JPH1154220A - Flexible circuit board connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize the electrical connection of high reliability with a flexible circuit board. SOLUTION: A flexible circuit board connector comprises an insulating housing 20 for storing plural contacts 30a, 30b, and a pressing member 50 rotatable with respect to the insulating housing 20. The pressurizing member presses the flexible circuit board to the contact at a close position to realize the electrical connection of the flexible circuit board and the connector. Contact parts 32a, 32b of the contact are made of a metal plate face and are mounted zigzag so as to make contact with one face side of the flexible circuit board. When the pressurizing member is in an open condition, a post and an elastic engagement piece 72 of the both side faces are engaged with each other to be prevented from slipping off to the insulating housing. When the pressurizing member is in the closed condition, the post and the elastic engagement piece are disengaged, but a locking projection of the pressurizing member and the insulating housing are engaged, or a tongue piece 51 is engaged with a part of the contact 30b to be kept on the insulating housing, whereby sufficient contact pressure can be applied to the flexible circuit board and the contact.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a flexible circuit board connector electrically connected to an end of a flexible circuit board.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional example of this type of flexible circuit board connector is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-250232. The contacts of the disclosed flexible circuit board connector have a contact portion formed by the edge of the metal plate because of the relatively narrow pitch requirement, so that the direction perpendicular to the metal plate surface is the pitch of the contact arrangement. Direction. However, in order to obtain a stable contact pressure and to provide a contact at a lower cost, it is desirable that the contact portion be formed of a metal plate surface.

A flexible circuit board connector including a structure of a pressing member improved in order to further stabilize electrical contact between the flexible circuit board and the contacts is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3035692. The disclosed flexible circuit board connector includes a pressure member rotatable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the insulating housing. The pressing member presses the flexible circuit board against the contact when moved to the closed position, but a part of the pressing member is configured to engage with a part of the contact in the closed position. Is intended to achieve a relatively stable electrical contact. However, since the rotating shaft of the pressing member is supported at a predetermined position of the insulating housing even in the closed position, a uniform contact pressure in the pitch direction cannot be obtained even by the engagement between the pressing member and the contact. .

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a flexible circuit board connector which can realize highly reliable electrical connection with a flexible circuit board while having a narrow pitch and is manufactured at low cost.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flexible circuit board connector capable of realizing stable electrical connection with a flexible circuit board by using multiple poles.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has two rows of contacts, each fixed in front and back with respect to an insulating housing, each of the two rows of contacts being a flexible circuit board received by the insulating housing. In a flexible circuit board connector having an elastic contact piece including a contact portion that contacts a plurality of pads provided on one surface side, each of the contact portions in the front and rear two rows of the contacts is staggered in two front and rear rows, Each of the contact portions is formed of a metal plate surface.

Preferably, the flexible circuit board connector includes a pressing member. The pressure member acts to press the flexible circuit board against the contact portion.

Preferably, the contacts in the front row are press-fitted and fixed to the bottom of the insulating housing, and the contacts in the rear row are press-fitted and fixed to the top of the insulating housing.

Further, the present invention provides an insulating housing for receiving a flexible circuit board and supporting a plurality of contacts, and a pressure member rotatably mounted on the insulating housing between an open position and a closed position. Having the pressing member in the open position and receiving the flexible circuit board in the insulating housing, moving the pressing member to the closed position to press the flexible circuit board against the contact. In the flexible circuit board connector for performing an electrical connection with the pressing member, when the pressing member is in the open position, posts formed on both side ends of the pressing member are provided with elastic engagement pieces provided on the insulating housing side. In the closed position, the tongue provided on the pressurizing member is provided with Is retained in the insulating housing by engaging the part, the engagement between the elastic engaging pieces and the post is characterized by being released.

[0010] Preferably, the elastic engagement piece is formed of a metal component fixed to the insulating housing. The metal component may be a peg for mounting and fixing the insulating housing to a circuit board.

[0011] Preferably, the pressing member and the insulating housing further include an engagement means for maintaining the both in a closed position.

Preferably, a portion of the post that engages with the elastic engagement piece has a substantially semicircular cross section, and is formed at a position eccentric with respect to the center of rotation.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A flexible circuit board connector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flexible circuit board connector.

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of the flexible circuit board connector of FIG. 1 with the pressure member removed.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the flexible circuit board connector of FIG. 1 at a position corresponding to line CC in FIG. 2,
(A) is a figure which shows the state at the time of placing a pressurization member in an open position, and (b) when placing it in a closed position. However, the contacts are shown in a side view.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams showing the vicinity of the engaging portion between the post and the elastic engaging piece, wherein FIG. 4A shows the pressing member in the open position and FIG. 4B shows the closing member in the closed position. It is a figure showing the state of.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the flexible circuit board connector 10 has a plurality of contacts 30a, 30b disposed on an insulating housing 20. Contact 30
Each of a and 30b is press-fitted into the insulating housing 20 from the front-back direction and fixed so as to form a front-back row. The contacts 30a, 30b have mounting portions 31a, 31b surface-mounted on a circuit board, and contact portions 32a for connection to a flexible circuit board received in a circuit board receiving portion 28,
32b. In particular, as understood from FIGS. 3A and 3B, the contact portions 32a and 32b are arranged so as to be connected to one surface of the flexible circuit board. Further, as can be understood particularly from FIG. 2, the contact portions 32a and 32b are arranged in a staggered manner in two rows. Although not shown, the contact pads provided on one surface of the flexible circuit board are provided in a staggered arrangement corresponding to the contact portions 32a and 32b.

As shown in FIG. 3, the contact 30a has a base 34a for extending the mounting portion 31a and the elastic contact portion 33a including the contact portion 32a. The base 34a is formed of a two-layer metal plate that is bent by 180 degrees and folded. The lower metal plate of the base 34a has a contact 30a
Is press-fitted to the bottom portion 21 of the insulating housing 20 for press-fitting. The elastic contact piece 33a extends forward from the upper metal plate of the base portion 34a, is further bent U-shaped rearward, and has a contact portion 32a formed near the end so as to protrude toward the top.

The contact 30b is also mounted on the mounting portion 31.
b and a base portion 34b for extending the elastic contact piece 33b including the contact portion 32b. The base 34b is also a metal plate 1
It is folded by 80 degree bending. A press-fit projection 35b for press-fitting and fixing the contact 30b to the top portion 22 of the insulating housing 20 is provided in a portion extending rearward from the upper metal plate of the base 34b. Elastic contact piece 33b
Extends rearward from the lower metal plate of the base portion 34b, further curves in a U-shape, and extends forward. The contact portion 32b is formed so as to project to a position facing the base portion 34b. The front end surface 39 of the base 34b forms a curved surface. Base 34
It should be noted that the front end surface 39b of b is placed so as to overlap a part of the contact portion 32a of the contact 30a. The tine 38 including the mounting portion 31b of the contact 30b is isolated and aligned by a partition wall 29 formed on the rear surface of the insulating housing 20.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the flexible circuit board connector 10 is provided with reinforcing metal fittings 70 provided near both ends of the insulating housing 20 to increase the strength of attachment to the circuit board.
And a pressing member 50 which is prevented from falling off. The reinforcing metal fitting 70 includes a mounting portion 71 for surface mounting on a circuit board (not shown) and an elastic engaging piece 72 for supporting the pressing member 50, and is press-fitted and fixed to the insulating housing 20. As described later, the pressing member 50 is connected to the insulating housing 20.
It is attached so that rotation is possible. The position of the reinforcing member 70 is shown by a broken line in FIG.

According to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the pressing member 5
The pivoting action of zero and the electrical connection action of the flexible circuit board are understood. First, the flexible circuit board is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), the pressing member 50 is opened and received in the insulating housing 20. The receiving position is indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 3A (reference symbol F). At this time, the pressing member 50 is placed upright. 1 and 4
According to (a), the pressing member 50 has a post 5
2 The post 52 includes a cylindrical base 52a and a substantially semicircular extension 52b. According to FIGS. 1 and 4A, when the pressing member 50 is in the open position, the post 5
The second extension 52b is engaged with the elastic engagement piece 72 to prevent the pressure member 50 from coming off the insulating housing 20. The pressing member 50 has a tongue piece 51, but in the open state, the tongue piece 51 is located off the position of the flexible circuit board. The flexible circuit board is inserted into the circuit board receiving portion 28 until it is stopped by the stopping shoulder 23 formed on the insulating housing 20.

Next, the pressing member 50 is rotated from the open position shown in FIG. 3A to the closed position shown in FIG.
(See arrow A in (a)). At this time, the tongue 51 of the pressing member 50 goes under the base 34b of the contact 30b, and the pressing surface 53 of the pressing member 50 presses the flexible circuit board against the contacts 30a and 30b to make contact with the flexible circuit board. An electrical connection with 30a and 30b is realized.

When the pressing member 50 reaches the closed position, the locking projections 55 formed on both side surfaces 54 of the pressing member 50 are locked to the locking shoulders 26 of the insulating housing 20. The engagement between the locking projection 55 and the locking shoulder 26 prevents the pressure member 50 from rising up at the front side. On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
When the pressing member 50 reaches the closed position, the extension 52 of the post 52 is disengaged from the elastic engaging piece 72, so that the pressing member 50 can be slightly raised on the rear side. However, as shown in FIG. 3B, the tongue piece 51 abuts on the base 34b of the contact 30b, so that unnecessary rise is prevented. Therefore, the pressing member 50 is
5 and base 3 of contact 30b engaging with
4b, the pressing member 50 can provide a stable and stable contact pressure in the pitch direction of the contacts 30a, 30b.

As described above, the flexible circuit board connector according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described. However, this is merely an example, and various modifications and changes can be made by those skilled in the art.

[0026]

According to the flexible circuit board connector of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the contact portions of the contacts are arranged in two rows in a staggered manner, and each of the contact portions is formed of a metal plate surface. Therefore, it is possible to provide a sufficient contact pressure with a narrow pitch, thereby realizing a highly reliable electrical connection, and to provide a flexible circuit board connector at low cost.

Further, according to the flexible circuit board connector according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the pressing member is in the open position, the posts formed on both ends of the pressing member are provided on the insulating housing side. By engaging with the engaging piece, the insulating housing is rotatably prevented from falling off, and in the closed position, the tongue piece provided on the pressing member is engaged with a part of the contact and is prevented from falling off by the insulating housing. Since the engagement between the post and the elastic engaging piece is released, a relatively uniform and stable contact pressure can be provided to the contacts arranged in the pitch direction, and the contact reliability is high.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flexible circuit board connector.

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view in a state where a pressing member is removed.

3A and 3B are diagrams showing a cross section of the flexible circuit board connector of FIG. 1 at a position corresponding to line CC in FIG. 2 in which only the contact is a side view, and FIG. And (b) is a diagram showing a state when placed in a closed position.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams showing the vicinity of an engaging portion between a pressing member and an elastic engagement piece, wherein FIG. 4A shows the pressing member in an open position and FIG. 4B shows the closing member in a closed position. The figure which shows the state at the time.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Flexible circuit board connector 20 Insulated housing 30a, 30b Contact 32a, 32b Contact part 50 Pressing member 51 Tongue piece 52 Post 72 Elastic engagement piece

Claims (2)

[Claims] An insulated housing includes two rows of contacts fixed to front and rear positions, each of the two rows of contacts being provided on one side of a flexible circuit board received by the insulating housing. A flexible circuit board connector having an elastic contact piece including a contact portion for contacting the pad of the contact, wherein each of the contact portions of the front and rear two rows of the contact is connected to the front and rear two rows.
A flexible circuit board connector, wherein the contacts are arranged in a staggered manner, and each of the contact portions is formed of a metal plate surface. 2. An insulating housing for receiving a flexible circuit board and supporting a plurality of contacts, and a pressing member rotatably mounted on the insulating housing between an open position and a closed position. After the pressing member is set to the open position and the flexible circuit board is received in the insulating housing, the pressing member is moved to the closed position to press the flexible circuit board against the contact, and In the flexible circuit board connector for connection, when the pressing member is at the open position, posts formed on both side ends of the pressing member engage with elastic engagement pieces provided on the insulating housing side. By being fitted together, the insulating housing is rotatably prevented from coming off, and in the closed position, a tongue piece provided on the pressing member is engaged with a part of the contact. The flexible circuit board connector is characterized in that the post is prevented from coming off by the insulating housing, and the engagement between the post and the elastic engaging piece is released.