Connector assembly, first connector, second connector, cable, and electronic device

Abstract

A connector assembly, a first connector, a second connector, a cable, and an electronic device. The connector assembly comprises a first connector and a second connector which fit with each other, wherein a snap-fitting pair is provided between the first connector and the second connector and is arranged on opposite sides in a first direction, and the snap-fitting pair is formed by a socket and an elastic piece which has a locking protrusion. In this way, after the second connector is inserted into and connected to the first connector, the snap-fitting pair can be formed on the opposite sides of the first connector and the second connector, which effectively prevents the deflection of the second connector relative to the first connector, thereby improving the insertion reliability. In addition, the snap-fitting pair located on the opposite sides can provide accurate and stable guidance, can avoid skewed insertion when an eccentric load occurs, and can effectively avoid the possibility of yield damage of a terminal after being pressed during insertion and removal.

Description

Connector assemblies, first and second connectors and cables, electronic devices

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202410922997.X, filed on July 10, 2024, entitled “Connector Assembly, First Connector and Second Connector and Cable, Electronic Device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of electronic component packaging technology, and more particularly to a connector assembly, a first connector and a second connector, as well as cables and electronic devices. Background Technology

[0003] Connectors are widely used in electronic devices such as servers, workstations, switches, and storage devices. Interlocking board-end connectors and cable-end connectors enable connections between boards and cables to establish corresponding signal transmission links. When a cable connector is inserted into a board-end connector, the cable connected to the connector usually needs to be bent to avoid surrounding components. With the increasing demand for high-density layouts, the internal space of equipment is becoming increasingly compact. Cables connected to connectors need to be bent within a smaller space, generating bending stress, which directly affects the mating reliability between the board-end connector and the cable-end connector, and may even pose a risk of disengagement. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a connector assembly, a first connector, a second connector, a cable, and an electronic device, which optimize the structure to ensure the mating reliability of the connector assembly.

[0005] The first aspect of this application provides a first connector for mating with a second connector. The first connector includes a first body, a first housing, and a plurality of terminals. The first body has a recessed cavity for inserting the mating second connector. The plurality of terminals are embedded in the first body, arranged sequentially at intervals along a first direction. The contacts of the terminals are located in the recessed cavity and are used for electrical connection with pins on the second connector side. The soldered ends of the terminals are exposed on the surface of the first body away from the recessed cavity and are used for electrical connection with pads on the board side. The first housing covers the outside of the first body, and the side of the first housing away from the soldered ends has an opening. The first housing has two opposing sidewalls in the first direction, each with a latch for engaging with a locking protrusion on the second connector side to form a locking fit, restricting the second connector from disengaging from the first connector in the insertion direction. Alternatively, the first housing has two opposing sidewalls in the first direction, each with a locking protrusion for engaging with the latch on the second connector side to restrict the second connector from disengaging from the first connector in the insertion direction. With this configuration, after the second connector is inserted and connected to the first connector, suitable mating pairs can be formed on both sides of the first and second connectors, effectively limiting the possibility of the second connector deflecting relative to the first connector. In practical applications, when subjected to non-perpendicular pulling forces, reliable locking between the two is achieved through the suitable mating pairs located on opposite sides, improving the reliability of the insertion.

[0006] In addition, during the insertion operation, the card fitting pair also serves as a guide. Based on the card fitting pairs located on opposite sides, it can provide precise and stable guidance, avoid skewed insertion under off-center load, and effectively avoid the possibility of terminal yielding damage due to pressure during insertion and removal.

[0007] Based on the first aspect, this application also provides a first implementation of the first aspect: the first housing is provided with at least two latches on two opposite sidewalls in the first direction, and the at least two latches are spaced apart along the second direction; or, the first housing is provided with at least two locking protrusions on two opposite sidewalls in the first direction, and the at least two locking protrusions are spaced apart along the second direction; wherein the second direction and the first direction are two intersecting directions perpendicular to the insertion direction. In this way, multiple sets of latching mating pairs for establishing a locking relationship are provided on both sides, effectively improving the locking reliability.

[0008] For example, on each side opposite to each other in the first direction X, two sets of suitable card pairs can be set to form a double-sided four-point locking scheme in the plane perpendicular to the insertion direction, which can improve the locking reliability while reasonably controlling the processing cost.

[0009] Based on the first aspect, or the first embodiment of the first aspect, this application also provides a second embodiment of the first aspect: the first housing is made of a metal material, and the first housing includes an external lead portion for electrical connection with an external reference layer. This configuration allows for the construction of a grounding path forming the first housing, which, based on the low resistance characteristics of the ground layer, can quickly and effectively eliminate electromagnetic interference.

[0010] Based on the first aspect, or the first implementation of the first aspect, or the first and second implementations, this application also provides a third implementation of the first aspect: the first housing has an outlet on one side wall in the second direction for laying cables on the side of the second connector. This allows the cables connected to the second connector to be led out laterally, facilitating internal wiring of the device and reasonably controlling the vertical space occupation.

