Abstract:
A receptacle connector including at least three mating interfaces is provided and includes an insulative housing with a first and second groups of contacts mounted thereon. The first group of contacts serve as first Interface (USB 2.0), and a second group of contacts alternatively serve as mating interface of second and third interfaces (ESATA and USB 3.0). A switching board is provided and includes mounting interface of the second and the third interfaces. A shuttle member is moveably disposed within the housing and selectively interconnects the second group of contacts with either the mounting interface of the second interface or mounting interface of the third interface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a receptacle connector, and more particularly to a receptacle connector incorporated with a switch to selectively interconnect different interfaces. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,371,116 issued to Chiang on May 13, 2008 discloses a connector socket for external serial ATA (generally referred to as eSATA) and universal serial bus (USB) plugs has a casing, an eSATA contact set and a USB contact set. The casing has a cavity defined in the casing, an inner rear surface and a contact seat formed on and extending forward from the inner rear surface. The eSATA contact set is mounted on the contact seat and has multiple eSATA contacts being conductive and mounted on the contact seat. The USB contact set is mounted on the contact seat opposite to the eSATA contact set and has multiple USB contacts being conductive and mounted on the contact seat. The connector socket having the single contact seat is compact. 
         [0005]    Taiwanese Pat No. M335829 issued to the same assignee of U.S. Pat. No. 7,371,116 discloses an improved connector socket which can be referred to as a combo connector in which plug connector made according to USB 2.0, USB 3.0, and eSATA can be readily inserted. The connector socket generally includes a cavity with a contact seat disposed therein. Four first contacts which are compliant for USB 2.0 protocol are set on the upper surface of a contact seat. Seven second contacts which are compliant for eSATA protocol are set on the lower surface of the contact seat. Five of said seven second contacts extend further to define contact portions arranged at the upper surface of a contact seat. The contact portions together with the four first contacts form a port compliant for the USB 3.0 protocol. It can be readily seen from the disclosure that the lower surface of the contact seat serves as a common platform for both the USB 3.0 and eSATA interface and this may create some interference when different signals run through those common platform. Obviously, an improved electrical connector is highly desired to overcome the aforementioned problem. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector which can avoid the signal interference. 
         [0007]    In order to achieve above-mentioned object, a receptacle connector including at least three mating interfaces is provided and includes an insulative housing with a first and second groups of contacts mounted thereon. The first group of contacts serve as first Interface (USB 2.0), and a second group of contacts alternatively serve as mating interface of second and third interfaces (ESATA and USB 3.0). A switching board is provided and includes mounting interface of the second and the third interfaces. A shuttle member is moveably disposed within the housing and selectively interconnects the second group of contacts with either the mounting interface of the second interface or mounting interface of the third interface. 
         [0008]    Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present 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 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side view of two electrical plugs adapted for inserting into an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the electrical connector; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is another exploded perspective view of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 2  without showing a metallic shell; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is another perspective view of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 2  without the metallic shell thereon; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a partly assembled perspective view of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 1  along line  7 - 7 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a same view of  FIG. 7  with an eSATA plug inserted therein; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a same view of  FIG. 7  with a USB 3.0 plug inserted therein; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the electrical connector without showing the metallic shell; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is another exploded perspective view of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the electrical connector without showing the metallic shell; 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a part of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is a side view of the part of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the electrical connector without showing the metallic shell; 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a part of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 16 ; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  is a side view of the part of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 17 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe four preferred embodiments of the present invention in detail. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , two plugs are shown, plug A is an eSATA plug connector, and plug B is a USB 3.0 plug connector. The mating port A 1  of the eSATA plug A is shorter than the mating port B 1  of the USB 3.0 plug B in a mating direction, and said two ports can be alternatively inserted into a mating cavity of an electrical connector  100  of the present invention and which will be described later. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  to  FIG. 18  show a variety of embodiments of the present invention. The same elements are designated by same reference numeral and terminology through those embodiments. The electrical connector  100  comprises an insulating housing  1 , a shielding shell  2 , sets terminal  3  and a shuttle device for switching from different set of terminals so as to establish eSATA interface and USB 3.0 interface. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 1-9  show the first embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the insulating housing  1  includes a base portion  11 , a pair of front sidewalls  12  and a pair of rear sidewalls  13  respectively extending from two opposite ends of the base portion. A receiving cavity  103  is defined by the pair of rear sidewalls  13  and the base portion  11  commonly and a mating cavity  101  is defined by the pair of front sidewalls  12  and the base portion  11  commonly. The mating cavity  101  runs through a front end  102  of the housing. A tongue portion  14  projects forwards from a front face of the base portion  11  into the mating cavity  101 , which defines a plurality of passageways  141 ,  142  on an upper and a lower faces thereof for receiving the terminals  3  thereon. A stand-off portion  15  is formed at a joint of the upper face of the tongue portion  14  and the base portion  11 . 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 7 , the terminals  3  divide into a first set of terminals  31 , totally seven eSATA terminals are included; and a second set of terminals  32 , totally four USB terminals are included. The eSATA terminals  31  each includes a retention section  311  retained in the base portion  11 , a blade contacting section  312  extending forwards from the retention section and a connecting section  313  horizontally and rearwards extending from the retention section. Two opposite outermost eSATA terminals  31  further perpendicularly extend downwardly to form solder sections  316 . The contacting sections  312  of the eSATA terminals  31  are arranged in the passageways on the upper face of the tongue portion  14  to contact with the eSATA plug A. The contacting sections  312  are designated as eSATA contacting sections hereinafter. Five of said seven eSATA terminals  31 , excluding said two outermost terminals, further define other contacting sections  314 . Said contacting sections  314  are bent downward to the lower face of the tongue portion  14  and in front of the first contacting sections  312 . The front contacting sections  314  connect with the first contacting sections  312  by jointing sections  315 . The jointing sections  315  of the eSATA terminals  31  at the outer side of the row are bent laterally so that said five front contacting sections  314  are spaced from each other with enough intervals. 
         [0032]    The USB terminals  32  each includes a retention section  321 , a deflectable contacting section  322  forwards extending from the retention section into the mating cavity  101  and a solder section  323  bent downwards from the retention section. The contacting sections  322  are mating with USB 2.0 plug and are designated as USB 2.0 contacting sections. Said front contacting sections  314  together with the USB 2.0 contacting sections  322  are mating with USB 3.0 plug and are designated as USB 3.0 contacting sections. Said five eSATA terminals  31  located at middle thereof can be used for transmitting eSATA signals or USB 3.0 signals, which are designated as common terminals. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the shuttle device in the first embodiment includes a shuttle member  4  and a switch member  5 . The shuttle member  4  includes a board  41  made from insulating material and five switching terminals  42  embedded in the board  41 . The switching terminals each includes a front touching section  421  projecting at a lower surface  411  of the board  41  and a rear deflectable touching section  422  extending out of the rear end of the board  41 . A supporting portion  16  unitarily extends from a rear face of the base portion  11  and a pair of positioning slots  17  are respectively defined at opposite sides of the supporting portion  16 . Combined with  FIG. 6 , the supporting portion  16  and the tongue portion  14  are located at a same level at their top surface. The connecting sections  313  of the eSATA terminals  31  run through the base portion  11  and are positioned at the upper surface of the supporting portion  16 . The shuttle member  4  is located at the upper surface of the supporting portion  16  and defines a projected actuating portion  412  extending from a front end of a body portion  411  and being inserted into a through hole  112  on the base portion  11 , and a pair of wing portions  413  at opposite sides of the body portion  411  sliding in the corresponding positioning slots  17 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the switching member  5  of this embodiment includes a positioning plate  6 , a front row of first switching terminals  51  and a rear row of second switching terminals  52  which are insert-molded in the positioning plate  6 . The rear row of the second switching terminals  52  are aligned with the front row in the front-to-rear direction. Each row of the second switching terminals  52  has five terminals in a same configuration but transmitting different signals, i.e. USB 3.0 signal. Each second switching terminal  51 / 52  includes a planar touching section  511 / 521  on the top face of the insulating base and a solder section  512 / 522  out of a bottom of the insulating base  50 . The switching member  5  defines a pair of L-shaped retaining portion  61  on the top face thereof for interfering with a rear end  171  of the positioning slot  17  so as to be retained in the receiving cavity  103  of the insulating housing. Referring to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the switching member  5  is assembled in the receiving cavity  103  after the shuttle member  4  is assembled on the supporting portion  16  and the shuttle member  4  can slide along the positioning slot  17  on the top face of the switching member  5 . Combined with  FIG. 7 , when there is no plug inserted into the mating cavity  101 , the front touch sections  421  of the shuttle member  4  in contact with the connecting sections  313  of said five eSATA terminals  31  and the rear touch sections  422  of the shuttle member  4  is in contact with the front row of first switching terminals  51 . At this condition, the USB 2.0 signal and the eSATA signal can be transmitted. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 7 , the stand-off portion  15  is unitarily formed with the base portion  11  and the tongue portion  14  to increase the rigidity of the tongue portion  14 . A front face  151  of the stand-off portion is closer to the front mating opening compared with the front face  111  of the base portion, both of which are used for distinguishing the insertion of different plugs A and B. 
         [0036]      FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  illustrate the illustrational view of the plugs inserted into the mating cavity  101 . A USB 2.0 plug which is similar to a USB 3.0 plug can be inserted into a lower mating cavity  101   b  under the tongue portion  14  and in contact with the USB 2.0 contacting sections  322  so as to establish the signal transmission. 
         [0037]    The eSATA plug A can be inserted into an upper mating cavity  101   a  until a front face of the mating port A 1  abuts against the front face  151  of the stand-off portion  15  (i.e. the first stopping face  151 ), meanwhile, those seven terminals in the eSATA plug A electrically are in contact with the eSATA contacting sections  312 . As the front face of the mating port A 1  does not reach to the projected actuating portion  412 , the shuttle member  4  is kept in an original position (i.e. the initial status), therefore the front touching sections  421  of the switching terminals  42  are in contact with the connecting sections  313  of those five eSATA terminals  31  and the rear touching sections  422  of the switching terminals  42  are in contact with the touching sections  511  of the first switching terminals  51  so as to establish the eSATA path for signal transmission. 
         [0038]    The USB 3.0 plug can be inserted into a lower mating cavity  101   b  under the tongue portion  14  to electrically contact with the USB 3.0 contacting sections  322 ,  314 . A front face of the mating port B 1  moves forward until reaching to the front face  111  of the base portion  11  (i.e. the second stopping face  111 ). The projected actuating portion  412 , exposed in front of the second stopping face  111 , is pushed rearward and driving the shuttle member  4  to move backward. The front touching sections  421  of the shuttle member  4  move rearward while still kept in contacting with the connecting section  313 . The rear touching sections  422  of the shuttle member  4  move toward the second switching terminals  52  to contact with the touching sections  522  so as to establish the USB 3.0 path for signal transmission. The electrical connector is mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) and can output several different signals, when the electrical plug is inserted, the shuttle device switches the corresponding terminals so as to establish the corresponding path for signal transmission. As the shuttle device separates the signal output ends into several individual and dependent paths, when one plug is inserted and a corresponding path is established, the other paths are breaking off so as to ensure the signal transmission and avoid signal interference. 
         [0039]    The shuttle member  4  of the shuttle device will be pushed inwardly when the USB 3.0 plug is inserted and also can return to its initial position by an ejecting device, for example a pair of coil springs, provided between the shuttle member and the insulative housing  1 . The ejecting device can be incorporated with the insulative housing to provide a proper ejecting force, which is strong enough to push the shuttle device back to its original position, while will not alter the interconnection between the inserted plug and the receptacle connector. The structure and the working theory of the ejecting device, which are common knowledge to a person skilled in the art, are omitted here for simplification. 
         [0040]      FIGS. 10-12  show a second embodiment of the electrical connector of the present invention, especially a second embodiment of the shuttle device. Four first switching terminals  51   a  and four second switching terminal  52   a  are respectively arranged in a front row and a rear row and secured in a positioning plate  6   a . Each switching terminal  51   a / 52   a  comprises a solder portion  512   a / 522   a  and a touching section  511   a / 521   a  projecting out of the positioning plate  6   a  and bent laterally. The touching sections  511   a / 521   a  are offsetting with each other along a central line thereof. 
         [0041]    The shuttle member  4   a  comprises a board  41   a  and four switching terminals  42   a . The board  41   a  comprises a body portion  411   a  in a plate like configuration and a projected actuating portion  412   a  extending from a front end of the body portion  411   a . A positioning board  414   a  extends downward from the body portion  411   a  and defines four passageways  4140   a  running therethrough for receiving said switching terminals  42   a . Each switching terminal  42   a  comprises a pair of front latching arms  423   a , a pair of rear latching arms  424   a  connecting with the front latching arms  423   a , and a retention portion  425   a  connecting with a joint between the front and rear latching arms and spaced away from said latching arms. The upper front latching arm  423   a  forms a front latching portion  4231   a  protruding inwardly for contacting with the connecting section  313   a  when the connecting section  313   a  of the eSATA terminal  31   a  is sandwiched between the front latching arms  423   a . Similarly, the upper rear latching arm  424   a  forms a rear latching portion  4241   a  protruding inwardly for contacting with the touching section  511   a  of the first switching terminal  51   a . One of the five common terminals  31   a  which is in a middle position forms a solder portion  316   a  extending rearwards from the connecting section  313   a ′ and bent downwardly for soldering onto the PCB, as said terminal is grounding terminal, it will not affect the signal transmission. 
         [0042]    When the eSATA plug is inserted into the electrical connector, the shuttle member  4   a  will not be engaged and is located in the original position, the touching sections  511   a  of the first switching terminals  51   a  contact with the connecting sections  313   a  and establish the eSATA path for signal transmission. When the USB 3.0 plug is inserted into the electrical connector, the rear latching portion  4241   a  will disconnect from the first switching terminals  51   a  and interconnect with the second switching terminal  52   a , therefore the USB 3.0 path for signal transmission is successfully established. So, the signal distribution is successfully accomplished. 
         [0043]      FIGS. 13-15  show a third embodiment of the electrical connector of the present invention, especially a third embodiment of the shuttle device. The positioning plate  6   b  is made thinner therefore the distance between the positioning plate  6   b  and the upper face of the insulative housing  1   b  becomes larger. Four first switching terminals  51   b  and four second switching terminals  52   b  are respectively arranged in a front row and a rear row and retained in the positioning plate  6   b . Each switching terminal  51   b / 52   b  forms a solder portion  512   b / 522   b  extending out of the positioning plate  6   b  and a touching section  511   b / 521   b  projecting out of the positioning plate  6   b  and bent perpendicularly relative to the solder portion  512   b / 522   b . The touching section  521   b  in the front row is lower than the touching section  511   b  in the rear row. 
         [0044]    One of the five common terminals  31   b  which is in a middle position forms a solder portion  316   b  extending rearwards from the connecting section  313   b ′ and bent downwardly for soldering onto the PCB, as said terminal is grounding terminal, it will not affect the signal transmission. Each of the other four of the five common terminals  31   b  defines a connecting section  313   b  exposed in the receiving cavity  103   b . The connecting section  313   b  comprises a resilient pressing portion  3131   b  extending upward from the retention section  311   b , a first resilient contacting portion  3133   b  bent downwards from the resilient pressing portion  3131   b , and a second resilient contacting portion  3132   b  extending upwards and then downwards from the first resilient contacting portion  3132   b . In the initial status, the second resilient contacting portion  3132   b  abuts against the touching section  511   b  of the first switching terminal  51   b  and the first resilient contacting portion  3133   b  locates right above the touching section  521   b  of the second switching terminal  52   b . An extending plate  104   b  extends rearward from the base portion  11   b  for shielding the first and second resilient contacting portions  3133   b ,  3132   b  and the touching sections  511   b ,  521   b  within the insulative housing  1 . 
         [0045]    In this embodiment, there is no terminals retained in the shuttle member  4   b , and the shuttle member  4   b  comprises a main body  411   b , a pressing portion  415   b  extending forward from the main body  411   b , and a projected actuating portion  412   b  extending from a front end of the main body  411   b . When the USB 3.0 plug is inserted, the projected actuating portion  412   b  moves rearward and the pressing portion  415   b  presses against the resilient pressing portion  3131   b , therefore the second resilient contacting portion  3132   b  will space away from the touching section  511   b  of the first switching terminal  51   b  and the first contacting portion  3133   b  in the lower side will contact with the touching section  521   b  of the second switching terminal  52   b , therefore the USB 3.0 path for signal transmission is established. 
         [0046]      FIGS. 16-18  show a fourth embodiment of the electrical connector of the present invention, especially a fourth embodiment of the shuttle device. The first and second switching terminals  51   c / 52   c  are oppositely aligned with each other and are retained in the receiving passageways  61   c  defined in the positioning plate  6   c . Each first and second switching terminals  51   c / 52   c  comprises a spring arm extending upward from the solder tail  512   c / 522   c . The spring arm comprises a first bending arm  513   c / 523   c  bending from an upper end of the solder tail  512   c / 522   c , a second bending arm  514   c / 524   c  bent reversely from end of the first bending arm  513   c / 523   c , a connecting portion  515   c / 525   c  between the first and second bending arm, and an arch shaped contacting portion  516   c / 526   c . As the first and second switching terminals  51   c / 52   c  are oppositely arranged, the distance between the connecting portions is shorter than that between the contacting portions. 
         [0047]    In this embodiment, there is no terminals retained in the shuttle member  4   c , and the shuttle member  4   c  comprises a main body  411   c , a pressing portion  415   c  extending downwards from the main body  411   c , and a pair of wing portions  413   c  at opposite lateral sides of the main body  411   c . The pressing portion  415   c  defines a plurality of channels  4151   c  running therethrough along the front-to-rear direction. The connecting portions  313   c  of the five common terminals  31   c  are inserted into the channels  4151   c , and each connecting portion  313   c  comprises a first connecting portion  313   c ′ behind the pressing portion  415   c  and a second connecting portion  313   c ″ before the pressing portion  415   c . In the initial status, the pressing portion  415   c  is adjacent to the mating opening with its bottom face slightly abutting against the second bending arm  514   c , and the contacting portion  516   c  contacts with the first connecting portion  313   c ′. While the bottom face of the pressing portion  415   c  abuts against the second bending arm  524   c  heavily, therefore the corresponding contacting portion  526   c  spaces away from the second contacting portion  313   c″.    
         [0048]    When the USB 3.0 plug is inserted into the electrical connector, the projected actuating portion  412   c  is pushed to move rearward together with the pressing portion  415   c . During the process, the pressing portion  415   c  will no longer press against the second bending arm  514   c  and increase the pressing force against the second bending arm  524   c , therefore the contacting portion  516   c  of the first switching terminal  51   c  will space away from the first contacting portion  313   c ′, and the contacting portion  526   c  of the second switching terminal  52   c  will recover its elasticity and in contact with the second contacting portion  313   c ″. The signal distribution is accomplished in this embodiment in such a manner. 
         [0049]    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.