Patent Publication Number: US-11381012-B2

Title: Electrical connector and electrical connector assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) of Chinese Patent Application No. 201910787572.1, filed on Aug. 23, 2019. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an electrical connector and, more particularly, to an electrical connector with a movable terminal. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Some existing electrical connectors include a movable terminal placed in a receiving portion of a cylindrical conductive housing. An end of the movable terminal is located in the receiving portion and movably protrudes out of the receiving portion against elasticity of a spring so as to be electrically connected to a connection terminal. 
     The movable terminal is generally kept in contact with the conductive housing by a spring at one end thereof. However, such contact is not stable enough, particularly when there is a vibration or external force applied to the movable terminal, which results in poor contact between the movable terminal and the conductive housing, thereby generating high frequency resonance and current transient interruption. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electrical connector includes a conductive housing having a first receiving portion with an open end, a movable terminal having a first end inserted into the first receiving portion via the open end, the movable terminal having a second receiving portion, and a first elastic piece located in a space defined by the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion. A second end of the movable terminal opposite to the first end protrudes movably out of the first receiving portion against an elasticity of the first elastic piece. The first end of the movable terminal has a first elastic arm elastically abutting an inner side wall of the first receiving portion. The movable terminal is electrically connected to the conductive housing by each of the first elastic piece and the first elastic arm. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other features of the present disclosure will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electrical connector according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional side view of the electrical connector; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a conductive housing of the electrical connector; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a movable terminal of the electrical connector; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a first elastic piece of the electrical connector; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a tube spring of the electrical connector; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an electrical connector assembly according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional side view of the electrical connector assembly; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional side view of an electrical component according to an embodiment; and 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional side view of an electrical component according to another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S) 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to the attached drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will convey the concept of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. 
     In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing. 
     An electrical connector  10  according to an embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , comprises a cylindrical conductive housing  2 , a movable terminal  1 , and a first elastic piece  3 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a first cylindrical receiving portion  2 . 1  is formed in the conductive housing  2 , the first receiving portion  2 . 1  having an open end, and an end of the first receiving portion  2 . 1  opposite to the open end being closed. A first end of the movable terminal  1  is inserted into the first receiving portion  2 . 1  via the open end of the first receiving portion  2 . 1 , and a second receiving portion  1 . 1  is formed in the first end of the movable terminal  1 . The first elastic piece  3  is located in a space defined by the first receiving portion  2 . 1  and the second receiving portion  1 . 1 . A second end of the movable terminal  1  opposite to the first end protrudes movably out of the first receiving portion  2 . 1  against the elasticity of the first elastic piece  3  to be electrically connected to an electronic component (e.g., a PCB board). 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the first end of the movable terminal  1  is further formed with a plurality of first elastic arms  1 . 2 . A notch  1 . 4 , shown in  FIG. 4 , is arranged between two adjacent first elastic arms  1 . 2 , and the first elastic arms  1 . 2  are configured to elastically abut against an inner side wall of the first receiving portion  2 . 1  so that the movable terminal  1  is electrically connected to the conductive housing  2  by the first elastic piece  3  and the first elastic arm  1 . 2 , improving the connection reliability between the movable terminal  1  and the conductive housing  2 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , each first elastic arm  1 . 2  extends from the first end of the movable terminal  1  in an axial direction of the movable terminal  1 . In this way, the insertion of the movable terminal  1  into the first receiving portion  2 . 1  of the conductive housing  2  may be facilitated. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in some other embodiments of the present disclosure, the first elastic arm  1 . 2  may also extend, for example, in a direction at an angle to the axial direction of the movable terminal  1 , so as to be in electrical contact with the inner side wall of the first receiving portion  2 . 1 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , a free end of each first elastic arm  1 . 2  is provided with a protrusion  1 . 3  protruding radially and outwardly to be in elastic contact with the inner side wall of the conductive housing  2 , so that the movable terminal  1  may be in reliable electrical contact with the conductive housing  2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the plurality of first elastic arms  1 . 2  are distributed at a regular interval in a circumferential direction of the movable terminal  1 , thereby making it easy for the movable terminal  1  to be positioned at the center of the receiving portion  2 . 1  by an elastic force of the plurality of elastic arms  1 . 2 . An axis of the movable terminal  1  coincides with an axis of the first receiving portion  2 . 1 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the electrical connector  10  includes a second elastic piece (e.g., a tube spring  4 ) provided between the inner side wall of the conductive housing  2  and the movable terminal  1 . The movable terminal  1  may be electrically connected to the conductive housing  2  by the second elastic piece, so as to further improve the reliability of the electrical connection between the movable terminal  1  and the conductive housing  2 . In an embodiment, the second elastic piece may replace the first elastic arm  1 . 2 , i.e. the first end of the movable terminal  1  may not be provided with the first elastic arm and may be electrically connected to the conductive housing  2  by only the second elastic piece. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the tube spring  4  is located between the first end of the movable terminal  1  and the open end of the first receiving portion  2 . 1 . The tube spring  4  is configured to elastically abut against an outer circumferential surface of the movable terminal  1  and the inner side wall of the conductive housing  2 , so that the movable terminal  1  may be electrically connected to the conductive housing  2 . 
