Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation application of the co-pending application Ser. No. 14/695,065 filed Apr. 24, 2015 which is a continuation-in-part of the co-pending application Ser. No. 14/558,732 filed Dec. 3, 2014, and Ser. No. 14/688,993 filed Apr. 16, 2015, and the instant application further claims the benefit of, and priority to, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/002,934 filed May 26, 2014, No. 62/021,066 filed Jul. 4, 2014, No. 62/026,046 filed Jul. 18, 2014 and No. 62/035,472 filed Aug. 10, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated entirely herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a flippable plug connector used with a receptacle connector. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    In the previously filed provisional applications, the plug connector is “flippable” whereas we turn the plug over and it functions the same top and bottom. In order to be able to handle switching of the super speed signaling, a MUX (or SS switch) is built into the silicon. This can be costly and also cause some additional degredation in the super speed signals. Recently, a proposal for use with the future USB (Universal Serial Bus) was presented. 
         [0006]    Hence, a new and simple electrical plug connector and the complementary receptacle connector are desired to improve those disclosed in the aforementioned proposal. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle connector for mounting to a printed circuit board, comprises an insulative housing defining a base with a mating tongue extending therefrom, the mating tongue defining a widen and thicken step structure around a root thereof adjacent to the base; two rows of contacts disposed in the insulating housing with contacting sections exposed upon the mating tongue and mount tails out of the base, the mating cavity and the contacts being arranged in a diagonally symmetrical arrangement; a metallic shield retained around the base and surrounding the mating tongue so as to define a mating cavity between the metallic shied and the mating tongue, the metallic shield including a first wall, a second wall opposite to the first wall and two opposite end walls integrally connecting with the first and second walls; and a metallic bracket attached to the first wall of the metallic shield. The first wall of the metallic shield defines a pair of spring tangs split therefrom and extending rearwards into the mating cavity, the second wall defines a pair of dimples protruding inwards the mating cavity for holding the plug connector, the metallic bracket covers spring tangs and seals any opens defined on the first wall for keeping integrity therewith under EMI consideration. 
         [0008]    Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an assembled perspective view of a mated receptacle connector on a printed circuit board and a plug connector of a first embodiment of the instant invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the receptacle connector spaced from the printed circuit board of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a front partially exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a front partially exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 2  without the shield thereof. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a front partially exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 4  to show the housing and the contacts thereof. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a rear partially exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 2  wherein the housing and the contacts are pre-assembled together. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector on the printed circuit board of  FIG. 2  to show the retention tang of the shield. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7(A)  is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector to show the extending plate of the collar. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the mated plug connector and receptacle connector taken along lines  8 - 8  of  FIG. 1  to show how the latch of the plug connector is lockable engaged with the shielding plate of the receptacle connector. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a front assembled perspective view of a second embodiment of the receptacle connector mounted to the printed circuit board. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10(A)  is a front partially exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector moved away from the printed circuit board of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 10(B)  is a rear partially exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector moved away from the printed circuit board of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a further front partially exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 10(A) . 
           [0022]      FIG. 12(A)  is a further front partially exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 12(B)  is a further rear exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a further rear exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 12(B) . 
           [0025]      FIG. 14(A)  is a further front exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 14(B)  is a further rear exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 15(A)  is a further front exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 14(A) . 
           [0028]      FIG. 15(B)  is a further rear exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 15(A) . 
           [0029]      FIG. 16  is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 9   
           [0030]      FIG. 17  is a side vertical cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector mounted upon the printed circuit board of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 18  is a front vertical cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector mounted upon the printed circuit board of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 19  is a front perspective view of the receptacle connector moved away from the printed circuit board of a third embodiment. 
           [0033]      FIG. 20  is a rear exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 19 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 21  is a further rear exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 20 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 22  is a front assembled perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the receptacle connector mounted to the printed circuit board. 
           [0036]      FIG. 23  is a further front partially exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 22 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 24  is a further rear partially exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 23 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 25(A)  is a front perspective view of the shielding plate in a final shape according to another embodiment of the receptacle connector of the invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 25(B)  is a front perspective view of the shielding plate of  FIG. 25( a )  in a semi-finished manner. 
