JP3341376B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is provided on a camera body, an interchangeable lens, and other accessories (hereinafter, referred to as "components") constituting a camera system, and electrically connects the respective components. Related to a connector to be used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a camera system, a rotating detachable bayonet mount has been widely used in a portion for attaching and detaching components. The rotatable bayonet mount is a mount for mounting and dismounting components by relatively rotating the components clockwise or counterclockwise.

In such a camera system, each component has an electric circuit, and information (for example, information for performing automatic exposure control) is exchanged between the components. In order to transfer this information, a connector having a plurality of contact pins is provided near the mount of each component.

Next, the conventional connector will be described. The connector includes an upper cover and a lower cover, a contact spring having the contact pins disposed therebetween, and a conductive pattern forming member having the electric circuit connected to the contact spring.

To assemble this connector, first, a contact spring and a conductive pattern forming member are sequentially arranged on the upper cover. Thereby, the conductive pattern forming member and the contact spring come into contact and are electrically connected. Next, the lower cover is placed on the upper cover so as to sandwich the contact spring and the conductive pattern forming member, and further, ultrasonic vibration is applied to fix the contact surface between the upper cover and the lower cover by heat welding. As described above, the upper cover and the lower cover are connected to form a connector.

[0006]

However, in the conventional connector described above, the urging force of the contact spring acts in a direction for separating the upper cover and the lower cover (hereinafter, this force is referred to as "separation"). When a large number of contact springs are provided in the circumferential direction of the connector, there is a problem that the separating force is increased and the upper cover and the lower cover are hardly welded. Furthermore, the welded part deteriorates with time,
There has been a problem that the upper cover and the lower cover may peel off.

Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present inventor formed engagement portions on the upper cover and the lower cover, and slidably moved the lower cover with respect to the upper cover. (Refer to Japanese Patent Application No. 4-162578).

However, when the lower cover is slid with respect to the upper cover, the conductive pattern forming member is easily pulled and slipped by the lower cover during the sliding movement, and the conductive pattern forming member is held at a predetermined position. It was difficult to attach the lower cover. Further, when the conductive pattern forming member is assembled in a displaced state, the contact pins of adjacent contact springs may be short-circuited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and is intended to connect an upper cover and a lower cover with sufficient strength and to displace a conductive pattern forming member during assembly. The purpose is to prevent.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a connector solution according to the present invention comprises a first connector cover (2) having a first engagement portion (2d) and a front connector cover (2).
Do not slide the first connector cover.
And the second engaging portion (4) engaged with the first engaging portion.
a) a second connector cover (4), which is attached to the first connector cover so as to overlap with the first connector cover, and is disposed between the first connector cover and the second connector cover, and A plurality of contact members (5) having movable contact pins (5a) urged in a direction protruding from an outer surface of the first connector cover, between the first connector cover and the second connector cover; And a conductive pattern (3) on the contact surface with the movable contact pin.
b), the first connector cover has a third engaging portion (2e), and the conductive pattern forming member is connected to the third engagement member. A fourth engaging portion (3a) positioned by being engaged with the mating portion without being affected by the sliding movement with respect to the first connector cover.

[0011]

In the connector solution, the first connector cover and the second connector cover are connected by engagement of the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion, respectively. Further, the fourth engaging portion formed on the conductive pattern forming member engages with the third engaging portion formed on the first connector cover, and the conductive pattern forming member engages with the first connector cover. Positioned. Thereby, the first connector cover and the second connector cover are connected with sufficient strength,
Further, when the second connector cover is attached, the conductive pattern forming member is prevented from shifting.

[0012]

An embodiment of the connector according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of one embodiment of a connector 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 2 shows the upper cover 2, the conductive pattern forming member 3,
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the lower cover 4. 3 to 7 show AA to E-E shown in FIG.
It is sectional drawing which shows E section. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the conductive pattern forming member 3 in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, the connector 1 is disposed below the bayonet mount 7 (indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure) of the interchangeable lens. The connector 1 has an upper cover 2
And a lower cover 4, and a contact member 5 and a conductive pattern forming member 3 disposed between the upper cover 2 and the lower cover 4. The upper cover 2 is a molded product made of, for example, a plastic member. The lower cover 4 is formed by pressing a metal material or the like. A plurality of contact members 5 are arranged on the circumference of the connector 1 (FIG. 4), and are used to electrically connect both by joining with contact members of another connector. The conductive pattern forming member 3 is a flexible printed wiring board, and has a conductive pattern 3 b (FIG. 8) on a surface that contacts the contact member 5. As shown in FIG. 5, the connector 1 and the bayonet mount 7 are fixed by male screws 6.

Next, each configuration of the connector 1 will be described in detail. First, the upper cover 2 and the lower cover 4 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram viewed from below for convenience of explanation. A plurality of grooves 2a and holes 2b are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the upper cover 2 in a circumferential direction. The groove 2a is for disposing the contact member 5, is extended in the optical axis direction, and has a substantially concave cross section (FIG. 3). The hole 2b is for the contact pin 5a of the contact member 5 to enter (FIG. 4).
a.

Two engagement portions 2d are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the upper cover 2 on the camera body side (right side in the figure) along the circumferential direction. The engaging portion 2d is for engaging with the lower cover 4, and has a substantially U-shaped cross section (FIG. 5).

Further, a hole 2c is formed in the upper cover 2. The holes 2c are for allowing the male screw 6 to pass through, and two holes 2c are arranged in the circumferential direction (FIG. 3, FIG. 3).
(Fig. 5). Further, in the vicinity of the center of the upper cover 2, a convex portion 2e protruding toward the lower cover 4 (upper side in the drawing) is formed. The projection 2e is for positioning the conductive pattern forming member 3 and the lower cover 4 when the lower cover 4 is attached to the upper cover 2.

On the camera body side of the lower cover 4, two engaging portions 4a extending in the optical axis direction are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction. The engaging portion 4a is for engaging with the engaging portion 2d of the upper cover 2 as described above. The lower cover 4 has two female screws 4b arranged side by side in the circumferential direction. The female screw 4b is for screwing the bayonet mount 7 disposed on the upper cover 2 and the male screw 6 that has passed through the hole 2c of the upper cover 2 (FIGS. 3 and 5). Further, a notch 4c having one end cut out near the center of the lower cover 4 is provided.
Is formed. The notch 4c is for engaging with the protrusion 2e of the upper cover 2 (FIGS. 4 and 7).

Next, the contact member 5 will be described with reference to FIG. The contact member 5 includes a contact pin 5a provided at an end thereof and an elastic member 5b such as a leaf spring having a substantially U-shaped cross section. The contact pin 5a is arranged to protrude outward from the hole 2b of the upper cover 2. The elastic member 5b urges the contact pin 5a upward in the drawing and supports the contact pin 5a so as to be movable in the vertical direction in the drawing. Further, a force for separating the upper cover 2 and the lower cover 4 is exerted by the urging force of the elastic member 5b.

Next, the conductive pattern forming member 3 will be described with reference to FIG. The surface shown in FIG.
(Upper surface in FIG. 7), on which a conductive pattern 3b is formed. Further, these conductive patterns 3b are connected to one end 3z of the conductive pattern forming member 3.
A plating lead 3c for gold plating is provided between the vicinity of the end 3z and the end 3z. A hole 3a is formed near the center of the conductive pattern forming member 3. The hole 3a is for engaging with the convex portion 2e of the upper cover 2.

Next, a method of assembling the connector 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, first, the upper cover 2 is placed upside down. The contact member 5 is placed in each groove 2a of the upper cover 2 (FIGS. 4 and 7). Further, the conductive pattern forming member 3 is placed from above. Here, the surface on which the conductive pattern 3b is formed is on the lower side in FIG. 2 so that the conductive pattern 3b and the contact member 5 are in contact with each other, and the protrusion 2e of the upper cover 2 is Hole 3a
(FIG. 7). As a result, the conductive pattern forming member 3 holds the upper cover 2
Is positioned. At this time, one end 3z of the conductive pattern forming member 3 is disposed on or near the inner wall surface of the upper cover 2 (FIG. 7).

While maintaining this state, the lower cover 4
Attach. This mounting is performed by sliding the lower cover 4 in the optical axis direction with respect to the upper cover 2, and
Are engaged with the respective engaging portions 2d of the upper cover 2 (FIGS. 5 and 6). Thereby, the notch 4c of the lower cover 4 engages with the projection 2e of the upper cover 2 (FIGS. 4 and 7). Thus, the connector 1 is completed.

Here, as shown in FIG.
The other end (the right end in FIG. 7) other than the engaging portion 4a is arranged to be separated from the one end 3z of the conductive pattern forming member 3 by the clearance L. Accordingly, one end 3z of the conductive pattern forming member 3 and the right end in the drawing of the lower cover 4 are in a non-contact state, that is, an insulated state. Therefore, even if there is a burr of the plating lead portion 3c (FIG. 8) at one end 3z of the conductive pattern forming member 3, it does not come into contact with the lower cover 4 to cause a conduction failure. In addition, by the slide movement,
Since the conductive pattern forming member 3 is already positioned on the upper cover 2, there is no deviation.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a male screw 6 passing through the bayonet mount 7 and the hole 2c of the upper cover 2 is screwed with a female screw 4b of the lower cover 4, thereby
The upper cover 2 and the lower cover 4 and the bayonet mount 7 and the connector 1 are fixed.

The embodiment of the connector according to the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. . For example, the connector 1 according to the present invention
Has been described on the example provided on the interchangeable lens side, but may be provided on the camera body side. For example, it may be used for a DX contact of a teleconverter or film.

[0025]

According to the connector of the present invention, even if a separating force acts on the first connector cover and the second connector cover due to the urging force of the contact member, the first engagement formed on each of the first and second connector covers. Since the part and the second engaging part are engaged, the mechanical strength is high, and it is possible to prevent the two from separating. In addition, since the conductive pattern forming member is engaged with the first connector cover during assembly, the conductive pattern forming member is displaced even when the second connector cover is slid and connected to the first connector cover. Can be prevented. Thereby, the contact member and the predetermined conductive pattern can be reliably brought into contact with each other, and occurrence of a short circuit or the like due to a defective assembly can be prevented. Further, assembling is facilitated, and efficiency of assembling work can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an embodiment of a connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a lower cover 2, a conductive pattern forming member 3, and a lower cover 4 of the connector 1 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an AA section of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a BB section of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a CC section of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a DD section of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an EE section of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the conductive pattern forming member 3 shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Connector 2 Upper cover 3 Conductive pattern forming member 3b Conductive pattern 3c Plating lead part 4 Lower cover 5 Contact member 5a Contact pin 5b Elastic material

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 13/22 G02B 7/04 G03B 17/02 G03B 17/14 H01R 13/502

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A first connector cover having a first engagement portion, and a sliding movement with respect to the first connector cover.
A second connector cover that has a second engagement portion that engages with the first engagement portion, and is attached to overlap with the first connector cover; A plurality of contact members arranged between the second connector cover and having movable contact pins urged in a direction protruding from an outer surface of the first connector cover; A conductive pattern forming member having a conductive pattern on a contact surface with the movable contact pin, the first connector cover including a third engagement portion; the has the conductive pattern forming member, wherein relative to the first connector cover by engaging the third engagement portion
4th positioned without being affected by slide movement
A connector comprising: