Orienting structure for connecting male connector and female connector and display device using the same

An exemplary orienting structure includes two locating units, a first supporting bump, and a second supporting bump. Each of the locating units includes a first portion and a second portion perpendicular to the first portion. The first supporting bump and the locating units cooperatively define a sliding track configured for slidingly receiving a male connector. A female connector is disposed on the second supporting bump and aligned with the sliding track. The first portions of the locating units function as guides for blocking movement along a first axis of the sliding track. The first supporting bump in cooperation with the second portions of the locating units function as guides for blocking movement along a second axis of the sliding track. When the male connector is slid along the sliding track, the sliding is in a direction perpendicular to both the first and second axes of the sliding track.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an orienting structure for connecting a male electrical connector and a female electrical connector together, and a display device using the orienting structure.

GENERAL BACKGROUND

Two common kinds of display devices are cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors and liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors. These display devices typically include a main male electrical connector and a main female electrical connector for electrically connecting two different main units together.

FIG. 5is an exploded, isometric view of a conventional display device. The display device1includes a front cover11, a display module12, a power supply circuit13, a shield case14, a cable15, and a rear cover16. The front cover11coupled with the rear cover16defines a closed space there between. The display module12, the power supply circuit13, the shield case14, and the cable15are received in the closed space.

The power supply circuit13is disposed between the display module12and the shield case14. The power supply circuit13is electrically coupled to the display module12by the cable15. The display module12includes a backboard120, and a printed circuit board121disposed on the backboard120. The printed circuit board121includes a female electrical connector123.

Referring also toFIG. 6, this is an exploded, isometric view of certain parts only of the display device1. The female connector123includes a rectangular groove125, and a plurality of contact fingers127formed at inner surfaces of the groove125. One terminal of the cable15includes a male electrical connector152corresponding to the female connector123of the printed circuit board121. The male connector152includes a rectangular protrusion153corresponding to the groove125of the female connector123. The rectangular protrusion153includes a plurality of contact fingers154corresponding to the contact fingers127of the female connector123. The contact fingers154are formed at outer surfaces of the rectangular protrusion153.

Referring also toFIG. 7, this is an assembled view of the parts of the display device1shown inFIG. 6. The rectangular protrusion153of the male connector152is inserted into the groove125of the female connector123. The contact fingers154of the rectangular protrusion153of the male connector152contact the contact fingers127at the groove125of the female connector123. Thereby, the printed circuit board121of the display module12is electrically coupled to the power supply circuit13by the female connector123and the male connector152.

The rectangular protrusion153of the male connector152is exactly matched with the groove125of the female connector123. That is, the size of the protrusion153of the male connector152is substantially equal to the size of the groove125of the female connector123. In addition, there may be other elements (not shown) inside or beside the groove125of the female connector123. As a result, in assembly of the display device1, it may be difficult for the male connector152to be located correctly in position relative to the female connector123. That is, insertion of the protrusion153of the male connector152into the groove125of the female connector123may be inconvenient and time-consuming. This increases the difficulty of assembling the display device1.

Furthermore, if the protrusion153of the male connector152is inserted into the groove125of the female connector123incorrectly, the contact fingers127,154of the male and female connectors152,123may be damaged. As a result, various of the contact fingers154of the male connector152may not properly contact the corresponding contact fingers127of the female connector123, or there may be no contact whatsoever. When this happens, power signals cannot be reliably transmitted to the display module12from the power supply circuit13, or cannot be transmitted at all. That is, the display device1operates incorrectly, or fails to operate at all.

What is needed, therefore, is a means of overcoming the above-described deficiencies.

SUMMARY

An orienting structure is provided for facilitating connecting a male electrical connector and a female electrical connector together. The orienting structure includes two locating units, a first supporting bump, and a second supporting bump spaced a same distance from the first supporting bump and the locating units. Each of the locating units includes a first portion and a second portion perpendicular to the first portion. The first supporting bump is disposed between the first portions of the locating units, and below the second portions of the locating units. The first supporting bump and the locating units cooperatively define a sliding track configured for glidingly receiving the male connector. The female connector is disposed on the second supporting bump and aligned with the sliding track. The first portions of the locating units function as guides for blocking movement along a first axis of the sliding track. The first supporting bump in cooperation with the second portions of the locating units function as guides for blocking movement along a second axis of the sliding track. The first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. When the male connector is slid along the sliding track, the sliding is in a direction perpendicular to both the first and second axes of the sliding track.

A display device includes a backboard, a female connector, a male connector, and an orienting structure disposed on the backboard. The orienting structure includes two locating units, a first supporting bump disposed at the backboard, and a second supporting bump disposed at the backboard and spaced a same distance from the first supporting bump and the locating units. Each of the locating units includes a first portion and a second portion perpendicular to the first portion. The first supporting bump is disposed between the first portions of the locating units, and below the second portions of the locating units. The first supporting bump and the locating units cooperatively define a sliding track configured for glidingly receiving the male connector. The female connector is disposed on the second supporting bump and aligned with the sliding track. The first portions of the locating units function as guides for blocking movement along a first axis of the sliding track. The first supporting bump in cooperation with the second portions of the locating units function as guides for blocking movement along a second axis of the sliding track. The first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. When the male connector is slid toward the female connector along the sliding track, the sliding is in a direction perpendicular to both the first and second axes of the sliding track.

A display device includes a backboard, a female connector, a male connector, and an orienting structure disposed on the backboard. The orienting structure includes two locating units, a first supporting bump disposed at the backboard, and a second supporting bump disposed at the backboard and spaced a same distance from the first supporting bump and the locating units. Each of the locating units includes a first portion and a second portion perpendicular to the first portion. The first supporting bump is disposed between the first portions of the locating units, and below the second portions of the locating units. The first supporting bump and the locating units cooperatively define a sliding track configured for glidingly receiving the male connector. The female connector is disposed on the second supporting bump and aligned with the sliding track. The first portions of the locating units function as guides for blocking movement along a first axis of the sliding track. The first supporting bump in cooperation with the second portions of the locating units function as guides for blocking movement along a second axis of the sliding track. The first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. The male connector is slid toward the female connector along the sliding track, the sliding is in a direction perpendicular to both the first and second axes of the sliding track. When the male connector is connected to the female connector, the male connector is held in position by the locating units and the first supporting bump.

Other novel features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now, be made to the drawings to describe preferred and exemplary embodiments in detail.

FIG. 1is an exploded, isometric view of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The display device2includes a front cover21, a display module22, a power supply circuit23, a shield case24, a cable25, and a rear cover26. The front cover21coupled with the rear cover26defines a closed space there between. The display module22, the power supply circuit23, the shield case24, and the cable25are received in the closed space.

The power supply circuit23is disposed between the shield case24and the display module22. The power supply circuit23is electrically coupled to the display module22by the cable25. The display module22includes a backboard220, and a printed circuit board221disposed on the backboard220. The printed circuit board221includes a female electrical connector223. The backboard220includes an orienting structure212corresponding to the female connector223.

FIG. 2is an exploded, isometric view of certain parts only of the display device2. The female connector223includes a rectangular groove222facing the orienting structure212, and a plurality of contact fingers224formed at inner surfaces of the groove222. A bottom side of the groove222is bounded by a side wall225. The side wall225has a thickness d1.

One terminal of the cable25includes a male electrical connector252, corresponding to the female connector223of the printed circuit board221. The male connector252has a thickness d2, and includes a rectangular protrusion253corresponding to the groove222of the female connector223. The rectangular protrusion253has a width d3, and includes a plurality of contact fingers254corresponding to the contact fingers224of the female connector223. The contact fingers254of the male connector252are formed at outer surfaces of the rectangular protrusion253.

Referring also toFIG. 3, the orienting structure212includes two locating units217, a first supporting bump215disposed between the locating units217for supporting the male connector252, and a second supporting bump213for supporting the female connector223. Each of the locating units217is formed by means of impact extrusion.

The second supporting bump213is disposed on the backboard220, and is adjacent to the printed circuit board221. The second supporting bump213can for example be an integral portion of the backboard220formed by impact extrusion. The second supporting bump213has a thickness d4. The female connector223is disposed on a top surface2130of the second supporting bump213. That is, the distance from the backboard220to the bottom side of the groove222of the female connector223is d1+d4.

The first supporting bump215is disposed on the backboard220corresponding to the groove222of the female connector223. The first supporting bump215has a thickness d5. The first supporting bump215can for example be an integral portion of the backboard220formed by impact extrusion. The first supporting bump215includes a top surface2150for supporting the male connector252. The distance from the backboard220to the top surface2150of the first supporting bump215is equal to the distance from the backboard220to the bottom surface of the groove222of the female connector223. That is, the thickness d5of the first supporting bump215is substantially equal to d1+d4. Therefore, the top surface2150of the first supporting bump215is substantially in the same horizontal plane with a top surface (not labeled) of the side wall225that bounds the groove222of the female connector223.

The top surface2150of the first supporting bump215has a rectangular shape. The top surface2150includes a long side2160, and two opposite short sides2161perpendicular to the long side2160. The long side2160is adjacent and parallel to the second supporting bump213.

The locating units217are disposed beside the short sides2161of the first supporting bump215respectively. The locating units217are symmetrically oriented with respect to each other. Each of the locating units217has an L-shaped profile. That is, each of the locating units217includes a short arm219parallel to the backboard220, and a long arm218perpendicular to both the backboard220and the short arm219. The two long arms218are parallel to each other. The first supporting bump215is disposed between the long arms218and below the short arms219of the locating units217. In the illustrated embodiment, the locating units217and the first supporting bump215are all spaced a same distance from the second supporting bump213.

Both of the short arms219of the locating units217extend generally toward the first supporting bump215. A vertical distance from an inner surface of the short arm219of each locating unit217to the top surface2150of the first supporting bump215is equal to the thickness d2of the male connector252. The long arms218integrally extend up from a main body (not labeled) of the backboard220. A distance between inner surfaces of the two long arms218is equal to the width d3of the protrusion253of the male connector252. Therefore, the first supporting bump215in cooperation with the locating units217define a sliding track (not labeled), which can be used for aligning the male connector252with the groove222of the female connector223. The long arms218of the locating units217function as guides for blocking movement along a first horizontal axis of the sliding track. The first supporting bump215in cooperation with the short arms218of the locating units217function as guides for blocking movement along a second vertical axis of the sliding track. That is, the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis.

Referring also toFIG. 4, this is an assembled view of the parts of the display device2shown inFIG. 2. The male connector252is disposed so that it rests on a sloped surface (not labeled) of the first supporting bump215of the orienting structure212, generally between the locating units217. The female connector223is disposed on the second supporting bump213, so that the groove222of the female connector234is aligned with the sliding track. Then the male connector252is pushed toward the female connector223along the sliding track in a horizontal direction perpendicular to both the first and second axes of the sliding track. Thereby, the protrusion253of the male connector252is inserted into the groove222of the female connector234, with the contact fingers225of the female connector234contacting the contact fingers254of the male connector252. Thereby, the power supply circuit23is electrically coupled to the printed circuit board221of the display module12.

With the above-described configurations, the first supporting bump215and the locating units217of the orienting structure212cooperatively define the sliding track. The groove222of the female connector223is aligned with the sliding track at a same height. Further, the female connector223can be slid in sideways directions while resting on the second supporting bump213so that a position of the groove222of the female connector223along a side-to-side axis is at least approximately aligned with the sliding track. Thereby, the protrusion253of the male connector252can be easily and correctly inserted into the groove222of the female connector223when the male connector252is guided along the sliding track. As a result, mis-insertion and improper engagement of the contact fingers224,254is avoided, thereby avoiding damage occurring to the male connector252or the female connector223. Accordingly, the power signals from the power supply circuit23can be transmitted to the display module22correctly and reliably. Thereby, the display device2operates correctly and reliably.

After the male connector252is connected to the female connector223via the orienting structure212, the male connector252remains in position in the orienting structure212. That is, the male connector252is held in position at the backboard220by the orienting structure212. In addition, the female connector223can be fixed on the second supporting bump213by conventional means. Alternatively, the printed circuit board221may be fixed in position, whereby the female connector223is securely held in position on the second supporting bump213. Furthermore, the orienting structure212and the male connector252can be sized so that the male connector252is interferingly slid along the sliding track to engage with the female connector223; and once engaged, the male connector252is tightly held in position by frictional engagement with the orienting structure212. Moreover, the protrusion253of the male connector252is tightly held in position in the groove222of the female connector223. For any and various of the above reasons, the male connector252and the female connector223can be securely and reliably held in position.