Patent Publication Number: US-7708600-B2

Title: Compatible electrical connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a Continuation-in-part Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/893,074 filed on Aug. 14, 2007 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,402,084, and entitled “COMPATIBLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR”, which has the same applicant and assignee as the present invention. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a compatible electrical connector used for mating with different connectors in different applications. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Serial ATA connectors in accordance with Serial ATA specification are widely used in desktops currently for transmitting signals from motherboard to HDD or transmitting power from power supply of the computer to the HDD, or transmitting signals or power between outer HDD to the computer. When the Serial ATA connectors used in external applications, current designs usually are single connector comprising signal and grounding contacts for signal transmission or single connector comprising power contacts for different-voltage power transmission. However, in some applications, the connector transmitting signals needs to be combined with power transmission. There is no such a connector complying with such demands. Thus, an improved connector is needed to be designed for being compatible with complementary connector with or without power contacts. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector compatible with different connectors. 
   In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention is capable of mating with at least one of the first and second complementary connectors. The electrical connector includes a housing, a number of first terminals and a pair of second terminals. The housing includes an upper wall, a lower wall opposite to the upper wall, and a pair of sidewalls connecting with the upper and lower walls. The housing defines a receiving space circumscribed by the upper wall, the lower wall and the sidewalls. The first terminals are assembled to the upper wall, and the second terminals are assembled to corresponding side walls. Each terminal includes a mating portion, an intermediate portion engaging with the housing to retain the terminals in the housing and a tail portion. The mating portions of the first terminals are exposed to the receiving space and the mating portions of the second terminal are laterally exposed outside the housing. 
   Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electrical connector assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIGS. 2-3  are views similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from different aspects; 
       FIGS. 4-5  are exploded, perspective views of the electrical connector assembly with a printed circuit board not shown; 
       FIGS. 6-7  are cross-sectional views taken along lines  6 - 6  to  7 - 7  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIGS. 8-12  are cross-section views taken along lines  8 - 8  to  12 - 12  of  FIGS. 1-2 ; and 
       FIG. 13  is a cross-section view taken along line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , an electrical connector assembly  300  in accordance with the present invention comprises a plug connector  100  and a board end connector  200  engaging with the plug connector  100 . 
   Now referring to  FIGS. 4-5 , the plug connector  100  comprises a first housing  2 , a plurality of terminals  4  assembled to the first housing  2 , a spacer  5  trimming tail portions of the terminals  4  and assembled to the first housing  2 , a cable (not shown) soldered with the terminals  4  in the spacer  5 , and a conductive shell  3  enclosing the first housing  2 , the terminals  4  and the spacer  5 . The board end connector  200  comprises a second housing  6 , a plurality of contacts  7  assembled to the second housing  6  and soldered to a printed circuit board  9 , and a shielding member  8  shielding the second housing  6  and the contacts  7 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4-5  in conjunction with  FIGS. 8-12 , the first housing  2  of the plug connector  100  comprises an upper wall  21 , a lower wall  22  opposite to the upper wall  21 , and a pair of sidewalls  23  connecting with the upper and lower walls  21 ,  22 . A pair of guiding posts  230  with tapered forward ends is formed with the sidewalls  23  for guiding the insertion of the plug connector  100  to the board end connector  200 . A rectangular receiving space  20  is circumscribed by the walls  21 ,  22 ,  23 . 
   The upper wall  21  defines a plurality of first channels  218  recessed upwardly from inner surface thereof to communicate with the receiving space  20 . Each guiding post  230  defines a second channel  214  recessed inwardly from outer surface thereof and respectively partially recessed into the pair of sidewalls  23  and in no communication with the receiving space  20 . A rectangular platform  211  is formed with the upper wall  21  and extending beyond the rear edge of the upper wall  21  a certain distance to form an stretching portion  216  and higher than the upper surface of the upper wall  21 . The stretching portion  216  is slotted to form a plurality of ribs  2160  and slots aligning with the first channels  218 . A first recess  210  is defined in the front portion of the platform  211  and recessed downwardly a certain distance from upper surface of the platform  211 . A pair of first protrusions  212  is formed at opposite sides of the first recess  210 . A pair of first grooves  2110  is defined in a middle area of the platform  211  and communicates with the lateral edges, respectively. A first tuber  217  is formed on a rear area of the platform  211  and located adjacent to the rear edge of the upper wall  21 . A pair of slits  215  are respectively defined in rear portion of the side wall  23 . A second recess  220  and a pair of second protrusions  222  are respectively formed with the lower wall  22  corresponding to the first recess  210  and the first protrusions  212 . A pair of front second grooves  2210  and a pair of rear third grooves  2212  respectively defined in the lower wall  22  and a second tuber  227  is formed on the lower wall  22  corresponding to the first tuber  217 . 
   The terminals  4  of the plug connector  100  consist of a plurality of first terminals  41  and a pair of second terminals  42  located at outer sides of the first terminals  41  for power transmission. However, it is easy to understand that in a differential circumstance, the second terminals  42  can also be employed as grounding terminals for grounding purpose. The first terminals  41  consists of two pairs of differential pairs for signal transmission and three grounding terminals located at opposite sides of the differential pairs. Each first terminal  41  comprises a curved mating portion  40 , a tail portion  44  and an intermediate portion  43  interconnecting the mating portion  40  and the tail portion  44 . The intermediate portion  43  forms a pair of first barbs  45  and a pair of second barbs  46  spaced arranged thereon. Each second terminal  42  comprises a curved mating portion  420 , a U-shaped, tail portion  414  and an intermediate portion  423  interconnecting the mating portion  420  and the U-shaped, tail portion  424 . The U-shaped, tail portions  424  of the two second terminals  42  are opened opposite to each other. The intermediate portion  423  of the second terminal  42  extends along a plane perpendicular to the plane along which the intermediate portion  43  of the first terminal  41  extends. The mating portion  420  of the second terminal  42  is laterally curved while the mating portion  40  of the first terminal  41  is inwardly curved. In other words, the mating portion  420  of the second terminal  42  curvedly extends along a plane perpendicular to a plane along which each mating portion  40  of the first terminals  41  curvedly extends. 
   When assembled to the first housing  2 , the first and second terminals  41 ,  42  respectively protrude through the first and second channels  218 ,  214  with the mating portions  40  of the first terminals  41  exposed into the receiving space  20  while the mating portions  420  of the second terminals  42  outwardly exposed beyond the second channels  214  and the outer surface of the guiding post  230 . The first barbs  45  of the intermediate portions  43  respectively engage with the first channels  218  for retaining the terminals  4  in the first housing  2 . The tail portions  44  extend beyond the rear face of the first housing  2 . In addition, the pair of second terminals  42  transmits current at 5 v. In alternative embodiments, the second terminals also can transmit power at other voltages. 
   The spacer  5  comprises a body portion  50 , a board portion  53  extending rearwardly from the body portion  50 , and a pair of arms  52  extending forwardly from the body portion  50 . A plurality of first through holes  500  extending through the body portion  50  and aligning with the first channels  218 , and a pair of second through holes  502  protrude through the body portion  50  and aligning with the second channels  214  of the first housing  2 . A plurality of first passages  531  and a plurality of second passages  532  respectively defined in one side of the board portion  53  and respectively communicating with the first and second through holes  500 ,  502 . Each arm  52  comprises a first arm section  521  with large area, a second arm section  522  aligned with the first arm section  521  along vertical direction, and a guiding rib  5210  extending between the first and the second arm sections  521 ,  522 . 
