Patent Publication Number: US-2023163501-A1

Title: Electrical plug connector, electrical receptacle connector, and electrical connector assembly having the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Patent Application No. 202122895240.0 filed in China, P.R.C. on Nov. 24, 2021, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant disclosure relates to an electrical connector assembly, and more particular to an electrical plug connector, an electrical receptacle connector, and a board-to-board electrical connector assembly comprising an electrical plug connector and an electrical receptacle connector. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The board-to-board (BTB) electrical connector is an electrical connector assembly. The electrical connector assembly comprises a plug connector and a receptacle connector corresponding to the plug connector. The plug connector is arranged with a plurality of male terminals. The receptacle connector is arranged with a plurality of female terminals. When plug first connector is inserted into the receptacle connector, the male terminals are mated with the female terminals to achieve the signal transmission between two printed circuit boards. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     For a BTB electrical connector known to the inventor, the plug connector includes a plug fixation housing and fixation terminals, and the receptacle connector includes a receptacle fixation housing, a receptacle movable housing, and Z-shaped terminals, wherein the receptacle fixation housing and the receptacle movable housing are connected with each other through the Z-shaped terminals. After the plug connector is mated with the receptacle connector, the plug connector is in a fixed state and cannot be moved freely, and the receptacle connector is in a movable state. As a result, upon mating the plug connector with the receptacle connector, if the plug connector is not properly aligned with the receptacle connector, the plug connector cannot be adjusted to the correct mating orientation. 
     In view of this, an embodiment of the instant disclosure provides an electrical connector assembly. The electrical connector assembly comprises an electrical plug connector and an electrical receptacle connector. The electrical plug connector comprises a plug fixation housing, a plug movable housing, and a plurality of plug terminals. The plug fixation housing has a receiving space and a plurality of first terminal positioning grooves at two sides of the receiving space. The plug movable housing is in the receiving space. The plug movable housing has a plug mating portion and a plurality of second terminal positioning grooves at two sides of the plug mating portion, and the plug mating portion is exposed from the receiving space. Each of the plug terminals comprises a first fixation portion, a second fixation portion, and a plug contact portion. Each of the first fixation portions is positioned at a corresponding one of the first terminal positioning grooves, and each of the second fixation portions is positioned at a corresponding one of the second terminal positioning grooves. In each of the plug terminals, the plug contact portion is adjacent to the second fixation portion. The electrical receptacle connector comprises a receptacle fixation housing, a receptacle movable housing, and a plurality of receptacle terminals. The receptacle fixation housing has a working space and a plurality of third terminal positioning grooves at two sides of the working space. The receptacle movable housing is in the working space. The receptacle movable housing has a receptacle mating portion and a plurality of fourth terminal positioning grooves at two sides of the receptacle mating portion, and the receptacle mating portion is exposed from the working space. Each of the third fixation portions is positioned at a corresponding one of the third terminal positioning grooves, and each of the fourth fixation portions is positioned at a corresponding one of the fourth terminal positioning grooves. In each of the receptacle terminals, the receptacle contact portion is adjacent to the fourth fixation portion. 
     In some embodiments, each of the plug terminals has a plug continuous bending portion between the first fixation portion and the second fixation portion, and the first fixation portion and the second fixation portion are at different horizontal axes. 
     In some embodiments, in each of the plug terminals, the plug continuous bending portion is S-shaped and has a first turning portion and a second turning portion, the first turning portion is adjacent to the first fixation portion, and the second turning portion is adjacent to the second fixation portion. 
     In some embodiments, each of the receptacle terminals has a receptacle continuous bending portion between the third fixation portion and the fourth fixation portion, and the third fixation portion and the fourth fixation portion are at different horizontal axes. 
     In some embodiments, in each of the receptacle terminals, the receptacle continuous bending portion is S-shaped and has a third turning portion and a fourth turning portion, the third turning portion is adjacent to the third fixation portion, and the fourth turning portion is adjacent to the fourth fixation portion. 
     In some embodiments, the plug mating portion of the plug movable housing has an insertion groove, the receptacle mating portion of the receptacle movable housing has a protrusion, and the protrusion is mated with the insertion groove. 
     In some embodiments, the plug contact portions of the plug terminals are at two sides of the insertion groove, and the receptacle contact portions of the receptacle terminals protrude from two sides of the protrusion. 
     In some embodiments, the electrical connector assembly further comprises a plurality of plug hold-down members, and the plug hold-down members are fixed on the plug fixation housing and limited at two sides of the plug movable housing. 
     In some embodiments, the electrical connector assembly further comprises a plurality of receptacle hold-down members, and the receptacle hold-down members are fixed on the receptacle fixation housing and limited at two sides of the receptacle movable housing. 
     In another embodiment, an electrical plug connector is provided. The electrical plug connector comprises a plug fixation housing, a plug movable housing, and a plurality of plug terminals. The plug fixation housing has a receiving space and a plurality of first terminal positioning grooves at two sides of the receiving space. The plug movable housing is in the receiving space, and the plug movable housing has a plug mating portion and a plurality of second terminal positioning grooves at two sides of the plug mating portion, and the plug mating portion is exposed from the receiving space. Each of the plug terminals comprises a first fixation portion, a second fixation portion, and a plug contact portion. Each of the plug terminals is positioned at a corresponding one of the first terminal positioning grooves, and each of the second fixation portions is positioned at a corresponding one of the second terminal positioning grooves. In each of the plug terminals, the plug contact portion is adjacent to the second fixation portion. 
     In some embodiments, each of the plug terminals has a plug continuous bending portion between the first fixation portion and the second fixation portion, and the first fixation portion and the second fixation portion are at different horizontal axes. 
     In some embodiments, in each of the plug terminals, the plug continuous bending portion is S-shaped and has a first turning portion and a second turning portion, the first turning portion is adjacent to the first fixation portion, and the second turning portion is adjacent to the second fixation portion. 
     In some embodiments, the plug mating portion of the plug movable housing has an insertion groove, and the plug contact portions of the plug terminals are at two sides of the insertion groove. 
     In some embodiments, the electrical plug connector further comprises a plurality of plug hold-down members. The plug hold-down members are fixed on the plug fixation housing and limited at two sides of the plug movable housing. 
     In yet another embodiment, an electrical receptacle connector is provided. The electrical receptacle connector comprises a receptacle fixation housing, a receptacle movable housing, and a plurality of receptacle terminals. The receptacle fixation housing has a working space and a plurality of third positioning grooves at two sides of the working space. The receptacle movable housing is in the working space, and the receptacle movable housing has a receptacle mating portion and a plurality of fourth terminal positioning grooves at two sides of the receptacle mating portion, and the receptacle mating portion is exposed from the working space. Each of the receptacle terminals comprises a third fixation portion, a fourth fixation portion, and a receptacle contact portion. Each of the third fixation portions is positioned at a corresponding one of the third terminal positioning portions, and each of the fourth fixation portions is positioned at a corresponding one of the fourth terminal positioning grooves. In each of the receptacle terminals, the receptacle contact portion is adjacent to the fourth fixation portion. 
     In some embodiments, each of the receptacle terminals has a receptacle continuous bending portion between the third fixation portion and the fourth fixation portion, and the third fixation portion and the fourth fixation portion are at different horizontal axes. 
     In some embodiments, in each of the receptacle terminals, the receptacle continuous bending portion is S-shaped and has a third turning portion and a fourth turning portion, the third turning portion is adjacent to the third fixation portion, and the fourth turning portion is adjacent to the fourth fixation portion. 
     In some embodiments, the receptacle mating portion of the receptacle movable housing has a protrusion, and the receptacle contact portions of the receptacle terminals protrude from two sides of the protrusion. 
     In some embodiments, the electrical receptacle connector further comprises a plurality of receptacle hold-down members. The receptacle hold-down members are fixed on the receptacle fixation housing and limited at two sides of the receptacle movable housing. 
     Based on the above, according to one or some embodiments of the instant disclosure, the plug movable housing of the electrical plug connector and the receptacle movable housing of the electrical receptacle connector are mated with each other in a floating manner, thus allowing the electrical plug connector and the electrical receptacle connector to be mated with each other stably, and increasing the layout flexibility of the circuit boards soldered with the connector assembly. 
