JP5227202B2 - Connector with fitting guarantee function, electronic unit equipped with the same, and connection device therefor - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector used in a vehicle-mounted electronic unit, an electronic unit including the connector, and a connection device thereof.

  Connectors are often used to connect electrical circuits mounted on vehicles and the like. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a connection device for connecting an electronic unit to a vehicle-mounted circuit using a connector. This device includes a unit connector provided in the electronic unit, a unit case into which the electronic unit can be inserted, and an installation side connector (so-called standby connector) provided in the unit case. The installation-side connector is coupled with the unit connector along the insertion direction along with the insertion of the electronic unit into the unit case, whereby the wire harness routed to the electronic unit and the unit case. Make electrical connection with

JP 2008-140749 A

  The coupling and electrical conduction between the connectors as described above are achieved by fitting the terminals included in each connector, but in order to reliably maintain the connection state, the fitting between the terminals is, for example, It is necessary to lock so that it is not gradually released by the vibration of the car. This locking is performed, for example, by engaging the engaging portions formed in the connector housing of each connector.

  However, for example, for an installation side connector installed in the unit case as described above, that is, a connector that is disposed on the back side of the unit case and it is difficult to directly check the fitting operation or the locked state. It is difficult to guarantee a match for a long time. Enabling such a fitting guarantee is an important issue for improving connection reliability.

  In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides a connector that can reliably maintain the fitting with a simple operation even if the fitting operation with the counterpart connector and the direct visual recognition of the fitting state cannot be performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic unit including the same and a connection device thereof.

  As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is a connector including a connector terminal that is electrically connected to a counterpart terminal included in the counterpart connector, and holds the connector terminal. And a mating connector receiving portion for receiving the mating connector so that the mating terminal can be fitted with the connector terminal, and a mating guarantee member inserting portion provided at a position different from the mating connector receiving portion. A connector housing, a fitting guarantee member that can be inserted into the fitting guarantee member insertion portion of the connector housing, an allowable position that allows the mating connector to be received in the mating connector receiving portion, the connector terminal, and the mating terminal It is possible to move between the locking position for restraining the mating connector so as to maintain the fitting with The connector housing is engaged with the fitting guarantee member so that the fitting guarantee member moves from the allowable position to the locked position as the fitting guarantee member is inserted into the fitting guarantee member insertion portion. It is a connector with a fitting guarantee function provided with the fitting lock member to perform.

  In this connector with a mating guarantee function, the connector terminal held in the connector housing is mated with the mating terminal of the mating connector received by the mating connector receiving portion of the connector housing, and the mating state is mated. Guaranteed by using a guarantee member. Specifically, the connector terminal in the mating connector receiving portion and the mating terminal can be mated with the mating lock member in the allowable position, and the mating connector receiving portion is in the mated state. As the fitting guarantee member is inserted into the fitting guarantee member insertion portion at another position, the fitting lock member moves from the allowable position to the lock position, and the connector terminal and the mating terminal are fitted. The counterpart connector is restrained so as to maintain the alignment. Therefore, even if it is difficult to directly perform the fitting operation between the connector terminal and the mating terminal and the visual confirmation of the fitting state, the fitting to the fitting assurance member inserting portion away from the fitting portion is performed. By inserting the joint guarantee member, it is possible to guarantee a reliable fitting between the terminals.

  A link mechanism, a cam mechanism, and other various mechanisms can be applied to the fitting lock member. As an example, in the fitting direction of the mating terminal and the connector terminal and the insertion direction of the fitting guarantee member to the fitting guarantee member insertion portion are parallel to each other, the fitting lock member is A rotating body that is provided in the connector housing so as to be rotatable about an axis parallel to the two directions, and is switched between the allowable position and the lock position by the rotation. A cam portion that engages with the fitting guarantee member so as to rotate the rotating body from the allowable position to the fitting lock position with insertion of the guarantee member, and from the allowable position to the fitting lock position. A locking portion that engages with the counterpart connector so as to restrain the counterpart connector in a direction to maintain the fitting between the counterpart terminal of the counterpart connector and the connector terminal with rotation. Dressings are suitable.

  In this connector with a fitting guarantee function, the fitting direction between the counterpart terminal and the connector terminal, the insertion direction of the fitting guarantee member into the fitting guarantee member insertion portion, and the direction of the rotation axis of the rotating body Since all are parallel, it is possible to arrange | position the rotary body which is a fitting lock member compactly between the other party connector receiving part and a fitting guarantee member insertion part.

  Alternatively, the mating connector receiving portion and the fitting assurance member inserting portion in the connector housing are arranged in a specific direction, and the fitting locking member is arranged in the arrangement direction with respect to the mating connector receiving portion and the fitting guarantee member inserting portion. Including a slide body which is provided in the connector housing so as to be slidable in a direction adjacent to a direction orthogonal to the alignment direction and parallel to the alignment direction, and is switched to the allowable position and the lock position by the slide. The body includes a cam portion that engages with the fitting guarantee member so as to slide the slide body from the allowable position to the fitting lock position with the insertion of the fitting guarantee member, and the fitting from the allowable position. The direction of maintaining the fitting between the mating terminal of the mating connector and the connector terminal with the slide body to the mating lock position The mating connector to include a locking portion for the counter connector engage to restrain the also suitable.

  Also in this connector with a fitting guarantee function, a slide body is arranged in a direction parallel to the arrangement direction with respect to the counterpart connector receiving portion and the fitting guarantee member insertion portion, and in a direction parallel to the arrangement direction. Since the position is switched using the slide of the slide body, the space is provided without securing a space for providing the slide body as a fitting lock member between the mating connector receiving part and the fitting guaranteeing member inserting part. It is possible to arrange the slide body compactly in the connector housing.

  The fitting guarantee member may be a member dedicated to the fitting guarantee, but a connector different from the counterpart connector can be used as the fitting guarantee connector for the fitting guarantee member. In that case, in addition to the connector terminal, a mating guarantee is provided at a position where the mating guarantee connector can be mated with the terminal included in the mating guarantee connector when the fitting guarantee connector is inserted into the fitting guarantee member insertion portion. What is necessary is just to hold | maintain a side terminal.

  The present invention also provides an electronic unit and its connecting device that effectively use the connector with a fitting guarantee function. Specifically, an electronic unit according to the present invention stores the electronic circuit body and has a unit housing having an outer shape that can be inserted into a dedicated unit case, and is provided in the unit housing, and is stored in the unit housing. A unit connector for connecting the electronic circuit body to be connected to an external circuit, and this unit connector is constituted by the connector with a fitting guarantee function. The connector terminal included in the unit connector is held in the unit case as the unit housing is inserted into the unit case with the fitting locking member of the connector with a fitting guarantee function in the allowable position. A terminal that is fitted in a direction parallel to the insertion direction of the unit housing with respect to a standby terminal included in the standby connector, and the fitting-guaranteed terminal included in the unit connector passes through the unit case. The fitting locking member is inserted into the fitting guarantee member insertion portion of the connector housing as the fitting guarantee connector is inserted. The mating member is moved in a direction to maintain the fitting between the connector terminal and the standby terminal by moving from the allowable position to the lock position. To constrain the connector. An electronic unit connection device according to the present invention is provided in the electronic unit, a unit case having a shape into which the unit housing can be inserted, and the unit case, and the electronic unit is inserted into the unit case. And a standby connector including a standby terminal that can be fitted in a direction parallel to the insertion direction with respect to a connector terminal included in the unit connector of the electronic unit, and the unit case is inserted into the unit case. In addition, the fitting guarantee member insertion portion of the unit connector in the electronic unit is opened to the outside of the unit case, and the fitting guarantee connector can be fitted from the outside of the unit case to the fitting guarantee member insertion portion. The fitting lock member having a shape and included in the unit connector is the unit. When the fitting guarantee connector is inserted into the fitting guarantee member insertion portion in a state where the unit housing of the electronic unit is inserted into the case, the waiting of the waiting connector received by the counterpart connector receiving portion The terminal is moved from a position allowing the terminal and the connector terminal to be fitted to a lock position for restraining the mating connector so as to maintain the fitting.

  In the electronic unit and the electronic unit connecting device described above, the unit housing is inserted into the unit case in a state where the unit connector, that is, the fitting lock member of the connector with a fitting guarantee function is in an allowable position. The connector terminal of the unit connector can be fitted to the mating terminal of the mating connector. After the insertion, the fitting guarantee connector is inserted into the fitting guarantee member insertion portion provided in the connector housing of the unit connector, so that the terminals included in the fitting guarantee connector and the connector housing are held. And a fitting lock member provided on the connector housing is moved from the permissible position to the lock position and the connector terminal of the connector with fitting guarantee function and the unit case side. The standby connector is restrained so as to maintain the fitting with the standby terminal of the standby connector. Therefore, the fitting between the standby terminal of the standby connector and the connector terminal can be guaranteed only by fitting the fitting guarantee connector and the unit connector at a position different from the standby connector.

  In the electronic unit connection device, the unit case has a shape into which a plurality of electronic units can be inserted, respectively, and incorporates a circuit body including a circuit for connecting to each electronic unit, and is connected to the circuit body. It is preferable to hold the plurality of standby connectors at positions where they can be fitted to the connector terminals of the unit connectors of the corresponding electronic units.

  In this device, the circuit body incorporated in the unit case and each electronic unit can be connected via a plurality of standby connectors, and the standby terminals of the standby connectors and the connector terminals of the unit connectors are fitted. Can be performed using the fitting of the fitting guarantee connector to the unit connector of each electronic unit.

  For example, the circuit body includes a power distribution circuit for distributing power supplied from the outside to each electronic unit, and the fitting guarantee connector communicates between the electronic circuit body of the electronic unit and the external circuit. A connector for communication including a terminal for causing the connector terminal of the unit connector to include a power supply terminal for connecting the electronic circuit body to the power distribution circuit body by fitting with the standby terminal of the standby connector In the case where the fitting guarantee side terminal of the unit connector includes a communication terminal for connecting the electronic circuit body and an external circuit by fitting with the terminal of the communication connector, the circuit body is It is possible to efficiently supply power to each electronic unit by utilizing the communication between the circuit body and each electronic unit via a standby connector. It can be assured by using a connector.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even when it is difficult to directly check the fitting operation and the fitting state between the connector terminal held by the connector housing and the mating terminal of the mating connector, the fitting is performed. By inserting the fitting guarantee member into the fitting guarantee member insertion portion provided at a position different from the joint portion, the fitting between the terminals can be reliably maintained and guaranteed, thereby There is an effect that the connection reliability can be improved.

It is a section perspective view showing the whole electronic unit connecting device composition concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the use condition of the said electronic unit connection apparatus. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the unit case of the said electronic unit connection apparatus, the circuit board built in this, and its cover. It is a side view which shows the unit case etc. of the said electronic unit connection apparatus. It is the VV sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the said circuit board and the standby connector connected to this. It is the cross-sectional perspective view which looked at the support structure of the said standby connector from the top. It is a perspective view of the unit connector. It is the IX-IX sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a side view which shows the unit connector provided in the electronic unit in the said electronic unit connection apparatus. (A) is the perspective view which looked at the cam shaft hold | maintained at the connector housing of the said unit connector from the cam groove side, (b) is the perspective view which looked at the cam shaft from the lock groove side. It is a side view which shows the state by which the electronic unit was inserted in the unit storage part of the said unit case. It is the XIII-XIII sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a side view which shows the state of the fitting initial stage of the connector for communication to the unit connector of the electronic unit inserted in the said unit case. It is the XV-XV sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a sectional front view showing the state where fitting of the communication connector to the unit connector was completed. (A) is a cross-sectional front view showing a state in which the cam shaft is in an allowable position in the connector housing, and (b) is a cross-sectional front view showing a state in which the cam shaft is in a lock position. (A) is a front view showing a connector terminal, a connector housing, and a slide plate of a connector with a fitting guarantee function according to a second embodiment of the present invention, (b) is a sectional view taken along line 18B-18B in (a), (C) is the 18C-18C sectional view taken on the line of (b). It is a perspective view of the other party connector with respect to the connector with a fitting guarantee function shown by FIG. It is a perspective view of the fitting guarantee connector used for the fitting guarantee member of the connector with a fitting guarantee function shown by FIG. (A) is a front view showing a state in which the mating connector and the fitting guarantee connector are fitted to the connector housing shown in FIG. 18, (b) is a sectional view taken along line 21B-21B of (a), (c). FIG. 21B is a sectional view taken along line 21C-21C in FIG.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 shows an electronic unit connecting apparatus according to this embodiment. This apparatus includes a plurality of electronic units 10 and a unit case 12 into which these electronic units 10 can be inserted.

  Each electronic unit 10 includes an electronic circuit body (not shown) and a unit housing 14. The electronic circuit body receives power from the outside and communicates with an external circuit. In this embodiment, the electronic circuit body is composed of a printed circuit board or the like, and is supplied with electric power from an in-vehicle power source provided in the vehicle. A signal is exchanged with a circuit. In this embodiment, the unit housing 14 has a small, substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and stores the electronic circuit body therein (for convenience, in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 13, 15, and 16 to be described later) The unit housing 14 is hatched in common.)

  Further, each electronic unit 10 includes a unit connector 16 for connecting the electronic circuit body to the in-vehicle power source and the external circuit. The unit connector 16 is provided on one side surface of the unit housing 14 (in this embodiment, the back surface which is the right side surface in FIG. 1). The unit connector 16 is constituted by a connector with a fitting guarantee function according to the present invention, and details thereof will be described later.

  In this embodiment, the unit case 12 is installed at an appropriate location in a vehicle such as an automobile, and stores the electronic units 10 at the location, and each of the unit cases 12 through a wire harness routed in the vehicle. It plays a role of supplying power to the electronic unit 10. Specifically, the unit case 12 includes a unit storage unit 18 and a circuit board built-in unit 20, and a power supply circuit board 22 is built in the circuit board built-in unit 20. A plurality of power supply standby connectors 24 that are equipped in correspondence are held.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the unit storage portion 18 opens in a specific direction (left direction in FIGS. 1 and 5), and the electronic unit 10 can be inserted from the opening side. Have Specifically, the unit connector 16 of each electronic unit 10 is in a vertical position facing the unit case 12 side, and these electronic units 10 are arranged in a direction parallel to the width direction, and each electronic unit 10 is connected to the unit storage unit. 18 is inserted. The unit storage portion 18 has a bottom wall 25 including a plurality of unit locking claws 26. The unit locking claws 26 are configured so that the unit housing 14 of each electronic unit 10 is completely in the unit storage portion 18. The locked projections 28 protruding from the bottom surface of the unit housing 14 in the inserted state are respectively locked.

  The circuit board built-in portion 20 is built in from the lower side of the bottom wall 25 of the unit storage portion 18 to the rear of the lower portion of the back wall 30 of the unit storage portion 18 (the upright wall in the unit housing insertion direction). A space is formed, and the circuit board 22 is stored in the space. Specifically, the circuit board built-in unit 20 includes a bottom wall 31 that further covers the bottom wall 25 from below, and a cylinder that opens behind the back wall 30 in a direction opposite to the opening of the unit storage unit 18. The circuit board 22 is inserted into the circuit board built-in portion 20 through the opening of the cylindrical wall 32.

  The circuit board 22 incorporates a power distribution circuit having a function of distributing the power supplied from the vehicle-mounted power source to each electronic unit 10 in a state where the power is lowered to an appropriate voltage. A board connector 34 for receiving power from the power distribution circuit is mounted on the circuit board 22. The board connector 34 is connected to a power feed connector 36 (not shown) derived from a wire harness (not shown) on the vehicle side. 2) are combined. On the other hand, the power distribution circuit is connected to each standby connector 24 via a plurality of power distribution lines 38 as shown in FIGS.

  Each of the standby connectors 24 is held on the back wall 30 so as to be fitted to the unit connector 16 of the electronic unit 10 inserted into the unit storage portion 18 in a direction parallel to the insertion direction thereof. Thus, the power distribution circuit and the electronic circuit body of the electronic unit 10 are electrically connected. Specifically, the standby connector 24 includes a plurality of standby terminals (here, female terminals not shown), a housing 24a that holds these terminals, and a flange formed at one end of the housing 24a in the axial direction. 24b. The housing 24a passes through the back wall 30, and the flange portion 24b is fitted into a recess 37 formed on the back surface of the back wall 30 (the surface facing the circuit board built-in portion 20). Set.

  A cover 40 is attached to the cylindrical wall 32 of the circuit board built-in portion 20 so as to close the opening of the cylindrical wall 32. The cover 40 is formed with a window 42 for opening the board connector 34 to the outside and a plurality of locking holes 44. Each locking hole 44 is provided at a position where it engages with a locking projection 33 protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall 32 in a state where the cylindrical wall 32 is covered with the cover 40.

  Further, the cover 40 is provided with connector support legs 46 for supporting the standby connectors 24 from the rear side (the side opposite to the electronic unit 10) in the mounted state. The connector support leg 46 has a shape that extends from the back surface of the cover 40 toward the standby connector 24 and that restrains the flange portion 24b of the standby connector 24 from the rear side when the cover 40 is mounted. A slight clearance is provided between the tip of the connector support leg 46 and the flange portion 24b in order to avoid an improper assembly of the cover 40 due to a manufacturing error. The connector 24 can be slightly displaced.

