Electric connector combination

Abstract

An electric connector combination comprises a plug connector and a socket connector in butt joint with the plug connector, and the plug connector comprises a plug body, a plug terminal accommodated in the plug body and a cable connected with the plug terminal. The socket connector comprises a socket body and a socket terminal accommodated in the socket body, the socket terminal comprises a U-shaped part, the U-shaped part comprises a base part installed on a circuit board and a pair of side plate parts extending upwards from the two sides of the base part, the side plate parts abut against the plug terminal, and the plug terminal is inserted into the socket body. The two side plate parts are bent and extend in the direction away from each other to form bending parts, and the bending parts continue to extend downwards to form holding parts installed on the circuit board so as to stabilize butt joint of the plug and the socket connector.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention discloses an electrical connector assembly that can be mounted on a circuit board. Background Technology

[0002] For relevant known technologies, please refer to the cable connector disclosed in Chinese Invention Patent CN106575829B. The first terminal is connected to a first cable, and the second terminal is connected to a second cable. Both the first and second terminals have multiple downward-extending contact tails for mounting to a printed circuit board. It can be seen that the known technology only has two terminals, which cannot meet the high current transmission required by the current market, and the stability of the overall connector cannot be guaranteed by relying solely on the contact tails.

[0003] Therefore, it is necessary to provide an improved electrical connector assembly to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly that can meet the requirements of high current transmission while ensuring the overall stability of the connector.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: an electrical connector assembly, comprising a plug connector and a socket connector mating with the plug connector, the plug connector comprising a plug body, a plug terminal housed within the plug body, and a cable connected to the plug terminal, the socket connector comprising a socket body and a socket terminal housed within the socket body, the socket terminal comprising a U-shaped portion, the U-shaped portion comprising a base mounted on a circuit board, and a pair of side plate portions extending upward from both sides of the base, the side plate portions abutting against the plug terminal, the two side plate portions extending downward in a direction away from each other to form a bent portion, the bent portion continuing to extend downward to form a retaining portion mounted to the circuit board.

[0006] The present invention also adopts the following technical solution: a plug connector, including a plug body, a plug terminal fixed in the plug body, and a cable connected to the plug terminal. The plug terminal includes a U-shaped portion, a pair of bent portions extending from the U-shaped portion to each other, and a pair of contact arms extending from the pair of bent portions. One end of the cable is fixed in the U-shaped portion. The pair of bent portions bend toward each other and finally abut against each other. The contact arms are used to contact the terminal of a mating connector.

[0007] Compared with the prior art, the socket terminal of the present invention is "M" shaped. First, it includes a "U" shaped part. The base of the U shaped part is mounted on the circuit board, which can provide multiple current paths. Second, the M-shaped terminal has a wider current carrying surface than the U-shaped terminal to realize the transmission of large current. Finally, the bending part and the retaining part are further extended on the basis of the "U" shaped part, which can stabilize the mating of the plug and socket connector. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 A perspective view of an electrical connector assembly mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB).

[0009] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Exploded view of the electrical connector assembly.

[0010] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A breakdown diagram from another perspective.

[0011] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the electrical connector assembly along the dashed line AA.

[0012] Figure 5 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the electrical connector assembly along the dashed line BB.

[0013] Figure 6 for Figure 1 Exploded view of the center socket connector.

[0014] Figure 7 for Figure 6 A breakdown diagram from another perspective.

[0015] Figure 8 for Figure 1 Exploded view of the plug connector.

[0016] Figure 9 for Figure 8 A breakdown diagram from another perspective.

[0017] Figure 10 This is a 3D view showing the connection between the plug terminals and the cable.

[0018] Figure 11 This is another exploded view of the plug connector.

[0019] Figure 12 This is another exploded view of the electrical connector assembly.

