Receptacle connector with arcing reducing structure

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a receptacle connector for mating with an insertable plug, and more particularly, relates to a receptacle having structures for reducing arcing when the plug is drawn out of the receptacle.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A new type of electrical connector, PoE connector, is introduced in the recent years. The connector is used for transmitting Power over Ethernet, therefore, at least a pair of electrical contacts mounted in the connector is used for transmitting power. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , when a mated plug 900 is drawn out from the PoE connector 800 , arcing may generate between the pair of electrical contacts 80 of the PoE connector 800 and corresponding terminals 90 of the mating plug 900 , which creates a spark crater in the plug terminals.

Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector the contacts of which have structures for reducing the arcing between the electrical connector and a mating plug when the mating plug is being withdrawn therefrom.

A receptacle connector with arcing reducing structure is provided in the present invention. The receptacle connector comprises an insulative housing defining an opening for receiving a mating plug having a plurality of conductive terminals, and a plurality of electrical contacts disposed in said opening to slidably engage said conductive terminals of said mating plug, respectively. At least one of the electrical contacts defines a conductive area and a less conductive area adjacent to said conductive area. When the plug is mated in the opening, the corresponding conductive terminal abuts said conductive area, and when the plug is being withdrawn from the opening, the conductive terminal translates away from the conductive area to the less conductive area and then disengages the electrical contact therefrom.

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.

The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements in the figures and in which:

FIG. 1 is a cutaway view of a prior connector with a mating plug in a fully mated position (some modules of the prior connector and cable connecting the mating plug have been omitted);

FIG. 2 is a cutaway view similar to FIG. 1 , except that the mating plug is partially withdrawn to the separation point from the receptacle and arcing may generate at this time and position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a plurality of electrical contacts according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of an electrical receptacle according to the first embodiment of the present invention, with the mating plug in a fully mated position (some modules of the electrical receptacle and cable connecting the mating plug have been omitted);

FIG. 5 is a cutaway view similar to FIG. 4 , except that the plug is partially drawn out of the electrical receptacle;

FIG. 6 is a scaled view of a circled portion of FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 7 is a cutaway view similar to FIG. 5 , except that the plug is further drawn out of the electrical receptacle;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a plurality of electrical contacts according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the contacts shown in FIG. 8 ;

FIG. 10 is a cutaway view of an electrical receptacle according to the second embodiment of the present invention, with the mating plug in a fully mated position;

FIG. 11 is a cutaway view similar to FIG. 10 , except that the plug is partially drawn out of the electrical receptacle;

FIG. 12 is a scaled view of a circled portion of FIG. 11 ; and

FIG. 13 is a cutaway view similar to FIG. 5 , except that the plug is further drawn out of the electrical receptacle.

Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail.

FIGS. 3-7 show a connector assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The connector assembly includes a 2XN-port RJ 45 receptacle connector 100 and a mating electrical plug 300 .

The receptacle connector 100 includes an insulative housing 10 and a number of contact modules received in the insulative housing 10 . The insulative housing 10 defines a front face 12 and 2XN openings 14 in the front face 12 . Each of contact modules has an internal PCB (not labeled), a number of electrical contacts 20 mounted on the internal PCB, power modules (not shown) electrically connecting to some of the electrical contacts 20 and transferring modules (not shown) electrically connecting the internal PCB to a mother PCB. Each of the electrical contacts includes a contacting portion 22 slantwise extending into one of the openings 14 , a soldering portion 28 extending out of the insulative housing 10 , and a connecting portion 24 connecting the contacting portion 22 and the soldering portion 28 . The contacting portion 22 further defines a conductive area 222 and an area 224 less conductive than the area 222 and facing the front face 12 . The less conductive area 224 is formed through applying a layer 226 of low conductive material, such as polymer, ceramic, etc, on a conductive base 228 .

The mating plug 300 includes a transparent housing 32 and a corresponding number of terminals 34 to respectively mate with the electrical contacts 20 of receptacle connector 100 .

As shown in FIG. 4 , when the mating plug 300 is fully mated in the electrical receptacle 100 , the terminals 34 of the mating plug 300 deflect the electrical contacts 20 of the electrical receptacle 100 and abut the conductive areas 222 , thereby forming electrical connections therebetween. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 , when the mating plug 300 is being withdrawn therefrom, the locations where the terminals 34 abut the electrical contacts translate from the conductive areas 222 to the less conductive areas 224 , so that a transition occurs. Referring to FIG. 7 , when the mating plug 300 is further withdrawn out of the electrical receptacle 100 , the terminals 34 of the mating plug 300 disengage the electrical contacts 20 of the receptacle 100 .

FIG. 8 discloses a plurality of electrical contacts 60 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the first embodiment, each of the electrical contacts 60 has a contacting portion 62 forming a conductive area 622 and a less conductive area 624 adjacent to the conductive area 622 , the less conductive area 624 defined by a low conductive material 625 adhering to the contacting portion 62 . Referring to FIGS. 8-13 , the only differences of the second embodiment comparing to the first one is that the conductive base 628 forms a plurality of slots 629 and the low conductive material 625 is molded over a conductive base 622 and fills in the slots 629 .

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.