Stacked electrical connector with improved signal transmission

A stacked electrical connector includes a first mating interface. The first mating interface comprises a first receiving space (101) with a first tongue (102). The first tongue (102) has a pair of upper and lower face (1021, 1022). A plurality of first contacts (20) are retained in the first mating interface. The first contacts (20) include a plurality of first elastic contacts (201) and a plurality of first flat contact (202). Each first elastic contact (201) has a securing portion (2011) fixed in the first mating interface (101), an elastic contact portion (2010) extending to the first tongue (102) and a soldering portion (2012). Each first flat contact (202) has a retention portion (2024, 2028) retained in the first mating interface (101), a flat contact portion (2022, 2026) extending to the first tongue (102) and a tail portion (2025, 2029). The flat contact portions (2022, 2026) and the elastic contact portions (2010) are located at a same side of the upper face (1021), and are arranged in two rows along a length direction of the first tongue (102). A second mating interface is stacked with the first mating interface along a thickness direction of the first tongue (102). A plurality of second contacts (21) are retained in the second mating interface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an stacked electrical connector, and more particularly to stacked electrical connectors with improved signal transmission.

2. Description of Related Art

Universal Serial Bus (USB) is used widely in variety electric devices as a standard and simple interface. As of 2006, the USB specification was at version 2.0 (with revisions). The USB 2.0 specification was released in April 2000 and was standardized by the USB-IF at the end of 2001. Previous notable releases of the specification were 0.9, 1.0, and 1.1. Equipment conforming to any version of the standard will also work with devices designed to any previous specification (known as: backward compatibility).

USB mentioned above supports three data rates respectively as follows: 1) A Low Speed rate of up to 1.5 Mbit/s (187.5 KB/s) that is mostly used for Human Interface Devices (HID) such as keyboards, mice, and joysticks; 2) A Full Speed rate of up to 12 Mbit/s (1.5 MB/s). Full Speed was the fastest rate before the USB 2.0 specification and many devices fall back to Full Speed. Full Speed devices divide the USB bandwidth between them in a first-come first-served basis and it is not uncommon to run out of bandwidth with several isochronous devices. All USB Hubs support Full Speed; 3) A Hi-Speed rate of up to 480 Mbit/s (60 MB/s).

However, as the development of electric industry, even the USB 2.0 can not satisfied the requirement of many electric devices. For example, under a circumstance transmitting an audio or video file, which is always up to hundreds MB, even to 1 or 2 GB, currently transmission rate of USB is not sufficient. As a consequence, faster serial-bus interfaces are being introduced to address different requirements. PCI Express, at 2.5 GB/s, and SATA, at 1.5 GB/s and 3.0 GB/s, are two examples of High-Speed serial bus interfaces.

However, these non-USB protocols, such as PCI Express which is useful for its higher possible data rates, a 26-pin connectors and wider card-like form factor limit the use of Express Cards, and SATA which uses two connectors, one 7-pin connector for signals and another 15-pin connector for power, are not used as broadly as USB protocols. Many portable devices are equipped with USB connectors other than these non-USB connectors. One important reason is that these non-USB connectors contain a greater number of signal pins than an existing USB connector and are physically larger as well, especially in a stacked electrical connector. Due to its clumsiness, the PCI Express and SATA connector can not adapt to the development trend of gently, thin, short and small size.

USB connector is soldered on a circuit board of an computer usually. The USB 2.0 A type connector according to USB-IF usually comprises an insulative housing with a tongue plate extending forwardly, four contacts retained in the insulative housing and a metal shield. Each contact has a contact portion extending to a lower side of the tongue plate and exposing out thereof flexibly. The contact portion presents as arc type and can move along a thickness direction of the tongue. The four contacts comprise a power contact, a ground contact, a − data contact and a + data contact. The − data contact and + data contact present as a pair of differential signal contacts which are located between the power contact and the ground contact. The metal shield encloses the tongue plate and forms a first receiving space for receiving a USB plug.

