JP7457062B2 - electrical connectors - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more specifically to an electrical connector in which a plurality of movable housings into which objects to be connected are inserted are movable relative to a fixed housing.

The connector described in Patent Document 1 below includes a fixed housing fixed to a board, a movable housing provided with a plurality of fitting chambers (insertion chambers) into which objects to be connected are inserted, and a fixed housing and a movable housing. It is provided with a plurality of terminals, each of which is bridged between the two terminals and which contacts each connection object inside each insertion chamber. A tapered guide surface is provided on the front side of each connection object in the insertion direction into each of the insertion chambers, and each connection object is guided to each insertion chamber by each guide surface. Furthermore, the movable housing is divided into a plurality of parts, and elastic deformation of each terminal allows relative displacement with respect to the fixed housing. As a result, displacement of the insertion position of each connection object, vibration, etc. are absorbed by the above-mentioned relative displacement, and sliding movement between each terminal and each connection object is suppressed.

Patent No. 5606588

As electronic devices have become smaller in recent years, there is a demand for miniaturization of electronic components such as connectors.

The present invention takes the above-mentioned facts into account and aims to provide an electrical connector that can be downsized in the arrangement direction of movable housings.

The electrical connector according to the invention according to claim 1 includes a fixed housing fixed to a board, and an insertion chamber disposed in each of the insertion chambers arranged so as to be displaceable with respect to the fixed housing in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction. a plurality of movable housings into which connection objects are respectively inserted in the direction; and a fixed housing and a plurality of movable housings, each of which is connected to each of the connection objects inside each of the insertion chambers; a plurality of terminals each having a pair of mating connection portions that are connected to each other, and each having an elastic deformation portion that allows displacement of the plurality of movable housings with respect to the fixed housing by elastic deformation, and for one movable housing. The pair of mating connection parts face each other in a spanning direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction and the insertion direction, and the elastic deformation part On the other hand, the movable housings extend toward one side in the spanning direction, and the dimensions of the movable housings in the arrangement direction are smaller than the dimensions in the spanning direction, and the plurality of movable housings are arranged between each other. The dimensions in the arrangement direction are set so that only a gap is ensured , and a part of the fixed housing is not interposed between the plurality of movable housings .

According to the electrical connector according to the present invention, the size can be reduced in the arrangement direction of the movable housing.

1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a connection target is inserted. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a connection target is not inserted. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective cross-sectional view showing a cut surface taken along line F3-F3 in FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective cross-sectional view showing a cut surface taken along line F4-F4 in FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the cut surface shown in FIG. 3; 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of FIG. 5. FIG. FIG. 1 is a plan view of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the invention. 1 is a perspective view showing a fixed housing of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a fixed housing of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a movable housing of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a movable housing of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a movable housing of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing a movable housing of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a terminal of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a fixing member of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

An electrical connector 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 15. For convenience of explanation, the arrow FR, which is appropriately indicated in each figure, is the front of the electrical connector 10, the arrow LH is the left side of the electrical connector 10, and the arrow UP is the upper side of the electrical connector 10. Hereinafter, when the directions are simply referred to as front and back, left and right, and up and down, the directions with respect to the electrical connector 10 are indicated. These orientations are independent of the orientation of the electrical connector 10 in use. Further, in each figure, some symbols may be omitted to make the drawing easier to read.

(composition)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the electrical connector 10 according to the present embodiment is mounted on a board 12 and electrically connected to a mating connector 14 (see FIGS. 1 to 4). It includes a fixed housing 20, a plurality of (here, six) movable housings 50, and a plurality of (here, six) terminals 90. The mating connector 14 includes a plurality (six in this case) of mating terminals 16 formed in the shape of a pin, and an insulating member 18 that holds the plurality of mating terminals 16. Each of the plurality of counterpart terminals 16 corresponds to a "connection target" in the present invention.

The fixed housing 20 is fixed to the substrate 12 using a fixing member 36 (see FIG. 15). The plurality of movable housings 50 are arranged in the left-right direction of the electrical connector 10 and are movable with respect to the fixed housing 20. Each of these movable housings 50 is provided with an insertion chamber 60. The mating terminals 16 are respectively inserted into each insertion chamber 60 in an insertion direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the plurality of movable housings 50. Further, on the front side of each insertion chamber 60 in the insertion direction, a plurality of tapered front and rear guide surfaces 74 and a plurality of tapered left and right guide surfaces 80 are provided for guiding each mating terminal 16 to each insertion chamber 60. It is being The left and right guiding surfaces 80 correspond to the "guiding surfaces" in the present invention.

