Plug electric connector with movable contact terminal

Abstract

The invention discloses a plug electric connector with a movable contact terminal. The plug electric connector comprises an insulating structure, a plurality of terminals, a moving part and at least one contact terminal, the plurality of terminals are combined with the insulation structure, and each terminal comprises a butt joint part, a fixing part and a welding part. The moving member is movably disposed on the insulating structure. The contact terminal is combined with the moving part. The contact terminal and the moving member synchronously move between a contact position and a retreat position. The distance between the grounding terminal and the power supply terminal is larger than the distance between the power supply terminal and the functional terminal. The length of the grounding terminal is greater than the length of the power supply terminal, and the length of the power supply terminal is greater than the length of the conventional signal terminal and the functional terminal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of electrical connectors, and more particularly to a plug electrical connector with movable contact terminals that triggers a specific function after mating. Background Technology

[0002] Electrical connectors are used to connect different electronic components or modules, enabling the transmission of electronic signals between them. An electrical connector mates with a counterpart connector, and signals are transmitted through contact between the connector's terminals and the counterpart connector's terminals. Therefore, an electrical connection is formed only after mating is completed, and the mating of electrical connectors marks the initiation of signal transmission between electronic devices.

[0003] Existing electrical connectors can transmit signals or power even before the mating process is complete, as the terminals are already in contact. This can cause problems for electronic devices under certain operating conditions. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, the object of the present invention is to provide a plug electrical connector with movable contact terminals, which allows the user to choose to activate the electrical connection of the connector to transmit signals or power only after the mating is completed, or to form an electrical connection to transmit signals or power when the terminals come into contact during the mating process.

[0005] This invention provides a plug connector with movable contact terminals, comprising an insulating structure, a plurality of terminals, a movable member, and at least one contact terminal. The plurality of terminals are coupled to the insulating structure, each terminal including a mating portion, a fixing portion, and a soldering portion. The movable member is movably disposed on the insulating structure. The contact terminal is coupled to the movable member. The plurality of terminals are arranged in two terminal rows, each terminal row including a conventional signal terminal pair, two functional terminals respectively disposed on both sides of the conventional signal terminal pair, two power terminals respectively disposed outside the functional terminals, and two ground terminals respectively disposed outside the power terminals. The contact terminal and the movable member move synchronously between a contact position and a retracted position. When the contact terminal is in the contact position, after the terminal mates with the terminal of the socket connector, the contact terminal contacts a detection terminal of the socket connector. When the contact terminal is in the retracted position, after the terminal mates with the terminal of the socket connector, the contact terminal does not contact the detection terminal. The distance between the ground terminal and the power terminal is greater than the distance between the power terminal and the functional terminal. The length of the ground terminal is greater than the length of the power terminal.

[0006] In another embodiment, the length of the power supply terminal is greater than the length of the conventional signal terminal, and the length of the power supply terminal is greater than the length of the functional terminal.

[0007] In another embodiment, the solder portions of the functional terminals of a terminal block are arranged in a first solder column, and the solder portions of the conventional signal terminal pairs, the solder portions of the power terminals, and the solder portions of the ground terminals are arranged in a second solder column. The first solder column and the second solder column are staggered in the extension direction of the terminals.

[0008] In another embodiment, it includes two contact terminals, which are respectively disposed outside the first grounding terminal.

[0009] In another embodiment, it further includes a metal spacer disposed between the two terminal rows, and the metal spacer includes two clamping spring arms that clamp the metal partition of the socket connector when the plug connector mates with the socket connector.

[0010] In another embodiment, the grounding terminal contacts the metal spacer.

[0011] In another embodiment, the soldering portion of the terminals of one terminal row is soldered to the pads of a circuit board using surface mount technology, and the soldering portion of the terminals of the other terminal row is soldered to the pads of the circuit board using dual in-line package (DIP) technology.

[0012] In another embodiment, the movable member includes an insulating part and a metal structure part. The insulating part is movably disposed on the insulating structure, and the metal structure part is coupled to the insulating part. The metal structure part includes a body and at least one positioning spring disposed on the body, and contact terminals are disposed on both sides of the body.

[0013] In another embodiment, it further includes a metal housing having a limiting groove and two positioning holes. The insulating part of the moving member has a limiting body that can move in the limiting groove and forms a limiting position at the contact position and the retraction position via two opposite edge stops of the limiting groove. The two positioning holes correspond to the contact position and the retraction position respectively. The positioning spring is engaged with the two positioning holes at the contact position and the retraction position respectively.

[0014] The plug connector with movable contact terminals provided by this invention moves synchronously between a contact position and a retracted position via a moving member and the contact terminals. When the user moves the moving member and contact terminals to the contact position, after the terminals of the plug connector and the socket connector are aligned, the contact terminals contact the detection terminals, thereby activating a specific function of the electronic device, such as power supply. When the user moves the moving member and contact terminals to the retracted position, after the male terminal of the male connector is aligned with the female terminal of the female connector, the contact terminals do not contact the detection terminals, and the specific function of the electronic device is not activated.

[0015] In addition, the length of the grounding terminal of the present invention is greater than the length of the power terminal, and the length of the power terminal is greater than the length of the conventional signal terminal and the functional terminal. Thus, when the plug connector and the socket connector are mated, the grounding terminal of the plug connector and the socket connector contact first, then the power terminal contacts, and finally the conventional signal terminal and the functional terminal contact. The electronic device or electronic module can complete the power supply function first, and then transmit electronic signals. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an embodiment of the plug connector with movable contact terminals of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of a plug connector with movable contact terminals.

[0018] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of the combined configuration of terminals and metal spacers of a plug connector with movable contact terminals.

[0019] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A top view of the combination configuration of terminals and metal spacers of a plug connector with movable contact terminals.

[0020] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 The moving part and contact terminal of a plug electrical connector having movable contact terminals.

[0021] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A three-dimensional assembly diagram of the male terminal, metal spacer, and moving parts of a male electrical connector.

[0022] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 10 - Plug connector with movable contact terminals; 11 - Insulation structure; 12 - Terminal; 12a - Conventional signal terminal pair; 12b - Functional terminal; 12c - Power terminal; 12e - Grounding terminal; 13 - Metal spacer; 14 - Moving part; 15 - Contact terminal; 16 - Metal housing; 17 - Terminal slot; 111 - Insulation structure; 111a - Receiving groove; 112 - Male end insulation structure; 112a - Receiving groove; 121 - Butt joint; 122 - Fixing part; 123 - Welding part; 131 - Spacer body; 132 - Clamping spring arm; 141 - Insulation part; 142 - Metal structure part; 161 - Limiting groove; 162 - Positioning hole; 1221 - Lug; 1412 - Limiting body; 1421 - Body; 1422 - Positioning spring; 1423 - Clamping spring; A, B - Terminal rows. Detailed Implementation

[0023] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 This illustrates an embodiment of the plug connector with movable contact terminals of the present invention. The plug connector 10 with movable contact terminals of this embodiment (hereinafter referred to as the plug connector) is a plug connector conforming to the USB Type-C specification.

[0024] The plug connector 10 of this embodiment includes an insulating structure 11, a plurality of terminals 12, a metal spacer 13, a movable member 14, at least one contact terminal 15, a metal housing 16, and a terminal slot 17.

[0025] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, a plurality of terminals 12 are arranged in two terminal columns A and B. Each terminal column A or B includes a conventional signal terminal pair 12a, two functional terminals 12b respectively disposed on both sides of the conventional signal terminal pair 12a, two power terminals 12c respectively disposed outside the functional terminals 12b, and two ground terminals 12e respectively disposed outside the power terminals 12c. The arrangement of the two terminal columns A and B conforms to the USB Type C specification. Each terminal column A and B in this embodiment conforms to the USB 2.0 specification, that is, each terminal column A and B in this embodiment does not have a high-frequency signal terminal pair. Each terminal 12 includes a mating portion 121, a fixing portion 122, and a soldering portion 123. The mating portion 121 forms a bent spring-arm-like structure. The fixing portion 122 of the two ground terminals 12e has a large width and has lugs 1221.

[0026] All solder joints 123 of terminal block A are arranged in a row and soldered to pads P1 of circuit board P using surface mount technology (SMT). The solder joints 123 of terminals 12 of terminal block B are arranged in two staggered rows and are inserted into through holes P1 of circuit board P using dual in-line through-hole (DIP) technology and soldered to circuit board P.

[0027] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the length of the ground terminal 12e is greater than the length of the power supply terminal 12c, and the length of the power supply terminal 12c is greater than the length of the conventional signal terminal 12a. The length of the power supply terminal 12c is greater than the length of the functional terminal 12b. The conventional signal terminal 12a and the functional terminal 12b have the same length.

[0028] A metal spacer 13 is disposed between two male terminal rows A and B, and the metal spacer 13 includes a spacer body 131 and two clamping spring arms 132 disposed on opposite sides of the spacer body 131. The grounding terminal 12e abuts against the metal spacer 13 through a bending structure 12e1 on one side of the fixing part 122.

[0029] like Figure 2 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, male terminal block A is bonded to the first male terminal insulation structure 111 by an injection molding process, and male terminal block B is bonded to the second male terminal insulation structure 112 by an injection molding process. The first male terminal insulation structure 111 and the second male terminal insulation structure 112 are assembled in a snap-fit ​​structure and clamp the metal spacer 13 to form the male terminal insulation structure 11. The outer surface of the first male terminal insulation structure 111 has a receiving groove 111a, and the outer surface of the second male terminal insulation structure 112 has a receiving groove 112a. The moving member 14 is movably disposed in the receiving groove 111a. The front and rear end edges of the receiving groove 111a limit the stroke of the moving member 14, so that the moving member 14 stops at the front and rear end edges of the receiving groove 111a and moves between a contact position and a retracted position. The terminal slot member 17 is disposed in the receiving groove 112a.

[0030] The movable member 14 includes an insulating part 141 and a metal structure part 142. The insulating part 141 is movably disposed in the receiving groove 111a and has multiple terminal slots on its surface near the male terminal 12 for receiving the mating portion 121 of the male terminal 12 of the male terminal row A. The metal structure part 142 is coupled to the insulating part 141 and includes a body 1421, two positioning springs 1422 disposed on the body 1421, and multiple clamping springs 1423 disposed at one end of the body 1421. Contact terminals 15 are disposed on both sides of the body 1421, such that the contact terminals 15 are located outside the first grounding terminal 12e of the male terminal row A and behind the first mating portion 121 of the first grounding terminal 12e, and the contact terminals 15 move synchronously with the movable member 14 between a contact position and a retraction position.

[0031] Terminal slot 17 has the same structure as movable member 14, but terminal slot 17 is fixedly disposed in receiving slot 112a.

[0032] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the metal housing 16 covers the insulating structure 11, and the lug 1221 of the fixing part 122 of the grounding terminal 11e abuts against the metal housing 16. The metal housing 16 has a limiting groove 161 and two positioning holes 162. The insulating part 141 of the moving member 14 has a limiting body 1412. The limiting body 1412 can move in the limiting groove 161 and is limited in the contact position and the retraction position by the two opposite edges of the limiting groove 161. In this embodiment, the limiting body 1412 has a circular structure, and the limiting groove 161 has an elliptical structure. The two positioning holes 162 correspond to the contact position and the retraction position, respectively. The positioning spring 1422 engages with the two positioning holes 162 in the contact position and the retraction position, respectively, so that the moving member 14 is positioned in the contact position and the retraction position.

[0033] like Figure 5 As shown, when a user wishes to activate a specific function, such as power supply, after the plug connector 10 mates with a socket connector, the user applies force to the limiting body 1412 of the moving member 14, moving the moving member 14 and the contact terminal 15 to the contact position. When the terminal 12 of the plug connector 10 mates with the terminal of the socket connector, after the mating is complete, the contact terminal 15 contacts the detection terminal of the socket connector, thereby activating the specific function of the electronic device.

[0034] like Figure 6 As shown, when it is not necessary to activate a specific function after the plug connector 10 and the socket connector are mated, the user applies force to the limiting body 1412 of the moving member 14 to move the moving member 14 and the contact terminal 15 to the retracted position. After the terminals 12 of the plug connector 10 and the terminals of the socket connector are mated, the contact terminal 15 and the detection terminal 24 do not contact each other, and the specific function of the electronic device is not activated.

[0035] The plug connector of the present invention, having movable contact terminals, moves synchronously between a contact position and a retracted position via a moving member and the contact terminals. When the user moves the moving member and contact terminals to the contact position, after the terminals of the plug connector and the socket connector are mated, the contact terminals contact the detection terminals, thereby activating a specific function of the electronic device, such as power supply. When the user moves the moving member and contact terminals to the retracted position, after the male terminal of the male connector is mated with the female terminal of the female connector, the contact terminals do not contact the detection terminals, and the specific function of the electronic device is not activated.

[0036] In addition, the length of the grounding terminal of the present invention is greater than the length of the power terminal, and the length of the power terminal is greater than the length of the conventional signal terminal and the functional terminal. Thus, when the plug connector and the socket connector are mated, the grounding terminal of the plug connector and the socket connector contact first, then the power terminal contacts, and finally the conventional signal terminal and the functional terminal contact. The electronic device or electronic module can complete the power supply function first, and then transmit electronic signals.

[0037] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Any simple equivalent variations and modifications made in accordance with the claims and specification of the present invention are still within the scope of the invention. Furthermore, no embodiment or claim of the present invention needs to achieve all the objectives, advantages, or features provided by the present invention. In addition, the abstract and headings are merely for assisting in patent document searches and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., mentioned in the specification or claims of the present invention are only used to name elements or distinguish different embodiments or scopes, and are not used to limit the upper or lower limit of the number of elements.

Claims

1. A plug connector with movable contact terminals, characterized in that, include: An insulating structure; A plurality of terminals are attached to the insulating structure, each terminal including a mating portion, a fixing portion and a soldering portion; A movable component, movably disposed on the insulating structure; and At least one contact terminal is attached to the moving part; The plurality of terminals are arranged into two terminal columns, each terminal column including a conventional signal terminal pair, two functional terminals respectively disposed on both sides of the conventional signal terminal pair, two power terminals respectively disposed on the outside of the two functional terminals, and two ground terminals respectively disposed on the outside of the two power terminals; The at least one contact terminal moves synchronously with the moving member between a contact position and a retracted position. When the at least one contact terminal is in the contact position, after the plurality of terminals are mated with the terminals of a socket connector, the at least one contact terminal is in contact with a detection terminal of the socket connector. When the at least one contact terminal is in the retracted position, after the plurality of terminals are mated with the plurality of terminals of the socket connector, the at least one contact terminal is not in contact with the detection terminal. The distance between the grounding terminal and the power terminal is greater than the distance between the power terminal and the functional terminal; The length of the grounding terminal is greater than the length of the power supply terminal.

2. The plug connector with movable contact terminals as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The length of the power terminal is greater than the length of the conventional signal terminal, and the length of the power terminal is greater than the length of the functional terminal.

3. The plug connector with movable contact terminals as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The solder joints of the functional terminals are arranged in a first solder joint, and the solder joints of the conventional signal terminal pair, the solder joints of the power terminal and the solder joints of the ground terminal are arranged in a second solder joint. The first solder joint and the second solder joint are staggered in the extension direction of the plurality of terminals.

4. The plug connector with movable contact terminals as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It includes two contact terminals, which are respectively disposed on the outside of the first grounding terminal.

5. The plug connector with movable contact terminals as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a metal spacer disposed between the two terminal rows, and the metal spacer includes two clamping spring arms.

6. The plug connector with movable contact terminals as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The two grounding terminals are in contact with the metal spacer.

7. The plug connector with movable contact terminals as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The solder portion of the plurality of terminals in one terminal row is soldered to the pads of a circuit board using surface mount technology, while the solder portion of the plurality of terminals in another terminal row is soldered to the pads of the circuit board using dual in-line package (DIP) technology.

8. The plug connector with movable contact terminals as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The movable part includes an insulating part and a metal structure part. The insulating part is movably disposed on the insulating structure, and the metal structure part is coupled to the insulating part. The metal structure part includes a body and at least one positioning spring disposed on the body. The contact terminals are disposed on both sides of the body.

9. The plug connector with movable contact terminals as described in claim 8, characterized in that, It also includes a metal housing having a limiting groove and two positioning holes. The insulating part of the moving member has a limiting body that can move in the limiting groove and is limited at the contact position and the retraction position by the two opposite edges of the limiting groove. The two positioning holes correspond to the contact position and the retraction position respectively. The at least one positioning spring is engaged with the two positioning holes at the contact position and the retraction position respectively.

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