Connector components

By designing an open-end connector, the problem of insufficient current carrying and heat dissipation capabilities of the existing power connector is solved, and the longitudinal extension of the electrical contact pad and the external extension of the circuit board are realized, improving the overall performance of the connector.

CN114069290BActive Publication Date: 2025-04-08TYCO ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO LTD +2
View PDF 4 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Application Number
CN202010751814.4
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2020-07-30
Publication Date
2025-04-08
Estimated Expiration
2040-07-30

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The longitudinal ends of the existing power connectors are closed, limiting the extension of the circuit board and the size of the electrical contact pads, resulting in insufficient current carrying capacity and heat dissipation capabilities.

Method used

An open end connector is designed, at least one of the longitudinal ends of the insulated housing is an open end, allowing the circuit board to extend through the open end to the outside of the insulated housing, and a conductive terminal is provided in the slot of the insulated housing to achieve electrical contact.

Benefits of technology

Through the open end design, the electrical contact pad can extend longitudinally to the outside of the insulated housing, increasing the current carrying size and heat dissipation area, thereby improving the current carrying capacity and heat dissipation capacity of the connector.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure CN114069290B_ABST
    Figure CN114069290B_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The present invention discloses a connector assembly, including a connector and a first circuit board. The connector includes: an insulating housing, formed with a slot extending in the longitudinal direction thereof; at least one of the two opposite ends of the insulating housing in the longitudinal direction thereof is an open end without an end wall, so that the slot is open to the outside at the open end to allow the inserted first circuit board to extend to the outside of the insulating housing via the open end; and a conductive terminal, arranged in the slot of the insulating housing, suitable for electrically contacting the first circuit board inserted into the slot, and an electrical contact pad suitable for electrically contacting the conductive terminal of the connector is formed on the first circuit board; when the first circuit board is plugged into the slot of the connector, the electrical contact pad on the first circuit board extends to the outside of the insulating housing of the connector via the open end of the connector, thereby increasing the current-carrying size and heat dissipation area of ​​the electrical contact pad on the circuit board, greatly improving the current-carrying capacity and heat dissipation capacity of the connector.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a connector and a connector assembly comprising the connector. Background Art

[0002] In the prior art, a power connector for a circuit board generally includes an insulating housing and a conductive terminal. A longitudinal slot extending in the longitudinal direction of the insulating housing is formed in the insulating housing. The conductive terminal is accommodated in the longitudinal slot of the insulating housing. The circuit board is inserted into the longitudinal slot and electrically contacts the conductive terminal.

[0003] In the prior art, both longitudinal ends of the power connector are closed, with closed end walls for closing the longitudinal slots, which results in the circuit board being unable to extend to the outside of the insulating housing in the longitudinal direction, which limits the size of the electrical contact pads on the circuit board and reduces the current carrying capacity and heat dissipation capacity of the power connector. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to solve at least one aspect of the above-mentioned problems and defects in the prior art.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector, comprising: an insulating housing, formed with a slot extending in the longitudinal direction thereof; and a conductive terminal, arranged in the slot of the insulating housing, adapted to electrically contact a first circuit board inserted into the slot. At least one of the two opposite ends of the insulating housing in the longitudinal direction thereof is an open end without an end wall, so that the slot is open to the outside at the open end to allow the inserted first circuit board to extend to the outside of the insulating housing via the open end.

[0006] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the insulating shell also includes at least one positioning partition connected between the two side walls of the slot and perpendicular to the two side walls of the slot, and the positioning partition is suitable for cooperating with the positioning notch on the edge portion of the first circuit board to position the first circuit board.

[0007] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the conductive terminal has a plug pin extending from the bottom of the insulating housing, and the plug pin is suitable for being plugged into a plug hole on the second circuit board.

[0008] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a protruding positioning column is formed on the bottom of the insulating housing, and the positioning column is suitable for being inserted into a positioning hole on the second circuit board for positioning the connector.

[0009] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the conductive terminal has two rows of elastic contact arms respectively located on both sides of the slot, and the two rows of elastic contact arms are suitable for clamping on the inserted first circuit board to make electrical contact with the first circuit board.

[0010] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the conductive terminal further comprises a fixing portion connected between the elastic contact arm and the plug pin, and the fixing portion of the conductive terminal is fixed in the bottom wall of the insulating housing.

[0011] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the connector is a power connector.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, a connector assembly is provided, comprising the aforementioned connector and a first circuit board. The connector comprises: an insulating housing, formed with a slot extending in the longitudinal direction thereof; at least one of the two opposite ends of the insulating housing in the longitudinal direction thereof is an open end without an end wall, so that the slot is open to the outside at the open end to allow the inserted first circuit board to extend to the outside of the insulating housing via the open end; and a conductive terminal, arranged in the slot of the insulating housing, suitable for electrically contacting the first circuit board inserted into the slot, and having an electrical contact pad formed on the first circuit board suitable for electrically contacting the conductive terminal of the connector; when the first circuit board is plugged into the slot of the connector, the electrical contact pad on the first circuit board extends to the outside of the insulating housing of the connector via the open end of the connector.

[0013] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the insulating shell of the connector also includes at least one positioning partition connected between the two side walls of the slot and perpendicular to the two side walls of the slot; at least one positioning notch is formed on the edge of the first circuit board, and the positioning partition cooperates with the positioning notch on the edge of the first circuit board to position the first circuit board.

[0014] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the conductive terminal of the connector has a plug pin extending from the bottom of the insulating shell; the connector assembly also includes a second circuit board, a plug hole is formed on the second circuit board, and the plug pin is plugged into the plug hole on the second circuit board.

[0015] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a protruding positioning column is formed on the bottom of the insulating housing of the connector; a positioning hole is formed on the second circuit board, and the positioning column is inserted into the positioning hole on the second circuit board.

[0016] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the conductive terminal of the connector has two rows of elastic contact arms respectively located on both sides of the slot, and the two rows of elastic contact arms are clamped on the inserted first circuit board to electrically contact the first circuit board.

[0017] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the conductive terminal of the connector further comprises a fixing portion connected between the elastic contact arm and the plug pin, and the fixing portion of the conductive terminal is fixed in the bottom wall of the insulating housing.

[0018] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the connector assembly includes a single first circuit board, a single second circuit board and a single connector mounted on the single second circuit board; the first circuit board is inserted into the connector in a vertical direction, and the electrical contact pads on the first circuit board extend to the outside of the connector through an open end of the connector.

[0019] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the connector assembly includes a single first circuit board, two second circuit boards and two connectors respectively mounted on the two second circuit boards; the two second circuit boards are arranged in the same horizontal plane, and the two connectors are opposite to each other and separated by a predetermined distance in the horizontal direction; the first circuit board is inserted into the two connectors in the vertical direction; and the portion of the electrical contact pad on the first circuit board located between the open ends of the two connectors extends to the outside of the two connectors via the open ends of the two connectors.

[0020] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the connector assembly includes a single first circuit board, two second circuit boards and two connectors respectively mounted on the two second circuit boards; the two second circuit boards are respectively arranged in a horizontal plane and a vertical plane, and the two connectors are perpendicular to each other and are separated by a predetermined distance in the horizontal direction; the first circuit board is inserted into one of the two connectors in the vertical direction and into the other of the two connectors in the horizontal direction; the portion of the electrical contact pad on the first circuit board located between the open ends of the two connectors extends to the outside of the two connectors via the open ends of the two connectors.

[0021] In the above-mentioned various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the end of the insulating housing of the connector is open, thereby allowing the inserted circuit board to extend to the outside of the insulating housing through the open end. This allows the electrical contact pads on the circuit board to extend to the outside of the insulating housing in the longitudinal direction, thereby increasing the current-carrying size and heat dissipation area of ​​the electrical contact pads on the circuit board, greatly improving the current-carrying capacity and heat dissipation capacity of the connector.

[0022] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, which will help to provide a comprehensive understanding of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1A three-dimensional schematic diagram showing a connector and a first circuit board according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 A three-dimensional schematic diagram showing a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 A perspective schematic diagram showing a connector assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 4 A perspective schematic diagram showing a connector assembly according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 5 A schematic perspective view of a connector assembly according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The technical solution of the present invention is further specifically described below by examples and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the specification, the same or similar reference numerals indicate the same or similar components. The following description of the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings is intended to explain the overall inventive concept of the present invention and should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

[0029] In addition, in the detailed description below, for ease of explanation, many specific details are set forth to provide a comprehensive understanding of the disclosed embodiments. However, it is apparent that one or more embodiments may be implemented without these specific details. In other cases, known structures and devices are embodied in a schematic manner to simplify the accompanying drawings.

[0030] According to an overall technical concept of the present invention, a connector assembly is provided, including a connector and a first circuit board. The connector includes: an insulating housing, formed with a slot extending in the longitudinal direction thereof; at least one of the two opposite ends of the insulating housing in the longitudinal direction thereof is an open end without an end wall, so that the slot is open to the outside at the open end to allow the inserted first circuit board to extend to the outside of the insulating housing via the open end; and a conductive terminal, arranged in the slot of the insulating housing, suitable for electrically contacting the first circuit board inserted into the slot, and an electrical contact pad suitable for electrically contacting the conductive terminal of the connector is formed on the first circuit board; when the first circuit board is plugged into the slot of the connector, the electrical contact pad on the first circuit board extends to the outside of the insulating housing of the connector via the open end of the connector.

[0031] Figure 1 A three-dimensional schematic diagram showing a connector 30 and a first circuit board 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2A perspective schematic diagram showing a connector 30 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0032] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector mainly includes: an insulating housing 31 and a conductive terminal 32. The insulating housing 31 is formed with a slot 31a extending along its longitudinal direction. The conductive terminal 32 is arranged in the slot 31a of the insulating housing 31, and is suitable for electrically contacting the first circuit board 10 inserted into the slot 31a.

[0033] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, at least one of the two opposite ends of the insulating housing 31 in the longitudinal direction thereof is an open end 31b without an end wall, so that the slot 31a is open to the outside at the open end 31b to allow the inserted first circuit board 10 to extend to the outside of the insulating housing 31 via the open end 31b. In this way, the electrical contact pad 11 on the first circuit board 10 can extend to the outside of the insulating housing 31 along the longitudinal direction, thereby increasing the current-carrying size (or width) and heat dissipation area of ​​the electrical contact pad 11 on the first circuit board 10. Therefore, the current-carrying capacity and heat dissipation capacity of the electrical contact pad 11 are greatly improved, thereby greatly improving the current-carrying capacity and heat dissipation capacity of the connector 30.

[0034] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, the insulating housing 31 further includes at least one positioning partition 31c connected between the two side walls of the slot 31a and perpendicular to the two side walls of the slot 31a. The positioning partition 31c is adapted to cooperate with the positioning notch 10c on the edge of the first circuit board 10 to position the first circuit board 10.

[0035] Figure 3 A schematic perspective view of a connector assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0036] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, the conductive terminal 32 has a plug pin 32 b extending from the bottom of the insulating housing 31 , and the plug pin 32 b is suitable for being plugged into a plug hole on the second circuit board 20 .

[0037] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, a protruding positioning column 31 d is formed on the bottom of the insulating housing 31 , and the positioning column 31 d is suitable for being inserted into a positioning hole on the second circuit board 20 for positioning the connector 30 .

[0038] like Figures 1 to 3As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, the conductive terminal 32 has two rows of elastic contact arms 32a respectively located on both sides of the slot 31a, and the two rows of elastic contact arms 32a are suitable for clamping on the inserted first circuit board 10 to make electrical contact with the first circuit board 10.

