TWI902228B - Floating card edge connector - Google Patents

Abstract

A floating card edge connector for electrically connecting a first connection object to a second connection object is disclosed. The floating card edge connector comprises: a main housing, a first floating housing, a second floating housing, and a plurality of contacts. The first floating housing comprises a first mating opening for insertion of the first connection object in a first direction, and the second floating housing comprises a second mating opening for insertion of the second connection object in the first direction. The first and second floating housings are arranged to be movable in a plane perpendicular to the first direction independently with respect to the main housing. The first and second mating openings each have an interference fit structure that allows the first and second connection objects to be inserted into the first and second mating openings in an interference fit manner, respectively. As such, the first and second connection objects are prevented from being displaced laterally or becoming loose in the first and second mating openings.

Description

Floating edge connector

This invention relates to a connector, particularly a floating edge connector.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-12127 discloses a double-ended edge connector. This double-ended edge connector is used to directly connect one card plate to another for electrical connection, and includes: a housing having fitting grooves formed on opposite ends; and a plurality of contacts connected to a plurality of conductive pads formed on opposite sides of each card plate end edge.

However, this type of retaining plate connector does not have the function of absorbing installation position errors when all retaining plates are mounted to the machine housing or motherboard. Therefore, this retaining plate connector may be damaged by mechanical force, or the retaining plate inserted into the connector may be bent unintentionally. This can cause mechanical force to be applied to the parts mounted on the retaining plates, resulting in the solder on the part mounting parts potentially detaching.

One of the purposes of this invention is to provide a floating edge connector that can absorb errors in the installation position of the connected object and prevent damage to the connector or the connected object.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a floating edge connector that prevents the inserted connected object from becoming loose.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a floating edge connector that can be miniaturized, which is advantageous for use in limited installation space.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a floating edge connector is provided for inserting a first connecting object and a second connecting object along a first direction into the floating edge connector, thereby electrically connecting the first connecting object and the second connecting object to each other. The floating edge connector includes: a main housing; a first floating housing including a first engagement opening for inserting the first connecting object; a second floating housing including a second engagement opening for inserting the second connecting object, the first floating housing and the second floating housing are configured to move independently relative to the main housing, and the opening directions of the first engagement opening and the second engagement opening are opposite to each other; A plurality of contacts are arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Each of the plurality of contacts includes a first contact portion, a first holding portion, a first spring portion, a connecting portion, a second spring portion, a second holding portion, and a second contact portion. The first contact portion, the first holding portion, and the first spring portion are arranged along a third direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions. The second contact portion, the second holding portion, and the second spring portion are arranged along the third direction. The contact portion is positioned at the first engaging opening and allows contact with the first connected object. The first retaining portion extends from the first contact portion and is held by the first floating shell. The first spring portion extends from the first retaining portion and is connected to the second spring portion via the connecting portion. The second contact portion is positioned at the second engaging opening and allows contact with the second connected object. The second retaining portion extends from the second contact portion and is held by the second floating shell. The second spring portion extends from the second retaining portion. Each of the first and second mating openings has two opposing abutment structures on its inner walls in the second direction, allowing the first and second connecting objects to be inserted into the first and second mating openings respectively in an interference fit.

According to the floating contact connector of the present invention, the distance between the two abutting structures is less than the width of the insertion end of the first connector or the second connector.

According to the floating locking connector of the present invention, grooves are formed on both sides of the third direction of each clamping structure to weaken the rigidity of the two clamping structures.

According to the floating edge connector of the present invention, the main shell includes an upper surface and a lower surface orthogonal to the third direction and opposite to each other, a first side surface and a second side surface orthogonal to the second direction and opposite to each other, a first inclined surface connecting the upper surface and the first side surface, a second inclined surface connecting the upper surface and the second side surface, a third inclined surface connecting the lower surface and the first side surface, and a fourth inclined surface connecting the lower surface and the second side surface, such that when the floating edge connector is viewed from the first direction, the outer contour of the main shell is octagonal.

According to the floating locking connector of the present invention, the main housing is composed of two housing halves, each housing half having two locking parts and two engaging protrusions.

According to the floating locking connector of the present invention, the two locking portions are formed on the first inclined surface and the fourth inclined surface respectively, and the two engaging protrusions are formed on the first inclined surface and the fourth inclined surface respectively.

According to the floating locking connector of the present invention, the locking part and protrusion of one of the two shell halves are respectively engaged with the engagement protrusion and locking part of the other shell halves.

According to the floating contactor of the present invention, the main shell includes an internal space, in which the first floating shell, the second floating shell, and the plurality of contacts are housed. The first floating shell and the second floating shell are supported in the internal space in a floating manner by means of the plurality of contacts. A plurality of limiting grooves for accommodating the connecting portions of the plurality of contacts are formed on the upper inner wall and the lower inner wall of the main shell, thereby restricting the movement of the connecting portions of the plurality of contacts in the second direction by means of the plurality of limiting grooves.

According to the floating contactor of the present invention, the main housing system is configured to allow the first floating housing and the second floating housing to move in a plane orthogonal to the first direction.

According to the floating contact connector of the present invention, the first floating shell and the second floating shell system can move independently of each other.

Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will be able to best understand the technical features, other purposes and advantages of this invention after referring to the description and accompanying drawings.

The floating flange connector of this invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In all the drawings, the same components are indicated by the same component symbols. The drawings are not drawn to scale.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a floating edge connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. The floating edge connector is generally indicated by component symbol 10. The floating edge connector 10 includes a main housing 11 (composed of two housing halves 110), a first floating housing 12, a second floating housing 13 (shown in Figure 4), and a plurality of contacts 14. In this embodiment, the floating edge connector 10 is in the form of a double-ended edge connector. As shown in Figure 2, the first connecting object P1 and the second connecting object P2, which are in the form of a locking plate, are inserted into the floating edge connector 10 along the first direction D1 (i.e., the mating direction). Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the first connecting object P1 and the second connecting object P2 inserted into the floating edge connector 10. Each of the first connection object P1 and the second connection object P2 has a plurality of conductive pads, commonly known as gold fingers, formed on the upper and lower surfaces of its insertion end edge. When the first connection object P1 and the second connection object P2 are inserted into the floating edge connector 10, the conductive pad formed on the first connection object P1 contacts one end of the contact 14 of the floating edge connector 10, and the conductive pad formed on the second connection object P2 contacts the other end of the contact 14 of the floating edge connector 10. This electrically connects the first connection object P1 and the second connection object P2 to each other.

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the floating edge connector 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A plurality of contacts 14 are held by a first floating shell 12 and a second floating shell 13, and arranged in two rows at predetermined intervals in a second direction D2 (i.e., the width direction) perpendicular to the first direction D1. These two rows of contacts 14 are separated in a third direction D3 (i.e., the height direction) perpendicular to both the first direction D1 and the second direction D2, and the contacts 14 in the upper row are aligned with and face each other in the third direction D3. The main shell 11 is configured as a frame-like shell containing an internal space in which the first floating shell 12, the second floating shell 13, and the contacts 14 are housed. The first floating shell 12 and the second floating shell 13 are supported in this internal space by means of the contact member 14 in a way that allows them to float on a plane orthogonal to the first direction D1.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, the first floating shell 12 and the second floating shell 13 have the same structure, shape, and dimensions, and the two shell halves 110 also have the same structure, shape, and dimensions. Therefore, the types of parts required to assemble the floating flange connector according to the embodiments of the present invention can be reduced. This is highly advantageous in terms of connector manufacturing and assembly costs, as well as parts inventory management.

Figure 5 is a front view of the first floating shell 12 of the floating edge connector 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the first floating shell 12 of the floating edge connector according to an embodiment of the present invention along line AA. Since the structure, shape, and dimensions of the second floating shell 13 are the same as those of the first floating shell 12, a detailed description of the second floating shell 13 is omitted. The first floating shell 12 and the second floating shell 13 are interchangeable.

As shown in Figure 5, the front side of the first floating shell 12 has a first engagement opening 120 for inserting a first connecting object P1. The upper and lower edges of the first engagement opening 120 are chamfered to guide the insertion of the first connecting object P1. Two abutting structures 121, facing each other in the second direction D2, are respectively provided on the two inner walls of the first engagement opening 120. The abutting structures 121 have abutting protrusions 1211. The abutting structures 121 allow the first connecting object P1 to be inserted into the first engagement opening 120 in an interference fit. In this way, loosening or lateral displacement of the first connecting object P1 in the second direction D2 can be avoided. To weaken the rigidity of the clamping structure 121, grooves 122 are formed on both sides of the third direction D3 of the clamping structure 121 (i.e., the upper and lower sides of the clamping structure 121). The grooves 122 serve as a means to adjust the rigidity or flexibility of the clamping structure 121. By forming the grooves 122, the flexibility of the clamping structure 121 is improved, making it easier for the clamping structure 121 to deform in accordance with the insertion of the first connecting object P1, so as not to obstruct the insertion of the first connecting object P1.

The upper inner wall surface of the first fitting opening 120 is formed with a plurality of slots 123 for receiving the contact portions of the upper row of contacts, such that a portion of the contact portion protrudes from the slots 123 to contact the conductive pad on the upper surface of the first connecting object inserted into the first fitting opening 120. The lower inner wall surface of the first fitting opening 120 is formed with a plurality of slots 124 for receiving the contact portions of the lower row of contacts, such that a portion of the contact portion protrudes from the slots 124 to contact the conductive pad on the lower surface of the first connecting object. The slots 123 and 124 have the function of defining the spacing between the contacts and guiding the contact portions of the contacts.

Two limit keys 125 are respectively formed on both sides of the first floating housing 12. The limit keys 125 can cooperate with the limit key slots (described below) formed in the main housing 11, allowing the limit keys 125 to move in the limit key slots in the second direction D2 and the third direction D3, but not in the first direction D1. The cooperation between the limit keys 125 and the limit key slots can also prevent the first floating housing 12 from swaying (i.e., swinging around the second direction D2).

In Figure 6, the outline of the first connecting object P1 is schematically shown in dashed lines. As shown in Figure 6, the distance W1 between the two abutting structures 121 (more specifically, the distance between the abutting protrusions 1211 of the two abutting structures 121) is set to be smaller than the width W2 of the insertion end of the first connecting object P1. Therefore, the first connecting object P1 can be inserted into the first fitting opening 120 of the first floating shell 12 in an interference fit. Similarly, the second connecting object P2 can be inserted into the second fitting opening (not shown) of the second floating shell 13 in an interference fit.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the assembly consisting of a first floating shell 12, a second floating shell 13, and a contact 14. One side of the contact 14 is fixed to and held by the first floating shell 12, and the other side of the contact 14 is fixed to and held by the second floating shell 13. The assembly shown in Figure 7 is housed within the interior space of the main shell 11. The portions of the contact 14 exposed in Figure 7 above the first floating shell 12 and the second floating shell 13 (i.e., the first spring portion, the second spring portion, and the connecting portion, described later) allow the first floating shell 12 and the second floating shell 13 to be buoyantly supported within the main shell 11.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the main housing 11 of the floating edge connector 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the main housing 11 of the floating edge connector 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 10 is a front view of the main housing 11 of the floating edge connector 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The structure of the main housing 11 will be described in summary with reference to Figures 8 to 10.

The main shell 11 is composed of two shell halves 110. The main shell 11 is made into a frame-shaped shell with an octagonal outer profile when viewed from the first direction D1, which defines the internal space SP. The internal space SP extends through both ends of the main shell 11 in the first direction D1. The assembly shown in FIG7, consisting of the first floating shell 12, the second floating shell 13, and the contact 14, is housed in the internal space SP of the main shell 11. The main shell 11 has a plurality of limiting grooves 111 formed on its upper inner wall and lower inner wall to accommodate the connecting portion of the contact 14 (described below). The limiting grooves 111 restrict the movement of the connecting portion of the contact 14 in the second direction D2. The main housing 11 has a limiting key groove 113 formed on its inner surface to mate with limiting square keys 125 and 135 (shown in FIG. 12). The floating range of the first floating housing 12 and the second floating housing 13 can be set by the gap between the limiting key groove 113 and the limiting square keys 125 and 135. The movable range of the first floating housing 12 and the second floating housing 13 can also be defined by the size of the internal space SP of the main housing 11. The size of the limiting keyway 113 can be set such that its width in the first direction D1 is slightly larger than the sum of the widths of the limiting key 125 of the first floating shell 12 and the limiting key 135 of the second floating shell 13 in the first direction D1, so that the first floating shell 12 and the second floating shell 13 are actually unable to move in the first direction D1.

For example, in this embodiment, the movable distance of the first floating shell 12 and the second floating shell 13 in the second direction D2 can be set to ±0.15mm, and the movable distance in the third direction D3 can be set to ±0.15mm. It should be understood that the above movable distances are merely illustrative, and the movable distances of the first and second floating shells can be changed as needed. The floating edge connector of the present invention is not limited to the specific range illustrated.

As shown in Figure 9, each of the two shell halves 110 constituting the main shell 11 has two locking parts 112 and two engaging protrusions 114. When the two shell halves 110 are assembled together, the locking part 112 of one shell half 110 engages with the engaging protrusion 114 of the other shell half 110, thereby preventing the assembled two shell halves 110 from separating from each other. As shown in Figure 10, the main housing 11 includes an upper surface 11a and a lower surface 11b orthogonal to the third direction D3 and opposite to each other, a first side surface 11c and a second side surface 11d orthogonal to the second direction D2 and opposite to each other, a first inclined surface 11e connecting the upper surface 11a and the first side surface 11c, a second inclined surface 11f connecting the upper surface 11a and the second side surface 11d, a third inclined surface 11g connecting the lower surface 11b and the first side surface 11c, and a fourth inclined surface 11h connecting the lower surface 11b and the second side surface 11d. When the floating retaining flange connector 10 is viewed from the first direction D1, the outer contour of the main housing 11 is octagonal.

As can be seen in Figure 10, two locking portions 112 are respectively formed on the first inclined surface 11e and the fourth inclined surface 11h, and two engaging protrusions 114 are respectively formed on the second inclined surface 11f and the third inclined surface 11g. The invention is not limited thereto; the two locking portions 112 may also be formed on the second inclined surface 11f and the third inclined surface 11g, and the two engaging protrusions 114 may be formed on the first inclined surface 11e and the fourth inclined surface 11h. Because this configuration reduces the corner space of the connector on the one hand and makes full use of this corner space to form a snap-fit structure on the other hand, it is beneficial for miniaturization of the floating snap-fit connector 10.

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the floating edge connector 10 of the present invention along line BB. As shown in Figure 11, the contact 14 includes a first contact portion 141, a first holding portion 143, a first spring portion 145, a connecting portion 147, a second spring portion 146, a second holding portion 144, and a second contact portion 142. In order to bring the first floating shell 12 and the second floating shell 13 closer to each other, thereby reducing the size of the floating edge connector in the first direction D1, the contact 14 is configured such that the first contact portion 141, the first holding portion 143, and the first spring portion 145 are arranged substantially along the third direction D3, and the second contact portion 142, the second holding portion 144, and the second spring portion 146 are also arranged substantially along the third direction D3.

The first retaining portion 143 extends from the first contact portion 141 and has a mating tab 1431 extending in the first direction D1. The mating tab 1431 is inserted into the mating hole formed in the first floating shell 12 in a tight-fitting manner, thereby fixing the first retaining portion 143 to the first floating shell 12. The first spring portion 145 extends from the first retaining portion 143 and is connected to the second spring portion 146 via a connecting portion 147. The second retaining portion 144 extends from the second contact portion 142 and has a mating tab 1441 extending in the first direction D1. The mating tab 1441 is inserted into the mating hole formed in the second floating shell 13 in a tight-fitting manner, thereby fixing the second retaining portion 144 to the second floating shell 13.

The first contact portion 141 and the second contact portion 142 have a generally L-shaped or generally V-shaped shape. The first spring portion 145 and the second spring portion 146 have a generally U-shaped shape, but are not limited thereto, the first spring portion 145 and the second spring portion 146 may also be made into an arc-shaped or meandering shape.

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of the floating edge connector 10 of the present invention. As shown in Figure 12, the limiting key 135 of the second floating shell 13 extends into the limiting key groove 113. As shown in Figure 12, there is a certain gap between the limiting key 135 and the limiting key groove 113 in the second direction D2 or the third direction D3, allowing the second floating shell 13 to move in the second direction D2 and the third direction D3. As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the outer shell 2 has limiting grooves 111 formed on the upper inner wall and the lower inner wall to accommodate the connecting portion 147 of the contact member 14. The limiting grooves 111 restrict the movement of the connecting portion 147 of the contact member 14 in the second direction D2.

Although this invention is described and demonstrated with reference to preferred embodiments, it should be understood that, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, many variations and modifications are possible for those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. Therefore, this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but rather to the textual description in the appended claims. That is, equivalent variations and modifications made without deviating from the claims of this invention shall still fall within the scope of this invention.

10: Floating Edge Connector 11: Main Shell 110: Shell Half 111: Limiting Groove 112: Locking Part 113: Limiting Keyway 114: Engaging Protrusion 11a: Upper Surface 11b: Lower Surface 11c: First Side Surface 11d: Second Side Surface 11e: First Inclined Surface 11f: Second Inclined Surface 11g: Third Inclined Surface 11h: Fourth Inclined Surface 12: First Floating Shell 120: First Fitting Opening 121: Locking Structure 1211: Locking Protrusion 122: Groove 123: Slot 124: Slot 125: Limiting Square Key 13: Second floating shell 135: Limiting key 14: Contact element 141: First contact portion 142: Second contact portion 143: First holding portion 1431: Engaging tab 144: Second holding portion 1441: Engaging tab 145: First spring portion 146: Second spring portion 147: Connecting portion D1: First direction D2: Second direction D3: Third direction P1: First connecting object P2: Second connecting object SP: Internal space W1: Distance between clamping structures W2: Width of the first connecting object

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a floating edge connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing two connected objects inserted into the floating edge connector along the mating direction. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing two connected objects inserted into the floating edge connector. Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a floating edge connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 is a front view of the first floating housing of the floating edge connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the first floating housing of the floating edge connector according to an embodiment of the present invention along line AA. Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the assembly composed of the first floating housing, the second floating housing, and the contact element. Figure 8 is a perspective view of the main housing of the floating flange connector of the present invention. Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the main housing of the floating flange connector of the present invention. Figure 10 is a front view of the main housing of the floating flange connector of the present invention. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view along line BB of the floating flange connector of the present invention. Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view along line CC of the floating flange connector of the present invention.

10: Floating Edge Connector

11: Main Shell

110: Shell half

12: First floating shell

14: Contacts

D1: First Direction

D2: Second Direction

D3: Third direction

Claims (9)

A floating edge connector is used to electrically connect a first connector and a second connector by inserting them into the connector along a first direction. The floating edge connector includes: a main housing; a first floating housing including a first engagement opening for inserting the first connector; a second floating housing including a second engagement opening for inserting the second connector, the first and second floating housings being configured to move independently relative to the main housing, and the opening directions of the first and second engagement openings being opposite to each other; A plurality of contacts are arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Each of the plurality of contacts includes a first contact portion, a first holding portion, a first spring portion, a connecting portion, a second spring portion, a second holding portion, and a second contact portion. The first contact portion, the first holding portion, and the first spring portion are arranged along a third direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions. The second contact portion, the second holding portion, and the second spring portion are arranged along the third direction. The contact portion is positioned at the first engaging opening and allows contact with the first connected object. The first retaining portion extends from the first contact portion and is held by the first floating shell. The first spring portion extends from the first retaining portion and is connected to the second spring portion via the connecting portion. The second contact portion is positioned at the second engaging opening and allows contact with the second connected object. The second retaining portion extends from the second contact portion and is held by the second floating shell. The second spring portion extends from the second retaining portion. Each of the first and second mating openings has two opposing abutment structures on its inner sidewalls in the second direction, allowing the first and second connecting objects to be inserted into the first and second mating openings respectively in an interference fit. Grooves are formed on both sides of each abutment structure in the third direction to weaken the rigidity of the two abutment structures. For example, the floating edge connector of claim 1, wherein the distance between the two abutting structures is less than the width of the insertion end of the first connector or the second connector. The floating edge connector of claim 1 or 2, wherein the main housing includes an upper and lower surface orthogonal to the third direction and opposite to each other, a first side surface and a second side surface orthogonal to the second direction and opposite to each other, a first inclined surface connecting the upper surface and the first side surface, a second inclined surface connecting the upper surface and the second side surface, a third inclined surface connecting the lower surface and the first side surface, and a fourth inclined surface connecting the lower surface and the second side surface, such that when the floating edge connector is viewed from the first direction, the outer contour of the main housing is octagonal. For example, the floating locking flange connector of claim 3, wherein the main housing is composed of two housing halves, each housing half having two locking parts and two engaging protrusions. As in claim 4, the floating locking connector has two locking portions formed on the first and fourth inclined surfaces, respectively, and two engaging protrusions formed on the first and fourth inclined surfaces, respectively. As in claim 5, the floating locking flange connector, wherein the locking portion and protrusion of one of the two shell halves are respectively engaged with the engagement protrusion and locking portion of the other shell halves. As in claim 1 or 2, the floating edge connector includes a main housing containing an internal space, in which a first floating housing, a second floating housing, and a plurality of contacts are housed. The first and second floating housings are supported in the internal space in a floating manner by the plurality of contacts. A plurality of limiting grooves for accommodating the connecting portions of the plurality of contacts are formed on the upper and lower inner walls of the main housing, thereby restricting the movement of the connecting portions of the plurality of contacts in the second direction by the plurality of limiting grooves. The floating edge connector of claim 1 or 2, wherein the main housing system is configured to allow the first floating housing and the second floating housing to move in a plane orthogonal to the first direction. The floating edge connector of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first floating shell and the second floating shell are movable independently of each other.