Electrical connector and method of manufacturing an electrical connector

Abstract

An electrical connector and a method for manufacturing the electrical connector are disclosed. The electrical connector includes a housing, a circuit board, a cable, a backplate, and two fixing posts. The housing has a rearward-facing receiving groove, a through groove communicating with the receiving groove and opening forward, two fixing protrusions located on both sides of the receiving groove, two first mounting holes respectively located on the two fixing protrusions and extending vertically through the groove, and two second mounting holes located on the top of the housing. The circuit board has two third mounting holes. The cable is electrically connected to the circuit board. The backplate covers the periphery of the connection between the circuit board and the cable and is disposed in the receiving groove, such that the circuit board protrudes forward from the through groove. The backplate has two first fixing portions and two fourth mounting holes located on the two first fixing portions. The two fixing posts extend vertically and pass through the two first mounting holes, the two second mounting holes, the two third mounting holes, and the two fourth mounting holes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector and a method for manufacturing the electrical connector. Background Technology

[0002] Chinese Utility Model Patent Publication No. CN218887705U discloses an electrical connection device including a wire-end connector. The wire-end connector includes an insulating housing, a circuit board, a cable, and a locking member. The insulating housing has a main body and a mating portion. The main body has a first opening, and the mating portion is connected to the main body and has a continuous surrounding wall around the first opening, forming an inner cavity with a second opening. A positioning space is formed between each of the two opposite sides of the main body and the mating portion. The circuit board is disposed on the main body and partially extends beyond the first opening into the inner cavity. The cable is electrically connected to one side of the circuit board. The locking member is disposed on the insulating housing. Thus, the wire-end connector can be securely mated to a circuit board connector, thereby improving the stability of electrical signal transmission. The insulating housing has an injection molding hole, and the covering is formed by injecting and filling plastic into the insulating housing through the injection molding hole. The insulating housing has a mold cavity that accommodates the cover and communicates with the injection hole, and a retaining hole that communicates with the mold cavity. The wire connector also includes a retaining member, which is partially disposed in the retaining hole and partially extends into the mold cavity and is fixedly attached to the cover. This cover is formed between the upper shell and the insulating housing, and it is difficult to observe from the outside whether the cover is fully formed, so there is a risk of poor forming of the cover. In addition, since there is an assembly gap between the circuit board and the insulating housing, there is a risk that molten plastic will flow out from the gap between the circuit board and the insulating housing, contaminating the gold fingers on the circuit board. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector and a method for manufacturing an electrical connector that can improve at least one problem in the prior art.

[0004] Therefore, in some embodiments of the electrical connector of the present invention, it comprises a housing, a circuit board, a cable, a backplate, and two fixing posts. The housing has a rearward-facing receiving groove, a through groove communicating with the receiving groove and opening forward, two fixing protrusions located on both sides of the receiving groove, two first mounting holes respectively located on the two fixing protrusions and extending vertically through them, and two second mounting holes located on the top of the housing and corresponding to the two first mounting holes. The circuit board has a mating portion at the front, a wiring portion at the rear, and two third mounting holes corresponding to the two first mounting holes. The cable is electrically connected to the wiring portion of the circuit board. The backplate covers the periphery of the connection between the circuit board and the cable and is disposed in the receiving groove, causing the circuit board to protrude forward from the through groove. The backplate has two first fixing portions and two fourth mounting holes located on the two first fixing portions and corresponding to the two first mounting holes. The two fixing posts extend vertically and pass through the two first mounting holes, the two second mounting holes, the two third mounting holes, and the two fourth mounting holes.

[0005] In some embodiments, the back plate also has two second fixing parts located below and spaced apart from the two first fixing parts, and two fifth mounting holes located on the two second fixing parts and respectively corresponding to the two first mounting holes. The two fixing protrusions of the housing are located between the two first fixing parts and the two second fixing parts, and the two fixing posts are also inserted through the two fifth mounting holes.

[0006] In some embodiments, the backplate has a first molded body and a second molded body, the first molded body directly covering the connection between the circuit board and the cable to form a substrate, and the second molded body further covering the first molded body.

[0007] In some embodiments, the two first fixing portions and the two fourth mounting holes are formed in the first molded body.

[0008] In some embodiments, the housing also has a front-facing mating cavity, the through slot connecting the receiving slot and the mating cavity, and the circuit board protruding forward from the through slot into the mating cavity.

[0009] Therefore, in some embodiments, the manufacturing method of the electrical connector of the present invention includes the following steps: A circuit board with a cable connected to its rear is prepared; a backplate is formed behind the circuit board, the backplate covering the outer periphery of the connection between the circuit board and the cable; mounting holes aligned vertically are provided on the backplate and the circuit board; a housing is prepared, the housing having a rearward-facing receiving groove, a through groove communicating with the receiving groove and opening forward, and two fixing protrusions located on both sides of the receiving groove; mounting holes are correspondingly provided on the two fixing protrusions and the top of the housing; the backplate and the circuit board are integrally inserted into the receiving groove of the housing, so that the circuit board protrudes forward through the through groove; two fixing posts are pressed downward from the mounting holes on the top of the housing, so that the two fixing posts sequentially pass through the mounting holes of the housing, the backplate, the circuit board, and the two fixing protrusions, thereby fixing the backplate and the circuit board to the housing.

[0010] In some embodiments, the backplate has two first fixing portions and two second fixing portions located below and spaced apart from the two first fixing portions. Both the two first fixing portions and the two second fixing portions are provided with mounting holes. After the backplate and the circuit board are integrally installed into the receiving groove of the housing, the two fixing protrusions of the housing are located between the two first fixing portions and the two second fixing portions. After the two fixing posts are pressed down from the mounting holes at the top of the housing, the two fixing posts pass sequentially through the mounting holes of the housing, the two first mounting portions of the backplate, the circuit board, the two fixing protrusions, and the two second mounting portions, thereby fixing the backplate and the circuit board to the housing.

[0011] In some embodiments, the backplate has a first molded body and a second molded body. When forming a backplate behind the circuit board, the first molded body is first used to cover the connection between the circuit board and the cable to form a base, and then the second molded body is used to further cover the first molded body.

[0012] In some embodiments, the mounting holes of the backplate are formed when the first molded body covers the connection between the circuit board and the cable to form the substrate.

[0013] In some embodiments, the housing also has a front-facing mating cavity, and a through groove connects the receiving groove and the mating cavity. After the back plate and the circuit board are integrally installed into the receiving groove of the housing, the circuit board protrudes forward into the mating cavity through the through groove.

[0014] The present invention first forms a backplate that covers the outer periphery of the connection between the circuit board and the cable, and then fixes the backplate to the outer shell through the two fixing posts. This makes the forming of the backplate more complete and precise, while avoiding the risk of molten plastic flowing out from the gap between the circuit board and the shell and contaminating the gold fingers on the circuit board. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Other features and technical effects of the present invention will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0016] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an embodiment of the electrical connector of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the embodiment from another direction;

[0018] Figure 3 This is a front view of this embodiment;

[0019] Figure 4 This is an exploded perspective view of this embodiment;

[0020] Figure 5 This is an exploded perspective view of this embodiment from another viewpoint;

[0021] Figure 6 This is a further exploded perspective view of this embodiment;

[0022] Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional exploded view of the embodiment from another perspective and further.

[0023] Figure 8 This is a top view of this embodiment;

[0024] Figure 9 It is by Figure 8 A top view obtained by the AA section line in the diagram;

[0025] Figure 10 This is a flowchart of one step of the manufacturing method of this embodiment;

[0026] Figures 11 to 14 These are multiple perspective diagrams used to illustrate the manufacturing and assembly process of this embodiment.

[0027] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0028] 100 electrical connectors

[0029] 1. Outer shell

[0030] 11 Anterior wall

[0031] 12. Top Wall

[0032] 121 Second mounting hole

[0033] 122 Containment recess

[0034] 13 Sidewalls

[0035] 14 Side panels

[0036] 15 tongue plate

[0037] 16 Reception slots

[0038] 17. Docking cavity

[0039] 18 through slots

[0040] 19 Fixed protrusion

[0041] 191 First mounting hole

[0042] 2 Circuit Boards

[0043] 21. Docking Section

[0044] 22 Wiring section

[0045] 23 Wings

[0046] 24 Third mounting hole

[0047] 3 Cables

[0048] 4. Back panel

[0049] 41 First fixing part

[0050] 411 Containment Container

[0051] 42 Second fixing part

[0052] 43 Fourth mounting hole

[0053] 44 Fifth mounting hole

[0054] 45 First Molded Body

[0055] 451 opening

[0056] 46 Second-shaped body

[0057] 461. Filler section

[0058] 47. Threading hole

[0059] 5. Fixed column

[0060] 51. Threaded structure

[0061] 6 Locking fasteners

[0062] 7. Pull strap

[0063] D1 Forward and backward directions

[0064] D2 Up and Down Direction

[0065] D3 left and right direction

[0066] Steps S1 to S4 Detailed Implementation

[0067] See Figures 1 to 5 An embodiment of the electrical connector 100 and the manufacturing method of the electrical connector 100 of the present invention includes a housing 1, a circuit board 2, a plurality of cables 3, a back plate 4, two fixing posts 5, a locking member 6, and a pull strap 7.

[0068] The outer casing 1 has a front wall 11 facing forward along a front-rear direction D1 (arrow pointing forward, reverse is rearward), a top wall 12 extending from the top edge of the front wall 11 along the front-rear direction D1 in a vertical direction D2 (arrow pointing upward, reverse is downward), two side walls 13 extending rearward from the two side edges of the top wall 12 in a horizontal direction D3 and connected to the top wall 12, two side plates 14 extending forward from the two side walls 13, and a tongue plate 15 extending forward from the front wall 11 and located below the top plate, along the front-rear direction D1 (arrow pointing forward, reverse is rearward). The enclosure 1 consists of a rearward-facing receiving groove 16, a forward-facing mating cavity 17, a through groove 18 connecting the receiving groove 16 and the mating cavity 17 and opening forward, two fixed protrusions 19 located on both sides of the rear section of the receiving groove 16 in a left-right direction D3 (arrow to the right, reverse is left), two first mounting holes 191 formed vertically through the two fixed protrusions 19 in a vertical direction D2, and two second mounting holes 121 located on the top wall 12 of the housing 1 corresponding to the two first mounting holes 191. Specifically, in this embodiment, the top wall 12 and the two side walls 13 together define the receiving groove 16, and the top wall 12, the two side plates 14, and the tongue plate 15 together define the mating cavity 17, thereby guiding another mating connector (not shown) to accurately mate with the circuit board 2.

[0069] See Figures 4 to 7 The circuit board 2 has a mating portion 21 at the front, a wiring portion 22 at the rear, two wings 23 extending from the wiring portion 22 to the left and right sides and rearward respectively, and two third mounting holes 24 formed on the two wings 23 and corresponding to the two first mounting holes 191 respectively. See also... Figure 11 The plurality of cables 3 are electrically connected to the wiring portion 22 of the circuit board 2. The connection between the plurality of cables 3 and the wiring portion 22 is coated with an adhesive layer to provide initial protection. The plurality of cables 3 extend backward and downward in a bent manner.

[0070] See Figure 2 and Figures 6 to 9 The back plate 4 covers the outer periphery of the connection between the circuit board 2 and the cable 3 and is located in the receiving groove 16, so that the circuit board 2 protrudes forward from the through groove 18 to the mating cavity 17. The back plate 4 has two first fixing parts 41 protruding to both sides along the left-right direction D3, two second fixing parts 42 located below and spaced apart from the two first fixing parts 41, two fourth mounting holes 43 located on the two first fixing parts 41 and respectively corresponding to the two first mounting holes 191, and two fifth mounting holes 44 located on the two second fixing parts 42 and respectively corresponding to the two first mounting holes 191. The two first fixing parts 41 respectively cover the two wings 23 of the circuit board 2, and each first fixing part 41 has a receiving groove 411 for receiving the corresponding wing 23. When the back plate 4 is assembled into the receiving groove 16 of the housing 1, the two fixing protrusions 19 of the housing 1 are located between the two first fixing parts 41 and the two second fixing parts 42. The two second fixing parts 42 and the fifth mounting holes 44 thereon enhance the stability of the back plate 4. In some embodiments not shown, the two second fixing parts 42 may be omitted. In this embodiment, the back plate 4 has a first molded body 45 and a second molded body 46, wherein the two first fixing parts 41, the two second fixing parts 42, the two fourth mounting holes 43, and the two fifth mounting holes 44 are constructed in the first molded body 45. The first molded body 45 directly covers the connection between the circuit board 2 and the cable 3 to form a base. Specifically, during the molding process of the first molded body 45, the mold used for molding pushes forward against the plurality of cables 3, so that the rear side of the first molded body 45 has a plurality of openings 451 that partially expose the plurality of cables 3. The second molded body 46 covers the rear side of the first molded body 45 and has multiple filling portions 461 that fill the multiple openings 451. Since there are gaps between the cables 3, the first molded body 45 is prone to shrinkage during the cooling and molding process, making it difficult to form accurately. However, by molding the first molded body 45 and the second molded body 46 in stages, accurate molding can be achieved, and the position of the multiple cables 3 can be ensured to prevent the multiple cables 3 from being exposed from the rear side of the back plate 4.

[0071] The two fixing posts 5 extend vertically and pass through the two first mounting holes 191, the two second mounting holes 121, the two third mounting holes 24, the two fourth mounting holes 43, and the two fifth mounting holes 44, fixing the back plate 4 and the circuit board 2 to the housing 1. Specifically, each fixing post 5 has a threaded structure 51 for interfering with the housing 1, the circuit board 2, and the back plate 4. The locking member 6 is provided in a receiving recess 122 located at the top of the top wall 12 of the housing 1, and the locking member 6 is used to lock the mating connector that mates with the electrical connector 100. The pull strap 7 is provided in the locking member 6 and is used to operate the locking member. The pull strap 7 passes through a strap hole 47 in the back plate 4 and extends rearward.

[0072] The manufacturing steps of the electrical connector 100 in this embodiment are as follows.

[0073] See Figure 10 , Figure 11 and Figure 12 Step S1: Prepare the circuit board 2 with the multiple cables 3 connected to it. Form a back plate 4 behind the circuit board 2. The back plate 4 covers the outer periphery of the connection between the circuit board 2 and the multiple cables 3, thereby preventing the tensile stress of the multiple cables 3 from acting on the connection and causing damage. The back plate 4 and the circuit board 2 are provided with vertically aligned mounting holes. Specifically, the back plate 4 is provided with two fourth mounting holes 43 located in the two first fixing parts 41 and two fifth mounting holes 44 located in the two second fixing parts 42. The circuit board 2 is provided with two third mounting holes 24. When forming the back plate 4 behind the circuit board 2, a first molded body 45 is first used to cover the outer periphery of the connection between the circuit board 2 and the cables 3 to form a base, and then a second molded body 46 is used to further cover the rear side of the first molded body 45. Furthermore, the two first fixing portions 41, the two second fixing portions 42, and the mounting holes (the two fourth mounting holes 43 and the two fifth mounting holes 44) of the back plate 4 are formed when the first molded body 45 covers the connection between the circuit board 2 and the cable 3 to form the base.

[0074] See Figure 10 , Figure 13 and Figure 14 Step S2: Prepare the outer casing 1. The outer casing 1 has a rearward-facing receiving groove 16, a forward-facing docking cavity 17, a through groove 18 connecting the receiving groove 16 and the docking cavity 17 and opening forward, and two fixing protrusions 19 located on both sides of the rear section of the receiving groove 16. The two fixing protrusions 19 and the top of the outer casing 1 are respectively provided with mounting holes. Specifically, the two fixing protrusions 19 and the top wall 12 of the outer casing 1 are respectively provided with two first mounting holes 191 and two second mounting holes 121.

[0075] See Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 10 In step S3, the back plate 4 and the circuit board 2 are integrally installed into the receiving groove 16 of the housing 1, so that the circuit board 2 protrudes forward into the mating cavity 17 through the through groove 18. After the back plate 4 and the circuit board 2 are integrally installed into the receiving groove 16 of the housing 1, the circuit board 2 protrudes forward into the mating cavity 17 through the through groove 18. The two fixing protrusions 19 of the housing 1 are located between the two first fixing parts 41 and the two second fixing parts 42. Next, in step S4, the two fixing posts 5 are pressed downward through the mounting holes (second mounting holes 121) on the top of the housing 1, so that the two fixing posts 5 pass sequentially through the housing 1, the two first mounting parts of the back plate 4, the circuit board 2, the two fixing protrusions 19, and the mounting holes of the two second mounting parts (in sequence, second mounting hole 121, fourth mounting hole 43, third mounting hole 24, first mounting hole 191, and fifth mounting hole 44), thereby fixing the back plate 4 and the circuit board 2 to the housing 1, thus completing the assembly and manufacturing of the electrical connector 100.

[0076] Prior to step S3, the locking member 6 can be placed in the receiving recess 122 of the top wall 12 of the housing 1. After step S3, the pull strap 7 can be placed on the locking member 6, and the pull strap 7 can be passed through the strap hole 47 of the back plate 4 and extended rearward to complete the installation of the locking member 6 and the pull strap 7.

[0077] In summary, by first molding the back plate 4 covering the outer periphery of the connection between the circuit board 2 and the cable 3, and then fixing the back plate 4 to the outer shell 1 through the two fixing posts 5, the molding of the back plate 4 can be more complete and precise. At the same time, it avoids the risk of molten plastic flowing out from the gap between the circuit board 2 and the shell and contaminating the gold fingers on the circuit board 2.

[0078] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. Any simple equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the claims and patent specification of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, comprising: A housing having a rearward-facing receiving groove, a through groove communicating with the receiving groove and opening forward, two fixed protrusions located on both sides of the receiving groove, two first mounting holes respectively located on the two fixed protrusions and formed vertically, and two second mounting holes located on the top of the housing and respectively corresponding to the two first mounting holes; A circuit board has a mating portion at the front, a wiring portion at the rear, and two third mounting holes corresponding to the two first mounting holes respectively; The cable is electrically connected to the wiring terminal of the circuit board; A backplate, covering the periphery of the connection between the circuit board and the cable and disposed in the receiving groove, causing the circuit board to protrude forward from the groove, the backplate having two first fixing portions and two fourth mounting holes located on the two first fixing portions and respectively corresponding to the two first mounting holes; and Two fixed posts extend vertically and pass through the two first mounting holes, the two second mounting holes, the two third mounting holes, and the two fourth mounting holes.

2. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The back panel also has two second fixing parts located below and spaced apart from the two first fixing parts, and two fifth mounting holes located on the two second fixing parts and respectively corresponding to the two first mounting holes. The two fixing protrusions of the housing are located between the two first fixing parts and the two second fixing parts, and the two fixing posts are also inserted through the two fifth mounting holes.

3. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The backplate has a first molded body and a second molded body. The first molded body directly covers the connection between the circuit board and the cable to form a base, and the second molded body further covers the first molded body.

4. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein, The two first fixing parts and the two fourth mounting holes are formed in the first molded body.

5. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The housing also has a front-facing mating cavity, with a through slot connecting the receiving slot and the mating cavity, and the circuit board protruding forward from the through slot into the mating cavity.

6. A method for manufacturing an electrical connector, comprising the following steps: Prepare a circuit board with cables connected to the back. Form a back plate behind the circuit board. The back plate covers the outer periphery of the connection between the circuit board and the cables. The back plate and the circuit board are provided with mounting holes aligned vertically. Prepare an outer casing, which has a rearward-facing receiving groove, a through groove that connects to the receiving groove and opens forward, and two fixing protrusions located on both sides of the receiving groove. The two fixing protrusions and the top of the outer casing are respectively provided with mounting holes. The backplate and the circuit board are integrally installed into the receiving groove of the housing, so that the circuit board protrudes forward through the through groove; Two fixing posts are pressed downward through the mounting holes at the top of the housing, so that the two fixing posts pass sequentially through the mounting holes of the housing, the back plate, the circuit board, and the two fixing protrusions, thereby fixing the back plate and the circuit board to the housing.

7. The method of manufacturing an electrical connector as described in claim 6, wherein, The back panel has two first fixing parts and two second fixing parts located below and spaced apart from the two first fixing parts. Both the two first fixing parts and the two second fixing parts are provided with mounting holes. After the back panel and the circuit board are integrally installed into the receiving groove of the housing, the two fixing protrusions of the housing are located between the two first fixing parts and the two second fixing parts. After the two fixing posts are pressed down from the mounting holes at the top of the housing, the two fixing posts pass through the mounting holes of the housing, the two first mounting parts of the back panel, the circuit board, the two fixing protrusions and the two second mounting parts in sequence, thereby fixing the back panel and the circuit board to the housing.

8. The method of manufacturing an electrical connector as described in claim 6, wherein, The backplate has a first molded body and a second molded body. When forming a backplate behind the circuit board, the first molded body is first used to cover the connection between the circuit board and the cable to form a base, and then the second molded body is used to further cover the first molded body.

9. The method of manufacturing an electrical connector as described in claim 8, wherein, The mounting holes of the backplate are formed when the first molded body is wrapped around the connection between the circuit board and the cable to form the substrate.

10. The method of manufacturing an electrical connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein, The housing also has a front-facing mating cavity, and the through groove connects the receiving groove and the mating cavity. After the back plate and the circuit board are integrally installed into the receiving groove of the housing, the circuit board protrudes forward into the mating cavity through the through groove.

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