JP2001110492A - Flexible printed circuit board connector - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a highly reliable flexible printed circuit board connector capable of securely connecting even when a flexible printed circuit board has multiple cores. A base insulator (10) having a housing part (11) opening upward, and the base insulator (1)
A plurality of contacts 20 arranged at a predetermined pitch to 0;
The elastic plate 30 bent in an arc shape held in the accommodating portion 11
When one end of the elastic plate 30 in the arc direction is disposed below the contact portion 21 of the contact 20, and when the center of the elastic plate 30 in the arc direction is pressed against the bottom surface 12 of the housing portion 11,
The two ends of the elastic plate 30 in the arc direction are lifted, and the flexible printed circuit board 4 accommodated in the accommodation portion 11 at one end.
The 0 conductor pattern is pressed against the contact portion 24 of the contact 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent electronic device designs, compactness and high-density mounting are required. In order to respond to this demand, a flexible printed circuit board (hereinafter referred to as FPC (Flexi
ble Printed Circuit) has been widely used.

[0003] The FPC is connected to a printed circuit board or the like using an FPC connector.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-260773 describes this type of FPC connector.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a conventional FPC connector.

The FPC connector 100 includes an insulating case 110, a plurality of connection terminals 120 provided on the case 110, and external electric connection pieces (not shown) at the ends of the connection terminals 120 and the FPC 140. And a pressing member 180 made of a shape memory alloy for press-fitting.

The pressing member 180 is provided in the direction in which the connection terminals 120 are arranged.
The external electrical connection piece is crimped to the connection terminal 120 by being pushed in the zero direction.

[0008]

However, in this connector for FPC connection, both ends in the width direction of the pressing member 180 are held by the case 110 and the external electric contact piece is pressed against the connection terminal 120 by pressing the center portion. With this configuration, when the width of the connector 100 increases, the pressing force of the pressing member 180 against the FPC 140 at both ends in the width direction decreases.

Therefore, when the number of cores of the FPC 140 connected to the FPC connector 100 increases, the FP
At both ends in the width direction of the C connection connector 100, a sufficient contact force with respect to the connection terminal 120 cannot be obtained, so that the connection becomes uncertain and the reliability of the connector is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a highly reliable flexible printed circuit board connector capable of securely connecting even when the flexible printed circuit board has multiple cores. It is in.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a base insulator having an accommodating portion opening upward, a plurality of contacts arranged on the base insulator at a predetermined pitch, and An elastic plate bent in an arc shape held in the housing portion, and when the central portion of the elastic plate in the arc direction is pressed against the bottom surface of the housing portion, both ends of the elastic plate in the arc direction are lifted up,
As the end of the flexible printed circuit board inserted into the housing portion is pressed against the contact portion of the contact,
One end of the elastic plate in the arc direction is arranged below a contact portion of the contact.

When the central portion of the elastic plate in the arc direction is pressed against the bottom of the housing, the end of the flexible printed circuit board is pressed against the contact portion of the contact in the contact arrangement direction by one end of the elastic plate in the arc direction. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the connector for a flexible printed circuit board according to the first aspect, the elastic plate is made of metal.

Since the elastic plate is made of metal, an elastic plate having a predetermined elastic force can be easily obtained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board according to the second aspect, the elastic plate or the bottom surface of the housing portion with which the elastic plate contacts is insulated. Features.

Since the elastic plate or the bottom surface of the accommodating portion with which the elastic plate contacts is insulated, no current flows through the elastic plate or the bottom surface of the accommodating portion with which the elastic plate contacts.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board according to any one of the first to third aspects, an end of the flexible printed circuit board is connected to an opening of the accommodating portion. A lid for maintaining a state pressed against the contact portion is detachably provided.

After the central portion of the elastic plate in the arc direction is pressed against the bottom surface of the accommodating portion and one end of the elastic plate in the arc direction is pressed against the contact portion of the contact, the lid is attached to the opening of the accommodating portion. Therefore, the state where the end of the flexible printed board is pressed against the contact portion of the contact is maintained.

