JP4805422B1 - connector - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided a connector capable of reducing the width dimension of a connector main body even in a configuration in which a plurality of terminals are arranged in the connector main body.
SOLUTION: First and second male terminals 12 and 13 of a male connector 10 are formed so as to be elastically deformable in the width direction of the connector main body 11 and spaced from each other in the height direction of the connector main body 11. The first and second male terminals 22 and 23 of the female connector 20 are provided so as to face each other with a gap in the width direction of the connector body 21, and the first and second male terminals By inserting the terminals 12 and 13 between the first and second female terminals 22 and 23, the first and second male terminals 12 and 13 become the first and second female terminals 22 and 23. The connector main body 11 is elastically deformed in the width direction of the connector main body 11 while being in contact with each other, so that the width dimension of the connector main body 11 can be made smaller than that in which a plurality of terminals are arranged in the width direction of the connector main body.
[Selection] Figure 19

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector that is attached to, for example, an end portion of an LED substrate and connects the substrates to each other.

  Conventionally, when a plurality of boards are connected to each other so that the mounting surfaces of electronic components and the like are on the same plane, a male connector and a female connector are attached to the end portions of the boards, respectively. There is known a technique in which substrates are connected by fitting a side connector and a female side connector (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Utility Model Registration No. 3092610

  By the way, when the connector is attached to the end portion of the board as described above, a mounting space for the connector is required on the board. However, since the conventional connector has a plurality of terminals arranged in the width direction of the connector body. The width of the connector body cannot be reduced. That is, when a plurality of boards are connected to each other, connectors that occupy most of the width of the board are arranged at the ends of each board, so that a mounting space for other components is continuously formed across each board. Can not do it. For this reason, for example, when connecting substrates mounted with a plurality of LEDs, the LEDs cannot be arranged at the end portions (connector mounting positions) of the substrates, and all the LEDs are equally spaced over each substrate. There was a problem that it could not be arranged.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector capable of reducing the width of the connector body even in a configuration in which a plurality of terminals are arranged in the connector body. There is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a male connector attached to an end of a board, a female connector attached to an end of another board, and a plurality of males held by a connector body of the male connector. In the connector comprising a side terminal and a plurality of female terminals held by the connector body of the female connector, the male connector and the female connector are fitted together to connect the boards to each other. Each male side terminal of the side connector is formed so as to be elastically deformable in the width direction of the connector main body, and is arranged at intervals in the height direction of the connector main body, and each female side terminal of the female side connector is When the male connector and the female connector are fitted to each other, the male terminals are inserted between the female terminals, and the male sides are connected to each other. Child is configured to elastically deform in the width direction of the connector body while contacting the respective female terminal.

  As a result, when the male connector and the female connector are fitted together, the male terminals arranged at intervals in the height direction of the connector main body are in contact with the female terminals, respectively. Therefore, the width of the connector body is smaller than that in which a plurality of terminals are arranged in the width direction of the connector body.

  According to the present invention, the width dimension of the connector body can be made smaller than that in which a plurality of terminals are arranged in the width direction of the connector body. For example, the male connector and the female connector are connected to both ends of the board in the width direction. By disposing on the side, it is possible to continuously form a mounting space for other components across the substrates on the center side in the width direction of the substrate. Thereby, for example, a plurality of chip-type LEDs can be arranged at equal intervals across each substrate, or planar light-emitting LEDs extending along the substrate can be arranged close to each other. A light emitting surface without light emission unevenness can be formed.

The upper surface side perspective view of the male connector which shows one Embodiment of this invention Bottom perspective view of male connector Top perspective view of female connector Bottom perspective view of female connector Front view of male connector Front view of female connector Perspective view of first male terminal Perspective view of second male terminal Perspective view of first female terminal Perspective view of second female terminal AA arrow direction sectional view of male connector BB sectional view of male connector CC cross-sectional view of female connector DD-arrow direction sectional view of female connector Perspective view of main part showing process of attaching male connector to substrate Perspective view of main part showing mounting state of male connector to substrate Top view of the board with the connector attached Plan view of multiple boards connected by connectors Plane sectional view showing the mating process of the male connector and female connector Plane sectional view showing the mating process of the male connector and female connector The principal part perspective view which shows the attachment state to the board | substrate of the male connector which shows other embodiment of this invention Plan view of multiple boards connected by connectors

  1 to 20 show an embodiment of the present invention, which shows a connector that is attached to an end portion of an LED substrate and connects the substrates together.

  The substrate 1 shown in the figure is formed in a flat plate shape extending in the LED array direction, and a plurality of chip-type LEDs 2 are mounted on one surface in the thickness direction at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the substrate 1. Yes. At both ends in the longitudinal direction of the substrate 1, there are provided conductive connector connection portions 1a that are electrically connected to the respective LEDs 2 through a conductive pattern (not shown). It is provided one by one.

  The connector of the present embodiment includes a male connector 10 attached to one substrate 1 of a pair of adjacent substrates 1 and a female connector 20 attached to the other substrate 1, and includes a male connector 10 and a female connector. The boards 1 are connected to each other by fitting the side connectors 20.

  The male connector 10 includes a connector main body 11 made of a synthetic resin molded product, and first and second male terminals 12 and 13 held by the connector main body 11.

  The connector body 11 is formed in a rectangular column shape elongated in the front-rear direction (connector fitting direction), and an extension portion 11a extending forward is provided on the front end side. The extending portion 11a is formed in a prismatic shape having a slightly smaller vertical dimension and width dimension than the rear end side of the connector main body 11, and its distal end side is formed in a tapered shape. The connector body 11 is provided with first and second terminal holes 11b and 11c for holding the first and second male terminals 12 and 13, respectively. The terminal holes 11b and 11c are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction. Is formed. That is, the first terminal hole 11 b is disposed on the upper side of the connector body 11, and the second terminal hole 11 c is disposed on the lower side of the connector body 11. Each terminal hole 11b, 11c is formed so as to extend in the front-rear direction of the connector main body 11, and the front end side of the first terminal hole 11b opens to the upper part of one side surface in the width direction of the extending portion 11a. The front end side of the terminal hole 11c opens to the lower part of the other side surface in the width direction of the extending part 11a.

  The first and second male-side terminals 12 and 13 are made of a conductive metal plate that has been bent, and are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction (the height direction of the connector body 11). The first male terminal 12 is disposed on the upper side of the connector body 11 and is accommodated in the first terminal hole 11b. The second male terminal 13 is disposed below the connector body 11 and is accommodated in the second terminal hole 11c.

  The first male terminal 12 includes an elastic piece 12 a that contacts a first female terminal 22 described later, a fixed piece 12 b that is fixed to the connector body 11, and a board connecting part 12 c that is connected to the board 1. The elastic piece portion 12a, the fixed piece portion 12b, and the board connecting portion 12c are formed so that the plate thickness direction is the vertical direction. The elastic piece portion 12a is formed so as to be elastically deformable in the width direction of the connector main body 11, and a chevron-shaped contact portion 12d protruding to one side in the width direction of the connector main body 11 is provided on the tip side. In this case, the elastic piece portion 12a is disposed on the front end side of the first terminal hole 11b, and the contact portion 12d of the elastic piece portion 12a extends from the first terminal hole 11b to the outside of the extension portion 11a toward the one side in the width direction. It protrudes. The fixed piece portion 12b is formed on the rear end side of the elastic piece portion 12a so as to extend in the front-rear direction, and is fixed to the connector body 11 by being press-fitted into the rear end side of the first terminal hole 11b. The board connecting portion 12c is formed to be bent in an L shape from one side in the width direction on the rear end side of the fixed piece portion 12b to the lower side of the fixed piece portion 12b, and is formed on the lower surface of the connector body 11 (the surface facing the board 1). It is arranged on the rear end side in the front-rear direction.

  The second male terminal 13 includes an elastic piece 13a that contacts a second female terminal 23 described later, a fixed piece 13b that is fixed to the connector main body 11, and a board connecting part 13c that is connected to the board 1. The elastic piece portion 13a, the fixed piece portion 13b, and the board connecting portion 13c are formed so that the plate thickness direction is the vertical direction. The elastic piece 13a is formed so as to be elastically deformable in the width direction of the connector main body 11, and a chevron-shaped contact portion 13d that protrudes to the other side in the width direction of the connector main body 11 is provided on the tip side. In this case, the elastic piece portion 13a is disposed on the front end side of the second terminal hole 11c, and the contact portion 13d of the elastic piece portion 13a extends from the second terminal hole 11c to the outside of the extending portion 11a toward the other in the width direction. It protrudes. The fixed piece portion 13b is formed on the rear end side of the elastic piece portion 13a so as to extend in the front-rear direction, and is fixed to the connector body 11 by being press-fitted into the rear end side of the second terminal hole 11c. The board connecting portion 13c is formed so as to be bent in an L shape below the fixed piece portion 13b from the other in the width direction on the rear end side of the fixed piece portion 13b, and is disposed on the center side in the front-rear direction of the lower surface of the connector body 11. Yes. In this case, the first male terminal 12 and the second male terminal 13 are arranged on the lower surface of the connector body 11 so as to be aligned in the front-rear direction (connector fitting direction).

  The female connector 20 includes a connector main body 21 made of a synthetic resin molded product, and first and second female terminals 22 and 23 held by the connector main body 21.

  The connector main body 21 is formed in a rectangular tube shape elongated in the front-rear direction (connector fitting direction), and an insertion port 21a into which the extension portion 11a of the male connector 10 is inserted is provided at the front end. The rear end side of the connector main body 21 is provided with first and second grooves 21b and 21c for holding the first and second female terminals 22 and 23, respectively. It is formed at intervals.

  The first and second female-side terminals 22 and 23 are made of a bent conductive metal plate, and are arranged at intervals in the width direction of the connector main body 21 (the width direction of the board 1). In this case, the first female side terminal 22 is disposed on one side in the width direction in the connector main body 11, and the second female side terminal 23 is disposed on the other side in the width direction in the connector main body 11.

  The first female terminal 22 includes a contact portion 22 a that contacts the first male terminal 12 of the male connector 10, a fixed piece portion 22 b that is fixed to the connector body 21, and a board connection that is connected to the board 1. The contact portion 22a is formed so that the plate thickness direction is the width direction of the connector main body 21, and the fixed piece portion 22b and the board connecting portion 22c are formed so that the plate thickness direction is the vertical direction. Yes. The contact portion 22 a is formed in a flat plate shape extending in the front-rear direction, and is disposed on one side in the width direction in the connector main body 21. The fixed piece 22b is formed to be bent in an L shape at the upper part on the rear end side of the contact portion 22a, and is fixed to the connector main body 21 by being press-fitted into the first groove 21b. The board connecting part 22c is formed to be bent in an L shape at the lower part of the rear end side of the contact part 22a, and is arranged on the rear end side in the front-rear direction of the lower surface of the connector body 21 (the face facing the board 1). .

  The second female terminal 23 includes a contact portion 23 a that contacts the second male terminal 13 of the male connector 10, a fixed piece portion 23 b that is fixed to the connector body 21, and a board connection that is connected to the board 1. The contact portion 23a is formed such that the plate thickness direction is the width direction of the connector body 21, and the fixed piece portion 23b and the board connecting portion 23c are formed so that the plate thickness direction is the vertical direction. Yes. The contact portion 23 a is formed in a flat plate shape extending in the front-rear direction, and is disposed on the other side surface in the width direction in the connector main body 21. The fixed piece 23b is formed to be bent in an L shape at the lower portion on the rear end side of the contact portion 23a, and is fixed to the connector main body 21 by being press-fitted into the second groove 21c. The board connecting portion 23c is formed to be bent in an L shape at the lower portion of the contact portion 23a on the center side in the front-rear direction, and is disposed on the center side in the front-rear direction of the lower surface of the connector body 21. In this case, the first female terminal 22 and the second female terminal 23 are arranged on the lower surface of the connector body 21 so as to be aligned in the front-rear direction (connector fitting direction).

  The male connector 10 and the female connector 20 configured as described above are attached to the both longitudinal ends of the substrate 1 in pairs in the width direction. That is, when each male connector 10 is attached to the board 1, as shown in FIG. 15, the board connecting portions 12c, 13c of the first and second male terminals 12, 13 are connected to each connector connecting portion 1a of the board 1. Connect by soldering. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 16, one male connector 10 is attached to one end in the width direction of the end portion of the substrate 1, and the other male connector 10 is attached to the other end in the width direction of the end portion of the substrate 1. It is attached. At that time, each male connector 10 is attached so that only the extending portion 11 a of the connector body 11 protrudes from the edge of the substrate 1 to the outside of the substrate 1. Further, when each female connector 20 is attached to the board 1, the board connection portions 22 c and 23 c of the first and second female terminals 22 and 23 are connected to each connector of the board 1 as in the case of the male connector 10. Connect to the part 1a by soldering. Accordingly, one female connector 20 is attached to one end in the width direction of the end portion of the substrate 1, and the other female connector 20 is attached to the other end in the width direction of the end portion of the substrate 1. At that time, each female connector 20 is attached so that the front end face of the connector main body 21 is located at substantially the same position as the edge of the substrate 1.

  Next, when a plurality of substrates 1 are connected to each other, the male wiring connector 10 and the female connector 20 are fitted together so that the LED wiring circuits of the respective substrates 1 are connected via the connectors 10 and 20. . At that time, as shown in FIG. 19, when the extending portion 11a of the male connector 10 is inserted into the insertion port 21a of the female connector 20, the contact portion 12d of the first male terminal 12 is shown in FIG. Contacts the contact portion 22 a of the first female terminal 22, and the contact portion 13 d of the second male terminal 13 contacts the contact portion 23 a of the second female terminal 23. Further, when the extension portion 11a is inserted into the insertion port 21a, the first male side terminal 12 is brought into contact with the contact portion 12d of the first male side terminal 12 and the contact portion 22a of the first female side terminal 22. The elastic piece 12a is elastically deformed from one side in the width direction of the connector main body 11 to the other, and is brought into contact with the contact portion 13d of the second male terminal 13 and the contact portion 23a of the second female terminal 23. The elastic piece 13a of the second male terminal 13 is elastically deformed from the other side in the width direction of the connector main body 11 toward one side. At this time, since the elastic pieces 12a and 13a are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction, they do not interfere with each other even if they are elastically deformed toward the inner side in the width direction of the connector body 11. Further, since the first and second male terminals 12, 13 and the first and second female terminals 22, 23 are slidably in contact with each other in the connector fitting direction, as shown in FIG. They can slide for a distance L in contact with each other.

  When a plurality of substrates 1 are connected as described above, the LEDs 2 of the substrates 1 are arranged in a line across the substrates 1 as shown in FIG. At this time, since each male connector 10 and each female connector 20 are disposed on both ends in the width direction of each substrate 1, the LED 2 is also provided between each male connector 10 and between each female connector 20. The mounting space for the LEDs 2 is continuously formed across the substrates 1 on the center side in the width direction of the substrates 1.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the first and second male terminals 12 and 13 of the male connector 10 are formed so as to be elastically deformable in the width direction of the connector main body 11 and are connected to each other. The first and second female terminals 22 and 23 of the female connector 20 are provided so as to face each other with a gap in the width direction of the connector body 21, When the side connector 10 and the female side connector 20 are fitted, the first and second male side terminals 12 and 13 are inserted between the first and second female side terminals 22 and 23, and the first and second Since the second male side terminals 12 and 13 are elastically deformed in the width direction of the connector body 11 while being in contact with the first and second female side terminals 22 and 23, respectively, a plurality of terminals are provided as in the prior art. Arranged in the width direction of the connector body Compared, it is possible to reduce the width dimension of the connector body 11. Thus, by disposing the male connectors 10 and the female connectors 20 on both ends in the width direction of the respective substrates 1, the mounting space for the LEDs 2 is continuously provided across the respective substrates 1 on the center side in the width direction of the respective substrates 1. All the LEDs 2 can be arranged at equal intervals across each substrate 1. Therefore, even when the plurality of substrates 1 are connected and the LEDs 2 are arranged, a light emitting surface without light emission unevenness can be formed, which is extremely advantageous when used for various devices having the LED light emitting surface.

  Further, since the male terminals 12 and 13 and the female terminals 22 and 23 are formed so as to be slidable in the connector fitting direction while being in contact with each other, the thermal expansion, thermal contraction, or misalignment of the substrates 1 is prevented. It can be absorbed by the sliding of the male terminals 12 and 13 and the female terminals 22 and 23, can prevent deformation of the substrate 1 and damage of the connectors 10 and 20 due to thermal expansion, Connection failures due to heat shrinkage or misalignment can also be prevented.

  Furthermore, the board connection parts 12c, 13c of the first and second male terminals 12, 13 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction of the connector body 11, and the board connection parts of the first and second female terminals 22, 23 are arranged. Since 22c and 23c are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction of the connector body 21, the connection space to the board 1 of the board connection parts 12c and 13c of the male connector 10 and the board connection parts 22c and 23c of the female connector 20 is a connector. The mounting space for the male and female connectors 10 and 20 can be reduced in the width direction of the connector main bodies 11 and 21 without increasing in the width direction of the main bodies 11 and 21.

  In this case, the board connection portions 12c and 13c of the first and second male terminals 12 and 13 are disposed on the lower surface of the connector body 11, and the board connection portions 22c and 22c of the first and second female terminals 22 and 23 are arranged. 23c is arranged on the lower surface of the connector main body 21, so that the board connecting portions 12c and 13c of the male connector 10 and the board connecting portions 22c and 23c of the female connector 20 do not protrude from the connector main bodies 11 and 21 in the width direction. The mounting space for the male and female connectors 10 and 20 can be further reduced in the width direction.

  In the embodiment described above, a plurality of chip-type LEDs 2 are mounted at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the substrate 1. However, as shown in other embodiments of FIGS. A planar light emitting LED 3 having a length substantially equal to the dimension in the direction may be mounted so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the substrate 1. In this case as well, the LEDs 3 can be arranged between the male connectors 10 and the female connectors 20 as in the above embodiment, so that the LEDs 3 of the boards 1 can be arranged close to each other. A plurality of LEDs 3 can form a light emitting surface free from light emission unevenness.

  Moreover, although what mounted LED2 or LED3 in the board | substrate 1 was shown in the said embodiment, this invention is applicable also when mounting other electronic components other than LED on a board | substrate.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Board | substrate, 2, 3 ... LED, 10 ... Male side connector, 11 ... Connector main body, 12 ... 1st male side terminal, 12a ... Elastic piece part, 12d ... Contact part, 13 ... 2nd male side terminal, 13a ... elastic piece part, 13d ... contact part, 20 ... female side connector, 21 ... connector main body, 22 ... first female side terminal, 22a ... contact part, 23 ... second female side terminal, 23a ... contact part.

Claims (5)

A male connector attached to the end of the board, a female connector attached to the end of another board, a plurality of male terminals held by the connector body of the male connector, and a connector body of the female connector In the connector provided with a plurality of held female terminals, and connecting the boards by fitting the male connector and the female connector,
Each male terminal of the male connector is formed so as to be elastically deformable in the width direction of the connector body, and is arranged at intervals in the height direction of the connector body,
Each female terminal of the female connector is provided so as to face each other with an interval in the width direction of the connector body,
When the male connector and the female connector are fitted together, each male terminal is inserted between each female terminal, and each male terminal contacts the female terminal in the width direction of the connector body. A connector characterized by being elastically deformed. The connector according to claim 1, wherein each male terminal and each female terminal are formed to be slidable in a connector fitting direction while being in contact with each other. The board connection part connected to a board | substrate is provided in each said male side terminal, respectively, The board | substrate connection part of each male side terminal is mutually arranged in the front-back direction of the connector main body, The arrangement | positioning is characterized by the above-mentioned. connector. A board connecting portion connected to the board is provided on each female terminal, and the board connecting portions of the female terminals are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction of the connector body. The connector described. The connector according to claim 3 or 4, wherein each of the board connecting portions is disposed on a surface of the connector main body facing the board.

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