JP4603301B2 - Connector device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a connector device, in particular, the outer shape is Yes arranged side by side a plurality jack connectors of the same shape, contour that is inserted into and connected to the jack connector plug connector having the same shape are provided at the end of each cable Applied to a connector device in which a specific plug connector is inserted and connected to a specific jack connector, and the specific plug connector is erroneously inserted into a jack connector other than the specific jack connector. The present invention relates to a structure for preventing erroneous insertion and connection that functions so as not to be connected when trying to be connected.

  A signal transmission path may be formed with a cable inside or between the electronic apparatuses, and a plurality of signal transmission paths may be formed. In this case, the signal transmission path is formed by inserting and connecting the plug connector at the end of the cable to the jack connector mounted on the printed circuit board.

  FIG. 1 shows a situation where an erroneous insertion prevention structure is required. As shown in FIG. 1, jack connectors 2 and 3 having the same shape are mounted side by side on a printed circuit board 1. There are a plug connector 11 at the end of the cable 10 and a plug connector 13 at the end of the cable 12. The plug connectors 11 and 13 have the same shape, and the cable 10, the plug connector 11 and the jack connector 2 are for the first signal, and the cable 12, the plug connector 13 and the jack connector 3 are for the second signal. Let's assume.

  The plug connector 11 should be connected to the jack connector 2 and the plug connector 13 should be connected to the jack connector 3. When the plug connector 11 is connected to the jack connector 2 and the plug connector 13 is connected to the jack connector 3, the first signal is transmitted through the cable 10, the plug connector 11, and the jack connector 2. The signal is transmitted through the cable 12, the plug connector 13, and the jack connector 3, and the electronic device operates normally.

  If the plug connector 11 is mistakenly connected to the jack connector 3 and the plug connector 13 is connected to the jack connector 2, the first signal and the second signal are not transmitted normally, and the electronic device operates normally. It will disappear.

  Here, since the plug connectors 11 and 13 have the same shape and the jack connectors 2 and 3 have the same shape, the plug connector 11 is mistakenly connected to the jack connector 3 and the plug connector 13 is connected to the jack connector 2. Can happen.

  Therefore, a structure for preventing an erroneous insertion connection operation for connecting the plug connector 11 to the jack connector 3 and an erroneous insertion connection operation for connecting the plug connector 13 to the jack connector 2 is required.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a structure for preventing an erroneous insertion connection operation is generally configured using a part of a shield housing of a plug connector and a part of a shield housing of a jack connector.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-126654

  Currently, plug connectors and jack connectors are being downsized. In the miniaturized plug connector and jack connector, the shield housing is a press-molded part of a metal plate and is thin. Therefore, if an attempt is made to construct a structure that prevents an erroneous insertion / connection operation by using a part of the shield housing, the mechanical strength is insufficient and the reliability is lowered. Also, if another frame-shaped member for preventing misinsertion connection operation is prepared and attached to the plug connector and the jack connector, the outer size becomes large, which is contrary to miniaturization. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and devised a portion that forms a structure for preventing erroneous insertion and connection operations, and has a structure for preventing erroneous insertion and connection suitable for miniaturized plug connectors and jack connectors. and to provide a connector device equipped.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a plug contact assembly, a contact opening formed in the plug contact assembly, and a pair of holes arranged so as to sandwich the contact opening via a slit, A plug connector having a fitting portion having
By inserting into the contact opening, a plate body protruding portion electrically connected to the plug connector, and sandwiching the plate body protruding portion through a rib that can be fitted to the slit, A jack connector comprising: a pair of protrusions disposed opposite to the pair of holes; and a fitting recess that exposes the plate protrusion and the pair of protrusions and into which the fitting part is inserted;
A connector device comprising:
A key member that is driven into one of the pair of holes is provided, and a protrusion that faces the key member of the pair of protrusions is cut off at the base of the protrusion and the rib. There is provided a connector device characterized by the above.

According to the present invention, without increasing the external shape of the plug connector and the jack connector, it is possible to realize the erroneous insertion connection preventing structure.

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[Connector device 20]
2 and 3 show the connector device 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This connector device 20 is applied to a balanced transmission system in which a + signal to be transmitted using two wires paired for each data and a − signal having the same magnitude and opposite direction are transmitted simultaneously. This structure is applied when the number of signals to be transmitted is two, which is the same as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector used to connect a peripheral device to a personal computer. It is a size.

The connector device 20 includes a plug connector 21 shown in FIGS. 2 (A) and 3 (A) and a jack connector 61 shown in FIGS. 2 (B) and 3 (B). X1-X2 is the direction in which the contacts are arranged, Z1-Z2 is the height direction, and Y1-Y2 is the depth direction. The direction of the jack connector 61 is made coincident with the direction attached to the plug connector 21 connected to the jack connector 61. In this specification, a plug connector refers to a connector on the side to be connected regardless of its structure, and a jack connector refers to a connector on the side to be connected regardless of its structure.
[Plug connector 21]
As shown in FIGS. 2A and 3A, the plug connector 21 is a female type having a contact opening 29, and a shield housing 23 in which the plug contact assembly 22 is a press-molded part of a metal plate. And is provided at the end of the balanced transmission cable 24. The balanced transmission cable 24 is a thin cable having two paired wires. 21X is a center line extending in the X1-X2 direction, and 21Z is a center line extending in the Z1-Z2 direction. Reference numeral 25 denotes a fitting portion which is present on the Y2 end side and is a portion fitted to the jack connector 61.

  The fitting part 25 has chamfered parts 25a and 25b on both sides in the X1-X2 direction on the Z2 side, and is asymmetrical with respect to the center line 21X. The jack connector 61 has the same shape, and the plug connector 21 is not inserted into and connected to the jack connector 61 in an upside down posture.

  The plug contact assembly 22 includes a pair of signal contacts 41 and 42 and three ground contacts 43 constituting a plug contact group on a plug contact group holder 26 made of an electrically insulating synthetic resin as shown in FIG. , 44, 45 are incorporated alternately and in the X1-X2 direction, and the relay printed circuit board 46 is further incorporated.

  The plug contact group holding body 26 has a main body portion 27 on the Y2 side and arm portions 28 and 29 extending in the Y1 direction from both sides of the main body portion 27.

  The main body 27 constitutes a block described in the claims and has a size corresponding to a shield housing 23 of the jack connector 61 to be described later. A plate-like protrusion of the jack connector 61 is formed at the center of the surface 27a on the Y2 side. A rectangular contact opening 29 having a size corresponding to the portion 71 is formed. The main body 27 holds the ground contact 43, the signal contact 41, the ground contact 44, the signal contact 42, and the ground contact 45 in this order from the X2 side. The X1-X2 direction is the contact arrangement direction. The tip ends of the signal contact and the ground contact protrude into the opening 29 from the Z1-Z2 side.

  31 is a first hole, and 32 is a second hole. Of the surface 26a on the Y2 side of the main body 26, X1 is the contact arrangement direction of the opening 29 on both sides in the X1-X2 direction. This is a portion that extends in the direction and the X2 direction and that is distanced from the center line 21Z and is symmetric about the center line 21Z. The first and second holes 31 and 32 have the same shape, have an opening in the surface 26a, and the Y1 direction is the depth direction. The part on the extension in the contact arrangement direction is a part of the main body 27, and even if the holes 31 and 32 are formed here, the external size of the plug connector 21 does not increase.

  A key member 50 has a shape corresponding to the first and second holes 31 and 32 and has a bulge portion 51. The key member 50 is fixed by being driven into the first and second holes 31 and 32 from the Y2 side as necessary, and the bulge portion 52 is crushed, thereby closing the first and second holes 31 and 32. .

  Note that slits 33 and 34 exist between the opening 29 and the first and second holes 31 and 32. The slits 33 and 34 are portions that fit into ribs 77 and 78 described later.

  The relay printed circuit board 46 is fitted and supported in a groove inside the arm portions 28 and 29, and is connected to the Y1 ends of the signal contact and the ground contact. The balanced transmission cable 24 is connected to the Y1 end of the printed circuit board 46.

The first and second holes 31 and 32 and the key member 50 constitute an erroneous insertion connection prevention structure. This erroneous insertion connection preventing structure can be constructed on the user side using the plug connector 21 by driving the key member 50.
[Jack connector 61]
As shown in FIGS. 2B and 3B, the jack connector 61 is a male type and a right angle type having a plate-like projecting portion 71, and the jack contact assembly 62 is a metal plate press-molded. The structure is covered with a shield housing 63 that is a part. 61X is a center line extending in the X1-X2 direction, and 61Z is a center line extending in the Z1-Z2 direction. 65 is a fitting recess which is a space, and is a portion into which the plug connector 21 is fitted. The plug connector 21 has chamfered portions 65a and 65b on both sides in the X1-X2 direction on the Z2 side. The shape corresponds to the portion 25.

