Abstract:
The present invention provides a connector assembly, which includes a USB (Universal Serial Bus) plug and a USB receptacle. The plug and receptacle both have a plurality of first contacts and second contacts. The first contacts include a pair of power contacts and a pair of signal contacts, and the second contacts are composed of a pair of new signal contacts. When the plug mates with the receptacle, the first and the second contacts of the plug and receptacle connect electrically with each other correspondingly whereby the connector assembly of the present invention has a more powerful signal transmission function.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to a connector assembly, and more especially to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector assembly. 
   2. The Related Art 
   As we know, since the USB connector has many features, such as “Plug and Play”, “hot-swapping”, and a high signal transmission speed etc., it has an extensive application field, especially in the computer and peripherals field. 
   In general, a USB connector assembly includes a plug and a receptacle adapted to mate each other. Both the conventional plug and receptacle receive a pair of power terminals and a pair of signal terminals therein. As using, the power and signal terminals of the plug and receptacle connect electrically correspondingly, thereby the power and the signal could be transferred therebetween. 
   At present, following with users constantly ask high requirement to enhance the computer and peripherals products function, the trend of various electronic apparatuses, such as the note book computer, the mobile phone or the digital still camera etc., is to constantly integrate various functions. In view of this, a corresponding high demand is brought up about both a signal transmission speed and a signal transmission type on the traditional USB connector. However, because of a limit of the standard USB structure and the restricted terminal number, the conventional USB connector as described above could only transmit one type signal and not completely realize the signal transmission function. Thereby, it is urgent to design a new type connector in the base of the standard USB structure, which is capable of providing a more powerful signal transmission function. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a plug, which is designed so as to provide a more powerful signal transmission function when the plug mates with a receptacle. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a connector assembly, which is capable of realizing a more powerful signal transmission function. 
   To attain one object as mentioned above, the present invention provides a plug, which includes a plug housing enclosed within a plug shell. The plug housing has a base body with a protruding body extending upwardly from the substantial middle part of the base body. The base body is lengthwise defined with a plurality of first plug contact grooves on the top surface thereof. The first plug contact grooves pass through a lower surface of the protruding body and receive a plurality of first plug contacts therein. The first plug contacts are composed of a pair of juxtaposed power contacts and a pair of juxtaposed signal contacts. Each first plug contact has a first base portion. The first base portion of the first plug contact is provided with a first soldering portion extending rearwards therefrom for being soldered with a cable and a first engaging portion extending forwards therefrom for connecting electrically with a mated receptacle. The base body of the plug housing further is defined with a plurality of second plug contact grooves below the first plug contact grooves. The second plug contact grooves pass through the base body and receive a plurality of second plug contacts therein. The second plug contacts are composed of a pair of juxtaposed signal contacts. Each second plug contact has a second base portion. The second base portion of the second plug contact is shaped with a second soldering portion extending rearwards therefrom for being soldered with the cable and a second engaging portion extending upwards therefrom for connecting electrically with the mated receptacle. The second engaging portion is formed with a front holding portion extending rearwards from a free end thereof for holding the second plug contact in the plug housing. 
   To attain another object as mentioned above, the present invention provides a connector assembly, which comprises the plug as described above and a receptacle adapted for mating with the plug. The receptacle has a receptacle housing enclosed within a receptacle shell. The receptacle housing has a main body with a cantilever body extending forwardly from the main body. The main body is lengthwise defined with a plurality of first receptacle contact grooves for receiving a plurality of first receptacle contacts therein. The first receptacle contact grooves pass through the main body and extend forwardly to reach a front end of the cantilever body along a lower surface of the cantilever body. The first receptacle contacts are also composed of a pair of juxtaposed power contacts and a pair of juxtaposed signal contacts. Each first receptacle contact has a first main portion. The first main portion of the first receptacle contact is shaped with a first through-hole portion extending downwardly therefrom for connecting electrically with a PCB and a first conductive portion extending forwardly therefrom for connecting electrically with the mated plug. The main body of the receptacle housing further is lengthwise defined with a plurality of second receptacle contact grooves below the first receptacle grooves. The second receptacle contact grooves pass through the main body and receive a plurality of second receptacle contacts therein. The second receptacle contacts are also composed of a pair of juxtaposed signal contacts. Each second receptacle contact has a second main portion. The second main portion of the second receptacle contact is formed with a second through-hole portion extending downwardly from the rear end thereof for connecting electrically with the PCB and a second conductive portion extending transversely from the front end thereof for connecting electrically with the mated plug. The pair of second conductive portions are arranged opposite to each other and each has a curve conductive area extending forwardly therefrom. 
   As mentioned above, while the plug and the receptacle mate each other, the first engaging portions of the first plug contacts connect electrically correspondingly with the first conductive portions of the first receptacle contacts, and the second engaging portions of the second plug contacts connect electrically correspondingly with the second conductive portions of the second receptacle contacts. As a result, the cable and the PCB are connected electrically, further the power and at least two types of signals are capable of being transmitted therebetween. Thus, the connector assembly of the present invention is capable of providing a more powerful signal transmission function by means of a new design of the added second signal contacts as described above. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A detailed explanation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be given, with reference to the attached drawings, for better understanding thereof to those skilled in the art: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a plug utilized in a connector assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a receptacle utilized in the connector assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an assembled perspective view of the plug as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an assembled perspective view of the receptacle as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the connector assembly in accordance with the present invention; and 
       FIG. 6  is a partial enlarged view of  FIG. 5 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   A connector assembly in accordance with the present invention is generally denoted by reference numeral  1  as shown in  FIG. 5 . With first reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the connector assembly  1  comprises a plug  100  and a receptacle  200  adapted to mate each other. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the plug  100  includes a plug housing  140  enclosed within a plug shell  120 . The plug housing  140  receives a plurality of first plug contacts  160  and second plug contacts  180  therein. 
   The plug housing  140  has a base body  142  with a protruding body  144  extending upwardly from the substantial middle part thereof. The base body  142  is lengthwise defined with a plurality of first plug contact grooves  141  on the top surface thereof for receiving the first plug contacts  160  therein. Each first plug contact groove  141  passes through a lower surface of the protruding body  144 , with one end thereof extending rearwards through the base body  142 , and the other end thereof extending forwardly to reach a front end of the base body  142 . Together with referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the base body  142  is further defined with a plurality of second plug contact grooves  143  below the first plug contact grooves  141  for receiving the second plug contacts  180  therein. The second plug contact grooves  143  substantial parallel with the first plug contact grooves  141  and pass through the interior of the base body  142 . Each of the second plug contact grooves  143  is formed with a rear holding groove  145  which has a narrower width than the second plug contact groove  143  extending upwardly a certain distance from the rear end thereof, and a front contact groove  147  extending upwardly a certain distance from the frond end thereof. Further, the front contact groove  147  is formed with a front holding groove  149  extending rearwards a certain distance therefrom and parallel with the second plug contact groove  143 . 
   The first plug contacts  160  are composed of a pair of juxtaposed long power contacts and a pair of juxtaposed short signal contacts. Each first plug contact  160  has a first base portion  162 . The first base portion  162  is provided with a first soldering portion  164  extending rearwards therefrom and a first engaging portion  166  extending forwardly therefrom. 
   The second plug contacts  180  are composed of a pair of juxtaposed signal contacts. Each second plug contact  180  has a second base portion  182 . The second base portion  182  is shaped with a second soldering portion  184  extending rearwards therefrom and a second engaging portion  186  extending upwards therefrom, wherein the second engaging portion  186  is formed with a front holding portion  187  extending rearwards from a free end thereof. Moreover, approached the second soldering portion  184 , the second base portion  182  is cut and bent to form a rear holding portion  185  extending upwardly at a certain inclined degree therefrom. 
   Now referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  5  and  6 , as assembling, the first plug contacts  160  are received correspondingly in the first plug contact grooves  141 , and the second plug contacts  180  are received correspondingly in the second plug contact grooves  143  respectively. The second soldering portions  184  of the second plug contacts  180  protrude outwards from the second plug contact grooves  143  respectively, and the second engaging portions  186  are received in the front contact groove  147  correspondingly. Meanwhile, the front holding portions  187  of the second plug contacts  180  are fixed correspondingly in the frond holding grooves  149 , and the rear holding portions  185  of the second plug contacts  180  are held correspondingly in the rear holding grooves  145  with a free end of each rear holding portion  185  forcing forwardly an interior surface of the base body  142  respectively, so that the second plug contact  180  is capable of being fixed in the plug housing  140 . 
   With referring to  FIG. 2 , the receptacle  200  has a receptacle housing  240  enclosed within a receptacle shell  220 . The receptacle housing  240  receives a plurality of first receptacle contacts  260  and second receptacle contacts  280  therein. 
   The receptacle housing  240  has a main body  242  with a cantilever body  244  extending forwardly from the main body  242 . The main body  242  is lengthwise defined with a plurality of first receptacle contact grooves  241  and second receptacle contact grooves  243  paralleled with each other therein. Together with referring to  FIG. 4 , each first receptacle contact groove  241  passes through the interior of the main body  242  with the rear end thereof communicating with outside, and the front end extending forwardly to reach the front end of the cantilever body  244  along a lower surface of the cantilever body  244 . The second receptacle contact grooves  243  are defined below the first receptacle contact grooves  241  and pass through the main body  242  with both end communicating with outside. 
   The first receptacle contacts  260  are also composed of a pair of juxtaposed long power contacts and a pair of juxtaposed short signal contacts. Each first receptacle contact  260  has a first main portion  262 . The first main portion  262  is shaped with a first through-hole portion  264  extending downwardly therefrom and a first conductive portion  266  extending forwardly therefrom, wherein the first conductive portion  266  has a V-shape to provide an elastic conductive area in a lower surface thereof. 
   The second receptacle contacts  280  are also composed of a pair of juxtaposed signal contacts. Each second receptacle contact  280  has a second main portion  282 . The second main portion  282  is formed with a second through-hole portion  284  extending downwardly from the rear end thereof and a second conductive portion  286  extending transversely from the front end thereof, wherein the pair of second conductive portions  286  are arranged opposite to each other and each has a curve conductive area extending forwardly therefrom. 
   Now referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 , as assembling, the first receptacle contacts  260  are received correspondingly in the first receptacle contact grooves  241 , and the second receptacle contacts  280  are received correspondingly in the second receptacle contact grooves  243  respectively. The first through-hole portions  264  and the second through-hole portions  284  parallel with each other and protrude outwardly and downwardly from the rear end of the main body  242 . The first conductive portion  266  projects downwardly from the lower surface of the cantilever body  244 , and the second conductive portion  286  projects forwardly from the front end of the main body  242 , while the first conductive portion  266  is substantial perpendicular to the second conductive portion  286 . 
   With referring to  FIGS. 5 , and  6 , the plug  100  and the receptacle  200  mate with each other, and the base body  122  of the plug housing  120  inserts below the cantilever body  224  of the receptacle housing  220 . Simultaneously, the first engaging portions  166  of the first plug contacts  160  connect electrically correspondingly with the first conductive portions  266  of the first receptacle contacts  260 , and the second engaging portions  186  of the second plug contacts  180  connect electrically correspondingly with the second conductive portions  286  of the second receptacle contacts  280  respectively. Furthermore, the first soldering portions  164  of the first plug contacts  160  and the second soldering portions  184  of the second plug contacts  180  are all soldered with a cable (not shown), and the first through-hole portions  264  of the first receptacle contacts  260  and the second through-hole portions  284  of the second receptacle contacts  280  all connect electrically with a PCB. With this consequence, the cable and the PCB are connected electrically, further the power and at least two types of signals are capable of being transmitted therebetween. Therefore, the connector assembly  1  of the present invention is capable of providing a more powerful signal transmission function by means of a new design of the added second signal contacts as described above. 
   Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art, and various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.