[0011] Based on the first aspect, or the first implementation of the first aspect, or the first second implementation, or the first third implementation, this application also provides a fourth implementation of the first aspect: the side of the locking protrusion closest to the insertion side is a pressing slope, and the pressing slope gradually tapers inward toward the outer end of the locking protrusion; the other side of the locking protrusion away from the insertion side is a locking plane. With this configuration, based on the pressing slope, a retracting force can be generated under the action of the first housing during insertion, preventing jamming during insertion and enabling rapid insertion. Simultaneously, based on the locking plane, a self-locking relationship can be formed between the locking protrusion and the bayonet, preventing the locking protrusion from abnormally disengaging from the bayonet, further improving the locking effect between the first connector and the second connector.

[0012] A second aspect of this application provides a second connector for mating with a first connector. The second connector includes a second body, a second housing, and multiple pins. The pins are located on the insertion end surface of the second body and are used for electrical connection with contacts of terminals on the first connector side, and also for electrical connection with wires of a cable. The second housing covers the exterior of the second body. The second housing has locking protrusions on two opposite sidewalls in a first direction, forming a locking fit with the latches on the first connector side, thus restricting the second connector from disengaging from the first connector in the insertion direction. Alternatively, the second housing has latches on two opposite sidewalls in the first direction, forming a locking fit with the locking protrusions on the first connector side, also restricting the second connector from disengaging from the first connector in the insertion direction. Thus, after the second connector is inserted into the first connector, the locking fit can be formed on both opposite sides of the first and second connectors, effectively limiting the possibility of the second connector deflecting relative to the first connector and improving mating reliability.

[0013] In addition, based on the matching pairs of the cards located on opposite sides, it can provide precise and stable guidance, avoid skewed insertion when there is an off-center load, and effectively avoid the possibility of terminal yielding damage due to pressure during insertion and removal.

[0014] Based on the second aspect, this application also provides a first implementation of the second aspect: the second housing is provided with at least two locking protrusions on two opposite sidewalls in the first direction, and the at least two locking protrusions are spaced apart on the body of the spring piece along the second direction; or, the second housing is provided with at least two latches on two opposite sidewalls in the first direction, and the at least two latches are spaced apart along the second direction; wherein, the second direction and the first direction are two directions that intersect perpendicularly to the insertion direction. In this way, multiple sets of locking mating pairs for establishing a locking relationship are provided on both sides, effectively improving locking reliability. For example, two sets of locking mating pairs can be provided on each side opposite to each other in the first direction X.

[0015] Based on the second aspect, or the first embodiment of the second aspect, this application also provides a second embodiment of the second aspect: the side of the locking protrusion near the insertion side is a pressing slope, and the pressing slope gradually tapers inward toward the outer end of the locking protrusion; the other side of the locking protrusion away from the insertion side is a locking plane. With this configuration, based on the pressing slope, a retracting force can be generated under the action of the first housing during insertion, preventing jamming during insertion and enabling rapid insertion. Simultaneously, based on the locking plane, a self-locking relationship can be formed between the locking protrusion and the bayonet, preventing the locking protrusion from abnormally disengaging from the bayonet, further improving the locking effect between the first connector and the second connector.

[0016] In practical applications, the spring can be made of metal sheet and integrally formed using sheet metal processing, resulting in lower manufacturing costs. For example, the locking protrusion is a sheet-like structure protruding outwards from the spring body. The locking protrusions, corresponding one-to-one with the latches, can include two sheet-like structures, improving the structural stability of each latching pair.

[0017] Based on the second aspect, or the first embodiment of the second aspect, or the second embodiment of the second aspect, this application also provides a third embodiment of the second aspect: the spring includes a connecting end and a movable end, the connecting end is connected to the second housing, and the movable end is movable under the action of external force, causing the spring to retract inward. It has the characteristics of simple and reliable structure.

[0018] Based on the third embodiment of the second aspect, this application also provides a fourth embodiment of the second aspect: the movable end of the spring has a bent stop portion, which engages with the second housing and has a predetermined distance between it and the second body. This limits the travel of the movable end of the spring, resulting in good actuation performance.

[0019] Based on the fourth embodiment of the second aspect, this application also provides a fifth embodiment of the second aspect: the connecting end of the spring is provided with a first insert portion and a second insert portion, the first insert portion extending along the insertion direction, and the second insert portion located at the end of the first insert portion in the second direction; the second housing is provided with a limiting slot and a limiting recess, the opening of the limiting slot facing upward, the first insert portion of the spring is inserted into the limiting slot to define the connecting end in the first direction; the second insert portion is located on the end face of the second housing in the first direction, and the second insert portion is engaged in the limiting recess to define the connecting end in the insertion direction. In practical applications, a groove is provided between the second body and the second housing, the opening of the groove facing away from the insertion side, and the end of the stop portion is located in the groove. Overall, the structure is compact and reasonable, and has good assembly manufacturability.

