JP2018092729A - Terminal connection structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a leg of a connector terminal from being buckled by a load that acts on the connector terminal during a connector connection, even without providing a leg support holder on a circuit board.SOLUTION: A terminal connection structure comprises a circuit board 10, and external connector terminals 14 and 15 that are mounted on the circuit board 10. The external connector terminals 14 and 15 include: terminal bodies 141 and 151 that are disposed in a direction in parallel with the circuit board 10; and multiple legs 142 and 152 that are provided side by side in the terminal bodies 141 and 151 in a width direction of the terminal bodies 141 and 151 and connected to the circuit board 10 while being bent closer to the circuit board 10. A connection position P3 (P5) with the circuit board 10 in at least one leg 142b (152b) among the multiple legs 142 (152) is deviated in a direction in parallel with a connector connection direction Q2 of the terminal body 141 (151) in relative to a connection position P4 (P6) with the circuit board 10 in another leg 142a (152a).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

* This invention relates to the terminal connection structure in which the connector terminal was mounted in the circuit board.

  Conventionally, when connector terminals are arranged in parallel to a circuit board and mounted, a plurality of legs extending from the terminal body with the terminal body of the connector terminal arranged in a horizontal direction on the circuit board Are bent to the circuit board side at the same position with respect to the connector connecting direction and connected to the circuit board. For this reason, the leg part of the connector terminal may buckle by the load which acts on a connector terminal at the time of connector connection.

  Conventionally, in order to prevent the above buckling, a leg support holder that supports the leg of the connector terminal is provided on the circuit board (for example, Patent Document 1). For this reason, it was necessary to secure a space for providing the leg support holder in the circuit board. Further, an operation process for providing the leg support holder on the circuit board and an operation process for fixing the leg portion of the connector terminal to the leg support holder are necessary.

JP 05-251138 A

□ This invention is a terminal capable of preventing the legs of the connector terminal from buckling due to a load acting on the connector terminal when the connector is connected without providing a leg support holder for supporting the leg of the connector terminal on the circuit board. An object is to provide a connection structure.

The present invention includes a circuit board and a connector terminal mounted on the circuit board, and the connector terminal includes a terminal body arranged in parallel to the circuit board, and a width direction of the terminal body in the terminal body. And a plurality of legs bent to the circuit board side and connected to the circuit board, and the circuit board in at least one leg of the plurality of legs. The terminal connection structure is characterized in that the connection position of is shifted in a direction parallel to the connector connection direction of the terminal body with respect to the connection position of the other leg portion with the circuit board.

The above-mentioned “parallel” is not limited to the parallel direction in a strict sense, but also includes a direction deviated within a certain range around the parallel direction (for example, a direction that can be regarded as approximately parallel).
The “terminal body width direction” is a lateral width direction perpendicular to the connector connection direction.
The “connector connection direction” is a direction in which the terminal body relatively approaches the mating connector terminal when the terminal body is connected to the mating connector terminal. The “direction parallel to the connector connection direction” includes the connector connection direction and the opposite direction. The above-mentioned “deviation in the direction parallel to the connector connection direction” means that if the deviation is in the direction parallel to the connector connection direction, the deviation is in the direction perpendicular to the connector connection direction (that is, the width direction of the terminal body). Meaning good.

With this configuration, the plurality of leg portions of the connector terminals form an L-shaped structure that is displaced along the connector connection direction because the connection positions with the circuit boards are displaced in a direction parallel to the connector connection direction. As a result, even if the leg support holder for supporting the leg of the connector terminal is not provided on the circuit board, the load acting on the connector terminal when the connector is connected can be received by the above arch structure, and the leg of the connector terminal is It can prevent buckling.
Note that the “L-shaped structure shifted along the connector connecting direction” includes the L-shape formed by bending the leg portion in the middle thereof and / or the leg portion when the leg portion bends at the base end thereof. An L-shape formed by the portion and the terminal body is included.

  Furthermore, conventionally, in order to prevent the leg of the connector terminal from buckling, it has been necessary to provide a leg support holder for supporting the leg of the connector terminal on the circuit board. Since the support holder is not necessary, the work process for providing the leg support holder on the circuit board and the work process for press-fitting the leg part of the connector terminal into the leg support holder can be omitted, and the number of assembly steps can be reduced.

As an aspect of the present invention, the plurality of legs include insertion legs inserted into and connected to holes of the circuit board and / or surface connection legs connected to the main surface of the circuit board. But you can.
With this configuration, the arch structure can be configured even when the plurality of legs include only the insertion legs, only the surface connection legs, or both.
In addition, since the insertion leg is inserted into the hole of the circuit board, it can be used for mechanical connection with the circuit board. The surface connection legs can be used in particular for electrical connection to circuits formed on the circuit board.

  Further, as an aspect of the present invention, the plurality of legs include the insertion leg and the surface connection leg, and the connection position of the insertion leg is more than the connection position of the surface connection leg. You may shift | deviate in the said connector connection direction.

With this configuration, the connection position of the insertion leg with relatively high connection strength is displaced in the connector connection direction from the connection position of the surface connection leg with relatively low connection strength. The acting load can be more easily applied to the insertion leg than the surface connection leg, and the load acting on the surface connection leg can be reduced.
Further, in this configuration, since the place where the omitted leg support holder is disposed is used as the connection position of the connection position of the insertion leg, it is easy to secure the arrangement space of the connection position of the insertion leg. become.

Further, as an aspect of the present invention, the plurality of legs include mechanical connection legs that are mechanically connected to the circuit board, and electrical connection legs that are electrically connected to an electric circuit formed on the circuit board. And may be included.
Note that the above-mentioned “mechanically connected” means that only mechanical connection is made without electrical connection.
With this configuration, the connector terminal can be electrically connected to the circuit board as well as mechanically.

  Further, as an aspect of the present invention, the plurality of leg portions are three leg portions, and the connection position of the leg portions on both sides of the three leg portions is the connection position of the middle leg portion. May be displaced in the connector connecting direction.

With this configuration, the three-leg structure can receive a load acting on the connector terminal at the time of connecting the connector with the three leg portions, and therefore can cope with a case where the load acting on the connector terminal is relatively large.
Also, in general, when the terminal size of the terminal body is relatively large, the load acting on the connector terminal is relatively large when the connector is connected, so this three-legged leg structure has a comparative terminal size. Suitable for large connector terminals.
Also, of the three legs, the connection position of the legs on both sides is shifted in the connector connection direction from the connection position of the middle leg, so the leg structure can be miniaturized and the connector terminal can be miniaturized. it can.

As an aspect of the present invention, the connection positions of the leg portions on both sides may be arranged along a direction orthogonal to the connector connection direction.
With this configuration, the load acting on the two leg portions on both sides can be evenly distributed between the two leg portions.

Further, as an aspect of the present invention, the plurality of legs are configured by one surface connection leg and one insertion leg.
With this configuration, this two-type leg structure has only one insertion leg portion that is responsible for mechanical connection, so the mechanical connection strength of the connector terminal leg structure is slightly reduced. The connector terminal can be reduced in size.

  In general, when the terminal size of the terminal body is relatively small, the load acting on the connector terminal when the connector is connected is relatively small. Therefore, this two-legged leg structure has a relatively large terminal size. Suitable for small connector terminals.

Further, as an aspect of the present invention, the connector terminal has a widened portion having a lateral width larger than the lateral width of the terminal main body at the base end of the terminal main body, and the plurality of legs are extended from the widened portion. Also good.
In addition, said "base end of a terminal main body" is an edge part on the opposite side to the connector connection direction in a terminal main body.
With this configuration, even when the lateral width of the terminal body is relatively small, the connector terminal can be provided with a plurality of legs.

As an aspect of the present invention, a plurality of the connector terminals may be provided, and the insertion leg portions of the plurality of connector terminals may be arranged along a direction orthogonal to the connector connection direction.
With this configuration, since the load acting on each connector terminal can be received at the same position with respect to the connector connection direction, the load acting on the plurality of connector terminals can be received in a balanced manner. Further, when the hole for inserting the insertion leg portion is provided in the circuit board with the machine tool, the moving distance of the machine tool to the adjacent hole portion can be shortened, and the productivity can be improved.

As an aspect of the present invention, the plurality of legs may include the insertion leg and the surface connection leg, and the insertion leg may be formed to be narrower than the surface connection leg.
With this configuration, the leg structure of the connector terminal can be reduced in size while ensuring the thickness of the surface connection leg.

  Further, when the surface connection leg is used as a leg for electrical connection, it is difficult to reduce the thickness of the surface connection leg because the thickness of the surface connection leg is determined by the specifications of the device on which the terminal connection structure is mounted. For this reason, the leg structure of a connector terminal can be reduced in size by narrowing an insertion leg part.

  According to the present invention, even if a leg support holder for supporting the leg of the connector terminal is not provided on the circuit board, the terminal of the connector terminal can be prevented from buckling due to a load acting on the connector terminal when the connector is connected. Connection structure can be provided

The figure explaining the usage example of the electrical-connection cassette to which the terminal connection structure which concerns on embodiment of this invention was applied. (A) (b) is the perspective view seen from the front side of the electrical connection cassette, respectively, and the perspective view seen from the back side. The disassembled perspective view which shows an electrical connection cassette. (A) and (b) are the front views which looked at the circuit board by which various circuit components were mounted from the one main surface side, respectively, and the front view which looked from the other main surface side. (A) and (b) are the perspective views which looked at the circuit board with which various circuit components were mounted from the one main surface side, respectively, and the perspective view which looked from the other main surface side. The perspective view which shows the upper case in which the circuit board was accommodated. The expansion perspective view which shows the lower case of FIG. (3). BB sectional drawing of Fig.2 (a).

<Embodiment>
With reference to FIGS. 1-8, the electrical connection cassette 1 to which the terminal connection structure which concerns on embodiment of this invention was applied is demonstrated.
<Overview>
As shown in FIG. 1, the electrical connection cassette 1 is interposed in the middle of a power supply line 4 that connects an electrical connection box 2 mounted on a vehicle (for example, an automobile) and the in-vehicle device 3, and is supplied to the in-vehicle device 3. It is a device that monitors the power to be transmitted. The electrical junction box 2 is a device that distributes power from a power source (for example, a battery) to a plurality of in-vehicle devices 3.

  More specifically, the electrical connection cassette 1 has one function among various functions (for example, a fuse function, a relay function, a recording function, a voltage monitoring function, a filter function, a backup capacitor function, and the like). It is possible to combine and electrically connect one or more of the same kind of electrical connection cassettes 1 having different functions to each other, for example, depending on the size of the empty space in the vehicle. It is a device that can be used by selectively combining functions.

In FIG. 1, as an example, a cassette connector 7 a and a cassette connector 7 b in which one or more electrical connection cassettes 1 are connected to each other are interposed in the power supply line 4.
The cassette connection body 7a is configured, for example, by connecting two electrical connection cassettes 1A and 1B having a fuse function to each other. An external connector 50 connected to the power supply line 4a from the electric connection box 2 is connected to the electrical connection cassette 1A, and an external connector 51 connected to the power supply line 4b connected to the in-vehicle device 3 is connected to the electrical connection cassette 1B. It is connected.

  The cassette connector 7b is configured by connecting an electrical connection cassette 1C having a fuse function, an electrical connection cassette 1D having a filter function, and an electrical connection cassette 1E having a backup capacitor function. An external connector 52 connected to the power supply line 4b from the electric connection box 2 side is connected to the electrical connection cassette 1C, and an external connector 53 connected to the power supply line 4c connected to the in-vehicle device 3 is connected to the electrical connection cassette 1E. Is connected.

In FIG. 1, the power supplied to the in-vehicle device 3 a is monitored by each function of each of the electrical connection cassettes 1 </ b> A to 1 </ b> E interposed in the middle of the feeder 4 connected to the in-vehicle device 3.
In FIG. 1, the power feeding path 5 is branched and connected to the external connector 50, and the power from the power feeding path 4 a is also supplied to the other in-vehicle device 3 b via the power feeding path 5.

<Electrical connection cassette 1>
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the electrical connection cassette 1 includes a circuit board 10, a pair of metal members 11 and 12 and a plurality of external connector terminals 14 and 15 (connector terminals) mounted on the circuit board, and a circuit. And a housing 16 that accommodates the substrate 10.
<Circuit board 10>
The circuit board 10 is formed in, for example, a rectangular plate shape in plan view. On the main surface of the circuit board 10, an electric circuit constituting the circuit is formed, and among various functions (for example, a fuse function, a relay function, a voltage monitoring function, a recording function, a filter function, a backup capacitor function, etc.) Circuit components constituting one function are mounted.

  The relay function is a function that cuts off or conducts the electric circuit formed on the circuit board 10, and the fuse function is a time integral value (for example, Joule heat integration) of the current flowing through the electric circuit formed on the circuit board 10 for a certain time. ) Is a function of cutting off the electric circuit when the integrated value is equal to or greater than a predetermined integral value. The recording function is a recording of the voltage value of the electric circuit formed on the circuit board 10 and / or the current value of the current flowing through the electric circuit, and the filter function is formed on the circuit board 10. The backup capacitor function is a function for supplying power when the power is shut off.

  On the side portions 10a on both sides of the circuit board 10 in the substrate width direction Q5, cutout portions 10b into which the metal members 11 and 12 are fitted are provided. The board width direction Q5 is a width direction in a direction orthogonal to the fitting direction Q1 on the circuit board 10. The fitting direction Q <b> 1 is a direction in which the circuit board 10 is relatively approached (that is, fitted) to the upper case 17 when the circuit board 10 is accommodated in an upper case 17 described later of the housing 16. is there.

In addition, a plurality of hole portions 10d into which the leg portions 142 and 152 of the plurality of external connector terminals 14 and 15 are inserted are provided at the edge of the base end portion 10c on the opposite side of the circuit board 10 in the fitting direction Q1. Yes. The plurality of hole portions 10d are arranged in a line along the base end portion 10c. In other words, the plurality of hole portions 10d are provided at the same position with respect to a direction parallel to the connector connection direction Q2 of the plurality of external connector terminals 14 and 15.
The connector connection direction Q2 is a direction in which the external connector terminals 14 and 15 are relatively close to the counterpart connector terminal when the external connector terminals 14 and 15 are connected to the counterpart connector terminal. In the form, it is opposite to the fitting direction Q1.

<External connector terminals 14 and 15>
Each of the external connector terminals 14 and 15 is a connector terminal to which a mating connector terminal for external power or signal is connected. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 5A, the external connector terminals 14 and 15 are in a state in which their connector connection direction Q2 is arranged in parallel to the circuit board 10 (for example, opposite to the fitting direction Q1). Mounted on the opposite edge of the one main surface 10e of the circuit board 10 in the fitting direction Q1.

  Note that the above “parallel” is not limited to the parallel direction in a strict sense, but also includes a direction deviated within a certain range around the parallel direction (for example, a direction that can be regarded as approximately parallel) (the same applies hereinafter). . The connector connection direction Q2 is a direction in which the external connector terminals 14 and 15 relatively approach toward the mating connector terminal when the external connector terminals 14 and 15 are connected to the mating connector terminal.

  The external connector terminal 14 is, for example, a three-type connector terminal having three legs, and is connected to a counterpart connector terminal from the outside, and receives a relatively large current (power in this embodiment). The external connector terminal 14 is electrically connected to the metal member 11 via an electric circuit formed on the circuit board 10. Hereinafter, it is also referred to as a three-type connector terminal 14.

  The external connector terminal 15 is, for example, a two-type connector terminal having two legs, and is connected to an external mating connector terminal, and receives a relatively small current (a control signal or the like in this embodiment). The The external connector terminal 15 is electrically connected to a circuit component having various functions (for example, a control terminal of a semiconductor switch or an input / output terminal of an IC) mounted on the circuit board 10 through an electric circuit formed on the circuit board 10. It is connected. Hereinafter, it is also referred to as a two-type connector terminal 15.

  In this embodiment, two three-type connector terminals 14 are provided and three two-type connector terminals 15 are provided. However, for example, a plurality of three-type connector terminals 14 may be provided. One or more type connector terminals 15 may be provided. When the three-type connector terminal 14 and the two-type connector terminal 15 are not necessary, the terminals 14 and 15 may be omitted.

  The three-type connector terminal 14 is provided at a relatively wide, for example, a rectangular flat terminal body 141, and a base end of the terminal body 141, and has a lateral width direction (that is, a lateral width direction orthogonal to the connector connecting direction Q2). In other words, it includes three leg portions 142 arranged in the substrate width direction Q5). The base end of the terminal main body 141 is the end of the terminal main body 141 opposite to the connector connection direction Q2.

The terminal main body 141 is disposed on the one main surface 10e side of the circuit board 10 in a state where the connector connection direction Q2 is disposed in parallel to the circuit board 10 (for example, a state in which the terminal main body 141 is directed in the direction opposite to the fitting direction Q1). ing.
The three legs 142 are composed of one surface connection leg 142a and two insertion legs 142b. In this embodiment, the surface connection leg 142a is disposed between the two insertion legs 142b, but may be disposed on one of the two sides of the two insertion legs 142b.

  The surface connection leg 142a extends from the terminal body 141, is bent toward the circuit board 10, and its tip is bent in a direction parallel to the one main surface 10e of the circuit board 10, and the tip is the circuit board. 10 is connected to one main surface 10e. Each insertion leg 142b extends from the terminal body 141, is bent toward the circuit board 10 and is inserted into and connected to the hole 10d of the circuit board 10. Each leg part 142 (142a, 142b) is bent in parallel to the width direction of each leg part 142 (that is, the width direction of the terminal body 141), for example.

  The connection position of at least one of the three legs 142 with the circuit board 10 is parallel to the connector connection direction Q2 with respect to the connection position of the other leg with the circuit board 10. (E.g., opposite to the connector connection direction Q2). In this embodiment, of the three legs 142, the connection position P3 of the legs on both sides (for example, each insertion leg 142b) is more than the connection position P4 of the middle leg (for example, the surface connection leg 142a). They are displaced in the connector connection direction Q2, and are arranged in a line along a direction orthogonal to the connector connection direction Q2 (ie, the board width direction Q5).

The “direction parallel to the connector connection direction Q2” includes the connector connection direction Q2 and the opposite direction.
Further, the above-mentioned “deviation in the direction parallel to the connector connection direction Q2” means that if the deviation is in the direction parallel to the connector connection direction Q2, the direction perpendicular to the connector connection direction Q2 (that is, the board width direction Q5). There is a meaning that it may shift.

  The two-type connector terminal 15 is provided at a relatively narrow, for example, rectangular flat terminal body 151, a base end of the terminal body 151, a widened portion 153 wider than the terminal body 151, and a widened portion 153. And two legs 152 arranged in the width direction of the widened portion 153 (that is, the width direction orthogonal to the connector connecting direction, in other words, the board width direction Q5). The base end of the terminal main body 151 is the end of the terminal main body 151 on the side opposite to the connector connection direction Q2.

The terminal main body 151 is disposed on the one main surface 10e side of the circuit board 10 in a state where the connector connection direction Q2 is disposed in parallel with the circuit board 10 (for example, the state is directed in the direction opposite to the fitting direction Q1). ing.
The two legs 152 are composed of one surface connection leg 152a and one insertion leg 152b.

  The surface connecting leg 152a extends from the widened portion 153, is bent toward the circuit board 10, and its tip is bent in a direction parallel to the one main surface 10e of the circuit board 10, and the tip is the circuit board. 10 is connected to one main surface 10e. The insertion leg portion 152b extends from the widened portion 153, is bent toward the circuit board 10 and is inserted into the hole 10d of the circuit board 10 and connected thereto. Each leg 152 (152a, 152b) is bent in parallel to the width direction of each leg 152 (that is, the width direction of the terminal body 151), for example.

  The connection position of at least one leg of the two legs 152 with the circuit board 10 is parallel to the connector connection direction Q2 with respect to the connection position of the other leg with the circuit board 10. (E.g., opposite to the connector connection direction Q2). In this embodiment, the connection position P5 of the insertion leg 152b is displaced in the connector connection direction Q2 from the connection position P6 of the surface connection leg 152a.

  In this embodiment, the surface connection legs 142 a and 152 a are used as electrical connection legs that are electrically connected to the electric circuit formed on the circuit board 10, and are formed on the one main surface 10 e of the circuit board 10. For example, it is electrically connected to the electrical circuit by soldering. The insertion legs 142b and 152b are used as mechanical connection legs that are mechanically connected to the circuit board 10, and are press-fitted into and connected to the holes 10d of the circuit board 10. Note that the above-mentioned “mechanically connected” means that only mechanical connection is made without electrical connection. The leg 142 (152) is divided into the electrical connection leg 142a (152a) and the machine connection leg 142b (152b), so that the electrical connection can be designed without considering the viewpoint of mechanical connection. Thus, the degree of freedom and ease of design can be improved.

  In addition, the insertion leg 142b of the three-type connector terminal 14 is formed to be thinner than the surface connection leg 142a of the three-type connector terminal 14, for example, and the insertion leg 152b of the two-type connector terminal 15 is, for example, It is formed thinner than the surface connection leg 152a of the two-type connector terminal 15.

  Further, the insertion leg portions 142b and 152b of the external connector terminals 14 and 15 are arranged in a line along a direction orthogonal to the connector connection direction Q2. The surface connection legs 142a and 152a of the connector terminals 14 and 15 are arranged in a line along a direction orthogonal to the connector connection direction Q2.

  Further, in this embodiment, as an example, the three two-type connector terminals 15 are arranged at the center of the edge of the base end portion 10c opposite to the fitting direction Q1 in the circuit board 10, and on both sides thereof, Two three-side connector terminals 14 are arranged.

<Metal members 11, 12>
The metal members 11 and 12 are terminals for electrically connecting the same kind of electrical connection cassettes 1 to each other. Since the metal members 11 and 12 are formed in mirror image symmetry with each other, the following description will focus on the structure of the metal member 11.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the metal member 11 includes a first connection terminal 111 and a second connection terminal 112 having terminal shapes that can be fitted to each other, and the first connection terminal 111 and the second connection terminal 112. A plurality of (for example, three) sandwiching portions 114 (114a, 114b, and 114c) that secure the metal member 11 to the circuit board 10 by sandwiching the circuit board 10 from the main surfaces 10e and 10f on both sides. ).

The first connection terminal 111 is disposed on the one main surface 10e side of the circuit board 10 in a state where the terminal connection direction Q8 is directed in the fitting direction Q1 (a predetermined direction with respect to the circuit board 10). The connection terminal 112 is arranged on the other main surface 10f side of the circuit board 10 with its terminal connection direction Q9 oriented in a direction parallel to the terminal connection direction Q8 (for example, opposite to the terminal connection direction Q8). Yes.
The terminal connection direction Q8 of the first connection terminal 111 may be opposite to the fitting direction Q1. Further, the terminal connection direction Q9 of the second connection terminal 112 may be the same direction as the terminal connection direction Q8 of the first connection terminal 111.

  The connection portion of the first connection terminal 111 is formed as a tuning fork-shaped terminal (that is, a plate shape), and the main surface of the connection portion of the first connection terminal 111 is arranged in parallel to the one main surface 10 e of the circuit board 10. . The connection portion of the second connection terminal 112 is formed as a tab-shaped terminal (that is, a plate shape) that can be fitted to the tuning fork-shaped terminal, and the main surface of the connection portion of the second connection terminal 112 is the circuit board 10. It is arranged perpendicular to the other main surface 10f of the.

  The connection part 113 is mounted on the circuit board 10 and connects the first connection terminal and the second connection terminal so that the first connection terminal 111 and the second connection terminal 112 are arranged as described above with respect to the circuit board 10. And support.

  In the metal member 11, the connecting portion 113 is fitted into the notch portion 10b of the circuit board 10, and the circuit board 10 is sandwiched between the leading end portion of the sandwiching portion 114a and the leading end portions of the sandwiching portions 114b and 114c. As a result, it is mounted on the circuit board 10.

  In this embodiment, each sandwiching portion 114 a, 114 b, 114 c functions as a mechanical connection portion that mechanically connects to the circuit board 10. Further, at least one of the sandwiching portions 114a, 114b, and 114c (for example, the sandwiching portion 114c) is electrically connected to an electric circuit formed on the circuit board 10 by, for example, soldering, It also functions as an electrical connection portion that is electrically connected to an electrical path formed on the circuit board 10.

  As with the metal member 11, the metal member 12 also connects the first connection terminal 121 and the second connection terminal 122 having terminal shapes that can be fitted to each other, and the first connection terminal 121 and the second connection terminal 122. And a plurality of (for example, three) sandwiching portions 124 (124a, 124b, 124c) for fixing the metal member 12 to the circuit board 10 by sandwiching the circuit board 10 from the main surfaces 10e, 10f on both sides. And. The metal member 12 is formed in a mirror image symmetrical shape with the metal member 11, and is mounted on the circuit board 10 like the metal member 11.

<Case 16>
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the housing 16 includes an upper case 17 that accommodates the circuit board 10 and a lower case 18 that closes the accommodation opening of the upper case 17.
As shown in FIG. 6, the upper case 17 has a case body 171 formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box shape having an open surface 171a. The open surface 171a constitutes the above-described accommodation port and communicates with the accommodation space inside the case main body 171. The case main body 171 has four side wall portions 171b, 171c, 171d, and 171e surrounding the periphery of the open surface 171a, and a bottom wall portion 171f disposed on the opposite side of the open surface 171a.

  Guide rails 171g are provided on the inner surfaces of the side wall portions 171c and 171e on both sides in the board width direction Q5 of the case main body 171 so that the side parts 10a on both sides of the circuit board 10 in the board width direction Q5 are fitted.

  A pair of slits 171k through which the connecting portions 113 and 123 of the metal members 11 and 12 mounted on the circuit board 10 pass are provided on one side wall portion 171b of the case body 171 in the board orthogonal direction Q4. The pair of slits 171k extends along the fitting direction Q3, and one end thereof is opened by the open surface 171a.

  On the outer surface of the side wall portion 171b of the case body 171, a pair of fitting convex portions 172 for mechanically connecting to other electrical connection cassettes 1 are formed in a convex shape with respect to the outer surface of the side wall portion 171b. . Each fitting convex part 172 is provided in the state which overlaps with the other end side (back side) of each slit 171k formed in the outer surface of the side wall part 171b, respectively.

  Each fitting convex part 172 has a substantially T-shaped cross-sectional shape, and the cross-sectional shape thereof extends along the direction parallel to the fitting direction Q3, for example, from the center of the fitting direction Q3 in the side wall part 171b to the bottom wall. It is formed in a shape extending to the end on the side of the portion 171f. The direction parallel to the fitting direction Q3 includes the fitting direction Q3 and the opposite direction.

  Each fitting convex part 172 has an accommodation concave part 172c that is recessed inward from the distal end surface on the fitting direction Q3 side. The bottom surface shape of the housing recess 172c is formed in a substantially T shape in accordance with the cross-sectional shape of the fitting protrusion 172. The housing recess 172c communicates with the slit 171k on the side wall portion 171b side, and a slit 172d through which the outer side portion of the second connection terminal 112 in the substrate orthogonal direction Q4 is inserted is provided on the wall portion opposite to the side wall portion 171b. ing.

  On the outer surface of the bottom wall portion 171f of the case body 171, a pair of fitting recesses 173 for mechanically connecting to other electrical connection cassettes 1 are formed in a concave shape with respect to the outer surface of the bottom wall portion 171f. . Each fitting recess 173 is arranged at a position shifted to the both sides from the center in the substrate width direction Q5 at the edge of the bottom wall portion 171f on the side wall portion 171b side of the outer surface.

Each fitting recess 173 is formed in a shape that can be fitted to the fitting projection 172. More specifically, each fitting recess 173 has an opening 173a on the outer surface of the bottom wall portion 171f and a fitting space in which the widened portion 172a of the fitting projection 172 is fitted, and the fitting space described above. It has a slit 173b that communicates with the outer surface of the side wall portion 171d and extends along the fitting direction Q3 in the side wall portion 171d and into which the reduced width portion 172b of the fitting convex portion 172 is fitted.
An opening 173e that penetrates through the internal space of the case body 171 and through which the first connection terminals 111 and 121 are inserted is provided in the inner surface of each fitting recess 173.

  On the inner surface of the side wall portion 171b of the case body 171, a pair of guide recesses 171m into which the inner side portions of a pair of protruding pieces 183 (described later) of the lower case 18 are inserted protrude from the inner surface of the side wall portion 171b. Is provided. The pair of guide recesses 171m are arranged between the pair of slits 171k, are directed outward in the substrate width direction Q5, and are formed in a mirror image symmetrical shape.

  On the outer surfaces of the side wall portions 171c and 171e on both sides of the substrate width direction Q5 in the case main body 171, positioning recesses 171h that engage with a pair of positioning protrusions 185 described later of the lower case 18 are provided. Further, on the outer surfaces of the side wall portions 171c and 171e on both sides of the case main body 171, for example, a pair of locking claw-shaped locking portions 186 described later of the lower case 18 are locked, for example, protrusion-shaped locked portions 171i are provided. It has been.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the lower case 18 has, for example, a rectangular flat plate-shaped substrate portion 181 that closes the accommodation port (that is, the open surface 171 a) of the upper case 17. A peripheral wall portion 182 that is inserted into the open surface 171a of the upper case 17 is erected on the inner main surface of the substrate portion 181 (that is, the main surface on the fitting direction Q6 side). The fitting direction Q <b> 6 is a direction in which the lower case 18 approaches the upper case 17 relatively when the upper case 17 and the lower case 18 are fitted.

The wall portions on both sides of the peripheral wall portion 182 in the board width direction Q5 are provided with recesses 182a into which the base end portions 10c on the opposite side of the circuit board 10 in the fitting direction Q1 are fitted.
On the main surface of the board portion 181, a through hole 181 a through which the terminal bodies 141 and 151 of the external connector terminals 14 and 15 mounted on the circuit board 10 pass is provided inside the peripheral wall portion 182.

  The main surface of the substrate portion 181 has a pair of substantially rectangular shapes inserted into the accommodation space of the upper case 17 at a position shifted to both sides from the center in the substrate width direction Q5 at one edge in the substrate orthogonal direction Q4. A protruding piece 183 is provided upright. A rib 183a that fits into the slit 171k of the upper case 17 is erected along the fitting direction Q6 on the outer main surface of each protruding piece 183.

  The outer peripheral surface of the substrate portion 181 (that is, the main surface opposite to the fitting direction Q6) is surrounded by the outer connector terminals 14 and 15 that protrude from the substrate portion 181 through the through holes 181a. A peripheral wall-shaped external connector housing 184 is provided upright. The external connector housing 184 is fitted with a connector housing of a counterpart connector from the outside (for example, a connector connected to the power supply line 4 from the electrical connection box 2 or a connector connected to the signal line from the electrical connection box 2). It is formed in a possible shape.

  A pair of positioning projections 185 that engage with the pair of positioning recesses 171h of the upper case 17 are provided on the outer surfaces of both sides of the external connector housing 184 in the board width direction Q5, and the pair of locked portions of the upper case 17 A pair of locking claw-shaped locking portions 186 that are locked to 171i are provided in a state of protruding from the inner main surface of the substrate portion 181.

<Assembly method of electrical connection cassette 1>
Next, an assembling method of the electrical connection cassette 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, as shown in FIG. 6, the circuit board 10 on which the respective circuit components (the metal members 11, 12 and the external connector terminals 14, 15) are mounted is accommodated in the case body 171 of the upper case 17. At that time, the circuit board 10 has the first connection terminals 111 and 121 side directed toward the fitting recess 173 side, the second connection terminals 112 and 122 side directed toward the fitting protrusion 172 side, and the circuit board 10 substrate. In a state where the side portions 10a on both sides in the width direction Q5 are inserted into guide rails 171g provided on the inner surfaces on both sides of the case body 171, the case body 171 extends from the open surface 171a of the case body 171 along the fitting direction Q1. Is inserted inside.

  Then, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, the lower case 18 is fitted to the open surface 171 a of the case main body 171. At that time, the lower case 18 has an open surface 171a of the case body 171 along the fitting direction Q6 in a state where the main surface of the board portion 181 in the fitting direction Q6 is directed to the open surface 171a of the case body 171. Fitted.

  In this fitted state, the pair of protruding pieces 183 of the lower case 18 are inserted into the pair of guide recesses 171 m of the upper case 17, and the ribs 183 a of the protruding pieces 183 are fitted into the slits 171 k of the upper case 17. In the above-mentioned fitting state, the positioning recesses 171h on both sides of the upper case 17 and the positioning projections 185 on both sides of the lower case 18 are engaged, and the relative position between the upper case 17 and the lower case 18 is positioned. . Further, in the above-mentioned fitting state, the locking portions 186 on both sides of the lower case 18 are locked to the locked portions 171 i on both sides of the upper case 17, and the fitting between the upper case 17 and the lower case 18 is fixed. .

  In this manner, the circuit board 10 on which the circuit components are mounted is accommodated in the housing 16 constituted by the upper case 17 and the lower case 18. In this accommodated state, the first connection terminals 111 and 121 mounted on the circuit board 10 are disposed in the fitting recesses 173 of the upper case 17 and the second connection terminals 112 and 112 mounted on the circuit board 10 are mounted. 122 is disposed in each receiving recess 172c of the fitting convex portion 172 of the upper case 17, and the external connector terminals 14 and 15 mounted on the circuit board 10 pass through the through holes 181a of the board portion 181 of the lower case 18. Then, it is disposed inside the external connector housing 184.

<Main effects>
As described above, according to the terminal connection structure according to this embodiment, the circuit board 10 and the external connector terminals 14 and 15 (connector terminals) mounted on the circuit board 10 are provided. Terminal bodies 141 and 151 arranged in parallel to the board 10, and arranged in the width direction of the terminal bodies 141 and 151 in the terminal bodies 141 and 151, bent to the circuit board 10 side and connected to the circuit board 10 The connection position P3 with the circuit board 10 in at least one leg (for example, the insertion leg 142b) among the plurality of legs 142 is the other leg ( For example, with respect to the connection position P <b> 4 with the circuit board 10 in the surface connection leg 142 a), the position shifts in a direction parallel to the connector connection direction Q <b> 2 of the terminal body 141, and the The connection position P5 with the circuit board 10 in at least one leg (for example, the insertion leg 152b) is a terminal body with respect to the connection position P6 with the circuit board 10 in the other leg (for example, the surface connection leg 152a). 151 is shifted in a direction parallel to the connector connecting direction Q2.

  With this configuration, the plurality of legs 142a and 142b (152a and 152b) of the external connector terminal 14 (15) have their connection positions P3 and P4 (P5 and P6) with the circuit board 10 at the external connector terminal 14 (15 ) In the direction parallel to the connector connection direction Q2, and thus an L-shaped structure shifted along the connector connection direction Q2 is formed. Thus, the load acting on the external connector terminal 14 (15) when the connector is connected can be obtained without providing the circuit board 10 with the leg support holder that supports the leg 142 (152) of the external connector terminal 14 (15). Thus, it is possible to prevent the legs 142 (152) of the external connector terminals 14 (15) from buckling.

  Further, conventionally, in order to prevent the leg 142 (152) of the external connector terminal 14 (15) from buckling, a leg support holder for supporting the leg 142 (152) of the external connector terminal 14 (15) is provided. Although it is necessary to provide the circuit board 10 in this configuration, this leg support holder is unnecessary in this configuration. Thereby, the work process of providing the leg support holder on the circuit board 10 and the work process of press-fitting the leg 142 (152) of the external connector terminal 14 (15) into the leg support holder can be omitted, and the number of assembly steps can be reduced. .

  The plurality of legs 142 (152) includes an insertion leg 142b (152b) inserted and connected to the hole 10d of the circuit board 10, and a surface connection leg connected to the main surface of the circuit board 10. 142a (152a) is included, the arch structure can be configured even when the plurality of legs 142 (152) includes both the insertion leg and the surface connection leg.

  In this embodiment, the case where the plurality of leg portions 142 (152) includes both the insertion leg portion 142b (152b) and the surface connection leg portion 142a (152a) has been described. However, the insertion leg portion 142b (152b) ) Or only the surface connection legs 142a (152a). Even in these cases, the arch structure can be configured by the plurality of leg portions 142 (152).

Further, the connection position P3 (P5) of the insertion leg 142b (152b) is disposed in the connector connection direction Q2 with respect to the connection position P4 (P6) of the surface connection leg 142a (152a). That is, the connection position P3 (P5) of the insertion leg 142b (152b) having a relatively high connection strength is a connector than the connection position P4 (P6) of the surface connection leg 142a (152a) having a relatively low connection strength. It is arranged in the connection direction Q2. Therefore, the load acting on the external connector terminal 14 (15) when the connector is connected can more easily act on the insertion leg 142b (152b) than the surface connection leg 142a (152a), and the surface connection leg 142a (152a). The load acting on the can be reduced.
Further, since the place where the omitted leg support holder is arranged is used as the arrangement space of the connection position P3 (P5) of the insertion leg 142b (152b), the connection of the insertion leg 142b (152b) is performed. It is easy to secure an arrangement space for the position P3 (P5).

  The plurality of legs 142 (152) of the external connector terminal 14 (15) are connected to the circuit board 10 and mechanical connection legs (for example, the insertion legs 142b (152b)) mechanically connected to the circuit board 10. Since the electric connection leg part (for example, the surface connection leg part 142a (152a)) electrically connected to the formed electric circuit is included, the external connector terminal 14 (15) is electrically connected to the circuit board 10. It can be connected as well as mechanically.

  The plurality of legs 142 of the external connector terminal 14 are three legs, and the connection position P3 of the legs (for example, the insertion legs 142b) on both sides of the three legs is the middle leg. It is shifted in the connector connection direction Q2 from the connection position P4 of the portion (for example, the surface connection leg 142a). This three-leg structure allows the load acting on the external connector terminal 14 when the connector is connected to be received by the three leg portions 142, so that even when the load acting on the external connector terminal 14 is relatively large, it can be handled. .

  Further, since the terminal size of the terminal body 141 is relatively large, the load acting on the external connector terminal 14 when the connector is connected is relatively large. For this reason, this three-legged leg structure is suitable for the external connector terminal 14 in which the terminal size of the terminal body 141 is relatively large.

  Of the three legs 142, the connection position P3 of the legs on both sides (for example, the insertion leg 142b) is more than the connection position P4 of the middle leg (for example, the surface connection leg 142a) in the connector connection direction Q2. Therefore, the leg structure can be reduced in size, and thus the external connector terminal 14 can be reduced in size.

  Further, the connection positions P3 of the leg portions (for example, the insertion leg portion 142b) on both sides of the external connector terminal 14 are arranged along the direction orthogonal to the connector connection direction Q2 (that is, the board width direction Q5). The load acting on the two leg portions 142b on both sides can be evenly distributed between the two leg portions 142b.

  The plurality of legs 152 of the external connector terminal 15 are composed of one surface connection leg 152a and one insertion leg 152b. Since this two-type leg structure has only one insertion leg portion 152b responsible for mechanical connection, the mechanical connection strength of the leg structure of the external connector terminal 15 is slightly reduced. Therefore, the external connector terminal 15 can be reduced in size.

  Further, since the terminal size of the terminal body 151 is relatively small, the load acting on the external connector terminal 15 when the connector is connected is relatively small. For this reason, this two-type leg structure is suitable for the external connector terminal 15 in which the terminal size of the terminal body 151 is relatively small.

  Further, the external connector terminal 15 has a widened portion 153 having a lateral width larger than the lateral width of the terminal body 151 at the base end of the terminal body 151, and a plurality of leg portions 152 are extended from the widened portion 153. Even when the lateral width of the main body 151 is relatively small, the external connector terminal 15 can be provided with a plurality of legs 152.

  Also, a plurality of external connector terminals 14 and 15 are provided, and the insertion leg portions 142b and 152b of the plurality of external connector terminals 14 and 15 are along a direction orthogonal to the connector connection direction Q2 (that is, the board width direction Q5). Since the load acting on the external connector terminals 14 and 15 can be received at the same position in the connector connection direction Q2, the load acting on the plurality of external connector terminals 14 and 15 as a whole can be received. Can be received in a balanced manner. Further, when the hole 10d into which the insertion legs 142b and 152b are inserted is provided in the circuit board with a machine tool, the moving distance of the machine tool to the position of the adjacent hole 10d can be shortened, and the productivity can be improved. .

  Further, since the insertion leg 142b (152b) of the external connector terminal 14 (15) is formed to be thinner than the surface connection leg 142a (152a) of the external connector terminal 14 (15), the surface connection leg 142a ( The leg structure of the external connector terminals 14 and 15 can be reduced in size while ensuring the thickness of 152a).

  When the surface connection leg 142a (152a) is used as a leg for electrical connection as in this embodiment, the thickness of the surface connection leg 142a (152a) is mounted on the terminal connection structure. Since it is determined by the specifications of the device (electrical connection cassette 1 in this embodiment), it is difficult to make it thinner. For this reason, the leg structure of the external connector terminal 14 (15) can be reduced in size by narrowing the insertion leg 142b (152b).

  In this embodiment, as an example, the terminal connection structure of the present invention is applied to the electrical connection cassette 1, but the terminal connection structure of the present invention is not limited to application to the electrical connection cassette 1. It can be applied to various devices including the circuit board 10 on which the external connector terminals 14 and 15 are mounted.

10 ... Circuit board 14, 15 ... External connector terminal (connector terminal)
141, 151 ... Terminal body 142, 152 ... Leg part 142a, 152a ... Surface connection leg part 142b, 152b ... Insertion leg part 153 ... Widening part P3-P6 ... Connection position with circuit board in leg part Q2 ... Connector connection direction

Claims (10)

A circuit board and a connector terminal mounted on the circuit board;
The connector terminal is provided in parallel with the circuit board, arranged in the terminal body in the width direction of the terminal body, and bent to the side of the circuit board and connected to the circuit board. A plurality of legs,
Of the plurality of legs, the connection position of the at least one leg with the circuit board is parallel to the connector connection direction of the terminal body with respect to the connection position of the other leg with the circuit board. Terminal connection structure that is misaligned. The plurality of legs include insertion legs inserted into and connected to holes of the circuit board, and / or surface connection legs connected to a main surface of the circuit board. Terminal connection structure. The plurality of legs include the insertion leg and the surface connection leg,
The terminal connection structure according to claim 2, wherein the connection position of the insertion leg is displaced in the connector connection direction from the connection position of the surface connection leg. The plurality of legs include a mechanical connection leg that mechanically connects to the circuit board, and an electrical connection leg that electrically connects to an electrical path formed on the circuit board. Item 4. The terminal connection structure according to Item 3. The plurality of legs are three legs,
The connection position of the leg portions on both sides of the three leg portions is shifted in the connector connection direction from the connection position of the middle leg portion. The terminal connection structure described. The terminal connection structure according to claim 5, wherein the connection positions of the leg portions on both sides are arranged along a direction orthogonal to the connector connection direction. 4. The terminal connection structure according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of legs includes one surface connection leg and one insertion leg. 5. The terminal connection according to claim 7, wherein the connector terminal has a widened portion having a width larger than a width of the terminal main body at a base end of the terminal main body, and the plurality of leg portions are extended from the widened portion. Structure. A plurality of the connector terminals are provided,
The terminal connection structure according to claim 2, wherein the insertion leg portion of each of the plurality of connector terminals is arranged along a direction orthogonal to the connector connection direction. The plurality of legs include the insertion leg and the surface connection leg,
10. The terminal connection structure according to claim 2, wherein the insertion leg is formed thinner than the surface connection leg.

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