Electrical connector and electronic device

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of electrical connectors, and discloses an electrical connector and an electronic device. The electrical connector comprises: a circuit board provided with signal vias, a ground via, and a ground plane connected to the ground via; conductive terminals electrically connected to the signal vias of the circuit board, wherein there are multiple groups of conductive terminals; shielding structures, each arranged between two adjacent groups of conductive terminals; a common-ground structure connected to multiple shielding structures; and a grounding structure, comprising at least one group of abutting portions, wherein each group of abutting portions comprises multiple abutting arms connecting the common-ground structure and the ground plane, abutting ends of the multiple abutting arms extend towards each other, fixed ends of the multiple abutting arms are located on a same virtual plane parallel to the circuit board, and the projections of the abutting ends of the multiple abutting arms on the virtual plane are positioned close to the center of the line connecting the fixed ends of the multiple abutting arms on the virtual plane.

Description

Electrical connectors and electronic equipment

[0001] Cross-references

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411453539.2, filed on October 17, 2024, entitled "Electrical Connector and Electronic Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This application relates to the field of electrical connector technology, and more particularly to an electrical connector and electronic device. Background Technology

[0004] In modern communication systems, high-speed signal transceivers are key components, and their performance directly affects the quality and stability of signal transmission. With the rapid development of communication technology, the transmission rate of high-speed signal transceivers is constantly increasing; however, at the same time, crosstalk between transceivers is becoming increasingly serious. Crosstalk refers to the interference between signals on adjacent signal lines during transmission, thus affecting the integrity and reliability of signal transmission. Currently, a common ground structure is typically used to connect the shielding structures of each signal line together to meet the grounding requirement. However, existing common ground structures are not effective at suppressing signal crosstalk when connected to the circuit board ground. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The main objective of this application is to provide an electrical connector and an electronic device.

[0006] This application provides an electrical connector, comprising: a circuit board having signal vias, ground vias, and a ground plane connecting the ground vias; conductive terminals electrically connected to the signal vias of the circuit board, wherein multiple sets of conductive terminals are provided; a shielding structure disposed between two adjacent sets of conductive terminals; a common grounding structure connecting multiple shielding structures; and a grounding structure, wherein the grounding structure includes at least one set of abutment portions, each set of abutment portions including multiple abutment arms connecting the common grounding structure and the ground plane, the abutment ends of the multiple abutment arms extending toward each other, the fixed ends of the multiple abutment arms located on the same virtual plane parallel to the circuit board, and the projections of the abutment ends of the multiple abutment arms on the virtual plane being close to the center of the line connecting the fixed ends of the multiple abutment arms on the virtual plane.

[0007] This application provides an electronic device that includes the electrical connector described above. Attached Figure Description

[0008] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0009] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the electrical connector of this application;

[0010] Figure 2 is an exploded structural diagram of an embodiment of the electrical connector of this application, wherein the circuit board has been hidden;

[0011] Figure 3 is an exploded view of the common ground structure and grounding structure in the embodiment of the electrical connector of this application;

[0012] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the grounding structure in the embodiment of the electrical connector of this application, wherein the abutment arm and the conductive sheet are formed by stamping.

[0013] Figure 5 is a structural schematic diagram of Figure 4 from another angle;

[0014] Figure 6 is a structural schematic diagram of Figure 4 from another angle;

[0015] Figure 7 is a partially enlarged structural diagram of part A in Figure 6;

[0016] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the grounding structure in the embodiment of the electrical connector of this application, wherein the abutment arm and the conductive sheet are assembled separately;

[0017] Figure 9 is a partial structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the electrical connector of this application;

[0018] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the grounding structure in the embodiment of the electrical connector of this application, wherein the fixed end of the abutment arm is fixedly connected to the circuit board;

[0019] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the grounding structure in the embodiment of the electrical connector of this application, wherein the fixed end of the abutment arm is fixedly connected to the common grounding structure;

[0020] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the arrangement of differential signal pairs in each group of conductive terminals in the embodiment of the electrical connector of this application;

[0021] Figure 13 is a partial structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the electrical connector of this application;

[0022] Figure 14 is a partial enlarged structural diagram of part B in Figure 13;

[0023] Figure 15 is an exploded view of the shielding structure and insulator in the embodiment of the electrical connector of this application.

