JP2003051349A - Terminal fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a terminal fitting capable of reducing a pitch between terminals. SOLUTION: One end part of this terminal fitting 1 is formed with an installing end part 5 inserted and fixed in a through hole 4 of a board 3. A vertical drop part 7 formed above the installing end part 5 has a nearly square cross sectional shape and has a maximum length (a diagonal length) L. A cross section of the installing end part 5 has a nearly circular cross sectional shape of a radius M and is inscribed in a cross section of the vertical drop part 7. Accordingly, a maximum length 2M in the installing end part 5 is smaller than the maximum length L in the vertical drop part 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a terminal fitting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 shows a connector 100 and a terminal fitting 101 disclosed in JP-A-9-283241. The connector 100 is attached to a board. As shown in FIG. 10, the substrate is provided with through holes 102 at regular intervals. On the other hand, the plurality of terminal fittings 101 provided on the connector 100 are arranged so that their ends are aligned with the positions of the through holes 102. In the terminal fitting 101, the tip inserted into the through hole 102 has a substantially square cross section, as shown in FIG. This connector 100
10 is attached to the board, as shown in FIG. 10B, all the terminal fittings 101 are soldered in a state of fitting in the through holes 102.

[0003]

In recent years, in automobiles, devices such as electronic devices which require electrical connection are increasing. Therefore, in the above-described board mounting connector 100, the number of the terminal fittings 101 tends to increase, and accordingly, the connector 100 is inevitably increased in size. On the other hand, it is desired to downsize the connector 100 for the purpose of downsizing the entire device as the board to which the connector 100 is attached is multilayered and the mounting density of electronic components is improved.
By the way, as shown in FIG.
Around the opening edge of 02, a land 103 for soldering is provided. The width S of the land 103 and the separation length T of the adjacent lands 103 are defined in advance. Also, the radius R of the through hole 102
Must have a size into which the terminal fitting 101 fits, as shown in FIG. Therefore, the terminal pitch B (expressed by the formula, B = 2R + 2S + T).
Is difficult to reduce, which is also a limitation for providing a small connector. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a terminal fitting capable of reducing the pitch between terminals.

[0004]

Means for Solving the Problem, Action of the Invention, and Effect of the Invention In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first invention is a terminal fitting provided on a connector mounted on a board, one end side of which is , The mounting end portion is inserted and fixed in a through hole provided in the board, and the maximum length in cross section of the mounting end portion is in the opposite direction from the mounting end portion in the terminal fitting. It is characterized in that it is shorter than the maximum length in the other cross section that is the part toward the end. The "board" means a flat member, and is exemplified by a printed board on which an electronic circuit is formed.
The "connector" is provided with a plurality of terminal fittings. In the present invention, the structure of the other end of the “terminal fitting” may be male or female, but in order to downsize the entire connector, the male terminal fitting is preferable.
However, since the object of the present invention is to reduce the pitch between terminals, the structure on the other end side of the terminal fitting does not always cause a problem. However, the most preferable structure of the terminal fitting is one having a quadrangular (in most cases, substantially square) cross section, and extending in parallel without changing the cross sectional shape. This is because such a structure can be manufactured by cutting a plate-shaped metal material into a comb shape, which simplifies the manufacturing process. However, the cross-sectional shape of the terminal fitting is not necessarily limited to a square shape, and other polygonal shapes (triangle or
More than a pentagon).

