JP2016035942A - Plug connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a plug connector in which a stable contact state between power source terminals can be secured.SOLUTION: A plug power supply terminal 40 has a plug side plate portion 42 which is provided to an outer side surface extending in the arrangement direction of a contact portion of a plug terminal 20, and has a dimension larger than a plug signal terminal 30 in the arrangement direction. The plug side plate portion 42 has a portion located in the range of a reception space 15 in the arrangement direction, and also the plate face of the plug side plate portion 42 at the outer side surface of the plug housing 10 has an exposed face. A contact portion which comes into contact with a corresponding contact portion 81A provided to a receptacle side plate portion 81 of a receptacle power supply terminal 80 in the plate thickness direction of the receptacle side plate portion 81. The receptacle power supply terminal 80 is provided to a receptacle connector 2 in connection with the plug power supply terminal 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a plug connector disposed on a circuit board.

  This type of plug connector is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. In the electrical connector assembly including the plug connector and the receptacle connector of Patent Document 1, both the plug connector and the receptacle connector are provided with a fixture (metal fitting), and the fixture is connected to the connector at the connection portion. In addition to being used for fixing the solder to the circuit board, when the connectors are connected, the fixtures are engaged (locked) with each other to prevent the connector from coming off. Further, both the fixtures also have a function as a power supply terminal that is electrically connected at a portion engaged with each other. The fixture is made by processing a metal plate, and is held by the housing at both ends in the arrangement direction of the connector terminals.

  The fixture of the receptacle connector has an end portion supported by the end wall of the housing and a side portion bent from the end portion and supported by both side walls near the end wall, and in the connector fitting direction. When viewed, it is U-shaped as a whole. The end portion is provided with a hook-like locking portion that protrudes upward and is bent in an inverted U shape, and the side portion is held in contact with both inner surfaces of the side wall of the housing, A concave locking portion is formed. On the other hand, the fixture for the plug connector has a plate member portion parallel to the end portion of the receptacle connector fixture, and projecting engagements that enter and lock the concave locking portions at both ends thereof. Is provided as a cutting end surface in the plate thickness direction, and a U-shaped piece that is bent from the lower edge of the plate member portion and extends upward is provided on the plate surface. Is formed. In Patent Document 1, regarding the portions of the respective fixtures that are engaged with each other, the “connecting portion” is used for the fixture of the receptacle connector, and the “engagement portion” is used for the fixture of the plug connector. Distinguish.

  When the plug connector is fitted and connected to the receptacle connector of Patent Document 1 having such a fixture, in the fitting process, the projection-like engagement portion of the plug connector fixture and other projection-like portions are used. The engaging portions of the respective connector connectors are elastically deformed by the amount of interference with the concave locking portions of the corresponding receptacle connector fixtures and the reverse U-shaped hook-shaped locking portions, and the fitting progresses to a predetermined position. When it reaches a predetermined position, the elastic deformation is released, and the corresponding engaging portion and locking portion are locked in the connector pulling direction by the amount of interference to prevent the connector from being pulled out. It comes to have a function. Further, as described above, both fixtures also have a function as a power supply terminal, and at least one of the three lock portions is electrically connected.

JP 2010-198996 A

  In the electrical connector assembly of Patent Document 1, when the fixtures are in a locked state, the engagement portion of the fixture of the plug connector is below the engagement portion of the fixture of the receptacle connector with respect to the engagement portion. Position with the amount of interference. Since this electrical connector assembly does not have a configuration that urges the engagement portion and the engagement portion to contact each other, the engagement portion is engaged with the receptacle in the locked state. The contact pressure between the engaging portion and the locking portion is small even if it is positioned so as to be able to be locked with a gap in the connector insertion / extraction direction without contacting the portion, or even if it is positioned so as to contact in the connector insertion / extraction direction. . Therefore, even if both the fixtures are used as power terminals with the engaging portion and the locking portion as a contact point, the fixtures do not contact each other as described above or contact under an unstable contact state. Therefore, electrical continuity cannot be ensured.

  That is, depending on the fixture in Patent Document 1, the function as the contact portion of the power terminal cannot be sufficiently ensured.

  In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a plug connector that can ensure a stable contact state between power supply terminals.

  The plug connector according to the present invention is a receptacle connector as a mating connector arranged on the mounting surface of another circuit board, with the direction perpendicular to the mounting surface being a connector insertion / extraction direction. A plurality of plug terminals made of a metal plate in which contact portions that contact corresponding contact portions of the receptacle terminals of the receptacle connector in a connector-fitted state are formed. A plug housing that holds the plug terminals so that the contact portions of the plurality of plug terminals are arranged with one direction parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board as an arrangement direction. Is a pair of side walls extending in the arrangement direction and a pair of ends extending in the connector width direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction and connecting the ends of the pair of side walls. And a wall, a space surrounded by the pair of side walls and the pair of end walls are formed as a receiving space for receiving the receptacle connector.

  In such a plug connector, in the present invention, the plurality of plug terminals provided in the plug connector include a plug signal terminal positioned within the receiving space in the arrangement direction and the plug signal terminal in the arrangement direction. The plug power terminals are provided along an outer surface of the plug housing extending in the arrangement direction of the plug housing and have a size larger than the plug signal terminals in the arrangement direction. A plug-side plate portion, the plug-side plate portion having a portion located within the receiving space in the arrangement direction, and the plate surface of the plug-side plate portion on the outer surface of the plug housing has an exposed surface. And provided on the receptacle side plate portion of the receptacle power supply terminal provided on the receptacle connector corresponding to the plug power supply terminal. It is characterized in that the contact portion for contacting a plate thickness direction of the receptacle side plate portion is formed in the reception contact portion.

  In the present invention, the plug power supply terminal has a base portion that is positioned on the receptacle connector side in the connector insertion / removal direction and faces the receptacle connector along the upper surface of the plug housing perpendicular to the connector insertion / removal direction. It is good also as extending from the outer surface of a plug housing by bending from.

  In the present invention, the plug signal terminal has a signal connection portion that extends from the position of the outer surface of the plug housing outward in the connector width direction and is soldered to the signal circuit portion of the circuit board. May have a power supply connection portion that extends outward from the position of the outer surface of the plug housing in the connector width direction and is solder-connected to the power supply circuit portion of the circuit board.

  In the present invention, the plug terminals may be provided with plug power supply terminals on both sides of the plug signal terminals in the arrangement direction of the contact portions of the plug terminals.

  As described above, in the present invention, the contact portion provided on the plug side plate portion and the corresponding contact portion provided on the receptacle side plate portion are in contact with each other with contact pressure in the plate thickness direction of these side plate portions. In addition, the corresponding contact portion can be contacted more reliably.

(A) is the perspective view which shows the state before the fitting of the plug connector and receptacle connector of embodiment of this invention, (B) is the perspective view which turned the plug connector of (A) upside down, and was shown. It is the perspective view which abbreviate | omitted and showed a part of plug housing of the plug connector of FIG. 1 (A), and a part of receptacle housing of a receptacle connector. (A) is the bottom view which looked at the plug connector of Drawing 1 (A) from the lower part, (B) is the top view which looked at the receptacle connector of Drawing 1 (A) from the upper part. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the plug connector and the receptacle connector of FIG. 1A in a plane perpendicular to the arrangement direction at the position of the signal terminals in the arrangement direction of the contact portions of the terminals; Is a state before connector fitting, and (B) shows a state after connector fitting. About the plug connector and receptacle connector of FIG. 1 (A), it is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section in a plane perpendicular to the arrangement direction at the position of the contact portion of the power supply terminal in the arrangement direction of the contact portion of the terminal, (A) is the state before connector fitting, (B) has shown the state after connector fitting. 1A is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the plug connector and the receptacle connector of FIG. 1A in a plane perpendicular to the connector width direction at the position of the lock portion of the power supply terminal in the connector width direction; Is a state before connector fitting, and (B) shows a state after connector fitting.

  Embodiments of an electrical connector according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1A is a perspective view illustrating a state before the plug connector and the receptacle connector according to the embodiment of the present invention are fitted together, and FIG. 1B is a diagram in which the plug connector of FIG. It is the perspective view shown. FIG. 2 is a perspective view in which a part of the plug housing of the plug connector of FIG. 1A and a part of the receptacle housing of the receptacle connector are omitted. 3A is a bottom view of the plug connector of FIG. 1A viewed from below (ie, a view of the plug connector of FIG. 1B viewed from above), and FIG. 3B is a view of FIG. It is the top view which looked at the receptacle connector of (A) from upper direction.

  The plug connector 1 and the receptacle connector 2 in the present embodiment are circuit board connectors arranged on mounting surfaces of different circuit boards (not shown), respectively, in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface of each circuit board ( An electrical connector assembly having an insertion / removal direction in the vertical direction in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the plug connector 1 includes a plug housing 10 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape and a plurality of terminals 20 held by the plug housing 10. The plurality of terminals 20 are held in the plug housing 10 by integral molding so that the contact portions of the terminals 20 are arranged in one direction parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board. The plurality of terminals 20 are shaped as a pair of signal terminals 30 held at the center position of the plug housing 10 in the arrangement direction of the contact portions and the signal terminals 30 held in the same direction on the end side of the plug housing 10. The terminal part side terminal 40 (henceforth "the power supply terminal 40") as a pair of different power supply terminals.

  First, the plug housing 10 will be described mainly based on FIGS. 1 (A) and 1 (B). The plug housing 10 is made of, for example, an electrical insulating material such as resin, and extends with the arrangement direction of the contact portions of the terminals 20 as a longitudinal direction. The plug housing 10 includes a bottom wall 11 (see FIG. 1A) parallel to the mounting surface and an upper portion (see FIG. 1) from the periphery of the bottom wall 11 as seen in FIG. In (A), it has a frame-shaped peripheral wall 12 that erects downward. The peripheral wall 12 is formed as a fitting portion that is fitted into a receptacle-side receiving space 56 of the receptacle connector 2 described later when the connector is fitted. The peripheral wall 12 has a pair of side walls 13 extending in the arrangement direction, and a pair of end walls 14 extending in the connector width direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction and connecting the ends of the pair of side walls 13. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 1 (B), the outer surfaces of the pair of side walls 13 are guided in the vertical direction at positions between the signal terminals 30 and the one power supply terminal 40 in the arrangement direction. A groove portion 13A is formed. The guided groove 13A receives a guide protrusion 54A (described later) of the receptacle connector 2 in the process of connector fitting, and is guided in the arrangement direction and the connector width direction by the guide protrusion 54A. Further, the outer surface of each of the pair of end walls 14 is formed with an immersing portion 14A which is sunk at an intermediate position in the connector width direction, and a plug end plate portion of a power terminal 40 which will be described later in the immersing portion 14A. 44 is located. Further, among the spaces forming the inside of the immersing portion 14A, the space 14A-1 positioned between the end wall 14 and the plug end plate portion 44 in the arrangement direction (see also FIGS. 6A and 6B). Is formed as a space for allowing elastic displacement in the plate thickness direction of the plug end plate portion 44 in the connector fitting process as will be described later.

  In FIG. 1B, a space surrounded by the peripheral wall 12 and opened upward is formed as a plug-side receiving space 15 for receiving a protruding wall portion 52 provided in an island shape of the receptacle connector 2 described later. Further, as seen in FIG. 1B, the plug housing 10 is located near the end wall 14 provided with the one power supply terminal 40 in the arrangement direction and at the center in the connector width direction. At the position, it has a guided wall portion 16 that stands up in the plug-side receiving space 15 upward from the bottom wall 11 (see also FIGS. 3A, 5 and 6). The guided wall 16 is connected to one end wall 14 in the arrangement direction with the connector width direction being the wall thickness direction. The guided wall portion 16 enters a guide groove portion 52B of the receptacle connector 2 described later from above when the connector is fitted, and is guided in the arrangement direction and the connector direction by the guide groove portion 52B. .

  Next, among the plurality of terminals 20, first, the signal terminal 30 will be described mainly based on FIG. 1 (A) and FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B). FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the plug connector 1 and the receptacle connector 2 of FIG. 1A at a position of the signal terminals 30 in the arrangement direction of the contact portions of the terminals 20 on a plane perpendicular to the arrangement direction. It is sectional drawing, (A) is the state before connector fitting, (B) has shown the state after connector fitting.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the signal terminal 30 is held by integral molding on each side wall 13 of the plug housing 10 at the center position of the plug housing 10 in the arrangement direction. The signal terminal 30 is made by bending a strip-like piece obtained by punching a metal plate in the thickness direction, and the bottom wall of the plug housing 10 is seen in FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B). 11, a straight connection part 31 extending outward from the side wall 13 in the connector width direction (left and right direction in FIGS. 4A and 4B) at the same height position as the line 11, and continuous to the connection part 31 4 (A) and 4 (B), and a U-shaped portion which is folded back in a U-shape and embedded and held in the side wall 13. The U-shaped portion extends along the side wall 13 and is exposed so that the U-shaped plate surface forms the same level surface as the side wall 13.

  The connecting portion 31 is soldered to a signal circuit portion of a corresponding circuit board (not shown). Of the two leg portions of the U-shaped portion of the signal terminal 30, one leg portion located on the inner surface side (plug-side receiving space 15 side) of the side wall 13 is a counterpart signal of the receptacle connector 2 described later. It is formed as a contact portion 32 for making contact with the terminal 70. The signal contact portion 32 comes into contact with the corresponding contact portion 71 </ b> A of the mating signal terminal 70 on a flat plate surface exposed on the inner surface side of the side wall 13. The other leg portion located on the outer surface side of the side wall 13 is formed as a lock portion 33 for engaging with the locked projection 74A of the counterpart signal terminal 70. The lock portion 33 is formed with a lock recess 33A for receiving the locked projection 74A, which is recessed from the plate surface, for example, by pressing.

  Next, the power supply terminal 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. The power terminal 40 is formed by bending a metal plate as one member, and as shown in FIG. 1A, the side wall 13 is formed at the end side portion of the peripheral wall 12 of the plug housing 10 in the arrangement direction. And the end wall 14 is held by integral molding. As shown in FIG. 1B, the power terminal 40 has a base 41 (see also FIG. 2) extending along the upper surface (the lower surface in FIG. 1A) of the end side portion of the plug housing 10. A plug side plate portion 42 that is bent from the base portion 41 and extends along the outer side surfaces of the both side walls 13 of the plug housing 10, and a connection portion 43 that is bent at the lower end of the plug side plate portion 42 and extends outward in the connector width direction. And a plug end plate portion 44 bent from the base portion 41 and extending along the outer end surface of the end wall 14 of the plug housing 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the base portion 41 of the power terminal 40 has a side wall 13 and an end wall 14 in a region where the flat upper surface of the base portion 41 excludes the corners of the end side portion of the plug housing 10. It is exposed so as to form the same level surface as the upper surface. On the other hand, the plug-side plate portion 42 is exposed so that the flat plate surface of the plug-side plate portion 42 forms the same level surface as the outer surface of the side wall 13, and will be described later provided in the receptacle connector 2. It functions as a contact portion for making contact with the corresponding contact portion 81A of the counterpart power terminal 80. Next, the connection portion 43 of the power terminal 40 is located at substantially the same height as the bottom wall 11 (see FIGS. 1A and 2) of the plug housing 10 and is provided on a corresponding circuit board (not shown). The power supply circuit unit is soldered. Further, the bent portion where the plug side plate portion 42 and the connection portion 43 are connected is covered with a part of the plug housing 10 as can be seen in FIG. Further, the plug end plate portion 44 of the power terminal 40 is held by integral molding with the plug housing 10 at both side edges extending in the vertical direction within the recessed portion 14 </ b> A of the end wall 14 of the plug housing 10. Further, on the plate surface of the plug end plate portion 44, a lock step portion 44A that protrudes outward in the arrangement direction and forms a step shape is formed by, for example, pressing. The lock step portion 44A can be locked to the locked step portion 82B-1 of the counterpart power terminal 80 in the connector extraction direction.

  Next, the receptacle connector 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1A, the receptacle connector 2 includes a receptacle housing 50 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and a plurality of mating terminals 60 held by the receptacle housing 50. The plurality of mating terminals 60 are held in the receptacle housing 50 by integral molding such that corresponding contact portions of the mating terminals 60 are arranged in one direction parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board. The plurality of mating terminals 60 are held on the end side of the receptacle housing 50 in the same direction as the pair of mating signal terminals 70 held at the center position of the receptacle housing 50 in the arrangement direction of the corresponding contact portions. The terminal 70 includes a pair of end-side mating terminals 80 (hereinafter referred to as “mating power terminals 80”) as a pair of power terminals having different shapes.

  The receptacle housing 2 is made of an electrical insulating material such as resin, for example, and the arrangement direction of the corresponding contact portions of the mating terminal 60 is the longitudinal direction. The receptacle housing 50 includes a bottom wall 51 (see FIG. 2) parallel to the mounting surface, a projecting wall portion 52 standing upward from the bottom wall 51 and extending in the arrangement direction, and the bottom wall. The frame 51 has a frame-shaped peripheral wall 53 that stands upward from the peripheral portion 51 and surrounds the protruding wall portion 52. The peripheral wall 53 has a pair of side walls 54 extending in the arrangement direction, and a pair of end walls 55 extending in the connector width direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction and connecting the ends of the pair of side walls 54. ing. An annular space that opens upward between the protruding wall 52 and the peripheral wall 53 is formed as a receptacle-side receiving space 56 for receiving the peripheral wall 12 as a fitting portion of the plug connector 1.

  As is often seen in FIG. 3B, the bottom wall 51 is formed with holes 51A penetrating the bottom wall 51 at the four corner positions (see also FIGS. 5A and 5B). ). As seen in FIG. 3B, the hole 51A is formed in a range including a receptacle-side plate portion 81 of a mating power supply terminal 80 described later when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface. The hole 51A is a hole for enabling insertion of a mold when the receptacle housing 50 and the mating power supply terminal 80 are integrally formed. Specifically, integral molding is performed in a state where a mold (not shown) shaped to surround the receptacle side plate portion 81 shown in FIG. 3B from three sides is inserted through the hole 51A. Thus, a space is formed in which the receptacle side plate portion 81 allows elastic displacement in the connector width direction (vertical direction in FIG. 3B).

  The bottom wall 51 has a central position in the connector width direction (vertical direction in FIG. 3B) and the arrangement direction (FIG. 3B), as can be seen in FIG. 3B. In the right and left direction), a hole 51B penetrating the bottom wall 51 is formed in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface adjacent to the end wall 55 (see also FIGS. 6A and 6B). . As shown in FIG. 3B, the hole 51B is formed in a range including a locked plate portion 82B of a mating power supply terminal 80, which will be described later, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the paper surface. The hole 51B is also a hole for enabling insertion of a mold when the receptacle housing 50 and the mating power supply terminal 80 are integrally formed, similarly to the above-described hole 51A. Specifically, the locked stepped portion 82B-1 (see FIGS. 6A and 6B) of the locked plate portion 82B is shaped so as to be closed from below in FIGS. 6A and 6B. A mold (not shown) is integrally formed in a state where it is inserted from below through the hole 51B, thereby forming a space below the locked stepped portion 82B-1, and in the arrangement direction. The locked stepped portion 82B-1 can be protruded from the end wall 55.

