Socket assembly and electric connector comprising same

Abstract

A receptacle assembly and an electrical connector including the same are disclosed. The receptacle assembly includes: a housing including a first channel for accommodating a first module inserted therein; and a first thermally conductive member mounted to the housing in a manner at least partially received in the first channel such that a bottom surface of the first thermally conductive member contacts the first module to conduct heat in the first module, the first thermally conductive member including a guide feature extending from the bottom surface, the guide feature is matched with a guide groove formed in the first module in shape to guide the first module to be inserted into the first channel, and the guide feature is configured to guide the first module to be inserted into the first channel when the first module is inserted into the first channel and abuts against the bottom face to move the bottom face relative to the shell. And the bottom surface does not move along with the bottom surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a socket assembly and an electrical connector comprising the socket assembly. Background Art

[0002] An electrical connector is a device used to connect two active devices to transmit current or signals. Electrical connectors can simplify the assembly process of electronic products and also simplify the mass production process of electronic products. Electrical connectors are easy to repair. If an electronic component fails, the failed component can be quickly replaced with an electrical connector. With technological advances, electronic products equipped with electrical connectors can update electronic components and replace old electronic components with new and better-performing electronic components for easy upgrading. Electrical connectors can improve the flexibility of product design when designing and integrating new products and when using electronic components to form a system. Therefore, electrical connectors are widely used in transportation, medical, aerospace, military, home appliances and other fields.

[0003] The basic performance of electrical connectors can be divided into three categories: mechanical performance, electrical performance and environmental performance.

[0004] Insertion and extraction force and mechanical life are important mechanical properties. The insertion and extraction force and mechanical life of electrical connectors are related to the contact structure (positive pressure), the quality of the contact coating (sliding friction coefficient) and the contact arrangement size accuracy (alignment).

[0005] The main electrical properties of electrical connectors include contact resistance, insulation resistance and dielectric strength. Among them, high-quality electrical connectors should have low and stable contact resistance, which ranges from a few milliohms to tens of milliohms; insulation resistance is an indicator of the insulation performance between the contacts of electrical connectors and between the contacts and the shell, and the order of magnitude of insulation resistance ranges from hundreds of megohms to thousands of megohms; dielectric strength is the ability of the contacts of electrical connectors or between the contacts and the shell to withstand the rated test voltage.

[0006] Environmental performance includes temperature resistance, moisture resistance, salt spray resistance, vibration and impact resistance, etc.

[0007] The development of electrical connector technology presents the following characteristics: high-speed and digital signal transmission, integration of various signal transmissions, miniaturization of product size, low-cost products, modular combination, convenient plug-in and unplugging, etc.

[0008] In the existing electrical connectors that use heat-conducting components for heat dissipation, the guide mechanism for guiding the electronic module to be inserted into the electrical connector is easily deformed by the collision of the electronic module, which is particularly serious when a large external force is applied to insert the electronic module into the electrical connector. Therefore, it is urgent to provide a guide mechanism with strong reliability to improve the plug-in and pull-out performance of the electrical connector. Summary of the invention

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, a socket assembly is provided, comprising: a shell including a first channel for accommodating a first module inserted therein; and a first heat-conducting member mounted on the shell in a manner of being at least partially accommodated in the first channel, so that a bottom surface of the first heat-conducting member contacts the first module to conduct heat generated in the first module, the first heat-conducting member comprising a guide feature extending from the bottom surface, the guide feature being matched with a guide groove shape formed in the first module to guide the first module to be inserted into the first channel, wherein the guide feature is configured not to move with the bottom surface when the first module is guided to be inserted into the first channel and abuts against the bottom surface to move the bottom surface relative to the shell.

[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, the first heat-conducting component includes: a frame for being mounted on the shell; a plurality of upper plates arranged side by side in the frame; a plurality of lower plates arranged side by side in the frame and respectively at least partially matched in shape with each of the aligned upper plates, the lower ends of each lower plate being aligned with each other to form the bottom surface; an elastic member arranged between each upper plate and each lower plate aligned with each other to apply a bias toward each upper plate and each lower plate aligned with each other after the bottom surface is moved to press the bottom surface against the first module; and a guide plate provided with the guide feature and arranged in parallel with the plurality of upper plates and the plurality of lower plates.

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, the guide plate is located between two adjacent upper plates, the lower end of the guide plate is higher than the lower end of each lower plate, and the upper end of the guide plate is lower than the upper end of each upper plate.

[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, the guide plate is provided with a hole allowing the elastic member to extend therethrough, and a size of the hole is set to avoid causing elastic deformation of the elastic member passing therethrough.

[0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, the multiple upper plates include a first upper plate and a second upper plate arranged alternately with each other, and the multiple lower plates include a first lower plate and a second lower plate arranged alternately with each other, the first upper plate is aligned with the first lower plate, and the second upper plate is aligned with the second lower plate, wherein the first upper plate is provided with a first protrusion, and the first lower plate is provided with a first recess that matches the shape of the first protrusion; the second upper plate is provided with a second recess, and the second lower plate is provided with a second protrusion that matches the shape of the second recess, and the elastic member passes between the upper plate and the lower plate on at least one side of the first protrusion and / or the second protrusion.

[0014] According to an aspect of the present invention, the plurality of upper plates and the plurality of lower plates are configured such that, when the bottom surface is not moved, the first protrusions and the first recesses are separated from each other, and the second protrusions and the second recesses are separated from each other.

[0015] According to an aspect of the present invention, the first protrusion and the second protrusion adjacent to each other are arranged to overlap each other when the bottom surface is not moved.

[0016] According to one aspect of the present invention, the elastic member has an x-shaped cross section.

[0017] According to one aspect of the present invention, two ends of the guide plate are fixedly pressed against two ends of the frame respectively.

[0018] According to one aspect of the present invention, the housing further comprises a second channel for accommodating a second module inserted therein and spaced apart from the first channel; and a second heat-conducting member, constructed identically to the first heat-conducting member, mounted to the housing in a manner of being at least partially accommodated in the second channel, such that a bottom surface of the second heat-conducting member contacts the second module to conduct heat in the second module.

[0019] According to one aspect of the present invention, the top wall of the second channel is spaced apart from the bottom wall of the first channel to accommodate a portion of the second heat conducting member exposed outside the second channel.

[0020] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrical connector, comprising: a socket assembly according to any one of the above aspects; and a circuit board, the socket assembly being mounted on the circuit board. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and enable one skilled in the relevant art to make and use the embodiments described herein.

[0022] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a socket assembly into which a first module is inserted according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a separate first module in FIG.

[0024] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a separate socket assembly in FIG.

[0025] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A bottom view of a separate first heat conducting member in;

[0026] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 a bottom view of a portion of the first heat conducting member in FIG. 1 , showing the guide plate;

[0027] Figure 6 yes Figure 3 A perspective view of the socket assembly after removing one side wall, showing two channels and two heat-conducting members respectively accommodated in the two channels;

[0028] Figure 7 yes Figure 5 A side view of an individual guide feature in FIG.

[0029] Figure 8 yes Figure 5 A side view of a separate first upper plate and a first lower plate in FIG.

[0030] Fig. 9 yes Figure 5 A side view of a separate second upper plate and a second lower plate;

[0031] Fig.10 yes Figure 5 a side view of

[0032] Fig.11 yes Figure 5 A three-dimensional view of a separate elastic member in.

[0033] Features of the present invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify corresponding elements throughout. In the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and / or structurally similar elements. Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings provided throughout this document should not be construed as drawings drawn to scale. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with specific embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0035] But it should be understood that these descriptions are exemplary only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. In the following detailed description, for ease of explanation, many specific details are set forth to provide a comprehensive understanding of embodiments of the present invention. However, it is apparent that one or more embodiments may also be implemented without these specific details. In addition, in the following description, the description of known techniques is omitted to avoid unnecessary confusion of concepts of the present invention.

[0036] The terms used herein are only for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. The term "comprising" used herein indicates the existence of features, steps, operations, but does not exclude the existence or addition of one or more other features.

[0037] In the case of using expressions such as "at least one of A, B, and C, etc.", it should generally be interpreted in accordance with the meaning of the expression generally understood by those skilled in the art (for example, "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" should include but is not limited to a system having A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B, A and C, B and C, and / or A, B, C, etc.). In the case of using expressions such as "at least one of A, B, or C, etc.", it should generally be interpreted in accordance with the meaning of the expression generally understood by those skilled in the art (for example, "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" should include but is not limited to a system having A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B, A and C, B and C, and / or A, B, C, etc.).

[0038] All terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art, unless otherwise defined. It should be noted that the terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the context of this specification, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly rigid manner.