     Detailed description of the characteristics and the advantages of the instant disclosure are shown in the following embodiments. The technical content and the implementation of the instant disclosure should be readily apparent to any person skilled in the art from the detailed description, and the purposes and the advantages of the instant disclosure should be readily understood by any person skilled in the art with reference to content, claims, and drawings in the instant disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The instant disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus not limitative of the instant disclosure, wherein: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a perspective view of an electrical connector assembly according to some embodiments of the instant disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    illustrates an exploded view of an electrical plug connector according to some embodiments of the instant disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates an exploded view of an electrical receptacle connector according to some embodiments of the instant disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a perspective view of plug terminals and receptacle terminals according to some embodiments of the instant disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    illustrates a top schematic view of the electrical connector assembly according to some embodiments of the instant disclosure; 
         FIG.  6    illustrates a cross-sectional view of the portion A-A shown in  FIG.  5   , where electrical plug connector is not mated with the electrical receptacle connector; and 
         FIG.  7    illustrates a cross-sectional view of the portion A-A shown in  FIG.  5   , where electrical plug connector is mated with the electrical receptacle connector. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Please refer to  FIG.  1   .  FIG.  1    illustrates a perspective view of an electrical connector assembly according to some embodiments of the instant disclosure. The electrical connector assembly comprises an electrical plug connector  100  (plug) and an electrical receptacle connector  200  (receptacle), and the electrical connector assembly is a board-to-board (BTB) connector assembly. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  2   .  FIG.  2    illustrates an exploded view of an electrical plug connector  100  according to some embodiments of the instant disclosure. In this embodiment, the electrical plug connector  100  comprises a plug fixation housing  11 , a plug movable housing  12 , and a plurality of plug terminals  13 . The plug fixation housing  11  has a receiving space  110  and a plurality of first terminal positioning grooves  111  at two sides of the receiving space  110 . The plug movable housing  12  is in the receiving space  110 . The plug movable housing  12  has a plug mating portion  121  and a plurality of second terminal positioning grooves  122  at two sides of the plug mating portion  121 , and the plug mating portion  121  is exposed from the receiving space  011 . Each of the plug terminals  13  comprises a first fixation portion  131 , a second fixation portion  132 , and a plug contact portion  133  (as shown in  FIG.  4   ). Each of the first fixation portions  131  is positioned at a corresponding one of the first terminal positioning grooves  111 , and each of the second fixation portions  132  is positioned at a corresponding one of the second terminal positioning grooves  122 . In each of the plug terminals  12 , the plug contact portion  133  is adjacent to the second fixation portion  132 . 
     Please refer to  FIG.  3   .  FIG.  3    illustrates an exploded view of an electrical receptacle connector  200  according to some embodiments of the instant disclosure. In this embodiment, the electrical receptacle connector  200  comprises a receptacle fixation housing  21 , a receptacle movable housing  22 , and a plurality of receptacle terminals  23 . The receptacle fixation  21  housing has a working space  210  and a plurality of third terminal positioning grooves  211  at two sides of the working space  210 . The receptacle movable housing  22  is in the working space  210 . The receptacle movable housing  22  has a receptacle mating portion  221  and a plurality of fourth terminal positioning grooves  222  at two sides of the receptacle mating portion  221 , and the receptacle mating portion  221  is exposed from the working space  210 . Each of the receptacle terminals  23  comprises a third fixation portion  231 , a fourth fixation portion  232 , and a receptacle contact portion  233  (as shown in  FIG.  4   ). Each of the third fixation portions  231  is positioned at a corresponding one of the third terminal positioning grooves  211 , and each of the fourth fixation portions  232  is positioned at a corresponding one of the fourth terminal positioning grooves  222 . In each of the receptacle terminals  23 , the receptacle contact portion  233  is adjacent to the fourth fixation portion  232 . 