The plurality of terminals 90 are spanned between the fixed housing 20 and the plurality of movable housings 50. These terminals 90 are configured to come into contact with each mating terminal 16 inside each insertion chamber 60 and to allow displacement of the plurality of movable housings 50 with respect to the fixed housing 20 by elastic deformation of each terminal.

Note that the arrow X shown as appropriate in each figure is the direction in which the plurality of terminals 90 are bridged between the fixed housing 20 and the plurality of movable housings 50, and the arrow Y is the direction in which the plurality of terminals 90 are bridged between the fixed housing 20 and the plurality of movable housings 50. The arrow Z is the direction in which the housing 50 and the plurality of terminals 90 are arranged (the longitudinal direction of the fixed housing 20), the arrow Z is the direction in which each mating terminal 16 is inserted into and removed from each insertion chamber 60, and the arrow Z1 is the direction in which the mating terminal 16 is inserted into and removed from each insertion chamber 60. This is the insertion direction of each mating terminal 16. The above-mentioned spanning direction The insertion direction Z1 corresponds to the lower direction of the electrical connector 10. In the following description, the spanning direction X may be referred to as the "front-back direction," the arrangement direction Y may be referred to as the "left-right direction," and the insertion/extraction direction Z may be referred to as the "up-down direction."

(About fixed housing)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, the fixed housing 20 is formed into a box shape with its length extending in the left-right direction (arrangement direction Y) and with its lower side open. The fixed housing 20 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin, and includes a front wall 20A, a rear wall 20B, a left wall 20C, a right wall 20D, and an upper wall 20E. The front wall 20A and the rear wall 20B face each other in the front-rear direction, the left wall 20C and the right wall 20D face each other in the left-right direction, and the upper wall 20E faces the front wall 20A, the rear wall 20B, the left wall 20C and the right The upper end of the wall 20D is connected in the front, back, left and right directions.

An elongated rectangular opening 22 whose length is in the left-right direction is formed on the front side of the upper wall 20E. An inclined surface 24 that slopes downward toward the opening 22 is formed on the upper surface side of the edge of the opening 22 . Further, a right end inclined surface 26 is formed on the right edge of the opening 22 and extends from a position further downward than the inclined surface 24 to the left side and downward side. Furthermore, a left-end inclined surface 28 is formed at the left edge of the opening 22 and extends from near the lower end of the inclined surface 24 to the right and downward side. The upper end of the right end inclined surface 26 is located slightly below the lower end of the left end inclined surface 28. The right end inclined surface 26 corresponds to the "fourth inclined surface" in the present invention, and the left end inclined surface 28 corresponds to the "fifth inclined surface" in the present invention. Hereinafter, the right end inclined surface 26 will be referred to as the "fourth inclined surface 26", and the left end inclined surface 28 will be referred to as the "fifth inclined surface 28".

A cylindrical positioning boss 30 for positioning the fixed housing 20 on the board 12 is formed on the lower surface of the left wall 20C and the right wall 20D. These positioning bosses 30 are fitted into circular positioning holes (not shown) formed in the substrate 12. Further, left and right leg portions 32 protruding outward in the left-right direction are formed at the lower portions of the left wall 20C and the right wall 20D. A fixing groove 34 is formed in each of these leg portions 32 . The fixing groove 34 formed in the left leg 32 opens to the left, upward and downward, and the fixing groove 34 formed in the right leg 32 opens to the right, upward and downward. It is open. These fixing grooves 34 correspond to the fixing members 36.

The fixing members 36 (see FIG. 15) are, for example, punched and bent metal plates into a predetermined shape, and are attached to the left and right legs 32, respectively. Each fixing member 36 includes a housing fixing part 36A formed in a rectangular plate shape with the thickness direction in the left-right direction, and a board fixing part 36B extending outward in the left-right direction from the lower end of the housing fixing part 36A. has been done. The housing fixing portion 36A is fitted into the fixing groove 34. At both front and rear ends of the housing fixing portion 36A, a plurality of claw portions 37 that protrude to both sides in the front and back direction are formed in line in the up and down direction. The housing fixing part 36A is held by the leg part 32 by these claw parts 37 biting into the inner surface of the fixing groove 34. The board fixing part 36B is arranged below the leg part 32, and is fixed to the board 12 by means such as soldering.

