JP4789576B2 - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical connector used to electrically connect substrates such as a printed circuit board and a flexible printed circuit board (hereinafter abbreviated as “FPC”).

An electrical connector is often used for the purpose of electrically connecting substrates such as a printed circuit board and an FPC. As this electrical connector, there is known a connector in which a large number of conductive contacts are aligned with an insulator and metal hold-downs are attached to both ends of the insulator. Since the electrical connector having such a structure is fixed by soldering a holddown to a substrate or FPC that is an attachment target, it is used in devices that are susceptible to impact, such as portable devices.
Various devices have been devised for the electrical connector for board connection, and examples thereof are described in Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, Patent Document 3, and Patent Document 4.

JP-A-9-259978 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-74024 JP 2003-297485 A JP 2004-55306 A

The electrical connector for board connection is normally connected by fitting the receptacle connector and the plug connector, but the receptacle connector and the plug connector are locked by locking the terminals of each connector. It was realized.
However, along with the recent trend of miniaturization of devices, there is a strong demand for miniaturization and low height of electrical connectors, and the size of terminals must be reduced. Therefore, the terminal cannot be given sufficient elasticity, and it is difficult to securely lock the connector.

In the above-mentioned patent documents, improvements from this viewpoint are also made. For example, in Patent Document 1, the engagement between the receptacle connector and the plug connector is not only achieved by the engagement between the terminals of each connector, but also the reinforcement that fits in the receptacle connector and the plug connector along the fitting direction. Metal fittings are arranged and these reinforcing metal fittings are fitted. In Patent Document 2, an engagement member is provided for each of the receptacle connector and the plug connector, the engagement convex portion and the engagement concave portion of one engagement member, and the engagement concave portion and the engagement convexity of the other engagement member. It is engaged with the part. Moreover, in patent document 3, the holddown which has a lock part is provided in a receptacle connector, the holddown which has a to-be-locked part is provided in a plug connector, and the lock part and the to-be-locked part are engaged. In Patent Document 4, a holder having a claw portion is provided on the plug connector, a holder having a projection portion is provided on the receptacle connector, and the claw portion is engaged with the projection portion.
However, in these methods, it is difficult to release the lock when trying to increase the locking force between the receptacle connector and the plug connector, and conversely, the locking force becomes weak if the locking can be easily released. There is a problem in that the locking is released by vibration, impact, or dropping.

Thus, in the present situation where the required level for vibration, impact, and drop is high, a connector that can be securely locked even under these severe conditions is required.
In addition, it is convenient in terms of operation that the connector once connected can be easily disconnected if necessary.
The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and even an electrical connector corresponding to downsizing and low profile can be firmly connected even when vibration occurs, and the connection can be released. An object is to provide an electrical connector that is easy.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the electrical connector of the present invention is used to electrically connect two boards, and a receptacle connector provided on one board and a plug provided on the other board. In the electrical connector for fitting with the connector, a locking portion is provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the plug connector, and a slide lock member having a locking portion is provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the receptacle connector. One of the stop portion and the lock portion is a protrusion, and the other has a notch portion into which the protrusion can be fitted and a protrusion portion that partially covers the upper portion, and the plug connector and the receptacle connector are connected to each other. When coupled, the slide lock member is slid so that the projection fitted into the notch is locked by the projection, and the projection is And the front end of the slide locking member protrudes from one side of the receptacle connector, and the side opposite to the receptacle connector by the slide. have a length that protrudes from the receptacle connector, the slide stopper is formed integrally with the hold-down for securing the receptacle connector to the substrate is provided on the slide lock member, the slide stopper A gap that is slidably engaged, and a convex portion is formed in the gap, and when the plug connector and the receptacle connector are coupled by the convex portion and the slide lock member is slid in one direction, The protrusion that fits the slide lock member into the notch is the protrusion. The position where the plug connector and the receptacle connector are held in engagement is locked by the portion, and when the slide lock member is slid in the direction opposite to the one direction, it is fitted into the notch. projections are not engaged by the protruding portion, the slide lock member at any position between a position where the fitting state is not maintained between the plug connector and the receptacle connector is characterized Rukoto retained.

By sliding the slide lock member, projections formed on one of the locking portion and the lock portion is fitted into the cutout portion formed in the other, by Rukoto locked further by the projecting portion, miniaturization Even an electrical connector corresponding to a low profile is firmly connected, so that the fitting state between the receptacle connector and the plug connector is maintained even if vibration or the like occurs. When it is desired to release the fitting between the receptacle connector and the plug connector, the engagement between the locking portion and the slide lock member can be easily released by sliding the slide lock member in the opposite direction.

  In the present invention, the locking portion can be formed as a hold down for fixing the receptacle connector to the substrate or a hold down for fixing the plug connector to the substrate.

  According to the present invention, the electrical connector corresponding to the miniaturization and low profile is firmly connected, so that the fitting state between the receptacle connector and the plug connector is firmly maintained even if vibrations occur. In addition, it is possible to easily release the fitting between the receptacle connector and the plug connector.

Hereinafter, the electrical connector of the present invention will be described based on the embodiment. In the following description based on the drawings, the same reference numerals are used for the same names.
In this embodiment, as an example of the electrical connector in which either one of the receptacle connector and the plug connector is provided with a slide lock member and the other is provided with a locking portion, the receptacle connector is provided with a slide lock member having a lock portion. In addition, the present invention relates to an electrical connector in which a protrusion is provided at a locking portion of the plug connector.

  1, 2 and 3 show the structure of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1A is a plan view of the receptacle connector, FIG. 1B is a front view thereof, FIG. 1C is a bottom view thereof, and FIG. 1D is a side view thereof. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the plug connector, (b) is a front view thereof, (c) is a bottom view thereof, and (d) is a side view thereof. FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the plug connector as seen from the fitting side, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the receptacle connector as seen from the fitting side.

In the receptacle connector 1 shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of pairs of conductive receptacle-side terminals 2 are arranged in the pitch direction. In addition, receptacle side hold-downs 3 are provided at two locations on the side surface side end of the receptacle connector 1.
Between the region where the plurality of receptacle-side terminals 2 are arranged and the receptacle-side holddown 3, a slide lock member 4 made of a plate-like metal member that can slide along the short side direction of the receptacle connector 1 is provided. An opening 5 is provided on the bottom surface of the receptacle connector 1 in the region where the slide lock member 4 is formed.
The receptacle connector 1 is electrically connected to a substrate (not shown) or an FPC by soldering the receptacle-side terminal 2, and the receptacle-side holddown 3 is also soldered to the substrate or the FPC. It is fixed by.

In the plug connector 11 shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of pairs of conductive plug-side terminals 12 are arranged in the pitch direction. Further, plug-side hold-downs 13 are provided at two positions on the side surface side end of the plug connector 11, and protrusions 14 are provided on the locking portions 16 above the plug-side hold-down 13.
The plug connector 11 is electrically connected by soldering the plug-side terminal 12 to a substrate (not shown) or FPC or the like, and the plug-side holddown 13 is also soldered to the substrate or FPC or the like. Fixed by.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the slide lock member 4 provided in the receptacle connector 1 slides along the short side direction of the receptacle connector 1 when the distal end portion 6 is pushed. When the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 11 are fitted to the slide lock member 4, the lock portion 7 is provided at a position close to the protrusion 14 provided on the locking portion 16 of the plug connector 11. The lock portion 7 includes a cutout portion 7a and a protruding portion 7b that covers the cutout portion 7a.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 11 are fitted. 4A is a view from the bottom side of the plug connector, FIG. 4B is a side view, FIG. 4C is a view from the bottom side of the receptacle connector, and FIG. It is AA sectional drawing of (b). FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 11 are fitted.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 11 respectively mounted on different boards or FPCs (not shown) are fitted to each other so that the boards or FPCs are connected to the receptacle-side terminals 2. And electrically connected through the plug-side terminal 12.

  As shown in FIG. 4 (d), the protrusion 14 provided on the locking portion 16 of the plug connector 11 is inserted into the notch 7 a of the lock portion 7 provided on the slide lock member 4 of the receptacle connector 1. The slide lock member 4 is slid by pushing the front end portion 6, and the protrusion 14 is held by a protruding portion 7b covering the upper portion thereof. Therefore, the projection 14 is engaged with the notch 7a, and the fitting between the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 11 is firmly maintained.

Using FIG. 6, the step of engaging the protrusion 14 provided on the locking portion 16 of the plug connector 11 by operating the slide lock member 4 in a state where the plug connector 11 and the receptacle connector 1 are fitted. explain.
FIG. 6A shows a state before the plug connector 11 and the receptacle connector 1 are engaged, and FIG. 6B shows a state before being engaged, and FIG. Further, (c) shows a state after being engaged, and (d) shows a BB cross section of (c).
When the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 11 are fitted, the protrusion 14 provided on the locking portion 16 of the plug connector 11 is a notch portion of the lock portion 7 provided on the slide lock member 4 of the receptacle connector 1. In the state shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the protrusion 14 is not covered by the protruding portion 7b of the lock portion 7 and is not engaged. Yes.

  6A and 6B, when the slide lock member 4 is slid by pushing the tip 6a protruding from the receptacle connector 1, the state shown in FIGS. 6C and 6D is obtained. The protrusion 14 is covered with the protrusion 7b of the lock portion 7 and is in an engaged state. The receptacle connector 1 is provided with a slide stopper 15 formed integrally with the receptacle-side holddown 3, and the slide lock member 4 is connected to the locking portion of the plug connector 11 shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b). From the state in which the protrusion 14 provided on 16 is not covered with the protruding portion 7b of the lock portion 7 provided on the slide lock member 4 of the receptacle connector 1, the plug connector 11 shown in FIGS. When the projection 14 is slid in a state covered with the protrusion 7b of the lock portion 7 provided on the slide lock member 4 of the receptacle connector 1 or slid in the opposite direction, the slide stopper 15 is provided with the gap 8 So that the slide of the slide lock member 4 stops. You have me.

In addition, a convex portion 17 is provided in the gap 8, and the protrusion 14 provided on the locking portion 16 of the plug connector 11 shown in FIGS. The protrusion 14 provided in the engaging portion 16 of the plug connector 11 shown in FIGS. 6C and 6D is not covered with the protruding portion 7b of the lock portion 7 provided in the slide lock member 4 Can be held in any of the states covered by the protrusion 7b of the lock portion 7 provided on the slide lock member 4 of the receptacle connector 1.

  When it is desired to release the fitting between the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 11, by pressing the tip portion 6b provided on the opposite side of the tip portion 6a and sliding the slide lock member 4 in the direction opposite to the above-described procedure, The state shown in FIGS. 6C and 6D is shifted to the state shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, and the engagement of the protrusion 14 is released.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a plug connector and a receptacle connector according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Fig.7 (a) is the perspective view which looked at the plug connector from the fitting side, and FIG.7 (b) is the perspective view which looked at the receptacle connector from the fitting side.
As shown in FIG. 7B, the slide lock member 4 provided in the receptacle connector 1 slides along the short side direction of the receptacle connector 1 when the distal end portion 6 is pushed. The slide lock member 4 is provided with a protrusion 14 of the lock portion 7 at a position close to the locking portion 16 of the plug connector 11 when the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 11 are fitted. The locking part 16 has a notch part 7a and a protruding part 7b that covers the notch part 7a.

The process of operating the slide lock member 4 and engaging the protrusion 14 provided on the receptacle connector 1 in a state where the plug connector 11 and the receptacle connector 1 are fitted will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 8A shows a state before the plug connector 11 and the receptacle connector 1 are engaged with each other, and FIG. 8B shows a state before being engaged, and FIG. 8B shows an AA cross section of FIG. Further, (c) shows a state after being engaged, and (d) shows a BB cross section of (c).
When the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 11 are fitted, the protrusion 14 provided on the slide lock member 4 of the receptacle connector 1 is inserted into the notch 7a provided on the plug connector 11. 8 (a) and 8 (b), the protrusion 14 of the lock portion 7 is not covered with the protruding portion 7b and is not engaged.

  When the slide lock member 4 is slid from the state shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and (b) by pushing the tip 6a protruding from the receptacle connector 1, the state shown in FIGS. 8 (c) and (d) is obtained. At this time, the protrusion 14 is covered with the protruding portion 7b of the locking portion 16 and is engaged. The receptacle connector 1 is provided with a slide stopper 15 formed integrally with the receptacle-side hold-down 3, and the slide lock member 4 is connected to the slide lock member of the receptacle connector 1 shown in FIGS. 8 from the state in which the protrusion 14 provided on 4 is not covered by the protrusion 7b provided on the locking portion 16 of the plug connector 11, the slide lock member of the receptacle connector 1 shown in FIGS. When the projection 14 provided on 4 is slid in a state covered with the protruding portion 7b of the locking portion 16 provided on the plug connector 11 or slid in the opposite direction, the slide stopper 15 is 8 so that the slide of the slide lock member 4 stops by contacting one wall of the slide lock member 4 forming You have me.

Further, the gap 8 is convex portion 17 is provided, FIG. 8 a slide lock member 4 (a), the projection 14 provided on the slide lock member 4 of the receptacle connector 1 (b), the plug connector 11 The protrusion 14 provided on the slide lock member 4 of the receptacle connector 1 shown in FIGS. 8C and 8D is not covered with the protruding portion 7b provided on the locking portion 16 of FIG. 11 can be held in any of the states covered with the protruding portion 7b provided in the locking portion 16.

  When it is desired to release the fitting between the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 11, by pressing the tip portion 6b provided on the opposite side of the tip portion 6a and sliding the slide lock member 4 in the direction opposite to the above-described procedure, The state shown in FIGS. 8C and 8D is shifted to the state shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, and the engagement of the protrusion 14 is released.

Note that the shapes of the slide lock member 4, the lock portion 7, and the protrusion 14 are not limited to the shapes shown in the drawings, but may be other shapes as long as the protrusion 14 is engaged with the lock portion 7. There may be. The material of the slide lock member 4 is also described as a plate-shaped metal member in the present embodiment, but is not particularly limited to resin or the like.
Contrary to the above embodiment, the same effect as described above can be obtained by providing the plug connector with a slide lock member and providing the receptacle connector with a locking portion.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used as an electrical connector that can be reduced in size and reduced in height, and can be firmly connected even when vibrations occur and can be easily released.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the receptacle connector which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the plug connector which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a perspective view of a plug connector and a receptacle connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the state which the plug connector which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and the receptacle connector fitted. It is a perspective view which shows the state which the plug connector which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and the receptacle connector fitted. It is a figure which shows the state which the plug connector and receptacle connector which concern on the 1st Embodiment of this invention were fitted, (a) shows the state before a protrusion is engaged with a locking part, (b) It is a figure which shows the AA cross section of (a). Further, (c) shows a state after the protrusion is engaged with the lock portion, and (d) is a view showing a BB cross section of (c). It is a perspective view of the plug connector and receptacle connector which concern on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state which the plug connector and receptacle connector which concern on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention were fitted, (a) shows the state before a protrusion is engaged with a latching | locking part, (b) These are figures which show the AA cross section of (a). Moreover, (c) shows a state after the protrusion is engaged with the locking portion, and (d) is a view showing a BB cross section of (c).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Receptacle connector 2 Receptacle side terminal 3 Receptacle side hold down 4 Slide lock member 5 Opening 6 Tip part 6a Tip part 6b Tip part 7 Lock part 7a Notch part 7b Projection part 8 Cavity 11 Plug connector 12 Plug side terminal 13 Plug side hold Down 14 Protrusion 15 Slide stopper 16 Locking part 17 Convex part

Claims (2)

An electrical connector used to electrically connect two substrates to each other and to fit a receptacle connector provided on one substrate and a plug connector provided on the other substrate, the longitudinal direction of the plug connector A locking portion is provided at both ends of the receptacle connector, and a slide lock member having a locking portion is provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the receptacle connector. One of the locking portion and the locking portion is a protrusion, and the other is the protrusion. Has a notch that can be fitted and a protrusion that partially covers the upper portion thereof, and when the plug connector and the receptacle connector are coupled, the slide lock member is slid to slide the slide lock member. The protrusion fitted in the notch is locked by the protrusion, and the fitting state of the plug connector and the receptacle connector is maintained. Are those being, and the tip of the slide lock member protrudes from the side of one side of the receptacle connector, have a length that protrudes from the opposite side of the receptacle connector by said slide, said receptacle The connector is provided with a slide stopper formed integrally with a hold-down for fixing the receptacle connector to the board, and the slide lock member has a gap in which the slide stopper is slidably engaged, A convex portion is formed in the gap, and the convex connector is used to couple the plug connector and the receptacle connector, and when the slide lock member is slid in one direction, the slide lock member is fitted into the notch portion. The protrusion is locked by the protrusion, and the plug connector and the recess are The position where the fitting state of the tackle connector is maintained, and the protrusion fitted into the notch when the slide lock member is slid in the direction opposite to the one direction are not locked by the protrusion, electrical connector characterized the Rukoto slide lock member is held in any position between a position where the fitting state of the plug connector and the receptacle connector is not held.   The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the locking portion is formed in a hold down for fixing the receptacle connector to the substrate or a hold down for fixing the plug connector to the substrate.

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