Low profile first connector, second connector and connector assembly

The present disclosure relates to a connector assembly including a first connector and a second connector. The first connector including a first insulating body, a first terminal module and a first shell. The first insulating body includes a first top wall shielded by an upper wall of the first shell. The upper shell includes a locking plate. The first connector includes a receiving space between the first top wall and the locking plate for positioning the second connector. A width of the receiving space is narrower than a width of the slot. The second connector includes a second insulating body and a second terminal module. The second insulating body includes a main body, a tongue plate and an extending portion. The extending portion is located above the tongue plate. The extending portion and the tongue plate at least partially overlap along a vertical direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present disclosure requires priorities of a Chinese Patent Application filed on Sep. 7, 2019 with Application No. 201921488178.X and an invention titled “FIRST CONNECTOR, SECOND CONNECTOR AND CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY”, and a Chinese Patent Application filed on Sep. 7, 2019 with Application No. 201921488179.4 and an invention titled “FIRST CONNECTOR, SECOND CONNECTOR AND CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY”, the entire contents of which are incorporated into this application herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a first connector, a second connector and a connector assembly, which can be applied to a technical field of high-speed electrical connectors.

BACKGROUND

An existing connector assembly usually includes a first connector and a second connector which are mated with each other. The first connector includes a first insulating body, a plurality of first terminals and a first metal shell. The second connector includes a second insulating body and a plurality of second terminals. The first insulating body is provided with a slot into which the first terminals protrude. The second insulating body is provided with a main body and a tongue plate protruding from the main body and used for being inserted into the slot. The second terminals are distributed on upper and lower surfaces of the tongue plate. In addition, in order to realize the locking of the connectors after insertion, the main body of the second insulating body is usually provided with a locking structure, and correspondingly the first metal shell is provided with a locking hole that corresponds to the locking structure. However, the locking structure and the tongue plate in the prior art do not overlap in a vertical direction. This design will make a length of the connector longer, which is not beneficial to reduce the size thereof.

Besides, in order to realize inserting and positioning of the two connectors, the first insulating body of the first connector is usually designed to be relatively wide. As a result, it is convenient to provide positioning grooves on two sides of the first insulating housing to be able to clamp two sides of a metal shell of the second connector. However, this design is also not beneficial to reduce the size of the first connector.

SUMMARY

A purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a first connector, a second connector and a connector assembly which can be designed to be shorter in length.

In order to achieve the above purpose, the present disclosure discloses a first connector including a first insulating body, a first terminal module and a first shell shielding the first insulating body. The first insulating body includes a first top wall, a mating surface and a slot formed on the mating surface. The slot is adapted for receiving at least part of a second connector along a mating direction. The first terminal module includes a plurality of contact portions extending into the slot. The first shell includes an upper shell shielding the first top wall. The upper shell includes a locking plate for locking with the second connector. The first connector includes a receiving space provided between the first top wall and the locking plate for positioning the second connector. A width of the receiving space is narrower than a width of the slot along a width direction perpendicular to the mating direction.

The present disclosure also discloses a second connector including a second insulating body and a second terminal module. The second insulating body includes a main body, a tongue plate protruding from the main body and an extending portion protruding from the main body. The extending portion is located above the tongue plate. The extending portion and the tongue plate at least partially overlap along a vertical direction.

The present disclosure also discloses a connector assembly including a first connector and a second connector for mating with the first connector along a mating direction. The first connector includes a first insulating body, a first terminal module and a first shell shielding the first insulating body. The first insulating body includes a first top wall, a mating surface and a slot formed on the mating surface. The slot is adapted for receiving at least part of a second connector along a mating direction. The first terminal module includes a plurality of contact portions extending into the slot. The first shell includes an upper shell shielding the first top wall. The upper shell includes a locking plate for locking with the second connector. The first connector includes a receiving space provided between the first top wall and the locking plate for positioning the second connector. A width of the receiving space is narrower than a width of the slot along a width direction perpendicular to the mating direction. The second connector includes a second insulating body and a second terminal module. The second insulating body includes a main body, a tongue plate protruding from the main body and an extending portion protruding from the main body. The extending portion is located above the tongue plate. The extending portion and the tongue plate at least partially overlap along a vertical direction. When the first connector and the second connector are mated, the tongue plate is received in the slot, and the extending portion is received in the receiving space.

Compared with the prior art, the first connector of the present disclosure is provided with a receiving space between the first top wall and the locking plate for receiving the second connector. With this arrangement, a height of the first connector is well used while a length of the first connector along a front-rear direction is not additionally occupied, so that the length of the first connector can be designed to be shorter. Regarding the second connector of the present disclosure, a length thereof can be shortened by overlapping the extending portion with the tongue plate in the vertical direction. In addition, an overall length of the connector assembly according to the present disclosure can be shorten through the above designs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer toFIGS. 1 to 5, the present disclosure discloses a connector assembly which includes a first connector100and a second connector200mated with the first connector100along a mating direction. In an illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the first connector100is a board-end connector for being mounted to a printed circuit board101, and the second connector200is a cable connector for being connected to cables201.

Please refer toFIGS. 6 to 11, the first connector100includes a first insulating body1, a first terminal module2mounted to the first insulating body1, and a first shell3enclosing the periphery of the first insulating body1. In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the first shell3is made of metal material.

The first insulating body1includes a mating surface14and a mounting surface15for mounting the first connector100to the printed circuit board101. A slot141for receiving at least part of the second connector200is formed on the mating surface14, and a mounting groove151for receiving the first terminal module2is formed on the mounting surface15.

From a structural point of view, the first insulating body1generally includes a first top wall11, a first bottom wall12and two first side walls13connecting the first top wall11and the first bottom wall12. The slot141is enclosed by the first top wall11, the first bottom wall12and the two first side walls13. Both an inner side of the first top wall11and an inner side of the first bottom wall12are provided with a plurality of convex strips121arranged at intervals. A terminal groove122is formed between two adjacent convex strips121. The first top wall11is further provided with two protrusions112adjacent to two sides thereof and a receiving space113between the two protrusions112. Each protrusion112is provided with a notch1121on a front end surface thereof. In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the notch1121is of an inverted T shape, which includes a first notch1122at an upper end and a second notch1123at a lower end. The width of the first notch1122is smaller than the width of the second notch1123along a width direction perpendicular to the mating direction. In order to fix the first terminal module2, the first top wall11and the first bottom wall12are further provided with a first slot115and a second slot123, respectively. In addition, the two first side walls13are respectively provided with a retaining groove131located outside and used to mate with the first shell3. The width of the receiving space113is smaller than the width of the slot141along the width direction perpendicular to the mating direction. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the width of the receiving space113is less than two thirds of the width of the slot141.

The first terminal module2includes a first terminal unit21, a second terminal unit22, and a conductive plastic23clamped between the first terminal unit21and the second terminal unit22. Referring toFIGS. 8 to 11, in the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the first terminal unit21and the second terminal unit22are symmetrically arranged on upper and lower sides of the conductive plastic23. Preferably, the first terminal unit21and the second terminal unit22have the same configurations and only need to be turned 180 degrees during assembly.

The first terminal unit21is provided with a first insulator211and a plurality of first terminals212disposed in the first insulator211. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first terminals212are insert-molded with the first insulator211. The first insulator211is provided with a first locking block2111for mating with the first slot115. From a structural point of view, each first terminal212includes a first fixing portion (not shown) disposed in the first insulator211, a first contact portion2122extending forwardly from the first fixing portion, and a first welding portion2123bending and extending backwardly from the first fixing portion. From a functional point of view, the first terminals212include a plurality of signal terminals and a plurality of ground terminals. Two adjacent signal terminals are located between two ground terminals so as to form a group. The first terminals212include multiple groups of such signal terminals and ground terminals.

Similarly, the second terminal unit22is provided with a second insulator221and a plurality of second terminals222disposed in the second insulator221. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second terminals222are insert-molded with the second insulator221. The second insulator221is provided with a second locking block (not shown) for mating with the second slot123. From a structural point of view, each second terminal222includes a second fixing portion (not shown) disposed in the second insulator221, a second contact portion2222extending forwardly from the second fixing portion, and a second welding portion2223bending and extending backwardly from the second fixing portion. From a functional point of view, the second terminals222include a plurality of signal terminals and a plurality of ground terminals. Two adjacent signal terminals are located between two ground terminals so as to form a group. The second terminals222include multiple groups of such signal terminals and ground terminals.

Please refer toFIGS. 9 to 13, the conductive plastic23is provided with a plurality of protruding ribs231on its upper and lower surfaces, and the inner surfaces of the first insulator211and the second insulator221are respectively provided with a plurality of grooves24for mating with the protruding ribs231. In addition, the conductive plastic23, the first insulator211and the second insulator221are also provided with a plurality of clamping arms25which are locked with each other to prevent the conductive plastic23from withdrawing backwardly after being inserted. In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the conductive plastic23is provided with a first engaging arm232, and the first insulator211and the second insulator221are further provided with a second engaging arm2112and a third engaging arm2211, respectively. The second engaging arm2112and the third engaging arm2211are respectively engaged with the first engaging arm232. It should be noted that in the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the conductive plastic23is isolated from the first terminal212and the second terminal222by a plastic layer, and the protruding ribs231of the conductive plastic23are not in direct contact with the first terminals212and the second terminals222. Please refer toFIG. 12, positions of the grooves24correspond to positions of the ground terminals (G) among the first terminals212and the second terminals222.

When the first terminal module2is completely inserted in the mounting groove151along a back-to-front direction, the first locking block2111and the second locking block are respectively locked in the first slot115and the mounting groove151to prevent the first terminal module2from exiting backwardly. At this time, the first contact portions2122and the second contact portions2222are respectively located in the corresponding terminal grooves122so as to protect the terminals. In addition, the first contact portions2122and the second contact portions2222extend toward each other and both protrude into the slot141for mating with the second connector200.

The first shell3is substantially frame-shaped and sleeved on the first insulating body1. The first shell3includes an upper shell31shielding the first top wall11, a lower shell32covering the first bottom wall12, and two side shells33connecting the upper shell31and the lower shell32and respectively shielding the two first side walls13. The upper shell31covers the protrusions112and are supported by the protrusions112. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the upper shell31, the lower shell32and the side shells33may be integrally formed as one piece.

The first connector100is provided with two guiding slots114for guiding the second connector200when inserted. The guiding slots114are used to cooperate with the second connector200to realize positioning when they are mated with each other. Please refer toFIG. 7, in the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the guiding slots114are formed by the first insulating body1and the first shell3. Of course, in other embodiments, the guiding slots114may also be formed by the first insulating body1or by the first shell3. In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the two the guiding slots114is L-shaped and is provided on the top surface and the side surface of the first insulating body1. The guiding slots114are located at top left and top right corners of the first insulating body1and are located outside of the corresponding protrusions112. Of course, in other embodiments, the guiding slots114may also be provided on the top surface or the side surface of the first insulating body1. The two guiding slots114are corresponding to each other, and they are located on the left and right sides of the first connector100, respectively.

In addition, the upper shell31is provided with a locking plate311covering the receiving space113, and the locking plate311is provided with at least one locking hole3111. The upper shell31includes a first top surface34covering the guiding slots114and a second top surface35covering the receiving space113. The first top surface34and the second top surface35are substantially flush with each other. This arrangement can reduce height of the first connector100. In addition, the receiving space113overlaps the first contact portions2122and the second contact portions2222in a vertical direction. As a result a length of the first connector100along a front-rear direction is reduced. The upper shell31also includes a T-shaped bent portion3112formed by bending downwardly from the locking plate311. The T-shaped bent portion3112is locked in the corresponding notch1121in order to prevent the first shell3from detaching from the first insulating housing1in an X direction and a Y direction (a horizontal direction). The side shells33are respectively provided with protruding tabs331buckled in the retaining grooves131to prevent the first shell3from being separated from the first insulating body1in a Z direction (the vertical direction).

Referring toFIGS. 14 to 16, the second connector200includes a second insulating body4, a second terminal module5disposed in the second insulating body4, a locking piece6installed on the second insulating body4and a pulling tab7connected to the locking piece6. The pulling tab7is a flexible pulling strap in the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the second insulating body4includes a main body41, a tongue plate42protruding from the main body41, two guiding protrusions43protruding from two sides of the main body41, and an extending portion44protruding from the main body41and located above the tongue plate42. In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the tongue plate42is formed by a circuit board. The guiding protrusions43and the extending portion44are both integrally extended from the main body41. Each guiding protrusion43is L-shaped in order to match the L-shaped guiding slot114. A top surface431of the guiding protrusion43is flush with a top surface411of the main body41or lower than the top surface411of the main body41, so that the guiding protrusions43are capable of mating with the guiding slots114. Of course, in other embodiments, the guiding protrusions43may also have other shapes, or may be separated parts from the main body41while being assembled together. For example, the guiding protrusion43is a metal piece which is disposed in the main body41through a slot, or insert-molded with the main body41.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the second terminal module5is of a flat shape and is distributed on upper and lower surfaces of the tongue plate42. Combination of the second terminal module5and the tongue plate42can be a circuit board with contact pieces or golden fingers (PINs). The second terminal module5is electrically connected to the cables201. An end of the extending portion44is provided with an inclined guiding surface441for guiding the extending portion44to be inserted into the receiving space113and two guiding slopes442located on two sides of the extending portion44. The L-shaped guiding protrusions43are used for being inserted into the L-shaped guiding slots114.

The extending portion44protrudes forwardly of the main body41to save space and reduce the length of the second connector200along the front-rear direction. In addition, the extending portion44and the tongue plate42at least overlap in the vertical direction to save space and reduce the length of the second connector200along the front-rear direction. In addition, the top surface of the second insulating body4is substantially flat so as to reduce the height of the second connector200along the vertical direction.

The locking piece6is fixed on the extending portion44. A top surface of the locking piece6is substantially flush with a top surface of the main body41so as to reduce the height of the second connector200. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the locking piece6is insert-molded with the extending portion44. The locking piece6includes a locking portion64protruding upwardly. When the second connector200is mated with the first connector100, the extending portion44is inserted into the receiving space113. At this time, the locking portion64is locked in the locking hole3111so as to prevent the second connector200and the first connector100from loosening with respect to each other.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the locking piece6is made of sheet metal in order to increase the structural strength and reduce the overall height of the second connector200. Please refer toFIG. 15, in the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the locking piece6includes an upper plate61and a lower plate62, wherein the upper plate61is provided with an upper through hole611and a first guide surface612located at the rear end of the upper through hole611. The first guide surface612is an inclined surface which is inclined to the lower plate62. The lower plate62is provided with a lower through hole621, a second guide surface622located beside the lower through hole621and the two holding portions623located on two sides thereof. In the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure, the lower plate62is provided with a protrusion63on which the second guide surface622is located. A guiding groove624for guiding the pulling tab7is formed between the two holding portions623.

The pulling tab7is provided with a hook71extending through the upper through hole611and the lower through hole621. The upper through hole611and the lower through hole621at least partially overlap in the vertical direction so as to increase the pulling force of the pulling tab7. Please refer toFIGS. 5 and 17, when the locking portion64is locked in the locking hole3111(that is, the locking portion64is in a state before unlocking), the upper plate61and the lower plate62are substantially parallel to each other. At this time, the locking portion64is at a high position so that it can be locked in the locking hole3111.

Please refer toFIG. 18, when the pulling tab7is pulled back horizontally along an arrow direction, the hook71and the first guide surface612mate with each other to produce a downward split in the vertical direction so that the upper plate61is inclined downwardly along the arrow direction. At this time, the position of the locking portion64is lowered to a position where the locking portion64is unlock with the locking hole3111. That is, by applying a horizontal pulling force onto the pulling tab7, the second connector200can be pulled out of the first connector100.

It should be noted that terms beginning with “first”, “second” and “third” used in this disclosure are only for distinguishing names of elements and do not have any logical meaning, explicitly or implicitly.

The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present disclosure and not to limit the technical solutions described in the present disclosure. The understanding of this specification should be based on those skilled in the art. Descriptions of directions, such as “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”, “top” and “bottom”, although they have been described in detail in the above-mentioned embodiments of the present disclosure, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can still be made to the application, and all technical solutions and improvements that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the application should be covered by the claims of the application.