Plug connector, socket connector assembly and electrical connector assembly

Abstract

This invention discloses an electrical connector assembly, comprising a socket connector and a plug connector. The socket connector includes an insulating body and a plurality of conductive terminals fixed within the insulating body. The plug connector includes a housing and a circuit board housed within the housing. The circuit board includes a mating end that mates with the socket connector. The lower surface of the mating end is provided with a plurality of conductive tabs that mate with the conductive terminals. Each conductive terminal includes a contact portion that mates with the conductive tabs of the circuit board and a mounting portion that can be mounted on an external circuit board. The electrical connector assembly further includes a guiding mechanism. The housing is provided with a guiding device that mates with the guiding mechanism. The guiding device mates with the guiding mechanism to guide the plug connector to move obliquely downward when the plug connector mates with the socket connector, thereby achieving mating.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to plug connectors, socket connector assemblies, and electrical connector assemblies, and more particularly to a plug connector, socket connector assembly, and electrical connector assembly capable of transmitting high-speed signals. Background Technology

[0002] Please refer to U.S. Patent No. 6,142,802, which discloses an electrical connector assembly including a plug connector and a socket connector assembly that mates with the plug connector. The plug connector has a protrusion, and the corresponding socket connector has a cam and a groove formed relative to the cam. The cam is defined by an inclined surface and a flat surface. During the mating process of the plug connector and the socket connector, the plug needs to tilt upward first and then tilt downward, which can easily cause it to get stuck.

[0003] Please refer to U.S. Patent No. 10680388, which discloses an electrical connector assembly including a plug connector and a receptacle assembly that mates with the plug connector. The plug connector includes a guide feature extending from the side, and the receptacle assembly's shielding housing includes a guide rail along the wall. The guide rail extends obliquely downwards throughout the entire front-rear direction of the shielding housing, requiring a large vertical space in the connector. In both of these prior art technologies, the guide mechanism is located at the lower part of the receptacle connector. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to provide a plug connector that facilitates the transmission of high-speed signals.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a plug connector that can be inserted and mated with a socket connector in a front-to-back direction, the socket connector including an insulating body and a plurality of conductive terminals fixed in the insulating body, the plug connector including a housing and a circuit board housed in the housing, the circuit board including a mating end that can mate with the socket connector, the lower surface of the mating end being provided with a plurality of conductive pieces that mate with the conductive terminals, the housing including an upper housing and a lower housing that mate with each other, the circuit board being located between the upper and lower housings, the upper housing including a main body and a mating part disposed at the front of the main body, a guide device being provided on the outer side of the mating part, the guide device being able to guide the plug connector to move downward when the plug connector mates with the socket connector.

[0006] Another major objective of this invention is to provide a socket connector that facilitates the transmission of high-speed signals.

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a socket connector assembly, which allows a plug connector to be inserted and mated in the front-to-back direction and can be installed on an external circuit board. The socket connector assembly includes a socket connector and a guiding mechanism. The socket connector includes an insulating body and a plurality of conductive terminals fixed in the insulating body. The insulating body includes a bottom wall and a pair of spaced-apart side walls extending upward from both sides of the bottom wall in the lateral direction. The bottom wall and the side walls together form an upward-opening receiving space. The conductive terminals include a holding portion fixed on the bottom wall, an elastic arm extending into the receiving space from one end of the holding portion, and a mounting portion disposed at the end of the holding portion opposite to the elastic arm. The guiding mechanism guides the plug connector to move obliquely downward when it mates with the socket connector.

[0008] Another major object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly that facilitates the transmission of high-speed signals.

[0009] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention can adopt the following technical solution: an electrical connector assembly, comprising a socket connector that can be mounted on an external circuit board and a plug connector that mates with the socket connector. The socket connector includes an insulating body and a plurality of conductive terminals fixed in the insulating body. The plug connector includes a housing and a circuit board housed in the housing. The circuit board includes a mating end that mates with the socket connector. The lower surface of the mating end is provided with a plurality of conductive plates that mate with the conductive terminals. Each conductive terminal includes a contact portion that mates with the conductive plates of the circuit board and a mounting portion that can be mounted on an external circuit board. The assembly further includes a guiding mechanism. The housing is provided with a guiding device that mates with the guiding mechanism. The guiding device mates with the guiding mechanism so that when the plug connector mates with the socket connector, it can guide the plug connector to move obliquely downward to achieve mating.

