Electrical Connector Having Modular Components

The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and particularly to an electrical connector comprising terminal modules and a modular electronic device for facilitating assembly.

As technology progresses, computers along with many other electrical communication network products have become an essential part of contemporary life. Manufacturers strive to create high quality products which meet the strict demands of the market. Referring to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,069,641; 5,647,767; and 5,587,884, conventional electrical connectors used for network communications commonly adopt an electrical element, such as a noise suppressing electronic element, signal conditioning components, or a component printed circuit board, for ensuring proper signal transmission therethrough. However, the conventional connectors include too much additional components, flrthermore, the manufacture and assembly of the conventional connector is complex and laborious thereby increasing costs.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having terminal modules assembled to a housing in a direction perpendicular to a mating opening of the housing thereby facilitating the assembly process thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having an electronic element fixed on a housing for simplifying manufacture and decreasing costs.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having a shielding device comprising two shells for enclosing the connector, the shells respectively forming grounding arms and legs thereby providing excellent shielding and grounding effects.

A connector in accordance with the present invention has terminal modules assembled to a housing thereof in a direction perpendicular to a mating opening of the housing. Each component of the connector is disposed according to practical requirements. Thus, the connector is compact and stable, and the assembly process thereof is quick and convenient.

The housing has a front surface having a mating opening defined therein the front surface further defines a cutout exposed to the mating opening for receiving a terminal module therein. A second receiving space is defined in a rear surface of the housing for receiving a second terminal module. A first receiving slot is defined in the top surface of the housing. The first and second terminal modules each have a plurality of terminals received in corresponding first and second insert molded members, and are partially assembled to an electronic element as a unit in the same direction. The connector further comprises a shielding device consisting of a first shell and a second shell. The first shell defines a pair of grounding arms for providing the connector with excellent shielding and grounding effects.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a connector in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the present invention taken from a different perspective view from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an electrical connector 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing 2, an electronic element 3, a first terminal module 4, a second terminal module 5 and a shielding device (not numbered). The housing 2 has a cubicle shape. A mating opening 21 is defined in a front surface of the housing 2 and a pair of grooves 212 is defined in opposite inner side surfaces communicating with the mating opening 21. A cutout 22 is formed in a top surface of the housing 2 and is exposed to the mating opening 21 for receiving the first terminals module 4 therein. A notch 221 is defined along a periphery of the cutout 22. A first receiving slot 23 is formed above the top surface of the housing 2 between the side surfaces. A second receiving slot 24 is formed in a rear surface of the housing 2 between the side surfaces for receiving the second terminal module 5. A pair of protrusions 241 extend from the side surfaces into the second receiving slot 24. A channel 242 is defined in the rear surface of the housing 2 in communication with the mating opening 21. A pair of posts 26 downwardly extend from the housing 2 for engaging to a mating circuit board (not shown).

The first terminal module 4 comprises a first insert molded member 41 and a plurality of first terminals 42 received therein. Each first terminal 42 has a contact end 421 and a joint end 422. The contact end 421 extends from one surface of the first insert molded member 41 and is bent an appropriate angle for electrically contacting a mating connector. The joint end 422 outwardly extends from the other surface of the first insert molded member 41 for electrically connecting with the electronic element 3. A flange 43 is formed along a periphery of the first insert molded member 41 for mating with the notch 221 of the housing 2. Thus, the first terminal module 4 is received in the cutout 22 and the contact ends 421 of the first terminals 42 extend through the mating opening 21 in the housing 2.

The second terminal module 5 comprises a second insert molded member 51 and a plurality of second terminals 52. Each second terminal 52 has a contact end 521 extending from one surface of the second insert molded member 51 for electrically contacting with a mating circuit board, and a joint end 522 extending from the other surface of the second insert molded member 51 for electrically contacting with the electronic element 3. Alternately contact ends 521 of the second terminals 52 are bent an appropriate angle and then extend parallel to the contact ends 521 of the second terminals 52 which are not bent for being received in the channel 242. A pair of cutouts 53 are disposed in opposite side walls of the second insert molded member 51. A projecting block 531 is formed defined in each cutout 53 for interferentially fitting with the protrusions 241 of the housing 2. Thus, the second terminal module 5 is fixed to the housing 2.

The electronic element 3 defines first holes 31 and second holes 32 in opposite sides thereof for receiving the corresponding joint ends 422, 522 of the first terminal module 4 and the second module 5, respectively, when the electronic element 3 is received in the first receiving slot 23.

The shielding device encloses the connector 1 and comprises a first shell 6 and a second shell 7. The first shell 6 is L-shaped and defines an opening 61 in a front surface thereof corresponding to the mating opening 21 of the housing 2 for receiving a mating connector therein. A pair of grounding arms 62 inwardly extend from opposite inner edges of the opening 61 for being received in the corresponding grooves 212 of the housing 2. A pair of securing sections 63 outwardly extend from opposite outer sides of the front surface of the first shell 6. Each securing section 63 forms an outwardly resilient clasp 631 for engaging with the second shell 7. A securing tab 64 downwardly extends from an edge of a top surface of the first shell 6. A pair of first flanges 65 downwardly extend from opposite edges of the top surface of the first shell 6.

The second shell 7 is U-shaped and forms a pair of cavities 72 on opposite surfaces thereof for abutting against the corresponding recesses 25 of the housing 2 and interferentially receiving the corresponding clasp 631 of the first shell 6. A pair of grounding legs 71 downwardly extend from the opposite surfaces of the second shell 7 proximate the cavities 72 for being fixed to a mating circuit board (not shown). An aperture 73 is defined in a rear surface of the second shell 7 for receiving the securing tab 64 of the first shell 6. A pair of inwardly extending second flanges 74 are formed on top edges of the opposite side surfaces of the second shell 7 for interferentially abutting against the flanges 65 of the first shell 6 thereby completing assembly of the shielding device.

Also referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, during assembly of the connector 1, the first terminal module 4 and the second terminal module 5 are inserted into the cutout 22 and the second receiving slot 24, respectively. The electronic element 3 is received in the first receiving slot 23, and the joint ends 422, 522 of the first terminals 42 and the second terminals 52 extend through the corresponding first holes 31 and second holes 32 of the electronic element 3, respectively. Lastly, the first and second shells 6, 7 of the shielding device are attached to the housing 2 and fixed together thereby completing assembly of the connector 1.

The terminals 42, 52 of the connector 1 are modular, and the first and second terminal modules 4, 5 are assembled in a direction perpendicular to the mating opening 21 of the housing 2 for facilitating assembly of the connector 1 and decreasing costs. Positions of components of the connector 1 are selected according to practical requirements thereby enabling the connector 1 to be quickly and steadily assembled by eliminating unnecessary procedures.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.