JP5288851B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector used in electrical equipment and electronic equipment such as FA equipment, QA equipment, and a mobile phone, and more particularly, to a contact structure used in a connector with improved connection stability. .

Conventionally, a contact used for a connector generally has a contact portion that contacts a first connection object, a fixed portion held by an insulator, and a connection portion connected to a second connection object. Examples of the first connection object include a mating connector, a board, a flexible printed circuit board (hereinafter referred to as “FPC”), a flexible flat cable (hereinafter referred to as “FFC”), etc. Examples of the second connection object include a board, FPC, There are FFC and the like.
As a structure of the contact portion that contacts the first connection object, two contact portions are provided in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the first connection object in order to require stable connectivity. There are many. Moreover, in order to improve connection stability, the number of contact parts is further increased as in the following document.
The following three documents, Patent Document 1 ( Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-73296 ), Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-270290), and Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-17167) have been proposed by the present applicant. Indicates.
According to the summary of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-73296 proposed by the present applicant, an electrical connector for a flexible board, etc. that can be removably attached to a contact and can be easily replaced with a new contact even if the contact fails The electrical connector has a joint 4 electrically connected to another board and a pair of contact parts 5a and 5b extending from the joint 4 in a bifurcated manner. A contact 1 having a bearing space 10 between the parts 5a and 5b, an array plate 2 that forms a contact group by aligning a plurality of contacts 1 in a specific direction (Y direction), and aligning on the array plate 2 Positioned and held rotatably in the bearing space 10 of the contact 1 constituting the contact group, the major axis portion 11 and the minor axis portion 12 having two different sizes compared to the interval W of the bearing space 10 are different. Comprising a cam shaft 3, the cam shaft 3, the contact structure, characterized disclosed that it is possible insertion from the bearing space 10 of the contact 1 constituting the contact group in the axial direction. By the way, in the scope of claims of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-73296, as claimed in claim 1, a joint part electrically connected to another substrate and a bifurcated extension extending from the joint part are inserted into the tip part thereof. A contact having a pair of contact portions each provided with at least one electrical contact electrically connected to an electrode formed on the surface of the flexible substrate; and a plurality of the contacts are substantially aligned in a specific direction. An array plate for forming a contact group, and each contact constituting the contact group is a rod-shaped cam that can be inserted and removed in the axial direction between both contact parts and closer to the joint position side than the electrical contact position An alignment contact group having a bearing space for positioning and holding the shaft so as to be rotatable, wherein the camshaft is compared with an interval of the bearing space. The aligned contact group according to claim 1, which has a major axis part and a minor axis part of two different sizes, and as claimed in claim 3, the contact is made of an elastic material having conductivity, and the contacts constituting the contact group When inserting a flexible substrate between both contact portions, the cam shaft is rotated in the bearing space, and the long axis portion of the cam shaft is held at a position facing the both contact portions, and the contact group By inserting both contact parts of the contacts that make up the contact with the outer surface of the camshaft and making the distance between the electrical contacts of the contact parts wider than the thickness of the flexible board, the flexible board can be inserted with zero insertion force. When the electrode of the inserted flexible board is electrically connected to the electrical contacts of the contacts constituting the contact group, the cam shaft It is rotated in the bearing space, the short shaft portion of the camshaft is disposed at a position facing the contact portion, and both contact portions of the contacts constituting the contact group are elastically restored, so that the electric power between the contact portions is restored. 3. The aligned contact group according to claim 1, wherein an electrode of the flexible substrate and an electrical contact of each contact are electrically connected by making a contact interval narrower than a thickness of the flexible substrate. Item 4 is an electric connector for a flexible substrate according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a removable operating lever for rotating the cam shaft is provided at one end of the cam shaft, and the bearing space is defined as claim 5. 5. The flexible board electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein a protrusion is provided on the portion to prevent movement of the cam shaft in the extending direction of the contact portion. 6. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a joint portion that is electrically connected to another substrate, and a bifurcated portion extending from the joint portion and electrically connected to an electrode formed on a surface of the inserted flexible substrate A contact having a pair of contact portions each provided with at least one electrical contact and having a bearing space between the contact portions and on the joint position side of the electrical contact position; and a plurality of the contacts An array plate that substantially aligns the book in a specific direction to form a contact group, and is rotatably positioned and held in a bearing space of the contact that constitutes the contact group aligned on the array plate. A rod-shaped camshaft having a major axis portion and a minor axis portion having two different sizes larger and smaller than the interval of the bearing space, and the camshaft is a core constituting the contact group. An electrical connector for a flexible substrate and the like, which can be inserted and removed in the axial direction from the bearing space of the contact, is disclosed. According to the summary of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-270290, an actuator can be operated with a small operating force, and the amount of contact movement by the actuator can be increased to ensure connection, and a low-profile connector is provided. For this purpose, the actuator 30 has a cam portion 31 and an operation portion 33, and a clearance groove 32 in which the vicinity 14a of the spring portion 14 of each contact 10 can be inserted and withdrawn is formed between the two portions. When the cam part is rotated 90 ° clockwise about the fulcrum 31a, the spring part of each contact and the connecting spring part 13 are elastically deformed. The FPC 50 is sandwiched between them, so that the FPC pattern is connected to the printed circuit board 60 via the terminal portions 17 of the contacts. A connector having a structure in which the ceiling portion 22 of the insulator 20 covers the contact portion 11 of each contact and a guide portion 22a for inserting the FPC into the connector is formed in the lower portion of the front surface side of the ceiling portion is disclosed. Has been. Incidentally, in the claims of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-270290, as claimed in claim 1, a contact, an insulator holding the contact, a rotatably attached to the insulator, and elastically deforming the contact are connected. In the connector constituted by an actuator that can be brought into contact with an object, the contact has a contact part with the connection object on one side and an actuated part by the actuator on the other side, respectively. A second beam having a beam, a contact portion with the connection object on one side, and a terminal portion to be connected to the printed circuit board on the other side, and the first beam and the second beam are connected to each other. The insulator is connected to at least one contact portion of the contact. A connector that guides the insertion of the connection object on the ceiling, and as a claim 2, at least one contact part of the contact is: The connector according to claim 1, wherein the actuator includes an operating portion and an actuated portion of the contact, wherein the actuator includes an inclined portion that is inclined toward the connection object in the vicinity of the connection spring portion. And a relief groove positioned between the operation portion and the cam portion, and the operated portion is in the state before the connection between the connection object and the connector. 5. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector is insertable into a groove, and as a fourth aspect, a contact, an insulator holding the contact, and a rotatable attachment to the insulator. And a connector comprising an actuator capable of elastically deforming the contact to contact a connection object, wherein the contact has a contact portion with the connection object on one side and the contact on the other side. A first beam having an actuated part by an actuator, a second beam having a contact part with the connection object on one side, and a terminal part connected to a printed circuit board on the other side, and the first beam A connecting spring portion that connects the first beam and the second beam, and the contact portion of the first beam includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion that protrude toward the connection object. Are arranged in the insertion direction of the connection object, and the contact portion of the second beam has a third protrusion and a fourth protrusion protruding toward the connection object to insert the connection object. In the direction And the third protrusion is positioned between the first protrusion and the second protrusion, or the first protrusion is the third protrusion and the fourth protrusion. A connector characterized in that the first protrusion and the second protrusion, or the third protrusion and the fourth protrusion serve as a contact point in contact with the connection object. It is disclosed. According to the summary of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-17167, an FPC / FFC connector having a rotation type actuator is intended to obtain a connector having a balance between rotation operability and high contact pressure. A plurality of contacts having a contact leg and a stabilizer leg corresponding to the contact leg. The contact legs are composed of a front contact group and a back contact group in which the contact legs are positioned on the front side. A pair of spring receiving portions and insertion protrusions are formed in order corresponding to each stabilizer leg of the near side contact, and the stabilizer legs of the back side contact group are engaged with the spring receiving portion of the actuator to be elastic. The stabilizer legs of the front contact group are elastically deformed legs that are deformed. When the insert protrusion has entered between the stabilizer legs and FPC / FFC, FPC / FFC connector for FPC / FFC with a fixed leg causing contact pressure between the contact legs of the two contact groups is disclosed. Incidentally, the claims of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-17167 include, as claim 1, an insulator having a plurality of contacts that contact the FPC / FFC; and rotation between the locked position and the unlocked position with respect to the insulator. In the FPC / FFC connector, including a contact group that can be operated and elastically deformed at its locked position and an actuator that receives contact pressure between the FPC / FFC, the plurality of contacts constitute an FPC / FFC insertion groove. , A contact leg with the FPC / FFC and a stabilizer leg corresponding to the contact leg, and the first and second contacts are composed of a first contact group and a second contact group aligned in parallel with each other. The group consists of a front contact group in which every other contact leg is aligned on the near side and the far side in the FPC insertion direction, and This actuator is a tact group, and each of the actuators has a spring receiving portion and an insertion projection formed in order corresponding to the stabilizer legs of the back side contact and the near side contact. The stabilizer legs of the group are elastically deformable legs that are elastically deformed by engaging with the spring receiving portion of the actuator when the actuator rotates between the unlocked position and the locked position. The stabilizer leg receives the force from the contact legs of both contact groups which are elastically deformed when the insertion member is inserted between the stabilizer leg and the FPC / FFC when the actuator is rotated to the locked position. The FPC / FFC connector, characterized in that the FPC / FFC connector is a fixed leg that generates a contact pressure with the FPC / FFC. In the PC / FFC connector, the actuator has a pressing protrusion that presses the FPC / FFC when rotating in the locking direction from the rotating end in the unlocking direction. When the FPC / FFC is pressed and deformed to the contact leg side, the elastic deformation legs of the back contact group are elastically deformed to the maximum, and the amount of elastic deformation is reduced before and after that. 2. The FPC / FFC connector according to 2, wherein the locked position of the actuator is substantially parallel to the insulator, and the rotation end in the unlock direction exceeds the position where the actuator is orthogonal to the insulator. The maximum displacement of the elastically deformable legs of the contact group is that the actuator is rotated to the lock side from the position orthogonal to the insulator. The FPC / FFC connector according to claim 1, wherein the spring receiving portion of the actuator uncouples the actuator. When rotating from the rotation end in the lock direction to the lock direction, the elastically deformable legs of the back contact group are once elastically deformed to the maximum at the position where the actuator is rotated to the lock side from the position orthogonal to the insulator, and then elastically An FPC / FFC connector is disclosed which includes a cam portion that reduces the amount of deformation to cause the actuator to generate a click turning force in the locking direction.

As in the prior art, in the case where two contact portions are provided in the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the first connection object, the contact reliability is increased, but the insertion force of the first connection object is increased. Therefore, in the case of the multi-core number, there is a problem that the fitting force is increased.
As in Patent Document 1 proposed by the present applicant, in the case of providing three contact portions, on the side where two connection portions are arranged, the contact portion on the back side is not higher than the front side in the insertion direction. However, there was a problem that the insertion force was increased and there was a possibility of deformation.
In the case of LIF (Low Insertion Force), Patent Document 2 similarly has a problem that the insertion force becomes large and may be deformed. In the case of ZIF (Zero Insertion Force), There was a problem that the contact pressure was likely to vary at each contact.
At first glance, Patent Document 3 seems to have a contact portion provided at the tip (upper and lower) of an independent elastic piece, but the upper protrusion 40d is engaged with the actuator 20 and contacts the counterpart. is not. With the structure of Patent Document 3, if the upper protrusion 40d is used as a contact portion with a counterpart, stable connection stability cannot be obtained.

  The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and provides a contact having a structure capable of obtaining a stable connection without increasing the fitting force and insertion force even when the number of cores is increased. It is something to be done.

The object is to contact the first connection object and contact part 22 arranged so as to face the insertion direction of the first connection object, fixing part 24 held by insulator 12 and second. In the connector 10 including a plurality of contacts 20 each having a connection portion 26 connected to a connection object, and the insulator 12 on which the contacts 20 are held and arranged, the connector 10 is provided in a direction opposite to the insertion direction of the first connection object. Two elastic pieces 28 projecting and symmetric with respect to the insertion direction of the first connection object are provided on the contact 20, and the tips of the elastic pieces 28 are extended and inverted inward in a substantially U shape. Two or more other elastic pieces 28 that protrude in at least one of the insertion direction of the first connection object and the reverse direction of the insertion direction and that are symmetrical with respect to the insertion direction of the first connection object are provided, each Serial elastic piece 28 is integrally formed, the elastic piece 28 is the elastic long as 1.0～50Mm, the contact portion 22 is disposed on the tip of the elastic piece 28, the elastic piece 28 and the contact portion 22 is 4 The connector 10 is characterized in that the first connection object is sandwiched between the contact portions 22 of the elastic pieces 28 facing each other.

