Electrical connector with a wireless transmission module

An electrical connector includes a housing having an accommodation chamber defined therein and multiple holes cut through one side of the housing, and a wireless transmission module accommodated in the accommodation chamber, the wireless transmission module having a wireless network card and an adapter module electrically connected together for converting and transmitting wireless signals, the adapter module having a set of transmit pins extending out of the holes of the housing for connection to an external electronic device electrically for enabling wireless signals received by the wireless network card to be transmitted to the external electronic device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates electrical connectors and more particularly to an electrical connector that has a wireless transmission module accommodated therein so that the signal pins of the wireless network card thereof are converted into signal transmission pins, simplifying circuit layout and lowering construction cost.

2. Description of the Related Art

Following fast development of wireless network technology, the digital technology has entered a new stage, providing a convenient, rapid and reliable internet connection mode. For the advantage of mobility, wireless network technology is free from the constraint of a cable. Further, the easy installation characteristic of wireless network technology enables wireless network technology to satisfy the requirement for home and small office applications. Nowadays, local area network (LAN) technology has been well developed, and is widely used in airport, hotel, coffee shop and many other public places or small groups of buildings, allowing people to browse web pages, to transmit data, to search data, to make transactions, and to send and receive e-mails wirelessly. Therefore, wireless network technology provides a shortcut for people to connect to the internet conveniently.

Further, following wide application of computer, notebook and other electronic devices, the bus transmission architecture of early designed expansion cars and display cards can no longer satisfy the demands. To solve network bandwidth insufficiency, peripheral component interconnect express (PCI Express) architecture is created, covering a wide range of transmission bandwidths. PCI Express can be configured to provide x1, x2, x4, x8, x16, x32 . . . lanes. Each specification has a different pin design. In consequence, the outer appearance and the length are also different. Except the advantages of having a wide bandwidth for wide range applications, PCI Express has small size and low cost characteristics. PCI Express Mini Card and express Mini Card standards are now available to support hot-plug.

Further, the market trend is to create electronic devices having multiple functions for multipurpose application with multiple peripheral devices. Because electronic devices are designed to have a relatively smaller size, the available circuit board space is limited. In consequence, related electronic components must be relatively changed to fit the installation. The connection interface of a PCI Express Mini Card has 26 pins on each of the opposing front and back sides. In order to match the 52-pin design of a PCI Express Mini Card, a matching circuit board must provide 52 slots for receiving the 52 pins of a PCI Express Mini Card. In consequence the circuit layout of the circuit board is complicated and cannot be simplified. Further, due to densely arrangement, the electronic components may contact one another accidentally, causing a short circuit and affecting signal transmission quality and stability. Therefore, it is an important subject to arrange the circuit board installation space and simplify the pin circuit layout for best performance. By means of integrating the antennas and the transmitting and receiving antenna base with the circuit board, enhanced signal transmission quality and strength are achieved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view.

It is the main object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector, which comprises a housing that has an accommodation chamber defined therein and multiple holes cut through one side thereof, and a wireless transmission module, which is accommodated in the accommodation chamber and comprises a wireless network card and an adapter module electrically connected to the wireless network card for converting and transmitting wireless signals and having a set of transmit pins extending out of the holes of the housing for connection to an external electronic device electrically for enabling wireless signals received by the wireless network card to be transmitted to the external electronic device. The wireless network card can be a PCI Express Mini Card. By means of modularized design of the housing and stacking arrangement of the wireless transmission module, circuit board electronic components are kept accurately apart from one another, avoiding accidental contact or occurrence of a short circuit and lowering the construction cost.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector comprising a housing and a wireless transmission module comprised of a wireless network card and an adapter module and accommodated in the housing, wherein the adapter module comprises a pin holder having an insertion hole and a transmission unit having an insertion portion inserted into the insertion hole of said pin holder. The insertion hole of the pin holder and the insertion portion of the transmission unit are configured subject to PCI Express standard so that the 52 signal pins of the wireless network card can be converted into the 11 or more than 11 transmit pins at the transmission unit. This design simplifies the circuit layout of the circuit board and fully utilizes the circuit board space to satisfy the requirement for small-sized characteristic.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector carrying a wireless transmission module, wherein the wireless network card of the wireless transmission module comprises a circuit board carrying a circuit layout and a set of electronic components, a transmitting and receiving antenna base installed in one side of the circuit board for transmitting and receiving wireless signals and a plurality of antennas electrically connected to the transmitting and receiving antenna base. Further, the antennas can be coil antennas, flat antennas and/or detachable antennas.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a housing1, a wireless transmission module2and a metal shield3.

The housing1is formed of a bottom shell11and a top cover shell12, having an accommodation chamber10defined in between the bottom shell11and the top cover shell12, a plurality of holes101located on the bottom shell11at selected locations in communication between the accommodation chamber10and the atmosphere, a front opening102defined in between the bottom shell11and the top cover shell12in the front side of the accommodation chamber10. Further, a front cover shell13is fastened to the bottom shell11and the top cover shell12to block the front opening102, defining therein a receiving chamber130in communication with the front opening102and the accommodation chamber10. The front cover shell13can be a single piece member. Alternatively, the front cover shell13can be formed of a first cover shell member131and a second cover shell member132.

The wireless transmission module2is mounted in the housing1, comprising a wireless network card21, an adapter module22and a set of transmit pins23. The wireless network card21comprises a circuit board211carrying a circuit layout and related electronic components, a transmitting and receiving antenna base212installed in one side of the circuit board211for transmitting and receiving wireless signals, a plurality of antennas213electrically connected to the transmitting and receiving antenna base212, an insertion portion214located on an opposite side of the circuit board211and signal pins215mounted in the insertion portion214and configured subject to PCI Express standard. Further, the wireless network card21can be a PCI Express Mini Card.

Further, the adapter module22comprises a pin holder221and a transmission unit222. The pin holder221has an insertion hole2211defined therein for receiving the insertion portion214of the wireless network card21. The insertion hole2211is configured subject to PCI Express standard. The transmission unit222is electrically connected to the pin holder221. The transmit pins23are installed in the transmission unit222. Further, the transmission unit222can be an adapter board (such as single-sided or double-sided PC board, or flex printed circuit), a cable, a bus line, or a flat flexible cable for signal conversion or transmission. According to the present preferred embodiment, the transmission unit222is an adapter board2221carrying a circuit layout and related electronic components. Further, an indicator light module (not shown) may be installed in the transmission unit222for indicating the signal transmission status of the wireless transmission module2.

The metal shield3surrounds the housing1, having an opening311defined in the front side31thereof.

During the assembly process, accommodate the wireless transmission module2in the accommodation chamber10of the housing1and insert the insertion portion214of the wireless network card21into the insertion hole2211of the pin holder221and electrically connected to the transmission unit222. At this time, the transmitting and receiving antenna base212of the wireless network card21extends out of the front opening102and suspends in the receiving chamber130of the front cover shell13, and the transmit pins23that are mounted in the adapter board2221of the transmission unit222are extended out of the holes101of the housing1and bonded to an internal circuit board of an external electronic apparatus (computer or notebook) by surface mount technology, through-hole mounting technique or any other mounting technique. Further, the transmit pins23can be metal conducting terminals or metal contacts.

Further, as stated above, the front cover shell13can be a single piece member, or formed of multiple cover shell members. According to the present preferred embodiment, the front cover shell13is formed of a first cover shell member131and a second cover shell member132. The first cover shell member131and the second cover shell member132each have a mounting groove1311or1321respectively forced into engagement with the front flange111of the bottom shell11and the front flange121of the top cover shell12around the front opening101of the housing1, a stop flange1312or1322extended from one lateral side thereof and stopped inside the front flanges111and121of the bottom shell11and top cover shell12of the housing1, and a retaining groove1313or1323located on the other lateral side thereof and forced into engagement with a respective retaining rib122or112of the bottom shell11or top cover shell12of the housing1. Thereafter, the component parts of the metal shield3are fastened together one another by, for example, a respective hook joint (not shown). When assembled, the front cover shell13extends out of the metal shield3through the opening311of the front side31of the metal shield3.

Further, the bottom shell11and the top cover shell12of the housing1can be made in integrity by, for example, but not limited to, insert molding. Further, the top cover shell12can be made of a metal material and then assembled with the bottom shell11. Further, the antennas213can be connected to the transmitting and receiving antenna base212of the wireless network card21of the wireless transmission module2electrically by means of bonding, riveting, crimping or insulation-piercing mounting technique. Further, the antennas213can be coil antennas, flat antennas or detachable antennas mounted inside or outside the housing1, enabling the wireless network card21to transmit and receive wireless signals at different frequencies and different wavebands, such as Wireless Lan, Wi-Fi, IEEE802.15.4/Zigbee, 3G or 3.5G wireless signals. How the antennas213transmit and receive different wireless signals is of the known art and not within the scope of the technical features of the present invention, and therefore no further detailed description in this regard is necessary. Further, as stated above, the transmit pins23can be metal conducting terminals or metal contacts in any of a variety of different forms, and arranged on the adapter board2221in one single row, or in multiple rows, facilitating connection of the transmission unit222to the internal circuit board of an external electronic apparatus electrically.

During application, the wireless transmission module2can transmit and receive wireless signals by means of the transmitting and receiving antenna base212and antennas213of the wireless network card21, and the front cover shell13of the housing1allows passing of wireless signals therethrough. Further, by means of integrating the antennas213and the transmitting and receiving antenna base212with the circuit board211, enhanced signal transmission quality and strength are achieved. Further, because the insertion portion214of the wireless network card21is inserted into the insertion hole2211of the pin holder221and electrically connected to the transmission unit222, a wireless signal can be converted from the 52 signal pins215into the 11 or more transmit pins23. This 52-to-11 pin conversion design simplifies the circuit layout to fit for small-sized configuration. By means of modularized design of the housing1and stacking arrangement of the wireless transmission module2, circuit board electronic components are kept accurately apart from one another, avoiding accidental contact or occurrence of a short circuit and saving the construction cost.

Referring toFIG. 3andFIG. 2again, the adapter module22is preferably formed of the aforesaid pin holder221and transmission unit222. The transmission unit222can be an adapter board2221carrying a circuit layout and related electronic components and electrically connected to the pin holder221. However, this arrangement is not a limitation. In an alternate form of the present invention, as shown inFIG. 3, the adapter module22is made by means of directly coating a conducting material (such as copper foil, tin, silver paint) on the inside wall of the bottom cover11and the inside wall of the top cover shell12to form a conducting circuit223for the connection of the signal pins215of the wireless network card21and for the bonding of the transmit pins23that extend through the holes101of the housing1. Further, an indicator light module216is provided for indicating the signal transmission status of the wireless transmission module2.

Further, the housing1has multiple locating rods133extended from the inside wall thereof and respectively fitted into respective locating holes2111on the wireless network card21to secure the wireless network card21firmly in position, assuring accurate and positive connection with the adapter module22.

Please refer to Table I for pin function description of the conversion of signal pins to transmit pins. As indicated in the left half of the conversion table, the number of the signal pins215at the insertion portion214of the wireless transmission module2is52, and the assigned functions of the signal pins215are as follows:

The 2ndand 52ndof the signal pins215are power pins for 3.3V power supply (VCC).

The 7thof the signal pins215is for reference clock request (CLKREQ_L).

The 11thof the signal pins215is for differential reference clock (REFCLK−).

The 13thof the signal pins215is for differential reference clock (REFCLK+).

The 20thof the signal pins215is for WLAN disable control (W_DISABLE_L).

The 22ndof the signal pins215is for PCI express fundamental reset (PERST-L).

The 23rdof the signal pins215is for differential transmit (PERn0).

The 25thof the signal pins215is for differential transmit (PERp0).

The 31stof the signal pins215is for differential receive (PETn0).

The 33rdof the signal pins215is for differential receive (PETp0).

The 44thof the signal pins215is for active low signal used to provide status (LED_WLAN_L).

Further, from the right half of the conversion table, it is well seen that the transmit pins23include 11 or more than 11 pins wherein:

The one or two power pins for 3.3V VCC of the transmit pins23are electrically connected to the 2ndand 52ndpower pins of the signal pins215for transmitting 3.3V power supply (VCC).

The one or two ground pins of the transmit pins23are electrically connected to the 4th, 9th, 15th, 18th, 21st, 26th, 27th, 29th, 34th, 35th, 37th, 40th, 43rdand 50thground pins (GND) of the signal pins215for transmitting noises, electromagnetic waves and static electricity.

The WLAN disable control pin of the transmit pins23is electrically connected to the 20thWLAN disable control (W_DISABLE_L) pin of the signal pins215for transmitting a WLAN disable control signal.

The PCI express fundamental reset pin of the transmit pins23is electrically connected to the 22ndPCI express fundamental reset pin (PERST-L) of the signal pins215for transmitting a PCI express fundamental reset signal.

The differential transmit pin (PERn0) of the transmit pins23is electrically connected to the 23rddifferential transmit pin (PERn0) of the signal pins215for transmitting a differential transmit signal.

The differential transmit pin (PERp0) of the transmit pins23is electrically connected to the 25thdifferential reference clock pin (PERp0) of the signal pins215for transmitting a differential transmit signal (PERp0).

The differential receive pin (PETn0) of the transmit pins23is electrically connected to the 31stdifferential receive pin (PETn0) of the signal pins215for transmitting a differential receive signal (PETn0).

The differential receive pin (PETp0) of the transmit pins23is electrically connected to the 33rddifferential receive pin (PETp0) of the signal pins215for transmitting a differential receive signal (PETp0).

The reference clock request pin (CLKREQ_L) of the transmit pins23is electrically connected to the 7threference clock request pin (CLKREQ_L) of the signal pins215for transmitting a reference clock request signal (CLKREQ_L).

The differential reference clock pin (REFCLK−) of the transmit pins23is electrically connected to the 11thdifferential reference clock pin (REFCLK−) of the signal pins215for transmitting a differential reference clock signal (REFCLK−).

The differential reference clock pin (REFCLK+) of the transmit pins23is electrically connected to the 13thdifferential reference clock pin (REFCLK+) of the signal pins215for transmitting a differential reference clock signal (REFCLK+).

Subject to the assigned individual pin function, the 52 signal pins215are converted into the 11 pins or more than 11 pins of the transmit pins23to support the scope of the claims of the present invention. In one example of the present invention, the transmit pins23include a 12thpin that is electrically connected to the 44thactive low signal pin (LED_WLAN_L) of the signal pins215for transmitting a LED status signal (LED_WLAN_L) so that the user can know the operation status of the wireless transmission module2on the real time, assuring accurate signal transmission and data storage.