Electrical connector assembly

An electrical connector assembly for connecting one printed circuit board to another printed circuit board comprises a first connector (1) and a second connector (2). The first connector includes a first insulative housing (10) and a number of first terminals (11). The first insulative housing has an elongate central island (103) with a recess (104) therein, and comprising a number of apertures (101). The first terminals are received in corresponding apertures. The second connector includes a second insulative housing (20) and a number of second terminals (21). The second insulative housing has a tongue portion (201) mating with the recess of the first housing. When the first connector mates with the second connector, the second terminals electrically connect with the first terminals by extending into the apertures respectively.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to an electrical connector assembly, and more particularly to an electrical connector assembly for being mounted on two printed circuit boards.

2. Description of Related Art

Board to board electrical connector assembly, consisting of two electrical connectors mounted on nearly parallel printed circuit boards to be connected together, is known in the art. Generally, connector assembly is used for signal transmission between two printed circuit boards.

A connector assembly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,630 comprises matable first and second connectors. The first connector comprises a first insulative housing and a plurality of first terminals received in the first housing. The first housing includes a mating portion and a central island extending upwardly from a base portion of the first housing. The first terminals are retained in the central island, and the contact portions of the first terminals are exposed in a receiving space formed in the first housing. The second connector includes a second housing and a plurality of second terminals received in the second housing. The second housing comprises a coupling portion, and the second terminals are secured in the coupling portion. When the first connector mates with the second connector, the central island of the first connector is received in the coupling portion of the second housing. Meanwhile, the first terminals connect with the second terminals. The contact portions of the first terminals expose in the receiving space and are easy to be destroyed when the first connector mates with the second connector or they are pressed by unexpected external force. When the resiliency of the first terminals reduces, the first terminals withdraw into the mating portion, thereby resulting in ill electrical connection between the two connectors. Furthermore, insulative housings of electrical connectors are easy to be deformed. After connecting or disconnecting with each other several times, electrical terminals received in the housing correspondingly offset from its correct positions such the normal force between certain first terminals of the first connector and the second terminals of the second connector may become insufficient when the first connector and the second connector are mated. As a result, a reliable electrical connection between the first connector and the second connector cannot be assured.

Hence, an improved connection-reliability connector assembly is highly desired to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly, which can improve normal force between two connectors thereof.

In order to achieve the object set forth, an electrical connector assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a first connector and a second connector matable with the first connector. The first connector includes a first housing and a plurality of first terminals. The first housing comprises a central island defining a groove and a plurality of apertures. The first terminals are respectively retained in corresponding apertures. The second connector comprises a second insulative housing and a plurality of second terminals. The second housing has an elongate tongue portion mating with the groove of the first housing of the first connector. When the first connector connects with the second connector, the second terminals extend into the corresponding apertures and electrically connect with the first terminals. Accordingly, a stable and reliable electrical connection between the first connector and the second connector is established.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with attached drawings, in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG.1andFIG. 2, an electrical connector assembly consists of a first connector1and a second connector2matable with the first connector1.

Referring to FIG.1andFIG. 3, the first connector1includes an elongate first insulative housing10and a plurality of first terminals11. The first housing10includes a base13and a first mating portion14extending upwardly from the base13. The first mating portion14comprises a pair of opposite longitudinal walls141, a pair of opposite lateral walls142and formed a receiving space106between the longitudinal wall141and lateral walls142. In the center of the receiving space106, a central island103extends upwardly from the first base13. The central island103comprises a top surface107, a pair of side surfaces108, a pair of end surfaces109, and a recess104defined therein. A plurality of terminal passageways102are defined in opposite side surfaces108thereof. Two rows of apertures101extend downwardly from the top surface107and communicate with the corresponding terminal passageways102.

Each of the first terminals11has a connect portion113for mounting to the printed circuit boards, a first contact portion111extending upwardly from the end of connect portion113, a second contact portion112of the first terminals11opposite with the first contact portion111and a bent portion114formed between the first contact portion111and the second contact portion112.

In assembling the first connector1, the first terminals11are mounted from the bottom into the first housing10. The bent portion114and the second contact portion112of the first terminals11are respectively retained in the corresponding terminal passageways102. At the same time, the first contact portions111of the first terminals11are respectively retained in the apertures101. The second contact portions112partially protrude into the receiving space106. The portions between the first contact portions111and the connect portions113are retained in the first housing10. The connect portion113of the first terminals11extend horizontally out of the first housing10.

Referring to FIG.2andFIG. 4, the second connector2includes a second insulative housing20and a plurality of second terminals21received in the second housing20. The second housing20comprises a second base23and a second mating portion24extending from the second base23. The second mating portion24comprises a pair of opposite longitudinal walls202, a pair of opposite lateral walls203, and a receiving space25between the longitudinal walls202and the lateral walls203. At the center of the receiving space25, a tongue portion201extends upwardly from the second base23. A plurality of passageways231are defined in the second base23of the second housing20for correspondingly receiving the second terminals21. The passageways231are arranged in two rows at both sides of the tongue portion201. The second terminals21each include a connect portion211and a contact portion212extending upwardly from the connect portion211.

In assembling the second connector2, the second terminals21are mounted into the second housing20from the second base23of the second housing20. The connect portions211of the second terminals21extend horizontally out of the second housing20and the contact portions212of the second terminals21extend upwardly from the passageways231into the receiving space25.

Referring toFIG. 5, when the first connector1mates with the second connector2, the second mating portion24of the second connector2is received in the receiving space106of the first connector2. The tongue portion201extends into the recess104of the central island103of the first connector1. The contact portion212of the second terminals21extends into the aperture101of the central island103of the first housing10and electrically connects with the first contact portion111of the first terminals11. The side walls202of the second connector2engage with the second contact portion112of the first terminals11. As a result, the retention force between the first terminals11and the second terminals21is improved, and the stable and reliable electrical connection is accordingly established.

Referring toFIG. 6, the first connector1in accordance with the present invention mates with another type of connector called third connector3. The third connector3includes a third insulative housing30and a plurality of third terminals31. The third housing30comprises a third base32and a pair of opposite side walls301defined a plurality of passageways303thereof. The passageways303are used for receiving corresponding third terminals31therein. At the center of the third base32, an elongate tongue302for mating with the recess104of the central island103of the first connector1is formed. The third terminals31each comprise a connect portion312for connecting onto printed circuit board (not shown) and a contact portion311extending from the connect portion312. When the first connector1connects with the third connector3, the side walls301of the third connector3are received into the receiving space106. The elongate tongue302extends into the recess104of the central island103of the first connector1. Accordingly, the contact portion311of the third terminals31secured in the side walls301of the third connector3electrically connects with the second contact portion112of the first terminals11. The first contact portion111of the first terminals11engage with the inner wall of the apertures101of the first connector1. As a result, the retention force between the first terminals11and the third terminals31is improved, and accordingly the stable and reliable electrical connection there between is also established.