A cable connector and a connector assembly

Abstract

The present invention discloses a cable connector, which includes a housing, a conductive terminal group arranged inside the housing, and a cable electrically connected to the conductive terminal group. A plug-in groove is formed at the front end of the housing. The conductive terminal group includes a first terminal row and a second terminal row symmetrically arranged on the upper and lower sides of the plug-in groove. Both the first terminal row and the second terminal row are composed of a plurality of conductive terminals. Each conductive terminal includes a main body portion, a contact portion bent from the front end of the main body portion, and a welding portion extending backward from the rear end of the main body portion. The welding portions of the first terminal row and the second terminal row are arranged in parallel with each other. The distance between the welding portion of the first terminal row and the welding portion of the second terminal row is 1 to 2.5 times the minimum distance between the contact portions of the first terminal row and the second terminal row. The cable connector of the present invention can meet the requirements of low-profile dimensions while minimizing signal interference between terminal rows, ensuring the signal integrity of the product.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of connectors, and particularly to a cable connector and a connector assembly. Background Art

[0002] The limitations of traditional signal transmission using PCBs are increasing. Since the attenuation of PCBs is very large during operation, affecting signal integrity, it is necessary to use connectors to reduce attenuation. Currently, the connector products in use usually have the problem of relatively high height and are not suitable for use around server chips. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a low-profile connector that can be placed under the radiator to make full use of the space on the server motherboard. However, if the size of the connector is designed too low, signal interference will occur between the upper and lower rows of terminal rows, affecting the signal integrity of the product. Therefore, it is imperative to develop a connector product that can meet the requirements of low-profile size and ensure signal integrity. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Aiming at the technical problems proposed in the background art, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a cable connector and a connector assembly that can meet the requirements of low-profile size and ensure signal integrity.

[0004] To achieve the above purpose, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0005] A cable connector includes a housing, a conductive terminal group provided inside the housing, and a cable electrically connected to the conductive terminal group. A plugging slot is opened at the front end of the housing. The conductive terminal group includes a first terminal row and a second terminal row symmetrically arranged on the upper and lower sides of the plugging slot. The first terminal row and the second terminal row are each composed of a plurality of conductive terminals arranged along the width direction of the plugging slot. The conductive terminal includes a main body portion, a contact portion bent from the front end of the main body portion, and a welding portion extending backward from the rear end of the main body portion. The welding portions of the first terminal row and the second terminal row are arranged parallel to each other. The distance between the welding portions of the first terminal row and the second terminal row is 1 to 2.5 times the minimum distance between the contact portions of the first terminal row and the second terminal row.

[0006] Furthermore, it further includes a locking member, and the locking member is installed on the top of the housing.

[0007] Furthermore, it further includes a pull strap. A pull strap hole is opened on the housing near the cable side. The locking member is located at the upper left of the pull strap hole. One end of the pull strap passes through the pull strap hole and is connected to the locking member.

[0008] Wherein, the housing includes a front housing and a rear housing snap-connected to the rear end of the front housing, and the pull strap hole is provided on the rear housing.

[0009] Preferably, a protrusion is formed by upward extension of the top of the rear shell, and the drawstring hole is provided on the protrusion and penetrates the protrusion in the front-rear direction.

[0010] Wherein, the rear shell includes an upper shell and a lower shell. Two first clamping blocks are respectively formed by downward extension of the left and right sides of the bottom surface of the upper shell, and first clamping holes for the first clamping blocks to be inserted into are respectively formed on the left and right sides of the top surface of the lower shell. First clamping holes are formed on the wall surface of the first clamping holes, and first clamping protrusions for clamping with the first clamping holes are provided at corresponding positions on the outer surface of the first clamping blocks.

[0011] Further, two second clamping blocks are respectively formed by backward extension of the left and right sides of the upper part of the rear end surface of the front shell, and second clamping holes for the second clamping blocks to be inserted into are respectively formed on the left and right sides of the front end surface of the upper shell. Second clamping holes are formed on the second clamping blocks, and second clamping protrusions for clamping with the second clamping holes are provided at corresponding positions on the inner wall surface of the second clamping holes.

[0012] Further, a cavity is formed inside the shell, and a plastic fixing member is fixedly arranged inside the cavity. The plastic fixing member includes a first plastic fixing member for fixing the first terminal row and a second plastic fixing member for fixing the second terminal row. Clamping blocks are respectively arranged on both side surfaces of the first plastic fixing member and the second plastic fixing member, and the clamping blocks are clamped with the second clamping holes.

