Cable connector and inter-board interconnection structure

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of inter-board interconnection, in particular to a cable connector and an inter-board interconnection structure. The cable connector comprises a plugging shell and a flexible cable, the flexible cable comprises a cable main body and conductive parts, the cable main body is provided with at least two connecting ends, each connecting end is provided with one conductive part, and the outer side of each conductive part is provided with the plugging shell; the plugging shell comprises a shell main body and an anti-falling piece, the shell main body is connected to the exterior of the cable main body, and the anti-falling piece is arranged on the shell main body; when the plug-in shell is in plug-in fit with a counterpoint connector on the circuit board, the conductive piece is in conductive contact with the counterpoint connector, and the anti-falling piece is detachably connected with the counterpoint connector. In addition, the cable main body of the flexible cable is thinner and more flexible, so that the flexible cable is easier to bend, and the flexible cable can be quickly mounted between circuit boards with short distances and narrow spaces.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of board interconnection technology, and in particular to a cable connector and board interconnection structure. Background Technology

[0002] Circuit boards of different components at the system level are connected by cable connectors. Commonly used cable connectors include connectors and coaxial cables. Connectors are soldered to the ends of the coaxial cables to assemble them to the required length. The connectors of the cable connectors are paired with the female connectors on the circuit boards to achieve interconnection between boards.

[0003] However, in staggered or confined spaces, cable connectors, which consist of coaxial cables and connectors, require bending and twisting of the coaxial cables, making them difficult to install quickly and sometimes even impossible to connect. It is evident that the installation and use of existing cable connectors are limited by the space between boards. Utility Model Content

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a cable connector and an inter-board interconnection structure, which addresses the problem that the installation and use of existing cable connectors are limited by the space between boards.

[0005] To address the aforementioned problems, this utility model provides a cable connector, comprising a plug-in housing and a flexible cable. The flexible cable includes a cable body and a conductive element. The cable body has at least two connection ends, each of which is provided with the conductive element. The plug-in housing is disposed on the outer side of each conductive element. The plug-in housing includes a shell body and an anti-detachment element. The shell body is connected to the outside of the cable body, and the anti-detachment element is disposed on the shell body.

[0006] When the plug-in housing is plugged into the alignment connector on the circuit board, the conductive element makes conductive contact with the alignment connector, and the anti-disengagement element is detachably connected to the alignment connector.

[0007] Optionally, the shell body and the flexible cable are integrally injection molded.

[0008] Optionally, when the plug-in housing is plugged into the alignment connector on the circuit board, the anti-disengagement component can be snapped into the alignment connector on the circuit board.

[0009] Optionally, the anti-detachment component is an anti-detachment spring clip, which includes an installation part and an elastic buckle part. The side of the installation part away from the cable body is bent towards the cable body to form the elastic buckle part. The installation part is fixed to the outer wall of the shell body, and a hanging platform is provided on the side of the elastic buckle part facing away from the shell body.

[0010] When the plug housing is inserted into the alignment connector on the circuit board, the elastic snap-fit ​​part is squeezed and deformed, and the mounting plate is snapped into the slot of the alignment connector on the circuit board.

[0011] Optionally, an installation area is provided on the outer wall of the housing body, and along the insertion direction of the plug-in housing, the installation area has an opening facing the cable body, and the installation part is press-fitted into the installation area from the opening;

[0012] The bottom of the mounting part is provided with a positioning hole, and the mounting area is provided with a positioning protrusion protruding towards the mounting part, and the positioning protrusion is engaged with the positioning hole.

[0013] Optionally, the mounting bracket is provided with a first guide surface on the side away from the cable body along the insertion direction of the plug housing, and the first guide surface is used to guide the mounting bracket to snap into the slot.

[0014] The mounting bracket is provided with a second guide surface on the side of the cable body along the insertion direction of the plug housing. The second guide surface is used to guide the mounting bracket to disengage from the slot.

[0015] Optionally, multiple mounting platforms are provided, and the multiple mounting platforms are spaced apart along a first direction; wherein, the first direction is perpendicular to the insertion direction of the insertion housing where the mounting platform is located.

[0016] Optionally, the plug-in housing also includes a handle strap, one end of which is connected to the elastic buckle portion, and the other end of which extends away from the housing body. When the plug-in housing is plugged into the alignment connector on the circuit board, pulling the other end of the handle strap causes the elastic buckle portion to elastically deform away from the slot, thereby causing the mounting plate to disengage from the slot.

[0017] Optionally, when the cable connector is separated from the alignment connector on the circuit board, the protective cover can be detachably placed over the plug housing.

[0018] On the other hand, this utility model embodiment provides an inter-board interconnection structure, including at least two circuit boards and the cable connector mentioned above, wherein each circuit board is provided with a matching connector that is inserted into the insertion housing of the cable connector.

[0019] This utility model discloses an inter-board interconnection structure. The flexible cable features a conductive element at its connecting end and a shell with an anti-detachment component on the outside of the conductive element. This allows the connecting end of the cable to function as a conventional connector port, enabling direct alignment and insertion with a matching connector on the circuit board. The conductive element and the matching connector make conductive contact, and the anti-detachment component ensures a detachable connection, guaranteeing a secure fit between the shell and the connector. This achieves electrical connection between the flexible cable and the circuit board, enabling high-speed signal transmission between at least two circuit boards. Compared to coaxial cables, the flexible cable is thinner and more flexible, making it easier to bend and quicker to install between circuit boards in short distances and confined spaces, facilitating efficient interconnection of components. Furthermore, the cable connector requires less installation space, promoting high-density integration. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments of this utility model will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the inter-plate interconnection structure provided in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the circuit board structure in the diagram;

[0023] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the cable connector structure in the diagram;

[0024] Figure 4 for Figure 2 Exploded view of the plug-in housing;

[0025] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A structural schematic diagram of the anti-detachment shrapnel from another perspective.

[0026] The reference numerals in the accompanying drawings are as follows:

[0027] 100. Plug-in housing; 11. Anti-detachment spring clip; 12. Mounting part; 13. Elastic buckle part; 14. Hanging platform; 15. First through hole; 16. Positioning hole; 17. Handle strap; 18. Housing body; 1. Mounting area; 2. Positioning protrusion; 3. First pressing part; 4. Second through hole; 5. Second pressing part; 200. Cable body; 300. Protective cover; 400. Circuit board; 41. Alignment connector. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To make the technical problems solved, technical solutions, and beneficial effects of this utility model clearer, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present utility model and are not intended to limit the present utility model.

[0029] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "longitudinal," "radial," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship, are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and 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 should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model. In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0030] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0031] Circuit boards of different components at the system level are connected by cable connectors. Commonly used cable connectors include connectors and coaxial cables. Connectors are soldered to the ends of the coaxial cables to assemble them to the required length. The connectors of the cable connectors are paired with the connectors on the circuit boards to conduct electricity between the circuit boards and achieve interconnection between different circuit boards.

[0032] However, existing cable connectors require bending and twisting of coaxial cables, making them difficult to install quickly, especially in short-distance and narrow space between boards.

[0033] To address the aforementioned issues, this invention provides a cable connector that enables signal transmission interconnection between boards, forming an inter-board interconnection structure.

[0034] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the inter-board interconnection structure includes a cable connector and at least two circuit boards 400, each circuit board 400 being provided with a mating connector 41.

[0035] like Figure 3 As shown, the cable connector includes a plug-in housing 100 and a flexible cable. The flexible cable includes a cable body 200 and a conductive element. The cable body 200 has at least two connection ends, each of which is provided with a conductive element. The plug-in housing 100 is disposed on the outside of each conductive element. The plug-in housing 100 includes a shell body 18 and an anti-detachment element. The shell body 18 is connected to the outside of the cable body 200, and the anti-detachment element is disposed on the shell body 18.

[0036] When the plug housing 100 is plugged into the alignment connector 41 on the circuit board 400, the conductive component makes conductive contact with the alignment connector 41, and the anti-disengagement component is detachably connected to the alignment connector 41 on the circuit board 400 to ensure the firmness of the plug-in engagement between the plug housing 100 and the alignment connector 41, thereby achieving a stable connection between the cable connector and the circuit board 400.

[0037] The flexible cable has a conductive element at the connection end of the cable body 200, and a shell body 18 with an anti-detachment component on the outside of the conductive element. This makes the connection end of the cable body 200 function as a conventional connector port, so that the flexible cable can be directly aligned and plugged into the alignment connector 41 on the circuit board 400, realizing conductive contact between the conductive element and the alignment connector 41, and making the flexible cable electrically connected to the circuit board 400, thereby realizing high-speed signal transmission between at least two circuit boards 400.

[0038] Understandably, the mating connector 41 has a conductive spring inside its insertion port. When the insertion housing 100 is inserted into the insertion port of the mating connector 41, the conductive element on the flexible cable is inserted into the insertion port of the mating connector 41 and makes conductive contact with the conductive spring, so as to realize the electrical connection between the mating connector 41 on the circuit board 400 and the flexible cable.

[0039] The cable body 200 is typically made of fluorine-based copper foil using a printed circuit board 400 etching process. The cable body 200 employs a single-layer integral molding and multi-layer lamination molding method. Compared to coaxial cables, the cable body 200 is thinner and more flexible. Therefore, the cable body 200 is easier to bend, facilitating rapid installation between circuit boards 400 in short distances and confined spaces, and promoting efficient interconnection of various components. Simultaneously, this cable connector requires less installation space, enabling high-density integration and enhancing product competitiveness.

[0040] The inter-board interconnection structure of this utility model features a flexible cable with a conductive element at the connection end of the cable body 200. A shell body 18 with an anti-detachment component is provided on the outside of the conductive element, enabling the connection end of the cable body 200 to function as a conventional connector port. This allows the connection end of the cable body 200 to be directly aligned and plugged into the alignment connector 41 on the circuit board 400, ensuring conductive contact between the conductive element and the alignment connector 41. The anti-detachment component allows for detachable connection with the alignment connector 41, ensuring a firm fit between the insertion shell 100 and the alignment connector 41. This achieves a stable connection between the flexible cable and the circuit board 400, thereby enabling high-speed signal transmission between at least two circuit boards 400.

[0041] Compared to coaxial cables, flexible cables have a thinner cable body 200 and are more flexible. Therefore, flexible cables are easier to bend and are more conducive to quick installation between circuit boards 400 in short distances and confined spaces, facilitating efficient interconnection of various components. At the same time, this cable connector requires less installation space, enabling high-density integration and enhancing product competitiveness.

[0042] In one embodiment, the shell body 18 is integrally injection molded with the flexible cable to eliminate assembly steps, simplify the structure, and improve product production efficiency.

[0043] In one embodiment, when the insertion housing 100 is inserted into the alignment connector 41 on the circuit board 400, the anti-disengagement component can snap-fit ​​with the alignment connector 41 on the circuit board 400 to achieve a detachable connection between the anti-disengagement component and the alignment connector 41. The snap-fit ​​connection structure is simple, simplifying the structure of the cable connector and facilitating installation and disassembly.

[0044] In one embodiment, such as Figure 4 As shown, the anti-detachment component is an anti-detachment spring clip 11, which includes a mounting part 12 and an elastic snap-fit ​​part 13. An mounting area 1 is provided on the outer wall of the housing body 18. One side of the mounting part 12 is bent towards the cable body 200 to form the elastic snap-fit ​​part 13. The mounting part 12 is fixed to the outer wall of the housing body 18, and a hanging platform 14 is provided on the side of the elastic snap-fit ​​part 13 facing away from the housing body 18.

[0045] Correspondingly, the housing of the alignment connector 41 is provided with a slot. When the insertion housing 100 is inserted into the alignment connector 41 on the circuit board 400, the inner wall of the housing of the alignment connector 41 presses the mounting plate 14 to deform the elastic buckle 13 until the mounting plate 14 is engaged in the slot of the alignment connector 41.

[0046] from Figure 4 As can be seen, the bottom of the elastic buckle part 13, which is formed by bending one side of the mounting part 12, is suspended, which gives the elastic buckle part 13 elastic properties and allows it to deform elastically when compressed.

[0047] In one embodiment, the anti-detachment spring clip 11 is made of metal, such as copper or alloy steel. Metal materials provide higher structural strength and a longer service life for the anti-detachment spring clip 11.

[0048] In other embodiments, the anti-detachment component can be an elastic arm, one end of which is connected to the shell body 18, and the other end of which has a hook that can be engaged in a slot.

[0049] In other embodiments, the anti-detachment component can be a retaining ring rotatably mounted on the housing body 18. The insertion port of the alignment connector 41 is provided with a locking slot. When the insertion housing 100 is inserted into the insertion port of the alignment connector 41, the retaining ring is aligned with the locking slot and then rotated at a certain angle so that the retaining ring is engaged in the locking slot, thereby achieving a detachable connection.

[0050] In one embodiment, such as Figure 4 As shown, an installation area 1 is provided on the outer wall of the housing body 18. Along the insertion direction of the plug-in housing 100 where the installation area 1 is located, the installation area 1 has an opening facing the cable body 200, and the installation part 12 is press-fitted into the installation area 1 through the opening.

[0051] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, a positioning hole 16 is provided at the bottom of the mounting part 12, and a positioning protrusion 2 protruding towards the mounting part 12 is provided in the mounting area 1. The positioning protrusion 2 is locked in the positioning hole 16 to position the anti-detachment spring piece 11 on the shell body 18, which is conducive to controlling the precise installation of the anti-detachment spring piece 11.