     Please refer to  FIG.  3   . The plug fixation housing  11  and the plug movable housing  12  are not in contact with each other, and the receptacle fixation housing  21  and the receptacle movable housing  22  are not in contact with each other. In the assembly of the electrical plug connector  100 , the plug fixation housing  11  and the plug movable housing  12  are connected with each other through the plug terminals  13 , and the plug movable housing  12  is at a middle portion of the plug fixation housing  11  in a floating manner (as shown in  FIG.  5    and  FIG.  6   ). Likewise, in the assembly of the electrical receptacle connector  200 , the receptacle fixation housing  21  and the receptacle movable housing  22  are connected with each other through the receptacle terminals  23 , and the receptacle movable housing  22  is at a middle portion of the receptacle fixation housing  21  in a floating manner (as shown in  FIG.  5    and  FIG.  6   ). 
     During the process of the mating between the electrical plug connector  100  and the electrical receptacle connector  200  (as shown in  FIG.  6    and  FIG.  7   ), both the plug movable housing  12  and the receptacle movable housing  22  can have certain offsets along the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction. Therefore, even if the plug movable housing  12  does not properly align with the receptacle movable housing  22 , the plug movable housing  12 , or the receptacle movable housing  22 , or both the plug movable housing  12  and the receptacle movable housing  22  can be adjusted with the offsets, so that the plug movable housing  12  can be mated with the receptacle movable housing  22  with a correct mating orientation. Hence, the coordination between the electrical plug connector  100  and the electrical receptacle connector  200  can be increased, and the mating flexibility of the electrical connector assembly can be achieved. 
     The plug movable housing  12  is floatingly connected to the plug fixation housing  11  through the plug terminals  13  (as shown in  FIG.  5    and  FIG.  6   ), and the plug terminals  13  have a higher elasticity. Likewise, the receptacle movable housing  22  is floatingly connected to the receptacle fixation housing  21  through the receptacle terminals  23 , and the receptacle terminals  23  have a higher elasticity. Hence, during the process of the mating between the electrical plug connector  100  and the electrical receptacle connector  200 , a portion of the stress (which occurs upon mating) can be absorbed by the plug terminals  13  and the receptacle terminals  23 , so that the stress at the soldering portions (the portions of the terminals soldering to the circuit boards) can be reduced, thus reducing the occurrence of the cracks between the soldering portions and the soldering spots on the circuit board. 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , in some embodiments, the plug fixation housing  11  is an elongated plastic member. The plug fixation housing  11  comprises a pair of first side walls and a pair of first end walls. The first side walls are opposite to and parallel with each other. The first end walls are opposite to and parallel with each other. The pair of the first side walls and the pair of the first end walls are enclosed to form the receiving space  110 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , in some embodiments, the receptacle fixation housing  21  is an elongated plastic member. The receptacle fixation housing  21  comprises a pair of second side walls and a pair of second end walls. The second side walls are opposite to and parallel with each other. The second end walls are opposite to and parallel with each other. The pair of the second side walls and the pair of the second end walls are enclosed to form the working space  210 . 
     Please refer to  FIG.  6   . In some embodiments, the plug terminals  13  are disposed on the plug fixation housing  11  and are arranged into two rows opposite to each other. Each of the plug terminals  13  comprises a plug contact portion  133  (which is a plate-shaped structure; flat contact portion) and a plug tail portion. The plug contact portion  133  and the plug tail portion are integrally formed with each other. The plug contact portion  133  is arranged on the plug movable housing  12 , the plug tail portion extends out of the plug fixation housing  11  and soldered with a circuit board. The plug terminals  13  are provided for signal transmission or current transmission, where the current is between 0.3 A and 0.5 A. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  6   . In some embodiments, the receptacle terminals  23  are disposed on the receptacle fixation housing  21  and are arranged into two rows opposite to each other. Each of the receptacle terminals  23  comprises a receptacle contact portion  233  (which is a protruding structure; elastic contact portion) and a receptacle tail portion. The receptacle contact portion  233  and the receptacle tail portion are integrally formed with each other. The receptacle contact portion  233  is arranged on the receptacle movable housing  22 , the receptacle tail portion extends out of the receptacle fixation housing  21  and soldered with a circuit board. The receptacle terminals  23  are provided for signal transmission or current transmission, where the current is between 0.3 A and 0.5 A. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  4   . In some embodiments, each of the plug terminals  13  has a plug continuous bending portion  135  between the first fixation portion  131  and the second fixation portion  132 , and the first fixation portion  131  and the second fixation portion  132  are at different horizontal axes. In each of the plug terminals  13 , the plug continuous bending portion  135  is S-shaped and has a first turning portion  136  and a second turning portion  137 , the first turning portion  136  is adjacent to the first fixation portion  131 , and the second turning portion  137  is adjacent to the second fixation portion  132 . For the plug contact portion  133 , a fixation region of the second fixation portion  132  is fixed with the plug movable housing  12 , and a fixation region of the first fixation portion  131  is fixed with the plug fixation housing  11 , so that the plug continuous bending portion  135  is floatingly arranged between the plug fixation housing  11  and the plug movable housing  12 . 
     Please refer to  FIG.  4   . In some embodiments, each of the receptacle terminals  23  has a receptacle continuous bending portion  235  between the third fixation portion  231  and the fourth fixation portion  232 , and the third fixation portion  231  and the fourth fixation portion  232  are at different horizontal axes. In each of the receptacle terminals  23 , the receptacle continuous bending portion  235  is S-shaped and has a third turning portion  236  and a fourth turning portion  237 , the third turning portion  236  is adjacent to the third fixation portion  231 , and the fourth turning portion  237  is adjacent to the fourth fixation portion  232 . For the receptacle contact portion  233 , a fixation region of the fourth fixation portion  232  is fixed with the receptacle movable housing  22 , and a fixation region of the third fixation portion  231  is fixed with the receptacle fixation housing  21 , so that the receptacle continuous bending portion  235  is floatingly arranged between the receptacle fixation housing  21  and the receptacle movable housing  22 . 
     Please refer to  FIG.  6   . In some embodiments, the plug mating portion  121  of the plug movable housing  12  has an insertion groove  15 , the receptacle mating portion  221  of the receptacle movable housing  22  has a protrusion  25 , and the protrusion  25  is mated with the insertion groove  15 . 
     Please refer to  FIG.  6   . In some embodiments, the plug contact portions  133  of the plug terminals  13  are at two sides of the insertion groove  15 , and the receptacle contact portions  233  of the receptacle terminals  23  protrude from two sides of the protrusion  25 . 
     Please refer to  FIG.  1   . In some embodiments, the electrical connector assembly further comprises a plurality of plug hold-down members  19 . Each of the plug hold-down members  19  is of an inverse U-shaped plate structure. The plug hold-down members  19  are fixed on the plug fixation housing  11  and limited at two sides of the plug movable housing  12 . Therefore, the plug movable housing  12  can be prevented from being detached from the plug fixation housing  11 . The plug hold-down members  19  (such as metallic shells) on the plug fixation housing  11  limit the lateral movement of the plug movable housing  12  along the Z-axis direction. When the electrical plug connector  100  is detached from the electrical receptacle connector  200 , the plug hold-down members  19  can effectively prevent the plug movable housing  12  from being closely held with the electrical receptacle connector  200  and thus detached from the plug fixation housing  11 , which will cause the damage or malfunction of the product. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  1   . In some embodiments, the electrical connector assembly further comprises a plurality of receptacle hold-down members  29 . Each of the receptacle hold-down members  29  is of an inverse U-shaped plate structure. The receptacle hold-down members  29  are fixed on the receptacle fixation housing  21  and limited at two sides of the receptacle movable housing  22 . Therefore, the receptacle movable housing  22  can be prevented from being detached from the receptacle fixation housing  21 . The receptacle hold-down members  29  (such as metallic shells) on the receptacle fixation housing  21  limit the lateral movement of the receptacle movable housing  22  along the Z-axis direction. When the electrical plug connector  100  is detached from the electrical receptacle connector  200 , the receptacle hold-down members  29  can effectively prevent the receptacle movable housing  22  from being closely held with the electrical plug connector  100  and thus detached from the receptacle fixation housing  21 , which will cause the damage or malfunction of the product. 
     Based on the above, according to one or some embodiments of the instant disclosure, the plug movable housing of the electrical plug connector and the receptacle movable housing of the electrical receptacle connector are mated with each other in a floating manner, thus allowing the electrical plug connector and the electrical receptacle connector to be mated with each other stably, and increasing the layout flexibility of the circuit boards soldered with the connector assembly. 
     While the instant disclosure has been described by the way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention need not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.