JP2012003868A - Connector and connector assembly equipped with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector (receptacle connector) capable of retaining a mating connector (plug connector) without a rattle when the connector is in a fitted state with the mating connector.SOLUTION: A connector 100 comprises: a first contact 120 having a first contact portion 122; a second contact 170 having a second contact portion 172; and a support part 154. The second contact portion 172 is located at a position different from the first contact portion 122 both in the X-direction and the Z-direction. The support part 154 is located at a position different from the first contact portion 122 in the Z-direction, and is positioned closer to the first contact portion 122 rather than to the second contact portion 172. A rattling of a mating connector 200 is prevented by supporting a fitting part 203 with the first contact portion 122, the second contact portion 172 and the support part 154 which are arranged in a triangle shape as described above.

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a receptacle connector having a plug connector as a mating connector. The present invention also relates to a connector assembly including such a connector.

  This type of connector assembly is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.

JP 2007-234488 A

  However, the connector assembly of Patent Document 1 may rattle the plug connector when the plug connector and the receptacle connector are fitted.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle connector that can hold the plug connector without rattling in a fitted state between the plug connector and the receptacle connector, and a connector assembly including the receptacle connector.

The present invention provides the first connector as
A connector having a receiving portion for receiving a fitting portion of a mating connector having a first surface and a second surface along a first direction,
A first contact having a first contact portion that contacts the first surface when the fitting portion is received by the receiving portion; and a first spring portion that supports the first contact portion;
A second contact portion that is positioned so as to face the first contact portion in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and that is located at a position different from the first contact portion in the first direction, the fitting A second contact having a second contact portion that comes into contact with the second surface when the joint portion is received by the receiving portion; and a second spring portion that supports the second contact portion;
A housing for accommodating the first contact and the second contact;
A shell that at least partially covers the housing; and is located at a position different from the first contact portion in the second direction and located at a depth of the receiving portion from the first contact portion in the first direction. A support part that supports a part of the second surface when the fitting part is received by the receiving part;
A connector is provided.

The present invention is the first connector as the second connector,
The support portion provides a connector formed as a part of the housing.

The present invention is the second connector as the third connector,
A reinforcing portion held by the housing, wherein the reinforcing portion is provided so as to sandwich the support portion with the fitting portion in the second direction when the fitting portion is received by the receiving portion. A connector is provided.

The present invention is the third connector as the fourth connector,
A contact member held by the housing;
The contact member is separated from each other in the second direction and extends in the first direction, and a connecting portion that connects the first jaw and the second jaw, and the first jaw and the second jaw. And
The first jaw functions as the first contact;
The second jaw portion provides a connector that functions as the reinforcing portion.

The present invention is the fourth connector as the fifth connector,
The contact member provides a connector held in the housing only by press-fitting the second jaw into the housing.

The present invention provides the sixth connector as any one of the first to fifth connectors,
The second contact provides a connector formed as part of the shell.

The present invention, as a mating connector,
A mating connector connected to any one of the first to sixth connectors and having the fitting portion is provided.

The present invention, as a first connector assembly comprising the connector according to any one of the first to second and a mating connector,
The mating connector has an extending portion extending in the first direction at a position away from the fitting portion in the second direction;
The connector receives the extension when the fitting portion is inserted into the receiving portion with the mating connector turned upside down, thereby preventing the mating connector from being inserted upside down. A connector assembly is provided.

The present invention is a first connector assembly as a second connector assembly,
The mating connector comprises a mating shell;
The extension is formed as part of the mating shell;
The stopper provides a connector assembly formed as part of the shell.

  According to the present invention, when the receiving part of the connector receives the fitting part of the mating connector, the fitting part is formed by the first contact part of the first contact, the second contact part of the second contact, and the support part. Since it is supported at three points, rattling of the mating connector is unlikely to occur.

1 is a perspective view showing a connector assembly including a receptacle connector (connector) and a plug connector (mating connector) according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows a connector assembly along the II-II line of FIG. Here, for the receptacle connector, only the vicinity of the receiving portion is shown, and for the plug connector, only the vicinity of the fitting portion is shown. Also, the wire is not shown in the cross section. It is a perspective view which shows the receptacle connector of FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the receptacle connector along line IV--IV in FIG. 3. Here, for the receptacle connector, only the vicinity of the receiving portion is shown. It is a perspective view which shows the plug connector of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows a plug connector along the VI--VI line of FIG. Here, only the vicinity of the fitting portion is shown for the plug connector. Also, the wire is not shown in the cross section.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a connector assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a receptacle connector (connector) 100 disposed and fixed in a recess formed in an edge of a circuit board (not shown), And a plug connector (mating connector) 200 to which a plurality of cables 50 are connected. As can be understood from FIGS. 2 and 4, the receptacle connector 100 according to the present embodiment is formed so as to extend along the X direction (first direction) (from the front end 101 toward the rear end 102). Part 103. As can be understood from FIGS. 2 and 6, the plug connector 200 according to the present embodiment includes a substantially plate-like fitting portion 203 extending along the X direction. As can be understood from FIGS. 2, 4, and 6, the receiving portion 103 receives the fitting portion 203 along the X direction, and the receptacle connector 100 and the plug connector 200 are fitted and connected. Note that the size of the receiving portion 103 according to the present embodiment in the Z direction (second direction) is substantially equal to the size of the fitting portion 203 in the Z direction.

  3 and 4, the receptacle connector 100 according to the present embodiment includes a contact member 110 made of metal and having a first contact (first jaw) 120 and a reinforcement (second jaw) 130; A housing 150 made of an insulating material, a shell 160 made of metal, and a second contact 170 are provided.

  In particular, as shown in FIG. 4, the contact member 110 has a deformed tuning fork shape or a substantially J-shaped shape in which the first jaw portion (first contact) 120 is longer than the second jaw portion (reinforcing portion) 130. Have. Specifically, the first contact (first jaw) 120 and the reinforcing portion (second jaw) 130 extend in parallel to each other. The first contact 120 functions as a signal contact, and is formed as a first jaw portion extending along the −X direction. The reinforcing portion 130 is formed as a second jaw portion that extends along the −X direction and is shorter than the first contact (first jaw) 120. The contact member 110 further includes a connecting portion 140 that connects the first contact (first jaw) 120 and the reinforcing portion (second jaw) 130 in the Z direction. As understood from FIGS. 2 and 4, the first jaw portion, that is, the first contact 120 has elasticity with the first contact portion 122 that abuts on the upper surface (first surface) 204 of the fitting portion 203. And a first spring portion 124 that supports the first contact portion 122 in a displaceable manner. Two press-fit portions 132 and 134 are formed in the second jaw portion, that is, the reinforcing portion 130. As understood from the above description, the first contact 120 and the reinforcing portion 130 in the present embodiment are formed as a single metal member, but may be separated from each other. However, as will be described later, in order to more reliably hold the fitting portion 203 in the receiving portion 103, the first contact 120 and the reinforcing portion 130 are provided like the contact member 110 according to the present embodiment. It is preferable to be connected by the connecting portion 140.

  As can be understood from FIGS. 2 and 4, the second contact 170 functions as a ground contact, and is elastic to the second contact portion 172 that contacts the lower surface (second surface) 205 of the fitting portion 203. And a second spring portion 174 that supports the second contact portion 172 in a displaceable manner. The second spring portion 174 according to the present embodiment extends from the shell 160 and has a substantially U-shaped cross section in a plane (XZ plane) orthogonal to the Y direction. That is, the second contact 170 according to the present embodiment is formed integrally with the shell 160.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the housing 150 has a recessed portion 153 that is recessed from the front end 151 toward the rear end 152 (that is, along the X direction), and from the rear end 152 toward the front (−X direction). A first accommodating portion 155 made of an extending J-shaped groove and a second accommodating portion 158 that is located below the recess 153 and extends from the front end 151 toward the rear end 152 are formed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the recess 153 is a part that defines the receiving part 103. As can be understood from FIGS. 2 and 4, the inner and lower surfaces of the end portion in the X direction of the concave portion 153 (the rear end 152 side end portion and the back portion of the receiving portion 10) are fitted when the fitting portion 203 is received. It functions as a support portion 154 that supports the tip of the lower surface (second surface) 205 of the joint portion 203.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the first accommodating portion 155 is a portion that accommodates the contact member 110 and has a short portion 156 and a long portion 157.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the short part 156 is a part where the reinforcing part 130 is mainly press-fitted. The short portion 156 does not communicate with the concave portion 153 (the receiving portion 103), but extends to the lower side of the support portion 154. That is, the tip (part) of the short part 156 and the support part 154 are arranged so as to sandwich a part of the housing 150 in the X direction. In the present embodiment, the contact member 110 is held in the housing 150 only by pressing the reinforcing portion 130 into the short portion 156. In other words, the contact member 110 is not provided with a press-fit portion other than the press-fit portions 132 and 134. In particular, in the present embodiment, the press-fit portion 132 in the vicinity of the −X direction tip of the reinforcing portion 130 is located below the support portion 154 and reinforces the support portion 154 from the back side. Usually, the resin used as the material of the housing 150 has some elasticity. However, since the support portion 154 is reinforced by the metal reinforcement portion 130 from the back side, the displacement amount of the support portion 154 is a displacement. Even if it does, it can suppress to a slight amount.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the long portion 157 is a portion that mainly accommodates the first contact 120. The long portion 157 communicates with the concave portion 153 (receiving portion 103). Therefore, in a state where the first contact 120 is accommodated in the long portion 157, the first contact portion 122 can be positioned in the recess 153 (receiving portion 103), and when receiving a force in the + Z direction. It can move toward the long part 157. In other words, the first contact portion 122 according to the present embodiment has the concave portion 153 (receiving portion 103) from the upper side of the concave portion 153 (receiving portion 103) toward the −Z direction (downward) in the initial state (non-fitted state). The first spring portion 124 is supported so as to protrude inward.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the second storage portion 158 is a portion that mainly stores the second contact 170. The second accommodating portion 158 communicates with the concave portion 153 (receiving portion 103). Therefore, in a state where the second contact 170 is accommodated in the second accommodating portion 158, the second contact portion 172 can be positioned in the recess 153 (receiving portion 103) and has received a force in the −Z direction. In some cases, it can move toward the second housing portion 158. In other words, the second contact portion 172 according to the present embodiment has the recess 153 (receiving portion 103) from the lower side of the recessed portion 153 (receiving portion 103) toward the + Z direction (upward) in the initial state (non-fitted state). It is supported by the second spring part 174 so as to protrude inward.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the first contact portion 122, the second contact portion 172, and the support portion 154 according to the present embodiment are located at different positions in the X direction. Specifically, the first contact portion 122 is located between the second contact portion 172 and the support portion 154 in the X direction. Further, the first contact portion 122 is located at a position different from the second contact portion 172 and the support portion 154 in the Z direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the shell 160 according to the present embodiment is attached to the front side of the housing 150. The shell 160 has a surface contact portion 162 on the upper front side, and further, a stopper 166 is provided on the lower side of the front portion. The surface contact portion 162 extends in parallel with a plane (XY plane) orthogonal to the Z direction, and has a length in the Y direction (see FIG. 3). The stopper 166 is configured to rise from the bottom surface 164 of the shell toward the + Z direction. Here, the size from the inner upper surface of the concave portion 153 (receiving portion 103) to the surface contact portion 162 is smaller than the size from the inner lower surface 1532 of the concave portion 153 (receiving portion 103) to the bottom surface 164 of the shell 160. The functions of the surface contact portion 162 and the stopper 166 will be described in relation to the plug connector 200.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the plug connector 200 includes a plug housing 210 made of an insulating material, a signal contact 220 and a ground contact 230 made of metal, and a plug shell (mating side shell) 240 made of metal. I have. As shown in FIG. 6, the plug housing 210 has a plate portion 212 parallel to a plane orthogonal to the Z direction. The plate portion 212 extends so as to have a length in the Y direction, while extending so as to protrude also in the X direction. The signal contact 220 is a part connected to the signal line 52 of the cable 50 and is insert-molded so that a part thereof is exposed on the upper surface of the plate portion 212 when the plug housing 210 is molded. The ground contact 230 is insert-molded so that a part thereof is exposed on the lower surface of the plate portion when the plug housing 210 is molded. Since the ground contact 230 is integrally formed with the plug shell 240, the ground contact 230 is connected to the plug shell 240. An extension portion 242 is formed at the top end of the plug shell 240 so as to extend in the Y direction while extending in the X direction. As is clear from FIG. 6, the extending portion 242 extends in parallel with the fitting portion 203. The size from the lower surface 2421 of the extending portion 242 to the upper surface (first surface) 204 of the fitting portion 203 in the Z direction (the distance between the extending portion 242 and the upper surface (first surface) 204 of the fitting portion 203) is The size is substantially equal to the size from the inner upper surface 1531 of the recess 153 (receiving portion 103) to the upper surface 1621 of the surface contact portion 162.

  When the receiving portion 103 receives the fitting portion 203 and the plug connector 200 is fitted to the receptacle connector 100, the first contact portion 122 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the fitting portion 203 as shown in FIG. The second contact portion 172 contacts the ground contact 230 on the lower surface (second surface) 205 of the fitting portion 203. At this time, the vicinity of the tip of the lower surface (second surface) 205 of the fitting portion 203 is supported by the support portion 154. That is, in a state where the fitting portion 203 is received by the receiving portion 103, the first contact portion 122 is in contact with the upper surface (first surface) 204 of the fitting portion 203, whereas the second contact portion 172. The support portion 154 is in contact with the lower surface (second surface) 205 of the fitting portion 203. As described above, when the receptacle connector 100 and the plug connector 200 are fitted, the fitting portion 203 is supported by the three points of the first contact portion 122, the second contact portion 172, and the support portion 154. The backlash of the fitting portion 203 of the connector 100 is suppressed.

  At the time of this three-point support, since the connecting portion 140 connects the first contact 120 and the reinforcing portion 130, the reaction force received by the first contact portion 122 from the fitting portion 203 is the press-fit portion 132 of the reinforcing portion 130. Is transmitted. As a result, the press-fit portion 132 is pushed upward, and the front end side of the lower surface (second surface) 205 of the fitting portion 203 is firmly supported via the support portion 154. That is, since the support of the fitting portion 203 in the support portion 154 is not a mere passive support but an active support, the play of the fitting portion 203 can be more reliably suppressed.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, when the receptacle connector 100 and the plug connector 200 are fitted, the second contact 170 connected to the shell 160 is connected to the ground contact 230 connected to the plug shell 240. Further, the surface contact portion 162 of the shell 160 and the extending portion 242 extending from the plug shell 240 are also connected. Therefore, good ground characteristics can be obtained.

  Further, since the distance from the receiving portion 103 to the surface contact portion 162 is shorter than the distance from the receiving portion 103 to the bottom surface 164 of the shell 160, the plug connector 200 is temporarily fitted to the receptacle connector 100 in an upside down state. If it tries to do so, the stopper 166 will receive the extension part 242, and the penetration | invasion into the receiving part 103 of the fitting part 203 turned upside down by that will be blocked | prevented. That is, the extending portion 242 and the stopper 166 function as a reverse insertion prevention mechanism that prevents the plug connector 200 upside down from fitting into the receptacle connector 100 (reverse insertion).

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with specific examples, but the present invention is not limited to these. For example, although the plurality of cables 50 are connected to the plug connector 200 in the above-described embodiment, the plug connector 200 may be connected to the FPC / FFC (such as an FPC connector).

  In the above-described embodiment, the support portion 154 is formed as a part of the housing 150. However, another member having high rigidity may be held in the housing 150 and function as a support portion.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the second contact 170 is integrally formed with the shell 160, but may be formed as members independent of each other. Similarly, the stopper 166 may be configured separately from the shell 160, and the extension 242 may be configured separately from the plug shell 240.

10 Connector assembly 50 Cable 52 Signal line 100 Receptacle connector (connector)
101 Front end 102 Rear end 103 Receiving portion 110 Contact member 120 First contact (first jaw)
122 1st contact part 124 1st spring part 130 Reinforcement part (2nd jaw part)
132 Press-fit part 134 Press-fit part 140 Connection part 150 Housing 151 Front end 152 Rear end 153 Recess 154 Support part 155 First storage part 156 Short part 157 Long part 158 Second storage part 160 Shell 162 Surface contact part 164 Bottom face 166 Stopper 170 Second Contact 172 Second contact portion 174 Second spring portion 200 Plug connector (mating connector)
203 Fitting part 204 Upper surface (first surface)
205 Bottom surface (second surface)
210 Plug housing 212 Plate part 220 Signal contact 230 Ground contact 240 Plug shell (mating side shell)
242 extension

Claims (9)

A connector having a receiving portion for receiving a fitting portion of a mating connector having a first surface and a second surface along a first direction,
A first contact having a first contact portion that contacts the first surface when the fitting portion is received by the receiving portion; and a first spring portion that supports the first contact portion;
A second contact portion that is positioned so as to face the first contact portion in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and that is located at a position different from the first contact portion in the first direction, the fitting A second contact having a second contact portion that comes into contact with the second surface when the joint portion is received by the receiving portion; and a second spring portion that supports the second contact portion;
A housing for housing the first contact and the second contact; and being positioned at a position different from the first contact portion in the second direction and extending from the first contact portion to the back of the receiving portion in the first direction. A support portion that is positioned and supports a portion of the second surface when the fitting portion is received by the receiving portion;
Connector with. The connector according to claim 1,
The support portion is a connector formed as a part of the housing. The connector according to claim 2,
A reinforcing portion held by the housing, wherein the reinforcing portion is provided so as to sandwich the support portion with the fitting portion in the second direction when the fitting portion is received by the receiving portion. Provide a connector. The connector according to claim 3, wherein
A contact member held by the housing;
The contact member is separated from each other in the second direction and extends in the first direction, and a connecting portion that connects the first jaw and the second jaw, and the first jaw and the second jaw. And
The first jaw functions as the first contact;
The second jaw part is a connector functioning as the reinforcing part. The connector according to claim 4, wherein
The contact member is a connector held in the housing only by press-fitting the second jaw into the housing. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A connector having a shell that at least partially covers the housing, wherein the second contact is formed as part of the shell.   A mating connector connected to the connector according to claim 1, wherein the mating connector has the fitting portion. A connector assembly comprising the connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and the mating connector according to claim 7.
The mating connector has an extending portion extending in the first direction at a position away from the fitting portion in the second direction;
The connector receives the extension when the fitting portion is inserted into the receiving portion with the mating connector turned upside down, thereby preventing the mating connector from being inserted upside down. A connector assembly. The connector assembly according to claim 8, wherein
The mating connector comprises a mating shell;
The extension is formed as part of the mating shell;
The stopper is a connector assembly formed as a part of the shell.

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