Patent ID: 12230928

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer toFIG.1andFIG.2.FIG.1illustrates a perspective view of an electrical receptacle connector100according to some embodiments of the instant disclosure.FIG.2illustrates an exploded view of the electrical receptacle connector100according to some embodiments of the instant disclosure. In some embodiments, the electrical receptacle connector100is in accordance with the specification of USB type-C connection interfaces. In this embodiment, the electrical receptacle connector100comprises a metallic shell1, an insulated housing2, a plurality of terminals3, and a metallic plate4.

The metallic shell1is a hollow shell and has a receiving cavity10.

The insulated housing2is in the receiving cavity10. The insulated housing2has a base portion21and a tongue portion22extending from one side of the base portion21. The tongue portion22has two faces22a, a front side surface22b, and two side surfaces22c. The front side surface22bis connected to front side portions of the two faces22a, and the two side surfaces22care connected to two sides of the two faces22a.

The terminals3are arranged in two rows, and the two rows are respectively arranged on the insulated housing2(as shown inFIG.3). The terminals3comprise a plurality of contact portions35at the two faces22aof the tongue portion22. The terminals3comprise a plurality of high-speed signal terminals31, a plurality of low-speed signal terminals32, a plurality of power terminals33, and a plurality of ground terminals34. The ground terminals34are at two outermost sides of the power terminals33. The low-speed signal terminals32are between the power terminals33. Each of the high-speed signal terminals31is between an adjacent one of the power terminals33and an adjacent one of the ground terminals34.

The metallic plate4is at the tongue portion22and between the terminals3in the two rows (as shown inFIG.3). The metallic plate4has a large cutout48at a front edge thereof. Each of two sides of the metallic plate4has a protrusion41, and a side portion of each of the protrusions41is exposed from a corresponding one of the side surfaces22cof the tongue portion22. The metallic plate4has a through hole42. The through hole42has a plurality of through portions421and a communication portion422(as shown inFIG.6, the through portions421are at the two sides of the metallic plate4, the communication portion422is at the middle portion of the metallic plate4, both the through portions421and the communication portion422are defined through the metallic plate4). The through holes42are at the protrusions41and correspond to front ends of the contact portions35of the high-speed signal terminals31. Each of two sides of the communication portion422is in communication with a corresponding one of the through portions421, and the communication portion422corresponds to front ends of the contact portions35of the low-speed signal terminals32.

In this embodiment, the communication portion422is in communication with the through portions421. Therefore, when the metallic plate4and the insulated housing2are molded by insert-molding, plastic materials can be conveniently filled through the hollow regions of the communication portion422and the through portions421to form the entire tongue portion22, thereby increasing the molding efficiency as well as reducing the condition that front ends of the contact portions35of the terminals3are not properly covered by the tongue portion22(the short shot condition of the plastic materials).

In some embodiments, in the case that the tongue portion22does not cover the front ends of the contact portions35, the plastic materials cannot be properly filled through the hollow region of the communication portion422to form the tongue portion22(a possible scenario is that the region of the communication portion422is not large enough). As a result, the efficiency for filling the plastic materials for forming the tongue portion22is reduced, and the front ends of the contact portions35of the terminals3are not covered by the tongue portion22and are exposed. Consequently, upon terminals of an electrical plug connector is mated with the contact portions35of the electrical receptacle connector100, the contact portions35are prone to be deflected upwardly to cause an improper mating between the terminals of the electrical plug connector and the terminals3of the electrical receptacle connector100. Moreover, since the contact portions35are prone to be deflected upwardly, the contact portions35may be in contact with each other to cause short circuit condition.

Please refer toFIG.3andFIG.4.FIG.3illustrates a cross-sectional view of the electrical receptacle connector100according to some embodiments of the instant disclosure.FIG.4illustrates a perspective view of the terminal module of the electrical receptacle connector100according to some embodiments of the instant disclosure. In some embodiments, a front end of each of the protrusions41is exposed from the front side surface22bof the tongue portion22, the front ends of the protrusions41at the two sides of the metallic plate4extend toward the front side surface22bof the tongue portion22, and the front end and two sides of each of the protrusions41are exposed from a front end and the two sides of the tongue portion22. Hence, the structural strength of the tongue portion22can be enhanced. Therefore, when an electrical plug connector is slantly inserted into the electrical receptacle connector100, the tongue portion22can be supported by the protrusion41, and the electrical plug connector in the slanting orientation can be prevented from damaging or breaking the tongue portion22upon the electrical plug connector hits the tongue portion22.

Please refer toFIG.2andFIG.5.FIG.5illustrates a top view of the terminal module of the electrical receptacle connector100according to some embodiments of the instant disclosure. In this embodiment, in the two rows of the terminals3, the front ends of the contact portions35of the high-speed signal terminals31and the front ends of the contact portions35of the low-speed signal terminals32are shielded by the metallic plate4. The front ends of the contact portions35of the high-speed signal terminals31and the front ends of the contact portions35of the low-speed signal terminals32are not exposed from the through hole42. Therefore, the front ends of the contact portions35of the high-speed signal terminals31do not face each other and the front ends of the contact portions35of the low-speed signal terminals32do not face each other. In this embodiment, the contact portions35of the high-speed signal terminals31and the contact portions35of the low-speed signal terminals32at the upper row of the tongue portion22and the contact portions35of the high-speed signal terminals31and the contact portions35of the low-speed signal terminals32at the lower row of the tongue portion22can be shielded from each other by the metallic plate4to reduce the crosstalk signal interferences upon signal transmission.

