Patent Publication Number: US-8979555-B2

Title: Signal transmitting connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 102122837 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on Jun. 26, 2013, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosure relates to a signal transmitting connector, in particularly to a signal transmitting connector including a metal housing. 
     BACKGROUND 
     With the improvement of technology, soft disks and compact disks, which are used for the storage and carrying of electronic information, have been replaced by flash drives integrated with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface. Because the flash drives have a smaller size, being capable of hot swapping, having a fast transmitting speed and a large storage volume, it is favorable for consumers to adopt them for storing data. 
     Because the related technologies of the flash drives have been matured, products made by each manufacturer are similar to each other. Therefore, the consumers consider not only the performance of the flash drives but also the appearance, quality and operational convenience of the flash drives. 
     Generally speaking, the quality of metal material is superior to that of plastic material, so consumers tend to prefer the flash drive including a metal housing. When the USB plug of the flash drive including the metal housing is plugged into the USB port, a metal flexible sheet of the USB port may be in contact with the metal housing so as to make the electronic device including the USB port short circuit, which bombards the consumers. Therefore, how to maintain the quality of the flash drive without affecting the electrical connection between the flash drive and the USB port is a problem that manufacturers try to solve. 
     SUMMARY 
     An embodiment of the disclosure provides a signal transmitting connector comprising a metal base and a circuit board. The metal base includes a bottom plate, a first lateral plate and a second lateral plate. The bottom plate includes a first surface, a second surface and an edge surface. The second surface and the first surface are opposite to each other. The edge surface is connected between the first surface and the second surface. The first lateral plate and the second lateral plate are connected to two opposite sides of the first surface, respectively. An extending plane of the edge surface is intersected by the first lateral plate and the second lateral plate. The bottom plate, the first lateral plate and the second lateral plate form a depression together. The circuit board, disposed in the depression, includes a third surface and a fourth surface opposite to each other. The fourth surface faces the bottom plate. A first electrically connecting portion is disposed on the third surface. At least a part of a first lateral side edge of the edge surface away from the second surface and the second surface are separated by a first distance. The third surface and the second surface are separated by a second distance. The first distance is less than the second distance. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, thus does not limit the disclosure, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a signal transmitting connector according to a first embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic exploded view of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the signal transmitting connector that is not completely plugged into an electrically connecting port in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the signal transmitting connector that is completely plugged into the electrically connecting port in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic exploded view of a signal transmitting connector according to a second embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the signal transmitting connector that is assembled in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a signal transmitting connector according to a third embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a signal transmitting connector according to a fourth embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the signal transmitting connector that is pivoted to an electronic device in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the signal transmitting connector that is pivoted to the electronic device in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic exploded view of a signal transmitting connector according to a fifth embodiment of the disclosure; and 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic exploded view of a signal transmitting connector according to a sixth embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawings. 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 1 to 3 .  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a signal transmitting connector according to a first embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG. 2  is a schematic exploded view of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the signal transmitting connector that is not completely plugged into an electrically connecting port in  FIG. 1 . 
     A signal transmitting connector  10 , in this embodiment, comprises a metal base  100 , a circuit board  200 , an electrically insulating body  300 , a metal cover  400  and a fastening component  500 . In this disclosure, the electrically insulating body  300 , the metal cover  400  and the fastening component  500  may not be necessary components. However, the display of the above-mentioned components in  FIG. 1  is for describing the relative positions between each component easily. 
     The metal base  100  includes a bottom plate  110 , a first lateral plate  120 , a second lateral plate  130 , and a rear plate  140 . The bottom plate  110  includes a first surface  111 , a second surface  112  and an edge surface  113 . The second surface  112  is opposite to the first surface  111 . Two ends of the edge surface  113  are connected to the first surface  111  and the second surface  112 , respectively. The edge surface  113  includes a first lateral side edge  113   a  farther away from the second surface  112 , and all first lateral side edge  113   a  of the bottom plate  110  and the second surface  112  are separated by a first distance D 1  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). In this embodiment, the bottom plate  110  includes a protruding tube  114  and a first positioning structure  115 . The protruding tube  114  is connected to the first surface  111 . The first positioning structure  115  is connected to the first surface  111 . 
