JP4270418B2 - Flexible printed wiring board connector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector used in a small electronic device such as a notebook personal computer, and in particular, a flexible printed wiring board that connects a flexible metal conductor formed at one end of a flexible printed wiring board to a conductive portion of a main board. It is related with improvement of the connector.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a connector for a flexible printed wiring board has been used as a device for connecting a connection terminal of a flexible printed wiring board (hereinafter simply referred to as FPC) to a main board such as a mother board disposed in a small electronic device such as a notebook computer. (Hereinafter referred to as an FPC connector).
[0003]
This conventional FPC connector employs a so-called no-insertion force structure due to the flexible nature of the FPC. According to this no-insertion force-structure connector, the contacts in the connector are fitted with the FPC. In this case, no contact pressure is applied to the FPC, and after the FPC is mounted, the FPC is contacted with a predetermined contact pressure, so that stable electrical connection can be achieved.
[0004]
A conventional FPC connector 71 having a non-insertion force structure includes, for example, a housing 2 in which an opening 2a is formed, as shown in FIG. It comprises a contact 72 made of a plurality of flexible metal conductors arranged side by side along the opening 2a, and a slider 73 fitted into the opening 2a.
[0005]
Among these, each contact 72 has a bifurcated tip 72a, and a contact portion 73 is formed on the upper surface of the lower end 72b of the tip 72a. In addition, a space sufficient to fit the FPC 51 is formed between the upper surface of the contact portion 73 and the upper end 72 c of the contact 72 facing the contact portion 73.
[0006]
Further, a leg portion 74 that fixes the housing 2 to the main board 61 is extended at the rear end 72 d of the contact 72, and the leg section 74 is connected to a conductive portion 62 formed on the main board 61. Yes.
[0007]
In this conventional FPC connector 71, after the slider 73 is disposed in parallel with the main substrate 61, the connection terminal 52 of the FPC 51 is inserted into the opening 2a along the main substrate 61 as indicated by the arrow A, and then contacted. Since a sufficient space for inserting the FPC 51 is formed in the inner 72, the FPC 51 is inserted into the contact 72 without receiving contact pressure from the contact 72.
Next, when the slider 73 is similarly horizontally inserted into the opening 2a as indicated by the arrow A, the pressing portion 73a of the slider 73 is shown in FIG. Presses the FPC 51 downward, so that each connection terminal 52 of the FPC 51 and the contact portion 73 of each corresponding contact 72 are pressed against each other, so that the connection between the connection terminal 52 of the FPC 51 and the conductive portion 62 of the main board 61 is thereby established. Are electrically connected.
[0008]
There is also an FPC connector having a non-insertion force structure having an operation lever instead of the slider 73 of the FPC connector 71 described above.
[0009]
The FPC connector 81 is provided with an operation lever 77 as shown in FIG. 7A, in which the same portions as those in FIG.
The operation lever 77 is rotatably supported in the housing 2 at a position close to the opening 2a, and the FPC 51 is inserted between the upper surface of the contact portion 73 and the operation lever 77 thereabove. There is enough space to do this.
In this FPC connector 81, when the connection terminal 52 of the FPC 51 is fitted into the opening 2a along the main board 61 as shown by the arrow A, the contact between the upper surface of the contact portion 73 and the operation lever 72 above the contact portion 73 is inserted. Since a sufficient space for inserting the FPC 51 is formed, the FPC 51 is inserted into the contact 72 without receiving contact pressure from the contact 72 or the operation lever 77.
Next, when the operation lever 77 is rotated as indicated by an arrow B, the pressing portion 77a of the operation lever 77 moves the FPC 51 downward as shown in FIG. The contact terminals 73 of the FPC 51 and the corresponding contact portions 73 of the corresponding contacts 72 are in pressure contact with each other, so that the electrical connection between the connection terminal 52 of the FPC 51 and the conductive portion 62 of the main board 61 is established. Figured.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Incidentally, in the conventional FPC connectors 71 and 81 having the non-insertion force structure described above, the opening 2a of the housing 2 to which the FPC 51 is mounted is disposed along the main board 61. The FPC 51 is shown in FIG. (B) As shown by the arrow A in FIG. 7 (b), the FPC 51 is inserted into the opening 2a along the main board 61, so that the FPC 51 can be reduced by downsizing the connector in the height direction in recent years. There is a problem that the space for performing the insertion and insertion work is narrowed, the insertion and insertion work becomes difficult, and the electrical connection work between the FPC 51 and the main board 61 is complicated.
[0011]
Furthermore, in the conventional connector 71 having the slider 73 shown in FIG. 6A, the slider 73 is also inserted along the main board 61 as shown by the arrow A. Therefore, the slider 73 is inserted and inserted for the same reason. In the conventional connector 81 having the operation lever 77 shown in FIG. 7A, the operation lever 77 is supported in the housing 2 at a position close to the opening 2a. As a result, the operation space of the operation lever 77 is narrow, and the operation is difficult. Accordingly, the provision of the slider 73 and the operation lever 77 in the FPC connectors 71 and 81 has become a factor that further complicates the electrical connection work.
[0012]
Further, in the conventional FPC connectors 71 and 81, the connection terminal 52 of the FPC 51 and the conductive portion 62 of the main board 61 are electrically connected via the slider 73 and the operation lever 77. There was also a problem that there were many.
[0013]
In view of the circumstances described above, the present invention is a flexible printed wiring having a non-insertion force structure that can easily connect a flexible wiring board with a small number of components and that is compact in the height direction. An object of the present invention is to provide a board connector.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, according to the present invention, a housing in which an opening for inserting a connection terminal of a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) is formed, and a plurality of housings arranged in parallel along the opening in the housing. A flexible printed wiring board connector (FPC connector) having at least a flexible contact and a fixing device in which the housing is disposed on a main board made of a conductive portion . The contact is disposed without being connected to the conductive portion, and the contact is disposed to face the first arm with a first arm having a first contact portion that contacts the connection terminal, a second arm which conducts the first arm, and a pressing portion opposed to the inserted FPC, said housing to said fixing device When constant, the is composed of a second arm having a second contact portion facing the conductive portions, said housing, said second contact portions are holes protruding formation, the housing when fixed to the fixing device, said contact, said sandwiched between the housing and the main board, the pressing force acting upon sandwiched, the second contact portion is the conductive of the main board while pressed against the part, said by the pressing portion to press the flexible printed wiring board is pressed against the connection terminals of the first contact portion, by which, the connection terminal of the flexible printed wiring board and the main board The electrical connection between the conductive parts is intended.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the FPC connector according to the present invention will be described in detail.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual perspective view of an FPC connector according to the present invention.
The FPC connector 1 of the present invention is a connector for electrically connecting the connection terminal 52 formed on one surface 51a of the FPC 51 shown in FIG. 1 and the conductive portion 62 formed on the main board 61. It is.
[0016]
The connector 1 includes a substantially rectangular housing 2 in which an opening 2a is disposed above the main board 61, and a plurality of flexible contacts arranged in parallel in the housing 2 along the opening 2a. 11 and a fixing device 21 for fixing the housing 2 on the main board 61.
[0017]
Among these, the housing 2 is made of a substantially rectangular insulator member, and a pair of shafts 3 project from both ends 2b on the main board 61 side. Each shaft 3 is fitted into each bearing portion 29 of the fixing device 21.
Further, at both ends 2 b of the housing 2, projecting portions (not shown) project at positions close to the respective shafts 3.
In addition, a pair of fitting grooves 4 are formed on the upper surface 2c side of the housing 2 at a position spaced from the shaft 3 at both ends 2b of the housing 2 toward the upper surface 2c. On the lower surface 2d side, a pair of notches 5 are formed toward the lower surface 2d.
In addition, a plurality of holes 2 e are provided in parallel on the lower surface 2 d of the housing 2 in the width direction of the housing 2.
[0018]
On the other hand, a plurality of flexible contacts 11 arranged in parallel in the housing 2 along the opening 2a are made of a flexible metal conductor, and each contact 11 is a conceptual cross-sectional view of a main part of FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the tip 11a is bifurcated.
[0019]
The tip 11a is composed of a first arm 12 and a second arm 14 that is disposed opposite to the first arm 12 and is electrically connected to the first arm 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the first contact portion 13 is formed on the lower surface of the tip 12a.
A space for bending the first arm is formed between the front end 12a of the first arm 12 and the surface 2f in the housing 2.
On the other hand, the second arm 14 is formed with a pressing portion 15 projecting toward the first arm 12 at a position facing the first contact portion 13 of the tip 14a. On the opposite side, a second contact portion 17 protruding from the hole 2e of the housing 2 is formed.
Further, a space slightly wider than the thickness of the FPC 51 is formed between the first contact portion 13 of the contact 11 and the pressing portion 15.
[0020]
On the other hand, the fixing device 21 shown in FIG. 1 is disposed on a pair of arms 22 that are fixed to the main board 61 and that position and support both ends 2b of the housing 2 and the arms 22 that are spaced apart from the shaft 3 by a predetermined distance. The engaging means 24 is comprised.
[0021]
Among these, the pair of arms 22 constitutes both ends of a substantially U-shaped metal member 20 (FIG. 4), and the metal member 20 is made of an elastic material, so that the one end 22a side is outward in the width direction. It can be expanded.
The pair of arms 22 is disposed on both outer sides of both ends 2 b of the housing 2, and each arm 22 is fixed to the main board 61 by a fixing portion 23.
A bearing portion 29 for supporting the shaft 3 of the housing 2 is disposed at the other end 22b of each arm 22, and an inner wall 22c at a position close to the bearing portion 29 at the other end 22b is disposed on the inner wall 22c. A concave portion (not shown) for fitting the convex portion is formed.
[0022]
Further, the locking means 24 disposed on each arm 22 includes a tongue piece 25 extending from above the arm 22 to the inside at a position spaced apart from each shaft 3 by a predetermined distance, and a tongue. It is comprised from the tongue piece 26 formed in the position which opposes the tongue piece 25 under the piece 25. FIG.
Of these, the tongue 25 has a gentle surface 25 a, and the gap between the tongues 25 in the arm 22 is set to be slightly narrower than the width of the housing 2. Further, the tongue piece 26 is formed by pushing down a notch formed in the housing 2 toward the inside.
Next, the operation of the FPC connector 1 will be described, and the configuration will be described in more detail.
[0023]
According to this FPC connector 1, the housing 2 is rotatably supported with respect to the fixing device 21 via the shaft 3 as shown in FIG. 1, but before the FPC 51 is inserted into the opening 2 a, As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the opening 2 a is maintained facing upward with respect to the main board 61 by fitting a not-shown convex portion of the housing 2 with a not-shown concave portion of the fixing device 21. That rotation has stopped.
[0024]
At this time, when the FPC 51 is inserted into the opening 2a of the housing 2 as indicated by an arrow C from the tip 51b side, the thickness of the FPC 51 between the first contact portion 13 and the pressing portion 15 of the contact 11 is larger. Since a slightly wide space is formed, the FPC 51 is easily inserted into the contact 11 without receiving contact pressure from the contact 11.
[0025]
In addition, in a state where the opening 2a of the housing 2 is directed upward with respect to the main board 61 in this manner, a sufficient space for fitting the FPC 51 is secured above the opening 2a. Even when the connector 1 is a connector that is compact in the height direction when the connector 1 is attached to the main board 61, that is, a low-profile connector, the FPC 51 can be easily inserted and inserted.