A notch 38 cut out from the lower side is formed in the lower part of the front wall 20A. This notch 38 has a rectangular shape when viewed in the front-rear direction. The lower end of the rear wall 20B is spaced upward from the substrate 12, and a gap 40 is formed between the lower end of the rear wall 20B and the substrate 12. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of (six in this case) terminal fixing grooves 42 extending in the vertical direction are formed in the front surface of the rear wall 20B (the surface facing the front wall 20A) in a line in the left-right direction. has been done. These terminal fixing grooves 42 are formed wider on the rear side than on the front side in the left-right direction, and correspond to the terminals 90. Further, on the lower surface of the rear portion of the upper wall 20E, a plurality of (six in this case) convex portions 44 protruding downward are formed in line in the arrangement direction. The plurality of convex portions 44 and the plurality of terminal fixing grooves 42 are arranged so as to be aligned in the left-right direction.

(About the movable housing)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 and 10 to 13, the plurality of movable housings 50 are formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with the vertical direction (insertion/extraction direction Z) as the longitudinal direction, and the horizontal direction (arrangement direction Y). ) is set smaller than the dimension in the front-rear direction (crossing direction X). These movable housings 50 are all formed in the same shape, and are housed inside the fixed housing 20 side by side in the left-right direction. The dimensions of the plurality of movable housings 50 in the left-right direction are set so that a slight gap is secured between each other and between the left wall 20C and the right wall 20D of the fixed housing 20.

A front protrusion 52 that protrudes forward and downward is formed at the lower front end of each movable housing 50 . The front side of the lower part of this front protrusion 52 is chamfered diagonally. This front protrusion 52 is inserted into the notch 38 of the fixed housing 20. Furthermore, a pair of left and right rear leg portions 54 protruding downward are formed at both left and right end portions of the rear end portion of the lower portion of each movable housing 50 . The amount of protrusion of the left and right rear legs 54 from the lower surface of each movable housing 50 is set to be equal to the amount of protrusion of the front protrusion 52 from the lower surface of each movable housing 50. The vertical dimension of each movable housing 50 is set to be slightly smaller than the distance from the lower surface of the upper wall 20E of the fixed housing 20 to the upper surface of the substrate 12.

The front surface of each movable housing 50 faces closely to the front wall 20A of the fixed housing 20. A rear protrusion 56 is formed at the top of each movable housing 50 and protrudes rearward. Thereby, the front-back dimension of each movable housing 50 is enlarged at the upper part of each movable housing 50. A vertical groove 58 extending in the vertical direction is formed on the rear surface of the rear protrusion 56 . This vertical groove 58 is open upward and rearward. The convex portion 44 of the fixed housing 20 is inserted into the vertical groove 58 . This convex portion 44 and the front wall 20A of the fixed housing 20 limit the displacement of each movable housing 50 in the front-back direction with respect to the fixed housing 20 within a predetermined (constant) range. Further, the horizontal dimension of the convex portion 44 is set to be slightly smaller than the horizontal dimension of the vertical groove 58, so that the horizontal displacement of each movable housing 50 with respect to the fixed housing 20 is limited within a predetermined (constant) range. has been done. That is, each movable housing 50 is capable of relative displacement within a predetermined (fixed) range with respect to the fixed housing 20 in front, back, left, right, up and down directions.

An insertion chamber (terminal fitting chamber) 60 extending in the vertical direction is formed approximately in the center of each movable housing 50 when viewed in the vertical direction. The insertion chamber 60 has a rectangular shape when viewed in the vertical direction, and is open at the bottom surface of each movable housing 50. As shown in FIG. 13, a groove 62 recessed forward is formed at the front and right corner of the insertion chamber 60, and a groove 62 is formed at the rear and left corner of the insertion chamber 60. A groove portion 64 recessed toward the left side is formed in the groove portion 64 . Further, a ceiling wall 66 is provided at the upper end of the insertion chamber 60, and an insertion opening 68 having a rectangular shape when viewed in the vertical direction is formed in the center of the ceiling wall 66.

