EP1178575B1 - Connector with a switching function - Google Patents

Connector with a switching function Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1178575B1
EP1178575B1 EP01117535A EP01117535A EP1178575B1 EP 1178575 B1 EP1178575 B1 EP 1178575B1 EP 01117535 A EP01117535 A EP 01117535A EP 01117535 A EP01117535 A EP 01117535A EP 1178575 B1 EP1178575 B1 EP 1178575B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
contact
switching
contact point
connector
switching contact
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP01117535A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1178575A1 (en
Inventor
Hideyuki Ohtani
Yosuke Saito
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Ltd
Original Assignee
Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Ltd filed Critical Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Ltd
Publication of EP1178575A1 publication Critical patent/EP1178575A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1178575B1 publication Critical patent/EP1178575B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/66—Structural association with built-in electrical component
    • H01R13/70—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in switch
    • H01R13/703—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in switch operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. dual-continuity coupling part
    • H01R13/7031—Shorting, shunting or bussing of different terminals interrupted or effected on engagement of coupling part, e.g. for ESD protection, line continuity
    • H01R13/7033—Shorting, shunting or bussing of different terminals interrupted or effected on engagement of coupling part, e.g. for ESD protection, line continuity making use of elastic extensions of the terminals
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/66—Structural association with built-in electrical component
    • H01R13/70—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in switch

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a connector with a switching function.
  • the connector is depicted by a reference numeral 105 and comprises a conductive switching contact 111 and an insulator 141 holding the conductive switching contact 111.
  • the switching contact 111 comprises a first contact 121 and a second contact 131.
  • the first contact 121 comprises a first spring portion 122 having a first switching contact point 129 formed at its one end, and a first holding portion 128 connected to the other end of the first spring portion 122.
  • the second contact 131 comprises a second spring portion 132 having a second switching contact point 139 formed at its one end, and a second holding portion 138 connected to the other end of the second spring portion 132.
  • the insulator 141 has a receiving portion 143 receiving and holding the switching contact 111, an insertion hole 141a formed in a front wall portion 141c of the insulator 141, and a contact insert hole 141b formed on a rear side.
  • the first switching contact point 129 is kept in contact with the second switching contact point 139 when a mating contact 153 of a mating connector 151 is not coupled or mated to the switching contact 111.
  • the mating contact 151 is inserted through the insertion hole 141a so that the first switching contact point 129 is brought into contact with the mating contact 153.
  • the mating contact 153 is inserted between the first and the second switching contact points 129 and 139 to push the first spring portion 122 downwardly.
  • a space or a contact point gap G2 is produced between the first and the second contacts 121 and 131, as illustrated in Fig. 2.
  • the contact point gap G2 is dependent upon the thickness of the mating contact 153. Therefore, in case where the connector 105 is reduced in size, the contact point gap G2 is inevitably reduced. This results in decrease in reliability. Furthermore, the switching contact 111 has a cantilevered shape. Therefore, in case where the spring portions 122 and 132 are shortened in length, insertion force is increased. This results in severe or serious wear of the first and the second contacts 121 and 131.
  • a connector with a switching function comprising first and second conductive contacts adapted to be brought into contact with and released from each other, and an insulator holding the first and the second conductive contacts, characterized in that the first conductive contact comprises a seesaw portion supported by the insulator to be movable in a seesaw movement in a predetermined direction, an operating portion formed at one end of the seesaw portion to be operated by a mating contact in the predetermined direction, and a contact point formed at the other end of the seesaw portion and faced to the second conductive contact in the predetermined direction.
  • the connector is depicted by a reference numeral 5 and comprises a switching contact 11 having a switching function, and an insulator 41.
  • the switching contact 11 comprises a first conductive contact 21 and a second conductive contact 31.
  • the first contact 21 has a main or primary spring portion 22, a subsidiary or secondary spring portion 23, a bent portion 24 connecting one ends of the main and the subsidiary spring portions 22 and 23 to each other, a first holding portion 29 connected to the other end of the subsidiary spring portion 23, and a first terminal portion 30 extending from the first holding portion 29 to the outside of the insulator 41.
  • the first contact 21 may be produced by punching and bending a single conductive plate. In this event, a combination of the main spring portion 22, the subsidiary spring portion 23, and the bent portion 24 forms a generally U-shaped profile in a side view.
  • the bent portion 24 is provided with an opening portion 25.
  • the main spring portion 22 has an operating portion or a contacting portion 26 protruding from its one end into the opening portion 25, a fulcrum portion 27 formed at an intermediate position of the main spring portion 22, and a first switching contact point 28 formed at a rear part extending from the fulcrum portion 27 to the other end. It is noted here that the distance from the fulcrum portion 27 to the first switching contact point 28 is greater than the distance from the fulcrum portion 27 to the contacting portion 26.
  • the insulator 41 has a receiving portion 43 receiving and holding the switching contact 11, an insertion hole 41a formed in a front wall portion 41c of the opening portion 25, and a contact insert hole 41b formed on a rear side.
  • the main spring portion 22 is faced to one wall portion 43a of the receiving portion 43.
  • the subsidiary spring portion 23 is faced to the other wall portion 43b of the receiving portion 43 which is opposite to the one wall portion 43a.
  • the first switching contact point 28 is faced to the first holding portion 29.
  • the first holding portion 29 is held by the other wall portion 43b.
  • the opening portion 25 serves to allow reception of a mating contact 53 of a mating connector 51 inserted from the outside of the bent portion 24 to an area between the main and the subsidiary spring portions 22 and 23 when the mating connector 51 is coupled to the connector 5.
  • the opening portion 25 further extends towards the subsidiary spring portion 23.
  • the contacting portion 26 is brought into contact with the mating contact 53 when the mating connector 51 is coupled to the connector 5.
  • the main and the subsidiary spring portions 22 and 23 are collectively and simultaneously forced by the mating contact 53 to be moved towards the one wall portion 43a.
  • the fulcrum portion 27 is supported by the one wall portion 43a.
  • a front part of the main spring portion 22 extending from the fulcrum portion 27 to the contacting portion 26 is inclined to be gradually apart from the one wall portion 43a towards the contacting portion 26.
  • the rear part of the main spring portion 22 from the fulcrum portion 27 to the other end extends along the one wall portion 43a.
  • the bent portion 24 urges the main spring portion 22 in a first direction (in Fig. 3, counterclockwise with respect to the fulcrum portion 27) to bring the first switching contact point 28 into contact with a second switching contact point 38 which will later be described.
  • the most part of the main spring portion 22 can be considered as a seesaw portion capable of performing with respect to the fulcrum portion 27 a seesaw movement in a predetermined direction, namely, the first direction and a second direction reverse to the first direction.
  • the second contact 31 comprises a second holding portion 32 of a flat shape, a holding member 33, the second switching contact point 38, and a second terminal portion 39.
  • the second holding portion 32 is inserted through the contact insert hole 41b of the insulator 41 towards the front wall portion 41c to be partially press fit into the insulator 41 and thereby held by the insulator 41.
  • the holding member 33 is bent from a flat plane of the second holding portion 32 to be perpendicular thereto and is held by the insulator 41.
  • the second switching contact point 38 is formed at a position faced to the first switching contact point 28 in the predetermined direction.
  • the second terminal portion 39 extends from the second switching contact point 38 to the outside of the insulator 41.
  • the second switching contact point 38 is located adjacent the one wall portion 43a. When the connector 5 is not coupled to the mating connector 51, the first and the second switching contact points 28 and 38 are kept in contact with each other.
  • the switching contact 11 of the above-mentioned structure is turned on and off when the connector 5 is coupled to and released from the mating connector 51.
  • the mating contact 53 passes through the insertion hole 41 a to be inserted into the opening portion 25. At this time, the mating contact 53 is brought into contact with the contacting portion 26 of the first contact 21. As a consequence, the mating contact 53 presses and displaces the contacting portion 26 in an upward direction (depicted by an arrow A in Fig. 5). Specifically, the mating contact 51 presses the contacting portion 26 in the second direction (in Fig.
  • the front part from the fulcrum portion 27 to the contacting portion 26 is located to extend along the one wall portion 43a while the rear part from the fulcrum portion 27 to the other end is inclined to be gradually apart from the one wall portion 43a towards the other end.
  • a space or a contact point gap G1 is formed between the first and the second switching contact points 28 and 38.
  • the mating contact 53 is brought into contact with the contacting portion 26 of the first contact 21. Therefore, electrical circuit connection is switched from an initial state into a switched state. Since the opening portion 25 extends from the bent portion 24 to the subsidiary spring portion 23, the opening portion 25 also serves to escape the mating contact 53 to be inserted upon coupling.
  • the main spring portion 22 When the mating contact 53 is released from the switching contact 11, the main spring portion 22 performs the seesaw movement in the first direction to bring the first switching contact point 28 into contact with the second switching contact point 38 as illustrated in Fig. 3. Thus, the electrical circuit connection is recovered into the initial state.
  • the first and the second switching contact points 28 and 38 are located at positions sufficiently apart from a contacting position of the contacting portion 26 of the first contact 21 and the mating contact 51. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility of improper or insufficient contact between the first and the second switching contact points 28 and 38 due to the attachment of dust or the like. Since the opening portion 25 also serves to escape the mating contact 21 to be inserted upon coupling, it is unnecessary to reserve a large mutual distance between the main and the subsidiary spring portions 22 and 23. Therefore, the height of the first contact 21 can be reduced. Accordingly, the height of the connector as a whole can be reduced. In addition, the contact point gap G1 can be freely adjusted by selecting the position of the fulcrum portion 27. Therefore, the contact point gap G1 can be determined irrespective of the size of the mating contact 51. Accordingly, a highly reliable connector with a switching function can be realized.
  • the contact point gap G1 can be adjusted as desired.
  • the second contact 31 can be formed by punching and bending a thin conductive plate in the manner similar to the first contact 21.
  • the insulator 41 may be covered with a thin metal shell which can be used as a ground.

Landscapes

  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
EP01117535A 2000-08-01 2001-07-20 Connector with a switching function Expired - Lifetime EP1178575B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2000233434A JP3427377B2 (ja) 2000-08-01 2000-08-01 スイッチ機能付きコネクタ
JP2000233434 2000-08-01

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1178575A1 EP1178575A1 (en) 2002-02-06
EP1178575B1 true EP1178575B1 (en) 2005-05-04

Family

ID=18725953

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01117535A Expired - Lifetime EP1178575B1 (en) 2000-08-01 2001-07-20 Connector with a switching function

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1178575B1 (zh)
JP (1) JP3427377B2 (zh)
KR (1) KR100427855B1 (zh)
CN (1) CN1149720C (zh)
AU (1) AU783927B2 (zh)
DE (1) DE60110507T2 (zh)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1930996A1 (en) * 2006-12-08 2008-06-11 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. A safety device for household ovens
US9583898B2 (en) * 2014-12-30 2017-02-28 Gibson Brands, Inc. Multiple contact jack
DE102016111565B4 (de) * 2016-06-23 2020-02-06 HARTING Electronics GmbH Elektrisches Leiteranschlusselement

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS59134385U (ja) * 1983-02-28 1984-09-08 株式会社ジヤルコ ジヤツク
JPS61186183U (zh) * 1985-05-13 1986-11-20
JPH024460Y2 (zh) * 1986-12-27 1990-02-01
FR2681733B1 (fr) * 1991-09-19 1993-12-10 Souriau Cie Contact femelle a palette elastique et palette pour un tel contact.
US5338215A (en) * 1993-03-19 1994-08-16 Molex Incorporated Jack assembly including a contact switching system
US5562486A (en) * 1993-04-21 1996-10-08 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Lock detection connector
JP3264311B2 (ja) * 1995-09-25 2002-03-11 矢崎総業株式会社 コネクタの結合検知装置
US5914846A (en) * 1997-05-06 1999-06-22 Tii Industries, Inc. Cable interconnection apparatus for network interface device
FR2766977B1 (fr) * 1997-08-04 1999-10-15 Seb Sa Dispositif de connexion pour appareil portatif
US6062885A (en) * 1999-04-23 2000-05-16 Molex Incorporated Electrical switch assembly

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
KR100427855B1 (ko) 2004-04-27
DE60110507T2 (de) 2006-02-23
JP3427377B2 (ja) 2003-07-14
EP1178575A1 (en) 2002-02-06
AU783927B2 (en) 2005-12-22
DE60110507D1 (de) 2005-06-09
CN1149720C (zh) 2004-05-12
KR20020011349A (ko) 2002-02-08
CN1335655A (zh) 2002-02-13
AU5429301A (en) 2002-02-07
JP2002050439A (ja) 2002-02-15

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