Signal terminal module, connector module and connector

Abstract

The utility model discloses a signal terminal module, a connector module and a connector. The signal terminal module comprises a signal terminal which is provided with a first fixing part and a first elastic arm connected with the first fixing part; and a conductive sheet attached to the first elastic arm of the signal terminal. The first elastic arm is provided with a first electric contact part which is positioned at the tail end of the first elastic arm and is used for being electrically contacted with a matching board card; and the conducting strip is used for adjusting the contact impedance of the first electric contact part of the signal terminal. According to the utility model, the conducting strip attached to the elastic arm of the signal terminal can adjust the contact impedance of the electric contact part of the elastic arm, so that the contact impedance of the electric contact part of the elastic arm can be equal to or approximately equal to the designed nominal impedance, and the signal integrity of a signal transmission path can be improved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model relates to a signal terminal module and a connector comprising the same. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the prior art, a high-speed connector has the characteristics of small size, low power consumption and high signal transmission rate. Sometimes the signal transmission rate of the high-speed connector needs to reach 112Gbit / s, 224Gbit / s or higher. Impedance matching is an important performance of the high-speed connector. It is usually desired that the impedance of all positions of the high-speed connector can remain constant, i.e., can be equal to the designed nominal impedance. However, the elastic arm of the high-speed connector has elastic deformation, and therefore the contact impedance of the electrical contact portion on the elastic arm changes. When the change value is too large, the contact impedance of the electrical contact portion deviates from the nominal impedance, which will cause impedance mismatch, thereby affecting the signal integrity of the signal transmission path. SUMMARY

[0003] The utility model aims at solving at least one aspect of the above problems and defects in the prior art.

[0004] According to one aspect of the utility model, a signal terminal module is provided. The signal terminal module comprises: a signal terminal having a first fixed portion and a first elastic arm connected to the first fixed portion; and a conductive sheet attached to the first elastic arm of the signal terminal. The first elastic arm has a first electrical contact portion at its end for electrical contact with a mating board card, and the conductive sheet is used to adjust the contact impedance of the first electrical contact portion of the signal terminal.

[0005] According to one exemplary embodiment of the utility model, the conductive sheet is attached to a portion of the first elastic arm of the signal terminal close to the first electrical contact portion.

[0006] According to another exemplary embodiment of the utility model, the first elastic arm has a front surface and a back surface opposite in thickness, and the conductive sheet is attached to the front surface or the back surface of the first elastic arm of the signal terminal.

[0007] According to another exemplary embodiment of the utility model, the signal terminal module comprises a plurality of conductive sheets, and the plurality of conductive sheets are respectively attached to the front surface and / or the back surface of the first elastic arm of the signal terminal.

[0008] According to another exemplary embodiment of the utility model, the first electrical contact portion has an electrical contact surface for electrical contact with the mating board card, and the conductive sheet is attached to a side of the first elastic arm of the signal terminal opposite to the electrical contact surface.

[0009] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present application, the conductive sheet is welded or crimped to the first elastic arm of the signal terminal.

[0010] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present application, the first elastic arm of the signal terminal is bent into a predetermined shape, and the first electrical contact portion of the signal terminal is bent into an arc shape.

[0011] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present application, the conductive sheet and the signal terminal are made of the same conductive material or different conductive materials.

[0012] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present application, the signal terminal is made of copper or copper alloy, and the conductive sheet is made of copper, copper alloy, silver or silver alloy.

[0013] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present application, the signal terminal further has a first welding leg, and the first elastic arm and the first welding leg are connected to two ends of the first fixed portion, respectively.

[0014] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present application, the signal terminal is an integrated stamping terminal.

[0015] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present application, the signal terminal is a differential signal terminal for transmitting differential signals.

[0016] According to another aspect of the present application, a connector module is provided. The connector module includes: at least one pair of signal terminal modules; and a holding body which is injection molded on the first fixed portions of the at least one pair of signal terminals, such that the at least one pair of signal terminals and the holding body become an integral piece.

[0017] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present application, the connector module further includes: a plurality of ground terminals each having a second fixed portion and a second elastic arm connected to the second fixed portion, the second elastic arm having a second electrical contact portion at a distal end thereof for electrically contacting a mating board card, and the holding body is further injection molded on the second fixed portions of the plurality of ground terminals, such that the at least one pair of signal terminals, the plurality of ground terminals and the holding body become an integral piece.

[0018] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present application, the connector module includes a plurality of pairs of signal terminal modules, and the plurality of pairs of signal terminals and the plurality of ground terminals of the connector module are arranged in a row, and any pair of signal terminals is disposed between two ground terminals; the first elastic arms of the plurality of pairs of signal terminals and the second elastic arms of the plurality of ground terminals extend from a front side of the holding body for electrically contacting the mating board card.

[0019] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present application, the ground terminal further has a second soldering leg connected to two ends of the second fixed portion respectively; the first soldering legs of the plurality of pairs of signal terminals and the second soldering legs of the plurality of ground terminals extend from the rear side of the holding body for soldering to a circuit board.

[0020] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present application, the plurality of conductive pieces are connected to the first elastic arms of the plurality of signal terminals respectively, and the plurality of conductive pieces are not electrically connected to each other.

[0021] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present application, the signal terminal is a differential signal terminal for transmitting differential signals, and the differential signal terminals in the connector module are arranged in pairs.

[0022] According to another aspect of the present application, a connector is provided. The connector includes: a housing; and at least one pair of the signal terminal modules mounted into the housing.

[0023] According to another aspect of the present application, a connector is provided. The connector includes: a housing; and the connector module mounted into the housing.

[0024] In the foregoing exemplary embodiments of the present application, the conductive pieces attached to the elastic arms of the signal terminals can adjust the contact impedance of the electric contact portions of the elastic arms, so that the contact impedance of the electric contact portions of the elastic arms can be equal to or substantially equal to the designed nominal impedance, thereby improving the signal integrity of the signal transmission path.

[0025] Other objects and advantages of the present application will be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a connector module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

[0027] Figure 2 FIG. 2 shows a row of terminals of the connector module according to the exemplary embodiment of the present application;

[0028] Figure 3 FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a pair of signal terminal modules according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

[0029] Figure 4 FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the pair of signal terminal modules according to the exemplary embodiment of the present application;

[0030] Figure 5 A diagram showing electrical contact of a pair of signal terminal modules and a mating board according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

[0031] Figure 6 A graph showing an impedance curve according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

[0032] Figure 7 A graph showing a return loss curve according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The technical solutions of the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the description, identical or similar reference numerals indicate identical or similar components. The following description of the embodiments of the present application with reference to the drawings is intended to explain the general inventive concept of the present application and should not be construed as a limitation of the present application.

[0034] In addition, in the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present application. It will be apparent, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art that one or more embodiments can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are not described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the drawings.

[0035] According to one general inventive concept, a signal terminal module is provided. The signal terminal module includes a signal terminal having a first fixed portion and a first elastic arm connected to the first fixed portion, and a conductive sheet attached to the first elastic arm of the signal terminal. The first elastic arm has a first electrical contact portion at a distal end thereof for electrical contact with a mating board, and the conductive sheet is used to adjust a contact impedance of the first electrical contact portion of the signal terminal.

[0036] According to another general inventive concept, a connector module is provided. The connector module includes at least one pair of signal terminal modules, and a holding body injection-molded on the first fixed portions of the at least one pair of signal terminals such that the at least one pair of signal terminals and the holding body are integrated.

[0037] According to another general inventive concept, a connector is provided. The connector includes a housing, and at least one pair of the aforementioned signal terminal modules mounted in the housing.

[0038] According to another general inventive concept, a connector is provided. The connector includes a housing, and the aforementioned connector module mounted in the housing.

[0039] According to another general inventive concept, a connector is provided. The connector includes a housing, and at least one pair of the aforementioned signal terminal modules mounted in the housing.

[0039] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a connector module 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application; Figure 2 shows a row of terminals of the connector module 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a pair of signal terminal modules 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application; Figure 4 shows an exploded view of the pair of signal terminal modules 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application; Figure 5 shows a view of the pair of signal terminal modules 100 and the mating board card 5 in electrical contact according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application.

[0040] As shown in Figures 1 to 5 In an exemplary embodiment of the present application, a signal terminal module 100 is disclosed. The signal terminal module 100 includes a signal terminal 1 and a conductive sheet 3. The signal terminal 1 has a first fixed portion 10 and a first elastic arm 11 connected to the first fixed portion 10. The conductive sheet 3 is attached to the first elastic arm 11 of the signal terminal 1. The first elastic arm 11 has a first electrical contact portion 13 at its end for electrical contact with a mating board card 5, and the conductive sheet 3 is used to adjust the contact impedance of the first electrical contact portion 13 of the signal terminal 1 so that the contact impedance of the first electrical contact portion 13 of the first elastic arm 11 can be equal to or substantially equal to the designed nominal impedance, thereby improving the signal integrity of the signal transmission path.

[0041] As shown in Figures 1 to 5 In the illustrated embodiment, the conductive sheet 3 is attached to the first elastic arm 11 of the signal terminal 1 at a portion close to the first electrical contact portion 13.

[0042] As shown in Figures 1 to 5 In the illustrated embodiment, the first electrical contact portion 13 has an electrical contact surface 13a for electrical contact with the mating board card 5, and the conductive sheet 3 is attached to the side of the first elastic arm 11 of the signal terminal 1 that faces away from the electrical contact surface 13a.

[0043] However, the present application is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, for example, the first elastic arm 11 has a front surface and a back surface opposite in thickness, and the conductive sheet 3 can be attached to the front surface or the back surface of the first elastic arm 11 of the signal terminal 1.

[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, only one conductive sheet 3 is attached to each signal terminal 1. However, the present application is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, for example, the signal terminal module 100 can include a plurality of conductive sheets 3, and the plurality of conductive sheets 3 are respectively attached to the front surface and / or the back surface of the first elastic arm 11 of the signal terminal 1.

[0045] AsFigures 1 to 5 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the conductive sheet 3 can be soldered or pressed onto the first elastic arm 11 of the signal terminal 1, as long as the conductive sheet 3 can be electrically connected to the first elastic arm 11 of the signal terminal 1.

[0046] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown, in the illustrated embodiment, the first elastic arm 11 of the signal terminal 1 is bent into a predetermined shape, and the first electrical contact portion 13 of the signal terminal 1 is bent into an arc shape.

[0047] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the conductive sheet 3 and the signal terminal 1 can be made of the same conductive material or different conductive materials. For example, the signal terminal 1 can be made of copper or a copper alloy. The conductive sheet 3 can be made of copper, a copper alloy, silver, or a silver alloy.

[0048] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the signal terminal 1 also has a first soldering foot 12, and the first elastic arm 11 and the first soldering foot 12 are respectively connected to the two ends of the first fixing part 10.

[0049] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, signal terminal 1 is a one-piece stamped terminal. This reduces manufacturing costs and improves manufacturing efficiency.

[0050] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, signal terminal 1 can be a differential signal terminal 1 used for transmitting differential signals.

[0051] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown, in another exemplary embodiment of this utility model, a connector module 200 is also disclosed. The connector module 200 includes at least one pair of signal terminal modules 100 and a retainer 4. The retainer 4 is injection molded onto a first fixing portion 10 of at least one pair of signal terminals 1, such that the at least one pair of signal terminals 1 and the retainer 4 are integrally formed.

[0052] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the connector module 200 further includes a plurality of grounding terminals 2, each grounding terminal 2 having a second fixing portion 20 and a second elastic arm 21 connected to the second fixing portion 20. The second elastic arm 21 has a second electrical contact portion 23 located at its end for electrical contact with the mating board 5. The retainer 4 is also injection molded onto the second fixing portion 20 of the plurality of grounding terminals 2, such that at least one pair of signal terminals 1, the plurality of grounding terminals 2 and the retainer 4 are integrated into a single piece.

[0053] like Figures 1 to 5As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the connector module 200 includes a plurality of pairs of signal terminal modules 100, the plurality of pairs of signal terminals 1 and the plurality of ground terminals 2 of the connector module 200 are arranged in a row, and any pair of signal terminals 1 is disposed between two ground terminals 2. The first elastic arms 11 of the plurality of pairs of signal terminals 1 and the second elastic arms 21 of the plurality of ground terminals 2 protrude from the front side of the holding body 4 for electrical contact with the mating board card 5.

[0054] As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the signal terminal 1 further has a first soldering leg 12 connected to the first fixed portion 10 at two ends thereof. The first soldering leg 12 of the signal terminal 1 and the second soldering leg 22 of the ground terminal 2 protrude from the rear side of the holding body 4 for soldering to a circuit board. Figures 1 to 5 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the signal terminal 1 further has a first soldering leg 12 connected to the first fixed portion 10 at two ends thereof. The first soldering leg 12 of the signal terminal 1 and the second soldering leg 22 of the ground terminal 2 protrude from the rear side of the holding body 4 for soldering to a circuit board.

[0055] Figures 1 to 5 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of conductive sheets 3 are connected to the first elastic arms 11 of the plurality of signal terminals 1 respectively, and the plurality of conductive sheets 3 are not electrically connected to each other. That is, the plurality of conductive sheets 3 are separated from each other.

[0056] As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the signal terminal 1 is a differential signal terminal for transmitting differential signals, and the differential signal terminals in the connector module 200 are arranged in pairs. Figures 1 to 5 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the signal terminal 1 is a differential signal terminal for transmitting differential signals, and the differential signal terminals in the connector module 200 are arranged in pairs.

[0057] Figures 1 to 5 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the connector further includes at least one connector module 200. The connector module 200 is mounted into the housing.

[0058] As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the connector further includes at least one connector module 200. The connector module 200 is mounted into the housing. Figure 6 The inventor of the present application has found through experimental tests that the signal transmission integrity of the signal terminal 1 of the present application with the conductive sheet 3 is obviously superior to that of the signal terminal without the conductive sheet. Among them,

[0059] shows an impedance curve diagram according to one exemplary embodiment of the present application; Figure 7 shows a return loss curve diagram according to one exemplary embodiment of the present application. Figure 6 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the signal terminal 1 further has a first soldering leg 12 connected to the first fixed portion 10 at two ends thereof. The first soldering leg 12 of the signal terminal 1 and the second soldering leg 22 of the ground terminal 2 protrude from the rear side of the holding body 4 for soldering to a circuit board.

[0060] Figure 7 ​​​As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the signal terminal without the added conductive patch 3 does not achieve good impedance results. There is a severe impedance mismatch in the time slot of 0.1 ns to 0.125 ns, with impedance peaks as high as about 89 ohms. The signal terminal with the added conductive patch 3 has a significantly lower impedance in the time slot of 0.1 ns to 0.125 ns, with no impedance mismatch.

[0061] As ​ As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the signal terminal with the added conductive patch 3 has significantly better return loss results before 65G than the signal terminal without the added conductive patch 3.

[0062] Those skilled in the art can understand that the above-described embodiments are exemplary, and those skilled in the art can make improvements on them, and the structures described in various embodiments can be freely combined without structural or principle conflicts, and these changes should fall within the protection scope of the present application.

[0063] Although the present application has been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the embodiments disclosed in the drawings are intended to exemplarily illustrate the preferred embodiments of the present application, and cannot be understood as a limitation of the present application.

[0064] Although some embodiments of the general concept of the present application have been shown and described, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general concept of the present application, and the scope of the present application is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

[0065] It should be noted that the wording "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the wording "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. In addition, any reference signs in the claims should not be understood as limiting the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A signal terminal module characterized by comprising: comprising: a signal terminal (1) having a first fixed portion (10) and a first elastic arm (11) connected to the first fixed portion (10); and a conductive sheet (3) attached to the first elastic arm (11) of the signal terminal (1), the first elastic arm (11) having a first electrical contact portion (13) at its end for electrical contact with a mating board card (5), the conductive sheet (3) being for adjusting the contact impedance of the first electrical contact portion (13) of the signal terminal (1).

2. The signal terminal module according to claim 1, characterized in that: the conductive sheet (3) is attached to the first elastic arm (11) of the signal terminal (1) at a portion close to the first electrical contact portion (13).

3. The signal terminal module according to claim 2, characterized in that: the first elastic arm (11) has a front surface and a back surface opposite to each other in its thickness, the conductive sheet (3) being attached to the front surface or the back surface of the first elastic arm (11) of the signal terminal (1).

