Connector unit, electrical connector having the connector unit, and electrical connector assembly

Abstract

The present invention discloses a connector unit, an electrical connector having the connector unit, and an electrical connector assembly, which includes an insulating shell and a terminal module accommodated in the insulating shell, the terminal module including an upper terminal unit and a lower terminal unit stacked together in the upper and lower directions, the upper terminal unit including an upper front / external terminal portion and an upper rear / inner terminal portion, the lower terminal unit including a lower front / external terminal portion and a lower rear / inner terminal portion, each of the terminal portions including a plurality of terminals and a plurality of insulating cross bars integrally formed with the plurality of terminals by insert molding, the terminals including a plurality of differential pair signal terminals and grounding terminals alternately arranged in the transverse direction, a metal grounding piece is provided on the insulating cross bar of the upper front / external terminal portion, and the metal grounding piece is provided with a plurality of tabs mechanically and electrically connected to the corresponding grounding terminals.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical device, and in particular to an electrical device having an electrical connector assembly and a metal shell surrounding the electrical connector assembly. The electrical connector assembly includes an upper connector unit and a lower connector unit, and each connector unit includes a terminal module provided with a grounding member. [Background Technology]

[0002] U.S. Patent No. 8,764,460, issued on July 1, 2014, discloses an electrical connector comprising a first row of terminals, including a first ground terminal, a second ground terminal, and a first signal terminal disposed between the first and second ground terminals. A grounding strip electrically connects the first and second ground terminals. The grounding strip and ground terminals are integrally structured, resulting in significant material waste during manufacturing. Therefore, improvements to the aforementioned electrical connector are necessary to address the shortcomings of the prior art. [Summary of the invention]

[0003] The main object of the present invention is to provide a connector unit, an electrical connector having the connector unit, and an electrical connector assembly, which can reduce the crosstalk resonance peak.

[0004] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions: a connector unit, which includes an insulating shell and a terminal module accommodated in the insulating shell, the insulating shell includes a pair of vertical side walls arranged opposite to each other in the transverse direction and a vertical front wall extending in the transverse direction and provided with a horizontal docking slot, the pair of side walls are provided with a plurality of horizontal grooves extending in the front-to-back direction perpendicular to the transverse direction, the terminal module includes an upper terminal unit and a lower terminal unit stacked together in the up-down direction perpendicular to the transverse and front-to-back directions, the upper terminal unit includes an upper front / outer terminal portion and an upper rear / inner terminal portion Sub-part, the lower terminal unit includes a lower front / outer terminal part and a lower rear / inner terminal part, each of the upper front / outer terminal part, the upper rear / inner terminal part, the lower front / outer terminal part and the lower rear / inner terminal part includes a plurality of terminals and a plurality of insulating cross bars, the plurality of terminals are formed integrally with the plurality of insulating cross bars by insert molding, the terminals include a plurality of differential pair signal terminals and grounding terminals alternately arranged in the transverse direction, a metal grounding piece is provided on the insulating cross bar of the upper front / outer terminal part, and the metal grounding piece is provided with a plurality of tabs mechanically and electrically connected to the corresponding grounding terminals.

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention may also adopt the following technical solution: an electrical connector, which includes an insulating shell and a first terminal module and a second terminal module relatively arranged in the insulating shell, the insulating shell is provided with a horizontal slot for receiving a docking plug, the first terminal module includes a first pair of grounding terminals, a first pair of signal terminals for transmitting differential signals arranged between the first pair of grounding terminals, and a first insulating member integrally molded on the first pair of grounding terminals and the first pair of signal terminals, further including a first metal grounding member fixed to the first insulating member, the first metal grounding member being electrically connected to the first pair of grounding terminals but not electrically connected to the first pair of signal terminals.

[0006] To solve the above technical problems, the present invention may also adopt the following technical solutions: an electrical connector assembly, which includes a lower connector unit and an upper connector unit, the lower connector unit including a lower insulating shell and a lower terminal module accommodated in the lower insulating shell, the lower insulating shell including a pair of lower vertical side walls arranged opposite to each other in the transverse direction and a lower vertical front wall extending in the transverse direction and provided with a lower horizontal docking slot, the lower terminal module including a lower terminal unit, the lower terminal unit including a plurality of lower terminal parts stacked together in an upper direction perpendicular to the transverse direction and perpendicular to the front-back direction, each of the lower terminal parts including a plurality of lower terminals and a plurality of lower insulating parts, the plurality of lower terminals being formed integrally with the plurality of lower insulating parts by insert molding, the lower terminals including a pair of lower grounding terminals and a pair of lower differential pair signal terminals arranged between the pair of lower grounding terminals in the transverse direction, each of the lower insulating parts being provided with a lower metal grounding part, the lower metal grounding part being provided with a plurality of Mechanically and electrically connected to the lower contact of the corresponding lower grounding terminal, the upper connector unit includes an upper insulating shell and an upper terminal module accommodated in the upper insulating shell, the upper insulating shell and the lower insulating shell are stacked in the up and down directions, the upper insulating shell includes a pair of upper vertical side walls arranged opposite to each other in the transverse direction and an upper vertical front wall extending in the transverse direction and provided with an upper horizontal docking slot, the upper terminal module includes an upper terminal unit, the upper terminal unit includes a plurality of upper terminal parts stacked together in the up and down directions, each of the upper terminal parts includes a plurality of upper terminals and a plurality of upper insulating parts, the plurality of upper terminals are formed integrally with the plurality of upper insulating parts by insert molding, the upper terminal includes a pair of upper grounding terminals and a pair of upper differential pair signal terminals arranged between the pair of upper grounding terminals in the transverse direction, each of the upper insulating parts is provided with an upper metal grounding part, and the upper metal grounding part is provided with a plurality of upper contact pieces mechanically and electrically connected to the corresponding upper grounding terminals.

[0007] Compared with the prior art, the present invention can achieve the following technical effects: the connector unit, the electrical connector having the connector unit and the metal grounding piece of the electrical connector assembly of the present invention are mechanically and electrically connected to the corresponding grounding terminal to reduce the crosstalk resonance peak.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] Figure 1 It is a three-dimensional diagram of an electronic device according to the present invention mounted on a circuit board.

[0009] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Another perspective view of the electronic device mounted on the circuit board is shown.

[0010] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view along the AA direction of the electronic device shown is mounted on a circuit board.

[0011] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 An exploded view of an electronic device mounted on a circuit board is shown, with the main portion of the metal housing removed upward from the printed circuit board to expose the electrical connector assembly in the metal housing.

[0012] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A further exploded view of the electronics shown mounted on a circuit board.

[0013] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A further exploded view showing another perspective of the electronic device mounted on a circuit board.

[0014] Figure 7 yes Figure 3 An enlarged fragmentary view of a cross-sectional view of an electronic device mounted on a circuit board is shown.

[0015] Figure 8 yes Figure 1 A side view of a terminal module of an electrical connector assembly of an electronic device is shown.

[0016] Figure 9 yes Figure 1 The terminal module of the electrical connector assembly of the electronic device is shown in a three-dimensional view mounted on a printed circuit board.

[0017] Figure 10 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of an electrical connector assembly of an electronic device mounted on a printed circuit board is shown.

[0018] Figure 11 yes Figure 10 A perspective view of the electrical connector assembly mounted on a circuit board from another perspective is shown.

[0019] Figure 12 yes Figure 10 An exploded view of the electrical connector assembly is shown positioned above a circuit board.

[0020] Figure 13 yes Figure 12 An exploded view of the electrical connector assembly shown is shown from another perspective above a circuit board.

[0021] Figure 14 yes Figure 10 An exploded view of an electrical connector assembly for an electronic device is shown on a printed circuit board with the upper connector unit removed from the lower connector unit.

[0022] Figure 15 yes Figure 14 An exploded view of an electronic device's electrical connector assembly on a printed circuit board from another perspective is shown.

[0023] Figure 16 yes Figure 14 A perspective view of an upper connector unit of an electrical connector assembly of an electronic device is shown.

[0024] Figure 17 yes Figure 16 A perspective view of the upper connector unit of the electrical connector assembly from another perspective is shown.

[0025] Figure 18 yes Figure 16 An exploded view of the upper connector unit of the electrical connector assembly is shown.

[0026] Figure 19 yes Figure 18 A further exploded view of the upper connector unit of the electrical connector assembly is shown.

[0027] Figure 20 yes Figure 19 An exploded view of the upper connector unit of the electrical connector assembly is shown from another perspective.

[0028] Figure 21 yes Figure 19 A further exploded view of the upper connector unit of the electrical connector assembly is shown.

[0029] Figure 22 yes Figure 21 A further exploded view of the upper connector unit of the electrical connector assembly is shown from another perspective.

[0030] Figure 23 yes Figure 21 A perspective view of the upper front / external terminal portion of the upper connector unit is shown.

[0031] Figure 24 yes Figure 23 Shown is an exploded view of the upper front / external terminal portion of the upper connector unit.

[0032] Figure 25 yes Figure 24 An exploded view of another perspective of the upper front / external terminal portion of the upper connector unit is shown.

[0033] Figure 26 yes Figure 24 A further exploded view of the upper front / external terminal portion of the upper connector unit is shown.

[0034] Figure 27 yes Figure 26 A further exploded view of another perspective of the upper front / external terminal portion of the upper connector unit is shown.

[0035] Figure 28 yes Figure 23 A cross-sectional view of the upper front / external terminal portion of the upper connector unit is shown.

[0036] Figure 29 yes Figure 12 A perspective view of the lower connector unit of the electrical connector assembly is shown.

[0037] Figure 30 yes Figure 29 A perspective view of the lower connector unit of the electrical connector assembly from another perspective is shown.

[0038] Figure 31 yes Figure 29 A perspective view of the lower connector unit of the electrical connector assembly from yet another perspective is shown.

[0039] Figure 32 yes Figure 29 An exploded view of the lower connector unit of the electrical connector assembly is shown.

[0040] Figure 33 yes Figure 32 A further exploded view of the lower connector unit of the electrical connector assembly is shown.

[0041] Figure 34 yes Figure 33 A further exploded view of the lower connector unit of the electrical connector assembly is shown from another perspective.

[0042] Figure 35 yes Figure 33 A further exploded view of the lower connector unit is shown.

[0043] Figure 36 yes Figure 35 A further exploded view showing another perspective of the lower connector unit is shown.

[0044] Figure 37yes Figure 35 A further exploded view of the terminal module of the lower connector unit is shown.

[0045] Figure 38 yes Figure 37 A further exploded view of the terminal module from another perspective is shown.

[0046] Figure 39 yes Figure 33 A side view of the terminal module of the lower connector unit is shown. [Specific implementation method]

[0047] like Figure 1-Figure 39 FIG. 1 shows an electronic device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is intended to be mounted on a printed circuit board 20. The electronic device 10 includes a metal housing 30 extending in a front-to-back direction, the metal housing 30 having an upper docking port 31 and a lower docking port 32 disposed opposite each other. The electronic device 10 further includes a heat dissipation subassembly 33 disposed between the upper docking port 31 and the lower docking port 32 in a vertical direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction. The electronic device 10 further includes an electrical connector assembly 50 disposed at the rear of the metal housing 30.

[0048] The electrical connector assembly 50 includes an upper connector unit 100 and a lower connector unit 300 corresponding to the upper docking port 31 and the lower docking port 32. The upper connector unit 100 includes an upper insulating shell 110, which includes a pair of vertical side walls 112 extending in the front-to-back direction, a vertical front wall 114 extending in a transverse direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction, and a horizontal partition wall 116. The front wall 114, the partition wall 116, and the upper portions of the pair of side walls 112 together form an upper docking portion 120. The upper docking portion 120 is used to receive a docking plate that can be inserted into the upper docking port 31 to dock a plug module (not shown). The upper docking portion 120 includes a horizontal docking slot 122. A plurality of channels 124 are provided on both sides of the docking slot 122.

[0049] The upper connector unit 100 further includes a terminal module 130 assembled into the upper insulating housing 110. The terminal module 130 includes an upper terminal unit 132 and a lower terminal unit 134 disposed opposite the upper terminal unit 132. The upper terminal unit 132 also includes an upper front / external terminal portion 136 and an upper rear / inner terminal portion 138. Similarly, the lower terminal unit 134 also includes a lower front / external terminal portion 140 and a lower rear / inner terminal portion 142. The upper front / external terminal portion 136 includes a plurality of differential pair signal terminals 144 and a plurality of ground terminals 146 arranged alternately in a transverse direction. At least one pair of differential pair signal terminals 144 is disposed between the pair of ground terminals 146. Each of the differential pair signal terminals 144 and the ground terminals 146 includes a front mating portion 148, a rear mounting portion 150, and a retaining portion 152 located between the front mating portion 148 and the rear mounting portion 150. The retaining portion 152 includes a horizontal portion 154, a vertical portion 156, and an inclined portion 158 located between the horizontal portion 154 and the vertical portion 156. Two insulating members or insulating crossbars 160 and 162 are integrally formed on the horizontal portion 154 through insert molding. Insulating crossbars 164 and 166 are integrally formed on the inclined portion 158, and insulating crossbar 168 is integrally formed on the vertical portion 156, thereby forming the entire upper front / external terminal portion 136 as a single unit. Each of the insulating crossbars 162 and 166 includes a plurality of positioning posts 170. Further included are metal grounding members 171 and 172, respectively, assembled and fixed to the corresponding insulating crossbars 162 and 166. Each of the metal grounding members 171 and 172 includes a base 175 and a plurality of tabs 176 extending from the base 175 in a direction away from the base 175. The base 175 is provided with a plurality of openings 174, and the corresponding positioning posts 170 extend through the openings 174 respectively. Each of the grounding terminals 146 includes a slit 178, and the plurality of tabs 176 extend through the slit 178 in the corresponding grounding terminal 146. The plurality of tabs 176 are fitted with the grounding terminal 146 by press-fitting, elastic arm contact, welding, etc., so as to be electrically connected to the grounding terminal 146, but not electrically connected to the signal terminal 144. The base 175 is configured to be spaced apart from the signal terminal 144 to be isolated from the signal terminal 144. The tabs 176 are integrally stamped from the base 175. It can be understood that the metal grounding members 171 and 172 can reduce the crosstalk resonance peak. It further includes plastic strips or plastic connecting strips 180 , 182 assembled on the corresponding insulating horizontal strips 162 , 166 by press-fitting or ultrasonic welding, and the plastic connecting strips 180 , 182 cooperate with the corresponding insulating horizontal strips 162 , 166 to clamp the corresponding metal grounding parts 171 , 172 .The plastic connecting strips 180 and 182 may be conductive to help suppress crosstalk resonance.

