Abstract:
An audio jack connector suits to selectively engaging with either a first multi-pole plug or a second multi-pole plug having more poles than the first multi-pole plug, each of the multi-pole plugs has a plurality of poles insulated with each other by insulating rings arranged therebetween. The audio jack connector includes an insulating housing having a chamber extending inward from a front thereof, and terminal groups. A plurality of grooves are defined in the insulating housing and connect to the chamber. The terminal groups are disposed in the corresponding grooves and project into the chamber, when either of the first and the second multi-pole plugs is respectively inserted into the chamber, the terminal groups are against the multi-pole plug, wherein at least one of the terminal groups is against one of the insulating rings of the first multi-pole plug.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This present invention relates to a connector, and more specifically to an audio jack connector suitable for engaging with at least two different multi-pole plugs. 
         [0003]    2. The Related Art 
         [0004]    An earphone connects with an electronic device via an audio jack connector, such as a MP3, a mobile phone. With the audio jack connector, a user can listen to the audio signals delivered through the electronic device. 
         [0005]    At present, the audio jack connector arranged in the electronic device just connects with a kind of audio plug which is arranged in the end of the earphone, such as a tri-pole plug, a four-pole plug. In order to connect a tri-pole plug and a four-pole plug, the electronic device must arrange two audio jack connectors to receive the two plugs respectively, then the volume of the electronic device is large for the two plugs arranged in the electronic device, the cost of the electronic device rises. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    An object of the invention is to provide an audio jack connector adapted for selectively engaging with either a first multi-pole plug or a second multi-plug having more poles than the first multi-pole plug. Both the poles of the first and the second multi-pole plugs are respectively arranged along an axis direction of the first and the second multi-pole plugs and insulated with each other by insulating rings arranged therebetween. The audio jack connector includes an insulating housing and a plurality of terminal groups. The insulating housing has a chamber extending along a longitudinal direction thereof and opening to a front face thereof for mating with the multi-pole plug, a plurality of grooves are defined in the insulating housing and connect to the chamber. The terminal groups are disposed in the respective grooves of the insulating housing and project into the chamber. An amount of the terminal groups equals to that of the poles of the second multi-pole plug which has most poles so that the poles can physically and electrically contact the terminal groups one-to-one, and one of the terminal groups are configured for physically contacting one of the insulating rings of the multi-pole plug which has less poles. 
         [0007]    As above description, the audio jack connector can connect at least two different multi-pole plugs, the volume and the cost of the electronic device where the audio jack connector is arranged are reduced. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The invention, together with its objects and the advantages thereof may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an audio jack connector according to the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the audio jack connector; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view showing the audio jack connector; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the audio jack connector for showing the assembly relation between a sixth contact terminal, a seventh contact terminal and an insulating housing of the audio jack connector; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view showing a tri-pole plug inserted in the audio jack connector; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view showing a four-pole plug inserted in the audio jack connector. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0015]    The present invent discloses an audio jack connector which is suitable for engaging with either a first multi-pole plug  30  or a second multi-pole plug  40  having more poles than the first multi-pole plug  30 . Please referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the audio jack connector  1  includes an insulating housing  10  and a plurality of terminals received in the insulating housing  10 . The insulating housing  10  showing a rectangular solid shape has a bottom surface  11 , a front end surface  12 , a rear end surface  13 . The bottom surface  11  defines a plurality of grooves which include a first groove  101 , a second groove  102 , a third groove  103 , a fourth groove  104 , a fifth groove  105 , a sixth groove  106  and a seventh groove  107 , and a first resisting block  106   a  and a second resisting block  107   a  are formed in the sixth groove  106  and the seventh groove  107  respectively. The front end surface  12  extends outward to form a joint  14  showing a column shape. The insulating housing  10  has a chamber  15  extended inward from the front of the joint  14  along an axis direction of the insulating housing  10 . The chamber  15  is used to receive either of the multi-pole plugs  30 ,  40 . A platform  16  protrudes inward from one side of the insulating housing  10  and is located in the third groove  103 . 
