JPH10335003A - Connector with built-in electronic component - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector with built-in electronic component, which is excellent in an assembling property while reducing the number of component items. SOLUTION: A terminal unit 20 is integrally connected to an LA terminal 5, a capacitor 4, a terminal fitting 3 and a holding member 14, and fitted from a component housing chamber 7 side of a connector housing 2, to be filled with a molding resin and cured. In the connector housing 2, a terminal housing chamber 8 into which a female side terminal fitting 6 connectable to the terminal fitting 3 can be fitted is formed on the opposite side of the component housing chamber 7. A connector with built-in electronic component to which the female and male terminal fittings 3, 6 are connected inside the single connector housing 2 can be provided by inserting the female side terminal fitting 6 after fitting of the terminal unit 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic component built-in connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 11 to 13 show a conventional electronic component built-in connector 50. FIG. This electronic component built-in connector 5
The connector housing 51 is provided with a component housing chamber 53 for housing a capacitor 52 as an electronic component and a terminal housing chamber 55 for housing a male terminal fitting 54. Male terminal fitting 5
4 is mounted from the opening of the component storage chamber 53 and is attached by being molded with the filler 58.
On the other hand, a mating connector 56 that can be fitted to the electronic component built-in connector 50 is prepared. The mating connector 56 includes two female terminal fittings 59,
One of them is connected to, for example, an in-vehicle electronic device, and the other is connected to, for example, a ground terminal 57 for connecting to a ground connection point of a vehicle body. The electronic device can be grounded via the capacitor 52 by fitting the two connectors 50 and 56 configured as described above.

[0003]

However, since the capacitor 52 and the ground terminal 57 are connected to separate connectors 50 and 56, members such as terminal fittings and a connector housing must be provided for each. However, there is a problem that the number of parts is large. Further, in addition to the operation of connecting the ground terminal 57 to a predetermined connection point, the operation of fixing the electronic component built-in connector 50 to the predetermined position is also required, so that there is a problem that the number of operation steps is increased. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector with a built-in electronic component having a good assemblability while reducing the number of components.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector with a built-in electronic component, which is connectable to a connector housing and an external terminal fitting provided on the connector housing as a connection partner. A terminal fitting, an electronic component provided in the connector housing and connected to the terminal fitting, and an electronic component provided in the connector housing, one end of which can be connected to a required external connection point and the other end of which is connected to the electronic component. Connection terminals connected to the components.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a terminal accommodating chamber for accommodating the external terminal fitting is formed in the connector housing.
A terminal locking portion is provided for locking the terminal fitting inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber in a retaining state.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the connection terminal, the electronic component, and the terminal fitting are connected, and they are provided in one housing. Therefore, there is no need to separately provide a member for connecting the connection terminal and the electronic component. In addition, by fixing the connection terminal to the external connection point, the connector housing is also fixed, so that the number of working steps can be reduced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the external terminal fitting is mounted in the terminal accommodating chamber, the external terminal fitting is connected to the terminal fitting while being locked in the retaining state by the terminal locking portion. For this reason,
Since the external terminal fitting can be directly mounted on the connector housing in which the electronic component is built, there is no need to separately provide a connector housing for the external terminal fitting.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

<First Embodiment> Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Figures 4 and 5
1 shows an electronic component built-in connector 1 before assembly. This electronic component built-in connector 1 has a connector housing 2
And a male terminal fitting 3, an LA terminal 5 corresponding to a connection terminal connected to the terminal fitting 3 via a capacitor 4 (electronic component), and a mating female side fittable to the terminal fitting 3. And terminal fittings 6 (external terminal fittings). The female terminal fitting 6 is formed by bending a conductive metal plate, and has a box-shaped connecting portion 6A formed at the tip (the end side first inserted into the connector housing 2). Terminal fitting 3 to be connected. At the rear end of the female terminal fitting 6, a core portion (not shown) of the electric wire W is crimped, and a rubber stopper 12 is attached to protect the crimped portion in a substantially waterproof state. The rubber stopper 12 is provided with three waterproof lips, and is formed slightly larger than the terminal accommodating chamber 8 of the connector housing 2. A lance engaging portion 13 is provided at a central portion on the lower surface side of the female terminal fitting 6, and engages with a lance 10 (terminal locking portion) provided on the connector housing 2. Although not shown, the wires W are bundled together with other wires so as to form a wire harness of the vehicle, and are connected to electronic devices in the vehicle.

The connector housing 2 is integrally formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape from a synthetic resin material. A component housing chamber 7 for housing the capacitor 4 is provided at a rear portion (left side in FIG. 4), and at a front portion. A terminal accommodation chamber 8 for mounting the female terminal fitting 6 is formed. The component storage chamber 7 is recessed from the vicinity of the center of the connector housing 2 toward the rear end, leaving only the surrounding wall surface, and the rear end portion is opened as a component insertion port 7A. Further, a small terminal insertion hole 7 </ b> B communicating with the terminal storage chamber 8 is formed in the partition wall 9 on the back side of the component storage chamber 7. The partition wall 9 is formed so as to slightly project from the component storage chamber 7 for partitioning the component storage chamber 7 and the terminal storage chamber 8, and a holding member is inserted between the partition wall 9 and the peripheral wall of the connector housing 2. It is configured with a space 18 therebetween. The holding member insertion space 18 is provided with a pair of left and right locking holes 17 for locking a locking claw 16 described later.

The terminal receiving chamber 8 is formed so that the female terminal fitting 6 can be mounted therein, and a female terminal insertion opening 8A is opened at a front end portion of the connector housing 2. A lance 10 for engaging with the female terminal fitting 6 protrudes from a lower wall near the center of the terminal accommodating chamber 8. A punching space 11 is formed in a lower wall surface of the lance 10, so that the lance 10 can be bent and deformed downward. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a state before the LA terminal 5, the capacitor 4, the holding member 14, and the terminal fitting 3 are assembled. These members are connected to each other to be integrated, and are mounted from the component insertion opening 7A of the connector housing 2. Capacitor 4
A pair of lead wires 4A extend forward from the upper surface and rearward from the lower surface, and are connected to the terminal fitting 3 and the LA terminal 5, respectively. The LA terminal 5 is formed from a conductive metal plate, and has a circular connection hole 5A at one end thereof. For example, a predetermined external connection point (such as a ground stud bolt provided on the vehicle body of the vehicle). (Not shown). On the other end side, a pair of left and right holding pieces 5B is formed, and after caulking a lead wire 4A extending from the capacitor 4, this portion is connected by soldering.

The terminal fitting 3 is formed by stamping a conductive metal plate and can be connected to the female terminal fitting 6. A tab portion 3B for connecting to the connecting portion 6A is projected from a front end side (a side to be joined with the female terminal fitting 6) of the terminal fitting 3, and a lead wire of the capacitor 4 is provided on a rear end side. A pair of left and right holding pieces 3A for fixing 4A are formed. After placing the lead wire 4A in a predetermined position, caulking the holding piece 3A, and soldering this portion, the capacitor 4 and the terminal fitting 3 are connected. Also,
A pair of left and right positioning pieces 3C is formed in front of the mounting piece 3A. Further, a metal lance 22 for retaining is cut and raised at an intermediate portion of these positioning pieces 3C.

The holding member 14 is integrally formed of a synthetic resin material. A locking portion 15 is formed in a hollow shape on a front side (a side close to the female terminal fitting 6), and a terminal mounting portion is formed on a rear side. 24 are formed (see FIG. 3). The locking portion 15 is formed to have a cross section corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the component storage chamber 7, and a pair of locking claws 16 inward from right and left wall surfaces.
Is protruding. The peripheral portion of the locking portion 15 where the locking claw 16 is provided can be slightly deformed outward. The locking claw 16 is formed by a locking hole 17 formed in the partition wall 9.
To hold the holding member 14 in the connector housing 2. A terminal mounting portion 24 protrudes from the upper half of the rear surface (left side in FIG. 1) of the locking portion 15. The terminal mounting portion 24 is provided with a terminal mounting hole 23 that opens to the front and rear, and the terminal fitting 3 is mounted therein. The rear side of the terminal mounting hole 23 is a terminal opening 23A which is largely opened, and the front side is a terminal protruding port 23B which is opened smaller. The terminal protrusion 23B is opened only in the lower half of the terminal mounting hole 23, and the terminal engagement wall 2 is formed in the upper half.
5 are protrudingly provided. The terminal fitting wall 25 includes the terminal fitting 3.
Of the terminal fitting 3 restricts the forward movement of the terminal fitting 3. At the center of the lower wall surface where the terminal mounting hole 23 is formed, a protruding portion 26 protrudes inward, and engages with the metal lance 22 of the terminal fitting 3 to prevent and retain it. Further, a rib 27 is protruded from the rear end portion of the locking portion 15 of the holding member 14 over the entire circumference. The rib 27 is formed to be slightly larger than the component storage chamber 7, and fills a gap with the wall surface 28 of the component storage chamber 7 when the holding member 14 is pressed into the component storage chamber 7.

[0013] The four members 3, 4, constructed as described above.
In order to assemble 5 and 14, first, the LA terminal 5 and the terminal fitting 3 are connected to the pair of lead wires 4A of the capacitor 4, respectively.
And concatenate. Then, the tab 3B of the terminal fitting 3 is inserted into the terminal mounting hole 23 from the terminal insertion opening 23A, and is protruded from the terminal protrusion 23B. Metal lance 22 for terminal fitting 3
Over the protrusion 26 while flexing and deforming, the protrusion 26
And the positioning piece 3 </ b> C abuts the terminal engagement wall 25, whereby the positioning is performed forward. By pushing the terminal fitting 3 to a predetermined position in this way, the assembly with the holding member 14 is completed. For the sake of convenience, the terminal unit 2 will be described below in which the four members 3, 4, 5, 14 are assembled.
Called 0.

Next, the operation and effect of the first embodiment configured as described above will be described. First, the terminal unit 20 is stored in the component storage chamber 7. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the terminal unit 20 is moved from the terminal fitting 3 to the component insertion port 7.
Push into A. When the tab 3B of the terminal fitting 3 is inserted into the terminal insertion hole 7B and further pushed in, the locking claw 16 is pushed by the partition wall 9, and the locking portion 15 is slightly bent outward and deformed, and the holding member insertion space 18 is formed. Get into it. When the locking claw 16 is fitted into the locking hole 17 of the partition wall 9, the locking portion 15 is deformed to return, and the terminal unit 20 is held in a retaining state.
At this time, the rib 27 protruding around the locking portion 15
It is pushed in while pressing the wall surface 28. In this state, the molding resin 21 is inserted through the component insertion port 7A.
(Epoxy resin, thermoplastic resin, or the like) is poured, filled in the component storage chamber 7, and cured.

In the conventional electronic component built-in connector 50, a plate 60 is disposed at an intermediate position between the capacitor 52 and the male terminal fitting 54. However, since the plate 60 performs only the positioning function of the capacitor 52, when the filler is poured and cured,
In some cases, it leaked forward from the space in which the male terminal fittings 54 were mounted. In the present embodiment, such a situation is unlikely to occur because the ribs 27 press-fit between the wall surface 28 and the holding member 14 and fill the gap. In this manner, when the terminal unit 20 is fixedly mounted in the component storage chamber 7, the tab portion 3 </ b> B of the terminal fitting 3 is retained in the terminal storage chamber 8 while the capacitor 4 is held in the component storage chamber 7 by the molding resin 21. It is held while protruding.

Next, the female terminal fitting 6 is mounted from the female terminal insertion opening 8A side. When the female terminal fitting 6 is pushed into the terminal accommodating chamber 8 from the distal end side, the female terminal fitting 6 is inserted with the insertion.
The lower wall surface causes the lance 10 to bend and deform downward. When the lance 10 reaches the lance engaging portion 13, the lance 1
0 is deformed by return and engages with the lance engaging portion 13, and the female terminal fitting 6 is held in the terminal accommodating chamber 8 in a retaining state. At this time, the connecting portion 6A of the female terminal fitting 6 includes
The tab 3B of the terminal fitting 3 is connected. The connector with built-in electronic component 1 thus assembled is fixed by passing the connection hole 5A through a predetermined coupling location (for example, a ground stud bolt of a vehicle body) not shown and tightening it with a fastening member such as a nut. You. If you do this,
The position of the electronic component built-in connector 1 itself is also fixed via the LA terminal 5.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the terminal fitting 3 is connected to the capacitor 4 and provided inside the connector housing 2. Therefore, there is no need to separately provide a member for connecting the terminal fitting 3 and the capacitor 4 as in the related art. Further, since the female terminal fitting 6 is mounted in the terminal accommodating chamber 8 of the connector housing 2, there is no need to provide another connector housing, and the number of members can be reduced. Further, by fixing the connection hole 5A of the LA terminal 5 to a predetermined external location, the electronic component built-in connector 1 itself is also fixed. In addition, LA terminal 5
Since the connecting portion between the lead wire 4A and the lead wire 4A is filled with the filler in the component housing chamber 7, this connecting portion is made more resistant to vibrations and the like as compared with the case where the connecting portion is provided outside the component housing chamber 7. And a good bonding state is maintained.

Further, the retaining member 14 is engaged with the connector housing 2 to prevent the connector housing 2 from coming off (the engaging pawl 16 and the engaging hole 17).
Is performed inside the component storage chamber 7. Therefore, the waterproof property at the central portion of the connector housing 2 is improved as compared with the case where a locking hole communicating from the component storage chamber 7 to the outside of the wall surface 28 of the connector housing 2 is provided.

<Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment and the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. The electronic component built-in connector 30 of the present embodiment includes a male connector housing 32 that houses the LA terminal 5, the terminal fitting 31 and the capacitor 4, and a female connector housing 33 that houses the female terminal fitting 6. Female connector housing 33
Is integrally formed of a synthetic resin material, and a female terminal accommodating chamber 34 for accommodating the female terminal fitting 6 is formed. A lance 45 projects from the lower wall surface of the female terminal accommodating chamber 34 so as to be flexibly deformable and engages with the lance engaging portion 13 of the female terminal fitting 6. A hood portion 35 is provided on the front surface of the female connector housing 33 (on the side where the male connector housing 32 is fitted). The hood portion 35 is provided with a hood portion 36 of the male connector housing 32.
It is formed one size larger than that. A lock receiving portion 37 is formed on an upper surface of the hood portion 35.

The male connector housing 32 is integrally formed in a substantially prismatic shape with a synthetic resin material, and a hood for protecting the terminal fittings 31 is provided on the front side (the side on which the female connector housing 33 is fitted). The part 36 is provided in a protruding manner. When the terminal fitting 31 is attached, the tab portion 31 </ b> A protrudes into the hood portion 36. Also, a terminal fitting 31 is provided at the center.
Is formed, and a component housing chamber 39 is provided behind the terminal housing chamber 38. The terminal accommodating chamber 38 is formed so as to protrude toward the component accommodating chamber 39. The terminal accommodating chamber 38 and the component accommodating chamber 39 are separated by a partition wall 40, and the rear end is opened as a terminal mounting port 38A. ing. A lance 41 for engaging the terminal fitting 31 is provided on the lower wall surface of the terminal accommodating chamber 38 so as to be flexibly deformable. Further, a lock claw 43 is projected from an upper front surface of the male connector housing 32 so that the lock receiving portion 3 is fitted when the two connector housings 32 and 33 are fitted.
7 to hold the connector housings 32 and 33 in place. Further, a rear end portion of the component storage chamber 39 is opened as a component insertion port 39A.

The terminal fitting 31 is formed by bending a conductive metal plate, and a connecting portion 6A of the female terminal fitting 6 is provided at the front.
Is provided, and a lance engagement portion 31B is provided behind the tab portion 31A. In addition, a barrel portion 31C for caulking the lead wire 4A of the capacitor 4 is provided at the rear portion. Of the lead wires 4A and 4B extending from the capacitor 4, one lead wire 4B is longer than the other lead wire, and the longer lead wire 4B is connected to the barrel 31C of the terminal fitting 31. This lead wire 4
A plate 42 is attached to the B capacitor 4.

A hole slightly smaller than the lead wire 4B is provided at the center of the plate 42 (not shown), and the plate 42 is connected to the capacitor 4 by inserting the lead wire 4B into the hole. . The plate 42 is assembled so as to cover the terminal mounting opening 38A, and the positioning of the capacitor 4 is performed.
Regulate leakage to the 8 side. Four types of members 4, 5, 3
The assembly of the plates 1 and 42 will be briefly described. First, the plate 42 is assembled to the lead wire 4B of the capacitor 4. Next, after the holding piece 5B of the LA terminal 5 and the barrel portion 31C of the terminal fitting 31 are crimped to each of the two lead wires 4A and 4B, they are fixed by soldering. In the following, the four types of members 4, 5, 31, 42 assembled in this manner are described.
Is referred to as a terminal unit 44.

Next, the operation and effect of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. First, the female terminal fitting 6 is mounted in the female terminal accommodating chamber 34 of the female connector housing 33. Inserted into the female terminal accommodating chamber 34 from the connecting portion 6A side,
By engaging the lance engagement portion 13 with the lance 45,
The female terminal fitting 6 is held in a retaining state. Thus, the assembly on the female connector housing 33 side is completed. next,
The assembly on the male connector housing 32 side will be described. The terminal unit 44 is mounted in the component housing chamber 39 of the male connector housing 32. That is, the tab section 31A is inserted from the component insertion port 39A side, and further, the terminal mounting port 38 is inserted.
Insert into A. The lower surface of the terminal fitting 31 is pushed in while elastically deforming the lance 41, and when the lance engaging portion 31 </ b> B engages the lance 41, the lance 41 is deformed to return and the terminal fitting 31 is retained and retained. At this time, the plate 42 is assembled so as to cover the terminal mounting opening 38A. After keeping in this state, the molding resin 21 is poured from the component insertion opening 39A, filled in the component storage chamber 39, and cured. Thus, the assembly on the male connector housing 32 side is completed.

The thus assembled male connector housing 32 and female connector housing 33 are fitted together. The hood portion 36 of the male connector housing 32 is fitted so as to be inserted into the hood portion 35 of the female connector housing 33, and the connector housings 32, 33 are pressed until the lock claw 43 engages with the lock receiving portion 37. I do. When the lock claw 43 is fitted into the lock receiving portion 37, the two connector housings 32 and 33 are fitted in a locked state, and the tab portion 31A is inserted into the connecting portion 6A and the two terminal fittings 31 and 6 are internally inserted. Are joined. Thus, the assembly of the electronic component built-in connector 30 is completed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the terminal fitting 31 and the capacitor 4 are directly connected, there is no need to provide a separate member as in the prior art. LA terminal 5
By fixing the connection hole 5A at a predetermined place outside, the position of the electronic component built-in connector 30 itself is also fixed. In addition, since the connecting portion between the LA terminal 5 and the lead wire 4A is filled with the filler in the component housing chamber 7, vibrations and the like are greater than when the connecting portion is provided outside the component housing chamber 7. And a good bonding state is maintained.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the following ones are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. (1) The terminal locking portion is not limited to the one provided on the connector housing side, and may be a so-called metal lance type in which a lance protruding from a terminal fitting is engaged with a concave portion on the connector housing side. . (2) The electronic components are not limited to capacitors, but may be resistors, diodes, or the like. (3) The mounting locations of the male and female terminal fittings may be reversed. That is, the female terminal fitting may be directly connected to the connection terminal and mounted from the component housing chamber side, and the male terminal fitting may be directly connected to the electric wire. (4) The shape of the head of the connection terminal does not need to be round.
In addition, it may be rectangular, L-shaped, U-shaped, or the like. (5) The connection terminal is not limited to the LA terminal for body grounding of the vehicle, but may be any connection terminal that can be connected to a required external connection point.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially sectional front view of an LA terminal, an electronic component, a male terminal fitting, and a holding member before assembly in a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional side view of an LA terminal, an electronic component, a male terminal fitting, and a holding member before assembly.

FIG. 3 shows a holding member. (A) Plan view (B) Side sectional view (C) Bottom view

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional front view of the electronic component built-in connector before assembly.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the electronic component built-in connector before assembly.

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional front view of the electronic component built-in connector after assembly.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the electronic component built-in connector after assembly.

FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway front view of the electronic component built-in connector before being assembled in the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional front view of the electronic component built-in connector before fitting.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the electronic component built-in connector before fitting.

FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway front view of an electronic component built-in connector before assembly in a conventional example.

FIG. 12 is a partially cutaway front view of the electronic component built-in connector before fitting in the same example.

FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the electronic component built-in connector before fitting in the same example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 30 connector with built-in electronic components 2, 32, 33 connector housing 3, 31 terminal fittings 4 capacitor (electronic component) 5 LA terminal (connection terminal) 6 female terminal fitting (external terminal fitting) 8, 38 ... Terminal accommodation room 10 ... Lance (terminal locking part)

Claims (2)

[Claims] A connector housing, a terminal fitting provided in the connector housing and connectable to an external terminal fitting which is a connection partner, an electronic component provided in the connector housing and connected to the terminal fitting, An electronic component built-in connector comprising: a connector housing; and a connection terminal having one end connected to a required external connection point and the other end connected to the electronic component. 2. A terminal retaining portion for receiving the external terminal fitting is formed in the connector housing, and a terminal retaining portion for retaining the terminal fitting inserted into the terminal receiving chamber in a retaining state. The electronic component built-in connector according to claim 1, wherein a connector is provided.