JP2001006778A - Connector for flexible board - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a low profile connector having a simple structure and high contact pressure to a board, by forming a see-through hole to allow entering and outgoing of the tip of the fixed piece part of a fork-shaped contact when opening and closing the lid member at a position in close proximity to a pressurizing part of a lid member supporting the opening part of a housing so that it can be freely opened, closed and turned. SOLUTION: The first end rim 42 of a lid member 7 has a part 62 to be sandwiched between a flexible base (FPC) 2 disposed on an elastic piece part 35 with the lid member 7 closed and a fixed piece part 33. The part 62 to be sandwiched is equipped with a pressurizing part 61 facing the surface 2a of the FPC 2 as a facing part in a closing state of the lid member 7 closed and an inclined guide surface 63 facing the surface 2a of the FPC 2 inserted and pulled with the lid member 7 opened as a facing part when opened. When the lid member 7 is opened, since interference between it and the front end 38 of the fixed piece part 33 can be avoided by a see-through hole 40, a turning center A can be disposed by superimposing it on the part 62 to be sandwiched.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flat flexible cable called FPC and a connector for a flexible board used for connecting a PCB.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a connector of this type, a synthetic resin housing having an opening opening upward, a fixed piece and an elastic piece arranged to face the opening of the housing are vertically arranged. Some include a plurality of fork-shaped contacts facing each other and a synthetic resin lid member capable of opening and closing the opening of the housing.

[0003] On both sides of one end of the lid member, there are provided spindles comprising a pair of projections, and these spindles are supported by a rotation support portion of a housing (or a member held by the housing). In this state, the lid member rotates between a closed position and an open position for closing the opening. In some cases, a pressurizing section is provided at one end of the lid member in order to increase the contact pressure of the contact with the flexible substrate. The pressing portion is sandwiched between the flexible board disposed on the elastic piece and the fixed piece while the lid member is in the closed position, and presses the flexible board against the elastic piece.

[0004]

In this connector, when the lid member 91 is opened as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. The part 95 must not interfere. Further, in the process in which the lid member 91 rotates around the rotation center 96 to move from the open position shown by the two-dot chain line to the closed position shown by the solid line, the one end 92 including the pressurizing portion 93 and the elastic piece 97 The height c for accommodating the flexible substrate must always be ensured between them.

Further, by rotating around a rotation center 96, the pressing portion 93 at one end 92 of the lid member 91 is
In the closed state of 1, it is necessary to sink below the fixing piece 95. In order to satisfy the above conditions,
Inevitably, the distance d between the center of rotation 96 and one end 92 of the lid member 91 having the pressurizing section 93 needs to be increased. In this case, when the cover member 91 is opened and closed, the one end portion 92 largely rotates around the rotation center 96. To allow this rotation, the fixing piece 95 and the elastic piece 97 It is necessary to increase the interval e, and as a result, the height of the connector is increased. Further, in the closed position of the lid member 91, it is necessary to arrange the rotation center 96 considerably above the pressurizing portion 93. As a result, the thickness of the lid member 91 increases, so that the height of the connector also increases. Would.

To solve this problem, a connector has been provided in which the lid member is rotated while the center of rotation is moved by a cam mechanism (see, for example, Japanese Patent No. 2824747), but the structure is complicated. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector for a flexible substrate that has a simple structure, has a high contact pressure with the flexible substrate, and can achieve a reduction in height.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems As means for solving the problems to achieve the above object, the aspect of the invention described in claim 1 is as follows.
A plurality of fork-shaped contacts arranged so as to face an opening of a synthetic resin housing that opens upward, and a fixed piece and an elastic piece are vertically opposed to each other, and a synthetic resin that can open and close the opening of the housing. And a lid member made of
The lid member is supported by a housing or a rotation support portion of a member held by the housing so as to be rotatable around a rotation center between a closed position for closing the opening and an open position. One end of the cover member includes a clamped portion that is clamped between the flexible substrate disposed on the elastic piece and the fixed piece when the lid member is displaced to the closed position, and the clamped portion includes the lid member. The flexible board connector includes a pressing portion for pressing the flexible substrate against the elastic piece portion in a state where the cover is in the closed position. A through hole is formed to allow the tip of the part to enter and exit.

In this aspect, since the interference between the lid member and the tip of the fixed piece at the time of opening can be avoided by the through hole, the relationship between the fixed piece and the center of rotation can be freely set, and the center of rotation can be set. And a layout in which a sufficient pressure can be obtained by the pressing unit while shortening the distance to the pressing unit. According to an aspect of the invention described in claim 2, in claim 1,
The rotation center is located at a position overlapping the fixed piece or at a position between the fixed piece and the elastic piece. By laying out the center of rotation in this way, it is practical to shorten the distance between the center of rotation and the pressurizing section to reduce the height, and to obtain sufficient pressurization of the flexible substrate by the pressurizing section. Becomes possible.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the one end of the lid member faces the surface of the flexible substrate in a state where the lid member is in the closed position to constitute the pressing portion. A facing portion at the time of closing, and a facing portion at the time of opening facing the surface of the flexible substrate to be inserted and withdrawn with the lid member at the open position, wherein the distance from the center of rotation to the facing portion at the time of closing is facing at the time of opening. It is characterized in that it is larger than the distance to the part.

According to this aspect, when the lid member is opened, the flexible substrate can be easily inserted and removed between the open opposing portion and the elastic piece portion, and when the lid member is closed, the flexible substrate as the closed opposing portion can be inserted. The pressure portion can sufficiently press the flexible substrate. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, the opening facing portion includes an inclined guide surface that approaches the surface of the flexible substrate as the direction of insertion of the flexible substrate approaches. is there. In this aspect, with the lid member opened, the flexible substrate can be smoothly inserted along the inclined guide surface of the facing portion at the time of opening.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the center of pressure of the pressing portion of the lid member in the closed position is smaller than the predetermined rotation axis. It is characterized by being located near the tip of the member. In this aspect, the reaction force received by the pressing unit pressing the flexible substrate generates a moment for urging the lid member about the center of rotation in the closing direction.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the fork-like contact is mounted on a front side of the housing along a direction in which the flexible board is inserted. 1 contact and a plurality of second contacts mounted from the rear side of the housing along the pulling-out direction of the flexible substrate, and the first and second contacts are alternately arranged. The pressing portion presses the flexible board against the elastic piece of the second contact while the held portion of the lid member is held between the fixed piece of the second contact and the flexible board. It is characterized by the following. According to this aspect, the flexible substrate can be reliably pressed by the pressing portions of the plurality of second contacts alternately arranged with respect to the first contacts.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a flexible printed circuit connector and an FPC according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the flexible board connector with the lid member opened. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present flexible printed circuit board connector 1 (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “connector 1”) is mounted on a flexible printed circuit board 2 from the front.
A housing 4 made of a synthetic resin is provided for partitioning the insertion / extraction space 3 through which the FPC 2 is inserted / extracted. The front half of the housing 4 is opened upward through an opening 6 of the upper plate 5 of the housing 4 and a lid made of a synthetic resin molded product that can be opened and closed by turning the opening 6. A member 7 is provided.

Reference numeral 45 denotes a metal wire buried in the cover member 7, and a rotation support shaft A is provided at both ends thereof. Reference numeral 51 also denotes a reinforcing wire made of metal embedded in the cover member 7, and has projections C which are held by a mold during molding at both ends. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, each locking projection C is locked by a locking groove 50 of a corresponding reinforcing tab 10 made of a metal plate fixed to the housing 4, and
Lock the closed state of. 53 and 54 are wires 45 and 51
Is an opening for exposing a part of the cover member 7 to the outside.

The opposed side plates 8, 9 of the housing 4 are
Both sides of the insertion / extraction space 3 are partitioned. At the front end surfaces of the side plate portions 8 and 9, a fixing tab 11 made of a metal plate for supporting a pair of rotation support shafts A protruding to both sides of the lid member 7 from the front side is received and fixed. Although not shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2, are open.

Referring to FIG. 3, reinforcing tab 10 is inserted into fixing hole 11 from the front side and is fixed through a locking projection, and main body 12 extends upward from the front end of main body 12. A rotating support portion 14 comprising a concave groove defined by an extended piece 13 and rotatably supporting a rotating support shaft A;
2 has a hook-shaped fixing portion 15 extending downward from the front end and soldered to the substrate surface. The main body 12
An extension piece 57 is extended above the front end of the extension piece.
Is formed on the front end face of the lock groove 50 for engaging with the locking projection C to lock the closed state of the lid member 7.
The rotation support shaft A introduced into the concave groove as the rotation support portion 14
The rotating support shaft A is held in the concave groove by abutting the contact portion 60 of the housing 4.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the side plate portions 8,
9 is formed with extending portions 17 and 18 extending forward. Each of the extending portions 17 and 18 is thinner than the side plate portions 8 and 9, and is located outside the adjacent fixing hole 11 and extends to both side portions of the opening 6. Reference numerals 19 and 20 denote guide walls rising from both side edges of the front portion of the lower plate portion 16 of the housing 4.
It is introduced into the corresponding groove 21 formed on the side edge of the lid member 7 and regulates the movement of the lid member 7 in the left-right direction.

In the insertion / extraction space 3 of the housing 4, a plurality of fork-shaped first and second contacts 22 and 23 are alternately arranged in two rows. 1 and 2
Referring to FIG. 4 which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2, the first contact 22 is made of a metal member.
Is inserted into the insertion space 3 from the front side and fixed. Referring to FIG. 4, first contact 22 is inserted into accommodation groove 24 formed on the upper surface of lower plate 16 of housing 4 from the front side.
A fixed piece 25 is accommodated in the insertion direction of C2, and an elastic piece 26 is disposed above the fixed piece 25 in the rear half of the insertion / extraction space 3.

An engaging piece 27 having an engaging projection extends rearward from a connecting portion between the fixing piece 25 and the elastic piece 26, and the engaging piece 27 is inserted into a fixing hole 28 of the housing 4. It is inserted and fixed. Further, a lead portion 29 having an inverted T-shape is provided at the front end of the fixed piece portion 25. The lead portion 29 is soldered to the surface of the board on which the connector 4 is mounted, and is engaged with the front edge of the lower plate portion 16 of the housing 4 to prevent the fixed piece portion 25 from floating. Three
Numerals 0 and 31 are angle projections formed on the fixed piece 25 and the elastic piece 26 so as to face each other.
C2 is sandwiched between these angled projections 30 and 31 to secure the contact pressure.

Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V--V in FIG. 2, the second contact 23 is made of a metal member. FPC from the side
2 and is inserted and fixed along the pull-out direction.
Referring to FIG. 5, second contact 23 is provided with a fixing piece 33 with a locking projection which is inserted and fixed from the rear side into a fixing hole 32 at an upper portion of housing 4, and a lower plate portion of housing 4. 16
An elastic piece 35 is accommodated from the rear side in an accommodation groove 34 formed on the upper surface of the elastic piece 35 and is located below the fixed piece 33, and a main body 36 connecting the fixed piece 33 and the rear end of the elastic piece 35 to each other. When,
And a lead portion 37 extending obliquely rearward and downward from the main portion 36 and soldered to the surface of the substrate.

The front ends 38 and 39 of the fixed piece 33 and the elastic piece 35 extend to the middle of the housing 4 in the front-rear direction. The front end 38 of the fixing piece 33 enters the through-hole 40 formed in the lid member 7 in the closed state of the lid member 7 shown in FIG. 5, and the closed state of the lid member 7 as shown in FIGS. Then, an open portion B provided at one edge of the lid member 7
Through the outside. With the lid member 7 closed in this manner, the continuity test probe is connected to the front end 38 of the fixed piece 33 of the second contact 23 via the open portion B.
The continuity test can be easily performed by contacting the contact.

On the other hand, the front end 39 of the elastic piece 35 has an FPC
An upward angled projection 41 for securing a contact pressure with the projection 2 is formed. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 6 which is a plan view of the lid member, the lid member 7 has a substantially rectangular plate shape, and has first and second edges 42 and 43 opposed to each other. I have. The above-mentioned pair of rotation support shafts A protrude from the left and right side portions 44, 44 of the first end edge 42 facing each other.

The pair of rotating shafts A are opposed to the exposed end portions 4 of the metal wire 45 embedded when the lid member 7 is formed.
6, 46. The wire 45 has a crank shape as a whole, and its intermediate portion 47 is formed by the first edge 42.
And extend in parallel at a predetermined distance from the object. First of lid member 7
As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of through holes 40 for allowing the front end 38 of the second contact 23 to enter and exit are arranged side by side at the edge 42 of the second contact 23. In FIG. 7, a pressing portion 61 is provided at a portion closer to the distal end of the first edge 42 than the through hole 40.

When the cover portion 7 is displaced to the closed position, the pressurizing portion 61 connects the FPC 2 disposed on the elastic piece 35 of the second contact 23 and the fixed piece 33 as shown in FIG. The FPC 2 is pressed against the elastic piece 35 while being sandwiched therebetween. The pair of protrusions C are formed on the left and right side portions 49, 49 of the second edge 43 of the cover member 7 opposite to each other.

The pair of projections C are exposed opposite end portions 5 of the metal reinforcing wire 51 buried when the lid member 7 is formed.
2, 52. The reinforcing wire 51 has a crank shape as a whole, and an intermediate portion 52 extends in parallel with a predetermined distance from the second edge 43. Referring to FIG. 6, reference numeral 53 denotes an opening for exposing one or more places of the wire 45, and reference numeral 54 denotes an opening for exposing one or more places of an intermediate portion of the wire 51. These openings 53, 54 play the following role. That is, in order to insert the metal wires 45 and 51 at the time of forming the cover member 7 and bury the metal wires 45 and 51 in the molded product of the cover member 7, the metal wires 45 and 51 are supported in a molding die in a predetermined posture. However, it is possible to arrange a wide support pin (insert pin) at a position corresponding to the openings 53 and 54 in the mold. Therefore, as a result of the wires 53 and 54 being stably supported in the mold, it is possible to increase the positional accuracy of the rotation support shafts A and the projections C formed by the opposed ends of the wires 45 and 51 in the molded product. it can.

Next, referring to FIG. 8 which is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 5, and FIG. 9 which is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG.
Will be described below. The first edge 42 of the lid member 7 is sandwiched between the FPC 2 disposed on the elastic piece 35 and the fixed piece 33 when the lid 7 is in the closed position as shown in FIG. To be held.
The holding portion 62 includes a pressing portion 61 as a closing facing portion facing the surface 2a of the FPC 2 in a state where the lid member 7 is in the closed position as shown in FIG. 9, and a lid member as shown in FIG. 7 is provided with an inclined guide surface 63 as a facing portion at the time of opening which faces the surface 2a of the flexible board 2 inserted and withdrawn in a state where 7 is in the open position.

The rotation center A1, which is the axis of the rotation support shaft A, is
When viewed from the axial direction of the rotation support shaft A, the rotation support shaft A is disposed at a position overlapping with the pinched portion 62, and the distance g between the rotation center A1 and the pressurizing portion 61 as the opposed portion when closed is equal to the rotation center A1. It is larger than the distance h from the inclined guide surface 63 as the facing portion at the time of opening. Thereby, when the lid member 7 is opened, the FPC 2 can be easily inserted and removed between the inclined guide surface 63 as the facing portion at the time of opening and the elastic piece 35, and when the lid member 7 is closed, the FPC 2 is closed. It is possible to sufficiently pressurize the FPC 2 by the pressurizing portion 61 as the facing portion.

When the cover 7 is open as shown in FIG. 8, the inclined guide surface 63 approaches the front surface 2a of the FPC 2 in the insertion direction X of the FPC 2.
It is inclined with respect to the insertion direction X. Thus, with the lid member 7 opened, the FPC 2 is moved to the inclined guide surface 6.
3 can be smoothly inserted and removed. The inclined guide surface 63 may be formed as a part of the facing portion at the time of opening.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the holding portion 62 of the lid member 7 in the closed position is held between the FPC 2 on the elastic piece 35 and the fixed piece 33, A pressing portion 61 as an opposing portion presses the FPC 2 toward the chevron 41 of the elastic piece 35. In the state where the lid member 7 shown in FIG. 9 is in the closed position, the position of the pressing center G where the pressing unit 61 presses the FPC 2, that is, the position where the resultant force F of the distributed pressing force acts is larger than the rotation center A1. It is located closer to the tip (first edge 42) of the lid member 7. As a result, the pressing unit 61
The pressing reaction force R received from C2 generates a moment that rotates the cover member 7 counterclockwise around the rotation center A1 in FIG. 9 (that is, biases the cover member 7 to close). As a result, the so-called self-lock is strengthened, and the lid member 7 does not accidentally open.

According to the present embodiment, the lid member 7 when opened
Since the interference with the front end 38 of the fixing piece portion 33 can be avoided by the through hole 40, the center of rotation A1 can be disposed so as to overlap the held portion 62. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain a sufficient pressure by the pressing unit 61 while shortening the distance between the rotation center A1 and the pressing unit 61 and reducing the height of the connector 1. That is, it is possible to provide the connector 1 having a simple structure in which the through holes 40 are provided, and having a high contact pressure with the FPC 2 and a low height.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, all of the fixing pieces 33 of the plurality of second contacts 23 are covered with the cover member 7. Although the front end 38 into which the holding portion 62 is sunk is described, the invention is not limited thereto, and at least a part of the fixing piece 33 may have the front end 38 into which the held portion 62 of the lid member 7 is sunk.

In the above embodiment, the first and second
Are arranged alternately, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a connector having only the second contact 23 may be used. Further, the pressurizing portion may be provided in a part of the facing portion at the time of closing. Further, a layout in which the rotation center A1 overlaps the fixed piece 33 may be adopted.

The present invention can be applied to a case where a PCB is connected instead of the FPC. In addition, various changes can be made within the scope of the present invention, such as applying the present invention to a vertical connector.

[0034]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the interference between the cover member and the tip of the fixing piece when opened can be avoided by the through hole, the distance between the center of rotation and the pressing portion can be shortened to reduce the distance. This makes it possible to provide a layout of the center of rotation so as to obtain sufficient pressurization by the pressurizing section while reducing the height. As a result, it is possible to provide a connector having a simple structure in which the through holes are provided, and having a high contact pressure with the FPC and a low height.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, by laying out the center of rotation on the fixed piece or the pinched portion, the distance between the center of rotation and the pressurizing section is shortened to reduce the height. Thus, it is substantially possible to obtain sufficient pressurization of the FPC by the pressurizing section. According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the lid member is opened, the flexible substrate can be easily inserted and removed between the opening facing portion and the elastic piece portion, and when the lid member is closed, the flexible substrate serves as the closing facing portion. The pressurizing section can sufficiently pressurize the flexible substrate.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the flexible substrate can be smoothly inserted along the inclined guide surface of the facing portion when the lid is opened, with the lid member being opened. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the pressing reaction force received from the flexible substrate by the pressing portion generates a moment for closing and urging the lid member, so that the lid member is not accidentally opened. .

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the flexible substrate can be reliably pressed by the pressing portions of the plurality of second contacts alternately arranged with respect to the first contacts.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an FPC connector and an FP according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is an exploded perspective view of C.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view of the connector with a cover member opened.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view along the line III-III in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B shows a state in which the cover member of FIG. 2A is closed. However, hatching indicating a cross section is omitted for the reinforcing tab.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2; However, hatching indicating a cross section is omitted for the first contact.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG. 2, showing a state where a lid member is opened. However, hatching indicating a cross section is omitted for the second contact.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a part of a lid member partially missing;

FIG. 7 shows a state in which the lid member is closed and the FPC is connected.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a connector corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a main part of a conventional connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Connector 2 FPC 3 Insertion / extraction space 4 Housing 5 Upper plate part 6 Opening part 7 Cover member 14 Rotation support part 23 Second contact 33 Fixed piece 35 Elastic piece 38 Front end 40 Through hole 42 First edge ( One end) A Rotating support shaft A1 Rotation center 61 Pressurizing part (Closed facing part) 62 Clamped part 63 Inclined guide surface (Opening facing part)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5E023 AA04 AA16 AA18 BB22 BB23 BB29 CC02 CC23 CC26 DD02 DD03 DD06 DD18 DD28 EE12 EE29 GG02 GG03 GG04 GG07 GG09 GG14 HH01 HH08 HH18 HH22 HH26 HH28 HH30

Claims (6)

[Claims] A fork-like contact which is arranged in a plurality so as to face an opening of a synthetic resin housing which is opened upward, and in which a fixed piece and an elastic piece are vertically opposed, respectively;
A lid member made of a synthetic resin capable of opening and closing the opening of the housing, wherein the lid member has a closed position and an open position for closing the opening by a rotation support portion of the housing or a member held by the housing. Between the flexible board and the fixed piece disposed on the elastic piece when the cover is displaced to the closed position. A flexible board connector including a pressing portion that presses the flexible board against the elastic piece in a state where the lid member is in the closed position; A flexible board connector, wherein a through hole is formed at a position close to the pressurizing portion to allow the tip of the fixed piece of the contact to enter and exit when the lid member is opened and closed. 2. The connector for a flexible board according to claim 1, wherein the center of rotation is arranged at a position overlapping the fixed piece portion or the held portion. 3. One end of the lid member opposes the surface of the flexible substrate when the lid member is in the closed position and constitutes the pressing portion when closed, and the lid member is in the open position. An open facing portion facing the surface of the flexible substrate inserted and removed in the step, wherein the distance from the center of rotation to the closed facing portion is larger than the distance to the open facing portion. The connector for a flexible board according to claim 1. 4. The connector for a flexible board according to claim 3, wherein the facing portion at the time of opening includes an inclined guide surface which approaches the surface of the flexible board as the direction of insertion of the flexible board approaches. 5. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the center of pressure of the pressing portion of the lid member in the closed position is located closer to the tip of the lid member than the predetermined rotation axis. A connector for a flexible board according to one aspect. 6. A plurality of first contacts mounted on the front side of the housing along the insertion direction of the flexible board, and a plurality of first contacts mounted on the rear side of the housing along the removal direction of the flexible board. A plurality of second contacts, the first and second contacts are arranged alternately and alternately, and the pinched portion of the lid member is a fixed piece of the second contact and a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the pressing portion presses the flexible substrate against the elastic piece of the second contact in a state where the flexible substrate is sandwiched between the flexible substrate and the elastic member. Connector.