I/O plug connector adapted for normal insertion and reverse insertion into I/O receptacle connector and connector assembly having the two

A connector assembly comprising:

• an Input/Output (I/O) receptacle connector having an insulating body, a plurality of terminals retained in the insulating body, and a metallic cover shielding the insulating body for defining a receiving room;
• and
• an I/O plug connector alternatively, normally and reversely inserted in the I/O receptacle connector, and comprising:
• an insulative housing having a base portion and a mating portion extending forwardly from the base portion, the mating portion having a top wall, a bottom wall opposite to the top wall, a pair of sidewalls vertically connecting with the top wall and the bottom wall, and a front wall vertically connecting with the top wall, the bottom wall, and the sidewalls, the top wall, the bottom wall, and the sidewalls cooperatively and peripherally defining a receiving space, the receiving space having an insertion opening on the front wall;
• a plurality of first contacts retained in the top wall and a plurality of second contacts retained in the bottom wall, the first contacts and the second contacts facing toward each other across the receiving space along a vertical direction;
• a circuit plate assembled to the base portion of the insulative housing and sandwiched between the first contacts and the second contacts for electrical connection;
• a metal shield covering the insulative housing;
• wherein
• the first contacts and the second contacts are paired with each other in a diagonally symmetrical cross manner so as to assure both a normal orientation and a reverse orientation of the I/O plug connector can be mated with said I/O receptacle connector, and the first contact and the second contact in each pair are electrically connected by means of a trace-and-via structure on the circuit plate;
• wherein
• the circuit plate comprises a mating tongue connecting with the first and second contacts and an extension portion integral with the mating tongue, and the extension portion has a width larger than that of the mating tongue;
• wherein
• the base portion defines a pair of notches and the circuit plate is secured in the notches;
• wherein
• the insulative housing defines a pair of slots extending through from the base portion and the mating portion and wherein the I/O plug connector further comprises a pair of latches received in the slots;
• and wherein
• the latches defines a pair of cutouts and the latches sandwich the circuit plate firmly in the cutouts.

An electrical connector assembly comprising:

• a first connector including:
• a first housing having a base portion and a mating portion extending forwardly from the base portion;
• a plurality of upper first contacts and a plurality of lower first contacts disposed in the housing and arranged in two rows, each of said first contacts defining a front contacting section and a rear connecting section;
• and
• a printed circuit board positioned behind the housing on which the connecting sections of both said upper row and lower row of first contacts are connected;
• wherein
• the upper first contacts and the lower first contacts are paired with each other in a diagonally symmetrical cross manner so as to assure both a normal orientation and a reverse orientation of the first connector can be mated with and inserted into a second connector, and the upper first contact and the lower first contact in each pair are electrically connected by means of a trace-and-via structure on the printed circuit board;
• wherein
• the printed circuit board comprises a mating tongue connecting with the upper first contacts and the lower first contacts and an extension portion integral with the mating tongue, and the extension portion has a width larger than that of the mating tongue;
• wherein
• the base portion defines a pair of notches and the printed circuit board is secured in the notches;
• wherein
• the first housing defines a pair of slots extending through from the base portion and the mating portion and wherein the first connector further comprises a pair of latches received in the slots;
• and wherein
• the latches defines a pair of cutouts and the latches sandwich the printed circuit board firmly in the cutouts.