JP2816435B2 - Electrical connector with contact spacer - 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 right-angle electrical connector having a contact spacer for aligning and holding a plurality of contacts having solder connections bent at substantially right angles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Right angle connectors are generally used by being attached to a circuit board (printed circuit board). The mating connector to be fitted with this is inserted and fitted in a direction parallel to this circuit board. The contacts of a right angle connector have a mating portion parallel to the circuit board and a solder connection (solder tail) formed perpendicular to the circuit board to which the connector is attached. This solder connection is interconnected with the circuit on the circuit board. Solder connection is SM
Either T (surface mount) type or through-hole type may be used. The through-hole type solder connection part is inserted into the plated through-hole of the circuit board, and is connected by soldering there. The array of through holes and SMT lands (connection pads) on the circuit board has the same pattern and spacing as the solder connections extending from the connector.

[0003] The horizontal position of the solder joints of the connector is to ensure that the mass-produced connector having the predetermined solder connection array pattern is compatible with the mass-produced circuit board having the corresponding plated through hole or pad pattern. It has been an important matter for a long time. Various means have conventionally been taken to maintain the solder connections in a predetermined array. In one of them, a connector housing is formed of a number of parts, and one of the parts uses a positioning plate, and has an array of openings corresponding to a pattern and a spacing of solder connection portions protruding from a mounting surface of the connector. After all the contacts have been inserted into the connector housing, a positioning plate is inserted through the end of the solder connection and fixed to the connector housing (U.S. Pat.
080,041). In this typical spacer plate, each solder connection is housed in a corresponding opening in the positioning plate.

If the positioning plate is integral with the insulating housing of the connector, a slotted positioning plate could be used. There are various types of such designs. Insert the contact into the contact receiving passage of the connector,
The solder connection portion may be bent into the slot of the positioning plate and formed at right angles to the fitting (contact) portion of the contact. U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,376 discloses such a right angle connector in which a contact lance is provided on a contact near the lower end. A lance is inserted into a recess in the side wall of the channel of the spacer plate to hold the contact in the channel. If pull-out wire contacts are used, alternate deep and shallow channels can be used. These channels have a very narrow entrance and a large inner end. The inner end is sized to accommodate the wire conductor, and the narrow entrance must be wide enough for the conductor to be pressed into the channel.

US Pat. No. 3,493,916 discloses a right angle connector having a plurality of terminals. The rear ends of the terminals have rear ends that extend rearward through a series of relatively long first slots or relatively short second slots that extend rearward to the connector flange. U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,676 uses a slotted positioning plate, each slot being narrower than the solder connection. Each contact receiving passage of the two rows of contact receiving passages and each slot are aligned. Each slot is formed with two detents in each slot by a recess in the parallel wall of the slot of the positioning plate. The lower row of solder connections are bent around the anvil and pushed into the front detents of the slots in the positioning plate. Thereafter, the upper row of solder connections are bent and pushed into the rear detents of the slots in the positioning plate.

US Pat. No. 4,789,346 also discloses a right angle connector having a solder post positioning and holding device. The contacts are simultaneously inserted into a row of contact receiving passages. At the same time, the solder joints are alternately inserted into the profile channels of the solder post spacer plate. When a solder post is inserted into a channel, a portion of the post spacer plate between adjacent channels flexes laterally with a different effective beam length for each row of contacts to be inserted. Contacts sit in the detents of each channel.

The critical vertical position was to mount the connector to the circuit board and visually inspect that all solder connections protruded a predetermined dimension from the bottom surface of the circuit board to enable good soldering. As the connector is automatically assembled to the circuit board using a robot, it has become even more important to maintain the vertical position of the solder connection portion not only during mounting on the circuit board but also during transportation and handling. For automatic assembly by a robot, it is necessary to know each characteristic point accurately with reference to a reference point of the connector assembly. The position of each important point is the end of the solder connection, and when mounting the connector on the circuit board, make sure that the end of the solder connection is securely inserted into the plated through-hole array of the circuit board. Guarantee. During the insertion of the solder connection into the array of through-holes, by forcibly aligning the solder connection to the center of the through-hole due to collision between the solder connection and the through-hole, friction or a taper at the tip of the solder connection, There is a possibility that a solder connection portion having a size sufficient to enable good solder connection does not protrude from the bottom surface of the circuit board.

[0008] For example, in the case of a circuit board having a thickness of about 1.6 mm, the solder connection portion is about 1.6 mm from the bottom of the circuit board for soldering.
Need to protrude. Therefore, during assembly of the connector, the tip of the solder connection must be at least about 3.2 mm below the housing mounting surface to protrude sufficiently from the bottom surface of the circuit board to make an acceptable solder connection.

US Pat. No. 4,842,528 discloses a right angle connector having a channel in a spacer plate for receiving a solder connection of a contact. The solder connection portion has a stopping means (stopper) extending outward from below or both above and below the spacer plate to prevent the solder connection portion from moving in the axial direction via the spacer plate. Thereby, the solder connection portion is held at a predetermined position.

[0010] It is preferred to obtain a contact solder connection holding device which maintains the solder connection in a predetermined position with respect to the spacer plate and ensures the correct position of the tip.

Preferably, the channels at both ends of the spacer plate having a large number of channels have the same characteristics as the other (center) channels.

It is further preferred that the solder connection of the contact is maintained at a predetermined position with respect to the spacer plate so that the solder connection does not move vertically after the contact is assembled to the connector.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional electrical connector. That is, a housing in which at least one row of contact receiving passages is formed between the fitting surface and the rear surface, a spacer plate extending rearward from a lower portion of the rear surface and flanges formed at both ends thereof, and a housing inserted and retained in the contact receiving passage of the housing An electrical connector with a contact spacer plate including a fitting portion to be bent and a spacer plate bent substantially at right angles to the fitting portion, wherein the spacer plate has a channel corresponding to the number of contacts in one row substantially parallel between flanges. Detents are formed along each of the channels and hold the solder connection portions of the contacts, and slots divided in the length direction between the channels and the flanges at both ends are formed.Each contact forms the solder connection portion from the rear surface of the spacer plate. It is characterized in that the channel can be inserted and pushed into the housing from behind the housing.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the detents of the spacer plate are alternately formed at different positions from the rear surface of the housing in the column direction of the channels, and the solder connection portions of the same row of contacts are formed in a plurality of rows on the spacer plate. Thus, an electrical connector with a contact spacer plate can be obtained.

[0015]

[0016]

[0017]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an electric connector with a contact spacer according to the present invention.

Referring first to FIG. Electrical connector with contact spacer of the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as connector)
Reference numeral 20 includes a contact spacer plate (hereinafter, simply referred to as a spacer plate) 22 and a solder connection portion 40 for a plurality of contacts.
The spacer plate 22 is formed with a number of channels 42 having tapered side walls. Further, the solder connection portion 40 is provided with a taper as described later. Connector 20 is a dielectric (insulated) molded of a suitable plastic material
A housing (hereinafter simply referred to as a housing) 24 is provided.
The housing 24 has a mating surface 26 and a rear surface opposite thereto.
28 and a mounting surface 30 perpendicular to the mating surface 26. A plurality of contact receiving passages 32 extend from the mating surface 26 toward the rear surface 28, and the contacts 34 are fixed therein. contact
34 has a fitting (or contact) portion 36 and a mounting portion 38 extending from the rear surface 28 of the housing into the contact receiving passage 32. The contact 34 may be a pin or a socket.
The mounting portion 38 is typically a solder connection 40, which extends rearward from the housing rear surface 28 and is formed at a right angle downward and extends downward through a channel 42 in the spacer plate 22. In the preferred embodiment, the spacer plate 22 is integrally molded with the housing 24, but the invention is not so limited.

In the shield type of the connector 20, at least a part of the housing 24 is surrounded by a conductive member by a die-cast member 44 and a drone shell 46 as shown in FIG. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, the spacer plate 22 is substantially parallel to the contact receiving passage 32, is located below the lower passage 56, and extends rearward from the rear surface 28 of the housing 24.

The conductive shell 46 is provided on a raised portion 48 of the housing 24.
It has the same shape as. Shroud 50 may be trapezoidal or subminiature D-shaped for polarity (orientation).

The contacts 34 are formed in a strip shape with a desired center line interval. The contacts 34 are inserted into two rows of contact receiving passages 54, 56, and the solder connections 40 are formed in four rows 58, 60, 62, and 64 in a staggered fashion. The formed contact 34 is inserted into the contact receiving passage 32 from the housing rear surface 28 as generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,346. Here, U.S. Pat.
No. 789,346 is cited as prior art. Fitting part 3
When the 6 is inserted into the passage 32, the solder connection portion 40 is inserted into the corresponding channel 42 from the rear surface 52 of the spacer plate 22. The fitting 36 is retained in the passage 32 by a barb 66 frictionally engaging a side wall 68.

FIG. 2 shows a connector from which the contacts 34 have been removed.
A top view of 20 is shown, which makes the spacer plate 22 easier to see. Although the channel 42 of the preferred embodiment has a pair of spaced detents 70, a front detent 72 and a rear detent 74, the invention is not so limited. The detent 70 of the channel 42 receives a corresponding solder connection of a contact 34 mounted in the contact receiving passage of a row 54, 56 that is laterally aligned with the channel 42. The staggering of the solder connections 40 is achieved by placing spaced detents 70 close to the housing rear surface 28 of the alternating channels 42. That is, the detent of the channel 42a is closer to the rear surface 28 of the housing than the detent of the channel 42b. These detents
72 form four rows. All detents in each row of detents are spaced a fixed distance from the rear surface 28 of the housing. Also, since the rear surface 52 is parallel to the housing rear surface 28, all the detents in each detent row are equidistant from the rear surface 52.

The contacts 34, in particular the contacts 34a having solder connections to be inserted into the rows 58, are pushed into the alternate (every other) contact receiving passages 32 in the lower row 56 of the passages, while at the same time soldering the contacts 34a. The connection 40 is pushed into the corresponding channel 42 a aligned with the passage 32 and is retained in the foremost detent 72. The solder joints of contacts 34a form rows 58.

Next, the designated contact 34 of the contacts
b is pushed into the remaining contact receiving passages 32 in the lower row 56 of passages. At the same time, the solder connection 40 of the contact 34b is pushed into the corresponding channel 42b aligned with the passage 32 and inserted into the front detent 72. Contact 34b
Form a row 60.

After that, the designated contact among the contacts
34c is an alternate contact receiving passage in the upper row 54 of the passage
32, and at the same time, the solder connection 40 of the contact 34c.
Is inserted into the corresponding channel 42a aligned with the passage 32 and inserted into the rear detent 74. The solder joints of contacts 34c form rows 62.

Finally, a designated contact among the contacts
34d are inserted through the remaining contact receiving passages 32 in the upper row of passages 54 and into the rear detent 74. contact
The solder connections at 34d form rows 64.

Each channel 42 has an opening in the rear surface 52, the entrance of which widens to facilitate insertion of the solder connection 40. Between the channels 42, a beam is formed integrally with the front end 78 of the spacer plate 22, and a free end extends near the rear surface 52. Channel 42a is formed longer and wider along channel 42 than channel 42b because rear detent 74 has channel 42a recessed further than channel 42b.

FIG. 4 shows the channel 42a of the spacer plate 22 or
Shows a typical intermediate channel detent 70 at 42b. FIG. 5 shows a typical example of the foremost detent 72 of channel 42a. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the solder connection portion at the position of the upper surface 76 of the spacer plate 22. The front face 80 has tapered surfaces 82, 84 which engage the side walls of the channel upon insertion of the solder connection. This deflects the beam between the channels, allowing the solder connection 40 to pass between them. The corners 86 and 88 of the rear surface 94 are sharply formed.

