Abstract:
A receptacle connector for mating with a plug connector, the receptacle connector includes: a terminal module comprising an insulative housing, two rows of terminals, and a metallic shielding plate, the insulative housing having a base portion and a tongue portion, the tongue portion defining two opposite surfaces, the two rows of terminals being reversely-symmetrically arranged at the two surfaces of the tongue portion, the metallic shielding plate located between the two rows of terminals; and a shielding shell retained to the insulative housing and forming a mating cavity to receive the tongue portion, wherein the shielding shell defines a mating protrusion on one of the plurality of side walls, the mating protrusion extending outwardly to be precluded from reversely mating with the plug connector which has a contour compliant with said mating cavity and an identification protrusion accommodated in the mating protrusion.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a receptacle connector adapted for being normally mated with a plug connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector assembly having shielding shells with cooperating protrusions. 
       2. Description of Related Art 
       [0002]    U.S. Pat. No. 9,490,579, issued on Mar. 9, 2016, discloses a receptacle connector assembly comprising a metallic shield enclosing an insulative housing to define a capsular mating cavity. The metallic shield defines an identification protrusion extending inwardly into the mating cavity so as to be precluded from mating with a standard plug connector, which has a contour compliant with said capsular mating cavity, but being adapted to be mated with a customized plug connector which also has a contour compliant with said capsular mating cavity and further with a corresponding slot to receive said identification protrusion. The receptacle connector assembly only allows the customized plug connector to be mated with it to transmit the customized signals. The compatibility between the receptacle connector assembly and the standard plug connector is poor. 
         [0003]    An electrical connector assembly having a unique shielding shell is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    A receptacle connector, for mating with a plug connector, comprises: a terminal module comprising an insulative housing, two rows of terminals, and a metallic shielding plate, the insulative housing having a base portion and a tongue portion extending forwardly from the base portion in a front-to-rear direction, the tongue portion defining two opposite surfaces, the two rows of terminals being reversely-symmetrically arranged at the two surfaces of the tongue portion, the metallic shielding plate located between the two rows of terminals; and a shielding shell retained to the insulative housing and forming a mating cavity to receive the tongue portion, the shielding shell having a plurality of side walls; wherein the shielding shell defines a mating protrusion on one of the plurality of side walls, the mating protrusion extending outwardly to be precluded from reversely mating with the plug connector which has a contour compliant with said mating cavity and an identification protrusion accommodated in the mating protrusion. 
         [0005]    Other novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is an assembled perspective view of the receptacle connector and the plug connector when not in contact with each other of the electrical connector assembly of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an assembled perspective view of  FIG. 1  seen from another direction; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a partially exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector of the electrical connector assembly of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a partially exploded perspective view of  FIG. 3  seen from another direction; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a partially exploded perspective view of the terminal module of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a partially exploded perspective view of  FIG. 5  seen from another direction; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a partially exploded perspective view of further exploded of the terminal module of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a partially exploded perspective view of  FIG. 7  seen from another direction; 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is an assembled perspective view of the plug connector of the electrical connector assembly of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is an assembled perspective view of  FIG. 9  seen from another direction; 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the plug connector of the electrical connector assembly of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of  FIG. 11  seen from another direction; 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  is an assembled perspective view of the receptacle connector mated with the plug connector of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector assembly of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention taken along line  14 - 14  of FIG.  13 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0020]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1 to 14 . 
         [0021]    The receptacle connector  200  and the plug connector  600  of the electrical connector assembly  100  have an insertion opening, respectively, to mate each other. The receptacle connector  200  and the plug connector  600  have a front-to-rear direction, a transverse direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction, and a vertical direction perpendicular to both the front-to-rear direction and the transverse direction, respectively. Referring to  FIGS. 1-8 and 13-14 , the receptacle connector  200  defines the insertion opening at the front end thereof. Referring to  FIGS. 9-12 , the plug connector  600  defines the insertion opening at the front end thereof. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-14 , an electrical connector assembly  100  includes a receptacle connector  200 , and a plug connector  600  mating with the receptacle connector  200 . The receptacle connector  200  includes a terminal module  30 , a shielding shell  53 , a waterproof layer  57 , a sealer  58 , and a metallic bracket  59 . The plug connector  600  includes an insulative body  61 , two rows of plug terminals  7 , a latch  81 , a pair of grounding members  83 , a pair of second insulative plates  82 , and a metal shell  90 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-8 and 13-14 , the terminal module  30  of the receptacle connector  200  includes an insulative housing  31 , two rows of terminals  4 , a pair of metallic shielding plates  51 , and a first insulative plate  52 . The insulative housing  31  has a base portion  32  and a tongue portion  33  extending forwardly from the base portion  32  in the front-to-rear direction. The base portion  32  has a resisting wall  321  on the upper surface thereof, and a pair of resisting grooves  322  on the front surface thereof. The tongue portion  33  has a pair of concave grooves  331  on both sides in the transverse direction. The insulative housing  31  further has a first insulator  34 , a second insulator  35 , and a third insulator  36 . The first insulator  34  has a first base portion  341  and a first tongue portion  342  extending forwardly from the first base portion  341 . The second insulator  35  has a second base portion  351  and a second tongue portion  352  extending forwardly from the second base portion  351 . The third insulator  36  has a third base portion  361  and a third tongue portion  362  extending forwardly from the third base portion  361 . The first base portion  341 , the second base portion  351 , and the third base portion  361  collectively form the base portion  32 . The first tongue portion  342 , the second tongue portion  352 , and the third tongue portion  362  collectively form the tongue portion  33 . 
         [0024]    The two rows of terminals  4  include a plurality of upper terminals  44  and a plurality of lower terminals  45 . Each of the upper terminals  44  and lower terminals  45  includes a contacting section  41 , a retention section  42 , and a soldering section  43 . 
         [0025]    The pair of metallic shielding plates  51  are arranged symmetrically to each other. Each metallic shielding plate  51  includes a main arm  511 , and a soldering arm  512  extending downwardly from the rear end of the main arm  511 . 
         [0026]    The shielding shell  53  is made of metal material, and is stamped stainless or metal injection molding. The shielding shell  53  includes an upper side wall  55 , a bottom side wall  56 , a left side wall, and a right side wall. The shielding shell  53  retains with the insulative housing  31 . The four side walls of the shielding shell  53  are formed with a mating cavity  540  to receive the tongue portion  33 . In the preferred embodiment, the preferred upper side wall  55  of the shielding shell  53  further includes a mating protrusion extending outwardly from the upper side wall  55 . The mating protrusion allows the plug connector  600  which has an identification protrusion to be mated normally with the receptacle connector  200 . The mating protrusion in this embodiment is a first convex portion  551  on the upper side wall  55  and formed by outward stamped the upper side wall  55  from the mating cavity  540 . The first convex portion  551  extends rearward from a front end edge of the shielding shell  53 . The front end edge of the first convex portion  551  is flush with the front end edge of the shielding shell  53 . The shielding shell  53  further includes a pair of first elastic arms  552  on the upper side wall  55 , a pair of second elastic arms  561  and a pair of front stopping portions  562  on the bottom side wall  56 , a first rear stopping portion  563  at the tail of the shielding shell  53 , and a pair of clamping portions  564  and a pair of securing legs  565  on both sides in the transverse direction of the tail of the shielding shell  53 . The pair of second elastic arms  561  and the pair of front stopping portions  562  are formed by tearing and extending into the mating cavity  540 , respectively. 
         [0027]    The metallic bracket  59  includes a plurality of tubers  593 , a pair of hook portions  591  on both sides in the transverse direction thereof, and a second rear stopping portion  592  at the tail thereof. 
         [0028]    Referring to from the  FIGS. 1-8 and 13-14 , the upper terminals  44  and lower terminals  45  are diagonally symmetrically arranged with each other. The upper terminals  44  are integrated with the first insulator  34  to from an upper module. The retention section  42  of each upper terminal  44  is retained in the first base portion  341  and the first tongue portion  342 . The contacting section  41  of each upper terminal  44  is exposed to an upper surface of the first tongue portion  342 . The soldering section  43  of each upper terminal  44  is extending outwardly from a rear surface of the first base portion  341 . The lower terminals  45  are integrated with the second insulator  35  to form a lower module. The retention section  42  of each lower terminal  45  is retained in the second base portion  351  and the second tongue portion  352 . The contacting section  41  of each lower terminal  45  is exposed to a lower surface of the second tongue portion  352 . The soldering section  43  of each lower terminal  45  is extending outwardly from a rear surface of the second base portion  351 . The soldering sections  43  of the upper terminals  44  and the soldering sections  43  of the lower terminals  45  are arranged in two rows in the front-to-rear direction. 
         [0029]    The first insulative plate  52  is made of insulating material. The upper module retained with the upper terminals  44 , the pair of metallic shielding plates  51 , and the first insulative plate  52 , and the lower module retained with the lower terminals  45  are assembled together in the vertical direction. The pair of metallic shielding plates  51  are symmetrically provided on both sides between the first insulator  34  and the second insulator  35 . The first insulative plate  52  is located at an intermediate position between the first insulator  34  and the second insulator  35  and is positioned transversely between the pair of metallic shielding plates  51 . The first insulative plate  52  and the pair of metallic shielding plates  51  collectively separate the upper terminals  44  and the lower terminals  45 . 
         [0030]    The third insulator  36  is integrated with the upper module and the lower module to form the terminal module  30 . The outside of the main arm  511  of each metallic shielding plate  51  is exposed in each concave groove  331  of the tongue portion  33 , respectively. The soldering arms  512  of the pair of metallic shielding plates  51  are exposed to the rear end of the base portion  32 . 
         [0031]    The shielding shell  53  is assembled to the outside of the insulative housing  31 . The front stopping portions  562  resist rearward against the resisting grooves  322  of the base portion  32 , respectively. The first elastic arms  552  resist forwardly against the rear end of the resisting wall  321 . The first rear stopping portion  563  resists forwardly against the rear end of the shielding shell  53 . The pair of clamping portions  564  clamps the both sides of the tail of the base portion  32 . The pair of front stopping portions  562 , the pair of first elastic arms  552 , the first rear stopping portion  563 , and the pair of clamping portions  564  collectively prevent the terminal module  30  from moving forwardly or backwardly, and fix the terminal module  30  and the shielding shell  53  together firmly. 
         [0032]    The waterproof layer  57  is installed on the outer surface of the bottom side wall  56 . The waterproof layer  57  is used for covering the openings formed by the pair of second elastic arms  561  and the pair of front stopping portions  562 . 
         [0033]    Each tuber  593  of the metallic bracket  59  is directly used for retaining with and/or soldering to the outer surface of the bottom side wall  56  of the shielding shell  53 . Both sides of the metallic bracket  59  are surrounding the left side wall and a right side wall of the shielding shell  53 . The second rear stopping portion  592  resists forwardly against the rear edge of the shielding shell  53 . 
         [0034]    The sealer  58  is made of insulating material. The sealer  58  seals up the gap between the base portion  32  and the rear end of the shielding shell  53 . 
         [0035]    The pair of hook portions  591  of the metallic bracket  59  and the pair of securing legs  565  collectively are mounted on an electronic device (not shown) to suspend the receptacle connector  200  in a mounting slot of the electronic device. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 9-12 , the plug connector  600  includes an insulative body  61  has a plug space  620 . The insulative body  61  includes a first plug insulator  63  and a second plug insulator  64  mounts on the rear end of the first plug insulator  63 . The first plug insulator  63  includes an upper wall  631 , a bottom wall  632 , a left wall  633 , and a right wall  634  that surround the formation of the plug space  620 . The upper wall  631  includes a plurality of first terminal grooves  6311  and a first mounting groove  6312 . The plurality of first terminal grooves  6311  and the first mounting groove  6312  are communicating with the plug space  620 . The bottom wall  632  includes a plurality of second terminal grooves  6321  and a second mounting groove  6322 . The plurality of second terminal grooves  6321  and the second mounting groove  6322  are communicating with the plug space  620 . Each of the left wall  633  and the right wall  634  includes a side slot  635 . The side slots  635  are communicating with the plug space  620 . The first plug insulator  63  and the second plug insulator  64  are formed in a stepped shape. The second plug insulator  64  includes a plurality of protruding portions  641 . 
         [0037]    The two rows of plug terminals  7  include upper plug terminals  74  and lower plug terminals  75 . Each of the plug terminals  7  includes a securing portion  71 , an engaging portion  72  extending from one end of the securing portion  71 , and a soldering portion  73  extending from the other end of the securing portion  71 . 
         [0038]    The latch  81  is made of metal material. The latch  81  includes a main portion  811 , a pair of locking arms  812  on both sides of the main portion  811 , and a soldering pin  8122  located at the rear of each locking arm  812 . The head of each locking arm  812  is provided with a locking head  8121 . 
         [0039]    Each grounding member  83  includes a frame portion  831  which has a gap, a resilient region  8311  at the front end of the frame portion  831 , and a pair of mounting portions  8312  on both sides of the frame portion  831 . 
         [0040]    The metal shell  90  includes an upper docking side wall  91  and a bottom docking side wall  92 . The upper docking side wall  91  includes an identification protrusion extending outwardly from the upper docking side wall  91 . The identification protrusion is corresponded mating with the mating protrusion of the receptacle connector  200 . The identification protrusion allows the plug connector  600  to be mated normally with the receptacle connector  200  having the mating protrusion to prevent the plug connector  600  from reversely mating with the receptacle connector  200  having a mating protrusion. In addition, the identification protrusion also does not allow the plug connector  600  to be mated with a standard receptacle connector having no the mating protrusion to prevent mating in a wrong way. The identification protrusion is a second convex portion  911  on the upper docking side wall  91  and formed by stamped outwardly. The second convex portion  911  extends rearward from the front end of the metal shell  90 . The metal shell  90  further includes a stepped portion  95  at the rear end thereof. The stepped portion  95  has a plurality of resisting arms  951 . Each resisting arm  951  is formed by tearing in the vertical direction. 
         [0041]    Referring to from the  FIGS. 9-12 , the upper plug terminals  74 , the lower plug terminals  75 , and the latch  81  are integrated with the second plug insulator  64  to from a rear module. The securing portion  71  of each upper plug terminal  74  and each lower plug terminal  75 , the main portion  811  and a part of each locking arm  812  are retained in the second plug insulator  64 . The plug connector  600  is installed on a printed circuit board (not shown). One of the soldering pins  8122  is located above the main portion  811  while the other one is located under the main portion  811  making the soldering pins  8122  clap the printed circuit board along the vertical direction. 
         [0042]    The rear module retained with the upper plug terminals  74 , the lower plug terminals  75 , and the latch  81  is inserted from the rear end of the first plug insulator  63 . The engaging portion  72  of each upper plug terminal  74  is inserted into the corresponding each first terminal groove  6311  and protrudes into the plug space  620 . The engaging portion  72  of each lower plug terminal  75  is inserted into the corresponding each second terminal groove  6321  and protrudes into the plug space  620 . Each locking arm  812  is inserted into the side slot  635  and the locking head  8121  of the locking arm  812  protrudes into the plug space  620 . 
         [0043]    One of the second insulative plates  82  is installed in the first mounting groove  6312  while the other one is installed in the second mounting groove  6322 . One of the grounding members  83  is installed in the first mounting groove  6312  while the other one is installed in the second mounting groove  6322 . The resilient region  8311  protrudes into the plug space  620 . The mounting portion  8312  of each grounding member  83  is retained in the first plug insulator  63 . The second insulative plate  82  is located between the engaging portions  72  of the plug terminals  7  and the grounding member  82  to prevent the plug terminals  7  mating with the grounding member  82  in a wrong way. 
         [0044]    The metal shell  90  is assembled to the outside of the first plug insulator  63  and the second plug insulator  64 . The second plug insulator  64  resists forwardly against the stepped portion  95  of the metal shell  90 . Each resisting arm  951  resists forwardly against the rear end of each protruding portion  641  of the second plug insulator  64  preventing the first plug insulator  63  and the second plug insulator  64  moving rearward. 
         [0045]    Referring to the  FIGS. 1-2 and 13-14 , during use of the electrical connector assembly  100 , the upper terminals  44  of the receptacle connector  200  transmit a first set of signals, the lower terminals  45  of the receptacle connector  200  transmit a second set of signals. 
         [0046]    First of all, the second convex portion  911  of the plug connector  600  is aligned with the first convex portion  551  of the receptacle connector  200 . Then, the plug connector  600  is inserted within the mating cavity  540  of the receptacle connector  200 . The first convex portion  551  and the second convex portion  911  are sliding fit; on the contrary, the second convex portion  911  abuts against the front end of the bottom side wall  56  so that the plug connector  600  can not be inserted into the mating cavity  540  of the receptacle connector  200 . At this time, the two rows of plug terminals  7  of the plug connector  600  are mated normally with the two rows of terminals  4  of the receptacle connector  200 . The pair of locking heads  8121  sandwich the pair of concave grooves  331  of the tongue portion  33  and contact with the pair of metallic shielding plates  51 , thereby functioning as a fixed and grounded connection with the receptacle connector  200 . The resilient region  8311  sandwiches the rear end of the tongue portion  33 . The pair of second elastic arms  561  are abutted against the outer surface of the metal shell  90 , thereby functioning as a fixed and grounded connection with the plug connector  600 . 
         [0047]    In the preferred embodiment, the receptacle connector  200  is installed on an electronic device (not shown) capable of controlling the function of changing the lower terminals  45  of the receptacle connector  200  to transmit different signals. The plug connector  600  provided with the second convex portion  911  can be only mated normally with the receptacle connector  200  provided with the first convex portion  551 . The upper plug terminals  74  are mated normally with the upper terminals  44  to transmit the first set of signals. The lower plug terminals  75  are mated normally with the lower terminals  45  to transmit the second set of signals. Only one set of signals conforming to USB 2.0, USB 3.0 or USB 3.1 can be transmitted between the receptacle connector  200  and the plug connector  600 , and another set of additional signals developed according to a specific demand can be transmitted at the same time. For example, the electronic device can control the first set of signals is one set of signals conforming to USB 2.0, USB 3.0 or USB 3.1, the second set of signals is one set of additional signals. In addition, the receptacle connector  200  provided with the first convex portion  551  also allows a standard plug connector (not shown) to be mated normally or reversely with it, the electronic device can control the first set of signals and the second set of signals transmitted between the receptacle connector  200  and the standard plug connector to conform to USB 2.0, USB 3.0 or USB 3.1. The receptacle connector  200  of the preferred embodiment has a higher compatibility function to be inserted with more than one plug connector  600 . 
         [0048]    In another embodiment, the mating protrusion of the receptacle connector is a first tab. The first tab is formed by bending outwardly from the front end of the upper side wall by tearing. A stripe-shaped first cutout is formed on one side of the first tab and on the front end of the upper side wall. The first cutout communicates with the front end edge of the shielding shell. The identification protrusion of the plug connector is a second tab. The second tab is formed by bending outwardly from the front end of the upper docking side wall by tearing. When the plug connector is inserted into the receptacle connector, the second tab is inserted into the first cutout. The receptacle connector provided with the mating protrusion of such embodiment allows the plug connector provided with the identification protrusion to be only mated normally with it. The receptacle connector provided with the mating protrusion of such embodiment also allows a standard plug connector to be mated normally or reversely with it. 
         [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, 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.