EP1304771B1

EP1304771B1 - Electrical connector

Info

Publication number: EP1304771B1
Application number: EP01308889A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yoshiaki c/o SMK Corporation Suzuki
Original assignee: SMK Corp
Current assignee: SMK Corp
Priority date: 2001-10-19
Filing date: 2001-10-19
Publication date: 2006-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 2021-10-19
Also published as: EP1304771A1; ATE338360T1; DE60122738D1; HK1052583A1

Abstract

A jack (1) includes a housing (10) having a cylindrical part (20), a body (21), and at least one external connection terminal (11,12). The cylindrical part includes a plug (60) insertion hole and the body includes an inner chamber. The plug insertion hole and the chamber receive a plug for electrical connection to a circuit. The external connection terminals are fixed to the housing in grooves (24) to simplify assembly. The external connection terminals include elastic parts (43,53) and contact parts (42,52). During an assembly with the plug, elastic parts elastically urge contact parts into electrical contact with an inner conduction portion of the plug and provide secure electrical connection. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical connector (jack). More specifically, the present invention relates to an electrical connector which has both internal connection terminals and external connection terminals for use in mobile phones or other equipment.
It is to be understood that the term "jack" and the term "electrical connector" have the same meaning throughout the following description where the terms are used interchangeably.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Number 64-63283, discloses a connector including a housing and an internal contact. The housing includes a tubular part. The internal contact has a contact part placed in an interior of the housing. A cap-shaped external contact is located on the tubular part. Audio signals are transmitted from a device to a headphone (including an earphone) by the internal contact. The external contact transmits a control signal from a remote control to the device.
The external contact is cap-shaped and is held in place by joining to an end portion of the housing. In use, the external contact is connected to the electrical connector (jack). Unfortunately, in this device, the jack is so small that a jack of useful size has room for only one external contact. The control signal that is transmitted is therefore limited, and the jack cannot be used for a multi-functional portable audio device.
There is a requirement for a multipolar connector equipped with a plurality of external contacts and an internal contact.
There is a further requirement for a multipolar jack connector that allows secure electrical connection between a plurality of external contacts and at least one internal contact.
There is another requirement for a connector that may be easily adapted for use in a plurality of portable and fixed electronic devices and for a connector that may be easily adapted to multi-functional uses.
A further requirement exists for a connector that is easy to manufacture and provides stable and secure connection to a plug while eliminating instability during soldering to a substrate.
GB-A-2, 139, 018 discloses a coaxial cable connector which includes plug and jack connector members. The plug member comprises an electrically conductive outer shell electrically connected to the outer conductor of the coaxial cable and an internal conductor electrically connected to the inner conductor of the coaxial cable. The outer shell has a generally cylindrical shape with an annular groove formed in the inner surface of the shell for receiving respective radial projections provided at the end of spring-loaded arms that are circumferentially spaced about the jack connector member. On connecting the plug and jack connector together, an internal central connector of the jack and the protrusions of the spring-loaded arms engaged the annular channel.
EP-A-0, 871, 077 describes an electrical connection for a printing machine in which a pair of connectors are mounted on a housing for high voltage power supply circuits. The connectors each comprise a receptacle mounted on the housing for receiving an external connector from a printing machine component. An internal contact is located inside each of the receptacles for electrically connecting power supply from the power circuit to the plug type connector of the printing machine component to be connected to the power supply. A second contact on the external side of the housing electrically connects circuitry from the power supply to a second connector on the printing machine component.
EP-A-1, 202, 400 describes a multi-pole jack (electrical connector) which is configured to have an increased number of electrodes by the provision of a cylindrical body portion of the connector on which the electrodes are mounted. One of the electrodes is in the form of an external electrical terminal having a contact part at one end of an elastic part which extends parallel to the plug insertion direction, a soldering terminal which extends perpendicular to the general plane of the elastic part, and an attachment piece comprising the main terminal body which fixes the terminal in an attachment groove in the body of the connector. The elastic part and the contact constitute a means for providing an elastic engagement against an inner portion of a plug when electrically connected to the jack.
A further requirement exists for a connector that is readily adapted to handle a plurality of signals or remote controlled devices, such as headphones.
According to the invention there is provided an electrical connector for electrically connecting a plug to a circuit, comprising:

