JP7348060B2 - Connector and connection method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a connector and a connection method, and particularly to a connector connected to a flexible conductor.

As a connector connected to a flexible conductor, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a connector as shown in FIG. 47. This connector includes contacts 2 and a base member 3 arranged on both sides of a flexible substrate 1 with the flexible substrate 1 in between.

A flexible conductor 4 is exposed on the surface of the flexible substrate 1 facing the contact 2, and the contact 2 has a concave protrusion accommodating portion 5 formed to face the flexible conductor 4. A protrusion 6 that protrudes toward the back surface of the flexible substrate 1 is formed. When the protrusion 6 of the base member 3 is inserted into the protrusion accommodating portion 5 of the contact 2 together with the flexible substrate 1 with the flexible substrate 1 sandwiched therebetween so that the protrusion 6 is covered by the flexible substrate 1, the flexible substrate 1 is covered by the protrusion 6. The contact 2 is pressed against the inner surface of the protrusion accommodating portion 5, and the inner surface of the protrusion accommodating portion 5 contacts the flexible conductor 4 exposed on the surface of the flexible substrate 1 with a predetermined contact force, thereby causing the contact 2 to become a flexible conductor. 4.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-129244

However, when inserting the protrusion 6 of the base member 3 together with the flexible substrate 1 into the protrusion accommodating portion 5 of the contact 2, the flexible substrate 1 is inserted into the predetermined distance between the flexible conductor 4 and the inner surface of the protrusion accommodating portion 5 in the connected state. It receives a large contact force from the protrusion 6 and is inserted into the protrusion accommodating portion 5 while rubbing against the inner surface thereof. Therefore, the flexible conductor 4 disposed on the surface of the flexible substrate 1 may be damaged, and the reliability of the electrical connection between the flexible conductor 4 and the contacts 2 may be impaired.

This invention was made to solve these conventional problems, and provides a connector that can prevent damage to flexible conductors during connection and ensure reliability of electrical connection to flexible conductors. The purpose is to provide.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a connection method for electrically connecting a contact to a flexible conductor while preventing damage to the flexible conductor.

A first connector according to the present invention is a connector connected to a flexible conductor, and includes a push-in member having a protrusion, a support member disposed to contact a side surface of the protrusion, and a conductive material. a plug-type contact having a support member facing part facing the support member, a part of the flexible conductor is disposed between the support member and the support member facing part of the contact, and the side surface of the protrusion is inserted through the support member. The contact is electrically connected to the flexible conductor by pressing a portion of the flexible conductor against the support member facing portion of the contact.

The support member is elastically deformable and has a concave protrusion insertion portion into which the protrusion is inserted, and the side surface of the protrusion inserted into the protrusion insertion portion of the support member connects a part of the flexible conductor to the contact through the support member. It can be configured to be pressed against the supporting member opposing portion.
It is preferable that the contact has a concave support member accommodating portion in which the support member is accommodated, and the support member opposing portion is formed on the inner surface of the support member accommodator.
The support member includes a base portion facing the bottom of the support member storage portion when housed in the support member storage portion, and at least one elastic member having a cantilever shape connected to the base portion and extending along the inner surface of the support member storage portion. The at least one elastic piece is preferably arranged between the side surface of the protrusion and the part of the flexible conductor.

The at least one elastic piece has a conductor contact portion that contacts a part of the flexible conductor when the support member is accommodated in the support member accommodating portion of the contact and the protrusion is inserted into the protrusion insertion portion of the support member; It is preferable that the elastic piece has a protrusion contact part that is disposed at a different position from the conductor contact part in the longitudinal direction of the elastic piece along the inner surface of the housing part and that contacts the side surface of the protrusion.
Further, it is preferable that the outer dimension of the support member at the position where the conductor contact portion is arranged is smaller than the inner dimension of the support member accommodating portion.
In this case, the outer dimension of the support member at the position where the conductor contact portion is arranged can be smaller than the inner dimension of the support member accommodating portion minus the thickness of the flexible conductor.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the inner dimension of the support member at the position where the protrusion contact portion is arranged is smaller than the outer dimension of the protrusion.

The pushing member includes a base member having a plurality of protrusions, a portion of the plurality of flexible conductors is disposed between each of the plurality of support members and the inner surface of the support member accommodating portion of the plurality of contacts, and the plurality of protrusions , can be configured to be inserted into the protrusion insertion portions of a plurality of support members.

The contact has a cylindrical part and a flange formed at one end of the cylindrical part, and further includes a housing through which the cylindrical part of the contact passes and is formed with a contact through hole smaller than the flange. It is preferable that the contact be fixed to the base member by allowing the cylindrical portion of the contact to pass through the through hole and for the housing to be fixed to the base member so as to press the flange toward the base member.
Preferably, the housing is made of an insulating material.
Preferably, the housing has a mating connector accommodating portion in which a part of the mating connector is accommodated.
Preferably, the base member is made of an insulating material.

It includes a contact unit held by a contact insulator in a state where a plurality of contacts are arranged, the pushing member has one protrusion common to the plurality of contacts, and the support member has a cantilever corresponding to the plurality of contacts. It has a plurality of beam-shaped elastic pieces, and a part of the plurality of flexible conductors is arranged between the plurality of elastic pieces and the support member opposing parts of the plurality of contacts, and the side surface of the protrusion is connected through the plurality of elastic pieces. The plurality of contacts can be electrically connected to the plurality of flexible conductors by pressing a part of the plurality of flexible conductors against the supporting member facing portions of the plurality of contacts.
In this case, the plurality of flexible conductors extend along a predetermined arrangement surface, and some of the plurality of flexible conductors are bent in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement surface, and the plurality of elastic pieces are formed by the side surface of the protrusion. It is preferable that the support member be pressed against the support member facing portions of the plurality of contacts via the support member.

The contact unit includes a contact insulator in which a plurality of contacts are arranged, and the pushing member has one protrusion common to the plurality of contacts, and a pushing member that corresponds to the plurality of contacts and is located on the side of the protrusion. The support member has a plurality of projecting convex portions, and the support member is made of a part of a support sheet disposed between the contact unit and the pushing member, and a part of the plurality of flexible conductors is connected to a part of the support sheet and the plurality of flexible conductors. The plurality of convex parts are arranged between the contact and the supporting member facing part, and the plurality of convex parts press a part of the plurality of flexible conductors against the supporting member facing part of the plurality of contacts through a part of the support sheet, so that the plurality of contacts is connected. It can also be configured to be electrically connected to a plurality of flexible conductors.

In this case, the plurality of flexible conductors extend along a predetermined arrangement surface, the support member opposing portions of the plurality of contacts each have a planar conductor contact surface perpendicular to the arrangement surface, and the plurality of convex portions each has a flat pressing surface perpendicular to the arrangement surface, and some of the plurality of flexible conductors are bent in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement surface, and the pressing surfaces of the plurality of convex portions are bent in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement surface. It is preferable that the conductor contact surfaces of the support member facing portions of the plurality of contacts be pressed through a part of the support sheet.
Preferably, the support sheet has greater elasticity than the flexible conductor.
Alternatively, it is preferable that the support sheet has greater slidability with respect to the pushing member than the flexible conductor.
The contacts can have mating connector contact surfaces that are oriented in a direction opposite to the conductor contact surfaces and that contact contacts of a mating connector.

The flexible conductor can be configured to be independently arranged between the support member and the support member opposing portion.
Alternatively, the flexible conductor is arranged so as to be exposed on the surface of the insulating substrate body, and the flexible conductor is placed so that the flexible conductor faces the supporting member facing portion of the contact, and the flexible conductor is placed so that the back surface of the substrate body faces the supporting member. may be arranged between the support member and the support member facing portion .

The connection method according to the present invention is a connection method for connecting a plug-type contact to a flexible conductor, in which a part of the flexible conductor is disposed between a support member and a portion of the contact facing the support member, and a protrusion of a push-in member is provided. By bringing the side surface of the protrusion into contact with the support member, the side surface of the protrusion presses a part of the flexible conductor through the support member onto the part of the contact facing the support member, whereby the contact is electrically connected to the flexible conductor. .

A second connector according to the present invention is a connector that is connected to a flexible conductor extending along a predetermined arrangement surface, and includes a push-in member having a protrusion, and a push-in member made of a conductive material and extending perpendicularly to the arrangement surface. a contact having a planar conductor contact surface and a mating connector contact surface facing in a direction opposite to the conductor contact surface and contacting a contact of a mating connector, and a portion of the flexible conductor is arranged on the arrangement surface. The contact is placed between the protrusion and the conductor contact surface of the contact while being bent in a direction perpendicular to the flexible conductor. It is connected to

According to this invention, a part of the flexible conductor is disposed between the support member and the part of the contact facing the support member, and the side surface of the protrusion connects the part of the flexible conductor to the part of the contact facing the support member via the support member. Since the contact is electrically connected to the flexible conductor by pressing, it is possible to prevent damage to the flexible conductor during connection and ensure reliability of electrical connection to the flexible conductor.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the connector according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, viewed diagonally from above. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector according to the first embodiment, viewed diagonally from below. FIG. 2 is an assembly diagram of the connector according to the first embodiment, viewed diagonally from above. FIG. 2 is an assembly diagram of the connector according to the first embodiment, viewed diagonally from below. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a contact used in the connector according to the first embodiment, viewed diagonally from above. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a contact used in the connector according to Embodiment 1, viewed diagonally from below. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a pushing member used in the connector according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a support member used in the connector according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a support member used in the connector according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an assembly diagram showing a stage in which a flexible conductor is placed on a housing into which contacts are fitted; FIG. 7 is an assembly view of the support member accommodated in the support member accommodating portion of the contact. FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the support member is accommodated in the support member accommodating portion of the contact. FIG. 7 is an assembly diagram at a stage where the protrusion of the pushing member is inserted into the protrusion insertion portion of the support member. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a connector according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a push-in member used in a connector according to a modification of the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the connector according to the second embodiment, viewed diagonally from above. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the connector according to the second embodiment, viewed diagonally from below. FIG. 3 is a front view of a connector according to a second embodiment. FIG. 7 is an assembled view of the connector according to the second embodiment, viewed diagonally from above. FIG. 7 is an assembled view of the connector according to the second embodiment, viewed diagonally from below. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a contact unit used in the connector according to Embodiment 2, viewed diagonally from above. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a contact unit used in the connector according to Embodiment 2, viewed diagonally from below. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a contact unit used in a connector according to a second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a base member used in a connector according to a second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a support member used in the connector according to Embodiment 2, viewed diagonally from above. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a support member used in the connector according to Embodiment 2, viewed diagonally from below. FIG. 3 is an assembly view of the contact unit arranged on the flexible substrate, viewed diagonally from above. FIG. 2 is an assembly diagram of the contact unit arranged on the flexible substrate, viewed diagonally from below. FIG. 7 is an assembly view of the support member accommodated in the support member accommodating portion of the contact unit as viewed diagonally from below. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the support member is accommodated in the support member accommodating portion of the contact unit. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 18. FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the connector according to Embodiment 3, viewed diagonally from above. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the connector according to Embodiment 3, viewed diagonally from below. FIG. 7 is an assembled view of the connector according to Embodiment 3, viewed diagonally from above. FIG. 7 is an assembled view of the connector according to Embodiment 3, viewed diagonally from below. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a contact unit used in the connector according to Embodiment 3, viewed diagonally from above. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a contact unit used in the connector according to Embodiment 3, viewed diagonally from below. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a contact insulator constituting a contact unit used in a connector according to a third embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing contacts forming a contact unit used in a connector according to Embodiment 3; FIG. 7 is a side view showing contacts forming a contact unit used in a connector according to Embodiment 3; FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a base member used in a connector according to Embodiment 3; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the base member is aligned with the contact unit arranged on the flexible substrate. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the base member being pushed into the contact unit as seen diagonally from below. FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a connector according to Embodiment 3. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a state in which an electronic circuit module including a mating connector is aligned with a connector according to Embodiment 3, viewed diagonally from above. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a state in which an electronic circuit module including a mating connector is aligned with a connector according to Embodiment 3, viewed diagonally from below. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing contacts, protrusions, and a flexible substrate in a conventional connector.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the accompanying drawings.
Embodiment 1
1 and 2 show a connector 11 according to the first embodiment. The connector 11 is used, for example, as a clothing-side connector part for fitting a wearable device, and is connected to a plurality of flexible conductors 21.

The connector 11 includes a housing 12, four contacts 13, and a base member 14 that faces the housing 12 with four flexible conductors 21 in between. connected. The housing 12 has a recess 12A, and each of the contacts 13 protrudes within the recess 12A of the housing 12 perpendicularly to the planar bottom surface of the recess 12A.
As the flexible conductor 21, a band-shaped conductor made by twisting a plurality of conductive fibers is used.

Here, for convenience, the direction in which the bottom surface of the recess 12A of the housing 12 extends along the XY plane and the respective contacts 13 protrude will be referred to as the +Z direction.
Four flexible conductors 21 are arranged on the -Z direction side of the housing 12, and a base member 14 is arranged on the -Z direction side of the four flexible conductors 21.

3 and 4 show assembly diagrams of the connector 11. The housing 12 is made of an insulating material such as an insulating resin, and has four contact through holes 12B formed in a recess 12A that is open toward the +Z direction. The recess 12A constitutes a mating connector accommodating part in which a part of a mating connector (not shown) is accommodated. A contact 13 is inserted into each of the four contact through holes 12B. Further, two concave post accommodating portions 12D are formed on the surface 12C of the housing 12 facing the −Z direction and at locations outside the concave portion 12A in the XY direction.

Each of the four contacts 13 is a plug-type contact made of a conductive material such as metal, and when a part of the mating connector (not shown) is accommodated in the recess 12A of the housing 12, the mating connector is It is connected to the contact.
Four flexible conductors 21 are arranged on the -Z direction side of the housing 12, and four support members 15 are arranged on the -Z direction side of the four flexible conductors 21. Further, four pushing members 16 are arranged on the -Z direction side of the four supporting members 15.

The base member 14 is made of an insulating material such as an insulating resin, and has a flat plate portion 14A. Four pushing member recesses 14C corresponding to the four pushing members 16 are formed on the surface 14B of the flat plate portion 14A facing the +Z direction. Further, two housing fixing posts 14D are formed to protrude from the surface 14B of the flat plate portion 14A. These two housing fixing posts 14D correspond to the two concave post accommodating portions 12D of the housing 12.

Four contacts 13 inserted into four contact through-holes 12B of housing 12, bendable contact portions 21A arranged at one end of four flexible conductors 21, four support members 15, and four pushers. The member 16 and the four pushing member recesses 14C of the base member 14 are arranged at positions aligned with each other in the Z direction.
Further, the two post accommodating portions 12D of the housing 12 and the two housing fixing posts 14D of the base member 14 are arranged in positions that are aligned with each other in the Z direction.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the contact 13 includes a cylindrical protrusion 13A extending in the Z direction, and a disc-shaped contact extending along the XY plane from the -Z direction end of the protrusion 13A. It has a side flange 13B. A concave supporting member accommodating portion 13C that is open toward the −Z direction is formed inside the protruding portion 13A. That is, the contact side flange 13B is formed so as to surround the open end of the support member accommodating portion 13C. The support member accommodating portion 13C has an inner diameter D1, and a support member facing portion E facing the support member 15 is formed by the inner surface of the support member accommodating portion 13C.
Such a contact 13 can be manufactured by, for example, pressing, cutting, drawing, or the like.

The contact through hole 12B of the housing 12 has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the protrusion 13A of the contact 13 and smaller than the outer diameter of the contact side flange 13B, and as shown in FIG. The protruding portion 13A of the contact 13 penetrates the contact through hole 12B and protrudes into the recess 12A of the housing 12, and as shown in FIG. It is exposed on the facing surface 12C.

As shown in FIG. 7, the pushing member 16 has a generally cylindrical projection 16A extending in the +Z direction, and a disk-shaped pushing member side flange 16B extending along the XY plane from the -Z direction end of the projection 16A. have. The protrusion 16A has an outer diameter D2.

As shown in FIG. 8, the support member 15 is housed in the support member accommodating portion 13C of the contact 13, is made of elastically deformable resin or metal, and has a central axis C1 extending in the Z direction. , has a base 15A disposed on the central axis C1, and four cantilever-shaped elastic pieces 15B connected to the base 15A and extending from the base 15A in the -Z direction substantially parallel to the central axis C1. The base 15A faces the bottom of the support member accommodating portion 13C in the Z direction when the support member 15 is accommodated in the support member accommodating portion 13C of the contact 13. The four elastic pieces 15B have the same shape, are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction around the central axis C1, and are arranged inside the four elastic pieces 15B in the −Z direction. An open concave projection insertion portion 15C is formed.

As shown in FIG. 9, each elastic piece 15B has an outer surface 15D facing away from the central axis C1 and an inner surface 15E facing away from the central axis C1. A conductor contact portion 15F is formed to bend and protrude in the direction of separation, and a protrusion contact portion 15G is formed on the inner surface 15E at the -Z direction end of the elastic piece 15B.

If the diameter of a circle drawn on the XY plane and centered around the central axis C1 and in contact with the outer surfaces 15D of the four elastic pieces 15B is defined as the outer diameter (outer dimension) of the support member 15, then the support member 15 has a maximum outer diameter D3 at the position in the Z direction where the conductor contact portion 15F is arranged, but the outer diameter D3 at the conductor contact portion 15F is flexible from the inner diameter D1 of the support member accommodating portion 13C of the contact 13. It is set smaller than the value obtained by subtracting the thickness of the conductor 21.
Furthermore, if the diameter of a circle drawn on the XY plane and centered on the central axis C1 and in contact with the inner surfaces 15E of the four elastic pieces 15B is defined as the inner diameter (inner dimension) of the support member 15, then the protrusion contact The inner diameter D4 of the support member 15 at the -Z direction end of the elastic piece 15B where the portion 15G is disposed is set smaller than the outer diameter D2 of the cylindrical projection 16A of the pusher member 16.

When connecting the connector 11 to the plurality of flexible conductors 21, first, the protrusions 13A of the four contacts 13 are inserted into the four contact through holes 12B of the housing 12. At this time, as shown in FIG. 10, the contact side flanges 13B of the four contacts 13 are exposed on the surface 12C of the housing 12 facing the -Z direction.
Next, the four flexible conductors 21 are arranged on the surface 12C of the housing 12 so that the contact portion 21A of the corresponding flexible conductor 21 is located above the concave support member accommodating portion 13C of each contact 13. .

In this state, as shown in FIG. 11, the corresponding support members 15 are inserted into the support member accommodating portions 13C of the four contacts 13 from the −Z direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12, the contact portion 21A of the flexible conductor 21 is bent in the +Z direction and inserted into the support member accommodating portion 13C of the contact 13 together with the support member 15, and the elastic piece 15B of the support member 15 is inserted into the support member accommodating portion 13C of the contact 13. It is arranged so as to be sandwiched between the outer surface 15D of the supporting member accommodating portion 13C and the supporting member facing portion E formed by the inner circumferential surface of the supporting member accommodating portion 13C.

Here, the support member 15 has a structure in which the thickness of the flexible conductor 21 is reduced from the inner diameter D1 of the support member accommodating portion 13C of the contact 13 even in the Z direction position where the conductor contact portion 15F having the maximum outer diameter D3 is arranged. Since the contact portion 21A of the flexible conductor 21 is set smaller than the value, the contact portion 21A of the flexible conductor 21 is smoothly inserted into the support member accommodating portion 13C without being rubbed by receiving a large force from the support member 15.

Note that the base 15A of the support member 15 inserted into the support member accommodating portion 13C of the contact 13 contacts the bottom at the +Z direction end of the support member accommodating portion 13C, so that almost the entire support member 15 is in the support member accommodating portion 13C. It is housed in 13C.

Furthermore, the protrusion 16A of the corresponding push-in member 16 is inserted from the -Z direction into the concave protrusion insertion part 15C of the support member 15 accommodated in the support member accommodating part 13C of each contact 13, and the side surface of the protrusion 16A is supported. Contact member 15. As a result, as shown in FIG. 13, the pushing member side flanges 16B of the corresponding pushing members 16 are arranged on the contact side flanges 13B of the four contacts 13.

Thereafter, the two housing fixing posts 14D of the base member 14 are inserted into the two post accommodating portions 12D of the housing 12, and the flexible conductor 21 is sandwiched between the -Z direction side surface 12C of the housing 12 and the base member. The housing 12 and the base member 14 are bonded to each other with an adhesive in a state where the surfaces 14B of the flat plate portions 14A facing the +Z direction face each other, and the connection of the connector 11 to the flexible conductor 21 is completed.

FIG. 14 shows the connector 11 connected to the flexible conductor 21 in this manner.
The inner diameter D4 of the support member 15 at the -Z direction end of the elastic piece 15B where the protrusion contact portion 15G is arranged is set smaller than the outer diameter D2 of the cylindrical protrusion 16A of the pusher member 16, so that the support member By inserting the protrusion 16A into the protrusion insertion part 15C of the support member 15, the four cantilever-shaped elastic pieces 15B of the support member 15 are pushed apart with their respective protrusion contact parts 15G coming into contact with the side surfaces of the protrusion 16A. It deforms elastically. As a result, among the four elastic pieces 15B, a force in the direction of pushing the conductor contact portion 15F of the elastic piece 15B facing the contact portion 21A of the flexible conductor 21 that is opposed to the contact portion 21A of the flexible conductor 21 is also applied, and the contact portion of the flexible conductor 21 is 21A receives a pressing force from the conductor contact portion 15F of the elastic piece 15B toward the inner circumferential surface of the support member accommodating portion 13C of the contact 13.

That is, the side surface of the protrusion 16A inserted into the protrusion insertion portion 15C of the support member 15 connects the contact portion 21A of the flexible conductor 21 to the support member facing portion E of the support member accommodating portion 13C of the contact 13 via the support member 15. It will be forced. As a result, the contact 13 is electrically connected to the flexible conductor 21.

Here, when the protrusion 16A of the pushing member 16 is inserted into the protrusion insertion part 15C of the support member 15, the inner surface of the protrusion insertion part 15C and the side surface of the protrusion 16A rub against each other, but the contact of the flexible conductor 21 The portion 21A is sandwiched between the outer surface 15D of the elastic piece 15B of the support member 15 and the inner circumferential surface of the support member accommodating portion 13C of the contact 13 and only receives a pressing force. There is no rubbing against either the outer surface 15D of the support member accommodating portion 13C or the inner circumferential surface of the support member accommodating portion 13C.

Note that the pushing member side flange 16B of the pushing member 16 is covered by the base member 14 from the −Z direction and is accommodated in the pushing member recess 14C formed on the surface 14B of the flat plate portion 14A of the base member 14. This prevents the protrusion 16A of the pushing member 16 from coming off the protrusion insertion portion 15C of the support member 15 in the −Z direction.

As described above, according to the connector 11 according to the first embodiment, even when the contact portion 21A of the flexible conductor 21 is inserted into the support member accommodating portion 13C of the contact 13 together with the support member 15, Even when the protrusion 16A of the push-in member 16 is inserted into the protrusion insertion portion 15C of the support member 15, the contact portion 21A of the flexible conductor 21 is not subjected to a large force and rubbed, and therefore the flexible conductor 21 is not damaged. This makes it possible to ensure the reliability of the electrical connection between the flexible conductor 21 and the contact 13.

Note that in the first embodiment described above, the connector 11 has four contacts 13, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to a connector having one or more contacts 13.

Further, in the first embodiment described above, the four pushing members 16 are arranged independently corresponding to the four contacts 13, and the base member 14 is arranged so as to cover the pushing member side flanges 16B of the four pushing members 16. is fixed to the housing 12, but as shown in FIG. 15, a base member 24 having four protrusions 16A protruding therein may be used instead of the base member 14 and the four push-in members 16. The four protrusions 16A are arranged at positions corresponding to the four contact through holes 12B of the housing 12. Further, the base member 24 is formed with two housing fixing posts 14D, similarly to the base member 14.

The corresponding support members 15 are inserted into the support member accommodating portions 13C of the four contacts 13 together with the contact portions 21A of the corresponding flexible conductors 21, so that the contact portions 21A of the flexible conductors 21 support the support members 15 and the contacts 13. The base member 24 is inserted into the housing 12 from the -Z direction while inserting the two housing fixing posts 14D into the two post accommodating parts 12D of the housing 12 while being sandwiched between the base member 24 and the member facing part E. is pushed towards.

As a result, the four protrusions 16A of the base member 24 are respectively inserted into the corresponding protrusion insertion portions 15C of the support member 15, and the four contacts 13 are electrically connected to the four flexible conductors 21, respectively.
By using the base member 24 from which the four protrusions 16A are formed, it is possible to more easily connect the connector 11 to the four flexible conductors 21.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the flexible conductor 21 is arranged independently between the support member 15 and the support member facing portion E of the contact 13 without being supported by, for example, an insulating substrate body. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the connector according to the present invention can also be connected to the flexible conductor 21 that is exposed and placed on the surface of the board body made of an insulating material. However, in order to electrically connect the contacts 13 to the flexible conductor 21, the flexible conductor 21 should face the support member facing portion E of the contact 13, and the back surface of the board body made of an insulating material should face the support member 15. In addition, the flexible conductor 21 needs to be disposed between the support member 15 and the support member facing portion E of the contact 13.

Embodiment 2
16 to 18 show a connector 31 according to the second embodiment. Like the connector 11 of the first embodiment, the connector 31 is used, for example, as a clothing-side connector part for fitting a wearable device, and is attached to the flexible substrate 41.

The connector 31 includes a contact unit 51 arranged on the surface of a flexible substrate 41 and having a plurality of contacts 33, and a base member 34 facing the contact unit 51 with the flexible substrate 41 in between.

The flexible board 41 has a sheet-like board main body 42 made of an insulating material, which extends along the arrangement surface with the XY plane as the arrangement surface, and the board main body 42 has a surface 42A facing the +Z direction, and a - It has a back surface 42B facing the Z direction. A plurality of flexible conductors 43 are arranged in an exposed state on the surface 42A of the substrate body 42. The plurality of flexible conductors 43 are, for example, band-shaped or thread-shaped conductors made of conductive fibers, and extend in the X direction and are arranged in parallel to each other in the Y direction.
Further, the flexible conductor 43 can also be formed from a conductive paste applied onto the surface 42A of the substrate body 42 by printing or the like.

The contact unit 51 is arranged so as to protrude above the surface 42A of the board body 42 of the flexible board 41.
Here, for convenience, the direction in which the surface 42A of the substrate body 42 of the flexible substrate 41 extends along the XY plane and the contact unit 51 projects will be referred to as the +Z direction.

19 and 20 show assembly diagrams of the connector 31. A flexible substrate 41 is arranged on the -Z direction side of the contact unit 51. The flexible board 41 has an H-shaped notch 44, and a plurality of flexible conductors 43 are arranged in parallel to each other on the +X direction side and the -X direction side of the notch 44 on the surface 42A of the board body 42. There is. One end of each flexible conductor 43 extends to the notch 44 to form a bendable contact portion 45 .
A support member 35 is arranged on the -Z direction side of the flexible substrate 41, and a base member 34 is arranged on the -Z direction side of the support member 35.

As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the contact unit 51 has a plurality of contacts 33 arranged in two rows, a first row R1 and a second row R2, and is held by a contact insulator 52. be. The plurality of contacts 33 constituting each of the first row R1 and the second row R2 are arranged in the Y direction, and the plurality of contacts 33 constituting the first row R1 and the plurality of contacts 33 constituting the second row R2 are arranged in the Y direction. The contacts 33 are arranged adjacent to each other in the X direction.

Each contact 33 is a plug-type contact made of a conductive material such as metal, and is connected to a corresponding contact of a mating connector (not shown), and extends in the Z direction as shown in FIG. It has a flat plate shape. More specifically, the plurality of contacts 33 constituting the first row R1 each have a contact portion 33A formed on an end face in the +X direction on the end side in the +Z direction, and a contact portion 33A formed on the end face in the +X direction on the end side in the −Z direction and − The supporting member facing portion 33B is formed on the end face in the X direction. On the other hand, the plurality of contacts 33 constituting the second row R2 each have a contact portion 33A formed on the end face in the −X direction on the end side in the +Z direction, and a contact portion 33A formed on the end face in the −X direction on the end side in the −Z direction and in the +X direction. It has a support member facing portion 33B formed on the end surface.
Each contact 33 is held by the contact insulator 52 so that the contact portion 33A and support member facing portion 33B are exposed.

Further, the support member facing portions 33B of the contacts 33 in the first row R1 and the support member facing portions 33B of the contacts 33 in the second row R2 are opposed to each other, and support the plurality of contacts 33 constituting the first row R1. A concave support member accommodating portion 53 extending in the Y direction and open toward the −Z direction is formed between the member opposing portion 33B and the support member opposing portions 33B of the plurality of contacts 33 constituting the second row R2. ing. The support member accommodating portion 53 has a width W1 in the X direction at the end in the −Z direction.

As shown in FIG. 24, the base member 34 is made of an insulating material such as an insulating resin, and has a flat plate portion 34A. One protrusion 34C common to the plurality of contacts 33 of the contact unit 51 is formed on the surface 34B of the flat plate portion 34A facing the +Z direction. The protrusion 34C extends in the Y direction and protrudes in the +Z direction, and has a shape in which the width in the X direction becomes narrower as it goes in the +Z direction, but the width in the X direction becomes W2 at the end in the -Z direction. have.

As shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, the support member 35 is formed from an elastically deformable resin or metal, and has a base 35A extending linearly along the Y direction, and a base 35A connected to and connected to the base 35A. - It has a plurality of pairs of cantilever-shaped elastic pieces 35B extending in the Z direction. The plurality of pairs of elastic pieces 35B are arranged in the Y direction, and the two elastic pieces 35B of each pair face each other in the X direction, and the distance in the X direction becomes larger toward the −Z direction. A concave projection insertion portion 35C is formed on the inside of the plurality of pairs of elastic pieces 35B, extending in the Y direction and opening toward the −Z direction. The plurality of pairs of elastic pieces 35B correspond to the plurality of contacts 33 arranged in two rows of the contact unit 51.

Each of the two elastic pieces 35B forming a pair has a width W3 in the X direction between the outer surfaces of the elastic pieces 35B facing in opposite directions at the ends in the −Z direction. The width W3 between the outer surfaces of the two elastic pieces 35B is greater than the value obtained by subtracting twice the thickness of the flexible conductor 21 from the width W1 in the X direction at the -Z direction end of the support member accommodating portion 53 of the contact unit 51. is also set small.
Further, each of the two elastic pieces 35B forming a pair has a width W4 in the X direction between the inner surfaces of the two elastic pieces 35B that face each other at the ends in the -Z direction. The width W4 between the inner surfaces of the two elastic pieces 35B is set smaller than the width W2 in the X direction at the end of the protrusion 34C of the base member 34 in the -Z direction.

Further, the support member 35 is accommodated in the support member accommodating portion 53 of the contact unit 51, and has a length in the Y direction that is slightly shorter than the length in the Y direction of the support member accommodating portion 53 of the contact unit 51. There is.
The protrusion 34C of the base member 34 is inserted into the protrusion insertion portion 15C of the support member 35, and has a length in the Y direction that is approximately equal to the length of the support member 35 in the Y direction.

When attaching the connector 31 to the flexible substrate 41, first, the contact unit 51 is placed on the surface 42A of the substrate body 42 of the flexible substrate 41, as shown in FIG. At this time, the contact unit 51 is placed directly above the notch 44 of the flexible substrate 41 and on the plurality of flexible conductors 43.
Next, as shown in FIG. 28, the support member 35 is moved from the −Z direction toward the notch 44 in the back surface 42B of the board main body 42 of the flexible board 41, and as shown in FIG. is inserted into the support member accommodating portion 53 of the contact unit 51 through the notch 44 .

As a result, the contact portion 45 of the flexible conductor 43 that was placed on the +X direction side of the notch 44 and the contact portion 45 of the flexible conductor 43 that was placed on the −X direction side of the notch 44 are changed as shown in FIG. , each of the two contacts 33 is bent in the +Z direction and inserted into the support member accommodating portion 53 of the contact unit 51 together with the support member 35, and corresponds to the outer surface of the two elastic pieces 35B forming a pair of the support member 35. It is arranged so as to be sandwiched between the support member facing portion 33B.

Here, the width W3 in the X direction between the outer surfaces of the two elastic pieces 35B forming a pair in the support member 35 is calculated from the width W1 in the X direction at the -Z direction end of the support member accommodating portion 53 of the contact unit 51. 21, the contact portions 45 of the two flexible conductors 43 disposed on both sides of the support member 35 in the X direction are both separated from the support member 35. It will be smoothly inserted into the support member accommodating portion 53 without being subjected to a large force and being rubbed.

Note that the base portion 35A of the support member 35 inserted into the support member accommodating portion 53 of the contact unit 51 contacts the bottom portion of the support member accommodating portion 53 at the end in the +Z direction, and almost the entire support member 35 is accommodated in the support member accommodating portion 53. It is housed in the section 53.
Furthermore, by inserting the support member 35 into the notch 44 from the -Z direction, the contact portions 45 of the two flexible conductors 43 placed on both sides of the notch 44 in the X direction are bent in the +Z direction. Since it is inserted into the support member accommodating portion 53 of the contact unit 51, an opening 46 is formed in the flexible substrate 41, as shown in FIGS. 29 and 30.

Furthermore, the protrusion 34C of the base member 34 is inserted from the −Z direction into the concave protrusion insertion portion 35C of the support member 35 through the opening 46 of the flexible substrate 41, and is placed on the back surface 42B of the substrate body 42 of the flexible substrate 41. Base member 34 is bonded with adhesive. Note that the flexible substrate 41 and the contact unit 51 are also bonded together using an adhesive. This completes the attachment of the connector 31 to the flexible substrate 41.

FIG. 31 shows the connector 31 mounted on the flexible substrate 41 in this manner.
Since the width W4 in the X direction between the inner surfaces of the two elastic pieces 35B forming a pair in the support member 35 is set smaller than the width W2 in the X direction at the -Z direction end of the protrusion 34C of the base member 34, By inserting the protrusion 34C into the protrusion insertion portion 35C of the support member 35, the two cantilever-shaped elastic pieces 35B of each pair of the support member 35 are elastically deformed so as to be pushed apart. As a result, the contact portions 45 of the two flexible conductors 43 sandwiched between the outer surfaces of the two elastic pieces 35B forming a pair of the support member 35 and the support member facing portions 33B of the two corresponding contacts 33 are , receives a pressing force from the corresponding elastic piece 35B toward the support member facing portion 33B of the contact 33.

That is, the side surface of the protrusion 34C of the base member 34 inserted into the protrusion insertion portion 35C of the support member 35 connects the contact portions 45 of both flexible conductors 43 to the support member facing portion of the corresponding contact 33 via the support member 35. 33B. As a result, the plurality of contacts 33 of the contact unit 51 are electrically connected to the plurality of flexible conductors 43.

Here, when the protrusion 34C of the base member 34 is inserted into the protrusion insertion part 35C of the support member 35, the inner surface of the protrusion insertion part 35C and the side surface of the protrusion 34C rub against each other, but each flexible conductor 43 The contact portion 45 is only subjected to pressing force by being sandwiched between the outer surface of the corresponding elastic piece 35B of the support member 35 and the support member facing portion 33B of the corresponding contact 33, There is no rubbing against either the outer surface of the support member 35B or the support member facing portion 33B.

As described above, according to the connector 31 according to the second embodiment, even when the contact portions 45 of the plurality of flexible conductors 43 are inserted into the support member accommodating portion 53 of the contact unit 51 together with the support member 35, Furthermore, even when the protrusion 34C of the base member 34 is inserted into the protrusion insertion portion 35C of the support member 35, the contact portions 45 of the plurality of flexible conductors 43 are not subjected to large force and are not rubbed. Each flexible conductor 43 is prevented from being damaged, and the reliability of the electrical connection between the plurality of flexible conductors 43 and the plurality of contacts 33 can be ensured.

According to the second embodiment, by electrically connecting the plurality of contacts 33 of the contact unit 51 to the plurality of flexible conductors 43 of the flexible substrate 41 using one support member 35 and one base member 34, multiple It becomes possible to realize a core connector 31.
Note that in the second embodiment described above, the plurality of contacts 33 of the contact unit 51 are arranged in two rows, but the plurality of contacts 33 may be arranged in one row.

Further, in the second embodiment described above, the connector 31 is attached to the flexible board 41 in which the flexible conductor 43 is supported by the insulating board body 42, but the connector 31 is not limited to this. A plurality of flexible conductors are arranged independently between the plurality of elastic pieces 35B of the support member 35 and the support member facing portions 33B of the plurality of contacts 33 of the contact unit 51 without being supported by the flexible substrate body. It is also possible to configure a connector connected to 43.

Embodiment 3
32 and 33 show a connector 61 according to the third embodiment. Like the connector 11 of the first embodiment and the connector 31 of the second embodiment, the connector 61 is used, for example, as a clothing-side connector part for fitting a wearable device, and is attached to the fabric CL of the clothing. It is attached to the flexible substrate 71.

The connector 61 includes a contact unit 91 that is disposed on the surface of a flexible substrate 71 via a sheet-like connector fixing member 81 and has a plurality of contacts 63, and a base that faces the contact unit 91 with the flexible substrate 71 in between. A member 64 is provided. As shown in FIG. 33, the base member 64 is arranged inside a circular opening CL1 formed in the cloth CL.

The flexible board 71 has a sheet-like board main body 72 made of an insulating material, which extends along the arrangement surface with the XY plane as the arrangement surface, and the board main body 72 has a surface 72A facing the +Z direction, and a - It has a back surface 72B facing the Z direction. A plurality of flexible conductors 73 are arranged in an exposed state on the surface 72A of the board body 72. The plurality of flexible conductors 73 are, for example, band-shaped or thread-shaped conductors made of conductive fibers, and extend in the X direction and are arranged parallel to each other in the Y direction.
Further, the flexible conductor 73 can also be formed from a conductive paste applied onto the surface 72A of the substrate body 72 by printing or the like.

The contact unit 91 is arranged so as to protrude above the sheet-shaped connector fixing member 81.
Here, for convenience, the direction in which the surface 72A of the board body 72 of the flexible board 71 and the connector fixing member 81 extend along the XY plane and the contact unit 91 projects will be referred to as the +Z direction.

FIGS. 34 and 35 show assembled views of the connector 61. A flexible substrate 71 is arranged on the −Z direction side of the contact unit 91 with a connector fixing member 81 interposed therebetween. The flexible board 71 has an H-shaped notch 74, and a plurality of flexible conductors 73 are arranged on the surface 72A of the board body 72 on the +X direction side and the -X direction side of the notch 74, respectively. One end of each flexible conductor 73 extends to the notch 74 to form a bendable contact portion 75 . A substantially rectangular opening 82 is formed in the connector fixing member 81 in correspondence with the notch 74 in the flexible substrate 71 .

A support sheet 65 is arranged on the -Z direction side of the flexible substrate 71, and a base member 64 is arranged on the -Z direction side of the support sheet 65 through an opening CL1 of the cloth CL.
An H-shaped notch 66 is formed in the support sheet 65 in correspondence with the notch 74 in the flexible substrate 71.

The contact unit 91 has four fixing pins 91A protruding in the -Z direction, four through holes 81A in the connector fixing member 81, four through holes 71A in the flexible board 71, and four through holes 71A in the support sheet 65. Four through holes 65A are formed in the base member 64, and four through holes 64A are formed in the base member 64, respectively. These through holes 81A, 71A, 65A and 64A correspond to the four fixing pins 91A of the contact unit 91, and the contact unit 91, connector fixing member 81, flexible substrate 71, support sheet 65 and base member 64 , through holes 81A, 71A, 65A, and 64A are arranged so as to be aligned in the Z direction with respect to the fixing pin 91A.

As shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, the contact unit 91 has a plurality of contacts 63 arranged in two rows, a first row R1 and a second row R2, and is held by a contact insulator 92. be. A plurality of contacts 63 constituting each of the first row R1 and a second row R2 are arranged in the Y direction, and a plurality of contacts 63 constituting the first row R1 and a plurality of contacts constituting the second row R2 are arranged in the Y direction. The contacts 63 are arranged adjacent to each other in the X direction.

The contact insulator 92 has a disk-shaped flat plate portion 92A extending along the XY plane, and a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped protruding portion 92B protruding from the flat plate portion 92A in the +Z direction and extending in the Y direction. A concave projection accommodating portion 92C extending in the Y direction and open toward the −Z direction is formed inside the portion 92B.
As shown in FIG. 38, the contact insulator 92 has a plurality of contact receiving grooves 92D arranged along the Y direction at the +X direction end and the −X direction end of the protrusion 92B. ing. Each contact accommodating groove 92D extends along the −Z direction from the +Z direction end of the protruding portion 92B, passes through the contact insulator 92, and extends to the protrusion accommodating portion 92C.

A contact 63 shown in FIGS. 39 and 40 is press-fitted and held in such a contact receiving groove 92D. Note that FIGS. 39 and 40 show contacts 63 forming the first row R1. The contact 63 is a pin-shaped member extending along the Z direction, and has a mating connector contact surface 63A facing the +X direction at the end in the +Z direction, and a contact surface 63A facing the +X direction at the end in the -Z direction. A planar conductor contact surface 63B extending along the YZ plane is formed.
The contacts 63 constituting the second row R2 are the same as the contacts 63 constituting the first row R1, and are arranged so that the mating connector contact surface 63A faces the -X direction and the conductor contact surface 63B faces the +X direction. It is located in

When the plurality of contacts 63 are held in the plurality of contact accommodation grooves 92D, as shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, the mating connector contact surfaces 63A of the plurality of contacts 63 constituting the first row R1 have a protruding shape. The mating connector contact surfaces 63A of the plurality of contacts 63 constituting the second row R2 are exposed from the protruding portion 92B and face the −X direction.
Further, the conductor contact surfaces 63B of the plurality of contacts 63 constituting the first row R1 are exposed within the protrusion accommodating portion 92C and face the -X direction, and the conductor contact surfaces 63B of the plurality of contacts 63 constituting the second row R2 are 63B is exposed in the protrusion accommodating portion 92C and faces in the +X direction. That is, the conductor contact surfaces 63B of the plurality of contacts 63 constituting the first row R1 and the conductor contact surfaces 63B of the plurality of contacts 63 constituting the second row R2 face each other in the X direction with the protrusion accommodating portion 92C in between. .

Further, as shown in FIG. 37, the four fixing pins 91A protrude in the -Z direction from the surface of the flat plate part 92A on the -Z direction side, and the four fixing pins 91A protrude in the -Z direction from the -Z direction side surface of the flat plate part 92A. Two fixing pins 91B also protrude from the surface in the -Z direction and extend in the -Z direction beyond the -Z direction side surface of the flat plate portion 92A.

As shown in FIG. 41, the base member 64 is made of an insulating material such as an insulating resin, and has a disk-shaped flat plate portion 64B. The flat plate portion 64B has approximately the same diameter as the disk-shaped flat plate portion 92A of the contact insulator 92, and has a surface 64C that is common to the plurality of contacts 63 of the contact unit 91 on a surface 64C of the flat plate portion 64B facing the +Z direction. A protrusion 64D is formed. The protrusion 64D has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that extends in the Y direction and projects in the +Z direction. A plurality of convex portions 64E that respectively protrude in the +X direction and extend in the Z direction are formed on the side surface of the +X direction end of the protrusion 64D, corresponding to the plurality of contacts 63 constituting the first row R1. On the side surface at the end in the X direction, a plurality of protrusions 64E are formed that respectively protrude in the −X direction and extend in the Z direction, corresponding to the plurality of contacts 63 constituting the second row R2.

The four through holes 64A of the base member 64 are formed to penetrate the flat plate portion 64B in the Z direction, and the protrusion 64D is also formed with two through holes 64F that penetrate in the Z direction.

As shown in FIGS. 34 and 35, the support sheet 65 has a disc shape with approximately the same diameter as the disc-shaped flat plate portion 92A of the contact insulator 92 and the disc-shaped flat plate portion 64B of the base member 64. have. The support sheet 65 is made of an elastically deformable material and is held between the board body 72 of the flexible board 71 and the flat plate portion 64B of the base member 64, but the contacts 63 are electrically connected to the flexible conductor 73. When connected, a portion of the support sheet 65 near the notch 66 is sandwiched between the convex portion 64E of the base member 64 and the board body 72 of the flexible board 71.

The connector fixing member 81 is sandwiched between the contact unit 91 and the flexible substrate 71, and the connector 61 is attached to the clothing by fixing the connector fixing member 81 to the fabric CL of the clothing.
As shown in FIGS. 34 and 35, a rectangular opening 82 is formed in the center of the connector fixing member 81, and the four through holes 81A are arranged along the periphery of the opening 82.

When attaching the connector 61 to the flexible substrate 71, first insert the four fixing pins 91A protruding from the contact unit 91 in the -Z direction into the four through holes 81A of the connector fixing member 81 and the four fixing pins 91A of the flexible substrate 71. While sequentially inserting into the through hole 71A and the four through holes 65A of the support sheet 65, the connector fixing member 81, the flexible substrate 71, and the support sheet 65 are moved in the +Z direction and pressed against the contact unit 91.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 37, the contact unit 91 has two fixing pins 91B that protrude in the -Z direction beyond the -Z direction side surface of the flat plate part 92A. The book fixing pin 91B passes through the opening 82 of the connector fixing member 81 and is located on the +Z direction side of the notch 74 of the flexible substrate 71 and the notch 66 of the support sheet 65. Therefore, the H-shaped notches 74 and 66 are pushed open by the two fixing pins 91B of the contact unit 91, and the portion of the flexible substrate 71 near the notch 74 and the portion of the support sheet 65 near the notch 66 are , while overlapping each other, are pushed by the two fixing pins 91B and bent in the -Z direction.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 42, for example, by using a pin-shaped jig (not shown), a portion of the flexible substrate 71 near the notch 74 and a portion of the support sheet 65 near the notch 66 are pushed in the +Z direction. The contact insulator 92 is bent into the protrusion accommodating portion 92C.
At this time, the surface of the support sheet 65 facing the -Z direction and the -Z direction ends of the fixing pins 91A and 91B of the contact unit 91 are connected to the opening of the fabric CL disposed on the -Z direction side of the flexible substrate 71. It is exposed in the -Z direction within CL1.

In this state, the base member 64 is moved in the +Z direction and is pressed against the contact unit 91 via the support sheet 65, flexible substrate 71, and connector fixing member 81. As a result, as shown in FIG. 43, the four fixing pins 91A of the contact unit 91 protrude in the −Z direction through the four through holes 64A of the base member 64, and the two fixing pins 91A of the contact unit 91 The fixing pin 91B passes through the two through holes 64F of the base member 64 and protrudes in the -Z direction.
By thermally deforming and caulking the -Z direction ends of the four fixing pins 91A and two fixing pins 91B of the contact unit 91 that protrude from the base member 64 in the -Z direction, the base member 64 is attached to the contact It is fixed to the unit 91, and the attachment of the connector 61 to the flexible substrate 71 is completed.

FIG. 44 shows the connector 61 attached to the flexible substrate 71 in this manner.
The protrusion 64D of the base member 64 is inserted into the protrusion accommodating part 92C of the contact insulator 92, and within the protrusion accommodating part 92C, a part of the flexible substrate 71 and a part of the support sheet 65 are overlapped with each other, and the flexible substrate 71 is bent in the +Z direction perpendicular to the XY plane, which is the arrangement plane of the base member 64, and is sandwiched between the convex portion 64E of the protrusion 64D of the base member 64 and the conductor contact surface 63B of the contact 63 corresponding to the convex portion 64E. and is compressed in the X direction. Thereby, the contact portion 75 of the flexible conductor 73 disposed on the surface 72A of the substrate body 72 of the flexible substrate 71 is connected to the contact portion 75 of the flexible conductor 73 from the corresponding convex portion 64E via the support sheet 65 and the substrate body 72 of the flexible substrate 71. It receives a pressing force toward the conductor contact surface 63B of the corresponding contact 63, and is electrically connected to the conductor contact surface 63B.
In this way, the plurality of contacts 63 arranged in two rows on the contact unit 91 are electrically connected to the plurality of flexible conductors 73 on the flexible substrate 71.

Note that by compressing a portion of the flexible substrate 71 between the convex portion 64E of the base member 64 and the conductor contact surface 63B of the contact 63 in the X direction, the flexible substrate 71 becomes elastic in the X direction. It is compressed and deformed. As a result, the reaction force of this compressive deformation generates a contact pressure of the contact portion 75 of the flexible conductor 73 against the conductor contact surface 63B, and the flexible conductor 73 is electrically connected to the contact 63 with high reliability.

Further, since the support sheet 65 is sandwiched together with the flexible substrate 71 between the convex portion 64E of the base member 64 and the conductor contact surface 63B of the contact 63, the support sheet 65 is also compressively deformed elastically in the X direction. Become. Therefore, if the support sheet 65 is made of a highly elastic material such as rubber or elastomer, and the support sheet 65 has an elastic force greater than that of the flexible conductor 73, it is possible to make the support sheet 65 thin and elastic. Even for a weak flexible substrate 71, the contact pressure of the contact portion 75 of the flexible conductor 73 against the conductor contact surface 63B is generated by the reaction force of the compressive deformation of the support sheet 65, and the flexible conductor 73 is electrically connected to the contact 63 with reliability. This makes it possible to connect directly.

Here, when the plurality of contacts 63 and the plurality of flexible conductors 73 are electrically connected, the support sheet 65 rubs against the protrusion 64D of the base member 64, but the contact portion 75 of each flexible conductor 73 Through the substrate body 72 of the flexible substrate 71, only the pressing force in the X direction perpendicular to the conductor contact surface 63B of the contact 63 is received from the corresponding convex portion 64E of the base member 64, and the convex portion 64E and the conductor contact surface 63B It will not rub against any of the following.
As a result, each flexible conductor 73 is prevented from being damaged, and it is possible to ensure the reliability of the electrical connection between the plurality of flexible conductors 73 and the plurality of contacts 63.

Furthermore, if the support sheet 65 is made of a material with high sliding properties, such as a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film, the protrusion 64D of the base member 64 can be easily inserted into the protrusion accommodating portion 92C of the contact insulator 92. Therefore, it becomes possible to efficiently attach the connector 61 to the flexible substrate 71.
In this case, it is preferable that the support sheet 65 has greater slidability with respect to the base member 64 than, for example, the slidability that the flexible substrate 71 has.

As shown in FIGS. 45 and 46, the electronic circuit module M including the mating connector M1 is aligned on the +Z direction side of the connector 61 attached to the flexible board 71, and the electronic circuit module M is aligned in the -Z direction. By moving and fitting the mating connector M1 to the connector 61, the electronic circuit module M is electrically connected to the plurality of flexible conductors 73 of the flexible substrate 71. At this time, the contact insulator 92 of the contact unit 91 shown in FIG. 44 is fitted into the mating connector M1, and the mating connector contact surfaces 63A of the plurality of contacts 63 are connected to the mating connector M1 shown in FIG. Contact a plurality of contacts M2.

According to the third embodiment, by electrically connecting the plurality of contacts 63 of the contact unit 91 to the plurality of flexible conductors 73 of the flexible substrate 71, it is possible to realize a multi-core connector 61.
Note that in the third embodiment described above, the plurality of contacts 63 of the contact unit 91 are arranged in two rows, but the plurality of contacts 63 may be arranged in one row.

Further, in the third embodiment described above, the connector 61 is attached to the flexible substrate 71 in which the flexible conductor 73 is supported by the insulating substrate body 72, but the connector 61 is not limited to this, and similarly, the insulating A connector that is connected to a plurality of flexible conductors 73 independently arranged between a support sheet 65 and a conductor contact surface 63B of a plurality of contacts 63 of a contact unit 91 without being supported by a flexible substrate body. It can also be configured.

In this case, by providing the support sheet 65 with an elastic force greater than the elastic force that the flexible conductor 73 has, the flexible conductor 73 is moved against the conductor contact surface 63B due to the reaction force of the compressive deformation of the support sheet 65. The contact pressure is ensured, and it becomes possible to electrically connect the flexible conductor 73 to the contact 63 with high reliability.
In addition, by giving the support sheet 65 a sliding property greater than that of the flexible conductor 73 with respect to the base member 64, it is possible to efficiently attach the connector 61 to the flexible conductor 73. becomes.

As described above, the connector 61 according to the third embodiment of the present invention is a connector 61 connected to the flexible conductor 73 extending along the a planar conductor contact surface 63B made of a conductive material and perpendicular to the XY plane, and a mating member facing in the opposite direction to the conductor contact surface 63B and contacting the contacts of the mating connector M1. A part of the flexible conductor 73 is arranged between the protrusion 64D and the conductor contact surface 63B of the contact 63 while being bent in a direction perpendicular to the XY plane. The contact 63 is electrically connected to the flexible conductor 73 by pressing a portion of the flexible conductor 73 against the conductor contact surface 63B of the contact 63 by a convex portion 64E formed on the side surface of the protrusion 64D.

Further, in the first to third embodiments described above, plug-type contacts 13, 33, and 63 are used, but the invention is not limited to this. Similarly, receptacle-type contacts can be used with flexible conductors 21, 43, , 73 can also be configured.

1 flexible circuit board, 2 contact, 3 base member, 4 flexible conductor, 5 protrusion accommodating part, 6 protrusion, 11, 31, 61 connector, 12 housing, 12A recess, 12B contact through hole, 12C surface, 12D post accommodating part, 13, 33, 63, M2 contact, 13A protruding portion, 13B contact side flange, 13C, 53 support member accommodating portion, 14, 24, 34, 64 base member, 14A, 34A, 64B, 92A flat plate portion, 14B, 34B , 64C surface, 14C recess for pushing member, 14D housing fixing post, 15, 35 support member, 15A, 35A base, 15B, 35B elastic piece, 15C, 35C protrusion insertion part, 15D outer surface, 15E inner surface, 15F conductor contact part , 15G projection contact portion, 16 pushing member, 16A, 34C, 64D projection, 16B pushing member side flange, 21, 43, 73 flexible conductor, 21A, 45, 75 contact portion, 33A contact portion, 33B, E support member opposing portion , 41, 71 Flexible board, 42, 72 Board body, 42A, 72A Surface, 42B, 72B Back surface, 44, 66, 74 Notch, 46, 82, CL1 Opening, 51, 91 Contact unit, 52, 92 Contact insulator , 63A mating connector contact surface, 63B conductor contact surface, 64A, 64F, 65A, 71A, 81A through hole, 64E convex portion, 65 support sheet, 81 connector fixing member, 91A, 91B fixing pin, 92B protrusion, 92C Protrusion accommodating part, 92D Contact accommodating groove, D1, D4 Inner diameter, D2, D3 Outer diameter, C1 Central axis, R1 1st row, R2 2nd row, W1, W2, W3, W4 Width, CL Fabric, M Electronic circuit module , M1 Mating connector.

Claims (24)

A connector connected to a flexible conductor,
a pushing member having a protrusion;
a support member arranged to contact a side surface of the protrusion;
a plug-type contact made of a conductive material and having a support member facing portion facing the support member;
A portion of the flexible conductor is disposed between the supporting member and the supporting member opposing portion of the contact, and a side surface of the protrusion connects the portion of the flexible conductor to the supporting member of the contact via the supporting member. The connector is characterized in that the contact is electrically connected to the flexible conductor by pressing against the opposing portion. The support member is elastically deformable and has a concave protrusion insertion portion into which the protrusion is inserted;
The connector according to claim 1, wherein a side surface of the protrusion inserted into the protrusion insertion portion of the support member presses a part of the flexible conductor against the support member opposing portion of the contact via the support member. The contact has a concave support member accommodating portion in which the support member is accommodated,
The connector according to claim 2, wherein the support member facing portion is formed on an inner surface of the support member accommodating portion. The support member has a base portion that faces the bottom of the support member storage portion when stored in the support member storage portion, and a cantilever shape that is connected to the base portion and extends along the inner surface of the support member storage portion. at least one elastic piece of
4. The connector of claim 3, wherein the at least one elastic piece is located between a side surface of the protrusion and a portion of the flexible conductor. The at least one elastic piece contacts a portion of the flexible conductor when the support member is accommodated in the support member accommodating portion of the contact and the protrusion is inserted into the protrusion insertion portion of the support member. and a protrusion contact part disposed at a different position from the conductor contact part in the length direction of the elastic piece along the inner surface of the support member accommodating part and in contact with a side surface of the protrusion. The connector according to item 4. The connector according to claim 5, wherein an outer dimension of the support member at a position where the conductor contact portion is arranged is smaller than an inner dimension of the support member accommodating portion. 7. The connector according to claim 6, wherein an outer dimension of the support member at a position where the conductor contact portion is arranged is smaller than a value obtained by subtracting a thickness of the flexible conductor from an inner dimension of the support member accommodating portion. The connector according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein an inner dimension of the support member at a position where the protrusion contact portion is arranged is smaller than an outer dimension of the protrusion. The pushing member includes a base member having a plurality of the protrusions,
A portion of the plurality of flexible conductors is arranged between each of the plurality of support members and the inner surface of the support member accommodating portion of the plurality of contacts,
The connector according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein a plurality of the protrusions are inserted into the protrusion insertion portions of the plurality of support members. The contact has a cylindrical part and a flange formed at one end of the cylindrical part,
further comprising a housing formed with a contact through hole through which the cylindrical portion of the contact is smaller than the flange;
The housing is fixed to the base member so that the cylindrical part of the contact passes through the contact through hole and the flange is pressed toward the base member, so that the contact is fixed to the base member. The connector according to claim 9. 11. The connector of claim 10, wherein the housing is made of an insulative material. The connector according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the housing has a mating connector accommodating portion in which a part of the mating connector is accommodated. The connector according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the base member is made of an insulating material. comprising a contact unit held by a contact insulator in a state in which a plurality of the contacts are arranged;
The pushing member has one protrusion common to a plurality of the contacts,
The support member has a plurality of cantilever-shaped elastic pieces corresponding to the plurality of contacts,
A part of the plurality of flexible conductors is disposed between the plurality of elastic pieces and the supporting member opposing portions of the plurality of contacts, and the side surface of the protrusion is connected to the plurality of flexible conductors via the plurality of elastic pieces. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of contacts are electrically connected to the plurality of flexible conductors by pressing a portion of the conductor against the support member facing portion of the plurality of contacts. The plurality of flexible conductors extend along a predetermined arrangement plane,
A portion of the plurality of flexible conductors is bent in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement surface, and is connected to the support member facing portion of the plurality of contacts via the plurality of elastic pieces by the side surface of the protrusion. 15. The connector of claim 14, which is pressed. comprising a contact unit held by a contact insulator in a state in which a plurality of the contacts are arranged;
The pushing member has one protrusion common to the plurality of contacts, and a plurality of protrusions corresponding to the plurality of contacts and protruding to the side of the protrusion,
The support member is formed of a part of a support sheet disposed between the contact unit and the pushing member,
A portion of the plurality of flexible conductors is disposed between a portion of the support sheet and the supporting member opposing portions of the plurality of contacts, and the plurality of convex portions are arranged between the plurality of flexible conductors through a portion of the support sheet. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of contacts are electrically connected to the plurality of flexible conductors by pressing a part of the flexible conductor against the supporting member opposing portions of the plurality of contacts. The plurality of flexible conductors extend along a predetermined arrangement plane,
The support member facing portions of the plurality of contacts each have a planar conductor contact surface perpendicular to the arrangement surface,
Each of the plurality of convex portions has a planar pressing surface perpendicular to the arrangement surface,
A portion of the plurality of flexible conductors is bent in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement surface, and the plurality of contacts are pushed through a portion of the support sheet by the pressing surface of the plurality of convex portions. The connector according to claim 16, wherein the connector is pressed against the conductor contact surface of the support member facing portion. The connector according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the support sheet has a larger elastic force than the flexible conductor. The connector according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the support sheet has greater slidability with respect to the pushing member than the flexible conductor. A connector according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the contact has a mating connector contact surface oriented in a direction opposite to the conductor contact surface and contacting a contact of a mating connector. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the flexible conductor is independently arranged between the support member and the support member opposing portion. The flexible conductor is arranged so as to be exposed on the surface of the insulating substrate body,
The flexible conductor is arranged between the support member and the support member facing portion such that the flexible conductor faces the support member facing portion of the contact, and the back surface of the substrate body faces the support member. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 20. A connection method for connecting a plug-type contact to a flexible conductor, the connection method comprising:
disposing a part of the flexible conductor between a support member and a support member facing portion of the contact;
By bringing the side surface of the protrusion of the pushing member into contact with the support member, the side surface of the protrusion presses a part of the flexible conductor against the support member facing portion of the contact via the support member, so that the contact A connection method characterized by electrically connecting to a flexible conductor. A connector connected to a flexible conductor extending along a predetermined placement plane,
a pushing member having a protrusion;
A planar conductor contact surface made of a conductive material and perpendicular to the arrangement surface, and a mating connector contact surface oriented in the opposite direction to the conductor contact surface and in contact with the contacts of the mating connector. and a contact having
A portion of the flexible conductor is bent in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement surface and is disposed between the protrusion and the conductor contact surface of the contact, and a side surface of the protrusion is bent in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement surface. The connector is characterized in that the contact is electrically connected to the flexible conductor by pressing a portion of the contact against the conductor contact surface of the contact.