CN105322391B

CN105322391B - Connector with a locking member

Info

Publication number: CN105322391B
Application number: CN201510310143.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 菅浄太郎; 青木智史; 浅野信一; 高木壮一
Original assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co Ltd
Current assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co Ltd
Priority date: 2014-06-13
Filing date: 2015-06-08
Publication date: 2020-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2035-06-08
Also published as: EP2955791B1; EP2955791A1; CN105322391A; JP6398354B2; JP2016004626A

Abstract

The connector (100) of the present invention is configured to be assembled on the end of the substrate in a stable and maintained state even if the connector is in a shape which is asymmetric in the left and right. A bottom surface (105) of a connector body (102) is provided with front-end legs (171, 172) and rear-end legs (173, 174) projecting from the bottom surface (105). The front-end legs (171, 172) are provided closer to the end surface (21) of the substrate (20) than the rear-end leg (173). The legs (171-173) are provided on the bottom surface (105) such that the center of gravity (G) of the connector itself is located in a region (E1) connecting the centers of the legs (171-173) when viewed from the mounting surface (21).

Description

Connector with a locking member

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a connector which includes an interface portion to be fitted and connected to a mating connector, and which connects a cable from another board or a cable of another electronic device to a board to be mounted by fitting the interface portion to the mating connector, and particularly relates to a connector mounted on an end portion of the board.

Background

As a connector provided on a substrate of an electronic device, for example, as shown in patent document 1, an electrical connector is known in which an interface portion to be fitted to a mating connector is extended from an end surface of the substrate and mounted on the substrate by soldering.

Further, as a connector, there is known a connector in which: when the connector is mounted on a substrate (specifically, a mounting surface), the through-hole of the leg portion of the connector body is reflowed to the through-hole of the substrate. The leg portion can provide a gap between the connector and the substrate, thereby preventing solder from rising during reflow soldering and improving the cleanability of the joint portion.

In a connector mounted on an end portion of a substrate, an interface portion thereof is formed in a shape protruding from the substrate side. Therefore, when the connector is mounted on the end portion of the substrate, for example, in a state before reflow soldering at the time of soldering, the center of gravity of the connector is likely to be unstable, and the connector may fall from the end portion of the substrate or be displaced from a predetermined position. This causes problems such as a reduction in workability and poor connection when the connector is assembled.

Therefore, conventionally, when the connector is to be mounted on the end portion of the board, the connector is arranged so that the center of gravity of the connector is positioned as far as possible on the board side, and reflow soldering is performed in a stable state to perform soldering and mounting.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2013-8670

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

In recent years, in a connector mounted on an end portion of a board, from the viewpoint of downsizing of an electronic component to be mounted, it is desired to have a structure in which a mounting area to be mounted on the board is reduced, and particularly, in a connector having a lock function of holding a connection state with a counterpart connector on a front end side, a length extending from an end surface of the board, that is, a length from the end surface of the board to a front end of the connector is longer than a length from the end surface of the board to a rear end portion of the connector.

This leads to the following requirements: even in a structure in which the length from the end surface of the board to the front end of the connector is long and the length from the end surface of the board to the rear end of the connector is limited, and the balance is poor, it is desirable to perform reflow soldering in a state where the center of gravity is located as far as possible within the area of the board and the connector is stabilized.

In addition, there are requirements that: in a structure in which a connection portion of another terminal is provided on one side surface of a connector accommodating the terminal electrically connected to a mating connector and the connector is mounted on a substrate, it is desirable that the connector be held so that the center of gravity position is an appropriate position even if the connector has a shape that is asymmetric in the left-right direction in the width direction viewed from the side opposite to the mounting surface.

The invention aims to provide a connector which can be assembled on the end part of a substrate in a stable and maintained state even if the connector is in a shape which is asymmetric in the left and right.

Means for solving the problems

One aspect of the connector according to the present invention is a connector including: a connector body having a mounting surface opposed to a mounting surface of a substrate and mounted on the mounting surface; and a connecting portion that is provided so as to protrude from the connector body, extends from an end surface of the substrate, and is connected to a mating connector, and includes a first leg portion, a second leg portion, and a third leg portion that are provided so as to protrude from the mounting surface, abut against the mounting surface, and form a gap between the mounting surface and the mounting surface, the first leg portion and the second leg portion being provided on the mounting surface at a position closer to the end surface side of the substrate than the third leg portion, the connector body including: a housing having conductivity, opening on the mounting surface side, and forming an outer peripheral portion of the connector body while being grounded to the mounting surface; and a weight portion that is fitted to the rear end portion of the housing so as to cover an upper surface side and both side surfaces of the rear end portion of the housing, and that is adjustable in position of center of gravity of the connector itself, the weight portion being formed of a metal plate, the first leg portion, the second leg portion, and the third leg portion being provided on the mounting surface so that the center of gravity of the connector itself is located in a region that connects centers of the first leg portion, the second leg portion, and the third leg portion when viewed from the mounting surface side, the connector being provided with a cutout portion that cuts out an entirety of the mounting surface side of the connector body so that the connection portion protrudes from the end surface of the board, the first leg portion and the second leg portion being provided adjacent to the connection portion at the cutout portion, respectively.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, even if the shape is asymmetric in the left-right direction, the substrate can be mounted on the end portion of the substrate in a stably held state.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a substrate.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the above connector.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the connector.

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the connector.

Fig. 5 is a right side view of the connector.

Fig. 6 is a left side view of the above connector.

Fig. 7 is a partial sectional view in the direction of arrows on the line II-II in fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view in the direction of arrows of line III-III in fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a view showing a weight portion of the connector.

Fig. 10 is a bottom view showing a positional relationship between the leg portion and the center of gravity on the board of the connector.

Fig. 11 is a side view showing a positional relationship between the leg portion and the center of gravity on the board of the connector.

Description of the symbols

20 base plate

21 assembly surface

22 end face of the substrate

100 connector

102 connector body

103 notch part

104 interface part (connecting part)

105 bottom surface (mounting surface)

110 outer casing

112 first fitting part

112a first opening part

114 second fitting part

114a second opening part

120 outer casing

122 cylindrical part

130 first terminal

132. 152 rear end portion

140 inner casing

150 second terminal

170 feet part

171. 172 front end side leg part

173. 174 rear end side leg part

180 hammer

181 upper surface part

182. 183 side surface part

184 hook

221. 222, 224 through hole

Triangular regions E1 and E2

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a substrate, fig. 2 is a front view of the connector, fig. 3 is a rear view of the connector, and fig. 4 is a bottom view of the connector. In addition, fig. 5 is a right side view of the connector, and fig. 6 is a left side view of the connector. In the present embodiment, the expressions indicating the directions of the front end (front), rear, left, right, and the like used for explaining the structure and operation of each part of the connector are not absolute but relative, and are appropriate when each part of the connector is in the posture as shown in the drawing. Here, the direction of the mating connector is referred to as a front end (front) side, an end portion opposite to the front end is referred to as a rear end, and a surface facing the mounting surface is referred to as a bottom surface, and the other directions are defined.

The connector 100 of the present embodiment is a connector for data transmission, and is used as a connector for high-speed transmission between devices, but is not limited thereto, and any connector may be applied as long as it is mounted on an end portion of a substrate.

The connector 100 of the present embodiment shown in fig. 1 includes: a connector body 102 (see fig. 4 and 5) mounted on the mounting surface 21 at the end of the board 20; and an interface portion (connection portion) 104 (see fig. 4 and 5) extending from the connector main body 102 and fitted and connected to the mating connector.

As shown in fig. 3 to 6, the connector 100 has a shape in which a bottom surface side of the connector body 102 is cut out to form a cutout 103. The connector body 102 is attached to an end portion of the substrate located in the cutout portion 103. Thus, the connector 100 is mounted on the board 20 with the interface portion 104 protruding from the end surface 22 of the board 20.

The interface unit 104 is electrically connected to a mating connector connected to another cable or another board by fitting the interface unit of the mating connector. The interface 104 is disposed to protrude from the end surface 22 of the substrate 20.

As shown in fig. 2, the interface 104 includes: a first fitting portion 112 having a first opening 112a that opens to the front surface side (front end side); and a second fitting portion 114 having a second opening portion 114 a. That is, the connector 100 of the present embodiment is configured to be electrically connected to each corresponding part of the interface portion of the mating connector by the two different types of first and second

fitting portions

112 and 114.

The first fitting portion 112 and the second fitting portion 114 are arranged in the left-right direction of the connector 100 (the direction parallel to the mounting surface 21 and along the end surface 22, the width direction of the connector 100). Thus, the interface portion 104 has an asymmetrical shape in the width direction, and the connector 100 itself has an asymmetrical shape in the left-right direction.

The first fitting portion 112 and the second fitting portion 114 are opened by the outer case 110 such that the first opening 112a and the second opening 114a are adjacent to each other. A key groove corresponding to the fitting shape of the mating connector to be connected is formed in the inner peripheral surface of the first opening 112a extending in the connection direction with the mating connector. The first fitting portion 112 is formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the fitting portion of the mating connector to be connected, and therefore can be fitted only to the mating connector having a specific shape of the fitting portion.

The first fitting portion 112 includes an outer housing 110, a cylindrical portion 122 covered with the outer housing 110, and a first terminal 130 provided in the cylindrical portion 122 and connected to a terminal of a mating connector.

As shown in fig. 7, the cylindrical portion 122 is integrally connected to the distal end portion of the housing 120, and the distal end side portion of the housing 120 is covered with the outer case 110.

The cylindrical portion 122 is disposed to face the front side (distal end side) together with the inner first terminal 130 in the first opening 112a of the outer case 110.

The cylindrical portion 122 and the housing 120 integral with the cylindrical portion 122 are formed by processing a plate material having conductivity, here, a metal plate.

The housing 120 is formed in a box shape opened on the bottom surface side, and covers the inner case 140 to which the first terminal 130 is fixed. In the front wall portion, the housing 120 connects the cylindrical portions 122 so as to continue the internal spaces of the two portions. Further, the outer shell 120 constitutes a main part of the connector body 102 together with the hammer 180 and the inner housing 140. As shown in fig. 4, four leg portions 121 are formed at the lower end of the housing 120 to protrude downward at predetermined intervals. The leg 121 is disposed so as to surround the rear end 132 of the first terminal 130 disposed in the first opening 112a (see fig. 2). The leg 121 is inserted into a through hole 224 (see fig. 11) formed corresponding to the substrate 20 and fixed to the ground by solder.

The inner case 140 is made of an insulating material, here, resin, and, as shown in fig. 4, 5, and 7, a rear end portion (connection end) 132 of the first terminal 130 connected to the substrate 20 is projected downward from the bottom surface. The rear end portions 132 of the first terminals 130 protruding from the bottom surface of the inner case 140 are inserted into the through holes 221 (see fig. 11) formed correspondingly in the substrate 20, and are soldered.

In addition to the first terminals 130, the connector 100 includes second terminals 150, and the second terminals 150 are disposed in the second openings 114 a.

As shown in fig. 2 and 8, in the second terminal 150, a tip end side portion to be a contact portion is arranged in the fitting direction in the second opening portion 114a of the second fitting portion 114. The distal end portion of the second terminal 150 is arranged in parallel with the first terminal 130 (distal end portion) in the first opening 112 a.

As shown in fig. 4, 6, and 8, the rear end portion 152 of the second terminal 150 is provided so as to protrude toward the bottom surface side, similarly to the rear end portion 132 of the first terminal 130. The rear end portion 152 is inserted into a through hole 222 (see fig. 11) formed correspondingly in the substrate 20, and solder-joined.

The rear end 132 of the first terminal 130 is inserted into the through hole 221, the rear end 152 of the second terminal 150 is inserted into the through hole 222, and the leg 121 is inserted into the through hole 224, whereby the connector 100 is positioned with respect to the board 20.

Fig. 9 is a view showing the weight portion 180 of the connector 100.

Here, the weight portion 180 is formed by processing a metal plate, as in the case 120. The weight portion 180 is formed in an inverted U shape in a rear view by the upper surface portion 181 and the both

side surface portions

182 and 183 so that the upper surface side and both side surface sides of the rear end portion of the housing 120 are covered by bending a metal plate. The weight portion 180 includes hooks 184 at both

side surface portions

182 and 183 to engage with both side surfaces of the housing 120.

The weight portion 180 restricts movement in the left-right direction (the width direction of the connector) with respect to the housing 120, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the connection direction of the mating connector and parallel to the mounting surface 21 of the board 20 by fitting the upper surface portion 181 and the

side surface portions

182 and 183 to the housing 120. By engaging the hook 184 with the housing 120, the weight 180 is restricted from moving vertically relative to the housing 120. Note that the weight portion 180 may be formed using a metal plate having the same thickness as the metal plate constituting the housing 120. Thus, unlike the structure of a conventional general connector in which the weight portion 180 is integrally formed with the housing 120 by aluminum die casting, the center of gravity G of the connector 100 can be positioned on the rear end side of the connector 100 only by bending the metal plate. That is, it is possible to easily take measures against noise immunity by processing an inexpensive metal plate without separately manufacturing an expensive die for manufacturing a die cast, to extend the life of the die itself by using a pressed component, to reduce the cost, and to hold the connector 100 at the end of the board 20 in a state where the center of gravity G is stabilized.

As shown in fig. 4 to 9, the connector 100 configured as described above includes leg portions 170(171 to 174) protruding downward on the bottom surface (mounting surface) 105. In fig. 4, the leg portions 170(171 to 174) are shown hatched for convenience.

The leg part 170 includes: when the connector 100 is mounted on the board 20, the two front side leg portions 171 and 172 (first leg portion 171 and second leg portion 172) and the two rear side leg portions (third leg portions) 173 and 174 are provided on the bottom surface 105 of the connector body 102 facing the mounting surface 21.

In the present embodiment, four leg portions, i.e., front-end

side leg portions

171 and 172 and rear-end

side leg portions

173 and 174, are provided. These front end

side leg portions

171, 172 and rear end

side leg portions

173, 174 form a gap between the bottom surface 105 and the mounting surface 21. The front-

end legs

171 and 172 are provided on the bottom surface 105 closer to the end surface 22 of the substrate 20 than the rear-

end legs

173 and 174. One or both of the

rear leg portions

173 and 174 are used as the third leg portion.

Fig. 10 is a bottom view showing a positional relationship between the leg portion and the center of gravity of the connector on the substrate, and fig. 11 is a side view showing a positional relationship between the leg portion and the center of gravity of the connector on the substrate.

The front-

end legs

171 and 172 are provided at intervals in the direction of the connector right and left, i.e., orthogonal to the connection direction of the interface unit 104, and along the mounting surface 21 of the board 20. The

distal leg portions

171 and 172 are disposed along the end surface 22 at intervals in the vicinity of the end surface 22. The centers of the front-

end legs

171 and 172 are adjacent to the end surface 22 in a bottom view and are spaced apart from each other. This allows the center of gravity of the connector 100 itself to be located at a position further spaced apart from the end surface 22 of the board 20.

The

rear end legs

173 and 174 are located inside the board 20, i.e., on the rear end side of the connector 100, with respect to the

front end legs

171 and 172.

As shown in fig. 10, the positions of these leg portions 171 to 174 are formed so that the center of gravity G of the connector 100 is located in triangular regions E1 and E2 that connect the front end

side leg portions

171 and 172 and the rear end

side leg portion

173 or 174 with a straight line when viewed from below (when viewed from the mounting surface 21 side). More specifically, the legs 171 to 174 are provided on the bottom surface 105 such that the center of gravity G is located in triangular regions (regions connecting the centers of the

legs

171, 172, 173 and the

legs

171, 172, 174) E1 and E2 formed by connecting the centers of the legs 171 to 174 (the center of the load applied from the connector 100) when viewed from above in a straight line.

In the connector 100, the center of gravity G of the connector 100 is located in either or both of the triangular region E1 between the

front legs

171 and 172 and the rear leg 173 and the triangular region E2 between the

front legs

171 and 172 and the rear leg 174.

As shown in fig. 11, it is preferable that the protrusion length L1 of the

front leg portions

171 and 172 protruding from the bottom surface of the connector 100 (the bottom surface 105 of the connector body 102) is equal to or longer than the protrusion length L2 of the

rear leg portions

173 and 174. In the present embodiment, L1> L2 is defined. The lengths L1 and L2 of the leg portions 171 to 174 may be set, for example, to a predetermined length (height from the substrate 20) n, such that the front end side is longer and the rear end side is shorter by a tolerance amount. The front

side leg portions

171 and 172 are n +0.05mm, respectively, and the rear

side leg portions

173 and 174 are n-0.05mm, respectively.

The connector body 102 of the connector 100 integrally includes a weight portion 180 fitted to the housing 120.

According to the connector 100 configured as described above, when the connector 100 is mounted on the board 20 by through-hole reflow soldering, first, the connector 100 is arranged in a corresponding portion in a state where a solder paste is thinly applied to the circuit pattern on the mounting surface 21 of the board 20 using a mask. At this time, the connector 100 is placed in a direction perpendicular to the substrate 20, and is thereby disposed in the corresponding portion.

With respect to the connector 100 on the mounting surface 21 of the board 20, the center of gravity G of the connector 100 is located between the front

side leg portions

171, 172 and the rear side leg portions 173, 174 (either may be used) (within the region E1 or E2 shown in fig. 11). Thus, even when the connector 100 is of a type having a shape that is asymmetric in the left-right direction and a shape that is different from a type having a shape that is symmetric in the left-right direction (a type having only the center of gravity of the first connection portion at the center of the connector), the connector 100 can be stably held on the mounting surface 21 in a state where the interface portion 104 extends from the end surface 22 of the board 20.

In the connector 100, the

front side legs

171 and 172 are higher than the rear side legs 173 and 174 (any one of them may be present) (L1> L2). According to this configuration, when the connector 100 itself is placed at a predetermined position on the mounting surface 21 of the board 20, it is mounted in an inclined state at a position closer to the rear side than the front side (front side). Thus, the center of gravity G of the connector 100 is located inside the board 20 with respect to the end face 22 of the board 20, i.e., in a direction spaced apart from the end face 22 of the board 20 in the area of the board 20. As a result, the connector 100 disposed at the end of the board 20 is maintained in a more stable state, and reflow soldering is performed in this state. Thus, the connector 100 is held at the end of the board 20 without rattling back and forth and right and left with respect to the board 20 and without being displaced in any one direction, and can be accurately and stably mounted by solder by reflow soldering.

That is, the connector main body 102 on the board 20 is not unnecessarily large, and the center of gravity G of the connector 100 can be located closer to the rear end side of the connector than the front end

side leg portions

171 and 172 in the region of the board 20.

In the connector 100 mounted on the end portion of the board 20 shown in fig. 11, even in a structure in which the length L3 from the end surface 22 of the board 20 to the front end of the connector 100 is equal to or longer than the length L4 from the end surface 22 of the board 20 to the rear end portion of the connector 100, the center of gravity G of the connector 100 is located closer to the rear end side of the connector 100 than the front end

side leg portions

171 and 172. Further, the center of gravity G is located in the regions E1 and E2 on the mounting surface 21.

Thus, even when the connector 100 is mounted on the end portion of the board 20, the connector can be mounted without being held in a state of swinging back and forth and left and right, and the board 20 itself including the connector 100 can be downsized.

In the present embodiment, the leg portions 170 are formed with the distal-

side leg portions

171 and 172 along the end edges spaced apart in the width direction on the bottom surface of the inner case 140, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be provided at the distal-side end portions of the bottom surface of the housing 120.

The

rear leg portions

173 and 174 are provided at the rear end side end portion of the bottom surface of the housing 120, but may be formed along the rear end side end portion of the bottom surface of the housing 120 and along the short side spaced apart in the width direction at the bottom surface of the inner case 140.

The embodiments disclosed herein are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined not by the above description but by the appended claims, and is intended to include all changes within the meaning and range equivalent to the claims.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. Further, the above description is illustrative of suitable embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the description of the configuration of the above-described apparatus and the shape of each part is an example, and it is needless to say that various changes and additions may be made to these examples within the scope of the present invention.

Industrial applicability

The connector of the present invention is useful as a connector to be mounted on a substrate of an electronic component for which miniaturization is desired.

Claims

1. A connector is provided with:

a connector body having a mounting surface opposed to a mounting surface of a substrate and mounted on the mounting surface; and

a connecting portion provided to protrude from the connector main body, extending from an end surface of the substrate, and connected to a counterpart connector,

the connector includes a first leg portion, a second leg portion, and a third leg portion that are provided so as to protrude from the mounting surface, that are in contact with the mounting surface, and that form a gap between the mounting surface and the mounting surface,

the first leg portion and the second leg portion are provided on the mounting surface at a position closer to an end surface side of the substrate than the third leg portion,

the connector body has:

a housing having conductivity, opening on the mounting surface side, and forming an outer peripheral portion of the connector body while being grounded to the mounting surface; and

a weight portion which is fitted to the rear end portion of the housing so as to cover an upper surface side and both side surface sides of the rear end portion of the housing and which is capable of adjusting a position of a center of gravity of the connector itself,

the hammer portion is formed by a metal plate,

the first leg portion, the second leg portion, and the third leg portion are provided on the mounting surface such that a center of gravity of the connector itself is located in a region connecting centers of the first leg portion, the second leg portion, and the third leg portion when viewed from the mounting surface side,

the connector is provided with a notch portion that cuts out the entire mounting surface side of the connector main body so that the connection portion protrudes from the end surface of the board,

the first leg portion and the second leg portion are provided adjacent to the connecting portion at the notch portion, respectively.

2. The connector of claim 1,

the first leg portion and the second leg portion have a longer protruding length than the third leg portion.

3. The connector of claim 1,

the shape of the connecting portion in the width direction is asymmetrical.

4. The connector of claim 1,

the length from the end face of the board to the end portion in the protruding direction of the connection portion, that is, the front end portion, is equal to or longer than the length from the end face of the board to the rear end portion of the connector body.