JP2009016071A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector of which the constitution is simple and compact, and which has a rotation structure to connect between two connection objects. <P>SOLUTION: The connector 61 and the connector 71 connect a substrate 81 and a substrate 91. On the substrate 81, a first housing 62 is mounted, and in a first housing 62, a second housing 63 is retained capable of rotation by 90° to the right around the rotation axis 63a. A contact 64 is arranged and installed to a fitting guide part 63d of the second housing 63 via the first housing 62 from the substrate 81. On the substrate 91, the first housing 72 is mounted, and in the first housing 72, the second housing 73 is retained rotatably by 90° to the left around the rotation axis 73a. The contact 74 is arranged and installed up to a fitting hole 73c of the second housing 73 via the first housing 72 from the substrate 91. Firstly, the second housing 73 is rotated to a position of double dotted line in the arrowhead direction. Next, the second housing 63 is rotated to the position of the double dotted line in the arrowhead direction. Then, both connectors 61, 71 are fitted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector having a rotating structure for connecting two connection objects.

  A conventional rotary connector will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 13 of publications distributed before the present application (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  This rotary connector includes a plug-side connector 3 and a receptacle-side connector 5.

  The plug-side connector 3 includes a plug-side insulator 31, a plug-side contact 32 provided on the plug-side insulator 31, and a contact alignment plate 33.

  The plug-side insulator 31 has an insertion part 311 and a plate-like part 312. The insertion portion 311 and the plate-like portion 312 are integrally formed of resin. The insertion portion 311 includes a disc portion 311a and a shaft portion 311b. Both end surfaces in the thickness direction of the disk portion 311a are flat surfaces. The shaft portion 311b is provided at the center of the disc portion 311a. The plate-like part 312 is provided on the side surface of the insertion part 311. A notch 312 a is formed at one end of the plate-like portion 312. Bolt insertion holes 312 b are provided on both sides of one end of the plate-like portion 312. By passing a bolt (not shown) through the bolt insertion hole 312b and a bolt insertion hole of the first printed circuit board (not shown), and screwing a nut (not shown) into the bolt, the plate-like portion 312 is inserted. Is fixed to the first printed circuit board.

  Six plug-side contacts 32 are provided on the plug-side insulator 31 in two upper and lower stages. Each plug-side contact 32 includes a plug-side contact portion 32a, a connection portion 32b, and a connecting portion 32c. The plug-side contact portion 32a is thin and flat, and is disposed on both end surfaces in the thickness direction of the disc portion 311a. In a state where the plug-side contact portion 32a is disposed on both end surfaces in the thickness direction of the disc portion 311a, the surface of the plug-side contact portion 32a is flush with both end surfaces in the thickness direction of the disc portion 311a. The plug-side contact portion 32 a has an arc shape and extends along the virtual concentric circle 30. The connection part 32b is pin-shaped and extends in the thickness direction of the disk part 311a. The connecting portion 32b is soldered to a through hole (not shown) of the first printed board. The connecting portion 32c has a pin shape and connects the plug-side contact portion 32a and the connecting portion 32b. A part of the connecting portion 32 c is embedded in the plug-side insulator 31.

  The contact alignment plate 33 has a plate shape and is disposed in the notch 312 a of the plate-like portion 312. The contact alignment plate 33 has twelve insertion holes 33a. These insertion holes 33a are arranged in two rows. By connecting the connection portions 32b of the plug-side contacts 32 through these insertion holes 33a, the connection portions 32b are aligned.

  The receptacle-side connector 5 includes a receptacle-side insulator 51, a receptacle-side contact 52 provided on the receptacle-side insulator 51, a lock release member 53, and a contact alignment plate 54.

  The receptacle-side insulator 51 has a pair of clamping bodies 511 and a fixing portion 512. The pair of sandwiching bodies 511 and the solid portion 512 are integrally formed of resin. The pair of sandwiching bodies 511 have the same shape and face each other with a gap in the thickness direction. The sandwiching body 511 has a substantially semicircular plate shape. The holding body 511 includes a lock portion 511a, a fitting guide portion 511b (see FIGS. 12 and 13), and a guide groove 511c (see FIG. 11E). The lock portion 511a extends along one direction and includes a spring piece 511d, a protrusion 511e, and an engagement piece 511f (see FIGS. 12 and 13). The spring piece 511d has a strip shape and has elasticity. The protrusion 511e is provided at one end of the spring piece 511d and has an inclined surface 511g and a lock surface 511h. The engaging piece 511f is provided at one end of the protrusion 511e and has an inclined surface 511i. The fixing portion 512 has a block shape, and sandwiching bodies 511 are provided on both end surfaces in the thickness direction. A notch 512 a is formed at the center of the fixed portion 512. Bolt insertion holes 512b are provided on both sides of the fixing portion 512. Bolts (not shown) are passed through these bolt insertion holes 512b and bolt insertion holes of the second printed circuit board (not shown), and nuts (not shown) are screwed into the bolts, thereby fixing portions 512. Is fixed to the second printed circuit board. In addition, the fixing portion 512 includes a curved surface 512c (see FIG. 11F). The curved surface 512c receives the side surface of the insertion portion 311 of the plug-side insulator 31.

  Six receptacle contacts 52 are provided on the inner surfaces of the pair of sandwiching bodies 511. Each receptacle-side contact 52 includes a receptacle-side contact portion 52a, a spring portion 52b, a connecting portion 52c, and a connecting portion 52d. The receptacle-side contact portion 52a is a roller. The spring portion 52b has a strip shape and supports the roller 52a and presses the roller 52a against the plug-side contact portion 32a. A part of the spring portion 52 b is supported by the receptacle-side insulator 51. The connection part 52 c is pin-shaped and extends in the thickness direction of the sandwiching body 511. The connection part 52c is soldered to a through hole (not shown) of the second printed circuit board. The connecting portion 52d has a pin shape and connects the spring portion 52b and the connecting portion 52c.

  The unlocking member 53 has convex pieces 53a (see FIG. 11E) on both sides thereof. By inserting these convex pieces 53a into the guide grooves 511c, the unlocking member 53 can be moved in one direction described above.

  The contact alignment plate 54 has a plate shape and is disposed in the notch 512 a of the fixing portion 512. The contact alignment plate 54 has twelve insertion holes 54a. These insertion holes 54a are arranged in two rows. The connecting portions 52c are aligned by passing the connecting portions 52c of the receptacle-side contacts 52 through these insertion holes 54a.

  Next, the operation of this rotary connector will be described.

  First, when the plug-side connector 3 and the receptacle-side connector 5 are fitted, the insertion portion 311 of the plug-side insulator 31 is inserted between the pair of holding bodies 511 of the receptacle-side insulator 51 along the radial direction of the virtual concentric circle 30. The At this time, the shaft portion 311 b of the plug-side insulator 31 is inserted between the fitting guide portions 511 b of the receptacle-side insulator 51. Thereby, since the shaft portion 311b is guided in one direction by the fitting guide portion 511b, the plug-side connector 3 and the receptacle-side connector 5 are fitted in one direction. When the shaft portion 311b advances along one direction and contacts the inclined surface 511g of the projection 511e, the projection 511e is pushed away by the shaft portion 311b. The plug-side connector 3 stops when the disk portion 311a hits the curved surface 512c of the receptacle-side insulator 51 (see FIG. 12). At this time, the projection 511e gets over the shaft portion 311b, and the shaft portion 311b and the lock surface 511h of the projection 511e come into contact with each other. Therefore, the movement of the shaft portion 311b in one direction is prevented by the contact between the disc portion 311a and the curved surface 512c and the contact between the shaft portion 311b and the lock surface 511h. Further, the movement of the shaft portion 311b in the left-right direction (one direction and the direction orthogonal to the shaft direction of the shaft portion 311b) is blocked by the contact between the shaft portion 311b and the fitting guide portion 511b. As described above, the shaft portion 311b cannot move in one direction and the left-right direction, but the shaft portion 311b is not fixed anywhere, and thus can be rotated. Therefore, since the shaft portion 311b is rotatably supported by the receptacle-side insulator 51, the plug-side connector 3 rotates around the shaft portion 311b as indicated by an imaginary line in FIG. 9B.

  When the plug-side connector 3 and the receptacle-side connector 5 are detached, the lock release member 53 attached to the receptacle-side insulator 51 is moved toward the shaft portion 311b. Then, the lock release member 53 comes into contact with the inclined surface 511 i of the engagement piece 511 f of the receptacle-side insulator 51, and the engagement piece 511 f is flipped up by the lock release member 53. Thereafter, the lock release member 53 enters under the engagement piece 511f (see FIG. 13). Accordingly, the protrusion 511e moves upward and moves away from the shaft portion 311b. As a result, the plug-side connector 3 can move in the disengagement direction, and the plug-side connector 3 is pulled out.

  When the plug-side connector 3 and the receptacle-side connector 5 are fitted and detached, the roller 52a of the receptacle-side contact 52 rolls on the disk portion 311a of the insertion portion 311. Further, when the plug-side connector 3 rotates relative to the receptacle-side connector 5, the roller 52a rolls on the plug-side contact portion 32a disposed on the disc portion 311a of the insertion portion 311 and always contacts the plug-side. Conductive with the portion 32a.

  A floating structure that can absorb the displacement after the connector and the mating connector are connected is described in a publication distributed before the present application (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2002-151225 A JP 2006-59788 A

  The conventional rotary connector has a complicated structure and must be enlarged.

  Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a connector having a rotating structure that improves the drawbacks of the conventional rotating connector, has a simple configuration, and is compact and connects two objects to be connected.

  The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems.

  1. In the connector 61 for connecting the two connection objects 71 and 81, the connector has a contact 64 and housings 62 and 63 for holding the contact, and the contact is one connection object 81. And a contact part 64b connected to the mating contact part 74b of the other connection object 71. The housing includes a first housing 62, a position before fitting, and a fitting position. And a second housing 63 rotatably held by the first housing, the terminal portion being disposed on the first housing, the contact portion being disposed on the second housing, The connector which connects the said contact part and the other party contact part of a said other connection target object when a 2nd housing rotates to the said fitting position.

  2. In the other connection object 71 to be connected to the connector according to 1, the other connection object includes a mating contact 74 and mating housings 72 and 73 that hold the mating contact. The mating terminal portion 74a and the mating contact portion 74b, and the mating housing is rotatable to the first mating housing 72 between the mating position and the mating position before mating. A second mating housing 73, the mating terminal portion is disposed in the first mating housing, the mating contact portion is disposed in the second mating housing, and the second mating housing is The other connection object which the other party contact part and the contact part of the said connector connect by rotating to the said fitting position.

  As is apparent from the description of the specification, the present invention has the following effects.

  1. Since the present invention comprises a first housing or first mating housing, a second housing or second mating housing that is rotatably held by the first housing or first mating housing, and a contact or mating contact, Simple and low profile when mated.

  2. Since the number of parts is small and the structure is simple, assembly and disassembly can be easily performed.

  Two embodiments of the connector of the present invention will be described.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a state before one connector 61 and the other connector 71 are fitted together.

  In FIG. 2, the second housing 63 (rotation unit, see FIG. 4) of one connector 61 is positioned perpendicular to one substrate 81, but the second housing 73 (rotation unit) of the other connector 71 rotates. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a state before fitting that is positioned in parallel with the other substrate 91.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fitting state in which the second housing 63 of one connector 61 rotates and is positioned in parallel with one substrate 81 in the state of FIG.

  The structure of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  As shown on the left side of FIG. 4, a first housing (base insulator) 62 of one connector 61 is attached on one substrate 81. In the first housing 62, the second housing 63 is fitted with the other connector 71 at an initial position orthogonal to the substrate 81 within a range of about 90 ° by a rotating shaft and a shaft hole structure (described later with reference to FIG. 6). It is attached so as to be rotatable between mating positions. The contact 64 is bent from the terminal portion 64a connected to a terminal (not shown) on one substrate 81 along the inner side 62a of the first housing 62, and then bent into a U shape. It is bent in a U-shape so as to surround the rotation shaft 63a, and is further extended and disposed along the inner side 63b of the second housing 63 and the fitting recess 63c to the outside of the fitting plate portion 63f. A portion of the contact 64 surrounding the fitting plate portion 63f is a contact portion 64b. Note that a suction surface 63e for automatic mounting is provided on the uppermost portion of the second housing 63 in FIG.

  As shown on the right side of FIG. 4, the first housing (base insulator) 72 of the other connector 71 is attached on the other board 91. The first housing 72 is fitted with an initial position perpendicular to the substrate 91 and one connector 61 within a range of about 90 ° by the rotation shaft and shaft hole structure (described later with reference to FIG. 6). It is attached so as to be rotatable between mating positions. The contact 74 is bent from the terminal portion 74a connected to a terminal (not shown) on the other substrate 91 along the inner side 72a of the first housing 72, and then bent into a U shape. It is bent into a U shape so as to surround the rotation shaft 73a, and is further extended to be disposed up to the inner side 73b of the second housing 73 and the fitting hole 73c. A portion of the contact 74 located in the fitting hole 73c is a contact portion 74b. A suction surface 73d for automatic mounting is provided on the top of the second housing 73 in FIG.

  In FIG. 4, first, when the second housing 73 of the other connector 71 rotates 90 ° counterclockwise in the direction of the arrow from the solid line position orthogonal to the other board 91, the second housing 73 reaches the two-dot chain line position parallel to the other board 91. Next, when the second housing 63 of one connector 61 is rotated 90 degrees to the right in the direction of the arrow from the position of the solid line orthogonal to the one board 81, it reaches the position of the two-dot chain line parallel to the one board 81. That is, this state is a fitting state shown in FIG.

  At this time, the second housings 63 and 73 of both the connectors 61 and 71 are floated by the contacts 64 and 74 bent in a U shape at two locations, respectively. The leading end of the fitting guide 63d is first inserted and guided into the fitting hole 73c, so that the fitting guide 63d of one connector 61 is properly inserted into the fitting hole 73c of the other connector 71. The contact 64 is in reliable contact with the contact 74.

  The operation in the process from one connector 61 and the other connector 71 from the pre-fitting state (initial position) in FIG. 4 to the fitting state in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In (A) to (E), a track-shaped rotating shaft 73 a provided in the second housing 73 of the other connector 71 is inserted into a shaft hole 72 b provided in the first housing 72. The shaft hole 72b has a sector part 72b1, an upper recess 72b2, and a left recess 72b3.

  In (A), since the upper part of the rotating shaft 73 a is fitted in the upper recess 72 b 2, the second housing 73 cannot rotate with respect to the first housing 72.

  Due to the elasticity of the contact 74, the second housing 73 is constantly biased to the locked position.

  When the second housing 73 in (A) is pushed with a finger in the direction of the arrow in (B), the second housing 73 moves until the lower portion of the rotation shaft 73a contacts the sector 72b1 of the shaft hole 72b, and the rotation shaft 73a. The upper part escapes from the upper recess 72b2.

  Subsequently, as shown in (C), when the second housing 73 is rotated counterclockwise about the rotation shaft 73a, the lower portion of the rotation shaft 73a moves along the arc surface of the sector 72b1, and the state of (D) To.

  In (D), the second housing 73 is positioned in parallel to the other substrate 91.

  When the finger is released from the second housing 73, the second housing 73 moves to the fitting position shown in (E) by the elasticity of the contact 74. At this position, the upper portion of the rotation shaft 73a is engaged with the left-side recess 72b3 of the shaft hole 72b, so the second housing 73 does not rotate clockwise.

  In (F) to (J), the rotation shaft 63 a provided in the second housing 63 of one connector 61 is inserted into the shaft hole 62 b provided in the first housing 62. The protrusion 63a1 of the rotating shaft 63a can be engaged with and disengaged from the first protrusion 62b1 formed on the inner surface of the shaft hole 62b. However, after the protrusion 63a1 contacts the second protrusion 62b2 formed on the inner surface of the shaft hole 62b, the second housing 63 cannot rotate clockwise.

  In (F), since the protrusion 63a1 of the rotating shaft 63a is engaged with the protrusion 62b1 of the shaft hole 62b, the second housing 63 cannot rotate clockwise.

    Due to the elasticity of the contact 64, the second housing 63 is always biased to the locked position.

  When the second housing 63 in (F) is pushed with a finger in the direction of the arrow in (G), the second housing 63 moves until the lower portion of the rotating shaft 63a contacts the lower portion of the shaft hole 62b, and the protrusion of the rotating shaft 63a. 63a1 is disengaged from the engagement of the shaft hole 62b with the first protrusion 62b1.

  Subsequently, as shown in (H), when the second housing 63 is rotated clockwise about the rotation shaft 63a, the protrusion 63a1 is disengaged from the engagement with the first protrusion 62b1 of the shaft hole 62b, and the second protrusion 63 It abuts on 62b2. Accordingly, the rotation of the second housing 63 stops.

  Further, as shown in (I), the second housing 63 is moved in the upper right direction by the elasticity of the contact 64 and engaged with the first protrusion 62b1, and the rotation to the left is prevented. After that, turn right further.

  Then, as shown in (J) and (E), one connector 61 is engaged with the other connector 71.

  In the present embodiment, the second housings 63 and 73 are moved by the elastic force of the contacts 64 and 74. However, separate elastic members (springs, leaf springs, etc.) may be provided to perform the movement. .

  A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the second embodiment, description of the same points as in the first embodiment will be omitted, and different points will be described.

  The other connector 71 of the second embodiment is a type that does not rotate. The housing 75 is unique and is attached to the other substrate 91. The contact 76 is disposed from the terminal portion 76 a connected to the terminal on the other substrate 91 to the fitting hole 75 c of the housing 75. A portion of the contact 76 located in the fitting hole 75c is a contact portion 76b.

  In the configurations of the first and second embodiments, the manufacturing can be performed easily and the cost is low.

It is a perspective view of the state before one connector in Example 1 of this invention fits with the other connector, and the contact is abbreviate | omitted. It is a perspective view of the state before one connector in Example 1 fits with the other connector (however, after rotation of a 2nd housing), and the contact is abbreviate | omitted. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a state in which one connector in Example 1 is fitted with the other connector, and contacts are omitted. It is sectional drawing of the state before one connector in Example 1 engages with the other connector. It is sectional drawing of the state which one connector in Example 1 fitted with the other connector. (A)-(J) are various front views of the process from the state before one connector and the other connector in Example 1 to a fitting state. It is a front view of the state before one connector in Example 2 of this invention fits with the other connector. It is a front view of the state which one connector in Example 2 fitted with the other connector. The conventional rotation connector is shown, (A) is a front view, (B) is a top view, (C) is sectional drawing by the AA line seen in the arrow direction in (B). The plug side connector in the rotation connector is shown, (A) is a front view, (B) is a plan view, (C) is a bottom view, (D) is a left side view, and (E) is a right side view. The receptacle side connector in the rotation connector is shown, (A) is a front view, (B) is a plan view, (C) is a bottom view, (D) is a left side view, (E) is a right side view, (F). These are sectional drawings by the BB line seen in the direction of the arrow in (A). The locked state of the rotation connector is shown, (A) is a plan view, and (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in the arrow direction in (A). The unlocking state of the rotation connector is shown, (A) is a plan view, and (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD as viewed in the arrow direction in (A).

Explanation of symbols

61 One connector 62 First housing (base insulator)
62a Inner 62b Shaft hole 62b1 First protrusion 62b2 Second protrusion 63 Second housing 63a Rotating shaft 63a1 Projection 63b Inner 63c Fitting recess 63d Fitting guide 63e Adsorption surface 63f Fitting plate part 64 Contact 64a Terminal part 64b Contact part 71 Connector, connection object 72 First housing (base insulator), first mating housing 72a Inner 72b Shaft hole 72b1 Fan-shaped portion 72b2 Upper recess 72b3 Left recess 73 Second housing, second mating housing 73a Rotating shaft 73b Inner 73c Fitting hole 73d Suction surface 74 Contact, mating contact 74a Terminal part, mating terminal part 74b Contact part, mating contact part 75 Housing 75c Fitting hole 76 Contact 76a Terminal part 76b Contact part 81 One substrate, connection object 91 The other substrate

Claims (2)

In a connector that connects two objects to be connected,
The connector includes a contact and a housing that holds the contact,
The contact has a terminal part connected to one connection object, and a contact part connected to the other contact part of the other connection object,
The housing is composed of a first housing, and a second housing rotatably held by the first housing between a position before fitting and a fitting position.
The terminal portion is disposed in the first housing, and the contact portion is disposed in the second housing;
The connector, wherein the second housing rotates to the fitting position, whereby the contact portion and the other contact portion of the other connection object are connected. In the other connection object to be connected to the connector according to claim 1,
The other connection object has a mating contact and a mating housing that holds the mating contact,
The counterpart contact has a counterpart terminal portion and the counterpart contact portion,
The mating housing is composed of a first mating housing and a second mating housing that is rotatably held by the first mating housing between the position before mating and the mating position.
The mating terminal portion is disposed in the first mating housing; the mating contact portion is disposed in the second mating housing;
The other connection object, wherein the second mating housing rotates to the fitting position, whereby the mating contact portion and the contact portion of the connector are connected.

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