[0013] Preferably, in order to better achieve positioning, a first positioning post and a first positioning hole are provided at the bottom of the first plastic fixing member, and a second positioning post and a second positioning hole are provided at corresponding positions on the top of the second plastic fixing member. The first positioning post and the second positioning post are respectively inserted into the second positioning hole and the first positioning hole.

[0014] Further, a convex block is formed by forward extension of the front end surface of the lower shell, and a slot adapted to the shape of the convex block is formed in the lower part of the rear end surface of the front shell. One or more third clamping holes are formed at the bottom of the slot, and one or more third clamping protrusions for clamping with the third clamping holes are provided at corresponding positions on the bottom of the convex block.

[0015] Furthermore, the front shell includes a main body portion, an insertion portion extending forward from the front end surface of the main body portion, and a locking portion extending upward and forward from the top of the main body portion. The insertion slot is provided at the front end of the insertion portion, and there is a first limiting slot between the part of the locking portion extending out of the main body portion and the insertion portion. A locking groove is formed at the top of the locking portion, and the locking member is installed in the locking groove. Below the insertion portion, there are two guiding and positioning posts extending forward from the front end surface of the main body portion, and there is a second limiting slot between the insertion portion and the guiding and positioning posts.

[0016] Preferably, in order to better achieve the plugging and matching with the board - end connector, a limiting block extends forward between the two guiding and positioning posts on the front end surface of the insertion portion.

[0017] The present invention also discloses a connector assembly, including a cable connector and a board - end connector, and the cable connector is the cable connector described above.

[0018] Furthermore, the board - end connector includes an insulating body, a tongue piece fixedly arranged inside the insulating body and used for contact and cooperation with the conductive terminal group of the cable connector, and a housing sleeved outside the insulating body.

[0019] Preferably, in order to better achieve the plugging and matching with the cable connector and make the assembled connector assembly more stable and reliable, a limiting groove is formed by bending the bottom of the housing, and a limiting block with a shape adapted to that of the limiting groove is provided at the front end of the housing of the cable connector, and the limiting block is inserted into the limiting groove for positioning.

[0020] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0021] 1. The cable connector of the present invention can meet the requirements of low - profile dimensions, so that the overall height of the assembled connector assembly is less than 8 mm, which can be applied under the server radiator, saving motherboard space, and can maximize the avoidance of signal interference between terminal rows, ensuring the signal integrity of the product;

[0022] 2. The housing is divided into a front shell and a rear shell, and the rear shell is designed as a split type. The overall structure design is reasonable, the components are tightly matched, the assembled connector has a small size, is stable and firm, and has good contact reliability;

[0023] 3. The guiding and positioning posts and guiding holes are provided to guide the cable connector, and at the same time, it can prevent the product from being twisted and skewed under force, improving the reliability of the product. The limiting blocks and limiting grooves are provided to make the connector assembly more stable and reliable after plugging and matching. Description of the Drawings

[0024] Figure 1Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the cable connector.

[0025] Figure 2 It is Figure 1 the exploded view of the parts.

[0026] Figure 3 Front view of the cable connector.

[0027] Figure 4 Schematic side view of the cable connector.

[0028] Figure 5 Top view schematic of the cable connector.

[0029] Figure 6 It is Figure 5 the sectional view along the A-A direction.

[0030] Figure 7 Position relationship diagram of the first terminal row and the second terminal row.

[0031] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the front shell.

[0032] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the upper shell.

[0033] Figure 10 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the lower shell.

[0034] Figure 11 Another angle three-dimensional structure schematic diagram of the lower shell.

[0035] Figure 12 Schematic diagram of the structure of the plastic fixing part.

[0036] Figure 13 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the connector assembly.

[0037] Figure 14 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the board-end connector.

[0038] Figure 15 Impedance measurement data diagram of the connector assembly.

[0039] Figure 16 Insertion loss measurement data diagram of the connector assembly.

[0040] Figure 17 Performance measurement data diagram of near-end crosstalk between high-speed pairs of the connector assembly.

[0041] Figure 18 Performance measurement data diagram of far-end crosstalk between high-speed pairs of the connector assembly.

