# US 12,184,004 B2 · Plug connector, receptacle connector and connector assembly with power supply function > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,184,004 B2 - Document ID: US12184004B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/837,404 - Filed: 2022-06-10 - Published: 2022-12-29 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-06-28 - Assignees: Dongguan Luxshare Technologies Co., Ltd - Applicants: Dongguan Luxshare Technologies Co., Ltd - Inventors: Bin Huang; Rongzhe Guo; Hongji Chen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12184004B2 ## CPC - H01R 12/721: {cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits} - H01R 12/7088: {Arrangements for power supply} - H01R 13/428: by resilient locking means on the contact members; by locking means on resilient contact members - H01R 12/724: {containing contact members forming a right angle} - H01R 13/6582: with resilient means for engaging mating connector - H01R 13/6587: for mounting on PCBs - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A plug connector includes a tongue plate, a metal shell and a plug power terminal. At least one side of the tongue plate is provided with a number of conductive pads arranged at intervals along a transverse direction. The metal shell includes a receiving space for receiving the tongue plate. The plug power terminal is located on at least one side of the conductive pads in the transverse direction. The present disclosure also discloses a receptacle connector matched with the plug connector. The receptacle connector includes a receptacle power terminal. The present disclosure also discloses a connector assembly having the plug connector and the receptacle connector. Compared with the prior art, the present disclosure enables the plug connector, the receptacle connector and the connector assembly to have a power supply function by providing the plug power terminal and the receptacle power terminal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A plug connector, comprising: a tongue plate, the tongue plate extending along a longitudinal direction, at least one side of the tongue plate being provided with a plurality of conductive pads, the conductive pads located on a same side of the tongue plate being arranged at intervals along a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and a metal shell, the metal shell being located on a periphery of the tongue plate, the metal shell comprising a first wall portion, a second wall portion opposite to the first wall portion, a first side wall connecting one side of the first wall portion and one side of the second wall portion, and a second side wall connecting another side of the first wall portion and another side of the second wall portion, the first wall portion, the second wall portion, the first side wall and the second side wall being jointly enclosed to form a receiving space to receive the tongue plate, the first wall portion defining an opening extending through the first wall portion in a direction away from the second wall portion, the opening being in communication with the receiving space, the conductive pads provided on the at least one side of the tongue plate being exposed in the opening; wherein the plug connector further comprises at least one plug power terminal located on at least one side of the conductive pads in the transverse direction, the plug power terminal comprises an elastic mating portion protruding toward the tongue plate in the transverse direction, and the elastic mating portion protrudes into the receiving space; and wherein the plug connector further comprises an insulating mounting block fixed to the metal shell, the insulating mounting block comprises a relief groove corresponding to the elastic mating portion and provides a space for the elastic mating portion to deform in a direction away from the receiving space. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the insulating mounting block is provided with a positioning post, the plug power terminal comprises a fixing portion and an extension arm extending from the fixing portion in the longitudinal direction, the fixing portion defines a positioning hole matched with the positioning post, the elastic mating portion is located at a free end of the extension arm in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the insulating mounting block comprises positioning slots located at opposite ends of the insulating mounting block in the longitudinal direction, and the metal shell comprises positioning tabs matched with the positioning slots. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The plug connector according to claim 2, further comprising a built-in circuit board on which the tongue plate is located, the plug power terminal comprising a mounting tail extending from the fixing portion, and the mounting tail being electrically connected to the built-in circuit board. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the plug power terminal comprises a first plug power terminal and a second plug power terminal which are located on opposite sides of the conductive pads along the transverse direction; the elastic mating portion comprises a first elastic mating portion provided on the first plug power terminal and a second elastic mating portion provided on the second plug power terminal, the first elastic mating portion protrudes toward the second elastic mating portion along the transverse direction and protrudes into the receiving space, and the second elastic mating portion protrudes toward the first elastic mating portion along the transverse direction and protrudes into the receiving space. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The plug connector according to claim 5, wherein the first plug power terminal and the second plug power terminal are symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the tongue plate, a first gap is formed between the first elastic mating portion and the tongue plate along the transverse direction, and a second gap is formed between the second elastic mating portion and the tongue plate along the transverse direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The plug connector according to claim 5, further comprising a first insulating mounting block fixed to the first side wall and a second insulating mounting block fixed to the second side wall; the first insulating mounting block defining a first relief groove corresponding to the first elastic mating portion and providing a space for the first elastic mating portion to deform in a direction away from the receiving space; and the second insulating mounting block defining a second relief groove corresponding to the second elastic mating portion and providing a space for the second elastic mating portion to deform in a direction away from the receiving space. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The plug connector according to claim 1, further comprising a grounding spring fixed to the metal shell, the grounding spring corresponding to and protruding outwardly beyond the first wall portion, the second wall portion, the first side wall, and the second side wall, respectively. ### Claim 9 A receptacle connector, comprising: an insulating body, the insulating body comprising a base and a mating protrusion extending from the base, the mating protrusion comprising a mating surface and a mating slot extending through the mating surface; and a plurality of conductive terminals, the plurality of conductive terminals comprising a first row of conductive terminals and a second row of conductive terminals, the first row of each conductive terminal comprising a first elastic contact portion extending into the mating slot, the second row of each conductive terminal comprising a second elastic contact portion extending into the mating slot, the first elastic contact portions and the second elastic contact portions being located on opposite sides of the mating slot, respectively; wherein the receptacle connector further comprises at least one receptacle power terminal, the receptacle power terminal comprises a plate-shaped contact portion located on at least one side of the mating slot in a width direction of the mating protrusion, and the plate-shaped contact portion is located outside the mating protrusion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The receptacle connector according to claim 9, wherein the mating protrusion comprises a groove located on an outer side of the mating protrusion, and the plate-shaped contact portion is received in the groove. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The receptacle connector according to claim 9, wherein the mating protrusion comprises a convex post extending outwardly, and the plate-shaped contact portion comprises a through hole matched with the convex post. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The receptacle connector according to claim 9, wherein at least one side of the base is provided with a receiving groove recessed inwardly, the receptacle power terminal comprises a main body portion received in the receiving groove, and the plate-shaped contact portion and the main body portion are located in different vertical planes; and wherein in the width direction of the mating protrusion, the main body portion is farther away from the mating slot than the plate-shaped contact portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The receptacle connector according to claim 12, wherein the receiving groove comprises a first extension groove and a second extension groove which extend in opposite directions, the main body portion of the receptacle power terminal comprises a first extension protrusion positioned in the first extension groove and a second extension protrusion positioned in the second extension groove. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The receptacle connector according to claim 12, wherein the receptacle power terminal comprises a bent portion connecting the plate-shaped contact portion and the main body portion, and the base defines a slot to accommodate the bent portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The receptacle connector according to claim 12, wherein the receptacle power terminal comprises a fork-shaped mounting portion extending from the main body portion, the fork-shaped mounting portion comprises a first mounting leg, a second mounting leg, and a gap formed between the first mounting leg and the second mounting leg, an end of the first mounting leg is inclined toward the second mounting leg, and an end of the second mounting leg is inclined toward the first mounting leg. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The receptacle connector according to claim 9, wherein the receptacle power terminal comprises a first receptacle power terminal and a second receptacle power terminal, the plate-shaped contact portion comprises a first plate-shaped contact portion provided on the first receptacle power terminal and a second plate-shaped contact portion provided on the second receptacle power terminal, the first plate-shaped contact portion and the second plate-shaped contact portion are located on opposite sides of the mating slot in the width direction of the mating protrusion, and the first plate-shaped contact portion and the second plate-shaped contact portion are located outside the mating protrusion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The receptacle connector according to claim 16, wherein the first receptacle power terminal and the second receptacle power terminal are symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the mating slot. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The receptacle connector according to claim 9, further comprising a metal shielding shell located on a periphery of the insulating body, the metal shielding shell defining a receiving cavity located at a front end of the mating protrusion and communicating with the mating slot. ### Claim 19 A connector assembly, comprising: a plug connector, comprising: a tongue plate, the tongue plate extending along a longitudinal direction, at least one side of the tongue plate being provided with a plurality of conductive pads, the conductive pads located on a same side of the tongue plate being arranged at intervals along a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and a metal shell, the metal shell being located on a periphery of the tongue plate, the metal shell comprising a first wall portion, a second wall portion opposite to the first wall portion, a first side wall connecting one side of the first wall portion and one side of the second wall portion, and a second side wall connecting another side of the first wall portion and another side of the second wall portion, the first wall portion, the second wall portion, the first side wall and the second side wall being jointly enclosed to form a receiving space to receive the tongue plate, the first wall portion defining an opening extending through the first wall portion in a direction away from the second wall portion, the opening being in communication with the receiving space, the conductive pads provided on the at least one side of the tongue plate being exposed in the opening; wherein the plug connector further comprises at least one plug power terminal located on at least one side of the conductive pads in the transverse direction, the plug power terminal comprises an elastic mating portion protruding toward the tongue plate in the transverse direction, and the elastic mating portion protrudes into the receiving space; and a receptacle connector, comprising: an insulating body, the insulating body comprising a base and a mating protrusion extending from the base, the mating protrusion comprising a mating surface and a mating slot extending through the mating surface; and a plurality of conductive terminals, the plurality of conductive terminals comprising a first row of conductive terminals and a second row of conductive terminals, the first row of each conductive terminal comprising a first elastic contact portion extending into the mating slot, the second row of each conductive terminal comprising a second elastic contact portion extending into the mating slot, the first elastic contact portions and the second elastic contact portions being located on opposite sides of the mating slot, respectively; wherein the receptacle connector further comprises at least one receptacle power terminal, the receptacle power terminal comprises a plate-shaped contact portion located on at least one side of the mating slot in a width direction of the mating protrusion, and the plate-shaped contact portion is located outside the mating protrusion; wherein the tongue plate is at least partially inserted into the mating slot, so that the plurality of conductive pads are in contact with the first elastic contact portions and the second elastic contact portions, and the elastic mating portion of the plug power terminal is in contact with the plate-shaped contact portion of the receptacle power terminal.