JP2017027671A - Water proof connector and connector assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a low cost waterproof connector and a connector assembly.SOLUTION: A first waterproof connector 10 is a connector whose lower surface is soldered to a circuit board. The first waterproof connector 10 has a housing 11, a metal shell 12, and a plurality of contacts 13. The housing 11 has a fitting portion 111 on its upper surface. The metal shell 12 has a solder connection portion 121 soldered to the circuit board at its lower portion. The solder connection portion 121 continuously extends in an endless band shape over the entire circumference. The plurality of contacts 13 are fixed to the housing 11 and are responsible for electrical connection with a second waterproof connector 20. A solder connection portion 131 of each of the plurality of contacts 13 to be solder-connected to the circuit board is provided inside the solder connection portion 121 extending along the entire circumference of the metal shell 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector assembly for electrically connecting two circuit boards to each other by being mounted on each circuit board and fitting to each other, and a waterproof connector constituting the connector assembly, for example. .

  Conventionally, waterproof connectors have been widely used. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a waterproof connector in which a gap between a connector housing and a contact and a gap between a connector housing and a metal shell are filled with a waterproof sealant.

JP2012-134130A

  However, in the case of the waterproof connector disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, a number of additional steps such as immersion in a waterproof sealant, vacuum treatment, and cleaning are required for manufacturing the waterproof connector. For this reason, the waterproof connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem that the manufacturing cost is high.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost waterproof connector and a connector assembly including the waterproof connector and a mating connector.

The waterproof connector of the present invention that achieves the above object is a waterproof connector that is solder-connected to the circuit board with the lower surface facing the circuit board,
On the upper surface, a housing having a fitting portion that fits with the mating connector;
A metal having a solder connection portion extending continuously along the side surface of the housing, surrounding the side surface over the entire circumference, and soldered to the circuit board at the lower portion and extending continuously in an endless belt shape over the circumference. Shell,
A plurality of contacts that are provided on the inner side surrounded by the solder connection portion that goes around the metal shell and is electrically connected to the mating connector. It is characterized by comprising.

  The waterproof connector according to the present invention is provided with a solder connection portion extending continuously in an endless belt shape around the circumference of the lower part of the metal shell. Therefore, the lower surface of the waterproof connector and the circuit board are sealed by the solder connection portion, and water can be prevented from entering the solder connection portion from there. Further, the solder connection portions of the plurality of contacts are provided inside the solder connection portions over one circumference of the metal shell. For this reason, water is prevented from passing between the waterproof connector and the circuit board to wet the solder connection portion of the contact.

  Here, in the waterproof connector of the present invention, it is preferable that the housing has a hole for visually recognizing the solder connection portions of the plurality of contacts.

  When this waterproof connector is solder-connected on the circuit board, it is preferable that it can be confirmed that the solder connection portion of the contact is correctly solder-connected. For this purpose, when the connector is projected toward the circuit board, the solder connection portion of the contact is often provided at a position protruding from the projected housing. However, in the waterproof connector of the present invention, the solder connection portion of the contact is provided inside the endless solder connection portion over one circumference of the metal shell for waterproofing.

  Therefore, by providing a hole in the housing for visually recognizing the solder connection portion of the contact, it is possible to confirm whether or not the solder connection portion of the contact is correctly soldered even in the waterproof connector of the present invention.

Further, the connector assembly of the present invention that achieves the above object is a connector assembly comprising the waterproof connector according to any one aspect of the present invention and a mating connector fitted to the waterproof connector,
The mating connector is
A mating housing having a receiving portion for receiving the fitting portion of the waterproof connector;
A plurality of mating contacts each contacting each of the plurality of contacts when mated with the waterproof connector;
Waterproof rubber that is integrally formed with the mating housing and that continuously surrounds the receiving portion and extends into an endless string around the circumference of the housing. It is characterized by comprising.

  In the connector assembly according to the present invention, the mating housing is provided with the above-described waterproof rubber which is integrally formed and extends in an endless string shape over one circumference. For this reason, according to the connector assembly of this invention, the fitting part of a waterproof connector and a mating connector will be in a watertight state, and the permeation of water from there will also be prevented.

  According to the present invention described above, a low-cost waterproof connector and connector assembly are realized.

1 is an external perspective view of a connector assembly as one embodiment of the present invention. It is an expanded sectional view of the 1st waterproof connector shown in Drawing 1 (B). It is an expanded sectional view of the 2nd waterproof connector shown in Drawing 1 (A). It is the top view which showed the circuit board with which the 1st waterproof connector shown in FIG.1 (B) is solder-connected. It is an expanded sectional view of the 1st waterproof connector and the 2nd waterproof connector in a fitting state.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a connector assembly as one embodiment of the present invention.

  Here, FIG. 1A is a waterproof connector corresponding to an example of a mating connector according to the present invention. Here, in order to distinguish from the connector of FIG.

  FIG. 1B is a waterproof connector corresponding to an example of the waterproof connector of the present invention. Here, in order to distinguish from the connector of FIG.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the first waterproof connector shown in FIG.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the second waterproof connector shown in FIG.

  Here, the first waterproof connector 10 shown in FIGS. 1B and 2 will be described first.

  The first waterproof connector 10 is a waterproof connector that is soldered to the circuit board 30 with the lower surface in the posture shown in FIGS. 1B and 2 facing the circuit board 30 (see FIG. 4). The first waterproof connector 10 includes a housing 11, a metal shell 12, and a plurality of contacts 13.

  The housing 11 has a fitting portion 111 that fits the second waterproof connector 20 shown in FIG. 1A on the upper surface in the posture shown in FIGS. 1B and 2.

  In addition, the metal shell 12 has a side surface portion 122 that continuously spreads along the side surface of the housing 11 and surrounds the side surface over the entire circumference. The side surface portion 122 extends linearly in the vertical direction. In addition, the metal shell 12 has an upper surface portion 123 that also surrounds the edge of the upper surface of the housing 11 over the entire circumference. Further, the metal shell 12 is provided with a solder connection portion 121 at a lower portion thereof. The solder connection portion 121 extends in an endless belt shape so as to continuously surround the housing 11 over one circumference. The lower surface of the solder connection portion 121 is solder-connected to an endless strip-shaped solder connection pattern 311 on the circuit board 30 (see FIG. 4).

  Further, the fitting portion 111 of the housing 11 is provided with a fitting groove 112 extending in the longitudinal direction. The fitting protrusion 112 of the second waterproof connector 20 shown in FIGS. 1A and 3 is fitted into the fitting groove 112 when the first and second waterproof connectors 10 and 20 are fitted. .

  A plurality of contacts 13 are arranged along the fitting groove 112 of the fitting portion 111 of the first waterproof connector 10 in FIG. The plurality of contacts 13 are fixed to the housing 11 by press-fitting. On the other hand, a plurality of contacts 23 are also arranged on the fitting protrusion 212 of the second waterproof connector 20 in FIG. As described above, during fitting, the fitting protrusion 212 of the second waterproof connector 20 shown in FIG. 1 (A) fits into the fitting groove 112 of the first waterproof connector 10 shown in FIG. 1 (B). Include. Then, each of the plurality of contacts 23 of the second waterproof connector 20 contacts each of the plurality of contacts 13 of the first waterproof connector 10 corresponding to each other. Thereby, the contacts 13 and 23 are electrically connected to each other.

  In addition, the solder that is surface-mounted by soldering to the solder connection pattern 311 of the circuit board 30 (see FIG. 4) is connected to each of the plurality of contacts 13 constituting the first waterproof connector 10 shown in FIG. A connecting portion 131 (see FIG. 2) is provided.

  Here, the arranged plurality of contacts 13 are alternately in opposite postures. Accordingly, the plurality of solder connection portions 131 are arranged in a staggered manner in two rows.

  Further, the housing 11 of the first waterproof connector 10 shown in FIG. 1B has a plurality of holes 113 arranged in a line on both sides of the fitting groove 112. The plurality of holes 113 are formed at positions corresponding to the solder connection portions 131 of the plurality of contacts 13. These holes 113 are holes for visually recognizing the solder connection portions 131 of the plurality of contacts 13. By using these holes 113, the solder connection state of the solder connection portion 131 can be confirmed at the time of solder connection to the circuit board.

  Next, the 2nd waterproof connector 20 shown in Drawing 1 (A) and Drawing 3 is explained.

  1A and 3, the second waterproof connector 20 is illustrated in the same posture as the illustrated waterproof connector 10 in FIGS. 1B and 2. That is, the second waterproof connector 20 is a waterproof connector that is solder-connected to the circuit board with the lower surface in the posture shown in FIGS. 1A and 3 facing the circuit board (not shown). The circuit board to which the second waterproof connector 20 is soldered is another circuit board different from the circuit board 30 to which the first waterproof connector 10 is soldered (see FIG. 4).

  Similar to the first waterproof connector 10 shown in FIGS. 1B and 2, the second waterproof connector 20 shown in FIGS. 1A and 3 is also provided with a housing 21, a metal shell 22, and a plurality of contacts. 23.

  The housing 21 has a receiving portion 211 on the upper surface in the posture shown in FIGS. The receiving portion 211 receives the fitting portion 111 of the first waterproof connector 10 when the first and second waterproof connectors 10 and 20 are fitted. In the center of the receiving portion 211, the above-described fitting protrusion 212 protruding from the bottom surface 213 of the receiving portion 211 is provided. The fitting protrusion 212 is fitted into the fitting groove 112 of the first waterproof connector 10 during the fitting, and the contacts 13 and 23 are connected.

  Further, the metal shell 22 of the second waterproof connector 20 shown in FIGS. 1A and 3 extends around the upper portion of the side surface of the housing 21 and the periphery of the receiving portion 211 on the upper surface of the housing 21. Surrounding.

  As described above, the second waterproof connector 20 has a plurality of contacts 23 arranged on the fitting protrusion 212 at the center of the receiving portion 211. The plurality of contacts 23 are insert-molded in the housing 21, and are in close contact with the housing 21, unlike the press-fitted contacts 13 in the first waterproof connector 10. For this reason, in the case of the second waterproof connector 20, there is no possibility that water may enter between the housing 21 and the contact 23, or it is extremely small. The solder connection portions 231 (see FIG. 3) of the plurality of contacts 23 are soldered to a solder connection pattern on a circuit board (not shown).

  Further, the second waterproof connector 20 includes a prevention rubber 24. The waterproof rubber 24 surrounds the receiving portion 211 and continuously extends in an endless string shape over one circumference. In this embodiment, the waterproof rubber 24 is integrally formed with the housing 21 of the second waterproof connector 20.

  In manufacturing the second waterproof connector 20, first, the housing 21 and the contact 23 are integrally formed by insert molding. Next, the material of the waterproof rubber 24 is poured from the injection hole 215 provided on the side of the housing 21 in which the contact 23 is integrally formed, and the waterproof rubber 24 is integrally formed in the housing 21. Thereafter, the second waterproof connector 20 is completed by attaching the metal shell 22 to the housing 21.

  On the waterproof rubber 24, protrusions 241 having the shape shown in FIG. When the second waterproof connector 20 and the first waterproof connector 10 are fitted to each other, the protrusion 214 of the waterproof rubber 24 is crushed by the metal shell 12 of the first waterproof connector 10 over the entire circumference. It is in close contact with the side surface portion 122 continuously over one round.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a circuit board to which the first waterproof connector shown in FIG. 1B is soldered. Here, it is sufficient to show the solder connection pattern 31 on the circuit board 30 necessary for the description of the present embodiment. For this reason, in FIG. 2, the circuit board 30 is shown as a circuit board having a small area with only the solder connection pattern 31.

  A solder connection pattern 31 made of a metal film or a thin metal plate for solder-connecting the first waterproof connector 10 is formed on the circuit board 30.

    The solder connection pattern 31 includes a solder connection pattern 311 for a metal shell that constitutes the first waterproof connector 10. The metal shell solder connection pattern 311 extends in an endless belt shape over the entire circumference. This corresponds to the fact that the solder connection portion 121 of the metal shell 12 is formed so as to extend in an endless belt shape over the entire circumference.

  The solder connection pattern 31 includes a plurality of contact solder connection patterns 312 to which the solder connection portions 131 of the plurality of contacts 13 constituting the first waterproof connector 10 are respectively connected. A plurality of contact solder connection patterns 312 on the circuit board 30 are arranged in a staggered manner in two rows. This corresponds to the fact that the solder connection portions 131 of the plurality of contacts 13 are staggered in two rows. The plurality of contact solder connection patterns 312 are formed on the inner side of the circuit board 30 surrounded by the solder connection pattern 311 for the metal shell. Each of the plurality of contact solder connection patterns 312 is formed on the circuit board 30 via vias (not shown) formed in the circuit board 30 corresponding to the contact connection patterns 312. It is connected to the back surface with respect to the upper surface shown in FIG. Each contact connection pattern 312 is connected to the outside of the solder connection pattern 311 for the metal shell by a metal pattern (not shown) on the back surface of the circuit board 30.

  As described above, in the first waterproof connector 10 shown in FIGS. 1B and 2, the solder connection portions 131 of the plurality of contacts 13 are disposed inside the solder connection portions 121 of the metal shell 12. . Further, the solder connection portion 12 of the metal shell 12 is continuously soldered to the metal shell solder connection pattern 311 on the circuit board 30 over one round. For this reason, between the circuit board 30 and the 1st waterproof connector 10 is sealed, the penetration | invasion of the water to the lower part of the 1st waterproof connector 10 passing through there is prevented.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the first waterproof connector and the second waterproof connector in a fitted state.

  In FIG. 5, the first waterproof connector 10 is shown in the same posture as the first waterproof connector 10 shown in FIG. On the other hand, the second waterproof connector 20 is shown in an upside down orientation with respect to the fitting direction with the first waterproof connector 10, that is, the second waterproof connector 20 shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 5, the contact 13 of the first waterproof connector 10 is illustrated so as to bite into the contact 23 of the second waterproof connector 20. This is because the contact 13 of the first waterproof connector 10 is shown in its shape when not receiving external force. Actually, it is pushed by the contact 23 by the fitting and is elastically bent, so that the contacts 13 and 23 of both the connectors 10 and 20 are brought into electrical contact with each other with an intended contact pressure.

  Similarly, in FIG. 5, the protrusion 241 of the waterproof rubber 24 is shown to bite into the metal shell 12 of the first waterproof connector 10. This is because the waterproof rubber 24 is shown in its original shape without any external force. Actually, when the first waterproof connector 10 and the second waterproof connector 20 are fitted, the protrusion 241 of the waterproof rubber 24 is pushed by the metal shell 12 of the first waterproof connector 10 and contracts, and the protrusion of the waterproof rubber 24 is compressed. 241 and the side surface portion 122 of the metal shell 12 are in close contact with each other. This close contact is performed over the entire circumference of the waterproof rubber 24, thereby preventing water from entering from the fitting portion of the first waterproof connector 10 and the second waterproof connector 20. Further, as described above, in the second waterproof connector 20, the contact 23 is insert-molded integrally with the housing 21. For this reason, the housing 21 and the contact 23 are in close contact with each other, and there is no gap into which water enters.

  On the other hand, in the case of the first waterproof connector 10, the contact 13 is fixed by press-fitting into the housing 11. Therefore, there is a possibility that a gap that allows water to enter is formed between the contact 13 and the housing 11. However, in the case of the first waterproof connector 10, the solder connection portion 121 of the metal shell 12 is formed in an endless belt shape that extends around the entire circumference. Therefore, the first waterproof connector 10 and the circuit board 30 (see FIG. 4) on which the first waterproof connector 10 is mounted are sealed by solder connection of the solder connection portion 131 of the metal shell 13. Intrusion of water into the interior is prevented.

  Thus, in the case of the 1st waterproof connector 10, waterproofness is implement | achieved by soldering the metal shell 13 to the circuit board 30 continuously over a circuit.

  Note that the first waterproof connector 10 of the present embodiment includes a contact 13 having a solder connection portion 131 of a type that is solder-connected to the surface of the circuit board 30. However, in the waterproof connector of the present invention, the contact solder connection portion may be of a type that is inserted into the through hole of the circuit board and soldered.

  In the present embodiment, the second waterproof connector 20 includes the metal shell 22, but the metal shell 22 may not necessarily be included.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Connector 11 Housing 12 Metal shell 13 Contact 111 Fitting part 112 Fitting groove 113 Hole 121,131 Solder connection part 122 Side face part 123 Upper surface part 20 Waterproof connector 21 Housing 22 Metal shell 23 Contact 24 Waterproof rubber 211 Receiving part 212 Fitting Projection 213 Bottom 215 Injection hole 231 Solder connection portion 241 Projection

Claims (3)

A waterproof connector soldered to the circuit board with the bottom surface facing the circuit board,
On the upper surface, a housing having a fitting portion that fits with the mating connector;
A metal having a solder connection portion extending continuously along the side surface of the housing and surrounding the side surface over the entire circumference and soldered to the circuit board at the lower portion and extending continuously into an endless belt shape over the circumference. Shell,
A plurality of contacts that are provided on the inner side surrounded by a solder connection portion that goes around the circumference of the metal shell and that is electrically connected to a mating connector. A waterproof connector characterized by comprising:   The waterproof connector according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a hole for visually recognizing solder connection portions of the plurality of contacts. A connector assembly comprising the waterproof connector according to claim 1 or 2 and the mating connector,
The mating connector is
A mating housing having a receiving portion for receiving the fitting portion of the waterproof connector;
A plurality of mating contacts, each of which contacts each of the plurality of contacts, when fitted with the waterproof connector;
It is integrally molded with the mating housing, continuously surrounds the receiving portion and extends in an endless string shape around the circumference, and continuously contacts the waterproof connector over the circumference when fitted with the waterproof connector. A connector assembly comprising a waterproof rubber.

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