Electrical connector

Abstract

An electrical connector for electrically connecting a chip module to a circuit board includes a body for upwardly bearing the chip module. The body is provided with multiple accommodating holes. Each accommodating hole has a first groove and a second groove, and a width of the second groove is less than a width of the first groove. Multiple terminals are correspondingly accommodated in the accommodating holes. Each terminal includes: a base, accommodated in the first groove; an extending portion, bending and extending from one side of the base and accommodated in the second groove; a conducting portion, provided on a bottom portion of the terminal to be electrically connected with the circuit board; and an elastic portion, formed by upwardly bending and extending from the extending portion to abut the chip module.

Claims

1. An electrical connector configured to electrically connect a chip module to a circuit board, comprising: a body configured to upwardly bear the chip module, wherein the body is provided with a plurality of accommodating holes, each of the accommodating holes has a first groove and a second groove, and a width of the second groove is less than a width of the first groove; and a plurality of terminals, correspondingly accommodated in the accommodating holes, wherein each of the terminals comprises: a base, accommodated in the first groove; an extending portion, bending and extending from one side of the base and accommodated in the second groove; a conducting portion, provided on a bottom portion of the terminal and configured to be electrically connected with the circuit board; and an elastic portion, formed by upwardly bending and extending from the extending portion and configured to abut the chip module, wherein each of the accommodating holes comprises a first wall surface and a second wall surface provided opposite to each other, the first wall surface and the second wall surface jointly define the first groove, and the second groove runs through the first wall surface and communicates with the first groove.

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the first wall surface and the second wall surface are provided obliquely relative to each other.

3. An electrical connector configured to electrically connect a chip module to a circuit board, comprising: a body configured to upwardly bear the chip module, wherein the body is provided with a plurality of accommodating holes, each of the accommodating holes has a first groove and a second groove, and a width of the second groove is less than a width of the first groove; and a plurality of terminals, correspondingly accommodated in the accommodating holes, wherein each of the terminals comprises: a base, accommodated in the first groove; an extending portion, bending and extending from one side of the base and accommodated in the second groove; a conducting portion, provided on a bottom portion of the terminal and configured to be electrically connected with the circuit board; and an elastic portion, formed by upwardly bending and extending from the extending portion and configured to abut the chip module, wherein an inner wall of each of the accommodating holes is provided with two protruding blocks opposite to each other, and the two protruding blocks jointly define the second groove.

4. The electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein a top portion of each of the protruding blocks is obliquely provided with a guide surface.

5. An electrical connector configured to electrically connect a chip module to a circuit board, comprising: a body configured to upwardly bear the chip module, wherein the body is provided with a plurality of accommodating holes, each of the accommodating holes has a first groove and a second groove, and a width of the second groove is less than a width of the first groove; and a plurality of terminals, correspondingly accommodated in the accommodating holes, wherein each of the terminals comprises: a base, accommodated in the first groove; an extending portion, bending and extending from one side of the base and accommodated in the second groove; a conducting portion, provided on a bottom portion of the terminal and configured to be electrically connected with the circuit board; and an elastic portion, formed by upwardly bending and extending from the extending portion and configured to abut the chip module, wherein each of the accommodating holes is provided with two wall surfaces, a protruding block is formed by extending from one of the two wall surfaces toward the accommodating hole, and the protruding block and the other of the two wall surfaces jointly define the second groove.

6. The electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein the body is concavely provided with a plurality of recess grooves corresponding to the accommodating holes, wherein each of the recess grooves is downward concavely provided from one side of the second groove of a corresponding accommodating hole of the accommodating holes, each of the recess grooves communicates with the second groove of the corresponding accommodating hole, a width of each of the recess grooves is greater than the width of the second groove of the corresponding accommodating hole, and each of the recess grooves and the first groove of the corresponding accommodating hole are located on two opposite sides of the second groove of the corresponding accommodating hole.

7. The electrical connector according to claim 6, wherein the extending portion of each of the terminals is partially accommodated in a corresponding one of the recess grooves.

8. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein two opposite sides of the base are provided with a plurality of fastening portions, the fastening portions are configured to be in interference fit with the first groove, a bottom end of at least one of the fastening portions has a position limiting portion, and the first groove has a position limiting surface located below the position limiting portion and configured to limit each of the terminals from moving downward.

9. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the extending portion has a stopping portion, and the second groove has a stopping surface located below the stopping portion and configured to limit each of the terminals from moving downward.

10. The electrical connector according to claim 9, wherein the base has a position limiting portion located below the stopping portion, and the first groove has a position limiting surface located below the position limiting portion and configured to limit each of the terminals from moving downward.

11. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the extending portion is pierced and broken to form a protruding thorn, and the protruding thorn is in interference fit with the second groove.

12. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein a top end of the base extends upward to form a strip connecting portion configured to be connected with a strip, the body is provided with a plurality of protruding bars corresponding to the accommodating holes, each of the protruding bars protrudes upwardly from one side of the first groove of a corresponding accommodating hole of the accommodating holes, one side of each of the protruding bars located close to the strip connecting portion has an oblique surface, and a top end of the strip connecting portion is higher than a lower end of the oblique surface and lower than an upper end of the oblique surface.

13. The electrical connector according to claim 12, wherein the body is provided with a plurality of supporting blocks corresponding to the accommodating holes, each of the supporting blocks protrudes upwardly from the other side of the first groove of a corresponding accommodating hole of the accommodating holes, a top surface of each of the supporting blocks is higher than a top surface of each of the protruding bars, and the supporting blocks are configured to upwardly bear the chip module.

14. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the body is concavely provided with a plurality of recess grooves corresponding to the accommodating holes, wherein each of the recess grooves is downward concavely provided from one side of the second groove of a corresponding accommodating hole of the accommodating holes, each of the recess grooves communicates with the second groove of the corresponding accommodating hole, a width of each of the recess grooves is greater than the width of the second groove of the corresponding accommodating hole, each of the recess grooves and the first groove of the corresponding accommodating hole are located on two opposite sides of the second groove of the corresponding accommodating hole, and the extending portion of each of the terminals is partially accommodated in a corresponding one of the recess grooves.

15. The electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein the extending portion has a stopping portion, and the second groove has a stopping surface located below the stopping portion and configured to limit each of the terminals from moving downward.

16. The electrical connector according to claim 15, wherein the base has a position limiting portion located below the stopping portion, and the first groove has a position limiting surface located below the position limiting portion and configured to limit each of the terminals from moving downward.

17. The electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein the extending portion is pierced and broken to form a protruding thorn, and the protruding thorn is in interference fit with the second groove.

18. The electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein a top end of the base extends upward to form a strip connecting portion configured to be connected with a strip, the body is provided with a plurality of protruding bars corresponding to the accommodating holes, each of the protruding bars protrudes upwardly from one side of the first groove of a corresponding accommodating hole of the accommodating holes, one side of each of the protruding bars located close to the strip connecting portion has an oblique surface, and a top end of the strip connecting portion is higher than a lower end of the oblique surface and lower than an upper end of the oblique surface.

19. The electrical connector according to claim 18, wherein the body is provided with a plurality of supporting blocks corresponding to the accommodating holes, each of the supporting blocks protrudes upwardly from the other side of the first groove of a corresponding accommodating hole of the accommodating holes, a top surface of each of the supporting blocks is higher than a top surface of each of the protruding bars, and the supporting blocks are configured to upwardly bear the chip module.

20. The electrical connector according to claim 5, wherein two opposite sides of the base are provided with a plurality of fastening portions, the fastening portions are configured to be in interference fit with the first groove, a bottom end of at least one of the fastening portions has a position limiting portion, and the first groove has a position limiting surface located below the position limiting portion and configured to limit each of the terminals from moving downward.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings illustrate one or more embodiments of the disclosure and together with the written description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment, and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electrical connector in FIG. 1 being inverted by 180.

(4) FIG. 3 is a top view of the electrical connector in FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of portion a in FIG. 3.

(6) FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the electrical connector in FIG. 3 along an A-A direction.

(7) FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the electrical connector in FIG. 3 along a B-B direction.

(8) FIG. 7 is a plain view of the electrical connector in FIG. 6 after a chip module is pressed downward.

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the electrical connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the electrical connector in FIG. 8 after the terminals are assembled to a body.

(11) FIG. 10 is a front view of the electrical connector in FIG. 9.

(12) FIG. 11 is a top view of the electrical connector in FIG. 9.