[0010] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the electrical connector assembly of the present invention are as follows: the present invention, through the cooperation of the guiding device and the guiding mechanism, guides the plug connector to move obliquely downward when the plug connector and the socket connector are engaged, so as to achieve contact engagement between the conductive sheet and the conductive terminal, the transmission path of the conductive terminal is shorter, and the wear on the circuit board and the conductive terminal is less. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the electrical connection system of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A three-dimensional view of the electrical connection system shown from another perspective.

[0013] Figure 3 yes Figure 1A perspective view of the plug connector and socket connector assembly of the electrical connection system before mating.

[0014] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A perspective view of the plug and socket connector assemblies of the electrical connection system shown, before they are mated.

[0015] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 An exploded view of the socket connector assembly shown.

[0016] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 An exploded view of the socket connector shown.

[0017] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 An exploded view of the socket connector from another perspective.

[0018] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 An exploded view of the socket connector shown from another perspective.

[0019] Figure 9 yes Figure 6 A perspective view of some of the conductive terminals of the socket connector shown.

[0020] Figure 10 yes Figure 6 The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the socket connector along the AA direction.

[0021] Figure 11 yes Figure 1 The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the initial mating of the electrical connection system along the BB direction.

[0022] Figure 12 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view along the BB direction after the electrical connection system is fully fitted.

[0023] Component symbol explanation: Electrical connection system 1000, external circuit board 100, hole 102, conductive solder pad 104 Socket connector assembly 200, shielding housing 21, reference 211, front opening 201, receiving space 210 Socket connector 23 Insulating body 230 Bottom wall 231 Side wall 233 Guide post 232 Terminal hole 236, Recess 237, Recessed portion 238, Receiving space 234, Groove 235 Conductive terminal 240, retaining part 241, elastic arm 242, connecting part 244, mounting part 243, contact part 204 Barb 2411, Groove 2420, Slot 2440, Solder Ball 207 Guide mechanism 25, Straight section 250, Matching arm 253, Wall section 251, Track groove 2530 Heat dissipation device 27, plug connector 500 Circuit board 52, mating end 520, conductive sheet 521, housing 51, upper housing 511, lower housing 512 Main body 5111, docking part 5112, upper wall 523, side wall 525, cam 51. Detailed Implementation

[0024] like Figures 1 to 12 The diagram illustrates an electrical connection system 1000 conforming to the present invention. The electrical connection system 1000 includes an external circuit board 100, a socket connector assembly 200 mountable on the external circuit board 100, and a plug connector 500 mating with the socket connector assembly 200. The transmission speed of the electrical connection system 1000 can reach 448 Gbps or higher.

[0025] The socket connector assembly 200 includes a shielding housing 21, a socket connector 23 housed within the shielding housing 21, a guide mechanism 25, and a heat dissipation device 27 disposed on the shielding housing 21. The shielding housing 21 encloses a receiving space 210 having a front opening 201. The socket connector 23 is located at the rear of the receiving space 210 and can be mounted downwards onto an external circuit board 100.

[0026] The plug connector 500 can be inserted through the front opening 201 to mate with the socket connector 23. The plug connector 500 is positioned opposite the socket connector 23 in the front-to-back direction. For ease of understanding, in this application, the end of the plug connector 500 that is first inserted into the shielding housing 21 is defined as the front end, and the side of the socket connector 23 closest to the plug connector 500 is defined as the front side. The shielding housing 21 is provided with a reference 211 for the plug connector 500 to stop.

[0027] The plug connector 500 includes a housing 51 and a circuit board 52 housed within the housing 51. The housing 51 includes an upper housing 511 and a lower housing 512 that mates with the upper housing 511. The circuit board 52 is located between the upper and lower housings. The circuit board 52 includes a mating end 520 at its front end. A plurality of conductive sheets 521 are provided on the lower surface of the mating end 520. The conductive sheets 521 are arranged in an array. The mating end 520 extends forward beyond the lower housing 512, exposing the conductive sheets 521 downwards. The upper housing 511 includes a main body 5111 and a mating portion 5112 located at the front of the main body 5111. The main body 5111 mates with the lower housing 512. The mating portion 5112 extends forward beyond the lower housing 512. The mating portion 5112 is located above the mating end 520 of the circuit board 52 and extends forward beyond the foremost end of the mating end 520. Both the main body 5111 and the docking portion 5112 include an upper wall 523 and two side walls 525 extending vertically from both sides of the upper wall 523. The distance between the two side walls 525 of the docking portion 5112 is less than the distance between the two side walls of the main body 5111. A guide device is provided on the housing 51. The guide device is an outwardly protruding cam 510 provided on the two side walls 525 of the docking portion 5112.

