JP4073874B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

   The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a connector using a conductive wire as a contact.

  Conventionally, there is a connector described in Japanese Patent No. 2969601 as a connector using a conductive pattern of a flexible wiring board as a contact.

  This connector is a receptacle connector, and includes a housing, a leaf spring member, a flexible wiring board, and a holding member as main components.

  The housing is formed of an insulating material and has a receiving space for receiving a plug protrusion of a plug connector which is a mating connector.

  The leaf spring member is formed by bending a metal plate having elasticity into a substantially U shape. The leaf spring member is accommodated in the receiving space of the housing.

  The flexible wiring board is formed by forming a conductor pattern on an insulating film. The flexible wiring board enters the U-shaped space of the leaf spring member and is accommodated in the receiving space of the housing so as to cover the left and right side walls of the leaf spring member.

  The holding member is attached to the lower surface of the housing when the leaf spring member and the flexible wiring board are accommodated in the receiving space.

  When the receptacle connector and the plug connector are fitted to each other, the plug protrusion of the plug connector enters the receiving space of the housing of the receptacle connector. At this time, the plug protrusions of the plug connector push the left and right side walls of the leaf spring member and expand into the U-shaped space of the leaf spring member.

When the left and right side walls of the leaf spring member are elastically deformed, each conductive path of the conductive pattern of the flexible wiring board on the receptacle connector side is pressed against each conductive path of the flexible wiring board on the plug connector side by the restoring force. And contact force can be obtained.
Japanese Patent No. 2969601

  However, when the processing accuracy of the leaf spring member or the plug protrusion of the plug connector is low (for example, when the pressing protrusion of the leaf spring member or the plug protrusion of the plug connector is uneven), the position of the conductor pattern in the contact direction of the conductive path Since there is a large deviation, contact failure may occur.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a situation, The subject is providing the connector which can prevent a contact failure.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a connector according to the invention of claim 1 includes an insulator and a plurality of conductive wires held by the insulator at regular intervals, and a groove for supporting the conductive wire is provided in the insulator. The contact portion of the conductive wire that is formed and contacts the contact of the mating connector is stretched over a recess formed in the insulator, and tension is applied to the contact portion of the conductive wire. connector.

  As described above, the contact portion of the conductive wire floats from the insulator, and tension is applied to the contact portion. Therefore, the contact portion absorbs the positional deviation in the contact direction of the contact portion of the mating connector. Then, contact the contact part of the mating contact securely.

  As described above, since the groove for supporting the conductive wire is formed in the insulator, the conductive wire is reliably supported.

  As described above, since the contact portion of the conductive wire is bridged over the recess formed in the insulator, the contact portion of the conductive wire can be lifted from the insulator with a simple configuration, and the conductive wire can be Insulator does not increase in size to stretch.

The invention according to claim 2 is a mating connector that fits into the connector according to claim 1 , wherein the insulating film has a conductor pattern that functions as a plurality of contacts corresponding to the plurality of conductive wires; And an elastic member that fits with the insulator and presses the conductor pattern against the contact portion of the conductive wire.

  As described above, since the insulating film having the conductor pattern that functions as a plurality of contacts corresponding to the plurality of conductive wires is employed, it is easy to narrow the pitch of the contacts.

  As described above, according to the connector of the first aspect of the present invention, contact failure can be prevented.

According to the connector of the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent a short circuit between the conductive wires.

According to the connector of the first aspect of the invention, the manufacturing cost of the connector can be suppressed, and the increase in size of the connector can be avoided.

According to the connector of the second aspect of the invention, the pitch can be easily reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 is a perspective view of a receptacle connector according to an embodiment of the present invention and a plug connector which is a mating connector thereof, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a state in which a presser plate is removed from the receptacle connector shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a part of the receptacle connector and the plug connector shown in FIG. 1 is cut away, and FIG. 4 shows the fitting state thereof, and FIG. 4 is a view of the receptacle connector and the plug connector shown in FIG. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the receptacle connector 1 includes an insulator 2 and a plurality of conductive wires 3.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the insulator 2 includes an insulator body 4 and a pair of fixing plates 5.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the insulator body 4 is substantially frame-shaped and receives a plug connector 6 (see FIG. 1) that is a mating connector of the receptacle connector 1. The material of the insulator body 4 may be a material generally used as an insulator material (for example, PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), LCP (liquid crystal polymer)), but preferably the same material as the material of the fixing plate 5. Better. The insulator body 4 has a pair of wire mounting portions 41, 41, a pair of coupling portions 43, 43, and a rib portion 45.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the wire mounting portion 41 has a substantially prismatic shape, and a recess 41 a is formed on the surface of the wire mounting portion 41 that faces the plug connector 6. The recess 41 a extends along the longitudinal direction of the wire mounting portion 41. When the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 6 are fitted to each other, the recess 41a faces a contact portion 73a (see FIG. 1) of a conductive path 73 described later.

