Connector with shielding plates to block noise between adjacent channels

1 . A connector, comprising:

a receptacle unit mounted on a first external board; and

a plug unit mounted on a second external board and connected to the receptacle unit, the connector electrically connecting the first external board and the second external board by inserting, fitting and connecting the plug unit into the receptacle unit in a first direction, wherein:

the receptacle unit comprises a plurality of first contacts arranged at predetermined intervals in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and connected at one end to the first external board,

the plug unit comprises a plurality of second contacts corresponding respectively to the first contacts and arranged in the second direction, each of the second contacts having one end connected to the other end of the first contact and the other end connected to the second external board,

the first contacts and the second contacts are configured to form a plurality of channels when the plug is inserted into the receptacle,

wherein each channel comprises two ground contacts and two signal contacts sandwiched between the two ground contacts, wherein the two ground contacts of each channel are independent of the ground contacts of the other channels, and

at least either of the receptacle unit and the plug unit further comprises a plurality of shielding plates that are provided so as to be separated from each other in at least the second direction and each correspond to a different channel, and are respectively electrically connected to the ground contacts of the corresponding channels or to a ground of the first or the second external board,

wherein the plurality of first contacts and the plurality of second contacts are provided in a plurality of rows in a third direction orthogonal to both the first direction and the second direction, and

the shielding plates are provided between channels adjacent in the third direction, and in the third direction, at least two shielding plates of the plurality of shielding plates are provided in such a manner that each of the two shielding plates is in a one to one correlation with each channel.

2 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein,

each shielding plate comprises a strip-shaped metal plate extending in the first direction, and

the metal plates adjacent in the third direction are in contact with each other.

3 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein

the shielding plate comprises a short strip-like metal plate and a hook portion extending from both ends of one end portion of the metal plate, bent into a hook shape toward the other end portion, and grounded.

4 . The connector of claim 3 , wherein

at least either of the receptacle unit and the plug unit is bored with a hole that allows insertion of the shielding plate between channels adjacent in the third direction.

5 . The connector of claim 4 , wherein

the shielding plates are arranged so as to be exposed from an outer surface of the connector through the hole.

6 . The connector of claim 4 , wherein

the hole further comprises a guide groove which is a groove with a size corresponding to a width of the shielding plate, and is formed to extend outward in the second direction from inner wall surfaces facing in the second direction of the hole to guide the insertion of the shielding plate.

7 . The connector of claim 6 , wherein

the shielding plates are arranged for respective channels adjacent in the third direction,

the shielding plates are mounted to the receptacle unit or the plug unit by being respectively press-fitted into the guide grooves in a set of two so that the hook portions face in opposite directions to each other.

8 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein

the receptacle unit comprises:

a fixed housing composed of a hollow frame body and fixed to the first board; and

a floating housing accommodated with a movable space in an opening portion surrounded by the frame body of the fixed housing,

the first contact comprises:

a first supporting piece portion bridged between the fixed housing and the floating housing and supported by the fixed housing;

a second supporting piece portion supported by the floating housing; and

an elastically deformable elastic deformation portion interposed between these two supporting piece portions,

the elastic deformation portion comprises:

two linear portions extending along wall portions facing the movable space in the fixed housing and the floating housing; and

a flexible portion between upper ends of the two linear portions,

portions opposed to the flexible portion in the wall portions are curved following a shape of the flexible portion.

9 . The connector of claim 8 , wherein

the first contact comprises:

a terminal portion connected to the first support piece portion; and

a contact point portion connected to the second support piece portion,

the fixed housing further comprises:

first wall portions opposed to each other to surround the opening portion,

the floating housing further comprises a slot into which the plug unit is inserted

and a through hole penetrating from a bottom surface toward an inside of the slot, and

the first contact press-fitted into the fixed housing and the floating housing such that the contact point portion protruded into the slot via the through hole and the elastic deformation portion is accommodated in the movable space.

10 . The connector of claim 1 , further comprising:

in the receptacle unit and the plug unit, a conductive resin member provided at an end portion on a side of the first or second external board to be connected, wherein the conductive resin member is provided corresponding to a channel other than the channels provided with the corresponding shielding plates among the channels, and is electrically connected to the ground contact of the corresponding channel.

11 . The connector of claim 10 , wherein

the conductive resin member comprises: a lower plate portion; and a convex portion protruding from a center of the lower plate portion to a second side opposite to a first side that is a side of the first or the second external board, and

the convex portion is fitted in a groove provided in a surface of the receptacle unit or the plug unit on a side of the external board.

12 . The connector of claim 11 , wherein

the lower plate portion has a shape in which four corners of a rectangular parallelepiped are protruded outward in a third direction orthogonal to both the first direction and the second direction,

a pillar portion erecting on the second side from the portion protruded outward is provided, and

the pillar portion is in contact with a ground contact of a corresponding channel.