JP2020181771A - Movable connector - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve the amount of bending due to the elastic deformation of a movable portion in a movable connector in which a fixed housing, a movable housing, and the movable portion connecting the housings are integrated.SOLUTION: A movable connector includes: a fixed housing 2 placed on an upper surface P3 of a circuit board P1; a movable housing 3 that is mated and connected with a mating connector 101; a plurality of terminals 5 having a contact portion that makes conductive contact with the mating connector 101 and an elastically deformable movable spring 9 that displaceably supports the movable housing 3 with respect to the fixed housing 2 along at least the upper surface P3; and a housing connecting spring portion 4 that can be elastically deformed so as to support the movable housing 3 in a displaceable manner in an approaching direction and a separating direction with respect to the fixed housing 2. The housing connecting spring portion 4 includes at least either lateral spring pieces 4b, 4d extending in the arrangement direction of the plurality of terminals 5 or a vertical spring piece extending in a height direction with respect to the upper surface P3 of the movable housing and the fixed housing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a movable connector.

A plurality of fixed housings arranged on a substrate, a movable housing connected to an object to be connected, a movable portion for displaceably supporting the movable housing with respect to the fixed housing, and a contact portion having conductive contact with the object to be connected. Movable connectors with terminals are known. The movable connector is configured so that the movable housing is displaced with respect to the fixed housing due to the elastic deformation of the movable portion, and the misalignment at the time of fitting with the object to be connected can be absorbed. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-0593360 (Patent Document 1) discloses an example of such a conventional movable connector. In this conventional movable connector, the fixed housing, the movable housing, and the movable portion are formed of a synthetic resin molded body having an integral structure.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-059360, FIGS. 1, 4, 17, 17, 19

Further miniaturization of electric connectors is required. However, the smaller the housing, the smaller the movable portion. Therefore, it is difficult to increase the amount of bending due to the elastic deformation of the movable portion in order to displace the movable housing greatly.

It is the present invention that has been made against the background of the above-mentioned prior art. An object of the present invention is to improve a movable connector having an integral structure of a fixed housing, a movable housing, and a movable portion connecting them so that the amount of bending due to elastic deformation of the movable portion is large.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured to have the following features.

That is, in the present invention, the first housing arranged on the substrate surface of the substrate, the second housing that fits and connects with the connection object, the contact portion that makes conductive contact with the connection object, and the second housing. The movable spring is provided with a plurality of terminals having a movable spring that displaceably supports the first housing, and the movable spring has the first housing and the second housing on the substrate surface. The second housing is displaceably supported with respect to the first housing in the approaching direction approaching along and the separating direction in which the first housing and the second housing are separated along the substrate surface. With respect to the elastically deformable movable connector, a housing connecting spring portion elastically deformable so as to support the second housing in a displaceable manner in the approaching direction and the separating direction with respect to the first housing. The housing connecting spring portion is provided, and the housing connecting spring portion extends in the height direction of the first spring portion extending in the arrangement direction of the plurality of terminals, or the first housing and the second housing with respect to the substrate surface. It is characterized by having at least one of the second spring portions.

According to the present invention, the elastically deformable housing connecting spring portion allows the second housing (movable housing) to move in the approaching direction and the separating direction with respect to the first housing (fixed housing) arranged on the substrate surface. It can be displaced. The housing connecting spring portion (movable portion) has at least a first spring portion. Since the first spring portion has at least a certain length extending in the arrangement direction of the terminals, it can be bent in the approaching direction and the separating direction. As a result, the second housing can be displaced in the approaching direction and the separating direction. Further, the housing connecting spring portion has at least a second spring portion. Since the second spring portion has a constant length extending at least in the height direction with respect to the substrate surface, it can be bent in the approaching direction and the separating direction. As a result, the second housing can be displaced in the approaching direction and the separating direction. As described above, according to the present invention, the second housing can be displaced with respect to the first housing by the housing connecting spring portion that connects the first housing and the second housing. In particular, according to the movable connector having no second spring portion, the height of the housing connecting spring portion can be reduced. On the other hand, according to the movable connector having no first spring portion, it is possible to prevent the housing connecting spring portion from protruding in the arrangement direction of the terminals, and it is possible to reduce the occupied area of the substrate surface.

The housing connecting spring portion extends with a plurality of the first spring portions arranged in parallel in the approaching direction and the separating direction and extends in the approaching direction and the separating direction to connect the first spring portions to each other. It can be configured to have a third spring portion that is elastically deformable so as to support the second housing in a displaceable manner in the arrangement direction with respect to the first housing.

According to the present invention, the housing connecting spring portion has a structure in which the first spring portions are connected to each other by the third spring portion. The housing connecting spring portion has a spring length in which a plurality of first spring portions and a third spring portion are connected. Therefore, the housing connecting spring portion can be bent not only in the approaching direction and the separating direction but also in the arrangement direction. Therefore, the second housing can be displaced in the approaching direction, the separating direction, and the arrangement direction. Then, the housing connecting spring portion can be made low in height by being composed of a plurality of first spring portions and a third spring portion. Further, since the housing connecting spring portion has a plurality of first spring portions, the approach direction and the separation direction are compared with a movable connector having a structure having the same spring length without having the plurality of first spring portions. Can be miniaturized with.

The housing connecting spring portion extends with a plurality of the second spring portions arranged in parallel in the approaching direction and the separating direction and extends in the approaching direction and the separating direction to connect the second spring portions to each other. It can be configured to have a third spring portion that is elastically deformable so as to support the second housing in a displaceable manner in the arrangement direction with respect to the first housing.

According to the present invention, the housing connecting spring portion has a structure in which the second spring portions are connected to each other by the third spring portion. The housing connecting spring portion has a spring length in which a plurality of second spring portions and a third spring portion are connected. Therefore, the housing connecting spring portion can be bent not only in the approaching direction and the separating direction but also in the arrangement direction. Therefore, the second housing can be displaced in the approaching direction, the separating direction, and the arrangement direction. Then, the housing connecting spring portion is composed of a plurality of second spring portions and a third spring portion, so that the area occupied by the substrate surface can be reduced.

The second housing has a support projection that supports the wall surface of the second housing facing the substrate surface at a distance from the substrate surface, and the support projection is the second housing. Can be configured to support the second housing in a state of being separated from the substrate surface while sliding with respect to the substrate surface when the housing is displaced with respect to the first housing.

According to the present invention, the support protrusion is in a state in which when the second housing is displaced with respect to the first housing, the second housing is separated from the substrate surface while sliding with respect to the substrate surface. Support with. Therefore, the board surface facing the bottom surface of the second housing can also be a region that can be used for circuit wiring and the like, and the board can be downsized by that amount. Since the bottom surface of the second housing is supported by the support projections and does not hit the circuit wiring or the like formed on the substrate surface, damage to the circuit wiring or the like can be prevented.

According to the present invention, with respect to a movable connector having a structure in which a first housing, a second housing, and a housing connecting spring portion connecting them are integrated, the housing connecting spring portion is bent even when the movable connector is miniaturized. As a result, the displacement amount of the second housing can be secured.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view including a back surface, a left side surface, and a plane showing a connection structure between a circuit board on which a movable connector is mounted and a counterparty circuit board on which a counterparty connector is mounted according to the first embodiment. The plan view of the circuit board on which the movable connector of FIG. 1 is mounted and the counterparty circuit board on which the counterparty connector is mounted. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. The external perspective view including the front surface, the right side surface, and the plane of the movable connector of FIG. Top view of the housing of the movable connector of FIG. The right side view of the movable connector of FIG. The right side view of the terminal provided with the movable connector of FIG. The external perspective view including the back surface, the left side surface, and the bottom surface of the other party connector shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is an external perspective view including a front surface, a right side surface, and a plane showing a conductive contact state between the terminal of FIG. 7 and the counterparty terminal when the movable connector and the counterparty connector are connected. Explanatory drawing which shows the modification by 1st Embodiment. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view including a back surface, a left side surface, and a plane showing a connection structure between a circuit board on which a movable connector is mounted and a counterparty circuit board on which a counterparty connector is mounted according to the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is an external perspective view including a front surface, a right side surface, and a flat surface of the movable connector of FIG. The plan view of the movable connector of FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The movable connector 1 as an embodiment of the "movable connector" of the present invention constitutes a connector on one side of a pair of board-to-board connectors. The movable connector 1 is mounted on a circuit board P1 (see FIG. 1 and the like) as a “board”. Then, the movable connector 1 is fitted and connected to the other party connector 101 as the "connection target object", and the circuit board P1 is electrically connected to the other party circuit board P2 as the "connection target side board" on which the other party connector 101 is mounted. It is something to do. As shown in FIG. 3, the circuit board P1 of the present embodiment is arranged so that the mounting surface (board surface) of electronic components and the like is flush with the counterpart circuit board P2. The circuit board P1 and the mating circuit board P2 are configured so that their plate ends are opposed to each other, and the movable connector 1 and the mating connector 101 are mounted on the substrate surface in the area of these plate ends, respectively. To. That is, the movable connector 1 and the counterparty connector 101 are configured as substrate surface-arranged connectors arranged on the substrate surface at each plate edge portion of the circuit board P1 and the counterparty circuit board P2, respectively.

When "first", "second", and "third" are mentioned in the present specification and claims, they are used to distinguish different components of the invention, and are used in a specific order or in a specific order. It is not used to indicate superiority or inferiority. In the present specification and claims, for convenience, as shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the width direction (horizontal direction) of the movable connector 1 is the X direction, the depth direction (front-back direction) is the Y direction, and the height direction (up and down). Direction) is described as the Z direction. Then, the side of the circuit board P1 in the Z direction of the movable connector 1 is described as the lower side, and the side of the movable connector 1 is described as the upper side. However, they do not limit the direction of the fitting connection of the movable connector 1 or the like or the mounting method on the circuit board P1. In the movable connector 1 here, the "terminal arrangement direction" and "contact direction with the object to be connected" are in the X direction, the "terminal extension direction", "approaching direction" and "separation direction" are in the Y direction, and "connection target". It is arranged so that the "fitting direction of the object" is downward in the Z direction and the "removal direction of the object to be connected" is upward in the Z direction.

1st Embodiment [FIGS. 1 to 9]

Configuration of Movable Connector 1 [FIGS. 1 to 7 and 9]

As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the movable connector 1 includes a fixed housing 2 as a "first housing", a movable housing 3 as a "second housing", a pair of housing connecting spring portions 4, and a plurality of movable connectors 1. It has a terminal 5. Then, as shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the fixed housing 2 is located on the rear side of the movable connector 1 in the Y direction, and the movable housing 3 is located on the front side of the movable connector 1 in the Y direction. The movable connector 1 is mounted on the upper surface P3 as a "board surface" which is one surface of the circuit board P1. Here, the mating connector 101 is fitted from above the movable connector 1 with the direction of approaching the upper surface P3 of the circuit board P1 as the mating direction with the movable connector 1, so that the contacts are electrically connected to each other. It is configured in.

Fixed housing 2

The fixed housing 2 is made of a resin molded body. As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the fixed housing 2 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is longer in the X direction than in the Y direction and the Z direction. The fixed housing 2 is arranged on the upper surface P3 of the circuit board P1. Then, the fixed housing 2 is attached to the circuit board P1 by a pair of L-shaped fixing brackets 6. Grooved fixing bracket mounting portions 2a are formed on both the left and right outer sides of the fixed housing 2 in the X direction. One side of the fixing bracket 6 is press-fitted into the fixing bracket mounting portion 2a and fixed to the fixing housing 2, and the other side of the L-shape is fixed to the circuit board P1 by soldering or the like.

The central portion of the fixed housing 2 on the front side in the Y direction in the X direction is recessed in a plan view toward the rear. As a result, on the front side of the fixed housing 2, a depth direction displacement regulating portion 2b along the X direction and a width direction displacement regulating portion extending forward from the left and right ends of the depth direction displacement regulating portion 2b along the Y direction, respectively. Both 2c and 2c are formed in a planar shape. Then, in the area surrounded by the depth direction displacement regulating portion 2b and the width direction displacement regulating portions 2c and 2c, that is, in the rectangular parallelepiped space in the central portion on the front side of the fixed housing 2, the accommodation chamber of the movable housing 3 is accommodated. 2d is formed (see FIGS. 2, 3, 5, etc.).

The fixed housing 2 is formed with a fixed-side terminal holding portion 2e as a "terminal mounting groove" formed of a groove extending downward from the top surface of the upper end in the Z direction along the Y direction. The fixed side terminal holding portion 2e has a function of holding the terminal 5. The length of the fixed-side terminal holding portion 2e in the X direction, that is, the groove width of the fixed-side terminal holding portion 2e is substantially equal to the length of the terminal 5 inserted therein in the X direction, that is, the plate thickness of the terminal 5.

On the bottom surface of the fixed-side terminal holding portion 2e, protrusions 2f protruding upward in the Z direction are formed in a prismatic shape. The protrusion 2f has a function of fitting with the terminal 5. The protrusion 2f protrudes to a position about half the height of the fixed housing 2 in the Z direction. Fixed side terminal holding position guiding surfaces 2g for guiding the terminal 5 to a predetermined holding position are formed on both front and rear sides of the top of the protrusion 2f in the Y direction. The fixed-side terminal holding position guiding surface 2g is formed so that an inclined surface from the top of the protrusion 2f extends along the X direction.

A plurality of fixed-side terminal holding portions 2e having such protrusions 2f are formed side by side along the X direction. In the present embodiment, since the movable connector 1 has five terminals 5, five fixed-side terminal holding portions 2e are also formed. The five fixed-side terminal holding portions 2e are arranged at equal intervals in the X direction.

The front end of the fixed-side terminal holding portion 2e in the Y direction is located rearward of the displacement regulating portion 2b in the depth direction. A terminal movable region 2h, which is a space missing in a rectangular parallelepiped shape from the depth direction displacement regulating portion 2b toward the rear in the Y direction, is formed in front of the fixed side terminal holding portion 2e. The terminal movable region 2h is formed longer in the X direction than the fixed side terminal holding portion 2e.

Movable housing 3

The movable housing 3 is made of a resin molded body. As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the movable housing 3 is formed to be longer in the X direction than in the other directions, corresponding to the fixed housing 2. The movable housing 3 is displaceably arranged with respect to the fixed housing 2 and is configured to be fitted and connected to the mating connector 101.

The movable housing 3 has a high floor portion 3A which is a main body portion of the movable housing 3 and a low floor portion 3B which is a contact portion receiving portion of the movable housing 3. The raised floor portion 3A is located on the rear side of the movable housing 3 in the Y direction, and is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a height in the Z direction substantially the same as that of the fixed housing 2. The low floor portion 3B is continuous in front of the high floor portion 3A, has a flat plate shape along the circuit board P1, and is formed lower in the height direction than the high floor portion 3A. At the front end of the high floor portion 3A, a flat front wall portion 3a is formed along the X direction so as to fill the height difference between the high floor portion 3A and the low floor portion 3B. A chamfered inclined guide surface 3Ab is formed so as to extend along the X direction between the top surface 3Aa of the upper end of the raised floor portion 3A in the Z direction and the front wall portion 3a. The inclined guide surface 3Ab guides the mating connector 101 fitted to the movable housing 3 to the low floor portion 3B.

The movable housing 3 has a protruding piece 3b protruding rearward in a plan view at the center of the raised floor portion 3A on the rear side in the Y direction in the X direction. Due to the protruding piece 3b, the rear displacement regulating portion 3c along the X direction and the lateral displacement regulating portion 3c extending forward along the Y direction from the left and right ends of the rear displacement regulating portion 3c are respectively on the back side of the movable housing 3. The portions 3d and 3d are all formed in a planar shape. The region surrounded by the rear displacement regulating portion 3c and the lateral displacement regulating portions 3d and 3d, that is, the protruding piece 3b protruding in a rectangular parallelepiped shape at the central portion on the rear side of the movable housing 3 is the fixed housing 2. The movable connector 1 is arranged so as to enter the housing chamber 2d of the above.

Here, when the movable housing 3 is largely displaced rearward in the Y direction with respect to the fixed housing 2, the rear displacement restricting portion 3c hits the depth direction displacement regulating portion 2b and further rearward displacement of the movable housing 3 is restricted. Will be done. When the movable housing 3 is largely displaced to the left or right in the X direction with respect to the fixed housing 2, for example, the left side displacement regulating portion 3d hits the left width direction displacement regulating portion 2c and the movable housing 3 Further leftward displacement is regulated. This is also the case for large displacements to the right.

On the raised floor portion 3A of the movable housing 3, a movable side terminal holding portion 3e as a "terminal mounting groove" formed by a groove downward from the top surface 3Aa is formed along the Y direction. The movable side terminal holding portion 3e has a function of holding the terminal 5. The length of the movable terminal holding portion 3e in the X direction, that is, the groove width of the movable terminal holding portion 3e is substantially equal to the length of the terminal 5 inserted therein in the X direction, that is, the plate thickness of the terminal 5.

On the bottom surface of the movable terminal holding portion 3e, protrusions 3f protruding upward in the Z direction are formed in a prismatic shape. The protrusion 3f has a function of fitting with the terminal 5. The protrusion 3f protrudes to a position about half the height of the movable housing 3 in the Z direction. Movable side terminal holding position guiding surfaces 3g for guiding the terminals 5 to predetermined holding positions are formed on both front and rear sides of the top of the protrusion 3f in the Y direction. The movable side terminal holding position guiding surface 3g is formed so that an inclined surface from the top of the protrusion 3f extends in the X direction.

A plurality of movable terminal holding portions 3e having such protrusions 3f are formed side by side along the X direction. In the present embodiment, since the movable connector 1 has five terminals 5, five movable side terminal holding portions 3e are also formed. The five movable terminal holding portions 3e are also arranged at equal intervals in the X direction.

Insertion guide surfaces for guiding the insertion of the terminal 5 may be formed on both the left and right sides of the fixed side terminal holding portion 2e and the movable side terminal holding portion 3e in the X direction. As shown in FIG. 4 and the like, the insertion guide surface is formed so that the inclined surface, the horizontal surface, and the inclined surface extend in the Y direction in order from the top surface side of each of the fixed housing 2 and the movable housing 3. good. Since the movable connector 1 has an insertion guide surface, the terminal 5 can be easily inserted into the fixed side terminal holding portion 2e and the movable side terminal holding portion 3e.

The rear end of the movable terminal holding portion 3e in the Y direction is located in front of the rear displacement regulating portion 3c. A terminal movable region 3h, which is a space missing in a rectangular parallelepiped shape from the rear displacement regulating portion 3c toward the front in the Y direction, is formed behind the movable side terminal holding portion 3e. The terminal movable region 3h is formed longer in the X direction than the movable side terminal holding portion 3e.

The groove widths of the fixed side terminal holding portion 2e and the movable side terminal holding portion 3e are substantially equal to the plate thickness of the terminal 5, whereas the lengths of the terminal movable region 2h and the terminal movable region 3h in the X direction are those of the terminal 5. Longer than the plate thickness. Therefore, when the movable housing 3 is displaced with respect to the fixed housing 2 in the X direction, the terminals 5 located in the regions of the fixed side terminal holding portion 2e and the movable side terminal holding portion 3e are hardly deformed. On the other hand, when the movable housing 3 is displaced with respect to the fixed housing 2 in the X direction, the terminals 5 located in the terminal movable region 2h and the terminal movable region 3h are deformed within these regions. Can be done.

The movable housing 3 is provided with a fitting portion 3i at the front portion in the Y direction thereof. The fitting portion 3i is composed of a front wall portion 3a on the front surface of the high floor portion 3A and an upper wall portion 3j on the upper surface of the low floor portion 3B. The front end of the fitting portion 3i is along the side edge portion of the circuit board P1 facing the side edge portion of the mating circuit board P2. On the other hand, on both the left and right outer sides of the movable housing 3 in the X direction and on the front side in the Y direction, engaging projecting pieces 3k protruding upward from the upper surface of the low floor portion 3B in the Z direction are formed. That is, the engaging projection piece 3k covers the upper surface of the low floor portion 3B. In this way, the fitting portion 3i is formed with a space for accommodating the mating connector 101 in the region from the front end of the low floor portion 3B to the front wall portion 3a of the high floor portion 3A and the region excluding the engaging projection piece 3k. The fitting portion 3i is configured to fit the mating connector 101 into this space.

The upper wall portion 3j also has a function as a “fitting direction contact portion”. That is, the upper wall portion 3j as the "fitting direction contact portion" extends in the plane direction, that is, along the XY plane, and moves in the fitting direction of the mating connector 101 in a state of being fitted in the fitting portion 3i. It is configured to receive the displacement of.

As a result, the upper wall portion 3j receives the insertion of the mating connector 101 into the fitting portion 3i, so that the mating connector 101 is correctly fitted into the fitting portion 3i by inserting the mating connector 101 until it stops. Can be done. Further, even if a pressing load from the mating connector 101 is applied to the lower side in the Z direction, the upper wall portion 3j receives the pressing load and prevents the mating connector 101 from being displaced with respect to the fitting portion 3i. Therefore, even if the position between the circuit board P1 and the counterparty circuit board P2 changes relatively, the counterparty connector 101 is unlikely to be displaced with respect to the movable housing 3, so that the movable connector 1 and the counterparty connector 101 are respectively. The length of sliding between contacts is reduced.

The upper wall portion 3j is formed in a groove shape with a terminal accommodating portion 3l as a "terminal mounting groove" that is continuous from the movable side terminal holding portion 3e and extends toward the front side of the low floor portion 3B in the Y direction. .. The terminal accommodating portion 3l has a function of holding the terminal 5. The length of the terminal accommodating portion 3l in the X direction, that is, the groove width of the terminal accommodating portion 3l is substantially equal to the length of the terminal 5 inserted therein in the X direction, that is, the plate thickness of the terminal 5. The bottom surface of the terminal accommodating portion 3l is formed flush with the bottom surface of the movable side terminal holding portion 3e.

In this way, the movable connector 1 has a fixed side terminal holding portion 2e, a movable side terminal holding portion 3e, and a terminal as a "terminal mounting groove" for press-fitting the terminal 5 into the fixed housing 2 and the movable housing 3 along the Z direction. It has a housing unit of 3 liters. Therefore, when the terminal 5 is attached to the fixed housing 2 and the movable housing 3, it is not necessary to insert the terminal 5 in the Y direction, so that it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a problem that the movable spring 9 is deformed by being pressed. Further, the movable connector 1 does not press-fit the terminal 5 from the fixed housing 2 facing the upper surface P3 of the circuit board P1 and the bottom surface side of the movable housing 3. Therefore, when the mating connector 101 is inserted downward into the fitting portion 3i of the movable housing 3, the contact portion 11 of the terminal 5 is pressed toward the board by the mating connector 101, and is regular with the mating connector 101. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of problems such as deviation from the contact position.

Here, the upper wall portion 3j is configured to separate the contact portion 11 of the terminal 5 from the circuit board P1. Therefore, the movable housing 3 can be displaced without the contact portion 11 coming into contact with the circuit board P1.

The movable housing 3 is provided with misalignment regulating portions 3 m on both the left and right outer sides in the X direction. The misalignment regulating portion 3m engages with the mating connector 101 in the X and Y directions, which are the "planar directions" along the upper surface P3 of the circuit board P1, and causes the misalignment of the mating position of the mating connector 101 with respect to the mating portion 3i. It is configured to regulate. As a result, the movable housing 3 that can always be displaced with respect to the fixed housing 2 is configured to be displaced with respect to the mating connector 101 during the fitting operation and hardly displaced in the fitted state.

The misalignment regulating portion 3m regulates the displacement of the mating connector 101 fitted to the fitting portion 3i with respect to the movable housing 3. On the other hand, the movable housing 3 can be displaced with respect to the fixed housing 2 even when the mating connector 101 is fitted. That is, in the movable connector 1, even if the mating connector 101 and the circuit board P1 on which the movable connector 1 is arranged are relatively displaced in this mated state, the movable spring 9 is elastically deformed and engaged. A movable housing 3 is configured to absorb the displacement. In other words, the mating connector 101 in the state of being engaged by the fitting portion 3i is integrally displaceable with respect to the fixed housing 2 together with the movable housing 3. Since the movable housing 3 and the counterparty connector 101 are substantially integrated, there is almost no displacement between the "contact portion" held by the movable housing 3 and the "connection target side contact portion" of the counterparty connector 101. ..

As described above, in the present embodiment, even if the positions of the mating connector 101 and the mating circuit board P2 on which the movable connector 1 is arranged are relatively changed, the sliding length of the contact sliding is reduced. The movable connector 1 having excellent connection reliability can be used.

Moreover, according to the present embodiment, as the mating connector 101 is fitted downward in the Z direction with respect to the mating portion 3i, the misalignment regulating portion 3m engages with the mating connector 101 in the X and Y directions. It fits. Therefore, in the movable connector 1, the counterparty connector 101 and the misalignment restricting portion 3 m can be engaged with each other in the X direction and the Y direction without requiring a special operation. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the movable connector 1 having excellent workability can be realized.

The misalignment regulating portion 3m includes a front wall portion 3a of the raised floor portion 3A as a "locking wall", a rear surface 3n of the engaging projection piece 3k as a "locking wall", and an inner surface 3o of the engaging projection piece 3k. It is composed of and. The front wall portion 3a and the rear surface 3n as the "pair of locking walls" face each other, and both extend in the XZ plane direction, which is a direction orthogonal to the Y direction. As a result, the misalignment regulating portion 3m is configured to sandwich the mating connector 101 fitted between the front wall portion 3a and the rear surface 3n in the front-rear direction in the Y direction. Therefore, the sliding length of the contact sliding due to the mating connector 101 being displaced back and forth in the fitting portion in the Y direction can be more reliably reduced.

On the other hand, the left inner surface 3o of the engaging projecting piece 3k and the right inner surface 3o of the engaging projecting piece 3k face each other, and both are in the YZ plane direction, which is the direction along the Y direction. It is growing. As a result, the misalignment regulating portion 3m is configured to sandwich the mating connector 101 fitted between the left inner side surface 3o and the right inner side surface 3o on the left and right in the X direction. Therefore, the sliding length of the contact sliding due to the mating connector 101 being displaced to the left or right in the fitting portion in the X direction can be more reliably reduced.

The misalignment restricting portion 3m is formed by extending the "contact portion" and the "contact portion on the connection target side", and the mating connector 101 is displaced with respect to the movable housing 3 in the Y direction in which contact sliding is likely to occur. It is configured to regulate what you do. For this reason, the front wall portion 3a and the rear surface 3n as the "locking wall" of the misalignment regulating portion 3m are provided so as to extend in the X direction, which is the intersecting direction with respect to the Y direction.

Then, the misalignment restricting portion 3m does not deform in the X direction and does not displace with respect to the movable housing 3, so that the displacement of the mating connector 101 in the Y direction can be regulated. Therefore, the misalignment regulating portion 3m is connected to the upper wall portion 3j as a "fitting direction contact portion", and is configured so that, for example, the distance between the opposing misalignment regulating portions 3m and 3m does not widen. There is. As a result, even if a strong load is applied to the mating connector 101 fitted with the movable housing 3 in the Y direction, particularly in the forward direction, the misalignment restricting portion 3m is deformed in the X direction or displaced with respect to the movable housing 3. It is possible to prevent the mating connector 101 from coming off from the mating position.

The misalignment regulating portion 3m may not be deformed in the X direction and may not be displaced with respect to the movable housing 3. The misalignment regulating portion 3m may be formed of a thick wall so that the engaging protrusion 3k does not bend in the X direction, for example, and an L-shaped reinforcing member is attached to the outside of the engaging protrusion 3k in the X direction. It may be configured to be.

The movable housing 3 has a support projection 3p on the bottom surface of the circuit board P1 facing the upper surface P3. The support protrusion 3p projects downward in the Z direction in a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape at the front end in the Y direction and the central portion in the X direction of the movable housing 3. The support projection 3p is in a state in which the wall surface (bottom surface) of the movable housing 3 is separated from the upper surface P3 while sliding with respect to the upper surface P3 of the circuit board P1 when the movable housing 3 is displaced with respect to the fixed housing 2. It is configured to support with. By having the support projection 3p in the movable housing 3, it is possible to prevent the movable connector 1 from tipping over when it is placed on the circuit board P1.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, when the movable connector 1 is fixed to the circuit board P1, the fixing bracket 6, the board connection portion 7 of the terminal 5, and the support protrusion 3p are in contact with the circuit board P1. It is configured. In other words, the fixed housing 2, the movable housing 3 other than the region of the support protrusion 3p, and the housing connecting spring portion 4 are floating from the upper surface P3 of the circuit board P1. That is, a gap portion is formed between the housing connecting spring portion 4 and the circuit board P1. As a result, the housing connecting spring portion 4 has a thinner shape in the Z direction as compared with a structure having no gap portion, and has a structure that is easily deformed.

Further, since the movable connector 1 is formed with a gap portion, the upper surface P3 of the circuit board P1 facing the bottom surface of the movable housing 3 and the housing connecting spring portion 4 can also be a region that can be used for circuit wiring and the like. The circuit board P1 can be downsized by that amount. The bottom surfaces of the movable housing 3 and the housing connecting spring portion 4 do not hit the circuit wiring or the like formed on the upper surface P3 of the circuit board P1 because the movable housing 3 is supported by the support protrusions 3p. Damage such as is prevented.

Further, since the movable housing 3 has the support protrusion 3p, the lengths of the fixed housing 2, the movable housing 3 and the housing connecting spring portion 4 in the Z direction can be shortened by the height of the gap portion. As a result, the amount of resin used in the movable connector 1 can be reduced, and the weight of the movable connector 1 can be reduced.

The support protrusion 3p may be formed integrally with the movable housing 3, or may be formed as a separate body and then attached to the movable housing 3. Further, a material other than resin may be used for the support protrusion 3p.

Housing connecting spring part 4

The housing connecting spring portion 4 is configured to connect the fixed housing 2 and the movable housing 3. The movable connector 1 can integrally form the fixed housing 2 and the movable housing 3 by having a housing connecting spring portion 4. The housing connecting spring portion 4 is an elastically deformable spring piece.

The housing connecting spring portion 4 makes the movable housing 3 at least rearward in the Y direction, which is the “approaching direction”, and forward in the Y direction, which is the “separation direction”, with respect to the fixed housing 2 arranged on the upper surface P3 of the circuit board P1. It has a function to support it so that it can be displaced. At the same time, the housing connecting spring portion 4 has a function of restricting a large displacement of the movable housing 3 with respect to the fixed housing 2 at least forward and backward in the Y direction. Here, the housing connecting spring portion 4 displaceably supports the movable housing 3 with respect to the fixed housing 2 not only in the front and rear directions in the Y direction but also in all directions, and the movable housing 3 is largely displaced with respect to the fixed housing 2. Has the function of regulating.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, the housing connecting spring portion 4 is composed of a pair of left and right. Each of the pair of housing connecting spring portions 4 has substantially the same height in the Z direction as the raised floor portion 3A and the fixed housing 2 in the movable housing 3, and is formed in a hook shape in a plan view. Each of the pair of housing connecting spring portions 4 has a key portion connected to the movable housing 3 in a plan view, and a shaft root portion connected to the fixed housing 2 in a plan view. Since the pair of housing connecting spring portions 4 have a symmetrical structure, the housing connecting spring portion 4 on one side will be described here.

The housing connecting spring portion 4 includes a first front and rear spring piece 4a as a "third spring portion", a first lateral spring piece 4b as a "first spring portion", and a "third spring portion". It has a second front and rear spring piece 4c as a "first spring portion" and a second lateral spring piece 4d as a "first spring portion". The first front-rear spring piece 4a extends forward from the outermost portion of the fixed housing 2 in the X direction and the frontmost portion in the Y direction along the Y direction. The first lateral spring piece 4b extends outward from the front end of the first front and rear spring piece 4a along the X direction. The second front-rear spring piece 4c extends forward from the outer end of the first lateral spring piece 4b along the Y direction. The second lateral spring piece 4d extends inward along the X direction from the front end of the second front and rear spring pieces 4c. The inner end of the second lateral spring piece 4d is connected to the outer end of the engaging protrusion 3k formed on the upper wall portion 3j of the movable housing 3.

A second lateral spring piece 4d at one end of the housing connecting spring portion 4 is connected to the upper wall portion 3j of the movable housing 3. The movable housing 3 on which the upper wall portion 3j is formed is restricted from being excessively displaced with respect to the fixed housing 2. By connecting one end of the housing connecting spring portion 4 to such an upper wall portion 3j, it is possible to prevent the housing connecting spring portion 4 from being excessively displaced particularly in the X direction. As a result, even if a strong load is applied to the mating connector 101 fitted with the movable housing 3, the housing connecting spring portion 4 is prevented from being excessively displaced and damaged in the rear direction in the X direction and the Y direction. It comes off.

The housing connecting spring portion 4 has a first lateral spring piece 4b extending in the X direction, which is a direction in which at least a part intersects the Y direction, and a second lateral spring piece 4d. Since the first lateral spring piece 4b and the second lateral spring piece 4d have a certain length extending in the X direction, they have a structure that is more likely to bend in the Y direction and the Z direction than in the X direction. Therefore, the housing connecting spring portion 4 can largely displace the movable housing 3 and the mating connector 101 fitted in the movable housing 3 with respect to the fixed housing 2 in the intersecting direction with respect to the X direction, particularly in the Y direction. Therefore, the housing connecting spring portion 4 can absorb the displacement that the side edges facing each other on the circuit board P1 and the mating circuit board P2 approach or separate from each other.

In particular, the movable connector 1 has a plurality of "first spring portions" extending in the X direction, such as the first lateral spring piece 4b and the second lateral spring piece 4d. That is, the movable connector 1 has a plurality of "first spring portions" that are more likely to bend in the Y direction and the Z direction than in the X direction.

In such a housing connecting spring portion 4, the housing connecting spring portion 4 as a whole is formed by bending the first lateral spring piece 4b and the second lateral spring piece 4d as the "first spring portion", respectively. The structure is larger and more easily bent in the Y direction and the Z direction than in the X direction. Therefore, the housing connecting spring portion 4 can displace the movable housing 3 and the mating connector 101 fitted in the movable housing 3 more greatly in the intersecting direction with respect to the X direction, particularly in the Y direction, with respect to the fixed housing 2. Therefore, the housing connecting spring portion 4 can absorb the displacement in which the side edges facing each other on the circuit board P1 and the mating circuit board P2 are closer to each other or separated from each other.

Here, the housing connecting spring portion 4 connects a plurality of "first spring portions" arranged in parallel in the Y direction, and supports the movable housing 3 with respect to the fixed housing 2 so as to be displaceable in the X direction. It is a structure having a "third spring portion" that can be elastically deformed. Then, the housing connecting spring portion 4 here includes a first lateral spring piece 4b and a second lateral spring piece 4d as a plurality of "first spring portions" and a first as a "third spring portion". It has a spring length that connects the front and rear spring pieces 4a and the second front and rear spring pieces 4c. Therefore, the housing connecting spring portion 4 can be bent not only in the Y direction but also in the X direction. Therefore, the movable housing 3 can be displaced in the XY directions. Then, the housing connecting spring portion 4 can be made low in height by being composed of a plurality of "first spring portions" and "third spring portions".

Further, from another viewpoint, the plurality of "first spring portions" are as a first lateral spring piece 4b as a "retracting piece portion" away from the movable housing 3 and as an "approaching piece portion" approaching the movable housing 3. It has a second lateral spring piece 4d of the above. As a result, in the housing connecting spring portion 4, the first lateral spring piece 4b returns outward in the X direction away from the movable housing 3, and the second lateral spring piece 4d returns inward in the X direction. It is configured in. Therefore, the housing connecting spring portion 4 has a reciprocating spring length that overlaps in the X direction due to the first lateral spring piece 4b extending in the separating direction and the second lateral spring piece 4d extending in the approaching direction. Can be secured extra. According to the housing connecting spring portion 4 configured in this way, it is possible to secure the spring length without increasing the size in the X direction, as compared with the structure in which only one lateral piece extends in the X direction, for example.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the movable housing 3 can be displaced with respect to the fixed housing 2 by the housing connecting spring portion 4 that connects the fixed housing 2 and the movable housing 3. Further, the housing connecting spring portion 4 has a configuration having only a "first spring portion" and a "third spring portion", so that the housing connecting spring portion 4 is miniaturized (lowered) in the X direction and the Z direction. be able to.

The first lateral spring piece 4b and the second lateral spring piece 4d may have at least one elastic piece.