[0050] It is worth noting that, similar to the upper front / external terminal portion 136, the upper rear / inner terminal portion 138, the lower front / external terminal portion 140, and the lower rear / inner terminal portion 142 also include terminals, insulating crossbars, metal grounding members, and plastic connecting strips. As shown in FIG6 , each terminal portion is provided with a metal grounding member at the rear end of the horizontal portion of the terminal's retaining portion, and another grounding member is provided at the rear end of the inclined portion of the terminal's retaining portion. The housing further includes an upper cover 190 assembled onto the upper terminal unit 132. The upper cover 190 is provided with a plurality of holes 191, and the insulating crossbars 160 are provided with a plurality of mounting posts 173 that are received within the corresponding holes 191 in the upper cover 190. Each sidewall 112 is provided with a plurality of horizontal grooves 113, along which the opposing ends of the corresponding insulating crossbars move forward, thereby assembling the terminal module 130 and the corresponding upper cover 190 into the upper insulating housing 110. After assembly, the front mating portions 148 of the terminals are respectively received in the corresponding channels 124 and extend into the mating slots 122 .

[0051] Similar to the upper connector unit 100, the lower connector unit 300 includes a lower insulating housing 310 and a terminal module 330 housed within the lower insulating housing 310. The terminal module 330 includes an upper terminal unit 332 and a lower terminal unit 334. The upper terminal unit 332 includes an upper front / external terminal portion 336 and an upper rear / inner terminal portion 338. The lower terminal unit 334 includes a lower front / external terminal portion 340 and a lower rear / inner terminal portion 342. Each of the upper front / external terminal portion 336, the upper rear / inner terminal portion 338, the lower front / external terminal portion 340, and the lower rear / inner terminal portion 342 includes a plurality of ground terminals and a plurality of differential signal terminals arranged alternately in a transverse direction. An upper cover 390 is assembled onto the upper front / external terminal portion 336 of the upper terminal unit 332. The terminal module 330 and the upper cover 390 are then assembled into one piece and then assembled together into the lower insulating housing 310.

[0052] In this embodiment, if Figure 10-15 As shown, a pair of side walls 311 of the lower insulating shell 310 are provided with vertical slots 312, and a pair of mounting legs 115 are provided on the pair of side walls 112 of the upper insulating shell 110. The pair of mounting legs 115 are accommodated in the corresponding vertical slots 312, so that the upper connector unit 100 is assembled downward on the lower connector unit 300.

Claims

1. A connector unit comprising an insulating shell and a terminal module accommodated in the insulating shell, the insulating shell comprising a pair of vertical side walls arranged opposite to each other in the transverse direction and a vertical front wall extending in the transverse direction and provided with horizontal docking slots, the pair of side walls being provided with a plurality of horizontal grooves extending in a front-to-rear direction perpendicular to the transverse direction, the terminal module comprising an upper terminal unit and a lower terminal unit stacked together in a vertical direction perpendicular to the transverse and front-to-rear directions, the upper terminal unit comprising an upper front / outer terminal portion and an upper rear / inner terminal portion, the lower terminal unit comprising a lower front / outer terminal portion and a lower rear / inner terminal portion, each of the upper front / outer terminal portion, the upper rear / inner terminal portion, the lower front / outer terminal portion and the lower rear / inner terminal portion comprising a plurality of terminals and a plurality of insulating horizontal strips, the plurality of terminals being integrally formed with the plurality of insulating horizontal strips by insert molding, the terminals comprising a plurality of differential pair signal terminals and ground terminals arranged alternately in the transverse direction, characterized in that: A metal grounding piece is provided on the insulating horizontal bar of the upper front / outer terminal portion, and the metal grounding piece is provided with a plurality of tabs mechanically and electrically connected to the corresponding grounding terminals. The metal grounding piece includes a base, and the tabs extend from the base and are respectively connected to the grounding terminals.

2. An electrical connector comprising an insulating housing and a first terminal module and a second terminal module disposed oppositely therein, the insulating housing having a horizontal slot for receiving a mating plug, the first terminal module comprising a first pair of ground terminals, a first pair of signal terminals disposed between the first pair of ground terminals for transmitting differential signals, and a first insulating member integrally molded with the first pair of ground terminals and the first pair of signal terminals, characterized in that: It further includes a first metal grounding member fixed to the first insulating member, the first metal grounding member is electrically connected to the first pair of grounding terminals but not electrically connected to the first pair of signal terminals, the first metal grounding member includes a first base and first contacts extending from the first base and electrically connected to the first pair of grounding terminals respectively.

3. The electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein: The first base is spaced apart from the first pair of signal terminals to be isolated from the first pair of signal terminals.

4. The electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein: Each of the first pair of ground terminals is provided with a first slit, the first tab extends through the first slit to be electrically connected to the first ground terminal, and the first tab is punched from the first base.

5. The electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein: The first metal grounding member includes a plurality of first openings, and the first insulating member includes a plurality of first positioning columns passing through corresponding first openings.

6. The electrical connector according to claim 5, wherein: The first terminal module further includes a first conductive plastic strip disposed on the first metal grounding member.

7. The electrical connector according to claim 6, wherein: The first conductive plastic strip and the first insulating member are press-fitted together via the first positioning pillar or welded together via ultrasonic waves.

8. The electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein: The second terminal module includes a second pair of ground terminals, a second pair of signal terminals arranged between the second pair of ground terminals for transmitting differential signals, a second insulating member molded together with the second pair of ground terminals and the second pair of signal terminals, and a second metal grounding member fixed to the second insulating member, the second metal grounding member being electrically connected to the second pair of ground terminals but not electrically connected to the second pair of signal terminals.

9. An electrical connector assembly comprising a lower connector unit and an upper connector unit, characterized in that: The lower connector unit includes a lower insulating shell and a lower terminal module accommodated in the lower insulating shell, the lower insulating shell includes a pair of lower vertical side walls arranged opposite to each other in the transverse direction and a lower vertical front wall extending in the transverse direction and provided with a lower horizontal docking slot, the lower terminal module includes a lower terminal unit, the lower terminal unit includes a plurality of lower terminal parts stacked together in an upper direction perpendicular to the transverse direction and perpendicular to the front-to-back direction, each of the lower terminal parts includes a plurality of lower terminals and a plurality of lower insulating parts, the plurality of lower terminals are formed integrally with the plurality of lower insulating parts by insert molding, the lower terminal includes a pair of lower grounding terminals and a pair of lower differential pair signal terminals arranged between the pair of lower grounding terminals in the transverse direction, each of the lower insulating parts is provided with a lower metal grounding part, the lower metal grounding part is provided with a plurality of lower connecting pieces mechanically and electrically connected to the corresponding lower grounding terminals, the The upper connector unit includes an upper insulating shell and an upper terminal module accommodated in the upper insulating shell, the upper insulating shell and the lower insulating shell are stacked in the up and down directions, the upper insulating shell includes a pair of upper vertical side walls arranged opposite to each other in the transverse direction and an upper vertical front wall extending in the transverse direction and provided with an upper horizontal docking slot, the upper terminal module includes an upper terminal unit, the upper terminal unit includes a plurality of upper terminal parts stacked together in the up and down directions, each of the upper terminal parts includes a plurality of upper terminals and a plurality of upper insulating parts, the plurality of upper terminals are formed integrally with the plurality of upper insulating parts by insert molding, the upper terminal includes a pair of upper grounding terminals and a pair of upper differential pair signal terminals arranged between the pair of upper grounding terminals in the transverse direction, each of the upper insulating parts is provided with an upper metal grounding part, and the upper metal grounding part is provided with a plurality of upper connecting pieces mechanically and electrically connected to the corresponding upper grounding terminals.

10. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 9, wherein: The lower insulating housing is provided with slots, and the upper insulating housing includes mounting legs assembled into corresponding slots.

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