Terminal module and electrical connector having the same

Abstract

The application discloses a terminal module and an electric connector with the same. The terminal module comprises a plurality of terminals arranged in a row along a first direction, an insulating member for holding the terminals, and a metal sheet arranged on one side of the terminals. The terminals comprise contact portions for mating with a mating connector and tail portions arranged apart from the contact portions. The metal sheet comprises a first metal sheet, a second metal sheet separated from the first metal sheet along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a conductive member electrically connected to the first metal sheet, the second metal sheet and part of the terminals. The terminal module and the electric connector with the same have good stability in high-speed signal transmission.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a terminal module and an electrical connector having the terminal module, and more particularly to a terminal module capable of transmitting high-frequency and high-speed signals and an electrical connector having the terminal module. [Background Technology]

[0002] High-speed signal transmission can easily cause resonance in the transmission line. Resonance can lead to signal reflection and standing wave formation, which may cause signal integrity problems, such as overshoot, undershoot, or ringing, all of which affect signal stability.

[0003] U.S. Patent Application No. US20220352675A1 discloses a terminal assembly having a corrugated plate that may be disposed on the top surface, bottom surface, or both of the terminal assembly. The corrugated plate is electrically coupled to a grounding conductor and may be made of a conductive material or a lossy material.

[0004] US Patent No. 11322869B2 discloses a terminal module for an electrical connector. The terminal module includes a terminal block comprising signal terminals and ground terminals. Each terminal includes a mating cantilever portion and a tail portion, a front retainer for fixing the mating cantilever portion, a rear retainer for fixing the tail portion, and a ground bridge extending between each ground terminal to ground the ground terminals. The ground bridge is integrally formed with the ground terminals and includes a plate located in the middle portion. The plate of the ground bridge extends across the middle portion of the signal terminal, i.e., parallel to and spaced from the middle portion of the signal terminal, and closely close to the signal terminal, for resonant control of signal transmission by the signal terminal.

[0005] In the aforementioned cases, there is room for improvement in the stability of high-speed signal transmission of electrical connectors. Therefore, an improved electrical connector is needed to overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology. [Summary of the Invention]

[0006] The main objective of this invention is to provide an improved terminal module that can effectively improve resonance phenomena and enhance the stability of high-speed signal transmission.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention can adopt the following technical solution: a terminal module, which can be used in an electrical connector, the terminal module comprising a plurality of terminals spaced apart along a first direction, an insulating member for holding the terminals, and a metal sheet disposed on one side of the terminals, the terminals comprising a contact portion for mating with a connector and a tail portion spaced apart from the contact portion, the metal sheet comprising a first metal sheet, a second metal sheet separated from the first metal sheet along a second direction parallel to the first direction, and a conductive member, the conductive member being electrically connected to the first metal sheet, the second metal sheet, and a portion of the terminals in the terminal block.

[0008] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention can also adopt the following technical solution: a terminal module, which can be used in an electrical connector, the terminal module includes a plurality of terminals arranged at intervals along a first direction, an insulating member for holding the row of terminals, and a metal sheet disposed on one side of the row of terminals. The row of terminals includes a contact portion that mates with a mating connector and a tail portion spaced apart from the contact portion. The metal sheet is electrically connected to a portion of the terminals in the row of terminals. The metal sheet includes a first metal sheet and a second metal sheet separated from the first metal sheet. A plurality of grounding contacts are integrally formed on the first metal sheet, and the plurality of grounding contacts constitute a part of the contact portion of the row of terminals. A plurality of grounding tail portions are integrally formed on the second metal sheet, and the plurality of grounding tail portions constitute a part of the tail portion of the row of terminals. The first metal sheet and the second metal sheet are electrically connected through a conductive member.

[0009] Another major objective of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having the terminal assembly, which has good stability performance for high-speed signal transmission.

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention can adopt the following technical solution: an electrical connector, which can be used to mate with a mating connector, the electrical connector including a terminal module, the terminal module including a first terminal assembly and a second terminal assembly, the first terminal assembly and the second terminal assembly together forming a mating area to mate with the mating electrical connector, the first terminal assembly and the second terminal assembly each including a plurality of terminals spaced apart along a first direction, an insulating member holding the row of terminals, and a metal sheet disposed on one side of the row of terminals, the row of terminals including a contact portion mates with a mating connector and a tail portion spaced apart from the contact portion, the metal sheet being electrically connected to a portion of the terminals in the row of terminals, the metal sheet including a first metal sheet and a second metal sheet separated from the first metal sheet, a plurality of grounding contacts integrally formed on the first metal sheet, the plurality of grounding contacts constituting a part of the contact portion of the row of terminals, a plurality of grounding tail portions integrally formed on the second metal sheet, the plurality of grounding tail portions constituting a part of the tail portion of the row of terminals, the first metal sheet and the second metal sheet being electrically connected through a conductive member.

[0011] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are as follows: The terminal module and the electrical connector having the terminal module of the present invention, by setting a first metal plate and a second metal plate separated from the first metal plate along the direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement, and then electrically connecting the first metal plate, the second metal plate and some of the terminals in the row of terminals through conductive elements, can effectively improve the resonance phenomenon and facilitate the stable transmission of high-speed signals. [Attached Image Description]

[0012] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an electrical connector conforming to the present invention.

[0013] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the terminal module conforming to the present invention.

[0014] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A perspective view of the terminal module shown from another angle.

[0015] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Side view of the terminal module shown.

[0016] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 A further exploded view of the terminal module shown.

[0017] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 An exploded view of the terminal module shown from another perspective.

[0018] Figure 7 yes Figure 5An exploded view of the first terminal assembly of the terminal module shown.

[0019] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 An exploded view of the first terminal assembly shown from another perspective.

[0020] Figure 9 yes Figure 8 An exploded view of the metal sheet of the first terminal assembly shown.

[0021] Figure 10 yes Figure 9 An exploded view of the metal sheet from another perspective.

[0022] [Explanation of Key Component Symbols]

[0023] Terminal module 500 First terminal assembly 100

[0024] A row of terminals 110 and contact portion 111

[0025] Tail end 112 Signal pair contact 1111

[0026] Grounding contact 1112 Signal pair tail 1121

[0027] Grounding tail section 1122 Bypass contact section 1113

[0028] Bypass tail section 1123 Bypass connection section 1133

[0029] Signal connection part 1131 Horizontal part 141

[0030] Vertical part 142 Inclined part 143

[0031] Signal terminal 1101 Bypass terminal 1102

[0032] Insulating component 120 First insulating component 121

[0033] Second insulating component 122 Third insulating component 123

[0034] 124 bump, 125 through hole

[0035] Metal sheet 130 First metal sheet 131

[0036] Second metal sheet 132, conductive element 133

[0037] Gap 134, Protrusion 1331

[0038] Fixing part 1332, perforation 1311

[0039] Through hole 1312 Cover part 1313

[0040] Second terminal assembly 200, metal sheet 230

[0041] Front extension 1314 Rear extension 1315

[0042] Electrical connector 1000

Detailed Implementation Methods

[0043] Please see Figures 1 to 10 The diagram shows a terminal module 500 conforming to the present invention. The connector having the terminal module 500 can be a socket connector mounted on a circuit board, or a plug connector or socket connector for connecting to a cable. Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an electrical connector 1000 having a terminal module 500 in this embodiment.

[0044] like Figures 2 to 5 As shown, the terminal module 500 includes a first terminal assembly 100 and a second terminal assembly 200, which together form a mating area that mates with a mating connector. Specifically, the first terminal assembly 100 includes a plurality of terminals 110 spaced apart along a first direction, an insulating member 120 holding the row of terminals 110, and a metal sheet 130 disposed on one side of the row of terminals 110. The metal sheet 130 includes a first metal sheet 131, a second metal sheet 132 separated from the first metal sheet 131 along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a conductive member 133. The conductive member 133 is electrically connected to the first metal sheet 131, the second metal sheet 132, and a portion of the terminals in the row of terminals 110.

[0045] like Figures 4 to 7As shown, the row of terminals 110 includes contact portions 111 that can mate with a mating connector, and tail portions 112 that are spaced apart from the contact portions 111 and arranged at intervals along the first direction. The contact portions 111 include signal pair contact portions 1111 for transmitting differential signals, and ground contact portions 1112 disposed on both sides of the signal pair contact portions 1111 for transmitting ground signals. The tail portions 112 include signal pair tail portions 1121 for transmitting differential signals and ground tail portions 1122 disposed on both sides of the signal pair tail portions 1121 for transmitting ground signals. Further, the contact portions 111 include a plurality of bypass contact portions 1113 for transmitting other signals such as low-speed, power, and control signals. The tail portions 112 include bypass tail portions 1123 corresponding to the plurality of bypass contact portions 1113 for transmitting other signals such as low-speed, power, and control signals. The first terminal assembly 100 further includes a bypass connection portion 1133 connecting the corresponding bypass contact portion 1113 and the bypass tail portion 1123, and a signal pair connection portion 1131 connecting the signal pair contact portion 1111 and the signal pair tail portion 1121. Both the signal pair connection portion 1131 and the bypass connection portion 1133 include a horizontal portion 141 connected to the corresponding contact portion, a vertical portion 142 connected to the corresponding tail portion, and an inclined portion 143 connecting the horizontal portion 141 and the vertical portion 142. The signal pair connection portion 1131 connects the signal pair contact portion 1111 and the signal pair tail portion 1121 to form a signal pair terminal 1101. The bypass connection portion 1133 connects the bypass contact portion 1113 and the bypass tail portion 1123 to form a bypass terminal 1102. In this invention, the row of terminals 110 includes eight pairs of signal terminals 1101 and four bypass terminals 1102. The eight pairs of signal terminals 1101 are evenly divided into two groups, respectively disposed on both sides of the four bypass terminals 1102. In other embodiments, the number of signal terminals 1101 can be designed to be no less than one pair, and the number of bypass terminals 1102 can be increased or decreased, or even eliminated, according to specific needs.

[0046] like Figure 7 As shown, both the first metal sheet 131 and the second metal sheet 132 are sheet-like metal plates, extended and bent according to the shape of the row of terminals 110. The first metal sheet 131 is electrically connected to the ground contact portion 1112, and the second metal sheet 132 is electrically connected to the ground tail portion 1122. In this embodiment, the ground contact portion 1112 is integrally formed on the first metal sheet 131, and the ground tail portion 1122 is integrally formed on the second metal sheet 132. Compared with the conventional signal terminals and ground terminals arranged in a GSSG configuration, the use of signal terminals and large first and second metal sheets effectively improves the resonance phenomenon.

[0047] like Figures 8 to 10 As shown, a gap 134 exists between the first metal sheet 131 and the second metal sheet 132, extending parallel to the first direction and separating the first metal sheet 131 and the second metal sheet 132. The gap 134 is approximately located at the middle position of the connection portion corresponding to the row of terminals 110. The conductive member 133 is generally rectangular in shape, with a protrusion 1331 disposed at the gap 134 and a plurality of fixing portions 1332 respectively cooperating and fixing with the first metal sheet 131 and the second metal sheet 132. The plurality of fixing portions 1332 are arranged in two rows. The first metal sheet 131 and the second metal sheet 132 are each provided with a row of through holes 1311 near the gap 134. The fixing portions 1332 of the conductive member 133 pass through the corresponding through holes 1311 and are connected to the insulating member 120. The conductive component 133 is a conductive plastic material, which can be directly injection molded with the first metal sheet 131 and the second metal sheet 132, or it can be manufactured separately and then assembled with the first metal sheet 131 and the second metal sheet 132.

[0048] The dimensions of the first metal sheet 131 and the second metal sheet 132 in the first direction are both greater than or equal to the outermost dimensions of the contact portion 111 and the tail portion 112 in the first direction, and can cover the entire first terminal assembly 100 in the first direction, providing good shielding. Both the first metal sheet 131 and the second metal sheet 132 are provided with a plurality of elongated through holes 1312 for air circulation, and a covering portion 1313 located between adjacent through holes. Each covering portion 1313 is aligned with each pair of signal pair connections 1131, and the width of the covering portion 1313 in the first direction is greater than the width of the signal pair connection portion 1131. The first metal sheet 131 and the second metal sheet 132 also include overhang features for impedance control, such as a front extension 1314 located between every two ground contacts 1112 and a rear extension 1315 located between every two ground tail portions 1122.

[0049] like Figures 7 to 8As shown, the insulating member 120 includes a first insulating member 121 disposed at the horizontal portion 141, a second insulating member 122 disposed at the vertical portion 142, and a third insulating member 123 disposed at the inclined portion 143. The first insulating member 121, the second insulating member 122, and the third insulating member 123 are each provided with a plurality of protrusions 124. The first metal sheet 131 and the second metal sheet 132 are provided with a plurality of through holes 135 that cooperate and are fixed with the protrusions 124. The second insulating member 122 is also provided with a plurality of through holes 125 aligned with the through holes 1311 on the first metal sheet 131 and the second metal sheet 132. The fixing portion 1332 of the conductive member 133 passes through the through holes 1311 on the first metal sheet 131 and the second metal sheet 132 and continues to extend into the through holes 125 of the second insulating member 122.

[0050] The structure of the second terminal assembly 200 is similar to that of the first terminal assembly 100, with the main difference being that it is relatively shorter. The protruding contact portion faces the opposite direction to that of the first terminal assembly, and its metal sheet 230 is disposed on the side away from the first terminal assembly 100. Neither the metal sheet of the first terminal assembly 100 nor the metal sheet of the second terminal assembly 200 is disposed between the first terminal assembly 100 and the second terminal assembly 200. Other structural features are almost identical to those of the first terminal assembly 100, and therefore will not be described further.

[0051] However, it is understood that although many features and advantages of the invention have been mentioned in the foregoing description, including some structural and functional details, this disclosure is illustrative and many details may be changed, especially in terms of the shape, size and arrangement of components within the scope of the principles as indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A terminal module for use in an electrical connector, the terminal module comprising a plurality of terminals spaced apart along a first direction, an insulating member holding the terminals, and a metal sheet disposed on one side of the terminals, the terminals comprising a contact portion for mating with a connector and a tail portion spaced apart from the contact portion, characterized in that: The metal sheet includes a first metal sheet, a second metal sheet separated from the first metal sheet along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a conductive element. The conductive element is electrically connected to the first metal sheet, the second metal sheet, and a portion of the terminals in the row of terminals.

2. The terminal module as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The contact portion includes a signal pair contact portion for transmitting differential signals and a ground contact portion for transmitting ground signals disposed on both sides of the signal pair contact portion. The tail portion includes a signal pair tail portion for transmitting differential signals and a ground tail portion for transmitting ground signals disposed on both sides of the signal pair tail portion. The row of terminals further includes a signal pair connection portion connecting the signal pair contact portion and the signal pair tail portion. The first metal plate is electrically connected to the ground contact portion, and the second metal plate is electrically connected to the ground tail portion.

3. The terminal module as described in claim 1, characterized in that: There is a gap between the first metal sheet and the second metal sheet. The conductive element includes a protrusion disposed at the gap and a fixing part that cooperates with and fixes the first metal sheet and the second metal sheet respectively. The first metal sheet and the second metal sheet are provided with through holes that cooperate with the fixing part. The fixing part passes through the through holes and is connected to the insulating element.

4. The terminal module as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The dimensions of the first metal sheet and the second metal sheet in the first direction are both greater than or equal to the outermost dimensions of the contact portion and the tail portion in the first direction.

5. The terminal module as described in claim 2, characterized in that: Both the first metal sheet and the second metal sheet are provided with a plurality of through holes for air circulation and a covering portion located between adjacent through holes. Each of the covering portions is aligned with each pair of signal pair connection portions, and the width of the covering portion in the first direction is greater than the width of the signal pair connection portion.

6. The terminal module as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The insulating component has multiple protrusions, and the first metal sheet and the second metal sheet have multiple through holes that cooperate with and are fixed to the protrusions.

7. A terminal module for use in an electrical connector, the terminal module comprising a plurality of terminals spaced apart along a first direction, an insulating member holding the terminals, and a metal plate disposed on one side of the terminals, the terminals comprising a contact portion for mating with a connector and a tail portion spaced apart from the contact portion, the metal plate being electrically connected to a portion of the terminals in the terminal row, characterized in that: The metal sheet includes a first metal sheet and a second metal sheet separated from the first metal sheet. A plurality of grounding contacts are integrally formed on the first metal sheet, and the plurality of grounding contacts constitute part of the contact portion of the row of terminals. A plurality of grounding tails are integrally formed on the second metal sheet, and the plurality of grounding tails constitute part of the tail portion of the row of terminals. The first metal sheet and the second metal sheet are electrically connected through conductive elements.

8. The terminal module as described in claim 7, characterized in that: The conductive component is a conductive plastic material, which is directly injection molded with the first metal sheet and the second metal sheet or manufactured separately and then assembled with the first metal sheet and the second metal sheet.

9. An electrical connector for mating with a mating connector, the electrical connector comprising a terminal module, the terminal module comprising a first terminal assembly and a second terminal assembly, the first terminal assembly and the second terminal assembly together forming a mating area for mating with the mating electrical connector, each of the first terminal assembly and the second terminal assembly comprising a plurality of terminals spaced apart along a first direction, an insulating member holding the row of terminals, and a metal plate disposed on one side of the row of terminals, the row of terminals comprising a contact portion for mating with a mating connector and a tail portion spaced apart from the contact portion, the metal plate being electrically connected to a portion of the terminals in the row of terminals, characterized in that: The metal sheet includes a first metal sheet and a second metal sheet separated from the first metal sheet. A plurality of grounding contacts are integrally formed on the first metal sheet, and the plurality of grounding contacts constitute part of the contact portion of the row of terminals. A plurality of grounding tails are integrally formed on the second metal sheet, and the plurality of grounding tails constitute part of the tail portion of the row of terminals. The first metal sheet and the second metal sheet are electrically connected through conductive elements.

10. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that: Neither the metal sheet of the first terminal assembly nor the metal sheet of the second terminal assembly is disposed between the first terminal assembly and the second terminal assembly.

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