Patent Publication Number: US-10784626-B2

Title: Electrical connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 107143283, filed Dec. 3, 2018, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to an electrical connector. More particularly, the present invention relates to a high frequency electrical connector. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Due to the rapid development of communication technology, various electronic communication products have been widely used. In addition, to transmit a large amount of data more quickly, the transmission signal specification has been trending to higher frequencies. In order to transmit high-frequency signal data between different electronic products, an electrical connector has become one of the indispensable components in the electronic products. 
     The electrical connector can be made in a variety of different types to accommodate different requirements of a variety of transmission media, such as interface card connectors, network routing connectors, coaxial cable connectors, telephone line connectors, optic fiber connectors and so on. In practical applications, the electrical connector is often fabricated in a form of a plug. The signal connector of the device is made into a socket type to facilitate the coupling with the electrical connector and to fulfill the signal transmission. 
     Generally, the electrical connector is fixed to the socket by a clamping force of the plug itself, or the electrical connector is fixed to the socket by screwing. However, by the method of the clamping force, the clamping force of the plug is gradually weakened and the plug is easily loosened from the socket after repeated insertion and removal. Therefore, the signal transmission cannot be operated normally. On the other hand, with the screw locking method, the user needs to spend more time to lock the screw which is not convenient for the user to assemble the socket and the plug. 
     Accordingly, how to provide an electrical connector to solve the aforementioned problems becomes an important issue to be solved by those in the industry. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention provides an electrical connector that is easy to be assembled to a receptacle connector and a plug of the electrical connector can be securely coupled to the receptacle connector. 
     According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the electrical connector includes a plug and a sliding lock element. The plug includes an inserting portion, a cover portion, and a first sidewall portion. The inserting portion is shaped as a cylindrical. The cover portion covers one end of the inserting portion. The first sidewall portion is perpendicularly connected to the cover portion. A gap is formed between the first sidewall portion and the inserting portion. The sliding lock element is assembled on the plug. The sliding lock element includes a lid portion, a vertical extension portion, and a fitting portion. The lid portion slidably covers the cover portion of the plug. The vertical extension portion is perpendicularly connected to the lid portion. The fitting portion is connected to the vertical extension portion and extends toward the lid portion. When the fitting portion slides with the lid portion to a first position relative to the plug, the fitting portion is fitted in the gap between the inserting portion and the first sidewall portion. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, the first sidewall portion includes a guiding slot. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, the sliding lock element further includes a first stopping portion. The first stopping portion is disposed on the vertical extension portion. The first stopping portion slides along the guiding slot of the first sidewall portion. When the fitting portion slides with the lid portion to a second position relative to the plug, the first stopping portion is abutted against an end surface of the guiding slot. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, the plug further includes a second sidewall portion. The second sidewall portion is perpendicularly connected to the cover portion. A distance from the second sidewall portion to a central line of the cover portion is smaller than a distance from the first sidewall portion to the central line of the cover portion. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, the sliding lock element further includes a connected portion. The connected portion is connected between the vertical extension portion and the fitting portion. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, the connected portion is a U-shaped structure. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, the sliding lock element further includes a second stopping portion. The second stopping portion is perpendicularly connected to the vertical extension portion. When the sliding lock element is positioned at the first position, the second stopping portion is abutted against the inserting portion. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, an end of the inserting portion away from the cover portion includes a plurality of notches. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, the electrical connector is a high frequency electrical connector. 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, the plug is configured to be located at an end of a cable. The sliding lock element slides along a direction that deviates from an axis of the cable with a predetermined angle. 
     Accordingly, in the electrical connector of the present disclosure, a diameter expansion capability of the inserting portion of the plug is restricted or is loosen by the sliding of the fitting portion of the sliding lock element. Therefore, the plug of the electrical connector can be quickly and easily assembled to the receptacle connector, and the plug is tightly engaged to the receptacle connector. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are by examples, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the embodiment, with reference made to the accompanying drawings as follows: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electrical connector and a receptacle connector according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a plug in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2B  is a side view of the plug in  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 2C  is a cross-sectional view of the plug taken along line  2 C- 2 C in  FIG. 2B ; 
         FIG. 2D  is a bottom view of the plug in  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a sliding lock element in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3B  is a rear view of the sliding lock element in  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of the electrical connector when the sliding lock element is at a first position according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector taken along line  4 B- 4 B in  FIG. 4A ; 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of the electrical connector when the sliding lock element is at a second position according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector taken along line  5 B- 5 B in  FIG. 5A ; 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of the electrical connector and the receptacle connector when the sliding lock element is at the first position according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector and the receptacle connector taken along line  6 B- 6 B in  FIG. 6A ; 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of the electrical connector and the receptacle connector when the sliding lock element is at the second position according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and 
         FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector and the receptacle connector taken along line  7 B- 7 B in  FIG. 7A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
     In addition, terms used in the specification and the claims generally have the usual meaning as each terms are used in the field, in the context of the disclosure and in the context of the particular content unless particularly specified. Some terms used to describe the disclosure are to be discussed below or elsewhere in the specification to provide additional guidance related to the description of the disclosure to specialists in the art. 