The inner surface of the first front / rear spring piece 4a is inclined in the X direction so as to taper toward the front in a plan view. On the other hand, each of the first lateral spring piece 4b, the second front-rear spring piece 4c, and the second lateral spring piece 4d extends from one end to the other end with the same width in a plan view. The first lateral spring piece 4b and the second front and rear spring piece 4c are formed to have the narrowest width in the housing connecting spring portion 4. The front end of the first front and rear spring pieces 4a is formed to have the same width as the second lateral spring piece 4d. The housing connecting spring portion 4 is formed so that the first front / rear spring piece 4a, the second lateral spring piece 4d, the second front / rear spring piece 4c, and the first lateral spring piece 4b are shortened in this order. There is.

Since the first front and rear spring pieces 4a are long and tapered, the front side thereof is easily bent in the X direction, and the movable housing 3 is easily displaced in the X direction with respect to the fixed housing 2. Further, the width is narrow from the front side of the first front and rear spring pieces 4a to the second lateral spring piece 4d, and the second lateral spring piece 4d has a spring length, so that these portions are easily bent, and the movable housing 3 Is likely to be displaced in the Y direction with respect to the fixed housing 2.

By extending the first lateral spring piece 4b and the second lateral spring piece 4d longer, the movable housing 3 can be displaced with a light force with respect to the fixed housing 2.

Terminal 5

The terminal 5 is made of a conductive metal piece. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, the terminal 5 is formed in a flat plate shape in which the plate surface along the YZ plane is longer in the Y direction than in the Z direction, with the plate thickness direction as the X direction. The terminal 5 is attached to the movable connector 1 so as to extend mainly in the Y direction, straddling the fixed housing 2 and the movable housing 3. The terminals 5 are, in order from the rear in the Y direction, which is one end thereof, to the front, which is the other end, the substrate connecting portion 7, the fixed side held portion 8, the movable spring 9, and the “held held portion”. It has a movable side held portion 10 as a "part" and a contact portion 11 as a "contact portion". The terminal 5 of the present embodiment is formed as a punched terminal obtained by punching a conductive metal piece of a flat plate by press working. That is, the terminal 5 of the present embodiment is a single component whose functional portion and its shape are formed at the time of punching.

The movable connector 1 of the present embodiment has a plurality of terminals 5, and as shown in FIG. 4 and the like, is composed of five terminals 5 having the same shape. The plurality of terminals 5 are arranged so that their respective plate surfaces extend along the YZ plane. The plurality of terminals 5 are arranged at equal intervals with the X direction of the movable connector 1 as the arrangement direction (see FIG. 2 and the like). Here, one terminal 5 will be described.

The board connection portion 7 is a portion for conductively connecting and fixing the terminal 5 to the circuit board P1. As shown in FIG. 7 and the like, the substrate connection portion 7 is formed at one end of the terminal 5. As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 6, and the like, the substrate connecting portion 7 is arranged so as to project below the fixed housing 2 and from the back surface to the rear. Compared with other parts, only the substrate connection portion 7 is located below in the Z direction. The board connection portion 7 is fixed to the circuit board P1 by soldering or the like (see FIG. 3).

The fixed-side held portion 8 is a portion held by the fixed-side terminal holding portion 2e of the fixed housing 2. The fixed-side held portion 8 is connected to the substrate connecting portion 7, and is located on the front side and the upper side of the substrate connecting portion 7. The fixed side held portion 8 is formed in an inverted U shape. The inverted U-shaped recess of the fixed-side held portion 8 is configured to fit with the protrusion 2f of the fixed-side terminal holding portion 2e.

The tip (lower) end of the inverted U-shaped branch piece of the fixed side held portion 8 has a chamfered inclined surface on three sides (a total of six sides of the front and rear branch pieces) on both the left and right plate surface sides and the concave side. Is formed. Since the fixed-side held portion 8 has an inclined surface, it can be easily inserted into the fixed-side terminal holding portion 2e. Then, when the terminal 5 is attached to the fixed housing 2, the inverted U-shaped branch piece of the fixed side held portion 8 is formed by the fixed side terminal holding position guiding surface 2g formed on the upper surface of the protrusion 2f. The protrusion 2f is sandwiched and guided to fit at the correct position.

The fixed-side held portion 8 is formed with a tapered fixed-side projection protruding rearward from the rear plate edge portion (inverted U-shaped inner plate edge portion) of the front branch piece in the Y direction. It may have been done. The fixed side protrusion fixes the terminal 5 to the fixed housing 2 by biting the side surface (front surface) of the prismatic protrusion 2f. The terminal 5 is press-fitted and fixed to the fixed housing 2. Since the fixed-side protrusion 8 is formed on the front branch piece, the fixed-side held portion 8 does not easily come off from the protrusion 2f even if stress is transmitted from the movable spring 9.

The movable spring 9 has a function of displaceably supporting the movable housing 3 with respect to the fixed housing 2. The movable spring 9 is formed in a so-called "Fermat spiral" shape in which two spirals are connected at the center. The movable spring 9 has a shape that looks clockwise when viewed from the right in the X direction from the center to the outside. Since the movable spring 9 is formed in a spiral shape, the spring length can be secured in a limited volume. As shown in FIGS. 3, 7, and 9, the movable spring 9 includes a first extension portion 9a, a second extension portion 9b, a third extension portion 9c, a fourth extension portion 9d, and the like. It has a fifth extension portion 9e, a sixth extension portion 9f, and a seventh extension portion 9g.

The movable spring 9 is housed in a region of the terminal movable region 2h of the fixed housing 2 and the terminal movable region 3h of the movable housing 3. The terminal movable region 2h and the terminal movable region 3h are located above the upper surface P3 of the circuit board P1 and do not penetrate between the terminal movable region 2h and the circuit board P1. Therefore, even if the movable spring 9 is deformed in a particularly extending direction, the seventh extension portion 9g or the like does not hit the circuit board P1.

The first extending portion 9a extends from the uppermost portion and the front end of the fixed-side held portion 8, which is an inverted U-shaped base end portion, toward the front in the Y direction. The second extension portion 9b extends downward from the front end of the first extension portion 9a in the Z direction. The third extension portion 9c extends rearward in the Y direction from the lower end of the second extension portion 9b. The fourth extension portion 9d extends upward from the rear end of the third extension portion 9c in the Z direction. The fifth extension portion 9e extends rearward in the Y direction from the upper end of the fourth extension portion 9d. The sixth extension portion 9f extends downward from the rear end of the fifth extension portion 9e in the Z direction. The seventh extension portion 9g extends forward from the lower end of the sixth extension portion 9f in the Y direction.

The movable spring 9 has a first extension portion 9a and a seventh extension portion 9g, a second extension portion 9b and a sixth extension portion 9f, with the center of gravity of the fourth extension portion 9d as a point of symmetry in a side view. Each of the three sets of the third extension portion 9c and the fifth extension portion 9e is formed in a substantially point symmetry so as to correspond to each other.

As shown in FIG. 7, the movable spring 9 extends from one end to the other end with the same width in a side view, and is formed to be narrower than the other parts of the terminal 5. Since the movable spring 9 is formed to be narrower than the adjacent fixed-side held portion 8 and the movable-side held portion 10, the fixed-side held portion 8 is formed even when stress is generated in these regions. And the movable side held portion 10 is hard to be deformed. Therefore, the fixed side held portion 8 does not easily come off from the protrusion 2f, and similarly, the movable side held portion 10 does not easily come off from the protrusion 3f.

The movable spring 9 includes a first extension portion 9a (seventh extension portion 9g), a second extension portion 9b (sixth extension portion 9f), a third extension portion 9c (fifth extension portion 9e), and the like. It is formed so as to become shorter in the order of the fourth extension portion 9d. Since the first extension portion 9a and the seventh extension portion 9g are formed long in the Y direction, they tend to bend in the X direction and the Z direction. Therefore, the movable spring 9 can be flexibly deformed when the movable housing 3 is displaced in the X direction and the Z direction with respect to the fixed housing 2. Further, since the movable spring 9 is formed in a spiral shape, the length in the Y direction can be changed by changing the interval between the spirals. Therefore, the movable spring 9 can be flexibly deformed even when the movable housing 3 is displaced in the Y direction with respect to the fixed housing 2. In this way, the movable spring 9 can exhibit its softness as a spring in any of the three-dimensional directions.

The movable connector 1 is supported by a movable spring 9 so that the movable housing 3 can be displaced with respect to the fixed housing 2 in three-dimensional directions (X direction, Y direction, Z direction, and a combination thereof). Therefore, the displacement of the insertion position of the mating terminal 103, which will be described later, at the time of mating connection with the mating connector 101 is absorbed by the displacement of the movable housing 3, and the movable connector 1 and the mating connector 101 can be correctly mated and connected. it can. Further, the movable connector 1 is a movable housing 3 when the circuit board P1 is displaced with respect to the counterpart circuit board P2 due to thermal expansion or the like in a mated connection state in which the counterpart terminal 103 is electrically connected at a regular contact position. The displacement can be absorbed by the displacement.

The movable side held portion 10 is a portion held by the movable side terminal holding portion 3e of the movable housing 3. The movable side held portion 10 is formed in an inverted U shape, and has a rear end portion 10a as a "first end portion" located on one end side and a "first end portion" on the opposite side of the rear end portion 10a. It has a front end portion 10b as a "second end portion". The inverted U-shaped recess sandwiched between the rear end portion 10a and the front end portion 10b of the movable side held portion 10 is configured to fit with the protrusion 3f of the movable side terminal holding portion 3e. The rear end portion 10a is connected to the front end of the seventh extension portion 9g and is located on the front side of the movable spring 9.

In the movable side held portion 10, the rear end portion 10a, which is the tip of the inverted U-shaped rear branch portion, is directly connected to the front end of the seventh extension portion 9g. However, the rear branch portion is formed to be wider than the seventh extension portion 9g. As a result, even if a load is applied to the movable side held portion 10, the movable side held portion 10 is not easily deformed, so that the movable side held portion 10 can be maintained in a state of being held by the movable side terminal holding portion 3e. Therefore, the movable side held portion 10 does not need to newly form, for example, a protruding portion for being firmly held by the movable housing 3. Therefore, the movable side held portion 10 can be miniaturized especially in the Y direction.

A chamfered inclined surface is formed on the side of the inverted U-shaped concave portion side (front side) at the rear end portion 10a (lower end). The front end portion 10b (lower end) is formed with chamfer-shaped inclined surfaces on three sides, the left and right plate surface sides and the concave side (rear side). Since the movable side held portion 10 has an inclined surface, it can be easily inserted into the movable side terminal holding portion 3e. Then, when the terminal 5 is attached to the movable housing 3, the inverted U-shaped branch portion of the movable side held portion 10 is formed by the movable side terminal holding position guiding surface 3g formed on the upper surface of the protrusion 3f. The protrusion 3f is sandwiched and guided to fit at the correct position.

The movable side held portion 10 is formed with a tapered movable side protrusion protruding forward from the front plate edge portion (inverted U-shaped inner plate edge portion) at the rear branch portion in the Y direction. It may have been done. The movable side protrusion fixes the terminal 5 to the movable housing 3 by biting the side surface (back surface) of the prismatic protrusion 3f. The terminal 5 is press-fitted and fixed to the movable housing 3. Since the movable side projection is formed in the rear branch portion, the movable side held portion 10 does not easily come off from the protrusion 3f even if stress is transmitted from the movable spring 9.

The contact portion 11 extends in the Y direction, which is one direction in the plane direction. The movable connector 1 is configured so that either one of the "connection target side contact portion" and the contact portion 11 of the other connector 101 sandwiches the other to make a conductive connection. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the movable connector 1 is configured such that the "connection target side contact portion" of the counterparty connector 101 sandwiches the contact portion 11.

The contact portion 11 extends forward from the front end portion 10b of the movable side held portion 10. The contact portion 11 is formed in a flat plate shape integrally with the front branch portion of the movable side held portion 10, and the front end portion 10b constitutes one side of the contact portion 11. In other words, the rear portion of the contact portion 11 is shared by the branch portion on the front side of the movable side held portion 10. As a result, the movable side held portion 10 does not need to provide the front branch portion region separately from the contact portion 11. Therefore, according to the configuration having the movable side held portion 10 and the contact portion 11, the movable connector 1 can be miniaturized in the Y direction.

The lower portion of the contact portion 11 is housed in the terminal accommodating portion 3l of the movable housing 3 as the movable side held portion 10 is inserted into the movable side terminal holding portion 3e. Since the groove width of the terminal accommodating portion 3l is substantially equal to the plate thickness of the terminal 5, the contact portion 11 located in the region of the terminal accommodating portion 3l is particularly unlikely to be displaced or deformed in the X direction. Therefore, the movable connector 1 can be more easily fitted to the mating connector 101 and can be more reliably conductively connected.

A chamfered inclined surface is formed on both the left and right plate surface sides on the upper surface, the front surface (tip surface), and the lower surface of the contact portion 11. Since the lower surface of the contact portion 11 has an inclined surface, it can be easily inserted into the terminal accommodating portion 3l. Since the upper surface and the front surface of the contact portion 11 have inclined surfaces, it is possible to facilitate the insertion of the mating connector 101 into the movable connector 1.

The contact portion 11 is housed in the terminal accommodating portion 3l of the movable housing 3. The terminal accommodating portion 3l is located above the upper surface P3 of the circuit board P1 and does not penetrate with the circuit board P1. Therefore, the contact portion 11 does not hit the circuit board P1.

Configuration of the counterparty connector 101 [FIGS. 1 to 3, 8 and 9]

As shown in FIG. 8, the counterparty connector 101 includes a counterparty housing 102 and a plurality of counterparty terminals 103. The counterparty connector 101 is mounted on the upper surface of the counterparty circuit board P2.

The counterparty housing 102 is made of a resin molded body. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8, the counterparty housing 102 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is longer in the X direction than in other directions. The counterparty housing 102 is attached to the counterparty circuit board P2 by a pair of L-shaped fixing brackets 104. Groove-shaped fixing bracket mounting portions 102a are formed on both the left and right outer sides of the mating housing 102 in the X direction. One side of the fixing bracket 104 is press-fitted into the fixing bracket mounting portion 102a and fixed to the mating housing 102, and the other side of the L-shape is fixed to the mating circuit board P2 by soldering or the like. At that time, about half of the rear side of the counterparty housing 102 in the Y direction is attached so as to protrude from the side edge of the counterparty circuit board P2.

The counterpart housing 102 is formed with a terminal accommodating portion 102b that is missing in a rectangular parallelepiped shape so as to penetrate the counterpart housing 102 along the Y direction. The terminal accommodating portion 102b has a function of holding the counterparty terminal 103 inserted from the front in the Y direction. A terminal fitting groove 102c that penetrates in a groove shape toward the upper terminal accommodating portion 102b is formed on the bottom surface of the lower end of the mating housing 102 that protrudes from the mating circuit board P2 in the Z direction. The terminal fitting groove 102c passes through the terminal accommodating portion 102b and extends in a groove shape along the Y direction even on the top surface of the mating housing 102 located above in the Z direction. As a result, the terminal 5 is guided to the correct position. The terminal fitting groove 102c is configured so that when the mating connector 101 is mated with the movable connector 1, the terminal 5 enters and is electrically connected to the mating terminal 103.

The mating housing 102 is provided with a rectangular parallelepiped fitting piece 102d at the rear portion in the Y direction. The fitting piece 102d is configured to be able to fit with the fitting portion 3i in the movable housing 3 of the movable connector 1. Therefore, the fitting piece 102d is formed to have dimensions corresponding to the fitting portion 3i.

The counterparty housing 102 is provided with engaging pieces 102e on both the left and right outer sides in the X direction. The engaging piece 102e is configured to be able to be fitted with the misalignment restricting portion 3m in the movable housing 3 in a state where the mating housing 102 is fitted to the movable housing 3. Therefore, the engaging piece 102e is formed to have a size corresponding to the misalignment regulating portion 3m. The engaging piece 102e engages with the fitting portion 3i in the X and Y directions, which are the "plane directions" along the upper surface P3 of the circuit board P1, and causes the mating position of the mating connector 101 to deviate from the fitting portion 3i. It is configured to regulate.

The counterparty terminal 103 has a substrate fixing portion 103a, a base portion 103b, a branch spring portion 103c, and a sickle blade-shaped contact piece 103d as a "connection target side contact portion". The board fixing portion 103a is a portion for conductively connecting and fixing the mating terminal 103 to the mating circuit board P2. The base portion 103b is a portion held by the terminal accommodating portion 102b of the counterpart housing 102.

The branch spring portion 103c is formed in a flat plate shape in which the plate surface along the XY plane is longer in the Y direction than in the X direction, with the plate thickness direction as the Z direction. In the branch spring portion 103c, each branch piece is branched from the base portion 103b so as to be along the X direction, and each of the branch pieces extends in the Y direction. The branch spring portion 103c is configured to sandwich the terminal 5 inserted between the branch pieces in the X direction.

Here, it is difficult to secure a sufficient spring length for the terminal 5 by adopting a configuration as shown in FIG. 7, for example, and a hard spring is likely to be formed. On the other hand, the branch spring portion 103c of the present embodiment does not have a strong holding force of the terminal 5. Therefore, contact sliding is likely to occur between the terminal 5 and the sickle blade-shaped contact piece 103d. However, even with such a connection structure between the terminal 5 and the mating terminal 103, the movable connector 1 has a configuration in which the mating connector 101 that has been fitted is hardly displaced with respect to the fitting portion 3i. Therefore, the sliding length of the contact sliding is reduced.

The sickle blade-shaped contact piece 103d has a function of conducting a conductive connection with the terminal 5. The sickle blade-shaped contact piece 103d is provided at the tip of each branch piece of the branch spring portion 103c. The sickle blade-shaped contact piece 103d is provided so that the outer peripheral sides of the curved surfaces face each other in a plan view. The sickle blade-shaped contact piece 103d is formed by bending, and extends upward from the branch spring portion 103c in the Z direction. As a result, the sickle blade-shaped contact piece 103d has a length more than double in the Z direction as compared with other parts of the mating terminal 103. Therefore, the mating terminal 103 has a contact area with the terminal 5 inserted between the opposing sickle blade-shaped contact pieces 103d, and can be reliably connected to the terminal 5 in a conductive manner.

The lower end of the sickle blade-shaped contact piece 103d is formed with a curved surface. Therefore, the terminal 5 is smoothly inserted between the facing sickle blade-shaped contact pieces 103d without being caught by the plate edge, for example.

Connection method between the movable connector 1 and the counterparty connector 101 and the connection structure of the movable connector 1

When connecting the mating connector 101 to the movable connector 1, first, the circuit board P1 on which the movable connector 1 is mounted is placed in a horizontal place. The counterparty connector 101 is prepared above the movable connector 1. At that time, when the terminal 5 is located on the front side of the movable connector 1 in the Y direction, for example, the counterparty terminal 103 is oriented so as to be located on the rear side of the counterparty connector 101 in the Y direction. Then, the fitting piece 102d is moved downward toward the fitting portion 3i of the movable connector 1.

The movable connector 1 is configured so that when the fitting piece 102d is fitted to the fitting portion 3i, for example, the engaging piece 102e is fitted to the front wall portion 3a and the rear surface 3n without a gap. .. As a result, when the mating connector 101 is fitted to the movable connector 1, the engaging piece 102e engages with the misalignment regulating portion 3m. At the same time, as the fitting piece 102d is fitted to the fitting portion 3i, the terminal 5 enters the terminal fitting groove 102c and and the mating terminal 103 housed in the terminal fitting groove 102c. Conductive connection.

The movable connector 1 reduces the length at which the mating connector 101, which has been fitted, is displaced in the rear and front directions in the Y direction inside the fitting portion 3i. On the other hand, the movable housing 3 can be displaced with respect to the fixed housing 2 even when the mating connector 101 is fitted. That is, in the movable connector 1, even if the mating connector 101 and the circuit board P1 on which the movable connector 1 is arranged are relatively displaced in this mated state, the movable spring 9 is elastically deformed and engaged. A movable housing 3 is configured to absorb the displacement. As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the positions of the mating connector 101 and the mating circuit board P2 on which the movable connector 1 is arranged change relatively, the sliding length of the contact sliding is reduced. Therefore, the movable connector 1 having excellent connection reliability can be obtained.

Moreover, according to the present embodiment, in the movable connector 1, the fitting piece 102d is fitted to the fitting portion 3i, and the misalignment regulating portion 3m is not required to perform any other operation. The engaging piece 102e engages with the engaging piece 102e. Therefore, in the movable connector 1, the counterparty connector 101 and the misalignment regulating portion 3 m can be engaged with each other in the plane direction, particularly in the Y direction, without requiring a special operation. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the movable connector 1 having excellent workability can be realized.

The movable connector 1 has a movable gap between the circuit board P1 on which it is mounted and the counterparty circuit board P2 on which the counterparty connector 101 is mounted. The housing connecting spring portion 4 connects the movable housing 3 to the fixed housing 2 so as to be displaceable in the approaching direction. The housing connection spring portion 4 is preferably set so that the maximum displacement amount along the approaching direction is smaller than the movable gap.

Therefore, in the Y direction, the movable connector 1 has a longer separation distance between the mating circuit board P2 to which the mating connector 101 is attached and the circuit board P1 than the range of motion of the movable housing 3 with respect to the fixed housing 2. It should be configured. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, in the movable connector 1, when the mating state with the mating connector 101, the gap length g2 between the circuit board P1 and the mating circuit board P2 is the depth direction displacement regulating portion 2b and the rear displacement regulating portion. It is configured to be longer than the gap length g1 with 3c.

As a result, when the movable housing 3 is largely displaced so as to approach the fixed housing 2 in the Y direction, the rear displacement regulating portion 3c and the depth direction displacement regulating portion 2b are before the counterpart circuit board P2 hits the circuit board P1. And hit first. Therefore, even if the movable housing 3 is largely displaced with respect to the fixed housing 2, the counterparty circuit board P2 does not hit the circuit board P1.

Further, the movable connector 1 of the present embodiment is configured such that the movable housing 3 can be displaced with respect to the fixed housing 2 by both the housing connecting spring portion 4 and the movable spring 9 of the terminal 5. Then, in order to reduce the size of the movable connector 1, for example, by adopting a configuration as in this embodiment, the movement of the movable housing 3 with respect to the fixed housing 2 tends to be stiff, and it is necessary to displace the movable housing 3. Power will increase. In such a movable connector 1, if the contact sliding is suppressed only by the holding force between the terminal 5 and the counterparty terminal 103, the terminal 5 or the counterparty when the mating connector 101 is fitted to the movable connector 1 The terminal 103 becomes too hard and becomes difficult to fit.

On the other hand, the movable connector 1 of the present embodiment is not configured to suppress contact sliding due to the contact pressure between the terminal 5 and the counterparty terminal 103. Then, in the movable connector 1 of the present embodiment, the sliding length of the contact sliding is reduced without increasing the contact pressure between the terminal 5 and the counterparty terminal 103.

Modification example

The fitting portion 3i has a "retaining portion" that regulates the displacement of the mating connector 101 in which the displacement in the X direction and the Y direction is regulated in the pulling direction opposite to the mating direction. You may. As shown in FIG. 10, the “retaining portion” may be formed as a retaining recess 3q that is recessed in the front wall portion 3a as the “locking wall”. Correspondingly, a retaining convex portion 102f that protrudes in a convex shape is formed on the back surface of the engaging protrusion 3k of the mating connector 101. When the mating connector 101 is fitted to the movable housing 3, the retaining convex portion 102f is fitted into the retaining recess 3q, and the mating connector 101 is not easily displaced in the pulling direction.

Further, the "retaining portion" may be provided so as to cover the other party connector 101 from above. The “retaining portion” may cover the entire mating connector 101 or a part thereof. When the "retaining portion" covers a part of the mating connector 101, it may be covered so as to straddle the boundary with the movable housing 3, for example, the misalignment restricting portion 3m of the movable housing 3 and the engaging piece 102e (described later). It suffices to cover the space between (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

By having the "retaining portion", the fitting portion 3i fixes the position relative to the mating connector 101 not only in the Y direction but also in the removing direction in the Z direction. Therefore, even if the circuit board P1 and the mating circuit board P2 are displaced in relatively multiple directions, the sliding length of the contact sliding is reduced.

Second Embodiment [FIGS. 11 to 13]

Hereinafter, the movable connector 21 as the second embodiment of the “movable connector” of the present invention will be mainly described with reference to the drawings, and a portion having a configuration different from that of the movable connector 1 described above will be described. That is, unless otherwise specified, the movable connector 21 can exert the same effect as the movable connector 1 described above.

Configuration of movable connector 21 [FIGS. 11 to 13]

The movable connector 21 of the present embodiment includes a fixed housing 22 as a "first housing", a movable housing 23 as a "second housing", a pair of housing connecting spring portions 24, and a plurality of terminals 5. I have. The terminal 5 is the same for the movable connector 1 and the movable connector 21.

Fixed housing 22

The fixed housing 22 is formed with relief portions that are rectangular parallelepipedly missing toward the front and upward at the rear end and the lower end. Since the movable connector 1 has a relief portion, the fixed housing 22 does not get in the way when the board connection portion 7 of the terminal 5 is soldered to the circuit board P1, for example. The fixed housing 22 is configured in the same manner as the fixed housing 2 except for the above.

Movable housing 23

The movable housing 23 is different from the movable housing 3 of the first embodiment in that it does not have the support protrusion 3p. The movable housing 23 is configured in the same manner as the movable housing 3 except for the above.

Housing connecting spring part 24

The housing connecting spring portion 24 does not have a first lateral spring piece 4b and a second lateral spring piece 4d that protrude to both outer sides in the X direction from the fixed housing 22, and at least a part thereof is Z. It differs from the housing connecting spring portion 4 of the first embodiment in that it extends in the direction. The housing connecting spring portion 24 is configured in the same manner as the housing connecting spring portion 4 except for the above.

The housing connecting spring portion 24 includes a first front and rear spring piece 24a as a "third spring portion", a first vertical spring piece 24b as a "second spring portion", and a "third spring portion". It has a second front and rear spring piece 24c as a "second spring part", a second vertical spring piece 24d as a "second spring part", and a first horizontal spring piece 24e as a "first spring part". There is.

The first front and rear spring pieces 24a extend forward from the outermost portion of the fixed housing 22 in the X direction and the frontmost portion in the Y direction along the Y direction. The first vertical spring piece 24b extends upward from the front end of the first front and rear spring piece 24a along the Z direction. The second front-rear spring piece 24c extends forward from the upper end of the first vertical spring piece 24b along the Y direction. The second vertical spring piece 24d extends downward from the front end of the second front and rear spring piece 24c along the Z direction. The first horizontal spring piece 24e extends inward from the lower end of the second vertical spring piece 24d along the X direction. The inner end of the first lateral spring piece 24e is connected to the outer end of the engaging protrusion 3k of the movable housing 23.

The housing connecting spring portion 24 has substantially the same height in the Z direction as the raised floor portion 3A in the movable housing 23 and the fixed housing 22 in the regions of the first front and rear spring pieces 24a and the first lateral spring piece 24e. .. On the other hand, the housing connecting spring portion 24 projects upward from the height of the fixed housing 22 or the like in the region from the first vertical spring piece 24b to the second vertical spring piece 24d. Then, in the region from the first vertical spring piece 24b to the second vertical spring piece 24d, in the side view, the spring piece 24c extends with a narrower width than the other parts. A cavity is formed below.

The housing connecting spring portion 24 has a first vertical spring piece 24b extending in the Z direction, which is a direction in which at least a part intersects the Y direction, and a second vertical spring piece 24d. Since the first vertical spring piece 24b and the second vertical spring piece 24d have a constant length extending in the Z direction, they have a structure that is more likely to bend in the X direction and the Y direction than in the Z direction. Therefore, the housing connecting spring portion 24 can largely displace the movable housing 23 and the mating connector 101 fitted in the movable housing 23 with respect to the fixed housing 22 in the intersecting direction with respect to the Z direction, particularly in the Y direction. Therefore, the housing connecting spring portion 24 can absorb the displacement that the side edges facing each other on the circuit board P1 and the mating circuit board P2 approach or separate from each other.

In particular, the movable connector 1 has a plurality of "second spring portions" extending in the Z direction, such as the first vertical spring piece 24b and the second vertical spring piece 24d. That is, the movable connector 1 has a plurality of "second spring portions" that are more likely to bend in the X direction and the Y direction than in the Z direction.

In such a housing connecting spring portion 24, the housing connecting spring portion 24 as a whole is formed by bending the first vertical spring piece 24b and the second vertical spring piece 24d as the "second spring portion", respectively. The structure is larger and more easily bent in the X direction and the Y direction than in the Z direction. Therefore, the housing connecting spring portion 24 can displace the movable housing 23 and the mating connector 101 fitted to the movable housing 23 more in the intersecting direction with respect to the Z direction, particularly in the Y direction, with respect to the fixed housing 22. Therefore, the housing connecting spring portion 24 can absorb the displacement that the side edges facing each other on the circuit board P1 and the counterpart circuit board P2 are closer to each other or separated from each other.

Here, the housing connecting spring portion 24 connects a plurality of "second spring portions" arranged in parallel in the Y direction, and supports the movable housing 23 with respect to the fixed housing 22 so as to be displaceable in the X direction. It is a structure having a "third spring portion" that can be elastically deformed. The housing connecting spring portion 24 here is the first vertical spring piece 24b and the second vertical spring piece 24d as a plurality of "second spring portions" and the first as a "third spring portion". It has a spring length that connects the front and rear spring pieces 24a and the second front and rear spring pieces 24c. Therefore, the housing connecting spring portion 24 can be bent not only in the Y direction but also in the X direction, similarly to the housing connecting spring portion 4. Therefore, the movable housing 23 can be displaced in the XY directions.

Further, from another viewpoint, the plurality of "second spring portions" are as a first vertical spring piece 24b as a "retracting piece portion" away from the movable housing 23 and as an "approaching piece portion" approaching the movable housing 23. It has a second vertical spring piece 24d. As a result, in the housing connecting spring portion 24, the first vertical spring piece 24b returns to the upper side in the Z direction away from the movable housing 23, and the second vertical spring piece 24d returns to the lower side in the Z direction. It is configured as follows. Therefore, the housing connecting spring portion 24 has a reciprocating spring length that overlaps in the Z direction due to the first vertical spring piece 24b extending in the separating direction and the second vertical spring piece 24d extending in the approaching direction. Can be secured extra. According to the housing connecting spring portion 24 configured in this way, the spring does not increase in size in the X direction and the Y direction as compared with the structure having no "retract piece portion" and "approaching piece portion". The length can be secured.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the movable housing 23 can be displaced with respect to the fixed housing 22 by the housing connecting spring portion 24 that connects the fixed housing 22 and the movable housing 23. Further, the housing connecting spring portion 24 can prevent the housing connecting spring portion 24 from protruding in the arrangement direction of the terminals 5 by the configuration having only the "second spring portion" and the "third spring portion". It is possible to reduce the occupied area of the upper surface P3 of the circuit board P1.

At least one of the first vertical spring piece 24b and the second vertical spring piece 24d may be an elastic piece.

The housing connecting spring portion 24 is shortened in the order of the first front / rear spring piece 24a, the second front / rear spring piece 24c, the first vertical spring piece 24b, the second vertical spring piece 24d, and the first horizontal spring piece 24e. It is formed to be. The narrow width of the first vertical spring piece 24b and the second vertical spring piece 24d makes it easier for them to bend in the X and Y directions, and the movable housing 23 is in the X direction with respect to the fixed housing 22. And it becomes easy to displace in the Y direction. Further, since the second front and rear spring pieces 24c are formed to have a narrow width, these portions are easily bent, and the movable housing 23 is easily displaced with respect to the fixed housing 22 in the X direction and the Z direction.

As described above, the movable connector 1 of the first embodiment includes the housing connecting spring portion 4, and the movable connector 21 of the second embodiment includes the housing connecting spring portion 24. Then, the movable connector 1 of the first embodiment and the movable connector 21 of the second embodiment are at least a "first spring portion" extending in the X direction or a "second spring portion" extending in the Z direction. Have one. Therefore, in the movable connector 1 and the movable connector 21, the displacement of the movable housing 3 and the movable housing 23 can be ensured by bending the housing connecting spring portion 4 or the housing connecting spring portion 24.

1 Movable connector 2 Fixed housing (first housing)
2a Fixing bracket mounting part 2b Depth direction displacement regulating part 2c Width direction displacement regulating part 2d Storage chamber 2e Fixed side terminal holding part (terminal mounting groove)
2f Protrusion 2g Fixed side terminal holding position guide surface 2h Terminal movable area 3 Movable housing (second housing)
3A High floor part 3Aa Top surface of high floor part 3A 3Ab Inclined guidance surface 3B Low floor part 3a Front wall part (locking wall)
3b Protruding piece 3c Rear displacement regulation part 3d Lateral displacement regulation part 3e Movable side terminal holding part (terminal mounting groove)
3f protrusion 3g movable side terminal holding position guide surface 3h terminal movable area 3i fitting part 3j upper wall part (fitting direction contact part)
3k engaging protrusion 3l terminal housing (terminal mounting groove)
3m misalignment control part 3n rear surface (locking wall)
3o Inner side surface 3p Support protrusion 3q Retaining recess (removing part)
4 Housing connecting spring part 4a First front and rear spring pieces (third spring part)
4b 1st horizontal spring piece (1st spring part, retracting piece part)
4c Second front and rear spring pieces (third spring part)
4d 2nd horizontal spring piece (1st spring part, approaching piece part)
5 Terminal 6 Fixing bracket 7 Board connection part 8 Fixed side held part 9 Movable spring 9a 1st extension part 9b 2nd extension part 9c 3rd extension part 9d 4th extension part 9e 5th extension part 9f No. 6 extension part 9g 7th extension part 10 Movable side held part (held part)
10a Rear end (first end)
10b Front end (second end)
11 Contact part 21 Movable connector 22 Fixed housing (first housing)
23 Movable housing (second housing)
24 Housing connecting spring part 24a First front and rear spring pieces (third spring part)
24b First vertical spring piece (second spring part, retracted piece part)
24c Second front and rear spring pieces (third spring part)
24d 2nd vertical spring piece (2nd spring part, approaching piece part)
24e 1st lateral spring piece (1st spring part)
101 Remote connector (connection target)
102 Opposite housing 102a Fixing bracket mounting 102b Terminal accommodating 102c Terminal fitting groove 102d Fitting piece 102e Engaging piece 103 Opposite terminal 103a Board fixing 103b Base 103c Branch spring 103d Scam blade contact piece 104 Fixing bracket g1 Depth direction Gap length between the displacement regulating section 2b and the rear displacement regulating section 3c g2 Gap length between the circuit board P1 and the mating circuit board P2 P1 Circuit board (board)
P2 counterparty circuit board (connection target side board (mounting target))
P3 Top surface of circuit board P1 X Width direction, left and right direction Y Depth direction, front-back direction (first direction)
Z height direction, vertical direction

Claims (4)

The first housing to be placed on the substrate surface of the substrate and
A second housing that fits and connects with the object to be connected,
It is provided with a plurality of terminals having a contact portion that makes conductive contact with the object to be connected and a movable spring that supports the second housing in a displaceable manner with respect to the first housing.
The movable spring is provided in an approaching direction in which the first housing and the second housing approach along the substrate surface and in a separating direction in which the first housing and the second housing separate from each other along the substrate surface. In a movable connector that is elastically deformable so as to displaceably support the second housing with respect to the first housing.
Further, a housing connecting spring portion that is elastically deformable so as to support the second housing in a displaceable manner in the approaching direction and the separating direction with respect to the first housing is provided.
The housing connecting spring portion is a first spring portion extending in the arrangement direction of the plurality of terminals, or a second spring extending in the height direction of the first housing and the second housing with respect to the substrate surface. A movable connector characterized by having at least one of the parts.
The housing connecting spring portion is
A plurality of the first spring portions arranged in parallel in the approaching direction and the separating direction,
It can be elastically deformed so as to extend in the approaching direction and the separating direction to connect the first spring portions and to support the second housing in a displaceable manner with respect to the first housing. The movable connector according to claim 1, further comprising a third spring portion.
The housing connecting spring portion is
A plurality of the second spring portions arranged in parallel in the approaching direction and the separating direction,
It can be elastically deformed so as to extend in the approaching direction and the separating direction to connect the second spring portions and to support the second housing in a displaceable manner with respect to the first housing. The movable connector according to claim 1, further comprising a third spring portion.
The second housing has a support projection that supports the wall surface of the second housing facing the substrate surface at a distance from the substrate surface.
The support projection is in a state where the second housing is separated from the substrate surface while sliding with respect to the substrate surface when the second housing is displaced with respect to the first housing. The movable connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is supported.

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