Electrical connector assembly and method of assembling the same

Abstract

This invention provides an electrical connector assembly and its assembly method. The electrical connector assembly includes a connector module, a circuit board, a fixing housing, and a cable module. The connector module includes a first housing and a plurality of first conductive terminals fixed within the housing, the first conductive terminals being soldered to the circuit board. The fixing housing includes a main body and locking portions located on both sides of the main body. The main body has a receiving cavity and a second mating cavity, the connector module being received in the receiving cavity. The cable module includes second conductive terminals and a cable, the second conductive terminals being received in the second mating cavity of the main body, the locking portions securing the connector module and the cable module to the circuit board. The above-described electrical connector assembly and its assembly method can avoid the cable module being subjected to the high temperatures during soldering, and can make the connector module and the cable module more stably fixed to the circuit board by the fixing housing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of connector assemblies, and in particular to an electrical connector assembly and its assembly method. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, traditional electrical connector assemblies include a circuit board, conductive terminals for transmitting low-speed signals, and a cable module for transmitting high-speed signals. The cable module includes conductive terminals for transmitting high-speed signals and a cable electrically connected to the conductive terminals. The rear end of the conductive terminals for transmitting low-speed signals is electrically connected to the circuit board, thereby enabling low-speed signal transmission.

[0003] As shown in CN115347395A, this electrical connector assembly discloses an electrical connector including an insulating body, a first conductive terminal, a second conductive terminal, an adapter circuit board, and a cable. The first conductive terminal includes a first resilient mating portion and a first tail portion. The first conductive terminal includes a first high-speed signal terminal and a first non-high-speed signal terminal. The first high-speed signal terminal includes a first connecting portion, and the first non-high-speed signal terminal includes a first resilient mounting arm. The second conductive terminal includes a second resilient mating portion and a second tail portion. The second conductive terminal includes a second high-speed signal terminal and a second non-high-speed signal terminal. The second high-speed signal terminal includes a second connecting portion, and the second non-high-speed signal terminal includes a second resilient mounting arm. The adapter circuit board is located between the first resilient mounting arm and the second resilient mounting arm. The cable includes a first cable electrically connected to the first connecting portion and a second cable electrically connected to the second connecting portion.

[0004] However, if the non-high-speed signal terminals in this type of electrical connector only use elastic mounting arms to establish elastic contact with the adapter circuit board for electrical connection, they are prone to loosening and displacement under vibration working environment, resulting in poor electrical connection with the adapter circuit board. If the elastic mounting arms are soldered to the adapter circuit board, the entire electrical connector (along with its cable module) needs to be placed in a high-temperature reflow soldering machine. The high-temperature environment of the reflow soldering machine can easily cause the impedance of the cable module to drift, which degrades its electrical performance when transmitting high-speed signals. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One object of the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and to provide an electrical connector assembly and its assembly method that can prevent high-speed cables from being damaged by high temperatures during assembly.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] An electrical connector assembly, comprising:

[0008] A connector module includes a first housing and a plurality of first conductive terminals fixed inside the first housing; the front of the first housing is open to form a first mating cavity, and each first conductive terminal includes a first mating portion and a first soldering tail portion, the first mating portion of the first conductive terminal being correspondingly received in the first mating cavity;

[0009] A circuit board is soldered together with the first solder tail of the first conductive terminal;

[0010] A fixed housing includes a main body and locking portions located on both sides of the main body. The main body has a receiving cavity and a second mating cavity, and the connector module is received within the receiving cavity.

[0011] A cable module includes multiple second conductive terminals and a cable electrically connected to the second conductive terminals. Each second conductive terminal includes a second mating portion and a second tail portion. The second tail portion is electrically connected to the cable. The cable module is fixed to the rear of the second mating cavity. The second mating portion of the second conductive terminal is correspondingly housed in the second mating cavity. The fixing housing locks the connector module and the cable module together to the circuit board.

[0012] In one embodiment, the front side of the circuit board is provided with a plurality of solder pads and clearance grooves. The solder pads are soldered to the first solder tail of the first conductive terminal, and the clearance grooves are disposed opposite to the second mating cavity. The clearance grooves are used to accommodate the cable module.

