Float-type connecting module and float-type docking device having the module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10566722-B2
Application number	US-201816038576-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2018
Priority date	Jul 18, 2018
Publication date	Feb 18, 2020
Grant date	Feb 18, 2020

Abstract

A float-type connecting module and a float-type docking device having the module. The float-type docking device includes a float-type connecting module and a pluggable device including at least one dock connector. The float-type connecting module includes a position limiting structure, at least one flexible circuit board and at least one connector. The position limiting structure is provided at the hard circuit board. The connector is for electrically connecting to the dock connector, is electrically connected to the hard circuit board through the flexible circuit board, and floats in the position limiting structure. Thus, the issues of precise alignment required between a slot of a housing and a port of the connector and precise alignment respectively required between connectors and dock connectors are resolved.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A float-type connecting module, comprising:
a position limiting structure, provided at and fixed onto a hard circuit board;
at least one flexible circuit board; and
at least one connector, electrically connected to the hard circuit board through the at least one flexible circuit board, being floating in the position limiting structure, wherein the at least one connector has three degrees of freedom in the position limiting structure;
wherein the connectors are plural in quantity, and the at least one flexible circuit board is electrically connected between the plurality of connectors and the hard circuit board;
wherein the position limiting structure comprises a sliding groove, and the plurality of connectors slidably move in the sliding groove along both a side-by-side direction and an up-and-down direction substantially perpendicular to the side-by-side direction.

2. The float-type connecting module according to claim 1 , wherein the connector is provided as plural in quantity, and the plurality of connectors are electrically connected to the hard circuit board through the at least one flexible circuit board and respectively float in the position limiting structure.

3. The float-type connecting module according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one stiffening element, and the connector floats in the position limiting structure through the stiffening element.

4. The float-type connecting module according to claim 3 , wherein the connector, the flexible circuit board and the stiffening element are plural in quantity, the flexible circuit boards are electrically connected between the connectors and the hard circuit board, respectively, and the connectors float in the position limiting structure through the stiffening elements, respectively.

5. The float-type connecting module according to claim 4 , wherein the position limiting structure comprises a frame and a sliding groove formed in the frame, the frame is provided at the hard circuit board, and the plurality of stiffening element slidably move in the sliding groove both along the side-by-side direction and an up-and-down direction substantially perpendicular to the side-by-side direction.

6. The float-type connecting module according to claim 5 , wherein the frame is provided with, at a position corresponding to a port of the connector, a guiding hole, and each guiding hole has an outer large aperture that gradually narrows from an exterior towards an interior to an inner small aperture and is used for guiding.

7. The float-type connecting module according to claim 4 , wherein one end of each flexible circuit board is attached to each stiffening element and is electrically connected to each connector, and one other end of each flexible circuit board is electrically connected to the hard circuit board.

8. The float-type connecting module according to claim 7 , wherein each stiffening element and the one end of each flexible circuit board mutually overlap and jointly semi-encircle around each connector.

9. The float-type connecting module according to claim 7 , wherein one end of each flexible circuit board is provided with a first notch, each stiffening element is provided with a second notch, each first notch and each second notch mutually correspond and jointly form a notch portion, and each connector is accommodated in each notch portion.

10. A float-type docking device, comprising:
a pluggable device, comprising at least one dock connector; and
a float-type connecting module, comprising:
a position limiting structure, provided at and fixed onto a hard circuit board;
at least one flexible circuit board; and
at least one connector, for electrically docking the at least one dock connector, the at least one connector electrically connected to the hard circuit board through the at least one flexible circuit board and being floating in the position limiting structure, wherein the at least one connector has three degrees of freedom in the position limiting structure;
wherein the connectors are plural in quantity, and the at least one flexible circuit board is electrically connected between the plurality of connectors and the hard circuit board;
wherein the position limiting structure comprises a sliding groove, and the plurality of connectors slidably move in the sliding groove along both a side-by-side direction and an up-and-down direction substantially perpendicular to the side-by-side direction.

11. The float-type docking device according to claim 10 , wherein the connector, the flexible circuit board and the dock connector are provided as plural in quantity, each connector is for electrically docking each dock connector, each connector is electrically connected to the hard circuit board through each flexible circuit board, and the plurality of connectors respectively float in the position limiting structure.

12. A float-type connecting module, comprising:
a position limiting structure, provided at a hard circuit board;
at least one flexible circuit board;
at least one connector, electrically connected to the hard circuit board through the at least one flexible circuit board, being floating in the position limiting structure; and
at least one stiffening element, the connector floating in the position limiting structure through the stiffening element;
wherein the connector, the flexible circuit board and the stiffening element are plural in quantity, the flexible circuit boards are electrically connected between the connectors and the hard circuit board, respectively, and the connectors float in the position limiting structure through the stiffening elements, respectively;
wherein one end of each flexible circuit board is attached to each stiffening element and is electrically connected to each connector, and one other end of each flexible circuit board is electrically connected to the hard circuit board;
wherein one end of each flexible circuit board is provided with a first notch, each stiffening element is provided with a second notch, each first notch and each second notch mutually correspond and jointly form a notch portion, and each connector is accommodated in each notch portion.

Assignees

• Getac Technology Corp

Inventors

• Lee Kun-Cheng
• Chang Juei-Chi

Classifications

• H01R12/91 Primary

  allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating or self aligning (for coupling devices not specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R13/6315 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R12/79

  connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures · CPC title

• H01R24/60

  Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement · CPC title

• H01R12/7064

  Press fitting · CPC title

• H01R12/62

  connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures · CPC title