JP3748787B2 - Movable connector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a movable connector that can stably perform an electrical connection even when a displacement occurs in a connection position with an external terminal.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a device such as a car stereo, as shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of device units 11a, 11b, and 11c such as a CD unit, an MD unit, and a tuner unit are arranged in three upper and lower stages in one device chassis 10 and integrated. These device units 11a, 11b, and 11c are electrically connected to the printed wiring board 20 on the operation panel side via the respective printed wiring board connectors 14a, 14b, and 14c, and the operation from the operation panel is performed. It is possible.
[0003]
More specifically, each of the device units 11a, 11b, and 11c includes sub-boards 12a, 12b, and 12c on which electronic components are mounted, and printed on a portion protruding to the outside of the sub-boards 12a, 12b, and 12c. Conductive patterns 13a, 13b, and 13c serving as external terminals that are electrically connected to the wiring board connectors 14a, 14b, and 14c are printed.
Each of the printed wiring board connectors 14a, 14b, 14c includes insulating housings 15a, 15b, 15c and contacts 17a, 17b, 17c. The insulating housings 15a, 15b, 15c include the sub-boards 12a, 12b. , 12c are inserted into the insertion recesses 16a, 16b, 16c, and the contacts 17a, 17b, 17c have the contact portions 18a, 18b, 18c facing the insertion recesses 16a, 16b, 16c, and the other end. The lead-out portions 19a, 19b, 19c are formed in the upper part.
[0004]
The printed wiring board connectors 14a, 14b, and 14c are formed by passing the leg portions of the insulating housings 15a, 15b, and 15c through the printed wiring board 20, thereby sub-boards 12a, 12b, and 11c of the device units 11a, 11b, and 11c. The sub-boards 12a, 12b, and 12c are inserted while being fixed at the position of the printed wiring board 20 facing the terminal 12c.
The contacts 17a, 17b, and 17c have base end side lead portions 19a, 19b, and 19c soldered to land patterns (not shown) of the sub-boards 12a, 12b, and 12c, and insulating housings 15a, 15b, and 15c. By inserting the sub-boards 12a, 12b, and 12c into the insertion recesses 16a, 16b, and 16c, the contact portions 18a, 18b, and 18c are in contact with and electrically connected to the conductive patterns 13a, 13b, and 13c.
[0005]
In this structure, the printed wiring board 20 and the equipment chassis 10 are assembled in a state where the printed wiring board connectors 14a, 14b, and 14c are fixed to the printed wiring board 20, thereby corresponding to the respective equipment units 11a, 11b, and 11c. The printed wiring board connectors 14a, 14b, and 14c can be connected.
[0006]
However, in the structure in which the printed wiring board connectors 14a, 14b, and 14c are attached to the fixed positions of the printed wiring board 20 and the device units 11a, 11b, and 11c are attached to the fixed positions of the device chassis 10 as described above, they are attached to each other. If an error occurs in the pitch, the sub boards 12a, 12b, and 12c of the device units 11a, 11b, and 11c cannot be simultaneously inserted into the printed wiring board connectors 14a, 14b, and 14c. The substrates 12a, 12b, and 12c and the contacts 17a, 17b, and 17c are damaged. Therefore, in such a case, a movable connector that can be connected while absorbing mutual attachment errors is used.
[0007]
8 and 9 show a conventional movable connector described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-15747.
The movable connector 21 is configured by assembling a front housing 22 and a rear housing 23. The front housing 22 and the rear housing 23 are assembled by forming a connecting projection 35 in the front housing 22, forming a horizontally long connecting hole 25 in the rear housing 23, and connecting the connecting projection 35 as shown by a dotted line in FIG. 9. This is done by inserting it into the hole 25. The rear housing 23 is positioned and fixed by inserting the leg portions 26 at both end portions into the printed wiring board 29. In the assembled state, the front housing 22 can reciprocate in the linear direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG.
[0008]
The printed wiring board 29 in FIG. 8 corresponds to the printed wiring board 20 in FIG.
The contact 31 has a horizontal terminal portion 36, a vertical lead-out portion 28, and a bent portion 34 at an intermediate portion thereof. The lead-out portion 28 protrudes from the rear slit 27 of the rear housing 23, and further penetrates the printed wiring board 29, and its penetrating end is soldered to the printed wiring board 29 and connected thereto. The terminal portion 36 passes through the contact insertion hole 24 formed in the front housing 22 and comes into contact with and electrically connects to the contact 32 that is an external terminal of the connector 33 attached to the printed wiring board 30. Thereby, the printed wiring board 29 and the printed wiring board 30 can be connected.
[0009]
In such a structure, when the front housing 22 moves in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 9, the bent portion 34 of the contact 31 is bent, so that the connection state between the printed wiring board 29 and the printed wiring board 30 can be maintained. Therefore, even if there is an attachment error of the movable connector 21 to the printed wiring board 29, this attachment error is absorbed by the movement of the front housing 22, so that the printed wiring board 29 and the printed wiring board 30 can be connected. it can.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional movable connector 21 has the following problems. (1) The movement of the front housing 22 to absorb the mounting error is only in the width direction (left-right direction) of the housing as shown by the arrow A in FIG. When there was an error, it could not be dealt with.
[0011]
(2) Since the contact 32 is connected to the printed wiring board 29 using solder, a soldering process is required.
[0012]
(3) Since the contact 31 is fixedly connected to the printed wiring board 29 using solder, the contact 31 must be provided with a bending portion 34, the shape of the contact 31 is complicated, and the connection protrusion When 35 moves, a mechanical force is applied to the soldered portion even if the bent portion 34 is present, and there is a possibility that peeling, clicking or the like may occur in the soldered portion.
[0013]
The present invention can move in all directions, and when assembling or pulling out the movable connector, the contact is always in the center of the moving range, and the soldering process is eliminated. It is intended to provide.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to a movable connector in which an insertion recess 43 is formed in a movable housing 40 incorporated in a fixed housing 41, and a contact 48 is provided so as to face the insertion recess 43 and come into contact with and away from the sub-board 12. 40 elongated rectangular tube portions 44 are loosely fitted in loose fitting angular holes 56 of the fixed housing 41 with gaps 62 around the entire circumference, and an arcuate return groove 47 is formed on the outer surface of the elongated rectangular tube portion 44. Two each of the elongated rectangular tube portions 44 are formed in the vicinity of the ends of the both outer sides of the long side, and four spring portions 60 are formed integrally with the fixed housing 41 so as to face the return grooves 47. The movable connector is characterized in that the contact portion 61 at the tip of the portion 60 is pressed against the return groove 47.
[0015]
Even if there is a displacement between the sub-board 12 of the device unit 11 and the insertion recess 43 of the movable housing 40, no matter which direction the movable housing 40 is applied, the movable housing 40 has a return groove 47. Regardless of the engagement of the contact portions 61, the respective contact portions 61 are pushed out from the four return grooves 47 and moved, and stopped at the point where the deviation is absorbed. As the movable housing 40 moves, the first and second contacts 48a and 48b also move, while the other contact portions 53 and 53 slide within the range of the first and second contact connection patterns 65a and 65b. Maintain electrical connection.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of a movable connector according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The movable connector according to the present invention includes a combination of a movable housing 40 and a fixed housing 41 that is loosely fitted so that the movable housing 40 can be moved with sufficient margin in any of the front, rear, left, right, diagonal, and up and down directions. After assembly, it is attached to the printed circuit board 42 as shown in FIG.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 2, the movable housing 40 includes a central elongated rectangular tube portion 44, a contact protection portion 45 projecting downward on both long sides of the elongated rectangular tube portion 44, and an engagement projecting midway on both short sides. It consists of a protrusion 46 and a plurality of first and second contacts 48a, 48b fitted from below.
An elongated insertion recess 43 is formed at the center of the elongated rectangular tube portion 44, and a double-sided printed board corresponding to the sub-boards 12a, 12b, and 12c in FIG. A taper is formed in the opening of the insertion recess 43 so that the insertion can be sufficiently dealt with even if there is a positional shift between the insertion recess 43 and the printed circuit board. A total of four shallow and arcuate return grooves 47 are formed vertically near both ends of the long outer sides of the elongated rectangular tube portion 44 to allow the movable housing 40 to move up and down. Yes.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 3, the first and second contacts 48a and 48b have their upper ends locked in contact locking holes 49 opened in the upper end surface of the elongated rectangular tube portion 44, and the lower ends of the first and second contacts 48a and 48b. A substantially L-shape is formed so as to fit into the contact relief grooves 50 and 51 of the portion 45, and one contact portion 52 curved inwardly in a semicircular shape is slightly protruded from the insertion recess 43 near the upper end portion. The lower end portion is formed with the other contact portion 53 that is curved downward in a semicircular shape, and the long first contact 48a of the other contact portion 53 portion receives the contact escape. The short second contacts 48 b are alternately arranged in the grooves 50 so as to be fitted into the contact relief grooves 51.
[0019]
The fixed housing 41 is formed with a loose fitting square hole 56 that allows a sufficient gap 62 to be formed longitudinally, laterally, and obliquely when the elongated rectangular tube portion 44 of the movable housing 40 is loosely fitted. Locking legs 58 are integrally formed at the four corners, and fitting holes 57 are formed in the horizontal direction on both sides of the short side so that the engaging protrusions 46 of the movable housing 40 are loosely fitted. Further, U-shaped cut grooves 59 are formed in opposite longitudinal side walls in opposite directions, and the insides cut by the U-shaped cut grooves 59 become spring portions 60 that extend in the direction of both ends. A contact portion 61 protruding inward is integrally formed at the end of the portion 60. These abutting portions 61 are engaged with the return groove 47 of the movable housing 40 while being in light contact with each other, and the movable housing 40 is held with a uniform gap 62 around the entire inner periphery of the loose fitting square hole 56. It is like that.
[0020]
The movable housing 40 configured as described above is fitted into the loose fitting angular hole 56 of the fixed housing 41 from below. For this purpose, first, as shown in FIG. 4, the movable housing 40 is slightly inclined, and one engaging projection 46 is inserted into one fitting hole 57 of the fixed housing 41 from the inside. Next, when the other engaging protrusion 46 is press-fitted into the loose fitting angular hole 56, the upper surface of the engaging protrusion 46 and the lower part of the engaging hole 57 are respectively tapered. 46 fits into the fitting hole 57.
When the movable housing 40 is loosely fitted in the loose fitting angular hole 56 of the fixed housing 41, the contact portion 61 comes into light contact with the return groove 47. Then, the return groove 47 having an arc shape at the circular end portion of the contact portion 61 is pushed in while sliding, and is stabilized at the deepest portion of the central portion of the return groove 47. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1, the entire circumference of the movable housing 40 is held with a uniform gap 62 within the loose fitting angular hole 56 of the fixed housing 41.
[0021]
After the movable housing 40 is assembled in the fixed housing 41, the locking leg portion 58 of the fixed housing 41 is press-fitted into the leg insertion hole 64 of the printed circuit board 42 shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the contact portions 53 of the first and second contacts 48 a and 48 ba are assembled so as to contact the upper surface of the printed circuit board 42 on the lower surface of the contact protection portion 45 of the movable housing 40. Then, as shown by a chain line in FIG. 3, the other contact portion 53 of the first contact 48a is connected to the first contact connection pattern 65a, and the other contact portion 53 of the second contact 48b is connected to the second contact connection pattern 65bb. Each presses.
[0022]
Next, a case where the sub board 12 of the device unit 11 is connected to the movable connector according to the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 6A, there is a displacement between the sub-board 12 of the device unit 11 and the insertion recess 43 of the movable housing 40, and the movable housing 40 is forced to the left as indicated by an arrow in the figure. Is applied, the movable housing 40 moves to the left by pushing out the respective contact portions 61 from the four return grooves 47 regardless of the engagement between the return grooves 47 and the contact portions 61. Stop at the point where the gap is absorbed. As the movable housing 40 moves, the first and second contacts 48a and 48b also move, while the other contact portions 53 and 53 slide within the range of the first and second contact connection patterns 65a and 65b. Maintain electrical connection.
A first contact 48a having a long contact portion 53 and a second contact 48b having a short contact portion 53 are provided, and the first contact connection pattern 65a and the second contact connection pattern 65b are alternately arranged in a staggered pattern. By doing so, the movable connector according to the present invention is made compact with the smallest possible area.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 6B, when there is a displacement between the sub-board 12 and the insertion recess 43 and the movable housing 40 is applied with a force upward as indicated by an arrow in the figure, the movable housing 40 is The spring portion 60 is bent while the contact portion 61 is engaged with the two return grooves 47, and stops at a point where the deviation is absorbed. The other two return grooves 47 are disengaged from the contact portion 61. The contact portions 53 and 53 of the first and second contacts 48a and 48b are electrically connected while sliding within the range of the first and second contact connection patterns 65a and 65b.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 6C, when there is a displacement between the sub-board 12 and the insertion recess 43, and the movable housing 40 is applied with a force obliquely upward to the left as indicated by an arrow in the figure, the movable housing 40 , The respective contact portions 61 are pushed out from the two return grooves 47 and moved obliquely upward to the left, and stopped at the point where the deviation is absorbed. The movable housing 40 bends the spring portion 60 while the two return grooves 47 are disengaged from the contact portion 61, and stops at a point where the deviation is absorbed. The other two return grooves 47 are disengaged from the contact portion 61. The contact portions 53 and 53 of the first and second contacts 48a and 48b are electrically connected while sliding within the range of the first and second contact connection patterns 65a and 65b.
[0025]
In the above-described embodiment, the spring portion 60 and the contact portion 61 are formed by integral molding with the fixed housing 41. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of parts is slightly increased. It may be formed and incorporated.
In the above embodiment, the spring portion 60 and the contact portion 61 are formed in the fixed housing 41, and the return groove 47 is provided in the movable housing 40. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The contact portion 61 may be formed in the movable housing 40, and the return groove 47 may be provided in the fixed housing 41.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the elongated rectangular tube portion 44 of the movable housing 40 is loosely fitted in the loose fitting angular hole 56 of the fixed housing 41 so as to be movable with the gap 62 around the entire circumference, and the spring portion 60 is fitted in the gap 62. Since the elongated rectangular tube portion 44 is held through the gap, it is possible to cope with any error in any of the left-right direction, the front-rear direction, and the diagonal direction.
[0027]
Further, according to the first aspect of the invention, an arcuate return groove 47 is formed on the outer surface of the elongated rectangular tube portion 44, pushing the contact portion 61 of the distal end of the spring portion 60 in the return groove 47 Therefore, when assembling or when the movable connector is removed, the contact is always at the center of the moving range, and does not hinder the next insertion.
[0028]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the spring portion 60 and the contact portion 61 whose tip is refracted toward the return groove 47 are formed by forming the U-shaped cut groove 59 in the elongated rectangular tube portion 44. Since it is provided integrally with the cylindrical portion 44, the number of parts can be reduced, the assembly process can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced.
[0029]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the elongated rectangular tube portion 44 of the movable housing 40 is loosely fitted in the loose fitting angular hole 56 of the fixed housing 41 so as to be movable with a gap 62 around the entire circumference. Two arcuate return grooves 47 are formed on the side surface near the ends of the long outer sides of the elongated rectangular tube portion 44, and the four spring portions 60 are fixed so as to face the return grooves 47. Since it is formed integrally with the housing 41 and the contact portion 61 at the tip of the spring portion 60 is pressed against the return groove 47, it is possible to reliably absorb misalignment in all directions with a simple configuration.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3 showing an embodiment of a movable connector according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a movable housing 40 and a fixed housing 41 according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating an assembled state of the movable connector according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a printed circuit board 42. FIG.
FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are partially cutaway plan views for explaining different moving examples of the movable housing 40 of the movable connector according to the present invention.
7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a conventional example in which a plurality of device units 11 provided in one device chassis 10 are simultaneously connected to a plurality of connectors 14. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional movable connector.
9 is a front view of FIG. 8. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Equipment chassis, 11, 11a, 11b, 11c ... Equipment unit, 12, 12a, 12b, 12c ... Sub board | substrate, 13, 13a, 13b, 13c ... Conductive pattern, 14, 14a, 14b, 14c ... For printed wiring boards Connector, 15, 15a, 15b, 15c ... Insulating housing, 16, 16a, 16b, 16c ... Insertion recess, 17, 17a, 17b, 17c ... Contact, 18, 18a, 18b, 18c ... Contact, 19, 19a, 19b , 19c: Lead-out part, 20 ... Printed wiring board, 21 ... Movable connector, 22 ... Front housing, 23 ... Rear housing, 24 ... Contact insertion hole, 25 ... Connection hole, 26 ... Leg part, 27 ... Slit, 28 ... Lead-out part, 29 ... printed wiring board, 30 ... printed wiring board, 31 ... contact, 32 ... contact DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 33 ... Connector, 34 ... Deflection part, 35 ... Connection protrusion, 36 ... Terminal part, 40 ... Movable housing, 41 ... Fixed housing, 42 ... Printed circuit board, 43 ... Insertion recessed part, 44 ... Elongated rectangular tube part, 45 ... Contact protection , 46 ... engagement protrusion, 47 ... return groove, 48a ... first contact, 48b ... second contact, 49 ... contact locking hole, 50 ... contact relief groove, 51 ... contact relief groove, 52 ... one Contact part, 53 ... the other contact part, 56 ... loose fitting square hole, 57 ... fitting hole, 58 ... locking leg part, 59 ... U-shaped groove, 60 ... spring part, 61 ... contact part, 62 ... Clearance, 64 ... leg insertion hole, 65a ... first contact connection pattern, 65b ... second contact connection pattern, 66 ... wiring pattern, 67 ... soldering part.

Claims (3)

In the movable connector formed by forming the insertion recess 43 in the movable housing 40 incorporated in the fixed housing 41 and providing the contact 48 facing the insertion recess 43 and coming in contact with and separating from the sub-board 12, the elongated angle of the movable housing 40 The cylindrical portion 44 is loosely fitted to the loose fitting angular hole 56 of the fixed housing 41 with a gap 62 around the entire periphery, and the elongated rectangular cylindrical portion 44 is held in the gap 62 with a spring portion 60 interposed therebetween. elongate rectangular cylindrical portion 44 of the arc-shaped returning groove 47 is formed on the outer surface of variable dynamic you characterized by comprising pressing a contact portion 61 of the tip of the spring portion 60 in the return groove 47 Type connector. In the movable connector formed by forming the insertion recess 43 in the movable housing 40 incorporated in the fixed housing 41 and providing the contact 48 facing the insertion recess 43 and coming in contact with and separating from the sub-board 12, the elongated angle of the movable housing 40 The cylindrical portion 44 is loosely fitted to the loose fitting angular hole 56 of the fixed housing 41 with a gap 62 around the entire periphery, and the elongated rectangular cylindrical portion 44 is held in the gap 62 with a spring portion 60 interposed therebetween. The spring portion 60 and the contact portion 61 whose tip is refracted toward the return groove 47 are formed integrally with the elongated rectangular tube portion 44 by forming a U-shaped cut groove 59 in the elongated rectangular tube portion 44. Yes dynamic type connector it said.   In a movable connector in which an insertion recess 43 is formed in a movable housing 40 incorporated in a fixed housing 41 and a contact 48 is provided so as to face the insertion recess 43 and come into contact with and away from the sub-board 12. The tubular portion 44 is loosely fitted in the loose fitting angular hole 56 of the fixed housing 41 so as to be movable with a gap 62 around the entire circumference, and an arcuate return groove 47 is formed on the outer surface of the elongated rectangular tubular portion 44. Two springs 60 are formed in the vicinity of the ends of the both outer side surfaces of the longitudinal portion 44, and four spring portions 60 are formed integrally with the fixed housing 41 so as to face the return grooves 47. The movable connector is characterized in that the contact portion 61 is pressed against the return groove 47.

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