Small-pitch large-current electrical connector

Abstract

This utility model relates to the field of electronic components and discloses a small-pitch, high-current electrical connector, including a plastic housing with a first insertion cavity and a second insertion cavity, a first terminal inserted into the first insertion cavity, and a second terminal inserted into the second insertion cavity. The second insertion cavity has several small-pitch configurations. The first terminal includes a main body, a first contact portion that extends movably out of the first insertion cavity along an insertion direction to mate and conduct with a complementary connector, and a compensation portion for elastically abutting the first contact portion towards the outside of the first insertion cavity. This utility model, by adding a compensation portion to the first terminal, allows the first contact portion to elastically abut against the complementary connector, thereby maintaining conductivity between the first contact portion and the complementary connector when mating. Even in the event of vibration, the compensation portion can compensate for the first contact portion to maintain conductivity with the complementary connector, improving the overall reliability of the connector.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of electronic components, and in particular to a small-pitch, high-current electrical connector. Background Technology

[0002] Small-pitch, high-current electrical connectors are key components in the trend of miniaturization and high power in electronic devices. Their core feature is achieving efficient and stable current transmission within a compact space. To meet the increasing demands for miniaturization and high-density integration of electronic products and effectively save PCB space, small-pitch height-floating connectors or small-pitch height-floating connector assemblies are designed and manufactured. Here, "small pitch" refers to the extremely small center distance between the connector terminals, typically less than 1 mm.

[0003] In terms of application scenarios, it is widely used in consumer electronics (such as power management in mobile phones and tablets), industrial equipment (servo motors, AGV robots), automotive electronics (vehicle power modules, battery management systems) and medical instruments (portable diagnostic devices).

[0004] Existing small-pitch, high-current electrical connectors typically include a plastic housing, a first terminal for conducting small currents, and a second terminal for conducting large currents. Both the first and second terminals need to be connected to a circuit board for electrical connection. The first terminal and the complementary terminal of the complementary connector are connected via a mating joint. However, the first terminal is often subjected to pulling and vibration during use, which can easily lead to errors in the mating process between the first terminal and the complementary connector. Furthermore, the high-current first terminal is usually pin-shaped, and the mating connection with the complementary terminal is not tight; conductivity is mainly maintained by the limiting action between the second terminal and the complementary connector. Therefore, this can easily result in poor conductivity stability between the first terminal and the complementary connector. Utility Model Content

[0005] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a small-pitch high-current electrical connector to solve the problem of poor terminal stability.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts a technical solution as follows: a small-pitch high-current electrical connector is provided, comprising a plastic shell having a first insertion cavity and a second insertion cavity, a first terminal inserted in the first insertion cavity, and a second terminal inserted in the second insertion cavity. The second insertion cavity is provided with a plurality of small-pitch components. The first terminal includes a main body, a first contact portion that extends movably out of the first insertion cavity along an insertion direction to connect with a complementary connector, and a compensation portion for elastically abutting the first contact portion toward the outside of the first insertion cavity.

[0007] Furthermore, the plastic housing has a pair of insertion surfaces, the first insertion cavity has a first insertion cavity section into which the main body part passes and a first insertion port that communicates with the first insertion cavity section and passes through the insertion surfaces; a compensation cavity is formed in the main body part, the compensation part is installed in the compensation cavity along the insertion direction and a first end elastically abuts against the first guide contact part so that the first guide contact part passes through the first insertion port.

[0008] Furthermore, the first guide part includes a first limiting part for inserting into the compensation cavity and a first guide end narrower than the first limiting part. The main body is provided with a through hole that extends through one end of the main body in the insertion direction and allows the first guide end to pass through. The through hole is coaxial with the first insertion port.

[0009] Furthermore, the first terminal also includes a first welding portion connected to the main body portion located outside the first insertion cavity.

[0010] Furthermore, the main body has an installation port that extends from the end of the main body away from the perforation along the insertion direction of the self-compensation cavity. The first welding part includes a first welding end for welding to the circuit board, a second limiting part connected to the first welding end and for abutting against the main body, and an inner extension end connected to the second limiting part and for passing through the installation port to enter the compensation cavity. A second end of the compensation part abuts against the inner extension end.

[0011] Furthermore, the mounting opening is recessed with an annular groove, and the inner end is protruding with a convex ring for engaging in the annular groove; both the convex ring and the mounting opening have guide slopes to facilitate the convex ring being squeezed into the compensation cavity.

[0012] Furthermore, the plastic shell has welding surfaces that are distributed opposite to the interlocking surface along the insertion direction. A second socket is formed on the welding surface, which is wider than the first interlocking cavity. The second limiting part is supported in the second socket.

[0013] Furthermore, the second insertion cavity has a second insertion cavity section, and the plastic housing has an insertion cavity that communicates with the second insertion cavity section and penetrates the insertion surface; the second terminal includes a second welding part located outside the second insertion cavity, an insertion part inserted into the second insertion cavity section, and a second guide part facing the insertion cavity along the insertion direction.

[0014] Furthermore, a welding surface on the plastic shell is provided with a third insertion cavity segment that connects to the second insertion cavity segment, and the second welding part penetrates into the third insertion cavity segment and has a welding end that extends out of the third insertion cavity segment.

[0015] Furthermore, the insertion portion includes a fastening section connected to the second welding portion and an extension arm connected to one side of the fastening section and extending in the insertion direction toward the side away from the second welding portion. The second insertion cavity includes a fastening cavity communicating with the third insertion cavity and a mating cavity through which the extension arm and the second guide contact are inserted and communicated with the insertion cavity. The second guide contact is bent from the extension arm and has a second guide contact end for elastically abutting against the complementary connector.

[0016] The small-pitch, high-current electrical connector of this invention has at least the following beneficial effects: By adding a compensation part to the first terminal, the first conductive contact can elastically abut against the complementary connection part, thereby maintaining the conductivity between the first conductive contact and the complementary connector when mating with the complementary connector. Even in the event of vibration, the compensation part can compensate the first conductive contact to maintain the conductivity with the complementary connector, thus improving the overall reliability of the connector. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the electrical connector of this utility model; Figure 2 This is a structural schematic diagram of the electrical connector of this utility model (from another angle); Figure 3 This is a front sectional view of the electrical connector of this utility model; Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the electrical connector of this utility model; Figure 5 for Figure 4 An enlarged view of part A shown; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the plastic shell of this utility model; Figure 7 This is a front sectional view of the plastic shell of this utility model; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first terminal of this utility model; Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view of the first terminal of this utility model; Figure 10 This is an exploded view of the first terminal of this utility model; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second terminal of this utility model. The meanings of the labels in the attached diagram are as follows: Plastic housing 1, first insertion cavity 11, first insertion cavity section 111, first insertion port 112, second insertion port 113, second insertion cavity 12, second insertion cavity section 121, fastening cavity section 1211, mating cavity section 1212, welding surface 13, mating surface 14, mating cavity 15, third insertion cavity section 16, first terminal 2, main body 21, compensation cavity 211, through hole 212, mounting port 213, annular groove 214, annular protrusion 215, first guide Contact part 22, first limiting part 221, first guiding contact end 222, compensation part 23, first end 231, second end 232, first welding part 24, first welding end 241, second limiting part 242, inner extension end 243, protruding ring 2431, second terminal 3, second welding part 31, second welding end 311, clearance groove 312, insertion part 32, fastening section 321, extension arm 322, second guiding contact part 33, second guiding contact end 331. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] Please see Figures 1 to 4 The small-pitch high-current electrical connector of this utility model includes a plastic housing 1 having a first insertion cavity 11 and a second insertion cavity 12, a first terminal 2 inserted in the first insertion cavity 11, and a second terminal 3 inserted in the second insertion cavity 12.

[0020] Please see Figures 1 to 7 The plastic housing 1 is injection molded from plastic and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape (not limited to this shape). Therefore, the plastic housing 1 has a length, width, and height (or thickness). In this embodiment, the two sides of the plastic housing 1 along the height direction (hereinafter referred to as the "height direction") are respectively configured as oppositely distributed welding surfaces 13 and mating surfaces 14. The welding surfaces 13 are used for mating with the circuit board, and the mating surfaces 14 are used for mating with complementary connectors.

[0021] A first insertion cavity 11 is formed at the middle position along the width direction on the plastic shell 1. Multiple first insertion cavities 11 are provided and evenly spaced along the length direction (referred to as the "length direction"). The number of first terminals 2 corresponds one-to-one with the number of first insertion cavities 11. The first terminals 2 are inserted into the first insertion cavities 11 along the height direction; therefore, the height direction is also defined as the insertion direction. The first insertion cavity 11 includes a first insertion cavity segment 111 formed inside the plastic shell 1 along the insertion direction, a first socket 112 coaxially connected to the first insertion cavity segment 111 and passing through the insertion surface 14, and a second socket 113 coaxially connected to the first insertion cavity segment 111 and passing through the welding surface 13. The first terminal 2 is inserted into the first insertion cavity segment 111. The first socket 112, the first insertion cavity segment 111, and the second socket 113 are sequentially and coaxially distributed and all have a cylindrical structure. To prevent the first terminal 2 from protruding from the mating surface 14, the diameter of the first socket 112 is smaller than the diameter of the first mating cavity 111, thus forming a constricted shape relative to the first mating cavity 111. The diameter of the second socket 113 is larger than the diameter of the first mating cavity 111, or the diameter of the second socket 113 is equal to the diameter of the first mating cavity 111, to facilitate the installation of the first terminal 2.

[0022] Two sets of symmetrically distributed second insertion cavities 12 are respectively opened on both sides of the plastic shell 1 along the width direction (hereinafter referred to as "width direction"). Each set is provided with multiple (or several) second insertion cavities 12 evenly distributed along the length direction. The distance between any two adjacent second insertion cavities 12 in each set is within 1mm. In particular, in this embodiment, the distance between two adjacent second insertion cavities 12 can be 0.4mm to achieve a small distance. The second terminal 3 is matched with it so that after assembly, the distance between two adjacent second terminals 3 is about 0.4mm, achieving high-density integration and miniaturization.

[0023] The second insertion cavity 12 includes a second insertion cavity section 121 for inserting the second terminal 3 therein, and a third socket that communicates with the second insertion cavity section 121 and extends through the welding surface 13. A mating cavity 15, communicating with the second insertion cavity section 121 and extending through the mating surface 14, is formed on the plastic housing 1 along the insertion direction from the mating surface 14. The second terminal 3 is inserted into the second insertion cavity section 121 through the third socket, and the complementary connector is inserted into the mating cavity 15 to contact the second terminal 3 and achieve electrical connection.

[0024] Each second insertion cavity 121 includes a fastening cavity 1211 communicating with the third insertion port and a mating cavity 1212 communicating with the mating cavity 15 and the fastening cavity 1211. The mating cavity 1212 is narrower than the fastening cavity 1211. The mating cavity 15 is formed on the outward-facing side of the mating cavity 1212, and there is only one mating cavity 15 for each group of second insertion cavities 12, i.e., two mating cavities 15 are provided. The two ends of the two mating cavities 15 are connected to each other along the longitudinal direction to form a rectangle. Each mating cavity 1212 is open on its outward-facing side along the width direction, communicating with the mating cavity 15, so that the complementary connector can mate with the second terminal 3 in the mating cavity 1212 after being inserted into the mating cavity 15. To limit the installation depth of the complementary connector, the fastening cavity 1211 narrows inward in the longitudinal direction, so that the side of the mating cavity 15 near the welding surface 13 is blocked. In order to weld the second terminal 3, the welding surface 13 is extended in the width direction corresponding to the position of the third socket to form a third plug-in cavity 16 that connects to the second plug-in cavity 121. The third plug-in cavity 16 extends outward in the width direction through the plastic shell 1 and covers the third socket.

