JP2021099900A - Movable connector and manufacturing method of terminal for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a movable connector capable of suppressing non-uniformity of impedance in each part of a terminal and a manufacturing method of the terminal for the same.SOLUTION: A terminal 40 has a fixed side to-be-retained part 42, a movable side to-be-retained part 44, and a movable part 46. The fixed side to-be-retained part 42 forms part of a general part 40N of the terminal 40 and is retained in a fixed housing 20. The movable side to-be-retained part 44 forms the other part of the general part 40N of the terminal 40 and is retained in a movable housing 30. The movable part 46 connects the fixed side to-be-retained part 42 to the movable side to-be-retained part 44. Here, the movable part 46 has a thick plate 60 whose thickness is increased compared to the general part 40N of the terminal 40 so that its impedance approaches the respective impedances of the fixed side to-be-retained part 42 and the movable side to-be-retained part 44.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a movable connector and a method for manufacturing a terminal for the movable connector.

The following Patent Document 1 discloses a technique relating to a movable connector having a floating function. Briefly, this prior art movable connector comprises a fixed housing, a movable housing that connects to an object to be connected, and terminals that are fixed to the fixed housing and the movable housing, respectively.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-11136

By the way, in recent years, as the speed of electric signals has increased, there has been a demand for connectors that support high-speed transmission. In order for the connector to support high-speed transmission, it is necessary to make the impedance at each part of the terminal in the connector as uniform as possible.

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, for example, since the movable portion forming a part of the terminal is exposed in the air, the impedance tends to be higher than that of the other part of the terminal.

In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a movable connector and a method for manufacturing a terminal for the movable connector, which can suppress non-uniformity of impedance in each part of the terminal.

The movable connector of the present invention according to claim 1 is between a fixed housing mounted on a substrate, a movable housing provided so as to be movable relative to the fixed housing, and the fixed housing and the movable housing. A movable connector comprising a general portion having a predetermined plate thickness that is bridged and is neither thickened nor thinned, wherein the terminal is held in the fixed housing. A fixed-side held portion that constitutes a part of the general portion, a movable-side held portion that is held by the movable housing and constitutes another part of the general portion, and the fixed-side held portion and the movable portion. It has a movable portion that connects to the side-held portion, and the movable portion is thicker than the general portion so that its impedance approaches each impedance of the fixed-side-held portion and the movable-side-held portion. Has an increased plate portion.

According to the above configuration, the fixed housing is mounted on the substrate, and the movable housing is movable relative to the fixed housing. Further, a terminal is bridged between the fixed housing and the movable housing, and the terminal includes a general portion having a predetermined plate thickness that is neither thickened nor thinned. Further, the terminal has a fixed-side held portion, a movable-side held portion, and a movable portion, and the fixed-side held portion constitutes a part of a general portion of the terminal and is held in the fixed housing, and is held on the movable side. The held portion constitutes another part of the general portion of the terminal and is held by the movable housing, and the movable portion connects the fixed side held portion and the movable side held portion. Here, the movable portion has a thick plate portion whose plate thickness is increased as compared with the general portion of the terminal so that its impedance approaches each impedance of the fixed side held portion and the movable side held portion. Therefore, the increase in impedance can be suppressed in the moving portion where the impedance tends to increase. As a result, non-uniformity of impedance at each part of the terminal is suppressed, and high-speed transmission characteristics are improved.

The movable connector of the present invention according to claim 2 has the configuration according to claim 1, wherein the movable portion includes a plurality of bent portions and a connecting portion that linearly connects the bent portions adjacent to each other. The thick plate portion is formed in the connecting portion.

According to the above configuration, since the thick plate portion is formed not at the bent portion but at the connecting portion, the flexibility of the movable portion is reduced as compared with the case where the thick plate portion is formed at the bent portion, for example. Is suppressed. That is, it is possible to suppress the non-uniformity of impedance in each part of the terminal while suppressing the decrease in flexibility in the movable part.

The movable connector of the present invention according to claim 3 has the configuration according to claim 1 or 2, and the end portion of the plank portion adjacent to the general portion is moved away from the adjacent general portion. A gradual change increasing portion is provided in which the plate thickness gradually increases accordingly.

According to the above configuration, in the thick plate portion, the plate thickness of the gradually changing increasing portion provided at the end adjacent to the general portion gradually increases as the distance from the adjacent general portion increases, so that, for example, the plate thickness increases. Impedance disturbance is suppressed as compared with the case of a configuration in which the number increases rapidly.

In the configuration according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the movable connector of the present invention according to claim 4 has a fitting portion into which a connection object is fitted. The terminal has a contact portion that is arranged in the fitting portion and comes into contact with the connection object, and the impedance of the contact portion is the impedance of the fixed side held portion and the movable side held portion. It has a thin plate portion whose plate thickness is reduced as compared with the general portion so as to approach.

According to the above configuration, the connection object is fitted in the fitting portion of the movable housing, and the contact portion of the terminal is arranged in the fitting portion of the movable housing and comes into contact with the connection object. Here, since the contact portion has a thin plate portion whose plate thickness is reduced as compared with the general portion of the terminal so that its impedance approaches each impedance of the fixed side held portion and the movable side held portion, the impedance is lowered. Impedance drop is suppressed at the easy terminal contact.

The movable connector of the present invention according to claim 5 has the configuration according to claim 4, wherein the end portion of the thin plate portion adjacent to the general portion gradually becomes thicker as the distance from the adjacent general portion increases. A gradual reduction reduction section is provided.

According to the above configuration, in the thin plate portion, the plate thickness of the gradually changing reduction portion provided at the end adjacent to the general portion gradually decreases as the distance from the adjacent general portion increases, so that, for example, the plate thickness suddenly increases. Impedance disturbance is suppressed as compared with the case of the configuration in which the impedance is reduced to.

The method for manufacturing a terminal for a movable connector according to the sixth aspect of the present invention includes a fixed housing mounted on a substrate, a movable housing provided so as to be movable relative to the fixed housing, and the fixed housing and the above. A movable connector comprising a terminal including a general portion having a predetermined plate thickness which is bridged between the movable housing and is not thickened or thinned, and the terminal is the terminal. A fixed-side held portion held in a fixed housing and forming a part of the general portion, a movable-side held portion held in the movable housing and forming another part of the general portion, and the fixed side The movable portion has a movable portion that connects the held portion and the movable side held portion, and the movable portion is said so that its impedance approaches the respective impedances of the fixed side held portion and the movable side held portion. This is a method for manufacturing the terminal used for a movable connector having a thick plate portion having a thicker plate portion than a general portion, and the portion formed in the thick plate portion is thickened in advance to form the thick plate. A first step of punching out a metal plate having a plate thickness of a portion to form a terminal piece portion with a carrier in which a terminal piece portion having an unfolded shape of the terminal is integrally connected to a carrier, and after the first step. From the second step of bending the terminal piece portion in the plate thickness direction so as to have the bent shape of the terminal, and after the second step, from the terminal piece portion with a carrier in which the terminal piece portion is bent. It has a third step of cutting the carrier.

According to the above configuration, in the first step, a portion formed in the thick plate portion is thickened in advance, and a metal plate having the plate thickness of the thick plate portion is punched out, and a terminal piece having a shape in which terminals are deployed on a carrier. Form a terminal piece with a carrier in which the parts are integrally connected. In the second step after the first step, the terminal piece is bent in the plate thickness direction so as to have a bent shape of the terminal. In the third step after the second step, the carrier is cut from the carrier-attached terminal piece in which the terminal piece is bent. As described above, a terminal in which the non-uniformity of impedance in each part is suppressed is manufactured.

The method for manufacturing a terminal for a movable connector of the present invention according to claim 7 is the configuration according to claim 6, wherein in the movable connector, the movable housing has a fitting portion into which an object to be connected is fitted. The terminal has a contact portion that is arranged in the fitting portion and comes into contact with the connection object, and the contact portion has an impedance of the fixed side held portion and the movable side held portion. The metal plate having a thin plate portion whose plate thickness is reduced from that of the general portion so as to approach each impedance, and the metal plate punched in the first step has a portion formed in the thin plate portion thinned in advance. It has the thickness of the thin plate portion.

According to the above configuration, in the metal plate punched in the first step, the portion formed in the thin plate portion is thinned in advance to have the plate thickness of the thin plate portion, so that a terminal having a thin plate portion in the contact portion can be easily formed. Can be manufactured in. By forming a thin plate portion at the contact portion of the terminal where the impedance tends to decrease, the decrease in impedance at the contact portion can be suppressed.

As described above, according to the present invention, there is an excellent effect that the non-uniformity of impedance at each part of the terminal can be suppressed.

It is a perspective view which shows the movable connector which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the half cross section which shows the movable connector of FIG. It is a figure which enlarges and shows the terminal applied to the movable connector of FIG. 1 in the state seen from the width direction. It is a perspective view which shows the terminal of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the metal plate applied to the manufacturing method of the terminal of FIG. It is a perspective view for demonstrating the 1st process of the manufacturing method of the terminal of FIG. It is a perspective view for demonstrating the 2nd process of the manufacturing method of the terminal of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the movable connector which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the half cross section which shows the movable connector of FIG. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing a terminal applied to the movable connector of FIG. 6 when viewed from the width direction thereof. It is a perspective view which shows the terminal of FIG. It is a top view which shows typically the metal plate applied to the manufacturing method of the terminal of FIG.

[First Embodiment]
The movable connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5C. For convenience of explanation, the arrow FR appropriately described in each drawing is in front of the movable connector 10, the arrow LH is on the left side of the movable connector 10, and the arrow UP is on the upper side of the movable connector 10. Hereinafter, when the description is simply made using the front-back, left-right, and up-down directions, the directions with respect to the movable connector 10 are shown. These directions are independent of the directions in which the movable connector 10 is in use. Further, in each drawing, some reference numerals may be omitted in order to make the drawings easier to see.

(Rough configuration of movable connector 10)
FIG. 1 shows the movable connector 10 according to the present embodiment in a perspective view, and FIG. 2 shows the movable connector 10 in a half-section perspective view.

As shown in FIG. 1, the movable connector 10 according to the present embodiment has a fixed housing 20 and a movable housing 30. The fixed housing 20 is placed and fixed on the mounting surface 12A of the flat plate-shaped substrate 12. The movable housing 30 is provided so as to be movable relative to the fixed housing 20. As shown in FIG. 2, a terminal 40 is bridged between the fixed housing 20 and the movable housing 30.

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

(About fixed housing 20)
The fixed housing 20 is manufactured of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin. As shown in FIG. 1, the fixed housing 20 has a substantially rectangular accommodating hole 22 penetrating in the vertical direction and is formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape. The fixed housing 20 integrally includes a pair of left and right side wall portions 20A and 20B and a pair of front and rear connecting wall portions 20C and 20D. The pair of left and right side wall portions 20A and 20B extend in the front-rear direction facing each other in the left-right direction, and the pair of front-rear connecting wall portions 20C and 20D extend both ends of the pair of left-right side wall portions 20A and 20B in the front-rear direction in the left-right direction. Is connected to.

The lower side of the movable housing 30 is inserted inside the accommodating hole 22 of the fixed housing 20. A substantially rectangular annular gap is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the accommodating hole 22 of the fixed housing 20 and the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion of the movable housing 30 when viewed from the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, terminal insertion portions 24 are formed at intermediate portions in the front-rear direction of the pair of left and right side wall portions 20A and 20B. A plurality of terminal insertion portions 24 are formed so as to be arranged at equal intervals in the front-rear direction. Each terminal insertion portion 24 is formed so as to extend upward from the lower surfaces of the side wall portions 20A and 20B and to communicate with the accommodating hole 22.

Further, a recess 26 recessed upward is formed in the lower portion of the left-right intermediate portion of the pair of front and rear connecting wall portions 20C and 20D shown in FIG. 1 (the recess 26 on the rear side is not shown in the drawing). abridgement). The recess 26 is used to prevent the movable housing 30 from coming off, as will be described later.

(About movable housing 30)
The movable housing 30 is manufactured of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin. The lower side of the movable housing 30 is accommodated in the accommodating hole 22 of the fixed housing 20 and is formed in a substantially box shape, and the fitting recess as a fitting portion into which the mating connector 14 as a connection object is fitted. It has 32. The movable housing 30 integrally includes a pair of left and right side wall portions 30A and 30B, a pair of front and rear connecting wall portions 30C and 30D, and a bottom wall portion 30E (see FIG. 2). The pair of left and right side wall portions 30A and 30B extend in the front-rear direction facing each other in the left-right direction, and the pair of front-rear connecting wall portions 30C and 30D have the front-rear end portions of the pair of left-right side wall portions 30A and 30B extending in the left-right direction. I'm connected. Further, the bottom wall portion 30E (see FIG. 2) connects the lower portions of the pair of left and right side wall portions 30A and 30B in the left-right direction and the lower portions of the pair of front-rear connecting wall portions 30C and 30D in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom wall portion 30E is provided in a substantially lower half portion of the movable housing 30, and is formed thick in the vertical direction.

A pair of front-rear convex portions 34 projecting outward in the front-rear direction are formed at the lower ends of the pair of front-rear connecting wall portions 30C and 30D shown in FIG. ). The pair of front and rear convex portions 34 are each formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape and are arranged in the concave portions 26 of the fixed housing 20. That is, the convex portion 34 of the movable housing 30 and the concave portion 26 of the fixed housing 20 function as a retainer for preventing the movable housing 30 from falling off with respect to the fixed housing 20. Further, between the left and right side surfaces of the convex portion 34 of the movable housing 30 and the left and right side surfaces of the concave portion 26 of the fixed housing 20 facing the convex portion 34, there is a gap for allowing the movable housing 30 to move relative to the fixed housing 20. Is formed.

As shown in FIG. 2, terminal insertion portions 36 are formed on the pair of left and right side wall portions 30A and 30B. A plurality of terminal insertion portions 36 are formed so as to be arranged at equal intervals in the front-rear direction, and each terminal insertion portion 36 extends upward from the lower surfaces of the side wall portions 30A and 30B. Further, a narrow groove portion 38 communicating with the inner space of the terminal insertion portion 36 is formed on the upper portions of the side wall portions 30A and 30B. A plurality of fine groove portions 38 are formed so as to be arranged at equal intervals in the front-rear direction, and each fine groove portion 38 extends in the vertical direction and opens to the fitting recess 32 side.

(About terminal 40)
The terminal 40 is manufactured by punching a conductive metal plate into a predetermined shape, and includes a general portion 40N having a predetermined plate thickness that is neither thickened nor thinned. There is. The cross-sectional area of the terminal 40 is set so that its impedance approaches a predetermined target value. The plurality of terminals 40 form a pair of left and right terminal rows 140A and 140B. The left and right terminal rows 140A and 140B each have a configuration in which a plurality of terminals 40 are arranged at equal intervals in the front-rear direction. The plurality of terminals 40 in the terminal row 140A on the left side and the plurality of terminals 40 in the terminal row 140B on the right side are formed in the same shape, but are arranged in opposite positions in the left-right direction. The plurality of terminals 40 in the left terminal row 140A are bridged between the left side wall portion 20A of the fixed housing 20 and the left side wall portion 30A of the movable housing 30. Further, the plurality of terminals 40 in the right terminal row 140B are bridged between the right side wall portion 20B of the fixed housing 20 and the right side wall portion 30B of the movable housing 30.

Each terminal 40 has a fixed side held portion 42 held by the terminal insertion portion 24 of the fixed housing 20, a movable side held portion 44 held by the terminal insertion portion 36 of the movable housing 30, and a fixed side held portion. It has a movable portion 46 that can be elastically deformed by connecting the 42 and the movable side held portion 44. Further, each terminal 40 has a substrate connecting portion 50 at one end arranged below the fixed side held portion 42, and the other terminal 40 is arranged above the movable side held portion 44. It has a contact piece 56 at the end.

The board connecting portion 50 is connected to the lower end portion of the fixed-side held portion 42 via an inclined piece portion 52. The inclined piece portion 52 is inclined outward in the left-right direction toward the downward side. The tip end side of the board connecting portion 50 projects outward in the left-right direction from the fixed housing 20. The board connection portion 50 is fixed (electrically connected) to the board 12 by soldering.

Further, the contact piece portion 56 is continuously arranged inside the fitting recess 32 on the upper end side of the movable side held portion 44. The contact piece portion 56 electrically contacts (connects) with a mating terminal (not shown) provided on the mating connector 14 (see FIG. 1). The contact piece portion 56 includes an elastic portion 56A that constitutes a lower portion thereof and an intermediate portion in the vertical direction, and also includes a contact portion 56B that bulges inward in the left-right direction from the upper end of the elastic portion 56A in a substantially arc shape. The contact portion 56B is a portion that comes into contact with the mating terminal provided on the mating connector 14 (see FIG. 1).

A bent portion 54 is formed between the elastic portion 56A and the movable side held portion 44, and the elastic portion 56A is inclined inward in the left-right direction toward the upper side with respect to the bottom surface of the narrow groove portion 38. Arranged in a non-contact state. As a result, the elastic portion 56A can be elastically deformed in the left-right direction while being supported by the movable side held portion 44. In the present embodiment, as an example, the elastic portion 56A has a vertical intermediate portion thereof so that the rising angle of the upper portion and the vertical intermediate portion of the elastic portion 56A is larger than the rising angle of the lower portion of the elastic portion 56A. A bent portion 56X is formed between the lower portion and the lower portion.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the terminal 40 when viewed from the width direction thereof, and FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the terminal 40. The width direction of the terminal 40 refers to a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the terminal 40 (left-right direction of the terminal 40) when the terminal 40 is viewed in the thickness direction.

As shown in FIG. 4, the fixed-side held portion 42 constitutes a part of the general portion 40N of the terminal 40. The cross-sectional area of the fixed-side held portion 42 is set so that its impedance approaches a predetermined target value. A plurality of protrusions 42A are formed on both sides of the fixed-side held portion 42 at intervals. The protrusion 42A is press-fitted and fixed to the terminal insertion portion 24 (both see FIG. 2) of the fixed housing 20. Further, the movable side held portion 44 constitutes another part of the general portion 40N of the terminal 40. The cross-sectional area of the movable side held portion 44 is set so that its impedance approaches a predetermined target value. A plurality of protrusions 44A are formed on both sides of the movable side held portion 44 at intervals. The protrusion 44A is press-fitted and fixed to the terminal insertion portion 36 (both see FIG. 2) of the movable housing 30.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the movable portion 46 connecting the fixed side held portion 42 and the movable side held portion 44 is a first bent portion 46A and a second bent portion as a plurality of bent portions. It has a 46B and a third bent portion 46C. Further, the movable portion 46 includes a first connecting portion 46X that linearly connects the first bending portion 46A and the second bending portion 46B that are adjacent to each other, and a second bending portion 46B and a third that are adjacent to each other. It has a second connecting portion 46Y that linearly connects the bent portion 46C of the above. In the present embodiment, the portion of the terminal 40 excluding the first connecting portion 46X is the general portion 40N.

The first bent portion 46A is formed so as to be continuous with the upper end portion side of the fixed side held portion 42, and is bent in an arc shape when viewed from the width direction of the terminal 40. The second bent portion 46B is formed at a portion connecting the first connecting portion 46X and the second connecting portion 46Y, and is bent at an obtuse angle when viewed from the width direction of the terminal 40. The third bent portion 46C is formed so as to be continuous with the lower end portion side of the movable side held portion 44, and is bent substantially at a right angle when viewed from the width direction of the terminal 40.

A thick plate portion 60 is formed in the first connecting portion 46X at a portion other than both ends in the longitudinal direction thereof. The thick plate portion 60 is a portion where the plate thickness is increased as compared with the general portion 40N of the terminal 40 so that the impedance of the movable portion 46 approaches the impedances of the fixed side held portion 42 and the movable side held portion 44. As shown in FIG. 3, the plate portion 60 of the present embodiment has a shape in which a portion facing the fixed side held portion 42 projects toward the fixed side held portion 42, as an example.

At the end of the thick plate portion 60 adjacent to the first bent portion 46A (a part of the general portion 40N), the plate thickness increases as the distance from the adjacent first bent portion 46A increases (in the direction of arrow D1). A first gradually increasing portion 62 that gradually increases is provided. Further, at the end portion of the thick plate portion 60 adjacent to the second bent portion 46B (a part of the general portion 40N), the plate increases as the distance from the adjacent second bent portion 46B (in the direction of arrow D2). A second gradual increase portion 64 whose thickness gradually increases is provided. In both the first gradual change increasing portion 62 and the second gradual change increasing portion 64, the surface of the movable side held portion 44 side (left side in the drawing) extends along the longitudinal direction of the first connecting portion 46X. At the same time, the surface of the fixed side held portion 42 side (right side in the drawing) is gently inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the first connecting portion 46X.

(Manufacturing method of terminal 40 for movable connector)
Next, with reference to FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, a method for manufacturing the terminal 40 used for the movable connector 10 shown in FIG. 1 described above (a method for manufacturing the terminal 40 for the movable connector). explain.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing a metal plate 70 applied to the method for manufacturing the terminal 40 of the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the metal plate 70 is formed as a thick strip-shaped portion 70B having a thickness of the thick plate portion 60 by pre-thickening a portion formed in the thick plate portion 60 (see FIG. 4). There is. Further, in the metal plate 70, the portion formed in the first gradual change increasing portion 62 (see FIG. 4) has a first gradual change increasing band shape having the same plate thickness setting as the first gradual change increasing portion 62. It is said to be part 70C. Further, in the metal plate 70, the portion formed in the second gradual change increasing portion 64 (see FIG. 4) has a second gradual change increasing band shape having the same plate thickness setting as the second gradual change increasing portion 64. It is said to be part 70D.

In the metal plate 70, the parts other than the thick-walled band-shaped portion 70B (the part including the first gradually changing increasing band-shaped part 70C and the second gradually changing increasing band-shaped part 70D) are thickened and thinned. It is a material general part 70A having no predetermined plate thickness. Further, the thick plate portion such as the thick strip-shaped portion 70B may be formed at the same time when the metal material is rolled to manufacture the metal plate 70, or another metal plate may be formed on the metal plate such as a clad material. It may be formed by joining.

The metal plate 70 is fed from the right side in the drawing to the left side in the drawing (see the arrow Fd direction) as an example in a press machine (not shown). The thick band-shaped portion 70B, the first gradually changing increasing band-shaped portion 70C, and the second gradually changing increasing band-shaped portion 70D extend in a strip shape along the feeding direction of the metal plate 70 (see the arrow Fd direction). Placed in.

Then, as shown on the left side in the drawing of FIG. 5B, in the first step, the metal plate 70 is punched out by a press machine (not shown), and the terminal 40 (see FIG. 4) is formed on the carrier 76 in the unfolded shape. A terminal piece portion 72 with a carrier is formed in which the portions 74 are integrally connected. In the first step of the present embodiment, as an example, a plurality of (here, four) terminal piece portions 74 are formed at the same time. Further, the plurality of terminal piece portions 74 are arranged in parallel in the feed direction of the metal plate 70 (see the arrow Fd direction) and are integrally connected by the carrier 76. The carrier 76 is for integrally handling a plurality of terminal piece portions 74 in the manufacturing process of the terminal 40 (see FIG. 4). Further, in FIG. 5B, the portion Z on the side opposite to the side of the terminal piece portion 74 with the carrier 76 sandwiched is a portion not related to the terminal 40 of the present embodiment.

In the second step after the first step, as shown on the left side in the figure of FIG. 5C, the terminal piece portion 74 is bent in the plate thickness direction so as to have a bent shape of the terminal 40 (see FIG. 4). Then, in the third step after the second step, the carrier 76 is cut from the carrier-attached terminal piece portion 72 in which the terminal piece portion 74 is bent. As described above, the terminal 40 shown in FIG. 4 and the like is manufactured.

(Action / effect of movable connector 10)
Next, the operation and effect of the movable connector 10 shown in FIG. 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

In the present embodiment, the fixed housing 20 is mounted on the substrate 12, and the movable housing 30 is movable relative to the fixed housing 20. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a terminal 40 is bridged between the fixed housing 20 and the movable housing 30. The terminal 40 has a fixed-side held portion 42, a movable-side held portion 44, and a movable portion 46, and the fixed-side held portion 42 constitutes a part of the general portion 40N of the terminal 40 and is a fixed housing 20. The movable side held portion 44 constitutes the other part of the general portion 40N of the terminal 40 and is held by the movable housing 30, and the movable portion 46 is held by the fixed side held portion 42 and the movable side held portion 44. Is connected with.

Here, the movable portion 46 has a thick plate portion 60 whose plate thickness is increased as compared with the general portion 40N of the terminal 40 so that its impedance approaches the impedances of the fixed side held portion 42 and the movable side held portion 44. Have. Therefore, it is possible to increase the cross-sectional area of a part of the movable portion 46 while suppressing the size of the movable portion 46 in the width direction. Further, the increase in impedance can be suppressed in the movable portion 46 in which the impedance tends to increase, and as a result, the non-uniformity of impedance in each portion of the terminal 40 can be suppressed. Therefore, the high-speed transmission characteristic is improved.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the thick plate portion 60 is a first bending portion 46 that linearly connects the first bending portion 46A and the second bending portion 46B that are adjacent to each other in the movable portion 46. It is formed in the connecting portion 46X of the above. Therefore, as compared with the case where the thick plate portion is formed in the bent portion, for example, the decrease in flexibility of the movable portion 46 can be suppressed. That is, it is possible to suppress the non-uniformity of impedance at each portion of the terminal 40 while suppressing the decrease in flexibility of the movable portion 46.

Further, in the present embodiment, at the end portion of the thick plate portion 60 adjacent to the general portion 40N of the terminal 40, the first gradual change increasing portion 62 and the first gradual change increasing portion 62 in which the plate thickness gradually increases as the distance from the general portion 40N increases. The gradual change increasing portion 64 of 1 is provided. Therefore, as compared with the case where the plate thickness increases sharply as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in the partially enlarged view of FIG. 3, the impedance disturbance can be suppressed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress the non-uniformity of impedance at each portion of the terminal 40. As a result, in the present embodiment, it is possible to accurately transmit the electric signal even when the speed is increased.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the movable connector according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10. FIG. 6 shows the movable connector 80 according to the present embodiment in a perspective view, and FIG. 7 shows the movable connector 80 in a half-section perspective view.

(Rough configuration of movable connector 80)
As shown in FIG. 6, the movable connector 80 according to the present embodiment has a fixed housing 90 and a movable housing 100. The fixed housing 90 is placed and fixed on the mounting surface 12A of the flat plate-shaped substrate 12 in the same manner as the fixed housing 20 of the first embodiment (see FIG. 1 and the like). Further, the movable housing 100 is provided so as to be movable relative to the fixed housing 90. As shown in FIG. 7, a terminal 120 is bridged between the fixed housing 90 and the movable housing 100.

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

(About fixed housing 90)
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the fixed housing 90 is different from the fixed housing 20 of the first embodiment (see FIG. 1 and the like) in small parts, but the basic configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. It is almost the same as the fixed housing 20 (see FIG. 1 and the like). Therefore, in the fixed housing 90, the components substantially corresponding to the basic components of the fixed housing 20 (see FIG. 1 and the like) of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted for convenience. ..

(About movable housing 100)
The movable housing 100 is arranged inside the accommodating hole 22 of the fixed housing 90. As shown in FIG. 7, the movable housing 100 includes a bottom wall portion 102, a central wall portion 104 projecting upward from the left-right central portion of the bottom wall portion 102, and both left-right end portions of the bottom wall portion 102. Side wall portions 106A and 106B projecting upward are provided. The central wall portion 104 and the pair of left and right side wall portions 106A and 106B both extend in the front-rear direction. The upper end of the central wall portion 104 is arranged at a position in the vertical direction above the upper ends of the side wall portions 20A and 20B of the fixed housing 90. The side wall portions 106A and 106B are arranged so as to face the lower half portions of the side wall portions 20A and 20B of the fixed housing 90.

The movable housing 100 has a fitting portion 108 into which a mating connector 16 (see FIG. 6) as a connection object is fitted. The fitting portion 108 is composed of the bottom wall portion 102, the central wall portion 104, and the side wall portions 106A and 106B described above. A plurality of terminal accommodating grooves 110 are formed on the left and right side surfaces of the central wall portion 104, respectively. The plurality of terminal accommodating grooves 110 are formed so as to be arranged at equal intervals in the front-rear direction. Each terminal accommodating groove 110 extends in the vertical direction. Although the terminal accommodating groove 110 on the left side is not shown in the drawing, the terminal accommodating groove 110 on the left side is set so as to form a left-right pair with the terminal accommodating groove 110 on the right side. Further, on the lower side of each terminal accommodating groove 110, a terminal insertion portion 112 that vertically penetrates the bottom wall portion 102 is formed.

(About terminal 120)
Similar to the terminal 40 of the first embodiment (see FIG. 2 and the like), the terminal 120 is manufactured by punching a conductive metal plate into a predetermined shape, and can be thickened or thinned. It is configured to include a general portion 40N having a predetermined plate thickness that is not provided. In the terminal 120 of the present embodiment, substantially the same components as the terminal 40 of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. The cross-sectional area of the terminal 120 is set so that its impedance approaches a predetermined target value. Further, the plurality of terminals 120 constitute a pair of left and right terminal rows 220A and 220B, similarly to the plurality of terminals 40 (see FIG. 2 and the like) of the first embodiment. Further, the movable side held portion 44 in the terminal 120 is held by the terminal insertion portion 112 of the movable housing 100.

FIG. 8 shows an enlarged view (a view corresponding to FIG. 3 in the first embodiment) of the terminal 120 applied to the movable connector 80 as viewed from the width direction thereof, and FIG. 9 shows the terminal. 120 is shown in a perspective view (a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4 in the first embodiment). As shown in FIG. 8, the plank portion 160 of the present embodiment has, as an example, a shape in which a portion facing the movable side held portion 44 side (left side in the figure) rather than the fixed side held portion 42 side protrudes. However, other points are substantially the same as those of the thick plate portion 60 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) of the first embodiment. In the first gradual change increasing portion 162 and the second gradual change increasing portion 164, the surface of the movable side held portion 44 side (left side in the drawing) is not the fixed side held portion 42 side but the surface of the first connecting portion 46X. Although it is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction, other points are the first gradual change increasing portion 62 and the second gradual change increasing portion 64 of the first embodiment (both see FIGS. 3 and 4). It has substantially the same configuration.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the terminal 120 has a bulging portion 44B for engagement at a portion of the movable side held portion 44 facing the first connecting portion 46X side. The bulging portion 44B is fixed together with the protruding portion 44A to the terminal insertion portion 112 (see FIG. 7) of the movable housing 100. Further, the terminal 120 has a contact piece portion 122 as a continuous contact portion on the upper end side of the movable side held portion 44. As shown in FIG. 7, the contact piece portion 122 is arranged inside the terminal accommodating groove 110 in the fitting portion 108 and extends linearly in the vertical direction, and the mating connector 16 (see FIG. 6). Electrically contact (connect) with the other end terminal (not shown) provided in.

The contact piece portion 122 has a thin plate portion 124 whose plate thickness is reduced as compared with the general portion 40N so that its impedance approaches the impedances of the fixed side held portion 42 and the movable side held portion 44. As shown in FIG. 8, the thickness of the tip portion 123 of the thin plate portion 124 gradually decreases toward the tip side. As an example, the tip portion 123 of the thin plate portion 124 has a side facing the bottom surface of the terminal accommodating groove 110 (see FIG. 7) extending along the longitudinal direction of the contact piece portion 122, and the opposite surface is the contact piece portion. It is gently inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of 122.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the lower portion 128 of the contact piece portion 122 constitutes a part of the general portion 40N, and the lower portion 128 of the contact piece portion 122 (a part of the general portion 40N) in the thin plate portion 124. Adjacent ends are provided with a gradual reduction portion 126 in which the plate thickness gradually decreases (in the direction of arrow D3) as the distance from the lower portion 128 of the adjacent contact piece portion 122 increases. As an example, in the gradual change decreasing portion 126, the surface on the first connecting portion 46X side is gently inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the contact piece portion 122, and the surface on the opposite side thereof is along the longitudinal direction of the contact piece portion 122. Is postponed. In the present embodiment, the general portion 40N of the terminal 120 is a portion of the terminal 120 excluding the first connecting portion 46X and the thin plate portion 124.

(Manufacturing method of terminal 120 for movable connector)
Next, a method for manufacturing the terminal 120 used for the movable connector 80 shown in FIG. 6 described above (a method for manufacturing the terminal 120 for the movable connector) will be outlined. The manufacturing method of the terminal 120 is the manufacturing method of the terminal 40 according to the first embodiment (see FIGS. 5A to 5C), except for the thickness setting of the metal plate as the material, the fine setting related to punching, and the fine setting related to bending. ) Is the same.

FIG. 10 shows a schematic plan view of the metal plate 170 applied to the method of manufacturing the terminal 120. As shown in this figure, in the metal plate 170, the portion formed in the thick plate portion 160 (see FIG. 8) is pre-thickened to form a thick strip-shaped portion 170B having the plate thickness of the thick plate portion 160. There is. Further, in the metal plate 170, the portion formed in the first gradual change increasing portion 162 (see FIG. 8) has a first gradual change increasing band shape having the same plate thickness setting as the first gradual change increasing portion 162. It is said to be part 170C. Further, in the metal plate 170, the portion formed in the second gradual change increasing portion 164 (see FIG. 8) has a second gradual change increasing band shape having the same plate thickness setting as the second gradual change increasing portion 164. It is said to be part 170D.

Further, in the metal plate 170, the portion formed in the thin plate portion 124 (see FIG. 8) is thinned in advance to form a thin-walled strip-shaped portion 170E having the plate thickness of the thin plate portion 124. The thin-walled strip-shaped portion 170E may be formed at the same time when the metal material is rolled to produce the metal plate 170, or may be formed by a pressing step (tapping step). Further, in the metal plate 170, the portion formed in the gradual change reduction portion 126 (see FIG. 8) is a gradual change reduction band-shaped portion 170F having the same plate thickness setting as the gradual change reduction portion 126. Further, in the metal plate 170, the portion formed on the tip portion 123 of the thin plate portion 124 (see FIG. 8) is a tip strip-shaped portion 170G having the same plate thickness setting as the tip portion 123 of the thin plate portion 124. There is.

In the metal plate 170, the portion indicated by reference numeral 170A is a general material portion having a predetermined plate thickness that is neither thickened nor thinned. Further, in the metal plate 170, the portion on the lower side in the drawing with respect to the alternate long and short dash line is a portion serving as a carrier. Further, the thick band-shaped portion 170B, the first gradually changing increasing band-shaped portion 170C, the second gradually changing increasing band-shaped portion 170D, the thin-walled band-shaped portion 170E, the gradually changing decreasing band-shaped portion 170F, and the tip band-shaped portion 170G are formed of the metal plate 170. It is arranged so as to extend in a strip shape along the feed direction (see the arrow Fd direction).

Although detailed illustration is omitted, in the first step, the metal plate 170 shown in FIG. 10 is punched out, and the terminal piece portion (not shown) in the unfolded state of the terminal 120 (see FIG. 9) is attached to the carrier (not shown). Form a terminal piece with a carrier (not shown) that is integrally connected. In the second step after the first step, the terminal piece is bent in the plate thickness direction so as to have a bent shape of the terminal 120 (see FIG. 9). In the third step after the second step, the carrier is cut from the carrier-attached terminal piece portion in which the terminal piece portion is bent. As described above, the terminal 120 shown in FIG. 9 and the like is manufactured.

(Action / effect of movable connector 80)
The configuration of this embodiment also has the same effects and effects as those of the first embodiment described above.

Further, in the present embodiment, the mating connector 16 is fitted to the fitting portion 108 of the movable housing 100 shown in FIG. Then, the contact piece portion 122 of the terminal 120 shown in FIG. 7 is arranged in the fitting portion 108 of the movable housing 100 and comes into contact with the mating side terminal (not shown) provided on the mating side connector 16 (see FIG. 6). To do. Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the plate thickness of the contact piece portion 122 is reduced as compared with the general portion 40N so that the impedance of the contact piece portion 122 approaches each impedance of the fixed side held portion 42 and the movable side held portion 44. It has a thin plate portion 124. As a result, in the contact piece portion 122 of the terminal 120 whose impedance tends to decrease, the decrease in impedance is suppressed by reducing the cross-sectional area thereof.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the contact piece portion 122 is attached to the end portion of the thin plate portion 124 adjacent to the lower portion 128 (a part of the general portion 40N) of the contact piece portion 122. A gradual change reduction portion 126 is provided in which the plate thickness gradually decreases as the distance from the lower portion 128 increases. Therefore, as compared with the case of a configuration in which the plate thickness is sharply reduced, for example, impedance disturbance can be suppressed.

[Supplementary Description of Embodiment]
As a modification of the above embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 10, the thick plate portion provided on the movable portion of the terminal may be formed at a portion including a bent portion.

Further, in the above embodiment, the thick plate portions 60 and 160 have a configuration in which only one of the front and back surfaces of the movable portion 46 of the terminals 40 and 120 protrudes, but the thick plate portion is, for example, The movable portion of the terminal may be configured such that both the front and back surfaces protrude. It should be noted that which side of the front and back surfaces of the movable portion of the thick plate portion should be projected can be appropriately set by the clearance between the movable portion and the fixed housing and the movable housing.

Further, as a modification of the above embodiment, a portion having a thicker plate thickness may be formed in the thick plate portion. That is, the plate thickness in the thick plate portion does not have to be constant.

Further, in the above embodiment, the terminals 40 and 120 are provided with the gradual change increasing portions 62, 64, 162 and 164, but a configuration in which such gradual change increasing portions 62, 64, 162 and 164 are not provided is also adopted. obtain.

Further, in the second embodiment, the terminal 120 is provided with the gradual change reduction section 126, but a configuration in which such a gradual change reduction section 126 is not provided may also be adopted.

The above-described embodiment and the above-described modification can be combined and implemented as appropriate.

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

10 Movable connector 12 Board 14 Mating connector (connection target)
16 Connector on the other side (object to be connected)
20 Fixed housing 30 Movable housing 32 Fitting recess (fitting part)
40 Terminal 40N General part 42 Fixed side held part 44 Movable side held part 46 Movable part 46A First bent part (bent part)
46B Second bent part (bent part)
46C Third bent part (bent part)
46X 1st connecting part (connecting part)
46Y Second connecting part (connecting part)
60 Thick plate part 62 First gradual change increasing part (gradual change increasing part)
64 Second gradual change increase part (gradual change increase part)
70 Metal plate 72 Terminal piece with carrier 74 Terminal piece 76 Carrier 80 Movable connector 90 Fixed housing 100 Movable housing 108 Mating part 120 Terminal 122 Contact piece part (contact part)
124 Thin plate part 126 Slow change decrease part 160 Thick plate part 162 First gradual change increase part (gradual change increase part)
164 Second gradual change increase part (gradual change increase part)
170 metal plate

Claims (7)

A fixed housing mounted on the board and
A movable housing provided so as to be movable relative to the fixed housing,
A terminal that is bridged between the fixed housing and the movable housing and includes a general portion having a predetermined plate thickness that is neither thickened nor thinned.
It is a movable connector equipped with
The terminal is
A fixed-side held portion that is held in the fixed housing and forms a part of the general portion,
A movable side held portion that is held by the movable housing and constitutes another part of the general portion,
It has a movable portion that connects the fixed side held portion and the movable side held portion.
The movable portion is a movable connector having a thick plate portion whose plate thickness is increased as compared with the general portion so that its impedance approaches each impedance of the fixed side held portion and the movable side held portion. The movable portion has a plurality of bent portions and a connecting portion that linearly connects the bent portions adjacent to each other.
The movable connector according to claim 1, wherein the thick plate portion is formed in the connecting portion. According to claim 1 or 2, the end portion of the thick plate portion adjacent to the general portion is provided with a gradual change increasing portion in which the plate thickness gradually increases as the distance from the adjacent general portion increases. Described movable connector. The movable housing has a fitting portion into which an object to be connected is fitted.
The terminal has a contact portion that is arranged in the fitting portion and comes into contact with the connection object.
Claims 1 to claim that the contact portion has a thin plate portion whose plate thickness is reduced as compared with the general portion so that its impedance approaches each impedance of the fixed side held portion and the movable side held portion. The movable connector according to any one of 3. The movable connector according to claim 4, wherein the thin plate portion is provided with a gradual change reduction portion in which the plate thickness gradually decreases as the distance from the adjacent general portion increases at the end portion adjacent to the general portion. A fixed housing mounted on the board and
A movable housing provided so as to be movable relative to the fixed housing,
A terminal that is bridged between the fixed housing and the movable housing and includes a general portion having a predetermined plate thickness that is neither thickened nor thinned.
It is a movable connector equipped with
The terminal is
A fixed-side held portion that is held in the fixed housing and forms a part of the general portion,
A movable side held portion that is held by the movable housing and constitutes another part of the general portion,
It has a movable portion that connects the fixed side held portion and the movable side held portion.
The movable portion is used for a movable connector having a thick plate portion whose plate thickness is increased from that of the general portion so that its impedance approaches each impedance of the fixed side held portion and the movable side held portion. A method for manufacturing terminals
A carrier in which a portion formed in the thick plate portion is thickened in advance, a metal plate having the plate thickness of the thick plate portion is punched out, and a terminal piece portion having an unfolded shape of the terminal is integrally connected to the carrier. The first step of forming the attached terminal piece and
After the first step, a second step of bending the terminal piece portion in the plate thickness direction so as to have a bent shape of the terminal,
After the second step, a third step of cutting the carrier from the carrier-attached terminal piece having the terminal piece bent.
A method of manufacturing terminals for movable connectors. In the movable connector, the movable housing has a fitting portion into which an object to be connected is fitted, and the terminal has a contact portion arranged in the fitting portion and in contact with the object to be connected. The contact portion has a thin plate portion whose plate thickness is reduced as compared with the general portion so that its impedance approaches each impedance of the fixed side held portion and the movable side held portion.
The method for manufacturing a terminal for a movable connector according to claim 6, wherein the metal plate punched in the first step has a portion formed in the thin plate portion thinned in advance to have the thickness of the thin plate portion.

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