A spring terminal for an electrical connector and a double-row FPC electrical connector

Abstract

The application provides a spring terminal for an electric connector and a double-row FPC electric connector, comprising a base and at least two elastic arms connected to the base; the side of the elastic arm is provided with a bending structure for forming a wide contact surface; when connected to an external device, the contact surfaces of the multiple bending structures are electrically connected to the corresponding contact surfaces of the external device. The application solves the problem that the connection structure of the spring terminal is prone to broken contact by arranging the bending structure for forming a wide contact surface on the side of the elastic arm, and improves the reliability of the electric connection. Meanwhile, the application changes the existing contact structure by adding a specific bending structure, so that the contact surface of the contact is larger, the contact wear can be reduced while the installation pre-tightening force is ensured, and the product has better electrical performance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of electrical connection technology, specifically to a spring terminal for an electrical connector and a double-row FPC electrical connector. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, with the rapid development of the new energy industry, the process of intelligent upgrading of automobiles has also been continuously advancing. In this process, connectors, which serve as electrical connections, play a crucial role as hubs for signal or energy transmission. Future automotive connectors will be more segmented and more precise.

[0003] During the connector assembly manufacturing process, the terminals must make effective contact with the spring terminals to ensure the electrical connection performance of the connector. However, the existing spring terminal connection structure is prone to disconnection, which cannot guarantee the stability and reliability of the connection. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of the aforementioned problems, this application is made to provide a spring terminal and a double-row FPC electrical connector for electrical connectors that overcomes or at least partially solves the aforementioned problems.

[0005] This application provides a spring terminal for an electrical connector, comprising: a base and at least two elastic arms connected thereto; The side of the elastic arm is provided with a bending structure for forming a wide contact surface; When connected to an external device, the contact surfaces of the multiple bent structures are electrically connected to the corresponding contact surfaces of the external device.

[0006] Furthermore, the elastic arm includes a first elastic arm and a second elastic arm; the end of the first elastic arm is provided with a first bent portion that bends laterally thereon, and a second bent portion that bends laterally along the first bent portion; The end of the second elastic arm is provided with a third bending portion that bends laterally thereon, and a fourth bending portion that bends laterally along the third bending portion. When connected to an external device, the second bend and the fourth bend are electrically connected to the contact surface of the external device.

[0007] Furthermore, the first bent portion and the third bent portion are bent along the same side of the substrate; The second bending portion and the fourth bending portion are bent along the length extension direction of the corresponding elastic arm, respectively.

[0008] Furthermore, the length of the second elastic arm is greater than the length of the first elastic arm, and the fourth bending portion is disposed on the outer side of the end of the first elastic arm.

[0009] Furthermore, the first elastic arm and the second elastic arm are arranged parallel to each other along the axial direction.

[0010] Furthermore, the normals of the contact surfaces of the plurality of bending structures are arranged perpendicular to the axial direction of the first elastic arm.

[0011] Furthermore, the sides of the substrate are provided with barbs.

[0012] This application provides a dual-row FPC electrical connector, including: a male terminal assembly, a female terminal assembly, and two terminal groups, wherein the terminal groups include a plurality of spring-loaded terminals as described in any embodiment of this application; The terminal groups are arranged opposite to each other; the male terminal assembly has two FPC boards; the terminal groups correspond to the FPC boards; When the male terminal component is connected to the female terminal component, the contact surfaces of the plurality of bent structures are electrically connected to the contacts of the FPC board.

[0013] Furthermore, the male terminal component is provided with an isolation plate, and the two FPC boards are respectively disposed on different sides of the isolation plate; The isolation plate has several limiting protrusions on the side near the mother end assembly; the limiting protrusions and the isolation plate form a receiving cavity for accommodating the FPC board.

[0014] Furthermore, when the male end assembly is connected to the female end assembly, the first elastic arm and the second elastic arm pass through the space between two adjacent limiting protrusions.

[0015] This application has the following advantages: In the embodiments of this application, addressing the issue that existing spring-loaded terminal connection structures are prone to contact breakage, failing to guarantee connection stability and reliability, this application provides a solution by providing a bending structure forming a wide contact surface on the side of the elastic arm. Specifically, this involves: a base and at least two elastic arms connected thereto; the side of each elastic arm is provided with a bending structure for forming a wide contact surface; when connected to an external device, the contact surfaces of multiple bending structures are electrically connected to the corresponding contact surfaces of the external device. This application solves the problem of contact breakage in spring-loaded terminal connection structures by providing a bending structure forming a wide contact surface on the side of the elastic arm, thus improving the reliability of the electrical connection. Simultaneously, by adding a specific bending structure, this application alters the existing contact structure, resulting in a larger contact surface. This reduces contact wear while ensuring installation preload, leading to better electrical performance of the product. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this application, the drawings used in the description of this application will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the first structure of a spring terminal for an electrical connector according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a second structure of a spring-loaded terminal for an electrical connector provided in one embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of a dual-row FPC electrical connector according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 4 This is an exploded view of a dual-row FPC electrical connector according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the public terminal component in one embodiment of this application; The attached figures are labeled as follows: 100, spring-loaded terminal; 110, base; 111, barb; 120, first elastic arm; 121, first bend; 122, second bend; 130, second elastic arm; 131, third bend; 132, fourth bend; 200, male terminal assembly; 210, FPC board; 220, isolation plate; 221, limiting protrusion; 300, female terminal assembly; 400, TPA component. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To make the objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0019] The inventors discovered through analysis of existing technologies that the existing contact structure of spring terminals has a small contact area and a large contact resistance, which makes it easy for the connection to break. At the same time, the small contact surface is prone to burrs, which can damage the contact surface and make it impossible to guarantee the stability and reliability of the connection.

[0020] Reference Figure 1-2 This application shows a spring terminal 100 for an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present application, including: a base 110 and at least two elastic arms connected thereto; The side of the elastic arm is provided with a bending structure for forming a wide contact surface; When connected to an external device, the contact surfaces of the multiple bent structures are electrically connected to the corresponding contact surfaces of the external device.

[0021] In the embodiments of this application, addressing the issue that existing spring-loaded terminal connection structures are prone to contact breakage, failing to guarantee connection stability and reliability, this application provides a solution by providing a bent structure forming a wide contact surface on the side of the elastic arm. Specifically, this includes: a base 110 and at least two elastic arms connected thereto; the side of each elastic arm is provided with a bent structure for forming a wide contact surface; when connected to an external device, the contact surfaces of multiple bent structures are electrically connected to the corresponding contact surfaces of the external device. This application solves the problem of contact breakage in spring-loaded terminal connection structures by providing a bent structure forming a wide contact surface on the side of the elastic arm, improving the reliability of the electrical connection. Simultaneously, by adding a specific bent structure, this application changes the existing contact structure, making the contact surface larger, reducing contact wear while ensuring installation preload, and giving the product better electrical performance.

[0022] The spring terminal 100 for an electrical connector in this exemplary embodiment will now be further described.

[0023] In one embodiment of this application, the elastic arm includes a first elastic arm 120 and a second elastic arm 130; the end of the first elastic arm 120 is provided with a first bending portion 121 that bends laterally thereto, and a second bending portion 122 that bends laterally along the first bending portion 121. The end of the second elastic arm 130 is provided with a third bending portion 131 that bends laterally thereto, and a fourth bending portion 132 that bends laterally along the third bending portion 131. When connected to an external device, the second bending portion 122 and the fourth bending portion 132 are electrically connected to the contact surface of the external device.

[0024] It should be noted that the elastic arm may include at least two; by providing two bending portions on the same elastic arm, the side of the elastic arm with a large area can be bent to the side and thus form a wide contact surface.

[0025] As an example, the two bent portions of the same elastic arm can also be combined into a bent structure that transitions along the same curved surface, and a wide contact surface is formed on the side of the elastic arm.

[0026] In one embodiment of this application, the first bent portion 121 and the third bent portion 131 are bent along the same side of the substrate 110; The second bending portion 122 and the fourth bending portion 132 are bent along the length extension direction of the corresponding elastic arm, respectively.

[0027] It should be noted that when the elastic arm is bent in the aforementioned bending direction, hook-shaped structures can be formed in the second bending portion 122 and the fourth bending portion 132, respectively. When connected to an external device, the hook-shaped structure can form an interlocking transition structure at the end of the elastic arm, reducing the pressure on the contact surface of the external device when it squeezes the second bending portion 122 and the fourth bending portion 132, and causing the elastic arm to undergo elastic deformation, thereby providing a pre-tightening force for contact.

[0028] As an example, when the elastic arms are not in the same plane, the first bending portion 121 and the third bending portion 131 can also be bent along different sides of the base 110, so that the second bending portion 122 and the fourth bending portion 132 are in the same plane relative to the base 110.

[0029] In one embodiment of this application, the length of the second elastic arm 130 is greater than the length of the first elastic arm 120, and the fourth bending portion 132 is disposed on the outer side of the end of the first elastic arm 120.

[0030] It should be noted that the above structure places the second bending portion 122 and the fourth bending portion 132 in the same length direction, which can form two contact surfaces on the side of the elastic arm while minimizing the overall width of the spring terminal 100.

[0031] In one embodiment of this application, the first elastic arm 120 and the second elastic arm 130 are arranged parallel to each other along the axial direction.

[0032] It should be noted that when connected to external devices, the above structure ensures that the force state of the first elastic arm 120 and the second elastic arm 130 remains consistent, thereby guaranteeing service life.

[0033] In one embodiment of this application, the normals of the contact surfaces of the plurality of bending structures are arranged perpendicular to the axial direction of the first elastic arm 120.

[0034] It should be noted that the above structure allows the contact surfaces of the multiple bending structures to be compressed in a direction perpendicular to the elastic arm, preventing the elastic arm from deforming along the side.

[0035] In one embodiment of this application, the side of the substrate 110 is provided with barbs 111.

[0036] It should be noted that the barbs 111 may include at least two oppositely arranged, and the barbs 111 can penetrate the housing of the terminal to be installed to ensure the stability of the spring terminal 100 installation.

[0037] Reference Figure 3-5This application illustrates a dual-row FPC electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present application, comprising: a male terminal assembly 200, a female terminal assembly 300, and two terminal groups, wherein the terminal groups include a plurality of spring terminals 100 as described in any of the preceding claims; The terminal groups are arranged opposite to each other; the male terminal assembly 200 is provided with two FPC boards 210; each group of spring-loaded terminals 100 corresponds to one FPC board 210; When the male terminal assembly 200 is connected to the female terminal assembly 300, the coplanar contact structure of the spring terminal 100 is electrically connected to the contacts of the FPC board 210.

[0038] It should be noted that FPC board 210 (Flexible Printed Circuit) is a type of flexible circuit board that can function normally when bent, folded, or rolled.

[0039] In the electrical connector, two sets of spring terminals 100 are arranged opposite each other, ensuring that each spring terminal 100 can connect to the corresponding FPC board 210 contact. The two FPC boards 210 are clamped between the two sets of spring terminals 100, increasing the stability of the connection. Since the contacts of the FPC board 210 slide in contact with the contact surfaces of the multiple bent structures, and the contact surfaces of the bent structures have a yielding effect on the FPC board 210, the resistance between the FPC board 210 and the spring terminal 100 mating contact surfaces is small, making the mating operation convenient and effortless. At the same time, the two maintain elastic contact, ensuring reliable contact and helping to eliminate poor contact caused by assembly position errors, vibration displacement, etc., thereby ensuring the electrical connection performance after the connector is assembled.

[0040] In one embodiment of this application, the male terminal component 200 is provided with an isolation plate 220, and the two FPC boards 210 are respectively disposed on different sides of the isolation plate 220; The isolation plate 220 is provided with a plurality of limiting protrusions 221 on the side near the mother end assembly 300; the limiting protrusions 221 and the isolation plate 220 form a receiving cavity for accommodating the FPC board 210.

[0041] It should be noted that the structure of the isolation plate 220 and the limiting protrusion 221 can ensure the installation and isolation of different FPC boards 210 in the same male terminal assembly 200, as well as the isolation between different contacts on the same FPC board 210, thereby improving the environmental protection capability of the male terminal assembly 200 and preventing short circuits caused by foreign objects or condensation.

[0042] In one embodiment of this application, when the male end component 200 is connected to the female end component 300, the first elastic arm 120 and the second elastic arm 130 pass through the two adjacent limiting protrusions 221.

[0043] It should be noted that the aforementioned limiting protrusion 221 structure can also effectively isolate the elastic arms of multiple spring terminals 100, thereby improving the environmental protection capability of the connection structure between the spring terminals 100 and the FPC board 210.

[0044] In one specific embodiment of this application, it further includes: a TPA component 400; The TPA component 400 is mounted on one side of the male terminal assembly 200 and passes through the two FPC boards 210.

[0045] It should be noted that a TPA (Terminal Position Assurance) component is a structure used to ensure that the terminals in an electrical connector are correctly installed and held in a specified position. The TPA component 400 can ensure that the FPC board 210 can be stably installed in the male terminal assembly 200.

[0046] Although preferred embodiments of the present application have been described, those skilled in the art, upon learning the basic inventive concept, can make other changes and modifications to these embodiments. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as including the preferred embodiments as well as all changes and modifications falling within the scope of the embodiments of the present application.

[0047] Finally, it should be noted that in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or terminal device that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or terminal device. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or terminal device that includes said element.

[0048] The foregoing has provided a detailed description of a spring-loaded terminal and a double-row FPC electrical connector for electrical connectors. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The descriptions of the above embodiments are only for the purpose of helping to understand the methods and core ideas of this application. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope based on the ideas of this application. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

Claims

1. A spring-loaded terminal for an electrical connector, characterized in that, include: The matrix and at least two elastic arms connected thereto; The side of the elastic arm is provided with a bending structure for forming a wide contact surface; When connected to an external device, the contact surfaces of the multiple bent structures are electrically connected to the corresponding contact surfaces of the external device.

2. The spring-loaded terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic arm includes a first elastic arm and a second elastic arm; the end of the first elastic arm is provided with a first bent portion that bends laterally thereto, and a second bent portion that bends laterally along the first bent portion. The end of the second elastic arm is provided with a third bending portion that bends laterally thereon, and a fourth bending portion that bends laterally along the third bending portion. When connected to an external device, the second bend and the fourth bend are electrically connected to the contact surface of the external device.

3. The spring-loaded terminal according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first bend and the third bend are bent along the same side of the substrate; The second bending portion and the fourth bending portion are bent along the length extension direction of the corresponding elastic arm, respectively.

4. The spring-loaded terminal according to claim 2, characterized in that, The length of the second elastic arm is greater than the length of the first elastic arm, and the fourth bending portion is disposed on the outer side of the end of the first elastic arm.

5. The spring-loaded terminal according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first elastic arm and the second elastic arm are arranged parallel to each other along the axial direction.

6. The spring-loaded terminal according to claim 5, characterized in that, The normals of the contact surfaces of the plurality of bending structures are arranged perpendicular to the axial direction of the first elastic arm.

7. The spring-loaded terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sides of the substrate are provided with barbs.

8. A dual-row FPC electrical connector, characterized in that, include: A male terminal assembly, a female terminal assembly, and two terminal groups, wherein the terminal groups include a plurality of spring-loaded terminals as described in any one of claims 1-7; The terminal groups are arranged opposite to each other; the male terminal assembly has two FPC boards; the terminal groups correspond to the FPC boards; When the male terminal component is connected to the female terminal component, the contact surfaces of the plurality of bent structures are electrically connected to the contacts of the FPC board.

9. The dual-row FPC electrical connector according to claim 8, characterized in that, The male terminal component is provided with an isolation plate, and the two FPC boards are respectively disposed on different sides of the isolation plate; The isolation plate has several limiting protrusions on the side near the mother end assembly; the limiting protrusions and the isolation plate form a receiving cavity for accommodating the FPC board.

10. The dual-row FPC electrical connector according to claim 9, characterized in that, When the male end assembly is connected to the female end assembly, the first elastic arm and the second elastic arm pass through the space between two adjacent limiting protrusions.

Images