  A plurality of V grooves (grooves) 41 b are formed on the surface of the wire mounting portion 41 at regular intervals. The V-groove 41b extends along the circumferential direction of the wire mounting portion 41, and the surface of the wire mounting portion 41 is formed over almost one round.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the pair of coupling portions 43 and 43 couples a pair of wire mounting portions 41 and 41 parallel to each other.

  The rib portion 45 is employed for reinforcement, and spans the central portion of the pair of coupling portions 43 and 43 that are parallel to each other.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the fixing plate 5 is welded to the wire mounting portion 41 to fix the conductive wire 3 to the wire mounting portion 41. Suitable materials for the fixing plate 5 are ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin), acrylic, LCP, and the like. The absorption side (conductive wire 3 side) of the fixing plate 5 is colored black in order to absorb the laser beam. The transmitting side of the fixing plate 5 (the side opposite to the conductive wire 3 side) is not colored to transmit laser light and is transparent.

  The conductive wire 3 has elasticity, is disposed in the V-groove 41 b, and is fixed to the insulator 2 by the fixing plate 5.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the conductive wires 3 are arranged at regular intervals, and an intermediate portion (contact portion 3 a) of the conductive wires 3 is stretched over the recess 41 a and floats from the insulator 2. Therefore, even if one of the plurality of contact portions 3a is elastically deformed, the contact portion 3a adjacent to the contact portion 3a is not deformed. Thus, in terms of elastic deformation, the contact portion 3a has independence.

  A portion of the conductive wire 3 located on the lower surface of the insulator 2 is a terminal portion 3b. A part of the terminal portion 3b protrudes from the V-groove 41b to a printed circuit board (not shown). The terminal portion 3b is soldered to a pad of a printed board (not shown) on which the receptacle connector 1 is mounted.

  Next, the assembly procedure of the receptacle connector 1 will be described.

  First, the conductive wire 3 bent in a substantially C shape in the V groove 41b of the wire mounting portion 41 is mounted from the inside of the wire mounting portion 41 (the side where the concave portion 41a is formed).

  Next, the both ends of the conductive wire 3 are pulled away from the wire mounting portion 41.

  Thereafter, both ends of the conductive wire 3 are cut into appropriate lengths, and the both ends are bent and stored in the V-groove 41b.

  Finally, the fixing plate 5 is irradiated with laser light in a state where the fixing plate 5 is pressed against the wire mounting portion 41. As a result, the conductive wire 3 side of the fixing plate 5 absorbs and melts the laser beam, and the fixing plate 5 is welded to the wire mounting portion 41 and the conductive wire 3 is fixed to the wire mounting portion 41 and the fixing plate 5. The

  The receptacle connector 1 is assembled by the above assembly procedure. Of course, this assembly can be automated by the machine.

  Next, the plug connector 6 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the plug connector 6 includes an insulating film 7, an elastic member 8, and a stopper 9.

  The insulating film 7 is affixed to the elastic member 8 with an adhesive, a double-sided tape or a heat welding tape (not shown). The insulating film 7 has a film main body 71 and a conductor pattern 72 formed on the surface of the film main body 71. The film main body 71 has insulation and flexibility, and its unfolded shape is rectangular. The conductor pattern 72 includes a plurality of conductive paths 73. Each of the plurality of conductive paths 72 is a metal thin film, and functions as a plurality of contacts corresponding to the plurality of conductive wires 3. The plurality of conductive paths 73 are each substantially strip-shaped, parallel to each other, and arranged at a constant pitch. The plurality of conductive paths 73 extend from both side edges of the film body 71 toward the center of the film body 71.

  The elastic member 8 is formed by punching a metal plate having elasticity and bending it. The elastic member 8 has a pair of pressing pieces 81, 81 and one coupling piece 82. The pressing piece 81 has a convex portion 81a. The convex portion 81 a extends along the free end of the pressing piece 81. The part located on the convex part 81a of the conductive path 73 is a contact part 73a. The distance between the one protrusion 81a and the other protrusion 81a (the distance in the front-rear direction D) is the distance between the contact portion 3a of the conductive wire 3 of one wire mounting portion 41 and the conductive wire 3 of the other wire mounting portion 41. It is wider than the distance to the contact portion 3a. Therefore, when the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 6 are fitted to each other, the convex portion 81a of the pressing piece 81 presses the contact portion 73a of the conductive path 73 against the contact portion 3a of the conductive wire 3 (see FIG. 4).

  The coupling piece 82 couples the pair of pressing pieces 81. A portion located on the coupling piece 82 of the conductive path 73 is a terminal portion 73b. The terminal portion 73b is soldered to a pad of a printed board (not shown) on which the plug connector 6 is mounted.

  The stopper 9 is fixed to the lower surface of the coupling piece 82 for reinforcement.

  When the plug connector 6 is pushed into the insulator body 4 from the state shown in FIG. 1, first, the pair of pressing pieces 81, 81 of the plug connector 6 are elastically deformed so as to approach each other, and then the convex portion 81 a of the pressing piece 81 is formed. When getting over the inner side upper part 41c of the wire mounting part 41, the distance between the pair of pressing pieces 81, 81 is expanded by the elastic force. The contact portion 73 a of the plug connector 6 is pressed against the contact portion 3 a of the receptacle connector 1 by the elastic force of the pressing piece 81.

  At this time, even if the processing accuracy of the elastic member 8 is low and the surface of the convex part 81a is distorted, the contact part 3a of each conductive wire 3 is elastically deformed according to the distortion of the convex part 81a, and the contact of the contact part 73a. Absorbs misalignment in direction. As a result, each contact part 3a reliably contacts the corresponding contact part 73a.

  Even if the plug connector 6 is pushed into the receptacle connector 1 by a certain amount or more, the stopper 9 of the plug connector 6 hits the rib portion 45 of the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 6 cannot move downward.

  As described above, according to the receptacle connector 1 of this embodiment, the contact portion 3a of the conductive wire 3 floats from the insulator 2, and tension is applied to the contact portion 3a. The position shift of the contact part 73a of 73 in the contact direction is absorbed and it contacts the contact part 73a reliably. As a result, contact failure can be prevented.

  Moreover, since the V-groove 41b for supporting the conductive wire 3 is formed in the insulator 2, the conductive wire 3 is reliably supported. As a result, a short circuit between the conductive wires 3 can be prevented.

  Further, since the contact portion 3a of the conductive wire 3 is bridged over the recess 41a formed in the insulator 2, the contact portion 3a of the conductive wire 3 can be floated from the insulator 2 with a simple configuration, and the conductive The insulator 2 is not increased in size to stretch the conductive wire 3. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the receptacle connector 1 can be suppressed, and an increase in size of the receptacle connector 1 can be avoided.

  Furthermore, since the insulating film 7 having the conductor pattern 72 as the plurality of contacts corresponding to the plurality of conductive wires 3 is used as the plug connector 6, the contact pitch can be easily reduced.

  In addition, although this embodiment is the receptacle connector 1, this invention is applicable to general connectors, such as a plug connector.

  In this embodiment, the V-groove 41b is used as a groove for supporting the conductive wire 3, but the groove for supporting the conductive wire 3 is not limited to the V-groove 41b. Further, it is not always necessary to form a groove for supporting the conductive wire 3.

  In this embodiment, the contact portion 3a of the conductive wire 3 is floated from the insulator body 4 by the recess 41a. However, the means for floating the contact portion 3a of the conductive wire 3 from the insulator 2 is not limited to this. The insulator 2 may be provided with a pair of columnar portions, and the conductive wire 3 may be bridged between the pair of columnar portions.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, although the conductive wire 3 was fixed to the insulator main body 4 using the fixing plate 5, the fixing method of the conductive wire 3 is not restricted to this, The fixing plate 5 does not necessarily need to be used.

  In this embodiment, the absorption side of the fixed plate 5 is colored black and the transmission side is transparent. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the fixed plate is composed of two plates, and laser light is emitted on the absorption side. An ABS plate of a color that can be absorbed may be used, and an acrylic plate of a color that can transmit laser light may be used on the transmission side.

  In addition, slits that are located on both sides of the conductive path 73 and extend in parallel with the conductive path 73 may be formed in the insulating film 7 and the elastic member 8. By forming this slit, each conductive path 73 can swing independently, so that the conductive wire 3 and the conductive path 73 can be brought into contact with each other more reliably.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a receptacle connector according to an embodiment of the present invention and a plug connector which is a mating connector. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the receptacle connector shown in FIG. 1 with the holding plate removed. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a part of the receptacle connector and the plug connector shown in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector and the plug connector shown in FIG. 3 when viewed from a direction indicated by an arrow A in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Receptacle connector 2 Insulator 3 Conductive wire 3a Contact part 4 Insulator main body 5 Fixing plate 6 Plug connector 7 Insulation film 72 Conductor pattern

Claims (2)

Comprising an insulator and a plurality of conductive wires held by the insulator at regular intervals;
A groove for supporting the conductive wire is formed in the insulator,
The contact portion of the conductive wire that contacts the contact of the mating connector is bridged over a recess formed in the insulator;
A connector, wherein a tension is applied to a contact portion of the conductive wire. A mating connector that mates with the connector according to claim 1 ,
An insulating film having a conductor pattern that functions as a plurality of contacts corresponding to the plurality of conductive wires;
An elastic member that fits with the insulator and presses the conductor pattern against a contact portion of the conductive wire.

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