Electrical connector and electrically conductive terminal thereof

Abstract

The utility model relates to electronic device technical field especially, a kind of electric connector and its electrically-conductive terminal, electrically-conductive terminal includes the base portion that linearly extends along a up-down direction, the first elastic arm connected to the lower end of base portion and the second elastic arm connected to the upper end of base portion, base portion includes the barb section close to upper end and the holding section close to lower end, first elastic arm includes at least one S-shaped bending portion extending from the lower end of base portion and the first abutment section connected to S-shaped bending portion, second elastic arm includes U-shaped bending portion extending from the upper end of base portion and the second abutment section connected to U-shaped bending portion, second abutment section provides the butt joint in up-down direction, and first abutment section provides the butt joint along the thickness direction of base portion.The electrically-conductive terminal provided by the utility model can reduce the scratch length of electrically-conductive terminal when electrically-conductive terminal is installed in electric connector, prolong the service life of electrically-conductive terminal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of electronic device technology, and in particular to an electrical connector and its conductive terminals. Background Technology

[0002] Electrical connectors are key components in electronic systems for signal and power transmission. Their core performance depends on the reliability of the electrical connection established between the conductive terminals and the mating components during the mating process. To break the oxide film on the contact surfaces of the mating components and achieve good conductivity, the conductive terminals must be designed to allow for a certain relative sliding distance, which is called the "scraping length." Traditional electrical connector designs often rely on a large scraping length to ensure contact stability. However, longer scraping can accelerate the wear of the plating on the conductive terminal surface, reducing the lifespan of the electrical connector.

[0003] Therefore, it is necessary to provide an improved electrical connector with conductive terminals to improve the above-mentioned problems. Utility Model Content

[0004] The technical solution to be solved by this invention is to provide an electrical connector and its conductive terminals, which have a small scraping length when mating.

[0005] This invention provides a technical solution: a conductive terminal comprising a base extending linearly along a vertical direction, a first elastic arm connected to the lower end of the base, and a second elastic arm connected to the upper end of the base. The base includes a barbed section near the upper end and a retaining section near the lower end. The first elastic arm includes at least one S-shaped bend extending from the lower end of the base and a first abutting section connected to the S-shaped bend. The second elastic arm includes a U-shaped bend extending from the upper end of the base and a second abutting section connected to the U-shaped bend. The second abutting section provides a butt joint in the vertical direction, and the first abutting section provides a butt joint in the thickness direction of the base, which is perpendicular to the vertical direction.

[0006] This invention also provides a technical solution: an electrical connector, comprising a longitudinally extending insulating body and conductive terminals held in the insulating body. The insulating body includes a plurality of terminal receiving cavities spaced apart in the longitudinal direction to receive the conductive terminals. Each conductive terminal includes a base extending linearly in a vertical direction, a first elastic arm connected to the lower end of the base, and a second elastic arm connected to the upper end of the base. The base includes a retaining section near the lower end and a barbed section near the upper end, the retaining section and the barbed section being held in the terminal receiving cavity. The first elastic arm includes at least one S-shaped bend extending from the lower end of the base and a first abutting section connected to the S-shaped bend. The second elastic arm includes a U-shaped bend extending from the upper end of the base and a second abutting section connected to the U-shaped bend. The insulating body has an opposing upper surface, a lower surface, and a first side surface and a second side surface connecting the upper and lower surfaces and opposing each other. The terminal receiving cavity penetrates the upper surface and the first side surface. The first abutting section is exposed on the first side surface, and the second abutting section extends out of the upper surface.

[0007] Compared to existing technologies, when the conductive terminals of the electrical connector of this utility model are installed on the insulating body, the first contact area is exposed on the first side, and the second contact section extends out of the upper surface, which is beneficial for docking with different components in two directions. The first elastic arm of the conductive terminal includes an S-shaped bend. During docking, when the first contact section is subjected to a large force along the thickness direction of the base, the bending structure of the S-shaped bend achieves force balance, which can reduce the displacement of the contact point in the vertical direction, thereby reducing the scraping length of the conductive terminal when it is installed in the electrical connector and extending the service life of the conductive terminal. At the same time, the S-shaped bend can also reduce the deformation of the conductive terminal along the thickness direction of the base under the same force, thereby reducing the compressed length of the conductive terminal after being subjected to force. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the electrical connector provided by this utility model.

[0009] Figure 2 for Figure 2 The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector.

[0010] Figure 3 A perspective view of the conductive terminal provided by this utility model.

[0011] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A perspective view of the insulating body of the electrical connector shown.

[0012] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the electrical connector provided by this utility model.

[0013] Explanation of key component symbols: 10. Electrical connectors; 1. Conductive terminals; 11. Base; 111. Barbed section; 1111. Barbed structure; 112. Holding section; 1121. Protrusion; 113. Lower end; 114. Upper end; 12. First elastic arm; 121. S-shaped bend; 1211 / 1211a. First bend; 1212 / 1212a. First connecting part; 1213 / 1213a. Second bend; 122. First abutting section; 1221 / 1221a. Second connecting part; 1222 / 1222a. First abutting area; 12221 / 12221a. Abutting point; 1223. Third connecting part; 13. Second elastic arm; 131. U-shaped bend; 1311. First extension; 1312. First bend; 1313. Second extension; 132. Second abutment section; 1321. Second abutment area; 14. Connecting part; 2. Insulating body; 21. Terminal receiving cavity; 211. First limiting plate; 212. First cavity; 213. Second cavity; 214. Second opening; 22. Upper surface; 23. Lower surface; 24. First side; 241. First opening; 25. Second side. Detailed Implementation

[0014] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments.

[0015] To address the issue of excessively long scraping lengths of conductive terminals in traditional electrical connectors, this invention provides a conductive terminal 1 and an electrical connector 10 that can reduce the scraping length of the conductive terminal 1.

[0016] Please refer to Figures 1-4 The electrical connector 10 includes an insulating body 2 extending longitudinally and conductive terminals 1 held in the insulating body 2. The insulating body 2 includes a plurality of terminal receiving cavities 21 spaced apart in the longitudinal direction to receive the conductive terminals 1. The insulating body 2 has an opposing upper surface 22, a lower surface 23, and a first side surface 24 and a second side surface 25 connecting the upper surface 22 and the lower surface 23 and opposing each other. The terminal receiving cavity 21 passes through the upper surface 22 and the first side surface 24.

[0017] Combination Figure 2 and Figure 4The terminal receiving cavity 21 is provided with a pair of first limiting plates 211. The first limiting plates 211 divide the terminal receiving cavity 21 into a first cavity 212 and a second cavity 213. A second opening 214 is formed between the pair of first limiting plates 211. The second opening 214 connects the first cavity 212 and the second cavity 213.

[0018] Please refer to Figure 3 The conductive terminal 1 includes a base 11 extending linearly in the vertical direction, a first elastic arm 12 connected to the lower end 113 of the base 11, and a second elastic arm 13 connected to the upper end 114 of the base 11. The base 11, the first elastic arm 12, and the second elastic arm 13 are integrally formed. The base 11 is used to mount and fix the conductive terminal 1, and the first elastic arm 12 and the second elastic arm 13 can be mated with different components to achieve stable signal transmission between the electrical connector 10 and different components.

[0019] The base 11 is a strip-shaped structure extending linearly in the vertical direction. The base 11 includes an upper end 114, a lower end 113, a barbed section 111 near the upper end 114, and a retaining section 112 near the lower end 113. Viewed from the thickness direction of the base 11, the barbed section 111 has barbed structures 1111 on both sides along its longitudinal direction, with the diameter of the barbed structures 1111 increasing from bottom to top. The retaining section 112 has protrusions 1121 on both sides along its longitudinal direction, and at least a portion of the width of the barbed section 111 and at least a portion of the width of the retaining section 112 is greater than the width of the second opening 214. This structure of the base 11 allows the conductive terminal 1 to be snapped into the first cavity 212 through the base 11, improving the installation stability of the conductive terminal 1 in the electrical connector 10.

[0020] The first elastic arm 12 includes at least one S-shaped bend 121 extending from the lower end 113 of the base 11 and a first abutting section 122 connected to the S-shaped bend 121. The first abutting section 122 is exposed on the first side 24 and is used to provide abutment in the thickness direction of the base 11 perpendicular to the vertical direction.

[0021] In some embodiments, in the thickness direction of the base 11, the first elastic arm 12 is located on one side of the base 11. The S-shaped bend 121 includes a first bend 1211 extending upward from the lower end 113 of the base 11, a first connecting portion 1212 extending vertically or obliquely upward from the first bend 1211, and a second bend 1213 extending downward from the upper end 114 of the first connecting portion 1212. The first bend 1211, the first connecting portion 1212 and the second bend 1213 constitute an S-shaped bend 121 with two bend structures. When the first elastic arm 12 receives a force along the thickness direction of the base 11, the S-shaped bend 121 can achieve dynamic buffering and reduce the compressed length of the first elastic arm 12 along the thickness direction of the base 11. In some embodiments, the first bend 1211 and the second bend 1213 of the S-shaped bend 121 have the same bending radius. The fact that the two bends have the same bending radius means that when the first abutting section 122 receives the force and deforms, the force can be more evenly distributed across the entire S-shaped bend 121. Both the first bend 1211 and the second bend 1213 tend to be straightened. During this process from "bending" to "slightly straightening", the deformation of the first bend 1211 and the second bend 1213 is the same, which reduces the displacement of the S-shaped bend 121 along the thickness direction of the base 11.

[0022] In some embodiments, the first abutting segment 122 includes a second connecting portion 1221 extending vertically or obliquely downward from the second bent portion 1213, a first abutting region 1222 connected to the second connecting portion 1221, and a third connecting portion 1223 connected to the first abutting region 1222. The third connecting portion 1223 is obliquely inclined towards the base 11, and the first abutting region 1222 is configured as a protrusion furthest from the base 11 in the thickness direction. The first abutting region 1222 includes an abutting point 12221, which is used to receive a force along the thickness direction of the base 11. When the first elastic arm 12 does not deform, the perpendicular line between the abutting point 12221 and the base 11 is defined as the central axis. When the abutting point 12221 receives a force along the thickness direction of the base 11, the abutting point 12221 moves approximately along the central axis, which can effectively reduce the scraping length between the abutting point 12221 and the mating element. In some embodiments, the first contact area 1222 is provided with a convex structure, which facilitates the free movement of the conductive terminal 1 and provides more reliable electrical contact, avoiding the risk of poor contact of the conductive terminal 1.

[0023] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the conductive terminal 1 of the present invention is shown, wherein the first connecting portion 1212 and the second connecting portion 1221 extend obliquely. Figure 5A cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the conductive terminal 1 of this utility model is shown. The first connecting portion 1212a and the second connecting portion 1221a extend vertically, and the first abutting region 1222a is convexly V-shaped. The first bending portion 1211a and the second bending portion 1213a have the same bending radius. This structure of the conductive terminal 1 can meet the requirements for large pressing depths. When the abutting point 12221a of the V-shaped first abutting region 1222a receives a force along the thickness direction of the base 11, the V-shaped structure can effectively decompose the force into two directional components, thereby significantly reducing the overall force and decreasing the force on the first elastic arm along the thickness direction of the base 11, thus reducing the deformation of the first elastic arm. Simultaneously, the V-shaped arrangement, combined with the S-shaped bending portion with the same bending radius, allows the abutting point 12221a to move along the central axis, i.e., reducing the displacement of the abutting point 12221a in the vertical direction.

[0024] The second elastic arm 13 includes a U-shaped bend 131 extending from the upper end 114 of the base 11 and a second abutting section 132 connected to the U-shaped bend 131. The second abutting section 132 extends out of the upper surface 22 and is used to provide docking in the vertical direction.

[0025] In some embodiments, the U-shaped bend 131 includes a first extension 1311 that bends and extends from the upper end 114 of the base 11 toward one side of the base 11 in the thickness direction, a first curved portion 1312 that bends back from the first extension 1311, and a second extension 1313 that extends from the first curved portion 1312 toward the base 11. The second abutting section 132 is hook-shaped and extends upwardly at an angle from the second extension 1313. A buffer space is formed between the first extension 1311 and the second abutting section 132, so that the second elastic arm 13 can provide a buffering effect in the vertical direction.

[0026] In some embodiments, the second abutting segment 132 extends to the other side of the thickness direction of the base 11 and includes the uppermost second abutting region 1321. The second abutting region 1321 is located on the other side of the thickness direction of the base 11, that is, the extension length of the second abutting segment 132 is longer and the second abutting segment 132 has greater flexibility. When the second abutting region 1321 receives the force in the vertical direction, the second abutting segment 132 makes the bending angle change of the U-shaped bend 131 smaller, and thus the bending stress of the U-shaped bend 131 is significantly reduced, so that the second elastic arm 13 can play a better buffering role and have a longer service life.

[0027] In some embodiments, the conductive terminal 1 further includes a snap-fit ​​portion 14 connected to the end of the first abutment section 122. The width of the first opening 241 is greater than the width of the first abutment section 122 so that the first abutment section 122 can protrude from the first opening 241. The width of the first opening 241 is less than the width of the snap-fit ​​portion 14 so that the snap-fit ​​portion 14 is confined within the terminal receiving cavity 21. Through the cooperation between the snap-fit ​​portion 14 and the first opening 241, the snap-fit ​​portion 14 can be prevented from disengaging from the insulating body 2 when the first elastic arm 12 is deformed.