  Next, each unit connector 16 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  Each unit connector 16 corresponds to a connector with a fitting guarantee function according to the present invention, and includes a plurality of power supply terminals (connector terminals) 47 and a plurality of communication terminals (fitting guarantee side terminals) 48. A connector housing 50 that holds these terminals 47, 48, a cam shaft (rotating body) 60 that is a fitting lock member, and a communication connector 70. Each communication connector 70 is provided at a terminal of a signal line 74 led out from a wire harness (not shown), and a plurality of terminals (female terminals) (not shown) respectively connected to these signal lines 74 and these terminals. And a housing for holding.

  Each of the power supply terminals 47 is connected to each of the standby terminals of the standby connector 24 to connect the electronic circuit body of the electronic unit 10 to the power distribution circuit of the circuit board 20. Then, it is composed of male terminals.

  Each of the communication terminals 48 is engaged with an unillustrated terminal (female terminal) included in the communication connector 70, thereby connecting the electronic circuit body and the external circuit (without going through the unit case 12). It is directly connected to enable communication between the two, and is constituted by a male terminal like the power supply terminal 47. That is, the female terminal of the communication connector 70 is connected to the external circuit via the signal line 74, and the communication terminal 48 and the external circuit are electrically connected by fitting with the communication terminal 48. Connect a static connection.

  The connector housing 50 is formed of an insulating material. In this embodiment, the connector housing 50 has a vertically long shape along the back surface of the unit housing 14. The connector housing 50 includes a standby connector receiving portion 52, a communication connector receiving portion 54, and a cam shaft holding portion 56 that holds the cam shaft 60.

  The standby connector receiving portion 52 corresponds to a counterpart connector receiving portion according to the present invention, and is configured by a lower end portion of the connector housing 50 and has a hollow shape that opens rearward. Specifically, it has a shape that can receive the housing 24a of the standby connector 24 when the electronic unit 10 is inserted into the unit storage portion 18 (that is, a shape that can be fitted to the housing 24a). . The standby connector receiving portion 52 holds the power supply terminals 47, and the holding positions of the standby connector receiving portions 52 are electrical ends that are ends of the power supply terminals along the insertion direction when the electronic unit 10 is inserted. The contact portion is set at a position where it can be fitted with the standby terminal.

  That is, in this electronic unit connection device, the power supply terminal 47 and the standby terminal of the standby connector 24 are fitted along the insertion direction at the same time as each electronic unit 10 is inserted into the unit storage section 18. The position of the power supply terminal 47 is set so as to match.

  The communication connector receiving portion 54 also serves as a fitting guarantee member inserting portion according to the present invention, and is configured by a portion of the connector housing 50 that is above the standby connector receiving portion 52. Similarly, it has a hollow shape that opens rearward and can receive the communication connector 70. The communication connector receiving portion 54 holds the communication terminals 48, and the holding positions thereof are fitted with unillustrated terminals of the communication connector 70 received by the communication connector receiving portion 54. Is set to a possible position.

  In order to enable this fitting, the back wall 30 of the unit case 12 is provided with a plurality of windows 35 penetrating therethrough (FIG. 1 and the like). These windows 35 open the communication connector receiving portions 54 to the back of the back wall 30, and allow the communication connector 70 to be inserted into the communication connector receiving portion 54 from the back of the back wall 30. Allow.

  The cam shaft holding portion 56 is provided between the standby connector receiving portion 52 and the communication connector receiving portion 54, and rotatably holds the cam shaft 60. This camshaft 60 exhibits a fitting guarantee function for guaranteeing fitting between the power supply terminal 47 and the standby terminal in cooperation with the communication connector 70.

  The fitting guarantee function means a function of preventing the fitting between the two terminals from gradually coming off due to the vibration of the vehicle in use after the power terminal 47 and the standby terminal are fitted. To do. As described above, the standby connector 24 can be slightly displaced in the axial direction with respect to the back wall 30 of the unit case 12. Similarly, the electronic unit 10 is inserted into the unit storage portion 18. Since the minute displacement is possible, the standby connector 24 and the unit connector 16 of the electronic unit 10 are relatively displaced in a direction away from each other due to the superposition of these minute displacements. The match may not be sufficient. Preventing such a fitting failure is important in improving connection reliability.

  In such a conventional connector, such a fitting guarantee is performed by a fitting lock by engaging the connector housings. However, like the standby connector 24 according to this embodiment, it is built in the unit case 12. For example, when it is difficult to directly check the fitting operation or the fitting state, the reliability of the fitting guarantee may be lowered.

  The electronic unit connection device according to this embodiment is connected to the communication connector receiving portion 54 opened to the outside of the unit case 12 even if it is difficult to visually recognize the direct fitting operation and the fitting state. It is possible to realize the above-mentioned fitting guarantee by using the insertion of the communication connector 70. Then, the cam shaft 60 locks the standby connector 24 in conjunction with the insertion of the communication connector 70 (constrains the standby connector 24 in the direction of maintaining the fitting) as a fitting lock member. Take a role.

  Specifically, the cam shaft 60 according to this embodiment has the following characteristics.

  a) Front-rear direction (that is, a direction parallel to the fitting direction of the power supply terminal 47 and the standby terminal and parallel to the insertion direction of the communication connector into the communication connector receiving portion 54) Is held by the camshaft holding portion 56 so as to be rotatable around the axis.

  b) By the rotation, the position is switched between an allowable position for allowing the power supply terminal 47 and the standby terminal to be fitted to each other and a lock position for restraining the standby connector 24 in a direction to maintain the fitting of both terminals.

  c) The rotation from the allowable position to the lock position is interlocked with the insertion of the communication connector 70 into the communication connector receiving portion 54.

  These features are realized by the following specific structure.

a) Holding of the camshaft 60 The camshaft 60 has a substantially columnar shape having a cylindrical outer peripheral surface, and a centering hole opened rearward (rightward in FIGS. 9 and 17) on the central axis thereof. 62 is provided. On the other hand, the cam shaft holding portion 56 of the connector housing 50 includes a centering convex portion 57 protruding forward from the rear end surface side of the housing 50 and a plurality of locking claws 55 provided on the front end surface side of the housing 50. And have. The centering convex portion 57 is inserted into the centering hole 62 and holds the cam shaft 60 so as to be rotatable around its center axis. Each of the locking claws 55 comes into contact with the outer peripheral edge portion of the cam shaft 60 from the front, thereby preventing the cam shaft 60 from being detached forward.

b) Permissible position and locking position of the cam shaft 60 The locked projection 24c protrudes upward from the upper surface of the front end portion (the left end portion in FIGS. 5, 13, and 15 to 17) of the housing 24a of the standby connector 24. On the other hand, a lock groove 64 as shown in FIG. The lock groove 64 has a width that allows the locked projection 24c to enter the lock groove 64 with almost no gap, and the rear end of the cam shaft 60 (FIGS. 9 and 17A, 17B). In FIG. 11 (b), the right end, and the left end in FIG. 11 (b), the fitting allowable portion 64a extending in parallel with the axial direction of the camshaft 60, and the circumferential direction (viewed from the centering hole 62 side) And a locking portion 64b extending in the counterclockwise direction).

  When the rotational position of the cam shaft 60 is a position where the fitting allowable portion 64a of the lock groove 64 faces directly below, the standby connector 24 enters the locking allowable portion 64a into the fitting allowable portion 64a. Can be received in the standby connector receiving portion 52 (FIG. 17B). That is, this rotational position corresponds to a permissible position where the standby terminal of the standby connector 24 and the power supply terminal 47 are allowed to be fitted. Further, the length of the fitting allowable portion 64a is set so that the locked projection 24c reaches the end of the fitting allowable portion 64a or the vicinity thereof when the fitting is completed.

  After completion of the fitting, when the cam shaft 60 rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the centering hole 62 side, the locked projection 24c enters the lock portion 64b in the circumferential direction and substantially in the axial direction. It cannot move (FIG. 17C). Therefore, the position after the rotation restrains the movement of the standby connector 24 in the direction away from the standby connector receiving portion 52 (that is, the standby connector 24 in such a direction as to maintain the fitting between the power supply terminal 47 and the standby terminal). This corresponds to the lock position.

  In addition, the boundary portion between the fitting permission portion 64a and the locking portion 64b in the lock groove 64 has a shape in which the width of the fitting permission portion 64a increases toward the locking portion 64b. This shape is such that even when the locked projection 24c is not completely at the end of the fitting allowing portion 64a, the cam shaft 60 rotates from that state to guide the locked projection 24c to the locking portion 64b. Realize complete fitting of both terminals.

c) Interlocking between the camshaft 60 and the insertion of the communication connector 70 While the rotation operation projection 72 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the front end of the housing of the communication connector 70 (the left end in FIGS. 15 to 17). On the upper surface side of the cam shaft 60, a cam groove 66 as shown in FIG. The cam groove 66 has a width that allows the rotation operation projection 72 to enter the cam groove 66 with almost no gap. The cam groove 66 is viewed from the rear end toward the front from the rear end of the cam shaft 60 ( That is, it has a spiral shape that proceeds in the counterclockwise direction) as viewed from the centering hole 62 side.

  The rear end 66a of the cam groove 66 is located 180 ° away from the fitting allowable portion 64a of the lock groove 64 in the circumferential direction of the cam shaft 60. Therefore, when the cam shaft 60 is in the allowable position, the rear end 66a of the cam groove 66 is at the uppermost position, and the rotation operation projection 72 can enter the cam groove 66 from the rear end 66a. Then, the rotation operation projection 72 slides in the cam groove 66 in accordance with this approach (that is, insertion of the communication connector 70 into the communication connector receiving portion 54), so that the cam shaft 60 is counteracted. It is rotated in the clockwise direction.

  The cam shaft holding portion 56 is provided with grooves 56a and 56b for opening the lock groove 64 and the cam groove 66 downward and upward, respectively. These grooves 56a and 56b extend in the front-rear direction, and enter the locked projection 24c and the rotation operation projection 72 along the same direction, and engage the projections 24c and 72 with the grooves 64 and 66, respectively. to enable.

  The cam shaft 60 and the cam shaft holding portion 56 are provided with a structure for temporarily locking the cam shaft 60 at the allowable position in an initial state before the electronic unit 10 is inserted into the unit case 12. Yes. Specifically, a pair of left and right provisional locking projections 68 project rearward from the rear end surface of the cam shaft 60, while the cam shaft 60 is in the allowable position on the rear end side wall of the cam shaft holding portion 56. A temporary locking hole 58 into which the temporarily locked protrusion 68 is fitted in the state is provided.

  Next, the operation and usage procedure of the electronic unit connecting apparatus will be described.

1) Initial State FIGS. 4 and 5 show a state before the electronic unit 10 is inserted into the unit storage portion 18 of the unit case 12. In this state, the housing 24 a of the standby connector 24 held on the back wall 30 protrudes from the back wall 30 into the space in the unit storage portion 18.

  On the other hand, in the unit connector 16 of each electronic unit 10, the temporarily locked protrusion 68 of the cam shaft 60 is fitted into the temporarily locked hole 58 provided in the cam shaft holding portion 56 of the connector housing 50. The cam shaft 60 is temporarily locked at an allowable position. That is, the cam shaft 60 is maintained in a posture in which the rear end 66a of the cam groove 66 and the rear end of the fitting allowing portion 64a of the lock groove 64 are positioned vertically.

2) Insertion of electronic unit 10 From the initial state, each electronic unit 10 is inserted into the unit storage portion 18 as shown in FIGS. 12 unit locking claws 26 are locked. At this time, since the cam shaft 60 of the unit connector 16 in the electronic unit 10 is temporarily locked at the allowable position, the locked protrusion 24c of the standby connector 24 is fitted to the fitting allowable portion 64a of the lock groove 64 of the cam shaft 60. Can enter. With this entry, the standby connector 24 can enter the standby connector receiving portion 54 of the connector housing 50 in the unit connector 16, and the standby terminal and the power supply terminal 47 of the unit connector 16 are fitted. Is acceptable. By this fitting, the electronic circuit body of the electronic unit 10 can be connected to the in-vehicle power supply via the power distribution circuit of the circuit board 22 and the connectors 34 and 36.

  This fitting state is maintained to some extent by the fitting force between both terminals even after the fitting operation. However, since both the electronic unit 10 and the standby connector 24 can be slightly displaced with respect to the unit case 12 in a direction parallel to the fitting direction, a good fitting state is not necessarily maintained only with the fitting force. There is a possibility that the fitting state is gradually released due to the minute displacements caused by the vibration of the vehicle or the like.

  However, this poor fitting is prevented by the next fitting (insertion) operation of the communication connector 70.

3) Fitting (insertion) of communication connector 70
When the electronic unit 10 is inserted, the communication connector receiving portion 54 of the connector housing 50 in the unit connector 16 is opened rearward through the window 35 provided in the back wall 30 of the unit case 12. As shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, the communication connector 70 is inserted into the opened communication connector receiving portion 54, and the insertion of the power supply side terminal 47 and the standby terminal in the standby connector 24 results from this insertion. Guaranteed.

  Specifically, as the insertion is performed, the terminal of the communication connector 70 is fitted into the communication terminal 54 (that is, the fitting guarantee terminal) 54 of the unit connector 16 and at the same time provided in the communication connector 70. The rotated operation projection 72 thus entered enters the cam groove 66 that is in an allowable state. Since the cam groove 66 has a spiral shape that advances in the counterclockwise direction from the rear end (the entrance end of the rotation operation protrusion 72) toward the front, the rotation operation protrusion 72 enters the cam groove 66. The camshaft 60 is rotated in the clockwise direction opposite to the counterclockwise direction while releasing the temporarily locked protrusion 68 of the camshaft 60 from the temporary locking hole 58. This rotation causes the locked projection 24c located at or near the end of the fitting permission portion 64a in the lock groove 64 to enter the lock portion 64b of the lock groove 64 (FIGS. 16 and 17). As a result, the standby connector 24 including the locked projection 24c is substantially immovable in the axial direction, and the standby connector 24 is restrained by a good fit over a long period of time between the standby terminal of the connector 24 and the power supply terminal 47. Guarantee.

  That is, according to the unit connector 16, the communication connector 70 is inserted into the communication connector receiving portion 54 away from the fitting position in the fitting state between the power terminal 47 and the standby terminal of the standby connector 24. It can be reliably maintained by (fitting). Therefore, it is difficult to directly perform the fitting operation between the unit connector 16 and the standby connector 24 and the visual confirmation of the fitting state, and to ensure good fitting over a long period of time with a simple operation. Can do.

  The use of the connector with a fitting guarantee function according to the present invention is not limited to the unit connector 16 of the electronic unit 10 as described above. For example, the present invention may be applied to the standby connector 24 of the electronic unit connection device.

  Further, the circuit body built in the unit case 12 is not limited to the circuit board 22 for power distribution as described above, and includes, for example, a circuit for causing communication between the external circuit and each electronic unit 10. A circuit that allows communication between circuits built in each electronic unit 10 may be included. On the other hand, the fitting guarantee connector is not limited to the communication connector, and may be one in which another power source (for example, a power source having a special voltage) is connected to each electronic unit.

  Furthermore, the fitting guarantee member of the connector with the fitting guarantee function is not limited to the connector (fitting guarantee connector) including the communication connector 70, and is inserted into the fitting guarantee member insertion portion exclusively for the fitting guarantee. It may be a member.

  Further, the specific configuration of the fitting lock member for realizing the fitting guarantee is not limited to the cam shaft 60. For example, like the connector with a fitting guarantee function shown as the second embodiment in FIGS. 18 to 21, a fitting locking member that is switched between an allowable position and a locking position by sliding movement is provided. Also good.

  This connector with a fitting guarantee function includes a plurality of connector terminals 77 and a plurality of fitting guarantee side terminals 78 shown in FIGS. 18 (a) and 18 (c), and connectors shown in FIGS. A mating connector 94 shown in FIG. 20 includes a housing 80, a slide plate 90 as a fitting lock member shown in FIGS. (B) and (c), and a fitting guarantee connector 100 shown in FIG. Mated.

  The connector terminal 77 corresponds to the power supply terminal 47 of the first embodiment, and can be fitted to a plurality of counterpart terminals included in the counterpart connector 94, respectively. On the other hand, the fitting guarantee side terminal 78 corresponds to the communication terminal 48 of the first embodiment, and can be fitted to a plurality of terminals included in the fitting guarantee connector 100.

  The connector housing 80 includes a mating connector receiving portion 82 similar to the standby connector receiving portion 52 of the connector housing 50 in the first embodiment, and a fitting guarantee member similar to the communication connector receiving portion 54 in the same embodiment. A fitting guarantee connector receiving portion 84 that also serves as an insertion portion is provided on each of the right and left sides, and a slide plate housing portion 86 that straddles both receiving portions 82 and 84 is provided on the upper side.

  The counterpart connector receiving portion 82 has a shape capable of receiving the counterpart connector 94 and holds the connector terminal 77 at a position where it can be fitted to the counterpart terminal of the received counterpart connector 94. Similarly, the fitting guarantee connector receiving portion 84 has a shape capable of receiving the fitting guarantee connector 100 and the fitting at a position where the fitting guarantee connector 100 can be fitted to the terminal of the received fitting guarantee connector 100. The guarantee side terminal 78 is held. The connector receiving spaces of the receiving portions 82 and 84 include communication grooves 83 and 85, respectively. The communication grooves 83 and 85 extend along the receiving direction (connector insertion direction), and the slide plate accommodating portions. Communicate with 86.

  As shown in FIGS. 18B and 18C, the slide plate 90 has a permissible position closer to the fitting guarantee connector receiving portion 84 side than the communication groove 85, and FIGS. 21B and 21C. ), The slide plate housing portion 86 accommodates the slide plate so as to be slidable with respect to the lock position straddling the communication groove 85. A cam groove 92 that extends obliquely rearward from the front end (the lower end in FIGS. 18B and 21B) toward the fitting guarantee connector receiving portion 84 is formed in the lower surface of the slide plate 90. The position of the cam groove 92 is set so that the front end of the cam groove 92 is located immediately above the communication groove 83 in a state where the slide plate 90 is in the allowable position.

  The slide plate 90 is temporarily locked at the allowable position in an unused state. Specifically, a locked hole 93 shown in FIG. 18C is provided at an appropriate position of the slide plate 90, while the slide plate 90 is positioned at an appropriate position on the inner surface of the slide plate accommodating portion 86. Are provided with temporary locking projections 87 that fit into the locked holes 93.

  The counterpart connector 94 corresponds to the standby connector 24 of the first embodiment, and is received in the counterpart connector receiving portion 82. On the upper surface of the housing of the mating connector 94, a locked projection 95 that can enter the communication groove 83 is projected upward. On the other hand, a notch 91 is formed at the rear end of the slide plate 90 on the side of the mating connector receiving portion (right side). The notch 91 is inserted into the notch 91 when the locked projection 95 is fitted thereto. The lock projection 95 has such a shape that the slide plate 90 restrains it from the front side (the lower side in FIG. 21C).

  The fitting guarantee connector 100 corresponds to the communication connector 70 of the first embodiment, and is received in the fitting guarantee connector receiving portion 84 as a fitting guarantee member. On the upper surface of the housing of the fitting guarantee connector 100, a slide operation protrusion 102 that can enter the front end of the cam groove 92 located immediately above the communication groove 83 at the permissible position is upward. The slide operation protrusion 102 is protruded and slides the slide plate 90 from the allowable position to the lock position by entering the cam groove 92.

  In this connector with a fitting guarantee function, in the initial state, the slide plate 90 is temporarily locked at the permissible position shown in FIGS. 18B and 18C, and the opposite connector receiving portion side end (FIG. 18B ) And (c), the right end) is located closer to the mating guarantee connector receiving portion side (left side in the figure) than the communication groove 85 on the counterpart connector receiving portion side. The mating connector 94 is inserted into the mating connector receiving portion 84 while the locking protrusion 95 is inserted, and the mating terminal can be fitted into the connector terminal 77 in the mating connector receiving portion 84.

  This fitting can be ensured by inserting the fitting guarantee connector 100 into the fitting guarantee connector receiving portion 84, as in the first embodiment. Specifically, at the time of the insertion, the slide operation protrusion 102 of the fitting guarantee connector 100 enters the communication groove 83 and further into the cam groove 92 of the slide plate 90 immediately above the communication groove 83, and along the communication groove 83. Then, it proceeds linearly in a direction parallel to the insertion direction. Thereby, the slide plate 90 engaged with the slide operation protrusion 102 slides from the allowable position to the lock position shown in FIGS. 21B and 21C due to the shape of the cam groove 92. That is, the slide plate 90 that has been temporarily locked at the permissible position slides to the right in FIGS. 18B and 21C while being detached from the temporary locking protrusion 87. Thus, the locked projection 95 is fitted into the notch 91 of the slide plate 90, and the locked position is reached. In this locked position, the slide plate 90 is positioned on the front side of the locked projection 95 (the lower side in FIG. 21B and the near side in FIG. 21C). The displacement of the connector 94 from the connector terminal 77 (the lower side in FIG. 21B and the front side in FIG. 21C) is restricted, so that the other side of the connector terminal 77 and the counterpart connector 94 Engagement with terminals is guaranteed.

  In addition to the embodiment described above, the fitting lock member may be composed of a plurality of members. For example, a gear that moves a portion for restraining the mating connector (the standby connector 24 in the above embodiment) from the allowable position to the locked position in conjunction with the insertion of the fitting guarantee member into the fitting guarantee member insertion portion. It may contain columns.

  However, like the camshaft 60 according to the first embodiment, the fitting direction of the connector terminal (the power supply terminal 47 in the present embodiment) and its counterpart terminal (the standby terminal in the present embodiment) , Around the axis parallel to both the insertion direction of the fitting guarantee member (communication connector 70 in this embodiment) to the fitting guarantee member insertion portion (communication connector receiving part 54 in this embodiment) And a mating connector receiving portion 82 and a fitting, such as those that can be switched between the allowable position and the lock position by the rotation, and the slide plate 90 according to the second embodiment. At a position adjacent to the guarantee member insertion portion (the fitting guarantee connector receiving portion 84 in the same embodiment) in a direction (vertical direction in FIGS. 18C and 21C) perpendicular to the alignment direction. Arrangement The fitting lock member is compactly disposed between the connector terminal and the fitting assurance member insertion portion as long as it can be switched between the allowable position and the lock position by sliding in a direction parallel to the connector. There are advantages that can be made.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electronic unit 12 Unit case 14 Unit housing 16 Unit connector 18 Unit storage part 20 Circuit board built-in part 22 Circuit board (distribution circuit body)
24 Standby connector (mating connector)
24c Locked projection 35 Window 47 Power supply terminal (connector terminal)
48 Communication terminal (fitting guarantee side terminal)
50 Connector housing 52 Standby connector receiving part (mating connector receiving part)
54 Communication Connector Receiving Portion (Fitting Assurance Member Inserting Portion)
56 Camshaft holding part 60 Camshaft (rotating body)
64 Lock groove (lock part)
66 Cam groove (cam part)
70 Communication connector (fitting guarantee member)
72 Rotating operation protrusion 77 Connector terminal 78 Mating guarantee side terminal 80 Connector housing 82 Mating connector receiving part 84 Mating guarantee connector receiving part (fitting guarantee member inserting part)
86 Slide plate housing 90 Slide plate (slide body)
91 Notch (forms a lock)
92 Cam groove (cam part)
94 Mating connector 95 Locked protrusion 100 Mating guarantee connector 102 Slide operation protrusion

Claims (8)

A connector including a connector terminal that is electrically connected to the counterpart terminal by fitting with the counterpart terminal included in the counterpart connector,
A mating connector receiving portion that holds the mating connector and receives the mating connector so that the mating terminal can be mated with the connector terminal, and a fitting guarantee member provided at a position different from the mating connector receiving portion A connector housing having an insertion portion;
A fitting guarantee member insertable into a fitting guarantee member insertion portion of the connector housing;
It is movable between a permissible position that allows the mating connector to be received in the mating connector receiving portion and a lock position that restrains the mating connector so as to maintain the fitting between the connector terminal and the mating terminal. And is provided with the connector housing so as to move from the allowable position to the locked position as the fitting guarantee member is inserted into the fitting guarantee member insertion portion. A connector with a mating guarantee function, comprising a mating lock member. In the connector with a fitting guarantee function according to claim 1,
The fitting direction of the mating terminal and the connector terminal and the insertion direction of the fitting guarantee member to the fitting guarantee member insertion portion are parallel to each other,
The fitting lock member includes a rotating body that is provided in the connector housing so as to be rotatable about an axis parallel to the two directions, and is switched between the allowable position and the lock position by the rotation. The rotating body includes a cam portion that engages with the fitting guarantee member so as to rotate the rotating body from the allowable position to the fitting lock position with the insertion of the fitting guarantee member, and A locking portion that engages with the mating connector so as to restrain the mating connector in a direction to maintain the mating between the mating terminal of the mating connector and the connector terminal with rotation to the mating lock position. A connector with a mating guarantee function. In the connector with a fitting guarantee function according to claim 1,
The mating connector receiving part and the fitting assurance member inserting part in the connector housing are arranged in a specific direction,
The fitting lock member is slidable in a direction adjacent to and parallel to the arrangement direction with respect to the mating connector receiving portion and the fitting assurance member insertion portion. A slide body provided on the connector housing, wherein the slide body is switched between the allowable position and the lock position by the slide, and the slide body is moved from the allowable position to the fitting position when the fitting guarantee member is inserted. A cam portion that engages with the fitting assurance member so as to slide to the mating lock position, and the mating of the mating terminal and the connector terminal of the mating connector with the slide body from the allowable position to the mating locking position. Including a lock portion that engages with the mating connector so as to restrain the mating connector in a direction in which the mating connector is maintained. Connector with a guarantee function. In the connector with a fitting guarantee function in any one of Claims 1-3,
The fitting guarantee member is a fitting guarantee connector different from the counterpart connector,
In addition to the connector terminal, the connector housing can be fitted with a terminal included in the fitting guarantee connector when the fitting guarantee connector is inserted into the fitting guarantee member insertion portion. A connector with a mating guarantee function, characterized by holding a mating guarantee side terminal. An electronic unit including an electronic circuit body that communicates with the outside upon receiving power,
A unit housing that houses the electronic circuit body and has an outer shape that can be inserted into a dedicated unit case;
A unit connector provided in the unit housing and for connecting an electronic circuit body stored in the unit housing to an external circuit;
The unit connector is constituted by a connector with a fitting guarantee function according to claim 4,
The connector terminal included in the unit connector is held in the unit case as the unit housing is inserted into the unit case with the fitting locking member of the connector with a fitting guarantee function in the allowable position. A terminal that is fitted in a direction parallel to the insertion direction of the unit housing with respect to a standby terminal included in the standby connector.
The fitting guarantee side terminal included in the unit connector is a terminal that is directly fitted with the terminal of the fitting guarantee connector without passing through the unit case,
The fitting lock member moves from the permissible position to the lock position as the fitting guarantee connector is inserted into the fitting guarantee member insertion portion of the connector housing, and the connector terminal and the standby terminal An electronic unit characterized in that the mating connector is restrained in a direction in which the fitting is maintained. An electronic unit according to claim 5,
A unit case having a shape into which a unit housing of the electronic unit can be inserted; and
A standby terminal provided on the unit case and capable of being fitted in a direction parallel to the insertion direction with respect to a connector terminal included in a unit connector of the electronic unit as the electronic unit is inserted into the unit case. An electronic unit connecting device comprising a standby connector,
The unit case has a fitting guarantee member insertion portion from outside the unit case by opening a fitting guarantee member insertion portion of the unit connector in the electronic unit inserted into the unit case to the outside of the unit case. Has a shape that allows fitting of the connector
The fitting lock member included in the unit connector is connected to the fitting guarantee member insertion portion when the fitting guarantee connector is fitted in the unit case with the unit housing of the electronic unit inserted in the unit case. And moving from a position allowing the standby terminal of the standby connector received by the counterpart connector receiving portion to the connector terminal to a lock position for restraining the counterpart connector so as to maintain the fitting. Electronic unit connection device. The electronic unit connection device according to claim 6,
The unit case has a shape in which a plurality of electronic units can be inserted, respectively, while a circuit body including a circuit for connecting to each electronic unit is built in, and a plurality of standby connectors connected to the circuit body are respectively provided. An electronic unit connecting device, characterized in that the electronic unit connecting device is held at a position where it can be fitted to a connector terminal of a unit connector of a corresponding electronic unit. The electronic unit connecting device according to claim 7, wherein
The circuit body includes a power distribution circuit for distributing power supplied from the outside to each electronic unit,
The fitting guarantee connector is a communication connector including a terminal for performing communication between the electronic circuit body of the electronic unit and an external circuit,
The connector terminal of the unit connector includes a power supply terminal for connecting the electronic circuit body to the power distribution circuit body by fitting with the standby terminal of the standby connector. An electronic unit connection device comprising: a communication terminal for connecting the electronic circuit body and an external circuit by fitting with a terminal of the communication connector.

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