ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

Abstract

An electrical connector is used to electrically connect a chip module to a circuit board, and includes a body for upward supporting the chip module. The body is provided with multiple accommodating holes arranged in multiple rows. Each two adjacent rows of the accommodating holes are staggeredly arranged in a front-rear direction. Multiple terminals are respectively accommodated in the accommodating holes correspondingly. Each two adjacent rows of the terminals intersect to form at least one intersection area. Each terminal includes a base, an upper elastic arm formed by extending upward from the base for upward abutting the chip module, and a lower elastic arm formed by extending downward from the base for being downward conductively connected with the circuit board. When the chip module presses the upper elastic arm downward, the upper and lower elastic arms abut each other, the abutting position is located above or below the intersection area.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, configured to electrically connect a chip module to a circuit board, comprising: a body, configured to upward support the chip module, wherein the body is provided with a plurality of accommodating holes arranged in a plurality of rows, and each two adjacent rows of the accommodating holes are staggeredly arranged in a front-rear direction; and a plurality of terminals, respectively accommodated in the accommodating holes correspondingly, wherein for each two adjacent rows of terminals, one terminal in one of the two adjacent rows of the terminals intersects with a corresponding one terminal in the other one of the two adjacent rows of the terminals in a left-right direction to form an intersection area, and each of the terminals comprises a base, an upper elastic arm formed by extending upward from the base and configured to upward abut the chip module, and a lower elastic arm formed by extending downward from the base and configured to be downward conductively connected with the circuit board; wherein when the chip module presses the upper elastic arm downward, the upper elastic arm and the lower elastic arm abut each other at an abutting position located above or below the intersection area.

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein one of the terminals respectively intersects with two adjacent terminals in an adjacent row so as to form two intersection areas.

3. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein each of the terminals further comprises one remaining area excluding the intersection area, wherein the remaining area is larger than the intersection area.

4. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: the upper elastic arm comprises an upper extending portion extending upward obliquely from the base, an upper contact portion bending and extending upward from the upper extending portion and configured to upward abut against the chip module, and an upper abutting portion extending downward obliquely from the upper contact portion; and the lower elastic arm comprises a lower extending portion extending downward obliquely from the base, a lower contact portion bending and extending downward from the lower extending portion and configured to be downward conductively connected with the circuit board, a connecting portion bending and extending upward from the lower contact portion, and a lower abutting portion extending upwards from the connecting portion, wherein the upper abutting portion and the lower abutting portion abut each other at the abutting position, and the abutting position is located above the intersection area.

5. The electrical connector according to claim 4, wherein the base of each of the terminals intersects with the connecting portion of the terminal in an adjacent row to form the intersection area.

6. The electrical connector according to claim 4, wherein the connecting portion is located at a left side of the base, and comprises a first portion bending and extending from the lower contact portion to an upper right direction, and a second portion bending and extending from the first portion to an upper left direction and connected with the lower abutting portion; wherein the upper extending portion bends and extends from the base to the upper left direction, and the lower extending portion bends and extends from the base to a lower left direction.

7. The electrical connector according to claim 6, wherein an included angle between the first portion and the second portion is greater than an included angle between the upper extending portion and the lower extending portion.

8. The electrical connector according to claim 4, wherein the upper abutting portion is parallel to the lower abutting portion, and an outer surface of the upper abutting portion abuts an inner surface of the lower abutting portion.

9. The electrical connector according to claim 4, wherein a strip connecting portion is formed by extending upward from the lower abutting portion and configured to be connected to a strip, wherein a gap is provided between the strip connecting portion and the upper elastic arm, each of the accommodating holes has a vertical surface and an oblique surface extending upward obliquely from a top end of the vertical surface; the oblique surface and the strip connecting portion are provided opposite to each other, and the strip connecting portion is located higher than the top end of the vertical surface and lower than a top end of the oblique surface.

10. The electrical connector according to claim 4, wherein a partition wall is provided between two adjacent accommodating holes in a same row, and the base and the connecting portion of one of the terminals in an adjacent row are located on two opposite sides of the partition wall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] 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:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention before a chip module is pressed downwards;

[0025] FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1;

[0026] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of FIG. 2 along an A-A direction;

[0027] FIG. 4 is a plan view obtained after the chip module is pressed downwards in FIG. 3;

[0028] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a part a in FIG. 4; and

[0029] FIG. 6 is a plan view of an electrical connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention after a chip module is pressed downwards.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] The description will be made as to the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in FIGS. 1-6. In accordance with the purposes of this invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, this invention, in one aspect, relates to an electrical connector.

[0036] FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 show an electrical connector 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The electrical connector 100 is configured to electrically connect a chip module 3 to a circuit board 4, and includes a body 1 configured to upward support the chip module 3, and multiple terminals 2 accommodated in the body 1.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the body 1 is provided with multiple accommodating holes 11 which run through the body 1 in a vertical direction. The accommodating holes 11 are arranged in multiple rows, and each two adjacent rows of accommodating holes 11 are staggeredly arranged in a front-rear direction. A partition wall 12 is provided between two adjacent accommodating holes 11 in a same row, and each accommodating hole 11 is provided with a vertical surface 111 and an oblique surface 112 extending upward obliquely from a top end of the vertical surface 111 (also referring to FIG. 5).

[0038] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the terminals 2 are accommodated in the accommodating holes 11 correspondingly. For each two adjacent rows of the terminals 2, one terminal 2 in one of the two adjacent rows of the terminals 2 intersects with a corresponding one terminal 2 in the other one of the two adjacent rows of the terminals 2 in a left-right direction to form an intersection area S, and one terminal 2 can intersect with two adjacent terminals 2 in an adjacent row so as to form two intersection areas S.

[0039] Each terminal 2 is formed by bending a sheet metal integrally, and includes a base 21, an upper elastic arm 22 formed by extending upward from the base 21 and configured to upward abut the chip module 3, and a lower elastic arm 23 formed by extending downward from the base 21 and configured to be downward conductively connected with the circuit board 4.

[0040] The upper elastic arm 22 includes an upper extending portion 221 formed by bending and extending from the base 21 to an upper left direction, an upper contact portion 222 formed by bending and extending from the upper extending portion 221 to the upper left direction, and an upper abutting portion 223 formed by extending from the upper contact portion 222 to a lower right direction.

[0041] The lower elastic arm 23 includes a lower extending portion 231 formed by bending and extending from the base 21 to a lower left direction, a lower contact portion 232 formed by extending from the lower extending portion 231 to the lower left direction, a connecting portion 233 formed by firstly bending from the lower contact portion 232 to the upper right direction and then bending and extending to the upper left direction, a lower abutting portion 234 formed by extending from the connecting portion 233 to the upper left direction, and a strip connecting portion 235 formed by extending from the lower abutting portion 234 to the upper left direction.

[0042] The strip connecting portion 235 is configured to be connected with a strip 5. A gap is provided between the strip connecting portion 235 and the corresponding upper elastic arm 22. The oblique surface 112 and the corresponding strip connecting portion 235 are provided opposite to each other, and the strip connecting portion 235 is located higher than a top end of the corresponding vertical surface 111 and lower than a top end of the corresponding oblique surface 112 (also referring to FIG. 5), so that the strip 5 can be broken easily, and short-circuiting or scratching of the chip module 3 caused by abutting connection of the strip connecting portion 235 and the chip module 3 can be avoided.

[0043] The connecting portion 233 is located at a left side of the base 21, and includes a first portion 2331 bending and extending from the corresponding lower contact portion 232 to the upper right direction, and a second portion 2332 bending and extending from the first portion 2331 to the upper left direction and connected with the corresponding lower abutting portion 234. The second portion 2332, the corresponding lower abutting portion 234 and the corresponding strip connecting portion 235 are located on a same line. An included angle between the first portion 2331 and the corresponding second portion 2332 is greater than an included angle between the upper extending portion 221 and the corresponding lower extending portion 231.

[0044] For each of the terminals 2 in the same row, the base 21 and the connecting portion 233 thereof are located at two opposite sides of one of the partition walls 12 in the adjacent row, so that the terminals 2 are distributed more compactly, and the space of the body 1 can be fully utilized to arrange the terminals 2.

[0045] The base 21 of each terminal 2 intersects with the connecting portion 233 of the terminal 2 in the adjacent row to form the corresponding intersection area S. The base 21 and the connecting portion 233 of one terminal 2 can intersect with the connecting portion 233 and the base 21 of the terminals 2 in the adjacent row so as to form two intersection areas S.

[0046] Each terminal 2 further includes a remaining area E excluding the intersection areas S. The remaining area E is larger than the intersection areas S, so that the size of the intersection areas S is further reduced and the crosstalk effect between two adjacent rows of terminals 2 can be effectively reduced.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, when the electrical connector 100 connects the chip module 3 and the circuit board 4, the upper contact portion 222 and the lower contact portion 232 of each terminal 2 make compressed contact with the chip module 3 and the circuit board 4 respectively, so as to achieve the electrical connection of the chip module 3 and the circuit board 4 (or alternatively, a soldering connection with the circuit board 4).

[0048] When a downward pressing force is applied to the chip module 3, the upper contact portion 222 moves downward and drives the corresponding upper abutting portion 223 to move downward, making an outer surface of the upper abutting portion 223 abut an inner surface of the corresponding lower abutting portion 234, and the upper abutting portion 223 is parallel to the corresponding lower abutting portion 234. In other embodiments, before the chip module 3 is pressed downward, the upper abutting portion 223 and the lower abutting portion 234 can also stay in contact.

[0049] In this way, a first conductive path sequentially passing through the chip module 3, the upper contact portion 222, the upper extending portion 221, the base 21, the lower extending portion 231, the lower contact portion 232 and the circuit board 4 is formed between the chip module 3 and the circuit board 4, and a second conductive path sequentially passing through the chip module 3, the upper contact portion 222, the upper abutting portion 223, the lower abutting portion 234, the connecting portion 233, the lower contact portion 232 and the circuit board 4 is also formed. The second conductive path and the first conductive path are formed in parallel, so as to reduce impedance during signal transmission. Furthermore, the abutting position P of the upper abutting portion 223 and the lower abutting portion 234 is located above the corresponding intersection area S, so that the crosstalk effect between two adjacent rows of terminals 2 can be effectively reduced.

[0050] FIG. 6 shows an electrical connector 100 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which is different from the first embodiment in that, in the second embodiment, the abutting position P of the upper abutting portion 223 and the corresponding lower abutting portion 234 is located below the corresponding intersection area S to realize the same effect as the first embodiment. Thus, the detailed description thereof is not elaborated herein.

[0051] To sum up, the electrical connector according to certain embodiments of the present invention has the following beneficial effects.

[0052] (1) Each two adjacent rows of accommodating holes 11 are staggeredly arranged in a front-back direction, so that for each two adjacent rows of the terminals 2, one terminal 2 in one of the two adjacent rows of the terminals 2 intersects with a corresponding one terminal 2 in the other one of the two adjacent rows of the terminals 2 in the left-right direction to form the intersection area S. When the chip module 3 presses each upper elastic arm 22 downward, the upper elastic arm 22 abuts the corresponding lower elastic arm 23, and multiple conductive paths of each terminal 2 can be formed so as to reduce the impedance of the terminal 2. Further, the abutting position P is located above or below the corresponding intersection area S, thereby reducing the size of each intersection area S, effectively reducing the crosstalk effect between each two adjacent rows of terminals 2, and improving the signal transmission quality of the electrical connector 100, so that the electrical connector 100 can be used for transmitting signals at a higher rate.

[0053] (2) The remaining area E is larger than the intersection area S, so that the size of the intersection area S is further reduced and the crosstalk effect between two adjacent rows of terminals 2 can be effectively reduced.

[0054] (3) strip connecting portion 235 is located higher than a top end of the corresponding vertical surface 111 and lower than a top end of the corresponding oblique surface 112, so that the strip 5 can be broken easily, and short-circuiting or scratching of the chip module 3 caused by abutting connection of the strip connecting portion 235 and the chip module 3 can be avoided.

[0055] (4) For each of the terminals 2 in the same row, the base 21 and the connecting portion 233 thereof are located at two opposite sides of one of the partition walls 12 in the adjacent row, so that the terminals 2 are distributed more compactly, and the space of the body 1 can be fully utilized to arrange the terminals 2.

[0056] 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.

[0057] 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.