Patent Publication Number: US-2016233617-A1

Title: Serial bus connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d) of Taiwan Patent Application No. 104201948, filed Feb. 6, 2015. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a serial bus connector, and more particularly to a serial bus connector which has a robust structure. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Nowadays, electronic devices can be connected with a computer for transmitting data via a variety of connectors, and universal serial bus (USB) connectors, which have high transmission speed, in particular have been widely applied. With the development of the technique of the serial bus connector, a new universal serial bus connector, such as a Type-C USB connector which is based on the specifications of USB 3.1, has been developed, wherein an interface size of the new universal serial bus connector is smaller than a standard specification of a Micro-USB, and the transmission speed is above 10 Gbit/s. On the other hand, in order to meet the user&#39;s requirements, the new universal serial bus connector can be designed to allow for electrically connecting with another complementary connector via up or down orientations. To be specific, in a mating interface of the connector, terminals of an upper row have configurations similar to configurations of terminals of lower row, thereby achieving the above mentioned effect. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 1  shows an exploded diagram of a serial bus connector  10  according to the prior art, and  FIG. 2  shows a partial assembly diagram of the serial bus connector  10  according to the prior art. An interface size of the serial bus connector  10  may be smaller than the standard specification of Micro-USB, and/or it allows for electrically connecting with a complementary connector via up or down orientations. The serial bus connector  10  comprises a first terminal seat  20 , a second terminal seat  25 , an insulated body  30 , a first row of terminals  40 , a second row of terminals  45 , a first conductive cover  50 , a second conductive cover  55 , a plate assembly  60 , and an outer shielding  70 , wherein the first terminal seat  20  and the second terminal seat  25  are respectively secured to the first row and second row of terminals  40 ,  45  by insert molding. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the plate assembly  60  comprises a plate body  61  and a pair of elastic arms  62  which are opposite each other, and a pair of hook sections  63  are respectively formed on ends of the pair of elastic arms  62 . Moreover, a pair of slots  31  are formed on left and right side walls of the insulated body  30 , and the insulated body  30  comprises a pair of through holes (not shown in the Figs.) extending from the ends of the slots  31  to an inner of the insulated body  30 . When assembled, the first terminal seat  20 , the plate assembly  60 , and the second terminal seat  25  are sequentially superposed one upon the other, and then they are assembled with the insulated body  30 , wherein the pair of the elastic arms  62  of the plate assembly  60  are accommodated in the pair of slots  31  of the insulated body  30 , and the pair of hook sections  63  are located on the pair of through holes, so that the pair of hook sections  63  of the pair of the elastic arms  62  pass through the pair of through holes of the pair of slots  31  and then extend to the inner of the insulated body  30 . When the serial bus connector  10  electrically connects with a complementary connector (not shown in the drawings), the hook sections  63  engage and electrically contact with the complementary connector. 
     However, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the plate assembly  60  engages with the insulated body  30  only by the pair of the hook sections  63  on the end of the pair of the elastic arms  62 , so that the plate assembly  60  and the insulated body  30  are structurally unsound, and it will cause shaking or disassembling. 
     Therefore, it is necessary to provide a serial bus connector, the structure design of which is improved so as to increase a structural firmness in the assembly of the plate assembly and the insulated body. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, an objective of the present invention is to provide a serial bus connector which has a small and robust structure thereby providing the connector with a longer service life. 
