TWI888992B - Connector device and receptacle connector thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

This disclosure is directed to a connector device, having a receptacle connector and a plug connector. The receptacle connector has a receptacle insulative seat, a shell and multiple receptacle terminals. The receptacle insulative seat has a tongue. The tongue has two opposite side surfaces and an end surface connected between the two side surfaces. The conductive shell sleeves the receptacle insulating seat and surrounds the tongue. The conductive shell is aspirated from the tongue. The conductive shell has an opening and the end face of the tongue is disposed in the opening. The conductive shell has a magnetic attracting part and the magnetic attracting part is disposed at the opening. The receptacle terminals are disposed on the tongue and exposed on two side surfaces respectively, and each receptacle terminal is extended to the end surface.

Description

Connector device and female connector thereof

The present invention provides a USB Type-C, in particular a connector device capable of magnetic docking and a female connector thereof.

The USB Type-C connector is the interface used by PD fast charging. It supports high power and large current transmission, and can transmit data, audio and images. Therefore, the USB Type-C connector has gradually become the mainstream connector interface. The EU has even officially passed a proposal to use Type-C as a unified charging interface for all electronic devices to reduce the generation of electronic waste.

Today's USB Type C connectors are subject to plugging and unplugging and bending tests during the development process. It is known that they will be subjected to stress in different directions when connected. However, changing to non-contact force such as magnetic force can reduce wear during plugging and unplugging and increase service life.

In view of this, the inventor has conducted intensive research on the above-mentioned existing technologies and applied theories to try his best to solve the above-mentioned problems, which has become the goal of the inventor's improvement.

The present invention provides a connector device capable of magnetic docking and a female connector thereof.

The present invention provides a connector device, which includes a female connector and a male connector. The female connector includes a female insulating seat, a shell and a plurality of female terminals. The female insulating seat includes a tongue, which has two oppositely arranged side surfaces and an end surface connected between the two side surfaces. The shell is sleeved on the female insulating seat, and the shell sleeve surrounds the tongue and is spaced from the tongue. The shell has an opening and the end surface of the tongue is located in the opening. The shell has a magnetic attraction portion and the magnetic attraction portion is located in the opening. The female terminals are arranged on the tongue and are exposed on the two side surfaces respectively, and each female terminal extends to the end surface. The male end connector includes a male end insulating seat, a magnetic attraction part, and further includes a plurality of spring terminals or a plurality of probe terminals corresponding to the female end terminals. The male end insulating seat has a docking surface, the magnetic attraction part is arranged on the male end insulating seat, and at least a part of the spring terminal or the probe terminal corresponding to the female end terminal is arranged on the docking surface. The opening is defined with a docking direction. When the male end connector docks with the female end connector, the male end insulating seat can dock with the opening in a loose fit along the docking direction, the magnetic attraction part and the magnetic attraction part are mutually attracted, the docking surface and the end surface are arranged at intervals facing each other, and the spring terminals or the probe terminals are respectively abutted against the end surface and respectively abut against each corresponding female end terminal.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic attraction portion and the magnetic attraction member have different magnetic properties, or one of the magnetic attraction portion and the magnetic attraction member is magnetic and the other is non-magnetic and can be magnetized.

In one embodiment of the present invention, each female terminal has a first butt joint section and a second butt joint section. In each female terminal, the first butt joint section is exposed on one side of the tongue and the second butt joint section is exposed on the end surface of the tongue.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the end surface is not parallel to the side surfaces, and the end surface is a convex arc surface or a polygonal convex surface.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the tongue has a pair of side edges, each side edge is connected between the two side surfaces and the pair of side edges are respectively arranged on two opposite sides of the end surface, and a barb is respectively provided on each side edge, and the blocking direction of each barb is opposite to the mating direction.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of grooves are provided on the mating surface of the male end insulating seat, and a conductive elastic member is provided in each groove. The probe terminals are respectively inserted into the corresponding grooves and respectively abut against the corresponding conductive elastic members.

The present invention also provides a female connector, which includes a female insulating seat, a shell and a plurality of female terminals. The female insulating seat includes a tongue, which has two oppositely arranged side surfaces and an end surface connected between the two side surfaces. The shell is sleeved on the female insulating seat, the shell sleeve surrounds the tongue and is spaced from the tongue, the shell has an opening and the end surface of the tongue is located in the opening, the shell has a magnetic attraction portion and the magnetic attraction portion is located in the opening. The female terminals are arranged on the tongue and exposed on the two side surfaces respectively, and each female terminal extends to the end surface.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic attraction portion is magnetic, or the magnetic attraction portion is non-magnetic and can be magnetized.

In one embodiment of the present invention, each female terminal has a first butt joint section and a second butt joint section. In each female terminal, the first butt joint section is exposed on one side of the tongue and the second butt joint section is exposed on the end surface of the tongue.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the end surface is not parallel to the side surfaces. The second butt joint section is not parallel to the first butt joint section.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the opening defines a mating direction toward the inside of the outer shell, the tongue has a pair of side edges, each side edge is connected between the two side surfaces and the pair of side edges are respectively arranged on the opposite sides of the end surface, and a barb is respectively provided on each side edge, and the blocking direction of each barb is opposite to the mating direction.

In the process of the male connector of the connector device of the present invention being connected to the female connector, there is no friction between the male connector and the female connector along the connection direction, thus avoiding wear. Moreover, the female connector of the present invention is also suitable for connecting to a general USB Type-C male connector.

10a: Female connector

11a: Docking direction

100a: Female end insulation seat

101a: End face

102a: Side edge

110a: Tongue

111a: Side

120a: inverted hook

200a: Shell

201a: Opening

210a: Magnetic attraction part

300a:Female terminal

310a: First docking section

320a: Second docking section

10b: Male connector

100b: Male end insulation seat

101b: Butt joint

110b:Entity

111b: Groove

120b: docking part

210b: Magnetic parts

300b: Probe terminal

310b: Conductive elastic member

20b: Male connector

21b: Male end insulation seat

22b: Slot

23b: Elastic arm terminal

Figure 1 is a three-dimensional diagram of a connector device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Cross-sectional views of the connector device in use according to the embodiments of Figures 2 and 3.

Another cross-sectional view of the connector device in use of the embodiment of Figures 4 to 5.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the first embodiment of the present invention provides a female connector 10a, which is compatible with the USB type-C specification and is magnetically attracted. In this embodiment, the female connector 10a includes a female insulating seat 100a, a housing 200a, and a plurality of female terminals 300a.

In this embodiment, the female end insulating seat 100a is an insulating block made of plastic, and the female end insulating seat 100a includes a tongue 110a, and the size of the tongue 110a is compatible with the USB type-C female end specification. The tongue 110a has two side surfaces 111a arranged opposite to each other and an end surface 101a connected between the two side surfaces 111a. The end surface 101a is located at the end of the tongue 110a and is in the shape of a long strip. The end surface 101a is not parallel to the side surfaces 111a, and the end surface 101a can be a convex arc surface or a polygonal convex surface. The tongue 110a also has a pair of side edges 102a, each of which is connected between the two side surfaces 111a. The pair of side edges 102a respectively correspond to the end surface 101a, and the two ends of the long strip are respectively arranged on the two sides of the end surface 101a.

In this embodiment, the size of the housing 200a is compatible with the USB type-C female terminal specification. The housing 200a can be a tube made of metal or other materials of equal strength. One end of the housing 200a is sleeved on the female terminal insulation seat 100a so that the housing 200a is fixed to the female terminal insulation seat 100a. The housing 200a is sleeved around the tongue piece 110a and is spaced from the tongue piece 110a, so that the tongue piece 110a is accommodated in the housing 200a. The housing 200a has an opening 201a, the opening 201a is located at the other end of the housing 200a and the end surface 101a of the tongue 110a is located in the opening 201a. The aforementioned opening 201a defines a mating direction 11a, and the mating direction 11a is toward the inside of the housing 200a. The housing 200a has a magnetic attraction portion 210a and at least a portion of the magnetic attraction portion 210a is located in the opening 201a, that is, the range of the magnetic attraction portion 210a may cover the entire housing 200a. The magnetic attraction portion 210a is magnetic, or the magnetic attraction portion 210a is non-magnetic and can be magnetized. The magnetic attraction portion 210a can be directly formed by the housing 200a itself, or it can be assembled to the housing 200a by another component. Specifically, the magnetic attraction portion 210a may be: a magnet assembled in the outer shell 200a; the outer shell 200a itself is magnetic; the outer shell 200a is made of non-magnetic but magnetizable metals such as iron or stainless steel; or non-magnetic but magnetizable metal parts such as iron or stainless steel are assembled in the outer shell 200a.

The female terminal 300a is disposed on the tongue 110a and is exposed on the two side surfaces 111a of the tongue 110a respectively, and is arranged in a manner compatible with the USB type-C female terminal specification, and each female terminal 300a extends to the end surface 101a of the tongue 110a. Specifically, each female terminal 300a has a first docking section 310a and a second docking section 320a. In each female terminal 300a, the first docking section 310a is exposed on one of the side surfaces 111a of the tongue 110a and is arranged in a manner compatible with the USB type-C female terminal specification, and the second docking section 320a is exposed on the end surface 101a of the tongue 110a. The second docking section 320a can be conformal with the end surface 101a, and the second docking section 320a is not parallel to the first docking section 310a.

In this embodiment, a barb 120a is provided on each side edge 102a of the tongue 110a, and the blocking direction of each barb 120a is opposite to the mating direction 11a. The configuration position and size of the barb 120a are compatible with the USB type-C female terminal specification.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the aforementioned female connector 10a and a male connector 10b can be connected to form the connector device of the present invention. Specifically, the aforementioned male connector 10b is magnetically attracted and includes a male insulating seat 100b, a magnetic attraction member 210b, and a plurality of male terminals. For example, in this embodiment, the male terminal can be a probe terminal 300b (PIN), but the present invention is not limited thereto, and it can also be a POGO PIN or a metal sheet in the form of a spring.

The male end insulating seat 100b is an insulating block made of plastic. The male end insulating seat 100b includes a body 110b and a mating portion 120b protruding from the body 110b. The contour of the mating portion 120b corresponds to the opening 201a of the female end connector 10a and the mating portion 120b can be loosely inserted into the opening 201a. The male end insulating seat 100b has a mating surface 101b, which is located on the mating portion 120b. At least a portion of the probe terminals 300b corresponding to the female end terminals 300a is arranged on the mating surface 101b.

The magnetic attraction member 210b is disposed on the male end insulating seat 100b. The probe terminal 300b corresponds to at least part of the configuration of the female terminals 300a. Since each function of the female terminal 300a of the USB Type-C specification is achieved by a pair of female terminals 300a, the corresponding probe terminal 300b only needs to connect to one of the pair of female terminals 300a to achieve the predetermined function. In other words, the number of probe terminals 300b can be equal to the number of female terminals 300a and be configured one by one; the number of probe terminals 300b can also be less than the number of female terminals 300a, for example, the number of probe terminals 300b is half of the number of female terminals 300a and only corresponds to half of the female terminals 300a.

The magnetic attraction portion 210a and the magnetic attraction member 210b have opposite magnetic properties, or one of the magnetic attraction portion 210a and the magnetic attraction member 210b has magnetic properties and the other is non-magnetic and can be magnetically attracted. In this way, the magnetic attraction portion 210a and the magnetic attraction member 210b can be attracted to each other.

When the male connector 10b is connected to the female connector 10a, the male insulating seat 100b can be loosely connected to the opening 201a along the connection direction 11a, the magnetic element 210b and the magnetic portion 210a are mutually attracted, the connection surface 101b and the end surface 101a are arranged opposite to each other, and the magnetic attraction between the magnetic element 210b and the magnetic portion 210a can respectively contact the probe terminals 300b to the end surface 101a of the tongue 110a, and the probe terminals 300b respectively contact the second connection sections 320a of the corresponding female terminals 300a to respectively electrically connect the corresponding female terminals 300a.

The probe terminals 300b may also be in the form of spring connectors (Pogo pins), that is, a plurality of conductive elastic members 310b may be provided on the male end insulating seat 100b corresponding to the probe terminals 300b. Specifically, a plurality of grooves 111b are provided on the mating surface 101b of the male end insulating seat 100b, and a conductive elastic member 310b may be provided in each groove 111b, respectively. The probe terminals 300b are respectively inserted into the corresponding grooves 111b and respectively abut against the corresponding conductive elastic members 310b to be further electrically connected. In this way, the probe terminals 300b can be ensured to abut against the second mating sections 320a of the corresponding female end terminals 300a. The second docking section 320a is not parallel to the first docking section 310a to increase the contact area with the male terminal.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the female connector 10a of the present invention can be compatible with a general USB Type-C male connector 20b. The general USB Type-C male connector 20b has a male insulating seat 21b. The outer contour of the male insulating seat 21b is compatible with the USB Type-C specification and can be inserted into the outer shell 200a of the female connector 10a. The male insulating seat 21b is provided with a slot 22b. The inner contour of the slot 22b is compatible with the USB Type-C specification and can be inserted into the tongue 110a of the female connector 10a. Male terminals such as multiple spring terminals 23b are arranged in the slot 22b. The number of spring terminals 23b can be equal to the number of female terminals 300a and are arranged one by one.

When the general USB Type-C male connector 20b is connected to the female connector 10a of the present invention, the spring terminals 23b clamp the tongue 110a of the female connector 10a, and each spring terminal 23b presses against the corresponding first docking section 310a to electrically connect the corresponding female terminals 300a. When the general USB Type-C male connector 20b is connected to the female connector 10a of the present invention, each spring terminal 23b rubs the corresponding first docking section 310a along the docking direction 11a. Each barb 120a of the tongue 110a of the female connector 10a hooks the general USB Type-C male connector 20b to prevent loosening.

In summary, in the process of the male connector 10b of the connector device of the present invention being connected to the female connector 10a, there is no mechanical force along the connection direction 11a between the male connector 10b and the female connector 10a, so wear can be avoided. When the wire is accidentally pulled during charging, the plug of the male connector 10b can fall off automatically, reducing the risk of the device falling.

Moreover, the female connector 10a of the present invention is also suitable for docking with a general USB Type-C male connector 10b, and the original wire does not need to be discarded, thus avoiding the waste of the original wire.

The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the patent scope of the present invention. Other equivalent variations that apply the patent spirit of the present invention should all fall within the patent scope of the present invention.

10a: Female connector

11a: Docking direction

100a: Female end insulation seat

101a: End face

102a: Side edge

110a: Tongue

111a: Side

120a: inverted hook

200a: Shell

201a: Opening

210a: Magnetic attraction part

300a:Female terminal

10b: Male connector

100b: Male end insulation seat

101b: Butt joint

110b:Entity

120b: docking part

210b: Magnetic parts

300b: Probe terminal

Claims (13)

A connector device, comprising: A female connector, comprising a female insulating seat, a shell and a plurality of female terminals, the female insulating seat comprising a tongue, the tongue having two oppositely arranged side surfaces and an end surface connected between the two side surfaces, the shell sleeved with the female insulating seat, the shell sleeve surrounding the tongue and spaced from the tongue, the shell having an opening and the end surface of the tongue being located in the opening, the shell having a magnetic attraction portion and the magnetic attraction portion being located in the opening, the female terminals being arranged on the tongue and respectively exposed on the two side surfaces, and each of the female terminals extending to the end surface; and A male connector includes a male insulating seat, a magnetic attraction part, and further includes a plurality of spring terminals or a plurality of probe terminals. The male insulating seat has a mating surface. The magnetic attraction part is arranged on the male insulating seat. The spring terminals or the probe terminals are arranged on the mating surface corresponding to at least a part of the female terminals. A mating direction is defined in the opening. When the male connector is mated with the female connector, the male insulating seat can be loosely mated with the opening along the mating direction. The magnetic attraction part and the magnetic attraction part are mutually attracted. The mating surface and the end surface are arranged at intervals facing each other. The spring terminals or the probe terminals are respectively abutted against the end surface and respectively abut against the corresponding female terminals. A connector device as described in claim 1, wherein the magnetic attraction portion and the magnetic attraction component have opposite magnetic properties, or one of the magnetic attraction portion and the magnetic attraction component is magnetic and the other is non-magnetic and can be magnetized. A connector device as described in claim 1, wherein each of the female terminals has a first docking section and a second docking section, and in each of the female terminals, the first docking section is exposed on one of the side surfaces of the tongue and the second docking section is exposed on the end surface of the tongue. A connector device as described in claim 1, wherein the end face is not parallel to each of the side faces. A connector device as described in claim 1, wherein the end face is a convex arc surface or a polygonal convex surface. A connector device as described in claim 1, wherein the tongue has a pair of side edges, each of which is connected between the two side surfaces and the pair of side edges are respectively arranged on two opposite sides of the end surface, and a barb is respectively provided on each of the side edges, and the stopping direction of each barb is opposite to the mating direction. A connector device as described in claim 1, wherein a plurality of grooves are provided on the mating surface of the male end insulating seat, a conductive elastic member is provided in each of the grooves, and the probe terminals are respectively inserted into the corresponding grooves and respectively abut against the corresponding conductive elastic members. A female connector includes: a female insulating seat including a tongue, the tongue having two oppositely disposed side surfaces and an end surface connected between the two side surfaces; a housing sleeved with the female insulating seat, the housing sleeve surrounding the tongue and spaced from the tongue, the housing having an opening and the end surface of the tongue being located in the opening, the housing having a magnetic attraction portion and the magnetic attraction portion being located in the opening; and a plurality of female terminals, arranged on the tongue and respectively exposed on the two side surfaces, and each of the female terminals extending to the end surface. A female end connector as described in claim 8, wherein the magnetic attraction portion is magnetic, or the magnetic attraction portion is non-magnetic and can be magnetized. A female connector as described in claim 8, wherein each of the female terminals has a first docking section and a second docking section, and in each of the female terminals, the first docking section is exposed on one of the side surfaces of the tongue and the second docking section is exposed on the end surface of the tongue. A female connector as described in claim 8, wherein the end face is not parallel to each of the side faces. A female end connector as described in claim 10, wherein the second docking section is not parallel to the first docking section. A female end connector as described in claim 8, wherein the opening defines a mating direction toward the inside of the outer shell, the tongue has a pair of side edges, each of the side edges is connected between the two side surfaces and the pair of side edges are respectively arranged on two opposite sides of the end surface, and a barb is respectively provided on each of the side edges, and the stopping direction of each barb is opposite to the mating direction.

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