Connector Assembly

Abstract

A connector assembly is provided. [Solution] This connector assembly includes a board-side connector (1) and a cable-side connector. The board-side connector includes a housing (11), an insulating receptacle (12), and a terminal module (13). The insulating receptacle is located within the housing and has an accommodating groove, with a socket (121) and an assembly port at both ends of the insulating receptacle, which communicate with the accommodating groove. The terminal module is located in the accommodating groove and includes a plurality of ground terminals (131) and a plurality of pairs of signal terminals (132) arranged in a row along an axis a. The cable-side connector includes a flexible cable and a connector located at one end of the flexible cable. When the cable-side connector is inserted into the accommodating groove from the socket, each contact on the connector first contacts the first contact portion of each ground terminal and then contacts the second contact portion of each signal terminal. This ensures that noise conduction by grounding occurs first before signal transmission.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to connectors, and more particularly to connector assemblies. [Background technology]

[0002] Various connection interfaces in the communications industry have been developed with the aim of being light, thin, short, and small, and with stable signal transmission. Connection interfaces used in high-speed transmission servers and switches, such as MCIO (Mini Cool Edge IO) connector products, are compact and offer reliable and stable connections. Generally, MCIO connectors include a board-side connector and a cable-side connector. The cable-side connector includes a cable, a PCB, and a connector on the PCB. The connector includes a rubber core, upper and lower rows of terminals, and a locking hook, resulting in a large number of parts and high manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the manufacturing process for cable-side connectors is complicated because the cable and PCB must be joined by welding. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] Some embodiments of the present invention have been made in consideration of the above circumstances and provide a connector assembly including a board-side connector and a cable-side connector. The board-side connector includes a housing, an insulating receptacle, and a terminal module. The insulating receptacle is located within the housing and has an accommodating groove, and both ends of the insulating receptacle have a socket and an assembly port that communicate with the accommodating groove. The terminal module is located in the accommodating groove and includes a plurality of ground terminals and a plurality of pairs of signal terminals arranged in a row along an axis, each pair of signal terminals being located between two ground terminals, each ground terminal having a first contact portion adjacent to the socket and each signal terminal having a second contact portion away from the socket. The cable-side connector includes a flexible cable and a connector located at one end of the flexible cable, and has a plurality of contacts on one surface of the connector. When the cable-side connector is inserted into the accommodating groove from the socket, each contact first contacts the first contact portion of each ground terminal and then contacts the second contact portion of each signal terminal.

[0004] In some embodiments, each ground terminal has a first connection portion adjacent to the assembly opening and a first pin, with the first contact portion and the first pin located at opposite ends of the first connection portion, and each signal terminal has a second connection portion adjacent to the assembly opening and a second pin, with the second contact portion and the second pin located at opposite ends of the second connection portion.

[0005] In some embodiments, each signal terminal is defined as having a major axis and a horizontal axis, each ground terminal is defined as having a major axis and a horizontal axis, the horizontal axis of each signal terminal is perpendicular to the major axis of each signal terminal, the horizontal axis of each ground terminal is perpendicular to the major axis of each ground terminal, and a first width on the horizontal axis of each signal terminal is greater than a second width on the horizontal axis of each ground terminal.

[0006] In some embodiments, a line connecting each of the first contact sites is defined as having a first axis, each of the first contact sites being spaced apart along the direction of the first axis, a line connecting each of the second contact sites is defined as having a second axis, each of the second contact sites being spaced apart along the direction of the second axis, and the axes, the first axis and the second axis, being the same, side-by-side horizontal axes.

[0007] In some embodiments, each pair of signal terminals and each ground terminal are both elastic terminals, and each first contact portion and each second contact portion are both curved arc-shaped structures and are located in the insertion path between the socket and the receiving groove.

[0008] In some embodiments, the terminal module includes a terminal block molded and coupled to a respective first connection portion of each ground terminal and a respective second connection portion of each pair of signal terminals, and each first pin of each pair of ground terminals and each second pin of each signal terminal is exposed to the terminal block.

[0009] In some embodiments, the terminal block has a plurality of protrusions and locking blocks on both sides, and the insulation receiving portion has recesses and locking grooves located on both sides of the inner wall of the assembly port, with each protrusion contacting the inner wall surface of the recess and the locking blocks engaging with the locking groove.

[0010] In some embodiments, the connector assembly further includes a conductor positioned in the receiving groove, a main body provided on the terminal block, and a plurality of extension portions extending outward from the main body and connected to each of the first connection sites.

[0011] In some embodiments, the number of each pair of signal terminals and each ground terminal is 37, the number of the plurality of signal terminals is 24, and the number of the plurality of ground terminals is 13.

[0012] In some embodiments, the flexible cable of the cable-side connector is a flexible flat cable, each contact is a flat terminal, the line connecting each contact is defined as having a third axis, each contact is spaced apart along the direction of the third axis, and each contact is arranged in a row on one side of the connector.

[0013] In short, according to some embodiments, the structural positional relationship in which the first contact portion of each ground terminal is adjacent to the insertion port of the insulation receiving part and the second contact portion of each signal terminal is spaced from the insertion port ensures that when the connector of the cable side connector is inserted into the accommodating groove from the insertion port of the insulation receiving part, a part of the contact on the connector of the cable side connector first comes into contact with the first contact portion of each ground terminal, and as the connector continues to be inserted into the accommodating groove, another part of the contact comes into contact with the second contact portion of each signal terminal, first coming into contact with the ground terminal, performing noise conduction through grounding, and then contacting the signal terminal to transmit a signal.

[0014] The detailed features and advantages of the present invention are described in detail in the following embodiments, which will enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the technical content of the present invention and to practice it by using the same. Furthermore, based on the content disclosed in this specification, the claims and drawings, anyone skilled in the art can easily understand the objectives and advantages of the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic view of a connector assembly according to some embodiments, showing the board-side connector and the cable-side connector before mating connection. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is an exploded front view of a board-side connector according to some embodiments. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is an exploded rear view of a board-side connector according to some embodiments. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a partial exploded view of a terminal module according to some embodiments. [Figure 5]FIG. 1 is a front view of a board-side connector according to some embodiments. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5, showing the state before the board-side connector and the cable-side connector are mated and connected. [Figure 7] 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5, showing the state after the board-side connector and the cable-side connector have been mated and connected. [Figure 8] 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 5, showing a top cross-sectional view of the connector assembly. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] For the purpose of explaining the present application more clearly, in the schematic diagrams provided herein, the first axis X is the X-axis of a three-dimensional coordinate system, the second axis Y is the Y-axis of the three-dimensional coordinate system, and the third axis Z is the Z-axis of the three-dimensional coordinate system.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the exterior of a connector assembly 100, showing a state before a board-side connector 1 and a cable-side connector 2 are mated and connected. The signals transmitted by the connector assembly 100 are the same as those transmitted by an MCIO (Mini Cool Edge IO) connector, but the structure of the connector assembly 100 differs from that of an MCIO (Mini Cool Edge IO) connector. The connector assembly 100 includes a board-side connector 1 and a cable-side connector 2. The board-side connector 1 is an elongated, flat connector, with its long sides extending along a first axis X, its short sides extending along a third axis Z, and its height extending along a second axis Y. The cable-side connector 2 is suitable for use with a flexible flat cable (abbreviated as FFC). Because the board-side connector 1 is suitable for mating with a thin, lightweight FFC-type cable-side connector 2, the volume of the board-side connector 1 can be relatively small.

[0018] 2 to 4, Fig. 2 is an exploded front view of the board-side connector 1, Fig. 3 is an exploded rear view of the board-side connector 1, and Fig. 4 is a partially exploded view of the terminal module 13. The board-side connector 1 includes a housing 11, an insulation receiving portion 12, and a terminal module 13. The insulation receiving portion 12 is a hollow rectangular rubber core that is located within the housing 11 (Fig. 6) and has an accommodating groove 120. At both ends of the insulation receiving portion 12, there are an insertion opening 121 and an assembly opening 122 that communicate with the accommodating groove 120. The accommodating groove 120, the insertion opening 121, and the assembly opening 122 penetrate the insulation receiving portion 12 along the third axis Z direction, and the insertion opening 121 and the assembly opening 122 are elongated frame-shaped openings that extend along the first axis X direction and are provided on the side surfaces of both ends of the insulation receiving portion 12.

[0019] The terminal module 13 includes a plurality of ground terminals 131 and a plurality of pairs of signal terminals 132, each of which is an elastic terminal, and each of which is a long terminal and a short terminal, and each of which is a ground terminal 131 and a plurality of pairs of signal terminals 132 is arranged in a row along an axis a (the same first axis X). Each of the ground terminals 131 has a first contact portion 1311, and each of the signal terminals 132 has a second contact portion 1321, and each of the first contact portion 1311 and each of the second contact portion 1321 has a curved arc-shaped structure and protrudes toward the bottom of the board-side connector 1 along the second axis Y.

[0020] The cable-side connector 2 includes a flexible cable 21 and a connector 22, the connector 22 being located at one end of the flexible cable 21 and having a plurality of contacts 221 on one surface of the connector 22. In some embodiments, the flexible cable 21 of the cable-side connector 2 is a flexible flat cable (abbreviated as FFC), the length of the flexible cable 21 is not limited, the connector 22 is a long flat plate, two connectors 22 are provided at both ends of the flexible cable 21, each contact 221 on the connector 22 is a flat terminal, a line connecting each contact 221 is defined as having a third axis a3, the direction of the third axis a3 is the same as the direction of the first axis X, each contact 221 is arranged at intervals along the direction of the third axis a3, each contact 221 is arranged in a row on one surface of the connector 22, each contact 221 has the same length along the third axis Z direction and the same width along the first axis X direction.

[0021] In some embodiments, the line connecting each of the first contact regions 1311 is defined as having a first axis a1, the direction of the first axis a1 being the same as the direction of the first axis X, and each of the first contact regions 1311 being spaced apart along the direction of the first axis a1; the line connecting each of the second contact regions 1321 is defined as having a second axis a2, and each of the second contact regions 1321 being spaced apart along the direction of the second axis a2, and the first axis a1 and the second axis a2 being the same, horizontal axes aligned side by side.

[0022] Referring to Figure 5, Figure 5 is a front view of the board-side connector 1. In some embodiments, when the insertion port 121 of the insulating receiving portion 12 is viewed in the third axis Z direction, each of the first contact portions 1311 and each of the second contact portions 1321 is located in the receiving groove 120 and corresponds to the upper side of the insertion port 121, and each of the first contact portions 1311 and each of the second contact portions 1321 is arranged in a row in the first axis X direction, but is not limited to this. In some embodiments, when the insertion port 121 of the insulating receiving portion 12 is viewed in the third axis Z direction, each of the first contact portions 1311 and each of the second contact portions 1321 is located in the receiving groove 120 and corresponds to the lower side of the insertion port 121.

[0023] In some embodiments, the number of ground terminals 131 and pairs of signal terminals 132 is 37, the number of signal terminals 132 is 24, and the number of ground terminals 131 is 13. Each pair of signal terminals 132 is located between two ground terminals 131. When viewing each terminal from the third axis Z direction in Figure 5, from left to right, the first terminal is the ground terminal 131, the second and third terminals are the first pair of signal terminals 132, the fourth terminal is the ground terminal 131, the fifth and sixth terminals are the second pair of signal terminals 132, the seventh terminal is the ground terminal 131, ..., the 34th terminal is the ground terminal 131, the 35th and 36th terminals are the 12th pair of signal terminals 132, and the 37th terminal is the ground terminal 131.

[0024] 4 and 6, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5, showing the board-side connector 1 and the cable-side connector 2 in a state before they are mated and connected. In some embodiments, each ground terminal 131 includes a first connection portion 1312 adjacent to the assembly opening 122 and a first pin 1313, the first contact portion 1311 extending outward from one side of the first connection portion 1312 along the third axis Z, the first pin 1313 extending outward from the other side of the first connection portion 1312 along the third axis Z, the first contact portion 1311 and the first pin 1313 being located at both ends of the first connection portion 1312, the first contact portion 1311 and the first connection portion 1312 having a generally L-shaped configuration rotated 180 degrees when viewed in the first axis X direction, and the first connection portion 1312 and the first pin 1313 also having a generally L-shaped configuration when viewed in the first axis X direction.

[0025] In some embodiments, each signal terminal 132 includes a second connection portion 1322 adjacent to the assembly opening 122 and a second pin 1323, the second contact portion 1321 extending outward from one side of the second connection portion 1322 along the third axis Z, the second pin 1323 extending outward from the other side of the second connection portion 1322 along the third axis Z, the second contact portion 1321 and the second pin 1323 being located at both ends of the second connection portion 1322, the second contact portion 1321 and the second connection portion 1322 being approximately L-shaped rotated 180 degrees when viewed in the first axis X direction, and the second connection portion 1322 and the second pin 1323 being approximately L-shaped when viewed in the first axis X direction.

[0026] In some embodiments, each ground terminal 131 is defined as having a major axis b1' and a horizontal axis b2', the direction of the major axis b1' of each ground terminal 131 being the same as the third axis Z, and the direction of the horizontal axis b2' of each ground terminal 131 being the same as the first axis X. Each signal terminal 132 is defined as having a major axis b1'' and a horizontal axis b2'', the direction of the major axis b1'' of each signal terminal 132 being the same as the third axis Z, and the direction of the horizontal axis b2'' of each signal terminal 132 being the same as the first axis X. The horizontal axis b2' of each ground terminal 131 is perpendicular to the major axis b1' of each ground terminal 131, and the horizontal axis b2'' of each signal terminal 132 is perpendicular to the major axis b1'', and the major axis b1'', the horizontal axis b2' of each ground terminal 131 and the horizontal axis b2'' of each signal terminal 132 are the same horizontal axis. The thickness of each signal terminal 132 is greater than the thickness of each ground terminal 131, the first width D1 of each signal terminal 132 on the horizontal axis b2'' is greater than the second width D2 of each ground terminal 131 on the horizontal axis b2', and the first width D1 of each signal terminal 132 is adjusted to be greater than the second width D2 of each ground terminal 131 to meet the requirements for high-frequency signal transmission.

[0027] In some embodiments, the terminal module 13 includes a terminal block 15, which is a rectangular rubber core, with a long side extending along the first axis X and a short side extending along the third axis Z. During injection molding, the terminal block 15 is coupled to the first connection portions 1312 of each ground terminal 131 and the second connection portions 1322 of each pair of signal terminals 132, with the first contact portions 1311 of each ground terminal 131 and the second contact portions 1321 of each pair of signal terminals 132 exposed at the front end surface of the terminal block 15, and the first pins 1313 of each pair of ground terminals 131 and the second pins 1323 of each pair of signal terminals 132 exposed at the bottom of the terminal block 15.

[0028] 3, 4 and 6, in some embodiments, the terminal block 15 has a plurality of protrusions 155 and locking blocks 156 on both sides, and the insulation receiving part 12 has recesses 125 and locking grooves 126 located on both sides of the inner wall of the assembly opening 122. When the terminal block 15 is inserted into the assembly opening 122 along the third axis Z, each protrusion 155 of the terminal block 15 contacts each inner wall surface of the recess 125 of the insulation receiving part 12, thereby locking both sides of the terminal block 15. The surface and both side walls inside the insulation receiving part 12 are fixed to each other by interference, restricting the degree of freedom of the terminal block 15 in the first axis X, second axis Y and third axis Z directions, and when the front inclined surface of the locking block 156 of the terminal block 15 is guided to lock into the locking groove 126 of the insulation receiving part 12, the rear locking surface of the locking block 156 of the terminal block 15 locks into the locking groove 126, thereby engaging the terminal block 15 and the insulation receiving part 12 and restricting the degree of freedom of the terminal block 15 in the third axis Z direction.

[0029] When the terminal module 13 is mounted in the accommodating groove 120 from the assembly port 122 of the insulation receiving portion 12, measuring the distance between the relative sockets 121 of each first contact portion 1311 and each second contact portion 1321 from the third axis Z direction reveals that the distance between each first contact portion 1311 and the socket 121 is short, the distance between each second contact portion 1321 and the socket 121 is long, each first contact portion 1311 is adjacent to the socket 121, and each second contact portion 1321 is distant from the socket 121, and when viewed from the first axis X direction, each first contact portion 1311 and each second contact portion 1321 are arranged parallel to the socket 121 (Figures 6 and 8).

[0030] 4, 6, and 7, Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in Fig. 5, showing the state after the board-side connector 1 and the cable-side connector 2 have been mated and connected. When the connector 22 of the cable-side connector 2 is inserted into the socket 121 from the direction of the third axis Z, the connector 22 is mated and connected along the insertion path P between the socket 121 and the accommodating groove 120, and then some of the contacts 221 on one surface of the connector 22 (the top surface of the connector 22 in Fig. 1) first come into contact with the first contact portions 1311 of the ground terminals 131, and the first contact portions 1311 are pushed and swung toward the top of the accommodating groove 120 along the direction of the second axis Y, and the connector 22 is then pushed from the direction of the third axis Z toward the insulating receiving portions 1311. As the connector 22 continues to be inserted into the second accommodating groove 120, the contacts 221 on the other parts of the connector 22 come into contact with the second contact portions 1321 of each signal terminal 132, and the second contact portions 1321 are pushed and swing toward the top of the accommodating groove 120 along the second axis Y direction, and the multiple contacts 221 come into contact with the first contact portions 1311 and the second contact portions 1321 sequentially, first coming into contact with the ground terminal 131, conducting noise through grounding, and then coming into contact with the signal terminal 132 to transmit the signal.

[0031] 2 and 7 , in some embodiments, the connector assembly 100 further includes a conductor 16 for noise conduction through grounding, the conductor 16 including a body 161 and a plurality of extensions 162, the body 161 being a rectangular flat plate extending along the first axis X, and each extension 162 being an inclined arm extending outward from the rear end of the body 161, such that when the body 161 is inserted into the receiving groove 120 through the assembly opening 122, the body 161 is positioned in the receiving groove 120 and is also disposed on the terminal block 15, and each extension 162 is connected to a respective first connection portion 1312 of each ground terminal 131. The conductor 16 further includes a plurality of pins 163, each extending outward in the same direction from both sides of the body 161, for connection to a PCB substrate for noise conduction through grounding.

[0032] In short, according to some embodiments, the structural positional relationship in which the first contact portion of each ground terminal is adjacent to the insertion port of the insulation receiving part and the second contact portion of each signal terminal is spaced from the insertion port ensures that when the connector of the cable side connector is inserted into the accommodating groove from the insertion port of the insulation receiving part, a part of the contact on the connector of the cable side connector first comes into contact with the first contact portion of each ground terminal, and as the connector continues to be inserted into the accommodating groove, another part of the contact comes into contact with the second contact portion of each signal terminal, first coming into contact with the ground terminal, performing noise conduction through grounding, and then contacting the signal terminal to transmit a signal.

[0033] The above detailed description of the invention sufficiently demonstrates that the purpose and effect of the invention involve an inventive step, are highly industrially applicable, and fully meet the requirements for patentability. Therefore, we are filing an application in accordance with the law. However, the above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. We believe that all equivalent modifications and adaptations based on the scope of the utility model registration claim of the invention should be included within the scope of the utility model of the invention. We hope that the examiner will consider this case and grant a patent promptly. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 100 Connector assembly 1 Board-side connector 11. Housing 12 Insulation receiving part 120 Storage groove 121 Outlet 122 Assembly port 125 recess 126 Locking groove 13 Terminal Module 131 Ground terminal 1311 1st contact site 1312 First connection point 1313 1st pin 132 signal terminal 1321 Second contact site 1322 Second connection point 1323 2nd pin 15 Terminal block 155 convex part 156 Locking Block 16 Conductors 161 Main Unit 162 Extension 163 pins 2 Cable side connector 21 Flexible Cable 22 Connectors 221 Contacts a-axis a1 1st axis a2 2nd axis a3 3rd axis b1', b1'' long axis b2', b2'' horizontal axis D1 First width D2 Second width P insertion path X 1st axis Y Secondary Axis Z 3rd axis

Claims

1. Housing and an insulation receiving portion located within the housing, the insulation receiving portion having an accommodating groove, and an insertion opening and an assembly opening at both ends of the insulation receiving portion, the insertion opening and the assembly opening communicating with the accommodating groove; a terminal module located in the receiving groove, the terminal module including a plurality of ground terminals and a plurality of pairs of signal terminals arranged in a line along an axis, each pair of signal terminals being located between two of the ground terminals, each of the ground terminals having a first contact portion adjacent to the socket, and each of the signal terminals having a second contact portion remote from the socket; a board-side connector including: a cable-side connector including a flexible cable and a connector located at one end of the flexible cable, the connector having a plurality of contacts on one surface thereof; A connector assembly comprising: When the connector of the cable-side connector is inserted into the receiving groove from the insertion port, each of the contacts first comes into contact with the first contact portion of each of the ground terminals and then comes into contact with the second contact portion of each of the signal terminals. Connector assembly.

2. 2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the ground terminals has a first connection portion adjacent to the assembly opening and a first pin, the first contact portion and the first pin being located at opposite ends of the first connection portion, and each of the signal terminals has a second connection portion adjacent to the assembly opening and a second pin, the second contact portion and the second pin being located at opposite ends of the second connection portion.

3. 3. The connector assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the signal terminals is defined as having a major axis and a horizontal axis, each of the ground terminals is defined as having the major axis and the horizontal axis, the horizontal axis of each of the signal terminals is perpendicular to the major axis of each of the signal terminals, the horizontal axis of each of the ground terminals is perpendicular to the major axis of each of the ground terminals, and a first width of each of the signal terminals on the horizontal axis is greater than a second width of each of the ground terminals on the horizontal axis.

4. 3. The connector assembly of claim 2, wherein a line connecting each of the first contact sites is defined as having a first axis, each of the first contact sites is spaced apart along the direction of the first axis, a line connecting each of the second contact sites is defined as having a second axis, each of the second contact sites is spaced apart along the direction of the second axis, and the axes, the first axis and the second axis, are the same and are horizontal axes aligned side by side.

5. 3. The connector assembly of claim 2, wherein each pair of the signal terminals and each pair of the ground terminals are elastic terminals, and each of the first contact portions and each of the second contact portions have a curved arc-shaped structure and are located in the insertion path between the insertion port and the accommodating groove.

6. 3. The connector assembly of claim 2, wherein the terminal module includes a terminal block molded and coupled to the first connection portion of each of the ground terminals and the second connection portion of each pair of the signal terminals, and wherein the first pins of each pair of the ground terminals and the second pins of each of the signal terminals are exposed to the terminal block.

7. 7. The connector assembly according to claim 6, wherein the terminal block is provided with a plurality of protrusions and locking blocks on both sides thereof, the insulation receiving portion is provided with a recess and a locking groove located on both sides of the inner wall of the assembly opening, each of the protrusions corresponding to and contacting the inner wall surface of the recess, and the locking blocks correspondingly engaging with the locking groove.

8. 7. The connector assembly of claim 6, further comprising a conductor positioned in the accommodating groove and including a main body provided on the terminal block and a plurality of extension portions extending outward from the main body and connected to each of the first connection sites.

9. 2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the number of each pair of signal terminals and each ground terminal is 37, the number of the plurality of signal terminals is 24, and the number of the plurality of ground terminals is 13.

10. 2. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the flexible cable of the cable-side connector is a flexible flat cable, each of the contacts is a flat terminal, a line connecting each of the contacts is defined as having a third axis, each of the contacts is arranged at intervals along the direction of the third axis, and each of the contacts is arranged in a row on one face of the connector.

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