Patent Publication Number: US-9893445-B1

Title: Connector assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non-provisional application claims priority to and benefit of, under 35 U.S.C. §119(a), Patent Application No. 201621215675.9 filed in P.R. China on Nov. 11, 2016, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a connector assembly, and in particular to a connector assembly with an adapter board. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A conventional socket connector is mounted on a circuit board. The socket connector has an insulating body, the front end of the insulating body is provided with an insertion space, and multiple conductive terminals are arranged in two rows and respectively fixedly on the insulating body. Each conductive terminal has a contacting portion and a soldering portion. The contacting portions are arranged correspondingly in two rows and exposed in the insertion space. The soldering portions are used for being soldered to the circuit board. In order to implement the transmission of signals, a matching plug connector is inserted in the insertion space. Of course, the plug connector is provided with multiple contact terminals correspondingly as well. The contact terminals are arranged in an upper row and a lower row. Each contact terminal has a conducting portion and a soldering plate. The conducting portions are correspondingly in contact with the contacting portions, and the soldering plates are soldered on one end of an adapter board. Conductive lines and processing chips are arranged in the adapter board. The other end of the adapter board is in contact with a cable. Thus, signals can be transmitted between the cable and the circuit board. However, because a signal outputted by the circuit board has to sequentially pass through the socket connector, the plug connector and the adapter board before arriving at the cable, the transmission process is complex, the transmission path is long, and the interference and attenuation of signals are severe. Moreover, a large space is occupied, which does not accord with the development trends of ultra-thin, small-size electronic products. Furthermore, the cost for materials, production, and machining and assembly are high. As a result, the competitiveness of electronic products is decreased greatly. 
     Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the present invention relates to a connector assembly that directly conducts a cable to a circuit board through an adapter board to reduce the interference and attenuation of signals. 
     In certain embodiments, a connector assembly is configured to be mounted electrically on a circuit board. The connector assembly includes an electrical connector and an adaptor board. The electrical connector is configured to be electrically mounted on the circuit board, and has an insulating body and multiple first terminals arranged on the insulating body. The insulating body is provided with an insertion space. Each of the first terminals has a first contacting portion exposed to the insertion space and a first soldering portion for being soldered to the circuit board. The adapter board is inserted in the insertion space. One end of the adapter board is provided with a first conducting region and a second conducting region. The first conducting region and the second conducting region are located respectively on the upper surface and the lower surface of the adapter board. The first conducting region is provided with multiple first contact pads that are exposed to the insertion space and are correspondingly in electrical contact with the first contacting portions. Multiple second terminals are disposed on the lower surface of the adapter board. Each of the second terminals has a second contacting portion and a second soldering portion. The second conducting region is provided with multiple second contact pads that are exposed to the insertion space and are correspondingly in electrical contact with the second soldering portions. The second contacting portions are in electrical contact with the circuit board. The second terminals and the first terminals are staggered in the vertical direction. 
     In certain embodiments, the first terminals are arranged in a row and are all ground terminals, the second terminals are arranged in a row and are all signal terminals, and the horizontal projections of only two second terminals are between the horizontal projections of two neighboring first terminals. 
     In certain embodiments, the first contact pads and the second contact pads are all staggered in the vertical direction. 
     In certain embodiments, the first contacting portions and the first contact pads are in elastic urging contact, and the second contacting portions and the circuit board are in elastic urging contact. 
     In certain embodiments, each of the second contacting portions bends and extends downward from corresponding one of the second soldering portions, the adapter board is provided with multiple reserved slots corresponding to the second contacting portions, an urging portion is formed by bending upward from each of the second contacting portions, each of the reserved slots has a stopping block and the urging portions respectively urge against the stopping blocks of the adapter board. 
     In certain embodiments, two fixing members are respectively fixedly on two sides of the insulating body. The two fixing members are located respectively on the outer sides of the outermost first terminals, and the fixing members and the first terminals have the same structure and are arranged in a row. 
     In certain embodiments, the first terminals are cutting-type terminals, and the plate surface of each first terminal is perpendicular to the plate surface of each second terminal. 
