Abstract:
A power connector assembly ( 100 ) includes a housing ( 2 ) defining a number of passages ( 23, 24 ), a circuit board ( 4 ) assembled to the housing and including a pair of LEDs ( 42 ) capable of being actuated to emit light, a number of contacts respectively received in the passages of the housing, a cable ( 6 ) electrically connecting with the circuit board, a rear cover ( 7 ) assembled to the housing to enclose the contact, the circuit board and front end of the cable, and status indicator means ( 81, 82 ) aligning with the LED of the circuit board and enclosed by the rear cover to spread the light emitted from the LED outwardly for indicating normal status between the power connector assembly and a complementary connector. The contacts include a power contact ( 31 ), a ground contact ( 32 ) electrically connecting with the circuit board and a detect contact ( 33 ) electrically connecting with the LED of the circuit board.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to a connector assembly, and more particularly to a connector assembly used for power transmission. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   For indicating the normal status between a pair of complementary connectors, such as a cable connector assembly and a header connector mounted on a printed circuit board, the cable connector assembly is often equipped with LED elements. U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,333 (&#39;333 patent) discloses a transmission cable having a cable and two connectors at the ends of the cable. Each connector includes an integrated circuit and a LED in the transparent plastic housing thereof. The integrated circuit drives the LED to emit light after installation of the transmission cable, and drives the LED to flash upon transmission of signal/data through the cable. The LED is off when the transmission cable failed. However, &#39;333 patent needs to make the transparent plastic housing wholly in transparent material, which is costly in manufacture cost. Therefore, new design is needed to address above problems. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector assembly with status indicator means for properly indicating normal status of the connector assembly and a complementary connector. 
   In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a connector assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing assembled with a plurality of contacts, a circuit board assembled to the housing and comprising an LED, a cable electrically connecting with the circuit board, a rear cover assembled to the housing to enclose the contacts, the circuit board and front end of the cable, and status indicator means aligning with the LED of the circuit board and enclosed by the rear cover to spread the light emitted from the LED outwardly for indicating normal status between the power connector assembly and a complementary connector. 
   Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded, perspective view of a connector assembly in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from a different aspect; 
       FIG. 3  is a partially assembled view of the connector assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , but viewed from a different aspect; 
       FIGS. 5-6  are partially assembled views of the connector assembly shown in  FIG. 1 , but viewed from different aspects; 
       FIG. 7  is an assembled view of the connector assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 7 , but viewed from a different aspect; 
       FIGS. 9-16  are cross-section views taken along lines  9 - 9  to  16 - 16  of  FIGS. 7-8 ; 
       FIG. 17  is an exploded, perspective view of a connector assembly in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 18  a view similar to  FIG. 17 , but viewed from a different aspect; 
       FIG. 19  is a partially assembled view of the connector assembly of the second embodiment; 
       FIG. 20  is an assembled, perspective view of  FIG. 19 ; 
       FIG. 21  is an assembled, perspective view of  FIG. 17 ; and 
       FIGS. 22-23  are cross-section views taken along lines  22 - 22  to  23 - 23  of  FIG. 21 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a connector assembly  100  in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing  2 , a plurality of conductive contacts  3  assembled to the housing  2 , a circuit board  4  assembled to the housing  2 , a plurality of conductive elements  34  respectively electrically connecting with the contacts  3  and the circuit board  4 , a strain relief member  5  assembled to and electrically connecting with the circuit board  4 , a cable  6  electrically connecting with the strain relief member  5  to achieve the electrical connection with the circuit board  4 , front and rear covers  1 ,  7  respectively assembled to the housing  2  and together enclosing the elements mentioned above therebetween. 