[0026]
Further, since the opening 2a of the housing 2 is located at a position away from the main board 61, when the FPC 51 is inserted, the visibility of the opening 2a is good, thereby further easily inserting the FPC 51. be able to.
[0027]
Next, when the tip 51b of the FPC 51 inserted into the contact 11 reaches a predetermined position in the contact as shown in FIG. It arrange | positions in the position facing 12 1st contact parts 13. FIG. The FPC 51 located on the back surface of the connection terminal 52 is disposed at a position facing the pressing portion 15 of the second arm 14.
[0028]
Next, when a force is applied to the housing 2 as indicated by an arrow D in FIG. 3, the unillustrated convex portion of the housing 2 and the unillustrated concave portion of the fixing device 21 are disengaged. Rotates through the shaft 3 as indicated by the arrow E.
On the other hand, since the gap between the tongue pieces 25 protruding into the arm 22 is set to be slightly narrower than the width of the housing 2, the housing 2 that rotates about the shaft 3 is provided with a notch 5 shown in FIG. 25 slidably contact the gentle surface 25a, and the notch 5 presses the gentle surface 25a to expand the pair of arms 22 outward in the width direction of the housing 2.
[0029]
When the housing 2 is rotated until the tongue piece 25 reaches the fitting groove 4, the tongue piece 25 is fitted into the fitting groove 4 by a snap action as shown in FIG. At the same time, the arm 22 is restored to its original state by the elastic force and grips both ends 2b of the housing 2, so that the housing 2 is fitted to the arm 22 and fixed to the main board 61. .
[0030]
Further, when the housing 2 is fixed to the main board 61 via the fixing device 21 as described above, the lower surface 2d of the housing 2 abuts on the main board 61 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the contact 11 from which the second contact portion 17 protrudes from the hole 2e of the housing 2 is sandwiched between the housing 2 and the main board 61 and acts when sandwiched as shown in FIG. By the pressing force, the second contact portion 16 is pressed against the conductive portion 62 against the elastic force of the second arm 14, and the second arm 14 is elastically directed inward in the housing 23. Since the pressing portion 15 is bent to press the connection terminal 52 and the connection terminal 52 of the FPC 51 is pressed into contact with the first contact portion 13, the connection terminal 52 of the FPC 51 and the conductive portion 62 of the main board 61 are thereby connected. Electricity between The fact that the connection is achieved.
[0031]
As described above, in the FPC connector 1, when the housing 2 is fixed to the main board 61 via the fixing device 21, electrical connection is achieved only by holding the connector 11 between the housing 2 and the main board 61. In addition, since it is not necessary to provide a slider or an operating lever for electrical connection as in the prior art, the number of parts can be reduced correspondingly, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
[0032]
Further, in the FPC connector 1, as described above, electrical connection can be achieved only by fixing the housing 2 to the main board 61 via the fixing device 21, and at that time, a conventional slider or operation lever is used. Therefore, the electrical connection work can be simplified correspondingly, and the conventional problem caused by arranging the slider and the operation lever on the FPC connector, that is, the connector 1 Along with the reduction in height, the work space for operating the slider and the operating lever is reduced, and there is no problem that the electrical connection work becomes complicated.
[0033]
Further, in the FPC connector 1, when the electrical connection is attempted, the housing 2 which is the largest component of the FPC connector 1 is operated, so that the electrical connection work is easier than in the conventional case where the slider or the like has been operated. can do.
[0034]
In addition, the first arm 12 and the second arm 14 are reduced by reducing the height of the contact 11 by making an electrical connection by the pressing force acting when the contact 11 is sandwiched between the housing 2 and the main board 61 in this way. Even when the space for bending is narrow, it is possible to secure a large pressure contact force between the connection terminal 52 and the corresponding first contact portion 13 to prevent electrical connection failure.
[0035]
On the other hand, in this FPC connector 1, when the housing 2 is fixed to the main board 61, the housing 2 is fitted to the arm 22 as shown in FIG. Since the connector 1 is positioned in the height direction by fitting the tongue piece 25 and the fitting groove 4, the housing 2 is securely fixed to the main board 61.
[0036]
For this reason, the housing 2 maintains the state of being locked to the arm 22 against the elastic force of the second arm 14 by the locking means 24, whereby the conductive portion 61 and the first portion shown in FIG. Since the pressure contact with the second contact portion 17 and the pressure contact between the connection terminal 52 and the first contact portion 13 are maintained, the electrical connection between the connection terminal 52 of the FPC 51 and the conductive portion 62 of the main board 61 is stable. Will be done.
[0037]
When the housing 21 is fixed to the main board 61 by the locking means 24, the notch 5 shown in FIG.
Therefore, the positioning in the width direction of the housing 2 and the positioning in the height direction of the FPC connector 1 are more reliably performed, whereby the electrical connection between the connection terminal 52 of the FPC 51 and the conductive portion 62 of the main board 61 is achieved. Connection can be performed more stably.
[0038]
In the FPC connector 1 of this embodiment, the housing 2 is rotatably supported by the fixing device 21 via the shaft 3, but the housing 2 is not limited to this. For example, the housing 2 is The FPC 51 may be inserted into the fixing device 21 in a state of being detached from the fixing device 21. In this manner, the FPC 51 is fitted in the same manner as the FPC connector 1 of the above-described embodiment. The insertion work is simple, and the electrical connection work between the main board 61 and the FPC 51 can be easily performed.
[0039]
Although the connector 1 of this embodiment is an FPC connector, the connector of the present invention is not limited to this, and may be any connector for connecting a flexible metal conductor, for example, a connection terminal of a flexible flat cable. The connector for flexible flat cables to which 52 is connected may be sufficient.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the FPC connector according to the present invention is provided in parallel with the housing in which the opening for inserting the connection terminal of the flexible printed circuit board (FPC) is formed, and in the housing along the opening. A flexible printed wiring board connector comprising at least a plurality of flexible contacts and a fixing device in which the housing is disposed on a main board made of a conductive part. The contact is connected to the conductive part of the main board. In addition, the contact is disposed between the first arm having a first contact portion that abuts the connection terminal of the FPC and the first arm, and is electrically connected to the first arm. A second arm that is opposed to the inserted FPC and a second contact portion that faces the conductive portion when the housing is fixed to the fixing device. Is composed of a second arm having, in the housing is formed with holes in which the second contact portion protrudes, when fixing the fixation device the housing, contacts are sandwiched between the housing and the main board is, by the pressing force acting upon sandwiched, together with the second contact portion is pressed against the conductive portion of the main board, the connection by pressing the FPC terminal is pressed against the first contact portion by the pressing portion, which Thus, the electrical connection between the connection terminal of the FPC and the conductive portion of the main board is achieved, so that the housing is in a state in which the opening portion faces upward with respect to the main board, that is, the FPC is inserted and inserted. The FPC can be inserted in a state where a sufficient space for performing the operation is ensured.
[0041]
Therefore, even if the FPC connector has a low profile, the FPC insertion work can be simplified.
[0042]
Further, since the opening of the housing is located at a position separated from the main board, when the FPC is inserted, the visibility of the opening is good, so that the FPC can be further easily inserted and inserted.
[0043]
In the FPC connector according to the present invention, when the housing is fixed to the main board via the fixing device, the electrical connection can be achieved only by holding the contact between the housing and the main board. Since there is no need to provide a slider or operating lever for electrical connection, the number of parts can be reduced accordingly.
[0044]
Further, in the FPC connector according to the present invention, as described above, the electrical connection can be achieved only by fixing the housing to the main board via the fixing device. Since it is not necessary, the electrical connection work can be simplified, and the conventional problem that has been caused by arranging the slider and the operating lever on the FPC connector, that is, the fitting of the slider with the low profile of the connector. There is no problem that the work space for insertion work is narrowed and the electrical connection work is complicated.
[0045]
Further, in the FPC connector, when the electrical connection is attempted, the housing which is the largest component of the FPC connector is operated, so that the electrical connection work can be simplified as compared with the conventional case using a slider or the like.
[0046]
Therefore, according to the present invention, the flexible wiring board (FPC) can be easily electrically connected with a small number of components, and the flexible wiring has a non-insertion force structure that is compact in the height direction. A board connector (FPC connector) can be provided, whereby a small electronic device such as an inexpensive notebook personal computer with a low profile can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual perspective view of an FPC connector according to the present invention, showing a state before FPC is installed.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual cross-sectional view of a principal part of an FPC connector according to the present invention, showing a state before FPC is installed.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual cross-sectional view of a principal part of an FPC connector according to the present invention, showing a state in the middle of FPC attachment.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual perspective view of an FPC connector according to the present invention, showing a state after the FPC is mounted.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual cross-sectional view of a principal part of an FPC connector according to the present invention, showing a state after FPC is mounted.
6A is a conceptual cross-sectional view showing a state of a conventional FPC connector before FPC mounting, and FIG. 6B is a conceptual cross-sectional view showing a state of a conventional FPC connector after FPC mounting. .
7A is a conceptual cross-sectional view showing a state of a conventional FPC connector before FPC mounting, and FIG. 7B is a conceptual cross-sectional view illustrating a state of a conventional FPC connector after FPC mounting. Figure.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Connector for flexible printed circuit board (FPC connector)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Housing 2b ... Both ends 3 ... Shaft 11 ... Contact 12 ... 1st arm 13 ... 1st contact part 14 ... 2nd arm 15 ... Pressing part 16 ... 2nd contact part 21 ... Fixing device 22 ... A pair of Arm 24 ... Locking means 51a ... Flexible printed circuit board (FPC)
52 ... Connection terminal 52a ... Opening 61 ... Main board 62 ... Conductive part

Claims (3)

On a main substrate comprising a housing in which an opening for inserting a connection terminal of a flexible printed wiring board is formed, a plurality of flexible contacts arranged in parallel along the opening in the housing, and a conductive portion In a connector for a flexible printed circuit board comprising at least a fixing device in which the housing is disposed ,
The contact is disposed without being connected to the conductive portion of the main board,
Furthermore, the contact is
A first arm having a first contact portion that abuts the connection terminal;
A second arm disposed opposite to the first arm and electrically connected to the first arm, the pressing portion facing the inserted flexible printed circuit board; and the housing, the fixing device when fixing the, it is composed of a second arm having a second contact portion facing the conductive portions,
The housing is formed with a hole through which the second contact portion protrudes,
When fixing the housing to the fixing device, the contact is held between the main board and the housing, the pressing force acting upon sandwiched, the second contact portion of the main board while it pressed against the conductive portion, wherein the pressing portion to press the flexible printed wiring board is pressed against the connection terminals of the first contact portions, thereby, the said connection terminal of the flexible printed wiring board main A connector characterized in that an electrical connection is made between the conductive portion of the substrate.   The connector according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a shaft and is rotatably supported by the fixing device via the shaft. The fixing device is
A pair of arms fixed to the main substrate and positioning and supporting both ends of the housing; and the housing disposed at the pair of arms and spaced apart from the shaft by a predetermined distance; Locking means for locking against
When the both ends of the housing are positioned between the pair of arms, the housing is locked by the locking means, the pressure contact between the conductive portion and the second contact portion, the connection terminal, and the first An electrical connection between the connection terminal of the flexible printed wiring board and the conductive part of the main board is achieved by holding the pressure contact with the contact part of the flexible printed wiring board. The connector described.

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