JP2559832Y2 - Flat cable connector - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a connector for a flexible flat cable (FFC).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art One surface (mating surface) of an elongated insulating housing.
A long and narrow cable insertion groove is formed along the longitudinal direction, and a plurality of contacts are arranged along the groove to insert the film-shaped or flat conductor at the end of the cable and the contact of the corresponding contact. Interconnecting flat cable (FFC)
Connectors (hereinafter referred to as FFC connectors) have been proposed. Such an FFC connector is a portable electronic camera such as a portable video camera, a CD player, etc. and a small electronic office such as a facsimile machine, a copier, a word processor, a personal computer, a typewriter, an electronic notebook, etc., which are required to be compact and lightweight and have a high density mounting. Widely used in equipment.

FIG. 4 shows an example of such an FFC connector.
1A is a top view, FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA, and FIG. 1C is a well-known F used in the FFC connector 1.
2 shows an end of an FC.

The insulating housing 2 of the FFC connector 1
An elongated cable insertion groove 3 is formed from the top surface to the bottom surface of the cable. A number of contact receiving openings 4a-4b are formed along the cable insertion groove 3. Furthermore,
A key 5 is formed at a position away from the center of the cable insertion groove 3 of the insulating housing 2 so as to intersect with the cable insertion groove 3 by integral molding or the like. As shown in FIG. 4B, the contacts 6 are pressed into the contact receiving openings 4a-4b from the bottom surface of the insulating housing 2. A cantilever contact arm 7 of the contact 6 is inserted into the opening 4a, and a holding arm 8 is inserted into the opening 4b. A tine 9 for soldering extends from the bottom surface of the insulating housing 2 to the outside of the insulating housing 2. The tines 9 are inserted into, for example, through holes of a circuit board (not shown) and connected by soldering.

The FFC used for this FFC connector 1
In C, a large number of parallel thin plate conductors W are insulated from each other and adhered to a plastic base. Also, FF
A slit S having a predetermined width is formed at an end to determine the direction of insertion of the C connector 1 into the cable insertion groove 3.
This slit S is inserted into the cable insertion groove 3 of the FFC connector 1.
Align the FFC C with the positioning key 5 of the groove 3
Push in. By this pushing, each exposed conductor W at the end of the FFC C makes electrical contact with a contact 7 a formed near the tip of the contact arm 7 of each contact 6.

In such an FFC connector, an FFC
It is difficult to set the contact pressure of each contact between the C and the FFC connector 1 sufficiently large due to the nature of the FFCC.
If the contact pressure is too large, the insertion force increases, and it is difficult to insert the FFC C into the cable insertion opening 3. On the other hand,
If the contact pressure is too low, not only the electrical contact becomes unstable, but also the FFC C is connected to the FFC connector 1 with a relatively small external force.
There is a risk of falling off. Therefore, even when a low external force and a relatively large external force are applied to the FFC C, the FFC
An FFC connector having a sufficient removal force is required so that C is not removed from the FFC connector 1.

Therefore, the applicant of the present application has previously filed Japanese Utility Model Application No. 3-358045.
In the above reference, a separate key plug, preferably formed of an elastic plastic member, is press-fitted and fixed in a slot of the insulating housing instead of a bar formed integrally with the insulating housing across the cable insertion groove of the FFC connector. Proposed that. The key plug engages a non-linear slit having a step formed at the end of the FFC. The key plug and the slit of the FFC engage with the step portion of the slit when the FFC is withdrawn without greatly increasing the insertion force, thereby increasing the removal force.

[0008]

However, the use of a key plug separate from the insulating housing has the drawback that the number of parts increases and the number of assembly steps increases, resulting in a complicated and expensive structure. .

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved FFC connector which can be formed by integral molding with an insulating housing and has a low insertion force of the FFC and an increased removal force.

[0010]

According to the FFC connector of the present invention, a cantilever key member is formed integrally with the insulating housing in a direction crossing the cable insertion opening of the insulating housing. The key member is formed with, for example, a tapered engagement surface, and engages with the non-linear side wall or the step portion of the slit of the FFC to increase the removal force of the FFC.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the slit of the FFC is formed asymmetrically, and the key member of the insulating housing of the FFC connector is a piece whose one end is fixed to the side wall of the cable insertion groove and whose free end projects into the cable insertion groove. It is formed in a cantilever shape. . In another embodiment of the present invention, the slit of the FFC is formed substantially symmetrically, and the key member is formed in a cantilever shape having one end fixed to the bottom of the cable insertion groove of the insulating housing. Either of these embodiments can be selected according to the application.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the FFC connector according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in particular, FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the FFC connector of the present invention. FIG. 1 (A) is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of an insulating housing, FIG. 1 (B) is a top view, and FIG. 1 (C) is used with this FFC connector. 1 is a partial perspective view of an end of an FFC.

The FFC connector 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Has an elongated substantially rectangular insulating housing 20. On an upper surface 21 of the insulating housing 20, an elongated cable insertion groove 22 extending in the longitudinal direction and facing the bottom surface is formed. The upper surface of the cable insertion groove 22 is tapered. A number of contact receiving openings 23-24 are formed along the cable insertion groove 22 and on both sides thereof in pairs from the top surface 21 to the bottom surface. Contact arms and holding arms of contacts, which will be described later, are press-fitted and held from the bottom surfaces of the contact receiving openings 23-24, respectively. The opening 23 is arranged so as to communicate with the cable insertion groove 22 so that the contact at the tip of the contact arm of the contact projects into the cable insertion groove 22 as shown in the figure. The pitch and number of adjacent contact receiving openings 23-24 are determined by the conductor pitch and number of the FFC used.

Further, the insulating housing 20 is provided with a cable insertion groove 22.
Distant from the longitudinal center position of, for example, FIG.
As shown in (B), a recess 25 is formed near the right side and communicates with the cable insertion groove 22 and intersects (orthogonally) with the groove. A cantilever-shaped key member 27 is fixed to one side wall 26 of the concave portion 25, and is preferably formed of the same material as the insulating housing 20 at a position slightly lower than the upper surface 21 of the insulating housing 20 toward the other side wall. Formed by A taper 28 is formed on both sides of the upper surface of the key member 27, and an engagement portion 29 that engages with a slot side wall of an FFC, which will be described later, is formed on the bottom. When the key member 27 is formed in the insulating housing 20 in this manner, it can be understood that the key member 27 has flexibility in the longitudinal direction of the cable insertion groove 22 and can be displaced within a limited range.

F used to be inserted into the FFC connector 10
The FC30 has a large number of flat conductors 31a, 31b,.
Also, an asymmetric slit 32 is provided between the conductors 31a and 31b.
Are formed. That is, one side wall 33 of the slit 32 is substantially linear, while the other side wall 34 is non-linear, and a tapered step 35 is formed near the end. Further, a taper 36 is formed on both sides of the entrance of the slit 32.

FIG. 2 shows one side of the contact 40 inserted and held in each contact receiving opening 23-24 of the insulating housing 20 of the FFC connector 10 of FIG. As is apparent from the figure, substantially similar shaped tall contacts 40a and short contacts 40b, each of which is formed by stamping an elastic metal plate having a predetermined thickness and having one end fixed to the carrier strip 41, are alternately formed. . Only one pair is shown in the figure for convenience. Both contacts 40a, 40b include a contact arm 43 extending upward from the upper right side of the base 42 and having a contact 44 at the tip and a holding arm 45 extending upward from the left side and having an elongated opening 46 at the center. Further, a pair of solder tines 47 and 48 are provided below the base 42 of the contacts 40a and 40b from both left and right sides, and one of them is cut off as necessary to enable stagger arrangement.

As described above, these contacts 40a, 40a
b is pressed from the bottom of the insulating housing 20 so that the contact arm 43 and the holding arm 45 enter the contact receiving openings 23 and 24, respectively. Here, by alternately press-fitting the contacts 40a and 40b into the contact receiving openings 23 and 24 at adjacent positions, the distance from the upper surface 21 of the insulating housing 20 to the contact 44 is alternately offset, thereby inserting the FFC 30. Further reduce the force.

The operation of inserting the end of the FFC 30 into the FFC connector 10 configured as described above will be described. First, FF
To insert the tip of C30 into the cable insertion groove 32 of the insulating housing 20, the slit 32 is used as a key member of the cable insertion groove 22.
Orient to match 27. Next, when the FFC 30 is slightly pushed into the cable insertion groove 22, the taper 36 at the entrance of the slit 32 of the FFC 30 comes into contact with the taper 28 of the key member 27. When the key member 27 is further pushed, the key member 27 is bent leftward due to the protrusion of the right side wall 34 of the slit 32 of the FFC 30. Next, FF
The contacts 44 of the contact arm 43 of the tall contact 40a contact the conductors 31a, 31b,... Of C30. Proceeding further, the contact 44 of the contact arm 43 of the short contact 40b becomes the conductor 31a,
31b, contact. Finally, the neck of the slit 32 of the FFC 30 passes through the key member 27 and is bent to the left.
27 returns to the normal position, and its engaging portion 29 is
Engage with the 34 inclined steps 35. By this engagement, FF
C30 is stably held in the cable insertion groove 22 even if a relatively large tension acts on the FFC 30.

To release the engagement between the FFC 30 and the FFC connector 10, a sufficiently large tension is applied to the FFC 30. As a result, the step portion 35 of the side wall 34 of the slit 32 bends the key member 29 to the left, and the contact 44 and the conductor 31 of the FFC 30 are opposite to the above.
a, 31b, ... come off and the FFC 30 is the FFC connector 10
Removed from At this time, the key member 27 returns to the normal position by its own elasticity. Here, the removal force depends on the shape of the slit 32 of the FFC 30, particularly the inclination angle of the step portion 35 and the key member 27.
Is determined by the shape of the engaging portion 29.

Next, another embodiment of the FFC connector of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2A shows an FFC.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part of an insulating housing 60 of the connector 50, and FIG. 6B is a perspective view of a main part of an FFC 70 used with the same.

The FFC connector 50 of this embodiment is an FFC 70
This is a preferred embodiment in the case where both side walls 73 and 74 of the slit 72 are non-linear, that is, have a substantially symmetric shape with a narrow entrance portion. The key member 67 of the insulating housing 60 of the FFC connector 50 preferably has a cantilever shape fixed at the bottom so as to intersect with the cable insertion groove 62. The key member 67 has a tapered top surface to guide the FFC 70 to the slit 72. Further, engaging portions 69 are formed on both lower sides of the engaging portions 69 so as to project laterally and have inclined engaging surfaces.

Even if the FFC connector 50 has a key member,
The 67 and the slit 72 of the FFC 70 engage relatively flexibly to stably hold the inserted end of the FFC 70 in the cable insertion groove 62 of the FFC connector 50. Of course FFC70
Applying a sufficiently large tension to the FFC70 will connect the FFC
It is withdrawn from the 50 cable insertion grooves 62.

Although the FFC connector of the present invention has been described based on the preferred embodiment, it is needless to say that the present invention should not be limited to only such an embodiment, and that the present invention can be used without departing from the gist of the present invention. Various modifications and changes are possible accordingly.

[0025]

[Effect of the invention] According to the FFC connector of the invention, the FF
At the end of C, a slit having a non-linear side wall for increasing the removal force as well as the orientation is provided, and a cantilever key member to be engaged with the slit is formed in the cable insertion groove of the FFC connector. . Since such a key member is formed integrally with the insulating housing, it can be manufactured at low cost. Also, FFC
The key member itself can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the cable insertion groove even if the slit is asymmetric, or there is a slight displacement or a difference in frictional engagement force, so it can be inserted smoothly without buckling the FFC. It is. In addition, since the removal force can be increased without greatly increasing the insertion force, stable connection can be maintained even when used in portable electronic equipment or the like to which vibration and impact are applied.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing an FFC connector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and an FFC used therein.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary front view showing an example of a contact used for the FFC connector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view showing an FFC connector according to another embodiment of the present invention and an FFC used therein.

FIG. 4 shows a conventional FFC connector and an FF used therein.
FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 50 FFC connector 30, 70 FFC 32, 72 Slit 20, 60 Insulated housing 22, 62 Cable insertion groove 27, 67 Key member 40a, 40b Contact

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A cable member having a plurality of contacts disposed along an elongated cable insertion groove of an insulating housing and a key member formed at a position distant from a center position of the cable insertion groove and across the cable insertion groove, and a cable end portion. A flat cable connector configured to be aligned with a slit formed in the cable insertion member, wherein the slit of the cable is non-linear, the key member is formed in a cantilever shape integral with the insulating housing, and the cable insertion is performed. A flat cable connector characterized by being displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the groove.