JP6435850B2 - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical connector.

  As an electrical connector that electrically connects a board on which one connector is mounted and a board on which the other connector is mounted by fitting two connectors configured to be fitted together, for example, Patent Document 1 The electrical connector described in 1 is known.

  In this electrical connector, when the connectors are fitted to each other, the conductive first contact disposed on one connector is connected to the main contact portion and the auxiliary contact of the conductive second contact disposed on the other connector. Hold between the contact points.

  The secondary contact portion of the second contact disposed on the other connector engages (holds) the first contact disposed on the one connector and realizes a simple lock function for maintaining the engagement. In addition, it is provided separately from the main contact. Each of the main contact portion and the sub contact portion is provided with a protruding portion that protrudes toward the first contact. When the connectors are fitted to each other by the protruding portion, the second contact becomes the first contact. The force for locking one contact is increased, and the separation of the contacts is suppressed.

  However, in the electrical connector described above, there is a single protrusion provided on each of the main contact portion and the sub-contact portion of the second contact, and therefore there is only one place where each protrusion contacts the first contact. It is a place. Therefore, when the connectors are fitted, there is a possibility that the protruding portion of the second contact and the first contact do not come into contact with each other depending on how the contacts are displaced. That is, there is a possibility of causing energization failure.

  In order to solve this problem, in the electrical connector described in Patent Document 2, the second contact disposed in the other connector is provided with the main contact portion and the sub contact portion, and the second contact disposed in the one connector. A plurality of protrusions are formed on a portion of one contact that contacts the second contact (sub-contact portion side). According to the electrical connector described in Patent Document 2, since a plurality of protrusions are formed on the first contact, there is a high possibility that the protrusion and the counterpart contact come into contact even when the contacts are displaced from each other. The contact reliability between contacts is high.

JP 2008-270085 A Japanese Patent No. 5404957

  In the electrical connector described in Patent Document 2, as described above, a plurality of protrusions are formed on the first contact. Here, this protrusion is formed by press working. Specifically, the protruding portion is formed by pressing a mold having a recess having the same shape as the shape of the protruding portion against the contact, and crushing a portion where the protruding portion is not provided with the mold.

  Thus, in this electrical connector, a pressing process, specifically, a process of positioning the mold, pressing the mold against the contact, and crushing the contact are necessary. Therefore, in this electrical connector, the process of forming the protruding portion is complicated. Therefore, according to the electrical connector described in Patent Document 2, although the reliability of contact between the contacts is high, there is a problem that the cost increases as the manufacturing process becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector that has high contact reliability and can suppress an increase in manufacturing cost.

In order to achieve the above object, an electrical connector according to the present invention comprises:
An outer frame, a rectangular parallelepiped portion disposed in a region surrounded by the outer frame, a plate-shaped bottom portion disposed between the outer frame and the rectangular portion, and an outer wall of the rectangular portion; the first insulating housing to form a groove-shaped inner space between the inner wall of the outer frame and the bottom portion, and the outer wall of the rectangular portion, the bottom portion, and run down the inside wall of the outer frame, the first housing A first connector having a first contact that is a plate-like conductor and having one end extending toward the outside of the first connector;
An insulating second housing having an accommodation frame accommodated in the internal space of the first housing, and attached to cover the wall surface of the accommodation frame, with one end extending toward the outside of the second housing. A second connector having a second contact that is a plate-like conductor,
An electrical connector for electrically connecting the first contact and the second contact by fitting the first housing and the second housing,
The first contact is:
A main contact portion projecting from the outer wall of the rectangular portion toward the internal space;
A sub-contact portion disposed along the inner wall of the outer frame, facing the main contact portion,
The main contact portion and the sub contact portion are configured to sandwich the second contact attached to cover the wall surface of the housing frame when the connectors are fitted together,
The sub-contact portion is
The first contact is disposed along the width direction of the first contact perpendicular to the direction in which the first contact extends, and protrudes toward the second contact when the connectors are fitted together A plurality of protrusions formed by the protruding process of the first contact ,
The plurality of protrusions have a shape in which an amount of protrusion increases from a central portion in the width direction of the first contact toward both end portions in the width direction of the first contact .

Further, the protrusions are a pair and are disposed at both ends in the width direction of the first contact.
It may be a thing.

In addition, the main contact portion is disposed along the width direction of the first contact, which is orthogonal to the direction in which the first contact is extended, and the first contact at the time of fitting the connectors together A plurality of protrusions formed by crushing the first contact, protruding toward the second contact;
It may be a thing.

The protrusions are a pair.
It may be a thing.

