Electrical connector and method for mating and unmating the same

An electrical connector, comprising:

• a housing;
• a locking arm comprising a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end comprises a locking portion, the intermediate portion is pivotably mounted to the housing, and the second end comprises a cam surface;
• a biasing member engaged with the locking arm to drive the first end in a first direction;
• and
• a sliding member slidably connected to the housing, wherein:
• the sliding member is configured to slide in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and contact the cam surface, such that the second end moves in the first direction, the locking arm pivots with respect to the housing, and the first end moves in a direction opposite to the first direction,
• the housing comprises a first chute and a second chute that are spaced apart in the second direction and extend in the second direction, and
• the sliding member comprises a first sliding block matching the first chute and a second sliding block matching the second chute.

An electrical connector, comprising:

• a housing comprising an elongated opening, the elongated opening configured to accommodate a mating portion of a mating electrical connector, wherein:
• the elongated opening is surrounded by a wall of the housing,
• the wall comprises a middle portion having at least one groove,
• the at least one groove comprises undercut portions on opposite sides, and
• the undercut portions are configured to engage with locking portions of two locking arms inserted into the at least one groove when the mating electrical connector is inserted.

A method for operating a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector to mate and unmate, wherein the first electrical connector comprises at least one locking arm pivotably mounted to a first housing, the method comprising:

• mating the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector by:
• inserting the first electrical connector into the second electrical connector such that a first end of the locking arm contacts a member of the second electrical connector;
• further inserting the first electrical connector into the second electrical connector such that the first end of the locking arm pivots away from the components of the second electrical connector;
• and
• further inserting the first electrical connector into the second electrical connector such that the locking portion at the first end of the locking arm clears the member of the second electrical connector and the first end of the locking arm springs back towards the member of the second electrical connector to lock the first electrical connector to the second electrical connector;
• and
• unmating the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector by:
• sliding the sliding member of the first electrical connector relative to the first housing such that the sliding member of the first connector contacts a second end of the locking arm;
• further sliding the sliding member of the first electrical connector relative to the first housing such that the sliding member of the first connector pushes the second end of the locking arm toward the member of the second electrical connector and the first end of the locking arm pivots away from the member of the second electrical connector to unlock the first electrical connector from the second electrical connector;
• and
• withdrawing the first electrical connector from the second electrical connector wherein:
• the member of the second electrical connector comprises an undercut portion on a side surface of at least one groove in a second housing;
• and
• the locking arm locks the first electrical connector to the second electrical connector by latching to an underside of the undercut portion.