[0013] In one embodiment, the locking part protrudes rearward from the main body, and the locking part has a slot for correspondingly accommodating the circuit board. The fixing housing also includes a fastener, which passes through the locking part and the circuit board.

[0014] In one embodiment, the height of the receiving cavity of the fixed housing in the vertical direction is greater than the height of the second docking cavity; and the first docking cavity and the second docking cavity, which are received in the receiving cavity, are at the same height in the vertical direction and are at the same horizontal level.

[0015] In one embodiment, the connector module further includes a first insulating member, the plurality of first conductive terminals are fixed on the first insulating member in two rows, and the first housing is provided with a first stop portion extending laterally along the first mating cavity. The first stop portion is located between the upper and lower rows of the first conductive terminals and protrudes forward relative to the first insulating member.

[0016] In one embodiment, the cable module further includes a sheath and a second insulating member. The second conductive terminal is fixed to the second insulating member in two rows. The sheath covers the outer periphery of the connection between the second tail of the second conductive terminal and the cable. A second stop is provided in the second mating cavity extending laterally therein. The second stop protrudes forward relative to the second insulating member.

[0017] In one embodiment, the second insulating member has a groove on its surface facing the second mating cavity, the groove being used to accommodate the second stop portion.

[0018] In one embodiment, the fixed housing has a second terminal receiving groove on the upper and lower side walls of the second docking cavity to receive the second docking portion of the second conductive terminal; while the first housing has a first terminal receiving groove on the upper and lower side walls of the first docking cavity to receive the first docking portion of the first conductive terminal.

[0019] A method for assembling an electrical connector assembly includes the following steps:

[0020] Step S11: A connector module, a fixed housing, and a cable module are provided. The connector module includes a first housing and a plurality of first conductive terminals fixed to the first housing. The first housing has a first mating cavity formed at the front. Each first conductive terminal includes a first mating portion and a first soldering tail portion. The first mating portion of the first conductive terminal is correspondingly received in the first mating cavity. The fixed housing includes a main body and locking portions provided on both sides of the main body. The main body has a receiving cavity and a second mating cavity. The cable module includes a plurality of second conductive terminals and a cable electrically connected to the second conductive terminals.

[0021] Step S12: Insert the cable module into the second mating cavity of the fixed housing, so that the second mating part of the second conductive terminal is received in the second mating cavity;

[0022] Step S13: Install the connector module onto a circuit board and solder the solder tail of the first conductive terminal to the circuit board.

[0023] Step S14: Assemble the fixed housing with the cable module together with the connector module, so that the connector module is inserted into the receiving cavity of the fixed housing.

[0024] Step S15: Secure the fixed housing to the circuit board, thereby securing the connector module and the cable module together to the circuit board.

[0025] In one embodiment, steps S13 and S12 can be interchanged. The front side of the circuit board is provided with a solder pad and a clearance groove. The first conductive terminal is soldered to the solder pad using a reflow soldering process. The clearance groove is used to accommodate the cable module. The cable extends backward from the clearance groove.

[0026] As can be seen from the above technical solution, the present invention has at least the following advantages and positive effects:

[0027] The connector module and cable module of the aforementioned electrical connector assembly can be separately fixed to the mounting housing. Using the assembly method described above, the connector module and circuit board are simply soldered together via reflow soldering. The cable module is then inserted into the second mating cavity of the mounting housing, and the locking mechanism of the mounting housing secures both the connector module and cable module to the circuit board. Therefore, during the assembly of the electrical connector assembly, both the connector module and cable module are stably fixed to the circuit board by the mounting housing. Furthermore, since the cable module does not need to be placed in the high-temperature reflow soldering equipment along with the connector module and circuit board, damage to the cable module from the high temperatures of the reflow soldering process can be avoided, preventing performance degradation during high-speed signal transmission.

[0028] Furthermore, when the external circuit board mates with the aforementioned electrical connector assembly, the backward pushing force of the external circuit board can be transmitted through the first and second stop portions to the locking portion of the fixed housing, which then transfers the force to the circuit board. Therefore, the aforementioned electrical connector assembly, through the fixed housing, can more securely fix the connector module and cable module, preventing them from being pushed backward during insertion of the external circuit board and thus avoiding damage to the connector module or cable module. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an electrical connector assembly mating with an external circuit board in one embodiment.

[0030] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The diagram shown is an exploded view of the electrical connector assembly excluding the circuit board.

[0031] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 An exploded view of the electrical connector assembly from another angle, excluding the circuit board.

[0032] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 Rear view of the electrical connector assembly shown;

[0033] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 The front view of the electrical connector assembly shown;

[0034] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 The electrical connector assembly shown is a cross-sectional view along AA;

[0035] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 A top view of the electrical connector assembly shown;

[0036] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 The electrical connector assembly shown is a cross-sectional view along the CC direction.

[0037] Figure 9 yes Figure 7 The electrical connector assembly shown is a cross-sectional view along BB;

[0038] Figure 10 This is a flowchart of the assembly method of the electrical connector assembly according to this embodiment.

[0039] The annotations in the attached figures are explained as follows:

[0040] 10. Electrical connector assembly;

[0041] 11. Connector module; 111. First housing; 1112. First mating cavity; 1113. First terminal receiving slot; 1114. Positioning foot; 1115. Slot; 112. First conductive terminal; 1121. First mating part; 1122. First welding tail part; 113. First insulating component; 114. First stop part; 110. First terminal module;

[0042] 12. Circuit board; 120. Soldering pad; 121. Clearance groove; 122. Positioning groove;

[0043] 13. Fixed housing; 131. Main body; 132. Locking part; 1321. First boss; 1322. Second boss; 1323. Slot; 1324. Receiving groove; 1325. U-shaped groove; 133. Receiving cavity; 134. Second mating cavity; 1341. Second stop; 1342. Second terminal receiving groove; 135. Fastener; 1351. Nut; 1352. Screw head;

[0044] 14. Cable module; 141. Second conductive terminal; 1411. Second mating part; 1412. Second tail part; 142. Cable; 143. Cover; 144. Second insulating component; 1441. Groove; 140. Second terminal module;

[0045] 20. External circuit board; 21. Insertion part. Detailed Implementation

[0046] Typical embodiments embodying the features and advantages of the present invention will be described in detail in the following description. It should be understood that the present invention can have various variations in different embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention, and the descriptions and illustrations herein are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to limit the present invention.

[0047] In the description of this application, it should be understood that, in the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, the indications of direction or positional relationships (such as up, down, left, right, front, and back) are merely for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. These descriptions are appropriate when these elements are in the positions shown in the accompanying drawings. If the description of the positions of these elements changes, these directional indications also change accordingly.

[0048] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the stated features. In the description of this application, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0049] Please see Figure 1 The electrical connector assembly 10 of this embodiment includes a connector module 11, a circuit board 12, a fixed housing 13, and a cable module 14. The front end of the electrical connector assembly 10 can mate with a mating circuit board 20 to transmit data and connect to power. The leading edge of the external circuit board 20 is provided with an insertion portion 21, which has multiple conductive pads, allowing it to be inserted into the fixed housing 13 to establish electrical connections with the connector module 11 and the cable module 14 respectively.

[0050] Please also refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The connector module 11 includes a first housing 111 and a plurality of first conductive terminals 112 fixed within the first housing 111. The front of the first housing 111 is open to form a first mating cavity 1112, and a plurality of positioning feet 1114 protrude rearward from the rear of the first housing 111. The rear cross section of the positioning feet 1114 is preferably I-shaped or has a slot 1115 for mounting the circuit board 20.

[0051] The first conductive terminal 112 can be stamped from a metal material. The first conductive terminal 112 is elongated, and each first conductive terminal 112 includes a first mating portion 1121 and a first welding tail portion 1122. The first mating portion 1121 is located at the front end of the first conductive terminal 112, and the first welding tail portion 1122 is located at the rear end of the first conductive terminal 112. The first mating portion 1121 is correspondingly housed within the first mating cavity 1112. An external circuit board 20 is inserted into the first mating cavity 1112 from the front of the first housing 111 and is electrically connected to the first mating portion 1121. The first welding tail portion 1122 is located at the rear of the first housing 111. The circuit board 12 is located at the rear of the first housing 111 and is welded to the first welding tail portion 1122 of the first conductive terminal 112. (See reference...) Figure 2 The slots 1115 can be engaged on the upper and lower sides of the circuit board 12, with the sides of the circuit board 12 correspondingly inserted into the slots 1115, thus stabilizing the first housing 111 and the circuit board 12. Furthermore, the circuit board 12 remains intact at the corresponding slots 1115, without any openings, maintaining the strength of the circuit board 12. The fixed housing 13 includes a main body 131 and two locking portions 132 located on both sides of the main body 131. The main body 131 has a receiving cavity 133 and a second mating cavity 134. The connector module 11 is received in the receiving cavity 133, while the second mating cavity 134 is used to receive the cable module 14.

