Electrical connector

Abstract

An electrical connector includes an insulating body, a first terminal group and a second terminal group integrated within the insulating body, a plurality of signal terminals and a plurality of ground terminals arranged side-by-side at intervals between the first terminal group and the second terminal group, and a conductive plastic member disposed between the first terminal group and the second terminal group and contacting the ground terminals. The conductive plastic member extends outwardly with an extension plate that shields the signal terminals and the ground terminals, thereby shielding signal interference between the first terminal group and the second terminal group. The conductive plastic member includes a plurality of metal grounding elements, each extending with a plurality of grounding spring arms that contact the ground terminals, thereby increasing the grounding area and improving signal transmission stability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector that can improve crosstalk interference and grounding effect. Background Technology

[0002] High-speed connectors are used for high-speed data transmission and are commonly found in large communication equipment, high-end storage devices, ultra-high-performance servers, industrial computers, and other similar devices. During signal transmission, crosstalk interference can easily occur between the terminals, affecting the signal transmission performance of high-speed connectors. Common high-speed connectors on the market incorporate conductive plastic structures between the terminals to mitigate crosstalk. For example, Taiwan Utility Model Patent No. M560138 discloses a connector with a conductive plastic component, comprising an insulating body, a terminal block fixed to the insulating body, several signal terminals fixed to the terminal block, several grounding terminals fixed to the terminal block, and at least one conductive plastic component disposed on the terminal block, with a portion of the conductive plastic component exposed outside the terminal block and abutting against the grounding terminal. In this design, because the area shielded by the conductive plastic component is small, crosstalk interference still occurs between the terminals during signal transmission. Furthermore, the contact area between the conductive plastic component and the grounding terminal is small, which is detrimental to achieving a good grounding effect.

[0003] Given the above shortcomings, it is necessary to provide an electrical connector that can improve crosstalk interference and grounding performance. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector that can improve crosstalk interference and grounding performance.

[0005] To overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies, this utility model discloses an electrical connector comprising an insulating body, a first terminal block installed in the insulating body, a first terminal group installed in the first terminal block, and having a plurality of signal terminals and a plurality of ground terminals arranged side-by-side at intervals, with two adjacent signal terminals disposed between two ground terminals, a second terminal block installed in the insulating body and coupled to the first terminal block, and a second terminal group installed in the second terminal block, having a plurality of signal terminals and a plurality of ground terminals arranged side-by-side at intervals, with two adjacent signal terminals disposed between two ground terminals, and a conductive plastic component clamped and fixed between the first terminal block and the second terminal block to conduct electricity between the ground terminals in the first terminal group and the second terminal group, the conductive plastic component comprising a main body. And a number of metal grounding components are attached to the main body of the conductive plastic component. Each metal grounding component is provided with a base plate and a number of grounding spring arms that extend outward from two opposite sides of the base plate and contact the grounding terminal. Each of the two opposite sides of the base plate has at least two grounding spring arms. The top and bottom of the base plate protrude from the top and bottom walls of the first terminal block and the second terminal block. The grounding spring arms are located above and below the first terminal block and the second terminal block.

[0006] Furthermore, each of the grounding spring arms includes a connecting portion extending outward from the side edge of the substrate and a bent portion extending outward from the outer end of the connecting portion and then bent inward. An arc-shaped abutting portion is formed by the outer surface of the bent portion protruding outward at the end of the bent portion, and the abutting portion abuts against the grounding terminal.

[0007] Furthermore, an opening is formed at the center of the substrate, the opening is connected to the main body, the side edge of the substrate is recessed inward to form at least one notch, and the main body extends an extension plate in the upward and downward directions, the notch is connected to the extension plate.

[0008] Furthermore, the inner surface of the first terminal block is recessed inward to form a first groove, and the inner surface of the second terminal block is recessed inward to form a second groove. The first terminal block and the second terminal block are combined, and the first groove and the second groove together define a mating space to accommodate the conductive plastic part.

