Patent Publication Number: US-9431764-B2

Title: Thin card plug

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Taiwanese Application No. 1012116848, filed Aug. 31, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The application relates to an electrical connector, particularly to a low profile plug connector, and an electrical connection device and an electronic device which comprise the plug connector. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Portable electronic products push toward thinness and lightness has become a mainstream trend, and electrical connectors used in the portable electronic products are required to help enable the trend. For example, US Patent Publication No. US 2009/0053932 (corresponding to Chinese Patent application No. CN 200710076574.7) discloses a USB plug connector with low profile, referring to  FIG. 1 , the plug connector has a plate-shaped housing  91  and a plurality of conductive terminals  92  provided to a top face  911  of the housing  91 . Each conductive terminal  92  has a convex cross section and is protruded out from the top face  911  of the housing  91 , after the plug connector is inserted into a standard USB receptacle, the conductive terminal  92  elastically deforms due to pressing from the corresponding conductive terminal of the standard USB receptacle. Both sides of the top face  911  of the housing  91  are respectively provided with side ribs  912  protruding along an extending direction of the conductive terminal  92  to prevent incorrect insertion in use. 
     The plug connector omits a cage generally used in a plug so as to reduce the thickness. However, the above-described patent does not disclose how to make the terminals of the plug connector reach the correct contact operative position with the receptacle terminal. And the plug connector is only configured to transmitting a signal conforming to USB2.0 specification while a plug connector with the USB3.0 specification would require an arrangement of two rows of terminals, one row of resilient terminals would be relatively protruded, and such a configuration would be easily damaged without the protection provided by a cage. Therefore, for the plug connector with the USB3.0 specification requiring for the resilient terminal, it is an significant issue to provide a plug connector that is thin and light and still protects the resilient terminal and that can ensure the desired contact operative position with the receptacle terminal. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an embodiment, a plug connector of the present application comprises a housing, a plurality of first terminals, a plurality of second terminals and a pair of side plates. The housing has a base and a tongue extending forwardly from the base along a front-rear direction. The base has a mating limit portion connecting the tongue and higher than a plate surface of the tongue. The plurality of first terminals are mounted to the housing, and the each first terminal has a resilient contact portion exposed out from the plate surface of the tongue. The resilient contact portions are arranged in one row. The plurality of second terminals are mounted to the housing, and the each second terminal has a flat plate contact portion exposed out from the plate surface of the tongue. The flat plate contact portions are arranged in one row and positioned in front of the resilient contact portions. Each one of the side plates are positioned along a respective side of the tongue. The two side plates extend along the first, for-aft, direction and heights of the two side plates that is higher than the plate surface extends along and is higher than a height of the resilient contact portions which are exposed out from the plate surface, which allows the resilient contact portions to be position between the two side plates. 
     According to another embodiment, the plug connector further comprises a metal plate mounted to one side of the housing opposite to the plate surface. The two side plates integrally extend from both sides of the metal plate respectively, and are positioned at both sides of the tongue and the mating limit portion respectively. The retained portions of the support arms are formed respectively by integrally extending from the metal plate. 
     According to an embodiment, an electrical connection device comprises the plug connector as described above and a receptacle connector which can mate the plug connector to form electrical connection. The receptacle connector comprises a tongue plate, a cage and a plurality of flat plate terminals and a plurality of resilient terminals mounted to the tongue plate. The cage surrounds the tongue plate to define a mating space and an insert port. The flat plate terminals are arranged as one row and respectively correspond to the resilient contact portions of the first terminals and are closer to the insert port than the resilient terminals. The resilient terminals are arranged as one row and respectively correspond to the flat plate contact portions of the second terminals. When the plug connector and the receptacle connector are mated, the tongue is received in the mating space to mate the tongue plate and the mating limit portion abuts against an end face of the tongue plate facing the insert port, so as to allow the resilient contact portions of the first terminals to respectively contact the flat plate terminals and allow the flat plate contact portions of the second terminals to respectively contact the resilient terminals. 
     According to an embodiment, an electronic device of the present application comprises the plug connector as described above, a circuit board and an outer casing. The circuit board is connected to a rear side of the base, and the first tail portions and second tail portions are electrically connected to the circuit board. The outer casing surrounds and covers a rear end of the base, and extends rearwardly and covers the first tail portions, the second tail portions and the circuit board. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a thinned-type plug connector in the prior art; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a plug connector in a first embodiment of the application and an electronic device comprising the plug connector; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a receptacle connector in the first embodiment of the application and an electrical connection device formed by the receptacle connector and the plug connector; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a mating state of the receptacle connector and the plug connector in the first embodiments; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a assembling relationship of a circuit board in the electronic device and the plug connector in the first embodiment, in which an outer casing of the electronic device is not shown; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating the plug connector in the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating an housing, first terminals and second terminals of the plug connector in the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of  FIG. 7  illustrating the plug connector in the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line X-X of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XI-XI of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of  FIG. 4  illustrating a mating state of the receptacle connector and the plug connector in the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XIII-XIII of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XIV-XIV of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view illustrating a plug connector in a second embodiment of the application; 
         FIG. 16  is an exploded perspective view of  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a view of  FIG. 16  from another angle; 
         FIG. 18  is a bottom view of  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XIX-XIX of  FIG. 18 ; 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view illustrating an electronic device and receptacle connector in a third embodiment of the application; 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view illustrating a plug connector in the third embodiment; 
         FIG. 22  is a view of  FIG. 21  from another angle; 
         FIG. 23  is an exploded perspective view of  FIG. 21 ; and 
         FIG. 24  is a view of  FIG. 23  from another angle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The foregoing and other technical contents, features and effects of the embodiments will be apparent through the following detailed description for three embodiments in combination with the drawings. Before the embodiments are described in details, it should be noted that like elements are indicated by like reference numerals in the following description. 
     As can be appreciated, the application discloses a thin plug connector that can protect a resilient terminal and help ensure a correct contact operative position with a receptacle terminal. The disclosure provides a connector that can provide the following benefits. The plug connector is a thin, low profile plug that has the resilient contact portion and the flat plate contact portion. As the mating limit portion abuts against the end face of the tongue plate facing the insert port, insertion depth and position of the tongue of the plug connector inserted into receptacle connector can be limited, so as to ensure the resilient contact portion and the flat plate contact portion of the plug connector reach the correct contact operative position respectively with the flat plate terminal and the resilient terminal of the receptacle connector. And, both sides of the resilient contact portions can be protected from damaging due to inappropriate external force by the two side plates. Moreover, the metal plate can function as electromagnetic shielding protection. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , a first embodiment of a plug connector  100  is described as being provided to an electronic device  200  for example and the plug connector  100  can mate to a receptacle connector  300  to form an electrical connection device. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , an embodiment of the electronic device  200  comprises the plug connector  100 , a circuit board  201 , an outer casing  202  and a cap  203 . Referring to  FIGS. 6-9 , the plug connector  100  comprises a housing  1  formed of an insulative material, a plurality of first terminals  2 , a plurality of second terminals  3  and a pair of side plates  4 . The housing  1  has a base  11 , a tongue  12  extending forwardly from the base  11  along a front-rear direction L, and a pair of support arms  13  spaced apart from each other and extending rearwardly from both sides of the base  11 , respectively. The base  11  has a mating limit portion  111  which is connected with the tongue  12  and is higher than a plate surface  121  of the tongue  12 . The each support arm  13  has a positioning foot  131  and a retained portion  132  formed by a having a side U-shaped metal sheet. In combination with referring to  FIG. 5 , the circuit board  201  has positioning holes  204  for correspondingly clamping and positioning the positioning feet  131 , and the retained portions  132  are fixed to the circuit board  201  by soldering. 
     Further in combination with referring to  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , the first terminals  2  are mounted to the housing  1 , and the each first terminal  2  has a resilient contact portion  21  exposed out from the plate surface  121  of the tongue  12 , a first body portion  22  embedded in the housing  1  and a first tail portion  23  extending out from a rear portion of the housing  1 , and the first body portion  22  connects the resilient contact portion  21  and the first tail portion  23 . The first terminals  2  extend along the front-rear direction L, and the resilient contact portions  21  are arranged as one row in a transverse direction T perpendicular to the front-rear direction L. The second terminals  3  are mounted to the housing  1 , and the each second terminal  3  has a flat plate contact portion  31  exposed out from the plate surface  121  of the tongue  12 , a second body portion  32  embedded in the housing  1  and a second tail portion  33  extending out from the rear portion of the housing  1 , and the second body portion  32  connects the flat plate contact portion  31  and the second tail portion  33 . The second terminals  3  also extend along the front-rear direction L, and the flat plate contact portions  31  are arranged as one row along the transverse direction T and positioned in front of the resilient contact portions  21 . The first tail portions  23  and the second tail portions  33  are provided alternately and arranged in one row, and are soldered to the circuit board  201  (referring to  FIG. 5 ). In addition, as shown in the embodiment, the first terminals  2  and the second terminals  3  are formed by the same metal sheet, the first tail portions  23  and the second tail portions  33  are arranged in one row and thus together are connected to the same carrier  101 , and the second body portions  32  after forming are higher than the first body portions  22  relative to a plane where the plate surface  121  is positioned, so as to make the first body portions  22  and the second body portions  32  offset from each other and not to be in the same plane, and this height difference can allow the first terminals  2  and the second terminals  3  to be spaced from each other and with different front-rear lengths to be formed from the same metal sheet. 
     In an embodiment, the housing  1  is integrally molded with the first terminals  2  and the second terminals  3  by insert molding. This allows the first tail portions  23  and the second tail portions  33  to be connected together to the same carrier  101 . As can be appreciated, the first terminals  2  and the second terminals  3  are positioned together and molded in the insert molding process for forming the housing  1 . The carrier  101  can be removed after the housing  1  has been molded. As depicted, the first terminals  2  and the second terminals  3  are together used for transmitting a signal conforming to USB3.0 transmission specification. 
     Two side plates  4  are positioned face to face at both sides of the tongue  12  respectively parallel to the front-rear direction L. The side plates  4  are higher than the plate surface  121  and have a length of extending along the front-rear direction L such that a height of the side plate  4 , which is greater than the plate surface  121 , cover a length and a height of the resilient contact portions  21  that are exposed out from the plate surface  121 . In other words, the projection of the resilient contact portions  21  that extend out from the tongue  12  are entirely covered by the side plate  4 , but the length of the side plate  4  extending forwardly does not cover or only partially covers the flat plate contact portion  31  of the second terminal  3 . In short; the length of the two side plates  4  extending along the front-rear direction is more than or equal to a length of front and rear positions of the resilient contact portion  21  exposed out from the plate surface  121 . In addition, the height of the two side plates  4  is at least as high as the height of the resilient contact portions  21  and is higher than the plate surface  121 , thus the resilient contact portions  21  are positioned between the two side plates  4  so that the resilient contact portions  21  are protected from damaging due to inappropriate external force. In the embodiment, the two side plates  4  and the housing  1  are molded integrally, protrude from both sides of the plate surface  121  of the tongue  12  respectively and rear ends thereof are connected to the mating limit portion  111  of the base  11 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 , the circuit board  201  is connected to a rear side of the base  11 , and the first tail portions  23  and the second tail portions  33  are electrically connected to the circuit board  201 . The outer casing  202  surrounds and covers a rear end of the base  11 , and extends rearwardly and covers the first tail portions  23 , the second tail portions  33 , the circuit board  201  and electronic components (not indicated by the reference numeral) on the circuit board  201 . Further referring to  FIG. 2 , the cap  203  can separably cover the plug connector  100  and a latch mechanisms  205  for establishing engagement by protrusion and recess are formed in an inner side face of the cap  203  and both sides of the plug connector  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the receptacle connector  300  in the embodiment comprises a tongue plate  301 , a cage  302  and a plurality of flat plate terminals  303  and a plurality of resilient terminals  304  mounted to the tongue plate  301 . The cage  302  surrounds the tongue plate  301  to define a mating space  305  and an insert port  306 . The flat plate terminals  303  are arranged as one row and respectively correspond to the resilient contact portions  21  of the first terminals  2  and are closer to the insert port  306  than the resilient terminals  304 . The resilient terminals  304  are arranged as one row and respectively correspond to the flat plate contact portions  31  of the second terminals  3 . Referring to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14 , when the plug connector  100  and the receptacle connector  300  are mated, the tongue  12  is received in the mating space  305  to mate with a tongue plate  301  and the mating limit portion  111  abuts against an end face  3011  of the tongue plate  301  facing the insert port  306 , the two side plates  4  are positioned at both sides of the tongue plate  301 , respectively, so as to allow the resilient contact portions  21  of the first terminals  2  to respectively contact the flat plate terminals  303  and allow the flat plate contact portions  31  of the second terminals  3  to respectively contact the resilient terminals  304 . As the mating limit portion  111  abuts against the end face  3011  of the tongue plate  301  facing the insert port  306 , insertion depth and position of the tongue  12  of the plug connector  100  inserted into receptacle connector  300  are limited so as to ensure the resilient contact portion  21  and the flat plate contact portion  31  of the plug connector  100  reach the correct contact operative position respectively with the flat plate terminal  303  and resilient terminal  304  of the receptacle connector  300 . In addition, if the plug connector  100  is inserted into the receptacle connector  300  upside down, a front end of the tongue  12  partially enters into the mating space  305  and the two side plates  4  will abut against a front end of the cage  302  of the receptacle connector  300  so as to prevent incorrect insertion of the plug connector  100 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 15-19 , a second embodiment of the plug connector  100  of the application is illustrated. The second embodiment is substantially same as the first embodiment but in the second embodiment the plug connector  100  further comprises a metal plate  5  mounted to one side of the housing  1  opposite to the plate surface  121 . The metal plate  5  has a plurality of insert pieces  51  respectively bent and extending from side edges, and a pair of extending pieces  52  respectively corresponding to the support arms  13  and extending, the each insert piece  51  has a plurality of protruded fixed portions  511 . The housing  1  further has a plurality of insert slots  14  respectively receiving the insert pieces  51  to allow insertion of the insert pieces  51  and fix the insert pieces  51  by interference between the fixed portions  511  and inner wall faces defining the insert slot  14 . The extending pieces  52  respectively contact the metal retained portions  132  and the extending piece  52  is clamped between the retained portion  132  and the support arm  13 , so as to increase engagement strength between the metal plate  5  and the housing  1 . In addition, the cage  302  of the receptacle connector  300  (referring to  FIG. 3 ) is provided with a plurality of leaf springs  307  at one side facing the tongue plate  301  provided with the flat plate terminals  303  and the resilient terminals  304 . Moreover, the metal retained portion  132  is soldered to a grounding wire of the circuit board  201  while contacting the metal plate  5 , when the plug connector  100  and the receptacle connector  300  are mated, the metal plate  5  contacts the leaf springs  307  of the cage  302  which is grounded, so as to function as electromagnetic shielding protection. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 20-24 , a third embodiment of the plug connector  100  of the application is illustrated. The third embodiment is substantially similar to the first embodiment, but in the third embodiment the plug connector  100  further comprises a metal plate  5  mounted to one side of the housing  1  opposite to the plate surface  121 . And, the two side plates  4  integrally extend from both sides of the metal plate  5 , respectively, and are positioned at both sides of the tongue  12  and the mating limit portion  111  parallel to the front-rear direction L. Moreover, the retained portions  132  of the support arms  13  are also formed respectively by metal pieces with bending and integrally extending the metal plate  5 . In other words, the metal plate  5 , the side plates  4  and the metal pieces forming the retained portions  132  on the support arms  13  are integrally formed from the same material. In addition, the metal plate  5  has an insert piece  51  bent and extending from a front side, and the insert piece  51  has two protruded fixed portions  511 . The housing  1  further has an insert slot  14  correspondingly receiving the insert piece  51  to allow insertion of the insert piece  51  and fix the insert piece  51  by interference between the fixed portions  511  and inner wall faces defining the insert slot  14 . For matching the two side plates  4  integrally extending from the metal plate  5 , in the embodiment, both sides of the housing  1  parallel to the front-rear direction L are respectively recessed inwardly partially, a thickness at each side that is moved inwardly is roughly equal to a thickness of the metal plate, to make a space for provision of the two side plates  4 , so as to allow an overall width of the plug connector  100  in the second embodiment to be equal to that of the first embodiment. In addition, the each support arm  13  is provided with a clamping block  133  to engage with the corresponding through hole  53  provided to the metal piece forming the retained portion  132 . Similarly to the second embodiment, when the plug connector  100  and the receptacle connector  300  (referring to  FIG. 3 ) are mated, the metal plate  5  contacts the leaf springs  307 . The metal plate  5  can function as electromagnetic shielding protection. 
     As can be appreciated, the plug connector  100  of the application is a low profile plug that has the resilient contact portion  21  and the flat plate contact portion  31 . The plug connector  100  has the mating limit portion  111  that abuts against the end face  3011  of the tongue plate  301  facing the insert port  306  such that aninsertion depth and position of the tongue  12  of the plug connector  100  inserted into receptacle connector  300  are limited. This helps ensure the resilient contact portion  21  and the flat plate contact portion  31  of the plug connector  100  reach the correct contact operative position respectively with the flat plate terminal  303  and the resilient terminal  304  of the receptacle connector  300 . And both sides of the resilient contact portions  21  can be protected from damage due to inappropriate external force by the two side plates  4 . The metal plate  5  can also provide electromagnetic shielding protection. 
     However, what have been described above are only embodiments of the application, the implementation scope of the application is not limited to that, that is, simple equivalent variations and modifications which are made according to the Claims and the description content of the application are included in the protective scope of the application.