  In the jack contact assembly 62, a pair of signal contacts 81 and 82 and three ground contacts 83 constituting a jack contact group are added to a jack contact group holding body 66 made of an electrically insulating synthetic resin as shown in FIG. , 84, 85 are incorporated in the X1-X2 direction alternately in a line.

The plug contact group holding body 66 has a main body portion 67 on the Y1 side and arm portions 68 and 69 extending in the Y2 direction from both sides of the main body portion 67. Body portion 67 includes a beam portion 70 between the arms 68 and 69, a plate-like protruding portion 71 that protrudes into a plate shape from the beam portion 70 Y1 side more ing. The arms 68 and 69 are provided with pins 72-1 to 72-4 for mounting positioning protruding in the Z2 direction.

  The main body 67 holds the ground contact 83, the signal contact 81, the ground contact 84, the signal contact 82, and the ground contact 85 in this order from the X2 side. The X1-X2 direction is the contact arrangement direction. The portions on the tip side of the signal contact and the ground contact are fitted in the groove of the plate-like protruding portion 71 and are exposed on the Z1 surface and the Z2 surface.

  Reference numerals 75 and 76 denote first and second protrusions at positions on both sides of the plate-like protruding portion 71 in the X1-X2 direction, that is, the plate-like protruding portions 71 are arranged in the X1 direction and the X2 direction, which are contact arranging directions. In the Y1-Y2 direction in a portion which is the same L1 as the distance between the first and second holes 31 and 32 and is symmetric with respect to the center line 61Z. It is formed to extend. The protrusions 75 and 76 are sized to fit into the first and second holes 31 and 32, have a shape with a small rectangular cross section according to the size of the jack connector 61, and have the same shape. The part on the extension in the arrangement direction of the contact is originally a space, and the protrusions 75 and 76 are arranged in a portion that is a small size and originally a fitting recess 65 that is a space. Even if the portions 75 and 76 are formed, the outer size of the jack connector 61 does not increase.

  Further, the protrusions 75 and 76 are formed so as to have sufficient strength against an external force in the Y2 direction and can be excised using a tool. That is, the protrusions 75 and 76 are formed so as to protrude from the beam portion 70 and are connected to the ends of the plate-like protruding portion 71 by ribs 77 and 78 over the entire length in the Y1-Y2 direction. Therefore, although the protrusions 75 and 76 have a small cross-sectional area, the protrusions 75 and 76 have sufficient strength not to be broken even if a strong force acts on the tip in the Y2 direction. It should be noted that the protrusions 75 and 76 can be cut off from the jack contact group holding body 66 by cutting the protrusions 75 and 76 at the base portions and the ribs 77 and 78 using a tool.

  The first and second protrusions 75 and 76 constitute an erroneous insertion connection prevention structure. This erroneous insertion connection prevention structure can be constructed on the user side using the jack connector 61 by cutting one of the first and second protrusions 75 and 76.

In the plug connector 21 of FIG. 2A, the fitting portion 25 is inserted into the fitting recess 65 of the jack connector 61, and the plate-like protruding portion 71 on which the contacts of the jack connector 61 are arranged has the opening 29. The signal contacts 41 and 42 and the ground contacts 43, 44 and 45 are connected to the signal contacts 81 and 82 and the ground contacts 83, 84 and 85, respectively, and are connected to the jack connector 61.
[Use state of connector device 20]
As shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D, the plug connector 21 can have four different modes depending on whether or not the key member 50 is driven into the first and second holes 31 and 32. First mode (FIG. 5A): The key member 50 is not driven into any of the first and second holes 31 and 32. Second mode (FIG. 5B): The key member 50 is driven into the first hole 31. Third mode (FIG. 5C): the key member 50 is driven into the second hole 32. Fourth Mode (FIG. 5D): The key member 50 is driven into both the first and second holes 31 and 32.

  As shown in FIGS. 5E to 5H, the jack connector 61 can have four different modes depending on whether or not the protrusions 75 and 76 are cut off. 1st aspect (FIG.5 (E)): Both the projection parts 75 and 76 are excised. Second mode (FIG. 5F): the protrusion 75 is cut off, and the protrusion 76 remains. 3rd aspect (FIG.5 (G)): The projection part 76 is excised, and the projection part 75 remains. Fourth mode (FIG. 5H): the protrusions 75 and 76 are not cut away.

  In FIG. 5, the arrow indicates that the plug connector 21 can be connected to the jack connector 61, and the x mark indicates that the key member 50 hits the protrusions 75 and 76 and the connection is rejected.

  Protrusions 75 and 76 are appropriately cut out to prepare jack connector 61-1 shown in FIG. 5 (F) and jack connector 61-2 shown in FIG. 5 (G). As shown in FIG. The jack connector 61-1 is mounted on the end of the first signal path on the substrate 1, and the jack connector 61-2 is mounted on the end of the second signal path.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, for the plug connector 21 at the end of the cable 24-1 through which the first signal is transmitted, the key member 50 is driven into the first hole 31, and the plug shown in FIG. The connector 21-1. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 6, for the plug connector 21 at the end of the cable 24-2 through which the second signal is transmitted, the key member 50 is driven into the second hole 32, and the plug connector shown in FIG. 21-2.

  When the plug connector 21-1 is to be inserted and connected to the jack connector 61-1, the key member 50 enters the jack connector 61-1 without being obstructed, as shown in FIG. The plug connector 21-1 is normally connected to the jack connector 61-1 by being relatively fitted in the second hole 32.

  If the plug connector 21-1 is erroneously inserted and connected to the jack connector 61-2, as shown in FIG. 8, the key member 50 hits the first protrusion 75, and further insertion is restricted. An erroneous insertion connection for connecting the plug connector 21-1 to the jack connector 61-2 is prevented. Even if the plug connector 21-1 is pushed in strongly, the first protrusion 75 is not destroyed, and erroneous insertion is reliably prevented.

  When the plug connector 21-2 is to be inserted and connected to the jack connector 61-2, as shown in FIG. 7, the key member 50 enters the jack connector 60-2 without being obstructed, and the first protrusion 75 is the first protrusion 75. The plug connector 21-2 is normally connected to the jack connector 60-2 by being relatively fitted into the first hole 31.

  If the plug connector 21-2 is erroneously inserted and connected to the jack connector 61-1, the key member 50 hits the second protrusion 76 as shown in FIG. 8, and further insertion is restricted. An erroneous insertion connection for connecting the plug connector 21-2 to the jack connector 60-1 is prevented. Even if the plug connector 21-2 is pushed in strongly, the second protrusion 76 is not destroyed, and erroneous insertion connection is reliably prevented.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the plug connector 21-1 is always connected to the jack connector 61-1, and the plug connector 21-2 is always connected to the jack connector 61-2. Thus, the first signal is transmitted through the cable 24-1, the plug connector 21-1, and the jack connector 60-1, and the second signal is transmitted through the cable 24-2, the plug connector 21-2, and the jack connector 60-. The electronic device operates normally.
[Another embodiment]
Next, a connector device according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The following connector device has a configuration in which the hole and the protrusion are asymmetrical with respect to the center line in the Z direction.

  FIG. 9 shows a connector device 20A according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The connector device 20A is composed of a plug connector 21A shown in FIG. 1A and a jack connector 61A shown in FIG. 1B, and the distance from the center line to the hole and the protrusion is different and asymmetrical. .

  In the plug connector 21A, the distance from the center line 21Z to the first hole 31A is L1, the distance from the center line 21Z to the second hole 32A is L2, L1 ≠ L2, and the distance from the center line 21Z The distance is different.

  In the jack connector 61A, corresponding to the plug connector 21A, the distance from the center line 61Z to the first protrusion 75A is L1, and the distance from the center line 61Z to the second protrusion 76A is L2.

  FIG. 10 shows a connector device 20B according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The connector device 20B is composed of a plug connector 21B shown in FIG. 5A and a jack connector 61B shown in FIG. 5B, and the holes and protrusions are different in size and left-right asymmetric.

  The plug connector 21B has a configuration in which the second hole 32B is larger than the first hole 31B. The jack connector 61B has a configuration in which the second protrusion 32B is larger than the first protrusion 31B, corresponding to the plug connector 21B.

  FIG. 11 shows a connector device 20C according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The connector device 20C includes a plug connector 21C shown in FIG. 5A and a jack connector 61C shown in FIG. 5B, and is asymmetric with respect to the number of holes and protrusions.

  The plug connector 21 </ b> C has a configuration in which the number of the first holes 31 </ b> C is one and the number of the first holes 32 </ b> C is two. The jack connector 61C has a configuration in which there is one first protrusion 32C and two first protrusions 32C corresponding to the plug connector 21C.

  9, 10, and 11, the connector devices 20 </ b> A, 20 </ b> B, and 20 </ b> C are similar to those shown in FIG. 5. 61B and 61C are used by cutting out one of the protrusions, and as shown in FIG. 8, erroneous insertion connection is prevented, and the plug connectors 61A, 61B and 61C are predetermined ones of the jack connectors arranged side by side. It is inserted and connected only to the plug connector.

Further, since the holes and the protrusions are asymmetrical, it is possible to prevent the plug connectors 21A, 21B, and 21C from being erroneously inserted and connected in an upside down posture.
[Modification]
2B, FIG. 9B, FIG. 10B, and FIG. 11B, the Y2 side of the male jack connector 61, 61A, 61B, 61C shown in FIG. Y1 side of plug connectors 21, 21A, 21B, and 21C which are female connectors shown in FIGS. 2 (A), 9 (A), 10 (A), and 11 (A). The jack connector may be changed so that it can be mounted on a printed circuit board. In this case, the plug connector erroneous insertion connection prevention structure has a configuration in which the first and second protrusions are removably provided, and the jack connector erroneous insertion connection prevention structure has the first and second holes. And the key member is driven.

  The above-described erroneous insertion prevention structure can also be applied to ordinary plug connectors and jack connectors used in ordinary transmission paths that are not balanced transmission paths.

It is a figure which shows the condition where an erroneous insertion connection prevention structure is required. It is a perspective view which shows the connector apparatus which becomes Example 1 of this invention with a plug connector and a jack connector facing each other. It is a front view of the plug connector and jack connector which comprise the connector apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the plug contact assembly and the jack contact assembly facing each other and disassembled. It is a figure which shows the aspect of the incorrect insertion connection prevention structure of a plug connector and a jack connector. It is a figure which shows the use condition of a connector apparatus. It is a figure which shows the state in which the plug connector was normally connected to the jack connector. It is a figure which shows the state by which the incorrect insertion connection to the jack connector of a plug connector was prevented. It is a perspective view which shows the connector apparatus which becomes Example 2 of this invention with a plug connector and a jack connector facing each other. It is a perspective view which shows the connector apparatus which becomes Example 3 of this invention with a plug connector and a jack connector facing each other. It is a perspective view which shows the connector apparatus which becomes Example 4 of this invention with a plug connector and a jack connector facing each other.

Explanation of symbols

20, 20A, 20B, 20C Connector device 21, 21A, 21B, 21C Plug connector 22 Plug contact assembly 23 Shield housing 24 Cable for balanced transmission 25 Fitting portion 26 Plug contact group holder 27 Main body portion 29 Contact opening portion 31 , 31A, 31B, 31C First hole 32, 32A, 32B, 32C Second hole 33, 34 Slit 41, 42, 81, 82 Signal contact 43, 44, 45, 83, 84, 85 Ground contact 50 Key member 61, 61A, 61B, 61C Jack connector 62 Jack contact assembly 63 Shield housing 65 Fitting recess 66 Jack contact group holder 71 Plate-like protrusion 75, 75A, 75B, 75C First protrusion 76, 76A, 76B, 76C 2nd The protrusions 77 and 78 ribs

Claims (3)

A fitting portion having a plug contact assembly, a contact opening formed in the plug contact assembly, and a pair of holes arranged so as to sandwich the contact opening through a slit is provided. A plug connector;
By inserting into the contact opening, a plate body protruding portion electrically connected to the plug connector, and sandwiching the plate body protruding portion through a rib that can be fitted to the slit, A jack connector comprising: a pair of protrusions disposed opposite to the pair of holes; and a fitting recess that exposes the plate protrusion and the pair of protrusions and into which the fitting part is inserted;
A connector device comprising:
A key member that is driven into one of the pair of holes is provided, and a protrusion that faces the key member of the pair of protrusions is cut off at the base of the protrusion and the rib. A connector device characterized by that. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein the plug connector has a plurality of contacts in which signal contacts and ground contacts are alternately arranged, and is applied to a balanced transmission system. The connector apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the jack connector has a plurality of contacts in which signal contacts and ground contacts are alternately arranged, and is applied to a balanced transmission system.

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