Connector assembly

A connector assembly includes a receptacle connector and a plug connector. The receptacle connector includes a shield having a receiving slot and a first insulation body disposed in the receiving slot. The first insulation body includes at least one mating cavity and at least one terminal group disposed in the mating cavity. The first insulation body and the shield collectively define at least one adapting structure. The at least one terminal group has a plurality of elastic terminals arranged as at least one row along a first direction. The plug connector includes a paddle board electrically connected to a cable and a second insulation body secured with the paddle board and the cable. At least one adapting element extends from the second insulation body and is adjacently disposed to the paddle board. The adapting element and the adapting structure are mated to each other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 107202586, filed Feb. 26, 2018, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Due to the highly development of the informative technology, various files and media stream data increased largely, the high speed data transmission has failed to satisfied with the old transmission method. The technology for the requirement of high speed information access of SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) standard can overcome the obstacle of the conventional parallel technology, provide even higher speed signal transmission ability, and support and be compatible with the devices of SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment). Therefore, SAS has the advantages of wide application.

Recently, the structure design of the connector devices with different format can still be improved. When mating or connecting to a complemental connector, the mated standard SAS connectors could be disconnected easily for unprecise aligning, wrong direction mating, oblique mating or low mating strength. In order to provide more efficient and durable mating or aligning structure for connectors, a complete schedule for the plug connector and the receptacle connector is necessary to satisfied various aligning requirements between the connectors. One requirement desired is a compact and friendly design for the users or labors implementing such mating or aligning.

In the known technologies, U.S. Pat. No. 7,445,504 disclosed an electric connector A. The electric connector A includes a metal shield B, an insulation body C and a circuit board D. The metal shield B includes a top plate B1, two side plates B2 respectively extend form the two sides of the top plate B1 facing each other. Two restriction portions B3 respectively extend from the two side plates B2, respectively, along the same direction, and the restriction portions B3 collectively define a region. The pair of side plate B2 and the restriction portions B3 include a plurality of extension pins B4. The insulation body C and the metal shield B are respectively secured to the circuit board D. The insulation body C is disposed in the region defined by the restriction portions B3. The restriction portions B3 surround and are secured to the insulation body C. The metal shield B forms a space disposed in the front end of the insulation body C.

The metal shield B and the insulation body C are respectively disposed on a front and a back of a linear direction on the circuit board D and occupying space. The profile of the space occupied by the metal shield B of the connector, vertical height to the circuit board D, is greater than the profile of the insulation body C. When mating a device with the electric connector A, the device is held and guided through the metal shield B. Nothing on the insulation body C provides help for holding or guiding results occurring low mating strength between the electric connector A and inserted device easily. Moreover, there is no shielding to the insulation body C makes the noise and interference be problematics for high band signal transmission.

Because of the larger space of the circuit board occupied by the electric connector disclosed by the prior art, the spaces for other devices on the circuit board are limited. In order to reduce the space utilization of the electric connector occupied on the circuit board and improve the mating strength of the electric connector with the complemental device, it is highly required to design an electric connector with a metal shield and the insulation body integrated that needs narrower space on the circuit board.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a receptacle connector with low profile, especially to an improved connector assembly including a plug and a receptacle connector. The receptacle connector includes a first insulation body and a shield. The shield covers the first insulation body to reduce the space utilization profile of the receptacle connector and increase the ability of electromagnetic shielding of the first insulation body.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a plug connector with simple fabrication, especially to a plug of an improved connector assembly. The plug connector includes a paddle board, a cable, and a second insulation body. The paddle board is electrically connected to the cable. The second insulation body is formed to cover the join portion of the paddle board and cable to protect and strengthen the join portion of the paddle board and cable to achieve the purposes of reduce assembling processes and cost.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a connector utilizing a better mating method, especially an improved connector assembly. The connector assembly includes a plug connector and a receptacle connector. The receptacle connector includes at least one adapting structure and the plug connector includes at least one adapting element. When the receptacle connector is mated with the plug connector, the adapting element is mated and assembled with the adapting structure to achieve the better effect for guiding and holding.

In order to achieve the aforesaid goals, the present invention provides an improved connector assembly. The connector assembly includes a receptacle connector and a plug connector. The receptacle connector includes a shield, a first insulation body and at least one terminal group. The shield is formed by metal plates and has a receiving slot. The first insulation body is made of insulation plastic material and is disposed in the receiving slot. The first insulation body includes at least one mating cavity. The first insulation body and the shield collectively defined at least one adapting structure. The terminal group has a plurality of elastic terminals arranged as at least one row along a first direction. The terminal group is disposed in the mating cavity of the first insulation body. The plug connector includes a paddle board and a second insulation body. The paddle board is electrically connected to a cable. The second insulation body is made of insulation plastic material and is secured with the paddle board and the cable. At least one adapting element extends from the second insulation body and is adjacently disposed to the paddle board. The adapting element and the adapting structure are mated with each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A proper embodiment of the present invention discloses a connector assembly, the connector assembly includes a receptacle connector1and a plug connector2, and the receptacle connector1is mated with the plug connector2.

The receptacle connector1includes two configurations. Referring to the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment in theFIG. 1a,FIG. 1b,andFIG. 1c.When the receptacle connector1is mated with the plug connector2, the mating direction between the plug connector2and the receptacle connector1is parallel with the circuit board6of the receptacle connector1, and the receptacle connector1is called right angle receptacle connector. Referring to the fourth embodiment, the fifth embodiment, and the sixth embodiment in theFIG. 2a,FIG. 2b,andFIG. 2c,when the receptacle connector1is mated with the plug connector2, the mating direction between the plug connector2and the receptacle connector1is vertical with the circuit board6of the receptacle connector1, and the receptacle connector1is called vertical receptacle.

