Abstract:
An electrical connector for electrically connecting with a complementary connector includes an insulative housing defining a number of contact-receiving passages, and a number of conductive contacts respectively received in the contact-receiving passages adapted for electrically connecting with conductive contacts of the complementary connector and generating heat. The insulative housing defines a pair of first heat-radiating channels located at opposite lateral sides thereof and extending through the insulative housing along a mating direction, and at least one second heat-radiating channel extending through the insulative housing along the mating direction and located between at least a pair of contact-receiving passages adjacent thereto. The heat generated by the conductive contacts is capable of radiated out of the insulative housing through the first heat-radiating channels and the at least one second heat-radiating channel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an electrical connector and an electrical connector assembly, more particularly to an electrical connector and an electrical connector assembly having heat-radiating structures. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Electrical connectors are widely used today. In general, electrical connectors can be classified as desktop connectors, laptop connectors, mobile phone connectors, consuming connectors, and other types. Power connector is one common kind electrical connector used in different equipments. Usually, a plug-type power connector and a receptacle-type power connector mate with each other to supply power to equipments. Contacts of the plug and the receptacle contact one another to form electrical connection. However, because of impedance of contacts, heat is generated and is not easy to be radiated out of the connectors. If the heat cannot be radiated out of the connectors in time, the heat accumulated in the connectors may cause different problems. For example, contacting portions of the contacts may produce carbon, melt, and excessive deformation etc. The insulative housing also may produce deformation, melt etc. Such phenomenon all can produce influence to reliability of power transmission and use life of the power connectors. 
         [0005]    Hence, it is disable to design an electrical connector to address problems mentioned above. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector with improved heat-radiating structures. 
         [0007]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly with improved heat-radiating structures. 
         [0008]    In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an electrical connector for electrically connecting with a complementary connector comprises an insulative housing defining a plurality of contact-receiving passages, and a plurality of conductive contacts respectively received in the contact-receiving passages adapted for electrically connecting with conductive contacts of the complementary connector and generating heat. The insulative housing defines a pair of first heat-radiating channels located at opposite lateral sides thereof and extending through the insulative housing along a mating direction, and at least one second heat-radiating channel extending through the insulative housing along the mating direction and located between at least a pair of contact-receiving passages adjacent thereto. The heat generated by the conductive contacts is capable of radiated out of the insulative housing through the first heat-radiating channels and the at least one second heat-radiating channel. 
         [0009]    In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an electrical connector assembly comprises a first connector and a second connector mating with the first connector. The first connector comprises a first insulative housing defining a plurality of contact-receiving passages, and a plurality of first conductive contacts received in the contact-receiving passages of the first insulative housing. The first insulative housing defines a pair of first heat-radiating channels located at opposite lateral sides thereof and extending through the first insulative housing along a mating direction, and at least one second heat-radiating channel extending through the first insulative housing along the mating direction and located between at least a pair of contact-receiving passages adjacent thereto. The second connector comprises a second insulative housing defining a plurality of contact-receiving passages, and a plurality of second conductive contacts received in the contact-receiving passages of the second insulative housing. The second insulative housing defines a pair of first heat-radiating passages located at opposite lateral sides thereof and extending therethrough along the mating direction, and at least one second heat-radiating passage extending through the second insulative housing along the mating direction and located between at least a pair of contact-receiving passages adjacent thereto. After the first and second connectors mate with each other, the first and second conductive contacts in electrical connection status generate heat. The first heat-radiating channels align with and communicate with the first heat-radiating passages. The second heat-radiating channel aligns with and communicates with the second heat-radiating passage. The heat generated by the first and second conductive contacts is capable of being radiated out of the first and second insulative housings via flowing through the first and second heat-radiating channels and first and second heat-radiating passages. 
         [0010]    The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter, which form the subject of the claims of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is an assembled, perspective view of a first connector (electrical connector) in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from a different aspect; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the first connector taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an assembled, perspective view of a second connector (electrical connector) in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4 , but viewed from a different aspect; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the second connector taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is an assembled, perspective view of an electrical connector assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector assembly taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector assembly taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of the circled part in  FIG. 9  which illustrates the heat-radiating paths clearly; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector assembly taken along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 7 ; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector assembly taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known circuits have been shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail. For the most part, details concerning timing considerations and the like have been omitted inasmuch as such details are not necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present invention and are within the skills of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art. 
         [0025]    Reference will be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail, wherein depicted elements are not necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are designated by same or similar reference numeral through the several views and same or similar terminology. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a first connector  1  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. In the preferred embodiment, the first connector  1  is a receptacle connector. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the first connector  1  comprises a first insulative housing  2  and a plurality of first conductive contacts  3  assembled in the first insulative housing  2 . In the preferred embodiment, there are eight first conductive contacts  3 . 
         [0027]    In the preferred embodiment, the first insulative housing  2  comprises a rectangular first base portion  21  and a first mating portion  20  extending forwardly from middle of a front surface of the first base portion  21 . A front surface  201  of the first mating portion  20  is of elliptic shape. Two rows of contact-receiving passages  22  in upper and lower relationship penetrate from the front surface  201  of the first mating portion  20  to a rear surface  210  of the first base portion  21  of the first insulative housing  2 . A pair of arc-shape protrusions  202  extends forwardly from opposite lateral sides of the front surface  201  and each forms a contacting surface  2020  for contacting with a second connector  4 . The arc-shape protrusions  202  also can be treated as being recessed from the front surface  201  of the first mating portion  20 . 
         [0028]    Now, heat-radiating structures of the first connector  1  will be introduced in detail. The heat-radiating structures comprise a third heat-radiating channel  23 , and first and second heat-radiating channels  25 ,  24  which respectively communicate with the third heat-radiating channel  23 . The third heat-radiating channel  23  is defined by the front surface  201  of the first mating portion  20  and the pair of protrusions  202 . The second heat-radiating channels  24  penetrate from the front surface  201  of the first mating portion  20  to the rear surface  210  of the first base portion  21 . In the preferred embodiment, there are three second heat-radiating channels  24 . If we define an upper contact-receiving passage  22  and a lower contact-receiving passage  22  as one group, then, each second heat-radiating channel  24  is located between two groups of aligned upper and lower contact-receiving passages  22 . Please refer to  FIG. 2  in particular, each second heat-radiating channel  24  communicates with the four contact-receiving passages  22  of the two groups. The first heat-radiating channels  25  are of rectangular shape and penetrate from the contacting surfaces  2020  of the protrusions  202  to the rear surface  210  of the first base portion  21 . A slot  203  for preventing from mating wrongly with the second connector  4  is defined through the left lateral wall of the first mating portion  20 . A pair of standoffs  212  is formed on the rear surface  210  of the first base portion  21  and locates adjacent to upper and lower sides of the first heat-radiating channels  25  for supporting the first insulative housing  2  on a printed circuit board (not shown) and also for heat radiation. 
         [0029]    In combination with  FIG. 8 , each first conductive contact  3  comprises a first mating section  31  received in a front section of the contact-receiving passage  22 , a first retaining section  32  interferentially received in a rear section of the contact-receiving passage  22 , and a first mounting section  33  extending rearward from the first retaining section  32  and beyond the rear surface  210  of the first base portion  21 . Please refer to  FIG. 2 , because the second heat-radiating channel  24  communicates with four adjacent contact-receiving passages  22 , the first retaining sections  32  of the first conductive contacts  3  are partially exposed into the second heat-radiating channel  24 . Therefore, better heat radiating effect can be achieved. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 4-6 , the second connector  4  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. In the preferred embodiment, the second connector  4  is a plug connector. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the second connector  4  comprises a second insulative housing  5  and a plurality of second conductive contacts  6  assembled to the second insulative housing  5 . In the preferred embodiment, there are eight second conductive contacts  6 . 
         [0031]    The second insulative housing  5  comprises a rectangular second base portion  51  and a second mating portion  50  of elliptic-shape and extending from a rear surface of the second base portion  51 . The second insulative housing  5  defines two rows of contact-receiving passages  52  in upper and lower relationship which penetrate through the second base portion  51 . The second mating portion  50  comprises a mating surface  501  contacting the contacting surface  2020  of the first insulative housing  2 . A rib  502  is formed in the inner surface of a right side wall of the second mating portion  50  and extends along front-to-back direction for mating with the slot  203  of the first insulative housing  2  to prevent from wrong cooperation between the second and first connectors  4 ,  1 . 
         [0032]    Now, heat-radiating structures of the second connector  4  will be introduced in detail. The second connector  4  comprises a pair of first heat-radiating passages  55  and three second heat-radiating passages  54 . The second heat-radiating passages  54  penetrate through the second base portion  51  along front-to-back direction and each is located between two groups of aligned contact-receiving passages  52  (the group has the same meaning as in the first connector  1 ). The first heat-radiating passages  55  are located at left and right lateral sides of the second base portion  51  and penetrate through the second base portion  51  along front-to-back direction. A pair of ribs  550  is disposed in the second base portion  51  to separate each first heat-radiating passage  55  into upper and lower halves. 
         [0033]    In combination with  FIG. 8 , the second conductive contact  6  comprises a second mating section  61  exposed into the second mating portion  50 , a second retaining section  62  interferentially received in the contact-receiving passage  52 , and an L-shape second mounting section  63  extending from the second retaining section  62  and exposed beyond a rear surface of the second base portion  51 . 
         [0034]    Please refer to  FIGS. 7-12 , an electrical connector assembly  100  in accordance with the present invention is formed by mated first and second connectors  1 ,  4 . What should be pointed out is the first and second connectors  1 ,  4  are the electrical connectors in accordance with the present invention. When mated, the first mating portion  20  of the first insulative housing  2  is inserted into the second mating portion  50  of the second insulative housing  5  until the mating surface  501  of the second mating portion  50  abuts against the front surface of the first base portion  21  with the second mating sections  61  of the second conductive contacts  6  inserted into the first mating sections  31  of the first conductive contacts  3  to form electrical connection. Please refer to  FIGS. 6-12  in particular, the electrical connector assembly  100  comprises a pair of first heat-radiating passageways  103  formed by the first heat-radiating channels  25  and the first heat-radiating passages  55  which are aligned with and communicate with one another, three second heat-radiating passageways  102  formed by the second heat-radiating channels  24  and the second heat-radiating passages  54  which are aligned with and communicate with one another, and the third heat-radiating passageway/channel  23 . 
         [0035]    Therefore, after the first and second connectors  1 ,  4  form electrical connection therebetween, the first and second conductive contacts  3 ,  6  begin to product heat. The heat can be radiated to the outside in time (referring to arrow directions) through the first, second and third heat-radiating passageways  103 ,  102 ,  23 . The temperature of the first and second insulative housing  2 ,  5  and the first and second conductive contacts  3 ,  6  can be decreased effectively. Please refer to  FIG. 10 , according to the directions indicated by the arrows, the heat flows from the third heat-radiating passageways  23  toward the first and second heat-radiating passageways  103 ,  102  and is led out by the first and second heat-radiating passageways  103 ,  102 . Please refer to  FIG. 12  specially, since the contact-receiving passages  22  communicate with the second heat-radiating channels  24  partially, the heat generated by the first and second conductive contacts  3 ,  6  also can be guided out from the contact-receiving passages  22  to the second heat-radiating channels  24  then to outside. At the same time, the first conductive contacts  3  partially exposed in the second heat-radiating channels  24  can be heat-radiated more effectively thus temperatures thereof can be decreased significantly. 
         [0036]    The existence of these heat-radiating passageways  102 ,  103 ,  23  are capable of not only radiating heat effectively to prevent the insulative housings  2 ,  5  and the conductive contacts  3 ,  6  from producing different kinds of problems, but also assuring rigidity of the insulative housings  2 ,  5 . 
         [0037]    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. For example, the tongue portion is extended in its length or is arranged on a reverse side thereof opposite to the supporting side with other contacts but still holding the contacts with an arrangement indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.