FFC connector with enhanced structure

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention generally relates to a FFC connector, and more particularly, to a FFC connector which has an enhanced structure to enhance hardness of FFC.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Conventionally, an FFC connector includes a housing with a plurality of terminals assembled therein. The housing further defines an elongate slot for receiving an inserted FFC cable. Each terminal includes a spring arms extending into the elongate slot such that conductors of the inserted FFC cable abut against to those spring arms thereby making electrical connection therebetween. When the FFC is inserted, it needs first to deflect those spring arms as they are interfering the course of insertion of the FFC. As a matter of fact, those spring arms create a great deal of normal force, which needs an equivalent or even stronger insertion force to balance it.

[0005] In order to provide an easy insertion of the FFC cable, an actuator is introduced to a FFC connector to facilitate electrical connections between conductors of the cable and terminals within the connector after the FFC is freely inserted, and then the actuator is actuated to make the connections. In this arrangement, the terminals within the FFC connector will not block the insertion path of the FFC cable during insertion of the FFC cable, i.e. zero insertion force. When the FFC cable is fully inserted, the actuator is then actuated such that the conductors of the inserted FFC contact with the terminals of the FFC connector. However, not only will this increase the height of the FFC connector, but will also complicate the assembling process.

[0006] Taiwanese Patent 1259619 discloses another type of FFC connector. The connector comprises a FFC and an insulator. The FFC has upper and below surfaces, and the upper surface has a plurality of gold fingers. The insulator is mounted on the below surface of the FFC, and makes the FFC rigid enough to be inserted into a complementary connector and directly contact with the terminals of the complementary connector.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide an FFC connector with a FFC directly contacting with a complementary connector.

[0008] In order to attain the object above, an FFC connector according to the present invention comprises a FFC and an insulator. The FFC defines upper and lower surfaces opposite to each other, a plurality of gold fingers formed with the upper surface and exposed outside to contact with a complementary connector, and a reinforcement plate held on the lower surface and supporting the gold fingers during mating with the complementary connector. The insulator abuts against the upper surface of the FFC and has a receiving room for receiving the FFC.

[0009] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0018] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Please referring to FIGS. 1-7, an FFC connector according to the present invention comprises a FFC (flexible flat cable) 1, an insulator 3 disposed onto the FFC 1, a reinforcement plate 4 cooperating with the insulator 3 to hold the FFC 1, and a shell 2, 5 shielding the FFC 1.

[0020] Please referring to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, the FFC 1 is configured by a plurality of electrical conductors laminated between upper and lower insulative sheets 10 and 11. A portion of the upper sheet 10 is removed to expose the conductors for electrically interconnection with other connector. A plurality of gold fingers 101 are disposed on the front portion of the FFC 1, and cover and contact with the exposed conductors so that it becomes easy to insert the FFC 1 into other connector.

[0021] The insulator 3 covers the upper surface 10 of the FFC 1, with the gold fingers 101 exposed outside. The insulator 3 comprises upper and lower surfaces 30 and 31 opposite to each other, and a flattened base portion with sidewalls 32 at ends thereof so as to jointly define a receiving room 310 thereunder. A pair of L-shaped latch receiving rooms 320 are recessed from the edges of the upper surface 30 to receive a pair of latches 6. A pair of cylindrical posts 304 are formed with the sidewalls 320 to coordinate with the latch 6. A pair of first wedge projections 302 are formed near the gold fingers 101 in the front of the upper surface 30, and a pair of second wedge projections 303 are formed near the sidewalls 32 in the back of the first wedge projections 302. A pair of notches 305 are formed in the middle of the rear portion of the upper surface 30 and spaced from each other, and a tip 301 is defined between the pair of notches 305. A pair of guiding posts 33 extend forwards from the sidewalls 32.

[0022] The reinforcement plate 4 is made of Polyethylene Terephthalate, and pasted onto the lower surface 11 of the FFC 1 to increase the rigidity of the FFC 1. The reinforcement plate 4 has upper and lower surface 40 and 41.

[0023] The latch 6 is made of metal and mounted on the insulator 3. The latch 6 comprises a body portion 61 disposed in the latch receiving room 320 and a pair of dowel holes 60 for receiving the cylindrical post 304 so as to hold the latch 6 thereon.

[0024] Please referring to FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the metallic shell comprises upper and lower shells 2 and 5 which are mounted on the upper surface 30 of the insulator 3 and the lower surface 10 of the FFC 1. The upper shell 2 comprises an upper surface 20, a lower surface 21, a rear end 22 and side portions 23. A pair of first rectangular receiving holes 201 are formed in the front of the upper surface 20 to receive the first wedge projections 302. A pair of second rectangular receiving holes 231 are formed in the front of the side portions 23 to receive the second wedge projections 303. A arched groove 223 is recessed in the middle of the rear end 22 to receive the tip 301 of the insulator 3, with the lateral walls (not labeled) of the arched groove 223 interfering with the notches 305. A pair of rectangular holes 221 with two spring tabs 222 defined therein extend downwards from the rear end 22 to hold the upper shell 2 on the insulator 3.

[0025] The lower shell 5 comprises a base 510 covering the FFC 1 and a tongue plate 512 extending forwards and upwards from the base 510. The inner surface of the tongue plate 512 abuts against the lower surface 41 of the reinforcement plate 4 to support the gold fingers 101. A pair of ear portions (not labeled) extend upwards from the lateral sides of the tongue plate 512 and cooperate with the tongue plate 512 to surround the gold fingers 101. A pair of rectangular holding portions 5101 with a pair of rectangular holes 5102 defined therein extend upwards from the rear end of the base 510 to hold the lower shell 5 on the insulator 3.

[0026] In assembly, the insulator 3 is fixed on the upper surface 10 of the FFC 1, with the FFC 1 received in the receiving room 310 and the gold fingers 101 extending beyond the insulator 3. The latch 6 is mounted on the latch receiving room 320 of the insulator 3, with the body portion 61 covering the latch receiving room 320 and the dowel hole 60 receiving the cylindrical post 304, so the latch 6 is pivoted to provide a reliable engagement with a complementary connector. The upper shell 2 is mounted along the rear-and-front direction on the insulator 3, with the first wedge projections 302 received in the first rectangular receiving holes 201 and the second wedge projections 303 received in the second rectangular receiving holes 231. The arched groove 223 receives the tip 301 of the insulator 3, with the lateral walls (not labeled) of the arched groove 223 interfering with the notches 305. The reinforcement plate 4 is held onto the lower surface 11 of the FFC 1. The lower shell 5 is mounted on the lower surface 11 of the FFC 1, with the tongue plate 512 abutting against the reinforcement plate 4. The gold fingers 101, the reinforcement plate 4 and the tongue plate 512 is configured in such a way to suit to mate with the complementary connector. The rectangular holding portions 5101 of the lower shell 5 matches with the rectangular holes 221 of the upper shell 2, with the spring tabs 222 received in the rectangular holes 5102, to hold the upper and lower shells 2 and 5 together.

[0027] Gold fingers 101 of the FFC 1 connect directly to the terminals of a complementary connector for signal transmission, so it can eliminate the need for a separate terminal, and reduce manufacturing and assembly costs and reduce signal loss.

[0028] In this embodiment of the invention, the insulator 3 which is installed on the upper surface 10 of the FFC 1 decreases the thickness of the lower part of the FFC connector, because the insulator 3 is thicker than the reinforcement plate 4. So the FFC connector is particularly applicable to the series of mating ports whose bottom parts have narrow space. In addition, as the upper part of the FFC connector suffers the bulk of the external impact, the insulator installed on the upper surface 10 of the FFC strengthens the FFC's resistance to impact. At the same time, the insulator which has sides portions is suitable to mount the latches 6 on so that the FFC connector can stably mate with the complementary connector.

[0029] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous, characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set fourth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosed is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of number, 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.