Hence, an stacked electrical connector which is based USB interface, but has a high signal transmission and a simple structure, is desired to overcome the disadvantage of the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a stacked electrical connector comprises a first mating interface with a plurality of first contacts retained therein. The first mating interface comprises a first receiving space with a first tongue received therein. The first contacts comprise a plurality of first elastic contacts and a plurality of first flat contact. Each first elastic contact has a securing portion fixed in the first mating interface, an elastic contact portion extending to the first tongue and a soldering portion. Each first flat contact has a retention portion retained in the first mating interface, a flat contact portion extending to the first tongue and a tail portion. The first tongue has a pair of opposite upper face and lower face. A second mating interface is stacked with the first mating interface along a thickness direction of the first tongue. A plurality of second contacts are retained in the second mating interface. The flat contact portions and the elastic contact portions are located at a same side of the upper face, and are arranged in two rows along a length direction of the first tongue.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a stacked electrical connector comprises a first mating interface comprising a first receiving space with a first tongue received therein. A geometric profile of the first tongue is substantially same as what of a standard USB 2.0 A type receptacle. A plurality of first contacts are retained in the first mating interface. The first contacts comprise a group of first type contacts and a group of second type contacts. Each first and second type contact has a contact portion. The contact portions of the first type contacts and the contact portions of the second portions are exposed in the first receiving space in an offset manner in both a front-to-back direction and a vertical direction perpendicular to said front-to-back direction. A second mating interface is stacked with the first mating interface along a thickness direction of the first tongue. A plurality of second contacts are retained in the second mating interface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 1-5, an stacked electrical connector100according to a first embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The stacked electrical connector100comprises an insulative housing1, a plurality of contacts2retained in the insulative housing1, a metal shield3enclosing the insulative housing1and a spacer4for fixing the contacts2.

The insulative housing1comprises a first housing10and a second housing10stacked with each other along a vertical direction. The first housing10has two first mating interfaces stacked with each other along the vertical direction. The structure of the first mating interface is similar to that of an existing standard USB 2.0 A type receptacle (not shown). The first mating interface comprises a first receiving space101with a first tongue102received therein. A geometric profile of the first tongue102is substantially same as that of a standard USB 2.0 A type receptacle.

The first tongue102has a pair of opposite upper face1021and lower face1022. The first tongue102defines five first passageways1023juxtaposed with respect to each other in a width direction of the first tongue102, and extending through the first housing10along a front-to-back direction. The first passageways1023are concaved inwardly from the upper face1021. The front-to-back direction is same with a length direction of the first tongue102. The vertical direction is same with a thickness direction of the first tongue102. A plurality of second and third passageways1024,1025are concaved inwardly from the lower face1022. There are five second passageways1024juxtaposed with respect to each other in the width direction. The second passageways1024extend to a front end of the first tongue102and communicate with the first passageways1023respectively. There are four third passageways1025juxtaposed with respect to each other in the width direction. The third passageways1025extend to a rear end of the first housing10. The second and third passageways1024,1025are arranged in two rows along the length direction and do not communicate with each other.

A clapboard13extends forwardly between two first mating interfaces for dividing them. The first housing10comprises a top wall104, a bottom wall105and a pair of side walls106therebetween. The first receiving spaces101of the two first mating interface are formed between the top wall104, bottom wall105and side walls106. Two side walls106are located at outsides of first tongue102respectively, and each side wall106defines an opening1061corresponding to each first receiving space101. A projection1051projects downwardly from the bottom wall105. The bottom wall105has a rib1052extending downwardly and located at a front position of the projection1051.

The second housing11comprises a lower wall110and two side walls111. The lower wall110and two side walls111define a second mating interface therebetween. The second mating interface has a second receiving space112with a second tongue113received therein. The second receiving space112is wider than the first receiving space101. The second mating interface presents as crisscross shape and is a standard External Serial ATA interface. The second housing11comprises a base portion114. The second tongue113extends forwardly from the base portion114and comprises a pair of opposite upper and lower faces1131,1132. A plurality of contact passageways1133are concaved inwardly from the upper face1131. The second housing11defines a pair of apertures1110extending backwardly from a front end thereof and formed between the side wall111and lower wall110. Each side wall111has a protrusion111extending outwardly and a slot1112extending along the front-to-back direction at an upper position thereof. The slot1112engages with the projection1051for fastening the first and second housing10,11together. The side walls111present as step shape at a top position to abut against the rear end of the rib1052for preventing the first housing10from moving backwardly.

The insulative housing1of the stacked electrical connector100in the first embodiment is divided into two parts. In nature, the insulative housing1can be formed integrally. The first and second mating interfaces are formed in an integral insulator for assembling conveniently.

The contacts2comprise a plurality of first contacts20retained in the first mating interface and a plurality of second contacts21retained in the second mating interface.

The first contacts20are divided in two groups retained in two mating interfaces of the first housing10. Two groups of the first contacts20have same structure, so we will describe one group of the first contacts20in follows. The first contacts20comprise two types of contacts, wherein one type contacts comprise four first elastic contacts201, and another type contacts comprise five first flat contacts202. The first elastic contacts201are adapted for USB protocol and an arrangement of the first elastic contacts201is compatible to a standard USB A type plug. Each first elastic contacts201has an elastic contact portion2010extending to a lower side of the first tongue102, a securing portion2011engaging with the third passageways1025, and a soldering portion2012extending out of the insulative housing1. The elastic contact portions2010are cantilevered and accommodated in the third passageways1025and protrude beyond the lower face1022, so that the elastic contact portion2010is deformable along the thickness direction.

The second contacts202comprise two pairs of differential signal contacts2020and a grounding contact2021. The two pairs of differential signal contacts2020are used for transferring/receiving high-speed signals, and the grounding contact2021is disposed between the two pairs of differential signal contacts2020for preventing cross-talk. Each differential contact2020of each pair has a first flat contact portion2022extending to a lower side of the first tongue102, a first connecting portion2023extending upwardly from a front end of the first flat contact portion2022, a first retention portion2023extending backwardly from the first connecting portion2023, and a first tail portion2025extending from the connecting portion2023. The grounding contact2021is of the same configuration as the differential contact2020. So the grounding contact2021comprises a second flat contact portion2026, a second connecting portion2027extending upwardly from a front end of the second flat contact portion2026, a second retention portion2028extending backwardly from the second connecting portion2027and a second tail portion2025located between the first tail portions2029of each pair.

When the differential signal contacts2020are inserted into first mating interface, the retention portions2024,2028are fixed in the first passageways1023, and the connecting portions2023,2027cover a front end of the first tongue102, and the flat contact portions2022,2026are received in the second passageways1024and juxtaposed with each other in the width direction. The flat contact portions2022,2026and the retention portion2024,2028are parallel to each other wherein the flat contact portions2022,2026are much shorter than the retention portions2024,2028. The flat contact portions2022,2026are perpendicular to the tail portions2025,2029.

Meanwhile, the flat contact portions2022,2026are located forward the elastic contact portions2010of the elastic contacts201. The flat contact portions2022,2026are arranged at a front row, while the elastic contact portions2010are arranged at a rear row. Because the second and third passageways1024,1025are discontinuous in the front-to-back direction, the flat contact portions2022,2026and the elastic contact portions2010will not contact with each other and have a distance therebetween for preventing two types signal transmission from confusing. The flat and elastic contact portions2022,2026and2010are arranged at a same side of the upper face1021and located at different rows for employing the space of the lower face1022adequately, and decreasing the crosstalk between adjacent contacts2.

In addition, the contact portions2010,2022and2026are located at different plane along the thickness direction of the first tongue102, wherein the elastic contact portions2010are elastic and protrude beyond the lower face1022, while the flat contact portions2022,2026are received in the second passageways1024, for connecting with two different plug (not shown) conveniently. When a USB 2.0 A type plug (not shown) inserts into the first receiving space101, the plug will electrically connect with the elastic contact portions2010, and not contact the flat contact portions2022,2026. When another plug (not shown) inserts into the first receiving space101, it will contact with two different contact portions2010,2022and2026effectively for ensuring the signal transmission.

The second contacts21are inserted into the second mating interface from a rear end of the second housing11. Each second contact21has a fixing portion210retained in the base portion114, a mating portion211extending into the second receiving space112, and a soldering tail212bending downwardly from the fixing portion210. The mating portions211are all received in the contact passageways1133of the upper face1131. The spacer4is assembled in a lower position of the second housing11. A plurality of holes41extend through the spacer4for fixing the second contacts21.

The metal shield3comprises a front shield30covering a front face and two sides of the insulative housing1, a rear shield31covering a top face and the rear end of the insulative housing1, and two first inner shields32retained in the first receiving space101, and a second inner shield33retained in the second receiving space112.

The front shield30has a front wall300and two side walls301. The front wall200defines a plurality of openings302corresponding to each mating interface. Each side wall301has a number of first spring arms303extending forwardly, and a plurality of cutouts304at a rear position thereof. A pair of mounting legs305extend downwardly from each side wall301. The rear shield31has a top wall310and a rear wall311. A pair of latches312extend forwardly from each side of the rear wall311for locking with the cutouts304.

The first inner shield32encloses the first tongue102, and comprises a plurality of second spring arms320extending inwardly from each wall thereof for engaging with the plug, and two flanges321extending outwardly from a front end thereof for engaging with the front shield30for grounding. When the plug inserts into the first receiving space101, the plug abuts against the second spring arms320. The second spring arms320move outwardly and through the openings1061for contacting with the first spring arms303for grounding. The second inner shield33is assembled in the second receiving space112along the apertures1110and encloses the second tongue113. The second shield33comprises two locking holes330locking with the protrusions1111of the second housing11, and a pair of third spring arms331at upper and lower walls thereof for abutting against a corresponding plug (not shown). A pair of flanges332extend outwardly from a front end of the second inner shield33to contact with the front shield30for grounding.

As fully described above, the stacked electrical connector100of the present invention in the first embodiment adds two pairs of differential signal contacts2020and a grounding contact2021relative to the standard USB 2.0 connector as stacked with a Serial ATA connector. Thereby, the stacked electrical connector100has a simple structure, and the speed of signal transmission is increased as adding the two pairs differential signal contacts2020, which is adapted to the trend of development of the electrical industry.

Referring toFIGS. 6 and 7, a stacked electrical connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The difference between the stacked electrical connectors of the first and second embodiments is that first, an insulative housing5is molded integrally; second, there is only a first mating interface50which is similar to the first mating interface in the first embodiment; third, the second mating interface51is a standard USB 2.0 A type interface. The second mating interface51has a second tongue510. Four USB 2.0 contacts extend to a lower side of the second tongue510for electrically connect with a USB 2.0 A type plug (not shown). The second mating interface51is located at top of the first mating interface50.

Referring toFIGS. 8 and 9, an stacked electrical connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The difference between the stacked electrical connectors of the first and third embodiments is that first, an insulative housing6is molded integrally; second, there is only a first mating interface60which is similar to the first mating interface in the first embodiment; third, the second mating interface61is a standard High Digital Multimedia Interface (HDMI). The second mating interface61has a D-shaped receiving space and a second tongue610received therein. A plurality of flat contacts extend to two sides of the second tongue610for electrically contacting with a HDMI plug (not shown).

Referring toFIG. 10, an stacked electrical connector according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The difference between the stacked electrical connectors of the first and fourth embodiments is that: first, a second mating interface71is located at an upper position of an insulative housing7, while a first mating interface70which is similar to that of the first embodiment is located at a lower position of the insulative housing7; second, the second mating interface71is a standard DIN connector. The second mating interface71comprises an annular recess with a cylindrical portion710received therein. The cylindrical portion710defines a plurality of passageways711extending through the insulative housing7. A plurality of DIN contacts extend to the passageways711.

Referring toFIGS. 11 and 12, an stacked electrical connector according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The difference between the stacked electrical connectors of the first and fifth embodiments is that an insulative housing8comprises a frame81, a first housing80and a second housing82fixed to the frame81. The frame81defines a pair of upper and lower space810for receiving the first and second housing80,82respectively. The second housing82comprises a first mating interface820which is similar to that of the first embodiment. While the first housing80comprises a second mating interface800protruding forwardly and presenting as D shape. The second mating interface800is a standard D-SUB interface. Each first and second mating interface820,800has a mating face mating with a corresponding plug (not shown). The mating faces of the first and second mating interface820,800are arranged in an offset manner in both length direction and the thickness direction. In addition, the second mating interface800defines a plurality of passageways801for receiving D-SUB contacts802.

Referring toFIG. 13, an stacked electrical connector according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The difference between the stacked electrical connectors of the first and sixth embodiments is that: first, a first mating interface90which is similar to that of the first embodiment is located at a lower position of an insulative housing9, while a second mating interface91is located at an upper position; second, the second mating interface91is a standard USB B type interface. The second mating interface91comprises a second tongue910. Two pairs of second elastic contacts911extend to upper and lower faces of the second tongue910respectively.

Referring toFIG. 14, an stacked electrical connector according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The difference between the stacked electrical connectors of the first and seventh embodiments is that a second mating interface122is a standard Displayport interface. A second tongue1221of the second mating interface122presents as a reverse U shape. A plurality of second contacts1222extend to an upper face and a lower face of the second tongue1221for electrically connecting with a standard Displayport plug (not shown). There is only a first mating interface121which is similar to that of the first embodiment stacked with the second mating interface122at an upper position.

Referring toFIG. 15, an stacked electrical connector according to a eighth embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The difference between the stacked electrical connectors of the first and eighth embodiments is that a second mating interface132is a standard IEEE 1394 A type interface. There are two first mating interfaces131stacked with the second mating interface132and located at a lower position. And referring toFIG. 16, a second mating interface142in a ninth embodiment is a standard IEEE 1394 B type interface. And there are two first mating interfaces141stacked with the second mating interface142and located at a lower position.

Referring toFIGS. 17 and 18, an stacked electrical connector15according to tenth embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. In the tenth embodiment, the stacked electrical connector15comprises an insulative housing151, two groups of contacts152which are similar to the first contacts20of the first embodiment retained in the insulative housing151, an outer shield153enclosing the insulative housing151, a rear shield154covering a rear end of the insulative housing151, an inner shield155retained in the insulative housing151and a spacer156for fixing the contacts152. There are two stacked mating interfaces1511which are all similar to the first mating interface of the first embodiment and integrally molded in the insulative housing151. A clapboard157extends forwardly between two mating interfaces1511. Each mating interface1511comprises a tongue plate1512extending forwardly and parallel to the clapboard157. Each group contacts152have same structure with the first contact20, and are arranged on each tongue plate1512same as the arrangement of the first contact20. The spacer156defines a plurality of holes1561for receiving a lower portion of each contact152. The inner shield155encloses the clapboard157and locking with the outer shield153. The inner shield155comprises two pairs of spring arms1551extending into each mating interface1511for engaging with a corresponding plug (not shown).

Referring toFIGS. 19-21, an stacked electrical connector16according to eleventh embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The stacked electrical connector16is approximately same as the stacked electrical connector15in the tenth embodiment. The difference is that a soldering portion163of each contact161is parallel to a contact portion162thereof. The stacked electrical connector16is soldered to a circuit board17vertically.

Referring toFIGS. 22 and 23, two stacked electrical connector18,19according to twelfth and thirteenth embodiment of the present invention are disclosed. The stacked electrical connector18comprises three mating interfaces181, while the stacked electrical connector19comprises four mating interfaces191. All mating interfaces181,191are similar to the first mating interface in the first embodiment.

Referring toFIGS. 24-28, a stacked electrical connector22according to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention are disclosed. The outside of the stacked electrical connector22is approximately same to the stacked electrical connector15when the stacked electrical connector22,15are assembled together. The stacked electrical connector22comprises a divided housing220which is different from the insulative housing151in the tenth embodiment, two groups of contacts223which are similar to that in the tenth embodiment are retained in the divided housing220, an outer shield226enclosing the divided housing220, an rear shield227covering a rear end of the divided housing220, and a spacer228positioned at a lower portion for fixing the contacts223.

The divided housing220comprises an upper housing221, a lower housing222positioned at a lower position of the upper housing221and a top cap229fixed at a top position of the upper housing221. The upper housing221comprises a first mating interface with a first tongue2212extending forwardly form a top end thereof, and a clapboard2213parallel to the first tongue2212and located at a lower position thereof. An inner shield225encloses the clapboard2213and connects with the outer shield226. The first tongue2212defines a plurality of first passageways22125at a top side thereof, a plurality of second and third passageways22124,22123at a lower side thereof and arranged in two rows along a length direction of the first tongue2212. The upper housing221comprises a pair of embosses22112projecting upwardly at a top end thereof, and a swallow-tailed projection22114at a lower end thereof. The top cap229defines a pair of holes2291engaging with the embosses22112.

The lower housing222comprises a second mating interface with a second tongue2222extends forwardly from a top end of the lower housing222. The second tongue2222is similar to the first tongue2212, and the second mating interface is similar to the first mating interface. The lower housing222comprises a pair of block22215extending upwardly from two sides thereof. Each block22125defines a recess22124for engaging with the swallow-tailed projection22114of the upper housing221. A.

Each group of contacts223is similar to the first contacts20in the first embodiment and transmit same signal with the first contacts20. Each group of contacts223comprises four elastic contacts2231and five flat contacts2232. We will describe one group contacts223positioned in the upper housing221for example. Each elastic contact2231comprises an elastic contact portion2233extending to the third passageways22123and protruding beyond the first tongue2212, a securing portion2234retained in the upper housing221and a soldering portion2235extending out of the divided housing220. Each flat contact2232comprises a flat contact portion2236extending to the second passageways22124, a retention portion2237received in the first passageways22125and a tail portion2238extending out of the divided housing220. The flat contact portions2236and the retention portion2237are parallel to each other, and wherein the flat contact portions2236are much shorter than the retention portions2238. The flat contact portions2236and the elastic contact portions2233are arranged in two row along the length direction of the first tongue2212and do not contact with each other.

After the contacts223assembled in the divided housing220, the top cap229covers the top end of the upper housing221and presses the retention portions2237for preventing the flat contacts2232from moving upwardly. The spacer228defines a plurality of hollows2282for fixing all contacts223. Another group contacts223are arranged on the second tongue2222same as the arrangement of said one group contacts223above.

As fully described above, different embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, but these are only some preferable embodiments used continually in fact, and such as a standard interface of POF connector, Module jack etc, can be stacked with a mating interface which is similar to the first mating interface in the first embodiment also for improving speed of signal transmission thereof, if it is necessary. All stacked electrical connectors described above have simple structure which is adapted to development trend of the electrical industry, and improve the speed of signal transmission thereof.