An electrical connector with overall equipotential function

Abstract

The present patent application discloses an electrical connector with an overall equipotential function. According to an embodiment, an electrical connector comprises: an insulating housing; a plurality of terminal structures arranged in the insulating housing, each terminal structure being arranged in a corresponding terminal hole of the insulating housing, the plurality of terminal structures being capable of being short-circuited with each other through a self-short-circuit path; and a movable short-circuit on-off structure arranged in the insulating housing, the short-circuit on-off structure being capable of being moved from an initial installation position to a short-circuit release position, the insulating portion of the short-circuit on-off structure interposing in the self-short-circuit path at the short-circuit release position, thereby cutting off the mutual short-circuit of the plurality of terminal structures.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present patent application relates to an electrical connection device, in particular to an electrical connector with an integral equipotential function. Background Art

[0002] In some electrical connection situations, the electrical connector is required to have the function of overall equipotential (for example, grounding or short-circuiting all positions) to enhance system safety. This type of connector can be called a self-shorting connector. The self-shorting connector can automatically realize the functions of short-circuit protection and short-circuit release according to the use requirements: usually, when the connector is not plugged in, the short-circuit mechanism contained in the connector plastic shell short-circuits the electrical contacts of multiple signal / power positions in the connector, that is, in a short-circuit state (equipotential state); and when the connector is plugged in with the mating connector, the short-circuit state realized by the aforementioned short-circuit mechanism is released by the structure on the mating connector, so that the electrical contacts of each position enter the working state.

[0003] In the patent disclosure text with publication number CN104852185A, a high-elastic alloy reed structure is used in the plug to automatically abut against multiple female pins in the plug, thereby automatically realizing a short-circuit connection. When the plug and the matching socket are plugged into place, the tongue structure in the socket can isolate the short-circuit connection between the high-elastic alloy reed and the female pins, thereby realizing the short-circuit release.

[0004] In order to further facilitate on-site testing, it is desirable to have a connector that can release the automatic short circuit as needed, and the release of the automatic short circuit does not depend on the mutual plugging with the mating connector. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present application proposes a self-shorting electrical connector with a novel structure, which can release the short-circuit state as needed without plugging in a mating connector to release the short circuit. More specifically, a movable short-circuit on-off structure is integrated in the electrical connector, and when the short-circuit on-off structure moves from an initial installation position to a short-circuit release position, the insulating portion of the short-circuit on-off structure intervenes in the self-shorting path of the electrical connector, thereby cutting off the mutual short-circuit of multiple terminal structures.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present application, an electrical connector is proposed, comprising: an insulating shell; a plurality of terminal structures arranged in the insulating shell, each terminal structure being arranged in a corresponding terminal hole of the insulating shell, and the plurality of terminal structures being capable of being short-circuited with each other through a self-short-circuit path; and a movable short-circuit on-off structure arranged in the insulating shell, the short-circuit on-off structure being capable of being moved from an initial installation position to a short-circuit release position, and an insulating portion of the short-circuit on-off structure being intervened in the self-short-circuit path at the short-circuit release position, thereby cutting off the mutual short-circuit of the plurality of terminal structures.

[0007] In the above-mentioned electrical connector solution, the short-circuit switching structure includes a short-circuit switching assembly consisting of an insulating plate and a shorting piece, and the shorting piece is installed in the insulating plate and includes a portion exposed from the lower end of the insulating plate.

[0008] In the above-mentioned solution of the electrical connector, the shorting piece is installed in the insulating plate by in-mold injection molding.

[0009] In the above-mentioned solution of the electrical connector, the shorting piece has a sheet-like base and a plurality of comb-tooth structures extending from the sheet-like base, and the comb-tooth structures extend out through a corresponding number of openings at the bottom of the insulating plate.

[0010] In the above-mentioned solution of the electrical connector, an operating portion is provided on the top of the insulating plate.

[0011] In the above-mentioned solution of the electrical connector, each of the terminal structures includes a side leg structure, and the self-short-circuit path includes the shorting piece and the side leg structure on the terminal structure.

[0012] In the above-mentioned electrical connector scheme, insulating plate positioning structures are provided at both ends of the insulating plate, and a shell positioning structure matching the insulating plate positioning structure is provided on the inner side of the insulating shell. The insulating plate positioning structure and the shell positioning structure cooperate to position the insulating plate in the initial installation position or the short-circuit release position.

[0013] In the above-mentioned electrical connector solution, the shorting piece further includes a grounding protrusion extending from the sheet-like base, and the grounding protrusion maintains electrical contact with the grounding terminal structure in the electrical connector both in the initial installation position and in the short-circuit release position.

[0014] In the above-mentioned solution of the electrical connector, the self-short-circuit path includes a short-circuit member having a plurality of pairs of elastic clip structures, and each elastic clip is capable of abutting against an adjacent pair of terminal structures.

[0015] In the above-mentioned electrical connector solution, the short-circuit member includes a transverse conductive connecting strip and a plurality of pairs of metal spring sheets arranged along the conductive connecting strip, and each metal spring sheet is bent at the end to form the plurality of pairs of elastic clip structures.

[0016] In the above-mentioned electrical connector solution, the short-circuit switching structure includes an insulating short-circuit switching member, which has a first insulating wall and a second insulating wall extending laterally, and a longitudinal connecting portion located therebetween, thereby forming a substantially U-shaped longitudinal cross-section.

[0017] In the above-mentioned electrical connector scheme, the short-circuit switch can be moved from the initial installation position to the short-circuit release position, so that the first insulating wall and the second insulating wall of the short-circuit switch intervene and cut off the electrical contact between the elastic clamp structure of the short-circuit member and the adjacent terminal structure.

[0018] In the above-mentioned electrical connector scheme, each of the terminal structures includes a side leg structure, and the side leg structures of adjacent terminal structures placed opposite to each other abut against each other to form the self-short-circuit path; the short-circuit on-off structure is an all-plastic insulating plate, and in the short-circuit release position, the all-plastic insulating plate is inserted between the side leg structures abutting against each other, thereby cutting off the self-short-circuit path.

[0019] In the above-mentioned solution of the electrical connector, the terminal structure is a plug-in terminal.

[0020] In the above-mentioned solution of the electrical connector, the tail portion of the terminal structure includes a structure for wiring or a structure for crimping.

[0021] According to another aspect of the present application, a connector kit is provided, comprising a first plug connector and a mating socket connector, wherein the first plug connector is the electrical connector described above.

[0022] In the above-mentioned connector kit solution, the socket connector is a connector for installation on the device board end.

[0023] The above-mentioned connector kit solution also includes a second plug connector, and the first plug connector and the second plug connector are used to be respectively plugged into two sides of the socket connector.

[0024] According to another aspect of the present application, a through-board connector is proposed, comprising: an insulating shell for installation on the end of a device board; a plurality of terminal structures arranged in the insulating shell, each terminal structure being arranged in a corresponding terminal hole of the insulating shell, each terminal structure having a tail end for wiring at both ends, and the plurality of terminal structures being capable of being short-circuited with each other through a self-short-circuit path; and a movable short-circuit on-off structure arranged in the insulating shell, the short-circuit on-off structure being capable of being moved from an initial installation position to a short-circuit release position, thereby cutting off the mutual short-circuit of the plurality of terminal structures.

[0025] In the above-mentioned through-board connector scheme, the short-circuit on-off structure includes a short-circuit on-off assembly formed by in-mold injection molding of an insulating plate and a shorting piece, wherein the shorting piece has a sheet-like base and a plurality of comb-tooth structures extending from the sheet-like base, and the comb-tooth structures extend out through a corresponding number of openings at the bottom of the insulating plate.

[0026] In the above-mentioned through-board connector scheme, each of the terminal structures includes a side leg structure, and the side leg structures of adjacent terminal structures placed opposite to each other abut against each other to form the self-short-circuit path; the short-circuit on-off structure is an all-plastic insulating plate, and in the short-circuit release position, the all-plastic insulating plate is inserted between the side leg structures abutting against each other, thereby cutting off the self-short-circuit path. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a self-short-circuiting connector according to a first embodiment of the present application.

[0028] Figure 2 is an exploded view of the self-short-circuiting connector according to the first embodiment of the present application.

[0029] Figure 3A and Figure 3B yes Figure 2 A multi-view schematic diagram of two components of the short-circuit switch in the exploded view shown, Figure 3C This is a view of the short-circuit switch obtained after the two components are injected into the mold.

[0030] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 Schematic diagram of a single plug terminal in the exploded view.

[0031] Figure 5A is a cross-sectional view of a short-circuit state of the self-short-circuit connector according to the first embodiment of the present application.

[0032] Figure 5B 4 is a cross-sectional view of the self-shorting connector according to the first embodiment of the present application in a released short-circuit state.

[0033] Figure 5C show Figure 5A and Figure 5B The direction in which the cross-sectional view is taken.

[0034] Fig. 6A yes Figure 5A A cross-sectional view along the longitudinal direction of the self-short-circuit connector in the short-circuit state is shown. Figure 6B yes Figure 5B A cross-sectional view along the longitudinal direction of the self-short-circuiting connector showing the state of short-circuiting released. Figure 6C Figure 6A and Figure 6B The direction in which the cross-sectional view is taken.

[0035] Fig. 7A FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of a short-circuit state according to a variation of the first embodiment of the present application, and FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view of a variation of the first embodiment in which the short-circuit state is released. Figure 7C show Fig. 7A and Figure 7BThe direction in which the cross-sectional view is taken. Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of another variation of the first embodiment of the present application.

[0036] Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a self-short-circuiting connector according to a second embodiment of the present application.

[0037] Fig.10 is an exploded view of a self-short-circuiting connector according to a second embodiment of the present application.

[0038] Fig.11A yes Fig.10 Schematic diagram of the short-circuit switch in the exploded view shown.

[0039] Fig. 11B yes Fig.10 Schematic diagram of the shorting component in the exploded view shown.

[0040] Fig. 11C yes Fig.10 Schematic representation of a single plug-in terminal in exploded view shown.

[0041] Fig. 12A is a cross-sectional view of a short-circuit state of a self-short-circuit connector according to a second embodiment of the present application.

[0042] Fig. 12B 4 is a cross-sectional view of a self-shorting connector according to a second embodiment of the present application in a released short-circuit state.

[0043] Some reference numerals: DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] In the following description, this patent application is described with reference to various embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that various embodiments may be implemented without one or more specific details or with other replacement and / or additional methods, materials or components. In other cases, well-known structures, materials or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the various embodiments of this patent application. Similarly, for the purpose of explanation, specific quantities, materials and configurations are set forth to provide a comprehensive understanding of the embodiments of this patent application. However, this patent application may be implemented without specific details. In addition, it should be understood that the various embodiments shown in the drawings are illustrative representations and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0045] The various embodiments and variations of the present patent application are further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0046] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a multi-position self-shorting connector 100 according to the first embodiment of the present application, Figure 2 yes Figure 1An exploded view of the multi-position self-shorting connector 100 is shown. Figure 1 As shown, the self-shorting connector 100 can be a plug connector in a connector kit (100, 120 and 130). Figure 2 As shown, a plurality of plug-in terminals 20 (eg, Figure 2 Each plug-in terminal 20 in the self-shorting connector 100 can be plugged into a mating terminal (e.g., a male plug-in terminal) in a mating connector to form an electrical connection. The cover 10 of the self-shorting connector 100 can be used to fix the tail of the plug-in terminal 20 (the tail may have a base for wiring) and to cut off the electrical connection of adjacent positions. The housing 50 is an insulating housing, for example, an insulating plastic housing.

[0047] As an example but not limitation, the multi-position plug-in terminal in the self-shorting connector 100 may have a connection base and a side leg structure (for forming an electrical contact with a plug-in terminal at a longitudinally adjacent position based on elastic restoring force to achieve a short circuit). Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a plug-in terminal that meets this description is given, which has a wiring base 210 and a leg structure 220. For a non-limiting description applicable to the plug-in terminal, further reference may be made to the contents disclosed in CN212991386U.

[0048] The wire pressing spring 240 can be installed on the wiring frame of the wiring base 210 of the plug-in terminal 20, thereby forming a straight plug-in wiring structure (the installation method of the wire pressing spring 240 can refer to Figure 5A The spring booster 250 (also referred to as a push block) can be used to push the clamping arm of the wire pressing spring 240 downward to achieve wire withdrawal (also used for wire entry in some applications).

[0049] exist Figure 2 In the exploded view of FIG. 1 , 25 plug-in terminals are shown, among which twenty-four (24) plug-in terminals are arranged in the form of 2 rows and 12 columns, and there is a single plug-in terminal on the far right (the plug-in terminal can be used for grounding, for example). For ease of description, in the embodiment of the present application, the arrangement direction X of the 12 plug-in terminals in a row is called the horizontal direction, the arrangement direction Y of the 2 plug-in terminals in a column is called the longitudinal direction, and the direction Z in which the plug-in terminal and the mating terminal are plugged and coupled is called the plug-in direction.

[0050] In the self-shorting connector 100 of the first embodiment of the present application, the implementation and release of the bridging short circuit is achieved through a short circuit on-off structure. One implementation method of this short circuit on-off structure is as follows Figure 2 The short-circuit switching assembly 40 is shown. Figure 3A and Figure 3B yes Figure 2The exploded view of the short-circuit switch 40 is a schematic diagram of two components from multiple perspectives, Figure 3C FIG. 4 is a view of the short-circuit switch assembly 40 obtained after the two components are molded. Figure 3A As shown in FIG. 3B , the short-circuit switch assembly 40 includes an insulating plate 410 and a shorting piece 420. The insulating plate 410 may be a plastic part, and the shorting piece 420 may be a metal part, and the two may be combined together by a suitable manufacturing technology such as insert molding. Figure 3A As shown in FIG. 3B , the shorting link 420 is constructed to have a sheet-like base 422 and a plurality of comb-tooth structures 424 extending from the base. The comb-tooth structures 424 extend out through a corresponding number of openings at the bottom of the insulating plate 410 .

[0051] Further Figure 3A As shown in FIG. 3B , on one side of the shorting piece 420 , the sheet base 422 is bent twice, and a grounding protrusion 426 extends from the position after the second bending point. The grounding protrusion 426 is used to Figure 2 The single grounding plug terminal shown in the figure forms an electrical connection, thereby providing grounding for the entire shorting piece 420. Since the position of the grounding plug terminal is different from the other 2 rows and 12 columns of plug terminals, the position of the grounding protrusion 426 along the longitudinal direction Y is also different from the position of the comb teeth 424. It can be understood that according to the needs of actual applications, there are many variations in the position of the grounding protrusion 426, and in some solutions, the grounding protrusion may not be provided. Therefore, the structure of the shorting piece should not be limited to the attached Figure 3A - The form shown in 3B.

[0052] Further Figure 3A As shown in FIG. 3B, the shape of the insulating plate 410 has a corresponding bend that conforms to the bend of the short-circuit 420. It should be noted that the insulating plate 410 has three bends (i.e., one more bend than the sheet-like base 422 of the short-circuit), so that the left and right ends of the insulating plate 410 are in the same position along the longitudinal direction Y. As described below, the left and right ends of the insulating plate 410 are provided with a clamping structure that is clamped and positioned with the housing 50 of the connector, so that the longitudinal positions of the left and right ends of the insulating plate 410 are consistent to prevent the insulating plate 410 from bending and deforming under the action of the clamping force at both ends. In addition, the lower edge of the insulating plate 410 is set higher at the bent portion than the non-bent portion, which makes the grounding protrusion 426 more exposed than the comb teeth 424.

[0053] Further Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 4 , an operating portion 430 is formed on the upper portion of the insulating plate 410. Figure 1 As shown, in the assembled state, the operating portion 430 of the insulating plate 410 is higher than the cover 10, so the insulating plate 410 can be pushed down or pulled up by means of the operating portion 430. Figure 5A and Figure 5B As described, the position change of the insulating plate 410 in the connector housing 50 will cause the corresponding position change of the shorting piece 420, so that the self-shorting connector 100 can release the short circuit as needed to enter the working / detecting state, or restore the short circuit to enter the protection state.

[0054] Figure 5A yes Figure 1 The cross-sectional view of the short-circuit state of the self-short-circuit connector 100 is shown. Figure 5B yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a multi-position self-shorting connector in a released short-circuit state is shown. Figure 5A and Figure 5B The cross sections are along Figure 5C The BB direction is shown. Figure 5A As shown, in the initial installation position of the short-circuit switch assembly 40, the comb teeth 422 on the shorting piece 420 contact the side leg structures 220 of the two longitudinally adjacent plug-in terminals, thereby short-circuiting the two plug-in terminals. At the same time, the comb teeth 422 of the shorting piece 420 are connected through the sheet-like base 422, so that the 2 rows and 12 columns of the plug-in terminals are short-circuited to each other. In this sense, the shorting piece 420 can be called a self-shorting device. After the short-circuit switch assembly 40 is pressed downward by the operating portion 430 of the insulating plate 410, the short-circuit switch assembly 40 can reach Figure 5B In the short-circuit release position shown, the side leg structures of two longitudinally adjacent plug-in terminals no longer contact the comb teeth 422 on the shorting piece 420, but contact the insulating plate 410, so that the 2 rows and 12 columns of plug-in terminals are isolated from each other, that is, the short-circuit state is released. Therefore, the 2 rows and 12 columns of plug-in terminals of the self-shorting connector 100 can release the short-circuit state without plugging with a mating connector, which is very beneficial to the on-site testing of the self-shorting connector 100.

[0055] Further, in the case where the self-shorting connector 100 includes a grounding plug terminal, as described above, since the grounding protrusion 426 is exposed to a greater extent than the comb teeth 424, the grounding protrusion 426 is in conductive contact with the plug-in portion of the grounding plug terminal regardless of whether it is in the initial installation position of the short-circuit switch assembly 40 or in the short-circuit release position, and therefore, the shorting piece 420 is always grounded.

[0056] Despite the combination Figure 4The plug-in terminal with a side leg structure shown in the figure describes how to realize the short-circuit state and the short-circuit release state of the short-circuit connector 100 by changing the position of the short-circuit switch assembly 40, but it can be understood that this side leg structure of the plug-in terminal is not necessary for realizing the invention proposed in this application. On the contrary, any plug-in terminal that contacts the comb teeth 424 of the short-circuit switch assembly 40 in the initial installation position and contacts the insulating plate 410 of the short-circuit switch assembly 40 in the short-circuit release position is suitable for the solution proposed in this application.

[0057] The following combination Fig. 6A -6B, further illustrating the installation and positioning structure of the short-circuit switch assembly 40, wherein: Fig. 6A is a cross-sectional view of the short-circuit connector 100 in the short-circuit state along the longitudinal direction Y (this state may correspond to FIG. 5A ), Figure 6B 1 is a cross-sectional view of the short-circuit connector 100 along the longitudinal direction Y in the short-circuit release state (the state can be Figure 5B correspond). Fig. 6A and Figure 6B The cross sections are along Figure 6C The BB direction shown is obtained.

[0058] like Fig. 6A As shown, on both sides of the insulating plate 410 ( Fig. 6A The insulating plate positioning structure (only one side is shown, the structures of both sides are symmetrical) includes a first limiting protrusion 416 provided at the upper part and a second limiting protrusion 418 provided at the lower part, wherein the first limiting protrusion 416 at the upper part is provided on a step structure 417 that is higher than the second limiting protrusion 418. The housing positioning structure on the inner side of the connector housing includes a first stop protrusion 516 provided at the upper part and a second stop protrusion 518 provided at the lower part, wherein the second stop protrusion 518 is provided on a step structure 517 that is higher than the first stop protrusion 516.

[0059] When the insulating plate 410 is in the initial installation position, its upper end is flush with the top of the cover 10, and the first limiting protrusions 416 on both sides of the insulating plate 410 and the first stop protrusions 516 on the inner side of the connector housing form an interference contact based on the inclined surface, thereby positioning the insulating plate 410 in the initial installation position to prevent the insulating plate 410 from sliding down from the initial installation position due to vibration or the like. When the insulating plate 410 is pushed downward by the operating part 430 on the insulating plate, the insulating plate 410 overcomes the mutual interference between the first limiting protrusions 416 and the first stop protrusions 516, thereby moving downward, and finally as shown in FIG. Figure 6BThe end of the downward movement of the insulating plate 410 can be limited by a limiting boss 530 located at the bottom of the connector housing. There can be multiple limiting bosses 530, and each limiting boss 530 can be correspondingly embedded between two adjacent openings 425 at the bottom of the insulating plate 410. Fig. 6A and 6B At the short-circuit release position, the first limiting protrusion 416 contacts the edge of the step structure 417 on the inner side of the connector housing, thereby obtaining support there and preventing it from shaking. At the same time, after the insulating plate 410 reaches the short-circuit release position, the second limiting protrusion 418 and the second stop protrusion 518 on the connector housing produce interference contact based on the inclined surface, thereby preventing the short-circuit switch assembly 40 from sliding upward out of this position.

[0060] Fig. 7A FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of a short-circuit state according to a variation of the first embodiment of the present application, and FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view of a variation of the first embodiment in which the short-circuit state is released. Figure 7C show Fig. 7A and Figure 7B In this variation, the short-circuit switch 40A may be a full plastic part, that is, a full plastic insulating plate, the bottom of which does not include, for example, Figure 3A The installation and positioning structure of the short-circuit switch 40A can be Fig. 6A The all-plastic short-circuit switch 40A releases the short-circuit state of adjacent plug-in terminals by separating the side leg structures of adjacent plug-in terminals. Specifically, Fig. 7A As shown, in the initial installation position of the short-circuit switch assembly 40A, the side leg structures 220 of the two longitudinally adjacent plug-in terminals contact each other, thereby short-circuiting the two plug-in terminals. Figure 7B The short-circuit release position shown is a position in which the leg structures of two longitudinally adjacent plug-in terminals no longer touch each other, but are separated by the lower part of the all-plastic short-circuit switch. In this way, the 2 rows and 12 columns of plug-in terminals are isolated from each other, that is, the short-circuit state is released.

[0061] exist Figure 1 In the first embodiment shown, the self-shorting connector 100 is part of a through-board connector kit, which can be used as a plug connector for plugging with a mating socket 120 that can be installed on the board end of the device. At the other end of the mating socket 120, there can be another plug connector 130 for plugging. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a variation of the first embodiment of the present application. Compared to Figure 1 , Figure 8The self-shorting connector 140 shown is a single connector for mounting on a board structure, rather than a connector kit consisting of two or more mating plug and socket structures. It can be understood that in the single connector shown in FIG. 7 , a male pin and a female pin pair for mating are not used, but an integral terminal structure 142 that can be wired at both ends is used. This integral terminal structure 142 can be constructed to have a structure similar to Figure 4 The wiring tail 1422 of the structure 220 shown in the figure, and the short-circuit switch assembly 1440 can adopt a similar construction method (the sheet-like conductive structure is formed in the plastic shell by in-mold injection molding) and working principle to the first embodiment to achieve self-short circuit. As another option, Fig. 7A The self-short circuit can be connected and released by using a similar construction method to the variation shown in -7B.

[0062] Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a self-shorting connector 600 according to a second embodiment of the present application, Fig.10 FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a self-shorting connector according to a second embodiment of the present application. In the second embodiment, the plug terminal 640 may have, for example, Fig. 11C The form shown. Figure 4 Compared with the form of Fig. 11C The plug-in terminal 640 shown does not have a special leg structure. The short circuit between the multiple positions of the self-shorting connector 600 can be achieved by Fig. 11B The short-circuit member 630 shown in the figure is implemented, and the short-circuit member 630 includes a transverse conductive connecting strip 632 and a plurality of pairs of metal springs 634 arranged along the conductive connecting strip 632. Each metal spring 634 is bent at the end to form an elastic clamp structure 636, and the elastic clamp structure 636 can be pressed against the plug-in terminal 540 to generate electrical contact. Fig.11A The insulating plastic part shown in the figure has two insulating walls 622 and 624 extending transversely and a longitudinal connecting portion 626 located therebetween, thereby forming a substantially U-shaped longitudinal cross section. The short-circuit switch 620 can move up and down in the plastic shell of the connector 600. When it is at the lower end of the stroke, the two transverse insulating walls 622 and 624 can release the short-circuit state of the short-circuit connector 600 (hereinafter referred to as Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B to describe).

[0063] Fig. 12A FIG. 12B shows a cross-sectional view of the self-shorting connector 600 of the second embodiment in a short-circuited state, and FIG. 12A shows a cross-sectional view of the self-shorting connector 600 in a released short-circuited state. Fig. 12AThe initial installation position of the short-circuit member 630 in the self-shorting connector 600 is shown. This initial installation position allows the end of the metal spring of the short-circuit member 630 to abut against the wiring base 645 of the plug-in terminal 640, thereby achieving short-circuiting of each plug-in terminal. Fig. 12B When the short-circuit switch 630 moves downward to the lower end position of its stroke (short-circuit release position), the two lateral insulating walls 622 and 624 will cut into between the metal spring of the short-circuit member 630 and the wiring base 645 of the plug-in terminal 640 (in other words, the elastic clamp structure 636 of the short-circuit member 630 is accommodated in the U-shaped insulating structure of the short-circuit switch 630), thereby releasing the short-circuit state of the self-short-circuit connector 600.

[0064] Despite the combination Fig. 11C The plug-in terminal 640 is shown to describe the second embodiment, but it is understandable that the plug-in terminal may have other suitable forms as long as it can form electrical contact with the elastic clip structure 636 on the installed short-circuit member 630.

[0065] exist Fig. 9 In the second embodiment shown, the self-shorting connector 600 can be part of a through-board connector kit, which can be used as a plug connector for plugging with a mating socket that can be installed on the board end of the device, and at the other end of the mating socket, there can be another plug connector 130 for plugging (refer to Figure 1 ). Understandably, Fig. 9 The second embodiment shown may have a configuration similar to Figure 8 A variation example is a self-shorting connector, which is a single connector for mounting on a board structure, rather than a connector kit consisting of two or more mating plug and socket structures. In this single connector, a pair of male and female pins for mating connection is not used, but an integral terminal structure that can be wired at both ends is used. In other words, the upper and lower ends of this integral terminal structure are both constructed as wiring tails.

[0066] In further variations of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the terminal tail structure is not limited to a wiring structure, but may be a wire pressing structure.

[0067] The basic concepts have been described above. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, the above disclosure is only an example and does not constitute a limitation of the present patent application. Although not explicitly stated herein, those skilled in the art may make various modifications, improvements and amendments to the present patent application. Such modifications, improvements and amendments are suggested in the present patent application, so such modifications, improvements and amendments still belong to the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the present patent application.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, comprising: Insulating housing; A plurality of terminal structures are disposed in the insulating housing, each terminal structure is disposed in a corresponding terminal hole of the insulating housing, and the plurality of terminal structures can be short-circuited with each other through a self-short-circuit path; as well as A movable short-circuit on-off structure is provided in the insulating housing, and the short-circuit on-off structure can be moved from an initial installation position to a short-circuit release position, and the insulating portion of the short-circuit on-off structure intervenes in the self-short-circuit path at the short-circuit release position, thereby cutting off the mutual short-circuit of the plurality of terminal structures, wherein The short-circuit switch structure includes a short-circuit switch assembly consisting of an insulating plate and a short-circuit link, wherein the short-circuit link is installed in the insulating plate and includes a portion exposed from the lower end of the insulating plate. The shorting piece has a sheet-like base (422) and a plurality of comb-tooth structures (424) extending from the sheet-like base. Each of the terminal structures comprises a side leg structure (220), and the self-short-circuit path comprises the shorting piece and the side leg structure on the terminal structure.

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The shorting piece is installed in the insulating plate by in-mold injection molding.

3. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The comb structure protrudes through a corresponding number of openings at the bottom of the insulating plate.

4. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: An operating portion (430) is provided on the top of the insulating plate.

5. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: Insulating plate positioning structures are provided at both ends of the insulating plate, and a shell positioning structure matching the insulating plate positioning structure is provided on the inner side of the insulating shell. The insulating plate positioning structure and the shell positioning structure cooperate to position the insulating plate at the initial installation position or the short circuit release position.

6. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The shorting link further comprises a grounding protrusion (426) extending from the sheet-like base, wherein the grounding protrusion maintains electrical contact with a grounding terminal structure in the electrical connector in both the initial installation position and the short circuit release position.

7. The electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The terminal structure is a plug-in terminal.

8. The electrical connector according to claim 7, wherein: The tail portion of the terminal structure includes a structure for wiring or a structure for crimping.

9. An electrical connector, comprising: Insulating housing; A plurality of terminal structures are disposed in the insulating housing, each terminal structure is disposed in a corresponding terminal hole of the insulating housing, and the plurality of terminal structures can be short-circuited with each other through a self-short-circuit path; as well as A movable short-circuit on-off structure is provided in the insulating housing, and the short-circuit on-off structure can be moved from an initial installation position to a short-circuit release position, and an insulating portion of the short-circuit on-off structure intervenes in the self-short-circuit path at the short-circuit release position, thereby cutting off the mutual short-circuit of the plurality of terminal structures. The self-short-circuit path comprises a short-circuit member having a plurality of pairs of spring clip structures (636), each spring clip being capable of abutting against an adjacent pair of terminal structures. The short-circuit element comprises a transverse conductive connecting strip (632) and a plurality of pairs of metal spring sheets (634) arranged along the conductive connecting strip, each metal spring sheet being bent at an end to form the plurality of pairs of elastic clamp structures. The short-circuit switch structure comprises an insulating short-circuit switch (620), wherein the short-circuit switch has a first insulating wall and a second insulating wall extending transversely, and a longitudinal connecting portion located therebetween, thereby forming a substantially U-shaped longitudinal cross section. The short-circuit switch can be moved from the initial installation position to the short-circuit release position, so that the first insulating wall and the second insulating wall of the short-circuit switch intervene and cut off the electrical contact between the elastic clamp structure of the short-circuit member and the adjacent terminal structure.

10. The electrical connector according to claim 9, wherein: The electrical connector is a through-board connector, and its insulating housing is an insulating housing used for being installed on a device board end.

11. A connector kit, comprising a first plug connector and a mating socket connector, wherein the first plug connector is the electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The connector kit according to claim 11, wherein: The socket connector is a connector used to be installed on the end of a device board.

13. The connector kit according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that: A second plug connector is also included. The first plug connector and the second plug connector are used to be plugged into two sides of the socket connector respectively.

14. A through-board connector, comprising: Insulating housing for installation on the equipment board end; A plurality of terminal structures are disposed in the insulating housing, each terminal structure is disposed in a corresponding terminal hole of the insulating housing, both ends of each terminal structure respectively have tail ends for wiring, and the plurality of terminal structures can be short-circuited with each other through a self-shorting path; and A movable short-circuit on-off structure is provided in the insulating housing, and the short-circuit on-off structure can be moved from an initial installation position to a short-circuit release position, thereby cutting off the mutual short-circuit of the plurality of terminal structures. The short-circuit switch structure includes a short-circuit switch assembly consisting of an insulating plate and a short-circuit link, wherein the short-circuit link is installed in the insulating plate and includes a portion exposed from the lower end of the insulating plate. The shorting piece has a sheet-like base (422) and a plurality of comb-tooth structures (424) extending from the sheet-like base. Each of the terminal structures comprises a side leg structure (220), and the self-short-circuit path comprises the shorting piece and the side leg structure on the terminal structure.

15. The through-board connector according to claim 14, characterized in that The short-circuit on-off structure is formed by an insulating plate and a shorting piece through in-mold injection molding, and the comb-tooth structure extends out through a corresponding number of openings at the bottom of the insulating plate.

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