JP2007258001A - Electrical connector with flexible board - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric connector with a flexible board which enables height reduction and which is strong against an external force. <P>SOLUTION: This is the electric connector with the flexible board which is mounted on a flexible board F and which electrically connects both boards by fitting to a counter connector 30 mounted on the other board P, a receiving part 14 to make a space to receive the counter connector 30 is formed in a housing 11. In the electric connector in which a terminal 12 contacted with a counter terminal 34 of the counter connector 30 is arranged along a pair of opposing inner walls of the receiving part 14, a metal shell 13 formed of a metal plate is mounted on the housing 11 and the metal shell 13 has a side face part 21 to cover at least one part at least in the peripheral direction of the outside face extending in the longitudinal direction of the flexible board out of the surrounding outside face of the housing 11 to form a face parallel to the connector fitting direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical connector with a flexible substrate.

  In a small electronic device such as a mobile phone, two circuit boards (including a flexible board) face each other in a narrow space, and both circuit boards are electrically connected using a circuit board connector.

  Such a circuit board connector is required to reduce the occupied area on the circuit board as the electronic equipment is miniaturized, and has a low profile in order to reduce the distance (interval) between the two circuit boards. There is also a need to make it easier. For the reduction in height, for example, a low-profile connector having a thickness dimension (stacking height) of 1.0 mm or less in a state where the connector is fitted is required.

  As an example in which a flexible substrate is connected to such a connector, a connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known.

In the connector of this Patent Document 1, when receiving a force for insertion / extraction of the connector with the mating connector, the flexible substrate easily bends and does not support this force, so the connector receives this force properly. In order to reduce the burden on the connector resulting from this, a reinforcing member is attached to the back surface of the flexible substrate at the connector connection site.
JP-A-11-111401

  In order to meet the above-mentioned demand for a low profile of the connector with a flexible substrate of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to reduce the thickness dimension of the synthetic resin housing that holds the terminals. For example, when an excessive force is applied to the connector in the fitting state of the connector, there is a high possibility that the housing will be broken or broken due to insufficient strength. Therefore, if the reinforcing member is provided, the size is increased by the thickness, and the meaning of reducing the thickness of the housing is lost.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a situation, The place made into the subject is providing the electrical connector with a flexible substrate with the high intensity | strength with respect to external force, being low-profile.

  An electrical connector with a flexible board according to the present invention is an electrical connector with a flexible board that is attached to a flexible board and is electrically connected to both boards by fitting with a mating connector attached to another board, The housing has a receiving portion that forms a space for receiving the mating connector, and terminals that are in contact with the mating terminals of the mating connector are arranged along a pair of opposing inner walls of the receiving portion.

  In such an electrical connector, according to the present invention, a metal shell formed of a metal plate is attached to the housing, and the metal shell is at least a flexible substrate among the outer peripheral surfaces of the housing forming a surface parallel to the connector fitting direction. It has the side part which covers at least one part in the circumferential direction of the outer surface extended in the longitudinal direction.

  Insertion / removal of the electrical connector having such a configuration with the mating connector is performed in a state where the flexible substrate is picked, and a moment having an arm length in the longitudinal direction of the flexible substrate acts on the connector. In the present invention, since the side surface portion of the metal shell is disposed on the side surface of the housing in the longitudinal direction of the flexible substrate, the rigidity against the moment is increased and the bending acting on the connector can be sufficiently resisted. In addition, the height can be kept low only by increasing the thickness of the side portion to the side.

  In the present invention, the metal shell preferably extends over the entire height range of the housing at the portion where the side surface portion is attached to the housing. By doing so, the side surface portion of the metal shell directly receives the force from the flexible substrate and the circuit substrate as another substrate at the upper and lower end surfaces thereof, and the force applied to the housing is further reduced.

  The metal shell preferably has a side surface extending over the entire length of the housing in the longitudinal direction of the flexible substrate. Thereby, a side part becomes large and intensity | strength improves that much.

  In the present invention, the metal shell can be reliably attached to the housing, for example, by being integrally molded with the housing. In that case, if the metal shell is integrally molded with the housing engaged with the concavo-convex portion, the holding force between the housing and the metal shell is further strengthened.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the metal shell has a connection portion that can be soldered to the flexible substrate. By doing so, the holding force between the metal shell and the flexible substrate is increased.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since the side surface portion of the metal shell is provided at least in the circumferential direction of the side surface of the housing in the longitudinal direction of the flexible substrate, the connector exhibits the most bending stress from the flexible substrate when the connector is inserted or removed. The housing is reinforced at the receiving part, and the bending stress is received in the side plate surface, so the connector designed to be low in height is not raised, and the rigidity is increased without increasing the size to the side. It can be secured very large. As a result, the burden on the housing is reduced, the deformation of the connector is prevented, and the reliability of the connector is maintained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

  In FIG. 1, the connector 10 of the present embodiment is fitted and connected to a mating connector 30.