[0009] Furthermore, the top and bottom walls of the first terminal block form a plurality of first slots, the plurality of first slots connecting to the first groove and penetrating the top and bottom walls of the first terminal block; the top and bottom walls of the second terminal block form a plurality of second slots, the plurality of second slots connecting to the second groove and penetrating the top and bottom walls of the second terminal block; the first slots and the second slots are aligned with each other and together define a plug-in space to accommodate the metal grounding member.

[0010] Furthermore, an insertion groove is formed between the inner wall surface of each of the grounding spring arms and the substrate. The insertion groove located on one side of the substrate is aligned with the first slot, and the insertion groove located on the other side of the substrate is aligned with the second slot. The top and bottom walls of the first terminal block and the second terminal block are respectively inserted into the insertion groove.

[0011] Furthermore, the inner wall surfaces of the first slot and the second slot are both inclined to form a guide surface with one side facing outwards, and the side of the grounding spring arm closest to the guide surface can be configured as a chamfered corner structure or a rounded corner structure.

[0012] Furthermore, each of the signal terminals and each of the ground terminals is provided with a fixing portion covered in the first terminal block and the second terminal block, a mating portion extending from the upper end of the fixing portion, and a welding portion extending from the lower end of the fixing portion. The extension plate extends out of the top and bottom ends of the first terminal block and the second terminal block. The vertical length of the extension plate does not exceed the vertical length of the fixing portion. The top end of the metal grounding member is aligned with the top end of the extension plate, and the bottom end of the metal grounding member is aligned with the bottom end of the extension plate.

[0013] Furthermore, the main body is provided with a plurality of connecting blocks extending toward the grounding terminal, and the surface of the connecting block forms at least one protrusion that abuts against the fixing portion of the grounding terminal. The grounding spring arm is located above and below the protrusion and abuts against the fixing portion of the grounding terminal.

[0014] In summary, this utility model provides an electrical connector comprising an insulating body, a first terminal group and a second terminal group integrated into the insulating body, a plurality of signal terminals and a plurality of grounding terminals arranged side-by-side at intervals between the first terminal group and the second terminal group, and a conductive plastic member disposed between the first terminal base and the second terminal base and in contact with the grounding terminals. The conductive plastic member extends outward to shield the extension plate of the fixing portion of the signal terminals and the grounding terminals, thereby shielding signal interference between the first terminal group and the second terminal group. The conductive plastic member has a plurality of metal grounding members, which extend outward to form a plurality of grounding spring arms contacting the grounding terminals, thereby increasing the grounding area and improving signal transmission stability. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the electrical connector of this utility model.

[0016] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the electrical connector of this utility model.

[0017] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the terminal assembly of the electrical connector of this utility model.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a partial exploded view of the conductive plastic part and the metal grounding part of the electrical connector of this utility model.

[0019] Figure 5 The first terminal block and the second terminal block of the electrical connector of this utility model are in Figure 3 A magnified view of part A in the middle.

[0020] Figure 6 This is a partial top view of the signal terminal and grounding terminal of the electrical connector of this utility model.

[0021] Figure 7 The terminal group of the electrical connector of this utility model is along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of line II. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To illustrate the technical content, structural features, objectives, and technical effects of this utility model in detail, the following embodiments are provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0023] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 This utility model discloses an electrical connector 100, which includes a housing 1, an insulating body 2 housed inside the housing 1, and a terminal group 3 installed inside the insulating body 2.

[0024] Please see Figure 3 The terminal group 3 includes a first terminal group 31, a second terminal group 32 connected to the first terminal group 31, a conductive plastic component 33 disposed between the first terminal group 31 and the second terminal group 32, and a plurality of metal grounding components 34 equidistantly connected to the conductive plastic component 33. The first terminal group 31 includes a strip-shaped first terminal base 311 and a plurality of signal terminals 35 and a plurality of grounding terminals 36 embedded in the first terminal base 311. The second terminal group 32 includes a strip-shaped second terminal base 321 and a plurality of signal terminals 35 and a plurality of grounding terminals 36 embedded in the second terminal base 321. And as... Figure 6 As shown, the signal terminals 35 and the ground terminals 36 are spaced apart and arranged side by side. Two adjacent signal terminals 35 form a differential pair and are disposed between the two ground terminals 36. The ground terminals 36 are also disposed on both outer sides of the differential pair. The conductive plastic component 33 contacts the ground terminals 36 to connect all the ground terminals 36 in series. The metal grounding component 34 can absorb and shield the high-frequency interference generated by the signal terminals 35. The contact between the ground terminals 36 and the metal grounding component 34 increases the grounding area, thereby improving the signal interference immunity of the terminal group 3.

