10 of FIG. 1 is fitted into the socket connector 20 of FIG. 4. The socket connector 20 may also be referred to as a receptacle connector 20.

FIG. 4 shows a power terminal 20-1 formed at both ends of the socket connector 20 and two rows of multiple contacts 20-3 arranged at predetermined intervals between the power terminals.

The power terminal 20-1 of the socket connector 20 is fitted into the power terminal 10-1 of the plug connector 10 (see FIG. 1 to FIG. 3) and the signal terminal 20-3 of the socket connector 20 is fitted into the signal terminal 10-3 of the plug connector 10 (see FIG. 1 to FIG. 3).

The socket connector 20 includes a wall forming a portion of a housing 20-5. Although a first wall 20-5-W1 and a second wall 20-5-W2 are prominently shown in FIG. 4, a third wall 20-5-W3 and a fourth wall 20-5-W4 may also be present, as needed.

Each of the first wall 20-5-W1 and the second wall 20-5-W2 extends in a longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the connector 20. The first wall 20-5-W1 and the second wall 20-5-W2 face each other.

Each of the third wall 20-5-W3 and the fourth wall 20-5-W4 extends in a transverse direction (Y-axis direction) of the connector 20. The third wall 20-5-W3 and the fourth wall 20-5-W4 face each other.

The first to fourth walls are connected to one another in a sequence of the first wall 20-5-W1/the third wall 20-5-W3/the second wall 20-5-W2/the fourth wall 20-5-W4/the first wall 20-5-W1. The third wall 20-5-W3 and the fourth wall 20-5-W4 (perpendicular to the first wall 20-5-W1 and the second wall 20-5-W2) may be omitted if desired.

Further, as a portion of the housing 20-5, an island portion 20-5-I is formed at a center of the socket connector 20.

FIG. 5 is a view of the socket connector of FIG. 4, with the housing 20-5 removed therefrom.

Unlike the power terminal 10-1 in the upper left corner of FIG. 2, which is shown as two pieces, the power terminal 20-1 in the upper left corner of FIG. 5 is shown as one piece. However, this is merely an example and the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 5 shows: a shielding part 20-S surrounding the periphery of the housing 20-5 (not shown in FIG. 5) and the power terminal 20-1 and the signal terminal 20-3 coupled to the housing 20-5.

The shielding part 20-S has a similar function to the shielding part 10-S of the plug connector 10.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the socket connector 20 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows the power terminal 20-1, the signal terminal 20-3, the housing 20-5, and the shielding part 20-S, wherein line C-C′ and line D-D′ indicate the locations of sectional views described below.

For reference, in terms of location, line C-C′ of the socket connector 20 corresponds to line A-A′ of the plug connector 10 and line D-D′ of the socket connector 20 corresponds to line B-B′ of the plug connector 10.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of FIG. 3 taken along line A-A′.

Referring to FIG. 7, a section of the shielding part 10-S is located outside a section of the signal terminal 10-3.

The shielding part 10-S is rounded at an upper end thereof. That is, the shielding part 10-S not only extends upwards, but is also curved inwards (in the transverse direction of the connector 10) at the upper end thereof to form a curved portion 10-S-C. An apex of the curved portion 10-S-C is located slightly below the overall height of the connector 10. The curved portion 10-S-C meets an inclined portion 10-S-I at the apex thereof and is gradually inclined inwards in the transverse direction of the connector 10.

Each of the curved portion 10-S-C and the inclined portion 10-S-I extends in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the electrical connector (the plug connector 10) at least over a region in which the contacts (the signal terminals 10-3) are arranged.

Although FIG. 7 shows only one section obtained by cutting the connector 10 in the transverse direction (Y-axis direction) thereof, the same section will be obtained no matter where the connector 10 is cut, so long as the signal terminal 10-3 is disposed at the location.

By way of a non-limiting example, referring to FIG. 3, in a section obtained by cutting the connector 10 at any location where the power terminal 10-1 or the signal terminal 10-3 is disposed, the curved portion 10-S-C formed at an angle α in the range described below (see FIG. 8) and the inclined portion 10-S-I formed at an angle β in the range described below (see FIG. 11) can be seen.

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 7.

Specifically, FIG. 8 illustrates an enlarged view of the circled region of FIG. 7.

Due to the curved portion 10-S-C formed by rounding the upper end of the shielding part 10-S, the connector according to the present invention can prevent warpage of the shielding part 10-S. As a comparative example, if the shielding part 10-S only extends vertically without having the curved portion 10-S-C, the shielding part 10-S is prone to warpage, resulting in deformation of the overall shape of the connector and thus poor connection between the terminals. By way of a non-limiting example, the shielding part 10-S may be manufactured by drawing. The shielding part 10-S manufactured by drawing is more prone to warpage.

In the connector according to the present invention, the shielding part 10-S has a rounded shape at the distal end thereof. In particular, the shielding part 10-S may have a rounded shape without having a straight section at least across a region parallel to the first wall 10-5-W1. The same is applied to a region of the shielding part 10-S parallel to the second wall 10-5-W2.

That is, the curved portion 10-S-C may be continuously formed along the first wall 10-5-W1 and the second wall 10-5-W2 on which the signal terminals 10-3 are arranged, rather than formed only at one point in section A-A′, to have a sectional shape as shown in FIG. 7.

More preferably, the rounded shape (the curved portion 10-S-C) extends not only across a region where the signal terminals 10-3 are arranged, but also across a region where the power terminals 10-1 are disposed (that is, across both the region where the signal terminals 10-3 are arranged and the region where the power terminals 10-1 are disposed).

There may be a height difference of d between an uppermost point of the signal terminal 10-3 and an uppermost point of the curved portion 10-S-C (that is, the rounded distal end of the shielding part 10-S), as shown in FIG. 8. That is, the uppermost point of the signal terminal 10-3 may be located a distance d above the uppermost point of the curved portion 10-S-C. Considering the connection state between the connectors 10, 20 shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 described below, it is a priority to connect the signal terminals 10-3, 20-3 to each other or to connect the power terminals 10-1, 20-1 to each other. If the uppermost point of the curved portion 10-S-C is located above the uppermost points of the terminals 10-1, 10-3 in FIG. 7 (if the uppermost point of the curved portion 10-S-C is located below the uppermost points of the terminals 10-1, 10-3 in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 showing the plug connector 10 in an “upside-down position”), this can somewhat interfere with connection between the terminals 10-1, 10-3 of the plug connector 10 and the terminals 20-1, 20-3 of the socket connector 20. Accordingly, it is desirable that the uppermost point of the signal terminal 10-3 and the uppermost point of the curved portion 10-S-C have a height difference of d therebetween (that the uppermost point of the signal terminal 10-3 be located a distance d above the uppermost point of the curved portion 10-S-C).

Basically, since the shielding part 10-S has the curved portion 10-S-C rather than only extending straight upwards, the shielding part 10-S can be prevented from warping and thus can have improved rigidity.

In addition, in terms of an angle α of the uppermost point of the curved portion 10-S-C with respect to the ground (see FIG. 8), the curved portion may extend up to a certain point in the middle of the shielding part 10-S, rather than extending to a point forming an angle of 90° with respect to the ground. For example, a formation angle α of the curved portion (the angle of the uppermost point of the curved portion 10-S-C with respect to the ground) may be in the range of 60° to 80°.

As used herein, the “formation angle α” is defined as an angle formed between a point at which a straight sidewall of the shielding part 10-S ends and the curved portion 10-S-C starts and the uppermost point of the curved portion 10-S-C, as measured along the curvature of the curved portion 10-S-C. Preferably, the formation angle α is measured with respect to the center point of the radius of curvature. Although the formation angle α may be measured irrespective of a precise radius of curvature depending on the situation (the curve of the curved portion), it is desirable to measure the formation angle α along the curvature for convenience and accuracy of measurement.

The formation angle of the curved portion 10-S-C may be in the range of 65° to 70°. More specifically, the formation angle of the curved portion 10-S-C may be about 67°. When the formation angle α is in the range of 60° to 80°, it is possible to reduce the size of the shielding part 10-S (size in the transverse direction (Y-axis direction) of the connector) (as compared with when the formation angle is 90°), thereby reducing the overall width of the connector 10.

In addition, when the formation angle α is in the range of 60° to 80°, it is possible to secure a sufficient space to facilitate entry of the signal terminal 20-3 of a mating connector 20 and a surrounding portion thereof (for example, an outer wall) while securing a space for formation of the inclined portion 10-S-I described below.

A formation angle β of the inclined portion 10-S-I may also be set within a predetermined range, which will be described be further below with reference to FIG. 11.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating connection between the plug connector 10 of FIG. 1 and the socket connector 20 of FIG. 4.

In FIG. 9, the socket connector 20 is in the position shown in FIG. 4 and the plug connector 10 is fitted into the socket connector 20 after being turned upside down with respect to the position shown in FIG. 1.

For reference, although a centermost portion of the signal terminal 20-3 of the socket connector 20 has a slight inward bend due to contact with the signal terminal 10-3 of the plug connector 10, the bend is omitted for convenience of illustration.

Here, the sectional view of FIG. 9 is taken along line A-A′ of FIG. 3 (the plug connector 10) and line C-C′ of FIG. 6 (the socket connector 20).

Referring to FIG. 9, the signal terminal 20-3 and a surrounding portion thereof (for example, a portion of the housing 20-5) are placed inside the plug connector 10 (in the transverse direction of the plug connector).

For example, upon disconnection (removal) of the connector 10 from the mating connector 20, the inclined portion 10-S-I can prevent the connector 10 from being interfered with by the mating connector. In addition, upon connection of the connector 10 to the mating connector 20, the inclined portion