[0039] See also Figures 1 to 11 The present invention discloses a socket assembly 1000 and a connector (not shown in the figure) including the socket assembly 1000 and a circuit board (not shown in the figure) on which the socket assembly 1000 is mounted.

[0040] The socket assembly 1000 includes a housing 100 and a first heat conducting member 200 .

[0041] The housing 100 includes a first channel 101 for receiving a first module 2000 inserted therein. The first module 2000 is an electronic component capable of conducting current and generating heat. A first heat-conducting member 200, also known as a "heat bridge", is mounted on a top wall 1012 of the first channel 101 of the housing 100 in a manner that the first heat-conducting member 200 is at least partially received in the first channel 101. The top wall 1012 is provided with an opening 10121 (see Figure 6), so that the bottom surface 201 of the first heat-conducting member 200 can enter the first channel 101 through the opening 10121, thereby contacting the first module 2000 to conduct heat generated in the first module 2000, and the first heat-conducting member 200 includes a guide feature 202 extending from the bottom surface 201. The guide feature 202 is matched with the guide groove 2001 formed in the first module 2000 to guide the first module 2000 to be inserted into the first channel 101. Although in the embodiment of the present invention, the guide feature 202 is configured in the form of a tab (see Figures 4 to 7 ), but those skilled in the art should understand that this is not restrictive, and the guide feature 202 can be configured in any form suitable for guiding the first module 2000 to be inserted into the first channel 101.

[0042] The guide feature 202 is configured such that when guiding the first module 2000 to be inserted into the first channel 101 and abutting against the bottom surface 201 to move the bottom surface 201 relative to the housing 100, the guide feature 202 does not move with the bottom surface 201, but remains fixed or stationary relative to the housing 100, so that when a large force exists between the guide feature 202 and the guide groove 2001 (for example, when the first module 2000 is inserted into the first channel 101 with a large force), the guide feature 202 will not be displaced or deformed, thereby having higher reliability and improving the plugging and unplugging performance of the connector including the socket assembly 1000.

[0043] The first heat conducting component 200 includes: a frame 203 , a plurality of upper plates 2041 , 2042 , a plurality of lower plates 2051 , 2052 , an elastic component 206 , and a guide plate 207 .

[0044] The frame 203 is arranged along the circumference of the first heat conducting member 200, and mounting members 2033 are respectively arranged at two ends 2031 and 2032 of the frame 203 in the extending direction of the first channel 101 (see Figures 3 to 6 ), the mounting member 2033 is used to abut against the top wall 1012 (see Figure 6 ), thereby mounting the frame 203 on the housing 100. A plurality of upper plates 2041, 2042 are arranged side by side in the frame 203, a plurality of lower plates 2051, 2052 are arranged side by side in the frame 203, each of the plurality of lower plates 2051, 2052 is at least partially matched with each of the aligned upper plates 2041, 2042, and the lower ends 20511, 20521 of each of the lower plates 2051, 2052 are aligned with each other to form the bottom surface 201 (see Figure 4 and 5 ).

[0045] The elastic member 206 having an x-shaped cross section (see Fig.11) is arranged between each upper plate 2041, 2042 and each lower plate 2051, 2052 aligned with each other (see Figure 6 , 10 ), to apply bias to each upper plate 2041, 2042 and each lower plate 2051, 2052 aligned with each other after the bottom surface 201 is moved, so as to press the bottom surface 201 against the first module 2000. This arrangement of the first heat conducting member 200 makes the first heat conducting member 200 compressible, and the arrangement will be described in detail below. The guide plate 207 is provided with the guide feature 202 and is arranged in parallel with the plurality of upper plates 2041, 2042 and the plurality of lower plates 2051, 2052.

[0046] The guide plate 207 is located between two adjacent upper plates 2041, 2042, so as not to abut against the side wall of the frame 203, and to be away from the side wall of the first channel 101, so as to facilitate guiding the first module 2000 to be inserted into the first channel 101. The lower end 2071 of the guide plate 207 is higher than the lower end 20511, 20521 of each lower plate 2051, 2052 (see Fig.10 ), so that when the first module 2000 is inserted into the first channel 101 and abuts against the bottom surface 201 to move (i.e., push) the bottom surface 201 upward relative to the housing 100, the guide feature 202 does not move upward with the bottom surface 201. The upper ends 20412 and 20422 of the plurality of upper plates 2041 and 2042 are aligned with each other to define a top surface 210 (see Figure 1 , 3 , 6). The lower end 2071 of the guide plate 207 defines the final position where the bottom surface 201 stops moving when the first module 2000 abuts against the bottom surface 201 to move the bottom surface 201 upward. The upper end 2072 of the guide plate 207 is lower than the upper ends 20412, 20422 of each upper plate 2041, 2042 (see Fig.10 ), to define a final position where the top surface 210 stops moving when the heat sink (not shown) abuts against the top surface 210 of the first heat conducting member 200 to move downward (i.e., push) the top surface 210. That is, the bottom surface 201 and the top surface 210 of the first heat conducting member 200 can be moved, so that the first heat conducting member 200 is compressible, which strengthens the thermal contact between the first heat conducting member 200 and the heat sink and the first module 2000, and is conducive to improving the efficiency of heat transfer from the first module 2000 to the heat sink via the first heat conducting member 200.

[0047] The guide plate 207 is provided with a hole 2073 (see Figure 7 and 10), the size of the hole 2073 is set to not compress the elastic member 206 passing therethrough, so as to avoid causing elastic deformation of the elastic member 206. In this way, the elastic deformation of the elastic member 206 is entirely caused by the relative positions between the upper plates 2041, 2042 and the lower plates 2051, 2052.

[0048] The multiple upper plates 2041, 2042 include first upper plates 2041 and second upper plates 2042 arranged alternately with each other, and the multiple lower plates 2051, 2052 include first lower plates 2051 and second lower plates 2052 arranged alternately with each other, a first upper plate 2041 is aligned with a first lower plate 2051, and a second upper plate 2042 is aligned with a second lower plate 2052, wherein the first upper plate 2041 is provided with a first protrusion 20411, and the first lower plate 2051 is provided with a first recess 20512 that matches the shape of the first protrusion 20411. The second upper plate 2042 is provided with a second recess 20421, and the second lower plate 2052 is provided with a second protrusion 20522 which matches the shape of the second recess 20421, and the elastic member 206 passes through between the upper plates 2041, 2042 and the lower plates 2051, 2052 on at least one side of the first protrusion 20411 and / or the second protrusion 20522.

[0049] The plurality of upper plates 2041, 2042 and the plurality of lower plates 2051, 2052 are configured such that when the bottom surface 201 is not moved, the first protrusion 20411 and the first recess 20512 are separated from each other, and the second protrusion 20522 and the second recess 20421 are separated from each other. The first protrusion 20411 and the second protrusion 20522 adjacent to each other are arranged to overlap each other when the bottom surface 201 is not moved, so that the first upper plates 2041 and the second lower plates 2052 adjacent to each other are always in a thermally connected state, so that regardless of whether the first heat conducting member 200 is compressed, all the upper plates 2041, 2042 and the lower plates 2051, 2052 in the entire first heat conducting member 200 are always in a thermally connected state.

[0050] The two ends of the guide plate 207 are respectively fixedly abutted against the two ends 2031, 2032 of the frame 203 so as to be limited by the two ends 2031, 2032 of the frame 203 (that is, the gap between the two ends of the guide plate 207 and the two ends 2031, 2032 of the frame 203 is small enough or even zero), so that the position of the guide plate 207 remains fixed and does not move with the top surface 210 and the bottom surface 201, thereby further reinforcing the guide feature 202 and improving the reliability of the guide feature 202 and the plugging and unplugging performance of the connector including the socket assembly 1000.

[0051] See also Figure 1 , 36, the housing 100 further includes a second channel 102 and a second heat-conducting member 300. The second channel 102, which is constructed in the same manner as the first channel 101, is used to accommodate a second module (not shown) inserted therein, and is spaced apart from the first channel 101 and located below the first channel 101. The second heat-conducting member 300 is constructed in the same manner as the first heat-conducting member 200, and is mounted on the housing 100 in a manner of being at least partially accommodated in the second channel 102, so that the bottom surface of the second heat-conducting member 300 contacts the second module to conduct heat generated in the second module.

[0052] See also Figure 6 The top wall 1021 of the second channel 102 is spaced apart from the bottom wall 1011 of the first channel 101 to accommodate a portion of the second heat-conducting component 300 exposed outside the second channel 102 and a heat sink (not shown) resting on top of the portion of the second heat-conducting component 300.

[0053] So far, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the implementation methods not shown or described in the drawings or the body of the specification are all forms known to ordinary technicians in the relevant technical field and are not described in detail. In addition, the above definitions of each component are not limited to the various specific structures, shapes or methods mentioned in the embodiments, and ordinary technicians in the field can simply change or replace them.

[0054] It should also be noted that, in the specific embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise indicated, the numerical parameters in this specification and the attached claims are approximate values ​​and can be changed according to the desired characteristics obtained through the content of the present invention. Specifically, all numbers used in the specification and claims to express the size, range conditions, etc. of the composition should be understood to be modified by the term "about" in all cases. In general, the meaning of the expression is to include a change of ±10% in some embodiments, a change of ±5% in some embodiments, a change of ±1% in some embodiments, and a change of ±0.5% in some embodiments by a specific number.

[0055] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the features described in the various embodiments and / or claims of the present invention may be combined and / or combined in various ways, even if such combinations and / or combinations are not explicitly described in the present invention. In particular, the features described in the various embodiments and / or claims of the present invention may be combined and / or combined in various ways without departing from the spirit and teachings of the present invention. All of these combinations and / or combinations fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0056] The specific embodiments described above further illustrate the objectives, technical solutions and beneficial effects of the present invention in detail. It should be understood that the above description is only a specific embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A socket assembly, characterized in that: include: a housing including a first passage for receiving a first module inserted therein; and a first heat-conducting member mounted on the housing in a manner of being at least partially accommodated in the first channel, so that a bottom surface of the first heat-conducting member contacts the first module to conduct heat generated in the first module, the first heat-conducting member comprising a guide feature extending from the bottom surface, the guide feature being matched with a guide groove formed in the first module to guide the first module to be inserted into the first channel, The guide feature is configured not to move with the bottom surface when guiding the first module to be inserted into the first channel and abut against the bottom surface to move the bottom surface relative to the housing.

2. The socket assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first heat conducting member comprises: a frame, for mounting on the housing; a plurality of upper plates arranged side by side in the frame; A plurality of lower plates are arranged side by side in the frame and are respectively at least partially form-matched with each of the aligned upper plates, and the lower ends of each lower plate are aligned with each other to form the bottom surface; an elastic member disposed between each upper plate and each lower plate aligned with each other to apply a bias toward each upper plate and each lower plate aligned with each other after the bottom surface is moved to press the bottom surface against the first module; and A guide plate is provided with the guide feature and is arranged in parallel with the plurality of upper plates and the plurality of lower plates.

3. The socket assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: The guide plate is located between two adjacent upper plates, the lower end of the guide plate is higher than the lower end of each lower plate, and the upper end of the guide plate is lower than the upper end of each upper plate.

4. The socket assembly according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The guide plate is provided with a hole allowing the elastic member to extend therethrough, and the size of the hole is set to avoid causing elastic deformation of the elastic member passing therethrough.

5. The socket assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that: The plurality of upper plates include first upper plates and second upper plates that are alternately arranged with each other, The plurality of lower plates include first lower plates and second lower plates that are alternately arranged with each other, The first upper plate is aligned with the first lower plate, and the second upper plate is aligned with the second lower plate, Wherein, the first upper plate is provided with a first protrusion, and the first lower plate is provided with a first recess that matches the shape of the first protrusion; The second upper plate is provided with a second recess, the second lower plate is provided with a second protrusion matching the shape of the second recess, and the elastic member passes between the upper plate and the lower plate on at least one side of the first protrusion and / or the second protrusion.

6. The socket assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that: The plurality of upper plates and the plurality of lower plates are configured such that, when the bottom surface is not moved, the first protrusions and the first recesses are separated from each other, and the second protrusions and the second recesses are separated from each other.

7. The socket assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that: The first protrusion and the second protrusion adjacent to each other are arranged to overlap each other when the bottom surface is not moved.

8. The socket assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that: The elastic member has an x-shaped cross section.

9. The socket assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that: Two ends of the guide plate are respectively fixedly pressed against two ends of the frame.

10. The socket assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 5 to 7, and 9, characterized in that: The housing further includes a second passage for accommodating a second module inserted therein and spaced apart from the first passage; and A second heat conducting member, which is constructed identically to the first heat conducting member, is mounted on the housing in a manner of being at least partially accommodated in the second channel so that a bottom surface of the second heat conducting member contacts the second module to conduct heat in the second module.

11. The socket assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that The top wall of the second channel is spaced apart from the bottom wall of the first channel to accommodate a portion of the second heat conducting member exposed outside the second channel.

12. An electrical connector, characterized in that: include: The socket assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 11; and A circuit board, the socket assembly is mounted on the circuit board.

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