GB2408856A

GB2408856A - Electrical Coupling System

Info

Publication number: GB2408856A
Application number: GB0426587A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Takahito Mizue; Daisuke Sawai
Original assignee: Omron Corp; Omron Tateisi Electronics Co
Current assignee: Omron Corp
Priority date: 2003-12-04
Filing date: 2004-12-03
Publication date: 2005-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 2024-12-03
Also published as: JP2005166525A; JP4106560B2; DE202004018618U1; GB2408856B; CN2772052Y; GB0426587D0

Abstract

An electrical coupling system with a case comprising a connector attaching portion (15) mounted onto a printed circuit board, an intermediate mechanical connector (30) and a connector plug (40). The intermediate mechanical connector is attached to the connector attaching portion, for example using latches (33). The intermediate mechanical connector is attached fixedly to the connector plug, preferably using two screws (G2), one positioned on each side of the connector plug. There is preferably a cover portion for screening the printed circuit board. The intermediate mechanical connector is preferably manufactured from a transparent material allowing light from a LED mounted on the PCB to pass through. Preferably the connectors will be used for connecting electronic equipment to a device net.

Description

ELECTRIC CONNECTOR DEVICE FOR USE IN ELECTRONIC

EQUIPMENT

The present invention relates to an electric connector device for use in electronic equipment such as temperature controllers and digital panel meters.

Electronic equipment such as temperature controllers and digital panel meters may be used in a device net via device net connectors. Such a device

net is a field/network in which interconnection of

control equipment such as PLCs, personal computers (PCs), sensor and actuators can be easily performed.

By employing a device net, it is possible to realize a more comfortable and more economic system architecture upon cutting wiring costs by saving wirings and upon connecting multi-vendor equipment.

A device net connector thatis used for connecting anelectronicequipmentto the devicenetis comprised, as illustrated in Fig. 21, of a connector socket 50 and a connector plug 60. The connector socket 50 is mounted to a rear end portion of a module substrate 71 accumulated within an electronic equipment case 70, wherein the rear end portion of the module substrate71 and the connector socket50 are positioned within an aperture portion 73 at a bottom portion of a connector attaching portion 72.

By fitting a fitting portion 61 of the connector plug60to a fitting concave portion52Of the connector socket50, contacCportions53Ofaconnectingterminal on the connector socket50 side (not shown) isinserted and connected to a female-type connecting terminal on the connector plug 60 side (not. shown), and the connector plug 60 is thus coupled to the connector socket 50.

A connector arrangement employedin conventional electronic equipment may include a connector socket and a connector plug that is coupled to the connector socket in a freely attachable/detachable manner.

Moreover, when the connector socket and the connector plugarecoupledwitheachother,thecoupledcondition is maintained by using a lock supporting member such that the connector plug does not easily come off through tension applied to a flat cable or similar.

More particularly, the connector plug is comprised of a socket contact to which the flat cable is connected, a housing by which the socket connector is held and fixed, a cover that is attached to screen the housing and that presses the flat cable against the socket contact, and a strain relief that is attached to the housing to screen the cover and that pinches and holds the flat cable between itself and the cover.

The connector socketis comprised of pin contacts that are connected with the socket contact, end a block by which pin contacts are held and fixed, wherein the connector socket is provided with pin inserting grooves.

The lock supporting member has substantially an inversed L-shaped form and it is arranged to comprise engaging pins on one end side and hook portions on the other end side.

After coupling the connector socket to the connector plug, the engaging pins of the lock supporting member are inserted into the pin inserting grooves of the connector socket and the hook portions are hooked against a side surface of the strain relief of the connector plug so as to prevent the connector socketfromcomingofftheconnectorplug(seeJapanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-332346).

However, since the above-described conventional type of device net connector (the former one) is arranged in that the connector plug 60 is coupled to the connector socket 50 by inserting the fitting portions 61 to the fitting concave portion 52 of the connector socket 50 and by inserting and connecting the contact portion 53 of the connecting terminal on the connector socket 50 side to the female-type connecting terminal on the connector plug 60 side, the tensile strength between the connector socket 50 end the connector plug 60 is weak so that it may happen that power distribution is interrupted since the connector plug 60 comes off the connector socket 50 by pulling an electric cable (not shown) wired to the connector socket 60.

In view ofimproving the tensile strength between the connector socket 50 and the connector plug 60, it is known for a type in which flanges (not shown) are respectively formed at the connector socket 50 end connector plug 60 in which the flanges are coupled through screw members (not shown) for improving coupling force between the connector socket 50 and the connector plug 60; in such an instance, when the electric cable wired to the connector plug60is pulled, the tensile stressis directly applied to the connector socket 50 so that a drawback is presented in that this would be a factor of causing cracks at the solder of themodulesubstrate71ontowhichtheconnectorsocket is mounted.

The above-described conventional type of connector (the latter one) is arranged in that the connector plugis first coupled to the connector socket whereupon the engaging pins of the lock supporting member are inserted into the pin inserting grooves of the connector socket and the hook portions are hooked to the side surface of the strain relief of the connector plug so as to prevent the connector socket from coming off the connector plug, and therefore in a case where the connector socket is mounted onto the printed circuit board, when the electric cable wired to the connector plug is pulled, the tensile stressis directly applied to the connector socket so that a drawback is presented in that this would be a factor of causing cracks at the solder of the printed circuit board onto which the connector socket is mounted.

The present invention has been made in view of the above drawbacks, and it is an object thereof to provide an electric connector device for use in electronic equipment in which no tensile load is directly applied to one connector (for instance, a connector socket) also when an electric cable wired to the connector plug is pulled, in which no solder cracks are generated, and that is capable of reducing not only tensile strength but also stress toe printed circuit board of a control unit.

For achieving the above objects, the electric connector device for use in electric equipment according to the present invention is an electric connector device for usein electric equipmentin which a control unit including printed circuit boards is accommodated within an electric equipment case, in which one connector is mounted to the printed circuit board and in which the one connector is exposed from the electric equipment case such that another connector is coupled to the one connector, wherein a connector attaching portion is provided at the electric equipment case, wherein an intermediate connector is attached to the connector attaching portioning freely attachable/detachable manner, and wherein the other connector is fixedly attached to the intermediate connector.

With this arrangement, by attaching the intermediate connector to the connector attaching portion thatis provided within the electric equipment case, it is possible to integrate the intermediate connector and the electric equipment case, and since the other connector is fixedly attached to the intermediate connector while the other connector is coupled to the one connector in this condition, the other connector and the one connector are fixed at specified positions so that no inconveniences are caused in that they come off.

Sinceintegrationof the electric equipment case and the other connector is achieved through the intermediate connector, also when the electric cable, which is wired to the other connector, is pulled, it will be the electric equipment case that is pulled so that no tensile load is directly applied to the one connector, and no solder cracks will be caused.

Not only the tensile strength but also stress applied to the printed circuit board of the control unit can be reduced since oscillation, impact or the like applied to the control unit can be absorbed by the intermediate connector and the electric equipment case.

Here, the one connector may be, for instance, a connector socket while the other connector may be, for instance, a connector plug, and the intermediate connector may be, for instance, a cover connector.

The electric connector device for use in electronic equipment according to the present invention is arranged that in the above-described electric connector device for use in electronic equipment according to the present invention, the connector attaching portion comprises one engaging portions on both sides with an exposing portion from which the one connector is exposed being pinched therebetween end theintermediate connector comprises other engaging portions that engage at the one engaging portionsina freely engageable/releasable manner end one fixing portions to which the other connector is fixed in a freely attachable/detachable mannerithe other connector comprises other fixing portions that are fixed to the one fixing portions in a freely attachable/detachable manner and the intermediate connector is attached to the connector attaching portion by engaging the other engaging portions to the one engaging portions in a freely engageable/releasablemanneriandtheotherconnector is fixed to the intermediate connector by fixing the other fixing portions to the one fixing portions in a freely attachable/detachable manner.

With this arrangement, the intermediate connector is attached to the connector attaching portion by engaging other engaging portions at the one engaging portions in a freely engageable/releasable manner so that integration of the intermediate connector and the electronic equipment case is achieved) the other connector (such as the connector plug) is fixed to the intermediate connector by fixing other fixing portions to the one fixing portions of the intermediate connector for achieving integration; and the other connector (such as the connector plug) is coupled to the one connector (such as the connector socket) in this condition so that the other connector (such as the connector plug) and the one connector (such as the connector socket) are fixed at specified position so that no inconveniences of coming off will be caused.

Moreover, since the electronic equipment case, the intermediate connector and the other connector (such as the connector plug) are integrated, even if an electric cable that is wired to the other connector (such as the connector plug) is pulled, this will result in pulling the electronic equipment case so that no tensile load is directly applied to the one connector (such as the connector socket) so that no solder cracks are generated. Since not only tensile strength but also oscillation, impact or the like applied to the control unit is absorbed by the intermediate connector and the electronic equipment case, it is also possible to reduce stress applied to the printed circuit board of the control unit.

Here,theoneengagingportionsmay, forinstance, be engaging hole portions that are respectively provided at a peripheral wall portion that comprises an upper portion of the connector attaching portion end a partitioning wallportionthat comprises alower portion of the connector attaching portion) the other engaging portions may, for instance, be arranged in that tongue pieces are formed on mutually opposing end portions on both sides of a connector main body of the cover connector, wherein engaging projections are provided at outer surfaces of the tongue pieces; the one fixing portions may, for instance, be female screw member holding portions (bit insert portions) including female screw members on inner sides of mutually opposing end portions on both sides of the connector main body; and the other fixing portions may be arranged in that screw member fixing portions are provided on both end sides of the other connector, wherein screw members are provided at these screw member fixing portions in a freely rotating manner.

Further, the electric connector device for use in electronic equipment according to the present invention is arranged that in the abovedescribed electric connector device for use in electronic equipment according to the present invention, the intermediate connectorincludesa connector main body, with female screw member holding portions including female screw members being provided on inner sides on mutually opposing end portions on both sides of the connector main body to comprise the one fixing portions, and screw member fixing portions are provided on both end portions of the other connector withscrewmembersbeingprovidedatthesescrewmember fixing portionsina freely rotatingmannerto comprise the other fixing portions, and the screw members are screwed into the female screw members for fixedly attaching the other connector to the intermediate connector.

With this arrangement, the other connector (such as the connector plug) is fixed to the intermediate connector byscrewingitsscrewmembersto female screw members of the female screw member holding portions, and since the other connector (such as the connector plug) is coupled to the one connector (such as the connector socket) in this condition, the other connector (such as the connector plug) and the one connector (such as the connector socket) are fixed at specified position so that no inconveniences of coming off will be caused.

Further, the electric connector device for use in electronic equipment according to the present invention is arranged that in the abovedescribed electric connector device for use in electronic equipment according to the present invention, the female screw member holding portions are provided to be separable from the connector main body.

With this arrangement, the female screw member holding portions can be cut through special tools, end by attaching theintermediate connector from which female screw member holding portions have been cut off to the connector attaching portion, it will be possible to attach an electric connector other than the device net connector.

Further, the electric connector device for use in electronic equipment according to the present invention is arranged that in the abovedescribed electric connector device for use in electronic equipment according to the present invention, the intermediate connector includes cover portions that envelope an end portion of the printed circuit board when the intermediate connector is attached to the connector attaching portion.

With this arrangement, the cover portions of the intermediate connector arelocated rearward of a V-cut endportionoftheprintedcircuitboard(forinstance, a module substrate) so that the end portion is not bare, and it is possible to secure safety such that electrostatic of the printed circuit board does not affect the operator.

Further, the electric connector device for use in electronic equipment according to the present invention is arranged that in the abovedescribed electric connector device for use in electronic equipment according to the present invention, the intermediate connector is molded using a transparent material so as to form a display portion upon guiding light of LEDs provided on the printed circuit board.

With this arrangement, where the LEDs are for establishing, for instance, a device net communication status (MS: module status, NS: network status), it is possible to guide the light of the LEDs to comprise a display portion of the device net communication status by forming the intermediate connector of a transparent material.

Further, the electric connector device for use in electronic equipment according to the present invention is arranged that in the abovedescribed electric connector device for use in electronic equipment according to the present invention, the intermediate connector is of module structure corresponding to modularization similar to terminal blocks that are attached to the electronic equipment case.

With this arrangement, since the intermediate connector has been modularized similar to the terminal blocks, it may correspond to a plurality of electronic equipment similar to the terminal blocks so that it

is possible to expand specifications of products.

Further, the electric connector device for use in electronic equipment according to the present invention is applied as a device net connector for connecting electronic equipment to a device net.

With this arrangement, the intermediate connector is used as a connecting portion of one or the other connector of a device net connector, and it is possible to improve the reliability of device net communication while making use of the effectiveness of reduced space.

According to the electric connector device for use in electronic equipment of the present invention, the intermediate connector is attached to the connector attaching portion for achieving integration of the intermediate connector and the electronic equipment case while the other connector (such as the connector plug) is fixedly attached to the intermediate connector, and since the other connector (such as the connector plug) is coupled to the one connector (such as the connector socket) in this condition, the other connector (such as the connector plug) and the one connector (such as the connector socket) are fixed at specified positions and no inconveniences are caused in that they come off.

Since integration of the electronic equipment case and the other connector (such as the connector plug) is achieved through the intermediate connector, also when the electric cable, which is wired to the other connector (such as the connector plug), is pulled, it will be the electronic equipment case that is pulled so that no tensile load is directly applied to the one connector (such as the connector socket), and no solder cracks will be caused. Not only the tensile strength but also stress applied to the printed circuit boards of the control unit can be reduced since oscillation, impact or the like applied to the control unit can be absorbed by the intermediate connector and the electric equipment case.

In the drawings Fig. 1 shows a perspective view in which an exploded condition of an electronic equipment comprised with the electric connector device according to the present invention is viewed from a front surface side of the electronic equipment.

Fig. 2 shows a partially exploded perspective view when the electronic equipment is seen from a rear surface side thereof.

Fig. 3 shows a partially exploded perspective view when the electronic equipment is seen from a rear surface side thereof.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view when the electronic equipment is seen from a rear surface side thereof.

Fig. 5 shows a sectional view along line H-H in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the electric connector device for use in electronic equipment according to the present invention.

Fig. 7 shows a sectional view along line M-M in Fig. 5.

Fig.8(1) shwosa perspective view ofa connector plug seen from a front surface side thereof, Fig. 8(2) is an explanatory view with a connector socket being mounted to a module substrate, and Fig. 8(3) is a view seen from a direction of arrow J in (2).

Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of a cover connector.

Fig. 10 shows a plan view of the cover connector.

Fig. 11 shows a view seen from a direction of arrow A in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 shows a view seen from a direction of arrow B in Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 shows a view seen from a direction of arrow C in Fig. 10.

Fig. 14 shows a view seen from a direction of arrow D in Fig. 10.

Fig. 15 shows a rear view of the cover connector.

Fig. 16 shows a sectional view along line E-E in Fig. 10.

Fig. 17 shows a sectional view along line I-I in Fig. 10.

Fig. 18 shows a perspective view in which the connector plug is seen from a rear surface side thereof.

Fig. 19 shows a perspective view in which the connector plug is seen a front surface side thereof.

Fig. 20 shows a perspective view of a cover connectorin which bitinsert portions are cut by means of special tools.

Fig. 21 shows a perspective view in which an electronic equipment comprised with a conventional electric connector device is seen from a rear surface side thereof.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be explained while referring to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view in which an exploded condition of an electronic equipment comprised with the electric connector device according to the present invention is viewed from a front surface side of the electronic equipment; Fig. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view when the electronic equipmentis seen from a rear surface side thereof) Fig.3 is a partially exploded perspective view when the electronic equipment is seen from a rear surface side thereof; Fig. 4 is a perspective view when the electronic equipment is seen from a rear surface side thereof, and Fig. 5 is a sectional view along line H-H in Fig. The structure of the electric connector for use in electronic equipment according to the present invention will now be explained on the basis of an embodiment, which is a device net connector for connecting electronic equipment to a device net.

The electronic equipment case K is comprised of a front panel 1 and a case main body 2, and the front panel 1 is provided with a display portion la and a plurality of operating switcheslb. A main substrate holding portion 3 and a plurality of module substrate holding portions 4 are provided on a rear surface portion of the front panel 1, and as illustrated in Fig. 5, the main substrate holding portion 3 holds the main substratelA while teeing parallelto the front panel 1. The main substrate 1A is mounted with a plurality of sockets 1B.

The module substrate holding portion 9 holds a plurality of types of module substrates 5 (printed circuit boards) in a freely attachable/detachable manner, and these module substrates 5 are connected to the main substrate 1 upon connecting respective plugs 1C mounted to front sides thereof (left-hand side in Fig. 5) to the sockets 1B to thus comprise a control unit as a whole. As illustrated in Fig. 1, engaging projections 6 are also provided on upper and lower portions of the front panel 1.

Further, as illustrated in Fig. 1, a connector sockets, which comprises one connector of the device net connector, is mounted to a rear portion of one module substrate5-lfrom among the plurality of types of module substrates 5, and edge-shaped connecting terminalportions 5A are provided et rear end portions of the remaining module substrates 5.

AsillustratedinFig.8(1),theconnectorsocket 7 includes a socket housing 7A comprised of an insulating material, and a fitting concave portion 8 having a U-shaped side face is formed at the socket housing 7A. A plurality of contact portions 9A of connecting terminals 9 is linearly disposed at the fitting concave portion 8, and lead portions 9B of the connecting terminals9 are projected on a mounting surface of the socket housing 7A, and as illustrated in Fig. 8(2), by inserting the lead portions 9B into through holes 10 provided at the module substrate 5-1 and soldering them thereat, the connector socket 7 is mounted to the module substrate 5-1.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the case main body 2 assumes a box-like shape which front surface is open and its rear surface closed, and projecting portions 12 are formed at edge portions of upper and lower surface portions of the front surface with the aperture 11 being located therebetween, with the projecting portions 12 being provided with engaging holes 13.

AsillustratedinFig.2,therearsurfaceportion 14 (back surface portion) is partitioned into a connecting attaching portion 15 and a plurality of terminal block attaching portions 16. More particularly, a peripheral wall portion 17 is formed at a peripheral portion of the rear surface portion 14, and the rear surface portion 14 is partitioned intofourregions20,21, 22and23throughavertically oriented partitioning wall portion 18 and a laterally oriented partitioning wall portion 19 in Fig. 2, the region 20 is partitioned into two to the right and leftin Fig.2, end wherein the right-hard side portion of the region 20 comprises the connector attaching portion 15 while the regions 21, 22 and 23 comprise terminal block attaching portions 16.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, a bottom portion of the connector attaching portion 15 comprises an apertureportion24,andtherearerespectivelyformed engaging hole portions 25 that comprise one engaging portions F1 at the peripheral wall portion 17, which comprises an upper portion of the connector attaching portionl5,and the partitioning wallportionl9,which comprises a lower portion of the connector attaching portion 15, respectively.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, slits 26 for inserting the substrates are formed at bottom portions of the terminal block attaching portions 16, and engaging hole portions 25-1 at which engaging projections 28 provided at the terminal blocks 27 engage in a freely engageable/releasable manner when terminal blocks27 are attached to these terminal block attaching portions 16are respectively formed at the peripheral wall portion 17 and the partitioning wall portion 19.

The plurality of types of module substrates 5, are then inserted into the case main body 2 whereupon the front panel 1 is assembled to the case main body2. In such a case, the engaging projections 6 of the front panel 1 are engaged at the engaging holes 13 provided at the projecting portions 12 of the ease main body2 ina freely engageable/releasable manner. The rear end portion 5a of the module substrate5-1, LEDs (LEDs (light-emittingdiodes) for establishing a device net communication status (MS: module status, NS: network status)) L1, L2 (see Fig. 8(3)) mounted to a rear end portion of the module substrate 5-1, and the connector socket 7 are located within the aperture portion 24 on the bottom portion of the connector attaching portion 15, and the rear end portions of the other module substrates 5 pierce through the slits 26 on the bottom portions of the terminal block attaching portions 16, respectively, whereupon the connecting terminal portions 5A are located within the terminal block attaching portions 16.

A cover connector 30, which comprises an intermediate connector, is attached to the connector attaching portion 15 while a connector plug 40, which comprises the other connector of the device net connector, is attached to the cover connector 30, wherein the connector plug 40 is coupled to the connector socket 7.

More particularly, as illustrated in Figs. 9 to 17, the cover connector 30 comprises a connector main body31 mace of a transparent synthetic resin material and having a rectangular shape when seen in a planar view, wherein the connector main body 31 includes, as illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, upper and lower surface portions 31a, 31b, and left and right surface portions 31c, Bid. As illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14, the upper and lower surface portions 31a, 31b are formed with tongue pieces 32 through a pair of notches 32a, respectively, and engaging projections 33 are projected end provided on outer surfaces of the tongue pieces 32 wherein these comprise the other engaging portions F2 as a whole.

Bitinsertportions34,which comprise the female screw member holding portions and which are supported by inner surfaces of the upper and lower surface portions 31a, Bib, are provided on inner sides of the connector main body 31 and the left surface portion 31c, wherein the bitinsertportions34 include female screw members 35, and the one fixing portions G1 are thus comprised as a whole.

A plug inserting notch portion 36 is formed at the left surface portion 31c of the connector main body 31 as illustrated in Fig. 11, wherein a pair of press-inserting portions 37 are formed at the plug inserting notch portion36. The right surface portion 31d is formed with a notch portion 38 located at a front edge portion thereof as illustrated in Fig. 12.

Asillustratedin Fig.10, a coyer portion 39 is formed that bridges from the right surface portion 31d over to respective edge portions of the upper and lower surface portions 31a, 31b. As illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19, the connector plug 40 is comprised with

a connector main body al made of transparent synthetic resin, wherein the connector main body 41 includes, at an end surface portion 41a thereof, a fitting portion 42 and a pair of pressing portions 43, and wherein terminal hole portions 44a, which continue from a back surface portion 4lb thereof to the fitting portion 42, are formed on the connector main body 41 in a linearly aligned manner, and female type connecting terminals 44 are attached to the terminal hole portions 44a.

Further, fixing portions 45 are projected and provided at upper and lower surface portion 41c, 41d of the connector main body41, end screw member hording holes 46 are provided at these fixing portions 41c, 41d (45?), wherein these screw member holding holes 46 hold screw members 47 in a freely rotating manner to thus comprise the other fixing portions G2 as a whole.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, the cover connector is attached to the connector attaching portion 15 by engaging the engaging projections33at the engaging hole portions 25 provided at the peripheral wall portion 17 and the partitioning wall portion 19 of the connector attaching portion 15 in a freely engageable/releasable manner. In such an instance, the upper andlowerbitinsert portions 34 of the cover connector 30 are located upward and downward of the connector socket 7, the right surface portion 31d of the cover connector 30 is located outside (upward in Fig. 7) of the back surface portion of the module substrate 5-1, and the left surface portion 31c of the cover connector 30 is located outside (downward inFig.7)of the connector socket7. The cover portion 39 is located rearward of a V-cut rear end portion 5a of the module substrate 5-1 such that the rear end portion 5a is not bear.

The connector plug 40 is arranged in that its fitting portion 42 is fitted into the fitting concave portion 8 of the connector socket 7, the contact portions 9A of the connecting terminals9areinserted and connected to the female type connecting terminals 49, and by screwing the screw members 47 provided at the fixing portions 45 into the female screw members of the bit insert portions 34, the connector plug is coupled to the connector socket7. In this case, the pair of pressing portions43 of the connector plug is inserted into the press-inserting portions 37 from the plug inserting notch portions 36 provided at theleft surface portion 31c of the cover connector (see Fig. 9) as illustrated in Fig. 7, and the pressing portions 43 press a wall portion 7a of the connector socket 7 to the fitting concave portion 8 side for narrowing the fitting concave portion 8 and for grasping the fitting portion 42.

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, terminal blocks 27 are attached to the terminal block attaching portions 16 such that the engaging projections 28 provided at upper and lower portions thereof are attached to engaging hole portions 25-1 of the peripheral wall portion 17 and the partitioning wall portion 19 in a freely engageable/releasable manner.

In this case, connecting terminal portions 5A of rear end portions of the other module substrates 5 that have pierced through the slits 26 are fitted into fitting portions (not shown) provided at bottom portions ofterminalblocks27,wherein the connecting terminal portions 5A are conducted to a plurality of terminals 27A comprised by the terminal blocks 27.

As explained above, the cover connector 30 is attached to the connector attaching portion 15 by engaging its engaging projections 33 at engaging hole portions 25 provided at the peripheral wall portion 17 and the partitioning wall portion 19 of the connector attaching portion 15 in a freely engageable/releasable manner for achieving integration of the cover connector 30 and the rear case 2, and since the connector plug 40 is arranged in that the screw members 47 provided at fixing portions 45 thereof are screwed into the female screw members 35 of the bit insert portions 34 for coupling the connector plug 40 and the connector socket 7, the connector plug 40 and the connector socket 7 are fixed at specified positions such that they do not come off.

Further, since the case main body 2, the cover connector30, andtheconnectorplug40areintegrated, even if an electric cable (not shown) wired to the connector plug 40 is pulled, this will result in pulling the case main body 2 so that no tensile load will be directly applied to the connector socket 7, and no solder cracks will be generated. Not only the tensile strength but also oscillation, impact or the like applied to the control unit (device net module) will be absorbed by the cover connector 30 and the rear case 2 so that stress applied to the module substrate 5-1 will reduced as well.

As illustrated in Fig. 7, the cover portion 39 of the cover connector 30 is located rearward of the V-cut rear end portion 5a of the module substrate 5-1 so that the rear end portion 5 will not be bear, and itis possible to secure safety such that electrostatic of the module substrate 5-1 does not affect the operator.

Further, asillustratedin Fig.7, when the cover connector 30 is molded using a transparent material, light of LEDs (light-emitting diodes) L1, L2 for establishing a device net communication status (MS: module status, NS: network status) can be guided so that the display portion S can be formed at the cover connector 30.

Since the cover connecter 30 has a module structure similar to the terminal blocks 27 that are attached to the electric equipment ease K to correspond to modularization, it may correspond to a plurality of electronic equipment similar to the terminalblocks

27 so that it is possible to expand specifications

of products.

As illustrated in Fig. 20, the cover connector is arranged in that the bit insert portions 34 may be cut by means of specific tools, and by attaching the cover connector 30, which bit insert portions 34 have been cut, to the connector attaching portion 15 by the above-described steps, it is possible to fix electric connectors other then device net connectors.

The above-described cover connector 30 is also used es a connecting portioning device net connector.

It is possible to improve the reliability of device net communication while utilizing merits of space-saving.

Since integration between the electronic equipment case and the other connector is achieved vie anintermediate connector according to the present invention, no tensile load will be directly applied to the one connector (such as the connector socket) even if an electric cable wired to the connector plug is pulled, and no solder cracks will be generated; it is also possible to exhibit the effects of reducing not only tensile strength but also stress applied to the printed circuit board of the control unit so that it is useful as an electric connector device for use in electronic equipment such as temperature controllers and digital panel meters.

Claims

1. An electric connector device for use electronic equipmentin which acontrolunitincluding printed circuit boards is accumulated into an electronic equipment case, in which one connector is mounted to the printed circuit boards and in which the one connector is exposed to the electronic equipment ease whereupon another connectoris coupled to the one connector, characterized in that a connector attaching portion is provided at theelectronicequipmentcase,inthatanintermediate connector is attached to the connector attaching portioning freely attachable/detachable manner, and in that the other connector is fixedly attached to the intermediate connector.

2. The electric connector device for use in electronic equipment as claimed in Claim 1, characterizedin that the connector attaching portion isarrangedin that one engaging portions are provided on both sides with an exposing portion for exposing the one connector being formed between, in that the intermediate connector includes other engaging portions that engage at the one engaging portionsina freely engageable/releasable manner end one fixing portions to which the other connector is fixed in a freely attachable/detachable manner, in that the other connectorincludes other fixing portions that are fixed to the one fixing portions in a freely attachable/detachable manner, and in that the intermediate connector is attached to the connector attaching portion by engaging the other engaging portions to the one engaging portions in a freely engageable/releasable manner while the other connectoris fixed totheintermediate connector by fixing the other fixing portions to the one fixing portions in a freely attachable/detachable manner.

The electric connector device for use in electronic equipment as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that the intermediate connector includes a connector main body, wherein female screw member holding portions including female screw members are provided on inner sides of mutually opposing end portions on both ends of the connector main body to comprise the one fixing portions, in that screw member fixing portions are provided at both end portions of the other connector whereupon screw members are provided at the screw member fixing portions in a freely rotating manner to comprise the other fixing portions, and in that by screwing the screw members into the female screw members, the other connector is fixedly attached to the intermediate connector.

4. The electric connector device for use electronic equipment as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that the female screw member holding portions are separable from the connector main body.

5. The electric connector device for use in electronic equipment as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that the intermediate connector comprises a coyer portion for screening en end portion of the printed circuit board when the intermediate connector is attached to the connector attaching portion.

6. The electric connector device for use in electronic equipment as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that the intermediate connector is formed of a transparent materialsoas to form a display portion upon guiding light of LEDs provided on the printed circuit board.

7. The electric connector device for use in electronic equipment as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that the intermediate connector is of module structure corresponding to modularization similar to terminal blocks attached to the electronic equipment case.

8. The electric connector device for use in electronic equipment as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electric connector device is employed as a device net connector for connecting the electronic equipment to a device net.

9. An electric connector device substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs 1 to 20 of the accompanying drawings.