ZIF connector

Abstract

The utility model discloses a ZIF connector, which comprises an insulating shell, a cover plate arranged at the upper part of the insulating shell and a conductive terminal fixedly held in the insulating shell, the insulating shell is provided with a top wall, a bottom wall and two side walls connected to the two longitudinal ends of the top wall and the bottom wall, and the top wall, the bottom wall and the two side walls jointly define a slot. The conductive terminal at least partially extends into the slot, the cover plate is provided with a lengthwise operating part and a rotating shaft located at the transverse front end of the operating part, and the cover plate rotates around the rotating shaft relative to the insulating shell to press the conductive terminal. The side wall is provided with a limiting groove which is sunken downwards from the top, the ZIF connector comprises a fixing piece which is clamped in the limiting groove, the fixing piece and the inner wall of the limiting groove jointly form a containing cavity, and the two longitudinal ends of a rotating shaft of the cover plate are contained in the containing cavity so that the rotating shaft can be protected in a closed mode. Therefore, the cover plate is effectively prevented from falling off or being damaged due to stress.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of electrical connector technology, and in particular to a structurally stable ZIF connector. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of consumer electronics, printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs), or motherboards, are also being upgraded. Connectors, as the medium between the PCBA and external components, are facing increasingly diverse functional requirements. Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) connectors are among the most widely used connectors. Most existing ZIF connectors are flip-type press-fit ZIF boards. In the case of rear-flip ZIF connectors, pressing down the rear cover causes a pivot inside the cover to press down the conductive terminals, pressing the contact points of the conductive terminals against the gold fingers on the flexible flat cable, thus achieving conductivity. However, the flip-type ZIF connector relies on the conductive terminals and reinforcing solder pads to press the pivot together to prevent the cover from falling off. But the pivot lacks metal protection, making the cover prone to falling off or the pivot susceptible to damage from external forces.

[0003] Therefore, it is hoped that a new ZIF connector can be proposed to overcome the above-mentioned defects. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a ZIF connector that uses a fixing plate to protect the rotating shaft of the cover plate to prevent damage.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model adopts the following technical solution: A ZIF connector includes a longitudinally elongated insulating shell, a cover plate installed on the upper part of the insulating shell, and conductive terminals fixed within the insulating shell. The insulating shell has a top wall, a bottom wall, and two side walls connected to the longitudinal ends of the top wall and the bottom wall. The top wall, the bottom wall, and the two side walls together form a slot. The conductive terminals extend at least partially into the slot. The cover plate has a longitudinally elongated operating part and a rotating shaft located at the lateral front end of the operating part. The cover plate rotates relative to the insulating shell around the rotating shaft to press the conductive terminals. The side wall has a limiting groove recessed from the top downwards. The ZIF connector includes a fixing piece that is held in the limiting groove. The fixing piece and the inner wall of the limiting groove together form a receiving cavity. The longitudinal ends of the rotating shaft of the cover plate are received within the receiving cavity.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the fixing piece has a main body extending laterally and a front leg, a middle leg and a rear leg extending downward from the main body. The front leg, the middle leg and the rear leg are spaced apart from front to back in the lateral direction, and the front leg and the middle leg are engaged on the inner wall of the limiting groove.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the upper part of the middle leg extends toward the rear leg, and the upper part of the middle leg, the main body, the rear leg, and the inner wall of the limiting groove together form the receiving cavity.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the front leg, middle leg, and rear leg of the fixing piece extend downward from the bottom surface of the sidewall and are welded to the same circuit board.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the conductive terminal includes a plurality of first terminals assembled laterally from front to back within the insulating housing and a plurality of second terminals assembled laterally from back to front within the insulating housing, wherein the first terminals and the second terminals are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the first terminal has a first lower arm, a first upper arm located above the first lower arm, and a first connecting portion connecting the first lower arm and the first upper arm. The first lower arm has a first holding portion located behind the first connecting portion and a first lower contact arm extending forward from the front end of the first connecting portion into the slot. The first holding portion is held in place by the insulating housing. The first upper arm has a first pressure arm extending rearward from the first connecting portion and a first upper contact arm extending forward from the first connecting portion into the slot. The first lower contact arm and the first upper contact arm are clamped together on an FPC board.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the operating portion of the cover plate is provided with a plurality of grooves adjacent to the rotating shaft, the cover plate is provided with a cam portion extending from the rotating shaft into the grooves, the cam portion is eccentrically disposed with respect to the rotating shaft, the first pressure arm extends into the grooves, and the cam portion is located between the first holding portion and the first pressure arm.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the cover plate has a released state and a locked state. When the cover plate is in the released state, the cam portion of the cover plate does not contact the first pressure arm. When the cover plate is in the locked state, the cam portion of the cover plate pushes the first pressure arm upward to drive the first upper contact arm to move downward and contact the FPC plate.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the second terminal has a second lower arm, a second upper arm located above the second lower arm, and a second connecting portion connecting the second lower arm and the second upper arm. The cam portion is located between the rear portion of the second lower arm and the rear portion of the second upper arm, and the front portion of the second lower arm and the front portion of the second upper arm extend forward into the slot to clamp the FPC board together.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the ZIF connector further includes a locking terminal held within the insulating housing, the locking terminal being located on both longitudinal sides of the conductive terminal, and the structure of the locking terminal being the same as that of the second terminal.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages: the side wall is provided with a limiting groove that is recessed from the top downwards, the ZIF connector includes a fixing piece that is held in the limiting groove, the fixing piece and the inner wall of the limiting groove together form a receiving cavity, and the longitudinal ends of the rotating shaft of the cover plate are received in the receiving cavity to provide closed protection for the rotating shaft, thereby effectively preventing the cover plate from falling off or being damaged by force. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the ZIF connector in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of the ZIF connector from another angle.

[0018] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 The diagram shown is an exploded view of the ZIF connector.

[0019] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 The diagram shown is an exploded view of the ZIF connector.

[0020] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 The ZIF connector shown is a cross-sectional view along the direction of the first terminal.

[0021] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 The ZIF connector shown is a cross-sectional view along the direction of the second terminal.

[0022] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 The ZIF connector shown is a cross-sectional view along the locking terminal direction.

[0023] Figure 8 yes Figure 1The ZIF connector shown is a cross-sectional view along the direction of the retaining plate. Detailed Implementation

[0024] Please see Figures 1 to 8 As shown, a preferred embodiment of the present invention discloses a ZIF connector 100 for mounting on a circuit board (not shown) and for insertion into an FPC board (not shown). The ZIF connector 100 includes a longitudinally elongated insulating housing 10, a cover plate 20 mounted on the upper part of the insulating housing 10, conductive terminals and locking terminals 50 fixed within the insulating housing 10, and a fixing piece 60 assembled within the insulating housing 10. The conductive terminals include a plurality of first terminals 30 assembled laterally from front to back within the insulating housing 10 and a plurality of second terminals 40 assembled laterally from back to front within the insulating housing 10, the first terminals 30 and the second terminals 40 being spaced apart from each other longitudinally.

[0025] Please see Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the insulating housing 10 has a top wall 11 and a bottom wall 12 extending longitudinally, two side walls 13 connected to the longitudinal ends of the top wall 11 and the bottom wall 12, and a rear wall 14 located on the lateral rear side of the top wall 11. The rear wall 14 is connected to the rear ends of the top wall 11 and the bottom wall 12. The top wall 11, the bottom wall 12, the two side walls 13 and the rear wall 14 together form a slot 101 for the insertion of the FPC board. At the same time, the conductive terminal extends at least partially into the slot 101.

[0026] The cover plate 20 has a longitudinally elongated operating part 21 and a rotating shaft 22 located at the lateral front end of the operating part 21. The cover plate 20 rotates relative to the insulating housing 10 around the rotating shaft 22 to press the conductive terminals. The operating part 21 has latching parts 211 located on both longitudinal sides and several grooves 212 adjacent to the rotating shaft 22. The side wall 13 has latching grooves 131 corresponding to the latching parts 211. The cover plate 20 has a released state and a locked state. When the cover plate 20 is in the locked state, the latching parts 211 of the cover plate 20 are engaged in the latching grooves 131 of the side wall 13. At the same time, the cover plate 20 has a cam part 23 extending from the rotating shaft 22 into the grooves 212. The cam part 23 is eccentrically arranged with respect to the rotating shaft 22.

[0027] Combination Figure 5As shown, the first terminal 30 is H-shaped and has a first lower arm 31, a first upper arm 32 located above the first lower arm 31, and a first connecting portion 33 connecting the first lower arm 31 and the first upper arm 32. The first lower arm 31 has a first holding portion 310 located behind the first connecting portion 33, a first welding portion 311 extending forward from the first connecting portion 33 to the insulating housing 10, and a first lower contact arm 312 extending forward from the front end of the first connecting portion 33 into the slot 101. The first holding portion 310 is fixed to the rear wall 14 of the insulating housing 10, and the first welding portion 311 is welded to the circuit board.

[0028] The first upper arm portion 32 is provided with a first pressure-bearing arm 321 extending rearward from the first connecting portion 33 and a first upper contact arm 322 extending forward from the first connecting portion 33 into the slot 101. The first lower contact arm 312 and the first upper contact arm 322 are clamped together on the FPC board. The first pressure-bearing arm 321 extends into the groove 212 of the cover plate 20, and the cam portion 23 is located between the first holding portion 310 and the first pressure-bearing arm 321. When the cover plate 20 is in the released state, the cam portion 23 of the cover plate 20 does not contact the first pressure-bearing arm 321. When the cover plate 20 is in the locked state, the cam portion 23 of the cover plate 20 pushes the first pressure-bearing arm 321 upward to drive the first upper contact arm 322 to move downward and contact the FPC board.

[0029] Combination Figure 6 As shown, the second terminal 40 is H-shaped and has a second lower arm 41, a second upper arm 42 located above the second lower arm 41, and a second connecting portion 43 connecting the second lower arm 41 and the second upper arm 42. The second lower arm 41 has a second holding portion 410 located behind the second connecting portion 43, a second welding portion 411 extending rearward from the second holding portion 410 out of the insulating housing 10, and a second lower contact arm 412 extending forward from the front end of the second connecting portion 43 into the slot 101. The rear end of the second lower contact arm 412 is fixed to the rear wall 14 of the insulating housing 10, and the second welding portion 411 is welded to the circuit board.

[0030] The second upper arm 42 is provided with a second pressure arm 421 extending rearward from the second connecting portion 43 and a second upper contact arm 422 extending forward from the second connecting portion 43 into the slot 101. The second lower contact arm 412 and the second upper contact arm 422 are clamped together in the FPC board. The second pressure arm 421 extends into the groove 212 of the cover plate 20, and the cam portion 23 is located between the second holding portion 410 and the second pressure arm 421. When the cover plate 20 is in the released state, the cam portion 23 of the cover plate 20 does not contact the second pressure arm 421. When the cover plate 20 is in the locked state, the cam portion 23 of the cover plate 20 pushes the second pressure arm 421 upward to drive the second upper contact arm 422 to move downward and contact the FPC board.

[0031] Combination Figure 7 As shown, the locking terminal 50 is located on both longitudinal sides of the conductive terminal, and the structure of the locking terminal 50 is the same as that of the second terminal 40. The locking terminal 50 has a third lower arm portion 51, a third upper arm portion 52 located above the third lower arm portion 51, and a third connecting portion 53 connecting the third lower arm portion 51 and the third upper arm portion 52. The third lower arm portion 51 has a third holding portion 510 located behind the third connecting portion 53, a third welding portion 511 extending rearward from the third holding portion 510 to the insulating housing 10, and a third lower contact arm 512 extending forward from the front end of the third connecting portion 53 into the slot 101. The rear end of the third lower contact arm 512 is fixed to the rear wall 14 of the insulating housing 10, and the third welding portion 511 is welded to the circuit board.

[0032] The third upper arm 52 is provided with a third pressure arm 521 extending rearward from the third connecting portion 53 and a third upper contact arm 522 extending forward from the third connecting portion 53 into the slot 101; the top wall 11 is provided with a transverse slot 111 communicating with the slot 101, and the third upper contact arm 522 is accommodated in the slot 111. The third pressure arm 521 extends into the groove 212 of the cover plate 20, and the cam portion 23 is located between the third holding portion 510 and the third pressure arm 521. When the cover plate 20 is in the released state, the cam portion 23 of the cover plate 20 does not contact the third pressure arm 521. When the cover plate 20 is in the locked state, the cam portion 23 of the cover plate 20 pushes the third pressure arm 521 upward to drive the third upper contact arm 522 to move downward and be fastened in the notches at both ends of the longitudinal direction of the FPC board.

[0033] Combination Figure 8As shown, the side wall 13 is provided with a limiting groove 132 that is recessed from the top downwards, and the fixing piece 60 is held in the limiting groove 132. At the same time, the fixing piece 60 and the inner wall of the limiting groove 132 together form a receiving cavity 133, and the longitudinal ends of the rotating shaft 22 of the cover plate 20 are received in the receiving cavity 133 to provide closed protection for the rotating shaft 22, thereby effectively preventing the cover plate 20 from falling off or being damaged by force.

[0034] Specifically, the fixing piece 60 has a main body 61 extending laterally and front legs 62, middle legs 63, and rear legs 64 extending downward from the main body 61. The front legs 62, middle legs 63, and rear legs 64 are spaced apart from front to back in the lateral direction. The front legs 62 and middle legs 63 are engaged with the inner wall of the limiting groove 132 to fix the fixing piece 60 to the insulating housing 10. The upper part of the middle leg 63 extends toward the rear leg 64, and the upper part of the middle leg 63, the main body 61, the rear leg 64, and the inner wall of the limiting groove 132 together form the aforementioned receiving cavity 133. At the same time, the front legs 62, middle legs 63, and rear legs 64 of the fixing piece 60 extend downward to the bottom surface of the side wall 13 and are soldered to the same circuit board, so that the fixing piece 60 is firmly fixed, thereby preventing the ZIF connector 100 from loosening.

[0035] In this utility model, the side wall 13 is provided with a limiting groove 132 that is recessed from the top downwards. The ZIF connector 100 includes a fixing piece 60 that is held in the limiting groove 132. The fixing piece 60 and the inner wall of the limiting groove 132 together form a receiving cavity 133. The longitudinal ends of the rotating shaft 22 of the cover plate 20 are received in the receiving cavity 133 to provide closed protection for the rotating shaft 22, thereby effectively preventing the cover plate 20 from falling off or being damaged by force.

[0036] In summary, the above are merely preferred embodiments of the present utility model and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present utility model. Any simple equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the claims and description of the present utility model should still fall within the scope of the present utility model patent.

Claims

1. A ZIF connector comprising a longitudinal insulating housing, a cover plate mounted on an upper portion of the insulating housing, and a conductive terminal held in the insulating housing, the insulating housing being provided with a top wall, a bottom wall, and two side walls connected to longitudinal ends of the top wall and the bottom wall, the top wall, the bottom wall, and the two side walls collectively defining a slot, the conductive terminal extending at least partially into the slot, the cover plate being provided with a longitudinal operating portion and a rotating shaft located at a transverse front end of the operating portion, the cover plate being rotated relative to the insulating housing about the rotating shaft to press the conductive terminal; characterized in that: The side wall is provided with a limiting groove recessed from the top to the bottom, the ZIF connector comprises a fixing sheet clamped in the limiting groove, the fixing sheet and the inner wall of the limiting groove jointly form a receiving cavity, and the longitudinal ends of the rotating shaft of the cover plate are received in the receiving cavity.

2. The ZIF connector of claim 1, wherein: The fixing sheet is provided with a main body portion extending in the transverse direction and a front leg portion, a middle leg portion and a rear leg portion extending downward from the main body portion, the front leg portion, the middle leg portion and the rear leg portion are arranged in the transverse direction from front to back, and the front leg portion and the middle leg portion are clamped on the inner wall of the limiting groove.

3. The ZIF connector of claim 2, wherein: The upper portion of the middle leg portion extends toward the rear leg portion, and the upper portion of the middle leg portion, the main body portion, the rear leg portion and the inner wall of the limiting groove jointly form the receiving cavity.

4. The ZIF connector of claim 2, wherein: The front leg portion, the middle leg portion and the rear leg portion of the fixing sheet extend downward beyond the bottom surface of the side wall and are welded on the same circuit board.

5. The ZIF connector of claim 1, wherein: The conductive terminal comprises a plurality of first terminals assembled in the insulating shell from front to back in the transverse direction and a plurality of second terminals assembled in the insulating shell from back to front in the transverse direction, and the first terminals and the second terminals are arranged in the longitudinal direction and spaced from each other.

6. The ZIF connector of claim 5, wherein: The first terminal is provided with a first lower arm portion, a first upper arm portion located above the first lower arm portion and a first connecting portion connecting the first lower arm portion and the first upper arm portion, the first lower arm portion is provided with a first holding portion located behind the first connecting portion and a first lower contact arm extending forward into the insertion slot from the front end of the first connecting portion, the first holding portion is held on the insulating shell, the first upper arm portion is provided with a first pressure receiving arm extending backward from the first connecting portion and a first upper contact arm extending forward into the insertion slot from the first connecting portion, and the first lower contact arm and the first upper contact arm jointly hold a FPC board.

7. The ZIF connector of claim 6, wherein: The operating portion of the cover plate is provided with a plurality of groove portions adjacent to the rotating shaft, the cover plate is provided with a cam portion extending into the groove portion from the rotating shaft, the cam portion is eccentrically arranged with the rotating shaft, the first pressure receiving arm extends into the groove portion, and the cam portion is located between the first holding portion and the first pressure receiving arm.

8. The ZIF connector of claim 7, wherein: The cover plate has a release state and a locking state, when the cover plate is in the release state, the cam portion of the cover plate does not contact the first pressure receiving arm, when the cover plate is in the locking state, the cam portion of the cover plate pushes upward the first pressure receiving arm to drive the first upper contact arm to move downward to contact the FPC board.

9. The ZIF connector of claim 7, wherein: The second terminal is provided with a second lower arm portion, a second upper arm portion located above the second lower arm portion and a second connecting portion connecting the second lower arm portion and the second upper arm portion, the cam portion is located between the rear portion of the second lower arm portion and the rear portion of the second upper arm portion, and the front portion of the second lower arm portion and the front portion of the second upper arm portion extend forward into the insertion slot to jointly hold the FPC board.

10. The ZIF connector of claim 9, wherein: The ZIF connector further includes a latch terminal held in the insulating housing, the latch terminal is located on the longitudinal two sides of the conductive terminal, and the structure of the latch terminal is the same as that of the second terminal.

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