JP2003338825A - Line concentrator for can - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To construct a line concentrator suited to a CAN communication system in a simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: A high voltage side common conductor 26H and a low voltage side common conductor 26L respectively connected to a high voltage side trunk and a low voltage side trunk of the CAN communication system are provided and held in a common housing 24. On a branch 14 connected to respective terminal equipment of the system, its end is provided with a high voltage side connecting terminal 28H and a low voltage side connecting terminal 28L, and the terminals 28H and 28L are held in a terminal housing 30. Then, the terminal housing 30 is fitted to the common housing 24 such that the high voltage side connecting terminal 28H is connected to the high voltage side common conductor 26H and the low voltage side connecting terminal 28L is connected to the low voltage side connecting terminal 26L. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a CAN (Controll
er Area Network) The present invention relates to a concentrator used in a communication system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a network system for communicating between a plurality of terminal devices, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-2000
A CAN communication system as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 165415 is known. In this system, a terminating resistor 12 is provided between the ends of the high voltage side main line 10H and the low voltage side main line 10L as shown in FIG. 21, and is connected to each terminal device (for example, electronic control device) 16. Branch line 14
The high voltage side branch lines 18H are respectively the high voltage side trunk lines 1
The low voltage side branch line 18L is connected to the low voltage side main line 10L.

[0003]

When the CAN communication system is applied to, for example, a vehicle control system, most of the terminal devices 16 are optional, and the terminal devices 16 shared by all vehicle types and vehicle types are very small. Little or no. Therefore, it is required to facilitate the increase / decrease or change of the terminal device 16 in the CAN communication system, and it is conceivable to use a concentrator (hub) as a means for realizing this.

FIG. 22 shows an example thereof. The system shown in the figure has both end hubs 21 with terminating resistors 12 and end hubs 2.
The relay hub 22 is disposed between the two hubs, and the high-voltage side trunk line 10H and the low-voltage side trunk line 10L are wired between the relay hub 22 and both end hubs 21. Each end hub 21
In the above, the high-voltage side main line 10H and the low-voltage side main line 10L
Are interconnected via the terminating resistor 12, and a plurality of branch lines 14 connected to the terminal devices 16 are detachably coupled to the hubs 20 and 22, respectively. High voltage side branch line 18H is high voltage side trunk line 1
The low voltage side branch line 18L is connected to the low voltage side trunk line 10L.

According to such a CAN communication system,
The terminal device 16 can be easily increased / decreased or changed only by attaching / detaching the branch line 14 to / from each hub 20, 22. However, a specific configuration of the line concentrator (the hubs 20 and 22 in the illustrated example) suitable for such a system has not been proposed yet, and it is a big problem to construct the line concentrator with a simple structure. .

[0006]

As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is to connect a plurality of branch lines including a high-voltage side branch line and a low-voltage side branch line connected to a terminal device to each of the high-voltage side branch lines. Used for a CAN communication system including a high-voltage side trunk line and a low-voltage side trunk line to which each low-voltage side branch line is connected, and each of the high-voltage side branch line and each of the low-voltage side branch lines to the high-voltage side trunk line and the low-voltage side trunk line, respectively. CAN to connect
A high-voltage side common conductor and a low-voltage side common conductor respectively connected to the high-voltage side main line and the low-voltage side main line, a common housing holding both common conductors, and provided at the end of each high-voltage side branch line A high-voltage side connection terminal having a connection part connectable to the high-voltage side common conductor, and a low-voltage side connection terminal provided at the end of the low-voltage side branch line and having a connection part connectable to the low-voltage side common conductor, A high-voltage side connection terminal and a low-voltage side connection terminal belonging to a common branch line, while holding a terminal housing that can be fitted to the common housing,
By fitting this terminal housing into the common housing, the high-voltage side connection terminal held in the terminal housing is connected to the high-voltage side common conductor, and the low-voltage side connection terminal is connected to the low-voltage side connection terminal. Both common conductors are arranged in such a manner.

According to this structure, the high-voltage side connecting terminal and the low-voltage side connecting terminal provided on each branch line are held in the terminal housing, and the terminal housing is fitted into the common housing, whereby the common housing is provided. The high-voltage side common line and the low-voltage side common conductor, and by extension, the high-voltage side main line and the low-voltage side main line, which are held, can be detachably connected to the high-voltage side branch line and the low-voltage side branch line of the branch line, respectively. Therefore, it is possible to freely connect and disconnect a branch line connected to a desired terminal device with respect to the high voltage side main line and the low voltage side main line by a simple operation of fitting the terminal housing to the common housing.

As a concrete structure of this CAN concentrator, both common conductors are held in the common housing in a posture extending in a specific direction in a state where they are substantially parallel to each other, and the high voltage side connections are made in the specific direction. It is preferable that the connection terminals are connected to the high-voltage side common conductor and the low-voltage side common conductor in a state where the terminals and the low-voltage side connection terminals are arranged side by side.

According to this structure, the distance between the high-voltage side connection terminal and the low-voltage side connection terminal is set small and the size of the terminal housing for holding them is reduced, while the terminal housing and the common housing are fitted together. The high voltage side connection terminal and the low voltage side connection terminal may be connected to the high voltage side common conductor and the low voltage side common conductor, respectively.

In this case, as the common housing,
It is preferable that the common housing holds a high-voltage side common conductor and a low-voltage side common conductor, and has terminal housing fitting portions to be fitted to the terminal housing at positions on both sides in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.

According to this structure, since the connection terminals are connected to the respective common conductors from both sides thereof, the common conductors and the common housing holding the connection terminals can be connected to the common conductors without increasing the size thereof. The number of connection terminals can be increased.