     Phrases “first,” “second,” etc., are solely used to separate the descriptions of elements or operations with same technical terms, not intended to be the meaning of order or to limit the invention. 
     Secondly, phrases “comprising,” “includes,” “provided,” and the like, used in the context are all open-ended terms, i.e. including but not limited to. 
     Further, in the context, “a” and “the” can be generally referred to one or more unless the context particularly requires. It will be further understood that phrases “comprising,” “includes,” “provided,” and the like, used in the context indicate the characterization, region, integer, step, operation, element and/or component it stated, but not exclude descriptions it stated or additional one or more other characterizations, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electrical connector  100  and a receptacle connector  210  according to an embodiment of the disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the electrical connector  100  includes a plug  110  and a sliding lock element  120 . A substrate  200  includes the receptacle connector  210 . The plug  110  of the electrical connector  100  has a conducting contact therein for being electrically connected to a conducting contact in the receptacle connector  210 . An engagement of the plug  110  and the receptacle connector  210  will be described in further detail in the description below. 
     The sliding lock element  120  is mounted on the plug  110 . The sliding lock element  120  is slidable relative to the plug  110 . Specifically, the electrical connector  100  is a connector that electrically connects a cable-like signal transmission medium to a circuit on the substrate  200 . The cable-like signal transmission medium refers to a medium that emits signals transmitted by various electronic devices such as mobile phones. In the embodiment, the cable-like signal transmission medium can be, for example, a coaxial cable  300 , but the disclosure should not be limited in this regard. The plug  110  is mounted to one end of the coaxial cable  300 . The sliding lock element  120  slides along a direction that angles a predetermined angle relative to an axis  310  of the coaxial cable  300 . In the embodiment, the predetermined angle can be, for example, 0 degree. That is, the sliding lock element  120  slides relative to the plug  110  along the axial direction of the coaxial cable  300 . However, the disclosure should not be limited in this regard. 
     In some embodiments, the electrical connector  100  is a radio frequency high frequency connector, and the substrate  200  is a printed circuit board. However, the disclosure should not be limited in this regard. 
     In some embodiments, the sliding lock element  120  is an iron piece, a stainless steel piece, or other metal members. However, the disclosure should not be limited in this regard. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 2A .  FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the plug  110  in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 2A , the plug  110  includes an inserting portion  112 , a cover portion  114 , two first sidewall portions  116 , two second sidewall portions  118 , and a fixing portion  111 . The cover portion  114  covers an end of the inserting portion  112 . The first sidewall portions  116  are respectively and perpendicularly connected to two sides of the cover portion  114 . The first sidewall portions  116  extend along a direction Z in  FIG. 2A . The second sidewall portions  118  are also respectively and perpendicularly connected to two sides of the cover portion  114 , and the second sidewall portions  118  are distanced from the first sidewall portions  116 . 
     Further, a distance D 2  from any one of the second sidewall portions  118  to a central line  114   a  of the cover portion  114  is smaller than a distance D 1  from any one of the first sidewall portions  116  to the central line  114   a  of the cover portion  114 . As such, when the sliding lock element  120  is positioned at a first position P 1 , two first stopping portions  121  of the sliding lock element  120  can be prevented from interfering with the second sidewall portions  118 . The first stopping portions  121  and the first position P 1  of the sliding lock element  120  will be described in further detail below. The fixing portion  111  is connected to the cover portion  114  and extends along the coaxial cable  300 . Moreover, the fixing portion  111  is coated on an outer circumference of the coaxial cable  300  to fix the coaxial cable  300  to the plug  110 . 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 2B .  FIG. 2B  is a side view of the plug  110  in  FIG. 2A . As shown in  FIG. 2B , each of the first sidewall portions  116  has a guiding slot  1161 . The guiding slots  1161  extend along a direction X in  FIG. 2B . 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 2C .  FIG. 2C  is a cross-sectional view of the plug  110  taken along line  2 C- 2 C in  FIG. 2B . As shown in  FIG. 2C , a gap  113  is formed between the inserting portion  112  and the each first sidewall portion  116 . The inserting portion  112  is shaped as a cylindrical structure in which the direction Z is an axial direction. The inserting portion  112  is composed of a resilient conductive material. Accordingly, when the plug  110  is inserted into the receptacle connector  210 , an outer diameter of the inserting portion  112  can be elastically deformed to expand outward. For example, the inserting portion  112  has the outer diameter of about 2.5 mm in an unexpanded state. In an expanded state, the outer diameter of the inserting portion  112  is about 2.7 mm, but the disclosure should not be limited in this regard. Further an inner circumferential surface of the inserting portion  112  has a convex portion  1121 . The convex portion  1121  protrudes toward an inner space surrounded by the inserting portion  112 . The convex portion  1121  extends around the inner circumferential surface of the inserting portion  112 . 
     In some embodiments, a number of the convex portion  1121  is plural. The plurality of convex portion  1121  are disposed at intervals on the inner circumferential surface of the inserting portion  112 . However, the disclosure is not limited in this regard. 
     Continue to refer to  FIG. 2C . The plug  110  further includes an insulating portion  115  and a conductive contact  117 . The conductive contact  117  is made of conductive material. The conductive contact  117  is disposed inside the inserting portion  112 . The conductive contact  117  is electrically coupled to the coaxial cable  300  to form a part of a signal transmission circuit. The conductive contact  117  extends from a connection with the coaxial cable  300  toward the direction Z to form an accommodating space  1171 . The insulating portion  115  is disposed between the inserting portion  112  and the conductive contact  117 . Since the inserting portion  112  and the conductive contact  117  are two different electrodes of the electrical connector  100  respectively, the insulating portion  115  is used to ensure an insulated state between the conductive contact  117  and the inserting portion  112 , so as to avoid electrical interference between the inserting portion  112  and the conductive contact  117 . 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 2D .  FIG. 2D  is a bottom view of the plug  110  in  FIG. 2A . As shown in  FIG. 2D , an end of the inserting portion  112  away from the cover portion  114  includes three notches  1122 . When the plug  110  is inserted into the receptacle connector  210 , the notches  1122  can accommodate an expansion requirement of the inserting portion  112 . The plug  110  further includes two shrouding portions  119 . The shrouding portions  119  are connected to the second sidewall portions  118  respectively and bend relative to the second sidewall portions  118 . The shrouding portions  119  extend along a direction parallel to a direction Y to cover the coaxial cable  300 . The shrouding portions  119  can protect the coaxial cable  300  from being damaged by colliding of objects. Also, the shrouding portions  119  can assist the fixing portion  111  to clamp and to fix the coaxial cable  300 . 
     In some embodiments, a number and shape of the notches  1122  of the inserting portion  112  can be adjusted according to actual needs. The disclosure should not be limited in  FIG. 2D . 
     Overall, the inserting portion  112 , the cover portion  114 , the first sidewall portions  116 , the second sidewall portions  118 , and the fixing portion  111  together form an outer conductive case. The outer conductive case is electrically connected to the coaxial cable  300  by the fixing portion  111  to constitute a part of the ground circuit. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 3A .  FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a sliding lock element  120  in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 3A , the sliding lock element  120  includes a lid portion  122 , two vertical extension portions  124 , two connected portions  126 , two fitting portions  128 , and the two first stopping portions  121 . The vertical extension portions  124  are perpendicularly connected to the lid portions  122 . The fitting portions  128  are connected to the vertical extension portions  124  by the connected portions  126  respectively. Specifically, the connected portions  126  extend toward a space surrounded by the lid portion  122  and the vertical extension portions  124  relative to the vertical extension portions  124 . As such, the fitting portions  128  are disposed between the vertical extension portions  124  on two sides of the lid portion  122 . Further, the each fitting portion  128  extends toward the lid portion  122  and faces to the corresponding vertical extension portion  124 . The first stopping portions  121  are disposed on the vertical extension portions  124  respectively. The first stopping portions  121  extend toward the space surrounded by the lid portion  122  and the vertical extension portions  124  relative to the vertical extension portions  124 . 
     In the embodiment, the connected portions  126  are U-shaped structures. In some embodiments, the connected portions  126  are plate-like structures connected between the vertical extension portions  124  and the fitting portions  128 . However, the disclosure should not be limited in this regard. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 3B .  FIG. 3B  is a rear view of the sliding lock element  120  in  FIG. 3A . As shown in  FIG. 3B , the sliding lock element  120  further includes a second stopping portion  123 . The second stopping portion  123  is perpendicularly connected to two ends of the vertical extension portions  124 , and the lid portion  122  extends between the vertical extension portions  124 . Each of the fitting portions  128  is positioned between the corresponding first stopping portion  121  and the second stopping portion  123 . Each of the fitting portions  128  is distanced from the corresponding first stopping portion  121  and the second stopping portion  123 , as shown in  FIG. 3A . 
     Reference is made to  FIGS. 4A and 4B .  FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of the electrical connector  100  when the sliding lock element  120  is at a first position P 1  according to an embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector  100  taken along line  4 B- 4 B in  FIG. 4A . As shown in  FIG. 4A , the sliding lock element  120  is mounted on the plug  110 . The lid portion  122  of the sliding lock element  120  slidably covers the cover portion  114  of the plug  110 . In other words, the sliding lock element  120  is slidable relative to the plug  110  to switch between the first position P 1  and a second position P 2 , as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . When the sliding lock element  120  is positioned at the first position P 1 , the sliding lock element  120  limits the diameter expansion of the inserting portion  112 . Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 4B , when the fitting portions  128  slide with the lid portion  122  to the first position P 1  relative to the plug  110 , the each fitting portion  128  is fitted into the corresponding gap  113  between the corresponding first sidewall portion  116  and the inserting portion  112 . The fitting portions  128  are abutted against the inserting portion  112 . The outer diameter of the inserting portion  112  is sandwiched by the fitting portions  128  on two sides, and the capability of the diameter expansion of the inserting portion  112  is thus limited. 
     Further, when the sliding lock element  120  is located at the first position P 1 , the second stopping portion  123  of the sliding lock element  120  is abutted against the inserting portion  112  to prevent the fitting portions  128  from sliding out of the gaps  113  between the inserting portion  112  and the first sidewall portions  116  along the direction X. The each connected portion  126  envelopes an end of the corresponding first sidewall portion  116  away from the cover portion  114  to prevent the sliding lock element  120  from detaching from the plug  110  along the direction Z. 
     Reference is made to  FIGS. 5A and 5B .  FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of the electrical connector  100  when the sliding lock element  120  is at the second position P 2  according to an embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector  100  taken along line  5 B- 5 B in  FIG. 5A . As shown in  FIG. 5A , the sliding lock element  120  slides from the first position P 1  to the second position P 2  relative to the cover portion  114  of the plug  110  along the direction X. When the sliding lock element  120  is located at the second position P 2 , the capability of the diameter expansion of the inserting portion  112  is not limited by the sliding lock element  120 . As shown in  FIG. 5B , when the fitting portions  128  slide with the lid portion  122  to the second position P 2  relative to the plug  110 , the fitting portions  128  exit the gaps  113  between the inserting portion  112  and the first sidewall portions  116 . The gaps  113  on the two sides of the inserting portion  112  are emptied out, and thus the inserting portion  112  can freely expand. 
     Moreover, when the sliding lock element  120  is located at the second position P 2 , each of the first stopping portions  121  of the sliding lock element  120  is abutted against the corresponding end surface  1161   a  of the corresponding guiding slot  1161 . Specifically, in the process of sliding the sliding lock element  120  from the first position P 1  to the second position P 2 , each of the first stopping portions  121  of the sliding lock element  120  enters the corresponding guiding slot  1161  of the corresponding first sidewall portion  116 , and each of the first stopping portions  121  slides along the corresponding guiding slot  1161 . When the sliding lock element  120  slides to the second position P 2 , the first stopping portions  121  are abutted against the end surfaces  1161   a  of the guiding slots  1161  to prevent the sliding lock element  120  from being separated from the plug  110  along the direction Z. 
     Reference is made to  FIGS. 6A and 6B .  FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of the electrical connector  100  and the receptacle connector  210  when the sliding lock element  120  is at the first position P 1  according to an embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector  100  and the receptacle connector  210  taken along line  6 B- 6 B in  FIG. 6A . As shown in  FIG. 6A , the plug  110  is engaged to the receptacle connector  210  mounted on the substrate  200 . At this time, the sliding lock element  120  is located at the first position P 1  to limit the diameter expansion of the inserting portion  112  to lock the engagement of the plug  110  and the receptacle connector  210 . Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 6B , the receptacle connector  210  has a conductive contact  212  and a joint portion  214 . The conductive contact  212  extends from an inside of the substrate  200  and protrudes out of the substrate  200 . The joint portion  214  is disposed around the conductive contact  212 . The joint portion  214  is made of resilient conductive material. The conductive contact  212  extends from the inside of the substrate  200  and protrudes out of the substrate  200 , so as to form a part of the ground circuit with the substrate  200 . An outer circumference surface of the joint portion  214  has a recess portion  2141 . The recess portion  2141  is recessed toward the conductive contact  212 . The recess portion  2141  extends around the outer circumference surface of the joint portion  214 . 
     In some embodiments, a number of the recess portion  2141  is plural. In such embodiments, the plurality of recess portion are disposed at intervals on the outer circumferential surface of the joint portion  214 . However, the disclosure is not limited in this regard. 
     In some embodiments, the receptacle connector  210  is mounted on the substrate  200  by, for example, soldering, but the disclosure should not be limited in this regard. 
     Continue to refer to  FIG. 6B . When the plug is engaged to the receptacle connector  210 , the conductive contact  212  is engaged into the accommodating space  1171  surrounded by the conductive contact  117 , and the conductive contact  212  electrically contacts to the conductive contact  117 . The conductive contact  212  is electrically connected to the conductive contact  117 , and the conductive contact  212  forms the signal transmission circuit together with the coaxial cable  300 . The joint portion  214  is located between the insulating portion  115  and the inserting portion  112 . The joint portion  214  is in contact with the inserting portion  112 . The joint portion  214  is electrically connected to the inserting portion  112 , and the joint portion  214  forms the ground circuit together with the coaxial cable  300 . Further, the convex portion  1121  of the inserting portion  112  is engaged with the recess portion  2141  of the joint portion  214  to restrict the relative movement of the plug  110  and the receptacle connector  210 . At this time, the fitting portions  128  of the sliding lock element  120  are fitted between the inserting portion  112  and the first sidewall portions  116 . The diameter expansion capability of the inserting portion  112  is limited. The insertion and the removal of the plug  110  relative to the receptacle connector  210  are thus locked by the sliding lock element  120 . 
     Reference is made to  FIGS. 7A and 7B .  FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of the electrical connector  100  and the receptacle connector  210  when the sliding lock element  120  is at the second position P 2  according to an embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector  100  and the receptacle connector  210  taken along line  7 B- 7 B in  FIG. 7A . As shown in  FIG. 7A , the plug  110  is engaged to the receptacle connector  210  mounted on the substrate  200 . However, the sliding lock element  120  is located at the second position P 2 . Therefore, the diameter expansion capability of the inserting portion  112  is not limited by the sliding lock element  120 . The plug  110  can be inserted into or be removed from the receptacle connector  210 . Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 7B , although the convex portion  1121  of the inserting portion  112  is stilled engaged with the recess portion  2141  of the joint portion  214 , the fitting portions  128  of the sliding lock element  120  have withdrawn from the gaps  113  between the inserting portion  112  and the first sidewall portions  116 . As such, in this state, the inserting portion  112  can be expanded outward to move along an outer wall of the joint portion  214  relative to the joint portion  214 . In other words, in this state, the plug  110  can be inserted into or be removed from the receptacle connector  210 . 
     In some embodiments, the first position P 1  does not specifically refer to a position at which the sliding lock element  120  locks the plug  110  relative to the receptacle connector  210 . The second position P 2  is not specifically limited to a position where the sliding lock element  120  allows the plug  110  to be inserted into or be removed from the receptacle connector  210 . The disclosure should not be limited in this regard. 
     According to the foregoing recitations of the embodiments of the disclosure, it can be seen that in the electrical connector of the present disclosure, the diameter expansion capability of the inserting portion of the plug is restricted or is loosen by the sliding of the fitting portion of the sliding lock element. Therefore, the plug of the electrical connector can be quickly and easily assembled to the receptacle connector, and the plug is tightly engaged to the receptacle connector. 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims.