JP3620833B2 - Module connector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a small connector for connecting a communication cable or the like, and relates to a module connector that can be reliably connected even if there is a dimensional error.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, module connectors have been used as connectors for connecting communication cables and the like. With the recent miniaturization of electronic devices, there is a demand for further reducing the size of module connectors so that more electronic components can be mounted in a smaller space, and there is a tendency to reduce the size.
[0003]
These module connectors are composed of a socket and a plug. The socket has a size of, for example, width × length × height 14 × 10 × 7 (mm), and has a dozen contacts in the plug insertion recess. . The plug includes a cable insertion portion and an electrode mounting portion provided with an electrode that contacts and separates from a socket contact on the lower surface of the housing including a locking hook portion.
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The housing and the electrode mounting part are different parts, and the two parts are connected during assembly. For this reason, the case where the height from the lower end of an electrode attachment part to a locking collar part in a plug differs arises.
[0004]
In such minute electronic parts, even a slight difference in dimensions affects the assembly of the product. For this reason, when the plug is inserted into the socket, it does not lock each other, or even if locked, the gap between the contact and the electrode is too large and the stability changes, and in the worst case, the contact of the electrode There was a problem of causing defects.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a module connector capable of stably maintaining contact between a contact and an electrode even if a dimensional difference due to dimensional and assembly tolerances occurs in an electronic component. It is for the purpose.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the present invention, the module plug 2 is detachably inserted into the plug insertion recess 20 of the module socket 1, and the plug locking tool 4 provided on the opposing inner wall surface of the plug insertion recess 20 is attached to the module plug 2. In the module connector that is locked to the locking surface 15 and connects the contact 7 on the bottom 23 of the plug insertion recess 20 and the electrode 19 on the lower surface of the module plug 2 , the plug locking tool 4 includes: A back plate portion 24 for fixing an elongated elastic plate to the inner wall surface of the plug insertion recess 20 and a curved portion 25 folded inward of the plug insertion recess 20 at the upper end of the back plate portion 24; A slit 26 is formed on the curved portion 25 and divided into at least two independent spring portions 27 and 28. The spring portions 27 and 28 are slightly separated from the tongue pieces at the lower ends. One side edge portion is bent inward of the plug insertion recess 20 to form a triangular first locking piece 5 and a second locking piece 6 which are widened downward. The inclined surfaces of the locking piece 5 and the second locking piece 6 are the sliding portions 30 and 31, and the lower end portions of the locking pieces are upward from the horizontal toward the back plate portion 24 and have different heights. 32, 33, and the locking surface 15 of the flange portion 17 of the module plug 2 with the locking portions 32, 33 is formed so as to be inclined according to the inclination angle of the locking portions 32, 33. The module connector is characterized in that the engaging portions 32 and 33 are engaged with the corners of the engaging surface 15 while being in contact with the engaging surface 15 .
[0007]
Thereby, since it can respond to the change of the electrode position which arises by the assembly tolerance by the side of the module plug 2, the stable connection which does not raise | generate a contact failure can be maintained.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A first embodiment of a module connector according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The module connector of the present invention is composed of a pair of module socket 1 and module plug 2.
The socket housing 3 constituting the module socket 1 is provided with a plug insertion recess 20, and a plurality of contacts 7 are fixed to the bottom of the plug insertion recess 20 according to the number of electrodes of the plug 2, and the plug insertion recess The plug locking tool 4 is fixed to the inner side wall of 20, and the module plug 2 is stably fixed by the first and second locking pieces 5, 6 provided on the plug locking tool 4. Yes.
[0009]
The structure of the module socket will be described in more detail. The socket housing 3 is formed of an insulating material and has a box shape with a size of, for example, 14.1 mm × 9.6 mm × 7.0 mm. A plug insertion recess 20 having a size of 10.7 mm × 8.2 mm × 5.8 mm is formed with one end opened.
From the bottom 23 of the socket housing 3 toward the inner wall of the plug insertion recess 20, plug locking tool insertion grooves 9 are formed at four locations, two on the left and right sides. A fixing groove 40 into which the plug locking member 4 is inserted is formed. This plug locking tool insertion groove 9 is provided in a state of opening toward the plug insertion recess 20.
Further, the contact insertion ports 10 are provided at 14 locations on each side, 7 locations as shown in FIG. 2A, communicating from the bottom 23 of the socket housing 3 to the lower side of the side wall 22.
Further, the plug wrong insertion preventing grooves 11 and 12 having different groove widths are provided facing the left and right side walls 21 inside the socket housing 3.
[0010]
As shown in FIG. 4A, the plug locking tool 4 is formed as a single member from an elastic material, for example, metal. More specifically, a fixing piece 34 is formed at the lower end of the plate-like back plate portion 24 by bending the fixing piece 34 at a right angle in order to fix the position when the plug locking tool 4 is inserted into the socket housing 3. At the upper end of the back plate portion 24, a curved portion 25 having a width narrower than the width of the back plate portion 24 and curved by 180 degrees is formed. A slit 26 is formed from the boundary portion between the curved portion 25 and the back plate portion 24 to the tip of the curved portion 25, and is divided into two spring portions 27, 28 by the slit 26, so as to have an independent spring structure. A gap 29 is provided between the spring portions 27 and 28 and the back plate portion 24. As shown in FIG. 4 (a), the end portions of the spring portions 27 and 28 are bent at the side edge portion slightly above the tongue piece portion at the lower end, and the first locking pieces 5 having different heights from each other. A second locking piece 6 is formed. The first and second locking pieces 5, 6 are formed with sliding portions 30, 31 that are inclined in a direction away from the back plate portion 24 toward the lower side of the spring portions 27, 28. , 31 are locking portions 32 and 33, and these locking portions 32 and 33 are formed at an angle slightly upward from the horizontal (about 6 degrees) toward the back plate portion 24. , Ru Tei in the shape of a triangle when viewed from the side. The difference in height between the lower end portions of the locking portion 32 and the locking portion 33 is about 0.2 mm.
As shown in FIGS. 2 (a), 2 (b) and 2 (c), the plug locking device 4 configured as described above is inserted from the plug locking device insertion grooves 9 at four locations. At this time, both sides of the back plate 24 are press-fitted and inserted into the fixing groove 40 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, and after the insertion is fixed to a printed circuit board (not shown) by the fixing piece 34. Is done.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 4B, the contact 7 is formed by bending an elastic and conductive material such as a metal plate. A terminal portion 36 is provided at one end of the bottom plate portion 35 of the contact 7 with a width narrower than the width of the bottom plate portion 35. Further, a spring portion 38 is provided at the other end of the bottom plate portion 35 by being bent 180 degrees by a curved portion 37 having a narrower width than the bottom plate portion 35. The spring portion 38 is formed with a contact portion 8 bent in a U-shape.
The contact 7 configured as described above is inserted from the contact insertion port 10 shown in FIG. At this time, both sides of the bottom plate part 35 are press-fitted and inserted into the fixing groove 41 shown in FIG. 2C, and after the insertion is completed, the terminal part 36 is fixed to a printed circuit board (not shown) or the like.
[0012]
Next, the configuration of the module plug 2 will be described.
The module plug 2 is configured by connecting two parts, that is, a part including a cable insertion part 16 and a flange part 17 and a part including an electrode attachment part 18 at the time of assembly. The cable insertion portion 16 has a hollow cylindrical shape with a height of 3.55 mm and a diameter of 6.9 mm. The bottom of the cylindrical portion has a substantially rectangular shape with a size of 10.56 mm × 8.05 mm and a thickness of about 0.00. A 9 mm plate-like flange portion 17 is integrally formed. On both side portions of the flange portion 17, erroneous insertion prevention convex portions 13 and 14 for fitting into the plug erroneous insertion prevention grooves 11 and 12 of the socket housing 3 are provided corresponding to the respective sizes. Further, locking surfaces 15 inclined at an angle of about 6 degrees are provided at the four corners of the flange portion 17 in accordance with the inclination angle of the lower end portions of the locking pieces 5 and 6. The electrode attachment portion 18 attached to the lower surface of the flange portion 17 with an adhesive or the like is formed in a substantially rectangular shape having a size of 10.0 mm × 7.5 mm and a thickness of about 1.5 mm. Is provided with a plug-side electrode 19 so as to correspond to the contact 7 of the module socket 1. The electrode plug 18 is mounted on the lower surface of the flange 17 to constitute the module plug 2.
[0013]
Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
As described above, the module plug 2 is configured by mounting the electrode mounting portion 18 on the lower surface of the flange portion 17, and a tolerance is generated during the assembly. In the present invention, it will be described below that stable contact is achieved even when the assembly tolerance in the height direction of the plug is ± 0.2 mm, for example, and the assembly tolerance in the lateral direction is ± 0.3 mm.
[0014]
The plug 2 is inserted into the socket housing 3 of the module socket 1 with the electrode 19 facing downward, with the plug erroneous insertion preventing grooves 11 and 12 and the erroneous insertion preventing convex portions 13 and 14 of the plug 2 aligned. As shown in FIG.2 (c), since the 1st, 2nd latching pieces 5 and 6 of the plug latching tool 4 protrude in the plug insertion recessed part 20 side, when the plug 2 is inserted, The side surface portion of the electrode mounting portion 18 of the plug 2 pushes down the sliding portions 30 and 31 of the first and second locking pieces 5 and 6. For this reason, the spring parts 27 and 28 are pushed into the gap 29 side. As it is further inserted, the corners of the locking surface 15 provided on the flange portion 17 of the plug 2 descend while contacting the sliding portions 30 and 31 of the first and second locking pieces 5 and 6.
Here, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, in this embodiment, the heights of the locking portions 32 and 33 provided on the lower surfaces of the first and second locking pieces 5 and 6 are The locking portion 32 of the first locking piece 5 is higher than the locking portion 33 of the second locking piece 6.
[0015]
Here, as in the plug 2b of FIG. 1, it is assumed that the assembly tolerance is the largest and the height is the highest (for example, +0.2 mm). In such a case, the locking portion 32 of the first locking piece 5 is first caught and locked at the corner of the locking surface 15 of the flange portion 17. Since the plug 2b does not descend any more, the locking portion 33 of the second locking piece 6 remains pushed into the gap 29 side. At this time, the contact 7 comes into contact with the electrode 19 and is largely pushed down by the lower gap 39, so that the electrical contact is reliably performed. When the assembly tolerance of the plug 2b is in the range of approximately 0.0 mm to +0.2 mm, the locking surface 15 of the flange portion 17 is locked to the first locking piece 5 and the second locking piece 6 remains pushed. It becomes.
[0016]
As shown in the plug 2a on the left side of FIG. 1, when the assembly tolerance is in a range of approximately −0.2 mm to 0.0 mm, the locking surface 15 of the flange portion 17 first becomes the diameter stopping portion 32 of the first locking piece 5. Although the plug 2 a is pushed further, the locking surface 15 is locked to the diameter stop portion 33 of the second locking piece 6. That is, the locking portion 33 of the second locking piece 6 is at a position lower by about 2.0 mm than the locking portion 32 of the first locking piece 5. At the stage where the assembly tolerance becomes negative, the plug 2a is further inserted, whereby the locking portion 33 is hooked on the locking surface 15 and locked. Thereby, even when the assembly tolerance is negative, the contact force between the electrode 19 and the contact 7 can be maintained.
[0017]
In the above embodiment, the height difference between the two locking portions 32 and 33 of the plug locking device 4 is about 2.0 mm. However, the height difference is not limited to this, and can be changed depending on the range of assembly tolerances. Needless to say.
Moreover, although the plug locking tool 4 was formed in two stages by the two spring portions 27 and 28, it is not limited to this, and may be configured in three or more stages by three or more spring portions. By doing so, a wider range of tolerances can be accommodated. Furthermore, not only the range of assembly tolerances but also a plurality of types of plugs having the same number of electrodes but different plug heights can be formed.
In addition, the plug locking tool 4 is formed as a separate member from the socket housing 3 that forms the module socket 1 and is inserted and fixed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the socket housing 3 When the socket housing 3 is molded with the same member, the curved portion 25, the two spring portions 27 and 28 separated by the slit 26, and the first and second locking pieces 5 and 6 formed on these spring portions 27 and 28, respectively. May be formed integrally.
[0018]
In the said Example, the 1st locking piece 5 and the 2nd locking piece 6 formed the slit 26 in the same plug locking tool 4, and were formed integrally. Therefore, the difference in height between the diameter stop portion 32 and the diameter stop portion 33 can be accurately formed. However, even if the first locking piece 5 and the second locking piece 6 are configured as separate members, the same purpose can be achieved if the fixing to the socket housing 3 is accurate.
[0019]
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the plug locking device 4 is provided with two locking portions 32, 33 and formed in two levels, and the locking surface 15 of the flange portion 17 has one level. However, as shown in FIG. 5, the locking groove 42 is formed in two steps or more on the module plug 2 side, and the locking portion of the plug locking tool 4 is set to 1 as shown in FIG. By forming in stages, it is possible to accommodate assembly tolerances.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, since it is possible to cope with a change in the electrode position caused by the assembly tolerance on the module plug 2 side, it is possible to maintain a stable connection without causing contact failure.
More specifically, the module plug 2 is configured by attaching the electrode mounting portion 18 to the lower surface of the flange portion 17, and a tolerance is generated during the assembly.
Therefore, a slit 26 is formed in the curved portion 25 of the plug locking tool 4 to divide into at least two independent spring portions 27 and 28, and the side edge portion slightly above the tongue piece portion at the lower end is bent. A triangular first locking piece 5 and a second locking piece 6 are formed, and the inclined surfaces of the first locking piece 5 and the second locking piece 6 serve as sliding portions 30 and 31, and a lower end portion. Are the engaging portions 32 and 33 having different heights, and the engaging portions 32 and 33 are engaged with the corners of the engaging surface 15 of the flange portion 17 of the module plug 2.
Therefore, in the process of inserting the module plug 2 into the plug insertion recess 20 of the module socket 1, the inclined surfaces of the first locking piece 5 and the second locking piece 6 are guided by the sliding portions 30 and 31 and smoothly. Can be inserted.
Further, when the module plug 2 is inserted between the bottom portions 23 of the plug insertion recesses 20 and the contacts 7 and the electrodes 19 are connected, even if there is an assembly tolerance of the module plug 2, the locks having different heights are provided. The parts 32 and 33 can cope with each other reliably. That is, the first locking piece 5 and the second locking piece 6 of the plug locking tool 4 made of an elastic material are formed with slits 26 in the spring portions 27 and 28 to have two independent spring structures. Therefore, when one of the first locking piece 5 and the second locking piece 6 is not locked to the locking surface 15, it escapes backward by elasticity, and the other is locked to the locking surface 15, The module plug 2 can be held reliably by acting as a locking piece without interfering with each other's locking, and a stable connection without causing poor contact can be maintained.
Further, since the first locking piece 5 and the second locking piece 6 are formed so as to be separated by the slit 26 in the same material, the difference in height between the locking portion 32 and the locking portion 33 is extremely accurate, Can handle small tolerances.
When the first locking piece 5 or the second locking piece 6 receives a force that is pushed up from below by the contact 7 of the module plug 2, the contact portion between the locking portions 32 and 33 and the locking surface 15 slides. Try to move in the direction. If it moves and the bending part 25 spreads, the effect which formed the latching | locking parts 32 and 33 from which height differs mutually will no longer be acquired.
However, in the present invention, the first locking piece 5 and the second locking piece 6 are formed by bending the side edge part slightly above the tongue piece part at the lower end of the spring portions 27, 28, and the locking surface. Since it is locked at the corners of 15, there is no movement, and the first locking piece 5 and the second locking piece 6 in two stages act as locking portions 32 and 33 having different heights, and slightly Even the module plug 2 having a large tolerance can be reliably held as designed.
[0021]
According to the second aspect of the invention, the lower end portions of the first locking piece 5 and the second locking piece 6 are directed upward from the horizontal toward the back plate portion 24 and have different heights from each other. , 33, and the locking surface 15 with the locking portions 32, 33 in the flange portion 17 of the module plug 2 is formed inclining according to the inclination angle of the locking portions 32, 33, and these locking portions 32 are formed. 33 are locked to the corners of the locking surface 15 while being in contact with the locking surface 15.
Here, when the module plug 2 is inserted into the module socket 1, the first locking piece 5 or the second locking piece 6 receives a force by which the first locking piece 5 is pushed up from below by the contact 7, and the locking portion 32 is inclined upward. 33, and the contact portions of the similarly inclined locking surfaces 15 move while sliding slightly in the directions inclined to each other, and immediately the tongue pieces at the lower ends of the spring portions 27, 28 and the upper first locking pieces The movement stops at the corner between 5 and the second locking piece 6.
For this reason, the first locking piece 5 and the second locking piece 6 are hardly misaligned, and each of the first locking piece 5 and the second locking piece 6 accurately maintains the difference in height between each other, and is designed even with a module plug 2 having a slight tolerance. It can be held reliably as the value.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a module connector according to the present invention, and is a partially cutaway side view showing a state in which a module plug 2 is inserted into a module socket 1, and the module plug 2a has a negative assembly tolerance. In the maximum case, the module plug 2b shows a case where the assembly tolerance is the maximum plus.
2A and 2B are views showing a module socket 1 of module connectors according to the present invention, in which FIG. 2A is a plan view, FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line bb in FIG. 2A, and FIG. ) In FIG.
3A and 3B are diagrams showing a module plug 2 of the module connector according to the present invention, in which FIG. 3A is a plan view, FIG. 3B is a side view of a minimum tolerance (2a) and a maximum tolerance (2b); ) Is a bottom view.
4A is a perspective view of a plug locking tool 4 attached to the module socket 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a contact 7 as well.
FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway side view showing another embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Module socket, 2 ... Module plug, 3 ... Socket housing, 4 ... Plug locking tool, 5 ... 1st locking piece, 6 ... 2nd locking piece, 7 ... Contact, 8 ... Contact part plug locking tool , 9: Plug locking member insertion groove, 10: Contact insertion slot, 11: Plug erroneous insertion prevention groove, 12: Plug erroneous insertion prevention groove, 13: Incorrect insertion prevention convex portion, 14: Incorrect insertion prevention convex portion, 15 ... Locking surface, 16 ... cable insertion part, 17 ... collar part, 18 ... electrode mounting part, 19 ... plug-side electrode, 20 ... plug insertion recess, 21 ... side wall, 22 ... side wall, 23 ... bottom part, 24 ... back plate Part, 25 ... curved part, 26 ... slit, 27 ... spring part, 28 ... spring part, 29 ... gap, 30 ... sliding part, 31 ... sliding part, 32 ... locking part, 33 ... locking part, 34 ... fixed piece, 35 ... bottom plate part, 36 ... terminal part, 37 ... curved part, 38 ... spring part, 39 ... gap , 40 ... fixing groove, 41 ... fixing groove, 42 ... locking groove,

Claims (2)

The module plug 2 is detachably inserted into the plug insertion recess 20 of the module socket 1, and the plug locking tool 4 provided on the opposing inner wall surface of the plug insertion recess 20 is connected to the locking surface 15 of the module plug 2. In the module connector which is connected to the contact 7 of the bottom 23 of the plug insertion recess 20 and the electrode 19 on the lower surface of the module plug 2 , the plug locking tool 4 is an elongated elastic plate Is formed of a back plate portion 24 that fixes the inner wall surface of the plug insertion recess 20 and a bending portion 25 that is folded inward of the plug insertion recess 20 at the upper end of the back plate portion 24. A slit 26 is formed at the tip of the spring to divide it into at least two independent spring portions 27, 28, and each of the spring portions 27, 28 has a side edge slightly above the lower tongue portion. The first locking piece 5 and the second locking piece 6 are formed in a triangular shape that is bent inwardly of the plug insertion recess 20 and becomes wider downward. And the inclined surfaces of the second locking pieces 6 are the sliding portions 30 and 31, and the lower end portions are the locking portions 32 and 33 having different heights. A module connector characterized by being engaged with a corner of an engaging surface 15 in a flange portion 17 of the module plug 2 . The module plug 2 is detachably inserted into the plug insertion recess 20 of the module socket 1, and the plug locking tool 4 provided on the opposing inner wall surface of the plug insertion recess 20 is connected to the locking surface 15 of the module plug 2. In the module connector which is connected to the contact 7 of the bottom 23 of the plug insertion recess 20 and the electrode 19 on the lower surface of the module plug 2 , the plug locking tool 4 is an elongated elastic plate Is formed of a back plate portion 24 that fixes the plug insertion recess 20 to the inner wall surface of the plug insertion recess 20 and a bending portion 25 that is folded inward of the plug insertion recess 20 at the upper end of the back plate portion 24. A slit 26 is formed at the tip of the spring to divide it into at least two independent spring portions 27, 28, and each of the spring portions 27, 28 has a side edge slightly above the lower tongue portion. The first locking piece 5 and the second locking piece 6 are formed in a triangular shape that is bent inwardly of the plug insertion recess 20 and becomes wider downward. And the inclined surfaces of the second locking pieces 6 are the sliding portions 30 and 31, and the lower end portions are the locking portions 32 and 33 which are upward from the horizontal and have different heights toward the back plate portion 24. The locking surface 15 of the flange portion 17 of the module plug 2 with the locking portions 32, 33 is formed so as to be inclined according to the inclination angle of the locking portions 32, 33. , 33 are locked to the corners of the locking surface 15 while being in contact with the locking surface 15 .

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