Patent Publication Number: US-7896661-B2

Title: Card edge connector with improved soldering portions of terminals

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a card edge connector, more particularly to a card edge connector with improved soldering portions of terminals. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Card edge connectors are widely used in computers for electrically connecting a daughter board to a mother board. Such card edge connector comprises an elongated insulative housing, and a plurality of terminals retained in the insulative housing. The insulative includes a first side wall, a second side wall opposite to the first side wall, and a central slot located between the first side wall and the second side wall. The terminals include a first row of terminals arranged along a lengthwise direction of the insulative housing, and a second row of terminals arranged along the lengthwise direction of the insulative housing. 
     The first terminals each includes a fixing portion retained in the first side wall, a contact portion protruding into the central slot from the fixing portion, and a first level soldering portion extending out of the insulative housing from the fixing portion to be mounted to the mother board. The second terminals each includes a fixing portion retained in the first side wall, a contact portion protruding into the central slot from the fixing portion, and a second level soldering portion extending out of the insulative housing from the fixing portion to be mounted to the mother board. The first soldering portions of the first terminals and the second soldering portions of the second terminals extend reversely to each other respectively out of the insulative housing in a width direction of the insulative housing. Thereby, the first soldering portions and the second soldering portions would occupy more area of the mother board. 
     Hence, an improved card edge connector with improved card restriction structure is needed to solve the problem above. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a card edge connector defining a mounting surface adapted for mounting to a mother board, and comprising: an elongated insulative housing defining an upper mating face opposite to the mounting surface, a central slot recessed from the mating face for receiving a daughter board, a first side wall with a plurality of first passages, and a second side wall with a plurality of second passages and opposite to the first side wall, the first passages and the second passages each in communication with the central slot, the central slot located between the first side wall and the second side wall, and defining a central line along a middle portion thereon in a vertical direction of the insulative housing; a plurality of first terminals arranged in one row along a lengthwise direction of the insulative housing, the first terminals each having a first fixing portion retained in the first passage, a first contact portion protruding from the first fixing portion and extending into the central slot, and a first soldering portion located in the mounting surface; and a plurality of second terminals arranged in another row along the lengthwise direction of the insulative housing, the second terminals each having a second fixing portion retained in the second passage, a second contact portion protruding from the second fixing portion and extending into the central slot from the second fixing portion, and a second soldering portion located in the mounting surface; wherein the central line is disposed between the first fixing portions and the second fixing portions, the first soldering portions extend leftwardly and far from the central line from the first fixing portions in a width direction of the insulative housing, the second soldering portions extend leftwardly and toward the central line from the second fixing portions in the width direction of the insulative housing. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a card edge connector defining a mounting surface adapted for mounting to a mother board, and comprising: an elongated insulative housing defining an upper mating face opposite to the mounting surface, a central slot recessed from the mating face for receiving a daughter board, a first side wall with a plurality of first passages, and a second side wall with a plurality of second passages and opposite to the first side wall, the first passages and the second passages each in communication with the central slot, the central slot located between the first side wall and the second side wall, and defining a central line along a middle portion thereon in a vertical direction of the insulative housing; a plurality of first terminals arranged in one row along a lengthwise direction of the insulative housing, the first terminals each having a first fixing portion retained in the first passage, a first contact portion protruding from the first fixing portion and extending into the central slot, and a first soldering portion located in the mounting surface; and a plurality of second terminals arranged in another row along the lengthwise direction of the insulative housing, the second terminals each having a second fixing portion retained in the second passage, a second contact portion protruding from the second fixing portion and extending into the central slot, and a second soldering portion located in the mounting surface; wherein the central line is disposed between the first fixing portions and the second fixing portions, all the first soldering portions and the second soldering portions extend far from the central line from the first fixing portions and the second fixing portions respectively in a width direction of the insulative housing, the first soldering portions partially extending beyond the first wall in the width direction of the insulative housing, the second soldering portions are merely located under the insulative housing. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a card edge connector in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the card edge connector shown in the  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the card edge connector shown in the  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is another exploded view of the card edge connector shown in the  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the card edge connector along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a card edge connector in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a card edge connector in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the card edge connector shown in the  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the card edge connector shown in the  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known circuits have been shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail. For the most part, details concerning timing considerations and the like have been omitted inasmuch as such details are not necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present invention and are within the skills of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-5 , a card edge connector  100  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, which is adapted for mounting on a mother board (not shown) and receiving a daughter card (not shown), and defines a mounting surface  12  adapted for mounting to the mother board, and comprises: an elongated insulative housing  1 , a plurality of conductive terminals  2  retained in the insulative housing  1 , and a pair of metal mounting pads  3  fixed on opposite bottom end portions of the insulative housing  1 . The terminals  2  are divided into a row of first terminals  21  arranged along a lengthwise direction of the insulative housing  1 , and another row of second terminals  22  arranged along the lengthwise direction of the insulative housing  1 . 
     The insulative housing  1  defines an upper mating face  10  opposite to the mounting surface  12 , a first side wall  14 , a second side wall  15  opposite to the first side wall  14 , a middle wall  13  connecting between the side walls  14 ,  15 , a pair of end walls  16  connecting ends of the side walls  14 ,  15  and the middle wall  13  respectively, a central slot  18  recessed from the mating face  10  for receiving the daughter board, and a central line C 1  along a middle portion of the central slot  18  and the middle wall  13  in a vertical direction thereof. The first side wall  14  defines a plurality of first passages  141  corresponding to the first terminals  21  and each in communication with central slot  18 . The first passages  141  each extends downwardly through the first side wall  14 . The second side wall  15  defines a plurality of second passages  151  corresponding to the second terminals  22  and each in communication with central slot  18 . The second passages  151  each extends downwardly through the first second wall  15 . The first passages  141  and the second passages  151  are symmetric with each other relative to the central line C 1 . 
     The end walls  16  each defines a pair of protrusion blocks  163  extending downwardly from opposite side ends thereof, a projection  164  extending downwardly from a bottom portion thereof and located in the middle of the pair of protrusion blocks  163 , a located post  165  extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the projection  164  to be received in a mounting hole of the mother board, a retaining depression  166  recessed from a bottom surface thereof. The mounting surface  12  and the bottom surface of the protrusion block  163  are disposed in a level surface. The pair of mounting pads  3  each includes a vertical retaining plate  31  retained into the retaining depression  166 , a soldering level plate  32  bending vertically and extending beyond the insulative housing  1  along the lengthwise direction of the insulative housing  1 , and a through hole  33  formed on the soldering plate  32  and retained with the located post  165 . 
     The first terminals  21  each includes a first fixing portion  211  retained in the first passage  141  of the insulative housing  1 , an first arc contact portion  212  extending from an upper portion of the first fixing portion  211  and protruding into the central slot  18  for contacting the daughter board, and a first level soldering portion  213  bending and extending from a lower portion of the first fixing portion  211  for mounting to the mother board. The lower portions of the first fixing portions  211  are spaced from the middle wall  13  and abut against an inner side wall of the first side wall  14 . The first soldering portions  213  extend from the first fixing portion  211  far from the central line C 1 . The first soldering portions  213  partially extend out of the first side wall  14  in a width direction of the insulative housing  1 . 
     The second terminals  22  each includes a second fixing portion  221  retained in the second passage  151  of the insulative housing  1 , an second arc contact portion  222  extend from an upper portion of the second fixing portion  221  and protruding into the central slot  18  for contacting the daughter board, and a second level soldering portion  223  bending and extending from a lower portion of the second fixing portion  221  for mounting to the mother board. The lower portions of the second fixing portions  221  are located in the second passages  151  and abut against an inner side wall of the second side wall  14 . The middle wall  13  is disposed in middle of a space between the lower portions of the first fixing portions  211  and the lower portion of the second fixing portions  221 . The second soldering portions  223  partially extend form the second fixing portion  221  toward the central line C 1  in the width direction of the insulative housing  1 . The second soldering portions  223  are merely located under the insulative housing  1  and closer to the first soldering portions  213  for occupying less area of the mother board. The second soldering portions  223  not pass over the central line C 1 . All the soldering portions  213 ,  223  of the terminals  2  are arranged in the mounting surface  12 . The first terminals  21  and the second terminals  22  are merely located opposite sides of the central line C 1 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , a card edge connector  200  in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The card edge connector  200  also include an elongated insulative housing  4 , a plurality of first terminals  51  and second terminals  52  both retained in the insulative housing  4 . The insulative housing  4  defines a first side wall  44 , a second side wall  45  opposite to the first wall  44 , a middle wall  43  connecting between the side walls  44 ,  45 , a central slot  48  recessed between the side walls  44 ,  45 , and a central line C 2  along a middle portion of the central slot  48  and the middle wall  43  in a vertical direction thereof. The first side wall  44  defines a plurality of first passages  441  corresponding to the first terminals  51 . The second side wall  45  defines a plurality of second passages  451  corresponding to the second terminals  52 . The first terminals  51  each includes a fixing portion  511  retained in the first passages  441 , and a first contact portion  512  protruding into the central slot  48  from an upper portion of the first fixing portion  511 , and a first soldering portion  513  bending and extending from a lower portion of the first portion  511  for being mounted to the mother board. The lower portions of the first portions  511  are located in the first passages  441  and abut against an inner side wall of the first side wall  44 . The first soldering portions  513  partially extend out the first side wall  44  along a width direction of the insulative housing  4 . The insulative housing  4  and the first terminals  51  are the same as that of the first embodiment, so detailed description is omitted hereinafter. 
     The second terminals  52  of the card edge connector  100  are different from the second terminals  22  of the card edge connector  100  in accordance with the first embodiment. Reference to  FIG. 6 , the second terminals  52  each includes a fixing portion  521  retained in the second passages  451 , and a second contact portion  522  protruding into the central slot  48  and extending from an upper portion of the second fixing portion  521 , and a second soldering portion  523  bending and extending from a lower portion of the second portion  521  for being mounted to the mother board. The second contact portions  522  extend leftwardly over the central line C 2 . The second soldering portions  523  extend from the lower portion of the second fixing portion  521  rightward far from the central line C 2  along the width direction of the insulative housing  4 . The second soldering portions  523  are merely located under the insulative housing  1  and closed to the first soldering portions  513  for occupying less area of the mother board. The lower portions of the second fixing portions  521  are located in the second passages  451  and abut against the middle wall  4 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 7-9 , a card edge connector  300  in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. The card edge connector  300  also includes an elongated insulative housing  6 , a plurality of first terminals  71  and second terminals  72  retained in the insulative housing  6 . The insulative housing  6  includes a bottom mounting surface  62  adapted for mounting to the mother board, a first side wall  64 , and a second side wall  65  opposite to the first side wall  64 , a middle wall  63  connecting to the side walls  64 ,  65 , a pair of end walls  66  connecting the side walls  64 ,  65  respectively, a central slot  68  disposed between the side walls  64 ,  65  and the end walls  66 , a central line C 3  along a middle portion of the central slot  68  and the middle wall  63  in a vertical direction thereof. The first side wall  64  defines a plurality of first passages  641  corresponding to the first terminals  71 . The second side wall  65  defines a plurality of second passages  651  corresponding to the second terminals  72 , an outer side surface in an upper-to-lower direction of the insulative housing  6 , an open slot  650  recessed upwardly from the mounting surface  62  to the outer side surface to facilitate air flow. The open slot  650  extends parallel to the central slot  68  along a lengthwise direction of the insulative housing  6  and communicate with a bottom portion of the second passages  65 . The open slot  650  defines a cross section in a width direction of the insulative housing  6 . The cross section is a triangle with one apex located on the outer side surface and another two apexes located in the mounting surface  62  respectively. The open slot  650  and the central slot  68  each is located between the pair of end walls  66  respectively. 
     The first terminals  71  and the second terminals  72  each includes a fixing portion  711 ,  721  retained in the insulative housing  6 , an arc contact portion  712 ,  722  protruding into the central slot  68 , and a level soldering portion  713 ,  723  extending out of the insulative housing  6  from the fixing portion  711 , 721 . The soldering portions  713  of the first terminals  71  extending rightwardly out of the first side wall  64  in a width direction of the insulative housing  6 . The soldering portions  723  of the second terminals  72  not extend leftwardly out of the second side wall  65  in the width direction of the insulative housing  6  and are disposed merely under the insulative housing  6 . The soldering portions  723  of the second terminals  72  are partially exposed in the open slot  650  and exterior while the card edge connector  300  being mounted to the mother board. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. For example, the tongue portion is extended in its length or is arranged on a reverse side thereof opposite to the supporting side with other contacts but still holding the contacts with an arrangement indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.