Further, a common housing pair which can be fitted to each other is provided as the common housing, and each common housing has a high-voltage side common conductor and a low-voltage side common conductor which are held by the common housing in a direction orthogonal to its longitudinal direction. The one side has a terminal housing fitting part into which the terminal housing can be fitted, and the other side has a common housing fitting part to be fitted with the mating common housing. The high-voltage side common conductors and the low-voltage side common conductors held in the respective common housings in the combined state may be connected to each other.

According to this structure, when the number of connection terminals to be connected to the common conductor is relatively small, only one of the common housings is used to make the whole concentrator compact, while connecting to the common conductor. When the number of connection terminals to be made is relatively large, the common housings are fitted to each other and the high-voltage side common conductors and the low-voltage side common conductors held in the both common housings are interconnected (that is, united). As a result, the total number of connection terminals connectable to the combined common conductor can be increased.

Further, it is also possible to make the both common housings have the same shape as each other, whereby the mass productivity of the concentrator can be improved.

In the present invention, the number of connection terminals held by the terminal housing is not particularly limited. For example, if a plurality of terminal housings for holding the high-voltage side connection terminal and the low-voltage side connection terminal are provided for each branch line, and these terminal housings are respectively fitted to the common housing, the high-voltage side common conductor and The high-voltage side connection terminal and the low-voltage side connection terminal can be independently attached to and detached from each branch line with respect to the low-voltage side common conductor.

In this case, if the terminal housings are provided with engaging portions that can be engaged with each other and can be fitted to the common housing in the engaged state,
By previously combining the plurality of terminal housings with each other by the engagement, it is possible to reduce the number of fitting operations of the terminal housings with respect to the common housing.

Further, even if a plurality of terminal housings are held together and an intermediate housing that can be fitted to the common housing in the holding state is provided, this intermediate housing is only fitted to the common housing. Since a plurality of connection terminals can be collectively connected to each common conductor, the connection work can be further simplified.

As described above, in the present invention, each terminal housing does not necessarily have to be directly fitted to the common housing, but indirectly fitted to the common housing while being held by the intermediate housing. It may be one.

Alternatively, the terminal housing holds a plurality of high-voltage side connecting terminals and a low-voltage side connecting terminal at the same time, and the terminal housings are fitted to the common housing to be held by the terminal housings. It is also possible that the high voltage side connection terminals are collectively connected to the high voltage side common conductor held in the common housing, and the low voltage side connection terminals are collectively connected to the low voltage side common conductor.

If each of the concentrators is further provided with a terminating resistor for connecting the high-voltage side common conductor and the low-voltage side common conductor while being held by the common housing, the CAN communication system is provided by the concentrators. End portion (end hub 21 shown in FIG. 22 in the example shown in FIG. 22)
Can be built.

Further, a terminating resistor housing holding the terminating resistor and resistance connecting terminals connected to both ends thereof and detachably fitted to the common housing is provided,
If each of the resistance connection terminals is connected to the high-voltage side common conductor and the low-voltage side common conductor in a state in which the terminating resistor housing is fitted in the common housing,
By removing the terminating resistor housing, the concentrator can be used also in a portion other than the terminating portion of the CAN communication system (for example, in the example shown in FIG. 22, the relay hub 22 in the figure). Also, replacement of the terminating resistor becomes easy.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1) First Embodiment (FIGS. 1 to 7) The concentrator 20 shown here is the CAN shown in FIG.
It can be used for both the terminal hub 21 and the relay hub 22 of the communication system.

The concentrator 20 has a common housing 24.
A high-voltage side common conductor 26H and a low-voltage side common conductor 26L held in the common housing 24, and a plurality of high-voltage side connection terminals 28H and low-voltage side connection terminals 28L provided for each branch line 14 shown in FIG. , A plurality of terminal housings 30 provided for each branch line 14 for holding the high-voltage side connection terminals 28H and the low-voltage side connection terminals 28L, and a terminating resistor unit 32 including a terminating resistor. The high voltage side connection terminals 28H are connected, and the low voltage side common conductors 26L are connected to the low voltage side connection terminals 28L. Each of the connection terminals 28H and 28L is made of a conductor, while each of the housings 24 and 30 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin.

The high-voltage side common conductor 26H and the low-voltage side common conductor 26L are made of metal plates and have a substantially rectangular shape extending in the horizontal direction.

On the other hand, in the common housing 24, both the common conductors 26 are laterally provided at the central portion in the front-rear direction.
A pair of upper and lower insertion grooves 36H, into which H and 26L can be inserted,
36L is formed, and the common conductors 26H and 26L are laterally inserted into the insertion grooves 36H and 36L, so that the common conductors 26H and 26L are vertically separated.
It is adapted to be held in the common housing 24 in steps (more specifically, in a posture in which they extend in the horizontal direction in a state of being substantially parallel to each other).

Both front and rear sides of the common housing 24 (both sides in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the common conductors 26H and 26L)
A plurality of terminal housing fitting portions 38 into which the respective terminal housings 30 can be individually fitted are formed in the. These terminal housing fitting portions 38 are provided in the common housing 24.
In the width direction (direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the common conductors 26H and 26L).

The high voltage side connection terminal 28H is provided at the end of the high voltage side branch line 18H in each branch line 14, and the low voltage side connection terminal 28L is provided at the end of the low voltage side branch line 18L in each branch line 14. As shown in FIG. 4, each connection terminal 2
8H and 28L have contact spring portions 28a that are curved inwardly from both upper and lower walls by 180 °, and press-fit portions 28b into which the side edges of the common conductors 26H and 26L can be press-fitted are provided between both contact spring portions 28a. Has been formed.

Each terminal housing 30 has a pair of upper and lower terminal accommodating chambers 30c. These terminal accommodating chambers 30c
Has a shape for holding the high-voltage side connection terminal 28H and the low-voltage side connection terminal 28L of each branch line 14, respectively.
The common conductor 26 is provided on the tip side of each terminal housing 30.
A horizontal conductor entry groove 30b into which H and 26L can enter is formed, and a locked projection 30a is formed on the upper surface of each terminal housing 30.

The terminal housing chamber 30 of the terminal housing 30
In c, the high-voltage side connection terminal 28H and the low-voltage side connection terminal 2
The terminal housing 30 is fitted into an appropriate terminal housing fitting portion 38 of the common housing 24 in a state in which each of the 8L is held, so that the high-voltage side connection terminal 28H.
Of the high-voltage side connection terminal 28H and the press-fitting portion 28b of the low-voltage side connection terminal 28L while the side edges of the low-voltage side connection terminal 28L and the side edges of the low-voltage side connection terminal 28L enter the conductor intrusion groove 30b of the terminal housing 30, respectively. Each of them is press-fitted, whereby the high-voltage side connection terminal 28H and the low-voltage side connection terminal 28L are electrically connected to the high-voltage side connection terminal 26H and the low-voltage side connection terminal 26L, respectively. Further, in the fitted state, the locked projection 30a of the terminal housing 30 is engaged with the locking hole 24a formed in the top wall of the common housing 24, so that the terminal housing 30 is engaged with the common housing 24 side. Be stopped.

The terminating resistor unit 32 includes a pair of upper and lower terminating resistor terminals 40H and 40L as shown in FIG. 7, a relay conductor 42 extending in the vertical direction, the relay conductor 42 and the terminating resistor terminals 40H and 40L. A pair of upper and lower terminating resistor chips 12H and 12L which are respectively connected, and a terminating resistor terminal 40.
It has a ground terminal 46 provided between H and 40L, and a capacitor chip 44 connecting the ground terminal 46 and the relay conductor 42, and these are held by a terminating resistor housing 48 made of an insulating material. . Therefore, the terminating resistor chips 12H and 12L are interposed in series between the terminating resistor terminals 40H and 40L with the relay terminal 42 interposed therebetween, and the relay terminal 42 is connected to the ground terminal 46 via the capacitor chip 44. Connected to.

Each of the terminating resistance terminals 40H and 40L and the grounding terminal 46 is composed of a strip-shaped metal plate extending in the horizontal direction in parallel with each other, and is held in the terminating resistance housing 48 in a posture in which the cross-sectional shape is vertically long. Has been done. The ground terminal 46 has a connecting tab 46a on the tip end side, the vertical width of which is smaller than the other portions, and the front ends of the connecting tab 46a and the terminating resistor terminals 40H and 40L are forward from the terminating resistor housing 48. Exposed to the outside.

On the other hand, in the common housing 24, a terminating resistor housing fitting portion 39 is formed on one side in the width direction of the common housing 24 side by side with the terminal housing fitting portion 38. Fitting part 39
The terminating resistor housing 48 is removably fitted in the front-rear direction.

Further, bifurcated terminating resistor connecting portions 27H and 27L into which the terminating resistor terminals 40H and 40L can be press-fitted are formed at one end in the longitudinal direction of the high voltage side common conductor 26H and the low voltage side common conductor 26L. When the terminating resistor housing 48 is fitted into the terminating resistor housing fitting portion 39, the terminating resistors 40H and 40L are press-fitted into the respective terminating resistor connecting portions 27H and 27L so that the high-voltage side common conductor 26H and the low-voltage side are provided. Each of them is connected to the common conductor 26L (that is, the terminating resistor chips 12H and 12L are interposed between the two common conductors 26H and 26L).

In the common housing 24,
A terminal accommodating chamber 52 is provided at a position facing the terminating resistor housing fitting portion 39. This terminal accommodating chamber 52
A grounding terminal (female terminal) 50 provided at the end of the grounding electric wire 34 shown in FIG.
It is designed to be inserted and held from the side opposite to the. Then, with the fitting of the terminating resistor housing 48 into the terminating resistor housing fitting portion 39, the ground terminal 46.
The connecting tab 46a is fitted into the female electric contact portion of the grounding terminal 50 so that the grounding terminal 46 is grounded through the grounding electric wire 34.

Next, the operation of the line concentrator 20 will be described.

First, the concentrator 20 is connected to the end hub 2
When used as 1, the terminating resistor housing 4 of the terminating resistor unit 32 in a state where the high voltage side common conductor 26H and the low voltage side common conductor 26L are held in the common housing 24.
8 into the terminating resistor housing fitting portion 39, and a grounding terminal 50 provided at the end of the grounding electric wire 34.
Is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 52. As a result, the termination resistance terminals 40H and 40L of the termination resistance unit 32 are respectively connected to the termination resistance connection portions 27H and 2 of the common conductors 26H and 26L.
7L and the terminating resistor chips 12H and 12L are interposed between the two common conductors 26H and 26L, and the connecting tab 46a of the ground terminal 46 of the terminating resistor unit 32 is fitted into the grounding terminal 50. As a result, the relay conductor 42 between the terminating resistors is connected to the ground side via the capacitor chip 44.

On the other hand, the high voltage side connection terminal 28H and the low voltage side connection terminal 28L are connected to the high voltage side trunk line 10H and the low voltage side trunk line 10L shown in FIG. 22, respectively. This connection may be made by a structure other than the structure shown in the drawing, for example, like the branch lines 14, the high-voltage side main line 10H and the low-voltage side main line 10L are connected to the high-voltage side connection terminal 28H and the low-voltage side connection terminal 28L. And these connection terminals 28
H and 28L are held in the terminal housing 30, and the terminal housing 30 is fitted into an appropriate terminal housing fitting portion 38 of the common housing 24 to connect the high-voltage side connecting terminal 28H and the low-voltage side connecting terminal 28L to branch lines, respectively. Common housing 24 together with connection terminals 28H and 28L on the 14th side
The common conductors 26H and 26L may be connected to the main lines 10H and 10L through the connection terminals 28H and 28L by connecting to the high-voltage side common conductor 26H and the low-voltage side common conductor 26L.

Further, the high-voltage side connection terminal 28H and the low-voltage side connection terminal 28L provided at the end of the branch line 14 connected to a desired terminal device (eg, electronic control unit) are held in the terminal housing 30 and the terminal housing 30. A suitable terminal housing mating portion 38 of the common housing 24.
The high voltage side connection terminal 28H and the low voltage side connection terminal 28L are connected to the high voltage side common conductor 26H and the low voltage side common conductor 26L in the common housing 24, respectively. In this way, the plurality of branch lines 1 can be easily operated by simply fitting the terminal housings 30 into the common housing 24.
4 can be centrally connected to the high voltage side main line 10 and the low voltage side main line 10L through both common conductors 26H and 26L.

In particular, the concentrator 20 shown in this embodiment.
Then, the high-voltage side common conductor 26H and the low-voltage side common conductor 26L
Are held in the common housing 24 in a posture in which they extend in a specific direction in a state of being substantially parallel to each other, and these high-voltage side connecting terminals 28H and low-voltage side connecting terminals 28L are aligned in the specific direction. The high-voltage side common conductor 2
6H and the low-voltage side common conductor 26L are connected to each other, so that the distance between the high-voltage side connection terminal 28H and the low-voltage side connection terminal 28L in each branch 14 is set to be small and the terminal housing 30 that holds them is set. The terminal housing 30 and the common housing 2 are reduced in size.
It is possible to connect the high-voltage side connection terminal 28H and the low-voltage side connection terminal 28L to the common conductors 26H and 26L by fitting with 4.

The terminating resistor chips 12H and 12L arranged between the two common conductors 26H and 26L are included in the terminating resistor unit 32, and this unit 32 is included in the common housing 24.
Since it is removable, the maintenance such as the replacement of the terminating resistor can be easily performed.

On the other hand, if the terminating resistor unit 32 is not attached to the common housing 24, both common conductors 2
It is also possible to electrically separate 6H and 26L and use this concentrator 20 as the relay hub 22 shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, the terminal housing 30 is inserted from both the front and rear sides of the common housing 24, but the terminal housing 30 may be inserted from only one of the front and rear sides. Good. However, as shown in the example in FIG.
If the terminal housing fitting portions 38 are provided at positions on both sides of the H and 26L in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, the connection terminals 28H and 28L are connected to the common conductors 26H and 26L from both sides. Therefore, the common conductors 26H and 26L and the common housing 24 that holds the common conductors 26H and 26L
It is possible to increase the number of connection terminals 28H and 28L connectable to the common conductors 26H and 26L without increasing the size.

2) Second Embodiment (FIGS. 8 and 9) In this embodiment, in the termination resistor unit 32, a horizontal connection is made at the end of the ground terminal 46 in place of the connection tab 46a. A plate 46b is formed.
On the other hand, in the common housing 24, a terminal accommodating chamber 56 is formed further outside the terminating resistor housing fitting portion 39, and is connected to the inner wall of the housing which separates the terminal accommodating chamber 56 and the terminating resistor housing fitting portion 39. A groove 56b into which the connecting plate 46b can be inserted is formed, and the end portion of the connecting plate 46b projects into the terminal accommodating chamber 56 through the groove 56b.

On the other hand, the grounding terminal 54 provided at the end of the grounding electric wire 34 has the connecting plate 46 at the end thereof.
The end portion of b has a bifurcated connection portion 54b into which press-fitting is possible, and in the press-fitting state, the ground terminal 46 is connected to the ground side via the grounding terminal 54 and the grounding electric wire 34.

As shown in the second embodiment and the first embodiment, in the present invention, the specific structure of each electrical connection portion is not particularly limited.

3) Third Embodiment (FIGS. 10 to 13) The concentrator 20 shown here is also the CAN shown in FIG. 22.
It can be used for both the terminal hub 21 and the relay hub 22 of the communication system.

The concentrator 20 has a pair of common housings 24 having the same shape, a high-voltage side common conductor 26H and a low-voltage side common conductor 26L held by the common housings 24, and each of them shown in FIG. A plurality of high-voltage side connection terminals 28H and low-voltage side connection terminals 28L provided for each branch line 14, and a plurality of terminal housings 30 provided for each branch line 14 and holding the high-voltage side connection terminals 28H and low-voltage side connection terminals 28L. , And a terminating resistor unit 32 including a terminating resistor, and each of the high voltage side connecting terminals 28H is connected to the high voltage side common conductor 26H as in the first embodiment.
Are connected, and the low voltage side common terminals 26L are connected to the low voltage side connection terminals 28L.

Here, each of the connection terminals 28H and 28L is made of a conductor, while each of the housings 24 and 30 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin, and the connection terminals 28H and 28L are made of insulating material.
The structure of L and the terminal housing 30 holding it is exactly the same as that of the first embodiment. The specific structure of the terminating resistor unit 32 and the structure in which the unit 32 is incorporated in the common housing 24 are exactly the same as those in the second embodiment.

The high-voltage-side common conductor 26H and the low-voltage-side common conductor 26L are made of metal plates and have a substantially rectangular shape extending in the horizontal direction. Both common conductors 26H are provided in the middle portion of each common housing 24 in the front-rear direction. , 26L are held in two upper and lower stages (more specifically, in a posture of extending in the horizontal direction in a state of being substantially parallel to each other).

In the third embodiment, each of the terminal housings is provided on only one of the front and rear sides of the common housing 24 (both sides in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the common conductors 26H and 26L). A plurality of terminal housing fitting portions 38 into which 30 can be individually fitted are formed, and each terminal housing fitting portion 38 is formed in the width direction of the common housing 24 (direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the common conductors 26H and 26L). ) Are lined up.

On the other hand, the male hood 6 is provided on the other side.
0M and the female hood portion 60F are formed, the male hood portion 60M is fitted to the female hood portion 60F of the mating common housing 24, and the female hood portion 60F is the male hood of the mating common housing 24. It is adapted to be fitted to the portion 60M. That is, the male hood portion 60M and the female hood portion 60F form a common housing fitting portion that fits into the mating common housing 24.

Further, as a feature of the third embodiment, the terminating resistor connecting portions 27H and 27L are opposite to the terminating resistor connecting portions 27H and 27L from the high voltage side common conductor 26H and the low voltage side common conductor 26L. Similarly, bifurcated common conductor connecting portions 57H and 57L are provided in a protruding manner, and these common conductor connecting portions 57H and 57L project into the female hood portion 60F through the insertion hole 62 provided in the common housing 24. ing.

Further, the end portions of the common conductors 26H and 26L opposite to the common conductor connection portions 57H and 57L are
Plate-shaped common conductor connection plates 58H and 58L projecting in the same direction as the common conductor connection portions 57H and 57L are formed vertically, and these common conductor connection plates 58 are formed.
H and 58L are inserted into the insertion groove 64 formed in the female hood portion 60M to face the female hood portion 60M. Then, when the male hood portion 60M of the one common housing 24 and the female hood portion 60F of the other common housing 24 are fitted, the common conductor connecting plates 58H and 58L in the female hood portion 60F are connected to the male hood portion 60F. By being press-fitted into the forked portions of the common conductor connecting portions 57H and 57L in the mold hood portion 60M, the high-voltage side common conductors 57H and the low-voltage side common conductors 57L are electrically connected to each other. .

Next, the operation of the line concentrator 20 will be described.

First, the concentrator 20 is connected to the end hub 2
When used as 1, the terminating resistor housing 48 of the terminating resistor unit 32 is fitted into the terminating resistor housing fitting portion 39 in a state where the high voltage side common conductor 26H and the low voltage side common conductor 26L are held in the one common housing 24. At the same time, the grounding terminal 54 provided at the end of the grounding electric wire 34 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 56. As a result, the termination resistance terminal 40 of the termination resistance unit 32 shown in FIG.
H and 40L are connected to the terminating resistor connecting portions 27H and 27L of the common conductors 26H and 26L, respectively.
The terminating resistor chips 12H and 12L are interposed between H and 26L, and the connecting plate 46b of the grounding terminal 46 of the terminating resistor unit 32 is press-fitted into the forked portion of the grounding terminal 54, thereby terminating. The relay conductor 42 between the resistors is connected to the ground side via the capacitor chip 44.

In the one common housing 24, the high voltage side connection terminal 28H and the low voltage side connection terminal 2 are connected.
Similar to the first embodiment, 8L is connected to the high-voltage side main line 10H and the low-voltage side main line 10L shown in FIG.

Furthermore, by fitting the male hood portion 60M of the one common housing 24 into the female hood portion 60F of the other common housing 24, both common housings 2
Combine 4 As a result, the high-voltage side common conductors 26H and the low-voltage side common conductors 26L of the both common housings 24 are mutually connected and brought into an electrically integrated state.

In this state, the high voltage side connection terminal 28H and the low voltage side connection terminal 28L provided at the end of the branch line 14 connected to the desired terminal device (for example, an electronic control unit).
The terminal housing 30 by holding the
By fitting 0 into an appropriate terminal housing fitting portion 38 of one of the common housings 24, the high-voltage side connection terminal 28H and the low-voltage side connection terminal 28L are respectively connected to the high-voltage side common conductor 26H and the low-voltage side in the common housing 24. Connect to the common conductor 26L. Thus, the terminal housing 30
The simple operation of fitting the
The plurality of branch lines 14 are connected to the common conductor 2 in both common housings 24.
It is possible to collectively connect the high voltage side trunk line 10 and the low voltage side trunk line 10L through 6H and 26L, respectively.

In particular, in the third embodiment, by fitting the common housings 24 to each other as described above, compared with the case where only one of the common housings 24 is used alone, the integrated common conductors are combined. It is possible to double the number of connection terminals 28H and 28L that can be connected to 26H and 26L. On the contrary, when the required number of the connection terminals 28H and 28L is small, the common housings 24 are separated from each other and one of the common housings 24 is separated.
By using only the concentrator 20, it is possible to reduce the size of the entire concentrator 20.

Further, as shown in the figure, both common housings 2
When 4 have the same shape, the mass productivity can be improved and the cost can be reduced.

Further, in the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the termination resistor chips 12H and 12L arranged between the two common conductors 26H and 26L are included in the termination resistor unit 32. Since the unit 32 is attachable to and detachable from the common housing 24, maintenance such as replacement of the terminating resistor can be easily performed.

On the other hand, if the terminating resistor unit 32 is not attached to the common housing 24, both common conductors 2
It is also possible to electrically separate 6H and 26L and use this concentrator 20 as the relay hub 22 shown in FIG.

Also in the third embodiment,
The high-voltage side common conductor 26H and the low-voltage side common conductor 26L are held in the common housing 24 in a posture extending in a specific direction in a state of being substantially parallel to each other, and the high-voltage side connection terminals 28H and the low-voltage side connection terminals are oriented in the specific direction. Since the connection terminals are connected to the high-voltage side common conductor 26H and the low-voltage side common conductor 26L in a state in which 28L are arranged side by side, the high-voltage side connection terminals 28 in each branch line 14 are connected.
While the distance between H and the low-voltage side connection terminal 28L is set to be small, the size of the terminal housing 30 that holds them is reduced, and the high-voltage side connection terminal 28H and the low-voltage connection terminal 28H The side connection terminal 28L can be connected to each of the common conductors 26H and 26L.

4) Fourth Embodiment (FIG. 14) In this embodiment, the termination resistance connecting portions 27H and 27L and the common conductor connecting portions 57H and 57L of the common conductors 26H and 26L in the third embodiment are used. Is formed into a horizontal plate shape instead of a bifurcated shape, and instead, the end portions 40a of the termination resistance terminals 40H and 40L and the end portions 58a of the common conductor connection plates 58H and 58L in the termination resistance unit 32 are formed into a bifurcated shape. To the connecting portions 27H and 27L
Is press-fitted, and the connecting portions 57H and 57L are attached to the tip portion 58a.
Are each press-fitted.

As described above, in the present invention, the specific structure of each electrical connecting portion is not limited.

5) Fifth Embodiment (FIGS. 15 to 18) The concentrator 20 shown here is also the CAN shown in FIG.
It can be used for both the terminal hub 21 and the relay hub 22 of the communication system.

This concentrator 20 has a common housing 24.
A high-voltage side common conductor 26H and a low-voltage side common conductor 26L held in the common housing 24, and a plurality of high-voltage side connection terminals 68H and low-voltage side connection terminals 68L provided for each branch line 14 shown in FIG. , A plurality of terminal housings provided for each branch line 14 for holding the high-voltage side connection terminals 28H and the low-voltage side connection terminals 28L, and a terminating resistor unit 32 including a terminating resistor. An intermediate housing 70 that holds the 30 together is provided. And, each of the high voltage side connection terminals 68H is connected to the high voltage side common conductor 26H,
Each low-voltage side connection terminal 68 is connected to the low-voltage side common conductor 26L.
L is connected. Also, each connection terminal 6
8H and 68L are composed of conductors, while each housing 2
Reference numerals 4 and 30 are made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin.

The high-voltage-side common conductor 26H and the low-voltage-side common conductor 26L are made of metal plates, and the main body portion thereof has a substantially rectangular shape extending in the horizontal direction, and the main body portion has a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction thereof. Rod-shaped connecting tabs 76 projecting in the same direction are formed on both sides of the tab, respectively.
Further, it is held in the middle part of the common housing 24 in the front-rear direction in two steps vertically (more specifically, in a posture in which they extend in the horizontal direction in a state substantially parallel to each other).

The high voltage side connection terminal 68H is provided at the end of the high voltage side branch line 18H in each branch line 14, and the low voltage side connection terminal 68L is provided at the end of the low voltage side branch line 18L in each branch line 14. Each of the connection terminals 68H, 68L has a female electric contact portion into which the connection tab 76 of the common conductor 26H, 26L can be inserted, and is electrically connected to the common conductor 26H, 26L in the inserted state. It has become so.

Each terminal housing 30 has a pair of upper and lower terminal accommodating chambers 30c. These terminal accommodating chambers 30c
Has a shape for holding the high-voltage side connection terminal 68H and the low-voltage side connection terminal 68L of each branch line 14, respectively.

The intermediate housing 70 has a plurality of housing accommodating chambers 72 into which the terminal housings 30 can be fitted, and these housing accommodating chambers 72 are arranged in a direction parallel to the width direction of the common housing 24. On the other hand, on both front and rear sides of the common housing 24, an intermediate housing fitting portion 74 having a shape into which the intermediate housings 70 can be fitted.
Is formed, and the intermediate housing 70 is retained in each of the terminal housings 30 by being inserted into the intermediate housing fitting portion 74 while retaining the plurality of terminal housings 30 in the intermediate housing 70. The high voltage side connection terminal 68H and the low voltage side connection terminal 68L are connected to the connection tabs 76 of the high voltage side common conductor 26H and the low voltage side common conductor 26L in the common housing 24, respectively.

A lock piece 73 is formed on the upper surface of the intermediate housing 70 so that the lock piece 73 can bend in the vertical direction. The intermediate housing 70 is fitted into the intermediate housing fitting portion 74, and the lock piece 73 is intermediate. Housing 24
The fitting state is locked by being locked by the locking portion 75 formed on the side.

The specific structure of the terminating resistor unit 32 is exactly the same as that shown in FIG. On the other hand, a terminating resistor housing fitting portion 78 is formed on one side in the width direction of the intermediate housing 24, and the terminating resistor housing fitting portion 78 has an opening 78a on one side in the front-rear direction. The terminating resistor housing 48 of the terminating resistor unit 32 is inserted from the terminating resistor housing fitting portion 78a.

On the other hand, terminating resistor connecting portions 27H and 27L projecting toward the terminating resistor unit 32 are formed at one end of the common conductors 26H and 26L in the longitudinal direction, and these terminating resistor connecting portions 27H and 27L are formed. , One end of a relay terminal 80 having female type electrical contact portions at both ends is connected, and the other end of the relay terminal 80 is a terminating resistor terminal of the terminating resistor unit 32 fitted in the terminating resistor housing fitting portion 78. 40H and 40L are respectively inserted and electrically connected.

In the common housing 24,
A terminal accommodating chamber 78c as shown in FIG. 17 is provided at a position facing the terminating resistor housing fitting portion 78, and the terminal accommodating chamber 78c has the terminal end of the grounding electric wire 34 shown in the first embodiment. Grounding terminal (female terminal) 50 is fitted and held from the side opposite to the terminating resistor housing 48, and the grounding terminal is fitted to the terminating resistor housing fitting portion 78 as the terminating resistor housing 48 is fitted. Four
The connecting tab 46a of No. 6 is fitted into the female type electric contact portion of the grounding terminal 50 so that the grounding terminal 46 is connected to the grounding electric wire 34.
It is designed to be grounded through.

In FIG. 17, reference numeral 78b is an insertion groove formed for inserting the terminating resistor connecting portions 27H and 27L of the common conductors 26H and 27L into the common housing 24 from the front-rear direction.

Next, the operation of this concentrator 20 will be described.

First, the concentrator 20 is connected to the terminal hub 2.
When used as 1, the terminating resistor housing 48 is fitted into the terminating resistor equipped housing fitting portion 78, and the grounding terminal 50 provided at the end of the grounding electric wire 34 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 78b. Both common conductors 26
The terminating resistor chips 12H and 12L of the terminating resistor unit 32 are interposed between H and 26L, and the relay conductor 42 between the terminating resistors is connected to the ground side via the capacitor chip 44. Further, the high-voltage side connection terminal 68H and the low-voltage side connection terminal 68L are connected to the high-voltage side main line 10H and the low-voltage side main line 10L shown in FIG. 22, respectively, in the same manner as in the first embodiment. .

Further, the high-voltage side connection terminal 68H and the low-voltage side connection terminal 68L provided at the end of the branch line 14 connected to the desired terminal device (eg, electronic control unit) are held in the terminal housing 30, and these The terminal housing 30 is held in the terminal accommodating chamber 72 of the intermediate housing 70. The intermediate housing 7 in this holding state
When 0 is fitted into the intermediate housing fitting portion 74 of the common housing 24, the high-voltage side connection terminal 68H and the low-voltage side connection terminal 68L held by the terminal housing 30 in the intermediate housing 70 are respectively provided in the common housing 24. The high-voltage side common conductor 26H and the low-voltage side common conductor 26L can be collectively connected. In this way, a plurality of branch lines 14 can be centrally connected to the high-voltage side main line 10 and the low-voltage side main line 10L through both common conductors 26H and 26L by a simple operation of fitting the intermediate housing 70 to the common housing 24. it can.

Further, in this embodiment, since the common housing 24 has the intermediate housing fitting portions 78 at positions on both sides of the common conductors 26H and 26L in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction thereof, Common conductors 26H, 26
It is possible to connect the connection terminals 68H and 68L to the L from both sides thereof, and the common conductors 26H and 26L are connected.
Also, the number of connection terminals 68H, 68L connectable to the common conductors 26H, 26L can be increased without increasing the size of the common housing 24 holding the same.

As shown in the fifth embodiment, in the present invention, the terminal housing 30 does not necessarily have to be directly fitted to the common housing 24, but indirectly via the intermediate housing 70. Common housing 2
4 may be fitted.

6) Sixth Embodiment (FIG. 19) In the concentrator 20 according to this embodiment, the common conductors 26H and 26L and the termination resistance terminal 40H in the termination resistance unit 32 in the fifth embodiment are used. 40L is integrally connected to each other via the connecting portion 82. That is, the terminating resistor unit 32 and each common conductor 26H, 26L
And are integrated. In this case, the concentrator 20 is dedicated to the terminal hub 21 shown in FIG.

7) Seventh Embodiment (FIG. 20) In this embodiment, instead of omitting the intermediate housing 70 according to the fifth embodiment, the terminal housings 30 can be combined together. In such a combined state, the terminal housing fitting portions 38 of the common housing 24 are fitted together.

Specifically, a hugging portion 31 for hugging a protrusion (not shown) formed on the other side surface is formed on one side surface of each terminal housing 30, and by this hugging, adjacent terminal housings are provided. The members 30 are engaged with each other and are fitted into the respective terminal housing fitting portions 38 of the common housing 24 in the engaged condition.

Also in such a structure, as in the fifth embodiment, it is possible to reduce the number of times the terminal housing 30 is fitted into the common housing 24 and improve the operability.

In the above embodiment, each common conductor 2
6H and 26L are shown as extending horizontally, but the orientation is not particularly limited. Further, the high-voltage side common conductor 26H and the low-voltage side common conductor 26L are formed into an inner and outer double annular shape, and the terminal housings 30 are arranged along the circumferential direction thereof so that each high-voltage side connection terminal and each low-voltage side connection terminal are common. Conductors 26H, 26L
It is also possible to be connected to.

[0088]

As described above, according to the present invention, the high-voltage side common conductor and the low-voltage side common conductor, which are respectively connected to the high-voltage side main line and the low-voltage side main line of the CAN communication system, are held in the common housing, while each branch line is connected. The high-voltage side connection terminal and the low-voltage side connection terminal are held in a terminal housing, and the high-voltage side connection terminal held in the terminal housing is connected to the high-voltage side common conductor by fitting the terminal housing in the common housing. Since the both common conductors are arranged so that the low-voltage side connecting terminal is connected to the low-voltage side connecting terminal, the simple operation of fitting the terminal housing to the common housing, There is an effect that a branch line connected to a desired terminal device can be freely connected to and disconnected from the high voltage side trunk line and the low voltage side trunk line.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a line concentrator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing details of the line concentrator.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the concentrator as viewed from the side opposite to FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the line concentrator.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional plan view of the line concentrator.

FIG. 6 is a sectional side view of a portion of the concentrator in which a terminating resistor unit is mounted on a common housing.

FIG. 7 is a sectional side view of the termination resistance unit.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a line concentrator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a perspective view showing a mounting portion of a terminal resistance unit of the line concentrator shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing one common housing of the line concentrator according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of both common housings of the line concentrator according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

12 is a cross-sectional plan view showing the structure inside the common housing shown in FIG.

13 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a state in which both common housings shown in FIG. 11 are combined.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a main part of a line concentrator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a line concentrator according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

16 is a perspective view showing a common housing of the line concentrator shown in FIG.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the common housing of the line concentrator shown in FIG. 15 as seen from the side opposite to FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is an assembled perspective view of the line concentrator shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of a line concentrator according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of a line concentrator according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a circuit diagram showing a general configuration of a CAN communication system.

22 is a circuit diagram showing an example in which the CAN communication system shown in FIG. 21 is configured using a hub.

[Explanation of symbols]

10H High voltage side main line 10L low-voltage side main line 12 Termination resistance 12H, 12L Termination resistor chip 14 branch lines 16 terminal devices 18H High voltage side branch line 18L low voltage branch line 20 Concentrator 21 end hub 22 Relay hub 24 common housing 26H High voltage side common conductor 26L low voltage common conductor 28H, 68H High-voltage side connection terminal 28L, 68L Low-voltage side connection terminal 30 terminal housing 31 Hugging part (engaging part) 32 Termination resistance unit 38 Terminal housing fitting part 39,78 Termination resistor housing fitting part 40H, 40L Termination resistance terminal 48 terminating resistor housing 60F Female type hood part (common housing fitting part) 60M male hood part (common housing fitting part) 70 Intermediate housing

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Tetsuko Tanaka             1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi             Auto Network Technical Laboratory Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroki Hirai             1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi             Auto Network Technical Laboratory Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shigeki Sakai             1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi             Auto Network Technical Laboratory Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshito Sakai             1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi             Auto Network Technical Laboratory Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Ryoji Tsuji             1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi             Auto Network Technical Laboratory Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5K032 BA06 BA08 DB25

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of branch lines including a high-voltage side branch line and a low-voltage side branch line connected to a terminal device, a high-voltage side trunk line connected to each of the high-voltage side branch lines, and a low-voltage side trunk line connected to each of the low-voltage side branch lines. A CAN concentrator used for a CAN communication system comprising: a high voltage side branch line and a low voltage side branch line, respectively, for connecting the high voltage side branch line and the low voltage side branch line to the high voltage side trunk line and the low voltage side trunk line, respectively. A high-voltage side common conductor and a low-voltage side common conductor respectively connected to the side trunk lines, a common housing holding both common conductors, and a connection portion provided at the end of each high-voltage side branch line and connectable to the high-voltage side common conductor A high voltage side connecting terminal, a low voltage side connecting terminal provided at an end of the low voltage side branch line and having a connecting portion connectable to the low voltage side common conductor, and a high voltage side connecting terminal and a low voltage side belonging to a common branch line. Connection end A terminal housing that can be fitted to the common housing while holding the child, and the high-voltage side connection terminal held in the terminal housing by fitting the terminal housing to the common housing is the high-voltage side. A CAN concentrator in which both common conductors are arranged so that they are connected to a common conductor and the low-voltage side connection terminal is connected to the low-voltage side connection terminal. 2. The CAN concentrator according to claim 1, wherein the two common conductors are held in the common housing in a posture extending in a specific direction while being substantially parallel to each other, and the high-voltage side connections are made in the specific direction. A concentrator for CAN, wherein the connection terminals are connected to the high-voltage side common conductor and the low-voltage side common conductor, respectively, in a state where the terminals and the low-voltage side connection terminals are lined up. 3. The CAN concentrator according to claim 2, wherein the common housing is positioned on both sides in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the high-voltage side common conductor and the low-voltage side common conductor held by the common housing. A CAN concentrator having a terminal housing fitting portion that fits with the terminal housing. 4. The CAN concentrator according to claim 2, further comprising a common housing pair that can be fitted to each other as the common housing, and each common housing has a high-voltage side common conductor and a low-voltage side common conductor held by the common housing. Has a terminal housing fitting portion capable of fitting the terminal housing on one side in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the terminal housing,
The other side has a common housing mating part that mates with the mating common housing, and the high-voltage common conductors and low-voltage common that are held in each common housing with both common housings fitted to each other A CAN concentrator, wherein the conductors are configured to be electrically connected to each other. 5. The CAN concentrator according to claim 4, wherein the both common housings have the same shape. 6. The CAN according to claim 1.
A CAN concentrator, comprising: a plurality of terminal housings for holding the high-voltage side connection terminal and the low-voltage side connection terminal for each branch line, and these terminal housings are fitted to the common housing, respectively. Concentrator. 7. The CAN concentrator according to claim 6, wherein the terminal housings have engaging portions that can engage with each other, and can be collectively fitted to the common housing in the engaged state. A concentrator for CAN, characterized in that 8. The CAN concentrator according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a plurality of terminal housings are collectively held,
Moreover, the CAN concentrator is provided with an intermediate housing that can be fitted to the common housing in the holding state. 9. The CAN according to claim 1.
2. A CAN concentrator, comprising: a terminating resistor that connects the high-voltage side common conductor and the low-voltage side common conductor while being held by the common housing. 10. The CAN concentrator according to claim 9, further comprising: a terminating resistor housing that holds the terminating resistor and resistance connecting terminals connected to both sides of the terminating resistor, and that is detachably fitted to the common housing. A CAN concentrator, comprising: the terminal resistance housings connected to the high-voltage side common conductor and the low-voltage side common conductor, respectively, in a state where the terminal resistance housing is fitted in the common housing.