     The tube spring  4 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , includes a plurality of elastic sheets  4 . 3  distributed at a regular interval in a circumference direction of the tube spring  4 . Each elastic sheet  4 . 3  axially extends from a pair of opposite ends  4 . 1 ,  4 . 2  of the tube spring  4  toward each other and is formed as a V-shaped structure protruding toward the movable terminal  1 , so as to elastically abut against the outer circumferential surface of the movable terminal  1 . The opposite ends  4 . 1 ,  4 . 2  of the tube spring  4  are in electrical contact with the inner side wall of the conductive housing  2 , so that the movable terminal  1  is electrically connected to the conductive housing  2  by the tube spring  4 . It will be appreciated for those skilled in the art that in other embodiments of the present disclosure, the spring sheets  4 . 3  may also be formed as an arc-shaped structure protruding toward the movable terminal  1 , for example. Furthermore, the number of the spring sheets  4 . 3  may also be one. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 6 , the tube spring  4  has an open slot  4 . 4  extending axially through the ends  4 . 1 ,  4 . 2  of the tube spring  4 . By providing the open slot  4 . 4 , the range of deformation of the tube spring  4  may be made larger to be suitable for the first receiving portion  2 . 1  of different sizes (i.e., inner diameters) as much as possible. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the open end of the first receiving portion  2 . 1  is provided with a flange  2 . 3  protruding radially inwardly and adapted to prevent the tube spring  4  from sliding out of the first receiving portion  2 . 1 , and the first receiving portion  2 . 1  is also formed with at least one stopping portion  2 . 5  adapted to prevent the tube spring  4  from moving away from the open end of the first receiving portion  2 . 1 . In this way, the position of the tube spring  4  in the axial direction of the conductive housing  2  may be defined or limited by the flange  2 . 3  and the stopping portion  2 . 5 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the stopping portion  2 . 5  is a recess formed in the side wall of the first receiving portion  2 . 1 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in some other embodiments of the present disclosure, the stopping portion  2 . 5  may also be a protrusion protruding radially inwardly from the inner side wall of the first receiving portion  2 . 1 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , a first protrusion  2 . 2  is formed on an outer side wall of the first receiving portion  2 . 1  and protrudes radially outwardly so as to fix an insulation cylinder  32  of an electrical connector assembly  100  (shown in  FIG. 8 ). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , the first receiving portion  2 . 1  has the open end, and the end (i.e., a closed end) of the first receiving portion  2 . 1  opposite to the open end is formed with an extension portion  2 . 4  extending away from the open end. In this case, the electrical connector  10  comprises one movable terminal  1 , the first end of the terminal  1  protruding from the open end of the first receiving portion  2 . 1  to be in electrical contact with an electronic component  300  (shown in  FIG. 9 ). However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in some other embodiments of the present disclosure, two opposite ends of the first receiving portion  2 . 1  may be open. In this case, the electrical connector  10  may comprises two movable terminals  1 , the first ends of the two movable terminals  1  protruding from the two opposite ends of the first receiving portion  2 . 1  to be in electrical contact with the corresponding electronic components, respectively. The first elastic piece  3  is located in a space defined by the first receiving portion  1 . 2  and the second receiving portion  2 . 1  of the two movable terminals  1 . 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in some other embodiments of the present disclosure, the number of the first elastic arms  1 . 2  may be one. Further, the second elastic piece may also in other forms, for example in a form of a plurality of elastic arms integrally connected to the conductive housing  2 , the plurality of elastic arms comprising an arc-shaped structure protruding from the inner side surface of the conductive housing  2  toward the movable terminal  1  to be in elastic contact with the movable terminal  1 . 
     According to an embodiment of another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an electrical connector assembly  100 . As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the electrical connector assembly  100  comprises the electrical connector  10  as described above in any one embodiment and a cylinder  30  comprising an outer conductive cylinder  31  and an inner insulation cylinder  32 . The inner insulation cylinder  32  is provided in the outer conductive cylinder  31 , and the electrical connector  10  is mounted in the inner insulation cylinder  32  and isolated from the outer conductive cylinder  31  by the inner insulation cylinder  32 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the electrical connector assembly comprises a mating connector  20  including an insulation base  21  and a connection terminal  22  connected to the insulation base  21 . The connection terminal  22  extends partially into the outer conductive cylinder  31  and is electrically connected to the outer conductive cylinder  31 . 
     In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 8 , an end of the connection terminal  22  extending into the outer conductive cylinder  31  is formed with at least one second elastic arm  22 . 1 , which is configured to elastically abut against an inner side wall of the outer conductive cylinder  31  to be electrically connected to the outer conductive cylinder  31 . Each of the at least one second elastic arms  22 . 1  extends from the outer conductive cylinder  31  in an axial direction of the outer conductive cylinder  31 . In this way, insertion of the mating connector  20  into the outer cylinder  31  may be facilitated. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in other embodiments of the present disclosure, the second elastic arms  22 . 1  may also extend in a direction at an angle to the axial direction of the outer conductive cylinder  31 , for example, so as to elastically abut against the inner side wall of the outer conductive cylinder  31 . 
     In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 8 , an free end of each second elastic arms  22 . 1  is provided with a second protrusion  22 . 2  protruding toward the outer conductive cylinder  31  to be in elastic contact with the outer conductive cylinder  31 , which may enable the mating connector  20  to be in reliable electric contact with the outer conductive cylinder  31 . 
     In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the outer side wall of the inner insulation cylinder  32  is formed with a first step  32 . 1 , and the inner side wall of the outer conductive cylinder  31  is formed with a second step  31 . 1 , the first step  32 . 1  abutting against the second step  31 . 1  to limit a axial movement of the inner insulation cylinder  32  toward the mating connector  20 . The inner side wall of the inner insulation cylinder  32  may also be formed with a third step  32 . 2 , the first protrusion  2 . 3  of the conductive housing  2  abutting against the third step  32 . 2  to limit the axial movement of the inner insulation cylinder  32  toward the mating connector  20 . 
     In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the electrical connector assembly  100  includes a third elastic piece  40 , such as a spring, two ends of the third elastic piece  40  elastically abutting against the insulating base  21  and the outer conductive cylinder  31 , respectively, so that a pressing force can be provided by the third elastic piece  40  to ensure an electrical connection with an first electronic assembly  300  (e.g., PCB board) at an upper end of the electrical connector assembly  100  and an electrical connection with an second electronic assembly  200  (e.g., PCB board, filter) at an lower end of the electrical connector assembly  100 , respectively, as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the electrical component comprises an electrical connector assembly  100  as described above and an electronic component  200 , the outer conductive cylinder  31  of the electrical connector assembly  100  being electrically connected to the electronic component  200 . 
     In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the electronic component  200  has a mounting hole  201 , and one end of the outer conductive cylinder  31  facing away from the first receiving portion  2 . 1  of the electrical connector  10  may be mounted in the mounting hole  201  by pressing or screwing, for example, so as to be in electrical contact with an inner side wall of the mounting hole  201 . 
     In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 10 , an end of the outer conductive cylinder  31  facing away from the first receiving portion  2 . 1  of the electrical connector  10  is soldered on the electronic component  200  to be in electric contact with the electronic component  200 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 , the electronic component  200  is provided with a through hole  202  into which the extension portion  2 . 4  of the conductive housing  2  of the electrical connector  10  is inserted. 
     According to the electrical connector  10  and the electrical connector assembly  100  described in various embodiments of the present disclosure, at least one first elastic arm  1 . 2  is provided at the first end of the movable terminal  1  and elastically abuts against the inner side wall of the first receiving portion  2 . 1 , so that the movable terminal  1  is electrically connected to the conductive housing  2  by the first elastic arm  1 . 2  and the first elastic piece  3  located at the first end of the movable terminal  2 , thereby improving the reliability of electrical contact. The movable terminal  1  may be kept in electrical contact with the conductive housing  2  by the first elastic piece  3  and the first elastic arm  1 . 2  even in the event of vibration or external force applied to the movable terminal  1 , thereby avoiding the occurrence of high frequency resonance and current transient interruption and improving a working range. In addition, the conductive housing  2  and the tube spring  4  may be formed by a stamping process, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost. 
     It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the above-described embodiments are exemplary and that modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, and that structures described in the various embodiments may be freely combined without conflict in structure or principle. Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims, and the disclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the specification.