         [0016]    In  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the terminals received in the insulating housing  10  are divided into four terminal groups which are named as a first terminal group  201 , a second terminal group  202 , a third terminal group  203  and a fourth terminal group  204 . The first terminal group  201  includes a first terminal  21  and a second terminal  22 , which are received in the first groove  101  and the second groove  102  respectively. The first terminal  21  has a first fixing portion  212  fixed in the first groove  101 , a first connecting arm  211  and a first elastic arm  210 . The first fixing portion  212  shows a rectangular-ring shape, a bottom of the first fixing portion  212  extends inward to form the first connecting arm  211 . The first connecting arm  211  shows a strip shape, when the first terminal  21  is received in the first groove  101 , the first connecting arm  211  is located under the bottom surface  11 . A front of the first fixing portion  212  extends rearward and bends inward to form the first elastic arm  210 , and a rear end of the first elastic arm  210  extends to form a first contact portion  213  which extends into the chamber  15 . The second terminal  22  has a second fixing portion  222  which is received in the second groove  102  and resists the first elastic arm  210 , and a second connecting arm  221 . The second connecting arm  221  extends inward from a bottom of the second fixing portion  212 , and the second connecting arm  221  is located under the bottom surface  11 . When either of the plugs  30 ,  40  is inserted into the chamber  15  of the insulating housing  10 , the first contact portion  213  is pressed by either of the plugs  30 ,  40 , and the first elastic arm  210  separates with the second fixing portion  222 . 
         [0017]    The second terminal group  202  includes a third terminal  23  and a fourth terminal  24 , which are received in the third groove  103  and the fourth groove  104 . The third terminal  23  has a fixing plate  232  showing a vertical board, a third connecting arm  231  and an third elastic arm  230 . A bottom of the fixing plate  232  extends inward to form the third connecting arm  231 . A front end of the fixing plate  232  extends inward to form the third elastic arm  230 , a front of the third elastic arm  230  projects inward to form a third contact portion  233  which projects into the chamber  15 . The middle of the third elastic arm  230  projects outward to form a lump  234 . The structure of the fourth terminal  24  is the same to the second terminal  22 . A free end of the third contact portion  233  is supported by the platform  16  when the third terminal  23  is received in the third groove  103 . The fourth terminal  24  has a fourth fixing portion  242  which is inserted in the fourth groove  104  and resists the elastic arm  230 , and a fourth connecting arm  241 . A bottom of the fourth fixing portion  242  extends inward to form the fourth connecting arm  241 . The fourth connecting arm  241  is located under the bottom surface  11 . When either of the plugs  30 ,  40  is inserted into the chamber  15  of the insulating housing  10 , the third contact portion  233  is pressed by either of the plugs  30 ,  40 , and the third elastic arm  230  separates with the fourth fixing portion  242 . 
         [0018]    The third terminal group  203  includes a fifth terminal  25  which is received in the fifth groove  105 . The fifth terminal  25  has a fifth fixing portion  252 , a fifth connecting arm  251  and a fifth elastic arm  250 . A top of the fifth fixing portion  252  curves inward to form the fifth elastic arm  250 , a bottom end of the fifth fixing portion  252  extends inward to form the fifth connecting arm  251 . The fifth fixing portion  252  is received in the fifth groove  105 . The middle of the fifth elastic arm  250  projects inward to form a fifth contact portion  253 . The fifth contact portion  253  projects into the chamber  15 . The fifth connecting arm  251  is located under the bottom surface  11 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , the fourth terminal group  204  includes a sixth terminal  26  and a seventh terminal  27 , which are received in the sixth groove  106  and the seventh groove  107  respectively. The sixth terminal  26  has a sixth fixing portion  262 , a sixth connecting arm  261  and a sixth elastic arm  260 . A bottom of the sixth fixing portion  262  extends inward to form the sixth connecting arm  261 , the sixth connecting arm  261  is located under the bottom surface  11  when the sixth terminal  26  is inserted into the sixth groove  106 . A top end of the sixth fixing portion  262  curves inward to form the sixth elastic arm  260 . A bottom of the sixth elastic arm  260  extends inward to form a sixth contact portion  263 . The middle of the sixth contact portion  263  projects downward to form a sixth projection  264 . When the sixth terminal  26  is inserted into the sixth groove  106 , the sixth fixing portion  262  is received in the sixth groove  106 , the sixth projection  264  projects into the chamber  15 , an end of the sixth contact portion  263  resists the first resisting block  106   a . The structure of the seventh terminal  27  is similar with the sixth terminal  26 , and the seventh terminal  27  and the sixth terminal  26  are arranged symmetrically in the insulating housing  10 . The seventh terminal  27  includes a seventh fixing portion  272 , a seventh connecting arm  271  and a seventh elastic arm  270 . A bottom of the seventh fixing portion  272  extends inward to form the seventh connecting arm  271 , the seventh connecting arm  271  is located under the bottom surface  11  when the seventh terminal  27  is inserted into the seventh groove  107 . A top end of the seventh fixing portion  272  curves inward to form the seventh elastic arm  270 . A bottom of the seventh elastic arm  270  extends inward to form a seventh contact portion  273 . The middle of the seventh contact portion  273  projects downward to form a seventh projection  274 . When the seventh terminal  27  is inserted into the seventh groove  107 , the seventh fixing portion  272  is received in the seventh groove  107 , the seventh projection  274  projects into the chamber  15 , an end of the seventh contact portion  273  resists the second resisting block  107   a.    
         [0020]    The first multi-pole plug  30  is a tri-pole plug and the second multiple plug  40  is a four-pole plug in this embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The tri-pole plug  30  has a front pole  31 , a middle pole  32 , an end pole  33 , a first insulating ring  30   a  arranged between the front pole  31  and the middle pole  32 , and a second insulating ring  30   b  arranged between the middle pole  32  and the end pole  33 . The four-pole plug  40  has a front pole  41 , a middle pole  42 , a rear pole  43 , an end pole  44  and three insulating portions  40   a . The insulating portions  40   a  are arranged between the four poles of the four-pole plug  40  to segregate the four poles. The length of the tri-pole plug  30  and the length of the four-pole plug  40  are approximately equivalent. 
         [0021]    When the tri-pole plug  30  is inserted into the audio jack connector  1 , the front pole  31  presses the first contact portion  213 , the first elastic arm  210  separates with the second fixing portion  222  of the second terminal  22 . The middle pole  32  presses the second contact portion  233 , the second elastic arm  230  separates with the fourth fixing portion  242  of the fourth terminal  24 . The fifth contact portion  253  presses the second insulating ring  30   b , and the sixth projection  264  and the seventh projection  274  press the end pole  33 . 
         [0022]    When the four-pole plug  40  is inserted into the audio jack connector  1 , the front pole  41  presses the first contact portion  213 , the first elastic arm  210  separates with the second fixing portion  222  of the second terminal  22 . The middle pole  42  presses the second contact portion  233 , the second elastic arm  230  separates with the fourth fixing portion  242  of the fourth terminal  24 . The fifth contact portion  253  presses the rear pole  43 , and the sixth projection  264  and the seventh projection  274  press the end pole  44 . 
         [0023]    As above description, the audio jack connector  1  can connect the tri-pole plug  30  and the four-pole plug  40 . When the audio jack connector  1  is arranged in an electronic device, the volume and the cost of the electronic device are reduced. 
         [0024]    An embodiment of the present invention has been discussed in detail. However, this embodiment is merely a specific example for clarifying the technical contents of the present invention and the present invention is not to be construed in a restricted sense as limited to this specific example. Thus, the spirit and scope of the present invention are limited only by the appended claims.