Connectors and connector assembly

[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) of Chinese Patent Application No. 202122036084.2, filed on Aug. 27, 2021.

[0002] The present invention relates to a connector and a connector assembly comprising the connector.

[0003] In the prior art, for a hybrid connector comprising a power terminal and a signal terminal, the power terminal is sometimes required to transmit up to 8 amps of current, which will cause serious electromagnetic interference to the signal transmission of the signal terminal and reduce the signal transmission quality of the signal terminal.

[0004] A connector includes a shielding member having a shield shell and a shield sheet disposed in the shield shell, an insulator having an end inserted into the shield shell, and a plurality of terminals arranged in the insulator. The shield sheet and the shield shell are formed into an integral piece. The insulator has a slot in which the shield sheet is inserted. The plurality of terminals include a power terminal and a signal terminal. The power terminal and the signal terminal are separated by the shield sheet to prevent electromagnetic interference between the signal terminal and the power terminal.

[0010] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to the attached drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will convey the concept of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0011] In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing.

[0012] According to a general technical concept of the present invention, there is provided a connector comprising: a shielding member 10 comprising a shield shell 11; an insulator 20, one end of which is inserted into the shield shell 11; a plurality of terminals 31, 32 arranged in the insulator 20 and comprising a power terminal 31 and a signal terminal 32. The shielding member 10 also comprises a shield sheet 12 located in the shield shell 11, and the shield sheet 12 and the shield shell 11 are formed into an integral piece. A slot 22 is formed in the insulator 20, the shield sheet 12 is inserted into the slot 22, and the power terminal 31 and the signal terminal 32 are separated by the shield sheet 12 to prevent electromagnetic interference between the signal terminal 32 and the power terminal 31.

[0013] FIG. 1 shows an assembly diagram of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows an exploded schematic diagram of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows an axial sectional view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector mainly comprises a shielding member 10, an insulator 20, and a plurality of terminals 31 and 32. The shielding member 10 comprises a shield shell 11. One end of the insulator 20 is inserted into the shield shell 11. A plurality of terminals 31 and 32 are provided in the insulator 20, and the plurality of terminals 31 and 32 comprise a power terminal 31 and a signal terminal 32.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the illustrated embodiment, the shielding member 10 also comprises a shield sheet 12 located in the shield shell 11. The shield shell 11 and the shield sheet 12 are formed into an integral piece.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the illustrated embodiment, a slot 22 is formed in the insulator 20, the shield sheet 12 is inserted into the slot 22, and the power terminal 31 and the signal terminal 32 are separated by the shield sheet 12 to prevent electromagnetic interference between the signal terminal 32 and the power terminal 31.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, in the illustrated embodiment, the shield sheet 12 separates the internal space of the shield shell 11 into two electromagnetic shielding spaces respectively closed in the circumferential direction. The power terminal 31 is located in one of the two electromagnetic shielding spaces, and the signal terminal 32 is located in the other of the two electromagnetic shielding spaces.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the illustrated embodiment, when the shield sheet 12 is inserted into the slot 22, the slot 22 is sealed by the shield sheet 12 to prevent the sealant from flowing through the slot 22 to the contact ends of the terminals 31 and 32 that are in electrical contact with the mating terminals of the mating connector. The shield sheet 12 is shaped to match the slot 22 of the insulator 20 to be able to seal the slot 22.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the illustrated embodiment, the cross section of the shield sheet 12 is irregular. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the cross section of the shield sheet 12 may also be in a regular shape, for example, a rectangular shape.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector also comprises a conductive nut 40, which is sleeved and fixed on the other end of the insulator 20 for threaded connection with the mating connector.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector also comprises a conductive spring 50, which is axially compressed between the conductive nut 40 and the shield shell 11 to electrically connect the shield shell 11 and the conductive nut 40.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the illustrated embodiment, a positioning step 44 is formed on the inner wall of the conductive nut 40, and the conductive spring 50 is axially compressed between the end face of the shield shell 11 and the positioning step 44 of the conductive nut 40.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the illustrated embodiment, a snapping groove is formed on the inner wall of the conductive nut 40, and the connector also comprises a C-type ring 60, which is snapped into the snapping groove for fixing the conductive nut 40 to the insulator 20.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the illustrated embodiment, an annular first positioning protrusion 21 is formed on the insulator 20, and an annular second positioning protrusion 43 is formed on the inner wall of the conductive nut 40. The C-type ring 60 and the second positioning protrusion 43 are respectively against both sides of the first positioning protrusion 21, so as to fix the conductive nut 40 to the insulator 20.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 3, an internal thread 41 suitable for connection with the mating connector is formed on the inner wall of the conductive nut 40. However, the present invention is not limited to this; for example, an external thread suitable for connection with the mating connector may be formed on the outer wall of the conductive nut 40.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the connector also comprises an elastic sealing ring 70, which is sleeved on the insulator 20 and radially compressed between the shield shell 11 and the insulator 20 to seal a gap between the shield shell 11 and the insulator 20.

[0027] FIG. 4 shows an illustrative perspective view of the shielding member 10 of the connector shown in FIG. 2.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, in the illustrated embodiment, one end of the shield sheet 12 is located in the shield shell 11 and connected to the shield shell 11, and the other end 12a extends a predetermined distance from the shield shell 11 along the axial direction of the shield shell 11.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, in another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a connector assembly is also disclosed. The connector assembly comprises: a connector; and a mating connector, suitable for mating with connector. The mating connector comprises a plurality of mating terminals suitable for electrical contact with a plurality of terminals 31 and 32 of the connector. The mating connector also comprises a mating shield suitable for mating with the shield sheet 12 of the connector. The mating shield is adapted to be inserted into the slot 22 of the insulator 20 of the connector to electrical contact with the shield sheet 12 of the connector. The mating connector also comprises a mating shield shell electrically connected with the conductive nut 40 of the connector, and the mating shield sheet and the mating shield shell are formed into an integral piece.

[0030] It should be appreciated for those skilled in this art that the above embodiments are intended to be illustrated, and not restrictive. For example, many modifications may be made to the above embodiments by those skilled in this art, and various features described in different embodiments may be freely combined with each other without conflicting in configuration or principle.

[0031] Although several exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

[0032] As used herein, an element recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural of said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present invention are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property.