[0052] Specifically, two positioning protrusions 2 are provided, and the two positioning protrusions 2 are distributed at intervals along the first direction. Among them, Figure 4 D1 in the diagram represents the first direction.

[0053] In one embodiment, such as Figure 4As shown, the installation area 1 has two first pressing parts 3 distributed opposite to each other along the first direction. The installation area 1 has a second pressing part 5 on the side away from the cable body 200. The heads of the first pressing parts 3 and the second pressing parts 5 are higher than the outer side wall of the shell body 18. The first pressing parts 3 and the second pressing parts 5 press on the top surface of the installation part 12.

[0054] In one embodiment, such as Figure 4 As shown, the mounting plate 14 has a first guide surface on the side away from the flexible cable along the insertion direction of the insertion housing 100. The first guide surface is used to guide the mounting plate 14 into the slot.

[0055] The mounting plate 14 is provided with a second guide surface on the side of the cable body 200 along the insertion direction of the plug housing 100. The second guide surface can guide the mounting plate 14 to disengage from the slot.

[0056] The design of the first and second guide surfaces reduces the resistance when the mounting plate 14 is engaged in and disengaged from the slot.

[0057] In one embodiment, both the first guide surface and the second guide surface are inclined surfaces. The first guide surface is inclined towards the side closer to the cable body 200 in the direction away from the mounting portion 12. The second guide surface is inclined towards the side away from the cable body 200 in the direction away from the mounting portion 12.

[0058] In one embodiment, such as Figure 4 As shown, multiple mounting platforms 14 are provided, and the multiple mounting platforms 14 are spaced apart along a first direction; wherein, the first direction is perpendicular to the insertion direction of the insertion housing 100 where the mounting platforms 14 are located. Figure 4 D1 in the diagram represents the first direction.

[0059] The anti-detachment spring clip 11 and the shell body 18 can be connected through the engagement of multiple mounting platforms 14 with corresponding slots to improve the stability of the connection between the anti-detachment spring clip 11 and the shell body 18.

[0060] Specifically, there are two mounting platforms 14, which are spaced apart along the first direction.

[0061] In one embodiment, such as Figure 3 As shown, the plug-in housing 100 also includes a handle strap 17, one end of which is connected to an elastic buckle portion 13, and the other end of the handle strap 17 extends away from the housing body 18. When the plug-in housing 100 is plugged into the alignment connector 41 on the circuit board 400, pulling the other end of the handle strap 17 causes the elastic buckle portion 13 to elastically deform away from the slot, thereby causing the mounting bracket 14 to disengage from the slot.

[0062] When the plug-in housing 100 is plugged into the alignment connector 41, the mounting plate 14, which engages with the slot, is located inside the housing of the alignment connector 41. Operators cannot directly operate the mounting plate 14. Forcibly pulling out the plug-in housing 100, causing the mounting plate 14 to disengage from the slot, could easily damage the anti-disengagement spring 11. Therefore, the plug-in housing 100 in this invention is equipped with a handle strap 17. When the cable connector needs to be separated from the alignment connector 41, pulling the other end of the handle strap 17 causes the elastic buckle 13 to deform away from the slot, allowing the mounting plate 14 on the elastic buckle 13 to disengage from the slot, thus facilitating the separation of the cable connector from the alignment connector 41.

[0063] In one embodiment, a first through hole 15 is provided at one end of the elastic buckle 13 near the cable body 200, and a second through hole 4 is provided on one side of the shell body 18 near the cable body 200. One end of the handle strap 17 passes through the bottom side of the second through hole 4 and through the first through hole 15, and then folds back through the second through hole 4 to be joined and fixed with the other end of the handle strap 17. This restricts the direction in which the operator pulls the elastic buckle 13 through the handle strap 17, i.e., pulls the elastic buckle 13 away from the slot, and avoids pulling in the opposite direction.

[0064] In one embodiment, a handle portion is formed at the other end of the handle belt 17, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the handle portion is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the handle belt 17, so that the operator can pull directly through the handle portion.

[0065] In one embodiment, such as Figure 3 As shown, it also includes a protective cover 300, which can be detachably placed on the plug housing 100 when the cable connector is disengaged from the alignment connector 41 on the circuit board 400, so as to effectively protect the end of the cable connector.

[0066] In one embodiment, the flexible cable is a flexible circuit board, and the conductive component is a gold finger.

[0067] In other embodiments, the conductive element may be a pin or a metal spring.

[0068] In one embodiment, the mating connector 41 is a female connector, which is a standard connector on the market. It is typically connected to a larger device or a fixed, non-removable circuit board 400 to quickly connect to a cable connector via the mating port of a standard connector.

[0069] In one embodiment, the inter-board interconnect structure includes two circuit boards 400, namely a first circuit board and a second circuit board. The bottom of the second circuit board is vertically fixed to the top surface of the first circuit board. The insertion port of the alignment connector 41 on the first circuit board faces away from the surface of the first circuit board, and the insertion port of the alignment connector 41 on the second circuit board faces away from the surface of the second circuit board. There is a height difference and a short distance between the alignment connector 41 of the first circuit board and the alignment connector 41 of the second circuit board.

[0070] When designing the cable connector, based on the spatial structure between the first circuit board and the second circuit board, the cable body 200 is designed in an S-shape, so that there is a height difference between the two connection ends that matches the alignment connector 41 of the first circuit board and the alignment connector 41 of the second circuit board. The S-shaped cable body 200 has two connection ends. The conductive part on one connection end is in conductive contact with the alignment connector 41 on the first circuit board, and the conductive part on the other connection end is in conductive contact with the alignment connector 41 on the second circuit board.

[0071] In other embodiments, the cable body 200 can be designed into irregular shapes such as Y-shape and L-shape according to the interconnection requirements between the circuit boards 400. The Y-shaped cable body 200 has three connection ends, which can realize the interconnection between the three circuit boards. The cable body 200 can also be designed into a straight strip shape.

[0072] In addition, one embodiment of this utility model provides a cable connector whose structure is the same as that of the cable connector in any of the above embodiments, and will not be described again here.

[0073] The above-described embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this utility model, and are not intended to limit it. Although this utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model, and should all be included within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A cable connector, characterized in that, The device includes a plug-in housing and a flexible cable. The flexible cable includes a cable body and a conductive element. The cable body has at least two connection ends, and each connection end is provided with the conductive element. The plug-in housing is provided on the outside of each conductive element. The plug-in housing includes a shell body and an anti-detachment element. The shell body is connected to the outside of the cable body, and the anti-detachment element is provided on the shell body. When the plug-in housing is plugged into the alignment connector on the circuit board, the conductive element makes conductive contact with the alignment connector, and the anti-disengagement element is detachably connected to the alignment connector.

2. The cable connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shell body and the flexible cable are integrally injection molded.

3. The cable connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the plug-in housing is plugged into the alignment connector on the circuit board, the anti-disengagement component can be snapped into the alignment connector on the circuit board.

4. The cable connector according to claim 3, characterized in that, The anti-detachment component is an anti-detachment spring clip, which includes an installation part and an elastic buckle part. The side of the installation part away from the cable body is bent towards the cable body to form the elastic buckle part. The installation part is fixed to the outer wall of the shell body, and a hanging platform is provided on the side of the elastic buckle part facing away from the shell body. When the plug housing is inserted into the alignment connector on the circuit board, the elastic snap-fit ​​part is squeezed and deformed, and the mounting plate is snapped into the slot of the alignment connector on the circuit board.

5. The cable connector according to claim 4, characterized in that, An installation area is provided on the outer wall of the shell body. Along the insertion direction of the plug-in shell, the installation area has an opening facing the cable body, and the installation part is pressed into the installation area from the opening. The bottom of the mounting part is provided with a positioning hole, and the mounting area is provided with a positioning protrusion protruding towards the mounting part, and the positioning protrusion is engaged with the positioning hole.

6. The cable connector according to claim 4, characterized in that, The mounting bracket is provided with a first guide surface on the side away from the cable body along the insertion direction of the plug housing. The first guide surface is used to guide the mounting bracket to be inserted into the slot. The mounting bracket is provided with a second guide surface on the side of the cable body along the insertion direction of the plug housing. The second guide surface is used to guide the mounting bracket to disengage from the slot.

7. The cable connector according to claim 4, characterized in that, Multiple mounting platforms are provided, and the multiple mounting platforms are spaced apart along a first direction; wherein, the first direction is perpendicular to the insertion direction of the insertion housing where the mounting platform is located.

8. The cable connector according to claim 4, characterized in that, The plug-in housing also includes a handle strap, one end of which is connected to the elastic buckle, and the other end of which extends away from the housing body. When the plug-in housing is plugged into the alignment connector on the circuit board, pulling the other end of the handle strap causes the elastic buckle to elastically deform away from the slot, thereby causing the mounting plate to disengage from the slot.

9. The cable connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a protective cover that can be detachably placed over the plug housing when the cable connector is separated from the alignment connector on the circuit board.

10. An inter-plate interconnection structure, characterized in that, It includes at least two circuit boards and a cable connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein each of the circuit boards is provided with a mating connector that is inserted into the insertion housing of the cable connector.

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