JPH0652941A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a connector of the structure of reduced manufacturing processes, for which automation of manufacturing is easy, and by which higher multiplication of electrodes or narrower pitch are enabled, for a connector of an electronics device. CONSTITUTION:Contacts 7... are formed in an integrated manner on the surface of a flat-plate or comb-like contact holding plate 3 integrated with a base 2 of a connector. The contact is formed by plating by masking, plating on the entire surface, or etching to remove unnecessary parts after metal foil molding, molding or bonding of a flexible printed board. The contact point pressure at the time of connector fitting is applied to the contact point holding plate of one connector forming a pair, of a thickness allowing flexibility. A female side connector is assembled by making a contact of L-shape cross section and that of F-shape mold, opposed to one another at a certain interval. The contact holding plate 3 is formed by forming the entire body out of one flat surface, or by forming a comb-like body having notches per one contact point 7 or per several contacts 7....

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As circuits in electronic devices have become more complex and highly integrated, connectors used to connect the circuits to each other have been required to have multiple poles and a narrow pitch. Prevention is required. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the contact members 31 and 32 are thin as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 instead of the so-called pin-type connector that provides the mechanical strength of the contact members and the contact pressure between the contacts by the elasticity of the contact members themselves. Contact holding plates 3 and 14 formed of strip-shaped metal plates to back up the contact members 31 and 32.
The so-called bellows type connector in which the mechanical strength of the contact is provided by the contact holding plates 3 and 14 and only the contact pressure is provided by the elasticity of the contact members 31 and 32 is becoming mainstream.

In the conventional bellows type connector, a large number of contact members 31, 32 formed of thin metal plates are embedded in the bases 2, 12 of the connector and the contact holding plates 3, 14 integral with the bases 2, 12 by molding. By leaving a part of the flexible portion 33 that is not embedded in the contact holding plates 3 and 14, contact pressure is applied by elastic deformation of the flexible portion 33. 14 and 15, the embodiment shown in FIGS.
And the female connector 11 are shown as a pair. In the example of the drawing, the flexible portion 3 is provided on the contact member 32 of the female connector 11.
3 is provided.

[0004]

In the conventional bellows type connectors 1 and 11, when the bases 2 and 12 and the contact holding plates 3 and 14 of the connector are injection-molded, a large number of contact members 31 and 32 are formed in the mold. It is manufactured by a method in which the molten resin is filled into the cavity of the mold and solidified in a state where the above is set, and a mold and a pressing process for punching out a large number of contact members 31 and 32 to bend and mold them into a desired shape. In addition, there is a problem in that a large number of contact members are required to be set in the mold of the injection molding machine at the time of molding, which requires a lot of man-hours. In particular, a large number of contact members 31,
The work of setting the injection molding machine No. 32 in the mold is very complicated, time-consuming, and difficult to automate. Further, as electronic devices become highly integrated, there is a strong demand for narrowing the distance between the contacts of the connector.

According to the present invention, the connector can be manufactured in a small number of steps, and the manufacturing process can be easily automated.
Moreover, it is an object to obtain a connector having a new structure capable of achieving higher multi-pole and narrower pitch.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a large number of contacts 7 and 18 elongated in the connector insertion / removal direction are formed on the surfaces of flat or comb-shaped contact holding plates 3, 14 and 22 which are integral with the bases 2 and 12 of the connector. By integrally forming ...
The above problems are solved. The contacts 7, 18 ... Are plated with conductive metal on the surfaces of the contact holding plates 3, 14, 22 in a masked state.
2. After plating the entire surface of 2, the unnecessary portion is removed by etching, the conductive metal foil is integrated with the surface of the contact holding plates 3, 14, 22 by molding or the like, and then the unnecessary portion is removed by etching. The contact board 3 is formed by molding or adhering the printed board.
It is formed by being integrated with the surfaces of 14 and 22.

The contact pressure is applied to the connector of the present invention when the connectors are fitted together by making one of the contact holding plates 3, 14, 22 of the fitted connectors have a flexible thickness. Will be realized. The flexible contact holding plates 3, 14, 22 are formed or assembled in a positional relationship having narrow slits 15, 23 on the back surface, that is, the side opposite to the contact surface, and protect the contact holding plates 3, 14, 22. Housings 5, 16, 21, 30 are provided.

A female connector 11 having contact surfaces facing each other has a contact holding plate 14 on one longitudinal side of a base 12.
The L-shaped or F-shaped cross-sections 29 and 17 in which the
The contacts 18 are assembled by facing each other with a space 13 therebetween.

The contact holding plates 3, 14, 22 may be formed of a single flat plate as a whole, but the contacts 7, 18, ...
It is also possible to form a comb-like shape in which a cut 41 is formed for each one or a plurality thereof.

[0010]

The contact member in the connector of the above structure is formed by the contact holding plates 3, 14, 22 integrally formed with the bases 2, 12 of the connector, etc., and the connector is fitted with the mechanical strength of the contact. The elasticity of applying contact pressure to each other when the contacts are held is also the contact holding plates 3, 14, 2
Being burdened by two.

.. are formed on the surfaces of the contact holding plates 3, 14, 22 by a plating process, a plating process and an etching process, a metal foil bonding process and an etching process, a flexible printed board attaching process, etc. Because it is done
A large number of high-density contacts 7, 18 ... Can be easily formed and their automation is also easy.

The contact holding plates 3, 14, 22 which are made flexible in order to apply a contact pressure inevitably have a small thickness and a low mechanical strength. Therefore, in order to protect the contact holding plates 3, 14, 22 having low mechanical strength from an external force, the housings 5, 16, 21, 26, 30 are attached to the bases 2, 12 integrated with the contact holding plates 3, 14, 22. It is fixedly provided. The housing wall 16 is also used for positioning the connectors to be fitted with each other, and bears the function of a guide for accurately contacting the multiple contacts 7, 18 ... Provided at high density. You can also

If the contact holding plates 3, 14, 22 are comb-shaped, the flexibility of the individual contacts 7, 18 ,. It is possible to prevent defects and stabilize the fitting force.

[0014]

1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention. The male-side connector 1 has a cross-section T-shaped body 4 in which a contact holding plate 3 is integrally molded in the center of a base 2,
It is composed of two molded products such as a rectangular frame-shaped housing 5,
A large number of elongated contact patterns 7 parallel to each other are provided integrally on the surfaces of the contact holding plate 3 and the base 2 from both side surfaces of the contact holding plate 3 to both side surfaces of the base 2. After the contact pattern 7 is formed, the cross-section T-shaped body 4 and the housing 5 are integrated by adhesion with the contact holding plate 3 inserted in the positioning hole 8 of the housing 5.

The female connector 11 has a thin contact holding plate 14 extending integrally from one longitudinal side of the base 15 and a housing wall 16 located on the back surface of the contact holding plate 14 with a narrow slit 15 therebetween. It is formed by facing two formed bodies 17 each having a wide F-shaped cross-section (section F-forming bodies) 17 provided. The contact holding plate 14 is provided with flexibility by bending the contact holding plate 14 in the left-right direction in the drawing by reducing the thickness thereof.
A plurality of elongated contact patterns 18 parallel to each other are provided on the surfaces of the contact holding plate 14 and the base 12 in an integrated state. The two cross-section F forming bodies 17 are provided with protrusions 19 and 19 extending to the front surface side of the contact holding plate 14 at both longitudinal ends of the base 12, and the end faces of the protrusions 19 are adhered to each other to form two cross-sections F. The contact patterns 18, 18 of the formed body are integrated so as to face each other with a space 13 therebetween. Near the tip of the surface of the contact holding plate 14, gently projecting ridges 20, 20 are formed. The contact pattern 7 of the male side connector and the contact pattern 18 of the female side connector are the top part of the ridge 20. Contact at. When the male connector 1 and the female connector 11 are fitted together, the inner surface of the housing 5 of the male connector and the outer surface of the housing wall 16 of the female connector are fitted to each other so that the contact patterns 7 and 18 are mutually connected. Positioning is performed.

The contact patterns 7, 18 ... Are formed on the surfaces of the contact holding plates 3 and 14 by the plating method shown in FIG.
This can be done by the metal foil sticking method shown in FIG. 6, the flexible printed board sticking method shown in FIGS. When the plating method is adopted, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, after the cross-section T-shaped body 4 and the cross-section F-shaped body 17 in which the contact holding plates 3 and 14 and the bases 2 and 12 are integrated are molded by injection molding, From the surfaces of the contact holding plates 3 and 14 to the bases 2 and 12
After the electroless plating is applied to the side surfaces of, the electroless plating layer is subjected to electrolytic plating to form a plating layer on the entire surfaces. Next, a photo-etching resist is applied to the surface of the formed plating layer, and an exposure pattern corresponding to the contact patterns 7, 18 ... It is formed by performing an etching process.

When the metal foil sticking method is used, the conductive metal foil is set in the mold of the injection molding machine as shown in FIG. 6, and then the T-shaped forming body 4 and the F-shaped forming body 17 are molded. To obtain a molded body in which a conductive metal foil is integrally formed on the entire surface from the contact holding plates 3 and 14 to the side surfaces of the bases 2 and 12 by molding, and after applying a photo-etching resist to the surface of the conductive metal foil. , Fig. 5
Like the plating method described above, exposure and etching with a laser beam are performed to form the contact patterns 7, 18, ....

When the flexible printed board attaching method is adopted, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the T-shaped section 4 and the F-shaped section 17 are molded by injection molding, and a large number of them are formed on a rectangular flexible substrate. A flexible printed board provided with parallel elongated conductive patterns, and the flexible printed board is adhered from the surface of the contact holding plates 3 and 14 of the T-shaped cross section 4 and the F-shaped cross section 17 to the side surfaces of the bases 2 and 12. Or a flexible printed board manufactured in the same manner as in the case of FIG. 7 is set in a mold of an injection molding machine to inject the T-shaped section 4 and the F-shaped section 17 as shown in FIG. By molding, the contact holding plates 3, 14
It is formed by molding a flexible printed board from the surface of the substrate to the side surfaces of the bases 2 and 12.

FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment of the male connector of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the contact holding plate of the male connector is made of flexible contact holding plates 22 and 22 having a contact pressure applying function, and a narrow slit 23 is sandwiched in the center of the base 2 to bend the contact holding plate. Direction contact flexibility is provided on the surface of the contact holding plate 22, 22 of the section π-formed form 24 in which the two contact holding plates 22, 22 having the flexibility in the direction are integrally erected, on the side opposite to the slit. Rectangular frame housing 2
6 is fixed to the base 2 with a space 27 provided between its inner surface and the contacts 25.

FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment of the male connector of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the contact holding plate of the male connector is made of flexible contact holding plates 22 and 22 having a contact pressure applying function, and the contact holding plate 22 has a base 2 extending surface. Providing contacts 25 ... 2
The cross-section L-forming shapes 28, 28 are attached to the contact holding plate 2
A housing 26 having a rectangular frame shape is back-to-back so that a narrow slit 23 is formed between the back surfaces of the two 22.
The housing 26 and the bases 2 and 2 are fixed to each other by inserting them so that a space 27 is formed between the inner surface thereof and the contacts 25.

FIG. 11 shows a second embodiment of the female connector of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the contact holding plate 1 having flexibility on one longitudinal side of the base 12 is used.
.. are provided on the surface of the contact holding plate 14 on the side opposite to the base extension side of the L-shaped molded body 29 in which the four L-shaped molded bodies are integrally formed. A rectangular frame-shaped housing 3 with a space 13 between
0 is fixed to the base 12 with a narrow slit 15 formed between its inner surface and the back surface of the contact holding plate 14.

In each of the embodiments described above, the contact holding plates 3, 14, 22 are formed by a single flat plate.
The contact holding plates 3, 14, 22 of each of the above-described embodiments may be comb-teeth-shaped as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. Here, what is shown in FIG. 12 is one in which a cut 41 is made for each one of the contacts 7, 18, and what is shown in FIG. 13 is one in which a cut 41 is made for each of the three contacts 7, 18. is there. In this way, the contact holding plates 3, 1 are made at the cuts 41.
By forming the comb-shaped teeth 4 and 22, the individual contacts can more flexibly follow the contacts on the mating side, resulting in poor contact and unbalance of the fitting force due to warpage of the entire connector and variations in thickness. The occurrence of balance can be avoided.

[0023]

As described above, in the connector of the present invention, the contact member is integrated with the contact holding plate integrally formed on the base of the connector, and the mechanical strength and contact pressure of the contact are borne by the contact holding plate. Since the contact pattern is formed on the surface of the contact holding plate by the plating step, the plating step and the etching step, the metal foil attaching step and the etching step, the flexible printed board attaching step, etc., the connector can be manufactured in a small number of steps, It is possible to obtain a connector having a new structure that facilitates the automation of the manufacturing process and can achieve higher multipole and narrower pitch.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a male connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the male connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the female connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the female connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[FIG. 5] Manufacturing process drawing of contact pattern by plating method

FIG. 6 is a manufacturing process diagram of a contact pattern by a metal foil sticking method.

FIG. 7 is a manufacturing process diagram of a contact pattern by a flexible printed board attaching method.

FIG. 8 is another manufacturing process diagram by the flexible printed board sticking method.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a male connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a male connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a female connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing a comb-shaped contact holding plate.

FIG. 13 is a side view showing another example of the comb-teeth-shaped contact holding plate.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a conventional male connector.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of a conventional female connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Male side connector 2 Base 3 Contact holding plate 4 Sectional T-shaped form 5 Housing 7 Contact pattern 11 Female side connector 12 Base 13 Interval 14 Contact holding plate 15 Slit 16 Housing wall 17 Sectional F-shaped form 18 Contact pattern 21 Housing 22 Flexible Sex contact holding plate 23 slit 24 π shaped body 25 contact pattern 26 housing 27 spacing 28 L shaped body 29 L shaped body 30 housing

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A large number of contacts (7), (18) elongated in the connector insertion / removal direction on the surfaces of contact holding plates (3), (14), (22) formed integrally with the bases (2), (12). ) ... is formed as a conductive plating pattern. 2. Contact-holding plates (3), (14), (22) formed integrally with the bases (2), (12), and elongated contacts (7), (18) ... A connector in which is formed as a metal foil pattern adhered to the surface. 3. A plurality of elongated conductive patterns on the surfaces of contact holding plates (3), (14), (22) integrally formed with the bases (2), (12).
A connector in which flexible printed boards provided with (7), (18) ... In parallel are integrally attached so that the longitudinal direction of the conductive patterns (7), (18). 4. A flat contact holding plate in the center of the base (2)
Contact holding plate of section T-shaped form (4) in which (3) is erected integrally
The contacts (7) ... are formed on both sides of (3), and the housing (5) molded in the shape of a rectangular frame is formed with its inner surface (9) and contacts (7).
The connector according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a base (2) is fixed with a gap provided between the connector and the base. 5. A pair of contact holding plates (2) having flexibility in a bending direction with a narrow slit (15) sandwiched in the center of the base (2).
2), (22) are erected in one piece, and the contact (25) ・ ・ is formed on the surface of the contact holding plate (22), (22) on the side opposite to the slit of the π-formed form (24).
・ Has a rectangular frame-shaped housing (26) and its inner surface
The connector according to claim 1, 2 or 3, which is fixed to the base (2) with a space (27) provided between the connector (25). 6. A contact holding plate (22) having a cross-section L-shaped form (28) integrally formed with a flexible contact holding plate (22) on one longitudinal side of the base (2) or in the vicinity thereof. The contacts (25) ... are provided on the surface of the base (2) extending from the base (2), and the two cross-section L forming shapes (28) and (28) are attached to the contact holding plates (22) and (22). Back to back so that a narrow slit (23) is formed between the back surfaces of the two, and a space (27) is formed between the inner surface of the rectangular frame-shaped housing (26) and the contact points (25) ... The connector according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the housing (26) and the bases (2) and (2) are fixed by being inserted as described above. 7. A housing is formed by integrally forming a flexible contact holding plate (14) on one longitudinal side of the base (12) or in the vicinity thereof, and narrowing a narrow slit (15) behind it. A contact is made on the surface of the contact holding plate (14) of the F-shaped section (17) in which the wall (16) is formed integrally with the base (12) on the side opposite to the slit.
(18) ... is provided and two cross-section F-formed bodies (17), (17)
4. The connector according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the contact forming surfaces are fixed to face each other with a space therebetween. 8. A cross-section L-shaped form (2) in which a flexible contact holding plate (14) is integrally formed on one longitudinal side of a base (12).
9) A contact is made on the surface of the contact holding plate (14) opposite to the base extension side.
(18) ... are provided so that the two L-shaped bodies (29) and (29) face each other with a space between the contact forming surfaces, and the rectangular frame-shaped housing (30) contacts the inner surface thereof. The connector according to claim 1, 2 or 3, which is fixed to the base (12) in a state where a narrow slit (15) is formed between the holding plate (14) and the back surface. 9. The connector according to claim 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, wherein the contact holding plates (3), (14), (22) are comb-shaped.