4. The signal terminal module according to claim 3, characterized in that: the signal terminal module comprises a plurality of conductive sheets (3), the plurality of conductive sheets (3) being respectively attached to the front surface and / or the back surface of the first elastic arm (11) of the signal terminal (1).

5. The signal terminal module according to claim 2, characterized in that: the first electrical contact portion (13) has an electrical contact surface (13a) for electrical contact with the mating board card (5), the conductive sheet (3) being attached to the side of the first elastic arm (11) of the signal terminal (1) opposite to the electrical contact surface (13a).

6. The signal terminal module according to claim 1, characterized in that: the conductive sheet (3) is welded or crimped to the first elastic arm (11) of the signal terminal (1).

7. The signal terminal module according to claim 1, characterized in that: the first elastic arm (11) of the signal terminal (1) is bent into a predetermined shape, and the first electrical contact portion (13) of the signal terminal (1) is bent into an arc shape.

8. The signal terminal module according to claim 1, characterized in that: the conductive sheet (3) and the signal terminal (1) are made of the same conductive material or different conductive materials.

9. The signal terminal module according to claim 1, characterized in that: the signal terminal (1) is made of copper or copper alloy, and the conductive sheet (3) is made of copper, copper alloy, silver or silver alloy.

10. The signal terminal module according to claim 1, characterized in that: the signal terminal (1) further has a first soldering leg (12), the first elastic arm (11) and the first soldering leg (12) being respectively connected to both ends of the first fixed portion (10).

11. The signal terminal module of claim 10, characterized by: the signal terminal (1) is an integrated stamping terminal.

12. The signal terminal module of claim 1, characterized by: the signal terminal (1) is a differential signal terminal (1) for transmitting differential signals.

13. A connector module characterized by comprising: comprising: at least one pair of the signal terminal module (100) according to any one of claims 1-12; and A holding body (4) is injection molded on the first fixing portions (10) of the at least one pair of signal terminals (1) so that the at least one pair of signal terminals (1) and the holding body (4) become an integral piece.

14. The connector module of claim 13, wherein, Further comprising: a plurality of ground terminals (2), each ground terminal (2) having a second fixing portion (20) and a second elastic arm (21) connected to the second fixing portion (20), the second elastic arm (21) having a second electrical contact portion (23) at its end for electrical contact with a mating board card (5), the holding body (4) being further injection molded on the second fixing portions (20) of the plurality of ground terminals (2) so that the at least one pair of signal terminals (1), the plurality of ground terminals (2) and the holding body (4) become an integral piece.

15. The connector module of claim 14, wherein: the connector module (200) comprises a plurality of pairs of signal terminal modules (100), the plurality of pairs of signal terminals (1) and the plurality of ground terminals (2) of the connector module (200) are arranged in a row, and any pair of signal terminals (1) is disposed between two ground terminals (2); the first elastic arms (11) of the plurality of pairs of signal terminals (1) and the second elastic arms (21) of the plurality of ground terminals (2) protrude from a front side of the holding body (4) for electrical contact with the mating board card (5).

16. The connector module of claim 15, wherein: the ground terminals (2) further have second soldering legs (22) connected to two ends of the second fixing portions (20) respectively; the first soldering legs (12) of the plurality of pairs of signal terminals (1) and the second soldering legs (22) of the plurality of ground terminals (2) protrude from a rear side of the holding body (4) for soldering to a circuit board.

17. The connector module of claim 13, wherein: a plurality of the conductive sheets (3) are connected to the first elastic arms (11) of the plurality of signal terminals (1) respectively, and the plurality of conductive sheets (3) are not electrically connected to each other.

18. The connector module of any one of claims 13-17, wherein: the signal terminals (1) are differential signal terminals for transmitting differential signals, and the differential signal terminals in the connector module (200) are arranged in pairs.

19. A connector characterized by comprising: comprising: a housing; and at least one pair of the signal terminal modules (100) of any one of claims 1-12 mounted into the housing.

20. A connector characterized by comprising: comprising: a housing; and the connector module (200) of any one of claims 13-18 mounted into the housing.

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