Patent ID: 12212102

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Various embodiments of the invention are now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like components throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a”, “an”, and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Moreover, titles or subtitles may be used in the specification for the convenience of a reader, which shall have no influence on the scope of the present invention.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present therebetween. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Furthermore, relative terms, such as “lower” or “bottom” and “upper” or “top,” may be used herein to describe one element's relationship to another element as illustrated in the Figures. It will be understood that relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the Figures. For example, if the device in one of the figures is turned over, elements described as being on the “lower” side of other elements would then be oriented on “upper” sides of the other elements. The exemplary term “lower”, can therefore, encompasses both an orientation of “lower” and “upper,” depending of the particular orientation of the figure. Similarly, if the device in one of the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements would then be oriented “above” the other elements. The exemplary terms “below” or “beneath” can, therefore, encompass both an orientation of above and below.

As used herein, “around”, “about” or “approximately” shall generally mean within 20 percent, preferably within 10 percent, and more preferably within 5 percent of a given value or range. Numerical quantities given herein are approximate, meaning that the term “around”, “about” or “approximately” can be inferred if not expressly stated.

As used herein, the terms “comprising”, “including”, “carrying”, “having”, “containing”, “involving”, and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to.

The description will be made as to the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inFIGS.1-13. In accordance with the purposes of this invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, this invention, in one aspect, relates to an electrical connector and a method of manufacturing the same.

FIG.1shows an electrical connector system according to certain embodiments of the present invention, which includes an electrical connector100, a mating connector200mated with the electrical connector100, a first electrical element electrically connected to the electrical connector100and a second electrical element electrically connected to the mating connector200. In the present embodiment, the first electrical element is a first substrate8, and the second electrical element is a second substrate9. In other embodiments, the first electrical element and the second electrical element may be both cables, etc. Alternatively, the first electrical element may be the first substrate8and the second electrical element may be a cable. Further alternatively, the first electrical element may be a cable and the second electrical element may be the second substrate9. The first electrical element and the second electrical element may further be other elements, as long as they may be electrically connected correspondingly to the electrical connector100or the mating connector200to transmit the corresponding signals, and are thus not limited thereto. A mating side of the electrical connector100is used to be mated with the mating connector200, and a mounting side of the electrical connector100is used to be connected to the first electrical element. A mating side of the mating connector200is used to be mated with the electrical connector100, and a mounting side of the mating connector200is used to be connected to the second electrical element.

FIG.2shows an electrical connector100according to certain embodiments of the present invention, which is used to be mated with the mating connector200and connected to the corresponding first electrical element. The electrical connector100includes an insulating shell1, a plurality of electrical modules2and two retaining sheets3. The insulating shell1further includes two guiding insertion holes11. The electrical modules2are arranged in parallel and are partially fixed to the insulating shell1, and the electrical modules2are further fixed and positioned to each other by the two retaining sheets3.

Referring toFIG.3toFIG.6, each electrical module2includes an insulating body21, a plurality of terminal assemblies22and two grounding sheets24. The insulating body21is provided with a first side surface211and a second side surface212opposite to each other. A plurality of accommodating slots213are respectively provided concavely on the first side surface211toward the second side surface212and concavely on the second side surface212toward the first side surface211. Each accommodating slot213does not run through the first side surface211and the second side surface212along a concave direction thereof. Each accommodating slot213correspondingly accommodates one of the terminal assemblies22. The terminal assemblies22are assembled and accommodated in the insulating body21respectively from two sides of the insulating body21, such that one insulating body21may fix two rows of the terminal assemblies22, and the two rows of the terminal assemblies22are limited and stopped by a stopping wall214at the middle of the insulating body21. Compared to the case where each insulating body21only fixes one corresponding row of the terminal assemblies22, in the present embodiment, the two rows of the terminal assemblies22may be stopped respectively by two sides of one stopping wall214, instead of using two stopping walls214of two insulating bodies21to respectively stop the two rows of the terminal assemblies22, so the present invention may reduce the thickness of one stopping wall214, thereby reducing the production cost and effectively reducing the size of the electrical connector100in the arrangement direction of the terminal assemblies22. Further, the two grounding sheets24are respectively fixed to the two sides of the insulating body21and are respectively in contact with the two rows of the terminal assemblies22, which may prevent the terminal assemblies22from detaching out of the insulating body21from the accommodating slots213to a certain degree.