Further, the protrusions are a pair, and are disposed at both ends in the width direction of the first contact,
The plurality of protrusions of the main contact portion are positioned between the pair of protrusions when the sub contact portion is viewed from the main contact portion with the main contact portion facing the sub contact portion. doing,
It may be a thing.

The second contact is formed with a groove for guiding the protrusion to a predetermined position at a position facing the protrusion when the connectors are fitted to each other.
It may be a thing.

  The sub-contact portion of the first contact includes a plurality of protruding portions that are formed by protruding the first contact and protrude toward the second contact when the connectors are fitted to each other. This extrusion process is simpler than the press process. Therefore, according to the electrical connector of the present invention, contact reliability between contacts is high, and an increase in manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

It is a perspective view of the electric connector of the fitting state concerning an embodiment of the invention. (A) is a front view of the electric connector of a fitting state, (b) is sectional drawing in the AA of (a). (A) is a top view (top view) of a receptacle connector, (b) is a bottom view of a receptacle connector. (A) is a front view of a receptacle connector, (b) is sectional drawing in the BB line of (a). It is the perspective view seen from the 1st direction of the contact for receptacles. It is the perspective view seen from the 2nd direction of the contact for receptacles. It is a top view (top view) of the receptacle contact. (A) is the perspective view seen from the 1st direction of the plug connector, (b) is the perspective view seen from the 2nd direction of the plug connector. It is a perspective view of the contact for plugs. (A) is a side view of the electrical connector before fitting a plug connector with a receptacle connector, (b) is sectional drawing in CC line of (a).

  Hereinafter, an electrical connector 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, an orthogonal coordinate system in which the short direction of the electrical connector 10 is the x-axis direction, the longitudinal direction is the y-axis direction, and the height direction is the z-axis direction is set and referred to as appropriate. The arrow direction of each axis is indicated by + (plus), and the opposite direction is indicated by-(minus).

  As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 1, the electrical connector 10 includes a receptacle connector 20 and a plug connector 40 that is fitted to the receptacle connector 20. The receptacle connector 20 includes a receptacle contact 21 that is soldered to an electrode of a circuit board with low flexibility, for example.

  The plug connector 40 includes a plug contact 41 that is soldered to an electrode of a flexible substrate having high flexibility, for example. The receptacle contact 21 and the plug contact 41 are plate-like conductors.

  In the electrical connector 10, when the receptacle connector 20 and the plug connector 40 are fitted, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2B (cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2A), the receptacle contact 21. And the plug contact 41 come into contact with each other. Therefore, when the receptacle connector 20 and the plug connector 40 are fitted, the circuit board wiring connected to the receptacle contact 21 and the flexible board wiring connected to the plug contact 41 are electrically connected. .

  The receptacle connector 20 includes a receptacle housing 22 having a substantially rectangular outer frame 23 as shown in a plan view (top view) in FIG. 3A and a bottom view in FIG. 3B. The receptacle housing 22 is made of, for example, an insulating resin. The receptacle housing 22 is disposed on the xy plane.

  As shown in the plan view (top view) of FIG. 3A, the receptacle housing 22 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped portion 24 that is integrally formed in a region surrounded by the outer frame 23. Further, the receptacle housing 22 has a plate-like bottom portion 25 disposed between the outer frame 23 and the rectangular portion 24.

  The receptacle housing 22 forms a groove-shaped inner space SP with the outer wall 24 a of the rectangular portion 24, the bottom portion 25, and the inner wall 23 a of the outer frame 23. A part of a plug housing 42 described later of the plug connector 40 is disposed in the internal space SP.

  Also, in the receptacle connector 20, metal plates 26 are embedded at both ends in the longitudinal direction (y-axis direction) of the receptacle housing 22. As shown in the bottom view of FIG. 3B, the metal plate 26 has an end portion 26a on the substrate surface side. By soldering the end 26a to the electrode of the circuit board, the receptacle connector 20 is firmly mounted on the circuit board.

  Further, the receptacle connector 20 includes the receptacle contact 21 described above. The receptacle contact 21 is a plate-like conductor (for example, a copper alloy) having one end extending toward the outside of the receptacle housing 22 through the outer wall 24a, the bottom portion 25, and the inner wall 23a of the outer frame 23. Flat plate material, etc.).

  Further, the receptacle contact 21 is formed from the outer wall 24a of the rectangular portion 24 to the inside as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4B (cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 4A) and the perspective view of FIG. A main contact portion 21a projecting toward the space SP is provided.

  The receptacle contact 21 includes a sub-contact portion 21b disposed along the inner wall 23a of the outer frame 23 so as to face the main contact portion 21a. Further, the receptacle contact 21 includes a connecting portion 21c that connects the main contact portion 21a and the sub contact portion 21b.

  With the above-described configuration, the receptacle contact 21 is, for example, a main contact when the connectors are fitted together as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2B (cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2A). The U-shaped portion of the plug contact 41 is sandwiched between the portion 21a and the sub contact portion 21b.

  As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2B (cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2A) and the perspective view of FIG. 5, the main contact portion 21a extends in the direction in which the receptacle contact 21 extends ( A pair of protrusions arranged along the width direction (y-axis direction) of the receptacle contact 21 orthogonal to the x-axis direction) and projecting toward the plug contact 41 when the connectors are fitted to each other 21a1.

  The protrusion 21 a 1 is formed by crushing the receptacle contact 21. Specifically, the protrusion 21a1 is formed by pressing a mold against the main contact portion 21a of the receptacle contact 21 and plastically deforming a part of the receptacle contact 21 in the −x direction, for example. . In this crushing process, a pair of protrusions 21 a 1 is formed on the receptacle contact 21.

  By forming the pair of protrusions 21a1 on the main contact portion 21a, the main contact portion 21a can have two locations that contact the plug contact 41 when the connectors are fitted together. Therefore, according to the electrical connector 10, the protrusion 21 a 1 and the plug contact 41 are in contact with each other even when the contacts are displaced from each other or when dust is caught around the main contact portion 21 a when the connectors are fitted together. Therefore, the connection reliability between the contacts is increased.

  The sub-contact portion 21b that holds the U-shaped portion of the plug contact 41 together with the main contact portion 21a when the connectors are fitted together is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2B (a line AA in FIG. 2A). And a perspective view of FIG. 6, along the width direction (y-axis direction) of the receptacle contact 21, which is orthogonal to the direction in which the receptacle contact 21 is extended (x-axis direction). A pair of projecting portions 21b1 that are disposed and project toward the plug contact 41 when the connectors are fitted to each other are provided. Specifically, the sub-contact portion 21b includes a pair of protruding portions 21b1 at both ends in the width direction (y-axis direction) of the receptacle contact 21.

  The protruding portion 21b1 is formed by protruding the receptacle contact 21. Specifically, the protruding portion 21b1 is such that a convex mold is momentarily pressed against the surface of the receptacle contact 21 opposite to the surface on which the protruding portion 21b1 is molded, and a part of the receptacle contact 21 is For example, it is molded by plastic deformation in the + x direction.

  The protrusion 21b1 has the largest protrusion in the + x direction, for example, at both ends in the width direction of the receptacle contact 21, and the protrusion in the + x direction, for example, is the least at the center part in the width direction of the receptacle contact 21.

  That is, the protruding portion 21b1 has a shape in which, for example, the protrusion in the + x direction increases from the central portion in the width direction of the receptacle contact 21 toward both end portions in the width direction of the receptacle contact 21. Therefore, the pair of projecting portions 21b1 can be held so as to sandwich the plug contact 41 when the connectors are fitted to each other.

  The extrusion process described above for forming the pair of protrusions 21b1 has a simpler manufacturing process than the press process employed in the conventional product.

  Further, by forming the pair of protruding portions 21b1 on the sub-contact portion 21b, the sub-contact portion 21b can have two locations that contact the plug contact 41 when the connectors are fitted to each other. Therefore, according to the electrical connector 10, the protrusion 21b1 and the plug contact 41 are in contact with each other even when the contacts are displaced from each other or when dust is caught around the sub-contact portion 21b. Therefore, the connection reliability between the contacts is increased.

  Further, as shown in the plan view (top view) of FIG. 7, the outer end portions 21b11 of the pair of projecting portions 21b1 are connected to the main contact portion from the sub contact portion 21b with the sub contact portion 21b facing the main contact portion 21a. When 21a is seen, it is located outside the pair of protrusions 21a1.

  In other words, the pair of protrusions 21a1 is located between the pair of protrusions 21b1 when the main contact 21a is viewed from the main contact 21a with the main contact 21a facing the sub contact 21b. .

  For this reason, when the connectors are fitted to each other, the pair of protrusions 21b1 are held by the pair of protrusions 21a1 positioned between the pair of protrusions 21b1 so as to sandwich the plug contact 41 therebetween. Can be contacted. Therefore, even when a force that causes a shift between the contacts acts on the pair of protrusions 21b1 when the connectors are fitted to each other, the plug contact 41 can be brought into contact with the pair of protrusions 21a1 by the holding force.

  Further, as described above, the protrusion 21a1 and the protrusion 21b1 are each made of a pair, so that the number of locations in contact with the plug contact 41 can be two. Therefore, according to the electrical connector 10, when the connectors are fitted to each other, the protrusion 21a1 and the plug are plugged even when the contacts are displaced, or when dust is caught around the main contact 21a or the sub contact 21b. The contact for contact 41 contacts, and the protrusion 21b1 and the contact for plug 41 contact. Therefore, the connection reliability between contacts is increased.

  The receptacle contact 21 provided with the protrusion 21a1 and the protrusion 21b1 described above and the plug contact 41 that abuts when the connectors are fitted to each other are disposed on the plug connector 40. As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 8A and the perspective view of FIG. 8B, the plug connector 40 includes a plug housing 42.

  The plug housing 42 is made of, for example, an insulating resin. The plug housing 42 is disposed on the xy plane. The plug housing 42 has an accommodating frame 43 that is accommodated in the internal space SP of the receptacle housing 22.

  A plug contact 41 is attached so as to cover the wall surface of the housing frame 43 in the short direction of the wall surface of the housing frame 43. One end of the plug contact 41 extends toward the outside of the plug housing 42.

  In the plug contact 41, as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 8B and the perspective view of FIG. 9, a groove 41a is formed at a position facing the protruding portion 21b1 when the connectors are fitted together. When the connectors are fitted to each other, the protruding portion 21b1 comes into contact with a region where the groove 41a is formed (a region recessed from the periphery).

  The groove 41a becomes an obstacle to the movement of the protruding portion 21b1 to the outside of the groove 41a when a force for releasing the fitting is applied between the connectors. Thereby, the groove | channel 41a fulfill | performs the function which prevents a fitting cancellation | release, when the force which cancels a fitting is applied between connectors. Therefore, according to the electrical connector 10, even if a force that can release the fitting between the connectors and is not intended to be released is applied to the connectors fitted by the operator, for example, the fitting can be maintained.

  Further, as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 8A and the perspective view of FIG. 8B, the plug connector 40 has metal plates 44 at both ends in the longitudinal direction (y-axis direction) of the plug contact 41. Embedded. The metal plate 44 has an end portion 44a on the substrate surface side. By soldering the end 44a to the electrode of the circuit board, the plug connector 40 is firmly mounted on the circuit board.

  When fitting the plug connector 40 and the receptacle connector 20 described above, the operator can view the front view of FIG. 10A and the cross-sectional view of FIG. 10B (the cross-section taken along the line CC in FIG. 10A). As shown in the figure, the plug connector 40 is opposed to the receptacle connector 20.

  Then, the operator fits the plug connector 40 and the receptacle connector 20 by fitting the plug housing 42 into the receptacle housing 22. When the receptacle connector 20 and the plug connector 40 are fitted, as shown in FIG. 2B (a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2A), the main contact portion 21a and the sub contact portion 21b are The U-shaped portion of the plug contact 41 is clamped.

  As a result, the plug contact 41 and the receptacle contact 21 come into contact with each other. Therefore, for example, the wiring of the flexible board connected to the plug contact 41 and the wiring of the circuit board, for example, connected to the receptacle contact 21 are electrically connected.

  As described above, according to the electrical connector 10 of the present embodiment, the sub-contact portion 21b of the plug contact 41 has the plug contact 41 protruding toward the plug contact 41 when the connectors are fitted to each other. A pair of protrusions 21b1 formed by extrusion processing is provided.

  This extrusion process has a simpler manufacturing process than the press process employed in conventional products. Therefore, according to the electrical connector 10 of the present embodiment, the contact reliability between the contacts is high, and an increase in manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

  Moreover, in the electrical connector 10 of this Embodiment, since the projection part 21a1 and the protrusion part 21b1 consist of a pair, respectively, the location which contacts the contact 41 for plugs can be made into two places. Therefore, according to the electrical connector 10, the protrusion 21a1 and the plug can be connected to each other even when the contacts are displaced or the dust is caught around the main contact 21a or the sub contact 21b when the connectors are fitted together. The contact for contact 41 contacts, and the protrusion 21b1 and the contact for plug 41 contact. Therefore, the connection reliability between contacts is increased.

  Further, in the electrical connector 10 of the present embodiment, the pair of protrusions 21a1 has a pair of protrusions when the main contact 21a is viewed from the main contact 21a with the main contact 21a facing the sub contact 21b. It is located between the parts 21b1.

  For this reason, when the connectors are fitted to each other, the pair of protrusions 21b1 are held by the pair of protrusions 21a1 positioned between the pair of protrusions 21b1 so as to sandwich the plug contact 41 therebetween. Can be contacted. Therefore, according to the electrical connector 10 of the present embodiment, the pair of protrusions 21b1 can be connected to the plug contact by the holding force even when a force that causes a shift between the contacts is applied when the connectors are fitted to each other. 41 can be brought into contact with the pair of protrusions 21a1.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible.

  In the electrical connector 10 according to the above-described embodiment, the number of the protrusions 21a1 formed on the main contact portion 21a is one, that is, two, but is not limited thereto. There may be three or more protrusions 21a1.

  Further, in the electrical connector 10 of the above-described embodiment, the protrusions 21b1 formed on the sub-contact part 21b are a pair, that is, two, but this is not a limitation. There may be three or more protruding portions 21b1.

  When, for example, a plurality of protrusions 21a1 are formed on the main contact part 21a and two protrusions 21b1 are formed on the sub-contact part 21b, the positional relationship between the protrusions 21a1 and the protrusions 21b1 is set as follows, for example: You may do it.

  That is, when the main contact portion 21a is viewed from the sub contact portion 21b with the sub contact portion 21b facing the main contact portion 21a, the pair of protrusion portions 21a1 positioned on the outermost side of the plurality of protrusion portions 21a1. Further, the protrusion 21a1 and the protrusion 21b1 may be arranged so that the outer ends 21b11 of the pair of protrusions 21b1 are located further outside.

  Various embodiments and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present invention. The above-described embodiments are for explaining the present invention and do not limit the scope of the present invention. In other words, the scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of claims, not the embodiment described above. Various modifications within the scope of the claims and within the scope of the equivalent invention are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electrical connector, 20 Receptacle connector, 21 Receptacle contact, 21a Main contact part, 21a1 Projection part, 21b Sub contact part, 21b1 Projection part, 21b11 Outer end part, 21c Connection part, 22 Receptacle housing, 23 Outer frame, 23a Inner wall, 24 rectangular part, 24a outer wall, 25 bottom part, 26 metal plate, 26a, 44a end, 40 plug connector, 41 plug contact, 41a groove, 42 plug housing, 43 housing frame, 44 metal plate, SP internal space .

Claims (6)

An outer frame, a rectangular parallelepiped portion disposed in a region surrounded by the outer frame, a plate-shaped bottom portion disposed between the outer frame and the rectangular portion, and an outer wall of the rectangular portion; the first insulating housing to form a groove-shaped inner space between the inner wall of the outer frame and the bottom portion, and the outer wall of the rectangular portion, the bottom portion, and run down the inside wall of the outer frame, the first housing A first connector having a first contact that is a plate-like conductor and having one end extending toward the outside of the first connector;
An insulating second housing having an accommodation frame accommodated in the internal space of the first housing, and attached to cover the wall surface of the accommodation frame, with one end extending toward the outside of the second housing. A second connector having a second contact that is a plate-like conductor,
An electrical connector for electrically connecting the first contact and the second contact by fitting the first housing and the second housing,
The first contact is:
A main contact portion projecting from the outer wall of the rectangular portion toward the internal space;
A sub-contact portion disposed along the inner wall of the outer frame, facing the main contact portion,
The main contact portion and the sub contact portion are configured to sandwich the second contact attached to cover the wall surface of the housing frame when the connectors are fitted together,
The sub-contact portion is
The first contact is disposed along the width direction of the first contact perpendicular to the direction in which the first contact extends, and protrudes toward the second contact when the connectors are fitted together A plurality of protrusions formed by the protruding process of the first contact ,
The plurality of protrusions have a shape in which a protruding amount increases from a central portion in the width direction of the first contact toward both end portions in the width direction of the first contact.
Electrical connector. The protrusions are a pair, and are disposed at both ends in the width direction of the first contact.
The electrical connector according to claim 1. The main contact portion is disposed along the width direction of the first contact, which is orthogonal to the direction in which the first contact is extended, and the second contact when the connectors are fitted to each other. Protruding toward the contact, comprising a plurality of protrusions formed by crushing the first contact,
The electrical connector according to claim 1. The protrusions are a pair.
The electrical connector according to claim 3. The protrusions are a pair, and are disposed at both ends in the width direction of the first contact,
The plurality of protrusions of the main contact portion are positioned between the pair of protrusions when the sub contact portion is viewed from the main contact portion with the main contact portion facing the sub contact portion. doing,
The electrical connector according to claim 3. In the second contact, a groove for guiding the protruding portion to a predetermined position is formed at a position facing the protruding portion when the connectors are fitted to each other.
The electrical connector according to claim 1.

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