[0020] The following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will further illustrate the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0021] refer to Figures 1 to 12An electrical connector assembly 100 includes a plug connector 10 and a mating receptacle connector 50. The plug connector 10 includes a plug body 30, plug terminals held within the plug body 30, and a cable 20 connected to the plug terminals. The receptacle connector 50 is mounted on a printed circuit board 200. The plug terminals include a first front terminal 42 and a first rear terminal 44 fixed to the plug body 30. The cable 20 includes an upper cable 22 and a lower cable 24. The first front terminal 42 is connected to the upper cable 22, and the rear terminal 44 is connected to the lower cable 24. Each cable 20 includes a conductor 202 and an insulation layer 204. As known in the art, the conductor 202 may include braided, stranded, or otherwise wound wire strands and may be pre-formed for connection to the first front terminal 42 or the first rear terminal 44 by ultrasonic welding, soldering, or welding. Specifically, as... Figures 8 to 12 As shown, the conductor 202 of the cable 20 has a pre-formed portion exposed from the insulation layer 204, and its shape corresponds to the shape of the inner surface of the first front terminal 42 or the first rear terminal 44 to ensure the stability of the connection between the plug terminal and the cable.

[0022] The plug body 30 includes a sleeve 32 for receiving an upper cable 22 and a lower cable 24, and a pair of sidewalls 34, each having a latch 342. Each of the first front terminal 42 and the first rear terminal 44 includes a U-shaped portion 46, a pair of bent portions 47 extending from the two side portions of the U-shaped portion 46 toward each other, and a pair of contact arms 48 extending from the pair of bent portions 47. The pair of bent portions 47 bend toward each other and finally abut to form an abutment end. The plug terminal includes the contact arms 48 extending away from the abutment ends to form the contact arms 48. The contact arms 48 have contact portions that contact the mating connector terminals. The abutment end of the first front terminal 42 is higher than the abutment end of the first rear terminal 44, such that the first front terminal 42 is higher than the first rear terminal 44, and the upper cable 22 passes over the first rear terminal 44. The two side portions of the U-shaped portion 46 are fixed to the inner wall surface of the plug body 30. In this embodiment, the two side portions of the U-shaped portion 46 abut against the inner wall surface of the plug body 30 by an interference fit. Each of the two side plates of the U-shaped portion 46 is generally planar. Each of the pair of contact arms 48 is provided with a plurality of resilient contact fingers, for example, three resilient contact fingers. A pre-formed portion of the conductor 202 of the cable 20 can be clamped between the two side plates of the U-shaped portion 46, thereby being fixed within the U-shaped portion 46. In this embodiment, the pre-formed portion is welded to the inner surface of the side plate portion. The plug connector 10 may also include a grounding piece 49 fixed to the plug body 30.

[0023] The receptacle connector 50 includes a receptacle body 60 and receptacle terminals fixed to the receptacle body 60. The receptacle terminals include a second front terminal 72 and a second rear terminal 74. Specifically, the second front terminal 72 and the second rear terminal 74 are installed in a pair of holes 62 in the receptacle body 60. The receptacle body 60 includes a pair of sidewalls 66, each sidewall 66 having a stepped portion 662 on its outer side, and a latch 342 locking onto the stepped portion 662. Specifically, the latch 342 has a plate portion 3421 extending along the sidewall 34 of the plug body 30, and the plate portion 3421 has a snap-fit ​​protrusion 3422 that snaps onto the corresponding stepped portion 662. The plate portion 3421 is wider than a typical latch, thereby ensuring a more reliable snap-fit ​​effect. Each of the second front terminal 72 and the second rear terminal 74 includes a U-shaped portion 76, a pair of bent portions 77 extending outward from the two side plates of the U-shaped portion 76, and a pair of retaining portions 78 extending from the pair of bent portions 77 for mounting onto the printed circuit board 200, thereby forming an M-type terminal. Each of the pair of retaining portions 78 is substantially a planar plate structure. The pair of retaining portions 78 can be fixed to the inner surface of the socket body 60 by interference fit, and the retaining portions 78 can provide support when the plug connector 10 mates with the socket connector 50. A pair of contact arms 48 of the first front terminal 42 or the first rear terminal 44 are located between the two side plates of the U-shaped portion 76 of the second front terminal 72 or the second rear terminal 74, and can abut against each other. The U-shaped portion 76 has a base 762 for surface mounting onto the printed circuit board 200, thereby providing multiple current paths. At the same time, the base 762 is a planar structure, which can also provide support to a certain extent to ensure the stability of the overall connector assembly. The receptacle connector 50 also includes a pair of independent posts 80 fixed to the receptacle body 60. Accordingly, the printed circuit board 200 has through-holes 300 for receiving the pair of posts 80. Specifically, the pair of individual posts 80 are exposed in slots 64 of the receptacle body 60 and located between a pair of holes 62 to engage with the grounding plate 49 of the plug connector 10. When the plug connector 10 and the receptacle connector 50 mate, the grounding plate 49 bridges the two posts 80, thereby forming a circuit through the printed circuit board 200 and sending a signal indicating full engagement. The printed circuit board 200 also has through-holes or holes 400 for receiving retaining portions 78 of the second front terminal 72 and the second rear terminal 74, and conductive pads 500 for contacting the bases 762 of the second front terminal 72 and the second rear terminal 74.

