JP4770405B2 - Connector for ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus connector for coupling a plug connected to an ultrasonic probe and a socket of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body.

  Conventionally, when connecting a plug connected to an ultrasonic probe to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body, several tens to several hundreds of multi-electrode attachment / detachment connectors are used. In order to improve performance such as spatial resolution, the number of electrodes of a connector such as a two-dimensional array probe used for an ultrasonic three-dimensional image is increasing, and a multi-electrode connector is required.

  There is a DIN connector as a general multi-electrode connector. The connection method is composed of a pin / socket connection portion, and has high reliability, but the electrode size is large and is unsuitable for multi-electrode use. Further, if the number of insertions / extractions is large, the reliability is extremely lowered, or if the number of electrodes is increased, a strong insertion / extraction force is required at the time of attachment / detachment.

  Therefore, a multipolar connector for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as shown in FIG. 6 has been proposed for the purpose of improving reliability such as improvement of fitting accuracy, prevention of erroneous insertion, prevention of erroneous extraction, and improvement of the number of insertions and removals.

  FIG. 6 shows the structure of a conventional multipolar connector for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

A conventional multipolar connector for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes two printed circuit boards 101 in which electrode groups 102 are arranged, a plug 100 including a cable 103 electrically connected to the electrode group 102, and an electrode group 102. A socket 110 having a contact upper plate 111 and a contact lower plate 112 having contacts arranged correspondingly, and a cam 114 is rotated by turning a knob 113 clockwise, and the contact is biased by a spring 115. After inserting the printed circuit board 101 along the guide rail disposed between the contact upper plate 111 and the contact lower plate 112 until it comes into contact with the stopper, the knob 113 is watched. By rotating the cam 114 in the direction and pressing the cam 114, the corresponding electrodes are electrically connected. Than is. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-250957 (page 3, FIG. 6)

  However, in the conventional multipolar connector for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the printed circuit board is inserted after the printed circuit board is inserted along the guide rail disposed between the upper contact plate and the lower contact plate until it comes into contact with the stopper. There is a problem that it is necessary to release the finger that has been picked, re-pick the lever for pressure contact, rotate it clockwise and pressurize it, and the plug and socket cannot be connected in a single operation It was.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and it is possible to insert a plug board having a multi-pole connector and to pull the handle to connect the plug board connector connector and the socket. An object of the present invention is to provide a multipolar connector for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that reliably and electrically connects a connection portion of a board connector.

A connector for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention receives a signal from a first connection part for transmitting a signal from an ultrasonic probe, a plug substrate having a first connection part, and the first connection part. A second connecting portion; a holding portion that holds the plug substrate and has a first guide pin on a side surface; and a moving portion that has a stepped first guide hole that is perforated in parallel to the moving direction. By engaging one guide pin with the first guide hole and moving the moving part, the holding part is moved to connect the first connecting part and the second connecting part. .

  With this configuration, the plug substrate can be moved by moving the moving portion while the plug substrate is inserted into the holding portion, and the plug substrate connecting portion and socket substrate can be moved by a simple operation by simply pulling the handle. Therefore, it is possible to make an electrical connection with the connecting portion.

  The connector for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention further includes a guide plate having a second guide hole and a second guide pin and fixed to the housing, and the moving part has no perforated step. A third guide hole is further provided, and the moving direction of the holding portion is regulated by engaging the first guide pin with the second guide hole, and the second guide pin is engaged with the third guide hole. Thus, the moving direction of the moving unit is regulated.

  With this configuration, by moving the moving part in one direction, the holding part can be moved only in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the moving part, and the connecting part for the plug board and the connecting part for the socket board can be securely connected. Can be connected to.

  Further, the connector for the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has a handle having a stepped portion connected to the moving portion and a handle hole for engaging the handle, and is disposed close to and facing the plug substrate insertion side of the holding portion. The plug board further includes a notch for fitting the stopper, and the stopper resists the pressure of the pressure part during the insertion of the plug board into the holding part. It is configured to move in the direction by the step of the stepped portion of the handle, and in the process of completing the insertion of the plug substrate into the holding portion, it is fitted to the notch portion of the plug substrate by the pressure of the pressurizing portion.

  With this configuration, the stopper moves in a direction against the pressure of the pressure part during the plug board insertion process, and can be fitted into the notch of the plug board by the pressure of the pressure part during the insertion completion process. In addition, it is possible to prevent erroneous insertion and removal, and to reliably connect the connection part of the plug substrate and the connection part for the socket.

  A multipolar connector for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes a first connection part for transmitting a signal from an ultrasonic probe, a plug substrate having a first connection part, and a first connection part. A second connecting portion for receiving a signal; a holding portion for holding the plug substrate and having a first guide pin on a side surface; and a moving portion having a stepped first guide hole drilled in parallel to the moving direction. And having a configuration in which the first guide pin is engaged with the first guide hole, the holding portion is moved by the movement of the moving portion, and the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are connected. By simply inserting the plug substrate having the connector into the holding portion and pulling the handle, the connecting portion of the plug substrate and the connecting portion for the socket substrate can be reliably electrically connected.

  Hereinafter, a multipolar connector for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is an external view showing a configuration of a multipolar connector for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the multipolar connector for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a plug 1 connected to an ultrasonic probe and a socket 10 attached to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body. The plug 1 includes a plug substrate 3 on which a plurality of plug substrate connectors 2 each having a first connection part for transmitting a signal from an ultrasonic probe (not shown) and an ultrasonic probe (not shown). ) And a plug cable 3 for electrically connecting the plug substrate 3, a holding portion 5 for an operator to hold the plug 1, and a positioning hole 6 drilled in a substantially diagonal position of the plug substrate 3. ing.

  On the other hand, the socket 10 has a plug insertion slot 11 for inserting the plug 1, and after the plug 1 is inserted into the plug insertion slot 11 to a specified position, the plug 1 is pulled down toward the front to lower the plug 1 in the vertical direction. The plug board connector 2 mounted on the board 3 and a handle 32 coupled to a mechanism for electrically connecting a socket plug board connector mounted on a socket board on the socket 10 side described later.

  Next, the internal structure of the socket 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the socket 10 and also shows the plug 1 to be inserted.

  In FIG. 2, the plug substrate guide 12 is a member that holds the plug substrate 3 inserted from the plug insertion port 11 therein, and a plurality of protruding guide pins 13 are formed at target positions on both side surfaces. The guide pin 13 is engaged with a stepped guide hole 31 drilled in the slide bracket 33, and the plug substrate guide 12 is suspended.

  The slide bracket 33 has a second guide hole 34 without a step. Inside the slide bracket 33, a second guide pin 42 that engages with a second guide hole 34 without a step formed in the slide bracket 33 and a second guide through which the guide pin 13 of the plug substrate guide 12 passes. A bracket 41 provided with a hole 43 is fixed to the chassis 21 vertically.

  The plug board guide 12 is restricted only in the vertical direction because the guide pin 13 is engaged with the second guide hole 43 of the bracket 41 fixed to the chassis 21 vertically. Further, the slide bracket 33 is restricted to only the movement in the horizontal direction because the second guide pin 42 of the bracket 41 vertically fixed to the chassis 21 is engaged with the second guide hole 34. A handle 32 formed on the insertion side of the plug 1 is connected to the slide bracket 33.

  The socket substrate 24 mounted with the socket substrate connector 22 disposed at the position corresponding to the plug substrate connector 2 of the plug substrate 3 inserted to the plug substrate guide 12 up to a specified position is mounted on the chassis 21 with the socket substrate fixture 23. It is fixed.

  The chassis 21 has a position corresponding to a hole in which a housing formed of an electrically insulating material of the socket board connector 22 is engaged and a positioning hole 6 drilled in the plug board 3 of the plug 1 inserted in the plug board guide 12. A positioning pin 25 protruding in both the upper and lower directions is fixed to the top. The portion of the positioning pin 25 that protrudes below the chassis 21 positions the chassis 21 and the socket substrate 24.

  The operation of the multipolar connector for the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3A is a view showing the positional relationship between the plug board connector 2 and the socket board connector 22 in the middle of inserting the plug board 3 into the plug board guide 12.

FIG. 3B is a view showing a positional relationship between the guide hole 31 having a step of the slide bracket 33 and the guide pin 13 of the plug substrate guide 12 in the state of FIG.

  FIG. 3C is a view showing a state in which the plug board connector 2 and the socket board connector 22 are electrically connected after the plug board 3 is inserted to a specified position and the handle 32 is pulled.

  FIG. 3D is a view showing the positional relationship between the guide hole 31 having a step in the slide bracket 33 and the guide pin 13 of the plug board guide 12 in the state of FIG.

  First, in FIG. 3A, the holding portion 5 of the plug 1 is held and inserted into the plug insertion port 11 of the socket 10 in the direction of the arrow. At this time, the plug substrate connector 2 mounted on the plug substrate 3 and the socket substrate connector 22 mounted on the chassis 21 so as to be connected to the socket substrate 24 are kept at a distance (d1) in the vertical direction. At this time, the position of the guide pin 13 of the plug substrate guide 12 engaged with the stepped guide hole 31 of the slide bracket 33 is in the position shown in FIG.

  Further, even when the plug board 3 is inserted to a specified position, the vertical gap (d1) between the plug board connector 2 and the socket board connector 22 and the stepped guide hole 31 of the slide bracket 33 are engaged. The position of the guide pin 13 of the plug substrate guide 12 is not changed.

  Next, with the plug substrate 3 inserted to a specified position, the guide pin 13 of the plug substrate guide 12 is pulled by pulling the handle 32 connected to the slide bracket 33 in the direction opposite to the insertion direction of the plug 1. It slides in the stepped guide hole 31 that is engaged, and moves in the vertical direction (downward) by a distance (d2) corresponding to the stepped portion of the stepped guide hole 31.

  Along with the movement in the vertical direction (downward), the plug board 3 held in the plug board guide 12 also moves in the vertical direction (downward), and as shown in FIG. The board connector 22 is electrically connected. Further, the positioning pins 25 are also fitted into the positioning holes 6 of the plug substrate 3.

  At this time, the position of the guide pin 13 of the plug substrate guide 12 engaged with the stepped guide hole 31 of the slide bracket 33 is in the position shown in FIG.

  The step distance (d2) of the stepped guide hole 31 is slightly larger than the vertical interval (d1) in consideration of the elasticity of the contact of the plug board connector 2 and the elasticity of the contact of the socket board connector 22. By doing so, a more reliable electrical connection becomes possible.

  When the connected plug 1 is removed from the socket 10, an operation opposite to the above-described connection operation is performed.

  First, when the handle 32 is pushed, the guide pin 13 of the plug board guide 12 slides in the stepped guide hole 31 with which the plug substrate guide 12 is engaged, and the distance corresponding to the step difference of the stepped guide hole 31 (d2) Accordingly, the plug board connector 2 and the socket board connector 22 are separated from each other and become disconnected. Further, since the tip of the positioning pin 25 is also separated from the positioning hole 6 of the plug substrate 3, the plug 1 can be pulled out with the holding portion 5.

As described above, according to the multipolar connector for the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present embodiment, the guide pins protruding from the both side surfaces of the holding portion that holds the plug substrate are engaged with the guide holes having a step. The plug board connector and the socket board connector can be electrically and securely connected with a simple operation by inserting the plug into the plug insertion port of the socket body and pulling the handle, and the plug can be inserted if the handle is not pushed in. Since it cannot be pulled out, it can be reliably prevented from being pulled out.

In the present embodiment, it may be provided with a bracket 41 fixed perpendicularly to the chassis 21 outside the is provided between the plug board guide 12 and the slide bracket 3 3 slide bracket 33.

Further, although the second guide hole 34 provided in the slide bracket 3 3 facing the second guide pin 42 provided in the bracket 41 fixed perpendicularly to the chassis 21, the second guide hole 34 drilled in the bracket 41 it may be configured to provide a second guide pin 42 to slide the bracket 3 3.
(Embodiment 2)
4 and 5 are perspective views showing a structure for preventing erroneous insertion / removal of a multipolar connector for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  This embodiment is a mechanism for preventing erroneous insertion / removal of a multipolar connector for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can be applied to the first embodiment.

  4 is a perspective view showing a state before the plug 1 is inserted, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where the handle is pulled after the plug 1 is inserted to a specified position.

  Note that the same parts and element configurations as those in FIG.

  In FIG. 4, the structure for preventing erroneous insertion / removal of the multipolar connector for the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a plug 1 connected to the ultrasonic probe and a stopper mechanism provided on the socket side. The tip of the plug substrate 3 of the plug 1 is formed in a tapered shape or a phased shape so that the stopper interval (d3) can be easily widened. Further, when the plug substrate 3 is inserted to the specified position of the plug substrate guide 12, the notch portions 7 are formed at the positions on both side surfaces corresponding to the positions of the stoppers 51, and the interval (d5) between the notch portions 7 is the stopper. It is formed to have substantially the same dimension as the interval (d3). The distance between the opposing stoppers 51 (d3) is smaller than the substrate width (d4).

  On the other hand, the handle hole 52 of the stopper 51 arranged so as to close both ends of the plug insertion slot 11 is fitted into the handle 32 and is held by the spring 21 extended from the chassis 21 or the bracket 41 vertically fixed to the chassis 21. The spring 53 provided on the metal fitting 44 is configured to be pressurized in the inner direction (direction in which the distance d3 is reduced).

  Next, the operation of the structure for preventing erroneous insertion / removal of the multipolar connector for the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

  First, when the plug substrate 3 of the plug 1 is inserted into the plug insertion port 11 in the state shown in FIG. 4, the stopper interval (d3) is resisted by the pressure of the spring 53 with the tapered shape or the curved shape at the tip of the plug substrate 3. And gradually spread. That is, as shown in the AA sectional view, the stepped portion 54 formed on the handle 32 has a slit depth (d6), so that the stopper 51 is retracted to a distance corresponding to the slit depth (d6). be able to.

In the middle of inserting the plug substrate 3 into the plug substrate guide 12, the handle hole 52 of the stopper 51 is locked to the stepped portion 54 of the handle 32, so that the handle cannot be pulled.

  When the plug substrate 3 is inserted to the designated position, the tip of the stopper 51 is fitted into the notch 7 of the plug substrate by the bias of the spring 53, and the position of the stopper 51 and the stepped portion 54 is the AA cross section. Return to the state shown in the figure.

  Next, a state where the handle 32 is pulled forward will be described with reference to FIG.

The positional relationship between the stepped portion 54 formed on the handle 32 and the stopper 51 is as shown in FIG. 5, and the relationship between the handle 32 and the handle hole 52 fitted at this time is in the state of the BB sectional view. That is, since there is almost no gap between the shaft of the handle 32 fitted in the handle hole 52 of the stopper 51, the stopper 51 cannot move in the direction of widening the stopper interval (d3). For this reason, it is impossible to pull out the plug 1.

  When the plug 1 is to be pulled out, the distance (d6) in which the stopper 51 retreats can be secured by pushing the handle to a specified position. By holding and pulling the holding portion 5 of the plug 1, the stopper 51 is removed from the notch portion 7. The plug substrate guide 12 can be pulled out.

  As described above, according to the structure for preventing erroneous insertion / removal of the multipolar connector for the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present embodiment, the handle 32 in which the notch 7 is formed in the plug substrate 3 and the other stopper 51 is fitted. Since the stepped portion 54 is formed, the plug 1 can be inserted only when the handle 32 is pushed in when the plug 1 and the socket 10 are connected. Thus, since the plug 1 cannot be inserted when the handle 32 is pulled, the insertion of the plug in the state where the board guide 12 is lowered and the contact of the plug board connector 2 and the contact of the socket board connector 22 can be prevented. Breakage of each connector contact portion can be prevented.

  On the contrary, when the connection between the plug 1 and the socket 10 is released, the lock by the stopper 51 cannot be released unless the handle 32 is pushed, so that the erroneous insertion and removal of the plug 1 in the connected state can be reliably prevented.

  As described above, the connector for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention is a plug board connector and a socket board connector that can be simply operated by inserting a plug board having a plug board connector into a holding portion and pulling a handle. Are useful as a connector for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

1 is an external view showing the configuration of a multipolar connector for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The perspective view which shows the internal structure of the multipolar connector for ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which shows operation | movement of the multipolar connector for ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The perspective view which shows the operation | movement of the incorrect insertion / extraction prevention structure in the insertion process of the multipolar connector for ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses in Embodiment 2 of this invention. The perspective view which shows operation | movement of the incorrect insertion / extraction prevention structure after the completion of insertion of the multipolar connector for ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses in Embodiment 2 of this invention A perspective view showing the structure of a conventional connector

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Plug 2 Plug board connector 3 Plug board 4 Connection cable 5 Holding part 6 Positioning hole 7 Notch part 10 Socket 11 Plug insertion port 12 Plug board guide
13, 42 Guide pin 21 Chassis 22 Socket board connector 23 Socket board fixture 24 Socket board 25 Positioning pin 31, 34, 43 Guide hole 32 Handle 33 Slide bracket 41 Bracket 44 Spring holding bracket 51 Stopper 52 Handle hole 53 Spring 54 Stepped Part

Claims (2)

A first connection for transmitting a signal from the ultrasonic probe;
A plug substrate having the first connection portion;
A second connection for receiving a signal from the first connection;
A holding portion for holding the plug substrate and having a first guide pin on a side surface;
A moving portion having a stepped first guide hole drilled parallel to the moving direction,
By engaging the first guide pin with the first guide hole and moving the moving part, the holding part is moved to connect the first connecting part and the second connecting part. And
A guide plate having a second guide hole and a second guide pin and fixed to the housing;
The moving part further includes a third guide hole without a stepped hole,
The movement direction of the holding portion is regulated by engaging the first guide pin with the second guide hole, and the movement is performed by engaging the second guide pin with the third guide hole. A connector for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, characterized by regulating a moving direction of a part . A handle connected to the moving part and having a stepped part;
A stopper having a handle hole for engaging the handle, and disposed opposite to the plug substrate insertion side of the holding portion; and
A pressurizing unit that pressurizes the stopper;
The plug substrate further has a notch that fits into the stopper;
The stopper moves by a step of the stepped portion of the handle in a direction against the pressure of the pressurizing portion while the plug substrate is being inserted into the holding portion, and the plug substrate is completely inserted into the holding portion. The connector for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the process, the connector is fitted into the notch portion of the plug substrate by the pressure of the pressurizing portion.

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