WO2023243471A1 - Connector and electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector 10 according to the present disclosure comprises a plurality of contacts 50 that are attached to a first insulator 20 and a second insulator 30. The contacts 50 each include: a first elastic portion 54 and a second elastic portion 56 that are formed between a first retained portion 51 and a second retained portion 58 and are both elastically deformable; and an extension portion 57 that extends from the second elastic portion 56 to the second retained portion 58. The second elastic portion 56 is positioned closer to the mating side than the first elastic portion 54, and is formed in a curved shape. In a width direction from one of the first insulator 20 and the second insulator 30 to the other, a maximum width D1 of the second elastic portion 56 is greater than an interval D2 between the first elastic portion 54 and the extension portion 57.

Description

Connectors and electronic equipment Cross-reference of related applications

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-096897 filed in Japan on June 15, 2022, and the entire disclosure of this application is incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure relates to connectors and electronic devices.

Conventionally, a connector with a floating structure has been known as a technique for improving connection reliability with a connection target. In such a connector, for example, a movable insulator that is a part of the connector moves during and after fitting to absorb positional deviation between the connector and the object to be connected. Patent Document 1 discloses a movable connector including such a movable insulator, in which the displacement load of a spring portion is reduced in order to improve the workability of insertion and removal.

Patent No. 6415609

A connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes:
a first insulator formed in a frame shape;
a second insulator disposed inside the first insulator, movable relative to the first insulator, and fitting with a connection target;
a plurality of contacts attached to the first insulator and the second insulator;
Equipped with
The contact is
a first held part attached to the first insulator;
a second held part attached to the second insulator;
a first elastic part and a second elastic part formed between the first held part and the second held part, both of which are elastically deformable;
an extending portion extending from the second elastic portion to the second held portion;
has.
The second elastic part is
located closer to the fitting side than the first elastic part when the connection target is fitted to the second insulator,
It is formed in a curved shape.
In the width direction from one of the first insulator and the second insulator to the other, the maximum width of the second elastic part is larger than the distance between the first elastic part and the extension part.

An electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes:
Equipped with the above connector.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing a connector according to an embodiment in a state in which a connection target is connected as viewed from above. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment in a state where it is separated from an object to be connected, as viewed from above. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the connector shown in FIG. 1 when viewed from above. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the connector of FIG. 3 when viewed from above. 4 is a sectional view taken along the VV arrow line in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion VI surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 5. FIG. FIG. 5 is a top perspective view showing the single contact of FIG. 4; FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing a connection object connected to the connector of FIG. 3 when viewed from above. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the connection target shown in FIG. 8 when viewed from above. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 7 is a side view of a single contact showing a first modified example of the contact. FIG. 6 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 5 and showing a second modification of the contact. FIG. 6 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 5 and showing a third modification of the contact.

For example, when a connector is used in an environment where vibration occurs in the mating direction when the connection object and the connector are mated to each other, the connection object slides against the contact portion of the contact of the connector, There was a problem in that contact reliability deteriorated due to wear on the contacts. On the other hand, the movable connector described in Patent Document 1 is configured such that the spring portion is more easily displaced than the contact portion of the contact, thereby reducing sliding at the contact portion.

For example, the substrates may not necessarily be mounted in parallel due to tolerances or the like. In the movable connector described in Patent Document 1, the main focus is on the movement of the movable insulator in the fitting direction perpendicular to the board, for example, the Z direction. However, in the movable connector described in Patent Document 1, the movability of the connector when the movable insulator moves in an oblique direction tilted from the Z direction, and the fitability when a connection target is fitted diagonally to the connector. was not sufficiently considered.

An object of the present disclosure, which has been made in view of such problems, is to provide a connector and electronic device in which the connector's mobility is improved not only in the mating direction but also in diagonal directions tilted from the mating direction. It's about doing.

According to a connector and an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the movability of the connector is improved not only in the fitting direction but also in any direction including an oblique direction tilted from the fitting direction.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The directions of front and back, left and right, and up and down in the following description are based on the directions of arrows in the figures. The directions of each arrow are consistent with each other in different drawings in FIGS. 1 to 7 and 10. The directions of each arrow are consistent with each other in FIGS. 8 and 9. In some drawings, illustrations of circuit boards CB1 and CB2, which will be described later, are omitted for the purpose of simple illustration.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a connector 10 according to an embodiment in a state where a connection target 60 is connected, as viewed from above. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the connector 10 according to an embodiment in a state where it is separated from the connection target 60 when viewed from above. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the connector 10 includes a first insulator 20 as a fixed insulator, a second insulator 30 as a movable insulator, a metal fitting 40, and a contact 50. The connection target 60 includes an insulator 70, a metal fitting 80, and a contact 90.

In the following, for example, it will be explained that the connector 10 according to one embodiment is a plug connector. For example, it will be explained that the connection target 60 is a receptacle connector. The connector 10 in which the portion of the contact 50 that contacts the contact 90 is not elastically deformed in a fitted state in which the second insulator 30 and the connection target 60 of the connector 10 are fitted to each other will be described as a plug connector. On the other hand, the connection object 60 in which the portion of the contact 90 that contacts the contact 50 is elastically deformed in the fitted state will be described as a receptacle connector. The types of connector 10 and connection target object 60 are not limited to these. For example, the connector 10 may serve as a receptacle connector, and the connection object 60 may serve as a plug connector.

In the following, it will be explained that the connector 10 and the connection target 60 are mounted on the circuit boards CB1 and CB2, respectively. The connector 10 electrically connects the circuit board CB2 and the circuit board CB1 on which the connection object 60 is mounted via the connection object 60 fitted with the second insulator 30 of the connector 10. The circuit boards CB1 and CB2 may be rigid boards, or may be any other circuit boards. For example, at least one of the circuit boards CB1 and CB2 may be a flexible printed circuit board (FPC).

In the following, it will be explained that the connector 10 and the connection target 60 are connected to each other in a direction perpendicular to the circuit boards CB1 and CB2. The connector 10 and the connection target 60 are connected to each other along the vertical direction, for example. The fitting direction when the second insulator 30 and the connection target 60 are fitted to each other is orthogonal to the circuit board CB1.

The connection method is not limited to this. The connector 10 and the connection target 60 may be connected to each other in a direction parallel to the circuit boards CB1 and CB2. The connector 10 and the connection target 60 are connected to each other such that one side is perpendicular to the circuit board on which it is mounted, and the other is parallel to the circuit board on which it is mounted. Good too.

The "fitting direction" used in the following description means, for example, the vertical direction. "The lateral direction of the connector 10" means, for example, the front-back direction. The "width direction" means, for example, the front-back direction. The "longitudinal direction of the connector 10" means, for example, the left-right direction. "The direction in which the plurality of contacts 50 are arranged" means, for example, the left-right direction. The "fitting side" means, for example, the lower side. The "extraction side" means, for example, the upper side.

The “fitted state” refers to a state in which the second insulator 30 of the connector 10 and the connection target 60 are fitted to each other, and the contacts 90 are elastically deformed by contact with the contacts 50. . The "unfitted state" means a state in which the second insulator 30 of the connector 10 and the connection target 60 are not fitted to each other, and the contacts 90 are not elastically deformed by external force.

The connector 10 according to one embodiment has a floating structure. The connector 10 allows the connected object 60 to move relative to the circuit board CB1 along six directions: up, down, front, back, left and right. Even when connected to the connector 10, the connection target 60 can move within a predetermined range in six directions, including up, down, front, back, left, and right directions with respect to the circuit board CB1. The connection target 60 can move within a predetermined range not only in six directions (up, down, front, back, left and right), but also in diagonal directions between the six directions.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the connector 10 shown in FIG. 1 when viewed from above. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the connector 10 of FIG. 3 when viewed from above. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the VV arrow line in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion VI surrounded by a broken line in FIG. FIG. 7 is a top perspective view showing the contact 50 shown in FIG. 4 alone.

As shown in FIG. 4, the connector 10 is assembled by the following method, for example. The metal fitting 40 is press-fitted into the first insulator 20 from below. The contact 50 is press-fitted into the second insulator 30 from above. The second insulator 30 to which the contact 50 is attached is placed from below inside the first insulator 20 to which the metal fitting 40 is attached. At this time, the contact 50 is press-fitted into the first insulator 20 from below.

Below, the configuration of each component of the connector 10 in the unfitted state will be mainly described. The configuration of the first insulator 20 will be mainly described with reference to FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first insulator 20 is a member extending in the left-right direction and made by injection molding of an insulating and heat-resistant synthetic resin material. The first insulator 20 is formed into a frame shape. The first insulator 20 is hollow and has openings 21a and 21b on its upper and lower surfaces, respectively. The first insulator 20 is composed of four side surfaces and has an outer peripheral wall 22 surrounding an internal space. More specifically, the outer peripheral wall 22 is formed by a pair of short walls 22a on both left and right sides and a pair of long walls 22b on both front and rear sides. The pair of short walls 22a and the pair of long walls 22b are orthogonal to each other and constitute the outer peripheral wall 22.

The first insulator 20 has a first regulating portion 23a formed by the inner surface of the short side wall 22a. The first insulator 20 has a second restriction portion 23b formed by the inner surface of the longitudinal wall 22b. The first insulator 20 has a metal fitting groove 24 recessed inside the first insulator 20 at the lower part of the short side wall 22a. A metal fitting 40 is attached to the metal fitting groove 24.

The first insulator 20 has a plurality of contact mounting grooves 25 extending vertically on the inner surface of the longitudinal wall 22b. A plurality of contacts 50 are respectively attached to the plurality of contact attachment grooves 25 . The plurality of contact mounting grooves 25 are arranged side by side and spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval along the left-right direction.

The configuration of the second insulator 30 will be explained with reference mainly to FIG. 4. The second insulator 30 is disposed through the opening 21b in an internal space surrounded by the outer peripheral wall 22 of the first insulator 20, and is movable relative to the first insulator 20. The second insulator 30 fits into the connection target 60.

The second insulator 30 is a member extending in the left-right direction and made by injection molding of an insulating and heat-resistant synthetic resin material. The second insulator 30 is formed in an inverted T shape when viewed from the front. The second insulator 30 has a base portion 31 extending in the left-right direction at a lower portion. The second insulator 30 has a wall portion 31a formed narrowly in the front-rear direction at the base portion 31. The wall portion 31a is formed on the entire base portion 31 in the vertical direction. The wall portion 31a is formed over substantially the entirety of the base portion 31 in the left-right direction except for both left and right end portions. As shown in FIG. 5, the wall portion 31a is formed into a rectangular shape in cross-sectional view, and has a uniform front-to-back width along the up-down direction.

As shown in FIG. 4, the second insulator 30 has a fitting projection 32 that projects upward from the base 31 and fits into the connection target 60. A portion of the fitting convex portion 32 formed above the lower portion thereof is formed to be slightly wider in the left-right direction than the base portion 31 so as to protrude from the base portion 31 to both sides in the left-right direction.

The second insulator 30 has a fitting recess 33 recessed in the upper surface of the fitting protrusion 32 . The second insulator 30 has a guide portion 34 formed over the upper edge of the fitting convex portion 32 and surrounding the fitting recess 33 . The guiding portion 34 is formed of an inclined surface that slopes diagonally outward from above toward the bottom at the upper edge of the fitting convex portion 32 .

The second insulator 30 is recessed in the inner surface of the fitting recess 33 in the front-rear direction, the outer surface of the fitting projection 32 in the front-rear direction, and the upper surface of the fitting projection 32, and is provided over substantially the entire area of the fitting projection 32 in the vertical direction. It has a plurality of contact mounting grooves 35 extending over the entire length. A plurality of contacts 50 are respectively attached to the plurality of contact attachment grooves 35 . The plurality of contact mounting grooves 35 are arranged side by side and spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval along the left-right direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, the contact mounting groove 35 is recessed in the outer surface of the fitting protrusion 32 in the front-rear direction from the lower part to the upper part of the fitting protrusion 32. The lower end of the fitting convex portion 32, where the lower end of the contact mounting groove 35 is located, is continuous with the wall portion 31a. The lower end of the contact mounting groove 35 recessed in the inner surface of the fitting recess 33 in the front-rear direction is located inside the thick fitting protrusion 32 .

As shown in FIG. 4, the second insulator 30 has retaining protrusions 36 that protrude outward in the left-right direction on both left and right sides of the lower end of the base 31. The second insulator 30 has a first regulated portion 37a formed by an outer surface in the left-right direction. The first regulated portion 37a includes an outer surface in the left-right direction of the base portion 31 and an outer surface in the left-right direction of a lower portion of the fitting convex portion 32 that is constricted one step inward in the left-right direction. The second insulator 30 has a second regulated portion 37b formed by an outer surface in the front-rear direction. The second regulated portion 37b includes the outer surface of the lower part of the fitting convex portion 32 in the front-rear direction. The outer surface configured as the second regulated portion 37b is formed to be sandwiched between one contact mounting groove 35 and the other contact mounting groove 35 along the left-right direction.

The configuration of the metal fitting 40 will be described with reference mainly to FIG. 4.

The metal fitting 40 is formed by molding a thin plate of any metal material into the shape shown in FIG. 4 using a progressive die (stamping). The method for processing the metal fitting 40 includes a step of bending the metal fitting 40 in the thickness direction after punching the metal fitting 40. The metal fitting 40 is formed into a substantially inverted U-shape when viewed from the front from the left and right.

The metal fitting 40 has mounting portions 41 extending outward in an L-shape at the lower end portions of both the front and rear sides thereof. The metal fitting 40 has a locking part 42 extending upward from the upper end of the mounting part 41. The metal fitting 40 has a base portion 43 extending in the front-back direction so as to connect the locking portions 42 on both the front and rear sides. The metal fitting 40 has a regulating portion 44 located at the center of the base 43 in the front-rear direction.

The configuration of the contact 50 will be described with reference mainly to FIGS. 4 to 7.

The contact 50 is formed by stamping a thin plate of a spring-elastic copper alloy containing phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, or titanium copper, or a Corson copper alloy into the shape shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 using a progressive die (stamping). It is molded. The contact 50 is formed by punching and then bending it in the thickness direction. The method of processing the contact 50 is not limited to this, and may include only a punching process. The contact 50 is formed of, for example, a metal material with a small elastic modulus so that the shape change due to elastic deformation is large. The surface of the contact 50 is plated with gold, tin, or the like after forming a base with nickel plating.

As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of contacts 50 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the connector 10. As shown in FIG. 5, the contact 50 is attached to the first insulator 20 and the second insulator 30. A pair of contacts 50 arranged at the same left and right positions are formed and arranged symmetrically with respect to each other along the front-rear direction. The pair of contacts 50 are formed and arranged so as to be symmetrical to each other with respect to the vertical axis passing through the center between them.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the contact 50 has a first held portion 51 that extends in the vertical direction and is supported by the first insulator 20. The contact 50 has a mounting portion 52 that extends outward from the lower end of the first held portion 51 in an L-shape. The first held portion 51 extends from the mounting portion 52 along the first insulator 20 and is arranged along the first insulator 20 . The contact 50 has a first extending portion 53 that extends obliquely upward from the upper end of the first held portion 51 and is slightly inclined toward the second insulator 30 .

The contact 50 has a first elastic portion 54 that is bent from the upper end of the first extension portion 53 and is elastically deformable. The first elastic portion 54 is formed in an inverted U shape so as to be folded back from the upper end of the first extending portion 53 toward the fitting side. The first elastic portion 54 is bent at an angle of approximately 90° from the upper end portion of the first extension portion 53 and extends horizontally and linearly toward the second insulator 30 . The tip of the first elastic portion 54 on the second insulator 30 side is bent toward the fitting side when the connection target 60 is fitted into the second insulator 30 . The tip of the first elastic portion 54 on the second insulator 30 side is directed toward the fitting side at an angle smaller than 90° from the portion of the first elastic portion 54 that extends horizontally and linearly toward the second insulator 30. bend.

The contact 50 has a connecting portion 55 that is inclined linearly from the tip of the first elastic portion 54 on the second insulator 30 side toward the fitting side toward the first insulator 20 side. The contact 50 has a second elastic part 56 that is elastically deformable and forms a gentle curve from the lower end of the connecting part 55 toward the removal side located opposite to the fitting side. The second elastic part 56 is connected to the first elastic part 54 by a connecting part 55.

The contact 50 has a second extending portion 57 that extends from the second elastic portion 56 toward the removal side to a second held portion 58, which will be described later. The second extending portion 57 includes a base portion 57a that extends linearly parallel to the vertical direction, and a linearly extending portion 57a that extends obliquely upward from the upper end of the base portion 57a with a slight incline towards the second insulator 30. It has a third elastic part 57b extending out.

As shown in FIG. 5, the contact 50 has a second held portion 58 extending upward from the upper end of the third elastic portion 57b of the second extension portion 57. The second held portion 58 is formed in the contact 50 from the upper end of the third elastic portion 57b of the second extension portion 57 to the tip of the contact 50. The second held part 58 extends linearly upward from the upper end of the third elastic part 57b of the second extending part 57, is folded back in an inverted U-shape at the upper end, and extends linearly downward. . The second held portion 58 is supported by the second insulator 30.

The contact 50 includes a first contact portion 59a formed on the outer surface of the second held portion 58 in the front-back direction, and a second contact portion 59b formed on the inner surface of the second held portion 58 in the front-back direction. has.

As shown in FIG. 6, the first held portion 51 of the contact 50 is locked in the contact mounting groove 25 formed in the longitudinal wall 22b of the first insulator 20. The first held portion 51 is attached to the first insulator 20 . As shown in FIG. 5, the second held portion 58 of the contact 50 is locked in the contact mounting groove 35 formed in the fitting convex portion 32 of the second insulator 30. As shown in FIG. The second held portion 58 is attached to the second insulator 30. A first elastic part 54 and a second elastic part 56, which are both elastically deformable, are formed between the first held part 51 and the second held part 58.

When the plurality of contacts 50 are attached to the first insulator 20 and the second insulator 30, the second contact portion 59b of each contact 50 is located inside the fitting recess 33 of the second insulator 30. The second contact portion 59b of each contact 50 is arranged along the inner surface of the fitting recess 33 in the front-rear direction so as to face inside the fitting recess 33. The first contact portion 59a of each contact 50 is arranged along the outer surface of the fitting convex portion 32 of the second insulator 30 in the front-back direction so as to face the outside of the fitting convex portion 32.

Each contact 50 supports the second insulator 30 in an internal space surrounded by the outer peripheral wall 22 of the first insulator 20, with the second insulator 30 spaced apart from the first insulator 20 and floating.

When the second insulator 30 is held against the first insulator 20 by the contact 50, the second insulator 30 is placed apart from the first insulator 20 in the internal space surrounded by the outer peripheral wall 22 of the first insulator 20. has been done. More specifically, the base 31 of the second insulator 30 is arranged in the internal space of the first insulator 20 surrounded by a pair of longitudinal walls 22b and a pair of short walls 22a. The base 31 of the second insulator 30 is surrounded by the outer peripheral wall 22 of the first insulator 20 .

The fitting convex portion 32 of the second insulator 30 projects upward from the opening 21a of the first insulator 20 and is located outside the internal space of the first insulator 20. The fitting convex portion 32 of the second insulator 30 is arranged above the outer peripheral wall 22 of the first insulator 20 in a state where it can be fitted to the connection target 60.

At this time, the second regulated portion 37b of the second insulator 30 is located inside the second regulating portion 23b formed on the longitudinal wall 22b of the first insulator 20 in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the first regulated portion 37a of the second insulator 30 faces the first regulating portion 23a formed on the short side wall 22a of the first insulator 20 from the inside in the left-right direction. The retaining projection 36 of the second insulator 30 faces the regulating portion 44 of the metal fitting 40 from below.

The locking portion 42 of the metal fitting 40 locks into the metal fitting mounting groove 24 of the first insulator 20. The metal fittings 40 are press-fitted into the metal fitting grooves 24 of the first insulator 20 and are disposed at both left and right ends of the first insulator 20.

The base 43 of the metal fitting 40 is located at the left-right end of the internal space of the first insulator 20 when the metal fitting 40 is attached to the first insulator 20. When the second insulator 30 is held against the first insulator 20 by the contact 50, the upper surface of the retaining protrusion 36 of the second insulator 30 vertically faces the lower surface of the regulating portion 44 on the base 43.

As shown in FIG. 6, the first corner C1 of the first elastic portion 54 on the first insulator 20 side is bent from the upper end of the first extension portion 53 at an angle of approximately 90°. The first corner C1 is shaped like a sector-shaped arc having a center angle of approximately 90°. The second corner C2 of the first elastic portion 54 on the second insulator 30 side is bent at an acute angle smaller than 90°. The second corner C2 is formed in a fan-shaped arc-like shape having an obtuse center angle larger than 90°.

The first elastic portion 54 extends linearly along the width direction from one of the first insulator 20 and the second insulator 30 to the other. More specifically, a portion of the first elastic portion 54 located between the first corner C1 and the second corner C2 is formed as a straight line along the front-rear direction.

The second elastic part 56 is bent in a gentle R shape from the lower end of the connecting part 55 which is obliquely linearly inclined from above to below toward the outside in the front-rear direction, and has an arc shape with the end thereof facing upward. is formed. The second elastic portion 56 is formed in the shape of a fan-shaped arc having a central angle of 180° or more. For example, the second elastic portion 56 is formed in a substantially semicircular arc shape. The second elastic portion 56 is formed such that the arc forming the second elastic portion 56 is located on the same side as the chord connecting both ends of the arc, or on the fitting side thereof. The second elastic portion 56 is formed with an arc facing toward the fitting side.

The arcuate shape of the second elastic portion 56 may be formed by bending the contact 50 multiple times using a press die. The arcuate shape of the second elastic portion 56 includes a shape in which the radius of curvature partially changes in consideration of manufacturing errors. For example, the arcuate shape of the second elastic portion 56 may be divided into three parts and bent three times, each having a slightly different curvature.

The second elastic portion 56 is located closer to the fitting side than the first elastic portion 54 when the connection target 60 is fitted to the second insulator 30, and is formed in a curved shape. In the present disclosure, a "curved shape" includes, for example, a shape along a curve, and excludes a shape along a straight line, that is, a line with a curvature of 0. The second elastic portion 56 is located closest to the fitting side, that is, on the lower side, of the plurality of constituent portions formed between the first held portion 51 and the second held portion 58 in the contact 50 . In the contact 50, the first elastic part 54 located on the removal side extends linearly along the front-rear direction, while the second elastic part 56 located on the fitting side extends in a curved shape along the front-rear direction. It extends to

In the width direction from one of the first insulator 20 and the second insulator 30 to the other, the maximum width D1 of the second elastic part 56 is larger than the distance D2 between the first elastic part 54 and the second extension part 57. big. The maximum width D1 of the second elastic portion 56 is determined from a first point located closest to the first insulator 20 on the arc forming the second elastic portion 56 to a point closest to the first insulator 20 on the arc forming the second elastic portion 56; 2 and the second point located on the side of the insulator 30. The distance D2 is the distance from the part of the second corner C2 of the first elastic part 54 located closest to the second insulator 30 to the part of the second extension part 57 formed at the same vertical position as that part. Corresponds to the interval.

In the width direction from one of the first insulator 20 and the second insulator 30 to the other, the maximum width D1 of the second elastic part 56 is larger than the maximum width D3 of the first elastic part 54. In the width direction, the second elastic portion 56 is located closer to the second insulator 30 than the first elastic portion 54 is. The maximum width D3 of the first elastic section 54 is the same as the maximum width of the first elastic section 54 in the front-rear direction when viewed from above.

Due to the connecting portion 55 being inclined linearly from above to below toward the outside in the front-rear direction, the space surrounded by the connecting portion 55, the second elastic portion 56, and the second extending portion 57 is The front-rear width gradually increases from the removal side to the fitting side up to the maximum width D1. The longitudinal width increases monotonically from the removal side to the fitting side up to the maximum width D1.

In the contact 50, the mounting portion 52, the first held portion 51, the first extension portion 53, the first elastic portion 54, the connecting portion 55, and a portion of the second elastic portion 56 are arranged along the first insulator 20. has been done. In a portion where these components are located, a first insulator 20 is formed between one contact 50 and another contact 50 adjacent to the one contact 50 in the left-right direction.

In the contact 50, the remaining part of the second elastic part 56 and the second extension part 57 are located between the first insulator 20 and the second insulator 30. In the portion where these components are located, a first insulator 20 and a second insulator 30 are formed between one contact 50 and another contact 50 adjacent to the one contact 50 in the left and right direction. Not yet.

As shown in FIG. 7, the width direction of the contacts 50 is parallel to the arrangement direction of the plurality of contacts 50. The plate thickness direction of the contact 50 is an arbitrary direction orthogonal to the left-right direction, and is included in a plane extending from top to bottom and front to back. The plate thickness of the contact 50 is substantially uniform at any location on the contact 50. On the other hand, the width of the contact 50 in the left-right direction changes.

The first held portion 51 of the contact 50 is formed wide in the left-right direction so that it can be locked in the contact mounting groove 25 of the first insulator 20. The second held portion 58 of the contact 50 is formed wide in the left-right direction so that it can be locked in the contact mounting groove 35 of the second insulator 30 . In the contact 50, the width in the left-right direction of the portion formed between the mounting portion 52 and the first held portion 51 and the second held portion 58 is equal to the width of the first held portion 51 and the second held portion 58. It is smaller than each width in the left and right direction and is uniform.

The connector 10 having the above structure is mounted, for example, on a circuit forming surface formed on the mounting surface of the circuit board CB1. More specifically, the mounting portion 41 of the metal fitting 40 is placed on solder paste applied to a pattern on the circuit board CB1. The mounting portion 52 of the contact 50 is placed on solder paste applied to a pattern on the circuit board CB1. By heating and melting each solder paste in a reflow oven or the like, the mounting portion 41 and the mounting portion 52 are soldered in the pattern described above. As a result, the mounting of the connector 10 onto the circuit board CB1 is completed. Electronic components other than the connector 10, including, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a controller, and a memory, are mounted on the circuit formation surface of the circuit board CB1.

The structure of the connection target object 60 will be explained mainly with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 8 is an external perspective view showing a connection target 60 connected to the connector 10 of FIG. 3 when viewed from above. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the connection target 60 of FIG. 8 when viewed from above.

As shown in FIG. 9, the connection target 60 includes an insulator 70, a metal fitting 80, and a contact 90 as major components. The connection object 60 is assembled by press-fitting the metal fitting 80 into the insulator 70 from below and press-fitting the contact 90 from below.

The insulator 70 is a square prism-shaped member that is injection molded from an insulating and heat-resistant synthetic resin material. The insulator 70 has a fitting recess 71 formed on the upper surface. The insulator 70 has a fitting convex portion 72 formed inside a fitting recess 71 . The insulator 70 has a guide portion 73 formed across the upper edges of both left and right ends of the fitting recess 71 so as to sandwich the fitting recess 71 in the left-right direction. The guide portion 73 is formed by an inclined surface that slopes diagonally inward from above toward the bottom at the upper edge portions of both left and right ends of the fitting recess 71 .

The insulator 70 has metal fitting grooves 74 recessed along the vertical direction at both left and right ends of the lower portion. A metal fitting 80 is attached to the metal fitting groove 74 . The insulator 70 has a plurality of contact mounting grooves 75 linearly recessed therein over substantially the entire vertical direction. A plurality of contacts 90 are respectively attached to the plurality of contact attachment grooves 75 . The plurality of contact mounting grooves 75 are formed at predetermined intervals from each other along the left-right direction.

The metal fitting 80 is formed by molding a thin plate of an arbitrary metal material into the shape shown in FIG. 9 using a progressive die (stamping). The metal fittings 80 are arranged at both left and right ends of the insulator 70, respectively. The metal fitting 80 has a mounting portion 81 formed in an L-shape so as to extend outward in the left-right direction at its lower end. The metal fitting 80 is formed continuously with the mounting portion 81 and has a locking portion 82 that locks onto the insulator 70 . The locking portion 82 is connected to the mounting portion 81 at its lower edge.

The contact 90 is formed by molding a thin plate of a spring-elastic copper alloy containing phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, or titanium copper, or a Corson copper alloy into the shape shown in FIG. 9 using a progressive die (stamping). It is something. Contact 90 is formed only by punching. The method of processing the contacts 90 is not limited to this, and may include a step of bending in the thickness direction after punching. The surface of the contact 90 is plated with gold, tin, or the like after forming a base with nickel plating.

A plurality of contacts 90 are arranged along the left-right direction. The contact 90 has a mounting portion 91 that linearly extends outward in the front-rear direction. The contact 90 has a locking portion 92 formed continuously with a mounting portion 91 . The contact 90 has an elastic contact piece 93 that extends upward from the locking portion 92 in a bifurcated shape. The contact 90 has a first contact portion 94a located on the outer side of the elastic contact piece 93 in the front-rear direction. The contact 90 has a second contact portion 94b located inside the elastic contact piece 93 in the front-rear direction.

As shown in FIG. 8, the metal fitting 80 is attached to the metal fitting groove 74 of the insulator 70. For example, the locking portion 82 of the metal fitting 80 locks in the metal fitting mounting groove 74 of the insulator 70. The metal fittings 80 are arranged at both left and right ends of the insulator 70, respectively.

The plurality of contacts 90 are respectively attached to the plurality of contact mounting grooves 75 of the insulator 70. For example, the locking portion 92 of the contact 90 locks in the contact mounting groove 75 of the insulator 70. At this time, the elastic contact piece 93 of the contact 90 is arranged so as to be elastically deformable along the front-rear direction inside the contact mounting groove 75. The first contact portion 94a and the second contact portion 94b of the elastic contact piece 93 are exposed from the contact mounting groove 75 and located inside the fitting recess 71.

The connection object 60 having the above structure is mounted, for example, on a circuit forming surface formed on the mounting surface of the circuit board CB2. More specifically, the mounting portion 81 of the metal fitting 80 is placed on solder paste applied to a pattern on the circuit board CB2. The mounting portion 91 of the contact 90 is placed on the solder paste applied to the pattern on the circuit board CB2. By heating and melting each solder paste in a reflow oven or the like, the mounting portion 81 and the mounting portion 91 are soldered in the pattern described above. As a result, the mounting of the connection object 60 onto the circuit board CB2 is completed. On the circuit formation surface of the circuit board CB2, electronic components other than the connection target object 60, including, for example, a camera module and a sensor, are mounted.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the XX arrow line in FIG. 1. The operation of the connector 10 having a floating structure will be mainly described with reference to FIG. 10.

The first insulator 20 is fixed to the circuit board CB1 by soldering the mounting portion 52 of the contact 50 to the circuit board CB1. The second insulator 30 becomes movable relative to the first insulator 20 fixed to the circuit board CB1 by elastically deforming the contact 50.

As shown in FIG. 3, the second restricting portion 23b of the first insulator 20 restricts excessive movement of the second insulator 30 in the front-back direction with respect to the first insulator 20. For example, when the second insulator 30 moves forward and backward by a large amount beyond the design value due to elastic deformation of the contact 50, the second regulated portion 37b of the second insulator 30 comes into contact with the second regulated portion 23b. Thereby, the second insulator 30 does not move further outward in the front-rear direction.

The first restricting portion 23a of the first insulator 20 restricts excessive movement of the second insulator 30 in the left-right direction with respect to the first insulator 20. For example, when the second insulator 30 moves in the left-right direction by a large amount beyond the design value due to the elastic deformation of the contact 50, the first regulated portion 37a of the second insulator 30 comes into contact with the first regulating portion 23a. As a result, the second insulator 30 does not move further outward in the left-right direction.

The regulating portion 44 of the metal fitting 40 reduces upward slippage of the second insulator 30 with respect to the first insulator 20. The restricting portion 44 of the metal fitting 40 restricts excessive upward movement of the second insulator 30 with respect to the first insulator 20. For example, when the second insulator 30 moves upward significantly beyond the designed value due to elastic deformation of the contact 50, the retaining projection 36 of the second insulator 30 comes into contact with the restriction portion 44. As a result, the second insulator 30 does not move upward any further. In the connector 10, excessive upward movement of the second insulator 30 can be restricted by a high-strength member such as the metal fitting 40.

With the vertical direction of the connection object 60 reversed with respect to the connector 10 having the above-described floating structure, the connector 10 and the connection object 60 are connected to each other while making the front and rear positions and horizontal positions of the connection object 60 approximately coincide. Make them face each other vertically. After that, the connection target 60 is moved downward. At this time, the guide portion 34 of the connector 10 and the guide portion 73 of the connection target 60 come into contact even if their positions are slightly shifted from each other, for example, in the front, rear, left, and right directions.

As a result, the second insulator 30 moves relative to the first insulator 20 due to the floating structure of the connector 10. More specifically, the fitting protrusion 32 of the second insulator 30 is guided into the fitting recess 71 of the insulator 70. When the connection target 60 is further moved downward, the fitting protrusion 32 of the second insulator 30 and the fitting recess 71 of the insulator 70 fit into each other. At this time, the fitting recess 33 of the second insulator 30 and the fitting protrusion 72 of the insulator 70 fit into each other.

As shown in FIG. 10, in a fitted state in which the second insulator 30 of the connector 10 and the insulator 70 of the connection target 60 are fitted to each other, the contacts 50 of the connector 10 and the contacts 90 of the connection target 60 are in contact with each other. . More specifically, the first contact portion 59a of the contact 50 and the first contact portion 94a of the contact 90 are in contact with each other. The second contact portion 59b of the contact 50 and the second contact portion 94b of the contact 90 are in contact with each other. At this time, the elastic contact piece 93 of the contact 90 is slightly elastically deformed so that the bifurcated width increases along the front-back direction, and is elastically displaced along the front-back direction inside the contact mounting groove 75.

With the above, the connector 10 and the connection target 60 are completely connected. At this time, the circuit board CB1 and the circuit board CB2 are electrically connected via the contacts 50 and 90.

In this state, the elastic contact pieces 93 of the contacts 90 clamp the contacts 50 of the connector 10 from both front and rear sides with elastic force along the front-rear direction. When the connection target 60 is removed from the connector 10 due to the pressing force on the contacts 50 generated by this, the second insulator 30 receives a force in the removal direction, that is, upward, via the contacts 50.

As a result, even if the second insulator 30 moves upward, the restricting portion 44 of the metal fitting 40 press-fitted into the first insulator 20 shown in FIG. 3 reduces the possibility of the second insulator 30 coming off. The regulating portion 44 is located inside the first insulator 20 and directly above the retaining projection 36 of the second insulator 30 . Therefore, when the second insulator 30 attempts to move upward, the outwardly projecting retaining protrusion 36 comes into contact with the restricting portion 44 . As a result, the second insulator 30 does not move upward any further.

Although the effects of the connector 10 will be explained below with a focus on the connector 10, the same explanation also applies to electronic devices having the connector 10.

According to the connector 10 according to the embodiment as described above, the movability of the connector 10 is improved not only in the fitting direction but also in any direction including an oblique direction inclined from the fitting direction. In the connector 10, the second elastic portion 56 is located closer to the fitting side than the first elastic portion 54, and is formed in a curved shape. Additionally, in the width direction, the maximum width D1 of the second elastic portion 56 is larger than the distance D2 between the first elastic portion 54 and the second extension portion 57. The second elastic portion 56 is formed in a curved shape with a small curvature.

By increasing the radius of curvature in the second elastic portion 56, stress caused by elastic deformation of the contact 50 due to movement of the second insulator 30 is dispersed in the second elastic portion 56. Thereby, the contact 50 can also accommodate movement of the second insulator 30 in an oblique direction. Even when the connection object 60 is inserted into and removed from the connector 10 diagonally, that is, even when the second insulator 30 moves diagonally, the contact 50 can be flexibly and elastically deformed in the second elastic portion 56. . The contact 50 can accommodate movement of the second insulator 30 in the fitting direction and in the diagonal direction. With the above, the movability of the connector 10 is improved in the fitting direction and in the diagonal direction. Similarly, the fitting performance when fitting the connection target 60 to the connector 10 is improved in the fitting direction and in the diagonal direction.

Since the contact 50 further includes the connecting portion 55 that connects the first elastic portion 54 and the second elastic portion 56, the distance between the first elastic portion 54 and the second elastic portion 56 becomes larger. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the influence that elastic deformation of one of the first elastic part 54 and the second elastic part 56 may have on the other.

The connecting portion 55 is inclined linearly from the tip of the first elastic portion 54 on the second insulator 30 side toward the fitting side to the first insulator 20 side, so that the connecting portion 55 is inclined linearly from the tip of the first elastic portion 54 on the second insulator 30 side to the first insulator 20 side. The range in which stress caused by elastic deformation of the contact 50 can be dispersed by the second elastic portion 56 is further expanded. Since the connecting portion 55 is formed linearly and does not have a bent portion, it becomes difficult for stress to concentrate in the portion of the contact 50 other than the second elastic portion 56. As a result of the above, the movability and fitability of the connector 10 described above are further improved. The movability and fitability of the connector 10 are further improved in the fitting direction and in the diagonal direction. For example, vertical mobility is also improved.

In the contact 50, in the part where the remaining part of the second elastic part 56 and the second extension part 57 are located, one contact 50 and another contact 50 adjacent to the one contact 50 in the left and right direction. , the first insulator 20 is not formed between them. Thereby, the connector 10 reduces contact between the metal contacts 50 and the resin first insulators 20 when the second elastic portions 56 of the contacts 50 are elastically deformed as the second insulators 30 move. It is possible. This reduces damage to the first insulator 20. Therefore, the connector 10 can realize stable floating operation, and can improve reliability as a product. In addition, the movability of the connector 10 due to the elastic deformation of the contacts 50 is further improved.

By extending linearly along the width direction, the first elastic section 54 can reduce the size of the connector 10 along the mating direction, compared to a case where the first elastic section 54 has a curved shape and largely extends upward. In other words, it can contribute to a reduction in height.

In the width direction, the second elastic part 56 is located closer to the second insulator 30 than the first elastic part 54, so that the second elastic part 56 has a curved shape, for example, an arc, closer to the second insulator 30 side where stress tends to concentrate. It will be located as a shape. This makes it easier to disperse concentrated stress in the second elastic portion 56 of the contact 50.

Since the second elastic part 56 is formed in the shape of a fan-shaped arc having a central angle of 180 degrees or more, the second elastic part 56 absorbs stress caused by elastic deformation of the contact 50 due to movement of the second insulator 30 The range of dispersion becomes wider. Therefore, the movability and fitability of the connector 10 described above are further improved.

By making the width direction of the contacts 50 parallel to the arrangement direction of the plurality of contacts 50, the strength of the contacts 50 along the arrangement direction is improved. Therefore, the connector 10 can improve the robustness of the contacts 50 against elastic deformation of the contacts 50 caused by movement of the second insulator 30. Therefore, the connector 10 can realize stable floating operation, and can improve reliability as a product.

Since the second insulator 30 has the guide portion 34, the guide between the fitting recess 71 of the connection target 60 and the fitting convex portion 32 of the second insulator 30 is facilitated, and the connector 10 has a good floating structure. is possible. The work of inserting the connection object 60 into the connector 10 becomes easier.

Since the contact 50 is formed of a metal material with a small elastic modulus, the connector 10 can secure the required amount of movement of the second insulator 30 even when the force applied to the second insulator 30 is small. . The second insulator 30 can move smoothly relative to the first insulator 20. Thereby, the connector 10 can easily absorb positional deviation when fitting with the connection target 60.

The connector 10 absorbs vibrations generated by some external factor by elastic deformation of the contacts 50. This reduces the possibility that a large force will be applied to the mounting portion 52 of the contact 50. Therefore, damage to the connection portion with the circuit board CB1 is reduced. It is possible to reduce the occurrence of cracks in the solder at the connection portion between the circuit board CB1 and the mounting portion 52. Therefore, even when the connector 10 and the connection target 60 are connected, connection reliability is improved.

By press-fitting the metal fitting 40 into the first insulator 20 and soldering the mounting portion 41 to the circuit board CB1, the metal fitting 40 can stably fix the first insulator 20 to the circuit board CB1. The metal fittings 40 improve the mounting strength of the first insulator 20 on the circuit board CB1.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure can be implemented in other predetermined forms other than the embodiments described above without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Accordingly, the above description is illustrative and not limiting. The scope of the disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Any changes that come within the range of equivalents are intended to be included therein.

For example, the shape, size, arrangement, orientation, and number of each component described above are not limited to what is illustrated in the above description and drawings. The shape, size, arrangement, orientation, and number of each component may be arbitrarily configured as long as the function can be realized.

The method of assembling the connector 10 and connection object 60 described above is not limited to the content of the above description. The connector 10 and the connection object 60 may be assembled by any method as long as they can be assembled so that their respective functions are exhibited.

For example, at least one of the metal fitting 40 and the contact 50 may be integrally molded with the first insulator 20 by insert molding instead of press fitting. For example, the contact 50 may be integrally molded with the second insulator 30 by insert molding instead of press fitting. For example, at least one of the metal fitting 80 and the contact 90 may be integrally molded with the insulator 70 by insert molding instead of press fitting.

In the above embodiment, the contact 50 was described as further having the connecting part 55 connecting the first elastic part 54 and the second elastic part 56, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the contact 50, the first elastic part 54 and the second elastic part 56 may be directly connected to each other.

In the above embodiment, the first elastic portion 54 was described as extending linearly along the width direction, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The first elastic portion 54 may be formed in a curved shape along the width direction. For example, the first elastic portion 54 may be bent in a gentle R shape from the upper end of the first extension portion 53, and may be formed in an arc shape with the end thereof facing downward. The first elastic portion 54 may be formed in the shape of a fan-shaped arc having a central angle of 180° or more. For example, the first elastic portion 54 may be formed in a substantially semicircular arc shape. The first elastic portion 54 may be formed such that the arc forming the first elastic portion 54 is located on the same side as the chord connecting both ends of the arc, or on the removal side. The first elastic portion 54 may be formed such that the arc faces the removal side.

In the contact 50, the first elastic part 54 is formed so that the arc faces the removal side, and the second elastic part 56 is formed so that the arc faces the fitting side, without the connection part 55 intervening. may be directly connected to each other. In the contact 50, the first elastic portion 54 and the second elastic portion 56 may be formed so that the overall shape is a left-right inverted S-shape.

FIG. 11 is a side view of a single contact 50 showing a first modification of the contact 50.

In the above embodiment, it has been described that the connecting portion 55 is inclined linearly from the tip of the first elastic portion 54 on the second insulator 30 side toward the first insulator 20 side toward the fitting side. Not limited. As shown in FIG. 11, the connecting portion 55 may extend linearly from the tip of the first elastic portion 54 on the second insulator 30 side toward the fitting side. The connecting portion 55 may extend straight downward from the tip of the first elastic portion 54 on the second insulator 30 side. At this time, the second elastic part 56 is connected to the lower end of the connecting part 55 in the shape of a fan-shaped arc having a center angle larger than 180 degrees so that the maximum width D1 is larger than the interval D2 in the width direction. It's okay.

The connecting portion 55 may be formed in any shape between the first elastic portion 54 and the second elastic portion 56 as long as the maximum width D1 is larger than the interval D2 in the width direction. For example, at least a portion of the connecting portion 55 may be formed in a curved shape. In the embodiment described above, due to the fact that the connecting portion 55 is inclined linearly from above to below toward the outside in the front-rear direction, the connecting portion 55, the second elastic portion 56, and the second extending portion 57 Although it has been explained that the front-rear width of the space surrounded by is gradually increased from the removal side to the fitting side up to the maximum width D1, it is not limited thereto. The longitudinal width does not need to monotonically increase from the removal side to the fitting side up to the maximum width D1.

In the above embodiment, the first insulator 20 is formed between one contact 50 and another adjacent contact 50 in the portion of the contact 50 where the first elastic portion 54 and the connecting portion 55 are located. However, it is not limited to this. In the portion of the contact 50 where the first elastic portion 54 and the connecting portion 55 are located, the first insulator 20 may not be formed between one contact 50 and another adjacent contact 50. The first elastic portion 54 and the connecting portion 55 may be exposed from the contact mounting groove 25 of the first insulator 20 and located between the first insulator 20 and the second insulator 30.

Thereby, in the connector 10, when the first elastic part 54 and the second elastic part 56 of the contact 50 are elastically deformed as the second insulator 30 moves, the metal contact 50 is connected to the resin first insulator 20. It is possible to further reduce contact with Therefore, damage to the first insulator 20 is further reduced. As a result, the connector 10 can realize more stable floating operation, and can further improve reliability as a product. In addition, the movability of the connector 10 due to the elastic deformation of the contacts 50 is further improved.

In addition, if the contact 50 contacts the first insulator 20 while elastically deforming as the second insulator 30 moves, the portion of the contact 50 located between the contact portion and the second held portion 58 It becomes elastically deformable. Therefore, if the first insulator 20 is not formed between one contact 50 and another adjacent contact 50 in the part of the contact 50 where the first elastic part 54 and the connecting part 55 are located, Even if a contact portion exists, it will be located closer to the first insulator 20. Therefore, the shortening of the spring due to the occurrence of contact portions is reduced.

In the above embodiment, the second elastic portion 56 is described as being a fan-shaped arc having a central angle of 180° or more, but is not limited thereto. The second elastic portion 56 may be formed in any curved shape different from a circular arc. For example, the second elastic portion 56 may be formed in a curved shape corresponding to the outer circumference of an ellipse. In the above embodiment, it has been described that the second elastic part 56 is formed in the shape of an arc facing the fitting side, but the second elastic part 56 is not limited to this. The second elastic portion 56 may be formed in the shape of an arc facing toward the removal side.

The second elastic part 56 is formed in a curved shape corresponding to the outer circumference of the ellipse, so that stress caused by elastic deformation of the contact 50 due to movement of the second insulator 30 can be easily dispersed in the second elastic part 56. do. The second elastic portion 56 is formed in a curved shape corresponding to a fan-shaped arc, so that stress caused by elastic deformation of the contact 50 due to movement of the second insulator 30 is absorbed by the second elastic portion 56 into an elliptical shape. Make it even more dispersed than it would otherwise be.

In the above embodiment, it has been explained that the width direction of the contacts 50 is parallel to the arrangement direction of the plurality of contacts 50, but the width direction is not limited to this. The width direction of the contacts 50 may be parallel to any direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the plurality of contacts 50, as long as the above-described function of the contacts 50 can be achieved.

In the above embodiment, the first elastic part 54 of the contact 50 is bent at an angle of approximately 90 degrees from the upper end of the first extension part 53 and extends horizontally and linearly toward the second insulator 30. However, it is not limited to this. The first elastic portion 54 may be bent at an angle of approximately 90° from the upper end portion of the first extension portion 53 and extend obliquely toward the second insulator 30 .

In the above embodiment, it has been described that the second extending portion 57 of the contact 50 has the base portion 57a extending linearly in parallel to the vertical direction, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The second extending portion 57 may also be formed to be non-parallel in the vertical direction at the base portion 57a, or may be formed non-linearly at least in part of the entirety including the base portion 57a and the third elastic portion 57b. may have been done. Conversely, the second extending portion 57 may be formed entirely in a straight line so as to be parallel to the vertical direction based only on the base portion 57a without having the third elastic portion 57b.

In the above embodiment, it has been explained that the first held portion 51 of the contact 50 is formed wide in the left-right direction so that it can be locked in the contact mounting groove 25 of the first insulator 20, but the invention is not limited to this. . The first held portion 51 does not need to be formed wide in the left-right direction, assuming insert molding rather than press-fitting.

In the above embodiment, it has been explained that the second held portion 58 of the contact 50 is formed wide in the left-right direction so that it can be locked in the contact mounting groove 35 of the second insulator 30, but the invention is not limited to this. . The second held portion 58 does not need to be formed wide in the left-right direction, assuming insert molding rather than press-fitting.

In the above embodiment, the first extending portion 53 of the contact 50 was described as extending obliquely upward from the upper end of the first held portion 51, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The first extending portion 53 does not need to extend obliquely upward from the upper end portion of the first held portion 51 . For example, the first extending portion 53 may linearly extend directly upward from the upper end portion of the first held portion 51 .

FIG. 12 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 5, showing a second modification of the contact 50. FIG. 13 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 5 and showing a third modification of the contact 50. In the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the first corner C1 is bent at an angle of approximately 90°, and the second corner C2 is bent at an angle of approximately 90°. It is not limited to these aspects.

The first corner C1 does not need to be bent at an angle of approximately 90°. The radius of curvature of the first corner C1 may be 1.0 d or more and 20 d or less, 1.3 d or more and 20 d or less, 1.5 d or more and 20 d or less, where d is the thickness of the first elastic portion 54, or It may be 1.7 d or more and 20 d or less.

The second corner C2 does not need to be bent at an angle of approximately 90°. The radius of curvature of the second corner C2 may be 1.0 d or more and 20 d or less, 1.3 d or more and 20 d or less, 1.5 d or more and 20 d or less, or It may be 1.7 d or more and 20 d or less.

The first elastic portion 54 is also not limited to a configuration in which it extends horizontally and linearly from the first corner C1 toward the second corner C2. The first elastic portion 54 does not have to be horizontal, and may have an arcuate overall shape without having a straight portion. The sum of the radius of curvature of the first corner C1 and the radius of curvature of the second corner C2 may be greater than or equal to 2.0 d and less than or equal to 25 d, where d is the thickness of the first elastic portion 54.

In FIG. 12, as an example, the first corner C1 and the second corner C2 are formed symmetrically with respect to each other. The radius of curvature of the first corner C1 and the radius of curvature of the second corner C2 are the same. In FIG. 13, as an example, the first corner C1 and the second corner C2 are formed asymmetrically with respect to each other. The radius of curvature of the first corner C1 and the radius of curvature of the second corner C2 are different from each other. The radius of curvature of the first corner C1 is larger than the radius of curvature of the second corner C2.

Based on the configuration of the contact 50 as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the contact 50 is less likely to be destroyed by stress applied to the contact 50.

Although the contact 50 has been described as being formed of a metal material with a small elastic modulus, the present invention is not limited thereto. The contact 50 may be formed of a metal material having any elastic modulus as long as the required amount of elastic deformation can be ensured.

Although it has been described that the connection target 60 is a receptacle connector connected to the circuit board CB2, it is not limited to this. The connection object 60 may be any object other than a connector. For example, the connection target 60 may be an FPC, a flexible flat cable, a rigid board, or a card edge of any circuit board.

The connector 10 as described above is installed in an electronic device. The electronic equipment includes, for example, any in-vehicle equipment such as a camera, radar, drive recorder, and engine control unit. Electronic equipment includes, for example, any in-vehicle equipment used in in-vehicle systems such as car navigation systems, advanced driving assistance systems, and security systems. Electronic devices include, for example, any information devices such as personal computers, smartphones, copy machines, printers, facsimile machines, and multifunction peripherals. In addition, electronic equipment includes any industrial equipment.

In such an electronic device, in the connector 10 having a floating structure, the movability of the connector 10 is improved not only in the fitting direction but also in any direction including an oblique direction inclined from the fitting direction. This reduces damage such as solder cracks in the mounting portion 52 of the contact 50. Therefore, problems such as deformation and breakage of the contacts 50 are reduced. As a result, the reliability of the electronic device having the connector 10 as a product is improved.

The good floating structure of the connector 10 absorbs misalignment between circuit boards, improving workability when assembling electronic equipment. Manufacturing electronic devices becomes easier. Since the connector 10 reduces damage to the connection portion with the circuit board CB1, the reliability of the electronic device as a product is further improved.

The following concepts can be extracted from this disclosure.
(1)
a first insulator formed in a frame shape;
a second insulator disposed inside the first insulator, movable relative to the first insulator, and fitting with a connection target;
a plurality of contacts attached to the first insulator and the second insulator;
Equipped with
The contact is
a first held part attached to the first insulator;
a second held part attached to the second insulator;
a first elastic part and a second elastic part formed between the first held part and the second held part, both of which are elastically deformable;
an extending portion extending from the second elastic portion to the second held portion;
has
The second elastic part is
located closer to the fitting side than the first elastic part when the connection target is fitted to the second insulator,
It is formed in a curved shape,
In the width direction from one of the first insulator and the second insulator to the other, the maximum width of the second elastic part is larger than the distance between the first elastic part and the extension part.
connector.
(2)
The connector described in (1) above,
The second elastic portion is formed in a curved shape corresponding to the outer circumference of an ellipse.
connector.
(3)
The connector described in (1) above,
The second elastic portion is formed in a curved shape corresponding to a fan-shaped arc.
connector.
(4)
The connector according to any one of (1) to (3) above,
The contact further includes a connecting part connecting the first elastic part and the second elastic part.
connector.
(5)
The connector described in (4) above,
The connecting portion is inclined linearly from the tip of the first elastic portion on the second insulator side toward the fitting side toward the first insulator side.
connector.
(6)
The connector according to any one of (1) to (5) above,
The first elastic portion extends linearly along the width direction.
connector.
(7)
The connector according to any one of (1) to (6) above,
In the width direction, the maximum width of the second elastic part is larger than the maximum width of the first elastic part.
connector.
(8)
The connector according to any one of (1) to (7) above,
In the width direction, the second elastic part is located closer to the second insulator than the first elastic part.
connector.
(9)
The connector described in (3) above,
The second elastic portion is the fan-shaped arc having a center angle of 180° or more, and is formed in the shape of the arc facing the fitting side.
connector.
(10)
An electronic device comprising the connector according to any one of (1) to (9) above.

10 Connector 20 First insulator 21a Opening 21b Opening 22 Peripheral wall 22a Short wall 22b Longitudinal wall 23a First regulating part 23b Second regulating part 24 Fitting mounting groove 25 Contact mounting groove 30 Second insulator 31 Base 31a Wall 32 Fitting Convex portion 33 Fitting recess 34 Guide portion 35 Contact mounting groove 36 Preventing protrusion 37a First regulated portion 37b Second regulated portion 40 Metal fitting 41 Mounting portion 42 Locking portion 43 Base 44 Regulating portion 50 Contact 51 First held portion 52 Mounting part 53 First extending part 54 First elastic part 55 Connecting part 56 Second elastic part 57 Second extending part (extending part)
57a Base portion 57b Third elastic portion 58 Second held portion 59a First contact portion 59b Second contact portion 60 Connection target 70 Insulator 71 Fitting recess 72 Fitting convex portion 73 Guide portion 74 Fitting mounting groove 75 Contact mounting groove 80 Metal fitting 81 Mounting part 82 Locking part 90 Contact 91 Mounting part 92 Locking part 93 Elastic contact piece 94a First contact part 94b Second contact part C1 First corner C2 Second corner CB1 Circuit board CB2 Circuit board D1 Maximum width D2 interval

Claims (10)

1. a first insulator formed in a frame shape;
   a second insulator disposed inside the first insulator, movable relative to the first insulator, and fitting with a connection target;
   a plurality of contacts attached to the first insulator and the second insulator;
   Equipped with
   The contact is
   a first held part attached to the first insulator;
   a second held part attached to the second insulator;
   a first elastic part and a second elastic part formed between the first held part and the second held part, both of which are elastically deformable;
   an extending portion extending from the second elastic portion to the second held portion;
   has
   The second elastic part is
   located closer to the fitting side than the first elastic part when the connection target is fitted to the second insulator,
   It is formed in a curved shape,
   In the width direction from one of the first insulator and the second insulator to the other, the maximum width of the second elastic part is larger than the distance between the first elastic part and the extension part.
   connector.
2. The connector according to claim 1,
   The second elastic portion is formed in a curved shape corresponding to the outer circumference of an ellipse.
   connector.
3. The connector according to claim 1,
   The second elastic portion is formed in a curved shape corresponding to a fan-shaped arc.
   connector.
4. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
   The contact further includes a connecting part connecting the first elastic part and the second elastic part.
   connector.
5. The connector according to claim 4,
   The connecting portion is inclined linearly from the tip of the first elastic portion on the second insulator side toward the fitting side toward the first insulator side.
   connector.
6. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
   The first elastic portion extends linearly along the width direction.
   connector.
7. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
   In the width direction, the maximum width of the second elastic part is larger than the maximum width of the first elastic part.
   connector.
8. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
   In the width direction, the second elastic part is located closer to the second insulator than the first elastic part.
   connector.
9. 4. The connector according to claim 3,
   The second elastic portion is the fan-shaped arc having a center angle of 180° or more, and is formed in the shape of the arc facing the fitting side.
   connector.
10. An electronic device comprising the connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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