Electrical connector having power contacts for providing high electrical power

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and particularly to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) electrical connector capable of providing a large amount of electrical power.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] Some conventional Universal Serial Bus (USB) electrical connectors comprise first contacts and second contacts in an insulative housing for respectively transferring electronic data and electrical power. However, the first contacts and the second contacts are arranged near each other. Thus if high electrical power passes through the second contacts, signal interference will arise between the second contacts and the fire contacts. Nevertheless, users sometimes require much as 2.5 amps of electrical power.

[0006] In order to overcome this problem, users employ two different connectors for respectively transferring electronic data and electrical power. This solution runs against the trend toward miniaturization of electrical connectors and of computers generally.

[0007] Hence, an improved USB connector is required to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector capable of providing high electrical power and electronic data without generating signal interference.

[0009] To fulfill the above-mentioned object, an electrical connector of the present invention comprises an insulative housing, and a plurality of first contacts and at least a second contact respectively received within the housing. The first contacts have first body portions aligned with each other in a plane, and the second contact has a second body portion. The second body portion is spaced from the plane by the housing. The second contact is thereby able to transfer high electrical power without creating signal interference between the first contacts and the second contact.

[0010] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0011] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a partly assembled view of FIG. 1; and

[0013] FIG. 3 is a more fully assembled view of FIG. 2.

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) electrical connector 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises an elongated insulative housing 10, and a plurality of first contacts 20 and a second contact 30 respectively received within the housing 10. A two-piece shell 40 encloses outer faces of the housing 10 for providing shielding.

[0015] The housing 10 has a vertical first face 10a, a vertical second face 10bopposite to the first face 10a, and a horizontal third face 10cconnecting the first face 10aand the second face 10b. A block 11 is formed in a middle portion of the housing 10 above and adjoining the third face 10c. A plurality of first receiving channels 12 is defined in the third face 10cand through the block 11 of the housing 10. The first receiving channels 12 are approximately in a first plane. A second receiving channel 14 is defined through the housing 10 between the first face 10aand the second face 10b. It is noted that the second receiving channel 14 is near a bottom face (not labeled) opposite to the third face 10cof the housing 10, below the first receiving channels 12. Thus the first receiving channels 12 and the second receiving channel 14 are spaced apart by the housing 10. The second receiving channel 14 has a widened portion thereof at the first face 10aof the housing 10, for accommodating the second contact 30. A recess 16 is defined in the third face 10cof the housing 10, in communication with the second receiving channel 14.

[0016] The first contacts 20 are commonly used to transfer electronic data. Each first contact 20 comprises an elongated flat first body portion 22, a first mating portion 24 at an end of the first body portion 22 for mating with a mating contact (not shown), and a first contacting portion 26 at an opposite end of the first body portion 22 for contacting with other components such as cables (not shown). It is noted that two longer contacts of the first contacts 20 can be used to transfer electrical power, too, but only electrical power which is less than electrical power which can be transferred by the second contact 30.

[0017] The second contact 30 is used to transfer electrical power, and comprises an elongated flat second body portion 32, a second mating portion 34 at an end of the second body portion 32 for mating with a mating contact (not shown), and a second contacting portion 36 at an opposite end of the second body portion 32 for contacting with other components such as a cable (not shown). The second mating portion 34 is a large flat plate perpendicularly offset from the second body portion 32, and is receivable in the widened portion of the second receiving channel 14 of the housing 10. The large flat plate configuration provides the mating portion 34 with a large pushing area and relatively small resistance per unit area when the mating portion 34 is mated with a mating contact of a mating connector (not shown).

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, in assembly, the first contacts 20 and the second contact 30 are respectively inserted into corresponding receiving channels 12 and 14 at the second face 10band the first face 10aof the housing 10. The contacting portions 26, 36 of the first contacts 20 and the second contact 30 are soldered to corresponding cables. Finally, the two-piece shell 40 is assembled over the housing 10. Thus, an electrical connection is established between the cables and the mating connector.

[0019] An advantage of the electrical connector of the present invention is that the first contacts 20 and the second contact 30 are secured within a single insulative housing 10, yet spaced apart by the housing 10. In the preferred embodiment, signal interference between the first contacts 20 and the second contact 30 is avoided even when as much as 2.5 amps of electrical power passes through the second contact 30. Furthermore, the present invention combines two conventional connectors into a single connector, thereby providing a miniaturized electrical connector. Moreover, the electrical connector of the present invention is matable not only with a similar connector, but also with two separate connectors. That is, such similar connector has first contacts and a second contact in a single insulative housing, while such two separate connectors include a connector for transferring electronic data and a connector for transferring electrical power.

[0020] 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.