JPH09260006A - Hinge type connector and electronic apparatus having hinge type connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent any contact with terminal pins from outside of the connector. SOLUTION: A hinge type connector 1 comprises one side connector 20, and another side connector 40 coupled in a rockable manner around the rocking axis C to the one side connector 20. The one side connector 20 has a pair of brackets disposed spaced in the rocking axis C on the base 21, one side holder 25 is mounted with a plurality of one side terminal pins 30 between the pair of brackets. The other side connector 40 has a cylinder 42 covering the one side holder 25. The cylinder 42 is pivotally held at the both ends by a pair of brackets. On one side of the cylinder 42, another side holder 41 is formed so that in the other side holder 41 the other side terminal pins 50 are disposed corresponding to the one side terminal pins 30. The tips 31 of the one side terminal pins 30 and the tips 51 of the other side terminal pins 50 are held connected at the position substantially corresponding to the rocking axis C in the cylinder 42.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hinge type connector for connecting two members to each other so that they can be electrically connected to each other and can swing, and a main body and a lid connected to each other by such a hinge type connector. The present invention relates to an electronic device such as a notebook personal computer having a body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 shows an example of a conventional electronic device (for example, a notebook personal computer or a word processor) having a hinged connector. In FIG. 8, the electronic device includes an electronic device main body 2, a lid 3 corresponding to the main body 2, and a hinge-type connector 100 for connecting the lid 3 to the main body 2 in an openable and closable manner. There is. Among these, the electronic device main body 2 has a box 4 and a keyboard 5 provided on the upper surface of the box 4.
On the other hand, the lid body 3 has a box body 6 and a liquid crystal display device 7 provided on a surface of the box body 6 corresponding to the keyboard 5 side.

Next, FIGS. 9 to 11 show an enlarged view of the hinge-type connector 100. 9 to 11, the hinge-type connector 100 includes a one-side connector 80 and a swing axis C with respect to the one-side connector 80.
The other side connector 90 is swingably connected. The one-side connector 80 includes a one-side holder 81 made of an insulating material, and a plurality of metal one-side terminal pins 60 embedded in a row inside the one-side holder 81 at intervals. There is. The other-side connector 90 includes another-side holder 91 made of an insulating material, and a plurality of other-side metal terminal pins 70 arranged inside the other-side holder 91 so as to correspond to the one-side terminal pin 60. Have

A pair of side plates 82 are formed on both side ends of the one-side holder 81, and a pair of side plates 82 are formed on both side ends of the other-side holder 91 so as to overlap the inner surfaces of the pair of side plates 82 of the one-side holder 81. A side plate 92 is formed. The pair of side plates 82 and 92 are connected to each other at a position corresponding to the swing axis C.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the upper end portion (tip portion) 61 of the one-side terminal pin 60 slightly protrudes from the upper portion of the one-side holder 81, and the lower end portion (base end portion) thereof.
62 projects from the bottom of the one-side holder 81. Also,
The other-side terminal pin 70 has a lower end portion (tip portion) 71 slightly protruding from the lower end portion of the other-side holder 91, and an upper end portion (base end portion) 72 of the other-side terminal pin 70 formed in an upper portion of the other-side holder 91. It projects into 95. The tip end portion 61 of the one-side terminal pin 60 and the tip end portion 71 of the other-side terminal pin 70 are elastically maintained in contact with each other at a position substantially corresponding to the swing axis C.

Next, as shown in FIG. 11, a printed circuit board circuit 108 is disposed inside the box body 4 of the electronic equipment main body 2, and a connector is attached to a portion corresponding to the one side connector 80 on the box body 4. The hole 109 is formed. The lower portion of the one-side holder 81 of the one-side connector 80 is fitted into the connector mounting hole 109, and the base end portions 62 of the one-side terminal pins 60 are soldered to the board circuit 108 inside the box body 4. There is. On the other hand, the printed circuit board 112 of the liquid crystal display device 7 is arranged inside the box 6 of the lid 3. In addition, in the portion corresponding to the other side connector 90 of the box body 6, the board circuit 1
A connector portion 11 having a terminal body 14 soldered to 12 and a holder portion 13 that covers the terminal body 14 is provided in a protruding manner. Then, the concave portion 95 of the other-side connector 90
The connector portion 11 of the lid 3 is inserted in the inside, and the base end portion 72 of the other-side terminal pin 70 of the other-side connector 90 and the connector portion 1
One terminal body 14 is connected.

