JP2001332325A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector whose manufacturing cost is low because of a small number of parts, and the electric connection of which is simple and good. SOLUTION: This is equipped with the first housing 2 which is arranged between the first electro-conductive member 31a and the second electro- conductive member 41a and which retains a flexible contact 11 inside, the second housing 5 which is rotatably retained by a shaft 4 in the first housing 2 and which positions and retains the first electro-conductive member 31a between the first housing 2 and which makes the first electro-conductive member 31a and the contact 11 abut with a resiliency of the contact 11, and a fixing means 21 which positions and fixes the second electro-conductive member 41a against the second housing 5 fitted into the first housing 2 and which makes the second electro-conductive member 41a and the contact 11 abut with resiliency of the contact 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector used in a small electronic device such as a notebook computer,
In particular, it relates to a connector for connecting a cable or FPC to a board or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a connector has been used as a device for connecting a cable to a main board (hereinafter, simply referred to as a board) such as a motherboard provided in a small electronic device such as a notebook computer. Such a conventional connector generally includes a plug (or a receptacle) electrically connected to each core wire of a plurality of cables, and a receptacle (or a plug) electrically connected to each signal line of a board. Is fitted to the receptacle, electrical connection between each core wire of the cable and each signal line of the board is achieved. In a conventional connector, a plug (receptacle) is electrically connected to each core of a cable, and a receptacle (plug) is electrically connected to each signal line of a board. Each core wire of a signal line or a cable is soldered.

[0003]

By the way, in the conventional connector, the plug is fitted into the receptacle to electrically connect each signal line of the board and each core wire of the cable, so that the plug and the receptacle are not connected to each other. Two types of connectors are required, which causes a problem that the number of components is large. Also, since the plug and receptacle are electrically connected to each core wire of the cable or each signal line of the board, it is necessary to solder the plug and receptacle to each core wire of the cable or each signal line of the board. There is also a problem that the operation is complicated and the manufacturing cost increases due to the soldering operation. Further, in the conventional connector, as described above, the electrical connection between each core wire of the cable and the plug (receptacle), the electrical connection between the plug and the receptacle, and the electrical connection between the receptacle (plug) and each signal line of the board. The electrical connection between each core wire of the cable and each signal line of the board is made by making an electrical connection, so that there are many connection locations, and therefore, the electrical connection tends to be poor due to poor connection at each connection location. There were also problems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the circumstances described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector with a small number of parts, low manufacturing cost, and simple and good electrical connection.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a connector according to the present invention comprises a first conductive member and a second conductive member.
A first housing disposed between the first conductive member and the second conductive member, the first housing supporting a flexible contact therein; A second housing rotatably supported by the first housing via a shaft and fitted to the first housing, wherein the second housing is fitted to the first housing;
A second conductive member for positioning and supporting the first conductive member between the first housing and the second housing, and for bringing the first conductive member into contact with the contact by the elastic force of the contact; And a fixing means for positioning and fixing the second conductive member to the housing and the second housing fitted to the first housing, wherein when the second conductive member is positioned and fixed, the contact means And fixing means for bringing the second conductive member and the contact into contact with each other by the resilience.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A connector according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the connectors of the first to third embodiments. First, the connector of the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a conceptual sectional exploded side sectional view of the connector of the first embodiment. The connector 1 according to the first embodiment includes a core 31 a of a cable 31 as a first conductive member,
A connector for connecting the conductive pattern 41a of the board 41, which is a conductive member of the first embodiment, with the first housing 2 disposed between the cable 31 and the board 41.

The first housing 2 is provided with a tongue 2a, in which a plurality of flexible contacts 11 are arranged at a predetermined pitch in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. It is juxtaposed. Each contact 11 is formed by bending a plate-shaped metal member.
1 is extended toward the front of the connector 1,
It is exposed from the tongue piece 2a of the first housing 2. The tip 11 a of each contact 11 is branched into a first contact portion 12 and a second contact portion 13. The first housing 2 has holes 2b on both sides.
(FIG. 5) is provided, and shafts 4 protruding from both sides of the second housing 5 are fitted into the respective holes 2b. On the other hand, the second housing 5 on which the shafts 4 are protruded is rotatably supported by the first housing 2 via the shafts 4 and is supported by the first housing 2 so as to be freely fitted. I have. In addition, a groove 5a is provided on a surface of the second housing 5 that faces the first housing 2.
In addition, a plurality of the grooves 5a are arranged at a predetermined pitch in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in correspondence with a plurality of cables 31 described later. In the second housing 5, holes 5b (FIGS. 4 and 5) into which a pair of bolts 22 are inserted are formed, and nuts 23 are screwed into the bolts 22, respectively. The bolt 22 and the nut 2
3, a conductive pattern 41a of the substrate 41 is attached to the second housing 5 fitted to the first housing 2 as described later.
Is constituted by fixing means 21 for positioning and fixing.

A plurality of cables 31 connected by the connector 1 are arranged side by side in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.
On the other hand, the core wire 31a of each cable 31
Are formed, and holes 41b (FIG. 5) corresponding to the holes 5b of the second housing are formed. In the connector 1 having such a configuration,
Each core 31a of the plurality of cables 31 and the core 31a
In order to electrically connect each conductive pattern 41a of the substrate 41 corresponding to the second housing 5, first, the second housing 5 fitted to the first housing 2 is connected as shown by an arrow A in FIG.
It rotates counterclockwise about axis 4. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, a space is formed above the tongue piece 2 a of the first housing 2. By using this space, the plurality of cables 31 are connected to the respective core wires 31 a. The contact 11 is placed on the first housing 2 so as to be located above the first contact portion 12. Next, FIG.
When the second housing 5 is rotated clockwise about the shaft 4 as shown by an arrow B, the second housing 5 covers the tongue piece 2a from above and from the side as shown in FIG. The plurality of cables 31 are fitted to the first housing 2 and
Are positioned and supported between the tongue piece 2a of the first housing 2 and the groove 5a of the second housing 5, and the core wire 31a of each cable 31 and the first contact portion 12 are The first contact portions 12 are brought into contact with each other by the resilience, and the core wire 31a of each cable 31 and the first contact portion 12 of each contact 11 are conducted. Next, the first housing 2 to which the second housing 5 is fitted is placed on the substrate 41, and the holes 5b of the second housing 2 and the holes 41b of the substrate 41 are aligned with each other. , Each second contact 13 as shown in FIG.
And the respective conductive patterns 41a of the substrate 41 face each other,
At this time, as shown by an arrow C in FIG. 2, each bolt 22 is inserted from above the second housing 5 into the aligned hole 5b and each hole 41b, and each nut 23 is screwed into the bolt 22. Then, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the connector 1 is assembled. FIG. 2 is a conceptual side sectional view showing an assembling procedure of the connector 1.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual side sectional view of the connector 1, showing a state in which the cable 31 and the board 41 are connected. FIG. 4 is a conceptual side view of the connector 1 of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a conceptual front sectional view of a main part of the connector 1 of FIG. Further, in the connector 1 assembled as described above, the first fixing means 21 as shown in FIGS.
The substrate 41 is provided in the housing 2 and the second housing 5
The conductive pattern 41a can be positioned and fixed, and as shown in FIG.
3 and the second contact portion 13 and the substrate 4
The first conductive patterns 41a are in contact with each other, and the conductive patterns 41a of the substrate 41 are electrically connected to the second contact portions 13 of the contacts 11.

That is, in the connector 1 assembled in this manner, the first contact portion 1 of each contact 11
2 comes into contact with the core wire 31a of the cable 31 by the resilience of the first contact portion 12, and the second contact portion 1
3 is electrically connected to each conductive pattern 41a of the substrate 41 by the resilience of the second contact portion 13, so that each core 31a of the plurality of cables 31 The respective conductive patterns 41a of the substrate 41 are electrically connected, and the connection points are the electrical connection between the respective core wires 31a and the respective first contact portions 12, and the respective second contact portions 13 and the respective conductive patterns 41a. Since only electrical connection is made with the conventional connector, the number of connection points is smaller than that of a conventional connector, and as a result, it is possible to prevent as much as possible the possibility of electrical connection failure due to poor connection at each connection point.

In the connector 1, as described above, the first housing 2 is disposed between each core 31a of the cable 31 and each conductive pattern 41a of the board 41. The tip 11a is the first contact 12
A first contact for supporting each of the flexible contacts 11 branched to the outside and the second contact 13 and extended to both outsides;
And a second housing 5 rotatably supported by the first housing 2 via a shaft 4 and fitted to the first housing 2, wherein the second housing 5 is fitted to the first housing 2. Then, the first housing 2 and the second housing 5
, The core 31a of each cable 31 is positioned and supported, and the resilient force of each first contact portion 12 causes the core 31a of each cable 31 and each first contact portion 12 to move.
And a fixing means 21 for positioning and fixing each conductive pattern 41a of the substrate 41 to the second housing 5 fitted to the first housing 2 and the second housing 5 to make contact with the first housing 2. When the conductive pattern 41a is positioned and fixed, the first contact portion 13 is provided with fixing means 21 for making each conductive pattern 41a and each second contact portion 13 come into contact with each other by the elastic force of the second contact portion 13. Each of the cables 31 is placed on each of the contacts 11 of the housing 2, and the second housing 5 is rotated about the shaft 4 so that the first
Of the cable 31 and the first contact portion 12 of each contact 11
Can be connected, and it is not necessary to perform a soldering operation as in the related art, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the connection operation can be simplified. Further, only by fixing each conductive pattern 41 a of the substrate 41 to the second housing 5 fitted to the first housing 2 by the fixing means 21, the second contact portion 13 of each contact 11 and the Since each of the conductive patterns 41a can be electrically connected, and the connection does not require the soldering operation conventionally performed, the manufacturing cost can be further reduced and the connection operation can be further simplified. be able to.

In this connector, as described above,
Each cable 31 is placed on each contact 11 of the first housing 2, and the second housing 5 is rotated around the shaft 4 to be fitted on the first housing 2. By simply fixing each conductive pattern 41a of the substrate 41 by the fixing means 21, the core wire 31a of each cable 31 and each conductive pattern 41a of the substrate 41 can be electrically connected via one contact 11 respectively. Therefore, there is no need to provide two types of connectors that can be detached and separated as in the related art, that is, a plug and a receptacle, so that the number of parts can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced accordingly. In the connector 1 of the first embodiment, the first conductive member supported between the first housing 2 and the second housing 5 is the core 31 a of the cable 31. The first conductive member of the connector of the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a flexible metal conductor. For example, the first conductive member of the connector of the present invention may be replaced with an FPC (flexible printed circuit board). The conductive pattern may be formed.

Next, as a connector of a second embodiment according to the present invention, a connector in which the first conductive member is formed of an FPC conductive pattern will be described. FIG. 6 is a conceptual side sectional view of the connector 51 of the second embodiment, and the same parts as those in FIG. The groove 5b (FIG. 3) formed in the second housing 5 of the connector 1 of the first embodiment is not formed in the second housing 55 of the connector 51 of the second embodiment. Note that this groove 5
The configuration of the second housing 55 other than b is the same as that of the second housing 5 of the connector 1 of the embodiment of FIG.
The first housing 2 and the fixing means 21 have the same configuration as the connector 1 of the first embodiment.

In the connector 51 of the second embodiment, the tongue piece 2
a in a state where a space is formed above
35 is placed on the first housing 2 such that each of the conductive patterns 35a is located above each corresponding first contact 12, and then the second housing 55 is rotated about the shaft 4. When fitted to the first housing 2
Each conductive pattern 35a of the FPC 35 is positioned and supported between the tongue piece 2a of the first housing 2 and the second housing 55, and each conductive pattern 35a of the FPC 35 is provided.
a and the first contact portion 12 of each contact 11 abut by the resilience of the first contact portion 12, and FP
Electrical connection between each conductive pattern 35a of C35 and each first contact portion 12 is achieved.
When the conductive pattern 41 a of the substrate 41 is positioned and fixed to the second housing 55 fitted to the second housing 55 by the fixing means 21, the elastic force of each second contact portion 13 causes the second
Contact portion 13 and each conductive pattern 41a of substrate 41
Are in contact with each other, so that each conductive pattern 41a of the substrate 41 and the second contact portion 13 of each contact 11 are electrically connected. That is, in the connector 51 of the second embodiment, the FPC 35 is mounted so that each conductive pattern 35a is located on each contact 11 of the first housing 2,
The second housing 55 is rotated about the shaft 4 to be fitted to the first housing 2, and each conductive pattern 41 a of the substrate 41 is fixed to the second housing 55 by the fixing means 21.
Can be electrically connected to each conductive pattern 35a of the FPC 35 and each conductive pattern 41a of the substrate 41 through one contact 11, and the connection is separated and separated as in the related art. Since it is not necessary to dispose two types of possible connectors, the number of parts can be reduced correspondingly, the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and each conductive pattern 35a of the FPC 35 and the first contact portion of each contact 11 can be reduced. Work to solder 12
In addition, since it is not necessary to solder each conductive pattern 41a of the substrate 41 and the second contact portion 13 of each contact 11, the connection work can be simplified, and the manufacturing cost can be further reduced. Are only electrical connections between the conductive portions 35a of the FPC 35 and the respective first contact portions 12 and electrical connections between the respective second contact portions 13 and the respective conductive patterns 41a of the substrate 41. Since the number of connection points is small, it is possible to prevent as much as possible the possibility of electrical connection failure due to connection failure at each connection point.

In the connector 1 of the first embodiment and the connector 51 of the second embodiment described above, the second conductive member positioned and fixed to the second housing 2 is the conductive pattern 41a of the substrate 41. However, the second conductive member of the connector of the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a flexible metal conductor. For example, the second conductive member of the connector of the present invention may be a core wire of a cable. It may be.

Next, as a connector of a third embodiment according to the present invention, a connector in which the second conductive member is constituted by a core wire of a cable will be described. FIG. 7 is a conceptual side sectional view of a connector 61 of the third embodiment, and the same parts as those in FIGS. In the connector 61 according to the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, instead of the boards 41 (FIGS. 3 and 6) of the connectors 1 and 51 according to the first and second embodiments,
The cable holder 62 and each groove 6 of the cable holder
A plurality of cables 63 respectively supported by 2a are arranged. The groove 62a of the cable holder 62
Are arranged in parallel at a predetermined pitch in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, and each groove 62a is provided corresponding to each contact 11. Also, instead of the holes 41b of the board 41 of the connector 1 of the first embodiment,
Each hole 62b corresponding to the hole 5b of the second housing 5 is provided. The first housing 2, the second housing 5, and the fixing means 21 have the same configuration as the connector 1 of the first embodiment.

In the connector 61 according to the third embodiment, as described in the assembling operation of the connector 1 according to the first embodiment (FIG. 2), when the space is formed above the tongue piece 2a, After placing the cable 31 on the first housing such that each core wire 31a is located above the first contact portion 12 of the corresponding contact 11, the second housing 5 is connected to the shaft 4. When rotated about the center and fitted in the first housing 2, the core wire 31 a of each cable 31 above the contact 11 is positioned between the tongue 2 a of the first housing 2 and each groove 5 a of the second housing 5. And the first contact portions 12 are brought into contact with the core wires 31 of the cables 31 by the elastic force of the first contact portions 12 to conduct. Further, when the cable holder 62 is fixed to the second housing 5 fitted to the first housing 2 by the fixing means 21, the core wires 31a of the cables 31 below the contacts 11 are connected to the first housing and the second housing 5. 2 housing 5
And the second contact portions 13 are brought into contact with the core wires 31a of the respective cables 31 by the resilience of the respective second contact portions 13, and the second contact portions of the respective contacts 11 are contacted. 13 and the respective cables 31
Is electrically connected to the core wire 31a.

That is, in the connector 61 of the third embodiment, each cable 31 is placed on each contact 11 of the first housing 2, and the second housing 5 is rotated about the shaft 4 so that the second housing 5 is rotated. After fitting into the second housing 5, only the cores 31 a of the cable 31 are positioned and fixed to the second housing 5 by the fixing means 21 via the cable holder 62, and the cores 31 a of the cable 31 are connected to each other by one. Electrical connection can be made through the book contacts 11, and since there is no need to provide two types of connectors that can be separated and separated as in the related art, the number of parts is reduced accordingly. The manufacturing cost can be reduced, the work of soldering the core wire 31a of each cable 31 and the first contact portion 12 of each contact 11, and the operation of each cable Since there is no need to solder the core wire 31a of the contact 31 and the second contact portion 13 of each contact 11, the connection work is simplified, and the manufacturing cost can be further reduced. The connection points are only the electrical connection between the core wire 31a of each cable 31 and each first contact portion 12 and the electrical connection between each second contact portion 13 and the core wire 31a of each cable 31. Since the number of locations is small, it is possible to prevent as much as possible the possibility of electrical connection failure due to poor connection at each connection location.

[0017]

As described above, according to the connector of the present invention, the first housing is provided between the first conductive member and the second conductive member and supports the flexible contact therein. And a second housing rotatably supported by the first housing via a shaft and fitted to the first housing, wherein the second housing, when fitted to the first housing, A second housing for positioning and supporting the first conductive member between the second housing and the first housing, wherein the first conductive member is brought into contact with the contact by a resilient force of the contact; Fixing means for positioning and fixing the second conductive member to the second housing, wherein when the second conductive member is positioned and fixed, the contact between the second conductive member and the contact is caused by the elastic force of the contact. Let fixed Because they comprise a stage, a first conductive member is placed on the contact of the first housing, the second
The first conductive member and the contact can be connected only by rotating the housing around the shaft and fitting the first conductive member to the first housing, and the second conductive member is fixed to the second housing by fixing means. Only by positioning and fixing the first conductive member and the contact, and thereby the first conductive member and the second conductive member can be electrically connected. Since there is no need to dispose two types of connectors that can be detached and separated, the number of parts can be reduced, the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and the first conductive member and the contact and the second conductive portion as in the related art can be reduced Since it is not necessary to perform soldering work on the contact and the contact, respectively, the connection work is correspondingly simplified, and the manufacturing cost can be further reduced. Since performed through a single contact, the connection points are fewer than the conventional,
It is possible to prevent as much as possible the possibility of electrical connection failure due to connection failure at each connection point.

Therefore, according to the cable connector of the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector having a small number of parts, a low manufacturing cost, and a simple and good electrical connection, thereby performing stable operation at low cost. A small electronic device such as a notebook computer can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual sectional exploded side sectional view of a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual side sectional view showing a procedure for assembling the connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a conceptual side sectional view of the connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a cable and a board are connected.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual side view of the connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a cable and a board are connected.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual front sectional view of a main part of the connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where a cable and a board are connected.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual side sectional view of a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which an FPC and a board are connected.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual side sectional view of a connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where cables are connected to each other.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 51, 61 ... connector 2 ... first housing 4 ... shaft 5, 55 ... second housing 11 ... contact 21 ... fixing means 31a, 35a ... first conductive member 31a, 41a ... second conductive member 31 ... Cable 31a ... Core wire 35 ... FPC 35a ... FPC conductive pattern 41 ... Board 41a ... Board conductive pattern 62 ... Cable holder

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F-term (reference)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A connector for electrically connecting a first conductive member and a second conductive member, wherein the connector is disposed between the first conductive member and the second conductive member, and is internally provided. A first housing for supporting a flexible contact, a second housing rotatably supported on the first housing via a shaft, and fitted to the first housing, When fitted into the housing, the first
Between the first housing and the second housing.
A second housing for positioning and supporting the conductive member, and for bringing the first conductive member and the contact into contact with each other by the resilience of the contact; and the second housing fitted to the first housing. And fixing means for positioning and fixing the second conductive member, wherein when the second conductive member is positioned and fixed, the elasticity of the contact causes the second conductive member to contact the contact. A connector characterized by comprising fixing means for making contact with the connector. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said first conductive member is a core wire of a cable. 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said second conductive member is a conductive pattern formed on a substrate. 4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said first conductive member is a conductive pattern formed on an FPC. 5. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the second conductive member is a cable core, and the core is positioned and fixed by the fixing means via a cable holder.