KR100416185B1 - Electrical connector and method of preparing same for soldering - Google Patents

Abstract

The electrical connector includes an outer shell having a ground leg provided thereon. The outer shell and ground leg are preferably made of stainless steel. The ground leg is treated to form a rough surface, and then a metal coating is applied thereon to provide a rough metal surface. Alternatively, a metal coating is applied to the ground leg and then treated to form a rough surface. The rough surface facilitates soldering of the ground leg to the printed circuit board. Rough surfaces can be formed throughout the outer shell if desired.

Description

How to prepare electrical connectors for soldering and soldering {ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND METHOD OF PREPARING SAME FOR SOLDERING}

The present invention relates to a method of preparing an electrical connector for soldering to an electrical connector and a printed circuit board.

Prior art electrical connectors, such as USB connectors, generally consist of an electrically conductive outer shell, an electrically insulating body housed within the outer shell and a set of terminals provided on the body and extending outward from the outer shell. The outer shell electrically protects the insulating body against electromagnetic interference. The outer shell includes an inwardly projecting retaining spring strip for securing the mating connector. The outer shell further includes a ground leg extending from the shell. In use, the ground leg is soldered to the printed circuit board, preferably with tin solder.

When choosing a material for the outer shell, it is important to consider the elasticity and soldering performance of the material. In general, phosphor bronze, beryllium copper or copper alloys are used in the prior art connectors. However, these materials are expensive and have low elasticity. In addition, these materials must be electroplated with a metal protective layer to protect against oxidation.

Stainless steel is an excellent material of choice for the production of such electrically conducting outer shells because of its low cost and high anti-oxidation properties. However, stainless steel is not practical for soldering, in particular for tin soldering. The present invention provides an electrical connector having an outer shell formed of stainless steel, which is prepared to enable the ground leg to be soldered, preferably by tin soldering. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading this specification in conjunction with the drawings.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel stainless steel electrical connector which is treated such that the electrical connector is soldered to a printed circuit board.

Another general object of the present invention is to provide a method of preparing an electrical connector for soldering to a printed circuit board.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel electrical connector which can be made of a material having high anti-oxidation properties and low cost.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel electrical connector with high elasticity and high insertion durability.

1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an electrical connector embodying the characteristics of the present invention;

2 is a front plan view of the electrical connector of FIG.

3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of the electrical connector shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an electrical connector incorporating the characteristics of the present invention;

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

8: electrical connector

10: insulated body

20: metal terminal

30: outer shell

31: spring strip

32: ground leg

34: metal coating

40: rear wall

41: sidewall

43: bottom wall

As briefly described above, the present invention provides an electrical connector comprising an electrically conductive outer shell comprising a ground leg. The outer shell and ground leg are made of stainless steel. The rough surface is preferably formed on the ground leg by pickling, after which a metal coating is applied thereon, preferably by electroplating, to provide a rough metal surface. In contrast, the ground leg is preferably treated with electroplating to apply a metal coating thereon, which is then treated to form a rough surface, preferably by pickling. The rough surface facilitates soldering the ground leg to the printed circuit board. The metal coating may preferably be formed of at least one of nickel, tin and lead. Rough surfaces can be formed throughout the outer shell if desired.

The structure and manner of construction and operation of the present invention, together with other objects and advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate like elements.

While the invention may be practiced in different forms, the specific embodiments shown in the drawings and described in detail herein are disclosed by way of illustration of the nature of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention shown and described herein. .

The present invention provides a novel shielded electrical connector (8, 8a) and a method of preparing the electrical connector (8, 8a) to be soldered to a printed circuit board (not shown). A first embodiment of the electrical connector 8 is shown in Figs. A second embodiment of the electrical connector 8a is shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the first embodiment of the electrical connector 8 is generally an electrically insulating outer shell 30, an electrically insulating body 10 surrounded by an outer shell 30, and an electrically insulating body. And a set of metal terminals 20 mounted to 10 and extending outward from the outer shell 30.

The outer shell 30 includes a rear wall 40, a pair of side walls 41, an upper wall 42 and a lower wall 43. The front side of the outer shell 30 is open so that a mating electrical connector (not shown) can be connected to the electrical connector 8.

A pair of ground legs 32 extend from the bottom end of each side wall and are positioned on the printed circuit board to connect the outer shell 30 to the ground terminal of the printed circuit board. The ground legs 32 are spaced apart from each other along the length of each side wall.

The outer shell 30, including the ground leg 32, is preferably made of stainless steel because stainless steel is an inexpensive material with high anti-oxidation properties, high spring force / elastic force, and high insertion durability. Since stainless steel is not easily soldered, especially with tin solder, the ground leg 32 is treated as described herein so that the ground leg 32 is tin soldered to the printed circuit board. If desired, the rest of the outer shell 30 can also be treated in the same manner as described herein.

A plurality of retaining spring strips 31 are provided on the top wall and side walls of the outer shell 30. Each retaining spring strip 31 is formed by stamping a portion of the outer shell such that each retaining spring strip 31 has an end that is integral with the outer shell 30 and a free end that protrudes into the outer shell 30. Have The retaining spring strip 31 is secured by connecting the mating electrical connector to the electrical connector 8.

The body 10 is attached to the rear wall of the outer shell so that it is actually surrounded by the outer shell 30. This protects the electrical connector 8 from electromagnetic interference. The body 10 is preferably formed of plastic.

Terminals 20 are mounted on the body 10 and positioned to mate in contact with respective terminals of the mating electrical connector. Each terminal 20 has one end extending from the bottom end of the body 10 and is connected to a leg 21 extending through an opening in the bottom wall of the outer shell 30. Leg 21 is connected to a printed circuit board.

4 shows a second embodiment of the electrical connector 8a. The connector 8a of the second embodiment is shown with like reference numerals, which are added later with "a" to similar elements as the connector 8 of the first embodiment.

The electrical connector 8a is generally mounted on an electrically conductive outer shell 30a, in fact an electrically insulating body 10a surrounded by the outer shell 30a, and protrudes outwardly from the outer shell 30a. A series of metal terminals 20a.

The outer shell 30a includes a rear wall 40a, a pair of side walls 41a, an upper wall 42a, a lower wall 43a and a front wall 44a. The front wall has an opening provided therein so that a mating electrical connector (not shown) can be connected to the electrical connector 8a.

A pair of ground legs 32a extend from the bottom end of each side wall and are positioned on the printed circuit board (not shown) to connect the outer shell 30a to the ground terminal of the printed circuit board. The ground legs 32a are spaced apart from each other along the length of each side wall.

As with the first embodiment, the outer shell 30a including the ground leg 32a is preferably made of stainless steel, which is inexpensive. Since stainless steel cannot be easily soldered, ground leg 32a is treated as described herein so that ground leg 32a can be soldered to a printed circuit board. If necessary, the rest of the outer shell 30a can be treated in the same manner as described herein.

The body 10a is mounted inside the outer shell 30a so that it is actually surrounded by the outer shell 30a. This protects the electrical connector 8a from electromagnetic interference. The body 10a is preferably formed of plastic.

The terminals 20a are fixedly mounted and positioned inside the body 10a to contact and mate with each terminal of the mating electrical connector. Each terminal 20a has one end extending from the bottom end of the body 10a and is connected to a leg 21a extending through an opening in the bottom wall of the outer shell 30a. Leg 21a is connected to a printed circuit board (not shown).

In a first method of treating ground legs 32, 32a, each stainless steel ground leg 32, 32a is preferably roughened by pickling with an appropriate device (not shown). Thus, the ground legs 32, 32a are coated with the metal coatings 34, 34a in the same manner as electroplating with a suitable device (not shown) so that a rough metal surface is provided to the ground legs 32, 32a. . The metal coatings 34 and 34a may preferably be nickel, tin or lead. The rough surface facilitates soldering such as tin solder of the ground legs 32, 32a to the printed circuit board.

In a second method of treating ground legs 32, 32a, each stainless steel ground leg 32, 32a is preferably coated with a metal coating 34, 34a by electroplating using an appropriate device (not shown). Coated with. Thus, the metal coatings 34, 34a are roughened by pickling with an appropriate device (not shown) to provide a rough surface on the ground legs 32, 32a. The metal coatings 34 and 34a may preferably be nickel, tin or lead. The rough surface facilitates soldering such as tin solder of the ground legs 32, 32a to the printed circuit board.

Since the outer shells 30 and 30a are not electroplated except for the ground legs 32 and 32a, most of the outer shell 30 and 30a surfaces remain smooth and have high anti-oxidation properties. However, if necessary, the entire outer shell 30, 30a may be roughened by pickling and then coated with metal coatings 34, 34a by electroplating, such that the rough metal surface is provided with ground legs 32, 32a. The entire outer shell 30, 30a is provided, or the entire outer shell 30, 30a is coated with a metal coating 34, 34a by electroplating and then roughened by pickling, so that the rough metal surface is grounded. It is provided throughout the outer shell 30, 30a, including the legs 32, 32a.

With regard to the first embodiment of the electrical connector 8, since the retaining spring strip 31 is made of highly elastic stainless steel, when inserting the electrical connector 8 to the mating electrical connector, less insertion resistance is produced. do. In addition, since stainless steel has a high elasticity, the connection is firm when the retaining spring strip 31 is engaged with the mating electrical connector. As a result, the electrical connector is durable in use.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications of the invention may be considered without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims (8)

An outer shell comprising a ground leg formed of stainless steel thereon and formed of a conductive material, And an metallic coating provided on the ground leg and having a rough surface. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the metal coating is at least one of nickel, tin, and lead. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the metal coating is applied to the ground leg and the rough surface of the metal coating is formed by pickling of the ground leg prior to applying the metal coating to the ground leg. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the rough surface of the metal coating is formed by electrodeposition of the metal coating on the ground leg by electroplating followed by pickling of the metal coating. In an outer shell for an electrical connector, A plurality of panels made of conductive material and forming internal cavities for receiving the housing, A ground leg formed of stainless steel and extending from one panel, An outer shell having a rough surface and comprising a metal coating provided on the ground leg. The outer shell of claim 5, wherein the metal coating is at least one of nickel, tin, and lead. 6. The outer shell of claim 5, wherein the metal coating is applied to the ground leg and the rough surface of the metal coating is formed by pickling of the ground leg prior to applying the metal coating to the ground leg. 6. The outer shell of claim 5, wherein the rough surface of the metal coating is formed by electrodeposition of the metal coating on the ground leg by electroplating followed by pickling of the metal coating.