Patent Publication Number: US-6663430-B2

Title: Connector, connector connection structure and electronic equipment

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to connectors and connector connection structures that are applied to electronic equipment, and in particular, to a connector which is electrically connected to another connector in a manner where a connector having a convex metal shell section is fitted into a connector having a concave metal shell section, a connector connection structure, and electronic equipment provided with the connector or connector connection structure. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     In general, regarding electronic equipment, in a connector for connection to external equipment, reinforcing countermeasures relating to grounding are taken against EMI (Electro Magnetic Interference) and ESD (Electro Static Discharge). 
     In an example of a notebook type personal computer (hereinafter, notebook PC)  120  and a docking station  130  shown in FIG. 4, a multipole type interface connector for electrically connecting those pieces of equipment with each other for communication is devised for the reinforcement of the grounding. 
     As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a conventional interface connector  100  that is provided on the docking station  130  comprises a synthetic resin connector body  102  where a convex metal shell  104  is mounted, a signal terminal section  106  with 240 pins, and a power supply and ground terminal section  108  with 4 pins. 
     In addition, guide posts  109  protrude from both end sections of the connector body  102  for positioning the connector at the time when the connector connection is established, and an end of each guide post  109  is made to be a tapered shape. 
     When this interface connector  100  is installed in the docking station  130 , a terminal section  104 E of the metal shell  104  that protrudes from a back face of the connector is made to be grounded (earth) through a chassis and the like. 
     Furthermore, on this metal shell  104 , five protruding portions  110  which are arranged in almost equal intervals along the width direction of the connector are formed on each of a top face  104 A and a bottom face  104 B of the outer surface that becomes a fitting section, and one protruding portion  110  is provided also on each of a right-hand side face  104 C and a left-hand side face  104 D. All of these protruding portions  110  have the same shape and the same height. 
     Owing to this, when an interface connector  122  in the notebook PC  120  is connected to the interface connector  100 , the metal shell sections of both connectors fits together, and the protruding portions  110  strongly contact to the inner surface of the concave metal shell section of the connector in the notebook PC. Hence, contact resistance is reduced, and hence conductivity (electric conductivity) is improved and grounding is reinforced. In this manner, a malfunction of equipment caused by EMI/ESD is prevented from occurring. 
     However, in the interface connector  100  described above, as shown in FIG. 7, when the interface connector  122  of the notebook PC is connected thereto, the metal shell  124  of the interface connector  122  is deformed so that the vicinity of a central portion thereof swells out in its width direction (directions shown by an arrow A and an arrow B) by being pressed by the protruding portions  110  arranged near the ends of a top face  104 A and a bottom face  104 B of the metal shell  104 . In the figure, a state of the central portion of the metal shell  124  swelling out is schematically shown by a chain double-dashed line. 
     Owing to this, there are problems occurring, between the protruding portions  110  arranged in the vicinity of the central portion of the metal shell  104  and the metal shell  124 , such as contact pressure (surface pressure) decreases, conductivity deteriorates, and hence a grounding effect in that part worsens. 
     In present notebook PCs and docking stations, high-level operation guarantees against EMI/ESD are demanded. Since, contact pressure varies in these structures among the protruding portions and the grounding effect often becomes partially weakened as a result, electromagnetic noise is easily superimposed on a signal line, and trouble caused by electro-static discharge readily occurs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In consideration of the above-described facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector, in which conductivity is improved by reducing contact resistance in a connector fitting section, having a connector connection structure, and electronic equipment to which the connector or connector connection structure is applied. 
     According to one embodiment, the invention is directed to a connector having a convex metal shell section, comprising a plurality of protruding portions provided on a outer surface of the convex metal shell section where a concave metal shell section fits, wherein, protruding portions provided toward a central portion of the outer surface are made higher than protruding portions provided toward edge sides of the outer surface 
     Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide a connector, in which stabilization of operation of the electronic equipment against EMI/(ESD is planned by reinforcing grounding of the entire connector, a connector connection structure, and electronic equipment to which the connector or connector connection structure is applied. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is shows an interface connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the interface connector shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a state of connecting a mating interface connector to an interface connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state of connecting a notebook PC and a docking station that use conventional interface connectors; 
     FIG. 5 is a plan showing a conventional interface connector; 
     FIG. 6 is a front view of the interface connector shown in FIG. 5; and 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of an almost left half of the interface connector shown in FIG. 5, and is also an explanatory diagram showing such a state that a metal shell of a mating interface connector that fits is deformed. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to achieve above-described objects, one embodiment of the present invention provides for a connector having a convex metal shell section, comprising a plurality of protruding portions provided on a outer surface of the convex metal shell section where a concave metal shell section fits, in which, regarding the plurality of protruding portions, protruding portions provided toward a central portion of the outer surface are made higher than protruding portions provided toward edge sides of the outer surface. 
     In the above-described embodiment, regarding the plurality of protruding portions provided on the outer surfaces of the convex metal shell section included in the connector, the protruding portions provided toward the central portion of the outer surface are made higher than the protruding portions provided toward edge sides of the outer surface. Hence, it is possible to keep high contact pressure since the protruding portions, provided toward the central portion, are in contact even if a central portion of a inner surface is deformed to “swell out” as a result of being pressed by the protruding portions of the edge sides through the concave metal shell section fitting. 
     Owing to this, for the plurality of protruding portions, contact resistance between each of them and the concave metal shell section is lessened, and hence conductivity is improved. 
     In another embodiment, a plurality of protruding portions may further be provided on the inner surface of the metal shell section in the connector having the concave metal shell section. In this embodiment, since protruding portions provided toward a central portion of the inner surface are made higher than protruding portions provided toward edges side of the inner surface, it is possible to obtain a similar effect as that previously described in the first-described embodiment. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a connector connection structure is provided, where the structure comprises: a first connector having a convex metal shell section; and a second connector having a concave metal shell section, in which a plurality of protruding portions is provided on a outer surface of the convex metal shell section where the concave metal shell section fits, and regarding the plurality of protruding portions, protruding portions provided toward a central portion of the outer surface are made higher than protruding portions provided toward edge sides of the outer surface. 
     In the above-described connector connection structure, with regard to the plurality of protruding portions provided on the outer surfaces of the convex metal shell section included in the first connector, the protruding portions that are toward a central portion of the outer surface are made higher than protruding portions provided toward edge sides of the outer surface. Hence, it is possible to keep high contact pressure since the protruding portions provided toward the central portion are in contact even if a central portion of a inner surface is deformed to “swell out” by being pressed by the protruding portions of the edge sides through the concave metal shell section fitting included in the second connector. 
     In this aspect, it is also possible to provide the plurality of protruding portions on the inner surface of the metal shell in the second connector having the concave metal shell section and protruding portions provided toward a central portion of the inner surface are made higher than protruding portion provided in edge sides of the inner surface. Hence it is possible to obtain the same effect as that in the above-described structure. 
     In addition, still another aspect of the present invention is a connector connection structure comprising: a first connector having a convex metal shell section; and a second connector having a concave metal shell section, in which at least one of the convex metal shell section and the concave metal shell section is grounded, and electronic equipment is grounded by the convex metal shell section being fitted in the concave metal shell section when the first connector and the second connector are connected electrically, a plurality of protruding portions is provided on a lateral surface of the convex metal shell section where the concave metal shell section fits, and regarding the plurality of protruding portions, protruding portions provided toward a central portion of the outer surface are made higher than protruding portions provided toward edge sides of the outer surface. 
     In the above-described connector connection structure, regarding the plurality of protruding portions provided on the outer surfaces of the convex metal shell section included in the first connector, protruding portions provided toward a central portion of the outer surface are made higher than protruding portions provided toward edge sides of the outer surface. Hence, conductivity between them and the concave metal shell section of the second connector fitted over the convex metal shell section is improved. 
     Owing to this, since grounding is performed between all the plurality of protruding portions and the concave metal shell section, it can be performed to uniformly ground the edge sides and central portion of the metal shell section. Therefore, grounding is reinforced in the entire connector. 
     The plurality of protruding portions may be provided on the concave metal shell section provided in the second connector. In that aspect also, by making protruding portions provided toward a central portion of the inner surface higher than protruding portions provided toward edge sides of the inner surface, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that in the above-described structure. 
     In addition, in the above-described connector connection structure, each of the plurality of protruding portions can be arranged in a symmetric position about a central line in the fitting direction of the outer surface of the convex metal shell section, and each protruding portion which is arranged in the symmetric position can be made to be the same height. 
     Owing to this, almost equal grounding can be performed in both sides of the outer surface that sandwich the central line. 
     In addition, here, the plurality of protruding portions provided in the inner surface of the concave metal shell section can be arranged in symmetric positions about a central line in the fitting direction of the outer surface. Hence, in that aspect also, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that in the above-described structure. 
     Furthermore, in the above-described connector connection structure, the number of the plurality of protruding portions provided can be of three or more, whereby protruding portions provided in an almost central portion of the outer surface of the convex metal shell section can be made to be the highest. Such a structure is preferable in a case of a connector having a large width due to a large number of pins. 
     In addition, this structure can be also applied to the plurality of protruding portions provided on the inner surface of the concave metal shell section. 
     In addition, a further aspect of the present invention is a connector connection structure, in which a side cross-sectional shape of each of the protruding portions is made to be a shape of continuing to the metal shell section and being curved along the fitting direction of the metal shell section. Such a structure reduces a load by a catch with the protruding portions when the metal shell section fits, that is, when the connectors are connected with each other. Hence it becomes possible to perform smooth connector connection. 
     In addition, a still further aspect of the present invention is electronic equipment that comprises the above-described connector or connector connection structure. 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to drawings. FIGS. 1 and 2 show an interface connector  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     This interface connector  10  is used for connection of a notebook PC and a docking station that are newly developed, and is provided in the docking station. Nevertheless, since the structure of the entire connector, pin count, and arrangement are the same as those of a conventional interface connector, the same numerals can be assigned and their description will be omitted. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, also in a outer surface of a metal shell  12  mounted in the interface connector  10 , a total of 12 protruding portions are located. 
     In a top face  12 A and a bottom face  12 B of the metal shell  12 , protruding portions are arranged in vertical symmetry, protruding portions  14 A each are arranged in the center in a width direction of each of both sides, and protruding portions  14 B are arranged in equal intervals in both adjacent sides of the protruding portions  14 A. Furthermore, protruding portions  14 C are also arranged in equal intervals in the outside of the protruding portions  14 B (the edge sides of the metal shell  12 ), 
     Then, relationship of height of these protruding portions is made to be: protruding portions  14 A &gt;protruding portions  14 B&gt;protruding portions  14 C. 
     In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, regarding side cross-sectional shapes of the protruding portions  14 A,  14 B, and  14 C, each base end part of the protruding portions continues with a surface of the metal shell  12 , and each protruding part of the protruding portions is curved in an almost circular arc shape along a fitting direction (connector insertion direction) of the metal shell. 
     Furthermore, in each central portion of a right side face  12 C and a left side face  12 D of the metal shell  12 , the protruding portions  110  that are the same as conventional ones are formed. 
     Each side cross-sectional shape of these protruding portions  110  is also curved in a shape that is the same as one of the protruding portions  14 A,  14 B, and  14 C. 
     Moreover, each of the above-described protruding portions can be easily produced on the shell surface by forming in another process after deep drawing of an external shape of the metal shell  12  with dies, and dimensions of each portion are as follows. 
     Contour dimensions of a fitting portion of the metal shell are 7.5 mm in height and 57.7 mm in width. Contour dimensions of each protruding section are 1.5 mm in width, and the protruding sections are arranged at 11 mm pitches with each of the protruding portions  14 A as a center. Their protruding amounts (h) from a surface of the metal shell are 0.22 mm for the protruding portions  14 A, 0.19 mm for the protruding portions  14 B, and 0.10 mm for the protruding portions  14 C. 
     FIG. 3 shows a state of connecting an interface connector  122  of a notebook PC to the interface connector  10  according to the present embodiment. In this manner, communication between both equipment becomes possible through the interface connectors by docking the notebook PC with the docking station. 
     Here, when both connectors are connected with each other, and both metal shells fit together, a metal shell of the interface connector  122  is pressed by the protruding portions  14 C located in edge sides of the metal shell  12 , and in consequence, a central portion of a inner surface of the metal shell swells out. 
     Nevertheless, the protruding portions  14 B arranged inside are higher than the protruding portions  14 C, and furthermore each of the protruding portions  14 A that is central is made to be the highest. Hence, the difference of contact pressure among the protruding portions  14 A,  14 B, and  14 C becomes small, and each contacts with the metal shell of the interface connector  122  in high contact pressure. 
     Owing to this, edge sides and a central portion of each metal shell are uniformly grounded, and hence, grounding is reinforced in the entire interface connectors  10  and  122 . Besides, in the top face  12 A and bottom face  12 B of the metal shell  12 , layout and height of the protruding portions are made to be symmetrical about the central line in the fitting direction of the metal shell. Hence, it is possible to achieve almost equal grounding in the whole area of the top face  12 A and bottom face  12 B. 
     On the other hand, in the connective operation of the connectors, each side cross-sectional shape of the protruding portions  14 A,  14 B,  14 C, and  110  is a shape of continuously protruding from the surface of the metal shell  12  and being curved along the fitting direction. Hence, the load caused by a catch of each protruding portion is reduced, and hence smooth fitting (connector connection) becomes possible. In addition, also when connector connected is pulled out, it is possible to pull the connector out by a desired pulling-out force. 
     The connector and connector connection structure of the present invention provide: a reduction in the contact resistance in fitting portions of connectors, and hence an improvement in conductivity. In addition, besides, grounding is reinforced in the entire connectors, and hence stabilization of the operation against EMI/(ESD is achieved in the electronic equipment to which the connector connection structure is applied. 
     Furthermore, shapes, individual and/or total counts, intervals, and the like of the protruding portions are not limited to any one of the embodiments herein, but can be appropriately changed or modified depending on conditions based on connector sizes and shapes. 
     Moreover, although the present invention may be preferably applied to the connector having the convex metal shell section, such application is not so limited herein, as it is possible to apply the present invention to the concave metal shell section mounted in the mating connector, as well as to other embodiments and variations of the present invention. 
     Furthermore, in addition to grounding reinforcement, it is possible to use the present invention for improving conductivity in other ways in other applications. 
     Moreover, it is conceivable to those skilled in the art a connector and connector connection structure according to the present invention can be applied in a variety of applications in other electronic equipment beyond that of connector connection for a notebook PC and/or a docking station. 
     It will be further understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.