Please refer toFIG.6andFIG.7.FIG.6illustrates a partial top view of the metallic plate4of the electrical receptacle connector100.FIG.7illustrates a partial top view of the terminals3and the metallic plate4of the electrical receptacle connector100, where the protruding section43of the metallic plate4protrudes from the front ends of the contact portions35of the power terminals33. In some embodiments, the communication portion422has an inner diameter422d, the metallic plate4has a protruding section43, and the protruding section43extends toward the front side surface22bof the tongue portion22to increase the width of the inner diameter422d. Through increasing the width of the inner diameter422d, plastic materials can be conveniently filled through the hollow region of the communication portion422to form the entire tongue portion22, thereby increasing the molding efficiency.

Please refer toFIG.6andFIG.7. In some embodiments, an end surface43aof the protruding section43is nearer to the front side surface22bof the tongue portion22, as compared to end surfaces33aof the contact portions35of the power terminals33. In other words, in this embodiment a distance between the end surface43aof the protruding section43and the front side surface22bof the tongue portion22is less than a distance between the end surfaces33aof the contact portions35of the power terminals33and the front side surface22bof the tongue portion22.

Please refer toFIG.8.FIG.8illustrates a partial top view of the terminals3and the metallic plate4of the electrical receptacle connector100, where the protruding section43of the metallic plate4and the front ends of the contact portions35of the power terminals33are flushed with each other. In some embodiments, the end surface43aof the protruding section43and the end surfaces33aof the contact portions35of the power terminals33are flushed with each other at a horizontal plane (as shown inFIG.8, the end surface43aand the end surfaces33aare arranged along a same imaginary horizontal plane). In this embodiment, a distance between the front end of the protruding section43and the front side surface22bof the tongue portion22is the same as a distance between the front end of the contact portion35of the power terminal33and the front side surface22bof the tongue portion22.

Please refer toFIG.5toFIG.7. In some embodiments, the contact portions35of the ground terminals34in the two rows correspond to the through portions21, and the contact portions35of the ground terminals34in the two rows correspond to the holes of the through portions421. Moreover, in some embodiments, the contact portions35of the ground terminals34in the two rows are not shielded by the metallic plate4, and the contact portions35of the ground terminals34in the two rows face each other. Hence, in this embodiment, plastic materials can be conveniently filled through the holes of the through portions421to form the entire tongue portion22, thereby increasing the molding efficiency.

Please refer toFIG.5toFIG.7. In some embodiments, the through hole42of the metallic plate4is a hole formed by stamping techniques. The through hole42has a plurality of bent portions44. As shown inFIG.6, the bent portion44is approximately formed as a trapezoidal structure. Each of the bent portions44is between a corresponding one of the through portions421and the communication portion422, and the bent portions44are bent toward the base portion21.

Please refer toFIG.6. In some embodiments, the metallic plate4has a plurality of recessed portions45. The recessed portions45are at inner sides of the through hole42and correspond to the bent portions44. An inner side of each of the recessed portions451has a slot451. A width of the slot4511gradually increased from a middle portion of the slot451toward two ends of the slot451. The two ends of each of the slots451are in communication with a corresponding one of the through portions421and the communication portion422.

In some embodiments, taking the front side surface22bof the tongue portion22as a reference surface, the front end of the contact portion35of each of the power terminals33and the ground terminals34in the two rows is nearer to the front side surface22b, and the front end of the contact portion35of each of the high-speed signal terminals31and the low-speed signal terminals32in the two rows is farer from the front side surface22b(as shown inFIG.5). The front end of the contact portion35of each of the terminals3is covered by the tongue portion22(as shown inFIG.3), and an upper surface or a lower surface of each of the contact portions35is exposed from the two faces22aof the tongue portion22.

Please refer toFIG.2andFIG.3. In this embodiment, the terminals3at the upper row and a first insulated member8are formed with each other by insert-molding to form a first part, and the terminals3at the lower row and a second insulated member9are formed with each other by insert-molding, and then the metallic plate4is assembled on the second insulated member9to form a second part. Then, the first part and the second part are combined with each other, and the insulated housing2is combined with an assembly of the first part and the second part.

Please refer toFIG.2andFIG.4. In some embodiments, the high-speed signal terminals31are divided into two groups respectively at two outermost sides of the low-speed signal terminals32. The ground terminals34are at two outermost sides of the power terminals33. The low-speed signal terminals32are between the power terminals33. In at least one of the two rows at the two faces22aof the tongue portion22, each of the two groups of the high-speed signal terminals31is between an adjacent one of the power terminals33and an adjacent one of the ground terminals34.

Please refer toFIG.2toFIG.4. In some embodiments, the terminals3at one of the two faces22aof the tongue portion22has four high-speed signal terminals31and two low-speed signal terminals32, and the terminals3at the other face22aof the tongue portion22has four high-speed signal terminals31and two low-speed signal terminals32. Moreover, in some embodiments, the terminals3at one of the two faces22aof the tongue portion22has two power terminals33and two ground terminals34, and the terminals3at the other face22aof the tongue portion22has two power terminals33and two ground terminals34. In some embodiments, the area of the metallic plate4is extended in length and width to correspond to the entire tongue portion22. Therefore, the metallic plate4can increase the structural strength of the tongue portion22. The two sides of the metallic plate4protrude from two sides of the tongue portion22so as to be buckled by hooks of an electrical plug connector. Therefore, when an electrical plug connector is inserted into the electrical receptacle connector100, owing to the two protruding sides of the metallic plate4, the buckling pieces at the two sides of the electrical plug connector can be prevented from wearing against the two sides of the tongue portion22to cause the wearing and damaging of the tongue portion22.

Please refer toFIG.5andFIG.2. In some embodiments, each of the two sides of the metallic plate4has a connection portion47, and the connection portions47are at the base portion21. In this embodiment, the metallic plate4is connected to a material belt through the connection portions47, and the connection portions47are not at the tongue portion22.

Please refer toFIG.2andFIG.3. In some embodiments, the metallic shell1is a multi-piece structure. The metallic shell1comprises an inner shell and a cover plate. The inner shell is a tubular structure and is fitted over the insulated housing2. The cover plate is fitted over the inner shell, but embodiments are not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the metallic shell1may be a unitary element.

Please refer toFIG.2andFIG.3. In some embodiments, the terminals3comprise body portions36and tail portions37. The body portions36are held at the first insulated member8or the second insulated member9. Each of the contact portions35extends from one of two ends of a corresponding one of the body portions36and at one or the other of the two faces22aof the tongue portion22. Each of the tail portions37extends from the other end of a corresponding one of the body portions36and protrudes from a rear portion of the first insulated member8or a rear portion of the second insulated member9. The tail portions37are aligned horizontally to form flat legs (SMT (surface mount technology) legs which can be soldered or mounted on the surface of a circuit board using surface mount technology) and vertical legs (through-hole legs which can be soldered on the surface of a circuit board by through hole technology).

Please refer toFIG.2andFIG.3. In some embodiments, the pin arrangement of the terminals3at the upper row of the tongue portion22shown inFIG.2is, from left to right, a ground terminal34(Gnd), a first pair of high-speed signal terminals31(TX1+−, differential signal terminals for high-speed signal transmission), a power terminals33(Power/VBUS), a function detection terminal (CC1, a terminal for inserting orientation detection of the connector and for cable recognition), a pair of low-speed signal terminals32(D+−, differential signal terminals for low-speed signal transmission), a reserved terminal (SBU1, which may be defined to provide other purposes), another power terminal33(Power/VBUS), a second pair of high-speed signal terminals31(RX2+−, differential signal terminals for high-speed signal transmission), and another ground terminal34(Gnd). In this embodiment, twelve terminals3are provided at the upper row of the tongue portion22for transmitting USB 3.0 signals.

Please refer toFIG.2andFIG.3. In some embodiments, the pin arrangement of the terminals3at the lower row of the tongue portion22shown inFIG.2is, from right to left, a ground terminal34(Gnd), a first pair of high-speed signal terminals31(TX2+−, differential signal terminals for high-speed signal transmission), a power terminals33(Power/VBUS), a function detection terminal (CC2, a terminal for inserting orientation detection of the connector and for cable recognition), a pair of low-speed signal terminals32(D+−, differential signal terminals for low-speed signal transmission), a reserved terminal (SBU2, which may be defined to provide other purposes), another power terminal33(Power/VBUS), a second pair of high-speed signal terminals31(RX1+−, differential signal terminals for high-speed signal transmission), and another ground terminal34(Gnd). In this embodiment, twelve terminals3are provided at the lower row of the tongue portion22for transmitting USB 3.0 signals.

In some embodiments, the metallic plate4has several pins extending from two sides of the rear portion of the metallic plate4to form vertical legs (through-hole legs). In some embodiments, when signals are transmitted between the terminals of the electrical plug connector and the terminals3of the electrical receptacle connector100, the terminals3of the electrical receptacle connector100can be isolated from each other by the metallic plate4to reduce the crosstalk signal interferences upon signal transmission. Moreover, the pins are provided for connecting to a circuit board for conduction and grounding. The metallic plate4is at the tongue portion22to increase the structural strength of the tongue portion22.

Based on the above, according to one or some embodiments of the instant disclosure, the communication portion of the metallic plate is in communication with the through portions to form an elongated through hole. When the metallic plate and the insulated housing are molded by insert-molding, plastic materials can be conveniently filled through the hollow regions of the communication portion and the through portions to form the entire tongue portion, thereby increasing the molding efficiency as well as reducing the condition that front ends of the contact portions of the terminals are not properly covered by the tongue portion (the short shot condition of the plastic materials).

While the instant disclosure has been described by the way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention need not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.