An electrical connector assembly and a communication device

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly and a communication device, the electrical connector assembly comprising a box assembly provided with a surrounding plate and formed with a hollow internal cavity, the surrounding plate being formed with a mounting end plate; at least one electrical connector module arranged in the internal cavity, the electrical connector module comprising a terminal module and a cage arranged around the terminal module; the cage comprising a top plate member and two side plate members, the cage being arranged to form a plug space for insertion of a mating module; a first heat dissipation member being fixedly combined with the top plate member and formed with a plurality of first heat dissipation protrusions, the first heat dissipation protrusions being arranged in an interval to form a first air flow channel extending in a first direction; a plurality of through holes being formed through the surrounding plate, the through holes and the first air flow channel forming an air communication path extending from one side of the box assembly to the internal cavity and to the other side of the box assembly in the first direction; the first direction intersecting with the insertion direction of the mating module and not being perpendicular to the insertion direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to an electrical connector assembly and a communication device. Background Technology

[0002] A common challenge faced by electrical system developers is thermal management. Heat generated by electronic components within a system can degrade their performance and even damage system components, such as electrical connectors. Electrical connectors are used to transmit data and / or power between different systems or devices. Data signals can be transmitted via (multiple) communication cables in the form of optical and / or electrical signals. Examples include IC connectors (PGA, etc.), IO connectors (DisplayPort, VGA, DVI, HDMI, USB, etc.), fiber optic connectors (FC, SC, ST, LC, D4, DIN, MU, MT, etc.), optical communication connectors (SFP, QSFP, OSFP, etc.), filter connectors, CATV connectors, backplane connectors, memory module / memory connectors (DDR, SIMM, DIMM, PCI, SIM, etc.), high-definition television connectors (RF coaxial connectors, etc.), flexible circuit board connectors (FPC, FFC, etc.), network cable connectors (RJ45, etc.), audio / video (AV) connectors, battery connectors, and so on.

[0003] In practical applications, due to functional requirements, multiple electrical connectors are often densely arranged within a single device. However, the space available for such a dense arrangement is limited. As the power of the connectors increases, they generate a significant amount of heat, which is concentrated between them and hinders heat dissipation. Furthermore, the dense arrangement of multiple connectors also makes it difficult to plug and unplug them into a mating connector module (such as an optical module handle). Additionally, in some special cases, the external space available for the mating connector module may also be limited. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide an electrical connector assembly and a communication device, which is suitable for multiple densely arranged configurations and facilitates heat dissipation.

[0005] To achieve the aforementioned objective, this application provides the following technical solution: An electrical connector assembly, comprising: A housing assembly having a hollow internal cavity, the housing assembly having a surrounding panel, the surrounding panel having a mounting end plate; At least one electrical connector module is assembled in the internal cavity of the housing assembly, the electrical connector module including a terminal module and a cage covering the periphery of the terminal module; The terminal module includes an insulator and a plurality of terminal pieces fixed to the insulator; The cage includes at least a top plate and two side plates extending downward from the two sides of the top plate. The cage encloses a plug-in space for inserting the docking module and forms an insertion port at one end. The first heat sink is fixed above the top plate. The first heat sink has a plurality of first heat sink protrusions, which are arranged at intervals to form a first airflow channel extending in a first direction. The enclosure has several through holes that connect the internal cavity to the outside. The through holes and the first air flow channel form an air communication path along the first direction from the outside of one side of the housing assembly to the internal cavity and then to the outside of the other side of the housing assembly. The first direction intersects with but is not perpendicular to the insertion direction of the docking module.

[0006] Furthermore, the first heat sink includes a first main board portion, and the first heat sink protrusion is integrally formed from the outer surface of the first main board portion toward the outer side away from the internal cavity.

[0007] Furthermore, a plurality of the first heat dissipation protrusions are arranged at intervals to form a second airflow channel extending along the insertion and removal direction of the docking module, and the second airflow channel is intersected and connected with the first airflow channel.

[0008] Furthermore, the cage also includes a bottom plate disposed opposite to the top plate component; The second heat sink is fixed to the bottom of the base plate. The lower surface of the second heat sink extends upward to form a plurality of second heat sink protrusions. The plurality of second heat sink protrusions are arranged at intervals to form a second airflow channel extending along the first direction. The through hole and the second air channel form an air communication path along the first direction from the outside of one side of the housing assembly to the inner cavity and then to the outside of the other side of the housing assembly.

