JP2021039932A - Method of manufacturing electrical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a method of manufacturing an electrical connector, capable of achieving an improvement in joining strength while the size may be reduced.SOLUTION: In a method of manufacturing an electrical connector, sufficient joining strength may be easily obtained by applying ultrasonic vibration to a contact 12 and a center conductor SCa of a coaxial cable SC while the contact is brought into contact with the center conductor.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 17

Description

The present invention relates to an electric connector and a method for manufacturing the electric connector.

In general, in various electronic devices or electric devices such as smartphones and tablet computers, it is widely practiced to connect a coaxial cable for signal transmission to a wiring board via an electric connector. In such an electric connector, it has been proposed in the following patent documents, for example, to apply ultrasonic vibration when performing a step of connecting the central conductor of a coaxial cable to a conductive contact (terminal). In the manufacturing method disclosed in the patent document, the contact (terminal) is first fixed to the housing, then the central conductor of the coaxial cable is brought into contact with the contact (terminal), and then a jig such as a horn or an anvil is attached to the housing. It is inserted inside the housing, and ultrasonic vibration is applied with the central conductor and contact (terminal) of the coaxial cable sandwiched between these horns and the anvil.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-60727

However, when a jig such as a horn or anvil that applies ultrasonic vibration is inserted into the housing and used as described above, a jig such as a horn or anvil is inserted when designing the housing. There are restrictions such as having to consider the space for the housing, which reduces the degree of freedom in design and may make it difficult to reduce the size, for example. Further, when designing a jig such as a horn or an anvil that applies ultrasonic vibration, there are restrictions based on the structure of the housing. For example, in order to obtain an optimum resonance point when applying ultrasonic vibration. It is also possible that the design becomes impossible and sufficient bonding strength between the central conductor of the coaxial cable and the contact cannot be obtained.

In particular, in recent years, in electric connectors, in addition to increasing the frequency of signals, there is a demand for significant miniaturization, so that the joint strength between the central conductor of a coaxial cable and a contact tends to decrease. Therefore, there is a need for a structure in which the central conductor of the coaxial cable can be joined to the contact with high strength to improve the electrical connection stability while reducing the size of the electric connector.

Therefore, the present invention presents an electric connector and an electric connector capable of improving the bonding strength while enabling miniaturization by increasing the degree of freedom in designing the housing and jigs such as horns and anvils. The first purpose is to provide a manufacturing method, and the first purpose is to provide an electric connector capable of joining the central conductor of a coaxial cable with high strength to a contact while reducing the size. It is the purpose of 2.

In the invention according to claim 1 in order to achieve the first object, a contact for signal transmission made of a conductive member is attached to a housing made of an insulating member, and a central conductor of a coaxial cable is attached to the contact. In the method of manufacturing an electric connector to be connected, the center conductor of the coaxial cable is contacted by applying ultrasonic vibration to the contact before mounting it on the housing in a state where the center conductor of the coaxial cable is in contact with the contact. After performing the joining step by ultrasonic vibration to form the contact assembly joined to the above, the assembling step of mounting the contacts of the contact assembly formed in the joining step by the ultrasonic vibration to the housing is performed. ing.

According to such an electric connector manufacturing method, jigs such as horns and anvils that apply ultrasonic vibration are used in a place independent of the housing, and therefore, they are inserted inside the housing as in the conventional case. Therefore, the restrictions on the design of the housing are reduced, the degree of freedom in design is increased, and the size of the electric connector can be easily reduced. In addition, jigs such as horns and anvils that apply ultrasonic vibration are not restricted by the structure of the housing, so it is possible to design to obtain the optimum resonance point, and efficient ultrasonic vibration can be achieved. By being able to impart, sufficient bonding strength between the central conductor of the coaxial cable and the contact can be easily obtained.

At this time, as in the invention according to claim 2, in the assembling step, the contact of the contact assembly can be attached by press-fitting into the housing.

Further, as in the invention according to claim 3, in the assembling step, the housing can be molded by insert molding after setting the contact assembly inside the mold.

According to such a method of manufacturing an electric connector, the connection portion between the contact and the central conductor of the coaxial cable is held by the housing, so that the electrical connection state of the electric connector is stabilized and the electric connection state is stabilized. The strength is improved.

Further, as in the invention according to claim 4, in the joining step by ultrasonic vibration, the tip surface of the horn is brought into contact with the central conductor of the coaxial cable, and the anvil is brought into contact with the contact to bring the horn and the horn. It is a method of applying ultrasonic vibration with the contact and the central conductor of the coaxial cable sandwiched between the anvil and the tip surface of the horn, and a recess for accommodating the central conductor of the coaxial cable is provided on the tip surface of the horn. It is also possible to provide it.

Furthermore, as in the invention of claim 5, the recess provided in the horn is formed into a groove-shaped portion extending along the extending direction of the central conductor of the coaxial cable, and the groove-shaped portion is the coaxial cable. It has a groove opening having a groove width corresponding to the central conductor, and a pair of groove side wall portions extending from the groove opening toward the groove bottom portion which is the bottom of the groove-shaped portion so as to face each other. In the pair of groove side walls, it is desirable that the distance between the pair of groove side walls is narrowed from the groove opening toward the groove bottom.

According to the method for manufacturing an electric connector having such a configuration, ultrasonic vibration is efficiently transmitted to the central conductor and the contact of the coaxial cable through the groove side wall portion formed of the inclined surface provided on the horn. Will be done.

On the other hand, in the invention according to claim 6 for achieving the second object, the housing made of an insulating member and the terminal portion of the central conductor of the coaxial cable are connected by applying ultrasonic vibration and mounted on the housing. In an electric connector provided with a contact made of a conductive member, the terminal portion of the central conductor of the coaxial cable has a shape having at least three sides in a cross section in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the central conductor. One of the three sides constituting the cross-sectional shape of the terminal portion of the central conductor is connected to the contact, and the pair of other sides extending from both ends of the one side is the pair of other sides. A configuration is adopted in which the distance between the contacts is narrowed in the direction away from the contacts.

According to the electric connector having such a configuration, when the central conductor of the coaxial cable and the contact are joined, ultrasonic vibration is efficiently applied through a jig such as a horn or an anvil. High bonding strength between the center conductor and the contact can be easily obtained.

Further, in the invention according to claim 7 for achieving the second object, the housing made of an insulating member and the terminal portion in the extending direction of the central conductor of the coaxial cable are connected by applying ultrasonic vibration. In an electric connector provided with a contact made of a conductive member mounted on the housing, a terminal portion of the central conductor of the coaxial cable faces a first surface portion facing in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the central conductor. It has a second surface portion, and one of the first surface portion and the second surface portion is connected to the contact, and the first surface portion extends in the extending direction. The second surface portion includes a single or a plurality of flat surfaces, and the second surface portion may be either a single or a plurality of flat surfaces extending in the extending direction or a single or a plurality of curved surfaces extending in the extending direction. The configuration including is adopted.

Even in an electric connector having such a configuration, ultrasonic vibration is efficiently applied through a jig such as a horn or an anvil when joining the center conductor of the coaxial cable and the contact, so that the center of the coaxial cable is used. Sufficient bonding strength between the conductor and the contact can be easily obtained.

At this time, as in the invention according to claim 8, each of the plurality of flat surfaces constituting the first surface portion has one end edge extending in the extending direction and the other end edge. , It is desirable that one end edge of each flat surface is directly or indirectly connected via another surface portion.

In this way, the plurality of flat surfaces forming the first surface portion of the central conductor of the coaxial cable are connected to the contacts, so that the contact area between the central conductor of the coaxial cable and the contacts is expanded. Sufficient bonding strength can be easily obtained when bonding by ultrasonic vibration.

At this time, as in the invention of claim 9, the first surface portion is composed of two flat surfaces extending in a state of being inclined in a direction intersecting the extending direction, and the first surface portion is formed. Each of the two flat surfaces constituting the face portion of the surface has one edge extending in the extending direction and the other edge, and one edge of each of the two flat surfaces has an edge of each other. It is possible to have a directly connected configuration.

Further, as in the invention of claim 10, each of the plurality of flat surfaces or curved surfaces constituting the second surface portion has one end edge extending in the extending direction and the other end edge. It is possible to have a configuration in which one end edge of each flat surface or curved surface is directly or indirectly connected via another surface portion.

Further, as in the invention of claim 11, the outermost edge of the first surface portion in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction and the outermost edge of the second surface portion in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction are the most. It is possible to have a configuration in which the outer edge is directly or indirectly connected via another surface portion.

Furthermore, as in the invention of claim 12, the central conductor of the coaxial cable has a maximum dimension H in the direction in which the first surface portion and the second surface portion face each other, and the first surface portion and the second surface portion have a maximum dimension H. It is possible to make the configuration smaller than the maximum dimension W (H <W) in the direction orthogonal to the direction in which the surface portion of the surface is opposed to the surface portion.

Further, as in the invention of claim 13, the contact has a connecting portion to which the central conductor of the coaxial cable is connected, and the connecting portion has a groove portion extending along the extending direction. It is possible to do.

Further, as in the invention of claim 14, the groove portion of the contact can have a cross section of either a V-shape, an arc shape, or a polygonal shape in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction. ..

Further, as in the invention of claim 15, the contact has gold plating at a portion to which the central conductor of the coaxial cable is connected, while the terminal portion of the central conductor of the coaxial cable is connected to the gold plating of the contact. It is desirable to have silver plating on the part to be covered.

According to the electric connector having such a configuration, a larger bonding strength can be obtained and the variation in the bonding strength is reduced.

Further, as in the invention of claim 16, the connecting portion between the contact and the central conductor of the coaxial cable can be embedded inside the housing.

Further, as in the invention according to claim 17, a shield shell made of a conductive member arranged so as to cover the outer surface of the housing is attached to the housing, and the shield shell is an outer conductor of the coaxial cable. The contact is an internal conductor contact arranged in an area covered with the shield shell, and the internal conductor contact and the terminal portion of the central conductor of the coaxial cable are connected to each other. It is possible that the connection portion, which is the electrical connection portion, is arranged in the region of the shield shell.

As described above, the present invention can improve the bonding strength while reducing the size of the electric connector.

It is an external perspective explanatory view which showed the state which connected the coaxial cable to the electric connector (plug connector) which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention from the front upper part. It is a plane explanatory view of the electric connector (plug connector) shown in FIG. It is a vertical cross-sectional explanatory view along the line III-III in FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an initial state before the contact is attached in the electric connector (plug connector) shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 from the rear upper side. It is a plane explanatory view of the electric connector (plug connector) shown in FIG. It is an external perspective explanatory view which showed the state which the terminal part of the coaxial cable was arranged facing each other above the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) from the front upper part. It is a side explanatory view which showed the state which the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) was set on the anvil. It is the back explanatory view of the state shown in FIG. The terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) of the coaxial cable is placed above the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) held on the anvil, and the horn is opposed above the central conductor (signal line) of the coaxial cable. It is a side explanatory view showing the state before joining which was arranged. It is sectional drawing explanatory view along the X-ray line in FIG. It is a side explanatory view showing the process of lowering a horn after contacting a terminal portion of a central conductor (signal line) of a coaxial cable with an internal conductor contact (signal contact member) held on an anvil from above. It is sectional drawing which follows the XII-XII line in FIG. By lowering the horn from the state shown in FIG. 11, the tip surface (lower end surface) of the horn is pressed against the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) of the coaxial cable, and ultrasonic vibration is applied through the horn for joining. It is a side view which shows the state of performing a process, and has reached the descending end of a horn. It is sectional drawing which follows the XIV-XIV line in FIG. It is sectional drawing explanatory view which raised the horn from the state of FIG. It is an external perspective explanatory view which showed the state which finished joining the central conductor (signal line) of the coaxial cable with respect to the rear end part of the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) from the front upper part. A contact assembly in which the central conductor (signal line) of the coaxial cable is joined to the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) is arranged so as to face the upper side of the electric connector (plug connector) in the initial state from the rear upper side. It is an external perspective explanatory view shown. From the state shown in FIG. 17, the state in which the contact assembly is inserted into the contact accommodating space of the electric connector (plug connector) in the initial state and the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) is press-fitted into the housing is rearward. It is an external perspective explanatory view shown from above. It is a side explanatory view showing the mounting state of the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) of the contact assembly with respect to the electric connector (plug connector) shown in FIG. It is a vertical cross-sectional explanatory view which showed the state which the coaxial cable was connected to the electric connector (plug connector) which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is an external perspective explanatory view which showed the terminal part of the coaxial cable which concerns on still another Embodiment of this invention from the front upper part. FIG. 21 is a front explanatory view in which a horn is arranged so as to face the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) of the coaxial cable according to the embodiment shown in FIG. It is an external perspective explanatory view which showed the terminal part of the coaxial cable which concerns on still another Embodiment of this invention from the front upper part. FIG. 3 is a front explanatory view in which a horn (or other molding die) is arranged so as to face above the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) of the coaxial cable according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 23. It is an external perspective explanatory view which showed the terminal part of the coaxial cable which concerns on still another Embodiment of this invention from the front upper part. FIG. 5 is a front explanatory view in which a horn (or other molding die) is arranged so as to face above the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) of the coaxial cable according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 25. It is an external perspective explanatory view which showed the terminal part of the coaxial cable which concerns on still another Embodiment of this invention from the front upper part. FIG. 27 is a front explanatory view in which a horn (or other molding die) is arranged so as to face above the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) of the coaxial cable according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 27. Appearance of an internal conductor contact (signal contact member) to which the central conductor (signal line) of the coaxial cable according to another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 21 to 29 is connected when viewed from above in front. It is a perspective explanatory view. FIG. 9 is an explanatory perspective view of an appearance when a single item of an internal conductor contact (signal contact member) according to another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 29 is viewed from the rear and above. It is an external perspective explanatory view which showed the state which the shield shell was attached to the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) shown in FIG. 29 and FIG. 30 from the rear upper part. FIG. 3 is an external perspective explanatory view showing a state in which the central conductor (signal line) of the coaxial cable is joined to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) of FIG. 31 from the rear upper side. From the state of FIG. 32, it is a side explanatory view showing the state of the electric connector according to another embodiment of the present invention as a finished product with the shield shell in the closed state. FIG. 3 is an explanatory cross-sectional view taken along the line XXXIV-XXXIV in FIG. 33.

Hereinafter, embodiments in which the present invention is applied to an electric connector for a coaxial cable will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Overall structure of electrical connector]
First, the terminal portion of the coaxial cable SC is connected to the plug connector 10 constituting the electric connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and the coaxial cable is connected to the plug connector 10. The plug connector 10 to which the SC is connected is fitted so as to be inserted from above into a mating electrical connector (not shown) composed of a receptacle connector or the like mounted on the main surface of a predetermined wiring board (not shown). , Or it is configured to be removed from the fitted state. At that time, the work of fitting / removing the plug connector 10 to the mating electric connector (receptacle connector or the like) is performed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the main surface of the wiring board.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the fitting portion arranged in the front portion of the plug connector 10 described above is formed so as to form a substantially cylindrical shape, and has a substantially cylindrical shape. The terminal portion of the coaxial cable SC is connected to the fitting portion from one direction (rear) on the outer side in the radial direction. Then, after the fitting portion of the plug connector 10 described above is arranged in a state of facing each other above the fitting portion of the electric connector (receptacle connector or the like) to be fitted, the entire plug connector 10 is formed. By descending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the outer surface (main surface) of the printed wiring board, the lower end portion of the fitting portion of the plug connector 10 becomes the upper end portion of the mated portion of the mating electric connector. On the other hand, it is made in a fitted state.

By inserting the plug connector 10 from above into the mating mating electrical connector (receptacle connector or the like) and putting the coaxial cable SC into the mating state, the coaxial cable SC becomes the plug connector 10 and the mating electrical connector (receptacle). It is connected to the conductive path of the wiring pattern on the wiring board via a connector or the like), and the signal is transmitted.

Here, the direction in which the plug connector 10 is inserted into the above-mentioned mating electrical connector (receptacle connector, etc.) is set to "downward" (negative direction of the Z-axis in the figure), and the direction in which the plug connector is pulled out is "upward". (Positive direction of Z-axis in the figure). Further, the coaxial cable SC extends from the "back surface" of the plug connector 10 in the "horizontal direction" parallel to the surface of the wiring board, and the direction in which the coaxial cable SC extends from the plug connector 10 “Rear” (negative direction of Y-axis in the figure) and the opposite direction are “forward” (positive direction of Y-axis in the figure). Further, the direction orthogonal to both the "vertical direction" (positive / negative direction of the Z-axis shown) and the "front-back direction" (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis shown) is defined as the "left-right direction" (positive / negative direction of the X-axis shown). ..

[About coaxial cable]
As shown in FIG. 6, the coaxial cable SC at this time has a central conductor (signal line) SCa composed of a conducting wire in the central portion of the coaxial cable SC, and the central conductor (signal line) thereof. ) The outer conductor (shielded wire) SCb is coaxially laminated on the outer side in the radial direction of the SCa via the annular dielectric SCc. Further, the outer surface of the outer conductor (shielded wire) SCb is covered with the outer peripheral coating material SCd.

In the terminal portion of the coaxial cable SC having such a configuration, the outer peripheral covering material SCd is peeled off so that the outer conductor (shielded wire) SCb is exposed to the outside, and further, the outer conductor (shielded wire) SCb is exposed to the outside. By peeling the shielded wire SCb and the dielectric SCc, the central conductor (signal wire) SCa is exposed to the outside. Then, the terminal portion of the central conductor SCa arranged along the central axis of the coaxial cable SC is joined to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 mounted on the insulating housing 11 and is electrically connected. The signal circuit is constructed by being done.

Here, the central conductor SCa of the coaxial cable SC in the present embodiment is formed of a linear conductive member containing a copper component as a main component, and the outer surface of the central conductor SCa is silver-plated. Has been done. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the terminal portion of the silver-plated central conductor SCa, that is, the portion exposed to the outside by peeling, is an internal conductor contact mounted on the insulating housing 11. By joining the (signal contact member) 12 by a manufacturing method described later, the cross section in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the central conductor SCa is formed into a “polygonal shape”. As a specific shape of the "polygonal shape" in the present embodiment, a substantially triangular shape is adopted, and one side (lower side) of the three sides forming the substantially triangular shape is the above-mentioned internal conductor contact (signal contact). A member) 12 is joined to a flat surface closer to the "front" in the flat plate portion 12c.

Further, it is joined to one side of the "substantially triangular shape" constituting the cross-sectional shape of the terminal portion of the central conductor SCa of such a coaxial cable SC, more specifically, to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12. A pair of other sides extend diagonally upward from both ends of one side (lower side), but the distance between these pair of other sides is a direction away from the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) 12. It is continuously shrinking in the "upward direction".

At this time, the cross section in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) in the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC described above may be composed of a shape having at least three sides. Of the three sides constituting the cross-sectional shape, the side of the portion sandwiched by the two sides may be a straight line, a curved line, or a square shape.

In this way, the cross-sectional shape of the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC, more specifically, the cross-sectional shape in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) is made into a "substantially triangular shape". In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, of the three flat surfaces having each of the three sides of the central conductor (signal line) SCa, the internal conductor contact (signal contact) The lower surface of the member) 12 connected to the flat plate portion 12c is formed as a "first surface portion". The "first surface portion" in the present embodiment is composed of a single flat surface extending in the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y axis in the drawing) of the central conductor (signal line) SCa, and is formed on the "first surface portion". The "second surface portion" arranged so as to face each other from above is composed of two flat surfaces extending in the extending direction (positive and negative directions of the Y axis in the drawing) of the central conductor (signal line) SCa. ..

Then, each of the three flat surfaces constituting the "first surface portion" and the "second surface portion" is one end extending in the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) of the coaxial cable SC. It has two edges consisting of an edge and the other edge, and one edge on each flat surface is directly connected to each other.

That is, initially, the central conductor SCa of the coaxial cable SC extending in a circular cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG. 6 is attached to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 mounted on the insulating housing 11 with respect to FIG. And, as shown in FIG. 17, when joining from above and, as a result, the central conductor SCa of the coaxial cable SC has a “substantially triangular” cross-sectional shape, a method using ultrasonic vibration is adopted. However, the specific joining method and the method of mounting the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 to the insulating housing 11 will be described in detail later as a gist of the present invention.

[Insulation housing]
The insulating housing 11 according to the present embodiment is formed of a base frame-shaped member formed of an insulating material, and the insulating housing 11 is provided with the above-mentioned internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 and a ground contact. The shield shell 13 as a member is attached in an insulated state. The structure for mounting these will be described later, but the insulating housing 11 according to the present embodiment has a structure in which jigs such as horns and anvils that apply ultrasonic vibration are not inserted inside, so that the degree of freedom in design is high. Has a high configuration.

That is, the above-mentioned insulating housing 11 has a substantially cylindrical fitting main body portion 11a, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and a rear end portion of the fitting main body portion 11a. From (the negative direction portion of the Y axis shown in the drawing), the connection support portion 11b projects substantially horizontally toward the “rear” (negative direction of the Y axis shown in the drawing). A contact accommodating space 11c accommodating the above-mentioned internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 opens in the fitting main body portion 11a and the connection support portion 11b toward "upward" (positive direction of the Z axis in the drawing). It is formed in the state of being.

More specifically, first, the fitting main body portion 11a is formed of a substantially cylindrical body having a hollow shape, and the hollow portion formed through the central portion in the radial direction of the fitting main body portion 11a is described above. It constitutes a part of the contact accommodating space 11c. Further, the connection support portion 11b is formed in a gutter shape having a substantially rectangular cross section that opens "upward" (in the positive direction of the Z axis in the drawing), and the inner space portion of the connection support portion 11b is described above. It constitutes the main part of the contact accommodation space 11c. As described above, the contact accommodating space 11c is composed of a space portion that communicates in a gutter shape from the connection support portion 11b to the fitting main body portion 11a.

An internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 extending substantially horizontally is provided on the bottom wall surface 11d of the inner wall surfaces of the connection support portion 11b and the fitting main body portion 11a constituting the contact accommodating space 11c. By press-fitting, it will be put into the mounted state.

[About signal contact members]
Here, as described above, the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 that is press-fitted into the insulating housing 11 has a function as a connection terminal made of a conductive member, and is shown in FIG. As shown, the flat plate portion 12c is composed of a strip-shaped member extending in an elongated shape along the "front-back direction" (positive and negative directions of the Y-axis in the drawing).

A pair of locks press-fitted into the insulating housing 11 at a substantially central portion of the flat plate portion 12c of the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 in the extending direction (front-rear direction represented by the positive and negative directions of the Y-axis in the drawing). Pieces 12a and 12a are formed. These locking pieces 12a and 12a project outward in a plate shape from both end edges in the "left-right direction" (plate width direction represented by the positive and negative directions of the X-axis in the drawing) in the flat plate portion 12c. The two locking pieces 12a and 12a are engaged so as to bite into the inner wall surface of the connection support portion 11b of the insulating housing 11 described above, so that the entire internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 is fixed. It is supposed to be maintained at. (The state after fixing is shown in FIGS. 18 and 19)

In the flat portion of the flat plate portion 12c of the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 near the “rear” (negative direction of the Y axis in the drawing), the terminal portion of the central conductor SCa of the coaxial cable SC described above is “upper”. "(The positive direction of the Z-axis in the figure), and the jointed state is made by the method described later. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the portion of the flat plate portion 12c of the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 that is closer to the “forward” (positive direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) is in the “left-right direction” (X-axis in the drawing). A pair of elastic spring portions 12b, 12b integrally extend from both end edges in the plate width direction (positive / negative direction) toward "downward" (negative direction of the Z axis in the drawing). Both elastic spring portions 12b and 12b are inserted into the through holes provided in the fitting main body portion 11a of the insulating housing 11 as shown in FIG. 3 showing the completed state, and the fitting thereof. Inside the through hole in the combined main body portion 11a, the elastic spring portions 12b and 12b are arranged in a state of facing each other with a gap in the "left-right direction" (positive / negative direction of the X-axis shown in the drawing).

Then, when the lower portion of the insulating housing 11 in the fitting main body portion 11a is inserted into the mating mating electrical connector (receptacle connector or the like), the mating mating electrical connector (receptacle connector or the like) is provided. A signal conductive contact (not shown) having a pin shape or the like is inserted in a state of being in contact with the intermediate portion between the two elastic spring portions 12b, 12b described above, thereby forming an electrically connected state. A signal transmission circuit is formed.

The flat plate portion 12c in the present embodiment has a flat shape from the rear end portion where the pair of elastic spring portions 12b, 12b extend integrally to the front end portion (the end portion in the positive direction of the Y-axis in the drawing). Although it extends in the state of being squeezed, it is also possible to extend it from the elastic spring portions 12b and 12b via a step.

[About the shield shell]
On the other hand, the outer peripheral portion of the insulating housing 11 is covered with a shield shell 13 made of a thin plate-shaped metal member, and the outer conductor SCb surrounding the central conductor SCa of the coaxial cable SC described above comes into contact with the shield shell 13. The shield shell 13 functions as a conductive member for grounding, thereby forming a ground circuit.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the shield shell 13 made of a thin plate-shaped metal member that covers the outer surface of the insulating housing 11 in this way includes the fitting main body portion 11a of the insulating housing 11 and the connection support. It is composed of an outer conductor shell 13a and a shell projecting portion 13b that partially cover the portions 11b, respectively. The outer conductor shell 13a mainly constitutes a substantially hollow cylindrical ground contact member that annularly covers the fitting main body portion 11a of the insulating housing 11 from the outside in the radial direction.

That is, the outer conductor shell (ground contact member) 13a is arranged so as to surround the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 described above from the outside, and the outer conductor shell (ground contact member) 13a. The lower portion has a substantially cylindrical shape that is externally fitted to the outer portion in the radial direction of the mating electric connector (receptacle connector, etc.). Then, the fitting engaging portion 13d formed of the annular concave groove provided in the lower portion of the outer conductor shell (ground contact member) 13a is connected and locked provided in the mating mating electrical connector (receptacle connector or the like). It is configured to be electrically connected to the parts (not shown) by forming an elastic fitting relationship.

Further, in the annular "upper" (positive direction of the Z axis shown in the drawing) opening portion forming the upper end edge of the outer conductor shell 13a, the fitting main body portion 11a and the connection support portion 11b of the insulating housing 11 described above are opened. The shell lid portion 13c that covers the above (in the positive direction of the Z-axis in the figure) is connected so as to be openable and closable. That is, the shell lid portion 13c of the shield shell 13 opens and closes at the end edge portion of the outer conductor shell 13a "front" (in the positive direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) via a connecting member 13c1 made of a narrow plate-shaped member. In the initial state before the coaxial cable SC is connected, which is connectable, the opening rises "upward" (in the positive direction of the Z-axis in the drawing), as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 in particular. It is in a state.

The details will be described later, but especially in the open state (initial state) of the shield shell 13 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the internal conductor contact (internal conductor contact) after the central conductor SCa of the coaxial cable SC is joined. A member constituting the contact assembly CA (see FIG. 16), which will be described in detail later, is placed inside the contact accommodating space 11c provided in the insulating housing 11 from “above” (forward direction of the Z axis shown in the drawing). The internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 is put into a mounted state by being inserted and press-fitted in this way. After that, the shell lid portion 13c of the shield shell 13 is pushed down to a substantially horizontal state so that the above-mentioned connecting member 13c1 is bent at a substantially right angle, whereby the fitting main body portion 11a and the connection support portion 11b of the insulating housing 11 are pushed down. The whole is covered from above by the shell lid portion 13c so that the shield shell 13 is closed (see FIGS. 1 to 3).

At this time, the shell lid portion 13c is covered so as to cover the opening portion "upper" (in the positive direction of the Z axis in the drawing) of the outer conductor shell 13a when it is pushed down to a substantially horizontal state and closed as described above. However, the portion of the shell lid portion 13c that has been pushed down to a substantially horizontal state and is closer to the "rear" (negative direction of the Y axis in the drawing) is formed in the rear cover portion 13c2, and the rear cover portion is formed. The 13c2 is configured to cover the connection support portion 11b of the insulating housing 11, the shell protruding portion 13b of the shield shell 13, and the outer conductor (shielded wire) SCb of the coaxial cable SC from above.

As described above, the rear cover portion 13c2 constitutes a portion of the shell lid portion 13c that is closer to the "rear" (negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing), but the "left-right direction" (X in the drawing) of the rear cover portion 13c2. A first fixed holding plate 13c3 and a second fixed holding plate 13c4 made of a pair of tongue piece-shaped members are provided on both side edges in the positive and negative directions of the shaft so as to form a flange plate. The first fixed holding plate 13c3 is configured to be bent and caulked so as to cover the fixed shell portion 13b of the shield shell 13 from the outside.

That is, both flange plates constituting the pair of first fixed holding plates 13c3 and 13c3 are "left-right direction" in the shell protruding portion 13b of the shield shell 13 when the shell lid portion 13c is pushed down to a substantially horizontal state. (The positive and negative directions of the X-axis in the figure), it is bent inward of the connector along both outer wall surfaces of the shell protrusion 13b so as to be caulked from that state, whereby the outer conductor is formed. The shell lid portion 13c is fixed to the shell 13a, and the shell protruding portion 13b that covers the outer surface of the connection support portion 11b of the insulating housing 11 in the "left-right direction" (positive / negative direction of the X-axis in the drawing) is the shell lid portion. It is fixed to 13c.

Further, these first fixed holding plates 13c3 and 13c3 are provided with convex portions 13c5 and 13c5 protruding inward of the connector in the "left-right direction" (positive and negative directions of the X-axis shown in the drawing) (see FIG. 4). ), When the first fixed holding plates 13c3 and 13c3 are bent inward of the connector, the convex portions 13c5 and 13c5 are formed so as to come into contact with a part of the outer conductor (shielded wire) SCb in the coaxial cable SC. Has been done.

Further, the second fixed holding plate 13c4 is provided so as to be adjacent to and parallel to the "rear" (negative direction of the Y axis in the drawing) of the first fixed holding plate 13c3 described above, and the second fixed holding plate 13c4 is provided from a relatively small flange plate. It is formed. The second fixed holding plate 13c4 is bent so as to cover the outer conductor (shielded wire) SCb in the coaxial cable SC from the outside, and is fixed by caulking.

That is, both flange plates constituting the second fixed holding plate 13c4 are located outside the outer conductor (shielded wire) SCb in the coaxial cable SC when the shell lid portion 13c is pushed down to a substantially horizontal state. It is arranged so that it can be crimped from that state, and then bent inward of the connector. As a result, the shell lid portion 13c is fixed to the outer conductor (shielded wire) SCb of the coaxial cable SC, and the outer conductor SCb comes into contact with the second fixed holding plate 13c4, so that the ground circuit by the shielded shell 13 is formed. It is designed to be configured.

The outer conductor SCb in the present embodiment is in contact with the second fixed holding plate 13c4, but the outer peripheral covering material SCd may be fixed by further providing a fixed holding plate in front.

[About the method of forming the contact assembly and the method of assembling the inner conductor contact]
Next, a method of joining the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC to the above-mentioned internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 by joining by ultrasonic vibration using an anvil and a horn to form a contact assembly. , And a method of mounting the contact assembly formed by joining by ultrasonic vibration to the insulating housing 11 will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

First, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, an internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 and an anvil TA serving as a member for receiving ultrasonic vibration are prepared, and the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 is prepared. The upper end surface of the anvil TA is brought into contact with the lower surface of the anvil TA.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the center conductor (signal line) SCa and the horn TH of the coaxial cable SC are prepared, and each is “above” the anvil TA (in the positive direction of the Z axis in the drawing). Arrange so as to face each other. Then, the terminal of the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC with respect to the flat portion of the flat plate portion 12c of the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 near the “rear” (negative direction of the Y axis in the drawing). After changing the parts from "upper" (positive direction of the Z-axis in the figure) to facing each other (states of FIGS. 9 and 10), the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC is moved in the negative direction of the Z-axis in the figure. By lowering, the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC is "upper" (upper) on the flat portion of the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 "rear" (negative direction of the Y axis in the drawing). It is assumed that they are in contact with each other from the positive direction of the Z axis shown in the figure).

Next, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the central conductor (signal) of the coaxial cable SC in contact with the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 “above” (positive direction of the Z axis in the drawing). Line) The tip surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH that applies ultrasonic vibration to the terminal portion of the SCa is lowered in the negative direction of the Z-axis shown in the figure and abuts from "above" (the positive direction of the Z-axis shown in the figure). Let it be in the state of being made. Then, particularly in the state shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the gap in which the horn TH and the anvil TA face each other in the vertical direction is formed as a predetermined “α”, and the gap α is provided. , The ultrasonic vibration accompanied by heating and pressurization is started by the horn TH, and the horn TH is gradually lowered to bring the states shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, that is, the horn TH and the anvil TA. The gap is changed until it reaches a predetermined "β".

In this way, the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 and the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC are sandwiched between the horn TH and the anvil TA, and the required ultrasonic vibration is passed through the horn TH. By applying the above, the joining process by ultrasonic vibration is performed, and after performing such a joining step, as shown in FIG. 15, the horn TH is returned to the original position on the Z-axis shown in the drawing. The contact assembly CA in which the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC is firmly joined to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 as shown in FIG. Will be formed.

At this time, the center of the coaxial cable SC is on the front end surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH that comes into contact with the center conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC from "above" (the positive direction of the Z axis in the drawing). A recess THa for accommodating the conductor (signal line) SCa is provided. The recess THa provided on the front end surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH is formed from a groove-shaped portion extending along the extending direction (front-back direction) of the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC. The groove-shaped portion forming the recess THa has a groove opening having a groove width corresponding to the outer diameter of the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC on the tip surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH. In addition, it has groove side wall portions THb and THb composed of a pair of tapered surfaces extending from the groove opening toward the bottom of the groove-shaped portion (upper part of FIG. 10).

More specifically, the groove-shaped portion forming the recess THa on the front end surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH described above is a cross section in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC. The shape is V-shaped. Specifically, the distance between the groove side wall portions THb and THb, which are composed of a pair of tapered surfaces constituting the groove-shaped portion of the recess THa, is set to the maximum groove width in the groove opening at the lower end. It is configured to continuously shrink upward from the groove opening toward the bottom of the groove-shaped portion.

These groove side wall portions THb and THb are composed of two flat surfaces extending along the "front-back direction" (positive and negative directions of the Y-axis in the drawing). Then, each of the two flat surfaces constituting the groove side wall portion THb has two edge edges extending in the extending direction (positive and negative directions of the Y axis) and one edge edge and the other edge edge. It has, and one end edge of those two end edges is directly connected to each other.

In this way, if the cross-sectional shape of the recess THa provided on the front end surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH is V-shaped, the central conductor (signal line) SCa and the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) of the coaxial cable SC are formed. ) 12, ultrasonic vibrations are efficiently transmitted via the groove side wall portions THb and THb formed of the tapered surface of the horn TH.

In the present embodiment in which the contact assembly CA is formed by using the horn TH having the recess TH as described above, the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC in the contact assembly CA is the recess of the horn TH. Since it is formed by plastically deforming into a cross-sectional shape corresponding to THa, the cross-section in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the central conductor SCa has a polygonal shape (substantially triangular shape). (See FIGS. 14 and 16) That is, a pair of other sides extending from both ends of one side of the central conductor (signal line) SCa (the side in contact with the inner conductor contact 12) are oriented away from the inner conductor contact 12. It is continuously narrowing.

In this case, if the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC is a single wire, a part thereof is plastically deformed to form a polygonal shape (substantially triangular shape), but the twist is composed of a plurality of wires. In the case of lines, each line is integrally plastically deformed to form a polygonal shape (substantially triangular shape).

In the case of the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the groove-shaped portion on the tip surface of the horn TH is V-shaped, but the distance between the pair of groove side wall portions THb and THb is from the groove opening to the groove bottom. It may have a different shape as long as it narrows toward. For example, the groove side wall portion THb may be formed in a stepped shape. Further, the groove bottom portion of the horn TH may be angular, curved, or linear. Then, the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC formed as a result reflects the cross-sectional shape of the groove-shaped portion on the tip surface of the horn TH.

Next, an assembly step is performed in which the contact assembly CA formed by the above-mentioned joining step by ultrasonic vibration is taken out from the anvil TA which is a member for receiving ultrasonic vibration and attached to the insulating housing 11. In this assembling step, first, as shown in FIG. 17, the contact assembly CA held by an appropriate means is "above" the contact accommodating space 11c of the insulating housing 11 already assembled to the shield shell 13. Arranged in the positive direction of the Z-axis shown in the drawing), the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 of the contact assembly CA is inserted toward the inside of the contact accommodating space 11c. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the contact assembly CA is mounted, and the contact assembly CA at this time is mounted inside the contact assembly CA. This is done by inserting the locking portion 12a of the conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 into the insulating housing 11 and press-fitting it.

According to such a method of manufacturing the plug connector 10, jigs such as horn TH and anvil TA that apply ultrasonic vibration are used in a place independent of the insulating housing 11, and the insulating housing 11 is used as in the conventional case. It will not be used by inserting it inside. Therefore, the restrictions on designing the insulating housing 11 are reduced by that amount, and the degree of freedom in design is increased, so that the plug connector 10 can be easily miniaturized. Further, the horn TH and the anvil TA, which are jigs for applying ultrasonic vibration, are not restricted by the structure of the insulating housing 11, so that the design for obtaining the optimum resonance point becomes possible and is efficient. Sufficient bonding strength can be easily obtained by applying ultrasonic vibration.

With respect to the semi-finished product (see FIGS. 18 and 19) of the plug connector 10 obtained as described above, the connecting member 13c1 is bent at a substantially right angle to close the shield shell 13 and further fix it first. The electric connector 10 is completed by bending and caulking the holding plate 13c3 and the second fixed holding plate 13c4 so as to cover them from the outside.

At this time, the terminal portion of the central conductor SCa of the coaxial cable SC in the present embodiment is "silver-plated" as described above, but the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 to be joined is The flat plate portion 12c is "gold-plated" at least at a portion where the central conductor SCa of the coaxial cable SC is joined. In the case where the gold (Au) -silver (Ag) is combined in this way and the bonding is performed by ultrasonic vibration, as shown in Table 1 below, the combination of other metals ( Compared with the case of performing ultrasonic vibration bonding with Au-Sn, Ni-Ag, Ni-Sn), a larger bonding strength (Ave.) Can be obtained and the variation (σ) in the bonding strength is also reduced. It has been found by the experiments of the present inventors.

Next, the configuration of another embodiment according to FIG. 20, which is represented by adding "10" to the reference numerals attached to the same members as those in the above-described embodiment, will be described.

That is, in another embodiment shown in FIG. 20, the connecting portion between the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 22 and the central conductor SCa, which is the signal line of the coaxial cable CA, is an insulating housing by insert molding. It is in a state of being embedded inside the connection filling portion 21e which constitutes a part of 21.

In insert molding a configuration in which an electrical connection portion is embedded inside the connection filling portion 21e of the insulating housing 21, first, the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 22 and the central conductor of the coaxial cable SC are formed. (Signal line) SCa is joined by applying ultrasonic vibration similar to the above-described embodiment to form a contact assembly CA, and the contact assembly CA is placed inside a mold prepared in advance. Manufactured by setting and insert molding.

According to another embodiment having such a configuration, the connection portion between the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 22 and the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC is held by the insulating housing 21. Therefore, the electrical connection state of the electric connector is stabilized and the strength is improved.

[About other embodiments relating to the central conductor (signal line) of the coaxial cable]
Here, as described above, the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC is formed by being plastically deformed into a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the concave portion THa of the horn TH. By forming a recess in the anvil TA arranged facing the THa, or by using a molding mold other than these horns TH and the anvil TA, the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC can be used. It is possible to form the terminal portion of the above in the cross-sectional shape shown in each of the following embodiments.

That is, in each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 21 to 28, the terminal portions of the central conductors (signal lines) SCa1 to SCa4 of the coaxial cables SC1 to SC4 are the central conductors (signal lines) SCa1 to SCa4. It has first surface portions SCa11 to SCa41 and second surface portions SCa12 to SCa42 facing in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) (positive / negative direction of the Z-axis in the drawing). Then, any one of the first surface portions SCa11 to SCa41 and the second surface portions SCa12 to SCa42 is connected to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 shown in FIGS. 29 and 30. There is.

Among them, first, in the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the extending direction of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing). The cross-sectional shape in the direction orthogonal to (the positive and negative directions of the Z-axis in the figure) is a "diamond shape". More specifically, the lower surface connected to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32, which will be described later, is formed on the first surface portion SCa11 composed of two flat surfaces, and with respect to the first surface portion SCa11. The second surface portion SCa12 arranged so as to face each other from above is also formed from two flat surfaces.

Each of the two flat surfaces constituting the first surface portion SCa11 and the second surface portion SCa12 is in the extending direction of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 (positive or negative of the Y-axis shown in the drawing). It extends in the positive and negative directions of the Y-axis shown in the figure in a state of being inclined in a direction intersecting with (direction), specifically, in a direction of intersecting with about 45 degrees. Each of these two flat surfaces has two edge edges extending in the extending direction (positive and negative directions of the Y-axis in the drawing) and the other edge edge, and each flat surface has two edge edges. The central conductor (signal line) SCa1 whose cross-sectional shape in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) is a "lozenge" because one of the edges of the above is directly connected to each other. Has been done.

The tip surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH1 (or other molding die) forming the upper surface of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 having such a “lozenge” cross-sectional shape is the above-described embodiment. It has the same configuration as the form. For example, on the front end surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH1 (or other molding die) shown in FIG. 22, the extending direction of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 (positive or negative of the Y axis shown in the drawing). A recess THa1 is provided which is composed of a groove-shaped portion having a “V-shaped” cross-sectional shape in a direction (positive / negative direction of the Z-axis in the drawing) orthogonal to the direction).

That is, the distance between the groove side wall portions THb1 and THb1 formed by the pair of tapered surfaces forming the groove-shaped portion of the recess TH1 in the above-mentioned horn TH1 (or other molding die) is maximum at the groove opening at the lower end. The width of the groove is set to the above, and the width of the groove is continuously reduced in the upward direction from the opening of the groove toward the bottom of the groove. The groove side wall portions THb1 and THb1 of the horn TH1 are composed of two flat surfaces extending along the "front-back direction" (positive and negative directions of the Y-axis in the drawing), and constitute the groove side wall portions THb. Each of the two flat surfaces is having two edges consisting of one edge extending in the extending direction (positive and negative directions of the Y axis) and the other edge, and in those two edges. One end edge is directly connected to each other.

Although not shown, the center of the coaxial cable SC1 is also placed on the receiving surface of the anvil (or other molding die) forming the lower surface (contact connection surface) of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1. A groove-shaped recess having a "V-shaped" cross-sectional shape in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis) of the conductor (signal line) SCa1 is formed, and constitutes the groove-shaped recess. The distance between the groove side walls formed by the pair of tapered surfaces is set to the maximum groove width in the groove opening at the upper end, and is continuously reduced downward from the groove opening toward the bottom of the groove-shaped portion. It is configured.

That is, the groove side wall portion of the anvil (or other molding die) according to the present embodiment is also composed of two flat surfaces extending along the "front-back direction" (positive and negative directions of the Y-axis in the drawing). Each of the two flat surfaces has two edges consisting of one edge extending in the "front-back direction" and the other edge, and one edge of the two edges is connected to each other. It has a directly connected configuration. The structure of the receiving surface of this anvil (or other molding die) is the same in the following embodiments.

In this way, if the cross-sectional shape of the recess TH1 provided on the front end surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH1 (or other molding die) is V-shaped, the horn will be joined by ultrasonic vibration. Ultrasonic vibration is transmitted through the groove side wall portions THb1 and THb1 formed of the tapered surface of TH1 to the first surface portion SCa11 of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 and the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 described later. Is efficiently transmitted to.

Further, the two flat surfaces constituting the first surface portion SCa11 of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 form a lower surface connected to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 described later. Therefore, the contact area between the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 and the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 is expanded, and sufficient joining strength is obtained when joining by ultrasonic vibration. Easy to obtain.

The central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 is the first surface portion SCa11 constituting the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1. Is connected to the connecting portion 32d provided on the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 shown in FIGS. 29 and 30 in a state of being placed "above" (in the positive direction of the Z axis in the drawing). To. At that time, the connecting portion 32d of the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 is along the "front-back direction" (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) which is the extending direction of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1. A groove portion 32d1 extending is provided.

The groove portion 32d1 provided in the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 has a shape corresponding to the first surface portion SCa11 constituting the terminal portion in the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 described above. Specifically, the cross section in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 has a “V-shape”. Then, the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 makes surface contact with the groove portion 32d1 provided in the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 in the "vertical direction" (positive / negative direction of the Z axis shown in the drawing). After being placed in the state of being mounted, it is connected by applying ultrasonic vibration.

The first surface portion SCa11 of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 connected to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 has another cross section such as "arc shape" or "polygonal shape". When extending in a shape, the groove portion 32d1 of the above-mentioned internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 has a cross-sectional shape of "arc shape" in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction. And will be made into a "polygonal shape".

With respect to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 shown in FIG. 21 is provided. In connecting, as shown in FIG. 31, in the plug connector 30 before completion, the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 is previously connected to the insulating housing 31 mounted on the shield shell 33. Install by press fitting or insert molding. That is, in this state, the connecting portion 32d of the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 is arranged in a state of being exposed on the bottom wall surface 31d of the contact accommodating space 31c of the insulating housing 31.

Next, after arranging the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 above the connecting portion 32d of the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 described above, as shown in FIG. 32, The entire coaxial cable SC1 is lowered to bring the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 into contact with the connecting portion 32d of the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32, and then the above-mentioned horn TH and anvil are used. Both members are sandwiched and fixed by joining by ultrasonic vibration.

In the semi-finished product of the plug connector 30 obtained as described above, the shield shell 33 is closed by bending the connecting member 33c1 of the shield shell 33 at a substantially right angle, and the first fixed holding plate 33c3 and the second fixed holding plate 33c3 and the second By bending and caulking the fixed holding plate 33c4 so as to cover it from the outside, the electric connector 30 is completed as shown in FIGS. 33 and 34.

[For Further Other Embodiments Regarding the Center Conductor (Signal Line) of Coaxial Cable]
On the other hand, in the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 of the coaxial cable SC2 according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the extending direction of the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) The cross-sectional shape in the orthogonal direction is a "fan shape". More specifically, the first surface portion SCa21 forming the lower surface connected to the above-mentioned internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 extends in the extending direction of the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 (of the Y-axis in the figure). It has two flat surfaces extending in the positive and negative directions.

Each of the two flat surfaces constituting the first surface portion SCa21 intersects the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) of the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 of the coaxial cable SC2, specifically. Is inclined in the direction of intersection at about 45 degrees, and extends in the positive and negative directions of the Y-axis shown in the figure. Each of these two flat surfaces has two edge edges extending in the extending direction (positive and negative directions of the Y-axis in the drawing) and the other edge edge, and each flat surface has two edge edges. One end edge of the above is directly connected to each other.

Further, the second surface portion SCa22 forming the upper surface of the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 of the coaxial cable SC2 according to the present embodiment extends in the extending direction of the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 (Y-axis in the drawing). The outer shape forming the cross section in the direction orthogonal to the positive and negative directions of) is a single "curved surface", more specifically, an "arc shape", and the cross section is curved to an "arc shape". The curved surface formed in the state extends in the extending direction (positive and negative directions of the Y axis in the drawing) of the central conductor (signal line) SCa2. Then, the outermost edges in the radial direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the second surface portion SCa22 having such a cross section "arc shape" are orthogonal to the extending direction of the first surface portion SCa21 described above. It is directly connected to the outermost edges in the radial direction.

As described above, the tip surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH2 (or other molding mold) forming the upper surface of the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 of the coaxial cable SC2 having a “fan shape” in cross section is shown in the figure, for example. As shown in FIG. 24, a groove-shaped portion having a cross-sectional shape recessed in an "arc shape" in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y axis in the drawing) of the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 of the coaxial cable SC2. It has a recess THa2 made of. More specifically, the distance between the groove side wall portions THb2 and THb2, which are formed of the groove-shaped portion of the recess THa2 and are formed of curved surfaces recessed in an arcuate cross section, is the maximum groove width at the lower end groove opening. In addition to being made, it is configured to be reduced in a continuous curved line shape in the upward direction from the groove opening toward the bottom of the groove-shaped portion.

If the recess TH2 provided on the tip surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH2 (or other molding die) is provided as a cross-sectional shape having an "arc-shaped" curved surface as in the present embodiment, ultrasonic vibration From the arcuate curved surface of the horn TH2 with respect to the first surface portion SCa21 of the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 of the coaxial cable SC2 and the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 described later. Ultrasonic vibration is efficiently transmitted through the groove side wall portion THb2.

Further, as for the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 of the coaxial cable SC2 according to the present embodiment, the first surface portion SCa21 constituting the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 is shown in FIGS. 29 and 30. The coaxial cable SC2 is connected to the connecting portion 32d provided on the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 so as to be mounted from "above" (positive direction of the Z axis in the drawing). Since the two flat surfaces forming the first surface portion SCa21 of the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 of the above-mentioned center conductor (signal line) SCa2 form the lower surface connected to the above-mentioned internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32, the coaxial The contact area between the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 of the cable SC2 and the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 is expanded, so that sufficient bonding strength can be easily obtained when bonding by ultrasonic vibration. ..

[For Further Other Embodiments Regarding the Center Conductor (Signal Line) of Coaxial Cable]
Next, in the central conductor (signal line) SCa3 of the coaxial cable SC3 according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, the cross-sectional shape in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the central conductor (signal line) SCa3 is It is made into a "polygonal shape". More specifically, the first surface portion SCa31 of the central conductor (signal line) SCa3 constituting the lower surface connected to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 described above is the central conductor (signal line) SCa. Has two flat surfaces extending in the extending direction (positive and negative directions of the Y-axis in the figure). Further, the second surface portion SCa32 constituting the upper surface of the central conductor (signal line) SCa3 extends in the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) of the central conductor (signal line) SCa3. have.

Then, each of the two flat surfaces constituting the first surface portion SCa31 of the central conductor (signal line) SCa3 described above is in the extending direction of the central conductor (signal line) SCa3 of the coaxial cable SC3 (in the illustrated Y-axis). It extends in the positive and negative directions of the Y-axis shown in the figure in a state of being inclined in the direction of intersection with the positive and negative directions), specifically, in the direction of intersection at about 45 degrees. Each of these two flat surfaces has two edge edges extending in the extending direction (positive and negative directions of the Y-axis in the drawing) and the other edge edge, and each flat surface has two edge edges. One end edge of the above is directly connected to each other.

Further, each of the three flat surfaces constituting the second surface portion SCa32 of the central conductor (signal line) SCa3 also has one end edge extending in the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) and the other end. It has two edges consisting of edges, and one edge on each flat surface is directly connected to each other.

As described above, the tip surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH3 (or other molding die) forming the upper surface of the central conductor (signal line) SCa3 of the coaxial cable SC3 having a “polygonal shape” in cross section is shown in the figure, for example. As shown in FIG. 26, a groove-shaped portion having a “trapezoidal” cross-sectional shape in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y axis in the drawing) of the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC. It has a recess THa3 made of. More specifically, the distance between the groove side wall portions THb3 and THb3, which are formed of the groove-shaped portion of the recess TH3 and are composed of a pair of tapered surfaces facing each other, becomes the maximum groove width in the groove opening at the lower end. At the same time, it is continuously reduced in an upward direction from the groove opening toward the bottom of the groove-shaped portion, and the upper end edges of these groove side wall portions THb3 and THb3 are connected to the above-mentioned internal conductor contact (signal contact). It is indirectly connected via a separate flat surface THb3 extending substantially parallel to the member) 32.

That is, the groove side wall portions THb3, THb3, THb3 of the horn TH3 (or other molding die) according to the present embodiment have three flat surfaces extending along the "front-back direction" (positive and negative directions of the Y-axis in the drawing). The one edge of each of the three flat surfaces, which consists of one edge extending in the extending direction and the other edge, is directly connected to each other. ing.

As in the present embodiment, if the cross-sectional shape of the recess TH3 provided on the tip surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH3 (or other molding mold) is set as a "trapezoidal shape", when joining by ultrasonic vibration is performed. In addition, with respect to the first surface portion SCa31 of the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC and the above-mentioned internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32, the groove side wall portion THb3 composed of three flat surfaces of the horn TH3 Ultrasonic vibration is efficiently transmitted via THb3 and THb3.

Further, as for the central conductor (signal line) SCa3 of the coaxial cable SC3 according to the present embodiment, the first surface portion SCa31 constituting the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) SCa3 is shown in FIGS. 29 and 30. The coaxial cable SC3 is connected to the connecting portion 32d provided on the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 so as to be mounted from "above" (positive direction of the Z axis in the drawing). Since the two flat surfaces forming the first surface portion SCa31 of the central conductor (signal line) SCa3 of the above form the lower surface connected to the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) 32, the coaxial cable SC Since the contact area between the central conductor (signal line) SCa and the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 is expanded, sufficient bonding strength can be easily obtained when bonding by ultrasonic vibration.

[For Further Other Embodiments Regarding the Center Conductor (Signal Line) of Coaxial Cable]
Further, also in the coaxial cable SC4 according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, the cross-sectional shape in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) of the central conductor (signal line) SCa4 is “polygonal”. The first surface portion SCa41, which has a “shape” and constitutes the lower surface connected to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 described above, extends in the extending direction of the central conductor (signal line) SCa (Y-axis in the drawing). It has two flat surfaces extending in the positive and negative directions of. Each of the two flat surfaces constituting the first surface portion SCa41 intersects the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) of the central conductor (signal line) SCa4 of the coaxial cable SC4, specifically. Is inclined in the direction of intersection at about 45 degrees, and extends in the positive and negative directions of the Y-axis shown in the figure. Each of these two flat surfaces has two edge edges extending in the extending direction (positive and negative directions of the Y-axis in the drawing) and the other edge edge, and each flat surface has two edge edges. One end edge of the above is directly connected to each other.

Further, the second surface portion SCa42 constituting the upper surface of the central conductor (signal line) SCa4 of the coaxial cable SC4 according to the present embodiment extends in the extending direction of the central conductor (signal line) SCa (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing). ) Has a single flat surface (horizontal plane), and the outermost edge in the width direction (positive / negative direction of the X-axis in the figure) on the single flat surface (horizontal plane) is a pair of other face portions. It is indirectly connected to the outermost edge of the first surface portion SCa41 described above via the SCa43 and the SCa43.

Here, in the central conductor (signal line) SCa4 of the coaxial cable SC4 according to the present embodiment, the "vertical direction" (positive or negative of the Z axis shown in the figure) is the direction in which the first surface portion SCa41 and the second surface portion SCa42 face each other. The maximum dimension H in the direction) is smaller than the maximum dimension W in the "left-right direction" (positive / negative direction of the X-axis in the drawing) orthogonal to the direction in which the first surface portion SCa41 and the second surface portion SCa42 face each other (H <W). It is in a state. That is, the central conductor (signal line) having a circular cross section before processing is compressed in the "vertical direction" (positive and negative directions of the Z-axis in the drawing), and this "vertical direction". The point of compression in the positive and negative directions of the Z-axis shown in the drawing is the same in other embodiments.

As described above, the tip surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH4 (or other molding die) forming the upper surface of the central conductor (signal line) SCa4 of the coaxial cable SC4 having a “polygonal shape” in cross section is shown in the figure, for example. As shown in 28, the flat surface has no recess, and the flat surface of the horn TH4 directly forms the first surface portion SCa41 and pressurizes the horn TH4 (pushing down). By appropriately adjusting the amount), the other surface portion SCa43 described above is formed.

Further, as for the central conductor (signal line) SCa4 of the coaxial cable SC4 according to the present embodiment, the first surface portion SCa41 constituting the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) SCa4 is shown in FIGS. 29 and 30. The coaxial cable SC4 is connected to the connecting portion 32d provided on the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 so as to be mounted from "above" (positive direction of the Z axis in the drawing). Since the two flat surfaces constituting the first surface portion SCa41 of the central conductor (signal line) SCa4 of the above form a lower surface connected to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 described later, the coaxial The contact area between the central conductor (signal line) SCa4 of the cable SC4 and the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 is expanded, so that sufficient bonding strength can be easily obtained when bonding by ultrasonic vibration. ..

The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described above based on the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof. Needless to say.

For example, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 20, the contact assembly CA is attached by press fitting with the insulating housing 11 already assembled to the shield shell 13, but the contact is made to the insulating housing 11. After mounting the assembly CA, the shield shell 13 to which the insulating housing 11 and the contact assembly CA are mounted may be assembled.

Further, in the case where the insulating housing 21 is manufactured by insert molding as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 20, the latter one, that is, after mounting the contact assembly CA on the insulating housing 21, is shielded. By assembling the shell 23 equipped with the insulating housing 21 and the contact assembly CA, the mold structure can be simplified.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the single-core coaxial cable connector as in the above-described embodiment, and is not limited to a coaxial cable connector in which a plurality of internal conductor contacts are arranged at predetermined intervals, or a coaxial cable. The same can be applied to an electric connector or the like in which a plurality of insulated cables are mixed.

As described above, the present embodiment can be widely applied to a wide variety of electric connectors used in various electric devices.

10,20 plug connector (electrical connector)
11 and 21 Insulated housings 11a and 21a Insulated main bodies 11b and 21b Connection support parts 11c and 21c Contact accommodation space 11d Bottom wall surface 21e Connection filling parts 12, 22 Internal conductor contacts (signal contact members)
12a, 22a Locking pieces 12b, 22b Elastic springs 12c, 22c Flat plates 13, 23 Shield shells 13a, 23a External conductor shell (ground contact member)
13b, 23b Shell protrusion 13c, 23c Shell lid 13c1, 23c1 Connecting member 13c2, 23c2 Rear cover 13c3, 23c3 First fixed holding plate 13c4, 23c4 Second fixed holding plate 13d, 23d Fitting engagement part SC coaxial cable (Cable signal transmission medium)
SCa center conductor (signal line)
SCb outer conductor (shielded wire)
SCc Dielectric SCd Outer Cover Material TA Anvil TH Horn THa Recess THb Groove Side Wall CA Contact Assembly 30 Plug Connector (Electrical Connector)
31 Insulated housing 31a Insulated main body 31b Connection support 31c Contact accommodation space 31d Bottom wall surface 32 Internal conductor contact (signal contact member)
32a Locking piece 32b Elastic spring part 32c Flat plate part 32d Connection part 33 Shield shell 33a External conductor shell (ground contact member)
33b Shell protrusion 33c Shell lid 33c1 Connecting member 33c2 Rear cover 33c3 First fixed holding plate 33c4 Second fixed holding plate 33d Fitting engaging part SC1 to SC4 Coaxial cable (cable signal transmission medium)
SCa1 to SCa4 center conductor (signal line)
SCa11 to SCa41 1st surface SCa12 to SCa42 2nd surface SCa43 Other surface SCb1 to SCb4 External conductor (shielded wire)
SCc1 to SCc4 Dielectric SCd1 to SCd4 Outer coating material 32 Inner conductor contact (signal contact member)
32a Locking piece 32b Elastic spring part 32c Flat plate part 32d Connection part

The present invention relates to a process for the production of electrical connectors.

In general, in various electronic devices or electric devices such as smartphones and tablet computers, it is widely practiced to connect a coaxial cable for signal transmission to a wiring board via an electric connector. In such an electric connector, it has been proposed in the following patent documents, for example, to apply ultrasonic vibration when performing a step of connecting the central conductor of a coaxial cable to a conductive contact (terminal). In the manufacturing method disclosed in the patent document, the contact (terminal) is first fixed to the housing, then the central conductor of the coaxial cable is brought into contact with the contact (terminal), and then a jig such as a horn or an anvil is attached to the housing. It is inserted inside the housing, and ultrasonic vibration is applied with the central conductor and contact (terminal) of the coaxial cable sandwiched between these horns and the anvil.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-60727

However, when a jig such as a horn or anvil that applies ultrasonic vibration is inserted into the housing and used as described above, a jig such as a horn or anvil is inserted when designing the housing. There are restrictions such as having to consider the space for the housing, which reduces the degree of freedom in design and may make it difficult to reduce the size, for example. Further, when designing a jig such as a horn or an anvil that applies ultrasonic vibration, there are restrictions based on the structure of the housing. For example, in order to obtain an optimum resonance point when applying ultrasonic vibration. It is also possible that the design becomes impossible and sufficient bonding strength between the central conductor of the coaxial cable and the contact cannot be obtained.

In particular, in recent years, in electric connectors, in addition to increasing the frequency of signals, there is a demand for significant miniaturization, so that the joint strength between the central conductor of a coaxial cable and a contact tends to decrease. Therefore, there is a need for a structure in which the central conductor of the coaxial cable can be joined to the contact with high strength to improve the electrical connection stability while reducing the size of the electric connector.

The present invention, by increasing the degree of freedom in design of a jig, such as housing and the horn and the anvil, the manufacturing method of the electrical connector to be able to improve the bonding strength while allowing miniaturization an object of the present invention is to provide a.

In the upper Symbol purposes of according to claim 1 for achieving the invention, the housing made of an insulating member, while mounting the contacts for signal transmission comprising a conductive member, connecting the center conductor of the coaxial cable to the contact In the method of manufacturing an electric connector, the center conductor of the coaxial cable is attached to the contact by applying ultrasonic vibration to the contact before mounting the coaxial cable in contact with the center conductor of the coaxial cable. After performing the joining step by ultrasonic vibration to form the joined contact assembly, the assembling step of mounting the contacts of the contact assembly formed in the joining step by the ultrasonic vibration to the housing is performed. There is.

According to such an electric connector manufacturing method, jigs such as horns and anvils that apply ultrasonic vibration are used in a place independent of the housing, and therefore, they are inserted inside the housing as in the conventional case. Therefore, the restrictions on the design of the housing are reduced, the degree of freedom in design is increased, and the size of the electric connector can be easily reduced. In addition, jigs such as horns and anvils that apply ultrasonic vibration are not restricted by the structure of the housing, so it is possible to design to obtain the optimum resonance point, and efficient ultrasonic vibration can be achieved. By being able to impart, sufficient bonding strength between the central conductor of the coaxial cable and the contact can be easily obtained.

At this time, as in the invention according to claim 2, in the assembling step, the contact of the contact assembly can be attached by press-fitting into the housing.

Further, as in the invention according to claim 3, in the assembling step, the housing can be molded by insert molding after setting the contact assembly inside the mold.

According to such a method of manufacturing an electric connector, the connection portion between the contact and the central conductor of the coaxial cable is held by the housing, so that the electrical connection state of the electric connector is stabilized and the electric connection state is stabilized. The strength is improved.

Further, as in the invention according to claim 4, in the joining step by ultrasonic vibration, the tip surface of the horn is brought into contact with the central conductor of the coaxial cable, and the anvil is brought into contact with the contact to bring the horn and the horn. It is a method of applying ultrasonic vibration with the contact and the central conductor of the coaxial cable sandwiched between the anvil and the tip surface of the horn, and a recess for accommodating the central conductor of the coaxial cable is provided on the tip surface of the horn. It is also possible to provide it.

Furthermore, as in the invention of claim 5, the recess provided in the horn is formed into a groove-shaped portion extending along the extending direction of the central conductor of the coaxial cable, and the groove-shaped portion is the coaxial cable. It has a groove opening having a groove width corresponding to the central conductor, and a pair of groove side wall portions extending from the groove opening toward the groove bottom portion which is the bottom of the groove-shaped portion so as to face each other. In the pair of groove side walls, it is desirable that the distance between the pair of groove side walls is narrowed from the groove opening toward the groove bottom.

According to the method for manufacturing an electric connector having such a configuration, ultrasonic vibration is efficiently transmitted to the central conductor and the contact of the coaxial cable through the groove side wall portion formed of the inclined surface provided on the horn. Will be done .

As described above, the present invention can improve the bonding strength while reducing the size of the electric connector.

It is an external perspective explanatory view which showed the state which connected the coaxial cable to the electric connector (plug connector) manufactured by applying the method which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention from the front upper part. It is a plane explanatory view of the electric connector (plug connector) shown in FIG. It is a vertical cross-sectional explanatory view along the line III-III in FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an initial state before the contact is attached in the electric connector (plug connector) shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 from the rear upper side. It is a plane explanatory view of the electric connector (plug connector) shown in FIG. It is an external perspective explanatory view which showed the state which the terminal part of the coaxial cable was arranged facing each other above the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) from the front upper part. It is a side explanatory view which showed the state which the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) was set on the anvil. It is the back explanatory view of the state shown in FIG. The terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) of the coaxial cable is placed above the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) held on the anvil, and the horn is opposed above the central conductor (signal line) of the coaxial cable. It is a side explanatory view showing the state before joining which was arranged. It is sectional drawing explanatory view along the X-ray line in FIG. It is a side explanatory view showing the process of lowering a horn after contacting a terminal portion of a central conductor (signal line) of a coaxial cable with an internal conductor contact (signal contact member) held on an anvil from above. It is sectional drawing which follows the XII-XII line in FIG. By lowering the horn from the state shown in FIG. 11, the tip surface (lower end surface) of the horn is pressed against the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) of the coaxial cable, and ultrasonic vibration is applied through the horn for joining. It is a side view which shows the state of performing a process, and has reached the descending end of a horn. It is sectional drawing which follows the XIV-XIV line in FIG. It is sectional drawing explanatory view which raised the horn from the state of FIG. It is an external perspective explanatory view which showed the state which finished joining the central conductor (signal line) of the coaxial cable with respect to the rear end part of the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) from the front upper part. A contact assembly in which the central conductor (signal line) of the coaxial cable is joined to the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) is arranged so as to face the upper side of the electric connector (plug connector) in the initial state from the rear upper side. It is an external perspective explanatory view shown. From the state shown in FIG. 17, the state in which the contact assembly is inserted into the contact accommodating space of the electric connector (plug connector) in the initial state and the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) is press-fitted into the housing is rearward. It is an external perspective explanatory view shown from above. It is a side explanatory view showing the mounting state of the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) of the contact assembly with respect to the electric connector (plug connector) shown in FIG. It is a vertical cross-sectional explanatory view which showed the state which the coaxial cable was connected to the electric connector (plug connector) which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is an external perspective explanatory view which showed the terminal part of the coaxial cable which concerns on still another Embodiment of this invention from the front upper part. FIG. 21 is a front explanatory view in which a horn is arranged so as to face the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) of the coaxial cable according to the embodiment shown in FIG. It is an external perspective explanatory view which showed the terminal part of the coaxial cable which concerns on still another Embodiment of this invention from the front upper part. FIG. 3 is a front explanatory view in which a horn (or other molding die) is arranged so as to face above the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) of the coaxial cable according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 23. It is an external perspective explanatory view which showed the terminal part of the coaxial cable which concerns on still another Embodiment of this invention from the front upper part. FIG. 5 is a front explanatory view in which a horn (or other molding die) is arranged so as to face above the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) of the coaxial cable according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 25. It is an external perspective explanatory view which showed the terminal part of the coaxial cable which concerns on still another Embodiment of this invention from the front upper part. FIG. 27 is a front explanatory view in which a horn (or other molding die) is arranged so as to face above the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) of the coaxial cable according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 27. Appearance of an internal conductor contact (signal contact member) to which the central conductor (signal line) of the coaxial cable according to another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 21 to 29 is connected when viewed from above in front. It is a perspective explanatory view. FIG. 9 is an explanatory perspective view of an appearance when a single item of an internal conductor contact (signal contact member) according to another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 29 is viewed from the rear and above. FIG. 6 is an external perspective explanatory view showing a state in which the central conductor (signal line) of the coaxial cable is joined to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) shown in FIGS. 29 and 30 from the rear upper side. From the state of FIG. 3 1 is a side view of such an electrical connector to the embodiment showing the finished product and the state other of the present invention the shield shell as the closed state. Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along XXXI II -XXXI II line in 2.

Hereinafter, embodiments in which the present invention is applied to an electric connector for a coaxial cable will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Overall structure of electrical connector]
First, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the plug connector 10 constituting the electric connector according to the first embodiment manufactured by applying the method of the present invention is a terminal of a coaxial cable SC. The plug connector 10 to which the portion is connected and the coaxial cable SC is connected is to a mating electrical connector (not shown) composed of a receptacle connector or the like mounted on the main surface of a predetermined wiring board (not shown). It is configured so that it is fitted by inserting it from above, or it is removed from the fitted state. At that time, the work of fitting / removing the plug connector 10 to the mating electric connector (receptacle connector or the like) is performed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the main surface of the wiring board.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the fitting portion arranged in the front portion of the plug connector 10 described above is formed so as to form a substantially cylindrical shape, and has a substantially cylindrical shape. The terminal portion of the coaxial cable SC is connected to the fitting portion from one direction (rear) on the outer side in the radial direction. Then, after the fitting portion of the plug connector 10 described above is arranged in a state of facing each other above the fitting portion of the electric connector (receptacle connector or the like) to be fitted, the entire plug connector 10 is formed. By descending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the outer surface (main surface) of the printed wiring board, the lower end portion of the fitting portion of the plug connector 10 becomes the upper end portion of the mated portion of the mating electric connector. On the other hand, it is made in a fitted state.

By inserting the plug connector 10 from above into the mating mating electrical connector (receptacle connector or the like) and putting the coaxial cable SC into the mating state, the coaxial cable SC becomes the plug connector 10 and the mating electrical connector (receptacle). It is connected to the conductive path of the wiring pattern on the wiring board via a connector or the like), and the signal is transmitted.

Here, the direction in which the plug connector 10 is inserted into the above-mentioned mating electrical connector (receptacle connector, etc.) is set to "downward" (negative direction of the Z-axis in the figure), and the direction in which the plug connector is pulled out is "upward". (Positive direction of Z-axis in the figure). Further, the coaxial cable SC extends from the "back surface" of the plug connector 10 in the "horizontal direction" parallel to the surface of the wiring board, and the direction in which the coaxial cable SC extends from the plug connector 10 “Rear” (negative direction of Y-axis in the figure) and the opposite direction are “forward” (positive direction of Y-axis in the figure). Further, the direction orthogonal to both the "vertical direction" (positive / negative direction of the Z-axis shown) and the "front-back direction" (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis shown) is defined as the "left-right direction" (positive / negative direction of the X-axis shown). ..

[About coaxial cable]
As shown in FIG. 6, the coaxial cable SC at this time has a central conductor (signal line) SCa composed of a conducting wire in the central portion of the coaxial cable SC, and the central conductor (signal line) thereof. ) The outer conductor (shielded wire) SCb is coaxially laminated on the outer side in the radial direction of the SCa via the annular dielectric SCc. Further, the outer surface of the outer conductor (shielded wire) SCb is covered with the outer peripheral coating material SCd.

In the terminal portion of the coaxial cable SC having such a configuration, the outer peripheral covering material SCd is peeled off so that the outer conductor (shielded wire) SCb is exposed to the outside, and further, the outer conductor (shielded wire) SCb is exposed to the outside. By peeling the shielded wire SCb and the dielectric SCc, the central conductor (signal wire) SCa is exposed to the outside. Then, the terminal portion of the central conductor SCa arranged along the central axis of the coaxial cable SC is joined to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 mounted on the insulating housing 11 and is electrically connected. The signal circuit is constructed by being done.

Here, the central conductor SCa of the coaxial cable SC in the present embodiment is formed of a linear conductive member containing a copper component as a main component, and the outer surface of the central conductor SCa is silver-plated. Has been done. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the terminal portion of the silver-plated central conductor SCa, that is, the portion exposed to the outside by peeling, is an internal conductor contact mounted on the insulating housing 11. By joining the (signal contact member) 12 by a manufacturing method described later, the cross section in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the central conductor SCa is formed into a “polygonal shape”. As a specific shape of the "polygonal shape" in the present embodiment, a substantially triangular shape is adopted, and one side (lower side) of the three sides forming the substantially triangular shape is the above-mentioned internal conductor contact (signal contact). A member) 12 is joined to a flat surface closer to the "front" in the flat plate portion 12c.

Further, it is joined to one side of the "substantially triangular shape" constituting the cross-sectional shape of the terminal portion of the central conductor SCa of such a coaxial cable SC, more specifically, to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12. A pair of other sides extend diagonally upward from both ends of one side (lower side), but the distance between these pair of other sides is a direction away from the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) 12. It is continuously shrinking in the "upward direction".

At this time, the cross section in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) in the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC described above may be composed of a shape having at least three sides. Of the three sides constituting the cross-sectional shape, the side of the portion sandwiched by the two sides may be a straight line, a curved line, or a square shape.

In this way, the cross-sectional shape of the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC, more specifically, the cross-sectional shape in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) is made into a "substantially triangular shape". In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, of the three flat surfaces having each of the three sides of the central conductor (signal line) SCa, the internal conductor contact (signal contact) The lower surface of the member) 12 connected to the flat plate portion 12c is formed as a "first surface portion". The "first surface portion" in the present embodiment is composed of a single flat surface extending in the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y axis in the drawing) of the central conductor (signal line) SCa, and is formed on the "first surface portion". The "second surface portion" arranged so as to face each other from above is composed of two flat surfaces extending in the extending direction (positive and negative directions of the Y axis in the drawing) of the central conductor (signal line) SCa. ..

Then, each of the three flat surfaces constituting the "first surface portion" and the "second surface portion" is one end extending in the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) of the coaxial cable SC. It has two edges consisting of an edge and the other edge, and one edge on each flat surface is directly connected to each other.

That is, initially, the central conductor SCa of the coaxial cable SC extending in a circular cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG. 6 is attached to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 mounted on the insulating housing 11 with respect to FIG. And, as shown in FIG. 17, when joining from above and, as a result, the central conductor SCa of the coaxial cable SC has a “substantially triangular” cross-sectional shape, a method using ultrasonic vibration is adopted. However, the specific joining method and the method of mounting the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 to the insulating housing 11 will be described in detail later as a gist of the present invention.

[Insulation housing]
The insulating housing 11 according to the present embodiment is formed of a base frame-shaped member formed of an insulating material, and the insulating housing 11 is provided with the above-mentioned internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 and a ground contact. The shield shell 13 as a member is attached in an insulated state. The structure for mounting these will be described later, but the insulating housing 11 according to the present embodiment has a structure in which jigs such as horns and anvils that apply ultrasonic vibration are not inserted inside, so that the degree of freedom in design is high. Has a high configuration.

That is, the above-mentioned insulating housing 11 has a substantially cylindrical fitting main body portion 11a, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and a rear end portion of the fitting main body portion 11a. From (the negative direction portion of the Y axis shown in the drawing), the connection support portion 11b projects substantially horizontally toward the “rear” (negative direction of the Y axis shown in the drawing). A contact accommodating space 11c accommodating the above-mentioned internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 opens in the fitting main body portion 11a and the connection support portion 11b toward "upward" (positive direction of the Z axis in the drawing). It is formed in the state of being.

More specifically, first, the fitting main body portion 11a is formed of a substantially cylindrical body having a hollow shape, and the hollow portion formed through the central portion in the radial direction of the fitting main body portion 11a is described above. It constitutes a part of the contact accommodating space 11c. Further, the connection support portion 11b is formed in a gutter shape having a substantially rectangular cross section that opens "upward" (in the positive direction of the Z axis in the drawing), and the inner space portion of the connection support portion 11b is described above. It constitutes the main part of the contact accommodation space 11c. As described above, the contact accommodating space 11c is composed of a space portion that communicates in a gutter shape from the connection support portion 11b to the fitting main body portion 11a.

An internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 extending substantially horizontally is provided on the bottom wall surface 11d of the inner wall surfaces of the connection support portion 11b and the fitting main body portion 11a constituting the contact accommodating space 11c. By press-fitting, it will be put into the mounted state.

[About signal contact members]
Here, as described above, the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 that is press-fitted into the insulating housing 11 has a function as a connection terminal made of a conductive member, and is shown in FIG. As shown, the flat plate portion 12c is composed of a strip-shaped member extending in an elongated shape along the "front-back direction" (positive and negative directions of the Y-axis in the drawing).

A pair of locks press-fitted into the insulating housing 11 at a substantially central portion of the flat plate portion 12c of the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 in the extending direction (front-rear direction represented by the positive and negative directions of the Y-axis in the drawing). Pieces 12a and 12a are formed. These locking pieces 12a and 12a project outward in a plate shape from both end edges in the "left-right direction" (plate width direction represented by the positive and negative directions of the X-axis in the drawing) in the flat plate portion 12c. The two locking pieces 12a and 12a are engaged so as to bite into the inner wall surface of the connection support portion 11b of the insulating housing 11 described above, so that the entire internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 is fixed. It is supposed to be maintained at. (The state after fixing is shown in FIGS. 18 and 19)

In the flat portion of the flat plate portion 12c of the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 near the “rear” (negative direction of the Y axis in the drawing), the terminal portion of the central conductor SCa of the coaxial cable SC described above is “upper”. "(The positive direction of the Z-axis in the figure), and the jointed state is made by the method described later. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the portion of the flat plate portion 12c of the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 that is closer to the “forward” (positive direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) is in the “left-right direction” (X-axis in the drawing). A pair of elastic spring portions 12b, 12b integrally extend from both end edges in the plate width direction (positive / negative direction) toward "downward" (negative direction of the Z axis in the drawing). Both elastic spring portions 12b and 12b are inserted into the through holes provided in the fitting main body portion 11a of the insulating housing 11 as shown in FIG. 3 showing the completed state, and the fitting thereof. Inside the through hole in the combined main body portion 11a, the elastic spring portions 12b and 12b are arranged in a state of facing each other with a gap in the "left-right direction" (positive / negative direction of the X-axis shown in the drawing).

Then, when the lower portion of the insulating housing 11 in the fitting main body portion 11a is inserted into the mating mating electrical connector (receptacle connector or the like), the mating mating electrical connector (receptacle connector or the like) is provided. A signal conductive contact (not shown) having a pin shape or the like is inserted in a state of being in contact with the intermediate portion between the two elastic spring portions 12b, 12b described above, thereby forming an electrically connected state. A signal transmission circuit is formed.

The flat plate portion 12c in the present embodiment has a flat shape from the rear end portion where the pair of elastic spring portions 12b, 12b extend integrally to the front end portion (the end portion in the positive direction of the Y-axis in the drawing). Although it extends in the state of being squeezed, it is also possible to extend it from the elastic spring portions 12b and 12b via a step.

[About the shield shell]
On the other hand, the outer peripheral portion of the insulating housing 11 is covered with a shield shell 13 made of a thin plate-shaped metal member, and the outer conductor SCb surrounding the central conductor SCa of the coaxial cable SC described above comes into contact with the shield shell 13. The shield shell 13 functions as a conductive member for grounding, thereby forming a ground circuit.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the shield shell 13 made of a thin plate-shaped metal member that covers the outer surface of the insulating housing 11 in this way includes the fitting main body portion 11a of the insulating housing 11 and the connection support. It is composed of an outer conductor shell 13a and a shell projecting portion 13b that partially cover the portions 11b, respectively. The outer conductor shell 13a mainly constitutes a substantially hollow cylindrical ground contact member that annularly covers the fitting main body portion 11a of the insulating housing 11 from the outside in the radial direction.

That is, the outer conductor shell (ground contact member) 13a is arranged so as to surround the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 described above from the outside, and the outer conductor shell (ground contact member) 13a. The lower portion has a substantially cylindrical shape that is externally fitted to the outer portion in the radial direction of the mating electric connector (receptacle connector, etc.). Then, the fitting engaging portion 13d formed of the annular concave groove provided in the lower portion of the outer conductor shell (ground contact member) 13a is connected and locked provided in the mating mating electrical connector (receptacle connector or the like). It is configured to be electrically connected to the parts (not shown) by forming an elastic fitting relationship.

Further, in the annular "upper" (positive direction of the Z axis shown in the drawing) opening portion forming the upper end edge of the outer conductor shell 13a, the fitting main body portion 11a and the connection support portion 11b of the insulating housing 11 described above are opened. The shell lid portion 13c that covers the above (in the positive direction of the Z-axis in the figure) is connected so as to be openable and closable. That is, the shell lid portion 13c of the shield shell 13 opens and closes at the end edge portion of the outer conductor shell 13a "front" (in the positive direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) via a connecting member 13c1 made of a narrow plate-shaped member. In the initial state before the coaxial cable SC is connected, which is connectable, the opening rises "upward" (in the positive direction of the Z-axis in the drawing), as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 in particular. It is in a state.

The details will be described later, but especially in the open state (initial state) of the shield shell 13 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the internal conductor contact (internal conductor contact) after the central conductor SCa of the coaxial cable SC is joined. A member constituting the contact assembly CA (see FIG. 16), which will be described in detail later, is placed inside the contact accommodating space 11c provided in the insulating housing 11 from “above” (forward direction of the Z axis shown in the drawing). The internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 is put into a mounted state by being inserted and press-fitted in this way. After that, the shell lid portion 13c of the shield shell 13 is pushed down to a substantially horizontal state so that the above-mentioned connecting member 13c1 is bent at a substantially right angle, whereby the fitting main body portion 11a and the connection support portion 11b of the insulating housing 11 are pushed down. The whole is covered from above by the shell lid portion 13c so that the shield shell 13 is closed (see FIGS. 1 to 3).

At this time, the shell lid portion 13c is covered so as to cover the opening portion "upper" (in the positive direction of the Z axis in the drawing) of the outer conductor shell 13a when it is pushed down to a substantially horizontal state and closed as described above. However, the portion of the shell lid portion 13c that has been pushed down to a substantially horizontal state and is closer to the "rear" (negative direction of the Y axis in the drawing) is formed in the rear cover portion 13c2, and the rear cover portion is formed. The 13c2 is configured to cover the connection support portion 11b of the insulating housing 11, the shell protruding portion 13b of the shield shell 13, and the outer conductor (shielded wire) SCb of the coaxial cable SC from above.

As described above, the rear cover portion 13c2 constitutes a portion of the shell lid portion 13c that is closer to the "rear" (negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing), but the "left-right direction" (X in the drawing) of the rear cover portion 13c2. A first fixed holding plate 13c3 and a second fixed holding plate 13c4 made of a pair of tongue piece-shaped members are provided on both side edges in the positive and negative directions of the shaft so as to form a flange plate. The first fixed holding plate 13c3 is configured to be bent and caulked so as to cover the fixed shell portion 13b of the shield shell 13 from the outside.

That is, both flange plates constituting the pair of first fixed holding plates 13c3 and 13c3 are "left-right direction" in the shell protruding portion 13b of the shield shell 13 when the shell lid portion 13c is pushed down to a substantially horizontal state. (The positive and negative directions of the X-axis in the figure), it is bent inward of the connector along both outer wall surfaces of the shell protrusion 13b so as to be caulked from that state, whereby the outer conductor is formed. The shell lid portion 13c is fixed to the shell 13a, and the shell protruding portion 13b that covers the outer surface of the connection support portion 11b of the insulating housing 11 in the "left-right direction" (positive / negative direction of the X-axis in the drawing) is the shell lid portion. It is fixed to 13c.

Further, these first fixed holding plates 13c3 and 13c3 are provided with convex portions 13c5 and 13c5 protruding inward of the connector in the "left-right direction" (positive and negative directions of the X-axis shown in the drawing) (see FIG. 4). ), When the first fixed holding plates 13c3 and 13c3 are bent inward of the connector, the convex portions 13c5 and 13c5 are formed so as to come into contact with a part of the outer conductor (shielded wire) SCb in the coaxial cable SC. Has been done.

Further, the second fixed holding plate 13c4 is provided so as to be adjacent to and parallel to the "rear" (negative direction of the Y axis in the drawing) of the first fixed holding plate 13c3 described above, and the second fixed holding plate 13c4 is provided from a relatively small flange plate. It is formed. The second fixed holding plate 13c4 is bent so as to cover the outer conductor (shielded wire) SCb in the coaxial cable SC from the outside, and is fixed by caulking.

That is, both flange plates constituting the second fixed holding plate 13c4 are located outside the outer conductor (shielded wire) SCb in the coaxial cable SC when the shell lid portion 13c is pushed down to a substantially horizontal state. It is arranged so that it can be crimped from that state, and then bent inward of the connector. As a result, the shell lid portion 13c is fixed to the outer conductor (shielded wire) SCb of the coaxial cable SC, and the outer conductor SCb comes into contact with the second fixed holding plate 13c4, so that the ground circuit by the shielded shell 13 is formed. It is designed to be configured.

The outer conductor SCb in the present embodiment is in contact with the second fixed holding plate 13c4, but the outer peripheral covering material SCd may be fixed by further providing a fixed holding plate in front.

[About the method of forming the contact assembly and the method of assembling the inner conductor contact]
Next, a method of joining the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC to the above-mentioned internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 by joining by ultrasonic vibration using an anvil and a horn to form a contact assembly. , And a method of mounting the contact assembly formed by joining by ultrasonic vibration to the insulating housing 11 will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

First, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, an internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 and an anvil TA serving as a member for receiving ultrasonic vibration are prepared, and the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 is prepared. The upper end surface of the anvil TA is brought into contact with the lower surface of the anvil TA.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the center conductor (signal line) SCa and the horn TH of the coaxial cable SC are prepared, and each is “above” the anvil TA (in the positive direction of the Z axis in the drawing). Arrange so as to face each other. Then, the terminal of the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC with respect to the flat portion of the flat plate portion 12c of the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 near the “rear” (negative direction of the Y axis in the drawing). After changing the parts from "upper" (positive direction of the Z-axis in the figure) to facing each other (states of FIGS. 9 and 10), the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC is moved in the negative direction of the Z-axis in the figure. By lowering, the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC is "upper" (upper) on the flat portion of the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 "rear" (negative direction of the Y axis in the drawing). It is assumed that they are in contact with each other from the positive direction of the Z axis shown in the figure).

Next, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the central conductor (signal) of the coaxial cable SC in contact with the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 “above” (positive direction of the Z axis in the drawing). Line) The tip surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH that applies ultrasonic vibration to the terminal portion of the SCa is lowered in the negative direction of the Z-axis shown in the figure and abuts from "above" (the positive direction of the Z-axis shown in the figure). Let it be in the state of being made. Then, particularly in the state shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the gap in which the horn TH and the anvil TA face each other in the vertical direction is formed as a predetermined “α”, and the gap α is provided. , The ultrasonic vibration accompanied by heating and pressurization is started by the horn TH, and the horn TH is gradually lowered to bring the states shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, that is, the horn TH and the anvil TA. The gap is changed until it reaches a predetermined "β".

In this way, the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 and the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC are sandwiched between the horn TH and the anvil TA, and the required ultrasonic vibration is passed through the horn TH. By applying the above, the joining process by ultrasonic vibration is performed, and after performing such a joining step, as shown in FIG. 15, the horn TH is returned to the original position on the Z-axis shown in the drawing. The contact assembly CA in which the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC is firmly joined to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 as shown in FIG. Will be formed.

At this time, the center of the coaxial cable SC is on the front end surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH that comes into contact with the center conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC from "above" (the positive direction of the Z axis in the drawing). A recess THa for accommodating the conductor (signal line) SCa is provided. The recess THa provided on the front end surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH is formed from a groove-shaped portion extending along the extending direction (front-back direction) of the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC. The groove-shaped portion forming the recess THa has a groove opening having a groove width corresponding to the outer diameter of the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC on the tip surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH. In addition, it has groove side wall portions THb and THb composed of a pair of tapered surfaces extending from the groove opening toward the bottom of the groove-shaped portion (upper part of FIG. 10).

More specifically, the groove-shaped portion forming the recess THa on the front end surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH described above is a cross section in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC. The shape is V-shaped. Specifically, the distance between the groove side wall portions THb and THb, which are composed of a pair of tapered surfaces constituting the groove-shaped portion of the recess THa, is set to the maximum groove width in the groove opening at the lower end. It is configured to continuously shrink upward from the groove opening toward the bottom of the groove-shaped portion.

These groove side wall portions THb and THb are composed of two flat surfaces extending along the "front-back direction" (positive and negative directions of the Y-axis in the drawing). Then, each of the two flat surfaces constituting the groove side wall portion THb has two edge edges extending in the extending direction (positive and negative directions of the Y axis) and one edge edge and the other edge edge. It has, and one end edge of those two end edges is directly connected to each other.

In this way, if the cross-sectional shape of the recess THa provided on the front end surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH is V-shaped, the central conductor (signal line) SCa and the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) of the coaxial cable SC are formed. ) 12, ultrasonic vibrations are efficiently transmitted via the groove side wall portions THb and THb formed of the tapered surface of the horn TH.

In the present embodiment in which the contact assembly CA is formed by using the horn TH having the recess TH as described above, the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC in the contact assembly CA is the recess of the horn TH. Since it is formed by plastically deforming into a cross-sectional shape corresponding to THa, the cross-section in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the central conductor SCa has a polygonal shape (substantially triangular shape). (See FIGS. 14 and 16) That is, a pair of other sides extending from both ends of one side of the central conductor (signal line) SCa (the side in contact with the inner conductor contact 12) are oriented away from the inner conductor contact 12. It is continuously narrowing.

In this case, if the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC is a single wire, a part thereof is plastically deformed to form a polygonal shape (substantially triangular shape), but the twist is composed of a plurality of wires. In the case of lines, each line is integrally plastically deformed to form a polygonal shape (substantially triangular shape).

In the case of the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the groove-shaped portion on the tip surface of the horn TH is V-shaped, but the distance between the pair of groove side wall portions THb and THb is from the groove opening to the groove bottom. It may have a different shape as long as it narrows toward. For example, the groove side wall portion THb may be formed in a stepped shape. Further, the groove bottom portion of the horn TH may be angular, curved, or linear. Then, the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC formed as a result reflects the cross-sectional shape of the groove-shaped portion on the tip surface of the horn TH.

Next, an assembly step is performed in which the contact assembly CA formed by the above-mentioned joining step by ultrasonic vibration is taken out from the anvil TA which is a member for receiving ultrasonic vibration and attached to the insulating housing 11. In this assembling step, first, as shown in FIG. 17, the contact assembly CA held by an appropriate means is "above" the contact accommodating space 11c of the insulating housing 11 already assembled to the shield shell 13. Arranged in the positive direction of the Z-axis shown in the drawing), the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 of the contact assembly CA is inserted toward the inside of the contact accommodating space 11c. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the contact assembly CA is mounted, and the contact assembly CA at this time is mounted inside the contact assembly CA. This is done by inserting the locking portion 12a of the conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 into the insulating housing 11 and press-fitting it.

According to such a method of manufacturing the plug connector 10, jigs such as horn TH and anvil TA that apply ultrasonic vibration are used in a place independent of the insulating housing 11, and the insulating housing 11 is used as in the conventional case. It will not be used by inserting it inside. Therefore, the restrictions on designing the insulating housing 11 are reduced by that amount, and the degree of freedom in design is increased, so that the plug connector 10 can be easily miniaturized. Further, the horn TH and the anvil TA, which are jigs for applying ultrasonic vibration, are not restricted by the structure of the insulating housing 11, so that the design for obtaining the optimum resonance point becomes possible and is efficient. Sufficient bonding strength can be easily obtained by applying ultrasonic vibration.

With respect to the semi-finished product (see FIGS. 18 and 19) of the plug connector 10 obtained as described above, the connecting member 13c1 is bent at a substantially right angle to close the shield shell 13 and further fix it first. The electric connector 10 is completed by bending and caulking the holding plate 13c3 and the second fixed holding plate 13c4 so as to cover them from the outside.

At this time, the terminal portion of the central conductor SCa of the coaxial cable SC in the present embodiment is "silver-plated" as described above, but the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 12 to be joined is The flat plate portion 12c is "gold-plated" at least at a portion where the central conductor SCa of the coaxial cable SC is joined. In the case where the gold (Au) -silver (Ag) is combined in this way and the bonding is performed by ultrasonic vibration, as shown in Table 1 below, the combination of other metals ( Compared with the case of performing ultrasonic vibration bonding with Au-Sn, Ni-Ag, Ni-Sn), a larger bonding strength (Ave.) Can be obtained and the variation (σ) in the bonding strength is also reduced. It has been found by the experiments of the present inventors.

Next, the configuration of another embodiment according to FIG. 20, which is represented by adding "10" to the reference numerals attached to the same members as those in the above-described embodiment, will be described.

That is, in another embodiment shown in FIG. 20, the connecting portion between the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 22 and the central conductor SCa, which is the signal line of the coaxial cable CA, is an insulating housing by insert molding. It is in a state of being embedded inside the connection filling portion 21e which constitutes a part of 21.

In insert molding a configuration in which an electrical connection portion is embedded inside the connection filling portion 21e of the insulating housing 21, first, the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 22 and the central conductor of the coaxial cable SC are formed. (Signal line) SCa is joined by applying ultrasonic vibration similar to the above-described embodiment to form a contact assembly CA, and the contact assembly CA is placed inside a mold prepared in advance. Manufactured by setting and insert molding.

According to another embodiment having such a configuration, the connection portion between the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 22 and the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC is held by the insulating housing 21. Therefore, the electrical connection state of the electric connector is stabilized and the strength is improved.

[About other embodiments relating to the central conductor (signal line) of the coaxial cable]
Here, as described above, the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC is formed by being plastically deformed into a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the concave portion THa of the horn TH. By forming a recess in the anvil TA arranged facing the THa, or by using a molding mold other than these horns TH and the anvil TA, the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC can be used. It is possible to form the terminal portion of the above in the cross-sectional shape shown in each of the following embodiments.

That is, in each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 21 to 28, the terminal portions of the central conductors (signal lines) SCa1 to SCa4 of the coaxial cables SC1 to SC4 are the central conductors (signal lines) SCa1 to SCa4. It has first surface portions SCa11 to SCa41 and second surface portions SCa12 to SCa42 facing in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) (positive / negative direction of the Z-axis in the drawing). Then, any one of the first surface portions SCa11 to SCa41 and the second surface portions SCa12 to SCa42 is connected to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 shown in FIGS. 29 and 30. There is.

Among them, first, in the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the extending direction of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing). The cross-sectional shape in the direction orthogonal to (the positive and negative directions of the Z-axis in the figure) is a "diamond shape". More specifically, the lower surface connected to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32, which will be described later, is formed on the first surface portion SCa11 composed of two flat surfaces, and with respect to the first surface portion SCa11. The second surface portion SCa12 arranged so as to face each other from above is also formed from two flat surfaces.

Each of the two flat surfaces constituting the first surface portion SCa11 and the second surface portion SCa12 is in the extending direction of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 (positive or negative of the Y-axis shown in the drawing). It extends in the positive and negative directions of the Y-axis shown in the figure in a state of being inclined in a direction intersecting with (direction), specifically, in a direction of intersecting with about 45 degrees. Each of these two flat surfaces has two edge edges extending in the extending direction (positive and negative directions of the Y-axis in the drawing) and the other edge edge, and each flat surface has two edge edges. The central conductor (signal line) SCa1 whose cross-sectional shape in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) is a "lozenge" because one of the edges of the above is directly connected to each other. Has been done.

The tip surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH1 (or other molding die) forming the upper surface of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 having such a “lozenge” cross-sectional shape is the above-described embodiment. It has the same configuration as the form. For example, on the front end surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH1 (or other molding die) shown in FIG. 22, the extending direction of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 (positive or negative of the Y axis shown in the drawing). A recess THa1 is provided which is composed of a groove-shaped portion having a “V-shaped” cross-sectional shape in a direction (positive / negative direction of the Z-axis in the drawing) orthogonal to the direction).

That is, the distance between the groove side wall portions THb1 and THb1 formed by the pair of tapered surfaces forming the groove-shaped portion of the recess TH1 in the above-mentioned horn TH1 (or other molding die) is maximum at the groove opening at the lower end. The width of the groove is set to the above, and the width of the groove is continuously reduced in the upward direction from the opening of the groove toward the bottom of the groove. The groove side wall portions THb1 and THb1 of the horn TH1 are composed of two flat surfaces extending along the "front-back direction" (positive and negative directions of the Y-axis in the drawing), and constitute the groove side wall portions THb. Each of the two flat surfaces is having two edges consisting of one edge extending in the extending direction (positive and negative directions of the Y axis) and the other edge, and in those two edges. One end edge is directly connected to each other.

Although not shown, the center of the coaxial cable SC1 is also placed on the receiving surface of the anvil (or other molding die) forming the lower surface (contact connection surface) of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1. A groove-shaped recess having a "V-shaped" cross-sectional shape in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis) of the conductor (signal line) SCa1 is formed, and constitutes the groove-shaped recess. The distance between the groove side walls formed by the pair of tapered surfaces is set to the maximum groove width in the groove opening at the upper end, and is continuously reduced downward from the groove opening toward the bottom of the groove-shaped portion. It is configured.

That is, the groove side wall portion of the anvil (or other molding die) according to the present embodiment is also composed of two flat surfaces extending along the "front-back direction" (positive and negative directions of the Y-axis in the drawing). Each of the two flat surfaces has two edges consisting of one edge extending in the "front-back direction" and the other edge, and one edge of the two edges is connected to each other. It has a directly connected configuration. The structure of the receiving surface of this anvil (or other molding die) is the same in the following embodiments.

In this way, if the cross-sectional shape of the recess TH1 provided on the front end surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH1 (or other molding die) is V-shaped, the horn will be joined by ultrasonic vibration. Ultrasonic vibration is transmitted through the groove side wall portions THb1 and THb1 formed of the tapered surface of TH1 to the first surface portion SCa11 of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 and the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 described later. Is efficiently transmitted to.

Further, the two flat surfaces constituting the first surface portion SCa11 of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 form a lower surface connected to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 described later. Therefore, the contact area between the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 and the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 is expanded, and sufficient joining strength is obtained when joining by ultrasonic vibration. Easy to obtain.

The central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 is the first surface portion SCa11 constituting the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1. Is connected to the connecting portion 32d provided on the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 shown in FIGS. 29 and 30 in a state of being placed "above" (in the positive direction of the Z axis in the drawing). To. At that time, the connecting portion 32d of the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 is along the "front-back direction" (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) which is the extending direction of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1. A groove portion 32d1 extending is provided.

The groove portion 32d1 provided in the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 has a shape corresponding to the first surface portion SCa11 constituting the terminal portion in the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 described above. Specifically, the cross section in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 has a “V-shape”. Then, the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 makes surface contact with the groove portion 32d1 provided in the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 in the "vertical direction" (positive / negative direction of the Z axis shown in the drawing). After being placed in the state of being mounted, it is connected by applying ultrasonic vibration.

The first surface portion SCa11 of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 connected to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 has another cross section such as "arc shape" or "polygonal shape". When extending in a shape, the groove portion 32d1 of the above-mentioned internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 has a cross-sectional shape of "arc shape" in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction. And will be made into a "polygonal shape".

With respect to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 shown in FIG. 21 is provided. when connecting the above the connecting portion 32d of the inner conductor contacts (signal contact member) 32 described above, after placing the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) SCA1 coaxial cable SC1, lowering the overall coaxial cable SC1 Then, the central conductor (signal line) SCa1 of the coaxial cable SC1 is brought into contact with the connecting portion 32d of the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32, and then both members are sandwiched by using the above-mentioned horn TH and anvil. and a fixed state by joining by ultrasonic vibration to form a contact assembly.

Next, as shown in FIG. 31, the contact assembly formed by the above-mentioned ultrasonic vibration joining step is "above" the contact accommodating space 31c of the insulating housing 31 already assembled to the shield shell 33. (Positive direction of the Z-axis in the figure), the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 of the contact assembly is inserted toward the inside of the contact accommodating space 31c. As a result, the contact assembly is mounted. At this time, the contact assembly is mounted by engaging the locking portion 32a of the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 constituting the contact assembly with an insulating housing. It is performed by biting into 31 and press-fitting.

In the semi-finished product of the plug connector 30 obtained as described above, the shield shell 33 is closed by bending the connecting member 33c1 of the shield shell 33 at a substantially right angle, and the first fixed holding plate 33c3 and the second fixed holding plate 33c3 and the second by bending so as to cover from the outside caulking the fixed holding plate 33C4, as shown in FIG. 3 2 and 3 3, electrical connector 30 is made in the finished state.

[For Further Other Embodiments Regarding the Center Conductor (Signal Line) of Coaxial Cable]
On the other hand, in the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 of the coaxial cable SC2 according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the extending direction of the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) The cross-sectional shape in the orthogonal direction is a "fan shape". More specifically, the first surface portion SCa21 forming the lower surface connected to the above-mentioned internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 extends in the extending direction of the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 (of the Y-axis in the figure). It has two flat surfaces extending in the positive and negative directions.

Each of the two flat surfaces constituting the first surface portion SCa21 intersects the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) of the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 of the coaxial cable SC2, specifically. Is inclined in the direction of intersection at about 45 degrees, and extends in the positive and negative directions of the Y-axis shown in the figure. Each of these two flat surfaces has two edge edges extending in the extending direction (positive and negative directions of the Y-axis in the drawing) and the other edge edge, and each flat surface has two edge edges. One end edge of the above is directly connected to each other.

Further, the second surface portion SCa22 forming the upper surface of the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 of the coaxial cable SC2 according to the present embodiment extends in the extending direction of the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 (Y-axis in the drawing). The outer shape forming the cross section in the direction orthogonal to the positive and negative directions of) is a single "curved surface", more specifically, an "arc shape", and the cross section is curved to an "arc shape". The curved surface formed in the state extends in the extending direction (positive and negative directions of the Y axis in the drawing) of the central conductor (signal line) SCa2. Then, the outermost edges in the radial direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the second surface portion SCa22 having such a cross section "arc shape" are orthogonal to the extending direction of the first surface portion SCa21 described above. It is directly connected to the outermost edges in the radial direction.

As described above, the tip surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH2 (or other molding mold) forming the upper surface of the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 of the coaxial cable SC2 having a “fan shape” in cross section is shown in the figure, for example. As shown in FIG. 24, a groove-shaped portion having a cross-sectional shape recessed in an "arc shape" in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y axis in the drawing) of the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 of the coaxial cable SC2. It has a recess THa2 made of. More specifically, the distance between the groove side wall portions THb2 and THb2, which are formed of the groove-shaped portion of the recess THa2 and are formed of curved surfaces recessed in an arcuate cross section, is the maximum groove width at the lower end groove opening. In addition to being made, it is configured to be reduced in a continuous curved line shape in the upward direction from the groove opening toward the bottom of the groove-shaped portion.

If the recess TH2 provided on the tip surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH2 (or other molding die) is provided as a cross-sectional shape having an "arc-shaped" curved surface as in the present embodiment, ultrasonic vibration From the arcuate curved surface of the horn TH2 with respect to the first surface portion SCa21 of the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 of the coaxial cable SC2 and the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 described later. Ultrasonic vibration is efficiently transmitted through the groove side wall portion THb2.

Further, as for the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 of the coaxial cable SC2 according to the present embodiment, the first surface portion SCa21 constituting the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 is shown in FIGS. 29 and 30. The coaxial cable SC2 is connected to the connecting portion 32d provided on the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 so as to be mounted from "above" (positive direction of the Z axis in the drawing). Since the two flat surfaces forming the first surface portion SCa21 of the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 of the above-mentioned center conductor (signal line) SCa2 form the lower surface connected to the above-mentioned internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32, the coaxial The contact area between the central conductor (signal line) SCa2 of the cable SC2 and the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 is expanded, so that sufficient bonding strength can be easily obtained when bonding by ultrasonic vibration. ..

[For Further Other Embodiments Regarding the Center Conductor (Signal Line) of Coaxial Cable]
Next, in the central conductor (signal line) SCa3 of the coaxial cable SC3 according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, the cross-sectional shape in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the central conductor (signal line) SCa3 is It is made into a "polygonal shape". More specifically, the first surface portion SCa31 of the central conductor (signal line) SCa3 constituting the lower surface connected to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 described above is the central conductor (signal line) SCa. Has two flat surfaces extending in the extending direction (positive and negative directions of the Y-axis in the figure). Further, the second surface portion SCa32 constituting the upper surface of the central conductor (signal line) SCa3 extends in the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) of the central conductor (signal line) SCa3. have.

Then, each of the two flat surfaces constituting the first surface portion SCa31 of the central conductor (signal line) SCa3 described above is in the extending direction of the central conductor (signal line) SCa3 of the coaxial cable SC3 (in the illustrated Y-axis). It extends in the positive and negative directions of the Y-axis shown in the figure in a state of being inclined in the direction of intersection with the positive and negative directions), specifically, in the direction of intersection at about 45 degrees. Each of these two flat surfaces has two edge edges extending in the extending direction (positive and negative directions of the Y-axis in the drawing) and the other edge edge, and each flat surface has two edge edges. One end edge of the above is directly connected to each other.

Further, each of the three flat surfaces constituting the second surface portion SCa32 of the central conductor (signal line) SCa3 also has one end edge extending in the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) and the other end. It has two edges consisting of edges, and one edge on each flat surface is directly connected to each other.

As described above, the tip surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH3 (or other molding die) forming the upper surface of the central conductor (signal line) SCa3 of the coaxial cable SC3 having a “polygonal shape” in cross section is shown in the figure, for example. As shown in FIG. 26, a groove-shaped portion having a “trapezoidal” cross-sectional shape in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) of the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC. It has a recess THa3 made of. More specifically, the distance between the groove side wall portions THb3 and THb3, which are formed of the groove-shaped portion of the recess TH3 and are composed of a pair of tapered surfaces facing each other, becomes the maximum groove width in the groove opening at the lower end. At the same time, it is continuously reduced in an upward direction from the groove opening toward the bottom of the groove-shaped portion, and the upper end edges of these groove side wall portions THb3 and THb3 are connected to the above-mentioned internal conductor contact (signal contact). It is indirectly connected via a separate flat surface THb3 extending substantially parallel to the member) 32.

That is, the groove side wall portions THb3, THb3, THb3 of the horn TH3 (or other molding die) according to the present embodiment have three flat surfaces extending along the "front-back direction" (positive and negative directions of the Y-axis in the drawing). The one edge of each of the three flat surfaces, which consists of one edge extending in the extending direction and the other edge, is directly connected to each other. ing.

As in the present embodiment, if the cross-sectional shape of the recess TH3 provided on the tip surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH3 (or other molding mold) is set as a "trapezoidal shape", when joining by ultrasonic vibration is performed. In addition, with respect to the first surface portion SCa31 of the central conductor (signal line) SCa of the coaxial cable SC and the above-mentioned internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32, the groove side wall portion THb3 composed of three flat surfaces of the horn TH3 Ultrasonic vibration is efficiently transmitted via THb3 and THb3.

Further, as for the central conductor (signal line) SCa3 of the coaxial cable SC3 according to the present embodiment, the first surface portion SCa31 constituting the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) SCa3 is shown in FIGS. 29 and 30. The coaxial cable SC3 is connected to the connecting portion 32d provided on the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 so as to be mounted from "above" (positive direction of the Z axis in the drawing). Since the two flat surfaces forming the first surface portion SCa31 of the central conductor (signal line) SCa3 of the above form the lower surface connected to the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) 32, the coaxial cable SC Since the contact area between the central conductor (signal line) SCa and the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 is expanded, sufficient bonding strength can be easily obtained when bonding by ultrasonic vibration.

[For Further Other Embodiments Regarding the Center Conductor (Signal Line) of Coaxial Cable]
Further, also in the coaxial cable SC4 according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, the cross-sectional shape in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) of the central conductor (signal line) SCa4 is “polygonal”. The first surface portion SCa41, which has a “shape” and constitutes the lower surface connected to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 described above, extends in the extending direction of the central conductor (signal line) SCa (Y-axis in the drawing). It has two flat surfaces extending in the positive and negative directions of. Each of the two flat surfaces constituting the first surface portion SCa41 intersects the extending direction (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing) of the central conductor (signal line) SCa4 of the coaxial cable SC4, specifically. Is inclined in the direction of intersection at about 45 degrees, and extends in the positive and negative directions of the Y-axis shown in the figure. Each of these two flat surfaces has two edge edges extending in the extending direction (positive and negative directions of the Y-axis in the drawing) and the other edge edge, and each flat surface has two edge edges. One end edge of the above is directly connected to each other.

Further, the second surface portion SCa42 constituting the upper surface of the central conductor (signal line) SCa4 of the coaxial cable SC4 according to the present embodiment extends in the extending direction of the central conductor (signal line) SCa (positive / negative direction of the Y-axis in the drawing). ) Has a single flat surface (horizontal plane), and the outermost edge in the width direction (positive / negative direction of the X-axis in the figure) on the single flat surface (horizontal plane) is a pair of other face portions. It is indirectly connected to the outermost edge of the first surface portion SCa41 described above via the SCa43 and the SCa43.

Here, in the central conductor (signal line) SCa4 of the coaxial cable SC4 according to the present embodiment, the "vertical direction" (positive or negative of the Z axis shown in the figure) is the direction in which the first surface portion SCa41 and the second surface portion SCa42 face each other. The maximum dimension H in the direction) is smaller than the maximum dimension W in the "left-right direction" (positive / negative direction of the X-axis in the drawing) orthogonal to the direction in which the first surface portion SCa41 and the second surface portion SCa42 face each other (H <W). It is in a state. That is, the central conductor (signal line) having a circular cross section before processing is compressed in the "vertical direction" (positive and negative directions of the Z-axis in the drawing), and this "vertical direction". The point of compression in the positive and negative directions of the Z-axis shown in the drawing is the same in other embodiments.

As described above, the tip surface (lower end surface) of the horn TH4 (or other molding die) forming the upper surface of the central conductor (signal line) SCa4 of the coaxial cable SC4 having a “polygonal shape” in cross section is shown in the figure, for example. As shown in 28, the flat surface has no recess, and the flat surface of the horn TH4 directly forms the first surface portion SCa41 and pressurizes the horn TH4 (pushing down). By appropriately adjusting the amount), the other surface portion SCa43 described above is formed.

Further, as for the central conductor (signal line) SCa4 of the coaxial cable SC4 according to the present embodiment, the first surface portion SCa41 constituting the terminal portion of the central conductor (signal line) SCa4 is shown in FIGS. 29 and 30. The coaxial cable SC4 is connected to the connecting portion 32d provided on the inner conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 so as to be mounted from "above" (positive direction of the Z axis in the drawing). Since the two flat surfaces constituting the first surface portion SCa41 of the central conductor (signal line) SCa4 of the above form a lower surface connected to the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 described later, the coaxial The contact area between the central conductor (signal line) SCa4 of the cable SC4 and the internal conductor contact (signal contact member) 32 is expanded, so that sufficient bonding strength can be easily obtained when bonding by ultrasonic vibration. ..

The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described above based on the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof. Needless to say.

For example, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 20, the contact assembly CA is attached by press fitting with the insulating housing 11 already assembled to the shield shell 13, but the contact is made to the insulating housing 11. After mounting the assembly CA, the shield shell 13 to which the insulating housing 11 and the contact assembly CA are mounted may be assembled.

Further, in the case where the insulating housing 21 is manufactured by insert molding as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 20, the latter one, that is, after mounting the contact assembly CA on the insulating housing 21, is shielded. By assembling the shell 23 equipped with the insulating housing 21 and the contact assembly CA, the mold structure can be simplified.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the single-core coaxial cable connector as in the above-described embodiment, and is not limited to a coaxial cable connector in which a plurality of internal conductor contacts are arranged at predetermined intervals, or a coaxial cable. The same can be applied to an electric connector or the like in which a plurality of insulated cables are mixed.

As described above, the present embodiment can be widely applied to a wide variety of electric connectors used in various electric devices.

10,20 plug connector (electrical connector)
11 and 21 Insulated housings 11a and 21a Insulated main bodies 11b and 21b Connection support parts 11c and 21c Contact accommodation space 11d Bottom wall surface 21e Connection filling parts 12, 22 Internal conductor contacts (signal contact members)
12a, 22a Locking pieces 12b, 22b Elastic springs 12c, 22c Flat plates 13, 23 Shield shells 13a, 23a External conductor shell (ground contact member)
13b, 23b Shell protrusion 13c, 23c Shell lid 13c1, 23c1 Connecting member 13c2, 23c2 Rear cover 13c3, 23c3 First fixed holding plate 13c4, 23c4 Second fixed holding plate 13d, 23d Fitting engagement part SC coaxial cable (Cable signal transmission medium)
SCa center conductor (signal line)
SCb outer conductor (shielded wire)
SCc Dielectric SCd Outer Cover Material TA Anvil TH Horn THa Recess THb Groove Side Wall CA Contact Assembly 30 Plug Connector (Electrical Connector)
31 Insulated housing 31a Insulated main body 31b Connection support 31c Contact accommodation space 31d Bottom wall surface 32 Internal conductor contact (signal contact member)
32a Locking piece 32b Elastic spring part 32c Flat plate part 32d Connection part 33 Shield shell 33a External conductor shell (ground contact member)
33b Shell protrusion 33c Shell lid 33c1 Connecting member 33c2 Rear cover 33c3 First fixed holding plate 33c4 Second fixed holding plate 33d Fitting engaging part SC1 to SC4 Coaxial cable (cable signal transmission medium)
SCa1 to SCa4 center conductor (signal line)
SCa11 to SCa41 1st surface SCa12 to SCa42 2nd surface SCa43 Other surface SCb1 to SCb4 External conductor (shielded wire)
SCc1 to SCc4 Dielectric SCd1 to SCd4 Outer coating material 32 Inner conductor contact (signal contact member)
32a Locking piece 32b Elastic spring part 32c Flat plate part 32d Connection part

Claims (17)

In a method for manufacturing an electric connector in which a contact made of a conductive member for signal transmission is attached to a housing made of an insulating member, and a central conductor of a coaxial cable is connected to the contact.
By applying ultrasonic vibration to the contact before mounting it on the housing in a state where the center conductor of the coaxial cable is in contact with the contact, a contact assembly is formed in which the center conductor of the coaxial cable is joined to the contact. After performing the joining process by ultrasonic vibration
A method for manufacturing an electric connector, characterized in that a contact of the contact assembly formed in the joining step by ultrasonic vibration is attached to the housing in an assembling step. The method for manufacturing an electric connector according to claim 1, wherein in the assembling step, the contacts of the contact assembly are attached by press-fitting into the housing. The method for manufacturing an electric connector according to claim 1, wherein in the assembly step, the contact assembly is set inside a mold and then the housing is molded by insert molding. In the joining step by ultrasonic vibration, the tip surface of the horn is brought into contact with the central conductor of the coaxial cable, and the anvil is brought into contact with the contact.
A method of applying ultrasonic vibration with the contact and the central conductor of the coaxial cable sandwiched between the horn and the anvil.
The method for manufacturing an electric connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a recess for accommodating the central conductor of the coaxial cable is provided on the tip surface of the horn. The recess provided in the horn is formed as a groove-shaped portion extending along the extending direction of the central conductor of the coaxial cable.
The groove-shaped portion extends in a state of facing each other from a groove opening having a groove width corresponding to the central conductor of the coaxial cable and from the groove opening toward the groove bottom portion which is the bottom of the groove-shaped portion. With a pair of groove side walls,
The method for manufacturing an electric connector according to claim 4, wherein the pair of groove side wall portions has a narrowing distance between the pair of groove side wall portions toward the groove bottom portion. A housing made of insulating material and
The terminal portion of the central conductor of the coaxial cable is connected by applying ultrasonic vibration, and a contact made of a conductive member mounted on the housing is used.
In an electrical connector equipped with
The terminal portion of the central conductor of the coaxial cable has a shape having at least three sides in a cross section in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the central conductor.
One of the three sides constituting the cross-sectional shape of the terminal portion of the central conductor is connected to the contact.
The pair of other sides extending from both ends of the one side is an electric connector characterized in that the distance between the pair of other sides is narrowed in a direction away from the contact. A housing made of insulating material and
The terminal portion of the central conductor of the coaxial cable in the extending direction is connected by applying ultrasonic vibration, and a contact made of a conductive member mounted on the housing and a contact.
In an electrical connector equipped with
The terminal portion of the central conductor of the coaxial cable has a first surface portion and a second surface portion facing in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the central conductor.
One of the first face portion and the second face portion is connected to the contact.
The first surface portion includes a single or a plurality of flat surfaces extending in the extending direction, and the first surface portion includes.
The second surface portion is an electrical connector comprising either a single or a plurality of flat surfaces extending in the extending direction, or a single or a plurality of curved surfaces extending in the extending direction. Each of the plurality of flat surfaces constituting the first surface portion has one edge extending in the extending direction and the other edge.
The electrical connector according to claim 7, wherein one end edge of each flat surface is directly or indirectly connected to each other via another surface portion. The first surface portion is composed of two flat surfaces extending in a state of being inclined in a direction intersecting the extending direction.
Each of the two flat surfaces constituting the first surface portion has one edge extending in the extending direction and the other edge.
The electrical connector according to claim 7, wherein one end edge of each of the two flat surfaces is directly connected to each other. Each of the plurality of flat surfaces or curved surfaces constituting the second surface portion has one edge extending in the extending direction and the other edge.
The electrical connector according to claim 7, wherein one end edge of each flat surface or curved surface is directly or indirectly connected to each other via another surface portion. The outermost edge of the first surface portion in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction and the outermost edge of the second surface portion in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction are direct or other. The electric connector according to claim 7, wherein the electric connector is indirectly connected via a surface portion. The central conductor of the coaxial cable has a maximum dimension H in a direction in which the first surface portion and the second surface portion face each other, and a maximum in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the first surface portion and the second surface portion face each other. The electric connector according to claim 7, wherein the size is smaller than W (H <W). The contact has a connection to which the central conductor of the coaxial cable is connected.
The electrical connector according to claim 7, wherein the connecting portion has a groove portion extending along the extending direction. The electric connector according to claim 13, wherein the groove portion of the contact has a cross section in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction having a V-shape, an arc shape, or a polygonal shape. The contact has gold plating at the site where the central conductor of the coaxial cable is connected, while
The electric connector according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the terminal portion of the central conductor of the coaxial cable has silver plating at a portion connected to the gold plating of the contact. The electric connector according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein a connecting portion between the contact and the central conductor of the coaxial cable is embedded inside the housing. A shield shell made of a conductive member arranged so as to cover the outer surface of the housing is attached to the housing, and the shield shell is electrically connected to the outer conductor of the coaxial cable.
The contact is an internal conductor contact located in the area covered by the shield shell.
Any of claims 1 to 16, wherein a connection portion, which is an electrical connection portion between the internal conductor contact and the terminal portion of the central conductor of the coaxial cable, is arranged in the region of the shield shell. Electrical connector described in Cana.

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