CN218849891U - Connector module and connector assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model discloses a connector module and connector assembly, the connector module includes: a housing, an external contact, at least a portion of the external contact being embedded in the housing, the housing and the external contact each having a cavity. The utility model discloses can make product cost reduce.

Description

Connector module and connector assembly

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a telecommunications field, in addition, can also relate to the mutual field of direct current, medical field, aviation or transportation field, space field, in particular to connector module and connector subassembly.

Background

With the continuous development of wireless communication technology, board-to-board connectors are becoming more and more widely used for wireless system module interconnection, for example: communication base stations, RRHs, repeaters, GPS devices, and other similar applications.

The three-part snap-in type socket-adapter-slide socket is widely used in connection designs for board-to-board connections, i.e., board-to-RF modules or RF module-to-RF module interconnections. This may be referred to, for example, patent applications WO2010/010524, WO2013/150059, CN110391517, each describing a connection assembly having a three-part structure, i.e. a connection assembly comprising three separate subassemblies.

Fig. 1 shows an RF coaxial connection assembly 1 in a coupled configuration with such a three-part structure, with a sliding end socket 2, a snap end socket 3 and an adapter 4 as a connection coupling between the two sockets 2, 3.

The sliding-end socket 2 includes a center contact 20, an outer contact 21 coaxially disposed around the center contact 20, and an electrically insulating body 22 inserted and held between the center contact 20 and the outer conductor 21.

The snap-end socket 3 includes a center contact 30, an outer contact 31 coaxially disposed around the center contact 30, and an electrically insulating solid body 32 inserted and held between the center contact 30 and the outer conductor 31.

The adapter 4 comprises a central contact 40, an outer contact 41 arranged coaxially around the central contact 40, and two electrically insulating bodies 42, 43, each electrically insulating body 42, 43 being inserted and held between the central contact 40 and the outer conductor 41 and being arranged at one end of the adapter 4, respectively.

Each end of the external contact 41 is slotted and defines a resilient petal formed by a slot. These petals are functionally circumferentially spaced from each other and are resiliently movable in a radial direction. Each spring petal comprises a resilient projection 410, 411 projecting outwardly from the adaptor 4. In the coupled configuration, the protrusions 410 radially contact the cylindrical surface 210 of the outer contact 21 due to the elasticity of the resilient petals and may be slidably float mounted, thereby providing axial misalignment to compensate for tolerances resulting from the manufacture and assembly of the associated components in the device. The maximum sliding distance a is shown in fig. 1. The protrusion 411 is received in a groove 310 created within the recess of the outer contact and radially contacts the surface of the groove due to the elasticity of the spring petals. These connections rely on the deflection of the adapter on the snap mating and sliding ends to create radial tolerances of the connection. Furthermore, the arcuate surfaces of the projections 410, 411 and the elasticity of the resilient petals may enable reliable contact, particularly in the case of radial deviations, and may satisfy large amounts of radial deviation.

The mechanical connection of the three-part construction allows the adapter 4 to be tilted in the transverse direction by a certain angle with respect to the socket 3 due to the resilient projections 410, 411, thereby achieving an amount of radial offset. As explained before, this mechanical connection is typically configured as a detachable snap connection and makes it possible to separate the adapter 4 from the socket 3 by applying a certain force in the axial direction.

As shown, the socket 3 may be soldered to the PCB, in particular by the legs of the external contacts 31 for soldering.

In addition, on the other side of the mechanical connection, the body of the socket 2 may be screwed or crimped to another RF module 5, soldering the center contact 50 of the RF module 5 to the center contact 20. As shown, the RF module 5 has a conductive body 51 and may comprise a conductive cover 52 disposed on a surface of the conductive body 51, the cover 52 being necessary when the RF module 5 is configured as a filter in an RRU.

Fig. 2A to 2C show the steps of assembling the sliding-end socket 2 with an RF module having a conductive body 51 and a center contact 50.

The sliding end socket 2 is a separate subassembly having three assembled components, a center contact 20, a coaxial outer contact 21 disposed around the center contact 20, and an electrically insulating body 22 held between the center contact 20 and the outer contact 21. The separate subassembly 2 is assembled into the conductive body 51 of the RF module 5 (fig. 2A).

Then, along the center axis of the slide-end socket 2, the center contact 50 is mounted with the socket 2 to be connected with the center contact 20 of the slide-end socket 2 (fig. 2B).

And, the center contact 50 is welded to the center contact 20 by a welding line S (fig. 2C). When the RF module 5 is configured as a filter, the cover 52 is disposed on top of the conductive body 51 by surrounding the external contact 21.

However, the entire connection assembly is expensive due to the three-part structure with three separate components (i.e., the adapter and the two end sockets). The cost is high because many independent coaxial assemblies are required for board-to-module or module-to-module connections.

In addition, the connection matching life and performance are also affected by the cavity material and the plating layer. Furthermore, plating is obviously a cost-consuming process.

Therefore, there is a need to improve existing connectors, especially to achieve cost reduction.

The present invention aims to address all or part of these needs.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The utility model provides a connector module and connector assembly to the realization reaches the purpose that expects in the background art.

According to the utility model discloses an aspect provides a connector module, include:

a housing, an external contact, at least a portion of the external contact being embedded in the housing, the housing and the external contact each having a cavity.

Further, the housing is part of an external device housing, at least a portion of the housing being an integral part of a module-to-module or module-to-board component. An "integral part" is understood to mean that at least a part of the housing and at least one component of the module are made in one piece. In other words, the local function of the housing parts is realized in one piece by a plate or module with material continuity.

Further, at least a portion of the external contact is interference fit in the housing.

Further, the housing includes a guide surface having an annular shape and a circular cross-section.

Further, the outer contact piece is close to one end of the shell opening and is in matched transition with the guide surface.

Further, the external contact is brought close to or into abutment with the housing at an inner end of the guide surface.

Further, the external contact has a guide surface having an annular shape and a circular cross section.

Further, the inner surface of the external contact member is flat or has at least two diameters.

Further, a center contact is included, the housing surrounding the center contact;

also included is an electrically insulative body between the center contact, the housing, and the outer contact.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector assembly comprising a connector module according to the first aspect.

Compared with the prior art, the utility model discloses a connector module has following beneficial effect at least:

compared with the three-part connecting structure in the prior art, the performance is kept unchanged, the cost is greatly reduced, and the three-part connecting structure is mainly characterized in that: the existing connector shell is changed into a smaller part (external contact element), the electric connection and transmission functions of the electric contact with the adapter are born, the surface area is smaller, the electroplating cost is greatly reduced, the required materials are greatly reduced, the processing difficulty is greatly reduced, and the part cost of the external contact element can also be greatly reduced.

Furthermore, the housing bearing other functional parts of the connector (including part of the signal transmission part and the guide part) and the equipment cavity can be processed (can be formed by die casting or extrusion molding or metal cutting molding) and electroplated together, so that the process complexity is reduced, the performance is influenced even compared with the traditional coating Bao Yebu, and the connection matching life and the performance are not influenced by the cavity material and the coating any more.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a three-part coaxial connection assembly according to the prior art.

Fig. 2A to 2C are longitudinal cross-sectional views illustrating different steps of mounting and soldering an end socket of a three-part coaxial assembly according to the prior art to an RF module configured as a filter according to the prior art.

Fig. 3A is a schematic diagram of a connector module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3B is a schematic diagram of a connector assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4A is a schematic view of a connector module according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4B is a schematic diagram of a connector assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5A is a schematic diagram of a connector module according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5B is a schematic diagram of a connector assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6A is a schematic diagram of a connector module according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6B is a schematic diagram of a connector assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

In the following description, numerous technical details are set forth in order to provide a better understanding of the present invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the technical solutions claimed in the present application can be implemented without these technical details and with various changes and modifications based on the following embodiments.

For the sake of clarity, the same reference numerals are used for the same elements of the electrical connection assembly according to the prior art and of the electrical connection assembly according to the present invention.

Fig. 1 to 2C have already been described in detail in the background art. Therefore, it will not be discussed below.

Example 1

The embodiment 1 of the utility model provides a connector module. The implementation details of the present embodiment are specifically described below with reference to fig. 3A and 3B, and the following description is only provided for the convenience of understanding, and is not necessary for implementing the present embodiment.

Fig. 3A shows the main structure of the connector module 6, which includes a housing 63, an external contact 61, at least a part of the external contact 61 is interference fit in the housing 63, the housing 63 and the external contact 61 both have cavities, the housing 63 has the function of guiding and sliding and transmitting signals in a three-piece structure, and the housing 63 and the external contact 61 together form an external contact of a conventional connector for transmitting signals by plugging as an adapter. The housing 63 surrounds the center contact 60. An electrically insulating body 62 is interposed between the center contact 60, the housing 63 and the outer contact 61.

Wherein the housing 63 may be part of the external device cavity 7, as shown in fig. 3A. Furthermore, the possibility of separate components is not excluded.

The housing 63 performs both a guiding function and an electrical signal transmission function with the external contact 61.

The housing 63 includes a guide surface 630 having an annular shape and a circular cross-section, preferably frusto-conical, as shown, to facilitate the introduction of the adapter 4 (shown in fig. 3B).

The external contact 61 is adjacent to the open end of the housing 63 and transitions into mating with the guide surface 630.

In this embodiment, the external contact 61 may be mounted in the housing 63 through the guide surface 630.

Further, the electrically insulating body 62 can also be arranged in the same way and in advance of the external contact 61 and can be fitted over the central contact 60, achieving an isolation between the central contact 60 and the housing 63 and the external contact 61. The electrically insulating body 62, the housing 63 and the external contact 61 may be mutually limited to position the electrically insulating body 62.

The inner surface 610 of the external contact 61 serves as a contact surface that assumes a connecting function.

Referring to fig. 3B, the protrusions 410 (i.e., petals) contact the outer contact 61 at the inner surface 610.

Furthermore, fig. 3B also illustrates the connector assembly (i.e., the combined structure) of the connector module 6 according to the present invention, and the adapter 4 is connected to the connector module 6 and the buckle end socket 8.

In this embodiment, the connector module 6 acts as a sliding end in the entire connector assembly.

Example 2

The embodiment 2 of the utility model provides a connector module. The implementation details of the present embodiment are specifically described below with reference to fig. 4A and 4B, and the following description is only provided for the convenience of understanding, and is not necessary for implementing the present embodiment.

This embodiment has a structure substantially identical to that of embodiment 1, and thus description of the same or similar parts is omitted, with the main difference that: the external contact 61 and the electrically insulating body 62 are arranged from the other side (non-open side) of the housing 63 and are brought close to or into abutment with the housing 63 at the inner end 631 of the guide surface 630. The inner surface of the inner end 631 may be substantially flush with the inner surface 610 or may be slightly different. The external contact 61 may not have a bevel as in embodiment 1, but may have a slight chamfer to facilitate the introduction of the adapter into the working position of the connection.

Example 3

The embodiment 3 of the utility model provides a connector module. The implementation details of the present embodiment are specifically described below with reference to fig. 5A and 5B, and the following description is only provided for the convenience of understanding, and is not necessary for implementing the present embodiment.

Fig. 5A shows the main structure of the connector module 6, and in this embodiment, the connector module 6 mainly serves as a clamping end in the whole connector assembly. Comprises a shell 63 and an external contact 61, wherein at least one part of the external contact 61 is in interference fit in the shell 63, and the shell 63 and the external contact 61 are both provided with cavities. The external contact 61 has a clamping and guiding function for a three-part structure, which is mainly embodied in that the external contact 61 has a guide surface 611. The housing 63 surrounds the center contact 60. An electrically insulating body 62 is interposed between the center contact 60, the housing 63 and the outer contact 61.

Wherein the housing 63 may be a part of the external equipment cavity 7, as shown in fig. 5A. Furthermore, the possibility of separate components is not excluded.

Said guide surface 611 has an annular shape and a circular cross-section, preferably frustoconical, as shown, to facilitate the introduction of the adapter 4 (shown in fig. 5B).

In addition, the center contact 60 may be connected to a metal strip 601 by welding or the like.

One end of the housing 63 is flat and open, and the external contact 61 is disposed in the opening and protrudes from one end of the housing 63. The external contact 61 may also be recessed in the opening similarly to the structure of embodiment 1 or 2.

Furthermore, the electrically insulating body 62 can also penetrate through the opening and be mutually limited with the housing 63 and the external contact 61, so as to realize the positioning of the electrically insulating body 62.

The inner surface 610 of the outer contact 61 serves as a contact surface for performing a connecting function. Further, the inner surface 610 preferably has at least two diameters to better provide a snap-fit function. Further, the portion with the larger diameter is arranged closer to the electrically insulating body 62.

In the present embodiment, the external contact 61 has both a function of electrically contacting and transmitting an electrical signal and a function of clamping, and the housing 63 is in contact with the external contact 61 to transmit an electrical signal.

Referring to fig. 5B, the side projections 410 contact and snap-fit with the outer contact 61 at the inner surface 610.

Furthermore, fig. 5B also illustrates a connector assembly formed by the connector modules 6 according to the present invention, and the adapter 4 connects the connector modules 6 to the sliding-end socket 9.

Example 4

The embodiment 4 of the utility model provides a connector module. The implementation details of the present embodiment are specifically described below with reference to fig. 6A and 6B, and the following description is only provided for the convenience of understanding, and is not necessary for implementing the present embodiment.

This embodiment has a structure substantially identical to that of embodiment 3, and thus description of the same or similar parts is omitted, with the main difference that: the external contact 61 and the electrically insulating body 62 are disposed from the other side (non-opening side) of the housing 63. Furthermore, the external contact 61 may not have a guide surface as in embodiment 3, and accordingly, the housing 63 is provided with a guide surface 631 at the opening to achieve a corresponding guide function.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the opening has a clamping surface 630, which is opposite to the trend of the guide surface 631, near the electrically insulating main body 62, i.e., the guide surface 631 and the clamping surface 630 have smaller diameters near each other and larger diameters farther away from each other.

The external contact 61 is arranged between the housing 63 and the electrically insulating body 62, and the external contact 61 is open close to the clamping face 630, and the edge of the opening matches the end of the clamping face.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the housing 63 mainly performs a clamping function and, as a whole, also performs a signal transmission function, and the external contacts 61 mainly perform an electrical contact function and an electrical signal transmission function.

It should be noted that in the application document of the present patent, terms such as "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, a method, an article, or an apparatus including a series of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not explicitly listed, or further includes inherent elements of such process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising" does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

In some cases, the actions or steps recited in the claims can be performed in a different order than in the embodiments and still achieve desirable results. In addition, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In some embodiments, multitasking and parallel processing may also be possible or may be advantageous.

Claims (10)

1. A connector module, comprising:

a housing, an external contact, at least a portion of the external contact being embedded in the housing, the housing and the external contact each having a cavity.

2. The connector module of claim 1, wherein the housing is part of an external device housing, at least a portion of the housing being an integral part of a module-to-module or a module-to-board component.

3. The connector module of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the external contact is an interference fit in the housing.

4. The connector module of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a guide surface having an annular shape and a circular cross-section.

5. The connector module of claim 4, wherein the external contact transitions into mating engagement with the guide surface proximate an end of the housing opening.

6. The connector module of claim 4, wherein the external contact is proximate to or in abutment with the housing at an inner end of the guide surface.

7. The connector module of claim 1, wherein the external contacts have a guide surface having an annular shape and a circular cross-section.

8. The connector module of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the external contact is flat or has at least two diameters.

9. The connector module of claim 1, further comprising a center contact, the housing surrounding the center contact;

also included is an electrically insulative body between the center contact, the housing, and the outer contact.

10. A connector assembly comprising a connector module according to any one of claims 1-9.

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