Abstract:
A connector ( 100 ) includes an insulative housing ( 1 ) having a receiving slot ( 141 ) formed therein; an optical module ( 3 ) for transmitting optical data and being movably received in the receiving slot; a metal spring member ( 4 ) sandwiched between the insulative housing and the optical module for biasing the optical module to move in the receiving slot ( 141 ); a metal shell ( 7 ) shielding the insulative housing; and a shorting member ( 40 ) electrically connecting the spring member ( 4 ) and the metal shell ( 7 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a connector, more particularly to a connector having an optical module for transmitting optical data. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    At present, Universal Serial BUS (USB) is a widely used input/output interface adapted for many electronic devices, such as personal computer and related peripherals. In 1994, Intel, HP, IBM, NEC etc. together founded USB-IF to define a spec of USB. Nowadays, USB-IF has published several editions for USB, and transmitting rate of USB has became higher and higher. As development of electronic industry, higher transmitting rate of USB based connection accessory is needed. 
         [0005]    An optical universal serial bus (OUSB) has been disclosed to be adopted for optical data transmission. The OUSB includes a USB connector with a number of lenses embedded in the USB connector and further connected with respective fibers for transmitting optical signal. Therefore, the OUSB can transmit signals up to 10 Gbps. However, as the lens are fixed to the USB connector, and they may fail to mate with counterparts if excessive clearance exits in manufacturing process. 
         [0006]    Hence, an improved connector with a floatable optical module is desired to overcome the above problems. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to one aspect of the present invention, a connector comprises: an insulative housing having a receiving slot formed therein; an optical module for transmitting optical data and being movably received in the receiving slot; a metal spring member sandwiched between the insulative housing and the optical module for biasing the optical module to move in the receiving slot; a metal shell shielding the insulative housing; and a shorting member electrically connecting the spring member and the metal shell. 
         [0008]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a connector comprises: an insulative housing having a base portion and a tongue portion extending forwardly from the base portion, the tongue portion having a receiving slot recessed downwardly from an upper surface thereof; a plurality of contacts retained in a lower surface of the tongue portion; an optical module for transmitting optical data and being movably received in the receiving slot along a front-to-back direction; a metal spring member being retained in the insulative housing for forwardly biasing the optical module; and a metal shell shielding the tongue portion and covering the receiving slot. Wherein the spring member and the metal shell are electrically connected with each other via a shorting member. 
         [0009]    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 
         [0010]    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: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is an assembled, perspective view of a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but viewed from another aspect; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a partially assembly view of the connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the connector taken along line  5 - 5  shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is an assembled, perspective view of a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a partially assembly view of the connector shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a partly exploded perspective view of the connector shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the connector taken along line  9 - 9  shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is an assembled, perspective view of a connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a partially assembly view of the connector shown in  FIG. 10 ; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the connector taken along line  12 - 12  shown in  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    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. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , A connector  100  according to the present invention of a first embodiment is a plug of a USB connector cable assembly and comprises an insulative housing  1 , a set of contacts  2  attached to the insulative housing  1 , an optical module  3  for transmitting optical data and being coupled to the insulative housing  1 , a compression coil spring  4  for urging the optical module  3  moving forwardly, a metal shorting member  40  seated on the compression coil spring  4 , a spacer  5  retained in the insulative housing  1 , an insulator  6  for engaging with the spacer  5 , a shell  7  shielding the insulative housing  1 , a plastic case  8  surrounding shell  7 , and a cable  9  for electrical connection to the contacts  2 . The shell  7  includes a first metal shell  71  and a second metal shell  72  coupled to the first metal shell  71 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , The insulative housing  1  includes a base portion  13  and a tongue portion  14  extending forwardly from a front end of the base portion  13 . The base portion  13  has a depression  132  recessed upwardly from a lower surface thereof for retaining the spacer  5  and a set of retaining slots  131  formed on an upper surface for retaining the contacts  2 . The tongue portion  14  has a receiving slot  141  recessed downwardly from an upper surface thereof, a recessed portion  144  recessed downwardly from the upper surface and located behind the receiving slot  141 . The recessed portion  144  has a first groove  1442  recessed downwardly therefrom and forwardly communicating with the receiving slot  141 , a set of narrower second grooves  143  located behind the first groove  1442  and communicating with the first groove  1442 , and a cavity  142  recessed downwardly in the first groove  1442  and forwardly communicating with the receiving slot  141  for receiving the compression coil spring  4 . The recessed portion  144  has a resisting wall  146  located behind the cavity  142  and a post  1421  extending forwardly from the resisting wall  146  into the cavity  142  for retaining a rear end of the compression coil spring  4 . The tongue portion  14  has a reception groove  149  located under the receiving slot  141  and upwardly communicating with the receiving slot  141 . The reception groove  149  is located under a front end of the compression coil spring  4  to provide a space for the compression coil spring  4  vibrating in a height direction of the connector  100 . The insulative housing  1  has a pair of third grooves  140  located behind the second grooves  143  and forwardly communicating with the second grooves  143 . The third groove  140  is wider than the second groove  143  and narrower than the first groove  1442  in a transverse direction. The tongue portion  14  has a V-shaped first stopping portion  145  located at front and midst of the receiving slot  141 , a pair of second stopping portions  1401  located at front and two sides of the receiving slot  141 , and a pair of protrusions  147  formed at two lateral sides of the first stopping portion  145  and between the second stopping portions  1401 . The V-shaped first stopping portion  145  gradually reduces from a widest front end to a narrowest back end. The protrusion  147  protrudes upwardly into the receiving slot  141 . A set of first passageways  1481  and a set of second passageways  1482  are formed at a lower surface of the tongue portion  14  in a condition that the first passageways  1481  are arranged in a front row along the transverse direction and the second passageways  1482  are arranged in a rear row parallel to the front row. The connector  100  further comprises a cover  10  retained in the recessed portion  144 . The cover  10  has a pair of cylinders  101  integrally extending therefrom for being retained into a pair of receiving holes  1441  formed on the recessed portion  144 , and an opening  102  corresponding to the cavity  142 . 
         [0026]    The shorting member  40  includes a first mating portion  400  seated on the compression coil spring  4  for contacting with the compression coil spring  4  and a second mating portion  405  for contacting with the first metal shell  71 . The first mating portion  400  is retained in the cavity  142  and the opening  102 , and includes a top plate  401  over the compression coil spring  4 , a pair of side plates  402  extending downwardly from two lateral sides of the top plate  401 , and a rear plate  403  extending downwardly from a rear end of the top plate  401 . The rear plate  403  has a perforation  4031  for the post  1421  passing through and is resisted backwardly by the compression coil spring  4  so as to contact with the compression coil spring  4  reliably. The second mating portion  405  is integrally stamped from the top plate  401  and extends obliquely upwardly for contacting with the first metal shell  71 . The first metal shell  71  and the compression coil spring  4  are electrically connected with each other via the shorting member  40 , therefore, static electricity created on the compression coil spring  4  could be eliminated via the first metal shell  71 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 3 , the contacts  2  are adapted for USB 3.0 protocol, and include a number of first contacts  21  and a number of second contacts  22 . The first contacts  21  are adapted for USB 2.0 protocol and each includes a stiff first contacting portion  211  retained in the first passageway  1481 , a first tail portion  213  for electrical connection to the cable  9 , and a first connecting portion  212  connecting the first contacting portion  211  and the first tail portion  213  and being retained in the base portion  11 . The second contacts  22  include two pair of differential contacts and a grounding contact located between the two pair of differential contacts. Each second contact  22  includes a resilient second contacting portion  221  received in the second passageway  1482 , a second tail portion  223  for electrical connection to the cable  9 , and a second connecting portion  222  connecting the second contacting portion  221  and the second tail portion  223  and being retained in a corresponding through hole  51  of the spacer  5 . The insulator  6  is retained in the spacer  5  to retain the second contacts  22  in the spacer  5  firmly. In this embodiment, the first contacts  21  are assembled to the insulative housing  1 , the second contacts  22  are assembled to the spacer  5  and form as a module so as to be assembled to the insulative housing  1 , in other embodiment, the first contacts  21  could be insert molded into the insulative housing  1 , the second contacts  22  could be insert molded with the spacer  5  and form as a module so as to be assembled to the insulative housing  1 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , the optical module  3  comprises a main body  30  being movably received in the receiving slot  141  along a front-to-back direction which is perpendicular to the transverse direction, and a pair of fibers  35  attached to the main body  30  and received in the first, second, and third grooves  1442 ,  143 ,  140 . The main body  30  has a V-shaped slot  31  recessed backwardly from a front face thereof and fitted in with the V-shaped first stopping portion  145 , a set of lenses  32  attached to the main body  30  and located at two lateral sides of the V-shaped slot  31  for optically coupling with the fibers  35 , and a pair of retaining holes  34  formed thereon and located at two lateral sides of the lenses  32  for accommodating a pair of columniations on a complementary receptacle so as to align the lenses  32  with lenses on the receptacle and transmit optical data therebetween reliably. A pole  36  protrudes backwardly from the main body  30  so as to be received in a front end of the compression coil spring  4 . Therefore, the optical module  3  could be biased forwardly by the compression coil spring  4 . 
         [0029]    The fibers  35  have front parts received in the first slot  1442 , middle parts retained in the second slots  143 , and rear parts received in the third slots  140 . The middle parts are retained in the second slots  143  firmly along the transverse direction. The first slot and third slots  1442 ,  140  which are wider than the second slots  143  will offer spaces for distortions of the front and rear parts. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-5 , the first metal shell  71  has a top wall defining a projection  75  projecting downwardly therefrom for abutting against the main body  30  downwardly so as to retain the main body  30  in the receiving slot  141 . 
         [0031]    When the connector  100  is inserted into the complementary receptacle for mating with the receptacle, the optical module  3  is pushed backwardly by the receptacle and moves backwardly in the receiving slot  141 . Because the rear end of the compression coil spring  4  is retained in the post  1421  of the insulative housing  1 , when the lenses  32  and the corresponding lenses on the receptacle are misaligned, the optical module  3  will vibrate in a height direction to make the lenses  32  align with the lenses on the receptacle and transmit optical data therebetween reliably, the reception groove  149  will offer a space for the optical module  3  vibrating in the height direction. When the connector  100  is extracted out from the complementary receptacle, the optical module  3  is biased forwardly by the compression coil spring  4  and moves forwardly in the receiving slot  141 , the V-shaped first stopping portion  145  fits in with the V-shaped slot  31  for resisting the optical module  3  backwardly and sidewardly so as to prevent the optical module  3  moving in the front-to-back and transverse direction, the second stopping portions  1401  abut against the front face of the main body  30  to prevent the optical module  3  moving forwardly, the projection  75  abuts against the main body  30  downwardly and the protrusions  147  abut against the main body  30  upwardly so as to retain the optical module  3  therebetween. Therefore, the first stopping portion  145  and the second stopping portions  1401  present as a stopping device for orientating the optical module  3  in the front-to-back and the transverse direction, the protrusions  147  and the projection  75  present as a resisting device for orientating the optical module  3  in a height direction of the connector  100 , the optical module  3  will be orientated on its original position firmly and accurately, and the optical data will be transmitted between the connector and the receptacle reliably. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIGS. 6-9 , a connector  100 ′ according to a second embodiment of the present invention, only the shorting member  40 ′ has been modified. The first mating portion  400 ′ which contacting with the compression coil spring  4 ′ is a flat metal plate and is received in a fixing groove  1422 ′ formed on the resisting wall  146 ′ and communicating with the cavity  142 ′. The perforation  4031 ′ is recessed upwardly from a lower face of the first mating portion  400 ′ so that the post  1421 ′ can pass therethrough. The first mating portion  400 ′ is resisted backwardly by the compression coil spring  4 ′ so as to contact with the compression coil spring  4 ′ reliably. The second mating portion  405 ′ extends obliquely upwardly from an upper face of the first mating portion  400 ′ and protrudes out of the opening  102 ′ of the cover  10 ′ so as to contact with the first metal shell  71 ′. The cover  10 ′ has a recess  103 ′ recessed downwardly from an upper surface thereof and located behind the opening  102 ′ for retaining the second mating portion  405 ′. A supporting potion  104 ′ is located under the recess  103 ′ for resisting the first mating portion  400 ′ upwardly so as to prevent the first mating portion  400 ′ from over deformation. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 10-12 , a connector  100 ″ according to a third embodiment of the present invention, only the shorting member  40 ″ has been modified. In this embodiment, the shorting member  40 ″ integrally extends from a rear end of the compression coil spring  4 ″ so as to contact with the first metal shell  71 ″. Therefore, the number of components of the connector  100 ″ is decreased, the cost of production is diminished. 
         [0034]    In other embodiments, the coil compressions  4  could be other spring members such as torsion coil spring, elastic plate, etc, and the connector  100  could be a receptacle connector. 
         [0035]    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.