JP2019133748A - Connector and connector assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

To maintain high watertightness with simple configuration, while improving shield property and reliability.SOLUTION: In a connector including a conductive terminal, an intermediate insulator receiving the terminal, a conductive outside conductor 61 receiving the intermediate insulator, and an inner seal material composed of hotmelt adhesive, the terminal includes a relay section extending forward from the front end of the intermediate insulator, and a contact part extending forward from the front end of the relay section, and coming into contact with the mating terminal. The outside conductor 61 includes a space part for receiving the intermediate insulator, and a contact arm extending forward from the front end of the outside conductor 61, surrounding the contact part and coming into contact with the mating outside conductor. The inner seal material is disposed around the relay section, in front of the intermediate insulator in the space part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present disclosure relates to connectors and connector assemblies.

  Conventionally, a coaxial cable is connected to a module such as a sensor module including a light receiving sensor such as an infrared sensor, a camera module in which an imaging element such as a CCD or CMOS image sensor and an optical element such as a lens are integrated, and an acoustic element module such as a microphone. A connector such as a cable connector is used for connecting electric wires such as the above (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional connector.

  In the figure, reference numeral 871 denotes a housing made of an insulating resin of a connector connected to the tip of a coaxial cable (not shown), and a flange that is coupled to the module casing 911 is formed at the front end of the substantially cylindrical main body. A substantially cylindrical outer conductor 861 is held inside the housing 871, and a rod-like inner conductor 851 is held inside the outer conductor 861 via a dielectric 811. The outer conductor 861 and the inner conductor 851 are held at the front end of the main body of the housing 871 by a potting material 818 made of a waterproof silicone resin.

  The module is a camera module and includes a lens 941 held in a housing 911. The casing 911 holds a first circuit board 931 and a second circuit board 932 surrounded by a cylindrical shield member 971. The first circuit board 931 is mounted with an image sensor 942 that converts light incident from the lens 941 into an electric signal. Further, a contact portion is formed on the surface of the second circuit board 932, and the tips of the outer conductor 861 and the inner conductor 851 of the connector are connected to the contact portion via a relay terminal 951. Further, the rear end of the housing 911 is joined to a flange of a connector housing 871 via a seal packing 912 to be waterproof.

JP2015-170515A

  However, in the conventional connector, the outer conductor 861 and the inner conductor 851 are held at the front end of the main body of the housing 871 by the potting material 818. Therefore, in order to obtain a predetermined waterproof property, complicated operations such as centrifugation are required. Thus, it is necessary to permeate the potting material 818 between the members.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector and a connector assembly that solves the above-described conventional problems and can maintain high water tightness while having a simple configuration, has high shielding performance, and high reliability. To do.

  Therefore, in the connector, a connector including a conductive terminal, an intermediate insulator that accommodates the terminal, a conductive outer conductor that accommodates the intermediate insulator, and an inner seal material made of a hot melt adhesive. The terminal includes a relay portion that extends forward from the front end of the intermediate insulator, and a contact portion that extends forward from the front end of the relay portion and contacts the counterpart terminal, and the outer conductor is A space for accommodating the intermediate insulator, and a contact arm that extends forward from a front end of the outer conductor, surrounds the periphery of the contact portion, and contacts a counterpart outer conductor, and the inner seal material includes: It is disposed around the relay portion in front of the intermediate insulator in the space portion.

  In another connector, the contact arm further includes a flange portion extending radially inward from the front end of the outer conductor, and a slit that divides the flange portion, and is rearward from the front end of the outer conductor. The inner seal material is disposed between the intermediate insulator and the flange portion in the space portion.

  In still another connector, the inner seal material is a ring-shaped member.

  A connector assembly includes a connector according to the present disclosure, a connector housing to which the connector is mounted, and an outer seal member made of a hot-melt adhesive, wherein the outer conductor is inserted into the connector housing. An outer conductor holding portion formed with an outer conductor insertion hole and a front outer conductor housing cavity formed in front of the outer conductor holding portion and having a larger cross section than the outer conductor insertion hole. An outer conductor is integrally formed and fixed to the connector housing by a tab welded to the front surface of the outer conductor holding portion, and the outer seal material is arranged around the outer conductor in the front outer conductor housing cavity. Established.

  In another connector assembly, the outer seal material is a ring-shaped member.

  In still another connector assembly, the inner seal material and the outer seal material are connected to each other.

  In still another connector assembly, a potting material is further filled around the outer conductor in the front outer conductor housing cavity.

  In the method of assembling the connector assembly, the connector of the present disclosure, a connector housing to which the connector is mounted, an outer conductor holding portion in which an outer conductor insertion hole is formed, and a front portion of the outer conductor holding portion are formed. A connector assembly comprising a connector housing including a front outer conductor receiving cavity having a larger cross section than the outer conductor insertion hole, the step of inserting the outer conductor of the connector into the outer conductor insertion hole; A step of welding a tab formed integrally with the outer conductor to the front surface of the outer conductor holding portion, and an outer seal material made of hot melt adhesive disposed around the outer conductor in the front outer conductor housing cavity. And a step of melting the inner seal material and the outer seal material by heating. Including the.

  In another assembling method of the connector assembly, the method further includes a step of filling a potting material around the outer conductor in the front outer conductor receiving cavity.

  According to the present disclosure, the connector has high water-tightness, shielding properties, and reliability while having a simple configuration.

It is the perspective view which shows the connector system in this Embodiment, (a) is the figure seen from the back of a connector assembly, (b) is the figure seen from the front of a connector assembly. It is the exploded view of the connector system in this Embodiment, (a) is the figure seen from the back of a connector assembly, (b) is the figure seen from the front of a connector assembly. It is an exploded view of the connector assembly in this Embodiment. It is the perspective view which shows the outer conductor of the connector in this Embodiment, Comprising: (a) is the figure seen from the back of an outer conductor, (b) is the figure seen from the front of the outer conductor. It is a hexahedral view showing the outer conductor of the connector in the present embodiment, (a) is a side view of the outer conductor, (b) is the outer conductor of (a) only 45 degrees around the central axis in one direction. The side view in the rotated state, (c) is the side view in which the outer conductor of (a) is rotated around the central axis by 45 degrees in the other direction, and (d) is the front view of the outer conductor of (c). (E) is a rear view of the outer conductor of (c), and (f) is a side sectional view of the outer conductor of (c). It is a four-plane figure which shows the inner conductor and intermediate insulator of a connector in this Embodiment, (a) is a side view of an inner conductor and an intermediate insulator, (b) is the inner conductor and intermediate insulator of (a). Front view, (c) is a rear view of the inner conductor and intermediate insulator of (a), (d) is the inner conductor and intermediate insulator of (a) rotated by 90 degrees in one direction around the central axis. It is a side view of a state. It is a perspective view of the connector in this Embodiment. It is an exploded view of the connector in this Embodiment. It is a three-plane figure of the connector in this Embodiment, (a) is a bottom view, (b) is a front view, (c) is AA arrow sectional drawing of (a). It is a perspective view which shows the state before mounting | wearing an outer seal material with the back housing to which the connector in this Embodiment was attached. It is a double view which shows the state before mounting | wearing an outer seal material with the back housing to which the connector in this Embodiment was attached, Comprising: (a) is a bottom view, (b) is BB arrow of (a). FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state which attached the outer seal material to the back housing to which the connector in this Embodiment was attached. It is a two-plane figure which shows the state which attached the outer seal material to the back housing to which the connector in this Embodiment was attached, Comprising: (a) is a bottom view, (b) is CC arrow sectional drawing of (a). FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which fuse | melted the outer seal material and inner seal material of the back housing to which the connector in this Embodiment was attached, Comprising: (a) is a sectional side view of a connector and a back housing, (b) is It is a sectional side view of the state which rotated the connector and back housing of (a) 90 degree | times to one direction around the central axis. It is sectional drawing which shows the state in which the module was attached to the back housing in this Embodiment, (a) is sectional drawing which shows the state in which the board | substrate was attached to the back housing, (b) is a housing | casing further attached. It is sectional drawing which shows the state. It is sectional drawing which shows the conventional connector.

  Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector system in the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the connector system in the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the connector assembly in the present embodiment. 1 and 2, (a) is a view as seen from the rear of the connector assembly, and (b) is a view as seen from the front of the connector assembly.

  In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a connector as a cable connector in the present embodiment, which is used in a state where it is connected to the tip of a cable such as a signal cable (not shown). Here, for convenience of explanation, a waterproof coaxial connector that conforms to the FAKRA standard connected to the tip of the cable will be described as being connected from the rear of the connector 1 (X-axis negative direction). Reference numeral 2 denotes a connector assembly according to the present embodiment, which includes a connector 1 and a back housing 71 as a connector housing to which the connector 1 is attached. Reference numeral 3 denotes a connector system according to the present embodiment, which includes a connector assembly 2 and a module-side connector 101 as a mating connector connected to the front of the connector assembly 2 (X-axis positive direction). The module-side connector 101 is included in a module 110 as a connection target member.

  The module 110 is a camera module in which an imaging element such as a CCD or CMOS image sensor and an optical element such as a lens are integrated. For example, the module 110 may be any type of module, and may be a light receiving sensor such as an infrared sensor. It may be a module such as a sensor module including, an acoustic element module such as a microphone. The connector 1 is used for mounting the module 110 on a device such as an automobile, but may be used for mounting on any device, such as a mobile phone, a PDA, a computer, a game machine, It may be used for mounting on an electronic device such as a digital camera, a device such as a security monitoring device, or the like.

  In the present embodiment, the upper, lower, left, right, front, rear, etc. directions are used to explain the configuration and operation of each part of the connector 1, the connector assembly 2, the connector system 3, and the module 110. The expressions shown are relative rather than absolute, and are appropriate when the connector 1, connector assembly 2, connector system 3 and module 110 are in the orientation shown in the figure. When the posture of each part of the connector assembly 2, the connector system 3, and the module 110 is changed, it should be changed and interpreted according to the change of the posture.

  The module 110 includes a housing 111 integrally formed from a conductive metal such as an aluminum alloy, a substrate 191 such as a printed circuit board disposed in the housing 111, and a front side of the substrate 191. And the module side connector 101 as a mating connector mounted on the rear surface of the substrate 191. The casing 111 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box-shaped member, which is connected to the front plate 112 having a substantially rectangular flat plate shape and four sides of the front plate 112 and extends in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction). A flat plate-like side plate 113, and a module inner space 114 which is defined by the front plate 112 and the side plate 113 and is open at the rear. The substrate 191 is accommodated in the module internal space 114. The front plate 112 has an opening 112a formed at the center, and the element 192 disposed in the module internal space 114 receives light incident from the outside through the opening 112a. The opening 112a is preferably provided with a lens or a screen made of a transparent material in order to prevent foreign matters such as water and dust from entering the module internal space 114 from the outside.

  The module-side connector 101 is made of a conductive metal such as a copper alloy, a counterpart inner conductor 151 as a counterpart terminal standing on the rear side surface of the substrate 191 so as to protrude rearward, and a copper alloy Made of a conductive metal, etc., has a cylindrical shape formed so as to surround the counterpart inner conductor 151, and stands on the rear surface of the substrate 191 so as to protrude rearward. And the opposite outer conductor 161. The inside of the counterpart outer conductor 161 is a counterpart fitting space 161a into which the contact arm 62 provided in the outer conductor 61 of the connector 1 enters and comes into contact. The rear end of the counterpart outer conductor 161 (X-axis negative) In the direction end), a tapered portion 161b having a shape that expands outward is formed so that the contact arm 62 can smoothly enter the mating fitting space 161a. The counterpart outer conductor 161 is a member having a length of about 4.0 [mm] in the front-rear direction and an inner diameter of the counterpart fitting space 161a of about 2.5 [mm]. It can be changed as appropriate.

  A plurality of mounting pieces 161c are formed at the front end (X-axis positive direction end) of the counterpart outer conductor 161, and the mounting pieces 161c are soldered to connection pads (not shown) formed on the rear surface of the substrate 191. They are electrically and mechanically connected by means such as attaching. In FIG. 2A, reference numeral 156 denotes a tail portion of the counterpart inner conductor 151, which protrudes outward from the front end of the counterpart outer conductor 161 in a state of being electrically insulated from the counterpart outer conductor 161. The connection pads (not shown) formed on the rear surface of the substrate 191 are electrically and mechanically connected by means such as soldering.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the connector 1 is made of a conductive metal such as a copper alloy, and is composed of an inner conductor 51 as an elongated rod-like terminal extending in the front-rear direction, and a conductive metal such as a copper alloy. And an outer conductor 61 having a substantially cylindrical shape formed so as to surround the inner conductor 51 and extending in the front-rear direction. The connector 1 is a so-called bullet connector having a generally bullet-like shape as a whole, and is attached to a back housing 71 as a connector housing integrally formed from a conductive metal such as an aluminum alloy. The connector assembly 2 is mounted. The outer conductor 61 is a member having a length of about 12.0 [mm] in the front-rear direction and an outer diameter of about 3.7 [mm], but the dimensions can be changed as appropriate. .

  The back housing 71 includes a substantially cylindrical main body portion 72 and a substantially rectangular flat plate-like flange portion 73 integrally connected to the front end (X-axis positive direction end) of the main body portion 72. The flange portion 73 also functions as a lid member for closing the rear of the module internal space 114 of the module 110. Further, positioning convex portions 74 projecting forward are formed at the four corners of the front surface of the flange portion 73, and the adjacent positioning convex portions 74 are forward from the front surface of the flange portion 73. It is connected by the connecting convex wall 74b which protrudes toward. The outer surface of the connecting convex wall 74b and the outer surface of the positioning convex portion 74 are flush with each other, and the flange portion 73 closes the rear of the module internal space 114 of the module 110 as shown in FIG. In the state of being attached to the casing 111, the gap faces between the flange portion 73 and the casing 111 in a water-tight manner in close proximity to or in contact with the inner surface of the side plate 113. When the flange portion 73 is attached to the housing 111, the front end peripheral surface 73a of the flange portion 73 and the rear end surface 113a of the side plate 113 are in contact with each other and connected by welding. Therefore, the flange part 73 and the housing | casing 111 are connected firmly and watertightly.

  The front end surface 74a of the positioning convex portion 74 is a flat surface, and defines the distance between the connector 1 and the board 191 or the module-side connector 101 mounted on the rear surface of the board 191. Functions as a positioning surface. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the front end surface 74 a of the positioning projection 74 abuts on the rear surface of the substrate 191 and penetrates the substrate 191 with the flange portion 73 attached to the housing 111. The substrate 191 is positioned and fixed to the front end surface 74a by inserting and fixing the tip of a rod-like member (not shown) such as a bolt or rivet into a fixing hole 74c formed in the front end surface 74a.

  The main body portion 72 includes a rear outer conductor housing cavity 72a that opens to the rear end thereof, and a front outer conductor housing cavity 72b that opens to the front end thereof, that is, the front surface of the flange portion 73. The rear outer conductor accommodating cavity 72a and the front outer conductor accommodating cavity 72b are cylindrical spaces extending in the front-rear direction and accommodate the connector 1. The main body 72 includes an outer conductor holding portion 75 that holds the outer conductor 61 and is positioned between the rear outer conductor housing cavity 72 a and the front outer conductor housing cavity 72 b. The outer conductor holding portion 75 is a member that protrudes radially inward of the main body 72 from the inner surfaces of the rear outer conductor receiving cavity 72a and the front outer conductor receiving cavity 72b, and extends in the front-rear direction at the center thereof. Thus, an outer conductor insertion hole 75a that connects the rear outer conductor housing cavity 72a and the front outer conductor housing cavity 72b is formed. The outer conductor insertion hole 75a is a cylindrical space having a smaller cross section than the rear outer conductor housing cavity 72a and the front outer conductor housing cavity 72b, and the outer conductor 61 is inserted therein. When the waterproof coaxial connector connected to the tip of the cable (not shown) is connected to the connector 1, at least a part of the tip enters the rear outer conductor housing cavity 72a.

  In the connector 1, the tab 63 formed on the outer conductor 61 is fixed to the front surface 75 b of the outer conductor holding portion 75 by welding in a state where the outer conductor 61 is inserted into the outer conductor insertion hole 75 a. The outer seal material 42 made of a hot melt adhesive (for example, polyester resin) is mounted around the outer conductor 61 in the front outer conductor housing cavity 72b. The outer seal material 42 is a ring-shaped member whose outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the front outer conductor housing cavity 72b and whose inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the outer conductor 61, and is heated and melted in a later step. It is integrated with members such as the outer conductor 61 and the front outer conductor housing cavity 72b, and penetrates between the members to exhibit waterproofness. Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the contact arm 62 formed so as to protrude forward from the front end of the outer conductor 61 in a state where the connector 1 is fixed to the back housing 71 has at least the front end thereof. It is located in front of the front surface of the flange portion 73. Thereby, the contact arm 62 can enter the mating fitting space 161a of the module-side connector 101 in a state where the flange portion 73 and the casing 111 are attached as shown in FIG.

  Next, the configuration of the connector 1 will be described in detail. First, the configuration of the outer conductor 61 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the outer conductor of the connector in the present embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a hexahedral view showing the outer conductor of the connector in the present embodiment. 4, (a) is a view seen from the rear of the outer conductor, (b) is a view seen from the front of the outer conductor, and in FIG. 5, (a) is a side view of the outer conductor, (b) ) Is a side view in which the outer conductor of (a) is rotated around the central axis by 45 degrees in one direction, and (c) is the outer conductor of (a) only 45 degrees around the central axis in the other direction. (D) is a front view of the outer conductor of (c), (e) is a rear view of the outer conductor of (c), and (f) is a side sectional view of the outer conductor of (c). It is.

  In the present embodiment, the outer conductor 61 is a member integrally formed by, for example, bending a plate material having a predetermined outer shape by punching a flat metal thin plate. Specifically, a corresponding portion of a flat plate having a predetermined outer shape is bent into a cylindrical shape, both ends facing each other are butted and joined, and a seam portion extending in the front-rear direction as shown in FIG. Outer conductor 61 including 67 is formed. The both ends are caulked and fixed to each other at the seam fixing portion 67a.

  Further, the outer conductor 61 includes a front part 61a closer to the front, a rear part 61b closer to the rear, and a space part 61c that is formed inside and extends in the front-rear direction. A contact arm 62 surrounding the contact portion 52 of the inner conductor 51 is integrally connected to the front end of the front portion 61a. The contact arm 62 includes a flange portion 62d, which is a substantially flange-shaped or annular plate member extending from the front end of the front portion 61a toward the radially inner side of the outer conductor 61, and forward from the inner end of the flange portion 62d. The arm member 62a extends toward the front, and a curved portion 62c connected to the front end of the arm member 62a and curved so as to bulge outward in the radial direction of the outer conductor 61 is included. The inner side of the arm member 62a is a front space 62e. The front space portion 62e is a cylindrical space having a smaller diameter than the space portion 61c having a front end opened and a rear end connected to the space portion 61c.

  The flange portion 62d, the arm member 62a, and the curved portion 62c have a plurality of (six in the example shown in the figure) slits extending in the front-rear direction from the front end of the contact arm 62 to the front end of the front portion 61a. 62b is divided into a plurality (six in the example shown in the figure) in the circumferential direction of the outer conductor 61. Thereby, each arm member 62a can be elastically deformed flexibly, and when the contact arm 62 enters the mating fitting space 161a of the module-side connector 101, the shape of the inner side surface of the mating outer conductor 161 is obtained. It can follow and deform and maintain a contact state with the inner surface.

  Further, at least one of the slits 62b (three in the example shown in the figure) includes an extension portion 63a that is a portion extending rearward from the front end of the front portion 61a. The extension portion 63 a is a slit that exists as a trace of a part of the wall surface of the cylindrical front portion 61 a that has been formed by forming a tab 63 extending outward in the radial direction of the outer conductor 61. The space 61c and the front space 62e communicate with the outer periphery of the outer conductor 61 through the slit 62b and the extension 63a.

  In the front portion 61a, at least one (in the example shown in the drawing, two) elongated groove portions 65 extending in the circumferential direction of the outer conductor 61 are formed. The concave groove portion 65 functions as a pool portion for the melted outer seal material 42. The concave groove portion 65 is formed so as to be slightly behind the tab 63 in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction). And the convex part 65a is formed in the position corresponding to the concave groove part 65 of the inner wall face of the space part 61c. The convex portion 65a functions as a positioning portion that abuts against a front end of the intermediate insulator 11 described later and positions the intermediate insulator 11 in the front-rear direction.

  The front portion 61a is formed with at least one (three in the example shown in the figure) caulking portion 64 that functions as a fixing portion for fixing the intermediate insulator 11. The caulking portion 64 is an elongated portion extending in the circumferential direction of the outer conductor 61 sandwiched from the front and rear by a through hole 64a penetrating the wall surface of the front portion 61a. It is formed so as to be positioned behind the concave groove portion 65 and the convex portion 65a. The caulking portion 64 is deformed so as to protrude toward the inner side in the radial direction of the outer conductor 61 after the intermediate insulator 11 is accommodated in the space portion 61c, and the intermediate insulator 11 is caulked. Fix it.

  Next, the configuration of the inner conductor 51 and the intermediate insulator 11 will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a four-side view showing the inner conductor and the intermediate insulator of the connector in the present embodiment. In the figure, (a) is a side view of the inner conductor and intermediate insulator, (b) is a front view of the inner conductor and intermediate insulator of (a), and (c) is an inner conductor and intermediate insulator of (a). The rear view of a body, (d) is the side view of the state which rotated the inner conductor and intermediate | middle insulator of (a) 90 degree | times to one direction around the central axis.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in the figure, the inner conductor 51 is integrated with the intermediate insulator 11 that is a substantially cylindrical member extending in the front-rear direction by a method called insert molding or overmolding. It has become. Specifically, at least a part of the inner conductor 51 is covered with the intermediate insulator 11 made of an insulating resin.

  The inner conductor 51 includes an elongated main body portion 55 that extends in the front-rear direction, a relay portion 53 that extends forward from the front end of the main body portion 55, and a contact portion 52 that extends forward from the front end of the relay portion 53. And a connecting tail portion 54 extending rearward from the rear end of the main body portion 55. The main body portion 55 is a portion having a rectangular cross section and is accommodated in the intermediate insulator 11 and held by the intermediate insulator 11. The relay portion 53 is a portion having a rectangular cross section and exposed forward from the front end of the intermediate insulator 11. A concave portion 53 a that functions as an anchor portion is formed on the side surface of the relay portion 53. Further, the contact portion 52 has a rectangular cross section and is located in the front space 62e of the outer conductor 61. When the connector 1 and the module-side connector 101 are fitted, the contact portion 52 contacts the counterpart inner conductor 151. It is a conducting part. Further, the connection tail portion 54 is exposed in the housing recess 11d of the intermediate insulator 11, and when a waterproof coaxial connector connected to a tip of a cable (not shown) is connected to the connector 1, the terminal of the waterproof coaxial connector It is the part that comes into contact and conducts.

  The intermediate insulator 11 is formed in the front portion 11a near the front, the rear portion 11b near the rear, a locking recess 11c positioned between the front portion 11a and the rear portion 11b, and the rear portion 11b. And a housing recess 11d which is a cylindrical space extending in the front-rear direction. The front part 11a and the rear part 11b are cylindrical parts having substantially the same outer diameter, and the locking recess part 11c is a cylindrical part having a smaller outer diameter than the front part 11a and the rear part 11b. In the figure, 11e is an inner conductor housing hole for housing the main body 55 of the inner conductor 51.

  Next, a configuration for attaching the inner conductor 51 to the outer conductor 61 will be described.

  7 is a perspective view of the connector in the present embodiment, FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the connector in the present embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a three-view diagram of the connector in the present embodiment. 9A is a bottom view, FIG. 9B is a front view, and FIG. 9C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

  The intermediate insulator 11 integrated with the inner conductor 51 is inserted into the space 61 c of the outer conductor 61 from behind the outer conductor 61. At this time, the inner seal material 41 made of hot melt adhesive is attached around the relay portion 53 of the inner conductor 51 in front of the front portion 11 a of the intermediate insulator 11. The inner seal material 41 is a ring-shaped member whose outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the space portion 61c and whose inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the relay portion 53. It is integrated with members such as the conductor 61, the inner conductor 51, the intermediate insulator 11, and the like, and penetrates between the members to exhibit waterproofness. Then, when the front end of the intermediate insulator 11, that is, the front end of the front portion 11a abuts on the convex portion 65a, the intermediate insulator 11 is positioned in the front-rear direction with respect to the outer conductor 61, and the intermediate insulator 11 is stopped. . Thereby, the inner seal material 41 is accommodated in the space between the front portion 11a of the intermediate insulator 11 and the flange portion 62d of the outer conductor 61 in the space portion 61c.

  Subsequently, when the operator uses a tool or the like to deform the caulking portion 64 so as to protrude inward in the radial direction of the outer conductor 61, the caulking portion 64 comes into contact with the rear end of the front portion 11a, and intermediate insulation is performed. The body 11 is caulked and fixed. Thereby, the connector 1 can be obtained. In this state, as shown in FIG. 9C, the rear end of the intermediate insulator 11 and the rear end of the outer conductor 61 substantially coincide with each other in the front-rear direction, and the front end of the inner conductor 51, that is, the contact portion. The front end of 52 is located behind the front end of the outer conductor 61, that is, the front end of the contact arm 62.

  Next, a configuration for attaching the connector 1 to the back housing 71 will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state before attaching the outer seal material to the back housing to which the connector is attached in the present embodiment, and FIG. 11 shows the outer seal material to the back housing to which the connector is attached in the present embodiment. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a state in which an outer seal material is attached to the back housing to which the connector in the present embodiment is attached, and FIG. 13 is a view in which the connector in the present embodiment is attached. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the outer seal material and the inner seal material of the back housing to which the connector according to the present embodiment is attached are melted. FIG. 15 shows a state in which the module is attached to the back housing in the present embodiment. A to cross section. In FIG. 11, (a) is a bottom view, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of (a), FIG. 13 (a) is a bottom view, and (b) is a diagram of (a). FIGS. 14A and 14B are cross-sectional views taken along the line CC, in which FIG. 14A is a side cross-sectional view of the connector and the back housing, and FIG. 14B is a diagram illustrating the connector and back housing of FIG. FIGS. 15A and 15B are cross-sectional views showing a state in which the substrate is attached to the back housing, and FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the housing is further attached. It is.

  In the present embodiment, the connector 1 is gripped by, for example, an operator's finger or the like, and is inserted into the outer conductor insertion hole 75a from the front of the back housing 71 through the front outer conductor housing cavity 72b of the back housing 71. . Specifically, when the outer conductor 61 of the connector 1 is inserted into the outer conductor insertion hole 75a from its rear end, and the rear surface of the tab 63 contacts the front surface 75b of the outer conductor holding portion 75, the back housing of the connector 1 is obtained. Positioning in the front-rear direction with respect to 71 is performed, and the connector 1 is stopped.

  Subsequently, the operator desirably uses a fiber laser, irradiates the front surface of the tab 63 with laser light, and welds and fixes the tab 63 to the outer conductor holding portion 75. Thereby, since the outer conductor 61 and the back housing 71 are conducted, high shielding properties can be obtained when the outer conductor 61 is conducted to the ground line or the like. In addition, since the convex part 65a which contacts the front end of the intermediate insulator 11 and positions the intermediate insulator 11 is formed so as to be located behind the rear surface of the tab 63, the front end of the intermediate insulator 11, that is, The front end of the front portion 11a is located at a position lower than the rear surface of the tab 63, that is, the front surface 75b of the outer conductor holding portion 75. Therefore, even if the laser light is diffused around the tab 63, the intermediate insulator 11 is not burned by the laser light.

  In order to fix the connector 1 and the back housing 71 more firmly, a potting material is preferably filled. For example, by using a resin potting (resin piling) device, a potting material (for example, epoxy resin) in a molten state can be injected and filled into the front outer conductor housing cavity 72b. The molten potting material has fluidity, and also enters a minute gap between the outer peripheral surface of the outer conductor 61 of the connector 1 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer conductor insertion hole 75a of the back housing 71. Since the potting material has adhesiveness, the connector 1 is securely fixed to the back housing 71 by the potting material filled and solidified.

  Subsequently, the operator inserts the ring-shaped outer seal material 42 into the front outer conductor housing cavity 72b from the front of the back housing 71, and attaches it to the periphery of the outer conductor 61 in the front outer conductor housing cavity 72b. As a result, as shown in FIG. 13B, the inner seal material 41 and the outer seal material 42 are disposed at substantially the same position in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) of the connector assembly 2 inside and outside the outer conductor 61. It will be in the state of wearing.

  Subsequently, the operator heats the connector assembly 2 as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 by, for example, placing the connector assembly 2 in a high-temperature bath or heating bath of about 200 [° C.] for about 10 minutes, The sealing material 41 and the outer sealing material 42 are melted. Then, since the hot-melt adhesive of the inner seal material 41 and the outer seal material 42 in the melted state has fluidity, it passes through the slit 62b and is connected inside and outside the outer conductor 61 as shown in FIG. The sealing material 43 is integrated, and not only the space defined by the outer surface of the front portion 61 a of the outer conductor 61, the inner surface of the front outer conductor receiving cavity 72 b and the front surface 75 b of the outer conductor holding portion 75, The space ahead of the front end of the front part 11a of the intermediate insulator 11 in the part 61a is also filled. Since the sealing material 43 has adhesiveness, the connector 1 is securely fixed to the back housing 71 by the filled and solidified sealing material 43, and the front outer conductor accommodating cavity 72b and the rear outer conductor accommodating cavity 72a are The space is hermetically sealed. The concave groove portion 65 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer conductor 61 in the vicinity of the tab 63 functions as a reservoir portion of the sealing material 43. Therefore, even if the sealing material 43 is contracted when solidified, the concave groove portion 65 can be removed from within the concave groove portion 65. Since the sealing material 43 is supplied, the sealing material 43 is not cracked or peeled off.

  Further, since the concave portion 53a as the anchor portion is formed on the side surface of the relay portion 53 of the inner conductor 51, the sealing material 43 filled in the concave portion 53a exhibits a so-called anchor effect, and engages the inner conductor 51. Stop. Therefore, the inner conductor 51 is also fixed to the back housing 71 by the sealing material 43. Furthermore, since the melted sealing material 43 has fluidity, a minute gap between the inner peripheral surface of the outer conductor insertion hole 75 a and the outer peripheral surface of the front portion 61 a of the outer conductor 61, the front portion of the outer conductor 61. A minute gap between the inner circumferential surface of 61a and the outer circumferential surface of the front portion 11a of the intermediate insulator 11, and a minute gap between the inner circumferential surface of the inner conductor receiving hole 11e and the outer circumferential surface of the body portion 55 of the inner conductor 51 Therefore, the space between the front outer conductor housing cavity 72b and the rear outer conductor housing cavity 72a is sealed more tightly.

  Further, the operator can fill the potting material as necessary. For example, using a resin potting (resin piling) device, a potting material (for example, epoxy resin) in a molten state is covered with the front surface (surface in the positive direction of the X axis) of the sealing material 43 so as to cover the front outer side. The conductor can be filled by being injected into the conductor receiving cavity 72b. Since the molten potting material has fluidity and enters a minute gap between the sealing material 43 and each member, each member in the front outer conductor housing cavity 72b is sealed more tightly. Is done. Further, since the potting material has adhesiveness, the connector 1 is securely fixed to the back housing 71 by the potting material filled and solidified.

  Subsequently, the operator grips the substrate 191 on which the module-side connector 101 is mounted with fingers or the like, moves the substrate 191 relatively rearward from the front of the back housing 71, and contacts the front end surface 74 a of the positioning convex portion 74. It is contacted and fixed by a rod-like member such as a bolt or rivet (not shown). As a result, the substrate 191 is attached to the back housing 71 as shown in FIG. At that time, the connector 1 and the module-side connector 101 are fitted, and the contact arm 62 of the outer conductor 61 enters the mating fitting space 161a of the module-side connector 101, and comes into contact with the mating outer conductor 161 and becomes conductive. The contact portion 52 of the inner conductor 51 is brought into contact with the mating inner conductor 151 and becomes conductive. In the example shown in the figure, the contact portion 52 of the inner conductor 51 is rod-shaped and enters and contacts the hollow counterpart inner conductor 151 whose tip is open. The conductor 151 may have a rod shape and may enter the contact portion 52 of the hollow inner conductor 51 having an open end.

  Subsequently, the operator grips the casing 111 with fingers or the like, moves the casing 111 relatively rearward from the front of the back housing 71, and the rear end face 113 a of the side plate 113 and the front end peripheral face 73 a of the flange portion 73. And are fixed by welding. Thereby, the housing | casing 111 is attached to the back housing 71, as FIG.15 (b) shows.

  Here, only the case where the connector assembly 2 is heated and the inner seal material 41 and the outer seal material 42 are melted at the same time has been described. However, the connector 1 as shown in FIGS. Then, the inner seal material 41 can be melted, and the melted inner seal material 41 can be spread in the space between the front portion 11 a of the intermediate insulator 11 and the flange portion 62 d of the outer conductor 61. In this case, when the connector assembly 2 is heated, the inner seal material 41 is melted and fluidized again, and becomes an integrated seal material 43 connected to the melted outer seal material 42.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the connector 1 includes the conductive inner conductor 51, the intermediate insulator 11 that houses the inner conductor 51, the conductive outer conductor 61 that houses the intermediate insulator 11, And an inner seal material 41 made of a melt adhesive. The inner conductor 51 includes a relay portion 53 that extends forward from the front end of the intermediate insulator 11, and a contact portion 52 that extends forward from the front end of the relay portion 53 and contacts the counterpart inner conductor 151. The conductor 61 includes a space portion 61c that houses the intermediate insulator 11, and a contact arm 62 that extends forward from the front end of the outer conductor 61, surrounds the periphery of the contact portion 52, and contacts the counterpart outer conductor 161. The inner seal material 41 is disposed around the relay portion 53 in front of the intermediate insulator 11 in the space portion 61c.

  Thus, since the inner seal material 41 is disposed around the relay portion 53 of the inner conductor 51 in front of the intermediate insulator 11 in the space 61c of the outer conductor 61, the structure is simple, High water tightness can be maintained. Furthermore, since the inner conductor 51 is accommodated in the outer conductor 61 and the contact portion 52 of the inner conductor 51 is also surrounded by the contact arm 62 of the outer conductor 61, it has high shielding properties and improves reliability. Can do.

  The contact arm 62 is a flange portion 62d extending radially inward from the front end of the outer conductor 61 and a slit 62b that divides the flange portion 62d, and extends rearward from the front end of the outer conductor 61. The slit 62b including the extension 63a is included, and the inner seal member 41 is disposed between the intermediate insulator 11 and the flange 62d in the space 61c. Therefore, when the inner seal material 41 is melted, the minute gaps between the members of the intermediate insulator 11, the inner conductor 51, and the outer conductor 61 are sealed in a watertight manner.

  Furthermore, the inner seal material 41 is a ring-shaped member. Therefore, handling is easy and the connector 1 can be easily assembled and manufactured.

  In the present embodiment, the connector assembly 2 includes a back housing 71 to which the connector 1 is mounted, and an outer seal material 42 made of a hot melt adhesive. The back housing 71 has an outer conductor holding portion 75 in which an outer conductor insertion hole 75a into which the outer conductor 61 is inserted is formed, and is formed in front of the outer conductor holding portion 75, and has a larger cross section than the outer conductor insertion hole 75a. The connector 1 is formed integrally with the outer conductor 61, and is fixed to the back housing 71 by a tab 63 welded to the front surface 75b of the outer conductor holding portion 75. 42 is arranged around the outer conductor 61 in the front outer conductor housing cavity 72b. Therefore, the connector 1 is securely fixed to the back housing 71 and can maintain high water tightness reliably.

  Further, the outer seal material 42 is a ring-shaped member. The inner seal material 41 and the outer seal material 42 are connected to each other by heating and melting. Thus, since the inner seal material 41 and the outer seal material 42 are melted and connected to each other, the connector assembly 2 can maintain very high water tightness.

  Further, a potting material may be further filled around the outer conductor 61 in the front outer conductor housing cavity 72b. Thereby, the connector 1 is securely fixed by the back housing 71.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the method for assembling the connector assembly 2 includes the step of inserting the outer conductor 61 of the connector 1 into the outer conductor insertion hole 75a and the tab 63 formed integrally with the outer conductor 61 on the outer conductor holding. A step of welding to the front surface 75b of the part 75, a step of disposing an outer seal material 42 made of hot melt adhesive around the outer conductor 61 in the front outer conductor housing cavity 72b, an inner seal material 41 and an outer seal material Melting 42 by heating.

  Therefore, the connector assembly 2 with high watertightness can be obtained easily and reliably.

  Furthermore, a step of filling a potting material around the outer conductor 61 in the front outer conductor receiving cavity 72b may be further included. Thereby, the connector 1 is securely fixed by the back housing 71.

  It should be noted that the present disclosure is merely an example, and modifications that maintain the spirit of the present disclosure and that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art are included in the scope of the present disclosure. The width, thickness, shape, and the like of each part shown in the drawings are schematically shown and do not limit the interpretation of the present disclosure.

  In addition, the disclosure of the present specification describes features related to preferred and exemplary embodiments. Various other embodiments, modifications and variations within the scope and spirit of the claims attached hereto can naturally be conceived by those skilled in the art by reviewing the disclosure of this specification. is there.

  The present disclosure can be applied to connectors and connector assemblies.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Connector 2 Connector assembly 3 Connector system 11 Intermediate | middle insulator 11a, 61a Front part 11b, 61b Rear part 11c Locking recessed part 11d Inner recessed part 11e Inner conductor accommodating hole 41 Inner sealing material 42 Outer sealing material 43 Sealing material 51, 851 Inner conductor 52 Contact portion 53 Relay portion 53a Recess portion 54 Connection tail portion 55, 72 Body portion 61, 861 Outer conductor 61c Space portion 62 Contact arm 62a Arm member 62b Slit 62c Curved portion 62d, 73 Flange portion 62e Front space portion 63 Tab 63a Extension portion 64 Caulking portion 64a Through-hole 65 Concave groove portion 65a Convex portion 67 Joint portion 67a Joint fixing portion 71 Back housing 72a Rear outer conductor housing cavity 72b Front outer conductor housing cavity 73a Front end peripheral surface 74 Positioning convex portion 74a Front end surface 74b Connection convex wall 74c Fixing Hole 75 Body holding part 75a Outer conductor insertion hole 75b Front face 101 Module side connector 110 Module 111, 911 Case 112 Front face board 112a Opening 113 Side face board 113a Rear end face 114 Module inner space 151 Counterpart inner conductor 156 Tail part 161 Counterpart outer conductor 161a Counterpart fitting Space 161b Tapered portion 161c Mounting piece 191 Substrate 192 Element 811 Dielectric 818 Potting material 871 Housing 912 Seal packing 931 First circuit board 932 Second circuit board 941 Lens 942 Imaging element 951 Relay terminal 971 Shield member

Claims (9)

(A) A connector comprising a conductive terminal, an intermediate insulator that accommodates the terminal, a conductive outer conductor that accommodates the intermediate insulator, and an inner seal material made of a hot melt adhesive,
(B) The terminal includes a relay portion extending forward from the front end of the intermediate insulator, and a contact portion extending forward from the front end of the relay portion and contacting the counterpart terminal,
(C) The outer conductor includes a space that houses the intermediate insulator, and a contact arm that extends forward from the front end of the outer conductor, surrounds the periphery of the contact portion, and contacts the counterpart outer conductor. ,
(D) The connector, wherein the inner seal material is disposed around the relay portion in front of the intermediate insulator in the space portion. The contact arm includes a flange portion that extends radially inward from the front end of the outer conductor, and a slit that divides the flange portion and that extends rearward from the front end of the outer conductor. The connector according to claim 1, further comprising a slit, wherein the inner seal material is disposed between the intermediate insulator and the flange portion in the space portion. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the inner seal material is a ring-shaped member. (A) A connector assembly comprising the connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, a connector housing to which the connector is mounted, and an outer seal material made of a hot melt adhesive,
(B) The connector housing has an outer conductor holding portion in which an outer conductor insertion hole into which the outer conductor is inserted is formed, and is formed in front of the outer conductor holding portion and has a larger cross section than the outer conductor insertion hole. A front outer conductor receiving cavity,
(C) The connector is formed integrally with the outer conductor, and is fixed to the connector housing by a tab welded to the front surface of the outer conductor holding portion.
(D) The connector assembly, wherein the outer seal material is disposed around the outer conductor in the front outer conductor housing cavity. The connector assembly according to claim 4, wherein the outer seal material is a ring-shaped member. The connector assembly according to claim 4, wherein the inner seal material and the outer seal material are connected to each other. The connector assembly according to claim 4 or 5, wherein a potting material is further filled around the outer conductor in the front outer conductor housing cavity. (A) The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, a connector housing to which the connector is attached, an outer conductor holding portion in which an outer conductor insertion hole is formed, and the outer conductor holding portion. A connector housing including a front outer conductor receiving cavity formed in front of the outer conductor and having a cross section larger than the outer conductor insertion hole,
(B) inserting the outer conductor of the connector into the outer conductor insertion hole;
(C) welding a tab formed integrally with the outer conductor to the front surface of the outer conductor holding portion;
(D) disposing an outer seal material made of a hot melt adhesive around the outer conductor in the front outer conductor housing cavity;
(E) a step of melting the inner seal material and the outer seal material by heating them, and a method for assembling the connector assembly. 9. The method of assembling a connector assembly according to claim 8, further comprising a step of filling a potting material around the outer conductor in the front outer conductor housing cavity.

Images