[0009] Furthermore, it also includes: substrate components; The electrical connector module is integrated within the insertion and removal space of the cage and is located at the end of the docking module whose insertion and removal direction is away from the insertion port. The terminal piece is exposed downward and electrically connected and fixed to the base plate. Along the insertion direction of the docking module, the base plate is located in front of the second heat sink; An inclined portion is formed at one end of the second heat sink near the base plate along the insertion / removal direction of the docking module; The inclined angle portion is cut and formed at one end of the substrate near the second heat sink along the insertion and extraction direction of the docking module; The inclined portion and the mating inclined angle portion are adjacent to each other along the insertion and removal direction of the docking module; The extension direction of the front edge of the mating inclined angle portion along the pull-out direction of the docking module is the same as the first direction; The extension direction of the front edge of the inclined portion along the pull-out direction of the docking module is the same as the first direction.

[0010] Furthermore, the first motherboard portion of the first heat sink includes an extension portion extending along the insertion direction of the docking module to the front end of the electrical connector module. The upper surface of the extension portion is also provided with the first heat sink protrusion, and the lower surface of the extension portion extends downward to form a plurality of the first heat sink protrusions.

[0011] Furthermore, it also includes: a first elastic locking member, which straddles the first heat sink and extends downward at both ends to be correspondingly attached to and fastened to the outer surfaces of the two side plates.

[0012] Furthermore, a relief groove is formed in the first heat dissipation protrusion of the first heat dissipation component corresponding to the position of the first elastic locking member. The first elastic locking member is pressed against the upper surface of the first main board part at the position of the relief groove, and the relief groove is connected to the first air flow channel.

[0013] Furthermore, a clearance hole is formed through the top plate, and a thermal contact boss protrudes downward from the lower side of the first main board portion of the first heat sink, passing through the clearance hole and extending into the insertion / removal space.

[0014] To achieve the aforementioned objective, this application provides the following technical solution: A communication device comprising at least one electrical connector assembly as described in any of the above.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this application are: the electrical connector assembly is suitable for multiple densely arranged configurations and can facilitate heat dissipation. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the electrical connector assembly of this application.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a top view of the electrical connector assembly of this application after removing the top cover of the housing assembly.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a side view of the electrical connector assembly of this application.

[0019] Figure 4 It is self Figure 1 A cross-sectional view along line AA in the middle.

[0020] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Enlarged view of the structure within the dashed box.

[0021] Figure 6 yes Figure 2 A schematic diagram of one of the electrical connector modules in the viewpoint.

[0022] Figure 7 This is a bottom view of one of the electrical connector modules of the electrical connector assembly of this application.

[0023] Figure 8 This is a perspective view of one of the electrical connector modules of the electrical connector assembly of this application.

[0024] Figure 9 yes Figure 8 3D exploded view of the CEC connector module.

[0025] Figure 10 yes Figure 9 A three-dimensional diagram viewed from another angle. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0027] Please refer to the reference. Figures 1 to 10 As shown, the electrical connector assembly of this application mainly includes a housing assembly 1 and multiple electrical connector modules 2 assembled within the housing assembly 1. The housing assembly 1 includes an upper cover plate 11 and a lower cover plate 12 disposed opposite to each other, and a surrounding plate 13 surrounding the edges of the upper cover plate 11 and the lower cover plate 12. The upper cover plate 11, the lower cover plate 12, and the surrounding plate 13 together form an internal cavity 10, within which the multiple electrical connector modules 2 are assembled. In a preferred embodiment, the housing assembly 1 is cuboid or cube-shaped, but other shapes are also possible. The surrounding plate 13 is defined with a mounting end plate 131, the outer surface of which forms a planar extending mounting surface.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, multiple electrical connector modules 2 are arranged at an angle within the internal cavity 10 of the housing assembly 1. The structure is such that the mating direction of the electrical connector modules 2 and the mating module intersects the mounting surface but is not perpendicular. The purpose of this angled arrangement is to allow space for the mating module, allowing partial exposure of functional parts of the mating module into which the electrical connector module 2 is inserted, such as the operating lever. This makes it easier for the user to grasp the operating lever when the mating module needs to be removed, and also improves heat dissipation. This makes it possible to arrange multiple electrical connector modules 2 side-by-side in a dense arrangement. Furthermore, it indirectly allows the mating modules that are mated to it to also be angled, improving the utilization of external space in the housing assembly 1.

[0029] Furthermore, in this application, the electrical connector module 2 includes a terminal module (not shown) and a cage 22 surrounding the terminal module. The terminal module includes an insulator (not shown) and a plurality of terminal pieces (not shown) fixed to the insulator. As a common module, the terminal module will not be described in further detail in this application.

[0030] Please refer to the reference. Figures 5 to 10 As shown, the cage 22 includes at least a top plate 221, two side plates 222 extending downward from the two side edges of the top plate 221, and a bottom plate 223 disposed opposite to the top plate 221 and connected to the lower edges of the two side plates 222. The cage 22 encloses a plug-in space 220 for inserting the docking module and forms an insertion port 2201 at one end. The electrical connector assembly of this application also includes a first heat sink 3, which is fixedly attached to the top plate 221. The first heat sink 3 has a plurality of first heat sink protrusions 31 formed on it, and the plurality of first heat sink protrusions 31 are spaced apart to form a first airflow channel 301 extending along a first direction. The enclosure plate 13 has a plurality of through holes 130 through it, connecting the internal cavity 10 and the outside. The through holes 130 and the first airflow channel 301 form an air communication path along the first direction from the outside of one side of the housing assembly 1 to the internal cavity 10 and then to the outside of the other side of the housing assembly 1. The first direction intersects with but is not perpendicular to the insertion direction of the docking module.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the first heat sink 3 includes a first main board portion 30, and the first heat sink protrusion 31 extends integrally from the outer surface of the first main board portion 30 toward the outer side away from the internal cavity 10. In a more preferred embodiment, a plurality of the first heat sink protrusions 31 are arranged at intervals to form a second airflow channel 302 extending along the insertion / removal direction of the docking module, and the second airflow channel 302 intersects and communicates with the first airflow channel 301. In this application, by designing the through hole 130 and the first airflow channel 301 to form an air communication path connected along the first direction, it is possible to ensure smooth airflow inside and outside the housing assembly 1, while also ensuring the heat transfer efficiency between the air and the first heat sink 3.

[0032] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the electrical connector module 2 further includes a second heat sink 4, which is fixedly attached to the bottom of the base plate 223. The lower surface of the second heat sink 4 extends upward to form a plurality of second heat dissipation protrusions 41, which are spaced apart to form a second airflow channel 401 extending along the first direction. The through hole 130 and the second airflow channel 401 form an air communication path along the first direction from the outside of one side of the housing assembly 1 to the internal cavity 10 and then to the outside of the other side of the housing assembly 1. Similarly, to ensure smooth airflow inside and outside the housing assembly 1, and to guarantee the heat transfer efficiency between the air and the second heat sink 4, the overall heat dissipation capability of the electrical connector assembly is further improved.

[0033] Please refer to the reference. Figures 5 to 10 As shown in the embodiment of this application, a substrate 5 is also included. The substrate 5 can be a motherboard inside the communication device, or it can be a separate circuit board specifically for soldering the electrical connector module 2. The electrical connector module 2 is integrated within the insertion / removal space 220 of the cage 22 and is located at the end of the docking module that is away from the insertion port 2201 in the docking module insertion / removal direction. The terminal piece protrudes downwards and is electrically connected and fixed to the substrate 5. Along the insertion direction of the docking module, the substrate 5 is located in front of the second heat sink 4. To further maximize the overall heat dissipation capacity of the electrical connector module 2, the second heat sink 4 has an inclined portion 42 formed at the end of the substrate 5 near the insertion / removal direction of the docking module. The substrate 5 is cut to form a mating inclined angle portion 51 at the end near the second heat sink 4 along the insertion / removal direction of the docking module. The inclined portion 42 and the mating inclined angle portion 51 are adjacent along the insertion / removal direction of the docking module. The extension direction of the front edge of the mating inclined angle portion 51 along the removal direction of the docking module is the same as the first direction. The extension direction of the front edge of the inclined portion 42 along the pull-out direction of the docking module is the same as the first direction.

[0034] Furthermore, in order to make full use of the space around the electrical connector module 2 and further maximize the overall heat dissipation capacity of the electrical connector module 2, the first motherboard portion 30 of the first heat sink 3 also includes an extension portion (not labeled) extending along the insertion direction of the docking module to the front end of the electrical connector module 2. The upper surface of the extension portion is also provided with the first heat dissipation protrusion 31, and the lower surface of the extension portion extends downward to form a plurality of the first heat dissipation protrusions 31.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment of this application, the first heat sink 3 is movably assembled onto the cage 22 via a first elastic locking member. Specifically, the first elastic locking member 6 straddles the first heat sink 3 and extends downward at both ends, correspondingly engaging and snapping onto the outer surfaces of the two side plates 222. A clearance groove 303 is formed on the first heat sink 3's first heat sink protrusion 31 corresponding to the position of the first elastic locking member 6. The first elastic locking member 6 is pressed against the upper surface of the first main plate portion 30 at the location of the clearance groove 303, and the clearance groove 303 communicates with the first airflow channel 301. Preferably, the second heat sink 4 is assembled and fixed to the cage 22 in the same way, and will not be described in detail here.