[0039] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, the conductive terminal 32 further has a fixing portion connected between the elastic contact arm 32 a and the plug pin 32 b , and the fixing portion of the conductive terminal 32 is fixed in the bottom wall of the insulating housing 31 .

[0040] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the aforementioned connector may be a power connector.

[0041] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a connector assembly is also disclosed. The connector assembly includes the aforementioned connector 30 and a first circuit board 10. The first circuit board 10 is suitable for being plugged into the slot 31a of the connector 30 and electrically contacting the conductive terminal 32 of the connector 30.

[0042] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an electrical contact pad 11 suitable for electrically contacting a conductive terminal 32 of a connector 30 is formed on the first circuit board 10. When the first circuit board 10 is plugged into the slot 31a of the connector 30, the electrical contact pad 11 on the first circuit board 10 extends to the outside of the insulating housing 31 of the connector 30 via the open end 31b of the connector 30.

[0043] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the insulating housing 31 of the connector 30 further includes at least one positioning partition 31c connected between the two side walls of the slot 31a and perpendicular to the two side walls of the slot 31a. At least one positioning notch 10c is formed on the edge of the first circuit board 10, and the positioning partition 31c cooperates with the positioning notch 10c on the edge of the first circuit board 10 to position the first circuit board 10.

[0044] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the conductive terminal 32 of the connector 30 has a plug pin 32b extending from the bottom of the insulating housing 31. The connector assembly also includes a second circuit board 20, on which a plug hole is formed, and the plug pin 32b is plugged into the plug hole on the second circuit board 20.

[0045] like Figures 1 to 3As shown, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a protruding positioning column 31d is formed on the bottom of the insulating housing 31 of the connector 30. A positioning hole is formed on the second circuit board 20, and the positioning column 31d is inserted into the positioning hole on the second circuit board 20.

[0046] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the conductive terminal 32 of the connector 30 has two rows of elastic contact arms 32a respectively located on both sides of the slot 31a, and the two rows of elastic contact arms 32a are clamped on the inserted first circuit board 10 to make electrical contact with the first circuit board 10.

[0047] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the conductive terminal 32 of the connector 30 also has a fixing portion connected between the elastic contact arm 32a and the plug pin 32b, and the fixing portion of the conductive terminal 32 is fixed in the bottom wall of the insulating housing 31.

[0048] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the connector assembly includes a single first circuit board 10, a single second circuit board 20, and a single connector 30 mounted on the single second circuit board 20. The first circuit board 10 is inserted into the connector 30 in a vertical direction, and the electrical contact pads 11 on the first circuit board 10 extend to the outside of the connector 30 via the open end 31b of the connector 30.

[0049] Figure 4 A schematic perspective view of a connector assembly according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0050] like Figure 4 As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector assembly includes a single first circuit board 10, two second circuit boards 20, and two connectors 30 respectively mounted on the two second circuit boards 20. The two second circuit boards 20 are arranged in the same horizontal plane, and the two connectors 30 are opposite to each other in the horizontal direction and are separated by a predetermined distance.

[0051] like Figure 4 As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, the first circuit board 10 is vertically inserted into the two connectors 30. The portion of the electrical contact pads 11 on the first circuit board 10 located between the open ends 31b of the two connectors 30 extends to the outside of the two connectors 30 via the open ends 31b of the two connectors 30.

[0052] Figure 5 A schematic perspective view of a connector assembly according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0053] like Figure 5As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector assembly includes a single first circuit board 10, two second circuit boards 20, and two connectors 30 respectively mounted on the two second circuit boards 20. The two second circuit boards 20 are respectively arranged in a horizontal plane and a vertical plane, and the two connectors 30 are perpendicular to each other and are spaced a predetermined distance apart in the horizontal direction.

[0054] like Figure 5 As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, the first circuit board 10 is inserted into one of the two connectors 30 in the vertical direction, and is inserted into the other of the two connectors 30 in the horizontal direction. The portion of the electrical contact pad 11 on the first circuit board 10 located between the open ends 31 b of the two connectors 30 extends to the outside of the two connectors 30 via the open ends 31 b of the two connectors 30.

[0055] Those skilled in the art can understand that the embodiments described above are exemplary and can be improved by those skilled in the art. The structures described in various embodiments can be freely combined without causing conflicts in structure or principle.

[0056] Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the embodiments disclosed in the accompanying drawings are intended to exemplify the preferred implementations of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0057] Although some embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

[0058] It should be noted that the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the word "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. In addition, any element reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A connector assembly, comprising a connector and a first circuit board, wherein: The connector comprises: An insulating housing (31) is formed with a slot (31a) extending in the longitudinal direction thereof; at least one of the two opposite ends of the insulating housing (31) in the longitudinal direction thereof is an open end (31b) without an end wall, so that the slot (31a) is open to the outside at the open end (31b) to allow an inserted first circuit board (10) to extend to the outside of the insulating housing (31) via the open end (31b); and a conductive terminal (32) disposed in a slot (31a) of the insulating housing (31) and adapted to electrically contact a first circuit board (10) inserted into the slot (31a); The first circuit board (10) is suitable for being plugged into a slot (31a) of the connector (30) and being in electrical contact with a conductive terminal (32) of the connector (30), and an electrical contact pad (11) suitable for being in electrical contact with the conductive terminal (32) of the connector (30) is formed on the first circuit board (10); When the first circuit board (10) is plugged into the slot (31a) of the connector (30), the electrical contact pad (11) on the first circuit board (10) extends to the outside of the insulating housing (31) of the connector (30) via the open end (31b) of the connector (30); The conductive terminal (32) of the connector (30) has a plug pin (32b) extending from the bottom of the insulating housing (31); The connector assembly further comprises a second circuit board (20), a plug hole being formed on the second circuit board (20), and the plug pin (32b) being plugged into the plug hole on the second circuit board (20); The connector assembly comprises a single first circuit board (10), two second circuit boards (20), and two connectors (30) respectively mounted on the two second circuit boards (20); The two second circuit boards (20) are arranged in the same horizontal plane, and the two connectors (30) are opposite to each other in the horizontal direction and are separated by a predetermined distance; The first circuit board (10) is inserted into the two connectors (30) along a vertical direction; The portion of the electrical contact pad (11) on the first circuit board (10) located between the open ends (31b) of the two connectors (30) extends to the outside of the two connectors (30) via the open ends (31b) of the two connectors (30); The conductive terminals (32) of the two connectors (30) respectively mounted on the two second circuit boards (20) are in common electrical contact with the same electrical contact pad (11) in the single first circuit board (10).

2. The connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The insulating housing (31) of the connector (30) further comprises at least one positioning partition (31c) connected between two side walls of the slot (31a) and perpendicular to the two side walls of the slot (31a); At least one positioning notch (10c) is formed on the edge of the first circuit board (10), and the positioning partition (31c) cooperates with the positioning notch (10c) on the edge of the first circuit board (10) to position the first circuit board (10).

3. The connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: A protruding positioning column (31d) is formed on the bottom of the insulating housing (31) of the connector (30); A positioning hole is formed on the second circuit board (20), and the positioning column (31d) is inserted into the positioning hole on the second circuit board (20).

4. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The conductive terminal (32) of the connector (30) has two rows of elastic contact arms (32a) respectively located on both sides of the slot (31a); the two rows of elastic contact arms (32a) are clamped on the inserted first circuit board (10) to electrically contact the first circuit board (10).

5. The connector assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that: The conductive terminal (32) of the connector (30) further comprises a fixing portion connected between the elastic contact arm (32a) and the plug pin (32b), and the fixing portion of the conductive terminal (32) is fixed in the bottom wall of the insulating housing (31).

6. The connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connector is a power connector.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Connector

    CN104810651A

  • Small pitch high speed orthogonal backplane connector

    CN107331995A

  • Electric connector

    CN2687869Y

  • Circuit-terminal connecting device

    US9190747B2