JP2004119048A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small and low-profile connector for stably holding a contact on an insulator. <P>SOLUTION: The insulator 14 which holds the contact 15 and is arranged on a substrate 11 includes a holding wall 21. The contact is provided with a contact part 23 formed in an approximately U-shape and having at least one contact point part 23a on an opening side of the U-shape, and a holding part 24 formed in an approximately U-shape and sandwiching the holding wall. The contact part and holding part are joined by an intermediate joining part 25. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a thin connector suitable for mounting on a substrate such as a printed circuit board.
[0002]
[Prior art]
BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, there is a connector including a plate-shaped insulator arranged on a substrate and a plurality of conductive contacts held by the insulator (see Patent Document 1). In the connector, each contact has a contact portion for contacting a mating connector and a holding portion held by the insulator. The holding portion and the contact portion are arranged on the substrate so as to be adjacent to each other. The holding portion is fixed to the insulator by so-called press-fitting. That is, the holding of the contact to the insulator is performed by press-fitting by piercing a press-fitting portion provided in the holding portion of the contact into a press-fitting hole of the insulator.
[0003]
According to the connector, since the contact portions and the holding portions of the contacts are juxtaposed on the substrate, the dimensions of the connector in a direction perpendicular to the substrate, that is, the thickness of the connector can be reduced, and therefore, the height of the connector can be reduced. Is advantageous.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-10-22015
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the insulator is held by the insulator by press-fitting by inserting the press-fit portion of the contact into the press-fit hole of the insulator, the insulator holding portion needs to have a certain size in view of strength and formability. For this reason, the width of the connector must be increased.
[0006]
Further, in a low-profile connector, since the press-fitting depth is shallow, the holding of the contact to the insulator by press-fitting tends to be unstable.
[0007]
Further, since the soldered portion of the contact extends long from the insulator in order to enhance the ease of soldering confirmation, this also increases the width of the connector.
[0008]
In addition, as the pitch of the contacts becomes smaller, the strength of the soldered portions of the contacts becomes weaker, and there is a problem that the contacts are easily deformed because they are exposed from the insulator.
[0009]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a small and low-profile connector in which a contact is stably held by an insulator.
[0010]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a low-profile connector which has solved the problem of the soldering portion of the contact.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, in a connector including an insulator disposed on a substrate and a contact held by the insulator, the insulator has a holding wall, and the contact is formed in a substantially U-shape and is formed in a U-shape. A contact portion having at least one contact portion on the open side of the holding member, a holding portion formed in a substantially U-shape and holding the holding wall, and an intermediate connecting portion connecting the contact portion to the holding portion. Thus, a connector characterized by the above is obtained.
[0012]
The holding section may have a press-fitting section press-fitted into the holding wall.
[0013]
The insulator may have a contact portion accommodating portion adjacent to the holding wall, and the contact portion may be accommodated in the contact portion accommodating portion.
[0014]
The U-shaped contact portion and the U-shaped holding portion may be opened in substantially the same direction.
[0015]
The contact portion, the holding portion, and the intermediate connecting portion may be continuously formed by bending a sheet metal.
[0016]
The holding unit may include a board connection unit connected to the board.
[0017]
The insulator has a contact portion that contacts a specific portion located near a contact portion of the contact, and in a state of not being connected to a connection partner, the contact portion is in contact with the specific portion, At the time of connection with a connection partner, the specific portion may be displaced in the fitting direction and may be separated from the contact portion.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0019]
1 and 2, a connector 10 is a receptacle mounted on a first substrate 11 such as a printed circuit board, and is connected to a plug 13 which is a connection partner mounted on a second substrate 12. The connector 10 has an insulator 14 disposed on the first substrate 11 and a plurality of conductive contacts 15 held by the insulator 14. The contacts 15 are divided into two rows on the left and right and arranged symmetrically on the left and right. The plug 13 also has an insulator 16 and a plurality of conductive contacts 17 that are held in the insulator 16 in a one-to-one correspondence with the contacts 15.
[0020]
The insulator 14 of the connector 10 has a lower surface 14a facing the substrate 11 and an upper surface 14b parallel to the lower surface 14a. At the left and right ends of the insulator 14, concave portions defining the holding wall 21 corresponding to the contacts 15 are formed. Each holding wall 21 is recessed from the lower surface 14 a of the insulator 14 and is therefore separated from the first substrate 11. Further, contact portion accommodating portions 22 are formed at positions adjacent to the inner side surfaces of the holding walls 21, respectively, corresponding to the contacts 15. Each contact portion accommodating portion 22 is open on the lower surface 14a and the upper surface 14b of the insulator 14, respectively.
[0021]
On the other hand, each contact 15 of the connector 10 includes a contact portion 23 formed in a substantially U-shape, a holding portion 24 formed in a substantially U-shape, and an intermediate connecting portion that connects the contact portion 23 to the holding portion 24. 25 are integrally provided. The U-shape of the contact portion 23 and the U-shape of the holding portion 24 are opened in substantially the same direction. The contact portion 23 has at least one, specifically, two contact portions 23a and 23b on the open side of the U-shape, and is accommodated in the contact portion accommodating portion 22. The holding portion 24 is fitted to the holding wall 21 from the lower surface 14 a side, and sandwiches the holding wall 21. In addition, the contact part 23, the holding part 24, and the intermediate coupling part 25 are continuously formed by bending sheet metal.
[0022]
Here, the contact 15 will be further described. The contact portion 23 has a spring portion 23c between the contact portions 23a and 23b. The holding portion 24 has an insulator contact portion 24a abutting on the inner surface of the holding wall 21, a folded portion 24b abutting on the outer surface of the holding wall 21, and a board connecting portion 24c connecting these members therebetween. are doing. Preferably, at least the insulator contact portion 24a of the contact 15 is plated with nickel.
[0023]
With the connector 10 mounted on the first board 11, the board connecting portion 24c is soldered to a circuit pattern (not shown) formed on the first board 11 using a flux. The solder fillet formed by this soldering is indicated by reference numeral 26 only for the contact 15 on the left side of FIG. The solder fillet 26 is also formed slightly inside the area indicated by the reference numeral 26b from the space between the board connecting part 21c and the first board 11 to the folded part 24b. At this time, since the flux and the solder do not easily pass between the insulator contact portion 24a and the holding wall 21, the solder rising can be reduced. Further, since there is no possibility that the soldered portion is deformed, the soldering can be performed reliably. Furthermore, since the solder fillet 26 is formed large in the folded portion 24b, the soldering strength is high and the soldering can be easily confirmed. Of course, the contact 15 on the right side of FIG. 2 is also connected by soldering.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 3, when the plug 13 is fitted to the connector 10, the contacts 17 of the plug 13 are pressed against the contact portions 23a and 23b of the contacts 15 of the connector 10, and a predetermined electrical connection is obtained. The insulator contact portion 24a is in close contact with the holding wall 21 when the connector 10 is not fitted, but plays the role of a spring when fitted, and presses the contact portions 23a and 23b to the contacts 17 of the plug 13. Since the insulator contact portion 24a functions as a spring, stable electrical connection can be obtained.
[0025]
With reference to FIG. 4, a method for manufacturing the above-described contact 15 will be described.
[0026]
FIG. 4 shows an intermediate product in the process of manufacturing the contact 15. This intermediate product is obtained by punching and press bending a strip-shaped sheet metal, and a number of contacts 15 are joined to a carrier 27 via a carrier connecting portion 28 at a constant pitch. Each contact 15 is provided with a press-fit portion 29 protruding in the pitch direction near the insulator contact portion 24a of the holding portion 24. The press-fit portion 29 is a portion that is press-fitted into the insulator 14. The carrier connecting portion 28 is provided in the vicinity of the insulator contact portion 24a and the substrate connecting portion 24c, that is, in the vicinity of the press-fit portion 29 and in line with the insulator contact portion 24a. Can be easily performed.
[0027]
According to the connector 10 described above, the contact 15 is assembled to the insulator 14 such that the holding wall 21 is sandwiched by the holding portion 24 formed in a U-shape. It is kept stable.
[0028]
With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.
[0029]
In the connector 30 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the contact 15 is press-fitted into the insulator 14, and when not fitted, the upper portion of the contact portions 23a and 23b, that is, the specific portion 31 is placed on the upper surface of the central portion of the insulator 14. It is pressed against the first substrate 11 by the contact portion 32 on the back surface. Therefore, the height of the connector 30 can be further reduced. Further, the upper surface 14b of the insulator 14 can be used as a suction surface as before. Also, buckling of the contact 15 is prevented.
[0030]
At the time of fitting, the contact 17 of the plug 13 is sandwiched between the contact portions 23a and 23b of the contact 15 of the connector 30, and the whole (particularly, the spring portion 23c) acts as a spring from the board connection portion 24c to the contact portion 23a. High contact force. Due to the deformation of the contact 15 as a spring at this time, a gap is formed between the specific portion 31 of the contact 15 and the contact portion 32 of the insulator 14, so that the contact force is not affected.
[0031]
Note that any of the above-mentioned connectors is suitable for being used in an electronic device and being mounted on a rigid board or an FPC.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a small and low-profile connector in which a contact is stably held by an insulator. Further, the problem in the soldering part of the contact is also eliminated.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention together with a plug to be connected when not fitted.
FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of the connector and the plug shown in FIG. 1 when they are not fitted.
FIG. 3 is a front cross-sectional view when the connector and the plug shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are fitted together.
FIGS. 4A and 4B show an intermediate part for explaining a method of manufacturing a contact used in the connector shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, wherein FIG. 4A is a front view and FIG. 4B is a side view.
FIG. 5 is a front sectional view showing a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention together with a plug to be connected when not fitted.
FIG. 6 is a front sectional view when the connector and the plug shown in FIG. 5 are fitted.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Connector 11 1st board | substrate 12 2nd board | substrate 13 Plug 14 Insulator 14a Lower surface 14b Upper surface 15 Contact 16 Insulator 17 Contact 21 Holding wall 22 Contact part accommodating part 23 Contact part 23a, 23b Contact part 23c Spring part 24 Holding part 24a Insulator Adhesive part 24b Folded part 24c Board connecting part 25 Intermediate connecting part 26 Solder fillet 27 Carrier 28 Carrier connecting part 29 Press-fit part 30 Connector 31 Specific part 32 Contact part

Claims (7)

In a connector including an insulator arranged on a substrate and a contact held by the insulator, the insulator has a holding wall, and the contact is formed in a substantially U shape and at least one contact is formed on an open side of the U shape. A connector comprising: a contact portion having two contact portions; a holding portion formed in a substantially U-shape and holding the holding wall; and an intermediate connecting portion connecting the contact portion to the holding portion. . The connector according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion has a press-fit portion that is press-fitted into the holding wall. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the insulator has a contact portion accommodating portion adjacent to the holding wall, and the contact portion is accommodated in the contact portion accommodating portion. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the U-shaped contact portion and the U-shaped holding portion are opened in substantially the same direction. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the contact portion, the holding portion, and the intermediate coupling portion are continuously formed by bending a sheet metal. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the holding unit includes a board connection unit connected to the board. The insulator has a contact portion that contacts a specific portion located near a contact portion of the contact, and in a state where the insulator is not connected to a connection partner, the contact portion contacts the specific portion, The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, at the time of connection with a connection partner, the specific portion is displaced in the fitting direction and separated from the contact portion.

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