Patent Publication Number: US-2022224040-A1

Title: High-speed transmission connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Chinese patent application CN202110039032.2, filed on Jan. 12, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a connector for high-speed transmission mounted on a circuit board. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Among high-speed transmission connectors, there are a normal single type and a DD (Double Density) type that can perform signal transmission with a larger channel number. DD type connector has a total of four rows of contacts, two rows up and down on the front side and two rows up and down on the rear side, in the slot to accommodate the header of the module of a communication partner. The DD type connector can perform high-speed signal transmission of up to eight channels through these four rows of contacts. As a document disclosing a technique related to this type of connector, U.S. Patent 2019-0131743A1 (hereinafter referred to as “Patent Document 1”) can be given. The electrical connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 is formed in such a configuration in which a laminated body of an upper side contact module and a lower side contact module is arranged between the bottom wall portion and the upper wall that face each other across a fitting slot in the housing. The upper side contact module includes the first contact and the second contact and the lower side contact module includes the third contact and the fourth contact. Contact portions, which are the front ends of the first contact and the second contact, face each other vertically on the front side in the fitting slot, further contact portions, which are the front ends of the third contact and the fourth contact, face each other on the rear side in the fitting slot, and attachment portions, which are the rear ends of the first to fourth contacts, are exposed downward from the opening under the bottom wall portion. 
     However, with the miniaturization and densification of the connector, it has become difficult to make the upper and lower plates of the slot in the housing thick enough to ensure sufficient strength. In particular, since in the DD type connector, the header of the module is inserted between the upper and lower plates, it is not possible to provide a member for connecting the plates between the partition walls that support the contacts in the upper and lower plates, and it is not possible to provide connection only in the pitch direction of the contacts. Therefore, it is more difficult to ensure strength in the DD type connector. Further, when heat is applied to the DD type connector with the module remained to be fitted, it is so difficult to secure the strength only by the housing that the housing bulges, the contact force is lost, and the contact becomes unstable. 
     The present disclosure has been made in view of such a problem, and one of the objects is to improve the strength of the housing of the high-speed transmission connector. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a high-speed transmission connector including: a housing having a slot to be fitted with a header of an external communication partner, and an upper plate portion and a lower plate portion facing each other vertically across the slot; a row of front side contacts supported on the housing in such a manner that contact portions are exposed on a front side in the slot; a row of rear side contacts supported on the housing in such a manner that contact portions are exposed on a rear side in the slot; and a metal member to support the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion and fasten the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a high-speed transmission connector according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of an optical transceiver to be fitted into the high-speed transmission connector of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2A  is a diagram of  FIG. 1A  as viewed from a −Y side; 
         FIG. 2B  is a diagram of  FIG. 1A  as viewed from a +Z side; 
         FIG. 2C  is a diagram of  FIG. 1A  as viewed from a −X side; 
         FIG. 2D  is a sectional view taken along line H-H of  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 2E  is a sectional view taken along line I-I of  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 2F  is a diagram of contacts  1   a ,  1   b ,  1   c , and  1   d  as viewed from the −X side; 
         FIG. 3A  is a sectional view taken along line Q-Q of  FIG. 2C ; 
         FIG. 3B  is a sectional view taken along line J-J of  FIG. 2C ; 
         FIG. 3C  is a sectional view taken along line K-K of  FIG. 2C ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a metal member  7  of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 5A  is a diagram of  FIG. 4  as viewed from the +Z; 
         FIG. 5B  is a diagram of  FIG. 4  as viewed from the −Y side; 
         FIG. 5C  is a diagram of  FIG. 4  as viewed from the −Z side; 
         FIG. 5D  is a diagram of  FIG. 4  as viewed from the −X side; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a high-speed transmission connector  8 A according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7A  is a diagram of  FIG. 6  as viewed from the −Y side; 
         FIG. 7B  is a diagram of  FIG. 6  as viewed from the +Z side; 
         FIG. 7C  is a diagram of  FIG. 6  as viewed from the −X side; 
         FIG. 7D  is a sectional view taken along line L-L of  FIG. 7A ; 
         FIG. 7E  is a sectional view taken along line M-M of  FIG. 7A ; 
         FIG. 8A  is a sectional view taken along line R-R of  FIG. 7C ; 
         FIG. 8B  is a sectional view taken along line N-N of  FIG. 7C ; 
         FIG. 8C  is a sectional view taken along line O-O of  FIG. 7C ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a high-speed transmission connector according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10A  is a diagram of  FIG. 9  as viewed from the −Y side; 
         FIG. 10B  is a diagram of  FIG. 9  as viewed from the +Z side; 
         FIG. 10C  is a diagram of  FIG. 9  as viewed from the −X side; 
         FIG. 10D  is a sectional view taken along line S-S of  FIG. 10A ; 
         FIG. 10E  is a sectional view taken along line T-T of  FIG. 10A ; 
         FIG. 11A  is a sectional view taken along line W-W of  FIG. 10C ; 
         FIG. 11B  is a sectional view taken along line U-U of  FIG. 10C ; 
         FIG. 11C  is a sectional view taken along line V-V of  FIG. 10C ; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a high-speed transmission connector according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of  FIG. 12  as viewed from another direction; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a metal member of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 15A  is a diagram of  FIG. 14  as viewed from the +Z side; 
         FIG. 15B  is a diagram of  FIG. 14  as viewed from the −Y side; 
         FIG. 15C  is a diagram of  FIG. 14  as viewed from the −Z side; and 
         FIG. 15D  is a diagram of  FIG. 14  as viewed from the −X side. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     First Embodiment 
     Hereinafter, a high-speed transmission connector  8 , which is an embodiment of the present disclosure, is explained with reference to drawings. The high-speed transmission connector  8  is used by being mounted on a circuit board. Into the slot  6  of the high-speed transmission connector  8 , the header  90  of the optical transceiver  9  as a communication partner device is fitted. 
     In the following description, the mounting direction of the high-speed transmission connector  8  with respect to the circuit board is appropriately referred to as a Z direction, the fitting direction of the high-speed transmission connector  8  and the optical transceiver  9  is appropriately referred to as a Y direction, and the direction orthogonal to the Z direction and the X direction is appropriately referred to as a Y direction. In addition, the +Z side which is the side of the high-speed transmission connector  8  in the Z direction is appropriately referred to as an upper side, and the −Z side which is the side of the circuit board is appropriately referred to as a lower side. In addition, the −Y side which is the side of the optical transceiver  9  in the Y direction is appropriately referred to as a front side, and the +Y side which is the side of the high-speed transmission connector  8  is appropriately referred to as a rear side. In addition, the +X side is appropriately referred to as a left side, and the −X side is appropriately referred to as a right side. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1B , the optical transceiver  9  has a stick shape. A header  90  projects from the end portion on the front side of the optical transceiver  9 . There is a row of first pads PADa on the −Y side of the upper surface of the header  90 , and there is a row of second pads PADb on the −Y side of the lower surface. There is a row of third pads PADc on the +Y side of the upper surface of the header  90 , and there is a row of fourth pads PADd on the +Y side of the lower surface. 
     The high-speed transmission connector  8  has an outer housing  21 , an inner housing  31 , eleven first contacts  1   a , eleven second contacts  1   b , eleven third contacts  1   c , eleven fourth contacts  1   d , and a metal member  7 . 
     The outer housing  21  has a box shape with an opening portion  20  and a cavity portion  23  on the rear side of the opening portion. The outer housing  21  includes: a front side upper plate portion  220  and a front side lower plate portion  230  facing each other vertically across the opening portion  20 ; left and right side plate portions  240  interposed between the front side upper plate portion  220  and the front side lower plate portion  230 ; a rear side upper plate portion  221  and a rear side lower plate portion  231  facing each other vertically across the cavity portion  23 ; and left and right side plate portions  241  interposed between the rear side upper plate portion  221  and the rear side lower plate portion  231 . 
     A portion of the front side of the rear side upper plate portion  221  is cut out to the lower side to form a stepped portion  27 . A portion of the rear side of the rear side lower plate portion  231  is cut out to the upper side to form a stepped portion  28 . A portion of the rear side of the stepped portion  28  is opened to the lower side as an open portion  29 . 
