Abstract:
An electrical connector of the present invention includes an insulating housing ( 2 ) mounting a plurality of terminals ( 3 ) and a metallic shell ( 1 ) surrounding the insulating housing ( 2 ). The insulating housing ( 2 ) defines a plurality of terminal grooves ( 24 ) therein. A plurality of terminals ( 3 ) mounted on the insulating housing ( 2 ), each comprises a mating portion ( 312,322 ) received in the terminal groove ( 24 ) and a solder portion ( 315,325 ) extending out of the terminal groove. A terminal solder coplanarity means is provided at a rear portion of the housing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) connector providing a better coplanarity for terminal solders. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Nowadays, Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) have become the main choice as the output device for use in Audio/Video (AV) products. The increasing role of LCDs in AV products has created a need for connectors capable of transmitting digital signals between the LCDs and AV products. Therefore, a HDMI connector is provided as a transmission interface utilized for transmitting high definition multimedia digital signals, including high fidelity images and multi-channel audio signals. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,986,681 issued to Tsai on Jan. 17, 2006 discloses a HDMI connector comprising an insulating housing, a metallic shell and a plurality of terminals set in an upper row and a lower row. Each terminal comprises an elongated mating portion secured in a terminal groove defined on a terminal block which extends from a front surface of the insulating housing, and a solder portion bending downward from the mating portion and received in a positioning channel defined on a rear of the insulating housing. The positioning channel runs through a bottom wall of the insulating housing, therefore the solder portion of each terminal is in a hanging position and may stagger in a front-to-back direction, which is not advantage for keeping the coplanarity of the terminal solder portions when the connector is mounting onto a printed circuit board (PCB). More, as the terminal solder portions of the connector are under the bottom of the insulating housing, the whole connector will be disposed on one side of the PCG, which is not benefit for saving the space of the PCB. Hence, a new design which can overcome the problem is required. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector providing a better coplanarity for terminal solders. 
   In order to achieve the object set forth, an electrical connector comprises an insulating housing defining a plurality of terminal grooves therein; a metallic shell surrounding the insulating housing; and a plurality of terminals mounted on the insulating housing, each comprising a mating portion received in the terminal groove and a solder portion extending out of the terminal groove; wherein a terminal solder coplanarity means is provided at a rear surface of the housing. 
   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 
       FIG. 1  is an assembled perspective view of an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is another exploded perspective view of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a pair of terminals of the electrical connector; 
       FIG. 5  is another assembled perspective view of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 6  is a partly-amplified perspective view of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe a preferred embodiment of the present invention in detail. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention comprises a metallic shell  1 , an insulating housing  2  and a plurality of terminals  3 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the metallic shell  1  is made by bending a rectangular metal plate and forms a folded structure, defining a receiving space  10  therein. The shell  1  comprises an upper wall  11 , a lower wall  13  parallel to and shorter than the upper wall  11  in a transverse direction, and two side walls  12  extending downward from the upper wall and bending inwardly at a lower portion thereof to connect with the lower wall  13 . Two resilient sheets  14  are symmetrical formed at opposite ends of the upper wall  11  and lower wall  13  respectively and projecting to the receiving space  10  at each distal end. See  FIG. 3 , on a back end of the upper wall  11 , a pair of slot  111  is opened rearward and a pair of solder tails  15  is formed at the transverse ends. A pair of solder tails  15  is also formed at the side walls projecting outward and bending downward. A pair of holding arms  134  is extending upward from a back end of the lower wall  13 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the insulating housing  2  has a rectangular main body  21 , a flat tongue plate  23  projecting from a front surface of the main body  21 . A plurality of terminal grooves  24  arranged at intervals is respectively defined on an upper and a lower surface of the tongue plate  23 . The terminal groove  24  runs through the tongue plate  23  and the main body  21  in a front-to-back direction and forms an opening at each distal end. At a bottom portion of the front surface of the main body  21 , an irregular channel  22  is defined. On a top surface of the main body  21 , a pair of protrusions  211  is projecting upward. See  FIG. 3 , a recess  25  is defined at a rear surface of the main body  21 , which is recessing from a bottom wall of the main body  21  and terminating at a top portion of the rear surface above the openings of the terminal grooves  24 . A plurality of positioning channels  252  arranged at intervals is defined on a roof  251  of the recess  25  along the front-to-back direction and parallel to the terminal grooves  24 . Two through holes  223  are defined at a lower portion of the recess  25  and communicating with the irregular channel  22 . 
   Please look at  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the terminals  3  are arranged at two rows and respectively retained in the upper and lower terminal grooves  24 . Each upper terminal  32  comprises an elongated mating portion  322  with a locking portion  321  projecting downward, a bending portion  324 , and a solder portion  325  extending rearward from root of the bending portion  324  and parallel to the mating portion  322 . See  FIG. 6 , each solder portion  325  comprises a first section  3251  connecting with the bending portion  324  and a second section  3252  extending forward from first section  3251  straightly. A plurality of tips  3221  is formed at both sides of the mating portion  322 . The lower terminals  31  are similar to the upper terminals  32  and the only difference is that the locking portion  311  extends upward. 
   Please look at  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the terminals  3  are inserted into the terminal grooves  24  from the rear openings on the main body  21  until the locking portions  321  are fixed in the front openings on the tongue plate  23 . The mating portions  32  are secured in the terminal grooves  24  and the tips  3221  are interfering with the inner side of the terminal grooves  24 . The bending portions  324  are relied on the rear surface of the main body  21 . As the bending portions  324  of the lower terminals  32  are longer than that of the upper terminals  31 , the first section of the solder portions  315 , 325  are retained in the corresponding positioning channels  252  at a same level which can keep the solder portions  315 ,  325  of the terminals in a coplanarity position, and the second section of the solder portions  315 ,  325  are projecting outward for soldering on a PCB. 
   The insulating housing  2  with terminals  3  mounted thereon is inserted into the shell  1  from the rear end with tongue plate  23  projecting to the receiving space  10 , the protrusion portions  211  are received in the slots  111  and the rear end of lower wall  13  is received in the irregular channel  22 . The holding arms  134  are running through the through holes  223  and then bent downward, at this rate, the shell  1  is secured on the insulating housing  2 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   In this invention, the positioning channels  252  defined on the roof of the recess  25  provide an easy manner for maintain the solder portions  315 , 325  in a coplanarity position, which is helpful for soldering the connector onto the PCB. More, when the connector is mounted onto the PCB, the connector will be sinking in the PCB as the solder portions is set on the roof of the recess  25 , which is benefit for saving the space of the PCB. 
   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.