JP6211150B1 - connector - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a connector that suppresses the increase in manufacturing cost of the connector and prevents whisker scattering without reducing the strength of the housing. A movable housing 3 has a fixing hole 32 for press-fitting and fixing a first fixing portion 45 of a terminal 4. In the terminal 4, a concave portion 45 e that is separated from the wall surface of the fixing hole 32 is provided on the side surface 45 b of the first fixing portion 45 at a position on the insertion port 321 side of the fixing hole 32. As a result, the whisker generation position can be provided at a position behind the recess 45e in the fixing hole 32, and the whisker can be prevented from jumping out from the recess 45e. [Selection] Figure 15

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector provided with a plated terminal.

  Terminals used in connectors are plated for reasons such as increasing conductivity and enabling soldering, among others, tin plating because they are less toxic than other metals. Is often applied.

  However, it is known that whiskers, which are needle-like crystals, are generated at terminals subjected to tin plating. Whisker is generated in the part where the stress is applied to the member plated with tin, and in the case of the terminal, it is particularly likely to occur at the edge of the contact surface with the housing in the fixed part fixed by press fitting to the housing. Yes.

  When this whisker occurs and expands, it contacts the adjacent terminal and causes a short circuit, or it touches the connector user's finger and scatters to cause a short circuit of the circuit pattern on which the connector is mounted. There's a problem.

  Therefore, as a technique for coping with the occurrence of whisker in the press-fitting portion of the terminal of the connector, for example, in Patent Document 1, a recess is provided around the insertion port of the housing for press-fitting the terminal, and the whisker generated by the recess is covered. A technique for preventing a user from touching a whisker and preventing the whisker from scattering is disclosed.

JP 2006-310089 A

  According to the connector described in Patent Document 1, whiskers can be concealed in the recesses of the housing, and the whisker scattering prevention effect can be exhibited. However, there is a problem that the resin molding die for providing the recess in the housing becomes complicated and the manufacturing cost of the connector is remarkably increased. Further, when the recess is provided in the housing, there is a problem that the mechanical strength of the housing is lowered.

  The present invention has been made against the background of the prior art as described above. The object is to provide a connector that can effectively prevent whisker scattering but suppresses a significant increase in the manufacturing cost of the connector and does not reduce the strength of the housing.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.

  The present invention relates to a connector comprising a housing and a terminal having a fixing part fixed to the housing, the housing having a terminal fixing part for press-fitting and fixing the fixing part of the terminal, A concave portion that is spaced from a wall surface that forms an insertion port of the terminal fixing portion is formed on a side surface of the fixing portion that is in pressure contact with the terminal fixing portion.

  Whisker occurs at the boundary between the pressure contact surface on the side surface of the terminal fixing portion with respect to the wall surface of the terminal fixing portion of the housing and the recess not separated from the wall surface, and the boundary (edge of the recess) is the inside of the terminal fixing portion. Located on the back side of. Therefore, whiskers generated at the boundary between the pressure contact surface and the concave portion on the side surface of the terminal fixing portion will extend in the gap formed by the concave portion and the housing, and if the terminal does not extend beyond the gap, the terminal fixing portion Cannot be exposed outside. Thus, in the connector of the present invention, it becomes difficult to expose the whisker to the outside, and it becomes possible to prevent a short circuit between the terminals. Moreover, it can prevent that the whisker which generate | occur | produced touches a user's finger | toe and scatters, and produces the short circuit of the circuit pattern of the board | substrate with which the connector was mounted. Therefore, even when whiskers are generated or extended in the connector, a stable connection can be ensured, and a highly reliable connector can be obtained. In addition, it is possible to prevent the whisker from being exposed to the outside or scattered, regardless of the structure of the housing. Therefore, it is possible to prevent problems such as a significant increase in manufacturing cost and a decrease in strength of the housing such as the connector of the prior art, and to improve the quality while suppressing the manufacturing cost of the connector.

