CN220544256U

CN220544256U - Connector and connector assembly

Info

Publication number: CN220544256U
Application number: CN202322204977.2U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 伍壮志; 宗俊; 董涛
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics Shanghai Co Ltd; Tyco Electronics Suzhou Ltd
Current assignee: Tyco Electronics Shanghai Co Ltd; Tyco Electronics Suzhou Ltd
Priority date: 2023-08-16
Filing date: 2023-08-16
Publication date: 2024-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 2033-08-16

Abstract

The utility model discloses a connector and a connector assembly. The connector includes: a housing including a base and a top cover mounted in a top opening of the base; and a terminal provided in the housing and fixed to the base, the terminal including a needle portion extending toward the top cover, the top cover being adapted to exert a predetermined pushing force on a flexible circuit board inserted into the housing so that the flexible circuit board is pierced by and in electrical contact with the needle portion. In the present utility model, the terminals are electrically connected to the flexible circuit board in a needled manner, and therefore, the length dimension of the terminals can be reduced, so that the volume of the connector can be reduced. In addition, the connector of the utility model has the advantages of simple structure, convenient assembly and the like.

Description

Connector and connector assembly

Technical Field

The present utility model relates to a connector and a connector assembly including the same.

Background

In the related art, a connector connected with a flexible circuit board (Flexible Printed Circuit, FPC) generally includes a housing and terminals provided in the housing. The terminals have resilient contact arms adapted to make electrical contact with a flexible circuit board inserted into the housing. However, in the prior art, the length of the elastic contact arm is large, resulting in a large connector. In addition, the existing connector has the defects of complex structure, difficult assembly and the like.

Disclosure of Invention

The present utility model is directed to solving at least one of the above-mentioned problems and disadvantages of the prior art.

According to one aspect of the present utility model, a connector is provided. The connector includes: a housing including a base and a top cover mounted in a top opening of the base; and a terminal provided in the housing and fixed to the base, the terminal including a needle portion extending toward the top cover, the top cover being adapted to exert a predetermined pushing force on a flexible circuit board inserted into the housing so that the flexible circuit board is pierced by and in electrical contact with the needle portion.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model, a recess is formed on a bottom surface of the top cover facing the needle-shaped portion, and the needle-shaped portion enters the recess after piercing the flexible circuit board and is adapted to be bent under pushing of an inner surface of the recess to improve reliability of electrical contact between the needle-shaped portion and the flexible circuit board.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present utility model, the base includes a bottom wall on which a terminal insertion groove is formed, the terminal being inserted into the terminal insertion groove, and the needle extends upward to the outside of the terminal insertion groove in the height direction of the housing.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present utility model, the terminal further includes: a terminal body having opposite ends in a longitudinal direction of the housing; and a fixing portion which is located between both ends of the terminal body and is connected with the terminal body, at least one needle-shaped portion is formed on both ends of the terminal body, and a protruding portion adapted to be interference fit with the terminal slot is formed on the fixing portion.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present utility model, a row of terminal slots is formed on the bottom wall, the row of terminal slots being aligned in a lateral direction of the housing; the connector includes a row of terminals that are respectively inserted into the row of terminal slots.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the utility model, the top cover is adapted to move in the height direction of the housing between a pre-lock position allowing insertion of a flexible circuit board into the housing and a final-lock position preventing removal of the flexible circuit board from the housing; the top cover is adapted to push the inserted flexible circuit board downward in a height direction of the housing during the movement of the top cover from the pre-lock position to the final lock position so that the flexible circuit board is pierced by the needle-like portions of the terminals.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present utility model, the housing has two insertion openings opposing in a longitudinal direction thereof to allow two flexible circuit boards to be inserted into the housing through the two insertion openings, respectively; the housing includes a pair of top covers arranged side by side in a longitudinal direction of the housing for pushing the two inserted flexible circuit boards, respectively.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present utility model, the base further includes a pair of side walls opposite in a lateral direction of the housing and a pair of positioning portions protrusively formed on an inner side of the bottom wall, the pair of positioning portions being respectively connected to the pair of side walls; positioning notches are formed on the side portions of the top cover, and protruding positioning ribs are formed on two sides of the positioning portion respectively and matched with the positioning notches to position the top cover.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present utility model, two pairs of engagement projections for respectively engaging with the engagement holes on the two flexible circuit boards are formed on the inner side of the bottom wall of the base, the two pairs of engagement projections being respectively located in the two insertion openings, and each pair of engagement projections being respectively adjacent to a pair of side walls of the base.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present utility model, when the top cover is in the pre-lock position, a bottom surface of the top cover is higher than a top surface of the engagement protrusion with a distance therebetween being not smaller than a thickness of the flexible circuit board to allow the flexible circuit board to be inserted into the housing from a gap between the top cover and the engagement protrusion.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present utility model, when the top cover is in the final locking position, a bottom surface of the top cover is lower than a top surface of the engagement protrusion, so that the inserted flexible circuit board cannot be moved upward to a position disengaged from the engagement protrusion.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present utility model, a preliminary locking step and a final locking step are formed at inner sides of a pair of side walls of the base, the preliminary locking step being higher than the final locking step in a height direction of the housing; the top cover is provided with two ends which are opposite in the transverse direction of the shell, and a pre-locking protrusion and a final-locking protrusion are respectively formed on the outer sides of the two ends of the top cover; the pre-lock protrusion engaging the pre-lock step when the top cover is in the pre-lock position to retain the top cover in the pre-lock position; the end lock tab engages the end lock step when the overcap is in the end lock position to retain the overcap in the end lock position.

According to another aspect of the present utility model, a connector assembly is provided. The connector assembly includes: the connector; and a flexible circuit board inserted into the housing of the connector to be in electrical contact with the terminals of the connector.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model, the connector assembly includes two flexible circuit boards inserted into the housing from two insertion openings that are longitudinally opposite to each other, respectively; needle-shaped parts on two ends of the terminal respectively pierce through the two flexible circuit boards and are respectively in electrical contact with the two flexible circuit boards.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present utility model, a pair of engagement holes for engaging with a pair of engagement protrusions on a base of the housing are formed on the flexible circuit board to lock the flexible circuit board to the housing.

In the foregoing respective exemplary embodiments according to the present utility model, the terminals are electrically connected with the flexible circuit board in a needled manner, and therefore, the length dimension of the terminals can be reduced, so that the volume of the connector can be reduced. In addition, the connector of the utility model has the advantages of simple structure, convenient assembly and the like.

Other objects and advantages of the present utility model will become apparent from the following description of the utility model with reference to the accompanying drawings, which provide a thorough understanding of the present utility model.

Drawings

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the utility model with a top cover in a pre-lock position;

FIG. 2 shows an exploded schematic view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the utility model;

fig. 3 shows an exploded cross-sectional view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the utility model;

fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the top cover of the connector as seen from the bottom according to an exemplary embodiment of the utility model;

fig. 5 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the utility model, with the top cover in a pre-lock position;

FIG. 6 shows a transverse cross-sectional view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the utility model with the top cover in a pre-lock position;

fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a base and terminals of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of a connector assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model with the top cover in a pre-lock position;

fig. 9 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a connector assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the utility model, with the top cover in a pre-lock position;

fig. 10 shows a schematic perspective view of a connector assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the utility model with the header in a final lock position;

fig. 11 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a connector assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the utility model with the header in a final lock position.

Detailed Description

The technical scheme of the utility model is further specifically described below through examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the specification, the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar components. The following description of embodiments of the present utility model with reference to the accompanying drawings is intended to illustrate the general inventive concept and should not be taken as limiting the utility model.

Furthermore, in the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. It may be evident, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in the drawings in order to simplify the drawings.

According to one general technical concept of the present utility model, a connector is provided. The connector includes: a housing including a base and a top cover mounted in a top opening of the base; and a terminal provided in the housing and fixed to the base, the terminal including a needle portion extending toward the top cover, the top cover being adapted to exert a predetermined pushing force on a flexible circuit board inserted into the housing so that the flexible circuit board is pierced by and in electrical contact with the needle portion.

According to another general technical concept of the present utility model, a connector assembly is provided. The connector assembly includes: the connector; and a flexible circuit board inserted into the housing of the connector to be in electrical contact with the terminals of the connector.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the utility model, wherein the top cover 12 is in a pre-lock position; FIG. 2 shows an exploded schematic view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the utility model; fig. 3 shows an exploded cross-sectional view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the utility model; fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the top cover 12 of the connector as seen from the bottom according to an exemplary embodiment of the utility model; fig. 5 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the utility model, with the top cover 12 in a pre-lock position; fig. 6 shows a transverse cross-sectional view of a connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the utility model, with the top cover 12 in a pre-lock position; fig. 7 shows a perspective view of the base 11 and the terminals 2 of the connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model.

As shown in fig. 1-7, in one exemplary embodiment of the present utility model, a connector is disclosed. The connector includes: a housing 1 and a terminal 2. The housing 1 includes a base 11 and a top cover 12 mounted in a top opening of the base 11. The terminal 2 is provided in the housing 1 and is fixed to the base 11.

Fig. 8 shows an exploded schematic view of a connector assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the utility model, wherein the top cover 12 is in a pre-lock position; fig. 9 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a connector assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the utility model, with the top cover 12 in a pre-lock position; fig. 10 shows a schematic perspective view of a connector assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the utility model, with the header 12 in a final lock position; fig. 11 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a connector assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the utility model, with the header 12 in a final lock position.

As shown in fig. 1 to 11, in the illustrated embodiment, the terminal 2 includes a needle portion 21 extending toward the top cover 12, and the top cover 12 is adapted to exert a predetermined pushing force on the flexible circuit board 3 inserted into the housing 1 so that the flexible circuit board 3 is pierced by the needle portion 21 of the terminal 2 and is in electrical contact with the needle portion 21 of the terminal 2.

As shown in fig. 1 to 11, in the illustrated embodiment, a recess 12d is formed on the bottom surface of the top cover 12 facing the needle-like portion 21, and the needle-like portion 21 enters the recess 12d after piercing the flexible circuit board 3 and is adapted to bend under pushing of the inner surface 12e of the recess 12d to improve the reliability of electrical contact between the needle-like portion 21 and the flexible circuit board 3.

As shown in fig. 1 to 11, in the illustrated embodiment, the base 11 includes a bottom wall 111, a terminal insertion groove 111a is formed on the bottom wall 111, the terminal 2 is inserted into the terminal insertion groove 111a, and the needle-like portion 21 extends upward to the outside of the terminal insertion groove 111a in the height direction Z of the housing 1.

As shown in fig. 1 to 11, in the illustrated embodiment, the terminal 2 further includes: a terminal body 20 and a fixing portion 22. The terminal body 20 has opposite ends in the longitudinal direction Y of the housing 1. The fixing portion 22 is located between both ends of the terminal body 20 and connected to the terminal body 20. At least one needle-like portion 21 is formed at each end of the terminal body 20, and a boss portion 22a adapted to be interference-fitted with the terminal insertion groove 111a is formed at the fixing portion 22.

As shown in fig. 1 to 11, in the illustrated embodiment, a row of terminal insertion grooves 111a is formed on the bottom wall 111, the row of terminal insertion grooves 111a being aligned in the lateral direction X of the housing 1. The connector includes a row of terminals 2, and the row of terminals 2 are respectively inserted into a row of terminal slots 111 a.

As shown in fig. 1 to 11, in the illustrated embodiment, the top cover 12 is adapted to move in the height direction Z of the housing 1 between a pre-lock position that allows insertion of the flexible circuit board 3 into the housing 1 and a final-lock position that prevents withdrawal of the flexible circuit board 3 from the housing 1.

As shown in fig. 1 to 11, in the illustrated embodiment, during the movement of the top cover 12 from the pre-lock position to the final lock position, the top cover 12 is adapted to push the inserted flexible circuit board 3 downward in the height direction Z of the housing 1 so that the flexible circuit board 3 is pierced by the needle-like portions 21 of the terminals 2.

As shown in fig. 1 to 11, in the illustrated embodiment, the housing 1 has two insertion ports 101 opposing in the longitudinal direction Y thereof to allow two flexible circuit boards 3 to be inserted into the housing 1 via the two insertion ports 101, respectively. The housing 1 includes a pair of top caps 12, the pair of top caps 12 being arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction Y of the housing 1 for pushing the two inserted flexible circuit boards 3, respectively.

As shown in fig. 1 to 11, in the illustrated embodiment, the base 11 further includes a pair of side walls 112 opposed in the lateral direction X of the housing 1 and a pair of positioning portions 113 protrusively formed on the inner side of the bottom wall 111, the pair of positioning portions 113 being respectively connected to the pair of side walls 112. Positioning notches 12c are formed on the side of the top cover 12, and protruding positioning ribs 113a are formed on both sides of the positioning portion 113, respectively, the positioning ribs 113a being engaged with the positioning notches 12c to position the top cover 12.

As shown in fig. 1 to 11, in the illustrated embodiment, two pairs of engagement projections 111b for respectively engaging with the engagement holes 3a on the two flexible circuit boards 3 are formed on the inner side of the bottom wall 111 of the base 11, the two pairs of engagement projections 111b are respectively located in the two insertion openings 101, and each pair of engagement projections 111b is respectively adjacent to a pair of side walls 112 of the base 11.

As shown in fig. 1 to 11, in the illustrated embodiment, when the top cover 12 is in the pre-lock position, the bottom surface of the top cover 12 is higher than the top surface of the engaging protrusion 111b with a spacing therebetween not smaller than the thickness of the flexible circuit board 3 to allow the flexible circuit board 3 to be inserted into the housing 1 from the gap between the top cover 12 and the engaging protrusion 111 b.

As shown in fig. 1 to 11, in the illustrated embodiment, when the top cover 12 is in the final lock position, the bottom surface of the top cover 12 is lower than the top surface of the engagement projection 111b, so that the inserted flexible circuit board 3 cannot be moved upward to a position disengaged from the engagement projection 111 b.

As shown in fig. 1 to 11, in the illustrated embodiment, a pre-lock step 112a and a final-lock step 112b are formed inside a pair of side walls 112 of the base 11. The preliminary lock step 112a is higher than the final lock step 112b in the height direction Z of the housing 1. The top cover 12 has opposite ends in the lateral direction X of the housing 1, and a pre-lock projection 12a and a final-lock projection 12b are formed on the outer sides of the ends of the top cover 12, respectively.

As shown in fig. 1-11, in the illustrated embodiment, when the top cover 12 is in the pre-lock position, the pre-lock protrusion 12a engages with the pre-lock step 112a to retain the top cover 12 in the pre-lock position. When the top cover 12 is in the final lock position, the final lock projection 12b engages with the final lock step 112b to hold the top cover 12 in the final lock position.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present utility model, as shown in fig. 1-11, a connector assembly is also disclosed. The connector assembly includes: the aforementioned connector and the flexible circuit board 3. The flexible circuit board 3 is inserted into the housing 1 of the connector to be in electrical contact with the terminals 2 of the connector.

As shown in fig. 1 to 11, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector assembly includes two flexible circuit boards 3, the two flexible circuit boards 3 being inserted into the housing 1 from two insertion ports 101 opposing each other in the longitudinal direction Y of the housing 1; the needle-like portions 21 on both ends of the terminal 2 pierce the two flexible circuit boards 3 respectively and make electrical contact with the two flexible circuit boards 3 respectively.

As shown in fig. 1 to 11, in the illustrated embodiment, a pair of engagement holes 3a are formed on the flexible circuit board 3, the pair of engagement holes 3a being for engagement with a pair of engagement projections 111b on the base 11 of the housing 1 to lock the flexible circuit board 3 to the housing 1.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above-described embodiments are exemplary and that modifications may be made to the embodiments described in various embodiments without structural or conceptual aspects and that these variations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the utility model.

Although the present utility model has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, the examples disclosed in the drawings are intended to illustrate preferred embodiments of the utility model and are not to be construed as limiting the utility model.

Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

It should be noted that the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and that the word "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. In addition, any element numbers of the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the utility model.

Claims

1. A connector, comprising:

a housing (1) comprising a base (11) and a top cover (12) mounted in a top opening of the base (11); and

a terminal (2) provided in the housing (1) and fixed to the base (11),

the terminal (2) comprises a needle (21) extending towards the cap (12), the cap (12) being adapted to exert a predetermined pushing force on a flexible circuit board (3) inserted into the housing (1) such that the flexible circuit board (3) is pierced by the needle (21) and is in electrical contact with the needle (21).

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein:

a recess (12 d) is formed on the bottom surface of the top cover (12) facing the needle-like portion (21), and the needle-like portion (21) enters the recess (12 d) after piercing the flexible circuit board (3) and is adapted to bend under pushing of an inner surface (12 e) of the recess (12 d) to improve the reliability of electrical contact between the needle-like portion (21) and the flexible circuit board (3).

3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein:

the base (11) includes a bottom wall (111), a terminal slot (111 a) is formed on the bottom wall (111), the terminal (2) is inserted into the terminal slot (111 a), and the needle-shaped portion (21) extends upward to the outside of the terminal slot (111 a) along a height direction (Z) of the housing (1).

4. A connector according to claim 3, wherein:

the terminal (2) further comprises:

a terminal body (20) having opposite ends in a longitudinal direction (Y) of the housing (1); and

a fixing part (22) which is positioned between two ends of the terminal main body (20) and is connected with the terminal main body (20),

at least one needle-like portion (21) is formed at each end of the terminal body (20), and a protruding portion (22 a) adapted to be interference-fitted with the terminal insertion groove (111 a) is formed on the fixing portion (22).

5. A connector according to claim 3, wherein:

-a row of terminal slots (111 a) is formed on the bottom wall (111), the row of terminal slots (111 a) being aligned along a transversal direction (X) of the housing (1);

the connector includes a row of terminals (2), the row of terminals (2) being respectively inserted into the row of terminal slots (111 a).

6. The connector according to any one of claims 3-5, wherein:

the top cover (12) is adapted to move along a height direction (Z) of the housing (1) between a pre-lock position allowing insertion of a flexible circuit board (3) into the housing (1) and a final-lock position preventing extraction of the flexible circuit board (3) from the housing (1);

during the movement of the top cover (12) from the pre-locking position to the final locking position, the top cover (12) is adapted to push the inserted flexible circuit board (3) downwards in the height direction (Z) of the housing (1) so that the flexible circuit board (3) is pierced by the needle-like portions (21) of the terminals (2).

7. The connector of claim 6, wherein:

the housing (1) has two insertion openings (101) opposing in a longitudinal direction (Y) thereof to allow two flexible circuit boards (3) to be inserted into the housing (1) via the two insertion openings (101), respectively;

the housing (1) includes a pair of top covers (12), the pair of top covers (12) being arranged side by side in a longitudinal direction (Y) of the housing (1) for pushing the two inserted flexible circuit boards (3) respectively.

8. The connector of claim 7, wherein:

the base (11) further includes a pair of side walls (112) opposed to each other in the lateral direction (X) of the housing (1) and a pair of positioning portions (113) formed protrusively on the inner side of the bottom wall (111), the pair of positioning portions (113) being connected to the pair of side walls (112), respectively;

positioning notches (12 c) are formed on the side portions of the top cover (12), and protruding positioning ribs (113 a) are formed on both sides of the positioning portion (113), respectively, the positioning ribs (113 a) being fitted with the positioning notches (12 c) to position the top cover (12).

9. The connector of claim 8, wherein:

two pairs of engagement projections (111 b) for engaging with the engagement holes (3 a) on the two flexible circuit boards (3), respectively, are formed on the inner side of the bottom wall (111) of the base (11), the two pairs of engagement projections (111 b) are located in the two insertion openings (101), respectively, and each pair of engagement projections (111 b) is adjacent to a pair of side walls (112) of the base (11), respectively.

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein:

when the top cover (12) is in the pre-lock position, a bottom surface of the top cover (12) is higher than a top surface of the engagement protrusion (111 b) with a spacing therebetween being not smaller than a thickness of the flexible circuit board (3) to allow the flexible circuit board (3) to be inserted into the housing (1) from a gap between the top cover (12) and the engagement protrusion (111 b).

11. The connector of claim 9, wherein:

when the top cover (12) is in the final lock position, the bottom surface of the top cover (12) is lower than the top surface of the engagement projection (111 b) so that the inserted flexible circuit board (3) cannot be moved upward to a position disengaged from the engagement projection (111 b).

12. The connector of claim 6, wherein:

a pre-lock step (112 a) and a final-lock step (112 b) are formed on the inner sides of a pair of side walls (112) of the base (11), the pre-lock step (112 a) being higher than the final-lock step (112 b) in the height direction (Z) of the housing (1);

the top cover (12) has opposite ends in the lateral direction (X) of the housing (1), and a pre-lock protrusion (12 a) and a final-lock protrusion (12 b) are formed on the outer sides of the two ends of the top cover (12), respectively;

when the top cover (12) is in the pre-lock position, the pre-lock protrusion (12 a) engages with the pre-lock step (112 a) to hold the top cover (12) in the pre-lock position;

when the overcap (12) is in the final lock position, the final lock tab (12 b) engages with the final lock step (112 b) to retain the overcap (12) in the final lock position.

13. A connector assembly, comprising:

the connector of any one of claims 1-12; and

a flexible circuit board (3) inserted into the housing (1) of the connector to be in electrical contact with the terminals (2) of the connector.

14. The connector assembly of claim 13, wherein:

the connector assembly comprises two flexible circuit boards (3), wherein the two flexible circuit boards (3) are respectively inserted into the shell (1) from two insertion ports (101) opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction (Y) of the shell (1);

needle-shaped parts (21) on both ends of the terminal (2) pierce the two flexible circuit boards (3) respectively and are in electrical contact with the two flexible circuit boards (3) respectively.

15. The connector assembly of claim 13, wherein:

a pair of engagement holes (3 a) are formed on the flexible circuit board (3), the pair of engagement holes (3 a) being for engagement with a pair of engagement projections (111 b) on a base (11) of the housing (1) to lock the flexible circuit board (3) to the housing (1).