[0028] The socket connector 23 includes an insulating body 230 and a plurality of conductive terminals 240 fixed in the insulating body 230. The insulating body 230 includes a bottom wall 231 and a pair of spaced-apart side walls 233 extending upward from both ends of the bottom wall 231 in the lateral direction. The bottom wall 231 of the insulating body 230 has downwardly extending guide posts 232 on both sides of its front lateral direction. The external circuit board 100 has holes 102 that mate with the guide posts 232. The bottom wall 231 is parallel to the external circuit board 100. The bottom wall 231 and the two side walls 233 together form an upward-opening receiving space 234. The receiving space 234 communicates forward and upward with the receiving space 210, allowing the mating end 520 of the circuit board 52 to enter the receiving space 234 in the mating direction. The pair of side walls 233 of the insulating body 230 restrict the left-right movement of the circuit board 52 during insertion. The bottom of the bottom wall 231 has a plurality of grooves 235. Each of the grooves 235 extends laterally. Multiple grooves 235 are parallel to each other and arranged in a front-to-back direction. Each groove 235 is recessed upwards from the bottom surface of the bottom wall 231 by a certain distance. Each groove 235 has several terminal holes 236 penetrating the bottom wall 231. The terminal holes 236 in each groove 235 are spaced apart and arranged in a row along the groove 235. Corresponding terminal holes 236 in different grooves 235 are arranged in a column, thus making the terminal holes 236 arranged in a matrix on the bottom wall 231. Each terminal hole 236 is inclined backwards from bottom to top. Multiple conductive terminals 240 are respectively installed in the corresponding terminal holes 236, and are therefore also arranged in a matrix. In this application, the bottom wall 231 has 8 rows of conductive terminals 240, with 30 conductive terminals 240 in each row. The number of rows and columns of conductive terminals 240 is determined as needed.

[0029] The conductive terminal 240 is formed by stamping and bending a metal plate material. Each conductive terminal 240 includes a holding portion 241 fixed to the bottom wall 231, an elastic arm 242 extending from one end of the holding portion 241, a mounting portion 243 disposed at the end of the holding portion 241 opposite to the elastic arm 242, and a connecting portion 244 connecting the holding portion 241 and the mounting portion 243. The elastic arm 242 extends upward and backward from the holding portion 241, and then bends downward. A contact portion 204 is formed at the highest point of the elastic arm 242. The holding portion 241 is provided with barbs 2411 protruding laterally to both sides to fix the terminal to the bottom wall 231. The contact portion 204 protrudes upward beyond the upper surface of the bottom wall 231 of the insulating body 230. The contact portion 204 extends upward into the receiving space 234 for contacting the conductive sheet 521 on the lower surface of the circuit board 52. The elastic arm 242 elastically deforms when the circuit board 52 engages with the conductive terminal 240. The elastic arm 242 has a slot 2420. The slot 2420 extends to the end of the elastic arm 242, forming a forked structure, which facilitates a stable electrical connection. The connecting portion 244 has a slot 2440. The mounting portion 243 does not have a slot 2440. The mounting portion 243 is arranged parallel to the external circuit board 100. The connecting portion 244 extends forward and downward from the holding portion 241, then bends backward to connect to the mounting portion 243. The mounting portion 243 does not extend downward beyond the bottom of the insulating body 230, but is suspended within the groove 235. The groove 235 provides space to accommodate solder balls 207. The external circuit board 100 has a plurality of conductive pads 104. The conductive terminal 240 is connected to the conductive pads 104 via a BGA. In other embodiments, the conductive terminal 240 can also be pressed to electrically connect to the external circuit board 100. The front portion of the terminal hole 236 has recesses 237 that are recessed laterally on both sides. The conductive terminal 240 includes a wide side containing a metal plate and a narrow side formed by stamping and tearing. The narrow side is accommodated within the recesses 237. The dimensions of the recesses 237 increase sequentially from bottom to top in the front-rear direction. The rear surface of the recesses 237 can limit the rearward excessive deformation of the contact portion 204 of the conductive terminal 240. The upper surface of the bottom wall 231 has a recess 238 behind the corresponding terminal hole 236.