     A recess  225  is provided on the outer periphery of the outer housing  21 . The recess  225  is formed by recessing a portion of the outer housing  21  from the upper surface to the lower surface via the side surface. As shown in  FIG. 3B , a convex portion  226  projecting downward is provided at a portion of the recess  225  going around from the side surface side of the outer housing  21  to the lower surface side. Further, the depths of the recess  225  at the front side upper plate portion  220  and the side plate portion  240  are almost the same, and the depth of the recess  225  at the front side lower plate portion  230  is deeper than the depths of the recess  225  at the front side upper plate portion  220  and the side plate portion  240 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3B , a row of grooves  2   a  and a row of grooves  2   b  are provided on a surface of the front side upper plate portion  220  facing the opening portion  20  and a surface of the front side lower plate portion  230  facing the opening portion  20 . The row of grooves  2   a  and the row of grooves  2   b  are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, respectively. The grooves  2   a  and the grooves  2   b  extend in the front-rear direction, respectively. 
     The inner housing  31  is formed in a box shape with an opening portion  30 . As shown in  FIG. 3C , a row of holes  3   c  and a row of holes  3   d  are provided at a portion of the inner housing  31  on the rear side of the opening portion  30 . The row of holes  3   c  and the row of holes  3   d  are arranged separately up and down and arranged side by side in the left-right direction, respectively. The holes  3   c  and holes  3   d  extend in the front-rear direction, respectively. 
     The inner housing  31  is accommodated and fixed in the cavity portion  23  of the outer housing  21 . As shown in  FIG. 2D  and  FIG. 2E , the opening portion  20  of outer housing  21  and the opening portion  30  of the inner housing  31  communicate with each other. The slot  6  is formed by the opening portion  20  and the opening portion  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2F , the front-rear dimensions of the first contact  1   a , the second contact  1   b , the third contact  1   c , and the fourth contact  1   d  become smaller in the order of the first contact  1   a &gt;the second contact  1   b &gt;the third contact  1   c &gt;the fourth contact  1   d.    
     The first contact  1   a  has: a tip end side contact portion  11   a  bent in a V shape; a linear portion  12   a  extending obliquely upward and rearward from the rear end of the tip end side contact portion  11   a ; a linear portion  13   a  extending rearward from the rear end of the linear portion  12   a ; a linear portion  14   a  extending obliquely upward and rearward from the rear end of the linear portion  13   a ; a linear portion  15   a  extending rearward from the rear end of the linear portion  14   a ; a linear portion  16   a  extending downward from the rear end of the linear portion  15   a ; and a substrate side contact portion  17   a  extending rearward from the lower end of the linear portion  16   a.    
     The second contact  1   b  has: a tip end side contact portion  11   b  bent in a V shape; a linear portion  12   b  extending obliquely downward and rearward from the rear end of the tip end side contact portion  11   b ; a linear portion  13   b  extending rearward from the rear end of the linear portion  12   b ; a linear portion  14   b  extending downward from the rear end of the linear portion  13   b ; a linear portion  15   b  extending rearward from the rear end of the linear portion  14   b ; a linear portion  16   b  extending downward from the rear end of the linear portion  15   b ; and a substrate side contact portion  17   b  extending rearward from the lower end of the linear portion  16   b.    
     The third contact  1   c  has: a tip end side contact portion  11   c  bent in a V shape; a linear portion  12   c  extending obliquely upward and rearward from the rear end of the tip end side contact portion  11   c ; a linear portion  15   c  extending rearward from the rear end of the linear portion  12   c ; a linear portion  16   c  extending downward from the rear end of the linear portion  15   c ; and a substrate side contact portion  17   c  extending rearward from the lower end of the linear portion  16   c.    
     The fourth contact  1   d  has: a tip end side contact portion  11   d  bent in a V shape; a linear portion  12   d  extending obliquely downward and rearward from the rear end of the tip end side contact portion  11   d ; a linear portion  15   d  extending rearward from the rear end of the linear portion  12   d ; a linear portion  16   d  extending downward from the rear end of the linear portion  15   d ; and a substrate side contact portion  17   d  extending rearward from the lower end of the linear portion  16   d.    
     The first contact  1   a  and the second contact  1   b  are supported by the outer housing  21  so that the tip end side contact portions  11   a  and  11   b  are exposed on the front side of the slot  6 . The linear portion  13   a  of the first contact  1   a  is pressed into the groove  2   a , and the linear portion  13   b  of the second contact  1   b  is pressed into the groove  2   b.    
     The third contact  1   c  and the fourth contact  1   d  are supported by the inner housing  31  so that the tip end side contact portions  11   c  and  11   d  are exposed on the rear side of the slot  6 . The linear portion  15   c  of the third contact  1   c  is inserted into the hole  3   c , and the linear portion  15   d  of the fourth contact  1   d  is inserted into the hole  3   d.    
     The substrate side contact portion  17   a  of the first contact  1   a , the substrate side contact portion  17   b  of the second contact  1   b , the substrate side contact portion  17   c  of the third contact  1   c , and the substrate side contact portion  17   d  of the fourth contact  1   d  are exposed on the lower side of the open portion  29 . The substrate side contact portion  17   a , the substrate side contact portion  17   b , the substrate side contact portion  17   c , and the substrate side contact portion  17   d  are separated front and rear at the same intervals. 
     When the high-speed transmission connector  8  is mounted on the electronic substrate, the substrate side contact portion  17   a , the substrate side contact portion  17   b , the substrate side contact portion  17   c , and the substrate side contact portion  17   d  are in contact with the pads of the electronic substrate. When the header  90  of the optical transceiver  9  is fitted into the slot  6  of the high-speed transmission connector  8 , the tip end side contact portions  11   a ,  11   b ,  11   c ,  11   d  of the high-speed transmission connector  8  are in contact with the pads PADa, PADb, PADc, PADd of the optical transceiver  9 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the metal member  7  is a member formed by bending one rectangular metal plate at four ridgelines. The metal member  7  has a horizontal plate portion  72  extending in the X direction, vertical plate portions  74  bending and extending downward from both ends of the horizontal plate portion  72 , and return portions  73  that bend from lower ends of the vertical plate portions  74  to the inside and extend. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  A,  FIG. 2B ,  FIG. 2C , and  FIG. 3B , the metal member  7  is fitted in the recess  225  of the outer housing  21 . The metal member  7  supports the front side upper plate portion  220  and the front side lower plate portion  230  of the outer housing  21  and fastens the front side upper plate portion  220  and the front side lower plate portion  230 . The boundary portion between the horizontal plate portion  72  and the return portion  73  of the metal member  7  abuts the convex portion  226 . The return portion  73  of the metal member  7  goes around to the inside of the convex portion  226  and supports the convex portion  226  from the lower side. Between the return portion  73  and the circuit board on which the high-speed transmission connector  8  is mounted, a gap having approximately the same thickness as the metal member  7  is formed. In this embodiment, the return portion  73  corresponds to, e.g., a first return portion defined in the claims. 
     The above is the details of the present embodiment. The high-speed transmission connector  8  of the present embodiment includes: an outer housing  21  that has a slot  6  into which the header  90  of the optical transceiver  9  is fitted, and a front side upper plate portion  220  and a front side lower plate portion  230  facing each other vertically across the slot  6 ; an inner housing  31 ; a row of first contacts  1   a  and a row of second contacts  1   b  on the front side supported by the outer housing  21  so as to expose the tip end side contact portions  11   a ,  11   b  on the front side in the slot  6 ; a row of third contacts  1   c  and a row of fourth contacts  1   d  on the rear side supported by the inner housing  31  so as to expose the tip end side contact portions  11   c ,  11   d  on the rear side in the slot  6 ; and a metal member  7  supporting the front side upper plate portion  220  and the front side lower plate portion  230  and fastening the front side upper plate portion  220  and the front side lower plate portion  230 . Thus, when the header  90  of the optical transceiver  9  is inserted into the slot  6 , the force of pressing and expanding the front side upper plate portion  220  and the front side lower plate portion  230  can be suppressed by the metal member  7 . Therefore, the strength of a housing can be reinforced, and the loss of contact force and the instability of contact can be prevented. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Next, the second embodiment of the present disclosure is described. In the above first embodiment, the depths of the recess  225  on the upper surface and the side surface of the outer housing  21  are approximately the same, and the depth of the recess  225  on the lower surface is deeper than the depths of the recess  225  on the upper surface and the side surface. In contrast, as shown in  FIG. 7B  and  FIG. 7C , in the high-speed transmission connector  8 A of the present embodiment, the depths of the recess  225  on the upper surface, the side surface, and the lower surface of the outer housing  21  are approximately the same. As shown in  FIG. 8C , in a state where the metal member  7  is fitted into the recess  225 , the lower surfaces of the return portions  73  of the metal member  7  form the joining portions  70  soldered to the circuit board. According to the present embodiment, the joining strength between the high-speed transmission connector  8 A and the circuit board can be further improved by the metal member  7 . 
     Third Embodiment 
     Next, the third embodiment of the present disclosure is described. In the above first embodiment, the housing of the high-speed transmission connector  8  is formed by the outer housing  21  and the inner housing  31 . In contrast, as shown in  FIG. 9 , in the high-speed transmission connector  8 B of the present embodiment, the outer housing  21  is divided into an upper housing  21   a  and a lower housing  21   b , and a recess  225  into which the metal member  7  is fitted is formed at portions of the upper housing  21   a  and the lower housing  21   b  surrounding the slot  6 . The recess  225  is formed by recessing a portion extending from the upper surface of the upper housing  21   a  to the side surface of the upper housing  21   a , the side surface of the lower housing  21   b , and the lower surface of the lower housing  21   b . The upper housing  21   a , the lower housing  21   b , and the inner housing  31  are combined so that the upper housing  21   a  and the lower housing  21   b  are aligned up and down, and the inner housing  31  is accommodated in the upper housing  21   a  and the lower housing  21   b.    
     Here, since the header  90  of the optical transceiver  9  to be inserted into the slot  6  of the high-speed transmission connector  8 B reaches the opening portion  30  of the inner housing  31 , the portions of the inner housing  31  above and below the opening portion  30  may bulge outward to press the upper housing  21   a  and the lower housing  21   b . In the present embodiment, the metal member  7  serves to reinforce the connection between the upper housing  21   a  and the lower housing  21   b , and the upper housing  21   a  and the lower housing  21   b  are difficult to separate. 
     Fourth Embodiment 
     Next, the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure is described. In the above first embodiment, the metal member  7  is a member formed by bending one rectangular metal plate. In contrast, as shown in  FIG. 12 ,  FIG. 13 ,  FIG. 14 ,  FIG. 15A ,  FIG. 15B ,  FIG. 15C , and  FIG. 15D , the second metal member  7 C of the high-speed transmission connector  8 C of the present embodiment has: a horizontal plate portion  72  extending in the X direction; vertical plate portions  74  bending and extending downward from both ends of the horizontal plate portion  72 ; return portions  73  bending and extending inward from the lower ends of the vertical plate portions  74 ; projecting portions  75  projecting forward from the end sides of the vertical plate portions  74  on the front side; second vertical plate portions  76  extending downward from the front ends of the projecting portions  75 ; and second return portions  77  bending and extending inward from the lower ends of the second vertical plate portions  76 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14 , the crossing portion of the side surface and the lower surface on the front side of the recess  225  of the lower housing  21   b  is recessed as the second recess  227 . A second convex portion  228  projecting downward is provided at a portion of the recess  225  going around from the side surface of the lower housing  21   b  to the lower surface. The second return portion  77  of the metal member  7  goes around to the inside of the second convex portion  228  and supports the second convex portion  228  from the lower side. Further, the portion between the recess  225  and the second recess  227  on the side surface of the upper housing  21   a  and the side surface of the lower housing  21   b  projects outward as the third convex portion  229 . The third convex portion  229  is fitted into the portion surrounded by the vertical plate portion  74 , the projecting portion  75 , and the second vertical plate portion  76 . According to the present embodiment, strength of the portions of the housing of the high-speed transmission connector  8 C above and below the slot  6  can be further improved. 
     Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the following modifications may be added to the embodiments. 
     (1) The outer housing  21  in the above second embodiment may be divided into the upper housing  21   a  and the lower housing  21   b  of the third embodiment or the upper housing  21   a  and the lower housing  21   b  of the fourth embodiment. 
     (2) The lower surfaces of the return portions  73  or the second return portions  77  of the metal members  7  of the above third embodiment and the fourth embodiment may be the joining portions  70  as in the second embodiment.