(13) FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of portion b in FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(14) The present invention is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Various embodiments of the invention are now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like components throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of a, an, and the includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of in includes in and on unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Moreover, titles or subtitles may be used in the specification for the convenience of a reader, which shall have no influence on the scope of the present invention.

(15) It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being on another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present therebetween. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being directly on another element, there are no intervening elements present. As used herein, the term and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

(16) Furthermore, relative terms, such as lower or bottom and upper or top, may be used herein to describe one element's relationship to another element as illustrated in the Figures. It will be understood that relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the Figures. For example, if the device in one of the figures is turned over, elements described as being on the lower side of other elements would then be oriented on upper sides of the other elements. The exemplary term lower, can therefore, encompasses both an orientation of lower and upper, depending of the particular orientation of the figure. Similarly, if the device in one of the figures is turned over, elements described as below or beneath other elements would then be oriented above the other elements. The exemplary terms below or beneath can, therefore, encompass both an orientation of above and below.

(17) As used herein, around, about or approximately shall generally mean within 20 percent, preferably within 10 percent, and more preferably within 5 percent of a given value or range. Numerical quantities given herein are approximate, meaning that the term around, about or approximately can be inferred if not expressly stated.

(18) As used herein, the terms comprising, including, carrying, having, containing, involving, and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to.

(19) The description will be made as to the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in FIGS. 1-12. In accordance with the purposes of this invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, this invention, in one aspect, relates to an electrical connector.

(20) FIG. 1 to FIG. 7 show an electrical connector 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which is configured to electrically connect a chip module 4 to a circuit board 5. The electrical connector 100 includes a body 1 for upwardly bearing the chip module 4, and a plurality of terminals 2 accommodated in the body 1.

(21) As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the body 1 is made of an insulating material. The body 1 has an upper surface 11 and a lower surface 12 opposite to each other, and the body 1 is provided with a plurality of accommodating holes 13 running through the upper surface 11 and the lower surface 12. The accommodating holes 13 are arranged in multiple rows, and each two adjacent rows of accommodating holes 13 are provided in a staggered way.

(22) As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, each accommodating hole 13 has a first groove 14 and a second groove 15, and a width W2 of the second groove 15 is less than a width W1 of the first groove 14.

(23) Each accommodating hole 13 includes a first wall surface 131 and a second wall surface 132 provided opposite to each other. The first wall surface 131 and the second wall surface 132 are obliquely provided relative to each other, and jointly define the first groove 14. A distance between the first wall surface 131 and the second wall surface 132 is defined as the width W1 of the first groove 14.

(24) A part of the first groove 14 does not run through the lower surface 12, thereby forming a position limiting surface 141. The position limiting surface 141 is connected with the first wall surface 131 and the second wall surface 132.

(25) The inner wall of each accommodating hole 13 is provided with two opposite protruding blocks 133. The two protruding blocks 133 extend toward each other and jointly define the second groove 15. The second groove 15 runs through the first wall surface 131, and communicates with the first groove 14. The inner surfaces of the two protruding blocks 133 are parallel to each other. A distance between the inner surfaces of the two protruding blocks 133 is defined as the width W2 of the second groove 15. The top portion of each protruding block 133 is obliquely provided with a guide surface 1331.

(26) The second groove 15 does not run through the lower surface 12 thereby forming a stopping surface 151. The stopping surface 151 is located above the position limiting surface 141 (see FIG. 6). The stopping surface 151 extends to the connecting location between the first groove 14 and the second groove 15.

(27) The body 1 has a plurality of recess grooves 16 downwardly and concavely provided from the upper surface 11. Each recess groove 16 correspondingly communicates with a corresponding second groove 15. A width W3 of the recess groove 16 is greater than the width W2 of the second groove 15. The recess groove 16 and the first groove 14 are located on two opposite sides of the second groove 15. When the second groove 15 is formed by a pin, the strength of the pin can be enhanced.

(28) As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the body 1 has a plurality of protruding bars 17 formed by extending upward from the upper surface 11. One side of each first groove 14 is correspondingly provided with a protruding bar 17, and one side of each protruding bar 17 close to the first groove 14 is provided with an oblique surface 171.

(29) The body 1 has a plurality of supporting blocks 18 formed by extending upward from the upper surface 11. The other side of each first groove 14 is correspondingly provided with a supporting block 18. A top surface of each supporting blocks 18 is higher than a top surface of each protruding bar 17. The supporting blocks 18 are configured to upwardly bear the chip module 4.

(30) As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the body 1 is provided with a retaining block 19 protruding downward on one side of each accommodating hole 13.

(31) As shown in FIG. 1, the terminals 2 are made of a metal sheet. The terminals 2 are correspondingly accommodated in the accommodating holes 13. Each terminal 2 includes a base 21, an extending portion 22, a conducting portion 23, a strip connecting portion 24, and an elastic portion 25.

(32) As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, the base 21 is flat plate shaped. The base 21 is accommodated in the first groove 14. The bottom end of the base 21 has a position limiting portion 211. The position limiting surface 141 is located below the position limiting portion 211 to limit the terminal 2 from moving downward.

(33) The extending portion 22 bends and extends from one side of the base 21. The extending portion 22 is accommodated in the second groove 15 through the guide of the guide surface 1331. The extending portion 22 is partially accommodated in the recess groove 16. The extending portion 22 is pierced and broken to form a protruding thorn 221. The protruding thorn 221 is in interference fit with one of the protruding blocks 133 in the corresponding accommodating hole 13 to fix the terminal 2 in the corresponding accommodating hole 13. The bottom end of the extending portion 22 has a stopping portion 222. The stopping portion 222 is located above the position limiting portion 211. The stopping surface 151 is located below the stopping portion 222 to limit the terminal 2 from moving downward.

(34) As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the conducting portion 23 is formed by vertically downwardly bending from the bottom end of the base 21. The conducting portion 23 is soldered to the circuit board 5 through a solder 3. In other embodiments, the conducting portion 23 may also elastically abut the circuit board 5. The conducting portion 23 downwardly extends out of the first groove 14. The conducting portion 23 and the retaining block 19 clamp two opposite sides of the solder 3. A vertical central line L1 of the conducting portion 23 deviates from a vertical central line L2 of the base 21 in the horizontal direction. The vertical central line L1 of the conducting portion 23 deviates the vertical central line L2 of the base 21 toward the connecting location between the base 21 and the extending portion 22.

(35) As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, the strip connecting portion 24 is formed by vertically upwardly extending from the top end of the base 21. The strip connecting portion 24 is configured to be connected with a strip 6. The strip connecting portion 24 upwardly extends out of the first groove 14. The top end of the strip connecting portion 24 is higher than the lower end of the oblique surface 171 and lower than the upper end of the oblique surface 171, such that the strip 6 can be conveniently broken off.

(36) The elastic portion 25 is formed by upwardly bending and extending from the top end of the extending portion 22. The elastic portion 25 upwardly extends out of the second groove 15 (see FIG. 6). The tail end of the elastic portion 25 is provided with a contact portion 251. The contact portion 251 is curved shaped, and is configured to abut the chip module 4 (see FIG. 7).

(37) As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, during assembly, each terminal 2 is installed into the corresponding accommodating hole 13 from top to bottom, such that the base 21 is accommodated in the first groove 14 and the extending portion 22 is accommodated in the second groove 15 until the position limiting portion 211 abuts the position limiting surface 141, and the stopping portion 222 abuts the stopping surface 151. The protruding thorn 221 is in interference fit with the protruding block 133. The conducting portion 23 downwardly extends out of the first groove 14. The conducting portion 23 and the retaining block 19 clamp the two opposite sides of the solder 3.

(38) As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, when in use, the electrical connector 100 is first placed on the circuit board 5, and the solders 3 are utilized to fixedly solder the electrical connector 100 onto the circuit board 5. The chip module 4 is then mounted onto the electrical connector 100. Then a downward acting force is applied to the chip module 4, such that the chip module 4 downwardly abuts the terminals 2. The extending portion 22 of each terminal 2 is retained in the corresponding second groove 15 to serve as a pivot for the deformation of the elastic portions 25 until the supporting blocks 18 upwardly supports the chip module 4.

(39) FIG. 8 to FIG. 12 show an electrical connector 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the structures having the same numbers in the drawings as those in the first embodiment are not elaborated herein. Specifically, the main differences of the electrical connector 100 of the present embodiment from that of the first embodiment exist in that:

(40) As shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the first wall surface 131 and the second wall surface 132 are provided oppositely in parallel and jointly define the first groove 14. The distance between the first wall surface 131 and the second wall surface 132 is defined as the width W1 of the first groove 14.

(41) Each accommodating hole 13 has a third wall surface 134 and a fourth wall surface 135 provided opposite to each other, and a fifth wall surface 136 connected with the third wall surface 134 and the fourth wall surface 135. The protruding block 133 is formed by extending toward the accommodating hole 13 from the third wall surface 134. The protruding block 133 is connected with the fifth wall surface 136. The protruding block 133 and the fourth wall surface 135 jointly define the second groove 15. The second groove 15 runs through the lower surface 12. The distance between the protruding block 133 and the fourth wall surface 135 is defined as the width W2 of the second groove 15.

(42) As shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the two opposite sides of the base 21 are provided with a plurality of fastening portions 212. The fastening portions 212 are located below the extending portion 22. The fastening portions 212 are in interference fit with the first groove 14 to fix the terminal 2 in the accommodating hole 13. The bottom end of at least one fastening portion 212 has a position limiting portion 211 configured to limit the terminal 2 from moving downward.

(43) In the present embodiment, the two opposite sides of the base 21 are provided with two fastening portions 212. The position limiting portions 211 are provided at the bottom ends of the fastening portions 212 at the lower side. In other embodiments, the position limiting portions 211 may also be provided on the bottom ends of the fastening portions 212 at the upper side. Alternatively, the position limiting portions 211 may be provided on the bottom ends of all of the fastening portions 212.

(44) The conducting portion 23 includes a first portion 231 formed by downwardly vertically extending from the bottom end of the base 21, a second portion 232 formed by horizontally extending from the first portion 231, and a protruding portion 233 horizontally extending from the second portion 232. The protruding portion 233 extends to be located right below the extending portion 22. Both the bottom surface of the second portion 232 and the bottom surface of the protruding portion 233 are soldered with the solder 3, thus enlarging the soldering area between the conducting portion 23 and the solder 3, and ensuring the stable conduction between the electrical connector 100 and the circuit board 5.

(45) To sum up, the electrical connector 100 according to certain embodiments of the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

(46) (1) The base 21 is accommodated in the first groove 14, and the extending portion 22 is accommodated in the second groove 15. Further, the width W2 of the second groove 15 is less than the width W1 of the first groove 14, thus ensuring the position limiting effect of the second groove 15 to the extending portion 22, and further reducing the distance between the position where the terminal 2 abuts the chip module 4 and the position where the terminal 2 is limited in the accommodating hole 13. When the chip module 4 presses downward on the elastic portion 25, the shake of the extending portions 22 in the second grooves 15 can be effectively reduced, thus ensuring the stable conduction between the terminals 2 and the chip module 4.

(47) (2) The fastening portions 212 are in interference fit with the first groove 14, and the position limiting surface 141 are located below the position limiting portion 211, so as to fix the base 21 in the first groove 14, thus effectively preventing the base 21 from shaking in the first groove 14, and further ensuring the stable conduction between the terminals 2 and the chip module 4.

(48) (3) The vertical central line L1 of the conducting portion 23 deviates relative to the vertical central line L2 of the base 21 toward the connecting location between the base 21 and the extending portion 22, such that the conducting portion 23 is close to the center of the first groove 14, thus preventing the conducting portion 23 from interfering with the first groove 14 to cause the terminal 2 not to be correctly installed into the accommodating hole 13.

(49) (4) The extending portion 22 is pierced and broken to form a protruding thorn 221, and the protruding thorn 221 is in interference fit with the second groove 15 to fix the extending portion 22 in the second groove 15, thus effectively preventing the extending portion 22 from shaking in the second groove 15, and further ensuring the stable conduction between the terminals 2 and the chip module 4.

(50) (5) The protruding block 133 is formed by extending toward the accommodating hole 13 from the third wall surface 134 and is connected with the fifth wall surface 136, thus enhancing the strength of the protruding block 133, and further ensuring the position limiting effect of the second groove 15 to the extending portion 22.

(51) (6) The second groove 15 is provided with the stopping surface 151 located below the stopping portion 222, and the first groove 14 is provided with the position limiting surface 141 located below the position limiting portion 211, thus ensuring that the terminals 2 are more balanced in the accommodating holes 13, and further preventing the terminals 2 from shaking in the accommodating holes 13.

(52) The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.

(53) The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and their practical application so as to activate others skilled in the art to utilize the invention and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein.