Terminal for an antenna connector

A terminal for an antenna connector has a soldering base, two wings, a resilient electric contacting arm, and two pre-pressing elements. The wings are formed on the soldering base, and each wing has an opening. The resilient electric contacting arm is formed on and protrudes from a rear end of the soldering base and has an extension section, a resilient section, and an electronic contacting section. The pre-pressing elements are located respectively in the openings of the wings, pre-press the resilient section of the resilient electric contacting arm toward the soldering base, and limit the resilient section to sway in an extent from an inner upper edge of each opening to the soldering base. The terminal with the pre-pressing elements performs an excellent electrical contacting effect to improve signal transmission of the antenna connector and a corresponding antenna module.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a terminal and, more particularly, to a terminal for an antenna connector that is mounted in a portable electronic device and is able to be engaged with a corresponding connector of an antenna module. Furthermore, the terminal has a pre-pressing structure to improve electronic contact and conducting functions, avoid poor contacting problems, and provide stable signal transmission.

2. Description of Related Art

Portable electronic devices such as cell phones and tablets have 3rd-generation (3G) or Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) wireless signal transmission modules. A conventional wireless transmission module has an antenna module mounted therein, so that the portable electronic device is able to implement wireless signal transmission through the antenna modules. The portable electronic device also has an antenna connector mounted securely therein to be engaged with a corresponding connector mounted securely in the antenna module.

A conventional antenna connector of a portable electronic device has a printed circuit board (PCB) and multiple terminals mounted securely on the PCB by surface mount technology (SMT). Each terminal has a soldering section and a resilient electric contacting arm. When the antenna module is installed in the portable electronic device and engaged with the antenna connector, the resilient electric contacting arms of the terminals respectively and tightly contact pad contacts on the antenna module.

However, the aforementioned terminal has no pre-pressing structure to force and tension the resilient electric contacting arm in a tension configuration. Therefore, the resilient electric contacting arm has a metal fatigue problem after repeated engagements and disengagements between the antenna connector and the antenna module. The fatigued resilient electric contacting arm contacts the pad contact loosely and has less contacting area with the pad contact, which makes signal transmission between the antenna module and the PCB of the electric device unstable or failed.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a terminal for an antenna connector to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide a terminal for an antenna connector that is mounted in a portable electronic device and is able to be engaged with a corresponding connector of an antenna module. Furthermore, the terminal has a pre-pressing structure to improve electronic contact and conducting functions, avoid poor contacting problems, and provide stable signal transmission.

A terminal for an antenna connector in accordance with the present invention has a soldering base, two wings, a resilient electric contacting arm, and two pre-pressing elements. The wings are formed on the soldering base, and each wing has an annular opening. The resilient electric contacting arm is formed on and protrudes from a rear end of the soldering base and has an extension section, a resilient section, and an electronic contacting section. The pre-pressing elements are located respectively in the annular openings of the wings, pre-press the resilient section of the resilient electric contacting arm toward the soldering base, and limit the resilient section to sway in an extent from an inner upper edge of each annular opening to the soldering base. The terminal with the pre-pressing elements performs an excellent electrical contacting effect to improve signal transmission of the antenna connector and a corresponding antenna module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of a terminal1for an antenna connector in accordance with the present invention may be mounted in a portable electronic device and comprises a soldering base10, two wings20, a resilient electric contacting arm30, and two pre-pressing elements35.

With further reference toFIGS. 3 to 6, the wings20are formed on and protrude upward respectively from two opposite sides of the soldering base10. Each wing20has an annular opening21and may further have a solder-receiving slot22. The annular opening21is defined transversely through the wing20. The solder-receiving slot22is defined through one of the opposite sides of the base10and communicates with the annular opening21of the wing20. The solder-receiving slot22may receive sufficient solder and increases the soldering ability of the terminal1to a PCB during a soldering process.

The resilient electric contacting arm30is formed on and protrudes from a rear end of the soldering base10and has an extension section31, a resilient section32, and an electronic contacting section33.

The extension section31is formed on and protrudes backward from the rear end of the soldering base10.

The resilient section32is formed on and protrudes forward from a rear end of the extension section32and is capable of resiliently swaying relative to the soldering base10.

The electronic contacting section33is reverse U-shaped, is formed on and protrudes from a front end of the resilient section32, and has a hook-like pressing portion333. The hook-like pressing portion333is V-shaped, is formed on a distal end of the electronic contacting section33, and abuts the soldering base10, so that the soldering base10applies a normal force to the hook-like pressing portion333and the resilient electric contacting arm30. Therefore, the resilient electric contacting arm30is pre-pressed against and tensioned by the soldering base10and is able to firmly contact a corresponding pad contact or terminal of an external connector. Furthermore, the electronic contacting section33may have a convex portion331formed thereon and serves as a contacting element to improve the contacting function.

The pre-pressing elements35are located respectively in the annular openings21of the wings20, pre-press the resilient section32of the resilient electric contacting arm30toward the soldering base10, and limit the resilient section32to sway in an extent from an inner upper edge of each annular opening21to the soldering base10. In the first embodiment, the pre-pressing elements35are formed on and protrude outward respectively from two opposite sides of the resilient section32, extend respectively in the openings21, and press respectively against the inner upper edges of the annular openings21.

With reference toFIGS. 7 to 12, a second embodiment of the terminal1afor an antenna connector in accordance with the present invention has a soldering base10, two wings20, a resilient electric contacting arm30, and two pre-pressing elements25. However, the pre-pressing elements25of the second embodiment are formed on and protrude respectively inward from the inner upper edges of the annular openings21and press against a top surface of the resilient section32.

The terminal1,1aof the present invention has the following advantages.

1. The pre-pressing elements35,25pre-press the resilient electric contacting arm30, so that the resilient section32is resiliently deformed in a predetermined configuration and stores a sufficient resilient force. When a pad contact or a terminal on an antenna module is engaged with the terminal1,1aof the present invention, the resilient electric contacting arm30tightly contacts the pad contact or the terminal on the antenna connector with a sufficient and stable resilient force. The contacting area between the terminals or the terminal1,1aand the pad contact is increased, and impedance therebetween is reduced. Therefore, signal transmission between the portable electronic device and the antenna module is stably and efficiently implemented.

2. The V-shaped hook-like pressing portion333presses against the soldering base10, so that the normal force from the soldering base10is applied to the resilient electric contacting arm30to increase the contacting strength between the resilient electric contacting arm30and the antenna module.

3. The convex portion331of the electronic contacting section33serves as a contacting element to improve contacting effect.

4. The solder-receiving slots22may receive sufficient solder and increases the soldering ability of the terminal1to a PCB during a soldering process.