JP2774393B2 - Two-piece connector using flexible wiring board - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a two-piece connector comprising a receptacle connector and a plug connector both having a flexible wiring board.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art One example of such a two-piece connector is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 3-112082. An example of this two-piece connector is shown in FIG. 20, and this connector includes a receptacle connector 310 and a plug connector 320 that can be fitted and connected. The receptacle connector 310 has a receptacle housing 311 having a receiving space 311a having a plug insertion opening 311b formed at an upper end, and a pair of left and right wiring boards integrally formed with flexible wiring boards 314 and 315 by insert molding. Arrangement members 312, 3
13. These wiring board disposing members 312 and 313
Is inserted into the receiving space 311a as shown in the figure, and is fixed and attached by the holding member 317. During this insertion, the coil spring 316 is placed in the groove of the disposing members 312, 313, and the portions 314a, 315a of the flexible wiring boards 314, 315 that come into contact with the coil spring 316 protrude inward.

On the other hand, a plug connector 320 has a fitting space 321a for receiving the receptacle housing 311.
And a pair of left and right wiring board arranging members 322, 3 formed integrally with flexible wiring boards 324, 325 by insert molding.
23. These wiring board arrangement members 322, 323
Are inserted into the fitting space 321a by projecting from the rear end side of the plug housing 321 as shown in the figure, and are fixed and attached by the holding member 327. At the time of the insert molding, the exposed portions 324a, 32
5a are provided, and the exposed portions 324a and 325a are exposed to the fitting space 311a when attached to the plug housing 321.

[0004] The receptacle connector 310 and the plug connector 320 are respectively connected to a printed circuit board 301 and a printed circuit board 301.
302, and each flexible wiring board 314,
Each of the conductive pattern layers 315, 324, and 325 is joined to the corresponding conductive pattern layer on the printed circuit board. For this reason, in this state, the receptacle housing 311 is inserted into the fitting space 321a of the plug housing 321 and the projecting portions of the wiring board disposing members 322, 323 of the plug connector 320 are inserted into the receiving space 311a of the receptacle housing 311. When the two connectors 310 and 320 are fitted and connected so that the plug projections are inserted, the two printed boards 301 and 302 can be electrically connected via the connectors 310 and 320.

The electrical connection is made by projecting portions (plug projections) of wiring board arrangement members 322 and 323 of plug connector 320.
Are exposed into the receiving space 311a, the exposed portions 324a and 325a of the flexible wiring boards 324 and 325 are connected to the projections 314a and 314a of the flexible wiring boards 314 and 315.
315a. A coil spring 316 is provided to provide a sufficient contact force at the time of this contact so as to perform a reliable electric connection.
A sufficient contact force is applied by the elastic deformation force of No. 6.

[0006]

However, the coil spring 316 is, as shown in FIG.
The contact force (elastic deformation force) acts on the outer wall of the receptacle housing 311 because it is placed in the groove of the disposing members 312 and 313 inserted in the receptacle 11. For this reason, there is a problem that the outer wall of the receptacle housing 311 may be bent or damaged by the reaction force. To ensure electrical connection, it is sufficient to increase the contact force. However, increasing the contact force increases the problem of such bending and breakage. When the outer wall portion is bent, the contact force at this portion is reduced, causing a problem that the electrical connection becomes unstable.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Publication No. 40-2588 discloses that
A leaf spring made of a plate material bent and formed into a substantially U-shaped cross section is disposed in the receiving space of the receptacle housing, and the flexible wiring board is disposed so as to enter the substantially U-shaped space of the leaf spring. A two-piece connector using a receptacle connector is disclosed. In this connector, when the plug connector and the receptacle connector are coupled, the plug projection of the plug connector enters into the substantially U-shaped space of the leaf spring, is pressed and sandwiched by the spring force of the leaf spring, and the flexible wiring boards are connected to each other. Abut In this case, since the leaf spring does not contact the outer wall of the receptacle housing, and applies a contact force by its own elastic deformation force, a reaction force acts on the outer wall of the receptacle housing as described above. No problem.

However, the above-mentioned leaf spring is formed by bending a single flat plate. In this molding, if a portion to which a contact force is applied has irregularities or this portion is inclined obliquely, a flexible wiring is required. There is a problem that the contact force applied to the plate varies, which may cause partial contact failure. Flexible printed circuit boards are made of FPC technology, TAB (Tap
It is made by forming a conductive wiring pattern layer (conductive pattern layer) by e Automated Bonding technology or the like. In the abutting portion of the flexible wiring board in the connector, a plurality of conductive pattern layers are formed side by side at a predetermined pitch in the width direction, and the corresponding conductive pattern layers of the flexible wiring boards of both connectors are in contact with each other, An electrical connection is made. For this reason, if the contact force applied by the leaf spring varies, there is a problem that some conductive pattern layers may cause connection failure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in a two-piece connector using a flexible wiring board, the reaction force of the contact force between the flexible wiring boards does not act on the outer wall of the housing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a two-piece connector having a configuration in which a contact force in a part is substantially uniform.

[0010]

As a means for achieving the above object, a two-piece connector of the present invention comprises a receptacle connector and a plug connector which are fitted or abutted to each other. This receptacle connector is made by bending and forming a receptacle housing having a receiving space having a plug insertion opening and an elastic plate material in a substantially U-shaped cross section. A leaf spring member fixed to the receptacle housing and disposed in the receiving space, an intermediate portion enters into a substantially U-shaped space of the leaf spring member, and both left and right sides cover the left and right side walls of the leaf spring member. And a flexible wiring board for a receptacle, which extends into the receiving space. On the other hand, the plug connector includes a plug housing having a plug projection that projects into the substantially U-shaped space of the leaf spring member through the plug insertion opening when fitted or abutted with the receptacle housing; And a flexible wiring board for plug attached to the plug housing so as to cover the plug housing. Further, pressing protrusions are provided on the left and right side walls of the leaf spring member and extend in the longitudinal direction and protrude inward in the substantially U-shaped space. In the plug protrusion, an elastic member is provided at a portion facing the pressing protrusion when the plug protrusion is inserted into the substantially U-shaped space of the leaf spring member through the plug insertion opening.

[0011]

When the two-piece connector having the above structure is used, the receptacle housing and the plug housing are fitted or abutted to connect the two connectors. At this time, the plug projection of the plug connector is connected to the plug of the receptacle housing. It enters the receiving space through the insertion opening, and protrudes into the substantially U-shaped space of the leaf spring member disposed in the receiving space. At this time, the plug projection pushes and spreads the left and right side walls of the leaf spring member and protrudes into a substantially U-shaped space, and the plug projection reduces the elastic deformation force when the left and right side walls of the leaf spring member are pushed left and right. It is held between these left and right side walls. A flexible wiring board for a plug is attached to the plug projection so as to cover the plug projection, and a flexible wiring board for a receptacle is disposed in the substantially U-shaped space of the leaf spring member so as to be disposed as described above. When the plug projections protrude into the substantially U-shaped space of the leaf spring member, the two flexible wiring boards abut against each other and are sandwiched between both side surfaces of the plug projection and the left and right side walls of the leaf spring member.

As a result, the corresponding conductive patterns of both flexible wiring boards come into contact and are electrically connected. In addition,
The left and right side walls of the leaf spring member are provided with pressing protrusions extending in the lateral direction and protruding in a direction approaching each other on a substantially U-shaped cross section, so that both the flexible wiring boards are sandwiched by the pressing protrusions. The elastic force of the leaf spring member acts on this portion to apply a contact force. In this case, when the pressing convex portion has unevenness or the pressing convex portion is formed to be inclined at the time of bending and forming the leaf spring member, the contact force may be non-uniform. However, the plug projection of the plug connector has an elastic member made of rubber or the like at a portion facing the pressing protrusion, that is, a portion receiving the elastic force from the pressing protrusion. For this reason, even if the pressing projections have irregularities or inclinations, these are absorbed by the elastic deformation of the elastic member, and the variation in the contact force at the contact portion between the two flexible wiring boards is reduced, and a predetermined contact force is obtained.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The connector according to the present invention includes a receptacle connector 10 and a plug connector 50. The receptacle connector 10 has the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the plug connector 50 has the configuration shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, and the two connectors 10 and 50 are fitted and coupled. In the following, the connector 1
The longitudinal direction of 0,50 is called the front-back direction, and the width direction is called the left-right direction.

First, the structure of the receptacle connector 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. The connector 10 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and has a receptacle housing 11 molded from an insulating material such as resin. In the receptacle housing 11, a receiving space 12 having a plug insertion opening 12a at an upper end portion is formed. The receptacle housing 11 has left and right side walls 11a, 1
1b and front and rear side walls 11c and 11d. These side walls surround the receiving space 12, and the lower end thereof opens downward. However, a rib 11e extending forward and backward is formed at the center of the opening at the lower end. In the receiving space 12, the leaf spring member 40 and the flexible wiring board 30
It is arranged while being held by the holding member 20.

The leaf spring member 40 is formed by bending a metal plate having elasticity so as to have a substantially U-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. This leaf spring member 40
Left and right side walls 41, 42 and base 4 forming a substantially U-shaped cross section
3 and the left and right side walls 41, 42 and the base 43.
A substantially U-shaped space 46 which is surrounded by and opened upward is formed. Note that the left and right side walls 41 and 42 are not merely planar, but the middle portions in the vertical direction project inward, respectively.
Pressing convex portions 41a and 42a extending in the lateral direction are formed, and upper end portions are bent outward in a cylindrical shape to form upper end cylindrical portions 41b and 42b.

Cut-and-raised portions 41c and 42c used for applying a preload are provided at both front and rear ends of the upper end cylindrical portions 41b and 42b. The preloading will be described later. Furthermore, left and right side walls 41, 42
Are cut at two places (a total of four places) and bent downward to form surface mounting legs 44. Further, a plurality of through holes 45 are formed in the base 43.

As shown in FIG. 5, a flexible wiring board 30 is formed on a flexible insulating film 31 by forming a circuit pattern of a conductive thin film, that is, conductive pattern layers 32a and 32a.
2b is formed by a known FPC technique, a TAB technique, or the like. In addition, the receptacle connector 10 of this example
As the flexible wiring board 30 used in the above, only the insulating film 31 is cut off at the cut portion 31b in FIG. 5, and the conductive pattern layers 32a, 32
b is exposed, and further, the outer peripheral portion is cut into a desired shape.

The leaf spring member 40 and the flexible wiring board 30 are disposed in the receiving space 12.
These arrangements will be described with reference to FIG. First,
As shown in FIG. 8A, the flexible wiring board 30
The central portion covers the lower side of the rib 11e, the left and right sides protrude into the receiving space 12 in an M shape, and the left and right ends extend outward from the lower ends of the left and right side walls 11a and 11b of the receptacle housing 11. Is established. At the time of this arrangement, the flexible wiring board 30 may be directly pushed into the receiving space 12 as described above, but the flexible wiring board 30 is previously formed into a shape as shown in FIG. And it is easy to arrange.

On the other hand, the leaf spring member 40 is first mounted on the holding member 20. The holding member 20 has a guide wall 25 extending upward on both left and right sides, and the guide wall 25 is fitted into the receiving space 12 of the receptacle housing 11 as shown in FIG. It has become. On the upper surface of the holding member 20, as shown in FIG.
A plurality (three) of insertion guide pins 22 and a plurality (eight) of holding guide pins 23 shorter than the insertion guide pins 22 are provided to extend upward. On the lower surface of the holding member 20, two mounting guide pins 21 are provided extending downward. The leaf spring member 40 is attached with the base 43 placed on the upper surface of the holding member 40. At this time, the insertion guide pin 22 and the holding guide pin 23 are inserted into the through holes 45 formed in the base 43, whereby the leaf spring member 40 is mounted and positioned with respect to the holding member 20.

After the leaf spring member 40 is mounted on the holding member 20 in this manner, the upper open portion of the substantially U-shaped space 46 of the leaf spring member 40 faces the rib 11e from below the receptacle housing 11. Then, the leaf spring member 40 is inserted into the receiving space 12. At this time, the left and right side walls 41 and 42 of the leaf spring member 40 are pushed and spread by the ribs 11e, get over the ribs 11e, and enter the receiving space 12 as shown in FIG. 8B. The rib 11
e is the insertion guide pin 22 and the holding guide pin 2
3 are formed, and the flexible wiring board 3 is formed.
The through holes 3 corresponding to these guide pins 22 and 23
1a (see FIG. 5) is formed. Therefore, as described above, the holding member 20 and the leaf spring member 40 are connected to the receiving space 1.
2, the insertion guide pin 22 and the holding guide pin 23 fit into the through hole of the rib 11 e and the through hole 31 a of the flexible wiring board 30.

On the other hand, a pair of preload applying guide projections 16 are formed at the front and rear ends of the receptacle housing 11 in the receiving space 12 respectively. These guide projections 16 have tapered surfaces 16a inclined outward and upward, and are formed at positions facing the cut-and-raised portions 41c and 42c of the leaf spring member 40 inserted into the receiving space 12 as described above. . Therefore, when the leaf spring member 40 is inserted into the receiving space 12, the cut-and-raised portions 41c and 42 are provided.
The inner ends 41d and 42d of c are in contact with the tapered surface 16a, and are inserted while being spread along the tapered surface 16a.
For this reason, when the leaf spring member 40 is completely inserted into the receiving space 12, as shown in FIG.
2 is pushed to some extent and becomes elastically deformed.
That is, the left and right side walls 41 and 42 are in a state where the preload that spreads outward acts.

By this insertion, finally, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the left and right side portions of the flexible wiring board 30 are sandwiched between the left and right guide walls 25 of the holding member 20 and the left and right side walls 11a and 11b of the receptacle housing 11, and between the rib 11e and the holding member 20. The central portion of the flexible wiring board 30 and the base portion 43 of the leaf spring member 40 are sandwiched. At this time, the insertion guide pins 22 and the holding guide pins 23 are fitted into the through holes of the ribs 11e and the through holes 31a of the flexible wiring board 30, so that the mounting positioning of each member is accurately performed. The insertion guide pin 22 is longer than the holding guide pin 23. When the insertion guide pin 22 is inserted into the through hole of the rib 11e as described above, the insertion guide pin 22 is located above the rib 11e (the substantially U-shaped space of the leaf spring member 40). 46). The flexible wiring board 30 has a leaf spring member 40 at the center.
In the substantially U-shaped space 46, the left and right sides cross over the upper end cylindrical portions 41b and 42b of the leaf spring member 40, and are disposed so as to cover the left and right side walls 41 and 42. At this time, the portion of the flexible wiring board 30 that comes into contact with the pressing protrusions 41a and 42a of the leaf spring member 40 is pressed by the pressing protrusions 41a and 42a and protrudes inward.

As shown in FIG. 6C, a pair of fixing pins 24 are formed at both front and rear ends of the holding member 20 so as to protrude upward, and the fixing pins 24 are formed on the receptacle housing 11. Into the insertion hole. For this reason, the holding member 20 is provided with the rib 11 e of the insertion guide pin 22 and the holding guide pin 23.
Are firmly coupled to the receptacle housing 11 by fitting the through holes and the fixing pins 24 into the insertion holes.

The receptacle connector 10 having the above configuration
Is mounted on the printed circuit board 1 by a surface mount or the like as shown by a chain line in FIG. At the time of this mounting, the mounting guide pins 21 of the holding member 20 are fitted into the insertion holes of the printed circuit board 1 to perform mounting positioning. Then, the conductive pattern layers 32a and 32b exposed at both left and right ends of the flexible wiring board 30 are surface-mounted to the corresponding conductive pattern layers of the printed circuit board 1 by reflow soldering. However, the conductive pattern layers 32a, 32
In the surface mount bonding of 2b, the bonding strength is not obtained, and the mounting strength of the receptacle connector 10 to the printed circuit board 1 is insufficient. For this reason, the surface mounting leg portion 44 of the leaf spring member 40 is also reflow soldered to the printed circuit board 1 so as to secure the mounting strength. Furthermore, the front and rear side walls 1 of the receptacle housing 11
Mounting grooves 18 are respectively formed on the outer surfaces of 1c and 11d, and an L-shaped mounting member 35 is press-fitted and fixed in the mounting grooves 18. Lower leg 3 of this mount member 35
6 is also joined to the printed circuit board 1 by reflow soldering in the same manner as the leg portion 44 of the leaf spring member 40, so that the mounting strength of the receptacle connector 10 is increased.

Next, the structure of the plug connector 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. The connector 50 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and has a plug housing 51 molded from an insulating material such as resin. A fitting space 58 that opens upward is formed in the plug housing 51. Plug housing 51 has left and right side walls 51
a, 51b, front and rear side walls 51c, 51d, and bottom wall 52
And the side wall and the bottom wall surround the fitting space 58. The bottom wall 52 is formed with an insertion hole 52a extending forward and backward. Furthermore, a column 54 is provided extending upward from the front and rear ends of the insertion hole 52a in the bottom wall 52, and a plug projection tip 53 is provided integrally over the upper end of the column 54. I have. A plurality of through holes 53a and 53b are formed in the plug projection tip 53.

The fitting space 58 of the plug housing 51
The flexible wiring board 70 is held and disposed by the holding member 60 such that the front end thereof comes into contact with the plug projection front end 53. The flexible wiring board 70 is different in size from the flexible wiring board 30 used for the receptacle connector 10, but has the same configuration. That is, FIG.
As shown in the above, on the flexible insulating film 71,
A plurality of conductive pattern layers 72a and 72b are provided, and only the insulating film 71 is cut and removed at a cut portion 71b in FIG.
2a and 72b are exposed, and the outer peripheral portion is cut into a desired shape.

The holding member 60 has a plug projection base end 61 which stands up in a flat plate shape.
Is slightly smaller than the shape of the insertion hole 52a formed in the bottom wall portion 52 of the plug housing 51, and the plug projection base end 61 can be fitted into the insertion hole 52a. A plurality of receiving holes 63 and a plurality of holding guide pins 64 are provided at the tip of the plug protrusion base end 61. These are provided corresponding to the plurality of through holes 53a and 53b formed in the plug projection tip 53 of the plug housing 51. When the plug protrusion base end 61 is in the insertion hole 5
2a, the receiving hole 63 is overlapped with the through hole 53a, and the holding guide pin 64 is inserted into the through hole 53.
b. As shown in FIG. 12, a groove 62 is formed over the entire circumference at the intermediate portion of the plug protrusion base end 61, and a ring-shaped elastic member 85 made of rubber or the like is provided in the groove 62. I have. In this example, the groove 62 is formed on the entire circumference. However, the groove may be formed only on both right and left side surfaces, and an elastic member may be provided in each groove.

On the bottom surface of the holding member 60, two mounting guide pins 65 are provided to protrude downward, and through holes 67 are formed at the front and rear ends. Further, two grooves 60a are formed on the bottom surface, and the mount member 80 is fixed to the grooves 60a. As shown in FIG. 9, the mounting member 80 has a press-fitting arm 83 bent upward and a mounting arm 82 extending laterally. In the groove 60a,
A press-fit hole 66 extending upward is formed, and the mount member 80 is attached to the groove 60 a of the holding member 60 by press-fitting the press-fit arm 83 into the press-fit hole 66.
At this time, the projection 83a of the press-fitting arm 83 is
6, the mounting member 80 is firmly fixed.

The plug projection base end 61 of the holding member 60
And a flexible wiring board 70 is attached. At this time, the flexible wiring board 70 has a plurality of through holes 71.
The holding guide pin 64 of the plug projection base end 61 is fitted into the through hole 71a, and the positioning of the two is determined. In addition, the receiving hole 63 is a through hole 71.
overlaps with a. In this state, the plug projection base end 61 passes through the insertion hole 52a of the plug housing 51 and fits into the fitting space 58.
Is inserted into. By this insertion, the plug protrusion base end 6
The front end of 1 contacts the front end portion 53 of the plug projection, and holds the flexible wiring board 70 therebetween. At this time, the holding guide pins 64 are fitted into the through holes 53b. Also,
The receiving hole 63 is positioned so as to overlap with the through hole 71 a of the flexible wiring board 70 and the through hole 53 a of the plug tip projection 53.

As described above, when the holding member 60 is inserted until the tip of the plug projection base end 61 comes into contact with the plug projection tip 53, the through hole 67 formed in the front and rear ends of the holding member 60 is formed. The mounting pin protrusion 55 formed on the lower surface of the front and rear ends of the plug housing 51 is fitted. Fitting and holding guide pin 64 between this mounting pin projection 55 and through hole 67
The holding member 60 is connected and fixed to the plug housing 51 in a state where the holding member 60 is inserted as described above by the fitting of the holding member 60 with the through hole 53b. As a result, the conductive pattern layers 72 a and 72 b of the flexible wiring board 70 are exposed to the fitting space 58 on the left and right side surfaces of the plug protrusion base end 61. Further, the vicinity of the left and right ends of the flexible wiring board 70 is fixed and held between the bottom wall 52 of the plug housing 51 and the holding member 60.

The plug connector 50 having the above-described structure is the same as that shown in FIG.
As indicated by a dashed line at 0, it is attached to the printed circuit board 2 by a surface mount or the like. At the time of this mounting, the mounting guide pins 65 of the holding member 60 are fitted into the insertion holes of the printed circuit board 2 to perform mounting positioning. Then, the conductive pattern layers 72a and 72b exposed at both left and right ends of the flexible wiring board 70 are surface-mounted to the corresponding conductive pattern layers of the printed circuit board 2 by reflow soldering. However, even in this case, in the surface mount joining of the conductive pattern layers 72a and 72b, the mounting strength of the plug connector 50 to the printed circuit board 2 is insufficient. For this reason, the mounting arm 82 of the mounting member 80 fixed to the bottom surface of the holding
Reflow soldering. Further, an L-shaped mounting member 75 is press-fitted and fixed in a mounting groove 57 formed on the outer surface of the front and rear side walls 51c and 51d of the plug housing 51, and the leg 76 of the mounting member 75 The connector is joined by reflow soldering to increase the mounting strength of the plug connector 50.

