JP2007220327A - Floating type connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a connector equipped with a power source contact to smoothly get insertion-coupled with a counterpart connector even in case of discrepancy if any in an insertion coupling position. <P>SOLUTION: The floating type receptacle connector 1 is provided with a fixed-side housing 10 jointed and fixed to a substrate 90 with an inner space 12, a movable-side housing 20 having a protruded part 22 with a receptacle concave part 23 formed for receiving a plug connector 70, a plurality of signal-use contacts 30 arrayed in a back-and-forth row with one end held by the fixed-side housing 10 and the other end by the movable-side housing 20, and power source contacts 40 larger than the signal contacts in a back-and-forth size and arrayed in the same row as the signal-use contacts 30 in a back-and-forth direction with one end held by the fixed-side housing and the other end by the movable-side housing. The power source contacts 40 are constituted of halved parts of a first power source contact 41 with an intermediate part connected to one end and a second power source contact 45. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention has a fixed side housing fixed to a substrate and a movable side housing having a fitting portion for fitting with a mating connector, and the movable side housing is movable with respect to the fixed side housing. Thus, the present invention relates to a floating type connector that can absorb a misalignment between housings when fitting and coupling with a mating connector so that the connectors can be securely coupled to each other.

  A connector called a floating type connector has a fixed side housing fixed to a substrate and a movable side housing having a fitting portion that fits with a mating connector, and the contacts are the fixed side housing and the movable side housing. It is the structure held by both. The movable housing is movable with respect to the fixed housing by the elastic force of the contact, and even if there is a positional shift between the housings when mating with the mating connector, this is absorbed, so it is securely coupled to the mating connector. (See Patent Documents 1 to 6 below).

  FIG. 13 shows a receptacle connector as an example of a conventional floating connector, which can receive a fixed-side housing 110 fixed to a substrate 190 and a projection (not shown) of a mating plug connector. The movable housing 120 has a receiving recess (fitting space) 123 and a plurality of contacts 130 held by both the housings 110 and 120. Each contact 130 is connected to a wiring pattern (wiring portion) 191 on the substrate 190 by a lead portion (joining portion) 133 extending outward from a portion (first press-fit locking portion 131) held by the fixed-side housing 110. In addition, a contact portion 134 that extends upward from a portion (second press-fit locking portion 132) held by the movable housing 120 is exposed on the surface of the receiving recess 123.

  A U-shaped flexible portion (intermediate portion) 135 formed between the first press-fit locking portion 131 and the second press-fit locking portion 132 can be elastically deformed in the in-plane direction (left-right direction) of FIG. Accordingly, the movable housing 120 can be moved to the left and right with respect to the fixed housing 110. The flexible part 135 of each contact 130 extends between the movable housing 120 and the fixed housing 110 so as to protrude toward the side opposite to the substrate 190 (upward in the drawing). The vertical dimension can be made as small as possible while allowing relative movement to the stationary housing 110. The connector having such a configuration has been adopted with the recent reduction in size and weight of electronic devices, and is known as a so-called low profile floating connector having a small vertical dimension.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-370677 JP-A-6-310197 JP-A-6-260242 JP-A-10-55856 No. 7-33408 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-23429

  In the low-profile floating connector configured as described above, the plurality of contacts 130 are used for signal transmission, and it is sufficient to transmit a small current for signals. Its width was extremely thin. However, there are cases where transmission of the power supply current along with the signal current is required through this connector. In such a case, the signal contact is too narrow to be used as a power supply contact. there were. Although it is conceivable that a wide contact is used as the power contact, when a wide contact is used, a flexible portion (intermediate portion) that allows the movable housing 120 to move relative to the fixed housing 110 is used. ) Is also wide, and there is a problem in use that resistance to this movement becomes too large.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and includes a power contact and a configuration capable of suppressing a resistance force when absorbing a positional deviation between housings when fitted with a mating connector. It is an object to provide a floating type connector.

