals into two parts, and the shielding piece having a first side; and A circuit board assembled to the electrical connector, the circuit board having a plurality of pads, a second side, and a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to each other, each of the pads being disposed on the top surface and the bottom surface respectively, and the second side being adjacent between the top surface and the bottom surface, Characterized in that: The circuit board further has at least one grounding line exposed from the second side and facing the first side, so that when the circuit board is assembled to the electrical connector, the shielding piece electrically conducts the grounding line with the first side.

2. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, Characterized in that: The shielding piece has at least one first protrusion located on the first side, extending toward the second side and structurally abutting against the second side, and the shielding piece electrically conducts the grounding line with the first protrusion.

3. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 2, Characterized in that: The first side and the second side are parallel to each other and maintain a gap.

4. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 2, Characterized in that: The positive projection range of the high-speed signal transmission terminal pairs in each of the terminals partially overlaps with the first protrusion in the plane where the shielding piece is located.

5. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 2, Characterized in that: It is a Type-C electrical connector, and the shielding piece has a pair of first protrusions, and the pair of first protrusions respectively shield between the TX+ / TX- terminals and the RX+ / RX- terminals.

6. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 2, Characterized in that: The shielding piece has a recess and a pair of first protrusions located in the recess and opposite to each other, the circuit board has a second protrusion and a pair of grounding lines located on the second protrusion and facing away from each other, and the second protrusion is assembled in the recess so that the pair of first protrusions respectively abut against the pair of grounding lines.

7. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, Characterized in that: The first side and the second side are complementary in contour to each other.

8. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, Characterized in that: The first side and the second side respectively have a stepped contour.

9. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, Characterized in that: The first side and the second side are in interference fit.

10. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, Characterized in that: The shielding piece further has a pair of grounding pins respectively disposed on a pair of grounding pads among the pads, and the first side is located between the pair of grounding pins.

11. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, Characterized in that: The electrical connector further has an insulating body, the terminals separated into two parts and the shielding piece are layered on the insulating body, and the shielding piece further has a pair of buckling arms located on opposite sides of the insulating body, and the first side faces away from the pair of buckling arms.

12. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, Characterized in that: The direction in which the shielding piece electrically conducts the grounding line with the first side is consistent with the plugging and unplugging direction of the electrical connector assembly.

13. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: the direction in which the shielding sheet electrically conducts the grounding line through the first side face is orthogonal to the insertion and extraction direction of the electrical connector assembly.

Images