Floating structure suitable for inter-board connectors

Abstract

This invention relates to a floating structure suitable for inter-board connectors, comprising a plug and a socket. Both the plug housing and the socket housing have at least one cavity distributed along the X-axis. Each cavity houses at least one module. At the socket end, each module includes a first insulator, a second insulator, and at least one contact block. Each contact block includes a fixed contact and a floating contact. The fixed contact includes a first crimping end and a first mating end, and the floating contact includes a first floating contact end and a second floating contact end. At the plug end, each module includes a plug insulator and at least one plug contact. The rear end of the plug contact is a crimping end, and the front end is a mating end. When the mating end is mated with the second floating contact end, and when the first mating end is mated with the first floating contact end, relative floating occurs along the X, Y, and Z axes. This invention compensates for errors caused by processing and assembly between modules through the floating of the floating ends.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of connector technology, specifically relating to a floating structure suitable for inter-board connectors. Background Technology

[0002] Multiple connectors are secured with screws to achieve simultaneous mating. However, due to manufacturing and assembly tolerances, it is difficult to guarantee the mating accuracy of each contact within the connector, leading to mis-mating or contacts being under constant stress. To address this issue, common methods include: adding flexible board connectors to the daughterboard or backplane, but this approach suffers from insufficient flexibility in multi-layer signal and power transmission; and using integrated elastic sheet contacts to allow floating during mating, but this type of contact can negatively impact the connector's high-speed performance, and the contacts remain under continuous stress after mating, affecting product reliability and durability. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the aforementioned issues, this invention provides a floating structure suitable for inter-board connectors. By incorporating a connector with multiple modules and a floating module at the connector socket end, the floating module compensates for errors generated during the processing or assembly of the multiple modules. This ensures that all contacts can be properly aligned and avoids continuous stress, effectively improving product reliability and durability.

[0004] The objective of this invention and the technical problem it solves are achieved by the following technical solution. According to this invention, a floating structure suitable for inter-board connectors includes a plug and a socket. At least one cavity is distributed along the X-direction within both the plug housing and the socket housing. At least one module is assembled within each cavity. At the socket end, each module includes a first insulator, a second insulator, and at least one contact block. Each contact block includes a fixed contact 2 and a floating contact 3. The fixed contact 2 includes a first crimping end 21 at the rear end for crimping and fixing with a first printed circuit board and a first mating end 22 at the front end. The floating contact 3 includes a first floating contact end 31 for floating mating with the first mating end 22 and a first floating contact end 31 for floating mating with the plug. The second floating contact end 32 is floatingly connected to the mating end of the contact member 5. In the same module, each fixed contact member 2 is fixed in the first insulator 1 to form a fixed end, and each floating contact member 2 is fixed in the second insulator 4 to form a floating end. At the plug end, each module includes a plug insulator and at least one plug contact member 5. The rear end of the plug contact member 5 is a crimping end for crimping and fixing with the second printed circuit board, and the front end is a mating end. When the plug and socket are mated, the mating end of the plug contact member 5 and the second floating contact end 32, as well as the first mating end 22 and the first floating contact end 31, can float along the X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis directions.

[0005] The objectives of this invention and the technical problems it addresses can be further achieved by the following technical measures.

[0006] In the aforementioned floating structure applicable to inter-board connectors, one of the first mating end 22 and the second floating contact end 31 is a flat plate structure, and the other is a single spring or a socket structure composed of two springs.

[0007] In the aforementioned floating structure applicable to inter-board connectors, one of the second floating contact end 32 and the plug contact 5 mating end is a flat plate structure, and the other is a single spring or a socket structure composed of two springs.

[0008] The aforementioned floating structure applicable to inter-board connectors, wherein the single spring has at least two contact protrusions in the mating direction.

[0009] In the aforementioned floating structure applicable to inter-board connectors, both ends of each floating contact 3 extend out of the second insulator 4, and both ends of the fixed contact 2 extend out of the first insulator 1.

