Electrical connector and connector locking assembly

Abstract

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an electrical connector and a connector locking assembly. The electrical connector includes a housing assembly, a circuit board, a plurality of high-speed data cables, and a connector locking assembly. The circuit board is disposed in the housing assembly and includes a plurality of contacts for electrically contacting an adapting electrical connector. The ends of the plurality of high-speed data cables are mounted on the circuit board and electrically connected to the plurality of contacts. The connector locking assembly is disposed on the housing assembly, and the connector locking assembly is configured to lock the electrical connector to the adapting electrical connector. The first electrical connector makes the contacts on the circuit board, which can increase the density of the contacts and will not significantly change the size of the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector adapted thereto. Moreover, the batch consistency of the product is high, and even when transmitting high-speed data signals, high signal integrity can be provided. The connector locking assembly can ensure that the first electrical connector can be reliably electrically connected to the adapted second electrical connector.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of connector technology, and in particular, to mutually adaptable electrical connectors and a connector locking assembly for locking the adaptable electrical connectors. The electrical connector is particularly suitable for harsh environments with strong vibrations such as vehicles, and more particularly, the electrical connector is suitable for new energy vehicles. Background Art

[0002] Electrical connectors are used in many electronic systems. Often, it is easier and more cost-effective to manufacture an electronic system as separate electronic components that can be connected together using electrical connectors. Electrical connectors can be used to interconnect components so that the components can work together as part of an electronic system. For example, electrical connectors can be mounted on circuit boards within two components that are connected by mating with the electrical connectors. In other electronic systems, it may be impractical to connect two circuit boards by directly mating the electrical connectors on the circuit boards. For example, when assembling the electronic system, the circuit boards may be spaced so far apart that the electrical connectors mounted in the circuit boards cannot be directly connected.

[0003] In some electronic systems, connections between components can be made via cables. The cables can be terminated with connectors that mate with connectors mounted on a circuit board. In this way, connections between components can be made by inserting an electrical connector that is part of a cable assembly into an electrical connector mounted on a circuit board. In other electronic system architectures, an electrical connector that terminates a cable can mate with another electrical connector that terminates another cable.

[0004] A modern automobile is an example of an electronic system in which components are connected by cables. For example, an automobile includes an electronic control unit (ECU) that is used to control various vehicle systems, such as the engine, transmission (TCU), safety system, emission control, lighting, advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), entertainment system, navigation system, and camera. The ECU can be manufactured as separate components and connected through one or more vehicle networks formed with cables arranged between these components. In order to simplify the manufacture of the automobile, these components can be manufactured separately and then connected by cables terminated with electrical connectors that can be connected to matching electrical connectors that terminate other cables or are attached to circuit boards within these components. Summary of the invention

[0005] In order to at least partially solve the problems existing in the prior art, the first embodiment of the present disclosure provides an electrical connector, which includes: a housing assembly; a circuit board, which is arranged in the housing assembly, and includes a plurality of contacts for electrically contacting with an adapting electrical connector; a plurality of high-speed data cables, the ends of which are mounted on the circuit board and electrically connected with the plurality of contacts; and a connector locking assembly, which is arranged on the housing assembly and is configured to lock the electrical connector to the adapting electrical connector.

[0006] Exemplarily, the transmission rates of the plurality of high-speed data cables meet the requirements of PCIE Gen 5 and PCIE Gen 6.

[0007] Exemplarily, a center distance between adjacent high-speed data cables among the plurality of high-speed data cables is less than or equal to 1.0 mm.

[0008] Exemplarily, the connector locking assembly includes: a first locking feature portion, which has a first locking position for locking the adapter electrical connector and a first unlocking position for releasing the adapter electrical connector; a second locking feature portion, which has a second locking position for locking the adapter electrical connector and a second unlocking position for releasing the adapter electrical connector, the first locking feature portion and the second locking feature portion are respectively used to lock different sides of the adapter electrical connector.

[0009] Exemplarily, the connector locking assembly also includes: a first operating member operable in a predetermined direction, the first locking feature being movable from the first locking position to the first unlocking position based on operation of the first operating member; a third locking feature having a third locking position and a third unlocking position, wherein the third locking feature is configured to lock the first operating member when in the third locking position, so that the first locking feature remains in the first locking position; and the third locking feature is also configured to release the first operating member when in the third unlocking position, so that the first operating member is operable.

[0010] Exemplarily, the connector locking assembly includes: a first operating member operable along a predetermined direction; a first locking feature portion, which has a first locking position for locking the adapting electrical connector and a first unlocking position for releasing the adapting electrical connector, the first locking feature portion being movable from the first locking position to the first unlocking position based on operation of the first operating member; a third locking feature portion, which has a third locking position and a third unlocking position, wherein the third locking feature portion is configured to lock the first operating member when in the third locking position, so that the first locking feature portion remains in the first locking position; and the third locking feature portion is also configured to release the first operating member when in the third unlocking position, so that the first operating member is operable.

[0011] Exemplarily, the connector locking assembly further includes a second locking feature having a second locking position for locking the adapting electrical connector and a second unlocking position for releasing the adapting electrical connector, and the first locking feature and the second locking feature are respectively used to lock different sides of the adapting electrical connector.

[0012] Exemplarily, the first locking feature includes: a first locking head for locking with an adapting electrical connector; a first tail portion cooperating with a first operating member; and a first intermediate portion, the first intermediate portion being connected between the first locking head and the first tail portion, and the first intermediate portion being pivotally connected to the housing assembly around a first predetermined axis so that the first locking feature portion pivots between a first locking position and a first unlocking position, wherein when the first locking feature portion moves from the first locking position to the first unlocking position, the first locking head pivots into the housing assembly.

[0013] Exemplarily, the first locking feature includes an elastic claw bent toward the inside of the housing assembly, and the elastic claw abuts against the housing assembly to bias the first locking head toward the outside of the housing assembly.

[0014] Exemplarily, the first operating member is configured to be returnable to an initial position locked with the third locking feature under the bias of the elastic claw.

[0015] Exemplarily, the first tail portion has a V-shaped groove, the opening of the V-shaped groove faces the interior of the housing assembly, and the first operating member slides along the side wall of the V-shaped groove to pivot the first locking feature between the first locking position and the first unlocking position.

[0016] Exemplarily, a distal end of the first tail portion abuts against the housing assembly when the first locking feature is in the first locking position.

[0017] Exemplarily, the connector locking assembly also includes a second operating member, a middle portion of which is pivotally connected to the shell assembly around a second predetermined axis, and the second locking feature and the third locking feature are respectively located at two ends of the second operating member, wherein when the second locking feature is in the second locking position, the third locking feature is in the third locking position; and when the second locking feature is in the second unlocking position, the third locking feature is in the third unlocking position.

[0018] Exemplarily, the predetermined direction is perpendicular to the second predetermined axis.

[0019] Exemplarily, when the second locking feature is in the second unlocking position, the electrical connector and the mating electrical connector can be initially separated; the electrical connector and the mating electrical connector can be completely separated based on the operation of the first operating member.

[0020] Exemplarily, during the initial separation of the electrical connectors, the second locking feature is held in the second unlocked position by the mating electrical connector.

[0021] Exemplarily, the plurality of contacts of the circuit board are sized to maintain electrical connection with the mating electrical connector during initial separation of the electrical connectors.

[0022] Exemplarily, the housing assembly includes a first housing and a second housing, the second housing is snapped onto the first housing, and the first locking feature and the first operating member are installed between the first housing and the second housing.

[0023] Exemplarily, the first locking feature is pivotally connected between the first shell and the second shell via a first pivot shaft, the first pivot shaft passes through the first locking feature, and both ends of the first pivot shaft are respectively fixed to the first shell and the second shell to connect the first shell and the second shell to each other.

[0024] Exemplarily, the first locking features are arranged in pairs, each pair of first locking features are arranged on both sides of the first shell and the second shell relatively along a first lateral direction, the first lateral direction is perpendicular to the predetermined direction, and each first locking feature is installed between the first shell and the second shell by its own first pivot axis.

[0025] Exemplarily, the first shell includes a first mating portion for mating with an adapter electrical connector, and a first cable termination portion, a first mounting channel is provided in the first mating portion, a circuit board is fixed in the first mounting channel, the second shell is snapped into the first cable termination portion to enclose the first cable termination portion to form a second mounting channel, a plurality of high-speed data cables pass through the second mounting channel, and the first operating member is limited by the first shell and the second shell and is slidably connected to the second mounting channel along a predetermined direction.

[0026] Exemplarily, the first mating portion and the first cable terminating portion are disposed opposite to each other along a predetermined direction.

[0027] Exemplarily, the shell assembly also includes a third shell, which is snapped onto the second shell, the second operating member is installed between the second shell and the third shell, the second locking feature passes through the second shell and protrudes from the outer surface of the second shell, and the third locking feature is located on the inner side of the third shell.

[0028] Exemplarily, the second operating member is provided with second pivot shafts on both sides of the middle portion thereof, and the second housing and the third housing together form a pivot hole, and the second pivot shaft is inserted into the pivot hole.

[0029] Exemplarily, the second operating member includes a second operating portion, the second operating portion passes through the second housing, and the second operating portion is located between the second pivot axis and the second locking feature.

[0030] Exemplarily, the housing assembly further includes a strain relief member connected to the second housing at a position spaced apart from the first pivot axis along a predetermined direction, and a portion of the first housing is clamped between the second housing and the strain relief member.

[0031] Exemplarily, a nut is embedded in the second housing, and the fastener passes through the strain relief member and is threadedly connected to the nut to fix the strain relief member to the second housing.

[0032] Exemplarily, an elastic member is disposed between the second operating member and the housing assembly, and the elastic member biases the second locking feature toward the second locking position.

[0033] Exemplarily, a first slide groove and a second slide groove extending along a predetermined direction are provided on the shell assembly, and the first slide groove and the second slide groove are spaced apart along a first lateral direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction, and the first operating member includes: a first sliding arm and a second sliding arm, the first sliding arm and the second sliding arm can be slidably inserted into the first slide groove and the second slide groove respectively, one end of the first sliding arm and the second sliding arm cooperates with the first locking feature portion so that the first locking feature portion can be moved between a first locking position and a first unlocking position; and a first operating portion, the first operating portion is connected between the other ends of the first sliding arm and the second sliding arm, and the first operating portion extends out of the shell assembly.

[0034] Exemplarily, the first operating member further includes a crossbeam connected between middle portions of the first sliding arm and the second sliding arm, and the third locking feature hooks the crossbeam when the third locking feature is in the third locking position.

[0035] Exemplarily, a limiting opening is provided on the housing assembly, and the crossbeam passes through the limiting opening to limit the sliding range of the first operating member.

[0036] Exemplarily, the predetermined direction is a mating direction between the electrical connector and the mating electrical connector.

[0037] Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a connector locking assembly, including: a first locking feature portion, having a first locking position for locking an adapter electrical connector and a first unlocking position for releasing the adapter electrical connector; a second locking feature portion, having a second locking position for locking the adapter electrical connector and a second unlocking position for releasing the adapter electrical connector, the first locking feature portion and the second locking feature portion being constructed to lock different sides of the adapter electrical connector, respectively.

[0038] Exemplarily, the connector locking assembly also includes: a first operating member operable in a predetermined direction, the first locking feature being movable from the first locking position to the first unlocking position based on operation of the first operating member; a third locking feature having a third locking position and a third unlocking position, wherein the third locking feature is configured to lock the first operating member when in the third locking position, so that the first locking feature remains in the first locking position; and the third locking feature is also configured to release the first operating member when in the third unlocking position, so that the first operating member is operable.

[0039] Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a connector locking assembly, comprising: a first operating member operable along a predetermined direction; a first locking feature portion, which has a first locking position for locking the adapter electrical connector and a first unlocking position for releasing the adapter electrical connector, the first locking feature portion being movable from the first locking position to the first unlocking position based on an operation on the first operating member; a third locking feature portion, which has a third locking position and a third unlocking position, wherein the third locking feature portion is configured to lock the first operating member when in the third locking position, so that the first locking feature portion remains in the first locking position; and the third locking feature portion is also configured to release the first operating member when in the third unlocking position, so that the first operating member is operable.

[0040] Exemplarily, the connector locking assembly further includes a second locking feature having a second locking position for locking the adapting electrical connector and a second unlocking position for releasing the adapting electrical connector, and the first locking feature and the second locking feature are respectively used to lock different sides of the adapting electrical connector.

[0041] Exemplarily, the first locking feature includes: a first locking head for locking with an adapting electrical connector; a first tail portion cooperating with a first operating member; and a first intermediate portion, the first intermediate portion being connected between the first locking head and the first tail portion, and the first intermediate portion being pivotable around a first predetermined axis so that the first locking feature portion pivots between a first locking position and a first unlocking position.

[0042] Exemplarily, the first locking feature includes a curved resilient pawl configured to bias the first locking feature toward the first locking position.

[0043] Exemplarily, the first operating member is configured to be returnable to an initial position locked with the third locking feature under the bias of the elastic claw.

[0044] Exemplarily, the first tail portion has a V-shaped groove, and the first operating member slides along a side wall of the V-shaped groove to pivot the first locking feature portion between a first locking position and a first unlocking position.

[0045] Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides an electrical connector, comprising: a main shell, the main shell comprising a second mating portion for mating with an adapting electrical connector, and a second mounting portion; a plurality of conductive terminals, the plurality of conductive terminals being mounted in the main shell and extending from the second mating portion to the second mounting portion; a metal box, the metal box being surrounded by the outside of the main shell, the metal box having a front portion extending beyond the second mating portion; a locking shell, the locking shell being attached to the front portion of the metal box and comprising a locking mating feature portion, the locking mating feature portion being configured to receive a locking feature portion of the adapting electrical connector.

[0046] Exemplarily, the metal box is formed by bending a metal sheet, and opposite edges of the metal sheet are formed with mortise and tenon structures to connect the edges of the metal sheet to each other.

[0047] Exemplarily, the metal box includes a barb protruding outward, and the locking housing is provided with an engagement opening engaged with the barb.

[0048] Exemplarily, the metal compartment includes a plate lock, which is located outside the locking housing.

[0049] Exemplarily, the inner surface of the metal cage is spaced apart from the outer surface of the second mating portion to form a gap for receiving the first mating portion of the mating electrical connector.

[0050] Exemplarily, the locking housing is sleeved on the front portion of the metal compartment, and the locking housing comprises a locking portion extending beyond the front portion, and the locking adaptation feature is arranged on the locking portion.

[0051] Exemplarily, the second mating portion and the second mounting portion are perpendicular to each other.

[0052] Exemplarily, the locking shell has a first dimension along a first lateral direction and a second dimension along a second lateral direction, the first dimension is larger than the second dimension, the first lateral direction and the second lateral direction are perpendicular to each other and are both perpendicular to the mating direction of the electrical connector and the matching electrical connector, the locking shell has a first side surface opposite to each other along the first lateral direction and a second side surface opposite to each other along the second lateral direction, the second side surface includes a protruding portion protruding outward, and the locking adaptation feature includes a first opening located on the first side surface and a second opening located on the protruding portion.

[0053] The first electrical connector disclosed in the present invention includes a circuit board, and contacts for electrically contacting the second electrical connector that is adapted are made on the circuit board. Compared with each contact being made as a separate conductor that is respectively installed in the housing assembly, making the contacts on the circuit board can increase the density of the contacts and will not significantly change the size of the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector adapted thereto. Moreover, making the contacts on the circuit board can more accurately locate the position of each contact, and the batch consistency of the product is high, and even when transmitting high-speed data signals, high signal integrity can be provided. The connector locking assembly can ensure that the first electrical connector can be reliably electrically connected to the second electrical connector that is adapted, and will not interfere with signal transmission even in harsh environments (such as automotive environments).