[0036] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a clearance hole 2211 is formed through the top plate 221, and a thermal contact boss 33 protrudes downward from the lower side of the first main board portion 30 of the first heat sink 3, passing through the clearance hole 2211 and extending into the insertion / removal space 220. Similarly, a clearance hole 2231 is formed through the bottom plate 223, and a thermal contact boss 43 protrudes from the second heat sink 4, passing through the clearance hole 2211 and extending into the insertion / removal space 220.

[0037] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of this application, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly, characterized in that, include: The housing assembly (1) has a hollow internal cavity (10), and the housing assembly (1) is provided with a surrounding panel (13), and the surrounding panel (13) is defined to have a mounting end plate (131). At least one electrical connector module (2) is assembled in the internal cavity (10) of the housing assembly (1), the electrical connector module (2) including a terminal module (not shown) and a cage (22) covering the periphery of the terminal module. The terminal module includes an insulator (not shown) and a plurality of terminal pieces (not shown) fixed to the insulator. The cage (22) includes at least a top plate (221) and two side plates (222) extending downward from the two sides of the top plate (221). The cage (22) encloses a plug-in space (220) for inserting the docking module and forms an insertion port (2201) at one end. The first heat sink (3) is fixed above the top plate (221). A plurality of first heat sink protrusions (31) are formed on the first heat sink (3). The plurality of first heat sink protrusions (31) are arranged at intervals to form a first air flow channel (301) extending along the first direction. The enclosure (13) has a plurality of through holes (130) that connect the internal cavity (10) and the outside. The through holes (130) and the first air flow channel (301) form an air communication path along the first direction from the outside of one side of the housing assembly (1) to the internal cavity (10) and to the outside of the other side of the housing assembly (1). The first direction intersects with but is not perpendicular to the insertion direction of the docking module.

2. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The first heat sink (3) includes a first main board portion (30), and the first heat sink protrusion (31) is integrally formed from the outer surface of the first main board portion (30) to the outside away from the internal cavity (10).

3. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: A number of the first heat dissipation protrusions (31) are arranged at intervals to form a second air flow channel (302) extending along the insertion and removal direction of the docking module. The second air flow channel (302) is intersected and connected with the first air flow channel (301).

4. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The cage (22) also includes a bottom plate (223) disposed opposite to the top plate (221); The second heat sink (4) is fixed to the bottom of the base plate (223). The lower surface of the second heat sink (4) extends upward to form a plurality of second heat sink protrusions (41). The plurality of second heat sink protrusions (41) are arranged at intervals to form a second air flow channel (401) extending along the first direction. The through hole (130) and the second air channel (401) form an air communication path along the first direction from the outside of one side of the housing assembly (1) to the inner cavity (10) and to the outside of the other side of the housing assembly (1).

5. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that, Also includes: base plate parts (5); The electrical connector module (2) is integrated in the insertion and removal space (220) of the cage (22) and is located at the end of the docking module that is away from the insertion port (2201) in the insertion and removal direction. The terminal is exposed downward and electrically connected and fixed to the base plate (5). Along the insertion direction of the docking module, the base plate (5) is located in front of the second heat sink (4); An inclined portion (42) is formed on one end of the second heat sink (4) near the base plate (5) along the insertion / removal direction of the docking module; The inclined angle portion (51) is cut and formed on one end of the substrate (5) near the second heat sink (4) along the insertion and extraction direction of the docking module; The inclined portion (42) and the mating inclined angle portion (51) are adjacent to each other along the insertion and removal direction of the docking module; The extension direction of the front edge of the mating tilt angle portion (51) along the pull-out direction of the docking module is the same as the first direction; The extension direction of the front edge of the inclined portion (42) along the pull-out direction of the docking module is the same as that of the first direction.

6. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The first motherboard portion (30) of the first heat sink (3) includes an extension portion extending along the insertion direction of the docking module to the front end of the electrical connector module (2). The upper surface of the extension portion is also provided with the first heat sink protrusion (31), and the lower surface of the extension portion extends downward to form a plurality of the first heat sink protrusions (31).

7. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: The first elastic locking member (6) straddles the first heat sink (3) and extends downward at both ends and is correspondingly attached to the outer surface of the two side plate members (222).

8. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that: The first heat dissipation protrusion (31) of the first heat dissipation component (3) has a relief groove (303) formed at the position of the first elastic locking component (6). The first elastic locking component (6) is pressed against the upper surface of the first main board part (30) at the position of the relief groove (303). The relief groove (303) is connected to the first air flow channel (301).

9. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: A clearance hole (2211) is formed through the top plate (221), and a thermal contact boss (33) is formed on the lower side of the first main board part (30) of the first heat sink (3) protruding downward through the clearance hole (2211) and extending into the insertion space (220).

10. A communication device, characterized in that: It includes multiple electrical connector assemblies as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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