USB connector

Abstract

The invention discloses a universal serial bus (USB) connector, which comprises an insulating body, a conductive terminal and a metal shell, the conductive terminal is fixedly held on the insulating body, the insulating body is coated with the metal shell, the insulating body is provided with a base part and a lingual plate part extending forwards from the base part, the metal shell is provided with a butt joint cavity penetrating forwards, and the lingual plate part is inserted into the butt joint cavity. The USB connector comprises detection modules fixedly held in the metal shell, the detection modules are located on the two transverse sides of the insulation body and are separated from the insulation body, each detection module is provided with a detection terminal extending in the longitudinal direction and an insulation part integrally formed on the detection terminal, the insulation part is fixedly held in the metal shell, and the detection terminals extend in the longitudinal direction. The detection terminal protrudes forwards and extends into the butt joint cavity. The detection module is formed independently from the insulating body and other components and can be independently assembled in the metal shell, so that the high-frequency transmission performance is improved, the effects of convenience in manufacturing and simplicity in forming are achieved, and the manufacturing cost of the USB connector is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of Type-C connectors, and in particular to a USB connector with a detection function. Background Art

[0002] In existing consumer electronics, such as computers and mobile phones, connectors all have independent signal transmission functions and lack the ability to detect when a docking connector is inserted. This results in signal transmission delays and confusion, which in turn affects the function of high-frequency signals. The universal USB Type-C connector adds an elastic sheet that quickly detects the status of the docking connector when it is inserted, thereby increasing high-frequency signal transmission capabilities. However, existing elastic sheets have high requirements for stamping and molding processes. The elastic sheet needs to be formed by bending the outer side of the center sheet, which increases the difficulty of manufacturing the center sheet and the molding mold, and also increases the demand for the mold's processing technology level.

[0003] Therefore, it is hoped to provide a new USB connector to overcome the above defects. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to provide a USB connector in which a detection module is separated from an insulating body, thereby improving high-frequency transmission performance and simplifying the manufacturing and molding process.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A USB connector comprising an insulating body, a plurality of conductive terminals retained by the insulating body, and a metal shell covering the insulating body, wherein the insulating body comprises a base extending laterally and a tongue portion extending longitudinally forward from the base, the conductive terminals comprising contact portions at least partially exposed on the tongue portion, the metal shell comprising a docking cavity extending longitudinally forward, the tongue portion being inserted into the docking cavity. The USB connector comprises a detection module retained within the metal shell, the detection module being located on either lateral side of the insulating body and separate from the insulating body, the detection module comprising detection terminals extending longitudinally and an insulating portion integrally formed with the detection terminals, the insulating portion being retained within the metal shell, and the detection terminals protruding forward into the docking cavity.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the metal shell is provided with an annular cylindrical portion and an outer protrusion connected to the lateral sides of the cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion is provided with the docking cavity passing through the longitudinal front and back, the outer protrusion is provided with an accommodating cavity laterally connected to the docking cavity, and the detection terminal is accommodated in the accommodating cavity.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the detection terminal is provided with an elastic arm extending in the longitudinal direction and a convex portion connected to the longitudinal front end of the elastic arm, the elastic arm is accommodated in the accommodating cavity, the insulating portion is fixed on the longitudinal rear side of the elastic arm, and the convex portion protrudes into the docking cavity.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the detection module includes a first detection module located on one lateral side of the insulating body and a second detection module located on the other lateral side of the insulating body, and the first detection module and the second detection module are staggered in the longitudinal direction.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the metal shell is provided with a rear shell located on the longitudinal rear side of the cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion is sleeved on the outer periphery of the tongue plate portion, the rear shell covers the outer side of the base, and the rear side of the elastic arm of the first detection module is against the inner wall of the rear shell.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the USB connector includes an insulating shell injection-molded on the outer peripheries of the cylindrical portion and the convex portion, and the front end of the rear housing abuts against a rear end surface of the insulating shell.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the USB connector includes a latching member integrally formed on the tongue portion, the latching member is provided with a cross arm portion embedded in the longitudinal front end of the tongue portion and latching portions connected to the lateral sides of the cross arm portion, the latching portions are exposed on the lateral sides of the tongue portion, and the convex portion is arranged corresponding to the latching portions.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the conductive terminals include an upper row of terminals and a lower row of terminals arranged in two rows, the USB connector includes an intermediate shielding plate retained in the insulating body, the intermediate shielding plate is located between the upper row of terminals and the lower row of terminals, and the retaining portion of the retaining member abuts against the lateral sides of the intermediate shielding plate.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the insulating body is provided with an upper insulator integrally formed with the upper row of terminals, a lower insulator integrally formed with the lower row of terminals, and a front insulator, the intermediate shielding sheet is located between the upper insulator and the lower insulator, the front insulator is located at the longitudinal front ends of the upper insulator and the lower insulator, and the cross arm portion of the retaining member is buried in the front insulator.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the USB connector includes an upper grounding piece located on the outside of the upper insulator and a lower grounding piece located on the outside of the lower insulator, and the lateral sides of the upper grounding piece and the lower grounding piece are mutually buckled and fit to the longitudinal rear end of the buckling portion of the buckling piece.

[0015] Compared to the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages: the USB connector includes a detection module retained within a metal housing. The detection module is located on either side of an insulating body and is separate from the insulating body. The detection module comprises a longitudinally extending detection terminal and an insulating portion integrally formed with the detection terminal. The insulating portion is retained within the metal housing, and the detection terminal protrudes forward into the docking cavity. The detection module is molded independently of the insulating body and other components and can be assembled independently within the metal housing. This improves high-frequency transmission performance while facilitating easy and simple manufacturing, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the USB connector. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic diagram of a USB connector in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 An exploded diagram of the USB connector is shown.

[0018] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 The figure shows a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the terminal module in the USB connector.

[0019] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 The exploded diagram of the terminal module is shown.

[0020] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a USB connector is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] See also Figures 1 to 5 As shown, a preferred embodiment of the present invention discloses a USB connector 100, which is a USB Type-C connector that can be configured on consumer electronic products such as mobile phones, iPads, and computers. The USB connector 100 includes a terminal module and a housing assembly covering the terminal module. The terminal module includes an insulating body 10, a plurality of conductive terminals 20 fixed to the insulating body 10, an intermediate shield 30, and a grounding member.

[0022] See also Figures 2 to 4As shown, the insulating body 10 includes a base portion 11 extending laterally and a tongue portion 12 extending longitudinally forward from the base portion 11. The conductive terminals 20 include contact portions at least partially exposed on the tongue portion 12 for contacting the mating terminals of the mating connector. Furthermore, the conductive terminals 20 include upper and lower rows of terminals 21 and 22 arranged in two rows. The insulating body 10 includes an upper insulator 101 integrally formed with the upper row of terminals 21, a lower insulator 102 integrally formed with the lower row of terminals 22, and a front insulator 103.

[0023] The upper row of terminals 21 and the upper insulator 101 are injection molded into an upper row terminal module, and the lower row of terminals 22 and the lower insulator 102 are injection molded into a lower row terminal module; the upper row terminal module and the lower row terminal module clamp the middle shielding sheet 30 and then the front insulator 103 is injection molded, that is, the middle shielding sheet 30 is located between the upper insulator 101 and the lower insulator 102, and the front insulator 103 is located at the longitudinal front end of the upper insulator 101 and the lower insulator 102.

[0024] In this embodiment, the intermediate shielding sheet 30 is retained within the insulator body 10. Specifically, it is located between the upper row of terminals 21 and the lower row of terminals 22. The grounding member includes an upper grounding member 41 located outside the upper insulator 101 and a lower grounding member 42 located outside the lower insulator 102. The upper and lower grounding members 41 and 42 interlock with each other on their lateral sides. Furthermore, the USB connector 100 includes a latching member 50 integrally formed with the tongue portion 12. The latching member 50 comprises a transverse arm 51 embedded in the longitudinal front end of the tongue portion 12 and latching portions 52 connected to the transverse sides of the transverse arm 51. The latching portions 52 are exposed on both lateral sides of the tongue portion 12.

[0025] Furthermore, the transverse arm portion 51 of the retaining member 50 is buried in the front insulator 103 and abuts against the longitudinal front end of the intermediate shielding piece 30; the retaining portion 52 of the retaining member 50 abuts against the lateral sides of the intermediate shielding piece 30, and the retaining areas on the lateral sides of the upper grounding member 41 and the lower grounding member 42 are fitted to the longitudinal rear end of the retaining portion 52 of the retaining member 50, thereby forming an electromagnetic shielding effect between the intermediate shielding piece 30, the grounding member and the retaining member 50.

[0026] The housing assembly includes a metal shell 60 and an insulating shell 70 that surrounds the insulating body 10. The metal shell 60 is provided with a docking cavity 611 extending longitudinally forward, and the tongue portion 12 is inserted into the docking cavity 611. The metal shell 60 includes an annular cylindrical portion 61, a convex portion 62 connected to both lateral sides of the cylindrical portion 61, and a rear shell 63. The cylindrical portion 61 is provided with the aforementioned docking cavity 611 extending longitudinally forward and backward, and the convex portion 62 is provided with a receiving cavity 621 that is laterally connected to the docking cavity 611. The cylindrical portion 61 is sleeved around the outer periphery of the tongue portion 12, and the rear shell 63 is located at the longitudinal rear side of the cylindrical portion 61 and covers the outer side of the base 11. The insulating shell 70 is injection molded around the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 61 and the convex portion 62 to enhance the waterproof performance of the USB connector 100. The front end of the rear shell 63 abuts the rear end surface of the insulating shell 70.

[0027] Combine Figure 5 As shown, the terminal module also includes two detection modules 80 retained in the metal shell 60. The two detection modules 80 are located on both lateral sides of the insulating body 10 and are separated from the insulating body 10. The detection modules 80 are independently formed from the insulating body 10 and other components and can be assembled separately into the metal shell 60. This improves the high-frequency transmission performance while having the effects of easy manufacturing and simple molding, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the USB connector 100.

[0028] The detection module 80 is provided with a detection terminal 81 extending longitudinally and an insulating portion 82 integrally formed on the detection terminal 81 . The insulating portion 82 is fixed in the outer protrusion 62 of the metal shell 60 . The detection terminal 81 is received in the accommodating cavity 621 and protrudes forward into the docking cavity 611 .

[0029] Specifically, the detection terminal 81 is provided with an elastic arm 83 extending in the longitudinal direction and a convex portion 84 connected to the longitudinal front end of the elastic arm 83. The elastic arm 83 is accommodated in the accommodating cavity 621. The insulating portion 82 is fixed to the longitudinal rear side of the elastic arm 83. The convex portion 84 protrudes into the docking cavity 611 and is arranged corresponding to the retaining portion 52. In this embodiment, the elastic arm 83 is punched and formed from a metal piece, and the metal piece is made of stainless steel, thereby increasing or decreasing the elasticity of the elastic arm 83. At the same time, the convex portion 84 is welded to the longitudinal front end of the elastic arm 83. When the docking connector is inserted, the elastic arm 83 expands outward, that is, the force point is on the stainless steel elastic arm 83, and there is no need to worry about the strength of the convex portion 84 affecting the elasticity of the elastic arm 83.

[0030] The bulge 84 is a circular bulge made of powder metallurgy and partially protrudes into the docking cavity 611. The bulge 84 is made of powder metallurgy, and the back surface of the bulge has no concave recess, thereby increasing the thickness of the bulge and thereby enhancing its strength, making the bulge 84 more wear-resistant. Furthermore, the powder metallurgy process allows for the bulge's height and shape to be freely adjustable, eliminating the risk of tensile cracking. Furthermore, since the bulge is made of powder metallurgy, it can be immersed in the electroplating process, thus reducing the complexity of the electroplating process.

[0031] Furthermore, the detection module 80 includes a first detection module 801 located on one lateral side of the insulating body 10 and a second detection module 802 located on the other lateral side of the insulating body 10. The first detection module 801 and the second detection module 802 are offset in the longitudinal direction, and the protrusion 84 of the first detection terminal 801 extends forward from the protrusion 84 of the second detection module 802 by 0.8 mm. Simultaneously, the rear side of the elastic arm 83 of the first detection module 801 abuts against the inner wall of the rear housing 63, while the rear end of the elastic arm 83 of the second detection module 802 extends downward from the metal housing 60 and is soldered to a circuit board.

[0032] In the present invention, the USB connector 100 includes a detection module 80 retained within the metal housing 60. The detection module 80 is located on either side of the insulating body 10 and is separate from the insulating body 10. The detection module 80 includes a longitudinally extending detection terminal 81 and an insulating portion 82 integrally formed with the detection terminal 81. The insulating portion 82 is retained within the metal housing 60, and the detection terminal 81 protrudes forward into the docking cavity 611. The detection module 80 is molded independently of the insulating body 10 and other components and can be assembled independently within the metal housing 60. This improves high-frequency transmission performance while facilitating easy and simple manufacturing, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the USB connector 100.

[0033] In summary, the above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention. That is, any simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims and description of the present invention should still fall within the scope of the patent of the present invention.

Claims

1. A USB connector comprising an insulating body, a plurality of conductive terminals retained by the insulating body, and a metal housing encasing the insulating body, the insulating body having a base extending laterally and a tongue extending longitudinally forward from the base, the conductive terminals having contact portions at least partially exposed on the tongue, the metal housing having a mating cavity extending longitudinally forward, the tongue being inserted into the mating cavity; and characterized in that: The USB connector includes a detection module retained within the metal housing. The detection module is located on both lateral sides of the insulating body and is separated from the insulating body. The detection module is provided with a detection terminal extending longitudinally and an insulating portion integrally formed on the detection terminal. The insulating portion is retained within the metal housing, and the detection terminal protrudes forward into the docking cavity.

2. The USB connector according to claim 1, wherein: The metal shell is provided with an annular cylindrical portion and an outer convex portion connected to the two lateral sides of the cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion is provided with the docking cavity running through the longitudinal front and back. The outer convex portion is provided with an accommodating cavity laterally connected to the docking cavity. The detection terminal is accommodated in the accommodating cavity.

3. The USB connector according to claim 2, wherein: The detection terminal is provided with an elastic arm extending in the longitudinal direction and a convex portion connected to the longitudinal front end of the elastic arm. The elastic arm is accommodated in the accommodating cavity, the insulating portion is fixed on the longitudinal rear side of the elastic arm, and the convex portion protrudes into the docking cavity.

4. The USB connector according to claim 3, wherein: The detection module includes a first detection module located on one lateral side of the insulating body and a second detection module located on the other lateral side of the insulating body. The first detection module and the second detection module are staggered in the longitudinal direction.

5. The USB connector according to claim 4, wherein: The metal shell is provided with a rear shell located on the longitudinal rear side of the cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion is sleeved on the outer periphery of the tongue portion, the rear shell covers the outer side of the base, and the rear side of the elastic arm of the first detection module is against the inner wall of the rear shell.

6. The USB connector according to claim 5, wherein: The USB connector includes an insulating shell that is injection-molded on the outer peripheries of the cylindrical portion and the convex portion, and the front end of the rear shell abuts against the rear end surface of the insulating shell.

7. The USB connector according to claim 3, wherein: The USB connector includes a latching part integrally formed on the tongue plate portion, the latching part is provided with a cross arm portion embedded in the longitudinal front end of the tongue plate portion and a latching part connected to the lateral sides of the cross arm portion, the latching part is exposed on the lateral sides of the tongue plate portion, and the convex part is arranged corresponding to the latching part.

8. The USB connector according to claim 7, wherein: The conductive terminals include an upper row of terminals and a lower row of terminals arranged in two rows. The USB connector includes an intermediate shielding piece retained in the insulating body. The intermediate shielding piece is located between the upper row of terminals and the lower row of terminals, and the retaining portion of the retaining member abuts against the lateral sides of the intermediate shielding piece.

9. The USB connector according to claim 8, wherein: The insulating body is provided with an upper insulator integrally formed with the upper row of terminals, a lower insulator integrally formed with the lower row of terminals, and a front insulator, the intermediate shielding sheet is located between the upper insulator and the lower insulator, the front insulator is located at the longitudinal front ends of the upper insulator and the lower insulator, and the cross arm portion of the retaining member is buried in the front insulator.

10. The USB connector according to claim 9, wherein: The USB connector includes an upper grounding piece located outside the upper insulator and a lower grounding piece located outside the lower insulator. The lateral sides of the upper grounding piece and the lower grounding piece are mutually buckled and attached to the longitudinal rear end of the buckling portion of the buckling piece.

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