ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY HAVING A METAL PLATE FOR MOUNTING A CONNECTOR TO A HOUSING

An electrical connector assembly includes: a housing having a base, a body extending rearward from the base, and a hole through the base and the body, the hole including a first part of a first diameter, a second part of a second diameter greater than the first diameter, and a step portion between the first part and the second part; a connector received by the housing, the connector having an insulating member, an inner conductor, and an outer conductor received by the first part of the hole, the outer conductor having plural tabs received by the second part of the hole; and a metal plate confining the tabs to the second part of the hole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electrical connector including a housing having a hole and a connector received by the housing and having an insulating member, an inner conductor, and an outer conductor received by the hole, wherein the outer conductor has a plurality of tabs received by and confined to the hole.

2. Description of Related Art

Japan Patent No. 2015170515 discloses a connector assembly including a housing made of resin to be easily manufactured and casing made of metal to achieve higher strength and higher shielding performance. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020/0099168 discloses an improved connector assembly ensuring a connector to be fixed to a connector housing with high water-tightness, free of damaging or breaking due to external force, and achieving high shielding performance and reliability. The connector includes a conductive terminal, an intermediate insulating member retaining the terminal, and an outer conductor that is conductive and contains the intermediate insulating member. The connector housing includes an outer conductor holding part provided with an outer conductor insertion hole through which the outer conductor is inserted and a front outer conductor containing cavity that is formed on a front side of the outer conductor holding part and has a larger cross-sectional area than the outer conductor insertion hole. The connector is fixed to the connector housing with a tab welded to a front surface of the outer conductor holding part, the tab being integrally formed with the outer conductor, and with a potting material filled in a portion in the front outer conductor containing cavity close to the front surface of the outer conductor holding part.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An electrical connector assembly comprises: a housing having a base, a body extending rearward from the base, and a hole through the base and the body, the hole including a first part of a first diameter, a second part of a second diameter greater than the first diameter, and a step portion between the first part and the second part; a connector received by the housing, the connector having an insulating member, an inner conductor, and an outer conductor received by the first part of the hole, the outer conductor having a plurality of tabs received by the second part of the hole; and a metal plate confining the plurality of tabs to the second part of the hole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS.1-13, an electrical connector assembly1000includes a housing4and an electrical connector100received by the housing4, which in practical use is coupled to a module including a casing5, a light entering structure51, a substrate400, and a module side connector200mounted on the substrate400. The housing4is coupled to the casing5through fasteners11and seal12to constitute a cover300. Since the module itself is generally of a well known construction, it will not be described in detail.

Referring toFIGS.8and9, the connector100has an insulating member2, an inner conductor1, and an outer conductor3. The inner conductor1has a securing portion11, a first contacting portion12extending beyond a front end face21of the insulating member2, and a second contacting portion13extending beyond a rear end face22of the insulating member2. The wall31of the conductor3has a pair of inward protrusions311and the member2has an annular groove23receiving the protrusions311.

The housing4has a base41, a body42extending rearward from the base41, and a hole43through both the base41and the body42. The hole43includes a first part431corresponding to the outer conductor3and having a first diameter, a second part432located in front of the first part431and having a second diameter greater than the first diameter, and a step portion433formed between the first part431and the second part432. The wall31of the outer conductor3has a plurality of tabs312to be received in the second part432of the hole43with a respective rear end face of each tab312bearing against the step portion433. In order to firmly secure the connector100to the housing4, the electrical connector assembly1000includes a metal plate6enclosing the outer conductor3. The metal plate6bears against respective front end faces of the tabs312and is then welded to the housing4which may be formed by metal injection molding. With the tabs312being securely retained between the metal plate6and the step portion433, i.e., the tabs312are confined to the second part432of the hole43, the connector100then is reliably secured to the housing4. Specifically, each of the tabs312may be formed by a shearing operation to have the front and rear end faces and two side portions connected to the wall31of the outer conductor3.

The hole43includes a third part434located in front of the second part432and having a third diameter greater than the second diameter of the second part432, and a step section435formed between the second part432and the third part434. A rear face60of the metal plate6is welded to the step section435so as to confine the tabs312to the second part432of the hole43.

The outer conductor3of the connector100has a tubular body32and a plurality of front spring arms33surrounding the securing portion11of the inner conductor1to form a receiving chamber320. The tabs312are located forwardly of the protrusions311. The third part434of the hole43has a depth greater than that of the metal plate6. The electrical connector assembly1000includes a sealing member7formed in the third part434to seal between the metal plate6and the connector100, or to seal the metal plate6and a part of the connector100. In this embodiment, the sealing member7also fills up a front annular recess25of the insulating member2of the connector100.

The hole43further include a fourth part436located behind the first part431and a step437is formed between the fourth part436and the first part431. The insulating member2of the connector100extends rearward beyond the outer conductor3and the inner conductor1extends further rearward beyond the insulating member2. A rear end of the outer conductor tubular body32extends to the step437and both the insulating member2and the inner conductor1extend into the fourth part436of the hole43. The body42of the housing4has an inserting chamber438and an inner cylindrical wall422extending rearward in the inserting chamber438and defining the fourth part436of the hole43.

Referring toFIGS.10-13, the module side connector200includes an insulating base8, an inner conductor9, and an outer conductor10. The conductor9has a leg91soldering to a surface401of the substrate400and plural spring arms921defining an inserting space9211. The outer conductor10surrounds the inner conductor9to define an inserting chamber101.

The base41of the housing4has a main part411and a side portion412defining a receiving chamber4121. The hole43extends through the main part411and the body42. The side portion412has plural positioning corners4122in the receiving chamber4121, plural notches4123, and plural platforms4124for fastening the substrate400thereto. The substrate400has notches402.