[0020] For example, the second mounting part can be set to two, with the two second mounting parts located at both ends of the first mounting part in the second direction. Correspondingly, the limiting recess is set to two, and is set to correspond one-to-one with the two second mounting parts, which can prevent the spring from being overloaded under the action of external force and thus affecting the reliability of the spring.

[0021] Based on the second aspect, or the first implementation of the second aspect, or the second implementation of the second aspect, or the third implementation of the second aspect, or the fourth implementation of the second aspect, or the fifth implementation of the second aspect, the embodiments of this application also provide a sixth implementation of the second aspect: the insertion end of the second housing has a guide surface, which gradually tapers inward from the body of the second housing toward the end.

[0022] For example, the guide surface includes a first guide surface and a second guide surface. The first guide surface is located on opposite sides of the insertion end of the second housing in a first direction, and the second guide surface is located on opposite sides of the insertion end of the second housing in a second direction. Thus, the first guide surfaces on opposite sides of the insertion end of the second housing can respectively adapt to the opposite side walls of the first connector-side first housing in the first direction, providing guidance in the first direction; the second guide surfaces on opposite sides of the insertion end of the second housing can respectively adapt to the opposite side walls of the first connector-side first housing in the second direction, providing guidance in the second direction. As the second connector is further inserted into the first housing, the locking protrusions on opposite sides in the first direction can respectively press against the opposite side walls of the housing, also providing guidance during the inward retraction of the side springs. Overall, precise and stable guidance can be achieved during insertion and removal, providing good technical protection against terminal damage due to pressure.

[0023] Alternatively, the second housing may be made of a metallic material with superior abrasion resistance.

[0024] Based on the second aspect, or the first implementation of the second aspect, or the second implementation of the second aspect, or the third implementation of the second aspect, or the fourth implementation of the second aspect, or the fifth implementation of the second aspect, or the sixth implementation of the second aspect, this application also provides a seventh implementation of the second aspect: it further includes a pull strap, the two ends of which are respectively connected to spring pieces located on both sides. In this way, the unlocking operation can be performed by pulling the pull strap, which has good adaptability.

[0025] A third aspect of this application provides a connector assembly, including an interconnecting and adapting first connector and a second connector; the first connector adopts the first connector as described above, and the second connector adopts the second connector as described above. Based on the corresponding structural configuration, precise and stable insertion and removal operations can be achieved while improving the mating reliability between the mating connectors.

[0026] A fourth aspect of this application provides a connecting cable with a connector at its end. The connector is the second connector described above. Based on the structural configuration of the second connector, a good technical guarantee is provided to ensure the connection reliability of the signal transmission link constructed by this connecting cable.

[0027] A fifth aspect of this application provides an electronic device, which includes a first component and a second component connected by a cable, the cable being a connecting cable as described above, and at least one of the first component and the second component being a single board, the single board being provided with a first connector as described above.

[0028] For example, the board can be a management board, a switching board, or a line card.

[0029] For example, the electronic device can be a computing device, server, or network device. For network devices, it can be, for example, but not limited to, a core router, aggregation router, rack switch, or transmission switch. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture for a connector application scenario provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0031] Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a connector assembly provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the insertion relationship of the connector assembly shown in Figure 2;

[0033] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the first connector shown in Figure 2 from another angle;

[0034] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of AA in Figure 2;

[0035] Figure 6 is a partially enlarged schematic diagram of part B of the second connector shown in Figure 3;

[0036] Figure 7 is a CC sectional view in Figure 3;

[0037] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the fit between the spring pieces shown in Figure 7;

[0038] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a spring sheet provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of another spring structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 11 is a side view of the spring sheet shown in Figure 10;

[0041] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of an insertion state of the second connector and the first connector shown in Figure 2;

[0042] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of another insertion state of the second connector and the first connector shown in Figure 2;

[0043] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of another connector assembly provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0044] This application provides a solution for a reliable locking connector assembly, which improves the reliability of mating between the board-side connector and the cable connector, and enables precise and stable insertion and removal operations.

[0045] In electronic devices, mating board-end connectors and cable-end connectors enable the connection between a single board and a cable to establish a corresponding signal transmission link. Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0046] As shown in Figure 1, the electronic device 100 includes a housing 30 and a single board 20 disposed within the housing 30. The cable 40 is electrically connected to the single board 20 through a connector assembly 10. The connector assembly 10 consists of a first connector (board end connector) 1 and a second connector (cable end connector) 2 that mate with each other. The first connector 1 is disposed on the side of the single board 20, and the second connector 2 is disposed at the end of the cable 40. The second connector 2 is inserted into the first connector 1, which can realize the electrical connection between the cable 40 and the single board 20, such as, but not limited to, data signal transmission, control signal transmission and power supply signal transmission.

[0047] With the increasing demand for high-density layouts, the internal space of equipment is becoming more and more compact. When cable connectors are inserted into board-end connectors, the cables connected to the cable connectors usually need to be bent to avoid surrounding components. When board-end connectors are arranged in a small-gap array, the gap between two adjacent board-end connectors becomes smaller, and the cables need to be bent in a smaller space. The stress generated after bending directly affects the mating reliability between the board-end connectors and the cable-end connectors.

[0048] Based on this, this application provides a connector assembly. Please refer to Figures 2 and 3 together. Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a connector assembly provided in this application, and Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the insertion relationship of the connector assembly shown in Figure 2. For ease of description, in a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction, the direction in which the mating pins and terminals of the connector assembly are arranged at intervals is defined as the first direction X, and the direction of the cable 40 connected through the connector assembly 10 is defined as the second direction Y.

[0049] As shown in the figure, the connector assembly 10 includes a mating first connector 1 and a second connector 2. The second connector 2 includes a second body 21, which is an insulating body made of insulating material, and its insertion end surface is provided with pins 211, which are used for electrical connection with the terminals on the first connector 1 side. Please also refer to Figure 4, which is another angled schematic diagram of the first connector shown in Figure 2.

[0050] The first connector 1 includes a first body 11, which is an insulating body made of insulating material. The first body 11 has a recessed cavity P for inserting and mating with the second connector 2. Terminals 111 are embedded in the first body 11, with at least the contact portion of the terminal 111 located within the recessed cavity P, for electrical connection with the pins 211 of the insertion end of the second connector 2. After insertion, each terminal 111 on the first connector 1 corresponds one-to-one with each pin 211 on the second connector 2, and can be arranged sequentially at intervals along the first direction X to establish corresponding connections.

[0051] For example, the pins 211 on the second connector 2 can be formed using a gold finger structure, and correspondingly, the terminals 111 on the first connector 1 can be spring-loaded structures. In other words, the terminals 111 have elastic deformation capability, and when the second connector 2 is inserted into the concave cavity P, it can press against the terminals 111 to produce a certain deformation. Please also refer to Figure 5, which is a cross-sectional view AA in Figure 2.

[0052] After insertion, the pin 211 can be electrically connected to the corresponding terminal 111 contact to obtain a reliable press-fit relationship. As shown in Figure 5, the solder end 112 of the terminal 222 is exposed on the solder surface of the first body 11, that is, the surface of the first body 11 away from the concave cavity P, for electrical connection with the solder pad (not shown in the figure) on the single board side.

[0053] In specific implementations, the number of pins and terminals can be determined according to the functional requirements of different scenarios. As shown in Figure 3, the two pins 211 on the second connector 2 can be a group, and each group of pins 211 is arranged at intervals at the insertion end of the second body 21, and is connected to the cable 40 one by one; the two pins 211 arranged in a group on the side of the second connector 2 are adapted to the two terminals 111 arranged in a group on the side of the first connector 1 to form a link for transmitting differential signals.

[0054] In other possible implementations, a signal transmission channel can be formed by connecting one pin to one cable (not shown in the figure), for example, for the transmission of single-ended signals, and is not limited to the differential pair pin structure shown in the figure. This application does not limit the implementation.

[0055] In this embodiment, a locking mating pair is provided between the first connector 1 and the second connector 2 to restrict the second connector 2 from disengaging from the first connector 1 in the insertion direction. This locking mating pair is provided on both opposite sides of the first connector 1 and the second connector 2, thus limiting the deflection of the second connector relative to the first connector. For example, when the cable end is subjected to a non-perpendicular pulling force such as oblique pull, the locking mating pairs located on opposite sides ensure reliable locking between the two, effectively improving the reliability of the mating. Furthermore, during the mating operation, the locking mating pair also serves as a mating guide. Based on the locking mating pairs located on opposite sides, precise and stable guidance can be provided, preventing oblique insertion under off-center loads and effectively avoiding the possibility of terminal yielding damage due to pressure during insertion and removal.

[0056] To eliminate electromagnetic interference, the first connector 1 may optionally include a first housing 12. Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the first housing 12 is fitted over the first body 11 and is made of metal. After mounting on the upper board, the first housing 12 can be electrically connected to an external reference layer (not shown) via external pins 122. Here, "external reference layer" refers to a reference layer adapted to the connection of the first connector to provide a reliable return path. Examples include, but are not limited to, the ground plane (not shown) on the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) 20 of the device.

[0057] Specifically, the external pins 122 of the first housing 12 can be soldered to the grounding pad on the single board 20 to form a grounding path for the first housing. This allows for rapid and effective elimination of electromagnetic interference due to the low resistance characteristics of the ground layer. Additionally, in other possible implementations, the reference layer adapted to the first connector can also be another low-level reference layer. This application does not limit the scope of the embodiments.