  The floating connector according to the present invention (for example, the receptacle connector 1 in the embodiment) has an internal space that opens upward, a fixed-side housing that can be bonded and fixed to a substrate or the like on the lower surface side, and a mating connector that opens upward A movable housing having a fitting space for fitting with a portion (for example, the protruding portion 22 in the embodiment) arranged with a gap in the internal space of the stationary housing, and one end side being a fixed side A plurality of signal contacts that are held in the housing and the other end side is held in the movable housing and arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, one end side is held in the fixed housing, and the other end side is held in the movable housing. Power supply contours that are arranged in the same direction as the signal contacts in the front-rear direction and have larger front-rear dimensions than the signal contacts Configured to have a door. A plurality of signal contacts are exposed in the fitting space on one end side and contact the signal contact of the mating connector, and the signal wiring portion of the board on the other end side. It has a signal joint to be joined, a signal intermediate part connecting the signal contact part and the signal joint, the signal intermediate part is elastically deformable, and the signal intermediate part is elastically deformed to be movable. The housing is movable with respect to the fixed housing, the power contact is exposed in the fitting space on one end side, and contacts the power contact of the mating connector, and the other end A power supply junction that is joined to the power supply wiring portion of the substrate on the side, and a power supply intermediate portion that connects the power supply contact portion and the power supply junction, and the power supply intermediate portion is connected to the movable housing. Move against Resistance is made such a configuration smaller for time was.

  In addition, the intermediate part for power supplies is a contact part side intermediate part (for example, the 1st flexible part 43 and the 1st contact part 44 in embodiment) connected to the contact part for power supplies, and the intermediate part on the junction part side connected to the connection part for power supplies. Parts (for example, the second flexible part 47 and the second contact part 46 in the embodiment), and the contact part side intermediate part and the joint part side intermediate part are in elastic contact contact with each other. It can be constituted as follows.

  In the floating connector according to the present invention, the power supply intermediate portion connecting the power supply contact portion and the power supply joint portion in the power supply contact is less resistant to the movement of the movable housing relative to the fixed housing. Because it is a simple structure, it has a power supply contact that secures a large capacity for power supply, and it has practically reduced resistance when absorbing misalignment between housings when mating with the mating connector. It is possible to obtain a floating connector without any problems.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1-12 (except FIG. 8) have shown the receptacle connector 1 which is a floating type connector based on one Embodiment of this invention, and its component. 8 and 11 show a plug connector 70 that fits into the receptacle connector 1. In the present embodiment, for convenience of explanation, front, rear, left, and right directions are defined as shown in the drawings, but actual use is not limited to this direction, and this is described in the claims. The same applies to.

  The receptacle connector 1 includes a fixed-side housing 10 fixed to the substrate 90 on the lower surface side, a movable-side housing 20 having a receiving recess (fitting space) 23 opened upward, the fixed-side housing 10 and the movable-side housing 10. A plurality of signal contacts 30 held across both the side housings 20, a power contact 40 arranged in the same row as the contacts 30, and a fixture 50 are configured.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixed housing 10 and the movable housing 20 have a rectangular shape extending in the front-rear direction, and both are made of an electrically insulating material such as a resin. The stationary housing 10 is constituted by a frame-shaped member having an internal space 12 penetrating in the vertical direction. A large number of signal contact mounting grooves 13a for holding the signal contacts 30 are arranged in the front and rear and extend vertically on the inner surfaces of the left and right walls 11, 11 extending in the front-rear direction forming the internal space 12. On the front side of the left and right walls 11, 11, a pair of left and right power supply contact mounting grooves 13b are provided extending vertically. As described above, the internal space 12 formed in the fixed-side housing 10 does not necessarily have to penetrate vertically, and may be a space that is open at least upward.

  The movable housing 20 has a flat plate-like base portion 21 and a protruding portion 22 that is long in the front-rear direction and protrudes downward in a rectangular frame shape from the center of the base portion 21. The projecting portion 22 has an outer peripheral surface formed into a shape that can enter the internal space 12 of the stationary housing 10 from above with a gap at least on the left and right. The protrusion 22 is formed with the receiving recess 23 opened on the upper surface side, and the protrusion 22 is formed in a rectangular bottomed bowl shape as a whole. A large number of signal contact mounting grooves 24a for holding the signal contacts 30 are provided on the inner wall surface of the receiving recess 23 so as to be aligned in the front-rear direction and extend vertically, on the front side of the inner wall surface of the receiving recess 23. Is provided with a pair of left and right power supply contact mounting grooves 24b extending vertically. The lower portions of the contact mounting grooves 24a and 24b are connected to signal and power contact mounting holes 24c and 24d penetrating the bottom wall of the projecting portion 22 and penetrate vertically.

  Each signal contact 30 is formed by punching a sheet metal (conductive material made of an elastic body), for example, and then bending it into a predetermined shape as shown in FIG. Each signal contact 30 is inserted into the signal contact mounting groove 13 on one end side and held in the fixed housing 10, and inserted in the signal contact mounting groove 24 on the other end side and held in the movable housing 20. As a result, the fixed housing 10 and the movable housing 20 are connected via a plurality of signal contacts 30 to form the receptacle connector 1. Each of the signal contacts 30 includes a signal contact portion 34 positioned on the inner side in a state of being held across the two housings, a signal lead portion (signal joint portion) 33 extending outward from the lower surface, and It has an inverted U-shaped signal flexible portion (signal intermediate portion) 35 to be connected. The signal contacts 30 are provided on the left and right sides of the movable housing 20 side by side at a constant pitch in the front-rear direction (see FIG. 1).

  As shown in FIG. 2, a first press-fit locking portion 31 and a second press-fit locking portion 32 that are slightly wider than the other portions are formed on both sides of the signal flexible portion 35 in each signal contact 30. The first press-fit locking portion 31 is press-fitted and held in the signal contact mounting groove 13a of the fixed-side housing 10, and the second press-fit locking portion 32 is press-fitted into the signal contact mounting hole 24c of the movable-side housing 20. Retained. The signal lead portion 33 extending outward from the first press-fit locking portion 31 is joined (surface mounted) to the wiring pattern 91 on the substrate 90 by soldering or the like, and extends upward from the second press-fit locking portion 32. The signal contact portion 34 is located in the signal contact mounting groove 24 a of the receiving recess 23 formed in the movable housing 20 and is exposed to the inside. The signal flexible portion 35 located between the first press-fit locking portion 31 and the second press-fit locking portion 32 (intermediate portion) of each signal contact 30 is connected to the protruding portion 22 and the fixed side of the movable housing 20. It extends so as to protrude upward between the left and right walls 11 of the housing 10, and is elastically deformable left and right.

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 9, and the like, contact protection walls 25 are provided extending from the left and right ends of the base 21 of the movable housing 20 toward the substrate 90 (downward). A contact protection space 26 opening downward is formed between the contact protection wall 25 and the protrusion 22, and the upper portion of the flexible portion 35 of each signal contact 30 is located in the contact protection space 26. ing. The contact protection wall 25 is provided to protect the flexible portion 35 of the signal contact 30 from external foreign matter or the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the power contact 40 includes a first power contact 41 held by the movable housing 20 and a second power contact 45 held by the fixed housing 10. The These first and second power supply contacts 41 and 45 are made by punching a sheet metal (conductive material made of an elastic body), for example, and then bending it into the shape shown in the drawing. The first power contact 41 includes a power contact 42 inserted into the power contact mounting groove 24 b of the movable housing 20 and a first contact 44 contacting the second power contact 46. And an inverted U-shaped first flexible portion 43 connecting the power contact portion 42 and the first contact portion 44. A third press-fit locking portion 42 a protruding left and right is formed at the left and right side ends of the lower portion of the power contact portion 42, and the third press-fit locking portion 42 a is a power contact mounting hole 24 d of the movable housing 20. Press fit inside.

  The second power contact 45 includes a second contact portion 46 that contacts the first contact portion 44, an inverted U-shaped second flexible portion 47 that is connected to the second contact portion 46, and a second contact portion 46. 2 It is comprised from the lower part of the flexible part 47, and the lead part (power supply junction part) 48 for power supplies extended horizontally outside. The left and right ends of the second flexible portion 47 are formed with fourth press-fit locking portions 47a protruding left and right. The fourth press-fit locking portions 47a are formed in the power supply contact mounting grooves 13b of the fixed-side housing 10. Is press-fitted and held. A contact protrusion 46 a that protrudes inward is formed on the inner surface of the second contact portion 46, and the contact protrusion 46 a is configured to contact and contact the first contact portion 44 of the first power supply contact 41. Has been.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, fixing metal fittings 50 are attached to both front and rear ends of the stationary housing 10. These fixing brackets 50 have housing coupling portions 51 and 51 at both ends of the central portion 52, and have a pair of left and right substrate coupling portions 53 and 53 that are bent inward from the lower end of the central portion 52 and extend horizontally. The housing coupling portions 51 and 51 are press-fitted into the metal fitting grooves 14 provided at the front and rear end portions of the stationary housing 10 and are fixedly held. The fixture 50 is used for attaching the receptacle connector 1 to the substrate 90. After positioning the receptacle connector 1 on the substrate 90, the substrate coupling portion 53 of the fixture 50 is soldered to the mount pattern on the substrate 90. The signal lead portion 33 of the signal contact 30 is attached to the wiring pattern on the substrate 90 by soldering (surface mounted).

  A plug connector 70 that is a mating connector to be fitted and connected to the receptacle connector 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 11. As shown in the figure, the plug connector 70 includes a plug housing 71 made of an electrically insulating material having a projection 72 having a shape that can be fitted into the receiving recess 23 of the receptacle connector 1, and an elastic body held by the plug housing 71. A plurality of signal contacts 73 made of a conductive material and a pair of left and right power contacts 75 made of an elastic body and a conductive material, also held in the plug housing 71. The signal contacts 73 and the power contacts 75 are provided at predetermined pitches in the front-rear direction on the left and right sides of the protrusion 72 so as to correspond to the signal contacts 30 and the power contacts 40 of the receptacle connector 1. .

  Each signal contact 73 is bent into an S shape as shown in the figure, and the signal contact portion 73a is bent into a "<" shape as shown in FIG. And a signal holding part 73b provided at the lower part of the signal contact part 73a, and a signal lead part 73c that is bent at a right angle from the lower end of the signal holding part 73b and extends outward. . Since the latch holding portion 73b is latched and held by the plug housing 71, the signal contact portion 73a extends upward in a cantilever state and can be elastically deformed left and right. The signal lead 73c is soldered (surface mounted) to a predetermined wiring pattern on a substrate (not shown) to which the plug connector 70 is attached. Similarly, the power contact 75 is cantilevered at a latch holding portion (not shown) and the power contact portion 75a extending upward is elastically deformable in the left-right direction, and is integrated with the latch holding portion. The power supply lead portion 75c that is connected to and extends outward is connected to a predetermined wiring pattern on a substrate (not shown) to which the counterpart connector 70 is attached.

  When the protrusion 72 of the plug connector 70 is inserted into the receiving recess 23 of the receptacle connector 1 from above as shown in FIG. 16, the protrusion 72 of the plug connector 70 is fitted into the receiving recess 23 of the receptacle connector 1. At this time, the signal contact 73 of the plug connector 70 is elastically deformed in the left-right direction while being in contact with the signal contact 30 (signal contact portion 34) of the receptacle connector 1, so that both signal contacts 30, 73 are in proper contact. Contact with force is possible, and signal transmission between both connectors 1 and 70 becomes possible. Similarly, the power contact 75 is elastically deformed in the left-right direction while being in contact with the power contact 40 of the receptacle connector 1 (the power contact portion 42 of the first power contact 41). Makes contact with an appropriate contact force, and power connection (power transmission) between the connectors 1 and 70 becomes possible.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 11, the center axis surface S <b> 1 of the receiving recess 23 in the receptacle connector 1 (this center axis surface S <b> 1 extends in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. When the center axis surface S2 of the protrusion 72 is coincident with the center axis surface S2 (the center axis surface S2 also extends in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 11), When the projection 72 of the receptacle 70 and the receiving recess 23 of the receptacle connector 1 are fitted as they are (the state shown in FIG. 11B), the center axis surfaces S1 and S2 do not match (displace). In this case, the protrusion 72 and the receiving recess 23 are not fitted as they are, and an inclined surface 72 a formed at the lower end of the protrusion 72 of the plug connector 70 is formed at the upper end of the receiving recess 23 of the receptacle connector 1. Abuts from above made a slope 23a.

  At this time, since the movable housing 20 is movable with respect to the fixed housing 10 via the signal contact 30 made of an elastic body, the movable housing 20 generated by the contact of the both inclined surfaces 72a and 23a is laterally moved. The movable housing 20 moves in that direction (left-right direction) by the force of moving in the direction, and the fitting portions 72 and 23 are fitted together. FIG. 12 shows the movable side when the center axis surface S1 of the receiving recess 23 of the receptacle connector 1 and the center axis surface S2 of the protrusion 72 of the plug connector 70 do not match (shifted from side to side). The state which the housing 20 moved to right and left is shown. In this case, the flexible portion 35 of the signal contact 30 positioned on the left side in FIG. 12 is deformed so that the space below the U-shaped portion is narrowed, and the flexible portion 35 of the signal contact 30 positioned on the right side of the paper surface. Is in a state of being deformed so that the space below the U-shaped portion is widened.

  At this time, the same elastic deformation occurs in the power contact 40. In other words, in the power contact 40 located on the left side, the second power contact 45 is pressed against the first power contact 41 so that the distance between the first flexible portion 44 and the second flexible portion 47 is reduced. Elastically deforms. On the other hand, in the power contact 40 located on the right side, the second power contact 45 moves away from the first power contact 41, but the first flexible portion 44 and the second flexible portion 47 spread. By elastically deforming in the direction, the contact state between the two (the contact state between the first contact portion 44 and the second contact portion 46) is maintained.

  As described above, when the movable housing 20 is moved in the left-right direction and the fitting portions 72 and 23 are fitted, a force (this is necessary for elastically deforming the flexible portion 35 of the signal contact 30). This movement is referred to as a first deformation force and a force necessary to elastically deform the first flexible portion 44 and the second flexible portion 47 of the power contact 40 (referred to as a second deformation force). Acts as a resistance against At this time, since the signal contact 30 is disposed over the fixed housing 10 and the movable housing 20 in an integrally connected state, the first deformation force tends to increase. However, since the signal contact 30 transmits a low current called a signal current, the signal contact 30 has a very thin shape, and the first deformation force does not become excessively large and can be suppressed to a desired value.

  On the other hand, the power contact 40 has a larger width than the signal contact 30 as shown in the figure because it needs to pass a relatively large current called a power supply current. In the case of the connected configuration, there is a problem that the second deformation force becomes excessively large and the force required for fitting the plug connector 70 becomes excessively large. However, as described above, since the power contact 40 is divided into the first and second power contacts 41 and 45, the first flexible portion 44 and the second flexible portion 47 are formed. Each of them is elastically deformed independently, and the second deformation force can be kept small. As a result, even when the center axis surface S1 of the receiving recess 23 of the receptacle connector 1 and the center axis surface S2 of the protrusion 72 of the plug connector 70 do not coincide with each other, the movable housing 20 can be moved left and right with a relatively small resistance. It is possible to move the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 70 smoothly.

  As described above, in the receptacle connector 1 according to the present embodiment, even when there is a positional deviation between the housings when fitting and coupling with the mating connector (plug connector 70), this is absorbed. It is possible to perform reliable coupling without damaging 71 or plastically deforming both signal contacts 30 and 73. Further, the U-shaped flexible portion 35 of the signal contact 30 extends between the movable side housing 20 and the fixed side housing 10 so as to protrude toward the side opposite to the substrate 90, so-called low Since the back-type floating connector is configured, the vertical dimension can be made as small as possible while allowing the movable housing 20 to move relative to the fixed housing 10.

  If the center axis surface S1 of the receiving recess 23 of the receptacle connector 1 and the center axis surface S2 of the protrusion 72 of the plug connector 70 do not coincide with each other as described above, as shown in FIG. The flexible portion 35 is located in a contact protection space 26 formed on the inner side of the contact protection wall 25 provided in the movable housing 20, although it is deformed so as to fall outward in the direction. Even when the movable housing 20 moves greatly with respect to the fixed housing 10 and the flexible portion 35 falls and deforms, the flexible portion 35 does not contact the contact protection wall 25.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described so far, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to those shown in the above-described embodiments. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the power contact 40 is divided into the first and second power contacts 41 and 42 in order to reduce the second deformation force. As a simple material or shape, an integral configuration having the same side view shape as the signal contact may be used.

It is a figure which shows the receptacle connector which is one Embodiment of this invention, (A) is a top view, (B) is a side view, (C) is a bottom view. It is a disassembled perspective view of the said receptacle connector. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a part of the receptacle connector taken along arrow III-III in FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a part of the receptacle connector taken along arrows IV-IV in FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a part of the receptacle connector along arrow IV-V shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the contact for power supplies which comprises the said receptacle connector. It is a disassembled perspective view of the said power supply contact. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a plug connector that mates with the receptacle connector. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector as viewed along an arrow IV in FIG. 3. It is sectional drawing which looked at the said receptacle connector along the arrow VV in FIG. It is a figure which shows a mode that a plug type other party connector is united with the said receptacle connector, (A) has shown the state before the coupling | bonding of both connectors, (B) has each shown the state after coupling | bonding of both connectors. When the center axis surface of the receptacle recess of the receptacle connector does not coincide with the center axis surface of the protrusion of the plug connector, the movable housing moves to the left in the drawing when both connectors are coupled. . It is sectional drawing of an example of the conventional receptacle connector.

Explanation of symbols

1 Receptacle connector (floating connector)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Fixed side housing 12 Internal space 20 Movable side housing 23 Receiving recessed part (recessed part)
25 Contact Protection Wall 26 Contact Protection Space 30 Signal Contact 31 First Press-fit Locking Section 32 Second Press-fit Lock Part 33 Signal Lead Part 34 Contact Part 35 Flexible Part 40 Power Supply Contact 41 First Power Supply Contact 45 First 2 power contacts 70 plug connector (mating connector)
90 substrates

Claims (2)

The internal space of the fixed-side housing has an internal space that opens upward, a fixed-side housing that can be bonded and fixed to a substrate or the like on the lower surface side, and a fitting space that fits into a mating connector that opens upward A movable housing having a portion disposed at least in the left-right direction inside, and one end side held by the fixed housing and the other end side held by the movable housing and aligned in the front-rear direction. A plurality of arranged signal contacts, one end side is held by the stationary housing and the other end side is held by the movable housing, and is arranged in the front-rear direction in the same row as the signal contacts, A power supply contact having a larger longitudinal dimension than the signal contact,
Each of the plurality of signal contacts is exposed in the fitting space on the one end side to contact the signal contact of the mating connector, and the signal contact portion on the other end side. A signal joining portion joined to the signal wiring portion of the substrate, a signal intermediate portion connecting the signal contact portion and the signal joining portion, the signal intermediate portion being elastically deformable, and the signal The intermediate portion for elastic deformation and the movable housing is movable at least in the left-right direction with respect to the fixed housing;
The power contact is exposed in the fitting space on the one end side and contacts the power contact of the mating connector, and the power wiring portion of the board on the other end side A power supply joint portion joined to the power supply contact portion, and a power supply intermediate portion connecting the power supply contact portion and the power supply joint portion,
The floating connector according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion for power supply has a configuration in which a resistance force when the movable housing moves relative to the fixed housing is reduced. The power supply intermediate part is divided into a contact part side intermediate part connected to the power supply contact part and a joint part side intermediate part connected to the power supply joint part, the contact part side intermediate part and the The floating connector according to claim 1, wherein the floating connector is configured to elastically contact and come into contact with the joint-side intermediate portion.

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