[0054] A series of simplified concepts are introduced in the summary of the invention, which will be further described in detail in the detailed description. The summary of the invention does not mean to attempt to define the key features and essential technical features of the claimed technical solution, nor does it mean to attempt to determine the scope of protection of the claimed technical solution.

[0055] The advantages and features of the present disclosure are described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] The following drawings of the present disclosure are hereby used as part of the present disclosure for understanding the present disclosure. The embodiments of the present disclosure and their description are shown in the drawings to explain the principles of the present disclosure. In the drawings,

[0057] Figure 1A is a perspective view of a portion of an electronic system according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, wherein a first electrical connector and a matching second electrical connector are connected in place;

[0058] Figure 1B for Figure 1A A perspective view of a portion of the electronic system shown, wherein the first electrical connector and the second matching electrical connector are in an initially separated state;

[0059] Figure 1C for Figure 1B a side view of a portion of the electronic system shown;

[0060] Figure 1D for Figure 1C A top view of a portion of the electronic system shown;

[0061] Figure 1E for Figure 1A A perspective view of a portion of the electronic system shown, wherein the first electrical connector and the mating second electrical connector are in a completely separated state;

[0062] Figure 1F For Figure 1A a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the electronic system in a corresponding connected state;

[0063] Figure 1G For Figures 1B to 1D a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the electronic system in a corresponding connected state;

[0064] Figure 1H For Figure 1E a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the electronic system in a corresponding connected state;

[0065] Figure 2A is a perspective view of a first electrical connector according to an exemplary embodiment disclosed;

[0066] Figure 2B and Figure 2C They are Figure 2A A partial enlarged view of Figure 2C The second operating member in Figure 2B The second operating member is pressed;

[0067] Figure 2D for Figure 2A A top view of the first electrical connector shown;

[0068] Figure 2E and Figure 2F They are Figure 2A A cross-sectional view of Figure 2F The second operating member in Figure 2E The second operating member is pressed;

[0069] Figure 2G for Figure 2A An exploded view of the first electrical connector shown;

[0070] Figure 2H for Figure 2A An exploded view showing a portion of the first electrical connector being blown away;

[0071] Fig.2I for Figure 2A An exploded view showing another portion of the first electrical connector being blown apart;

[0072] Figure 3 for Figure 2A A perspective view of the first electrical connector shown, wherein the third housing and the second operating member are removed;

[0073] Figure 4A and Figure 4B are three-dimensional diagrams of a circuit board and a cable according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, respectively, Figure 4B Relative to Figure 4A The fixings were removed;

[0074] FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C Shown from multiple angles Figure 2A a first locking feature of the first electrical connector as shown;

[0075] FIG. 6A to FIG. 6C Shown from multiple angles Figure 2A The second operating member of the first electrical connector is shown;

[0076] Figure 7 for Figure 2A A perspective view of a first housing of a first electrical connector shown;

[0077] Figure 8 and Fig. 9 They are Figure 2A A three-dimensional view of the first housing and the first operating member of the first electrical connector after being separated and assembled;

[0078] Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B are simplified diagrams of a first housing and a first operating member in an assembled state according to other disclosed exemplary embodiments;

[0079] Fig.11A is a perspective view of a second electrical connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure;

[0080] Fig. 11B for Fig.11A a perspective cutaway view of the second electrical connector shown;

[0081] Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B They are Fig.11A The three-dimensional views of the metal box of the second electrical connector shown at different angles;

[0082] Fig.13A and Fig. 13B They are Fig.11A An exploded view and an assembled stereoscopic view of the main housing and the conductive terminals of the second electrical connector are shown; and

[0083] Fig.14 for Fig.11A A three-dimensional view of the locking housing of the second electrical connector is shown.

[0084] The above drawings include the following reference numerals:

[0085] 100, first electrical connector; 110, housing assembly; 111, first housing; 110A, first mating portion; 110B, first main body; 1111, first mounting channel; 1112, first cable termination portion; 1113, first slide groove; 1114, second slide groove; 112, second housing; 1121, limiting opening; 1122, mounting opening; 1123, hole; 1124, snap-fitting groove; 1125, first notch; 113, third housing; 1131, snap-fit ​​structure; 1131A, plane; 1131B, guide slope; 1132, second notch; 114, stress relief piece; 1141, flange; 1142, notch ; 115, second locating pin; 120, circuit board; 121A, first end; 121B, second end; 122, contact; 122A, first contact; 122B, second contact; 123, ramp; 124, locating groove; 131, high-speed data cable; 131A, high-speed data cable end; 132, power cable; 141, first locking feature; 1411, first locking head; 1411A, hook; 1411B, guide; 1411C, outer side surface; 1411E, locking opening; 1412, first tail; 1412A, first side wall; 1412B, second side wall; 1413, first middle portion; 1413A, pivot hole; 1414, elastic claw; 142, second locking feature; 143, third locking feature; 144, first operating member; 1441, first operating portion; 1442, avoidance opening; 1443, column; 1444, beam; 1445, first sliding arm; 1446, second sliding arm; 145, second operating member; 1451, pressing portion; 1452, second pivot axis; 1454, first positioning pin; 150, first pivot axis; 160, elastic member; 170, fixing member; 200, second electrical connector; 210, main housing; 211, second mating portion; 211A, slot; 211B, second mating end; 211C, second mounting end; 212, second mounting portion; 2121, limiting flange; 2122, snap; 220, conductive terminal; 221, mating end; 222, mounting end; 223, middle portion; 223A, bent section; 230, metal compartment; 231, mortise and tenon structure; 232, barb; 233, plate lock; 233A, first protrusion; 233B, second protrusion; 234, front portion; 235, spring leaf; 240, locking housing; 2401, first side; 2402, second side; 2402A, raised portion; 241, locking portion; 242, engaging opening; 251, first locking adapter feature; 252, second locking adapter feature; 260, gap. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0086] In the following description, a large amount of details are provided so that the present disclosure can be thoroughly understood. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the following description only exemplarily illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure can be implemented without one or more such details. In addition, in order to avoid confusion with the present disclosure, some technical features well known in the art are not described in detail.

[0087] As advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) become more mature, the sensors used in vehicles are becoming more advanced and more diverse. In the context of the rapid development of new energy vehicles, many key systems of vehicles are gradually adopting electronic control. This puts higher requirements on the transmission rate of signals. In the design process of vehicles, how to reasonably layout these signal lines has become an urgent problem for engineers to solve. Taking sensor modules as an example, sensor modules may come from different manufacturers and be assembled to various locations of the vehicle. For this reason, a method is needed to quickly connect signal lines to these sensor modules, and enable the sensor modules to communicate with the main control device or other modules at a higher rate. The use of electrical connectors is a feasible technical solution. Electrical connectors can greatly reduce the difficulty and cost of assembly, and can quickly connect and disconnect lines during the debugging process and subsequent maintenance. One end of the electrical connector can be connected to a cable, and the other end is connected to an adapter electrical connector (such as a board connector). The other end of the cable can be directly connected to a circuit board or to another electrical connector. Thus, when the electrical connector and the adapter electrical connector are connected to each other, the circuit connection can be completed.

[0088] As the signal transmission rate of the sensor module gradually increases, the power consumption of the sensor module also increases accordingly, and the power supply line of the sensor module is more difficult to layout. The inventors are aware of and understand a solution of a hybrid electrical connector. Using this hybrid electrical connector, good signal integrity can be guaranteed for high-speed data signals in harsh environments such as vehicles, and reliable power supply can be provided at the same time. The electrical connector may include a circuit board with gold fingers, which are used to electrically contact the corresponding conductors on the adapter electrical connector. The cable for transmitting high-speed data signals can be installed on the circuit board and electrically connected to the corresponding gold fingers through the circuit on the circuit board, so as to transmit the high-speed data signal carried by the cable to the adapter electrical connector. The use of the circuit board and the adapter electrical connector for electrical contact can be used for high-speed, high-density signal transmission and / or reliable power supply. Based on this, the inventors are aware of and understand a solution of a hybrid electrical connector that can be assembled economically. If a group of electrical connectors are used to provide power and signal transmission for the device at the same time, the difficulty of circuit layout can be greatly reduced. For example, during assembly and maintenance, each device corresponds to only one group of cables, and the cables can be wrapped in a sleeve, thereby greatly reducing the number of cable groups. The use of an electrical connector that transmits both power and signals can avoid confusion of power connection lines, thereby reducing problems caused by assembly errors. Since the cable of the electrical connector will not be separated from the electrical connector after correct installation, users usually do not need to worry about whether it will cause line connection errors when connecting the electrical connector, and can directly plug the electrical connector into the corresponding adapter electrical connector.

[0089] The above connector design can be for different types of connectors, such as plug connectors and board connectors. The inventors realize and understand that the board connector can be set on the device, and the plug connector can be terminated to the connecting cable between the devices. In this way, only an opening for the plug connector to be inserted can be reserved on the device, and no obvious protrusion will be generated on the surface of the device, thereby reducing the risk of the electrical connector breaking.

[0090] Electrical connectors on cars usually work in harsh environments such as high speed and vibration. The vibration generated during the car's speeding may also cause the electrical connector to disconnect and stop working completely. Even if the vibration does not completely hinder the operation of the electrical connector, it will form electrical noise that interferes with the operation of electronic devices connected to the electronic system including the electrical connector. For example, the noise may be caused by the relative movement of components inside the electrical connector, which may change the electrical performance of the electrical connector and / or fail to provide a reliable power signal. The electrical connector may be connected to key equipment of the vehicle, such as the brake system, engine system, etc. If problems such as looseness occur, it may threaten the safety of passengers. Therefore, in some embodiments, the electrical connector may include at least one connector locking assembly (CPA) to ensure that the electrical connector can ensure a good and reliable electrical connection when the electrical connector is not disconnected.

[0091] Since the working environment of the electrical connector is complex and diverse, there are various possibilities that the electrical connector is entangled, pulled, squeezed, etc. by the cable. In this case, the probability that the electrical connector is disconnected by external force, rather than by the user's initiative, will increase significantly. In this regard, the inventors realize and understand that the mutually adapted electrical connectors can maintain relative positions through multiple interconnected connector locking components. In a group of embodiments, the electrical connector may include a first locking feature and a second locking feature, and the first locking feature and the second locking feature can achieve position fixation of the two on different sides when the electrical connector is matched with the adapting electrical connector. Thus, the first locking feature and the second locking feature can provide locking along different directions, so that a reliable connection can be provided for vibration in a single direction. Further, the first locking feature and the second locking feature can be respectively equipped with a first operating member and a second operating member, and unlocked respectively. Preferably, the first operating member and the second operating member have different operating modes and / or different operating directions. Thus, different locking feature portions can have different unlocking modes, so that the probability of the electrical connector being disconnected due to accidental external force factors will be further reduced. Common operating modes include pushing, pressing, pulling, rotating, etc., and the first operating member and the second operating member may have different operating modes. Optionally, the first operating member and the second operating member may adopt the same operating mode, but need to be operated under the action of external forces in different directions. Exemplarily, the inventors are aware of and understand a combination of operating modes that can be easily operated and enable the structure of the electrical connector to be compact and economically assembled, namely, a combination of a pressing mode and an outward pulling mode.

[0092] Further, a third locking feature can be provided for one or more of the operating members to prevent the corresponding operating member from being misoperated and causing the corresponding locking feature to be accidentally unlocked. Exemplarily, a third locking feature can be provided for the first pull-out operating member. The inventor also realizes and understands that it is troublesome for the user to operate two or more components at the same time, especially in a relatively narrow space or a space where cables are densely arranged, this operation will be more difficult. In this regard, it is expected that the unlocked state will be maintained after the second locking feature is unlocked, so that the user does not need to continue to operate the second operating member for unlocking the second locking feature, and the unlocked state of the second locking feature can be maintained, so that the user's hand can be released to perform the action of unlocking the first locking feature. Exemplarily, the second locking feature and the third locking feature can be designed as a linkage mode. When the second operating member is operated to unlock the second locking feature, the third locking feature can also be unlocked, and then the first operating member can be released to be in an operable state. Optionally, the electrical connector can be designed such that: when the second locking feature is unlocked, the electrical connector is allowed to move to the initial separation position relative to the matching electrical connector, so that the second locking feature can be separated from the matching electrical connector and is held in its unlocked position by the matching electrical connector. Then, the third locking feature can also be held in the unlocked position, and the user can freely operate the first operating member to unlock the first locking feature, thereby achieving one-hand unlocking.

[0093] In addition to the small displacement generated during the initial separation of the electrical connector and the adapter electrical connector, which changes the relative position of the second locking feature and the adapter electrical connector, thereby maintaining the unlocked position, the inventors also realize and understand that for some relatively sophisticated electronic devices, accidental power failure has a certain probability of causing data anomalies, data loss, and even device damage. For this reason, during the initial separation of the electrical connector and the adapter electrical connector, the connection of some non-critical lines can be interrupted, so as to ensure that the device can obtain the information that the electrical connector and the adapter electrical connector are being disconnected while ensuring the function of the electrical connector, thereby sending an alarm to the user, or the electronic device corresponding to the electrical connector can save data or shut down, thereby avoiding damage caused by accidental power failure.

[0094] Optionally, a locking feature can be provided for the electrical connector to lock the position relative to the adapter electrical connector. For example, a first locking feature and a first operating member for unlocking the first locking feature can be provided. Optionally, a locking feature, such as a third locking feature, can be provided for the first operating member, and the third locking feature can be unlocked by the second operating member to prevent the first operating member from being operated incorrectly or accidentally. Optionally, the operating direction and / or operating mode of the first operating member can be different from the second operating member to prevent the second operating member and the first operating member from being operated successively when subjected to vibration in a single direction, ultimately causing the first locking feature to fail. Based on this, optionally, a second locking feature that can be linked with the second operating member can be additionally provided to strengthen the locking with the adapter electrical connector. In this way, when the second operating member is actuated to lock the third locking feature, the second locking feature can also be locked to the adapter electrical connector, and the second operating member can also unlock the second locking feature and the third locking feature at the same time. Similar to the above-mentioned embodiment, in order to simplify the operation, after the second locking feature and the third locking feature are unlocked, the electrical connector is allowed to be initially separated from the mating electrical connector. By utilizing the small displacement generated during the initial separation, the mating electrical connector can maintain the second locking feature in its unlocked position, and the third locking feature is also maintained in its unlocked position. At this time, the first operating member can be continuously operated to completely separate the electrical connector from the mating electrical connector.

[0095] Furthermore, in order to reduce the number of parts, the linked second locking feature and the third locking feature can both be arranged on the second operating member. In order to achieve economical assembly, the housing assembly of the electrical connector can include a first housing, a second housing and a third housing, wherein the first locking feature and the first operating member can be installed between the first housing and the second housing, and the second operating member can be installed between the second housing and the third housing.

[0096] Optionally, in the adapter electrical connector, the locking adapter feature that cooperates with the aforementioned first locking feature and the second locking feature can be made on a separate locking housing separated from the main housing that holds the plurality of conductive terminals to reduce the difficulty of processing. Between the main housing and the locking housing, a metal compartment can be connected to enhance the connection strength. Optionally, the metal compartment can also provide a reliable connection between the main housing and the circuit board, for example, a board lock for connecting to the circuit board can be designed on the metal compartment. The adapter electrical connector can be reliably mounted on the circuit board using the board lock, for example, welded to the circuit board. Optionally, the metal compartment can also be electrically connected to the signal ground to play a shielding role. Exemplarily, the front of the metal compartment can extend beyond the main housing, and the longer metal compartment can better provide support for the first electrical connector when mating with the first electrical connector that is adapted. Compared with the main housing or the housing assembly of the first electrical connector that is adapted, the metal compartment can withstand a larger external force to prevent the mating position of the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector from being broken by external force. The longer metal compartment can also provide space for cooperating with a locking shell, which can be connected to the front of the metal compartment, so that a space for accommodating the above-mentioned electrical connector can be formed by the metal compartment and the locking shell, so as to reliably hold the two electrical connectors together in a direction perpendicular to the matching direction of the two electrical connectors to adapt to harsh environments such as vehicles.