When the receptacle connector 10 and the plug connector 50 having the above configuration are connected, the electrical connection between the printed circuit boards 1 and 2 can be made via the two-piece connector. This connection is made with the fitting space 58 of the plug housing 51.
The receptacle housing 11 is fitted therein, and the plug projections (the plug projection distal end 53 and the plug projection base end 61) of the plug connector 50 project into the receiving space 12 of the receptacle housing 11. As a result, as shown in FIG. 14, the plug protrusion pushes and spreads the left and right side walls 41 and 42 of the leaf spring member 40 and enters the substantially U-shaped space, and the plug protrusion proximal end 61 moves to the left and right side walls of the leaf spring member 40. It is pinched by 41 and 42. For this reason, the substantially U-shaped space 4 between the left and right side walls 41 and 42 of the leaf spring member 40
6. Flexible wiring board 3 penetrated and attached
0 and a flexible wiring board 70 attached so as to cover the plug protrusion base end 61 are sandwiched between both side surfaces of the plug protrusion base end 61 and the left and right side walls 41 and 42 of the leaf spring member 40. Corresponding conductive pattern layer 3 of plates 30, 70
2a, 32b and 72a, 72b come into contact with each other.

These conductive pattern layers 32a, 32b, 7
2a and 72b are reflow soldered and joined to the corresponding conductive pattern layers of the printed circuit boards 1 and 2, respectively.
Electrical connection between the two printed circuit boards 1 and 2 is made via a, 32b, 72a and 72b. Here, as shown in FIG. 5, a large number of conductive pattern layers 32a, 32b, 72a, 72b are formed on the flexible wiring boards 30, 70,
These intervals are considerably narrower. For this reason, if the positioning is not performed correctly when the connectors 10 and 50 are connected, the conductive pattern layers are shifted and come into contact with each other, resulting in poor contact or erroneous contact with an adjacent conductive pattern layer which should not be brought into contact. It may cause contact.

Therefore, in the two-piece connector of this embodiment, the receptacle connector 10 and the plug connector 5
14 is fitted and coupled as shown in FIG. 14, the insertion guide pin 22 projecting into the substantially U-shaped space 46 of the receptacle connector 10 is inserted into the through hole 53 a of the plug projection tip 53 in the plug connector 50. And it is configured to fit into the receiving hole 63 of the plug projection base end 61. Thus, the insertion guide pin 22 is inserted into the through hole 53a.
Further, by fitting into the receiving hole 63, the fitting portions of the two connectors 10, 50 are accurately positioned, and the above-described problems of poor contact and erroneous contact can be prevented.

The conductive pattern layers 32a, 32b
The contact between the springs 72a and 72b is performed by being pressed by the pressing convex portions 41a and 42a of the leaf spring member 40, and the contact force at this contact is caused by the elastic deformation force of the left and right side walls 41 and 42 of the leaf spring member 40. It has gained. By the way, the elastic member 85 provided in the groove 62 of the plug projection base end portion 61 is opposed to the pressing convex portions 41a, 42a as shown in the drawing, and is formed from the left and right side walls 41, 42 of the leaf spring member 40. The applied pressing force is received by the elastic member 85. For this reason, the pressing convex portion 41
Even when the a and 42a have irregularities or are inclined obliquely, since these are absorbed by the elastic deformation of the elastic member 85, the two flexible wiring boards 30 and 70 are pressed from the pressing convex portions 41a and 42a. The variation in the contact force acting on the contact portion is reduced. Therefore, all the conductive pattern layers 32a, 32b, 72a, 72b of the flexible wiring boards 30, 70 which come into contact with each other receive a substantially uniform contact force and come into contact with each other, which may cause a partial electrical connection failure. Absent.

When assembling the receptacle connector 10, the left and right side walls 41 and 42 of the leaf spring member 40 are pushed outward to some extent, so that a preload is applied. For this reason, the preload is not required as an insertion force required for inserting the plug protrusion into the substantially U-shaped space 46 of the leaf spring member 40 for coupling the two connectors 10 and 50. Becomes smaller. That is, by applying the preload in advance, the insertion force for fitting the two connectors 10 and 50 can be reduced. Further, the opening can be formed by separating the upper ends of the left and right side walls 41 and 42 of the leaf spring member 40 by pushing outward in this manner, and the intervals between the openings can be made uniform. This facilitates the insertion of the plug projection, and reduces the possibility that the plug projection partially hits at the time of insertion.

In the above, the receptacle connector 1
0 and the plug connector 50 are both
2 has been described, the printed circuit boards are electrically connected to each other, but the two-piece connector according to the present invention includes:
As shown in FIGS. 15 to 17, it can be used for connection between a printed circuit board and a flexible wiring board. This two-piece connector has a receptacle connector 10 having the same configuration as described above, and this receptacle connector 10 is attached to the printed circuit board 1. The configuration of the receptacle connector 10 has been described above.

On the other hand, the plug connector 150 has a plug housing 151, a holding member 160 and a flexible wiring board 170, and is similar to the plug connector 50 described above. However, this plug connector 150 is not attached to a printed circuit board, and
70 extends outward and is electrically connected to another member (for example, another connector or the like) via the flexible wiring board 170. In order to press and hold the outwardly extending flexible wiring board 170, the upper end of the holding member 160 is suppressed on the plug housing 151, and the flexible wiring board 170 is sandwiched between the holding member 160 and the pressing member. 190 is attached.

The pressing member 190 has a locking arm 191 that extends downward at the front and rear ends, and the locking arm 191 locks with a locking projection 152 provided on the front and rear side walls of the plug housing 151 to form a plug. It is attached to the housing 51. This locking is performed by the protrusion 192 of the locking arm 191.
Is inserted into the locking groove 153 formed in the locking projection 152. With the pressing member 190 attached to the plug housing 151 in this manner, the pressing member 190
Holds the flexible wiring board 170 between itself and the holding member 160. Therefore, even when the flexible wiring board 170 is pulled by receiving the external force due to the sandwiching, the external force is prevented from acting on the flexible wiring board 170 inside the housing. That is, the pressing member 19
0 functions as a strain relief for the flexible wiring board 170.

Although an example of a connector having one row of plug projections has been described above, a two-piece connector may be formed by providing a plurality of rows of plug projections as shown in FIG. The basic configuration of this two-piece connector is the same as that of the above-described two-piece connector including the receptacle connector 10 and the plug connector 50, and thus the configuration will be briefly described.

The receptacle connector 210 has a receptacle housing 211 in which two receiving spaces 212, 213 are formed, and the receiving spaces 212, 213 are formed with plug insertion openings 212a, 213a, respectively, and have lower end openings. Ribs 211e, 21 extending back and forth
1e is formed. These receiving spaces 212, 213
Inside, leaf spring members 240 are provided, respectively. However, these two leaf spring members 240 are connected to one holding member 2.
20. Flexible wiring board 230
Is a substantially U-shaped space 24 of the two leaf spring members 240 as shown in FIG.
6 and attached. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 19, the flexible wiring board 230 is divided on the flexible insulating film 231 into right and left portions each of which enters the substantially U-shaped space 246 of each leaf spring member 240, and the conductive pattern layer 232a, 232b and 233a, 2
33b are formed. Furthermore, between the conductive pattern layers 232a and 232b formed between these left and right sides and between 233a and 233b, an insertion guide pin 222 and a holding guide pin (not shown) of the holding member 220 are inserted, respectively. Through holes 231a and 231b are formed.

On the other hand, the plug connector 250 has a plug housing 251 in which a fitting space 258 is formed, and two plug projection tips 253 and 254 projecting into the fitting space 258 are formed. Holding member 260 is also 2
Each of the plug projection base ends 261 and 262 abuts on the plug projection tip 253 or 254 to form a plug projection. The flexible wiring board 270 has the same shape as that shown in FIG. 19, and is attached so as to cover both plug projection base ends 261 and 262. An elastic member 285 is attached to each of the plug base ends 261 and 262.

Each of the receptacle connector 210 and the plug connector 250 has a mounting guide pin 22
The printed circuit board is mounted after being positioned by 1,265. This mounting method is the same as described above. Thereafter, the plug projections of the plug connector 250 are made to protrude into the receiving spaces 212 and 213 of the receptacle connector 210 to connect the two connectors 210 and 250, thereby making an electrical connection between the two printed circuit boards. Also in this case, the both flexible wiring boards 23 are
A contact force of 0,270 of the conductive pattern layer is applied, and the contact force is made substantially uniform by the elastic member 285.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, the receptacle connector is formed by bending and forming an elastic plate material into a substantially U-shaped cross section and disposed in the receptacle housing; Has a flexible wiring board for a receptacle disposed so as to enter into the substantially U-shaped space of the leaf spring member and to cover the left and right side walls of the leaf spring member. A plug housing having a plug projection projecting into a substantially U-shaped space of the leaf spring member, and a plug flexible wiring board attached to the plug housing so as to cover the plug projection. The left and right side walls of the leaf spring member are provided with pressing protrusions that extend in the longitudinal direction and protrude inward of the substantially U-shaped space. The pushing projection portion opposed to when it is rush through the lug insertion opening into a substantially U-shaped space of the leaf spring member, the elastic member is disposed.

Here, when the receptacle housing and the plug housing are fitted or abutted to connect the two connectors, the plug projection of the plug connector enters the receiving space through the plug insertion opening of the receptacle housing. The leaf spring member protrudes into a substantially U-shaped space provided in the receiving space. At this time, the plug projection pushes and spreads the left and right side walls of the leaf spring member and protrudes into a substantially U-shaped space, and the plug projection reduces the elastic deformation force when the left and right side walls of the leaf spring member are pushed left and right. The flexible wiring boards are held between the left and right side walls of the plug projection and the left and right side walls of the leaf spring member. As a result, the corresponding conductive patterns of both flexible wiring boards come into contact and are electrically connected. The left and right side walls of the leaf spring member are provided with pressing protrusions extending in the lateral direction and protruding in a direction approaching each other on a substantially U-shaped cross section. It is sandwiched, and the elastic deformation force of the leaf spring member acts on this portion to apply a contact force.
In this case, the plug projection of the plug connector has an elastic member made of rubber or the like at a portion facing the pressing projection, that is, a portion receiving the elastic force from the pressing projection, so that the pressing projection has Even if there are irregularities or inclinations, these are absorbed by the elastic deformation of the elastic member, and the variation in the contact force at the contact portion between the two flexible wiring boards is reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a receptacle connector constituting a two-piece connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view, a front view, and a side view showing a receptacle connector constituting the two-piece connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view showing a receptacle connector constituting the two-piece connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view and a perspective view showing a leaf spring member used for the receptacle connector.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a flexible wiring board used for the receptacle connector.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the receptacle connector.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a part of the receptacle connector.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing an assembly of the receptacle connector.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a plug connector constituting the two-piece connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view, a front view, and a side view showing a plug connector constituting a two-piece connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view showing a plug connector constituting the two-piece connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a part of the plug connector.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the plug connector.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the receptacle connector and the plug connector are connected.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a two-piece connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a side view and a front view showing a two-piece connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view showing a two-piece connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view showing a two-piece connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a plan view showing a flexible wiring board used for the two-piece connector according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view showing a conventional two-piece connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 receptacle connector 11 receptacle housing 12 receiving space 20 holding member 22 insertion guide pin 30 flexible wiring board 40 leaf spring member 46 substantially U-shaped space 50 plug connector 51 plug housing 53 plug projection tip 58 fitting space 60 holding member 61 plug Protrusion base end 70 Flexible wiring board 80 Mounting member

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A receptacle housing in which a receiving space having a plug insertion opening is formed, and an elastic plate material having a substantially U-shaped cross section.
A leaf spring member formed in the receiving space such that a leading end open portion is opposed to the plug insertion opening, and a middle portion is a substantially U-shaped space of the leaf spring member. A receptacle connector comprising a receptacle flexible wiring board extending into the receiving space so as to extend into the receiving space so that the left and right sides cover the left and right side walls of the leaf spring member, and the receptacle housing. A plug housing having a plug projection that is capable of fitting or abutting, and that, when the fitting or abutting is performed, protrudes into the substantially U-shaped space through the plug insertion opening; and A plug connector comprising a plug flexible wiring board attached to the plug housing so as to cover the projection, and On the wall, the pressing protrusion protruding to the substantially U-shaped space side extends in the longitudinal direction is provided,
The flexible wiring board, wherein the plug projection has an elastic member at a portion facing the pressing projection when the plug projection is inserted into the substantially U-shaped space through the plug insertion opening. Two-piece connector.