[0042] Description of main component symbols: 1. Housing; 10. Insertion slot; 100. Pull - strap hole; 101. First limit slot; 102. Second limit slot; 11. Front shell; 111. Second clamping block; 112. Second clamping hole; 113. Slot; 114. Third clamping hole; 115. Body part; 116. Insertion part; 117. Locking part; 118. Guide positioning post; 119. Limit block; 12. Upper shell; 120. Protrusion; 121. First clamping block; 122. First clamping protrusion; 123. Second clamping hole; 124. Second clamping protrusion; 125. Glue injection hole; 13. Lower shell; 131. First clamping hole; 132. First clamping hole; 133. Bump; 134. Third clamping protrusion; 2. Conductive terminal group; 20. Conductive terminal; 201. Body part; 202. Contact part; 203. Welding part; 21. First terminal row; 22. Second terminal row; 3. Cable; 4. Locking part; 5. Pull - strap; 6. Plastic fixing part; 60. Clamping block; 61. First plastic fixing part; 611. First positioning post; 62. Second plastic fixing part; 621. Second positioning post; 7. Inner mold; 8. Board - end connector; 81. Insulating body; 82. Tongue piece; 83. Outer shell; 830. Limit slot; H: Spacing between the welding parts of the first terminal row and the second terminal row; h: Minimum spacing between the contact parts of the first terminal row and the second terminal row. Detailed implementation mode

[0043] The following further describes the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementation modes.

[0044] Embodiment 1

[0045] Figure 1-12 As shown, a cable connector includes a housing 1, a conductive terminal group 2 arranged inside the housing 1, a cable 3 electrically connected to the conductive terminal group 2, a locking part 4 installed on the top of the housing 1, and a pull - strap 5 connected to the locking part 4. A plug - in slot 10 is opened at the front end of the housing 1. The conductive terminal group 2 includes a first terminal row 21 and a second terminal row 22 symmetrically arranged on the upper and lower sides of the plug - in slot 10. Both the first terminal row 21 and the second terminal row 22 are composed of a plurality of conductive terminals 20 arranged along the width direction of the plug - in slot 10. The conductive terminal 20 includes a body part 201, a contact part 202 bent from the front end of the body part 201, and a welding part 203 extending backward from the rear end of the body part 201. The welding parts 203 of the first terminal row 21 and the second terminal row 22 are arranged parallel to each other. The spacing H between the welding parts 203 of the first terminal row 21 and the second terminal row 22 is 1 - 2.5 times the minimum spacing h between the contact parts 202 of the first terminal row 21 and the second terminal row 22.

[0046] Preferably, a drawstring hole 100 is formed on the housing 1 near the cable 3 side. The locking fastener 4 is located at the upper left of the drawstring hole 100. One end of the drawstring 5 passes through the drawstring hole 100 and is connected to the locking fastener 4.

[0047] The housing 1 includes a front shell 11 and a rear shell clamped to the rear end of the front shell 11. The rear shell includes an upper shell 12 and a lower shell 13. Preferably, a protruding portion 120 is formed by the top of the upper shell 12 extending upward. The drawstring hole 100 is provided on the protruding portion 120 and penetrates the protruding portion 120 in the front-rear direction.

[0048] On the left and right sides of the bottom surface of the upper shell 12, two first clamping blocks 121 are respectively formed by extending downward. On the left and right sides of the top surface of the lower shell 13, first clamping holes 131 for the first clamping blocks 121 to be inserted into are respectively formed. On the wall surface of the first clamping hole 131, a first clamping hole 132 is formed. On the corresponding position of the outer surface of the first clamping block 121, a first clamping protrusion 122 for clamping with the first clamping hole 132 is provided.

[0049] On the left and right sides of the upper part of the rear end surface of the front shell 11, two second clamping blocks 111 are respectively formed by extending backward. On the left and right sides of the front end surface of the upper shell 12, second clamping holes 123 for the second clamping blocks 111 to be inserted into are respectively formed. On the second clamping block 111, a second clamping hole 112 is formed. On the corresponding position of the inner wall surface of the second clamping hole 123, a second clamping protrusion 124 for clamping with the second clamping hole 112 is provided.

[0050] A cavity is formed inside the housing 1. A plastic fixing member 6 is fixedly provided inside the cavity. The plastic fixing member 6 includes a first plastic fixing member 61 for fixing the first terminal row 21 and a second plastic fixing member 62 for fixing the second terminal row 22. Clamping blocks 60 are respectively provided on both side surfaces of the first plastic fixing member 61 and the second plastic fixing member 62. The clamping blocks 60 are clamped with the second clamping holes 112. Preferably, a first positioning post 611 and a first positioning hole (not shown in the figure) are provided at the bottom of the first plastic fixing member 61. At the corresponding position on the top of the second plastic fixing member 62, a second positioning post 621 and a second positioning hole (not shown in the figure) are provided. The first positioning post 611 and the second positioning post 621 are respectively inserted into the second positioning hole and the first positioning hole.

[0051] An inner mold 7 for covering the solder joint between the cable 3 and the welding part 203 of the conductive terminal group 2 is provided inside the cavity. A glue injection hole 125 for injecting the inner mold 7 is formed on the side wall of the upper shell 12. A convex block 133 is formed by the front end surface of the lower shell 13 extending forward. A slot 113 adapted to the shape of the convex block 133 is formed in the lower part of the rear end surface of the front shell 11. One or more third clamping holes 114 are formed at the bottom of the slot 113. One or more third clamping protrusions 134 for clamping with the third clamping holes 114 are formed at the corresponding position of the bottom of the convex block 133.

[0052] The front shell 11 includes a main body portion 115, an insertion portion 116 extending forward from the front end surface of the main body portion 115, and a locking portion 117 extending upward and forward from the top of the main body portion 115. The plugging slot 10 is provided at the front end of the insertion portion 116, and there is a first limiting slot 101 between the portion of the locking portion 117 extending out of the main body portion 115 and the insertion portion 116. A locking slot is formed at the top of the locking portion 117, and the locking member 4 is installed in the locking slot. Preferably, the locking portion 117 extends forward beyond the insertion portion 116.

[0053] Below the insertion portion 116, there are two guiding and positioning columns 118 extending forward from the front end surface of the main body portion 115, and there is a second limiting slot 102 between the insertion portion 116 and the guiding and positioning columns 118. Preferably, the guiding and positioning columns 118 extend forward beyond the insertion portion 116. Preferably, a limiting block 119 extends forward between the two guiding and positioning columns 118 on the front end surface of the insertion portion 116.

[0054] Embodiment 2

[0055] As Figure 13 、 Figure 14 shown, a connector assembly includes a cable connector and a board - end connector 8. The cable connector is the cable connector in Embodiment 1. The board - end connector 8 includes an insulating body 81, a tongue piece 82 fixedly arranged inside the insulating body 81 and used for contact and cooperation with the conductive terminal group of the cable connector, and a housing 83 sleeved outside the insulating body 81. Preferably, a limiting slot 830 is formed by bending the bottom of the housing 83, and the limiting block 119 at the front end of the housing 1 of the cable connector is inserted into the limiting slot 830 for positioning.

[0056] In this embodiment, the thickness of the tongue piece 82 of the board - end connector 8 is 2 mm, the minimum distance h between the contact portions 202 of the first terminal row 21 and the second terminal row 22 of the cable connector is 1.4 - 2 mm, and the distance H between the welding portions 203 of the first terminal row 21 and the second terminal row 22 is 1 - 2.5 times of h. The above values are only for illustrating the relationship between the thickness of the tongue piece 82 of the board - end connector 8 and h, and the thickness of the tongue piece 82 can also be any other value.

[0057] When the connector assembly of the present invention is unlocked, the pull - strap 5 is pulled. The pull - strap 5 pulls the locking member 4 so that the two convexes at the top of the locking member 4 disengage from the two locking holes of the metal housing 83, and the cable connector is pulled to disengage the cable connector from the board - end connector 8, and the unlocking is completed.

[0058] As Figure 15-18 shown is the performance test data graph of the connector assembly. It is found through testing that the connector assembly of the present invention has good performance in terms of impedance, insertion loss, near - end crosstalk, and far - end crosstalk.

[0059] Although the present invention has been specifically shown and described in connection with preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that various changes in form and detail may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cable connector, comprising a housing, a conductive terminal group disposed inside the housing, and a cable electrically connected to the conductive terminal group. Characterized in that: A plugging groove is formed at the front end of the housing. The conductive terminal group includes a first terminal row and a second terminal row symmetrically arranged on the upper and lower sides of the plugging groove. The first terminal row and the second terminal row are each composed of a plurality of conductive terminals arranged along the width direction of the plugging groove. The conductive terminal includes a main body portion, a contact portion bent from the front end of the main body portion, and a welding portion extending backward from the rear end of the main body portion. The welding portions of the first terminal row and the second terminal row are arranged in parallel with each other, and the distance between the welding portions of the first terminal row and the second terminal row is 1 to 2.5 times the minimum distance between the contact portions of the first terminal row and the second terminal row. The housing includes a front housing and a rear housing snap-fitted to the rear end of the front housing. The rear housing includes an upper housing and a lower housing. Two first snap-fitting blocks are respectively formed by downward extension on the left and right sides of the bottom surface of the upper housing. First snap-fitting holes for the first snap-fitting blocks to snap into are respectively formed on the left and right sides of the top surface of the lower housing. First locking holes are formed on the wall surfaces of the first snap-fitting holes. First locking protrusions for snap-fitting with the first locking holes are provided at corresponding positions on the outer surfaces of the first snap-fitting blocks. The front housing includes a main body portion, an insertion portion extending forward from the front end surface of the main body portion, and a locking portion extending upward and forward from the top of the main body portion.

2. A cable connector according to claim 1, Characterized in that: It further includes a locking member, and the locking member is installed on the top of the housing.

3. A cable connector according to claim 2, Characterized in that: It further includes a pull strap. A pull strap hole is formed on the housing near the cable side. The locking member is located at the upper left of the pull strap hole. One end of the pull strap passes through the pull strap hole and is connected to the locking member.

4. A cable connector according to claim 3, Characterized in that: The pull strap hole is formed on the rear housing.

5. A cable connector according to claim 4, Characterized in that: A protruding portion extends upward from the top of the rear housing. The pull strap hole is formed on the protruding portion and penetrates the protruding portion in the front-rear direction.

6. A cable connector according to claim 4, Characterized in that: Two second snap-fitting blocks are respectively formed by backward extension on the left and right sides of the upper part of the rear end surface of the front housing. Second snap-fitting holes for the second snap-fitting blocks to snap into are respectively formed on the left and right sides of the front end surface of the upper housing. Second locking holes are formed on the second snap-fitting blocks. Second locking protrusions for snap-fitting with the second locking holes are provided at corresponding positions on the inner wall surfaces of the second snap-fitting holes.

7. A cable connector according to claim 6, Characterized in that: A cavity is formed inside the housing, and a plastic fixing member is fixedly arranged inside the cavity. The plastic fixing member includes a first plastic fixing member for fixing the first terminal row and a second plastic fixing member for fixing the second terminal row. Clamping blocks are respectively arranged on two side surfaces of the first plastic fixing member and the second plastic fixing member, and the clamping blocks are clamped with the second clamping holes.

8. A cable connector as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that: A first positioning post and a first positioning hole are arranged at the bottom of the first plastic fixing member, and a second positioning post and a second positioning hole are arranged at corresponding positions at the top of the second plastic fixing member. The first positioning post and the second positioning post are respectively inserted into the second positioning hole and the first positioning hole.

9. A cable connector as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that: A convex block extends forward from the front end surface of the lower housing, a slot adapted to the shape of the convex block is formed in the lower part of the rear end surface of the front housing, one or more third clamping holes are formed at the bottom of the slot, and one or more third clamping protrusions for clamping with the third clamping holes are formed at corresponding positions at the bottom of the convex block.

10. A cable connector as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that: The insertion slot is arranged at the front end of the insertion part. A first limiting slot is formed between the part of the locking part extending out of the body part and the insertion part. A locking slot is formed at the top of the locking part. The locking part is installed in the locking slot. Two guiding positioning posts extending forward from the front end surface of the body part are arranged below the insertion part. A second limiting slot is formed between the insertion part and the guiding positioning posts.

11. A cable connector as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that: A limiting block extends forward between the two guiding positioning posts on the front end surface of the insertion part.

12. A connector assembly includes a cable connector and a board-end connector. The cable connector is the cable connector as described in any one of claims 1-11.

13. A connector assembly as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that: The board-end connector includes an insulating body, a tongue piece fixedly arranged inside the insulating body and used for contact cooperation with the conductive terminal group of the cable connector, and a housing sleeved outside the insulating body.

14. A connector assembly as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that: A limiting slot is formed by bending the bottom of the housing. A limiting block adapted to the shape of the limiting slot is arranged at the front end of the housing of the cable connector. The limiting block is inserted into the limiting slot to achieve positioning.

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