[0024] Explanation of reference numerals: 100, Circuit board; 200, Conductive terminal; 210, Differential signal terminal; 220, Insulator; 300, Shielding structure; 310, Shielding plate; 320, Flanged edge; 400, Common ground structure; 410, Clearance hole; 420, Mounting hole; 500, Grounding structure; 510, Abutment arm; 520, Conductive sheet; 530, Mounting clip; 600, Grounding fisheye.

[0025] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of this application will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the embodiments of this application.

[0027] It should be noted that all directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of this application are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicator will also change accordingly.

[0028] Furthermore, in the embodiments of this application, descriptions involving "first," "second," etc., are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of the embodiments of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0029] In the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixed" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can mean a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can mean the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0030] Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments of this application can be combined with each other, but only if they are based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by the embodiments of this application.

[0031] With the increasing demand for ultra-high-speed, high-capacity transmission equipment, the signal rates of high-speed products are constantly improving. This increase in signal rate presents significant challenges to the design of high-speed links, and the bandwidth of high-speed connectors, as critical components in high-speed links, directly restricts the upgrade of system speed.

[0032] The inventors discovered that the common ground structure between the connector and the printed circuit board is usually a conductive sheet with a slotted cantilever spring. The cantilever spring has only one contact point with the printed circuit board, and this contact point is far from the root of the spring. As a result, the traditional conductive sheet has a limited effect on suppressing crosstalk, especially when the speed is increased to 112Gbps+, the crosstalk deterioration is more obvious.

[0033] In view of this, embodiments of this application provide an electrical connector and electronic device, which provides a grounding structure with multiple sets of abutment portions between the common ground structure and the circuit board. Each set of abutment portions includes two or more abutment arms, connecting the circuit board and the common ground structure through multiple abutment arms, thereby improving the reliability of the connection between the two. Furthermore, the abutment ends of the multiple abutment arms are brought closer together, resulting in stronger coupling, thus improving the common ground effect between the circuit board and the common ground structure, thereby enhancing crosstalk suppression capabilities and reducing crosstalk during high-speed signal transmission. Simultaneously, given equal abutment arm lengths, the vertical distance from the abutment end to the fixed end of the abutment arm is shorter, thereby reducing the coupling path. Moreover, in the parallel direction of the circuit board and the common ground structure, the circuit board can directly couple with the common ground structure, suppressing signal transmission or coupling along the extension path of the abutment arms, effectively shortening the coupling path, and thus improving the ability to suppress signal crosstalk.

[0034] To better understand the above technical solution, the following detailed explanation is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0035] As shown in Figures 1 to 8, this application provides an electrical connector, which includes: a circuit board 100, optionally a printed circuit board, having signal vias, ground vias, and a ground plane connecting the ground vias; conductive terminals 200 electrically connected to the signal vias of the circuit board 100, and multiple sets of conductive terminals 200. It is understood that multiple sets of conductive terminals 200 can improve the stability and reliability of signal transmission; a shielding structure 300 disposed between two adjacent sets of conductive terminals 200 to isolate signal interference between different conductive terminals 200, and the end of the shielding structure 300 is grounded to a ground via of the circuit board 100. Optionally, the shielding structure 300 is disposed outside each group of conductive terminals 200, thereby achieving signal blocking of that group of conductive terminals 200; the common ground structure 400 connects multiple shielding structures 300. It can be understood that multiple shielding structures 300 pass through the common ground structure 400 and are connected to the circuit board 100, with the common ground structure 400 contacting the multiple shielding structures 300 and connecting them together. Optionally, the common ground structure 400 is provided with a pressure groove, and the grounding fisheye 600 on the shielding structure 300 is pressed and fixed to the pressure groove, passes through the common ground structure 400, and is then grounded to the circuit board 100. In one embodiment, the common ground structure 400 is provided with a signal via, through which a conductive terminal 200 passes and is electrically connected to the circuit board 100; and a grounding structure 500, which includes at least one set of abutment portions, each set of abutment portions including a plurality of abutment arms 510 connecting the common ground structure 400 and the ground plane. The abutment ends of the plurality of abutment arms 510 extend toward each other, and the fixed ends of the plurality of abutment arms 510 are located on the same virtual plane parallel to the circuit board 100. The projections of the abutment ends of the plurality of abutment arms 510 on the virtual plane are located near the center of the line connecting the fixed ends of the plurality of abutment arms 510 on the virtual plane. It can be understood that the grounding structure 500 is electrically connected to the circuit board 100, thereby realizing the common ground of the plurality of shielding structures 300.

[0036] Specifically, one or more abutment portions can be provided, and each set of abutment portions includes two or more abutment arms 510. The abutment arms 510 are elastic and can be made of elastic materials or be cantilever structures; no limitation is made here. The fixed end of the abutment arm 510 is fixedly disposed, while the abutment end of the abutment arm 510 is suspended. Optionally, the fixed end of the abutment arm 510 can be connected to the common ground structure 400, and the abutment end of the abutment arm 510 can abut against the circuit board 100; or, referring to Figure 10, the fixed end of the abutment arm 510 is connected to the circuit board 100, and the abutment end of the abutment arm 510 can abut against the common ground structure 400. For ease of description, this application uses the example of the abutment end of the abutment arm 510 abutting against the circuit board 100 for description.

[0037] In one embodiment, the fixed end of the abutment arm 510 can be integrally formed with the common ground structure 400. This means the common ground structure 400 is formed by stamping. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the abutment arm 510 can be a separate component, which is then connected to the common ground structure 400. Optionally, the fixed end of the abutment arm 510 can be fixedly connected to the common ground structure 400 using conductive adhesive or welding.

[0038] In this embodiment, by extending the abutting ends of multiple abutting arms 510 towards each other, and positioning the projections of the abutting ends of the multiple abutting arms 510 onto a virtual plane parallel to the circuit board 100 close to the center of the line connecting the fixed ends of the multiple abutting arms 510 on the virtual plane, the abutting ends of the multiple abutting arms 510 are brought closer together, resulting in stronger coupling. This improves the grounding effect between the circuit board 100 and the ground structure 400, thereby enhancing crosstalk suppression capabilities and reducing crosstalk during high-speed signal transmission. Furthermore, in the parallel direction of the circuit board 100 and the ground structure 400, the circuit board 100 can directly couple with the ground structure 400, suppressing signal transmission or coupling along the extension path of the abutting arms 510, effectively shortening the coupling path, and thus improving the ability to suppress signal crosstalk. Additionally, multi-point contact with the circuit board 100 or the ground structure 400 can be achieved, improving the reliability of the connection between the circuit board 100 and the ground structure 400, further enhancing the ability to suppress signal crosstalk.

[0039] In the embodiments of this application, multiple abutment arms 510 are arranged facing each other or offset. It is understood that the abutment arms 510 are arranged facing each other to save space; the abutment arms 510 can also be arranged offset, that is, the abutment ends of the abutment arms 510 are offset, and the sides are partially blocked, which has a better coupling effect and can further improve the crosstalk suppression effect.

[0040] In the embodiments of this application, referring to Figures 3 to 8, the grounding structure 500 further includes a conductive sheet 520, and the fixed end of the abutment arm 510 and the common ground structure 400 are connected through the conductive sheet 520. Specifically, the addition of the conductive sheet 520 means that the conductive sheet 520 is disposed between the circuit board 100 and the common ground structure 400. The connection between the common ground structure 400 and the conductive sheet 520 achieves both mechanical and electrical connection. The fixed end of the abutment arm 510 is connected to the common ground structure 400, and the abutment end of the abutment arm 510 abuts against the circuit board 100 for grounding. Thus, it is unnecessary to provide numerous auxiliary structures on the common ground structure 400, ensuring the strength of the common ground structure 400, preventing cracking or damage to the common ground structure 400, improving the reliability of the common ground structure 400 connecting multiple shielding structures 300, and thereby improving the signal crosstalk effect. Optionally, the conductive sheet 520 and the common ground structure 400 can be either non-detachable or detachable.