[0025] Please see Figure 2 and Figure 3 The first terminal block 311 and the second terminal block 321 are enclosed in the insulating body 2, and the conductive plastic part 33 is clamped and fixed between the first terminal block 311 and the second terminal block 321. The metal grounding part 34 is fixed between the first terminal block 311 and the second terminal block 321.

[0026] Please see Figure 3 and Figure 4The conductive plastic component 33 is made of conductive plastic and includes a long strip-shaped main body 331, a plurality of connecting blocks 332 extending outward from the main body 331, and an extension plate 334 extending outward from the main body 331. The extension plate 334 extends in a direction parallel to the terminal group 3, and the extension direction of the extension plate 334 is orthogonal to the extension direction of the connecting blocks 332. The main body 331 is disposed between the first terminal base 311 and the second terminal base 321. The connecting blocks 332 are continuously disposed on the main body 331 at fixed intervals and are configured to align with the grounding terminal 36. The signal terminal 35 is disposed in the interval between two of the connecting blocks 332 and maintains a distance from the main body 331 of the conductive plastic component 33 to prevent short circuits caused by contact with the conductive plastic component 33. The distance between the center lines of any two adjacent connecting blocks 332 is the same as the distance between the center lines of any two adjacent grounding terminals 36, ensuring that all grounding terminals 36 are interconnected through the conductive plastic component 33 and have the same potential. The extension plate 334 is disposed on the symmetrical surface of the first terminal group 31 and the second terminal group 32 and extends beyond the upper and lower ends of the first terminal base 311 and the second terminal base 321, thereby blocking signal interference between the first terminal group 31 and the second terminal group 32.

[0027] Please see Figure 3 and Figure 4The metal grounding component 34 is formed by continuous stamping of a metal sheet and embedded in the conductive plastic component 33 by injection molding. Each metal grounding component 34 is combined with each connecting block 332. Each metal grounding component 34 has a base plate 341 and a plurality of grounding spring arms 342 extending outward from the side edge of the base plate 341 and electrically contacting the grounding terminal 36. The base plate 341 is a rectangular plate extending in a direction orthogonal to the conductive plastic component 33. In this embodiment, four grounding spring arms 342 are provided. The grounding spring arms 342 extend symmetrically on opposite side edges of the base plate 341 and are symmetrically located on opposite sides of the extension plate 334. The grounding spring arms 342 located on both sides of the base plate 341 are respectively electrically connected to the grounding terminals 36 in the first terminal group 31 and the second terminal group 32 to increase the grounding area of ​​the metal grounding component 34 and the grounding terminal 36, thereby improving the signal transmission stability of the electrical connector 100. Furthermore, the thickness of the substrate 341 and the grounding spring arm 342 are the same. Each grounding spring arm 342 is provided with a connecting portion 343 extending outward from the side edge of the substrate 341 and a bending portion 344 extending outward from the outer side wall of the connecting portion 343 and then bending inward. An arc-shaped abutting portion 345 is formed by protruding outward from the outer surface at the end of the bending portion 344. The abutting portion 345 abuts against the grounding terminal 36.

[0028] Please see Figure 4 The inner end of the connecting portion 343 is connected to the side edge of the substrate 341, and the outer end of the connecting portion 343 is connected to the bent portion 344. The two bent portions 344 located above the metal grounding member 34 are inverted U-shaped. The two bent portions 344 located below the metal grounding member 34 are U-shaped. The inner end of the bent portion 344 is connected to the outer end of the connecting portion 343, and the outer end of the bent portion 344 is connected to the abutment portion 345.

[0029] Please see Figure 4 An opening 346 is formed at the center of the substrate 341. The cross-sectional area of ​​the opening 346 is approximately the same as that of the main body 331. The upper and lower edges of the substrate 341 are recessed inwards to form at least one notch 347. The depth of the notch 347 does not exceed the height of the extension plate 334. During injection molding, the opening 346 and the notch 347 are filled with molten plastic and act as a limiting element after the plastic solidifies, thereby making the connection between the conductive plastic part 33 and the metal grounding part 34 more stable. The opening 346 is correspondingly connected to the main body 331, and the notch 347 is correspondingly connected to the extension plate 334.

[0030] Please see Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 as well as Figure 7 To fix the conductive plastic component 33 into the terminal group 3, the inner surface of the first terminal base 311 is recessed inward to form a first groove 312, and the inner surface of the second terminal base 321 is recessed inward to form a second groove 322. The first terminal base 311 and the second terminal base 321 are combined, and the first groove 312 and the second groove 322 together define a mating space to accommodate the conductive plastic component 33. The top and bottom walls of the first terminal base 311 form a plurality of first slots 313 that penetrate the top and bottom walls and are equidistantly arranged. The first slots 313 communicate with the first groove 312 and penetrate the top and bottom walls of the first terminal base 311. The top and bottom walls of the second terminal base 321 form a plurality of second slots 323 that penetrate the top and bottom walls and are equidistantly arranged. The second slots 323 communicate with the second groove 312 and penetrate the top and bottom walls of the second terminal base 321. The first slot 313 and the second slot 323 are aligned with each other and together define a insertion space to accommodate the metal grounding member 34. A groove 348 is formed between the inner wall of each connecting portion 343 and the substrate 341, wherein the groove 348 on one side of the substrate 341 is aligned with the first slot 313, and the groove 348 on the other side of the substrate 341 is aligned with the second slot 323. The substrate 341 is inserted into the first slot 313 and the second slot 323, and the top and bottom walls of the first terminal block 311 and the second terminal block 321 are respectively inserted into the grooves 348.

[0031] Please see Figure 2 , Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 In the assembly of the electrical connector 100 of this utility model, the first terminal group 31 and the second terminal group 32 are first assembled manually onto the left and right sides of the integrally formed conductive plastic part 33 and the metal grounding part 34, respectively, and then inserted into the insulating body 2. Finally, the housing 1 covers the outside of the insulating body 2. Furthermore, the inner side of the first slot 313 and the inner side of the second slot 323 are both inclined to form an outward-facing guide surface 310. The connecting part 343 of the grounding spring arm 342 can be configured with a chamfered or rounded corner structure on the side near the guide surface 310, thereby reducing the resistance during assembly.

[0032] Please see Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 6 as well as Figure 7Each signal terminal 35 and each ground terminal 36 has a fixing portion 370, a mating portion 371, and a soldering portion 372. The fixing portion 370 is enclosed in the first terminal block 311 and the second terminal block 321. The mating portion 371 extends inward from the upper end of the fixing portion 370 and then extends outward, penetrating the interior of the insulating body 2 to electrically connect with a mating connector (not shown). The soldering portion 372 extends outward from the lower end of the fixing portion 370, protruding from the bottom end of the electrical connector 100 and soldered to a circuit board (not shown). In a preferred embodiment of the accompanying drawings, in the vertical direction, the vertical length of the extension plate 334 of the conductive plastic component 33 is approximately the same as the vertical length of the fixing portion 370 of the signal terminal 35 and the ground terminal 36, so that the extension plate 334 can just cover the fixing portion 370 of the signal terminal 35 and the ground terminal 36 on the first terminal group 31 and the fixing portion 370 of the signal terminal 35 and the ground terminal 36 on the second terminal group 32, thereby blocking signal interference between the first terminal group 31 and the second terminal group 32. In specific implementation, the vertical length of the extension plate 334 is greater than the vertical length of the first terminal base 311 and the second terminal base 321, but does not exceed the vertical length of the fixing portion 370 of the signal terminal 35 and the ground terminal 36. Furthermore, the vertical length of the metal grounding component 34 is greater than the vertical length of the first terminal base 311 and the second terminal base 321, but does not exceed the vertical length of the fixing portion 370 of the signal terminal 35 and the ground terminal 36. The top end of the metal grounding member 34 extends upward to align with the top end of the extension plate 334, and extends beyond the top surface of the first terminal block 311 and the top surface of the second terminal block 321. The bottom end of the metal grounding member 34 extends downward to align with the bottom end of the extension plate 334, and extends beyond the bottom surface of the first terminal block 311 and the bottom surface of the second terminal block 321.

