Electric connector combination

Abstract

An electric connector combination comprises a plug connector and a socket connector which can be in butt joint with each other, the plug connector comprises a plug body and a plug terminal fixed in the plug body, the plug terminal is connected with a cable, and the socket connector is installed on a circuit board. The socket comprises a socket body and a socket terminal fixed in the socket body, and the plug terminal is in butt joint with the socket terminal. The socket terminal is of a U-shaped structure and comprises a plate-shaped base portion and a pair of contact arms extending from the base portion, the contact arms are connected with the plug terminal, and the base portion extends out of the lower portion of the socket body and is installed on the circuit board so as to guarantee butt joint of two connectors.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to an electrical connector assembly comprising a plug connector and a socket connector which are mated to each other. BACKGROUND

[0002] For related known technology, please refer to a cable connector disclosed in Chinese patent CN106575829B. A first terminal is connected to a first cable, and a second terminal is connected to a second cable. Both the first terminal and the second terminal have a plurality of contact tails extending downward to be mounted to a printed circuit board. It can be seen that the known technology only has two terminals, which cannot meet the requirement of large current transmission in the current market, and the stability of the overall connector cannot be guaranteed by only using the contact tails. SUMMARY

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present application is to provide an electrical connector assembly which can meet the requirement of large current transmission and also guarantee the stability of the overall connector.

[0004] To solve the above technical problem, the present application can adopt the following technical solution: an electrical connector assembly comprising a plug connector and a socket connector which can be mated to each other, the plug connector comprising a plug body and plug terminals fixed in the plug body, the plug terminals being connected to cables, the socket connector being mounted on a circuit board and comprising a socket body and socket terminals fixed in the socket body, the plug terminals being mated to the socket terminals; each of the socket terminals is in a U-shaped structure and comprises a plate-shaped base and a pair of contact arms extending from the base, the contact arms being mated to the plug terminals, and the base extending beyond the lower part of the socket body and being mounted on the circuit board.

[0005] To solve the above technical problem, the present application can adopt the following another technical solution: an electrical connector assembly comprising a plug connector and a socket connector which can be mated to each other, the plug connector comprising a plug body, first plug terminals and second plug terminals fixed in the plug body, the first plug terminals being connected to first cables, and the second plug terminals being connected to second cables, the socket connector comprising a socket body, first socket terminals and second socket terminals fixed in the socket body, the first plug terminals being mated to the first socket terminals, and the second plug terminals being mated to the second socket terminals; the first socket terminals and the second socket terminals are provided with a first detection terminal located between the first plug terminals and the second plug terminals, and the socket terminals are provided with a second detection terminal located between the first socket terminals and the second socket terminals, the first detection terminal being electrically connected to the second detection terminal.

[0006] Compared with the prior art, the application breaks through the limitation of one terminal carrying current, replaces one terminal with two terminals, so that the connector can carry larger current. Secondly, the U-shaped design of the socket terminal makes the current flow through multiple contact arms at will, providing multiple grounding paths, which can greatly improve the carrying capacity of the current. At the same time, the U-shaped design provides a plate-shaped base, which also stabilizes the socket when the plug is connected, and plays a supporting role. Finally, the design of the detection terminal helps the operator to confirm whether the plug terminal and the socket terminal are inserted in place, and also ensures the subsequent large current transmission. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 isometric view of the electrical connector assembly mounted to a circuit board.

[0008] Figure 2 is Figure 1 an exploded view.

[0009] Figure 3 is Figure 2 an exploded view from another perspective.

[0010] Figure 4 is a sectional view along Figure 1 the line A-A.

[0011] Figure 5 is a sectional view along Figure 1 the line B-B.

[0012] Figure 6 is Figure 2 an exploded view of the socket connector in

[0013] Figure 7 is Figure 6 an exploded view of the socket connector from another perspective in

[0014] Figure 8 is Figure 2 an exploded view of the plug connector in

[0015] Figure 9 is Figure 8 an exploded view of the plug connector from another perspective in

[0016] Figure 10 is a perspective view of the plug terminal connected with the cable.

[0017] Figure 11 is Figure 2 a partial exploded view of the plug connector in

[0018] Figure 12 is Figure 2 another partial exploded view of the plug connector in

[0019] The following detailed description will further explain the present application with reference to the above mentioned figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Referring to Figures 1-12 , an electrical connector assembly 100 is disclosed, which includes a plug connector 10 and a receptacle connector 50 that can be mated to each other. The plug connector 10 includes a cable 20, and the receptacle connector 50 is mounted on a circuit board 200. The plug connector 10 includes a plug body 30 and plug terminals secured within the plug body, which include a first plug terminal 42 and a second plug terminal 44, both of which are secured to the plug body 30, and in this embodiment, the first plug terminal 42 and the second plug terminal 44 are arranged in a front-to-back direction. The first plug terminal 42 is connected to a first cable 22, and the second plug terminal 44 is connected to a second cable 24. In this embodiment, the first cable 22 is positioned above the second cable 24. Each cable 20 includes a conductor 202 and an insulator 204. The conductor 202 includes a bundle of wires that can be woven, twisted, or otherwise intertwined together as desired, and can be pre-formed to prepare for ultrasonic bonding, soldering, or welding to the first terminal 42 or the second terminal 44. In particular, as shown, the conductor 202 of the cable 20 has a pre-formed region exposed from the insulator 204 and is molded to have a cured shape 206 that has a key surface 208, so that the key surface 208 can be matched to a surface of the first plug terminal 42 or a surface of the second plug terminal 44. Figures 8 to 12

[0021] Referring to Figure 8 ​As shown, the plug body 30 includes a top cover 32 and a base 34 which are fixed to each other by means such as ultrasonic welding and cooperate to clamp the first cable 22 and the second cable 24. The top cover 32 has a plurality of heat dissipation grooves 322 for the circulation of ambient air. The base 34 includes a pair of side walls 342, each of which has a corresponding step portion 344 which defines an air passage P in communication with the interior of the top cover 32 for the exchange of hot air inside the top cover 32 with ambient air. The first plug terminal 42 and the second plug terminal 44 are generally U-shaped and each has a base 46 and a pair of arms 48. The base 46 and the two arms 48 are generally planar. The pair of arms 48 are fixed to the inner wall surface of the housing 30, and in a preferred embodiment, the pair of arms 48 are in interference fit with the inner wall surface of the base 34 to increase the flexibility of the plug and socket terminal mating and to ensure the stability of the electrical connection. The keying surface 208 of the conductor 202 of the first cable 22 is connected to the upper surface of the base 46 of the first plug terminal 42, and the keying surface 208 of the conductor 202 of the second cable 24 is connected to the lower surface of the base 46 of the second plug terminal 44. The plug connector 10 further includes a first detection terminal 49 which is fixed to the plug body 30, and in the present embodiment, the first detection terminal 49 is mounted on the base 34 and located between the first plug terminal 42 and the second plug terminal 44.

[0022] The socket connector 50 includes a socket body 60 and socket terminals fixed to the socket body 60, which include a first socket terminal 72 and a second socket terminal 74. Specifically, the first socket terminal 72 and the second socket terminal 74 are mounted in a pair of holes 62 of the socket body 60. The socket body 60 includes a pair of side walls 66 which have buckles 662 which are latched to the corresponding step portions 344 of the plug connector base 34. The first socket terminal 72 and the second socket terminal 74 are generally U-shaped and each include a plate-like base 76 and a pair of contact arms 78 extending from the base 76, the contact arms 78 being connected to the first and second plug terminals 42, 44, the base 76 being generally planar and having a ventilation hole which extends beyond the lower side of the socket body 60 and is mounted on the circuit board 200 to support the socket connector 50 and ensure the stability of the plug connector 10 mating, and the pair of contact arms 78 can provide a plurality of ground paths to meet the transmission of large current. Each pair of contact arms 78 is in the form of a flexible spring arm, and in the present embodiment, the contact arm 78 has three spring fingers 782. The pair of contact arms 78 or the connecting portion of the pair of contact arms 78 and the base 76 can be fixed to the inner wall surface of the socket body 60 by interference fit.

[0023] The receptacle connector 50 also includes a second detection terminal 80 between the first and second receptacle terminals 72, 74, the second detection terminal 80 being a plurality of spaced apart post structures secured to the receptacle body 60. Correspondingly, the circuit board 200 has conductive pads 300 and 400 for making electrical connections with the base portions 76 of the first and second receptacle terminals 72, 74 and the two separate post structures (second detection terminal 80), respectively. Specifically, the two separate post structures (second detection terminal 80) are exposed in slots 64 of the receptacle body 60 between a pair of holes 62 for engaging the first detection terminal 49 of the header connector 10, the first detection terminal 49 being a plate structure, such that when the header connector 10 is mated with the receptacle connector 50, the plate first detection terminal 49 bridges the plurality of second detection terminals 80, thereby creating an electrical circuit path through the circuit board 200 and signaling that the terminals have been mated. In addition, the post structures are located at either end of the slots 64 and extend downwardly to be secured to the surface of the circuit board 200, thereby supporting the overall connector assembly with the plate base portions 76 of the receptacle terminals, particularly when the header connector 10 is inserted, stabilizing the overall receptacle connector 50.

[0024] The above embodiments are the preferred but not all embodiments of the present application, any equivalent changes made to the technical solutions of the present application by those of ordinary skill in the art through reading the present application description are covered by the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly comprising a plug connector and a receptacle connector which can be mated to each other, the plug connector comprising a plug body and plug terminals fixed in the plug body, the plug terminals being connected with a cable, the receptacle connector being mounted on a circuit board and comprising a receptacle body and receptacle terminals fixed in the receptacle body, the plug terminals being mated with the receptacle terminals; characterized in that: Each of the socket terminals is in a U-shaped structure and includes a plate-shaped base and a pair of contact arms extending from the base, the contact arms being in abutment with the plug terminals, the base extending beyond the lower side of the socket body and being mounted on the circuit board.

2. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein: The plug terminals include a first plug terminal connected with a first cable and a second plug terminal connected with a second cable, the plug body including a top cover and a base, the top cover being in cooperation with the base to clamp the first cable and the second cable.

3. The electrical connector assembly of claim 2, wherein: The top cover is provided with a plurality of heat dissipation grooves.

4. The electrical connector assembly of claim 2, wherein: The socket body is provided with a pair of side walls, the side walls being provided with buckles, the base being provided with stepped portions in cooperation with the buckles.

5. The electrical connector assembly of claim 4, wherein: The stepped portions are arranged to form air passages in cooperation with the inside of the top cover, the air passages being used for heat exchange between the inside of the top cover and the outside air.

6. An electrical connector assembly comprising a plug connector and a receptacle connector which can be mated to each other, the plug connector comprising a plug body, a first plug terminal and a second plug terminal fixed in the plug body, the first plug terminal being connected with a first cable, the second plug terminal being connected with a second cable, the receptacle connector comprising a receptacle body, a first receptacle terminal and a second receptacle terminal fixed in the receptacle body, the first plug terminal being mated with the first receptacle terminal, the second plug terminal being mated with the second receptacle terminal; characterized in that: The plug connector is provided with a first detection terminal between the first plug terminal and the second plug terminal, the socket terminals being provided with a second detection terminal between the first socket terminal and the second socket terminal, the first detection terminal being electrically connected with the second detection terminal.

7. The electrical connector assembly of claim 6, wherein: The first detection terminal is in a plate-shaped structure, the socket body being provided with a slot for inserting the plate-shaped structure.

8. The electrical connector assembly of claim 7, wherein: The second detection terminal is in a plurality of columnar structures separated from each other, the plate-shaped structure of the first detection terminal bridging the plurality of second detection terminals.

9. The electrical connector assembly of claim 8, wherein: The socket connector is mounted on a circuit board, the columnar structures being located at both ends of the slot and extending downward to be fixed on the surface of the circuit board.

10. The electrical connector assembly of claim 6, wherein: The socket connector is mounted on a circuit board; the first socket terminal and the second socket terminal are both in a U-shaped structure and each include a plate-shaped base and a pair of contact arms extending from the base, the base extending beyond the lower side of the socket body and being mounted on the circuit board.

Images