JP2007066810A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector in which a soldering failure does not occur between a reinforcement tab and a printed circuit board (PCB) and can make an excellent soldering treatment between the above reinforcement tab and the PCB. <P>SOLUTION: The connector 10 is provided with a housing 11 made of synthetic resin and a reinforcement tab 12 made of a metal flat plate. The reinforcment tab 12 has a tab main body 13 of an approximately rectangular shape in plane view and a jointing part 14 extended to a side of the PCB 15 from a bottom end of the main body 13, and the jointing part 14 is soldered with the PCB 15. Furthermore, a round hole 26 is formed directly above the jointing part 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector mounted on a printed board.

  Conventionally, for example, a connector described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed as this type of connector. The connector described in Patent Document 1 includes a housing made of an insulating material (for example, synthetic resin) and a reinforcing tab for reinforcing the mounting state when the housing is mounted on a printed board. The reinforcing tab is composed of a flat plate made of metal, and has a tab main body having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and a joint portion extending from one end of the tab main body toward the outer side (printed circuit board side at the time of mounting). It has.

A locking portion for locking a reinforcing tab (tab body) is formed on the side surface of the housing, and the tab body is press-fitted into the locking portion. That is, the reinforcing tab is integrated with the housing in a surface contact state by press-fitting the tab main body into the locking portion of the housing. In this state, the joint of the reinforcing tab is soldered to a predetermined position of the printed board, so that the connector housing is mounted on the printed board.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-86988 (FIG. 3)

  By the way, as a method of mounting the connector (joint portion of the reinforcing tab) on the printed circuit board by soldering, a so-called reflow method is widely known. Here, with the reflow method, first, paste-like solder is applied to a predetermined position on the printed circuit board, and then the joint portion of the reinforcing tab in the connector is placed on the solder, and then printed in the apparatus furnace. This is a method in which a connector is mounted on a printed circuit board by a soldering process by placing the substrate and heating (maximum temperature is about 260 ° C.).

  By the way, in the housing and the reinforcing tab constituting the connector, the reinforcing tab is made of metal, whereas the housing is made of synthetic resin. Therefore, in the apparatus furnace, the temperature rising rate of the housing is higher than the reinforcing tab. Slower than the temperature rate. Therefore, during the soldering process, part of the thermal energy in the reinforcing tab moves to the housing side, and the temperature of the reinforcing tab (particularly, the joint of the reinforcing tab) does not rise sufficiently. There was a risk of poor soldering with the substrate.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to satisfactorily solder the reinforcing tab and the printed circuit board without causing poor soldering between the reinforcing tab and the printed circuit board. It is to provide a connector that can be attached.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 includes a housing made of an insulating material and a reinforcing tab made of a conductive material, and the reinforcing tab is mounted when the housing is mounted on a printed circuit board. In the connector in which a tab main body having a contact surface that contacts the side surface of the housing is provided, and a joint portion extending from the tab main body toward the printed circuit board is soldered on the printed circuit board, At least one of the housing and the tab main body has a non-contact state in which a part of a facing surface of the side surface of the housing that faces the contact surface of the tab main body is not in contact with the contact surface of the tab main body. A contact portion is formed.

  According to said structure, the non-contact part is formed in at least one among a housing and a reinforcement tab. Therefore, in the connector of the present invention, the contact area between the reinforcing tab and the housing is reduced as compared with a conventional connector (a connector in which a non-contact portion is not formed). When it is put into the furnace, it is possible to prevent the heat energy from moving from the reinforcing tab to the housing side. That is, the soldering process between the reinforcing tab and the printed circuit board is performed after the temperature of the reinforcing tab has sufficiently increased. Therefore, it is possible to satisfactorily solder the reinforcing tab and the printed circuit board without causing poor soldering between the reinforcing tab and the printed circuit board.

The invention according to claim 2 is the connector according to claim 1, wherein the non-contact portion is a meat stealing portion formed in the tab main body.
According to said structure, unlike the case where a non-contact part is formed by processing a housing, it can suppress favorably that the intensity | strength of housing itself falls.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the connector according to the second aspect, the meat stealing portion is a through hole.
According to said structure, since the meat stealing part is a through-hole, unlike the case where the meat stealing part is notched, the tab main body has comprised the cyclic | annular form. Therefore, the strength reduction of the tab body (reinforcing tab) is suppressed. Therefore, in a state where the connector is mounted on the printed board, even if an external force is applied to the connector, the mounted state between the connector and the printed board can be favorably maintained.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the connector according to the second or third aspect, the meat stealing portion is formed at a position immediately above the joining portion in the tab main body.

  According to the above configuration, since the meat stealing part is formed at a position immediately above the joining part, when the joining part and the printed circuit board are soldered in the apparatus furnace, heat from the joining part to the tab body side is generated. As a result of the energy transfer path becoming narrower, it becomes difficult for the thermal energy to move to the tab body side. In other words, since the decrease in the rate of temperature rise at the joint in the reinforcing tab is suppressed, the reinforcing tab and the printed circuit board can be more reliably soldered more reliably.

  Invention of Claim 5 is the connector as described in any one of Claims 1-4. WHEREIN: The said reinforcement tab is formed from one metal plate, The said junction part is the said, A first contact surface extending along the facing surface of the housing; and a second contact surface extending from at least one end of both end portions of the first contact surface in a direction intersecting the facing surface of the housing. And a contact surface.

  In general, the contact surface of the joint portion in the reinforcing tab is restricted in length in a direction along the facing surface of the housing in order to suppress an increase in size of the housing. However, in the present invention, since not only the first contact surface but also the second contact surface is formed, the contact area between the joint portion and the printed circuit board is the conventional case (only the first contact surface is formed). It is wider than (if not). Therefore, the reinforcing strength by the reinforcing tab can be further improved.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to satisfactorily solder the reinforcing tab and the printed circuit board without causing poor soldering between the reinforcing tab and the printed circuit board.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description of the present specification, “vertical direction”, “left / right direction”, and “front / rear direction” indicate the vertical direction, left / right direction, and front / rear direction (indicated by arrows in FIG. 1) in FIG. And

  As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 10 of this embodiment includes a housing 11 made of an insulating material (for example, synthetic resin) and a plurality of connectors for reinforcing the mounting state when the housing 11 is mounted on a printed board 15. (In this embodiment, two) reinforcing tabs 12 are provided. As shown in FIG. 2, each of these reinforcing tabs 12 includes a tab body 13 having a contact surface 13 a that contacts the side surface of the housing 11 (specifically, the left surface 20 a and the right surface 21 a), and a lower side from the lower end of the tab body 13. And a plurality of (two in the present embodiment) joints 14 respectively. Then, each of the joints 14 is soldered to the printed circuit board 15 disposed below the housing 11, whereby a predetermined position on the printed circuit board 15 (for example, the edge of the printed circuit board 15) is set. The connector 10 is mounted on.

  The housing 11 has a square box shape having an opening 16 at the rear thereof, and a lower wall 17 thereof is opposed to the mounting surface 15a of the printed circuit board 15 through a slight gap. A plurality of (12 in the present embodiment) metal terminals 19 penetrating the bottom wall 18 in the front-rear direction are juxtaposed in the left-right direction on the bottom wall (front wall) 18 of the housing 11. The end portions of the lead portions 19 a of the metal terminals 19 are soldered to patterns (not shown) formed on the mounting surface 15 a of the printed circuit board 15. A plug connector (not shown) is inserted into the insertion portion S formed in the housing 11 through the opening 16.

  Further, a first locking portion 23 for locking both end portions 22 in the front-rear direction of the tab body 13 in a press-fitted state to the left wall 20 and the right wall 21 of the housing 11, and the front-rear direction of the tab body 13 And a second locking portion 24 for locking the central portion in the inserted state. Therefore, it can suppress that each reinforcement tab 12 (especially center part of the said tab main body 13) falls down outside.

Next, the reinforcing tabs 12 will be described below with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, each of the reinforcing tabs 12 is processed and formed from a single metal plate, and each of the tab bodies 13 has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view. In addition, on the upper side of both end portions 22 in each tab body 13, convex portions 22 a that protrude in directions away from each other (front-rear direction) are formed. In addition, as described above, at the lower end of the tab body 13, the two joint portions 14 are arranged in parallel with the center portion of the tab body 13 (the portion corresponding to the second locking portion 24) sandwiched in the front-rear direction. Has been. Each joint 14 is configured such that, when the connector 10 is placed on the printed circuit board 15, each contact surface (lower surface) 25 contacts (contacts) the printed circuit board 15.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG.3 (b), the both ends in each front-back direction are bending-processed so that each said junction part 14 may make a planar view substantially U shape. Therefore, the contact surface 25 of each joint portion 14 includes a first contact surface 25a extending along the left surface 20a of the left wall 20 (or the right surface 21a of the right wall 21), and both end portions of the first contact surface 25a. To the left surface 20a (or right surface 21a) and a second contact surface 25b extending in the direction substantially orthogonal to the left (or right).

  Each tab body 13 is formed with a circular hole (through hole) 26 as a meat stealing portion at a position directly above each joint portion 14. That is, each tab body 13 is formed with two circular holes 26 aligned in the front-rear direction. Therefore, when each reinforcing tab 12 is fixed to the housing 11, a part of the opposing surface (the left surface 20 a or the right surface 21 a) that faces the contact surface 13 a of each tab main body 13 among the side surfaces of the housing 11. Is not in contact with the contact surface 13a of the tab main body 13. Therefore, in this embodiment, each circular hole 26 formed in the tab main body 13 functions as a non-contact portion.

Next, the case where the connector 10 of this embodiment is mounted on the printed circuit board 15 by a reflow method will be described below.
Now, as a step before mounting the connector 10 on the printed circuit board 15 in the apparatus furnace, paste-like solder is applied (printed) on the pattern (not shown) of the printed circuit board 15, and the connector is mounted on the solder. Ten metal terminals 19 (lead portions 19a) and reinforcing tabs 12 (joint portions 14) are placed. Next, when the printed circuit board 15 and the connector 10 are put into the apparatus furnace in this state, the temperature in the apparatus furnace is increased, and the printed circuit board 15 and the connector 10 are increased as the temperature in the apparatus furnace increases. The temperature will rise.

  At this time, in the connector 10, since each reinforcing tab 12 is a metal flat plate, the heating rate is faster than the housing 11 made of synthetic resin, and heat energy is more likely to accumulate than the housing 11. Further, since this thermal energy has a property of moving from a position having a higher energy rank toward a lower position, a part of the heat energy of each reinforcing tab 12 tends to move to the housing 11 side. However, in the connector 10 of the present embodiment, since the circular holes 26 are formed in the respective reinforcing tabs 12, each of the reinforcing tabs 12 is compared with a conventional connector (a connector in which no circular hole or the like is formed in each reinforcing tab 12). The contact area between the reinforcing tab 12 and the housing 11 is reduced. That is, in the connector 10 of this embodiment, the thermal energy of each reinforcing tab 12 is less likely to move to the housing 11 side as compared to the conventional connector.

  In addition, since each circular hole 26 is formed at a position immediately above each joint portion 14 in each reinforcing tab 12, the movement path of the thermal energy to the tab body 13 side in each joint portion 14 becomes narrow. Therefore, in the connector 10 (reinforcement tab 12) in this embodiment, it is difficult for the heat energy in each joint part 14 to move to the tab main body 13 side. Therefore, since the soldering process between the reinforcing tabs 12 and the printed circuit board 15 is performed after the temperature of the reinforcing tabs 12 (particularly the joint portions 14) is sufficiently increased, the connector 10 is securely mounted on the printed circuit board 15. Implemented.

  In addition, since the movement of thermal energy from each reinforcing tab 12 to the housing 11 side is suppressed, each reinforcing tab 12 (particularly, even if the time for leaving the printed circuit board 15 and the connector 10 in the apparatus furnace is not lengthened). The temperature of the joint 14) rises sufficiently. Therefore, it is avoided that the printed circuit board 15 and the connector 10 are left in the apparatus furnace for a long time, so that a part of the housing 11 is deformed and as a result, the coplanarity is not affected. That is, each metal terminal 19 (lead) generated due to deterioration in the uniformity of the distance between the end portion (contact portion with the printed circuit board 15) of the lead portion 19a and the mounting surface 15a of the printed circuit board 15 in each metal terminal 19. The soldering failure of the part 19a) is suppressed.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Since each of the reinforcing tabs 12 is formed with a circular hole (non-contact portion) 26, the connector 10 of this embodiment has a conventional connector (a connector having a reinforcing tab without the circular hole 26 formed). ), The contact area between the reinforcing tab 12 and the housing 11 is reduced. Therefore, when it puts in an apparatus furnace (apparatus furnace for reflow systems), it is suppressed that a thermal energy moves to the housing 11 side from each reinforcement tab 12. FIG. That is, the soldering process between the reinforcing tab 12 and the printed circuit board 15 is performed after the temperature of each reinforcing tab 12 is sufficiently increased. Therefore, it is possible to satisfactorily solder the reinforcing tab 12 and the printed circuit board 15 without causing poor soldering between the reinforcing tab 12 and the printed circuit board 15.

(2) Unlike the case where the non-contact portion is formed by processing the housing 11, it is possible to favorably suppress the strength of the housing 11 itself from being lowered.
(3) Since the meat stealing part formed in each reinforcing tab 12 is not a notch but a circular hole (through hole) 26, the tab main body 13 has an annular shape. Therefore, the strength reduction of the tab main body 13 (reinforcing tab 12) is suppressed. Accordingly, even when an external force is applied to the connector 10 in a state where the connector 10 is mounted on the printed board 15, the mounted state between the connector 10 and the printed board 15 can be favorably maintained.

  (4) In each reinforcing tab 12 (tab body 13), since the circular hole (meat stealing portion) 26 is formed at a position immediately above the joint portion 14, each joint portion 14 and the printed board 15 are soldered in the apparatus furnace. When processed, the thermal energy transfer path from each joint 14 to the tab main body 13 side becomes narrow, and as a result, the thermal energy hardly moves to the tab main body 13 side. That is, since a decrease in the temperature increase rate of the joint portion 14 in each reinforcing tab 12 is suppressed, the reinforcing tab 12 and the printed circuit board 15 can be soldered more reliably.

  (5) Generally, the contact surface 25 of the joint portion 14 in each reinforcing tab 12 is restricted in length in the direction along the facing surface (the left surface 20a or the right surface 21a) of the housing 11 in order to suppress an increase in the size of the housing 11. Will receive. However, in this embodiment, since not only the first contact surface 25a but also the second contact surface 25b is formed, the contact area between the joint portion 14 and the printed circuit board 15 is the conventional case (first contact surface 25a). As compared to the case where only the surface is formed). Therefore, the reinforcement strength by each reinforcement tab 12 can be improved more.

  (6) Since the tab body 13 is provided with the meat stealing portion (circular hole 26), the present embodiment is compared with a reinforcing tab having a tab body without the meat stealing portion (hereinafter referred to as "conventional tab"). The form of the reinforcing tab 12 is reduced in volume. That is, since the reinforcing tab 12 is configured to easily rise in temperature as compared with the conventional tab, it can be soldered to the printed circuit board 15 in a relatively short time.

The embodiment may be changed to another embodiment (another example) as follows.
In the embodiment, each joint 14 of each reinforcing tab 12 may have a configuration in which the second contact surface 25b is not formed.

  -In the said embodiment, the circular hole 26 formed in the tab main body 13 is formed in the center part vicinity of the front-back direction instead of a position right above each junction part 14 like the 1st another example shown in FIG. Also good.

-In the said embodiment, the notch 30 formed in the tab main body 13 may be sufficient as the meat stealing part (circular hole 26) like the 2nd another example shown in FIG.
-In the said embodiment, the through-hole (circular hole 26) formed in the tab main body 13 is the through-hole 31 in which the hole shape makes a rectangular shape like the 3rd another example shown to Fig.6 (a). May be.

In the embodiment, the non-contact portion (circular hole 26) is an arbitrary number of three or more (for example, 15) circular holes 32 as in the fourth alternative example shown in FIG. Also good.
In the above-described embodiment, the non-contact portion (circular hole 26) is a bent portion 33 formed by bending the tab body 13 as in the fifth alternative example shown in FIG. May be.

  In the embodiment, the non-contact portion may be formed on the housing 11. For example, as shown in FIG. 7B, the non-contact portion may be a groove portion 34 formed in the left wall 20 of the housing 11.

-Furthermore, a non-contact part may be formed in both the housing 11 and the reinforcement tab 12 (tab main body 13), respectively.
In the embodiment, the second locking portion 24 may be configured to lock the center portion in the front-rear direction of the tab body 13 in a press-fitted state.

The perspective view of the connector in this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1. (A) is a perspective view of a reinforcement tab, (b) is a top view at the time of seeing a reinforcement tab toward the upper direction from the downward direction. The perspective view which shows the reinforcement tab of the 1st another example. The perspective view which shows the reinforcement tab of the 2nd another example. (A) is a perspective view which shows the reinforcement tab of a 3rd modification, (b) is a perspective view which shows the reinforcement tab of a 4th modification. (A) is a top view which shows the reinforcement tab of 5th another example, (b) is a top view which shows the housing of another example.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Connector, 11 ... Housing, 12 ... Reinforcement tab, 13 ... Tab main body, 13a ... Contact surface, 14 ... Joint part, 15 ... Printed circuit board, 20a ... Left side (opposite surface), 21a ... Right side (opposite surface), 22 ... end, 25a ... first contact surface, 25b ... second contact surface, 26, 32 ... circular hole (non-contact part, meat stealing part, through hole), 30 ... notch (non-contact part) , Meat stealer), 31 through-hole (non-contact part, meat stealing part), 33 bent part (non-contact part), 34 groove part (non-contact part).

Claims (5)

A housing made of an insulating material and a reinforcing tab made of a conductive material, and the reinforcing tab is provided with a tab body having a contact surface that comes into contact with a side surface of the housing when the housing is mounted on a printed circuit board. In the connector in which the joint extending from the tab body toward the printed circuit board is soldered onto the printed circuit board,
In at least one of the housing and the tab body, a part of a facing surface of the side surface of the housing that faces the contact surface of the tab body is in a non-contact state with the contact surface of the tab body Connector with non-contact part formed. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the non-contact portion is a meat stealing portion formed in the tab body. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the meat stealing portion is a through hole. The connector according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the meat stealing portion is formed at a position immediately above the joint portion in the tab main body. The reinforcing tab is formed of a single metal plate, and the joining portion includes at least one of a first contact surface extending along the facing surface of the housing and both end portions of the first contact surface. The connector according to claim 1, further comprising: a second contact surface extending from one end portion in a direction intersecting with the facing surface of the housing.

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