JPH06310220A - Connection detecting device for connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect the connected state on the basis of the detection signal from an engaged state detecting part by laying a movable engagement part provided on one of housings in the state where it is engaged with a part to be engaged formed on the other connector housing. CONSTITUTION:When a movable engagement part 20 provided on one of two connector housings 11, 12 is engaged with a part to be engaged formed on the other connector housing, the detecting electrode member 28 of the other connector housing makes contact with an elastic conductive member 25. The electrically mutually connected state is detected through the member 25. Namely, when the housings 11, 12 are properly connected to each other, a contact connecting electrode part 1 and a contact connecting electrode part 2 make contact to each other and are connected. Then, when the housing 11 is laid in a proper engaging position to the housing 12, the movable engaging part 20 is engaged by bringing a position regulating part 20B into contact with the movable part 30 to be engaged. This connected state can be detected 31.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises a first connector housing in which a plurality of first contact connecting electrode portions are arranged and a second connector housing in which a plurality of second contact connecting electrode portions are arranged. And, when the first and second connector housings are mutually engaged, the plurality of first contact connection electrode portions and the plurality of second contact connection electrode portions are brought into mutual contact state and take a connection state. The present invention relates to a connector connection detection device that detects the connection state of a connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are two line groups consisting of a plurality of signal transmission lines or power transmission lines, and when connecting the ends of each line, one of the plurality of lines forming one line group and the other line. A multi-contact connector, which is a connector provided with a plurality of line connecting portions, is used to collectively perform interconnection with corresponding ones of a plurality of lines forming a group. The multi-contact connector includes, for example, a first connector housing in which a plurality of female contact connection electrode portions to which respective ends of a plurality of lines in one of the two line groups are respectively connected, and two A second connector housing in which a plurality of male contact connection electrode portions to which respective ends of a plurality of lines in the other of the line group are respectively connected are arranged, and first and second connectors are provided. When the housings are engaged with each other, the plurality of female contact connection electrode portions and the plurality of male contact connection electrode portions are brought into mutual contact with each other.

When a multi-contact connector having such first and second connector housings is used, the first connector housing and the second connector housing are proper when they are to be connected. It is required that each of the plurality of female type contact connection electrode portions and the corresponding male type contact connection electrode portions be appropriately brought into mutual contact by being engaged with each other. Therefore, for example, as also disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-99979, when the first connector housing and the second connector housing are engaged with each other, a plurality of female contact connecting electrode portions or male contact connecting electrode portions A multi-contact connector intended to prevent mechanical deformation that may be received by the mold contact connection electrode portion has also been proposed.

Such a multi-contact connector is widely used, for example, in various electronic devices, vehicles, etc.
The electronic device is attached to the chassis or the inside of the box that is built in the box of the electronic device, or to the vehicle body or the like of the vehicle. Then, in a predetermined process during the assembly process of the electronic device, the vehicle, etc., the first connector housing and the second connector housing of the used multi-contact connector are brought into mutual engagement,
In that case, first, the first connector housing and the second connector housing are properly engaged with each other, and thereafter, the first connector housing and the second connector housing are properly engaged with each other. Is important to be maintained.

[0005]

However, in the actual process of assembling electronic equipment, vehicles, etc., the first connector housing and the second connector housing of the multi-contact connector are engaged with each other. In the process in which the mutual engagement is undesirably not properly performed, or in the process in which the first connector housing and the second connector housing included in the multi-contact connector are mutually engaged, Was properly engaged with each other, but after that, due to some reason, the proper mutual engagement is lost, and in an extreme case, the first connector housing and the second connector housing are separated from each other. Things happen. Therefore, in a multi-contact connector used for various electronic devices, vehicles, etc., the first connector housing and the second connector housing are interrelated in a predetermined process during the assembly process of the electronic devices, vehicles, etc. It is desired that after the connection is made, whether the first connector housing and the second connector housing are in the proper mutual engagement state can be easily and surely detected. No proposal has been found relating to contact connectors that has been found to adequately meet such needs.

In view of the above point, the present invention provides a first connector housing in which a plurality of first contact connection electrode portions, which are, for example, a plurality of female contact connection electrode portions, are arranged,
And a second connector housing in which a plurality of second contact connection electrode portions, which are a plurality of male contact connection electrode portions, are arranged, and the first and second connector housings are engaged with each other. As a result, the plurality of first contact-connecting electrode portions and the plurality of second contact-connecting electrode portions are brought into contact with each other to be placed in the connected state. An object of the present invention is to provide a connector connection detection device capable of easily and reliably detecting whether or not the connector housing is properly engaged with each other with a relatively simple structure. To do.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a connector connection detecting device according to the present invention comprises a first connector housing having a plurality of first contact connection electrode portions and a plurality of first connector housings. A second connector housing in which the two contact connection electrode parts are arranged, and a plurality of second contact connection electrode parts are provided with a plurality of second contact connection electrode parts when the first and second connector housings are engaged with each other. The contact connection electrode portions are brought into contact with each other to be in a connected state, and the first connector housing is
A connector, which is provided with a movable engaging portion that engages with an engaged portion formed in a second connector housing to maintain a mutual engagement state in the first and second connector housings, An elastic conductive member attached to the first connector housing of the such connector at a position in the vicinity of the movable engaging portion and the second connector housing are fixed so that the first and second connector housings are properly engaged with each other. When combined, a pair of detection electrode members that abut the elastic conductive member and are electrically interconnected via the elastic conductive member, and are electrically connected to the pair of detection electrode members,
And an engagement state detection unit that emits a detection signal indicating the mutual engagement state of the first and second connector housings based on the potential states of the pair of detection electrode members.

[0008]

In the connector connection detecting device according to the present invention constructed as described above, in the connector, the first and second connector housings are properly interengaged with each other to form the first connector housing. When the provided movable engaging portion is brought into a state of engaging with the engaged portion formed in the second connector housing, the pair of detection electrode members abuts on the elastic conductive member, and the elastic conductive member is interposed. Electrical interconnections, for example mutual short circuits. As a result, in the engagement state detection unit, the potential state of the pair of detection electrode members under the condition of electrical interconnection through the elastic conductive members, for example, the state of mutual short circuit through the elastic conductive members. A detection signal indicating that the first and second connector housings are properly engaged with each other is formed according to the state in which the first and second connector housings are brought to the same potential,
It is emitted from the engagement state detection unit. Then, it is detected whether or not the first connector housing and the second connector housing are in the proper mutual engagement state by the detection signal generated from the engagement state detection unit.

Therefore, according to the connector connection detecting device of the present invention, it is relatively easy to determine whether the first connector housing and the second connector housing of the connector are in the proper mutual engagement state. With such a structure, it can be detected easily and surely.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an example of a connector connection detecting device according to the present invention together with a connector to which it is applied. The connector is a multi-contact connector.

The connector shown in FIG. 1 has a plurality of through holes 1.
a is provided with the first connector housing 11 and the second connector housing 11.
Connector housing 12. Each of the plurality of through holes 1a provided in the first connector housing 11 is provided with a first contact connection electrode portion 1 to which a wire 5 forming a signal transmission line is connected, as shown in FIG. The first contact connection electrode portion 1 is a female contact connection electrode portion. Further, a plurality of second contact connection electrode portions 2 are arranged in the second connector housing 12, and each of the second contact connection electrode portions 2 is a male contact connection electrode portion, which corresponds to it. The first contact connection electrode portion 1 is adapted to be fitted. A plurality of wires 5 respectively connected to the plurality of first contact connection electrode portions 1 constitutes a signal transmission line group. The second contact connection electrode portion 2 of the second connector housing 12 is connected to, for example, a plurality of electrode portions provided on the circuit board, respectively.

In order to supply signals from the signal transmission line group connected to the plurality of first contact connection electrode portions 1 to the circuit board to which the plurality of second contact connection electrode portions 2 are connected,
Alternatively, since the signals from the circuit boards to which the plurality of second contact connection electrode portions 2 are respectively connected are supplied to the signal transmission line group connected to the plurality of first contact connection electrode portions 1, a plurality of first contact connection electrode portions 2 are supplied. The first connector housing 11 and the second connector housing 12 are interlocked with each other in order to bring each of the first contact connection electrode portions 1 into contact with the corresponding second contact connection electrode portion 2 to establish a connected state. Are combined.

The first connector housing 11 has a flat plate-like portion 11B formed between both side portions 11A extending in the engagement direction with the second connector housing 12, and a guide portion between the flat portion 11B and each side portion 11A. A movable engaging portion 20 that forms a groove is provided. Further, a portion of the first connector housing 11 separated from the flat plate-shaped portion 11B has a plurality of first contact connection electrodes when the first connector housing 11 is not in engagement with the second connector housing 12. When a specific one of the parts 1 is short-circuited with each other, and when the first connector housing 11 is in an engaged state with the second connector housing 12, the specific first contact connection electrode part short-circuited with each other. A plurality of short-circuit springs 16 each having one end connected to each other for canceling the mutual short circuit of 1 are arranged in an array along a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of both side parts 11A.

The movable engaging portion 20 has a pair of arm-shaped portions 20A which are spaced apart from each other and extend along both side portions 11A of the first connector housing 11. Each of the pair of arm-shaped portions 20A has one end side portion integrated with the flat plate portion 11B and the other end side portion with the flat plate portion 11B.
It is assumed that a position regulating portion 20B is provided at a substantially central portion of a surface portion opposite to the surface portion facing the flat plate-shaped portion 11B and separated from the B by a predetermined distance. Further, the movable engaging portion 20 is composed of a pair of arm-shaped portions 2
0A, and has a pair of locking arm-shaped portions 20C extending along the arm-shaped portions 20A,
The one end side portion of the locking arm-shaped portion 20C is connected to the one end side portion of the pair of arm-shaped portions 20A via a connecting portion 20D. The other end of each of the arm-shaped portion 20A and the locking arm-shaped portion 20C is interconnected via a pressing portion 20E. The movable engaging portion 20 is configured to be movable in a direction toward or away from the flat plate-shaped portion 11B with one end side portion of the pair of arm-shaped portions 20A as a fulcrum.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a portion of the flat plate portion 11B of the first connector housing 11 between the pair of arm-shaped portions 20A of the movable engaging portion 20 is projected at the central portion. An elastic conductive member 25 having a pair of spring parts 25A each provided with a part 26 and a connecting part 25B interconnecting one end of each of the spring parts 25A is attached. Both ends of the connecting portion 25B of the elastic conductive member 25 are engaged with a groove portion formed between the flat plate-shaped portion 11B and one end side portion of each of the pair of arm-shaped portions 20A, and a pair of springs. The portion between the portions 25A is the locking arm portion 20C.
Is locked by one end side portion of each. In addition, the pair of spring portions 25A of the elastic conductive member 25 are located at positions close to the arm-shaped portions 20A, respectively, and are curved in a direction away from the flat plate-shaped portion 11B to bend the arm-shaped portions 20A.
The other end of the movable engaging portion 20 and the pressing portion 20E.
And the flat plate-shaped portion 11B. One end side portion of each of the spring portions 25A has a movable engagement portion 20.
Is locked to the connecting portion 20D.

On the other hand, each of the plurality of second contact connection electrode portions 2 arranged in the second connector housing 12 has the first connector of the second connector housing 12 inside the second connector housing 12. It has a tip side portion that extends along the direction of engagement with the housing 11.
Further, a pair of detection electrode members 28 is fixedly arranged in the second connector housing 12. Each of the detection electrode members 28 extends inside the second connector housing 12 in parallel with the tip end side portion of each of the second contact connection electrode portions 2, and from the tip end side portion of the second contact connection electrode portion 2. It has a front end portion with a large protruding length.
The second connector housing 12 has a surface portion facing the flat plate-shaped portion 11B of the first connector housing 11 when engaged with the first connector housing 11.
A pair of engaged parts 30 are provided at positions close to the distal end side portions of the respective detection electrode members 28.

When the first and second connector housings 11 and 12 are engaged with each other, the first connector housing is placed at a position away from the second connector housing 12, as shown in FIG. 11 is
Each of the plurality of first contact connection electrode portions 1 arranged therein is made to face the tip side portion of the corresponding one of the plurality of second contact connection electrode portions 2 arranged in the second connector housing 12. , Towards the second connector housing 12. Then, the first connector housing 11
The movable engaging portion 20 has a pair of arm-shaped portions 20A.
When facing the pair of engaged portions 30 provided in the second connector housing 12 and the position regulating portions 20B provided in the pair of arm-shaped portions 20A respectively reach the position of the engaged portions 30, The second connector housing 12 is engaged with the engaged portion 30 in a state of being pressed in a direction approaching the flat plate portion 11B. When the first and second connector housings 11 and 12 are properly engaged with each other, the plurality of first contact connection electrode portions 1 and the plurality of second contact connection electrode portions 2 are in mutual contact. Then, the connection is established.

When the first connector housing 11 is placed in the proper engaging position with respect to the second connector housing 12, the movable engaging portion 20 is moved to the appropriate position as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. Second connector housing 1
The surface of the pair of engaged portions 30 provided on the second connector housing 12 is released from the state of being pressed by the pair of engaged portions 30 provided on the second connector housing 12, as shown by the solid line in FIG. The engaged portion 30 is engaged with the surface 30b of the position restricting portion 20B provided on each of the arm-shaped portions 20A in contact with the surface 30a. Thereby, the proper mutual engagement state of the first and second connector housings 11 and 12 is maintained.

Thus, when the first and second connector housings 11 and 12 are properly interengaged, FIG.
The flat plate-like portion 11 as indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG.
B A pair of elastic conductive members 25 that are pressed by the movable engaging portion 20 that has been pressed in the direction of approaching and are separated from the pair of detection electrode members 28 arranged in the second connector housing 12. As shown by the solid line in FIG. 4, each of the spring portions 25A is placed in a position to bring the protrusion 26 into contact with the corresponding detection electrode member 28 by its urging force. As a result, the pair of detection electrode members 28 are short-circuited to each other through the elastic conductive member 25. Further, in such a case, the first connector housing 1
Each of the plurality of short-circuit springs 16 arranged in No. 1 is pressed by the protrusion 12A provided in the second connector housing 12 in the direction against the urging force thereof, and the specific first short-circuited with each other. The contact connection electrode portion 1 is placed at a position where the mutual short circuit is released.

As shown in FIG. 5, an engagement state detection section 31 electrically connected to the pair of detection electrode members 28 is provided as shown in FIG. Each of the pair of detection electrode members 28 includes the first and second connector housings 11
Under the condition that the electrodes 12 and 12 are separated from each other as shown by the solid line in FIG. 5, the electric potentials are different from each other. Then, the first connector housing 11 is positioned so as to properly engage with the second connector housing 12 as indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. When the second contact connection electrode part 2 is placed in an appropriate connection state, the movable engaging part 20 is positioned so as to maintain the proper mutual engagement between the first and second connector housings 11 and 12. , The pair of detection electrode members 28 are elastic conductive members 25.
They are short-circuited with each other through and are brought to the same potential. Thus, when the pair of detection electrode members 28 are set to the same potential, the engagement state detection unit 31 detects the detection signal S.
S is formed, and the detection signal SS is transmitted to the engagement state detection unit 3
1 to detect that the first and second connector housings 11 and 12 are in proper interengagement.

Therefore, whether or not the first and second connector housings 11 and 12 are in the proper mutual engagement state, or whether the first and second connector housings are once in the proper mutual engagement state. The fact that the housings 11 and 12 are no longer put into proper mutual engagement due to some reason will be easily detected with a relatively simple structure.

When it is detected that the first and second connector housings 11 and 12 are not in the proper mutual engagement state, for example, the first connector housing 1
1 is separated from the second connector housing 12, and the first connector housing 11 is re-engaged with the second connector housing 12. In doing so,
When the first connector housing 11 is separated from the second connector housing 12, the pressing portion 20E provided on the movable engaging portion 20 is pressed and operated, so that the second connector housing 12 of the movable engaging portion 20 is pressed. The mutual engagement with the engaged portion 30 provided on the is released.

In the above example, the elastic conductive member 25 has a pair of spring portions 25A, one end of which is integrally attached to the connecting portion 25B and which are connected to each other. And second connector housing 1
When 1 and 12 are properly engaged with each other, the pair of detection electrode members 28 are short-circuited to each other through the elastic conductive member 25. However, in the connector connection detecting device according to the present invention, The elastic conductive member has, for example, a pair of spring portions interconnected via a predetermined resistor, so that the pair of detection electrode members can be properly connected to the first and second connector housings. Interengaged,
When abutting against the pair of spring portions of the elastic conductive member, electrical interconnection may be made via a predetermined resistor provided in the elastic conductive member.

[0024]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the connector connection detecting device of the present invention, the two connector housings forming the connector are properly engaged with each other and provided on one of them. The movable engaging portion is brought into a state of engaging with the engaged portion formed in the other connector housing, so that the pair of detection electrode members arranged in the other connector housing contact the elastic conductive member. In contact with each other, an electrical interconnection is made via the elastic conductive member, for example, under the condition of mutual short-circuiting, the potential state of the detection electrode members, for example, the detection electrode members depending on the state of having the same potential. In the electrically connected engagement state detection unit, since the detection signal representing the proper mutual engagement state of the two connector housings is formed and sent out, the engagement state detection unit Based on the detection signal from the parts, 2
Whether or not one connector housing is in a proper mutual engagement state, and accordingly, a plurality of first contact connection electrode portions arranged on one connector housing and a plurality of second contact portions arranged on the other connector housing. It is possible to detect whether or not the connection electrode portion is in the mutual contact connection state.

According to the connector connection detecting device of the present invention as described above, it is determined whether or not the two connector housings of the connector are in the proper mutual engagement state. Whether or not the first contact connection electrode part and the plurality of second contact connection electrode parts arranged in the other connector housing are in mutual contact connection state can be easily and surely provided with a relatively simple structure. Will be detected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a connector connection detecting device according to the present invention together with a connector to which it is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram provided for explaining a contact connection electrode portion of the connector in the example shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an elastic conductive member attached to the connector in the example shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view provided for explaining the operation of the example shown in FIG.

5 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection state in the example shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 1st contact connection electrode part 2 2nd contact connection electrode part 11 1st connector housing 12 2nd connector housing 20 Movable engagement part 20B Position control part 25 Elastic conductive member 25A Spring part 28 Detection electrode member 30 Cover Engagement part 31 Engagement state detection part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A first connector housing in which a plurality of first contact connection electrode portions are arranged and a second connector housing in which a plurality of second contact connection electrode portions are arranged, the first connector housing comprising:
And when the second connector housings are engaged with each other, the plurality of second contact connection electrode portions are brought into contact with each other and brought into a connected state, and the first contact connection electrode portions are brought into a connected state. The connector housing is provided with a movable engaging portion that engages with an engaged portion formed in the second connector housing to maintain the mutual engaging state in the first and second connector housings. In the connector, an elastic conductive member attached to the first connector housing at a position in the vicinity of the movable engaging portion, and fixed to the second connector housing, the first and second connector housings are provided. A pair of detection electrode members, which, when properly engaged with each other, come into contact with the elastic conductive member to be electrically interconnected via the elastic conductive member, and the pair of detection electrodes. It is electrically connected to the timber, based on a potential state of the pair of detection electrodes member, the first and second
And a connector connection detection device configured to include an engagement state detection unit that outputs a detection signal indicating a mutual engagement state of the connector housing. 2. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the pair of detection electrode members are short-circuited to each other through the elastic conductive member when the first and second connector housings are properly engaged with each other. Connection detection device.