[0010] The aforementioned floating structure suitable for inter-board connectors has both ends of the plug contact extending beyond the plug insulator.

[0011] In the aforementioned floating structure applicable to inter-board connectors, the crimping ends of both the fixed contact 2 and the plug contact 5 are fisheye structures.

[0012] In the aforementioned floating structure applicable to inter-board connectors, the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board are parallel or perpendicular. When the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board are perpendicular, the crimping direction of the fisheye structure at the tail of the fixed contact 2 or the plug contact 5 is perpendicular to the connector mating direction.

[0013] Compared with existing technologies, this invention has significant advantages and beneficial effects. Through the above technical solution, this invention achieves considerable technological advancement and practicality, and has broad industrial applicability, possessing at least the following advantages: 1) The floating end of the floating structure of the present invention can float in three dimensions (X, Y, Z) relative to the fixed end and the plug end. When multiple modules in multiple plugs and sockets are plugged in at the same time, due to assembly or processing errors between different modules, when there is no floating function, there is a positional difference between the contact parts in some modules and the contact parts of the adapter end, causing the plugged contact parts to be stuck and continuously subjected to force. However, the floating end of the present application can slide relative to the fixed end along the distribution direction of the modules, thereby compensating for the situation where the adapter contact parts cannot be aligned due to processing or assembly errors. When the floating end is in place, the contact parts will not be continuously subjected to force, thus improving the reliability and durability of the product.

[0014] 2) The contact element of this invention has a single spring at one end, which can be a single-point contact, a two-point contact, or a multi-point contact; this floating structure enables the connector to transmit multiple channels and multiple signals; 3) This floating structure is suitable for use between vertical and parallel plates. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the socket of the floating structure applicable to inter-board connectors according to the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a single module of the floating structure applicable to inter-board connectors of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the floating structure of the present invention applicable to inter-board connectors when a single module contains only one contact block.

[0016] [Explanation of Key Component Symbols] 1: First insulator; 2: Fixed contact; 21: First crimp end; 22: First mating end; 3: Floating contact; 31: First floating contact end; 32: Second floating contact end; 4: Second insulator; 5: Plug contact. Detailed Implementation

[0017] To further illustrate the technical means and effects adopted by the present invention to achieve the intended purpose, the following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments, describes the specific implementation, structure, features, and effects of the floating structure applicable to inter-board connectors proposed according to the present invention.

[0018] Please see Figure 1-3This is a schematic diagram of the various parts of the floating structure applicable to the inter-board connector of the present invention. The floating structure includes a plug and a socket. The socket includes a socket housing, within which at least one cavity is formed. Each cavity is equipped with at least one module. Each module includes a first insulator 1, a second insulator 4, and at least one contact block. Each contact block includes a fixed contact 2 and a floating contact 3. The fixed contact 2 includes a first crimping end 21 at the rear end and a first mating end 22 at the front end. In this embodiment, the first crimping end 21 is a fisheye structure for crimping with a first printed circuit board, and the first mating end 22 is a spring-loaded socket structure composed of two spring contacts. Preferably, the fixed contact 2 is an integrally formed structure. The fixed contact 2 of each contact block of the same module is fixed within the first insulator 1 to form a fixed end, and its first crimping end 21 and first mating end 22 both extend out of the first insulator 1. The floating contact 3 includes a first floating contact end 31 for floating contact with the first mating end 22 and a second floating contact end 32 for floating mating with the insertion end of the plug contact 5; each floating contact 3 in the same module is fixed within the second insulator 4 to form a floating end, and both its first floating contact end 31 and second floating contact end 32 extend out of the second insulator 4. Please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 3 It is a socket terminal module consisting of a single contact block and a first insulator 1 and a second insulator 4. Figure 2 It is a socket end module composed of multiple contact blocks and a first insulator 1 and a second insulator 4. In each module, the floating end and the fixed end are mutually adapted and plugged in, and the fixed contact and the floating contact are set accordingly. The number of contact elements can be adjusted as needed.

[0019] In this embodiment, the first floating contact end 31 is a plate-shaped structure that can slide within the insertion hole of the first docking end 22 (sliding along the distribution direction of the two spring pieces perpendicular to the insertion hole), thereby achieving contact and conduction between different positions of its two end faces and the spring pieces on both sides of the first docking end 22. In this invention, the insertion directions of the first mating end 22, the first floating contact end 31, and the second floating contact end 32 are all along the axial direction of the socket. The axial direction of the socket is defined as the Z-axis direction, and the deformation direction of the spring sheet forming the mating structure in the contact block is defined as the X-axis direction. In this embodiment, multiple modules in the socket are distributed along the X-axis direction, and the direction perpendicular to the deformation of the spring sheet is the Y-axis direction. In this embodiment, the arrangement direction of the contact blocks in the same module is the Y-axis direction. The floating contact 3 can achieve floating in the Y-axis direction by cooperating with the first mating end 22 through the first floating contact end 31. This floating can effectively adjust the position of the second floating contact end 32 of each contact block in the same socket, reduce the assembly position accuracy requirements of each module and each contact block in the socket, and thus achieve reliable insertion with the adapter plug. This prevents the problem of long-term stress caused by positional errors between some contacts when the socket is inserted with the plug contact 5 through the second floating contact end 32 due to processing or assembly errors between the modules. Meanwhile, the first floating contact end 31 and the first mating end 32 can also float along the Z-axis and X-axis, and the relative positions of the fixed end and the floating end in the insertion direction and the spring deformation direction can be adjusted.

[0020] The second floating contact end 32 is a contact spring with at least one contact protrusion 321. The contact spring has at least two contact protrusions 321 formed in its extending direction (Z-axis direction) for elastic contact with the plug contact 5. Specifically, the contact spring has multiple bends in its extending direction, one of which forms an elastic contact protrusion 321, and the front end of the contact spring is also bent in a direction away from the contact protrusion 321 to form a guide portion 322 for guiding the plug contact 4 to contact the contact protrusion.

[0021] In this embodiment, at least one cavity is also formed inside the plug housing of the plug. Each cavity is provided with at least one module. Each module is provided with at least one plug contact 5 and an insulator for fixing and positioning the plug contact 5. Each module is adapted and inserted into the corresponding module of the socket end. The two connection end adapter modules are inserted through the corresponding plug contact 5 and floating contact 3.

[0022] In this embodiment, the plug contact 5 includes a front mating end and a rear crimping end. The crimping end is used to crimp and fix with the second printed circuit board. The mating end has a plate-like structure and is used to float in contact with the second floating contact end 32 of the floating contact 3. It can slide relative to the second floating contact 32 along the Z-axis direction to achieve adaptive contact at different axial positions, elastic floating contact along the X-axis, or elastic contact with the second floating contact 32 at different positions in the width direction by relative sliding along the Y-axis direction.

[0023] In another embodiment of the present invention, the second floating contact end 32 of the floating contact member 3 is a socket structure composed of two spring pieces, but it is not limited to this.

[0024] In another embodiment of the present invention, when the plug contact 5 has a single spring plate structure or a socket structure composed of two spring plates at the insertion end, the second floating contact end 32 of the floating contact 3 has a plate-like structure, and the two work together to achieve floating in the X, Y and Z directions.

[0025] In another embodiment of the present invention, when the plug contact 5 and the fixed contact 2 are both plate-shaped structures, the two floating ends of the floating contact 3 can be either single spring pieces or socket structures composed of two spring pieces, or one of them is a single spring piece structure and the other is a spring piece socket structure.

[0026] In other words, the present invention only needs to satisfy that the tails of the plug contact 5 and the fixed contact 2 are perpendicular or bent and pressed with the printed circuit board, and that the mating end of one of them can float with the floating contact 3 in the X, Y and Z directions, and the mating end of the other can also float with the floating contact 3 in the X, Y and Z directions, so that when the plug and socket are mated, the contacts can achieve the three-dimensional floating requirement, which meets the usage requirements, and its specific structure is not limited.

[0027] When the plug and socket are engaged, the corresponding modules of the plug end and socket end are engaged. When there are processing or assembly errors between different modules, the three-dimensional floating of the floating module realizes the tolerance during engagement, so that each contact can be accurately aligned. At the same time, by floating the floating module along the module distribution direction and perpendicular to the module distribution direction, the problem of contact getting stuck during head and socket engagement can be effectively avoided. By sliding the first floating contact end of the floating contact and the second mating end of the fixed contact, the floating contact can be adjusted to the position corresponding to the plug contact in the plug end module, avoiding continuous force in the module distribution direction when the two are engaged.

[0028] The floating structure of this invention can ensure a stable and reliable connection between printed circuit boards and can simultaneously conduct multiple signals. When connecting parallel boards, the tail of the fixed contact at the socket end is perpendicularly pressed against the first printed circuit board, and the tail of the plug contact at the plug end is perpendicularly pressed against the second printed circuit board; when connecting vertical boards, one end of the contact and the pressing end of the printed circuit board is a bent structure.

[0029] The floating plug of this invention is a simplified structure and is only used to illustrate the contact relationship between the head and the base of this invention. The specific structure of the plug is defined by the description in the embodiments.

[0030] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-disclosed technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A floating structure suitable for use in a board-to-board connector comprising a plug and a receptacle, characterized in that: Both the plug housing and the socket housing have at least one cavity distributed along the X direction. Each cavity is equipped with at least one module. At the socket end, each module includes a first insulator, a second insulator, and at least one contact block. Each contact block includes a fixed contact and a floating contact. The fixed contact includes a first crimping end at the rear end for crimping and fixing with the first printed circuit board and a first mating end at the front end. The floating contact includes a first floating contact end for floating mating with the first mating end and a second floating contact end for floating mating with the plug contact's mating end. In the same module, each fixed contact is assembled into a fixed end by the first insulator, and each floating contact is assembled into a floating end by the second insulator. At the plug end, each module includes a plug insulator and at least one plug contact. The rear end of the plug contact is a crimping end for crimping and fixing with the second printed circuit board, and the front end is a mating end. When the plug and socket are plugged in, the mating end of the plug contact and the second floating contact end, as well as the first mating end and the first floating contact end, can float relative to each other along the Z-axis, Y-axis, and X-axis directions.

2. The floating structure applicable to inter-board connectors according to claim 1, characterized in that: One of the first docking end and the second floating contact end is a flat plate structure, and the other is a single spring or a socket structure composed of two springs.

3. The floating structure for inter-board connectors according to claim 2, characterized in that: One of the second floating contact end and the plug contact mating end is a flat plate structure, and the other is a single spring or a socket structure composed of two springs.

4. The floating structure for inter-board connectors according to claim 3, characterized in that: The single spring has at least two contact protrusions in the engagement direction.

5. The floating structure suitable for inter-board connectors according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that: In the floating end of the same module, both ends of the floating contact extend out of the second insulator, and both ends of the fixed contact extend out of the first insulator.

6. The floating structure for inter-board connectors according to claim 5, characterized in that: Both ends of the plug contact extend beyond the plug insulator.

7. The floating structure for inter-board connectors according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both the fixed contact and the plug contact have a fisheye structure at their respective crimp ends.

8. The floating structure for inter-board connectors according to claim 7, characterized in that: The first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board are parallel or perpendicular. When the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board are perpendicular, the crimping direction of the fisheye structure at the tail of the fixed contact or plug contact is perpendicular to the connector mating direction.

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