A high speed connector

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of communication transmission equipment, and particularly relates to a high-speed connector. The high-speed connector comprises a shell, two or more contact modules are arranged in the shell, each contact module has a plurality of contact pieces, the contact pieces have plug-in ends, a shielding net is arranged in the shell, the plug-in ends pass through the mesh of the shielding net and extend towards the plug-in side, the plug-in ends of the contact pieces of the contact modules are all provided with contact structures and have the same structure, two contact pieces of two adjacent contact modules which are opposite in the stacking direction form a pair of contact pieces, among the pair of contact pieces of the two adjacent contact modules, the pair of contact pieces whose contact structures are electrically connected with the shielding net are ground contact pieces, and the pair of contact pieces whose contact structures are insulated from the shielding net are differential contact pieces. The differential contact pieces and the ground contact pieces can be defined flexibly by adjusting the structure of the shielding net, and the mold opening cost of the shielding net is much lower than the mold opening cost of the contact module, so that the development cost of the connector is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of communication transmission equipment technology, and in particular to a high-speed connector. Background Technology

[0002] In modern data communication transmission systems, transmission rates are getting higher and higher, and high-speed interconnect systems are widely used in communication networks and data exchange systems. As the core bridge of data communication, high-speed backplane connectors have increasingly higher performance requirements. The application of various shielding structures has greatly reduced crosstalk between signals and improved the SI performance of high-speed backplane connectors, enabling them to meet the needs of higher-speed transmission.

[0003] An existing high-speed backplane connector has the following structure: Figure 1 As shown, the connector includes a housing 1, within which multiple contact modules 4 are arranged sequentially. Each contact module 4 includes an insulating frame and differential contacts 4012 and grounding contacts 4011 mounted on the insulating frame. The differential contacts 4012 and grounding contacts 4011 are arranged alternately. Both differential contacts 4012 and grounding contacts 4011 are bent contacts, each having a mounting end and a plug-in end, which are perpendicular to each other. A shielding mesh is also installed inside the housing 1, and the plug-in end of each contact extends towards the plug-in side after passing through the mesh openings of the shielding mesh. Because the differential contacts and grounding contacts of the contact module have different structures, once the contact module is manufactured, the differential contacts and grounding contacts are fixed. However, the structures of multiple contact modules of the same connector are not necessarily identical, thus requiring multiple sets of molds for manufacturing, resulting in high connector development costs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a high-speed connector to solve the problem of high development costs of existing high-speed connectors.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the high-speed connector of the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] A high-speed connector includes a housing containing two or more contact modules stacked together. Each contact module has multiple contacts arranged in parallel. The contacts have mating ends for mating with an adapter connector. The housing also contains a shielding mesh. The mating ends pass through the mesh openings of the shielding mesh and extend toward the mating side. Each contact of the contact module has a contact structure on its mating end, and the structures are identical. Two contacts of adjacent contact modules that are directly opposite each other in the stacking direction form a pair of contacts. Among the pairs of contacts of adjacent contact modules, the pair of contacts whose contact structures are electrically connected to the shielding mesh is a grounding contact, and the pair of contacts whose contact structures are insulated from the shielding mesh is a differential contact.

[0007] Beneficial effects: This invention improves upon existing high-speed connectors. The plug-in ends of all contacts on the contact module have identical structures, and each contact end possesses the same contact structure. Whether a contact is a grounding contact or a differential contact is determined by whether its contact structure forms an electrical connection with the shielding mesh. In other words, the contact module does not differentiate between differential and grounding contacts after manufacturing; instead, the shielding mesh determines whether each contact in the contact module is a differential or grounding contact during assembly. This allows for flexible definition of differential and grounding contacts during connector development, based on customer requirements, simply by adjusting the shielding mesh structure. Furthermore, the mold cost for the shielding mesh is significantly lower than that for the contact module, thus greatly reducing connector development costs.

[0008] Furthermore, the inner wall of the mesh through which the grounding contact passes has a conductive part, and the grounding contact contacts the conductive part to form a grounding connection. The inner wall of the mesh through which the differential contact passes has an insulating structure, and the differential contact contacts the insulating structure to be insulated and isolated from the shielding mesh.

[0009] Beneficial effects: It ensures that the plug-in terminals of each grounding contact and differential contact of the contact module are in contact with the shielding mesh. The shielding mesh supports and limits the plug-in terminals of each grounding contact and differential contact, thus ensuring good consistency of the plug-in terminals of each grounding contact and differential contact.

[0010] Furthermore, the insulating structure is an insulating layer covering the walls of the mesh openings.

[0011] Beneficial effects: An insulating layer is applied to the mesh wall to form an insulating structure, which is simple and easy to install.

[0012] Alternatively, the inner wall of the mesh through which the grounding contact passes has a conductive part, and the grounding contact contacts the conductive part to form a grounding connection. The inner wall of the mesh through which the differential contact passes has a clearance structure, and the contact structure of the differential contact achieves physical separation from the shielding mesh through the clearance structure, thereby achieving insulation isolation from the shielding mesh.

[0013] Beneficial effects: It eliminates the need for additional insulation structures on the inner walls of the mesh openings through which differential contacts pass. Only the size of the mesh openings needs to be controlled to ensure that the contact structure of the differential contacts does not come into contact with the mesh, thus achieving insulation isolation. This simplifies the overall structure of the mesh, makes it easy to process, and reduces processing costs.

[0014] Furthermore, the paired differential contacts of two adjacent contact modules pass through the same mesh, and the two differential contacts of the same pair are arranged at intervals. The housing has a support and limiting structure that extends between the two differential contacts and contacts the contact structure on the two differential contacts.

[0015] Beneficial effects: The paired differential contacts of two adjacent contact modules pass through the same mesh, which simplifies the mesh arrangement on the shielding mesh and makes the shielding mesh processing more convenient. At the same time, the two differential contacts of the same pair are arranged at intervals. The support and limiting structure on the housing extends between the two differential contacts and contacts the contact structure on the two differential contacts, which can support and constrain the plug-in end of the differential contacts and ensure the consistency of the plug-in end of each contact.

[0016] Furthermore, the contact structure is a spring claw or an elastic convex hull.

[0017] Beneficial effects: It enables the contact structure on the contact component to form an elastic contact with the inner wall of the mesh of the shielding mesh, making the contact more reliable and with less rigidity, thus preventing the contact component from being squeezed and deformed.

[0018] Furthermore, the insertion end of each contact is plate-shaped, and the pressure direction of the contact structure is parallel to the coupling direction of the paired contact.

[0019] Beneficial effects: The plug-in ends of each contact are plate-shaped, and the plug-in ends of paired contacts are coupled perpendicularly to the wide side direction of the plug-in ends, so that the pressure direction of the contact structure is parallel to the coupling direction of the paired contacts, thus ensuring the coupling performance of the paired contacts.

[0020] Furthermore, the contact structures on the same pair of contact elements approach each other and move closer to the corresponding mesh frame of the shielding mesh from both sides.

[0021] Beneficial effects: By bringing the contact structures on the same pair of contact elements closer to the corresponding mesh frame of the shielding mesh from both sides, the coupling of the paired contact elements can be improved, and the shielding effect of the shielding mesh can be enhanced.

[0022] Furthermore, the paired differential contacts of two adjacent contact modules form a differential signal pair, and the paired grounding contacts of two adjacent contact modules form a grounding pair. There are four or more contact modules forming two or more rows of signal pairs. In the same row, the differential signal pairs and grounding pairs are arranged alternately, and the differential signal pairs in adjacent rows are arranged in a staggered manner.

[0023] Beneficial effects: This arrangement increases the spacing between adjacent differential signal pairs, and ensures that grounding pairs are arranged on all four sides of each differential signal pair, thereby reducing crosstalk between signals. Furthermore, it increases the density of differential signal pairs and reduces the size of the connector while ensuring signal transmission performance.

[0024] Furthermore, the high-speed connector also includes a shielding shell for mounting each contact module, the shielding shell having a grounding structure and being electrically connected to the shielding mesh through the grounding structure.

[0025] Beneficial effects: By using a shielding shell to secure each contact module, and with the shielding shell electrically connected to the shielding mesh, the shielding effect is better.

[0026] Furthermore, the grounding structure is a grounding spring claw.

[0027] Beneficial effects: The grounding spring claw has a simple structure, flexible deformation, and reliable contact, enabling a reliable electrical connection between the shielding shell and the shielding mesh. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an existing high-speed backplane connector;

[0029] Figure 2 This is an overall schematic diagram of Embodiment 1 of the high-speed connector of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a structural diagram of the contact module;

[0031] Figure 4 for Figure 2 Partial sectional view along the Z-axis;

[0032] Figure 5 for Figure 2 A partial sectional view along the X direction;

[0033] Figure 6 for Figure 5 Enlarged view of point P in the middle;

[0034] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the shielding shell structure;

[0035] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view of Embodiment 1 of the high-speed connector of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 9 for Figure 2 A cross-sectional view along the X direction;

[0037] In the diagram: 1. Housing; 101. Support and limiting structure; 2. Shielding mesh; 201. Grounding contact perforation; 202. Differential contact perforation; 3. Shielding shell; 301. Grounding spring claw; 4. Contact module; 401. Contact element; 4011. Grounding contact element; 4012. Differential contact element; 402. Plug-in terminal; 403. Spring claw; 404. Insulating frame; 405. Mounting end. Detailed Implementation

[0038] The features and performance of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to embodiments.

[0039] Embodiment 1 of the high-speed connector of the present invention:

[0040] like Figure 2 As shown, the high-speed connector includes a housing 1 made of insulating material. Several contact modules 4 are stacked within the housing 1. Each contact module 4 includes an insulating frame 404 and multiple contacts 401 arranged side-by-side on the insulating frame 404. Each contact 401 is a bent contact 401, and each has a mounting end 405 and a mating end 402 for mating with an adapter connector. The mounting end 405 and the mating end 402 are perpendicular to each other. Two contacts 401 of adjacent contact modules 4 that are directly opposite each other in the stacking direction form a pair of contacts 401. A shielding mesh 2 is installed inside the housing 1. The mating ends 402 of each contact 401 pass through the mesh openings of the shielding mesh 2 and extend towards the mating side. The high-speed connector also includes a shielding shell 3 for mounting each contact module 4, and the shielding shell 3 is electrically connected to the shielding mesh 2.

[0041] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, the insertion end 402 of each contact 401 of the contact module 4 is plate-shaped. A spring claw 403 is provided on the wide side of the plate-shaped insertion end 402. The spring claw 403 extends perpendicularly to the wide side of the plate-shaped insertion end 402. The insertion ends 402 of the paired contact 401 are coupled along the stacking direction of the contact module 4, that is, perpendicular to the wide side direction of the insertion end 402. The pressure direction of the spring claw 403 is parallel to the coupling direction of the paired contact 401. When the spring claw 403 is pressed, it makes elastic contact with the shielding mesh 2 in the coupling direction of the paired contact 401. Among the pairs of contacts 401 of two adjacent contact modules 4, the pair of contacts 401 that are electrically connected to the shielding mesh 2 by the spring claw 403 are grounding contacts 4011, and the pair of contacts 401 that are insulated from the shielding mesh 2 by the spring claw 403 are differential contacts 4012. The shielding mesh 2 determines whether each contact 401 on the contact module 4 is a grounding contact 4011 or a differential contact 4012.

[0042] Shielding mesh 2 is made of metal, such as Figure 4-6As shown, the shielding mesh 2 has a grounding contact through-hole 201 for the grounding contact 4011 to pass through and a differential contact through-hole 202 for the differential contact 4012 to pass through. The inner wall of the grounding contact through-hole 201 has a conductive part. When the insertion end 402 of the grounding contact 4011 passes through the grounding contact through-hole 201, its elastic claw 403 makes elastic contact with the conductive part of the inner wall of the grounding contact through-hole 201 to form a grounding connection. The inner wall of the differential contact through-hole 202 has a clearance structure. When the insertion end 402 of the differential contact 4012 passes through the differential contact through-hole 202, its elastic claw 403 achieves physical separation from the shielding mesh 2 through the clearance structure, thereby achieving insulation isolation from the shielding mesh 2. The elastic claws 403 on the same pair of contacts 401 approach each other and approach the corresponding mesh frame of the shielding mesh 2 from both sides.

