Abstract:
An electrical connector for engaging with a mating connector comprising an insulative housing, a plurality of contacts in the housing and a metallic shell covering the insulative housing. The metallic shell comprises a frame with at least one tab arranged at the front edge of the frame, so as to properly guide the mating connector to prevent contact misalignment or short-circuit during the mating process. The insulative housing comprises a base portion defining a pair of concavities so as to minimize size. A spacer is mounted at a rear end of the housing to prevent the contacts from moving rearward during mating.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from the filing of China application Nos. 200620074434.7, 200620074433.2 and 200620074432.8, filed on Jun. 23, 2006. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The field of endeavor of this electrical docking connector is, generally, Class 439, Sub-class 65, relating to an electrical connector to conduct electricity from panel circuit to another panel circuit. The invention relates to properly guiding and mating of the contacts of electrical connectors 
         [0003]    The materials set forth in connection with this U.S. patent application describe an electrical docking connector. Further description of this invention is set forth below and in the attached drawings, ( FIGS. 1-13 ). 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly, to an electrical connector with guiding tab to properly guide the connector during mating to prevent any misalignment and/or short circuit of the contacts, the electrical connector having improved configuration of its insulative housing and having an insulative blocking member to prevent contact terminals from moving backward during mating with a complementary connector. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the connector in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is an assembled view of the connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is an rear view of the contacts assembled in the housing shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a rear view of the connector with the metal shield removed; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the connector shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view taken from line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is an illustration showing the connector made according to the present invention mating with a mating connector. 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a perspective assembled view of an electrical connector made in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is an assembled view as  FIG. 8  with a metal shield thereof removed; 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  shows a different view taken from a different angle other than  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a front elevation view of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view taken from line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  is a cross sectional view taken from line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11 ; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 14  is an illustration showing the connector made in according with the present invention mating with a mating connector. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    U.S. Design Pat. No. D488,446 discloses an electrical connector, comprising an insulative housing with a plurality of contact terminals assembled therein, and a metal shield shielding over the insulative housing. The insulative housing disclosed includes an elongate base portion with a tongue extending forward. The contact terminals are positioned on the insulative housing and include a retaining portion secured to the housing, and a contact engaging portion extending from the retaining portion, and a solder tail portion extending out of the insulative housing. The shield provides a tab extending into the housing from a top wall thereof. The tab serves a guiding device such that a guiding slot from a mating connector will ride along the tab so as to ensure a smooth mating. 
         [0020]    However, the tab is formed by punching out a C-slot, and then the tab is bent downward so as to extend into the housing. The mating connector is then defined with a guiding slot corresponding to the tab such that the mating connector can be correctly mated with the connector. However, since a front end of the tongue is relatively far from a front edge of the shield, as a result, the mating connector might enter the housing at a slanted angle. It is then likely that a single contact from the mating connector engages with two adjacent contacts, thereby shorting those two adjacent contacts. 
         [0021]    In addition, as can be seen from the left and right elevational view, the contact is provided with a vertical portion between the retaining section and the solder tail portion, and which is located on the rear end portion of the housing. Since there is no another protection on the rear portion of the housing to protect the vertical portion, the vertical portion can be easily damaged by accident. Once the vertical portion is damaged and deformed, the coplanarity of the solder tails will be altered, thereby creating the so-called “cold-weld” on the solder tail portion. Moreover, then the mating connector is inserted into the housing, the contact could be pushed such that portion of the contact will be moved backward and driven out of the housing. 
         [0022]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,814,614 discloses an electrical connector, including an insulative housing with a plurality of contacts assembled therein. A metal shield is attached to the housing. The insulative housing includes a base portion and a mating portion extending forward from the base portion. The mating portion is defined with a receiving space. The contact includes a contact engaging portion which extends into the receiving space, and a solder tail portion extends backward out of the housing. 
         [0023]    Since the contact terminals are arranged in a row, and extend into the receiving space, as the overall length of the connector is limited, the pitch between two adjacent contacts is inevitably quite small accordingly. As such, it is very much likely that a cross-talk electrical interference between two adjacent contacts will be experienced thereby deteriorating the quality of signals. Furthermore, as the metal shield is hung over the insulative housing, it is unlikely to make the mating portion slimmer, which is not beneficial to the miniaturization of the electrical connector. 
         [0024]    As a result, it is necessary to provide an improved connector so as to improve the defects encountered by the prior art. 
         [0025]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector in which misalignment during mating between two connectors can be properly eliminated. 
