Connector

Abstract

Connector, with: a housing having a housing body and a through-slot formed in the housing body, the through-slot having a first open end and a second open end formed on opposite sides of the through-slot, the first open end and the second open end together defining a receiving space; a tongue plate arranged in the housing, the tongue plate having a first main body and a first head connected to the first main body, the first head engaging the first open end and the first main body being received in the receiving space; and a plurality of contact elements arranged adjacent to one another on the tongue plate, each of the contact elements having a first elongated segment and a first curved segment, the first elongated segment extending along a first direction and being connected to the first curved segment, wherein, when the tongue plate is correspondingly engaged with the housing body and the contact elements are inserted into the tongue plate, the first elongated segment is arranged on the first main body and a part of the first bent segment is in contact with the first head.

Description

Cross-reference to related application

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Taiwanese patent application serial number 113207629, filed on July 16, 2024, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. Background of the invention 1. Field of the invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a connector, in particular a board-to-board connector having an integrated housing and tongue plate assembly. 2. Description of the state of the art

[0003] A board-to-board connector is a type of connector that enables electrical connection via connectors arranged on a printed circuit board (PCB), particularly high-speed board-to-board connectors designed for fast data transmission. These connectors are widely used in various fields and enable reliable high-speed data transmission in smartphones, 5G communications, industrial automation, and automotive systems. High-speed board-to-board connectors are precisely engineered and offer excellent signal integrity and low insertion loss, ensuring fast and reliable data transmission in high-frequency environments.As the demand for high-frequency transmission increases and the application areas of board-to-board connectors expand, the design structures of connectors and terminals face constant challenges and require improvements. It is necessary to maintain high-speed transmission while improving the assembly efficiency and accuracy of board-to-board connectors.

[0004] However, in conventional high-speed board-to-board connectors, the increased connector pitch leads to a corresponding increase in the design length of the connectors and terminal structures. To ensure adequate support, the housing or support components of the support terminals typically require a two-piece or multi-piece construction connecting the front and back. While such designs can prevent connector breakage, they also result in longer assembly time and higher production costs.

[0005] In view of the above, the present invention provides a connector that addresses the problems of insufficient stability of the terminal support structure, low assembly efficiency, and high cost associated with conventional board-to-board connectors. Brief description of the invention

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a board-to-board connector whose structure comprises a combination of a housing, a tongue plate, and contact elements. The main feature of this invention is the use of an integrally formed housing in conjunction with a tongue plate inserted into the housing. The connector structure also includes a plurality of position-limiting structures to ensure that the tongue plate securely engages when inserted into the housing. Accordingly, in the present invention, the contact elements are securely arranged on the tongue plate inside the connector, and a plurality of position-limiting stop structures are integrated. This design not only enables precise assembly of the connector but also increases its stability.Furthermore, compared to prior art two-piece or multi-piece housing designs, this invention reduces the number of components required for automatic assembly, thus improving assembly efficiency.

[0007] To achieve the above object, the present invention discloses a connector comprising a housing, a tongue plate, and a plurality of contact elements. The housing includes a housing body and a through slot formed in the housing body. The through slot has a first open end and a second open end formed on opposite sides of the through slot. The first open end and the second open end together define a receiving space. The tongue plate is disposed in the housing and includes a first main body and a first head connected to the first main body. The first head engages the first open end. The first main body is received in the receiving space. The contact elements are disposed adjacent to each other on the tongue plate. Each contact element includes a first elongated segment and a first arcuate segment.The first elongated segment extends along a first direction and is connected to the first bent segment. When the tongue plate is correspondingly engaged with the housing body and the contact elements are inserted into the tongue plate, the first elongated segment is arranged on the first main body, and a portion of the first bent segment is in contact with the first head.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the tongue plate further comprises a plurality of receiving slots extending from the first head into the first main body for receiving the first elongated segments, respectively.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first head further comprises a plurality of first holding portions. The first bent segment further comprises a first attachment end. The first attachment end is arranged correspondingly on each of the first holding portions.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the housing further includes two first position limiting guides formed symmetrically at one end of the housing body. When the tongue plate is inserted into the housing, the first position limiting guides limit the tongue plate by receiving a portion of the first head.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the first position limiting guides further includes two first recessed portions and a plurality of second recessed portions formed between the first recessed portions. The first head further includes two first protruding portions and a plurality of second protruding portions formed between the first protruding portions. The first protruding portions are respectively engaged with the first recessed portions, and the second protruding portions are respectively engaged with the second recessed portions.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the housing further includes two first engagement portions, each formed on opposite inner sides of the housing body. The tongue plate further includes two first engagement elements, each formed on opposite sides of the first main body. The first engagement elements are located near the first open end and engage the first engagement portions, respectively.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the housing further includes two second engagement portions, each formed on opposite inner sides of the housing body. The tongue plate further includes two second engagement elements, each formed on opposite sides of the first main body. The second engagement elements are located near the second open end and engage the second engagement portions, respectively.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first main body sequentially passes the first open end and the second open end when the tongue plate is inserted into the housing. The second engagement elements pass through the first engagement portions and abut against the second engagement portions. The first engagement elements provide an elastic force so that they abut against the first engagement portions.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, the housing further includes two second position limiting guides formed symmetrically at the other end of the housing body. The tongue plate further includes two projections formed on opposite sides of the first main body.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, the projections are C-shaped structures. When the tongue plate is inserted into the housing, the projections are inserted into the second position limiting guides, respectively, to limit the tongue plate.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, the housing and the tongue plate jointly define a plurality of insertion holes and a plurality of insertion elements. The insertion holes and the insertion elements are complementary to each other and are formed on the first head and the housing body. When the tongue plate is inserted into the housing, the insertion elements engage the insertion holes to confine the tongue plate within the housing.

[0018] The detailed technology and preferred embodiments implemented for the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings for those skilled in the art so that the features of the claimed invention will be clarified. Short description of the drawings Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of the connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows an exploded view of the connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of the housing and the tongue plate in the non-inserted state according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 shows another perspective schematic view of the housing and the tongue plate in the uninserted state according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 shows a plan view of the connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 shows a schematic view of the tongue plate and the contact elements according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8 shows a schematic view of the tongue plate according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 9 shows a schematic view of the contact elements according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 10 shows another perspective view of the connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the connection state between the housing and the tongue plate according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed description of the preferred embodiment

[0019] Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and this is not intended to limit the present invention, applications, or particular implementations described in these embodiments. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or similar parts. It should be noted that in the following embodiments and in the accompanying drawings, elements not related to the present invention are not shown, and dimensional relationships between individual elements in the accompanying drawings are provided for clarity of understanding only and not to limit the actual scale.

[0020] Below we refer to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. The Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 respectively show a schematic view and an exploded view of a connector 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The connector 100 of the present invention includes a housing 1, a tongue plate 2, a plurality of contact elements 3, and two metal pads 4. The tongue plate 2 is arranged in the housing 1, the contact elements 3 are arranged adjacent to each other on the tongue plate 2, and the metal pads 4 are inserted respectively on the left and right sides of the housing 1. In this embodiment, the contact elements 3 may be mounted on the tongue plate 2 in advance and then inserted into the housing 1. Alternatively, the tongue plate 2 may first be inserted into the housing 1, and then the contact elements 3 may be mounted. The connector 100 in this embodiment is mainly used as a board-to-board connector.One end of the connector 100 is arranged on a printed circuit board (PCB), and the other end is used for mating with a mating connector (not shown in the figure). The aforementioned mating connector may be a floating board-to-board connector. In addition, the metal pads 4 are used to improve the soldering strength of the connector 100. In this embodiment, the metal pads 4 are arranged on the housing 1, for example. They can be adapted to be arranged on the tongue plate 2 according to actual requirements, without the configuration being limited thereto.

[0021] Next, the Fig. 3 to 6, which represent the housing 1. The Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 show schematic views of the housing and the tongue plate in a non-inserted state according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the connector of one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 shows a plan view of the connector in one embodiment of the present invention. The housing 1 includes a housing body 11, a through slot 12, two first position limiting guides 13, two second position limiting guides 14, two first engaging portions 15, and two second engaging portions 16. The through slot 12 is formed in the housing body 11. The through slot 12 has a first open end 121 and a second open end 122 formed on opposite sides of the through slot 12. The through slot 12 is used for inserting the tongue plate 2, and the first open end 121 and the second open end 122 together define a receiving space S. Specifically, the first position limiting guides 13 are formed symmetrically at one end of the housing body 11 and are located on the same side as the first open end 121.Each of the first position limiting guides 13 has two first recessed portions 131 and three second recessed portions 132. The second recessed portions 132 are formed between the first recessed portions 131. The first recessed portions 131 and the second recessed portions 132 are both open recessed portions, with the openings of the symmetrically formed recessed portions facing inward and toward each other, as shown in FIG. Fig. 3. In addition, the second position limiting guides 14 at the other end of the housing body 11 are formed symmetrically. Each of the second position limiting guides 14 has a T-shaped opening, wherein the symmetrically formed openings face inward and toward each other, as shown in Fig. 4. When the tongue plate 2 is inserted into the housing 1, the first position limiting guides 13 and the second position limiting guides 14 serve to restrict movement. Note that, in this embodiment, the first position limiting guide 13 includes, by way of example, two first recessed portions 131 and three second recessed portions 132. The position and number of the recessed portions can be adjusted according to the actual mounting conditions of the connector components, but the configuration is not limited thereto.

[0022] Below we refer again to Fig. 5. The first engagement portions 15 are respectively formed on the opposite inner sides of the housing body 11. The first engagement portions 15 are located near the first open end 121 and are formed as a groove structure. Similarly, the second engagement portions 16 are respectively formed on the opposite inner sides of the housing body 11. The second engagement portions 16 are located near the second open end 122 and are formed as a protruding structure. The first engagement portions 15 and the second engagement portions 16 can serve as the limiting points when the tongue plate 2 is inserted into the housing 1. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the number of the first engagement portions 15 and the second engagement portions 16 is each two, by way of example.The positions and numbers of the engaging sections can be adjusted according to the actual assembly conditions of the connector components, without limiting the configuration.

[0023] Next, the Fig. 5, Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, which illustrate the tongue plate 2. The tongue plate 2 is arranged in the housing 1 and has a first main body 21, a first head 22, a plurality of receiving slots 23, two first engaging elements 24, two second engaging elements 25, and two projections 26. The first main body 21 is connected to the first head 22. The first head 22 is engaged with the first open end 121. The first main body 21 is received in the receiving space S. The first head 22 further has a plurality of first holding portions 221, two first protruding portions 222, and a plurality of second protruding portions 223. The first holding portions 221 are formed on the opposite sides of the first head 22 remote from the first main body 21, as shown in Fig. 7. Conversely, the first protruding portions 222 and the second protruding portions 223 are formed on the opposite sides of the first head 22 near the first main body 21. The second protruding portions 223 are formed between the first protruding portions 222, as shown in Fig. 8. The first protruding portions 222 and the second protruding portions 223 are respectively engaged with the first depressed portions 131 and the second depressed portions 132. The receiving slots 23 extend from the first head 22 and are formed in the first main body 21 to respectively receive the contact element 3. The first holding portions 221 can overlie parts of the contact element 3. In addition, the first engaging elements 24, the second engaging elements 25, and the projections 26 are respectively formed on opposite sides of the first main body 21, with a first engaging element 24, a second engaging element 25, and a projection 26 being formed on the same side of the first main body 21. The first engaging elements 24 are configured as curved boss elements, each having an inclined protruding part on the boss element.The first engagement elements 24 are formed near the first open end 121 and are respectively engaged with the first engagement portions 15 via the inclined protruding part of the extension elements. The second engagement elements 25 are formed near the second open end 122 and are respectively engaged with the second engagement portion 16, as shown in FIG. Fig. 7. In addition, the protrusions 26 are formed at one end of the first main body 21 near the second open end 122. Each protrusion 26 has a C-shaped structure corresponding to and engaging with the T-shaped opening of the second position limiting guides 14. Note that, in this embodiment, the numbers of the first engaging elements 24, the second engaging elements 25, and the protrusions 26 are each two, by way of example. The positions and numbers can be adjusted according to the actual mounting conditions of the connector components, without the configuration being limited thereto.

[0024] In this embodiment, the engaging ends of the housing 1 and the tongue plate 2 can engage with each other in a flat contact manner as shown in Fig. 10. In addition, other engagement techniques may be used at the engagement ends of the housing 1 and the tongue plate 2, as shown in Fig. 11. The structure of the housing 1 and the tongue plate 2 further defines a plurality of insertion slots A and a plurality of insertion elements B. The insertion slots A and insertion elements B are formed at the engagement position between the first head 22 and the housing body 11. The insertion slots A and insertion elements B on the housing body 11 are arranged alternately, while the insertion slots A and insertion elements B on the first head 22 are also arranged alternately. The insertion slots A and the insertion elements B are complementary in shape and engage with each other to limit the position. In other words, the insertion slot A on the housing body 11 corresponds to the insertion element B on the first head 22, and conversely, the insertion element B on the housing body 11 corresponds to the insertion slot A on the first head 22.However, when the housing 1 and the tongue plate 2 are assembled, the insertion members B are inserted into the insertion slots A, thereby providing a limiting function between the internal and external structures and preventing deformation due to over-insertion when inserting the tongue plate 2. Note that the numbers and positions of the insertion slots A and the insertion members B in this embodiment can be adjusted according to the actual assembly conditions, but the configuration is not limited thereto.

[0025] Next, the contact elements 3 are positioned with reference to the Fig. 7, Fig. 9 and Fig. 10. The contact elements 3 are arranged adjacent to one another on the respective opposite sides of the tongue plate 2. Each contact element 3 has a first elongated segment 31 and a first bent segment 32. The first elongated segment 31 extends in a first direction D1. The first elongated segment 31 is connected to the first bent segment 32. The first bent segment 32 further has a first attachment end 321 formed within the first bent segment 32. The first elongated segment 31 is respectively arranged in the receiving slots 23 on the tongue plate 2. The first bent segment 32 is partially arranged on the first head 22. Each first attachment end 321 is respectively arranged on each first holding portion 221 of the first head 22 of the tongue plate 2.In this embodiment, the first elongated segment 31 of the contact element 3 is used to make contact with the mating connector, while the first bent segment 32 is arranged at the circuit board end (not shown in the figure). Note that in this embodiment, the contact elements 3 are exemplified as signal transmission terminals; however, they may also comprise a combination of signal transmission terminals and power supply terminals. The types and numbers can be adjusted according to actual usage requirements and are not limited to the specified types and numbers.

[0026] The connection state of the connector 100 of the present invention will be described in detail below. As shown in the Fig. 5, Fig. 6 and Fig.10, when the tongue plate 2 is respectively engaged with the housing body 11 of the housing 1 and the contact elements 3 are inserted into the tongue plate 2, the first elongated segments 31 of the contact elements 3 are arranged on the first main body 21. A part of the first bent segments 32 is in contact with the first head 22. Specifically, when the tongue plate 2 is inserted into the housing 1, the first main body 21 sequentially passes the first open end 121 and the second open end 122. The second engaging element 25 passes the first engaging portion 15 and abuts the second engaging portion 16. The first engaging element 24 exerts an elastic force, thereby causing the first engaging element 24 to abut the first engaging portion 15.The combination of the first engaging member 24 and the first engaging portion 15, as well as the second engaging member 25 and the second engaging portion 16, provides a limiting function when the tongue plate 2 is inserted into the positioning point of the housing 1 to prevent it from disengaging. On the other hand, when the tongue plate 2 is inserted into the housing 1, the first depressed portions 131 of the first position limiting guide 13 engage with the first protruding portions 222 of the first head 22 of the tongue plate 2, and the second depressed portions 132 of the first position limiting guide 13 engage with the second protruding portions 223 of the first head 22 of the tongue plate 2. These engagements are achieved by their respective shapes. The first position limiting guides 13 limit the tongue plate 2 by receiving a part of the first head 22.Furthermore, when the tongue plate 2 is inserted into the housing 1, the second position limiting guides 14 and the projections 26 of the tongue plate 2, which correspond to each other in shape, engage with each other. The projections 26 are respectively inserted into the second position limiting guides 14 to limit the tongue plate 2. By combining the first position limiting guides 13 with the first protruding portions 222 and the second protruding portions 223 and the second position limiting guides 14 with the projections 26, the limiting function can be provided when the tongue plate 2 is inserted into the positioning point of the housing 1, thereby improving the accuracy and stability of the assembly of the components of the connector. Note that the first engagement member 24 in this embodiment has an elastic locking design.Depending on the actual assembly requirements of the housing 1 and the tongue plate 2, and as needed, at least one fixed locking structure similar to the first engagement element 24 may be formed on the first head 22 to improve the limiting engagement point when assembling the housing 1 and the tongue plate 2. In addition, the through slot 12 may also include alignment guide structures. When the tongue plate 2 is mounted by inserting it into the central bottom of the housing 1, the tongue plate 2 can slide along the rail direction of the first position limiting guide 13 and the second position limiting guide 14 within the housing 1 to the positioning point. When the tongue plate 2 reaches the positioning point, both the elastic and fixed locking structures engage to prevent the tongue plate 2 from disengaging.On the other hand, the alignment guide structure ensures accurate alignment when inserting the tongue plate 2 into the housing 1, thereby improving the accuracy of component assembly.

[0027] It should be noted that in the embodiment of the connector 100 of the present invention, the housing 1 is a one-piece structure. Additionally, the housing 1 may include two positioning pins formed on the housing body 11, which serve to align and secure the housing when engaged with the circuit board end.

[0028] In summary, the connector of the present invention comprises a combination of a housing, a tongue plate, and contact elements. The contact elements are arranged only on the tongue plate and partially fixed to the holding portion of the tongue plate without interfering with the housing. Furthermore, by appropriately arranging the first position limiting guides and the protruding portions of the first head, the second position limiting guides and the projections, and the first and second engaging elements of the tongue plate with the first and second engaging portions of the housing, the tongue plate can be securely positioned when engaged with the housing, thereby improving the stability and accuracy of the connector assembly. Accordingly, the connector of the present invention optimizes the limiting and holding functions when the connector components are assembled at the positioning point.

[0029] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention within the scope of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

[1] Connector, with: a housing having a housing body and a through-slot formed in the housing body, the through-slot having a first open end and a second open end formed on opposite sides of the through-slot, the first open end and the second open end together defining a receiving space; a tongue plate arranged in the housing, the tongue plate having a first main body and a first head connected to the first main body, the first head engaging the first open end and the first main body being received in the receiving space; and a plurality of contact elements arranged adjacent to one another on the tongue plate, each of the contact elements having a first elongated segment and a first curved segment, the first elongated segment extending along a first direction and being connected to the first curved segment, wherein, when the tongue plate is correspondingly engaged with the housing body and the contact elements are inserted into the tongue plate, the first elongated segment is arranged on the first main body and a part of the first bent segment is in contact with the first head. [2] The connector of claim 1, wherein the tongue plate further comprises a plurality of receiving slots extending from the first head into the first main body for respectively receiving the first elongated segments. [3] The connector of claim 1, wherein the first head further comprises a plurality of first retaining portions, the first bent segment further comprises a first attachment end, and the first attachment end is disposed on each of the first retaining portions, respectively. [4] The connector according to claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises two first position limiting guides formed symmetrically at one end of the housing body, and wherein, when the tongue plate is inserted into the housing, the first position limiting guides limit the tongue plate by receiving a portion of the first head. [5] The connector according to claim 4, wherein each of the first position limiting guides further includes two first recessed portions and a plurality of second recessed portions formed between the first recessed portions, and wherein the first head further includes two first projecting portions and a plurality of second projecting portions formed between the first projecting portions, the first projecting portions being respectively engaged with the first recessed portions and the second projecting portions being respectively engaged with the second recessed portions. [6] The connector according to claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises two first engaging portions formed on opposite inner sides of the housing body, respectively, and the tongue plate further comprises two first engaging elements formed on opposite sides of the first main body, respectively, the first engaging elements being disposed near the first open end and engaging with the first engaging portions, respectively. [7] The connector according to claim 6, wherein the housing further comprises two second engaging portions formed on opposite inner sides of the housing body, respectively, and the tongue plate further comprises two second engaging elements formed on opposite sides of the first main body, respectively, the second engaging elements being disposed near the second open end and engaging with the second engaging portions, respectively. [8] A connector according to claim 7, wherein when inserting the tongue plate into the housing, the first main body sequentially passes the first open end and the second open end, the second engaging elements pass the first engaging portions and abut against the second engaging portions, and the first engaging elements exert an elastic force to abut against the first engaging portions. [9] The connector according to claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises two second position limiting guides symmetrically formed at the other end of the housing body, and the tongue plate further comprises two projections formed on opposite sides of the first main body. [10] A connector according to claim 9, wherein the projections are C-shaped structures, and when the tongue plate is inserted into the housing, the projections are respectively inserted into the second position limiting guides to limit the tongue plate. [11] The connector of claim 1, wherein the housing and the tongue plate together define a plurality of insertion holes and a plurality of insertion members, the insertion holes and the insertion members being complementary to each other and formed on the first head and the housing body, and wherein, when the tongue plate is inserted into the housing, the insertion members engage the insertion holes to confine the tongue plate within the housing.

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