JP2003235128A - Electric joint box - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve weight reduction and thinning by properly setting the thickness of a circuit depending on the current while preventing overspecifications and underspecifications. <P>SOLUTION: An electric junction box 1 is configured such that: an electric junction box body 10 and a connector 20 are connected by a cable 30 composed of band-shaped flexible printed circuits 30a to 30d; the electric junction box body 10 and the connector 20 are made movable; the cable 30 is formed by stacking, for example, a plurality of sheets of the flexible printed circuits 30a to 30d in a non-contact state; the thickness T2 of a circuitry portion 32 of the flexible printed circuit 30d as a power circuit is made heavier than the thickness T1 of each of the other flexible printed circuits 30a to 30c as a signal line circuit. Thus, by properly setting the thickness of the circuit depending on the current, the weight reduction and thinning of the electric joint box can be expedited while preventing overspecifications and underspecifications. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric connection box having a built-in connection terminal for electrically connecting a connector, a fuse or the like to a wiring circuit, and is particularly lightweight and thin to be connected to an external wiring circuit such as a harness. The present invention relates to an electric connection box that can freely change the connection position to improve the freedom of wiring design and improve maintainability.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an electric junction box (junction box: J / B) is used for the purpose of space saving and cost reduction when branching wiring in an automobile or the like. FIG. 22 is a plan view of such an electric junction box, and FIG.
22 is a plan view of the bus bar housed in the electrical junction box of FIG. 22, FIG. 24 is a sectional view of a VII portion of FIG. 22, and FIG. 25 is a sectional view of a VIII portion of FIG.

This type of electrical junction box 101 is composed of a lower cover 102, a bus bar 103 mounted on the lower cover 102, an upper cover 105 which seals them and on which connectors, fuses, etc. are mounted. There is. In this electric junction box 101, as shown in FIG.
For example, the wiring is branched using the bus bar 103 made of a metal plate such as a copper alloy or an aluminum alloy punched by a press. The electrical connection box 101 is the bus bar 1
Fuse 10 in the middle of the wiring circuit constituted by
7 is incorporated, it also has a function as a fuse box, for example.

A connector 107 shown in FIG. 24 is a connector connected to a wiring circuit constituted by a bus bar 103. The connector 105a is a connection terminal portion 103 formed by bending the tip of the bus bar 103 upward by 90 °.
a through the through hole 105b formed in the upper cover 105 from the lower side to the upper side.
It is a connector formed so that it can be connected. In addition, FIG.
The fuse mounting portion 10 to which the fuse 108 shown in FIG.
5c is a bus bar 103 having a slit 103b formed therein.
Bend the tip of 90 ° upward to connect terminal part 103d
To form the connection terminal portion 103d and the upper cover 105
By connecting the fuse 108 to the foot 108a for connection to the fuse 108 by penetrating from the lower side to the upper side through the through hole 105d formed in
Directly to the so-called FF (Female to Femal
e) It is formed so that it can be connected through terminals.

Further, as shown in FIG. 26, the bus bar 10
3 and an insulation plate (IP: insulating plate) 109 that plays a role of supporting and insulating the bus bar 103 are alternately polymerized to form a wiring circuit (multilayer wiring circuit) 11 having a multilayer structure.
An electric junction box 112 having a structure of housing 0, which protects the entire outside of the multilayer wiring circuit 110 and is housed in a housing as shown in FIG. 27, is also often used.

[0006]

However, in the above-described electric junction box 101, since the bus bar 103 is manufactured by punching a metal plate with a die to form a wiring circuit, when manufacturing the bus bar 103 of various shapes, Different molds are required and costly, and the bus bar 10
Since 3 is made of a thick metal, there are problems that the electric connection box 101 becomes heavy and it is difficult to make the electric connection box 101 thinner. In addition, in the electric junction box 112, it is necessary to minimize the number of layers of the multilayer wiring circuit 110 in order to prevent an increase in the weight and cost of the entire electric junction box, and to reduce the number of layers according to the connection mode. Through-hole 1 through which the wiring circuits of the other layers and the connection terminal portions 103a and 103d penetrate to correspond with the wiring circuit 110
It is necessary to form a long circuit by arranging the circuit so as to avoid 11 and the like. Therefore, it is very difficult to reduce the weight and the thickness of the electrical junction box 112. Furthermore, when a multilayer wiring circuit having more layers is to be formed using the bus bar 103, for example, the number of types of the bus bar 103 increases and the cost of the mold increases, so that it is difficult to realize high-density wiring. There is also a problem that it is difficult and, as a result, the degree of freedom in the wiring design of the electric junction box is limited. Further, the current value flowing through the circuits of each layer of the multilayer wiring circuit differs depending on, for example, the difference in the power supply circuit and the signal line circuit, but in order to simplify the manufacturing process, the thickness and circuit width of each bus bar 103, etc. When manufacturing an electrical junction box without changing each layer of
There is also a problem that it is difficult to reduce the size and thickness of the bus bars 103 due to excessive specifications or insufficient specifications.

The present invention has been made in an attempt to solve such a problem. The circuit thickness is appropriately set according to the current value of the current flowing in the circuit to prevent excess specifications or lack of specifications and to reduce weight. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical junction box that can be reduced in thickness while improving the layout flexibility.

[0008]

An electrical junction box according to the present invention comprises an electrical junction box body to which connected electrical components are mounted,
It is configured to include a connector portion formed separately from the electric connection box body for connecting a connector of an external wiring circuit, and a cable portion electrically connecting the electric connection box body and the connector portion. The cable portion is composed of a plurality of flexible printed circuits in which a circuit portion made of a conductor pattern is formed on an insulating film, and the plurality of flexible printed circuits respectively connect the electric junction box body and the connector portion. And a terminal connecting portion extending in the lateral direction of the strip-shaped portion from a side edge portion of the strip-shaped portion where the electrical connection box body and the connector portion are arranged. The main body is connected to an electric connection box housing in which a component mounting port for mounting the connected electrical component is formed, and a terminal connecting portion of the flexible printed circuit. Wherein the first plate-shaped to be accommodated in the electrical connection box housing so as to be connected to a connected electrical components
And a connector housing that is fitted to a connector of the external wiring circuit, and is connected to a terminal connection portion of the flexible printed circuit and connected to the connector of the external wiring circuit. And a plate-shaped second connection terminal accommodated in the connector housing, the circuit parts of the plurality of flexible printed circuits are conductors having different thicknesses depending on the current value of the applied circuit. It is characterized by being composed of patterns.

According to the present invention, the cable portion is formed by combining a plurality of flexible printed circuits having circuit portions having conductor patterns having different thicknesses due to the difference in the value of the current flowing through the circuit, so that the electrical junction box can be downsized. And weight reduction can be realized. Further, since the electric connection box main body and the connector section are movably connected by the cable section made of a flexible, light and thin flexible printed circuit, it is possible to reduce the weight and the thickness of the electric connection box as a whole, The degree of freedom in wiring design can be improved. Further, since the terminal connecting portion is formed so as to extend in the lateral direction of the strip-shaped portion from the side edge portion of the flexible printed circuit, the arrangement position of the connecting terminal connected to this terminal connecting portion may be changed to change the electrical connection box. Overall design flexibility can be improved.

It is preferable that the cable portion is formed by arranging a flexible printed circuit on which a circuit portion having the thickest conductor pattern is formed, on the outermost side of the plurality of flexible printed circuits. Depending on the current value of the applied circuit,
The thickness of the copper foil made of a conductor pattern composed of copper foils having different thicknesses, or formed by laminating copper foils of the same thickness according to the current value of the applied circuit by cold pressure welding as appropriate. It is preferably composed of different conductor patterns. In this case, rolled copper foil or electrolytic copper foil is suitable as the copper foil.

In addition, the circuit portion of the plurality of flexible printed circuits has a thickness of 100 μm when a fuse having a rated current of 20 A (ampere) or more is connected to the applied circuit.
When the circuit configured by the above conductor pattern is a fuse circuit or a signal line circuit having a rated current of 10 A or less, it is preferably configured by a conductor pattern having a thickness of 70 μm or less.

The flexible printed circuit according to the present invention comprises an electric connection box body to which the connected electrical components are mounted,
What is claimed is: 1. A flexible printed circuit in which a circuit part made of a conductor pattern is formed on an insulating film for electrically connecting a connector part for connecting a connector of an external wiring circuit, wherein the electric connection box main body part and the connector. A strip-shaped portion connecting the strip-shaped portion and a plate-shaped connection terminal extending in the lateral direction of the strip-shaped portion from a side edge portion of the strip-shaped portion where the electrical junction box body portion and the connector portion are arranged are connected. A plurality of flexible printed circuits each having a terminal connecting portion that is different from each other, wherein the circuit portions of the plurality of flexible printed circuits are formed of conductor patterns having different thicknesses depending on a current value of the applied circuit. And

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of an electrical junction box according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The electrical junction box 1 includes an electrical junction box body 10 and a connector portion 2
0, and a cable portion 30 that connects the electric junction box body 10 and the connector portion 20. The cable portion 30 is formed by flexibly laminating a plurality of strip-shaped flexible printed circuits (hereinafter, abbreviated as “FPC”) 30a to 30d in a non-adhesive state. The electric junction box body 10 is
An electric connection box housing 13 made of a resin molded member and a lid body 16 which is attachable to and detachable from the housing 13,
It is arranged at one end of the cable portion 30. In the electric junction box housing 13, a plurality of fuses 1 are provided on the same surface as the main surface of the FPCs 30a to 30d (the surface corresponding to the front surface).
A plurality of fuse mounting portions 14 and relay mounting portions 15 for mounting the relay 1 and the relay 12 are formed in two rows along the longitudinal direction of the cable portion 30. Connector part 20
Is a connector housing 22a made of a resin molded member,
22b and a part of the housings 22a, 22b, which are configured to include case portions 23a, 23b that can be divided in the thickness direction of the cable portion 30, and are arranged at the other end of the cable portion 30. Connector housing 22
The a and 22b are provided with a plurality of connector fitting portions 25 along which the plug connectors 21a and 21b are respectively inserted from the side along both side edges of the cable portion 30.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the cable portion 30. The cable portion 30 of this example includes a plurality of F
PCs are stacked in a non-bonded state. Cable part 30
FPCs 30a, 30b, 30c, 30 that form the
d is polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) or polyimide (PI)
On the base film 31 made of insulating film such as
The circuit portion 32 is formed by patterning a conductive material such as copper foil, and has a structure in which a cover lay (not shown) is provided on the circuit portion 32 as needed. In this case, the circuit section 3
As the copper foil used in 2, rolled copper foil, electrolytic copper foil and the like are suitable. A plurality of terminal connecting portions 34 are formed from both side edge portions of the strip-shaped portion 33 of the FPCs 30a to 30d so as to extend in the lateral direction of the strip-shaped portion 33 with a predetermined length. For example, a part of the connector portion 20 is housed in the first connection terminal 39a and connector housings 22a, 22b made of metal and housed in the electric connection box housing 13 and forming a part of the electric connection box body 10. The constituent second connection terminals 30b are connected to each other. In this example, the first connection terminal 39a is a so-called fork terminal connected to the fuse 11 and the relay 12, and the second connection terminal 39b is connected to a female connection terminal (not shown) of the plug connectors 21a and 21b. This is a so-called male connection terminal. Further, the terminal connecting portion 34 may be formed only on one side edge portion of the strip portion 33. Further, the first and second connection terminals 39a and 39b are respectively formed with engagement holes 39c that engage with lance mechanisms provided in the electric connection box housing 13 and the connector housings 22a and 22b described later. May be.

First and second connection terminals 39a, 39b
Is placed on the terminal connecting portion 34 so as to be in close contact with the circuit portion 32 on the terminal connecting portion 34, and then joined to the circuit connecting portion 32 by resistance welding and connected to the terminal connecting portion 34. The first and second connection terminals 39a and 39b are connected to the terminal connection portion 34.
Then, the cable parts 30 are constructed by stacking the FPCs 30a to 30d on top of each other. At this time, the first and second connection terminals 39a, 39b are arranged so as to be arranged at positions corresponding to the connection terminal arrangement positions of the electric junction box housing 13 and the connector housings 22a, 22b.
The terminal connection portions 34 of 0a to 30d are formed.

After the strip-shaped FPCs 30a to 30d are superposed on each other to form the cable portion 30 and the connection portions between the connection terminals 39a and 39b and the terminal connection portion 34 are sealed by the resin mold portion 37, the connection portions are connected. The reliability can be increased. Then, the terminal connecting portion 34 to which the first connecting terminal 39b is connected is left as it is, and the terminal connecting portion 34 to which the first connecting terminal 39a is connected, and the first connecting terminal 39a is the circuit portion 32 of the cable portion 30. It extends in a direction perpendicular to the forming surface and is bent so as to be housed in a predetermined terminal arrangement position of the electric junction box housing 13, and
The connection terminal 39a of the
The connection terminal 39b of the connector housing 22a (22
Attach each to b).

FPCs 30a to 30c constituting the cable section 30
Of the 30d, in this example, the FPCs 30a to 30c are used as so-called signal line circuits and the FPC 30d is used as a power supply circuit. Therefore, the current value of the current flowing through the circuit unit 32 of the FPCs 30a to 30c and the circuit unit 3 of the FPC 30d.
The current values of the currents flowing in 2 greatly differ. Therefore, in this example, as shown in FIG. 3, the thickness of the circuit portion 32 of the FPCs 30a to 30c forming the cable portion 30 and the FPC3
Among the FPCs 30a to 30d that form the cable portion 30, the FPC 30d in which the thickest circuit portion 32 is formed is arranged on the outermost side while the thickness of the 0d circuit portion 32 is made different. For example, the circuit unit 3 of the FPCs 30a to 30c
2 is formed of a copper foil having a thickness of T1, FPC
The circuit portion 32 of 30d is preferably formed of a copper foil having a thickness T2 thicker than T1. In this case, preferably the thickness T1
Is 70 μm or less and the thickness T2 is 100 μm or more.
In this way, by changing the circuit thickness according to the difference in the current value of the current flowing through the circuit, the FPC3 with the same circuit thickness can be obtained.
Compared to the case where the circuit portion 32 of 0a to 30d is formed, the weight of the entire electrical junction box due to an increase in circuit width due to over-spec due to excess circuit thickness that can occur in a small current circuit and an insufficient circuit thickness that can occur in a large current circuit. The increase and the increase in size can be suppressed, and the reduction in weight and size can be promoted.

It should be noted that different copper foils of different thickness are not used.
You may make it form the circuit part 32 of thickness. This place
In this case, as shown in FIG.
Of the thickness T1 of the circuit portion 32 of the FPCs 30a to 30c
Copper foil 32₁, 32₂, ..., 32 _nBased on these thicknesses
T1 copper foil 32₁, 32₂, ..., 32_nThe worktable
And the copper foil 32 with the work head 81 from above.
₁, 32₂, ..., 32_nPress in the direction of the white arrow in the figure
Apply cold pressure welding (normal temperature pressure welding), etc., as shown in Fig.
Then, a copper foil 32C having a thickness T2 is formed and used for a power circuit.
Even if the circuit section 32 of the FPC 30d is configured.
good. In this way, using copper foil of one kind thickness from the beginning
If the circuit parts 32 having different thicknesses are formed,
The unit price of copper foil is higher than when using copper foil of different thickness
Since the rise is suppressed, the effect of suppressing the cost increase as a result
The fruit can be expected. Note that cold pressure welding is a known technique.
Therefore, the description is omitted here.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the first connection terminal 39a is attached to the electric connection box housing 13 of the electric connection box main body 10, and FIG. 6 is a connector housing 22a ( 22b) the second connection terminal 3
It is a figure which shows a state that 9b is attached in a part in section. As shown in FIG. 5, the first connection terminal 39a is inserted into the electric connection box housing 13 of the main body 10 of the electric connection box, and the terminal housing hole 24a is housed with the tip thereof exposed.
Lance portions 26a as lance mechanisms that engage with the engaging holes 39c of the first connection terminals 39a and lock and fix the first connection terminals 39a in the electric connection box housing 13 are formed at predetermined positions. There is. The FPCs 30a to 30d that form the cable unit 30 are housed in the electric junction box housing 13 by bending the surface on which the circuit unit 32 is formed and bending the terminal connecting unit 34 in the vertical direction. In addition, in order to lock and fix the first connection terminal 39a in the electric junction box housing 13, in this example, the lance portion 2 as a lance mechanism is used.
Although 6a is used, it may be locked and fixed by another method.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the connector housing 22a (22b) of the connector portion (not shown) has a connector (not shown) for the external wiring circuit and a plug connector 2
A connector fitting portion 25 into which the 1a (21b) is fitted; a plurality of terminal receiving holes 24b into which the second connection terminal 39b is inserted and the tip of which is projected into the connector fitting portion 25; Each FPC 30a constituting the cable portion 30 while inserting the second connection terminal 39b into the terminal accommodating hole 24b.
Insertion hole 27 for inserting 30d in the direction of the side edge of the strip portion 33
Are formed, and the second connection terminal 39b is locked and fixed in the connector housing 22a (22b) by engaging with the engagement hole 39c of the second connection terminal 39b inside the plurality of terminal accommodating holes 24b. Lance portions 26b as lance mechanisms are formed. FP that constitutes the cable unit 30
C30a to 30d are connector housings 22a (22
b) the width a of the connector housing 22a (22b)
It is accommodated in such a state that the direction and the width b direction of the cable portion 30 are orthogonal to each other. In this way, after the cable portion 30 is attached to each housing 13, 22a (22b) and then attached to the lid 16 and the case portion 23, the electrical junction box 1 as shown in FIG. 1 is completed.

The first connection terminal 39a and the second connection terminal 3
9b can freely change the arrangement position of the connection terminals 39a and 39b by bending the terminal connecting portion 34 into a desired shape, etc., and thereby changing the shape of the electrical junction box 1 to a desired shape or the like. It is possible to improve the degree of freedom in design, and, for example, the height h of the connector section 20 shown in FIG. 1 can be made extremely lower than that of the conventional electric junction box, which saves space. It is possible.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of another electric junction box. In the electrical junction box 1'of this example, the cable portion 3
0'is branched into two in the stacking direction of the FPCs 30a, 30b, ..., and one connector is provided at each branch destination for a total of two connector parts 20a, 20b, and a fuse of the electrical junction box body 10 '. The mounting portion 14 and the relay mounting portion 15 are
The electrical junction box 1 is different from the electrical junction box 1 according to the previous example in that it has a structure in which each row is inserted from both sides toward both side edges of the cable portion 30 '. In this example,
Each of the connector portions 20a and 20b includes a connector fitting portion 25 only on one side edge portion side of the cable portion 30 '.

8 to 11 show the cable portion 30 of this example.
It is a figure which shows the structure of '. In the following, unless otherwise specified, the FPC that constitutes the cable portion 30 '
Of the 30a to 30d, only the FPCs 30a and 30b will be described. However, similar to the previous example, the FPC 30d in which the thickness of the circuit portion 32 is thicker than the thickness of the other circuit portion 32 is used as a power supply circuit. There is no change. First, FIG.
As shown in (a), the strip-shaped FPC 30a forming a part of the cable portion 30 'includes a circuit portion 32 having a pattern formed on a base film 31 made of an insulating film such as PET, PEN, or PI. Composed. Although illustration is omitted, it is assumed that a cover lay is formed on these if necessary. FPC 30a band 3
A plurality of terminal connecting portions 34 are formed from both side edge portions of 3 in a state of extending in the lateral direction of the band-shaped portion 33 with a desired length, and the tip end side of these terminal connecting portions 34 is made of, for example, metal. Plate-shaped first and second connection terminals 39a and 39b are connected to each other. In this example, the terminal connecting portion 34 on one side
Is set longer than the terminal connection portion 34 on the other side. The terminal connecting portion 34 may be formed only on one side edge portion of the strip portion 33. Further, the first and second connection terminals 39a and 39b include, for example, the electric junction box housing 13a (13b) and the connector housing 22.
Engagement holes 39c that engage with lance mechanisms provided in a (22b) may be formed respectively.

First (second) connection terminal 39a (39b)
After being placed on the terminal connecting portion 34 so as to be in close contact with the circuit portion 32 on the terminal connecting portion 34, as shown in FIG. A pair of electrodes 38a, 38 of a series welding device (not shown) in contact
Resistance welding is performed by b and is joined to the circuit portion 32 and connected to the terminal connection portion 34. Since resistance welding is a known technique, description thereof will be omitted here. In addition to resistance welding, the first (second) connection terminal 39a (39) may be formed by a method such as ultrasonic welding, laser welding, or soldering.
b) may be connected to the terminal connecting portion 34. If connection is made using these connection methods, high connection reliability can be ensured.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the strip-shaped FPCs 30a, 30b, ... Connecting the first (second) connecting terminals 39a (39b) to the terminal connecting portion 34 by the above-mentioned method are overlapped and the cable portion is formed. Make up 30 '. The figure (a) is
A top view showing a cable part 30 'configured by stacking the FPCs 30a and 30b on top of each other, FIG.
A part of a side view of 0 ', FIG.
FIG. At this time, the first (second) connection terminals 39a (39b) of the terminal connection portions 34 of the FPCs 30a and 30b that form the cable portion 30 'have the electrical connection box housing 13a (13b) and the connector housing 22a.
It may be formed so as to be arranged at a desired position on the side edge portion of the band-shaped portion 33 so as to be arranged at a predetermined position or the like corresponding to the connection terminal arrangement position of (22b).

Thus, a plurality of FPCs 30a, 30b,
After forming the cable portion 30 'by superposing the ...
As shown in 0, each connection terminal 39a (39b)
The connection portion between the terminal connection portion 34 and the terminal connection portion 34 is sealed with the resin mold portion 37. At this time, for example, as shown in FIG. 7A, a certain number of connecting portions are collectively put into a resin mold at a time, so that the FPC 30a in the non-adhesive state,
The connecting terminal 3 is provided without separately adhering the strip portion 33 of 30b.
The desired terminal arrangement state of 9a (39b) can be realized. In addition, the connection terminals 39a (39b) for each of the molded parts 37 resin-molded in this manner are connected to each housing 1
3a (13b), 22a (22b) is directly inserted and fixed by, for example, adhesion or the like, the engaging hole 39c
Connection terminal 39a (39b) without forming the lance portion 26
Which is fixed to the housings 13a (13b) and 22a (22b) and the electrical connection box body 10 'and the connector portions 20a and 2
0b can be formed. Each FPC 30a, 30b
Since the strips 33 of the FPC are not adhered to each other,
It is possible to flexibly move each of 30a and 30b. FIG. 3A shows a resin-molded cable portion 3
0'is a top view, FIG. 11B is a side view of a portion of the cable portion 30 ', and FIG. 9C is a sectional view of a portion of the cable portion 30'.

As shown in FIG. 11A, for example, the terminal connecting portion 34 formed on one side edge portion of the strip portion 33 of the cable portion 30 'thus formed is formed on the other side edge portion. The terminal connecting portion 34 and the connecting terminal 39a (39b) are folded back to the side of the terminal connecting portion 34 thus formed, and the cable portion 30 '.
It may be arranged so as to concentrate on one side edge portion side, and as shown in FIG.
Only the terminal connecting portion 34 formed on one side edge portion of the side to be accommodated in the connector portion 20a (20b) is folded back to the terminal connecting portion 34 side formed on the other side edge portion to form the cable portion 30 '. It may be configured. If the terminal connection portion 34 and the connection terminal 39a (39b) are arranged on one side edge portion side, it is possible to suppress the height and width of the entire electric connection box, and the terminal connection portion 34 and the connection. Terminal 39
By arranging only a part of a (39b) on one side edge side, one side of the electric connection box body 10 'or the connector section 20a (20b) can be obtained, like the electric connection box 1'of this example. While suppressing the height of the other, the other structure can be a structure that can be connected, for example, in the vertical direction. If the cable portion 30 'in the state shown in FIG. 9 is used, the electric junction box body 1
It is possible to realize a structure in which the width c of 0 ′ and the width d of the connector portion 20a (20b) can be suppressed to be small and both can be connected in the vertical direction.

FIG. 12 shows the first connection terminal 39a in the electric connection box housings 13a and 13b of the electric connection box body 10 '.
FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view showing how the connector is attached, and FIG. 13 shows the connector housing 22a of the connector portion 20a (20b).
It is a figure which shows a mode that the 2nd connection terminal 39b was attached to (22b) by a part cross section. As shown in FIG. 12, the electric connection box housing 13a (13
In (b), the first connection terminal 39a is inserted and the terminal accommodation hole 24a for accommodating the tip end thereof in an exposed state and the engagement hole 39c of the first connection terminal 39a are engaged with each other. Lance portions 26a as lance mechanisms for locking and fixing the connection terminals 39a in the two electric junction box housings 13a and 13b are formed at predetermined positions. The electric junction box housings 13a and 13b are locked by a lock mechanism (not shown), and have a structure that can be divided into upper and lower parts by releasing the lock. The FPCs 30a and 30b constituting the cable portion 30 'have the circuit forming surfaces of the circuit portions 32 in the electric junction box housings 13a and 13b in a vertical state, and the terminal connecting portions 34 extend from both side edge portions, respectively. It is housed as it is.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 13, the connector housing 22a (22b) has a connector fitting portion 25 for fitting a connector of an external wiring circuit and a second connection terminal 39.
a plurality of terminal accommodating holes 24b for accommodating the terminal b through which the tip is projected into the connector fitting part 25, and the connection terminal 39b through the terminal accommodating hole 24b.
An insertion hole 27 for inserting 0 ′ in the direction of the side edge of the strip portion 33 is formed, and the connection terminal 39b is engaged with the engagement hole 39c of the connection terminal 39b inside the plurality of terminal accommodating holes 24b. A lance portion 26b is formed as a lance mechanism that is locked and fixed in the connector housing 22a (22b). The FPC 30a that constitutes the cable portion 30 ',
The terminal connection portion 34 of the terminal 30b is housed in the insertion hole 27 in the connector housing 22a (22b) so as to form a predetermined connection terminal arrangement position in the state shown in FIG. Note that, for example, the circuit unit 32 of the FPC 30a
Since the cover lay 30a1 is applied on the
Circuit part 32 of terminal connection part 34 of PC 30b folded back
It has a structure that does not short circuit with.

Connector housing 22a as described above
If a structure for attaching the connection terminal 39b to (22b) is provided,
As shown in FIG. 14, by simply replacing the connector housings 22a (22b) having different shapes, the connector portions 20a (20b) corresponding to various connector shapes can be realized at low cost. For example, the height h1 of the outer wall forming the connector fitting portion 25 of the connector housing 22a (22b) shown in FIG. 11A and the connector fitting portion 25 of the connector housing 22a (22b) shown in FIG. Since the height is different from the height h2 of the outer wall constituting
Even if the connection terminal 39b, the folded-back mode of the terminal connection portion 34, the cable portion 30 ', the case portion 23a (23b), and the like are not changed, connectors of different types of external wiring circuits corresponding to the respective heights h1 and h2, Plug connector 21
It is possible to connect a, 21b, etc. As a result, it is possible to provide an electric connection box corresponding to various connectors while suppressing costs.

The electrical junction box 1'of this example has the electrical junction box body 10 'and the first connector portion 20a as described above.
And a second connector portion 20b, and a plurality of flexible F
Since it has a structure in which a cable portion 30 'composed of PCs 30a, 30b, ... Is provided, as shown in FIG.
It is needless to say that the electric junction box body 10 'and the connector portion 20a (20b) are formed in different casings and are connected by the cable portion 30' so that the respective casings can be freely moved. As shown in FIG. 2, the electric junction box body 10 ′ and the connector portion 20 a (20 b) are arranged in one casing 36, and the cable portion 30 ′ is arranged in the casing 36 and the electric junction box body 10 ′. The first connector portion 20a and the second connector portion 20b may be accommodated in a connected state to form the integrated electrical connection box 1 ″. By using the flexible cable portion 30 ', various types of electric junction boxes having different shapes can be realized easily and at low cost.

Further, not only the integrated structure shown in FIG. 15 (b) but also the integrated structure shown in FIG. 16 may be adopted. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of still another electric junction box. That is, the integral structure of this example means that the electric connection box 1A in which the electric connection box main body 10A and the connector portion 20A are connected via the cable portion 30A as shown in FIG. A fixing mechanism 70 (70 provided at predetermined positions of the main body 10A and the connector portion 20A)
a, 70b). The fixing mechanism 70 includes a hook 70a formed on a part of a lower surface of the electric junction box body 10A and a hook engaging portion 70b formed on a part of a side portion of the connector portion 20A. ) Indicates the hook 70a formed on the main body 10A of the electric junction box and the hook engaging portion 7 formed on the connector portion 20A.
0b is inserted and both are integrally locked and fixed. As such a fixing mechanism 70, for example, FIG.
As shown in FIG.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3A, the metal bracket 40 is formed by insert molding or the like on the side surface of the housing such as either the housing of the electric junction box body 10A or the connector portion 20A or the case portion. Then, a fixing mechanism that fixes the electric junction box body 10A and the connector portion 20A by forming a bracket fitting portion 41 that fits with the metal bracket 40 on the side surface of the other housing and fitting the two together. Is.

In the structure shown in FIG. 6B, a so-called anchor clip 42 is integrally formed on the side surface of either one of the electric junction box body 10A and the connector portion 20A, and the other is formed. An anchor clip fixing portion 43 including a hole into which the anchor clip 42 is fitted is formed on a side surface of the housing, and the anchor clip 42 is inserted into the anchor clip fixing portion 43 to insert the electric junction box body 10
It is a fixing mechanism for fixing A and the connector portion 20A.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6C, a rib 44 having a T-shaped cross section is provided on the side surface of the housing of either the electric junction box body 10A or the connector portion 20A.
Is formed by integral molding or the like, and a rib fixing portion 45 having a groove having a structure in which the rib 44 is slidably inserted and engaged is formed on the side surface or the like of the other casing to form the rib 44 on the rib fixing portion 45. Insert the main body of the electrical junction box 10A and the connector 20
It is a fixing mechanism for fixing A and.

Further, in the structure shown in FIG. 6D, a locking projection 46 is formed on either one of the electric junction box body 10A or the connector portion 20A, and the other is a lock which engages with this projection 46. This is a fixing mechanism that fixes the electric junction box body 10A and the connector portion 20A by forming the piece 47 and engaging both. If the fixing mechanism 70 described above is formed in advance in the housings of the electric connection box body 10A and the connector portion 20A, the form of the electric connection box 1A may be an independent structure at the stage of designing. It is possible to easily select a structure in which they are integrally connected. As a result, the degree of freedom in the layout of the electric junction box 1A can be improved. In addition to this, various forms can be considered as the fixing mechanism 70 for fixing the electrical junction box body 10A and the connector portion 20A,
The description is omitted here. Further, it goes without saying that the fixing mechanism 70 as described above may be used to fix a plurality of formed electrical junction box bodies or connector portions.

FIG. 18 is a side view showing still another electric junction box and a partial cross-sectional view. As shown in FIG. 3A, the electric connection box 1B is configured such that the electric connection box body 10 and the connector section 20a (20b) are connected by a cable section 30 (not shown), and the electric connection of the cable section 30 is made. Box body 1
0 and the exposed portion from the connector portion 20a (20b) are covered with a grommet 48. This grommet 4
8 is made of a material such as silicon rubber or ethylene-propylene rubber (EPDM), as shown in FIG. 2B, and has a so-called bellows shape because it has flexibility and high durability. Both ends 48 of this grommet 48
a is an electric junction box body 10 and a connector portion 20a (20
The peripheral edge 4 of the opening of the insertion portion of the cable portion 30 into the inside of b)
It has a fitting structure for fitting with 8b, and is attached and fixed to the electric junction box body 10 and the connector portion 20a (20b), respectively. With the grommet 48 attached in this way, the electric junction box body 10 and the connector portion 20a (20b)
It is possible to effectively prevent the intrusion of moisture and dust into the inside, and to effectively protect the circuit portion 32 of each FPC forming the exposed cable portion 30 between them from scratches or damage. And the durability of the electrical junction box 1B can be improved.

As shown in FIG. 19 (a), for example, the grommet 48 may not have a bellows shape but a cylindrical shape having a square cross section or a cylindrical shape having a circular cross section. As shown in FIG. 3B, if there is no need to protect the exposed portion of the cable portion 30 so as to cover it, the electrical junction box body 10 and the connector portion 20a (20
The electrical junction box 1B may be configured by adopting the grommet 48 as a packing that fits with the opening peripheral edge 48b of the insertion port of b) and effectively blocks the insertion port to prevent intrusion of moisture and the like. .

When the electric junction box 1 of the present invention is used in a form in which the electric junction box main body 10 and the plurality of connector portions 20 are independently connected by the cable portion 30, for example, as shown in FIG. The application method as shown can be realized. That is, FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a state in which the electric connection box 1 is arranged in an instrument panel (hereinafter, abbreviated as “instrument panel”) of an automobile, and FIG.
Shows an instrument panel used for a vehicle equipped with a so-called right steering wheel, and FIG. 6B shows an instrument panel used for a vehicle equipped with a so-called left steering wheel.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, in the case of the instrument panel 50a of a vehicle equipped with a right steering wheel,
As shown in FIG. 2B, the electric connection box body 10 is different from that of the instrument panel 50b of the vehicle equipped with the left steering wheel.
Set the placement position of the to the position near the steering wheel,
The arrangement position of the first connector portion 20a is changed to the instrument panel 50a, 5
0b and the second connector portion 20b are arranged at the center of the instrument panel 50a, 50b, the connector portion 20a (20b) is arranged at the right steering wheel mounting vehicle and the left steering wheel mounting portion. Since it can be shared with the vehicle, a common harness can be used, and the number of parts can be reduced to reduce the cost. As described above, according to the arrangement structure using the electric junction box 1, the attachment positions of the electric junction box body 10 and the connector portion 20a (20b) can be easily changed, and the arrangement position and the like can be freely set. Since it can be determined, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom of layout and widen the range of wiring design and the like without making a large design change.

In the embodiment described above, the electric junction box 1
However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the electrical junction box body 10C and the connector portion 20a as shown in FIG.
(20b) and the electrical connection box 1C that is a combination of the cable portion 30C, the electrical connection box 1D that is a combination of the electrical connection box body 10D, the connector portion 20D and the cable portion 30D as shown in FIG. , Various forms of electrical junction boxes are included.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Due to the difference in the value of the current flowing through the circuit, the flexible printed circuit having a circuit portion composed of conductor patterns having different thicknesses is combined to form the cable portion, so that the electrical junction box can be made smaller and lighter. . Further, since the electric connection box main body and the connector section are movably connected by the cable section made of a flexible, light and thin flexible printed circuit, it is possible to reduce the weight and the thickness of the electric connection box as a whole, The degree of freedom in wiring design can be improved. Further, since the terminal connecting portion is formed so as to extend in the lateral direction of the strip-shaped portion from the side edge portion of the flexible printed circuit, the arrangement position of the connecting terminal connected to this terminal connecting portion may be changed to change the electrical connection box. Overall design flexibility can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of an electrical junction box according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a cable portion.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cable portion.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a process of press-contacting copper foils having the same thickness to produce copper foils having different thicknesses.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing how the first connection terminal is attached to the electric junction box housing.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which a second connection terminal is attached to the connector housing.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of another electric junction box according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a cable portion of the electric junction box.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a cable portion of the electric junction box.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of a cable portion of the electric junction box.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of a cable portion of the electric junction box.

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view showing how the first connection terminal is attached to the electric junction box housing.

FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view showing how the second connection terminal is attached to the connector housing.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of a connector portion for explaining how to use connector housings having different shapes.

FIG. 15 is a top view showing the electric junction box and a top view showing the electric junction box when an integrated structure is realized by utilizing the structure of the electric junction box.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of still another electrical junction box according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a view for explaining various fixing mechanisms adopted in the electric junction box.

FIG. 18 is a side view showing still another electric junction box according to the embodiment of the present invention and a partial cross-sectional view.

FIG. 19 is a side view for explaining another pattern of the grommet.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a state in which an electric connection box according to an embodiment of the present invention is arranged on an instrument panel of a vehicle.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of still another electric junction box according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a plan view of a conventional electric junction box.

FIG. 23 is a plan view of a bus bar stored in the electric junction box.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of a VII part in FIG.

FIG. 25 is a sectional view of a portion VIII of FIG. 22.

FIG. 26 is an upper perspective view showing a conventional wiring circuit having a multilayer structure.

FIG. 27 is an upper perspective view showing an electric connection box accommodating a conventional wiring circuit having a multilayer structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electrical junction box, 10 ... Electrical junction box main body, 11 ... Fuse, 12 ... Relay, 13 ... Electrical junction box housing, 14
... Fuse mounting part, 15 ... Relay mounting part, 16 ... Lid,
20 ... Connector part, 21 ... Plug connector, 22 ... Connector housing, 23 ... Case part, 24 ... Terminal accommodating hole,
25 ... Connector fitting part, 26 ... Lance part, 27 ... Insertion hole, 30 ... Cable part, 31 ... Base film, 32 ...
Circuit part, 33 ... Strip part, 34 ... Terminal connection part, 38 ... Electrode, 39 ... Connection terminal.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── of the front page continued (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ identification mark FI theme Court Bu (reference) H01R 12/28 H01R 23/68 E H05K 1/02 23/66 Z (72) inventor Atsushi Kenji Chiba Prefecture Sakura 1440, Rokuzaki, Ichi F term in Fujikura Sakura Works Co., Ltd. (reference) BC01

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An electric connection box main body to which connected electrical components are mounted, a connector portion formed separately from the electric connection box main body for connecting a connector of an external wiring circuit, and the electric connection box main body. And a cable part for electrically connecting the connector part and the cable part, wherein the cable part is composed of a plurality of flexible printed circuits on which a circuit part made of a conductor pattern is formed on an insulating film, The flexible printed circuit of, the strip-shaped portion for connecting the electrical connection box body and the connector portion, respectively, and the strip-shaped portion of the strip-shaped portion from the side edge portion at the position where the electrical connection box body and the connector portion are arranged. And a terminal connecting portion extending in the lateral direction, wherein the electrical connection box main body has an electrical connection box housing in which a component mounting port for mounting the connected electrical component is formed. And a plate-shaped first connection terminal housed in the electrical connection box housing so as to be connected to the terminal connection portion of the flexible printed circuit and connected to the connected electrical component, The connector portion is housed in the connector housing so as to be connected to the connector housing of the external wiring circuit and the terminal connection portion of the flexible printed circuit so as to be connected to the connector of the external wiring circuit. And a plate-shaped second connecting terminal, wherein the circuit parts of the plurality of flexible printed circuits are composed of conductor patterns having different thicknesses depending on the current value of the applied circuit. An electrical junction box. 2. A flexible printed circuit in which a circuit portion having the thickest conductor pattern is formed is arranged on the outermost side of the plurality of flexible printed circuits in the cable portion. Item 1. The electrical connection box according to item 1. 3. The circuit parts of the plurality of flexible printed circuits are composed of conductor patterns made of copper foil having different thicknesses of 2 or more depending on the current value of the applied circuit. Alternatively, the electric connection box described in 2. 4. The circuit parts of the plurality of flexible printed circuits are made of conductor patterns having different thicknesses, which are formed by appropriately bonding cold-welded copper foils manufactured to have the same thickness according to the current value of the applied circuit. The electrical junction box according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electrical junction box is configured. 5. The conductor pattern is made of rolled copper foil or electrolytic copper foil.
The electrical junction box according to any one of 1. 6. The circuit portion of the plurality of flexible printed circuits has a thickness of 100 μm when a fuse having a rated current of 20 A (ampere) or more is connected on the applied circuit.
A conductor pattern having the above-mentioned conductor pattern and having a thickness of 70 μm or less when the applied circuit is a fuse circuit or a signal line circuit having a rated current of 10 A or less. The electrical junction box according to any one of 1. 7. A circuit portion formed of a conductor pattern on an insulating film, which electrically connects an electric junction box body portion to which connected electrical components are mounted and a connector portion for connecting a connector of an external wiring circuit. A flexible printed circuit in which a strip-shaped portion that connects the electrical connection box body portion and the connector portion and a side edge of the strip-shaped portion where the electrical connection box body portion and the connector portion are arranged are formed. A plurality of flexible printed circuits each including a terminal connecting portion to which a plate-shaped connecting terminal is connected, the circuit portion of the plurality of flexible printed circuits being applied. A flexible printed circuit comprising a conductor pattern having a different thickness depending on the current value of the circuit. 8. A flexible printed circuit according to claim 7, wherein a flexible printed circuit on which a circuit portion having the thickest conductor pattern is formed is arranged on the outermost side of the plurality of flexible printed circuits. Printed circuit.