Card edge connector

Abstract

A card edge connector comprises an insulation body, conductive terminals and metal keys, the insulation body comprises two opposite side walls and a slot located between the two side walls, the insulation body is provided with a butt joint face, the slot penetrates through the butt joint face, the conductive terminals are located on the side walls and provided with contact parts protruding into the slot, and the slot defines an insertion direction; and the metal keys transversely penetrate through the slots and are embedded in the two side walls. Compared with the prior art, the metal keys are relatively high in strength, and the connection stability of the metal keys and the side walls is relatively high.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of computer technology, and particularly relates to an edge connector. Background Art

[0002] Edge connectors are usually used in computers, such as Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) connectors, to connect the motherboard to external hardware devices. Generally, the interface of an external hardware device, such as a card board, is inserted into the edge connector to achieve electrical connection. The edge connector is provided with a keyway to prevent the reverse insertion of the card board. A metal key is further sleeved at the keyway to prevent the wear of the plastic keyway caused by the insertion of the card board. However, currently, the metal key is formed by bending a metal thin plate and assembled at the keyway, and there is still a risk of wear and detachment. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical solution to be solved by this application is to provide an edge connector with a high-strength metal key.

[0004] To solve the above technical solution, this application provides a technical solution: an edge connector, which includes an insulating body, conductive terminals, and a metal key. The insulating body includes two opposite side walls and a slot located between the two side walls. The insulating body is provided with a docking surface, and the slot penetrates the docking surface. The conductive terminals are located on the side walls and have contact portions protruding into the slot. The slot defines an insertion direction; the metal key horizontally penetrates the slot and is buried in the two side walls.

[0005] In some embodiments, the metal key includes a crossbar portion and a vertical bar portion. Both ends of the crossbar portion are buried in the side walls, and the vertical bar portion extends into the slot and adheres to the inner wall surface of the side wall.

[0006] In some embodiments, the slot is provided with an inner bottom surface opposite to the docking surface, and the vertical bar portion extends and passes through the inner bottom surface.

[0007] In some embodiments, the metal key includes side portions located at both ends of the crossbar portion. The side portions extend in a direction parallel to the side walls, and the side portions are buried in the side walls.

[0008] In some embodiments, the side portions are provided with two holes, and part of the material of the insulating body is fixed in the holes.

[0009] In some embodiments, the crossbar portion, the side portions, and the docking surface are flush with each other.

[0010] In some embodiments, the metal key is made of die-cast metal material.

[0011] In some embodiments, the card-edge connector includes a metal housing that covers an insulating body.

[0012] To solve the above technical problem, the present application provides another technical solution: a card-edge connector, which includes an insulating body, conductive terminals, and a metal key. The insulating body includes two opposite sidewalls and a slot located between the two sidewalls. The insulating body has a docking surface, and the slot penetrates through the docking surface. The conductive terminals are located on the sidewalls and have contact portions that protrude into the slot. The insulating body is formed by injection molding of an insulating material, and the insulating material fixes the metal key during the injection molding process. The metal key horizontally penetrates through the slot.

[0013] In some embodiments, the metal key is made of die-cast metal material.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the metal key of the present application has relatively high strength, and the connection stability between the metal key and the sidewall is relatively large. Description of the Drawings

[0015] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a card-edge connector provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0016] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a partial perspective exploded view of the card-edge connector shown in

[0017] Figure 3 is Figure 1 another partial perspective exploded view of the card-edge connector shown in

[0018] Figure 4 is Figure 1 yet another partial perspective exploded view of the card-edge connector shown in

[0019] Figure 5 is Figure 1 a partial top view of the card-edge connector shown in

[0020] Figure 6 is Figure 1 a sectional view of the card-edge connector shown in along line A-A.

[0021] Description of the Main Component Symbols 100 - Card-edge connector; 10 - Insulating body; 12 - Sidewall; 122 - Receiving cell; 14 - Slot; 16 - Docking surface; 18 - Inner bottom surface; 19 - Fixing hole; 20 - Conductive terminal; 22 - Contact portion; 30 - Metal key; 32 - Crossbar portion; 34 - Vertical bar portion; 36 - Side portion; 38 - Hole; 40 - Metal housing; 42 - Slot hole; 44 - Fixing leg.

[0022] The following specific embodiments will further illustrate the present application in conjunction with the above-mentioned drawings. Specific Embodiments

[0023] It should be noted that the terms "first" and "second" in the specification, claims and drawings of the present application are used to distinguish similar objects, rather than to describe a specific order or sequence. In the specification, claims and drawings of the present application, unless otherwise specified, " / " means "or". For example, A / B may mean A or B. For example, A and / or B may mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone, these three situations. In addition, the term "multiple" in the specification, claims and drawings of the present application means two or more than two.

[0024] It can be understood that the connection relationship described in the present application refers to direct or indirect connection. For example, A is connected to B or A is electrically connected to B, which can either be that A is directly connected to B, or that A and B are indirectly connected through one or more other electrical components. For example, it can be that A is directly connected to C and C is directly connected to B, so that A and B are connected through C.

[0025] The following will illustrate some embodiments in conjunction with the drawings. Without conflict, the following embodiments and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0026] Card-edge connectors are usually used in computers. For example, a high-speed computer bus standard (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express, PCIe) card-edge connector is used to connect the motherboard to external hardware devices. However, the connection between the card-edge connector and the motherboard may not be stable enough, which will have an adverse effect on the long-term use of the card-edge connector.

[0027] Please refer to Figure 1 , an embodiment of the present application provides a card-edge connector 100. The card-edge connector 100 can be applied to a computer and is used to connect the computer motherboard to an external hardware device to enable the external hardware device to be connected to the computer motherboard. In some embodiments, the card-edge connector 100 can be an electrical connector with an electrical conduction function. In some embodiments, the card-edge connector 100 can be a PCIe connector.

[0028] Please refer to together Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3, the edge connector 100 may include an insulating body 10, conductive terminals 20, and a metal key 30. The insulating body 10 includes two opposite side walls 12 and a slot 14 located between the two side walls 12. The insulating body 10 is provided with a docking surface 16. The slot 14 penetrates through the docking surface 16 and has an inner bottom surface 18 opposite to the docking surface 16. In this embodiment, the docking surface 16 may be the top surface of the insulating body 10. In some other embodiments, when the slot 14 penetrates forward, the docking surface 16 is the front end surface, and the insulating body 10 is generally in the shape of a rectangular box. The slot 14 defines an insertion direction, which may be the direction from the docking surface 16 towards the inner bottom surface 18.

[0029] The conductive terminals 20 are located on the side walls 12 and have contact portions 22 protruding into the slot 14. A plurality of receiving cells 122 are respectively formed on the two side walls 12, and a plurality of conductive terminals 20 are respectively received in the receiving cells 122. Each conductive terminal 20 has a contact portion 22 protruding from the receiving cell 122 into the slot 14. When other electronic components, such as a graphics card, a network adapter card, a storage controller, etc., are inserted into the slot 14, the contact portions 22 protruding into the slot 14 are electrically connected to the inserted electronic components. The conductive terminals 20 also penetrate through the inner bottom surface 18 of the insulating body 10 and are used for electrical connection with a main board (not shown in the figure), so as to realize the electrical connection between the edge connector 100 and the main board (not shown in the figure).

[0030] Please refer to Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 , the metal key 30 horizontally penetrates through the slot 14 and is embedded in the two side walls 12. In some embodiments, the metal key 30 includes a cross bar portion 32 and a vertical bar portion 34. The two ends of the cross bar portion 32 are embedded in the two side walls 12. The vertical bar portion 34 is connected to a substantially middle position of the cross bar portion 32, and the connection between the cross bar portion 32 and the vertical bar portion 34 is generally in the shape of a "T". Further, the vertical bar portion 34 extends into the slot 14, and the vertical bar portion 34 is attached to the inner wall surfaces of the two side walls 12.

[0031] In some embodiments, the two ends of the cross bar portion 32 are embedded in the two side walls 12 and are flush with the docking surface 16. The vertical bar portion 34 extends from the cross bar portion 32 into the slot 14, that is, it extends into the slot 14 from near the docking surface 16, and the vertical bar portion 34 further extends and passes through the inner bottom surface 18. In some embodiments, the portion of the vertical bar portion 34 that penetrates through the inner bottom surface 18 may be further connected to the main board (not shown in the figure) connected to the edge connector 100, thereby strengthening the stability of the connection between the edge connector 100 and the main board.

[0032] In some embodiments, the metal key 30 includes side portions 36 located at both ends of the crossbar portion 32, the side portions 36 extend in a direction parallel to the side walls 12, and the side portions 36 are embedded in the two side walls 12. The crossbar portion 32 and the side portions 36 are generally in an "I" shape, and the side portions 36 at both ends of the crossbar portion 32 increase the area embedded in the two side walls 12, and the crossbar portion 32 spans the slot 14 between the two side walls 12, thereby increasing the connection stability between the metal key 30 and the side walls 12. In some embodiments, the crossbar portion 32 and the side portions 36 are flush with the docking surface 16.

[0033] In some embodiments, the side portion 36 is provided with two holes 38 , and part of the material of the insulating body 10 is fixed in the holes 38 , thereby increasing the connection stability between the metal key 30 and the insulating body 10 .

[0034] In this embodiment, the metal key 30 is made of die-cast metal material, and has a large thickness, so that it has a large strength. The metal key 30 is first manufactured into a required structure. Then, the insulating material is injection-molded on the metal key 30, and after cooling, the insulating body 10 is formed, and then the conductive terminal 20 is inserted. It can be understood that the insulating material fixes the metal key 30 during the injection molding process, so that the metal key 30 is buried in the insulating body 10.

[0035] The card edge connector 100 may include a metal shell 40. The metal shell 40 covers the insulating body 10. In some embodiments, a slot 42 corresponding to the slot 14 is opened on the end surface of the metal shell 40, and the slot 14 is exposed when the metal shell 40 covers the insulating body 10. In some embodiments, the side wall of the metal shell 40 extends with a plurality of fixing legs 44 along the extension direction, and the outer wall surface of the side wall 12 of the insulating body 10 is provided with a plurality of fixing holes 19. The plurality of fixing legs 44 of the metal shell 40 pass through the plurality of fixing holes 19 of the insulating body 10 correspondingly, and the plurality of fixing legs 44 extend beyond the inner bottom surface 18 of the insulating body 10, and the plurality of fixing legs 44 can be used to connect with a mainboard (not shown).

[0036] The card edge connector 100 of the present application has a metal key 30 that passes horizontally through the slot 14 and is buried in the two side walls 12, so that the metal key 30 is better combined with the insulating body 10. The metal key 30 extends into the slot 14 and passes through the inner bottom surface 18, thereby improving the connection stability of the card edge connector 100.

[0037] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application and not to limit them. In the actual application process, all the content of the technical solutions described in any embodiment of the present application can be implemented, or some content can be added, or some content can be deleted, or some content can be changed / replaced. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that the technical solutions of the present application can be modified or equivalently replaced without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present application.

Claims

1. A card-edge connector, comprising an insulating body, conductive terminals and a metal key. The insulating body includes two opposite sidewalls and a slot located between the two sidewalls. The insulating body is provided with a docking surface, and the slot penetrates through the docking surface. The conductive terminals are located on the sidewalls and have contact portions protruding into the slot. The slot defines an insertion direction; characterized in that, The metal key transversely penetrates through the slot and is embedded in the two side walls.

2. The card-edge connector according to claim 1, wherein, The metal key includes a cross bar portion and a vertical bar portion. The two ends of the cross bar portion are embedded in the side walls. The vertical bar portion extends into the slot and adheres to the inner wall surface of the side walls.

3. The card-edge connector according to claim 2, wherein, The slot is provided with an inner bottom surface opposite to the docking surface, and the vertical bar portion extends through the inner bottom surface.

4. The card-edge connector according to claim 2, wherein The metal key includes side portions located at both ends of the cross bar portion. The side portions extend in a direction parallel to the side walls, and the side portions are embedded in the side walls.

5. The card-edge connector according to claim 4, wherein, The side portions are provided with two holes, and part of the material of the insulating body is fixed in the holes.

6. The card-edge connector according to claim 4, wherein The cross bar portion, the side portions and the docking surface are flush with each other.

7. The card-edge connector according to claim 1, wherein The metal key is made of die-cast metal material.

8. The card edge connector according to claim 1, wherein The card-edge connector includes a metal housing, and the metal housing covers the insulating body.

9. A card-edge connector, comprising an insulating body, conductive terminals and a metal key. The insulating body includes two opposite sidewalls and a slot located between the two sidewalls. The insulating body is provided with a docking surface, and the slot penetrates through the docking surface. The conductive terminals are located on the sidewalls and have contact portions protruding into the slot. It is characterized in that, The insulating body is formed by injection molding of an insulating material. The insulating material fixes the metal key during the injection molding process, and the metal key transversely penetrates through the slot.

10. The card-edge connector according to claim 9, wherein The metal key is made of die-cast metal material.

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