Abstract:
An electrical connector for receiving a module ( 200 ) includes a shield ( 10, 11 ) defining a receiving space ( 104 ) for receiving the module, an FPC ( 3 ) received in the receiving space for electrically connecting the module and a support element connected to the FPC for maintaining an electrical connection between the FPC and the module.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector for mounting a camera module.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     With development of cellular mobile phones or the likes, a lot of additional functions such as taking pictures etc. are added to the mobile phones or the likes. In order to achieve functions such as taking pictures etc., camera modules are furnished to the mobile phones or the likes in virtue of electrical connectors.  
         [0005]     An electrical connector for connecting a camera module to a circuit board is disclosed in US application No. 2004/0068868. Such electrical connector comprises a square insulative housing and a plurality of conductive terminals. The insulative housing comprises a plurality of receiving slots on inside wall for receiving the conductive terminals. The camera module is retained in the insulative housing and electrically contacts with the conductive terminals. It is the disadvantage of the electrical connector that too much space of an electrical device are occupied by the insulative housing.  
         [0006]     China patent No. 1479506A discloses another electrical connector. This electrical connector comprises a FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) that defines one end soldering with a camera module, and another end connected with the circuit board of an electrical device. This art does not provide an insulative housing. However, assembling the camera module onto the FPC directly results in some problems. Specially, maintaining the electrical connector or changing the camera module needs to destroy a soldering portion formed between the camera module and the FPC. In addition, this electrical connector dose not provide a shielding. Therefore, this disadvantage results in poor anti-EMI (Electro Magnetic Interference) ability.  
         [0007]     Hence, an improved electrical connector is needed to solve the above problems.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     An object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector occupying small space.  
         [0009]     Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector having a good anti-EMI function.  
         [0010]     In order to attain the object above mentioned, an electrical connector for receiving a module, includes a shield defining a receiving space for receiving the module, an FPC received in the receiving space for electrically connecting the module and a support element connected to the FPC for maintaining an electrical connection between the FPC and the module.  
         [0011]     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  
       [0012]     The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. 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 like reference numerals identify like elements in the figures and in which:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electrical connector of the present invention which receives a module;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the electrical connector of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is an another exploded view of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is an assembled view of a lower shield and a support element;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is an another assembled view of the shield and the support element shown in  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is an assembled view of the electrical connector; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a side view of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]     Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail.  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  3 , an electrical connector  100  comprises a lower shield  10 , an upper shield  11 , a support element  2  and an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit)  3 . The connector  100  is adapted for receiving a camera module  200  therein. In an alternative embodiment, the electrical connector  100  may receive a memory module or the likes.  
         [0022]     The lower shield  10  is substantially rectangular case, comprising a bottom wall  105  and four lateral walls  101 ,  102 ,  103 ,  104  extending upwardly from the bottom wall  105  to thereby define a rectangular receiving space (not labeled) therebetween. In an alternative embodiment, the receiving space also takes a circular shape, a quadrate shape or anther shape. The bottom wall  105  has four through holes  106  paralleled with each other defined on a central portion thereof and a pair of recesses  107  respectively defined on both sides of the through holes  106 . The lateral walls  103 ,  104  each has a pair of protruding sections  108  projecting outwards from an outer surface thereof and being hollow inside. Each lateral wall  103 ,  104  defines thereon an anti-mismating indentation  109 . The lateral wall  102  has a cutout  1023  defined on a middle portion thereof. A first strip  1021  extends outwards from an edge of the bottom wall  105  and projects through the cutout  1023 . The first strip  1021  has a protrusion  1022  formed thereon.  
         [0023]     The upper shield  11  comprises a top wall  115  and four lateral walls  111 ,  112 ,  113 ,  114  extending downwardly from the top wall  115  to thereby define a receiving space (not labeled) therebetween. The top wall  115  has a receiving hole  116  defined on a central portion thereof for extension of the module  200 , a rectangular cutout  119  communicating with the receiving hole  116  and a plurality of holding tabs  117  protruding upwards along a periphery edge of the receiving hole  116 . Each holding tab  117  is formed with a dimple  118  at an uppermost thereof. Each lateral wall  113 ,  114  defines thereon a pair of rectangular notches  121  corresponding to the module  200 , and a resilient piece  124  stamped inwardly. The upper shield  11  has a second strip  122  perpendicularly extending from a bottom edge of the lateral wall  112 . The second strip  122  is formed with a protrusion  123  protruded towards the lower shield  10 .  
         [0024]     The support element  2  is a fishbone configuration and comprises a main portion  21  formed with four holding blades  23 . Two of the holding blades  23  are respectively formed on the two outer ends thereof and the other two of the holding blades  23  are approximately formed on the middle portion thereof. A plurality of resilient portions  22  extend from the both sides of the main portion  21  and are slantedly bent upwards the upper shield  11 .  
         [0025]     The FPC  3  comprises a rectangular first end portion  31 , a second end portion  32  and a connecting portion connecting the first end portion  31 , the second end portion  32  together. The first end portion  31  is formed with a bone portion  310  having a plurality of electronic circuits  311  provided therein. Each electronic circuit  311  has a conductive element (not labeled) exposed outside. The second end portion  32  is also provided with a plurality of electronic circuits (not labeled) thereon. The connecting portion  33  is formed with a plurality of grounding circuits (not labeled). The first portion  31  and the bottom wall  105  of the lower shield  10  have an equivalent size for allowing the first end portion  31  retained in the lower shield  10 . The connecting portion  33  has a width equivalent to that of the cutout  1023  of the lateral wall  102  of the lower shield  10 .  
         [0026]     The camera module  200  comprises a rectangular base portion  201  having two rows of conductive strips  207  provided on a bottom surface thereof, a columned protruding portion  202  extending upwardly from a center of the base portion  201  and a rectangular anti-mismating block  203  formed on one side of the base portion  201 . The base portion  201  has a pair of anti-mismating blocks  204  formed at a pair of opposite sides thereof corresponding to the anti-mismating indentations  109  of the lower shield  10 .  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIGS. 4, 5 ,  6 , in assembly, the support element  2  is firstly mounted into the lower shield  10 . The holding blades  23  are inserted into the corresponding through holes  106  of the lower shield  10 . The resilient portions  22  are respectively received into the corresponding recesses  107 . Secondly, the FPC  3  is assembled to the support element  2  and upwardly supported by the support element  2 . The first end portion  31  is positioned above the support element  2  and is retained in the receiving space of the lower shield  10 . The connecting portion  33  extends outwardly through the cutout  1023  of the lower shield  10 . The module  200  is then inserted into the receiving space of the lower shield  10  with the conductive strips  207  thereof electrically engaging with the conductive circuits  311  of the FPC  3 . The camera module  200  is electrically connected to the FPC  3 . Finally, the upper shield  11  is assembled to the camera module  200 , with the receiving hole  116  thereof receiving the protruding portion  202  and is buckled with the lower shield  10 . The anti-mismating block  203  is engaged with the cutout  119  of the upper shield  11 . The holding tabs  117  resist against the protruding portion  202 , with the dimples  118  thereof having an interference with the outer surface of the protruding portion  202 . The lower shield  10  is enclosed in the upper shield  11 , with protruding sections  108  thereof engaging with the notches  121  of the upper shield  11 . Thus, the resilient pieces  124  are respectively resisted against the lateral walls  103 ,  104 . At the same time, the protrusions  123  and  1022  are respectively connected to the grounding circuits (not labeled) of the FPC  3 . The first strip  1021  and the second strip  122  are thus electrically connected to the connecting portion  33  of the FPC  3 .  
         [0028]     The FPC  3  is mounted in the electrical connector  100  and electrically connects the module  200 . Thus, the height of the whole structure could be minished and the space occupied by the structure would be small. The support element  2  is assembled to the connector  100  to resiliently uphold the FPC  3 . Additionally, compared to the connector having a single shield, the connector  100  comprising the lower shield  10  and the upper shield  11  buckled with each other would make the connector  100  have a better anti-EMI function.  
         [0029]     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous, characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set fourth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosed is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of number, 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.