   Please refer to  FIGS. 3-4 , the housing  2  comprises a base portion  21  and a tongue portion  22  extending forwardly from the base portion  21 . The housing  2  defines two pairs of large-size first receiving passages  23  and a center small-size second passage  24  respectively recessed from a front face of the tongue portion  22  to a rear face of the base portion  21 . Each passage  23 ,  24  is formed with a relatively larger dimension in a front portion thereof and a relatively smaller dimension in remaining portion thereof. The base portion  21  forms a plurality of first friction ribs  210  arranged on outer periphery of the base portion  21  with an interval and extending along a front-to-back direction. A pair of cutouts  212  are respectively spaced arranged at joints of upper, lower surfaces and a front face of the base portion  21  with a tapered surface. The base portion  21  defines two pairs of rectangular first slots  211  spaced arranged in upper and lower walls and respectively recessed from the front face to the rear face thereof with determined distance from respective top and bottom surfaces. The base portion  21  also defines a pair of second slots  213  extending along the front-to-back direction to communicate the front face with opposite rear face and recessed inwardly from opposite lateral walls thereof. A pair of tapered protrusions  214  are formed on the rear face of the base portion  21  and locate adjacent to corresponding second slots  213  for facilitating the insertion of the circuit board  4 . A pair of first rectangular recesses  215  and a pair of second rectangular recesses  216  with opening toward opposite contrary directions respectively recessed forwardly from the rear face of the base portion  21  and respectively communicating with the first receiving passages  23 . The tongue portion  22  defines a pair of circular first engaging holes  222  extending therethrough along up-to-down direction and forms a pair of second friction ribs  220  on opposite lateral walls thereof extending along the front-to-back direction. Each engaging hole  222  forms a pair of ribs  224  protruding outwardly from inner periphery thereof. 
   Now referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the conductive contacts  3  consist of a pair of ground contacts  32 , a pair of power contacts  31  located between the pair of ground contacts  32  and a center detect contact  33  located between the pair of power contacts  31 . Each contact  3  is of a POGO Pin type, that is to say, there is a spring (not shown) inside the contact  3 , thus, when mating, the contact  3  can be pressed to rearward move along the mating direction. Each ground contact  32  comprises a column-shape contacting portion  37  with a relatively small diameter, a column-shape media portion  35  with a relatively large diameter, and an end portion  36  formed at rear end of the media portion  35  with a column-shape and smaller diameter. A front engaging section  350  protrudes outwardly from outer periphery of the media portion  35 . The power contact  32  has the same structure as that of the ground contact  31  except the contacting portion  37  thereof has a length shorter than that of the ground contact  31 . The detect contact  33  has the same structure as that of the power contact  32  except each portion thereof has a smaller diameter than that of the power contact  32 . In addition, the end portion  36  of the detect contact  33  is longer than that of the power or ground contacts  31 ,  32 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-2  and  4 , the conductive elements  34  are divided into two groups respectively oriented in opposite directions. Each conductive element  34  is of L-shape and comprises an upright connecting portion  340  defining a circular receiving opening  344  therein, and a curved tail portion  342  substantially vertically extending from the connecting portion  340 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , the circuit board  4  comprises a substrate  40  formed with first conductive pads and opposite second conductive pads (not shown), and a pair of LEDs  42  arranged on opposite sides of the substrate  40 . The circuit board  4  may be equipped with an IC  41  for driving the LEDs  42  to emit light. The substrate  40  comprises a pair of stretching arms  400  extending forwardly from opposite lateral sides thereof and defines a wire-receiving hole  404  in a rear portion thereof. 
   The strain relief member  5  is die casted from metal material or other conductive material. The strain relief member  5  comprises a main portion  50  defining a circular through hole  500  in a center thereof. Three corners of the main portion  50  are cutout to form three L-shape cutout areas  502 . Three jointing portions  52  respectively forwardly extending from a front surface of the main portion  50  and respectively located adjacent to both corresponding cutout area  502  and corresponding lateral side of the main portion  50 . Three substantially L-shape routing portions  54  firstly vertically extending from bottoms of corresponding cutout areas  502 , then flatly extending into the three cutout areas  502 . In the vertical direction, each routing portion  54  does not align with corresponding jointing portion  52 . Each jointing portion  52  is partially cut to form a curved recess area  520  mainly extending in the front-to-back direction. A substantially circular receiving opening  504  recesses forwardly from a rear surface of the main portion  50  to communicate with the through hole  500  with a larger diameter than that of the through hole  500 . 
   The cable  6  comprises an inner conductor  60 , a metal braiding layer  61  surrounding the inner conductor  60 , and an outer jacket  62  enclosing the metal braiding layer  61 . A front portion of the outer jacket  62  is stripped to expose part of the inner conductor  60  and the metal braiding layer  61 . In this embodiment, the exposed portion of the metal braiding layer  61  is divided into three parts corresponding to the routing portions  54  and the jointing portions  52  of the strain relief member  5 . The cable  6  may be equipped with a stepped-shape stuffing member  63  made from resin material. 
   The front and rear covers  1 ,  7  are respectively assembled to the housing  2 . The front cover  1  is made from conductive material and defines an elliptical-shape front receiving cavity  10  recessed rearwardly from a front surface thereof for receiving complementary connector and a rectangular rear receiving passage  12  recessed forwardly from a rear surface thereof to communicate with the front receiving cavity  10  for receiving the housing  2 . The receiving passage  12  has a large size along a lateral direction of the front cover  1  than that of the receiving cavity  10 , thus, forming a pair of step portions  16  therebetween ( FIG. 11 ). The front cover  1  also defines a pair of circular second engaging holes  14  respectively recessed from a top surface to opposite rear surface thereof and locating adjacent to the rear surface thereof. The rear cover  7  is made from resin material and of rectangular shape. The rear cover  7  defines a rectangular receiving space  70  recessed rearwardly from a front surface thereof and a rear stepped receiving passage  72  communicating with the receiving space  70  for permitting the protruding of the cable  6  and receiving the stuffing member  63 . The rear cover  7  forms two pairs of protrusions  700  on opposite inner upper wall and opposite lower wall thereof and a pair of circular receiving holes  74  extending through top and bottom surfaces thereof. 
   The cable connector assembly  100  also comprises status indicator means (not labeled) made of transparent material or semitransparent material and consisting of a pair of first light pipes  81  overlapping the pair of LEDs  42  for spreading the light emitted by the LEDs  42  outwardly, and a pair of second light pipes  82  aligned with corresponding first light pipes  81  in a vertical direction and assembled to the rear cover  7  to spread the light permeated by the first light pipes  81  outwardly for indicating the normal status of the cable connector assembly  100 . Each first light pipe  81  comprises a first body section  810  and a pair of first and second engaging sections  812 ,  814  respectively extending forwardly and sideward then forwardly from the first body section  810 , thus, the pair of first and second engaging sections  812 ,  814  are spaced arranged along the lateral direction. In addition, each engaging section  812 ,  814  forms a pair of ribs  816  on opposite upper and lower surfaces thereof. The second light pipe  82  comprises a second body section  820  and a post-shape positioning section  822  extending outwardly from a center of the second body section  820 . In assembly, the pair of first light pipes  81  and the pair of second light pipes  82  are respectively arranged in image relationship relative to each other. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3-6  in conjunction with  FIGS. 10-11 , in assembly, the conductive contacts  3  are assembled to the housing  2  with the media portions  35  of the power contacts  31 , ground contacts  32  and the detect contact  33  respectively received in corresponding first and second receiving passages  23 ,  24 , the contacting portions  37  exposed beyond the front surface of the housing  2 . The end portions  36  of the power and ground contacts  31 ,  32  are respectively received in the first and second recesses  215 ,  216  and extend no longer than the rear surface of the housing  2 , while, the end portion  36  of the detect contact  33  extends beyond the rear surface of the housing  2 . The conductive elements  34  are respectively assembled to the housing  2  and the power and ground contacts  31 ,  32  with the connecting portions  340  received in corresponding first and second recesses  215 ,  216  of the housing  2  and corresponding end portions  36  of the power and ground contacts  31 ,  32  protruding through the receiving openings  344  and soldered with the connecting portions  340 . Thus, the conductive elements  34  form electrical connection with corresponding power and ground contacts  31 ,  32 . 
   Then referring to  FIG. 7  in conjunction with  FIGS. 11 and 15 , the front cover  1  is assembled to the housing  2  via a pair of pins  9 . The tongue portion  22  is firstly inserted into the receiving passage  12  of the front cover  1  until the front surface thereof abuts against the step portions  16  of the front cover  1  and the base portion  21  abuts against a rear surface of the front cover  1 . Thus, the tongue portion  22  is frictionally received in the receiving passage  12  of the front cover  1  by means of the pair of second friction ribs  220 . Furthermore, the contacting portions  37  are exposed in the receiving cavity  10  with tip ends of the ground contacts  32  substantially coplanar with a front surface of the front cover  1 . The pair of first engaging holes  222  respectively align with the pair of second engaging holes  14  of the front cover  1  in the vertical direction, thus, the pair of pins  9  respectively inserts through the second engaging holes  14  and the first engaging holes  222  to position the front cover  1  relative to the housing  2 . Of course, the engagement between the front cover  1  and the housing  2  also can be realized by other means, such as using glue, latch means et al. 
   Then, referring to  FIGS. 5-6  in conjunction with FIGS.  11  and  14 - 16 , the circuit board  4  is assembled to the housing  2  and electrically connects with the conductive elements  34  and the end portion  36  of the detect contact  33  for forming electrical connection with the contacts  3 . The pair of stretching arms  400  are respectively received in the second slots  213  with the guidance of the pair of tapered protrusions  214 . The two pairs of opposite oriented curved tail portions  342  are respectively soldered to corresponding traces on opposite upper and lower surfaces of the circuit board  4  to sandwich the circuit board  4  therebetween and form electrical connection with the circuit board  4 . The end portion  36  of the detect contact  33  is received in a slit  402  rearward extending from a middle of a front edge of the circuit board  4  to directly electrically connect with the pair of LEDs  42 . 
   Now referring to  FIGS. 1-3  in conjunction with FIGS.  9  and  13 - 15 , the pair of first light pipes  81  are respectively assembled to the housing  2  with the pair of first and second engaging sections  812 ,  814  respectively frictionally received in the first slots  211  of the housing  2  via the ribs  816  formed thereon. Therefore, the first body sections  810  of the first light pipes  81  are respectively locate above corresponding LEDs  42  of the circuit board  4  for spreading the light emitting from the LEDs  42  outwardly. 
   Now referring to  FIGS. 1-3  in conjunction with  FIGS. 9 ,  11  and  13 , the cable  6  is firstly assembled to the strain relief member  5  then assembled to the circuit board  4  together with the strain relief member  5 . The inner conductor  60  protrudes through the through hole  500  of the strain relief member  5 , and the three parts of the metal braiding layer  61  firstly wrap to the routing portions  54  with forward portions located in the recess areas  520  of the jointing portions  52 . Then, the forward portions of the metal braiding layer  61  are soldered with the jointing portions  52  to form electrical connection with the strain relief member  5 . The strain relief member  5  is assembled to a rear end of the circuit board  4  with the jointing portions  52  thereof respectively soldered with opposite upper and lower surfaces of the circuit board  4  and the inner conductor  60  received in the wire-receiving hole  404  of the circuit board  4  and soldered with the circuit board  4 . Therefore, the electrical connection between the cable  6  and the circuit board  4  further with the contacts  3  is established. The stuffing member  63  is assembled to the cable  6  from a rear-to-front direction and locates adjacent to front end of the outer jacket  62 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-3  in conjunction of  FIGS. 7-11 , the pair of second light pipes  82  are respectively assembled to the rear cover  7  in a back-to-front manner with the positioning sections  822  respectively located in the pair of receiving holes  74  and the second body sections  820  thereof respectively abutting against opposite inner upper and lower surfaces of the rear cover  7 . Then, the rear cover  7  with the pair of second light pipes  82  is engagingly assembled to the housing  2  with the protrusions  700  thereof respectively latching into the cutouts  212  of the housing  2  and the first friction ribs  210  of the housing  2  frictionally engaging with inner periphery of the rear cover  7  to reinforce the engagement therebetween. Thus, a rear portion of the front cover  1 , the circuit board  4 , the first light pipes  81 , the strain relief member  5  and the front end of the cable  6  and the stuffing member  63  are respectively received in the receiving space  70  of the rear cover  7 . The cable  6  protrudes through the stepped receiving passage  72  with the stepped-shape stuffing member  63  received in the stepped receiving passage  72  to fill spare space of the receiving passage  72 . Meanwhile, the pair of second body sections  820  of the pair of second light pipes  82  respectively align with corresponding first body sections  810  of the first light pipes  81 . Thus, the pair of LEDs  42 , the pair of first light pipes  81  and the pair of second light pipes  82  are in a stacked relationship in the vertical direction. Once the cable connector assembly  100  mates with the complementary connector normally, the LEDs  42  emit light outwardly, and the light may permeate through the pair of first light pipes  81  then to the second light pipes  82  to indicate the user the normal status of the cable connector assembly  100 . Of course, in alternative embodiment, may not adopt the light pipes  81 ,  82 , while, make the rear cover  7  of transparent or semitransparent material to spread the light emitting from LEDs  42  directly for indication. Furthermore, the rear cover  7  may be molded to the above elements to achieve reliable engagement. 
   A cable connector assembly  200  in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 17-23 . Compared with the cable connector assembly  100 , structures of the contacts  3 ′, the strain relief member  5 ′, the cable  6 ′ of the cable connector assembly  200  are different from those of the cable connector assembly  100 . In addition, the cable connector assembly  200  further comprises a supporting member  64 ′ for assisting the metal braiding layer  61 ′ of the cable  6 ′ to be soldered with the strain relief member  5 ′ reliably. The cable connector assembly  200  has no conductive elements  34 . Now, detail description to the structures different from those of the cable connector assembly  100  will be given hereinafter, and the same structures same as those of the cable connector assembly  100  are omitted here. 
   Since the cable connector assembly  200  has no conductive elements  34 , thus, corresponding first and second rectangular recesses  215 ,  216  disclosed in the cable connector assembly  100  are omitted in the cable connector assembly  200 . Please refer to  FIGS. 16-17  and  22 , the contacts  3  also comprise a pair of power contacts  31 ′, a pair of ground contacts  32 ′ and a detect contact  33 ′ and have the same arrangement as those of the contacts  3 . The difference between the contacts  3 ′,  3  is that each of the power and ground contacts  31 ′,  32 ′ has a tail portion  36 ′ extending beyond the rear surface of the housing  2  to be soldered with corresponding traces of the circuit board  4  directly. The tail portion  36 ′ is cut from the media portion  35  and has an arc shape. 
   The difference between the cables  6 ′ and  6  exists in the metal braiding layers  61 ′,  61 . The metal braiding layer  61 ′ of the cable  6 ′ is shaped into a flat elliptical sheet around the center inner conductor  60 . The supporting member  64 ′ having the same shape as that of the metal braiding layer  61 ′ and made from metal material is attached to a rear surface of the metal braiding layer  61 ′ for enhancing the rigidity of the metal braiding layer  61 ′. The strain relief member  5 ′ also has a rectangular shape with a certain thickness in front-back direction. An elliptical-shape recess  56 ′ is recessed rearwardly from the front face of the strain relief member  5 ′ to receive the supporting member  64 ′ and the metal braiding layer  61 ′ with the front face of the metal braiding layer  61 ′ is substantially coplanar with the front face of the strain relief member  5 ′. In the present invention, the metal braiding layer  61 ′ of the cable  6 ′, the supporting member  64 ′ and the strain relief member  5 ′ are soldered with one another to form electrical connection. Furthermore, the supporting member  64 ′ is sandwiched between the strain relief member  5 ′ and the metal braiding layer  61 ′. Three bar-shape jointing portions  52 ′ extend forwardly from the front face of the strain relief members  5 ′. Two of the jointing portions  52 ′ both extend from one lateral side of the strain relief member  5 ′ and align with each other in a vertical direction with a distance spaced from each other substantially equal to the thickness of the circuit board  4 , while the remaining jointing portion  52 ′ extends from the other lateral side of the strain relief member  5 ′ and align with one of the two jointing portions  52 ′ along a longitudinal direction of the strain relief member  5 ′. Thus, in assembly, the rear edge of the circuit board  4  is sandwiched between the jointing portions  52 ′ and forms electrical connection with the strain relief member  5 ′ by soldering. 
   Other structures and assembly process of the cable connector assembly  200  same as those of the cable connector assembly  100  are omitted here. 
   It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.