A high-speed transmission connector is described that includes a housing, a row of front side contacts supported on the housing, a row of rear side contacts supported on the housing, and a metal member. The housing has a slot to be fitted with a header of an external communication partner, and an upper plate portion and a lower plate portion facing each other vertically across the slot. The front side contact portions are exposed on a front side in the slot and the rear side contact portions are exposed on a rear side in the slot. The metal member supports the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion and fastens the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Chinese patent application CN202110039032.2, filed on Jan. 12, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a connector for high-speed transmission mounted on a circuit board.

BACKGROUND

Among high-speed transmission connectors, there are a normal single type and a DD (Double Density) type that can perform signal transmission with a larger channel number. DD type connector has a total of four rows of contacts, two rows up and down on the front side and two rows up and down on the rear side, in the slot to accommodate the header of the module of a communication partner. The DD type connector can perform high-speed signal transmission of up to eight channels through these four rows of contacts. As a document disclosing a technique related to this type of connector, U.S. Patent 2019-0131743A1 (hereinafter referred to as “Patent Document 1”) can be given. The electrical connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 is formed in such a configuration in which a laminated body of an upper side contact module and a lower side contact module is arranged between the bottom wall portion and the upper wall that face each other across a fitting slot in the housing. The upper side contact module includes the first contact and the second contact and the lower side contact module includes the third contact and the fourth contact. Contact portions, which are the front ends of the first contact and the second contact, face each other vertically on the front side in the fitting slot, further contact portions, which are the front ends of the third contact and the fourth contact, face each other on the rear side in the fitting slot, and attachment portions, which are the rear ends of the first to fourth contacts, are exposed downward from the opening under the bottom wall portion.

However, with the miniaturization and densification of the connector, it has become difficult to make the upper and lower plates of the slot in the housing thick enough to ensure sufficient strength. In particular, since in the DD type connector, the header of the module is inserted between the upper and lower plates, it is not possible to provide a member for connecting the plates between the partition walls that support the contacts in the upper and lower plates, and it is not possible to provide connection only in the pitch direction of the contacts. Therefore, it is more difficult to ensure strength in the DD type connector. Further, when heat is applied to the DD type connector with the module remained to be fitted, it is so difficult to secure the strength only by the housing that the housing bulges, the contact force is lost, and the contact becomes unstable.

The present disclosure has been made in view of such a problem, and one of the objects is to improve the strength of the housing of the high-speed transmission connector.

SUMMARY

In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a high-speed transmission connector including: a housing having a slot to be fitted with a header of an external communication partner, and an upper plate portion and a lower plate portion facing each other vertically across the slot; a row of front side contacts supported on the housing in such a manner that contact portions are exposed on a front side in the slot; a row of rear side contacts supported on the housing in such a manner that contact portions are exposed on a rear side in the slot; and a metal member to support the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion and fasten the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

First Embodiment

Hereinafter, a high-speed transmission connector8, which is an embodiment of the present disclosure, is explained with reference to drawings. The high-speed transmission connector8is used by being mounted on a circuit board. Into the slot6of the high-speed transmission connector8, the header90of the optical transceiver9as a communication partner device is fitted.

In the following description, the mounting direction of the high-speed transmission connector8with respect to the circuit board is appropriately referred to as a Z direction, the fitting direction of the high-speed transmission connector8and the optical transceiver9is appropriately referred to as a Y direction, and the direction orthogonal to the Z direction and the X direction is appropriately referred to as a Y direction. In addition, the +Z side which is the side of the high-speed transmission connector8in the Z direction is appropriately referred to as an upper side, and the −Z side which is the side of the circuit board is appropriately referred to as a lower side. In addition, the −Y side which is the side of the optical transceiver9in the Y direction is appropriately referred to as a front side, and the +Y side which is the side of the high-speed transmission connector8is appropriately referred to as a rear side. In addition, the +X side is appropriately referred to as a left side, and the −X side is appropriately referred to as a right side.

As shown inFIG.1B, the optical transceiver9has a stick shape. A header90projects from the end portion on the front side of the optical transceiver9. There is a row of first pads PADa on the −Y side of the upper surface of the header90, and there is a row of second pads PADb on the −Y side of the lower surface. There is a row of third pads PADc on the +Y side of the upper surface of the header90, and there is a row of fourth pads PADd on the +Y side of the lower surface.

The high-speed transmission connector8has an outer housing21, an inner housing31, eleven first contacts1a, eleven second contacts1b, eleven third contacts1c, eleven fourth contacts1d, and a metal member7.

The outer housing21has a box shape with an opening portion20and a cavity portion23on the rear side of the opening portion. The outer housing21includes: a front side upper plate portion220and a front side lower plate portion230facing each other vertically across the opening portion20; left and right side plate portions240interposed between the front side upper plate portion220and the front side lower plate portion230; a rear side upper plate portion221and a rear side lower plate portion231facing each other vertically across the cavity portion23; and left and right side plate portions241interposed between the rear side upper plate portion221and the rear side lower plate portion231.

A portion of the front side of the rear side upper plate portion221is cut out to the lower side to form a stepped portion27. A portion of the rear side of the rear side lower plate portion231is cut out to the upper side to form a stepped portion28. A portion of the rear side of the stepped portion28is opened to the lower side as an open portion29.

A recess225is provided on the outer periphery of the outer housing21. The recess225is formed by recessing a portion of the outer housing21from the upper surface to the lower surface via the side surface. As shown inFIG.3B, a convex portion226projecting downward is provided at a portion of the recess225going around from the side surface side of the outer housing21to the lower surface side. Further, the depths of the recess225at the front side upper plate portion220and the side plate portion240are almost the same, and the depth of the recess225at the front side lower plate portion230is deeper than the depths of the recess225at the front side upper plate portion220and the side plate portion240.

As shown inFIG.3B, a row of grooves2aand a row of grooves2bare provided on a surface of the front side upper plate portion220facing the opening portion20and a surface of the front side lower plate portion230facing the opening portion20. The row of grooves2aand the row of grooves2bare arranged side by side in the left-right direction, respectively. The grooves2aand the grooves2bextend in the front-rear direction, respectively.

The inner housing31is formed in a box shape with an opening portion30. As shown inFIG.3C, a row of holes3cand a row of holes3dare provided at a portion of the inner housing31on the rear side of the opening portion30. The row of holes3cand the row of holes3dare arranged separately up and down and arranged side by side in the left-right direction, respectively. The holes3cand holes3dextend in the front-rear direction, respectively.

The inner housing31is accommodated and fixed in the cavity portion23of the outer housing21. As shown inFIG.2DandFIG.2E, the opening portion20of outer housing21and the opening portion30of the inner housing31communicate with each other. The slot6is formed by the opening portion20and the opening portion30.

As shown inFIG.2F, the front-rear dimensions of the first contact1a, the second contact1b, the third contact1c, and the fourth contact1dbecome smaller in the order of the first contact1a>the second contact1b>the third contact1c>the fourth contact1d.

The first contact1ahas: a tip end side contact portion11abent in a V shape; a linear portion12aextending obliquely upward and rearward from the rear end of the tip end side contact portion11a; a linear portion13aextending rearward from the rear end of the linear portion12a; a linear portion14aextending obliquely upward and rearward from the rear end of the linear portion13a; a linear portion15aextending rearward from the rear end of the linear portion14a; a linear portion16aextending downward from the rear end of the linear portion15a; and a substrate side contact portion17aextending rearward from the lower end of the linear portion16a.

The second contact1bhas: a tip end side contact portion11bbent in a V shape; a linear portion12bextending obliquely downward and rearward from the rear end of the tip end side contact portion11b; a linear portion13bextending rearward from the rear end of the linear portion12b; a linear portion14bextending downward from the rear end of the linear portion13b; a linear portion15bextending rearward from the rear end of the linear portion14b; a linear portion16bextending downward from the rear end of the linear portion15b; and a substrate side contact portion17bextending rearward from the lower end of the linear portion16b.

The third contact1chas: a tip end side contact portion11cbent in a V shape; a linear portion12cextending obliquely upward and rearward from the rear end of the tip end side contact portion11c; a linear portion15cextending rearward from the rear end of the linear portion12c; a linear portion16cextending downward from the rear end of the linear portion15c; and a substrate side contact portion17cextending rearward from the lower end of the linear portion16c.

The fourth contact1dhas: a tip end side contact portion11dbent in a V shape; a linear portion12dextending obliquely downward and rearward from the rear end of the tip end side contact portion11d; a linear portion15dextending rearward from the rear end of the linear portion12d; a linear portion16dextending downward from the rear end of the linear portion15d; and a substrate side contact portion17dextending rearward from the lower end of the linear portion16d.

The first contact1aand the second contact1bare supported by the outer housing21so that the tip end side contact portions11aand11bare exposed on the front side of the slot6. The linear portion13aof the first contact1ais pressed into the groove2a, and the linear portion13bof the second contact1bis pressed into the groove2b.

The third contact1cand the fourth contact1dare supported by the inner housing31so that the tip end side contact portions11cand11dare exposed on the rear side of the slot6. The linear portion15cof the third contact1cis inserted into the hole3c, and the linear portion15dof the fourth contact1dis inserted into the hole3d.

The substrate side contact portion17aof the first contact1a, the substrate side contact portion17bof the second contact1b, the substrate side contact portion17cof the third contact1c, and the substrate side contact portion17dof the fourth contact1dare exposed on the lower side of the open portion29. The substrate side contact portion17a, the substrate side contact portion17b, the substrate side contact portion17c, and the substrate side contact portion17dare separated front and rear at the same intervals.

When the high-speed transmission connector8is mounted on the electronic substrate, the substrate side contact portion17a, the substrate side contact portion17b, the substrate side contact portion17c, and the substrate side contact portion17dare in contact with the pads of the electronic substrate. When the header90of the optical transceiver9is fitted into the slot6of the high-speed transmission connector8, the tip end side contact portions11a,11b,11c,11dof the high-speed transmission connector8are in contact with the pads PADa, PADb, PADc, PADd of the optical transceiver9.

As shown inFIG.4, the metal member7is a member formed by bending one rectangular metal plate at four ridgelines. The metal member7has a horizontal plate portion72extending in the X direction, vertical plate portions74bending and extending downward from both ends of the horizontal plate portion72, and return portions73that bend from lower ends of the vertical plate portions74to the inside and extend.

As shown inFIG.1A,FIG.2B,FIG.2C, andFIG.3B, the metal member7is fitted in the recess225of the outer housing21. The metal member7supports the front side upper plate portion220and the front side lower plate portion230of the outer housing21and fastens the front side upper plate portion220and the front side lower plate portion230. The boundary portion between the horizontal plate portion72and the return portion73of the metal member7abuts the convex portion226. The return portion73of the metal member7goes around to the inside of the convex portion226and supports the convex portion226from the lower side. Between the return portion73and the circuit board on which the high-speed transmission connector8is mounted, a gap having approximately the same thickness as the metal member7is formed. In this embodiment, the return portion73corresponds to, e.g., a first return portion defined in the claims.

The above is the details of the present embodiment. The high-speed transmission connector8of the present embodiment includes: an outer housing21that has a slot6into which the header90of the optical transceiver9is fitted, and a front side upper plate portion220and a front side lower plate portion230facing each other vertically across the slot6; an inner housing31; a row of first contacts1aand a row of second contacts1bon the front side supported by the outer housing21so as to expose the tip end side contact portions11a,11bon the front side in the slot6; a row of third contacts1cand a row of fourth contacts1don the rear side supported by the inner housing31so as to expose the tip end side contact portions11c,11don the rear side in the slot6; and a metal member7supporting the front side upper plate portion220and the front side lower plate portion230and fastening the front side upper plate portion220and the front side lower plate portion230. Thus, when the header90of the optical transceiver9is inserted into the slot6, the force of pressing and expanding the front side upper plate portion220and the front side lower plate portion230can be suppressed by the metal member7. Therefore, the strength of a housing can be reinforced, and the loss of contact force and the instability of contact can be prevented.

Second Embodiment

Next, the second embodiment of the present disclosure is described. In the above first embodiment, the depths of the recess225on the upper surface and the side surface of the outer housing21are approximately the same, and the depth of the recess225on the lower surface is deeper than the depths of the recess225on the upper surface and the side surface. In contrast, as shown inFIG.7BandFIG.7C, in the high-speed transmission connector8A of the present embodiment, the depths of the recess225on the upper surface, the side surface, and the lower surface of the outer housing21are approximately the same. As shown inFIG.8C, in a state where the metal member7is fitted into the recess225, the lower surfaces of the return portions73of the metal member7form the joining portions70soldered to the circuit board. According to the present embodiment, the joining strength between the high-speed transmission connector8A and the circuit board can be further improved by the metal member7.

Third Embodiment

Next, the third embodiment of the present disclosure is described. In the above first embodiment, the housing of the high-speed transmission connector8is formed by the outer housing21and the inner housing31. In contrast, as shown inFIG.9, in the high-speed transmission connector8B of the present embodiment, the outer housing21is divided into an upper housing21aand a lower housing21b, and a recess225into which the metal member7is fitted is formed at portions of the upper housing21aand the lower housing21bsurrounding the slot6. The recess225is formed by recessing a portion extending from the upper surface of the upper housing21ato the side surface of the upper housing21a, the side surface of the lower housing21b, and the lower surface of the lower housing21b. The upper housing21a, the lower housing21b, and the inner housing31are combined so that the upper housing21aand the lower housing21bare aligned up and down, and the inner housing31is accommodated in the upper housing21aand the lower housing21b.

Here, since the header90of the optical transceiver9to be inserted into the slot6of the high-speed transmission connector8B reaches the opening portion30of the inner housing31, the portions of the inner housing31above and below the opening portion30may bulge outward to press the upper housing21aand the lower housing21b. In the present embodiment, the metal member7serves to reinforce the connection between the upper housing21aand the lower housing21b, and the upper housing21aand the lower housing21bare difficult to separate.

Fourth Embodiment

Next, the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure is described. In the above first embodiment, the metal member7is a member formed by bending one rectangular metal plate. In contrast, as shown inFIG.12,FIG.13,FIG.14,FIG.15A,FIG.15B,FIG.15C, andFIG.15D, the second metal member7C of the high-speed transmission connector8C of the present embodiment has: a horizontal plate portion72extending in the X direction; vertical plate portions74bending and extending downward from both ends of the horizontal plate portion72; return portions73bending and extending inward from the lower ends of the vertical plate portions74; projecting portions75projecting forward from the end sides of the vertical plate portions74on the front side; second vertical plate portions76extending downward from the front ends of the projecting portions75; and second return portions77bending and extending inward from the lower ends of the second vertical plate portions76.

Further, as shown inFIG.13andFIG.14, the crossing portion of the side surface and the lower surface on the front side of the recess225of the lower housing21bis recessed as the second recess227. A second convex portion228projecting downward is provided at a portion of the recess225going around from the side surface of the lower housing21bto the lower surface. The second return portion77of the metal member7goes around to the inside of the second convex portion228and supports the second convex portion228from the lower side. Further, the portion between the recess225and the second recess227on the side surface of the upper housing21aand the side surface of the lower housing21bprojects outward as the third convex portion229. The third convex portion229is fitted into the portion surrounded by the vertical plate portion74, the projecting portion75, and the second vertical plate portion76. According to the present embodiment, strength of the portions of the housing of the high-speed transmission connector8C above and below the slot6can be further improved.

Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the following modifications may be added to the embodiments.

(1) The outer housing21in the above second embodiment may be divided into the upper housing21aand the lower housing21bof the third embodiment or the upper housing21aand the lower housing21bof the fourth embodiment.

(2) The lower surfaces of the return portions73or the second return portions77of the metal members7of the above third embodiment and the fourth embodiment may be the joining portions70as in the second embodiment.