Patent Publication Number: US-7722398-B2

Title: Electrical connector assembly with a protecting section over a flexible printed circuit board connected thereto

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly, and more particularly to an electrical connector assembly for interconnecting an electronic module such as a camera module for use with a cellular phone or the like to an electrical member such as a printed circuit board via a flexible printed circuit board. At least a protecting section is formed on the flexible printed circuit board to prevent pads formed on the printed circuit board from being scraped accidentally. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Conventionally, electronic modules such as a camera module for use with a cellular phone has to be securely maintained in electrical connection with an electronic member such as a printed circuit board. Therefore, a camera socket is dimensioned to securely receive a camera module therein. Consequently, the camera module is electrically connected with the printed circuit board via the shielded connector. 
   In order to comply with a miniaturization trend of electrical connectors, a flexible printed circuit board is used in said electrical connector to reduce the height of the electrical connector and provide a reliable electric path between a camera module and a printed circuit board. 
   U.S. Pub No. 2007/0238357, published on Oct. 11, 2007, discloses an electrical connector assembly for interconnecting a camera module and a printed circuit board via a flexible printed circuit board. Said electrical connector assembly includes a shielded shell, a flexible printed circuit board received in the shielded shell and a supporting member sandwiched between the shielded shell and the printed circuit board. The shielded shell has a receiving space and defines two pairs of sidewalls extending upwardly. Each of an opposite sidewalls defines a resilient portion projecting towards the receiving space for retaining the camera module. The flexible printed circuit board is received in the receiving space also for electrically connecting the camera module. The supporting element upholds the flexible printed circuit board. When the camera module is assembled in the receiving space from above, the flexible printed circuit board is sandwiched between the camera module and supporting element, meanwhile, the pads formed on upper surface of the flexible printed circuit board contact with the pads formed on the bottom face of the camera module so as to transfer the signal of the camera module to printed circuit board. 
   It is well know that flexible printed circuit board is made of soft material and is easy to bend and distort, accordingly, the flexible printed circuit board, especially the pads formed thereon to electrically connect with the pads formed on the bottom of the camera module, is easy to be scraped during production, assembly and so on. Accordingly, when camera module is assembled in the receiving space of the shielded shell, there has a possible that the pads formed on the flexible printed circuit board will not contact with the pads formed on the bottom of the camera module due to the damage or deformation. As a result, a reliable electrical path between the camera module and printed circuit board is not provided. 
   Thus, there is a need to provide an improved electrical connector assembly to overcome the above-mentioned problems. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector assembly having a protecting section on the flexible circuit board so as to prevent pads formed on the flexible printed circuit board from being scraped and provides a reliable electric path between two electrical elements. 
   In order to achieve the objective above, an electrical connector assembly in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention includes a shielded shell, a spring plate and a flexible printed circuit board. The shielded shell includes a base wall and four sidewalls corporately defining a receiving space upwardly. The spring plate disposes on upper surface of the base wall of the shielded shell. The flexible printed circuit board includes a first part received in the receiving space and a second part extending out of shielded shell. Wherein, the first part defines a plurality of conductive pads extending from opposite side edges of the first part in order to contact with pads formed on the bottom of the camera module. A protecting section is integrally formed with the first part and disposes on the periphery of the conductive pads and disconnect therewith. 
   In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, an electrical connector assembly comprises a shielded shell, a spring plate and a flexible printed circuit board. The shielded shell includes a base wall and fours sidewalls corporately defining a receiving space upwardly. The spring plate disposed on upper surface of the base wall of the shielded shell and includes a plurality of contact engaging portion disposed above the base wall. The flexible printed circuit board includes a first part received in the receiving space and a second part extending beyond the receiving space. Wherein, the first part includes a first board section and a plurality of conductive pads extending from the opposite side edges of the first board section. Four edge portions are integrally formed with first board portion between which the conductive pads disposed. A protecting section is formed on upper surface of the first part and includes a second board section and two pair of wings. Wherein, the second board section and the four wings is configures an H-shape. The second board section is abutting against the upper surface of the first board section; while each wing is abutting against each edge portion thereof, thereby the conductive pads are protected by the protecting section and prevent the conductive pads from being scraped during the production, assembly and the like. 
   Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like members in the figures and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a shielded connector assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an another perspective view of the shielded connector assembly of  FIG. 1 , wherein the flexible printed board and the camera module are not assembled in the shielded shell; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a shielded connector assembly of  FIG. 1 , wherein the flexible printed board has been assembled therein and the camera module has not assembled therein; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a shielded connector assembly of  FIG. 1 , wherein the flexible printed board and the camera module has been assembled therein; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the flexible printed board of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the flexible printed board and the protecting portion; 
       FIG. 7  is a flow chart view of the shielded shell and the spring plate of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the shielded connector assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
   In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. 
   A shielded connector assembly according to the present invention is applicable to an electronic apparatus such as digital cameras, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), PCs (Personal Computers), mobile phones or the like. In the first embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-7 , the shielded connector assembly is used in a mobile handset (not shown) for transferring the signal of the camera module to a printed circuit board via a flexible printed circuit board. 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the shielded connector assembly according to the first embodiment of this invention in order to receive a camera module via a flexible printed circuit board. In the figures, the reference numeral  10  denotes a shielded shell made of a metal material. The reference numeral  30  denotes a spring plate detachable from the shielded shell. The reference numeral  70  denotes a flexible printed circuit board and the reference numeral  50  denotes a camera module. 
   The shielded shell  10  is made of metal material and configured by front wall  103 , back wall  105 , left wall  107 , right wall  109  and a base wall  101  cooperatively defining a receiving space  100 . Each front wall  103 , back wall  105 , left wall  107  and right wall  109  extends upwardly from the peripheral of the base wall  101  and the adjacent walls of the said walls did not connect with each other so as to improve the elastic property of the shielded shell  10  and retain the camera module  50  steadily. 
   Each of the front and back wall  103 ,  105  defines a locking finger  1031 ,  1051  extending from the inner surface thereof to the opposite walls for holding the camera module  50  and the end of the locking finger  1031 ,  1051  smoothly curved inwardly in order to prevent the camera module  50  from being scraped. Further more, the back wall  105  defines a window  1050  passing through the top thereof to the down so as to provide a path for the flexible printed circuit board  70  passing through. 
   The left and right wall  107 ,  109  has the same structure, each including a fixed section (not labeled) and an elastic section  1070 . The fixed section connects to the base wall  100  and the elastic section  1073  extends upwardly from the middle portion of the up edge of the fixed section and comprises a board portion (not shown) connected to the fixed section and a pair of retaining portions  1072  extending from the two side ends of the board portion to an opposite wall. Each of the retaining portions  1072  defines a holding portion  1076  vertical to the base wall  100  of the shielded shell  10  so as to abut against the peripheral of the camera module  50 . A slant portion  1078  is formed on the top end of the holding portion  1076  and formed an angle with the holding portion  1076  to lead the inserting of the camera module  50 . And a connection portion  1074  is formed between the board portion and the retaining portion  1072 . Further more correspond to the slant portion  1078  of the left and right wall  107 ,  109 , each of the front and back wall  103 ,  105  defines a leading portion  1032 ,  1052  on the end thereof to guide the mounting of the camera module  5 . 
   A plurality of grooves  1010  are formed on the base wall  101  and disposes on a region which is adjacent to the left and right wall  107 ,  109 . A first hole  1012  is formed on the base wall  101  and disposed between the two rows of the grooves  1010 . 
   The spring plate  30  is made of metal material and disposed on upper surface of the base wall  101  of the shielded shell  10 . The spring plate  30  comprises a main board  300  and a plurality of contact engaging portions  302  extending from the two opposite side edges of the main board  300  and away therefrom. A pair of second holes  310  is formed on the main board  300  corresponding with the first holes  1012 . A dimple  308  is formed on the main board  300  and adjacent to each second hole  310 . Moreover, the main board  300  further defines a first and second retaining portion  304 ,  306 , separating extending from the two ends of the main board  300  along the connecting line of the dimples  308 . Wherein, the first retaining portion  304  has a same height with the main board  300 , while the second retaining portion  306  extending downwardly from the end of the main board  300 . Accordingly, the shielded shell  10  defines a slot  1013  corresponding with the first retaining portion  304  of the spring plate  30 ; the base wall  101  of the shielded shell  10  defines a pair of arm  1016 , farther extending forwardly from the edge of the base wall  101  and opposite to the slot  1013 . A gap  1014  is formed between the arms  1016  so as to receive the second retaining portion  306  of the spring plate  30 . 
   Please especially referring to the  FIGS. 5-6 , the flexible printed circuit board  70  comprises a first section  701  received in the receiving space  100  of the shielded shell  10  and a second section  700  extending beyond the receiving space  100  via the window  1050  of the shielded shell  10 . The first section  701  comprises a first plate portion  704  and a plurality of conductive pads  708  extending from the opposite edges of the first plate portion  704  and away therefrom. Said conductive pads separates with each other and corresponding to the contact engaging portion  302  of the spring plate  30 . Moreover, the first plate portion  704  of the first section  701  defines two pair of edge portions  703 . The conductive pads  708  in one line dispose between the pair of edge portions  703 . 
   Additionally, the first section  701  has an equivalent dimension with the receiving space  100  of the shielded shell  10  and the width of the second section  700  is smaller than that of first section  701  and equal to the width of the window  1050  of the shielded shell  10  so as to prevent the flexible printed circuit board  70  from being pushed out from the receiving space  100 . 