[0033] Please see Figure 3 and Figure 6In this embodiment, the left and right sides of the mating portion 371 gradually narrow inward at their ends, such that the width of the end of the mating portion 371 is approximately one-third the width of the mating portion 371 extending beyond the fixing portion 370. This reduces the cross-sectional area of ​​the signal terminal 35 and the ground terminal 36, thereby reducing the impedance of the terminals and improving the high-frequency performance of the electrical connector 100. Furthermore, a single-sided recessed portion 373 is provided on the side adjacent to the fixing portion 370 of the signal terminal 35 and the fixing portion 370 of the ground terminal 36. Corresponding to the position of the recessed portion 373 of the signal terminal 35, the fixing portion 370 of the ground terminal 36 has a narrow portion 374 formed by inward recesses on both sides, with the recessed portion 373 and the narrow portion 374 facing each other. This reduces the cross-sectional area of ​​the fixing portion 370, thereby improving the impedance matching of the electrical connector 100 and enhancing the operational stability of the electrical connector 100 in high-frequency environments. Furthermore, to prevent gaps from forming between the grounding terminal 36 and the connecting block 332 when bent, at least one protrusion 333 is formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the connecting block 332 to abut against the grounding terminal 36. The degree of protrusion of the protrusion 333 can be easily adjusted during production to ensure reliable contact and connection between the connecting block 332 and the grounding terminal 36. In this embodiment, the protrusion 333 abuts against the narrow portion 374 of the fixing portion 370 of the grounding terminal 36. The holding portion 345 of the grounding spring arm 342 is located on both outer sides of the protrusion 333 and abuts against the top and bottom of the narrow portion 374 of the fixing portion 370 of the grounding terminal 36.

[0034] Please see Figure 2 and Figure 3 To enhance the positioning and holding between the insulating body 2 and the terminal group 3, the left and right inner sidewalls of the insulating body 2 extend inward to form a pair of elastically deformable latching arms 21. The terminal group 3 includes a pair of fixing grooves 39 formed by the inward recesses of the left and right sidewalls of the first terminal seat 311 and the second terminal seat 321. The latching arms 21 and the fixing grooves 39 are interlocked and fixed together. Furthermore, to enhance the positioning and holding between the housing 1 and the insulating body 2, the left and right sidewalls of the housing 1 are provided with a pair of first latches 11 and a pair of second latches 12. The second latches 12 are located above the first latches 11. In this embodiment, the first latches 11 are configured as elastic latching structures, and the second latches 12 are configured as protrusion structures that protrude inward from the inner surface of the housing 1. The left and right sidewalls of the insulating body 2 are recessed inward to form a first slot 22 and a second slot 23. The second slot 23 is located above the first slot 22. The first buckle 11 is fastened into the first slot 22, and the second buckle 12 is fastened into the second slot 23.

[0035] In summary, the electrical connector 100 of this invention electrically connects all the grounding terminals 36 in the first terminal group 31 and the second terminal group 32 through the conductive plastic component 33, thereby eliminating the potential difference between the grounding terminals 36 and pushing the resonant point of crosstalk to a higher frequency. The conductive plastic component 33 extends outward to form an extension plate 334 disposed on the symmetrical plane of the first terminal group 31 and the second terminal group 32. The extension plate 334 extends beyond the upper and lower ends of the first terminal base 311 and the second terminal base 321, thereby shielding the signal interference between the first terminal group 31 and the second terminal group 32. The metal grounding component 34 is coupled to the connecting block 332 in a direction orthogonal to the conductive plastic component 33. The metal grounding component 34 bends outward to form a plurality of grounding spring arms 342 that are electrically in contact with the grounding terminals 36, thereby obtaining a larger grounding area and improving the signal transmission stability of the electrical connector 100.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, characterized by, It comprises: an insulating body; a first terminal block, installed in the insulating body; a first terminal group, installed in the first terminal block, and having a plurality of signal terminals and a plurality of ground terminals arranged side by side at intervals, with two adjacent signal terminals disposed between two ground terminals; a second terminal block, installed in the insulating body and coupled to the first terminal block; a second terminal group, installed in the second terminal block, and having a plurality of signal terminals and a plurality of ground terminals arranged side by side at intervals, with two adjacent signal terminals disposed between two ground terminals; and a conductive plastic component, clamped and fixed to the first terminal block and... The second terminal block is connected to the grounding terminal in the first terminal group and the second terminal group. The conductive plastic part includes a main body and a plurality of metal grounding members attached to the main body of the conductive plastic part. Each metal grounding member is provided with a base plate and a plurality of grounding spring arms extending outward from two opposite sides of the base plate and contacting the grounding terminal. Each of the two opposite sides of the base plate has at least two grounding spring arms. The top and bottom of the base plate protrude from the top and bottom walls of the first terminal block and the second terminal block. The grounding spring arms are located above and below the first terminal block and the second terminal block.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein: Each of the grounding spring arms includes a connecting portion extending outward from the side edge of the substrate and a bent portion extending outward from the outer end of the connecting portion and then bending inward. At the end of the bent portion, an arc-shaped abutment portion is formed by protruding outward, and the abutment portion abuts against the grounding terminal.

3. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein: An opening is formed in the center of the substrate, which is connected to the main body. The side edge of the substrate is recessed inward to form at least one notch. An extension plate extends from the main body in the upward and downward directions, and the notch is connected to the extension plate.

4. The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner surface of the first terminal block is recessed inward to form a first groove, and the inner surface of the second terminal block is recessed inward to form a second groove. The first terminal block and the second terminal block are combined and the first groove and the second groove together define a mating space to accommodate the conductive plastic part.

5. The electrical connector according to claim 4, characterized in that: The top and bottom walls of the first terminal block form a plurality of first slots, the plurality of first slots connecting to the first groove and penetrating the top and bottom walls of the first terminal block. The top and bottom walls of the second terminal block form a plurality of second slots, the plurality of second slots connecting to the second groove and penetrating the top and bottom walls of the second terminal block. The first slots and the second slots are aligned with each other and together define a plug-in space to accommodate the metal grounding member.

6. The electrical connector according to claim 5, characterized in that: A groove is formed between the inner wall of each grounding spring arm and the substrate. The groove on one side of the substrate is aligned with the first slot, and the groove on the other side of the substrate is aligned with the second slot. The top and bottom walls of the first terminal block and the second terminal block are respectively inserted into the groove.

7. The electrical connector according to claim 5, characterized in that: The inner wall surfaces of the first slot and the second slot are both inclined to form a guide surface with one side facing outward. The side of the grounding spring arm closest to the guide surface can be configured as a chamfered corner structure or a rounded corner structure.

8. The electrical connector according to claim 3, characterized in that: Each of the signal terminals and each of the ground terminals is provided with a fixing portion covered in the first terminal block and the second terminal block, a mating portion extending from the upper end of the fixing portion, and a welding portion extending from the lower end of the fixing portion. The extension plate extends out of the top and bottom ends of the first terminal block and the second terminal block. The vertical length of the extension plate does not exceed the vertical length of the fixing portion. The top end of the metal grounding member is aligned with the top end of the extension plate, and the bottom end of the metal grounding member is aligned with the bottom end of the extension plate.

9. The electrical connector according to claim 8, characterized in that: The main body is provided with a plurality of connecting blocks extending toward the grounding terminal. The surface of the connecting block forms at least one protrusion that abuts against the fixing part of the grounding terminal. The grounding spring arm is located above and below the protrusion and abuts against the fixing part of the grounding terminal.

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