High speed connector assembly, receptacle connector and plug connector

A high speed connector assembly is disclosed in this invention, including a receptacle connector and a plug connector. Each receptacle terminal of the receptacle connector disposes a first L-type contact piece, and each plug terminal of the plug connector disposes a second L-type contact piece. When the receptacle connector and the plug connector are electrically engaged, an extension section of the first L-type contact piece is pressed on a straight part of the second L-type contact piece, and an extension part of the second L-type contact piece is pressed on a straight section of the first L-type contact piece. So this engagement can form a double-contacts structure to restrain the short pile effect and reduce the crosstalk and loss at high speed signal transmission. A receptacle connector and a plug connector are also disclosed in this invention.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Benefit is claimed to Chinese Patent Application No. 201610409570.5, filed Jun. 13, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a connector technology, and more particularly to a high speed connector assembly, a receptacle connector and a plug connector, which can form double contacts between a receptacle terminal and a plug terminal.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the electronics industry, a right-angle high speed connector assembly can provide a connection interface for multiple circuit boards. For example, it can connect two orthogonal circuit boards to shorten the signal transmission channel length of these systems and improve the channel performance of signal integrity.

The high speed connector assembly is one common connector, which is used for large scale communication equipment, a super high performance server, a huge computer, an industrial computer and a high end storage device. This highly flexible high performance connector has become an ideal choice for telecommunications and data network applications.

However, it is a very important issue how to provide greater throughput and ensure more stable and reliable signal transmission by changing the signal transmission path between a receptacle connector and a plug connector under the condition of no redesign to above connection.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to provide a high speed connector assembly, which comprises a receptacle connector and a plug connector, wherein each receptacle terminal and each plug terminal are provided with an L-type contact piece, and the receptacle connector and the plug connector are engaged with each other and can form double contacts between the receptacle terminal and the plug terminal, to restrain the short pile effect and reduce the crosstalk and loss at high speed signal transmission.

The other object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle connector, each receptacle terminal of which is provided with a first L-type contact piece to restrain the short pile effect and reduce the crosstalk and loss at high speed signal transmission.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plug connector, each plug terminal of which is provided with a second L-type contact piece to restrain the short pile effect and reduce the crosstalk and loss at high speed signal transmission.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention may be further understood from the technical features disclosed by the present invention.

To achieve the aforementioned object or other objects of the present invention, the present invention adopts the following technical solution.

The present invention provides a high speed connector assembly, which comprises a receptacle connector and a plug connector. The receptacle connector includes at least an insulating cover and multiple terminal modules fixed in the insulating cover and arranged in parallel. Each terminal module includes an insulating frame and a terminal group retained in the insulating frame. The terminal group includes a plurality of receptacle terminals, each of which has a main plate located in a first vertical plane, a first L-type contact piece extending forward from one end of the main plate, and a lower mounting portion extending downward from the other end of the main plate. The first L-type contact piece has a straight section and an extension section. The straight section is located in the first vertical plane, is connected with the main plate and horizontally extends forward. The extension section is perpendicular to the first vertical plane, is formed by bending one edge of the straight section and is located near the front of the straight section. The plug connector includes a plug housing and multiple rows of plug terminals mounted in the plug housing. Each plug terminal has a second L-type contact piece and a mounting part connected with the second L-type contact piece. The second L-type contact piece has a straight part located in a second vertical plane and an extension part being perpendicular to the second vertical plane and formed by bending one edge of the straight part. The extension part is located near the top of the straight part. Wherein the second vertical plane is parallel to the first vertical plane. When the receptacle connector and the plug connector are electrically engaged with each other, the extension section of the first L-type contact piece is pressed on the straight part of the second L-type contact piece to form the electrical connection between the receptacle and plug terminals; and the extension part of the second L-type contact piece is pressed on the straight section of the first L-type contact piece to form the electrical connection.

In one embodiment, the first L-type contact piece further has a receptacle-guiding section formed by bending the front of the straight section along the direction away from the extension section; the extension section extends toward the plug terminal, but the receptacle-guiding section extends away from the plug terminal; and the second L-type contact piece further has a plug-guiding part formed by bending the top of the straight part along the direction away from the extension part; the extension part extends toward the receptacle terminal, but the plug-guiding part extends away from the receptacle terminal.

In one embodiment, the straight section of the receptacle terminal has at least a wide side located in the first vertical plane, and the extension section is formed by perpendicularly bending one edge of the wide side; and the straight part of the plug terminal has at least a wide surface located in the second vertical plane, and the extension part is formed by perpendicularly bending one edge of the wide surface; when the receptacle connector and the plug connector are engaged with each other, the extension section of the first L-type contact piece can contact with the wide surface of the second L-type contact piece to form the electrical connection; and the extension part of the second L-type contact piece can contact with the wide side of the first L-type contact piece to form the electrical connection.

In one embodiment, the main plate is L type, the lower mounting portion is located in the first vertical plane, and the mounting part is located in the second vertical plane.

In one embodiment, the receptacle terminals of each terminal group include multiple pairs of differential signal receptacle terminals and multiple grounding receptacle terminals; there are two grounding receptacle terminals respectively arranged on two sides of each pair of differential signal receptacle terminals; each pair of differential signal receptacle terminals includes two differential signal receptacle terminals, the first L-type contact pieces of which are symmetrical; and each row of plug terminals includes multiple pairs of differential signal plug terminals and multiple grounding plug terminals; there are two grounding plug terminals respectively arranged on two sides of each pair of differential signal plug terminals; each pair of differential signal plug terminals includes two differential signal plug terminals, the second L-type contact pieces of which are symmetrical.

In one embodiment, the plug housing includes a base and two sidewalls standing on two sides of the base; and the base forms multiple rows of insertion holes to be used to hold the corresponding plug terminals.

The present invention further provides a receptacle connector, which comprises an insulating cover and multiple terminal modules. The terminal modules are fixed in the insulating cover and arranged in parallel. Each terminal module includes an insulating frame and a terminal group retained in the insulating frame. The terminal group includes a plurality of receptacle terminals, at least one of which has a main plate located in a first vertical plane, a first L-type contact piece extending forward from one end of the main plate, and a lower mounting portion extending downward from the other end of the main plate. The first L-type contact piece has a straight section and an extension section. The straight section is located in the first vertical plane, is connected with the main plate and horizontally extends forward. The extension section is perpendicular to the first vertical plane, is formed by bending one edge of the straight section and is located near the front of the straight section.

The present invention further provides a plug connector, which comprises a plug housing and multiple rows of plug terminals. The plug housing includes a base and two sidewalls standing on two sides of the base. The base forms multiple rows of insertion holes. The plug terminals are mounted in the plug housing and held in the corresponding insertion holes. At least one of the plug terminals has a second L-type contact piece and a mounting part connected with the second L-type contact piece. The second L-type contact piece has a straight part located in a second vertical plane and an extension part being perpendicular to the second vertical plane and formed by bending one edge of the straight part. The extension part is located near the top of the straight part.

In comparison with the prior art, the receptacle connector of the present invention disposes the receptacle terminals, each of which disposes the first L-type contact piece; and the plug connector of the present invention disposes the plug terminals, each of which disposes the second L-type contact piece. Therefore, there can form a double-contacts structure between the receptacle and plug terminals when the receptacle connector and the plug connector are electrically engaged with each other. By this electrical engagement, the high speed connector assembly of the present invention can restrain the short pile effect and reduce the crosstalk and loss when the transmission rate of the high speed signal is greater than 25 Gbps-40 Gbps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of every embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings is used to exemplify a specific embodiment, which may be carried out in the present invention. Directional terms mentioned in the present invention, such as “up”, “down”, “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”, “top”, “bottom” etc., are only used with reference to the orientation of the accompanying drawings. Therefore, the used directional terms are intended to illustrate, but not to limit, the present invention.

Please refer toFIGS. 1 to 3, a high speed connector assembly of the present invention includes a receptacle connector10and a plug connector20. The receptacle connector10may be a right-angle connector, the mating direction of which is parallel to a horizontal circuit board (not shown), on which the receptacle connector10is mounted. The plug connector20may be a vertical end connector, the mating direction of which is perpendicular to a vertical circuit board (not shown), on which the plug connector20is mounted.

Please refer toFIGS. 2 and 3, the receptacle connector10includes at least an insulating cover30and multiple terminal modules40mounted in the insulating cover30and arranged in parallel from left to right. In the embodiment, the receptacle connector10includes eight terminal modules40. But in other embodiments, the number of the terminal modules40can be changed to increase the density of the receptacle connector10. Each terminal module40includes at least an insulating frame41and a terminal group42retained in the insulating frame41.

Referring toFIG. 4, the terminal group42includes a plurality of receptacle terminals43located in a first vertical plane90. In the embodiment, these receptacle terminals43include multiple pairs of differential signal receptacle terminals430and multiple grounding receptacle terminals431. There are two grounding receptacle terminals431respectively arranged on two sides of each pair of differential signal receptacle terminals430. Each pair of differential signal receptacle terminals430includes two differential signal receptacle terminals430. In the embodiment, the grounding receptacle terminal431and the differential signal receptacle terminal430have roughly the same structure, and the biggest difference is that their dimensions are different. For example, the width of the grounding receptacle terminal431is larger than that of the differential signal receptacle terminal430.

The following text takes one of the differential signal receptacle terminals430as an example to specifically describe the structure of the receptacle terminal43of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 4, the differential signal receptacle terminal430has a main plate4301located in the first vertical plane90, a first L-type contact piece4302extending forward from one end of the main plate4301, and a lower mounting portion4303extending downward from the other end of the main plate4301. In the embodiment, the first L-type contact piece4302has a straight section4304and an extension section4305. The straight section4304is located in the first vertical plane90, is connected with the main plate4301and horizontally extends forward. The extension section4305is perpendicular to the first vertical plane90and formed by perpendicularly bending one edge of the straight section4304. Moreover, the extension section4305is located near the front of the straight section4304. The first L-type contact piece4302further has a receptacle-guiding section4306formed by bending the front of the straight section4304along the direction away from the extension section4305.