[0043] Specifically, each differential contact 4012 can correspond to a differential contact through hole 202. The differential contact through hole 202 can be made relatively large, forming a clearance structure at the hole wall. After the insertion end 402 of the differential contact 4012 passes through the differential contact through hole 202, there is a gap between the spring claw 403 on the insertion end 402 and the hole wall of the differential contact through hole 202, thereby achieving insulation isolation from the shielding mesh 2. Alternatively, as shown in this embodiment, paired differential contacts 4012 of two adjacent contact modules 4 can pass through the same differential contact through hole 202, with the two paired differential contacts 4012 arranged at intervals, thereby forming a clearance structure within the differential contact through hole 202. When the paired differential contacts 4012 of two adjacent contact modules 4 pass through the same differential contact through hole 202, the stability and consistency are poor without support because the insertion end 402 is overhanging for a long time. In order to ensure the consistency of the insertion end 402 of each contact 401, a support limiting structure 101 is integrally provided on the housing 1. The support limiting structure 101 extends between the two differential contacts 4012 and contacts the spring claw 403 on the two differential contacts 4012 to support and constrain the insertion end 402 of the differential contacts 4012, so as to ensure the consistency of the insertion end 402 of each contact 401.

[0044] Two adjacent contact modules 4 form a differential signal pair with their paired differential contacts 4012, and two adjacent contact modules 4 form a grounding pair with their paired grounding contacts 4011. Several contact modules 4 are stacked to form multiple rows of differential signal pairs. In the same row, differential signal pairs and grounding pairs are arranged alternately. Differential signal pairs in adjacent rows are staggered. Figure 9 As shown.

[0045] like Figure 7-8 As shown, the shielding shell 3 is provided with a grounding spring claw 301, which is in elastic contact with the shielding mesh 2. The shielding shell 3 is electrically connected to the shielding mesh 2 through the grounding spring claw 301.

[0046] In the high-speed connector of the present invention, the insertion ends 402 of each contact 401 on the contact module 4 are identical, and each contact 401 insertion end 402 is provided with the same spring claw 403 structure. Whether the spring claw 403 forms an electrical connection with the shielding mesh 2 determines whether the contact 401 to which the spring claw 403 is located is a ground contact 4011 or a differential contact 4012. Whether the spring claw 403 can form an electrical connection with the shielding mesh 2 is determined by the structure of the shielding mesh 2. In other words, after the contact module 4 is manufactured, it does not distinguish between differential contacts 4012 and ground contacts 4011. Instead, during assembly, the shielding mesh 2 determines whether each contact 401 of the contact module 4 is a differential contact 4012 or a ground contact 4011. In this way, when developing a connector, it is not necessary to open multiple sets of molds because the plug-in end 402 structures of different contacts 401 of the contact module 4 are different. According to customer needs, only the structure of the shielding mesh 2 needs to be adjusted to flexibly define the differential contact 4012 and the grounding contact 4011. The mold opening cost of the shielding mesh 2 is much lower than the mold opening cost of the contact module 4, thus greatly reducing the connector development cost.

[0047] Of course, the high-speed connector of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

[0048] For example, in other embodiments, the inner wall of the mesh through which the grounding contact passes has a conductive portion. The grounding contact forms a grounding connection by contacting the conductive portion with the spring claw on its insertion end. The inner wall of the mesh through which the differential contact passes is covered with an insulating layer. When the insertion end of the differential contact passes through the mesh, its spring claw contacts the insulating layer on the inner wall of the mesh, thus insulating and isolating it from the shielding mesh. Alternatively, insulating protrusions can be provided on the inner wall of the mesh through which the differential contact passes as an insulating structure. When the insertion end of the differential contact passes through the mesh, its spring claw contacts the insulating protrusion on the inner wall of the mesh, thus insulating and isolating it from the shielding mesh.

[0049] For example, in other embodiments, elastic protrusions are provided on the plug-in ends of each contact of the contact module to replace spring claws.

[0050] For example, in other embodiments, differential signal pairs and ground pairs in the same row are arranged alternately, and differential signal pairs in adjacent rows are arranged facing each other, and ground pairs in adjacent rows are arranged facing each other. In this case, a shielding structure can be arranged between adjacent rows of differential signal pairs to reduce signal crosstalk.

[0051] For example, in other embodiments, the shielding shell is provided with an elastic protrusion as a grounding structure, which is electrically connected to the shielding mesh through the elastic protrusion.

[0052] For example, in other embodiments, the shielding mesh is made of materials such as conductive plastic or electroplated plastic.

[0053] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. The scope of patent protection of the present invention shall be determined by the claims. Similarly, any equivalent structural changes made based on the description and drawings of the present invention shall also be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A high-speed connector, comprising a housing (1), wherein the housing (1) contains two or more contact modules (4) arranged in a stacked manner, each contact module (4) having a plurality of contacts (401) arranged in parallel, the contacts (401) having a plug-in end (402) for mating with an adapter connector, the housing (1) further containing a shielding mesh (2), the plug-in end (402) passing through the mesh openings of the shielding mesh (2) and extending toward the plug-in side, characterized in that: Each contact (401) of the contact module (4) has a contact structure on its plug-in end (402) and the structure is the same. Two contact (401) of two adjacent contact modules (4) that are directly opposite each other in the stacking direction form a pair of contact (401). Among the pairs of contact (401) of two adjacent contact modules (4), the pair of contact (401) that forms an electrical connection between the contact structure and the shielding mesh (2) is a grounding contact (4011), and the pair of contact (401) that is insulated from the shielding mesh (2) is a differential contact (4012).

2. The high-speed connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner wall of the mesh through which the grounding contact (4011) passes in the shielding mesh (2) has a conductive part. The grounding contact (4011) contacts the conductive part to form a grounding connection. The inner wall of the mesh through which the differential contact (4012) passes in the shielding mesh (2) has an insulating structure. The differential contact (4012) contacts the insulating structure to be insulated from the shielding mesh (2).

3. The high-speed connector according to claim 2, characterized in that: The insulating structure is an insulating layer covering the walls of the mesh openings.

4. The high-speed connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner wall of the mesh through which the grounding contact (4011) passes in the shielding mesh (2) has a conductive part. The grounding contact (4011) contacts the conductive part to form a grounding connection. The inner wall of the mesh through which the differential contact (4012) passes in the shielding mesh (2) has a clearance structure. The contact structure of the differential contact (4012) is physically separated from the shielding mesh (2) through the clearance structure, thereby achieving insulation isolation from the shielding mesh (2).

5. The high-speed connector according to claim 4, characterized in that: The paired differential contact elements (4012) of two adjacent contact modules (4) pass through the same mesh, and the two differential contact elements (4012) of the same pair are arranged at intervals. The housing (1) has a support limiting structure (101) that extends between the two differential contact elements (4012) and contacts the contact structure on the two differential contact elements (4012).

6. The high-speed connector according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that: The contact structure is a spring claw (403) or an elastic convex hull.

7. The high-speed connector according to claim 6, characterized in that: The insertion end (402) of each contact (401) is plate-shaped, and the pressure direction of the contact structure is parallel to the coupling direction of the paired contact (401).

8. The high-speed connector according to claim 7, characterized in that: The contact structures on the same pair of contact elements (401) approach each other and approach the corresponding mesh frame of the shielding mesh (2) from both sides.

9. The high-speed connector according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that: The paired differential contacts (4012) of two adjacent contact modules (4) form a differential signal pair, and the paired grounding contacts (4011) of two adjacent contact modules (4) form a grounding pair. There are four or more contact modules (4) forming two or more rows of signal pairs. In the same row, the differential signal pairs and grounding pairs are arranged alternately. The differential signal pairs in the two adjacent rows are arranged in a staggered manner.

10. The high-speed connector according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that: The high-speed connector also includes a shielding shell (3) for mounting each contact module (4), the shielding shell (3) is provided with a grounding structure and is electrically connected to the shielding mesh (2) through the grounding structure.

11. The high-speed connector according to claim 10, characterized in that: The grounding structure is a grounding spring claw (301).

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