  The connector 10 is attached to and connected to the flexible board F on the lower surface thereof. The connector 10 is thin as a whole, and has a planar shape in which an outer shape is rectangular and a rectangular hole that penetrates the central portion is formed. The connector 10 has a terminal 12 held in a housing 11 in which a hole serving as a receiving portion for receiving the mating connector 30 is formed in the center, and a metal shell 13 is attached to the outer surface of the housing 11.

  The housing 11 has a planar shape, a rectangular outer shape, and a rectangular hole 14 formed in the center. In the housing 11, contact portions 12 </ b> B <b> 1 of the terminals 12 are arranged at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction on the opposing inner wall surface extending in the longitudinal direction of the hole portion 14. The terminal grooves 16 for accommodating these terminals 12 are opened on the opposed inner wall surface and the upper surface of the hole portion 14 as shown in FIG. 3 (the illustration of the flexible substrate is omitted) and FIG. The terminal groove 16 is formed with an island-shaped fixing portion 16A. Further, the opposed inner wall surface of the hole portion 14 forms a concave portion 17A extending in the vertical direction at the opening edge of the terminal groove 16, and a convex portion 17B parallel to the concave portion is provided between adjacent terminal grooves. The tooth-like portion 17 is formed by alternately repeating the uneven portions.

  At the end of the arrangement range of the terminals 12, a ridge 11 </ b> A is formed on the upper surface of the housing 11. 11 A of this protruding item | line part protrudes in steps from the upper surface 11B of the housing in the arrangement range of the said terminal 12 by the dimension corresponded to the plate | board thickness of the below-mentioned metal shell. Further, a convex edge portion 11C having the same height as the convex strip portion 11A is formed on the upper surface of the housing at the edge of the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the hole portion 14.

  In the housing 11, a locking recess 18 is formed on the opposing inner wall surface extending in the longitudinal direction of the hole portion 14 at a position adjacent to the protruding strip portion 11 </ b> A in the same direction outside the terminal arrangement range. A contact piece recess 19 is formed relatively large on the inner surface of the opposite end at the direction end.

  The terminal 12 housed in the terminal groove 16 of the housing 11 is a metal plate, as is often seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 (in FIG. 3, illustration of a flexible substrate and a circuit board is omitted). It is shaped to maintain the surface. The terminal 12 includes a base portion 12A having an inverted L shape and an S-shaped elastic arm portion 12B extending from the base portion 12A. The base 12A is rigid and has a mounting recess 12A1, and is fitted and attached to the island-shaped fixing portion 16A described above by the mounting recess 12A1. The elastic arm portion 12 </ b> B has a contact portion 12 </ b> B <b> 1 on the free end side, and when the terminal 12 is received in the terminal groove 16, the contact portion 12 </ b> B <b> 1 slightly protrudes into the recess 17 </ b> A of the terminal groove 16. The lower end, which is the free end of the base portion 12A, slightly protrudes from the bottom surface of the housing 11 to form a connection portion 12C for contact with the flexible substrate. As described above, the terminal 12 does not protrude from the outer surface of the housing. The metal shell 13 attached to the outer side surface of the housing 11 by integrally forming with the housing is made by processing a single metal plate, and includes an upper surface portion 20, a side surface portion 21, and a sub-side surface portion 22. have.

  The upper surface portion 20 covers the upper surface of the housing in a region in the longitudinal direction of the housing and closer to the end portion side than the projecting ridge portion 11A. The upper surface portion 20 is in close contact with the projecting ridge portion 11A and the projecting edge portion 11C. Is forming. Therefore, the upper surface of the housing exposes the arrangement range of the terminals. In this range, the upper surface of the housing is lower than the upper surface portion 20 of the metal shell 13 by the thickness of the metal shell 13.

  The outer surface extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing 11 is covered with the side surface portion 21 of the metal shell 13 over the entire area. A small hole 21A is locally drilled in the side surface portion 21, and a portion 11D of the housing 11 molded integrally with the side portion 21 is inserted into the side surface portion 21 to form a concavo-convex portion and mesh with each other. Is firmly maintained. The side surface portion 21 substantially entirely covers the outer surface extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing 11, but there are also portions that are cut extremely shallowly at the upper and lower edges. However, the lower edge and the upper edge are formed with contact portions 21B and 21C positioned at the lowest and highest positions in the height direction of the connector. The abutting portion 21B is in a position where it abuts on the surface of the flexible substrate F when the connector 10 is attached to the flexible substrate F, and the abutting portion 21C is in contact with the mating connector 30 on another circuit substrate. When the connector 30 is fitted to the connector 10, the connector 30 is in a position where it abuts against the surface of the other circuit board. The side surface portion 21 is connected to the upper surface portion 20 via a bent portion.

  The outer side surface extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing is largely covered with the sub-side surface portion 22 of the metal shell 13. The auxiliary side surface portion 22 is formed from the upper surface portion 20 through a bent portion. Also on the sub-side surface portion 22, a contact portion 22 </ b> A is formed at a position where it contacts the flexible substrate F, similarly to the contact portion 21 </ b> B at the lower edge of the side surface portion 21.

  As described above, the upper surface portion 20, the side surface portion 21, and the auxiliary side surface portion 22 are integrally formed in directions orthogonal to each other, so that these portions reinforce each other, and the metal shell 13 has high strength. ing.

  In the metal shell 13, a lock portion 23 and a contact piece 24 are formed to extend on the hole 14 side of the housing 11. The lock part 23 is housed in such a manner that the end edge of the lock part 23 is in close contact with the inner wall surface of the locking recess 18 of the housing 11 and has a high rigidity. The contact piece 24 is bent in a substantially inverted L shape so as to be accommodated in the contact piece recess 19 of the housing 11 and has an inclined surface 24A. The contact piece 24 has elasticity that allows bending without contact with the inner wall surface of the contact piece recess 19.

  With respect to the connector 10 of this embodiment, the mating connector 30 is formed in a shape and size that can be completely accommodated in the hole 14 of the connector 10 in a planar shape and height dimension. In FIG. 1, the circuit board to which the mating connector is attached is not shown.

  The housing 31 of the mating connector 30 has a rectangular plate shape with a planar shape that matches the hole 14. The housing 31 is formed with terminal grooves 32 that are open at the top and bottom and laterally on both sides extending in the longitudinal direction. As shown in FIGS. A fixed portion 32A is provided.

  At the position where the terminal groove 32 is formed, the side surface of the housing 31 forms a concave portion 33A extending in the vertical direction, and a convex portion 33B parallel to the concave portion is provided between adjacent terminal grooves, and the concave and convex portions are formed. The tooth-like portion 33 is formed by repeating alternately. The tooth-like portion 33 meshes with the tooth-like portion 17 of the connector 10 when fitted with the connector 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the terminal 34 accommodated in the terminal groove 32 is shaped while maintaining the plate surface of the metal plate, and has an inverted U shape. An inverted U-shaped attachment recess 34A is formed in the lower portion, and when the terminal 34 is inserted into the terminal groove 32 from above, the attachment recess 34A is fitted and attached to the island-shaped fixing portion 32A. The terminal 34 has a contact portion 35 that slightly protrudes into the terminal groove 32 at the side edge, and a connection portion 36 that protrudes upward at the upper edge.

  Fixing brackets 37 are attached to the housing 31 in the vicinity of both ends in the longitudinal direction. The fixing bracket 37 is made by bending a metal plate, and extends in a J shape in the same plane as the base portion 37A from the base portion 37A and two leg-like connection portions 37B protruding upward from the base portion 37A. It has two to-be-locked parts 37C formed as elastic arms, and a contact part 37D formed in a J-shape in the plate surface direction with respect to the base part 37A. The fixing bracket 37 is inserted into the housing 31 from below in FIG. 1, the connecting portion 37B is upward, the free end portion of the locked portion 37C is lateral, the contact portion 37D is end-side, Each protrudes from the housing 31.

  In the present embodiment, the connector 10 and the mating connector 30 are used in the following manner.

  (1) First, the connector 10 is attached to the flexible board F, and the mating connector 30 is attached to the circuit board. As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 10 is arranged on the flexible substrate F so that the longitudinal direction of the connector coincides with the longitudinal direction of the flexible substrate F, and the connection portion 12C of the terminal 12 is soldered to the corresponding circuit portion. The Further, since the contact portions 21B and 22A of the metal shell 13 are in contact with the flexible substrate F, solder connection fixation may be performed here as necessary. Further, the mating connector 30 is reversed and disposed on the circuit board P with the upper surface of the connector facing downward in FIG. 1 (see FIG. 2), and the connection portion 36 of the terminal 34 is soldered to the corresponding circuit portion. While connecting, the connection part 37B of the fixing metal fitting 37 is soldered and fixed to the corresponding part. Thus, the connector 10 is a connector with a flexible board, and the mating connector 30 is a connector with a circuit board.

  (2) In order to connect the two connectors 10 and 30 with the board, the mating connector 30 is aligned with the hole 14 of the connector 10 in a state where the boards F and P are held facing each other. Fitted. By fitting, the contact portion 35 of the terminal 34 of the mating connector 30 contacts the contact portion 12B1 of the terminal 12 of the connector 10, and the locked portion 37C of the fixing bracket 37 of the mating connector 30 is the locking portion of the metal shell 13 of the connector 10. 23, the contact portion 37 </ b> D of the fixing bracket 37 of the mating connector 30 comes into contact with the contact piece 24 of the metal shell 13 of the connector 10. Thus, the two connectors 10 and 30 are connected to each other at the terminals 12 and 34, and are prevented from being disconnected from each other by the engagement between the lock portion 23 and the locked portion 37 </ b> C, and the contact piece 24 of the metal shell 13 and the fixing bracket 37. The ground is made by contact with the contact portion 37D. The mating connector 30 is completely accommodated in the hole 14 of the connector 10 in the height direction when the mating is finished. Therefore, the metal shell 13 of the connector 10 is in contact with the circuit board P of the mating connector 30 at the contact portion 21C and the upper surface portion 20 thereof.

  (3) The above-described fitting of the two connectors 10 and 30 and the subsequent extraction are usually performed by picking the flexible board F to which the connector 10 is connected. Therefore, a large bending moment having an arm length in the longitudinal direction of the flexible substrate F is applied to the connectors 10 and 30 from the flexible substrate F that is easily bent. In particular, since the connector 10 has a large outer dimension and the hole 14 is formed in the center, the connector 10 is easily affected by the moment. However, since the connector 10 is provided with the side surface portion 21 of the metal shell 13 on the outer side surface in the longitudinal direction of the flexible board where the moment acts greatly, the moment is sufficiently countered. In addition, since the side surface portion 21 is in contact with the circuit board P of the mating connector 30 at the upper contact portion 21C, the lower contact portion is directly subjected to the moment and force from the flexible substrate F of the connector 10. 21C is transmitted to the circuit board P of the connector 30 and the burden on the housing 11 of the connector 10 is greatly reduced. The same applies to the sub-side surface portion 22. Furthermore, since the side surface portion 21, the sub-side surface portion 22, and the upper surface portion 20 are integrally formed orthogonally, they are reinforced and have high strength and sufficiently withstand the moments and forces. Further, the metal shell 13 is partially but shielded and grounded via the reinforcing metal fitting 37 of the mating connector 30.

  (4) When the electronic devices or the like that employ these connectors are dropped while the connectors 10 and 30 are fitted to each other, and the connectors 11 receive an impact force, the housings 11 and 31 have their teeth 17 and 17 Since 33 is engaged with a large number of irregularities, the impact force is not transmitted to the contact portion of the terminal, so that the terminal is protected and the contact state is kept good. Further, since the housing receives the stress distributed in a large number of meshed portions of the tooth-like portions 17 and 33, the housing itself has a low risk of damage.

  The present invention is not limited to the illustrated form and can be variously modified. For example, the side surface portion and the sub-side surface portion of the metal shell do not have to be in contact with the flexible substrate or the circuit board of the mating connector by having a contact portion, and are provided in a part in the height direction of the housing. It may be done. Even in this case, the housing is sufficiently reinforced.

It is a perspective view which shows the connector with a flexible substrate and mating connector as one Embodiment of this invention in the state before fitting. The connector of FIG. 1 is shown, (A) is a front view, (B) is a side view. It is a cross-sectional perspective view before the connector of FIG. 1 and a mating connector are fitted. It is sectional drawing of both the connectors of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10 Connector 13 Metal shell
11 Housing 14 Receiving part (hole part)
12 terminal 21 side surface part 12B1 contact part 30 mating connector 12C connection part F flexible substrate

Claims (6)

  An electrical connector with a flexible board that is attached to a flexible board and mated with a mating connector attached to another board to electrically connect both boards, and the housing is a receiving portion that provides a space for receiving the mating connector Is formed, and a metal shell formed of a metal plate is attached to the housing in the electrical connector in which terminals that come into contact with the mating terminal of the mating connector are arranged along the pair of opposed inner walls of the receiving portion, The metal shell has a side surface portion that covers at least a part in the circumferential direction of at least the outer surface extending in the longitudinal direction of the flexible board among the outer peripheral surfaces of the housing forming a surface parallel to the connector fitting direction. An electrical connector with a flexible board.   The electrical connector with a flexible substrate according to claim 1, wherein the metal shell extends over the entire height range of the housing at a portion where the side surface portion is attached to the housing.   The electrical connector with a flexible substrate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a side surface of the metal shell extends over the entire length of the housing in the longitudinal direction of the flexible substrate.   4. The electrical connector with a flexible substrate according to claim 1, wherein the metal shell is integrally molded with the housing.   The electrical connector with a flexible substrate according to claim 4, wherein the metal shell is integrally molded in a state in which the metal shell is engaged with the concave and convex portions.   6. The electrical connector with a flexible substrate according to claim 1, wherein the metal shell has a connection portion that can be soldered to the flexible substrate.

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