JPH11260500A - Connector for flexible board - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector for a flexible board by which a series of mounting process to mount the flexible board to a body can be easily automated by forcing a wiring part of the flexible board into contact with a contact piece of a contact. SOLUTION: This connector is equipped with a body 1 having both side walls 12a, 12b almost perpendicular to a front wall 11, a contact 2 provided with a connection piece 21, which is provided in parallel with the side wall of the body 1 and is connected to a printed board, and a contact piece 22 extended from the connection piece 21 respectively, and a pressure cover 3 provided with a bottom plate 31 which is formed in an almost box shape with a bottom and is pressurized toward the front wall 11 of the body 1 almost perpendicularly to the front wall 11, and both side plates 32a, 32b formed on a flexible board 4 perpendicularly to the bottom plate 31 to force a wiring part 42 into contact with the contact piece 22 of the contact 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector for a flexible board which is used in a notebook personal computer or a portable telephone and which connects a flexible board having flexibility to a printed board.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a connector for a flexible board of this type, there is a connector having a structure shown in FIGS. This is provided with a body A having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and having a side wall A2 orthogonal to the front wall A1, and a connection piece B1 and a contact piece B2 which are arranged in parallel with the body A and connected to a printed circuit board. And a rotating cover C that rotates about a rotation axis C1 to contact a wiring portion formed on the flexible substrate with a contact piece B2.

The handling operation of this conventional example will be described. First, the flexible board is inserted along the front wall A1 of the body A and placed on the front wall A1, and the rotating cover C is turned to the side wall A2 side, and the flexible board is pressed against the body A in a state where the flexible board is pressed. Then, the wiring portion formed on the flexible substrate is brought into contact with the contact piece B2. At this time, contact B
Has no elasticity, is formed by punching and is formed in a plate shape, and the contact piece B2 comes into contact with the wiring portion in a shear plane along the thickness direction.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional connector for a flexible board, the rotating cover C is rotated to bring the wiring portion of the flexible board into contact with the contact piece B2 to connect the printed board to the connection piece B1. And the flexible substrate can be connected to each other.

However, when the flexible board is automatically mounted on the body A, the rotating cover C must be rotated to bring the wiring portion into contact with the contact piece B2. In other words, it is necessary to apply an angularly displaced external force to the rotating cover C from a direction perpendicular to the front wall A1 to a direction parallel to the front wall A1, making automatic mounting difficult.

When a tall electronic component is mounted on a printed circuit board, a flexible board is inserted along the front wall A1 of the body A, that is, along the board surface of the printed circuit board, and mounted on the front wall A1. Since the electronic components must be placed, the electronic components hinder the insertion work. In addition, since the wiring portion of the flexible substrate comes into contact with the shearing surface of the contact piece B2, there is a problem that when the flexible substrate is inserted and removed, a scratch is generated, and the life of insertion and removal is short.

The body A is provided with the contact B
When the number increases, the overall length in the longitudinal direction increases,
There is a problem that the warp occurs in the rotating cover C and the contact reliability between the wiring portion of the flexible substrate and the contact piece B2 of the contact B is deteriorated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to facilitate a series of mounting steps of mounting a flexible substrate on a body and contacting a wiring portion with a contact piece of a contact. Another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible board connector that can be automated.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is directed to a body having a side wall substantially perpendicular to a front wall, and a print provided side by side with the side wall of the body. A contact provided with a connection piece connected to the substrate and a contact piece extended from the connection piece, and pressed toward a front wall of the body in a direction substantially orthogonal to the front wall toward the front wall of the body; And a pressing cover provided with a side plate for contacting a wiring portion formed on the flexible substrate with a contact piece of the contact perpendicularly to the bottom plate.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the contact is arranged on each of the side walls facing each other of the body, and the side plates facing each other are connected to the pressing cover. The configuration is provided in.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the pressing cover is formed of a metal plate.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the contact formed in a long plate shape has a contact surface along a width direction of the contact piece. The configuration is provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the contact includes one facing piece in which the contact piece extends from the connecting piece, and the other facing piece facing the one facing piece. , And the other opposing piece is elastically displaced.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a body, which is formed of an insulating resin into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and includes a front wall 11 and the front wall 11.
And both side walls 12a, 1 orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and along the longitudinal direction.
2b is provided, and both side walls 12a and 12b are formed by one side wall 12a and the other side wall 12b facing each other. Press-fitting grooves 13 are cut out of both side walls 12a and 12b, and are provided side by side with the two side walls 12a and 12b, respectively.
, Two square-shaped engaging projections 15 are respectively provided on the other side walls along the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a contact, which is formed by punching out a long plate from an elastic copper alloy, and includes a plurality of connecting pieces 21 and a plurality of contact pieces 22 extending from the connecting pieces 21. You. The contact piece 22 is provided with one opposing piece 22a extending from the connection piece 21 and the other opposing piece 22b facing the one opposing piece 22a, and is bent and formed in a U-shape.
On the other hand, the opposing piece 22b forms a contact surface 22c along the width direction, that is, the contact surface 22c is provided on the contact piece 22, and elastically displaces when an external force is applied. Then, the one opposing piece 22a is press-fitted into the press-fit groove 13 of the body 1, and the connection piece 21 is juxtaposed on the one side wall 12a and the other side wall 12b in a state of being drawn out.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a pressing cover, which is formed of a metal plate having a strength higher than that of a resin plate and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped bottomed box shape, and a bottom plate 31 and both sides perpendicular to the bottom plate 31 and extending in the longitudinal direction. Plates 32a and 32b are provided, and both side plates 3
2a and 32b are composed of one side plate 32a and the other side plate 32b facing each other. The bottom plate 31 is the front wall 1 of the body 1
1 and is pressed in a direction orthogonal to the front wall 11, and the both side plates 32 a and 32 b contact the wiring portion 42 formed on the flexible substrate 4 described later with the contact surface 22 c of the contact piece 22. This will be described later in detail.

Further, two circular positioning holes 33 are provided at both ends of the bottom plate 31 to engage with the positioning projections 14 of the body 1, and two rectangular engaging holes 34 are formed in the longitudinal direction. Are provided on the other side plates along the direction perpendicular to and engage with the engagement protrusions 15 of the body 1. Further, notches 35 are provided at the four corners, and both side plates 32a, 32
b is elastically displaced.

The flexible substrate 4 is made of a resin film having flexibility, so-called Flexible Pri.
nted Circuit (FPC), one end 4
1 is formed in a long film shape. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of linearly formed wiring portions 42 are formed on one surface 4 a by metal plating or the like, are arranged in parallel in the width direction, and have a first wiring portion group 42 a and a second wiring portion 42. It is formed separately from the group 42b.

Further, two circular positioning substrate holes 4 are formed.
3 are provided on both sides in the width direction. The wiring part 42 of the first wiring part group 42a has a first contact part 42c,
The first contact portions 42c are used as both positioning substrate holes 43, 43.
The second wiring portion group 42b has a second contact portion 42d toward the one end portion 41 with respect to the center line of the second contact portion 4d.
2d are similarly arranged on the opposite side of the one end 41 with respect to the center line, respectively.

The handling operation of this will be described. First, the contact 2 is connected to a printed circuit board (not shown) on which the connecting piece 21 has mounted a tall electronic component. The flexible board 4 moves toward the front wall 11 of the body 1 in a direction perpendicular to the front wall 11, and the positioning board hole 43 engages with the positioning projection 14 of the body 1, and is positioned with respect to the body 1. In this state, it is placed on the front wall 11. At this time, since the electronic components move in the orthogonal direction, the tall electronic components are easily mounted on the body 1 without any obstacle.

Next, the pressing cover 3 pushes the bottom plate 31 in the orthogonal direction toward the front wall 11 without rotating, and the side plates 32a and 32b move the flexible substrate 4 substantially L.
Each is bent into a letter shape.

Next, the positioning holes 33 are engaged with the positioning projections 14 of the body 1, and the engaging holes 34 are engaged with the engagement projections 15 and fixed. The one side plate 32a has the first contact portions 42c of the first wiring portion group 42a, the contact surfaces 22c of the contact pieces 22 arranged side by side on the one side wall 12a, and the other side plate 32b has the second wiring portion group 42b. Of the second contact portions 42d of each of the contact pieces 2 arranged side by side on the other side wall 12b.
The second contact surfaces 22c are brought into contact with each other. And the first
The wiring sections 42 of the wiring section group 42a and the second wiring section group 42b are connected to the printed circuit board via the contacts 2.

At this time, the contacts 2 are arranged side by side on the side walls 12a and 12b of the body 1 and the side plates 32
Since the a and 32b are provided on the pressing cover 3, the double wiring portion 42 can be connected to the printed circuit board even if the total length of the side walls 12a and 12b is constant. And both side plates 3
Since the total length in the longitudinal direction of 2a and 32b is constant and does not become long, warpage is small, and each contact piece 22 contacts each wiring portion 42 with high reliability.

Further, since the contact 2 has a contact surface 22c which is perpendicular to the width direction and is not a width end surface having many punching scratches but a surface extending in the width direction, the flexible substrate 4 has the first contact portion 42c and the first contact portion 42c. The second contact portion 42d suppresses the occurrence of scratches, and the other opposing piece 22 of the contact 2
Since b is elastically displaced, it makes reliable contact with the contact surface 22c. This series of steps is performed by using an automatic mounting machine, and the flexible substrate 4 is automatically mounted on the body 1,
The wiring section group 42a and the second wiring section group 42b are in contact with the respective contact pieces 22.

In the flexible board connector according to the embodiment, as described above, the pressing cover 3 includes the bottom plate 31 and both side plates 32a, 32 orthogonal to the bottom plate 31.
b, the bottom plate 31 is pressed toward the front wall 11 of the body 1 in a direction perpendicular to the front wall 11, and the both side plates 32 a, 32 b are arranged on the flexible printed circuit board 4 in the wiring groups 42 a, 42 b. The part 42 is connected to the contact piece 22
The flexible substrate 4 can be easily placed on the body 1 even if the printed circuit board has tall electronic components mounted thereon by moving the flexible substrate 4 in the orthogonal direction and placing it on the front wall 11. At the same time, since the pressing cover 3 is pressed only in one direction in the orthogonal direction without rotating, and the flexible substrate 4 is mounted on the body 1, a series of mounting steps can be easily automated.

The contacts 2 are arranged side by side on the side walls 12a, 12b of the body 1, and the side plates 32a,
32b is provided on the pressing cover 3, so that even if the number of wiring portions 42 of the flexible substrate 4 increases, the side walls 12a, 1
By shortening the overall length of 2b, it is possible to reduce the size while maintaining the contact reliability.

Further, since the pressing cover 3 is formed of a metal plate, the strength against the pressing force is improved, and the height in the orthogonal direction can be reduced.

Since the contact surface 22c extending in the width direction is provided on the contact piece 22 of the contact 2, the contact surface 22c
Is in contact with the wiring portion 42 of the flexible board 4, the occurrence of scratches in the wiring portion 42 is suppressed as compared with the case where the end face with many scratches is perpendicular to the width direction and the number of times of insertion and removal of the flexible board 4 is reduced. In many cases, the life of insertion and removal can be extended.

The contact piece 22 of the contact 2 extends from the connection piece 21 with one opposing piece 22a and the other opposing piece 22b.
And the other opposing piece 22b
Is elastically displaced when it comes into contact with the wiring portion 42 by the both side plates 32a and 32b of the pressing cover 3, and the contact reliability between the contact piece 22 and the wiring portion 42 can be improved.

In the present embodiment, the contacts 2 are arranged side by side on the side walls 12a and 12b, and
2a and 32b are provided on the pressing cover 3,
May be juxtaposed only on the one side wall 12a, and only the one side plate 32a may be provided on the pressing cover 3, and there is no limitation.

In this embodiment, the pressing cover 3 is formed of a metal plate. However, when it is not necessary to reduce the height, the pressing cover 3 may be formed of a resin plate.

In the present embodiment, the contact piece 22 of the contact 2 is formed in a substantially U-shape by the one opposing piece 22a and the other opposing piece 22b, and the other opposing piece 22b is formed to be elastically displaced. However, the contact piece 22 does not have to be elastically displaced, and the contact piece 22 may be formed by bending the connection piece 21 into a substantially L-shape.

[0034]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the pressing cover is provided with a bottom plate and a side plate orthogonal to the bottom plate, and the bottom plate is pressed toward the front wall of the body in a direction perpendicular to the front wall, so that the side plate is flexible. Since the wiring part formed on the board is brought into contact with the contact piece, the flexible board is moved in the orthogonal direction and placed on the front wall, and even if the printed board has tall electronic components, the flexible board is And the pressing cover is pressed in only one direction in the orthogonal direction without rotating, and the flexible substrate is mounted on the body, so that a series of mounting steps can be easily automated.

According to the second aspect, in addition to the effects of the first aspect, the contacts are arranged side by side on both side walls of the body, and both sides are provided on the pressing cover. Even if the contact pieces come into contact with the wiring portion of the flexible substrate and the number of wirings on the flexible substrate increases, the total length of both side walls can be shortened, and downsizing can be achieved while maintaining contact reliability.

According to the third aspect, in addition to the effect of the first or second aspect, since the pressing cover is formed of a metal plate, the strength against the pressing force is improved and the low pressure in the orthogonal direction is improved. Eversion can be achieved.

According to the fourth aspect, in addition to the effect of any one of the first to third aspects, the contact surface along the width direction is provided on the contact piece of the contact.
When the contact surface comes into contact with the wiring portion of the flexible board, the occurrence of scratches on the wiring portion is suppressed as compared with the case where the end face with many scratches perpendicular to the width direction comes into contact, and the number of times of insertion and removal of the flexible board is increased. The life of insertion and removal can be extended.

According to the fifth aspect, in addition to the effect of the fourth aspect, the contact piece of the contact is formed in a substantially U-shape by the one opposing piece and the other opposing piece extending from the connection piece. Therefore, when the other opposing piece comes into contact with the wiring portion by the side plate of the pressing cover, it is elastically displaced, and the contact reliability between the contact piece and the wiring portion can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the flexible substrate according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a conventional example before a rotating cover is rotated.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view after the rotation cover is rotated.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Body 11 Front wall 12a One side wall (side wall) 12b The other side wall (side wall) 2 Contact 21 Connection piece 22 Contact piece 22a One opposing piece 22b The other opposing piece 22c Contact surface 3 Press cover 31 Bottom plate 32a One side plate (side plate) 32b) other side plate (side plate) 4 flexible substrate 42 wiring section

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A body having a side wall substantially orthogonal to a front wall, a connection piece juxtaposed to a side wall of the body and connected to a printed circuit board, and a contact piece extending from the connection piece. A contact, a bottom plate formed in a substantially bottomed box shape and pressed toward the front wall of the body in a direction substantially perpendicular to the front wall, and a wiring portion formed on the flexible substrate perpendicular to the bottom plate. And a press cover provided with a side plate that is brought into contact with the contact piece. 2. The pressing body according to claim 1, wherein the contact is provided on each of the side walls facing each other of the body, and the side plates facing each other are provided on the pressing cover. Flexible board connector. 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the pressing cover is formed of a metal plate. 4. The flexible contact according to claim 1, wherein the contact formed in a long plate shape has a contact surface along a width direction provided on the contact piece. Board connector. 5. The contact is formed in a substantially U-shape with one opposing piece in which the contact piece extends from the connecting piece and the other opposing piece facing the one opposing piece, and the other opposing piece is formed. 5. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the piece is formed to be elastically displaced.