JP2005285460A - Connector device with control function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector with control function advantageous for reducing cost and size. <P>SOLUTION: On the connector with control function 1, address setting is carried out by forming a plurality of connection parts 14a to 14d for setting communication address, and a plurality of electrode parts 15a to 15d set in grounding potential, and inserting an insertion member 22 into insertion holes 21a to 21d corresponding to the communication address to be set, and electrically connecting the connection parts 14a to 14b with the electrode parts 15a to 15b through an insertion member 22 respectively. The connection parts 14a to 14d and the electrode parts 15a to 15d are arranged on a base plate 6, and the insertion holes 21a to 21d are formed on a base plate cover 10 detachable freely arranged at the lower face side of the base plate 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector device with a control function.

  As a related art relating to the present invention, a control device and a plurality of load devices to be controlled are connected by cables, and a plurality of control signals and the like are transmitted using a common wire and connected to each load device. There is a technique for setting a communication address of each load device using a terminal arrangement pattern of a connector. That is, in this technology, in addition to regular terminal pins for communication and power supply, the connector is provided with terminal pins for address setting that are connected to ground, and the load side by the terminal pins for address setting is provided. The address is set according to the difference in connection pattern.

  The connector device with a control function and the load device as described above are disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.

JP 2003-127646 A

  However, in the above technique, since the address of the load device is set by the terminal pins provided on the connector, the size of the connector and the like due to the increase of the terminal pins is increased, and it is necessary to prepare connector types as many as the number of address types. There is also a problem in terms of cost due to an increase in the part number of the connector.

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a connector device with a control function that is advantageous in reducing the size and cost of the connector.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the invention of claim 1 is a connector device with a control function that is connected to an external wiring and a load and controls the load based on a control signal given through the external wiring. A board, an electronic element disposed on the board, having a communication function, a function of driving the load, and a function of accepting setting of a communication address of the control function-equipped connector device, and provided on the board. At least one connection part for setting a communication address, an electrode part provided around the connection part on the substrate and set at a predetermined potential, and a housing for housing the substrate, An insertion hole for inserting a member is provided corresponding to each connection portion, and at least the insertion member whose downstream end surface portion in the insertion direction is conductive has a communication address to be set. The insertion end of the insertion member is inserted into the insertion hole, and the end surface of the insertion member on the downstream side in the insertion direction is brought into contact with the connection portion and the electrode portion to be electrically connected, thereby changing the potential level of the connection portion. Then, the setting of the communication address by the electronic element is accepted based on the change in the potential level of the connection portion.

  The invention according to claim 2 is a connector device with a control function which is connected to an external wiring and a load and controls the load based on a control signal given through the external wiring. And an electronic device having a communication function, a function of driving the load, and a function of receiving a communication address setting of the connector device with a control function, and a communication address setting provided on the substrate At least one connection portion; an electrode portion provided around the connection portion on the substrate; and set to a predetermined potential; and a housing that accommodates the substrate, and the housing includes each of the connection portions. An insertion hole for inserting a member is provided correspondingly to the inner surface of the housing, and a conductor foil is disposed on the inner surface side of the housing so as to cover the portion provided with the insertion hole. The insertion member is inserted into the insertion hole determined in accordance with the address, and the portion of the conductor foil punched out by the insertion member is brought into contact with the connection portion and the electrode portion so as to be electrically connected. The potential level of the part changes, and the setting of the communication address by the electronic element is accepted based on the change of the potential level of the connection part.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the connector device with a control function according to the first aspect, the portion of the housing in which the insertion hole is provided, and the portion of the substrate in which the connection portion and the electrode portion are provided. And in a non-compressed state, it is substantially non-conductive in the thickness direction and the direction along the surface, and is compressed under pressure in the thickness direction. Then, a sheet body whose compressed portion changes from non-conductive to conductive in the thickness direction is provided, and an insertion member is inserted into the insertion hole determined according to the communication address to be set, and the insertion The sheet body is compressed in the thickness direction between the member and the substrate, and the connection is made via the compressed portion of the sheet body that becomes conductive in the thickness direction and the downstream end surface portion of the insertion member in the insertion direction. Part and the electrode part By being conductive, the connecting portion potential level change of the setting of the communication address by the electronic device is accepted on the basis of the change in the potential level of the connecting portion.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the connector device with a control function is provided with at least one connection portion for setting a communication address and an electrode portion set at a predetermined potential, and is inserted according to the communication address to be set. Insertion members are appropriately inserted into the holes, and the address setting is performed by electrically connecting each connection portion and the electrode portion via the insertion member, so that conventional terminal pins for address setting are omitted. Thus, the basic configuration of the connector device can be made common regardless of the address difference, and as a result, the connector device can be reduced in size and cost.

  Further, the address setting can be easily performed by inserting the insertion member into the insertion hole.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the connector device with a control function is provided with at least one connection portion for setting a communication address and an electrode portion set at a predetermined potential, and is inserted according to the communication address to be set. Since the insertion member is appropriately inserted into the hole and the conductor foil arranged on the inner surface side of the housing is punched, and the address setting is performed by connecting the punched portion of the conductor foil to each connection portion and the electrode portion. By omitting such address setting terminal pins, the basic configuration of the connector device can be made common regardless of the difference in address. As a result, the connector device can be reduced in size and cost.

  Further, the address setting can be easily performed by inserting the insertion member into the insertion hole.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the sheet member is partially compressed by the insertion member inserted into the insertion hole to conduct between the connection portion and the electrode portion, the downstream end portion in the insertion direction of the insertion member And the connection part and an electrode part can be reliably conduct | electrically_connected by the compression part of a sheet | seat body.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a configuration of a connector device with a control function (hereinafter simply referred to as “connector device”) according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The connector device 1 is used in a control system as shown in FIG. This control system is configured by connecting a control device 2 and a plurality of load devices 3 to be controlled by connection cables 4. The connector device 1 is interposed between the load device 3 and the connection cable 4, and is fitted into a connector fitting portion 3 a provided in the load device 3 to be electrically connected and mechanically fixed. Each connector device 1 is set with a communication address, and controls the load device 3 based on a control signal given from the control device 2 via the connection cable 4 (using the common signal line 4c). It has become. As the load device 3, for example, a servo motor device for driving various operation units (for example, a wind direction control unit of the blowing unit) installed on an instrument panel or the like in an in-vehicle air conditioner can be considered. The connection cable 4 includes a plurality of (here, three) resin-coated wires 4a to 4c. For example, the electric wire 4a is a power line, the electric wire 4b is a ground line, and the electric wire 4c is a signal line 4c for signal transmission.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the connector device 1 includes a substrate 6 on which a CPU (electronic element) 11 and the like are mounted, and a housing 7 that accommodates the substrate 6. The housing 7 includes a housing body 8, a pressure contact cover 9 attached to the housing body 8, and a substrate cover 10.

  A plurality of (three in this case) CPUs 11 that control communication and control, and the outer wires of the wires 4a to 4c constituting the connection cable 4 are cut and electrically connected (pressure contacted) to the cores of the substrate 6. Pressure contact terminals 12a to 12c, a plurality (two in this case) of connection terminals 13a and 13b electrically connected to the load device 3, and a plurality (four in this case) of connection parts 14a to 14d for address setting (see FIG. 3) and at least one (four in this case) electrode portions 15a to 15d set to the ground potential.

  A pressure contact portion 16 for performing pressure contact with the electric wires 4 a to 4 c is provided on the upper surface side of the housing body 8, and a pressure contact cover 9 is attached to the pressure contact portion 16. The pressure contact portion 16 is provided with three grooves in which, for example, the electric wires 4a to 4c are fitted and held.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an opening 17 is provided on the lower surface side of the housing body 8, and the substrate cover 10 is attached to the opening 17.

  The CPU 11 communicates with the control device 2 via the connection cable 4 (communication function), drives the load device 3 based on a control signal given from the control device 2 via the connection cable 4, and A function of accepting the setting of the communication address of the connector device 1 based on the potential states of the connecting portions 14a to 14d.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the connection portions 14 a to 14 d and the electrode portions 15 a to 15 d are disposed in a portion facing the opening 17 of the housing body 8 on the lower surface side of the substrate 6. The connecting portions 14a to 14d and the electrode portions 15a to 15d are arranged adjacent to each other with a predetermined interval in pairs. The connecting portions 14a to 14d are electrically connected to the CPU 11 via a predetermined wiring in a state where a positive predetermined potential is applied. The electrode portions 15a to 15d are connected to the ground via a predetermined wiring and are held at the ground potential. In the present embodiment, the connection portions 14 a to 14 d and the electrode portions 15 a to 15 d are configured by through holes provided through the substrate 6.

  A plurality (four in this case) of insertion holes 21a to 21d are provided in portions of the substrate cover 10 facing the connection portions 14a to 14d and the electrode portions 15a to 15d. The insertion holes 21a to 21d are for inserting the insertion member 22 for address setting, and correspond to the connection portions 14a to 14d and the electrode portions 15a to 15d, respectively.

  The insertion member 22 includes a resin main body portion 22a and a conductor portion 22b provided at an upper end portion of the main body portion 22a (downstream end portion in the insertion direction into the insertion holes 21a to 21d). The conductor portion 22b is made of, for example, a conductor film such as metal. As a modification of the insertion member 22, the entire insertion member 22 may be formed of a conductive material such as metal.

  When the substrate cover 10 is attached to the housing body 8 and the insertion member 22 is inserted into any of the insertion holes 21a to 21d, the conductive portion 22b at the upper end of the insertion member 22 is formed as illustrated in FIGS. The contact portions 14a to 14d and the electrode portions 15a to 15d are brought into contact with each other to be conductive, whereby the connection portions 14a to 14d are connected to the electrode portions 15a to 15d (ground potential) via the conductive portion 22b of the insertion member 22. ), And the potentials of the connection portions 14a to 14d change from a predetermined positive potential to the ground potential. In the example shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the insertion member 22 is inserted into the insertion holes 21b and 21d, and the connection portions 14b and 14d are electrically connected to the electrode portions 15b and 15d via the conductive portion 22b of the insertion member 22. It is connected to the.

  6 and 7 are diagrams showing changes in the circuit configuration for address setting depending on whether or not the insertion member 22 is inserted into the insertion holes 21a to 21d in the connector device 1. FIG. In the state shown in FIG. 6, the insertion member 22 is not inserted into any of the insertion holes 21a to 21d. In the state shown in FIG. 7, the insertion member 22 is inserted into the insertion holes 21b and 21d.

  Since a positive predetermined value voltage is applied to each of the connection portions 14a to 14d, in a state where the insertion member 22 is not inserted into any of the insertion holes 21a to 21d shown in FIG. The potential of 14d is also held at the predetermined value (high level), whereby a high level signal is input to the CPU 11 for setting an address via each of the connection portions 14a to 14d. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the introduction member 22 is inserted into the insertion holes 21 b and 21 d, and between the connection portion 14 b and the electrode portion 15 b and between the connection portion 14 d and the electrode via the conductive portion 22 b of the insertion member 22. When the connection with the part 15d is established, the potential of the connection parts 14b and 14d changes from the predetermined value, which is a high level, to the ground potential which is a low level, whereby the CPU 11 passes through the connection parts 14b and 14d. A low level address setting signal is input.

  That is, the signal level of the address setting signal input to the CPU 11 via the connection portions 14a to 14d changes between high and low depending on whether or not the insertion member 22 is inserted into the insertion holes 21a to 21d. The CPU 11 sets the communication address based on the high / low combination pattern of each signal.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the connector device 1 should be provided with the plurality of connection portions 14a to 14d for setting the communication address and the plurality of electrode portions 15a to 15d set to the ground potential. The insertion member 22 is appropriately inserted into the insertion holes 21a to 21d in accordance with the communication address, and the connection parts 14a to 14d and the electrode parts 15a to 15d are electrically connected via the insertion member 22 to address. In order to perform the setting, the conventional terminal pins for address setting can be omitted, and the basic configuration of the connector device 1 can be made common regardless of the difference in address. As a result, the connector device 1 can be downsized. In addition, the cost can be reduced.

  Further, the address setting can be easily performed by inserting the insertion member 22 into the insertion holes 21a to 21d.

Second Embodiment
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a main configuration of a connector device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The connector device 1 according to the present embodiment is substantially different from the connector device 1 according to the first embodiment only in that the conductor foil 31 is provided on the substrate cover 10 and the points related thereto. Corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In the connector device 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, a conductor foil 31 such as a metal foil is provided in a region including a portion provided with the insertion holes 21 a to 21 d on the inner surface side of the substrate cover 10. Electrical connection is made between the connecting portions 14a to 14d and the electrode portions 15a to 15d using the conductor foil 31. In this regard, in this embodiment, the insertion member 22 does not have to be conductive, and therefore the insertion member 22 is formed of a non-conductive material such as resin.

  Then, when the insertion member 22 is inserted into the insertion holes 21a to 21d according to the communication address to be set, insertion of the conductor foil 31 provided on the inner surface side of the substrate cover 10 as shown in FIGS. The portion 31a located on the holes 21a to 21d is punched out by the inserted insertion member 22, pressed against the corresponding connecting portions 14a to 14d and the electrode portions 15a to 15d, and the portion 31a of the punched conductor foil 31 Thus, the connection portions 14a to 14d and the electrode portions 15a to 15d are electrically connected to each other, whereby address setting is performed.

  As described above, also in this embodiment, substantially the same effect as that of the first embodiment described above can be obtained.

<Third Embodiment>
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a main configuration of a connector device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The connector device 1 according to this embodiment is substantially different from the connector device 1 according to the first embodiment in that an anisotropic conductive sheet (sheet body) 41 is provided between the substrate cover 10 and the substrate 6. Only the points provided and the points related thereto are provided, and the portions corresponding to each other are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the connector device 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, an anisotropic conductive sheet 41 is provided in a region including a portion provided with the insertion holes 21 a to 21 d on the inner surface side of the substrate cover 10 (for example, Attached and electrically connected between the connecting portions 14a to 14d and the electrode portions 15a to 15d using the anisotropic conductive sheet 41. In the present embodiment, the anisotropic portion is anisotropic. The conductive sheet 41 is provided on the substrate cover 10 side, but may be provided (for example, attached) on the lower surface side of the substrate 6. The insertion member 22 is the same as that in the first embodiment. Is used.

  The anisotropic conductive sheet 41 is non-conductive with respect to the direction along the surface while being not significantly affected by the presence or absence of compression in the thickness direction. Therefore, the electrical conductivity varies greatly depending on the presence or absence of compression in the thickness direction, and when compressed in the thickness direction, the electrical characteristics of the compressed portion (compressed portion) in the thickness direction are substantially non-existent. It changes from conductivity to conductivity.

  For this reason, when the insertion member 22 is inserted into the insertion holes 21a to 21d in accordance with the communication address to be set, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the anisotropic conduction provided on the inner surface side of the substrate cover 10 is performed. A portion 41a located on the insertion holes 21a to 21d of the sheet 41 is sandwiched between the inserted insertion member 22 and a portion of the substrate 6 where the corresponding connection portions 14a to 14d and electrode portions 15a to 15d are provided. Compressed in the thickness direction and has conductivity in the thickness direction. The connection portions 14a to 14d and the electrode portions 15a to 15d are electrically connected by the conductive portion 22b of the insertion member 22 and the portion 41a (compressed portion) having conductivity in the thickness direction, whereby address setting is performed. Is to be done.

  Here, as a specific example of the anisotropic conductive sheet 41, for example, as shown in FIG. 14, a thin conductor wire (for example, a gold wire) 42 extending in the thickness direction is densely driven into the rubber sheet 43. Is used. The anisotropic conductive sheet 41 of FIG. 14 has a configuration that has substantially no electrical conductivity in the thickness direction and the direction along the surface when not compressed. When the pressure is applied in the thickness direction and the conductor portion 42 is compressed, the conductor wire 42 is bent at the compression portion 41a, whereby the conductor wire 42 on the upper and lower surfaces of the compression portion 41a, the conductor portion 22b of the insertion member 22, and the connection portion 14a to 14d and the electrode portions 15a to 15d increase in contact area, the conductive portion 22b is electrically connected to the connection portions 14a to 14d and the electrode portions 15a to 15d by the conductor wire 42, and the connection portions 14a to 14d and the electrodes The portions 15a to 15d are electrically connected to each other through the conductor portion 22b and the compressed portion 41a.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the anisotropic conductive sheet 41 is partially compressed by the insertion member 22 inserted in the insertion holes 21a to 21d. In order to conduct between the connection portions 14a to 14d and the electrode portions 15a to 15d, the connection portions 14a to 14d and the electrode portions 15a to 15d are connected by the conductive portion 22b of the insertion member 22 and the compression portion 41a of the anisotropic conductive sheet 41. Can be reliably conducted.

It is an exploded perspective view showing typically the composition of the connector device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a system block diagram which shows the example of application of the connector apparatus of FIG. It is a top view which shows the principal part structure of the board | substrate etc. with which the connector apparatus of FIG. 1 is equipped. It is sectional drawing along the AA line in the structure of FIG. It is sectional drawing along the BB line in the structure of FIG. It is a figure which shows the circuit structure for the address setting of the state in which the insertion member in the connector apparatus of FIG. 1 is not inserted. It is a figure which shows the circuit structure for the address setting of the state in which the insertion member in the connector apparatus of FIG. 1 was inserted. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part structure of the connector apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing corresponding to the AA line of FIG. 3 in the connector apparatus of FIG. It is principal part sectional drawing corresponding to the BB line of FIG. 3 in the connector apparatus of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part structure of the connector apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing corresponding to the AA line of FIG. 3 in the connector apparatus of FIG. It is principal part sectional drawing corresponding to the BB line of FIG. 3 in the connector apparatus of FIG. It is principle explanatory drawing of an anisotropic conductive sheet.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Connector apparatus with control function 2 Control apparatus 3 Load apparatus 4 Connection cable 6 Board | substrate 7 Housing 8 Housing main body 9 Press-contact cover 10 Board cover 11 CPU
12a to 12d Pressure contact terminals 13a and 13b Connection terminals 14a to 14d Connection parts 15a to 15d Electrode parts 21a to 21d Insertion holes 22 Insertion members 31 Conductive foils 41 Anisotropic conductive sheet

Claims (3)

A connector device with a control function that is connected to an external wiring and a load and controls the load based on a control signal given through the external wiring,
A substrate,
An electronic element disposed on the substrate and having a communication function, a function of driving the load, and a function of accepting setting of a communication address of the connector device with control function;
At least one connection portion for setting a communication address provided on the substrate;
An electrode portion provided around the connection portion on the substrate and set at a predetermined potential;
A housing for housing the substrate;
With
The housing is provided with an insertion hole for inserting a member corresponding to each connection portion,
At least an insertion member whose downstream end surface portion in the insertion direction is made conductive is inserted into the insertion hole determined according to a communication address to be set, and the downstream end surface portion in the insertion direction of the insertion member is the connection When the contact portion and the electrode portion are brought into conduction, the potential level of the connection portion changes, and the setting of the communication address by the electronic element is accepted based on the change of the potential level of the connection portion. A connector device with a control function. A connector device with a control function that is connected to an external wiring and a load and controls the load based on a control signal given through the external wiring,
A substrate,
An electronic element disposed on the substrate and having a communication function, a function of driving the load, and a function of accepting setting of a communication address of the connector device with control function;
At least one connection portion for setting a communication address provided on the substrate;
An electrode portion provided around the connection portion on the substrate and set at a predetermined potential;
A housing for housing the substrate;
With
The housing is provided with an insertion hole for member insertion corresponding to each connection portion, and
On the inner surface side of the housing, a conductor foil is disposed so as to cover the portion where the insertion hole is provided,
An insertion member is inserted into the insertion hole determined in accordance with the communication address to be set, and the portion of the conductive foil punched out by the insertion member is brought into contact with and connected to the connection portion and the electrode portion. Thus, the potential level of the connecting portion changes, and the setting of the communication address by the electronic element is accepted based on the change of the potential level of the connecting portion. In the connector device with a control function according to claim 1,
Between the portion of the housing where the insertion hole is provided and the portion of the substrate where the connection portion and the electrode portion are provided, it has a sheet-like form. A sheet that is substantially non-conductive with respect to the direction along the surface and in which the compressed portion changes from non-conductive to conductive with respect to the thickness direction when compressed in the thickness direction. A body is provided,
An insertion member is inserted into the insertion hole determined according to the communication address to be set, and the sheet body is compressed in the thickness direction between the insertion member and the substrate, and becomes conductive in the thickness direction. The connection portion and the electrode portion are electrically connected through the compression portion of the sheet body and the downstream end surface portion of the insertion member in the insertion direction, thereby changing the potential level of the connection portion. A connector device with a control function, wherein the setting of the communication address by the electronic element is accepted based on a change in potential level.

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