[0030] The guiding mechanism 25 is located at the rear of the socket connector 23 and is mounted on the external circuit board 100. Specifically, the guiding mechanism 25 includes a straight portion 250 arranged parallel to the external circuit board 100, two wall portions 251 extending upward from both sides of the straight portion 250 in the lateral direction, and a pair of mating arms 253 extending forward from the upper front position of the two wall portions 251. The straight portion 250 is located at the rear of the socket connector 23. The straight portion 250 can be soldered to the external circuit board 100. The pair of mating arms 253 extend above the corresponding side walls 233 of the insulating body 230. The mating arms 253 extend forward beyond the foremost end of the insulating body 230 so that when the socket connector 23 mates with the plug connector 500, the mating arms 253 contact the plug connector 500 first. The guiding mechanism 25 is an integral design. Each mating arm 253 is provided with a track groove 2530. The track groove 2530 is located on the inner side of the mating arm 253. The track groove 2530 extends downward and backward at an angle. The front end of the track groove 2530 is flared to facilitate the entry of the cam 510. The width of the guide mechanism 25 in the lateral direction is not greater than the width of the socket connector 23 in the lateral direction.

[0031] like Figure 11 As shown, when the plug connector 500 is initially inserted into the metal shielding housing 21 and the socket connector 23, the cam 510 is located at the initial contact point of the cam track groove 2530. At this time, the contact portion 204 of the conductive terminal 240 extends beyond the bottom wall 231 and has not yet deformed. The conductive sheet 521 on the circuit board 52 just contacts the contact portion 204 of the corresponding conductive terminal 240. The contact portion 204 is located at the "start" of the corresponding conductive sheet 521 on the circuit board 52, and the contact portion 204 contacts the front area of ​​the conductive sheet 521.

[0032] As the plug connector 500 is further inserted into the metal shielding housing 21, the cam 510 continues to engage with the cam track groove 2530 and pushes the plug connector 500 and the circuit board 52 downward. The circuit board 52 of the plug connector 500 moves downward and obliquely along the insertion direction, causing the conductive terminal 240 to deflect and causing the contact portion 204 to slightly slide on the conductive sheet 521 of the circuit board 52, so as to "deflect" the elastic arm 242, causing the elastic arm 242 to elastically deform backward and downward.

[0033] like Figure 12As shown, the plug connector 500 is inserted into a predetermined position and fully engaged with the socket connector 23. At this time, the contact portion 204 of the conductive terminal 240 is located in the "end" region of the corresponding conductive piece 521 on the circuit board 52, and the elastic arm 242 has deflected and undergone elastic deformation, so that there is stable contact between the conductive terminal 240 and the conductive piece 521 of the circuit board 52. The contact portion 204 of the conductive terminal 240 contacts the rear portion of the corresponding conductive piece 521. The front end of the contact portion 204 is received in the recess 238, which provides space for the elastic arm 242 to deform backward and downward.

[0034] In the electrical connection system 1000 of the present invention, when the guiding device cooperates with the guiding mechanism 25 to make the plug connector 500 and the socket connector 23 cooperate, the plug connector 500 can be guided to move obliquely downward, so that the elastic arm 242 of the conductive terminal 240 deforms, and the conductive sheet 521 and the conductive terminal 240 can effectively contact and cooperate. The transmission path of the conductive terminal 240 of the present invention is shorter, and the wear on the contact portion 204 of the conductive sheet 521 and the conductive terminal 240 on the circuit board 52 is less and smaller, which can realize the effective transmission of high-speed signals.

[0035] The plug connector 500 and socket connector 23 of the present invention are another form of OSFP product, which defines 8 transmit channels and 8 receive channels. The signal transmission rate of each channel can reach 50Gbps or more. The present invention can also be applied to high-speed electrical connector assemblies such as SFP-DD, SFP, and QSFP-DD.

[0036] The above description is only a partial embodiment of the present invention, not all embodiments. Any equivalent changes to the technical solutions of the present invention made by those skilled in the art through reading the present invention specification are covered by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A plug connector capable of being inserted into a socket connector in a front-to-back direction, the socket connector comprising an insulating body and a plurality of conductive terminals fixed in the insulating body, the plug connector comprising a housing and a circuit board housed in the housing, the circuit board comprising a mating end capable of mating with the socket connector, the lower surface of the mating end being provided with a plurality of conductive plates mating with the conductive terminals, characterized in that: The housing includes an upper housing and a lower housing that cooperate with each other. The circuit board is located between the upper and lower housings. The upper housing includes a main body and a mating part disposed at the front of the main body. A guide device is provided on the outer side of the mating part. The guide device can guide the plug connector to move downward when the plug connector and the socket connector are mated.

2. A socket connector assembly for inserting and mating a plug connector in a front-to-back direction and for mounting on an external circuit board, characterized in that: The socket connector assembly includes a socket connector and a guiding mechanism. The socket connector includes an insulating body and a plurality of conductive terminals held in the insulating body. The insulating body includes a bottom wall and a pair of spaced-apart side walls extending upward from both sides of the bottom wall in a lateral direction. The bottom wall and the side walls together form an upward-opening receiving space. The conductive terminals include a holding portion held on the bottom wall, an elastic arm extending into the receiving space from one end of the holding portion, and a mounting portion disposed at the end of the holding portion opposite to the elastic arm. The guiding mechanism guides the plug connector to move obliquely downward when the plug connector mates with the socket connector.

3. The socket connector assembly as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The guiding mechanism includes a straight section parallel to the external circuit board, two side walls extending upward from both sides of the straight section in the lateral direction, and a pair of mating arms extending forward from the two side walls. The straight section is located at the rear of the insulating body, and the pair of mating arms are suspended above the corresponding side walls of the insulating body. Each mating arm has a track groove on its inner side, and the track groove extends downward and backward at an angle.

4. An electrical connector assembly comprising a receptacle connector mountable on an external circuit board and a plug connector mating with the receptacle connector, the receptacle connector comprising an insulating body and a plurality of conductive terminals held in the insulating body, the plug connector comprising a housing and a circuit board housed within the housing, the circuit board comprising a mating end mating with the receptacle connector, the lower surface of the mating end being provided with a plurality of conductive tabs mating with the conductive terminals, each of the conductive terminals comprising a contact portion mating with the conductive tabs of the circuit board and a mounting portion mountable on an external circuit board, characterized in that: The device further includes a guiding mechanism, and the housing is provided with a guiding device that cooperates with the guiding mechanism. The guiding device cooperates with the guiding mechanism to guide the plug connector to move obliquely downward when the plug connector and the socket connector are engaged, so as to achieve engagement.

5. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that: The guiding mechanism includes a straight portion for mounting on an external circuit board, two side walls extending upward from both sides of the straight portion in a lateral direction, and a pair of mating arms extending forward from the two side walls. The inner side of the mating arms is provided with a track groove. The straight portion is located at the rear of the insulating body. The pair of mating arms extend above the socket connector. The track groove extends rearward and downward.

6. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that: The housing includes an upper housing and a lower housing that cooperates with the upper housing. The upper housing includes a main body and a docking part disposed at the front of the main body. The guiding device includes guide posts that protrude outward on both sides of the docking part in the lateral direction.

7. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that: The insulating body includes a bottom wall and a pair of side walls extending upward from both sides of the bottom wall in the lateral direction. The bottom wall and the side walls together enclose an upward-opening receiving space. Each conductive terminal includes a holding portion fixed to the bottom wall and an elastic arm extending from the holding portion into the receiving space. The contact portion is formed at the highest point of the elastic arm.

8. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that: The bottom wall is provided with a plurality of terminal holes arranged in a matrix. Each terminal hole extends backward and upward at an angle from bottom to top. The conductive terminal is fixed in the front area of ​​the terminal hole. The conductive terminal deforms backward and downward during the engagement process. The upper surface of the bottom wall is provided with a recess behind the corresponding terminal to provide space for the elastic arm to deform backward and downward.

9. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that: The conductive terminal further includes a connecting portion that connects the holding portion and the mounting portion. The connecting portion extends forward and downward from the holding portion and then bends backward to connect the mounting portion. The elastic arm extends upward and backward from the holding portion and then bends downward. The bottom of the bottom wall is provided with a plurality of grooves extending in the lateral direction. The terminal hole communicates with the grooves. The mounting portion is suspended in the grooves and is horizontally arranged with the external circuit board.

10. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that: It also includes a shielding housing, which encloses a receiving space with a front opening, the socket connector and the guide mechanism are housed in the rear of the receiving space, and the shielding housing is provided with a reference for the plug connector stop.

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