a housing;
said housing including a body part and an insertion part;
said insertion part having a first perimeter and an insertion hole;
said body part bounding a chamber adjacent said insertion hole;
said insertion hole and said chamber being effective to receive said plug along a plug insertion direction;
at least a first external connection terminal in said housing;
said first external connection terminal includes at least a first contact part, a first elastic part ,a first leg part , a first latching tab and a first holding part;
said first elastic part extending parallel to said plug insertion direction;
said first leg part extending perpendicular to said plug insertion direction;
said first latching tab fixing said first external connection terminal in at least a first longitudinally extending groove in said housing;
said first contact part extending away from said insertion hole and being proximate said first perimeter; and
said first elastic part and said first contact part including means for providing an elastic engagement for said plug at a first inner portion of said plug and for displacing said first contact part toward said insertion hole, whereby said connector enables reliable and elastic electrical connection from said plug to said circuit;
at least a second external connection terminal in said housing;
said second external connection terminal includes at least a second contact part extending away from said insertion hole proximate to said first perimeter, a second elastic part effective to elastically engage a second inner portion of said plug and said second contact part being displaced toward said insertion hole when said plug is inserted, whereby said connector enables reliable and elastic multi-pole electrical connection from said plug to said circuit,

a first support part on said first external connection terminal;
said first support part including a first bent part projecting perpendicular to the said plug insertion direction and said first groove effective to guidably receive said first holding part, said first support part, and said first latching tab and retain said first external connection terminal in said first groove, thereby supporting said elastic part and said first contact part.

The present invention concerns an electrical connector including a housing having a cylindrical part, a body, and at least one external connection terminal. The cylindrical part includes a plug insertion hole and the body includes an inner chamber. The plug insertion hole and the chamber receive a plug for electrical connection to a circuit. The external connection terminals are fixed to the housing in grooves to simplify assembly. The external connection terminals include elastic parts and contact parts. During assembly with a plug, elastic parts elastically urge contact parts into electrical contact with an inner conduction portion of the plug to provide secure electrical connection.
The connector further comprises a first holding part on the first external connection terminal, a first support part on the first external connection terminal, the first support part including a first bent part projecting perpendicular from the first support part, and the first long groove effective to guidably receive the first holding part, the first support part, and the first latching tab and retain the first external connection terminal in the first long groove, thereby supporting the first elastic part and the first contact part.
The second external connection terminal includes at least a second contact part, a second elastic part, a second leg part, and a second latching tab, the second leg part extending perpendicular to the plug insertion direction, the second contact part extending away from the insertion hole and being proximate the first perimeter prior to the plug insertion, and the second elastic part and the second contact part effective to elastically engage a second inner portion of the plug during the plug insertion and displace the second contact part toward the insertion hole, whereby the jack enables reliable and elastic multi-pole electrical connection from the plug to the circuit.
Preferably the connector further comprises a second holding part on the second external connection terminal, a second support part on the second external connection terminal, and the second long groove effective to guidably receive at least the second holding part, the second support part, and the second latching tab and retain the second external connection terminal in the second long groove, thereby supporting the second elastic part and the second contact part.
In a preferred embodiments, the connector further comprises a first short groove, the first short groove continuous with at least the first long groove, a second short groove, the second short groove continuous with at least the second long groove, the first short groove effective to receive the first elastic part and enable the first elastic part and the first contact part to elastically displace toward the insertion hole during the plug insertion, whereby the first elastic part has sufficient room to elastically flex in the first short groove while minimizing a size of the jack, and the second short groove effective to receive the second elastic part and enable the second elastic part and the second contact part to elastically displace toward the insertion hole during the plug insertion, whereby the second elastic part has sufficient room to elastically flex in the second short groove while minimizing the size of the connector.
Preferably, the first and the second leg parts extend parallel to a substrate face of the connector, thereby enabling secure soldering of the jack to an external substrate and the circuit.
In preferred embodiments, the first and the second leg parts extend perpendicular to a substrate face of the connector, thereby enabling securing soldering of the jack to an external substrate and the circuit.
Preferably, the body part includes a plurality of inner connection terminal holes, the plurality of inner connection terminal holes begin digitally accessible on a side of the body part opposite the insertion part, and the plurality of inner connection terminal holes effective to securely receive at least one corresponding inner connection terminal during an assembly of the connector, whereby the connector is easily and rapidly assembled and production time is reduced.
In preferred embodiments, the connector further comprises a first end portion on the first elastic part opposite the first leg part, a second end portion in the second elastic part opposite the second leg part, a first wall in the first short groove opposite the first end portion, a second wall in the second short groove opposite the second end portion, the first end portion contacting the first wall during the insertion, the second end portion contacting the second wall during the insertion, and the first and the second walls effective to restrain an elastic deflection of the first and the second end portions in a deflection direction during the insertion, thereby enabling a secure and stable electrical connection with an increased elastic resistance.
Preferably, the connector further comprises a first distance between the first contact part and the first end portion, a second distance between the second contact part and the second end portion, the first inner portion being opposite the first contact part, the second inner portion being opposite the second contact part, the first distance is not equivalent to the second distance, and the first contact part and the second contact part being effective to provide elastic electrical connection to corresponding the first and the second inner portions of the plug, whereby the connector is easily adapted to differing plug designs while providing secure electrical connection.
In preferred embodiments, the first external connection terminal includes a first end part, the end part on the first elastic part opposite the first holding part, the first end part in a position opposite the cylindrical part, the first end part bent in a direction toward the plug insertion hole, and the first end part effective to contact a surface of the cylindrical part during the plug insertion, whereby the jack provides secure electrical connection from the plug to the circuit.
Preferably, the first contact part between the first end part and the first holding part on the first elastic part, whereby a position of the first contact part is easily adaptable by an external manufacturer to match the plug.
In preferred embodiments, the first contact part protruding from the first elastic part in a first direction away from the insertion hole, whereby the first contact part can easily electrically connect to an inner conductive surface of the plug.
Preferably the first holding part includes a first support part, the first support part extending perpendicular from the first holding part, a first long groove in the body part, the first long groove parallel a lower surface of the body part, and the first support part retained in the first long groove, whereby elastic electrical connection with the plug is simplified.
In preferred embodiments the connector further comprises a first short groove in the body part, the first short groove continuous with the first long grove, the first short groove effective to receive the first elastic part during the plug insertion thereby enabling secure electrical connection from the plug to the circuit.
In preferred embodiments the first external connection terminal is effective as a. first terminal for conducting an external control signal from the plug to the circuit.
Preferably the connector and the first external connection terminal is effective to control an external remote control.
Preferably, the external connection terminal includes a holding part, held by the housing, and an elastic part, that extends in a direction parallel to a plug insertion direction and elastically deforms when connecting with a conductive part of the plug.
By bending an end of the elastic part inward, the end contacts the cylindrical part when the elastic part connects with the conductive part. The contact part is in a symmetric position with respect to the plug insertion hole but is positioned at shifted positions with respect to the plug insertion direction. These positions and the design which allows the contact part to protrude outward, minimize the size of the connector.
On the body, a vertical groove extends from the horizontal groove. The holding part is housed in the vertical groove. One end of the external connection terminal has a leg part that is either surface- mounted or through-mounted onto a conductive part of a substrate. The external connection terminal is a terminal for control signal. A remote control can be controlled through the external connection terminal.
Various embodiments of the invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side view of the connector of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a front view of a housing of the connector of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a rear view of the housing of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a side view of an external connection terminal according to a first arrangement of the connector of the present invention;
Figure 6 is a bottom view of the external connection terminal of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a rear view of the external connection terminal of Figure 5;
Figure 8 is a rear view of a second arrangement of an external connection terminal;
Figure 9 is a side view of an external connection terminal according to a third arrangement of the connector of the present invention;
Figure 10 is a bottom view of the external connection terminal of Figure 9;
Figure 11 is a rear view of the external connection terminal of Figure 9;
Figure 12 is a fourth arrangement of an external connection terminal; and,
Figure 13 is a side view of a plug for use on the connector of Figure 1.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, an electrical connector or jack 1 includes a housing 10 made from an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The housing 10 also includes a first external connection terminal 11 and a second external connection terminal 12 which are formed by die cutting and bending a metal sheet. Jack 1 also includes a plurality of internal connection terminals (not shown).
The housing 10 includes a cylindrical part 20 and a body 21. The body 21 is approximately rectangular with a hollow interior space or chamber (not shown). A plug insertion hole in the form of an aperture 22 is formed in cylindrical part 20. The plug insertion hole 22 connects with the hollow interior space inside the body 21. During operation, when a plug (not shown) is inserted into the plug insertion hole 22, the plug penetrates into the hollow interior space.
Referring now also to Figure 3, a horizontal groove 23 (described later) is located on the left and right front sides of body 21 (the left and right hand sides of the drawing of Figure 1). The horizontal groove 23 is approximately parallel to a bottom surface of body 21 (as shown to the bottom of the drawing in Figure 1). A pair of vertical grooves 24 are disposed perpendicular to the bottom surface of the body 21. Each vertical groove 24 contacts a wall 25. A contact 52 is positioned opposite each wall 25, as will be explained. The horizontal groove 23 and vertical groove 24 are formed in a continuous manner with the vertical groove 24 deeper than the horizontal groove 23.
Referring now also to Figure 4, a lower corner of the vertical groove 24 is cut away to make a cut 34. Notches 33 are formed on the cylindrical part 20 opposite each respective wall 25. The notches 33 are generally symmetrical with respect to plug insertion hole 22 and are formed up to a tip (not shown) of the cylindrical part 20 in a direction parallel to the plug insertion direction.
A first tip spring insertion hole 26 and a second tip spring insertion hole 27 are formed in the body 21. A first sleeve spring insertion hole 28 and a second sleeve spring insertion hole 29 are also formed in the body 21. A first terminal insertion hole 30 and a ring spring insertion hole 31 are opened on the rear of body 21, in a direction parallel to the plug insertion direction.
Referring now also to Figures 5 to 7, the first external terminal 11 includes an elastic part 43, a latching tab 44, and a contact part 42. The first external terminal 11 is roughly C-shaped in cross-section. The contact part 42 is generally spherical and protrudes outward (downward in Figure 6) from a surface of elastic part 43. An end portion 45, of the elastic part 43, is bent inwards in a direction opposite that of contact part 42, as will be explained. The contact part 42 generally extends in the direction of the support part 40 and leg part 41.
The first external terminal 11 further includes a support part 40 and a leg part 41. The support part 40 is formed by bending an upper part of the first external terminal 11 approximately 90 degrees to a front face surface. The leg part 41 is also formed by bending a lower part of the first external terminal 11 approximately 90 degrees in the same direction. Leg part 41 is positioned for soldering to a conductive part (not shown) of a substrate (not shown).
Elastic part 43 defines a sheet spring and is bent slightly inward (center upward in Figure 6) from approximately a center of support part 40 and leg part 41, to extend forward in a direction parallel to the plug insertion direction (left-right of Figure 5).
A holding part 46 is formed on a side of the first external connection terminal 11. The latching tab 44 is formed on a side of the holding part 46. During assembly, first external connection terminal 11 is fastened on housing 10 by pressing latching tab 44 into housing 10, as will be explained.
Referring to Figure 8, in a second embodiment 70, the external connection terminal 11 includes leg part 41 that, instead of being bent as in the embodiment of Figure 7 extends directly downward, away from leg part 41, parallel to the face of the latching tab 44.
In the embodiment of Figure 7 the external connection terminal 11 is also used as a terminal for mounting the terminal onto a substrate surface (not shown). Thus, leg part 41 must be bent to accommodate the surface. In the second embodiment of Figure 8 the external connection terminal 11 is used as a terminal which passes through holes formed on a substrate (not shown) for connection on the opposite (or rear) side of the substrate by soldering or other means. Since the leg part 41 of the second embodiment 70 must extend through the substrate, it is shaped for this.
Referring now to Figures 9 through to 11, the second external terminal 12 has a rough and approximate U-shaped cross-section. A support part 50 extends from second external terminal 12 at an approximate 90 degree angle to a surface of second external terminal 12.
A leg part 51, is also formed at an approximately 90 degree angle to the surface of second external terminal 12. The part 51 and support part 50 extend in a similar direction relative to second external terminal 12.
An elastic part 53 extends from second external terminal 12 between support part 50 and leg part 51. The elastic part 53 is a flat spring and is bent slightly inward (downward in Figure 10), to enable elastic connection as will be explained. The elastic part 53 extends in a longitudinal direction relative to second external contact terminal 12 (in the left-right direction of Figure 9)
The contact part 52 has a part spherical shape and protrudes outward from the elastic part 53 (upward in the drawing of Figure 10). The contact part 52 extends generally in the same direction as leg part 51 and the support part 50 on, elastic part 53. An end portion 55, of the elastic part 53, is bent inward (downward in Figure 10) away from leg part 51. A latching tab 54 is formed on a side surface of the second external connection terminal 12. During assembly, the second external connection terminal 12 is pressed into housing 10 and latched by the latching tab 54.
A holding part 56 is formed on a side of the second external connection terminal 12 and the latching tab 54 is formed on a side surface of the holding part 56. During assembly, the second external connection terminal 12 is fastened onto housing 10 by pressing the latching tab 54 into housing 10, as will be explained.
Referring now to Figure 12, in a second embodiment 80 of the second external connection terminal 12, the terminal includes a leg part 51 that is not bent, but extends parallel to the face surface of the second external connection terminal 12 (downwards in Figure 12). In the first embodiment of the second external connection terminal 12, the leg part 51 is used as a terminal for mounting onto a surface. In the second embodiment 80, the leg part 51 is used as a terminal which passes through holes in the substrate (not shown) for connection to the rear side of the substrate.
Referring now to Figure 13, an example of a plug 60 that is connectable with the connector or jack 1 includes a single-head plug part 61 and a larger diameter cylindrical part 62. The cylindrical part 62 is coaxial with and disposed radially outwards of the single-head plug part 61. The single head plug part 61 protrudes away from an end of cylindrical part 62 in a longitudinal axial direction (left-side of Figure 13) of the plug.
A plurality of conductive members are located on the single-head plug part 61. The conductive members are positioned in a mutually insulated manner along the longitudinal direction. Terminals (not further described) on plug 60, connect to first external connection terminal 11 and second external connection terminal 12. The terminals are each held in place on an inner perimeter wall of cylindrical part 62, that is to say on the radially inner side of the tubular cylindrical part 62.
During assembly of the connector or jack 1, the support part 40, of the first external connection terminal 11 and the support part 50, of the second external connection terminal 12, are located in respective horizontal grooves 23 on housing 10. Similarly, respective holding part 46 and holding part 56 fit into respective vertical grooves 24. Latching tab 44 and latching tab 54 are urged against an inner wall of the housing 10 and engage the inner wall of the housing 10 to retain the first external connection terminal 11 and the second external connection terminal 12 within the housing 10.
After insertion, the respective leg parts 41, 51 are bent outward from housing 10 at approximately 90 degrees to protrude from the cut away part 34. Leg parts 41, 51 are bent to enable attachment to a substrate (not shown) and may be bent accordingly.
The support part 40 and the support part 50 may also be pushed into the inner wall of the housing 10 to further secure the respective first and second external connection terminals 11, 12.
During assembly, the first and second external connection terminals 11, 12 are inserted from a back or rear side of housing 10 into respective tip spring insertion hole 26, second terminal insertion hole 27, first sleeve spring insertion hole 28, second sleeve spring insertion hole 29, first terminal insertion hole 30, and ring spring insertion hole 31, while an inner connection terminal (not shown) is held in place on the housing 10.
The sequence for installing the inner connection terminal (not shown) and the external connection terminals 11, 12 may be reversed for disassembly.
Upon complete assembly, all parts to the left-side (from the readers perspective) of the dashed line in Figures. 6 and 10, protrudes away from the body 21. The right side of the dashed line in Figures 6 and 10 (from the readers perspective), including holding parts 46, 56, is located inside the body 21 in respective vertical grooves 24.
After assembly, contact parts 42, 52 protrude outward into the insertion pathway of plug 60. During assembly, the contact part 52 is positioned axially forward of contact part 42 to the front of the connector, relative to body 21. Each contact part is disposed in a shifted longitudinal axial position (front and back) with respect to the plug insertion direction.
After assembly, the contact parts 42, 52 are positioned on the periphery of the cylindrical part 62. As long as the contact parts 42, 52 are on and along the plug insertion pathway, the contact parts 42, 52 may be positioned near the outer periphery of the cylindrical part 62 to provide contact with plug 60. The contact parts 42, 52 are in symmetric positions with respect to a center of plug insertion hole 22. Contact parts 42, 52 are protuberances that protrude radially outward and away from the plug insertion hole 22.
During operation, the plug 60 is inserted into the jack 1 in plug insertion hole 22. During insertion, the single-head plug part 61 first contacts the inner connection terminal, and next contacts the external connection terminals 11, 12. During contact with the external connection terminals 11, 12, the elastic parts 43, 53 are pushed inward by an inner wall of the tubular cylindrical part 62 on plug 60 and are elastically deformed towards the plug insertion hole 22.
During elastic deformation of the elastic parts 43, 53, the end portions 45, 55 contact respective walls 25 of notches 33 on the cylindrical part 20, and by being further pushed by the inner wall of plug 60, the end parts 45, 55 are elastically deformed towards the plug insertion hole 22.
When the conductive part of plug 60 and contact parts 42, 52 are connected, external connection terminals 11, 12 are electrically connected to the conductive part of plug 60 and supported at two points by the latching tabs 44, 54 and the end parts 45, 55. The sequence of contact of external connection terminals 11, 12 is:

1) first; second external connection terminal 12 contacts plug 60; and,
2) next; first external connection terminal 11 contacts plug 60.

This timing can be changed by shifting the respective front-back position of contact parts 42, 52 along the longitudinal direction of the plug. In contrast, the inner connection terminal is pressed by plug 60 and is elastically deformed and retreats from the plug insertion pathway. By elastic force, the terminal of jack 1 and the specified conductive part of the plug 60 are electrically connected.
When the plug 60 is removed from plug insertion hole 22, the inner connection terminal and external connection terminals 11, 12 return to their initial conditions by their own elasticity, and end parts 45, 55 separate from walls 25.
Frequently, the jack 1 is built into mobile phones or other mobile electronic devices, with the inner connection terminal used as an audio signal terminal for the device. External connection terminals 11, 12 are used as control signal terminals.
As one benefit of the present invention, for example, the external connection terminal 11 may be used for detecting whether a plug is connected in stereo or monaural mode. By detecting with external connection terminal 11, a circuit on a device side may be easily switched to either stereo or monaural. As a second example, external connection terminal 12 may be used as a control signal terminal for remote control. In other words, when using a mobile phone as a hands free phone, and when there is signal reception, it is possible to switch the device to a talking mode on the remote control side. This switching may be conducted by the external connection terminal 12.
As a further benefit, in addition to the internal connection terminal, the jack 1 also includes first external connection terminal 11 and second external connection terminal 12.
As a result, the number of separate poles available for contact is increased, and the jack 1 may easily support devices that are multi-functional.
The first external connection terminal 11 and the second external connection terminal 12 are positioned at symmetric positions with respect to plug insertion hole 22. As a result, during plug 60 insertion, contact pressure is applied equally to the respective plug terminals, and the connection is physically stable.
The first external connection terminal 11 and the second external connection terminal 12 include support parts 40, 50 and since the support part 40 and support part 50 join with or are pressed into the groove 23, the positioning of corresponding leg parts 41, 51 is conducted accurately, easily, and securely. In this way, the first and second external connection terminals 11, 12 are easily secured in the body 21 of the housing 10. Due to this easy accuracy and stability, the jack 1 may be soldered onto the substrate (not shown), without any instability and processing errors are reduced.
The elastic part 43 and the elastic part 53 of the first external connection terminal 11 and second external connection terminal 12 operate as flat-type springs. During plug insertion, electrical and physical contact is made by elastic deformation. As a result, precise measurement and positioning is not needed, whereby manufacturing is further simplified while maintaining quality and reliability.
As a further benefit of the present invention, first external connection terminal 11 and second external connection terminal 12 are held in place by pushing the latching tab 44 and the latching tab 54 into housing 10.
In addition, the positions of contact part 42 and contact part 52 can be shifted forward and backward on the position of the elastic part 43 and elastic part 53 in a direction parallel to the plug insertion direction. By doing so, the timing and relative force of contact with the plug terminals at the time of plug insertion is easily varied. As a result, the same housing 10 can be used for various applications by exchanging respective the first external connection terminal 11 and second external connection terminal 12, and costs are reduced.
First external connection terminal 11 and second external connection terminal 12 are positioned at or near the perimeter of the cylindrical part 20. As a result, cylindrical part 20 can be inserted into plugs without cylindrical parts such as the standard three pole plug, and it is thus non-specific, thereby allowing beneficial adaptation.
As a further benefit of the present design, contact parts 42, 52 protrude outward and away from the plug insertion hole 22 and the space for the bending of elastic parts 43, 53 is increased which allows the entire jack 1 to be made smaller. If contact parts 42, 52 were to protrude inward, the available space would be inappropriately small and jack 1 would need to increase in size to accommodate the change.
During connection to the plug 60, the conductive part of plug 60 connect to the first and second external connection terminals 11, 12, which are each supported at two points by respective latching tabs 44, 54 and end parts 45, 55. This support enables adequate contact pressure and stable electrical connection.
The present invention is not limited to the above preferred embodiments and that other variations are within the scope of the present invention. For example, additional external connection terminals may be arranged on jack 1. To accommodate additional external connection terminals, their width and length may be modified relative to each other and to jack 1 to enable secure and easy connection to jack 1 and connection to a plug.
Although contact parts 42, 52 of respective first and second external connection terminals 11, 12 are described as placed in symmetric positions with respect to plug insertion hole 22, they may instead be placed asymmetrically to accommodate alternative individual plug designs.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, jack 1 is six-poled, but can any number of poles is possible with the design. For example, a four-pole or an eight-pole jack is considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.
While in the present arrangement, jack 1 is adapted for assembly into a mobile phone, it can be built into various other electronic communication devices, portable or fixed. Since jack 1 of the present arrangement is provided with external connection terminals as well as internal connection terminals, it may be employed multi-functionally.
After assembly, the jack of the present arrangement can be installed onto a soldering surface (not shown) of a substrate (not shown) without instability at the time of soldering.
Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiment(s) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the following claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described or suggested herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Thus, for example, although a nail, a screw, and a bolt may not be structural equivalents in that a nail relies entirely on friction between a wooden part and a cylindrical surface, a screw's helical surface positively engages the wooden part, and a bolts head and nut compress opposite sides of the wooden part together, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail, a screw, and a bolt may be readily understood by those skilled in the art as equivalent structures.
Having described preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

