U.S. patent application number 15/298185 was filed with the patent office on 2017-02-09 for flippable electrical connector.
The applicant listed for this patent is FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LIMITED. Invention is credited to Chao-Chieh Chen, Ming-Ching Chen, Chih-Pi Cheng, Hsueh-Lung Hsiao, Terrance F. Little, Stephen Sedio, Wei-Hao Su, Chun-Chieh Yang, Yuan Zhang.
Application Number | 20170040724 15/298185 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53775771 |
Filed Date | 2017-02-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170040724 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Little; Terrance F. ; et
al. |
February 9, 2017 |
FLIPPABLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR
Abstract
A receptacle connector includes an insulative housing defining a
base and a mating tongue, with 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; a metallic
shield surrounding the mating tongue so as to define a mating
cavity; and a metallic bracket attached the shield. The first wall
of the 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 bracket covers spring tangs and seals any
opens defined on the first wall for keeping integrity therewith
under EMI consideration.
Inventors: |
Little; Terrance F.;
(Fullerton, CA) ; Cheng; Chih-Pi; (New Taipei,
TW) ; Chen; Chao-Chieh; (New Taipei, TW) ;
Yang; Chun-Chieh; (New Taipei, TW) ; Hsiao;
Hsueh-Lung; (New Taipei, TW) ; Zhang; Yuan;
(Rowland-Heights, CA) ; Su; Wei-Hao; (New Taipei,
TW) ; Sedio; Stephen; (Valley Center, CA) ;
Chen; Ming-Ching; (New Taipei, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LIMITED |
Grand Cayman |
|
KY |
|
|
Family ID: |
53775771 |
Appl. No.: |
15/298185 |
Filed: |
October 19, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14695065 |
Apr 24, 2015 |
9496653 |
|
|
15298185 |
|
|
|
|
14688993 |
Apr 16, 2015 |
9496664 |
|
|
14695065 |
|
|
|
|
14558732 |
Dec 3, 2014 |
9490594 |
|
|
14688993 |
|
|
|
|
14542550 |
Nov 15, 2014 |
9350126 |
|
|
14558732 |
|
|
|
|
14497205 |
Sep 25, 2014 |
9472910 |
|
|
14542550 |
|
|
|
|
14477889 |
Sep 5, 2014 |
9525223 |
|
|
14497205 |
|
|
|
|
14454737 |
Aug 8, 2014 |
9525227 |
|
|
14477889 |
|
|
|
|
14337180 |
Jul 21, 2014 |
9318853 |
|
|
14454737 |
|
|
|
|
14517941 |
Oct 20, 2014 |
9496662 |
|
|
14337180 |
|
|
|
|
62002934 |
May 26, 2014 |
|
|
|
62021066 |
Jul 4, 2014 |
|
|
|
62026046 |
Jul 18, 2014 |
|
|
|
62035472 |
Aug 10, 2014 |
|
|
|
61981217 |
Apr 18, 2014 |
|
|
|
61989508 |
May 6, 2014 |
|
|
|
62001084 |
May 21, 2014 |
|
|
|
61940815 |
Feb 17, 2014 |
|
|
|
61943310 |
Feb 22, 2014 |
|
|
|
61949232 |
Mar 6, 2014 |
|
|
|
61917363 |
Dec 18, 2013 |
|
|
|
61926270 |
Jan 11, 2014 |
|
|
|
61916147 |
Dec 14, 2013 |
|
|
|
61919681 |
Dec 20, 2013 |
|
|
|
61875096 |
Sep 8, 2013 |
|
|
|
61863896 |
Aug 8, 2013 |
|
|
|
61866037 |
Aug 14, 2013 |
|
|
|
61867584 |
Aug 19, 2013 |
|
|
|
61856077 |
Jul 19, 2013 |
|
|
|
61857687 |
Jul 23, 2013 |
|
|
|
61899276 |
Nov 3, 2013 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 24/28 20130101;
H01R 13/642 20130101; H05K 1/117 20130101; H01R 24/60 20130101;
H01R 2107/00 20130101; H05K 2201/10189 20130101; H01R 13/6581
20130101; H01R 13/6585 20130101; H01R 12/724 20130101; H01R 13/6658
20130101; H05K 1/184 20130101; H05K 2201/09063 20130101; H01R
13/6582 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01R 12/72 20060101
H01R012/72; H01R 24/60 20060101 H01R024/60; H01R 13/6585 20060101
H01R013/6585 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 25, 2014 |
TW |
103114986 |
Claims
1. A receptacle connector for mounting to a printed circuit board,
comprising: 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; wherein 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.
2. The receptacle connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end
walls defines spring tangs split therefrom and extend rearwards
into the mating cavity, and the metallic bracket includes a pair of
endwalls covering the spring tangs and sealing corresponding opens
on the endwalls.
3. The receptacle connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
metallic bracket defines mounting tails extending from the endwalls
thereof for mounting to the printed circuit board.
4. The receptacle connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
metallic shield defines mounting tails extending from rear sides of
the end walls thereof.
5. The receptacle connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
metallic shield further includes a rear wall with two ears latched
to two opposite end walls of the shield.
6. The receptacle connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rear
wall of the metallic shield further defines mounting tails.
7. The receptacle connector as claimed in claim 1, comprising a
shielding plate embedded in the insulating housing, wherein the
shielding plate comprises a front horizontal portion in the mating
tongue and the base and a rear vertical portion extending out of
the base and between two rows of the mounting tails of the
contacts.
8. The receptacle connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein a front
edge of the metallic shield is equipped with a plurality of flared
flanges for easy insertion of the plug connector.
9. A vertical type receptacle connector for mounting on a printed
circuit board, comprising: an insulative housing comprising a lower
base and an upper mating tongue extending from the base; a metallic
shield enclosing the insulative housing; and a metallic bracket
surrounding an upper side of the metallic shell; wherein the shield
forms a plurality of spring tangs via corresponding cutouts defined
thereon, the metallic bracket covers and seals the spring tangs and
the corresponding cutouts for keeping integrity therewith under EMI
consideration.
10. The vertical type receptacle connector as claimed in claim 9,
wherein a bottom portion of the metallic shield is split to
outwardly extend and form a relative large gap exposing the
insulating housing, a horizontal extension is unitarily formed on
the bottom portion of the metallic shield to cover the gap
mostly.
11. The vertical type receptacle connector as claimed in claim 9,
wherein the metallic bracket is a one-piece ring.
12. A right angle type receptacle connector for mounting on a
printed circuit boards, comprising: an insulative housing defining
a rear base and a front mating tongue forwardly along a
front-to-rear direction, the mating tongue defining a widen and
thicken step structure around a root thereof adjacent to the rear
base; a row of upper contacts and a row of lower contacts disposed
in the insulating housing with contacting sections exposed upon the
front mating tongue and mount tails from the rear base; a shielding
plate embedded in the insulating housing; and 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 mating cavity and the contacts being arranged in a
diagonally symmetrical arrangement; wherein the shielding plate
comprises a front horizontal portion located in the mating tongue
and the base and between the contacting sections of the two rows of
contacts, a rear vertical portion extending out of the base and
between the mounting tails of the upper and lower contacts.
13. The right angle type receptacle connector as claimed in claim
12, wherein the shielding plate further defines two mounting tails
extending from opposite lateral ends of the rear vertical portion
thereof for mounting to the printed circuit board.
14. The right angle type receptacle connector as claimed in claim
12, wherein the shielding plate further defines a pair of spring
arms extending from the front horizontal portion and goes across
the rear base to mechanically and electrically connect to the
metallic shield.
15. The right angle type receptacle connector as claimed in claim
12, wherein the shielding plate is manufactured with the insulating
housing via an inserting mold process, and the upper and lower
contacts are assembled into the insulating housing after the
inserting mold process.
Description
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 200a 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 262a, 218a, 266a 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 200b 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
255b 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's, and it is too expensive for the
mother board size PCB'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.
* * * * *