Electrical connector
By introducing liquid detection terminals into the electrical connector, capacitance detects liquid intrusion and cuts the circuit, the problem that existing electrical connectors cannot prevent short circuits during liquid intrusion is solved, and effective protection and cost reduction are achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202421347374.6
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-13
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-11
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-06-13
AI Technical Summary
Existing electrical connectors are difficult to effectively prevent liquid from touching the circuit board when encountering liquid intrusion, resulting in short circuits and burns, and existing designs increase complexity and manufacturing costs.
An electrical connector is designed, including a liquid detection terminal, which detects the presence of liquid through a capacitance. When the capacitance is greater than a preset value, the liquid intrusion is judged and the circuit is cut off to prevent burning.
Effective detection and protection of liquid intrusion is achieved, preventing the burning of electronic products, and simplifying the design to reduce costs.
Smart Images
Figure CN222749729U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model relates to an electric connector. Background Art
[0002] Consumer electronic products, such as computers, iPads, and mobile phones, are equipped with connectors as data interfaces or charging interfaces. When using them, users may accidentally knock over coffee or tea, force the connector open, and cause liquid to enter the connector, causing the internal circuit board of the electronic product to short-circuit and burn. Existing designs usually improve the sealing between the connector shell and the plastic body, such as waterproofing by filling with sealant to prevent liquid from further touching the circuit board. However, this design structure is more complicated, and it will also increase the process and manufacturing cost.
[0003] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a new electrical connector to overcome the above defects. Utility Model Content
[0004] The utility model provides an electric connector which is provided with a liquid detection terminal.
[0005] Specifically, the utility model is realized through the following technical scheme: an electrical connector, comprising an insulating body and a plurality of conductive terminals, the insulating body being provided with a main body and a tongue plate extending forward from the main body, the plurality of conductive terminals being arranged in two upper and lower rows on the front and back sides of the tongue plate respectively, the conductive terminal being provided with a contact portion located at the front end of the tongue plate and a tail portion extending out of the main body, and also comprising at least one liquid detection terminal, the liquid detection terminal being provided with a detection portion exposed in the tongue plate and a welding portion extending out of the main body, the detection portion being completely located behind any one of the contact portions, and when the capacitance between the liquid detection terminal and an adjacent one of the conductive terminals is greater than a preset value, it is determined that liquid exists in the electrical connector.
[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the preset value is 2.5 nF.
[0007] In a preferred embodiment, one of the conductive terminals adjacent to the liquid detection terminal is provided with a turning portion for avoiding the detection portion.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the interval between the liquid detection terminal and the adjacent conductive terminal is greater than 0.1 mm.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the interval between the liquid detection terminal and the adjacent conductive terminal is 0.15 mm.
[0010] In a preferred embodiment, it further includes an upper terminal module and a lower terminal module, the upper terminal module provides a plurality of conductive terminals in an upper row, the lower terminal module provides a plurality of conductive terminals in a lower row, and both the upper terminal module and the lower terminal module are provided with the liquid detection terminal.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the upper terminal module and the lower terminal module are each provided with two dispersed liquid detection terminals.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the electrical connector is a Type C connector.
[0013] The utility model electric connector is provided with a liquid detection terminal, which can be used to detect whether liquid has entered. If liquid has entered, power can be cut off for protection to avoid burning electronic products.
[0014] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Figure 1 It is a three-dimensional exploded view of an electrical connector in one embodiment of the utility model;
[0016] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A three-dimensional assembly diagram of the electrical connector in FIG. 1 , wherein the housing is removed for easier viewing;
[0017] Figure 3 and Figure 2 The electrical connector in is similar, taken from another angle;
[0018] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A plan view of the upper terminal module of the electrical connector.
[0019] Description of reference numerals:
[0020] Insulating body 1, main body 11, tongue plate 12, front section 121, rear section 122, mounting portion 13, upper terminal module 31, lower terminal module 32, housing 2, conductive terminal 4, contact portion 41, tail portion 42, connecting portion 43, turning portion 44, middle plate 5, upper shielding sheet 61, lower shielding sheet 62, buckling piece 7, buckling portion 71, waterproof cover 8, liquid detection terminal 9, detection portion 91, welding portion 92. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] Here, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with the utility model. Instead, they are only examples of devices, systems, equipment and methods consistent with some aspects of the utility model.
[0022] refer to Figure 1 As shown, the utility model provides a USB Type-C electrical connector that can be used in consumer electronic products such as mobile phones, iPads and computers. The electrical connector includes an insulating body 1, a metal shell 2 and a terminal module, the terminal module includes an upper terminal module 31 and a lower terminal module 32 respectively fixed to the upper and lower sides of the insulating body 1, and the shell 2 is covered outside the insulating body 1.
[0023] refer to Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the upper terminal module 31 and the lower terminal module 32 are respectively formed and stacked up and down, and the insulating body 1 is directly overmolded on the upper terminal module 31 and the lower terminal module 32. The insulating body 1 is provided with a longitudinal main body 11, a tongue plate 12 and a mounting portion 13. The tongue plate 12 extends forward from the middle of the front side of the main body 11, and the mounting portion 13 extends backward from the left and right ends of the rear side of the main body 11. The housing 2 is cylindrically covered outside the main body 11 and the tongue plate 12, and a docking cavity (not shown) for accommodating a docking connector (not shown) is formed between the tongue plate 12 and the housing 2.
[0024] The tongue plate 12 is provided with a front section 121 and a rear section 122. The thickness of the rear section 122 is relatively thick. The upper surface of the rear section 122 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the front section 121, and the lower surface of the rear section 122 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the front section 121. There are 12 conductive terminals 4 in the upper row and 12 in the lower row, and the arrangement is completely the same, that is, the arrangement of USB Type C. The conductive terminals 4 are provided with a contact portion 41, a tail portion 42, and a connecting portion 43 connecting the contact portion 41 and the tail portion 42. The contact portion 41 of the conductive terminal 4 in the upper row extends along the tongue plate 12 and is exposed on the front side of the front section 121 of the tongue plate 12, and the contact portion 41 of the conductive terminal 4 in the lower row extends along the tongue plate 12 and is exposed on the back side of the front section 121 of the tongue plate 12. The front end of the contact portion 41 is close to the front end of the tongue plate 12.
[0025] The electrical connector further includes a middle plate 5, which is located between the upper terminal module 31 and the lower terminal module 32. The electrical connector further includes an upper shielding sheet 61 and a lower shielding sheet 62, which are all made of metal and fixed to the insulating body 1 in an embedded molding manner, wherein the upper shielding sheet 61 basically forms the upper surface of the rear section 122 of the tongue plate 12, and the lower shielding sheet 62 basically forms the lower surface of the rear section 122 of the tongue plate 12, which is used for electromagnetic shielding to prevent signal crosstalk. The electrical connector further includes a fastening member 7 embedded in the tongue plate 12, and the fastening member 7 is provided with fastening portions 71 exposed on two opposite sides of the front section 121 of the tongue plate 12, and the fastening portions 71 are used for fastening and connecting with the docking connector (not shown). The electrical connector is also provided with a waterproof cover 8 at the entrance (not shown) of the docking cavity (not shown), which can seal the entrance (not shown) when the electrical connector is not in use, for protection.
[0026] Continue to refer Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the electrical connector is also provided with a liquid detection terminal 9 for detecting liquid. In this embodiment, the upper terminal module 31 and the lower terminal module 32 are each provided with two liquid detection terminals 9, for a total of four liquid detection terminals 9. The four liquid detection terminals 9 are arranged in the same manner on the front and back sides of the tongue plate 12. The following description is made by taking the two liquid detection terminals 9 on the front side of the tongue plate 12 as an example. The two liquid detection terminals 9 are arranged side by side with the conductive terminals 4 in the upper row and are located at both ends of the tongue plate 12 dispersedly arranged in the middle in the longitudinal direction. The upper row is provided with twelve conductive terminals 4, one liquid detection terminal 9 is located between the fourth conductive terminal 4 and the fifth conductive terminal 4, and the other is located between the eighth conductive terminal 4 and the ninth conductive terminal 4. The liquid detection terminal 9 is provided with a detection portion 91, a welding portion 92 and an intermediate section (not shown) connecting the detection portion 91 and the welding portion 92. The welding portion 92 is welded to a circuit board (not shown). The detection portion 91 is exposed on the upper surface of the tongue plate 12 and is basically located at the rear side of the contact portion 41 of the conductive terminal 4 along the front-to-back direction, so as not to affect the normal docking of the electrical connector and the docking connector (not shown). The welding portion 92 of the liquid detection terminal 9 is arranged in the same row as the tail portion 42 of the upper row of conductive terminals 4. The liquid detection terminal 9 and the conductive terminals 4 in the same row are formed by punching from the same metal sheet, and no additional process is added. The length of the liquid detection terminal 9 is significantly smaller than the length of the conductive terminal 4, and the detection portion 91 will not come into contact with the docking terminal (not shown) of the docking connector (not shown), so the docking connector (not shown) does not require any design changes. A conductive terminal 4 adjacent to the liquid detection terminal 9 is provided with a turning portion 44 for avoiding the detection portion 91 . The turning portion 44 is between the contact portion 41 and the connecting portion 43 , which can make the structure more compact and form a suitable spacing between the liquid detection terminal 9 and the adjacent conductive terminal 4 .
[0027] Each liquid detection terminal 9 forms a liquid detection function switch with any adjacent conductive terminal 4. Specifically, when liquid enters the electrical connector, the air medium between the liquid detection terminal 9 and any adjacent conductive terminal 4 becomes a conductive liquid medium, so the capacitance difference between the two will change and be fed back to the circuit of the circuit board (not shown). The system can judge that liquid has entered the electrical connector based on this, and then cut off the circuit to protect the electronic products and avoid burning. Specifically, when the circuit detects that the capacitance between the liquid detection terminal 9 and any adjacent conductive terminal 4 is greater than 2.5nF, the circuit is cut off for power-off protection. Among them, the interval between the liquid detection terminal 9 and the left and right adjacent conductive terminals 4 is greater than 0.1mm, and in this embodiment it is 0.15mm, to avoid affecting the collection of the capacitance difference.
[0028] The electrical connector of the utility model can detect whether liquid has entered by providing a liquid detection terminal 9. If liquid has entered, power can be cut off to prevent the electronic product from being burned. The liquid detection terminal 9 is punched and formed together with the conductive terminal 4, which does not increase the process steps. It also does not affect the arrangement of the contact portion 41 of the conductive terminal 4, and the docking connector (not shown) does not require any adjustment.
[0029] The above are only preferred implementation modes of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention shall be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.
Claims
1. An electrical connector, comprising an insulating body and a plurality of conductive terminals, wherein the insulating body is provided with a main body and a tongue extending forward from the main body, the plurality of conductive terminals are arranged in two upper and lower rows respectively on the front and back sides of the tongue, the conductive terminals are provided with a contact portion located at the front end of the tongue and a tail portion extending out of the main body, characterized in that: It also includes at least one liquid detection terminal, which is provided with a detection portion exposed from the tongue plate and a welding portion extending from the main body, and the detection portion is completely located behind any one of the contact portions. When the capacitance between the liquid detection terminal and an adjacent one of the conductive terminals is greater than a preset value, it is determined that liquid exists in the electrical connector and power-off protection is performed.
2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The default value is 2.5nF.
3. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: A conductive terminal adjacent to the liquid detection terminal is provided with a turning portion for avoiding the detection portion.
4. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The interval between the liquid detection terminal and the adjacent conductive terminal is greater than 0.1 mm.
5. The electrical connector according to claim 4, characterized in that: The interval between the liquid detection terminal and the adjacent conductive terminal is 0.15 mm.
6. The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes an upper terminal module and a lower terminal module. The upper terminal module provides a plurality of conductive terminals in an upper row, and the lower terminal module provides a plurality of conductive terminals in a lower row. Both the upper terminal module and the lower terminal module are provided with the liquid detection terminal.
7. The electrical connector according to claim 6, characterized in that: The upper terminal module and the lower terminal module are each provided with two dispersedly arranged liquid detection terminals.
8. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: It is a USB Type-C connector.