Patent Publication Number: US-2022216629-A1

Title: Electrical connector assembly and electrical connector thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The disclosure relates to a connector, and in particular to an electrical connector and an electrical connector assembly. 
     Related Art 
     Nowadays, commercially available electrical connectors with a high-speed signal connection port are becoming increasingly popular. It is definitely convenient to use an electrical connector with a high-speed signal connection port (for example, an electrical connector with a USB 3.2 Type-C connector). However, such an electrical connector is prone to signal interference during implementation. Specifically, a signal may overflow to other positions and the outside of the electrical connector through an exposed connection port to generate noise. 
     To channel and shield against the noise, at this stage, a conductive or shielding material such as a conductive foam is arranged on the periphery of the connection port. However, thread or lint is often produced during cutting of the conductive or shielding material such as the conductive foam. If the thread or lint contacts the connection port, a short circuit may occur, and it is needed to improve. 
     SUMMARY 
     In view of the above-mentioned problems, a main purpose of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly and an electrical connector, which can use the arrangement of insulating members to solve a problem that short circuits frequently occur in conventional electrical connectors. 
     To achieve the above-mentioned objective, the present invention provides an electrical connector, including a circuit board, a connection port, and an insulating member. The circuit board has a conductive region, located on a surface of the circuit board. The connection port is arranged on the surface of the circuit board, and the connection port is electrically connected to the circuit board. The insulating member is arranged on the circuit board and surrounds an outer periphery of the connection port. The insulating member includes a metal layer, arranged on an outer surface of the insulating member. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the conductive region surrounds the connection port. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the insulating member is made of an elastic material. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the electrical connector further includes a conductive member, arranged in the conductive region of the circuit board, and surrounding an outer periphery of the insulating member. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the conductive member is a conductive foam. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the circuit board is a flexible circuit board. 
     To achieve the above-mentioned objective, the present invention further provides an electrical connector assembly, which includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector includes a first circuit board, a first connection port, and an insulating member. The first circuit board has a first conductive region, located on a surface of the first circuit board. The first connection port is arranged on the surface of the first circuit board, and is electrically connected to the first circuit board. The insulating member is arranged on the first circuit board, and surrounds an outer periphery of the first connection port. The insulating member includes a metal layer, arranged on an outer surface of the insulating member. The second connector includes a second circuit board and a second connection port. The second circuit board has a second conductive region located on a surface of the second circuit board. The second connection port is arranged on the surface of the second circuit board, and is electrically connected to the second circuit board. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first conductive region surrounds the first connection port, and the second conductive region surrounds the second connection port. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first connector further includes a conductive member, arranged in the first conductive region of the first circuit board, and surrounding an outer periphery of the insulating member. When the second connection port is connected to the first connection port, the conductive member contacts the second conductive region. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first circuit board is a flexible circuit board. 
     In summary, for the electrical connector and the electrical connector assembly according to the present invention, the (first) electrical connector includes the insulating member and is arranged on the outer periphery of the (first) connection port, so that noise overflow can be avoided, and insulation can be implemented. 
     In addition, the insulating member can separate the conductive member from the (first) connection port, and can also prevent thread or lint of the conductive member from contacting the (first) connection port, so as to avoid a short circuit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an electrical connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a first connector shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partial schematic exploded view of a first connector and a second connector shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic exploded view of the first connector shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic enlarged view of an insulating material shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of an insulating material according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In order to better understand technical content of the present invention, preferred specific embodiments are described as follows. A specific implementation of the present invention will be further described below with reference to accompanying drawings and embodiments. The following embodiments are only configured to illustrate technical solutions of the present invention more clearly, and cannot be configured to limit a protection scope of the present invention. 
     In a description of the various embodiments, the so-called “first”, “second”, and “third” are configured to describe different elements, and these elements are not limited by such predicates. In addition, for a convenience and clarity of the description, a thickness or a size of each element in the drawings is expressed in an exaggerated or omitted or general manner for an understanding and reading of persons familiar with the art, and the size of each element is not exactly an actual size of the element, and is not configured to limit the implementation of the present invention, and therefore does not have any technical significance. Any structural modification, change of proportional relationship, or size adjustment should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed in the present invention without affecting an effect and an objective that can be achieved by the present invention. The same reference numerals will be configured to indicate the same or similar elements in all the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an electrical connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a first connector shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a partial schematic exploded view of a first connector and a second connector shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  is a schematic exploded view of the first connector shown in  FIG. 3 . Refer to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4  at the same time. In this embodiment, an electrical connector assembly  1  includes a first connector  10  and a second connector  20 . The first connector  10  includes a first circuit board  11 , at least one first connection port  12 , an insulating member  13 , and a conductive member  14 . 
     Preferably, the first circuit board  11  may be a flexible circuit board, that is, a soft circuit board. In this embodiment, the first connector  10  has two first connection ports  12  arranged at two opposite ends of the first circuit board  11 . In addition, the first connection ports  12  are arranged on a surface  111  of the first circuit board  11 , and the first connection ports  12  are electrically connected to the first circuit board  11 . Specifically, a plurality of circuits may be provided inside the first circuit board  11  for electrical connection to the first connection ports  12 , and the first connection ports  12  at the two ends can be electrically connected to each other by the circuits. In other embodiments, the first circuit board  11  may be alternatively a rigid circuit board, such as a printed circuit board with a multilayer structure, which is not limited in the present invention. 
     Correspondingly, the second connector  20  includes a second circuit board  21  and a second connection port  22 . Similarly, the second circuit board  21  may be a flexible circuit board or a rigid circuit board, which is not limited in the present invention. The second connection port  22  is arranged on a surface  211  of the second circuit board  21 , and a plurality of circuits may be provided inside the second circuit board  21 , to electrically connect the second connection port  22  to the second circuit board  21 . Preferably, in this embodiment, the first connection port  12  and the second connection port  22  may be a male member and a female member of a board-to-board connector. In other words, the first connection port  12  and the second connection port  22  may be connected to each other, as shown in  FIG. 1 , and are therefore applicable to different electronic devices (or circuit boards) to transmit signals to each other. 
     It should further be noted that because the first connection port  12  is connected to the second connection port  22 , the first connection port  12  and the second connection port  22  in  FIG. 1  are marked at the same position. In addition, from the perspective of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4 , the surface  211  on which the second connection port  22  is arranged is a bottom surface. Therefore, the surface  211  is marked at a side line, and the second connection port  22  is marked by a dashed line. 
     Moreover, in this embodiment, the second connector  20  further includes a high-speed signal connection port  23 , which may be, for example, but not limited to, a USB 3.2 Type-C connector. The high-speed signal connection port  23  is arranged on the second circuit board  21 , and the high-speed signal connection port  23  and the second connection port  22  may be electrically connected to each other by the circuits inside the second circuit board  21 . When the high-speed signal connection port  23  is configured to transmit signals, there is noise interference. In this embodiment, a conductive region is formed by the first circuit board  11  and the second circuit board  21 , and the insulating member  13  and the conductive member  14  are arranged, to channel and shield against noise. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the first circuit board  11  has a first conductive region  112  located on the surface  111  of the first circuit board  11 . Similarly, the second circuit board  21  has a second conductive region  212  located on the surface  211  of the second circuit board  21 . In other words, the first conductive region  112  and the second conductive region  212  are respectively exposed from the first circuit board  11  and the second circuit board  21 . In addition, the first conductive region  112  and the second conductive region  212  are still electrically connected to the circuits inside the first circuit board  11  and the second circuit board  21 . Therefore, the first conductive region  112  and the second conductive region  212  may also be referred to as ground portions. The first conductive region  112  and the second conductive region  212  may be, for example, but not limited to, an ENIG layer, an electromagnetic shielding (electromagnetic interference, EMI) layer, or a thin copper layer. In this embodiment, the ENIG layer is used as an example for the first conductive region  112  and the second conductive region  212 . Preferably, the first conductive region  112  surrounds the first connection port  12 , and the second conductive region  212  surrounds the second connection port  22 . It should be noted that in other embodiments of the present invention, the first conductive region  112  may not surround the first connection port  12 , provided that the conductive member  14  contacts part or all of the first conductive region  112 . 
     The first connector  10  includes the insulating member  13  and the conductive member  14 . The insulating member  13  is arranged on the first circuit board  11 , and surrounds an outer periphery of the first connection port  12 , to avoid noise overflow and implement insulation. Therefore, the insulating member  13  may be an annular member. Preferably, the insulating member  13  is made of an elastic material, which may be, for example, but not limited to, rubber or plastic. A property of the elastic material allows the insulating member  13  to be directly sleeved on the periphery of the first connection port  12  without the use of another fixing structure. The conductive member  14  is arranged in the first conductive region  112  of the first circuit board  11 , and surrounds an outer periphery of the insulating member  13 . In other words, the insulating member  13  is located between the first connection port  12  and the conductive member  14 . 
     When the first connector  10  is joined to the second connector  20 , that is, when the second connection port  22  is connected to the first connection port  12  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ), the conductive member  14  of the first connector  10  contacts the second conductive region  212  (referring to  FIG. 3 ), to form electrical conduction and annular shielding, to channel and shield against noise. Preferably, the conductive member  14  is a compressible conductive foam, and a height of the conductive member  14  is slightly greater than that of the first connection port  12 . Because the conductive member  14  is compressible, the conductive member  14  does not prevent the second connection port  22  from being connected to the first connection port  12 , and can further ensure that the conductive member  14  can contact the second conductive region  212 . 
     Generally, the conductive foam (the conductive member  14 ) is cut into an appropriate size to surround the outer periphery of the first connection port  12  and the outer periphery of the insulating member  13 . However, thread or lint may be produced during cutting. The insulating member  13  is arranged between the conductive member  14  and the first connection port  12 , to avoid the thread or lint from contacting the first connection port  12 . In other words, the conductive member  14  and the first connection port  12  are separated by the insulating member  13 , so that thread or lint of the conductive foam (the conductive member  14 ) can be prevented from contacting the first connection port  12 . 
     Specifically, in this embodiment, if the first connector  10  does not have an insulating member  13 , when the first connector  10  is joined to the second connector  20 , if thread or lint contacts a first connection port  12  or a second connection port  22 , a short circuit may occur. In comparison, the insulating member  13  in this embodiment is arranged, so that thread or lint of the conductive foam (the conductive member  14 ) contacts the insulating member  13 , so as to avoid a short circuit. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic enlarged view of an insulating material shown in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of an insulating material according to another embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the entire insulating member  13  may be made of an insulating material. In another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 6 , an insulating member  13   a  further includes a metal layer  131   a , and the metal layer  131   a  is arranged on an outer surface of the insulating member  13   a . It should be noted that the insulating member  13   a  is an annular member, and a surface facing the first connection port  12  (referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 ) is referred to as an inner surface, and the rest is the outer surface. In other words, the metal layer  131   a  may be arranged on the surface other than an inner surface of the insulating member  13   a . The metal layer  131   a  may be used as an aid in channeling and shielding against noise. Even if the thread or lint of the conductive member  14  (referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 ) contacts the metal layer  131   a  of the insulating member  13   a , because the inner surface of the insulating member  13   a  is still made of the insulating material, a short circuit caused by connection to the first connection port  12  can still be avoided. In an embodiment of the present invention, a metal layer  131   a  may be made of gold or copper, but the present invention is not limited to thereto. 
     In addition, the present invention further provides an electrical connector. For component structures and features of the electrical connector, reference may be made to the first connector  10  in the above-mentioned embodiments. For example, the electrical connector also includes a circuit board, a connection port, an insulating member, and a conductive member. The circuit board has a conductive region, located on a surface of the circuit board. The connection port is arranged on the surface of the circuit board, and is electrically connected to the circuit board. The insulating member is arranged on the circuit board, and surrounds an outer periphery of the connection port. The conductive member is arranged in the conductive region of the circuit board, and surrounds an outer periphery of the insulating member. In addition, the electrical connector is used for being connected to another electrical connector, and the arrangement of the insulating member can avoid a short circuit as described above. For the structures and features of the circuit board, the conductive region, and the connection port, reference may be made to the first circuit board  11 , the first conductive region  112 , and the first connection port  12  in the above-mentioned embodiments, and details are not described herein again. 
     In summary, for the electrical connector and the electrical connector assembly according to the present invention, the (first) electrical connector includes the insulating member and is arranged on the outer periphery of the (first) connection port, so that noise overflow can be avoided, and insulation can be implemented. 
     In addition, the insulating member can separate a conductive member from the (first) connection port, and can also prevent thread or lint of the conductive member from contacting the (first) connection port, so as to avoid a short circuit. 
     It should be noted that many of the above-mentioned embodiments are given as examples for convenience of description, and the scope that the present invention seeks to protect should be subject to the scope of the patent application, but is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments.