JP3383621B2 - Flexible printed circuit board connector - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector for connecting a flexible printed board.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent design of electronic equipment, compactness and high density packaging are required. In order to meet this demand, a flexible printed circuit board (hereinafter referred to as FPC (Flexi) having an advantage of being “flexible”)
ble Printed Circuit)) is becoming popular.

This FPC is connected to a printed circuit board or the like using an FPC connecting connector.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 1-260773 discloses an FPC connector of this type.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a conventional FPC connecting connector.

The FPC connecting connector 100 includes an insulating case 110, a plurality of connecting terminals 120 provided on the case 110, and external electrical connecting pieces (not shown) at the ends of the connecting terminals 120 and the FPC 140. And a pressing member 180 made of a shape memory alloy.

The pressing member 180 is provided in the arrangement direction of the connection terminals 120, and the central portion of the pressing member 180 is connected to the connection terminals 12.
By pushing in the 0 direction, the external electrical connection piece is crimped to the connection terminal 120.

[0008]

However, in this FPC connector, both ends of the pressing member 180 in the width direction are held by the case 110, and the central portion is pushed in to press the external electrical contact piece against the connection terminal 120. Since the configuration is adopted, when the width of the connector 100 becomes wider, the pressing force of the pressing member 180 against the FPC 140 becomes smaller at both ends in the width direction.

Therefore, when the number of cores of the FPC 140 connected to the FPC connector 100 increases, the FP
At both ends in the width direction of the C connecting connector 100, a sufficient contact force with respect to the connecting terminal 120 cannot be obtained, the connection becomes uncertain, and the reliability of the connector decreases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a highly reliable connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board which can surely perform connection even when the flexible printed circuit board has a multi-core structure. It is in.

[0011]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 has a base insulator having an accommodating portion that opens upward, and a plurality of contacts arranged in the base insulator at a predetermined pitch. An arc-shaped elastic plate held in the accommodating part, and when the center part in the arc direction of the elastic plate is pushed to the bottom surface of the accommodating part, the center part in the arc direction of the elastic plate is accommodated in the accommodating part. Part of
One end of the elastic plate in the arc direction is in contact with the bottom surface and both ends of the elastic plate in the arc direction are lifted so that the end of the flexible printed circuit board inserted in the accommodating part is pressed against the contact part of the contact. Is arranged below the contact portion of the contact , and is in the arc direction of the elastic plate.
The other end of the contact and the base insulator
And at least one of them is retained .

When the center portion of the elastic plate in the arc direction is pushed to the bottom surface of the accommodating portion, one end portion of the elastic plate in the arc direction presses the end portion of the flexible printed board against the contact portion of the contact in the contact arrangement direction. .

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board according to the first aspect, the elastic plate is made of metal.

Since the elastic plate is made of metal, it is possible to easily obtain an elastic plate having a predetermined elastic force.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board according to the second aspect, the elastic plate or the bottom surface of the accommodating portion with which the elastic plate comes into contact is insulated. Characterize.

Since the bottom surface of the elastic plate or the accommodating portion with which the elastic plate contacts is insulated, no current flows through the bottom surface of the elastic plate or the accommodating portion with which the elastic plate contacts.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board according to any one of the first to third aspects, the end of the flexible printed circuit board is connected to the opening of the accommodating portion of the contact. It is characterized in that a lid for maintaining the state of being pressed against the contact portion is detachably provided.

After pressing the central portion of the elastic plate in the arc direction to the bottom surface of the accommodating portion and pressing one end portion of the elastic plate in the arc direction in the contact portion of the contact, the lid is attached to the opening of the accommodating portion. Therefore, the state in which the end portion of the flexible printed circuit board is pressed against the contact portion of the contact is maintained.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector for connecting a flexible printed board according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
In addition, in FIG. 1, the connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board is shown in cross section.

The flexible printed circuit board connector 1 includes a base insulator 10 and contacts 20.
And an elastic plate 30.

The base insulator 10 is provided with a housing 11 which opens upward. A plurality of contacts 20 are arranged on the base insulator 10 at a predetermined pitch.

The contact 20 includes a contact portion 21 and a locking portion 2.
2 are provided so as to face each other in the longitudinal direction of the contact portion 21. A contact portion 24 is formed on the contact portion 21, and the locking portion 22
A groove 23 is formed in the groove.

Further, the contact 20 is formed with a step portion 13 extending in the arrangement direction of the contact portions 21 and a concave portion 25 capable of accommodating the central portion of the elastic plate 30. The central portion of the contact 20 in which the recess 25 is formed and the bottom surface 12 of the base insulator 10 have the same shape.

An FPC 4 is provided between the step portion 13 and the contact portion 21.
A space S in which 0 is inserted is formed. This space S communicates with the housing 11.

The contact portion 2 of the contact 20 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 11.
An elastic plate 30 made of metal for pressing an FPC (flexible printed circuit board) 40 to 1 is held.

The elastic plate 30 has a rectangular shape having a long side in the arrangement direction of the contact portions 21, is bent in an arc shape, and both ends thereof are held by the accommodating portion 11.

One end of the elastic plate 30 in the arc direction is a step portion 13.
Is disposed below the contact portion 24, and the other end portion is disposed in the groove 23 of the locking portion 22.

The elastic plate 30 can be changed into two states (the state shown in FIG. 1 is a convex state).

Both ends of the elastic plate 30 are covered with resin. That is, the elastic plate 30 is insulated.

Next, the operation of this flexible printed board connecting connector will be described.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state immediately before the flexible printed board is pressed against the contacts.
In addition, in FIG. 2, the connector for connecting the flexible printed circuit board is shown in cross section.

To connect the flexible printed circuit board connecting connector 1 and the FPC 40, first, the FPC 40
The front end portion 41 of the contact 20 and the contact portion 21 of the contact 20
Insert into the space S between the
Is abutted against the abutting surface 13a of the space S.

At this time, the conductor pattern (not shown) of the FPC 40 contacts the contact portion 24 of the contact 20, and both ends of the elastic plate 30 in the convex state in the arc direction contact the bottom surface 12 of the housing portion 11. .

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the flexible printed circuit board is pressed against the contacts. In addition,
In FIG. 3, the flexible printed circuit board connecting connector is shown in cross section.

Next, the central portion of the elastic plate 30 in the arc direction is pushed through the FPC 40 toward the bottom surface 12 of the accommodating portion 11 as shown by an arrow a (see FIG. 2).

At this time, the elastic plate 30 is shown in FIG. 2 according to the principle of toggle (holding one of two stable states until a force that changes the current state acts from the outside). The convex state changes to the concave state shown in FIG.

Therefore, the central portion of the elastic plate 30 is pressed against the bottom surface 12 of the base insulator 10 and the recess 25 of the contact 20 as shown in FIG. 3, and one end of the elastic plate 30 connects the conductor pattern of the FPC 40 to the contact 20. It is pressed against the contact portion 24.

If the end of the elastic plate 30 is pushed, the elastic plate 3
Since 0 changes from the concave state to the convex state, the FPC 40 can be pulled out from between the contact portion 21 of the contact 20 and the step portion 13.

According to this embodiment, one end portion of the elastic plate 30 in the arc direction is arranged below the contact portion 21 of the contact 20, so that the center portion of the elastic plate 30 in the arc direction is set on the bottom surface of the accommodating portion 11. When pushed, the urging force on the FPC 30 does not become small at both ends in the arrangement direction of the contacts 20.

Therefore, even when the number of cores of the FPC 40 increases, both ends of the contact 20 of the connector 1 for connecting the flexible printed circuit board in the arrangement direction can obtain a sufficient contact force with respect to the connection terminal, and the connection can be achieved. And the reliability of the connector is improved.

Further, since the elastic plate 30 is subjected to the insulation treatment, it is possible to prevent the FPC 40 from being short-circuited.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a connector for connecting a flexible printed board according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
The same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the opening 11a of the accommodation portion 11 is used.
This is different from the first embodiment in that a removable lid 80 is provided on the.

The lid 80 has a flat plate portion 81 and a locking portion 82. When the lid 80 is placed on the portion of the flat plate portion 81 facing the opening 11a of the housing portion 11, the elastic plate 3 is inserted through the FPC 40.
A pressing portion 83 is formed so that 0 can be pressed.

The engaging portions 82 are provided at both ends of the flat plate portion 81, and the respective tip portions 82a are bent in directions toward each other. The locking portion 82 serves as the base insulator 10.
The lid 80 is integrated with the base insulator 10 by being locked to the convex portion 15 formed on the base insulator 10.

According to this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

The tip of the FPC 40 is contacted with the contact 2
The state in which the FPC 40 is pressed against the contact portion 21 of 0 can be reliably maintained, and the FPC 40 can be handled safely.

Although the elastic plate 30 is made of metal in the above embodiments, the elastic plate 30 is not limited to metal as long as it has appropriate elasticity, and may be made of resin, for example.

Although the elastic plate 30 is subjected to the insulation treatment in the above embodiment, the bottom surface of the accommodating portion 11 with which the elastic plate 30 contacts may be subjected to the insulation treatment instead of the elastic plate 30.

Further, although the bottom surface of the accommodating portion 11 is made into the concave portion 25, when the center portion of the elastic plate 30 in the arc direction is pushed to the bottom surface 12 of the accommodating portion 11, both ends of the elastic plate 30 in the arc direction are lifted. A flat bottom surface may be used as long as the height of the groove 23 is sufficient.

Further, both ends of the elastic plate 30 in the arc direction are held by the contacts 20, but the other end is held by the insulator 1.
You may make it hold | maintain at 0.

[0053]

As described above, according to the connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board of the present invention as set forth in claim 1, even when the width of the connector in the contact arrangement direction becomes wide, both end portions in that direction are widened. Therefore, the pressing force against the flexible printed circuit board does not become small. Therefore, even when the number of cores of the flexible printed circuit board is large, it is possible to obtain sufficient contact force to the connection terminals at both ends in the contact arrangement direction, ensuring the connection and improving the reliability of the connector. To do.

According to the connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board of the invention described in claim 2, since the elastic plate is made of metal, an elastic plate having a predetermined elastic force can be easily obtained.

According to the connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board of the third aspect of the present invention, no current flows through the elastic plate or the bottom surface of the accommodating portion with which the elastic plate is in contact so that a short circuit of the flexible printed circuit board can be prevented. .

According to the connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board of the invention described in claim 4, the state in which the end portion of the flexible printed circuit board is pressed against the contact portion of the contact can be reliably maintained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector for connecting a flexible printed board according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state immediately before a flexible printed circuit board is pressed against a contact.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a flexible printed circuit board is pressed against a contact.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible printed board connecting connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional FPC connecting connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Flexible printed circuit board connector 10 Base insulator 11 accommodation 11a opening 12 Bottom 20 contacts 21 Contact part 30 elastic plate 40 FPC (flexible printed circuit board) 41 Edge 80 lid

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --Continued from the front page (56) References JP-A 64-668 (JP, A) JP-A 9-35826 (JP, A) JP-A 1-260773 (JP, A) JP-A 11- 111402 (JP, A) Actual development Sho 61-33383 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 12/28

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A base insulator having an accommodating portion that opens upward, a plurality of contacts arranged on the base insulator at a predetermined pitch, and an elastic plate curved in an arc shape held in the accommodating portion, When the center part of the elastic plate in the arc direction is pushed to the bottom surface of the accommodation part, the center part of the elastic plate in the arc direction is the accommodation part.
One end of the elastic plate in the arc direction so that both ends of the elastic plate in the arc direction are lifted up while being in contact with the bottom surface of the elastic plate, and the ends of the flexible printed circuit boards inserted in the accommodating parts are pressed against the contact parts of the contacts. Part is located below the contact part of the contact , and the arc direction of the elastic plate
And the other end of the base insulation
A connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board, characterized in that it is held at least on one side with a connector. 2. The connector for connecting a flexible printed board according to claim 1, wherein the elastic plate is made of metal. 3. The connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board according to claim 2, wherein the elastic plate or the bottom surface of the accommodating portion with which the elastic plate comes into contact is subjected to an insulation treatment. 4. A lid for detachably attaching an end of the flexible printed circuit board to the contact portion of the contact is detachably provided in the opening of the accommodating portion. The flexible printed circuit board connector according to any one of 1 to 3.