In the embodiment, the straight section4304has at least a wide side4307located in the first vertical plane90. The extension section4305is formed by perpendicularly bending one edge of the wide side4307. So the one edge of the wide side4307is the abovementioned one edge of the straight section4304.

In the embodiment, the main plate4301is L type. The main plate4301and the lower mounting portion4303are located in the first vertical plane90.

Referring toFIG. 4, the first L-type contact pieces4302of one pair of differential signal receptacle terminals430are symmetrical. Specifically, the extension section4305of one differential signal receptacle terminal430is located on an upper edge of the straight section4304, and the extension section4305′ of the other differential signal receptacle terminal430is located on a lower edge of the straight section4304′.

Referring toFIG. 4, the straight section4304further has multiple notches4308on two opposite edges thereof to be used for regulating terminal impedance. The lower mounting portion4303is a needle shaped pin, which can be connected to a signal point of the horizontal circuit board.

Please refer toFIG. 2, the plug connector20includes a plug housing21and multiple rows of plug terminals22mounted in the plug housing21. The plug housing21includes a base210and two sidewalls211standing on two sides of the base210. The base210forms multiple rows of insertion holes212to be used to hold the corresponding plug terminals22. In the embodiment, the plug connector20includes eight rows of plug terminals22, which can be electrically connected to the corresponding eight terminal modules40.

Please refer toFIG. 5, each row of plug terminals22includes multiple pairs of differential signal plug terminals220and multiple grounding plug terminals221. There are two grounding plug terminals221respectively arranged on two sides of each pair of differential signal plug terminals220. In the embodiment, these differential signal plug terminals220and these grounding plug terminals221, which are arranged in the same row, are located in a second vertical plane92. Each pair of differential signal plug terminals220includes two differential signal plug terminals220. In the embodiment, the grounding plug terminal221and the differential signal plug terminal220have roughly the same structure.

The following text takes one of the differential signal plug terminals220as an example to specifically describe the structure of the plug terminal22of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 5, the differential signal plug terminal220has a second L-type contact piece2201and a mounting part2202connected with the second L-type contact piece2201. The second L-type contact piece2201has a straight part2203and an extension part2204. The straight part2203is located in the second vertical plane92. The extension part2204is perpendicular to the second vertical plane92and formed by perpendicularly bending one edge of the straight part2203. Moreover, the extension part2204is adjacent to the top of the straight part2203. The second L-type contact piece2201further has a plug-guiding part2205formed by bending the top of the straight part2203along the direction away from the extension part2204.

In the embodiment, the straight part2203has at least a wide surface2206located in the second vertical plane92. The extension part2204is formed by perpendicularly bending one edge of the wide surface2206. So the one edge of the wide surface2206is the abovementioned one edge of the straight part2203.

In the embodiment, the second vertical plane92is parallel to the first vertical plane90, and the mounting part2202is located in the second vertical plane92.

Referring toFIG. 5, the second L-type contact pieces2201of each pair of differential signal plug terminals220are symmetrical to each other. In detail, the extension part2204of one differential signal plug terminal220is located on a right edge of the straight part2203, and the extension part2204′ of the other differential signal plug terminal220is located on a left edge of the straight part2203′.

The following text will introduce the electrical engagement between the receptacle terminal430and the plug terminal220.

Please refer toFIGS. 6 to 8, when the receptacle connector10and the plug connector20shown inFIG. 1are electrically engaged with each other, the receptacle terminal430and the plug terminal220are mated together. Specifically, as shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the extension section4305of the first L-type contact piece4302slides on the wide surface2206of the straight part2203and is finally pressed on the wide surface2206. Meanwhile, please refer toFIGS. 6 and 8, the extension part2204of the second L-type contact piece2201slides toward the main plate4301on the wide side4307of the straight section4304and is finally pressed on the wide side4307. Therefore, when the receptacle terminal430and the plug terminal220are mated together, there form double contacts between them. In other words, the extension section4305of the first L-type contact piece4302can contact with the wide surface2206of the straight part2203of the second L-type contact piece2201to form the electrical connection, and the extension part2204of the second L-type contact piece2201can contact with the wide side4307of the straight section4304of the first L-type contact piece4302to form the electrical connection again.

Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 8, the extension section4305of the first L-type contact piece4302extends toward the plug terminal22, but the receptacle-guiding section4306extends away from the plug terminal22. The extension part2204of the second L-type contact piece2201extends toward the receptacle terminal43, but the plug-guiding part2205extends away from the receptacle terminal43. Therefore, when the receptacle terminal430and the plug terminal220are engaged each other, the receptacle-guiding section4306and the plug-guiding part2205can provide a guiding function to ensure the smooth engagement of the two terminals and avoid unnecessary collisions.

As described above, the receptacle terminal43and the plug terminal22both dispose the L-type contact pieces4302,2201, so that there can form a double-contacts structure between the two terminals43,22when the receptacle connector10and the plug connector20are electrically engaged. By this electrical engagement, the high speed connector assembly1of the present invention can restrain the short pile effect and reduce the crosstalk and loss when the transmission rate of the high speed signal is greater than 25 Gbps-40 Gbps.