Each solder connection 40 may be secured within detent 70 with a slight compression engagement. A small lateral force is maintained at the solder joint in the detent so that the solder joint is retained therein. The detent 70 is shown in FIGS.
As is clear from the comparison, the shape is substantially the same as the cross section of the solder connection portion.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the solder connection 40 inserted into the detent 70 of FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively. Tapered surface 8
2 and 84 are inserted through the detent 70 and the solder connection portion 40 is engaged with the channel side wall surfaces 96 and 98 along the channel 42. Side surfaces 90 and 92 of the solder connection portion 40 are side walls 100 and 10 of the detent 70.
Substantially engage with 2. Corner 86 of rear surface 94 of solder connection 40,
88 is frictionally engaged with slightly rounded rear corners 104, 106 in the manufacturing process. Rear surface 94 of solder connection 40
Substantially abuts the rear walls 108, 110.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the spacer plate 22 forms a beam between adjacent channels 42a, 42b and, when the solder connection 40 is inserted into the channel 42, the spacer plate 22 has an effective beam length to hold it within the detent 70. Flex in the direction. Each beam has a distal end on the rear surface 52, extends forward depending on the depth of the channel, and is integrally formed with the spacer plate 22 at a front end 78. There are two types of beams, beams 120 and 122, which are formed between adjacent channels 42.

Contact 34a is first inserted into housing 24. Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 9 and FIG.
When contact 34a is first inserted into channel 42a, beam 122 will be on the left and beam 120 will be on the right. When the solder connection 40 passes through the tapered surface 124 of the insertion port, the beam
122 is resiliently deflected to the left, while beam 120 is resiliently deflected to the right, so that both beams 120, 122 have an effective beam length 126 (FIG. 9). Next, the solder connection portion 40 enters the first region 128 of the channel 42a having substantially parallel wall surfaces. Thereafter, the solder joint 40 enters the rear detent 74, where the beams 120, 122 return to an elastically undeflected position.

As the fitting 36 continues to move into the passage 32 and the solder connection 40 passes through the channel 42a, the tapered angles 82, 84 contact the tapered surfaces 96, 98 of the rear detent 74 and the beam 120 and 122 are elastically deflected to the right and left, respectively. These beams also have an effective beam length 126. The solder connection 40 enters and passes through the second region 130 of the channel 42a having substantially parallel wall surfaces.

Next, the solder connection portion 40 passes through the first transition region 132 of the channel 42a extending in the insertion direction.
Returns to a position without bending. Next, the solder connection portion 40 is connected to the third region 13 of the channel 42a having substantially parallel wall surfaces.
Enter 4 and pass through it. The solder connection part 40 is the third
After passing through the region 134, the beams 120, 122 remain in a substantially undeflected position.

Next, the solder connection portion 40 passes through the second transition region 136 of the channel 42a which becomes narrower in the insertion direction. Due to the action between the tapered angles 82, 84 and the sidewalls of the transition region 136, the beam 120 flexes elastically to the right and the beam 122 to the left, with both effective beam lengths being 126.

Next, the solder connection portion 40 enters and passes through the fourth region 138 of the channel 42a having substantially parallel wall surfaces. Next, the solder connection 40 of the contact 34a enters the forward detent 72 of the channel 42a, where the beam 120,
122 returns to the position where it does not flex
Hold 40 in front detent 72.

The next contact inserted into housing 24 is contact 34b, which is inserted into channel 42b. Referring to FIGS. 2, 9 and 11, the contact 34b
Begins to be inserted into channel 42b, beam 120 is on the left and beam 122 is on the right. At this stage of assembly, the solder connection 40 of the contact 34a has been retained in the detent 72 of the channel 42a.

When the solder connection 40 passes between the tapered surfaces 144 at the entrance, the beam 120 is elastically bent to the left of the beam, while the beam 122 is bent to the right. Here, since the solder connection portion 40 of the contact 34a is located in the front detent 72 between the adjacent channels 42a, the effective beam length of these two beams is 146. Next, the solder connection portion 40 enters and passes through the first region 148 of the channel 42b having substantially parallel wall surfaces. Next, the solder joint 40 enters the rear detent 74, where the beams 122, 120 return to an elastically undeflected position.

As the fitting 36 continues to move into the passage 32 and the solder connection 40 passes through the channel 42b, the tapered angles 82, 84 will cause the tapered surfaces 9
6 and 98, the beams 122 and 120 are resiliently deflected to the left and right, respectively, with an effective beam length 146.

Next, the solder connection portion 40 enters and passes through the second region 150 of the channel 42b having substantially parallel wall surfaces. Next, the solder connection portion 40 passes through the first transition region 152 of the channel 42b extending in the insertion direction. Here, the beams 122 and 120 resiliently return to a position where they do not bend again. The solder connection 40 then enters and passes through a third region 154 of the channel 42b having substantially parallel wall surfaces.

Next, the solder connection portion 40 is passed through the second transition region 156 of the channel 42b which becomes narrower in the insertion direction.
The action between the tapered angles 82, 84 and the sidewalls of the second transition region 156 causes the beams 120, 122 to be resiliently deflected to the left and right with an effective beam length 146, respectively.

Next, the solder connection portion 40 enters and passes through the fourth region 158 of the channel 42b having substantially parallel wall surfaces.
The solder connection 40 of the contact 34b enters the front detent 72 of the channel 42b, the beams 122 and 120 resiliently return to the undeflected position, and the solder connection 40 is moved to the front detent 72.
Hold within.

The next contact inserted into housing 24 is contact 32c, which is inserted into channel 42a. Referring to FIGS. 2, 9 and 12, the contact 34c
Is inserted into channel 42a, beam 122 is on the left, while beam 120 is on the right.

When the solder connection 40 passes between the entrance tapered surfaces 144, the beams 122 and 120 are effective since the solder connection 40 of the contact 34b is already in the front detent 72 of the channel 42b adjacent to the channel 42a. Beam length 16
At 6, it is elastically bent to the left and right respectively. Solder connection
40 enters the first region 128 of channel 42a and is inserted into front detent 74, where beams 120 and 122 are both resiliently returned to their undeflected state and connect solder connection 40 of contact 34c to channel 42a. It is held in the rear detent 74.

The last contact inserted into the housing 24 is the contact 34d, which is inserted into the channel 42b. Referring to FIGS. 2, 9 and 13, when contact 34d is inserted into channel 42b, beam 120 is on the left and beam 122 is on the right.
As the solder connection 40 passes between the tapered surfaces 144 at the entrance, the beams 120 and 122 have an effective beam length 176.
Are elastically bent to the left and right, respectively. When the solder connection 40 passes through the first region 148 of the channel 42b and enters the rear detent 74, the beams 120 and 122 resiliently return to a non-deflected position, and connect the solder connection 40 of the contact 34d to the channel 42b. Rear detent 7
4.

As best shown in FIG. 2, channel 42a
Front detents 72 are aligned laterally to form rows 58. Similarly, the forward detents 72 of channel 42b are aligned laterally to form row 60. Also, the rear detents 74 of channel 42a are aligned laterally to form rows 62. Similarly, the rear detent 74 of channel 42b is also laterally aligned to form row 64. By this method, the two rows 54 and 56 of the fitting portions of the contacts 34 are changed to four rows by the staggered arrangement of the solder connection portions 40.

As is evident from FIG. 2, the spacer plate 22 includes a final (both ends) transverse channel 42 and a substantially rigid flange.
It has a slot 200 between 202. The presence of a vertical end wall 198 integral with the flange enhances the rigidity of the flange 202. Slot 200 is next to channel 42
Depending on whether it is a or 42b, a beam 204 that can be regarded as the beam 120 or 122 described above is formed. As shown in FIG. 2, channel 42b is adjacent to slot 200 and forms beam 204 therebetween. Beam 204 has the properties of beam 122. Without the slot 200, the beam 204 would be part of the flange 202 and would be substantially rigid like the flange 202.

The beam 204 is a bridge member (connection portion) 2
The bridge 20 is bridged to the flange 202 at 06
0 is divided into a front slot 208 and a rear slot 210 and the beam 204 is divided into a front beam 212 and a rear beam 2.
Divide into fourteen. The bridge member 206 has a slot 200
The rear detent 74 of the adjacent channel 42 along
And is laterally aligned with the front detent 72 in the adjacent channel 42. For convenience of explanation, channel 42 next to slot 200 is channel 242
And The channel next to this channel 242 is 24
Four. Therefore, the bridge member 206 is
It is in front of the rear detent 74 of the channel 242 along zero and is laterally aligned with the front detent 72 of the channel 244. In the preferred embodiment, the bridge member 206 has one of the channels along slot 200 received in a detent. It has a width substantially equal to the thickness of the solder connection part 40. Also, in the preferred embodiment, slot 2
00 is a channel 42 from the rear surface 52 in the spacer plate 22.
And extend to approximately the same distance. Beam 204 has the same mass (volume) as beam 122 and beam 20
Reference numeral 4 shows the same characteristics as the beam 122 when the contact and the solder connection portions 34c and 34d are inserted into the spacer plate 22.

When the solder connection 40 of the contactor 34a is inserted into the channel 242, the beam 120 acts as described above. The solder connection portion 40 has a tapered surface 124 at the entrance.
Between the first region 128 and the beam 204, and in particular the rear beam 214,
Because it is bridged to the flange 202 by 06,
It is elastically bent to the left with an effective beam length 166. The solder connection 40 is received in the rear detent 74,
The rear beam 214 returns to a position where it does not bend due to elasticity. The solder connection part 40 is further moved from the inside of the channel 242 to the second
After moving to the region 130 and the first transition region 132, the rear beam 214 bends to the left with an effective beam length 166, and then returns to a non-deflected position. Here, channel 24
Since there is no contact in the front detent 70 of No. 2,
Forward beam 212 may flex toward channel 242. As the solder connection 40 moves further into the channel 242, the solder connection 40 passes freely through the third region 134.

As the solder connection 40 enters and passes through the second transition region 136 and the fourth region 138, the front beam 212 resiliently bows into the front slot 208. As the solder connection 40 of the contact 34a moves into the front detent 72 of the channel 242, the front beam 212 resiliently returns to a non-deflected position to hold the solder connection 40 within the detent 72. A small lateral force is maintained at the solder connection 40 of the contact 34 a to ensure that the solder connection 40 is retained within the detent 72.

While the solder connection 40 of the contact 34 c is being inserted into the channel 242, the beam 120 on one side of the channel 242 is
Works as described above, and the beam 20 on the other side of channel 242
4 contacts forward detent 72 of channel 244
The presence of the solder connection portion 34b acts like the beam 122 described above. Beam 204 has similar elastic properties to beam 122 due to the same mass and shape and the presence of bridge member 206 in slot 200 in position.
As shown in FIG. 12, when the solder connection portion 40 of the contact 34c is received between the tapered surfaces 124 of the entrance portion and passes through the first region 128, the beam 120 is elastically bent to the right with an effective beam length 160. At the same time, the beam 204 is elastically deflected to the left with an effective beam length 166. The forward beam 212 is effectively prevented from warping due to the presence of the solder connection 40 of the contact 34a and the forward detent 72 of the channel 242. Therefore, beam 204 on one side of channel 242 is channel
The beam 242 is deflected by the same beam length as the beam 120 on the other side.
Here, the effective beam length of the beam 204 is determined by the position and existence of the bridge 206.

When the solder connection 40 of the contact 34c is received in the detent 74 of the channel 242,
The beams 120 and 204 are elastically returned to a position where they do not bend, and the solder connecting portion 40 of the contact 34 c is connected to the channel 242.
Is held in the rear detent 74. Contact 34c
The effective length of the beam 204 for holding the solder connection portion 40 of the other contact 34c at a predetermined position is the same as the effective length of the beams 120 and 122 for holding one of the solder connection portions 40 of the other contact 34c in the rear detent 74 of the channel 42a. So
The normal force applied to hold each solder connection 40 within the detents 74 of row 62 is substantially equal.

As a result, the bridge member 206 in the slot 200 is inserted between the adjacent channels for the rear solder connection portion 40, and the rear side of the bridge member 206 of the adjacent channel 242 of the spacer plate 22 for holding the solder connection portion. Functions as if it were held in the detent. Here, the adjacent channel is adjacent to the slot 200. Furthermore,
The presence of the bridge member 206 ensures that when held on the spacer plate 22, an equal normal force acts on each solder connection in the row of solder connections.

The beam 204 has been described in connection with the preferred embodiment in which the slot 200 is divided by bridging the flange 202.
204 as if it were projected from flange 202, or a combination thereof, as if there were substantially contact, preventing substantial lateral movement of the beam due to the projection between beam 204 and flange 202. Is possible.

Also, as best shown in FIG. 2, the spacer plate 22 has a slot 300 between the right end channel 42 and a substantially rigid flange 302. End wall 29 integral and perpendicular to this flange 302
The presence of 8 enhances the rigidity of the flange 302. Slot 300 acts as beam 120 or 122 described above depending on whether the adjacent channel 42 is channel 42a or 42b. As shown in FIG. 2, beam 304 has the characteristics of beam 120 in this particular embodiment, as channel 42 a is adjacent to slot 300. Without slot 300, beam 30
4 becomes a part of the flange 302 and is substantially the same as the rigid flange 302.

The beam 304 is bridged to the flange 302 by a bridge member 306 that divides the slot 300 into a front slot 308 and a rear slot 310 and divides the beam 304 into a front beam 312 and a rear beam 314. The bridge member 306 is disposed along the slot 300 in front of the rear detent 74, spaced from the rear surface 52 in the adjacent channel 42 from the rear surface 52 toward the mating surface 26 and behind the channel 42 adjacent to the slot 300. It is arranged in front of the detent 74. For convenience of explanation, the channel 42 adjacent to the slot 300 is referred to as a channel 342, and the channel 42 adjacent to the slot 300 is referred to as a channel 344. Channel 342 is similar to channel 42b and channel 3
44 is similar to channel 42a. Thus, the bridge member 306 is moved along the slot 300 along the channel 342.
And is laterally aligned with the rear detent 74 of the channel 344.
In the preferred embodiment, the slot 300 of the bridge member 306
Is approximately the same as the thickness of the solder connection 40 to be received in one detent of the channel. In the preferred embodiment, the slot 300 extends from the rear surface 52 into the spacer plate 22 substantially parallel to and substantially equidistant from the channel 42. Beam 304 has the same mass as beam 120 so that contacts 34c, 34
During the insertion of d into the solder connection 40 and the retention of the solder connection 40 of the contacts 34 c, 34 d in the detent 70 of the channel 342, it exhibits the same elastic properties as the beam 120.

The beam 120 acts as described above while the solder connection 40 of the contact 34b is being inserted into the channel 342. On the other hand, when the solder connection 40 passes between the entrance tapered surfaces 144 and through the first region 148, the beam 304, in particular, the rear beam 314,
Since it is bridged to the flange 302 by 06,
It is elastically bent to the right with an effective beam length 176. When the solder connection 40 is received in the rear detent 74, the rear beam 324 resiliently returns to a non-deflected position. As the solder connection 40 moves further from within the channel 342 into the second region 150 and the first transition region 152, the rear beam 314 is resiliently flexed to the right again with an effective beam length 176, and then to a position without flexing. It returns elastically.
Also, when the solder connection 40 passes through the second region 150 and the first transition region 152, the front beam 312 bends toward the channel 342 because there is no solder connection 40 in the front detent 72 of the channel 342. Note that you can do it. Channel 3 is the solder connection part 40
42, the solder connection portion 40 moves to the third region 1
Pass freely through.

As the solder connection 40 enters and passes through the second transition region 156 and the fourth region 158 of the channel 352, the forward beam 312 resiliently bows into the forward slot 308. When the solder connection 40 of the contact 34b moves into the front detent 72 of the channel 342, the front beam 312 resiliently returns to an unbent position and detents the solder connection 40.
Keep within 72. A small lateral force is maintained at the solder joint 40 of the contact 346 to ensure that the solder joint 40 is retained within the detent 70.

During the insertion of the solder connection 40 of the contact 34 d into the channel 342, the beam 120 on one side of the channel 342 acts as described above, and the beam 304 on the other side of the channel 342 causes the rear detent 74 of the channel 344. Since the solder connection portion 40 of the contact 34c is contained therein, it operates in the same manner as the beam 122 described above.
Beam 304 is designed to have the same location and shape of bridge 306 in slot 300 as has the same mass and spring characteristics as beam 122. As shown in FIG. 13, when the solder connection portion 40 of the contact 34 d is inserted into the entrance tapered surface 144 and passes through the first region 148, the beam 120 is elastically bent to the left with an effective beam length 176. At the same time, the beam 304 elastically flexes to the right with the same effective beam length 176. Channel 3 of the solder connection part 40 of the contact 34b
Being within the forward detent 72 at 42 prevents the forward beam 312 from substantially bowing. Therefore, the beam 304 on one side of the channel 342 is
Of the beam 122 on the other side. Here, the effective beam length of the beam 304 is
Is determined by the presence and location of When the solder connection 40 of the contact 34d is received in the rear detent 74 of the channel 342, the beams 120 and 304 resiliently return to a non-deflected position and the solder connection 4 of the contact 34d
0 is held in the rear detent 74 of the channel 342. A small lateral force is maintained on the solder connection 40 of the contact 34d to ensure that the solder connection 40 is retained within the detent 74. The effective length of the beam 304 holding the solder connection 40 of the contact 34d in the detent 74 is the same as the effective length of the beam 120 or 122 holding the other solder connection 40 of the contact 34d in the rear detent of the channel 42b. Thus, the normal force applied to the beam to hold each solder connection 40 in the rear detent is substantially equal.

As a result, the bridge member 306 in the slot 300 is connected to the rear detent behind the bridge portion of the channel of the spacer plate 22 adjacent to the slot 300 by the solder connection portion 40.
In that it has the same effect as the presence of the solder connection part 40 in that Further, the presence of the bridge member 306 ensures a normal force equal to each solder connection in the row of solder connections held in the spacer plate 22.

While the beam 304 has been described in connection with the preferred embodiment in which the beam 304 is bridged to the flange 302 to sever the slot 300, the projection from the flange 302 to the beam 304, the projection from the beam 304 to the flange 302, or a combination thereof, may be used. Its use has the same effect as the presence of a contact, and substantially prevents lateral movement of the beam due to the presence of the protrusion between beam 304 and flange 302.

The beams 204, 304 have been described as having the same mass as the beams 120 or 122 in the spacer plate 22. Beams 204, 304 in the preferred embodiment are slots 200 or
It does not have such a complicated cross section (profile) as beam 120 or 122 on its side forming 300, but forms such a profile as required, thereby providing beam 120 or
It may have the same mass and spring characteristics as 122. To obtain the same mass, the side walls of the slots forming the beams 204, 304 may be shifted such that the mass of the corresponding beam 204 or 304 is equal to the mass of the alternate beam 120 or 122.

FIG. 14 is a top view of a connector having all the solder connection portions of the contacts in the spacer plate 22 (however, the contacts are shown in cross section).

Another embodiment of the spacer plate 22 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is a top view of a connector 20 'similar to FIG. Slot 200 'is split into a front slot 208' and a rear slot 210 'by a bridge member 206' that bridges rear beam 214 'to flange 202'. In other embodiments, the front beam 212 'is not integrally formed with the rear beam 214'. Similarly, FIG. 15 shows the rear beam 310 '
Front slot with bridge member 306 'bridging to 2'
The slot 300 ′ is divided into two slots 308 ′ and a rear slot 310 ′. In other embodiments, the forward beam 312 'is also not integral with the rear beam 314'.

FIG. 16 shows the detent along the line 16-16 in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the channel viewed from the back of the channel from 70. As can be seen from this figure, the side walls 400, 402 of the channel 42 are tapered in the thickness direction from the upper surface 76 to the lower surface 404. The angle 406 between the side wall 400 or 402 and the vertical line in FIG. 16 is 5 °.

The side walls 100 and 102 of the detent 70 are
, 402 need not necessarily be at the same angle. As shown in FIG. 16, the side walls 100, 102 passing through the detent area form an angle 410 of 2.5 ° with the vertical.

FIG. 17 shows that the solder connection part 40 has a line 41 except for the center part.
2 shows typical contacts 34a and 34b before being formed substantially perpendicular to the fitting portion 36 in the vicinity of 2. The bent contacts 34a and 34b are formed by bending the solder connection portion 40 forward from the paper as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.

The contacts 34a, 34b have stop projections (stoppers) 414, 416 spaced from the end 418. The stop projections 414, 416 extend laterally from the sides 90, 92, respectively, and have a width between the tips greater than the spacing of the channels 42 defined by the side walls. If the side wall has a detent, the side wall 100,
102 and sidewalls 400 and 402 without detent. Here, the solder connection portion 40 is disposed in the assembled connector 20. In this way, each protrusion projects beyond the corresponding side wall 100, 102 of the detent, as best shown in FIG.

Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, the solder connection portion 40 is tapered in a region 420 of the spacer plate 22 which is received in the channel 42. In the assembled connector shown in FIG. 18, the area 420 includes the contacts 34a, 34b
Above the stop projections 414, 416 located below the bottom surface 404 when inserted into the housing. The side tapers 90, 92 of the solder connection 40 in the region 420 coincide with the taper of the detent sidewalls 100, 102 in which the solder connection is received.

Thus, the side portions 90 and 92 of the region 420 engage with the side walls 100 and 102 over the entire thickness of the spacer plate 22, respectively. In addition, by forming a large space 424 on the bottom surface 404 of the spacer plate 22 and a taper of a small space 426 on the upper surface 76 of the channel 42, especially the sidewalls 100, 102 of the detents therein, to solder the contacts 34a, 34b. The upward movement of the connection stops the solder connection 40 in the detent. When the solder connection part 40 tries to displace upward,
The side portions 90 and 92 are engaged with the side walls 100 and 102 with a larger normal force, thereby preventing the solder connection portion 40 from being further displaced upward. In any event, the stop projections 416, 418 substantially prevent upward movement according to U.S. Patent No. 4,842,528.

FIG. 19 shows typical contacts 34c and 34d. In the figure, the middle part of the contact is omitted and the solder connection part
40 is a view before being bent near the line 436 at substantially right angles to the fitting portion 36. FIG. Folded contacts 34c, 34
d is shown in FIG. 1 and the solder connection 40
Is bent.

The contacts 34c and 34d are provided with lower stop projections 43.
8,440 are formed away from the terminal 442. The lower stop projections extend laterally from the respective solder connection side portions 90, 92 of the contacts 34c, 34d in the same manner as the substantially upper stop projections 414, 416 act on the contacts 34a, 34b.
A similar function is performed for 34c and 34d.

The solder connection portions 34c and 34d have upper stop protrusions 444 and 446 spaced apart from the lower stop protrusion by at least the thickness of the spacer plate 22 along the solder connection portion. The upper stop projections 444, 446 extend laterally from the sides 90, 92, respectively, such that the width between the projection tips exceeds the channel spacing defined by the sidewalls located within the connector in which the solder connection 40 is assembled. To Upper stop projection 444, 44
6 substantially prevents the solder connection 40 from moving downward in the spacer plate 22. When the contacts 34c, 34d are exposed behind the rear surface 28 of the housing, the contacts 34a, 34d
Attempts to move downward within the spacer plate 22 than b.

As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 20, the lower stop projections 438, 440 are located below the bottom surface 404 of the spacer plate 22, while the upper stop projections 444, 446 are the contacts 34c,
Spacer plate 22 when 34d is inserted and held in connector
Is disposed above the upper surface 76 of.

The sides 90, 9 of the contacts 34c, 34d
2 engages the sidewalls 100, 102 respectively over substantially the entire thickness of the spacer plate 22 over the region 448. Further, the tapered channel 42, and in particular, the detent sidewall 10 therein.
0 and 102 have a large space 424 on the bottom surface 404 of the spacer plate 22 and a small space 426 on the upper surface 76, so that the solder connection portions 40 of the contacts 34c and 45d can be formed.
When it attempts to move upward, it acts to push down the solder connection portion 40 into the detent. Also, the solder connection part 4
If the 0 attempts to move upward, the sides 90, 92 engage the side walls 100, 102 to increase the normal force and prevent the solder connection 40 from moving further upward. In any case, the lower stop projections 438 and 440 function as auxiliary (backup) stoppers that prevent the solder connecting portion 40 from moving significantly through the spacer plate 22. On the other hand, the upper stop projections 444 and 446 substantially prevent the solder connection 40 from moving downward through the spacer plate 22 as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,528.

The beam of the spacer plate 22 operates within the elastic limit as described above. If the solder connection 40 is not received by the spacer plate 22 and the beam is not bent, the detent 70
The small spacing 426 between the side walls 100, 102 of each of the rows 58, 60, 62 and 64 is equal. In other words, the spacer plate 22
Are molded so that each detent has the same width.

As shown in FIG. 21, at least the rear detent 74 of the channel 426, ie, the solder connection 40 'of the contact 34d' received in the last row of the detent 64 has a tapered region.
448 is wide throughout, the beam is in an undeflected position and wider than the solder connection 40 received in the front row of the detents 62, 60 and 58.

The solder connection portion 4 is connected to the detent 74 in the row 64.
Each beam holding a 0 'is slightly deformable and the solder connection 40 received in the rear detent 74 of the channel 426 is the same width as the detent, but is more effective than if it were received in another row of the detent. Beam length 1
It is more flexed at 76. Thereby, the contact 34
d solder connection 40 'is received in the corresponding detent by frictional engagement, where the lateral force on sides 90, 92 is applied to the contact and the lateral force on the side of the solder connection 34c, 34b or 34a. Greater than the power of. Thus, by applying a greater lateral force to the solder connections 40 in the rearmost row 64, the solder connections 40 during transport or handling can be provided.
Gives a strong holding force to the solder connection portion 40 in the detent. Such a high lateral force presses all of the solder connections 40 in row 64 equally to maintain the distal end 442 in its true position.

The effect of applying a greater lateral force on the solder joints 40 to hold the solder joints in the detents and maintain their ends in their true position is in the rear detents 74 of the channels 42a in the row of detents 62. It is possible to further strengthen the contact by using a beam wider than the detent at a position where the beam does not bend and making the contact wider than the solder connection portion 40 received in the front row of the detents 60 and 58. . As a result, the solder connection portion 40 'of the contact 34c' is inserted into the channel 42 and the channel 42a
When seated in the rear detent 74, the beam flexes with an effective beam length 166. If the solder connection is seated in the detent in row 62 and the solder connection is wider than before its insertion, the beam will be slightly deformed and the solder connection 40 'from within row 62
Bend. Thereby, the solder connection portion 4 of the contact 34d '
The width of the detent 74 in the row 64 immediately before the insertion of 0 'is smaller than the width of the detent at a position where the beam is not bent.

Therefore, the solder connecting portion 40 'of the contact 34d'
Passes through channel 426 and is seated in rear detent 74, contact 34d 'in detent 74 of row 64.
Each beam holding the solder connection is more deformed than described above due to the presence of the wider solder connection 40 'of the contact 34c' seated in the detent 74 of the channel 42a.

The frictional engagement between the solder joints 40 of the rows 62, 64 in the received detent causes the beam to be elastically deformed within the elastic limits, so that the beam is laterally extended on both sides of the solder joints of the detents in the rows 62, 64. Force will be increased. Due to the beam structure in which the solder connection is held during that time, it becomes a hard or solid member, and the end of the solder connection 40 is maintained in a more authentic position. This increased lateral force ensures that when detents are present, they are securely engaged between the side walls of the channel in the detent area to receive the side edges of the solder connection therein. The increased lateral force acts equally on all solder joints in the row, holding the solder joints and keeping their ends in a true position.

It has been found that it is sufficient to use a solder connection that is substantially the same width as the detents in the front row of the spacer plate 22, wider than the solder connections in the rear two rows of the spacer plate 22, and a uniform width detent. However, the solder connection portion may be gradually widened from the front to the rear of the spacer plate. Alternatively, the narrower detents of one or more rows of the spacer plate cooperating with solder connections of the same width as the solder connections received in the more front row may be placed in the last row of solder when placed in the spacer plate as described above. The connection creates a large lateral force.

In the preferred embodiment, the small spacing 426 between the sidewalls 100, 102 of the detent 70 on the upper surface 76 of the spacer plate 22 is equal to 0.3.
It is 58mm. Channel 42 tapers at an angle of 5 ° to the vertical of top surface 76 or bottom surface 404 of spacer plate 22.

In the preferred embodiment, surfaces 76, 404 are substantially parallel. The detent 70 is 2.5
゜. Channel 42 and detent 74 have upper surface 76
Thickness of the spacer plate 22 from 1. to the bottom surface 404
The width extends over the entire mm. Contact 34
The side surfaces 90 and 92 of the solder connection portions 40a and 34b are 1.55 mm in length, 0.61 mm in maximum width, and 0.51 mm in minimum width.
The upper stop projection 414 has a taper of 2.5 ° parallel to the center line of the solder connection portion 40 in the region 420 of the upper stop projection 414. This taper matches the taper of the detent plane. Side surfaces 90, 9 of the solder connection portions 40 of the contacts 34c ', 34d'
The taper 2 is 1.55 mm in length between the lower stop projections 348 and 440 and the upper stop projections 348 and 440 and the upper stop projections 444 and 446, and 0.71 mm to 0.61 mm in width.
2.5 ° over a region 448 that is This taper matches the detent and the taper of the wall.

As described above, the electric connector with a contact spacer plate of the present invention has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to only such an embodiment, and may be variously changed as necessary. Can be changed.

[0086]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the electrical connector with the contact spacer plate of the present invention, the spacer plate has a portion divided between the outside of the number of channels corresponding to one row of contacts, that is, the flange. And the spacers formed between adjacent channels and between the channels and the slots have substantially the same elastic properties, so that the operation of inserting the contacts, especially the solder connection thereof, can be performed on all the contacts. Therefore, the electrical connector can be held substantially uniformly and can be reliably held, and a remarkable practical effect that the assembling workability and stability of the electrical connector can be improved can be exhibited.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, by arranging the solder connection portions of the contacts in the same row in a plurality of rows on the spacer plate, even a high-density electrical connector can be easily and easily printed on a printed circuit board. Reliable arrangement and connection are possible.
In particular, the present invention is suitable for a high-density electrical connector in which contacts having a flat fitting portion formed by stamping a metal plate are densely arranged.

According to the electrical connector of the third invention,
By forming the taper corresponding to each channel side wall of the spacer plate and the solder connection portion of the contact and providing the stop projections on both upper and lower sides, the solder connection portion of the contact can be always positioned and held at the true position.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an electrical connector with a spacer plate according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the electrical connector of FIG. 1 from which contacts are removed.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a shielded electrical connector embodying the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view showing a detent at the center of a channel of the spacer plate of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view showing the forefront detent of a channel of the spacer plate of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a solder connection portion of a contact on the upper surface of the spacer plate of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view showing the detent of FIG. 4 and the solder connection part of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view showing the detent of FIG. 5 and the solder connection part of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged plan view showing a channel of the spacer plate of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the spacer plate of FIG. 1 and a solder connection portion for contact in the front row.

11 is a plan view in which the second row of solder connection portions is inserted into the spacer plate of FIG. 1 in which the solder connection portions of the front row contacts are inserted and held.

12 is a plan view in which a third row of solder connection portions is inserted into the spacer plate of FIG. 1 in which first and second rows of solder connection portions are inserted and held.

13 is a plan view in which the fourth (last) row of solder connection portions are inserted into the spacer plate of FIG. 1 in which the first to third rows of solder connection portions are inserted and held.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the spacer plate of FIG. 1 in which all the first to fourth rows of solder connection portions are inserted and held in detents of a channel.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of another embodiment of the spacer plate used for the electrical connector of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the channels and detents of the spacer plate along line 16-16 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 17 is a view showing a contact in a lower contact receiving passage in the housing.

18 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where the solder connection portion of the contact of FIG. 17 is inserted and held in the channel of the spacer plate of FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing contacts in an upper row contact receiving passage in the housing.

20 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where the solder connection portion of the contact of FIG. 19 is inserted and held in a channel of the spacer plate of FIG. 16;

FIG. 21 is a plan view showing a state where solder connection portions of contacts having different widths are inserted and held in front two-row detents and rear two-row detents of a channel of a spacer plate.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Electric connector with a contact spacer 22 Spacer plate 24 Housing 26 Fitting surface 28 Rear surface 32 Contact receiving passage 34 Contact 36 Fitting portion 40 Solder connection portion 42a, 42b Channel 52 Rear surface of spacer plate 70, 72, 74 Detent 200, 300 Slot 202, 302 Flange

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Robert Neil Whiteman, Jr. United States of America 17057 Pennsylvania Middletown Plain Street 1031 (56) References (JP, U) Table 1-503095 (JP, A) (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H01R 9/09 H01R 23/68

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A housing having at least one row of contact receiving passages formed between a mating surface and a rear surface, a spacer plate extending rearward from a lower portion of the rear surface, and a housing having flanges formed at both ends of the spacer plate. An electrical connector with a contact spacer plate, comprising: a fitting portion inserted and held in the contact receiving passage; and a plurality of contacts having a solder connection portion bent at substantially right angles to the fitting portion and held by the spacer plate. In the above, the spacer plate is disposed substantially parallel between the flanges.
A channel corresponding to the number of contacts in a row, a detent formed along the channel to hold the solder connection portion of the contact, and a slot divided in the length direction between the channel and the flange are formed, An electrical connector with a contact spacer plate, wherein the solder connection portion is pushed and assembled from the rear of the housing so as to insert the channel from the rear surface of the spacer plate. 2. The detents of the spacer plate are alternately formed at different positions from the rear surface of the housing in the row direction of the channels, and the solder connection portions of the contacts in the same row are arranged in a plurality of rows on the spacer plate. The electrical connector with a contact spacer plate according to claim 1, wherein: