CN215266771U

CN215266771U - Connector with a locking member

Info

Publication number: CN215266771U
Application number: CN202120012562.3U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 柳承门; 权寄灿
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP Korea Co Ltd
Current assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP Korea Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-01-07
Filing date: 2021-01-05
Publication date: 2021-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 2031-01-05
Also published as: KR20210089072A

Abstract

A connector for connecting to a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), comprising: a main housing including a head receiving portion and a plug receiving portion; an inner seal inserted into the head receiving portion, wherein one face of the inner seal is disposed to contact the plug receiving portion; a head including a head base configured to be caught by the head receiving portion, a protrusion protruding upward from the head base and inserted into the inner seal, and a head terminal configured to be mounted on the head base and to contact the printed circuit board; and a plug configured to be inserted into the plug-receiving portion and connected to the head terminal.

Description

Connector with a locking member

Cross reference to related applications

This application claims the benefit of korean patent application No. 10-2020-.

Technical Field

One or more example embodiments relate to a connector.

Background

A connector connected to a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) provided in a camera module or the like may include a header terminal (header terminal) connected to the printed circuit board. Typically, a separate process of mounting a separate connector on a printed circuit board may be required to physically and electrically connect the header terminals to the printed circuit board.

In some cases, the seal of a typical connector is exposed to the outside. The seal is used to prevent water or foreign matter from entering the gap between the plug and the housing. When the seal is exposed to the outside of the plug, the seal may be damaged while the connector is moving. However, the shape of the plug is modified to hide the seal, and the size of the plug may be increased.

Therefore, there is a desire for a technology for achieving stable contact between a connector and a printed circuit board without mounting a separate connector on the printed circuit board, maintaining a compact size of the connector, and achieving a waterproof structure.

The foregoing description has been provided or obtained by the inventor(s) in the course of conceiving this disclosure and is not necessarily a well-known technique until the filing date of this application.

Disclosure of Invention

One aspect is to provide a connector.

According to an aspect, there is provided a connector connected to a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), the connector comprising: a main housing including a head receiving portion and a plug receiving portion; an inner seal inserted into the head receiving portion, wherein one face of the inner seal is disposed to contact the plug receiving portion; a head including a head base configured to be caught by the head receiving portion, a protrusion protruding upward from the head base and inserted into the inner seal, and a head terminal configured to be mounted on the head base and to contact the printed circuit board; and a plug configured to be inserted into the plug-receiving portion and connected to the head terminal.

The head terminal may include: a terminal body provided in parallel with a direction in which the head is inserted into the head receiving portion; and an inclined portion extending from the terminal body and provided to be inclined with respect to a longitudinal direction of the terminal body.

The header terminal may be configured to contact the printed circuit board at an end portion of the inclined portion, the end portion being spaced furthest from the terminal body.

The header may further include a bent portion which is convexly formed toward the header terminal and is in surface contact with a portion in which the terminal body and the inclined portion are connected.

The header terminal may further include a damage prevention portion provided to be inclined with respect to a longitudinal direction of the inclined portion in the same direction as an inclined direction of the inclined portion with respect to the terminal body.

The header terminal may be configured to contact the printed circuit board at a portion connecting the inclined portion and the damage prevention portion.

The head may further include a center plate positioned closer to a center of the head base than the protrusion, and formed to protrude upward from the head base.

The center plate may include an alignment slot configured to receive at least a portion of the header terminal to align the position of the header terminal.

The header terminal may be provided as a plurality of header terminals. Some of the plurality of header terminals may be arranged spaced apart from each other on the same face of the center plate. Two of the plurality of header terminals may be disposed on opposite sides of the center plate.

The head terminal may include: a terminal body disposed in parallel with a direction in which the head is inserted into the head receiving portion and configured to be mounted on the head base while at least a portion of the terminal body is inserted into the head base; a support part which is arranged above the terminal body and is supported by the central plate; and a contact portion disposed between the terminal body and the support portion to contact the plug.

The contact portion may be convexly shaped in a direction of increasing distance from the center plate.

The plug may include: a plug header body configured to receive the central panel; and a plate guide formed at one end of the plug head body, having a shape in which a width increases toward the head, and guiding the central plate into.

The plug may further comprise a plug terminal configured to be mounted on the plug header body, and wherein a width of an area of the plug terminal exposed outside the plug header body may increase toward an end portion of the plug header body near the header.

The protrusion may be formed in a shape having a closed curve around the center of the center plate.

The connector may further include a resin portion formed into the protrusion portion.

The central panel may have a height greater than the height of the projections.

The head may further include a terminal guide formed to protrude from the head base in a direction opposite to the protrusion and formed to have a width smaller than that of the head base.

The inner seal may be arranged to be compressed by the head and the main housing in a state in which the head is fixed to the main housing.

The head may be laser welded to the main housing.

The head may be matingly secured to the main housing.

According to example embodiments, it is possible to achieve stable contact between a connector and a printed circuit board without mounting a separate connector on the printed circuit board, it is possible to maintain a compact size of the connector, and it is possible to achieve a waterproof structure.

Additional aspects of the example embodiments will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.

Drawings

These and/or other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a connector according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially in section, illustrating a connector connected with a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) according to an example embodiment;

fig. 3A is an exploded view illustrating a connector and a printed circuit board according to an example embodiment;

fig. 3B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a connector according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a head according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG. 4;

fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the head terminal of fig. 5 illustrating the lower end being bent;

fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the head terminal of fig. 6 illustrating the lower end being bent again;

fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a plug head according to an example embodiment; and

fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX of fig. 8.

Detailed Description

The following structural or functional descriptions of the example embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure are intended only for the purpose of describing the example embodiments, and the example embodiments may be implemented in various forms. The example embodiments are not intended to be limiting, and various modifications, equivalents, and alternatives are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.

Although the terms "first" or "second" are used to describe various components, the components are not limited to the terms. These terms should be used only to distinguish one element from another. For example, within the scope of rights in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure, a "first" member may be referred to as a "second" member, or the like, and a "second" member may be referred to as a "first" member.

Throughout the specification, when an element such as a layer, region or substrate is described as being "on," "connected to" or "coupled to" another element, it may be directly on, "connected to" or "coupled to" the other element or one or more other elements may be present therebetween.

As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Members having a function common to those included in one example embodiment are described using the same name in another example embodiment. Unless otherwise described, the description made in one example embodiment may be applied to another example embodiment, and detailed description within the exact same scope is omitted.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including all technical and scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries will be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Hereinafter, example embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Regarding reference numerals assigned to elements in the drawings, it should be noted that the same elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description thereof will be omitted.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a connector according to an example embodiment, fig. 2 is a partially cut-away perspective view illustrating the connector connected with a printed circuit board according to an example embodiment, and fig. 3A is an exploded view illustrating the connector and the printed circuit board according to an example embodiment. Fig. 3B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a connector according to an example embodiment.

Referring to fig. 1 through 3B, the connector 100 may be connected to a printed circuit board P according to an example embodiment. The connector 100 may include header terminals 12 that are physically or electrically connected to contact areas C of the printed circuit board P. Here, no separate connector is provided in the contact region C. The head terminal 12 may have an inclined shape. A portion of the header terminal 12 may contact the contact region C. For example, when the connector 100 is connected to the printed circuit board P, the head terminal 12 may be connected to the printed circuit board P in such a manner that the head terminal 12 is pressed by the printed circuit board P. The inclination angle of the header terminal 12 may be increased in the process of connecting the header terminal 12 to the printed circuit board P.

The connector 100 may include a main housing 3, a header 1 mounted on the main housing 3, a plug 2, and an inner seal 4.

The main housing 3 may include a housing body 31, a head receiving portion 32 formed into the housing body 31, and a plug receiving portion 33. For example, the head receiving portion 32 and the plug receiving portion 33 may be disposed in a central portion of the housing body 31. The housing body 31, the head receiving portion 32, and the plug receiving portion 33 may be integrally formed, or formed as separate members and connected.

Each of the head receiving part 32 and the plug receiving part 33 may have an accommodation space therein. The accommodation spaces of the head receiving portion 32 and the plug receiving portion 33 may be formed side by side. The width W1 of the accommodation space of the head receiver 32 may be greater than the width W2 of the accommodation space of the plug receiver 33. A portion of the plug-receiving portion 33 may be exposed to the outside in a direction in which the plug 2 is mounted on the main case 3. In other words, the step S may be formed between the head receiving portion 32 and the plug receiving portion 33. The position where the inner seal 4 is fixed may be set at the step.

A coupling protrusion 33a may be provided on an outer surface of the plug-receiving portion 33 to fix the plug 2.

The inner seal 4 may be mounted to the main housing 3 before the head 1 is mounted to the main housing 3. The inner seal 4 may realize a waterproof structure in the main casing 3. For example, when water enters the main housing 3 from the outside, the inner seal 4 may prevent the water from passing through the main housing 3. The inner seal 4 may be provided in compression in the main housing 3.

After the inner seal 4 is mounted on the main housing 3, the head 1 may be mounted on the main housing 3 to secure the inner seal 4. The edge portion of the head 1 may be caught by one end of the head receiving portion 32. The inner portion of the edge portion of the head 1 can be inserted into the inner seal 4. The header 1 can stably support the header terminal 12. The header 1 may include a header terminal 12.

The plug 2 may include: a plug head 21 inserted into the plug receiving portion 33; a plug body 22 supporting the plug head 21; and a plug cable 23 connected to the plug head 21 through the plug body 22. Plug body 22 may include coupling plate 22a to be caught by coupling protrusion 33 a. The plug header 21 may include a plug terminal 212 physically and electrically connected to the header terminal 12.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a head according to an example embodiment, and fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V of fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the header terminal of fig. 5 illustrating the lower end being bent, and fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the header terminal of fig. 6 illustrating the lower end being bent again.

Referring to fig. 4 to 7, the header 1 may include a header body 11, a header terminal 12, and a resin part 13. The head body 11 may include a head base 111, a center plate 112, a protrusion 113, and a terminal guide 114. The bent portion 114a may be formed in the terminal guide 114.

The header body 11 may include a bent portion 114a which is convexly formed toward the header terminal 12 and is in surface contact with a portion 12f in which the terminal body 12c and the inclined portion 12d are connected. Due to the bent portion 114a, the strength of the pressure applied to the inclined portion 12d may be reduced while the inclined portion 12d is bent. Although the bent portion 114a formed in the terminal guide 114 is illustrated in the drawings, the embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, in the case where the terminal guide is not provided therein, the bent portion 114a may be formed on one side of the head base 111.

The head base 111 may have a plate shape. The head base 111 may have a rim portion 111 a. The edge portion 111a of the head base 111 can be caught by the main casing 3 (refer to fig. 2). It is possible for one face 111b of the edge portion 111a to be in surface contact with the head receiving portion 32 of the main casing 3 (refer to fig. 3A). As an example, one face 111b of the edge portion 111a may be fixed to the head receiving portion 32 of the housing 3 by laser welding. In this example, an inner seal may not be required. However, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, even in such cases, an inner seal may be included.

As another example, the head 1 may be mounted on the main housing 3 in such a manner that the protrusion 113 is fitted into the inner seal 4 (refer to fig. 3A). In this example, the waterproof structure can be realized at a relatively low cost. The header base 111 may have holes for passing and supporting the header terminals 12.

A center plate 112 may protrude upward from the head base 111. The center plate 112 may be formed near the center of the head base 111. The center plate 112 may include a terminal alignment portion 112a for receiving at least a portion of the header terminal 12. The number of terminal alignment portions 112a may correspond to the number of header terminals 12.

The protrusion 113 may protrude upward from the head base 111. The protrusion 113 may have a shape of a closed curve based on the center of the center plate 112. In other words, the projections 113 may envelop the center plate 112. In such a structure, the resin portion 13 may be provided inside the protruding portion 113. In a state in which the head terminal 12 is mounted on the head body 11, a liquid resin may be injected into the protrusion 113. The resin may be cured to realize a waterproof structure of the inner space of the protrusion 113. Water entering the protrusion 113 may be prevented from moving downward by the resin.

The protrusion 113 may be formed at a height lower than that of the center plate 112. According to such a structure, even if the liquid resin is injected into the protruding portion 113, the contact portion 12b of the head terminal 12 may be exposed to the outside.

The terminal guide 114 may be formed to protrude from the head base 111. The terminal guide 114 may protrude in a direction opposite to the protrusion 113. The terminal guide 114 can help the header terminal 12 to be supported by the header 1 in a large area. Terminal guide 114 can reduce the wobbling of head terminal 12. The terminal guide 114 may have a width smaller than that of the head base 111. According to such a structure, the head terminal 12 can be stably supported while achieving compactness of the head body 11.

A plurality of header terminals 12 may be provided. For example, six header terminals 12 may be provided. Based on the center plate 112, three header terminals 12 may be provided on one side, and the remaining three header terminals 12 may be provided on the other side. The header terminals 12 provided on the same side based on the center plates 112 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other.

The header terminal 12 may include a terminal body 12c, a support portion 12a and a contact portion 12b formed on the terminal body 12c, and an inclined portion 12d and a damage prevention portion 12e formed under the terminal body 12 c.

The terminal body 12c may be mounted on the head base 111. The terminal body 12c may be disposed in parallel with a direction in which the header 1 is inserted into the header receiving portion 32 (refer to fig. 4) of the main housing. The terminal body 12c may correspond to a central region of the head terminal 12. Also, the position and orientation of the terminal body 12a can be fixed by the head base 111. The terminal body 12c may be mounted in a hole formed in the head base 111.

The support portion 12a may be provided above the terminal body 12c, and may correspond to an area supported by the center plate 112. The support portion 12a may be seated in the terminal alignment portion 112a of the center plate 112. The terminal alignment part 112a may be shaped to have a relatively wide upper portion and a relatively narrow lower portion. The position of the support portion 12a may be aligned in such a manner that the support portion 12a slides from top to bottom in the terminal alignment portion 112 a. For example, in a region where the support portion 12a is fully seated in the center plate 112, the width of the terminal alignment portion 112a may be the same as the width of the support portion 12 a.

The contact portion 12b may be formed between the terminal body 12c and the support portion 12 a. The contact portion 12b may contact the plug 2 (refer to fig. 3A). For example, the center plate 112 may enter the plug header 21 (refer to fig. 3A) such that the contact portion 12b is physically and electrically connected to a plug terminal (not shown) provided in the plug header 21. The contact portion 12b may be convexly shaped in a direction in which the distance from the center plate 112 increases.

The inclined portion 12d may extend from the terminal body 12c and be inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the terminal body 12 c. The header terminal 12 may contact the printed circuit board P (refer to fig. 2) at an end portion of the inclined portion 12d, the end portion being most spaced apart from the terminal body 12 c. The angle of the inclined portion 12d with respect to the terminal body 12c may vary based on the length of the head terminal 12 pressed by the printed circuit board P (refer to fig. 2). For example, while the printed circuit board P is mounted to the connector 100 (refer to fig. 1), the printed circuit board P may press the head terminals 12 and deform the head terminals 12. When the inclination of the head terminal 12 is increased, the head terminal 12 can more stably contact the printed circuit board P by the restoring force.

The damage preventing portion 12e may be inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the inclined portion 12d in the same direction as the inclined portion 12d with respect to the terminal body 12 c. For example, in the case of the header terminal 12 shown in the left part of fig. 5, the inclined portion 12d may be inclined clockwise with respect to the longitudinal direction of the terminal body 12 c. Likewise, the breakage preventing portion 12e of the header terminal 12 may be inclined clockwise with respect to the inclined portion 12 d. The damage preventing part 12e may help the header terminal 12 so that the header terminal 12 does not contact the printed circuit board P (refer to fig. 2) through the tip portion. The head terminal 12 may contact the printed circuit board at a portion where the inclined portion 12d and the damage preventing portion 12e are connected.

The header terminal 12 may be sequentially bent. As an example, the damage preventing portion 12e may be formed, and then the inclined portion 12d may be formed. As another example, the inclined portion 12d may be formed, and then the damage preventing portion 12e may be formed.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a plug head according to an example embodiment, and fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX of fig. 8.

Referring to fig. 8 and 9, the plug header 21 may include a plug header body 211, a plug terminal 212, and a board guide 213.

The plug header body 211 may include: a main body portion 2111 received in the plug receiving portion; and an auxiliary body portion 2112 protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 2111. The plug body may be connected to a step formed between main body portion 2111 and auxiliary body portion 2112. The plug head body 211 may have a receiving space a. The head can be inserted into the receiving space a.

The plug header body 211 may have an exposure hole H through which the plug terminal 212 is exposed toward the receiving space a. The exposure holes H may be formed to correspond to the number of the plug terminals 212. Through the exposure hole H, the plug terminal 212 may contact the contact portion 12b of the head terminal 12.

The plug terminal 212 may be mounted on the plug header body 211. A portion of the plug terminal 212 may be exposed to the outside. For example, the plug terminal 212 may be exposed to the outside of the plug header body 211 in a direction intersecting the direction in which the plug header 21 is inserted into the main housing.

The width of the region in which the plug terminal 212 is exposed to the outside of the plug header body 211 may increase toward the end portion of the plug header body 211 near the header. In other words, the plug header body 211 may have a shape for guiding the header terminal that contacts the plug terminal 212. For example, in plug terminal 212, the width L1 of the lower portion may be greater than the width L2 of the upper portion. According to such a structure, the plug can be aligned while the plug is mounted to the main housing.

A plate guide 213 may be formed at one end of the plug head body 211, have a shape in which the width increases toward the head, and guide the central plate in.

According to example embodiments, the connector may stably contact a printed circuit board without mounting a separate connector on the printed circuit board, maintain a compact size of the connector, and implement a waterproof structure.

While the present disclosure includes specific example embodiments, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and their equivalents. The example embodiments described herein are to be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The description of features or aspects in each example embodiment will be considered applicable to similar features or aspects in other example embodiments. Suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order and/or if components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents.

Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is defined not by the detailed description but by the claims and their equivalents, and all modifications within the scope of the claims and their equivalents are to be construed as being included in the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting to a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), the connector comprising:

a main housing including a head receiving portion and a plug receiving portion;

an inner seal inserted into the head receiving portion, wherein one face of the inner seal is disposed to contact the plug receiving portion;

a header including a header base configured to be caught by the header receiving portion, a protrusion protruding upward from the header base and inserted into the inner seal, and a header terminal configured to be mounted on the header base and to contact the printed circuit board; and

a plug configured to be inserted into the plug receiving portion and connected to the head terminal.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the head terminal comprises:

a terminal body provided in parallel with a direction in which the head portion is inserted into the head portion receiving portion; and

an inclined portion extending from the terminal body and provided to be inclined with respect to a longitudinal direction of the terminal body.

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein the header terminal is configured to contact the printed circuit board at an end portion of the ramp, the end portion being spaced furthest from the terminal body.

4. The connector of claim 2, wherein the head further comprises:

a bent portion convexly formed toward the head terminal and in surface contact with a portion in which the terminal body and the inclined portion are connected.

5. The connector of claim 2, wherein the head terminal further comprises:

a damage prevention portion provided to be inclined with respect to a longitudinal direction of the inclined portion in the same direction as an inclined direction of the inclined portion with respect to the terminal body.

6. The connector according to claim 5, wherein the header terminal is configured to contact the printed circuit board at a portion connecting the inclined portion and the damage preventing portion.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the head further comprises:

a center plate positioned closer to a center of the head base than the protrusion, and formed to protrude upward from the head base.

8. The connector of claim 7, wherein the center plate includes an alignment slot configured to receive at least a portion of the header terminal to align the position of the header terminal.

9. The connector according to claim 7, wherein the header terminal is provided as a plurality of header terminals,

some of the plurality of header terminals are arranged spaced apart from each other on the same face of the center plate, and

two of the plurality of header terminals are disposed on opposite sides based on the center plate.

10. The connector of claim 7, wherein the head terminal comprises:

a terminal body provided in parallel with a direction in which the head is inserted into the head receiving portion and configured to be mounted on the head base while at least a portion of the terminal body is inserted into the head base;

a support portion disposed above the terminal body and supported by the center plate; and

a contact portion disposed between the terminal body and the support portion to contact the plug.

11. The connector of claim 10, wherein the contact portion is convexly shaped in a direction of increasing distance from the center plate.

12. The connector of claim 10, wherein the plug comprises:

a plug header body configured to receive the central panel; and

a plate guide formed at one end of the plug head body, having a shape in which a width increases toward the head, and guiding the center plate in.

13. The connector of claim 12, wherein the plug further comprises a plug terminal configured to be mounted on the plug header body, and

wherein a width of an area of the plug terminal exposed outside the plug header body increases toward an end portion of the plug header body near the header portion.

14. The connector of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is formed to have a shape of a closed curve around the center of the center plate.

15. The connector of claim 14, further comprising:

a resin portion formed into the protruding portion.

16. The connector of claim 1, wherein the head further comprises:

a terminal guide formed to protrude from the head base in a direction opposite to the protruding portion and formed to have a width smaller than that of the head base.

17. The connector of claim 1, wherein the inner seal is configured to be compressed by the head and the main housing in a state in which the head is secured to the main housing.

18. The connector of claim 1, wherein the header is laser welded to the main housing.

19. The connector of claim 1, wherein the head is matingly secured to the main housing.