JP3841676B2 - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrical connector designed to reduce noise.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, by inserting a long and thin insertion portion into a body cavity, the inside of a body cavity can be observed, and various medical treatments can be performed using a treatment instrument inserted into a treatment instrument channel as necessary. Endoscopes are widely used. The endoscope includes an optical endoscope in which an image guide fiber is inserted into an insertion portion, and an electronic endoscope in which a solid-state imaging device as an electronic component is built in the distal end portion of the insertion portion.
[0003]
A general electronic endoscope system includes an electronic endoscope, a light source device, a video processor, and a monitor. The image signal photoelectrically converted by the solid-state image sensor is transmitted to the video processor through a signal line extending from the solid-state image sensor. An end portion of the signal line is electrically connected to a video connector serving as a connection portion with the video processor through an insertion portion, an operation portion, a universal cord, a lighting connector, and a video cable.
[0004]
Conventionally, the end of the video cable is fixed to the connector main body constituting the video connector with a screw or the like.
Specifically, for example, as shown in the drawing for explaining the connection structure of the electric cable to the connector main body in FIG. 5, a metal base having conductivity at the end of the video cable 51 having a plurality of signal lines 51a as an inner layer. 52, and the base 52 is integrally fixed to a connecting pipe 54 fixed to a connector main body 53 constituting the video connector 50 with a plurality of screws 55.
[0005]
A through hole 52 a having a female screw into which the male screw of the screw 55 is screwed is formed in the tip side portion of the base 52. In addition, an O-ring arrangement groove 52b in which an O-ring 56 for ensuring watertightness between the base 52 and the connecting pipe 54 is arranged is formed at a predetermined position on the base end side from the through hole 52a.
[0006]
On the other hand, a counterbore 55a, which is a through hole through which the screw 55 is inserted, is formed at a predetermined position of the base end portion of the connecting pipe 54. And the O-ring arrangement | positioning groove | channel 55b which each arrange | positions the O-ring 57 is formed in the front-back outer peripheral surface of the longitudinal direction of this counterbore hole 55a.
[0007]
Further, a cap 58 is disposed on the outer peripheral surface side of the base end portion of the connecting pipe 54 so as to cover it. By attaching the cap 58 to the outer peripheral surface of the proximal end portion of the connecting pipe 54, the O-ring 57 is brought into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cap 58 to ensure watertightness.
[0008]
The video cable 51 has a multilayer structure in which, for example, a flexible metal tube is arranged on the inner layer and a resin tube is laminated on the outer layer, and the base 52 and the flexible metal tube of the video cable 51 are connected to each other. Connected to the same potential. Further, the connection pipe 54 and the connector main body 53 are watertight by an O-ring 54a. Further, the cap 58 is covered with an oleome 59 fixed to the connecting pipe 54.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the video cable 51 is assembled to the connector main body 53 via the base 52 and the connecting pipe 54 as shown in FIG.
[0010]
(1) The base 52 and the connecting pipe 54 are set in a relationship of D <d between the outer diameter dimension φD of the base 52 and the inner diameter dimension φd of the connecting pipe 54 in consideration of assembly. For this reason, a maximum (d−D) gap is formed between the base 52 and the connecting pipe 54. Therefore, depending on the tightening state of the screw 55, the base 52 is attached in an eccentric state with respect to the connecting pipe 54 as shown in the sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. As shown in the sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 5B, the base 52 and the connecting pipe 54 are attached concentrically.
[0011]
In the case of FIG. 6A, the base 52 and the connecting pipe 54 are brought into conduction by line contact, and in the case of FIG. 6B, the base 52 and the connecting pipe 54 are brought into conduction only by the screw 55. It was. In these states, noise emitted from the signal line 51a inserted in the video cable 51 is radiated to the outside from the gap.
[0012]
(2) Since the base 52 and the connecting pipe 54 are fixed integrally with the screw 55, a through hole 52a having a female screw is provided in the base 52, and a counterbore hole 55a in which the screw 55 is disposed is provided in the connecting pipe 54. Therefore, the inside of the connecting pipe 54 communicates with the outside. For this reason, the O-rings 56 and 57 and the cap 58 are provided to ensure watertightness, but the number of parts increases and the assembly becomes complicated.
