Connector and connector module

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of connectors. Disclosed are a connector and a connector module. The connector comprises a first-side terminal group, a second-side terminal group and a middle plate assembly, wherein the first-side terminal group comprises at least a first terminal and a second terminal; the second-side terminal group is spaced apart from the first-side terminal group in a first direction, the second-side terminal group comprises at least a third terminal, and the first terminal is electrically connected to the third terminal; and the middle plate assembly is arranged between and spaced apart from the first-side terminal group and the second-side terminal group in the first direction, and the middle plate assembly comprises a first middle plate, the first middle plate being electrically connected to the second terminal to form a first detection circuit, and the first detection circuit being configured to detect the performance of the second terminal. By means of the structure in which the first terminal and the third terminal are electrically connected, the connector has a detection function, and can also effectively solve the problem of the structural mismatch and incompatibility between new and existing connectors.

Description

Connectors and connector modules

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202510483346.X, filed on April 17, 2025, entitled “Connector and Connector Module”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This application relates to the field of connector technology, and in particular to a connector and connector module. Background Technology

[0004] With the advancement of electronic technology, electronic devices such as mobile phones and computers are being used more and more frequently in people's daily lives, leading to increasingly higher requirements for their safety and performance. Connectors in electronic devices are used for charging and data transmission. Repeated plugging and unplugging can cause wear and tear on connectors, potentially leading to connector failure in severe cases.

[0005] To detect connector wear in a timely manner, the current practice is to add detection terminals to the connector to form a detection circuit. However, the addition of detection terminals increases the total number of terminals in the connector, requiring improvements to the connector, which is very costly, and it is incompatible with older electronic devices, resulting in high iteration costs.

[0006] Application content

[0007] This application provides a connector and connector module that can effectively solve the problem of structural incompatibility and mismatch between new and old connectors, based on the presence of detection functions.

[0008] In a first aspect, one technical solution adopted in the embodiments of this application is: providing a connector, including a first side terminal group, a second side terminal group, and a middle clamping plate assembly. The first side terminal group includes at least a first terminal and a second terminal. The second side terminal group is spaced apart from the first side terminal group along a first direction, and the second side terminal group includes at least a third terminal, with the first terminal and the third terminal electrically connected. The middle clamping plate assembly is spaced apart between the first side terminal group and the second side terminal group along the first direction, and the middle clamping plate assembly includes a first middle clamping plate, which is electrically connected to the second terminal to form a first detection circuit for detecting the performance of the second terminal.

[0009] In some embodiments, a portion of the first terminal is directly connected to a portion of the third terminal to form an electrical connection.

[0010] In some embodiments, the connector further includes a circuit board, which is provided with a first shorting circuit, a first functional circuit and a second functional circuit. The first shorting circuit is connected to a first terminal and a third terminal respectively, so that the first terminal and the third terminal are indirectly electrically connected. The first functional circuit is electrically connected to a first middle clamping plate and the second functional circuit is electrically connected to a second terminal.

[0011] In some embodiments, the circuit board includes a third functional circuit electrically connected to a first shorting circuit, such that the third functional circuit is electrically connected to a first terminal and a third terminal.

[0012] In some embodiments, the first terminal includes a first body portion and a first welding portion, and the third terminal includes a third body portion and a third welding portion. The first body portion and the third body portion are spaced apart in a first direction. The first welding portion and the third welding portion are coplanar in a first plane, which is perpendicular to the first direction. The first welding portion and the third welding portion are spaced apart along a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction. A first short-circuit circuit electrically connects the first welding portion and the third welding portion.

[0013] In some embodiments, the middle clamping plate assembly further includes a second middle clamping plate, which is spaced apart from the first middle clamping plate, is electrically connected to the second functional circuit, and is grounded.

[0014] In some embodiments, the first middle clamp includes a first pin, which is connected to a first functional circuit; the second middle clamp includes a second pin, and the second terminal includes a second body portion and a second welding portion. One end of the second body portion is connected to the first middle clamp, and the other end of the second body portion is connected to the second welding portion. The first pin, the second pin, and the second welding portion are all located in a first plane, and the second welding portion and the second pin are connected to the second functional circuit together.

[0015] In some embodiments, the second middle clamp further includes a first contact portion, which is electrically connected to the second body portion of the second terminal.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first side terminal group further includes at least a fourth terminal and a fifth terminal; the second side terminal group further includes at least a sixth terminal, and the fourth terminal and the sixth terminal are electrically connected; the middle clamping plate assembly further includes a third middle clamping plate, the third middle clamping plate is spaced apart from the first middle clamping plate, the third middle clamping plate is electrically connected to the fifth terminal, the third middle clamping plate and the fifth terminal constitute a second detection circuit, and the second detection circuit is used to detect the performance of the fifth terminal.

[0017] In some embodiments, a portion of the fourth terminal is directly connected to a portion of the sixth terminal to form an electrical connection.

[0018] In some embodiments, the circuit board is provided with a second shorting circuit, a fourth functional circuit and a fifth functional circuit. The second shorting circuit is connected to the fourth terminal and the sixth terminal respectively, so that the fourth terminal and the sixth terminal are indirectly electrically connected. The fourth functional circuit is electrically connected to the third middle plate, and the fifth functional circuit is electrically connected to the fifth terminal.

[0019] In some embodiments, the circuit board includes a sixth functional circuit electrically connected to a second shorting circuit, such that the sixth functional circuit is electrically connected to a fourth terminal and a sixth terminal.

[0020] In some embodiments, the fourth terminal includes a fourth body portion and a fourth welding portion, and the sixth terminal includes a sixth body portion and a sixth welding portion. The fourth body portion and the sixth body portion are spaced apart in a first direction. The fourth welding portion and the sixth welding portion are coplanar in a first plane. The fourth welding portion and the sixth welding portion are spaced apart along a second direction. The second short-circuit circuit is electrically connected to the fourth welding portion and the sixth welding portion.

[0021] In some embodiments, the middle clamping plate assembly further includes a fourth middle clamping plate, which is spaced apart from the third middle clamping plate, electrically connected to the fifth functional circuit, and grounded.

[0022] In some embodiments, the third middle plate includes a third pin, which is connected to the fourth functional circuit; the fourth middle plate includes a fourth pin, and the fifth terminal includes a fifth body and a fifth welding part. One end of the fifth body is connected to the third middle plate, and the other end of the fifth body is connected to the fifth welding part. The third pin, the fourth pin, and the fifth welding part are all located in the first plane, and the fifth welding part and the fourth pin are connected to the fifth functional circuit together.

[0023] In some embodiments, the fourth clamping plate further includes a second contact portion, which is electrically connected to the fifth body portion of the fifth terminal.

[0024] In some embodiments, the first terminal and the third terminal are both first low-speed signal terminals; and / or, the fourth terminal and the sixth terminal are both second low-speed signal terminals.

[0025] In some embodiments, the circuit board includes two shorting circuits and twenty-four functional circuits, all of which are coplanarly arranged. The circuit board has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The first end is used to connect with a first side terminal group, a second side terminal group and a middle clamping plate assembly, and is provided with twenty-six connection areas. The second end is used to connect with an external connector and is provided with twenty-four connection areas.

[0026] In some embodiments, the circuit board is a rigid PCB or a flexible FPC.

[0027] Secondly, another technical solution adopted in the embodiments of this application is: providing a connector module, including a first fixing member, a single row of terminals, a second fixing member, and a connector as described in any one of claims 1-19; the single row of terminals is disposed on the first fixing member, the second end of the circuit board is connected to the single row of terminals, and the second fixing member is connected to the first fixing member and the circuit board respectively, so as to lock the circuit board to the first fixing member and keep it in contact with the single row of terminals.

[0028] In some embodiments, the first fixing member is provided with a first locking part, and the second fixing member is provided with a second locking part. The first locking part and the second locking part are connected to each other so that the first fixing member is fixed relative to the second fixing member.

[0029] The beneficial effects of this application embodiment are as follows: The connector of this application embodiment includes a first side terminal group, a second side terminal group, and a middle clamping plate assembly. The first side terminal group includes at least a first terminal and a second terminal. The second side terminal group is spaced apart from the first side terminal group along a first direction, and the second side terminal group includes at least a third terminal. The first terminal and the third terminal are electrically connected. The middle clamping plate assembly is spaced apart between the first side terminal group and the second side terminal group along the first direction. The middle clamping plate assembly includes a first middle clamping plate, which is electrically connected to the second terminal to form a first detection circuit. The first detection circuit is used to detect the performance of the second terminal. By electrically connecting the first terminal and the third terminal, the connector can effectively solve the problem of structural incompatibility and mismatch between new and old connectors while having a detection function. Attached Figure Description

[0030] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the specific embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments will be briefly introduced below. In all the drawings, similar elements or parts are generally identified by similar reference numerals. In the drawings, the elements or parts are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0031] Figure 1 is an exploded view of the connector module according to an embodiment of this application.

[0032] Figure 2 is an exploded view of the connector according to an embodiment of this application.

[0033] Figure 3 is an exploded view of a portion of the connector structure according to an embodiment of this application.

[0034] Figure 4 is an exploded view of a portion of the connector structure according to an embodiment of this application from another perspective.

[0035] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a portion of the connector structure according to an embodiment of this application. Embodiments of the present invention

[0036] To facilitate understanding of this application, a more detailed description is provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that when an element is described as "fixed to" another element, it can be directly on the other element, or one or more intermediate elements may exist between them. When an element is described as "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element, or one or more intermediate elements may exist between them. The terms "upper," "lower," "inner," "outer," "vertical," "horizontal," etc., used in this specification indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0037] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this specification have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the application. The term "and / or" as used in this specification includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0038] Furthermore, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of this application described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0039] Referring to Figures 1 to 3, this application embodiment provides a connector 100, which is applicable to electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and laptops. The connector 100 is used for the transmission of electrical energy and data. The connector 100 includes a first side terminal group 10, a second side terminal group 20, and a middle clamping plate assembly 30. The first side terminal group 10 and the second side terminal group 20 are spaced apart in a first direction X, where the first direction X can be understood as a direction perpendicular to the plane where the first side terminal group 10 is located, or as the thickness direction of the connector 100. The middle clamping plate assembly 30 is spaced between the first side terminal group 10 and the second side terminal group 20. The first side terminal group 10 and the second side terminal group 20 are used to realize the transmission of electrical energy and data. Of course, the connector 100 also includes an injection-molded part for supporting the first side terminal group 10, the second side terminal group 20, and the middle clamping plate assembly 30, and a metal shell disposed outside the injection-molded part. This application does not limit the injection-molded part and the metal shell.

[0040] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 3 and 4, the first side terminal group 10 includes at least a first terminal 11 and a second terminal 12. The second side terminal group 20 includes at least a third terminal 21. The first terminal 11 and the third terminal 21 are connected; it is understood that the first terminal 11 and the third terminal 21 can be directly connected or indirectly connected. The first terminal 11 and the third terminal 21 are terminals that perform the same function, and they are centrally symmetrically arranged about the middle clamp assembly 30, so that when the connector 100 of this application is connected to an external connector 100, whether it is a right-side-out or left-side-out insertion, the terminals on the external connector 100 can remain connected to either the first terminal 11 or the third terminal 21.

[0041] The middle clamp assembly 30 includes a first middle clamp 31, which is electrically connected to the second terminal 12 to form a first detection circuit. This first detection circuit is used to detect the performance of the second terminal 12. In some examples, the second terminal 12 is located at the outermost edge of the first side terminal group 10. During the use of the connector 100, the second terminal 12 is more susceptible to impact or wear than other terminals. Therefore, electrically connecting the first middle clamp 31 to the second terminal 12 to form a detection circuit allows for accurate and effective detection of the performance of the second terminal 12. For example, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, when the second terminal 12 is subjected to severe impact or wear, poor contact may occur between the second terminal 12 and the first middle clamp 31 at position A. This can cause an open circuit in the first detection circuit or changes in circuit parameters such as resistance or voltage. The changes in the parameters of the first detection circuit can indicate an abnormality in the second terminal 12, prompting the user to check or replace it.

[0042] The connectors 100 of existing electronic devices, such as the Type-C interface, need to meet the USB Association's standard requirements for connectors, such as having 24 terminals in the connector 100 to enable connection or plugging.

[0043] Compared to the existing technology where the first terminal 11 and the third terminal 21 are independently connected to the circuit, adding a detection circuit would result in at least one extra terminal, bringing the connector 100 to at least 25 terminals, which does not comply with the association's regulations. In this embodiment, the connector 100 connects the first terminal 11 and the third terminal 21, which perform the same function, so that they can be connected to the same circuit. The saved circuit can be used to connect the first middle clamp 31, allowing the first middle clamp 31 and the second terminal 12 to form the first detection circuit. This allows the connector 100 to maintain 24 terminals for connection to external connectors while still providing detection functionality, effectively solving the compatibility problem between connectors 100, improving compatibility, and reducing the cost of modification and iteration.

[0044] In some embodiments, a portion of the first terminal 11 and a portion of the third terminal 21 are directly connected to form an electrical connection. For example, they can be soldered together and then injection molded into a base, so that only one of the first terminal 11 and the third terminal 21 needs to be electrically connected to the circuit board 40 described below.

[0045] In other embodiments, referring to Figures 1 and 4, the connector 100 further includes a circuit board 40, which has a first shorting circuit 41, a first functional circuit 42, and a second functional circuit 43. The first shorting circuit 41 is connected to the first terminal 11 and the third terminal 21 respectively, so that the first terminal 11 and the third terminal 21 are indirectly electrically connected. The first functional circuit 42 is electrically connected to the first middle clamping plate 31, and the second functional circuit 43 is electrically connected to the second terminal 12. In this way, the first functional circuit 42, the first middle clamping plate 31, the second terminal 12, and the second functional circuit 43 are connected in series. When the first functional circuit 42 and the second functional circuit 43 are connected to the detection circuit, a closed loop can be formed to detect the performance of the second terminal 12. Compared with the structure in which the first terminal 11 and the third terminal 21 are directly connected, it is easier to connect the two by setting the first shorting circuit 41 on the circuit board 40, the structure is simpler, and the production difficulty is reduced. In addition, during later maintenance, the circuit board 40 can be separated from the first terminal 11 and the third terminal 21, which makes it easier to inspect the circuit board 40. If the first terminal 11 and the third terminal 21 are directly connected and then encapsulated with injection molding, it will be difficult to repair.

[0046] In some embodiments, referring to FIG4, the circuit board 40 further includes a third functional circuit 44, which is electrically connected to the first shorting circuit 41, so that the third functional circuit 44 is electrically connected to the first terminal 11 and the third terminal 21. This structure allows one end of the third functional circuit 44 to be connected to both the first terminal 11 and the third terminal 21, and the other end of the third functional circuit 44 to be electrically connected to a terminal of the external connector 100, that is, the first terminal 11 and the third terminal 21 are combined into a single input / output port, thereby saving the number of functional circuits on the circuit board 40.

[0047] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 3 and 4, the first terminal 11 includes a first body portion 111 and a first solder portion 112 connected together, and the third terminal 21 includes a third body portion 211 and a third solder portion 212 connected together. The first body portion 111 and the third body portion 211 are spaced apart in the first direction X and are centrally symmetrical about the middle clamp assembly 30, so that the connector 100 can be inserted into and out of the external connector 100. The first solder portion 112 and the third solder portion 212 are coplanar in a first plane (not shown), the first plane being perpendicular to the first direction X (as shown in Figure 2). The first solder portion 112 and the third solder portion 212 are spaced apart along a second direction Y, the second direction Y being perpendicular to the first direction X. The first short-circuit circuit 41 is electrically connected to the first solder portion 112 and the third solder portion 212. By arranging the first solder portion 112 and the third solder portion 212 coplanar in the first direction X, it is convenient for the first solder portion 112 and the third solder portion 212 to be short-circuited and soldered to the circuit board 40.

[0048] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 3 and 4, the middle clamping plate assembly 30 further includes a second middle clamping plate 32, which is spaced apart from the first middle clamping plate 31 so that they are not directly connected. The second middle clamping plate 32 is electrically connected to the second functional circuit 43, which is grounded, thus the second middle clamping plate 32 is also grounded. The second middle clamping plate 32 and the first middle clamping plate 31 are disposed between the first side terminal group 10 and the second side terminal group 20, which can enhance the shielding effect and reduce the mutual interference between the first side terminal group 10 and the second side terminal group 20.

[0049] The first intermediate clamp 31 and the second intermediate clamp 32 are spaced apart, allowing the current input from the first functional circuit 42 to flow sequentially through the first intermediate clamp 31 and the second terminal 12 before returning to the second functional circuit 43. This enables effective monitoring and detection of the second terminal 12. If the first intermediate clamp 31 and the second intermediate clamp 32 are directly connected, according to the current flow characteristics, the current input from the first functional circuit 42 will flow directly from the first intermediate clamp 31 to the second intermediate clamp 32 and then back to the second functional circuit 43, without passing through the second terminal 12, making it impossible to detect position A of the second terminal 12.

[0050] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 3 and 4, the first intermediate plate 31 includes a first pin 311, which is connected to the first functional circuit 42. The second intermediate plate 32 includes a second pin 321, and the second terminal 12 includes a second body portion 121 and a second solder portion 122. One end of the second body portion 121 is connected to the first intermediate plate 31, and the other end is connected to the second solder portion 122. The first pin 311, the second pin 321, and the second solder portion 122 are all located in a first plane, which facilitates soldering connections between the three components and the circuit board 40. The second solder portion 122 and the second pin 321 are jointly connected to the second functional circuit 43, which can save on functional circuitry on the circuit board 40. It is understood that the second intermediate plate 32 may also be provided with multiple pins, all of which are grounded to further enhance the shielding performance of the first intermediate plate 31 and the second intermediate plate 32.

[0051] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 3 and 5, the second middle clamping plate 32 further includes a first contact portion 322, which extends and bends toward the second terminal 12. The first contact portion 322 is electrically connected to the second body portion 121 of the second terminal 12, and can indirectly connect the first middle clamping plate 31 and the second middle clamping plate 32, so that the first middle clamping plate 31 is also grounded, further enhancing the shielding effect of the first middle clamping plate 31 on the first side terminal group 10 and the second side terminal group 20.

[0052] In the above embodiments, the connector 100 is provided with a detection circuit to detect the second terminal 12. In actual use, both corners of the connector 100 are prone to wear and impact. Therefore, to further improve the detection of the terminals at the two corners of the connector 100, the connector 100 in this embodiment can be provided with two detection circuits to detect the performance of the terminals at the two corners respectively. This allows for timely reminders to the user to replace the connector 100 when its performance deteriorates, ensuring the transmission of power and signals.

[0053] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 1 to 3, the first side terminal group 10 includes at least a fourth terminal 13 and a fifth terminal 14. The second side terminal group 20 includes at least a sixth terminal 22. The fourth terminal 13 and the sixth terminal 22 are connected; it is understood that the fourth terminal 13 and the sixth terminal 22 can be directly connected or indirectly connected. The fourth terminal 13 and the sixth terminal 22 are terminals that perform the same function, and they are centrally symmetrically arranged about the middle clamp assembly 30, so that when the connector 100 of this application is connected to an external connector 100, whether it is a right-side-out or left-side-out insertion, the terminals on the external connector 100 can remain connected to the fourth terminal 13 or the sixth terminal 22.

