Electrical connector with ESD protection

Abstract

An electrical connector ( 100 ) for receiving a mating plug ( 200 ) having an insulative housing ( 10 ), a set of first contacts ( 21 ), and a set of second contacts ( 22 ). The insulative housing includes a base portion ( 13 ), a wafer ( 14 ), and a latch mechanism fastened the wafer to the base portion. The electrical contacts are attached to the insulative housing and each has a contact section ( 214, 222 ) connecting with the plug and a mounting section ( 213, 224 ) extending out of the insulative housing. The contact sections of the first contacts are staggered with the contact sections of the second contacts along a mating direction of the electrical connector, and wherein the contact sections of the first contacts are closed to a front edge of the wafer.

We claim: 
     
       1. An electrical connector for mating with a plug, comprising:
 an insulative housing comprising a base portion and a wafer, and a latch mechanism fastened the wafer to the base portion, the insulative housing defining a mating direction for engaging with the plug; 
 a set of first contacts attached to the insulative housing each comprising a contact section mechanically connecting with the plug and a mounting section extending out of the insulative housing; 
 a set of second contacts attached to the insulative housing each comprising a contact section mechanically connecting with the plug and a mounting section extending out of the insulative housing; and wherein 
 the contact sections of the first contacts are staggered with the contact sections of the second contacts along the mating direction, and wherein the contact sections of the first contacts are closed to a front edge of the wafer; wherein 
 the latch mechanism comprises a spring arm arranged on the wafer, and a retention section arranged on the base portion for latching with the spring arm. 
 
     
     
       2. The electrical connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the contact sections of the second contacts are project out of a bottom face of the wafer. 
     
     
       3. The electrical connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the wafer enclosed the first contacts from an exterior at the front edge, and wherein the contact sections of the first contacts are exposed to a bottom face of the wafer. 
     
     
       4. The electrical connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the wafer comprises a tongue and a retention portion extending into the base portion, and wherein the tongue and the base portion defining a receiving opening for receiving the plug. 
     
     
       5. The electrical connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the first contacts are insert-molded to the wafer, and wherein the wafer defines a plurality of grooves for receiving the contacts sections of the second contacts. 
     
     
       6. A receptacle connector, comprising:
 an insulative housing having a base portion and a tongue portion extending therefrom;   at least a first contact terminal substantially submerged under a first surface of the tongue portion, and including a first contact section accessibly surfaced on a front area of the first surface and a first mounting section extending beyond the insulative housing; and   at least a second contact terminal assembled to the base of the insulative housing, the second contact having a second contact terminal section extending along the first surface and dielectrically distant to the first contact section, and a second mounting section extending beyond the insulative housing;   wherein the first and the second contact sections are offset from each other, and the first contact section is closer to a front end of the second contact section; and   wherein the first and second contact terminals are assembled to the base of the insulative housing by a resilient retention portion coupled to the first and second contact terminals and engaging with a retention section arranged on the insulative housing for receiving the resilient retention portion, thereby holding the first and second contact terminals within the insulative housing.   
     
     
       7. The receptacle connector as recited in claim 6, wherein the first contact terminal is integrally molded with the tongue portion. 
     
     
       8. The receptacle connector as recited in claim 6, wherein the tongue portion defines at least one groove to receive the second contact section of the second contact terminal. 
     
     
       9. The receptacle connecter as recited in claim 6, wherein the second contact terminal is securely retained in the base portion. 
     
     
       10. The receptacle connector as recited in claim 6, wherein the tongue portion is assembled to the base portion by engagement between a spring arm located on the tongue portion and the retention section of the base portion. 
     
     
       11. An electrical connector for mating with a plug, comprising:
 an insulative housing comprising a base portion and a wafer assembled to the base portion, the wafer having a tongue protruding forwardly;   a set of first contacts fastened to the wafer, each first contact comprising a non-elastic contact section located and exposed on a first side of the tongue along a thickness direction of the tongue and a mounting section extending out of the insulative housing; and   a set of second contacts retained to the insulative housing, each second contact comprising an elastic contact section exposed to the first side and projecting beyond a surface of the tongue on the first side, and a mounting section extending out of the insulative housing;   wherein the contact sections of the first contacts are arranged in a first row, the contact sections of the second contacts are arranged in a second row, and the first row is located in front of the second row and is closer to a front edge of the wafer; and   wherein the wafer comprises a conformable retention portion that engages with a retention section arranged on the insulative housing for receiving the conformable retention portion, thereby holding the wafer within the insulative housing.   
     
     
       12. The electrical connector according to claim 11, wherein the first contacts are inserted in the wafer by insert molding, and the second contacts are assembled to the insulative housing. 
     
     
       13. The electrical connector according to claim 11, wherein the tongue defines a plurality of grooves, and the contact sections of the second contacts are inserted into the wafer and arranged in the grooves. 
     
     
       14. The electrical connector according to claim 13, wherein the base portion defines a plurality of passageways, and the second contacts are inserted into the passageways from a rear side of the base portion and further extend to be disposed on the wafer. 
     
     
       15. The electrical connector according to claim 13, wherein the base portion defines a receiving space, and the wafer comprises the retention portion extending into the receiving space of the base portion. 
     
     
       16. The electrical connector according to claim 13, where in the tongue defines a plurality of recesses, the contact sections of the first contacts are disposed in the recesses, and an inner bar is located between the grooves and the recesses and separates the contact sections of the first contacts from the contact sections of the second contacts along a mating direction. 
     
     
       17. The electrical connector according to claim 11, wherein the base portion comprises a support plate projecting from the base portion and provided with a plurality of passageways, wherein the support plate is located at the first side of the tongue, and wherein the contact sections of the second contacts are received in the passageways. 
     
     
       18. The electrical connector according to claim 17, wherein each first contact is pressed into one of a plurality of grooves in the wafer and includes a retention section for engaging with the grooves. 
     
     
       19. An electrical connector, comprising:
 an insulative housing enclosed by a metallic shell and commonly forming an assembly, said assembly defining a plug receiving space in a front portion thereof;   an insulative wafer defining opposite first and second faces, and integrally formed with a plurality of first terminals extending along a mating direction and fastened to the assembly to essentially occupy a portion of said plug receiving space under a condition that each of the first terminals defines a first contacting region essentially located around a first area on the first face of the wafer which is adjacent to a front edge of the wafer while other portions thereof offset from the first face toward the second face; and   a plurality of second terminals extending along the mating direction, each of said second terminals defining a second contacting region essentially located around a second area on the first face of the wafer under a condition that said second area is located behind the first area and both said first contacting region and said second contacting region face commonly toward the plug receiving space in a same direction opposite to said second face;   wherein the first terminals are not deflectable while the second terminals are deflectable during mating; and   wherein said wafer defines a plurality of grooves in the first face to respectively receive the corresponding second terminals; and   wherein the insulative wafer comprises a deformable retention portion that engages with a retention section arranged on the insulative housing for receiving the deformable retention portion, thereby holding the insulative wafer within the insulative housing.