Electrical connector and electrical connector assembly

The invention provides an electrical connector assembly that is constituted by a first connector and a second connector, each of the first and second connectors having signal contacts disposed in two rows, a grounding member disposed between the rows of signal contacts and a housing that holds the signal contacts and the grounding member and being engaged with each other, and an electrical connector that constitutes the electrical connector assembly. The electrical connector and electrical connector assembly increase the reliability of a grounding path, require only a small number of component parts and are suitable for high-speed signal transmission. A first grounding plate and a second grounding plate that constitute the grounding member are disposed in the immediate vicinity of rows of signal contacts that are disposed in two rows and the housing has a through opening. Therefore, a connection section that constitutes the grounding member can be visually checked.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly that is constituted by a first connector and a second connector, each of the first and second connectors having signal contacts disposed in two rows, a grounding member disposed between the rows of signal contacts and a housing that holds the signal contacts and the grounding member and being engaged with each other, and an electrical connector that constitutes the electrical connector assembly.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, the speed of signals has become more and more high and electrical connectors also have been required to provide structures suited to the transmission of higher speed signals.

In performing high-speed signal transmission, grounding plays an important role and what grounding parts should be disposed in what places is important. The reliability of connection is also important, for example, when grounding parts are connected to a substrate.

FIG. 8is a sectional view of an electrical connector assembly disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-135826.

An electrical connector assembly80shown in thisFIG. 8is constituted by a first electrical connector81and a second electrical connector82that are engaged with each other. The first electrical connector81has signal contacts811disposed in two rows, a grounding member812disposed between the rows of the signal contacts811, and a housing813that holds the signal contacts811and the grounding member812. The signal contacts811and the grounding member812have what is called dip type leg sections811a,812athat pierce through a substrate (not shown).

Similarly, the second electrical connector82also has signal contacts821disposed in two rows, a grounding member822disposed between the rows of the signal contacts821, and a housing823that holds the signal contacts821and the grounding member822. The signal contacts821and the grounding member822have what is called dip type leg sections821a,822athat pierce through a substrate (not shown).

FIG. 9is an appearance perspective view of an electrical connector assembly disclosed in the National Publication of International Patent Application No. 2000-516028, andFIG. 10is a drawing that shows the arrangement of contacts that constitute the electrical connector the appearance of which is shown inFIG. 9.

This electrical connector90has four rows of contacts91,92, and a housing93that holds these four rows of contacts91,92. In this housing93, between the inner two rows of contacts92among these four rows of contacts91,92there is formed an opening931to which leg sections92aof these inner two rows of contacts92are exposed.

In the case of the electrical connector assembly80ofFIG. 8disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-135826, the grounding members812,822are disposed between the rows of signal contacts811,821of the electrical connectors81,82, and therefore, in this respect, crosstalks of the signal contacts811,821are reduced, providing a structure suitable for high-speed signal transmission. However, in the case of the electrical connector assembly80shown in thisFIG. 8, both the signal contacts821and the grounding member822have the dip type leg sections821a,822athat pierce through the substrate and, therefore, this poses the problems that (1) the solder connection cannot be visually checked from the top surface side of the substrate and (2) because the leg sections822aof the grounding member822are spaced from each other, it is difficult to minimize the length of a grounding path.

On the other hand, in the case of the electrical connector disclosed in the National Publication of International Patent Application No. 2000-516028 shown inFIGS. 9 and 10, the contacts92of the inner two rows are not grounding contacts and hence are not suitable for high-speed signal transmission. Furthermore, each of the contacts92is independent, posing the problem that the number of component parts becomes very large.

SUMMARY

In view of the above circumstances, the invention provides an electrical connector and an electrical connector assembly that has increased reliability of grounding paths and a small number of component parts and are suitable for high-speed signal transmission.

The electrical connector of the present invention includes: signal contacts disposed in two rows; a grounding member disposed between the rows of the signal contacts; and a housing that holds the signal contacts and the grounding member, wherein the grounding member comprises a first grounding plate disposed in the immediate vicinity of one signal contact row, a second grounding plate disposed in the immediate vicinity of the other signal contact row, and a connection section that connects the first and second grounding plates together and is surface mounted on a substrate on which the electrical connector is mounted, the grounding member being in the form of the letter Π as viewed from the side, and wherein the housing has a through opening between the first and second grounding plates so that the connection section can be visually checked.

Also, an electrical connector assembly of the present invention includes: a first connector and a second connector, each of the first and second connectors having signal contacts disposed in two rows, a grounding member disposed between the rows of signal contacts and a housing that holds the signal contacts and grounding member and being engaged with each other, wherein each of the grounding components comprises a first grounding plate disposed in the immediate vicinity of one signal contact row, a second grounding plate disposed in the immediate vicinity of the other signal contact row, and a connection section that connects the first and second grounding plates together and is surface mounted on a substrate on which the electrical connector is mounted, the grounding members being in the form of the letter Π as viewed from the side, and wherein each of the housings has a through opening between the first and second grounding plates so that the connection section can be visually checked.

It is preferred that in the above electrical connector assembly of the invention, the grounding plate of the first connector be positioned inward compared to the grounding plate of the second connector and has relatively large rigidity.

According to the above electrical connector or electrical connector assembly of the invention, because the first and second grounding plates that constitute the grounding member are disposed each in the immediate vicinity of each row of signal contacts that are disposed in two rows, the electrical connector or electrical connector assembly is suitable for high-speed signal transmission. Also, because the housing has a through opening and the connection section that constitutes the grounding member can be visually checked, the condition of the solder joining of the connection section can be visually checked and the reliability of a grounding path is improved. Furthermore, the grounding member may be a one-piece member that is in the form of the letter Π as viewed from the side, which reduces the number of component parts.

When the grounding plate of the first connector is positioned inward compared to the grounding plate of the second connector and has relatively large rigidity, a housing wall is unnecessary on the inner side of the grounding plate of the first connector, with the result that it is possible to maintain the size of the electrical connector assembly in the width direction without impairing the ease of visual check of the connection section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

Embodiments of the invention will be described below.

FIGS. 1 and 2are perspective views of a plug connector and a receptacle connector, respectively, that constitute an electrical connector assembly in an embodiment of the invention. The plug connector and the receptacle connector are each an embodiment of an electrical connector of the invention.

A plug connector10shown inFIG. 1is constituted by signal contacts11disposed in two rows, a grounding member12that is in the form of the letter Π as viewed from the side, and a housing13that holds the signal contacts11and the grounding member12.

The housing13has an outer wall131that covers the outer circumference of the housing and an inner wall132provided in a standing manner on the inner side of the outer wall along the outer wall, and on the inner side of the inner wall132a large through opening133is formed.

Each of the signal contacts11has, as parts shown inFIG. 1, a contact section111that comes into contact with the contact of the mating connector, the contact section rising along the outer side of the inner wall132of the housing13, and a terminal section114connected to a substrate (not shown), the terminal section extending laterally from the bottom of the housing13and projecting from the housing13. The detailed structure of the signal contacts11will be described later.

The grounding member12comprises a first grounding plate121disposed in the immediate vicinity of one signal contact row11aamong the signal contacts11disposed in two rows, a second grounding plate122disposed in the immediate vicinity of the other signal contact row11b,and a connection section123that connects the first grounding plate121and the second grounding plate122together and is surface mounted on a substrate (not shown here, refer toFIG. 3) on which the plug connector10is mounted. Grounding contacts124formed by blanking and bending are arranged in the first grounding plate121and second grounding plate122of this grounding member12. In the connection section123of this grounding member12there are provided many slit-like openings125that pierce through the rear surface of this plug connector10. This grounding member12is held by the housing13in such a manner that the connection section123of the grounding member is disposed in the through opening133of the housing13and that the first grounding plate121and second grounding plate222are held on the inner side of the inner wall132of the housing13.

A receptacle connector20shown inFIG. 2is constituted by signal contacts21disposed in two rows, a grounding member22that is in the form of the letter Π as viewed from the side, and a housing23that holds the signal contacts21and the grounding member22.

In the housing23, an outer wall231that covers the outer circumference of the housing is formed and in the middle of a region enclosed by the outer wall231there is formed a through opening232that extends in the longitudinal direction.

Each of the signal contacts21of this receptacle connector20has, as parts shown inFIG. 2, a contact section211that comes into contact with the contact of the mating connector, the contact section rising along the inner side of the outer wall231of the housing23, and a terminal section214connected to a substrate (not shown), the terminal section extending laterally from the bottom of the housing23and projecting from the housing23. The contact section211of this signal contact21has the same shape as the contact section111of the signal contact11of the plug connector10shown inFIG. 1. The detailed structure of the signal contact21will be described later along with the description of the detailed structure of the signal contact11of the plug connector10shown inFIG. 1.

The grounding member22comprises a first grounding plate221disposed in the immediate vicinity of one signal contact row21aamong the signal contacts21disposed in two rows, a second grounding plate222disposed in the immediate vicinity of the other signal contact row21b,and a connection section223that connects the first grounding plate221and the second grounding plate222together and is surface mounted on a substrate (not shown here, refer toFIG. 3) on which this receptacle connector20is mounted.

The first grounding plate121and second grounding plate122that constitute the grounding member12of the plug connector10shown inFIG. 1are supported by the inner wall132of the housing13and, therefore, the grounding member12of this plug connector10is formed from a thin plate material, whereas the first grounding plate221and second grounding plate222that constitute the grounding member22of the receptacle connector20shown inFIG. 2are provided in a standing manner by the rigidity of the grounding plates themselves. Therefore, the grounding member22of this receptacle connector20is formed from a thick plate material compared to the grounding member12of the plug connector10shown inFIG. 1and has relatively large rigidity.

Thus, because the grounding member22of this receptacle connector20has rigidity large enough to enable the grounding member22to stand itself, it is unnecessary to form a wall to support the first grounding plate221and second grounding plate222that constitute the grounding member22in the housing23of this receptacle connector20. As a result of this, it is possible to minimize the size of the electrical connector assembly constituted by this receptacle connector20and the plug connector10in the width direction and to keep the visibility of the connection sections123,223in a good condition.

In the connection section223of the grounding member22that constitutes the receptacle connector20shown inFIG. 2there are formed many slit-like openings224that pierce through the rear surface of this receptacle connector20. This grounding member22is held by the housing23, with the connection section223of the grounding member being disposed in the through opening232of the housing23.

FIG. 3is a schematic sectional view of a connection section of a grounding member soldered to a substrate.

Both of the connectors10,20ofFIGS. 1 and 2have grounding members12,22, and slit-like openings125,224that pierce through the rear surface are formed in the connection sections123,223of these grounding members12,22.

By using the grounding member12of the plug connector10shown inFIG. 1as a representative,FIG. 3shows one of the many openings125formed in the connection section123of the grounding member12and the portions on both sides of the opening125in the connection section123of the grounding member12.

The connection section123of this grounding member12is soldered to a substrate30with a solder31and surface mounted on the substrate. At this time, as shown inFIG. 3, the peripheral edge parts of the opening125are soldered to the substrate30with the solder31.

Because in this manner many openings125,224are provided in the grounding member12(the same applies to the grounding member22of the receptacle connector20shown inFIG. 2), the edges of these many openings125,224are soldered and soldering is performed strongly and securely as a whole. Also, because the openings125,224are through ones and are provided in the through openings133,232provided in the housings13,23, it is possible to visually check the condition of soldering of the connection sections123,223of the grounding members12,22and hence the reliability of soldering can be increased.

FIGS. 4 and 5are each a sectional view that shows the fitting condition of the plug connector10shown inFIG. 1and the receptacle connector20shown inFIG. 2.FIG. 4shows the receptacle connector20ofFIG. 2sectioned along the arrow X—X and the plug connector10ofFIG. 1sectioned in the corresponding place, andFIG. 5shows the receptacle connector20ofFIG. 2sectioned along the arrow Y—Y and the plug connector10ofFIG. 1sectioned in the corresponding place.

Incidentally, inFIG. 4, the contact section111of the signal contact11of the plug connector10and the contact section211of the signal contact21of the receptacle connector20are drawn in such a manner that they bite into the mating contact. However, this shows the positions of the contact sections111,211of the signal contacts11,21of the plug connector10and receptacle connector20before engagement. In reality, however, these contact sections interfere with the mating contact upon engagement and become deflected, with the result that the contact sections come into contact with the mating contact with a prescribed contact pressure and are kept in an electrically conducting state.

Also, inFIG. 4, a grounding contact124of the grounding member12of the plug connector10is drawn in such a manner that part of the grounding contact124are hidden behind the first grounding plate221and second grounding plate222of the grounding member22of the receptacle contact20and inFIG. 5, the grounding contact124bites into the first grounding plate221and second grounding plate222. However, this is also for the same reason as why the contact sections111,211of the above signal contacts are drawn so as to bite into the mating contact. In actuality, however, upon engagement the grounding contact124interferes with the first grounding plate221and the second grounding plate222and is elastically deformed, with the result that the grounding contact124comes into contact with the first grounding plate221and the second grounding plate222, with a prescribed contact pressure kept, and that the glands of the plug connector10and receptacle connector20become connected to each other.

As is apparent fromFIGS. 4 and 5, a gland wall constituted by the first grounding plate121,221is formed in a position close to one signal contact row11a,21aand a gland wall constituted by the second grounding plate122,222is formed in a position close to the other signal contact row11b,21b.As a result of this, crosstalks are suppressed, providing a structure suitable for high-speed signal transmission.

The description related toFIGS. 4 and 5is stopped here temporarily and the structure of the signal contacts11,21themselves will be described.

FIG. 6is a perspective view that shows signal contacts of a plug connector and a receptacle connector.

As shown inFIG. 6, in the signal contacts11,21are formed the contact sections111,211, convexities112,212, press fitted sections113,213and terminal sections114,214.

When the plug connector10(refer toFIGS. 1,4and5) and the receptacle connector20(refer toFIGS. 2,4and5) become engaged with each other, the contact sections111,211interfere with the mating connector, are elastically deformed, come into contact with the mating contact with a prescribed contact pressure, and are electrically connected with the mating contact. The surface of the contact section111,211that comes into contact with the mating contact is formed from a surface of a flat metal plate (what is called a roll surface). This surface is a smooth surface, which contributes to a decrease in an insertion/removing force and high contact reliability.

As shown inFIG. 4, the convexities112,212abut against the outer side of the inner wall132of the housing13of the plug connector10and the inner side of the outer wall231of the housing23of the receptacle connector20to thereby keep the contact sections111,211from the inner wall132and the outer wall231in a spaced condition.

The contact sections111,211are formed so as to come into contact with the vicinities of the convexities212,112of the mating contact. This is because in the parts where the convexities212,112are formed, the convexities212,112abut against the housing and are fixed in position and the elastic parts that are the contact sections111,211and the inelastic parts near the convexities212,112are in contact with each other with a prescribed contact pressure, with the result that the contact between the two contacts is stable and a positive electrically conducting state is achieved.

FIG. 7is an explanatory drawing of a method of forming convexities of a signal contact. Representatively, a description will be given here of the contact21of the receptacle connector20.

First, as shown in Part (A) ofFIG. 7, projecting pieces2121,2122that project in the width direction are formed by blanking a metal plate. After that, these projecting pieces2121,2122that project in the width direction are bent in the arrow direction shown in Part (B) ofFIG. 7and an inward force is applied, whereby the convexity212is formed. The same applies also to the convexity112of the contact11of the plug connector10.

The press fitted sections113,213of the signal contacts11,21shown inFIG. 6are parts that are press fitted into the housings13,23. The press fitted sections113,213spread in the width direction of the original metal plate, i.e., in the direction perpendicular to the drawing ofFIGS. 4 and 5and are fixed by biting into a wall that faces the direction perpendicular to the drawing ofFIGS. 4 and 5of the housings13,23.

The terminal sections114,214of the signal contacts11,21shown inFIG. 6are to be mounted on a substrate. In the example shown here, the terminal sections114,214have a shape suitable for surface mounting on a substrate.

Again with reference toFIGS. 4 and 5, in particular,FIG. 4, the description will be continued.

In the vicinity of the leading end of the inner wall132of the housing13of the plug connector10, i.e., leading end of the contact section111of the signal contact11of the plug connector10, there is formed a protective penthouse-like section134to protect the leading end of the contact section111. In the case of the structure of the housing13of this plug connector10, on the outer side of the inner wall132there is no projecting portion other than this protective penthouse-like section134, and it is possible to fabricate this housing13by use of a split mold capable of being divided in the vertical direction ofFIG. 4. Because the signal contact11of this plug connector10is provided with the above convexity112, it is possible to keep the contact section111of the signal contact11in a condition spaced from the wall of the housing13and besides it is ensured that the contact from the contact section of the mating contact can be received in a stable manner by the portion where the convexity112of the signal contact11is formed.

The same applies also to the receptacle connector20. That is, in the vicinity of the leading end of the outer wall231of the housing23of the receptacle connector20, i.e., leading end of the contact section211of the signal contact21of the receptacle connector20, there is formed a protective penthouse-like section233to protect the leading end of the contact section211. In the case of the structure of the housing23of this receptacle connector20, on the inner side of the outer wall231there is no projecting portion other than this protective penthouse-like section233, and it is possible to fabricate this housing23by use of a split mold capable of being divided in the vertical direction ofFIG. 4. Because the signal contact21of this receptacle connector20is provided with the above convexity212, it is possible to keep the contact section211of the signal contact21in a condition spaced from the wall of the housing23and besides it is ensured that the contact from the contact section of the mating contact can be received in a stable manner by the portion where the convexity212of the signal contact21is formed.