Patent ID: 12191604

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the embodiments of the present disclosure in detail. In the following description, the same drawing reference numerals are used for the same elements in different drawings.

Referring toFIG.1andFIG.2, an electrical connector100in accordance with the present invention, comprises a front shell10, a plurality of terminal modules20assembled on the front shell10, a plurality of shielding elements30, a back shell40for fixing the terminal modules20and an insulating base50. Particularly, three directions shown in theFIG.1are AA in the first direction, BB in the second direction, and CC in the third direction. The relationship between the three directions is perpendicular to each other.

Referring toFIG.3together withFIG.1,FIG.2, the front shell, which is also can be named as front cover10, comprises a mating wall11and side walls12. The mating wall11and the side walls12are jointly enclosed to define a containing space13to contain the terminal module20and the shielding elements30. The mating wall11is configured to cooperate with the complementary connector (not shown), which has a plurality of mating holes111arranged in matrix. The plurality of mating holes111extend along a first direction AA through the mating wall11, and communicate to the containing space13. The first direction AA is the direction along which the electrical connector100engages to the complementary connector. The side wall12is provided with guiding portions121, which are used to guide the complementary connector to insert into the electrical connector100, and first fixing portions122. In the preferred embodiment, each side wall12is provided with a plurality of guide portions121. Preferably, the spacing between the two neighbored guide portions121on one side wall12is greater than the spacing between the two neighbored guide portions121on the other side wall12. By such an arrangement, it can not only guide the complementary connector engaging with the electrical connector100, but also can avoid a mis-inserting therebetween. In the present embodiment, the guiding portions121are designed to be a plurality of guiding slots along a first direction AA. Understandably, in other embodiments, the guiding portions121can be designed to be a plurality of guiding protrusions protruded from the side wall12and arranged along a first direction AA. The first fixing portion122is located at one end of the side wall12away from the mating wall11, which is adapted for cooperating with the terminal module20and fixing the terminal module20on the front shell10. In the present embodiment, the number of side walls12is two, but it will be appreciated that in other embodiments, the number of sidewalls12may be set as needed. More detailedly, the side walls12of the preferred embodiment has a top sidewall and a bottom sidewall. In this preferred embodiment, the front shell/cover10has a U-shaped cross-section.

Referring toFIG.4,FIG.5andFIG.1, the plurality of terminal modules20are arranged along the third direction CC which is perpendicular to the first direction AA. The terminal module20includes a terminal assembly60and an insulating wafer/body70for fixing the terminal assembly60. Referring toFIG.6andFIG.7, the terminal assembly60includes a plurality of ground terminals/contacts61and a plurality of differential signal terminal pairs. The differential signal terminal pair is disposed between adjacent ground terminals61. Since the differential signal terminal pair is disposed along the second direction BB and arranged between the adjacent two ground terminals61in the same terminal module20, the signal interference between the adjacent two differential signal terminal pairs can be shielded, thereby enhancing the electromagnetic isolation between the differential signal terminal pairs, improving insertion loss and reducing signal crosstalk.

The grounding terminal61includes a first contacting portion611, a first mounting portion612and a first connection portion613connecting the first contacting portion611and a first mounting portion612. The first contacting portion611extends outwards from one side of the first connection portion613along the first direction AA, the first mounting portion612extends outwards from the other side of the first connection portion613in the fourth direction. In the present embodiment, the fourth direction coincides with the second direction BB. The first mounting portion612is used to engage with a printed circuit board on which the electrical connector is mounted thereon. However, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments, the fourth direction may also coincide with the second direction BB, e.g., an acute angle is formed between the fourth direction and the second direction BB. Referring toFIG.7, the first contacting portion611includes a first contacting arm6111electrically connecting with a first grounding means and a second contacting arm6112electrically connecting with a second grounding means. In the present embodiment, the first grounding means is grounding terminals of the complementary connector, and the second grounding means is the shielding element30. When the electrical connector100is engaged with the complementary connector, the first grounding means and the second grounding means are located on both sides of the first connection portion613in the thickness direction of the first connection portion613. Since the ground terminal61is electrically connected to the shielding element30, adjacent shielding elements30electrically connects with each other thereby establishing a grounding circle. The first contacting arm6111is formed from the side of the first connection613along the first direction AA outward extension formed. The first contact arm6111includes a contacting finger6114and a pair of connecting arms6115extending backwards from the contacting finger6114. A slot6113is defined between the pair of connecting arms6115. In the preferred embodiment, the second contacting arm6112is formed by stamping from the grounding terminal61, therefore the stamped slot is formed the slot6113. The first contacting arm6111and the second contacting arm6112are in a straight line in the first direction AA, thereby effectively shortening the length of the terminal assembly60in the second direction BB.

Referring toFIG.8, a contact region between the first contacting arm6111and the grounding terminal of the complementary connector is defined as the first contact region, and similarly, the contact region between the second contacting arm6112and the shielding element30is defined as the second contact region. Along the thickness direction of the first connecting portion613(i.e., the third direction CC), the first contact region, the second contact region are located on opposite sides of the first connecting portion613. In the present embodiment, at least one of the first contacting arm6111, the second contacting arm6112is an elastic contacting arm. However, it will be appreciated that, in other embodiments, at least one of the first contacting arm6111and the second contacting arm6112may also be provided as a rigid contacting arm.

Referring toFIG.6, the first connection portion613is curved so that the extending direction of the first contacting portion611is not parallel to the extending direction of the first mounting portion612. In the present embodiment, the extending direction of the first contacting portion611is perpendicular to the extending direction of the first mounting portion612. However, it will be appreciated that, in other embodiments, the extending direction of the first contacting portion611and the extending direction of the first mounting portion612may also not be perpendicular, e.g., the two portions are parallel or the angle between the two portions is an acute angle. The first mounting portion612is soldered to the circuit board, which may be a fisheye solder pin, a needle solder pin, an SMT solder pin, or a convex bag.

Referring toFIG.6andFIG.7, the differential signal terminal pair comprises two differential signal terminals62. The differential signal terminal62includes a second contacting portion621, a second mounting portion622and a second connection portion623connecting the second contacting portion621and a second mounting portion622. The first contacting arm6111, the second contacting portion621is arranged along the second direction BB. The contacting area between the second contacting portion621and the signal terminal of the complementary connector is deemed as a third contact region. Referring toFIG.8, in the thickness direction of the first connection portion613(i.e., the third direction CC), the first contact region, the third contact region are located at the same side of the first connection portion613, the second contact region is located on the other side of the first connection portion613. The second connection portion623is curved so that the extending direction of the second contacting portion621is not parallel to the extending direction of the second mounting portion622. In the present embodiment, the extending direction of the second contacting portion621is perpendicular to the extending direction of the second mounting portion622. However, it will be appreciated that, in other embodiments, the extending direction of the second contacting portion621and the extending direction of the second mounting portion622may also not be perpendicular to each other, e.g., the two portions are parallel or the angle between the two portions is an acute angle. The second mounting portion622is soldered to the circuit board, which may be a fisheye solder pin, a needle solder pin, an SMT solder pin, or a convex bag.

Referring toFIG.9andFIG.10, the insulating wafer70is used to hold the first connection portion613, the second connection portion623, to thereby fix the ground terminal61and the differential signal terminals62thereto. The insulating wafer70is provided with a cutout71. The cutout71extends through the insulating wafer70along the thickness direction thereof (i.e., the third direction CC). The cutout71is used to make the first connection portion613and the second connection portion623partially exposed to air. Since the dielectric constant of the air is less than the dielectric constant of the insulating material, therefore, by such a design, it may reduce the insertion loss of the electrical connector100, and increase the transmission speed of the signals. Preferably, the part of the terminal assembly60which is exposed from the cutout71is provided with an insulating film. The insulating film can effectively avoid the problem of poor insulation withstand voltage or short circuit caused by free or stationary wire or metal chips produced during manufacturing the electrical connector. Preferably, the thickness of the insulating film is 0.01 mm to 0.1 mm. In the present embodiment, the first connection portion613and the second connection portion623are partially located within the cutout71. Referring toFIG.5as shown inFIG.10, the insulating wafer70is provided with a first concession slot72near the second contacting portion621. In the first direction AA, the first concession slot72is directly facing to the second contacting portion621. When the electrical connector100is engaged to the complementary connector, the signal terminal of the complementary connector is located in the first concession slot72.

Referring toFIG.5together withFIG.10, the insulating wafer70is provided with a second concession slot73near the first contact arm6111. In the first direction AA, the second concession slot73is directly facing to the first contact arm6111. When the electrical connector100is engaged to the complementary connector, the ground terminal of the complementary connector is located in the second concession slot73. Referring toFIG.4andFIG.9, similarly, the insulating wafer70is provided with a third concession slot74near the second contact arm6112. In the first direction AA, the third concession slot74is directly facing to the second contact arm6112, and the second contact arm6112is at least partially located within the third concession slot74.

Referring toFIG.9andFIG.10, the insulating wafer70is provided with a second fixing portion751and a retaining recess752on one side opposite to the top side wall12. The second fixing portion751is mated to the first fixing portion122to mount the terminal module20fixed on the front shell/cover10. In the present embodiment, the first fixing portion122is a fixing groove, the second fixing portion751is a fixed protrusion in conjunction with the fixing groove. Preferably, the fixed protrusion is provided with a guide portion7511to guide the fixed protrusion into the fixing groove122. Referring toFIG.9andFIG.10, the insulating wafer70extends outwards along the second direction BB to form an extension arm753and a stopper754located at the end of the extension arm753away from the insulating wafer70. The extension arm753, the stop754and the insulating wafer70together form the retaining recess752. The retaining recess752is provided with an opening7521on one side facing the adjacent terminal modules20. In the present embodiment, the extension arm753, the stopper754and the insulating body70together form two retaining recesses752. Along the third direction CC, the two retaining recesses752are located on opposite sides of the extension arm753.

Referring toFIG.11,FIG.12together withFIG.1, the plurality of shielding elements/means/plates30are arranged along the third direction CC. The terminal module20is disposed between the adjacent two shielding elements30. The shielding element30is provided with a fixing hole301, the insulating body70is provided with a fixed column701in conjunction with the fixing hole301. The fixing hole301is mated to the fixing post701to mount the shielding element30fixed on the insulating body70. The shielding element30includes a plate section31, a mating section32extending outwards from the plate section31the first direction AA, and a mounting section33formed by extending outward in the second direction BB from the plate section31. The plate section31has a protruding portion311protruded outwards therefrom along the third direction CC that perpendicular to the first direction AA and the second direction BB. Preferably, the protruding portion311is electrically connected to the ground terminal61. The protruding portion311is band-shaped, and extends on the plate section31from one end near the mounting section33to the other end near the mating section32. Preferably, the protruding portion311and the mounting section33are provided with a gap312at the intersection position therebetween. By such an arrangement, the intensity of the plate section31may be effectively enhanced. In the present embodiment, the protruding portion311is banded, but it will be appreciated that in other embodiments, the protruding portion311may also be configured to be a supporting arm formed by bending the plate section31.

Referring toFIG.11together withFIG.12, the mating section32has a mating edge321on one side away from the plate section31. The mating section32is provided with an anti-short grounding contact arm322. One end of the anti-short grounding contact arm322is located along the mating edge321, and the other end is extended along the first direction AA towards the plate section31. A plurality of the anti-short grounding contact arms322are arranged along the second direction BB. A mating depression323is formed between the adjacent two anti-short grounding contact arms322. The first contacting arm6111is correspondingly confronting to the anti-short grounding contact arm322of the shielding element30, and the second contacting arm6112is resisting against another shielding element30. The differential signal terminal pair is directly resisting within the mating depression323. The maximum spacing between a bottom wall of the mating depression323and the anti-short grounding contact arm322is between 0 and 2.2 mm. Further, the mating section32includes a base wall3201. The anti-short grounding contact arm322extends from the base wall3201along the third direction CC. The anti-short grounding contact arm322connects to the plate section31in the first direction AA, and mechanically contacts to the bottom wall of the mating depression323in the second direction BB. The maximum spacing between the anti-short grounding contact arm322and the base wall3201is between 0˜1.1 mm. Further, the bottom wall of the mating depression323is depressed inwards from the base wall3201. The maximum spacing between the bottom wall of the mating depression323and the base wall3201is between 0 to 1.1 mm.

Further, the anti-short grounding contact arm322is provided with a first mating tongue3221at one end thereof away from the plate section31. The length of the anti-short grounding contact arm322in the first direction AA is between 0.2 to 10 mm, and the length of the first mating tongue3221in the first direction AA is between 0 to 6.4 mm.

Further, the bottom wall of the mating depression323is provided with a second mating tongue3231at one end thereof away from the plate section31. The length of the second mating tongue3231in the first direction AA is between 0 to 6.4 mm. A gap3232is defined between the first mating tongue3221and the adjacent second mating tongue3231. While, as can be understood, the gap3232may not be formed in other embodiments.

Referring toFIG.11andFIG.12, the bottom wall of the mating depression323is also provided with a tuning part3233. The tuning part3233in the preferred embodiment is a tuning hole or a tuning pit. The tuning hole3233is a through hole extending through the bottom wall of the mating depression323. As can be understood, when the tuning part3233is configured to be a tuning pit, the tuning pit is a non-through groove. Preferably, the bottom wall of the mating depression323has a plurality of the tuning parts3233. The plurality of tuning parts3233may be symmetrically distributed, and may also be radiated distribution. When the bottom wall of the mating depression323is provided with a plurality of tuning parts3233, the plurality of the tuning parts3233may all be tuning holes, or may also all be tuning pits, or may also be part of the tuning holes and part of the tuning pits.

Referring toFIG.13andFIG.14, the back shell or rear stiffener40is configured for fixing the plurality of the terminal modules20together in a whole. The back shell or the rear stiffener40includes a substrate41, a plurality of insert plates42formed by extending outward from one end of the substrate41and an extension plate43formed by extending outward from the other end of the substrate41. The insert plates42are inserted into the corresponding retaining recesses752to fix the terminal modules20into a whole. The retaining recess752is provided with a first limiting structure7522. The insert plate42is provided with a second limiting structure421engaging with the first limit structure7522. The terminal module20and the back shell40are secured together by the engagement between the first limit structure7522and the second limit structure421. In the present embodiment, the first limit structure7522is formed as a protrusion, and the second limit structure421is defined as a groove which is in conjunction with the limit protrusion7522. Preferably, the limit protrusion7522is provided with a first lead surface7523. The insert plate42has a second lead surface422formed at one end thereof away from the substrate41. The first lead surface7523is mated with the second lead surface422to make the limit protrusion7522smoothly inserted into the limit groove421.

Further, the extension plate43is further provided with a secondary slot431. The insulating body70is further provided with a secondary board702for mating with the secondary slot431. The secondary insert board702is inserted into the secondary slot431so that the back shell40, the terminal modules20can be fixed together. Preferably, the secondary insert board702is provided with a bump (not shown). The bump is mated to the secondary slot431by interference.

Turn back toFIG.2, the insulating base50is plate-shaped, for matching with and securing the terminal module20and the shielding element30together as a whole. The insulating base50is provided with a plurality of holes for the first mounting portion612, the second mounting portion622passing therethrough.

Compared with the prior art, when the electrical connector100of the present invention engages with the complementary connector, a grounding path is established between the shielding element30, the grounding terminal61and the grounding contact of the complementary connector, which thereby increases the electromagnetic isolation between the differential signal terminal pairs, decreases the insertion loss and reduces crosstalk.

Referring toFIG.15, the present invention further discloses another embodiment of the terminal assembly80. The structure of the terminal assembly80is substantially the same as the structure of the terminal assembly60, the difference is that, the grounding terminal81of the terminal assembly80further comprises a third contact arm8131electrically connected to the third grounding element. The third contact arm8131is formed on the first connection portion813and extends outward in the fourth direction. The third contact arm8131is formed by an elastic contact arm, or a rigid contact arm. In this embodiment, the third grounding element is the shielding means located between the adjacent two terminal assemblies80.

Furthermore, the present invention also discloses a grounding structure, comprising the terminal assembly60/80, a first grounding element and a second grounding element. The first grounding element and the terminal assembly60/80are intervalley arranged along the third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. The grounding terminal61/81is simultaneously electrically connected to the first grounding element and the second grounding element. The first grounding element and the second grounding element are respectively disposed on both sides of the grounding terminal61/81along the third direction. In the present embodiment, the first grounding element is a shielding plate and the second grounding element is a grounding terminal of the mated complementary connector.

The present invention also discloses an electrical connector assembly300composed by the electrical connector100and the mating complementary connector200as shown inFIG.16. It should be noted here that, the electrical connector in the present invention is a high-speed, high-density backplane connector.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of preferred and exemplary embodiments have been set out in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only; and that changes may be made in detail within the principles of present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broadest general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.