         [0026]    In order to achieve the object set forth, an electrical connector made in accordance with the present invention includes an insulative housing with a plurality of contact terminals assembled therein. The housing is further provided with a metal shield surrounding the housing. The metal shield defines a mating port extending substantially over a frond end of the housing so as to define a lead-in portion. The lead-in portion is formed with a guiding tab extending downward into the mating port. The guiding tab extends from an edge of the mating port of the metal shield. 
         [0027]    As compared to the prior art, the electrical connector made according to the present invention features the following advantages. Since the guiding tabs are arranged on the front edge of the mating port of the metal shield, when the connector is mated with a mating connector, both connectors are well and correctly guided so as to secure a proper mating therebetween, while preventing any misalignment between the connectors. 
         [0028]    It is a further objective of the present invention to provide an electrical connector in which the contacts are well protected from moving backward during mating with a mating connector. 
         [0029]    In order to achieve the objective set forth, an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing having a base portion and a mating portion. The base portion has a front end having the mating portion extends forward therefrom. The connector further includes a plurality of contacts, including a retaining portion secured in the housing, a contact engaging portion extending from the retaining portion, and a solder tail portion connected to the retaining portion by means of a connecting portion. A shield is attached to the housing. The housing is provided with a stopper at a rear portion of the housing such that the contacts are prevented from moving backward. 
         [0030]    As compared with the prior art, the connector in accordance with the present invention is beneficial from the following aspect, the backward movement of the contact is limited by the contacts, the contacts can be prevented from being detached from the housing. 
         [0031]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector which is most beneficially miniaturized. 
         [0032]    In order to achieve this objective, an electrical connector made in accordance with the present invention provides an insulative housing having a mating portion. The mating portion has being defined with upper and lower surfaces, as well as front and rear end surfaces. A plurality of contacts are assembled into the housing. A metal shield is assembled to the housing such that the upper and lower surfaces are properly covered. The mating portion is defined with recessed portion with a bottom thereof. A front portion of the recessed portion is provided with opening. A passage is well defined between a wall of the metal shield and the bottom of the recessed portion such that the contact can be inserted into the passage defined therebetween. 
         [0033]    As compared to the existing skill in making the connector, the present invention can be concluded with at least the following advantages, including but not limited, such as at least a passage is defined between the wall of the metal shield and the bottom of the recessed portion of the insulative housing. Since the insulative housing is carved out in the area adjacent to the metal shield, the mating portion of the insulative housing can be made even slimmer. As a result, the overall thickness of the connector can be made even lower making it suitable for compact electronic devices. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an electrical connector  100  in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing  10  with a plurality of contacts  20  assembled therein. A metal shield  30  is assembled to the housing  10 , and a stopper  40  is provided at a rear portion of the housing  10 . 
         [0035]    The insulative housing  10  includes a base portion  110  and a mating portion  120 . The base portion  110  has a front end portion and a rear end portion. The mating portion  120  extends from the frond end of the base portion  110 . The mating portion or tongue portion  120  includes a tongue  120  having an upper tongue portion  121  and a lower tongue portion  122  which is in parallel to the upper tongue portion  121 . For description purpose, an upper surface of the upper tongue portion  121  is referred to as upper surface, while a lower surface of the lower tongue  122  is referred to as an external surface, while a lower surface of the upper tongue  121  and an upper surface of the lower tongue  122  are both referred to as internal surface. The inner surfaces of both the upper tongue  121  and the lower tongue  122  are face-to-face, while the upper surface of the tongue  121  and the lower surface of the tongue  122  are back-to-face. The inner surfaces of both the upper and lower tongue portions  121 ,  122  are defined with passageways  123  arranged offset and alternatively, see  FIG. 5  for details. The external surfaces are provided with ribs  124  so as to prevent the upper and lower tongue portions from warping thereby ensuring pre-determined coplanarity of the tongue portions  121  and  122 . Accordingly, the electrical reliability when mating with mating connector is thereby ensured. The plurality of contacts  20  are formed with retaining portion  210  secured on the base portion  110  of the housing  10 . Each contact  20  further includes a contact engaging portion  220  extending forward from the retaining portion  210  along the corresponding passageway  123 . The contact  20  also includes a solder tail portion  230  which is interconnected to the retaining portion  210  by means of a vertical connection portion (not labeled). A block  125  is formed on a front end portion of the passageway  123 , see  FIG. 6 , and which is located in front of a tip portion of the contact engaging portion n 220  of the contact  20  thereby protecting the contact  20  from being damaged during the mating. 
         [0036]    Referring to FIGS..  1  and  2 , the shield  30  includes an upper wall  310  and lower wall  320  and sidewalls  330  interconnecting the upper and lower walls  310 ,  320  thereby forming a frame encapsulating the housing  10 . A mating port (front portion) of Lhe upper wall  310  of the shield  30  is provided with a cutout portion  311  formed by punching out a           slot  312 , which is split from a front edge of the upper wall  310 . The cutout portion  311  is later bent downward for forming a tab  313 . The slot  312  can be also arranged into other shape. The tab  313  is generally perpendicular to the upper wall  310  and serving as a guiding device incorporating with a guiding slot  711  of a mated connector  200  (see  FIG. 7 ), thereby for providing a robust guiding arrangement when both connectors are mated. Detailed description will be given herebelow. An anti-disorientation arrangement  321  is arranged on a front end of the lower wall  320 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the contacts  20  are arranged into two groups each received in a corresponding passageways  123  which are arranged alternatively and offset from each other. The contacts  20  are each inserted from rear portion of the housing  10 . The stopper  40  is arranged and attached at the rear portion of the housing  10  and adjacent the vertical connection of the contact  20  so as to protect the contacts  20 , see  FIG. 4 . The stopper  40  is provided with a plurality of openings  41  in which a rear end of the retention portion of the contact  20  secured in the upper tongue portion  121  can be securely retained within the opening  41  thereby further positioning the contact  20 . The shield  30  is assembled to the housing  10  to the housing  10  along a mating direction. A rear flap portion  314  of the upper wall  310  of the shield  30  is then bent down right immediate to the stopper  40  to further secure the stopper  40  from detached from the housing  10 . The end walls  330  of the shield are provided with lock  331  such that the shield  30  is securely attached to the housing  10 , see  FIG. 6  for details. Referring also to  FIG. 6 , a first receiving space  101  is defined between the upper shielding portion  310  and the upper surface of the upper tongue  121 , while a second receiving space  102  is defined between the lower shielding portion  320  and the lower surface of the lower tongue  122 . The first and second receiving spaces  101  and  102  are used to receive the sidewall of the mating connector  200 . 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the metal shield  30  is provided with a cutout portion  311  which is later bent to form the guiding tab  313  which is parallel to the sidewall  330 . The guiding tab  313  works with the guiding slot  711  of the mating connector  200 , see  FIG. 7  for details, thereby correctly guiding the interconnection between those two connectors. As those two connectors are correctly guided and aligned, a short-circuit between two adjacent contacts in the connectors is effectively eliminated. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a receiving space  101  is defined between the upper wall  310  of the shield  30 , and the upper surface of the upper tongue  121 . In addition, the lower wall  320  and the external surface of the lower tongue  122  is also defined with a receiving space  102  for receiving a sidewall of a shield of a mating connector  200 . 
         [0040]    The stopper  40  in accordance with the present invention is located immediately behind the contacts  20 , and is securely attached to the housing  10 , accordingly, backward movement of the contact  20  when mated with the connector  20  is advantageously avoided. In addition, a push-down located at the flap portion  314  of the shield  30  is right abut against to the stopper  40  preventing the stopper  40  from detaching from the housing  10 . In addition, the flap portion  314  covers substantially the rear portion of the housing  10 , therefore further shielding the contacts  20  especially the connection portions of the contacts preventing from EML, and the stopper  40  blocks the connection portions  240  and the rear portion  314  so as to prevent the rear portion  314  of the shield from contacting the connection portions  240  such that the short circuit is avoid. 
         [0041]    The above described is merely a preferred embodiment, while the present invention can be implemented through other preferred forms. 
         [0042]    Alternatively, the push-down can be directly formed from the rear portion of the shield  30  and located only behind the stopper  40 . In this case, the push-down  315  prevents only the stopper  40  detaching from the housing  10 , while will not shield the contacts  20 . Alternatively, the push-down can directly press down to the stopper  40  preventing the stopper  40  from detaching. Further, alternatively, the vertical connection of the contact  20  can be set to have a pre-determined angle with respect to the solder tail portion. In this case, the vertical connection is merely a connection, while is not vertical with respect to the solder tail. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , an electrical connector made in accordance with the present invention includes an insulative housing  50  with a plurality of contact terminals  60  assembled therein. The connector further includes a metal shield  30  assembled to the outer surface of the housing  50 . 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , the insulative housing  50  includes an elongate base portion  510  with a mating portion  540  extending from the base portion  510 . The mating portion  540  has upper and lower surfaces (not labeled), as well as front and rear end surfaces. Both the upper and lower surfaces are defined with recesses portion  541  extending through the front end surface so as to define an opening for insertion. A mating tongue  542  is therefore defined between the upper and lower recessed portion  541 . The rest of the mating tongue  542 , especially adjacent sides of the recessed portion  541  is reinforced so as to form a platform  543  therefore securing the rigidity of the mating tongue  542 . By this arrangement, the bottom of the recessed portion  541  is also the top and bottom surfaces of the mating tongue  542 . The housing  50  further defines a plurality of passageways  530  arranged alternatively, and which extends from the base portion to the upper and lower surfaces of the mating tongue  542 . Detailed description will be given herebelow. 
         [0045]    Referring now to  FIGS. 11 to 13 , the contact terminals  60  are elastic contacts each received in the corresponding passageway  530 . Each contact terminal  60  includes a retaining portion  610  securing the contact in the housing  50 , and a contact engaging portion  620  extending forwardly from the retaining portion  610 , and a solder tail portion  630  extending rearward out of the housing  50 . The contact engaging portion  620  is directly formed from stamping a metal sheet, therefore keeping its original flexibility as well as mating capability. From a horizontal direction, the mating tongue  542  is defined with a central plane D. The passageway  530  for the contact engaging portion  620  is defined on the other side of the central plane D. This will not interfere with the passageway  530  which extends through the upper and lower surfaces, see  FIG. 11 , thereby increasing a room for the deflection of the contact engaging portion  620  during mating and unmating. As a result, the thickness of the housing  50  can be made even thinner and thinner. The solder tail portions  630  are arranged in upper and lower arrangement so as to form a “straddle” to receive a printed circuit board (not shown in Figure) therein. On the other hand, the contact engaging portion  620  is provided with an abutting portion  621  which presses against a block  546  formed on the front portion of the passageway  530 . This will further prevent the contact  60  from moving forward, and therefore securing it with respect to the passageway. 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the metal shield  70  is directly formed by stamping a metal sheet, and includes a first shielding portion  710 , a second shielding portion  720 , and a connection  730  interconnecting the first and second shielding portions  710  and  720 . The first and second shielding portions  710  and  720  each abut onto the upper and lower surfaces of the mating portion  540 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first and second shielding portions  710  and  720  are smoothly covering the upper and lower surfaces of the mating portion  540 , while the connection  730  is arranged on both sides of the front end portion of the mating portion  540 . The thickness of the platform  543  is equal to the mating portion  540 , accordingly, the first and second shielding portions  710  and  720  cover the platform  543 . The first shielding portion  710  is also defined with guiding slot  711  which extends into the platform  543  of the mating portion  540  for receiving the mating connector  200 , see  FIG. 14  for details. Accordingly, the connectors can be smoothly and correctly engaged. The second shielding portion  720  is provided with locking arm  721  bent upwardly. A latch  722  is formed on the front of the locking arm  721  so as to securely interlock the connectors after mating. 
         [0047]    The upper and lower surfaces of the mating portion  540  is each defined with the recessed portion  541 , and therefore defining the mating tongue  542  between the upper and lower recessed portions  541 . A first receiving space  800  is defined between the upper surface of the mating tongue  542  and the first shielding portion  720 , while a second receiving space  800  is defined between the lower surface of the mating tongue  542  and the second shielding portion  720 . Each of those receiving space  800  is used to receive a mating tongue of a mated connector (not shown). In the existing prior art, both sides of the receiving space  800  is provided with insulative portion, while in the present invention, one end of the receiving space is the insulative housing, while the other side is metal shield  70 . By this arrangement, the mating portion  540  of the connector can be made thinner and thinner thereby reducing the thickness of the connector. On the other hand, the passageway  530  behind the contact engaging portion  720  is recessed to the other side centered on the central plane D so as to increase the room for deflection of the contact engaging portion  720 . As a result, this arrangement can also be used so as to reduce the thickness of the connector. As a result, the overall thickness of the connector is reduced. 
         [0048]    The above described is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the connector in accordance with the present invention can be embodiment in other form. 
         [0049]    Alternatively, both ends of the mating tongue  542  can be discrete with respect to the platform  543  such that the mating tongue  542  is isolated from the platform  543 .