[0041] In the embodiments of this application, referring to Figures 4 to 7, the abutment arm 510 and the conductive sheet 520 are integrally stamped, and the distance between the side of the abutment arm 510 and the sidewall of the stamping groove on the conductive sheet 520 is less than or equal to 0.1 mm. During the stamping process of the abutment arm 510, a stamping groove is simultaneously formed on the conductive sheet 520. A larger distance between the side of the abutment arm 510 and the sidewall of the stamping groove increases the likelihood of signal leakage and the formation of a resonant cavity, negatively impacting the suppression of signal crosstalk. Therefore, referring to Figure 7, in the embodiments of this application, the distance L between the side of the abutment arm 510 and the sidewall of the stamping groove on the conductive sheet 520 is set to no more than 0.1 mm, which reduces the adverse effect of resonance on crosstalk suppression. It is understood that L can be 0.1 mm, 0.05 mm, or 0 mm.

[0042] In the embodiments of this application, referring to Figures 9 and 11, the common ground structure 400 is provided with a clearance hole 410, and abutment portions are provided on opposite sides of the clearance hole 410. The clearance hole 410 facilitates the passage of the conductive terminal 200, which is then electrically connected to the circuit board 100. Because the conductive terminal 200 passes through the clearance hole 410 of the common ground structure 400, a strong signal may exist at this location. Therefore, abutment portions are provided on opposite sides of the clearance hole 410 to achieve a better grounding effect at this location, thereby improving the suppression of signal crosstalk.

[0043] In the embodiments of this application, referring to Figures 5 and 9, the grounding structure 500 further includes a mounting clip 530, which is disposed on the conductive sheet 520. The mounting clip 530 and the abutment arm 510 are disposed on opposite sides of the conductive sheet 520. The common ground structure 400 is provided with a mounting hole 420 that mates with the mounting clip 530. It is understood that the mate between the mounting clip 530 and the mounting hole 420 enables a detachable connection between the conductive sheet 520 and the common ground structure 400, facilitating the maintenance and replacement of the conductive sheet 520 and reducing usage costs.

[0044] In the embodiments of this application, referring to FIG9, the electrical connector further includes a grounding fisheye 600, which connects the shielding structure 300 and the common ground structure 400. It is understood that the grounding fisheye 600 is fitted into the crimp groove of the common ground structure 400, achieving a fixed assembly of the common ground structure 400. Since the common ground structure 400 is a conductor, the grounding fisheye 600 is electrically connected to the ground hole of the circuit board 100 on one hand, and on the other hand, the shielding structure 300 is electrically connected to the common ground structure 400 through the grounding fisheye 600 at the crimp groove, thereby achieving a common ground connection for all shielding structures 300 and further reducing crosstalk.

[0045] In embodiments of this application, referring to Figures 12 and 13, each set of conductive terminals 200 includes: differential signal terminals 210, with two differential signal terminals 210 spaced apart; each differential signal terminal 210 has a wide-side coupling section, a narrow-side coupling section, and a bent connecting section connecting the wide-side coupling section and the narrow-side coupling section along the signal transmission path; the narrow-side coupling section is connected to the circuit board 100; and

[0046] Insulator 220, differential signal terminal 210 is embedded in insulator 220.

[0047] In this embodiment, each set of conductive terminals 200 includes one or more differential signal pairs, and each differential signal pair includes spaced and paired differential signal terminals 210. One or more differential signal pairs are provided on the insulator 220. It is understood that in this embodiment, the conductive terminals 200 are differential terminals, and signals are mainly transmitted in differential mode. Specifically, the wide-side coupling sections of the two differential signal terminals 210 in each differential signal pair are arranged side-by-side along a first direction. After being bent and transformed by a bending connection section, the narrow-side coupling sections of the two differential signal terminals 210 are arranged side-by-side along a second direction, with the first and second directions perpendicular. Thus, compared to the multiple rows of narrow-side coupling sections of each terminal, the overall area of ​​the pressure contact surface with the circuit board 100 can be reduced, the board area occupied by the connector package can be reduced, and the connector density can be increased. In one embodiment, the insulator 220 may include two sub-insulating plates stacked together, with one of the two differential signal terminals 210 of each differential signal pair disposed in one of the two sub-insulating plates, and the other of the two differential signal terminals 210 of each differential signal pair disposed in the other of the two sub-insulating plates. Of course, in other embodiments, the insulator 220 may also be a single integral insulating plate.