[0019]

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 shows the flexible printed circuit board connector in a cross section.

The connector 1 for connecting a flexible printed circuit board includes a base insulator 10 and a contact 20.
And an elastic plate 30.

The base insulator 10 is provided with a housing portion 11 that opens upward. The base insulator 10 has a plurality of contacts 20 arranged at a predetermined pitch.

The contact 20 has a contact portion 21 and a locking portion 2.
2 are provided to face each other in the longitudinal direction of the contact portion 21. A contact portion 24 is formed in the contact portion 21, and a locking portion 22 is formed.
Has a groove 23 formed therein.

The contact 20 has a step 13 extending in the direction in which the contact portions 21 are arranged, and a recess 25 capable of accommodating the center of the elastic plate 30. The central portion of the contact 20 where the recess 25 is formed and the bottom surface 12 of the base insulator 10 have the same shape.

An FPC 3 is provided between the step portion 13 and the contact portion 21.
A space S into which 0 is inserted is formed. This space S communicates with the housing 11.

The contact portion 2 of the contact 20 is
A metal elastic plate 30 for pressing an FPC (flexible printed circuit board) 30 on 1 is held.

The elastic plate 30 has a rectangular shape having the long side in the arrangement direction of the contact portions 21, is bent in an arc shape, and both ends thereof are held in the housing 11.

One end of the elastic plate 30 in the direction of the arc is the step 13
, And the other end is disposed in the groove 23 of the locking portion 22.

This elastic plate 30 can be changed into two states (the state shown in FIG. 1 is a convex state).

Note that both ends of the elastic plate 30 are covered with resin. That is, the elastic plate 30 is subjected to insulation treatment.

Next, the operation of the connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board will be described.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state immediately before the flexible printed circuit board is pressed against the contact.
In FIG. 2, the connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board is shown in cross section.

In order to connect the connector 1 for connecting a flexible printed circuit board to the FPC 40, first, the FPC 40
Of the contact portion 21 of the contact 20 and the step portion 13
And the front end 41 of the FPC 40
Against the abutment surface 13a of the space S.

At this time, the conductor pattern (not shown) of the FPC 40 comes into contact with the contact portion 24 of the contact 20, and both ends of the elastic plate 30 in a convex state in the arc direction contact the bottom surface 12 of the housing portion 11. .

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where the flexible printed circuit board is pressed against the contact. In addition,
FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board.

Next, the center of the elastic plate 30 in the arc direction is pushed toward the bottom surface 12 of the housing 11 as shown by an arrow a (see FIG. 2) via the FPC 40.

At this time, the elastic plate 30 is shown in FIG. 2 by the principle of the toggle (one of two stable states is maintained until a force for changing the current state is applied from the outside). The state changes from the convex state to the concave state shown in FIG.

Therefore, the center of the elastic plate 30 is pressed against the bottom surface 12 of the base insulator 10 and the concave portion 25 of the contact 20 as shown in FIG. 3, and one end of the elastic plate 30 connects the conductor pattern of the FPC 40 to the contact 20. Press against the contact portion 24.

When the end of the elastic plate 30 is pressed, the elastic plate 3
Since 0 changes from the concave state to the convex state, the FPC 40 can be pulled out from between the contact portion 21 of the contact 20 and the step portion 13.

According to this embodiment, since one end of the elastic plate 30 in the arc direction is disposed below the contact portion 21 of the contact 20, the center of the elastic plate 30 in the arc direction is placed on the bottom surface of the housing portion 11. When pressed, the urging force on the FPC 30 at both ends in the arrangement direction of the contacts 20 does not decrease.

Therefore, even when the number of cores of the FPC 40 is increased, a sufficient contact force with respect to the connection terminal can be obtained at both ends in the arrangement direction of the contacts 20 of the connector 1 for connecting a flexible printed circuit board. And the reliability of the connector is improved.

