JPH0742043U - Zero Insertion Force Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] Used for electrical connection in electronic equipment
Aim for downsizing and lightweight structure of ZIF connector. [Composition] When the female side contact terminal 4 and the male side contact terminal 5 are brought into contact with each other by press contact force, the contact terminal 4
The shape memory alloy 1 is arranged in the vicinity of the block 2 supporting the. Then, the heating element 3 for controlling the temperature of the shape memory alloy 1 is provided in the vicinity of the contact terminal 4. A zero insertion force connector is configured by including the above. In this way, by utilizing the characteristics of the shape memory alloy, the operation of the cam mechanism and the lever is unnecessary, the size is reduced, and the contact pressure is obtained by the deforming force of the shape memory alloy itself.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a ZERO INSERTION FORCE CONNECTOR (= ZIF connector) used for electrical connection of electric circuits in electronic devices.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 When an electronic device is configured with each electric circuit, the connector used for electrical connection is extremely general-purpose, and a huge number is used. Among them, ZERO INSERTION FORCE CONNECTOR (ZIF connector) is put in one of the special ones. That is, a normal connector has each set of connection terminals, and the male side and female side terminal groups are collectively fitted by generally applying an external force by hand. This is because the ZIF connector is used when it is desired to eliminate the problems caused by the frictional force between the connection terminals at the time of mating and removal that is necessary at that time.

When connecting with a connector, a large number of male and female contact terminals, which are contacts, are fitted together, but both when inserting and removing the terminals due to friction and size due to terminal spring pressure. Large force is required due to variations and disparity in parallelism. In addition, even in the case of a connector with a small number of terminals including the case of at least one, it may be possible that the insertion force and the withdrawal force cannot be externally applied due to the shape of the male side terminal inserted into the female side terminal. . That is, the physical strength of the male or female terminal is weak, and if the terminal itself is damaged if it is inserted or removed with an external force, and the number of connected terminals is large. In addition, it is assumed that the insertion / removal force is too large.

The ZIF connector is configured so that no external force is required during insertion and removal. That is, the male side connection terminal is released from the insertion and removal force of the female side connection terminal due to the spring pressure, and the contact force of the connection terminal is completely obtained by applying the pressure contact force by the external force after the completion of the batch insertion. . Therefore, even a connector with a fragile connecting terminal or a connector with a large number of terminals and a large frictional force has a characteristic that the insertion and removal forces only need to be zero, and hence there is a use.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 In the conventional ZIF connector, in order to eliminate the insertion force and the withdrawal force due to the contact pressure of the female side connection terminal, the cam mechanism, etc. is used to release the female connection terminal side from the spring pressure and to apply pressure. The driving force of the cam is applied by a lever, and is operated by human power or an air cylinder. Therefore, according to this method, a component for operating the cam mechanism and the lever is required, which makes it difficult to reduce the size of the connector as a whole. At the same time, in order to generate a driving force by the cam mechanism or the lever, a supporting force corresponding to the driving force is required, and the structural strength of the connector must be strong. There was a problem such as.

In view of the above, the present invention aims to realize a further downsized ZIF connector and to make it a general-purpose general connector without making the structural strength of the connector particularly strong.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above object, in a connector used in an electronic device, when the female side contact terminal 4 and the male side contact terminal 5 are brought into contact with each other by a pressure contact force, a shape is provided in the vicinity of the block 2 supporting the contact point terminal 4. Memory alloy 1 is placed. Then, a heating element 3 for controlling the temperature of the shape memory alloy 1 is provided in the vicinity of the contact terminal 4. A zero insertion force connector is configured by including the above.

[0008]

[Action]

 In the ZIF connector of the present invention, by utilizing the characteristics of the shape memory alloy, the operation of the cam mechanism and the lever is not required, and the size is reduced, and the contact pressure is generated by the deformation force of the shape memory alloy itself. By achieving this, we have achieved the desired ZIF connector. In other words, when the female side connection terminal is turned on from the off state, the alloy is memorized in the shape required at the time of on, and the memory temperature at that time is applied to reproduce the contact operation to turn it on. Complete the state. When the alloy is turned off from the on state, the alloy is memorized in the shape required at the off time, and the memory temperature at that time is applied to reproduce the alloy to release it from the contact state and turn it off.

[0009]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

Example 1 FIGS. 1 (1A) to (1F) are conceptual diagrams showing the configuration and operating principle of a ZIF connector using a shape memory alloy of this example. (1) The plan view of FIG. 1 (1A) shows a typical example of the connection terminal (in this example, female side contact terminal) 4 of the ZIF connector arranged on the circumference. Figure 1 (1B) shows a partially enlarged view. The female contact terminal 4 is attached and fixed in position by the block 2 which is a structure. Then, the shape memory alloy 1 is combined around the female-side contact terminal 4 as shown in FIG. 1 (1C). A heater 3 as a heat source for controlling the temperature applied to the shape memory alloy 1 is provided in the block 2.

(2) The sectional view of FIG. 1 (1C) shows a state in which the male contact terminal 5 to be connected is arranged. Similarly, FIG. 1 (1D) shows the temperature of the heater 3 The shape memory alloy 1 is deformed by being added by the above, and the female-side contact terminal 4 is pressed through the insulator 6 to come into contact with the male-side contact terminal 5 and are connected by the contact. (3) FIG. 1 (1E) shows a plan view of the shape of the shape memory alloy 1 in a normal state, and FIG. 1 (1 F) shows that the shape memory alloy 1 is deformed as a result of being applied with temperature. The top view of the shape at the time of operation is shown. Although not shown in the figure, the male-side contact terminals 5 corresponding to the female-side contact terminals 4 shown in FIG. 1 (1A) are provided and are inserted all at once.

Embodiment 2 FIGS. 2 (2A) to (2D) show one of other embodiments. The ZIF connector is not limited to the arrangement of the contacts on the circumference as shown in the first embodiment, but may be a linear arrangement. In this embodiment, in a normal state, it has a rectangular shape as shown in FIG. During the deformation operation after applying the temperature, the female contact terminal 4 is pressed against the male contact terminal 5 by deforming as shown in Fig. 2 (2D), as shown in Fig. 2 (2B). Contact and are connected by contacts.

(A) In the description of this embodiment, two typical embodiments have been described. In any case, the characteristics of shape memory alloy 1 are utilized, so it is off (released) during normal times (= usually at room temperature) and turned on (contact) by heating. Contrary to the deforming operation in the present embodiment, it is on (contact) in normal times and can be turned off (release) by heating. (B) Further, the shape of the shape memory alloy 1 to be used is not limited, and may be any shape such as “O” type, “C” type, and “ku” type. . (C) Further, in order to heat and deform the shape memory alloy 1 to operate it, the shape memory alloy 1 is not limited to the heater 3 shown in the present embodiment, and other heat sources for controlling a constant temperature may be used. It may be.

[0014]

[Effect of device]

 Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects. (1) Unlike the conventional ZIF connector, the cam mechanism and the mechanism for operating the lever are no longer required, so the size can be significantly reduced. (2) In addition, the toughness that was necessary to support the force generated in the operation process using the above mechanical part is no longer necessary, and the strength is extremely normal. (3) According to the configuration of the present invention, the structure of the ZIF connector can be extremely freely shaped. (4) Since the conditions to be memorized in the shape memory alloy can be freely changed as necessary, it is possible to respond to changes in the specification conditions.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a first embodiment according to the present invention.
(1A)-(1F). (1A) shows a plan view of connection terminals arranged on the circumference. (1B) A partially enlarged view of the vicinity of the female-side contact terminal 4 is shown. (1C) is a cross-sectional view showing a normal shape of the female-side contact terminal 4. (1D) is a cross-sectional view showing the shape of the female-side contact terminal 4 during a deformation operation. (1E) is a plan view showing the shape of shape memory alloy 1 in normal times. (1F) A plan view showing the shape of the shape memory alloy 1 during the deformation operation.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a second embodiment according to the present invention.
(2A)-(2D). (2A) is a cross-sectional view showing a normal shape of the female-side contact terminal 4 arranged linearly. (2B) is a cross-sectional view showing the shape of the linearly arranged female side contact terminal 4 during operation. (2C) is a cross-sectional view showing the shape of the shape memory alloy 1 in normal times. (2D) A sectional view showing the shape of the shape memory alloy 1 during operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Shape memory alloy 2 Block 3 Heater 4 Female side contact terminal 5 Male side contact terminal 6 Insulator

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A connector (2) for supporting a contact terminal (4) of a connector used in an electronic device, when the female contact terminal (4) and the male contact terminal (5) are brought into contact with each other by press contact force. The shape memory alloy (1) is arranged in the vicinity of, and the shape memory alloy (1) is arranged in the vicinity of the contact terminal (4).
A zero insertion force connector, characterized in that a heating element (3) for controlling the temperature is provided and the above is provided.