In the present invention, the attachment end or other "maximum length in cross section" means the longest of the diagonal lines connecting the vertices when the cross section has a polygonal shape. . When the cross section does not have a vertex such as a circle, an ellipse, or an ellipse, a straight line crossing the inside of the cross section has a length cut by two points intersecting the edge of the cross section. Of these, the longest is meant. It should be noted that, for example, as in the case where the cross section is a gourd type, there may be a case where a straight line crossing the inside has two or more intersections, but in such a case, the smallest of the virtual circles including the cross section Assuming a virtual circle (minimum virtual circle), it means the diameter of the minimum virtual circle.
In the present invention, the minimum value of the "maximum length in cross section of the mounting end portion" is not described, but it does not allow zero (that is, the mounting end portion disappears). This is because one end of the terminal fitting is inserted and fixed in the through hole of the board. However,
Since this minimum value can be set appropriately according to the specifications of the terminal fittings, it is difficult to describe the minimum value as an absolute value. Note that defining the minimum value by a ratio with other cross sections is not appropriate in order to provide an embodiment that escapes the technical scope of the present invention. However, if it is intentionally specified to avoid that the technical scope of the invention is not clear, the minimum value of the maximum length in the cross section of the mounting end is preferably a ratio with the maximum length of other cross sections, and 0.1 to 0.95, more preferably 0.2 to 0.9,
Even more preferably, it is 0.3 to 0.8.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the maximum length in the cross section of the mounting end portion is shorter than the maximum length in the other cross sections, so that the entire cross section of the terminal fitting has almost the same shape (that is, both ends) as in the conventional case. The shape of the through hole can be made smaller than the case where the maximum length is the same). Therefore, even if the land provided around the opening edge of the through hole is the same as the conventional one, the pitch between terminals can be reduced. A second invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, the mounting end portion is formed by a pressing operation. It may be performed once or twice or more regardless of the number of “press operations”. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the terminal end is formed by pressing the one end side while holding the other end side of the terminal fitting.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and the gist of the invention will be described. It can be implemented in various forms without modification. Moreover, the technical scope of the present invention extends to an equivalent range.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 shows a connector 2 provided with a terminal fitting 1 of the present embodiment. Connector 2
Is attached to the front surface side of the substrate 3, as shown in FIG. The connector 2 is integrally formed of resin into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and one surface thereof has a hood shape in which a mating connector (not shown) can be fitted. In the hood, one end side of the terminal fitting 1 is a male tab (corresponding to "an end portion in the opposite direction" in the present invention).
Is housed as The terminal fitting 1 is made of a conductive metal, and the middle portion thereof is the rear wall surface 2 of the connector 2.
It is in a state of being buried in A. The other end side of the terminal fitting 1 is a mounting end 5 that is inserted and fixed in the through hole 4 of the board 3. Further, in the terminal fitting 1, a portion projecting rearward from the rear wall surface 2A is a bent portion 6 that is bent in an L-shape toward the direction in which the board 3 is attached. A plurality of terminal fittings 1 are provided on the connector 2 in a two-tier structure at predetermined intervals.
All the terminal fittings 1 are bent so that the end positions of the mounting ends 5 are aligned.

Next, the structure of the mounting end portion 5 will be described with reference to FIG. In the terminal fitting 1, a hanging portion 7 from the bent portion 6 to the mounting end portion 5 (in the present invention, "a portion from the mounting end portion to the opposite end portion").
Corresponds to. Up to), the cross section is almost square. On the other hand, the cross-sectional shape of the mounting end 5 is a substantially circular shape having a radius M. The cross section of the mounting end 5 is a circular shape that is in contact with the inside of a substantially square that is the cross section of the hanging portion 7, that is, an inscribed circle. In other words, the diameter L of the smallest virtual circle (in this embodiment, a circle that passes through approximately four vertices) among the virtual circles that include the cross section (substantially square) of the hanging part 7.
(Note that, in the present embodiment, this corresponds to the length of the diagonal line of the cross section of the hanging portion 7.) Rather than the diameter 2M of the cross section of the mounting end portion 5
Is shortened (expressed as a formula, L> 2M.). The tip of the mounting end 5 is formed to have a tapered shape instead of a circular shape.

Next, the structure of the through hole 4 of the substrate 3 will be described with reference to FIG. Through hole 4
It is formed while penetrating the substrate 3 at a predetermined position in the thickness direction. After the mounting end portion 5 is inserted into the through hole 4, it is fixed by, for example, soldering C (see FIG. 2 or FIG. 5). A conductive member (for example, can be formed by plating) is provided around the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 4 (inner surface of the substrate 3) and around both opening edges of the front and back surfaces of the through hole 4. . Of these, lands 8 are provided around the opening edge of the through hole 4 as a connecting portion for soldering with the terminal fitting 1. The land 8 is formed so as to have a predetermined width S along the entire circumference from the opening edge of the through hole 4, and has a substantially donut shape.

By the way, the length T at which the adjacent lands 8 are separated from each other is set to a preset length in order to avoid a situation where both the terminal fittings 1 are short-circuited by soldering. Also,
The width S of the land is also set to a preset width length. On the other hand, the length of the inter-terminal pitch U (distance between the centers of adjacent terminal fittings 1) is equal to the land separation length T, twice the land width S, and the through hole 4.
It is the double of the radius P of 2P and 2P (that is, U = T + 2S + 2P). As described above, the land separation length T and the land width S are defined in advance at the design stage. Therefore, in order to reduce the inter-terminal pitch U, the radius P of the through hole 4 should be reduced. It becomes important. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the mounting end portion 5 inserted into the through hole 4 is a substantially circular shape having a radius M substantially equal to the radius P of the through hole 4. The cross-section radius M of the mounting end 5 is equal to or slightly smaller than the radius P of the through hole 4 (expressed as P> = M).

When the terminal fitting 1 configured as described above is mounted on the substrate 3, the mounting end 5 is inserted into the through hole 4 as shown in FIG. 5, and is fixed by, for example, soldering C. To be done. At this time, the inside of the through hole 4 is in a state in which the mounting end portion 5 is filled with almost no space. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the maximum length 2M in the cross section of the mounting end portion 5 is shorter than the maximum length L in the cross section of the hanging portion 7, so that the entire cross section of the terminal fitting 101 is almost the same as the conventional one. The shape of the through hole 4 can be made smaller than in the case of the same shape (that is, both maximum lengths are the same). Therefore, even if the width S of the land 8 provided around the opening edge of the through hole 4 is the same as the conventional one, the inter-terminal pitch U can be reduced. Further, in the connector 2 provided with such a terminal fitting 1, the interval between the terminal fittings 1 can be made smaller than in the conventional case, so that the overall size can be reduced.

<Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. Since the main difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is the structure of the mounting end portion, the same components as those in the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. The mounting end portion 10 is formed to be slightly thinner than the hanging portion 7, and the cross-sectional shapes thereof are both substantially square. As shown in FIG. 6 (A), at the connecting portion between both parts 7 and 10,
It has a step 11 and is tapered. Mounting end 1
0 has a substantially square cross section of substantially the same shape along the vertical direction. This mounting end 10 is pressed by one end while the other end (end serving as a male tab) of the conductive base material (having a shape like a match bar) forming the terminal fitting 1 is held. It is formed by The maximum length W (the length of the diagonal line of the substantially square shape) in the cross section of the mounting end 10 is equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter 2P of the through hole 4 (expressed as W <= 2.
P). Further, the maximum length W of the mounting end 10 is shorter than the maximum length L of the hanging portion 7 (expressed as W <W <
L). The tip of the mounting end 10 is further formed as a tapered insertion end 10A.

When the mounting end portion 10 thus constructed is inserted into the through hole 4, a mode as shown in FIG. 7B is obtained. Further, at this time, as shown in FIG. 7 (A), the mounting end 10 having a substantially square cross section is inserted inside the through hole 4 having a substantially circular cross section so as to be inscribed. ing. Therefore, the mounting end 10
A predetermined gap is provided between the through hole 4 and the through hole 4. As described above, also in this embodiment, the same operation and effect as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector including a terminal fitting according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view when the connector is attached to the board.

[Fig. 3] Enlarged view of the mounting end of the terminal fitting. (A) Side view, (B) Front view

[Fig. 4] Enlarged view of the through hole of the substrate (A) Plan view, (B) Side sectional view

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged sectional view (A) side sectional view when the terminal fitting is attached to a substrate, and (B) a plan view of a through hole portion.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view (A) of a side view and (B) of a front view of a mounting end of a terminal fitting according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view (A) side view when the terminal fitting is attached to the substrate, and (B) a plan view of a through hole portion.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a connector including a terminal fitting according to a conventional example.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view (A) of a side view and (B) of a front view of a mounting end portion of a terminal fitting in a conventional example.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a through hole of a board in a conventional example (A) when only the through hole, (B) when the terminal fitting is inserted

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Terminal metal fitting 2 ... Connector 3 ... Board 4 ... Through hole 5, 10 ... Attachment end 2M, W ... Maximum length in section of attachment end L ... Maximum length in section of hanging part (maximum in other sections) Long)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A terminal fitting provided on a connector mounted on a board, wherein one end side of the terminal fitting is a mounting end portion that is inserted into and fixed to a through hole provided on the board, The terminal metal fitting is characterized in that a maximum length in a cross section of the terminal end is shorter than a maximum length in another cross section which is a portion of the terminal fitting from the mounting end toward the end in the opposite direction. 2. The terminal fitting according to claim 1, wherein the mounting end portion is formed by a pressing operation.