Further, since the elastic plate 30 is insulated, the short circuit of the FPC 40 can be prevented.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the opening 11a
The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a detachable lid 80 is provided in the first embodiment.

The lid 80 has a flat plate portion 81 and a locking portion 82. When the cover 80 is placed on a portion of the flat plate portion 81 facing the opening 11 a of the storage portion 11, the elastic plate 3
A pressing portion 83 is formed so that 0 can be pressed.

The locking portions 82 are provided at both ends of the flat plate portion 81, and the respective tip portions 82a are bent in directions approaching each other. The locking portion 82 is used as the base insulator 10
And the lid 80 is integrated with the base insulator 10.

According to this embodiment, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

Further, the tip of the FPC 40 is
The state pressed against the zero contact portion 21 can be reliably maintained, and the FPC 40 can be handled safely.

In the above embodiments, the elastic plate 30 is made of metal. However, the elastic plate is not limited to metal as long as it has appropriate elasticity. For example, the elastic plate 30 may be made of resin.

Although the elastic plate 30 is insulated in the above embodiment, the insulating plate may be insulated instead of the elastic plate 30 instead of the elastic plate 30.

Further, the bottom surface of the housing portion 11 is formed as the concave portion 25. When the center of the elastic plate 30 in the arc direction is pressed against the bottom surface 12 of the housing portion 11, both ends of the elastic plate 30 in the arc direction are lifted. If the height of the groove 23 is sufficiently large, a flat bottom surface may be used.

Although both ends of the elastic plate 30 in the arc direction are held by the contacts 20, the other end is connected to the insulator 1
It may be held at 0.

[0053]

As described above, according to the connector for connecting a flexible printed board according to the first aspect of the present invention, even when the width of the connector in the contact arrangement direction is widened, both ends in that direction are provided. Therefore, the pressing force on the flexible printed circuit board does not decrease. Therefore, even when the number of cores of the flexible printed circuit board is increased, it is possible to obtain a sufficient contact force with the connection terminal at both ends in the contact arrangement direction, and the connection is assured, and the reliability of the connector is improved. I do.

According to the connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the elastic plate is made of metal, an elastic plate having a predetermined elastic force can be easily obtained.

According to the connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board according to the third aspect of the present invention, current does not flow through the elastic plate or the bottom surface of the accommodating portion with which the elastic plate comes into contact, and short-circuit of the flexible printed circuit board can be prevented. .

According to the connector for connecting a flexible printed board according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reliably maintain the state where the end of the flexible printed board is pressed against the contact portion of the contact.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state immediately before a flexible printed circuit board is pressed against a contact.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a flexible printed circuit board is pressed against a contact.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional FPC connection connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Connector for flexible printed circuit board connection 10 Base insulator 11 Housing part 11a Opening 12 Bottom surface 20 Contact 21 Contact part 30 Elastic plate 40 FPC (Flexible printed circuit board) 41 End part 80 Cover

Claims (4)

[Claims] A base insulator having a housing portion opening upward, a plurality of contacts arranged on the base insulator at a predetermined pitch, and an elastic plate bent in an arc shape held in the housing portion; When the central portion of the elastic plate in the arc direction is pressed toward the bottom surface of the housing, both ends of the elastic plate in the arc direction are lifted, and the ends of the flexible printed circuit board inserted into the housing at the contact portions of the contacts. A connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board, wherein one end of the elastic plate in the arc direction is arranged below a contact portion of the contact so that the portion is pressed. 2. The flexible printed circuit board connector according to claim 1, wherein the elastic plate is made of metal. 3. The flexible printed circuit board connector according to claim 2, wherein an insulation treatment is applied to a bottom surface of the elastic plate or the housing portion with which the elastic plate contacts. 4. A lid for maintaining a state in which an end of the flexible printed circuit board is pressed against a contact portion of the contact is detachably provided at an opening of the accommodation portion. The flexible printed circuit board connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3.