JP2001143799A - Circuit board connector and structure for connecting circuit boards using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simple circuit board connector that is flexible and compatible to electrically connect circuit boards arranged perpendicular to each other with improved mass producibility. SOLUTION: A circuit board connector 10 for connecting circuit boards P1 and P2 comprises a plurality of electrical terminals 12 each with pressed insertion parts 18 at both ends that are integrated by an insulation material 14 to form a terminal collector, which is shaped by bending process so as to form a hollow part 11 for receiving a circuit board with an exposed terminal contact 16a formed in the inside. When connecting circuit boards P4 and P1, the pressed insertion parts 18 are tightly inserted in corresponding connection holes 28 formed in the circuit board P4 while inserting the end of the circuit board P1 in the hollow part 11 with contacting the terminal contact 16a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a terminal assembly for electrically connecting circuit boards, and to a connection structure between circuit boards using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the miniaturization of electronic circuits has been rapidly progressing, and accordingly, circuit boards on which such circuits are incorporated have been increasingly used. Further, an electronic unit in which a plurality of circuit boards are incorporated is being developed, and such a unit also requires electrical connection between the circuit boards.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the electronic unit. This unit includes a housing 2 in which four circuit boards P1, P2, P3, and P4 are housed. In the illustrated example, three circuit boards P1, P2, and P3 are arranged vertically one above the other in a horizontal state, and a circuit board P4 is arranged in a vertical state in front of them. Each circuit board P1 to P
Reference numeral 4 is held at a predetermined position by a substrate guide groove (not shown) formed on the inner surface of the housing 2.

The circuits on the circuit board P1 are connected to the circuits on the circuit boards P2 and P3 via a flexible flat wiring material (FFC) 4 in this case. On the other hand, the circuit on the circuit board P1 is also connected to the circuit on the circuit board P4 via a so-called card edge connector C2. FIG. 8 shows a specific example of the structure of the connector C2.

The connector C2 shown in FIG. 1 includes a housing 6 that opens in one direction, and terminals 8 incorporated in the housing 6. One end 8a of the terminal 8 is exposed to the outside of the housing 6 and connected to the circuit board P4, and the other end 8b faces the inside of the housing 6 as a contact spring piece. The circuit board P1 is provided in the housing 6.
Is inserted as shown in FIG.
1 pushes up the terminal end 8b so that the end 8b comes into pressure contact with the conductor on the circuit board P1 by its resilient force.

[0006]

In the above structure, a dedicated connector C2 having a large number of parts and a complicated structure must be used to connect the circuit boards P1 and P4 to each other.
Further, it is necessary to connect and fix the terminal end 8a of the connector C2 to the circuit board P4 by soldering or the like.
Also, when the number of connection holes, that is, the required number of terminals changes,
Accordingly, the entire connector C2 must be newly designed and manufactured, which is poor in versatility and mass productivity. Moreover, since there is little freedom of relative position between the circuit board P4, the connector C2, and the circuit board P1, the circuit boards P1, P
If the relative position of 4 is slightly deviated from the proper position, the connection may not be possible, and the connecting portion (connector portion) may be easily damaged by an impact given during use.

As means for solving such inconveniences,
For example, similarly to the connection between the circuit boards P1 and P2 shown in FIG.
It is conceivable that the connection is made through the use of a mediation number 4. However, also in this case, the connector C1 is required to securely connect both ends of the FFC 4 and the circuit boards P1 and P4, and this is not an effective remedy.

[0008] In view of such circumstances, the present invention is capable of easily and flexibly electrically connecting circuit boards arranged in directions substantially orthogonal to each other, and is also versatile and mass-producible. It is an object of the present invention to provide a high board connection body and a connection structure between circuit boards using the same.

[0009]

As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is to electrically connect a first circuit board and a second circuit board arranged in directions substantially orthogonal to each other. A plurality of terminals having press-fit portions formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction, the press-fit portions being capable of being press-fitted into connection holes provided in the first circuit board, arranged in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The terminal row is integrated by fixing an insulating material crossing the row of the terminal on both front and back surfaces of the terminal, and the intermediate part of the terminal row and the insulating material is bent, so that the terminal is bent. Press-fit portions at both ends project to the same side, and an insertion recess into which an end of the second circuit board can be inserted is formed in an intermediate portion between the terminal row and the insulating material,
Further, a contact portion is formed inside the insertion recess so that the terminal is exposed and can directly contact the second circuit board.

[0010] The present invention also provides a substrate connector, a first circuit board in which connection holes are arranged in accordance with an arrangement of a press-fit portion of the substrate connector, and an end portion in an insertion recess of the substrate connector. And a second circuit board into which each of the press-fitting portions of the board connector is press-fitted into each connection hole of the first circuit board. The second circuit board is electrically connected to the first circuit board via the respective terminals by inserting the portion up to a position where the portion contacts the contact portion.

According to this structure, the end of the second circuit board is inserted into the insertion concave portion of the board connector while each press-fit portion of the board connector is pressed into the connection hole of the first circuit board. With a simple configuration, the two circuit boards can be connected in a direction substantially orthogonal to each other.

Further, the board connector itself according to this structure has a simple configuration in which only a terminal assembly in which a plurality of terminals with pressure contact portions are integrated with an insulating material is bent and deformed.

The terminal assembly itself can be easily mass-produced. For example, a single plate material is punched to form a terminal plate having a plurality of terminal portions connected to each other, and an insulating material is fixed to the terminal portions of the terminal plate. The method of removing the connecting portion between the portions enables mass production of a desired terminal assembly with a small number of steps. Here, the formation of the connection portion, which is a terminal exposed portion, may be performed, for example, by fixing an insulating material to each of the terminal portions and then cutting off the insulating material at a portion corresponding to the connection portion, or in advance. An insulating material having a window formed at a location corresponding to the above may be fixed to the terminal portion.

Further, a terminal assembly material sheet in which terminals larger than the number of connection holes are integrated with the insulating material is manufactured, and the terminal assembly material sheet is adjusted to the number of connection holes. By cutting and using the same in the manufacture of the board connector, the terminal assembly having a desired number of terminals and, consequently, the board connector can be formed from a common material sheet simply by selecting where to cut the sheet. Can be easily obtained. That is, it is possible to cope with a change in the number of terminals (change in the number of connection holes of the substrate) without difficulty.

In this board connector, the shape of the press-fitting portion can be set as appropriate. For example, by providing a hole at the center thereof that allows the press-fit portion to be elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the press-fit direction, the press-fit portion can be smoothly pressed into the connection hole.

In the board connecting body, the contact portion is formed to protrude inside the insertion recess, so that the contact between the contact portion and the second circuit board can be further ensured.

Also, the direction of each terminal is reversed at the entrance portion of the insertion recess, and each press-fit portion is moved to the second position with respect to the insertion recess.
If it is made to protrude in the same direction as the insertion direction of the circuit board, it is possible to prevent the press-fitting of the press-fitting portion from becoming shallow (or coming off) due to the insertion resistance of the second circuit board into the insertion recess.

[0018] Further, the insertion recesses are made to protrude further inward in the board insertion direction than the tips of the press-fitting portions, and the first circuit board is provided with through holes through which the insertion recesses of the board connector can be inserted. The insertion recess is inserted into the through hole, and the first
By inserting each end of the second circuit board into the insertion recess in a state where each press-fit portion of the board connection body is press-fitted into each connection hole of the circuit board, the end is in contact with the contact portion, If the second circuit board is electrically connected to the first circuit board via the respective terminals, the second portion from the insertion recess to the insertion recess can be kept short while keeping the length from the entrance to the press-fit portion of the insertion recess. A sufficient insertion depth of the circuit boards can be ensured, and more stable connection between the circuit boards can be achieved. Further, since the end of the second circuit board is inserted into the through hole of the first circuit board, the layout of both circuit boards can be made more compact, and the installation space can be reduced.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the circuit board P1 incorporated in the unit shown in FIG.
The connection between the circuit board and the circuit board P4 will be described. However, the circuit board to be connected according to the present invention is not limited to the one incorporated in the unit, and the present invention is applicable to various circuit boards installed in directions substantially orthogonal to each other. Applicable.

The structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes the circuit boards P1 and P4 and a board connecting body 10 serving as a connecting medium between them.
And At the end of the circuit board P1 (second circuit board), a protrusion P having a width slightly smaller than that of the other portions is formed, and a large number of lands (connection conductors) 3 are formed on the upper surface of the protrusion P.
4 are arranged in the substrate width direction. On the other hand, in the circuit board P4 (first circuit board), a through-hole (through-hole) H in the width direction into which the protrusion P is fitted with a sufficient gap.
Is provided at the portion of the through-hole H.
0 is attached.

FIG. 3 (a) and FIG. 3 (b)
As shown in FIG.
And an insulating material 14 that integrates them into a material, and the substrate assembly 10 is formed by appropriately bending and deforming the terminal assembly.

Each terminal 12 constituting the terminal assembly is
The main body 16 whose original shape (the shape shown in FIG. 4) is a long strip shape
And press-fit portions 18 formed at both ends thereof. The press-fit portion 18 includes a base 20 having both sides bulging in a curved shape.
And a tip 22 protruding from the base 20 in a pointed manner. An elongated hole 24 is formed at the center of the base 20 in the width direction, and the bases 20 on both outer sides thereof can be flexed and deformed inward (that is, elastically deformed in the reduced width direction) by the amount of the hole 24. I have.

The terminals 12 are arranged at equal intervals in a direction perpendicular to the length direction (ie, in the width direction) in a state of being parallel to each other. The main body 16 of these terminals 12
On both sides of at least a part of the
All the terminals 12 are integrated as a terminal assembly by fixing the rectangular insulating material 14 crossing these. As the insulating material 14, a sheet-like material having high flexibility is preferable, and specifically, a sheet made of a synthetic resin such as PET or PVC is preferable.

Then, by bending the main body 16 of the terminal assembly into a concave shape, the insertion concave portion 11 as shown in FIG. 3B is formed. This insertion recess 11 is
It has an insertion opening 13 that opens in one direction, from which the end of the circuit board P1 can be inserted in a loosely fitted state, and the insertion recess 11 itself can be inserted into the elongated through hole H. It is formed in size. A bulging portion 16b for preventing the insertion concave portion 11 from coming off the circuit board is provided at an appropriate position.
Are formed.

In the insertion recess 11, windows 15 of the insulating material 14 are formed in specific portions vertically opposed to each other, and the specific portions of the terminals 12 are exposed to the inside through the windows 15. The exposed portion of the terminal 12 is bent into a mountain shape protruding inward, thereby forming a contact portion 16a that can contact the land 34 of the circuit board P1.

In the vicinity of the insertion slot 13, the terminal 12 is bent 90 ° outward twice so that the press-fit portion 18 is bent.
Is reversed, and the protruding direction of the press-fit portion 18 and the inserting direction of the circuit board P1 are the same. Then, the insertion recess 11 protrudes farther inward in the board insertion direction than the tip of the press-fitting portion 18.

Next, an example of a method of manufacturing the board connecting body 10 and an example of a procedure for constructing a circuit board connecting structure using the same will be described.

1) Manufacture of the terminal assembly of the board connector 10 First, the terminal assembly is manufactured. This terminal assembly can be mass-produced, for example, by the following procedure.

By punching a single plate material, a terminal plate 25 having a shape as shown in FIG. 4 is formed.
The terminal plate 25 is formed by integrally connecting a band-like connecting portion 26 extending in the direction in which the both ends of the terminal 12 are arranged.
Are integrated with each other. In addition, each press fitting part 18
It is more preferable to form a wide press-fit stopper 17 as shown in FIGS.

The insulating material 1 is provided on both the front and back surfaces of each terminal 12 portion of the terminal plate 25 (specifically, a proper position of the main body 16).
4 (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4). For this fixation, an adhesive or the like may be used, or the insulating material 14 may be formed of a heat-meltable resin and heated and pressed on the terminals 12 (that is, heat-welded). In addition, in a portion between the terminals 12, the insulating materials 14 may be directly fixed to each other.
It is more preferable in terms of insulation and strength (see FIG. 3A).

As shown in FIG. 5, the insulating material 1 on one side
4 (FIG. 3B), a window 15 is formed by cutting out an appropriate portion of the insulating material 14 corresponding to the inner surface of the insertion recess 11. In addition,
The window 15 may be formed in advance before the insulating material 14 is fixed to the terminal 12.

After the insulating material 14 is fixed, the connecting portions 26 are separated from the terminal portions. Thus, the terminal assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be obtained.

In addition to the above method, a method of integrating the terminals 12 and the insulating material 14 by, for example, injection molding is also possible.

2) Forming of the board connector 10 By bending the terminal assembly in the terminal thickness direction, the board connector 10 having the shape shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is formed. Due to this bending, the window 15 is positioned inside the insertion concave portion 11, and the contact portion 16 a of the terminal 12 is exposed to the inside and protrudes through the window 15.

3) Connection of Circuit Boards P1 and P4 Before connecting the circuit boards P1 and P4 to each other, in addition to forming a through-hole H in the horizontal direction in an appropriate place on the circuit board P4 in addition to this through-hole. The connection holes 28 are arranged in a horizontal line at both upper and lower edges of the elongated hole H, and the inner surface of each connection hole 28 is formed as shown in FIG.
The lands (connection conductors) 30 shown in FIGS. Here, the number and arrangement of the press-fitting portions 18 in the board connector 10 are matched with the number and arrangement of the connection holes 28 in the circuit board P4.

The board connecting body 10 having such a configuration may be provided with only a required number of terminals (the same number as the number of the connection holes 28) in advance, and may be manufactured as a single unit, for example, in the manner described above. However, a long terminal assembly material sheet is manufactured by integrating a sufficient number of terminals 12 with the insulating material 14 more than the required number, and this sheet is cut and used according to the required number of terminals. You may. According to the latter method, a plurality of types of terminal aggregates having different numbers of terminals can be easily obtained from a common terminal aggregate material sheet by selecting the cut portion, and the versatility and mass productivity are further enhanced.

While inserting the insertion recess 11 of the board connector 10 into the elongated through hole H of the circuit board P 4,
Are press-fitted into the connection holes 28 of the circuit board P4. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B,
The bulging portion 16b for retaining is formed by the through-hole H of the circuit board P1.
By inserting the insertion concave portion 11 into the through-hole H until the position passes through, the press-fit portions 18 are sufficiently press-fitted into the connection holes 28. This press-fitting involves elastic deformation of the base portion 20 of each press-fitting portion 18 in the width reducing direction. Due to the elastic return force, both side surfaces of the base portion 20 of each press-fitting portion 18 are pressed against the inner side surface (land 30) of the connection hole 28, and as a result, the terminal 12 is electrically connected to the circuit on the circuit board P4 side. You.

The end (projection P) of the circuit board P 1 is inserted from the insertion opening 13 into the insertion recess 11, and the land 34 is inserted.
To the contact portion 16a of the terminal 12. This allows
The terminal 12 is electrically connected to the circuit on the circuit board P1. That is, the circuit boards P4 and P1 are connected to each other using the terminal 12 of the board connector 10 as a connection medium. In this connection state, the circuit boards P4 and P1 are appropriately fixed to members on the unit side.

In this connection structure, since the board connector 10 is bent and deformed in the thickness direction, the relative displacement between the circuit boards P1 and P4 can be permitted by the deformation. That is,
The circuit boards P1 and P4 can be connected to each other in a flexible state. Accordingly, it is possible to absorb a displacement such as a displacement between the substrates and an impact such as a vibration at the time of assembly, and it is possible to further enhance the reliability of connection between the substrates.

In the structure shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the insertion recesses 11 protrude more in the insertion direction of the circuit board P1 than the press-fitting portions 18, and the insertion recesses 11
4, the press-fitting portion 18 is press-fitted into the connection hole 28 while being inserted into the through-hole H. However, as shown in FIG. Is provided so that the press-fit portion 18 protrudes from the insertion concave portion 11, it is possible to mount the board connector 10 on the circuit board P4 without providing the elongated through hole H in the circuit board P4.

However, if the structure as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is used, the distance from the insertion opening 13 to the press-fitting portion 18 is reduced, and the depth of the board inserted into the insertion recess 11 is sufficiently large. Connection in a more stable state. Further, since the circuit board P1 is inserted into the elongated through hole H of the circuit board P4, both circuit boards P1 and P
4 can further reduce the installation space.

In addition, the present invention can take the following embodiments, for example.

In the present invention, the shape of the press-fit portion 18 can be appropriately set. For example, it may be formed in a conical or truncated cone shape and pressed against the inner surface of the connection hole by a taper action.

The sectional shape of each terminal 12 is not particularly limited.
For example, the cross-sectional shape may be circular.

In the structure shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the direction of the press-fit portion 18 is reversed by bending the terminal 12 in the vicinity of the insertion port 13, but this reversal is omitted and the press-fit portion is omitted. 18
Is the side opposite to the insertion side of the circuit board P1 (FIGS. 3A and 3B).
(Left side in FIG. 2). In this case, the insertion recess 11 is inserted through the through-hole H.
The end of the circuit board P1 may be inserted therein.

However, according to the structure shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the direction of insertion of the circuit board P1 into the insertion recess 11 and the direction of press-fit of the press-fit portion 18 become the same, and the circuit board P1
Since the insertion resistance acts in the direction to deepen the press-fitting, it is possible to prevent the insertion resistance from acting in the direction to remove the press-fitting of the press-fitting portion 18.

[0047]

As described above, the board connector according to the present invention has a simple structure and can be easily mass-produced.
It is easy to respond to changes in the number of required terminals and has high versatility. Further, by using this board connector, an effect is obtained in which circuit boards arranged in directions substantially orthogonal to each other can be connected flexibly with a simple configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connection structure between circuit boards using a board connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the board connection body is mounted on a first circuit board.

FIG. 3A is a sectional plan view showing a main part of the connection structure, and FIG. 3B is a sectional front view.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a terminal plate formed in a manufacturing process of the board connector.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a state in which an insulating material is fixed to the terminal plate and a window is formed in the insulating material.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the board connection body.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a circuit board arrangement in an electronic unit incorporating a plurality of circuit boards.

8 is a sectional view showing a card edge connector for connecting the circuit boards shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example in which the circuit boards shown in FIG. 7 are connected by FFC.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Substrate connector 11 Insert recess 12 Terminal 14 Insulating material 16a Contact part 18 Press-fit part 24 hole 25 Terminal plate 28 Connection hole H Through-hole (through-hole) P Projection (circuit board end) P1 Circuit board (second Circuit board) P4 circuit board (first circuit board)

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroki Hirai 1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture Inside Harness Research Institute, Inc. (72) Inventor Noriichi Okamura 1-7-7 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture No. 10 Inside Harness Research Institute, Inc. (72) Inventor Tetsuji Tanaka 1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Prefecture Inside Harness Research Institute, Inc. (72) Inventor Shigeki Sakai Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi 1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Harness Research Institute, Inc. (72) Inventor Yoshito Sakai 1-7-10, Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture Inside Harness Research Institute, Inc. (72) Inventor Ryoji Tsuji Aichi 1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Japan F-term in Harness Research Institute, Inc. (reference) 5E063 HA02 HB11 HB16 5E077 BB11 BB31 CC15 CC22 DD12 DD14 DD19 FF13 JJ20

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
Board connecting body for electrically connecting the circuit board and the second circuit board, wherein press-fit portions having a shape press-fittable into connection holes provided in the first circuit board are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction. A plurality of terminals are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and the terminal row is integrated by fixing an insulating material crossing the row of the terminals on both front and back surfaces of these terminals, By bending the intermediate portion between the terminal row and the insulating material, the press-fit portions at both ends of the terminals project to the same side, and the end of the second circuit board can be inserted into the intermediate portion between the terminal row and the insulating material. An insertion recess is formed, and
The terminal is exposed inside the insertion recess and the second terminal is exposed.
A contact portion capable of directly contacting the circuit board of claim 1. 2. The board connector according to claim 1, wherein a hole is provided at a center portion of the press-fitting portion so that the press-fitting portion can be elastically deformed in a direction orthogonal to the press-fitting direction. Board connection. 3. The board connector according to claim 1, wherein the contact portion has a shape protruding inside the insertion recess. 4. The board connecting body according to claim 1, wherein each of the press-fitting portions is inserted into the insertion recess by inverting each terminal at an entrance portion of the insertion recess. A substrate connector, which projects in the same direction as the direction. 5. The board connector according to claim 4, wherein the insertion recesses protrude deeper in the board insertion direction than tips of the press-fit portions. 6. The method for manufacturing a board connector according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of terminals are arranged in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the plurality of terminals, and the terminals are provided on both front and back surfaces of the terminals. A method for manufacturing a board connector, comprising: manufacturing a terminal assembly by fixing an insulating material having a shape traversing the row; and bending the terminal assembly to form the insertion recess. 7. A method of manufacturing a board connector according to claim 6, wherein a single plate material is punched to form a terminal plate having a plurality of terminal portions connected to each other. A method of manufacturing a board connector, comprising: manufacturing a terminal assembly by fixing an insulating material to a terminal portion of a board, and then removing a connecting portion between the terminal portions of the terminal plate. 8. The method for manufacturing a board connector according to claim 6, wherein a terminal assembly material sheet in which terminals larger than the number of the connection holes are integrated with the insulating material is manufactured. A method for manufacturing a board connector, wherein the terminal assembly material sheet is cut in accordance with the number of the connection holes and used for manufacturing a board connector. 9. The board connection body according to claim 1, a first circuit board on which connection holes are arranged in accordance with an arrangement of a press-fit portion of the board connection body, and the board connection. A second circuit board whose end can be inserted into the insertion recess of the body,
With the respective press-fitting portions of the board connector being press-fitted into the respective connection holes of the first circuit board, the end portions of the second circuit board are inserted into the insertion recesses until the end portions contact the contact portions. The connection structure between circuit boards, wherein the second circuit board is electrically connected to the first circuit board via each terminal. 10. The board connector according to claim 5, a first circuit board on which connection holes are arranged in accordance with the arrangement of the press-fitting portions of the board connector, and an end in an insertion recess of the board connector. And a second circuit board into which a portion can be inserted. The first circuit board is provided with a through hole through which the insertion recess of the board connector can be inserted, and the insertion recess is inserted through the through hole. In a state in which each press-fitting portion of the board connection body is press-fitted into each connection hole of the first circuit board, the end of the second circuit board is inserted into the insertion recess until the end comes into contact with the contact portion. A connection structure between the circuit boards, wherein the second circuit board is electrically connected to the first circuit board via each terminal.