As is apparent from the above description, the connector 10 of the present invention provides the following excellent effects.
(1) The connector 10 according to claim 1 is held by the insulator 12 and the contact portion 22 arranged so as to be in contact with the first connection object and facing the insertion direction of the first connection object. Oite the connector 10 having a plurality of contacts 20 having a fixing portion 24 which is a connecting portion 26 connecting to the second connecting object, an insulator 12 that the contact 20 is held and arranged, the said first Two elastic pieces 28 projecting in the direction opposite to the insertion direction of the connection object and symmetric with respect to the insertion direction of the first connection object are provided on the contact 20, and their tips extend to the inside in a substantially U shape. is inverted, two symmetrical with respect to further the one from the inside of the elastic piece 28 in the opposite direction of the insertion direction and the insertion direction of the first object to be connected protrudes at least in one direction the insertion direction of the first connection object More different elastic pieces 8 are provided, each of the elastic pieces 28 are integrally formed, the elastic piece 28 is the elastic long as 1.0～50Mm, the contact portion 22 is disposed at the tip of the elastic piece 28, the elastic piece 28 And the number of the contact portions 22 is four or more, and the connector 10 is arranged so that the first connection object is sandwiched between the contact portions 22 of the elastic pieces 28 facing each other. Even if it becomes, it can be inserted with a low (small) insertion force, and stable connection stability can be ensured without deformation of the contact, and the vibration resistance is improved due to the independent multi-contact structure.

Feature of the present invention, in contact with the first connection object, and a contact portion 22 which is arranged to face to the insertion direction of the first connection object and a fixed portion 24 which is held in the insulator 12 In the contact 20 having the connection part 26 connected to the second connection object, at least four or more independent elastic pieces 28 protruding in at least one direction out of the insertion direction and the insertion direction of the first connection object are provided. And at least one contact portion 22 is disposed at a predetermined portion of the elastic piece 28, and the first connection object is sandwiched between the contact portions 22 of the elastic pieces 28 facing each other. This is the contact 20.
That is, the elastic piece 28 which has the at least 2 or more independent contact part 22 which protrudes in the insertion direction of an other party is provided, and the 1st connection object inserted by the said elastic piece 28 which has the at least 2 or more contact part 22 Is inserted.

  Based on the drawings, a contact according to the present invention and a connector using the contact will be described. 1A is a perspective view of a contact of the present invention, FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a connector using the contact of FIG. 1A, and FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of the connector of FIG. FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of each contact different from FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the insulator.

First, the contact 20 of the present invention will be described. The contact 20 is made of metal and is manufactured by a known press working. The material of the contact 20 is required to be springy or conductive, and examples thereof include brass, beryllium copper, and phosphor bronze. The contact 20 of the present invention has a contact part 22 that mainly contacts the first connection object, a fixing part 24 held by the insulator 12, and a connection part 26 connected to the second connection object . Below, each site | part is demonstrated.

First, the contact part 22 which is the point of this invention is demonstrated. The contact portion 22 is a portion that contacts the first connection object . Examples of the first connection object include a mating connector, a board, an FPC, and an FFC. The contact portion 22 is appropriately designed in consideration of contact stability, contact pressure, insertion force, contact deformation, and the like along the object to be contacted. In this embodiment, the first connection object is a connector. Therefore, it is the contact of the mating connector that contacts.

The contact portion 22 is provided with an independent elastic piece 28 protruding in at least one of the insertion direction and the reverse direction of the insertion direction, and is disposed at a predetermined portion of the elastic piece 28. The first connection object is sandwiched between the contact portions 22 of the elastic pieces 28 facing each other. In the present embodiment of FIG. 1A, the independent elastic pieces 28 protrude toward the insertion direction side of the first connection object and are arranged symmetrically with respect to the insertion direction. The elastic length of the elastic piece 28 is preferably set to 1.0 to 50 mm in consideration of contact stability, a counterpart as a first connection object, a connector height, an effective fitting length, and the like. If the thickness is 1.0 mm or less, sufficient contact force cannot be obtained, and elastic deterioration occurs after several insertions / removals. If the thickness is 50 mm or more, the connector 10 is downsized. In this embodiment, it is set to 1 to 3 mm.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, in this embodiment, the two elastic pieces 28 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the insertion direction, and the contact portion 22 is disposed at the tip of the elastic piece 28 with respect to the insertion direction. Are arranged symmetrically. The number of the contact portions 22 provided on the elastic piece 28 may be at least one, and is appropriately designed in consideration of contact stability, elasticity, and the like.

The elastic piece 28, in this embodiment, the insertion direction of the first object to be connected has been disposed symmetrically, may be arranged asymmetrically. Further, the elastic piece 28 may be symmetrical, and only the contact portion 22 arranged on the elastic piece 28 may be arranged asymmetrically.
Further, the elastic pieces 28 and the contact portions 22 may be arranged symmetrically or asymmetrically with respect to the insertion direction and not perpendicular to the insertion direction.

Now, another contact example will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 2A, four independent elastic pieces 28 are arranged so as to protrude in the insertion direction of the first connection object 50, and the contact portion 22 is arranged at the tip of the elastic piece 28. It is a thing.
In FIG. 2B, four independent elastic pieces 28 are arranged so as to protrude one by one in the insertion direction and in the opposite direction of the insertion direction, and the contact portion 22 is provided at the tip of the elastic piece 28. in which were placed. That is, as shown in the figure, the insertion side protrudes in the direction opposite to the insertion direction, and the side opposite to the insertion side protrudes in the insertion direction.

In FIG. 2C, four independent elastic pieces 28 are arranged so as to protrude one by one in the insertion direction and in the opposite direction of the insertion direction, and the contact portion 22 is provided at the tip of the elastic piece 28. in which were placed. That is, as shown, protrudes the insertion side in the insertion direction, in which is protruded to the side opposite to the insertion side in a direction opposite to the insertion direction.
In FIG. 2D, four independent elastic pieces 28 are protruded in the direction opposite to the insertion direction of the first connection object 50 and arranged asymmetrically with respect to the insertion direction. 28 is obtained by arranging the contact portion 22 to the tip of the.

  Next, the fixing part 24 will be described. The fixing portion 24 is a portion held by the insulator 12, and is held by press-fitting in this embodiment. That is, a press-fitting allowance is provided and held in the width direction of the fixed portion 24.

Finally, the connection unit 26 will be described. The connection part 26 is a part connected to the second connection object . Examples of the second connection object include a substrate, FPC, and FFC. The connecting portion 26 is appropriately designed so as to follow the object to be connected. In this embodiment, since it is connected to the substrate, it is of a surface mount (SMT) type in consideration of mountability, occupied area, high density, and the like. In the case of the FPC, the same design is taken into consideration as appropriate. In the case of FFC, it is appropriately designed in consideration of the same thing as the substrate and FPC.

Next, the insulator 12 will be described. The insulator 12 is an electrically insulating plastic, and is manufactured by a known technique of injection molding. The material is appropriately selected in consideration of dimensional stability, workability, cost, etc. Generally, polybutylene is used. Examples thereof include terephthalate (PBT), polyamide (66PA, 46PA, PA9T), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polycarbonate (PC), poniphenylene sulfide (PPS), and synthetic materials thereof.
The insulator 12 is provided with an insertion hole 14 in which a required number of contacts 20 are mounted, and is fixed by press-fitting, hooking (lance), welding or the like.

  As an application example of the present invention, a contact used for a connector 10 used for an electrical device or an electronic device such as an FA device, a QA device, a mobile phone, etc., and particularly used for the connector 10 for improving connection stability. This relates to 20 structures.

(A) It is a perspective view of the contact of this invention. (B) It is a perspective view of the connector using the contact of (A). (C) It is sectional drawing which cut the connector of (B) in a certain contact part. (A) It is a perspective view of the contact different from FIG. 1 (A). (B) It is a perspective view of another contact different from (A). (C) It is a perspective view of another contact different from (B). (D) It is a perspective view of another contact different from (C). It is a perspective view of an insulator.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Connector 12 Insulator 14 Insertion hole 20 Contact 22 Contact part 24 Fixing part 26 Connection part 28 Elastic piece

Claims (1)

A contact that is in contact with the first connection object and that is arranged to face the insertion direction of the first connection object, a fixed part that is held by the insulator, and a connection that is connected to the second connection object. In a connector comprising a plurality of contacts having a portion and an insulator in which the contacts are held and arranged,
Two elastic pieces projecting in the direction opposite to the insertion direction of the first connection object and symmetric with respect to the insertion direction of the first connection object are provided on the contact, extending the tip of the elastic piece and having a substantially U-shape inside. to invert, further the symmetrical two or more in at least one direction of the opposite direction of the insertion direction and the insertion direction of the inner first connection object from the resilient piece to the insertion direction of projecting the first connection object another elastic piece is provided with, each of the elastic pieces are integrally formed, the elastic pieces of the elastic long as 1.0～50Mm, the contact portion is disposed at the distal end of the resilient piece, the resilient piece and 4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the number of the contact parts is four or more, and the first connection object is sandwiched between the contact parts of the elastic pieces facing each other.

Images