   A protecting element  702  attached on upper surface of the first section  701  of the flexible printed circuit board  70 , comprising a second plate portion  712  and two pair of wings  714 . The second plate portion  712  abut against the upper surface of the first plate portion  704  of the first section  701  of the flexible printed circuit board  70 , while each wing  714  abutting against each edge portion  703  of the first plate portion  704 . The material rigidity of the protecting element  702  is higher than that of the flexible printed circuit board  70 . Therefore, during the manufacture, assembling, and the transporting, what is firstly scraped or distort is the protecting element  702  such that prevent the conductive pads  708  of the flexible printed circuit board  70  from being scraped during production, assembling and the like. 
   The camera module  50  comprises a base portion  54  which configured as a rectangular, a column portion  56  disposed on a top surface of the base portion  31 , and a bottom portion  52  a top surface of which contacts with a bottom surface of the base portion  54 . A strip  59  is formed on one side surface of the base portion  54  and extends to the peripheral of the column portion  56  so as to prevent the camera module  50  mismatchable assembling into the receiving space  100  of the shielded shell  10 . 
   A pair of sticks  9  is provided for holding the spring plate  30  on the shielded shell  10 . After the shielded shell  10  and the spring plate  30  are combined together, the sticks  9  are removed. 
   When assembly, firstly, the sticks  9  pass through the first holes  1012  of the shielded shell  10 ; secondly, the spring plate  30  is assembled on the base wall  101  of the shielded shell  10  and the sticks  9  further pass through the second holes  310  of the spring plate  30 , thereby the spring plate  30  is located on the shielded shell  10 , meanwhile the main board  300  of the spring plate  30  abutting against an upper face of the base wall  101  of the shielded shell  10 , the first retaining portion  304  received in the slot  1013 , the second retaining portion  306  received in the gap  1014  and sandwiched between the arms  1016 . Thirdly, the shielded shell  10  and spring plate  30  are further connected via spot welding. Finally, the flexible printed circuit board  70  and the camera module  50  is inserted into the receiving space  100  of the shielded shell  10 . Wherein, the flexible printed circuit board  70  is sandwiched between the spring plate  30  and the camera module  50 . Top face of each conductive pad  708  of the flexible printed circuit board  70  contacts with corresponding pad formed on the bottom surface of the bottom portion  52  of the camera module  50  and bottom face of each conductive pad  708  thereof contacts with corresponding contact engaging portion  302  of the spring plate  30 . During the process of the moving of the camera module  50 , the contact engaging portion  302  of spring plate  30  does not deform till the bottom portion  52  of the camera module  50  is abut against with the dimple  308  of the spring plate  30 . At this moment, the camera module  50  is completely fitted into the shielded shell  10  and the flexible printed circuit board  70  is sandwiched between the spring plate  30  and the camera module  50  firmly, meanwhile, the signal of the camera module  50  is transferred to the printed circuit board (not shown) via the flexible printed circuit board  70 . 
   Please refer to the  FIG. 8 , it shows a shielded connector assembly according to a second embodiment of present invention. Herein, I only introduce the flexible printed circuit board  2  which is different from the first embodiment. Same to the first embodiment, the flexible printed circuit board  2  comprises a first section  21  received in the receiving space  100  of the shielded shell  10  and a second section  22  extending beyond the receiving space  100 . The first section  21  includes a plate portion  211  and a plurality of the conductive pads  24  extending from two opposite edges of the plate portion  211  and away therefrom. A protecting portion  213  is configured as a U-shape and integrally formed with the plate portion  211 . And said protecting portion  213  encloses the conductive pads  24  of the first section  21  and disconnects therewith. Additionally, the first section  21  has an equivalent dimension with the receiving space  100  of the shielded shell  10  and the width of the second section  22  is smaller than that of first section  21  and equal to width of the window  1050  of the shielded shell  10  so as to prevent the flexible printed circuit board  2  from being pushed out from the receiving space  100 . 
   In the above description of the preferred embodiment, the flexible printed circuit board defines a protecting portion. In the second embodiment, the protecting portion is integrally formed with the plate portion of the flexible printed circuit board  70  and encloses the conductive pads thereof. In the first embodiment, the protecting portion disposes on the first plate portion and comprises a second plate portion and two pair of wings, wherein each wing abutting against each edge portion. Moreover, the material rigidity of the protecting portion is higher than that of flexible printed circuit board. As a result, during the manufacture, assembling, and the transporting, that which is firstly scraped or distort is the protecting element  702  so as to prevent the conductive pads from being scraped during production, assembly and the like. 
   It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous, characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set fourth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosed is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of number, 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.