Electric connector

Abstract

The invention discloses an electric connector, which comprises an insulating body, a plurality of conductive terminals fixedly held on the insulating body and a metal shell coated outside the insulating body, and is characterized in that the insulating body is provided with a base part, a lingual plate part extending forwards from the base part along the longitudinal direction and a step part connected between the base part and the lingual plate part; the conductive terminal is provided with a holding part held on the base part and a contact part extending forwards from the holding part along the longitudinal direction, and the contact part of the conductive terminal is exposed on the upper surface and the lower surface of the tongue plate part. The electric connector comprises a pair of detection terminals fixedly held on the insulation body, each detection terminal is provided with a fixed part fixedly held on the base part and a contact piece connected to the longitudinal front end of the fixed part, and the contact pieces are formed by extending in the transverse direction and are exposed on the upper surface and the lower surface of the step part. The electric connector is used for monitoring whether hydrops and foreign matters exist in the electric connector and transmitting signals, and if the foreign matters exist, automatic power off is realized, so that the self-protection function of the product is realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector that can be inserted in both forward and reverse directions. Background Art

[0002] Chinese Invention Patent No. CN105680246B discloses an electrical connector, which includes an insulating body, a plurality of conductive terminals disposed on the insulating body, and a shielding housing covering the insulating body. The insulating body includes a base portion and a tongue plate portion extending forward from the base portion. The conductive terminals include a holding portion fixed to the base portion, a welding portion extending backward from the holding portion out of the base portion, and a contact portion extending forward from the holding portion and exposed on the surface of the tongue plate portion. However, when liquid or foreign matter enters the electrical connector during the insertion and extraction of the mating connector, the liquid or foreign matter will remain at the root of the contact area of the tongue plate portion and penetrate between the contact portions of the conductive terminals, easily causing a short circuit between adjacent contact portions of the conductive terminals, thereby generating a risk of burning and damaging the above electrical connector.

[0003] Therefore, it is desired to propose a new electrical connector to overcome the above defects. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having independent detection terminals for monitoring whether there is liquid accumulation and foreign matter inside the electrical connector.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions: An electrical connector includes an insulating body, several conductive terminals fixed to the insulating body, and a metal housing covering the insulating body. The insulating body is provided with a base portion, a tongue plate portion extending longitudinally forward from the base portion, and a step portion connecting between the base portion and the tongue plate portion. The conductive terminals are provided with a holding portion fixed to the base portion, a contact portion extending longitudinally forward from the holding portion, and a welding portion extending longitudinally backward from the holding portion out of the base portion. The contact portions of the conductive terminals are exposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the tongue plate portion. The electrical connector includes a pair of detection terminals fixed to the insulating body. The detection terminals are provided with a fixing portion fixed to the base portion, a contact piece connected to the longitudinal front end of the fixing portion, and a welding leg extending longitudinally backward from the fixing portion out of the base portion. The contact pieces of the pair of detection terminals extend transversely and are exposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the step portion.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the step portion is formed by extending longitudinally forward from the base portion, the tongue plate portion is formed by extending longitudinally forward from the step portion, and the contact piece of the detection terminal is located behind the contact portion of the conductive terminal in the longitudinal direction.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the step portion is greater than the thickness of the tongue plate portion. The contact piece of the detection terminal is located outside the contact portion of the conductive terminal, and the projection of the contact piece in the transverse direction overlaps all the conductive terminals.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the insulating body includes an upper insulator and a lower insulator assembled together up and down. The conductive terminals include an upper row of conductive terminals fixed to the upper insulator and a lower row of conductive terminals fixed to the lower insulator. The number of the upper row of conductive terminals is the same as that of the lower row of conductive terminals, and their arrangement orders are opposite.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, a pair of the detection electrons include an upper detection terminal fixed to the upper insulator and a lower detection terminal fixed to the lower insulator. The contact piece of the upper detection terminal is located above the upper row of conductive terminals, and the contact piece of the lower detection terminal is located below the lower row of conductive terminals.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the fixing portion of the upper detection terminal and the fixing portion of the upper row of conductive terminals are arranged in a row in the transverse direction. The fixing portion of the lower detection terminal and the fixing portion of the lower row of conductive terminals are arranged in a row in the transverse direction, and the fixing portion of the upper detection terminal and the fixing portion of the lower detection terminal are arranged in central symmetry.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the electrical connector includes a metal shielding sheet located between the upper insulator and the lower insulator. The insulating body further includes a third insulator injection-molded on the upper insulator, the lower insulator, and the metal shielding sheet.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the metal housing is sleeved on the longitudinal front end of the insulating body and is provided with a receiving cavity penetrating in the longitudinal direction. The step portion and the tongue plate portion protrude into the receiving cavity, and the contact piece of the detection terminal and the contact portion of the conductive terminal are both exposed in the receiving cavity.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the electrical connector includes a shielding housing covering the insulating body and the metal housing. The shielding housing is provided with a support portion attached to the top surface of the metal housing and a shielding portion connected to the longitudinal rear end of the support portion. The shielding portion covers the outer periphery of the base portion of the insulating body.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the metal housing is provided with an annular sleeve and fixing pieces extending laterally outward from the longitudinal rear end of the annular sleeve. The supporting portion is welded to the top surface of the annular sleeve, and the fixing pieces are located longitudinally behind the supporting portion and welded to the lower surface of the shielding portion.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: The electrical connector includes a pair of detection terminals held by an insulating body. The detection terminals are provided with a fixing portion held by a base portion, a contact piece connected to the longitudinal front end of the fixing portion, and a welding leg extending longitudinally backward from the fixing portion out of the base portion. The contact pieces of the pair of detection terminals extend laterally and are exposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the stepped portion. The detection terminals are provided independently of the conductive terminals to monitor whether there is liquid accumulation and foreign objects inside the electrical connector and transmit signals. If there are foreign objects, the power will be automatically cut off, thereby realizing the self-protection function of the product. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 is a top view of the electrical connector in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 is Figure 1 an exploded schematic view of the electrical connector shown in

[0018] Figure 3 is Figure 2 an exploded schematic view of the conductive terminals and the detection terminals in the electrical connector shown in

[0019] Figure 4 is Figure 1 an exploded schematic view of the electrical connector from another angle shown in

[0020] Figure 5 is Figure 1 a bottom view of the electrical connector shown in

[0021] Figure 6 is Figure 5 an exploded schematic view of the electrical connector shown in

[0022] Figure 7 is Figure 5 a partial cross-sectional view of the electrical connector shown in

[0023] Figure 8 is Figure 1 a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector shown in DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Please refer to Figures 1 to 8As shown, a preferred embodiment of the present invention discloses an electrical connector 100 for being mounted on a circuit board (not shown). The electrical connector 100 is a USB Type-C socket connector and is docked with a plug connector. The electrical connector 100 includes an insulating body 10, several conductive terminals 20 and a pair of detection terminals 30 held by the insulating body 10, a metal shielding sheet 40, a metal housing 50 covering the outside of the insulating body 10, and a shielding housing 60 covering the insulating body 10 and the metal housing 50.

[0025] Please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 6 As shown, the insulating body 10 is provided with a base portion 11 extending transversely, a tongue plate portion 12 extending longitudinally forward from the base portion 11, and a step portion 13 connecting between the base portion 11 and the tongue plate portion 12. In this embodiment, the step portion 13 is formed by extending longitudinally forward from the base portion 11, and the tongue plate portion 12 is formed by extending longitudinally forward from the step portion 13. The thickness of the step portion 13 is greater than that of the tongue plate portion 12, so a height difference is formed between the step portion 13 and the tongue plate portion 12.

[0026] Combined with Figure 3 As shown, the conductive terminal 20 is provided with a holding portion 21 held by the base portion 11, a contact portion 22 extending longitudinally forward from the holding portion 21, a welding portion 23 extending longitudinally backward from the holding portion 21 and extending out of the base portion 21, and a buried portion 24 extending forward and bent from the contact portion 22. The contact portion 22 is exposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the tongue plate portion 12, the welding portion 23 is bent downward and extends out of the bottom surface of the base portion 11 for welding to the circuit board, and the buried portion 24 extends downward and is buried in the tongue plate portion 12 and held with the tongue plate portion 12.

[0027] The detection terminal 30 is provided with a fixing portion 31 held by the base portion 11, a contact piece 32 connected to the longitudinal front end of the fixing portion 31, and a welding leg 33 extending longitudinally backward from the fixing portion 31 and extending out of the bottom surface of the base portion 11 for welding to the circuit board. In this embodiment, the contact pieces 32 of a pair of the detection terminals 30 are formed by extending transversely and are exposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the step portion 13. The detection terminal 30 is independently arranged from the conductive terminal 20, and the contact piece 32 is used to monitor whether there is liquid accumulation and foreign objects inside the electrical connector 100 and transmit signals. If there are foreign objects, the power will be automatically cut off, thereby realizing the self-protection function of the product.

[0028] Meanwhile, the contact piece 32 of the detection terminal 30 is longitudinally located at the rear side of the contact portion 22 of the conductive terminal 20. Therefore, compared with the existing electrical connector in which the detection terminal is used as a grounding terminal at the same time, the detection terminal 30 in the present invention is not grounded. Therefore, when the electrical connector 100 is plugged in, the detection terminal 30 will avoid the contact points of the three docking terminals on the docking connector, so as not to function as a grounding function.

[0029] Furthermore, the insulating body 10 includes an upper insulator 101 and a lower insulator 102 assembled together up and down. The conductive terminal 20 includes an upper row of conductive terminals 201 fixed to the upper insulator 101 and a lower row of conductive terminals 202 fixed to the lower insulator 102. The upper row of conductive terminals 201 and the lower row of conductive terminals 202 have the same number and opposite arrangement orders. A pair of the detection electrons 30 includes an upper detection terminal 301 fixed to the upper insulator 101 and a lower detection terminal 302 fixed to the lower insulator 102. In this embodiment, the upper row of conductive terminals 201 and the upper detection terminal 301 are injection-molded in the upper insulator 101, and the lower row of conductive terminals 202 and the lower detection terminal 302 are injection-molded in the lower insulator 102.

[0030] Combined Figure 8 As shown, since the thickness of the step portion 13 is greater than the thickness of the tongue plate portion 12, the contact piece 32 of the detection terminal 30 is located outside the contact portion 22 of the conductive terminal 20, that is, the contact piece 32 of the upper detection terminal 301 is located above the upper row of conductive terminals 201, and the contact piece 32 of the lower detection terminal 302 is located below the lower row of conductive terminals 202; and the projection of the contact piece 32 in the transverse direction overlaps all the conductive terminals 20.

[0031] Meanwhile, the fixing portion 31 of the upper detection terminal 301 and the holding portion 21 of the upper row of conductive terminals 201 are arranged in a row in the transverse direction, the fixing portion 31 of the lower detection terminal 302 and the holding portion 21 of the lower row of conductive terminals 202 are arranged in a row in the transverse direction, and the fixing portion 31 of the upper detection terminal 301 and the fixing portion 31 of the lower detection terminal 302 are symmetrically arranged about the center.

[0032] The metal shielding sheet 40 is located between the upper insulator 101 and the lower insulator 102. The metal shielding sheet 40 is provided with a main body portion 41 fixed in the insulating body 10 and two tail portions 42 that extend downward and bend laterally from the lateral sides of the longitudinal rear end of the main body portion 41. The main body portion 41 is used to shield electromagnetic interference between the upper row of conductive terminals 201 and the lower row of conductive terminals 202, and the tail portions 42 are used for welding to the above-mentioned circuit board. Moreover, the insulating body 10 further includes a third insulator 103 formed by secondary injection molding on the upper insulator 101, the lower insulator 102, and the metal shielding sheet 40, so as to integrally form the conductive terminals 20, the detection terminals 30, and the metal shielding sheet 40 in the insulating body 10.

[0033] As shown in combination with Figure 5 and Figure 7 shown, the metal housing 50 is sleeved on the longitudinal front end of the insulating body 10 and is provided with an annular sleeve 51 and a fixing piece 52 extending laterally outward from the longitudinal rear end of the annular sleeve 51. The annular sleeve 51 has a receiving cavity 501 that penetrates longitudinally. The receiving cavity 501 houses the longitudinal front end of the insulating body 10, that is, the stepped portion 13 and the tongue plate portion 12 project into the receiving cavity 501, and the contact piece 32 of the detection terminal 30 and the contact portion 22 of the conductive terminal 20 are also exposed in the receiving cavity 501, so as to facilitate docking with the docking connector.

[0034] The shielding housing 60 is provided with a support portion 61 attached to the top surface of the metal housing 50 and a shielding portion 62 connected to the longitudinal rear end of the support portion 61. The support portion 61 is welded to the top surface of the annular sleeve 51, and the shielding portion 62 covers the outer periphery of the base portion 11 of the insulating body 10. In this embodiment, the shielding portion 62 covers the top surface, the longitudinal rear end wall, and the lateral side wall of the base portion 11, and the shielding portion 62 also extends downward until it is welded to the above-mentioned circuit board; and the fixing piece 52 of the metal housing 50 is located at the longitudinal rear side of the support portion 61 and is welded to the lower surface of the shielding portion 62.

[0035] In the present invention, the electrical connector 100 includes a pair of detection terminals 30 fixed to the insulating body 10. The detection terminals 30 are provided with a fixing portion 31 fixed to the base portion 11, a contact piece 32 connected to the longitudinal front end of the fixing portion 31, and a welding leg 33 extending longitudinally backward from the fixing portion 31 and extending out of the base portion 11. The contact pieces 32 of the pair of detection terminals 30 extend laterally and are exposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the stepped portion 13. The detection terminals 30 are arranged independently of the conductive terminals 20 and are used to monitor whether there is liquid accumulation and foreign objects inside the electrical connector 100 and transmit signals. If there are foreign objects, the power will be automatically cut off, thereby realizing the self-protection function of the product.

[0036] In summary, the above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention should not be limited thereby. That is, all simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims and the content of the specification of the present invention should still fall within the scope covered by the patent of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, comprising an insulating body, a plurality of conductive terminals held by the insulating body, and a metal shell covered on the insulating body, wherein the insulating body is provided with a base, a tongue portion extending forward from the base in a longitudinal direction, and a step portion connected between the base and the tongue portion, the conductive terminal is provided with a holding portion held by the base, a contact portion extending forward from the holding portion in a longitudinal direction, and a welding portion extending backward from the holding portion in a longitudinal direction out of the base, the contact portion of the conductive terminal being exposed to the upper and lower surfaces of the tongue portion; characterized in that: The electrical connector includes a pair of detection terminals fixed on the insulating body, the detection terminals are provided with a fixed portion fixed on the base, a contact piece connected to the longitudinal front end of the fixed portion, and a welding foot extending from the fixed portion to the rear along the longitudinal direction of the base, and the contact pieces of the pair of detection terminals are formed by extending in the transverse direction and exposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the step portion.

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The step portion is formed by extending forward from the base portion in the longitudinal direction, the tongue portion is formed by extending forward from the step portion in the longitudinal direction, and the contact piece of the detection terminal is located at the rear side of the contact portion of the conductive terminal in the longitudinal direction.

3. The electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein: The thickness of the step portion is greater than that of the tongue portion, the contact piece of the detection terminal is located outside the contact portion of the conductive terminal, and a lateral projection of the contact piece overlaps with all the conductive terminals.

4. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The insulating body includes an upper insulator and a lower insulator assembled together, and the conductive terminals include an upper row of conductive terminals fixed on the upper insulator and a lower row of conductive terminals fixed on the lower insulator. The upper row of conductive terminals and the lower row of conductive terminals have the same number and are arranged in opposite order.

5. The electrical connector according to claim 4, wherein: A pair of the detection electrons includes an upper detection terminal fixed on the upper insulator and a lower detection terminal fixed on the lower insulator, the contact piece of the upper detection terminal is located above the upper row of conductive terminals, and the contact piece of the lower detection terminal is located below the lower row of conductive terminals.

6. The electrical connector according to claim 5, wherein: The fixing portion of the upper detection terminal and the retaining portion of the upper row of conductive terminals are arranged in a row in the transverse direction, the fixing portion of the lower detection terminal and the retaining portion of the lower row of conductive terminals are arranged in a row in the transverse direction, and the fixing portion of the upper detection terminal and the fixing portion of the lower detection terminal are centrally symmetrically arranged.

7. The electrical connector according to claim 4, wherein: The electrical connector includes a metal shielding sheet located between the upper insulator and the lower insulator, and the insulating body also includes a third insulator injection-molded on the upper insulator, the lower insulator and the metal shielding sheet.

8. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The metal shell is sleeved on the longitudinal front end of the insulating body and is provided with a accommodating cavity which penetrates in the longitudinal direction. The step portion and the tongue portion protrude into the accommodating cavity, and the contact piece of the detection terminal and the contact portion of the conductive terminal are both exposed in the accommodating cavity.

9. The electrical connector according to claim 8, wherein: The electrical connector includes a shielding shell covering the insulating body and the metal shell, the shielding shell is provided with a supporting portion attached to the top surface of the metal shell and a shielding portion connected to the longitudinal rear end of the supporting portion, and the shielding portion covers the outer periphery of the base of the insulating body.

10. The electrical connector according to claim 9, wherein: The metal shell is provided with an annular sleeve and a fixing plate extending laterally outward from the longitudinal rear end of the annular sleeve, the supporting portion is welded to the top surface of the annular sleeve, and the fixing plate is located at the longitudinal rear side of the supporting portion and welded to the lower surface of the shielding portion.

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