[0052] The cable module 14 can be correspondingly inserted and fixed to the rear of the second mating cavity 134. The cable module 14 includes a plurality of second conductive terminals 141 and cables 142 electrically connected to the second conductive terminals 141. Each second conductive terminal 141 includes a second mating portion 1411 and a second tail portion 1412. The second mating portion 1411 is located at the front end of the second conductive terminal 141 and is used to mate with an external circuit board 20. The second mating portion 1411 of the second conductive terminal 141 is correspondingly housed within the second mating cavity 134. The second tail portion 1412 is located at the rear end of the second conductive terminal 141 and is used for electrical connection with the cable 142.

[0053] Specifically, in this embodiment, the first housing 111 is a square-shaped insulating shell, which can be a one-piece injection molded structure made of plastic. The front of the first housing 111 is provided with three first docking cavities 1112.

[0054] The connector module 11 preferably includes three first insulating members 113. The central portion of a plurality of first conductive terminals 112 is preferably fixed to the first insulating member 113 using an embedded molding process. These first conductive terminals 112 are fixed to the first insulating member 113 in two rows, upper and lower. These first insulating members 113 can be two-piece composites or one-piece composites. The first insulating member 113 and the plurality of first conductive terminals 112 are integrally integrated to form a first terminal module 110. Each first mating cavity 1112 can correspondingly accommodate one first terminal module 110.

[0055] like Figure 2 As shown, a first stop 114 is provided on the first housing 111 extending laterally along each first mating cavity 1112, and the first stop 114 is located between the upper and lower rows of first conductive terminals 112. When the assembly worker inserts the first terminal module 110 into the first mating cavity 1112, the first stop 114 passes between the upper and lower rows of first conductive terminals 112 and abuts against the first insulating member 113, thereby preventing the first terminal module 110 from being inserted further forward. Figure 8 As shown, the shortest vertical distance between the mating portions 1121 of the upper and lower rows of first conductive terminals 112 is preferably greater than the height of the first stop portion 114 in the vertical direction (Note: the vertical direction and vertical distance are in the vertical arrangement). Figure 8 (This is expressed as horizontal direction and horizontal distance). Specifically, in this embodiment, the height of the first stop 114 is approximately 70% of the vertical distance between the mating portions 1121 of the upper and lower rows of first conductive terminals 112. In other possible embodiments, the height of the first stop 114 can be set to between 50% and 90% of the vertical distance between the mating portions 1121 of the upper and lower rows of first conductive terminals 112. The upper and lower sides of the rear end of the first stop 114 are preferably provided with inclined extending guide surfaces, so that when the first terminal module 110 is inserted from behind the first housing 111, interference between the mating portions 1121 of the first conductive terminals 112 of the first terminal module 110 and the first stop 114 can be avoided, preventing the first stop 114 from colliding with the mating portions 1121 of the first conductive terminals 112 and causing improper bending. Figure 8 As shown, although the cross-section of the first stop portion 114 in this embodiment is a rectangle with an inclined guide angle at the rear end, it can be easily changed to a circle, ellipse, triangle, trapezoid, or square in other possible embodiments.

[0056] Each of the first docking cavities 1112 of the first housing 111 has a first terminal receiving groove 1113 on its upper and lower side walls. The first terminal receiving groove 1113 is used to receive the first docking part 1121 of the first conductive terminal 112, and the first docking part 1121 can move up and down in the first terminal receiving groove 1113.

