Electrical interconnection system using magnetic retention

[0001] This application is related to patent application Ser. No. 11/982,636, filed on Nov. 2, 2007, entitled “ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY WITH MAGNETIC RETENTION DEVICE”, and it has the same applicant and assignee as the present invention. The disclosure of the related application is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to an electrical interconnection system, and more particularly to an electrical interconnection system using magnetic attraction as retention means.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] An electrical interconnection system is widely applied in electronic devices for signal transmission or power delivery. In order to prevent mated electrical connectors of the electrical interconnection system from being separated away from each other when they are in working status, a mechanism latch device is used to retain them together. However, the latch device may deform if it is improperly used or some other reasons, thus the latch device couldn't ensure that the mated electrical connectors are coupled together securely.

[0005] U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 20070072443 disclose an electrical plug and receptacle relying on magnetic force to maintain contact. The plug and receptacle can be used as part of a power adapter for connecting an electronic device, such as a laptop computer, to a power supply. The plug includes electrical contacts, which are preferably biased toward corresponding contacts on the receptacle. The plug and receptacle each have a magnetic element. The magnetic element on one or both of the plug and receptacle can be a magnet, which is preferably a permanent rare earth magnet although electromagnets may also be used. The magnetic element on the plug or receptacle that does not include a magnet is composed of ferromagnetic material. When the plug and receptacle are brought into proximity, the magnetic attraction between the magnet and its complement, whether another magnet or a ferromagnetic material, maintains the contacts in an electrically conductive relationship. However, the plug or the receptacle only has a row of contacts, and an electrical connector has two rows or more rows of contacts are needed in some applications.

[0006] Hence, an improved electrical interconnection system is highly desired to overcome the disadvantages of the related art.

[0007] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical interconnection system using a magnetic device as retention means.

[0008] In order to achieve the object set forth, an electrical interconnection system in accordance with the present invention comprises a plug connector and a receptacle connector. The plug connector includes an insulated housing; a number of terminals received in the insulated housing, said the terminals arranged in two rows; an attraction member assembled to the insulated housing. The receptacle connector mated to the plug connector, includes an insulative housing; a number of contacts received in the insulated housing, said the contacts arranged in two rows, mating with the terminals of the plug connector respectively; a magnetic block assembled to the insulative housing. The plug connector and the receptacle connector are securely coupled together via a magnetic attraction between the magnetic member and the attraction member thereof.

[0009] 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.

[0020] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 7, an electrical interconnection system comprises a plug connector 1 and a receptacle connector 2. The plug connector 1 and the receptacle connector 2 are coupled together via magnetic attraction therebetween.

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the plug connector 1 comprises an insulated housing 13, a number of terminals 12 received in the insulated housing 13, an attraction member 11 shielding the insulated housing 13, a cable 16 electrically connecting to the terminals 12 and an insulator 15 partially over molded on the attraction element 11, the cable 16 and the insulated housing 13.

[0023] The attraction member 11 is made of permanent magnet or ferromagnetic materials. The attraction member 11 comprises a top wall 111, a bottom wall 112 and a pair of transversal walls 113, 114 to corporately form a hollow portion 110 therebetween. The pair of the transversal walls 113, 114 further have two vertical protrusion members 115 located at rear section thereof. Both the top wall 111 and the bottom wall 112 define a pair of first through holes 1111, 1122 aligning with each other.

[0024] The insulated housing 13 comprises a substantially rectangular-shaped body portion 131, a flange portion 132 encircling along an outside surface of a rear part of the body portion 131 and a planar spacer 133 extending rearward from a middle section of back surface of the body portion 131. The body portion 131 defines a number of terminal passages (not numbered) separated into a set of first terminal passages 131a and another set of second terminal passages 131b at different levels. The set of first terminal passages 131a and the set of the second terminal passages 131b offset from one another along vertical direction. The set of first terminal passages 131a are arranged above an imaginary horizontal plane (not shown) through a central section of the spacer 133, while the set of second terminal passages 131b are arranged below the imaginary horizontal plane. Each first terminal passage 131a comprises a vertical mounting grooves 1311 recessed rearward from forward surface of the body portion 131, a first positioning cavity 1312 and a second through positioning cavity 1313 respectively extend interiorly from a lower portion and an upper portion of each mounting groove 1311. The second terminal passage 131b is same as the first terminal passage 131a, excepted that a first position cavity (not numbered) is located above the second positioning cavity (not numbered) of the second terminal passage 131b. A pair of second through holes 1314 passing a top and a bottom surfaces of the body portion 131 are located at lateral sides of the body portion 131 and adjacent to the flange portion 132. The body portion 131 received in the hollow portion 110 of the attraction member 11, a rear surface of the attraction member 11 abuts against a front surface of the flange portion 132, the pair of first through holes 1111, 1122 align with the pair of second through holes 1314 to allow a pair of pin members 14 insert into therein, thus the insulated housing 13 and the attraction member 11 are combined together securely. The insulated housing 13 is interiorly received in the attraction member 11 to form a forward first mating space 1101 between a front section of the attraction member 11 and a front surface of the insulated housing 13.

[0025] The terminals 12 are separated into a set of first terminals 12a and another set of second terminals 12b respectively arranged along longitudinal direction and apart from one another vertically. The set of first terminals 12a and the set of second terminals 12b both have four terminals, however, it should be noted that the number of the set of the first terminals 12a or 12b may more or less than that of the present embodiment, and either the set of first terminals 12a or the set of second terminals 12b should have no less than two terminals to form a clearly terminal set/row. The first terminal 12a is configured to hooked structure and comprises a vertical contact portion 121, a flat first retention portion 122 extending rearward from a lower end of the vertical contact portion 121, a flat second retention portion 123 extending rearward from an upper end of the vertical contact portion 121 and parallel to the first retention portion 122, and a tail portion 124 extending rearward from a rear end of the first retention portion 122. The contact portion 121 is located in corresponding mounting groove 1311, the first retention portion 122 is received in corresponding first retention cavity 1312, while the second retention portion 123 is received in corresponding second retention cavity 1313, and the tail portion 124 extending outward of the back surface of the body portion 131 and supported by the spacer 133. The second terminal 12b is same as the first terminal 12a, excepted that a first retention portion (not numbered) is located above the second retention portion (not numbered) of the second terminal 12b.

[0026] The cable 16 has a number of inner wires 161 soldered to corresponding tail portions 124 of the terminals 12, respectively. The insulator 15 is plastic material and over molded on a forward section of the cable 16, rear sections of the insulated housing 13 and the magnetic member 11.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 5-10, the receptacle connector 2 adapted for mounting on a printed circuit board (not shown) comprises a metal shell 21, a magnetic block 22, and an insulative housing 23 and a number of spring contacts 24.

[0028] The insulative housing 23 comprises a peripheral portion 23a and a central body portion 23b. The central body portion 23b interiorly recesses from forward surface of the insulative housing 23 to form a first cavity 236. Partial of forward section of the central body portion 23b is cut to form compliant slot 237 communicating with the first cavity 236, in the present embodiment, the compliant slot 237 is of loop-shaped, however, other types of shape is available. The peripheral portion 23a has a top side 231, a bottom side 232, a pair of lateral sides 233, 234 joining to the top and bottom sides 231, 232. The top side 231 and pair of lateral sides 233, 234 respectively form a pair of tabs 2311, 2331, 2341 located at substantially central sections thereof. The top side 231 and pair of lateral sides 233, 234 further respectively form a pair of stoppers 2312, 2332, 2342 arranged at rear sections thereof. A pair of positioning posts 2321 are located at rear section of the bottom side 232. The central body portion 23b defines a set of first passageways 230b and another set of second passageways 230b′ along vertical direction. The sets of the first passageways 230b and another set of second passageways 230b′ offset from one another along vertical direction. The forward portion of the first and second passageway 230b, 230b′ define a front opening 2301b, 2301b′ respectively. A stopper member 2302b, 2302b′ respectively located at upper portion of the front opening 2301b, 2301b′, and a wedge-shaped protrusion member 2303b, 2303b′ respectively arranged beneath the front opening 2301b, 2301b′.

[0029] The magnetic block 22 is configured to loop-shaped with a substantially rectangular-shaped passage 221 therein. When assembly, the magnetic block 22 is fitted into a back portion of the loop slot 237 of insulative housing 23, with a front section of the central body portion 23b surpassing a forward surface of the magnetic block 22.

[0030] The contacts 24 are separated into a set of first contacts 24a and another set of second contacts 24b respectively arranged along longitudinal direction and apart from one another vertically. The first contact 24a is substantially identical with the second contact 24b, except for little difference at dimension thereof. The first contact 24a is configured to spring-type and comprises a V-shaped mating segment 241 with a contacting portion (not numbered) forward extending outside of the front opening 2301b and protruding into the first cavity 236, a horizontal retention segment 243 inserted molded with and retained in the central body portion 23b, a substantially inverted V-shaped body segment 242 cantilevered in the first passageway 230b connecting the mating segment 241 and the retention segment 243, and a tail segment 244 disposed outward of a rear surface of the central body portion 23b and further bent downward from a rear end of the retention segment 243. A free end 245 of the first contact 24a abuts against the stopper member 2302b. The second contact 24b is assembled to the second passageway 230b′, with same manner as aforementioned process. The tail segments 244 of the set of second contacts 24b are disposed forward of these of the set of first contacts 24a. The contacts 24 are configured to spring-type which can ensure a better electrical connection between the plug connector 1 and the receptacle connector 2.

[0031] The metal shell 21 has a substantially same profile as that of the insulative housing 23, and it has a top wall 211, a bottom wall 212, a pair of lateral walls 213, 214 joining to the top and bottom walls 211, 212 to form a roomage 210. The metal shell 21 further has a back wall 215 engages with end edge of the top wall 211. The top wall 211 and pair of lateral walls 213, 214 respectively define a pair of through holes 2111, 2131, 2141 located at substantially central sections thereof. The top wall 211 and pair of lateral walls 213, 214 further respectively define a pair of cutouts 2112, 2132, 2142 arranged at rear sections thereof. A rear section of the bottom wall 212 forms a window portion 2121 and a pair of spaced cutouts 2122 in front of and communicating with the window portion 2121. A number of board locks 2123 are disposed at margin areas of the bottom wall 212. The insulative housing 23 is assembled into roomage 210 of the metal shell 21 along front-to-back direction, with the tabs 2311, 2331, 2341 inserted into through holes 2111, 2131, 2141, the stoppers 2312, 2332, 2342 abut against cutouts 2112, 2132, 2142, the tail segments 244 of the contacts 24 and the positioning posts 2321 protruding outward via the window portion 2121 and the cutouts 2122 of the bottom wall 212.

[0032] Please referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 7, 9 and 10, when the plug connector 1 mates with the receptacle connector 2, the front section of central body portion 23b of the insulative housing 23 inserts into the forward first mating space 1101 of the attraction member 11 of the plug connector 1, while the front section of the attraction member 11 is inserted into a front portion of the loop slot 237 of insulative housing 23 proximate to the magnetic block 22, and such configurations may ensure the plug connector 1 and the receptacle connector 2 mating with other properly and reliably. Further more, the mating segment 241 of the contact is deflectable/moveable along mating direction (front-to-back direction); thus, a wiping/friction among the contacts 24 of the receptacle connector 2 and the terminals 12 of the plug connector 1 to eliminate dust or other materials which may effect reliable electrical connection therebetween, thus the plug connector 1 and the receptacle connector 2 may connect together more better.

[0033] 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 illustrated 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.