Each of the terminal assemblies22includes a first signal terminal S1and a second signal terminal S2, an insulating block227and a shielding shell23. The first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2are arranged to form a pair of differential terminals and are narrow-edge coupled. A length of the first signal terminal S1is greater than a length of the second signal terminal S2. The insulating block277fixes the first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2. The shielding shell23covers outside the insulating block227, the first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2, thus shielding the interfering signals from the first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2, which is conducive to the signal transmission of the pair of the differential terminals. Each grounding sheet24is in contact with the shielding shells23of the terminal assemblies22in a same row, thus electrically connecting the shielding shells23, and enhancing the grounding shielding effect of the shielding shells23. In the present embodiment, the two rows of the differential terminals fixed by a same insulating body21are staggered in the row direction. That is, when viewing from the first side surface211of the insulating body21toward the second side surface212, the projections of the two rows of the differential terminals do not overlap, thus reducing the signal interference between the two rows of the differential terminals.

The first signal terminal S1has a first contact portion221, a first conductive portion223and a first connecting portion222connecting the first contact portion221and the first conductive portion223. The second signal terminal S2has a second contact portion224, a second conductive portion226and a second connecting portion225connecting the second contact portion224and the second conductive portion226. The first contact portion221and the second contact portion224are both used to be mated with the mating connector200, and the first conductive portion223and the second conductive portion226are both used to be electrically connected to the first electrical element. In the present embodiment, the first electrical element is a first substrate8, and the first conductive portion223and the second conductive portion226are both surface solder type conductive portions, and are used to be soldered to the first substrate8by solder balls, thus enhancing the coplanarity of the first conductive portion223and the second conductive portion226in the electrical connector100. In other embodiments, the first conductive portion223and the second conductive portion226may be fisheye shaped terminal portions (not shown) or insertion hole types conductive portions (not shown) to be inserted into the insertion holes (not shown) of the first substrate8.

Referring toFIG.7toFIG.11, the first connecting portion222is provided with at least one exposing area22211. The exposing area22211is exposed in the insulating block227and exposed in the air medium. The first connecting portion222has at least one widening portion2221and at least one narrow portion2222connected to each other along a length direction thereof. A width of the widening portion2221is greater than a width of the narrow portion2222. The exposing area22211is provided at the widening portion2221, and the second connecting portion225is completely wrapped in the insulating block227. As shown inFIG.8, a first width W1is the width of the widening portion2221, a second width W2is the width of the narrow portion2222, and W1>W2. In the present invention, the first connecting portion222is exposed in the air medium through the exposing area22211, and compared to the second connecting portion225being wrapped in the insulating block227, the capacitance around the exposing area22211is reduced, which may shorten the signal transmission time of the first signal terminal S1, thus improving the time delay of the signal transmission between the first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2with different lengths. Meanwhile, since the exposing area22211is exposed in the air medium, the impedance thereof is correspondingly increased. In the present invention, the exposing area22211is provided at the widening portion2221, which reduces the impedance by increasing the width thereof, thereby remedying the impedance being increased due to the exposing area22211being exposed in the air medium, facilitating improving time delay of the signal transmission, balancing the impedance characteristics of the first signal terminal S1, and reducing the sudden change of the impedance of the first signal terminal S1. Further, compared to the case where a snake bending shape is provided, in the present invention, the forming difficulties of the first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2are lower, and there is a lesser effect to the signal coupling of the first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2. It should be noted that, if the second connecting portion225also has an area being exposed in the air medium, it will cause the medium change around the second connecting portion225, and there is a need to increase other design to balance the change to the electrical characteristics caused by the medium change around the second connecting portion225, thus increasing the design difficulties of the electrical characteristics of the electrical connector100; and the first connecting portion222may need the exposing area22211with a larger area and the widening portion2221being wider to effectively shorten the time delay of the signal transmission, which may affect the retaining effect of the insulating block227to the pair of the differential terminals and affect the overall size of the electrical connector100. Thus, in the present invention, the second connecting portion225is completely wrapped in the insulating block227, which may reduce the design difficulties of the electrical characteristics of the electrical connector100, and is conducive to the miniaturized design of the electrical connector100. In the present embodiment, the first connecting portions222of different ones of the first signal terminals S1are provided with either one or two widening portions2221. In other embodiments, there may be more than two widening portions2221in the first connecting portion222, which may be provided according to the actual need. For the same reason, the quantity of the exposing area22211may be provided according to the actual need, and is thus not hereinafter limited thereto.

