Connector and electronic device

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of connectors, in particular to a connector and an electronic device. The connector comprises a shell, an insulating body and a terminal module. The shell has a mounting channel, and the shell has a first connecting surface and a second connecting surface. The insulating body is arranged in the mounting channel. The terminal assembly and the shielding assembly of the terminal module are arranged in the insulating body. The shielding assembly comprises a shielding piece and a partition plate. The shielding piece has a first welding surface, and the partition plate has a second welding surface. The first welding surface is connected to the first connecting surface through a first welding part. The first welding part is located at the included angle between the first welding surface and the first connecting surface. The second welding surface is connected to the second connecting surface through a second welding part. According to the application, the first welding part is arranged at the included angle between the first welding surface and the first connecting surface. The welding position of the shielding piece and the shell is transferred to the intersection area of the two planes arranged at the included angle, so that the overall length of the connector is shortened in the length direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of connector technology, and more particularly to a connector and electronic device. Background Technology

[0002] The USB Type-C connector (Universal Serial Bus Type-C) is a standardized interface that supports reversible plugging, high-power transmission, and high-speed data exchange, and is widely used in consumer electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Existing USB Type-C connectors typically employ a structure combining an outer metal shell and a body (inner shell / plastic body). The outer metal shell is fixed to the body by spot welding to provide electromagnetic shielding and structural strength.

[0003] In conventional manufacturing processes, the spot welding holding structure between the outer shell and the body is usually set at the end or flat surface of the connector. This forces the connector to reserve sufficient welding space in its length dimension, resulting in an increase in the overall length of the connector. This makes it difficult to meet the stringent requirements of the thinner and smaller electronic devices for the internal space of the whole machine, thus limiting the application and promotion scenarios of the connector. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One embodiment of this application provides a connector and an electronic device to solve the problem that the spot welding holding structure between the outer iron shell and the body is usually set at the end or flat surface of the connector, which forces the connector to reserve sufficient welding space in the length dimension, resulting in an increase in the overall length of the connector. This makes it difficult to meet the stringent requirements of the electronic device to be thinner and smaller, thus limiting the application and promotion scenarios of the connector.

[0005] In a first aspect, one embodiment of this application provides a connector, including: The housing has an internal mounting channel and a first connecting surface and a second connecting surface; An insulating body is disposed within the mounting channel; A terminal module, comprising a terminal assembly and a shielding assembly, the terminal assembly and the shielding assembly being spaced apart from an insulating body, the shielding assembly comprising a shielding element and a spacer, the shielding element having a first welding surface, the spacer having a second welding surface, the first welding surface being angled to a first connecting surface, the first welding surface being connected to the first connecting surface via a first welding portion located at the angle between the first welding surface and the first connecting surface, and the second welding surface being connected to the second connecting surface via a second welding portion.

[0006] Optionally, the end of the outer shell away from the second connecting surface also has a third connecting surface, and the shielding component has a third welding surface, and the third connecting surface and the third welding surface are welded together by a third welding part.

[0007] Optionally, a limiting groove is formed on the outer peripheral wall of the housing, the limiting groove is located on the side of the housing opposite to the third welding surface, and a protective ring is provided in the limiting groove.

[0008] Optionally, the first connecting surface is perpendicular to the first welding surface.

[0009] Optionally, the outer casing has a top wall and a bottom wall disposed opposite to each other along its thickness direction, the middle partition has a first abutting portion that abuts against the top wall, a second welding surface is disposed on the side of the first abutting portion facing the top wall, and a second connecting surface is disposed on the side of the top wall facing the first abutting portion.

[0010] Optionally, the insulating body has a second abutting portion, which is sleeved on the outer peripheral wall of the first abutting portion, and the second welding surface is exposed in the second abutting portion, and the second abutting portion abuts against the top wall.

[0011] Optionally, one end of the installation channel is provided with a rear cover, and the second abutting part abuts against the rear cover.

[0012] Optionally, the dimensions of the first welded portion, the second welded portion, and the third welded portion in the thickness direction of the outer casing are not greater than 0.3 mm.

[0013] Optionally, the terminal assembly includes a plurality of upper terminals and a plurality of lower terminals located on opposite sides of the central partition, each of the upper terminals and each of the lower terminals being spaced apart along the width direction of the housing, each of the upper terminals having a first contraction portion bent toward the center of the insulating body at its center, and each of the lower terminals having a second contraction portion bent toward the center of the insulating body at its center.

[0014] Secondly, one embodiment of this application provides an electronic device, including: Equipment body; The connector provided in the first aspect of this application is mounted on the device body.

[0015] The technical solution provided in this application, compared with the prior art, has the following advantages: This embodiment positions the first welding portion at the angle between the first welding surface and the first connecting surface, shifting the welding position between the shielding component and the housing from the traditional flat end face to the intersection area of ​​two planes arranged at an angle. This frees up space along the connector's length that was originally used for welding on the flat end face, shortening the overall length of the connector and meeting the demand for miniaturized connectors in electronic devices. Simultaneously, because the first welding surface and the first connecting surface are at a 90°-120° angle, the weld nugget can simultaneously fuse two metal surfaces in different directions, forming a three-dimensional weld bond. Compared to two-dimensional welding on a single plane, this increases the welding contact area and improves welding strength. Furthermore, the welding structure at the angle is more resistant to shear forces and peeling. The connector exhibits stronger resistance to grounding forces, enhancing its reliability in holding the connector between the housing and the insulating body. The terminal assembly and shielding assembly are spaced apart on the insulating body, separating the signal terminals and shielding structure in the spatial layout of the insulating body. The shielding component is directly electrically connected to the housing via the first solder joint, and the middle partition is directly electrically connected to the housing via the second solder joint, forming a continuous grounding shielding loop sequentially from the housing, shielding component, middle partition, and back to the housing. This eliminates the need for additional jumpers or spring contacts, simplifying the grounding structure, reducing contact resistance, and improving the connector's electromagnetic compatibility performance. The coplanar fit between the second soldering surface and the second connecting surface ensures reliable soldering between the middle partition and the housing, while also reducing the overall thickness of the connector. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.

[0019] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a connector provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 1 ; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of a connector provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 ; Figure 3A schematic diagram of the structure of a connector provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 3 ; Figure 4 for Figure 1 Sectional view along the AA direction; Figure 5 for Figure 4 A magnified view of the area at point B; Figure 6 for Figure 4 A magnified view of the area at point C; Figure 7 for Figure 4 A magnified view of the area at point D; Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the outer casing provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 9 for Figure 8 Sectional view in the EE direction; Figure 10 Schematic diagram of the structure of the insulating body and terminal module provided in the embodiments of this application Figure 1 ; Figure 11 Schematic diagram of the structure of the insulating body and terminal module provided in the embodiments of this application Figure 2 .

[0020] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Outer shell; 1a. Mounting channel; 111. First connecting surface; 112. Second connecting surface; 11. Top wall; 12. Bottom wall; 113. Third connecting surface; 1b. Limiting groove; 2. Insulating body; 21. Second contact part; 3. Terminal module; 31. Terminal assembly; 32. Shielding assembly; 321. Shielding component; 322. Spacer; 3211. First welding surface; 3221. Second welding surface; 3212. Third welding surface; 311. Upper terminal; 312. Lower terminal; 3111. First contraction section; 3121. Second contraction section; 3222. First abutment section; 4. Protective ring; 5. Back cover. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0022] The following disclosure provides numerous different embodiments or examples for implementing various structures of this application. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. These are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples. Such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed.

[0023] For ease of description, spatial relative terms may be used in the text to describe the relative position or movement of one element or feature relative to another element or feature, as shown in the figure. These relative terms include, for example, "inside," "outside," "middle," "outer," "below," "below," "above," "front," "back," etc. Such spatial relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation, other than those depicted in the figure. For example, if the device in the figure undergoes a positional flip, orientation change, or change of motion, these directional indications will change accordingly. For instance, an element described as "below other elements or features" or "below other elements or features" will subsequently be oriented "above other elements or features" or "above other elements or features." Therefore, the example term "below" can include both upper and lower orientations. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or in other directions), and the spatial relative descriptors used in the text will be interpreted accordingly.

[0024] To address the technical problem that the spot welding holding structure between the outer shell and the body is usually located at the end or on a flat surface of the connector, which forces the connector to reserve sufficient welding space in its length dimension, resulting in an increase in the overall length of the connector, it is difficult to meet the stringent requirements of the thinner and smaller electronic devices for the internal space of the whole device, thus limiting the application and promotion of the connector. This application solves the problem by setting the first welding part at the angle between the first welding surface and the first connecting surface, so that the welding position between the shield and the shell is shifted from the traditional flat end face to the intersection area of ​​two planes arranged at an angle. This frees up the space originally used for welding on the flat end face in the length direction of the connector, shortens the overall length of the connector, and meets the needs of electronic devices for miniaturized connectors.

[0025] Figures 1 to 11A connector provided in one embodiment of this application includes a housing 1, an insulating body 2, and a terminal module 3. The housing 1 has an installation channel 1a and a first connecting surface 111 and a second connecting surface 112. The insulating body 2 is disposed within the installation channel 1a. The terminal module 3 includes a terminal assembly 31 and a shielding assembly 32, which are spaced apart from the insulating body 2. The shielding assembly 32 includes a shielding element 321 and a spacer 322. The shielding element 321 has a first welding surface 3211, and the spacer 322 has a second welding surface 3221. The first welding surface 3211 is set at an angle to the first connecting surface 111. The first welding surface 3211 is connected to the first connecting surface 111 through a first welding part located at the angle between the first welding surface 3211 and the first connecting surface 111. The second welding surface 3221 is connected to the second connecting surface 112 through the second welding part.

[0026] In this embodiment, the outer shell 1 is a thin-walled shell structure, which can be made of stainless steel or copper alloy. The mounting channel 1a inside the outer shell 1 is used to install the insulating body 2 and the terminal assembly 31. The first connecting surface 111 and the second connecting surface 112 can respectively correspond to the end face of the outer shell 1 and the inner wall of the mounting channel 1a. The first connecting surface 111 and the second connecting surface 112 are both flat planes to facilitate welding with the first welding surface 3211 and the second welding surface 3221. The insulating body 2 is a plastic injection molded part, and a groove structure is provided on the insulating body 2 to accommodate the terminal module 3. The terminal module 3 includes a terminal assembly 31 and a shielding assembly 32, which are spaced apart from the insulating body 2. The terminal assembly 31 can be made of phosphor bronze or beryllium copper. The shielding assembly 32 includes a shielding element 321 and a spacer 322, which can be made of stainless steel or phosphor bronze. The end of the shielding element 321 away from the insulating body 2 has a first welding surface 32. 11. The first welding surface 3211 is a flat plane. The first welding surface 3211 and the first connecting surface 111 are set at an angle of 90°-120°, so that the first welding surface 3211 and the first connecting surface 111 form an angled relationship between the surfaces in space. The first welding surface 3211 is connected to the first connecting surface 111 through a first welding part. The first welding part is located at the angle between the first welding surface 3211 and the first connecting surface 111. The first welding part is a weld point formed by the melting of the welding structures on both sides. The welding part fuses and fixes the shielding component 321 to the outer shell 1 at the corner position; the end of the partition plate 322 away from the insulating body 2 has a second welding surface 3221, the second welding surface 3221 is a flat plane, and the second welding surface 3221 and the second connecting surface 112 are coplanarly attached; the second welding surface 3221 is connected to the second connecting surface 112 through the second welding part, the second welding part is a weld point formed by the melting of the welding structures on both sides, and the second welding part fuses and fixes the partition plate 322 to the outer shell 1 on a flat surface.

[0027] In this embodiment, by placing the first welding portion at the angle between the first welding surface 3211 and the first connecting surface 111, the welding position between the shielding component 321 and the outer shell 1 is shifted from the traditional flat end face to the intersection area of ​​two planes arranged at an angle. This frees up space in the length direction of the connector that was originally used for welding on the flat end face, shortening the overall length of the connector and meeting the demand for miniaturized connectors in electronic devices. At the same time, since the first welding surface 3211 and the first connecting surface 111 are arranged at an angle of 90°-120°, the welding nugget can simultaneously fuse two metal surfaces in different directions, forming a three-dimensional weld bond. Compared with two-dimensional welding on a single plane, the welding contact area is increased, the welding strength is improved, and the welding structure at the angle has stronger resistance to shear and peeling forces. This improves the reliability of the connector's hold between the housing 1 and the insulating body 2. The terminal assembly 31 and the shielding assembly 32 are spaced apart on the insulating body 2, so that the signal terminals and the shielding structure are separated from each other in the spatial layout of the insulating body 2. The shielding component 321 is directly electrically connected to the housing 1 through the first welding part, and the middle partition 322 is directly electrically connected to the housing 1 through the second welding part, forming a continuous grounding shielding loop from the housing 1, the shielding component 321, the middle partition 322, and the housing 1 in sequence. No additional jumpers or spring contacts are needed, which simplifies the grounding structure, reduces contact resistance, and improves the electromagnetic compatibility performance of the connector. The second welding surface 3221 and the second connecting surface 112 are coplanarly bonded, which makes the welding of the middle partition 322 to the housing 1 reliable, while reducing the overall thickness of the connector.

[0028] Please see Figures 4 to 9 In one embodiment, the end of the outer shell 1 away from the second connecting surface 112 also has a third connecting surface 113. The third connecting surface 113 is the inner wall of the mounting channel 1a. The third connecting surface 113 is coplanar with or parallel to the second connecting surface 112. The third connecting surface 113 is a flat plane. The shielding member 321 has a third welding surface 3212. The third welding surface 3212 is the end face of the shielding member 321 away from the insulating body 2. The third welding surface 3212 is coplanar with the third connecting surface 113. The third connecting surface 113 and the third welding surface 3212 are welded by a third welding part. The third welding part is a weld point formed by melting the welding structures on both sides. The third welding part fuses and fixes the shielding member 321 and the outer shell 1.

[0029] In this embodiment, the third connecting surface 113 is set as the inner wall of the installation channel 1a, and the third connecting surface 113 and the second connecting surface 112 are coplanar or parallel to each other, so that the third welding part and the second welding part are located on the same plane or parallel planes. The third welding surface 3212 of the shielding component 321 is coplanarly attached to the third connecting surface 113, forming a direct welding between planes. The welding process is mature and stable, and the welding quality is easy to control. At the same time, the third connecting surface 113 and the second connecting surface 112 form a continuous or parallel planar layout in space, so that the welding area between the shielding component 321 and the shell 1 extends in the length direction of the connector, increasing the welding contact area and improving the holding strength and conductive continuity between the shielding component 321 and the shell 1. The third welding part is a weld point formed by the melting of the welding structures on both sides. That is, during the welding process, the base materials on both sides of the third connecting surface 113 and the third welding surface 3212 melt and fuse simultaneously to form a weld nugget. The welding depth is large, the weld nugget diameter is wide, and the welding strength is high. The high-profile welding, with the solder joints located on the inner wall of the mounting channel 1a, does not occupy the external space of the connector, achieving internal concealed welding, which is beneficial for the thin design of the connector. When the third connecting surface 113 and the second connecting surface 112 are coplanar, the third welding part and the second welding part are located on the same continuous plane, forming a multi-point welding layout on the same plane. The welding stress is evenly distributed, avoiding local deformation caused by single-point welding. At the same time, the contact length between the shielding part 321 and the shell 1 on this continuous plane is increased, improving the contact stability and shielding effect between the two. The end of the shielding part 321 is directly welded to the inner wall of the shell 1, which enhances the fixing reliability of the end of the shielding part 321 and prevents the end of the shielding part 321 from lifting due to force during insertion and removal. At the same time, this end face welding provides an additional grounding path for the shielding part 321, which together with the first welding part and the second welding part constitutes a multi-point grounding shielding network, shortens the grounding loop, reduces the grounding impedance, and improves the electromagnetic compatibility performance of the connector.

[0030] Please see Figure 3 and Figure 4In this embodiment, a limiting groove 1b is formed on the outer peripheral wall of the outer shell 1. The limiting groove 1b is located on the side of the outer shell 1 facing away from the third welding surface 3212. The limiting groove 1b is an annular groove formed around the outer peripheral wall of the outer shell 1. The width and depth of the limiting groove 1b are adapted to the cross-sectional dimensions of the protective ring 4. The inner ring of the protective ring 4 is located in the limiting groove 1b, and the outer ring generally abuts against the housing of the electronic device to fix the connector and achieve waterproofing. The protective ring 4 is a waterproof silicone ring or a rubber sealing ring. The cross-sectional shape of the protective ring 4 can be circular or rectangular. The outer surface of the protective ring 4 protrudes from or is flush with the outer peripheral wall surface of the outer shell 1. The limiting groove 1b can be an annular groove that surrounds the entire circumference of the outer peripheral wall of the outer shell 1, and the protective ring 4 is a corresponding annular sealing ring to form a complete sealing structure. Alternatively, the bottom of the limiting groove 1b and the third welding part are arranged correspondingly in the length direction of the outer shell 1, so that the welding point is hidden in the bottom area of ​​the limiting groove 1b or the coverage area of ​​the protective ring 4, forming a hidden welding point layout.

[0031] In this embodiment, a limiting groove 1b is formed on the outer peripheral wall of the outer shell 1, and a protective ring 4 is provided. The protective ring 4 is embedded in the limiting groove 1b to form a positioning installation. The limiting groove 1b provides circumferential and axial limiting for the protective ring 4, preventing displacement, detachment, or torsion of the protective ring 4 during assembly or use, thereby improving the installation stability and sealing reliability of the protective ring 4. At the same time, the limiting groove 1b is located on the side of the outer shell 1 opposite to the third welding surface 3212, that is, the limiting groove 1b and the third welding surface 3212 are located on opposite sides of the outer shell 1, so that the welding structure on the inner side of the outer shell 1 and the sealing structure on the outer side of the outer shell 1 are spatially separated. The assembly of the outer protective ring 4 can hide the welding position, realizing the independent layout and synergistic effect of the welding function and the sealing function. Furthermore, when the bottom of the limiting groove 1b and the welding part are arranged correspondingly in the thickness direction, the solder joint is hidden in the bottom area of ​​the limiting groove 1b or the coverage area of ​​the protective ring 4. The solder joint is not exposed on the external surface of the connector, which not only protects the solder joint from external environmental corrosion and extends the durability of the welding structure, but also makes the connector look flat and beautiful. At the same time, the filling effect of the protective ring 4 in the limiting groove 1b can compensate for the surface unevenness of the solder joint area, forming a continuous sealing interface and improving the waterproof sealing performance. When the limiting groove 1b is an annular groove that surrounds the entire outer shell 1 and the protective ring 4 is an annular sealing ring, a 360-degree full circumference seal is formed, which is suitable for application scenarios with high-level waterproof requirements. Moreover, the processing consistency of the annular limiting groove 1b is high, which is convenient for automated assembly.

[0032] Please see Figure 5In one embodiment, the first connecting surface 111 is perpendicular to the first welding surface 3211. The first connecting surface 111 is the end face of the outer shell 1, and the first welding surface 3211 is a plane extending horizontally from the top of the shielding member 321. After the shielding member 321 is installed on the insulating body 2, its top abuts against the inner surface of the mounting channel 1a of the outer shell 1. The first welding part is located at the vertical intersection of the first connecting surface 111 and the first welding surface 3211. The vertical first connecting surface 111 and the horizontal first welding surface 3211 are fused and fixed by resistance spot welding or laser spot welding. In this embodiment, by setting the first connecting surface 111 and the first welding surface 3211 perpendicularly, the side wall of the outer shell 1 and the top of the shielding component 321 form an orthogonal overlapping relationship. The processing accuracy of the vertical surface is easy to control, the gap between the two is small when they are perpendicularly abutting, the positioning before welding is accurate, the welding electrode can abut the connection of the two surfaces from a direction at a 45° angle with the horizontal direction, the force direction is clear, the welding pressure is stable, the welding nugget is symmetrically formed at the vertical intersection, the welding quality is consistent, and it is convenient for automated welding production. The welding nugget formed by vertical welding simultaneously fuses the horizontal and vertical surfaces, and the weld points are distributed in an approximately circular or elliptical shape in the corner area. The weld points have high strength when subjected to horizontal tensile force and vertical shear force, and the mechanical properties are balanced in all directions, which improves the overall structural reliability of the connector.

[0033] Please see Figure 4 and Figure 8In this embodiment, the outer shell 1 has a top wall 11 and a bottom wall 12 disposed opposite to each other along its thickness direction, forming an installation channel 1a between the top wall 11 and the bottom wall 12. The middle partition 322 has a first abutting portion 3222 that abuts against the top wall 11. The first abutting portion 3222 is a planar structure or a bent structure extending vertically and horizontally from the top of the middle partition 322. A second welding surface 3221 is disposed on the side of the first abutting portion 3222 facing the top wall 11. A second connecting surface 112 is disposed on the side of the top wall 11 facing the first abutting portion 3222. The second connecting surface 112 is the inner surface of the top wall 11 or a platform surface formed by partial stamping of the top wall 11. The second welding surface 3221 and the second connecting surface 112 are parallel to each other and coplanarly attached. The second welding portion is located between the second welding surface 3221 and the second connecting surface. The mating area of ​​112 is used to fuse and fix the partition 322 to the top wall 11 by resistance spot welding or laser spot welding; the first abutment part 3222 can be a flange extending vertically and horizontally on the top of the partition 322, the second welding surface 3221 is the upper surface of the flange, the second connecting surface 112 is the entire surface or a partial area of ​​the inner surface of the top wall 11, and the second welding part is located in the mating area between the flange and the top wall 11, forming a large-area planar weld; or the first abutment part 3222 can be a platform that is partially pressed upward on the top of the partition 322, the second welding surface 3221 is the top surface of the protrusion, the second connecting surface 112 is the corresponding recessed platform or planar area on the inner surface of the top wall 11, and the second welding part is located in the partial mating area between the protruding platform and the top wall 11, forming a small-area precise weld.

[0034] In this embodiment, the second welding surface 3221 is disposed on the side of the first abutment portion 3222 of the partition 322 facing the top wall 11, and the second connecting surface 112 is disposed on the side of the top wall 11 facing the first abutment portion 3222. This allows the partition 322 and the top wall 11 of the outer shell 1 to be directly opposite each other in the thickness direction. The second welding surface 3221 and the second connecting surface 112 form a face-to-face contact relationship in the thickness direction. During welding, the electrodes can abut against the outer surface of the top wall 11 and the lower surface of the partition 322 from both sides in the thickness direction, respectively. The direction of force is consistent with the thickness direction of the connector. The welding operation space is ample, which facilitates the arrangement of welding equipment and automated production. At the same time, the partition 322 directly abuts against the top wall 11 through the first abutment portion 3222. The welding position is located in the top area of ​​the connector, forming a spatial front-to-back distribution with the first welding part located in the corner area. This ensures that the middle partition 322 is constrained in both the length and thickness directions, preventing the middle partition 322 from tilting and shifting during insertion and removal, and improving the structural stability of the terminal module 3. In addition, the second welding part is located in the planar contact area between the top wall 11 and the middle partition 322. This planar welding is a traditional process, the welding parameters are easy to control, and the welding quality is stable and reliable. Moreover, the top wall 11 serves as the flat outer surface of the outer shell 1, and the second connecting surface 112 of its inner surface has high processing precision. It fits tightly with the second welding surface 3221 of the middle partition 322, with a small welding gap, uniform weld nugget formation, and high welding strength.

[0035] Please see Figure 7 and Figure 10 In one embodiment, the insulating body 2 has a second abutment portion 21, which is a plastic flange structure extending horizontally from the top of the insulating body 2. The second abutment portion 21 is fitted onto the outer peripheral wall of the first abutment portion 3222, that is, the second abutment portion 21 surrounds and covers the outside of the first abutment portion 3222 of the partition 322. The second welding surface 3221 is exposed in the second abutment portion 21, that is, the second welding surface 3221 of the partition 322 is exposed from the opening area or notch area of ​​the second abutment portion 21 and is not blocked by the second abutment portion 21. To facilitate welding with the second connecting surface 112, the second abutting part 21 abuts against the top wall 11, that is, the upper surface of the second abutting part 21 directly contacts the lower surface of the top wall 11 of the outer shell 1; the second abutting part 21 can be a boss structure extending from the end of the insulating body 2, the first abutting part 3222 is embedded in the groove inside the boss structure, the second welding surface 3221 of the middle partition 322 is exposed from the groove inside the boss structure or the top opening, and the upper surface of the second abutting part 21 abuts against the inner surface of the top wall 11, forming a composite support structure of plastic and metal.

[0036] In this embodiment, by fitting the second abutment portion 21 onto the outer peripheral wall of the first abutment portion 3222, the plastic second abutment portion 21 circumferentially covers and limits the metal first abutment portion 3222. The first abutment portion 3222 of the partition 322 is precisely positioned during the injection molding process of the insulating body 2. The positional accuracy of the first abutment portion 3222 is ensured by the plastic mold, avoiding offset and shaking of the partition 322 during assembly and improving the assembly consistency between the shielding component 32 and the insulating body 2. At the same time, the second welding surface 3221 is exposed on the second abutment portion 21, so that the second welding surface 3221 of the partition 322 is not blocked by plastic and can directly connect with the second connecting surface of the outer shell 1. Welding is performed at 112. The welding operation is not interfered with by the plastic structure. The welding electrode can directly contact the metal surface, and the welding quality is reliable. The second abutment part 21 abuts against the top wall 11, so that the insulating body 2 is limited and supported by the top wall 11 in the thickness direction, preventing the insulating body 2 from moving towards the top wall 11 during assembly or use, and improving the positional stability of the insulating body 2 in the installation channel 1a. In addition, the abutment between the second abutment part 21 and the top wall 11 forms a buffer interface between the plastic and the metal. When the connector is subjected to external impact or vibration, the second abutment part 21 can absorb some energy, reduce the impact force directly transmitted to the welding part, and protect the welding integrity of the first welding part and the second welding part.

[0037] Please see Figure 5 and Figure 7 In this embodiment, one end of the installation channel 1a is provided with a rear cover 5. The rear cover 5 is a flange structure formed by bending the rear end of the outer shell 1 inward or an independently installed metal cover plate. The rear cover 5, together with the top wall 11, the bottom wall 12 and the side wall of the outer shell 1, forms the rear end boundary of the installation channel 1a. The second abutting part 21 abuts against the rear cover 5, that is, the second abutting part 21 on the top of the insulating body 2 extends backward and directly contacts the inner surface of the rear cover 5 to form a rear end limiting support. The rear cover 5 can be an L-shaped flange formed by stamping the rear end of the outer shell 1 inward. The rear end face and the upper surface of the second abutting part 21 abut against the vertical surface and the horizontal surface of the L-shaped flange, respectively, to form a rear end double-plane limiting. Alternatively, the rear cover 5 can be an independently installed metal cover plate, which is fixed to the rear end of the outer shell 1 by buckle or welding. The rear end face of the second abutting part 21 abuts against the inner surface of the cover plate to form a detachable rear end limiting.

[0038] In this embodiment, by abutting the second abutting part 21 against the rear cover 5, the insulating body 2 is limited in length by the front end of the rear cover 5, preventing the insulating body 2 from moving backward under the action of insertion / extraction force or cable tension. This, combined with the abutting of the second abutting part 21 and the top wall 11 in the thickness direction, achieves dual limitation of the insulating body 2 in both length and thickness directions, improving the overall positional stability of the insulating body 2 within the mounting channel 1a. Simultaneously, the rear cover 5, as the rear boundary of the mounting channel 1a, forms a buffer interface between the metal and plastic with the abutting of the second abutting part 21, preventing the connector from being subjected to... When subjected to a rearward impact, the rear cover 5 can directly withstand the impact force and transmit it to the entire insulating body 2 through the second abutment part 21, avoiding the impact force from being concentrated on the welding part or the root of the terminal, thus protecting the integrity of the welding structure and the reliability of the electrical connection of the terminal. When the rear cover 5 is an independently installed metal cover plate, during assembly, the insulating body 2 is first installed into the installation channel 1a, and then the cover plate is installed so that the second abutment part 21 abuts against the cover plate. The assembly sequence is flexible and convenient for later maintenance and disassembly. At the same time, the metal cover plate has high rigidity and provides strong support for the second abutment part 21, making it suitable for applications with high reliability requirements.

[0039] Please see Figures 4 to 7In one embodiment, the dimensions of the first weld, the second weld, and the third weld in the thickness direction of the outer shell 1 are not greater than 0.3 mm. The first weld is a spot weld nugget formed between the shielding member 321 and the outer shell 1 at the corner. The second weld is a spot weld nugget formed between the partition plate 322 and the outer shell 1 at the plane contact point. The third weld is a spot weld nugget formed between the shielding member 321 and the outer shell 1 at the plane contact point. The dimension of each weld in the thickness direction is the height or thickness of the weld nugget measured along the thickness direction of the outer shell 1. The dimension being not greater than 0.3 mm means that the weld nugget is distributed in a flat shape in the thickness direction and does not protrude from the inner or outer surface of the outer shell 1. This embodiment limits the dimensions of the first, second, and third welding parts in the thickness direction of the outer shell 1 to no more than 0.3 mm, resulting in a flat distribution of each solder nugget in the thickness direction. The solder points do not protrude from the inner or outer surface of the outer shell 1, thereby reducing the additional space required for the welding structure in the thickness direction of the connector, achieving an ultra-thin connector design, and meeting the stringent requirements of electronic devices for lightweight internal space. At the same time, the flat solder nuggets require less heat input during the welding process, have a shorter welding time, and a narrower heat-affected zone, reducing the risk of thermal damage to the surrounding plastic insulating body 2 and metal terminals, avoiding thermal deformation of plastic parts and thermal degradation of terminal plating, and improving the manufacturing yield and long-term reliability of the connector. In addition, when subjected to external pressure or insertion / extraction force, the flat shape of the solder nuggets with a thickness dimension of no more than 0.3 mm causes the stress to be distributed in the plane of the solder point rather than concentrated along the thickness direction. The solder points are less likely to fail due to shearing or peeling in the thickness direction, resulting in high mechanical stability of the welding structure.

[0040] Please see Figure 2 and Figure 3 In this embodiment, the terminal assembly 31 includes a plurality of upper terminals 311 and a plurality of lower terminals 312 located on opposite sides of the partition plate 322. Each upper terminal 311 is spaced apart above the partition plate 322 along the width direction of the housing 1, and each lower terminal 312 is spaced apart below the partition plate 322 along the width direction of the housing 1. The partition plate 322 separates the upper terminals 311 and the lower terminals 312 in the thickness direction. Each upper terminal 311 has a first contraction portion 31 bent toward the middle of the insulating body 2 in the middle portion. 11. The first contraction section 3111 is a narrowed section formed by bending the middle section of the upper terminal 311 along its length direction toward the center line of the insulating body 2. The middle part of each lower terminal 312 has a second contraction section 3121 that bends toward the middle of the insulating body 2. The second contraction section 3121 is a narrowed section formed by bending the middle section of the lower terminal 312 along its length direction toward the center line of the insulating body 2. The first contraction section 3111 and the second contraction section 3121 can be an arc-shaped bending section or a straight bending section.

[0041] This embodiment provides a first contraction portion 3111 and a second contraction portion 3121 bent towards the middle of the insulating body 2 in the middle of each upper terminal 311 and each lower terminal 312. This results in the terminal assembly 31 forming a waist-narrowing structure in the width direction of the insulating body 2. The narrowing of the terminal in the middle frees up additional installation space between adjacent terminals and between the terminal and the side wall of the housing 1, reducing the overall size of the connector in the width direction and making the product thinner and lighter, meeting the application requirements of electronic devices for narrow-bezel and small-space connectors. The bending and contraction structure in the middle of the terminal increases the effective length of the terminal, optimizes the terminal layout within the limited connector width space, and provides a larger elastic deformation margin for the terminal. When the terminal is subjected to insertion and extraction forces, it can generate elastic buffer in the contraction area, reducing stress concentration and improving the fatigue resistance and insertion and extraction life of the terminal.

[0042] Secondly, this embodiment provides an electronic device, including a device body and a connector provided in the first aspect of this application. The connector is mounted on the device body, which is the casing of a consumer electronic product such as a smartphone, laptop, tablet, or wearable device. The connector is soldered to the printed circuit board of the device body by surface mounting or through-hole mounting. The opening of the mounting channel 1a of the connector faces the external interface opening of the device body to facilitate the insertion of an external mating plug. The device body can be a smartphone, and the connector is a USB Type-C socket. The connector is mounted in the bottom bezel area of ​​the smartphone, and the protective ring 4 inside the limiting groove 1b of the connector seals with the middle frame of the smartphone to achieve waterproofing of the interface. Alternatively, the device body can be a tablet computer, and the connector is a USB Type-C socket. The connector is mounted on the bottom or side of the tablet computer. The short design of the connector increases the space for arranging the battery or other components inside the tablet computer.

[0043] This embodiment installs the connector provided in the first aspect of this application onto the device body, enabling the electronic device to optimize the space of the interface area by utilizing the angle spot welding structure of the connector. The ultra-short design of the connector reduces the space occupied by the interface in the length direction of the device, freeing up space for the arrangement of batteries, speakers, or other functional modules. The ultra-thin design of the connector reduces the amount of protrusion of the interface in the thickness direction of the device, which is conducive to achieving a thinner overall profile of the device, meeting the design trend of thinner and smaller consumer electronic devices. At the same time, the hidden solder joints and protective ring 4 sealing structure of the connector give the device interface good waterproof and dustproof performance, making it suitable for outdoor or humid environments. The multi-point welding and holding structure of the connector improves the mechanical reliability of the interface on the device, enabling it to withstand frequent plugging and unplugging operations and external impacts, thus extending the service life of the electronic device.

[0044] It should be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “described” as used herein may also include the plural forms. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” and “having” are inclusive and therefore indicate the presence of the stated features, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not construed as requiring them to be performed in a particular order described or illustrated unless the order of performance is explicitly indicated. It should also be understood that additional or alternative steps may be used.

[0045] Although terms such as first, second, third, etc., may be used in this document to describe multiple elements, components, regions, layers, and / or segments, these elements, components, regions, layers, and / or segments should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be used only to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or segment from another. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, terms such as "first," "second," and other numerical terms used herein do not imply order or sequence. Therefore, the first element, component, region, layer, or segment discussed below may be referred to as the second element, component, region, layer, or segment without departing from the teachings of the exemplary embodiments.

[0046] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement this application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.

Claims

1. A connector, characterized in that, include: The outer casing (1) has an installation channel (1a) inside, and the outer casing (1) has a first connecting surface (111) and a second connecting surface (112); An insulating body (2) is disposed within the mounting channel (1a); Terminal module (3), the terminal module (3) includes terminal assembly (31) and shielding assembly (32), the terminal assembly (31) and the shielding assembly (32) are spaced apart from the insulating body (2), the shielding assembly (32) includes shielding member (321) and middle partition (322), the shielding member (321) has a first welding surface (3211), the middle partition (322) has a second welding surface (3221), the first welding surface (3211) is set at an angle with the first connecting surface (111), the first welding surface (3211) is connected to the first connecting surface (111) through a first welding part, the first welding part is located at the angle between the first welding surface (3211) and the first connecting surface (111), and the second welding surface (3221) is connected to the second connecting surface (112) through a second welding part.

2. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer shell (1) has a third connecting surface (113) at one end away from the second connecting surface (112), and the shield (321) has a third welding surface (3212). The third connecting surface (113) and the third welding surface (3212) are welded together by a third welding part.

3. The connector according to claim 2, characterized in that, A limiting groove (1b) is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the outer shell (1). The limiting groove (1b) is located on the side of the outer shell (1) facing away from the third welding surface (3212). A protective ring (4) is provided in the limiting groove (1b).

4. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first connecting surface (111) is perpendicular to the first welding surface (3211).

5. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer shell (1) has a top wall (11) and a bottom wall (12) arranged opposite to each other along its thickness direction. The middle partition (322) has a first abutting portion (3222) that abuts against the top wall (11). The second welding surface (3221) is provided on the side of the first abutting portion (3222) facing the top wall (11). The second connecting surface (112) is provided on the side of the top wall (11) facing the first abutting portion (3222).

6. The connector according to claim 5, characterized in that, The insulating body (2) has a second abutting part (21), which is sleeved on the outer peripheral wall of the first abutting part (3222), and the second welding surface (3221) is exposed on the second abutting part (21), and the second abutting part (21) abuts against the top wall (11).

7. The connector according to claim 6, characterized in that, One end of the installation channel (1a) is provided with a rear cover (5), and the second abutting part (21) abuts against the rear cover (5).

8. The connector according to claim 2, characterized in that, The dimensions of the first welded part, the second welded part, and the third welded part in the thickness direction of the outer shell (1) are not greater than 0.3 mm.

9. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The terminal assembly (31) includes a plurality of upper terminals (311) and a plurality of lower terminals (312) located on opposite sides of the middle partition (322). Each of the upper terminals (311) and each of the lower terminals (312) are spaced apart along the width direction of the housing (1). Each of the upper terminals (311) has a first contraction portion (3111) bent toward the middle of the insulating body (2) in the middle portion, and each of the lower terminals (312) has a second contraction portion (3121) bent toward the middle of the insulating body (2) in the middle portion.

10. An electronic device, characterized in that, include: Equipment body; The connector as described in any one of claims 1-9 is mounted on the device body.

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