[0097] Figures 1A to 1E A part of an electronic system such as that used in a car is shown, which is used to interconnect multiple electronic devices in the electronic system. As shown in the figure, the electronic system may include a first electrical connector 100 and a second electrical connector 200 that are mutually adapted and detachably connected to each other. The second electrical connector 200 may be mounted on a circuit board (not shown). The first electrical connector 100 may be a cable connector. The first electrical connector 100 may be electrically connected to an electronic device such as another circuit board via a cable. The first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 may provide interconnection between the electronic device and the circuit board. The electronic device and the circuit board may have a certain distance. Typically, the second electrical connector 200 is usually mounted on the electronic device as a socket electrical connector. The first electrical connector 100 may be adapted to be connected to the socket electrical connector as a plug electrical connector. In some embodiments, the first electrical connector may be directly mounted on the circuit board, and the second electrical connector may be configured as a cable connector to interconnect a more distant electronic device with the circuit board. Alternatively, optionally, the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector may be connected to respective electronic devices such as circuit boards via cables. Preferably, one of the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector may be fixed to the target electronic device. In harsh environments such as those presented by automobiles, electronic systems can provide high-speed data transmission while being subjected to vibration.

[0098] FIG. 2A to FIG. 2IThe structure of the first electrical connector 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown from different aspects. For the sake of clarity and simplicity of description, a mating direction XX, a first lateral direction YY and a second lateral direction ZZ are defined. The mating direction XX is the direction in which the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 mate with each other. The first lateral direction YY and the second lateral direction ZZ are both perpendicular to the mating direction XX and the first lateral direction YY and the second lateral direction ZZ are perpendicular to each other.

[0099] As shown, the first electrical connector 100 may include a housing assembly 110. The housing assembly 110 may include a first mating portion 110A. The first mating portion 110A has a structure that matches the second electrical connector 200 that is adapted, thereby ensuring that each time the first electrical connector 100 is connected to the second electrical connector 200 that is adapted, the relative positional relationship between the two remains unchanged, thereby ensuring that the corresponding conductors on the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 form a reliable electrical connection. In addition, the housing assembly 110 may also include a first main body portion 110B. Exemplarily, the housing assembly 110 may be molded from an insulating material such as plastic. The plastic may include, but is not limited to, liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), high temperature nylon or polyphenylene oxide (PPO) or polypropylene (PP), or other materials may also be used. In some cases, the plastic may be a thermosetting plastic. In some cases, the insulating plastic may include an insulating material such as glass fiber reinforced.

[0100] The first electrical connector 100 may include a circuit board 120, such as Figure 4A and Figure 4BAs shown. The circuit board 120 can be arranged in the housing assembly 110, and the circuit board 120 includes a plurality of contacts 122 for electrical contact with the matching electrical connector. The circuit board 120 can use a common glass fiber reinforced material as a substrate, and Teflon can also be used as a substrate when the transmission signal frequency is high. The contacts 122 on the circuit board 120 can be made by printing or machining, and there is a suitable spacing between adjacent contacts 122 to prevent short circuits or crosstalk between signals or power supplies. Optionally, a precious metal layer can be formed on the surface of the contacts 122 to avoid poor contact caused by oxidation. Exemplarily, the contacts 122 can be densely arranged in the form of gold fingers. Optionally, the circuit board 120 can be mainly accommodated in the first matching portion 110A of the housing assembly 110. When the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 are adapted to each other, the circuit board 120 can be inserted into the second electrical connector 200 so that the contacts 122 on the circuit board 120 are in electrical contact with the corresponding contacts of the second electrical connector 200. By forming the contacts 122 on the circuit board 120, the density of the contacts 122 can be increased as needed, so that high-density cables can be connected to meet the needs of high-density signal transmission. The circuit board 120 may include a first end 121A located inside the housing assembly 110 and a second end 121B facing the second electrical connector 200 along the mating direction XX. The second end 121B may be provided with a chamfer to form an inclined surface 123 to play a guiding role during the insertion of the adapter electrical connector.

[0101] The plurality of contacts 122 can be used to transmit high-speed data signals and / or power signals. In the first electrical connector 100, all of the contacts 122 can be used to transmit high-speed data signals; or all of the contacts 122 can be used to transmit power signals; or a portion of the contacts 122 can be used to transmit high-speed data signals, while another portion of the contacts 122 can be used to transmit power signals. When the contacts 122 are used to transmit power signals, they can transmit electric power.

[0102] The first electrical connector 100 may also include a plurality of high-speed data cables 131, the ends 131A of the plurality of high-speed data cables 131 being fixed on the circuit board 120 and being in electrical contact with the plurality of contacts 122. In an embodiment including the plurality of high-speed data cables 131, at least a portion of the contacts 122 are used to transmit high-speed data signals. The ends 131A of the plurality of high-speed data cables 131 may be connected to the pads provided at the first end 121A of the circuit board 120, for example, by soldering, spot welding or ultrasonic welding, so as to be reliably fixed and electrically connected to the pads. The pads are connected to the corresponding contacts 122 through conductive lines on the circuit board 120, so that the plurality of high-speed data cables 131 are electrically connected to the plurality of contacts 122. The plurality of high-speed data cables 131 may extend through the first main body portion 110B of the housing assembly 110 to the first mating portion 110A. In the illustrated embodiment, the high-speed data cables 131 extend substantially along the mating direction XX. Optionally, in other embodiments not shown, the high-speed data cable may have a bend, such as a 90-degree bend or any other suitable angle. In this case, the first main body portion 110B may need to have a bend to accommodate the bend of the high-speed data cable. The end 131A of the high-speed data cable 131 may be enclosed in the housing assembly 110 together with the first end 121A of the circuit board 120, thereby preventing moisture, oxidation and other foreign matter from causing a short circuit between the cables, and preventing the high-speed data cable 131 from being pulled by an external force and being separated from the circuit board 120.

[0103] The electrical performance of the high-speed data cable 131 is generally superior to that of the low-speed data cable for transmitting low-speed data. Therefore, the first electrical connector 100 can be backward compatible with low-speed data signals, such as low-frequency signals (e.g., 66MHz), signals with lower data rates (e.g., less than 100Mb / s). Low-speed data signals generally do not include primary data, but include control signals and / or auxiliary information responsible for supporting and managing data transmission. The control signal may include one or more of control commands, status information, error detection and correction, etc. The auxiliary information may include one or more of checksums, flow control, and clock synchronization, etc. The transmission of auxiliary information helps to ensure the integrity, reliability, and synchronization of data. In some embodiments, the first electrical connector 100 may be used only for transmitting high-speed data signals or only for transmitting low-speed data signals. In other embodiments, the first electrical connector 100 may be used for transmitting high-speed data signals and low-speed data signals simultaneously.

[0104] The first electrical connector 100 may further include a power cable 132. Figure 4A and 4BAs shown, the contact 122 on the circuit board 120 may include a plurality of first contacts 122A spaced apart from each other, and the first contact 122A may be electrically connected to the high-speed data cable 131, thereby cooperating with the adapting electrical connector to provide a transmission path for high-speed data. The contact 122 may also include a wider second contact 122B, and the second contact 122B may be electrically connected to the power cable 132, thereby cooperating with the adapting electrical connector to provide a stable power supply. Exemplarily, the power cable 132 may be connected in parallel with a plurality of cables with thinner wire diameters, rather than with a cable with thicker wire diameters, so that the difficulty of assembly and welding can be reduced by reasonably arranging the power cable 132. It is easy to understand that the conductor portion of the currently common power cable 132 is circular in cross section, and the length of the connection portion between the second contact 122B and the power cable 132 will be greater than the diameter of the circle. Before connecting the power cable 132 to the second contact 122B, it needs to be flattened to ensure sufficient contact area to prevent a large resistance from being generated after the connection. This results in a more complicated process and difficulty in ensuring quality. The thicker wire diameter of the cable will also cause the size of the first electrical connector 100 in the second lateral direction ZZ to increase accordingly in order to accommodate the power cable 132. In contrast, by using multiple power cables 132 with thinner wire diameters, each can be connected to the second contact 122B separately, thereby forming a parallel relationship. Multiple power cables 132 can only increase the size of the first lateral direction YY, and there is enough space in this direction, which will not cause the overall size of the first electrical connector 100 to change. Multiple power cables 132 can also ensure the reliability of power supply, even if some of the power cables 132 are broken, it will not cause the power supply to be completely interrupted. In an embodiment not shown, a plurality of second contacts spaced apart from each other may also be included. In some exemplary embodiments, a positioning groove 124 may also be provided on the circuit board 120, and the positioning groove 124 separates a circuit board 120 into a power supply part and a high-speed data part, and the second contact 122B is provided on the front and / or back of the power supply part, and the first contact 122A is provided on the front and / or back of the high-speed data part. During the mating process between the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200, the positioning groove 124 can match the protrusion of the matching electrical connector, thereby playing a foolproof function. The positioning groove 124 can also separate the second contact 122B for transmitting power from the first contact 122A for transmitting high-speed data to a certain extent, thereby reducing interference. In some embodiments, the positioning groove 124 can be formed by two independent circuit boards.

[0105] The first electrical connector 100 may further include a connector locking assembly, which is disposed on the housing assembly 110. Exemplarily, the connector locking assembly may adopt any one or more of a latch structure, a threaded locking structure, and a snap-on locking structure, as long as the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 can be locked to each other when they are mated and connected. As described above, the connector locking assembly can lock the first electrical connector 100 and the mating electrical connector to each other to prevent the two from being unexpectedly separated due to vibration or external force.

[0106] The first electrical connector 100 disclosed in the present invention includes a circuit board 120, and contacts 122 for electrically contacting the second electrical connector to be matched are made on the circuit board 120. Compared with each contact being made as a separate conductor installed in the housing assembly 110, making the contacts 122 on the circuit board 120 can increase the density of the contacts without significantly changing the size of the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 matched thereto. Moreover, making the contacts 122 on the circuit board 120 can more accurately locate the position of each contact 122, and the batch consistency of the product is high, and even when transmitting high-speed data signals, it can provide high signal integrity. The connector locking assembly can ensure that the first electrical connector 100 can be reliably electrically connected to the second electrical connector 200 to be matched, and will not interfere with signal transmission even in harsh environments (such as automotive environments).

[0107] Exemplarily, the transmission rate of the plurality of high-speed data cables 131 meets the requirements of PCIE Gen 5 (5th generation of the fast peripheral component interconnection standard) to PCIE Gen 6 (6th generation of the fast peripheral component interconnection standard). Compared with low-speed data, high-speed data transmission requires the use of high-frequency signals as carriers to ensure sufficient bandwidth. In the case of high frequencies, factors such as the impedance of the conductor and the skin effect will have a more significant impact on the signal. At the same time, external interference may also seriously affect the transmission of high-speed data, resulting in data loss. In this regard, the high-speed data cable 131 usually uses a differential signal line with a shielding layer, and the shielding layer is connected to the signal ground, thereby eliminating the interference of the external electric field and magnetic field on the signal to a certain extent. At the same time, the electromagnetic fields of the differential lines cancel each other out, and will not radiate electromagnetic waves to interfere with other devices. The high-speed data cable 131 shown in the figure is simplified, and the structures such as the shielding layer are not shown in detail.

[0108] Exemplarily, the center distance (pitch) between adjacent high-speed data cables 131 is less than or equal to 1 mm, thereby meeting the demand for high-density cables and providing a prerequisite for high-density signal transmission. The first electrical connector 100 can support both high-bandwidth data transmission requirements and downward compatibility with lower bandwidth data transmission requirements. Specifically, for devices that need to communicate at a higher bandwidth, all high-speed data cables 131 can be used. For devices that communicate at a lower bandwidth, part of the high-speed data cables 131 can be used, and the remaining high-speed data cables 131 are idle. In some scenarios, exemplarily, device A can use part of the high-speed data cable 131 to receive data from device B, and at the same time send data to device B through another part of the high-speed data cable 131, thereby simultaneously receiving and sending data to achieve full-duplex communication.

[0109] Return to reference Figure 1A Exemplarily, the connector locking assembly may include a first locking feature 141. The first locking feature 141 has a first locking position for locking the second electrical connector 200 and a first unlocking position for releasing the second electrical connector 200. Exemplarily, the connector locking assembly may also include a second locking feature 142. The second locking feature 142 has a second locking position for locking the second electrical connector 200 and a second unlocking position for releasing the second electrical connector 200. The first locking feature 141 and the second locking feature 142 are respectively used to lock different sides of the second electrical connector 200. For the first electrical connector 100, when subjected to external force, the locking and matching features on the connector locking assembly and the matching electrical connector may generate greater stress. When the first electrical connector 100 operates in a relatively harsh environment, such as the environment presented by a vibrating vehicle, if all the connector locking components are arranged on the same side of the first electrical connector 100, the aging of the connector locking components and the locking and adapting features on the adapter electrical connector may be accelerated, causing the connector locking components to fail. In addition, the vibration direction in such a harsh environment may be unidirectional and regular. Once the vibration direction is consistent with the locking direction of all the connector locking components, they may cause collective failure. In addition, whether it is the first electrical connector 100 or the matching second electrical connector 200, the trend of miniaturization is small, and the space on each side may be limited. Disposing the first locking feature 141 and the second locking feature 142 on different sides of the first electrical connector 100 can avoid a significant impact on the mechanical strength of the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200. Figure 2A and Figure 2BAs shown, the size of the first electrical connector 100 along the first lateral direction YY can be greater than its size along the second lateral direction ZZ. The first locking feature 141 can be set on the two opposite sides of the first electrical connector 100 along the first lateral direction YY. Correspondingly, the second locking feature 142 can be set on the two opposite sides or one side of the first electrical connector 100 along the second lateral direction ZZ. Thus, at least three points of locking can be formed. In this case, the size of the second locking feature 142 can be greater than the size of the first locking feature 141. In the case where the second locking feature 142 is only set on one side of the first electrical connector 100, the second locking feature 142 can include a larger locking protrusion, which can at least withstand a tensile force greater than a single first locking feature 141. It can be understood that since the second locking feature 142 has a larger size, it can withstand a larger tensile force and can evenly disperse the tensile force, thereby avoiding stress concentration causing deformation and fracture of the material. In other embodiments, the second locking feature 142 can also be respectively set on the two sides of the first electrical connector 100. In contrast, the structure of the first electrical connector 100 is relatively complex, and the dimension in the second lateral direction ZZ becomes relatively larger. Those skilled in the art can select the number and arrangement of the various locking features according to actual needs.

[0110] By way of example and not limitation, the first locking feature 141 and the second locking feature 142 can move between respective locking positions and unlocking positions. For the purpose of distinction, the locking positions of the first locking feature 141 and the second locking feature 142 are referred to as the first locking position and the second locking position, respectively, and their unlocking positions are referred to as the first unlocking position and the second unlocking position, respectively. In a specific application scenario, the first electrical connector 100 is as follows: Figure 1AAs shown, the connector 100 is connected to the second electrical connector 200, and the first locking feature 141 and the second locking feature 142 respectively cooperate with the first locking fitting feature 251 and the second locking fitting feature 252 on the second electrical connector 200. Exemplarily, the first locking fitting feature 251 and the second locking fitting feature 252 can be one or more of an opening, a groove, a stopper protrusion, etc. that can cooperate with the first locking feature 141 and the second locking feature 142. At this time, when the first electrical connector 100 vibrates in the working environment, the connector locking assembly of the first electrical connector 100 may mainly bear the component of the external force in the mating direction XX, and the component of the force in the direction perpendicular to the mating direction XX may be mainly borne by the mutual plugging of the first mating part 110A of the housing assembly 110 and the second electrical connector 200. Exemplarily, the first locking feature 141 and the second locking feature 142 can bear the component of the force in the mating direction XX at different time periods. That is, when one of the first locking feature 141 and the second locking feature 142 fails, the other can still play a role. Each of the first locking feature 141 and the second locking feature 142 can be one or more. Optionally, when the first electrical connector 100 is subjected to a component force along the mating direction XX, the second locking feature 142 is first subjected to a tensile force. When the second locking feature 142 is in the second locking position, the second locking feature 142 can engage with a second locking adaptation feature 252, such as a groove or an opening, thereby preventing the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 from relative displacement. When the second locking feature 142 is in the second unlocking position, the second locking feature 142 is separated from the second locking adaptation feature 252 on the second electrical connector 200. In this case, the first electrical connector 100 can be movable within a certain range along the mating direction XX relative to the second electrical connector 200, wherein the first locking feature 141 may still be unable to disengage from the corresponding first locking adaptation feature 251 on the second electrical connector 200. When the first electrical connector 100 moves to the boundary of the above-mentioned range, the first electrical connector 100 is in an initial separation position, such as Figures 1B to 1D As shown, at this time, although the second locking feature 142 is separated from the second locking fitting feature 252, the first locking feature 141 is engaged with the first locking fitting feature 251, so that the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 are still plugged into each other. Exemplarily, when the first electrical connector 100 moves within this range along the mating direction, the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 can always maintain electrical connection. If the first locking feature 141 is in the first unlocked position, then the external force continues to be applied to the first electrical connector 100 along the mating direction XX, so that the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 can be completely separated. Figure 1EThe first electrical connector 100 is shown to be in a completely separated state.

[0111] Figure 1F to Figure 1H The first electrical connector 100 is in a fully mated position, an initially separated position, and a fully separated position relative to the second electrical connector 200. Exemplarily, the first locking feature 141 may include a hook 1411A protruding out of the housing assembly 110 along the first lateral direction YY. When the first locking feature 141 is in the first locking position and the second locking feature 142 is in the second locking position, as shown in FIG. Figure 1F As shown, the hook portion 1411A can extend into, for example, the opening of the first locking fitting feature 251. When the second locking feature 142 is in the second unlocked position, the first locking feature 141 is restricted by the first locking fitting feature 251, so that the first electrical connector 100 is in a position where it is fully matched with the second electrical connector 200 (such as Figure 1F as shown) and the initial separation position (as shown Figure 1G See Figure 1G In the initial separation position, the hook portion 1411A hooks the edge of the first locking adapter feature portion 251 in the form of an opening, so that even if the second locking feature portion 142 fails during operation, the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 can still be connected through the first locking feature portion 141. When it is necessary to completely separate the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200, the first locking feature portion 141 can be placed in the first unlocking position, such as Figure 1H As shown, the hook portion 1411A can be disengaged from the first locking fitting feature portion 251 of the second electrical connector 200, thereby releasing the lock, and the first electrical connector 100 can be as shown in FIG. Figure 1E The second electrical connector 200 is shown as being completely separated. For example, the first locking feature 141 can be unlocked based on the operation of the first operating member described below.

[0112] Exemplarily, the connector locking assembly may include a first operating member 144 operable in a predetermined direction, and the first locking feature 141 may be movable from a first locking position to a first unlocking position based on an operation of the first operating member 144. The first operating member 144 may have a button or any other suitable structure disposed on the housing assembly 110. In the embodiment shown in the figure, the first operating member 144 may include a pull ring. Figure 1EAs shown, the first operating member 144 can be installed on the first main body portion 110B of the housing assembly 110. The pull ring can be arranged on both sides of the first main body portion 110B opposite to the first mating portion 110A. Exemplarily, the predetermined direction can be the mating direction XX of the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200. In this case, pulling the first operating member 144 outward along the mating direction XX can unlock the first locking feature 141. In this way, the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 can be separated, which is more in line with the operating habits of ordinary people. In an embodiment not shown, the first operating member can also be operated by rotating, pressing, etc. In this case, the predetermined direction can also have a certain angle with the mating direction XX of the first electrical connector 100, or even opposite to the pull-out direction of the first electrical connector 100. Exemplarily, the first operating member 144 can cooperate with the first locking feature 141. When the user operates the first operating member 144, the first operating member 144 can move the first locking feature 141 from the first locking position to the first unlocking position through one or more mechanical structures such as a boss, a slope or a gear. Preferably, in a natural state, the first locking feature 141 can be maintained in the first locking position, so as to avoid the first locking feature 141 failing to play a locking role in the initial separation state, resulting in the first electrical connector 100 being accidentally completely separated from the second electrical connector 200. The use of a mechanical structure to achieve linkage can reduce the number of parts used, simplify the structure to reduce the size, and ensure the reliability of operation.

[0113] FIG. 2A to FIG. 2I FIG. 1 shows a first electrical connector 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Optionally, the second locking feature 142 may be in the form of a snap-fit. Figure 1B and Figure 2C When the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 are connected, the second locking feature 142 elastically deforms or moves toward the inside of the first electrical connector 100, and automatically resets to engage with the second locking fitting feature 252 from the inside of the second electrical connector 200 when the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 are connected in place, see Figure 1A , Figure 2A and Figure 2C .

[0114] Optionally, the first electrical connector 100 may further include a third locking feature 143, such as Figure 2E and Figure 2FAs shown. The third locking feature 143 is used to lock the position of the first operating member 144, especially to lock the first operating member 144 in a position corresponding to the first locking feature 141 being in the first locking position. The third locking feature 143 can have a third locking position and a third unlocking position. The third locking feature 143 is configured to lock the first operating member 144 when in the third locking position, so that the first locking feature 141 remains in the first locking position, as shown. Figure 2E The third locking feature 143 is also configured to release the first operating member 144 when in the third unlocked position, so that the first operating member 144 can be operated, such as Figure 2F As shown. The first operating member 144 can be pulled toward the right to unlock the first locking feature 141. Since the first operating member 144 is linked with the first locking feature 141, taking the illustrated embodiment as an example, after the first electrical connector 100 is connected to the matching second electrical connector 200, if the third locking feature 143 is not provided, the first operating member 144 may move unexpectedly due to the external force generated by the vibration, causing the first locking feature 141 to be accidentally unlocked. In a vibration environment, this mechanical structure in which the first operating member 144 is linked with the first locking feature 141 may be in motion for a long time. When the first operating member 144 is locked in a desired position by the third locking feature 143, the first operating member 144 can be prevented from frequently moving when no operation is required, thereby avoiding affecting the service life.

[0115] In some embodiments not shown, the connector locking assembly may include only the first locking feature and the third locking feature. In other words, the first electrical connector 100 can be locked with the adapter electrical connector only by the first locking feature, and when the first locking feature is in the first unlocked position, the first electrical connector 100 can be completely separated from the adapter electrical connector. By providing the third locking feature, the first operating member is restricted, and the abnormal movement of the first operating member caused by external force can be prevented from causing the first locking feature to be unlocked, so that the first electrical connector 100 can be reliably connected to the adapter electrical connector.

[0116] In other embodiments not shown, the connector locking assembly may also include only the first locking feature and the second locking feature, and the first locking feature and the second locking feature are respectively used to lock different sides of the second electrical connector 200. In other words, the connector locking assembly may not include the third locking feature. The first operating member may be maintained in the initial position by an elastic member or other means, and only when subjected to a large external force in a predetermined direction will the first locking feature be actuated to make the first locking feature reach the first unlocking position. This is equivalent to replacing the third locking feature with a structure such as a spring, and relatively speaking, the embodiment with the third locking feature will have better reliability.

[0117] For example, Figure 1A , Figure 1B , Figure 2A and Figure 2G As shown, the first locking feature 141 may include a first locking head 1411 for locking with the second electrical connector 200, a first tail 1412 that cooperates with the first operating member 144, and a first intermediate portion 1413. The first intermediate portion 1413 is connected between the first locking head 1411 and the first tail 1412. The first intermediate portion 1413 is arranged around a first predetermined axis PP (see Figure 5C ) is pivotally connected to the housing assembly 110 so that the first locking feature 141 pivots between a first locked position and a first unlocked position. Figure 5A-5B As shown, a pivot hole 1413A may be provided on the first middle portion 1413. The first predetermined axis PP is defined by the pivot hole 1413A and a pivot shaft fixed to the housing assembly 110. Optionally, the pivot shaft may be provided on the first middle portion 1413, and the pivot hole may be provided on the housing assembly 110. When the first locking feature 141 moves from the first locking position to the first unlocking position, the first locking head 1411 pivots toward the inside of the housing assembly 110. For example, as shown in FIG. Figure 1F to Figure 1G and FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C As shown, the first locking head 1411 may include a protrusion such as a hook 1411A. The first locking head 1411 may have an outer side surface 1411C facing outside the housing assembly 110. The hook 1411A may protrude from the outer side surface 1411C of the first locking head 1411. When the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 are connected to each other, the first locking feature 141 is in the first locking position, and the hook 1411A may extend into the first locking fitting feature 251 of the second electrical connector 200, as shown in FIG. Figure 1F The outer surface 1411C of the first locking head 1411 may be in contact with the inner surface of the second electrical connector 200, or may be spaced apart from the inner surface of the second electrical connector 200. When the first electrical connector 100 moves along the mating direction XX, so that the first electrical connector 100 moves to the initial separation position relative to the second electrical connector 200, as shown in FIG. Figure 1GAs shown, the hook portion 1411A will engage with the edge of the first locking adapter feature 251 of the second electrical connector 200, so that the first electrical connector 100 cannot continue to move along the mating direction XX relative to the second electrical connector 200, and stops at the initial separation position. When the first locking feature 141 moves to the first unlocking position under the action of the first operating member 144, the first locking head 1411 pivots toward the inside of the housing assembly 110, so that the hook portion 1411A can be freed from the restriction of the first locking adapter feature 251, and the first electrical connector 100 continues to move along the mating direction XX, so that the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 can be completely separated.

[0118] Exemplarily, the first locking feature 141 may be made of a metal sheet. The first locking head 1411 may be elastic so that the first locking head 1411 may pivot inward when the first electrical connector 100 is inserted into the second electrical connector 200. When the hook 1411A enters the first locking adapter feature 251, the first locking head 1411 may return to a natural state.

[0119] Exemplarily, the first locking head 1411 may include an elastic claw 1414 bent toward the inside of the housing assembly 110. The elastic claw 1414 abuts against the housing assembly 110 to bias the first locking head 1411 toward the outside of the housing assembly 110. In this way, the first locking feature 141 can be maintained in the first locking position. Exemplarily, a locking opening 1411E may be provided on the first locking head 1411, and the locking opening 1411E may extend from the first intermediate portion 1413 to the first locking head 1411. The elastic claw 1414 may extend from the edge of the locking opening 1411E toward the first locking head 1411. Continue to refer to Figures 5A-5C , the hook portion 1411A may also be disposed at the edge of the locking opening 1411E. Exemplarily, the hook portion 1411A and the elastic claw 1414 may be located at two opposite edges of the locking opening 1411E, respectively. Optionally, the locking opening 1411E may also be located only on the first locking head 1411. In this way, the length of the elastic claw 1414 may be shortened. In an embodiment not shown, the number of elastic claws may be more than one. Figure 5B As shown, the elastic claw 1414 is disposed on one side of the first predetermined axis PP close to the first locking head 1411. In this way, the elasticity generated by the elastic claw 1414 can cause the first locking head 1411 to be subjected to a torque rotating around the first predetermined axis PP toward the outside of the housing assembly 110, as shown in FIG. Figure 1F to Figure 1HAs shown, the first locking head 1411 is biased toward the outside of the housing assembly 110 in the natural state and maintained in the first locking position. The end of the elastic claw 1414 can be bent away from the housing assembly 110, so that the smooth surface of the bent portion contacts the housing assembly 110. In this way, the contact area of ​​the contact position can be increased, and the surfaces in contact with each other are relatively smooth, and there will be no burrs and other problems that may be caused during production. During the movement of the elastic claw 1414 relative to the housing assembly 110 along the mating direction XX, it is not easy to scratch the surface of the housing assembly 110, thereby effectively extending the service life.

[0120] Optionally, the first operating member 144 can also be configured to return to the initial position locked with the third locking feature 143 under the bias of the elastic claw 1414. In this way, when the first electrical connector 100 is completely separated from the second electrical connector 200, the first operating member 144 can automatically return to the initial position. At this time, the first operating member 144 can be designed to be well matched with the housing assembly 110 in structure when in the initial position, reducing the gap between the two, and preventing foreign matter such as dust from entering the gap and affecting the service life of the first electrical connector 100. Optionally, the first operating member 144 can also return to the initial position under the action of an external force applied by a user.

[0121] Optionally, the end of the first locking head 1411 may have a guide portion 1411B, and the bending direction of the guide portion 1411B is opposite to the protruding direction of the hook portion 1411A. During the mating process between the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200, the guide portion 1411B can facilitate the first locking head 1411 to enter the second electrical connector 200, and under the guidance of the guide portion 1411B, the first locking feature portion 141 can pivot toward the inside of the housing assembly 110 to ensure a smooth insertion process.

[0122] Exemplarily, the first tail portion 1412 may have a V-shaped groove, such as Figure 1F to Figure 1HAs shown, the opening of the V-shaped groove faces the interior of the housing assembly 110. The first operating member 144 slides along the side wall of the V-shaped groove to pivot the first locking feature 141 between the first locking position and the first unlocking position. The V-shaped groove has a first side wall 1412A and a second side wall 1412B. The first side wall 1412A is connected between the first middle portion 1413 and the second side wall 1412B. The first operating member 144 can slide along the second side wall 1412B. When the first locking feature 141 is in the first locking position, the portion of the first operating member 144 that slides along the second side wall 1412B can just be located at the deepest part of the V-shaped groove. When the first locking feature 141 is in the first locking position, under the influence of the elastic force of the elastic claw 1414, the first tail 1412 of the first locking feature 141 will have a tendency to pivot around the first predetermined axis PP toward the housing assembly 110. The end of the first tail portion 1412 can be against the housing assembly 110, or against the first operating member 144, so that the elastic claw 1414 can apply a certain pressure to the housing assembly 110, thereby making the first locking feature 141 reliably remain in the first locking position. When the first operating member 144 is operated, for example, moving in the upward direction in the figure, it will generate pressure on the second side wall 1412B of the V-shaped groove, so that the first locking feature 141 overcomes the elastic force of the elastic claw 1414, pivots around the first predetermined axis PP, and moves from the first locking position to the first unlocking position. When the first operating member 144 is released, the first locking feature 141 is pivoted to the first locking position by the elastic force of the elastic claw 1414, and the second side wall 1412B of the V-shaped groove can drive the first operating member 144 back to the initial position.

[0123] Exemplarily, the end of the first tail portion 1412 abuts against the housing assembly 110 when the first locking feature 141 is in the first locking position. The end of the first tail portion 1412 may abut against the housing assembly 110 instead of the first operating member 141. It is understandable that if the end of the first tail portion 1412 abuts against the first operating member 144, when the first operating member 144 is actuated, movement along the mating direction XX relative to the first tail portion 1412 occurs, and the end of the first tail portion 1412 will scratch the surface of the first operating member 144. If the end of the first tail portion 1412 is not smooth enough, it will cause more severe wear on the first operating member 144. In contrast, the first tail portion 1412 and the housing assembly 110 will not generate movement along the mating direction XX, and will not generate more severe wear. And compared to the solution of processing the first tail portion 1412 to be smooth, an avoidance opening 1442 is provided in the first operating member 144, such as Figure 8As shown, the first tail portion 1412 can pass through the avoidance opening 1442 to contact the housing assembly 110, avoiding scratching with the first operating member 144, and the cost and difficulty are greatly reduced. Moreover, the portion between the avoidance opening 1442 and the end of the first operating member 144 can just form a column 1443, which can serve as a portion of the first operating member 144 that slides along the second side wall 1412B. The column 1443 will be described in more detail later.

[0124] Exemplarily, the connector locking assembly may further include a second operating member 145, such as Figure 2E and Figure 2F , FIG. 6A to FIG. 6C As shown, the middle portion of the second operating member 145 is pivotally connected to the housing assembly 110 around the second predetermined axis QQ, and the second locking feature 142 and the third locking feature 143 are respectively located at both ends of the second operating member 145. Exemplarily, the second operating member 145 may include a pressing portion 1451. The pressing portion 1451 passes through the housing assembly 110 and is operable externally. The pressing portion 1451 may be located between the second predetermined axis QQ and the second locking feature 142. Exemplarily and not restrictively, the second operating member 145 and the second locking feature 142 and the third locking feature 143 may be an integrally molded part, or may be manufactured separately and then connected together. The pressing portion 1451 may protrude from the surface of the housing assembly 110 of the first electrical connector 100 to facilitate operations such as pressing. Return to reference Figure 2B and Figure 2C When the second locking feature 142 is in the second locking position, it can protrude from the outer surface of the housing assembly 110, so that the second locking feature 142 is engaged with the second electrical connector 200. The pressing portion 1451 can be pressed down, such as Figure 2C As shown, the second locking feature 142 moves into the housing assembly 110 to reach the second unlocked position. Figures 6A to 6C As shown, the second operating member 145 may be provided with a second pivot shaft 1452 , and the second predetermined axis QQ is concentric with the second pivot shaft 1452 , so that the second operating member 145 is pivotally connected to the housing assembly 110 via the second pivot shaft 1452 .

[0125] The pressing portion 1451 and the first locking feature 141 have the same pivoting direction, which is opposite to the pivoting direction of the third locking feature 143. When the second locking feature 142 is in the second locking position, the third locking feature 143 is in the third locking position. Figure 2EAs shown. When the pressing portion 1451 is pressed, the second locking feature 142 pivots downward to the second unlocking position, and the second locking feature 142 is disengaged from the second electrical connector, thereby releasing the locked state. At the same time, the third locking feature 143 pivots upward to reach the third unlocking position. In other words, when the second locking feature 142 is in the second locking position, the third locking feature 143 is in the third locking position; and when the second locking feature 142 is in the second unlocking position, the third locking feature 143 is in the third unlocking position, that is, the locking and unlocking of the second locking feature 142 and the third locking feature 143 are synchronized. In this way, there is no need to set an additional unlocking operating member, and the second locking feature 142 and the third locking feature 143 can be unlocked only by the pressing portion 1451 on the second operating member 145. Of course, the present application does not exclude an embodiment in which the second operating member 145 is not provided with a pressing portion 1451 protruding from the housing assembly 110, and the user needs to unlock it through a dedicated device.

[0126] Exemplarily, an elastic member 160 may be provided between the second operating member 145 and the housing assembly 110, and the elastic member 160 biases the second locking feature 142 toward the second locking position. It can be understood that when the pressing portion 1451 does not protrude much from the surface of the housing assembly 110, it is difficult to manually restore the pressing portion 1451 to its original position after it is pressed. In order to ensure reliable locking of the first electrical connector 100 and the matching electrical connector, the second locking feature 142 should also be biased toward the second locking position in a natural state. Preferably, the elastic member 160 can be used to keep it in the second locking position, while the pressing portion 1451 is protruded for easy operation. The elastic member 160 may include any suitable parts such as a reed leaf, a spring, etc. In some embodiments, the above-mentioned biased state may also be maintained by magnetic force. Exemplarily, the elastic member 160 may be provided corresponding to the second locking feature 142. Thus, the elastic force generated by the elastic member 160 can directly act on the second locking feature 142 to ensure that the second locking feature 142 is reliably in the second locking position. Exemplarily, a first positioning pin 1454 may be provided on the second operating member 145 , a second positioning pin 115 may be provided on the housing assembly 110 , and both ends of the elastic member 160 may be sleeved on the first positioning pin 1454 and the second positioning pin 115 .

[0127] Exemplarily, the predetermined direction may be perpendicular to the second predetermined axis QQ. In the embodiment shown in the figure, the second predetermined axis QQ may be parallel to the first lateral direction YY, and the predetermined direction may be parallel to the mating direction XX. The housing assembly 110 has a sufficient size along the first lateral direction YY to accommodate the second operating member 145 pivoting around the second predetermined axis QQ, and the third locking feature 143 of the second operating member 145 has an advantage in locking the movement perpendicular to the second predetermined axis QQ direction. It can be understood that when the predetermined direction is the mating direction XX, when the first operating member 141 is subjected to the force of the mating direction XX, the force may be transmitted to the second operating member 145 along the third locking feature 143, and the force of the second operating member 145 is perpendicular to the second pivot axis 1452, so the second pivot axis 1452 of the second operating member 145 can well disperse and transmit the force to the housing assembly 110, and will not cause the second operating member 145 to be twisted. If the predetermined direction is parallel to the second predetermined axis, when the second operating member 145 is subjected to a force in this direction, the force applied to the second operating member 145 is not perpendicular to the second pivot shaft 1452, which may cause the second pivot shaft 1452 to be twisted and deformed, or the space of the housing assembly 110 that accommodates the second pivot shaft 1452 may be deformed, which may cause the second operating member 145 to loosen. In addition, the second locking feature 142 on the second operating member 145 can be locked to the matching electrical connector. When the preset direction is the mating direction XX, if the second operating member 145 is subjected to a pulling force from the first operating member 144, part of the pulling force transmitted to the second operating member 145 is borne by the second pivot shaft 1452, and the other part of the force is borne by the second locking feature 142, so that locking can be achieved more reliably.

[0128] Exemplarily, the second locking feature 142 is maintained in the second unlocked position by the matching electrical connector during the initial separation of the first electrical connector 100. In some relatively narrow use environments, the user may only be able to use one hand to complete the separation action of the first electrical connector 100. In this situation, the user can usually only complete one action at a time. If the second operating member 145 automatically returns to its original position after being operated, causing the second locking feature 142 and the third locking feature 143 to be re-locked after being unlocked, the user will not be able to continue to operate the first operating member 144 to separate the first electrical connector 100 from the matching second electrical connector 200. Figure 1BAs shown, the user can usually pull the first electrical connector 100 along the mating direction XX while pressing the second operating member 145 to move the first electrical connector 100 to the initial separation position. At this time, the second locking feature 142 is blocked by the matching electrical connector and cannot be restored to the second locking position. Therefore, the user no longer needs to operate the second operating member 145, but instead operates the first operating member 144 to completely separate the first electrical connector 100 from the second electrical connector 200. Therefore, the above technical solution can greatly reduce the user's operating difficulty, so that the first electrical connector 100 can be applied to various relatively complex and narrow environments.

[0129] Exemplarily, the size of the plurality of contacts 122 of the circuit board 120 can be designed to maintain electrical connection with the adapter electrical connector during the initial separation of the first electrical connector 100. As described above, the connection between the first electrical connector 100 and the adapter electrical connector at least needs to avoid unexpected disconnection due to external force, so even if the second locking feature 142 fails due to external force factors, such as bumps and collisions, the first electrical connector 100 reaches the initial separation position, and at least the most basic function can be guaranteed. Exemplarily, the length of the circuit board 120 and the contacts 122 thereon can make up for the length between the connection position and the initial separation position, so that at least part of the circuit of the adapter electrical connector remains electrically connected. Not shown, the length of some contacts on the circuit board is slightly shorter than that of other contacts. During the initial separation, the circuit corresponding to these contacts can be disconnected from the electrical connection of the adapter electrical connector, while the circuit corresponding to other contacts remains electrically connected. These contacts can be connected to a detection loop dedicated to detecting whether the electrical connector is disconnected, or can be multiplexed by a part of the grounding circuit for shielding, or part of the data circuit. In short, in the initial separation stage of the electrical connector, the power supply and / or signal between the devices using the electrical connector will not be completely interrupted. Preferably, the device can detect the initial separation state of the electrical connector, thereby issuing an alarm or performing other operations.

[0130] Exemplarily, the housing assembly 110 may include a first housing 111 and a second housing 112. Figure 2A , Figure 2G and Figure 2H As shown, the second housing 112 is buckled on the first housing 111. The first locking feature 141 and the first operating member 144 can be installed between the first housing 111 and the second housing 112. The first housing 111 and the second housing 112 can be respectively processed by injection molding. The first housing 111 and the second housing 112 can be respectively molded by different molds, which can make the mold structure simpler, reduce production and design costs, and improve the yield rate. Moreover, the difficulty of assembling the first locking feature 141 and the first operating member 144 can also be reduced.

[0131] Exemplarily, the first locking feature 141 is pivotally connected between the first housing 111 and the second housing 112 through the first pivot shaft 150, the first pivot shaft 150 passes through the first locking feature 141, and the two ends of the first pivot shaft 150 are respectively fixed to the first housing 111 and the second housing 112 to connect the first housing 111 and the second housing 112 to each other. As described above, the first locking feature 141 may include a pivot hole 1413A. The first pivot shaft 150 may pass through the pivot hole 1413A, and the diameter of the pivot hole 1413A may be slightly larger than the first pivot shaft 150, so that the first locking feature 141 can pivot around the first pivot shaft 150 with less resistance. In some embodiments, the first pivot shaft 150 may also be closely matched with the pivot hole 1413A, and the first pivot shaft 150 and the first locking feature 141 can pivot together. Exemplarily, the first pivot shaft 150 may be made of a plastic material, such as an aluminum tube. In the case where the first pivot shaft 150 does not need to pivot together with the first locking feature 141, both ends of the first pivot shaft 150 can be fixed to the first housing 111 and the second housing 112 by means of interference fit or fasteners. Preferably, the ends of the first pivot shaft 150 can be squeezed and expanded to increase their diameters, thereby preventing them from being disengaged from the holes of the first housing 111 and the second housing 112, and at the same time fixing the positions of the first housing 111 and the second housing 112 to each other.

[0132] Exemplarily, the first locking features 141 can be arranged in pairs, and each pair of first locking features 141 is relatively arranged on both sides of the first shell 111 and the second shell 112 along the first lateral direction YY, the first lateral direction YY is perpendicular to the predetermined direction, and each first locking feature 141 is installed between the first shell 111 and the second shell 112 through its own first pivot axis 150. The first electrical connector 100 can be matched with the matching second electrical connector 200 through a pair of first locking features 141. When subjected to external force along the first lateral direction YY, there is always one first locking feature 141 that can withstand the pulling force to prevent the first electrical connector 100 from tilting and causing the contacts 122 to be misaligned. At the same time, the first locking feature 141 can also share the external force on the first shell 111 inserted into the second electrical connector 200 to prevent the end of the first shell 111 from breaking. One of the pair of first locking features 141, such as FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C As shown, the other first locking feature 141 is a mirror image of the structure shown in the figure. This can reduce the design difficulty and make the force more uniform. In the embodiment not shown, the present application does not exclude the embodiment in which the structures of a pair of first locking features are different and not mirror images of each other.

[0133] Exemplarily, the aforementioned first mating portion 110A for mating with the adapting electrical connector may be formed by a first shell 111, and the first shell 111 further includes a first cable termination portion 1112. Exemplarily, the shape of the first mating portion 110A may be tubular, and its cross-section may be circular, elliptical, rectangular with rounded corners, etc. Preferably, the outer surface of the first mating portion 110A is smooth as a whole, without sharp edges and corners, so as to prevent accidental injury or breakage to the user. The shape of the first mating portion 110A may match the shape of the mating portion of the adapting electrical connector (the second mating portion described below), so that after the first electrical connector 100 and the adapting electrical connector are connected, when subjected to external force or vibration, the relative positions of the components remain unchanged. A first mounting channel 1111 may be provided in the first mating portion 110A, such as Figure 2A , Figure 2G and Figure 8 As shown, the circuit board 120 is fixed in the first installation channel 1111, and the second housing 112 is buckled in the first cable terminal portion 1112 to enclose the first cable terminal portion 1112 to form a second installation channel, and a plurality of high-speed data cables 131 pass through the second installation channel. The first operating member 144 is limited by the first housing 111 and the second housing 112, and is slidably connected to the second installation channel along a predetermined direction. Figure 3 As shown, the upper surface of the first operating member 144 can abut against the inner wall of the second shell 112, and at the same time, the lower surface of the first operating member 144 can abut against the inner wall of the first shell 111, so as to limit the first operating member 144 along the second lateral direction ZZ. The circuit board 120 can be fixed in the first installation channel 1111 by the fixing member 170, as shown in FIG. Figure 2G and Figure 4A As shown, the fixing member 170 can be formed on the circuit board 120 and can have a certain elasticity. When the first electrical connector 100 is connected to the adapter electrical connector, the fixing member 170 can be appropriately deformed to prevent the circuit board 120 from being forcibly inserted into the adapter electrical connector and causing damage to both.

[0134] Exemplarily, the first mating portion 110A and the first cable termination portion 1112 can be arranged relative to each other along a predetermined direction. In other words, the predetermined direction can be consistent with the mating direction XX. As described above, the first operating member 144 moves along the predetermined direction. When the user desires to unlock the first electrical connector 100, the first electrical connector 100 can be disconnected from the adapter electrical connector while operating the first operating member 144. The operation is simple and can be completed with one hand. For application scenarios where the cable does not need to be bent 90 degrees, the first mating portion 110A and the first cable termination portion 1112 are arranged along a straight line, which has a simpler structure and lower production and assembly costs.

[0135] For example, Figure 2G and Figure 8 As shown, the first housing 111 is provided with a first slide groove 1113 and a second slide groove 1114 extending in a predetermined direction, and the first slide groove 1113 and the second slide groove 1114 are arranged at intervals along a first lateral direction YY perpendicular to the predetermined direction. The first operating member 144 may include a first sliding arm 1445 and a second sliding arm 1446, and the first sliding arm 1445 and the second sliding arm 1446 are respectively slidably inserted into the first slide groove 1113 and the second slide groove 1114. Figure 8 and Fig. 9 As shown, the first sliding arm 1445 and the second sliding arm 1446 of the first operating member 144 can extend along the matching direction XX, and the first sliding arm 1445 and the second sliding arm 1446 are parallel to each other. The first slide groove 1113 and the second slide groove 1114 can be integrally formed in the first housing 111, and the spacing between the first slide groove 1113 and the second slide groove 1114 is the same as the spacing between the first slide arm 1445 and the second slide arm 1446. The width of the first slide groove 1113 (i.e., along the first lateral direction YY) can be slightly larger than the width of the first slide arm 1445, so that a certain matching gap can be reserved between the two. Preferably, the size of the matching gap can be 0.1-0.5mm. Similarly, the width of the second slide groove 1114 can also be slightly larger than the width of the second slide arm 1446, so that the second slide arm 1446 can slide easily in the second slide groove 1114 and will not shake in the second slide groove 1114. Exemplarily, in order to facilitate the installation of the first sliding arm 1445 and the second sliding arm 1446, the first sliding groove 1113 and the second sliding groove 1114 can extend to the surface of the first shell 111 opposite to the second shell 112. After the second shell 112 is connected to the first shell 111, the first sliding arm 1445 and the second sliding arm 1446 can be restricted to slide only along the first sliding groove 1113 and the second sliding groove 1114, respectively. Exemplarily, the positions of the first sliding arm 1445 and the second sliding arm 1446 are relatively fixed, and the two can be rigid structures. In this case, the widths of the first sliding groove 1113 and the second sliding groove 1114 do not need to match the widths of the first sliding arm 1445 and the second sliding arm 1446, respectively. Fig. 10A As shown, in one example, the outer surfaces of the first sliding arm 1445 and the second sliding arm 1446 facing each other along the first lateral direction YY can respectively abut against the two side walls of the first slide groove 1113 and the second slide groove 1114 close to the outer surface of the first housing 111, while the inner surfaces of the first sliding arm 1445 and the second sliding arm 1446 facing each other can leave a gap between the side walls of the first slide groove 1113 and the second slide groove 1114. The first operating member 144 will not shake in the first housing 111. Fig. 10BAnother example is shown, in which the inner side surfaces of the first sliding arm 1445 and the second sliding arm 1446 opposite to each other along the first lateral direction YY can respectively abut against the two side walls of the first sliding groove 1113 and the second sliding groove 1114 close to the inside of the first housing 111, while the outer side surfaces of the first sliding arm 1445 and the second sliding arm 1446 can be spaced apart from the side walls of the first sliding groove 1113 and the second sliding groove 1114. This can also ensure that the first operating member 144 will not shake. The above two examples have lower requirements for the processing accuracy of the first sliding groove 1113 and the first sliding arm 1445, and the second sliding groove 1114 and the second sliding arm 1446, which can reduce costs.

[0136] The interval between the first sliding arm 1445 and the second sliding arm 1446 can be relatively large. The first sliding arm 1445 and the second sliding arm 1446 can be located at a position with a relatively small distance from the outer surface of the first housing 111. When the first operating member 144 is subjected to a force in the first lateral direction YY, the relatively large distance between the two can disperse the force more evenly to the first housing 111, thereby preventing the first operating member 144 and the first housing 111 from deforming. Exemplarily, when the overall size of the first electrical connector 100 is fixed, sufficient thickness can be reserved for the side walls of the first slide groove 1113 and the second slide groove 1114, thereby ensuring the structural strength of the first slide groove 1113 and the second slide groove 1114. On this basis, the distance between the two is increased as much as possible, thereby matching the first sliding arm 1445 and the second sliding arm 1446 with a relatively large distance. Moreover, the space between the first sliding arm 1445 and the second sliding arm 1446 can also allow the high-speed data cable 131 and the power cable 132 mentioned below to pass through, and / or be used to accommodate the third locking feature 143 and the second operating member 145, etc.

[0137] Optionally, the first sliding groove 1113 and the second sliding groove 1114 may also be formed on the second shell 112 , or formed by the first shell 111 and the second shell 112 .

[0138] One end of the first sliding arm 1445 and the second sliding arm 1446 facing the first mating portion 110A (which may be referred to as the mating end) is mated with the first locking feature 141, so that the first locking feature 141 is movable between the first locking position and the first unlocking position. The mating ends of the first sliding arm 1445 and the second sliding arm 1446 may extend out of the first slide groove 1113 and the second slide groove 1114, respectively, and respectively mated with the first locking feature 141 on both sides.

[0139] The first operating member 144 may further include a first operating portion 1441, which is connected between the ends of the first sliding arm 1445 and the second sliding arm 1446 opposite to the first mating portion 110A. The first operating portion 1441 extends out of the housing assembly 110. Exemplarily, the first operating portion 1441 may be a handle that can be pinched or pulled by a user. Preferably, the first operating portion 1441 may be annular, thereby providing a hole that is convenient for a user's finger or tool to pass through. The user may pass through the hole with a finger or other tool to operate the first operating member 144 along a predetermined direction. Compared with the embodiment in which the first operating member 144 is operated only by the friction force when pinching, the annular first operating portion 1441, i.e., the pull ring, is not easy to slip, and even if it is stuck, the user can easily operate it. The first operating portion 1441 may be made of the same material as the other parts of the first operating member 144. In this case, the first operating member 144 may be processed by an integrated molding process. The first operating portion 1441 may also have a different material from the other parts of the first operating member 144. In this case, the first operating portion 1441 can be made of an elastic material such as rubber, and can be installed to other parts of the first operating member 144 by appropriate methods such as bonding, welding, fasteners, etc. Preferably, the first operating portion 1441 can be secondary molded to other parts of the first operating member 144. The first operating portion 1441 of elastic material can effectively improve the user experience during operation.

[0140] The user can operate the first operating part 1441 along a preset direction. For example, the preset direction can be a direction outward along the mating direction XX. The user can pull the first operating part 1441 along this direction, so that the first operating member 144 moves linearly along the preset direction under the guidance of the first slide groove 1113 and the second slide groove 1114. Figure 1F to Figure 1H and Figures 8 to 9 , the mating end of the first sliding arm 1445 may include a column 1443 mating with the V-groove of the first tail 1412. The column 1443 operates the first locking feature 141 by sliding along the second side wall 1412B of the V-groove. The surface of the column 1443 in contact with the second side wall 1412B may be a curved surface to reduce frictional resistance. When the first operating member 144 is released, the first locking feature 141 returns to the first locking position under the action of the elastic claw 1414, and the inclined surface of the V-groove can apply pressure to the column 1443, so that the first operating member 144 returns to the initial position.

[0141] Exemplarily, the first operating member 144 may further include a crossbeam 1444, such as Figure 2G as well as Figures 8 to 9, the crossbeam 1444 is connected between the middle of the first sliding arm 1445 and the second sliding arm 1446. When the third locking feature 143 is in the third locking position, it hooks the crossbeam 1444. Figure 2E and Figure 2F As described above, the user can operate the first operating member 144 to unlock the first locking feature 141. Exemplarily, the third locking feature 143 can be hook-shaped. Exemplarily, the third locking feature 143 can hook the middle part of the crossbeam 1444 to evenly apply force to maintain the position of the first operating member 144, thereby maintaining the first locking feature 141 in the first locking position. In addition, the mechanical strength of the first operating member 144 can be enhanced by connecting the first sliding arm 1445 and the second sliding arm 1446 through the crossbeam 1444.

[0142] For example, the housing assembly 110 may further be provided with a limited opening 1121. Figure 3 As shown, for example, it is formed on the inner surface of the second shell 112. After the first shell 111 and the second shell 112 are mounted together, the crossbeam 1444 passes through the limiting opening 1121 to limit the sliding range of the first operating member 144. As described above, when the first operating member 144 is not operated, the second side wall 1412B of the V-shaped groove of the first locking feature 141 can apply pressure to the column 1443 of the first operating member 144, and the source of the force can be the elastic claw 1414, so that the first operating member 144 returns to the initial position. Limiting the sliding range of the first operating member 144 can prevent the column 1443 from disengaging from the V-shaped groove, and can also prevent the first operating member 144 from moving too far, causing damage to the first locking feature 141.

[0143] Exemplarily, the housing assembly 110 may further include a third housing 113, the third housing 113 is buckled on the second housing 112, and the second operating member 145 is installed between the second housing 112 and the third housing 113. The second housing 112 may be provided with a hole 1123, such as Figure 2G and 2H As shown, the second locking feature 142 passes through the hole 1123 and protrudes from the outer surface of the second shell 112. The third locking feature 143 is located on the inner side of the third shell 113. Figure 2HAs shown, exemplarily, the third housing 113 may be provided with a snap-fit ​​structure 1131. The third housing 113 may be mounted to the second housing 112 along the second lateral direction ZZ, and the snap-fit ​​structure 1131 may have a certain elasticity, may be deformed and cooperate with the groove of the second housing 112. The second housing 112 may be provided with a snap-fit ​​groove 1124 engaged with the snap-fit ​​structure 1131. Specifically, the snap-fit ​​structure 1131 may include a plane 1131A parallel to the first lateral direction, and a guide slope 1131B. The guide slope 1131B allows the third housing 113 to be easily embedded in the snap-fit ​​groove 1124 of the second housing 112, while the plane 1131A cooperates with the snap-fit ​​groove 1124 to prevent it from detaching from the second housing 112. During the assembly process, after completing the assembly of the first shell 111 and the second shell 112, the third locking feature 143 can be installed from the mounting opening 1122 of the second shell 112 to the desired position, and finally the mounting opening 1122 of the second shell 112 can be closed by the third shell 113 to prevent foreign objects from falling into the mounting opening 1122 of the second shell 112 and jamming the third locking feature 143, causing the third locking feature 143 to fail. Optionally, the third locking feature 143 can also be limited so that it always remains in the desired position.

[0144] Exemplarily, as described above, the second pivot shaft 1452 may be provided on both sides of the middle portion of the second operating member 145. In some embodiments, the second pivot shaft 1452 may be inserted into a hole provided on the second operating member 145 and protrude from both side surfaces of the second operating member 145. Preferably, the second pivot shaft 1452 may be integrally formed with the second operating member 145. The second housing 112 and the third housing 113 are combined to form a pivot hole, and the second pivot shaft 1452 is inserted into the pivot hole. Exemplarily, see Figure 2G and Figure 3 , the second housing 112 may be provided with a first notch 1125, and the third housing 113 may be provided with a second notch 1132. The opening directions of the first notch 1125 and the second notch 1132 may be opposite to each other, thereby enclosing a pivot hole. As described above, the third locking feature 143 may be installed through the mounting opening 1122 on the surface of the second housing 112, and the third locking feature 143 is provided on the second operating member 145, so the second operating member 145 may be installed through the mounting opening 1122. Before the third housing 113 is installed to the second housing 112, there is no pivot hole to limit the second pivot shaft 1452, which can facilitate the installation of the second operating member 145. After the third housing 113 is installed to the second housing 112, the two enclose a pivot hole that limits the second pivot shaft 1452, which can limit the second operating member 145 to only pivot around the second pivot shaft 1452, and prevent the position of the second operating member 145 from shifting.

[0145] Exemplarily, the housing assembly 110 may further include a stress relief member 114, such as Figure 2G , Figure 2H and Fig.2I As shown, the stress relief piece 114 is connected to the second housing 112 at a position spaced apart from the first pivot shaft 150 along a predetermined direction, and a portion of the first housing 111 is clamped between the second housing 112 and the stress relief piece 114. As described above, portions of the first housing 111 and the second housing 112 may be fixed to each other by the first pivot shaft 150. In the case where the first pivot shaft 150 is close to one end of the first housing 111 and / or the second housing 112, when the other ends of the first housing 111 and the second housing 112 are subjected to force, the first pivot shaft 150 may be subjected to greater stress, which may cause damage to one or more of the first housing 111, the second housing 112, and the first pivot shaft 150. The stress relief piece 114 may fix the end of the first housing 111 away from the first pivot shaft 150 to the second housing 112 by a suitable means such as a fastener or a snap, thereby eliminating stress. As shown in the figure, the stress relief member 114 may include a flange 1141, and the flange 1141 may apply a force in a second lateral direction ZZ to the portion of the first housing 111 that cooperates with the flange 1141, so that the first housing 111 is pressed against the second housing 112. The stress relief member 114 may include a notch 1142, and after the stress relief member 114 is installed to the first housing 111 and the second housing 112, the notch 1142 may be combined with the inner wall of the second housing 112 to form a channel for the high-speed data cable 131 and / or the power cable 132 to pass through. Since the high-speed data cable 131 itself has a stronger tensile strength than the portion connected to the circuit board 120, the power cable 132 itself has a stronger tensile strength than the portion connected to the circuit board 120. The stress relief member 114 can also cooperate with the second shell 112 to squeeze the high-speed data cable 131 and / or the power cable 132, thereby preventing the high-speed data cable 131 and / or the power cable 132 from being separated from the circuit board 120 when the high-speed data cable 131 and / or the power cable 132 are subjected to excessive tension.

[0146] Exemplarily, a nut may be embedded in the second shell 112, and a fastener may pass through the stress relief piece 114 and be threadedly connected to the nut, so that the stress relief piece 114 is fixed to the second shell 112. In the case where the second shell is a thermoplastic, the nut may be a knurled nut, which is embedded in the second shell 112 after heating. The nut may also be fixed to a groove reserved in the second shell 112 by an adhesive or the like. Preferably, the second shell 112 may be secondary molded on the nut. This will not cause the nut to be exposed to the outside, which may be easily lost and fall off during the disassembly process and affect the appearance, and it may not require the use of an adhesive or heated embedding, which may simplify the process and ensure that it is firmly fixed to the second shell 112. The nut is preferably made of metal to avoid problems such as slipping during use that affect use.

[0147] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a second electrical connector 200. The second electrical connector 200 can be adapted to the first electrical connector 100 described above. The second electrical connector 200 is used to establish an electrical connection between a circuit board to be installed (not shown) and an adapted electrical connector. Fig.14 As shown, the second electrical connector 200 is configured as a socket connector. For example, the circuit board to be mounted may be a first circuit board (also referred to as a "first printed circuit board" or "first PCB"), and the first electrical connector 100 to be matched may be a plug connector. The second electrical connector 200 may be mounted to the circuit board to be mounted, and the corresponding conductive portion of the plug connector may be inserted into the second electrical connector 200, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the circuit board to be mounted and the plug connector through the second electrical connector 200.

[0148] In an embodiment not shown, the second electrical connector 200 may also cooperate with other electrical components, which may be a second circuit board (also referred to as a "second printed circuit board" or "second PCB"). In this case, the first circuit board may be a main board, and the second circuit board may be a daughter card such as a solid state drive (SSD) card, a wireless communication card, or a radio frequency module. An electrical connector may be mounted to the first circuit board, and a corresponding conductive portion of the second circuit board may be inserted into the electrical connector, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the first circuit board and the second circuit board through the electrical connector.

[0149] like Fig.13A and Fig. 13BAs shown, the second electrical connector 200 may include a main housing 210, and the main housing 210 includes a second mating portion 211 for mating with an adapting electrical connector. The main housing 210 may be made of an insulating material. Examples of insulating materials suitable for manufacturing the main housing 210 include, but are not limited to, plastic, nylon, liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), high temperature nylon or polyphenylene oxide (PPO) or polypropylene (PP). The second electrical connector 200 may be a socket connector. For the sake of clarity and simplicity of description, the mating direction XX, the first lateral direction YY and the second lateral direction ZZ mentioned above are used here.

[0150] The second electrical connector 200 may also include a plurality of conductive terminals 220, which may be mounted in the main housing 210 and extend from the second mating portion 211 to the second mounting portion 212. Each of the plurality of conductive terminals 220 may include a mating end 221, a mounting end 222 opposite to the mating end 221, and an intermediate portion 223 extending between the mating end 221 and the mounting end 222. Each of the plurality of conductive terminals 220 may be formed of a conductive material. The conductive material suitable for manufacturing the conductive terminal 220 may be a metal or a metal alloy, such as copper or a copper alloy. The mating end 221 may be configured to mate with a corresponding conductive portion of an electrical component such as the aforementioned second circuit board or a plug connector, and the mounting end 222 may be configured to be mounted to a circuit board such as the aforementioned first circuit board. The mounting end 222 may be straight along the second lateral direction ZZ. Specifically, the first circuit board may include a conductive portion such as a conductive pad or a conductive through hole, and the mounting end 222 of the conductive terminal 220 may be configured to be connected to the conductive portion of the first circuit board by any suitable process known in the art (e.g., press fit or welding). For example, the second circuit board may include a conductive portion disposed at or near the edge of the second circuit board, and may be inserted into the electrical connector so that the conductive portion of the second circuit board is in contact with the mating end 221 of the conductive terminal 220. In this way, the conductive terminal 220 can establish an electrical connection between the conductive portion of the first circuit board and the conductive portion of the second circuit board, thereby achieving signal and / or power transmission. For another example, the plug connector may include a circuit board, such as the circuit board 120, disposed in the first mating portion, and the contacts of the circuit board are in contact with the mating end 221 of the conductive terminal 220. In this way, the conductive terminal 220 can establish an electrical connection between the conductive portion of the circuit board and the contacts of the plug connector, thereby achieving signal and / or power transmission.

[0151] like Fig.13AAs best shown, the middle portion 223 of each of the plurality of conductive terminals 220 may include a bent section that is bent such that the mounting end 222 and the mating end 221 of the conductive terminal 220 are oriented substantially perpendicular to each other. When the plurality of conductive terminals 220 are disposed in the main housing 210, the mounting end 222 is oriented along the second lateral direction ZZ, and the mating end 221 is oriented along the mating direction XX substantially perpendicular to the second lateral direction ZZ. With this configuration, the second electrical connector 200 can be mounted on the first circuit board along the second lateral direction ZZ, and mated with the plug connector or the second circuit board along the mating direction XX, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the plug connector or the second circuit board and the first circuit board.

[0152] Since the middle portion 223 of the conductive terminal 220 is bent, when the second electrical connector 200 is mounted on the first circuit board, and / or when the plug connector is mated or unmated with the second electrical connector 200 after the second electrical connector 200 has been mounted on the first circuit board, the middle portion 223 of the conductive terminal 220 adjacent to the mounting end 222 is easily bent or even broken. To avoid this, the main housing 210 may further include a second mounting portion 212. The second mounting portion 212 and the second mating portion 211 are mated with each other, such as Fig.13A As shown, the second mounting portion 212 may include a limiting flange 2121 and a buckle 2122. The limiting flange 2121 may limit the direction of relative movement between the second mounting portion 212 and the second mating portion 211, and the buckle 2122 may maintain the relative positional relationship between the two. After the second mounting portion 212 is mounted to the second mating portion 211, the second mounting portion 212 may surround and maintain at least a portion of each conductive terminal 220 located between the curved section 223A of the middle portion 223 and the mounting end 222. As used herein, the term "surrounding" means completely (i.e., 360 degrees) surrounded in a cross-sectional plane.

[0153] By this configuration, when the second electrical connector 200 is mounted on the first circuit board, and / or when the plug connector is mated or unmated with the second electrical connector 200 when the second electrical connector 200 has been mounted on the first circuit board, the second mounting portion 212 can prevent the portion of the middle portion 223 adjacent to the mounting end 222 (e.g., the portion of the middle portion of the conductive terminal between the bent section 223A and the mounting end 222) from deflecting relative to the second lateral direction ZZ by surrounding and holding at least a portion of the middle portion 223 between the bent section 223A and the mounting end 222, thereby effectively avoiding the portion of the middle portion 223 adjacent to the mounting end 222 from bending or even breaking. Compared with conventional electrical connectors, the second electrical connector 200 has higher mechanical reliability. Moreover, the second mounting portion 212 can also help keep the conductive terminal 220 in place relative to the main housing 210.

[0154] The mating end 221 in each conductive terminal can be configured to be inserted into the second mating portion 211 from the rear side along the mating direction XX. At least one section of the middle portion 223 between the mating end 221 and the curved section 223A can be held by the second mating portion 211 to help keep the conductive terminal in place relative to the insulating housing. For example, at least a portion of the middle portion 223 between the mating end 221 and the curved section 223A can include a barb portion to engage with the wall of the channel formed in the second mating portion 211. The second mating portion 211 can also include a slot 211A recessed in the second mating portion 211 along the mating direction XX from the surface of the first electrical connector 100 facing the adapter. The slot 211A is configured to receive the corresponding conductive portion of the electrical component. The mating ends 221 of a plurality of conductive terminals 220 are exposed in the slot 211A to establish an electrical connection with the corresponding conductive portion when the corresponding conductive portion of the electrical component is inserted into the slot 211A. The conductive terminal 220 can be held in place relative to the main housing 210 by the second mounting portion 212 surrounding and holding at least a portion of the middle portion 223 of the conductive terminal 220 between the bent section 223A and the mounting end 222 and the second mating portion 211 holding at least a portion of the middle portion 223 between the mating end 221 and the bent section 223A. It should be understood that the present application is not limited thereto.

[0155] Exemplarily, the second mating portion 211 and the second mounting portion 212 are perpendicular to each other. As described above, the mounting end 222 and the mating end 221 of the conductive terminal 220 are substantially perpendicular to each other, the second mating portion 211 provides support and position limiting for the mating end 221 of the conductive terminal 220, and the second mounting portion 212 provides support and position limiting for the mounting end 222. Therefore, the second mating portion 211 and the second mounting portion 212 are perpendicular to each other, which can facilitate the assembly of the conductive terminal 220 and provide support for different parts of the conductive terminal 220.

[0156] The second electrical connector 200 may further include a metal housing 230, such as Fig.11A and 11B As shown, the metal box 230 surrounds the outside of the main housing 210, and the metal box 230 has a front portion 234 extending beyond the second mating portion 211. The longer metal box 230 can provide better support for the first electrical connector 100 when mating with the first electrical connector 100. Compared with the main housing 210 or the housing assembly 110 of the first electrical connector, the metal box 230 can withstand greater external forces to prevent the mating position of the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 from being broken by external forces. The longer metal box 230 can also provide space for mating with the locking housing 240. Optionally, the metal box 230 can be fixed to the first circuit board by adhesive, welding, snaps, etc., so as to support and limit the main housing 210. The metal box 230 can be connected to the signal ground, so as to effectively shield external interference. The second electrical connector 200 may further include a locking housing 240, which is attached to the front portion 234 of the metal compartment 230 and includes a locking adapter feature, such as a first locking adapter feature 251 and / or a second locking adapter feature 252. The locking adapter feature is configured to receive a locking feature of a mating electrical connector, such as the first locking feature 141 and / or the second locking feature 142. Fig.14 As shown, the locking housing 240 has a relatively complex shape, and the thickness of different regions is also different to a certain extent. Therefore, preferably, the locking housing 240 can be made by injection molding or other processes. Examples of materials suitable for making the locking housing 240 include, but are not limited to, plastic, nylon, liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), high temperature nylon or polyphenylene oxide (PPO) or polypropylene (PP).

[0157] For example, the metal box 230 may be formed by bending a metal sheet, and the opposite edges of the metal sheet are formed with a mortise and tenon structure so that the edges of the metal sheet are connected to each other. Fig. 12BAs shown, the metal box 230 completely wraps the main shell 210 of the second electrical connector 200. Preferably, the metal sheet can be stamped into a suitable shape by a stamping process, and then after the main shell 210 and the conductive terminal 220 of the second electrical connector 200 are assembled, the stamped metal box 230 semi-finished product is placed in the metal box 230, and the part of the metal box 230 that needs to be bent is bent, so that the metal box 230 can completely wrap the main shell 210. Exemplarily, a mortise and tenon structure 231 can be formed at the lower part of the metal box 230. After the bending is completed, the edges of the originally separated metal sheets of the metal box 230 are connected to each other, so that it can withstand a large force parallel to the direction of the metal sheet. Compared with welding the metal sheets of the metal box 230 together to form a complete whole, the mortise and tenon structure 231 can be quickly produced in large quantities by a stamping process, with lower costs, higher reliability and higher yield.

[0158] Exemplarily, the front portion 234 of the metal compartment 230 may include a barb 232 protruding outward, and the locking housing 240 is provided with an engagement opening 242 engaged with the barb 232. For ease of assembly, the barb 232 may be stamped out of the surface of the metal compartment 230. After the metal compartment 230 is matched with the main housing 210, the locking housing 240 may be sleeved on the metal compartment 230. One or both of the locking housing 240 or the barb 232 may be deformed so that the barb 232 may be inserted into the engagement opening 242. After the second electrical connector 200 and the adapter electrical connector are connected, the locking housing 240 and the adapter electrical connector are locked with each other. During use, the locking housing 240 is likely to be subjected to a pulling force along the mating direction XX toward the adapter electrical connector. At this time, the barb 232 of the metal compartment 230 may hook the engagement opening 242 of the locking housing 240, thereby preventing the locking housing 240 from falling off from the metal compartment 230. The limiting along other directions perpendicular to the matching direction XX can be achieved by matching the inner cavity of the locking housing 240 with the outer contour of the front portion 234 of the metal compartment 230 .

[0159] Exemplarily, the metal compartment 230 may include a board lock 233, and the board lock 233 is located outside the locking housing 240. As described above, the metal compartment 230 may be fixed to the first circuit board. Since the second electrical connector 200 may be subjected to a certain tensile force after being connected to the adapter electrical connector, there are certain requirements for the connection strength between the metal compartment 230, which is the main force-bearing component, and the first circuit board. Preferably, the metal compartment 230 can be connected to the first circuit board by welding. In some embodiments, one side of the metal compartment 230 can be integrally soldered to the first circuit board by soldering, thereby forming a reliable connection. In a preferred embodiment, the surface of the metal compartment 230 includes a board lock 233 composed of protruding metal parts, which can be embedded in the pad vias and / or through holes of the first circuit board, and can also be soldered by soldering, further ensuring that the metal compartment 230 is firmly locked to the first circuit board. As Fig. 12B As shown, the board lock 233 may include a first protrusion 233A and a second protrusion 233B. The first protrusion 233A may be embedded in a through hole reserved on the first circuit board, so as to pre-position the metal compartment 230. The through hole reserved on the first circuit board may just match the first protrusion 233A, and after the two match, the metal compartment 230 will not move under a slight external force. This ensures that the metal compartment 230 will not be skewed due to shaking or slight collision during welding. The second protrusion 233B may match the pad via of the first circuit board, and the pad via is usually slightly larger than the second protrusion 233B. After the second protrusion 233B is inserted into the pad via of the first circuit board, it can be soldered and filled with solder to fill the gap between the via and the second protrusion 233B, so as to be reliably fixed. Compared with the embodiment of directly welding the metal box 230 to the first circuit board, the board lock 233 is adopted, which not only eliminates the need to heat the metal box 230 as a whole to ensure that the temperature of the welding point reaches the welding requirement, but also reduces the welding difficulty; the board lock 233 passes through the first circuit board, and when the metal box 230 is subjected to force, not only the welding point is subjected to force, but also the substrate of the first circuit board can disperse the force of the metal box 230, thereby avoiding the separation of the pad at the welding point from the substrate of the first circuit board when subjected to a large tensile force, thereby ensuring the firmness of the second electrical connector 200. Preferably, the end of the second protrusion 233B can have a reduced size, so that a step is formed at a position where the second protrusion 233B is nearly flush with the lower surface of the metal box 230. The smaller size of the end of the second protrusion 233B allows it to be inserted into the pad through hole of the first circuit board, and the step can be stuck on the surface of the first circuit board and will not enter the pad through hole, thereby forming a limit for the metal box, ensuring that the metal box 230 will not be skewed.

[0160] Exemplarily, the inner surface of the metal cage 230 is spaced apart from the outer surface of the second mating portion 211 to form a gap 260 for receiving the first mating portion 110A of the mating electrical connector. Fig.13A As shown, the second mating portion 211 includes a second mating end 211B adapted to the first mating portion 110A and a second mounting end 211C adapted to the second mounting portion 212. The size of the second mounting end 211C is adapted to the size of the metal compartment 230, and the size of the second mating end 211B is smaller than the size of the second mounting end 211C. The metal compartment 230 can be installed to the second mounting end 211C and fixed with the second mounting end 211C by means of a snap or other structure, and the portion of the metal compartment 230 that accommodates the second mating end 211B forms a gap 260 with the second mating end 211B, and the size of the gap 260 can match the thickness of the first mating portion of the adapter electrical connector. When the second mating portion 211 is connected to the first mating portion 110A of the adapter electrical connector, the first mating portion 110A can be inserted into the metal compartment 230, and the second mating end 211B of the second mating portion 211 is inserted into the opening of the first mating portion 110A. The metal compartment 230 can also be provided with a spring 235, such as Fig.11A and Fig. 11B , Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B After the second electrical connector 200 is connected to the matching first electrical connector 100 , the spring 235 can be pressed against the outer surface of the first mating portion 110A of the first electrical connector 100 , further preventing shaking between the first mating portion 110A and the second mating portion 211 .

[0161] Exemplarily, as described above, the locking housing 240 may be sleeved on the front portion 234 of the metal compartment 230, and the locking housing 240 includes a locking portion 241 extending beyond the front portion 234. The locking portion 241 may be provided with a locking adaptation feature, which may include a first locking adaptation feature 251 and / or a second locking adaptation feature 252, such as a protrusion, a groove or an opening, etc. The adapting electrical connector may include a first locking feature 141 and / or a second locking feature 142. When the adapting electrical connector includes the first locking feature 141, the first locking adaptation feature 251 may cooperate with the first locking feature 141, thereby locking the adapting electrical connector and the locking housing 240 together, thereby ensuring that the adapting electrical connector and the electrical connector will not be disconnected unexpectedly under the action of external force. Similarly, when the adapter electrical connector has the second locking feature 142, the second locking feature 142 can also cooperate with the second locking adapter feature 252, and the locking between the electrical connector and the adapter electrical connector can also be achieved. The adapter electrical connector can also include the first locking feature 141 and the second locking feature 142 at the same time, and the locking housing 240 can also include the first locking adapter feature 251 and the second locking adapter feature 252 corresponding to the two. In some embodiments, when the first locking feature 141 cooperates with the first locking adapter feature 251 to lock, the second locking feature 142 also cooperates with the second locking adapter feature 252 to lock. In this case, when only one of the first locking feature 141 and the second locking feature 142 is unlocked, the adapter electrical connector cannot move. In this case, it is necessary to operate simultaneously so that the first locking feature 141 and the second locking feature 142 reach their respective unlocking positions, and then the adapter electrical connector can move. In another embodiment, when the first locking feature 141 is locked in cooperation with the first locking adapter feature 251, after the adapter electrical connector continues to move a certain distance in the mating direction, the second locking feature 142 is locked in cooperation with the second locking adapter feature 252. In this case, after the second locking feature 142 of the adapter electrical connector is unlocked, the adapter electrical connector can be moved as described above, and the adapter electrical connector and the electrical connector are initially separated. During the initial separation process, the second locking feature 142 cannot be locked in cooperation with the second locking adapter feature 252, and therefore always remains in the second unlocked position. At this time, only the first locking feature 141 can provide locking between the electrical connector and the adapter electrical connector, and the electrical connector and the adapter electrical connector can be completely separated by only corresponding operations to place the first locking feature 141 in the first unlocked position.In other words, the position of the electrical connector at the time of initial separation can be changed by adjusting the positions of the first locking adapting feature 251 and the second locking adapting feature 252 on the locking housing 240 or setting the positions of the first locking feature 141 and the second locking feature 142 of the adapting electrical connector.

[0162] Exemplarily, the locking housing 240 has a first dimension along the first lateral direction YY and a second dimension along the second lateral direction ZZ, the first dimension is greater than the second dimension, the first lateral direction YY and the second lateral direction ZZ are perpendicular to each other and are perpendicular to the mating direction XX of the electrical connector and the mating electrical connector. The locking housing 240 has a first side surface 2401 opposite to each other along the first lateral direction YY and a second side surface 2402 opposite to each other along the second lateral direction ZZ, as shown in FIG. Fig.14 As shown, the second side surface 2402 includes a protruding portion 2402A protruding outward, and the locking fitting feature portion includes a first opening (first locking fitting feature portion 251 ) located on the first side surface 2401 and a second opening (second locking fitting feature portion 252 ) located on the protruding portion 2402A. Return to Reference Figure 1E As shown in the figure, the matching electrical connector is provided with a protrusion for accommodating a part of the structure of the second locking feature 142 in the second lateral direction ZZ. During the connection between the electrical connector and the matching electrical connector, the locking housing 240 needs to cooperate with the second locking feature 142 of the matching electrical connector. Therefore, the locking housing 240 may be provided with a ridge 2402A protruding outward on the second side surface 2402. The inside of the ridge 2402A may accommodate the protrusion of the matching electrical connector during connection, so as to match with the second locking feature 142 of the matching electrical connector.

[0163] Thus, the present disclosure has been described through the above-mentioned several embodiments, but it should be understood that those skilled in the art can make more variations, modifications and improvements according to the teachings of the present disclosure, and these variations, modifications and improvements all fall within the spirit of the present disclosure and the scope of protection required. The scope of protection of the present disclosure is defined by the attached claims and their equivalents. The above-mentioned embodiments are only for the purpose of example and description, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure to the scope of the described embodiments.

[0164] Although many inventive aspects of the electronic system are described above with reference to mutually adaptable electrical connectors, it should be understood that aspects of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. As such, any of the inventive features, whether alone or in combination with one or more other inventive features, can also be used for two mutually adaptable electrical connectors or multiple mutually adaptable electrical connectors, etc. In addition, the electrical connector can be used as a plug connector or a socket connector, and can also be an orthogonal connector, a vertical connector, a coplanar connector, a right-angle connector, etc.

[0165] In the description of the present disclosure, it is necessary to understand that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by directional words such as "front", "back", "up", "down", "left", "right", "lateral", "vertical", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", etc. is usually based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing the present disclosure and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise stated, these directional words 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, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the scope of protection of the present disclosure; the directional words "inside" and "outside" refer to the inside and outside relative to the outline of each component itself.

[0166] For ease of description, spatially relative terms such as "above", "above", "on the upper surface of", "above", etc. may be used here to describe the spatial positional relationship between one or more components or features shown in the figure and other components or features. It should be understood that spatially relative terms include not only the orientation of the components as described in the figure, but also different orientations in use or operation. For example, if the components in the accompanying drawings are inverted as a whole, the components "above other components or features" or "above other components or features" will include the situation where the components are "below other components or structures" or "below other components or structures". Therefore, the exemplary term "above" may include both "above" and "below". In addition, these components or features may also be positioned at other different angles (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or other angles), and this article is intended to include all of these situations.

[0167] It should be noted that the terms used herein are only for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosure. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular form is also intended to include the plural form. In addition, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, it indicates the presence of features, steps, operations, parts, components and / or combinations thereof.

[0168] It should be noted that the terms "first", "second", etc. in the specification and claims of the present disclosure and the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the numbers used in this way can be interchanged where appropriate, so that the embodiments of the present disclosure described herein can be implemented in an order other than those illustrated or described herein.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, characterized in that: include: Shell assembly; A circuit board, the circuit board is disposed in the housing assembly, the circuit board comprising a plurality of contacts for electrically contacting a matching electrical connector; a plurality of high-speed data cables, ends of which are mounted on the circuit board and electrically connected to the plurality of contacts; and A connector locking assembly is provided on the housing assembly and is configured to lock the electrical connector to the adapting electrical connector.

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The transmission rates of the multiple high-speed data cables meet the requirements of PCIE Gen 5 and PCIE Gen 6.

3. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: A center distance between adjacent high-speed data cables among the plurality of high-speed data cables is less than or equal to 1.0 mm.

4. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The connector locking assembly comprises: a first locking feature having a first locking position for locking the mating electrical connector and a first unlocking position for releasing the mating electrical connector; a second locking feature having a second locking position for locking the mating electrical connector and a second unlocking position for releasing the mating electrical connector, The first locking feature portion and the second locking feature portion are respectively used to lock different sides of the adapting electrical connector.

5. The electrical connector according to claim 4, characterized in that: The connector locking assembly also includes: a first operating member operable in a predetermined direction, wherein the first locking feature is movable from the first locking position to the first unlocking position based on operation of the first operating member; A third locking feature has a third locking position and a third unlocking position, wherein the third locking feature is configured to lock the first operating member when in the third locking position so that the first locking feature remains in the first locking position; and the third locking feature is also configured to release the first operating member when in the third unlocking position so that the first operating member is operable.

6. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The connector locking assembly comprises: A first operating member operable in a predetermined direction; a first locking feature having a first locking position for locking the adapting electrical connector and a first unlocking position for releasing the adapting electrical connector, wherein the first locking feature is movable from the first locking position to the first unlocking position based on an operation of the first operating member; A third locking feature has a third locking position and a third unlocking position, wherein the third locking feature is configured to lock the first operating member when in the third locking position so that the first locking feature remains in the first locking position; and the third locking feature is also configured to release the first operating member when in the third unlocking position so that the first operating member is operable.

7. The electrical connector according to claim 6, wherein: The connector locking assembly further includes a second locking feature having a second locking position for locking the adapting electrical connector and a second unlocking position for releasing the adapting electrical connector. The first locking feature portion and the second locking feature portion are respectively used to lock different sides of the adapting electrical connector.

8. The electrical connector according to claim 5 or 7, characterized in that: The first locking feature comprises: a first locking head for locking with the adapting electrical connector; a first tail portion cooperating with the first operating member; and a first intermediate portion connected between the first locking head and the first tail portion and pivotally connected to the housing assembly about a first predetermined axis to pivot the first locking feature between the first locked position and the first unlocked position, Wherein, when the first locking feature moves from the first locking position to the first unlocking position, the first locking head pivots into the housing assembly.

9. The electrical connector according to claim 8, characterized in that: The first locking feature includes a resilient claw bent toward the inside of the housing assembly, the resilient claw abutting against the housing assembly to bias the first locking head toward the outside of the housing assembly.

10. The electrical connector according to claim 9, characterized in that: The first operating member is configured to return to an initial position locked with the third locking feature under the bias of the elastic claw.

11. The electrical connector according to claim 8, wherein: The first tail portion has a V-shaped groove, the opening of the V-shaped groove faces the interior of the housing assembly, The first operating member slides along a side wall of the V-shaped groove to pivot the first locking feature between the first locking position and the first unlocking position.

12. The electrical connector according to claim 10, wherein: A distal end of the first tail portion abuts against the housing assembly when the first locking feature is in the first locking position.

13. The electrical connector according to claim 5 or 7, characterized in that: The connector locking assembly further comprises a second operating member, a middle portion of which is pivotally connected to the housing assembly around a second predetermined axis, and the second locking feature portion and the third locking feature portion are respectively located at two ends of the second operating member. Wherein, when the second locking feature is in the second locking position, the third locking feature is in the third locking position; and when the second locking feature is in the second unlocking position, the third locking feature is in the third unlocking position.

14. The electrical connector according to claim 13, wherein: The predetermined direction is perpendicular to the second predetermined axis.

15. The electrical connector according to claim 13, wherein: When the second locking feature is in the second unlocking position, the electrical connector and the mating electrical connector can be initially separated; The electrical connector is completely separable from the mating electrical connector based on an operation of the first operating member.

16. The electrical connector according to claim 15, wherein: During the initial separation of the electrical connectors, the second locking feature is maintained in the second unlocked position under the action of the mating electrical connector.

17. The electrical connector according to claim 15, wherein: The plurality of contacts of the circuit board are sized to maintain electrical connection with the mating electrical connector during initial separation of the electrical connector.

18. The electrical connector according to claim 13, wherein: The housing assembly includes a first housing and a second housing, wherein the second housing is snap-fitted onto the first housing, and the first locking feature and the first operating member are installed between the first housing and the second housing.

19. The electrical connector according to claim 18, wherein: The first locking feature is pivotally connected between the first housing and the second housing via a first pivot axis, The first pivot shaft passes through the first locking feature, and both ends of the first pivot shaft are respectively fixed to the first housing and the second housing to connect the first housing and the second housing to each other.

20. The electrical connector according to claim 19, wherein: The first locking features are arranged in pairs, and each pair of first locking features are arranged relatively on both sides of the first shell and the second shell along a first lateral direction, and the first lateral direction is perpendicular to the predetermined direction. Each first locking feature is installed between the first shell and the second shell through its own first pivot axis.

21. The electrical connector according to claim 18, wherein: The first housing includes a first mating portion for mating with an adapting electrical connector and a first cable terminating portion, a first mounting channel is provided in the first mating portion, and the circuit board is fixed in the first mounting channel. The second housing is buckled on the first cable termination portion to enclose the first cable termination portion to form a second installation channel, and the plurality of high-speed data cables pass through the second installation channel. The first operating member is limited by the first shell and the second shell, and is slidably connected to the second installation channel along the predetermined direction.

22. The electrical connector according to claim 21, wherein: The first mating portion and the first cable terminating portion are disposed opposite to each other along the predetermined direction.

23. The electrical connector according to claim 18, wherein: The shell assembly also includes a third shell, which is snap-fitted on the second shell, the second operating member is installed between the second shell and the third shell, the second locking feature passes through the second shell and protrudes from the outer surface of the second shell, and the third locking feature is located on the inner side of the third shell.

24. The electrical connector according to claim 23, wherein: Second pivot shafts are respectively arranged on both sides of the middle portion of the second operating member, and the second shell and the third shell are combined to form a pivot hole, and the second pivot shaft is inserted into the pivot hole.

25. The electrical connector according to claim 24, wherein: The second operating member includes a second operating portion that passes through the second housing and is located between the second pivot axis and the second locking feature.

26. The electrical connector according to claim 19, wherein: The housing assembly further includes a strain relief member connected to the second housing at a position spaced apart from the first pivot axis along the predetermined direction, with a portion of the first housing clamped between the second housing and the strain relief member.

27. The electrical connector according to claim 26, wherein: A nut is embedded in the second shell, and a fastener passes through the stress relief member and is threadedly connected to the nut, so that the stress relief member is fixed to the second shell.

28. The electrical connector according to claim 13, wherein: An elastic member is disposed between the second operating member and the housing assembly, and the elastic member biases the second locking feature toward the second locking position.

29. The electrical connector according to claim 5 or 7, characterized in that: The housing assembly is provided with a first slide groove and a second slide groove extending along the predetermined direction, wherein the first slide groove and the second slide groove are arranged at intervals along a first lateral direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction. The first operating member comprises: A first sliding arm and a second sliding arm, wherein the first sliding arm and the second sliding arm are slidably inserted into the first sliding groove and the second sliding groove, respectively, and one end of the first sliding arm and the second sliding arm cooperates with the first locking feature portion so that the first locking feature portion is movable between the first locking position and the first unlocking position; and A first operating portion is connected between the first sliding arm and the other end of the second sliding arm, and the first operating portion extends out of the housing assembly.

30. The electrical connector according to claim 29, wherein: The first operating member further includes a crossbeam connected between the middle portions of the first sliding arm and the second sliding arm, and the third locking feature hooks the crossbeam when the third locking feature is in the third locking position.

31. The electrical connector according to claim 30, characterized in that The housing assembly is provided with a limit opening, and the crossbeam passes through the limit opening to limit the sliding range of the first operating member.

32. The electrical connector according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that: The predetermined direction is a mating direction between the electrical connector and the mating electrical connector.

33. A connector locking assembly, characterized in that: include: a first locking feature having a first locking position for locking the mating electrical connector and a first unlocking position for releasing the mating electrical connector; a second locking feature having a second locking position for locking the mating electrical connector and a second unlocking position for releasing the mating electrical connector, The first locking feature and the second locking feature are configured to lock different sides of the mating electrical connector, respectively.

34. The connector locking assembly according to claim 33, wherein: The connector locking assembly also includes: a first operating member operable in a predetermined direction, wherein the first locking feature is movable from the first locking position to the first unlocking position based on operation of the first operating member; A third locking feature has a third locking position and a third unlocking position, wherein the third locking feature is configured to lock the first operating member when in the third locking position so that the first locking feature remains in the first locking position; and the third locking feature is also configured to release the first operating member when in the third unlocking position so that the first operating member is operable.

35. A connector locking assembly, characterized in that: include: A first operating member operable in a predetermined direction; a first locking feature having a first locking position for locking the adapting electrical connector and a first unlocking position for releasing the adapting electrical connector, wherein the first locking feature is movable from the first locking position to the first unlocking position based on an operation of the first operating member; A third locking feature has a third locking position and a third unlocking position, wherein the third locking feature is configured to lock the first operating member when in the third locking position so that the first locking feature remains in the first locking position; and the third locking feature is also configured to release the first operating member when in the third unlocking position so that the first operating member is operable.

36. The connector locking assembly according to claim 35, wherein: The connector locking assembly further includes a second locking feature having a second locking position for locking the adapting electrical connector and a second unlocking position for releasing the adapting electrical connector. The first locking feature portion and the second locking feature portion are respectively used to lock different sides of the adapting electrical connector.

37. The connector locking assembly according to claim 35 or 36, characterized in that: The first locking feature comprises: a first locking head for locking with the adapting electrical connector; a first tail portion cooperating with the first operating member; and A first intermediate portion is connected between the first locking head and the first tail portion and is pivotable about a first predetermined axis to pivot the first locking feature between the first locked position and the first unlocked position.

38. The connector locking assembly according to claim 37, wherein: The first locking feature includes a curved resilient detent configured to bias the first locking feature toward the first locking position.

39. The connector locking assembly according to claim 38, wherein: The first operating member is configured to return to an initial position locked with the third locking feature under the bias of the elastic claw.

40. The connector locking assembly according to claim 37, wherein: The first tail portion has a V-shaped groove, The first operating member slides along a side wall of the V-shaped groove to pivot the first locking feature between the first locking position and the first unlocking position.

41. An electrical connector, characterized in that: include: a main housing, the main housing comprising a second mating portion for mating with the adapting electrical connector, and a second mounting portion; a plurality of conductive terminals mounted in the main housing and extending from the second mating portion to the second mounting portion; a metal box enclosed on the outside of the main housing, the metal box having a front portion extending beyond the second mating portion; A latch housing is attached to the front of the metal compartment and includes a locking mating feature configured to receive a locking feature of the mating electrical connector.

42. The electrical connector according to claim 41, wherein: The metal box is formed by bending a metal sheet, and opposite edges of the metal sheet are formed with mortise and tenon structures so that the edges of the metal sheet are connected to each other.

43. The electrical connector according to claim 41, wherein: The metal box comprises a barb protruding outward, and the locking housing is provided with an engagement opening engaged with the barb.

44. The electrical connector according to claim 41, wherein: The metal compartment includes a plate lock, which is located outside the lock housing.

45. The electrical connector according to claim 41, wherein: The inner surface of the metal housing is spaced apart from the outer surface of the second mating portion to form a gap for receiving the first mating portion of the mating electrical connector.

46. ​​The electrical connector according to claim 41, wherein: The locking housing is sleeved on the front part of the metal compartment, and the locking housing comprises a locking portion extending beyond the front part, and the locking adaptation feature is arranged on the locking portion.

47. The electrical connector according to claim 41, wherein: The second matching portion and the second mounting portion are perpendicular to each other.

48. The electrical connector according to claim 41, wherein: The locking housing has a first dimension along a first lateral direction and a second dimension along a second lateral direction, the first dimension is larger than the second dimension, the first lateral direction and the second lateral direction are perpendicular to each other and are perpendicular to the mating direction of the electrical connector and the matching electrical connector. The locking housing has a first side surface opposite to the first lateral direction and a second side surface opposite to the second lateral direction, wherein the second side surface includes a protruding portion protruding outwards. The locking fit feature includes a first opening on the first side and a second opening on the raised portion.

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