JP2005196995A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thin connector capable of securing electrical connection between a flexible base plate and a contact member, responding to the needs of the reduction of the size of electronic devices. <P>SOLUTION: The connector comprises a housing 10 housing a plurality of contact members 11 and an opening 12, an actuator 30, and a metal cover 20 covering a part of the housing 10, having a protrusion 28 moving downward in a direction of the contact members. By the above, the electrical connection between the flexible cable 2 and the contact members 11 is secured. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a non-insertion / removal force type connector for a flexible substrate such as FPC or FFC.

  Various types of connectors are used to connect the flexible substrate to the circuit board, and one of them, the non-insertion / removal force type (ZIF type) connector, is very widely used.

  As a conventional connector, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, a contact 101 is accommodated, and a housing 100 having an opening 102 and a rotary shaft 101 b formed integrally with the contact 101 are rotatably supported. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  In such a connector, the flexible substrate 500 is inserted into the opening 102 from the direction of the arrow W in the unlocked state where the actuator 300 is located at the position indicated by the two-dot chain line and the opening 102 is largely opened. By rotating 300 to the lock position, the flexible substrate 500 is pressed against the contact portion 101a of the contact 101 by the pressing portion 301 of the actuator 300, and the flexible substrate 500 and the contact 101 are electrically connected.

In this example, the rotating shaft portion 101b and the contact portion 101a are bifurcated from one contact 101, and the flexible substrate 500 and the pressing portion 301 of the actuator 300 are sandwiched between them. ing.
Utility Model Registration No. 2580074 (paragraphs 0017 to 0021, FIGS. 3 to 5)

  In the connector as described above, since there is a clearance necessary for ZIF and there is no resistance to insertion of the flexible substrate 500, the flexible substrate 500 is inserted with a displacement in the longitudinal direction of the connector, Even if it is intended to be inserted against the back, the actuator 300 is loosened when the actuator 300 is rotated to the locked state, and the flexible substrate 500 and the contact 101 are electrically connected such that the insertion of the flexible substrate 500 becomes shallow. There was a problem that it could be damaged. In particular, in view of the current situation in which the density of connectors (increase in the number of contacts per unit length) has progressed, and the distance between the contacts 101 implanted adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction has been narrowed. The problem is serious.

  In addition, the need for higher performance, lighter, thinner, and smaller electronic devices has never stopped, and the demand for multifunction, density, compactness, lightness, thinness, and shortening has become stronger. There is an urgent need to make connectors smaller, thinner, shorter and multipolar.

  However, it has been difficult to reduce the thickness of conventional connectors as described above to meet market needs. One reason for this is the limitation due to the number of members constituting the connector and the design limit thickness of each member.

  That is, in the conventional connector, the bottom plate portion 103, the contact portion 101a, the flexible substrate 500, the pressing portion 301, the rotating shaft portion 101b, and the upper plate portion 104 play at least six different roles in the thickness direction of the connector. Members are required and have the total thickness of these members.

  Therefore, in order to reduce the thickness of the connector, attempts are made to reduce the height of each of the above members (however, the thickness of the flexible substrate 500 is determined by the standard, and the degree of design freedom in reducing the thickness of the connector is However, since a reduction in height is accompanied by a decrease in rigidity, a minimum thickness that can withstand use must be secured.

  In particular, in the connector of this type, when the actuator 300 rotates, the pressing portion 301 tends to forcibly enter between the flexible substrate 500 and the rotating shaft portion 101b. The rotating shaft portion 101b that receives the force receives a large force.

  However, in the conventional connector, the rotating shaft portion 101b is made of a conductive metal that is not so rigid, such as phosphor bronze, so that it can have a strength that can withstand the stress caused by the rotation of the actuator 300. It was necessary to secure a considerable thickness.

  Similarly, since the stress due to the rotation of the actuator 300 is also transmitted to the housing 100 made of a low-strength insulating material such as synthetic resin, the bottom plate portion 103 of the housing 100 that covers the top and bottom of the rotation shaft portion 101b and the contact portion 101a and the upper The plate portion 104 also had to have a considerable thickness.

  Therefore, the overall thickness of the conventional connector is, for example, nearly 2 mm including the necessary clearance as ZIF in order to use a flexible board with a thickness of 0.3 mm, and it is difficult to meet market needs. It was.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and one of its purposes is to provide a connector capable of reliable electrical connection between a flexible substrate and a contact. Yet another object is to provide a connector that can be made thinner in order to meet the need for lighter, thinner and smaller electronic devices.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention accommodates a plurality of contacts, and has a housing having an opening, an actuator, and a protrusion that covers a part of the housing and hangs down in the direction of the contacts. And a metal cover. Thereby, the connector in which a reliable electrical connection with a flexible substrate and a contactor is possible can be provided.

  In addition, if the protruding portion can come into contact with the flexible board inserted into the opening, a connector capable of more reliable electrical connection between the flexible board and the contact can be provided.

  In addition, the metal cover is thin if it has a fulcrum portion that serves as a fulcrum of a lever for rotation of the actuator when the actuator presses the flexible board inserted into the opening to the contact. Can be provided.

  Further, the housing has a bank portion between the adjacent contacts, and in the unlocked state in which a flexible substrate is not inserted into the opening, the contact or the bank portion and the projection portion If the distance is made slightly smaller than the thickness of the flexible substrate, the electrical connection between the flexible substrate and the contact is more reliably achieved.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector 1 houses a plurality of contacts 11 made of a conductive metal such as phosphor bronze, has an opening 12 for receiving a flexible substrate 2, and has an insulating property such as a synthetic resin. A connector main body including a housing 10 made of a material and a metal cover 20 made of a material such as a steel plate and disposed on the opposite side of the opening 12 of the housing 10, that is, above the housing 10 so as to cover a part of the rear thereof; An actuator 30 is provided in front of the cover 20 and is rotatably supported with respect to the connector body, and is made of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin. The contact 11 is implanted in a contact groove 14 formed in the longitudinal direction across the bank portion 17 of the housing 10.

  The opening 12 is opened and closed by the actuator 30. A flexible substrate 2 having a conductive portion only on the lower surface 2a (see FIGS. 5 and 6) is inserted from the direction of the arrow X into the opening 12 that is largely opened in the unlocked state shown in FIG. The

  By the rotation of the actuator 30 from the unlocked state in FIG. 1 to the locked state in FIG. 2, the flexible substrate 2 is pressed against the contactor 11, and both are electrically connected.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the metal cover 20 includes a ceiling portion 27 that covers the housing 10 except for a portion where the actuator 30 in front of the housing 10 is located, a recess 26 that is moderately recessed from the ceiling portion 27 and extends in the longitudinal direction, and the housing. 10 extending in the longitudinal direction from the pair of left and right tongue-shaped holding portions 21 and the ceiling portion 27 that unite the metal cover 20 and the housing 10. A pair of left and right fixing portions 22 that are bent downward at a substantially right angle with a curvature and fixed to a circuit board (not shown), are formed as through holes that penetrate the metal cover 20 in the vicinity of the front end of the metal cover 20. An engagement receiving portion (engagement through-hole) 24 that receives the engagement protrusion 33 during movement, is positioned in front of the engagement reception portion 24, and the actuator 30 is moved along with its rotation. When the kibble substrate 2 is pressed against the contact 11 (see FIG. 1), the actuator 30 is locked to the connector body in cooperation with the fulcrum portion 25 serving as a fulcrum of the lever and the locked portion 32 of the actuator 30. The lock part 23 etc. which are fixed in position are provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the actuator 30 is provided with a position and shape that engages with the engagement protrusion 33 that engages with the engagement receiving portion 24 and the lock portion 23 of the metal cover 20 when the actuator 30 rotates. The lock portion 32, the pivot portion 31 corresponding to the bearing portion 13 (see FIG. 1) formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the housing 10, the escape portion 35 with a reduced thickness to avoid interference with the fulcrum portion 25, and the like. The opening 12 can be opened and closed by rotating around the pivot 31 and the flexible board 2 can be pressed against the contact 11 (see FIG. 1) by the pressing part 34 to achieve electrical connection.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the contact 11 is implanted by press-fitting its base portion 11e into the contact groove 14, and its tail portion 11d is soldered to a circuit board (not shown). The lower arm portion 11b extends long from the base portion 11e while inclining slightly upward in the direction of the opening 12, and has a contact portion 11a in contact with the conductive portion of the flexible substrate lower surface 2a near the tip. The contact portion 11 a is located above the lower arm portion 11 b and the bank portion 17. The upper arm portion 11c not having the contact portion 11a is shorter than the lower arm portion 11b and only slightly extends forward from the base portion 11e.

  The housing 10 has a bank portion 17 between adjacent contacts 11. The bank portion 17 includes a back bank portion 17a located in the back of the opening 12, and a premise portion 17b that is connected to the front side and located on the contact portion 11a side. The back bank portion 17a is formed slightly above the base portion 17b.

  The ceiling portion 27 of the metal cover 20 not only covers the middle plate portion 16 behind the housing 10, but further extends to the upper part of the contact portion 11 a and covers almost half of the rear portion of the housing 10. The fulcrum part 25 is located above the contact part 11a.

  On the back surface of the metal cover 20, a protrusion 28 is provided so as to hang down in the direction of the lower arm 11b. The metal cover 20 is press-molded with a concave portion 26 having a V-shaped cross section that functions as a reinforcing rib, and a protrusion 28 is formed on the back surface of the concave portion 26. That is, if the recess 26 is pressed so that the projection 28 is formed on the back surface of the metal cover 20, the projection 28 is formed simultaneously with the recess 26. The protruding portion 28 includes a protruding portion 28a protruding in a protruding shape in the direction of the lower arm portion 11b or the bank portion 17, a front portion 28b extending forward while being inclined upward from the protruding portion 28a, and connected to the ceiling portion 27, and conversely, the protruding portion 28a. And a rear portion 28c extending rearward while continuing upward from the ceiling portion 27. The convex portion 28a is located slightly below the engaging protrusion 33 and the pressing portion 34 of the actuator 30 in the unlocked state.

  The actuator 30 is positioned in front of the metal cover 20 and is rotatably supported by the bearing portion 13 of the housing 10 by the pivot portion 31 as shown in FIG.

  In the unlocked state shown in FIG. 5, the contact portion 11a is in a free state and is at the highest position, and the actuator 30 has a portion with the smallest thickness (engagement protrusion 33) facing the contact portion 11a. Therefore, a gap larger than the thickness of the flexible substrate 2 is secured here. Accordingly, the flexible substrate 2 inserted from the direction of the arrow X through the opening 12 can pass through the gap with zero insertion resistance.

  In this state, the distance between the lower arm portion 11b or the bank portion 17 and the projection portion 28 (particularly the back bank portion 17a and the convex portion 28a) is slightly smaller than the thickness of the flexible substrate 2 (for example, 0.02 to About 0.08 mm).

  Accordingly, when the inserted flexible substrate 2 is advanced to the back of the opening 12, the tip thereof contacts the convex portion 28a or the front portion 28b of the protrusion 28. Further, when the flexible board 2 is pushed inward, the flexible board 2 is sewed through the gap between the lower arm portion 11b or the bank portion 17 and the projecting portion 28 while the traveling direction is slightly changed downward. The flexible substrate 2 is elastically deformed to slightly reduce its thickness, or the protrusion 28 is slightly bent upward and enters the gap. As a result, the flexible substrate 2 is inserted while being rubbed in contact with the lower arm portion 11b or the bank portion 17 and the projecting portion 28. At this time, an operator who inserts the flexible substrate 2 feels the insertion resistance of the flexible substrate 2. can do.

  Then, when the flexible substrate 2 is further pushed forward from there, the tip of the flexible substrate 2 comes into contact with the back wall portion 18 and the further progress is stopped. At this time, the operator can feel perfect insertion by contacting the back wall 18 of the flexible substrate 2.

  Further, since the flexible substrate 2 is sandwiched between the lower arm portion 11b or the bank portion 17 and the protrusion 28, the flexible substrate 2 is prevented from being displaced in the longitudinal direction of the connector 1 and also has an effect of preventing its disconnection. Can do.

  When the actuator 30 is to be rotated from the unlocked state to the locked state shown in FIG. 6 following the insertion of the flexible substrate 2, the pivot portion 31 is rotated along the bearing portion 13 (see FIG. 1). Is displaced downward by the pressing portion 34 and pressed against the contact portion 11a.

  In synchronization with this, the engaging protrusion 33 of the actuator 30 enters the engagement receiving portion 24 of the metal cover 20 to complete the engagement between them, and the actuator 30 is prevented from being detached from the connector 1.

  The lock portion 23 of the metal cover 20 and the locked portion 32 of the actuator 30 have a click feeling when engaged, and an operator can experience the completion of connection of the flexible substrate 2 to the connector 1.

  In the connector 1 of the present embodiment, since the protrusion 28 that can contact the flexible substrate 2 is suspended on the back surface of the metal cover 20 that covers a part of the housing 10, the lower arm 11 b or the bank 17 Appropriate resistance can be given to the insertion and removal of the flexible board 2 between them, and it can be clamped, and the insertion is ensured to prevent displacement, the electrical connection between the flexible board 2 and the contact 11 is ensured, and the flexible board 2 is also provided with a function of preventing disconnection from the connector 1.

  Further, since the metal cover 20 also has the fulcrum portion 25, the rotary shaft portion 101b of the conventional connector shown in FIG. 7 can be omitted. As shown in FIG. 6, the thickness of the connector 1 in the locked state is eliminated. Since the number of members in the vertical direction can be reduced to a total of five of the bottom plate portion 15, the contact portion 11 a, the flexible substrate 2, the pressing portion 34, and the fulcrum portion 25, the thickness can be reduced accordingly.

  The fulcrum portion 25 functions as a fulcrum of the insulator for the pressing portion 34 to press the flexible substrate 2 against the contact portion 11a when the actuator 30 is rotated, but is formed of a steel plate or the like having extremely higher rigidity than phosphor bronze or the like. Because it is tough, it can sufficiently withstand the stress generated there, and its thickness can be reduced compared to the conventional connector rotating shaft 101b (made of phosphor bronze), which has the same function, and is thinner Is possible.

  Further, by forming the engagement receiving portion 24 as an engagement through hole penetrating the metal cover 20, the engagement of the engagement protrusion 33 and the engagement receiving portion 24 is as thick as one sheet of the metal cover 20. Thus, a thinner connector can be provided.

  Further, by providing the metal cover 20 with the concave portion 26 functioning as a reinforcing rib and forming the protrusion 28 on the surface of the concave portion 26 facing the contact 11, the rigidity of the metal cover 20 can be increased. It can reduce the thickness of itself.

  Further, the metal cover 20 has a holding portion 21 and is arranged so as to hold the housing 10, and is fixed to a circuit board (not shown) by the fixing portion 22. Since the stress applied to the housing 10 is reduced, the thickness of each member of the housing 10 can be reduced and the connector can be made thinner.

  Thus, according to the present invention, a thin connector of 1.5 mm or less can be obtained.

  In the present embodiment, the protruding portion 28 is formed in the shape of one mountain range extending in the longitudinal direction behind the fulcrum portion 25 and the engagement receiving portion 24. The number, position, shape, molding method, and the like are not limited to this embodiment. In addition, if the surface of the protruding portion 28 (the back surface of the metal cover 20) extending from the front portion 28b to the convex portion 28a and further to the rear portion 28c is formed as a smooth curved surface, the flexible substrate 2 can be inserted smoothly. Not limited. Moreover, the back bank part 17a and the premise part 17b of the housing 10 may be formed so that there is no level | step difference.

  The fulcrum part 25 of the metal cover 20 is formed as a part of the front end of the metal cover 20, but may be formed like a frame protruding forward along the shape of the engagement receiving part 24, In short, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment as long as it is strong enough to withstand the stress caused by the rotation of the actuator 30 and functions as a fulcrum of the lever.

  The plurality of engagement receiving portions 24 of the metal cover 20 are arranged as a rectangular through-hole that is long in the longitudinal direction and spaced apart at an appropriate interval in the longitudinal direction. In addition, the number and the position may correspond to the engaging protrusions 33. In short, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment as long as the detachment of the actuator 30 from the connector 1 can be prevented.

It is an external appearance perspective view of the connector which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and shows the unlocked state in which the actuator stood upright. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the locked state of the actuator of the connector of FIG. It is an external appearance perspective view of the metal cover which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is an appearance perspective view of an actuator concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is an AA line sectional view of Drawing 1, and shows an unlocked state. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the example of the conventional connector.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Connector, 2 Flexible board, 2a Flexible board lower surface, 10 Housing, 11 Contact, 11a Contact part, 11b Lower arm part, 11c Upper arm part, 11d Tail part, 11e Base part, 12 Opening part, 13 Bearing part, 14 Contactor Groove, 15 Bottom plate part, 16 Middle plate part, 17 Dike part, 17a Back bank part, 17b Front bank part, 18 Back wall part, 20 Metal cover, 21 Holding part, 22 Fixing part, 23 Lock part, 24 Engagement Receiving part, 25 fulcrum part, 26 recessed part, 27 ceiling part, 28 protruding part, 28a protruding part, 28b front part, 28c rear part, 30 actuator, 31 pivot part, 32 locked part, 33 engaging protruding part, 34 pressing part 35, relief part, 100 housing, 101 contact, 101a contact part, 101b rotating shaft part, 102 opening part, 103 bottom plate part, 104 top Plate part, 300 Actuator, 301 Press part, 500 Flexible substrate.

Claims (4)

  A connector comprising a housing having a plurality of contacts, an opening, an actuator, and a metal cover that covers a part of the housing and has a protrusion that hangs down in the contact direction. .   The connector according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion can contact a flexible substrate inserted into the opening.   2. The metal cover has a fulcrum portion that becomes a fulcrum of a lever for rotating the actuator when the actuator presses a flexible board inserted into the opening to the contact. Or the connector of 2. The housing has a bank between adjacent contacts, and a distance between the contact or the bank and the protrusion in an unlocked state where a flexible substrate is not inserted into the opening. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein is slightly smaller than a thickness of the flexible substrate.

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