TWI543465B - Electrical connector assembly and methond of the same - Google Patents

Description

Electrical connector assembly and assembly method thereof

The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly and a method of assembling the same, and more particularly to an electrical connector assembly having a support and an assembly method thereof.

Taiwan Patent Application Publication No. 201214899 discloses an electrical connector including a housing and a terminal module held on the insulative housing, the housing having a forwardly extending abutting portion and a recessed recess from the rear end surface of the housing The cavity has a mating surface, the mating surface is provided with a notch, the terminal module is assembled from the rear end surface of the outer casing in the accommodating cavity, and the terminal module has an insulator accommodated in the accommodating cavity and a conductive wire held in the insulator The contact portion of the terminal and the conductive terminal protrudes from the notch and is exposed on the mating surface. After the terminal module is assembled, the insulator and the terminal module are sealed by injection molding a plastic material into the notch. However, if a position or a deviation occurs in the position after the terminal module is inserted into the accommodating cavity, the plastic material sealing insulator and the terminal module plastic are injected into the notch to cover the contact portion of the conductive terminal, thereby causing poor contact.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector assembly and an assembly method thereof that can position a terminal module in a suitable position by the arrangement of the support members.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: an electrical connector assembly including an electrical connector, the electrical connector including a housing and a terminal housed in the housing The module has a forwardly extending abutting portion and a receiving cavity recessed from the rear end surface of the outer casing. One side of the abutting portion is an abutting surface, and the terminal module includes an insulator and a first terminal fixed to the insulator. The terminal module is inserted into the accommodating cavity, and the insulator has opposite first and second faces. The first terminal has a contact portion protruding from the first surface of the insulator, and the support cavity is mounted in the accommodating cavity. Pressing on the second side of the insulator exposes the contact portion to the abutting surface.

Compared with the prior art, the invention has the following effects: the support member is arranged such that the terminal module can be inserted into the accommodating cavity of the outer casing to obtain the correct position, the structure is simple, and the manufacturing is convenient.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a manufacturing method of an electrical connector assembly, the assembling method comprising the steps of: providing a first terminal, the first terminal having a contact portion; and molding a liquid insulating material to the first terminal The liquid insulating material is cooled to form an insulator, the first terminal and the insulator form a terminal module, the insulator has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and the contact portion of the first terminal is exposed on the first surface of the insulator; a housing having an abutting portion and a receiving cavity recessed from a rear end surface of the butting portion, wherein a side surface of the abutting portion is an abutting surface, and the abutting surface is recessed to form a notch portion communicating with the receiving cavity; The assembly is assembled in the accommodating cavity of the outer casing; a support member is provided, and the support member is inserted into the accommodating cavity from the rear end surface of the outer casing, and the support member abuts against the second surface of the insulator. At this time, the first surface of the insulator is resisted. An inner wall surface of the cavity, the contact portion of the first terminal protrudes from the notch portion.

Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following effects: when the terminal module is inserted into the accommodating cavity of the outer casing, the terminal module is supported by the insertion support member, so that the terminal module obtains the correct position, the structure is simple, and the manufacturing is convenient.

100‧‧‧Electrical connector

10‧‧‧ Shell

101‧‧‧ front end

102,502‧‧‧ rear end face

103‧‧‧容容

1031‧‧‧ inner wall

104‧‧‧ docking surface

105‧‧‧Gap section

105a, 105b, 105c‧‧ ‧ sub-notch

106‧‧‧ Connecting ribs

11‧‧‧Docking Department

12‧‧‧ Flat section

20‧‧‧Terminal module

20a, 20b, 20c‧‧‧ sub-terminal modules

21‧‧‧Insulator

211‧‧‧ first side

212‧‧‧ second side

22‧‧‧First terminal

221, 85‧‧‧ Holding Department

222, 811 ‧ ‧ contact

223‧‧‧Connecting Department

30‧‧‧Support

200‧‧‧Dock connector

50‧‧‧Insulated body

501‧‧‧ docking chamber

504‧‧‧ hole

51‧‧ ‧ blocking column

52‧‧‧Depression

521‧‧‧ horizontal plane

522‧‧‧ sloped surface

60‧‧‧second terminal

61, 82‧‧‧ welding department

62a, 62b‧‧‧ grounding terminal

71‧‧‧First shielding shell

711‧‧‧ top wall

7111‧‧ ‧ gap

7112‧‧‧ recessed

712‧‧‧ Back wall

714‧‧‧ side wall

718‧‧‧Responsible Department

72‧‧‧Second shielding shell

721‧‧‧ Main body

722‧‧‧Extension

80‧‧‧Locks

81‧‧‧Contact arm

83‧‧‧ lap joint

300‧‧‧ Cable

The first figure is a perspective view of the electrical connector of the present invention when the electrical connector is not butted; the second figure is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector of the present invention; and the third figure is the rear of the electrical connector terminal module of the present invention. The fourth figure is a perspective view of the electrical connector assembled with the support member shown in the third figure; the fifth figure is a perspective view of the electrical connector after the plastic connector is molded; the sixth figure is the docking connector of the present invention. 3 is a perspective view of the docking connector of the present invention; the eighth drawing is a perspective view of the electrical connector of the present invention when docked with the docking connector; and the ninth drawing is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX of the eighth figure; 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the docking connector of the present invention; the eleventh is a perspective exploded view of the docking connector shown in the tenth figure; and the twelfth figure is the tenth drawing of the docking connector Partial exploded view.

Referring to the first figure, the electrical connector assembly of the present invention includes an electrical connector 100 and its docking connector 200. The electrical connector 100 is a cable connector with a flat cable 300 connected to the rear end thereof, and the dock connector 200 is a board end connector for connecting the circuit board. In conjunction with the second figure, the electrical connector 100 includes a housing 10, a terminal module 20 held in the housing 10, and a support member 30.

Referring to the second figure, the outer casing 10 is an integral injection molding structure including a flat plate portion 12 and an abutting portion 11 extending forward from the front end surface 101 of the flat plate portion 12. The rear end surface 102 of the flat plate portion 12 is recessed with a receiving cavity 103 (in conjunction with the third figure). The abutting portion 11 The upper and lower sides and the left and right sides respectively extend obliquely toward the center of the accommodating cavity 103 such that the abutting portion 11 is tapered (the fifth and ninth figures are more clearly shown). The abutting portion 11 has an abutting surface 104, and the abutting surface 104 is recessed with a notch portion 105 communicating with the accommodating cavity 103. In the preferred embodiment, the notch portion 105 is divided into three mutually independent sub-notch portions 105a, 105b, 105c separated by two connecting ribs 106 and along the abutting surface 104. The longitudinal direction is aligned, that is, on the mating surface 104 in a lateral direction perpendicular to the mating direction. The intermediate sub-notch portion 105b is larger than the sub-notch portions 105a and 105c on both sides.

The terminal module 20 includes an insulator 21 and a plurality of first terminals 22 , and the first terminal 22 is embedded in the insulator 21 . The insulator 21 is formed by injection molding a liquid insulating material into the first terminal 22, and the liquid insulating material is cooled, and the first terminal 22 and the insulator 21 form the terminal module 20. The insulator 21 has a first surface 211 and a second surface 212 that are opposite to each other. The first terminal 22 has a holding portion 221 embedded in the insulator 21, a contact portion 222 that protrudes upward from the holding portion 221 and protrudes from the first surface 211, and a connecting portion 223 that extends rearward from the holding portion 221 to the insulator 21. The contact portion 222 is attached. In the holding portion 221, of course, in the case where the metal thickness of the press terminal is sufficient, the contact portion 222 may be integral with the holding portion 221. In the preferred embodiment, the terminal module 20 is divided into three sub-terminal modules 20a, 20b, 20c that are spaced apart from each other, and the sub-terminal modules 20a, 20b, 20c are juxtaposed to each other and connected together at the rear end. The support member 30 has a flat shape and has substantially the same shape as the terminal module 20.

As shown in the third figure, the terminal module 20 is first inserted into the accommodating cavity 103 of the casing 10. The first surface 211 of the insulator 21 is located below the notch portion 105, and the three sub-terminal modules 20a, 20b, 20c are correspondingly located in the casing. Below the three sub-notch portions 105a, 105b, 105c of 10. Furthermore, the second surface 212 of the insulator 21 and the inner wall surface of the accommodating cavity 103 The support 30 is inserted between 1031 (see the fourth figure). The connecting portion 223 of the first terminal 22 is located behind the support member 30. The support member 30 is pressed against the second surface 212 of the insulator 21, and the first surface 211 is abutted against the other inner wall surface of the accommodating cavity 103, so that the contact portion 222 of the first terminal 22 protrudes from the notch portion 105 and is exposed to the butt joint. The mating face 104 of the portion 11. In the present embodiment, the structure of the support member 30 is the same as that of the insulator 21. In a specific implementation, the support member 30 can also be disposed as a plurality of small support blocks, and the terminal module 20 is inserted into the accommodating cavity 103. After that, the support block is plugged to the gap between the insulator 21 and the accommodating cavity 103, so that the first surface 211 of the first terminal 22 abuts against the inner wall surface 1031 of the accommodating cavity 103 to make the contact portion 222 of the first terminal 22 and The mating faces 104 of the docking portions 11 are flush. Finally, referring to the fifth figure, in order to make the appearance of the electrical connector 100 more beautiful and better in sealing, the liquid plastic material 15 is injected into the three sub-notch portions 105a, 105b, 105c of the mating portion 11, the plastic material. The terminal module 20 is tightly connected to the outer casing 10, and the plastic material 15 is solidified and flush with the abutting surface 104 of the butting portion 11 (in conjunction with the fifth drawing).

In conjunction with the sixth and seventh figures, the mating connector 200 includes an insulative housing 50, a second terminal 60 that is retained on the insulative housing 50, a first shielding housing 71 that covers the insulative housing 50, and a second shielding housing. 72. The front end surface of the insulative housing 50 is recessed with a mating cavity 501 for receiving the abutting portion 11 of the electrical connector 100. The docking cavity 501 corresponds to the abutting portion 11 of the electrical connector 100, and is also provided in a tapered structure. The first shielding shell 71 is assembled to the insulative housing 50. The front edge of the top wall 711 of the first shielding housing 71 is provided with a notch 7111. The notch 7111 is clamped on the upper surface of the insulative housing 50. 51. The rear wall 712 and the two side walls 714 are respectively connected to the top wall 711. The four walls are respectively covered on the top surface, the back surface and the two side surfaces of the insulative housing 50. The welded portion 61 of the second terminal 60 is located below the rear wall 712 and extends rearward beyond the rear wall 712. The second shielding shell 72 has a main body portion 721 covering the bottom surface of the insulative housing 50 and extending from both side edges of the main body portion 721 And an extension 722 located outside the side wall 714 of the first shielding shell 71. The side wall 714 of the first shielding shell 71 and the extension 722 of the second shielding shell 72 are joined by spot welding techniques.

With reference to the eighth and ninth diagrams, the second terminals 60 are disposed in the mating cavity 501 in a row in the longitudinal direction, wherein the two terminals located on the outer sides of the second terminal 60 are the grounding terminals 62a, corresponding to the electrical connector 100. The two terminals of the two connecting ribs 106 are the grounding terminals 62b. In the present embodiment, the outer casing 10 is of a conductive structure, the grounding terminal 62a is in direct contact with the outer casing 10, and the grounding terminal 62b is in contact with the connecting rib 106 of the outer casing 10. Therefore, the electrical connector 100 can achieve a grounding effect with the mating connector 200 without additionally providing a grounding terminal, and has a simple structure.

The tenth to twelfth drawings show a second embodiment of the present invention, mainly in which a pair of locking members 80 are added to the docking connector 200, and the structure of the electrical connector 100 is not changed. Only the change points are described below, and the same structures are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described in detail. Referring to FIG. 11 , the locking member 80 includes a retaining portion 85 , a contact arm 81 extending forward from the retaining portion 85 , a welded portion 82 extending downward from the retaining portion 85 , and an outwardly bent portion from the retaining portion 85 . The lap portion 83. The rear end surface 502 of the insulative housing 50 is provided with a forwardly extending hole 504. The hole 504 is in communication with the mating cavity 501. The latching member 80 is inserted into the hole 504 from the rear end surface 502 until the contact arm 81 is located on both sides of the mating cavity 501. The soldering portion 82 extends from the rear end surface 502 of the insulative housing 50 , and the overlapping portion 83 covers the outer surface of the insulative housing 50 . In conjunction with the tenth figure, the latch arm 81 is provided with an arcuate contact portion 811 protruding toward the mating cavity 501. After the electrical connector 100 is inserted into the mating connector 200, the contact portion 811 is clamped at the mating portion of the electrical connector 100. 11 sides, thereby increasing the clamping force of the docking connector 200 and the electrical connector 100.

Referring to FIG. 12, the upper surface of the insulative housing 50 of the mating connector 200 is recessed. There is a recess 52 extending through the rear end surface 502 of the insulative housing 50, and the top wall 711 of the first shielding case 71 is punched downward to form a lower recess 7112. The recess 52 has a horizontal plane 521 and an inclined surface 522 that is connected to the horizontal plane 521 and disposed at an obtuse angle to the horizontal plane 521. The rear wall 712 is connected to the lower recess 7112, and the lower recess 7112 extends from the other end edge of the opposite rear wall 712 with an upward abutting portion 718. The recessed portion 7112 is covered by the horizontal surface 521, and the resisting portion 718 is abutted against the inclined surface 522, and the resisting portion 718 is comb-shaped. The overlapping portion 83 of the locking member 80 is located above the extending portion 722 of the second shielding shell 72. The sidewall 714 of the first shielding shell 71 is located at the overlapping portion 83 of the locking member 80 and the extension of the second shielding housing 72. The outer portion of the portion 722 is joined together by spot welding. Because the abutting portion 11 of the electrical connector 100 is of a conductive structure, the locking member 80 of the mating connector 200 is also a conductive structure. When the locking member 80 is locked to the mating portion 11, the electrical connector 100 and the docking connector 200 Grounding is again formed between them. At this time, the first shielding shell 71 is simultaneously connected to the locking member 80 and the second shielding shell 72, so that the masking effect of the entire electrical connector combination is better.

In the implementation process, arc-shaped recesses (not shown) corresponding to the contact portions 811 may be disposed on both sides of the mating portion 11 of the electrical connector 100, and the contact portion 811 interferes with the side surface of the mating portion 11 during the mating process. Contained in the recess. When the electrical connector 100 is separated from the mating connector 200, the arcuate contact portion 811 is easily detached from the arcuate recess, thereby achieving an easy release effect.

In summary, this creation has met the requirements of the invention patent, and applied for a patent in accordance with the law. However, the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments, and any equivalent modification or change made by a person familiar with the skill of the present invention in accordance with the spirit of the present invention is It should be covered by the following patent application.

102‧‧‧ rear end face

103‧‧‧容容

1031‧‧‧ inner wall

11‧‧‧Docking Department

20‧‧‧Terminal module

30‧‧‧Support

Claims (10)

An electrical connector assembly includes an electrical connector, the electrical connector including a housing and a terminal module received in the housing, the housing having a forwardly extending abutting portion and a receiving cavity recessed from the rear end surface of the housing One side of the abutting portion is an abutting surface, the terminal module includes an insulator and a first terminal fixed to the insulator, the terminal module is inserted into the accommodating cavity, and the insulator has a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite to each other, the first terminal has A contact portion protruding from the first surface of the insulator is disposed, wherein a support member is mounted in the accommodating cavity, and the support member is pressed against the second surface of the insulator to expose the contact portion to the abutting surface. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the abutting surface of the abutting portion is recessed with a notch portion communicating with the accommodating cavity, and the first surface of the insulator abuts against the inner side of the accommodating cavity. The contact portion of the first terminal protrudes from the notch portion, the notch portion is filled with a plastic material, and the plastic material sealing terminal module is such that the plastic material is flush with the abutting surface of the butting portion. The electrical connector assembly of claim 2, wherein the terminal module is divided into three interconnected sub-terminal modules, and the notched portion of the mating portion is provided with three sub-terminal modules separated from each other. In the notch portion, the outer casing is a conductive structure, and the outer casing has a connecting rib located at the notch portion and partitioning the notch portion into three sub-notch portions. The electrical connector assembly of claim 3, wherein the electrical connector assembly further comprises a docking connector, the docking connector comprising an insulative housing, a second terminal held by the insulative housing, and a first shielding shell The second terminal includes a signal terminal and a ground terminal. The partial ground terminal is disposed in contact with the connecting rib corresponding to the connecting rib of the outer casing, and the partial grounding terminal is located on both sides of the notch and is in contact with the outer casing. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the docking connector further comprises a pair of latching members, the latching member comprising contact arms on opposite sides of the electrical connector mating portion and Covering the overlapping portion of the outer surface of the insulating body, the first shielding shell has sidewalls on the outer side of the overlapping portion, and the sidewalls are overlapped with the overlapping portions by spot welding. The electrical connector assembly of claim 5, wherein the contact arm of the locking member is further provided with a contact portion to the abutting portion of the electrical connector, and the abutting portion of the electrical connector is provided with a corresponding portion of the recess portion of the contact portion The contact portion interferes with the side surface of the abutting portion and is housed in the concave portion. The electrical connector assembly of claim 6, wherein the docking connector further comprises a second shielding housing, the second shielding housing having an extension covering the outer side of the insulating body, The extending portion is located below the overlapping portion, and the sidewall of the first shielding shell is simultaneously overlapped with the overlapping portion of the locking member and the extension portion of the second shielding housing. An assembly method of an electrical connector assembly, wherein the assembly method comprises the steps of: providing a first terminal, the first terminal having a contact portion; molding a liquid insulating material to the first terminal, and cooling the liquid insulating material to form an insulator, first The terminal and the insulator form a terminal module, the insulator has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the contact portion of the first terminal is exposed on the first surface of the insulator; and the outer casing is provided, the outer casing has abutting portion and self-docking a receiving cavity recessed in the rear end portion, a side surface of the abutting portion is an abutting surface, and the mating surface is recessed to form a notch portion communicating with the receiving cavity; assembling the terminal module into the receiving cavity of the outer casing: providing support The support member is inserted into the accommodating cavity from the rear end surface of the outer casing, and the support member abuts against the second surface of the insulator. At this time, the first surface of the insulator abuts against the inner wall surface of the accommodating cavity, and the contact portion of the first terminal Protruding out of the notch. The assembly method of the electrical connector assembly of the invention of claim 8, wherein the assembling method further comprises filling the notch portion of the butting portion with a plastic material, so that the plastic material seals the terminal module and the butting portion, and the plastic material and The mating surface and the terminal module are flush. The method of assembling an electrical connector assembly according to claim 8, wherein the outer casing is A conductive structure, the outer casing having a connecting rib located at the notch portion and partitioning the notch portion into three sub-notch portions.