Electrical connectors – Having circuit interrupting provision effected by mating or...
Utility Patent
1999-10-19
2001-01-02
Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Having circuit interrupting provision effected by mating or...
C439S939000
Utility Patent
active
06168448
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an audio jack connector, and particularly to an audio jack connector having a grounding clip for electrically contacting a mating plug connector to discharge static electricity accumulated thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
A conventional audio jack connector is mounted on a circuit board for mating with an external plug for signal transmission. Related inventions are disclosed in Taiwan Patent Application Nos. 82207507 and 86201643.
Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a conventional audio jack connector
1
has a metal shell
2
and four signal contacts
100
,
102
,
103
,
104
. The metal shell
2
has a mating face
10
for electrically contacting a metal panel (not shown) to discharge static electricity accumulated on the audio jack connector
1
. A mating plug
3
is inserted into the audio jack connector
1
for electrically contacting corresponding contacts
100
and
103
for signal transmission. The grounding contact
101
is used for conducting static electricity to a circuit board. The signal contact
100
is pressed downward after the plug
3
is inserted into the audio jack connector
1
and may become deformed by the action of the inserted plug
3
. The mating face
10
of the audio jack connector
1
is planar, and the electrical contact between the mating face
10
and the metal panel is not reliable. Therefore, static electricity accumulated on the audio jack connector
1
may not be properly discharged and signal transmission between the audio jack connector
1
and the plug
3
may have static interference.
Thus, there is a need for an improved audio jack connector to provide reliable signal transmission.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A main object of the present invention is to provide an audio jack connector having a grounding clip for electrically contacting a metal panel to discharge static electricity accumulated on the audio jack, thereby providing efficient EMI shielding.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an audio jack connector having a signal contact formed with a rib for strengthening the signal contact and preventing deformation when engaging with an inserted plug.
To fulfill the above-mentioned objects, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is an audio jack connector comprising an insulative housing defining a receiving space for receiving signal contacts and other elements therein. A columnar projection extends from a front mating surface of the housing and a metal bushing is received in the columnar projection. Opposite the columnar projection, a recessed space is formed at the rear side of the housing for receiving a capacitor to filter interference from signals transmitted through the connector. Three positioning posts are respectively formed in the receiving space for engaging with corresponding receiving holes of a cover. Signal contacts and a pair of springs are all received in the receiving space of the housing. The signal contacts are respectively designated as first contact, second contact, third contact, fourth contact and grounding contact. The first and second contacts are mounted in the upper portion of the receiving space. The first contact electrically contacts the second contact by the action of the upper spring. The third contact and the fourth contact are mounted in the lower portion of the receiving space. The third contact has a contacting plate for electrically contacting the fourth contact. The fourth contact has a bent portion and a rib connected to the bent portion for strengthening the bent portion and preventing the fourth contact from becoming deformed. The grounding contact comprises an opening for engaging with the corresponding metal bushing, a folded portion extending from a base portion for engaging with a recessed platform in the front wall, a soldering portion extending from the base portion for soldering on a circuit board, and a positioning tip formed adjacent to the soldering portion for engaging with a receiving slot in the housing.
A grounding clip comprises a fixing portion received in a corresponding fixing slot of the housing, a connecting portion connecting the fixing portion with a resilient arm. The fixing portion defines a camber portion for electrically contacting the corresponding metal bushing after assembly. The resilient arm comprises a base plate extending slantwise from the connecting portion, and a grounding tip formed at a free end of the resilient arm for electrically contacting a metal panel to discharge static electricity accumulated on the audio jack connector.
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.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5326280 (1994-07-01), Briones et al.
patent: 5340325 (1994-08-01), Pai
patent: 5695362 (1997-12-01), Hillbish et al.
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
Paumen Gary F.
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