JPH01265468A - Electric connector assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make possible the blind fitting of connector, which can be performed by the robot work, by providing a receptacle module and an aligning means, which are installed on a work piece freely to be moved within a flat surface thereof. CONSTITUTION: An electrical connector assembly 2 is formed of a printing circuit board header 6, a multi-core electric connector 8 and a receptacle module 4 arranged between both the header 6 and the connector 8. Fitting flanges 58a, 58b of the receptacle module 4 are loosely fitted in a narrow groove 118 of a work piece 116 freely to be moved in the vertical direction and the lateral direction by the predetermined quantity within a surface of the work piece 116. A projected aligning support 100 of the header 6 is inserted into a cavity 66 of the receptacle module 4, and a mating part of insertion is moved to a required position by a front surface 102 with taper so as to be aligned in the receptacle module 4, and the blind fitting of the connector by simple and straight movement is possible.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a connector assembly of the type suitable for connecting a multi-conductor cable to multiple circuits in an electrical component, and more particularly, the invention relates to a connector assembly of the type suitable for connecting a multi-conductor cable to multiple circuits in an electrical component; The present invention relates to a connector assembly comprising a header mounted on an outer portion, the header having a plurality of pins coupled to a printed circuit board, and the present invention provides with an electrical connector mounted;
and a receptacle module engageable with the header.

In particular, this invention relates to connector assemblies in which components can be blind-fitted to cables, such as when an electrical component, such as a radio mounted in the dash of an automobile, is connected to a The present invention relates to a connector assembly capable of being blind-fitted to an electrical harness located behind a carrier panel.

Electrical components, such as radios, are typically assembled by hand into the vehicle interior or into other components. Electrical harnesses that are attached to the rear of the vehicle panel and have electrical connectors in appropriate locations are commonly located within the vehicle. When another component, such as a radio, is to be attached to the harness, another connector at the end of the harness is conventionally inserted into a mating connector or header on the rear of the 11η component. The component is then mounted to a panel within the vehicle or to the frame. Of course, this operation would require clearance for manual assembly of the connector at the rear of the component and is therefore a very labor-intensive operation.

One conventional radio assembly, shown in the prior art diagram of FIG. 1 and used in automobiles, employs a shaped and insulative connector or header that includes: It is attached to a printed circuit board on the outside of the radio case. The external printed circuit board is then connected to a printed circuit board on the interior of the case via another ribbon cable.

This assembly does not allow for a simple blind fit operation to electrically interconnect the radio to the wire harness when the radio is installed in the dash.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,975 discloses a slide-mounted radio into the dash that can be attached to multiple electrical connectors in one location. The plurality of electrical connectors are for interconnecting remotely located components such as a power source in the engine compartment and speakers located at various locations in the passenger compartment. The assembly shown in that patent includes a plurality of connectors arranged and positioned on the side of a receptacle for receiving the radio case. A terminal block is located on the side of the radio case and engages these connectors when the radio is inserted into a recess on an automobile dash.

A preferred embodiment of the invention includes an assembly for mounting electrical components, such as a radio, on a panel;
As the electrical component moves linearly toward the panel, it connects to a conductor, such as a wire, in a harness behind the panel.

Such an assembly is particularly useful in the robotic assembly of electrical components, such as radios, into harnesses within automobiles. The assembly includes two interfitting housings, one of which is mounted within the panel for at least limited movement in any direction within the plane of the panel. A housing mounted within the panel has an electrical connector attached to or inserted into the housing. Terminals within the electrical connector are matable with terminals within the mating housing. Alignment of the first and second housings in the plane of the panel occurs during linear movement of the first housing toward the panel. a protruding alignment post is received within the mating alignment cavity;
This positions the first and second housings relative to each other and aligns corresponding terminals before the terminals are mated. The protruding end of the alignment post is tapered around its periphery to engage the angled lead-in portion of the alignment post. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the /X housing attached to the electrical component includes a header having a plurality of conductive pins mounted within an insulative body. Alignment posts in the preferred embodiment projecting from the header are located between the rows of pins. The second housing includes a receptacle module having at least one connector mounting cavity for receiving an electrical connector when inserted from the rear. The alignment cavity extends from the front of the receptacle module.

The connector assembly comprises a blind fit input/output electrical connector assembly. A cover may be assembled to the rear of the receptacle module, and may be attached to the receptacle/cover assembly by applying suitable plating or a suitable filter within the receptacle module and the cover. The connectors and cables in the volume can be shielded from electromagnetic interference. It is also possible to mount a filter on the header inside the case of the electrical component.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The input/output electrical connector assembly 2, which is a preferred embodiment of the invention, is specifically intended to enable blind assembly of electrical components, such as a radio, to an automotive electrical harness. are doing. The electrical connector assembly 2 may also allow for robotic assembly of such components. When assembling by a robot, it is preferable that the assembling is limited to linear movement of the components during the operation.

The input/output electrical connector assembly 2 includes a receptacle φ module 4, a printed circuit board header 6, and a wire 10 attached to a harness cable 12.
A multi-core electrical connector 8 is provided. Each multi-core electrical connector 8 includes a connector housing 20 having a plurality of terminals 22 disposed therein. The terminals 22 are of a type suitable for mating with the pins 14 in the header 6. Connector 8 connects the harness in a conventional manner.
After being attached to the wires 10 in the cable 12, the connector 8 can be positioned within the receptacle module 4, and then a cover 18 is assembled around the rear of the receptacle module 4 to close the connector. Both the rear of the cable 8 and the end of the cable 12 can be coated. The receptacle module 4 can then be mounted in place on a panel or workpiece 16, at which point the receptacle module 4 can be attached to a cable protruding to the rear of the panel 16. 12 can be fitted with a header 6 on an electrical component having an electrical harness.

The multi-core electrical connector 8 is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4.722,7.
of the type more fully described in No. 04.

Each of the terminals 22 disposed within the connector housing 2o is formed of conventional spring metal and includes a plurality of receptacle-shaped contact beams 24 that connect electrically to the pins 14 in the header 6. Suitable for making regular mating connections. Each terminal 22 includes at its rear end a crimp portion 26 of conventional form, which crimp portion 26 includes a crimp portion 26 for each wire with insulation.
suitable for making electrical contact with the core of the conductor within.

Each terminal 22 is inserted from the rear into a passage in the connector housing 2o. Connect the terminal 22 to the housing 2o
At least three surfaces are provided on each terminal 22 for securing therein. A transversely extending edge 28 on the box-shaped area of the terminal 22 is spaced apart from a pair of raised ears 3o. A stopper finger 32 is provided at the front of the terminal 22 and engages the front wall of the terminal cavity 34 when the terminal 22 is inserted rearward into the connector 20. be. Each/X Uzing 2
0 includes a resilient terminal catch finger 36 that protrudes from the front portion of the housing 20. One finger 36 of the terminal catch is installed in each terminal cavity 34. As shown in FIG. 5, each terminal hook finger 36 engages the terminal 22 within the corresponding cavity 34 and between the transverse edge 28 and the raised ear 30. .

A transversely extending overstress member 38 is provided on the exterior of the housing 20 to prevent the terminal hook from damaging the finger 36. The secondary deterrent member 42 is
It can be inserted from the rear of the connector housing 20 so as to abut and engage the rear of the ear 30 . Secondary restraint fingers 44 engage openings 46 in housing 20 to secure terminals 22 within connector nozzle housing 20. The connector retaining catch on the exterior of the housing 20 has a body 40, and the transverse catches on the ends of the two flexible arms have bars 48. When the connector housing 20 is mated with a matable connector, the transverse hook bar 48
It will engage a corresponding protrusion on the mating connector.

Said hook is the body 40 and the transverse hook is the bar 4
8 connects the multi-core electrical connector to the receptacle module 4 of the present invention when used with the receptacle module 4 of the present invention.
It serves to hold within the module 4.

The receptacle module 4 includes a receptacle module housing 50 having a front face 52 and a rear face 54 . A shelf 56 projects from the rear face 54 of the receptacle module 4 and beyond this rear face 54 from one edge or side of the receptacle module 4 . A plurality of mounts are provided on the exterior of the receptacle module 4 such that flanges 58a and 58b allow the receptacle module 4 to be inserted into the cutout in the panel 16. When mounted adjacent to each other, flanges 58a and 58b have panel 1 between them.
B is spaced a sufficient distance to receive the edges of B, and this distance is such that the receptacle warping module 4 still
It is a distance that allows at least limited movement in any direction within the plane of the panel 10.

Each receptacle module 4 has upper and lower connector mounting holes G Oa and 60b extending through the receptacle module housing 50 from the front face 52 to the rear face 54. are doing. Additionally, these connector mounting cavities G Oa and 6 Clb are each located above a shelf 56 that projects rearward. Furthermore, each connector mounting cavity 00a and GOb is shaped to receive a single electrical connector 8, and the shape of the cavity can be shaped to match the outer shape of the electrical connector housing 20. can. The conductor mounting cavity 6° can also be shaped to allow the connector 8 to be inserted into the receptacle module 4 through the rear portion 54. Each connector mounting has a cavity 60, the connector catch is adapted to receive the body 40, the connector catch has a body release groove, the raised connector catch has a boss 62, the connector catch has a boss 62, and the connector catch has a body release groove adapted to receive the body 40. 62 is adapted such that the transverse hooks between the plurality of grooves 64 engage the bar 48 . The rear part of the boss 62 of the connector hook is inclined;
Thereby, the transverse hook bar 48 becomes deflected upwardly as the connector is inserted into the corresponding cavity 60 from the rear. The connector catch extends transversely from the front of the boss 62 such that the transverse catch engages the bar 48.

An alignment cavity 66 is located between the upper and lower connector mounting cavities 60. The alignment cavity 66 extends inwardly from the front face 52, and in a preferred embodiment, the alignment cavity 66 extends from the front face 52 to the rear face 54. The cavity 66 is oblong and has an external or front surface 5
It has an inclined introduction surface 68 that is open to 2. This inclined introduction surface 68 extends around the entire circumference of the alignment cavity 6B.

The cover 18 allows the connector 8 to which the harness cable 12 is attached to be connected to the receptacle module housing 5.
0 through the rear part 54 and then assembled into the rear part of the receptacle module housing 5o. Cover 18 has side walls 72a, 72b and 72c connected to rear wall 74. A bottom shelf 76 projects from the lower edge of the rear wall 74, and a notch 78 is formed in the top of the bottom shelf 7G. This notch has dimensions to receive the edge of said side 5G. A semicircular recess 7o is formed on the edge of said side 56. Four cooperating semicircular parts are formed on the bottom 11UI 70 of said cover 18. When the cover 18 is attached to the rear of the receptacle module 4, said two semicircular recesses 70 and 8o are -
Together they form a cable receiving opening that projects upwardly from the rear lower end of the receptacle module 4.

A protrusion 88 on the upper side wall 72b of the cover tg is dimensioned to fit within a hole 8G on the top of the rear face 54 of the receptacle module housing 5o. Sixes 82 and 84 aligned with each other are provided at the free ends of the cover 18 and the receptacle module shelf 56, so that the cover 18 is fixed to the receptacle module housing 50 at its top and bottom. can be done. In this way, the cover 18 can be secured to the receptacle module housing 50 from above and from the rear after the connector 8 has been inserted into the receptacle module 4. In the embodiment described here, the harness cable 12 is bent at a right angle and projects from the bottom of the receptacle module 4. In other configurations, the shelf 76 and the cable receiving opening may
8 and the receptacle module 4 may be arranged in different planes.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the printed circuit board header 6 includes an insulative body 90 having a plurality of conductive pins of a type suitable for reception within the through-holes of the printed circuit board. 14 are arranged in separate columns. The inner and outer ends of the pins 14 project from opposite sides of the inner wall 92 on the header body 90.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inner end of pin 14 projects outwardly beyond inner side 104 of header body 90. The outer end of the pin 14 also projects on the inner side 104 of the header body 90, but a header envelope 94 extends around the pin 14. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inner ends 96 of some of the pins 14 are straight. The inner ends 98 of the other pins 14 extend at right angles. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, one row of pins 14 has a right-angled inner end 9B, and the other three rows have straight inner ends 9G.
has. The outer end of pin 14 essentially connects connector 8
are arranged in ordered rows corresponding to the orientation of the terminals 22 of the terminals 22.

Therefore, the spacing and arrangement of the outer ends of the pins 14 are:
will correspond to the spacing and placement of the terminals 22, thus allowing the terminals 22 and pins 14 to be mated together when the header 6 is mated to the receptacle module 4. There is.

The header body 90 also includes an alignment post 100 having a generally oval cross section extending between the two inner rows of pins I4.
It is equipped with This alignment support 100 has a tapered front! 02 and the cross-section of the alignment post 100 is dimensioned to be received within the alignment cavity 60 on the module housing 5o.

The taper extends all the way around the alignment post 100 at the tapered front end 102 .

A centrally located oblong alignment post 100 projects from the outside of the header, and the free projecting end of the alignment post 100 projects beyond the outer end of the pin 14. A filter cavity 108 is formed on the inner side 104 of the header body 9o. The filter cavity 108 is suitable for receiving a filter 110, which filter 11.0 is molded from a ferrite material and has a plurality of holes 112, the holes 112 comprising:
It is arranged in a manner suitable to be inserted onto the inner ends of said pins 14 in the upper two rows. Is this ferrite filter 120 a conventional one? +I7 structure and a filter with functions.

The header 6 in the preferred embodiment of the invention is for all input or output lines for electrical components, such as radios that may be used in automobiles.
We have a sufficient number of pins available. Connections to circuits in the electrical configuration are provided by conventional printed circuit boards 120 and 1.
22. The pins or posts 14 can be formed using beveled and pre-tinned brass square wire so that the posts or pins 14 can be formed on the printed circuit boards 120 and 122. Conventional through-hole brazing techniques can be employed to interconnect circuits.

The header body 90 includes mounting flanges 124 on each opposite side of the outer side 106. These attachment flanges 124 serve as a means for securing the header 6 to the casing 114 of an electrical component, such as a radio. The casing or cover 114 is provided with slots 9R 115 into which the header body 90 is inserted, with the flanges 124 being positioned on opposite shelves of the rear panel 114. The alignment post 110, which projects beyond the outer end of the pin 14, also projects outwardly beyond the rear panel 114 of an electrical component, such as a radio.

Mounting on the receptacle module housing 50 serves as a means for attaching the receptacle module 4 to the carrier panel or workpiece 16 .

The carrier panel 116 includes a slot 118, the slot 118
A receptacle number module 4 can be inserted therein, with each said flange 58 being aligned with said panel 110.
located on each shelf opposite the The harness cable 12 will extend to the rear of the carrier panel 116, while the front face 52 of the receptacle module
It will be opened through the narrow groove 118. Interconnection of the electrical components to the harness cable 12 can then be easily accomplished by simply fitting the header 6 into the receptacle module 4.

The alignment post 100 projects from the outside 106 of the header 6 and from the rear panel 114 of the electrical components.
Since it protrudes outward beyond the alignment support 10
0 will be the first member to engage said receptacle module 4. The alignment cavity 66 is specially shaped to receive the alignment post +00 so that these members are aligned with the first and second alignment posts to ensure precise alignment between pin I4 and connector terminal 22. 2 serves as an alignment means. The tapered preform 102 of the alignment post 100 will be coarsely aligned with the alignment cavity 66 and will initially engage the angled lead-in portion 68 . As the header 6 continues to move the electrical components on which it is mounted, relative movement occurs between the receptacle module 4 and the header 6. This is because the receptacle module 4 is free to move within the slot 118 in any direction within the plane of the carrier panel 116. If the front 3e 71S pneumatic components are assembled by a robot, it is expected that most of this movement will involve movement of the receptacle module 4 within the slots 116 of the carrier panel 116.

Some alignment struts that conform to the inner contour of alignment cavity 66 project outwardly beyond the outer ends of pins 14 so that pins 14 and terminals 22 are aligned with each other prior to engagement with each other. They will be lined up. Therefore, the alignment support 100 fits into the alignment cavity 66 in the header 6.
before the outside 106 of the receptacle module engages the front face 52 of the receptacle module [a] and before the pin 14 mates with the terminal 22. Since the alignment cavity 66 is open on the front surface, the alignment support 100 is inserted into the alignment cavity 6 through the front surface just as the pin 14 is inserted through the front surface 52 and the terminal 22 is inserted through the front surface. It is time to engage with

Additionally, to allow blind-fit assembly of electrical components to the harness, the connector includes pin 14, terminal 2
It also ensures that the signal line consisting of 2 and the unshielded portion of the wire 10 does not have to be exposed to electrical interference. Normally, terminal 14 in header 6
The majority of the electrical components will be located inside the body of the electrical components. The outer cover of the electrical components would therefore provide a shield for the pins 14. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, receptacle number module 4 and cover 18 will provide shielding to terminals 22 and unshielded portions of wires 10. The receptacle module ψ housing 50 and the cover 18 may be molded of conventional insulating material and plated with nickel, or molded of nickel-impregnated insulating material to provide suitable shielding requirements. may be done. In this way, the robot can perform a blind-fit assembly of electrical components into the wiring harness and is equipped with suitable filters and Can be shielded.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art mounting and electrical interconnection assembly in which mating is not possible. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a connector assembly according to the present invention showing two multi-conductor electrical connectors, a receptacle module, and a mating header mounted in wires within a cable harness. FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view of the multi-core electrical connector, its terminals, and secondary restraint. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing two multi-conductor electrical connectors installed in cavities within the receptacle module. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the receptacle module with the outer cover assembled, in which the tabs on the electrical components are located at the front 5
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a receptacle module and its orientation for mating with the multi-conductor electrical terminals disposed therein; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle module, with one mounting showing one multi-core connector received within the cavity, and one empty mounting showing a cross-section of the cavity and a mating header pin; FIG. FIG. 6 is an assembled cross-sectional view of the receptacle module with electrical connectors mated to the header. Figures 7 and 8 are schematic diagrams illustrating the diagonal movement of the receptacle module during blind mating. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the connector assembly. 2... Electrical connector assembly 4... Receptacle pot module 6... Printed circuit board header 8... Multi-core electrical connector 10... Wire 12.
...Harness cable 14...Pin 16...
Workpiece 18...Cover 20...Electrical connector housing 22...Terminal 24...Beam 26...
Crimping part 28...Edge 30...Ear 3
2...Stotsuba JTI F34...Cavity for terminal
36...Terminal hook is finger 38...Member for excessive stress 42...Secondary restraint member 44...Secondary restraint finger 4G...Opening 48...Hatch is bar 50...・Receptacle module housing 52
・・・Actually 54...After 5G...
Shelves 58a, 58b...mounted on flanges 60a, 60b
...The connector is installed in the cavity 62...The hook is the boss
64...Groove 66...Cavity 68
... Inclined introduction surface 70 - ... recessed part 72
a, 72b, 72e - side wall 74... side wall
76...Bottom shelf 80...Concave part 8
2.84.86...hole 88...protrusion
90...Header body 92...Inner wall
94... Header enclosure 9G, 98... Inner end 100... Alignment support 102... Tapered front 104... Inside 10G... Outside
108... Filter cavity 110... Filter 112... Hole 114... Casing (or cover) 115... Thin groove 1
18...Supporting panel 118...Narrow grooves 120, 122...Printed circuit board 124...Flange mounting

Claims (10)

[Claims] (1) an electrical connector assembly (2) for use in mounting electrical components on a workpiece (116) and electrically interconnecting the electrical components to a conductive harness within the workpiece; ), wherein the harness comprises one or more multi-conductor electrical connectors (8), each electrical connector (8) having a plurality of terminals (22) attached to an electrical conductor (10) within the harness. )
and the electrical connector assembly (2) is connected to the header (6).
), the header (6) comprising a plurality of electrically conductive pins (14) and an insulative body (90), said pins being connected within said one or more electrical connectors (8). An electrical connector assembly (2) adapted to be mounted within said body in ordered rows corresponding to the orientation of the terminals (22), comprising a receptacle module (4); 4) has front and rear surfaces (52, 54), one or more connector mounting cavities (60a, 60b) extending between said front and rear surfaces, each connector mounting cavity comprising:
The electrical connector assembly (2) is shaped to receive one of the electrical connectors upon insertion through the rear surface, and the electrical connector assembly (2) is configured to insert the receptacle module onto the workpiece. means (58a, 58b) on said receptacle module for mounting for movement at a header and alignment means (100, 66) on said receptacle module, said alignment means (100, 66); 66) can engage each other when the header and the receptacle module are mated to each other, and the receptacle module can engage the header and the receptacle module when the header is mated to the receptacle module; An electrical connector assembly that is movable relative to the workpiece to enable the electrical component to form a blind fit with a connector in the harness. (2) said alignment means comprises at least one alignment post (100) projecting beyond a pin (14) on said header (6) and inwardly from a front face (52) of said receptacle module (4); An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one alignment cavity (66) extending into. 3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein said single alignment post (100) comprises an elongated member centrally located in said header (6). (4) The single alignment post (100) extends between separate rows of pins (14) projecting from the outside of the insulating body (90). The assembly according to item 2. (5) The receptacle module (4) has a cover (
18), the cover (18) being mountable to the rear surface (54) on the receptacle module (4) after insertion of the electrical connector into the connector mounting cavity (60a and 60b). 3. An assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: (6) said header (6) is characterized in that said header (6) is provided with a cavity (108) for mounting a filter (110) on the inner end of said pin (14) projecting from the inside of said header; An assembly according to claim 2. (7) the receptacle module (4) forms a shielding enclosure that partially surrounds each electrical connector (8) located within the connector mounting cavity (60a and 60b); The assembly of claim 1. 8. Assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that said receptacle module (4) is plated with a material having electromagnetic shielding properties. (9) the workpiece comprises a panel (116) and the means for mounting the receptacle module onto the workpiece provides for limited movement of the receptacle module in any direction within the plane of the panel; An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for enabling. (10) the workpiece comprises a panel (116);
and the means for mounting the receptacle module within the workpiece include flanges (58a and 58b) for mounting the receptacle module within slots (118) of the panel. An assembly according to claim 1.