[0048] In the embodiments of this application, referring to Figures 14 and 15, the shielding structure 300 includes two shielding plates 310 spaced apart, which are disposed on opposite sides of the conductive terminals 200. It is understood that the two shielding plates 310 are disposed on both sides of a set of conductive terminals 200, thereby blocking signals and reducing signal crosstalk between adjacent sets of conductive terminals 200. Moreover, the shielding structure 300 in this embodiment consists of two spaced-apart shielding plates 310, which is simpler in structure and easier to manufacture compared to other shielding methods such as shielding sleeves. Optionally, the shielding plates 310 are metal plates.

[0049] In the embodiments of this application, referring to FIG14, a flange 320 is provided at one end of the shielding plate 310 near the narrow side coupling section, and the flanges 320 on the two shielding plates 310 extend in a direction closer to each other. In this way, the shielding plate 310 can be closer to the narrow side coupling section, improving the shielding effect and thus reducing signal crosstalk.

[0050] This application also proposes an electronic device, which includes the electrical connector described above. Specifically, the specific structure of the electrical connector is the same as described in the above embodiments. Since this electronic device adopts all the technical solutions of the above embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, and will not be described in detail here.

[0051] The above description is merely an exemplary implementation of this application and does not limit the patent scope of the embodiments of this application. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the technical concept of the embodiments of this application and the contents of the specification and drawings of the embodiments of this application, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, wherein, The electrical connector includes: The circuit board has signal vias, ground vias, and a ground plane connecting the ground vias; Conductive terminals are electrically connected to the signal vias of the circuit board, and multiple sets of conductive terminals are provided; A shielding structure is provided between two adjacent sets of the conductive terminals; A common ground structure, connecting multiple of the aforementioned shielding structures; and A grounding structure includes at least one set of abutting parts. Each set of abutting parts includes multiple abutting arms connecting the common ground structure and the grounding plane. The abutting ends of the multiple abutting arms extend toward each other. The fixed ends of the multiple abutting arms are located on the same virtual plane parallel to the circuit board. The projections of the abutting ends of the multiple abutting arms on the virtual plane are close to the center of the line connecting the fixed ends of the multiple abutting arms on the virtual plane.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein, The multiple abutment arms are arranged either facing each other or staggered.

3. The electrical connector of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The grounding structure also includes a conductive sheet, and the fixed end of the abutment arm and the common ground structure are connected through the conductive sheet.

4. The electrical connector of claim 3, wherein, The abutment arm and the conductive sheet are integrally stamped, and the distance between the side of the abutment arm and the side wall of the stamping groove on the conductive sheet is less than or equal to 0.1 mm.

5. The electrical connector of claim 4, wherein, The common structure is provided with a clearance hole, and the abutment part is provided on each of the opposite sides of the clearance hole.

6. The electrical connector of claim 3, wherein, The grounding structure further includes a mounting clip, which is disposed on the conductive sheet. The mounting clip and the abutment arm are disposed on opposite sides of the conductive sheet. The common grounding structure is provided with mounting holes that cooperate with the mounting clip.

7. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein, The electrical connector also includes a grounding fisheye, which connects the shielding structure and the common ground structure.

8. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein, Each set of conductive terminals includes: differential signal terminals, wherein two differential signal terminals are spaced apart, and each differential signal terminal has a wide-side coupling section, a narrow-side coupling section, and a bent connecting section connecting the wide-side coupling section and the narrow-side coupling section along the signal transmission path; the narrow-side coupling section is connected to the circuit board; and An insulator, wherein the differential signal terminals are embedded in the insulator.

9. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 8, wherein, The shielding structure includes two shielding plates spaced apart, which are located on opposite sides of the conductive terminal.

10. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 9, wherein, The shielding plate has a flange at one end near the narrow coupling section, and the flanges on the two shielding plates extend toward each other.

11. An electronic device, wherein, The electronic device includes an electrical connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 10.

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