   When the spacer  5  is assembled to the first housing  2 , the guiding ribs  5210  of the arms  52  slide along the outer pair of slits  215  and the rear end of the first housing  2  is sandwiched between the first and second arm sections  521 ,  522  of the spacer  5 . The tail portions  44 ,  424  of the first and second terminals  41 ,  42  respectively protrude through the first and second through holes  500 ,  502  with the barbs thereon interferentially engaging with the first and second through holes  500 ,  502  to enhance the engagement between the terminals  4  and the spacer  5 . Obviously, other structure of the terminals for retaining the terminals in the spacer  5  is also within the scope of the instant invention. After the terminals  4  protrude through the first and second through holes  500 ,  502 , the tail portions  44 ,  424  of the first and second terminals  41 ,  42  located in corresponding first and second passages  531 ,  532  of the board portion  53  of the spacer  5 . In the area of the board portion  53 , wires of the cable (not shown) are soldered to the terminals  4 . Thus, the spacer  5  trims and aligns the tail portions  44  of the terminals  4  for soldering conveniently. For enhancing the engagement between the spacer  5  and the first housing  2 , the spacer  5  defines a plurality of grooves  54  on upper surface thereof to respectively receive the extrusions  2160  ( FIG. 12 ). 
   The conductive shell  3  of the plug connector  100  comprises a first shell half  31  and a second shell half  32  engagable with the first shell half  31  for shielding the plug connector  100 . Each of the first and second shell halves  31 ,  32  comprises a U-shape first/second front portion  310 ,  320  and a U-shape first/second rear portion  312 ,  322  wider and longer than the first/second front portion  310 ,  320 . The first/second front portion  310 ,  320  defines a pair of first/second notches  311 ,  321  corresponding to the pair of first/second grooves  2110 ,  2210  of the first housing  2  and a first/second spring piece  313 ,  323  split from a front portion thereof and received in the first/second recess  210 ,  220  of the first housing  2  and positioned by the pair of first/second protrusions  212 ,  222 . The pair of vertical flanges  317  of the first front portion  310  respectively cover the lateral flanges of the platform  211  with rear ends protruding into the inner pair of slits (not labeled), which is adjacent to the slits  215 , to retain the first shell half  31  to the first housing  2 . The pair of vertical flanges  327  of the second front portion  320  respectively cover the sidewalls  23  of the first housing  2 . The first/second rear portion  312 ,  322  defines a rectangular first/second window  318  receiving the first/second tuber  217 ,  227  of the first housing  2  to position the first/second shell half  31 ,  32  to the first housing  2 . Each vertical flange  314  of the first rear portion  312  forms a pair of wedges  316  thereon, and each vertical flange  324  of the second rear portion  322  defines a pair of cutouts  326  receiving the pair of wedges  316  to make reliable engagement between the first and second shell halves  31 ,  32 . The second shell half  32  further forms a strain relief section  325  behind the second rear portion  322  for grasping the cable to provide strain relief to the cable. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4-5  in conjunction with  FIGS. 6-7 , the second housing  6  of the board end connector  200  comprises a main portion  60 , a tongue portion  62  extending forwardly from the main portion  60 , and a pair of side portions  64  connecting with opposite ends of the main portion  60  and located at opposite sides of the tongue portion  62 . Each side portion  64  has a U-shape first section  641  extending beyond the front surface of the main portion  60 , a middle section  643  connecting with the main portion  60 , and a N-shape second section  642  extending beyond the rear surface of the main portion  60 . A plurality of first passageways  600  are defined through the main portion  60  and a pair of second passageways  640  are defined through the N-shape sections  642  of the side portions  64 . The tongue portion  62  defines a plurality of first receiving channels  620  with different lengths. A pair of rectangular extrusions  6420  are respectively formed on upper surfaces of the N-shape second sections  642  of the side portions  64 . A plurality of ribs  65  extend forwardly from the bottom edge of the middle section  643  of side portions  64  and form a gap  650  between the first sections  641  of the side portions  64  and the rib  65 . 
   The contacts  7  of the board end connector  200  consist of a plurality of first contacts  71  having same structure and comprising two pairs of differential pairs for signal transmission and three grounding pieces located at opposite sides of the differential pairs and a pair of second contacts  72  located at outmost sides of the first contacts  71  for power transmission. The second contact  72  has bigger size than that of the first contact  71  and extends along a plane perpendicular to that of the first contact  71 . Each first contact  71  comprises a mating section  70 , an interferential section  73  extending from the mating section  70 , and a soldering section  74  bending downwardly then flatly from the interferential section  73  for being surface-mounted to the printed circuit board  9 . Each second contact  72  comprises a mating section  720 , a tail section  724  and an intermediate section  723  interconnecting the mating section  720  and the tail section  724 . In the present embodiment, the tail section  724  of the second contact  72  is formed with two distal ends. 
   When the contacts  7  are assembled to the second housing  6 , the contacts  7  respectively protrude through the first and second passageways  600 ,  640 . The mating sections  70  of the first contacts  71  are respectively located in the first receiving channels  620  and the interferential sections  73  engage with the first passageways  600  for retaining the contacts  7  in the second housing  6 . After assembly, the grounding pieces of the first contacts  71  are located closer to the front edge of the tongue portion  62  than the differential pairs for reliable signal transmission. 
   The shielding member  8  of the board end connector  200  is U-shape and comprises a top wall  80 , a bottom wall  81  opposite to the top wall  80 , and a pair of lateral walls  82  extending downwardly from the top wall  80 . The top wall  80  forms a pair of first spring fingers  800  and a pair of cutouts  802  receiving the pair of extrusions  6420  of the second housing  6  for positioning the shielding member  8  to the second housing  6 . The bottom wall  81  forms a pair of second spring fingers  810  corresponding to the first spring fingers  800  and the rear edge thereof is inserted into the gap  650  of the second housing  6 . Each lateral wall  82  forms a pressing tab  820  locking into a slot defined in outer peripheral side of the side portion  64  of the second housing  6  for securing the shielding member  8 . Each lateral wall  82  forms a pair of legs  822  for positioning the shielding member  8  to the printed circuit board  9 . A plurality of spring tabs  83  are formed with the front edges of the walls  80 ,  81 ,  82  and bend vertically and outwardly from the edges. Each spring tab  83  is formed with a bump  830  for increasing the spring force when abutting against a panel to which the board end connector  200  is mounted. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-3  in conjunction with  FIG. 13 , when the plug connector  100  and the board end connector  200  are assembled to each other, the guiding posts  230  of the plug connector  100  slide along the U-shape first sections  641  of the side portions  64  of the second housing  6  for guiding the plug connector  100  into the board end connector  200 . The tongue portion  62  of the second housing  6  is received into the receiving space  20  of the first housing  2  with the mating sections  70  of the first contacts  71  mating with the curved mating portions  40  of the first terminals  41  exposed in the receiving space  20 , while the mating sections  70  of the second contacts  72  mating with the curved mating portions  40  of the second terminals  42  exposed beyond the outer surface of the side wall  23  of the first housing  2 . The first and second front portions  310 ,  320  are respectively inserted between the space formed by the upper and lower walls  80 ,  81  of the shielding member  8  and the tongue portion  62  with the first and second spring fingers  800 ,  810  pressing into the first and second notches  311 ,  321  and the first and second grooves  2110 ,  2210 . At the same time, the first and second spring pieces  313 ,  323  abut against inner surfaces of the upper and lower walls  80 ,  81  for increasing retaining force between the conductive shell  3  and the shielding member  8 . 
   When the plug connector  100  mates with another board end connector (not shown) which has no the pair of second contacts  72 , the pair of second terminals  42  of the plug connector  100  will be left free from mating with any contacts. That is to say, the plug connector  100  may be compatible with two different board end connectors in different circumstances while keeping the same dimension as original design without the pair of second terminals. Understandably, the board end connector  200  also may be compatible with different plug connectors with or without the second contacts  72  in different circumstances. 
   It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.