JP2020184415A - connector - Google Patents

Abstract

To obtain a connector that can be miniaturized while having a configuration capable of absorbing displacement of a connection object.SOLUTION: A connector 10 includes a fixed housing 20, a movable housing 30, and a terminal part 40. In the terminal part 40, a fixed terminal 42 is held in the fixed housing 20, a movable terminal 44 is held in the movable housing 30, and an intermediate terminal 46 is disposed between the fixed terminal 42 and the movable terminal 44. A central axis 46C of the intermediate terminal 46 extends along a connector engaging direction X. When the movable housing 30 moves along a direction orthogonal to the connector engaging direction X with respect to the fixed housing 20, the intermediate terminal 46 can be elastically deformed so as to incline a direction of at least a part of the central axis with respect to the connector engaging direction X.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a connector.

Patent Document 1 below discloses a technique relating to a coaxial connector with a floating mechanism as an example of a movable connector. Briefly, this prior art includes a housing base, a housing movable portion, and a floating spring body having one end fixed to the housing base and the other end fixed to the housing movable portion. Further, the floating spring body is provided with an inverted U-shaped swing spring portion that can be elastically deformed. As a result, even if the object to be connected to be connected to the connector deviates from the normal position, the swing spring portion elastically deforms, so that the housing movable portion moves together with a part of the floating spring body and is positioned. The deviation can be absorbed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-062661

However, in the case of the above-mentioned prior art, since the floating spring body has an inverted U-shaped swing spring portion, the floating spring body itself tends to be large in size, which is an improvement in reducing the size of the entire connector. There is room.

In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a connector that can absorb the displacement of the object to be connected and can be miniaturized.

The connector of the present invention according to claim 1 is fitted with a fixed housing fixed to a mounting surface of a substrate and a connection object, and is orthogonal to the fitting direction of the connection target with respect to the fixed housing. A connector having a movable housing movably arranged along the direction of movement and a terminal portion for conducting a conductive connection between the substrate and the connection object, and the terminal portion is held by the fixed housing. A fixed terminal conductively connected to the substrate, a movable terminal formed separately from the fixed terminal and held in the movable housing, and electrically connected to the connection object, and the fixed terminal and the movable terminal. Elastic deformation when the central axis is arranged between the terminals and extends along the fitting direction and the movable housing moves along the direction orthogonal to the fitting direction with respect to the fixed housing. An intermediate terminal capable of inclining the direction of at least a part of the central axis with respect to the fitting direction is provided.

According to the above configuration, the connector has a fixed housing and a movable housing. The fixed housing is fixed to the mounting surface of the substrate, the movable housing is fitted to the object to be connected, and the movable housing is movably arranged with respect to the fixed housing in a direction orthogonal to the fitting direction with the object to be connected. ing. Further, the board and the object to be connected are electrically connected by the terminal portion, and in the terminal portion, the fixed terminal is held in the fixed housing, the movable terminal is held in the movable housing, and the intermediate terminal is held between the fixed terminal and the movable terminal. Is placed. Here, the intermediate terminal is elastically deformed when its central axis extends along the fitting direction and the movable housing moves along the direction orthogonal to the fitting direction with respect to the fixed housing. It is possible to incline the direction of at least a part of the central axis with respect to the fitting direction. Therefore, it is not necessary to form a long spring portion in the terminal portion, and it is possible to absorb the misalignment of the object to be connected even though the structure is small.

The connector of the present invention according to claim 2 has the configuration according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate terminal is engaged with the fixed terminal and the movable housing is orthogonal to the fitting direction with respect to the fixed housing. The first engaging portion that is prevented from coming off from the fixed terminal even when moving along the direction of movement, and the movable housing that is engaged with the movable terminal and the movable housing is fitted to the fixed housing. It is provided with a second engaging portion that is prevented from coming off from the movable terminal even when it moves along a direction orthogonal to the mating direction.

According to the above configuration, the first engaging portion of the intermediate terminal is engaged from the fixed terminal even when the movable housing moves along the direction orthogonal to the fitting direction with respect to the fixed housing. It is prevented from coming off. Further, the second engaging portion of the intermediate terminal is engaged with the movable terminal so that the movable housing does not come off from the movable terminal even when the movable housing moves along the direction orthogonal to the fitting direction with respect to the fixed housing. It is stuck. In such a configuration, mass production is easier than in a configuration in which the intermediate terminal is joined to the fixed terminal and the movable terminal by welding, for example, and the connection state between the intermediate terminal and the fixed terminal and the connection between the intermediate terminal and the movable terminal. The state is well maintained even when absorbing the misalignment of the object to be connected.

The connector of the present invention according to claim 3 has the configuration according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the intermediate terminal is formed of a coil spring.

According to the above configuration, it is not necessary to use a special member for the intermediate terminal, and the configuration is simple, so that the cost can be suppressed.

The connector of the present invention according to claim 4 has the configuration according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the intermediate terminal is compressed and elastically deformed along the fitting direction. It is arranged.

According to the above configuration, the intermediate terminals come into contact with each other while being pressed against the fixed terminal side and the movable terminal side by the restoring force. Therefore, the intermediate terminals are stably conductively connected to the fixed terminal side and the movable terminal side, respectively.

The connector of the present invention according to claim 5 has a configuration according to claim 3 or claim 4, which cites claim 3, wherein the coil spring has a spirally wound winding portion having a substantially tubular shape. It is arranged in the state of being.

The "state in which the winding portion is substantially tubular" according to claim 5 means that all of the wire rods adjacent to each other in the direction along the central axis of the winding portion having a substantially tubular shape as a whole. Or, the wires are arranged so close that an electric signal can flow between the wires that are adjacent to each other in the parts that are not in close contact with each other, although some parts include parts that are not in close contact with each other. (The same applies in the present specification).

According to the above configuration, the line length is shortened, so that high-speed transmission is possible.

The connector of the present invention according to claim 6 has the configuration according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and is accommodated in the fixed housing with a part of the intermediate terminal inserted. The intermediate terminal accommodating portion is formed, and at least the portion on the movable housing side of the intermediate terminal accommodating portion forms a gap over the entire circumference between the intermediate terminal accommodating portion and the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate terminal.

According to the above configuration, in the intermediate terminal accommodating portion of the fixed housing, at least the portion on the movable housing side forms a gap with the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate terminal over the entire circumference, so that the position of the object to be connected is displaced. A part of the intermediate terminal can be tilted inside the intermediate terminal housing portion when absorbing.

As described above, the connector of the present invention has an excellent effect that it is possible to reduce the size of the connector while being able to absorb the displacement of the object to be connected.

It is a perspective view which shows the state which the connection object is fitted in the connector which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the connector which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the connector of FIG. 2 as seen from the direction of arrow 3 of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which cut along the 4-4 line of FIG. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the assembled state of the intermediate terminal of FIG. 4 in an enlarged manner. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the main part in the state which the connector of FIG. 2 has absorbed the misalignment. It is an enlarged perspective view which shows the terminal part applied to the connector of FIG. It is a perspective view of the half cross section shown in the state of being cut along the line 8-8 of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state which the component part on the movable side was removed from the connector of FIG. It is a perspective view of the half cross section shown in the state of being cut along the line 10L-10L of FIG. It is a cross-sectional perspective view which shows the state of the connector in the process of fitting the connection object into a movable housing. The illustration of the connection object is omitted. It is a perspective view which shows the connection object of FIG. 1 upside down.

A connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12. For convenience of explanation, the arrow FR appropriately described in each drawing is in front of the connector 10, the arrow LH is on the left side of the connector 10, and the arrow UP is on the upper side of the connector 10. Hereinafter, when the description is simply made using the front-back, left-right, and up-down directions, the directions with respect to the connector 10 are shown. These directions are independent of the orientation of the connector 10 in use. Further, in each drawing, some reference numerals may be omitted in order to make the drawings easier to see.

(Outline configuration)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the connection object 14 is fitted to the connector 10 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the connector 10 according to the present embodiment. ing. Further, FIG. 3 shows a side view of the connector 10 of FIG. 2 as viewed from the direction of arrow 3, and FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the connector 10 of FIG. 2 cut along the 4-4 line. The figure is shown. The connector 10 of the present embodiment may be called a socket connector, and the connection object 14 may be called a plug connector. Further, in the present embodiment, the fitting direction between the connector 10 and the connection object 14 (the direction in which the connector 10 and the connection target 14 are closely fitted) is indicated by an arrow X as appropriate in each drawing, and is shown below. In the description, "connector fitting direction X" is appropriately described. Of the arrows X in both directions, the direction in which the connection object 14 approaches the connector 10 is indicated by reference numeral X1, and the direction in which the connector 10 approaches the connection object 14 is indicated by reference numeral X2.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the connector 10 according to the present embodiment has a fixed housing 20 and a movable housing 30. The fixed housing 20 is fixed to the mounting surface 12A of the flat plate-shaped substrate 12. The movable housing 30 is fitted with the connection object 14 (see FIG. 1), and is orthogonal to the fixed housing 20 in the fitting direction with the connection target 14 (see FIG. 1) (that is, the connector fitting direction X). It is arranged so as to be movable along the direction (for example, the same direction as the front-rear direction of the connector 10 and the same direction as the left-right direction of the connector 10). Further, the connector 10 has a terminal portion 40 (see FIG. 4) for conductively connecting the substrate 12 and the connection object 14 (see FIG. 1) regardless of the position of the movable housing 30 with respect to the fixed housing 20.

As shown in FIG. 4, the terminal portion 40 includes a fixed terminal 42, a movable terminal 44, and an intermediate terminal 46. The fixed terminal 42 is held by the fixed housing 20 and is electrically connected to the substrate 12. The movable terminal 44 is formed separately from the fixed terminal 42, is held in the movable housing 30, and is electrically connected to the connection object 14 (see FIG. 1). The intermediate terminal 46 is arranged between the fixed terminal 42 and the movable terminal 44.

Hereinafter, the configuration of each of the above parts and the configuration of the peripheral portion thereof will be specifically described.

(About fixed housing 20)
FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the connector 10 of FIG. 2 with the movable side component removed, and FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a half cross section cut along the line 10L-10L of FIG. The figure is shown.

The fixed housing 20 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is manufactured of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin. The fixed housing 20 is formed with a cylindrical portion 22 projecting upward from the central portion side in the plan view. Inside the cylindrical portion 22 of the fixed housing 20, an intermediate terminal accommodating portion 24 is formed in which a part of the intermediate terminal 46 is inserted.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an enlarged state of the intermediate terminal 46 assembled. As shown in FIG. 5, in the intermediate terminal accommodating portion 24, the upper portion 24A, which is a portion on the movable housing 30 side, forms a gap of at least a minute gap over the entire circumference between the upper portion 24A and the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate terminal 46. There is. In addition, the intermediate terminal accommodating portion 24 is formed with a guide portion 24B whose diameter is gradually reduced from the lower end of the upper portion 24A toward the lower end, and is continuously intermediate with respect to the lower end of the guide portion 24B. A lower portion 24C is formed in which the lower end side of the terminal 46 is accommodated in a restrained state. The guide portion 24B has a function of guiding the lower end side of the intermediate terminal 46 inserted into the intermediate terminal accommodating portion 24 to the lower portion 24C of the intermediate terminal accommodating portion 24 when the intermediate terminal 46 is assembled. The lower portion 24C of the intermediate terminal accommodating portion 24 is configured to include a seat portion 24C1 that supports the lower end portion of the intermediate terminal 46 from below.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the fixed housing 20 is formed with a communication hole 26A penetrating downward from the intermediate terminal accommodating portion 24, and extends continuously to the front side below the communication hole 26A. A linear groove portion 26B is formed. The linear groove portion 26B is opened downward. A part of the fixed terminal 42 is arranged inside the linear groove portion 26B and the inside of the communication hole 26A, and the upper end portion of the fixed terminal 42 is arranged in the lower portion 24C of the intermediate terminal accommodating portion 24.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the surface of the fixed housing 20 facing the movable housing 30 (see FIG. 4) is formed to be concave by opening upward on the outer peripheral side of the cylindrical portion 22. An annular recess 28 is formed. The annular recess 28 has an annular shape when viewed from the connector fitting direction X. The lower part of the shell 52 (see FIG. 4) as a shield member described later is inserted into the annular recess 28. As shown in FIG. 10, the outer peripheral side upper surface 20A, which is a surface continuous to the outer peripheral side of the annular recess 28 in the fixed housing 20, is in the height direction (vertical direction in the drawing) with respect to the upper surface 22A of the cylindrical portion 22. It is set to a low position.

As shown in FIG. 9, a pair of left and right fixed grooves 20B are formed on the front surface side and the rear surface side of the fixed housing 20, respectively. The fixed groove 20B has a substantially T-shape in a plan view (viewed from the connector fitting direction X), and is opposite to the narrow portion 20B1 formed on the opening side in a plan view and the opening side in a plan view. It is composed of a wide portion 20B2 formed on the side. The wide portion 20B2 is set to have a larger dimension in the left-right direction than the narrow portion 20B1. Further, on both the left and right sides of the fixed housing 20, notches 20C that open upward at the middle portion in the front-rear direction at the upper end thereof are formed. The cutout portion 20C is cut out in a rectangular shape long in the front-rear direction.

(About fixing bracket 50)
As shown in FIG. 10, a flat plate portion 50A forming a part of the fixing metal fitting 50 is arranged on the outer peripheral side upper surface 20A of the fixed housing 20. The fixing bracket 50 is a metal plate (for example, a copper plate) punched into a predetermined shape and bent, and is attached to the fixed housing 20. As shown in FIG. 9, the flat plate portion 50A of the fixing bracket 50 and the notch portion 20C formed in the fixed housing 20 form a penetrating portion 60.

A circular hole 50H as a hole is formed through the fixing metal fitting 50 on the central portion side of the flat plate portion 50A. In the present embodiment, as an example, the inner diameter of the circular hole 50H is set to the same size as the outer diameter of the annular recess 28. The circular holes 50H are arranged so as to be aligned with the outer opening end 28H of the annular recess 28 in a plan view.

Further, the fixing bracket 50 includes a leg portion 50B extending downward from the four corners of the flat plate portion 50A, and also includes a substrate fixing portion 50C bent from the lower end of the leg portion 50B. The leg portion 50B of the fixing bracket 50 is fitted and attached to the wide portion 20B2 of the fixing groove 20B formed in the fixing housing 20. Further, the board fixing portion 50C of the fixing bracket 50 is fixed to the mounting surface 12A of the board 12 by soldering and is connected to the ground.

(About movable housing 30)
The movable housing 30 shown in FIG. 4 is manufactured of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin, and is formed in a substantially tubular shape. The movable housing 30 is formed with a hole 32 penetrated along its central axis. The upper opening of the hole 32 includes a reduced diameter portion 32X whose diameter is reduced so as to be convex inward in the radial direction. A movable terminal 44 is press-fitted and held inside the hole 32. A diameter-expanded portion 32A having a larger inner diameter than the upper portion of the hole portion 32 and the intermediate portion in the vertical direction is formed in the lower portion of the hole portion 32. The enlarged diameter portion 32A forms a gap over the entire circumference with the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate terminal 46 on the upper end side. Further, on the lower side of the hole portion 32, a reduced diameter portion 32B whose diameter is reduced so as to be continuously convex inward in the radial direction is formed on the upper side of the enlarged diameter portion 32A. Further, the lower tubular portion 36 forming the lower side of the movable housing 30 is set to have a larger outer diameter than the upper tubular portion 34 forming the upper side of the movable housing 30.

(About terminal 40)
FIG. 7 shows an enlarged perspective view of the terminal portion 40 applied to the connector 10 of the present embodiment, and FIG. 8 shows a half cross section of a state cut along the line 8-8 of FIG. A perspective view is shown.

As shown in these figures, the fixed terminal 42 of the terminal portion 40 is made of metal and is formed in a substantially L shape, and the vertical axis portion 42A as a shaft-shaped portion extending toward the movable terminal 44 side. And a horizontal shaft portion 42B constituting the lower end side. The lower surface of the horizontal shaft portion 42B on the tip end side is a portion connected to the land pattern or the like of the mounting surface 12A of the substrate 12 (see FIG. 10 or the like) by soldering or the like. The upper end side of the vertical axis portion 42A is tapered. As shown in FIG. 4, the vertical axis portion 42A of the fixed terminal 42 extends along the connector fitting direction X with the end portion on the movable terminal 44 side as the tip end portion. As shown in FIG. 10, the vertical axis portion 42A is arranged in the region on the center side of the fixed housing 20 when viewed from the connector fitting direction X. Further, neither portion of the fixed terminal 42 is arranged on the direction side (in other words, the lateral side of the vertical axis portion 42A) orthogonal to the connector fitting direction X with respect to the vertical axis portion 42A.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the movable terminal 44 of the terminal portion 40 is made of metal and is formed in a substantially rod shaft shape. The upper portion of the movable terminal 44 includes a bifurcated portion that is elastically deformable, and includes a contacted portion 44A to which the tip end side of the connection object 14 (see FIG. 1) is contacted. Further, a diameter-expanded portion 44B having a larger outer diameter than the upper portion of the movable terminal 44 and the intermediate portion in the vertical direction is formed at a portion near the lower end portion of the movable terminal 44. Further, on the lower side of the movable terminal 44, a reduced diameter portion 44C whose diameter is reduced so as to be continuously concave inward in the radial direction is formed on the upper side of the enlarged diameter portion 44B. As shown in FIG. 4, the reduced diameter portion 44C of the movable terminal 44 is arranged inside the reduced diameter portion 32B of the movable housing 30, and the enlarged diameter portion 44B of the movable terminal 44 is the enlarged diameter portion 32A of the movable housing 30. It is located on the upper side inside. As shown in FIG. 8, the downward protruding portion 44D, which is a portion of the movable terminal 44 below the enlarged diameter portion 44B, has a smaller outer diameter than the enlarged diameter portion 44B, and its tip side (lower end side) is smaller. , The diameter is gradually reduced toward the lower side.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the intermediate terminal 46 of the terminal portion 40 is made of a conductive elastic body, and specifically, is made of a compression coil spring as a metal coil spring (also referred to as a string-wound spring). Has been done. As shown in FIG. 4, in the intermediate terminal 46, the central shaft 46C extends along the connector fitting direction X, and as shown in FIG. 6, the movable housing 30 has the connector fitting direction with respect to the fixed housing 20. When moving along a direction orthogonal to X, it is elastically deformed so that the direction of a part of the central axis (see the direction of the middle part of the central axis 46C) can be tilted with respect to the connector fitting direction X. ing.

As shown in FIG. 5, the upper portion of the vertical axis portion 42A of the fixed terminal 42 is inserted into the portion on the lower end portion side of the intermediate terminal 46. That is, the intermediate terminal 46 is also fixed when the movable housing 30 is engaged with the upper portion of the vertical axis portion 42A of the fixed terminal 42 and moves along the direction orthogonal to the connector fitting direction X with respect to the fixed housing 20. The first engaging portion 46A is provided so as not to come off from the terminal 42.

Further, a downward projecting portion 44D of the movable terminal 44 is inserted into a portion of the intermediate terminal 46 on the upper end side. That is, the intermediate terminal 46 is also engaged with the downward protruding portion 44D of the movable terminal 44, and the movable housing 30 moves along the direction orthogonal to the connector fitting direction X with respect to the fixed housing 20. A second engaging portion 46B is provided which is prevented from coming off from 44.

The intermediate terminal 46 is arranged in a state of being compressed and elastically deformed along the connector fitting direction X. The intermediate terminal 46 composed of a coil spring is arranged in a state in which the spirally wound winding portion 46W has a substantially tubular shape. In the present embodiment, the wires adjacent to each other in the winding portion 46W in the direction along the central axis 46C are slightly separated from each other. In addition, in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, in order to make the figure easier to see, the gap between the wires adjacent to each other in the direction along the central axis 46C of the winding portion 46W is shown slightly wider.

(About shell 52)
The shell 52 shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 is an outer conductor made of metal (made of copper in this embodiment), and is a member formed by bending a metal plate. The shell 52 includes a shell body 52A as a cylindrical tubular portion. The shell body 52A is a component in which a metal plate is bent into a tubular shape and both ends 52Y and 52Z (see FIG. 2) in the bending direction are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other. In the present embodiment, as an example, both ends 52Y and 52Z (see FIG. 2) bent in a tubular shape in the bending direction are not joined to each other, but the both ends 52Y and 52Z are joined by welding or the like. It may be configured.

As shown in FIG. 4, the shell body 52A extends along the connector mating direction X and functions to surround the movable terminal 44, the intermediate terminal 46, and the upper portion of the fixed terminal 42 and shield them. To do. The shell body 52A is arranged so as to be coaxial with the movable terminal 44. The shell body 52A includes a first shield portion 52H in which the movable housing 30 is housed and fixed. That is, the lower tubular portion 36 of the movable housing 30 is fixed by press fitting to the middle portion in the tubular axial direction of the shell main body 52A, and the entire movable housing 30 is housed inside the shell main body 52A.

Further, the shell main body 52A includes a second shield portion 52X extending closer to the fixed housing 20 side than the first shield portion 52H. The second shield portion 52X is inserted into the annular recess 28 formed in the fixed housing 20 in a movable state along a direction orthogonal to the connector fitting direction X. As a supplementary explanation, the radial dimension of the annular recess 28 in a plan view is set sufficiently larger than the plate thickness dimension of the shell body 52A. Further, the annular recess 28 and the shell body 52A are arranged so as to be coaxial in a plan view. As a result, the shell body 52A can be moved along the direction orthogonal to the connector fitting direction X.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the lower portion of the shell 52 has an overhanging portion protruding from the outer peripheral surface side of the shell body 52A to the outside in the radial direction of the shell body 52A (more specifically, to the left and right sides). 52B is formed. The overhanging portion 52B of the present embodiment has a plate piece portion formed between a pair of slit-shaped cut portions on each of the left and right sides of the lower portion of the shell 52 on the outer side in the radial direction of the shell main body 52A. It is a part formed by bending. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the portion on the tip end side of the overhanging portion 52B is arranged in the penetrating portion 60 between the notch portion 20C of the fixed housing 20 and the flat plate portion 50A of the fixing metal fitting 50. Then, the overhanging portion 52B is fixed in a state where the upward urging force of the intermediate terminal 46 shown in FIG. 4 acts on the overhanging portion 52B shown in FIG. 3 via the movable terminal 44, the movable housing 30, and the shell main body 52A. By contacting the flat plate portion 50A of the metal fitting 50, the upward urging force of the intermediate terminal 46 (see FIG. 4) is received by the flat plate portion 50A of the fixing metal fitting 50. In other words, the intermediate terminal 46 shown in FIG. 4 has a shell 52 via the movable terminal 44 and the movable housing 30 so that the overhanging portion 52B (see FIG. 3) is pressed and contacted with the flat plate portion 50A of the fixing bracket 50. It is supposed to be urged. Further, when the overhanging portion 52B (see FIG. 3) of the shell 52 comes into contact with the flat plate portion 50A of the fixing bracket 50, the shell 52 is electrically connected to the fixing bracket 50.

(Connection with connection object 14)
FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the connection object 14 shown in FIG. 1 upside down. The connection object 14 includes an insertion portion 14X attached to the base 14A. The insertion portion 14X is a configuration portion that is inserted into the shell main body 52A of the connector 10 (see FIG. 2 for both). The insertion portion 14X is provided with a terminal portion 14B, and is provided with a shield shell 14C that surrounds the outer peripheral side of the terminal portion 14B in the insertion portion 14X.

The shell 14C is made of metal, and a portion other than the base end portion is divided in the circumferential direction by a plurality of slits 14C1, and a bulging portion 14C2 that bulges outward in the radial direction is provided on each of the divided tip portions. It is equipped with and is elastically deformable in the radial direction. When the insertion portion 14X is inserted into the shell body 52A of the connector 10 (see FIG. 2), the insertion portion 14X and the movable housing 30 (see FIG. 4) are fitted, and the terminal portion 14B is movable. The shell 14C is electrically connected to the movable terminal 44 (see FIG. 4) in the housing 30, is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the movable housing 30 (see FIG. 4), and is adjacent to the inner surface of the shell body 52A (see FIG. 4). Be placed. In this state, the bulging portion 14C2 of the shell 14C comes into contact with the inner surface of the shell body 52A (see FIG. 4). In other words, the bulging portion 14C2 of the shell 14C functions as a shield connecting portion.

When the connection object 14 is fitted into the movable housing 30 (see FIG. 4), until the maximum diameter portion of the bulging portion 14C2 of the shell 14C enters the inside of the shell main body 52A of the connector 10 shown in FIG. , The open end of the shell body 52A receives a pressing load. At this time, as shown in FIG. 11, the shell 52 is in a state of being pushed down against the urging force of the intermediate terminal 46. In that state, in the intermediate terminal 46, the spirally wound winding portions 46W are in a tubular shape (that is, the wires adjacent to each other in the direction along the central axis of the winding portion 46W are in close contact with each other. State). After that, when the insertion portion 14X shown in FIG. 12 is further inserted into the shell main body 52A (both refer to FIG. 11) of the connector 10, the bulging portion 14C2 slides on the inner surface of the shell main body 52A. Even at this stage, as shown in FIG. 11, the state in which the shell 52 is pushed down against the urging force of the intermediate terminal 46 is maintained. After that, when the fitting work is completed and the load at the time of the fitting work (pushing load on the connection object 14) disappears, the shell 52 of the connector 10 is raised by the urging force of the intermediate terminal 46 shown in FIG. The vertical position of the shell 52 is determined by the overhanging portion 52B of the shell 52 shown in FIG. 3 coming into contact with the flat plate portion 50A of the fixing bracket 50.

(Action / effect of embodiment)
Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.

In the connector 10 shown in FIG. 4 and the like of the present embodiment, the fixed housing 20 is fixed to the mounting surface 12A of the substrate 12, the movable housing 30 is fitted with the connection object 14 (see FIG. 1), and the fixed housing is fixed. It is movably arranged along a direction orthogonal to the connector fitting direction X with respect to 20. Further, the substrate 12 and the object to be connected 14 (see FIG. 1) are electrically connected by the terminal portion 40, and in the terminal portion 40, the fixed terminal 42 is held by the fixed housing 20 and the movable terminal 44 is held by the movable housing 30. An intermediate terminal 46 is arranged between the fixed terminal 42 and the movable terminal 44. Here, the central axis 46C of the intermediate terminal 46 extends along the connector fitting direction X, and as shown in FIG. 6, the movable housing 30 is orthogonal to the connector fitting direction X with respect to the fixed housing 20. When it moves along the direction of the connector, it is elastically deformed and the direction of a part of the central axis (see the direction of the intermediate portion of the central axis 46C) can be tilted with respect to the connector fitting direction X. Therefore, it is not necessary to form a long spring portion in the terminal portion 40, and it is possible to absorb the misalignment of the connection object 14 (see FIG. 1) in spite of its small structure.

In FIG. 6, for convenience, gaps are shown between the wires adjacent to each other in the direction along the central axis 46C of the winding portion 46W, but they are adjacent to each other depending on the deformed state of the winding portion 46W. There may be places where the wires are in close contact with each other.

Further, in the present embodiment, the first engaging portion 46A of the intermediate terminal 46 is engaged with the fixed terminal 42, and the movable housing 30 moves along the direction orthogonal to the connector fitting direction X with respect to the fixed housing 20. Even if it is used, it is prevented from coming off from the fixed terminal 42. Further, the second engaging portion 46B of the intermediate terminal 46 is also movable when the movable housing 30 is engaged with the movable terminal 44 and moves along the direction orthogonal to the connector fitting direction X with respect to the fixed housing 20. It is prevented from coming off from the terminal 44. In such a configuration, mass production is easier than in a configuration in which the intermediate terminal (46) is joined to the fixed terminal (42) and the movable terminal (44) by welding or the like, and the intermediate terminal 46 and the fixed terminal 42 are combined. The connection state and the connection state between the intermediate terminal 46 and the movable terminal 44 are well maintained even when the misalignment of the connection object 14 (see FIG. 1) is absorbed.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 and the like, the intermediate terminal 46 is composed of a coil spring. As a result, it is not necessary to use a special member (for example, a conductive rubber or silicon surface coated with a fine gold-plated metal wire (GB-U type manufactured by Shin-Etsu Polymer Co., Ltd.)) for the intermediate terminal 46. Since it has a simple configuration, the cost can be suppressed.

Further, in the present embodiment, the intermediate terminal 46 is arranged in a state of being compressed and elastically deformed along the connector fitting direction X. As a result, the intermediate terminal 46 comes into contact with the fixed terminal 42 side and the movable terminal 44 side while being pressed by the restoring force. Therefore, the intermediate terminal 46 is stably conductively connected to the fixed terminal 42 side and the movable terminal 44 side, respectively.

Further, in the present embodiment, the intermediate terminal 46 formed of the coil spring is arranged in a state in which the spirally wound winding portion 46W has a substantially tubular shape. Therefore, the line length is shortened (in other words, the conductive path is short-cut), and the electric signal flows in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 5, so that high-speed transmission is possible.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, an intermediate terminal accommodating portion 24 is formed in the fixed housing 20 in which a part of the intermediate terminal 46 is inserted, and the intermediate terminal accommodating portion 24 is formed. In 24, a portion on the upper 24A side forms a gap over the entire circumference with the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate terminal 46. Therefore, when absorbing the misalignment of the connection object 14 (see FIG. 1), as shown in FIG. 6, a part of the intermediate terminal 46 can be tilted inside the intermediate terminal accommodating portion 24.

As described above, according to the connector 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the size of the connector 14 (see FIG. 1) while being able to absorb the misalignment.

Further, in the present embodiment, the upward urging force of the intermediate terminal 46 shown in FIG. 4 acts on the overhanging portion 52B of the shell 52 shown in FIG. 3 via the movable terminal 44, the movable housing 30, and the shell body 52A. When the overhanging portion 52B contacts the flat plate portion 50A of the fixing bracket 50 in this state, the upward urging force of the intermediate terminal 46 (see FIG. 4) is received by the flat plate portion 50A of the fixing bracket 50. In other words, the urging force of the intermediate terminal 46 (see FIG. 4) acts in the direction in which the overhanging portion 52B of the shell 52 and the flat plate portion 50A of the fixing bracket 50 are in pressure contact with each other to be electrically connected. Therefore, when the movable housing 30 shown in FIG. 4 moves with respect to the fixed housing 20, the fixing bracket 50 and the overhanging portion 52B of the shell 52 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) are not in contact with each other (that is, they are not in contact with each other). The conduction connection between the fixing bracket 50 and the shell 52 is interrupted) is suppressed. As a result, it is possible to suppress the emission of noise from the shell 52 and the fixing bracket 50.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the lower portion of the shell body 52A is inserted into the annular recess 28 of the fixed housing 20, the range in which the terminal portion 40 is shielded by the shell body 52A can be lengthened in the vertical direction. ..

(Supplementary explanation of the embodiment)
In the above embodiment, the fitting direction between the movable housing 30 and the object to be connected 14 (see FIG. 1) is perpendicular to the mounting surface 12A of the substrate 12, but this is a modification of the above embodiment. As a result, the fitting direction between the movable housing and the object to be connected may be, for example, a direction along the mounting surface of the substrate. In that case, the movable housing is movably arranged with respect to the fixed housing along a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface of the substrate (in other words, a direction orthogonal to the fitting direction with the object to be connected).

Further, in the above embodiment, the intermediate terminal 46 shown in FIG. 4 or the like is elastically deformed when the movable housing 30 moves along the direction orthogonal to the connector fitting direction X with respect to the fixed housing 20. The direction of the central axis of the portion can be tilted with respect to the connector fitting direction X, but as a modification of the above embodiment, the movable housing (30) is the fixed housing (20) of the intermediate terminal. When moving along a direction orthogonal to the connector fitting direction (X), elastic deformation may occur and the direction of the entire central axis, not a part, may be tilted with respect to the connector fitting direction (X). It may be a possible configuration.

Further, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 and the like, the intermediate terminal 46 has a first engaging portion 46A engaged with the fixed terminal 42 and a second engaging portion engaged with the movable terminal 44. Although the intermediate terminal is provided with 46B, for example, the intermediate terminal is not provided with the first engaging portion (46A) and the second engaging portion (46B), and one end side is joined to the fixed terminal (42) by welding or the like. At the same time, the other end side may be joined to the movable terminal (44) by welding or the like.

Further, in the above embodiment, the intermediate terminal 46 is composed of a compression coil spring as a coil spring, but the intermediate terminals are wire rods adjacent to each other in a direction along the central axis thereof, for example, in a spirally wound winding portion. May consist of coil springs that are in close contact with each other in their natural state. The intermediate terminal is, for example, a flexible metal wire (including a metal wire embedded in a rubber body), a braided flexible metal wire, or elastic. It may be an intermediate terminal other than the coil spring, such as a bellows-shaped conductor having a sword, or a silicon surface with a fine gold-plated metal wire (GB-U type manufactured by Shinetsu Polymer Co., Ltd.).

Further, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the intermediate terminal 46 is formed of a compression coil spring which is a conductive elastic body, and is compressed and elastically deformed along the connector fitting direction X. Although arranged in a state, instead of such a compression coil spring, another conductive elastic body such as a conductive rubber is compressed and elastically deformed along the connector fitting direction (X). It may be arranged in a state. Further, as another modification, the intermediate terminal does not have to be "arranged in a compressed and elastically deformed state".

Further, as a modification of the above embodiment, there is also a configuration in which the intermediate terminal is composed of a coil spring and the winding portion spirally wound in the coil spring is arranged in a state where it is not substantially tubular. Can be taken. The coil spring as an intermediate terminal has a spirally wound winding portion in a tubular shape (that is, a state in which wires adjacent to each other in the winding portion along the central axis are in close contact with each other). It may be arranged with.

Further, in the above embodiment, in the intermediate terminal accommodating portion 24, a portion on the upper portion 24A side forms a gap of more than a minute gap over the entire circumference between the portion on the upper portion 24A side and the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate terminal 46. The entire area of the intermediate terminal accommodating portion in the depth direction may form a gap of at least a minute gap over the entire circumference with the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate terminal (46). Further, as another modification, only the portion of the intermediate terminal accommodating portion on the movable housing (30) side (for example, only the portion corresponding to the upper portion 24A of the above embodiment) is completely between the intermediate terminal (46) and the outer peripheral surface. The configuration may be such that a gap is formed over the circumference.

Further, in the above embodiment, the intermediate terminal accommodating portion 24 is formed in the fixed housing 20, but as a modification, a configuration in which the intermediate terminal accommodating portion (24) is not formed in the fixed housing (20) is also adopted. obtain.

Further, as a modification of the above embodiment, instead of the circular hole 50H of the fixing bracket 50 shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the circular hole 50M as a hole one size larger than the circular hole 50H (two points in the drawing). A configuration in which (shown by a chain line) is formed through the flat plate portion 50A can also be adopted. That is, in this modification, the open end of the circular hole 50M of the fixing bracket 50 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is on the outer peripheral side with respect to the outer opening end 28H of the annular recess 28 when viewed from the connector fitting direction X. positioned. As an example, the circular hole 50M is arranged so as to be coaxial with the annular recess 28 when viewed from the connector fitting direction X.

According to such a modification, even if the shell 52 shown in FIG. 2 moves along the direction orthogonal to the connector fitting direction X and hits the outer opening end 28H of the annular recess 28 shown in FIG. 10, it is circular. Since it does not hit the open end of the hole 50M, it is possible to prevent the shell body 52A (see FIG. 2 and the like) from rubbing against the open end of the circular hole 50M (in other words, rubbing between metals). As a result, one or both of the surface of the shell body 52A and the open end of the circular hole 50M shown in FIG. 2 can be prevented from being scraped to generate debris, and the platings of the shell body 52A and the fixing bracket 50 are peeled off. It is possible to suppress such things.

Further, in the above embodiment, the overhanging portion 52B (see FIG. 3 etc.) of the shell 52 is pressed against the flat plate portion 50A of the fixing bracket 50 by the urging force of the intermediate terminal 46 shown in FIG. 4 or the like. Instead of such a configuration, for example, an urging member is provided in the fixed housing (20), and the overhanging portion (52B) of the shell (52) is changed to the flat plate portion (50A) of the fixing bracket (50) by the urging force of the urging member. ) May be pressed and contacted.

Further, in the above embodiment, the fixed terminal 42 is L-shaped, but the fixed terminal extends along the connector fitting direction (X) with the end on the movable terminal (44) side as the tip, for example. The shape may be different from that of the fixed terminal 42 in the above embodiment, such as the one composed of only the existing shaft-shaped portion.

Further, as a modification of the above embodiment, the shield member may be made of die-cast. Further, the die-cast shield member may be a member including a cylindrical tubular portion and an overhanging portion protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface side of the tubular portion.

It should be noted that the above-described embodiment and the above-mentioned plurality of modifications can be implemented in combination as appropriate.

Although an example of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be variously modified and implemented within a range not deviating from the gist thereof. ..

10 Connector 12 Board 12A Mounting surface 14 Object to be connected 20 Fixed housing 24 Intermediate terminal accommodating part 30 Movable housing 40 Terminal part 42 Fixed terminal 44 Movable terminal 46 Intermediate terminal 46A First engaging part 46B Second engaging part 46C Central axis 46W Winding part X connector mating direction (fitting direction)

Claims (6)

A fixed housing fixed to the mounting surface of the board,
A movable housing that is fitted to the connection object and is movable with respect to the fixed housing along a direction orthogonal to the fitting direction with the connection target.
A terminal portion for conductively connecting the substrate and the object to be connected,
It is a connector with
The terminal part
A fixed terminal held in the fixed housing and electrically connected to the substrate,
A movable terminal that is formed separately from the fixed terminal, is held in the movable housing, and is electrically connected to the connection object.
Arranged between the fixed terminal and the movable terminal, the central axis extends along the fitting direction, and the movable housing moves along the direction orthogonal to the fitting direction with respect to the fixed housing. In this case, an intermediate terminal that is elastically deformed and can incline the direction of at least a part of the central axis with respect to the fitting direction.
With a connector. The intermediate terminal
The first engagement that is engaged with the fixed terminal and is prevented from coming off from the fixed terminal even when the movable housing moves with respect to the fixed housing in a direction orthogonal to the fitting direction. With the joint part
A second engagement that is engaged with the movable terminal and is prevented from coming off from the movable terminal even when the movable housing moves with respect to the fixed housing in a direction orthogonal to the fitting direction. With the joint part
The connector according to claim 1. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the intermediate terminal is composed of a coil spring. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the intermediate terminal is arranged in a state of being compressed and elastically deformed along the fitting direction. The connector according to claim 3, wherein the coil spring is arranged in a state in which a spirally wound winding portion is formed into a substantially tubular shape, or claim 3. An intermediate terminal accommodating portion is formed in the fixed housing in which a part of the intermediate terminal is inserted, and at least the portion on the movable housing side of the intermediate terminal accommodating portion is the outer circumference of the intermediate terminal. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a gap is formed over the entire circumference between the connector and the surface.