Referring toFIG.7toFIG.11, the first connecting portion222and the second connecting portion225both bend and extend, and the exposing area22211is located at a bending location of the first connecting portion222. At the bending location, the lengths of the first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2may significantly change. In the present invention, the exposing area22211is provided at the bending location, thus directly adjusting the capacitance at the bending location, effectively hastening the signal transmission speed of the first signal terminal S1, and remedying the transmission time delay. In addition, since the bending shape is provided, the impedance at the bending location is greater than the impedance at other locations of the first connecting portion222. Thus, the exposing area22211is provided at the widening portion2221and is located at the bending location, thus reducing the impedance at the bending location by increasing the width of the bending location, and further balancing the impedance of the first signal terminal S1. Further, the first connecting portion222has a first narrow edge2223and a second narrow edge2224, and the second connecting portion225has a third narrow edge2251and a fourth narrow edge2252. The first narrow edge2223and the third narrow edge2251are coupled to each other. The first narrow edge2223and the second narrow edge2224at the widening portion2221protrude outward relatively than the first narrow edge2223and the second narrow edge2224at the narrow portion2222, and the first connecting portion222and the second connecting portion225are provided at an interval with a constant center distance DO. It should be noted that, a distance from a first center line L1of the first connecting portion222to a second center line L2of the second connecting portion225is the center distance DO between the first connecting portion222and the second connecting portion225. Since the exposing area22211is provided at the bending location, when the center distance between the first connecting portion222and the second connecting portion225is greater, the length difference at the bending locations of the first connecting portion222and the second connecting portion225is greater. Compared to the case where the widening portion2221protrudes only at the first narrow edge2223or the second narrow edge2224, in the prevent invention, the widening portion2221protrudes outward at both the first narrow edge2223and the second narrow edge2224, which allows the center line of the widening portion2221to be more adjacent to the center line of the second connecting portion225, thus reducing the length difference of the first connecting portion222and the second connecting portion225, and reducing the time delay of the signal transmission between the first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2. Further, the center distance is constant, which is conducive to the characteristic impedance matching between the pair of the differential terminals, and is conducive to the signal coupling.

Referring toFIG.8,FIG.9andFIG.11, the widening portion2221is further provided with at least one wrapping area22212being wrapped by the insulating block227. The wrapping area22212is provided between the exposing area22211and the narrow portion2222along the extending direction of the first connecting portion222. Compared to the case where the widening portion2221is only provided with the exposing area22211, the width change location between the widening portion2221and the narrow portion222is the location where the medium around the first connecting portion222changes, such that there are simultaneous sudden changes to the capacitance and the impedance thereof, thus easily causing sudden change and distortion to the signals. In the present invention, the widening portion2221is further provided with the wrapping area22212, such that when the signal is transmitted from the narrow portion222to the wrapping area22212and then to the exposing area22211, there is the impedance change first, which then gradually transitions to the capacitance change, thus reducing the risk of sudden change and distortion to the signals caused by the simultaneous changes to the capacitance and the impedance thereof. In addition, the widening portion2221has a longer preserved length, which is convenient to sufficiently form the exposing area22211, thus preventing from insufficient exposing area22211caused by errors in the manufacturing process. Meanwhile, the wrapping area22212is provided between the narrow portion2222and the exposing area22211, thus allowing the insulating block227to wrap at the width change location of the first connecting portion222, which is convenient for the forming of the insulating block227. The second connecting portion225has a constant width, and the width of the narrow portion2222is equal to a width of the second connecting portion225. Specifically, a third width W3is defined as the width of the second connecting portion225, and W2=W3. To enhance the electrical characteristics of the electrical connector100, in addition to balancing the characteristics impedance at locations of the first signal terminal S1, there is a need to balance the characteristics impedance between the first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2. In the present embodiment, the width W2of the narrow portion2222is equal to the width W3of the second connecting portion225, and the difference between the first connecting portion222and the second connecting portion225is provided at the widening portion2221, thus reducing the difference between the pair of the differential terminals, and increasing the characteristics impedance matching of the pair of the differential terminals. Further, the width of the second connecting portion225is constant, thus reducing the parameter design for the first connecting portion222being performed according to the width change of the second connecting portion225, and reducing the design difficulties of the pair of the differential terminals.

Referring toFIG.9andFIG.10, the insulating block227is provided with two grooves2271. The two grooves2271are concavely provided respectively from two surfaces of the insulating block227toward the two wide edges of the first connecting portion222and the two wide edges of the second connecting portions225, and each groove2271extends along the first connecting portion222. By providing the grooves2271, the volume of the insulating block227around the first connecting portion222and the second connecting portion225may be reduced. On the condition that the dielectric constant of the plastic material of the insulating block227is certain, the less volume of the insulating block227exists around the first connecting portion222and the second connecting portion225, the more reducing of the capacitances of the first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2may be achieved, thus reducing the insertion loss of the first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2. In other embodiments, the insulating block227may be concavely provided with one groove2271from only one of the surfaces toward one of the wide edges of the first connecting portion222and the second connecting portion225, and the other surface is not concavely provided with the groove2271. Alternatively, a plurality of grooves2271may be concavely provided at intervals from one of the surfaces of the insulating block227. In the present embodiment, the insulating block227is provided with the two grooves2271concavely provided respectively from two surfaces of the insulating block toward the two wide edges of the first connecting portion222and the second connecting portions225, thus reducing the volume of the insulating materials around the two wide edges of the first connecting portion222and the second connecting portions225, allowing the capacitances of the two wide edges of the first connecting portion222to be relatively equivalent, and allowing the capacitances of the two wide edges of the second connecting portions225to be relatively equivalent.

Referring toFIG.6toFIG.9, the insulating block227includes a plurality of first time insert-molding members228and a second time insert-molding member229. The first time insert-molding members228fix the first connecting portion222and the second connecting portion225. Each first time insert-molding member228has a plurality of mold positioning portions2281. The second time insert-molding member229wraps outside the first connecting portion222, the second connecting portion225and the first time insert-molding members228, and the first time insert-molding members228wrap outside the narrow portion2222. It should be noted that, the mold positioning portions2281are used for the mold to fix the first time insert-molding members228and the pair of the differential terminals when insert-molding the second time insert-molding member229, in order to continuously wrap and form the second time insert-molding member229outside the pair of the differential terminals and the first time insert-molding members228. It should be noted that, if the insulating block227is insert-molded only once, when insert-molding the insulating block227, the mold will be directly fixed on the differential terminals to perform insert-molding of the insulating block227, and after the forming of the insulating block227is complete, and after the mold is removed, notches will be formed on fixing locations of the differential terminals, such that the terminals are partially exposed in the air, without wrapping the second connecting portion225completely in the insulating block227, thus affecting the characteristics impedance of the second connecting portion225. In the present embodiment, the insulating block227includes the first time insert-molding members228and the second time insert-molding member229, and each first time insert-molding member228has the mold positioning portions2281, thus effectively wrapping the second connecting portion225completely in the insulating block227. The narrow portion2222reserves and provides a forming space for the first time insert-molding members228in the width thereof, which is conducive to the first time insert-molding members228to wrap and fix the first connecting portion222and the second connecting portion225in the limited space. It should be noted that, in the present embodiment, the surfaces of the mold positioning portions2281are in contact with the mold, and after the mold is removed, the surfaces of the mold positioning portions2281being in contact with the mold are exposed out of the second time insert-molding member229. Further, two mold positioning portions2281are formed by protruding outward from a same side of each first time insert-molding member228, and a filling slot2282is formed between the two mold positioning portions2281. The filling slot2282is filled by the second time insert-molding member229. Thus, materials of the first time insert-molding members228and the second time insert-molding member229are provided to engage with each other, thus increasing the structural stability between the first time insert-molding members228and the second time insert-molding member229, and preventing the first time insert-molding members228and the second time insert-molding member229from moving and loosening relative to each other. In the present embodiment, the mold positioning portions2281are provided at the two ends of the length direction thereof. Further, one of the first time insert-molding members228is provided with at least one separation hole2284. Portions of narrow edges of the first connecting portion222and the second connecting portion225being coupled to each other are exposed in the separation hole2284, and the separation hole2284is filled by the second time insert-molding member229. Specifically, a portion of the first narrow edge2223of the first connecting portion222and a portion of the third narrow edge2251of the second connecting portion225are exposed in the separation hole2284and are wrapped by the second time insert-molding member229. Thus, the separation hole2284provides a fixing location for the mold, which may separate the first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2for the mold when insert-molding the first time insert-molding members228, thus preventing from an excessive insert-molding pressure that presses the first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2to deform and be in contact altogether. It should be noted that, the quantity of the first time insert-molding members228included in one insulating block228and the length of each first time insert-molding member228may be provided correspondingly based on the lengths of the first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2. It should be noted that, the second time insert-molding member229may expose a portion of the first time insert-molding members228. For example, as shown in the drawings of the present embodiment, after the second time insert-molding member229is formed outside the first time insert-molding members228, a portion of the surfaces of the first time insert-molding members228are exposed out of the groove2271. That is, the bottom surface of the groove2271is flush with the surfaces of the first time insert-molding members228. In other embodiments, it is possible that the surfaces of the first time insert-molding members228are not exposed out of the groove2271.

Referring toFIG.6andFIG.7, at least one of the first time insert-molding member228further includes at least two insert-molding blocks2283and at least one bridging portion2285. The bridging portion2285connects two adjacent ones of the insert-molding blocks2283. The bridging portion2285and the two adjacent insert-molding blocks2283collectively form two positioning recesses2286. The narrow edges at outer sides of the first connecting portion222and the second connecting portion225are respectively exposed in the positioning recesses2286, and the separation hole2284is provided on the insert-molding blocks2283. Specifically, a portion of the second narrow edge2224of the first connecting portion222and a portion of the fourth narrow edge2252of the second connecting portion225are respectively exposed in the corresponding positioning recesses2286. Thus, the mold may be positioned at outer sides and inner sides of the first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2by the separation hole2284and the positioning recesses2286, which is convenient for forming the first time insert-molding members228on the first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2. Meanwhile, the separation hole2284and the positioning recesses2286may be staggered relatively in the extending direction of the first connecting portion222and the second connecting portion225, which is convenient for performing positioning and insert-molding at different portions of the first connecting portion222and the second connecting portion225. As shown inFIG.7, each terminal assembly22is provided with a plurality of first time insert-molding members228. For the first time insert-molding members228, there is at least one first time insert-molding member228that includes a plurality of insert-molding blocks2283, and there is at least one other first time insert-molding member228that includes only one insert-molding block2283. Meanwhile, at least one of the insert-molding blocks2283may be provided with the separation hole2284thereon, and at least one other insert-molding block2283may be provided with no separation hole2284thereon. In other words, the present invention does not require all of the insert-molding blocks2283to be provided with separation holes2284thereon. Further, in other embodiments, it is possible that one insert-molding block2283may be provided with multiple separation holes2284thereon.

Referring toFIG.5andFIG.11, the shielding shell23covers outside the insulating block227. The shielding shell23has a first side wall231and a second side wall232provided oppositely along an arrangement direction of the first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2. The first narrow edge2223of the first connecting portion222and the third narrow edge2251of the second connecting portion225are coupled to each other, and the second narrow edge2224of the first connecting portion222and the fourth narrow edge2252of the second connecting portion225respectively face toward the first side wall231and the second side wall232. A distance between the second narrow edge2224at the narrow portion2222and the first side wall231is defined as a first distance D1. A distance between the fourth narrow edge2252and the second side wall232is defined as a second distance D2. A distance between the second narrow edge2224at the widening portion2221and the first side wall231is defined as a third distance D3. The first distance D1is equal to the second distance D2. The first narrow edge2223and the second narrow edge2224at the widening portion2221protrude outward relatively than the first narrow edge2223and the second narrow edge2224at the narrow portion2222. Compared to the case where the widening portion2221only protrudes outward at the first narrow edge2223or the second narrow edge2224, the present invention may reduce the protruding amount of the second narrow edge2224at the widening portion2221, and reduce the distance change between the second narrow edge2224and the first side wall231. That is, the difference between the first distance D1and the third distance D3is reduced, thus further reducing the impedance fluctuation of the first connecting portion222. Meanwhile, the difference between the second distance D2and the third distance D3is reduced, such that the characteristics impedance matching of the first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2is increased. Further, if the protruding amount of the second narrow edge2224is large, it will cause the shielding shell23to be adaptively enlarged to avoid from being in contact with the first connecting portion222. Thus, in the present invention, the widening portion2221is further conducive to reducing the size of the shielding shell23, and conducive to reducing the volume of the electrical connector100. Further, the exposing area22211and a side wall of the shielding shell23face each other and are separated by the air medium, thus further adjusting the capacitance of the exposing area22211and adjusting the impedance of the exposing area22211, further adjusting the signal transmission time and characteristics impedance of the first signal terminal S1, and improving the signal transmission characteristics of the electrical connector100. It should be noted that, as shown inFIG.5andFIG.6, the shielding shell23provided in the present embodiment includes a first shielding body233and a second shielding body234in contact with each other, and the first shielding body233and the second shielding body234are assembled to each other to form the shielding shell23covering outside surrounding the insulating block227. In other embodiments, the shielding shell23may be an integrally-formed structure, or may be formed by assembly the first shielding body233and the second shielding body234in other shapes. In addition, the shielding shell23is provided with two insertion hole type soldering legs235provided oppositely and two sets of surface soldering type soldering legs236provided oppositely. Each set of the surface soldering type soldering legs236includes two surface soldering type soldering legs. Thus, the two insertion hole type soldering legs235of the shielding shell23may increase the connecting stability between the terminal assemblies22and the first substrate8, and the surface soldering type soldering legs236of the shielding shell23may provide a reserved space for the signal transmission inside the first substrate8, which is convenient for the circuit arrangement design of the first substrate8, and may be supported on the surface of the first substrate8to provide more supporting force for the terminal assemblies22. In the present embodiment, the two sets of the surface soldering type soldering legs236are respectively provided on the first shielding body233and the second shielding body234.

Referring toFIG.1,FIG.12andFIG.13, the mating connector200includes an insulating seat4, a plurality of mating assemblies5, a plurality of conductive members6and two guiding posts. The mating assemblies5are fixed to the insulating seat4and are arranged in a plurality of rows, and each row of the mating assemblies5are in contact with a corresponding one of the conductive members6altogether. The two guiding posts are fixed in the insulating seat4, and each guiding post is used to be inserted into a corresponding one of the guiding insertion holes11. When mating of the electrical connector100and the mating connector200is complete, the insulating seat4and the insulating shell1are mated, each mating assembly5and a corresponding terminal assembly22are mated, and the two guiding posts are respectively inserted and fixed in the two guiding insertion holes11.

Specifically, the two guiding posts include a first guiding post7aand a second guiding post7b, and a length of the first guiding post7ais greater than a length of the second guiding post7b. In the mating process of the electrical connector100and the mating connector200, the first guiding post7ais firstly matched with its corresponding guiding insertion hole11to perform initial guiding positioning, and then the second guiding post7bis then matched with its corresponding guiding insertion hole11to perform accurate positioning. Since the first guiding post7ais for performing the initial positioning for the electrical connector100and the mating connector200, there is a greater damaging risk for the first guiding post7a, such as being broken or deforming. The second guiding post7bis for performing further positioning on the premise that the first guiding post7ahas performed the initial positioning, and the second guiding post7bhas a lower damaging risk relative to that of the first guiding post7a. Thus, in the present embodiment, the material strength of the first guiding post7ais greater than the material strength of the second guiding post7b. For example, the first guiding post7ais formed by a metal material, and the second guiding post7bis formed by a plastic material. Thus, the production cost of the second guiding post7bmay be further reduced on the premise that the two guiding posts are ensured not to be easily damaged.

Referring toFIG.12andFIG.13, each mating assembly5includes an insulating fixing member51, a third signal terminal S3and a fourth signal terminal S4fixed to the insulating fixing member51, and a mating shielding body52. The third signal terminal S3and the fourth signal terminal S4are arranged to form a pair of differential terminals and are narrow-edge coupled. The mating shielding body52wraps outside the insulating fixing member51, the third signal terminal S3and the fourth signal terminal S4. As shown inFIG.13, corresponding to the electrical connector100, the mating assemblies5of the mating connector200are also correspondingly arranged to form a plurality of rows, and the mating shielding bodies52of each row of the mating assemblies5are in contact with a corresponding one of the conductive members6. The two adjacent rows of the differential terminals are staggered in the row direction, thus reducing the signal interference between the two adjacent rows of the differential terminals. In the present embodiment, when mating of the electrical connector100and the mating connector200is complete, the first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2are respectively mated with the third signal terminal S3and the fourth signal terminal S4, the shielding shell23is mated with the mating shielding body52, and the shielding shell23is accommodated in the mating shielding body52. A guiding portion521is provided to flip outward at the mating edge of the mating shielding body52to guide the shielding shell23into the mating shielding body52. In other embodiments, it is possible that the mating shielding body52is accommodated in the shielding shell23.

It should be noted that, when the electrical connector100is provided with power transmission elements (not shown, same below) used for transmitting power signals, the power transmission elements may be provided at an outer side of the matrix arranged by the terminal assemblies22. For example, the power transmission elements may be provided side-by-side at two sides of one side of the electrical connector100. It is also possible to provide the power transmission elements in the matrix. For example, the power transmission elements may be provided in the form of the electrical modules2according to the present invention, and the power transmission elements and the electrical modules2are arranged side-by-side along the thickness direction of the insulating body21according to a certain arrangement sequence. In an alternative example, each electrical module2is provided with a plurality of terminal assemblies22, in which some of the terminal assemblies22include the pair of differential terminals used to transmit the differential signal data, and some other terminal assemblies22include power terminals, and the power terminals may be used as the power transmission elements. For example, each row of the terminal assemblies22of each electrical module2has the terminal assemblies22for transmitting the differential signal data, and also has the terminal assemblies22for transmitting the power signals. Thus, the present invention merely limits the electrical connector100to have at least one terminal assembly22that includes the first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2used for transmitting the differential signal data, without limiting all of the terminal assemblies22of the electrical connector100to be used for transmitting the differential signal data. The present invention may further configure the signals being transmitted by the terminals of the terminal assemblies22according to the actual need, without being hereinafter limited thereto.

In sum, the electrical connector100according to certain embodiments of the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

1. The capacitance value around the first connecting portion222is reduced by the exposing area22211, which shortens the signal transmission time of the longer first signal terminal S1, thereby improving the time delay of the signal transmission between the first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2with different lengths. Further, the exposing area22211is provided at the widening portion2221, which reduces the impedance by increasing the width thereof, thereby remedying the impedance being increased due to the exposing area22211being exposed in the air medium, facilitating improving time delay of the signal transmission, balancing the impedance characteristics of the first signal terminal S1, and causing a lesser effect to the forming difficulties and the signal coupling of the first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2.

2. The exposing area22211is provided at the bending location of the first connecting portion222, thus effectively hastening the signal transmission speed of the first signal terminal S1, remedying the transmission time delay, reducing the impedance at the bending location by increasing the width of the bending location, and further balancing the impedance of the first signal terminal S1.

3. The first narrow edge2223and the second narrow edge2224at the widening portion2221protrude outward relatively than the first narrow edge2223and the second narrow edge2224at the narrow portion2222, and the first connecting portion222and the second connecting portion225are provided at an interval with a constant center distance, which allows the center line of the widening portion2221to be more adjacent to the center line of the second connecting portion225, thus reducing the length difference of the first connecting portion222and the second connecting portion225, and reducing the time delay of the signal transmission between the first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2. Further, the center distance is constant, which is conducive to the characteristic impedance matching between the pair of the differential terminals, and is conducive to the signal coupling.

4. By providing the grooves2271, the insertion loss of the first signal terminal S1and the second signal terminal S2may be reduced.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and their practical application so as to activate others skilled in the art to utilize the invention and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein.