Board-to-board connector assembly

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention generally relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a board-to-board connector assembly.

[0003] 2. The Related Art

[0004] Generally, a board-to-board connector assembly includes a receptacle connector and a plug connector mounted to a pair of spaced parallel printed circuit boards for electrically interconnecting the printed circuit boards. The receptacle connector includes a plurality of first terminals for being soldered to one printed circuit board. The plug connector includes a plurality of second terminals for being soldered to the other printed circuit board. When the plug connector is mated with the receptacle connector, the first terminal electrically contact the corresponding second terminal so as to form an electrical connection between the printed circuit boards. However, with the development of electronic field, the board-to-board connector assembly is microminiaturized more and more so that the distance between the printed circuit boards may be longer or shorter than a standard distance due to the manufacturing or assembly inaccuracy. As a result, that leads the plug connector to be improperly engaged with the receptacle connector and further results in an unsteady contact between the first terminal and the corresponding second terminal so that affects the electrical connection between the printed circuit boards. Therefore, a board-to-board connector assembly capable of adapting to the distance adjustment between the printed circuit boards is required.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a board-to-board connector assembly adapted for electrically interconnecting female and male printed circuit boards. The board-to-board connector assembly includes a receptacle connector and a plug connector. The receptacle connector includes a receptacle housing, a plurality of first terminals disposed in the receptacle housing, and at least one fixing member. The receptacle housing defines a receiving recess at a top thereof and four sidewalls are formed around the receiving recess. Each of the first terminals has a base portion, a connecting arm extending upward from one end of the base portion, and a first resilient portion crookedly extending downward from a top end of the connecting arm. A free end of the first resilient portion protrudes downward to form a soldering portion beyond a bottom of the base portion. The soldering portion projects under the receptacle housing for being soldered to the female printed circuit board. The fixing member is disposed in the sidewall and has a base frame and a pair of second resilient portions crookedly extending from two opposite ends of the base frame. A free end of each of the second resilient portions protrudes to form a soldering tail projecting under the sidewall for being soldered to the female printed circuit board. The plug connector includes a plug housing received in the receiving recess of the receptacle housing, and a plurality of second terminals disposed in the plug housing and soldered to the male printed circuit board. The second terminals electrically contact the corresponding first terminals when the plug connector is mated with the receptacle connector.

[0006] As described above, the board-to-board connector assembly of the present invention utilizes the first resilient portion of the first terminal and the second resilient portion of the fixing member to adapt to the distance adjustment between the two printed circuit boards so as to ensure a steady contact between the first terminal and the corresponding second terminal. Therefore, a steady electrical connection can be achieved between the printed circuit boards.

[0014] With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a board-to-board connector assembly 100 in accordance with the present invention includes a receptacle connector 2 and a plug connector 1 which can be mounted to a pair of spaced parallel female and male printed circuit boards (not shown) to electrically interconnect the printed circuit boards, wherein the plug connector 1 is mated with the receptacle connector 2. The receptacle connector 2 includes a receptacle housing 20, a plurality of first terminals 40 and a pair of fixing members 60 disposed in the receptacle housing 20 respectively.

[0015] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the receptacle housing 20 has a rectangular flat base board 21. Two opposite sides of the base board 21 extend upward to form a pair of first sidewalls 22 extending longwise. Two opposite ends of the base board 21 extend upward to form a pair of second sidewalls 23. A middle of the base board 21 protrudes upward to form a rectangular inserting rib 24 extending longwise and having two opposite ends apart from the corresponding second sidewalls 23. Accordingly, a ringlike receiving recess 25 is formed among the base board 21, the first sidewalls 22, the second sidewalls 23 and the inserting rib 24. Two opposite sides of the inserting rib 24 define a plurality of receiving fillisters 241 arranged at regular intervals along a longwise direction thereof and communicating with the receiving recess 25. The outside of each of the first sidewalls 22 defines a plurality of receiving grooves 221 corresponding to the receiving fillisters 241 one-on-one and each vertically extending to penetrate through the first sidewall 22. Each of the receiving fillisters 241 is connected with the respective receiving groove 221 by means of a receiving channel 211 in the base board 21. Each of the first sidewalls 22 further defines a plurality of fixing apertures 222 each vertically penetrating therethrough and connected with the respective receiving channel 211. Each of the second sidewalls 23 defines a substantially m-shaped receiving passageway 26 extending longitudinally. The receiving passageway 26 includes a pair of receiving slots 262 vertically penetrating the second sidewall 23 at two ends thereof and a fastening slot 261 connected between the receiving slots 262. Accordingly, a pair of clipping portions 27 is formed between the fastening slot 261 and the corresponding receiving slots 262. The clipping portions 27 oppositely protrude into the corresponding receiving slots 262 to form two restricting blocks 28 at a bottom thereof.

[0016] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, each of the first terminals 40 has a bar-shaped base portion 41. Two opposite ends of the base portion 41 extend upward to form an elastic arm 42 and a connecting arm 43 respectively. A free end of the elastic arm 42 protrudes towards the connecting arm 43 to form a contact portion 44. A lying V-shaped first resilient portion 45 extends from a free end of the connecting arm 43 and has a mouth facing the connecting arm 43 and indirectly the elastic arm 42. A free end of the first resilient portion 45 protrudes downward to form a soldering portion 46 beyond a bottom of the base portion 41. The base portion 41 further protrudes upward to form a fixing arm 47 adjacent to the connecting arm 43.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, each of the fixing members 60 has a T-shaped base frame 61. A pair of lying U-shaped second resilient portions 62 extends oppositely from two free wings of the base frame 61, and two mouths thereof face a vertical portion of the base frame 61. A free end of each of the second resilient portions 62 protrudes downward to form a soldering tail 64, and protrudes upward and further extends towards the vertical portion of the base frame 61 to form a restricting portion 63.

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 again, when the receptacle connector 2 is assembled, the base portion 41 of each of the first terminals 40 is received in the corresponding receiving channel 211 of the receptacle housing 20 and the fixing arm 47 is inserted in the corresponding fixing aperture 222. The elastic arm 42 is received in the corresponding receiving fillister 241 and the contact portion 44 stretches into the receiving recess 25. The connecting arm 43 and the first resilient portion 45 are received in the corresponding receiving groove 221. The soldering portion 46 projects under the first sidewall 22 for being soldered to the female printed circuit board. Each of the fixing members 60 is disposed in the receiving passageway 26 of the respective second sidewall 23. The vertical portion of the base frame 61 is inserted in the fastening slot 261, and the second resilient portions 62 are received in the corresponding receiving slots 262. The restricting portion 63 is disposed against the corresponding restricting block 28 so as to be restricted with each other. The soldering tail 64 is projected under the second sidewall 23 for being soldered to the female printed circuit board. So the receptacle connector 2 can slightly move far away from or approach the female printed circuit board due to the elasticity of the first resilient portion 45 of the first terminal 40 and the second resilient portion 62 of the fixing member 60.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the plug connector 1 includes a plug housing 10 mated with the receptacle housing 20, a plurality of second terminals 30 and four fixing slices 50 disposed in the plug housing 10 respectively.

[0020] The plug housing 10 is of rectangular configuration and has a rectangular receiving chamber 11 passing through a mating surface thereof and mated with the inserting rib 24 of the receptacle housing 20. Accordingly, a pair of third sidewalls 12 each extending longwise and a pair of end-walls 13 are formed around the receiving chamber 11. The inside of each of the third sidewalls 12 defines a plurality of receiving cavities 121 arranged at regular intervals along a longwise direction thereof and communicating with the receiving chamber 11. Each of the receiving cavities 121 extends vertically to penetrate through the respective third sidewall 12. The plug housing 10 further defines four locking slots 14 respectively located at four corners thereof.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, each of the second terminals 30 has a substantially L-shaped base arm 31. A free end of the base arm 31 extends to form a soldering arm 32, and the other free end of the base arm 31 extends to form a contact arm 33 facing the base arm 31 and arched far away from the soldering arm 32.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 5 again, when the plug connector 1 is assembled, the base arm 31 of each of the second terminals 30 is received in the corresponding receiving cavity 121 of the plug housing 10, and the contact arm 33 stretches into the receiving chamber 11. The soldering arm 32 is disposed on a top surface of the plug housing 10 for being soldered to the male printed circuit board. The fixing slices 50 are fastened in the respective locking slots 14 and can be soldered with the male printed circuit board in order to fix the plug connector 1 on the male printed circuit board firmly.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, when the plug connector 1 is engaged with the receptacle connector 2, the third sidewalls 12 and the end-walls 13 of the plug housing 10 are inserted in the receiving recess 25 of the receptacle housing 20, and the inserting rib 24 is inserted in the receiving chamber 11. The contact portion 44 of the first terminal 40 electrically contacts the contact arm 33 of the corresponding second terminal 30 so that an electrical connection can be formed between the printed circuit boards.

[0024] In use, when there is a relatively longer/shorter distance than a standard distance between the printed circuit boards, the board-to-board connector assembly 100 can automatically adapt to the distance adjustment on account of the elasticity of the first resilient portion 45 of the first terminal 40 and the second resilient portion 62 of the fixing member 60 so as to ensure a firm engagement between the plug connector 1 and the receptacle connector 2 and further ensure a steady contact between the first terminals 40 and the corresponding second terminals 30 for achieving a steady electrical connection between the printed circuit boards. When the plug connector 1 is withdrawn from the receptacle connector 2, the restricting block 28 of the receptacle housing 20 will be restricted by the corresponding restricting portion 63 of the fixing member 60 so as to prevent the receptacle connector 2 from moving along with the unplugging plug connector 1.

[0025] As described above, the board-to-board connector assembly 100 of the present invention utilizes the resilient portions 45, 62 to adapt to the distance adjustment between the two printed circuit boards so as to ensure a steady contact between the first terminal 40 and the corresponding second terminal 30. Therefore, a steady electrical connection can be achieved between the printed circuit boards.