     The first lateral plate  120  and the second lateral plate  130  are connected to two opposite sides of the first surface  111 . An extending surface of the edge surface  113  is intersected with both an extending surface of the first lateral plate  120  and that of the second lateral plate  130 . The first lateral plate  120  includes a first wall section  121  and a second wall section  122  that are connected with each other, and the second lateral plate  130  includes a first wall section  131  and a second wall section  132  that are connected with each other. The lengths of the first wall sections  121  and  131  protruding from the first surface  111  is less than the lengths of the second wall sections  122  and  132  protruding from the first surface  111 . Moreover, the above-mentioned protruding tube  114  is disposed between the two second wall sections  122  and  132 . 
     The rear plate  140  is connected to the bottom plate  110  and between the second wall section  122  of the first lateral plate  120  and the second wall section  132  of the second lateral plate  130 . The bottom plate  110 , the first lateral plate  120 , the second lateral plate  130  and the rear plate  140  form a depression  150  together. The first surface  111  is one of the surfaces which form the depression  150 . In this embodiment, the rear plate  140  includes a hole  141 , but is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the first lateral plate  120  does not comprise the first wall sections  121  and  131 , the second lateral plate  130  does not comprise the second wall section  122  and  132 , and the rear plate  140  does not include the hole  141 . In this embodiment, the bottom plate  110 , the first lateral plate  120 , the second lateral plate  130  and the rear plate  140  are metal structure which are integrally formed into one piece. 
     The circuit board  200 , disposed in the depression  150 , includes the third surface  210 , a fourth surface  220  and a side surface  250 . The fourth surface  220  and the side surface  250  are connected to two opposite sides of the third surface  210 . The fourth surface  220  faces the bottom plate  110 . In this embodiment, the third surface  210  and the second surface  112  are separated by a second distance D 2  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). The fourth surface  220  and the second surface  112  are separated by a third distance D 3  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ), and the first distance D 1  is less than or equal to the third distance D 3 . In this embodiment, the side surface  250  is connected between the third surface  210  and the fourth surface  220  as well as facing oppositely away from the rear plate  140 . The side surface  250  includes a second side edge  251  intersected with the third surface  210 . 
     A first electrically connecting portion  230  and a second electrically connecting portion  240  are disposed on the third surface  210  of the circuit board  200 . The first electrically connecting portion  230  is closer to the side surface  250  than the second electrically connecting portion  240 . In this embodiment, the first electrically connecting portion  230  is disposed between the two first wall sections  121  and  131 , and the distance between the first electrically connecting portion  230  and the first surface  111  is substantially equaled to the lengths of the two first wall sections  121  and  131  protruding from the first surface  111 . The second electrically connecting portion  240  is disposed between the second wall sections  122  and  132  and corresponds to the hole  141  of the rear plate  140 . That is to say, the hole  141  exposes the second electrically connecting portion  240 . In this embodiment, the first electrically connecting portion  230  includes a plurality of electrodes  231  which form a Universal Serial Bus (USB). The second electrically connecting portion  240  is a USB port, but is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the circuit board  200  does not include the second electrically connecting portion  240 , or the second electrically connecting portion  240  is a transmitting cable or other kinds of electrically connecting ports (e.g. memory card port). Moreover, in this or some other embodiments, an electrically insulating layer, e.g., an insulating attachment layer, covers surfaces of the other circuit board  200  except the surfaces of the first electrically connecting portion  230  and the second electrically connecting portion  240 . 
     Furthermore, the circuit board  200  includes a first through hole  260  formed between the third surface  210  and the fourth surface  220 . The protruding tube  114  of the bottom plate  110  passes through the first through hole  260  of the circuit board  200  for limiting the movement of the circuit board  200  in the horizontal direction. However, the horizontal movement of the circuit board  200  limited by the protruding tube  114  and the first through hole  260  is only for example, and is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the signal transmitting connector  10  does not comprise the protruding tube  114  or the first through hole  260 , and other limiting combination (e.g., a limiting block and a limiting recess) is disposed to apply the limiting effect. 
     The electrically insulating body  300  includes a blocking portion  310  and a connecting portion  320 . The blocking portion  310  is connected to the connecting portion  320 . The blocking portion  310  is disposed between the first lateral plate  120  and the second lateral plate  130 , and faces the side surface  250  of the circuit board  200 . The blocking portion  310  includes a top surface  311  opposite to the second surface  112 . 
     In this embodiment, the blocking portion  310  totally covers the side surface  250  of the circuit board  200 . That is to say, at least part of the blocking portion  310  is in contact with the second side edge  251 . Furthermore, the top surface  311  is coplanar with the third surface  210 , but is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the top surface  311  is not coplanar with the third surface  210 , and a part of side surface  250  of the circuit board  200  is exposed. At least part of the connecting portion  320  is disposed between the first surface  111  and the fourth surface  220 . The connecting portion  320  includes at least one second positioning structure  321 . The second positioning structure  321  is detachably engaged with the first positioning structure  115  for setting the relative position of the electrically insulating body  300  and the bottom plate  110 . 
     In this embodiment, the electrically insulating body  300  includes the blocking portion  310  and the connecting portion  320 , but is not limited to the disclosure. In other embodiments, the electrically insulating body  300  only includes the blocking portion  310  which is disposed between the first lateral plate  120  and the second lateral plate  130  by tightly fitting or buckling 
     The metal cover  400  includes a second through hole  410 . The fastening component  500  passes through the second through hole  410  and is affixed to the protruding tube  114  of the bottom plate  110 . The metal cover  400  covers the second electrically connecting portion  240  and a part of the depression  150  as well as exposing the first electrically connecting portion  230 . 
     However, the above-mentioned electrically insulating body  300 , the protruding tube  114 , each sidewall and the rear plate  140  are selective components, and are not limited to the disclosure. In other embodiments, the signal transmitting connector  10  does not comprise the electrically insulating body  300 , the protruding tube  114 , each sidewall and the rear plate  140 . 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , and  FIG. 4  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the signal transmitting connector that is completely plugged into the electrically connecting port in  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the signal transmitting connector  10  in this embodiment is not completely plugged into an electrically connecting port  20 . The electrically connecting port  20  includes a plurality of metal flexible sheet  22  electrically connected to the first electrically connecting portion  230 . Based on the manufacturer standard, a fourth distance D 4  between the metal flexible sheet  22  and the second surface  112  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) is between the second distance D 2  and the third distance D 3 . According to this embodiment, the first distance D 1  between the first lateral side edge  113   a  and the second surface  112  is less than or equal to the third distance D 3  between the fourth surface  220  and the second surface  112 . It is ensured that when the signal transmitting connector  10  is plugged into the electrically connecting port  20 , the metal flexible sheet  22  of the electrically connecting port  20  is only in contact with the blocking portion  310  which is at the side edge  113   a  without being in contact with the metal base  100 . Therefore, the short circuit, generated by the metal flexible sheet  22  from being in electrical contact with the metal base  100 , is avoided. 
     However, in this embodiment, in order to be compliant with each manufacturer standard of the electrically connecting port, the first distance D 1  between the first lateral side edge  113   a  and the second surface  112  is designed to be less than the third distance D 3  between the fourth surface  220  and the second surface  112 , but is not limited thereto. If the manufacturer is aware of the fourth distance D 4  between the metal flexible sheet  22  and the second surface  112 , the first distance D 1  between the first lateral side edge  113   a  and the second surface  112  is designed between the second distance D 2  and the third distance D 3 . Only the fourth distance D 4  is greater than the first distance D 1 , the metal flexible sheet  22  is not in contact with the metal base  110 , which avoids the short circuit of the electrically connecting port  20 . 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 5 and 6 .  FIG. 5  is a schematic exploded view of a signal transmitting connector according to a second embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG. 6  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the signal transmitting connector that is assembled in  FIG. 5 . The configuration of the signal transmitting connector  10  in this embodiment is similar to that of the signal transmitting connector  10  in  FIG. 1 , and therefore only the differences are described hereinafter. 
     A metal base  100 , in this embodiment, includes a bottom plate  110 , a first lateral plate  120 , a second lateral plate  130 , a rear plate  140  and an opening portion  160 . 
     The bottom plate  110  includes a first surface  111 , a second surface  112  and an edge surface  113 . The second surface  112  is opposite to the first surface  111 . The edge surface  113  is connected between the first surface  111  and the second surface  112 . The edge surface  113  includes a first lateral side edge  113   a  facing oppositely away from the second surface  112 . The first lateral side edge  113   a  of the bottom plate  110  and the second surface  112  are separated by a first distance D 1  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). 
     The first lateral plate  120  and the second lateral plate  130  are connected to two opposite sides of the first surface  111 , respectively. 
     The rear plate  140  is connected to the bottom plate  110  as well as between the second wall section  122  of the first lateral plate  120  and the second wall section  132  of the second lateral plate  130 . The bottom plate  110 , the first lateral plate  120 , the second lateral plate  130  and the rear plate  140  form a depression  150  together. The first surface  111  is one of the surfaces which form the depression  150 . 
     The opening portion  160  and the rear plate  140  are defined to be two opposite surfaces of the depression  150 . That is to say, the edge surface  113  is located at the opening portion  160 . The opening portion  160  exposes at least part of the side surface  250 . In this embodiment, the opening portion  160  includes a bottom surface  161  which is opposite to the second surface  112 . The bottom surface  161  and the second surface  112  are separated by a fifth distance D 5 . 
     The circuit board  200  is disposed in the depression  150 . The circuit board  200  includes a third surface  210 , a fourth surface  220  and a side surface  250 . The fourth surface  220  and the third surface  210  are two opposite surfaces of the circuit board  200 . The fourth surface  220  faces the bottom plate  110 . In this embodiment, the third surface  210  and the second surface  112  are separated by a second distance D 2  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). The fourth surface  220  and the second surface  112  are separated by a third distance D 3  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). In this embodiment, the fifth distance D 5  is less than the second distance D 2  and greater than the third distance D 3 . 
     In this and some other embodiments, the signal transmitting connector  10  further comprises an electrically insulating body  300 . The electrically insulating body  300  is disposed on the opening portion  160 , and at least part of the electrically insulating body  300  is disposed between the first surface  111  and the third surface  210 . Moreover, in this embodiment, the electrically insulating body  300  includes a top surface  311  and a front surface  312 . The top surface  311  of the electrically insulating body  300  is coplanar with the third surface  210 , and the front surface  312  is coplanar and aligns with the edge surface  113  of the opening portion  160 . However, the electrically insulating body  300  may be disposed on the opening portion  160  by the combination of an engaging block and an engaging recess, adhesion or tightly fitting, but the disposition manner is not limited to the disclosure. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 7 , which is a schematic cross-sectional view of a signal transmitting connector according to a third embodiment of the disclosure. The configuration of the signal transmitting connector  10  in this embodiment is similar to that of the signal transmitting connector  10  in  FIG. 5 , and therefore only the differences are described hereinafter. In this embodiment, the bottom surface  161  of the opening portion  160  is coplanar with the first surface  111 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 8 , which is a schematic cross-sectional view of a signal transmitting connector according to a fourth embodiment of the disclosure. The configuration of the signal transmitting connector  10 ′ in this embodiment is similar to that of the signal transmitting connector  10  in  FIG. 1 . The differences between them are that the structure of the metal base  100  and the electrically insulating body  300  of  FIG. 1  are integrated into one piece to form an electrically insulating base  100 ′ in this embodiment (as shown in  FIG. 8 ), and the material of the electrically insulating base  100 ′ is an electrically insulating material (e.g., plastic). The electrically insulating base  100 ′ includes a fifth surface  170  which faces oppositely away from the third surface  210 . The signal transmitting connector  10  in this embodiment further comprises a metal plate  600  attached to the fifth surface  170 . However, the disclosure does not limit that the metal plate  600  is only attached to the fifth surface  170  of the metal base  100 . In other embodiments, the metal plate also covers other adjacent lateral plates (e.g., the above-mentioned first lateral plate or the second lateral plate). 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 9 and 10 .  FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the signal transmitting connector that is pivoted to an electronic device in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the signal transmitting connector that is pivoted to the electronic device in  FIG. 1 . The above-mentioned electronic device  30  is a portable hard disk drive or portable energy device (e.g., portable energy station), but is not limited to thereto. The electronic device  30  includes a recess  32  on which the signal transmitting connector  10  is pivoted. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the signal transmitting connector  10  is capable of pivoting with respect to the electronic device  30  so as to expose the first electrically connecting portion  230 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the signal transmitting connector  10  is capable of pivoting with respect to the electronic device  30  so as to be stored in the recess  32  and to expose the second electrically connecting portion  240 . 
     In the above-mentioned embodiments, all parts of the first lateral side edge  113   a  are less than the second distance D 2  or less than or equal to the third distance D 3 , but are not limited to the disclosure. In other embodiments, a part of the first lateral side edge  113   a  are less than the second distance D 2  or less than or equaled to the third distance D 3 . Please refer to  FIGS. 11 and 12 .  FIG. 11  is a schematic exploded view of a signal transmitting connector according to a fifth embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG. 12  is a schematic exploded view of a signal transmitting connector according to a sixth embodiment of the disclosure. The configurations in  FIG. 11  and those in  FIG. 12  are similar to those in  FIG. 1 , and therefore only the differences are described hereinafter. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , a part of the first lateral side edge  113   a  and the second surface  112  are separated by a first distance (i.e., D 1  in  FIG. 3 ) which is less than or equal to the third distance (i.e., D 3  in  FIG. 3 ). In other words, the first lateral side edge  113   a  is a polyline having a plurality of line segments, the horizontal height of a part of the first lateral side edge  113   a  is lower than that of the third surface  210 , and the horizontal height of another part of the first lateral side edge  113   a  is equal to that of the third surface  210 . In this embodiment, the minimum value of length L of the first lateral side edge  113   a , whose horizontal height is lower than the third surface  210 , is equal to the width W of one of the electrodes  231 . The electrode  231  is a positive electrode (Vcc). In this way, the short circuit, generated by the electrical connection between the positive electrode (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) and the flexible sheet  22  of the electrically connecting port  20 , is avoided. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the signal transmitting connector  10  in this embodiment further comprises an electrically insulating body  300  disposed on the metal base  100 . The horizontal height of the electrically insulating body  300  at the first lateral side edge  113   a  is equal to that of the third surface  210 , for covering the exposed circuit board  200  (i.e., the side surface  250  of the circuit board  200 ). Furthermore, the electrically insulating body  300  is disposed on the metal base  100  by the combination of the engaging block and the engaging recess, adhesion or tightly fitting, but the disposition manner is not limited to the disclosure. 
     According to the signal transmitting connector of this disclosure, the distance between the metal flexible sheet and the second surface is greater than the distance between the fourth surface and the second surface, and the distance between the first lateral side edge and the second surface is less than or equal to the distance between the fourth surface and the second surface. It is ensured that when the signal transmitting connector is plugged into the electrically connecting port, the metal flexible sheet of the electrically connecting port is only in contact with the blocking portion of the side edge of the electrically insulating body without being in contact with the metal base. Therefore, the short circuit of the electrically connecting port, generated by the metal flexible sheet from being in electrical contact with the metal base, is avoided. 
     Moreover, when the distance between the flexible sheet and the second surface is known, the first distance between the first lateral side edge and the second surface is designed to be between the second distance and the third distance. Only the fourth distance is greater than the first distance, the metal flexible sheet is not in contact with the metal base, which prevents the short circuit of the electrically connecting port. 
     Furthermore, in this disclosure, because the housing of the signal transmitting connector is almost made out of metal, the quality of the signal transmitting connector is better so as to enhance the willingness of buying from consumers. 
     According to the above-mentioned signal transmitting connector in this disclosure, the electrically insulating body is further disposed to cover the side surface of the circuit board, which prevents the side surface of the circuit board from being exposed, thereby enhancing the appearance of the signal transmitting connector.