JP2001203016A - Intermediate electric connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an intermediate electric connector with small electric resistance, which can firmly contact the counterpart connecting body. SOLUTION: With the intermediate electric connector with which a conductive member 3 arranged at the position of a holding hole 2 formed penetrating into a sheet-shaped holding member 1 made of an electric insulating body in its width direction is held by the above holding member 1. The conductive member 3 has a contact face in protruding position outside the width range of the holding member 1, and corresponding circuits P1A, P2A, of counterpart connecting bodies P1, P2 are in pressure contact with the contact face of the above conductive member 3 and both above counterpart connecting bodies P1, P2 are short-circuited via the conductive member. The conductive member 3 is made of a conductive elastomer, and the contact face of the conductive body 3, in the process of being pressed by the corresponding circuits of the counterpart connecting bodies and having the conductive body pressed and elastically deformed, has multiple-dimension contact face 6B after the first contact face 6A starts to contact the above corresponding circuits one by one.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an intermediate electrical connector and an electrical connection structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An intermediate electrical connector is used to connect corresponding circuit portions of a connecting body such as two circuit boards. This intermediate electrical connector is usually attached to a plate-like holding member made of an insulating material such that the conductive member penetrates and protrudes in the thickness direction of the holding member. As the conductive member, for example, a material obtained by mixing a conductive powder into an elastic polymer material, that is, a so-called conductive elastomer is used. As an example, as shown in FIG. 12 of the accompanying drawings, a conductive member 52 having a vertically symmetrical conical peripheral surface 52A is attached to a holding member 51 made of an insulating material by integral molding. The conductive member 5
The upper and lower flat end faces 2 form contact portions 53 and 54 that elastically contact the circuit portion of the mating connector.

[0003] The conductive members 52 as described above are provided at a plurality of positions of the holding member 51 corresponding to a plurality of circuit portions of the connector.

In use, two mating connectors (not shown) such as a circuit board are mounted at predetermined positions on both sides of the holding member 51 so as to compress the conductive member from above and below. Each of the mating connection members has a circuit portion, and the contact portions 53 and 54 of the conductive member 52 are elastically pressed by the circuit portion to elastically compress and deform the conductive member 52. Thus, the circuit portions of the two mating connectors are connected to the conductive member 5 with a predetermined contact pressure.
2 and is electrically short-circuited via the conductive member 52.

[0005]

However, the electrical resistance of the conductive elastomer decreases as it is compressed in the initial compression stage, but increases when it is further compressed. Therefore, in order to ensure the contact, the conductive member is preferably as large as the displacement during use,
Even if the displacement amount of the conductive member exceeds the initial compression, the electric resistance increases even if the displacement amount of the conductive member exceeds the initial compression even if the displacement amount is increased, and the electrical characteristics tend to deteriorate even if the contact becomes good. Furthermore, if this strong compression is applied to a large number of conductive members, a large force acts on the mating connecting member as a resultant force, which is not preferable.

[0006] One plate-like holding member is provided with a large number of conductive members, which simultaneously come into contact with the corresponding circuit portion of the mating connector. Among these many conductive members, there is dimensional variation in the height direction, that is, in the compression direction during molding. In addition, since the mating connector and the holding member have distortion and bending in the plate thickness direction, the distortion and the like are weighted by the above-mentioned dimensional variation, and the variability of the position of the contact portion among the above-mentioned many conductive members. Occurs. Furthermore, when the intermediate electrical connector receives an external force, the mating connector instantaneously flashes in the above direction. As a result, contact irregularities occur in the conductive member. Therefore, it is required that the conductive member can sufficiently absorb the above-mentioned variation dimension and can secure a large elastic displacement amount that can follow the instantaneous position movement. However, when this displacement amount is increased, there is an incompatible problem that the electrical characteristics are reduced as described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides an intermediate electrical connector and an electrical connection structure that secures a large displacement without applying a large contact pressure to a conductive member of a conductive elastomer, improves contact, and does not increase electrical resistance. The purpose is to provide.

[0008]

An intermediate electrical connector according to the present invention is a conductive member disposed at a position of a holding hole formed through a plate-like holding member made of an electrical insulator in a thickness direction. Are held by the holding member. The conductive member has a contact surface protruding outside the thickness range of the holding member. In the two mating connectors disposed on both sides of the holding member, the respective corresponding circuit portions are brought into pressure contact with the contact surface of the conductive member, and short-circuited via the conductive member.

In the intermediate electrical connector, according to the present invention, the conductive member is made of a conductive elastomer material, and the contact surface of the conductive member is pressed against the corresponding circuit portion of the mating connector, and the conductive member is compressed and elastically deformed. In the process, a plurality of contact surfaces are provided after the primary contact surface which starts the contact with the corresponding circuit portion sequentially in a stepwise manner.

According to the intermediate electrical connector of the present invention having such a configuration, when the conductive member receives a contact pressure from the corresponding circuit portion of the mating connector during use, the conductive member is elastically compressed and deformed in the direction of the contact pressure. Connected to the corresponding circuit unit.

When the conductive member is compressed by receiving a contact pressure from the corresponding circuit portion of the mating connector, the electrical resistance decreases as it is compressed in the initial compression stage, but increases when it is further compressed. . That is, first, the conductive member receives the contact pressure only at the primary contact surface and is compressed. In this case as well, the electrical resistance first decreases as described above, but gradually increases as the compression proceeds. As the amount of compression further increases,
In the present invention, the secondary contact surface also comes into contact, and the total contact area suddenly increases, and the amount of compression at the secondary contact surface is not so large. I do. Even if it has a tertiary contact surface or later,
Similarly, the electric resistance gradually decreases. Thus, even if the compression amount is sufficiently increased, the electric resistance does not increase with this. In addition, since the compression is not performed with a large contact area from the beginning, the compression force does not increase.

In the present invention, regarding the shape of the primary contact surface, the primary contact surface is formed as a surface that is substantially parallel to the surface of the corresponding circuit portion of the mating connector, and the secondary contact surface and the subsequent portions are closer than the primary contact surface. Can also be located closer to the holder.

[0013] Regarding the position of the primary contact surface, the primary contact surface is located at the center of the contact surface, and the secondary contact surface and the subsequent ones are sequentially located around it. It is also possible to arrange such that it is located at the periphery of the surface, and the secondary contact surface and thereafter are sequentially located closer to the center.

Further, the primary contact surface may be located at a part of the peripheral portion of the contact portion, and the secondary contact surfaces may be successively located adjacent to each other, or the primary contact surface may spread radially. It is also possible that the second contact surface and the subsequent contact surface are formed in the remaining area of the contact surface.

Further, when the corresponding circuit portion of the mating connector forms a part of the spherical convex surface, the contact surface of the conductive member has a spherical concave surface adapted to this, and the primary contact surface is formed on the spherical concave surface. The spherical concave surface formed by the top surface of the provided protrusion may form a secondary contact surface.

Further, the second and subsequent contact surfaces may be formed as slopes inclined with respect to the primary contact surface parallel to the corresponding circuit portion of the mating connector.

The plurality of contact surfaces characteristic of the present invention are not limited to the conductive member but may be formed in the corresponding circuit portion of the mating connection body. An electrical connection structure that provides the same effect as in the case is obtained.

Further, when the plurality of contact surfaces are formed on the conductive member or the corresponding circuit portion of the mating connector, the conductive member is not limited to being held by the holding hole of the holding member. It may be connected to a circuit formed on the surface of the holding member and provided on the surface of the holding member.

[0019]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 to FIG.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIG.

In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the holding member 1 is made of an insulating material in a plate shape. The holding member 1 is formed with holding holes 2 penetrating in a plate thickness direction at a number of positions, and the conductive member 3 is held at the periphery of each holding hole 2 so as to be integrated with the holding member 1. It is attached by molding or the like.

The material of the holding member 1 is preferably a film of polyimide, polyester, polyamide or the like.

Next, the conductive member 3 is generally made of an elastic polymer material mixed with conductive powder or strips.

As the elastic polymer, silicone rubber,
Polybutadiene rubber, natural rubber, polyisoprene, styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer rubber, ethylene-propylene copolymer rubber, urethane rubber, polyester rubber, chloroprene rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, soft liquid epoxy rubber Are preferred.

The conductive powder or strip mixed into these elastic polymer materials may be made of gold, silver,
Nickel, copper, tin, aluminum, palladium, one or more of carbon, as powder, granular,
One or more of tree, flake, and irregular shapes. In particular, it is desirable that the material is silver and the shape is mostly flake-like. Further, it is preferable that the surface of the silver powder is treated with an organic silicon compound.

The conductive member 3 made of such a material has a held portion 4 and an elastic projection 5. The held part 4 is
In order to cover the peripheral edge of the holding hole 2 of the holding member 1, it is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the holding hole 2 and also in contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the holding member 1 so as to project radially outward from the inner diameter of the holding hole 2. It is formed and is firmly held at the periphery of the holding hole 2. Usually, such a holding form is obtained by integrally molding the conductive member 3 with the holding member 1. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the elastic projection 5 has a truncated conical shape, and has an upper projection 6 projecting upward and a lower projection 7 projecting downward.

The lower projection 7 has an inverted trapezoidal cross section and a single lower contact surface 7A.
The upper protruding portion 6 has a shape in which trapezoids are stacked in two stages, and has a flat primary contact surface 6A and a flat secondary contact surface 6B as contact surfaces on their upper surfaces in a stepped manner. The present invention is characterized by the contact surfaces (6A, 6B) of the upper projection. Primary contact surface 6A and secondary contact surface 6B are connected to mating connectors P1, P
The two circuit portions P1A and P2A each have a flat surface in the illustrated example so as to conform to the plane of each of the two circuit portions P1A and P2A. Is also good. Also, regarding those positions, one may be located at the center and the other is not located around it as shown in the figure, or they may be biased to each other. In short, in the present invention, at least one of the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion is
It is important to have a plurality of contact surfaces, which are formed in steps.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the step distance δ between the primary contact surface 6A and the secondary contact surface 6B in the upper protrusion 6 is shown.
Is determined by the amount of compression of the elastic projection by the mating connector such as a circuit member.

As described above, when the conductive member is compressed by being pressed by the mating connector, the electrical resistance value decreases at the beginning of compression. However, when the conductive member is compressed to a certain extent, the electrical resistance value conversely decreases. It will increase. In the conductive member 3 of FIG.
When the conductive member 3 is pressed by the upper mating connector P1, it is compressed by first receiving pressure only on the primary contact surface 6A, and when the amount of compression becomes δ, the secondary contact surface 6B is also contacted and compressed. Will be done. At this time, δ is set to the amount of compression near the time when the electric resistance value starts to increase in a state where the compression is performed only on the primary contact surface 6A.

The intermediate electrical connector of this embodiment is used and functions as follows.

In FIG. 1, two mating connectors P1 and P2, such as a circuit board, are arranged from both upper and lower sides of the holding member 1 at positions where the conductive members 3 are pressed against each other. The position is fixed by appropriate means.

The mating connectors P1 and P2 are provided with circuit portions P1A and P2A on their opposing surfaces, respectively. When the mating connectors P1 and P2 are fixedly arranged at the predetermined positions, the corresponding circuit portions P1A and P2A are connected to the conductive member 3. The contact surfaces 6A, 6B and 7A are pressed respectively.

First, the upper projection 6 is connected to the upper mating connector P
First, the contact pressure is applied only to the primary contact surface 6A from 1 and elastically compressed in the direction of arrow A. As the compression proceeds, the electrical resistance value decreases in the initial stage, but when the compression amount reaches the above δ, the electrical resistance value starts to increase. However, shortly thereafter,
The conductive member 3 is further compressed, and comes into contact with the mating connector P1 also with the secondary contact surface 6B. That is, the conductive member 3 comes into contact with the mating connector P1 on both the primary contact surface 6A and the secondary contact surface 6B, and the contact area increases rapidly, so that the electric resistance value as a whole decreases. The electrical resistance value at the secondary contact surface 6B also decreases with the progress of compression. However, at the position where the amount of compression is stopped in that range, that is, before the electrical resistance value starts to increase again, the mating connector P1 Is fixed in position.

On the other hand, the lower projection 7 is connected to the lower mating connector P
2 receives a compressive force on the contact surface 7A and is connected with a predetermined contact pressure.

Thus, the upper and lower mating connectors P1 and P2 are electrically connected by the conductive member 3. At this time, the contact surface of the upper projection has a stepped shape. In the state where the electric resistance value is low,
The circuit portions P1A and P2A are connected to each other, and the amount of compression at the primary contact surface 6A and the secondary contact surface 6B can be obtained. Therefore, the displacement amount at the time of connection increases. Therefore,
Fluctuations in the contact portion due to variations in the positions of the plurality of circuit portions, bending of the holding member, dimensional differences of the conductive members themselves, etc. are sufficiently absorbed while securing good electrical characteristics.

In FIG. 1, the lower projection 7 of the conductive member 3 may of course have the same form as the upper projection 6.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, but can be variously modified. For example, the positional relationship between the primary contact surface 6A and the secondary contact surface 6B in FIG. 1 is reversed, and the primary contact surface 6A is positioned at the periphery as in the second embodiment in FIG. Secondary contact surface 6
B may be formed. In this case, the area ratio of the two contact surfaces 6A, 6B and the step δ are, as described above, determined by the mating connector when the change in electrical resistance at the primary contact surface 6A starts to increase with the progress of compression. Determines to initiate contact with the surface.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the primary contact surface and the secondary contact surface are both symmetrically located with respect to the axis of the conductive member, but the present invention is not limited to this. As in the third embodiment of FIG. 3, one side may be a primary contact portion 6A and the other side may be a secondary contact portion 6B with respect to the diameter line on the upper surface of the upper protrusion 6.

Further, as in the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the primary contact surface 6A may be formed by a surface extending in a radial direction (three directions in the figure), and the remaining area on the upper surface may be used as the secondary contact surface 6B. .

In the above embodiment, an example of adaptation in the case where the circuit portion of the mating connector has a flat surface has been described. However, the mating connector has a hemispherical circuit portion P1 as in the fifth embodiment of FIG.
A, at least the final next contact surface,
In the case of FIG. 5, it is desirable that the secondary contact surface 6B has a hemispherical concave surface adapted to the circuit portion P1A. The primary contact surface 6A may be a flat surface.

In the case of this embodiment, the circuit portion P1A of the mating connection body P1 first has the primary contact surface 6 of the conductive member 3 as shown in FIG.
7A, and also contacts the secondary contact surface 6B.
As shown in FIG.

In the above embodiment, the feature of the present invention is provided only on the upper protrusion of the conductive member. However, if the feature is also provided on the lower protrusion, it is more effective. For example, as in the sixth embodiment in FIG. 8, the upper protrusion 6 can be the same as that in FIG. 2, and the lower protrusion 7 can be the same as that in FIG. In this way, in the initial stage of compression by the two mating connectors, the primary contact surfaces 6A, 7A complement each other, that is, the primary contact surface 7A of the lower projection 7 is the concave secondary contact surface of the upper projection 6. 6B, the amount of compression at the primary contact surface 7A of the lower protrusion 7 is absorbed by the concave secondary contact surface 6B of the upper protrusion 6, so that the entire conductive member 3 is not so large. Not compressed. That is, even if the force required for compression is small, the displacement of the primary contact surface 7A can be obtained.

Next, FIG. 9 shows an example in which the contact surface need not be parallel to the surface of the circuit portion of the mating connector. In the seventh embodiment of FIG. 9, when the surface of the circuit portion of the mating connector is flat,
Only the primary contact surface 6A is parallel and flat,
B is an inclined surface. Even in this case, both contact surfaces 6
A and 6B are sequentially contacted with the circuit section in a stepwise manner to obtain the effect of the present invention. Further, a curved surface may be used instead of the inclined surface.

In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the two surfaces of the primary and secondary contact surfaces are sequentially contacted with the circuit section of the mating connector in a stepwise manner. The secondary contact surface described above may be provided. Further, the various forms shown in the drawings can be appropriately combined with the upper projection and the lower projection.

In the above embodiment, the plurality of contact surfaces are obtained by forming the surface of the conductive member in a step shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be formed on the surface of the corresponding circuit section. For example, as seen in the eighth embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the circuit portions of the mating connectors P1 and P2 located above and below the conductive member 3 having the flat upper and lower contact surfaces 6A and 7B. Contact surfaces P1A, P2A have a convex and concave step shape, respectively. By doing so, the conductive member 3 is compressed step by step, and the same effect as in the above embodiment is obtained. In FIG. 10, it suffices if the contact surface of at least one of the mating connectors is in any form.

Further, in the present invention, it is not essential to hold the conductive member 3 in the holding hole 2 of the holding member 1.
For example, the conductive member 3 can be provided on the holding member 1 as in the ninth embodiment shown in FIG. In FIG. 11, a circuit portion 1A is provided on the surface of the holding member 1, and the conductive member 3 has a form like the upper half of the conductive member of FIG. 1, and the conductive member 3 is connected to the circuit portion 1A. ing. According to such a conductive member 3, just like the case of the example of FIG. 1, it comes into contact with the circuit portion P1 of the mating connector P1 in a stepwise manner. Such a holding form of the conductive member can be applied to all the connection forms shown in FIGS.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, the contact surface where the conductive member comes into contact with the circuit portion of the mating connector is formed with a plurality of contact surfaces after the primary contact surface. In the compression process, the area of the contact surface gradually increases in the compression process, and it is possible to prevent the electrical resistance from increasing as the compression amount increases, and to further ensure a large displacement amount of the contact surface as a whole. The variation in the distance between the conductive member and the mating connector can be sufficiently covered, and the contact can be made more reliable and stable, thereby improving the electrical characteristics.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a third modification of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 in the middle of connection.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 at the time of completion of connection.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a ninth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a conventional intermediate electrical connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Holding member 2 Holding hole 3 Conductive member 6A Primary contact surface 6B Secondary contact surface 7A Primary contact surface 7B Secondary contact surface P1, P2 Mating body P1A, P2A Circuit part

Claims (11)

[Claims] A conductive member disposed at a position of a holding hole formed through a plate-like holding member made of an electrical insulator in a thickness direction thereof is held by the holding member, and the conductive member is held by the holding member. Having a contact surface protruding out of the plate thickness range of the member, each corresponding circuit portion of the mating connector disposed on both sides of the holding member is brought into pressure contact with the contact surface of the conductive member, In the intermediate electrical connector in which the two mating connectors are short-circuited via the conductive member, the conductive member is made of a conductive elastomer material, and a contact surface of the conductive member is pressed against a corresponding circuit portion of the mating connector. An intermediate electrical connector having a plurality of contact surfaces subsequent to a primary contact surface that starts contacting with the corresponding circuit portion in a stepwise manner during a process of compressive elastic deformation of a conductive member. 2. The primary contact surface, wherein the primary contact surface is formed as a surface substantially parallel to the surface of the corresponding circuit portion of the mating connection body, and the secondary contact surface and thereafter are located closer to the holder than the primary contact surface. 2. The intermediate electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The primary contact surface is located at the center of the contact surface,
3. The intermediate electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein the second and subsequent contact surfaces are sequentially located around the second contact surface. 4. The intermediate electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein the primary contact surface is located at a peripheral portion of the contact surface, and the secondary contact surface and the subsequent ones are sequentially located closer to the center. 5. The intermediate electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein the primary contact surface is located on a part of a peripheral portion of the contact portion, and the secondary contact surfaces are located adjacent to each other. 6. The intermediate electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein the primary contact surface is formed by a radially expanding surface, and the secondary contact surface and the subsequent portions are formed in the remaining area of the contact surface. 7. The corresponding circuit portion of the mating connection body forms a part of a spherical convex surface, the contact surface of the conductive member has a spherical concave surface adapted to the spherical convex surface, and the primary contact surface is provided on the spherical concave surface. 3. The intermediate electrical connector of claim 2, wherein the intermediate electrical connector is formed on a top surface of the projection, and wherein the spherical concave surface forms a secondary contact surface. 8. The intermediate electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein the secondary contact surface and the subsequent portions are formed by slopes inclined with respect to the primary contact surface parallel to the corresponding circuit portion of the mating connector. 9. A conductive member disposed at a position of a holding hole formed through a plate-shaped holding member made of an electrical insulator in a thickness direction thereof is held by the holding member, and the conductive member is held by the holding member. Having a contact surface protruding out of the plate thickness range of the member, each corresponding circuit portion of the mating connector disposed on both sides of the holding member is brought into pressure contact with the contact surface of the conductive member, In the electrical connection structure in which the two mating connectors are short-circuited via the conductive member, the conductive member is made of a conductive elastomer material, and the contact surface of the conductive member or the corresponding circuit portion is
In the process of compressive elastic deformation when the conductive member is pressurized by the corresponding circuit portion of the mating connection body, the contact surfaces have a plurality of contact surfaces after the primary contact surface where the contact surfaces start contacting step by step sequentially. Electrical connection structure characterized by the following. 10. A contact member provided with a contact surface in which a conductive member protrudes outward in a thickness direction from an electric circuit portion of a plate-like holding member made of an electrical insulator, and is provided on an outer surface side of the holding member. In an electrical connection structure in which the corresponding circuit portion of the connection body is brought into pressure contact with the contact surface of the conductive member and the corresponding circuit portion and the electric circuit portion of the holding member are short-circuited via the conductive member, The member is made of a conductive elastomer material, and the contact surface of the conductive member is pressed against the corresponding circuit portion of the mating connection body, and the conductive member starts to contact the circuit portion in a stepwise manner during the compression elastic deformation process. An intermediate electrical connector having a plurality of secondary contact surfaces after a primary contact surface. 11. A contact member having a contact surface in which a conductive member protrudes outward in a thickness direction from an electric circuit portion of a plate-shaped holding member made of an electrical insulator, and is provided on an outer surface side of the holding member. In an electrical connection structure in which the corresponding circuit portion of the connection body is brought into pressure contact with the contact surface of the conductive member and the corresponding circuit portion and the electric circuit portion of the holding member are short-circuited via the conductive member, The member is made of a conductive elastomer material, and the contact surface of the conductive member or the corresponding circuit portion is pressed against the corresponding circuit portion of the mating connector, and the contact surface of the conductive member is stepped during the compression elastic deformation process. An electrical connection structure comprising a plurality of contact surfaces subsequent to a primary contact surface for sequentially starting contact.