An electrical connector (1) for electrically connecting a plug to a circuit, the connector comprising:
a housing (10)

said housing including a body part (21) and an insertion part (20);

said insertion part having a first perimeter and an insertion hole (22);

said body part bounding a chamber adjacent said insertion hole;

said insertion hole and said chamber being effective to receive said plug along a plug insertion direction;

at least a first external connection terminal (11, 12) in said housing;

said first external connection terminal including at least a first contact part (42, 52), a first elastic part (43, 53), a first leg part (41, 51), a first latching tab (44, 54) and a first holding part (46, 56);

said first elastic part extending parallel to said plug insertion direction;

said first leg part extending perpendicular to said plug insertion direction;

said first latching tab fixing said first external connection terminal in at least a first longitudinally extending groove (24) in said housing;

said first contact part extending away from said insertion hole and being proximate said first perimeter; and

said first elastic part and said first contact part including means for providing an elastic engagement for said plug at a first inner portion of said plug and for displacing said first contact part toward said insertion hole, whereby said connector enables reliable

and elastic electrical connection from said plug to said circuit;

at least a second external connection terminal (11, 12) in said housing;

said second external connection terminal includes at least a second contact part (42,52) extending away from said insertion hole proximate to said first perimeter; a second elastic part (43, 53) effective to elastically engage a second inner portion of said plug and said second contact part being displaced toward said insertion hole when said plug is inserted, whereby said connector enables reliable and elastic multi-pole electrical connection from said plug to said circuit; characterised in that said connector further comprises:
a first support part (40, 50) on said first external connection terminal;

said first support part including a first bent part projecting perpendicular to the said plug insertion direction; and

said first groove effective to guidably receive said first holding part, said first support part and said first latching tab and retain said first external connection terminal in said first groove, thereby supporting said first elastic part and first contact part.
A connector, according to Claim 1 further comprising at least a second longitudinally extending groove (24) in said housing;
said first longitudinally extending groove being parallel to said plug insertion direction; and

said second longitudinally extending groove being parallel to said plug insertion direction.
A connector, according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein:
said second external connection terminal comprises a second leg part (41, 51) and a second latching tab (44, 53);

said second leg part extending perpendicular to said plug insertion direction.
A connector, according to Claim 3, further comprising a second holding part (41,51) on said second external connection terminal;
a second support part (40,50) on said second external connection terminal; and said second groove effective to guidably receive at least said second holding part, said second support part, and said second latching tab and retain said second external connection terminal in said second groove, thereby supporting said elastic part and said second contact part.
A connector as claimed in Claim 2 further comprising:
a first short groove (33);

said first short groove continuous with at least said first longitudinally extending groove;

a second short groove (33);

said second short groove continuous with at least said second longitudinally extending groove;

said first short groove effective to receive said first elastic part and enable said first elastic part and said first contact part to elastically displace toward said insertion hole when said plug is inserted, whereby said first elastic part has sufficient room to elastically

flex in said first short groove while minimizing said size of said connector; and

said second short groove effective to receive said second elastic part and enable said second elastic part and said second contact part to elastically displace toward said insertion hole when said plug is inserted, whereby said second elastic part has sufficient room to elastically flex in said second short groove while minimizing said size of said connector.
A connector, according to Claim 5, wherein:
said first and said second leg parts extend parallel to a substrate face of said connector thereby enabling secure soldering of said connector to an external substrate and said circuit.
A connector, according to Claim 5, wherein:
said first and said second leg parts extend perpendicular to a substrate face of said connector, thereby enabling securing soldering of said connector to an external substrate and said circuit.
A connector, according to any preceding claim; wherein:
said body part including a plurality of inner connection terminal holes; said plurality of inner connection terminal holes being accessible on a side of said body part opposite said insertion part; and

said plurality of inner connection terminal holes effective to securely receive at least one corresponding inner connection terminal during an assembly of said connector, whereby said connector is easily and rapidly assembled and production time is reduced.
A connector according to any preceding claim further comprising:
a first end portion (45, 55) on said first elastic part opposite said first leg part;

a second end portion (45, 55) in said second elastic part opposite said second leg part;

a first wall (25) in said first short groove opposite said first end portion;

a second wall (25) in said second short groove opposite said second end portion; said first end portion positioned to contact said first wall when a plug is inserted;

said second end portion positioned to contact said second wall when a plug is inserted; and

said first and said second walls effective to restrain an elastic deflection of said first and said second end portions in a deflection direction during said insertion, thereby enabling a secure and stable electrical connection with an increased elastic resistance.
A connector, according to Claim 9, further comprising:
a first distance between said first contact piece and said first end portion;

a second distance between said second contact piece and said second end portion;

said first inner portion being opposite said first contact part;

said second inner portion being opposite said second contact part;

said first distance is not equivalent to said second distance, and

said first contact part and said second contact part being effective to provide elastic electrical connection to corresponding said first and said second inner portions of said plug, whereby said connection is easily adapted to differing plug designs while providing secure electrical connection.