Patent Publication Number: US-9837769-B2

Title: USB connector having an improved grounding

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector with grounding means for mounting onto a printed circuit board. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     The USB-IF announced USB Type-C™ standards in 2014. This kind of connector of USB Type-C™ features double-direction insertions. In the same time, the transmission rate and shielding performance are improved. This type of connector requires a high signal transmission quality which needs to employ grounding means for grounding purpose. 
     Hence, there is a need to provide a Universal Serial Bus connector with improved grounding means. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure includes a Universal Serial Bus connector pluggable with a complementary connector. The Universal Serial Bus connector comprises a first contact module, a second contact module, a shielding shell enclosing the first and the second contact modules, and a grounding member. The first contact module comprises a plurality of first contacts and a first insulator retaining the first contacts. Each of the plurality of first contacts comprises a first fastening portion assembled in the first insulator, a first contacting portion extending from the first fastening portion, and a first tail portion extending from the first fastening portion opposite to the first contacting portion. The first contacts comprise a pair of grounding contacts. The second contact module comprises a plurality of second contacts and a second insulator retaining the second contacts. Each of the plurality of second contacts comprises a second fastening portion assembled in the second insulator, a second contacting portion extending from the second fastening portion, and a second tail portion extending from the second fastening portion opposite to the second contacting portion. The second contacts comprise a pair of grounding contacts. The shielding shell provides a front mating face. The grounding member connects with the grounding contacts and extends in different plane compared to the grounding contacts. The grounding member defines a front contact tab for contacting with the complementary connector and the grounding contact defines a front edge end. The front contact tab is closer to the front mating face of the shielding shell than the front edge ends of the grounding contacts. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The components in the drawing are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the described embodiments. In the drawings, reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout various views, and all the views are schematic. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a USB 2.0 type C connector in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is partially exploded, perspective view of the USB connector as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the USB connector as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded, perspective view of a first contact module as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded, perspective view of a second contact module as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded, perspective view of a shielding shell as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded, perspective view of a USB 3.1 type C connector, in accordance with the other embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded, perspective view of the second contact module shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a central grounding pad shown in  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a grounding member applied in a contact module of a USB 2.0 type C connector. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT 
     Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the embodiments of the present disclosure in detail. In the following description, the same drawing reference numerals are used for the same elements in different drawings. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 6 , an illustrated embodiment of the present invention discloses an electrical connector  100  which complies to standard USB 2.0 Type-C™. The electrical connector or the USB connector  100  is employed to mounted onto a printed circuit board (not shown) and engages with a complementary connector (not shown). The electrical connector  100  includes contact modules  1 , a shielding shell  3  enclosing the contact modules  1  and a grounding member  2  electrically connecting with the shielding shell  3 . 
     The contact modules  1  include a first contact module  4 , a second contact module  5  and a spacer  6  for fixing the first and the second contact modules  4 ,  5  together. The first contact module  4  and the second contact module  5  are assembled along an upper-to-down direction, i.e. a thickness direction of the electrical connector  100 . It should be noted here that the spacer  6  can be removed by other means which can also connect together the first and the second contact modules  4 ,  5 . For example, such other means could be a block and a recess engageable with the block. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 4 and 5  with  FIG. 3 , the first contact module  4  has a plurality of first contacts  41  and a first insulator  42  securing the plurality of first contacts  41 . The first contacts  41  each have a first fastening portion  410  assembled in the first insulator  42 , a first contacting portion  411  extending from one end of the first fastening portion  410  and a first tail portion  412  extending from an opposite end of the first fastening portion  410  for soldering on the printed circuit board. In this preferred embodiment, the first contacts  41  are arranged in one row and insert-molded within the first insulator  42 . The first tail portion  412  extends downwards from the first fastening portion  410  and towards the printed circuit board along a horizontal direction to thereby soldered thereto. The first tail portions  412  are transversally positioned in one row. 
     The second contact module  5  has a plurality of second contacts  5  and a second insulator  52  securing the second plurality of second contacts  5 . The second contacts  51  each have a second fastening portion  510  assembled in the second insulator  52 , a second contacting portion  511  extending from one end of the second fastening portion  510  and a second tail portion  512  extending from an opposite end of the second fastening portion  510 . In this preferred embodiment, the second contacts  51  are arranged in one row and insert-molded within the second insulator  52 . The second tail portion  512  perpendicularly extends downwards from the second fastening portion  510  and towards the printed circuit board. The second tail portions  512  are arranged in one row. 
     The first contacts  41  and the second contacts  51  each comprise two grounding contacts  43 , two power contacts  44  next to the two grounding contacts  43 , and a differential pair  45  and a detecting contact  46  positioned between the two power contacts  44 . Such an arrangement of the first contacts  41  and the second contacts  51  are meeting with the standard connector of USB 2.0 Type-C™. 
     The first insulator  42  comprises a first tongue section  421  and a first assembling section  422  connecting with the first tongue section  421 . The dimensions of the first tongue section  421  is smaller than the dimensions of the first assembling section  422  either from an upper-to-down direction or a left-to-right direction. A first recess  4211  is defined between an intersection of the first tongue section  421  and the first assembling section  422 . The first recess  4211  extends throughout the first insulator  42  for providing space to the die (not shown). The first tongue section  421  forms an outer surface  4212  confronting the shielding shell  3  and an inner surface  4213  confronting the second insulator  52 . A positioning hole  4214  is recessed from the inner surface  4213  and a positioning post  4215  is formed oppositely. A pair of engaging grooves  4221  are recessed from an inside wall of the first assembling section  422  and face towards the second insulator  52 . 
     The second insulator  52  includes a second tongue section  521  and a second assembling section  522  connecting with the second tongue section  521 . The dimensions of the second tongue section  521  is smaller than the dimensions of the second assembling section  522  either from an upper-to-down direction or a left-to-right direction. An engaging space  20  is defined by forward ends of the first and the second tongue sections  421 ,  521  to thereby receiving the contacting portions  411 ,  511 . A pair of engaging cutouts  5215  are respectively formed in the forward ends of the first tongue section  421  and the second tongue section  521 . Correspondingly, a pair of engaging blocks  5214  which can be blocked in corresponding engaging cutouts  5215 , are formed respectively in the forward ends of the first tongue section  421  and the second tongue section  521 . A pair of engaging posts  5221  are formed on the second assembling section  522  for engaging with the pair of engaging grooves  4221  of the first assembling section  422 . 
     Similarly, the second tongue section  521  defines an outer face confronting the shielding shell  3  and an inner face  5213  confronting the first insulator  42 . A second recess  5211  is also recessed from the inner face  5213 . The first contact module  4  and the second contact module  5  are fixedly assembled together by the engagements between the positioning posts  4215  with the positioning holes  4214 , the engaging cutouts  5215  with the engaging blocks  5214 , and the engaging posts  5221  with the engaging grooves  4221 . It can be understood that the shapes and the configurations of the above-described engageable members are changeable according to different requirements. The grounding contact  43  of the second contact  51  provides a horizontal extending, beam  513  at a distal rear end thereof. The beam  513  is insert-molded within the second assembling section  522  of the second insulator  52 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the electrical connector  100  also comprises a resilient pad  2  which is connecting to the grounding contact  43  of the first contacts  41  and the second contacts  51 . The resilient pad  2  and the grounding contact  43  to which the resilient pad  2  connects, extend in different planes. The grounding contacts  43  of the first contacts  41  and the second contacts  51  each is formed with such a resilient pad  2 . From a side view, a front contact tab  22  of the resilient pad  2  is located between a front edge end of the first and the second contacting portion  411 ,  511  and a front mating face  10  of the electrical connector  100 . In this preferred embodiment, the resilient pad  2  extends from a side edge of the first fastening portion  410  or the second fastening portion  510 , and locates between the grounding contact  43  and the power contact  44 . The resilient pad  2  is performed as a grounding member and is formed in an L-shape. The L-shape resilient pad  2  has an L-shape connecting bar  21  interconnecting to the first fastening portion  410  or the second fastening portion  510 , and the front contact tab  22  projecting from the L-shape connecting end  21  and extending towards the front mating face  10 . The connecting bar  21  is insert-molded within corresponding first insulator  42  or the second insulator  52 . The front contact tab  22  protrudes either upwards or downwards compared to the grounding contact  43  so that the front contact tab  22  and the connecting bar  21  extend within different planes. The front contact tab  22  of this preferred embodiment projects towards the front mating face  10  beyond the front edge end of the first contacting portion  411  or the second contacting portion  511 . In other words, the front contact tab  22  is closer to the front mating face  10  of the shielding shell  3  than the front edge end. 
     The first tongue section  421  of the first insulator  42  and the second tongue section  521  of the second insulator  52  each define a receiving opening  4217  and a plurality of receiving grooves  4216  communicating with the receiving opening  4217 . The first and the second contacting portions  411 ,  511  are exposed within the receiving opening  4217  and the front contact tabs  22  of the L-shaped resilient pads  2  are exposed within corresponding receiving grooves  4216 . A separating beam  4218  is provided on the first contact module  41  and the second contact module  51 , which extends along a front-to-back direction and divides the receiving opening  4217  into two parts. The separating beam  4218  increases the rigidity of the first and the second tongue sections  421 ,  521 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2  together with  FIG. 6 , the shielding shell  3 , enclosing the first contact module  4  and the second contact module  5 , comprises an inner shell  31  partially covering the first and the second contact modules  4 ,  5  and an outer shell  32  partially overlapped with and covering the inner shell  31 . In details, the inner shell  31  encloses entirely the first and the second tongue sections  421 ,  521 , and the outer shell  32  encloses the first and the second assembling sections  422 ,  522 . The inner shell  31  is integrally formed from one piece of metal material and has an elliptical cross-section. The outer shell  32  includes a first shielding section  321  assembled to a rear side of the inner shell  31  and a second shielding section  322  enclosing the first assembling section  422  and the second assembling section  522 . The first shielding section  321  forms a plurality of front erecting edges  3211  at opposite upper and lower sides thereof to reinforce the whole strength during insert-molding. A plurality of solder tails  3221  are provided at respective opposite sides of the second shielding section  322  to soldering the outer shell  32  to the printed circuit board. The shape of the first shielding section  321  of the outer shell  32  is substantially identical to the shape of the inner shell  31  to thereby facilitate soldering between these two shells  31 ,  32 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 to 9 , the other embodiment of the present invention, of which the electrical connector complies with the standard USB 3.1 Type-C™, is shown. The structures of the two embodiments are similar. The main differences are in the arrangement of the contacts and the electrical connector  100 ′ further includes a central grounding pad or central grounding unit  7 . Another difference is the structure of the grounding member  2 . Hereinafter, the details of the differences will be introduced one by one. 
     In this embodiment, both the first and the second contacts  41 ′,  51 ′ have a pair of grounding contacts  43 , two differential pairs  47  next to the grounding terminals  43 , two power contacts  44  neighbored to the differential pairs  47 , and four signal contacts  48  between the two power contacts  44 . Such an arrangement of the contacts  41 ′,  51 ′ comply with the standard USB 3.1 Type-C™. Compared to the electrical connector  100  with the first embodiment, the electrical connector  100 ′ provides the central grounding pad  7  fixed between the first contact module  4  and the second contact module  5 . The central grounding pad  7  is configured to have a main section  71  sandwiched between the first and the second fastening portions  410 ′,  510 ′, and a pair of latches  72  projecting from opposite sides of the main section  71  and located adjacent to the first contacting portions  411 ′ and the second contacting portions  511 ′ for prohibiting cross-talk. The main section  71  of the central grounding pad  7  defines a pair of positioning holes  711  to cooperate with the positioning posts  4215 , a pair of rectangular slits  712  and an elongated slit  713  positioned between the two positioning holes  711 . The first recess  4211 , the second recess  5211  and the elongated slit  713  are communicating with each other in order to secure together the first contact module  4 ′, the second contact module  5 ′ and the central grounding pad  7  by insert-molding the spacer  6  therein. The central grounding pad  7  defines a pair of horizontal, oppositely extended sections  714  from a back end thereof. The horizontal, oppositely extended sections  714  each have a distal end protrude beyond the second assembling section  522 ′ from a slot  5222  thereof to thereby electrically connect to the shielding shell  3 . The second assembling section  522 ′ defines a restriction recess  5223  recessed therefrom for receiving the horizontal, extended sections  714 . The restriction recess  5223  and the slot  5222  are communicate with each other. A separating block  5224  is formed at the intersection of the second tongue section  521 ′ and the second assembling section  522 ′ in order to isolate a rear end of the latches  72  with the main section  71 . The latches  72  each include a locking arm  721 , a resilient arm  723  adjacent to the first or the second fastening portion  410 ′,  510 ′, and a connecting arm  722  connecting the main section  71  with the locking arm  721 . 
     Correspondingly, both the first tongue section  421 ′ or the second tongue section  521 ′ provide a receiving cutout  5216  at opposite sides thereof. The latches  72  are disposed within the corresponding receiving cutout  5216  with a front distal end thereof protruding into the engaging space  20  through the receiving cutout  5216  for contacting with the complementary connector. The resilient arm  723  has a rear distal end thereof protruding beyond the first insulator  42 ′ and the second insulator  52 ′ through the receiving cutout  5216  for contacting with the inner side face of the inner shell  31 . 
     Compared to the above-described electrical connector  100  of the first embodiment, the grounding member  2 ′ of the electrical connector  100 ′ of the second embodiment, extends from front distal ends of the first contacting portion  411 ′ or the second contacting portion  511 ′ of the grounding contact  43 . The grounding member  2 ′ of this embodiment comprises a connecting bar  21 ′ interconnecting the two distal ends of the first or the second contacting portions  411 ′,  511 ′, and a plurality of front contact tabs  22 ′ extending forwardly from a transversal, forward edge of the connecting bar  21 ′. It should be noted here that the resilient pads can be deemed as a connecting part for connecting the connecting bar  21 ′ with the distal ends of the first or the second contacting portions  411 ′,  511 ′. The resilient pads and the connecting bar  21 ′ form a substantial U-shaped configuration. The connecting bar  21 ′ could be also formed by two separating parts which may be used in USB 2.0 type C connector, as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     In order to co-work with the grounding member  2 ′, the first tongue section  421 ′ of the first insulator  42 ′ and the second tongue section  521 ′ of the second insulator  52 ′ each define a receiving opening  4217  and a plurality of receiving grooves  4216  communicating with the receiving opening  4217 . While, a separating beam  4219  is provided to isolate the receiving opening  4217  with the plurality of the receiving grooves  4216 . 
     In conclusion, the grounding member  2 ,  2 ′ employed in the USB connector  100 ,  100 ′, not only establishes an electrical connection between the grounding contact to the shielding shell and the printed circuit board in a simply way, but also contacts to the complementary connector in a resilience way. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of preferred and exemplary embodiments have been set out in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only; and that changes may be made in detail within the principles of present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broadest general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.