Electrical connector assembly with outer shielding shell and inner shielding plate between terminals

Abstract

In a connector assembly in which a first connector that includes a first insulator, first terminals, and a first shell and is mounted on a first board and a second connector that includes a second insulator, second terminals, and a second shell and is mounted on a second board are connected with each other, a first ground pattern that has a frame-like shape and is formed on the first board is soldered to the first shell with first solder, and a second ground pattern that has a frame-like shape and is formed on the second board is soldered to the second shell with second solder. An inner space in which the first terminals and the second terminals are positioned is completely shielded from the outside without any gap.

Claims

1. A connector assembly having a first connector that includes a first insulator, two or more first terminals held by the first insulator, and a first shell having a frame-like shape, and is mounted on a first board; and a second connector that includes a second insulator, two or more second terminals held by the second insulator, a shielding plate held by the second insulator and positioned between the two or more second terminals, and a second shell having a frame-like shape, and is mounted on a second board, wherein the first connector and the second connector are connected with each other in a state in which the first board and the second board are parallel to each other, the two or more first terminals and the two or more second terminals are connected with each other, and the first shell and the second shell are connected with each other, the connector assembly comprising: a ground pattern having a frame-like shape and formed on the second board, the ground pattern being soldered to the second shell with solder provided along a whole circumference of the ground pattern, wherein the shielding plate includes an extending portion that extends to the second shell, two or more cutouts are formed on positions, the positions corresponding to both ends of the extending portion, on a lower end of the second shell, the lower end of the second shell facing the second board, both ends of the extending portion are respectively positioned on the two or more the cutouts and are soldered together with the second shell to the ground pattern with the solder.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The present invention itself, and manner in which it may be made or used, if any, may be better understood after a review of the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1A is a perspective view illustrating a first connector constituting a connector assembly (prior art);

(3) FIG. 1B is a front elevational view illustrating the first connector constituting the connector assembly (prior art);

(4) FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustrating a second connector constituting the connector assembly (prior art);

(5) FIG. 2B is a front elevational view illustrating the second connector constituting the connector assembly (prior art);

(6) FIG. 3A is an upper perspective view illustrating a first connector constituting a connector assembly according to an embodiment;

(7) FIG. 3B is a lower perspective view illustrating the first connector constituting the connector assembly according to the embodiment;

(8) FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a first shell included in the first connector;

(9) FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a first insulator included in the first connector (where first terminals are attached to the first insulator which is illustrated);

(10) FIG. 6A is a perspective view illustrating the first connector that is mounted on a first board;

(11) FIG. 6B is a front elevational view illustrating the first connector that is mounted on the first board;

(12) FIG. 7A is an upper perspective view illustrating a second connector constituting the connector assembly according to the embodiment;

(13) FIG. 7B is a lower perspective view illustrating the second connector constituting the connector assembly according to the embodiment;

(14) FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a second shell included in the second connector;

(15) FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a second insulator included in the second connector (where second terminals are attached to the second insulator which is illustrated);

(16) FIG. 10A is a perspective view illustrating the second connector that is mounted on a second board;

(17) FIG. 10B is a front elevational view illustrating the second connector that is mounted on the second board;

(18) FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the connector assembly according to the embodiment;

(19) FIG. 12 is a sectional view illustrating the connector assembly according to the embodiment; and

(20) FIG. 13 is a front elevational view illustrating the connector assembly according to the embodiment.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(21) With regard to reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the drawings. 10: first connector 11: insulation housing 11a: base end portion 11b: central convex portion 12: conductive shell 12a: longitudinal side wall plate 12b: ground connection portion 12c: side inspection window 12d: plane cover 12e: contact piece 13: signal contact 13a: board connection end portion 20: second connector 21: insulation housing 21a: base end portion 21b: central concave portion 22: conductive shell 22a: longitudinal side wall plate 22b: ground connection portion 22c: side inspection window 23: signal contact 23a: board connection end portion 30: first insulator 31: concave portion 32: slit 41, 42: first terminal 41a, 42a: contact portion 41b, 42b: connection portion 50: first shell 51, 52: side wall portion 51a, 52a: curved portion 53: extending portion 53a: raised portion 53b: protrusion 54: bent portion 54a: leg portion 55: first cutout 56: gap 57: first cutout 58: notch 60: second insulator 61: bottom plate portion 62: side wall 63: concave portion 71, 72: second terminal 71a, 72a: connection portion 73: shielding plate 73a: columnar portion 73b: extending portion 80: second shell 81, 82: side wall portion 81a, 82a: convex portion 81b: extending portion 82b: protrusion 83: coupling portion 84, 85: second cutout 86: second cutout 87: second cutout portion 100: first connector 200: second connector 300: first board 310: first ground pattern 320: first solder 400: second board 410: second ground pattern 420: second solder

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(22) An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompany drawings. A connector assembly according to the embodiment includes a first connector 100 and a second connector 200.

(23) FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the first connector 100. The first connector 100 includes a first insulator 30, first terminals 41 and 42 which are held by the first insulator 30, and a first shell 50 which is an outer shell of the first connector 100 and has conductivity and a rectangular frame-like shape. FIG. 4 illustrates details of the first shell 50 and FIG. 5 illustrates the first connector 100 whose first shell 50 is detached.

(24) The first insulator 30 is made of resin and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole. The first terminal 41 is attached to each of longitudinal end portions of the first insulator 30, and four first terminals 42 are attached to the central portion of the first insulator 30.

(25) The first terminal 41 has two contact portions 41a which face each other, and the first terminal 42 has two contact portions 42a which face each other. Connection portions 41b and 42b, which are to be connected with the first board, of the first terminals 41 and 42 are positioned on the bottom surface of the first insulator 30. In this example, the first terminal 41 is used for transmission of a high frequency signal (high speed transmission), and the first terminal 42 is used for transmission of a low frequency signal (low speed transmission).

(26) The first shell 50 includes two metal parts each of which has a staple-shaped side wall portion. The first shell 50 has a rectangular frame structure composed of the two metal parts. Each of the two metal parts is formed through processing for bending a metal plate. Curved portions 51a and 52a which are curved toward the inside of the rectangular frame structure are formed respectively on upper ends of side wall portions 51 positioned on two long sides of the rectangular frame structure and upper ends of side wall portions 52 positioned on two short sides of the same.

(27) Two belt-like extending portions 53 which extend toward the inside of the rectangular frame structure are formed on the lower ends of the side wall portions 51. On the lower end of the first shell 50, notches 58 making it easy to bend the extending portion 53 are formed on both sides of the extending portion 53. The extending portion 53 is bent at two or more spots. In the rectangular frame structure, one extending portion 53 on one side wall portion 51 and one extending portion 53 on the other side wall portion 51 face each other, and the other extending portion 53 on one side wall portion 51 and the other extending portion 53 on the other side wall portion 51 face each other.

(28) The extending portion 53 has a bottom portion which extends toward the inside of the rectangular frame structure from the side wall portion 51, a raised portion 53a which extends orthogonally upward from the bottom portion, a top portion which extends toward the inside of the rectangular frame structure from the raised portion 53a, and a bent portion 54 which extends orthogonally downward from the top portion and furthermore is bent orthogonally upward to have a staple shape. The bent portion 54 of one extending portion 53 and the bent portion 54 of the other extending portion 53 facing the one extending portion 53 are positioned on the same plane and a leg portion 54a positioned on the end of the former bent portion 54 and a leg portion 54a positioned on the end of the latter bent portion 54 are close to each other. Two protrusions 53b protrude from the raised portion 53a in the length direction of the rectangular frame structure.

(29) Two first cutouts 55 are formed on the lower end of the side wall portion 51. The positions of the two first cutouts 55 are closer to the center of the metal parts than the positions of the two extending portions 53. The position of the first cutout 55 corresponds to the position of the connection portion 42b of the first terminal 42 which is exposed from the bottom surface of the first insulator 30. In the first shell 50 having the rectangular frame structure, the two metal parts form a small gap 56. A first cutout 57 which is like a chamfer is formed on each of the lower ends of the side wall portions 52 positioned on both sides of the gap 56.

(30) The first shell 50 is put over the first insulator 30 and is further forced into the first insulator 30, thus being attached to the first insulator 30. The raised portions 53a of four extending portions 53 are pressed into four concave portions 31 of the first insulator 30 respectively. The bent portions 54 of the extending portions 53 are inserted into slits 32 of the first insulator 30. As a result, the first connector 100 illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B is completed.

(31) FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate the first connector 100 that is mounted on a first board 300. Hidden and not seen in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the connection portions 41b and 42b of the first terminals 41 and 42 are soldered on a pad of the first board 300. The connection portion 42b of the first terminal 42 can be visually observed through the first cutout 55 from the outside of the side wall portion 51 of the first shell 50, so the position or the soldering state of the connection portion 42b can be checked.

(32) In this example, a first ground pattern 310 having a rectangular frame-like shape corresponding to the frame-like shape of the first shell 50 is formed on the first board 300. The first shell 50 and the first ground pattern 310 are soldered to each other with first solder 320 provided along the whole circumference of the first ground pattern 310. For convenience sake, the first solder 320 is drawn without any colors and is hatched in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

(33) The above-mentioned first cutouts 55 and 57 and notches 58 are closed with the first solder 320 as illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

(34) The second connector 200 will be subsequently described.

(35) FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate the second connector 200. The second connector 200 includes a second insulator 60, second terminals 71 and 72 which are held by the second insulator 60, shielding plates 73 which are held by the second insulator 60, and a second shell 80 which is an outer shell of the second connector 200 and has conductivity and a rectangular frame-like shape. FIG. 8 illustrates details of the second shell 80 and FIG. 9 illustrates the second connector 200 whose second shell 80 is detached.

(36) The second insulator 60 is made of resin and includes a bottom plate portion 61 and four side walls 62 which are respectively provided to four corner portions of the bottom plate portion 61. The second terminal 71 is attached to each of both longitudinal end portions of the bottom plate portion 61. Four second terminals 72 are attached to the central portion of the bottom plate portion 61. One shielding plate 73 is located between one second terminal 71 and four second terminals 72 and one shielding plate 73 is located between the other second terminal 71 and the four second terminals 72.

(37) The second terminal 71 having a columnar shape includes a connection portion 71a, which is to be connected with the second board, on the lower end thereof. The second terminal 72 having a plate-like shape includes a connection portion 72a, which is to be connected with the second board, on the lower end thereof. The second terminal 71 is used for transmission of a high frequency signal and the second terminal 72 is used for transmission of a low frequency signal.

(38) The shielding plate 73 includes an extending portion 73b which is elongated and two columnar portions 73a which extend from the extending portion 73b, and the two columnar portions 73a protrude upward from the bottom plate portion 61. The extending portion 73b is a connection portion to be connected with the second board.

(39) The second shell 80 which has a rectangular frame-like shape is formed through processing for bending a metal plate. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the second shell 80 includes side wall portions 81 that are respectively positioned on two long sides of the rectangular frame, side wall portions 82 that are respectively positioned on two short sides of the rectangular frame, and two coupling portions 83 that couple the upper ends of the side wall portions 81 and the upper ends of the side wall portions 82 to each other. The two coupling portions 83 include plate surfaces that partially close both longitudinal ends of the rectangular frame. Second cutout portions 87 are formed on lower ends of extending portions 81b which are positioned on both sides of the side wall portion 82.

(40) An elongated convex portion 81a which extends in the side direction is formed on the outer surface of the side wall portion 81. An elongated convex portion 82a which extends in the longitudinal direction is formed on the outer surface of the side wall portion 82. The extending portions 81b bent toward the side wall portion 82 are formed on both ends in the longitudinal direction of the side wall portion 81.

(41) Two second cutouts 84 are formed on the lower end of the side wall portion 81. Two second cutouts 85 are further formed on the lower end of the side wall portion 81. The two second cutouts 84 are positioned between the two second cutouts 85. The second cutout 84 corresponds to the position of the connection portion 72a of the second terminal 72 which is exposed from the bottom surface portion of the second insulator 60. The second cutout 85 corresponds to the position of the extending portion 73b of the shielding plate 73 which is exposed from the bottom surface portion of the second insulator 60. A second cutout 86 is formed on the lower end of the side wall portion 82. Protrusions 82b protrude outward from both ends in the longitudinal direction of the side wall portion 82. The second shell 80 is attached to the second insulator 60. The second shell 80 is put over the second insulator 60 and is further forced into the second insulator 60, thus being attached to the second insulator 60. The side wall portion 82 is pressed into a concave portion 63 which is formed on the outer sides of the side walls 62 in a manner to straddle two side walls 62. As a result, the second connector 200 is completed.

(42) FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate the second connector 200 that is mounted on a second board 400. Hidden and not seen in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the connection portions 71a and 72a of the second terminals 71 and 72 are soldered on a pad of the second board 400. The connection portion 72a of the second terminal 72 can be visually observed through the second cutout 84 from the outside of the side wall portion 81 of the second shell 80, so the position or the soldering state of the connection portion 72a can be checked.

(43) In this example, a second ground pattern 410 having a rectangular frame-like shape corresponding to the frame-like shape of the second shell 80 is formed on the second board 400. The second shell 80 and the second ground pattern 410 are soldered to each other with second solder 420 provided along the whole circumference of the second ground pattern 410. For convenience sake, the second solder 420 is drawn without any colors and is hatched in FIGS. 10A and 10B.

(44) The above-mentioned second cutouts 84 and 85, second cutout 86, and second cutout portion 87 are closed with the second solder 420 as illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B. End portions of the extending portions 73b in the shielding plate 73 are positioned in the second cutouts 85. The end portions of the extending portions 73b and the second shell 80 are both soldered on the second ground pattern 410 with the second solder 420.

(45) The first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are connected with each other in a state in which the first board 300 and the second board 400 are parallel to each other. FIG. 11 illustrates a connector assembly in which the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are connected with each other. FIG. 11 omits the illustration of the first board 300 and the second board 400. FIG. 12 illustrates a cross sectional surface of the connector assembly illustrated in FIG. 11. FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of the connector assembly.

(46) In the connector assembly, the first terminals 41 and the second terminals 71 are connected with each other, and the first terminals 42 and the second terminals 72 are connected with each other. The convex portions 81a and 82a formed on the second shell 80 respectively climb over the curved portions 51a and 52a of the first shell 50 and thus, the second shell 80 is housed inside the first shell 50. The leg portions 54a of the bent portions 54 are fitted between two columnar portions 73a of the shielding plate 73 and substantially fill in a gap formed between the two columnar portions 73a. Accordingly, a shield is formed between a joint, between the first terminal 41 and the second terminal 71 for transmitting a high frequency signal, and a joint, between the first terminals 42 and the second terminals 72 for transmitting a low frequency signal.

(47) In the connector assembly illustrated in FIG. 13, a space that is between the first board 300 and the second board 400 and that is surrounded by the first ground pattern 310 and the second ground pattern 410 when viewed from a direction perpendicular to both plate surfaces of the first board 300 and the second board 400 (the first terminals 41 and 42 and the second terminals 71 and 72 are positioned in this space) is completely shielded from the outside without any gap by at least one of the first shell 50, the first solder 320, the second shell 80, and the second solder 420 when viewed from any direction parallel to both plate surfaces of the first board 300 and the second board 400. Accordingly, the connector assembly exerts excellent electromagnetic shielding performance.

(48) The structure without the first cutouts 55 or second cutouts 84 and the structure without the first cutouts 55 and second cutouts 84 is acceptable.

(49) <Addendum>

(50) While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular system, device or component thereof to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

(51) Moreover, the use of the terms “first”, “second”, “i-th”, etc., if any, do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms “first”, “second”, “i-th”, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. The term “first” does not necessarily mean “coming before all others in order”. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention in any way. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprise”, “comprises”, and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification and/or the appended claims, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The same goes for “include”, “includes”, and/or “including”. The term “and/or”, if any, includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. In the claims and the specification, unless otherwise noted, “connect”, “join”, “couple”, “interlock”, or synonyms therefor and all the word forms thereof, if any, do not necessarily deny the presence of one or more intermediate elements between two elements, for instance, two elements “connected” or “joined” to each other or “interlocked” with each other. Connection between elements, if required, may be physical connection, electrical connection, or a combination thereof. In the claims and the specification, unless otherwise noted, the term “arbitrary”, if any, should be understood as a term having the same meaning as the universal quantifier V. For example, the expression “for arbitrary X” has the same meaning as “for every X” or “for each X”.

(52) Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

(53) In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual techniques or steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.

(54) The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below, if any, are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed.

(55) The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive and to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.