[0013]
(3) Since the base 52 and the connecting pipe 54 are integrally fixed with the screw 55 and the O-ring 57 is arranged, the hard length L is minimized from the base end surface of the connector main body 53 to the base end surface of the cap 58. It is necessary to provide this, and this may increase the protruding amount of the video cable 51 and hinder the examination.
[0014]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an electrical connector that prevents noise from an electrical cable transmitting an electrical signal from being radiated to the outside and is excellent in assembling and workability. It is aimed.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The electrical connector according to the present invention includes an image signal connector connected to a video processor that performs predetermined image processing on an image signal from an endoscope having a solid-state image sensor, and transmits the image signal from the solid-state image sensor. An electric cable having an outer tube with a flexible metal tube inserted in the inner layer and having a flexible metal tube inserted therein, and fixed to the end of the electric cable, A base formed of a conductive member connected to the same potential, and a conductive connecting member disposed on the image signal connector and formed so as to be in contact with the base, and guides the signal line. A through hole to be enabled, an engagement inner peripheral surface formed on the base end side of the through hole and engageable with an outer peripheral surface of the base, and a first connecting portion formed on the base end side outer peripheral surface; A connecting pipe having an end of the electric cable A conductive annular member disposed on the peripheral surface so as to be freely movable in the axial direction, a second connecting portion that can be screwed into the first connecting portion, and a movement formed at a base end portion of the base An annular connecting and fixing member having a contact surface capable of contacting the restricting portion, and forming a tapered convex surface on the outer peripheral surface of the base, and forming the tapered convex surface on the engaging inner peripheral surface of the connecting pipe. A tapered concave surface that can be closely engaged is formed.
[0016]
According to this configuration, the base and the connecting pipe come into contact with each other to be in a conductive state, thereby preventing noise leakage. Further, with only one seal member fitted, the inside and outside of the connecting pipe connected to the base can be watertight.
[0017]
Then, the base and the connecting pipe are brought into surface contact (that is, in close contact) with each other between the tapered surfaces, thereby eliminating the gap more reliably.
[0018]
Moreover, the positional deviation of the circumferential direction of a nozzle | cap | die and a connection pipe is controlled because the convex part provided in the nozzle | cap | die or the connection pipe and the concave-shaped part fit.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1 to 4 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an electronic endoscope system, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a connecting tube, a base and an annular fixing member, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3, illustrating a connection structure of the cable to the connector body.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic endoscope system 1 according to the present embodiment mainly includes an electronic endoscope 2, a light source device 3, a video processor 4, and a monitor 5. The electronic endoscope 2 has an elongated insertion portion 6, and a solid-state imaging device 7 is disposed at the distal end portion of the insertion portion 6. An operation portion 8 also serving as a grip is provided at the base end portion of the insertion portion 6, and a universal cord 9 extends from a side portion of the operation portion 8. An illumination connector 10 is provided at the end of the universal cord 9 and is detachably connected to the light source device 3.
[0021]
A video cable 11 that is an electrical cable extends from the illumination connector 10, and a video connector 12 that is an electrical connector that is detachably attached to the video processor 4 is provided at an end of the video cable 11. .
[0022]
A plurality of signal lines 13 are connected to the solid-state image sensor 7. The signal line 13 having these distal end portions connected to the solid-state imaging device 7 is inserted through the insertion portion 6, the operation portion 8, the universal cord 9, the illumination connector 10, and the video cable 11, and the base end portion is connected to the video connector. 12 is electrically connected.
[0023]
A connection structure between the video cable 11 and the video connector 12 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in the drawing, an end portion of the video cable 11 is externally fitted with a metal base 22 having a conductive shape and having a substantially pipe shape. The base 22 is connected to the flexible metal tube 11a constituting the inner layer of the video cable 11 at the same potential.
The base 22 has a tapered convex surface 22a that forms a distal end side portion, a circumferential groove 22b in which an O-ring 23 that is a seal member formed on the proximal outer peripheral surface of the tapered convex surface 22a is disposed, and a proximal end side portion. It is comprised with the flange part 22c to comprise. For example, a pair of notched recesses 22d are formed at predetermined positions of the flange portion 22c.
[0024]
On the other hand, on the video connector 12 side, a stepped pipe-shaped connecting pipe 24 fixed to the connector main body 12a via an O-ring 12b is provided. A tapered concave surface 24b that is in surface contact with the tapered convex surface 22a is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 24a of the connecting pipe 24. Further, an end portion of the connecting pipe 24 is provided with a claw portion 24c serving as a convex portion that is fitted and arranged in the notch concave portion 22d. Furthermore, a male threaded portion 24d as a first connecting portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting tube 24 in the vicinity of the claw portion 24c.
[0025]
The video cable 11 is provided with an annular connecting and fixing member (hereinafter abbreviated as an annular member) 25 in advance before the base 22 is attached to the video cable 11. The annular member 25 has a configuration in which the flange portion 22c cannot pass through, that is, a hole having a shape in which the inner peripheral surface proximal end portion 25a contacts the proximal end surface 22e of the flange portion 22c.
[0026]
Further, a female screw portion 25b, which is a second connecting portion that is screwed into the male screw portion 24d of the connecting pipe 24, is formed at the inner peripheral surface tip portion of the annular member 25. Then, the connecting tube 24 and the base 22 are integrally fixed by screwing the female screw portion 25 b of the annular member 25 and the male screw portion 24 d of the connecting tube 24.
[0027]
At this time, the inner peripheral surface proximal end portion 25a of the annular member 25 is brought into a surface contact state with the proximal end surface 22e of the flange portion 22c, and the tapered concave surface 24b and the tapered convex surface 22a are brought into a surface contact state. Further, the claw portion 24 c of the connecting pipe 24 is fitted into the notch recess 22 d of the flange portion 22 c provided on the base 22. Further, the O-ring 23 provided in the base 22 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 24a of the connecting pipe 24, and a watertight state is ensured.
[0028]
Reference numeral 26 denotes an oleome that covers the annular member 25 and is integrally attached to the connecting pipe 24. Reference numeral 11b is a resin tube constituting the outer layer of the flexible metal tube 11a.
[0029]
As described above, a tapered concave surface and a male screw portion are provided on the pipe-shaped connecting pipe disposed in the connector main body, and a tapered convex surface and a flange portion that are in surface contact with the tapered concave surface are provided on the base disposed at the end portion of the video cable. By providing and screwing the female threaded portion of the annular connecting and fixing member into the male threaded portion, the proximal end surface of the flange portion is brought into close contact with the proximal end portion of the inner peripheral surface of the annular member to obtain a good conductive state. In addition, it is possible to securely prevent the radiation noise from leaking to the outside of the base and the connecting pipe by fixing the base and the connecting pipe integrally without forming a gap between the connecting pipe and the base. be able to.
[0030]
Moreover, while providing a male thread part and a claw part in a pipe-shaped connecting pipe arranged in the connector main body, a notch recess in which the claw part is fitted in a flange part of a base arranged in an end part of the video cable is provided. By rotating the female threaded portion of the annular connecting and fixing member into the male threaded portion and fitting the claw portion into the notch recess of the flange portion, the rotation around the video cable axis can be restricted.
[0031]
Furthermore, while providing a male threaded portion and a tapered concave surface on the pipe-shaped connecting pipe disposed in the connector main body, a tapered convex surface and an O-ring that are in surface contact with the tapered concave surface are provided on the base disposed at the end of the video cable, By screwing the female threaded portion of the annular coupling fixing member into the male threaded portion and fixing the coupling tube and the base integrally, it is possible to ensure watertightness in the connection tube and the base with one O-ring. At the same time, the hard length from the base end surface of the connector main body can be shortened to reduce the protruding amount of the video cable, thereby improving workability.
[0032]
With these configurations, it is possible to reliably reduce radiation noise and ensure watertightness without increasing the number of parts. Further, it is possible to further reduce noise by arranging a ferrite core in the connecting pipe or the base and inserting a signal line into the ferrite core. Further, in place of the notch recess and the claw portion, a concave convex portion and a convex convex portion may be provided in each of the tapered convex surface and the through hole having the tapered concave surface by electric discharge machining or the like.
[0033]
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
[0034]
[Appendix]
According to the embodiment of the present invention as described above in detail, the following configuration can be obtained.
[0035]
(1) An electric cable having a flexibility for inserting a signal line, and having an exterior tube provided with a flexible metal tube in an inner layer;
A base formed of a conductive member fixed to the end of the electric cable and connected to the same potential with respect to the flexible metal tube;
A connecting tube formed by a conductive member that is in contact with the base and has a through hole for guiding the signal line, the tip of which is watertightly fixed to the connector main body, and the first connecting portion is provided at the end. When,
An annular connection fixing member formed of a conductive member having a second connection portion that engages with the first connection portion and a contact surface that contacts the base end surface of the base;
One sealing member that is disposed between the base and the connecting pipe to ensure watertightness;
An electrical connector comprising:
[0036]
(2) The electrical connector according to appendix 1, wherein a tapered convex surface is formed on one of the distal end portion of the base or the proximal end portion of the connecting pipe, and a tapered concave surface is formed on the other side so as to be in close contact with the tapered convex surface.
[0037]
As a result, there is no gap between the base and the connecting pipe in the connected state, and the electrical continuity is greatly improved.
[0038]
(3) The electrical connector according to appendix 1, wherein a convex portion is provided on one of the base and the connecting pipe, and a concave portion on which the convex portion is engaged is disposed on the other.
[0039]
This restricts the axial direction of the base and the connecting pipe in the connected state.
[0040]
(4) an electric cable having a flexibility for inserting a signal line and having an outer tube provided with a flexible metal tube in the inner layer;
A base formed of a conductive member fixed to the end of the electric cable and connected to the same potential with respect to the flexible metal tube;
A connecting tube formed by a conductive member that is in contact with the base and has a through hole for guiding the signal line, a tip end portion of which is watertightly fixed to the connector main body portion and a male screw portion is provided at the base end portion; ,
An annular connecting and fixing member formed of a conductive member that is rotatably arranged with respect to the base and has a female screw portion that is screwed into a male screw portion of the connecting pipe and a contact surface that comes into contact with a base end surface of the base; ,
One sealing member that is disposed between the base and the connecting pipe to ensure watertightness;
An electrical connector comprising:
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent noise from an electric cable transmitting an electric signal from being radiated to the outside, and to provide an electrical connector excellent in assembling property and workability.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 to 4 relate to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an electronic endoscope system. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a connecting tube, a base, and an annular fixing member. 3 is a diagram illustrating a connection structure of an electric cable to a connector body. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3. FIGS. 5 and 6 are related to a conventional embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 5;
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Video cable 12 ... Video connector 12a ... Connector main body 22 ... Base 22a ... Tapered convex surface 22e ... Base end surface 23 ... O-ring 24 ... Connection pipe 24b ... Tapered concave surface 24c ... Claw part 24d ... Male screw part 25 ... Ring connection fixing member 25a ... inner peripheral surface base end portion 25c ... female screw portion

Claims (1)

An image signal connector connected to a video processor that performs predetermined image processing on an image signal from an endoscope having a solid-state image sensor;
An electric cable having a flexible insertion of a signal line for transmitting an image signal from the solid-state imaging device, and having an outer tube provided with a flexible metal tube in an inner layer;
Fixed to an end portion of the electrical cable, and the cap formed of conductive members connected to the same potential with respect to the flexible metal tube,
A conductive connecting member disposed on the image signal connector and formed so as to be able to contact the base, and is formed on a base hole side of the through hole that can guide the signal line. A connecting pipe having an engaging inner peripheral surface engageable with an outer peripheral surface of the base, and a first connecting portion formed on the proximal end outer peripheral surface;
A conductive annular member disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the end portion of the electric cable so as to be movable in the axial direction, a second connecting portion that can be screwed into the first connecting portion, and a base of the base An annular connecting and fixing member having a contact surface capable of contacting a movement restricting portion formed at an end;
Comprising
An electrical connector, wherein a tapered convex surface is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the base, and a tapered concave surface is formed on the engaging inner peripheral surface of the connecting pipe so as to be able to engage closely with the tapered convex surface.

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