# US 2014/0154913 A1 · Receptacle connector and connector assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0154913 A1 - Document ID: US20140154913A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/905,492 - Filed: 2013-05-30 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-05-31 - Assignees: Molex Incorporated - Applicants: Molex Incorporated - Inventors: Yi-Tse HO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154913A1 ## CPC - H01R 13/703: operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, {e.g. dual-continuity coupling part}(H01R13/71 takes precedence) - H01R 27/00: Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts ({for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35}; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90) - H01R 12/722: {coupling devices mounted on the edge of the printed circuits} - H01R 13/6456: {comprising keying elements at different positions along the periphery of the connector} - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A receptacle connector comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of conductive terminals arranged in the insulative housing, a metal shell and a slide mechanism. The metal shell is engaged with the insulative housing to form a first mating space and an entrance for entering into the first mating space. The slide mechanism is provided in the metal shell and comprises a slide block and a reset resilient element connected to the slide block. The slide block can move between a front position close to the entrance and a rear position away from the entrance. When the slide block is positioned at the front position, an inner side face of the slide block and the metal shell together form a second mating space, and the slide block is capable of being pushed to move to the rear position to move out of the first mating space. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A receptacle connector, comprising: an insulative housing; a plurality of conductive terminals arranged in the insulative housing; a metal shell engaged with the insulative housing to form a first mating space and an entrance for entering into the first mating space; and a slide mechanism provided in the metal shell, comprising a slide block and a reset resilient element connected to the slide block, the slide block being capable of moving between a front position close to the entrance and a rear position far away from the entrance, and the slide block being positioned at the front position in a normal state due to action of the reset resilient element, when the slide block being positioned at the front position namely at one side in the first mating space, an inner side face of the slide block and the metal shell together forming a second mating space, and the slide block being capable of being pushed to move to the rear position to move out of the first mating space. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The receptacle connector according to claim 1, further comprising a first detecting switch, the first detecting switch comprising a first terminal provided to the slide block, and the first terminal having a resilient contact portion protruding from the slide block and extending into the second mating space. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The receptacle connector according to claim 2, wherein the first detecting switch further comprises a second terminal provided to the insulative housing, the first terminal further has a first conduct portion, the second terminal has a second conduct portion opposite to the first conduct portion and a tail portion extending out from the insulative housing, the reset resilient element can conduct electricity and is connected to the first conduct portion and the second conduct portion respectively at two ends thereof so as to electrically connect the first terminal and the second terminal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The receptacle connector according to claim 3, further comprising a second detecting switch provided to the insulative housing and corresponding to the slide block, the second detecting switch being turned on when the slide block moves to the rear position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The receptacle connector according to claim 4, wherein the second detecting switch comprises a third terminal and a fourth terminal, when the slide block moves to the rear position, the slide block pushes the third terminal to change a contact state between the third terminal and the fourth terminal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The receptacle connector according to claim 1, wherein the slide block has a limiting portion, and the metal shell has a guide rail matched with the limiting portion and extending along a mating direction, the limiting portion is limited on the guide rail and can slide along the guide rail so as to allow the slide block to move between the front position and the rear position along the mating direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The receptacle connector according to claim 1, wherein the metal shell has a polarizing resilient tab, and a part of the polarizing resilient tab extends into the first mating space. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The receptacle connector according to claim 7, wherein the polarizing resilient tab has a guide portion and a stopping portion which extend into the first mating space, the guide portion is close to the entrance relative to the stopping portion, when the guide portion is pressed, the guide portion links the stopping portion to move out of the first mating space. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The receptacle connector according to claim 8, wherein the insulative housing has a base and a tongue plate extending from the base, the tongue plate is positioned in the second mating space and has two polarizing protrusions respectively positioned at two sides thereof, the conductive terminals each have a contact portion exposed from the tongue plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The receptacle connector according to claim 6, wherein the base has a receiving space for receiving the slide block, the slide block is received in the receiving space when the slide block is positioned at the rear position. ### Claim 11 A connector assembly, comprising: a first plug connector comprising a first plug; a second plug connector comprising a second plug smaller than the first plug in volume; and a receptacle connector comprising an insulative housing; a plurality of conductive terminals arranged in the insulative housing; a metal shell engaged with the insulative housing to form a first mating space for receiving the first plug and an entrance for entering into the first mating space; and a slide mechanism provided in the metal shell, comprising a slide block and a reset resilient element connected to the slide block, the slide block being capable of moving between a front position close to the entrance and a rear position far away from the entrance, and the slide block being positioned at the front position in a normal state due to action of the reset resilient element, when the slide block being positioned at the front position namely at one side in the first mating space, an inner side face of the slide block and the metal shell together forming a second mating space, and the slide block being capable of being pushed to move to the rear position to move out of the first mating space. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The connector assembly according to claim 11, wherein the second plug has a metal shell; the receptacle connector further comprises a first detecting switch, the first detecting switch comprises a first terminal provided to the slide block, and the first terminal has a resilient contact portion protruding from the slide block and extending into the second mating space, when the second plug is inserted into the second mating space, the metal shell abuts against the resilient contact portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The connector assembly according to claim 12, wherein the first detecting switch further comprises a second terminal provided to the insulative housing, the first terminal further has a first conduct portion, the second terminal has a second conduct portion opposite to the first conduct portion and a tail portion extending out from the insulative housing, the reset resilient element can conduct electricity and is connected to the first conduct portion and the second conduct portion respectively at two ends thereof so as to electrically connect the first terminal and the second terminal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The connector assembly according to claim 13, wherein the receptacle connector further comprises a second detecting switch provided to the insulative housing and corresponding to the slide block, when the slide block is pushed by the first plug to move to the rear position, the second detecting switch is turned on. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The connector assembly according to claim 14, wherein the second detecting switch comprises a third terminal and a fourth terminal, when the slide block moves to the rear position, the slide block pushes the third terminal to change a contact state between the third terminal and the fourth terminal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The connector assembly according to claim 11, wherein the slide block has a limiting portion, and the metal shell has a guide rail matched with the limiting portion and extending along a mating direction, the limiting portion is limited on the guide rail and can slide along the guide rail so as to allow the slide block to move between the front position and the rear position along the mating direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The connector assembly according to claim 11, wherein the metal shell has a polarizing resilient tab, and a part of the polarizing resilient tab extends into the first mating space, so that the second plug cannot be inserted into the second mating space when the second plug is inserted incorrectly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The connector assembly according to claim 17, wherein the polarizing resilient tab has a guide portion and a stopping portion which extend into the first mating space, the guide portion is close to the entrance relative to the stopping portion, and when the first plug is inserted, the guide portion is pressed by the first plug to link the stopping portion to move out of the first mating space. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The connector assembly according to claim 18, wherein the insulative housing has a base and a tongue plate extending from the base, the tongue plate is positioned in the second mating space and has two polarizing protrusions respectively positioned at two sides thereof, the polarizing protrusions protrude toward the same direction, so that the second plug cannot be inserted into the second mating space when the second plug is inserted incorrectly, the conductive terminals each have a contact portion exposed from the tongue plate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The connector assembly according to claim 16, wherein the base has a receiving space for receiving the slide block, the slide block is received in the receiving space when the slide block is positioned at the rear position.