JPH10214659A - Sheetlike conductive path connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To confirm the insertion depth of a sheet-shaped conductive path without working the sheet-shaped conductive path. SOLUTION: An insertion chamber for inserting a FPC(flexible printed circuit) 30 is formed in a connector housing 10, and a peep hole 14 is formed on right and left edges of a ceiling surface. When the FPC 30 is inserted to a normal depth position, a point angle part 30A of the inserted FPC 30 is positioned in the peep hole 14. Therefore, confirmation of the presence or absence of the point angle part 30A of the FPC 30 can determine whether or not the FPC 30 is inserted to the normal depth position. There is no need for making marks or the like on the FPC as usual.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet-like conductive path connector for connecting a sheet-like conductive path such as a flat cable.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 10 shows a known connector of this type. This is a connector for connecting an FPC.
An insertion chamber 3 is formed for inserting the first and second holes. A plurality of terminal fittings 4 are arranged in the connector housing 1, and one end of the terminal fittings 4 projects into the insertion chamber 3. Although not shown, one end of the terminal fitting 4 is divided into two forks, and the front end of the FPC 2 is press-fitted therebetween.

On the other hand, marks 5 are printed on both sides of the FPC 2 from the front end to prevent poor connection. When the FPC 2 is inserted to a regular depth position, the marks 5 are placed inside the connector housing 1. It is hidden from view. That is, when the insertion depth of the FPC 2 does not reach the regular depth position, the mark 5 is located outside the connector housing 1 and can be confirmed. Can be determined to be the cause.

[0004] Further, as shown in FIG. 11, there is also a type in which both sides of a part are punched out from the tip of the FPC 2 in a square shape and a mark 6 is provided, and the insertion depth of the FPC 2 can be confirmed by the visibility of the mark 6. Some have been made. FIG.
In FIG. 1, the same parts as those of the connector shown in FIG.

[0005]

However, in the above configuration, a special FPC with a mark must be used to check the insertion depth of the FPC. Is done. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector for a sheet-like conductive path that can check the insertion depth of the sheet-like conductive path without working the sheet-like conductive path. .

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector for a sheet-like conductive path, wherein a terminal fitting is incorporated in a connector housing and a sheet-like conductive path such as a flat cable is provided. An insertion portion to be inserted is formed, and in the sheet-like conductive path connector having a configuration in which the sheet-like conductive path inserted into the insertion portion contacts the terminal fitting, an opening communicating with the insertion portion is formed in the connector housing, It is characterized in that the insertion depth of the sheet-shaped conductive path inserted into the insertion portion is determined based on the presence or absence of the sheet-shaped conductive path confirmed through the opening.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet-like conductive path connector.
2. The sheet-like conductive path connector according to claim 1, wherein the opening is formed at a position where both ends of the leading edge of the sheet-like conductive path inserted at a regular insertion depth position can be confirmed. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet-like conductive path connector.
3. The sheet-like conductive path connector according to claim 1, wherein a color visually recognized through the opening when the sheet-like conductive path is not inserted is different from a color of the sheet-like conductive path. .

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an opening communicating with the insertion portion is formed in the connector housing, and the connector housing is inserted depending on the presence or absence of the sheet-like conductive path confirmed through the opening. The insertion depth of the sheet-like conductive path inserted into the portion can be determined. Therefore, it is not only possible to prevent poor connection to the sheet-shaped conductive path, but also to eliminate the need to mark the sheet-shaped conductive path, thereby improving versatility and reducing cost.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the sheet-like conductive path is inserted to a regular depth position, both ends of the leading edge of the sheet-like conductive path can be confirmed through the opening. That is, when the sheet-shaped conductive path is inserted obliquely, the positions of both ends at the leading edge are confirmed to be shifted, and it can be confirmed that the sheet-shaped conductive path has been inserted to the regular depth position. In addition, it can be confirmed that the sheet-like conductive path is inserted obliquely.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the color visually recognized through the opening when the sheet-shaped conductive path is not inserted is different from the color of the sheet-shaped conductive path. The presence or absence of the conductive path is more reliable.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

<First Embodiment> A first embodiment of a sheet-like conductive path connector according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The connector for a sheet-like conductive path of the present embodiment is a connector for connecting an FPC (corresponding to the sheet-like conductive path of the present invention), and as shown in FIG. Is provided.

An FPC 3 is provided in the connector housing 10.
An insertion chamber 11 is formed for inserting the FPC 0, and the front end of the FPC 30 is inserted through an insertion port 12 formed on the front surface. The inner peripheral edge of the insertion port 12 is cut obliquely inward to facilitate insertion of the FPC 30 into the insertion chamber 11. A plurality of cavities 13 are arranged in a rear part of the insertion chamber 11, and terminal fittings 20 are respectively assembled to the cavities 13 from the rear.

In the ceiling surface of the connector housing 10, viewing holes 14 communicating with the insertion chamber 11 are formed at both left and right ends in FIG. The viewing hole 14 has a rectangular shape, and its position is a position where both corners of the tip of the FPC 30 inserted through the insertion opening 12 to a regular depth position can be confirmed. That is, when the FPC 30 is inserted to a regular depth position, the leading edge thereof is set so as to cross the viewing hole 14.

The terminal fitting 20 is formed by stamping a conductive metal plate. The rear end of the terminal fitting 20 (in FIG. 3,
The left end) is a soldering portion 21 which projects from the lower edge of the rear surface of each cavity 13 and is soldered to the board B. The front end of the terminal fitting 20 is vertically split into two parts, and the FPC 30 is inserted between the lower piece 22 and the upper piece 23. The lower piece 22 projects into the insertion chamber 11 along the bottom surface, and has a receiving portion 22A
Are formed. The upper piece 23 protrudes into the insertion chamber 11 while forming a slight gap with the ceiling surface, and a contact projection 23A is formed at the tip thereof so as to face the receiving projection 22A. When the FPC 30 is inserted between the lower piece 22 and the upper piece 23, the upper piece 23 is slightly elastically deformed upward, and the elastic force causes the FPC 30 to receive the protrusion 2.
2A and the contact protrusion 23A. A locking projection 22B is formed at the base of the lower piece 22 and engages with a locking receiving portion 13A formed on the bottom surface of the cavity 13 to prevent the terminal fitting 20 from coming off.

The FPC 30 is formed by sandwiching a conductive pattern 31 between resinous films 32 in a sandwich state.
At the tip (left end in FIG. 3), the upper film 3
2 is peeled off, and the conductive pattern 31 is exposed. In addition, a resin plate 33 is attached to the distal end, and is reinforced so that the distal end is not bent.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
The FPC 30 is inserted into the insertion chamber 11 through the insertion port 12. Then, the FPC 30 enters between the upper piece 23 and the lower piece 22 while elastically deforming the upper piece 23 upward, and the front end is strongly pinched by the contact protrusion 23A and the receiving protrusion 22A. (See FIG. 4). As a result, the contact protrusion 23A and the conductive pattern 31 make conductive contact, and the FP
C30 is connected.

Here, if the insertion depth of the FPC 30 has reached the regular position, the tip corner 30A of the FPC 30 is
And can be confirmed through the viewing hole 14 (see FIG. 5). If the insertion depth of the FPC 30 is shallow and does not reach the regular position, the tip corner portion 30A of the FPC 30 is located on the front side of the observation hole 14 and the observation hole 1
In FIG. 4, the tip corner 30A of the FPC 30 cannot be confirmed (see FIG. 6). Therefore, the operator can confirm whether or not the FPC 30 has been inserted to the regular depth position based on the presence / absence of the tip corner 30A of the FPC 30 confirmed through the peephole 14.

Further, when the insertion depth of the FPC 30 has reached the regular position, but the FPC 30 is obliquely inserted, the area of each corner 30A confirmed through the two viewing holes 14 is confirmed. Look different. For example, when the tip of the FPC 30 is inclined rightward as shown in FIG. 7, in the view hole 14 on the left side in FIG. Peephole 1
In No. 4, only a part of the viewing hole 14 is blocked by the tip corner 30A. Therefore, from this, even if the FPC 30 is inserted at the regular insertion depth position, it can be confirmed whether or not the FPC 30 is inserted obliquely.

As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to confirm whether or not the FPC 30 is inserted to the regular depth position without making a mark or the like on the FPC 30, thereby avoiding an increase in cost. Poor connection of the FPC 30 can be prevented. Further, since the viewing holes 14 are provided at the left and right ends of the ceiling surface, it is possible to confirm whether or not the FPC 30 is inserted obliquely.
Connection failure can be prevented.

<Second Embodiment> In the second embodiment, the color of the bottom surface in the insertion chamber 11 is different from the color of the FPC 30. That is, the color (black in FIG. 8) visually recognized through the viewing hole 14 when the FPC 30 is not inserted is the FPC 3.
The color is different from the color (white in FIG. 8) of the 0 corner 30A. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

As a result, when the FPC 30 is inserted to the regular depth position, a part of the color in the viewing hole 14 changes (in FIG. 9, the color changes from black to white). Therefore, peephole 1
4, the determination of the presence / absence of the tip corner 30A of the FPC 30 becomes more accurate, and the connection failure of the FPC 30 can be reliably prevented.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be modified as follows, for example, and these embodiments also belong to the technical scope of the present invention. (1) In each of the above embodiments, when the FPC 30 is inserted at the regular depth position, the leading edge thereof is configured to cross the viewing hole 14. However, when the FPC is inserted at the regular depth position. You may comprise so that the whole area of a peephole may be blocked by the front-end | tip part of FPC.

(2) In each of the above embodiments, the viewing hole 14
Are formed at the left and right ends of the ceiling surface, but may be formed at approximately one center or the like in the left-right direction as viewed from the front, or may be formed to be elongated between the left and right ends.

(3) In each of the above embodiments, the FPC 30
Is inserted into the regular deep position, the leading edge of the
4, but the viewing hole is
The FPC may be formed closer to the insertion opening than that of the embodiment, and when the insertion depth of the FPC is insufficient, the leading edge of the FPC may cross the viewing hole. In addition, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the scope.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially broken perspective view showing the entire first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1 in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a state before connection of the FPC in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a connection state of the FPC in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a top view showing a state where the FPC in the embodiment is inserted at a regular depth position.

FIG. 6 is a top view showing a state in which the FPC in the embodiment has not reached a regular depth position.

FIG. 7 is a top view showing a state where the FPC in the same embodiment is obliquely inserted.

FIG. 8 is a top view illustrating a state in which an FPC according to the second embodiment is not inserted.

FIG. 9 is a top view showing a state where the FPC in the embodiment is inserted at a regular depth position.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an FPC (printed mark) in a conventional example has not reached a regular depth position.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an FPC (marked by punching) in a conventional example has not reached a regular depth position.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Connector housing 11 ... Insertion chamber (insertion part) 14 ... Peephole (opening) 20 ... Terminal fitting 30 ... FPC (sheet-shaped conductive path)

Claims (3)

[Claims] An insertion portion into which a terminal fitting is inserted and into which a sheet-like conductive path such as a flat cable is inserted is formed in the connector housing, and the sheet-like conductive path inserted into the insertion section comes into contact with the terminal fitting. In the connector for a sheet-shaped conductive path, an opening communicating with the insertion portion is formed in the connector housing, and the presence or absence of the sheet-shaped conductive path confirmed through the opening allows the connector housing to be inserted into the insertion portion. A connector for a sheet-shaped conductive path, wherein the insertion depth of the inserted sheet-shaped conductive path is determined. 2. The sheet-like conductive path connector according to claim 1, wherein the opening is formed at a position where both ends of a leading edge of the sheet-like conductive path inserted at a regular insertion depth position can be confirmed. A connector for a sheet-like conductive path, comprising: 3. The sheet-like conductive path connector according to claim 1, wherein a color visually recognized through the opening when the sheet-like conductive path is not inserted is a color of the sheet-like conductive path. A connector for a sheet-like conductive path, which is different in color.