On the left side of the upper part of the movable housing 50 above the insertion opening 68, a lateral protrusion 70 is formed which protrudes in a step-like manner to the left (one side in the arrangement direction Y). Further, on the right side of the upper part of the movable housing 50 above the insertion port 68, a lateral recessed portion 72 recessed in a step-like manner toward the left side is formed. Therefore, the upper part of the movable housing 50 is formed into a substantially crank shape when viewed in the front-rear direction. The lower surface of the lateral protrusion 70 is a step surface 70A facing downward, and the lower surface of the lateral recess 72 is a step surface 72A facing upward. This step surface 72A is located slightly below the step surface 70A.

Further, on the upper side of each movable housing 50 above the insertion port 68, there is a tapered front-rear guide surface (crossing direction guide surface) 74 for guiding the mating terminal 16 to the insertion port 68 (insertion chamber 60). Left and right guiding surfaces (array direction guiding surfaces) 80 are provided. The front-rear guide surface 74 includes a front inclined surface 76 that extends downwardly from the front end of the upper end of the movable housing 50 toward the insertion port 68, and a front inclined surface 76 that extends downwardly from the rear end of the upper end of the movable housing 50 toward the insertion port 68. and a rear inclined surface 78 extending in a slope. The front inclined surface 76 and the rear inclined surface 78 face each other in the front-rear direction (crossing direction X), and are tapered so as to approach each other toward the insertion port 68 side. The upper end of the front inclined surface 76 and the upper end of the rear inclined surface 78 are located at the same height and are arranged at the upper end of the movable housing 50.

The left and right guide surfaces 80 include a left inclined surface 82 that extends downwardly from the left end of the upper end of the movable housing 50 toward the insertion port 68, and a left inclined surface 82 that extends downwardly from the right end of the upper end of the movable housing 50 toward the insertion port 68. The right inclined surface 84 extends to the right side. The left inclined surface 82 and the right inclined surface 84 face each other in the left-right direction (arrangement direction Y), and are tapered so as to approach each other toward the insertion port 68 side. The upper end of the left inclined surface 82 is located below the upper ends of the front inclined surface 76 and the rear inclined surface 78, and the upper end of the right inclined surface 84 is located below the upper end of the left inclined surface 82. positioned. The upper end of this right side inclined surface 84 is connected to the stepped surface 72A of the side recessed portion 72 described above. Furthermore, an outer inclined surface 86 is formed on the upper part of the movable housing 50 and extends downwardly from the upper end of the left inclined surface 82 toward the left side and the lower side. This outer inclined surface 86 is formed on the side protrusion 70 described above. The lower end of this outer inclined surface 86 is located slightly above the upper end of the right inclined surface 84.

The left inclined surface 82 above corresponds to the "first inclined surface" in the present invention, and the above right inclined surface 84 corresponds to the "second inclined surface" in the present invention, and the above described outer inclined surface 84 corresponds to the "second inclined surface" in the present invention. The surface 86 corresponds to the "third inclined surface" in the present invention. Hereinafter, the left inclined surface 82 will be referred to as the "first inclined surface 82," the right inclined surface 84 will be referred to as the "second inclined surface 84," and the outer inclined surface 86 will be referred to as the "third inclined surface 86."

(About the terminal)
The plurality of terminals 90 (see FIG. 14) are, for example, formed by punching and bending a conductive metal plate into a predetermined shape, and are elongated with the longitudinal direction in the front-rear direction (crossing direction X). is formed. Each terminal 90 includes a fixed part 90A fixed to the fixed housing 20, a board connecting part 90B extending from the fixed part 90A and connected to the board 12, and a movable fixed part 90C fixed to the movable housing 50. , a pair of front and rear mating connection parts 90D1 and 90D2 extending from the movable fixed part 90C and connected to the mating terminal 16, and elastic deformation bridged between the fixed part 90A and the movable fixed part 90C. 90E.

The fixing portion 90A is formed in a plate shape with the thickness direction in the front-rear direction, and is fitted into the left and right fixing grooves 34 formed in the fixed housing 20 from below. A plurality of claw portions 91 protruding to both sides in the left and right direction are formed in parallel in the vertical direction at both left and right ends of the fixing portion 90A. The fixing portion 90A is held in the fixed housing 20 by these claw portions 91 biting into the inner surface of the fixing groove 34. The board connecting portion 90B extends to the rear side of the rear wall 20B through a gap 40 between the lower end of the rear wall 20B of the fixed housing 20 and the board 12, and is fixed (electrically) to the board 12 by means such as soldering. connected).

The movable side fixed part 90C includes a front wall 90C1 and a rear wall 90C2 that face each other in the front-rear direction, and a right wall 90C3 that connects the right ends of the front wall 90C1 and the rear wall 90C2 in the front-rear direction. It is approximately U-shaped (approximately U-shaped) with the left side open. This movable side fixing portion 90C is fitted into the insertion chamber 60 of the movable housing 50 from below. At the left end of the rear wall 90C2, a plurality of claws 93 that protrude to the left are vertically arranged, and at the front end of the right wall 90C3, a plurality of claws 92 that project to the front are formed. are arranged vertically. The plurality of claws 92 are inserted into the groove 62 formed at the front and right corner of the insertion chamber 60 and bite into the inner surface of the groove 62, and the plurality of claws 93 are inserted at the rear of the insertion chamber 60. It is inserted into a groove 64 formed on the side and left corner and bites into the inner surface of the groove 64. Thereby, the movable side fixing portion 90C is held by the movable housing 50.

The pair of front and rear mating connecting parts 90D1 and 90D2 extend upward from the upper ends of the front wall 90C1 and the rear wall 90C2 of the movable fixed part 90C. Contact portions CP1 and CP2 are formed in vertically intermediate portions of the mating connection portions 90D1 and 90D2, and are bent so as to approach each other. The mating terminal 16 inserted into the insertion chamber 60 is inserted between the mating connecting parts 90D1 and 90D2 including these contact parts CP1 and CP2. Thereby, each contact portion CP1, CP2 comes into contact with the mating terminal 16, and the terminal 90 is configured to be electrically connected to the mating terminal 16 within the insertion chamber 60.

The elastic deformation portion (spring portion) 90E constitutes a longitudinally intermediate portion of the terminal 90 and is disposed within the fixed housing 20 below the rear protrusion portion 56 of the movable housing 50. The elastically deformable portion 90E includes a fixed side vertically extending portion 90E1 extending upward from the upper end of the fixed portion 90A, an upper horizontally extending portion 90E2 extending forward and slightly upward from the upper end of the fixed side vertically extending portion 90E1, and an upper horizontally extending portion 90E2 extending forward and slightly upward from the upper end of the fixed side vertically extending portion 90E1. It is constituted by a movable side longitudinally extending portion 90E3 extending downward from the front end of the movable side longitudinally extending portion 90E2, and a lower side horizontally extending portion 90E4 extending forwardly from the lower end of the movable side longitudinally extending portion 90E3. The front end portion of the lower horizontally extending portion 90E4 is bent upward and is integrally connected to the lower end of the rear wall 90C2 of the movable side fixed portion 90C. The elastic deformation of the elastic deformation portion 90E allows relative displacement of the movable housing 50 in the front, back, left, right, up and down directions with respect to the fixed housing 20.

Here, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, in a pair of movable housings 50 that are adjacent to each other in the left-right direction (arrangement direction Y) (hereinafter, may simply be referred to as "adjacent movable housings 50"), The lateral protrusion 70 of the right movable housing 50 is inserted into the lateral recess 72 of the left movable housing 50. That is, the adjacent movable housings 50 partially overlap when viewed from the insertion direction Z1 (insertion/extraction direction Z). Hereinafter, of a pair of movable housings 50 adjacent in the left-right direction, the right movable housing 50 may be referred to as the "right-adjacent movable housing 50", and the left-hand movable housing 50 may be referred to as the "left-adjacent movable housing 50". be.

Further, in this embodiment, a part of the left and right guiding surfaces 80 that guide the mating terminal 16 into the insertion chamber 60 provided in the movable housing 50 adjacent to the left (that is, one of the movable housings 50 adjacent to each other) is located in the movable housing 50 adjacent to the right. It is formed in the movable housing 50 (that is, the other one of the adjacent movable housings 50). Specifically, the left and right guiding surfaces 80 that guide the mating terminal 16 into the insertion chamber 60 provided in the movable housing 50 on the left are a first inclined surface 82 and a second inclined surface formed on the movable housing 50 on the left. surface 84 and a third inclined surface 86 formed on the adjacent movable housing 50 on the right on the near side (upper side; arrow UP side) in the insertion direction Z1 with respect to the second inclined surface 84 of the adjacent movable housing 50 on the left. It is configured. The third inclined surface 86 faces the first inclined surface 82 of the adjacent movable housing 50 on the left in the arrangement direction Y. When viewed from the insertion direction Z1, the second inclined surface 84 of the movable housing 50 on the left and the third inclined surface 86 of the movable housing 50 on the right partially overlap.

In addition, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, an insertion chamber 60 provided in the right end (rightmost) movable housing 50 (corresponding to "the movable housing located at one end in the arrangement direction" in the present invention) The left and right guiding surfaces 80 that guide the mating terminal 16 are aligned with the first inclined surface 82 and the second inclined surface 84 formed on the movable housing 50 at the right end, and the insertion direction with respect to the second inclined surface 84 of the movable housing 50 at the right end. A fourth inclined surface 26 formed on the fixed housing 20 on the front side of Z1. This fourth inclined surface 26 faces the first inclined surface 82 of the right end movable housing 50 in the arrangement direction Y. That is, in the present embodiment, the left and right guiding surfaces 80 that guide the mating terminal 16 into the insertion chamber 60 provided in the right end movable housing 50 are formed by a part of the right end movable housing 50 and a part of the fixed housing 20. It is made up of. Further, when viewed from the insertion direction Z1, the second inclined surface 84 of the right end movable housing 50 and the fourth inclined surface 26 partially overlap.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a movable housing 50 at the left end (leftmost side) (corresponding to the "movable housing located at the other end in the arrangement direction" in the present invention) is provided with a The left and right guiding surfaces 80 that guide the mating terminal 16 into the insertion chamber 60 include a first inclined surface 82 and a second inclined surface 84 formed on the movable housing 50 on the left end, and a movable surface on the right side of the movable housing 50 on the left end. It is constituted by a third inclined surface 86 formed on the housing 50 and a fifth inclined surface 28 formed on the fixed housing 20 on the near side in the insertion direction Z1 with respect to the first inclined surface 82 of the movable housing 50 at the left end. . That is, in the present embodiment, the left and right guiding surfaces 80 that guide the mating terminal 16 into the insertion chamber 60 provided in the left end movable housing 50 include a part of the left end movable housing 50 and the left end movable housing 50. It is composed of a part of the movable housing 50 on the right and a part of the fixed housing 20. When viewed from the insertion direction Z1, the first inclined surface 82 and the fifth inclined surface 28 of the movable housing 50 at the left end partially overlap.

In addition, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, there is a difference between the adjacent movable housings 50 due to the relative displacement thereof along the insertion direction Z1 (that is, the relative displacement between the adjacent movable housings 50 in the insertion/extraction direction Z). ) is formed to allow a movable gap 94 (numerals omitted in other than FIG. 6). This movable gap 94 is formed by a step surface 72A of the movable housing 50 on the left (see FIGS. 10 to 13; reference numeral omitted in FIG. 6) and a step surface 70A of the movable housing 50 on the right (see FIGS. 10 to 13; (symbol omitted in FIG. 6).

(action and effect)
Next, the functions and effects of this embodiment will be explained.

In the electrical connector 10 configured as described above, the plurality of movable housings 50 are displaceably arranged with respect to the fixed housing 20 fixed to the board 12. Then, the mating terminals 16 are respectively inserted into the insertion chambers 60 provided in each movable housing 50 in an insertion direction Z1 orthogonal to the arrangement direction Y of each movable housing 50. A plurality of tapered left and right guide surfaces 80 for guiding each mating terminal 16 to each insertion chamber 60 are provided on the front side of each insertion chamber 60 in the insertion direction Z1. Moreover, a plurality of terminals 90 are bridged between the fixed housing 20 and the plurality of movable housings 50. These terminals 90 come into contact with each mating terminal 16 inside each insertion chamber 60, and allow relative displacement of the plurality of movable housings 50 with respect to the fixed housing 20 by their respective elastic deformations. As a result, displacement of the insertion position of each mating terminal 16, vibration, etc. can be absorbed by the above-mentioned relative displacement, and sliding between each terminal 90 and each mating terminal 16 can be suppressed.

Moreover, in this embodiment, the movable housings 50 adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction Y partially overlap when viewed from the insertion direction Z1 of the mating terminal 16. Further, a part of the left and right guiding surfaces 80 (outside inclined surfaces 86) that guide the mating terminal 16 into the insertion chamber 60 provided in one of the adjacent movable housings 50 is It is formed in a movable housing 50). As a result, even when trying to narrow the pitch between the terminals 90 (that is, narrow the pitch of the insertion chambers 60), it becomes easy to secure space for providing the left and right guiding surfaces 80, so that the mating This electrical connector 10 can be downsized in the arrangement direction Y while ensuring a sufficient amount of induction for the terminals 16. As a result, it is possible to downsize electronic equipment provided with the present electrical connector 10.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the left and right guiding surfaces 80 that guide the mating terminal 16 into the insertion chamber 60 provided in one of the movable housings 50 adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction Y (left-right direction) (the left adjacent movable housing 50) are , a first inclined surface 82, a second inclined surface 84, and a third inclined surface 86. The first inclined surface 82 and the second inclined surface 84 are formed on the movable housing 50 on the left side, and are opposed to each other in the arrangement direction Y. The third inclined surface 86 is formed on the movable housing 50 on the right, and is disposed on the front side in the insertion direction Z1 with respect to the second inclined surface 84 of the movable housing 50 on the left. The third inclined surface 86 allows the mating terminal 16 to be guided to the second inclined surface 84 , and the second inclined surface 84 allows the mating terminal 16 to be guided to the insertion chamber 60 . Since the insertion chamber 60 into which the mating terminal 16 is guided and the second inclined surface 84 are formed in the same movable housing 50 (the movable housing 50 on the left), the mating terminal 16 is guided into the mating terminal 60. The induction of the side terminal 16 is stabilized.

That is, for example, the second inclined surface 84 of the movable housing 50 on the left side is omitted (eliminated), and the third inclined surface 86 of the movable housing 50 on the right side is placed on the lower side (the lower end side of the second inclined surface 84 omitted above). ), the left and right guide surface 80 can be configured only by the first slope 82 and the third slope 86. However, in that case, the mating terminal 16 is directly guided from the third inclined surface 86 of the movable housing 50 on the right to the insertion chamber 60 of the movable housing 50 on the left. Due to the relative displacement between the insertion chamber 60 and the insertion chamber 60, the guidance of the mating terminal 16 into the insertion chamber 60 may become unstable, but this can be avoided in this embodiment.

Moreover, in this embodiment, when viewed from the insertion direction Z1, the second inclined surface 84 of the movable housing 50 on the left and the third inclined surface 86 of the movable housing 50 on the right partially overlap. There is. As a result, when viewed from the insertion direction Z1, it is possible to prevent a gap, a step, etc. from being formed between the second inclined surface 84 and the third inclined surface 86, so that the mating terminal 16 can be inserted into the above-mentioned gap. This can prevent damage caused by getting caught on bumps or steps.

Further, in this embodiment, the left and right guiding surfaces 80 that guide the mating terminal 16 into the insertion chamber 60 of the right end movable housing 50 are fixed on the front side in the insertion direction Z1 with respect to the second inclined surface 84 of the right end movable housing 50. The housing 20 includes a fourth inclined surface 26 formed on the housing 20. Therefore, the left and right guiding surfaces 80 that guide the mating terminals 16 into the insertion chamber 60 of the right end movable housing 50 can be expanded in the arrangement direction Y by the fourth inclined surface 26 .

Moreover, in this embodiment, when viewed from the insertion direction Z1, the second inclined surface 84 of the movable housing 50 at the right end and the fourth inclined surface 26 of the fixed housing 20 partially overlap. As a result, when viewed from the insertion direction Z1, it is possible to prevent a gap, a step, etc. from being formed between the second inclined surface 84 and the fourth inclined surface 26, so that the mating terminal 16 It is possible to prevent damage caused by getting caught in the above-mentioned gaps, steps, etc.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the left and right guiding surfaces 80 that guide the mating terminal 16 into the insertion chamber 60 of the left end movable housing 50 are arranged in the insertion direction Z1 with respect to the first inclined surface 82 formed in the left end movable housing 50. The fixed housing 20 includes a fifth inclined surface 28 formed on the front side of the fixed housing 20. Therefore, the left and right guiding surfaces 80 that guide the mating terminals 16 into the insertion chamber 60 of the left end movable housing 50 can be expanded in the arrangement direction Y by the fifth inclined surface 28.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, when viewed from the insertion direction Z1, the first inclined surface 82 of the movable housing 50 at the left end and the fifth inclined surface 28 of the fixed housing 20 partially overlap. As a result, when viewed from the insertion direction Z1, it is possible to prevent a gap, a step, etc. from being formed between the first inclined surface 82 and the fifth inclined surface 28, so that the mating terminal 16 It is possible to prevent damage caused by getting caught in the above-mentioned gaps, steps, etc.

Further, in this embodiment, a movable gap 94 is formed between adjacent movable housings 50 to allow relative displacement thereof along the insertion direction Z1. This allows the adjacent movable housings 50 to be displaced independently of each other along the insertion direction Z1 of the mating terminals 16, making it easier to absorb misalignment of the insertion position of each mating terminal 16, vibration, etc. .

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the plurality of movable housings 50 are all formed in the same shape. This makes it possible, for example, to manufacture a plurality of movable housings 50 using the same mold, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency.

Further, in this embodiment, the plurality of terminals 90 have a longitudinal direction in the spanning direction X that is orthogonal to the arrangement direction Y when viewed from the insertion direction Z1, and the longitudinal intermediate portion of each terminal 90 is elastically deformable. Section 90E. Therefore, the size of each terminal 90 in the arrangement direction Y can be set small, and a sufficient amount of elastic deformation of each terminal 90 can be ensured.

<Supplementary explanation of the embodiment>
In the above embodiment, the plurality of movable housings 50 are all formed in the same shape, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the movable housing 50 at the right end may have a different shape from the other movable housings 50. In that case, the fourth inclined surface 26 of the fixed housing 20 may be omitted, for example, by extending the second inclined surface 84 of the right end movable housing 50 upward.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the fixed housing 20 has the fifth inclined surface 28, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the fixed housing 20 may not have the fifth inclined surface 28.

Further, in the above embodiment, when viewed from the insertion direction Z1, the second inclined surface 84 of the movable housing 50 on the left and the third inclined surface 86 of the movable housing 50 on the right partially overlap. However, the structure is not limited to this. That is, when viewed from the insertion direction Z1, the second inclined surface 84 of the movable housing 50 on the left and the third inclined surface 86 of the movable housing 50 on the right are adjacent to each other without any interval. Good too. This point is determined by the relationship between the second inclined surface 84 of the movable housing 50 at the right end and the fourth inclined surface 26 of the fixed housing 20, and the relationship between the first inclined surface 82 of the movable housing 50 at the left end and the fifth inclined surface of the fixed housing 20. The same applies to the relationship with the surface 28.

In the above embodiment, the left and right guide surfaces 80 that guide the mating terminals 16 to the insertion chamber 60 provided in the movable housing 50 on the left side include the first inclined surface 82, the second inclined surface 84, and the third inclined surface 86, but this is not limited to the above. For example, the second inclined surface 84 of the movable housing 50 on the left side may be omitted, and the third inclined surface 86 of the movable housing 50 on the right side may be extended downward (to the lower end side of the omitted second inclined surface 84), so that the left and right guide surfaces 80 are formed only by the first inclined surface 82 and the third inclined surface 86.

10 electrical connector 12 board 16 mating terminal (connection target)
20 Fixed housing 50 Movable housing 60 Insertion chamber 90 Terminal 90D1, 90D2 Mating connection part 90E Elastic deformation part X Strapping direction Y Arrangement direction Z1 Insertion direction

Claims (3)

a fixed housing fixed to the board;
a plurality of movable housings arranged so as to be displaceable with respect to the fixed housing, and into which connection objects are respectively inserted into insertion chambers provided in each of the movable housings in an insertion direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction; the fixed housing and the plurality of movable housings; The plurality of movable housings are connected to each other with respect to the fixed housing. a plurality of terminals each having an elastic deformation portion that allows displacement by elastic deformation;
Equipped with
one said terminal per said movable housing;
The pair of mating connection portions face each other in a spanning direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction and the insertion direction,
The elastic deformation portion extends toward one side in the spanning direction with respect to the pair of mating connection portions,
The movable housing is formed such that a dimension in the arrangement direction is smaller than a dimension in the spanning direction,
The plurality of movable housings are dimensioned in the arrangement direction so that a gap is ensured between them,
An electrical connector in which a portion of the fixed housing is not interposed between the plurality of movable housings . The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of movable housings are all formed in the same shape. The electrical connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the terminals has the spanning direction as the longitudinal direction when viewed from the insertion direction, and an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of each of the terminals is the elastic deformation portion. .