Referring to theFIG. 5a,FIG. 5b,andFIG. 5c,which are the exploded drawings ofFIG. 1a,FIG. 1b,andFIG. 1c,respectively. A Cartesian coordinate system is applied to indicate the direction of each components, a first direction X, a second direction Y orthogonal to the first direction X, and a third direction Z orthogonal to the first direction X and the second direction Y are defined as the three directions of the Cartesian coordinate. In the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment of the present invention, the receptacle connector1includes a shield3, a first insulation body4, at least one terminal group5and a circuit board6.

The shield3is formed through the bending of the metal material and the shield3includes a plurality of outer sidewalls, a plurality of securing pins36and at least one bard38. The outer sidewalls include a first outer sidewall31, a second outer sidewall32, a third outer sidewall33, and a fourth outer sidewall34, which form a receiving slot35. The second outer sidewall32and the fourth outer sidewall34respectively extend from two sides of the first outer sidewall31along a same direction. Two sides of the third outer sidewall33respectively connect with the second outer sidewall32and the fourth outer sidewall34. The third outer sidewall33and the first outer sidewall31are disposed oppositely and parallel along the third direction Z. The second outer sidewall32and the fourth outer sidewall34are disposed oppositely and parallel along the second direction Y. The securing pins36respectively extend from the edges of the outer sidewalls. At least one securing pin36extends from each of the second outer sidewall32and each of the fourth outer sidewall34, and the securing pins36extend along the third direction Z. The bard38extends from a longer side of the first outer sidewall31and bends 180 degree into the space in the receiving slot35. A gap with a constant distance is between the bard38and the first outer sidewall31. The first outer sidewall31includes a plurality of securing holes37and a plurality of stop blocks311. The securing holes37are adjacently disposed close to an edge of the first outer sidewall3land penetrate the first outer sidewall31. The stop blocks331are pressing pieces or protruding structures formed by the surface stamping on the first outer sidewall31and are adjacently disposed to the second outer sidewall32and the fourth outer sidewall34.

The first insulation body4is made of insulation plastic material and includes a first board41, a second board42, a third board43and a fourth board44. The first board41and the third board43are disposed oppositely and parallel along the third direction Z. The second board42and the forth board44are disposed oppositely and parallel along the second direction Y. The second board42and the fourth board44respectively connect with the opposite sides of the first board41and the third board43. The boards form a mating cavity45and includes a plurality of partitions, a plurality terminal slots46, at least one positioning hole412and at least one adapting structure47. The partitions and the terminal slots46are respectively disposed on two surfaces facing each other of the first board41and the third board43. The partitions are arranged along the first direction X on the two surfaces facing each other of the first board41and the third board43, and the space between two adjacent partitions form the terminal slots46. The positioning holes412are respectively disposed on a surface of the first board41orthogonal to the first direction X and extend along the first direction X to the first board41to mate mutually with the bard38of the shield3. The adapting structure47includes a support adapting structure471and a pair of the main adapting structure472. The support adapting structure471is disposed on the first board41. The support adapting structure471is the recessed space formed by the outer surface of the first board41facing away from the mating cavity45along the third direction Z. The support adapting structure471extend along the first direction X toward the positioning holes412and is disposed adjacently to the positioning holes412. Openings of the support adapting structure471are formed on the surfaces of the first board41orthogonal to the first direction X and the third direction Z. A portion of the first board41at the side away from the positioning holes412is remained, such that the first board41is not penetrated by the support adapting structure471in the first direction X. The projection of the plane of the support adapting structure471between the first direction X and the second direction Y is rectangular shaped. A pair of the stop trench411is disposed on another side of the first board41away from the positioning holes412, and the stop trenches411are respectively adjacent to the second board42and the fourth board44. The stop trenches411are recessed form the first board41along the third direction Z which is orthogonal to the first board41. Openings of the stop tranches411are formed on the surfaces of the first board41orthogonal to the first direction X and the third direction Z. The main adapting structures472are respectively disposed on the first board41, the second board42, and the fourth board44. The main adapting structures472are respectively recessed from the surface of the first board41which is adjacent to the second board42and the fourth board44along the third direction Z, and then recess from the two opposite surfaces of the second board42and the fourth board44along the second direction Y. The structure recessed from the surfaces of the second board42and the fourth board44are respectively connected to the structure recessed from the two sides of the first board41, such that the main adapting structure471extend from the second board42and the fourth board44to the first board41facing toward each other. The main adapting structures472are disposed adjacently to the stop trenches411and are prevented form penetrating the shield3to disturb with the mating cavity45. Openings of the main adapting structure472are formed on the surfaces of the first board41orthogonal to the first direction X and the third direction Z and on the surfaces of the second board42and the fourth board44orthogonal to the first direction X and the second direction Y. The main adapting structures472are away from the positioning holes412along the first direction X and the first board41, the second board42, and the fourth board44are not penetrated by the main adapting structures472. The projection of the plane of the main adapting structures472between the third direction Z and the second direction Y is L shaped. In the top view along the third direction Z of the first board41, the support adapting structure471is disposed between the pair of the main adapting structure472. Two securing cylinder respectively extend form the second boards42and the fourth board44and away from the first insulation body4along the third direction Z.