[0054] The middle clamp assembly 30 includes a third middle clamp 33, which is spaced apart from the first middle clamp 31. The third middle clamp 33 is electrically connected to the fifth terminal 14 to form a second detection circuit, which is used to detect the performance of the fifth terminal 14. In some examples, the fifth terminal 14 is located on the other outermost side of the first side terminal group 10, that is, the second terminal 12 and the fifth terminal 14 are respectively located on the outermost side of the first side terminal group 10. During the use of the connector 100, the fifth terminal 14 is more susceptible to impact or wear than other terminals. Therefore, by electrically connecting the third middle clamp 33 to the fifth terminal 14 to form a detection circuit, the performance of the fifth terminal 14 can be accurately and effectively detected. For example, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, when the fifth terminal 14 is subjected to impact or severe wear, the fifth terminal 14 may have poor contact with the third middle clamp 33 at position B. The second detection circuit may experience an open circuit or changes in circuit parameters such as resistance or voltage. That is, the abnormality of the fifth terminal 14 can be detected by the changes in the parameters of the second detection circuit, so as to remind the user to check or replace it.

[0055] Compared to the existing technology where the fourth terminal 13 and the sixth terminal 22 are independently connected to the circuit, adding a detection circuit would result in at least one extra terminal, bringing the connector 100 to at least 25 terminals, which does not comply with the association's regulations. In this embodiment, the connector 100 connects the fourth terminal 13 and the sixth terminal 22, which perform the same function, so that they can be connected to the same circuit. The saved circuit can be used to connect the third middle clamp 33, allowing the third middle clamp 33 and the fifth terminal 14 to form a second detection circuit. This allows the connector 100 to maintain 24 terminals for connection to external connectors while still providing detection functionality, effectively solving the compatibility problem between connectors 100, improving compatibility, and reducing the cost of modification and iteration.

[0056] In some embodiments, a portion of the fourth terminal 13 and a portion of the sixth terminal 22 are directly connected to form an electrical connection. For example, they can be soldered together and then injection molded into a base, so that only one of the fourth terminal 13 and the sixth terminal 22 needs to be electrically connected to the circuit board 40.

[0057] In other embodiments, referring to Figures 3 and 4, the circuit board 40 is provided with a second shorting circuit 45, a fourth functional circuit 46, and a fifth functional circuit 47. The second shorting circuit 45 is connected to the fourth terminal 13 and the sixth terminal 22 respectively, so that the fourth terminal 13 and the sixth terminal 22 are indirectly electrically connected. The fourth functional circuit 46 is electrically connected to the third middle clamp 33, and the fifth functional circuit 47 is electrically connected to the fifth terminal 14. In this way, the fourth functional circuit 46, the third middle clamp 33, the fifth terminal 14, and the fifth functional circuit 47 are connected in series. When a detection circuit is connected between the fourth functional circuit 46 and the fifth functional circuit 47, a closed loop can be formed to detect the performance of the fifth terminal 14. Compared with the structure in which the fourth terminal 13 and the sixth terminal 22 are directly connected, it is easier to connect them by setting the second shorting circuit 45 on the circuit board 40, the structure is simpler, and the production difficulty is reduced. In addition, during later maintenance, the circuit board 40 can be separated from the fourth terminal 13 and the sixth terminal 22, making it easier to inspect the circuit board 40. If the fourth terminal 13 and the sixth terminal 22 are directly connected and then encapsulated with injection molding, it will be difficult to repair.

[0058] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 3 and 4, the circuit board 40 further includes a sixth functional circuit 48, which is electrically connected to the second shorting circuit 45, so that the sixth functional circuit 48 is electrically connected to the fourth terminal 13 and the sixth terminal 22. This structure allows one end of the sixth functional circuit 48 to be connected to both the fourth terminal 13 and the sixth terminal 22, and the other end of the sixth functional circuit 48 to be electrically connected to a terminal of the external connector 100. In other words, the fourth terminal 13 and the sixth terminal 22 are combined into a single input / output port, thus reducing the number of functional circuits on the circuit board 40.

[0059] In some embodiments, the fourth terminal 13 includes a fourth body portion 131 and a fourth welding portion 132 connected together, and the sixth terminal 22 includes a sixth body portion 221 and a sixth welding portion 222 connected together. The fourth body portion 131 and the sixth body portion 221 are spaced apart in the first direction X and are centrally symmetrical about the middle clamp assembly 30, so that the connector 100 can be inserted into and out of the external connector 100. The fourth welding portion 132 and the sixth welding portion 222 are coplanar in a first plane, which is perpendicular to the first direction X. The fourth welding portion 132 and the sixth welding portion 222 are spaced apart along a second direction Y, which is perpendicular to the first direction X. The second short-circuit circuit 45 is electrically connected to the fourth welding portion 132 and the sixth welding portion 222. By arranging the fourth welding portion 132 and the sixth welding portion 222 coplanar in the first direction X, it is convenient for the fourth welding portion 132 and the sixth welding portion 222 to be short-circuited and welded to the circuit board 40.

[0060] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 3 and 4, the middle clamping plate assembly 30 further includes a fourth middle clamping plate 34. The fourth middle clamping plate 34 and the third middle clamping plate 33 are spaced apart so that they are not directly connected. The fourth middle clamping plate 34 is electrically connected to the fifth functional circuit 47, which is grounded, thus the fourth middle clamping plate 34 is also grounded. The fourth middle clamping plate 34 and the third middle clamping plate 33 are disposed between the first side terminal group 10 and the second side terminal group 20, which can enhance the shielding effect and reduce the mutual interference between the first side terminal group 10 and the second side terminal group 20.

[0061] The third and fourth intermediate plates 33 and 34 are spaced apart, allowing the current input from the fourth functional circuit 46 to flow sequentially through the third intermediate plate 33 and the fifth terminal 14 before returning to the fifth functional circuit 47. This enables effective monitoring and detection of the fifth terminal 14. If the third and fourth intermediate plates 33 and 34 are directly connected, according to the current flow characteristics, the current input from the fourth functional circuit 46 will flow directly from the third intermediate plate 33 to the fourth intermediate plate 34 and then back to the fifth functional circuit 47, bypassing the fifth terminal 14 and thus preventing detection of the fifth terminal 14.

[0062] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 3 and 4, the third intermediate plate 33 includes a third pin 331, which is connected to the fourth functional circuit 46. The fourth intermediate plate 34 includes a fourth pin 341, and the fifth terminal 14 includes a fifth body portion 141 and a fifth solder portion 142. One end of the fifth body portion 141 is connected to the third intermediate plate 33, and the other end is connected to the fifth solder portion 142. The third pin 331, the fourth pin 341, and the fifth solder portion 142 are all located in a first plane, which facilitates soldering connections between the three and the circuit board 40. The fifth solder portion 142 and the fourth pin 341 are jointly connected to the fifth functional circuit 47, which can save functional circuitry on the circuit board 40. It is understood that the fourth intermediate plate 34 may also be provided with multiple pins, all of which are grounded to further enhance the shielding performance of the third intermediate plate 33 and the fourth intermediate plate 34.

[0063] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 3 and 5, the fourth middle clamp 34 further includes a second contact portion 342, which extends and bends toward the fifth terminal 14. The second contact portion 342 is electrically connected to the fifth body portion 141 of the fifth terminal 14, and can indirectly connect the third middle clamp 33 and the fourth middle clamp 34, so that the third middle clamp 33 is also grounded, further enhancing the shielding effect of the third middle clamp 33 on the first side terminal group 10 and the second side terminal group 20.

[0064] In some embodiments, the first terminal 11 and the third terminal 21 are both first low-speed signal terminals; and / or, the fourth terminal 13 and the sixth terminal 22 are both second low-speed signal terminals. Since the first terminal 11, the third terminal 21, the fourth terminal 13, and the sixth terminal 22 are all used to transmit low-speed signals, the first terminal 11 and the third terminal 21 can share the same third functional circuit 44 to transmit signals with minimal impact on the signal. Similarly, the fourth terminal 13 and the sixth terminal 22 can share the same sixth functional circuit 48 to transmit signals with minimal impact on the signal.

[0065] In some embodiments, referring to FIG4, the circuit board 40 includes two shorting circuits and twenty-four functional circuits, all of which are coplanarly arranged. The circuit board 40 has opposing first end 401 and second end 402. The first end 401 is used to connect with the first side terminal group 10, the second side terminal group 20, and the middle clamping plate assembly 30, and the first end 401 has twenty-six connection areas. The second end 402 is used to connect with the external connector 100, and the second end 402 has twenty-four connection areas. Since the external connector 100 conforms to the association's specifications and has 24 terminal contact areas, the second end 402 of the circuit board 40 of the connector 100 of this application can perfectly connect with the external connector 100, exhibiting strong compatibility.

[0066] In some embodiments, referring to FIG4, the circuit board 40 further includes a first auxiliary circuit 4091 and a second auxiliary circuit 4092, which are coplanarly arranged with the twenty-four functional circuits. The first auxiliary circuit 4091 is soldered to the first soldering part 112 of the first terminal 11, and a first shorting circuit 41 connects the first auxiliary circuit 4091 and the third functional circuit 44, thus facilitating the connection of the first shorting circuit 41 to the first terminal 11 and the third terminal 21. The second auxiliary circuit 4092 is soldered to the fourth soldering part 132 of the fourth terminal 13, and a second shorting circuit 45 connects the second auxiliary circuit 4092 and the sixth functional circuit 48, thus facilitating the connection of the second shorting circuit 45 to the fourth terminal 13 and the sixth terminal 22. During the manufacturing process, the twenty-four functional circuits and two auxiliary circuits can be arranged on the same layer, and the two shorting circuits can be arranged on another layer. The shorting circuits are connected to the corresponding auxiliary circuits and functional circuits through vias to achieve electrical connection.

[0067] In some embodiments, the circuit board 40 of the connector 100 in this application is a rigid PCB circuit board 40. In other embodiments, the circuit board 40 is a flexible FPC circuit board 40. By using a flexible circuit board 40, the first end 401 and the second end 402 of the circuit board 40 can be at different horizontal levels, which greatly reduces the assembly and installation requirements between the connector 100 of this application and the external connector 100.

[0068] It is understood that in the above embodiments, a first detection circuit and a second detection circuit are respectively provided at the left and right ends of the first side terminal group 10 to detect the performance of the two outermost terminals at positions A and B. In other embodiments, one or two detection circuits may also be provided on the second side terminal group 20 to detect the performance of the terminals on the left and right sides of the second side terminal group 20. The specific configuration method can refer to the configuration method of the first detection circuit and the second detection circuit of the first side terminal group 10, which will not be repeated here.

[0069] This application embodiment also provides a connector module 200. Referring to Figure 1, the connector module 200 includes a first fixing member 201, a single-row terminal group 202, a second fixing member 203, and the connector 100 in any of the above embodiments. The single-row terminal group 202 is disposed on the first fixing member 201, and the second end 402 of the circuit board 40 is connected to the single-row terminal group 202. The single-row terminal group 202 has 24 terminals arranged in a row. Each of the 24 terminals of the single-row terminal group 202 is connected to one of the 24 functional circuits of the second end 402 of the circuit board 40, thereby connecting the first side terminal group 10, the second side terminal group, and the middle clamping plate assembly 30 to the single-row terminal group 202. The second fixing member 203 is connected to both the first fixing member 201 and the circuit board 40 to lock the second end 402 of the circuit board 40 to the first fixing member 201 and maintain it in contact with the single-row terminal group 202.

[0070] In some embodiments, after the single-row terminal group 202 is disposed on the first fixing member 201, it can be soldered to the motherboard assembly in the electronic device. At this time, the first fixing member 201 is fixed to the motherboard assembly, and the single-row terminal group 202 is electrically connected to the motherboard assembly. Then, the second end 402 of the circuit board 40 is mounted on the first fixing member 201, so that the circuit board 40 is correspondingly connected to the single-row terminal group 202. Then, the second fixing member 203 is connected to the first fixing member 201 to fix the circuit board 40.

[0071] As an example, the first fixing member 201 is provided with a first locking part 2011, and the second fixing member 203 is provided with a second locking part 2031. The first locking part 2011 and the second locking part 2031 are connected to each other, so that the first fixing member 201 is fixed relative to the second fixing member 203. More specifically, the first locking part 2011 and the second locking part 2031 can be connected in any way, such as snap-fit ​​connection, locking connection, screw connection, etc.

[0072] The connector 100 of this application embodiment includes a first side terminal group 10, a second side terminal group 20, and a middle clamping plate assembly 30. The first side terminal group 10 includes at least a first terminal 11 and a second terminal 12. The second side terminal group 20 is spaced apart from the first side terminal group 10 along a first direction X, and the second side terminal group 20 includes at least a third terminal 21. The first terminal 11 and the third terminal 21 are electrically connected. The middle clamping plate assembly 30 is spaced apart between the first side terminal group 10 and the second side terminal group 20 along the first direction X. The middle clamping plate assembly 30 includes a first middle clamping plate 31, which is electrically connected to the second terminal 12 to form a first detection circuit. The first detection circuit is used to detect the performance of the second terminal 12. By electrically connecting the first terminal 11 and the third terminal 21, the connector 100 can effectively solve the problem of structural incompatibility between new and old connectors 100 while still having detection functionality.

[0073] The above description is merely an embodiment of this application and does not limit the patent scope of this application. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made using the content of this application's specification and drawings, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A connector characterized by comprising: The connector comprises: a first side terminal group comprising at least a first terminal and a second terminal; a second side terminal group spaced apart from the first side terminal group along a first direction, the second side terminal group comprising at least a third terminal, the first terminal and the third terminal being electrically connected; a middle clamping plate assembly spaced apart from the first side terminal group and the second side terminal group along the first direction, the middle clamping plate assembly comprising a first middle clamping plate, the first middle clamping plate being electrically connected to the second terminal to form a first detection circuit, the first detection circuit being used for detecting the performance of the second terminal.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein: a part of the first terminal and a part of the third terminal are directly connected to form the electrical connection.

3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein: the connector further comprises a circuit board, the circuit board being provided with a first short-circuiting circuit, a first functional circuit and a second functional circuit, the first short-circuiting circuit being connected to the first terminal and the third terminal respectively, so that the first terminal and the third terminal are indirectly electrically connected, the first functional circuit being electrically connected to the first middle clamping plate, and the second functional circuit being electrically connected to the second terminal.

4. The connector according to claim 3, wherein: the circuit board comprises a third functional circuit, the third functional circuit being electrically connected to the first short-circuiting circuit, so that the third functional circuit is electrically connected to the first terminal and the third terminal.

5. The connector according to claim 3, wherein: the first terminal comprises a first main body part and a first soldering part, the third terminal comprises a third main body part and a third soldering part, the first main body part and the third main body part being spaced apart along the first direction; the first soldering part and the third soldering part are coplanarly arranged in a first plane, the first plane being perpendicular to the first direction, the first soldering part and the third soldering part being spaced apart along a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction, the first short-circuiting circuit electrically connecting the first soldering part and the third soldering part.

6. The connector according to claim 5, wherein: the middle clamping plate assembly further comprises a second middle clamping plate, the second middle clamping plate being spaced apart from the first middle clamping plate, the second middle clamping plate being electrically connected to the second functional circuit, and the second middle clamping plate being grounded.

7. The connector according to claim 6, wherein: the first middle clamping plate comprises a first pin, the first pin being connected to the first functional circuit; the second middle clamping plate comprises a second pin, the second terminal comprises a second main body part and a second soldering part, one end of the second main body part being connected to the first middle clamping plate, the other end of the second main body part being connected to the second soldering part, the first pin, the second pin and the second soldering part being located in the first plane, and the second soldering part and the second pin being jointly connected to the second functional circuit.

8. The connector according to claim 7, wherein: The second middle clamp further comprises a first contact portion, which is electrically connected with the second body portion of the second terminal.

9. The connector according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein, The first side terminal group further comprises at least a fourth terminal and a fifth terminal; The second side terminal group further comprises at least a sixth terminal, the fourth terminal and the sixth terminal are electrically connected; The middle clamp assembly further comprises a third middle clamp, which is spaced apart from the first middle clamp, the third middle clamp is electrically connected with the fifth terminal, the third middle clamp and the fifth terminal form a second detection circuit, the second detection circuit is used for detecting the performance of the fifth terminal.

10. The connector according to claim 9, wherein, Part of the fourth terminal and part of the sixth terminal are directly connected to form an electrical connection.

11. The connector according to claim 9, wherein, The circuit board is provided with a second short circuit, a fourth functional circuit and a fifth functional circuit, the second short circuit is connected with the fourth terminal and the sixth terminal respectively, so that the fourth terminal and the sixth terminal are indirectly electrically connected, the fourth functional circuit is electrically connected with the third middle clamp, and the fifth functional circuit is electrically connected with the fifth terminal.

12. The connector according to claim 11, wherein, The circuit board comprises a sixth functional circuit, the sixth functional circuit is electrically connected with the second short circuit, so that the sixth functional circuit is electrically connected with the fourth terminal and the sixth terminal.

13. The connector according to claim 11, wherein, The fourth terminal comprises a fourth body portion and a fourth welding portion, the sixth terminal comprises a sixth body portion and a sixth welding portion, the fourth body portion and the sixth body portion are spaced apart in the first direction; The fourth welding portion and the sixth welding portion are coplanarly arranged in a first plane, the fourth welding portion and the sixth welding portion are spaced apart in a second direction, and the second short circuit electrically connects the fourth welding portion and the sixth welding portion.

14. The connector according to claim 13, wherein, The middle clamp assembly further comprises a fourth middle clamp, which is spaced apart from the third middle clamp, the fourth middle clamp is electrically connected with the fifth functional circuit, and the fourth middle clamp is grounded.

15. The connector according to claim 14, wherein, The third middle clamp comprises a third pin, which is connected with the fourth functional circuit; The fourth middle clamp comprises a fourth pin, the fifth terminal comprises a fifth body portion and a fifth welding portion, one end of the fifth body portion is connected with the third middle clamp, the other end of the fifth body portion is connected with the fifth welding portion, the third pin, the fourth pin and the fifth welding portion are all located in a first plane, and the fifth welding portion and the fourth pin are jointly connected with the fifth functional circuit.

16. The connector according to claim 15, wherein, The fourth middle clamp further includes a second contact portion electrically connected with the fifth main body portion of the fifth terminal.

17. The connector of claim 9, wherein, the first terminal and the third terminal are both first low-speed signal terminals; and / or, the fourth terminal and the sixth terminal are both second low-speed signal terminals.

18. The connector of claim 1, wherein, the circuit board includes two short-circuiting circuits and twenty-four functional circuits, the twenty-four functional circuits are coplanarly arranged, the circuit board has opposite first and second end portions, the first end portion is configured to be connected with the first, second side terminal groups and the middle clamp assembly, the first end portion is provided with twenty-six connection regions, and the second end portion is configured to be connected with an external connector, the second end portion is provided with twenty-four connection regions.

19. The connector of claim 18, wherein, the circuit board is a PCB hard circuit board or a FPC flexible circuit board.

20. A connector module, characterized by a first fixing member, a single-row terminal group, a second fixing member, and the connector according to any one of claims 1-19; the single-row terminal group is arranged on the first fixing member, the second end portion of the circuit board is connected with the single-row terminal group, and the second fixing member is connected with the first fixing member and the circuit board respectively to lock the circuit board on the first fixing member and keep the circuit board abutting against the single-row terminal group.

21. The connector module of claim 20, wherein, the first fixing member is provided with a first locking portion, the second fixing member is provided with a second locking portion, and the first locking portion is connected with the second locking portion in a matched manner to fix the first fixing member relative to the second fixing member.

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