Electrical connection device

Abstract

An electrical connection device comprises a shell defining an inner space and a guide connection unit arranged in the inner space. The housing includes a first guide wall and a second guide wall facing the inner space. The inner space is divided into a first slot for the first circuit module to be inserted and a second slot for the second circuit module to be inserted. The guide connection unit comprises a plurality of first connecting pieces extending towards the first slots and a plurality of second connecting pieces extending towards the second slots. When the first circuit module and the second circuit module are inserted, the first connecting piece and the second connecting piece are pressed due to positive force provided by the first guide wall and the second guide wall. And at least one of the first connecting pieces is electrically connected with one of the second connecting pieces, so that the first circuit module and the second circuit module can be electrically connected during insertion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a connector, and in particular to an electrical connecting device. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, various electrical devices with complex circuit configurations have become more and more popular in our lives, such as intelligent devices that everyone has, computers that are indispensable for various tasks, and even databases, data centers, terminal servers, etc. that are very important to the information industry. Not only are the circuit configurations complex, but also because they need to provide more diversified usage methods and related functions, in addition to the main board (Main Logic Board, MLB) that must be configured internally, there is often a need to install integrated circuit chips (IC), integrated printed circuit boards (Printed Circuit Board, PCB), insert universal serial buses (Universal Serial Bus, USB), etc., and even if the thinness, lightness, configuration flexibility, etc. of the circuit board are further considered, there will also be a need to set up flexible printed circuits (Flexible Printed Circuits, FPCs).

[0003] Although flexible printed circuit boards have many advantages and are frequently used in various modern electrical equipment, the necessary circuit configuration is very complex, and the interconnection mechanism between various unit parts is becoming more and more diverse. Therefore, the use of flexible printed circuit boards may generate the need to interconnect with rigid structures, interconnect with soft structures or elastic structures, and interconnect multiple flexible printed circuit boards. Summary of the invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connection device that can provide multiple connection mechanisms for connection requirements of various types of modular circuits such as flexible printed circuit boards.

[0005] The electrical connection device of the present invention is suitable for achieving electrical connection between a first circuit module and a second circuit module, and comprises a shell surrounding and defining an inner space, and a conducting unit arranged in the inner space.

[0006] The housing includes a first guide wall facing the inner space and used to provide a first positive force, and a second guide wall facing the inner space and used to provide a second positive force. The inner space is divided into a first slot adjacent to the first guide wall and suitable for inserting the first circuit module, and a second slot adjacent to the second guide wall and suitable for inserting the second circuit module.

[0007] The conductive unit includes a plurality of first connectors extending toward the first slot and being compressed by the first positive force when the first circuit module is inserted into the first slot, and a plurality of second connectors extending toward the second slot and being compressed by the second positive force when the second circuit module is inserted into the second slot. At least one of the first connectors is electrically connected to at least one of the second connectors.

[0008] In the electrical connection device of the present invention, the first circuit module has at least one first connection terminal, and the second circuit module has at least one second connection terminal. The first connection member of the conductive unit is pressed against the at least one first connection terminal, and the second connection member is pressed against the at least one second connection terminal.

[0009] In the electrical connection device of the present invention, each of the first connection members of the conductive unit has a first deformation portion capable of generating a restorable deformation, and each of the second connection members has a second deformation portion capable of generating a restorable deformation.

[0010] In the electrical connection device of the present invention, the first deformation portion and the second deformation portion are selected from springs, cantilevers, or a combination thereof.

[0011] In the electrical connection device of the present invention, two of the first connection members of the conductive connection unit are connected to each other to form a separate conductive structure, or two of the second connection members of the conductive connection unit are connected to each other to form a separate conductive structure.

[0012] In the electrical connection device of the present invention, the openings of the first slot and the second slot are respectively located at two insertion ends of the shell on opposite sides, and the shell also includes two stopping grooves formed between the insertion ends on opposite sides and connected to the first slot and the second slot.

[0013] The electrical connection device of the present invention further comprises a retaining groove detachably fastened to the housing and a fixing clip for extending into the first slot and the second slot to fix the first circuit module and the second circuit module.

[0014] In the electrical connection device of the present invention, the conductive unit includes a first surface facing the first slot and a second surface facing the second slot, defining a projection direction that is perpendicular to both the first surface and the second surface, and the projection ranges of the first slot and the second slot along the projection direction at least partially overlap.

[0015] In the electrical connection device of the present invention, the first connection member of the conductive unit extends outward from the first surface, and the second connection member extends outward from the second surface.

[0016] In the electrical connection device of the present invention, each of the first connection members of the conductive unit has a first end located at an end away from the first surface, and each of the second connection members has a second end located at an end away from the second surface, and the first end and the second end are respectively facing two opposite directions.

[0017] In the electrical connection device of the present invention, the conductive unit further comprises at least one conductive member connected between any one of the first connecting members and any one of the second connecting members.

[0018] In the electrical connection device of the present invention, the conductive member of the conductive unit has an electroplating layer extending from the first surface to the second surface and surrounding and defining a through slot, and a filling portion filled in the through slot and made of a conductive material.

[0019] In the electrical connection device of the present invention, the conductive unit includes a first surface facing both the first slot and the second slot, the first slot and the second slot are coplanarly arranged, and the first guide wall and the second guide wall of the shell are substantially in the same plane.

[0020] In the electrical connection device of the present invention, the shell further comprises a first stopping portion disposed inside the first slot and adapted to stop the first circuit module, and a second stopping portion disposed inside the second slot and adapted to stop the second circuit module.

[0021] In the electrical connection device of the present invention, the first slot and the second slot are adjacent to each other and are separated at opposite sides of the first stop portion and the second stop portion.

[0022] In the electrical connection device of the present invention, the first connection member of the conductive unit extends outward from the first surface, and the second connection member extends outward from the second surface. Each of the first connection members has a first end located at an end away from the first surface, and each of the second connection members has a second end located at an end away from the second surface. The first end and the second end are facing each other.

[0023] In the electrical connection device of the present invention, the conductive unit further comprises at least one extension piece connected between any one of the first connection pieces and any one of the second connection pieces.

[0024] In the electrical connection device of the present invention, the openings of the first slot and the second slot are respectively located at two insertion ends of the shell located on opposite sides, and the shell also includes four stopping grooves located on opposite sides and two on each side are formed between the insertion ends at intervals and connected to the first slot and the second slot.

[0025] The electrical connection device of the present invention further comprises two fixing clips which are detachably buckled on the housing and are respectively used to extend into the first slot and the second slot to fix the first circuit module and the second circuit module.

[0026] In the electrical connection device of the present invention, at least a portion of the conductive unit extends outside the inner space, and further includes a plurality of external contacts disposed outside the inner space.

[0027] The beneficial effect of the present invention is that the housing can respond to the insertion modes of the first circuit module and the second circuit module respectively inserted into the first slot and the second slot, and the first connector and the second connector of the conductive unit can be configured accordingly to match the contacts of the first circuit module and the second circuit module, thereby properly connected to the conductive unit through the pressure of the first guide wall and the second guide wall, and the electrical connection formed by the first connector and the second connector can achieve the purpose of responding to various forms of electrical connection requirements, so that it can indeed provide multiple connection mechanisms for multiple usage requirements such as flexible printed circuit boards. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Figure 1 is a perspective exploded view illustrating a first embodiment of the electrical connection device of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the housing of the first embodiment;

[0030] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the conductive connection unit of the first embodiment;

[0031] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the relative relationship between the first circuit module, the second circuit module and the conductive connection unit;

[0032] Figure 5 is an incomplete cross-sectional view, illustrating the situation where the first circuit module and the second circuit module are inserted into the first embodiment;

[0033] Figure 6 It is a side view, with Figure 5 Explain the retaining groove of the housing and the fixing clip of the first embodiment;

[0034] Figure 7 is a perspective exploded view illustrating a second embodiment of the electrical connection device of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a situation where the first circuit module and the second circuit module are inserted into the second embodiment;

[0036] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the first circuit module and the second circuit module are stably inserted into the BCPI-240127 page 5 / 9

[0037] The situation of setting;

[0038] Fig.10 It is a side view, with Fig. 9 Describe the positioning effect of the fixing clip of the second embodiment;

[0039] Fig.11 and Fig.12 Both are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating a third embodiment of the electrical connection device of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0041] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 , is the first embodiment of the electrical connection device of the present invention, and the first embodiment is applicable to electrically connect a first circuit module 91 having a first connection terminal 911 and a second circuit module 92 having a second connection terminal 921, and comprises a housing 1 surrounding and defining an inner space 10, a conducting unit 2 disposed in the inner space 10, and a fixing clip 3 detachably mounted on the housing 1. In the first embodiment, the first circuit module 91 and the second circuit module 92 can be selected from a flexible printed circuit board (FPC), a flexible flat cable (FFC), a rigid-flex printed circuit board, or an ultra-thin printed circuit substrate, etc., and the substrate is not limited thereto.

[0042] The housing 1 includes a first guide wall 11 facing the inner space 10 and used to provide a first positive force, a second guide wall 12 located on the opposite side of the first guide wall 11 and facing the inner space 10 and used to provide a second positive force, and two stop grooves 13 located on opposite sides. The inner space 10 is divided into a first slot 101 adjacent to the first guide wall 11 and suitable for inserting the first circuit module 91, and a second slot 102 adjacent to the second guide wall 12 and suitable for inserting the second circuit module 92. The openings of the first slot 101 and the second slot 102 are respectively located at two insertion ends 19 of the housing 1 located on opposite sides, and the stop groove 13 is formed between the insertion ends 19 and communicates with the first slot 101 and the second slot 102.

[0043] See also Figure 3 and Figure 4 And cooperate Figure 2 The conductive unit 2 includes a base 20 having a first surface 201 facing the first slot 101 and a second surface 202 facing the second slot 102, a plurality of first connectors 21 extending from the first surface 201 to the first slot 101, a plurality of second connectors 22 extending from the second surface 202 to the second slot 102, and a plurality of conductive members 23 respectively connected between the first connectors 21 and the second connectors 22. The base 20 is made of a dielectric material, and each of the first connectors 21 and each of the second connectors 22 is preferably made of a conductive metal material with a margin of elasticity. Two of the first connectors 21 of the conductive unit 2 are connected to each other to form a separate conductive structure, or two of the second connectors 22 of the conductive unit 2 are connected to each other to form a separate conductive structure. A projection direction perpendicular to both the first surface 201 and the second surface 202 is defined, and the projection ranges of the first slot 101 and the second slot 102 along the projection direction partially overlap.

[0044] Each of the first connecting members 21 has a first deformable portion 211 capable of generating a restorable deformation, and a first end 219 located at an end away from the first surface 201; and each of the second connecting members 22 has a second deformable portion 221 capable of generating a restorable deformation, and a second end 229 located at an end away from the second surface 202. The first deformable portion 211 and the second deformable portion 221 can be selected from spring or cantilever structures, thereby generating an elastic deformation margin when subjected to an external force toward the substrate 20, and in the first embodiment, the cantilever structure with an elastic margin is taken as an example for description. In order to cope with the usage in which the first circuit module 91 and the second circuit module 92 are respectively inserted from opposite sides, the first end 219 and the second end 229 are respectively facing two opposite directions. More specifically, the first end 219 of each first connecting member 21 is facing the direction in which the first circuit module 91 is inserted into the first slot 101, and the second end 229 of each second connecting member 22 is facing the direction in which the second circuit module 92 is inserted into the second slot 102, thereby cooperating with the bending of the first deformation portion 211 and the second deformation portion 221 to generate the force direction of deformation.

[0045] In addition, each of the conductive members 23 has an electroplating layer extending from the first surface 201 to the second surface 202 and surrounding a through slot, and a filling portion filled in the through slot and made of a conductive material. Through the conductive member 23, the first connecting member 21 can be electrically connected to the second connecting member 22.

[0046] The fixing clip 3 is detachably buckled on the retaining groove 13 of the housing 1 , and is used to extend into the first slot 101 and the second slot 102 to fix the first circuit module 91 and the second circuit module 92 .

[0047] See also Figures 4 to 6When the first circuit module 91 is inserted into the first slot 101 and the second circuit module 92 is inserted into the second slot 102, the first circuit module 91 and the second circuit module 92 are pressed against by the first guide wall 11 and the second guide wall 12, respectively, and thus are respectively subjected to the first positive force and the second positive force directed toward the conductive unit 2. Therefore, the first connecting member 21 of the conductive unit 2 is pressed against the first positive force when the first circuit module 91 is inserted into the first slot 101, and the second connecting member 22 is pressed against the second positive force when the second circuit module 92 is inserted into the second slot 102, so that the first circuit module 91 and the second circuit module 92 are electrically connected to the conductive unit 2 because the first connecting terminal 911 is pressed against the first connecting member 21 and the second connecting terminal 921 is pressed against the second connecting member 22. At this time, since the first connecting member 21 and the second connecting member 22 are electrically connected through the conductive member 23 , the first circuit module 91 can be successfully electrically connected to the second circuit module 92 through the first embodiment.

[0048] It is worth mentioning that, although the first circuit module 91 and the second circuit module 92 can be positioned between the first guide wall 11 and the second guide wall 12 and the conductive unit 2 respectively due to the elastic restoring force of the first connecting member 21 and the second connecting member 22, if the stability of the connection between the first circuit module 91 and the second circuit module 92 is taken into consideration, the fixing clip 3 can be extended into the first slot 101 and the second slot 102 according to the corresponding structure of the first circuit module 91 and the second circuit module 92, so as to achieve a direct fixing effect on the first circuit module 91 and the second circuit module 92, so as to improve the stability and reliability of the electrical connection achieved by inserting the first circuit module 91 and the second circuit module 92 in the first embodiment.

[0049] The first embodiment can configure corresponding connection points through the conductive unit 2 of the first connector 21 and the second connector 22 to meet the electrical connection requirements between the first circuit module 91 and the second circuit module 92, thereby flexibly meeting the connection requirements of circuit components with different contact point distributions. In addition, the first embodiment also achieves a stable positioning effect through the elastic margin of the first connector 21 and the second connector 22 in conjunction with the first guide wall 11 and the second guide wall 12. Therefore, even if the thickness of the circuit component is relatively thin, or even if the circuit form adopts a flexible substrate, it can achieve a proper and stable positioning effect for the electrical connection requirements between the connection terminals in a roughly planar shape, so as to ensure electrical BCPI-240127 Page 8 / 9

[0050] The stability of the connection.

[0051] See also Figure 7 and Figure 8 , is a second embodiment of the electrical connection device of the present invention. The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the conductive unit 2 of the second embodiment includes a first surface 201 facing both the first slot 101 and the second slot 102. The first slot 101 and the second slot 102 are arranged on the same plane, and the first guide wall 11 and the second guide wall 12 of the housing 1 are substantially on the same plane. That is, when the first circuit module 91 and the second circuit module 92 are respectively inserted into the first slot 101 and the second slot 102, the first circuit module 91 and the second circuit module 92 are inserted from opposite sides on the same plane in a direction facing each other.

[0052] See also Figures 7 to 9 In order to distinguish the first slot 101 and the second slot 102 and avoid the first circuit module 91 and the second circuit module 92 from interfering with each other during insertion, the housing 1 further includes a first stopper 14 disposed inside the first slot 101 and adapted to stop the first circuit module 91, a second stopper 15 disposed inside the second slot 102 and adapted to stop the second circuit module 92, and four stopper grooves 13 disposed on opposite sides and two on each side are formed between the insertion ends 19 at intervals and connected to the first slot 101 and the second slot 102. At this time, the first slot 101 and the second slot 102 are adjacent to each other and separated on opposite sides of the first stopper 14 and the second stopper 15, so as to cope with the specification that the first connection terminal 911 and the second connection terminal 921 are facing the same side.

[0053] In order to match the configuration relationship that the first slot 101 and the second slot 102 are arranged in a coplanar manner, the first end 219 of each first connector 21 and the second end 229 of each second connector 22 are facing each other, so that the deformation direction of the first connector 21 and the second connector 22 can match the insertion direction of the first circuit module 91 and the second circuit module 92. In addition, the conductive unit 2 also includes at least one extension piece (Trace) connected between any one of the first connectors 21 and any one of the second connectors 22. Specifically, the extension piece can be formed by electroplating, wire bonding, etc. to form a conductive structure extending a specific path on the substrate 20, so that after the first circuit module 91 and the second circuit module 92 contact the first connector 21 and the second connector 22 respectively, the electrical connection between the first circuit module 91 and the second circuit module 92 is achieved through the connection effect of the extension piece.

[0054] See also Fig.10 And cooperate Figure 7 After the first circuit module 91 and the second circuit module 92 are inserted into the second embodiment, the same function of responding to diversified connection requirements as the first embodiment can be achieved. Similarly, in order to ensure the stable connection between the first circuit module 91 and the second circuit module 92, the second embodiment further includes two stopper grooves 13 that are detachably buckled on the housing 1, and are used to extend into the first slot 101 and the second slot 102 to fix the first circuit module 91 and the second circuit module 92, respectively, so as to directly position the first circuit module 91 and the second circuit module 92 to optimize the stability and reliability of the electrical connection.

[0055] See also Fig.11 and Fig.12 , is a third embodiment of the electrical connection device of the present invention, in which a portion of the conductive unit 2 of the third embodiment extends outside the inner space 10, and further includes a plurality of external contacts 29 disposed outside the inner space 10. The portion of the conductive unit 2 extending outside the inner space 10 may be as follows: Fig.11 or Fig.12 The present invention extends in different directions as long as the external contact 29 located outside the inner space 10 can be formed. In addition, each of the external contacts 29 is Fig.11 and Fig.12 The embodiment is illustrated in the form of a ball-type contact, but the actual implementation is not limited thereto, and other appropriate forms can be adopted to match the existing contact 81 of the electronic component 8 to which the external contact 29 is to be additionally connected.

Claims

1. An electrical connection device, suitable for electrically connecting a first circuit module with a second circuit module; characterized in that: The electrical connection device comprises: A housing, surrounding and defining an inner space, and comprising a first guide wall facing the inner space and used to provide a first positive force, and a second guide wall facing the inner space and used to provide a second positive force, wherein the inner space is divided into a first slot adjacent to the first guide wall and suitable for inserting the first circuit module, and a second slot adjacent to the second guide wall and suitable for inserting the second circuit module; and The conductive unit is disposed in the inner space and includes a plurality of first connectors extending toward the first slot and being compressed by the first positive force when the first circuit module is inserted into the first slot, and a plurality of second connectors extending toward the second slot and being compressed by the second positive force when the second circuit module is inserted into the second slot, wherein at least one of the first connectors is electrically connected to at least one of the second connectors.

2. The electrical connection device according to claim 1, wherein the first circuit module has at least one first connection terminal, and the second circuit module has at least one second connection terminal, wherein: The first connecting member of the conductive unit is pressed against by the at least one first connecting terminal, and the second connecting member is pressed against by the at least one second connecting terminal.

3. The electrical connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each of the first connecting members of the conductive unit has a first deformable portion capable of generating a restorable deformation, and each of the second connecting members has a second deformable portion capable of generating a restorable deformation.

4. The electrical connection device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first deformation part and the second deformation part are selected from a spring, a cantilever, or a combination thereof.

5. The electrical connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Two of the first connecting members of the conductive connection unit are connected to each other to form a separate conductive structure, or two of the second connecting members of the conductive connection unit are connected to each other to form a separate conductive structure.

6. The electrical connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The openings of the first slot and the second slot are respectively located at two insertion ends of the shell on opposite sides. The shell also includes two stop grooves formed between the insertion ends on opposite sides and connected to the first slot and the second slot.

7. The electrical connection device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The electrical connection device further comprises a retaining groove detachably buckled on the housing and a fixing clip for extending into the first slot and the second slot to fix the first circuit module and the second circuit module.

8. The electrical connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The guide unit includes a first surface facing the first slot and a second surface facing the second slot, defining a projection direction perpendicular to both the first surface and the second surface, and the projection ranges of the first slot and the second slot along the projection direction at least partially overlap.

9. The electrical connection device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The first connection member of the conductive unit extends outward from the first surface, and the second connection member extends outward from the second surface.

10. The electrical connection device according to claim 8, characterized in that: Each of the first connecting members of the conductive unit has a first end located at an end away from the first surface, and each of the second connecting members has a second end located at an end away from the second surface. The first end and the second end face two opposite directions respectively.

11. The electrical connection device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The conductive connection unit further includes at least one conductive member connected between any one of the first connecting members and any one of the second connecting members.

12. The electrical connection device according to claim 11, characterized in that: The conducting component of the conducting unit comprises an electroplating layer extending from the first surface to the second surface and surrounding and defining a through slot, and a filling portion filled in the through slot and made of a conductive material.

13. The electrical connection device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The guide unit includes a first surface facing both the first slot and the second slot. The first slot and the second slot are coplanarly arranged, and the first guide wall and the second guide wall of the housing are substantially in the same plane.

14. The electrical connection device according to claim 13, characterized in that: The housing further comprises a first stopping portion disposed at the inner side of the first slot and adapted to stop the first circuit module, and a second stopping portion disposed at the inner side of the second slot and adapted to stop the second circuit module.

15. The electrical connection device according to claim 14, characterized in that: The first slot and the second slot are adjacent to each other and are separated at opposite sides of the first stop portion and the second stop portion.

16. The electrical connection device according to claim 13, characterized in that: The first connecting member of the conductive unit extends outward from the first surface, and the second connecting member extends outward from the second surface. Each of the first connecting members has a first end located at an end away from the first surface, and each of the second connecting members has a second end located at an end away from the second surface. The first end and the second end are facing each other.

17. The electrical connection device according to claim 16, characterized in that: The connecting unit further includes at least one extending member connected between any one of the first connecting members and any one of the second connecting members.

18. The electrical connection device according to claim 13, characterized in that: The openings of the first slot and the second slot are respectively located at two insertion ends of the shell on opposite sides. The shell also includes four stop grooves located on opposite sides, two on each side, formed between the insertion ends and spaced apart from each other, and connected to the first slot and the second slot.

19. The electrical connection device according to claim 18, characterized in that: The electrical connection device further comprises two fixing clips which are detachably buckled on the housing and are respectively used to extend into the first slot and the second slot to fix the first circuit module and the second circuit module.

20. The electrical connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least a portion of the conductive unit extends outside the inner space, and further includes a plurality of external contacts arranged outside the inner space.

Images