[0057] The first mating portions 1121 of the upper and lower rows of first conductive terminals 112 are arranged vertically opposite each other, allowing the external circuit board 20 to be stably mated between the upper and lower rows of first mating portions 1121. The first soldering tails 1122 of the upper and lower rows of first conductive terminals 112 are also arranged vertically opposite each other, allowing the circuit board 11 to be stably clamped between the upper and lower rows of first soldering tails 1122. The first soldering tails 1122 can be soldered to the circuit board 12 using surface mount technology (SMT).

[0058] like Figure 1 and Figure 6 As shown, the front side of the circuit board 12 is provided with multiple solder pads 120, clearance grooves 121, and positioning grooves 122 arranged side by side. The multiple solder pads 120 are soldered together with the first solder tail 1122 of the first conductive terminal 112 using a reflow soldering process. The clearance groove 121 is formed by a rearward indentation from the front edge of the circuit board 12. The clearance groove 121 is used to avoid interference with the cable module 14. The positioning groove 122 is used to accommodate the positioning feet 1114 of the first housing 111. The positioning feet 1114 can be correspondingly inserted and fixed into the positioning groove 122 of the circuit board 12, thereby preventing the first housing 111 from shaking or moving backward.

[0059] The cable module 14 also includes a second insulating member 144 and a covering body 143 formed behind the second insulating member 144. A plurality of second conductive terminals 141 are embedded and fixed to the second insulating member 144. The second conductive terminals 141 are arranged in two rows facing each other. The second insulating member 144 and the plurality of second conductive terminals 141 are integrally formed into a second terminal module 140.

[0060] The cover 143 can be made of plastic. The cover 143 can cover the rear outer surface of the second terminal module 140 and the outer periphery of the connection between the second conductive terminal 141 and the cable 142, so as to isolate and protect the connection and prevent the tensile stress acting on the cable 142 from damaging the connection.

[0061] Cable 142 can be used to transmit high-speed differential signals. Cable 142 is soldered to the second tail 1412 of the second conductive terminal 141, and the cables 142 are arranged in two opposing rows. Cable 142 typically has an insulating sheath on its outer periphery, which cannot withstand high-temperature heating. If the cable module 14 is placed in a reflow soldering machine, the insulation of the cable 142 may melt or the solder joint between the cable 142 and the second conductive terminal 141 may melt, causing impedance drift in the cable module 14 and resulting in a decrease in its electrical performance during high-speed transmission.

[0062] Please see Figure 6 and Figure 7 The clearance groove 121 and the second docking cavity 134 are arranged in a front-to-back orientation. Specifically, the clearance groove 121 provides installation space for the cable module 14, the cable 142 extends backward from the clearance groove 121, and the circuit board 12 is located between the upper and lower rows of cables 142.

[0063] like Figure 3 As shown, the fixing housing 13 can be a one-piece injection molded structure. That is, the main body 131 and the locking part 132 are a single-piece structure. The locking part 132 protrudes rearward, which can facilitate connection with the circuit board 12. The locking part 132 can be a lug provided on both sides of the main body 131. The main body 131 of the fixing housing 13 is elongated, and the receiving cavity 133 and the second docking cavity 134 are arranged side by side. The receiving cavity 133 and the second docking cavity 134 are arranged laterally. The fixing housing 13 has second terminal receiving grooves 1342 on the upper and lower side walls of the second docking cavity 134 to correspondingly receive the second docking part 1411 of the second conductive terminal 141, while there are no first terminal receiving grooves on the upper and lower side walls of the receiving cavity 133 for receiving the first docking part 1121 of the first conductive terminal 112.

[0064] The receiving cavity 133 of the fixed housing 13 is used to receive the connector module 11, and the second mating cavity 134 is used to receive the cable module 14. The shape of the receiving cavity 133 is adapted to the shape of the connector module 11 so that the connector module 11 can be stably received within the receiving cavity 133. The height of the connector module 11 is greater than the height of the cable module 14 in the vertical direction. The height of the receiving cavity 133 of the fixed housing 13 in the vertical direction is also greater than the height of the second mating cavity 134 to facilitate the corresponding insertion operation of the connector module 11 and the cable module 14.

[0065] like Figure 5 As shown, the first mating cavity 1112 and the second mating cavity 134 are at the same height in the vertical direction and are at the same horizontal level. When the connector module 11 is inserted into the receiving cavity 133 and the cable module 14 is inserted into the second mating cavity 134, the first conductive terminal 112 of the connector module 11 and the second conductive terminal 141 of the cable module 14 are at the same height, which facilitates the mating of the insertion part 21 of the external circuit board 20 with the connector module 11 and the cable module 14.

[0066] Please combine Figure 2Referring also to section 4, the locking part 132 has screw holes along its vertical direction. The locking part 132 also includes a fastener 135, which can be a bolt, screw, or rivet; in this embodiment, a bolt is used as an example. The locking part 132 includes a first boss 1321 and a second boss 1322 arranged vertically opposite each other, and a slot 1323 for accommodating the circuit board 12 is formed between the first boss 1321 and the second boss 1322. The first boss 1321 has a receiving groove 1324 for receiving a nut 1351. The second boss 1322 has a U-shaped groove 1325 for receiving the screw head 1352 of the bolt. The screw head 1352 rotates within the U-shaped groove 1325, causing the stud to be securely screwed to the nut 1351.

[0067] The first boss 1321 and the second boss 1322 enable the locking part 132 to have strong structural strength within a limited space. Furthermore, the U-shaped groove 1325 and the receiving groove 1324 increase the contact area between the locking part 132 and the fastener 135, facilitating the transfer of the force from the locking part 132 to the fastener 135. The locking part 132 covers the metal conductor fastener 15, preventing the fastener 15 from causing a short circuit.

[0068] Please see Figure 2 A second stop portion 1341 extends laterally within the second docking cavity 134. The second stop portion 1341 is similar to the first stop portion 114 and can be a crossbeam spanning the second docking cavity 134. The second stop portion 1341 is located at the rear of the second docking cavity 134. Specifically, in this embodiment, the second insulating member 144 may also have a groove 1441 facing the second docking cavity 134. The groove 1441 is used to receive the second stop portion 1341, and the second stop portion 1341 abuts against the groove 1441. When the cable module 14 is inserted into the second docking cavity 134, the second stop portion 1341 can be embedded into the second insulating member 144 along the groove 1441. The second stop portion 1341 and the second insulating member 144 cooperate with each other, allowing the cable module 14 to be more stably received within the second docking cavity 134.

[0069] Please see Figure 8 The first stop portion 114 is located at the bottom of the first mating cavity 1112, between the first mating portions 1121 of the upper and lower rows of first conductive terminals 112, and protrudes forward relative to the first insulating member 113. (See also...) Figure 9The second stop portion 1341 is also located at the bottom of the second mating cavity 134. The second stop portion 1341 is located between the second mating portions 1411 of the upper and lower rows of second conductive terminals 141, and the second stop portion 1341 protrudes forward relative to the second insulating member 144. Thus, when the external circuit board 20 is connected to the electrical connector assembly, the external circuit board 20 is inserted backward and stops against the first stop portion 114 and the second stop portion 1341, without pushing against the first insulating member 113 and the second insulating member 144.

[0070] Therefore, the backward pushing force of the external circuit board 20 will be transmitted to the locking part 132 of the fixed housing 13 via the first stop part 114 and the second stop part 1341. The locking part 132 then transfers the force to the circuit board 12 via the fastener 135. In addition, the pushing force of the external circuit board 20 on the first stop part 114 can also be transferred to the circuit board 12 via the positioning foot 1114 of the first housing 111. Therefore, the first stop part 114 and the second stop part 1341 can prevent the backward pushing force of the external circuit board 20 from being transmitted to the first terminal module 110 and the cable module 14 of the connector module 11, preventing the force from pushing the first terminal module 110 and the cable module 14, causing them to move improperly or damage the solder joints.

[0071] The aforementioned electrical connector assembly 10 can more securely fix the connector module 11 and cable module 14 through the fixed housing 13, preventing the connector module 11 or cable module 14 from moving when plugging or unplugging the external circuit board 20.

[0072] The present invention also provides a method for assembling an electrical connector assembly, comprising the following steps:

[0073] Please see Figure 10 In step S11, a connector module 11, a fixed housing 13, and a cable module 14 are provided. The connector module 11 includes a first housing 111 and a plurality of first conductive terminals 112 fixed to the first housing 111. A first mating cavity 1112 is formed in front of the first housing 111. Each first conductive terminal 112 includes a first mating portion 1121 and a first welding tail portion 1122. The first mating portion 1121 of the first conductive terminal 112 is correspondingly received in the first mating cavity 1112. The fixed housing 13 includes a main body 131 and locking portions 132 provided on both sides of the main body 131. A receiving cavity 133 and a second mating cavity 134 are formed in the main body 131. The cable module 14 includes a plurality of second conductive terminals 141 and a cable 142 electrically connected to the second conductive terminals 141.

[0074] In step S12, the cable module 14 is inserted into the second docking cavity 134 of the fixed housing 13, so that the second docking part 1411 of the second conductive terminal 141 is correspondingly accommodated in the second docking cavity 134.

[0075] The cable module 14 includes a second insulating member 144 and a second conductive terminal 141 fixedly disposed on the second insulating member 144. A second stop portion 1341 extends laterally within the second mating cavity 134 and protrudes rearward relative to the second mating cavity 134. The second insulating member 144 has a groove 1441 facing the second mating cavity 134, and the second stop portion 1341 is received within the groove 1441 and abuts against the second insulating member 144.

[0076] Step S13: Install the connector module 11 onto a circuit board 12 and solder the first solder tail 1122 of the first conductive terminal 112 to the circuit board 12.

[0077] The front side of the circuit board 12 is provided with a solder pad 120. Preferably, the solder pad 120 is soldered to the first solder tail 1122 of the first conductive terminal 112 using a reflow soldering process. Therefore, it is only necessary to place the connector module 11 and the circuit board 12 in a high-temperature reflow soldering device to avoid damage to the cable module 14.

[0078] In other embodiments, steps S13 and S12 can be interchanged in order, both of which can avoid placing the cable module 14 in the high-temperature reflow soldering equipment and can enable subsequent assembly operations.

[0079] Step S14: Assemble the fixed housing 13 with the cable module 14 together with the connector module 11, so that the connector module 11 is inserted into the receiving cavity 133 of the fixed housing 13.

[0080] During the operation of step S14, since the connector module 11 has been welded and fixed together with the circuit board 12, the receiving cavity 133 of the fixed housing 13 can be aligned with the connector module 11 and inserted into the outer periphery of the connector module 11 from front to back, and the cable module 14 is correspondingly received in the clearance groove 121, and the cable 142 can extend backward from the upper and lower sides of the clearance groove 121 of the circuit board 12.

[0081] Step S15: Secure the housing 13 to the circuit board 12, thereby securing the connector module 11 and the cable module 14 together to the circuit board 12.

[0082] The locking part 132 is provided with a slot 1323 for accommodating the circuit board 12. By inserting the circuit board 12 into the slot 1323, the fastener 135 passes through the locking part 132 and the circuit board 12. Thus, the connector module 11 and the cable module 14 can be integrally locked onto the circuit board 12 by the fixing housing 13. This achieves a stable connection between the connector module 11, the cable module 14, the circuit board 12 and the fixing housing 13. The structure is compact and can prevent the first solder tail 1122 of the first conductive terminal 112 from dislodging from the solder pad 120 of the circuit board 12 under vibration working environment.

[0083] In the above-described assembly method for the electrical connector assembly, since the connector module 11 and the cable module 14 are detachably and sequentially fixed to the fixed housing 13, the assembly process only requires soldering the connector module 11 and the circuit board 12 using a high-temperature reflow soldering process. Then, the cable module 14 is fixed within the second mating cavity 134 of the fixed housing 13, and the fixed housing 13 secures both the connector module 11 and the cable module 14 to the circuit board 12. Therefore, the cable module 14 does not need to be placed in the high-temperature reflow soldering equipment along with the connector module 11 and the circuit board 12, thus avoiding damage to the cable module 14 caused by the high temperature of the reflow soldering process, which could lead to impedance drift and a decrease in its electrical performance during high-speed transmission.

[0084] Although the invention has been described with reference to several typical embodiments, it should be understood that the terminology used is illustrative and exemplary, and not restrictive. Since the invention can be embodied in many forms without departing from the spirit or essence of the invention, it should be understood that the above embodiments are not limited to any of the foregoing details, but should be interpreted broadly within the spirit and scope defined by the appended claims. Therefore, all variations and modifications falling within the scope of the claims or their equivalents should be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly, characterized in that, include: A connector module includes a first housing and a plurality of first conductive terminals fixed within the first housing; The first housing has an open front end forming a first docking cavity. Each first conductive terminal includes a first docking portion and a first welding tail portion. The first docking portion of the first conductive terminal is correspondingly housed in the first docking cavity. A circuit board is soldered together with the first solder tail of the first conductive terminal; A fixed housing includes a main body and locking parts located on both sides of the main body. The main body has a receiving cavity and a second docking cavity, and the connector module is received in the receiving cavity. and A cable module includes multiple second conductive terminals and a cable electrically connected to the second conductive terminals. Each second conductive terminal includes a second mating portion and a second tail portion. The second tail portion is electrically connected to the cable. The cable module is fixed to the rear of the second mating cavity. The second mating portion of the second conductive terminal is correspondingly housed in the second mating cavity. The fixing housing locks the connector module and the cable module together to the circuit board.

2. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The front side of the circuit board is provided with multiple solder pads and clearance grooves. The solder pads are soldered to the first solder tail of the first conductive terminal. The clearance grooves are arranged opposite to the second mating cavity and are used to accommodate the cable module.

3. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The locking part protrudes rearward from the main body, and the locking part has a slot for correspondingly accommodating the circuit board. The fixing housing also includes a fastener, which passes through the locking part and the circuit board.

4. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The height of the receiving cavity of the fixed housing in the vertical direction is greater than the height of the second docking cavity; while the first docking cavity and the second docking cavity, which are received in the receiving cavity, are at the same height in the vertical direction and are at the same horizontal level.

5. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connector module further includes a first insulating member, and the plurality of first conductive terminals are fixed on the first insulating member in two rows, one above the other. The first housing extends laterally along the first mating cavity and is provided with a first stop portion. The first stop portion is located between the two rows of first conductive terminals and protrudes forward relative to the first insulating member. The first housing protrudes backward with a plurality of positioning feet.

6. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cable module further includes a sheath and a second insulating component. The second conductive terminal is divided into two rows and fixed to the second insulating component. The sheath covers the outer periphery of the connection between the second tail of the second conductive terminal and the cable. A second stop is provided in the second mating cavity extending laterally. The second stop protrudes forward relative to the second insulating component.

7. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, The second insulating member has a groove on its surface facing the second mating cavity, and the groove is used to accommodate the second stop portion.

8. The electrical connector assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The fixed housing has second terminal receiving grooves on the upper and lower side walls of the second docking cavity to receive the second docking portion of the second conductive terminal; while the first housing has first terminal receiving grooves on the upper and lower side walls of the first docking cavity to receive the first docking portion of the first conductive terminal.

9. A method for assembling an electrical connector assembly, comprising the following steps: Step S11: A connector module, a fixed housing, and a cable module are provided. The connector module includes a first housing and a plurality of first conductive terminals fixed to the first housing. The first housing has a first mating cavity formed at the front. Each first conductive terminal includes a first mating portion and a first soldering tail portion. The first mating portion of the first conductive terminal is correspondingly received in the first mating cavity. The fixed housing includes a main body and locking portions provided on both sides of the main body. The main body has a receiving cavity and a second mating cavity. The cable module includes a plurality of second conductive terminals and a cable electrically connected to the second conductive terminals. Step S12: Insert the cable module into the second mating cavity of the fixed housing, so that the second mating part of the second conductive terminal is received in the second mating cavity; Step S13: Install the connector module onto a circuit board and solder the first solder tail of the first conductive terminal to the circuit board. Step S14: Assemble the fixed housing with the cable module together with the connector module, so that the connector module is inserted into the receiving cavity of the fixed housing. Step S15: Secure the fixed housing to the circuit board, thereby securing the connector module and the cable module together to the circuit board.

10. The method for assembling an electrical connector assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that, Steps S13 and S12 can be interchanged. The front side of the circuit board is provided with solder pads and clearance grooves. The first conductive terminal is soldered to the solder pads using a reflow soldering process. The clearance groove is used to accommodate the cable module. The cable extends backward from the clearance groove.

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