Abstract:
A receptacle electrical connector includes a metallic shell, an insulating bracket defining a receiving cavity, an upper member including a base portion and a mating portion and a lower insulating member distinct from and assembled with the base portion. The upper member is loaded with upper contacts with contacting portions arranged on an upper surface of the mating portion and a shielding plate is located between the upper and lower surface of the upper member. The lower member is loaded with lower contacts with contacting portions extending beyond a front edge of the lower insulating member and arranged on the lower surface of the mating tongue. The assembled base portion and the lower member is received in the receiving cavity of the insulating bracket and the mating portion extends beyond a front face of the insulating bracket and surrounding by the metallic shell to define a mating cavity thereamong.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/479,289, filed May 24, 2012, The content of each of the above-referenced U.S. patents is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector suitable for high-speed differential signal transmission having terminal portions in specific arrangement and a grounding plate for excellent high-frequency characteristics. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0003]    A connector capable of transmitting high-speed differential signals is used as an interface connector or an internal connector of a digital appliance or a PC. Such connector includes a plurality of signal contacts and a plurality of ground contacts. The signal contacts are paired in order to transmit differential signals in the manner known in the art. Generally, on the side of a fitting portion or a contacting portion side of the connector is fitted to or contacted with a mating connector. On the other hand, on the terminal portion side of the contacts to be connected to a board, the terminal portions are arranged in a plurality of rows because the terminal portions are inserted into a plurality of through holes, respectively. 
         [0004]    At present, transmission of high-speed differential signals is required in a growing number of software applications. Under the circumstances, there is a demand for an improved connector having a compact size, a low piece, and excellent high-frequency characteristics. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having terminal portions in specific arrangement and a grounding plate for excellent high-frequency characteristics. 
         [0006]    In order to achieve the object set forth, a receptacle electrical connector comprises a metallic shell, an insulating bracket defining a receiving cavity opening forward and downwards, and surrounding by the metallic shell, an upper insulating member including a base portion and a mating portion and a lower insulating member distinct from and assembled with the base portion of the upper insulating member. The mating portion defines an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper insulating member is loaded with upper contacts with contacting portions arranged on the upper surface of the mating portion and a shielding plate is located between the upper and lower surface of the upper insulating member. The lower member is loaded with lower contacts with contacting portions extending beyond a front edge of the lower insulating member and arranged on the lower surface of the mating tongue. The assembled base portion of the upper insulating member and the lower insulating member is received in the receiving cavity of the insulating bracket and the mating portion extends beyond a front face of the insulating bracket and surrounding by the metallic shell to define a mating cavity thereamong. 
         [0007]    Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is an assembled, perspective view of an electrical connector assembly including first and second connectors in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the electrical connector assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an assembled, perspective view of the first connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the first connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is another exploded view of the first connector shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of an upper member and a lower member of the first connector shown in  FIG. 1  with a plurality of first contacts retained therein; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is another exploded view of the upper member and the lower member shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a partly exploded perspective view of the first connector and shows an insulative bracket and a metal shell separated from the upper member and the lower member shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the first contacts and a grounding plate retained to a printed circuit board and shows arrangement of the contacting portions; 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a cross-section view of the electrical connector assembly taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of the second connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is another exploded perspective view of the second connector shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe a preferred embodiment of the present invention in detail. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an electrical connector assembly  1000  in accordance with the present invention includes a first connector  100  to be mounted onto a printed circuit board  300  and a second connector  200  mating with the first connector  100 . 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the first connector  100  mainly includes a first insulative housing  1 , a first grounding/shielding plate  2  retained in the first housing  1 , a plurality of first contacts retained in the first housing  1  and disposed at two opposite sides of the first grounding plate  2 , and a metal shell  5  surrounding the first housing  1 . 
         [0023]    The first housing  1  includes an upper member  11 , a lower member  12  engaging with the upper member  11  and an insulative bracket  4  retained to the upper and lower members  11 ,  12 . The upper member  11  defines a first base portion  111  and a mating portion  112  extending forward from the first base portion  111  with a stopping face  110  formed therebetween, the first base portion  111  defines two protrusions  13  rearward and outwardly extending from opposite two rear sides thereof, the mating portion  112  defines opposite first mating face  113  and second mating face  114 . A plurality of first receiving slots  115  is disposed upon the first mating face  113  and further run through the first base portion  111  in a mating direction, a plurality of second receiving slots  116  is disposed upon the second mating face  114  at a front portion thereof. The upper member  11  defines a receiving room/shallow recess  117  at a rear portion to be disposed behind the second receiving slots  116  and provides a step portion  119  at the mating portion  112 . The receiving room  117  further defines five receiving passages  118  run into the mating portion  112  and disposed between the first mating face  113  and the second mating face  114 . 
         [0024]    The lower member  12  defines a main body portion  121  and two supporting portions  122  respectively extending outwards from two opposite sides of the main body portion  121  at an upper rear portion thereof, five through holes  123  run through the main body portion  121  in a vertical direction perpendicularly to the mating direction and arranged in a longitudinal direction. The main body portion  121  further defines a plurality of retaining slots  124  recessed from a rear face thereof and two retaining posts  125  extending downwardly from two outer sides of a bottom face thereof. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 7 , the first grounding plate  2  defines a board-shaped first base plate  21 , five first shielding arms  22  extending forward from a front end of the first base plate  21 , and five connecting portions  23  corresponding to the five first shielding arms  22  bending downwardly from a rear end of the first base plate  21 . Three connecting legs  231  extend downwardly respectively from the first, third and fifth shielding arms  22 . The five first shielding arms  22  are disposed at a same plane. The first grounding plate  2  is received in the receiving room  117  with the first shielding arms  22  forwardly inserted into the corresponding receiving passages  118  and disposed between the first and second mating faces  113 ,  114 . 
         [0026]    The plurality of first contacts includes a set of first upper contacts  31  and a set of first lower contacts  32 . The set of first upper contacts  31  includes four pairs of upper differential pairs  31 A for signal transmission and five upper grounding contacts  31 B located at two opposite sides of the upper differential pairs  31 A. The upper differential pairs  31 A and the upper grounding contacts  31 B have similar configuration and each includes an upper retention section  311 , an upper blade contacting section  312  extending forward from the upper retention section  311 , a restricting portion  313  bending downwardly from the upper retention section  311  and a leg section  314  bending rearwards from the restricting portion  313 . The upper contacting sections  312  are disposed in a same plane, the leg sections  314  are also disposed in a same plane and arranged in one row, the leg sections  314  provide a mounting surface for mounting onto the printed circuit board  300 . The set of upper contacts  31  are forwardly assembled into the first receiving slots  115  with the upper retention sections  311  retained in the upper member  11 , the upper contacting sections  312  expose upon the first mating face  113 , the restricting portions  313  are disposed behind the connecting portions  23 . 
         [0027]    The set of first lower contacts  32  includes four pairs of lower differential pairs  32 A,  33 A,  32 B and  33 B arranged in a longitudinal direction for signal transmission and first and second lower grounding contacts  34 ,  35  having similar configuration, the set of lower contacts  32  are inserted molding in the lower member  12 . The first lower differential pairs  32 A and the third lower differential pairs  32 B have similar configuration, the second lower differential pairs  33 A and the fourth lower differential pairs  33 B have similar configuration. The first or third lower differential pairs  32 A or  32 B each defines a first terminal portion  322  and a first contacting section  321 , the second or fourth lower differential pairs  33 A or  33 B each defines a second terminal portion  332  and a second contacting section  331 . Each lower grounding contact  34 / 35  defines a base plate  340 , a tail section  342  bending downwardly from a rear end of the base plate  340 , and two grounding arms  341 ,  343  extending forwardly from two opposite sides of a front end of the base plate  340 . The first contacting sections  321 , the second contacting sections  331 , and the first and second grounding arms  341 ,  343  are disposed in a same plane and arranged in one row with one grounding arm  341 / 343  disposed between every adjacent two lower differential pairs. 
         [0028]    In this embodiment, the two first contacting sections  321  of the first lower differential pairs  32 A and the two second contacting sections  331  of the second lower differential pairs  33 A are respectively disposed at two opposite sides of a first grounding arm  341  of the first lower grounding contact  34 , the two first contacting sections  321  of the third lower differential pairs  32 B and the two second contacting sections  331  of the second lower differential pairs  33 A are respectively disposed at two opposite sides of a second grounding arm  343  of the second grounding contact  35 , the two first contacting sections  321  of the third lower differential pairs  32 B and the two second contacting sections  331  of the fourth lower differential pairs  33 B are respectively disposed at two opposite sides of a first grounding arm  341  of the second grounding contact  35 . The first and second grounding arms  341 ,  343  of the first lower grounding contact  34  are disposed at two outmost of the first contacting sections  321  of the first lower differential pairs  32 A, and the first and second grounding arms  341 ,  343  of the second lower grounding contact  35  are disposed at two outmost of the first contacting sections  321  of the third lower differential pairs  32 B. The first terminal portions  322 , the second terminal portions  332 , and the tail sections  342  are arranged in two rows under a condition that the first terminal portions  322  of the first and third lower differential pairs  32 A,  32 B are arranged in a first row, and the second terminal portions  332  of the second and fourth lower differential pairs  33 A,  33 B and the tail sections  342  of the first and second lower grounding contacts  34 ,  35  are arranged in a second row. The tail sections  342  of the first and second grounding contacts  34 ,  35  are disposed at two outmost of the second terminal portions  332  of the second lower differential pairs  33 A. The first and second terminal portions  322 ,  332  and the tail sections  342  in specific arrangement may provide excellent high-frequency characteristics of the first connector  100 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 to 10 , the lower member  12  retaining the set of lower contacts  32  is upwardly assembled to the upper member  11 . The main body portion  121  is received in the receiving room  117  and abuts against the step portion  119 , and the supporting portions  122  upwardly abut against the protrusions  13  to be defined as hooking portions  14 . The first contacting sections  321 , the second contacting sections  331 , and the first and second grounding arms  341 ,  343  are received in corresponding second receiving slots  116  and expose upon the second mating face  114 . The connecting portions  23  are received in the through holes  123  with the connecting legs  231  running therethrough, the restricting portions  313  retained in the retaining slots  124 , and the leg sections  314  located behind the connecting legs  231  and arranged in a third row. The first grounding plate  2  is disposed between the set of first upper contacts  31  and the set of first lower contacts  32  with each first shielding arm  22  disposed between a upper differential pairs  31 A of the first upper contacts  31  and a lower differential pairs  32 A,  33 A,  32 B or  33 B of the first lower contacts  32  for improved impedance. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 10 , the bracket  4  defines a front face  41 , a rear face  42  opposite to the front face  41 , a bottom face  43  defined as a fixing face, a top face  44  facing to the bottom face  43 , and a pair of sidewalls  45  connecting with the bottom and top faces  43 ,  44 . A receiving portion  46  is recessed rearwards from the front face  411  to run through the rear face  42  and a rear portion of the bottom face  43 , and the receiving portion  46  provides an opening  461  at the front face  41  thereof. The sidewalls  45  each defines a platform  451  extending towards the receiving portion  46  from an inner face of the sidewall  45 . The upper member  11  assembled with the lower member  12  is inserted into the receiving portion  46  from the rear face  42  of the bracket  4  and retained in the receiving portion  46  by the hooking portions  14  supported by the corresponding platforms  451  and locking with the sidewalls  45 . The mating portion  112  forwardly extends out of the receiving portion  46  from the opening  461  thereof. The first base portion  111  retaining with the main body portion  121  and the bracket  4  is defined as a base member  15  of the first connector  100 , and the mating portion  112  is defined as a mating member  16  of the first connector  100 . 
         [0031]    The metal shell  5  defines a shielding portion  51  surrounding the bracket  4 , and a mating frame  52  connecting with the shielding portion  51 . The shell  5  is assembled rearwards from the front face  41  of the bracket  4 , the shielding portion  51  surrounds the bracket  4 , and the mating member  16  is disposed in the mating frame  52 . 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 10  to  FIG. 12 , the second connector  200  mainly includes a second insulative housing  6 , a second grounding plate  7  retained to the second housing  6 , a plurality of second contacts  8  retained to the second housing  6 , and a second metal shell  9  shielding the second housing  6 . 
         [0033]    The second housing  6  defines a second base portion  61 , a first tongue portion  62  and a second tongue portion  63  oppositely extending forward from the second base portion  61 , and a mating room  64  disposed between the first and second tongue portions  62 ,  63 . The first tongue portion  62  defines a plurality of first receiving grooves  621  communicating with the mating room  64  and further run through the second base portion  61 , the second tongue portion  63  defines a plurality of second receiving grooves  631  communicating with the mating room  64  and further run through the second base portion  61 . 
         [0034]    The second grounding plate  7  defines a second base plate  71 , five second shielding arms  72  extending forward from a front end of the second base plate  71 , and two soldering portions  73  bending downwardly and extending rearwards from two sides of the second base plate  71 . The five second shielding arms  72  is disposed at a same plane. The second grounding plate  7  is insert-molded in the second housing  6  with the soldering portions  73  extending out of the second housing  6 . 
         [0035]    The plurality of second contacts  8  includes a set of second upper contacts  81  and a set of second lower contacts  82 . Each second upper contact defines a first fixing portion  811 , a first flexible contacting arm  812  extending forward from the first fixing portion  811  and bending downwardly, and an upper soldering leg  813  bending downwardly and then extending rearward from the first fixing portion  811 . Each second lower contacts  82  defines a second fixing portion  821 , a second flexible contacting arm  822  extending forward from the second fixing portion  821  and bending upwardly, and a lower soldering leg  823  bending upwardly and then extending rearward from the second fixing portion  821 . The plurality of second contacts  8  are assembled to the second housing  6  with the set of second upper contacts  81  retained in the first receiving grooves  621 , and the set of second lower contacts  82  retained in the second receiving grooves  631 . The first flexible contacting arms  812  and second flexible contacting arms  822  partly project into the mating room  64 , the second shielding arms  72  are disposed between the first fixing portions  811  and the second fixing portions  821  for improved impedance. The second shell  9  covers outside of the second housing  6  for shielding. 
         [0036]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.