  The concave portion can be formed on an edge of the terminal fixing portion on the side surface on the insertion port side.

  Since the concave portion is formed at the edge of the terminal fixing portion of the housing on the side of the insertion portion on the side of the terminal fixing portion, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of whiskers at the outermost exposed portion of the side of the terminal. Can do.

  The side surface of the fixing portion of the terminal has a pressure contact surface that is in pressure contact with the wall surface of the terminal fixing portion of the housing at a back side position beyond the recess.

According to this, since the pressure contact surface of the fixing portion of the terminal is located on the back side beyond the recess, the whisker can be generated at the back side of the recess away from the insertion port of the terminal fixing portion. Short circuit can be prevented more effectively.

  According to the connector of the present invention, since the generated whisker extends within the recess of the terminal and is difficult to be exposed to the outside, it is possible to effectively prevent occurrence of a short circuit between the terminals due to the whisker and a short circuit in the substrate circuit. As a result, the quality of the electronic device equipped with the connector can be kept good regardless of the occurrence of whiskers. In addition, it is possible to prevent whiskers from being exposed to the outside and scattered regardless of the structure of the housing, so it is possible to prevent problems such as a significant increase in connector manufacturing costs and a decrease in strength. It is possible to make the electronic device excellent in reliability while suppressing a significant increase in the manufacturing cost of the electronic device.

The front perspective view of the connector concerning an embodiment. The rear perspective view of the connector of FIG. The front view of the connector of FIG. The rear view of the connector of FIG. The side view of the connector of FIG. The top view of the connector of FIG. The bottom view of the connector of FIG. The upper perspective view which shows the state except the fixed housing of the connector of FIG. The lower perspective view of the state of FIG. The rear perspective view of the terminal used for the connector of FIG. The front perspective view of the terminal of FIG. The rear view of the terminal of FIG. The left view of the terminal of FIG. The right view of the terminal of FIG. FIG. 11 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the terminal of FIG. 10 is inserted into a movable housing. The partial expansion perspective view which shows the terminal used for the connector which concerns on a modification.

  Hereinafter, a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present specification, claims and drawings, the width direction of the connector 1 shown in FIG. 1 is the X direction, the front-rear direction is the Y direction, the height direction is the Z direction, and the right side of the X direction is “right”. The description will be made assuming that the left side is “left”, the front side in the Y direction is “front”, the back side is “rear”, the plane side in the Z direction is “upper”, and the bottom side is “lower”. However, the specification of these up / down / left / right and front / back does not limit the mounting direction and the use direction of the connector 1 of the present invention.

Connector [Fig. 1 to Fig. 9]
The connector 1 includes a fixed housing 2 fixed to the circuit board, a movable housing 3 provided movably with respect to the fixed housing 2, one end side held by the fixed housing 2, and the other end side held by the movable housing 3. And a plurality of terminals 4.

Fixed housing [Fig. 1 to Fig. 7]
The fixed housing 2 is made of a synthetic resin molding and has a hollow box shape that opens at the upper surface 21 and the lower surface 25. A movable housing 3 is accommodated in the fixed housing 2 via a terminal 4 so as to be displaceable.

  The front surface 22 of the fixed housing 2 is a lattice-like surface in which a plurality of rectangular hole portions 22a are arranged in a matrix, and the internal movable housing 3 can be visually recognized from the hole portions 22a. While the front surface 22 restricts excessive displacement of the movable housing 3 in the Y direction, it is possible to reduce the weight of the fixed housing 2 and increase the efficiency of heat dissipation.

  An open window 27a that is largely open is formed on the back surface 27 of the fixed housing 2, and protrusions 27b that protrude from the open window 27a are formed on the left and right sides of the upper window frame of the open window 27a. A part of the movable housing 3 and the terminal 4 can be visually recognized by the open window 27a, the fixed housing 2 can be reduced in weight, and heat can be efficiently radiated. Moreover, the excessive displacement to the back in the Y direction of the movable housing 3 can be controlled with the protrusion part 27b.

  A plurality of rectangular insertion holes 21a (five in this embodiment) are formed in a row in the width direction on the upper surface of the fixed housing 2 in which mating terminals, which are objects to be connected to the connector 1, are inserted.

  A first recess 25c that is one step lower when viewed from the lower surface 25 side is formed in front of the lower surface 25 of the fixed housing 2, and a space 25d that accommodates the movable housing 3 is formed behind the first recess 25c. The first recess 25c is formed with a fixing hole 25a into which the terminal 4 is press-fitted and fixed (FIG. 7). In the space 25d, an accommodating portion 25b into which the movable housing 3 is inserted is formed. A movable gap is formed between the movable housing 3 and the accommodating portion 25b, and the movable housing 3 can be displaced inside the accommodating portion 25b by the movable gap.

  Below the left and right side surfaces 26 of the fixed housing 2, a fixing metal fitting 5 used for soldering for fixing the connector 1 on the circuit board is press-fitted, an insertion hole 26 a opening downward, and the fixing metal fitting 5. A long plate-shaped restricting portion 26b is formed to fix the plate in the width direction. The fixing metal 5 is press-fitted into the insertion hole 26a and fixed.

  Flange portions 23 projecting in the X direction and the Y direction are provided at the lower left and right ends of the front surface 22 of the fixed housing 2. This flange portion 23 can prevent the connector 1 from falling forward while being installed on the circuit board. A columnar positioning protrusion 24 is formed on the lower surface of the flange portion 23. The connector 1 can be installed at a predetermined position on the circuit board by inserting the positioning protrusion 24 into the positioning hole provided in the circuit board.

Movable housing [Fig. 8, Fig. 9]
The movable housing 3 is made of a synthetic resin molding, and is disposed so as to be movable in the width direction, the front-rear direction, and the up-down direction inside the housing portion 25 b of the fixed housing 2.

  The movable housing 3 is provided with a plurality of fixing holes 32 arranged in a line in the width direction as “terminal fixing portions” into which one end sides (first fixing portions 45) of the terminals 4 are respectively press-fitted. The first fixed portion 45 of the terminal 4 is press-fitted into the fixed hole 32 from the insertion port 321 (FIG. 15) of the fixed hole 32 of the movable housing 3. The fixed hole 32 is continuous with the opening 31 provided on the upper surface of the movable housing 3 so that the mating terminal inserted from the opening 31 can come into contact with the contact portion 46 of the terminal 4 in the movable housing 3. . The opening 31 is formed as a funnel-shaped tapered surface and guides insertion of the mating terminal.

  Protruding portions 37 are provided on the upper portions of both sides of the movable housing 3 in the width direction, and leg portions 34 continuing from the protruding portions 37 are provided on the lower portions. In a space formed between the left and right projecting portions 37, a jig used when the terminal 4 is press-fitted and fixed to the fixed housing 2 and the movable housing 3 is inserted. This jig restricts the upward displacement of the movable housing 3 at that time to prevent the spring portion 47 of the terminal 4 from excessively extending. Further, between the left and right leg portions 34 is a space 36 in which the spring portion 47 of the terminal 4 is elastically deformed.

  Grooves 35 are formed on the side surfaces on both sides in the width direction of the movable housing 3 from the projecting portion 37 to the leg portion 34, thereby reducing the weight of the movable housing 3, and even the soft spring portion 47 can be displaceably supported. I am doing so.

  A partition wall 38 projects downward between the adjacent fixing holes 32, and even when a whisker is generated in one adjacent terminal 4, extension to the other adjacent terminal 4 is prevented and short circuit between the terminals 4 is prevented. Sure.

Terminal [Fig. 10 to Fig. 15]
The terminals 4 are formed by punching and bending a metal plate, and are arranged in the connector 1 at intervals in the width direction.

  The terminal 4 includes a contact portion 46 that contacts the mating terminal, a first fixing portion 45 as a “fixing portion” fixed to the movable housing 3, a second fixing portion 44 fixed to the fixed housing 2, An elastically deformable spring portion 47 that connects the fixing portion 45 and the second fixing portion 44 and a substrate connecting portion 41 connected to the circuit board are formed, and tin plating is applied to the whole.

  The contact portion 46 is formed as a pair of spring pieces facing each other, and is in conductive contact so as to sandwich a mating terminal that is a connection object.

  The first fixing portion 45 as the “fixing portion” of the terminal 4 has three side surfaces, a side surface 45a and 45c where the contact portion 46 is continuous, and a side surface 45b connecting these side surfaces 45a and 45c facing each other. It is formed in a wall shape.

  Locking protrusions 45d for press-fitting the terminals 4 into the fixed holes 32 of the movable housing 3 and preventing them from coming off are provided on the plate edges of the side surfaces 45a and 45c opposite to the side surfaces 45b. The locking protrusion 45d is pressed against the right hole surface of the fixing hole 32, and the reaction force is transmitted to the side surface 45b through the side surfaces 45a and 45c, so that the side surface 45b is pressed against the left hole surface of the fixing hole 32. Let

  The side surface 45b is formed with a flat portion 45h, a concave portion 45e that is recessed with respect to the flat portion 45h, and a protruding portion 45g that is positioned at the lower end of the concave portion 45e.

  The flat surface portion 45h is a portion that becomes the “pressure contact surface” where the side surface 45b is pressed against the left hole surface of the fixing hole 32 by press-fitting the locking protrusion 45d as described above. The pressure contact position is the back side position of the fixing hole 32 beyond the recess 45e when viewed from the insertion port 321.

  Unlike the flat portion 45h, the recess 45e is a portion that is not pressed against the left hole surface of the fixing hole 32, and a gap S is formed between the recess 45e and the wall surface of the fixing hole 32 as shown in FIG. . Therefore, the recess 45e does not become a structural element that causes whisker generation. The recess 45e is formed on the side surface 45b in pressure contact with the fixing hole 32, but is continuously formed on the bent portion between the side surface 45b and the side surface 45a and also on the bent portion between the side surface 45b and the side surface 45c. Further, it is also formed on the side surface 45a and the side surface 45c adjacent to those bent portions. The reason why they are also formed on the bent portions and part of the side surfaces 45a and 45c is that they may be pressed against the wall surface of the fixing hole 32 in the same manner as the side surface 45b.

  The protruding portion 45g is a portion that receives an insertion force by a jig of a terminal press-fitting device when the first fixed portion 45 of the terminal 4 is press-fitted into the fixed hole 32 of the movable housing 3, and the protruding portion 45g is formed. Therefore, the first fixing portion 45 can be press-fitted while suppressing deformation of the first fixing portion 45 even when receiving a strong insertion force. Moreover, in the manufacturing process of the terminal 4, after the plate-shaped base material is punched and the concave portion 45e is formed by press working on the original shape of the terminal 4 before each bent portion is formed, each portion is bent and the terminal 4 is formed. Complete. The first fixing portion 45 is also formed by bending at the time of bending performed after the formation of the concave portion 45e. At this time, the protruding portion 45g is held by the jig together with the side surface 45b and bent. Therefore, the projecting portion 45g also functions as a portion for facilitating this when the first fixing portion 45 is bent. Furthermore, after the first fixed portion 45 of the terminal 4 is press-fitted into the fixed hole 32 of the movable housing 3 and is fixed, the protruding portion 45g protrudes like a “lid” that closes the insertion port 321 of the fixed hole 32 so that the whisker is removed. It also has a function of making it difficult to extend outside the insertion port 321. In the present embodiment, the insertion port 321 of the fixing hole 32 is chamfered, and the protrusion 45 g protrudes along the chamfered shape of the insertion port 321, so that the gap S is closer to the back side of the fixing hole 32. The bent shape is bent at an angle. Therefore, the whisker generated inside the fixing hole 32 and extending linearly hits the protruding portion 45g and the extension of the fixing hole 32 to the outside is prevented.

  When the first fixing portion 45 is fixed in the fixing hole 32, the locking projection 45d bites into the wall surface of the fixing hole 32, and the flat portion 45h of the side surface 45b located on the opposite side of the locking projection 45d is the fixing hole 32. It will be in the state which press-contacted to the wall surface. Due to this pressing force, whiskers are likely to be generated at the end 45f of the flat portion 45h where the flat portion 45h of the side surface 45b and the wall surface of the fixing hole 32 come into pressure contact (the boundary portion between the flat portion 45h of the side surface 45b and the concave portion 45e).

  The second fixing portion 44 has a plate-like configuration wider than the spring portion 47 and press-fitted into a fixing hole 25a formed in the lower surface 25 of the fixed housing 2, and two locking protrusions are provided on each of the left and right side surfaces. 44a is formed. When the second fixing portion 44 is press-fitted into the fixing hole 25a, the locking projection 44a bites into the wall surface of the fixing hole 25a, and the second fixing portion 44 is fixed in the fixing hole 25a.

  The spring portion 47 is a bent elastic piece that connects the first fixed portion 45 and the second fixed portion 44, and the movable housing 3 is floated by the spring portion 47 so as to be displaceable in the XYZ directions inside the fixed housing 2. It is elastically supported.

  The board connecting portion 41 extends from the second fixing portion 44 and is soldered to the circuit pattern when the connector 1 is mounted on the circuit board.

When connecting the mating terminal, which is an object to be electrically connected to the mating terminal of the connector 1, to the connector 1, the mating terminal is inserted from the insertion hole 21 a in the upper surface 21 of the fixed housing 2. The inserted counterpart terminal is inserted into the movable housing 3 through the opening 31 of the movable housing 3 from the insertion hole 21a. Then, the mating terminal is brought into conductive contact while expanding the pair of contact portions 46 of the terminal 4. Thereby, the electrical connection between the counterpart terminal and the terminal 4 is established.

According to the operation / effect connector 1 of the connector 1, the flat surface portion 45 h of the side surface 45 b of the first fixing portion 45 of the terminal 4 is in pressure contact with the wall surface of the fixing hole 32 as a “pressure contact surface”. Whisker is likely to occur at the end 45f on the side. The whisker generated from the end portion 45f extends inside the gap S formed between the concave portion 45e of the side surface 45b and the wall surface of the fixing hole 32, and must not extend beyond the gap S (the concave portion 45e). It cannot be exposed to the outside (see FIG. 15). Further, in the present embodiment, the protrusion 45g protrudes along the chamfered shape of the insertion port 321, so that the gap S has a bent shape with an angle on the inlet side with respect to the back side of the fixed hole 32. For this reason, the whisker extending linearly is not easily exposed to the outside of the recess 45e, and a short circuit between adjacent terminals 4 can be prevented. In addition, it is possible to prevent whiskers that have jumped out of the fixing hole 32 from coming into contact with the user's finger and causing a short circuit of the circuit pattern of the board on which the connector 1 is mounted. As a result, even when whiskers are generated or extended in the connector 1, a stable connection can be ensured, and a highly reliable connector can be obtained.

  Further, since the whisker can prevent the short circuit between the terminals 4 and the circuit pattern without complicating the shape of the movable housing 3, the shape of the terminal 4 (recess 45e) can be used. An increase in manufacturing cost and a decrease in strength of the movable housing 3 can be prevented. As a result, an increase in the manufacturing cost of the connector 1 can be suppressed, and a short circuit can be prevented by a whisker while preventing a decrease in the strength of the connector 1.

  Furthermore, since the recess 45e is formed over the entire lower end of the side surface 45b that is in pressure contact with the fixing hole 32 of the first fixing portion 45, the short circuit caused by the whisker generated on the side surface 45b can be more effectively prevented. The reliability of the connector 1 can be improved.

  Further, the side surface 45b in which the concave portion 45e is formed and the wall surface that forms the fixing hole 32 are in contact with each other at a position deeper than the concave portion 45e from the insertion port 321, so that an end portion 45f that is a place where a whisker is generated. Can be made deeper into the recess 45e, and a short circuit due to whiskers can be prevented more effectively.

  Furthermore, whisker generation is a problem due to the tin plating layer formed on the surface of the terminal 4, but since the connector 1 is formed with the recess 45e, short-circuiting due to whisker generation is prevented. A highly safe tin plating layer can be used with peace of mind, and the connector 1 can be highly safe to the environment.

Modification [FIG. 16]
In the embodiment, the example in which the protruding portion 45g which is a part of the side surface 45b remaining without being depressed below the concave portion 45e is shown. However, for example, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to adopt a mode in which the bottom surface of 'is formed as it is to the lower end of the first fixing portion 45. Also by this, it is possible to press-fit the first fixing portion 45 into the fixing hole 32. By omitting the protrusion 45g, the volume of the recess 45e ′ can be secured larger than the recess 45e described above, and the effect of preventing a short circuit due to the occurrence of whiskers can be further enhanced.

  In the above embodiment, the fixing hole 32 is exemplified as the “terminal fixing portion” for fixing the terminal 4 in the fixed housing 2 and the movable housing 3, but a groove-like terminal fixing portion may be used. The terminal 4 can be fixed also by this.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Connector 2 Fixed housing 3 Movable housing 4 Terminal 5 Fixed metal fitting 21 Upper surface 21a Insertion hole 22 Front surface 22a Hole 23 Flange part 24 Positioning protrusion 25 Lower surface 25a Fixed hole 25b Storage part 25c First recessed part 25d Space 26 Side 26a Insertion hole 26b Restriction Part 27 back surface 27a open window 27b projecting part 31 opening part 32 fixing hole (terminal fixing part)
321 Insertion port 34 Leg part 35 Groove 36 Space 37 Projection part 38 Partition 41 Substrate connection part 44 Second fixing part 44a Locking protrusion 45 First fixing part (fixing part)
45a, 45b, 45c Side surface 45d Locking projections 45e, 45e 'Recess 45f End 45g Projection 45h Flat part 46 Contact part 47 Spring part S Gap

Claims (5)

In a connector comprising a housing and a terminal having a fixing portion fixed to the housing,
The housing has a terminal fixing portion for press-fitting and fixing the fixing portion of the terminal,
A side surface of the fixing portion of the terminal that is in pressure contact with the terminal fixing portion is a recess that is separated from a wall surface that forms an insertion port of the terminal fixing portion, and the insertion port side of the terminal fixing portion on the side surface of the concave portion A protrusion located at the end of the
The connector, wherein the protruding portion is spaced from the wall surface. In a connector comprising a housing and a terminal having a fixing portion fixed to the housing,
The housing has a terminal fixing portion for press-fitting and fixing the fixing portion of the terminal,
On the side surface of the fixing portion of the terminal that is in pressure contact with the terminal fixing portion, a concave portion that is separated from a wall surface that forms an insertion port of the terminal fixing portion is formed,
A gap is formed between the recess and the wall surface,
The connector has a bent shape in which the gap is bent at an angle from the insertion port side to the back side of the terminal fixing portion.   The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the side surface on which the concave portion is formed and the wall surface forming the terminal fixing portion are in pressure contact with each other at a position deeper than the concave portion from the insertion port.   The connector according to claim 1, wherein the insertion port of the terminal fixing portion is chamfered, and the protruding portion protrudes along a chamfered shape of the insertion port. The fixed portion has another side surface continuous from the side surface via a bent portion,
The connector according to claim 1, wherein the concave portion is formed continuously on the bent portion and the other side surface.

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