     In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a serial bus connector, comprising: an upper row and a lower row of terminals; an insulated body having a plurality of terminal passages formed thereon, each terminal passage used for accommodating a portion of a terminal, and the insulated body comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a plurality of openings formed in the first end, and the second end being configured for connecting with a complementary connector; at least one conductive cover disposed on an outer surface of a side wall of the insulated body; a base assembly used for accommodating another portion of the terminal and used for assembling with the insulated body; a plate assembly located between the upper and lower rows of terminals and assembling with the base assembly, and the plate assembly comprising: at least one elastic arm extending toward the second end of the insulated body, at least one elastic arm extending toward the second end of the insulated body, the at least one elastic arm comprises a hook section on an end thereof and configured for electrically contacting with the complementary connector; at least one ground section extending toward an outside of the insulated body; and at least one protrusion, which is accommodated in a corresponding opening of the insulated body, so that the plate assembly is retained within the insulated body; and an outer shielding sleeved onto the insulated body and the at least one conductive cover. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, each the terminal comprises an elastic contact section, a retaining section, and a connecting section, and the insulated body comprises the plurality of terminal passages on two opposite upper and lower side walls thereof, for accommodating the elastic contact sections of the upper and lower of rows of terminals. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the base assembly further comprises a first terminal seat engaging with the upper row of terminals and a second terminal seat engaging with the lower row of terminals, the first and second terminal seats are superposed one upon the other, and the plate assembly is located between the first terminal seat and the second terminal seat. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, each terminal seat comprises a plurality of first engaging units, and the insulated body comprises a plurality of upper and lower second engaging units on the first end thereof. The insulated body is assembled with the base assembly by engaging the first engaging unit of each the terminal seat with the corresponding second engaging unit of the insulated body. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, each the engaging unit comprises a pair of structurally complementary protrusion and recess. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first terminal seat comprises at least one blind hole, the second terminal seat comprises at least one post, and the plate assembly comprises at least one locating hole. The at least one post passes through the locating hole and is disposed in the at least one blind hole, so that the plate assembly, the first terminal seat, and the second terminal seat are assembled together. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one elastic arm comprises two elastic arms, insulated body comprises slots respectively formed on two opposite left and right side walls thereof for accommodating the two elastic arms of the plate assembly. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one conductive cover comprises a first conductive cover and a second conductive cover, which respectively cover the plurality of the terminal passages on two opposite upper and lower side walls of the insulated body. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, each the conductive cover comprises at least one first elastic tab configured for electrically contacting with the complementary connector. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the insulated body comprises at least one through hole on the two opposite upper and lower side walls thereof, so that the at least one first elastic tab of each the conductive cover passes through the at least one through hole to electrically contact with the complementary connector. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, each the conductive cover comprises at least one second elastic tab, which outwardly extends to electrically contact with the outer shielding. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, each the conductive cover comprises embedding tabs in two sides thereof, for fixing on the insulated body. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the terminals of the upper row has a configuration similar to a configuration of each the terminals of the lower row. 
     The present invention also provides a universal serial bus connector, comprising: an upper terminal set having an upper row of terminals and a lower terminal set having a lower row of terminals, each of the terminals of the upper row having a configuration similar to a configuration of each of the terminals of the lower row; an insulated body having a plurality of upper terminal passages receiving the terminals of the upper row, a plurality of lower terminal passages receiving the terminals of the lower row, and a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a plurality of openings formed in the first end, and the second end being configured for connecting with a complementary connector; a plate assembly located between the upper and lower rows of terminals and assembling between the upper and lower terminal sets, and the plate assembly comprising: at least one elastic arm extending toward the second end of the insulated body, the at least one elastic arm comprises a hook section on an end thereof extending through the insulated body into an inside thereof and configured for electrically contacting with the complementary connector; at least one ground section extending toward an outside of the insulated body; and at least one protrusion, which is accommodated in a corresponding opening of the insulated body, so that the plate assembly is securely retained to the insulated body; and an outer shielding sleeved onto the insulated body and the upper and lower terminal sets. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an exploded diagram of a serial bus connector according to the prior art; 
         FIG. 2  shows a partial assembly diagram of the serial bus connector of  FIG. 1  according to the prior art; 
         FIG. 3  shows an assembly diagram of a serial bus connector according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a first view of an exploded diagram of the serial bus connector according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows a second view of an exploded diagram of the serial bus connector according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  shows a first partial assembly diagram of the serial bus connector according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  shows a second partial assembly diagram of the serial bus connector according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  shows a third partial assembly diagram of the serial bus connector according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S) 
     The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, the same reference numerals refer to the same parts or like parts throughout the various figures. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 3  shows an assembly diagram of a serial bus connector  100  according to the present invention, and  FIG. 4  shows a first view of an exploded diagram of the serial bus connector  100  according to the present invention. The serial bus connector  100  comprises a base assembly, an insulated body  300 , a first row of terminals  400 , a second row of terminals  405 , a first conductive cover  500 , a second conductive cover  505 , a plate assembly  600 , and an outer shielding  700 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , each terminal of the first row of terminals  400  and the second row of terminals  405  comprises an elastic contact section  410 , a retaining section (not shown), and a connecting section  420 , wherein the retaining section is located between the elastic contact section  410  and the connecting section  420 . The terminals  400  of the first row each have a configuration similar to a configuration of each of the terminals  405  of the second row. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the base assembly comprises a first terminal seat  200  and a second terminal seat  205 , which are superposed one upon the other. The first terminal seat  200  and the second terminal seat  205  respectively cover and securely engage with a portion of the first row of terminals  400  and a portion of the second row of terminals  405 . In this embodiment, the retaining sections of the first row of terminals  400  and the second row of terminals  405  are respectively embedded in the first terminal seat  200  and the second terminal seat  205  by an insert molding process. The first terminal seat  200  also comprises a pair of blind holes (not shown) on a surface thereof, and the second terminal seat  205  also comprises a pair of posts  210  on a surface thereof, wherein the pair of posts  210  correspond to the pair of blind holes. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the insulated body  300  comprises a first end  310  and a second end  315  opposite the first end  310 . The first end  310  is used for assembling with the first terminal seat  200 , the second terminal seat  205 , and the plate assembly  600 . The first end  310  also comprises a pair of openings  320 , but the number of the openings  320  is not limited thereto. An interface (not labeled in  FIG. 5 ) is formed on the second end  315 . A size of the interface may be smaller than the standard specification of Micro-USB, and it can allow for electrically connecting with a complementary connector (not shown) via up or down orientations. The insulated body  300  comprises a first row of terminal passages  330  and a second row of terminal passages  335  on two opposite upper and lower side walls thereof, for accommodating the elastic contact section  410  of the first row of terminals  400  and the elastic contact section  410  of the second row of terminals  405 . The first row of terminal passages  330  and the second row of terminal passages  335  extend from the first end  310  toward the second end  315 , and are terminated at a distance from the second end  315 . p As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the plate assembly  600  is located between the superposed first terminal seat  200  and second terminal seat  205  and is grounded for preventing interference caused by high speed signals transmitted by the terminals  400 ,  405  and/or external signals, such as electrostatic discharge (ESD) or electromagnetic interference (EMI). The plate assembly  600  comprises a plate body  610 , a pair of elastic arms  620 , a pair of ground sections  630 , and a pair of protrusions  640 , wherein the plate body  610 , the pair of elastic arms  620 , the pair of ground sections  630 , and the pair of protrusions  640  are a one-piece stamped structure. The pair of elastic arms  620  and the pair of ground sections  630  are located on two opposite sides of the plate body  610 , and the elastic arms  620  and the ground sections  630  extend toward two opposite directions. A pair of hook sections  625  are formed on ends of the pair of elastic arms  620 . The pair of protrusions  640  extend from the plate body  610  toward the pair of openings  320  of the first end  310  of the insulated body  300 , and the number of the protrusion  640  is not limited thereto. The plate body  610  comprises a pair of locating holes  650  which respectively correspond the pair of blind holes (not shown) of the first terminal seat  200  and the pair of posts  210  of the second terminal seat  205 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  shows a first partial assembly diagram of the serial bus connector  100  according to the present invention. When the plate assembly  600  is assembled to the insulated body  300 , the pair of elastic arms  620  extend to the second end  315  along a pair of slots  340  of the insulated body  300 , and the pair of ground sections  630  extend to the outside of the first end  310  of the insulated body  300 . The pair of slots  340  are formed on left and right sides of the insulated body  300 , for accommodating the pair of elastic arms  620  of the plate assembly  600 . On the extension direction of the pair of slots  340 , a pair of through holes (not shown) are formed on the end of each slot  340 , and extend to an inner of the insulated body  300 , so that the pair of hook sections  625  of the elastic arms  620  pass through the through holes of the pair of slots  340  and extend to the inner of the insulated body  300 . The hook sections  625  engage and electrically contact the complementary connector when the serial bus connector  100  is electrically connected with the complementary connector. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6 , when the insulated body  300  is assembled with the plate assembly  600 , the pair of openings  320  of the insulated body  300  are used for accommodating the pair of protrusions  640  of the plate assembly  600 , thereby retaining the plate assembly  600  within the insulated body  300 . That is, in the serial bus connector  100  of the present invention, the pair of elastic arms  620  of the plate assembly  600  engage with the pair of through holes on the two left and right side walls of the insulated body  300 , and the pair of protrusions  640  of the plate assembly  600  engage and are fixed in the pair of openings  320  on the first end  310  of the insulated body  300 , thereby increasing the structural firmness in the assembly of the plate assembly  600  and the insulated body  300 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7  shows a second partial assembly diagram of the serial bus connector  100  according to the present invention. After the plate assembly  600  is assembled with the insulated body  300 , the pair of posts  210  of the second terminal seat  205  pass through the pair of locating holes  650  of the plate assembly  600 , and then the pair of posts  210  are disposed in the pair of blind holes of the first terminal seat  200 , so that the first terminal seat  200 , the second terminal seat  205 , and the plate assembly  600  are firmly assembled together. After assembly, the length of the plate body  610  of the plate assembly  600  is shorter than the length of the terminals  400  and terminals  405 , and the plate assembly  600  will not contact with the terminals  400  and terminals  405 . It should be noted that the sequence for assembling the insulated body  300 , the plate assembly  600 , the first terminal seat  200 , and the second terminal seat  205  is not limited thereto. For example, in the other embodiments, it can be that the plate assembly  600  is firstly assembled with the first terminal seat  200  and the second terminal seat  205 , and then they are assembled with the insulated body  300 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 7 , each the terminal seat  200  and terminal seat  205  respectively comprises two first engaging units  230  at opposite lateral sides thereof, and the insulated body  300  comprises two upper and two lower second engaging units  360  on opposite lateral sides of the first end  315  thereof. The first engaging unit  230  comprises a first protrusion  220  and a first recess  225 , and the second engaging unit  360  comprises a second protrusion  350  and a second recess  355 . The second recess  225  and the first protrusion  220  of the first engaging unit  230  are structurally complementary to the second recess  355  and the second protrusion  350  of the second engaging unit  360 , so that the first protrusion  220  and the second protrusion  350  can engage with the corresponding first recess  225  and the corresponding second recess  355 . Therefore, in this embodiment, by using the structurally complementary protrusions and recesses, the first engaging unit  230  of each terminal seat  200  and terminal  205  can engage with the corresponding second engaging unit  360  of the insulated body  300 , thereby assembling the insulated body  300  with the first terminal seat  200  and the second terminal seat  205 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 8  shows a third partial assembly diagram of the serial bus connector  100  according to the present invention. The first conductive cover  500  and the second conductive cover  505  are respectively disposed on the outer surfaces of two opposite upper and lower side walls of the insulated body  300 , and cover the first row of terminal passages  330  and the second row of terminal passages  335 . The first conductive cover  500  and the second conductive cover  505  are symmetric and have a hollowed-out portion in the center, and they comprise a plurality of first elastic tabs  510  and a plurality of second elastic tabs  520 . Each first elastic tab  510  extends toward the direction of the inner of the insulated body  300 , so as to electrically contact to a conductive shell of the complementary connector (not shown) which is electrically connected with the serial bus connector  100 . The second elastic tab  520  extends in a direction away from the insulated body  300 , so as to electrically contact the outer shielding  700 . In should be noted that the first elastic tabs  510  and the second elastic tabs  520  of the first conductive cover  500  and the second conductive cover  505  are one-piece stamped structures. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 8 , the insulated body  300  comprises a plurality of through holes  370  on the two opposite upper and lower side walls thereof. The through holes  370  are respectively located on a terminal region of the first row of terminal passages  330  and the second row of terminal passages  335  and adjacent to the second end  315 . The first elastic tabs  510  of the first conductive cover  500  and the second conductive cover  505  are bent toward the insulated body  300  and then they extend into the through holes  370  of the insulated body  300 , and are configured as a barb-like structure. It should be noted that when viewed from the second end  315  of the insulated body  300 , the end of the first elastic tab  510  is lower than an inner surface of the insulated body  300 , but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the insulated body  300  further comprises a pair of concave portions  380  on two opposite left and right side walls thereof. The left and right sides at the end of each conductive cover  500  and conductive cover  505  are respectively downwardly bent for forming a pair of embedding tabs  530 , which are used for engaging to and fixing in the pair of concave portions  380  of the insulated body  300 . Preferably, when the first conductive cover  500  and the second conductive cover  505  are respectively disposed on the insulated body  300 , the first conductive cover  500  and the second conductive cover  505  are disposed on a plane generally the same as the two opposite upper and lower side walls of the insulated body  300 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , after the first terminal seat  200 , the second terminal seat  205 , the insulated body  300 , the first row of terminals  400 , the second row of terminals  405 , the first conductive cover  500 , the second conductive cover  505 , and the plate assembly  600  are assembled together, they will be disposed into the outer shielding  700 , so that the outer shielding  700  will tightly surround the contacting side walls of the first conductive cover  500 , the second conductive cover  505 , and the insulated body  300 . Moreover, the first conductive cover  500  and the second conductive cover  505  are electrically contacted with upper and lower inner side walls of the outer shielding  700  by the second elastic tabs  520 . 
     In summary, in the serial bus connector  100  of the present invention, the pair of elastic arms  620  of the plate assembly  600  engage with the pair of through holes in the two left and right side walls of the insulated body  300 , and the pair of protrusions  640  of the plate assembly  600  engage in the pair of openings  320  on the first end  310  of the insulated body  300 , thereby increasing the structural firmness in the assembly of the plate assembly  600  and the insulated body  300 . The serial bus connector  100  of the present invention uses the elements as described above, so that the serial bus connector  100  not only has a small structure, but also has sufficient structural strength, thereby providing the connector with a longer service life. 
     The above descriptions are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Any modification or replacement made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and principle of the present invention should fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention is subject to the appended claims. 
     While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.