JPH11154571A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remarkably expand a degree of freedom of design, to reduce a manufacturing cost, and to extremely easily connect a circuit pattern of a flexible printed circuit board when it is used for an on-vehicle audio set with a demountable front panel from an audio main body. SOLUTION: This connector is provided with a receptacle 11 having a receptacle side terminal 12 and a plug 21 which has a plug side terminal 22 and connected/separates the receptacle side terminal 12 and the plug side terminal 22 by mounting/demounting them on/from the receptacle 11, A flexible printed circuit connecting part 12a connectable to a circuit pattern P of a flexible printed circuit board is integrally arrange in the receptacle side terminal 12 of the receptacle 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector used to electrically connect, for example, a main body of an electric device and an attached part detachably attached to the main body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The above-mentioned electric equipment includes, for example, a vehicle-mounted audio set having an audio main body and a front panel having operation buttons and a liquid crystal display and being detachable from the audio main body. In an in-vehicle audio set, when the user leaves the car, the front panel is detached from the audio body and taken out to prevent the audio set from being stolen.

Recently, in order to satisfy the conflicting demands of downsizing the entire set and increasing the size of the liquid crystal screen, a recent audio set for a vehicle has an audio slot in which a front panel is located at a disc insertion slot of a compact disc or the like. Open the front of the main unit, slide the upper end downward while pulling out the lower end of the front panel together with the panel holding member, and separate the front panel from the front of the audio main unit so that the disc insertion slot is exposed. The structure is adopted.

In this case, the electrical connection between the front panel and the panel holding member is made by a connector (DT connector) including a plug fixed to the front panel and a receptacle fixed to the panel holding member. The electrical connection with the holding member is made by connecting a circuit pattern of the flexible printed circuit board, one end of which is connected to the audio body, to a connector (FPC connector) for a flexible printed circuit board fixed to the panel holding member. This F
As shown in FIG. 10, the PC connector includes a curved terminal 101 connected to a receptacle of a DT connector provided on a panel holding member via an auxiliary printed circuit board, and the curved terminal 101 fixed to the curved terminal 101. A housing 102 having a circuit pattern insertion portion 102a above the drawing 101 and a circuit pattern insertion portion 10 of the housing 102
2a shows the circuit pattern p of the flexible printed circuit board
And a wedge-shaped plate 103 which is press-fitted into the circuit pattern insertion portion 102a in a state where is inserted to press the circuit pattern p against the curved terminal 101.

[0005]

However, conventionally, the electrical connection between the front panel and the panel holding member is made by a DT connector, while the electrical connection between the audio body and the panel holding member is made by an FPC connector. In addition, because the FPC connector and the DT connector are connected via an auxiliary printed circuit board, the degree of freedom in design is reduced by the need for more space, and the cost is increased by the increase in the number of connector connection steps. Had the problem that it was expensive.

[0006] In a conventional FPC connector,
After inserting the circuit pattern p of the flexible printed circuit board into the circuit pattern insertion portion 102a of the housing 102, the wedge-shaped plate 1 is inserted into the circuit pattern insertion portion 102a.
03 is press-fitted to press the circuit pattern p against the curved terminal 101. Therefore, when there is only a narrow space around the FPC connector, it is difficult to say that the press-fitting work of the wedge-shaped plate 103 is easy. There is a conventional problem to solve these problems.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems. For example, when the present invention is used for an in-vehicle audio set in which a front panel can be attached to and detached from an audio main body, a front end is required. The degree of freedom in designing the panel and the panel holding member for holding the panel can be greatly expanded, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, the connection of the circuit pattern of the flexible printed circuit board can be extremely reduced. An object is to provide a connector that can be easily performed.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a receptacle having one terminal, and a terminal having the other terminal and being detachably attached to the receptacle and having one terminal connected to the other terminal. In a connector provided with a plug for connecting and separating a terminal, a flexible printed circuit connection portion that can be connected to a circuit pattern of a flexible printed circuit board is integrally provided on one terminal of the receptacle, The configuration of this connector is used as means for solving the above-mentioned conventional problems.

Further, in the connector according to the second aspect of the present invention, the receptacle includes an elastic member which presses the circuit pattern of the flexible printed circuit board superimposed on the flexible printed circuit connecting portion of one terminal and presses the circuit pattern to each other. Configuration.

Further, in the connector according to the third aspect of the present invention, the receptacle includes a housing to which one terminal is fixed, a flexible printed circuit connecting portion of one terminal to the housing holding an elastic member, and a flexible printed circuit board. Claims of the present invention are provided with a cover which is mounted in the direction of superimposition with the circuit pattern of the present invention, and wherein the elastic member is arranged so as to face the flexible printed circuit connecting portion of one terminal where the circuit pattern of the flexible printed circuit board overlaps. In the connector according to Item 4, the receptacle includes a temporary mounting portion for temporarily fixing the cover to the housing in a state where the circuit pattern of the flexible printed circuit board can be inserted between the elastic member and the flexible printed circuit connecting portion of the one terminal. Configuration.

Further, the connector according to claim 5 of the present invention is configured such that the elastic member is made of silicone rubber,
The connector according to claim 6 of the present invention has a configuration in which one terminal of the receptacle and the other terminal of the plug are pressed against each other in the cover mounting direction, and the connector according to claim 7 of the present invention includes one terminal of the receptacle. And the other terminal of the plug is pressed into a direction substantially perpendicular to the cover mounting direction.

[0012]

In the connector according to the first aspect of the present invention, if the circuit pattern of the flexible printed circuit board is connected to the flexible printed circuit connecting portion provided integrally with one terminal of the receptacle, for example, the connector can be used. When used in an in-vehicle audio set that allows the front panel to be attached to and detached from the audio body,
It is not necessary to use a connector for a flexible printed circuit board (FPC connector) and an auxiliary printed circuit board. Therefore, the degree of freedom in design is increased by allowing space, and the cost is reduced by reducing the number of connector connection steps. Reduction can be achieved.

[0013] In the connector according to claim 2 of the present invention,
With the above configuration, the flexible printed circuit connecting portion of one terminal of the receptacle and the circuit pattern of the flexible printed circuit board are securely connected.

[0014] In the connector according to claim 3 of the present invention,
When the cover was attached to the housing with the circuit pattern of the flexible printed circuit board superimposed on the flexible printed circuit connection of one terminal of the receptacle, the cover was held by the cover facing the flexible printed circuit connection of one terminal. Since the elastic member presses the circuit pattern of the flexible printed circuit board and presses against the flexible printed circuit connection section of one terminal, the connection of the flexible printed circuit board to the flexible printed circuit connection section of one terminal is performed by assembling the connector. It will be done at the same time.

[0015] In the connector according to claim 4 of the present invention,
If the cover is temporarily fixed to the housing by the temporary mounting portion, the state where the circuit pattern of the flexible printed circuit board can be inserted between the elastic member and the flexible printed circuit connection portion of one terminal is maintained, The work of inserting the circuit pattern on the flexible printed circuit board can be easily performed.

In the connector according to claim 5 of the present invention,
With the above-described configuration, it is possible to reduce the cost of parts and improve the durability.

In the connector according to claim 6 of the present invention,
In the state where the receptacle and the plug are connected, an elastic force is generated between them in a direction away from each other,
The plug can be smoothly removed from the receptacle without the need for an elastic member for separating the plug, and in the connector according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, for example, the plug of the connector is connected to a panel having a liquid crystal screen. In the case of fixing to, distortion of the liquid crystal screen of the panel is avoided.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 7 show an embodiment of the connector according to the present invention. This embodiment shows a case where the connector according to the present invention is employed in a vehicle audio set.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the on-vehicle audio set 1 includes an audio body 2 and operation buttons 3.
And a liquid crystal screen 4 and a front panel 6 attached to the front surface of the audio main body 2 via a panel holding member 5. As shown in FIG. By sliding the upper end downward while pulling out the lower end together with the panel holding member 5, the lower end moves in the direction of the arrow from the front of the audio main body 2. A disc insertion slot 2a for a compact disc or the like can be exposed.

Further, the front panel 6 is detachably attached to the panel holding member 5, and in the in-vehicle audio set 1, when the vehicle is separated from the car, the front panel 5 is connected to the panel holding member on the audio body 2 side. The audio set 1 can be prevented from being stolen by removing the audio set 1 and taking it out.

In this case, the electrical connection between the panel holding member 5 and the front panel 6 is made by a receptacle 11 fixed to the panel holding member 5 and a plug 21 fixed to the front panel 6, as shown in FIG. The electrical connection between the audio main body 2 and the panel holding member 5 is made by connecting a circuit pattern P of a flexible printed circuit board having one end connected to the audio main body 2 to a receptacle 11 of the connector 10. Is to be done.

The receptacle 11 of the connector 10 is
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a bottom portion 13 in which a plurality of receptacle side terminals (one terminal) 12 are fixed in a parallel state.
a housing 13 having a bottom 13a and fixed to the panel holding member 5 such that the bottom 13a is in contact with the panel holding member 5;
The cover 14 is fitted and mounted in the up-down direction. The cover 14 is provided on the side wall 14 b of the cover 14 on two outward projections 13 c provided on the upright wall 13 b of the housing 13. By locking the locking holes 14c, 14c, respectively, the housing 13 is fixed.

At the center of the ceiling 14d of the cover 14 facing the bottom 13a of the housing 13, there is provided a plug insertion hole 14e through which a plug 21 having a plurality of plug-side terminals (the other terminal) 22 is inserted. When the plug 21 is connected to the receptacle 11, the plug-side terminal 22 is pressed against the receptacle-side terminal 12 in the mounting direction of the cover 14.

In this case, the receptacle-side terminal 12 of the receptacle 11 is integrally provided with a flexible printed circuit connecting portion 12a extending toward a notch 14f provided on a side wall 14a of the cover 14, while the cover 14 Is provided with a silicone rubber (elastic member) 15 disposed near the side wall 14a and opposed to the flexible printed circuit connecting portion 12a of the receptacle-side terminal 12, and at the stage of fitting the cover 14 to the housing 13, The circuit pattern P of the flexible printed circuit board inserted from the notch 14f of the cover 14 and superimposed on the flexible printed circuit connection portion 12a of the receptacle side terminal 12
Is pressed by the silicone rubber 15 so as to be connected to the flexible printed circuit connecting portion 12a in a press-contact state.

The connector 10 has a temporary mounting projection (temporary mounting portion) for holding the housing 13 and the cover 14 in a temporarily mounted state on the housing 13 of the receptacle 11.
13d.

This temporary mounting projection 13 d is
Outward projections 13c, 13c provided on the vertical wall 13b
2 are provided at substantially equal intervals on the upper side of FIG. 4 (the left side in FIG. 4), and as shown in FIG. The cover 14 can be temporarily fixed to the housing 13 in a state where the circuit pattern P of the flexible printed circuit board can be inserted between the receptacle side terminal 12 and the flexible printed circuit connecting portion 12a.

Reference numeral 14g in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 denotes an escape hole, and the temporary mounting projection 13d is located in the escape hole 14g when the housing 13 and the cover 14 are completely mounted. ing. FIG.
Reference numerals 16 and 26 in FIG. 5 to FIG. 5 indicate a receptacle-side positioning pin and a plug-side positioning pin, respectively.

In this connector 1, since the flexible printed circuit connecting portion 12a is provided integrally with the receptacle side terminal 12 of the receptacle 11, a connector for a flexible printed circuit board (FPC connector) and an auxiliary printed circuit board are used. This eliminates the necessity, so that the degree of freedom in designing the panel holding member 5 in the audio set 1 is increased by the amount of space available, and the cost is reduced by the reduction in the number of connector connection steps.

In the connector 10, the flexible printed circuit connecting portion 12a of the receptacle side terminal 12 is provided.
Since the circuit pattern P of the flexible printed circuit board superimposed on the flexible printed circuit board is pressed by the silicone rubber 15 to be connected to the flexible printed circuit connecting section 12a in a press-contact state, the flexible printed circuit connecting section of the receptacle side terminal 12 is connected. 12a and the circuit pattern P of the flexible printed circuit board are securely connected.

Further, in this connector 10, the flexible printed circuit connecting portion 12 of the receptacle side terminal 12
When the cover 14 is mounted on the housing 13 in a state where the circuit pattern P of the flexible printed circuit board is superimposed on a, the circuit pattern P of the flexible printed circuit board pressed by the silicone rubber 15 is connected to the flexible printed circuit of the receptacle side terminal 12. The connection of the flexible printed circuit board to the receptacle-side terminals 12 is completed at the same time as being pressed against the portion 12a, that is, assembling the receptacle 11 of the connector 10.

Further, in this connector 10, since the temporary mounting projection 13d is provided on the housing 13 of the receptacle 11, if the cover 14 is temporarily fixed to the housing 13 by the temporary mounting projection 13d, the silicone rubber 15 The state where the circuit pattern P of the flexible printed circuit board can be inserted between the flexible printed circuit board 12 and the flexible printed circuit connecting portion 12a of the receptacle side terminal 12 is maintained. As a result, the work of inserting the circuit pattern P of the flexible printed circuit board becomes difficult. It's easy to do.

Further, in this connector 10, since the elastic member is made of the silicone rubber 15, the cost of parts and the durability can be reduced.
In addition, in this connector 10, the receptacle-side terminal 1
Since the plug-side terminal 22 is pressed against the cover 2 in the mounting direction of the cover 14, when the receptacle 11 and the plug 21 are connected to each other, an elastic force is generated between them in a direction away from each other. Therefore, there is no need to provide another elastic member for separating the plug, and therefore, the plug 21 can be smoothly removed from the receptacle 11.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the connector according to the present invention. Also in this embodiment, the case where the connector according to the present invention is employed in an audio set for a vehicle is shown in FIG. The connector 30 is different from the connector 10 in the previous embodiment in that an elastic member arranged near the side wall 14a of the cover 14 and opposed to the flexible printed circuit connection portion 12a of the receptacle terminal 12 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. The other configuration is the same as that of the connector 10 in the previous embodiment in that a thin leaf spring 35 is provided.

Also in this connector 30, the degree of freedom in designing the panel holding member 5 is increased, the cost is reduced, and the receptacle side terminal 12
The circuit pattern P of the flexible printed circuit board superimposed on the flexible printed circuit connecting portion 12a is pressed by the thin plate spring 35 and pressed against the flexible printed circuit connecting portion 12a. Circuit connection part 1
2a and the circuit pattern P of the flexible printed circuit board
Are securely connected, and in addition, the connector 3
The connection of the flexible printed circuit board to the receptacle-side terminals 12 is completed at the same time as the assembling of the receptacle 11 is completed.

Further, also in this connector 30, the work of inserting the circuit pattern P of the flexible printed circuit board can be easily performed, and the removal of the plug 21 from the receptacle 11 can be performed smoothly.

FIG. 9 shows still another embodiment of the connector according to the present invention. This embodiment also shows a case where the connector according to the present invention is employed in a car audio set. The connector 40 shown differs from the connector 10 in the previous embodiment in that the receptacle-side terminal (one terminal) 42 of the receptacle 41 is
This is in that the plug 51 is pressed against a plug-side terminal (the other terminal) 52 of the plug 51 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mounting direction of the cover 44. .

In this connector 40, the receptacle 41
When the plug 51 is connected to the plug 51, only a force is applied to the plug 51 from the receptacle 41 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the connecting direction.
This prevents the liquid crystal screen 4 of the front panel 6 to which 1 is fixed from being distorted.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the connector according to the present invention is used in a vehicle-mounted audio set is exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Naturally, it can be used for equipment.

The detailed configuration of the connector according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the elastic member may be a thin plate spring having a substantially cylindrical shape, and one terminal of the receptacle may be connected to the plug. A connector having a receptacle configured to be pressed against the other terminal in a direction substantially orthogonal to the mounting direction of the cover may be used.

[0041]

As described above, according to the connector of the first aspect of the present invention, since the connector has the above-described configuration, for example, this connector is a vehicle-mounted audio system in which a front panel can be attached to and detached from the audio body. When used in a set, a connector for a flexible printed circuit board (FPC connector) and an auxiliary printed circuit board, which have been conventionally used, can be omitted, and as a result, the degree of design freedom is increased by the amount of extra space. As a result, it is possible to obtain an extremely excellent effect that the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of connector connection steps.

In the connector according to claim 2 of the present invention,
With the above-described configuration, the flexible printed circuit connecting portion of one terminal of the receptacle and the circuit pattern of the flexible printed circuit board can be reliably connected, and the connector according to claim 3 of the present invention has the above configuration. As a result, the connection of the flexible printed circuit board to the flexible printed circuit connection portion of one terminal can be performed at the same time as the assembly of the connector, and therefore, an extremely excellent effect that the mounting cost can be significantly reduced can be realized. It is.

In the connector according to claim 4 of the present invention,
With the above-described configuration, the work of inserting the circuit pattern of the flexible printed circuit board can be easily performed. In the connector according to claim 5 of the present invention, since the above-described configuration is employed, reduction in component cost and durability can be achieved. An extremely excellent effect that the improvement of the above can be realized is brought about.

In the connector according to claim 6 of the present invention,
With the configuration described above, the plug can be smoothly removed from the receptacle. In the connector according to claim 7 of the present invention, for example, when the plug of the connector is fixed to a panel having a liquid crystal screen, It is possible to prevent the occurrence of such a situation that the liquid crystal screen is distorted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory sectional view showing one embodiment of a connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory side view showing a temporarily fixed state of a housing and a cover of a receptacle of the connector in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory plan view showing a part of a receptacle of the connector in FIG. 1 in a cutaway manner.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory front view showing a part of the receptacle of the connector shown in FIG. 1 in a cutaway manner;

5 is an explanatory side view of a receptacle of the connector in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 (a) is an overall perspective explanatory view of the in-vehicle audio set using the connector in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6 (a) shows a state in which the front panel of the in-vehicle audio set is moved to expose the front surface of the audio body. It is a whole perspective explanatory view (b) of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an overall perspective explanatory view showing a state where a front panel is removed from an audio main body of the in-vehicle audio set in FIG. 6 (b).

FIG. 8 is an explanatory sectional view showing another embodiment of the connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory sectional view showing still another embodiment of the connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory partial cross-sectional view of a conventional connector (FPC connector) for a flexible printed circuit board.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 30, 40 Connector 11, 41 Receptacle 12, 42 Receptacle side terminal (one terminal) 12a Flexible printed circuit connection part 13, 43 Housing 13d Temporary mounting projection (temporary mounting part) 14, 44 Cover 15 Silicone rubber (elastic member) 21, 51 plug 22, 52 plug side terminal (other terminal) 35 thin plate spring (elastic member) P circuit pattern of flexible printed circuit board

Claims (7)

[Claims] A connector having a receptacle having one terminal and a plug having the other terminal and having a plug detachably connected to the receptacle to connect and separate one terminal and the other terminal of the receptacle. A connector characterized in that one terminal is integrally provided with a flexible printed circuit connection portion connectable to a circuit pattern of a flexible printed circuit board. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle includes an elastic member that presses the circuit pattern of the flexible printed circuit board superimposed on the flexible printed circuit connecting portion of one of the terminals and presses the circuit pattern against each other. 3. A receptacle to which one terminal is fixed, and an elastic member which is held in the housing in a direction in which a flexible printed circuit connecting portion of one terminal and a circuit pattern of a flexible printed circuit board are overlapped. 3. The connector according to claim 2, further comprising a cover, wherein the elastic member is arranged to face the flexible printed circuit connection portion of one of the terminals on which the circuit pattern of the flexible printed circuit board overlaps. 4. The receptacle has a temporary mounting portion for temporarily fixing a cover to a housing in a state where a circuit pattern of a flexible printed circuit board can be inserted between the elastic member and a flexible printed circuit connecting portion of one terminal. The connector according to claim 3, wherein 5. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the elastic member is made of silicone rubber. 6. The connector according to claim 3, wherein one terminal of the receptacle and the other terminal of the plug are pressed against each other in the cover mounting direction. 7. The connector according to claim 3, wherein one terminal of the receptacle and the other terminal of the plug are pressed against each other in a direction substantially orthogonal to the cover mounting direction.