           [0040]      FIG. 26  is an assembled perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the receptacle connector mounted upon the printed circuit board of the invention. 
           [0041]      FIG. 27(A)  is an assembled front perspective view of the receptacle connector taken away from the printed circuit board of  FIG. 26 . 
           [0042]      FIG. 27(B)  is an assembled rear perspective view of the receptacle connector taken away from the printed circuit board of  FIG. 26 . 
           [0043]      FIG. 28(A)  is an exploded front perspective view of the receptacle connector taken away from the printed circuit board of  FIG. 27(A) . 
           [0044]      FIG. 28(B)  is an assembled rear perspective view of the receptacle connector taken away from the printed circuit board of  FIG. 27(A) . 
           [0045]      FIG. 29 ((A) is a front assembled perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the receptacle connector mounted upon a printed circuit board according to the invention. 
           [0046]      FIG. 29(B)  is a rear assembled perspective view of the receptacle connector mounted upon a printed circuit board of  FIG. 29(A) . 
           [0047]      FIG. 30(A)  is a front exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector taken away from the printed circuit board of  FIG. 29(A) . 
           [0048]      FIG. 30(B)  is a rear exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector taken away from the printed circuit board of  FIG. 29(B) . 
           [0049]      FIG. 31(A)  is a further front exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 30(A) . 
           [0050]      FIG. 31(B)  is a further rear exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 30(B) . 
           [0051]      FIG. 32(A)  is a front assembled perspective view of a terminal module assembly of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 31(A) . 
           [0052]      FIG. 32(B)  is a front assembled perspective view of a terminal module assembly of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 31(B) . 
           [0053]      FIG. 33(A)  is a front exploded perspective view of the terminal module of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 32(A) . 
           [0054]      FIG. 33(B)  is a rear exploded perspective view of the terminal module of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 32(B) . 
           [0055]      FIG. 34(A)  is a further front exploded perspective view of the terminal module of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 33(A) . 
           [0056]      FIG. 34(B)  is a further front exploded perspective view of the terminal module of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 33(B) . 
           [0057]      FIG. 35(A)  is a further front exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 34(A) . 
           [0058]      FIG. 35(B)  is a further rear exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 34(B) . 
           [0059]      FIG. 36  is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector mounted on the printed circuit board of  FIG. 29(A) . 
           [0060]      FIG. 37  is a side view and a front view of a system using a module, which includes a low cost PCB with a chip thereon and a flippable connector as an I/O connector, and a mother board having thereon a connector linked to said low cost PCB, of seventh embodiment. 
           [0061]      FIG. 38  is a perspective view of the receptacle connector mounted upon the low cost PCB derived from  FIG. 37   
           [0062]      FIG. 39  is a rear exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector removed from the low cost PCB of  FIG. 38 . 
           [0063]      FIG. 40(A)  is a further front exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 39 . 
           [0064]      FIG. 40(B)  is the rear perspective view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 40(A) . 
           [0065]      FIG. 41  is a rear assembled perspective view of the receptacle connector mounted upon a printed circuit board of  FIG. 40(B) . 
           [0066]      FIG. 42(A)  is a front and top perspective view of the card edge connector of  FIG. 37 . 
           [0067]      FIG. 42(B)  is a front and bottom exploded perspective view of the card edge connector of  FIG. 42(A) . 
           [0068]      FIG. 42(C)  is a rear and top perspective view of the card edge connector of  FIG. 42(A) . 
           [0069]      FIG. 43  is a front and top perspective view of a receptacle connector of an eighth embodiment of according to the invention. 
           [0070]      FIG. 44  is a rear and bottom perspective view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 43 . 
           [0071]      FIG. 45  is an exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 43 . 
           [0072]      FIG. 46  is an exploded perspective view of the terminal module of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 45 . 
           [0073]      FIG. 47(A)  is a front exploded perspective view of the terminal module without the grounding collars of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 45 . 
           [0074]      FIG. 47(B)  is a rear exploded perspective view of the terminal module of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 47(A) . 
           [0075]      FIG. 48  is a further exploded perspective view of the terminal module of the receptacle connector of  FIG. 47(B) . 
           [0076]      FIG. 49  is a cross sectional view of the receptacle connector taken along lines  49 - 49  in  FIG. 43 . 
           [0077]      FIG. 50  is a perspective view of a metallic shell of the receptacle connector according to another embodiment. 
           [0078]      FIG. 51  is a perspective view of the receptacle connector according to another embodiment. 
           [0079]      FIG. 52  is a perspective view of a metallic shell with an external bracket thereon, of a ninth embodiment of a vertical type receptacle connector according to the invention. 
           [0080]      FIG. 53  is a perspective view of the shell of  FIG. 50 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0081]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 1-8  show a plug connector  10  mated with a receptacle connector  50  mounted in a notch  102  of a printed circuit board.  100 , of a first embodiment of this present invention. The receptacle connector  50  includes an insulative housing  52  with a mating tongue  54  forwardly extending in a capsular mating cavity  57  of a metallic shield  56  which encloses the housing  52 . Opposite upper and lower rows of contacts  58  are disposed in the housing  52  with corresponding contacting sections  60  exposed upon opposite surfaces of the mating tongue  54  in a diagonally symmetrical arrangement mechanically and electrically so as to allow a so-called flappable insertion of the plug connector  10  thereinto. A step structure  62  is formed around a root of the mating tongue  54 . A one piece metallic EMI collar  64  includes a loop structure  66  intimately surrounding the step structure  62 . The collar  64  further includes an L-shaped extending plate  65  equipped with embossments  63  thereon and received in the recess  61  of the lower piece  72  of the housing  52  (illustrated later) for mechanically and electrically connecting to the shield  56 . The detailed structures of EMI collar  64  may be also referred to the embodiment disclosed in  FIG. 15 . 
         [0082]    The housing  52  is composed of the upper piece  70  and a lower piece  72  commonly sandwiching therebeween a middle piece  74  which forms the mating tongue  54 . The upper row contacts  58  are associated with the upper piece  70 , the lower row contacts  58  are associated with a lower piece  72  and the shielding plate  76  is associated with the middle piece  74  via an insert molding process wherein the contacting sections  60  of the upper row contacts  58  and those of the lower rows contacts  58  are seated upon opposite upper surface and lower surface of the mating tongue  54 , respectively, as mentioned before. Understandably, the housing  52  and the associated contacts  58  may be deemed wholly as a so-called terminal module implying the terminals being integrally formed within an insulator. A rear portion of the step structure  62  is removed to have a front edge region  71  of the upper piece  70  and the front edge region  73  of the lower piece  72  sandwiched between the middle piece  74  and the loop structure  66  of the EMI collar  64  so as to enhance the strength during mating under some bending. In this embodiment, the shielding plate  76  defines an opening  77  and a thinner area  78  for both securing and impedance consideration, and further a pair of mounting legs  79  so as to efficiently separate the upper row contacts  58  and the lower row contacts  58  from each other wherein the upper row contacts  58  form the surface mount type tail sections while the lower row contacts  58  form the through hole type tail sections. In an alternate embodiment, the thinner area  78  may be totally removed from the shielding plate  76 . The lower piece  72  includes a pair of mounting posts  80  receiving in the corresponding through hole for mounting the housing  52  to the printed circuit board  100 . The lower piece  72  further forms a pair of recessions  49  to receive the corresponding retention tangs  37  of the shield  56 . 
         [0083]    In this embodiment, the middle piece  74  forms a pair of recesses  82  to respectively receive the corresponding protrusions  84  of the upper piece  70  and the lower piece  72  for securing the upper piece  70 , the lower piece  72  and the middle piece  74  therebetween in a stacked manner wherein the upper piece  70  further include a pair of downward assembling poles  84  received in the corresponding alignment holes  86  of the middle piece  74 , and the lower piece  72  further includes an upward assembling pole  85  received in the corresponding alignment holes  86  of the middle piece  74 , and the lower piece  72  further forms a pair of upward locating posts  87  received within the corresponding recesses  89  in the upper piece  70 . In this embodiment, the lower piece  72  defines a plurality of through holes  91  and  93  to receive the tail sections of the lower row contacts  58  and the mounting legs  79  of the shielding plate  76  to extend therethough as an alignment spacer. Notably, the shielding plate  76  forms a front edge section  69  extending forwardly beyond a front edge of the mating tongue  54  for anti-mismating consideration, and a pair of lateral edge sections  67  for locking with a latch  39  of the plug connector  10  (illustrated later). In brief, the shielding plate  76  is essentially multifunctional to perform shielding, grounding, reinforcing, anti-mis-mating and locking. A metallic bracket  95  is soldered under the shield  56  and forms a pair of supporting legs  97  mounted into the through hole  103  of the printed circuit board  100  for supporting the receptacle connector  50  within the notch  102  of the printed circuit board  100 . The shield  56  further includes an upside-down U-shaped structure (not labeled) on a rear portion covering the rear portion of the housing  52  with a pair of mounting legs  55  received in the through holes  104  for mounting to the printed circuit board  100  and a pair of locking tabs  59  received in the recesses  99  of the upper piece  70  after the shield  56  is rearwardly assembled to the housing  52  in a front-to-back direction. Notably, the mounting leg  79  of the shielding plate  76  share the same through hole with the neighboring grounding contact tail for enhancing grounding effect. 