As described above, the hinge type connector 100 is
While connecting the lid 3 to the main body 2 so as to be openable and closable,
By maintaining contact between the tip portions 71 of the plurality of other side terminal pins 70 and the corresponding tip portions 61 of the one side terminal pins 60, a predetermined distance between the substrate circuit 108 of the main body 2 and the substrate circuit 112 of the lid 3. You can keep the electrical connection of.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, a sloped notch 82 is formed on the front side of the one-side holder 81 so that the lid 3 can be closed with respect to the main body 2. ,
The other side holder 91 is formed with a slanted notch 93 corresponding to the notch 82. As shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 11, the notches 82 and 93 are formed so that the notches 82 and 93 substantially overlap each other when the lid 3 is closed with respect to the main body 2. That is, each notch 82, 93
Have a sloped shape that approaches the tip 61 of the one-side terminal pin 60 and the tip 71 of the other-side terminal pin 70, respectively. In addition, the tip portion 71 of the other side terminal pin 70,
A gap is provided between the one-side holder 81 and the other-side holder 91 at the contact portion between the corresponding one-side terminal pin 60 and the tip portion 61 of the corresponding one-side terminal pin 60 (FIG. 10). reference).

[0009]

The electronic device provided with the conventional hinge type connector as described above has the following problems. That is, as shown by the solid line in FIGS. 9 and 11, in the state where the lid body 3 is opened with respect to the main body 2,
Due to the above-described gap between the one-side holder 81 and the other-side holder 91, and the presence of the cutouts 82 and 93, the tip portions 61 and 71 of the other-side terminal pin 70 and the one-side terminal pin 60 are forward. Will be directly exposed to. Therefore, metal products such as pen tips and office clips used around electronic devices such as notebook type personal computers are not supported by the terminal pins 6.
There is a possibility of contacting the tip portions 61 and 71 of 0 and 70 and causing a short circuit. In addition, dust or the like may adhere to the exposed tip portions 61 and 71 of the terminal pins 60 and 70 to cause poor contact.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and is provided with a hinge-type connector and a hinge-type connector which can prevent contact with terminal pins from the outside of the connector and adhesion of dust and the like. The purpose is to provide an electronic device.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In a hinge-type connector including one side connector and another side connector swingably connected to the one side connector about a swing axis, the one side connector includes a base body,
A pair of brackets formed on the base body with a space in the swing axis direction, a one-side holder erected between the pair of brackets and made of an insulating material, and a space inside the one-side holder with a space therebetween. The one end connector is arranged in a line and has a plurality of one side terminal pins whose tip portions substantially correspond to the swing axis, and the other side connector has a substantially cylindrical shape and covers the one side holder and the one side connector. A cylindrical part whose both ends are rotatably held by a pair of brackets, another side holder made of an insulating material provided on one side of the cylindrical part, and the one side terminal pin in the other side holder And a plurality of other side terminal pins arranged in parallel, and the tip portions of the other side terminal pins maintain contact with the tip portions of the corresponding one side terminal pins inside the cylindrical portion. .

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the tip of the other-side terminal pin is provided inside the cylindrical portion that covers the one-side holder and has both ends rotatably held by the pair of brackets of the one-side connector. Since each part keeps contact with the tip of the corresponding one side terminal pin, the contact part between the one side terminal pin and the other side terminal pin is completely covered from the outside without disturbing the swing of the other side connector with respect to the one side connector. You can keep the broken state.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an electronic device main body is provided.
A lid body corresponding to the electronic device body, and the hinge type connector according to claim 1, wherein one of the one side connector and the other side connector of the hinge type connector is connected to the electronic device body. One of the other is an electronic device, which is connected to the lid. According to the second aspect of the invention, it is possible to provide an electronic device in which the lid is connected to the main body so as to be openable and closable by the hinge-type connector of the first aspect.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electronic device according to the second aspect, the one-side connector passes through the bracket and the base from the one-side holder, and the electronic device main body or the lid. It further comprises a connecting member extending to the inside of the body, and the connecting member electrically connects the plurality of one-side terminal pins to the electronic device body or the lid side.

[0015]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the same components as those of the conventional example shown in FIGS.

1 to 7 are views showing an embodiment of an electronic device provided with a hinge type connector according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, an electronic device (for example, a notebook personal computer or a word processor) is an electronic device main body 2
And a lid 3 corresponding to the main body 2, and a hinge-type connector 1 for connecting the lid 3 to the main body 2 in an openable and closable manner. Among these, the electronic device main body 2 has a box 4 and a keyboard 5 provided on the upper surface of the box 4. On the other hand, the lid body 3 has a box body 6 and a liquid crystal display device 7 provided on a surface of the box body 6 corresponding to the keyboard 5 side.

Next, the hinge-type connector 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5
In the hinge type connector 1, the one side connector 20
And the other side connector 40 connected to the one side connector 20 so as to be swingable around a swing axis C (see FIGS. 3 and 5). As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the one-side connector 20 has a base body 21 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and a bracket member 55 attached to one side of the base body 21 and having a substantially rectangular flat plate shape. This bracket member 55
Corresponds to one side surface of the base body 21 and is attached to the base body 21 by a pair of tapping screws S (see FIG. 4).
And a bracket 56 extending upward from the mounting portion 57. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a bracket 22 having the same shape as the bracket 56 of the bracket member 55 is provided on the other side of the base 21. That is, the one-side connector 20 has a pair of brackets 22 and 56 arranged on the base body 21 at intervals in the swing axis C direction (see FIG. 3).

Next, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the one-side connector 20 has a one-side holder 25 installed between the pair of brackets 22 and 56. This one side holder 25
Is made of an insulating material such as plastic, and inside thereof, a plurality of metal one-sided terminal pins (spring pins) 30 are arranged in a line at intervals (FIGS. 6 and 7).
reference). The tips 31 of these one-side terminal pins 30 substantially correspond to the swing axis C (see FIG. 3).

Next, the other connector 40 has a cylindrical portion 42 which is cylindrical and covers the one holder 25. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, a pair of brackets 22 and 56 of the one-side connector 20 are respectively formed with substantially short columnar boss portions 26 and 58 that are loosely fitted in the ends of the cylindrical portion 42. Both ends of the cylindrical portion 42 are rotatably held by the brackets 22 and 56. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the cylindrical portion 4 is provided on one side of the cylindrical portion 42.
The other side holder 41 extending outward in the radial direction of 2 is formed. Then, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a plurality of metal other-side terminal pins 50 corresponding to the one-side terminal pins 30 are arranged in the other-side holder 41. In addition, on one side of the cylindrical portion 42, the cylindrical portion 4 is provided opposite to the other side holder 41.
2 and the other side terminal pin 50
A holding portion 43 that holds the tip end 51 side is formed. Then, the other holder 41, the cylindrical portion 42, and the holding portion 43 of the other connector 40 can be integrally formed of an insulating material such as plastic.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, inside the cylindrical portion 42, the tip portion 51 of the other side terminal pin 50 is formed.
Are the tip portions 31 of the corresponding one-sided terminal pins 30.
The contact is maintained at a position substantially corresponding to the swing axis C. Further, a slit-shaped recess 45 corresponding to the other-side terminal pin 50 is formed on the side of the other-side holder 41 opposite to the cylindrical portion 42, and the other-side terminal pin 50 is formed in the recess 45.
The base end portion (upper end portion) 52 of the is protruding. On the other hand, the one-side connector 20 includes the one-side holder 25 and the bracket member 5
FF that extends to the outside of the base body 21 through the inside of the slit 54 formed between the mounting portion 57 of FIG.
It has a C (flat flexible circuit) (connecting member) 8.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, a connector mounting hole 9 corresponding to the one side connector 20 is formed in the upper part of the box body 4 of the electronic equipment body 2. The base 21 of the one-side connector 20 is fitted.
In this case, from the viewpoint of improving the appearance of the electronic device, it is considered that the upper surface 23 of the base 21 matches the upper surface of the box 4.
The reference numeral 24 indicates the base body 2 of the one-side connector 20.
1 is a projection for fixing 1 to the box 4 (see FIGS. 2 to 4). In addition, the FFC 8 of the one side connector 20
Extends inside the box 4, and a plurality of connecting portions 8a formed at the tip of the FFC 8 are connected to corresponding portions on the electronic device body 2 side (not shown).

On the other hand, inside the box body 6 of the lid body 3, an FFC 12 for the liquid crystal display device 7 is arranged. Also, the box 6
A connector mounting hole 10 is formed in a portion corresponding to the other side connector 40, and the tip end side of the other side holder 41 of the other side connector 40 is fitted into the connector mounting hole 10. The base end portion 52 of the other-side terminal pin 50 protruding into the recess 45 of the other-side holder 41 is bent in a U shape toward the FFC 12 side. The base end portion 52 of the other-side terminal pin 50 elastically contacts the end portion (connection portion) of the FFC 12 inserted into the recess 45 of the other-side holder 41. The reference numeral 46 indicates a lock plate for pressing and fixing the end portion of the FFC 12 against the base end portion 52 of the other-side terminal pin 50 (see FIG. 2).

Next, referring to FIGS. 3, 6 and 7,
The one side holder 25 and the one side terminal pin 30 will be described in detail. First, as shown in FIG. 3, tapered portions 26a and 26b having tapered shapes are formed at both ends of the one-side holder 25, and the tapered portions 26a and 26b are provided to the pair of brackets 22 and 56 of the one-side connector 20, respectively. It is fitted in the holes 29 and 59 formed in the. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a horizontal slit 27a extending in the axial direction is formed in the bottom portion 27 of the one-side holder 25, and the base end side of the FFC 8 is inserted into the horizontal slit 27a. . Then, the FFC inserted in the horizontal slit 27a
The base end portions 32 of the corresponding one-side terminal pins 30 respectively come into contact with the plurality of connecting portions (not shown) of the eight. Reference numeral 28 indicates a lock plate for fixing the FFC 8 at a predetermined position (in relation to each one-side terminal pin 30) in the horizontal slit 27a of the one-side holder 25.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, one side terminal pin 3
Reference numeral 0 denotes a cylindrical main body 33, and a tip side slider (tip section) 31 and a base end side slider (base end section) 31 slidably held in both ends of the body 33, respectively. 32 and 32. A coil spring 34 for urging the tip side slider 31 and the base side slider 32 toward both ends of the body 33 is housed inside the body 33. Since the one side terminal pin 30 has such a structure, the one end terminal pin 30 and the other end terminal pin 50 have the tip end portion 51 and the base end portion 32 and the FFC 8 connecting portion. , Elastic contact is maintained.

As described above, the hinge-type connector 1 connects the lid 3 to the main body 2 of the electronic device in an openable and closable manner, and connects the tip portions 51 of the plurality of other side terminal pins 50 to the corresponding one side terminal pins. The FFC 8 connected to the main body 2 side and the FFC on the lid 3 side by maintaining contact with the tip portion 31 of 30.
Predetermined electrical connection with 12 can be maintained.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having such a structure will be described with reference to FIGS. According to this embodiment, the tip of the other-side terminal pin 50 is provided inside the cylindrical portion 42 that covers the one-side holder 25 and is rotatably held at both ends by the pair of brackets 22 and 56 of the one-side connector 20. Since the parts 51 maintain contact with the tip portions 31 of the corresponding one-sided terminal pins 30, the one-sided terminal pins 30 and the other-sided terminal pins 50 do not interfere with swinging of the other-sided connector 40 relative to the one-sided connector 20. The contact portions 31, 51 of can be kept completely covered from the outside. Therefore, in the hinge-type connector 1 that connects the lid 3 to the electronic device body 2 in an electrically connectable and openable manner, the contact portion between the one-side terminal pin 30 and the other-side terminal pin 50 from outside the connector 1. It is possible to very effectively prevent contact of metal products with 31 and 51 and adhesion of dust and dirt.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the one-side connector 20 is connected to the electronic device main body 2 and the other-side connector 40 is connected to the lid 3 has been described.
On the contrary, the one side connector 20 is connected to the lid body 3,
The other connector 40 may be adapted to be connected to the main body 2.

[0028]

According to the invention as set forth in claim 1, inside the cylindrical portion which covers the one side holder and is rotatably held at both ends by the pair of brackets of the one side connector, the other side terminal pin Since the tips keep contact with the tips of the corresponding one-side terminal pins, the contact portion between the one-side terminal pin and the other-side terminal pin can be completely Can be kept covered. Therefore, it is possible to very effectively prevent the contact of the metal products with respect to the one-side terminal pin and the other-side terminal pin from the outside, and the adhesion of dust or dust.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an electronic device including a hinge-type connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing a hinge-type connector of the electronic device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the hinge-type connector shown in FIG. 2 (in a state where the other side connector is perpendicular to the one side connector).

FIG. 4 is a side view of the hinge type connector shown in FIG. 3 taken along line IV.

5 is a view showing the relationship between the hinge-type connector, the electronic device main body, and the lid in the section taken along the line VV of FIG.

6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the entire one side holder of the hinge type connector shown in FIG.

7 is an enlarged view showing one side holder of the hinge-type connector shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of an electronic device including a conventional hinge-type connector.

9 is an enlarged perspective view showing a hinge-type connector of the electronic device shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a view of the hinge type connector shown in FIG. 9 (in a state where the other side connector is perpendicular to the one side connector).
Elevation.

11 is a diagram showing the relationship between the hinge-type connector and the main body and lid of the electronic device in a cross section taken along line XI-XI of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,100 Hinge type connector 2 Electronic equipment body 3 Lid body 8 FFC (connecting member) 20,80 One side connector 22,56 Bracket 25,81 One side holder 30,60 One side terminal pin 31,61 One side terminal pin Tip part 40,90 Other side connector 41,91 Other side holder 42 Cylindrical part 50,70 Other side terminal pin 51,71 Tip part of other side terminal pin

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A hinge-type connector comprising one side connector and another side connector swingably connected to the one side connector about a swing axis, wherein the one side connector is a base body. A pair of brackets formed on the base body at intervals in the swing axis direction,
One side holder that is erected between the pair of brackets and is made of an insulating material, and a plurality of one sides that are arranged in a row in the one side holder with a space between each other and that have their tips substantially corresponding to the swing axis. And a terminal portion, wherein the other-side connector has a substantially cylindrical shape, covers the one-side holder, and has both ends rotatably held by a pair of brackets of the one-side connector; The other side holder made of an insulating material provided on one side, and having a plurality of other side terminal pins arranged corresponding to the one side terminal pin in the other side holder, inside the cylindrical portion, A hinge-type connector, characterized in that the tips of the other-side terminal pins maintain contact with the tips of the corresponding one-side terminal pins. 2. An electronic device main body, a lid body corresponding to the electronic device main body, and the hinge type connector according to claim 1, wherein one of the one side connector and the other side connector of the hinge type connector is provided. One of the electronic devices is connected to the electronic device main body, and the other is connected to the lid body. 3. The one-side connector further includes a connecting member extending from the one-side holder to the inside of the electronic device body or the lid through the inside of the bracket and the base, and the connecting member includes: The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of one-side terminal pins are electrically connected to the electronic device main body or the lid side.