WO2005048474A1

WO2005048474A1 - Mobile telephone having terminal assembly with waterproof structure

Info

Publication number: WO2005048474A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/002884
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sang-Choon Lee; Yong Chi
Original assignee: Watercom Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2003-11-13
Filing date: 2004-11-09
Publication date: 2005-05-26
Also published as: KR20050046096A; KR100546747B1

Abstract

A mobile communication terminal having a waterproof terminal assembly is disclosed. The mobile communication terminal includes an outer casing a chamber and a terminal hole, and a printed circuit board. Further, the mobile communication terminal includes an assembly frame (20) having on an upper end portion thereof a sealing member (21) that is made of an elastic material. A conductive connection pin (30) is assembled with the assembly frame such that an end portion of the connection pin is electrically connected to the printed circuit board, and the other end portion of the connection pin is disposed in a space defined in the assembly frame. A contact terminal (40) is water-tightly coupled to the sealing member, and includes a contact end portion (43) spaced apart form the connection pin by a predetermined distance, and a contact part (41) passing through the sealing member to be exposed to the outside.

Description

MOBILE TELEPHONE HAVING TERMINAL ASSEMBLY WITH WATERPROOF STRUCTURE

Technical Field The present invention relates, in general, to a mobile communication terminal having a wateφroof terminal assembly and, more particularly, to a mobile communication terminal having a wateφroof terminal assembly, which is capable of preventing water from flowing into a gap between a contact terminal and an outer casing, when the contact terminal of the mobile communication terminal is exposed to water or the like, thus preventing internal circuit parts from being damaged, and preventing the contact terminal and parts connected to the contact terminal from being corroded due to the transmission of electricity to the contact terminal, even when the contact terminal contacts an electrolyte.

Background Art Generally, mobile communication terminals, for example, mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) enable people to make calls, regardless of their location. While a person carries a mobile communication terminal, the mobile communication terminal may be exposed to water by mistake. However, most of the current mobile communication terminals do not have wateφroof structures. Hence, water may flow into circuit parts provided in an outer casing. The contact of the circuit parts with water causes the loss of the function of the circuit parts, so that a mobile communication terminal, is likely to be damaged. In order to prevent the malfunction of the mobile communication terminal due to water and allow a person to carry and use the mobile communication terminal on a beach or in a public bathhouse, demand for a wateφroof mobile communication terminal has increased. The mobile communication terminal having the wateφroof structure isolates the circuit parts from water and moisture, thus preventing the circuit parts from contacting water. However, most conventional mobile communication terminals, such as mobile phones, have no wateφroof structure. Thus, if a mobile phone is exposed to even a small amount of water, the mobile phone becomes out of order or damaged, so that the mobile phone malfunctions. Recently, mobile communication terminals having wateφroof structures have been proposed. These mobile communication terminals are designed to seal gaps of outer casings. However, it is difficult to completely seal the gaps of the outer casing of each mobile communication terminal, so that a sufficient wateφroof effect is not achieved. Further, in order to completely seal the gaps of the outer casing, the size of the mobile communication terminal is inevitably increased. Thus, manufacturers have many limitations on design of the mobile communication terminals. Additionally, high development costs and manufacturing costs of the mobile communication terminals are incurred, so that the mobile communication terminals are uneconomical and their marketability is poor. In order to solve the problems, there have been proposed Korean Patent Appln. No. 02- 53760 which was filed on Sep. 6, 2002 by the applicant of this invention, Korean U. . Registration No. 0296276 which was filed as a utility model based on the Korean Patent Appln. No. 02-53760, and Korean Patent Appln. No. 03-60543 which takes priority from the Patent Appln. No. 02-53760 and was filed on Aug. 30, 2003. According to the cited documents, a mobile phone includes in its outer casing a built-in assembly having a portion to be made wateφroof. In order to prevent water from flowing into a predetermined portion of the built-in assembly, a core frame is attached to the built-in assembly. Subsequently, the built-in assembly with the attached core frame is subjected to an insert molding process to be surrounded with a resin product made of elastomer. Alternatively, after a resin product that is made of a material, such as polycarbonate, through a vacuum molding process is coupled to the core frame, the built-in assembly may be surrounded by the core frame coupled to the resin product. This does not limit the design for the outer casing of the mobile phone, and does not remarkably increase manufacturing costs. Further, such a construction reliably prevents water or moisture from penetrating circuit parts of the built-in assembly, even when the mobile phone is exposed to water. However, in order to accomplish a wateφroof structure for an entire mobile communication terminal, a wateφroof structure for a contact terminal and a speaker is required, in addition to the wateφroof technology for the built-in assembly. The wateφroof technology for a portion around the contact terminal and the speaker may be used together with or separately from the above-mentioned wateφroof technology. For example, the wateφroof technology for the portion around the contact terminal and the speaker may be used in combination with a method of sealing the gaps of the outer casing of the mobile communication terminal. Thus, the wateφroof technology for the portion around the contact terminal and the speaker is very important. Hereinafter, the problems of a conventional wateφroof structure for the contact terminal of the mobile communication terminal will be described in detail. The mobile communication terminal, such as a mobile phone and a personal digital assistant (PDA), has a terminal hole which is provided at a predetermined position on an outer portion of an outer casing and is bored through the outer casing. A contact terminal which is provided on the outer casing to be exposed to the outside through the terminal hole is electrically connected to a connection terminal of corresponding electric equipment, for example, a connection terminal of a battery. Due to the electric connection, electric power is applied to the contact terminal and is supplied to circuit parts of a printed circuit board which is electrically connected to the contact terminal. However, various kinds of foreign materials including water and electrolytes may permeate the terminal hole through which the contact terminal passes. In this case, the internal circuit parts including the contact terminal may be corroded or damaged. In order to minimize the corrosion or damage, the size of the terminal hole is formed as small as possible to allow the contact terminal to pass through the terminal hole. However, the conventional mobile communication terminal has a problem in that it is difficult to minimize the size of the terminal hole. Thus, when the mobile communication terminal is exposed to an aqueous solution containing seawater or various kinds of electrolytes, water or various kinds of electrolytes may flow into the outer casing through the gap between the terminal hole and the contact terminal, so that the internal circuit parts may be damaged. Further, the contact terminal which is exposed to the outside is always electrically connected to the internal circuit parts. Therefore, in the case of a mobile communication terminal having a small battery therein, when an aqueous solution containing electrolytes, such as seawater, contacts the contact terminal, electrical transmission occurs due to the electrolytes present between the positive and negative poles of the contact terminal, thus causing corrosion and malfunction of the contact terminal and parts connected to the contact terminal. In order to solve the problems, some wateφroof terminal assemblies have been proposed. However, the conventional wateφroof terminal assembly is problematic in that it requires a change in the shape of the outer casing of a mobile communication terminal, and the construction of the terminal assembly is somewhat complex, so that it is difficult to adapt the terminal assembly to a current small mobile communication terminal. Technical Problem Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mobile communication terminal, which uses a simply constructed terminal assembly while maintaining the construction of a conventional outer casing, thus preventing water from flowing into an outer casing when a contact terminal of the mobile communication terminal is exposed to water or the like, thereby preventing water from contacting circuit parts provided in the outer casing. Further, in the case of a mobile communication terminal having a battery for the circuit parts therein, electrical transmission caused by an electrolyte is prevented when an exposed contact part of the contact terminal contacts an aqueous solution containing the electrolyte, thus preventing corrosion and malfunction of the contact terminal and parts connected to the contact terminal. Advantageous Effects According to the present invention, a mobile communication terminal having a wateφroof terminal assembly, uses a simply constructed terminal assembly while maintaining the construction of a conventional outer casing, thus preventing water from flowing into an outer 5 casing when a contact terminal of the mobile communication terminal is exposed to water or the like, thereby preventing water from contacting circuit parts provided in the outer casing. Further, in the case of a mobile communication terminal having a battery for the circuit parts therein, electrical transmission caused by an electrolyte is prevented when an exposed contact part of the contact terminal contacts an aqueous solution containing the electrolyte, thus preventing l o corrosion and malfunction of the contact terminal and parts connected to the contact terminal.

Description of Drawings FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a mobile communication terminal having a wateφroof terminal assembly, according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG.2 is a sectional view of the terminal assembly of FIG. 1 ; 5 FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the terminal assembly of FIG.2; FIG.4 is a sectional view of a wateφroof terminal assembly of a mobile communication terminal, according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the terminal assembly of FIG.4.

Best Mode 0 In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a mobile communication terminal having a wateφroof terminal assembly, including an outer casing having a chamber therein and a terminal hole to allow the chamber to communicate with an outside, and a printed circuit board accommodated in the chamber of the outer casing, the mobile communication terminal further including an assembly frame having on an upper end portion thereof a sealing member made of an elastic material, the assembly frame positioned between the outer casing and the printed circuit board and mounted to at least one of the outer casing and the printed circuit board such that the sealing member seals the terminal hole; a conductive connection pin assembled with the assembly frame such that an end portion of the connection pin is exposed to an outside of the assembly frame to be electrically connected to the printed circuit board, and the other end portion of the connection pin is disposed in a space defined in the assembly frame; and a contact terminal water-tightly coupled to the sealing member to seal a gap at a place where the contact terminal passes through the sealing member, the contact terminal including a contact end portion placed in the space of the assembly frame to be spaced apart from the connection pin by a predetermined distance, and a contact part extending from the contact end portion and passing through the sealing member to be exposed to an outside, wherein, when a predetermined force is applied to the contact part of the contact terminal, the sealing member is elastically deformed while keeping the through hole closed, so that the contact end portion of the contact terminal comes into contact with the connection pin. When a predetermined force is applied to the contact part of the contact terminal, the contact terminal is elastically deformed, and the contact end portion of the contact terminal approaches and contacts the connection pin. Further, a portion between the contact part and the contact end portion of the contact terminal is hinged to the assembly frame. When a predetermined force is applied to the contact part of the contact terminal, the contact terminal rotates about a hinge shaft of the contact terminal, so that the contact end portion contacts the connection pin. The frame assembly includes an upper frame which is assembled with the sealing member, and a lower frame which is disposed under the upper frame, and is assembled with the upper frame, and defines the space together with the upper frame, with a lower surface of the lower frame contacting the printed circuit board. Preferably, a plurality of fusion protrusions is provided along edges of junction surfaces of the upper and/or lower frames so that the upper and lower frames are coupled to each other through an ultrasonic fusion method using the fusion protrusions. A locking pin may protrude downwards from the lower surface of the lower frame of the assembly frame to be locked by the printed circuit board. Further, at least one of the contact part of the contact terminal, the contact end portion of the contact terminal, and the second end portion of the connection pin is gold plated, thus ensuring reliable contact. Preferably, the sealing member is made of elastomer, and is subjected to an insert molding process to be integrated with the contact terminal.

Mode for Invention This invention will be described in further detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention may be adapted to various mobile communication terminals, including mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs). However, the mobile phone will be described herein as an example of the mobile communication terminals. FIG. 1 is a sectional view to show a contact terminal of a mobile phone having a wateφroof structure, according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The mobile phone 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes an outer casing 3, a printed circuit board 5, and a terminal assembly 10. The outer casing 3 has a chamber therein, with a terminal hole 4 provided at a predetermined position on the outer casing 3 to allow the chamber to communicate with the outside. The printed circuit board 5 is accommodated in the chamber of the outer casing 3. The terminal assembly 10 is installed in the outer casing 3 such that a contact terminal 40 is exposed to the outside through the terminal hole 4. When the contact terminal 40 is electrically connected to a connection terminal of a battery or the like, electric power is applied to the terminal assembly 10 and supplied to circuit parts on the printed circuit board 5. A plurality of signal input buttons (not shown), used to input data, and a liquid crystal display (LCD) (not shown) are provided on the outer casing 3. The printed circuit board 5 is housed in the chamber of the outer casing 3. Further, the contact terminal 40 of the terminal assembly 10 is exposed through the terminal hole 4 provided at a predetermined position on the outer casing 3. Further, an internal antenna jack (not shown), an eaφhone jack (not shown), an external ^" antenna jack (not shown), and a speaker (not shown), as well as the terminal assembly 10, are electrically connected to the printed circuit board (PCB) 5. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the terminal assembly of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the terminal assembly of FIG. 2. Refem^'ng to FIGS. 1 to 3, the terminal assembly 10 includes an assembly frame 20, a conductive connection pin 30, and the contact terminal 40. The assembly frame 20 is fitted into a space defined between the outer casing 3 and the printed circuit board 5 such that a sealing member 21 seals the terminal hole 4. The connection pin 30 is assembled with the assembly frame 20, and is electrically connected to the printed circuit board 5. The contact terminal 40 is water-tightly coupled to the sealing member 21 of the assembly frame 20 such that a contact part 41 of the contact terminal 40, which will be described later in detail, is exposed to the outside through the terminal hole 4, and a contact end portion 43, which will be described later in detail, is spaced apart from the connection pin 30 by a predetermined distance. The assembly frame 20 has a space 22 and the sealing member 21. The space 22 is defined in the assembly frame 20, and the sealing member 21 is mounted to an upper end portion of the assembly frame 20. The assembly frame 20 is provided by assembling an upper frame 27 coupled to the sealing member 21 with a lower frame 29 which defines the space 22 together with the upper frame 27. A plurality of fusion protrusions 25 is provided along an edge of a junction surface 27a of the upper frame 27, so that the junction surface 27a of the upper frame 27 is attached to a junction surface 29a of the lower frame 29 through an ultrasonic fusion process using the fusion protrusions 25. The lower frame 29 contacts the printed circuit board 5, with a locking pin 23 protruding downwards from a lower surface 29b of the lower frame 29 to be inserted into a locking hole (not shown) of the printed circuit board 5. The upper and lower frames 27 and 29 are made of an engineering plastic, such as polycarbonate and PBT, which has a high strength and is used as a structural material. The sealing member 21 mounted to the upper end portion of the upper frame 27 functions to seal the terminal hole 4 when the assembly frame 20 is positioned between the outer casing 3 and the printed circuit board 5. Such a sealing member 21 is made of an elastic material. According to this embodiment, the sealing member 21 is made of elastomer. Thus, water cannot flow into the outer casing 3 through the terminal hole 4. Particularly, although the contact part 41 of the contact terminal 40 coupled to the sealing member 21 is compressed and the sealing member 21 is thus slightly deformed, an edge portion of the sealing member 21 is in close contact with the outer casing 3, thus keeping the terminal hole 4 closed. Meanwhile, the sealing member 21 may be integrated with the upper frame 27 during the manufacture of the upper frame 27. Alternatively, the sealing member 21 and the upper frame 27 may be separately manufactured and then adhered to each other using an adhesive or the like. The conductive connection pin 30 passes through the assembly frame 20. An end portion of the connection pin 30 is exposed to the outside of the assembly frame 20 and soldered to the printed circuit board 5, while the other end portion of the connection pin 30 is placed in the space 22 of the assembly frame 20. According to this embodiment, the connection pin 30 has an '-shaped profile, and the second end portion of the connection pin 30 is placed on the bottom of the lower frame 29. The contact terminal 40 includes the contact end portion 43, the contact part 41, and a support end portion 45. The contact end portion 43 is positioned in the space 22 of the assembly frame 20 and is spaced apart from the second end portion of the connection pin 30 by a predetermined distance. The contact part 41 extends from the contact end portion 43 and passes through the sealing member 21 to be exposed to the outside. The support end portion 45 is positioned opposite to the contact end portion 43 and placed in the space 22 of the assembly frame 20. The support end portion 45 does not contact the connection pin 30 due to a partition wall 26 of the lower frame 29. In order to prevent water or the like from flowing into gaps between the contact terminal 40 and the sealing member 21, portions of the contact terminal 40 passing through the sealing member 21 are water-tightly coupled to the sealing member 21. To provide the watertight seal, according to this embodiment, the sealing member 21 is integrated with the contact terminal 40 into a single structure through an insert molding process. Such a construction allows the sealing member 21 to be elastically deformed when a predetermined force is applied to the contact part 41 of the contact terminal 40. Due to the elastic deformation of the sealing member 21, the contact terminal 40 is elastically deformed. Further, due to the elastic deformation of the contact terminal 40, the contact end portion 43 of the contact terminal 40 approaches and contacts the connection pin 30. Thereby, the contact terminal 40, the connection pin 30, and the printed circuit board 5 are electrically connected to each other. The contact part 41 and the contact end portion 43 of the contact terminal 40 and the second end portion of the connection pin 30 are gold plated, thus enhancing conductivity. FIG.4 is a sectional view of a wateφroof terminal assembly of a mobile communication terminal, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the terminal assembly of FIG. 4. The elements common to both the first and second embodiments will thus carry the same reference numerals. The elements of the second embodiment similar to those of the first embodiment will carry reference numerals which differ by 100. As shown in the drawings, a hinge bracket 28 is disposed in a lower frame 129. A portion provided between a contact part 141 and a contact end portion 143 of a contact terminal 140 is rotatably coupled to the hinge bracket 28. Thus, when a predetermined force is applied to the contact part 141 of the contact terminal 140, a sealing member 121 is elastically deformed. Due to the elastic deformation of the sealing member 121, the contact terminal 140 rotates about a hinge shaft of the hinge bracket 28. Thereby, a support end portion 145 moves downwards, while the contact end portion 143 moves upwards. When the contact end portion 143 moves upwards to come into contact with a connection pin 30, the contact terminal 1 0, the connection pin 130 and a printed circuit board (not shown) are electrically connected to each other. The operation of the mobile phone having the wateφroof terminal assembly according to the present invention, which is constructed as described above, will be described below. Regardless of the elastic deformation of the sealing member 21 , 121 , the terminal hole 4 of the outer casing 3 is closed by the sealing member 21. Since the sealing member 21 , 121 is integrated with the contact terminal 40, 140 through the insert molding process, the sealing member 21, 121 is water-tightly coupled to the contact terminal 40, 140 without gaps at the places where the contact terminal 40, 140 passes through the sealing member 21, 121. Therefore, water cannot flow into the terminal assembly through the terminal hole 4. Further, if no force is applied to the contact terminal 40, 140, the contact end portion 43, 143 of the contact terminal 40, 140 does not contact the connection pin 30, 130. Thus, in the case of a mobile communication terminal having a battery for the circuit parts therein, electrical transmission, which may occur when external electrolytes contact the contact terminal 40, 140, is prevented, thus preventing the corrosion or malfunction due to the electrical transmission. As such, the above-mentioned wateφroof terminal assembly 10, 110 can be adapted to the mobile communication terminal having the battery for the circuit parts therein, so that the present invention can be widely used regardless of the kind of mobile communication terminal. Assuming that electric equipment, for example, a battery, is coupled to the outer casing 3 of the mobile communication terminal 1, a predetermined force is applied to the contact terminal 40, 140 as soon as the contact terminal 40, 140 contacts an electrode terminal of the battery. When a predetermined force is applied to the contact terminal 40, 140, the sealing member 21, 121 is elastically deformed while keeping the terminal hole 4 closed. According to the first embodiment of the present invention, when the sealing member 21 is elastically deformed, the contact terminal 40 is elastically deformed, so that the contact end portion 43 approaches and contacts the second end portion of the connection pin 30. Conversely, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, when the sealing member 121 is elastically deformed, the contact terminal 141 rotates about the hinge shaft of the hinge bracket mounted to the lower frame 129. At this time, the contact end portion 143 moves upwards and consequently comes into contact with the connection pin 130. When the contact end portion 43, 143 comes into contact with the connection pin 30, 130, the contact terminal 40, 140, the connection pin 30, 130, and the printed circuit board 5 are electrically connected to each other. Thereby, electric power of the battery or the like is applied to the printed circuit board 5, and the mobile phone 1 is available. As described above, the terminal assembly 10, 110 of the mobile communication terminal is constructed as follows. That is, the sealing member 21, 121 made of an elastic material keeps the terminal hole 4 closed, even if the sealing member 21, 121 is elastically deformed. Further, the conductive connection pin 30, 130 electrically connected to the printed circuit board 5 is assembled with the assembly frame 20, 120, and is spaced apart from the contact end portion 43, 143 of the contact terminal 40, 140 by a predetermined distance. Further, the contact part 41, 141 of the contact terminal 40, 140 is water-tightly coupled to the sealing member 21 , 121 and passes through the sealing member 21 , 121 to be exposed to the outside. Such a construction prevents water from flowing into the outer casing 3, even when the contact terminal 40, 140 of the mobile phone 1 is exposed to water or the like. In the case of a mobile communication terminal having a small battery therein, electrical transmission, which may occur when the contact part 41, 141 of the contact terminal 40, 140 exposed to the outside comes into contact with an aqueous solution containing an electrolyte, can be prevented. According to the above-mentioned embodiment, the contact part 41, 141 of the contact terminal 40, 140 is provided between the contact end portion 43, 143 and the support end portion 45, 145 that are placed in the space 22, 122. However, the support end portion 45, 145 of the contact terminal 40, 140 may be provided on an outside of the space 22, 122. Further, according to the above-mentioned embodiment, the sealing member 21, 121 is integrated with the contact terminal 40, 140 through the insert molding process, thus sealing gaps at the places where the contact terminal 40, 140 passes through the sealing member 21, 121. Alternatively, the gaps at the places where the contact terminal 40, 140 passes through the sealing member 21, 121 may be sealed using a sealing material.

Claims

CLAIMS [Claim 1] A mobile communication terminal having a wateφroof terminal assembly, comprising an outer casing having a chamber therein and a terminal hole to allow the chamber to communicate 5 with an outside, and a printed circuit board accommodated in the chamber of the outer casing, the mobile communication terminal further comprising: an assembly frame having on an upper end portion thereof a sealing member made of an elastic material, the assembly frame positioned between the outer casing and the printed circuit board and mounted to at least one of the outer casing and the printed circuit board such l o that the sealing member seals the terminal hole; a conductive connection pin assembled with the assembly frame such that an end portion of the connection pin is exposed to an outside of the assembly frame to be electrically connected to the printed circuit board, and the other end portion of the connection pin is disposed in a space defined in the assembly frame; and 5 a contact terminal water-tightly coupled to the sealing member to seal a gap at a place where the contact terminal passes through the sealing member, the contact terminal including a contact end portion placed in the space of the assembly frame to be spaced apart from the connection pin by a predetermined distance, and a contact part extending from the contact end portion and passing through the sealing member to be exposed to an outside, 0 wherein, when a predetermined force is applied to the contact part of the contact terminal, the sealing member is elastically deformed while keeping the through hole closed, so that the contact end portion of the contact terminal comes into contact with the connection pin.

[Claim 2] The mobile communication terminal having the wateφroof terminal assembly according 5 to claim 1, wherein, when a predetermined force is applied to the contact part of the contact terminal, the contact terminal is elastically deformed, and the contact end portion of the contact terminal approaches and contacts the connection pin.

[Claim 3] The mobile communication terminal having the wateφroof terminal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a portion between the contact part and the contact end portion of the contact terminal is hinged to the assembly frame, and when a predetermined force is applied to the contact part of the contact terminal, the contact terminal rotates about a hinge shaft of the contact terminal, so that the contact end portion contacts the connection pin. [Claim 4] The mobile communication terminal having the waterproof terminal assembly according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the frame assembly comprises: an upper frame assembled with the sealing member; a lower frame disposed under the upper frame, and assembled with the upper frame, and defining the space together with the upper frame, with a lower surface of the lower frame contacting the printed circuit board; and a plurality of fusion protrusions provided along edges of junction surfaces of the upper and/or lower frames so that the upper and lower frames are coupled to each other through an ultrasonic fusion method using the fusion protrusions. [Claim 5] The mobile communication terminal having the wateφroof terminal assembly according to claim 4, wherein a locking pin protrudes downwards from the lower surface of the lower frame of the assembly frame to be locked by the printed circuit board. [Claim 6] The mobile communication terminal having the wateφroof terminal assembly according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the contact part of the contact terminal, the contact end portion of the contact terminal, and the second end portion of the connection pin is gold plated. [Claim 7] The mobile communication terminal having the wateφroof terminal assembly according to claim 4, wherein the sealing member is made of elastomer, and is subjected to an insert molding process to be integrated with the contact terminal.