JP2013093115A - Multi-stage insertion type electric connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily determine an insertion state of a plurality of signal transmission media F1, F2 inserted one over another with simple constitution.SOLUTION: A multi-stage insertion type electric connector comprises signal transmission media F1, F2 inserted into a plurality of medium insertion slots 11a, 11b, and position indication pieces F1c, F2c provided in the signal transmission media F1, F2 with the positions thereof are shifted. The multi-stage insertion type electric connector is thereby configured such that only viewing the position indication pieces F1c, F2c provided in each of the signal transmission media F1, F2 enables the immediate determination of such as whether the signal transmission media F1, F2 are inserted into the medium insertion slots 11a, 11b of a plurality of stages up to their final positions, whether the signal transmission media F1, F2 corresponding to the medium insertion slots 11a, 11b are properly inserted without replacing each other, or whether the inserted signal transmission media F1, F2 are in proper top/reverse directions.

Description

  The present invention relates to a multi-stage insertion type electrical connector configured such that a plurality of signal transmission media are inserted into a plurality of stages into an insulating housing through a plurality of medium insertion openings provided in the insulating housing.

  In general, various electrical connectors are widely used as means for electrically connecting various signal transmission media such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC) and a flexible flat cable (FFC) in various electrical devices. It is used. For example, in an electrical connector that is mounted and used on a printed wiring board as in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 below, FPC and FFC are passed through a plurality of medium insertion ports provided in an insulating housing (insulator). In some cases, a plurality of signal transmission media made up of and the like are inserted into an insulating housing so as to overlap each other over a plurality of stages.

  However, in the conventional electrical connector having such a multi-stage insertion structure, since a plurality of signal transmission media are inserted so as to overlap each other, whether or not the insertion amount of the signal transmission media and the orientation of the front and back are appropriate. There is a problem that it is difficult to determine whether or not. In particular, when a signal transmission medium is inserted into the lower stage, the signal transmission medium inserted into the upper stage is temporarily removed and checked or corrected, which causes a reduction in workability. Sometimes.

Utility Model Registration No. 2603160 JP 2000-113933 A

  Therefore, the present invention provides a multi-stage insertion type electrical connector having a simple configuration and capable of easily discriminating the insertion state of a plurality of signal transmission media inserted in an overlapping manner and obtaining good workability. For the purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, in a multi-stage insertion type electrical connector configured such that a plurality of signal transmission media are inserted so as to overlap each other through each of medium insertion ports provided in a plurality of stages in the insulating housing. Each signal transmission medium to be inserted into a plurality of stages of medium insertion openings is provided with a position display piece indicating the insertion position of the signal transmission medium, and the position display pieces are completely inserted into the signal transmission medium. In this state, a configuration is adopted in which they are arranged so as to be shifted to positions that do not overlap each other.

  The position display piece at this time is provided so as to protrude outward from the edge portions on different sides of the signal transmission medium in the width direction of the signal transmission medium, or the signal in the insertion direction of the signal transmission medium. Each transmission medium can be provided so as to be displaced.

  According to the present invention having such a configuration, the signal transmission medium is inserted into each of the plurality of stages of the medium insertion ports to the final position only by visually observing the position of the position display piece provided for each signal transmission medium. It is immediately determined whether the signal transmission medium corresponding to each medium insertion slot is properly inserted without being replaced, or whether the inserted signal transmission medium is properly oriented. Is called.

  In addition, when the position display piece according to the present invention is provided on the opposite edge of the signal transmission medium in the width direction of the signal transmission medium, the insertion of each signal transmission medium into the insulating housing is completed. In this state, it is desirable that the signal transmission medium is provided so as to be arranged in parallel in the insertion direction of the signal transmission medium.

  According to the present invention having such a configuration, since the position display pieces are arranged in a straight line in a state where the insertion of the signal transmission medium is completed, an appropriate insertion state of the signal transmission medium can be intuitively grasped.

  Further, in the present invention, each medium insertion opening is provided with a medium insertion passage extending from the medium insertion opening in the signal transmission medium insertion direction. A medium abutting surface with which the end on the insertion side of the signal transmission medium abuts is formed at the back end in the insertion direction of the signal transmission medium, and the distance from the medium insertion port to the medium abutting surface is It is desirable that each medium insertion path is different.

  According to the present invention having such a configuration, the insertion state of the signal transmission medium inserted over a plurality of stages can be easily determined by visually observing the positional relationship between the medium insertion slot and the position display piece.

  Further, in the present invention, the outer side distance from the both end edges in the width direction of the medium insertion opening to the both end faces of the insulating housing is different for each medium insertion opening, and the medium insertion opening has the It is desirable that the protruding end surfaces of the position display pieces of the signal transmission medium substantially coincide with the positions of both end surfaces of the insulating housing in a state where the insertion of the signal transmission medium is completed.

  According to the present invention having such a configuration, the insertion state of the signal transmission medium inserted over a plurality of stages can be easily determined by visually observing the positional relationship between the wall surface of the insulating housing and the position display piece.

  Further, in the present invention, the display unit support surface on which the position display piece is placed when the signal transmission medium is completely inserted on the wall surface of the insulating housing in which each medium insertion opening is formed has a stepped shape. It is desirable to be provided so as to make

  According to the present invention having such a configuration, since the position display piece of the signal transmission medium is placed on the display unit support surface, the signal transmission medium is stably held.

  Further, in the present invention, the outer side end surface from the edge in the width direction of the medium insertion port to the end surface of the insulating housing, and the position display piece of the signal transmission medium have a certain notch shape. In the state where the insertion determination portions are respectively recessed, the insertion of the signal transmission medium into the medium insertion port is completed, and the position display piece of the signal transmission medium is in contact with the outer end surface of the insulating housing. It is desirable that the insertion determination units are configured to be combined to form a specific shape.

  According to the present invention having such a configuration, the insertion state of the signal transmission medium inserted over a plurality of stages is visually determined by determining whether or not a specific shape is formed by both insertion determination units. Easy to distinguish.

  As described above, the multi-stage insertion type electrical connector according to the present invention is provided for each signal transmission medium by disposing the position display piece on the signal transmission medium inserted into the plurality of medium insertion openings. By simply observing the position of the displayed position display pieces, the signal transmission medium is inserted to the final position for each medium insertion slot in multiple stages, or the signal transmission medium corresponding to each medium insertion slot does not change. Since it is configured to immediately determine whether or not the inserted signal transmission medium is properly oriented, for example, it is inserted with overlapping in a simple configuration. Thus, the insertion state of the plurality of signal transmission media can be easily discriminated, and good workability can be obtained, and the reliability of the multi-stage insertion type electrical connector can be greatly improved at low cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an external perspective explanatory view showing a multi-stage insertion type electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention from the front side (front side). FIG. 2 is an explanatory plan view of the multi-stage insertion type electrical connector shown in FIG. 1. It is front explanatory drawing of the multistage insertion type electrical connector represented by FIG. It is a cross-sectional explanatory drawing along the XX line in FIG. It is a cross-sectional explanatory drawing along the YY line in FIG. FIG. 6 is an external perspective explanatory view showing the structure of two signal transmission media (FPC, FFC, etc.) inserted into the medium insertion passages at the upper and lower stages in the multi-stage insertion type electrical connector shown in FIGS. . FIG. 6 is an external perspective explanatory view showing a state in which a signal transmission medium (FPC, FFC, or the like) is inserted into a lower medium insertion passage in the multi-stage insertion type electrical connector shown in FIGS. FIG. 6 is an external perspective explanatory view showing a state in which two signal transmission media (FPC, FFC, etc.) are inserted into the media insertion passages at the upper and lower stages in the multi-stage insertion type electrical connector shown in FIGS. It is front explanatory drawing of the multistage insertion type electrical connector in the two-stage insertion state of the signal transmission medium (FPC or FFC etc.) represented by FIG. FIG. 10 is a cross sectional explanatory view taken along line XX in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is a cross sectional explanatory view taken along line YY in FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is an explanatory plan view of the multi-stage insertion type electrical connector shown in FIG. 8 in a two-stage insertion state of a signal transmission medium (FPC or FFC). Description of the multi-stage insertion type electrical connector in which the signal transmission medium (FPC, FFC, etc.) is insufficiently inserted into the medium insertion passages at the upper and lower stages in the multi-stage insertion type electrical connector shown in FIGS. FIG. A state where a signal transmission medium (such as FPC or FFC) to be inserted into the lower side is erroneously inserted into the upper side medium insertion path in the multi-stage insertion type electrical connector shown in FIGS. It is a plane explanatory view. A state in which a signal transmission medium (FPC or FFC) to be inserted into the upper stage side is erroneously inserted into the lower stage medium insertion passage in the multi-stage insertion type electrical connector shown in FIGS. It is a plane explanatory view. It is an external appearance perspective explanatory view showing the state where two signal transmission media (FPC or FFC etc.) were inserted in the media insertion passage of each upper and lower stages in the multistage insertion type electrical connector concerning a 2nd embodiment of the invention of this application. .

  In the following, a multi-stage insertion type electrical connector used for mounting on a wiring board to connect a signal transmission medium such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC) or a flexible flat cable (FFC). Embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[General configuration of electrical connector]
First, an electrical connector 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 17 is a multi-stage insertion type electrical equipped with a so-called non-ZIF type one-action auto-lock mechanism. A plurality of sheets (two bodies) through medium insertion ports 11a and 11b provided in a plurality of stages (upper and lower two stages) on the front end side (the left end side in FIGS. 4 and 5) of the insulating housing 11 The terminal portions of the signal transmission media (FPC or FFC, etc.) F1, F2 are inserted to a predetermined position inside the insulating housing 11, and the conductive paths F1b, F2b provided on the surfaces of the signal transmission media F1, F2 are electrically conductive contacts. 12 and 13 are electrically connected to a conductive path formed on a main printed wiring board (not shown) (not shown).

[Insulating housing]
At this time, the insulating housing 11 is formed of a hollow frame-like insulating member extending in a horizontally long shape, and the longitudinal width direction in the insulating housing 11 is simply referred to as a “width direction” or “ The direction in which the terminal portions of the signal transmission media (FPC, FFC, etc.) F1, F2 are inserted and removed is called “connector rear” and “connector front”. The direction perpendicular to both the “connector longitudinal direction” and the “connector longitudinal direction” is referred to as “connector vertical direction”. Further, in the “connector longitudinal direction” described above, the direction from the center side of the connector toward the outer side is referred to as “connector longitudinal direction”. The “connector outward” and the opposite direction are referred to as “connector inward”.

  On the wall surface of the insulating housing 11 on the front end side of the connector (left end side in FIG. 4), as described above, the signal transmission media F1 and F2 made of a flexible printed circuit (FPC), a flexible flat cable (FFC), or the like. The upper medium insertion port 11a and the lower medium insertion port 11b into which the terminal portions of the first and second terminal portions are inserted are provided so as to overlap substantially in parallel in two directions in the vertical direction. These upper and lower medium insertion openings 11a and 11b are formed so as to be elongated along the longitudinal direction of the connector. These two medium insertion openings 11a and 11b are arranged at the arrangement pitch of conductive contacts 12 and 13, which will be described later. The arrangement relationship is shifted in the connector longitudinal direction by a half pitch.

  Further, from each of the upper and lower medium insertion openings 11a and 11b, medium insertion passages 11c and 11d of signal transmission media (FPC or FFC, etc.) F1 and F2 extend toward the rear side of the connector. A medium in which the insertion end of the signal transmission media F1 and F2 contacts the rear end of the connector of each of the medium insertion passages 11c and 11d, that is, the rear end in the insertion direction of the signal transmission media F1 and F2. Contact surfaces 11e and 11f are formed. The medium contact surfaces 11e and 11f are formed from the standing wall surface of the insulating housing 11 that closes the rear end portions of the connectors of the medium insertion passages 11c and 11d, and the medium contact surfaces 11e and 11f The leading ends of the signal transmission media F1 and F2 inserted into the insertion passages 11c and 11d come into contact with each other, and the signal transmission media F1 and F2 stop at the final insertion position defined by the medium contact surfaces 11e and 11f. It has come to be.

  As described above, the upper and lower medium insertion ports 11 a and 11 b are formed on the front end side wall surface of the insulating housing 11, and the insertion position reference surfaces 11 g and 11 h are formed on the front end side wall surface of the insulating housing 11. ing. These insertion position reference surfaces 11g and 11h are formed at portions corresponding to the outer sides in the lateral width direction of the upper and lower medium insertion ports 11a and 11b. With respect to these insertion position reference surfaces 11g and 11h, As will be described later, the position display pieces F1c and F2c protruding from the edge portions of the signal transmission media (FPC or FFC) F1 and F2 are brought into contact with each other. The contact relationship between these members will be described in detail later, but in this embodiment, the depth lengths of the upper and lower medium insertion passages 11c and 11d described above are different from each other.

  That is, the insertion position reference surfaces 11g and 11h arranged on both sides in the horizontal width direction of the upper and lower medium insertion ports 11a and 11b described above are arranged so as to be substantially the same position in the insertion direction of the signal transmission media F1 and F2. However, distances L1 and L2 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) from the insertion position reference surfaces 11g and 11h to the medium contact surfaces 11e and 11f are different for the medium insertion paths 11c and 11d. More specifically, the depth length of the upper medium insertion passage 11c extending from the upper medium insertion port 11a, that is, the distance L1 from the insertion position reference surfaces 11g and 11h to the medium contact surface 11e extends from the lower medium insertion port 11b. The depth of the lower medium insertion passage 11d is set to be larger than the distance L2 from the insertion position reference surfaces 11g and 11h to the medium contact surface 11f (L1> L2). Therefore, as particularly shown in FIG. 11, the signal transmission medium F1 inserted into the upper medium insertion path 11c is more connector than the signal transmission medium F2 inserted into the lower medium insertion path 11d. It is configured to be inserted to the rear side.

  Furthermore, the inside of the medium insertion passages 11c and 11d of the signal transmission media F1 and F2 extending from the upper and lower medium insertion openings 11a and 11b described above is formed by a thin metal plate member having an appropriate shape. Contacts 12 and 13 are mounted over a plurality of bodies. The conductive contacts 12 and 13 are inserted into the insulating housing 11 from the rear end side of the connector and the front end side of the connector, respectively, and are arranged in a multipolar shape at appropriate intervals along the connector longitudinal direction. ing. Each of these conductive contacts 12 and 13 is mounted by solder bonding to a conductive path (not shown) formed on a main printed wiring board (not shown) as either for signal transmission or ground connection. It is designed to be used in the

[About conductive contacts]
As described above, the conductive contacts 12 and 13 are connected from the rear end side and the front end side of the insulating housing 11 to the front of the connector (left side in FIGS. 4 and 5) and the rear of the connector (right side in FIGS. 4 and 5). However, the conductive contacts 12 and 13 mounted in the interior of the insulating housing 11 are inserted into the insulating housing 11 through the upper and lower medium insertion ports 11a and 11b. The signal transmission media (FPC, FFC, etc.) F1, F2 are arranged at positions corresponding to the wiring patterns. The wiring patterns formed on these signal transmission media F1 and F2 are formed by arranging signal transmission conductive paths (signal line pads) or shield conductive paths (shield line pads) at appropriate pitch intervals.

  That is, each of the conductive contacts 12 and 13 is a pair that extends substantially in parallel along the connector front-rear direction, which is the insertion / removal direction of the signal transmission medium (FPC or FFC, etc.) F1 and F2 (left-right direction in FIG. 4). The movable contact beams 12a and 13a and the fixed contact beams 12b and 13b, each of which is an elongated beam member, are provided. These movable contact beams 12a and 13a and fixed contact beams 12b and 13b are arranged so as to face each other at an appropriate interval in the vertical direction in the figure in the internal space of each medium insertion passage 11c and 11d of the insulating housing 11 described above. Has been.

  Among them, the fixed contact beams 12b and 13b are fixed so as to be substantially immovable along the bottom wall surfaces of the medium insertion passages 11c and 11d of the insulating housing 11, but above the fixed contact beams 12b and 13b. The movable contact beams 12a and 13a extending substantially parallel to the position are integrally connected to the fixed contact beams 12b and 13b via the connecting support beam 12c and 13c arranged at the rear end portion.

  The connecting column beams 12c and 13c are formed from narrow columnar members, and the movable contact beams 12a and 13a connected to the upper end portions of the connecting column beams 12c and 13c in the figure are connected to the connecting column beams 12c and 13c. Based on the elastic flexibility, it is configured to be elastically displaced with respect to the above-described fixed contact beams 12b and 13b, and the movable contact beams 12a and 13a rotate around the connecting column beams 12c and 13c or the vicinity thereof. It is configured to be swingable as a moving center. The swinging of the movable contact beams 12a and 13a at that time is performed in the vertical direction within the plane of FIG. 4 and FIG.

  In addition, the wiring patterns formed on the upper surface side of the signal transmission media (FPC, FFC, etc.) F1, F2 on the front end side portions (left end side portions in FIGS. 4 and 5) of the movable contact beams 12a, 13a described above. Upper terminal contact convex portions 12a1 and 13a1 connected to any one of (signal transmission or shield conductive paths) are provided so as to form a downward protruding shape in the figure.

  On the other hand, the fixed contact beams 12b and 13b are arranged so as to extend in the front-rear direction of the connector along the inner wall surface of the bottom plate of the insulating housing 11 as described above, but in the fixed contact beams 12b and 13b, respectively. A wiring pattern (signal transmission or shield conductive path) formed on the lower side of the signal transmission medium (FPC, FFC, etc.) F1 and F2 is provided on the front side portion (left side portion in FIGS. 4 and 5). The lower terminal contact convex portions 12b1 and 13b1 connected to any one of the above are provided so as to form an upward protruding shape in the figure. These lower terminal contact convex portions 12b1 and 13b1 are arranged so as to face the positions directly below the upper terminal contact convex portions 12a1 and 13a1 in the above-described movable contact beams 12a and 13a side.

  As described above, the upper terminal contact protrusions 12a1 and 13a1 and the lower terminal contact protrusions 12b1 and 13b1 provided on the conductive contacts 12 and 13 have the signal transmission media F1 and F2 inserted into the insulating housing 11, respectively. When the signal transmission media F1 and F2 are inserted to a predetermined final position, the fixed contact beam is placed on the wiring pattern provided on the signal transmission media F1 and F2. By being pressed by the elastic force of 12b and 13b, the signal transmission media F1 and F2 are sandwiched and electrically connected between the upper terminal contact convex portions 12a1 and 13a1 and the lower terminal contact convex portions 12b1 and 13b1. It is made the structure maintained by the state made.

  The movable terminal beams 12a and 13a have upper terminal contact protrusions 12a1 and 13a1 and fixed contact beams 12b and 13b. The lower terminal contact protrusions 12b1 and 13b1 are positioned on the front side of the connector. (The left side in FIGS. 4 and 5) or the rear side of the connector (the right side in FIGS. 4 and 5) can be shifted and placed in an electrically connected state. May be any one of the upper terminal contact convex portions 12a1 and 13a1 or the lower terminal contact convex portions 12b1 and 13b1.

  Further, the above-described rear end side portion (right end side portion in FIG. 5) of the fixed contact beam 12b, that is, the lower end portion of the connection support beam 12c is soldered to a conductive path formed on a main printed wiring board (not shown). A board connection portion 12b2 to be connected is provided. On the other hand, the front end side portion (left end side portion in FIG. 4) of the fixed contact beam 13b, that is, the lower end portion on the opposite side to the connecting column beam 13c is soldered to a conductive path formed on a main printed wiring board (not shown). A board connection portion 13b2 to be connected is provided.

  Here, as described above, each signal transmission medium (FPC or FFC or the like) F1, F2 inserted into the upper medium insertion port 11a and the lower medium insertion port 11b provided over a plurality of levels (two levels) has a plate. Terminal connection portions F1a and F2a formed in a thick shape are provided, respectively. Conductive paths (terminal portions) F1b and F2b for signal transmission or shielding are formed on the front and back surfaces of the terminal connection portions F1a and F2a so as to be exposed to the outside, respectively. , F2b are sandwiched and electrically connected between the upper terminal contact convex portions 12a1, 13a1 of the movable contact beams 12a, 13a and the lower terminal contact convex portions 12b1, 13b1 of the fixed contact beams 12b, 13b. The

  In addition, the terminal connection portions F1a and F2a of the respective signal transmission media (FPC or FFC, etc.) F1 and F2 have insertion positions of the signal transmission media F1 and F2, that is, the signal transmission media F1 and F2 are both upper and lower media. Upper and lower position display pieces F1c and F2c indicating how much is inserted from the insertion openings 11a and 11b are provided. Each of the upper and lower position display pieces F1c, F2c is substantially from one side of both end edges in the lateral width direction (connector longitudinal direction) of each signal transmission medium F1, F2 toward the outer side (connector outer side). It protrudes in a rectangular shape, and the upper and lower position display pieces F1c and F2c are arranged on the edge portions on different sides, so that the signal transmission media F1 and F2 are inserted in the upper direction. The positions are shifted so that they do not overlap each other in plan view from the side.

  More specifically, as described above, the upper position display piece F1c provided on the signal transmission medium F1 side and the lower position display piece F2c provided on the signal transmission medium F2 side are edge portions on different sides. The signal transmission media F1 and F2 inserted into the medium insertion passages 11c and 11d are inserted into the medium contact surfaces 11e and 11e, respectively. The upper and lower position display pieces F1c and F2c described above are configured to protrude in directions opposite to each other in a state of being in contact with 11f. Thus, even when both signal transmission media F1 and F2 are inserted so as to overlap each other, the positions of the upper and lower position display pieces F1c and F2c are immediately confirmed from above.

  Further, the upper and lower position display pieces F1c and F2c in the present embodiment have an arrangement relationship in which the positions of the signal transmission media (FPC or FFC, etc.) F1 and F2 from the end of the terminal are shifted from each other. More specifically, the upper position display piece F1c provided on the signal transmission medium F1 to be inserted on the upper side is more than the lower position display piece F2c provided on the signal transmission medium F2 to be inserted on the lower side. The distance L3 from the end of the terminal of the signal transmission medium F1 to the front end edge of the upper position display piece F1c is, as shown in FIG. The distance L4 is set to be larger than the distance L4 from the front end portion to the front end edge of the lower position display piece F2c (L3> L4).

  Further, as described above, both position display pieces F1c and F2c of the signal transmission medium (FPC or FFC) F1 and F2 are in contact with the front end side wall surface of the insulating housing 11 having the upper and lower medium insertion ports 11a and 11b. Insertion position reference surfaces 11g and 11h are formed. These insertion position reference surfaces 11g and 11h are formed at portions corresponding to the outer side in the lateral width direction of the upper and lower medium insertion ports 11a and 11b, and when the insertion of the signal transmission media F1 and F2 is completed. It constitutes the contact surface of the upper and lower position display pieces F1c, F2c. In the state where the upper and lower position display pieces F1c and F2c are in contact with the insertion position reference surfaces 11g and 11h, the upper and lower position display pieces F1c and F2c are aligned in the connector longitudinal direction (lateral width direction). It is configured as follows.

  Further, below the insertion position reference surfaces 11g and 11h, display unit support surfaces 11i and 11j are provided so as to protrude from the lower end edge of the insertion position reference surfaces 11g and 11h toward the front. In the state where the insertion of the signal transmission medium (FPC or FFC) F1 and F2 is completed, the upper and lower position display pieces F1c and F2c are placed on the display unit support surfaces 11i and 11j from above. It has come to be.

  Furthermore, the lengths W1 and W2 of the insertion position reference surfaces 11g and 11h in the connector longitudinal direction, that is, the edge portions in the horizontal width direction (connector longitudinal direction) of the upper and lower medium insertion ports 11a and 11b described above are referred to as the insulating housing 11. The protrusion lengths of the upper and lower position display pieces F1c, F2c provided on the signal transmission medium (FPC, FFC, etc.) F1, F2 are substantially the same for each distance to the outer end surfaces of both sides. Thus, when the signal transmission media F1 and F2 are completely inserted, the protruding end edges of the upper and lower position display pieces F1c and F2c are configured to coincide with the outer end surfaces on both sides of the insulating housing 11. ing.

  At this time, the lengths W1 and W2 of the insertion position reference surfaces 11g and 11h described above are different from each other (W1 ≠ W2) and correspond to the lengths W1 and W2 of the insertion position reference surfaces 11g and 11h. The protruding lengths of the upper and lower position display pieces F1c and F2c provided on the signal transmission media (FPC, FFC, etc.) F1 and F2 described above are also different. More specifically, with respect to the upper position display piece F1c of the signal transmission medium F1 inserted into the upper medium insertion port 11a on the upper stage side, and the length W1 of the insertion position reference surface 11g with which the upper position display piece F1c contacts. The lower position display piece F2c of the signal transmission medium F2 to be inserted into the lower medium insertion port 11b on the lower stage side, and the length W2 of the insertion position reference surface 11h with which the lower position display piece F2c contacts are formed to be longer. (W1 <W2). Therefore, when the signal transmission medium F1 and the signal transmission medium F2 are inserted by mistake, or when the signal transmission mediums F1 and F2 are inserted upside down, the upper and lower position display pieces F1c and F2c Since the protruding end edge portion does not coincide with the outer end surface of the insulating housing 11 in the connector longitudinal direction, the erroneous insertion state is immediately recognized visually.

  According to this embodiment having such a configuration, signal transmission media (FPC, FFC, etc.) F1, F2 are normally inserted to the final position with respect to the upper and lower media insertion ports 11a, 11b, or The signal transmission media F1 and F2 are properly inserted without being exchanged corresponding to the upper and lower media insertion ports 11a and 11b, or the front and back directions of the inserted signal transmission media F1 and F2 are appropriate. The determination as to whether or not the signal is present is easily performed only by judging the positional relationship between the upper and lower position display pieces F1c and F2c provided in each of the signal transmission media F1 and F2.

  For example, when the signal transmission media (FPC, FFC, etc.) F1 and F2 are not sufficiently inserted into the upper and lower media insertion ports 11a and 11b up to the final position, as shown in FIG. The upper and lower position display pieces F1c, F2c provided on the signal transmission media F1, F2 are separated from the front end side insertion position reference surfaces 11g, 11h of the insulating housing 11 to the front side, and there is a gap between them. It is formed. Therefore, when the operator visually observes such a gap, it is easily confirmed that the signal transmission media F1 and F2 are not normally inserted to the final position.

  In addition, when the signal transmission media F1 and F2 are switched and erroneously inserted into the upper and lower medium insertion ports 11a and 11b, the upper and lower position display pieces F1c and F2c are connected to both outer end surfaces of the insulating housing 11. It will not match. For example, when the signal transmission medium F2 to be inserted into the lower medium insertion port 11b is erroneously inserted into the upper medium insertion port 11a on the upper stage side, as shown in FIG. The protruding end edge of the lower position display piece F2c provided in F2 is disposed at a position slightly pulled from the outer end face on one side of the insulating housing 11, and the conductive path (terminal portion) F2b provided in the signal transmission medium F2 A part of the signal transmission medium F2 is exposed to the outside, and the signal transmission medium F2 is erroneously detected by the operator visually observing the mismatched state of the lower position display piece F2c or the exposed conductive path F2b. It is easily confirmed that it is inserted.

  Similarly, when the signal transmission medium F1 to be inserted into the upper medium insertion opening 11a on the upper stage is erroneously inserted into the lower medium insertion opening 11b on the lower stage, the signal is transmitted as shown in FIG. The protruding end edge portion of the upper position display piece F1c of the transmission medium F1 is disposed at a position slightly pulled in from the outer end surface on one side of the insulating housing 11, and the insertion position reference for the front end side of the upper position display piece F1c and the insulating housing 11 is used. Since a gap is formed between the surface 11g and the operator, the operator may observe the mismatched state and the gap of the upper position display piece F1c, and the signal transmission medium F1 may be erroneously inserted. Easily confirmed.

  On the other hand, in the second embodiment according to FIG. 16 in which the same reference numerals are given to the same constituent members as those in the first embodiment described above, appropriate insertion of signal transmission media (FPC or FFC, etc.) F1, F2 Insertion determination units 14 and 15 having a shape representing a state are provided. These insertion determination units 14 and 15 are provided at the insertion position reference surface 11g where the upper and lower position display pieces F1c and F2c provided on the signal transmission media F1 and F2 are in contact with the upper and lower position display pieces F1c and F2c. , 11h are provided so as to form a constant notch shape.

  More specifically, one side of the signal transmission medium (FPC or FFC, etc.) F1, F2 is inserted on one side so as to form a semicircular shape obtained by dividing the circular shape into two parts. The determination portion 14 is recessed so as to be cut out, and the outer side of the insulating housing 11 is inserted from the insertion position reference surfaces 11g and 11h of the insulating housing 11, that is, from the edges in the lateral width direction of the medium insertion ports 11a and 11b. The end face is also recessed so that the other-side insertion determination section 15 is cut out so as to form a semicircular shape obtained by dividing a similar circular shape into two. Then, after the insertion of the signal transmission media F1 and F2 is completed, both the upper and lower position display pieces F1c and F2c are in contact with the insertion position reference surfaces 11g and 11h which are outer side end surfaces of the insulating housing 11. The insertion determination units 14 and 15 on the side are combined to form a specific circular shape.

  Also in the second embodiment, the insertion state of the signal transmission media (FPC, FFC, etc.) F1 and F2 inserted over a plurality of stages (two stages) is determined by the both insertion determining units 14 and 15 to a specific circular shape. It is easily discriminated by determining whether or not is formed while visually observing the appearance. Further, in this embodiment as well, as in the first embodiment, it is easily confirmed whether the insertion is insufficient and whether the signal transmission media F1 and F2 are replaced and erroneously inserted into the upper and lower media insertion ports 11a and 11b. I can do it. In addition, although both the insertion determination parts 14 and 15 were made into the specific circular shape in one outer side end surface, you may form a specific individual shape in each of both outer side end surfaces.

  Although the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

  For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the medium insertion port and the medium insertion passage are provided in two stages up and down, but the present invention can be similarly applied to a case in which three or more stages are provided. .

  In each of the above-described embodiments, a flexible printed circuit (FPC) and a flexible flat cable (FFC) are employed as a signal transmission medium fixed to the multi-stage insertion type electrical connector. The present invention can be similarly applied to the case where other signal transmission media are used.

  Furthermore, in the multi-stage insertion type electrical connector according to the above-described embodiment, a single-shaped conductive contact is attached to each medium insertion path, but a structure in which conductive contacts of different shapes are alternately arranged is also possible. The present invention can be similarly applied.

  The present invention can be widely applied to a wide variety of multi-stage insertion type electrical connectors used in various electrical devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Multi-stage insertion type electrical connector 11 Insulation housing 11a Upper medium insertion port 11b Lower medium insertion port 11c, 11d Medium insertion path 11e, 11f Medium contact surface 11g, 11h Insertion position reference surface 11i, 11j Display part support surface 12, 13 Conductive contact 12a, 13a Movable contact beam 12a1, 13a1 Upper terminal contact convex part 12b, 13b Fixed contact beam 12b1, 13b1 Lower terminal contact convex part 12b2, 13b2 Substrate connection part 12c, 13c Linked support beam F1, F2 Signal transmission medium (FPC) Or FFC)
F1a, F2a Terminal connection part F1b, F2b Conductive path (terminal part)
F1c Upper position display piece F2c Lower position display piece 14, 15 Insertion determination unit

Claims (8)

In the multi-stage insertion type electrical connector configured to be inserted so that a plurality of signal transmission media overlap each other through each of the medium insertion openings provided in the insulating housing over a plurality of stages,
Each signal transmission medium to be inserted into the plurality of stages of medium insertion openings is provided with a position display piece indicating the insertion position of the signal transmission medium,
The multi-stage insertion type electrical connector is characterized in that the position display pieces are arranged so as to be shifted so as not to overlap each other in a state where the insertion of each signal transmission medium is completed.   2. The multi-stage according to claim 1, wherein the position display pieces are provided so as to protrude outward from end portions on different sides of the signal transmission medium in the width direction of the signal transmission medium. Insertion type electrical connector.   The multi-stage insertion type electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the position display piece is provided so as to be displaced for each signal transmission medium in the insertion direction of the signal transmission medium.   The position display piece is provided so as to be arranged in parallel at substantially the same position in the insertion direction of the signal transmission medium in a state where the insertion of the signal transmission medium into the insulating housing is completed. The multi-stage insertion type electrical connector according to claim 2. Each of the medium insertion ports is provided with a medium insertion passage extending from the medium insertion port in the signal transmission medium insertion direction.
In each of the medium insertion passages and at the back end in the insertion direction of the signal transmission medium, a medium contact surface is formed on which the end on the insertion side of the signal transmission medium contacts,
The multi-stage insertion type electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein a distance from the medium insertion port to the medium contact surface is different for each medium insertion path. The outer side distance from the both end edges in the width direction of the medium insertion port to the both end surfaces of the insulating housing is made different for each medium insertion port,
In a state where the insertion of the signal transmission medium into the medium insertion port is completed, the protruding end surfaces of the signal transmission medium position display pieces are configured to substantially coincide with the positions of both end surfaces of the insulating housing. The multi-stage insertion type electrical connector according to claim 1. The wall surface of the insulating housing in which each medium insertion port is formed is provided with a contact surface with which the position display piece comes into contact when the signal transmission medium has been inserted,
2. The multistage insertion type electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the contact surfaces are formed so as to form a step between the medium insertion openings. An insertion determination portion having a certain notch shape is recessed on the outer side end surface from the edge in the width direction of the medium insertion port to the end surface of the insulating housing, and on the position display piece of the signal transmission medium. Established,
In a state in which the insertion of the signal transmission medium into the medium insertion port is completed and the position display piece of the signal transmission medium is in contact with the outer side end surface of the insulating housing, the both insertion determination units are combined to specify The multi-stage insertion type electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is configured to have a shape.

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