JP5514148B2 - FPC connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an FPC connector for connecting a flat flexible cable (hereinafter referred to as “FPC”) generally called FPC, FFC or the like.

  A general flexible board connector has a housing part, a contact, and a cover part. The housing portion is formed with an opening into which the flexible substrate can be inserted. The contacts are arranged inside the housing portion so that the contact portion faces the opening. The cover part (corresponding to the pressure holding member of the present invention) can block the opening part of the housing part configured to be openable and closable.

Conventional connectors for flexible substrates use the elastic deformation force of contacts in order to ensure a predetermined contact pressure between the contact portion of the flexible substrate and the contact portion of the contact.
That is, the front end surface 321 of the cover part 300 abuts the flexible board 10 inserted into the connector from above, and presses the contact part of the flexible board 10 against the contact part 210 of the contact. Then, the contact portion 210 is elastically deformed downward, thereby achieving stable electrical connection between them. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-165060 A (FIG. 2 etc.)

However, in such a conventional FPC connector, the shaft support portion 220 and the contact portion 210 are formed by punching the same conductive material. Further, the shaft support is exposed at the opening. Therefore, when dust accumulates between the shaft support parts of adjacent contacts, the terminals may cause a short circuit.

In order to solve the above-described problem, in the present invention, a receiving cavity into which the tip of an FPC in which contacts are arranged at a predetermined pitch is inserted is formed, and terminals arranged at a predetermined pitch in the receiving cavity are provided. A housing provided with the FPC, the FPC inserted into the housing, and rotated about an axis substantially along the width direction of the FPC, thereby pressing the FPC and connecting the FPC with the terminal A pressure holding member that is fixed to the housing while conducting electrical conduction, and comb-shaped tips arranged at a predetermined pitch extend from the housing toward the pressure holding member, and the pressure holding member is biased toward the housing side. a connector having a fulcrum holding member, a to a member which is separately independent of the fulcrum member, contact contacts fixed at a predetermined pitch in the housing of the FPC In contact with and having a terminal for electrical continuity.

  With such a configuration, the contact portion of the contact and the fulcrum holding member are separate members, and are electrically insulated.For example, dust or dirt adheres to the fulcrum holding member and adjacent fulcrum holding members are short-circuited. However, since the contact portion is not affected, the reliability of the FPC connector is improved.

  Further, in the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, the fulcrum holding member is a thin flat plate-like member in the biasing direction to the housing, and is formed as a continuous blank by punching a flat metal piece. And is press-fitted into the housing all at once.

  With such a configuration, in order to form the fulcrum holding member, a flat plate material can be formed by punching, and a plurality of fulcrum holding members can be formed together. For this reason, a raw material can be used efficiently. In addition, if a plurality of fulcrum holding members (in a so-called comb tooth shape) formed in a batch are press-fitted into the housing and the base is cut off, the labor of press-fitting each fulcrum holding member into the housing is greatly reduced. Work efficiency is improved.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it can be set as the connector for FPC which improved connection reliability, used raw material material efficiently, improved work efficiency, and also reduced manufacturing cost.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of an FPC connector 10 as an embodiment of the present invention.

  The FPC connector 10 includes a pressure holding member 40 corresponding to a pressure holding member, a housing 20, a fixing member 98, and a tail portion 60 in appearance. The FPC connector 10 presses and holds the FPC 80 by rotating the pressure holding member 40 in the R direction around the shaft 3A in a state where the FPC 80 is inserted into a receiving cavity (not shown) of the housing 20. The FPC 80 is electrically connected.

The width of the FPC connector 10 is appropriately selected according to the number of circuits (the number of poles) in the FPC 80 to be inserted, and the pressure holding member 40 is rotated along the R direction with respect to the housing 20. As a result, the open state (shown state) is changed to the closed state. The FPC 80 is a so-called flat cable member as described above, and a large number of conductors are arranged on the cable member at a predetermined pitch. Further, this conductor can function as a connection portion (not shown) by being exposed on the surface (appropriately arranged on the upper surface or the lower surface) at both ends of the FPC 80. The fixing member 98 has a function of fixing the housing 20 to a printed wiring board (not shown). The tail portion 60 is formed by punching a thin metal plate, and has a configuration that is continuous with a terminal (not shown) described later.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration example in which one end of the FPC connector 10 shown in FIG. 1 is enlarged.

The housing 20 has a structure in which a terminal continuous to the tail portion 60 is accommodated in a housing body formed by molding an insulating plastic. The housing 20 presses and holds the FPC 80 into which the distal end portion is inserted, and the terminal portion and the connection portion of the FPC 80 are in contact with each other, thereby electrically connecting the terminal and the FPC 80.

  A posture holding shaft member 99 is formed as a part of the shaft member 3 in the vicinity of at least one end of the shaft 3 </ b> A of the pressure holding member 40. The posture holding shaft member 99 has a function of holding the posture of the pressure holding member 40 in an open state (shown state) with respect to the housing 20. The posture holding shaft member 99 may be formed at one end of the pressure holding member 40 or may be formed at both ends. Details of the posture holding shaft member 99 will be described later.

  The fixed member 98 has a contact holding portion 98A formed at the tip thereof. The abutting and holding portion 98A, for example, urges the side surface 40S of the pressure holding member 40 in an open state with respect to the housing 20, so that the pressure holding member 40 is stably opened (so-called backlash). A function of holding). This function corresponds to the above-described posture holding function, which will be described later.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the FPC connector 10 shown in FIG. 2 when viewed from the H direction.
The FPC connector 10 represents a state in which the pressure holding member 40 is opened with respect to the housing 20 in the illustrated state. As described above, the pressure holding member 40 is configured to be rotatable along the R direction about the shaft 3A. For example, when the FPC connector 10 is conveyed alone, the pressure holding member 40 is illustrated as illustrated. 40 is in an open state.

  The posture holding shaft member 99 described above is in contact with a part of the housing 20 (first contact surface described later) and a part of the fixing member 98 (second contact surface described later), and couples around the shaft 3A. And the pressure holding member 40 is maintained in an open state. The fixing member 98 is mainly exposed at the side of the pressure holding member 40 and the housing 20, and the above-described contact holding portion 98A is formed at the tip.

  4 is a perspective view showing a configuration example when the FPC connector 10 of FIG. 2 is viewed from the V1 direction, and FIG. 5 is a detailed configuration example in which the posture holding shaft member 99 shown in FIG. 4 is further enlarged. It is a perspective view shown. The detailed configuration other than the posture holding shaft member 99 is not shown.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the posture holding shaft member 99 is provided at a position in contact with a part of the housing 20 in the vicinity of the end portion of the shaft 3 </ b> A of the pressure holding member 40 in appearance. In the illustrated state, the posture holding shaft member 99 is partially exposed, and the remaining portion is hidden by the housing 20 and the pressure holding member 40.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the posture holding shaft member 99 has a convex portion 99 </ b> A in appearance. The convex portion 99A is configured to protrude from the peripheral surface of the outer peripheral surface of the substantially semi-cylindrical shaft member 3 centering on the shaft 3A.

  Since the posture holding shaft member 99 is formed as a part of the shaft member 3 as shown in the drawing, it rotates in the R direction in conjunction with the rotation of the pressure holding member 40. When the posture holding shaft member 99 rotates particularly in the front direction, the convex portion 99A of the posture holding shaft member 99 is configured to abut against the first contact surface 20B of the housing 20 accordingly.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the configuration of the FPC connector 10 shown in FIG. 5 taken along line X-X ′. In FIG. 6, in particular, the posture holding shaft member 99, the fixing member 98, and a part of the housing 20 are illustrated in detail in an enlarged manner, and the other components are not shown in principle.

  The posture holding shaft member 99 has a predetermined width in the depth direction of the pressure holding member 40 (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface), and is formed as a part of the shaft member 3 including the shaft 3A of the pressure holding member 40. .

  The posture holding shaft member 99 is formed with at least a first posture holding surface 99B and a second posture holding surface 99C on an outer peripheral surface substantially parallel to the axis 3A. The first posture holding surface 99B is formed at a first position in contact with the first contact surface 20B which is a part of the outer peripheral surface of the housing 20. On the other hand, the second posture holding surface 99C is formed at a second position in contact with the second contact surface 98C constituting a part of the fixing member 98. That is, the posture holding shaft member 99 is sandwiched between the housing 20 and the fixing member 98, and the self-supporting property of the pressure holding member 40 is ensured.

  The first posture holding surface 99B and the second posture holding surface 99C are formed at positions offset from each other on the peripheral surface of the posture holding shaft member 99 via the shaft 3A. That is, the first posture holding surface 99B receives the first force F1 from the first contact surface 20B of the housing 20, and the second posture holding surface 99C receives the second force F2 from the second contact surface 98C of the fixing member 98. When received, these forces F1 and F2 act on the posture holding shaft member 99 in an offset state with the shaft 3A interposed therebetween. Therefore, the posture holding shaft member 99 is biased in the R1 direction with the shaft 3A interposed therebetween. Become.

  Since the posture holding member 99 is formed on the pressure holding member 40 as described above, the force around the axis 3A applied to the posture holding member 99 acts in the same direction in conjunction with the pressure holding member 40 as well. To do. Accordingly, the pressure holding member 40 is biased with respect to the housing 20 in the R1 direction, that is, in the opening direction. When such a force acts on the pressure holding member 40, the pressure holding member 40 can ensure self-supporting properties in a state where it is opened with respect to the housing 20. At this time, since the pressure holding member 40 can hold the open state without being fixed to the housing 20 by the conventional engagement structure, dust due to scraps is less likely to be generated and the reliability can be improved.

  7 is a perspective view showing a configuration example when the FPC connector 10 shown in FIG. 2 is viewed from the V3 direction, and FIG. 8 is a rear view when the FPC connector 10 shown in FIG. 7 is viewed from the V4 direction. It is a partial rear view which shows a part of structure. In the FPC connector 10 shown in FIG. 7, the pressure holding member 40 is open.

  As described above, the fixing member 98 is exposed at the side of the pressure holding member 40. A contact holding portion 98A is formed in the vicinity of the tip located on the upper portion of the fixing member 98, and the contact holding portion 98A urges the side surface 40S of the pressure holding member 40 by the elastic force F3. That is, the contact holding portion 98 </ b> A is biased from the direction perpendicular to the R direction that is the rotation direction of the pressure holding member 40. As shown in FIG. 8, a recess 40 </ b> P is formed at the position of the pressure holding member 40 where the contact holding portion 98 </ b> A is in contact with the pressure holding member 40. The contact holding portion 98A that is in contact is fitted into the recess 40P.

  Thus, when the contact holding part 98A fits into the recess 40P of the pressure holding member 40, the pressure holding member 40 is not rotated in the R direction by the fixing member 98 fixed to the housing 20, and self-supporting property is obtained. It is configured to ensure.

  FIG. 8 is an enlarged front view showing a part of a configuration example when the FPC connector 10 shown in FIG. 7 is viewed from the V4 direction.

  The pressure holding member 40 has a recess 40P formed on the side surface 40S thereof. When the pressure holding member 40 is in an open state, the contact holding portion 98A is fitted into the recess 40P. That is, the contact holding portion 98A applies a force in the direction perpendicular to the R direction in which the pressure holding member 40 rotates on the side surface 40S of the pressure holding member 40 (that is, the direction along the axis 3A) to press and hold The pressure holding member 40 is held so as not to move by contact with the member 40. Note that the pressure holding member 40 is not formed with such a recess 40P, and may be configured such that the contact holding portion 98A of the fixing member 98 contacts the side surface 40S and urges the force. good.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross-sectional configuration example taken along line Y-Y ′ of the FPC connector 10 illustrated in FIG. 4.

  In addition to the configuration described above, the pressure holding member 40 is integrally formed with a rotation fulcrum 99D at least partially along the axis 3A of the pressure holding member 40. That is, when the force is applied to the pressure holding member 40 and rotated, the rotation fulcrum portion 99D rotates in the R direction in conjunction with the rotation of the pressure holding member 40. When the pressure holding member 40 is closed with respect to the housing 20 along the R direction, the pressure surface 49 formed on the pressure holding member 40 presses the upper surface of the FPC 80 inserted into the receiving cavity 23 to change the position. Fix it.

  The housing 20 has an upper side wall 21, an intermediate wall 93, and a lower side wall 22 as illustrated. An upper cavity 91 is formed by the upper wall 21 and the intermediate wall 93, and a lower cavity 92 is formed by the intermediate wall 93 and the lower wall 22. The upper cavity 91 is a space that continues from the upper rear opening 27 </ b> A formed at the rear end 27 of the housing 20. The lower cavity 92 is a space that continues from the lower rear opening 27 </ b> B formed slightly below the rear end 27 of the housing 20.

In the upper cavity 91 and the lower cavity 92, the fulcrum holding member 62 and the terminal 65 are arranged so as to be substantially parallel to each other. The fulcrum holding member 62 and the terminal 65 are formed as separate members independent of each other.

Here, the terminals 65 are collectively formed as a continuous blank by punching a plate-shaped metal piece before being press-fitted at the time of manufacture. That is, immediately after punching, a large number of terminals 65 are arranged at a predetermined pitch. In other words, such a terminal 65 group, one by one the terminal 65 is not independent as separate bodies respectively, configuration of each pin 65 extending from the base portion and arranged at a predetermined pitch as a continuous blank, the so-called comb-tooth It has become a shape.

Then, such a large number of terminals 65 are comb-like terminal 65 groups is integral with the base, it is pressed in a lump in the lower rear opening 27B of the housing 20. If it does in this way, workability | operativity will be favorable and manufacturing cost can be reduced significantly.

That is, immediately after such press-fitting, the terminal 65 has an integral structure in which a large number of contact pieces are arranged at a predetermined pitch along the depth direction (paper surface) but are joined by the base. Thus, the terminal 65 can integrally form each contact by punching out a flat conductive metal, for example, and can be press-fitted into the housing 20 integrally. The base of the terminal 65 group press-fitted into the housing 20 is removed, so that each terminal 65 is independent in the housing 20 and insulated from each other.

Similarly, the fulcrum holding member 62 has a substantially comb-like shape as the terminal 65, and can be integrally formed by punching a flat plate, for example. The fulcrum holding member 62 is also formed as a group of many fulcrum holding members 62 as continuous blanks by punching a flat plate-like member like the terminal 65 and press-fitted into the housing 20.

  A fulcrum holding member 62 is linearly arranged along the upper side wall 21 in the upper part of the upper cavity 91, and is exposed by extending from an upper front opening 27 </ b> C formed in the upper part on the front side of the housing 20. The fulcrum support portion 62A at the tip of the fulcrum holding member 62 exposed in this way constitutes the tip of a portion curved in an S shape, for example. The fulcrum support portion 62A supports the rotation fulcrum portion 99D of the pressure holding member 40 by urging it in the B direction from above to the housing 20 side. Accordingly, when the pressure holding member 40 is attached to the housing 20, the pressure holding member 40 does not fall out of the housing 20 even when the pressure holding member 40 is closed or opened with respect to the housing 20.

On the other hand, at the bottom of the housing 20, the terminal 65 extends from the bottom in the lower cavity 92 toward the receiving cavity 23 along the bottom surface. The terminal 65 extending into the receiving cavity 23 has an L-shaped bent tip, and the contact 65 </ b> A that forms a protrusion due to the bent shape is exposed in the receiving cavity 23. . The terminals 65 are electrically connected to each other by contacting the above-described connecting portion (not shown) on the FPC 80 inserted into the receiving cavity 23. Further, the rear end of the terminal 65 is surface-mounted (SMT) on a pattern on a printed wiring board on which the FPC connector 10 is mounted as the tail portion 60.

As described above, in the FPC connector 10 in the above-described embodiment, the receiving cavity 23 into which the tip of the FPC 80 in which the contacts are arranged at a predetermined pitch is inserted is formed, and the receiving cavity 23 has a predetermined pitch. The housing 20 having the terminals 65 arranged and the FPC 80 inserted into the housing 20 are rotated about the shaft 3A substantially along the width direction of the FPC 80, thereby pressing the FPC 80 and connecting portions of the FPC 80. And a pressure holding member 40 that is fixed to the housing 20 while the terminals are electrically connected, and comb-shaped tips arranged at a predetermined pitch extend from the housing 20 toward the pressure holding member 40, and the pressure holding member 40 is and the fulcrum member 62 for urging the housing 20 side, and the fulcrum member 62 a separately independent member, housings Contact 65A fixed at a predetermined pitch in grayed 20 is characterized in that it has a terminal 65 for electrically conductive contact with the contacts of the FPC 80, a.

According to the FPC connector 10 as described above, the fulcrum holding member 62 and the terminal 65 are members that are independent from each other, and thus are electrically insulated. Therefore, for example, even if a short circuit is the fulcrum member 62 adjacent to dust or dirt adhering to the fulcrum member 62, since the effect on the terminal 65 does not occur, the reliability of the FPC connector 10 is improved.

  In the FPC connector 10 in the above embodiment, in addition to the above configuration, the fulcrum holding member 62 is a thin flat plate-like member in the urging direction to the housing 20, and it is continuous by punching a flat metal piece. The blanks are collectively formed and pressed into the housing 20 at once.

With such a configuration, the fulcrum holding member 62 can be formed by punching a flat plate material, and a plurality of fulcrum holding members 62 can be formed together. For this reason, the raw material can be used efficiently, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, if a plurality of fulcrum holding members 62 (so-called comb teeth) formed in a batch are press-fitted into the housing 20 and the base is cut off, the effort to press-fit each fulcrum holding member 62 into the housing 20 is eliminated. Work efficiency can be improved.

  The above embodiment is not limited to the above-described configuration, and various other forms such as the above-described configurations can be appropriately selected and combined.

It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of the connector for FPC as embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration example in which one end of the FPC connector shown in FIG. 1 is enlarged. FIG. 3 is a side view of the FPC connector shown in FIG. 2 when viewed from the H direction. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration example when the FPC connector of FIG. 2 is viewed from the V1 direction. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a detailed configuration example in which the posture holding shaft member shown in FIG. 4 is further enlarged. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of a cross-sectional configuration taken along line XX ′ of the FPC connector shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration example when the FPC connector shown in FIG. 2 is viewed from the V3 direction. FIG. 8 is a partial rear view showing a part of the rear configuration when the FPC connector shown in FIG. 7 is viewed from the V4 direction. It is sectional drawing which shows the cross-sectional structural example in the YY 'line | wire of the connector for FPC shown in FIG.

3 shaft member 10 FPC connector 20 housing 20B first contact surface 23 receiving cavity 40 pressure holding member 62 fulcrum holding member 62A fulcrum support 65 terminal 65A contact 80 FPC
98 fixing member 98A contact holding portion 98B second contact surface 99 posture holding shaft member 99A convex portion 99B first posture holding surface 99C second posture holding surface

Claims (1)

A receiving cavity into which the tip of the FPC having contacts arranged at a predetermined pitch is inserted is formed, and a housing having terminals arranged at a predetermined pitch in the receiving cavity and the FPC inserted into the housing And a pressure holding member that is rotated around an axis substantially along the width direction of the FPC to press the FPC and fix the connection portion of the FPC and the terminal to the housing while conducting the connection. ,
A comb-shaped tip arranged at a predetermined pitch extends from the housing toward the pressure holding member, and is a fulcrum holding member that urges the pressure holding member toward the housing ,
The fulcrum holding members are arranged as separate members independent of each other.
In the connector,
The fulcrum holding member is a separate member, and the contact fixed to the housing at a predetermined pitch has a terminal that contacts the contact of the FPC and is electrically connected,
The fulcrum holding member is a thin flat plate-like member in the biasing direction to the housing,
By punching out a flat metal piece, it is formed as a continuous blank,
It is press-fitted into the housing as a plurality of fulcrum holding members formed together ,
The fulcrum holding member has a fulcrum support portion that is curved in an S shape at its tip and urges and supports the rotation fulcrum portion of the pressure holding member from the upper side toward the housing side,
The shaft of the pressure holding member is pivotally supported by a fulcrum support part,
When the pressure holding member is positioned in a closed state with respect to the housing, the pressure holding member has a pressure surface that presses the upper surface of the inserted FPC and fixes the position of the FPC.
FPC connector characterized by the above.