JP7315340B2 - Movable connector and connector assembly - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to movable connectors and connector assemblies.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a movable connector (1) described in Patent Document 1 is known as a movable connector.

This movable connector (1) comprises a fixed housing (3) fixed to a substrate, a movable housing (4) relatively movable with respect to the fixed housing (3), and terminals (5). The terminals (5) span the fixed housing (3) and the movable housing (4), and are arranged in two rows along the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the movable connector. The movable housing (4) moves relative to the fixed housing (3) by deforming the movable portion (5c) of each terminal (5). Also, the elastic arm (5e2) of each terminal (5) presses against the mating terminal (2a) of the mating connector (2) from the lateral direction (Y direction) of the movable connector.

JP 2017-220431 A

By the way, the mating contact portions of the mating connector (meaning the portions of the mating terminals that come into contact with the terminals of the movable connector) are arranged in two rows along the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the movable connector, like the terminals of the movable connector. However, the distance in the Y direction between the mating contact portions arranged in two rows is affected by manufacturing tolerances and is not always constant. When an error occurs in the Y-direction spacing of the mating contact portions, the amount of displacement of the elastic arm of the terminal that is in pressure contact with the mating contact portion in the Y direction is also affected.

Therefore, for example, as in the movable connector described above, if the contact portion has a pair of elastic arms that sandwich the mating contact portion from the Y direction, there is a risk that only one of the elastic arms will be largely displaced while the other elastic arm will move away from the mating contact portion. Further, if the contact portion has an elastic arm that contacts the mating contact portion from only one side in the Y direction, there is a risk that the elastic arm cannot contact the mating contact portion and cannot be conductively connected.

As described above, in the movable connector described above, if there is an error in the spacing in the first direction (Y direction, i.e., the press contact direction) between the mating contact portions arranged at different positions in the first direction (Y direction), there is a risk that the press contact state between the mating terminal and the terminal of the movable connector will be adversely affected by the error.

The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above. In other words, it is an object of the present invention to provide a movable connector and a connector assembly having excellent connection reliability, in which a plurality of mating contact portions arranged at different positions in a first direction of a connecting mating connector are provided with a plurality of terminals which are press-contacted in the first direction, and which can ensure an appropriate press-contact state even if an error occurs in the spacing between the plurality of mating contact portions in the first direction.

A movable connector according to a first aspect includes a fixed housing fixed to a substrate, a first movable housing relatively movable with respect to the fixed housing, a second movable housing arranged side by side with the first movable housing in the first direction out of the first direction and the second direction, which are directions in a plane perpendicular to a mating direction and perpendicular to each other, and relatively movable with respect to the fixed housing, a fixed side held portion held by the fixed housing, a movable side held portion held by the first movable housing, the fixed side held portion and the movable side cover. A movable connector comprising: a first side terminal having a deformable deformable portion positioned between holding portions and a contact portion that moves relative to the fixed housing by deformation of the deformable portion; a fixed-side held portion held by the fixed housing; a movable-side held portion held by the second movable housing; a deformable deformable portion positioned between the fixed-side held portion and the movable-side held portion; The contact portion of the second terminal is configured to come into contact with the first side mating contact portion from the first direction, the contact portion of the second side terminal is configured to come into contact with the second side mating contact portion arranged at a position different in the first direction from the first side mating contact portion from the first direction, and the first movable housing and the second movable housing are relatively movable so as to change the mutual spacing in the first direction.
In addition, the "fitting direction" in the present disclosure means the direction in which the mating connector is connected to the movable connector, and for example, the downward direction in the embodiments described later corresponds to the "fitting direction".

In this aspect, the movable connector includes a fixed housing fixed to the substrate, a first movable housing relatively movable with respect to the fixed housing, and a second movable housing relatively movable with respect to the fixed housing. The second movable housing is arranged side by side with the first movable housing in a first direction of a first direction and a second direction, which are directions in a plane perpendicular to the fitting direction and perpendicular to each other.

Also, the movable connector includes a first side terminal and a second side terminal. The first side terminal has a fixed-side held portion held by the fixed housing, a movable-side held portion held by the first movable housing, a deformable portion positioned between the fixed-side held portion and the movable-side held portion, and a contact portion that moves relative to the fixed housing by deformation of the deformable portion. The second-side terminal has a fixed-side held portion held by the fixed housing, a movable-side held portion held by the second movable housing, a deformable portion positioned between the fixed-side held portion and the movable-side held portion, and a contact portion that moves relative to the fixed housing by deformation of the deformable portion.
Therefore, for example, even if the connection partner moves relative to the board in the connected state, the first movable housing and the second movable housing move relative to the fixed housing, so that the connected state can be maintained satisfactorily.

Furthermore, in this aspect, the first movable housing and the second movable housing are relatively movable so as to change the mutual spacing in the first direction.
Therefore, even if an error occurs in the distance in the first direction between the first side mating contact portion and the second side mating contact portion (hereinafter referred to as the "mating side distance"), the first movable housing and the second movable housing move relative to each other to change the distance between them in the first direction, so that the distance in the first direction between the contact portion of the first side terminal and the contact portion of the second side terminal can be changed according to the mating side distance including the error.

As described above, according to this aspect, in the movable connector provided with a plurality of terminals which press-contact from the first direction with respect to a plurality of mating contact portions arranged at different positions in the first direction provided by the mating connector, it is possible to provide a movable connector excellent in connection reliability capable of ensuring an appropriate pressing contact state even if an error occurs in the spacing between the plurality of mating contact portions in the first direction.

If the movable-side held portion of the first-side terminal and the movable-side held portion of the second-side terminal are held by a single movable housing, the molding accuracy of the movable housing and the assembly accuracy of the first-side terminal and the second-side terminal with respect to the movable housing may affect the distance between the contact portion of the first-side terminal and the contact portion of the second-side terminal, which may adversely affect the pressing contact state. The above aspect also solves such a problem.

In the movable connector according to the second aspect, in the first aspect, the first movable housing and the second movable housing are relatively movable in both directions in which the mutual distance in the first direction narrows and widens.

In this aspect, the first movable housing and the second movable housing are relatively movable in both directions in which the mutual distance in the first direction narrows and widens. Therefore, it is possible to absorb the difference whether the mating distance is longer or shorter than the distance in the first direction between the contact portion of the first side terminal and the contact portion of the second side terminal (the distance when the first side terminal and the second side terminal are in the free state).

In a movable connector according to a third aspect, in the first or second aspect, the fixed-side held portion of the first-side terminal is arranged on one side in the first direction with respect to the movable-side held portion of the first-side terminal, and the fixed-side held portion of the second-side terminal is arranged on the other side in the first direction with respect to the movable-side held portion of the second-side terminal.

In this aspect, the fixed-side held portion of the first-side terminal is arranged on one side in the first direction with respect to the movable-side held portion of the first-side terminal, and the fixed-side held portion of the second-side terminal is arranged on the other side in the first direction with respect to the movable-side held portion of the second-side terminal. Therefore, the size of the movable connector can be reduced in the second direction.

In the movable connector according to a fourth aspect, in any one of the first to third aspects, a plurality of the first side terminals are arranged along the second direction, and a plurality of the second side terminals are arranged along the second direction.

According to this aspect, when the plurality of mating contact portions are arranged with their respective smooth surfaces facing the first direction (row-to-row direction), the contact portions of the first side terminal and the second side terminal can be brought into pressing contact with the smooth surfaces of the mating contact portions.

A movable connector according to a fifth aspect is a movable connector according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the first movable housing has an upward abutment portion that abuts against another member to limit the movement range of the first movable housing in the withdrawal direction, the second movable housing has an upward abutment portion that limits the movement range of the second movable housing in the withdrawal direction by abutment against another member, the first movable housing and the second movable housing are arranged adjacent to each other in the first direction, and the first movable housing is arranged adjacent to each other in the first direction. the upward contact portion of the movable housing is formed only on a portion of the first movable housing adjacent to the second movable housing;
The upward abutting portion of the second movable housing is formed only on a portion of the second movable housing adjacent to the first movable housing.
In addition, the "removal direction" in the present disclosure means the direction in which the connection of the mating connector with respect to the movable connector is released, that is, the direction opposite to the "fitting direction". For example, the upward direction in the embodiments described later corresponds to the "withdrawal direction".

In this aspect, the first movable housing has an upward contact portion that limits the movement range of the first movable housing in the removal direction by coming into contact with another member, and the second movable housing has an upward contact portion that limits the movement range of the second movable housing in the removal direction by coming into contact with another member. The first movable housing and the second movable housing are arranged adjacent to each other in the first direction, the upward contact portion of the first movable housing is formed only on a portion of the first movable housing adjacent to the second movable housing, and the upward contact portion of the second movable housing is formed only on a portion of the second movable housing adjacent to the first movable housing.
Therefore, by forming an upward restricting portion (another member) that abuts against the upward abutting portion at one location near the first movable housing and the second movable housing, it is possible to limit the upward movement range of both the first movable housing and the second movable housing. In addition, it is possible to reduce the dimension of the upward restricting portion in the row-to-row direction while maintaining the movement range in the row-to-row direction of the first movable housing and the second movable housing.

A connector assembly according to a sixth aspect is a connector assembly having a connection partner and a movable connector connected to the connection partner, wherein the connection partner is a first side mating terminal having a first side mating contact portion, a second side mating terminal having a second side mating contact portion disposed at a position different from the first side mating contact portion in the first direction out of first and second directions which are directions in a plane perpendicular to the mating direction and perpendicular to each other, the first side mating terminal and the second side mating terminal. a first movable housing that is relatively movable with respect to the fixed housing; a second movable housing that is arranged side by side with the first movable housing in the first direction and is relatively movable with respect to the fixed housing; a fixed side held portion held by the fixed housing; a movable side held portion held by the first movable housing; a first side terminal having a contact portion that moves relative to the fixed housing by deformation; a fixed side held portion that is held by the fixed housing; a movable side held portion that is held by the second movable housing; a deformable portion positioned between the fixed side held portion and the movable side held portion; The contact portion of the second side terminal is configured to come into contact with the second side mating contact portion arranged at a position different in the first direction from the first side mating contact portion from the first direction, and the first movable housing and the second movable housing are relatively movable so as to change the distance between them in the first direction.

In this aspect, the first movable housing and the second movable housing are relatively movable so as to change the mutual spacing in the first direction. Therefore, even if an error occurs in the mating distance, the first movable housing and the second movable housing move relative to each other to change the mutual spacing in the first direction, so that the distance in the first direction between the contact portion of the first side terminal and the contact portion of the second side terminal can be changed according to the mating distance including the error.
In addition, the term "connector assembly" in the present disclosure does not mean that the connection partner and the movable connector are connected. An unconnected connection partner and a movable connector also correspond to the "connector assembly".

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a movable connector and a connector assembly which are excellent in connection reliability and which can ensure an appropriate pressed contact state even if an error occurs in the first direction spacing between the plurality of mating contact portions, in a movable connector including a plurality of terminals which are pressed into contact with a plurality of mating contact portions arranged at different positions in the first direction.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a movable connector; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a movable connector; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a fixed housing; It is a perspective view of a front side movable housing. It is a perspective view of a rear side movable housing. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a plurality of terminals; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the connector assembly in a connected state; It is a perspective view of a connection partner. 4 is a perspective view of a front terminal; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a rear terminal; FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a movable connector; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the movable connector (a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the Y direction); FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a connection partner (a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the Y direction); FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view (a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the Y direction) of the connector assembly in a connected state; FIG. 4 is a side view of the connector assembly in a connected state (viewed from the Y direction); It is a perspective view (view seen from diagonally below) of the front side movable housing.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

For convenience of explanation, the arrow X in each figure is the front side of the connector in the front-rear direction, the arrow Y is the left side in the left-right direction of the connector, and the arrow Z is the upper side in the up-down direction of the connector. In the following description, when simply referring to front/rear, left/right, and up/down directions, the front/rear, left/right, and up/down directions of the connector are used. These directions do not limit the directions in use. Further, in each drawing, reference numerals may be omitted for the purpose of making the drawings easier to read.

FIG. 7 shows the connector assembly S of this embodiment in a connected state. The connector assembly S includes a connection counterpart 60 (see FIG. 8) and a movable connector 10 (FIG. 1) connected to the connection counterpart 60. As shown in FIG.

(Connection partner)
As shown in FIG. 8, the mating connection 60 includes a mating housing 80 and a plurality of mating terminals 70A and 70B. A plurality of mating terminals 70A and 70B are held in a single mating housing 80. As shown in FIG. The mating housing 80 is, for example, a synthetic resin molding. The mating terminals 70A and 70B are held by the mating housing 80 by press-fitting or by insert molding.

The plurality of mating terminals 70A and 70B are arranged in front and rear two rows along the left-right direction. That is, the plurality of mating terminals 70A and 70B are arranged with the left-right direction as the pitch direction and the front-rear direction as the row-to-row direction. Thus, the plurality of mating terminals 70A and 70B are composed of a plurality of front side mating terminals 70A (“first side mating terminals”) arranged in the pitch direction on one side (front side) in the inter-row direction, and a plurality of rear side mating terminals 70B (“second side mating terminals”) arranged in the pitch direction on the other side in the inter-row direction (rear side).
The plurality of mating terminals 70A and 70B have the same structure. Therefore, the front mating terminal 70A and the rear mating terminal 70B have the same structure. Hereinafter, when the mating terminal 70 is simply referred to, it refers to both the front mating terminal 70A and the rear mating terminal 70B.

As shown in FIG. 14, the lower portions of the mating terminals 70A, 70B come into contact with the terminals 20A, 20B of the movable connector 10. As shown in FIG. Portions of the mating terminals 70A and 70B that come into contact with the terminals 20 of the movable connector 10 (lower portions in this embodiment) are referred to as mating contact portions 75A and 75B (see FIG. 13).

The mating terminals 70A and 70B are manufactured by punching a plate material. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the mating terminal 70 has a smooth surface 71 forming a flat surface of the plate material and a cut surface 72 formed by punching. As shown in FIG. 11, each of the mating contact portions 75A and 75B of the plurality of mating terminals 70 is arranged with the smooth surface 71 facing in the row-to-row direction. Therefore, the smooth surface 71 of the mating terminal 70 comes into contact with the terminal 20 of the movable connector 10 (see FIG. 14).

(movable connector)
A movable connector 10 is shown in FIGS.

The movable connector 10 includes a fixed housing 30 fixed to a substrate 91 (see FIG. 12), and movable housings 40A and 40B movable relative to the fixed housing 30. As shown in FIG.
The fixed housing 30 is fixed to the substrate 91 via the fixture 50 and the terminals 20A and 20B. The movable housings 40A and 40B are composed of a front side movable housing 40A (“first movable housing”) and a rear side movable housing 40B (“second movable housing”) which are arranged so as to be relatively movable with respect to the fixed housing 30 .

(Terminal)
The movable connector 10 has a plurality of terminals 20A, 20B (see FIG. 6).
The plurality of terminals 20A and 20B are composed of a front side terminal 20A ("first side terminal") held by the front side movable housing 40A and a rear side terminal 20B ("second side terminal") held by the rear side movable housing 40B. A plurality of front terminals 20A and rear terminals 20B are provided, and in this embodiment, the same number (10) are provided. As shown in FIG. 14, the front terminal 20A contacts the front mating terminal 70A, and the rear terminal 20B contacts the rear mating terminal 70B.

Both the front terminals 20A and the rear terminals 20B are held in a single fixed housing 30. As shown in FIG. Therefore, the front terminals 20A bridge the fixed housing 30 and the front movable housing 40A, and the rear terminals 20B bridge the fixed housing 30 and the rear movable housing 40B.

The plurality of terminals 20A and 20B have the same structure. Therefore, the front terminals 20A and the rear terminals 20B have the same structure. Hereinafter, when simply referring to the terminal 20, it refers to both the front terminal 20A and the rear terminal 20B.

10 and 9, the terminal 20 has a fixed-side held portion 22 held by the fixed housing 30, movable-side held portions 25A and 26B held by the movable housings 40A and 40B, and elastically deformable deformable portions 23 and 24 between the fixed-side held portion 22 and the movable-side held portions 25A and 26B. Deformation of the deformable portions 23 and 24 of the front terminal 20A allows relative movement of the front movable housing 40A with respect to the fixed housing 30, and deformation of the deformable portions 23 and 24 of the rear terminal 20B allows relative movement of the rear movable housing 40B with respect to the fixed housing 30.

The terminal 20 has a board fixing portion 21 fixed to the board 91 by soldering or the like. The board fixing portion 21 is connected to an electric circuit formed on the board 91 . As a result, the terminals 20A and 20B and the circuit of the substrate 91 are connected. Further, by fixing the board fixing portion 21 to the board 91, the fixed housing 30 is fixed to the board 91 via the terminals 20A and 20B.

The terminal 20 has contact portions 25B, 26D, and 27B that contact a mating terminal 70 of a mating connection 60 . The contact portions 25B, 26D, and 27B are located on the side of the movable held portions 25A and 26B with respect to the deformation portions 23 and 24, and move relative to the substrate 91 and the fixed housing 30 as the deformation portions 23 and 24 deform.

The terminal 20 has a substrate fixing portion 21, a fixed side held portion 22, deformation portions 23 and 24, movable side held portions 25A and 26B, and contact portions 25B, 26D and 27B in this order from one end side to the other end side.

The terminal 20 is manufactured by punching or bending a plate material.

As shown in FIG. 6, the plurality of front terminals 20A are arranged side by side in the pitch direction while facing the same direction. The plurality of rear terminals 20B are also arranged side by side in the pitch direction while facing the same direction. On the other hand, the front terminals 20A and the rear terminals 20B are arranged facing different directions. Specifically, the front terminal 20A and the rear terminal 20B are arranged with their contact portions 25B, 26D, and 27B opposed to each other. In other words, the front terminal 20A has the contact portions 25B, 26D, and 27B directed toward the center in the row direction, and the fixed side held portions 22 and the substrate fixing portions 21 directed outward in the row direction.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 9, the board fixing portion 21 has its plate thickness direction directed vertically. The board fixing portion 21 extends from the outer side to the inner side in the row-to-row direction from one end side to the other end side. The other end side of the substrate fixing portion 21 is connected to the fixed side held portion 22 via a curved portion bent in the plate thickness direction.

The plate thickness direction of the fixed-side held portion 22 is oriented in the row-to-row direction. A projection is formed on the outside in the width direction of the fixed-side held portion 22 . The fixed-side held portion 22 is held by the fixed housing 30 by the projection biting into the fixed housing 30 . The fixed-side held portion 22 is assembled to the fixed housing 30 from the lower side toward the upper side.

The deformation portions 23 and 24 are configured to include a peak portion 23 having a curved portion 23B bent in the plate thickness direction so that the upward direction is convex. The peak portion 23 is composed of a first straight portion 23A, a curved portion 23B, and a second straight portion 23C. From one end side to the other end side, the first straight portion 23A extends obliquely upward (upward and inward in the row-to-row direction), and the second straight portion 23C extends downward. A curved portion is formed between the first straight portion 23A and the fixed-side held portion 22 so as to be bent in the plate thickness direction.
Moreover, the deformation portions 23 and 24 are configured to include a valley portion 24 that connects the peak portion 23 and the inner movable side held portion 25A. The valley portion 24 is composed of a curved portion 24A, a third straight portion 24B, a curved portion 24C, and a fourth straight portion 24D. From one end side to the other end side, the third straight portion 24B extends inward in the row-to-row direction, and the fourth straight portion 24D extends upward.

The plate thickness direction of the movable-side held portions 25A and 26B faces the row-to-row direction. The movable-side held portions 25A and 26B extend upward from one end to the other end. Projections are formed on both sides in the width direction of the movable-side held portions 25A and 26B. The movable-side held portions 25A and 26B are held by the movable housing 40 by the protrusions biting into the front-side movable housing 40A or the rear-side movable housing 40B. The movable-side held portions 25A and 26B are assembled to the front-side movable housing 40A or the rear-side movable housing 40B from the bottom to the top.

The contact portions 25B, 26D, and 27B are configured to press and contact the mating terminal 70 from both sides. Specifically, the contact portions 25B, 26D, and 27B have inner contact portions 25B that contact the mating terminals 70 from the inside in the row direction, and outer contact portions 26D and 27B that contact the mating terminals 70 from the outside in the row direction.

The inner contact portion 25B is formed at a position extending upward from the inner movable side held portion 25A without passing through the curved portion. In other words, the inner movable side held portion 25A and the inner contact portion 25B are positioned on the same plane (the plane perpendicular to the inter-row direction). In other words, the terminal 20 has a substantially flat flat plate portion 25. The flat plate portion 25 functions as an inner movable side held portion 25A that is held by the movable housing 40, and also functions as an inner contact portion 25B that contacts the mating terminal 70 from the inside in the row-to-row direction.

The outer contact portions 26D and 27B have two contact portions arranged side by side in the fitting direction (vertical direction). That is, the terminal 20 has a first outer contact portion 26D on the near side in the fitting direction and a second outer contact portion 27B on the far side in the fitting direction. The first outer contact portion 26D is formed as part of the first arm portion 26 extending from one side in the width direction of the flat plate portion 25, and the second outer contact portion 27B is formed as part of the second arm portion 27 extending from the other side in the width direction of the flat plate portion 25. The position where the first arm portion 26 extends from the flat plate portion 25 is below the position where the second arm portion 27 extends from the flat plate portion 25 . The position where the first arm portion 26 extends and the position where the second arm portion 27 extends are both above the inner movable side held portion 25A. The second arm portion 27 has an elastic arm portion 27A that elastically supports the second outer contact portion 27B (see FIG. 10).

The first arm portion 26 is formed with an outer movable side held portion 26B. Therefore, the movable-side held portions 25A and 26B are composed of an inner movable-side held portion 25A formed as part of the flat plate portion 25 and an outer movable-side held portion 26B formed as part of the first arm portion 26. Further, the first arm portion 26 has a connecting portion 26A that connects the outer movable side held portion 26B of the first arm portion 26 and the flat plate portion 25 .

The first outer contact portion 26D is connected to the outer movable side held portion 26B via an elastic arm portion 26C. The second outer contact portion 27B is located inside the elastic arm portion 26C of the first arm portion 26 in the row-to-row direction.

(fixed housing)
The fixed housing 30 has restricting portions (“inter-row direction outer restricting portion”, “pitch direction restricting portion” and “upward restricting portion”) that restrict the range of movement of the movable housings 40A and 40B in the row direction outer side, the pitch direction both sides, and the upward direction by coming into contact with the movable housings 40A and 40B.

As shown in FIG. 3, the fixed housing 30 includes a front portion 30A extending in the left-right direction at the front portion of the connector, a rear portion 30B extending in the left-right direction at the rear portion of the connector, a left portion 30C extending in the front-rear direction at the left side of the connector, and a right portion 30D extending in the front-rear direction at the right side of the connector. As a result, the fixed housing 30 has a rectangular frame shape in plan view, and as shown in FIG. 11, the front movable housing 40A and the rear movable housing 40B are arranged within the frame.

The fixed housing 30 has a terminal holding portion (not shown) that holds the fixed side held portion 22 of the terminals 20A and 20B. The terminal holding portion holds the terminals 20A and 20B by press-fitting the fixed side held portion 22 of the terminals 20A and 20B. Terminal holding portions are formed in the front portion 30A and the rear portion 30B.

The fixed housing 30 has a terminal protection portion 31 that partially protects the terminals 20 . The terminal protection portions 31 are formed on the front portion 30A and the rear portion 30B of the fixed housing 30. As shown in FIG. The terminal protection portion 31 includes front and rear walls 31A, an upper wall 31B, left and right walls 31D, and oblique walls 31C.
As shown in FIG. 12 , the front and rear walls 31A are arranged with the wall thickness direction facing the front and rear direction, and on the outer side in the row-to-row direction with respect to the deformable portions 23 of the terminals 20 . The upper wall 31</b>B is arranged above the deformation portion 23 of the terminal 20 with the wall thickness direction directed vertically. The oblique wall 31C has its thickness direction oriented obliquely in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction. The oblique wall 31C connects the upper ends of the front and rear walls 31A and the row-to-row direction outer ends of the upper wall 31B. The left and right walls 31</b>D face the left-right direction (pitch direction) in the wall thickness direction, and are arranged outside the deformed portions 23 of the plurality of terminals 20 in the pitch direction. The left and right walls 31D are connected to the pitch direction outer ends of the front and rear walls 31A, the top wall 31B, and the oblique wall 31C.

The row-to-row direction inner end 31B1 (see FIG. 3) of the upper wall 31B is located inside the row-to-row direction of the peaks 23 of the terminals 20A and 20B (see FIG. 12).

The row-to-row direction inner end 31B1 of the upper wall 31B extends linearly parallel to the left-right direction (pitch direction). The row-to-row direction inner ends 31D1 of the left and right walls 31D extend linearly in parallel with the vertical direction. The row-to-row direction inner end 31B1 of the upper wall 31B and the row-to-row direction inner end 31D1 of the left and right walls 31D are aligned in the row-to-row direction.
The row-to-row direction inner end 31B1 of the upper wall 31B and the row-to-row direction inner end 31D1 of the left and right walls 31D contact the movable housing 40, thereby limiting the range of movement of the movable housing 40 in the row-to-row direction. That is, the upper wall 31B and the left and right walls 31D of the terminal protection portion 31 function as "inter-row direction outer restricting portions".

As described above, the fixed housing 30 has an “upward control portion” that abuts against the movable housing 40 to limit the upward movement range of the movable housing 40 .
The "upward control portion" is formed on the left portion 30C and the right portion 30D of the fixed housing 30, respectively. The right portion 30D and the left portion 30C of the fixed housing 30 are formed with recessed portions 32 whose lower surfaces are recessed upward, and the top surface 32T (see FIG. 15) of the recessed portion 32 functions as an "upward control portion." A top surface 32T of the recess 32 is a flat surface with the normal direction directed downward.

As shown in FIG. 11, the right portion 30D and the left portion 30C of the fixed housing 30 protrude inward in the pitch direction at the front-rear center portion thereof. This projecting portion is called an inner projecting portion 33 . As shown in FIG. 15, the lower surface of the inner projecting portion 33 is flush with the top surface 32T of the recess 32 (so-called flush). Further, as shown in FIG. 11 , the pitch-direction inner side surface of the inner projection 33 functions as a “pitch-direction restricting portion” that limits the movement range of the movable housing 40 in the pitch direction by coming into contact with the movable housing 40 . The pitch-direction inner side surface of the inner protruding portion 33 is a flat plane whose normal direction is the pitch-direction inner side.

The fixed housing 30 has a plurality of pillars 34 formed inside the terminal protection portion 31 (see FIGS. 3 and 12). The column portion 34 protrudes inward in the row-to-row direction from the front and rear walls 31A and the oblique wall 31C of the terminal protection portion 31 . Each column portion 34 is positioned between the fixed side held portions 22 of the adjacent terminals 20 , and the fixed side held portion 22 is press-fitted between the column portions 34 . The multiple pillars 34 also function to reinforce the terminal protection portion 31 of the stationary housing 30 .

The fixed housing 30 has bosses 35 for positioning when fixed to the substrate 91 (see FIGS. 3 and 12). The bosses 35 are formed on the left portion 30C and the right portion 30D, and positioned outside in the row-to-row direction with respect to the recessed portions 32 of the left portion 30C and the right portion 30D.

The fixed housing 30 has a fixture holder 36 that holds the fixture 50 (see FIG. 3). The fixture holders 36 are provided at four corners of the fixed housing 30 in a plan view, for a total of four. The position of the fixture holding portion 36 overlaps with the recess portion 32 in the pitch direction.

In this embodiment, an example in which the terminal protection portion 31 functions as the "inter-row direction regulating portion" has been described, but the front and rear surfaces 32U (see FIG. 15) of the recess 32 may function as the "inter-row direction regulating portion". For example, it can be realized by narrowing the dimension of the recessed portions 32 in the row-to-row direction, or widening the front-to-rear interval between the front and rear terminal protection portions 31 .

(movable housing)
The front movable housing 40A (see FIG. 4) and the rear movable housing 40B (see FIG. 5) have the same structure. When simply referring to the movable housing 40, it refers to both the front movable housing 40A and the rear movable housing 40B.

The movable housing 40 is, for example, a synthetic resin molding.

As shown in FIG. 12, the movable housing 40 has a through hole (reference numeral omitted) in which a part of the terminal 20 is accommodated. A plurality of through holes are formed, and one through hole corresponds to one terminal 20 . The through hole is open upward, and this portion serves as an insertion opening 48 into which the mating terminal 70 is inserted.

The moving range of the movable housing 40 is limited by abutting on other members. That is, the movable housing 40 has an "inter-row direction outer contact part" that limits the range of movement of the movable housing 40 to the outer side in the inter-row direction by contacting another member, an "inter-row direction inner contact part" that limits the range of inner movement of the movable housing 40 in the inter-row direction by contacting another member, a "pitch direction contact part" that limits the range of movement of the movable housing 40 in the pitch direction by contacting another member, and an upward movement range of the movable housing 40 by contacting another member. and a “downward contact portion” that limits the downward movement range of the movable housing 40 by coming into contact with another member.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the movable housing 40 has a main body portion 41 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape and a protruding portion 42 protruding from the main body portion 41 in the horizontal direction.

The plurality of through holes described above are formed so as to penetrate the main body portion 41 in the vertical direction.
The body portion 41 has an upper surface 41T, an inter-row direction outer side surface 41S, an inter-row direction inner side surface 41U, and a pair of pitch direction outer side surfaces 41P. The upper surface 41T is a plane with the normal direction upward, the inter-row direction outer side surface 41S is a plane with the normal direction facing outward in the inter-row direction, the inter-row direction inner side surface 41U is a plane with the normal direction facing inward in the inter-row direction, and the pitch direction outer side surface 41P is a plane with the normal direction facing outward in the pitch direction.

The row-to-row direction outer side surface 41S of the main body portion 41 abuts against the fixed housing 30, thereby functioning as an "row-to-row direction outer contact portion." When the pitch direction outer side surface 41P of the main body portion 41 abuts against the fixed housing 30, it functions as a "pitch direction abutting portion." The inter-row direction inner side surface 41U of the main body portion 41 abuts against the adjacent main body portion 41 of the movable housing 40, thereby functioning as an "inter-row direction inner contact portion".
As described above, the body portion 41 of the movable housing 40 functions as a contact portion that limits the movement range of the movable housing 40 in the horizontal direction (in this embodiment, the direction along the surface of the substrate 91) by coming into contact with other members.

As shown in FIG. 15, the upper surface 42T of the protruding portion 42 functions as an "upward contact portion". The upper surface 42T of the projecting portion 42 is a plane with the normal direction directed upward. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the protruding portion 42 protrudes outward in the pitch direction from the pitch direction outer side surface 41</b>P of the main body portion 41 . Therefore, the projecting portion 42 is located outside the "pitch direction contact portion" in the pitch direction.

The position where the protruding portion 42 protrudes is the lower end portion of the pitch direction outer side surface 41P and the row-to-row direction inner end portion. The front-to-rear dimension (the dimension in the row-to-row direction) of the projecting portion 42 is smaller than the front-to-rear dimension of the movable housing 40 as a whole. The row-to-row direction inner end of the projecting portion 42 and the row-to-row direction inner end of the entire movable housing 40 are aligned in the row-to-row direction.

As shown in FIG. 16 , the main body 41 includes a pair of pitch direction outer wall portions 43 forming the pitch direction outer side surfaces 41P, an inter-row direction outer wall portion 44 forming the inter-row direction outer side surfaces 41S, and an inter-row direction inner wall portion 45 forming the inter-row direction inner side surfaces 41U. The main body portion 41 includes a plurality of partition walls 46 that partition a space surrounded by the pitch direction outer wall portion 43, the row direction outer wall portion 44, and the row direction inner wall portion 45 in the pitch direction.

A lower surface 43U of the pitch direction outer wall portion 43 is a plane with the normal direction directed downward. A lower surface 43U of the pitch direction outer wall portion 43 is formed with a raised portion 43U1 that protrudes downward. This raised portion 43U1 is referred to as a "downward contact portion". A plurality of (four in this embodiment) protrusions 43U1 are formed on one movable housing 40 . The plurality of protruding portions 43U1 are configured including two protruding portions 43U1 arranged in the row-to-row direction. Specifically, two raised portions 43U1 spaced apart in the row-to-row direction are formed on the lower surface 43U of one pitch direction outer wall portion 43, and two raised portions 43U1 spaced apart in the row-to-row direction are also formed on the lower surface 43U of the other pitch direction outer wall portion 43. When viewed from the pitch direction as shown in FIG. 12, the insertion shafts of the mating terminals 70 (hereinafter referred to as "mating insertion shafts 49A and 49B") are located between two raised portions 43U1 spaced apart in the row-to-row direction.

As shown in FIG. 16 , the row-direction outer wall portion 44, the row-direction inner wall portion 45, and the lower surfaces of the plurality of partition walls 46 are formed at a position higher than the lower surface 43U of the pitch-direction outer wall portion 43, and do not function as a “downward contact portion” that contacts the substrate 91. Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the lower surface 43U of the pitch direction outer wall portion 43 and the lower surface 42U of the protruding portion 42 are so-called flush and positioned on the same plane.

The row-to-row direction inner side surface 41U of (the main body portion 41 of) the front movable housing 40A and the row-to-row direction inner side surface 41U of (the main body portion 41 of) the rear side movable housing 40B face each other in the row-to-row direction. Therefore, when one of the movable housings 40 moves inward in the inter-row direction, the inter-row direction inner side surface 41U of one movable housing 40 contacts the inter-row direction inner side surface 41U of the other movable housing 40 . As can be seen from FIG. 12, the distance (variable distance D2) between the mating insertion shaft 49A of the front movable housing 40A and the mating insertion shaft 49B of the rear movable housing 40B in the row direction (variable distance D2) takes a minimum value when the row direction inner side surfaces 41U, 41U are in contact with each other. This minimum value is smaller than the desired value (design value) of the distance between the front mating terminal 70A and the rear mating terminal 70B (mating distance D1, see FIG. 13). Therefore, even when the distance (mating distance D1) between the front mating terminal 70A and the rear mating terminal 70B becomes smaller than the set value due to manufacturing tolerance, the front movable housing 40A and the rear movable housing 40B approach each other in the row-to-row direction, thereby absorbing the manufacturing tolerance. The difference between the minimum value of the variable distance D2 and the design value of the mating distance D1 is set to, for example, 0.2 mm or less (preferably 0.15 mm or less), as long as the manufacturing tolerance can be absorbed. By reducing the difference between the minimum value of the variable distance D2 and the design value of the mating distance D1, it is possible to suppress an increase in the dimension of the movable connector 10 in the row-to-row direction.

The movable housing 40 also has a terminal holding portion (reference numerals omitted) that holds the movable side held portions 25A and 26B of the terminal 20 . The terminal holding portion holds the movable side held portions 25A and 26B by press-fitting the movable side held portions 25A and 26B of the terminals 20A and 20B. The terminal holding portion is formed inside the above-described through hole.

The movable housing 40 also has an insertion opening 48 into which the mating terminal 70 is inserted. The insertion port 48 is formed so as to vertically penetrate the upper wall of the main body portion 41 of the movable housing 40 . The mating terminal 70 passes through the insertion opening 48 and reaches the contact portions 25B, 26D and 27B of the terminals 20A and 20B. A plurality of insertion openings 48 are formed in two front and rear rows along the pitch direction.

The movable housing 40 has a guide surface 48R that guides the mating terminal 70. As shown in FIG. A guiding surface 48R is formed in the insertion port 48. As shown in FIG. The guide surface 48R is formed so that the size of the insertion opening 48 gradually widens toward the outside (upper side) of the insertion opening 48 . The guide surface 48R functions to guide the positions of the mating terminals 70 in the row-to-row direction and the pitch direction with respect to the movable housing 40 to appropriate positions.

The shape of the insertion opening 48 is a rectangle (specifically, a square) with each side directed in the row-to-row direction and the pitch direction in a plan view, and the guide surface 48R is composed of four surfaces whose normal directions are different from each other (see FIG. 11).

<Effect>
Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described.

In this embodiment, the movable connector 10 includes a fixed housing 30 fixed to the substrate 91, a front movable housing 40A movable relative to the fixed housing 30, and a rear movable housing 40B movable relative to the fixed housing 30. The rear movable housing 40B is arranged side by side with the front movable housing 40A in a first direction (X direction) and a second direction (Y direction), which are directions within a plane (XY plane) orthogonal to the fitting direction (±Z direction) and are perpendicular to each other.

The movable connector 10 also includes a front terminal 20A and a rear terminal 20B. The front terminal 20A has a fixed-side held portion 22 held by the fixed housing 30, movable-side held portions 25A and 26B held by the front-side movable housing 40A, deformable portions 23 and 24 positioned between the fixed-side held portion 22 and the movable-side held portions 25A and 26B, and contact portions 25B, 26D, and 27B that move relative to the fixed housing 30 as the deformable portions 23 and 24 deform. The rear terminal 20B has a fixed-side held portion 22 held by the fixed housing 30, movable-side held portions 25A and 26B held by the rear-side movable housing 40B, deformable portions 23 and 24 positioned between the fixed-side held portion 22 and the movable-side held portions 25A and 26B, and contact portions 25B, 26D, and 27B that move relative to the fixed housing 30 as the deformable portions 23 and 24 deform.
Therefore, for example, even if the connection counterpart 60 moves relative to the substrate 91 in the connected state, the front movable housing 40A and the rear movable housing 40B move relative to the fixed housing 30, so that the connected state can be maintained satisfactorily.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the front side movable housing 40A and the rear side movable housing 40B are relatively movable so as to change the mutual spacing in the first direction (X direction).
Therefore, even if an error occurs in the distance in the first direction (X direction) between the front mating contact portion 75A and the rear mating contact portion 75B ("mating distance D1", see FIG. 13), the front movable housing 40A and the rear movable housing 40B move relative to each other to change the distance between them in the first direction (X direction). The distance (“variable distance D2”, see FIG. 12) in the first direction (X direction) of the contact portions 25B, 26D, and 27B of the side terminal 20B can be changed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the movable connector 10 having a plurality of terminals 20 which press-contact from the first direction (X direction) with respect to the plurality of mating contact portions 75A and 75B arranged at different positions in the first direction (X direction) of the connection mating portion 60, even if an error occurs in the first direction spacing (“mating side distance D1”, see FIG. 13) between the plurality of mating contact portions 75A and 75B, an appropriate pressing contact state can be ensured.

Further, in the present embodiment, the front movable housing 40A and the rear movable housing 40B are relatively movable in both directions in which the distance between them in the first direction (X direction) narrows and widens. Specifically, as can be seen from FIG. 12, a gap C1 is formed between the front movable housing 40A and the rear movable housing 40B. Therefore, whether the mating distance D1 is longer or shorter than the initial value of the variable distance D2 in the first direction (X direction) between the contact portions 25B, 26D, and 27B of the front terminal 20A and the contact portions 25B, 26D, and 27B of the rear terminal 20B (the distance when the front terminal 20A and the rear terminal 20B are in the free state) can be absorbed.
In particular, in this embodiment, the minimum value of the variable distance D2 is smaller than the set value of the counterpart distance D1. Therefore, even if the mating distance D1 becomes smaller than the set value due to manufacturing tolerances or the like, the variable distance D2 can be changed according to the mating distance D1 that is smaller than the set value.

Further, in this embodiment, the variable distance D2 (initial value of the variable distance D2) when both the front terminal 20A and the rear terminal 20B are in the free state is substantially the same as the set value of the mating distance D1 (see FIG. 15). Therefore, the connection between the movable connector 10 and the connection counterpart 60 is smooth. It should be noted that the "substantially" in the above-mentioned "substantially the same" means that ±3% is allowed as an error.

Also, in this embodiment, the difference between the minimum value of the variable distance D2 and the set value of the counterpart distance D1 (hereinafter referred to as "the difference between the set value and the minimum value") is small. Therefore, it is easier to reduce the size of the movable connector 10 in the first direction (X direction) compared to the case where the difference between the set value and the minimum value is large.
The difference (C1 in this embodiment) between the set value of the mating distance D1 and the minimum value of the variable distance D2 is, for example, ⅛ or less, more preferably 1/10 or less, of the movement range (C1+2×C2) in the first direction (X direction) of the movable housing 40.
However, if the difference between the set value and the minimum value is too small, the manufacturing tolerance of the mating distance D1 cannot be absorbed, so the difference between the set value and the minimum value is preferably 0.10 mm or more, for example.
In the present embodiment, the set value of the mating distance D1 and the initial value of the variable distance D2 (the value when the terminal 20 is in the free state) are substantially the same.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9 and the like, the fixed side held portion 22 of the front terminal 20A is arranged on one side (+X side) in the first direction with respect to the movable side held portions 25A and 26B of the front terminal 20A, and the fixed side held portion 22 of the rear terminal 20B is arranged on the other side (−X side) in the first direction with respect to the movable side held portions 25A and 26B of the rear terminal 20B. Therefore, the size of the movable connector 10 can be reduced in the second direction (Y direction).
In particular, when a plurality of front terminals 20A and rear terminals 20B are arranged side by side in the second direction (Y direction) as in the present embodiment, it is easy to narrow the distance between the terminals arranged in the second direction (Y direction).

Further, in this embodiment, the "upward contact portion" of the front movable housing 40A is formed only in a portion of the front movable housing 40A on the rear movable housing 40B side, and the "upward contact portion" of the rear movable housing 40B is formed only in a portion of the rear movable housing 40B on the front movable housing 40A side. Therefore, by forming the "upward restricting portion" that abuts against the "upward abutting portion" at one location near the center of the movable connector 10 in the first direction (inter-row direction), it is possible to limit the upward movement range of both the front movable housing 40A and the rear movable housing 40B. Further, for this reason, it is possible to reduce the dimension of the "upward regulation portion" in the direction between rows (in the present embodiment, the dimension of the depressions 32 in the direction between rows, see FIG. 15) while maintaining the range of movement of the movable housing 40 in the direction between rows.

Further, in the present embodiment, the front terminal protection portion 31 for protecting the deformed portion 23 of the front terminal 20A is arranged on the front side of the front movable housing 40A, and the rear terminal protection portion 31 for protecting the deformed portion 23 of the rear terminal 20B is arranged on the rear side of the rear movable housing 40B. The terminal protection portion 31 on the front side functions as an "inter-row direction outer restricting portion" that limits the movement range of the front side (one side in the inter-row direction) of the front movable housing 40A.
Therefore, the position of the "inter-row direction outer restricting portion" is at a high position, and tilting of the posture of the movable housing 40 can be effectively suppressed.

[Supplementary explanation of the above embodiment]
In the above embodiment, when the terminal 20 is understood to be a member extending from one end side to the other end side, the movable side held portion and the contact portion of the terminal 20 are formed in separate portions. However, the "terminal" of the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the movable side held portion and the contact portion may be the same portion. In other words, the terminal may be configured such that a portion of the terminal is held by the movable housing and contacts the mating contact portion.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the terminal 20 is integrated is shown, but the "terminal" of the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the "terminal" may be formed by separately forming the substrate fixing portion and the fixed side held portion, and the deformation portion, the movable side held portion and the contact portion, and connecting the two.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example in which the terminal 20 has the elastic arm portion 26C that supports the contact portion (the first outer contact portion 26D) has been described, but the “terminal” of the present disclosure is not limited to this, and may not have an elastic arm portion that supports the contact portion.

Also, the setting value of the partner-side distance D1 is typically a value appearing in the design drawing of the connection partner 60 . However, the set value of the mating distance D1 can also be estimated from the average value of the distances in the first direction between the center axes of the plurality of front mating terminals 70A and the center axes of the plurality of rear mating terminals 70B.

In the above embodiment, an example in which both the front terminals 20A and the rear terminals 20B are held by the single fixed housing 30 has been described. However, the "fixed housing" of the present disclosure is not limited to this, and may be a fixed housing that is divided as in Patent Document 1, for example.

10 movable connector 20A front side terminal (first side terminal)
20B rear terminal (second terminal)
22 fixed side held parts 23, 24 deformation parts 25A, 26B movable side held parts 25B, 26D, 27B contact part 30 fixed housing 40A front side movable housing (first movable housing)
40B rear movable housing (second movable housing)
42 Protruding portion 42T Upper surface (upward contact portion)
60 Connection counterpart 70A Front side counterpart terminal (first side counterpart terminal)
70B rear mating terminal (second mating terminal)
75A front side mating contact portion (first side mating contact portion)
75B rear mating contact portion (second mating contact portion)
80 mating housing 91 substrate S connector assembly

Claims (5)

A connector assembly having a connection partner and a movable connector connected to the connection partner,
The connection partner is
a first side mating terminal having a first side mating contact portion;
a second side mating terminal having a second side mating contact portion disposed at a position different from the first side mating contact portion in the first direction out of a first direction and a second direction which are directions in a plane orthogonal to the fitting direction and are perpendicular to each other;
a single mating housing that holds the first side mating terminal and the second side mating terminal;
The movable connector is
a fixed housing fixed to the substrate;
a first movable housing movable relative to the fixed housing;
a second movable housing arranged in parallel with the first movable housing in the first direction and movable relative to the fixed housing;
a first side terminal having a fixed-side held portion held by the fixed housing, a movable-side held portion held by the first movable housing, a deformable portion positioned between the fixed-side held portion and the movable-side held portion, and a contact portion that moves relative to the fixed housing by the deformation of the deformable portion;
a fixed-side held portion held by the fixed housing, a movable-side held portion held by the second movable housing, a deformable deformable portion positioned between the fixed-side held portion and the movable-side held portion, and a second side terminal having a contact portion that moves relative to the fixed housing by deformation of the deformable portion,
The contact portion of the first side terminal is configured to contact the first side mating contact portion from the first direction,
The contact portion of the second side terminal is configured to contact from the first direction with a second side mating contact portion arranged at a position different from the first side mating contact portion in the first direction,
The first movable housing and the second movable housing are relatively movable so as to change the mutual spacing in the first direction.
connector assembly. The first movable housing and the second movable housing are relatively movable in both directions in which the distance between them in the first direction narrows and widens.
A connector assembly according to claim 1. the fixed-side held portion of the first-side terminal is arranged on one side in the first direction with respect to the movable-side held portion of the first-side terminal;
The fixed-side held portion of the second-side terminal is arranged on the other side in the first direction with respect to the movable-side held portion of the second-side terminal,
3. A connector assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2. A plurality of the first side terminals are arranged along the second direction,
A plurality of the second side terminals are arranged along the second direction,
The connector assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3. the first movable housing has an upward abutment portion that abuts on another member to limit the range of movement of the first movable housing in the withdrawal direction;
the second movable housing has an upward abutment portion that abuts against another member to limit the range of movement of the second movable housing in the removal direction;
the first movable housing and the second movable housing are arranged adjacent to each other in the first direction;
the upward contact portion of the first movable housing is formed only on a portion of the first movable housing adjacent to the second movable housing;
The upward contact portion of the second movable housing is formed only on a portion of the second movable housing adjacent to the first movable housing,
A connector assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4.