[0025] Please see Figures 1 to 4 , Figures 8 to 10 The first terminal 2 includes a main body 21 for inserting into the first insertion cavity 111, a first contact 22 that extends movably through a first socket 112 out of the first insertion cavity 11 along the insertion direction to communicate with a complementary connector, a compensation portion 23 for elastically abutting the first contact 22 towards the outside of the first insertion cavity 11, and a first solder portion 24 connected to the main body 21 located outside the first insertion cavity 11. The main body 21 is cylindrical and its diameter and axial length are adapted to the dimensions of the first insertion cavity 111 so that the main body 21 can be inserted into the first insertion cavity 111. A cylindrical compensation cavity 211 is formed inside the main body 21, and the compensation portion 23 is installed in the compensation cavity 211 along the insertion direction. A through hole 212 is provided on the main body 21 at a position opposite to the first insertion port 112 along the insertion direction, so that after the main body 21 is inserted into the first insertion cavity 111, the through hole 212 is coaxial with the first insertion port 112. In one embodiment, both the through hole 212 and the first insertion port 112 are cylindrical and have the same diameter. An installation port 213 is provided on the end of the main body 21 away from the through hole 212 along the insertion direction, extending from the compensation cavity 211 to the end of the main body 21 away from the through hole 212. The diameter of the installation port 213 may be the same as the diameter of the compensation cavity 211, or the installation port 213 may be wide-mouthed outwards with the diameter of the narrow side communicating with the compensation cavity 211. The diameter of the wide end of the installation port 213 is larger than the diameter of the compensation cavity 211 and extends through the main body 21. In order to increase the firmness between the main body 21 and the first insertion cavity 111, an annular protrusion 215 is provided on the outer wall of the main body 21 in a ring shape around the outer wall of the main body 21.

[0026] The first contact portion 22 includes a first limiting portion 221 for inserting into the compensation cavity 211 and a first contact end 222 narrower than the first limiting portion 221. The diameter of the first limiting portion 221 is larger than the diameter of the through hole 212 and smaller than the diameter of the compensation cavity 211. The diameter of the first contact end 222 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the through hole 212 and can pass through the through hole 212 and the first socket 112 so that the end protrudes out of the plastic housing 1, thereby enabling the first contact end 222 to be mated with the complementary connector to achieve conduction.

[0027] The compensation part 23 is a spring and has a first end 231 and a second end 232 along the axial direction. The first end 231 of the compensation part 23 elastically abuts against the first limiting part 221 of the first guide contact 22, and the other end of the compensation abuts against the first welding part 24, so that the first guide contact 22 is squeezed outward by the elastic force of the compensation part 23. Even if the first guide contact 22 and the complementary connector are axially displaced due to vibration, the spring can always elastically compensate for it by squeezing the first limiting part 221, and maintain the contact and conduction between the first guide contact 22 and the complementary connector.

[0028] The first welding portion 24 includes a first welding end 241 for welding to a circuit board, a second limiting portion 242 connected to the first welding end 241 and used to abut against the main body portion 21, and an inner extension end 243 connected to the second limiting portion 242 and used to pass through the mounting port 213 to enter the compensation cavity 211. The first welding end 241 is adapted to a corresponding structure on the circuit board and is plugged into it, and the circuit is made conductive by welding the first welding end 241 to the circuit board. The second limiting portion 242 is wider than the first welding end 241 and is adapted to be provided in the second socket 113. After the main body portion 21 is inserted into the first insertion cavity section 111, it is inserted into the second socket 113. The second socket 113 can also increase the contact area between the first welding portion 24 and the plastic housing 1, thereby increasing the connection stability between the circuit board and the plastic housing 1. The inner end 243 is cylindrical and its diameter is smaller than that of the second limiting part 242. The diameter of the inner end 243 is adapted to the diameter of the mounting port 213 and the compensation cavity 211 so that it can be inserted into them. After the inner end is inserted into the compensation cavity 211, the second end 232 of the compensation part 23 abuts against the inner end 243. In order to ensure the connection between the inner end 243 and the main body 21, an annular groove 214 is recessed in the mounting port 213, and a protruding ring 2431 for engaging in the annular groove 214 is protruding on the inner end 243. In one embodiment, the protruding ring 2431 may be a single protrusion. In another embodiment, the protruding ring 2431 is arranged in a ring around the outer periphery of the inner extension end 243, forming a circular shape. The protruding ring 2431 is also arranged in a ring around the inner wall of the compensation cavity 211. Both the protruding ring 2431 and the mounting port 213 have guide slopes to facilitate the insertion of the protruding ring 2431 into the compensation cavity 211. The diameter of the protruding ring 2431 is larger than the diameter of the compensation port. The guide slopes allow the inner extension end 243 to be squeezed into the compensation cavity 211 until it enters the annular groove 214, where it is confined and fixed. The compression of the inner extension end 243 against the second end 232 of the compensation part 23 causes the compensation part 23 to press against the first limiting part 221, and the compensation part 23 is in a compressed state. It should be noted that all parts of the first terminal 2 are made of conductive metal such as copper to facilitate the transmission of electrical signals. The first terminal 2 enables the conduction of large currents.

[0029] Please see Figures 1 to 4 , Figure 11 The second terminal 3 includes a second welding part 31 located outside the second insertion cavity 12, an insertion part 32 inserted into the second insertion cavity section 121, and a second contact part 33 facing the third socket along the insertion direction.

[0030] The second welding portion 31 is used to penetrate into the third insertion cavity section 16 and has a second welding end 311 extending out of the third insertion cavity section 16. This is achieved by having a narrow portion of the second welding portion 31 and a wide second welding end 311 extending out of the third insertion cavity section 16. The second welding end 311 extends outwards along the width and insertion direction of the third insertion cavity section 16 to facilitate soldering with the circuit board. An arc-shaped clearance groove 312 is provided between the second welding end 311 and the narrow portion of the second welding portion 31 to provide a certain degree of deformation capability between the insertion portion 32 and the second welding portion 31. This allows stress to be dispersed through the clearance groove 312 during installation when the insertion portion 32 is compressed, thereby improving service life.

[0031] The insertion part 32 includes a fastening section 321 connected to the second welding part 31 and an extension arm 322 connected to one side of the fastening section 321 and extending away from the second welding part 31 along the insertion direction. The fastening section 321 is fastened to the fastening cavity section 1211 by protruding barbs or protrusions on both outer walls of the fastening section 321 into the fastening cavity section 1211 and pressing against it. The extension arm 322 contacts the cavity wall of the mating cavity section 1212 to provide support for the extension arm 322. The second contact portion 33 is bent from the extension arm 322 and has a second contact end 331 for elastically pressing against the complementary connector. After being bent from the extension arm 322, the second contact end 331 is inclined toward the welding surface 13 and toward the mating cavity 15, and then bent toward the fastening section 321 and inclined toward the extension side. The second contact end 331 is spaced apart from the extension arm 322 and extends into the mating cavity 15 so that the second contact end 331 can be squeezed after the complementary connector is inserted into the mating cavity 15 to achieve conduction.

[0032] One embodiment of the small-pitch high-current electrical connector of this utility model operates as follows: The main body 21 is installed in the first insertion cavity 111. The first contact part 22, with one side of the first contact end 222, is inserted into the compensation cavity 211 through the mounting port 213. The compensation part 23 is inserted into it, and the inner extension end 243 is squeezed into the compensation cavity 211 until the convex ring 2431 is engaged in the ring groove 214 and the second limiting part 242 abuts against the main body 21 and the second insertion port 113. The inner extension end 243 presses against the compensation part 23, causing the compensation part 23 to push the first contact end 222 out of the through hole 212 and the first insertion port 112. Insert one end of the second contact 33 and the extension arm 322 from the fastening cavity 1211 into the mating cavity 1212 until the fastening section 321 abuts against the fastening cavity 1211 and the second welding part 31 is supported in the third insertion cavity 16. The second contact end 331 extends into the mating cavity 15. Then, through the mating cavity 15, it is mated with the complementary connector. The first contact end 222 can make axial contact with the complementary connector to achieve high current conduction. The second contact end 331 elastically abuts against the complementary connector to achieve low current conduction. Then, the first welding end 241 and the second welding end 311 are welded to the circuit board respectively.

Claims

1. A small-pitch, high-current electrical connector, comprising a plastic housing having a first insertion cavity and a second insertion cavity, a first terminal inserted into the first insertion cavity, and a second terminal inserted into the second insertion cavity, wherein the second insertion cavity has a plurality of small-pitch components, characterized in that: The first terminal includes a main body, a first contact portion that extends movably out of the first insertion cavity in an insertion direction to connect with a complementary connector, and a compensation portion for elastically resisting the first contact portion toward the outside of the first insertion cavity.

2. The small-pitch, high-current electrical connector as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The plastic housing has a pair of insertion surfaces. The first insertion cavity has a first insertion cavity section into which the main body part passes and a first insertion port that communicates with the first insertion cavity section and passes through the insertion surfaces. A compensation cavity is formed in the main body part. The compensation part is installed in the compensation cavity along the insertion direction and a first end elastically abuts against the first guide contact part so that the first guide contact part passes through the first insertion port.

3. The small-pitch, high-current electrical connector as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The first guide part includes a first limiting part for inserting into the compensation cavity and a first guide end narrower than the first limiting part. The main body has a through hole that passes through one end of the main body in the insertion direction and allows the first guide end to pass through. The through hole is coaxial with the first insertion port.

4. The small-pitch, high-current electrical connector as described in claim 3, characterized in that: The first terminal also includes a first welding portion connected to the main body located outside the first insertion cavity.

5. The small-pitch, high-current electrical connector as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The main body has an installation port that extends through the self-compensation cavity along the insertion direction to the end of the main body away from the perforation. The first welding part includes a first welding end for welding to the circuit board, a second limiting part connected to the first welding end and for abutting against the main body, and an inner extension end connected to the second limiting part and for passing through the installation port to enter the compensation cavity. A second end of the compensation part abuts against the inner extension end.

6. The small-pitch, high-current electrical connector as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The mounting opening is recessed with an annular groove, and the inner end is protruding with a convex ring for engaging in the annular groove; both the convex ring and the mounting opening have guide slopes to facilitate the convex ring being squeezed into the compensation cavity.

7. The small-pitch, high-current electrical connector as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The plastic shell has welding surfaces that are distributed opposite to the mating surface along the insertion direction. A second socket is formed on the welding surface, which is wider than the first mating cavity. The second limiting part is supported in the second socket.

8. The small-pitch, high-current electrical connector as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The second insertion cavity has a second insertion cavity section, and the plastic housing has a mating cavity that communicates with the second insertion cavity section and penetrates the mating surface; the second terminal includes a second welding part located outside the second insertion cavity, an insertion part inserted into the second insertion cavity section, and a second guiding part extending into the mating cavity.

9. The small-pitch, high-current electrical connector as described in claim 8, characterized in that: A welding surface on the plastic shell is provided with a third insertion cavity segment that connects to the second insertion cavity segment. The second welding part extends into the third insertion cavity segment and has a welding end that extends out of the third insertion cavity segment.

10. The small-pitch, high-current electrical connector as described in claim 9, characterized in that: The insertion portion includes a fastening section connected to the second welding portion and an extension arm connected to one side of the fastening section and extending in the insertion direction toward the side away from the second welding portion. The second insertion cavity includes a fastening cavity communicating with a third insertion cavity and a mating cavity through which the extension arm and the second guide contact are inserted and communicated with the insertion cavity. The second guide contact is bent from the extension arm and has a second guide contact end for elastically abutting against the complementary connector.

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