Patent Publication Number: US-2010130068-A1

Title: Board-to-board connector assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a board-to-board connector assembly. 
     2. The Related Art 
     A conventional board-to-board connector assembly includes a receptacle connector and a plug connector. The receptacle connector has a plurality of first terminals each having a contact portion. The plug connector has a plurality of second terminals each having a contact arm. When the plug connector is mated with the receptacle connector, the contact portions electrically contact the corresponding contact arms to make the first terminals and the corresponding second terminals electrically interconnected. However, each of the first terminals contacts the respective second terminal merely in one single point. As a result, when the board-to-board connector assembly is shaken in use, the contact portion is apt to depart from the corresponding contact arm that makes signal transmission between the first terminal and the corresponding second terminal broken easily. Therefore, a board-to-board connector assembly capable of overcoming the above-mentioned problems is required. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a board-to-board connector assembly including a receptacle connector and a plug connector mated with the receptacle connector. The receptacle connector includes a receptacle housing having a flat base board and two sidewalls protruding upward from two opposite sides of the base board and extending longwise, and a plurality of first terminals. A receiving recess is defined between the sidewalls. Each of the sidewalls defines a plurality of first passageways extended longitudinally to the base board and communicating with the receiving recess for receiving the respective first terminals therein. Each of the first terminals has a bar-shaped base portion extending longitudinally. Two opposite ends of the base portion extend oppositely and longitudinally to form a first soldering portion and a first elastic portion inclining upward. A free end of the first elastic portion protrudes upward to form a first contact portion stretching into the receiving recess. The base portion further extends upward to form a first fixing portion adjacent to the first soldering portion and a second elastic portion adjacent to the first elastic portion. The second elastic portion inclines toward the first elastic portion and a free end thereof protrudes toward the first contact portion to form a second contact portion stretching into the receiving recess. The plug connector includes a plug housing having a base body received in the receiving recess of the receptacle housing, and a plurality of second terminals disposed at two sides of the base body. Two opposite outsides of the plug housing define a plurality of second passageways. Each of the second terminals has a second fixing portion fastened in the base body and extending vertically. A bottom end of the second fixing portion extends longitudinally and inclines downward to form a first contact arm stretching out of a bottom surface of the base body. A free end of the first contact arm extends upward to form a second contact arm inclining toward the second fixing portion and received in the corresponding second passageway. A top end of the second contact arm extends longitudinally to form a second soldering portion protruding out of the base body. Wherein the first elastic portion and the second elastic portion of the first terminal elastically clip the first contact arm and the second contact arm of the corresponding second terminal therebetween, the first contact portion and the second contact portion of the first terminal elastically contact the first contact arm and the second contact arm of the corresponding second terminal respectively. 
     As described above, the board-to-board connector assembly of the present invention utilizes the first contact portion and the second contact portion to elastically contact the first contact arm and the second contact arm respectively so that the first terminal and the second terminal can be always electrically connected with each other steadily even if the board-to-board connector assembly is shaken. Furthermore, the first elastic portion and the second elastic portion respectively cooperate with the first contact arm and the second contact arm to enable the plug connector to be restored to a right position in the receptacle connector that further ensures the first terminal and the second terminal electrically connected with each other steadily. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a board-to-board connector assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the board-to-board connector assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a plug connector of the board-to-board connector assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a receptacle connector of the board-to-board connector assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a receptacle housing of the board-to-board connector assembly of  FIG. 1 , wherein a first auxiliary member is assembled in the receptacle housing; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector along line VI-VI of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the plug connector along line VII-VII of  FIG. 3 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the board-to-board connector assembly along line VIII-VIII of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a board-to-board connector assembly in accordance with the present invention is composed of a receptacle connector  10  and a plug connector  20  which are respectively mounted to a female and a male printed circuit boards (not shown) to make the printed circuit boards electrically connected with each other. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  5  and  6 , the receptacle connector  10  includes a receptacle housing  11 , a plurality of first terminals  12  and two first auxiliary members  13  disposed in the receptacle housing  11  respectively. 
     The receptacle housing  11  has a rectangular base board  111  disposed levelly. Two opposite sides of the base board  111  protrude upward to form a pair of sidewalls  112  extending longwise and defining a receiving recess  113  therebetween. Two opposite ends of each sidewall  112  oppositely extend outward to respectively form a first end-wall  114 . Each first end-wall  114  defines a first fixing aperture  115  vertically passing therethrough. An inside of the first end-wall  114  further defines a first fixing groove  116  vertically passing therethrough and longitudinally communicated with the corresponding first fixing aperture  115  at top. A middle portion of each of two opposite ends of the base board  111  protrudes outward to form a rectangular locating board  117  located vertically between the two corresponding first end-walls  114 . The locating board  117  is higher than the base board  111  and has a substantially same height as the sidewall  112 . A free end of the locating board  117  is spaced away from a vertical plane on which the first fixing aperture  115  and the corresponding first fixing groove  116  are located. Each of the sidewalls  112  defines a plurality of first passageways  118  arranged at regular intervals along a longwise direction thereof. Bottom ends of the first passageways  118  are further extended to the base board  111 . Each of the first passageways  118  has a fixing perforation  1181  vertically passing through the corresponding sidewall  112 , a receiving cavity  1182  extending longitudinally from a bottom end of the fixing perforation  1181  to the base board  111  and further penetrating through the base board  111  vertically to communicate with the receiving recess  113 , and a receiving channel  1183  passing vertically through an inside of the corresponding sidewall  112  to communicate with the receiving recess  113  and further having a bottom end communicated with the corresponding receiving cavity  1182 . 
     Each of the first terminals  12  has a bar-shaped base portion  120  extending longitudinally. Two opposite ends of the base portion  120  extend oppositely and longitudinally to form a first soldering portion  121  and a first elastic portion  124  inclining upward slightly. A free end of the first elastic portion  124  protrudes upward to form a first contact portion  125 . The two ends of the base portion  120  further extend upward to form a first fixing portion  122  adjacent to the first soldering portion  121  and a second elastic portion  123  adjacent to the first elastic portion  124 . The second elastic portion  123  inclines slightly toward the first elastic portion  124  and a free end thereof protrudes toward the first contact portion  125  to form a second contact portion  126 . 
     Each of the first auxiliary members  13  has a rectangular first base plate  131  extending longitudinally and disposed vertically. Two opposite ends of a top of the first base plate  131  protrude oppositely and longitudinally and then extend downward to form a pair of first fixing arms  132 . A middle portion of the top of the first base plate  131  defines a receiving fillister  134  and a middle portion of a bottom thereof bends sideward to form a first soldering foot  133 . 
     When the receptacle connector  10  is to be assembled, the first terminals  12  are received in the corresponding first passageways  118  of the receptacle housing  11 . The first fixing portion  122  is inserted in the respective fixing perforation  1181 . The base portion  120  and the first elastic portion  124  are received in the corresponding receiving cavity  1182  and the first contact portion  125  stretches into the receiving recess  113 . The second elastic portion  123  is received in the corresponding receiving channel  1183  and the second contact portion  126  stretches into the receiving recess  113 . The first soldering portion  121  is located under the corresponding sidewall  112  for being soldered to the female printed circuit board to electrically connect with each other. The first auxiliary members  13  are mounted to two ends of the receptacle housing  11  and across the corresponding first end-walls  114 . Two ends of the first base plate  131  are buckled into the corresponding first fixing grooves  116  and the first fixing arms  132  are inserted in the respective first fixing apertures  115 . The first base plate  131  is spaced away from the free end of the corresponding locating board  117 . The first soldering foot  133  is located back to the locating board  117  and between the corresponding first end-walls  114  to be soldered to the female printed circuit board for ensuring that the first terminals  12  are electrically connected with the female printed circuit board steadily. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  7 , the plug connector  20  includes a plug housing  21  mated with the receptacle housing  11 , a plurality of second terminals  22  and two second auxiliary members  23  disposed in the plug housing  21  respectively. 
     The plug housing  21  has a rectangular base body  211  corresponding to the receiving recess  113  of the receptacle housing  11 . Two opposite sides of the base body  211  define a plurality of second passageways  212  arranged at regular intervals along a longwise direction thereof. Two opposite ends of the base body  211  oppositely extend outward to respectively form a second end-wall  213 . A middle portion of each of the second end-walls  213  defines a rectangular locating slot  216  vertically and transversely passing therethrough. Each second end-wall  213  further defines a pair of second fixing apertures  214  vertically passing therethrough and located at two sides of the corresponding locating slot  216 . A bottom end of each second fixing aperture  214  transversely extends outward and then extends upward to form a second fixing groove  215  passing through an outside of the corresponding second end-wall  213 . 
     Each of the second terminals  22  has a second fixing portion  221  extending vertically. A bottom end of the second fixing portion  221  extends longitudinally and inclines downward to form a first contact arm  223 . A free end of the first contact arm  223  extends upward to form a second contact arm  224  slightly inclining toward the second fixing portion  221 . A top end of the second contact arm  224  extends longitudinally and oppositely the second fixing portion  221  to form a second soldering portion  222 . 
     Each of the second auxiliary members  23  has a rectangular second base plate  231  extending longitudinally and disposed vertically. Two opposite ends of a bottom of the second base plate  231  bend toward one side and then extend upward to form a pair of second fixing arms  232  facing each other. A middle portion of a top of the second base plate  231  bends toward the other side opposite the second fixing arms  232  and then extends to form a second soldering foot  233 . The second base plate  231  further protrudes toward the same side as the second soldering foot  233  to form a fastening rib  234  on a bottom middle. 
     When the plug connector  20  is to be assembled, the second fixing portion  221  of each second terminal  22  is fastened in the base body  211  of the plug housing  21  and the first contact arm  223  stretches out of a bottom surface of the base body  211 . The second contact arm  224  is received in the respective second passageway  212 . The second soldering portion  222  stretches out of the corresponding side of the base body  211  for being soldered to the male printed circuit board to electrically connect with each other. The second auxiliary members  23  are mounted to the respective second end-walls  213  of the plug housing  21 . Two ends of the second base plate  231  are buckled into the corresponding second fixing grooves  215  and the second fixing arms  232  are inserted in the respective second fixing apertures  214 . The second base plate  231  is located across the corresponding locating slot  216 . The second soldering foot  233  is located back to the locating slot  216  to be soldered to the male printed circuit board for ensuring that the second terminals  22  are electrically connected with the male printed circuit board steadily. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  8 , when the plug connector  20  is engaged with the receptacle connector  10 , the base body  211  of the plug housing  21  is received in the receiving recess  113  of the receptacle housing  11  to make the first terminals  12  electrically connected with the respective second terminals  22 , wherein the first contact portion  125  electrically abuts against the corresponding first contact arm  223  and the second contact portion  126  electrically abuts against the corresponding second contact arm  224 . The second end-walls  213  are disposed between the corresponding first end-walls  114  and the locating board  117  is inserted in the corresponding locating slot  216 . The fastening rib  234  of the second auxiliary member  23  abuts against an inside of the first base plate  131  of the corresponding first auxiliary member  13  and the second soldering foot  233  is partially received in the receiving fillister  134 . So the plug connector  20  can be engaged with the receptacle connector  10  firmly. 
     In use, when the plug connector  20  moves downward relatively to the receptacle connector  10 , the contact between the first contact portion  125  and the first contact arm  223  is further enhanced because of the first elastic portion  124  inclining upward such that ensures the first terminals  12  and the second terminals  22  electrically connected with each other steadily. When the plug connector  20  moves upward relatively to the receptacle connector  10 , the contact between the second contact portion  126  and the second contact arm  224  is further enhanced because of the second elastic portion  123  cooperated with the corresponding second contact arm  224  such that ensures the first terminals  12  and the second terminals  22  electrically connected with each other steadily. Furthermore, the relative elasticity of the first elastic portion  124  and the second elastic portion  123  cooperates with the first contact arm  223  and the second contact arm  224  to enable the plug connector  20  to be restored to a right position in the receptacle connector  10 . Therefore, the first terminals  12  can be always electrically connected with the corresponding second terminals  22  so as to further ensure the printed circuit boards electrically connected with each other steadily. 
     As described above, the board-to-board connector assembly of the present invention utilizes the first contact portion  125  and the second contact portion  126  to elastically abut against the first contact arm  223  and the second contact arm  224  respectively so that the first terminals  12  and the second terminals  22  can be always electrically connected with each other steadily even if the board-to-board connector assembly is shaken. Furthermore, the first elastic portion  124  and the second elastic portion  123  respectively cooperate with the first contact arm  223  and the second contact arm  224  to enable the plug connector  20  to be restored to a right position in the receptacle connector  10  that further ensures the first terminal  12  and the second terminal  22  electrically connected with each other steadily.