[0028] The conductive terminal 1 provided by this utility model has an S-shaped bend 121. When the contact point 12221 is subjected to a large force along the thickness direction of the base 11, the conductive terminal 1 achieves force balance by utilizing the bending structure of the S-shaped bend 121, reducing the displacement of the contact point 12221 in the vertical direction, thereby reducing the scraping length of the conductive terminal 1 when it is installed in the electrical connector 10, and extending the service life of the conductive terminal 1. The S-shaped bend 121 can also reduce the displacement along the thickness direction of the base 11 when the first elastic arm 12 deforms, thereby reducing the compression distance of the conductive terminal 1 and further reducing the scraping length.

[0029] Furthermore, those skilled in the art should recognize that the above embodiments are merely illustrative of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any appropriate changes and variations made to the above embodiments within the essential spirit and scope of the present invention fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A conductive terminal, characterized in that, The conductive terminal includes a base extending linearly in a vertical direction, a first elastic arm connected to the lower end of the base, and a second elastic arm connected to the upper end of the base. The base includes a barbed section near the upper end and a retaining section near the lower end. The first elastic arm includes at least one S-shaped bend extending from the lower end of the base and a first abutting section connected to the S-shaped bend. The second elastic arm includes a U-shaped bend extending from the upper end of the base and a second abutting section connected to the U-shaped bend. The second abutting section provides a mating in the vertical direction, and the first abutting section provides a mating in the thickness direction of the base, which is perpendicular to the vertical direction.

2. The conductive terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the thickness direction of the base, the first elastic arm is located on one side of the base. The S-shaped bend includes a first bend extending upward from the lower end of the base, a first connecting portion extending vertically or obliquely upward from the first bend, and a second bend extending downward from the upper end of the first connecting portion. The first abutting section includes a second connecting portion extending vertically or obliquely downward from the second bend, a first abutting region connected to the second connecting portion, and a third connecting portion connected to the first abutting region. The first abutting region is configured as the protrusion furthest from the base in the thickness direction of the base.

3. The conductive terminal according to claim 2, characterized in that, The bending radii of the first bend and the second bend are the same.

4. The conductive terminal according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first contact area is designed in a protruding V-shape.

5. The conductive terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that, The U-shaped bend includes a first extension that bends and extends from the upper end of the base toward one side in the thickness direction of the base, a first bend that bends back from the first extension, and a second extension that extends from the first bend toward the base. The second abutting section is hook-shaped and extends upwardly from the second extension.

6. The conductive terminal according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second abutting segment extends to the other side of the base thickness direction and includes a second abutting region located at the uppermost point, the second abutting region being located on the other side of the base thickness direction.

7. The conductive terminal according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first contact area includes a contact point. When the first elastic arm is not deformed, the perpendicular line between the contact point and the base is defined as the central axis. When the first elastic arm is deformed, the contact point moves along the central axis.

8. An electrical connector, characterized in that, The electrical connector includes a longitudinally extending insulating body and conductive terminals held in the insulating body. The insulating body includes a plurality of terminal receiving cavities spaced apart in the longitudinal direction to receive the conductive terminals. Each conductive terminal includes a base extending linearly in a vertical direction, a first elastic arm connected to the lower end of the base, and a second elastic arm connected to the upper end of the base. The base includes a retaining section near the lower end and a barbed section near the upper end, which are held in the terminal receiving cavities. The first elastic arm includes at least one S-shaped bend extending from the lower end of the base and a first abutting section connected to the S-shaped bend. The second elastic arm includes a U-shaped bend extending from the upper end of the base and a second abutting section connected to the U-shaped bend. The insulating body has an opposing upper surface, a lower surface, and a first side surface and a second side surface connecting the upper and lower surfaces and opposing each other. The terminal receiving cavities penetrate the upper surface and the first side surface. The first abutting section is exposed on the first side surface, and the second abutting section extends out of the upper surface.

9. The electrical connector according to claim 8, characterized in that, The conductive terminal includes a snap-fit ​​portion connected to the first abutment section. The first side has a first opening corresponding to the terminal receiving cavity. The width of the first opening is greater than the width of the first abutment section so that the first abutment section can protrude out of the first opening. The width of the first opening is less than the width of the snap-fit ​​portion so that the snap-fit ​​portion is confined within the terminal receiving cavity.

10. The electrical connector according to claim 8, characterized in that, The terminal receiving cavity is provided with a pair of first limiting plates, which divide the terminal receiving cavity into a first cavity and a second cavity; a second opening is formed between the pair of first limiting plates, which connects the first cavity and the second cavity; at least a portion of the width of the barb section and at least a portion of the width of the retaining section are greater than the width of the second opening, so that the base is received and snapped into the first cavity.

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