WO2001071857A1

WO2001071857A1 - Coaxial connector

Info

Publication number: WO2001071857A1
Application number: PCT/JP2001/002303
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hideo Haga; Yoji Inomata; Koji Kuchiishi; Toshihiro Higuchi; Yasunobu Ikeda
Original assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2000-03-24
Filing date: 2001-03-22
Publication date: 2001-09-27
Also published as: AU4275901A

Abstract

The coaxial connector comprises: an electrically insulated housing (1); a first contact (3) which extends along one outer wall surface of the electrically insulated housing (1) from the lower end portion of the outer wall surface to the upper edge portion of the housing (1) and enters the interior portion of the housing (1) beyond the upper edge portion of the housing (1); a second contact (4) which extends along another outer wall surface of the housing (1) opposed to the above outer surface from the lower end portion of the outer wall surface to the upper edge portion of the housing (1) and enters the interior portion of the housing (1) beyond the upper edge portion of the housing (1); and, an external conductor (2) which includes a plug insertion through hole (6) formed in the central portion of the upper surface thereof and covers the outer wall surface of the electrically insulated housing (1).

Description

DESCRIPTION

COAXIAL CONNECTOR

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a coaxial connector, in particular, to a coaxial connector which not only employs a closed structure for a storage portion of a contact serving as a switch to thereby be able to prevent an increase in the contact resistance that is caused by the entering motion of flux when enforcing a soldering operation on a circuit board, but also can facilitate the assembling operation thereof. Also, the invention relates to a portable telephone which incorporates the above coaxial connector therein.

Background Art

A coaxial connector is used in the following manner: that is, in case where the coaxial connector is connected to the antenna of a car through a coaxial adapter plug connected to the car antenna, the car antenna can be used as the antenna of a portable telephone.

Fig. 3 shows the structure of a conventional coaxial connector. Specifically, Fig. 3A is a bottom view thereof and Fig. 3B is a section view thereof, taken along the line C-C shown in Fig. 3A. In Fig. 3B, a dielectric member 21 with a center pin 23 inserted therein is fitted with and mounted on a funnel-shaped external conductor 24. The lower surface of the center pin 23 is contacted with the upper surface of a first contact leg 26 including a contact projection and an elastic contact arm 25 and is also energized upwardly due to the elastic force of the first contact leg 26.

Also, the first contact leg 26 is in contact with a second contact leg 27 through the contact projection of the first contact leg 26, so that a signal can be transmitted from the first contact leg 26 to the second contact leg 27. Also, in case where the center pin 23 is pushed into a coaxial adapter plug 40, a signal can be transmitted from the first contact leg 26 to the center pin 23, which will be discussed later. Although not shown in Fig.3B, the terminal 28 of the first contact leg 26 and the terminal 29 of the second contact leg 27 are respectively surface-mounted on the conductor of a printed circuit board by reflow soldering. Also, a first terminal 31 and a second terminal 32 disposed on the external conductor 24, both of which are shown in Fig. 3A, are also surface-mounted on the conductor of the printed circuit board by reflow soldering.

Next, description will be given below of the operation of the conventional coaxial connector with reference to Fig. 4. In Fig. 4, in case where the coaxial adapter plug 40 is moved in the direction of an arrow mark, the center conductor 41 of the coaxial adapter plug 40 is contacted with the center pin 23 to thereby push it downward. In linking with this, the center pin 23 is moved downward against the elastic force of the first contact leg 26, thereby cutting off a signal flowing from the first contact leg 26 to the second contact leg 27. Also, the external conductor 42 of the coaxial adapter plug 40 is contacted with the external conductor 24 of the coaxial connector. Due to this, not only signals from the terminals 31 and 32 respectively disposed on the external conductor 24 of the coaxial connector are connected to the external conductor 42 of the coaxial adapter plug 40, but also a signal from the first contact leg 26 of the coaxial connector is guided through the center pin 23 to the center conductor 41 of the coaxial adapter plug 40.

As a result of this, the signal flow is switched so that the signal is transmitted from the first contact leg 26 to the center conductor 41 of the coaxial adapter plug 40, whereby, as previously described, the antenna of a car can be used as the antenna of a portable telephone.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional coaxial connector, since the switch portion of the coaxial connector is exposed to the lower side, the rising motion of the flux due to surface tension thereof caused by reflow soldering in the surface mounting operation cannot be prevented, which results in the increased contact resistance by the flux; and, in the worst case, there is a fear that the switch portion of the coaxial connector can fail to operate as a switch.

Also, because the first and second contact legs 26 and 27 are mounted from the lower surface or side surface of the dielectric member 21, the assembling operation of the coaxial connector is very troublesome.

The present invention aims at eliminating the drawbacks found in the above-mentioned conventional coaxial connector. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a coaxial connector which can prevent the flux from rising due to the reflow soldering when surface mounting the coaxial connector to thereby be able to prevent an increase in the switch contact resistance by the flux. Also, it is another object of the invention to provide a coaxial connector which can facilitate the assembling operation thereof.

Disclosure of Invention

In attaining the above objects, according to the invention, there is provided a coaxial connector, comprising: an electrically insulated housing with the bottom surface and side surfaces thereof closed; first and second conductive contacts respectively extending along their associated outer wall surfaces of the electrically insulated housing from the lower ends of the outer wall surfaces to the upper edge portion of the electrically insulated housing and entering into the interior portion of the electrically insulated housing beyond the upper edge portion of the electrically insulated housing, the respective leading end portions of the first and second conductive contacts being contacted with each other elastically in the vertical direction; and, an external conductor including in the central portion of the upper surface thereof a through hole for insertion of a plug and disposed such that it covers the upper and side surfaces of the electrically insulated housing. According to this structure, since the respective leading end sides of the first and second conductive contacts can be stored in the interior portion of the electrically insulated housing with the bottom and side surfaces thereof closed as well as the upper and side surfaces of the electrically insulated housing can be closed by the external conductor, there can be eliminated a possibility that, when surface mounting the coaxial connector onto a circuit board, the flux can rise and reach the leading end portions of the first and second conductive contacts. Also, because the first and second conductive contacts can be mounted from the upper surface of the electrically insulated housing, the assembling operation of the coaxial connector can be facilitated.

Brief Description of Drawings Figs. 1A, IB and 1C show the structure of a coaxial connector according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figs. 2A and 2B show the structure of an electrically insulated housing used in a coaxial connector according to the embodiment of the invention; Figs. 3A and 3B show the structure of a conventional coaxial connector;

Fig. 4 is an explanatory view of the operation of the conventional coaxial connector;

Fig. 5 shows the appearance (back view) of a portable telephone incorporating therein a coaxial connector according to the embodiment of the invention; and,

Fig. 6 is a section view of the above portable telephone, taken along the line A-A shown in Fig. 5.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Now, description will be given below in detail of an embodiment of a coaxial connector according to the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig.1 shows the structure of a coaxial connector according to the present embodiment . Specifically, Fig.1A is a plan view thereof, Fig. IB is a left side view thereof, and Fig. IC is a section view thereof, taken along the line A-A shown in Fig. 1A. Also, Fig. 2 shows a housing employed in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. Specifically, Fig. 2A is a plan view thereof, and Fig. 2B is a section view thereof, taken along the line B-B shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 shows the appearance (back view) of a portable telephone incorporating therein a coaxial connector according to the embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 6 is a section view thereof, taken along the line A-A shown in Fig. 5.

This coaxial connector comprises: an electrically insulated housing 1; a first contact 3 which extends along one outer wall surface of the electrically insulated housing 1 from the lower end portion of the present outer wall surface of the electrically insulated housing 1 to the upper edge portion of the housing 1 and entering the interior portion of the housing 1 beyond the upper edge portion of the housing 1; a second contact 4 which extends along another outer wall surface of the housing 1 opposed to the above outer wall surface from the lower end portion of the present outer wall surface of the housing 1 to the upper edge portion of the housing 1 and entering the interior portion of the housing 1 beyond the upper edge portion of the housing 1; and an external conductor 2 disposed in such a manner that it covers the upper and side surfaces of the electrically insulated housing 1.

The electrically insulated housing 1 has a substantially box-like shape and includes first and second notches 11 and 12 respectively formed in the mutually opposed outer wall surfaces thereof as shown in Fig. 2A. The first contact 3 is curved upwardly in close contact with the first notch 11, is further curved horizontally, enters the interior portion of the electrically insulated housing 1 beyond the upper edge portion thereof, is then curved downwardly, and, after then, is further curved slightly upwardly. The second contact 4 is curved upwardly in close contact with the second notch 12, is further curved horizontally, enters the interior portion of the electrically insulated housing 1 beyond the upper edge portion thereof, and then extends horizontally. The first and second contacts 3 and 4 are both made of metal such as copper, while the upper surface of the leading end portion of the first contact 3 presses against the lower surface of the leading end portion of the second contact 4 due to its own elastic force.

On both sides (in Fig. 2A, upper and lower sides) of the first notch 11 in the width direction thereof, there are formed a pair of recessed portions 13; and, on both sides of the second notch 12 in the width direction thereof, there are formed another pair of recessed portions 14. On the front and rear sides in the extending direction of the first contact 3 of the first recessed portion 13, taper surfaces 15 and 16 are formed in order to induce the two sides of the upwardly curved portion of the first contact 3 into the first recessed portion 13 when mounting the first contact 3 onto the electrically insulated housing 1. Similarly, on the front and rear sides in the extending direction of the second contact 4 of the second recessed portion 14, taper surfaces 17 and 18 are formed in order to induce the two sides of the upwardly curved portion of the second contact 4 into the second recessed portion 14 when mounting the second contact 4 onto the electrically insulated housing 1. The external conductor 2 is produced by bending a plate formed of metal such as copper. And, by caving the upper surface of the external conductor 2 downwardly, there can be formed a coaxial adapter plug insertion portion 5. Also, in the central portion of the coaxial adapter plug insertion portion 5, there is formed a through hole 6 through which the center conductor of the coaxial adapter plug can be penetrated. Further, on the four corners of the external conductor 2, there are disposed terminals 7 respectively.

In the coaxial connector having the above structure, normally, as shown in Fig. IC, since the first and second contacts 3 and 4 are in contact with each other, a signal is transmitted from the first contact 3 to the second contact 4.

On the other hand, in case where the coaxial adapter plug (not shown ) is inserted from above the coaxial adapter plug insertion portion 5 and the leading end of the center conductor of the coaxial adapter plug is pressed against the first contact 3 downwardly, the leading end of the first contact 3 is detached from the second contact 2. As a result of this, the signal is transmitted from the first contact 3 to the coaxial adapter plug. Although the structure of the coaxial adapter plug is similar to that of the conventional coaxial adapter plug shown in Fig. 4, since the coaxial connector according to the present embodiment does not include a center pin, it is necessary to use a coaxial adapter plug structured such that the leading end of the center conductor thereof is projected downwardly. Or, alternatively, by changing the shape of the first contact 4 in such a manner that a portion of the first contact 4 can reach above the through hole 6, the coaxial connector may be structured such that the same coaxial adapter plug as that shown in Fig. 4 can be used.

Thus, in a coaxial connector according to the present embodiment of the invention, the respective leading end sides of the first and second contacts 3 and 4 are stored in the interior portion of the electrically insulated housing 1 and the outer wall surface of the electrically insulated housing 1 is closed by the external conductor 2. That is, the lower surface of the coaxial connector is completely closed by the bottom surface of the electrically insulated housing 1, while the side surface of the coaxial connector can exist only in the form of a slight clearance between the outer wall surface of the electrically insulated housing 1 and the inner wall surface of the external conductor 2. Therefore, there is eliminated a possibility that, when surface-mounting the coaxial connector onto the conductor of a printed circuit board, the flux does not reach the leading end portions of the first and second contacts 3 and 4 by the rising motion of the flux caused by the surface tension thereof. Also, since the first and second contacts 3 and 4 can be mounted from above the electrically insulated housing 1, the mounting operation can be facilitated when compared with the conventional coaxial connector which is mounted from the side surface or lower surface of the electrically insulated housing.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a portable telephone having the coaxial connector of the present embodiment. The portable telephone comprising a casing 17, a battery 16, an operation portion 19, a liquid crystal display portion 20, a printed circuit board (PCB) 21, a coaxial connector 15 mounted on the PCB 21, and an opening 16 provided on the casing 17 so that the coaxial adapter plug can be connected to the coaxial connector 15.

Industrial Applicability

As has been described heretofore, according to the invention, the first and second conductive contacts serving as the switches of the present coaxial connector are mounted onto the electrically insulated housing, the bottom surface of which is closed, from the upper surface thereof, while the side surface of the coaxial connector is completely closed.

Therefore, to this, there can be supplied a coaxial connector which not only can prevent an increase in the contact resistance caused by the entrance of the flux when soldering the coaxial connector onto a circuit board but also can facilitate the assembling operation thereof.

Claims

1. A coaxial connector comprising: an electrically insulated housing having a bottom surface and side surfaces; a first conductive contact and a second conductive contact respectively extending along side surface of the electrically insulated housing from the lower ends of the side surfaces to the upper edge portion of the electrically insulated housing and entering the interior portion of the electrically insulated housing beyond the upper edge portion, the respective leading end portions of the first and second contacts being contacted with each other elastically in the vertical direction; and an external conductor provided to cover the upper and side surfaces of the electrically insulated housing, and including a through hole for insertion of a plug in the central portion of the upper surface of the external conductor.

2. A coaxial connector according to claim 1, wherein the electrically insulated housing includes a first and a second recessed portions in the upper edge portion thereof, wherein the first conductive contact is fitted into the first recessed portion, and the second conductive contact is fitted into the second recessed portion.

3. A coaxial connector according to claim 1 , wherein the electrically insulated housing is formed in a substantially rectangular-shaped box.

4. A coaxial connector according to claim 2 , wherein the first and the second recessed portions are disposed at the mutually opposed positions of the upper edge portion.

5. A portable telephone having the coaxial connector according to claim 1.