         [0084]    Referring to  FIGS. 9-18 , according to a second embodiment of the invention the receptacle connector  200  mounted upon the printed circuit board  150 , includes an insulative housing  220  enclosed in the metallic shield  210  which is attached to a metallic bracket  212  which is surface-mounted upon the printed circuit board  150 . The housing  220  essentially includes a base  222  and a mating tongue  224  extending forwardly therefrom. Two rows of passageways  226  extends along a front-to-back direction in the housing  220 , and each passageway  226  forms an inward recession  228  at a front end with a protection flange  270  thereabouts, and a platform  230  behind the recession  228 . A pair of opposite grooves  232  are located on two lateral sides of each passageway  226 . A plurality of contacts  240  are forwardly inserted to the corresponding passageways  226 , respectively. Each contact  240  includes a horizontal main body  242  with two pairs of barbs  244  on two lateral edges to be engaged within the corresponding grooves  232  in an interference fit, a surface mount tail  246  behind the main body  242 , and a contacting section  248  in front of the main body  242  with a tip  2481  inwardly embedded with the recession  228 . The tails  246  are laterally offset from the main bodies  242  of the corresponding contacts  240  of the upper row with two opposite group while the those of the corresponding contacts of the lower row are still densely arranged with one another without offsetting. On the other hand, the tails  246  of the contacts  240  in the upper row and those in the lower row extend in opposite directions. Notably, the front section of the contacting section  248  is supported by the platform  230  while the remaining contacting section  248  and the main body  242  are spaced from the housing  220  in the vertical direction with support by the pair of barbs  244  in the grooves  232 . 
         [0085]    A metallic shielding plate  250  is insert molded within the housing  220  and between the two rows of the contacts  240  before the contacts  240  are inserted into the housing  220 . The shielding plate  250  includes a first shielding portion  251  located between the contacts portions  248  of the upper and lower rows of contacts  240  and a second shielding portion  253  located between the tails  246  of the upper and lower rows of the contacts. The shielding plate  250  forms a pair of locking side edges  252  for locking with the internal latch of the corresponding plug, a pair of spring arms  254  located on two lateral sides thereof and in corresponding recesses  223  in opposite two lateral sides of the housing  220  to mechanically and electrically connect to the shield  210 , and a pair of contacting regions  256  unitarily extending respectively from two opposite lateral sides of the shielding plate  250  in a folded/parallel manner and exposed upon the root portion  225  of the mating tongue  224  for coupling to the corresponding spring plates on the plug connector. Notably, the shielding plate  250  forms a plurality of through openings  258  to be filled with material of the housing  220  after the insert molding process for securing consideration. 
         [0086]    The shield  210  forms a mating cavity  211  into which the mating tongue  224  forwardly extending, and a plurality of spring tangs  213  extending rearwards and a plurality of dimples  215  for holding the plug connector. A rear wall  217  unitarily extends from a rear edge of the shield  210  to cover the back of the housing  220  with two ears  219  locked to the two lateral sides of the shield  210  and surface mounting type tail  218 . Notably, the shield  210  essentially constitutes a capsular form with two vertical side walls  260  for locking the corresponding ears  219  where a pair of horizontal mounting pads  262  are formed for surface mounting to the printed circuit board  150 . The shield  210  includes a curved rear edge  268  rearwardly abuts against the base  222  of the housing  220 . The bracket  212  is attached to the shield  210  via tabs  264  and mounted to the printed circuit board via mounting pads  266 . 
         [0087]    Different from the previous first embodiment, this second embodiment discloses the receptacle connector  200  completely mounted upon the printed circuit board  150  rather than partially sunk in the notch of the printed circuit board as shown in the previous embodiment. The contacts  240  are assembled into the corresponding passageways  226  rather than via an insert-molding process. On the other hand, the rear wall  217  may efficient block an EMI in the front-to-back direction. The tip  2481  of the contacting section  248  is inward formed and received in the recession  228  and partially protectively covered by the flange  270  above the recession  228  for superior protection without a risk of pup-up. Understandably, in this embodiment the housing  220  is restrained in the shield  210  via the rear wall  217  which forwardly abuts against a back side of the base  222  for blocking the rearward movement and via the rear edge  268  which rearward abuts against a forwardly facing vertical face of the base  222  for blocking the forward movement. 
         [0088]      FIG. 19-21  disclose third embodiment of the receptacle connector  200   a  essentially same as the previous second embodiment except the previous second embodiment is of a surface mount type while the current one is of the through hole type on the corresponding shield  210  and bracket structure  212 . The shield  210  and the bracket  212  define tails  262   a ,  218   a ,  266   a  of surface mount type. Anyhow, both of these two embodiments are of the surface mount type contacts, the tails of the contacts of the upper and lower rows extend in opposite directions. The shielding plate  250  further defines two tails  255  from the rear shielding portion  253  thereof. 
         [0089]      FIGS. 23-24  show a fourth embodiment of the receptacle connector  200   b  similar to the embodiment disclosed in  FIGS. 19-21  with tiny differences wherein the front edge  2121  of the shield  210  is equipped with a plurality of flared flanges for easy insertion of the plug connector. The shielding plate  250  defines two tails  255   b  extending from the rear shielding portion  253 .  FIGS. 25(A) and 25(B)  show another embodiment of the shielding plate  250 ′ wherein the contacting regions  256 ′ is equipped with a lance  259 ′ at the tip to secured to the main body/the first shielding portion of the shielding plate  250 ′ so as to prevent tilting of the contacting regions  256 ′ relative to the shielding plate  250 ′ during the high pressure insert molding process. 
         [0090]      FIGS. 26-28 (B) show a fifth embodiment of the receptacle connector  600  mounted upon and within a notch of the printed circuit board  650  wherein the receptacle connector  600  includes a terminal module or an insulative housing (not shown, which is similar to the previous embodiments) enclosed within a metallic shield  602  which forms a capsular mating cavity or mating port  604  and is equipped with a plurality of spring tangs  606  extending into the mating cavity  604  for retaining the plug connector therein. Different from the first embodiment disclosing the shield  50  forming both the front capsular section and the rear partially rectangular section, the shield  602  in this embodiment essentially only forms the front capsular section for easing manufacturing consideration. On the other hand, the bracket  95  in the first embodiment is attached to the bottom side of the shield  50 , while in this embodiment the metallic bracket  610  is secured to a top side of the shield  602  and forms not only the partially capsular front section  612  to compliantly cover the upper portion of the shield  602  but also the partially rectangular rear section  614  to compliantly cover the upstanding housing (not shown). To efficiently secure to the shield  602 , the top wall  616  and the side walls  618  of the front section  612  of the bracket  610  is welded to the shield  602 , and the rear section  614  forms securing tabs  620  for engagement within corresponding recesses in the top face of the housing (not shown). One feature of this embodiment is that the bracket  610  forms a curved or S-shaped cross-sectional joint section  622  between the front section  612  and the rear section  614  for compensating minor variations regarding the position of the shield  602  in the height direction which is expected to be little adjustable relative to the printed circuit board  650 . Notably, the relative position of the mating port  604  with regard to the printed circuit board  650  may be different according to the computer maker so the adjustability of the mating port in the vertical direction is desired. To efficiently support the whole connector  600  within the notch  652  and upon the printed circuit board  650 , the front section  612  of the bracket  610  includes a pair of right angle legs  624 , and the rear section  614  of the bracket  610  includes a pair of right angle legs  626  for mounting to the printed circuit board  650 . The rear section  614  further includes a pair of securing arms  628  adjacent to the joint section  622  to be welded to the rear portion of the shield  610  for reinforcement of the whole connector structure around the joint section  622 , and a pair of mounting legs  630  around the rear face to be mounted to the printed circuit board  650  for reinforcing securing among the bracket  610 , the printed circuit board  650  and the housing (not shown) wherein the mounting legs  630  is closer to the securing tabs  620  which locks the housing (not shown). A pair of blocking tabs  632  are formed by two sides of the joint section  622  for preventing EMI invasion along the front-to-back direction. It is noted that the shield  602  has a rear wall  634  and the bracket has a rear wall  636  both for EMI protection along the front-to-back direction similar to the blocking tabs  632 . Understandably, both the rear walls  634 ,  636  may be secured to the corresponding side walls via a pair of locking ears as shown in the previous embodiments. Understandably, the securing between the shield  602  and the bracket  610  via welding may be replaced with the mechanical latching tabs or similar mechanical means. 
         [0091]    Referring to  FIGS. 29(A) - 36  showing a receptacle connector  300  of a sixth embodiment of this invention, the receptacle connector  300  mounted upon and within the notch of the printed circuit board  390 , includes a terminal module  310  essentially composed of an upper part  312  and a lower part  314  commonly sandwiching a shielding plate  316  therebetween and further integrated together with a middle insulator  318 . The upper part  312  includes a plurality of upper contacts  320  integrally formed within an upper insulator  322  via a first stage insert molding process, and the lower part  314  includes a plurality of lower contacts  324  integrally formed within a lower insulator  326  via another first stage insert molding process. The formed upper part  312  and the formed lower part  314  commonly sandwich the shielding plate  316  and integrally formed with the middle insulator  318  via a second stage insert molding process. Notably, the upper EMI collar  328  and the lower EMI collar  330  are integrally formed with the corresponding upper part  312  and lower part  314  via the middle insulator  318  at the second stage insert molding process. The terminal module  310  formed by two-stage insert molding process can be referred to the previous filed application 62/001,084. The terminal module  310  forms a mating tongue  332  on the front portion for mating with the corresponding plug connector. 
         [0092]    A metallic shield  334  is attached to the front portion of the terminal module  310  to enclose the mating tongue  332  to form a mating cavity  333  wherein a continuously uninterrupted flared flange  336  is formed at the front edge of the shield  334  in front of the mating cavity  333  and plurality of through holes  338  are formed in the shield  334 . The upper metallic bracket  340  is attached on an upper side of the shield  334  and the lower metallic bracket  342  is attached on a lower side of the shield  334 . The upper bracket  340  includes an upper rear wall  341  to shield the upper rear upper portion of the terminal module  310  and the lower bracket  342  includes a lower rear wall  343  to shield the lower rear portion of the terminal module  310 . The upper bracket  340  further includes a plurality of spring arms  345  with the engaging tips  346  extending through the corresponding through holes  338  into the mating cavity  333  for engagement with the plug connector. Similarly, the lower bracket  342  further includes a plurality of spring arms  347  with the engaging tips  348  extending through the corresponding through holes  338  into the mating cavity  333  for engagement with the plug connector. The feature of this embodiment is to provide the continuously uninterrupted flared flange on the front edge of the shield  334  not only to protectively hide the front edges of the upper bracket  340  and the lower bracket  342  but also provide superior shielding effect circumferentially, compared with the interrupted flared flange disclosed in the prior art. 
         [0093]    It is also noted that because the fine pitch of the contacts of the receptacle connector, the traditional vias on the mother board are essentially unfit thereto, and the so-call micro vias are expected to be used for the fine pitch receptacle connector. Anyhow, the expense of the PCB construction using micro vias is twice the price as standard PCB&#39;s, and it is too expensive for the mother board size PCB&#39;s. An alternative way is presented here to have it done economically. Referring to  FIGS. 37-42 (C) showing a seventh embodiment of this invention, a system includes a module  400  where the receptacle connector  410  and a chipset  440  for the wired signal are both mounted upon a small/low cost PCB  460  which is suitable for micro vias. The chipset  440  may be optionally covered by a metallic shell  442 . A card edge connector  470  is mounted upon the mother board  480  to receive one edge of the small PCB  460  for connection therebetween. Understandably, the card edge connector  470  can be replaced with other type connector(s) or cable assemblies for connecting the small PCB  460  and the mother board  480 . Understandably, even though two flippable receptacle connectors  410  are used with one chipset  440 , other number combinations can be used, e.g., only one receptacle connector  410  cooperating with one chipset  440  as shown in  FIGS. 37-42 (C). The receptacle connector  410  includes a terminal module enclosed in the metallic shield  418  and further is equipped with the upper metallic bracket  412  and the lower metallic bracket  414  so as to efficiently shield the whole connector  410  in the three dimensional way for full EMI protection. Notably, in this embodiment, the receptacle connector  410  is mounted within a notch  462  of the small PCB  460  in a sinking type for performing a lower profile configuration. Similarly, the card edge connector  470  may be mounted within a notch of the mother board  480  in a similar way for lowering the profile of the whole assembly. 
         [0094]      FIGS. 43 through 49  show a receptacle connector  1000  of an eighth embodiment, the receptacle connector  1000  includes an insulating housing  1  with a base portion  10  and a mating tongue  11 , and contacts  2  and a pair of grounding piece  3 , a metallic shield  4  and an upper bracket  5 . The insulating housing  1  includes an upper parts  12  loaded with an upper row of the contacts, a lower part  13  loaded with a lower row of contacts and a middle part  14  loaded with a shielding plate  6 , the shielding plate is inserted molded with the middle parts. Said three parts is vertically stacked with each other to for a sub-assembly and then the sub-assembly is inserted molded with an insulating base  15 . Therefore, the insulative housing or terminal module is formed. The pair of grounding pieces  3  are assembled to the root of the mating tongue. 
         [0095]    The shielding plate  6  defines a front shielding portion  7  embedded in the mating tongue  11  and disposed between the contacts portions  21  of the upper and lower rows of the contacts  2  and a rear shielding portion  8  disposed between the tails  22  of the upper and lower rows of the contacts. Tails  9  extend from the rear shielding portion  8  to be mounted on a printed circuit board. Please notes, the insulating base  15  is only form the base portion of the insulating housing, the mating tongue  11  is formed by the middle part  14 , the contacting portions  21  of the contacts  2  are inserted in the terminal grooves defined on the mating tongue of the middle part. 
         [0096]    Referring to  FIG. 50 , according to another embodiment similar to the first embodiment, to comply with the contour of the case in which the flippable receptacle connector is retained, the front edge of the metallic shield  56 ′ may be no longer a straight line extending along a vertical direction but a curved structure  561 ′, in a side view, with at least one rearwardly recessed portion on either the upper or lower side. Anyhow, the distance measured from the outermost point of the curved front edge structure may be still same as that of the original one disclosed in the first embodiment without such the rearwardly recessed portion. 
         [0097]      FIG. 51  shows another embodiment of the flippable receptacle connector  50 ′ wherein the contacts on each face of the mating tongue include a plurality of stationary contacts  581  in the front row and a plurality of deflectable contacts  582  in the rear row. The detailed structure may be referred to U.S. Pat. No. 7,614,887. 
         [0098]    Referring to  FIGS. 52-53 , according to an ninth embodiment of the invention, the vertical receptacle connector  500  is directly mounted upon the printed circuit board in an upstanding manner and includes a metallic shield  552  enclosing an insulative housing wherein the shield  552  forms a plurality of spring tangs  556  via corresponding cutouts  558 . A metallic bracket  560  surrounds the shield  552  and covers the spring tangs  556  and the corresponding cutouts  558 . The bottom portion of the shield  552  is split to outwardly extend for increasing the mounting area of the receptacle connector  550  so as to form a relative large gap  562  exposing the inner housing. A horizontal extension  564  is unitarily formed on the bottom portion to cover the gap mostly. Understandably, both the bracket  560  and the horizontal extension  564  are to cover the corresponding cutout  558  and gap  562  for preventing EMI. On the other hand, the bracket  560  also aids in strength and waterproofing and the horizontal extension  564  helps on stability of the receptacle connector  500  on the printed circuit board. On the other hand, each of the lateral end side of the shield  552  is equipped with two grounding legs  559  instead of one to enhance the EMI protection. 
         [0099]    However, the disclosure is illustrative only, changes may be made in detail, especially in matter of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention.

Technology Category: 5