[0058] In this embodiment, the first housing 12 has an opening on the side away from the external pins 122 so that the second connectors 2 can be inserted into each other. At the same time, the first housing 12 has an outlet 123 on one side wall in the second direction Y so that the cable 40 connected to the second connector 2 can be led out laterally, which facilitates the wiring inside the device.

[0059] In a specific implementation, the locking mating pair between the first connector 1 and the second connector 2, as a locking mating pair that can be disengaged, can be formed by constructing a matching locking protrusion and a bayonet. In other specific implementations, different structural forms can be used as needed.

[0060] Referring to Figures 3 and 4, on the first connector 1 side, a bayonet 121 structure for constructing a fitting pair is provided on the first housing 12, specifically on two opposite sidewalls of the first housing 12 in the first direction X. Referring to Figures 3 and 6, where Figure 6 is a partially enlarged schematic diagram of part B of the second connector 2 shown in Figure 3, on the second connector 2 side, a locking protrusion 231 for constructing a fitting pair is provided on the spring tab 23, and spring tabs 23 are provided on both sides of the second housing 22 of the second connector 2 in the second direction Y.

[0061] In this design, one end of the spring piece 23 is a relatively fixed connecting end 232, and the other end is a relatively movable movable end 233. Based on the deformable structural feature of the spring piece 23, under the action of external force, the movable end 233 can move relative to the connecting end 232, and drive the locking protrusion 231 on it to move synchronously. Here, "connecting end" and "movable end" refer to different structural parts on the spring piece 23, rather than being limited to structures with a specific shape.

[0062] In a specific implementation, the second connector 2 further includes a second housing 22, which covers the outside of the second body 21 and serves as the basic structure for connecting and fixing the spring piece 23. Referring to Figures 6, 7, and 8, where Figure 7 is a CC sectional view of Figure 3 and Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the mating relationship of the spring pieces shown in Figure 7.

[0063] In this embodiment, the connecting end 232 of the spring piece 23 can be embedded in the second housing 22, and the movable end 233 of the spring piece 23 has a bent stop portion 2331. As shown in FIG7, the stop portion 2331 is engaged with the second housing 22 and has a predetermined distance L between it and the second body 21, thereby limiting the travel of the movable end 232 of the spring piece 23.

[0064] As shown in Figure 8, a groove 24 is provided between the second body 21 and the second outer shell 22, with the groove opening facing away from the insertion side. The end of the stop portion 2331 is located in the groove 24. On one hand, the stop portion 2331 can engage with the second outer shell 22, thereby positioning the spring piece 23 in its normal working position; on the other hand, a predetermined distance L is formed between the stop portion 2331 and the second body 21 forming the groove 24. Overall, the structure is compact and reasonable, and has good assembly processability.

[0065] For example, the spring 23 can be made of metal sheet, such as, but not limited to, integrally formed using sheet metal processing. Please also refer to Figure 9, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of a spring provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0066] As shown in Figure 9, the locking protrusion 231 is a sheet-like structure that protrudes outward from the body of the spring piece 23, that is, it protrudes towards the first outer shell 12 on the corresponding side, so as to be placed in the corresponding slot 121 to form a locking fit pair. For example, the locking protrusion 231 provided in one-to-one correspondence with the slot 232 may include two sheet-like structures to improve the structural stability of each locking fit pair.

[0067] When the second connector 2 is inserted, the movable ends 233 of the spring pieces 23 located on both sides of the second connector 2 can retract and move away from the corresponding side of the first housing 12 under the action of external force. The maximum movement stroke can be the predetermined distance L between the stop part 2331 and the second body 21. When the locking protrusion 231 is aligned with the bayonet 121 on the corresponding side of the first housing 12, the external force acting on the spring piece 23 is released, and the locking protrusion 231 can be placed in the corresponding bayonet 121 to realize reliable locking between the second connector 2 and the first connector 1.

[0068] To facilitate insertion and removal, the locking protrusion 231 may optionally have a pressing slope 2311 on the insertion side. This pressing slope 2311 gradually tapers inward toward the outer end of the locking protrusion 231, generating a converging force under the action of the first housing 12 during insertion, thus preventing jamming and enabling rapid insertion. Simultaneously, the locking protrusion 231 has a locking plane 2312 on the side away from the insertion, thereby forming a self-locking relationship between the locking protrusion 231 and the latch 121, preventing the locking protrusion 231 from abnormally disengaging from the latch 121.

[0069] In addition, to improve the assembly processability, the embedding structure between the connecting end 232 and the second outer shell 22 can be further optimized. As shown in Figure 9, the connecting end 232 of the spring piece 23 is provided with a first insert portion 2321 and two second insert portions 2322. The first insert portion 2321 extends along the insertion direction, and the two second insert portions 2322 are located at both ends of the first insert portion 2321 in the second direction Y. Correspondingly, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the second housing 22 is provided with a limiting slot 221 to illustrate the orientation relationship. The opening of the limiting slot 221 faces upward, and the first insert portion 2321 of the spring piece 23 is inserted into the limiting slot 221 to limit the relative position of its connecting end 232 in the first direction X. At the same time, the end face of the second housing 22 in the first direction X has two limiting recesses 222, which are respectively provided in correspondence with the two second insert portions 2322 of the spring piece 23. The second insert portions 2322 can be snapped into the corresponding limiting recesses 222 to limit the relative position of their connecting ends 232 in the insertion direction.

[0070] In this way, when assembling the spring 23, its connecting end 232 can be pre-assembled first, and then its movable end 233 can be assembled, which has good assembly processability. When repeated insertion and removal cause wear on the spring 23, the above-mentioned embedding structure allows for easy replacement of the spring as needed. Thus, while ensuring locking reliability, maintenance costs can be reduced.

[0071] It is understood that the second mounting portion 2322 and the limiting recess 222 are not limited to the two sets shown in the figure. In other implementations, a matching set of second mounting portions 2322 and limiting recesses 222 can also be provided to define the relative position of the connecting end 232 in the insertion direction. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0072] Of course, in other possible implementations, the second housing 22 can be an optional component. For example, the connecting end 232 of the spring 23 can be embedded in the second body 21, and the groove 24 adapted to the movable end 233 can be formed on the second body 21. The limiting slot 221 and limiting recess 222 adapted to the connecting end 232 can also be formed on the second body 21. With such a configuration, reliable locking of the locking protrusion 231 on the spring 23 to the bayonet 121 can also be achieved. This application does not limit the embodiments.

[0073] To further enhance the locking effect, two sets of locking mating pairs can be provided on each side of the first direction X. Specifically, two latches 121 are provided on each of the two opposite side walls of the first housing 12 in the first direction X, and the two latches 121 are spaced apart in the second direction Y; correspondingly, the spring piece 23 is provided with locking protrusions 231 that correspond to the two latches 121 respectively. In this way, two sets of locking mating pairs for establishing the locking relationship are provided on each side, forming a double-sided four-point locking scheme in the plane perpendicular to the insertion direction, effectively improving the locking reliability.

[0074] In other possible implementations, multiple sets of suitable card pairs can be set on each side opposite to each other in the first direction X, which is not limited in the embodiments of this application. In comparison, two sets of suitable card pairs can be set on each side, which can improve the locking reliability while reasonably controlling the processing cost.

[0075] It should be noted that in other specific implementations, the bayonet and the spring can also be configured in reverse on the first connector 1 and the second connector (not shown in the figure). That is, the spring is located on the first housing 12 of the first connector 1, and correspondingly, the bayonet is opened on the second housing 22 of the second connector, and the bayonet can also be constructed on opposite sides in the first direction X.

[0076] The spring can also be configured with other structural forms as needed. Please refer to Figures 10 and 11, where Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of another spring structure provided in an embodiment of this application, and Figure 11 is a side view of the spring shown in Figure 10. In order to clearly show the differences and connections between this embodiment and the spring described in Figure 9, structures with the same function are indicated by the same markings in the figures.

[0077] As shown in Figure 10, the spring piece 23 includes a connecting end 232 and a movable end 233, and a locking protrusion 231 is provided on the spring piece 23. Referring to Figure 11, the spring piece 23 is U-shaped, with the connecting end 232 formed at one end. Similarly, based on the deformable structural feature of the spring piece 23, under the action of external force, the movable end 233 can move relative to the connecting end 232, and drive the locking protrusion 231 on it to move synchronously.

[0078] In a specific implementation, the spring piece 23 is connected to the second outer shell 22, or it can be connected to the second body 21, for example, but not limited to, integrally injection molded with the second body. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0079] Additionally, to improve insertion guidance accuracy, optionally, the insertion end of the second housing 22 of the second connector 2 has a guide surface 25, which gradually tapers inward from the body of the second housing 22 toward the end. In a specific implementation, the guide surface 25 includes a first guide surface 251 and a second guide surface 252, wherein the first guide surface 251 is located on opposite sides of the insertion end of the second housing 22 in the first direction X, and the second guide surface 252 is located on opposite sides of the insertion end of the second housing 22 in the second direction Y. Thus, it provides insertion guidance during the insertion of the second connector 2.

[0080] Please refer to Figures 12 and 13. Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of one insertion state of the second connector and the first connector shown in Figure 2, and Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of another insertion state of the second connector and the first connector shown in Figure 2.

[0081] As shown in Figure 12, this figure illustrates the primary guiding and fitting relationship between the second connector 2 and the first connector 1 during the insertion process. The first guide surfaces 251 on both sides of the insertion end of the second housing 22 can be fitted to the opposite side walls of the first housing 12 on the first connector 1 side in the first direction X, providing a guiding function in the first direction X; the second guide surfaces 252 on both sides of the insertion end of the second housing 22 can be fitted to the opposite side walls of the first housing 12 on the first connector 1 side in the second direction Y, providing a guiding function in the second direction Y.

[0082] As shown in Figure 13, with the second connector 2 partially inserted into the first housing 12, the figure illustrates the secondary guiding and fitting relationship between the second connector 2 and the first connector 1 during the insertion process. The locking protrusions 231 located on opposite sides of the second connector 2 in the first direction X can respectively press against the opposite side walls of the first housing 12 on the first connector 1 side in the first direction X. During the inward retraction of the side spring tabs 23, they also provide a guiding function. Overall, precise and stable guidance can be achieved during insertion and removal, providing a good technical guarantee to avoid damage to the terminals due to pressure.

[0083] In addition, the second housing 22 on the side of the second connector 2 can be made of metal material, which can provide stable support for the second body 21 with integrated pins; at the same time, when it is mated with the first housing 12 on the side of the first connector 1, it has better wear resistance and can effectively improve the service life of the product.

[0084] Based on the connector assembly described in the foregoing embodiments, when performing an unlocking operation in a practical application scenario, the spring tabs 23 on both sides of the second connector 2 can be pressed. After the spring tabs 23 retract, the locking protrusions 231 disengage from the corresponding latches 121, thereby unlocking. In other implementations, the unlocking operation can also be performed by pulling with a strap. Please refer to Figure 14, which is a schematic diagram of another connector assembly provided in this application embodiment. To clearly illustrate the differences and connections between this embodiment and the embodiment described in Figure 2, the same functional components and structures are indicated by the same reference numerals in the figure.

[0085] Compared to the connector assembly shown in Figure 2, the connector assembly 10 shown in Figure 14 differs in that it also includes a pull strap 50, the two ends of which are connected to the spring pieces 23 located on both sides. Thus, when the operator pulls the pull strap 50, the movable ends 233 of the spring pieces 23 move towards each other simultaneously. After the spring pieces 23 retract, the locking protrusions 231 disengage from their respective latches 121, thereby unlocking the connector.

[0086] Specifically, the pull strap 50 can be connected to the movable end 233 of the spring piece 23. In a specific implementation, as shown in Figure 9, the movable end 233 of the spring piece 23 can have a threading opening 234, and the pull strap 50 is threaded through the threading opening 234 of the spring piece 23. The pull strap 50 can be selectively set according to the overall product design requirements, and this embodiment does not limit it.

[0087] In addition to the aforementioned connector assembly, this embodiment also provides a connecting cable, as shown in FIG3. The connecting cable includes a cable 40 and a second connector 2 as described above, the second connector 2 being connected to the cable 40.

[0088] In other specific implementations, both ends of the cable 40 may be equipped with the second connector 2 to be used in different scenarios for signal transmission between two substrates.

[0089] The connector assemblies and connecting cables described in the foregoing embodiments can be widely applied to various electronic devices that include links to be connected. The electronic device includes a first component and a second component connected by a cable, which is the connecting cable described in the foregoing embodiments. At least one of the first and second components is a single board, such as, but not limited to, a management board, a switching board, or a line card, to provide a signal transmission channel.

[0090] In specific implementations, for application scenarios where either the first component or the second component is a single-board unit, a connector provided in this application embodiment can be configured at one end of the connecting cable. In other specific implementations, for application scenarios where both the first component and the second component are single-board units, a second connector provided in this application embodiment can be configured at both ends of the connecting cable.

[0091] In specific implementations, the electronic device can be a computing device, server, or network device. For network devices, this includes, but is not limited to, core routers, aggregation routers, rack switches, and transmission switches. In scenarios involving speed upgrades, the aforementioned connectors or connecting cables are used to achieve data exchange or routing forwarding. It should be understood that other functions of the aforementioned electronic device are not the core inventive points of this application, and those skilled in the art can implement them based on existing technology; therefore, they will not be elaborated upon herein.

[0092] It should be noted that the ordinal numbers "first" and "second," etc., used herein are only for describing the composition or structure of the same function in the technical solution. It is understood that the use of the aforementioned ordinal numbers does not constitute a limitation on the understanding of the technical solution for which protection is sought in this application.

[0093] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and modifications without departing from the principle of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A first connector for mating with a second connector, characterized in that, The first connector includes a first body, a first housing, and a plurality of terminals; The first body has a concave cavity for inserting and mating second connectors. The plurality of terminals are embedded in the first body, and each of the terminals is arranged at intervals along the first direction. The contacts of the terminals are located in the concave cavity and are used for electrical connection with the pins on the second connector side. The solder ends of the terminals are exposed on the surface of the first body away from the concave cavity and are used for electrical connection with the solder pads on the single board side. The first outer casing is fitted over the outside of the first body, and the side of the first outer casing away from the welded end has an opening; The first housing has two opposing sidewalls in the first direction, each having a latch for engaging with a locking protrusion on the second connector side to restrict the second connector from disengaging from the first connector in the insertion direction; or, the first housing has two opposing sidewalls in the first direction, each having a spring with a locking protrusion for engaging with a latch on the second connector side to restrict the second connector from disengaging from the first connector in the insertion direction.

2. The first connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first housing has at least two latches on two opposite sidewalls in a first direction, and the at least two latches are spaced apart along a second direction; or, the first housing has at least two locking protrusions on two opposite sidewalls in a first direction, and the at least two locking protrusions are spaced apart along a second direction. Wherein, the second direction and the first direction are two intersecting directions that are perpendicular to the insertion direction, respectively.

3. The first connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first housing is made of metal and includes external pins for electrical connection with an external reference layer.

4. The first connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The first housing has an outlet on one side wall in the second direction for laying cables on the second connector side.

5. The first connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The locking protrusion has a pressing slope on the side near the insertion side, and the pressing slope gradually tapers inward toward the outer end of the locking protrusion. The other side of the locking protrusion away from the insertion side is a locking plane.

6. A second connector for mating with a first connector, characterized in that, The second connector includes a second body, a second housing, and multiple pins; The plurality of pins are located on the insertion end surface of the second body and are used for electrical connection with the contacts of the terminals on the first connector side, and the pins are used for electrical connection with the wires of the cable; The second outer casing is fitted onto the outside of the second body; The second housing has two opposing sidewalls in the first direction, each provided with a locking protrusion, for forming a locking fit with the bayonet on the first connector side, thus restricting the second connector from disengaging from the first connector in the insertion direction; or, the second housing has two opposing sidewalls in the first direction, each provided with a bayonet, for forming a locking fit with the locking protrusion on the first connector side, thus restricting the second connector from disengaging from the first connector in the insertion direction.

7. The second connector according to claim 6, characterized in that, The second housing has at least two locking protrusions on its two opposite sidewalls in the first direction, and the at least two locking protrusions are spaced apart on the body of the spring piece along the second direction; or, the second housing has at least two latches on its two opposite sidewalls in the first direction, and the at least two latches are spaced apart along the second direction. Wherein, the second direction and the first direction are two intersecting directions that are perpendicular to the insertion direction, respectively.

8. The second connector according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, The locking protrusion has a pressing slope on the side near the insertion side, and the pressing slope gradually tapers inward toward the outer end of the locking protrusion. The other side of the locking protrusion away from the insertion side is a locking plane.

9. The second connector according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that, The spring includes a connecting end and a movable end. The connecting end is connected to the second outer shell, and the movable end can move under the action of external force, causing the spring to retract inward.

10. The second connector according to claim 9, characterized in that, The movable end of the spring has a bent stop portion, which engages with the second outer shell and has a predetermined distance from the second body.

11. The second connector according to claim 10, characterized in that, The connecting end of the spring is provided with a first insert portion and a second insert portion. The first insert portion extends along the insertion direction, and the second insert portion is located at the end of the first insert portion in the second direction. The second housing is provided with a limiting slot and a limiting recess. The opening of the limiting slot faces upward. The first insert portion of the spring is inserted into the limiting slot to limit the connecting end in the first direction. The second insert portion is located on the end face of the second housing in the first direction and is engaged in the limiting recess to limit the connecting end in the insertion direction.

12. The second connector according to claim 11, characterized in that, The second mounting portion is configured as two, and the two second mounting portions are respectively located at both ends of the first mounting portion in the second direction, and the limiting recess is configured as two accordingly.

13. The second connector according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, A groove is provided between the second body and the second outer shell, the groove opening facing away from the insertion side, and the end of the stop portion is located in the groove.

14. The second connector according to any one of claims 6 to 13, characterized in that, The insertion end of the second housing has a guide surface that gradually tapers inward from the body of the second housing toward the end.

15. The second connector according to claim 14, characterized in that, The guide surface includes a first guide surface and a second guide surface. The first guide surface is located on opposite sides of the insertion end of the second housing in a first direction, and the second guide surface is located on opposite sides of the insertion end of the second housing in a second direction.

16. The second connector according to claims 6 to 15, characterized in that, The second outer casing is made of metal.

17. The second connector according to claims 6 to 16, characterized in that, It also includes a pull strap, the two ends of which are connected to the spring pieces located on both sides.

18. A connector assembly, characterized in that, It includes a first connector and a second connector for interconnection and adaptation; the first connector adopts the first connector of any one of claims 1 to 5, and the second connector adopts the second connector of any one of claims 6 to 17.

19. A connecting cable, characterized in that, The cable end of the connecting cable is provided with a connector, and the connector is the second connector according to any one of claims 6 to 17.

20. An electronic device, characterized in that, It includes a first component and a second component connected by a cable, the cable being the connecting cable of claim 19, and at least one of the first component and the second component being provided with a first connector of any one of claims 1 to 5.

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