[0024] In summary, the above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Any simple equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the claims and description of the present invention should still fall within the scope of this patent.

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly comprising a plug connector and a receptacle connector mating with the plug connector, the plug connector comprising a plug body, plug terminals housed within the plug body, and a cable connected to the plug terminals, the receptacle connector comprising a receptacle body and receptacle terminals housed within the receptacle body, characterized in that: The socket terminal includes a U-shaped portion, the U-shaped portion including a base mounted on a circuit board and a pair of side plates extending upward from both sides of the base, the side plates abutting against the plug terminal, the two side plates extending in a direction away from each other to form a bent portion, the bent portion continuing to extend downward to form a retaining portion mounted to the circuit board.

2. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The retaining part is a plate-shaped structure and abuts against the inner surface of the socket body.

3. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The plug terminals include a first front terminal and a first rear terminal, and the socket terminals include a second front terminal and a second rear terminal. The first front terminal is connected to the second front terminal, and the first rear terminal is connected to the second rear terminal.

4. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The socket body has a pair of sidewalls, and a stepped portion is provided on the outer side of the sidewalls of the socket body. The plug body has a pair of sidewalls, and a pair of latches are provided on the sidewalls of the plug body, the latches being locked onto the stepped portion.

5. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that: The latch has a plate portion extending along the side wall of the plug body, and the plate portion is provided with a snap-fit ​​protrusion that engages with the corresponding step portion.

6. A plug connector, comprising a plug body, plug terminals held within the plug body, and a cable connected to the plug terminals, characterized in that: The plug terminal includes a U-shaped portion, a pair of bent portions extending from the U-shaped portion to each other, and a pair of contact arms extending from the pair of bent portions. One end of the cable is fixed inside the U-shaped portion. The pair of bent portions bend toward each other and eventually abut against each other. The contact arms are used to contact the terminals of a mating connector.

7. The plug connector as described in claim 6, characterized in that: The two bent portions abut against each other to form abutment ends, and the plug terminal includes a contact arm extending from the abutment ends away from each other to form a contact arm, the contact arm having a contact portion that contacts the terminal of the mating connector.

8. The plug connector as described in claim 6, characterized in that: The U-shaped portion includes two side plates that abut against the inner surface of the plug body.

9. The plug connector as described in claim 6, characterized in that: The cable includes a conductor and an insulating layer covering the conductor. The conductor has a preformed portion exposed outside the insulating layer, and the preformed portion is sandwiched between the two side plate portions of the U-shaped portion.

10. The plug connector as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that: The plug terminals include a first front terminal and a first rear terminal, and the cable includes an upper cable and a lower cable. The first front terminal is connected to the upper cable, and the first rear terminal is connected to the lower cable. The first front terminal is higher than the first rear terminal, and the upper cable extends over the first rear terminal.

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