Flexible plate assembly and stacked structure for cableless connection between plates

Abstract

The present application relates to a flexible board assembly and a stacked structure for cableless connection, which comprises a plurality of end face connectors connected by a flexible board, the end face connectors are fixed on the flexible board by a rigid board, and the end face connectors can float when being inserted. The flexible board assembly for cableless connection can move and stretch among three-dimensional boards according to actual interface positions through the combination of rigid-flexible board assembly and end face contact connector, which ensures the arbitrary movement and adjustment of interface positions among three-dimensional boards, and the end face floating contact mode also ensures reliable connection in the case of small installation space or existing tolerance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of connector technology, specifically relating to a flexible board assembly and stacking structure for cableless connection. Background Technology

[0002] In certain stacked module installation scenarios, due to narrow board spacing, interface positions on the same module are not in the same dimension, and a large tolerance for mating accuracy is required, ordinary cable assemblies and conventional connectors occupy a large amount of space between boards. At the same time, the required mating accuracy is high, which can easily lead to insufficient connector mating precision. Furthermore, existing cable assemblies are complex to assemble, requiring high bundling during installation. Additionally, with small board spacing and large inter-board tolerances, conventional connectors are prone to issues such as difficulty in guaranteeing mating accuracy, creating potential quality problems and failing to meet usage requirements. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the above problems, the present invention provides a flexible board assembly for cableless inter-board connections.

[0004] The objective of this invention and the technical problem it solves are achieved by the following technical solution. A flexible board assembly for cableless inter-board connections, according to this invention, includes multiple end-face connectors connected by the flexible board. The end-face connectors are fixed to the flexible board by a rigid plate, and all of the end-face connectors have a floating function.

[0005] The objectives of this invention and the technical problems it addresses can be further achieved by the following technical measures.

[0006] The aforementioned flexible board assembly for cableless inter-board connections includes an end-face connector comprising at least one plug and one socket. The plug has pins that extend out of the end face and have a telescopic floating function, while the socket end face is a fixed plane.

[0007] The aforementioned flexible board assembly for cableless inter-board connections, which realizes the aforementioned end-face connector connection, comprises a main body and at least one branch extending from the main body, wherein the end-face connector is fixed on each branch.

[0008] The aforementioned flexible board assembly for cableless inter-board connections has the flexible board body and branches extending in different directions.

[0009] The objective of this invention and the technical problem it solves are also achieved by the following technical solution. According to this invention, a stacked structure includes at least two stacked modules arranged in layers. Each stacked module has a flexible plate assembly fixed on it. The flexible plate assembly includes a flexible plate and multiple end-face connectors connected through the flexible plate. At both ends of the flexible plate assembly, there is a pair of end-face connectors with opposite end-face orientations that are compatible for conduction. This allows at least one end-face connector located at the lower end of the flexible plate assembly on the upper stacked module to be compatible with the end-face connector located at the upper end of the flexible plate assembly on the lower stacked module, thereby enabling signal transmission between adjacent stacked modules.

[0010] The objectives of this invention and the technical problems it addresses can be further achieved by the following technical measures.

[0011] In the aforementioned stacked structure, the flexible board that enables the connection of each end face connector in the same flexible board assembly is an integral structure, which includes a main body and a branch extending from the main body. Both the main body and the branch are fixed with end face connectors, and the two end face connectors distributed at both ends of the main body face opposite directions and can be adapted to conduct.

[0012] The aforementioned stacked structure includes a support housing and an end cap fixed to the support housing. A module connector is fixed to the end cap, and the module connector is adapted to and connected with an end face connector on one of the branches to realize signal transmission inside the module.

[0013] In the aforementioned stacked structure, the flexible plate is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the support housing or in the slot on the outer peripheral surface of the support housing, and the end face connector is fixed in the corresponding mounting slot on the support housing.

[0014] In the aforementioned stacked structure, the outer peripheral surface of the support housing is cylindrical, and the two end connectors of the same flexible plate assembly that are adapted and connected to the upper and lower stacked modules respectively do not overlap in axial projection.

[0015] In the aforementioned stacked structure, all end-face connectors are floating end-face connectors, and one of the pair of compatible end-face connectors is a plug with protruding pins and a telescopic floating function, while the other is a socket with a flat end face.

[0016] Compared with existing technologies, this invention has significant advantages and beneficial effects. Through the above technical solution, this invention achieves considerable technological advancement and practicality, and has broad industrial application value. It possesses at least the following advantages: The flexible board assembly for cableless connections, through the combination of a rigid-flex board assembly and an end-face contact connector, can move and stretch between three-dimensional boards according to the actual interface position. This ensures both arbitrary movement and expansion between three-dimensional boards, and reliable connection even in cases where the installation board spacing is small. It enables integrated connection and assembly of interface positions between different board dimensions within the same module, achieving integration of component assembly and structure, effectively reducing product volume. Simultaneously, the end-face contact product effectively compensates for errors caused by tolerances in board spacing, improving tolerance.

[0017] The connectors of this invention are connected by a flexible plate, and the spacing and relative position between different connectors can be precisely controlled by controlling the length of the flexible plate.

[0018] The end-face connector of the present invention is a floating connector. When the end-face connector is mated, it achieves axial floating through a floating contact at one end and radial floating through a planar contact at the other end, so as to meet different installation tolerances. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the flexible board assembly for cableless inter-board connections according to the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 A schematic diagram illustrating the assembly of a stacked module using the flexible plate assembly of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of stacked modules;

[0022] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of part of the image;

[0023] Figure 5 This is a top view of the end cap of the stacked module of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 6 This is an enlarged view of the stacked module portion according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] [Explanation of Key Component Symbols]

[0026] 1: Flexibility

[0027] 2: Steel plate

[0028] 3: First end face connector

[0029] 4: Second end face connector

[0030] 5: Third end face connector

[0031] 6: Module Connector

[0032] 7: End cap

[0033] 8: Support shell

[0034] 101: Flexible Panel Assembly

[0035] 102: Stacked Module Detailed Implementation

[0036] To further illustrate the technical means and effects adopted by the present invention to achieve the intended purpose, the following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments, describes the specific implementation, structure, features, and effects of the structure for multi-dimensional cableless inter-board connection proposed according to the present invention.

[0037] Please see Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of the flexible board assembly 101 for cableless inter-board connections according to the present invention. The flexible board assembly 101 includes multiple end-face connectors connected by a flexible board 1, and the end-face connectors are fixed to the flexible board by a rigid plate 2. Preferably, the flexible board for connecting the end-face connectors is an integral structure, that is, the end-face connectors are fixed at different positions on the flexible board 1 by the rigid plate. The flexible board assembly 101 can achieve contact and conduction with a first printed circuit board or input connector through at least one end-face connector, and also achieve contact and conduction with a second printed circuit board or output connector through at least one end-face connector; the position of the end-face connectors can be adjusted and floated by the deformation of the flexible board 1 to meet the connection and signal transmission requirements between different positions and dimensions between boards. The different end-face connectors of the present invention are connected by the flexible board 1, and the setting of the flexible board 1 can accurately position the different end-face connectors to meet the high precision requirements.

[0038] The end-face connectors are all capable of floating during mating to meet different installation tolerance requirements. Preferably, the end-face connector includes a plug with protruding pins and a telescopic floating function, and a socket with a flat end face. When the plug and socket are mated, axial tolerance requirements can be met by the axial floating of the plug pins, and radial tolerance requirements can be met by the flat end face of the socket.

[0039] Preferably, the flexible plate 1 includes a main body extending along a first direction and at least one branch extending from the main body, each branch being provided with an end face connector, and the extension direction of the branch having an angle with the first direction, so as to satisfy the connection with connectors at different plate positions and different spacings.

[0040] The flexible board assembly 101 of this invention can be used to realize signal transmission in an inter-board stacked structure. This inter-board stacked structure is composed of multiple stacked modules 102 arranged in layers. Each stacked module 102 is fixed with the aforementioned flexible board assembly 101. Each flexible board assembly 101 has at least one pair of connectors with opposite end faces that can be fitted together to achieve signal transmission. This allows at least one end face connector at the lower end of the flexible board assembly 101 in the upper stacked module 102 to contact and conduct with the end face connector at the upper end of the flexible board assembly 101 in the lower stacked module 102, thus realizing signal transmission between adjacent stacked modules 102. At least one end face connector at the upper end of the flexible board assembly 101 in the top stacked module 102 contacts and conducts with the first printed circuit board or an input connector to achieve signal input. At least one end face connector at the lower end of the flexible board assembly 101 in the bottom stacked module 102 contacts and conducts with the second printed circuit board or an output connector. Preferably, to facilitate inter-board allocation, the flexible plate assembly 101 is fixed on the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the stacking module 102. The axial projections of the end-face connectors of the same flexible plate assembly 101 that are adapted to the end-face connectors in the upper flexible plate assembly 101 and those that are adapted to the end-face connectors in the lower flexible plate assembly 101 on the stacking module may not be in the same position. Thus, the fixed positions of each end-face connector on the flexible plate assembly 101 of the present invention on the stacking module 102 can be adjusted and floated according to the inter-board requirements, and this adjustment and floating of positions is achieved by the deformation of the flexible plate.

[0041] In this embodiment of the invention, a single flexible board assembly 101 has three end-face connectors, including a first end-face connector 3 and a third end-face connector 5 distributed on the upper end of the flexible board 1, and a second end-face connector 4 distributed on the lower end of the flexible board 2. The first end-face connector 3 and the second end-face connector 4 are a pair of connectors capable of mating and making contact. The first end-face connector 3 is a plug, and the second end-face connector 4 is a socket, with the end faces of the first end-face connector 3 and the second end-face connector 4 facing opposite directions. When two or more stacked modules to which the flexible board assembly 101 of the present invention is fixed are stacked together, the second end-face connector 4 on the upper layer module contacts the end face of the first end-face connector 3 in the lower layer module to achieve signal transmission, while the third end-face connector 5 in the lower layer module engages with the mating end-face connector on the upper layer module to make contact.

[0042] In this embodiment of the invention, the first end face connector 3 and the second end face connector 2 are misaligned in both axial and radial directions, that is, they are distributed in different inter-board dimensions. The flexible board assembly 101 is fixed to the outer periphery of the cylindrical stacked module to realize signal conduction between different modules during stacking.

[0043] In this embodiment of the invention, the first end-face connector 3 and the second end-face connector 4 are distributed at both ends of the flexible plate 2 in the axial direction to realize signal transmission in the axial direction. The third end-face connector 5 is located on a branch formed by the radial extension of the flexible plate 1, thereby realizing signal transmission in the radial direction. Preferably, the end face of the third end-face connector 5 is oriented in the same direction as that of the first end-face connector 3, and the projections of the end faces of the first end-face connector 3 and the third end-face connector 5 in the radial direction of the flexible plate do not coincide.

[0044] In this embodiment of the invention, the contacts of the end-face connectors are all capable of floating to improve the tolerance of the structure, meet the inter-board tolerance requirements, and reduce the requirements for inter-board errors. Preferably, the contacts of the first end-face connector 3, which serves as a plug, are spring-loaded pin structures extending from the contact end face and are capable of axial floating; the contacts of the second end-face connector 4, which serves as a socket, are copper sheets, and their contact end faces are flat, enabling them to engage and conduct with the corresponding spring-loaded pins, thereby meeting the axial and radial tolerance requirements.

[0045] Please see Figure 2-5 The diagram shows the various parts of the inter-board stacking structure using the flexible board assembly of the present invention. The inter-board stacking structure includes at least two stacking modules 102. Each stacking module 102 includes a support housing 8 and an end cap 7 fixed on the support housing 8. The end cap 7 is provided with a module connector 6. The module connector 6 achieves signal conduction with the corresponding device in the stacking module 102 through a tail cable.

[0046] The flexible plate assembly 101 is fixed to the outer periphery of the support housing 8. The flexible plate 1 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the support housing 8 and extends axially along the support housing 8. The first end face connector 3 is fixed in the positioning groove at the upper end of the support housing 8, and the second end face connector 4 is fixed in the positioning groove at the lower end of the support housing 8. The positioning groove at the upper end of the support housing 8 also extends radially. The third end face connector 5 is fixed in the extension groove, and the contact surface at the upper end of the third end face connector 5 is lower than the contact surface at the upper end of the first end face connector 3. The module connector 6 on the cover plate 7 contacts the end face of the third end face connector 5 to realize signal transmission. This allows the stacked module 102 to realize signal transmission along the axial and radial directions through the flexible plate assembly 101. The axial portion can realize signal transmission with adjacent modules, while the radial portion can transmit the received signal to the inside of the module, thereby realizing signal transmission between multiple stacked modules 102.

[0047] In another embodiment of the invention, the flexible plate assembly 101 is fixed within a slot on the outer periphery of the support housing 8. (See also...) Figure 6The support housing 8 has an axially extending slot on its outer circumferential surface, and the flexible plate 1 is fixed in the slot. The first end face connector 3, the second end face connector 4, and the third end face connector 5 are all fixed in corresponding slots on the support housing 8. In this embodiment, when fixing the flexible plate assembly 101, the first end face connector 3 is first screwed onto the support housing 8 to achieve the reference positioning of the flexible plate assembly. Then, the flexible plate is laid flat into the mounting slots in their respective branch directions using adhesive backing, which can effectively save mounting plates and better fix the product. Finally, the second end face connector 4 and the third end face connector 5 are respectively positioned and installed on the support housing 8 to achieve overall fixation.

[0048] The precise docking of the flexible plate components on adjacent stacked modules in this invention is achieved through a limiting structure between the stacked modules.

[0049] In other embodiments of the present invention, the flexible plate 1 of the flexible plate assembly 101 of the present invention has a first end-face connector and a second end-face connector welded to both ends of the flexible plate 1 via a rigid plate 2, and the first end-face connector and the second end-face connector are plugs and sockets capable of being adapted for contact and conduction, with their end faces facing opposite directions. At least two branches extend from the flexible plate 1, and each branch has an end-face connector welded to it via a rigid plate 2. When the flexible plate assembly 101 is fixed to a stacked module, the end-face connectors fixed to the branches can be adapted for contact and conduction with corresponding end-face connectors on adjacent stacked modules, and these adapted end-face connectors can be end-face connectors on another flexible plate assembly 101, or module connectors directly fixed to the stacked module.

[0050] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-disclosed technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A stacked structure, characterized in that: The system includes at least two stacked modules arranged in a stacked manner. Each stacked module has a flexible plate assembly fixed on it. The flexible plate assembly includes a flexible plate and multiple end-face connectors connected through the flexible plate. The end-face connectors are fixed on the flexible plate by a rigid plate and all of the end-face connectors have a floating function. At both ends of the flexible plate assembly, there is a pair of end-face connectors with opposite end-face orientations that can be adapted to conduct, so that at least one end-face connector at the lower end of the flexible plate assembly on the upper layer stacked module can be adapted to conduct with the end-face connector at the upper end of the flexible plate assembly on the lower layer stacked module, thereby realizing signal transmission between adjacent stacked modules. The flexible plate in the same flexible plate assembly that connects the end-face connectors is an integral structure, which includes a main body and at least one branch extending from the main body. The end-face connectors are fixed on each branch, and the extension directions of the main body and the branches are different.

2. The stacked structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two end-face connectors located at both ends of the main body face opposite directions and are compatible for conduction.

3. The stacked structure according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that: The stacked module includes a support housing and an end cap fixed to the support housing. A module connector is fixed on the end cap. The module connector is adapted to and connected with an end face connector on one of the branches to realize signal transmission inside the module.

4. The stacked structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: The flexible plate is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the support housing or in the slot on the outer peripheral surface of the support housing, and the end face connector is fixed in the corresponding mounting slot on the support housing.

5. The stacked structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: The outer circumferential surface of the support housing is cylindrical, and the two end connectors of the same flexible plate assembly that are adapted to and connected to the upper and lower stacked modules respectively do not overlap in axial projection.

6. The stacked structure according to any one of claims 1-2 and 4-5, characterized in that: All the end-face connectors are floating end-face connectors, and one of the pair of end-face connectors that are adapted to conduct is a plug with pins protruding from the end face and having a telescopic floating function, and the other is a socket with a flat end face.

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