The first insulation body4is disposed in the receiving slot35of the shield3, and the shield3covers the outer surfaces of the first insulation body4. The first insulation body4and the shield3collectively define at least one adapting structure47. The first outer sidewall31covers the outer surfaces of the first board41. The first sidewall31covers the support adapting structure471and a portion of the openings of the main adapting structure472which are orthogonal to the third direction Z. The securing holes37of the first outer sidewall31are disposed opposite to the support adapting structure471. The bard38is respectively secured to the positioning hole412of the first board41, and the stop blocks331of the shield31are respectively engaged to the stop trenches411. The second outer sidewall32and the fourth outer sidewall34respectively cover the outer surfaces of the second board42and the fourth board44, and cover a portion of the openings of the main adapting structure472which are orthogonal to the second direction Y. The third outer sidewall33covers the third board43, the supporting adapting structure471and the main adapting structures472are respectively formed between the shield3and the first insulation body4. The shield3further limit the space configuration of the support adapting structure471and the main adapting structures472, and only keep the openings on the surface of the first insulation body4orthogonal to the first direction X free. The shield3is secured with the stop trenches411and the positioning holes412through the stop blocks311and the bard38to strengthen the connection between the shield3and the first insulation body4, and the shield3covers the outer surfaces of the first insulation body4to provide better electromagnetic shielding effect and protection ability.

The terminal group5includes a plurality of elastic terminals51and at least one base52. Each of the elastic terminals51includes a touch portion511, a soldering portion513and an extension portion512connecting to the touch portion511and the soldering portion513. The elastic terminals51are arranged as at least one row along the second direction Y. In the present embodiment, the elastic terminals51are arranged respectively as two rows, and the touch portions511of each row of the elastic terminals51has bending portions extend toward each other, respectively. The base52is made of insulation plastic material, and is secured at each of the extension portions512of the elastic terminals51by over molding. Each of the extension portions512of the elastic terminals51has a bending angle which is larger or equal to 90 degree. The extension direction of the soldering portions513is different from the extension direction of the extension portions512. The extension portions512of one row of the elastic terminals51with longer lengths are covered by the first base521, and the extension portions512of the other row of the elastic terminals51with shorter lengths are covered by the second base522. The first base512and the second522are assembled to form the complete terminal group5. The soldering portions513respectively extend out of the base52. The terminal group5is disposed in the mating cavity45formed by the first insulation body4along the row direction. The adapting structure47is disposed outside the terminal group5. The elastic terminals51are respectively disposed in the terminal slots46of the first board41and the third board43. The base52is secured in the first insulation body4. The bending portion of each of the touch portions511protrude out of the partitions and extend toward each other to provide better electric connection for the plug connector2.

The circuit board6includes a plurality of soldering points61and a plurality of mating holes62, the soldering portions61are arranged as two symmetry rows and are mated with the soldering portions513of the elastic terminals51. The first insulation body4and the terminal group5are secured in the receiving slots35of the shield3after assembling. The first insulation body4, the terminal group5, and the shield3are secured on the circuit board6. The securing pins36of the shield3and the securing cylinders of the first insulation body4are respectively secured in the mating holes62of the circuit board6. The shield3is set earthed with the circuit board5through the securing pins36. The soldering portions513of the terminal group5are respectively secured in the soldering points61of the circuit board6and electrically connected to each other. The soldering portions513are secured through surface mount technology (SMT), but it is not limited in other embodiments. The dual in-line package can also be used for securing. Deposition of the securing cylinders and the securing pins36can strengthen the securing strength between the terminal group5and the circuit board6and prevent the detachment problem of the elastic terminals51.

Referring toFIG. 5a,the receptacle connector1disclosed in the first embodiment is a right angle receptacle connector. The elastic terminals51totally include fifty-six pins. The elastic terminals51are respectively arranged as two rows, such that the fifty-six pins are formed by twenty-eight pairs of the elastic terminals51.

Referring toFIG. 5b,the receptacle connector1disclosed in the second embodiment is a right angle receptacle connector. The difference between the first embodiment and the second embodiment is the number of the terminals51. The elastic terminals51of the second embodiment totally include eighty-four pins, and the elastic terminals51are arranged as two rows. Two terminal groups5are respectively formed by twenty-eight pairs of elastic terminals51and fourteenth pairs of elastic terminals51. The first insulation body4includes a dividing element451. Two mating cavities45are formed by respectively connecting to the dividing element451with the first board41and the third board43. The mating cavities45are divided by the dividing element451as two disconnected spaces. The two terminal groups5are respectively disposed at two different spaces of the mating cavities45of the first insulation body4, and the two terminal groups5are divided by dividing element451.

Referring toFIG. 5c,the receptacle connector1disclosed in the third embodiment is a right angle receptacle connector. The difference between the third embodiment and the first embodiment is the number of the terminals. The elastic terminals51of the third embodiment totally include one hundred and forty pins, and the elastic terminals51are arranged as two rows. Three terminal groups5are respectively formed by two groups of twenty-eight pairs of elastic terminals51and one group of fourteenth pairs of elastic terminals51. The first insulation body4includes two dividing elements451. Three mating cavities45are formed by respectively connecting to the dividing elements451with the first board41and the third board43. The mating cavities45are divided by the dividing elements451as three disconnected spaces. The three terminal groups5are respectively disposed at three different spaces in the mating cavities45of the first insulation body4. The arrangement order of the terminal groups5in the mating cavities45is that a group of terminal group5with fourteen pairs of elastic terminals51disposed between two groups of the terminal groups5with twenty-eight pairs of elastic terminals51. Three terminal groups5are divided by dividing elements451.

Referring toFIG. 6a,FIG. 6b,andFIG. 6c,which are the exploded drawings of theFIG. 2a,FIG. 2b,andFIG. 2c,respectively. A Cartesian coordinate system is applied to indicate the directions of each components, a first direction X, a second direction Y orthogonal to the first direction X, and a third direction Z orthogonal to the first direction X and the second direction Y are defined as the three directions of the Cartesian coordinate. In the fourth embodiment, the fifth embodiment, and the sixth embodiment of the present invention, the receptacle connector1includes a shield3, a first insulation body4, at least one terminal group5and a circuit board6.

The shield3is formed through the bending of the metal material and the shield3includes a plurality of outer sidewalls, a plurality of securing pins36and at least one bard38. The outer sidewalls include a first outer sidewall31, a second outer sidewall32, a third outer sidewall33, and a fourth outer sidewall34, which form a receiving slot35. The second outer sidewall32and the fourth outer sidewall34respectively extend from two sides of the first outer sidewall31along a same direction. The third outer sidewall33respectively connects with the second outer sidewall32and the fourth outer sidewall34at two sides. The third outer sidewall33and the first outer sidewall31are disposed oppositely and parallel along the third direction Z. The second outer sidewall32and the fourth sidewall34are disposed oppositely and parallel along the second direction Y. The securing pins36respectively extend from the edges of the outer sidewalls, and at least one securing pin36extends from the first outer sidewall31, the second outer sidewall32, the third outer sidewall33, and the fourth outer sidewall34. The securing pins36extend along the first direction X facing away from the outer sidewalls. The bard38extends from a longer side of the first outer sidewall31and bends 180 degree into the space in the receiving slot35. A gap with constant distance is between the bard38and the first outer sidewall31. The first outer sidewall31includes a plurality of securing holes37. The securing holes37are disposed adjacently close to an edge of the first outer sidewall31and penetrate the first outer sidewall31.

The first insulation body4is made of insulation plastic material and includes a first board41, a second board42, a third board43and a fourth board44. The first board41and the third board43are disposed oppositely parallel along the third direction Z. The second board42and the fourth board44are disposed oppositely parallel along the second direction Y. The second board42and the fourth board44respectively connect with the opposite sides of the first board41and the third board43. The boards form a mating cavity45. The boards includes a plurality of partitions, a plurality terminal slots46, at least one positioning hole412and at least one adapting structure47. The partitions and the terminal slots46are disposed on two surfaces facing each other of the first board41and the third board43. The partitions extend along the first direction X on the two surfaces facing each other of the first board41and the third board43, and the partitions are arranged in parallel with each other. The space between two adjacent partitions form the terminal slots46. The positioning holes412are respectively disposed on a surface of the first board41orthogonal to the first direction X. The positioning holes412extend along the first direction X to the first board41and are configured to mate with the bard38of the shield3. The adapting structure47includes a support adapting structure471and a pair of the main adapting structure472. The support adapting structure471is disposed on the first board41. The support adapting structure471is the recessed space formed by the outer surface of the first board41facing away from the mating cavity45along the third direction Z. The support adapting structure471extends along the first direction X toward the positioning holes412and is disposed adjacently to the positioning holes412. Openings of the support adapting structure471are formed on the surfaces of the first board41orthogonal to the first direction X and the third direction Z. A portion of the first board41at the side away from the positioning holes412is remained, such that the first board41is not penetrated by the support adapting structure471in the first direction X. The projection of the plane of the support adapting structure471between the first direction X and the second direction Y is rectangular shaped. The main adapting structures472are respectively disposed on the first board41, the second board42, and the fourth board44. The main adapting structures472are respectively recessed from the surface of the first board41which is adjacent to the second board42and the fourth board44along the third direction Z, and then are recessed from the two opposite surfaces of the second board42and the fourth board44along the second direction Y. The structure recessed from the surfaces of the second board42and the fourth board44are respectively connected to the structure recessed from the two sides of the first board41, such that the main adapting structure472extend from the second board42and the fourth board44to the first board41facing toward each other. The main adapting structure472was divided by the first board41, the second board42, and the fourth board44to prevent the disturbance with the mating cavity45. Openings of the main adapting structure472are formed on the surfaces of the first board41orthogonal to the first direction X and the third direction Z and are formed on the surfaces of the second board42and the fourth board44orthogonal to the first direction X and the second direction Y. Ends of the first board41, the second board42, and the fourth board44away from the positioning holes412along the first direction X are not penetrated by the main adapting structure472. The projection of the plane of the main adapting structures472between the third direction Z and the second direction Y is L shaped. In the top view along the third direction Z of the first board41, the support adapting structure471is disposed between the pair of the main adapting structure472. At least one stopper413protrude form the first board41and the third board43. The stoppers413are disposed on the parallel sides away from the positioning holes412. Two securing cylinder respectively extend form the second boards42and the fourth board44and away from the first insulation body4along the third direction Z.

The first insulation body4is disposed in the receiving slot35of the shield3, and the shield3covers the outer surfaces of the first insulation body4. The first insulation body4and the shield3collectively define at least one adapting structure47. The first outer sidewall31covers the outer surfaces of the first board41. The first sidewall31covers the support adapting structure471and a portion of the openings of the main adapting structure472which are orthogonal to the third direction Z. The securing holes37are disposed opposite to the support adapting structure471. The bard38is secured to the positioning hole412of the first board41. The second outer sidewall32and the fourth outer sidewall34respectively cover the outer surfaces of the second board42and the fourth board44, and cover a portion of the openings of the main adapting structure472which are orthogonal to the second direction Y. The third outer sidewall33covers the third board43, and the main adapting structures472are disposed between the shield3and the first insulation body4. The shield3further limit the space configuration of the support adapting structure471and the main adapting structures472, and only keep the openings on the surface of the first insulation body4orthogonal to the first direction X free. The stop blocks413are respectively touched with the first outer sidewall31and the third outer sidewall33of the shield3to avoid sliding of the shield3. The connection strength between the shield3and the first insulation body4was strengthened through the bard38of the shield3and the positioning holes412and the stop blocks413of the first insulation body4. The hosing3covers the outer surfaces of the first insulation body4to provide better electromagnetic shielding effect and protection ability.

The terminal group5includes a plurality of elastic terminals51and at least one base52. Each of the elastic terminals51includes a touch portion511, a soldering portion513and an extension portion512connecting to the touch portion511and the soldering portion513. The elastic terminals51are arranged as at least one row along the second direction Y. In the present embodiment, the elastic terminals51are arranged respectively as two rows. The touch portions511of each row of the elastic terminals51has bending portions extend toward each other, respectively. The base52is made of insulation plastic material. The base52is secured at each of the extension portions512of the elastic terminals51by over molding. The soldering portions513respectively extend out of the base52. The terminal group5is disposed in the mating cavity45formed by the first insulation body4along the row direction. The adapting structure47is disposed outside the terminal group5. The elastic terminals51are respectively disposed in the terminal slots46of the first board41and the third board43. The base52is secured in the first insulation body4. The bending portion of each of the touch portions511protrude out of the partitions and extend toward each other to provide better electric connection for the plug connector2.

The circuit board6includes a plurality of soldering points61and a plurality of mating holes62, the soldering portions61are arranged as two symmetry rows and mate with the soldering portions513of the elastic terminals51. The first insulation body4and the terminal group5are further secured in the receiving slots35of the shield3after assembling. The first insulation body4, the terminal group5, and the shield3are secured on the circuit board6. The securing pins36of the shield3and the securing cylinders of the first insulation body4are respectively secured in the mating holes62of the circuit board6. The shield3is set earthed with the circuit board6through the securing pins36. The soldering portions513of the terminal group5are respectively secured in the soldering points61of the circuit board6and electrically connected to each other. The soldering portions513are secured through surface mount technology, but it is not limited in other embodiments. The dual in-line package can also be used for securing. Deposition of the securing cylinders and the securing pins36can strengthen the securing between the terminal group5and the circuit board6and prevent the detachment problem of the elastic terminals51.

Referring toFIG. 6a,the receptacle connector1disclosed in the fourth embodiment is a vertical receptacle connector. The elastic terminals51totally include fifty-six pins. The elastic terminals51are respectively arranged as two rows to form twenty-eight pairs of the elastic terminals51.

Referring toFIG. 6b,the receptacle connector1disclosed in the fifth embodiment is a vertical receptacle connector. The difference between the fourth embodiment and the fifth embodiment is the number of the terminals51. The elastic terminals51of the fifth embodiment totally include eighty-four pins, and the elastic terminals51are arranged as two rows to form twenty-eight pairs of elastic terminals51and fourteenth pairs of elastic terminals51. The first insulation body4includes a dividing element451. Two mating cavities45are formed by respectively connecting the dividing element451to the first board41and the third board43. The mating cavities45are divided by the dividing element451as two disconnected spaces. The two terminal groups5are respectively disposed at two different spaces of the mating cavities45of the first insulation body4, and the two terminal groups5are separated by dividing element451.

Referring toFIG. 6c,the receptacle connector1disclosed in the sixth embodiment is a vertical receptacle connector. The difference between the sixth embodiment and the fourth embodiment is the number of the terminals51. The elastic terminals of the sixth embodiment totally include one hundred and forty pins, and the elastic terminals51are arranged as two rows. Three terminal groups5are respectively formed by two groups of twenty-eight pairs of elastic terminals51and one group of fourteenth pairs of elastic terminals51. The first insulation body4includes two dividing elements451. Three mating cavities45are formed by respectively connecting the dividing elements451to the first board41and the third board43. The mating cavities45are divided by the dividing elements451to three disconnected spaces. The three terminal groups5are respectively disposed at three different spaces in the mating cavities45of the first insulation body4. The arrangement order of the terminal groups5in the mating cavities45is that a group of terminal group5with fourteen pairs of elastic terminals51disposed between two groups of the terminal groups5with twenty-eight pairs of elastic terminals51. Three terminal groups5are separated by dividing elements451.

To adjust to different environment, the plug connectors are designed with different configurations. Referring toFIG. 3a,FIG. 3b,andFIG. 3c,when the extension direction of the paddle board7of the plug connector2is linear with the extension direction of the cable8, the plug connector2is called straight plug. Referring toFIG. 4a,FIG. 4b,andFIG. 4c,when the extension direction of the paddle board7of the plug connector2is vertical to the extension direction of the cable8, the plug connector2is called right angle plug. The difference between the aforesaid two different configurations is that the cable8extends from different surfaces of the second insulation body9to adapt to different design deviation in space application.

Referring to theFIG. 7a,FIG. 7b,FIG. 7c,FIG. 8a,FIG. 8b,andFIG. 8c,which are the exploded drawings ofFIG. 3a,FIG. 3b,FIG. 3c,FIG. 4a,FIG. 4bandFIG. 4c,respectively. A Cartesian coordinate system is applied to indicate the directions of each components, a first direction X, a second direction Y orthogonal to the first direction X, and a third direction Z orthogonal to the first direction X and the second direction Y are defined as the three directions of the Cartesian coordinate. In the embodiments of the present invention, the plug connector2includes a paddle board7, a cable8, an elastic element92and a second insulation body9.

The paddle board7includes a plurality of contact points71on the opposite surfaces along the third direction Z, and the contact points71are arranged along the second direction Y. The cable8includes a plurality of wires arranged as two rows. The arrangement of the wires form the same row is that two ground wires are respectively disposed at each sides of a pair of signal wire to form a G-S-S-G arrangement form. The ground wires disposed at two sides of each of the signal wires can provide better shielding effect and reduce the electromagnetic disturbance between each pair of the signal wires. Two rows of wires are respectively disposed at two sides of the paddle board7to mate with the contact points71. The wires are respectively soldered at one side of the paddle board7to electrically connect the cable8and the paddle board7by electrically connecting to the circuit in the paddle board7with the contact points71at another side of the paddle board7.

The second insulation body9is made of insulation plastic material and respectively secured the paddle board7and the cable8. The connection part between the paddle board7and the cable8are encapsulated in the second insulation body9by over molding. The second insulation body9can strengthen and protect the connection part between the paddle board7and the cable8. The paddle board7and the cable8respectively extend at two different surfaces of the second insulation body9. At least one adapting element91extend from the second insulation body9along the first direction X, and the adapting element91and the paddle board7extend from the same surface of the second insulation body9along the same direction. The adapting element91includes a support adapting element911and a pair of main adapting element912. The support adapting element911and the pair of main adapting element912respectively extend from the surface of the second insulation body9, the support adapting element911and the paddle board7are adjacently disposed and are in parallel to each other. The support adapting element911includes a protruding structure93extending form an end of the support adapting element91. The protruding structure93protrudes along the third direction Z and surrounds the edge of the support adapting element911. The protruding structure93extends along the edge of the support adapting element911to the surfaces of the second insulation body9. A receiving space931is formed by the region on the surface of the second insulation body9and the support adapting element92surrounded by the protruding structure93. The receiving space931has a plurality of positioning elements. The main adapting element912is disposed between the opposite two sides of the paddle board7. The support adapting element911is disposed between the pair of the main adapting element912. The main adapting elements912extend from a surface of the second insulation body9along the first direction X. The main adapting elements912partially protrude along the third direction Z and the profile of the man adapting elements912is higher than another surface of the second insulation body9orthogonal to the third direction Z. The main adapting elements912are adjacently disposed to another surface. The surface of the second insulation body9and another surface are adjacently disposed and are orthogonal to each other. Each of the main adapting elements912has a first structure extending along the second direction Y and a second structure extending along the third direction Z. The profile of the first structure along the third direction Z is higher than the profile of the second insulation body9, such that the space along the third direction Z is creased. The thickness of the first structure can be increased along the third direction Z, or the length of the second structure can be increased along the third direction Z. The first structure and the second structure connect with each other to form a turning structure with an angle through the aforesaid design to increase the strength of the main adapting elements912. The projection of the plane of the main adapting structures912between the second direction Y and the third direction Z is L shaped. When the main adapting structure912is under pressure, the main adapting structure912can spread the external force to two different directions due to the two structures toward two different directions. The structure strength of the man adapting element912is larger than the structure toward single direction. Furthermore, the main adapting elements912can provide better positioning efficiency through the two structures toward two different directions. The adapting elements91are disposed adjacently to the paddle board7, respectively. The length of the main adapting elements912is larger than the length of the paddle board7along the first direction X. The main adapting element91can provide guiding and protection effects to avoid the paddle board7from damage.

The elastic element92is formed by stamping and bending of metal plates. The elastic element92includes a main body921, an engaging portion924and a bending portion925. The bending portion925is U shaped and respectively connected to the main body921and the engaging portion924. The main body921and the engaging portion924are disposed facing each other along the third direction Z. A pair of engaging element922protrudes form the surface of the main body921along the third direction Z. A pressing surface923extend from the main body921. The engaging portion924includes a plurality of positioning structures penetrating the through holes of the engaging portion924. The engaging portion924is received in the receiving space931. The positioning structures are correspondingly secured to the positioning elements of the receiving space931, such that the elastic element92is secured in the second insulation body9and is received in the receiving space931of the support adapting element911. The bending portion925is engaged in the protruding structure93of the support adapting element911by mating the profile of the engaging portion924and the bending portion925of the elastic element92with the protruding structure93. The engaging element922of the main body921extend along the third direction and is higher than the surface of the protruding structure93of the support adapting element911. When a force is applied on the pressing surface923along the third direction Z, the pressing surface923and the main body921move along the direction of the applied force which bring the associate displacement of the engaging element922. When the force is removed, the bending portion925provide a recovery force that make the pressing surface923and the main body921go back to the original profiles, such that the variation of the profile of the engaging element922can provide the mechanism of lock and unlock.

Referring toFIG. 7a,the plug connector2disclosed in the seventh embodiment is a straight plug connector. Referring toFIG. 8a,the plug connector2disclosed in the tenth embodiment is a right angle plug connector. In the aforesaid seventh embodiment and the tenth embodiment, two opposite surfaces of the paddle board7of the plug connector2respectively includes a row of twenty-eight contact points71facing each other, and there are totally fifty-six contact points71formed on the paddle board7.

Referring toFIG. 7b,the plug connector2disclosed in the eighth embodiment is a straight angle plug. The difference between the eighth embodiment and the seventh embodiment is the number of the contact points71. Referring toFIG. 8b,the plug connector2disclosed in the eleventh embodiment is a right angle plug. The difference between the eleventh embodiment and the tenth embodiment is the number of the contact points71. In the eighth embodiment and the eleventh embodiment, the paddle board7totally includes eighty-four contact points71. The paddle board7of the plug connector2includes a notch72which separate the paddle board7as two portions. Two opposite surfaces of a portion of the paddle board7respectively has a row of twenty-eight contact points71facing each other and two opposite surfaces of another portion has a row of fourteenth contact points71facing each other.

Referring toFIG. 7c,the plug connector2disclosed in the ninth embodiment is a straight plug connector. The difference between the ninth embodiment and the seventh embodiment is the number of the contact points71. Referring toFIG. 8c,the plug connector2disclosed in the twelfth embodiment is a right angle plug. The difference between the twelfth embodiment and the tenth embodiment is the number of the contact points71. In the ninth embodiment and the twelfth embodiment, the paddle board7includes one hundred and forty contact points71. The paddle board7of the plug connector2includes two notches72which separate the paddle board7to three portions. Two opposite surfaces of two portions of the paddle board7respectively have a row of twenty-eight contact points71facing each other and two opposite surfaces of the rest part has a row of fourteenth contact points71facing each other. The arrangement order of the three portions on the paddle board7is that a group of fourteenth pairs of contact points71is disposed between two groups of twenty-eight pairs of contact points71.

Referring to theFIG. 9a,FIG. 9b,FIG. 9c,FIG. 10a,FIG. 10b,FIG. 10c,FIG. 11a,FIG. 11b,andFIG. 11c.In the aforesaid embodiments, when the receptacle connector1is prepared to mate with the plug connector2, the pair of the main adapting element912of the plug connector2contact with the first insulation body4of the receptacle connector1first, and then search for the mating position on the main adapting structure472. The pair of the main adapting element912is a directional structure, which can provide the ability for the plug connector2to check direction when the plug connector2mate with the receptacle connector1. When the plug connector2is mated in the inverse direction, the pair of main adapting structure912will mate against the surfaces of the receptacle connector1, the main adapting element912and the pair of the main adapting structure472cannot be mated properly, such that the plug connector2cannot be mated with the receptacle connector1along the wrong direction. The pair of the main adapting element912and the pair of the main adapting structure472provide the fool-proof ability and prevent the wrong operation to avoid damage of the paddle board7. The pair of the main adapting element912includes a pair of the first structure and a pair of second structure. The pair of the first structure is disposed correspondingly with the pair of the main adapting structure472at the two sides of the first board41, and the pair of the second structure is disposed correspondingly with the pair of the main adapting structure472of the second board42and the fourth board44. The pair of the main adapting element912is inserted into the main adapting structure472, and the main adapting element912is mated with the main adapting structure472. The position of the paddle board7of the plug connector2can be aligned with the mating cavity45of the first insulation body4through mating the main adapting element912and the main adapting structure472, such that the paddle board7can be guided into the receptacle connector1through the mating cavity45, and avoid the tilted insertion of the paddle board7due to the unprecise alignment, which cause the structure damage to the paddle board7or the second insulation body9. The support adapting element91of the second insulation body9is mated with the support adapting structure472of the first insulation body4, and the support adapting structure471guided the installation of the support adapting element911. When the paddle board7is disposed in the mating cavity45, the touch portions511of the elastic terminals51are electrically connected to the correspondingly contact points71on the paddle board7, respectively. The shield3covers the first insulation body4to further confine the support adapting element911within the support adapting structure471and confine the main adapting element912within the main adapting structure472. The adapting elements91are respectively received between the shield3and the first insulation body4to increase the securing strength of the adapting element91in the adapting structure47through the confinement of the space of the adapting structure47from the shield3. The elastic element92of the support adapting element911is guided to the support adapting structure471, and the engaging element922of the elastic element92is engaged in the positioning holes37of the shield3. Disconnection between the receptacle connector1and the plug connector2during mating can be avoided and the securing strength can be increased through the configuration of the support adapting element911with the pair of main adapting element912, the support adapting structure471with the pair of main adapting structure472, and the securing between the engaging element922of the elastic element92and the pair of securing hole37of the shield3.

Referring toFIG. 9a,the disclosure of the thirteenth embodiment is the combination of the receptacle connector1of the first embodiment and the plug connector2of the seventh embodiment. The receptacle connector1is a right angle receptacle, and the plug connector2is a straight plug connector. Referring toFIG. 10a,the disclosure of the sixteenth embodiment is the combination of the receptacle connector1of the fourth embodiment and the plug connector2of the tenth embodiment. The receptacle connector1is a vertical receptacle connector, and the plug connector2is a right angle plug connector. Referring toFIG. 11a,the disclosure of the nineteenth embodiment is the combination of the receptacle connector1of the fourth embodiment and the plug connector2of the seventh embodiment. The receptacle connector1is a vertical receptacle, and the plug connector2is a straight plug connector. In the aforesaid thirteenth embodiment, the sixteenth embodiment and the nineteenth embodiment, the receptacle connector1includes fifty-six elastic terminals51and the paddle board7of the plug connector2includes fifty-six contact points71, and the receptacle connector1and the plug connector2are mated with each other, such that the contact points71and the elastic terminals51contact each other and are electrically connected.

Referring toFIG. 9b,the disclosure of the fourteenth embodiment is the combination of the receptacle connector1of the second embodiment and the plug connector2of the eighth embodiment. The receptacle connector1is a right angle receptacle, and the plug connector2is a straight plug. Referring toFIG. 10b,the disclosure of the seventeenth embodiment is the combination of the receptacle connector1of the fifth embodiment and the plug connector2of the eleventh embodiment. The receptacle connector1is a vertical receptacle, and the plug connector2is a right angle receptacle connector. Referring toFIG. 11b,the disclosure of the twentieth embodiment is the combination of the receptacle connector1of the fifth embodiment and the plug connector2of the eighth embodiment. The receptacle connector1is a vertical receptacle connector, and the plug connector2is a straight plug connector. In the aforesaid fourteenth embodiment, the seventeenth embodiment and the twentieth embodiment, the receptacle connector1includes eighty-four elastic terminals51, twenty-eight pairs of elastic terminals51and fourteen pairs of elastic terminals51are respectively disposed in the mating cavities45at two sides of the dividing element451of the first insulation body4. The paddle board7of the plug connector2includes eight-four contact points71, the notch72of the paddle board7divided the paddle board7as two parts with twenty-eight pairs of contact points71and fourteenth pairs of contact points71. When the plug connector2are assembled and mated with the receptacle connector1, the dividing element451of the first insulation body4is mated with the notch72of the paddle board7, the dividing elements451is matched with the notches72, such that the twenty-eight pair of elastic terminals51and fourteen pairs of elastic terminals51of the receptacle connector1are respectively mated with the twenty-eight pairs of contact points71and fourteen pairs of contact points71sequentially.

Referring toFIG. 9c,the disclosure of the fifteenth embodiment is the combination of the receptacle connector1of the third embodiment and the plug connector2of the ninth embodiment. The receptacle connector1is a right angle receptacle connector, and the plug connector2is a straight plug connector. Referring toFIG. 10c,the disclosure of the eighteenth embodiment is the combination of the receptacle connector1of the sixth embodiment and the receptacle connector2of the twelfth embodiment. The receptacle connector1is a vertical receptacle connector, and the plug connector2is a right angle plug connector. Referring toFIG. 11c,the disclosure of the twenty-first embodiment is the combination of the receptacle connector1of the sixth embodiment and the plug connector2of the ninth embodiment. The receptacle connector1is a vertical receptacle connector, and the plug connector2is a straight plug connector. In the aforesaid fifteenth embodiment, the eighteenth embodiment and the twenty-first embodiment, the receptacle connector1includes one hundred and forty elastic terminals54, two groups of twenty-eight pairs of elastic terminals51and a group of fourteen pairs of elastic terminals51are respectively disposed in the three mating cavities45formed by two dividing elements451of the first insulation body4. The paddle board7of the plug connector2includes one hundred and forty contact points71, the two notches72of the paddle board7divided the paddle board7as three parts with two groups of twenty-eight pairs of contact points71and one group of fourteenth pairs of contact points71. When the plug connector2are assembled and mated with the receptacle connector1, the dividing elements451of the first insulation body4is mated with the notches72of the paddle board7, the dividing elements451is matched with the notches72, such that the two groups of the twenty-eight pair of elastic terminals51and the one group of the fourteen pairs of elastic terminals51of the receptacle connector1are respectively mated with the two groups of the twenty-eight pairs of contact points71and the one group of the fourteen pairs of contact points71in sequential order.

To adjust to different environment and data transformation, the plug connectors2or the receptacle connectors1are designed with different configurations. The receptacle connector1includes different amount of elastic terminals51and different types of vertical receptacle connector and right angle receptacle connector. The plug connector2includes different amount of contact points71, straight plug and vertical plug. When the amount of the contact points71of the plug connector2and the elastic terminals51of the receptacle connector1are the same, different configuration of the structures can adjust to different space, such that the receptacle connector1and the plug connector2can be mated in limited space.

Comparing to the prior art, the metal shield and the insulated body of a normal SAS standard plug connector are merely partially connected , and a gap is between the metal shield and the insulated body which occupied larger volume and produced space waste . The connection design between the metal shield and the insulated body is at the risk of disconnecting, and there may be unprecise positioning and disconnection problems when the receptacle connector1and the plug connector2are mated. A series of improvement have been applied on the receptacle connector1and the plug connector2of the present invention to overcome the deficiencies of prior arts. The receptacle connector1includes a shield3, a first insulation body4, a terminal group5and a circuit board6. The terminal group5is disposed in the terminal slot46of the first insulation body4, and the shield3surrounds the first insulation body4and is secured in the positioning hole412of the first insulation body4through the bard38to strengthen the connection strength between the shield3and the first insulation body4and the shield3which surrounds the first insulation body4can provide better electromagnetic shielding effect and consume less space. Many adapting elements91surrounded the paddle board7of the plug connector2to protect paddle board7. When the plug connector2is mated with the receptacle connector1, the structure configured with an angle of the adapting element91can provide a more precise directional guiding, and further assemble with the corresponding adapting structure47of the receptacle connector1. The adapting element91will be mated with the adapting structure47first due to the lengths of the adapting elements91are larger than the length of the circuit board along the mating direction, and then the adapting element91will further locate the positions of the paddle board7and the mating cavity45of the first insulation body4. It is convenient to dispose the paddle board7in the mating cavity45of the first insulation body to eliminate crash and rubbing between paddle board7and the first insulation body4and to improve the life time of the paddle board7. The adapting elements91are mated with the corresponding adapting structures47and are received between the first insulation body4and the shield3. The shield3limits the space of the adapting structure47to increase the securing strength of the adapting elements91in the adapting structures47and to reduce the disconnection problem between the receptacle connectors and the plug connectors.