  As can be seen in FIGS. 1 (A), 2 and 4 (A), (B), the projecting wall 52 provided in an island shape on the bottom wall 51 is at a central position in the arrangement direction. On both side surfaces (surfaces perpendicular to the connector width direction), elastic displacement allowing groove portions 52A that provide a space for allowing elastic displacement of an elastic arm portion 71 of a mating signal terminal 70 to be described later are provided from both side surfaces. It is formed to sunk and extend in the vertical direction. Moreover, as seen in FIGS. 1A and 3B, the protruding wall 52 is connected to a plug connector on an end surface (a surface perpendicular to the arrangement direction) facing one end wall 55. A guide groove portion 52B for guiding one guided wall portion 16 is formed extending from the end face and extending in the vertical direction (see also FIGS. 6A and 6B).

  1A, 3A, and 3B, the inner surface of the side wall 54 of the receptacle housing 50 (the surface on the receptacle-side receiving space 56 side) is connected to the plug connector 1. A guide protrusion 54A that protrudes toward the receptacle-side receiving space 56 and extends in the vertical direction is formed at a position corresponding to the guided groove 13A of the side wall 13.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the plug housing 10 has the guided portion 16 and the guided groove portion 13A, and the receptacle housing 50 has the guide groove portion 52B and the guide protrusion 54A only on one side in the arrangement direction. Is formed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent so-called reverse insertion in which the connectors are fitted in the arrangement direction in the direction opposite to the normal direction between the connectors.

  Next, among the plurality of mating terminals 60, the mating signal terminal 70 will be described mainly based on FIG. 1 (A) and FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B). The mating signal terminal 70 is made by bending a strip obtained by punching a metal plate in the thickness direction, and is seen from the arrangement direction as seen in FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B). The whole has a substantially horizontal S shape. The mating signal terminal 70 is integrated with the inverted U-shaped portion embedded and held in the side wall 54 of the receptacle housing 50, the elastic arm portion 71 extending vertically along the protruding wall portion 52, and the bottom wall 51. An inner leg 74 (described later) of the inverted U-shaped portion that is embedded and held by molding, and a lower connecting portion 72 that connects lower ends of the elastic arm portions 71, and an outer leg (described later) of the inverted U-shaped portion. And a signal connection portion 73 extending from the lower end of 75 to the outside of the housing.

  The inverted U-shaped portion includes two legs extending in the vertical direction, that is, an inner leg 74 positioned on the inner side in the connector width direction, an outer leg 75 positioned on the outer side in the same direction, and an inner leg. 74 and an upper connecting portion 76 that connects the upper ends of the outer leg portions 75 to each other. The inner leg 74 extends vertically along the inner side surface of the side wall 54 and is exposed so that the plate surface on the receptacle-side receiving space 56 side forms the same level surface as the inner side surface of the side wall 54. ing. Further, at a position near the upper end of the inner leg 74, a locked projection 74A that protrudes toward the receptacle-side receiving space 56 is formed by, for example, pressing. On the other hand, the outer leg 75 extends in the vertical direction inside the side wall 54. The upper connecting portion 76 is exposed such that the upper surface thereof forms the same level surface as the upper surface of the side wall 54.

  The elastic arm portion 71 is elastically displaceable in the connector width direction (left-right direction in FIGS. 4A and 4B), and is curved so as to protrude toward the receptacle-side receiving space at the upper end as a free end. Corresponding contact portion 71A is formed. The lower connecting portion 72 extends in the connector width direction along the bottom wall 51, and is exposed so that the upper surface of the lower connecting portion 72 forms the same surface as the upper surface of the bottom wall 51. The signal connection portion 73 is located at substantially the same height as the bottom surface of the receptacle housing 50 and is solder-connected to a signal circuit portion of a corresponding circuit board (not shown).

  Next, the counterpart power supply terminal 80 will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. The counterpart power supply terminal 80 is formed by bending a metal plate as one member. As shown in FIG. 1A, the end wall 55 is formed at the end portion side portion of the receptacle housing 50 in the arrangement direction. It is held by integral molding. As can be seen with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the mating power supply terminal 80 includes a receptacle side plate portion 81 extending along each of the side walls 54 of the receptacle housing 50, and the end wall 55 of the receptacle housing 50. It has a receptacle end plate portion 82 that connects the two receptacle side plate portions 81 extending, and a connection portion 83 that extends in the connector width direction and is connected to the lower end of the receptacle end plate portion 82.

  As is often seen in FIG. 2, the receptacle-side plate portion 81 has a cantilever shape extending inward (to the counterpart signal terminal 70 side) in the arrangement direction. As is often seen in FIG. 3B, the receptacle side plate 81 has a width in the connector width direction (vertical direction in FIG. 3B) between the inner side surface of the side wall 54 of the receptacle housing 50 and a gap. It is provided at two positions facing each other in the direction, and can be elastically displaced in the thickness direction toward the outside in the connector width direction (side wall 54 side) within the range of this gap. As shown in FIG. 3B, the receptacle-side plate portion 81 is bent in a substantially crank shape when viewed from above so that the portion on the free end side is located inward in the connector width direction with respect to the other portions. ing. The portion on the free end side is located in the receptacle-side receiving space 56, and this portion contacts the plug side plate portion 42 as the contact portion of the power supply terminal 40 of the plug connector 1 on the plate surface. It is formed as. As often seen in FIGS. 1A and 2, the upper end of the corresponding contact portion 81A is slightly inclined outward in the connector width direction, and this inclined portion is the power supply terminal of the plug connector 1. 40 is formed as an inclined portion 81B for guiding 40 to the contact position with the corresponding contact portion 81A (see also FIGS. 5A and 5B).

  In this embodiment, as described above, the receptacle side plate portion 81 provided with the corresponding contact portion 81A can be elastically displaced in the connector width direction. Therefore, in the connector fitting state, the plug side plate portion 42 as the contact portion of the power supply terminal 40 and the corresponding contact portion 81A of the counterpart power supply terminal 80 are elastic with sufficient contact pressure in the plate thickness direction (connector width direction). Since contact is made, the contact state between the plug side plate portion 42 and the corresponding contact portion 81A can be more reliably stabilized. Moreover, since the said plug side board part 42 and the said corresponding contact part 81A are surface contact in a wide area with a mutual flat board surface, a favorable contact state is securable.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the plug side plate portion 42 and the corresponding contact portion 81A are in surface contact with each other between flat plate surfaces. However, if a sufficient contact area can be ensured, the plug side plate portion. It is not essential that the plate surface of the corresponding contact portion is a flat surface. For example, one of the plug side plate portion and the corresponding contact portion is formed with a contact protrusion curved in the plate thickness direction so as to protrude in the connector width direction, and the other of the plug side plate portion and the corresponding contact portion is flat. The contact protrusion may be in contact with a flat plate surface.

  In the present embodiment, the counterpart power supply terminal of the receptacle connector is provided with an elastically displaceable portion, and the corresponding contact portion is formed in this portion, but instead of this, the elastic displacement is applied to the power supply terminal of the plug connector. A possible portion may be provided, and the contact portion may be formed in this portion.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the receptacle end plate portion 82 has a main body plate portion 82A that extends in the connector width direction and connects the two receptacle side plate portions 81 to each other, and an upper edge of the main body plate portion 82A. And a locked plate portion 82B extending so as to be folded back (see also FIGS. 6A and 6B). The receptacle end plate portion 82 is embedded in the end wall 55 of the receptacle housing 50 in a state where the plate surface of the locked plate portion 82B is exposed to the receptacle-side receiving space 56 (FIG. 6A). (See also (B)).

  In the locked plate portion 82B, a locked stepped portion 82B-1 having a step shape in the vertical direction over the entire area in the connector width direction is formed on the plate surface by, for example, pressing, and the locked stepped portion 82B- 1 can be locked to the lock step 44A of the power terminal 40 of the plug connector 1 in the connector extraction direction. In addition, the connection portion 83 extends in the connector width direction at the end position in the arrangement direction and is substantially the same height as the bottom surface of the receptacle housing 50, and the power supply circuit portion of the corresponding circuit board (not shown). It is designed to be connected with solder.

  Next, the connector fitting operation will be described based on FIG. 1 (A) and FIGS. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the plug connector 1 and the receptacle connector 2 of FIG. 1A in a plane perpendicular to the arrangement direction at the position of the contact portion of the power supply terminal in the arrangement direction of the contact portion of the terminal 20. It is sectional drawing shown, (A) has shown the state before connector fitting, (B) has shown the state after connector fitting. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the plug connector 1 and the receptacle connector 2 of FIG. 1A in a plane perpendicular to the connector width direction at the position of the lock portion of the power supply terminal in the connector width direction. (A) shows the state before connector fitting, and (B) shows the state after connector fitting.

  First, the plug connector 1 and the receptacle connector 2 are attached by soldering to corresponding circuit boards (not shown). Next, as seen in FIGS. 1 (A), 4 (A), 5 (A), and 6 (A), the receptacle-side receiving space 56 is inserted into the receptacle connector 2 just before the connector is fitted. In addition to the posture directed upward, the plug-side receiving space 15 of the plug connector 1 is directed downward above the receptacle connector 2.

  Next, the plug connector 1 is moved downward while maintaining the postures of FIGS. 1 (A), 4 (A), 5 (A) and 6 (A) (FIG. 1 (A), FIG. 2). 4A, FIG. 5A, and FIG. 6A) The peripheral wall 12 of the plug connector 1 enters the receptacle-side receiving space 56 of the receptacle connector 2 from above, and the receptacle connector 2 The protruding wall portion 52 is relatively moved into the plug-side receiving space 15 of the plug connector 1 from below. At this time, the guided wall portion 16 of the plug housing 10 enters the guide groove portion 52B of the receptacle housing 50 from above, and the guide protrusion 54A of the receptacle housing 50 relatively moves into the guided groove portion 13A of the plug housing. By entering from below, the plug connector 1 is guided in the connector width direction and the arrangement direction of the contact portions of the terminals 20.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 4B, the U-shaped portion of the signal terminal 30 of the plug connector 1 is located between the corresponding contact portion 71A of the mating signal terminal 70 of the receptacle connector 2 and the locked projection 74A. Enter as if spreading. In the connector fitting state, the elastic arm portion 71 of the counterpart signal terminal 70 is elastically displaced toward the elastic displacement allowing groove portion 52A of the protruding wall portion 52, and the corresponding contact portion 71A is the contact portion of the signal terminal 30. Surface contact is made with contact pressure with 32. The locked projection 74A of the mating signal terminal 70 enters the lock recess 33A of the signal terminal 30 and is positioned so as to be able to be locked in the connector extraction direction (upward). In this way, electrical contact between the signal terminals and locking in the connector extraction direction (upward) are performed.

  5B, the plug side plate portion 42 of the power supply terminal 40 of the plug connector 1 enters so as to spread between the two receptacle side plate portions 81 of the mating power supply terminal 80 of the receptacle connector 2. As shown in FIG. To do. In the connector fitting state, the receptacle-side plate portion 81 is elastically displaced toward the side wall 54 of the receptacle housing 50, and the corresponding contact portion 81A of the receptacle-side plate portion 81 contacts the plug-side plate portion 42 with a contact pressure. . Therefore, the power terminal 40 is sandwiched between the two corresponding contact portions 81 </ b> A of the counterpart power terminal 80 at the position of the plug side plate portion 42. As a result, the contact pressure between the plug side plate portion 42 and the corresponding contact portion 81A increases, so that the contact state can be stabilized.

  Further, the plug end plate portion 44 of the power terminal 40 is directed toward the space 14 </ b> A- 1 side of the end wall 14 of the plug housing 10 when the lock step portion 44 </ b> A contacts the locked plate portion 82 of the counterpart power terminal 80. When it is elastically displaced and the lock step portion 44A gets over the locked step portion 82B-1 of the locked plate portion 82B, it returns to the free state. Then, in the connector fitting state, as shown in FIG. 6B, the lock step portion 44A is positioned below the locked step portion 82B-1. As a result, the lock step 44A and the locked step 82B-1 are positioned so as to be latchable in the connector pull-out direction, and are locked in the same direction.

  In the present embodiment, in the power supply terminal 40 of the plug connector 1 and the counterpart power supply terminal 80 of the receptacle connector 2, the lock step portion 44A and the locked step portion 82B-1 are respectively connected to the plug end plate portion 44 and the receptacle end plate portion 82. Is provided. That is, the locking step 44A is provided separately from the plug side plate 42 serving as a contact portion, and the locked step 82B-1 is provided separately from the receptacle side plate 81 on which the corresponding contact portion 81A is formed. Yes.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, it is not necessary to provide a stepped portion for locking the plug side plate portion 42 as the contact portion and the corresponding contact portion 81A in the connector insertion / extraction direction. Therefore, even if the connector assembly receives an inadvertent external force in the connector extraction direction in the fitted state, the contact portion and the corresponding contact portion 81A are not locked. As a result, the plug side plate portion 42 as the contact portion and the corresponding contact portion 81A of the receptacle connector 2 do not receive a locking force that opposes the external force, so that the contact state does not become unstable. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the locking portion and the locked portion can be locked to each other with a sufficient locking force, while stable contact between the plug side plate portion 42 and the corresponding contact portion 81A. A state can be secured.

  In the present embodiment, the lock step 44A of the power terminal 40 and the locked step 82B-1 of the counterpart power terminal 80 are provided not on the side wall side of the plug housing 1 and the receptacle housing 2, but on the end wall side. ing. If the lock stepped portion and the locked stepped portion are to be provided on the side wall side, it is necessary to provide the lock stepped portion and the locked stepped portion on the side plate portion of each power supply terminal. Due to the function as a part, the width dimension (dimension in the arrangement direction) is likely to be restricted by design, and the width dimension may not be increased. Therefore, as in this embodiment, the lock stepped portion and the locked stepped portion are largely formed in the connector width direction by providing the lock stepped portion and the locked stepped portion on the end plate portion irrelevant to the electrical function. it can. As a result, the connectors can be locked with a large locking force.

  In the present embodiment, the plug end plate portion 44 of the power terminal 40 in which the lock step portion 44A is formed is directed toward the space 14A-1 formed in the end wall 55 of the plug housing 10 in the connector fitting process. Elastic displacement is possible in the thickness direction. Therefore, in the connector fitting state, the plug end plate portion 44 and the locked plate portion 82 of the receptacle connector 2 are elastically contacted with sufficient contact pressure in the plate thickness direction. As a result, the lock step 44A and the locked step 82B-1 are engaged with each other with a sufficient amount of interference in the connector extraction direction, so that the lock step 44A and the locked step 82B-1 can be more reliably connected. Can be locked.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the plug end plate portion 44 can be elastically displaced and the locked plate portion 82 of the receptacle connector 2 is not elastically displaced. Instead, the locked portion of the receptacle connector 2 is locked. It goes without saying that the plate portion 82 may also be elastically displaceable. In this case, it is necessary to form a space in the end wall 55 of the receptacle housing 50 for allowing the elastic displacement of the locked plate portion 82. Further, it is not essential that the plug end plate portion 44 and the locked plate portion 82 can be elastically displaced as long as a sufficient amount of interference between the lock step portion 44A and the locked step portion 82B-1 can be secured.

  In the present embodiment, the plug housing 1 is formed with the plug-side receiving space 15 for receiving the island-shaped protruding wall portion 52 of the receptacle housing 2. However, instead of this, the receptacle housing has a protruding wall portion. If not, it is not necessary to form a receiving space in the plug housing.

  In this embodiment, each terminal 20 of the plug connector 1 and each mating terminal 60 of the receptacle connector 2 are held by integral molding with the plug housing 10 or the receptacle housing 50, respectively. The form of holding is not limited to this. For example, the terminal or the mating terminal may be press-fitted and held in press-fitting holding grooves formed in the plug housing and the receptacle housing, respectively.

  In the present embodiment, the end side terminal of each connector is used as a power supply terminal. However, it is not essential that the end side terminal is a power supply terminal. For example, it can be used as a ground terminal. is there. In this embodiment, only one pair of signal terminals is provided for each connector. However, the number of signal terminals is not limited to this, and a plurality of pairs may be provided. Further, in the present embodiment, each connector is provided with a signal terminal in addition to the end side terminal (power supply terminal in the present embodiment), but the signal terminal is not an essential configuration. For example, only the end side terminal may be provided without providing the signal terminal. Even when both the end side terminal and the signal terminal are provided, only the end side terminal may be used without using the signal terminal.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Plug connector 54 Side wall 2 Receptacle connector 55 End wall 10 Plug housing 56 Receptacle side receiving space (receiving space)
20 terminal (plug terminal) 60 mating terminal (receptacle terminal)
40 Power supply terminal (plug power supply terminal) 80 Counter power supply terminal (receptacle power supply terminal)
42 Plug side plate portion 81 Receptacle side plate portion 44 Plug end plate portion 82 Receptacle end plate portion 44A Lock step portion 82B-1 Locked step portion 50 Receptacle housing

Claims (4)

Plug connector that is arranged on the mounting surface of a circuit board and is fitted and connected to a receptacle connector as a mating connector arranged on the mounting surface of another circuit board, with the direction perpendicular to the mounting surface being the connector insertion / extraction direction The plug connector includes a plurality of plug terminals made of a metal plate in which contact portions that come into contact with corresponding contact portions of the receptacle terminals of the receptacle connector in a connector fitting state are formed on the mounting surface of the circuit board. And a plug housing that holds the plug terminals so that the contact portions of the plurality of plug terminals are arranged with one direction parallel to the arrangement direction. The plug housing extends in the arrangement direction. And a pair of end walls extending in the connector width direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction and connecting the ends of the pair of side walls. In plug connector space surrounded by said pair of end walls are formed as a receiving space for receiving the receptacle connector,
The plurality of plug terminals provided in the plug connector include a plug signal terminal positioned within the receiving space in the arrangement direction, and a plug power supply terminal arranged in parallel to the plug signal terminal in the arrangement direction. The plug power supply terminal has a plug side plate portion provided along an outer surface extending in the arrangement direction of the plug housing and having a dimension larger than the plug signal terminal in the arrangement direction. The side plate portion has a portion located within the range of the receiving space in the arrangement direction, and the plate surface of the plug side plate portion has an exposed surface on the outer surface of the plug housing. The thickness direction of the receptacle side plate portion corresponds to the corresponding contact portion provided in the receptacle side plate portion of the receptacle power supply terminal provided in the receptacle connector corresponding to the plug power supply terminal. Plug connector, wherein a contact portion for contacting is formed.   The plug power supply terminal has a base portion which is located on the receptacle connector side in the connector insertion / extraction direction and faces the receptacle connector along the upper surface of the plug housing perpendicular to the connector insertion / extraction direction, and the plug side plate portion is bent from the base portion. The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the plug connector extends along an outer surface of the plug housing. The plug signal terminal has a signal connection portion that extends from the position of the outer surface of the plug housing outward in the connector width direction and is soldered to the signal circuit portion of the circuit board,
The plug power supply terminal has a power supply connection portion that extends outward from the position of the outer surface of the plug housing toward the connector width direction and is soldered to the power supply circuit portion of the circuit board. Or the plug connector of Claim 2.   The plug connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein plug power terminals are respectively disposed on both sides of the plug signal terminal in the arrangement direction of the contact portions of the plug terminal.

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