     In certain embodiments, the insulating body is provided with a base and an extension portion extending forward from the front end of the base. The second terminals are fixed on the base and extend to the extension portion. The size in the vertical direction of the extension portion is less than the size of the base. The base, the extension portion and the circuit board jointly define the insertion space, and the first terminals and the second terminals are located respectively on the two opposite sides of the inner side of the insertion space. 
     In certain embodiments, the other end of the adapter board is provided with a connecting region. The connecting region is located out of the insertion space. Both the first conducting region and the second conducting region are electrically conducted with the connecting region. A cable is soldered to the connecting region. The cable is provided with multiple core wires which are correspondingly electrically connected to the first contact pads and the second contact pads. 
     In another aspect, the present invention relates a connector assembly for being electrically mounted on a circuit board. In certain embodiments, a connector assembly includes an electrical connector for being electrically mounted on the circuit board. The electrical connector includes an insulating body, multiple first terminals and multiple third terminals disposed on the insulating body, and an adapter board. The first terminals and the third terminals are configured to be electrically connected to the circuit board. The insulating body is provided with an insertion space. Each of the first terminals has a first contacting portion exposed to one side of the insertion space, and each of the third terminals has a third contacting portion exposed to the other side of the insertion space. The adapter board is inserted in the insertion space. One end of the adapter board is provided with a first conducting region and a second conducting region. The first conducting region and the second conducting region are located respectively on the upper surface and the lower surface of the adapter board. The first conducting region is provided with multiple first contact pads that are exposed to the insertion space and are correspondingly in electrical contact with the first contacting portions. Multiple second terminals are arranged on the lower surface of the adapter board. Each of the second terminals has a second contacting portion and a second soldering portion. The second conducting region is provided with multiple second contact pads that are exposed to the insertion space and are correspondingly in electrical contact with the second soldering portions. The second contacting portions are correspondingly in electrical contact with the third contacting portions. The second terminals and the first terminals are arranged staggerly in the vertical direction. 
     In certain embodiments, the first contact pads and the second contact pads are all arranged staggerly in the vertical direction. 
     In certain embodiments, the first contacting portions and the first contact pads are in elastic urging contact, and the second contacting portions and the circuit board are in elastic urging contact. 
     In certain embodiments, the first terminals are arranged in a row and are all ground terminals, the second terminals are arranged in a row and are all signal terminals, and the horizontal projections of only two second terminals are between the horizontal projections of two neighboring first terminals. 
     In certain embodiments, the insulating body includes a base and an extension portion extending forward from the base. Multiple first terminal slots are arranged concavely forward from the rear end surface of the base, and the extension portion is provided with multiple receiving slots which correspondingly communicate with the first terminal slots. Each first terminal has a first fixing portion fixed in the first terminal slot. The first contacting portions are contained in the receiving slots and exposed to the insertion space. Multiple second terminal slots are arranged concavely from the bottom surface of the base. Each third terminal has a third fixed portion fixed in the second terminal slot. The third contacting portions protrude out of the second terminal slots and are located under the first contacting portions. 
     In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a connector assembly for being electrically mounted on a circuit board. The circuit board is provided with multiple conductive sheets and multiple soldering pads respectively along the front and back (longitudinal) direction. In certain embodiments, the connector assembly includes an electrical connector for being electrically mounted on the circuit board. The electrical connector includes an insulating body, multiple first terminals arranged on the insulating body, and an adapter board. An insertion space is arranged backward from the front end surface of the insulating body. Each first terminal has a first fixing portion fixed on the insulating body. An elastic first contacting portion extends forward from each first fixing portion and is exposed to one side of the insertion space, and the conductive sheets are located on the other side of the insertion space. A first soldering portion extends backward from each first fixing portion and is located out of the insulating body in order to be electrically connected to the corresponding soldering pad. The adapter board is inserted in the insertion space. One end of the adapter board is provided with a first conducting region and a second conducting region. The first conducting region and the second conducting region are located respectively on the upper surface and the lower surface of the adapter board. The first conducting region is provided with multiple first contact pads that are exposed to the insertion space. The first contacting portions are located above the adapter board and correspondingly in electrical contact with the first contact pads. The second conducting region is provided with multiple second contact pads. Multiple second terminals are arranged on the lower surface of the adapter board. Each of the second terminals has a second contacting portion and a second soldering portion. The second soldering portions are correspondingly in electrical contact with the second contact pads, and the second contacting portions all downwardly elastically urge against the conductive sheets to form electrical connection. 
     In certain embodiments, the first contact pads are located behind the second contact pads along the longitudinal direction, and are located in front of the conductive sheets. 
     In certain embodiments, the second terminals and the first terminals are arranged staggerly in the vertical direction. 
     In certain embodiments, the first terminals are arranged in a row and are all ground terminals, the second terminals are arranged in a row and are all signal terminals, and the horizontal projections of only two second terminals are between the horizontal projections of two neighboring first terminals. 
     In certain embodiments, the second contacting portions bend and extend downward from the second soldering portions, the adapter board is provided with multiple reserved slots corresponding to the second contacting portions, an urging portion is formed by bending upward from each second contacting portion, each of the reserved slots has a stopping block, and the urging portions urge against the stopping blocks of the adapter board. 
     In certain embodiments, the other end of the adapter board is provided with a connecting region, and the connecting region is located out of the insertion space. Both the first conducting region and the second conducting region are electrically conducted with the connecting region. A cable is soldered to the connecting region. The cable has multiple core wires correspondingly electrically connected to the first contact pads and the second contact pads. 
     Compared with the related art, certain embodiments of the present invention have the following beneficial advantages. 
     In the above-mentioned connector assembly, the first conducting region of the adapter board is provided with the first contact pads that are exposed to the insertion space and are correspondingly in electrical contact with the first contacting portions, the second conducting region is provided with the second contact pads that are exposed to the insertion space and are correspondingly in electrical contact with the second soldering portions, the second contacting portions are configured to be in electrical contact with the circuit board. Thus, the adapter board can directly conduct signals of the circuit board to the cable, the path of electrical conduction is shortened, and the interference and attenuation of the signals are reduced. In addition, since the second terminals and the first terminals are staggered in the vertical direction, the space is saved, and the cost is reduced. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and together with the written description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic three-dimensional exploded view of a connector assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic three-dimensional exploded view of the connector assembly viewed from another viewing angle. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic partial assembly view of the connector assembly. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic partial assembly view of the connector assembly viewed from another viewing angle. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic bottom view of the connector assembly. 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the connector assembly, where an adapter board is not inserted in an electrical connector. 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the connector assembly, where the adapter board has been inserted in the electrical connector. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic three-dimensional exploded view of a connector assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the connector assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Various embodiments of the invention are now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like components throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a”, “an”, and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Moreover, titles or subtitles may be used in the specification for the convenience of a reader, which shall have no influence on the scope of the present invention. 
     It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present therebetween. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     Furthermore, relative terms, such as “lower” or “bottom” and “upper” or “top,” may be used herein to describe one element&#39;s relationship to another element as illustrated in the Figures. It will be understood that relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the Figures. For example, if the device in one of the figures is turned over, elements described as being on the “lower” side of other elements would then be oriented on “upper” sides of the other elements. The exemplary term “lower”, can therefore, encompasses both an orientation of “lower” and “upper,” depending of the particular orientation of the figure. Similarly, if the device in one of the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements would then be oriented “above” the other elements. The exemplary terms “below” or “beneath” can, therefore, encompass both an orientation of above and below. 
     As used herein, “around”, “about” or “approximately” shall generally mean within 20 percent, preferably within 10 percent, and more preferably within 5 percent of a given value or range. Numerical quantities given herein are approximate, meaning that the term “around”, “about” or “approximately” can be inferred if not expressly stated. 
     As used herein, the terms “comprising”, “including”, “carrying”, “having”, “containing”, “involving”, and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. 
     The description will be made as to the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in  FIGS. 1-9 . In accordance with the purposes of this invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, this invention, in one aspect, relates to a connector assembly. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a connector assembly according to certain embodiments of the present invention is used for being electrically connected to a circuit board  300 . The connector assembly includes an electrical connector  100 . The electrical connector  100  includes an insulating body  1  and multiple first terminals  2  arranged on the insulating body  1 . The circuit board  300  is provided with multiple conductive sheets  301  and multiple soldering pads  302  respectively along the longitudinal direction. The first terminals  2  are configured to be soldered to the soldering pads  302  of the circuit board  300 . An adapter board  200  is inserted in the insulating body  1 . One end of the adapter board  200  is provided with a first conducting region  201  and a second conducting region  202 . The first conducting region  201  is electrically connected to the first terminals  2 , the second conducting region  202  is electrically connected to the conductive sheets  301  of the circuit board  300 . The other end of the adapter board  200  is provided with a connecting region  203 , and the connecting region  203  is electrically connected to a cable  400 , so that the connector assembly is formed. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the insulating body  1  has a base  11  and an extension portion  12  extending forward from the front end of the base  11 . The size, in the vertical direction, of the extension portion  12  is less than the size of the base  11 . That is, the thickness of the extension portion  12  is less than the thickness of the base  11 . The base  11  is mounted on the circuit board  300 , the extension portion  12  is hanging over the circuit board  300 , and the base  11 , the extension portion  12  and the circuit board  300  jointly form an insertion space  14  with an opening at the front end in which the adapter board  200  can be inserted therein. Since the base  11 , the extension portion  12  and the circuit board  300  jointly form the insertion space  14 , the insertion space  14  does not need to be formed by separately concaving the insulating body  1 . Consequently, the height of the insulating body  1  is reduced, and the size of the electrical connector  100  is reduced effectively. In this embodiment, the insulating body  1  and the circuit board  300  jointly form the insertion space  14 , and in other embodiments, the insertion space  14  can also be formed by only concaving the insulating body  1 . Two sidewalls  13  respectively extend vertically downward from both side edges of the extension portion  12 . The two sidewalls  13 , the bottom of the extension portion  12  and the front end surface of the base  11  jointly define a retaining recess (not labeled) with a bottom opening, and the retaining recess is superposed with the insertion space  14 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , multiple first terminal slots  111  are arranged concavely forward from the rear end surface of the base  11 , multiple receiving slots  112  are arranged concavely along the longitudinal direction in the bottom of the extension portion  12  to correspondingly communicate with the first terminal slots  111 . Each of the first terminals  2  is fixed in corresponding one of the first terminal slots  111  and extends to corresponding one of the receiving slot  112 . An engagement block  113  is protruded backward from the front end of each first terminal slot  111  to engage with and fix corresponding one of the first terminals  2 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 , the first terminals  2  are arranged in a row on the insulating body  1  and are all ground terminals. The first terminals  2  are blanked terminals. First contacting portions  21  are located above the first conducting region  201 . All of the first terminals  2  have the same width, and thereby are convenient for blanking and forming. Each of the first terminals  2  has a first fixing portion  22  fixed in corresponding one of the first terminal slots  111 . The first fixing portion  22  is has a shape of U. The first fixing portion  22  is formed by extending backward for a certain distance from the first contacting portion  21 , then extending vertically downward for a short distance, and finally extending reversely toward the direction of the first contacting portion  21  for a distance. The first fixing portion  22  clamps the upper and lower sides of the corresponding engagement block, so that the first terminal  2  can be prevented from shaking, and thereby the first terminals  2  can be inserted steadily in the adapter board  200 . A first contacting portion  21  extends forward from each first fixing portion  22 , and the first contacting portions  21  are located on the same side of the insertion space  14  and elastically urge against the adapter board  200  to form electrical contact. Each first contacting portion  21  is provided with an elastic arm  24  and a contacting protrusion  211  protruded downward from the elastic arm. The elastic arm is contained in the receiving slot, the protruded contacting protrusion is exposed to the insertion space  14 , and the elastic arm provides sufficient elastic force for the first contacting portion  21  to elastically urge against the adapter board  200 . A first soldering portion  23  horizontally extends backward from each first fixing portion  22 , and the first soldering portion  23  are configured to be soldered to the circuit board  300 , and are arranged in the same row on the circuit board  300 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 , two fixing members  3  are respectively fixed on two sides of the insulating body  1 . The fixing members  3  are configured to fix the insulating body  1  on the circuit board  300 . The two fixing members  3  are located respectively on the outer sides of the outermost first terminals  2 . The fixing members  3  and the first terminals  2  have the same structure and are arranged in a row. As a result, the fixing members  3  and the first terminals  2  can be formed by blanking through the same material, separate forming of the fixing members  3  are avoided, cost is reduced, the efficiency of production is increased, and moreover, batch production is benefited. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 , the adapter board  200  is inserted in the insertion space  14 . One end of the adapter board  200  is provided with the first conducting region  201  and the second conducting region  202 . The first conducting region  201  and the second conducting region  202  are located respectively on the upper surface and the lower surface of the adapter board  200 . The first conducting region  201  has multiple first contact pads  2011  that are exposed to the insertion space  14  and correspondingly elastically urge against the first contacting portions  21  to form electrical contacts. Multiple second terminals A are arranged on the lower surface of the adapter board  200 . Each of the second terminals A has a second contacting portion A 1  and a second soldering portion A 2 . The second conducting region  202  is provided with multiple second contact pads  2021  that are exposed to the insertion space  14  and are correspondingly in electrical contacts with the second soldering portions A 2 . The first contact pads  2011  and the second contact pads  2021  are all arranged staggerly in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the second soldering portions A 2  are soldered to the second contact pads  2021 . In the longitudinal direction, the first contact pads  2011  are located behind the second contact pads  2021  and located in front of the conductive sheets  301 , and the second contacting portions A 1  are configured to elastically urge against the conductive sheets  301  to form electrical contacts. In this embodiment, the second terminals A and the first terminals  2  are arranged staggerly in the vertical direction. In other embodiments, the second terminals A and the first terminals  2  can also be arranged in one-to-one correspondence in the vertical direction, as long as it is ensured that the second terminals A and the first terminals  2  are located respectively on the two opposite sides of the adapter  200  and urge against the upper and lower sides of the adapter board  200 . The first conducting region  201  of the adapter board  200  is provided with the first contact pads  2011  that are exposed out to the insertion space  14  and correspondingly elastically urge against the first contacting portions  21  to form electrical contact, the second conducting region  202  is provided with the second contact pads  2021  that are exposed out to the insertion space  14  and are in corresponding electrical contact with the second soldering portions A 2 , and the second contacting portions A 1  are configured to elastically urge against the conductive sheets  301  of the circuit board  300  to form electrical contact. As a result, the adapter board  200  can directly conduct signals of the circuit board  300  to the cable  400 , the path of conduction is shortened, and the interference and attenuation of signals are reduced. In addition, since the second terminals A and the first terminals  2  are arranged staggerly in the vertical direction, the space is saved, and the cost is reduced. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 5 and 7 , since the first contacting portions  21  have elasticity, the first contacting portions  21  and the first contact pads  2011  are in elastic urging contact. Since a plate is bent to form the second terminals A, the second terminals A are elastic terminals. That is, the second contacting portions A 1  and the circuit board  300  are in elastic urging contact. The plate surfaces of the first terminals  2  are perpendicular to the plate surfaces of the second terminals A. The first contacting portions  21  are located above the first contact pads  2011  to elastically urge against the first contact pads  2011 , and the second contacting portions A 1  are located above the circuit board  300  to elastically urge against the conductive sheets  301 . In other words, the first terminals  2  and the second terminals A respectively elastically clamp the upper side and lower side of the adapter board  200  and respectively electrically urge against the first contact pads  2011  and the conductive sheets  301  of the circuit board  300 , so that the adapter board  200  can be supported stably. As a result, the circuit board  300  and the electrical connector  100  can maintain stable electrical connection, and thereby the connector assembly has good signal transmission performance. The first terminals  2  are arranged in a row and are all ground terminals. The second terminals A are arranged in a row and are all signal terminals, and are high-speed signal terminals. In other embodiments, the second terminals A can also be low-speed signal terminals. The horizontal projections of only two second terminals A are between the horizontal projections of two neighboring first terminals  2 . That is, a first terminal  2  is arranged between a pair of second terminals A. As a result, from the aspect of the horizontal projections of the first terminals  2  and the second terminal A, the arrangement sequence of the first terminals  2  and the second terminals A is ground-signal-signal-ground in sequence, and this sequential arrangement can be repeated. Thus, the arrangement of the first terminals  2  is used to shield the signal interference between two neighboring pairs of second terminals A, and to reduce crosstalk interference. Moreover, the first terminals  2  are blanked terminals, and thereby the shielding effect of the first terminals  2  is better. In addition, since the first contacting portions  21  are located over the second contacting portions A 1 , the first terminals  2  can further shield crosstalk signals above the second contacting portions A 1 , and thereby the high-frequency effect of the electrical connector  100  is guaranteed. In this embodiment, the first terminals  2  are ground terminals, and the second terminals A are signal terminals. In other embodiments, the first terminals  2  can also be signal terminals, the second terminals A can also be ground terminals, and a pair of first terminals  2  are between each two neighboring second terminals A, as long as it is ensured that the sequence of the first terminals  2  and the second terminals A is arranged repeatedly according to a ground-signal-signal-ground sequence. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 , because the adapter board  200  is provided with multiple reserved slots  2022  corresponding to the second contacting portions A 1 , when the adapter board  200  is inserted into the insertion space  14 , the second contacting portions A 1  receive the upward pushing force of the circuit board  300  to move upward, and the reserved slots  2022  provide reserved spaces for the second contacting portions A 1 , so that the adapter board  200  can be inserted smoothly into the insertion space  14 . An urging portion A 3  is formed by bending upward from each of the second contacting portions A 1 . Each urging portion A 3  urges against corresponding one stopping block  2023  of the adapter board  200 . The stopping blocks  2023  stop the excessive upward movement of the second contacting portions A 1 , ensuring that the second contacting portions A 1  are still on the same plane after being deformed elastically, so that the second contacting portions A 1  maintain coplanar. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 5 and 7 , the other end of the adapter board  200  is provided with a connecting region  203 , and the connecting region  203  is located out of the insertion space  14 . Both the first conducting region  201  and the second conducting region  202  are electrically conducted with the connecting region  203 . A cable  400  is soldered correspondingly to the connecting region  203 . The cable  400  includes multiple core wires (not labeled) which are correspondingly electrically connected to the first contact pads  2011  and the second contact pads  2021 , so that the electrical connection between the cable  400  and the circuit board  300  is complete. 
       FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  show a second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , the difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment of the connector assembly is as follows: the insulating body  1  is additionally provided with multiple third terminals  4 . The third terminals  4  are arranged in a row on the insulating body  1 , and configured to be electrically connected to the circuit board  300 . The third terminals  4  are signal terminals. A pair of second terminals A are arranged between each two neighboring first terminals  2 , so that the signal interference between the neighboring second terminals A can be shielded, and the third terminals  4  are configured to elastically urge against the second terminals A, so that the second terminals A are connected electrically to the circuit board  300  through the third terminals  4 . Multiple second terminal slots  112  are vertically and upwardly arranged concavely from the bottom of the base  11  to fix the third terminals  4 . Each third terminal  4  has a third fixing portion  42  fixed in the second terminal slot  112 . A planar third contacting portion  41  extends forward from each of the third fixing portions  42 . Each third contacting portion  41  has a flat plate shape, and the third contacting portions  41  protrude forward out of the second terminal slots  112  to enter the insertion space  14  to be in electrical contact with the second contacting portions A 1 . A third soldering portion  43  extends backward from each of the third fixing portions  42 . The third soldering portions  43  are configured to be soldered to the circuit board  300 . Moreover, the third soldering portions  43  and the first soldering portions  23  are in the same row, and thereby the occupied space of the circuit board  300  is reduced, which is favorable for the wiring densification of the circuit board  300 . The second terminals A are plate surface-bent terminals. The plate surfaces of the first terminals  2  are perpendicular to the plate surfaces of the second terminals A, the space of the insulating body  1  is utilized sufficiently, and the size of the insulating body  1  is reduced. Since the third soldering portions  43  are soldered to the circuit board  300 , when the adapter board  200  is inserted in the insertion space  14 , the first contacting portions  21  elastically urge against the first contact pads  2011  to form electrical contact, the third contacting portions  41  elastically urge against the second contacting portions A 1  to form electrical contact, so that signals of the circuit board  300  can be directly transmitted to the adapter board  200 , and thereby the effect of shortening the path of electricity conduction and reducing the interference and attenuation of the signals can be achieved as well. 
     In summary, the connector assembly according to certain embodiments of the present invention has the following beneficial advantages. 
     (1) The first conducting region  201  of the adapter board  200  is provided with the first contact pads  2011  that are exposed to the insertion space  14  and are correspondingly in electrical contact with the first contacting portions  21 , the second conducting region  202  is provided with the second contact pads  2021  that are exposed to the insertion space  14  and are correspondingly in electrical contact with the second soldering portions A 2 , the second contacting portions A 1  are configured to be in electrical contact with the conductive sheets  301  of the circuit board  300 . Thus, the adapter board  200  can directly conduct signals of the circuit board  300  to the cable  400 , the path of electricity conduction is shortened, and the interference and attenuation of the signals are reduced. In addition, since the second terminals A and the first terminals  2  are arranged staggerly in the vertical direction, the cost is reduced, and the space is saved. 
     (2) The first contacting portions  21  are located above the first contact pads  2011  to elastically urge against the first contact pads  2011 , the second contacting portions A 1  are located above the circuit board  300  to elastically urge against the conductive sheets  301  of the circuit board  300 . That is, the first terminals  2  and the second terminals A respectively elastically clamp the upper side and lower side of the adapter board  200  and respectively electrically urge against the first contact pads  2011  and the conductive sheets  301  of the circuit board  300 , so that the adapter board  200  can be supported stably. As a result, the circuit board  300  and the electrical connector  100  can maintain stable electrical connection, and thereby the connector assembly has good signal transmission performance. 
     (3) The first terminals  2  are arranged in a row and are all ground terminals, and the second terminals A are arranged in a row and are all signal terminals. The horizontal projections of only two second terminals A are between the horizontal projections of each two neighboring first terminals  2 . That is, one first terminal  2  is arranged between each pair of second terminals A, so the arrangement of the first terminals  2  is used to shield the signal interference between two neighboring pairs of second terminals A, reducing crosstalk interference. Moreover, the first terminals  2  are blanked terminals, and thereby the shielding effect of the first terminals  2  is better. In addition, since the first contacting portions  21  are located above the second contacting portions A 1 , the first terminals  2  can further shield crosstalk signals over the second contacting portions A 1 , and thereby the high-frequency effect of the electrical connector  100  is guaranteed. 
     (4) Since the base  11 , the extension portion  12  and the circuit board  300  jointly define the insertion space  14 , the insertion space  14  does not need to be formed by separately concaving the insulating body  1 , consequently, the height of the insulating body  1  is reduced, and the size of the electrical connector  100  is reduced effectively. 
     (5) Since the adapter board  200  is provided with the reserved slots  2022  corresponding to the second contacting portions A 1 , when the adapter board  200  is inserted into the insertion space  14 , the second contacting portions A 1  receive the upward pushing force of the circuit board  300  to move upward, and the reserved slots  2022  provide reserved spaces for the second contacting portions A 1 , so that the adapter board  200  can be inserted smoothly into the insertion space  14 . 
     (6) The stopping blocks  2023  stop the excessive upward movement of the second contacting portions A 1 , ensuring that the second contacting portions A 1  are still on the same plane after being deformed elastically, so that the second contacting portions A 1  have good coplanarity. 
     (7) The fixing members  3  and the first terminals  2  have the same structure and are arranged in a row, consequently, the fixing members  3  and the first terminals  2  can be formed by blanking through the same material, the separate forming of the fixing members  3  are avoided, the cost is reduced, the efficiency of production is increased, and moreover, batch production is benefited. 
     The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. 
     The embodiments are chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and their practical application so as to activate others skilled in the art to utilize the invention and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein.