JPS5854473B2 - Connection method and device for general circuit board and flexible printed circuit board - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for connecting a general circuit board and a flexible printed circuit board.

Conventionally, this type of board interconnection method is as shown in Figure 1.
An electrical connector 3 is mounted on a general circuit board 1 while being assembled into a housing 2, and a flexible printed circuit board 4 is inserted into the housing 2.

However, this insertion is forcibly inserted into the space where the inner wall of the housing 2 and the contact piece of the electrical connector 3 are in close contact with each other, so that the conductive foil part of the flexible printed circuit board 4 and the contact piece of the electrical connector This may cause damage due to friction, resulting in poor contact, or the flexible printed circuit board 4 may be bent and disconnected.

Further, in order to eliminate these drawbacks, a type as shown in FIG. 2 has already been proposed.

This is done by sufficiently opening the distance between the opposing contact pieces 6, 6 of the electrical connector mounted on the housing 5 using an actuator 7 etc. interposed against elasticity, and inserting the flexible printed circuit board 8 with zero insertion force. After the connector is inserted in this state, the actuator 7 is rotated by operation of a separate mechanism (not shown) to compress the distance between the contact pieces 6, 6, and press the conductive foil portion of the flexible printed circuit board 8.

However, this method is also complicated because the contact is made by a separate operation after the flexible printed circuit board 8 is inserted, and the board 8 and the contact pieces 6, 6 are simply pressed together, so they are weak against pulling force. However, there remained problems such as the structure was complex and it could not be provided at a low price.

The present invention aims to improve each of these problems and to provide a method and an apparatus for connecting a flexible printed circuit board to a general circuit board with one touch and with zero insertion force.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

First, FIG. 3 shows one electric connector A made of an elastic conductor, in which the upper end is open and the base 13 connects contact pieces 11 and 12 that stand up facing each other at predetermined intervals. The base 13 has legs 14 hanging thereon for attachment to a general circuit board.

The upper inner surface 11a of the contact piece 11 on one side is curved to prevent the attached flexible printed circuit board from forming an island, and the intermediate inner surface 11b cooperates with an insert block to be described later to press the flexible printed circuit board. The lower inner surface 11c is formed to have a flat surface that bulges to provide elasticity, and the lower inner surface 11c is formed to be thin to provide elasticity.

The other contact piece 12 is formed with a substantially uniform thickness, but has a notch 12 on the upper inner surface for locking the insert block.
A is a provision.

Next, the insert block B that is inserted into the electrical connector A will be explained based on FIG. The cross-sectional shape is formed in a substantially square shape in such a manner that the base portions 23 of the side walls 21 and 22 that are continuously opposed to each other are connected to the knob pieces 21a and 22a that are bent in a direction.

There are various lengths in the longitudinal direction depending on the flexible printed circuit board to be connected, but holes are pre-drilled at both ends of the flexible printed circuit board C in the longitudinal direction as shown in Figure 5. A latching protrusion 24 adapted to a certain latching hole C1 is provided to protrude from the base 23.

21 of the side walls is a fixed side wall, the outer surface of which is suitable for wrapping the flexible printed circuit board C hooked on the hooking protrusion 24 and press-contacting it to the inner surface 11b of the intermediate portion of the electrical connector A. The edge portion 21b is formed to have a large thickness to prevent the substrate C from shifting.

On the other hand, the side wall 22 is a movable side wall, and a lower end portion 22b is thinly connected to a base portion 23 to provide elasticity, and has an inclination angle α with a fixed gap W from the fixed side wall 21 when no external force is applied. .

Further, on the outer surface of the middle part of the side wall 22, there is a locking protrusion 25 that locks into the notch groove 12a of the electrical connector A when the connector A is inserted into the terminal part of the flexible printed circuit board C to be connected. The printed conductive foil portions C2 are provided protrudingly at suitable intervals, and at intermediate positions are provided to prevent the electrical connectors A from falling, which are mounted on the general circuit board at predetermined intervals suitable for the flexible printed circuit board. Spacing protrusions 26 for maintaining the spacing are formed alternately with the locking protrusions 25.

Furthermore, the inner surface of each of the fixed and movable side walls 2L22 is formed flat with a constant width so as to maintain the gap W when the movable side wall 22 is closed with the base 23 as a reference. A shaped wedge piece 27 is rotatably attached to the knob piece 21a to form an integrated insert block B.

A method of connecting the flexible printed circuit board C to a general circuit board using the electrical connector A and the insert block B having the above configuration will be explained based on FIGS. 6 and 7.

On the general circuit board, a number of electrical connectors A corresponding to the number of conductor foil parts C2 printed on the flexible printed circuit board C to be connected are connected, and contact pieces 11 and 12 of each connector are arranged in series. They are arranged side by side at positions equal to the mounting spacing of the conductor foil portions C, and are attached using the leg portions 14.

Next, the latching protrusion 24° 24 of the insert block B is inserted into the latching hole C pre-drilled in the end portion of the flexible printed circuit board C.
1, each knob piece 21a of the insert block B with the board C wrapped around the outer surface of the side wall 21,
When 22a is pressed inward, the movable side wall 22 is rotated toward the fixed side wall 21 against the elastic force, and the flexible printed circuit board C
is inserted together with the insert block between the contact pieces 11 and 12 of each electrical connector A with almost zero insertion force.

When the pressing force on each of the tabs 21 a and 22 a is removed, the movable side wall 22 attempts to restore its original state, but is blocked by each contact piece 11 , 12 , and as a result, the outer surface of the fixed side wall 21 is attached to the wrapped flexible printed circuit. Each conductive foil portion C2 of the board C is pressed against the bulged intermediate inner surface 11b of the contact piece 11 of each electrical connector A, and both circuit boards C and D are connected.

At this time, the locking projections 25 of the insert block B are locked in the notch grooves 12a of each electrical connector A to prevent removal, and the spacing retaining projections 2 of the insert block B are locked.
6 is fitted onto each electrical connector to maintain the distance between the electrical connectors and prevent them from falling.

Further inserted side walls 21.2 of insert block B
A wedge piece 27 is press-fitted into the gap W formed by the members 2 to open both side walls, thereby assisting in ensuring reliable crimping even if the elasticity decreases due to aging due to long-term use.

FIG. 8 shows a protective cover E that surrounds the outer periphery of the above-composed electrical connector A and protects the connector A from contact with a conductor from the outside, and is made of an insulator such as a synthetic resin material. A four-sided wall is formed, one of which is connected to a hinge E1 and a lock E2.
It can be opened and closed with.

As described above, the present invention inserts the flexible printed circuit board C hooked onto the insert block B into the electrical connector A with almost no insertion force, so unlike the conventional press-fitting method, There will be no damage to the conductor foil portion C2 of the board C, resulting in poor contact, or bending and disconnection of the board C, improving reliability and making connections easier with one-touch operation. Furthermore, since the structure is extremely simple, it can be provided at low cost, and has excellent effects.

Also, the function of the wedge piece ensures a reliable connection at all times even during long-term use.

The present application is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments; for example, the insert block may have a structure in which both side walls can be opened and closed, or the shape of the wedge piece or the means for locking the insert block to the connector may have the same effect. It may be arbitrarily modified within the scope of the gist, such as replacing it with .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 are explanatory diagrams showing a conventional board connection method, FIGS. 3 to 8 each show an embodiment of the present application, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an electrical connector, and FIG. The figure is a perspective view with a part of the insert block omitted, Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the terminal part of the flexible printed circuit board, Figure 6 is a front view of the entire composition, and Figure 7 is Figure 6 - 8 is a perspective view of the protective cover. Explanation of symbols, 1. D...General circuit board, 2,5
...Housing, 3. A...Electrical connector, 4,8°C...Flexible printed circuit board, 6,1
1.12...Contact piece, 7...Actuator 11a...Top inner surface, 11b...
...Middle part inner surface, 11c...Lower inner surface, 12
a... Notch, 13... Base, 14.
... Leg portion, 21 ... Fixed side wall, 21a,
22a... knob piece, 21b... edge,
22...Movable side wall, 22b...Lower end, 23...Base, 24...Latching protrusion,
25... Engaging protrusion, 26... Spacing retaining protrusion, 27... Wedge piece, C1... Latching hole, C2... Conductor foil section, E...Protective cover El...Hinge, E2...Lock, W...Gap, α...Inclination angle.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A plurality of electrical connectors each having contact pieces that stand up to face each other are arranged in series on a general circuit board at predetermined intervals that match the contact pieces of a flexible printed circuit board, and at least An insert block with one side wall that can be opened and closed in an elastic state is wrapped around the side wall of the flexible printed circuit board with the end portion hooked thereon, and the insert block is sandwiched and at least one side wall is closed against the elasticity. In this state, the terminal portion of the flexible printed circuit board is inserted between the contact pieces arranged in parallel on the membrane circuit board, and the clamping is released so that the restored side wall is limited by each contact piece, and the elastic force is used to close the end portion of the flexible printed circuit board. A method for connecting a general circuit board and a flexible printed circuit board, characterized in that each conductive foil portion printed on the printed circuit board is pressed into contact with the inner surface of a contact piece of each connector. 2. A small electrical conductor with an elastic conductor having contact pieces facing each other at a predetermined interval with open upper ends and connected bases, and having legs at the bases for mounting on a general circuit board. Both have two or more electrical connectors, and at least one side wall is made of a flexible synthetic resin material so that it can be opened and closed in an elastic state, and has a hooking means at the base for the flexible printed circuit board to be wrapped. an insert block that can be inserted into the electrical connector provided therein, and the other side wall of the insert block on the side around which the flexible printed circuit board is wrapped, and the corresponding inner surface of the one side contact piece of the electrical connector. , the insert block is characterized in that a positioning means is provided on at least one side wall of the insert block, forming a locking portion that fits respectively, and that fits an intermediate position where each conductor foil portion of the flexible printed circuit board is not printed. Connection device between general circuit board and flexible printed circuit board. 3 At least one contact piece is made of an elastic conductive material and has an open upper end and a connected base, and each of the contact pieces faces each other at a predetermined interval, and the base has legs for mounting on a general circuit board. Two or more electrical connectors and at least one side wall are made of a flexible synthetic resin material so that they can be opened and closed in an elastic state, and the base is provided with a hooking means for the flexible printed circuit board to be wrapped. an insert block that can be inserted into the electrical connector, the other side wall of the insert block on the side around which the flexible printed circuit board is wrapped, and the corresponding inner surface of the contact piece on one side of the electrical connector, locating means are provided on at least one side wall of the insert block forming respective matching locking portions and matching intermediate positions where each conductor foil portion of the flexible printed circuit board is not printed; A general circuit board and a flexible printed circuit board, characterized in that the section is provided with a wedge piece that is press-fitted between both side walls of the insert block after being fitted into the electrical connector and opens between the both side walls. Connection device with.