JP6971269B2 - Movable connector - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a connector in which an object to be connected is inserted and fitted and connected.

As the miniaturization of electrical equipment progresses, the miniaturization of connectors is also required. However, as the size of the connector becomes smaller, the opening area of the insertion port for inserting the object to be connected into the fitting chamber of the housing becomes smaller, which makes the fitting work more difficult. For example, as the size of a connector for board-to-board connection as shown in Patent Document 1 becomes smaller, the fitting work becomes more difficult.

JP 2016-129148, FIG. 1

That is, to explain the socket connector and the plug connector that form the connector for board-to-board connection as an example, the fitting work in which the plug connector is positioned opposite to the socket connector and the plug connector is inserted into the insertion port of the socket connector is performed. Since the socket connector and the plug connector are hidden by the pair of boards, both connectors must be invisible. This is because those connectors are located between the boards and cannot be seen. Therefore, it is difficult to align the socket connector and the plug connector in the conventional connector for board-to-board connection, which makes the work inefficient. It may be damaged.

It should be noted that such difficulty in fitting work is not a problem peculiar to the connector for board-to-board connection, but is common to connectors that perform fitting work by inserting an object to be connected into the fitting chamber from the insertion port of the housing. It is an issue. This is because the smaller the opening area of the insertion slot due to the miniaturization of the connector, the more difficult it is to align the object to be connected with respect to the insertion slot even if the fitting work is performed in a visible state.

The present invention has been made against the background of the above-mentioned prior art. The purpose is to facilitate the fitting work even if the connector is miniaturized.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured to have the following features.

That is, the present invention has a housing having an insertion port for inserting an object to be connected with the direction toward the surface of the substrate as the insertion direction, and a fitting chamber for inserting the object to be connected from the insertion port, and the fitting chamber. For a connector comprising a terminal for conducting conduction connection with the object to be connected inside the housing, the housing has an insertion guide surface for guiding the insertion of the object to be connected into the insertion port, and the insertion guide surface is the insertion surface. It has an inner guide surface from the rim of the mouth toward the inside of the fitting chamber, an intermediate guide surface provided on the outside of the inner guide surface, and an outer guide surface provided on the outside of the intermediate guide surface. It is characterized in that the shapes of the inner guide surface and the intermediate guide surface are different, and the shapes of the intermediate guide surface and the outer guide surface are different.

Since the connector of the present invention has an insertion guide surface that guides the insertion of the connection object into the insertion port, even if the insertion position of the connection object with respect to the insertion port is deviated, the insertion guide surface eliminates the misalignment while connecting. The object can be guided to the insertion slot, which allows the connected object to be correctly inserted from the insertion slot into the fitting chamber.

Specifically, the insertion guide surface is provided on the inner guide surface toward the inside of the fitting chamber from the mouth edge of the insertion port, the intermediate guide surface provided on the outside of the inner guide surface, and the outside of the intermediate guide surface. It can be configured to have an outer guide surface. The inner guide surface and the intermediate guide surface may have different shapes from each other, and the intermediate guide surface and the outer guide surface may have different shapes from each other. According to this, since the shapes of two consecutive surfaces are different, when the object to be connected is placed and moved on the insertion guide surface, the operator moves from one surface having a different shape to the other surface. Can guide the connection object to the insertion slot while grasping the change in the posture of the connection object with the feeling at hand. Further, since the insertion guide surface has not only the inner guide surface provided on the mouth edge of the insertion port, but also the intermediate guide surface located on the outside of the inner guide surface, and the outer guide surface on the outside of the intermediate guide surface, the housing. It is possible to induce the insertion of a connection object in a wide range around the insertion port. Therefore, with the connector of the present invention, even if the entire connector is miniaturized, the fitting work of the object to be connected can be easily performed.

The shape of the inner guide surface and the shape of the intermediate guide surface are different, and the shape of the intermediate guide surface and the shape of the outer guide surface are different. When the "shape" is different, and when the "angle" of each surface with respect to the reference line orthogonal to the insertion direction of the object to be connected and the "angle" of each surface with respect to the reference line parallel to the mounting surface of the substrate are different. include. Therefore, the inner guide surface, the intermediate guide surface, and the outer guide surface can be configured as an inclined surface or a horizontal surface having a different angle with respect to the reference line, and a flat surface or a curved surface (convex shape) having a different surface shape. It can be configured as a curved surface (a curved surface, a concave curved surface), a stepped surface, or the like.

In the present invention, the shape of the inner guide surface, the shape of the intermediate guide surface, and the shape of the outer guide surface can all be different from each other.

According to the present invention, since the shapes of the inner guide surface, the intermediate guide surface, and the outer guide surface are all different, the posture of the object to be connected in contact with each surface can be different depending on the difference in the shape. Therefore, the connection object can be guided to the insertion port while grasping the change in the posture of the connection object caused by moving the connection object between the outer guide surface and the insertion port.

In the present invention, the difference between the shape of the inner guide surface and the shape of the intermediate guide surface and the difference between the shape of the intermediate guide surface and the shape of the outer guide surface are orthogonal to the insertion direction. It can be configured to be an angle with respect to the reference line.

According to the present invention, the difference in the shape between the inner guide surface and the intermediate guide surface is the angle with respect to the reference line, and the difference in the shape between the intermediate guide surface and the outer guide surface is the angle with respect to the reference line. The change in the posture of the connected object can be easily grasped by the difference in the surface angle.

In the present invention, the angle of the intermediate guide surface can be configured to be smaller than the angle of the inner guide surface and the angle of the outer guide surface.

For example, if the angle of the intermediate guide surface is larger than the angle of the outer guide surface, the posture of the connection object is greatly tilted when the connection object is moved from the outer guide surface to the intermediate guide surface, and the insertion port is inserted. As it gets closer, the posture cannot be gradually corrected, and it becomes difficult to smoothly guide the connection object to the insertion slot. Further, if the angle of the intermediate guide surface is larger than the angle of the inner guide surface, a dent having an obtuse internal angle is formed at the boundary between the intermediate guide surface and the inner guide surface, and when the object to be connected moves there. It gets caught and it becomes difficult to smoothly guide the object to be connected to the insertion slot. On the other hand, according to the present invention, since the angle of the outer guide surface is larger than the angle of the intermediate guide surface, the connection object can be easily guided to the inside closer to the insertion port than the outer guide surface. .. Further, since the angle of the inner guide surface is larger than the angle of the intermediate guide surface, the object to be connected can be smoothly guided from the intermediate guide surface to the inner guide surface directly connected to the insertion port. Therefore, according to the connector of the present invention, the object to be connected can be smoothly guided from the outer guide surface to the insertion slot.

In the present invention, the intermediate guide surface can be configured to be a flat surface parallel to the substrate.

According to the present invention, since the intermediate guide surface is a flat surface parallel to the substrate, the horizontal direction parallel to the substrate is compared with the case where the intermediate guide surface is an inclined surface inclined with respect to the reference line parallel to the substrate. The movable distance of the connecting object can be increased, and the allowable range (induction region) of the displacement of the position of the connecting object with respect to the insertion port on the intermediate guide surface can be widened. Further, since the intermediate guide surface is a flat surface parallel to the substrate surface, it is possible to correct the object to be connected to a posture without inclination and then smoothly guide the object to the insertion port in the correct posture. Further, for example, when the intermediate guide surface is an inclined surface inclined with respect to the substrate, the height of the intermediate guide surface is generated, so that the housing also becomes large in the height direction. However, in the present invention, since the intermediate guide surface is parallel to the substrate and the height from the substrate is constant, it is possible to suppress the increase in size of the housing in the height direction. The "flat surface parallel to the substrate" in the present invention means "along the reference line orthogonal to the insertion direction" when the substrate surface and the reference line orthogonal to the insertion direction of the object to be connected are parallel. It can be grasped as a "flat surface".

In the present invention, the outer guide surface and the inner guide surface are formed as inclined surfaces having different angles, and the angle of the outer guide surface can be smaller than the angle of the inner guide surface. ..

For example, when the outer guide surface is an inclined surface and the horizontal movement distance of the object to be connected from the outer edge to the inner edge (boundary side with the intermediate guide surface) of the outer guide surface is set to a certain length, the outer guide surface is used. The larger the angle of the surface, the higher the outer edge side with respect to the inner edge side of the outer guide surface, and the larger the housing in the height direction. On the other hand, according to the present invention, since the angle of the outer guide surface is smaller than the angle of the inner guide surface, the movement distance of the object to be connected is secured from the outer edge side to the inner edge side of the outer guide surface. The outer guide surface can prevent the housing from becoming larger in the height direction. Further, according to the present invention, since the angle of the outer guide surface is smaller than the angle of the inner guide surface, the connection object is first roughly moved to the insertion port side by moving it on the outer guide surface having a gentle inclination. After guiding to, the connecting object can be quickly inserted from the insertion port into the fitting chamber on the inner guiding surface having a larger inclination angle than the outer guiding surface.

In the present invention, the housing can be configured to have a peripheral wall and a protrusion outwardly protruding from the peripheral wall, and the outer guide surface is provided on the upper surface of the protrusion.

For example, if an outer guide surface is formed on the upper end surface of the peripheral wall, the outer guide surface must be formed by increasing the thickness of the peripheral wall along the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the object to be connected. It will be large. However, in the present invention, since the outer guide surface is provided on the upper surface of the protruding portion protruding from the peripheral wall, the outer guide surface can be expanded in the direction away from the insertion port without increasing the thickness of the peripheral wall, and the position of the object to be connected can be obtained. The allowable range of deviation can be widened.

The present invention can be configured to have the intermediate guide surface on the upper surface of the peripheral wall.

Generally, the upper surface of the peripheral wall constituting the housing of the connector does not have a special function, but according to the present invention, the upper surface of the peripheral wall can be effectively used as an intermediate guide surface, so that the thickness of the peripheral wall is increased. An intermediate guide surface can be provided without depending on the size of the housing, such as providing a protrusion from the peripheral wall.

The present invention further comprises a fixed housing fixed to the substrate, the housing is a movable housing that is movable with respect to the fixed housing, and the terminals are a fixing portion to the fixed housing and the above. It can be configured to have a fixing portion for the movable housing and a spring portion that movably supports the movable housing with respect to the fixed housing.

In the conventional technology connector (floating connector) which has a fixed housing and a movable housing and supports the movable housing movably with respect to the fixed housing by a spring part of the terminal, the object to be connected is connected to the insertion port of the movable housing. In the case of misalignment, the movable housing cannot be moved due to the elastic deformation of the spring portion of the terminal to absorb the misalignment of the object to be connected unless the object to be connected is inserted into the insertion port. That is, until the object to be connected enters the insertion slot, the object to be connected must be guided to the insertion port without relying on the movement (displacement) of the movable housing by the spring portion. Therefore, the insertion port of the movable housing is provided with an guided inclined surface leading to the fitting chamber at the mouth edge thereof, but the object to be connected cannot be guided to the induced inclined surface. Therefore, the smaller the size of the connector, the more difficult it is to align the object to be connected with the insertion port, the more inefficient the fitting work is, and the more the spring part may be plastically deformed if the fitting work is forcibly performed. be. On the other hand, according to the present invention, since the connection object can be easily guided to the insertion port of the movable housing by the insertion guide surface, the alignment of the connection object with respect to the insertion port can be easily performed even if the connector is miniaturized. It can be performed, and the fitting work can be performed efficiently.

In the present invention, the spring portion is located between the movable housing and the fixed housing, and the protruding portion can be configured to cover the upper part of the spring portion.

According to the present invention, since the protruding portion covers the upper part of the spring portion arranged between the movable housing and the fixed housing, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from coming into contact with the spring portion and protect the spring portion. Can be done.

In the present invention, the movable housing has a groove-shaped terminal accommodating portion communicating with the fitting chamber, and the terminal accommodating portion has a bottom wall forming the groove-shaped bottom surface, and the bottom surface thereof. The bottom surface of the wall has a shape in which the groove depth of the terminal accommodating portion from the fitting chamber is inclined so as to be deeper on the insertion port side than on the inner side of the fitting chamber, and the bottom surface wall and the said bottom surface. It can be configured to have a retracting space portion between the fitting chambers to avoid contact with the contact portion of the terminal.

For example, when the bottom wall of the groove-shaped terminal accommodating portion is formed along the vertical direction, the contact portion of the terminal displaced inside the terminal accommodating portion due to the pressing contact of the object to be connected is with respect to the bottom wall. The entire bottom surface of the bottom wall must be formed as deep as possible away from the fitting chamber so that it does not come into contact, which causes the movable housing to increase in size in the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the object to be connected. On the other hand, according to the present invention, since the bottom surface of the bottom wall of the terminal accommodating portion is inclined and the evacuation space portion is formed between the bottom surface wall and the fitting chamber, it is movable as described above. It is possible to prevent the contact portion of the terminal from coming into contact with the bottom wall without increasing the size of the housing.

In the present invention, the outer surface of the bottom wall has an outer inclined surface that inclines outward from the substrate side, and the spring portion has an inclined piece portion that extends along the outer inclined surface. Can be configured as follows.

As the spring portion provided at the terminal of the floating connector, for example, an inverted U-shaped spring portion having a pair of vertical pieces extending in parallel along the vertical direction and an arc-shaped bent portion connecting the ends of the vertical pieces is provided. Are known. If the spring length of the spring portion is short, the spring becomes stiff and it becomes difficult to flexibly support the movable housing. Therefore, if a pair of vertical pieces are extended as they are along the length direction to lengthen the spring length, there is a problem that the connector becomes large especially in the height direction. On the other hand, according to the present invention, since the spring portion has an inclined piece portion that extends diagonally along the inclined surface of the outer surface of the bottom wall of the movable housing, the spring length does not extend in the height direction. Can be lengthened and the movable housing can be flexibly supported.

The present invention further includes a fixing bracket for fixing the fixing housing to the substrate, and the fixing bracket can be configured to have at least a mounting portion of a protective cap that covers the insertion slot.

For example, if the fixing cap itself is provided with the mounting portion of the protective cap, the size of the fixed housing may be increased, and the mounting portion of the fixed housing may be damaged by the attachment / detachment of the protective cap. On the other hand, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to provide a mounting portion on the fixed housing, and since the fixing bracket is a rigid metal body, the protective cap can be securely mounted and even if the protective cap is attached or detached. The fixing bracket will not be damaged.

In the present invention, the movable housing has a displacement regulating protrusion protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface, and the fixing bracket abuts on the displacement regulating protrusion to provide a contact portion for stopping the movement of the movable housing. Can be configured to have.

According to the present invention, since the fixing bracket is provided with a contact portion for restricting the movement of the movable housing, it is not necessary to provide such a contact portion on the fixed housing, and the fixing bracket can be effectively used for displacement regulation of the movable housing.

The present invention can be further configured to include the protective cap to be attached to the fixing bracket.

According to the present invention, since the protective cap is provided, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering and adhering to the fitting chamber or damaging the terminals during transportation or mounting.

Further, another invention that achieves the above object is configured to have the following features.

That is, the present invention has a movable housing having a fitting chamber for inserting an object to be connected, a frame-shaped fixed housing having a storage chamber for arranging the movable housing, and the movable housing can be moved with respect to the fixed housing. For a connector comprising a terminal having a spring portion to support the movable housing, the movable housing has a protrusion that projects outward so as to cover at least a part of the upper surface of the fixed housing, and the protrusion is the fixing. It has an inclined surface that descends from a position covering the upper surface of the housing toward the fitting chamber side and guides the movement of the connecting object toward the fitting chamber side.

The inclined surface is formed so as to straddle the inner edge of the accommodation chamber into which the movable housing is inserted. Further, the inclined surface is formed as an insertion guide surface for guiding the insertion of the connection object into the fitting chamber. Further, the spring portion is located between the movable housing and the fixed housing, and the protruding portion has a shape that covers the upper part of the spring portion.

According to the present invention, the insertion guide surface can eliminate the deviation of the insertion position of the object to be connected, and the fitting work of the object to be connected can be easily performed, so that the connector can be miniaturized.

External perspective view including the front surface, the right side surface, and the flat surface of the socket connector according to the embodiment. The plane of the socket connector in FIG. Front view of the socket connector of FIG. The right side view of the socket connector of FIG. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 2 of the socket connector of FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 3 for the socket connector of FIG. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view including a front surface, a right side surface, and a flat surface of a plug connector fitted with the socket connector of FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a fitting process of the socket connector of FIG. 1 and the plug connector of FIG. 7. The explanatory view which shows the operation of the insertion guide surface of the socket connector of FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 5 showing a state in which a protective cap is attached to the socket connector of FIG.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the connector of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments show an example in which the connector of the present invention is applied to a socket connector 1 which is a board-to-board connection connector and has a floating function, but the connector of the present invention is not limited thereto.

The terms "first" and "second" described in the present specification and claims are used to distinguish different components of an invention or an embodiment, and indicate a specific order or superiority or inferiority. Not used for. Further, in the scope of the present specification and patent claims, for convenience of explanation, the width direction / horizontal direction of the socket connector 1 will be described as the X direction, the depth direction / front-rear direction will be described as the Y direction, and the height direction / vertical direction will be described as the Z direction. , They do not limit the mounting method and the usage method of the socket connector 1.

Socket connector 1

The socket connector 1 is fitted and connected to the plug connector 2 which is the “object to be connected”, so that the circuit of the first board P1 on which the socket connector 1 is mounted and the circuit of the second board P2 on which the plug connector 2 is mounted are mounted. And are electrically connected (Fig. 8). That is, both the socket connector 1 and the plug connector 2 function as a board-to-board connection connector.

The socket connector 1 includes a housing 3, a plurality of terminals 4, and a fixing bracket 5. The housing 3 is composed of a fixed housing 6 mounted on the first substrate P1 and a movable housing 7 movably supported by the terminal 4 with respect to the fixed housing 6. That is, the socket connector 1 is configured as a floating connector in which the movable housing 7 can move in the three-dimensional direction in which the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction are combined with respect to the fixed housing 6.

Fixed housing 6
The fixed housing 6 is formed by a frame-shaped peripheral wall 8. The peripheral wall 8 has a pair of first side walls 8a extending along the terminal arrangement direction (X direction) of a plurality of terminals 4 arranged in parallel with the socket connector 1 and facing ends of the pair of first side walls 8a. It has a pair of second side walls 8b extending so as to connect between them. A storage chamber 8c of the movable housing 7 is formed inside the peripheral wall 8 (FIGS. 5 and 6).

Each of the pair of first side walls 8a is formed with a plurality of terminal fixing portions 8a1 extending along the height direction Z of the fixed housing 6 and arranged in parallel along the terminal arrangement direction (X direction). (Figs. 1 and 6). One end side of the terminal 4 is press-fitted into each terminal fixing portion 8a1, whereby one end side of the terminal 4 is fixed to the fixed housing 6. On the inner surface of the first side wall 8a, an inner inclined surface 8a2 that is inclined from the upper end of the terminal fixing portion 8a1 to the upper end of the first side wall 8a is formed. By forming the inner inclined surface 8a2, a contact escape portion 8a3 formed as a gap space is formed between the inner inclined surface 8a2 and the spring portion 4c of the terminal 4 described later, and the spring portion 4c is formed by the first side wall 8a. The amount of displacement of the spring is not hindered.

Each of the pair of second side walls 8b is formed with recesses 8b1 for arranging the displacement regulating projections 9b1 of the movable housing 7, which will be described later (FIGS. 1, 4, and 5). Further, a fixing portion 8b2 for fixing the fixing metal fitting 5 by press fitting is formed on the second side wall 8b, whereby the fixing housing 6 is firmly held by the fixing metal fitting 5 (FIG. 4).

Movable housing 7
The movable housing 7 has a frame-shaped peripheral wall 9. The peripheral wall 9 is a pair extending so as to connect between a pair of first side walls 9a extending along the terminal arrangement direction (X direction) of the plurality of terminals 4 and opposite ends of the pair of first side walls 9a. It has a second side wall 9b of the above (FIGS. 5 and 6). A fitting chamber 9c of the plug connector 2 is formed inside the peripheral wall 9 (FIG. 1), and the opening of the fitting chamber 9c is an insertion port 9c1 of the plug connector 2.

Each of the pair of first side walls 9a has a function as a terminal accommodating wall in the movable housing 7, and is formed symmetrically with respect to a center line along the longitudinal direction of the movable housing 7. On the first side wall 9a, a plurality of terminal fixing portions 9a1 for press-fitting and fixing the movable housing fixing portion 4d of the terminal 4 described later in the plate width direction (X direction), and a plurality of terminals communicating with the fitting chamber 9c. The holding grooves 9a2 are formed side by side in the terminal arrangement direction X.

The terminal holding groove 9a2 as the "terminal accommodating portion" includes a pair of facing side walls 9a3, a bottom wall 9a4 connecting the pair of side walls 9a3 at a position opposite to the fitting chamber 9c side, and a terminal 4 described later. An opening 9a5 that allows the contact portion 4f of the above to move between the fitting chamber 9c and the terminal holding groove 9a2, and a slit-shaped substrate-side opening 9a6 that faces the first substrate P1 are formed.

The bottom wall 9a4 has a lower vertical surface 9a7 extending in the vertical direction, an inner inclined surface 9a8 inclined so that the separation distance from the fitting chamber 9c gradually increases in the height direction Z, and a height higher than the inner inclined surface 9a8. It is formed by an upper vertical surface 9a9 extending in the radial direction Z. The inner inclined surface 9a8 is inclined in the displacement direction of the contact portion 4f so that the contact portion 4f of the terminal 4 displaced toward the bottom wall 9a4 due to the pressing contact of the plug connector 2 does not come into contact with the bottom wall 9a4. It is formed to do. The space between the bottom wall 9a4 having the inner inclined surface 9a8 and the fitting chamber 9c is a retractable space portion 9a10 for avoiding contact with the contact portion 4f. An outer inclined surface 9a11 is formed on the outer surface portion of the movable housing 7 corresponding to the portion of the inner inclined surface 9a8 of the bottom wall 9a4, and its technical significance will be described later.

The pair of second side walls 9b are formed with displacement regulating protrusions 9b1 to be inserted into the recesses 8b1 of the fixed housing 6 described above. The displacement regulating protrusion 9b1 is formed as a columnar protrusion protruding laterally of the second side wall 9b. An insertion groove 9b2 for a fixing bracket is formed on the displacement regulating protrusion 9b1 (FIG. 5). The displacement regulating protrusion 9b1 can abut against the recess 8b1 in the downward direction in the Y direction and the Z direction, and faces the lateral piece portion 5c as the "contact portion" of the fixing bracket 5 described later in the upward direction in the Z direction. Since it is possible to make contact with the movable housing 7, excessive displacement of the movable housing 7 is restricted by contact with the facing portions in each of these directions.

Insertion guide surface 10
The movable housing 7 is formed with an insertion guide surface 10. Specifically, the insertion guide surface 10 is formed on the upper surface of the peripheral wall 9 and the protruding portion 9e protruding outward from the upper end of the outer peripheral surface 9d of the peripheral wall 9 in an outward flange shape. The insertion guide surface 10 of the present embodiment is composed of an inner guide surface 10a, an intermediate guide surface 10b, and an outer guide surface 10c. The insertion guide surface 10 composed of these plurality of surfaces 10a, 10b, and 10c is a continuous surface extending in a crossing direction with respect to the insertion direction (Z direction) of the plug connector 2 to be connected to the fitting chamber 9c. Is formed as. The insertion guide surface 10 is formed not only on the inner guide surface 10a leading to the fitting chamber 9c but also on the outer periphery thereof as a surface in which the intermediate guide surface 10b and the outer guide surface 10c are further continuous, so that the area around the insertion port 9c1 is wide. The insertion of the plug connector 2 can be guided within the range, and the fitting work can be easily performed.

The inner guide surface 10a, the intermediate guide surface 10b, and the outer guide surface 10c are relative to a line (reference line L (FIG. 6)) orthogonal to the insertion direction (Z direction) of the plug connector 2 into the fitting chamber 9c. They are formed so that the angles they form are all different. In other words, it is formed so that the angle formed with respect to the line (reference line L) parallel to the surface (mounting surface) of the first substrate P1 on which the socket connector 1 is mounted is different. In this embodiment, these "reference lines L" are the same as the horizontal lines.

The inner guide surface 10a is formed on the upper surface of the peripheral wall 9. Specifically, it is formed at the mouth edge of the insertion port 9c1 of the fitting chamber 9c. The inner guide surface 10a includes a pair of longitudinal inner guide surfaces 10a1 along the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the socket connector 1 and a pair of short inner guide surfaces 10a2 along the lateral direction (Y direction) of the socket connector 1. Have. The angle θ1 (FIG. 6) in which the inner guide surface 10a is inclined with respect to the reference line L is an intermediate portion because the inner guide surface 10a is a portion where the plug connector 2 is dropped from the insertion port 9c1 into the fitting chamber 9c to guide the plug connector 2. The angle (0 degree) of the guide surface 10b with respect to the reference line L is formed to be larger than the angle θ2 of the outer guide surface 10c. Since the inner guide surface 10a is an acute-angled steep slope, the moving distances in the X and Y directions are short, so that the plug connector 2 can be smoothly dropped into the fitting chamber 9c. Further, the inner guide surface 10a is formed as a flat surface, and the inclination is not slow or slow as compared with the case where the inner guide surface 10a is formed as a curved surface. Therefore, the plug connector 2 can be smoothly moved to the fitting chamber 9c along a certain inclined surface.

The intermediate guide surface 10b is formed on the upper surface of the peripheral wall 9. Specifically, it is formed as a surface that bends and extends from the upper edge of the inner guide surface 10a. The intermediate guide surface 10b has a longitudinal intermediate guide surface 10b1 along the longitudinal direction of the socket connector 1 and a minor intermediate guide surface 10b2 along the lateral direction of the socket connector 1. The angle formed by the intermediate guide surface 10b with respect to the reference line L is 0 degrees, and the angle is smaller than that of the inner guide surface 10a and the outer guide surface 10c. Since the angle with respect to the reference line L is 0 degrees, the intermediate guide surface 10b is formed as a horizontal plane without inclination. Since the intermediate guide surface 10b is a horizontal plane, the plug connector 2 placed here has a posture without inclination with respect to the reference line L. The non-tilted posture of the plug connector 2 and the second board P2 on which the plug connector 2 is mounted can be easily grasped as a feeling at hand of the operator performing the fitting work. Then, by moving the second board P2 (plug connector 2) from a non-tilted posture, if a feeling that the plug connector 2 rides on the inclined surface is obtained, the plug connector 2 is moved to the outer guide surface 10c on the opposite side of the insertion port 9c1. You can grasp what you are doing with the feeling at hand, and you can understand that the direction of movement should be corrected in the opposite direction. On the other hand, if the second board P2 is moved from a non-tilted posture and the plug connector 2 is tilted diagonally or is depressed without tilting, it is handy to move it toward the inner guide surface 10a. It can be grasped with the feeling of, and it can be seen that it can be inserted into the fitting chamber 9c.

The outer guide surface 10c is formed on the upper surface of the peripheral wall 9 and the upper surface of the protruding portion 9e protruding from the peripheral wall 9. Specifically, the outer guide surface 10c has a longitudinal outer guide surface 10c1 along the longitudinal direction of the socket connector 1 and a minor outer guide surface 10c2 along the lateral direction of the socket connector 1. The lateral guide surface 10c2 on the short side has the shape of an inclined surface that descends toward the fitting chamber 9c and is formed on the upper surface of the protrusion 9e, and the longitudinal outer guide surface 10c1 is the peripheral wall 9 inside the protrusion 9e. It is formed on the upper surface of the. Both the longitudinal outer guide surface 10c1 and the lateral guide surface 10c2 are formed as surfaces that bend and extend from the outer edge of the intermediate guide surface 10b. The angle θ2 (FIG. 6) formed by the outer guide surface 10c with respect to the reference line L is larger than the angle (0 degree) of the intermediate guide surface 10b with respect to the reference line L and smaller than the angle θ1 of the inner guide surface 10a. That is, the outer guide surface 10c is formed as a gentler slope than the inner guide surface 10a. Therefore, the plug connector 2 placed here can be guided to the adjacent intermediate guide surface 10b having no inclination by moving the plug connector 2 along the outer guide surface 10c in a tilted posture.

The inner guide surface 10a, the intermediate guide surface 10b, and the outer guide surface 10c all have different angles with respect to the reference line L as described above. Therefore, if the plug connector 2 is placed on the socket connector 1 (movable housing 7), the operator can grasp the approximate position of the plug connector 2 by the posture of the second board P2 on which the plug connector 2 is mounted. can do. The mode in which the plug connector 2 contacts the insertion guide surface 10 is, for example, when it contacts only the outer guide surface 10c, when it contacts the outer guide surface 10c and the intermediate guide surface 10b, or when it contacts only the intermediate guide surface 10b. There are various cases where the plug connector 2 abuts only on the inner guide surface 10a, but the posture taken by the plug connector 2 is different in each case. Therefore, by moving the second substrate P2 in various directions (X direction, Y direction) along the reference line L from the position where the plug connector 2 first contacts the insertion guide surface 10, the above-mentioned intermediate guide surface 10b By obtaining the horizontal posture in the above position and moving the second board P2 so as to drop it through the inner guide surface 10a, even if the socket connector 1 and the plug connector 2 cannot be seen directly, they can be correctly moved through the feeling at hand. Can be fitted.

The insertion guide surface 10 as described above is formed in a frame shape along the upper surface shape of the movable housing 7, and is formed in a square frame shape in the present embodiment. Therefore, even if the plug connector 2 is displaced in any direction of the radial direction (X direction and Y direction) with respect to the insertion port 9c1, it can be brought into contact with the insertion guide surface 10, so that the plug connector 2 can be reliably inserted. It can be guided to the insertion slot 9c1.

Terminal 4
The plurality of terminals 4 are all formed in the same shape, and are formed by bending a conductive metal piece. Each terminal 4 extends in an inverted U shape with a substrate connecting portion 4a soldered to the first substrate P1 and a fixed housing fixing portion 4b fixed to the terminal fixing portion 8a1 of the fixed housing 6 by press fitting. A spring portion 4c, a movable housing fixing portion 4d fixed by press fitting in the plate width direction (X direction) to the terminal fixing portion 9a1 of the movable housing 7, an elastic arm 4e extending in a U shape, and an elastic arm 4e. It has a contact portion 4f that bends in a mountain shape from the upper end toward the fitting chamber 9c.

The spring portion 4c is a spring that supports the movable housing 7 in a three-dimensional direction that is a combination of the width direction (X direction), the depth direction (Y direction), and the height direction (Z direction) with respect to the fixed housing 6. It is formed. The spring portion 4c has an outer extension portion 4c1 connected to the fixed housing fixing portion 4b, a bent portion 4c2, and an inner inclined piece portion 4c3.

The outer extension portion 4c1 faces the contact escape portion 8a3 formed on the inner inclined surface 8a2 of the first side wall 8a of the fixed housing 6, and even if the movable housing 7 elastically deforms outward in the Y direction, the movable housing 7 may be elastically deformed outward. It is designed so as not to come into contact with the inner inclined surface 8a2. Further, half of the curved portion of the bent portion 4c2 on the movable housing 7 side is covered by the protruding portion 9e of the movable housing 7 and is protected from contact with foreign matter (conductor, dust, etc.) from the outside. The inner inclined piece portion 4c3 is inclined and extends along the outer inclined surface 9a11 of the movable housing 7 through a certain gap. Therefore, even if the movable housing 7 is elastically deformed outward in the Y direction, the inner inclined piece portion 4c3 does not come into contact with the outer inclined surface 9a11 and does not hinder the natural elastic deformation of the spring portion 4c.

The elastic arm 4e has a U-shaped lower bent portion 4e1 and an extended portion 4e2 extending upward from the lower bent portion 4e1. The extension portion 4e2 is arranged inside the terminal holding groove 9a2 of the movable housing 7. The upper side of the extension portion 4e2 is adjacent to the evacuation space portion 9a10. Therefore, even if the contact portion 4f comes into pressure contact with the plug connector 2 and enters the inside of the terminal holding groove 9a2, the extension portion 4e2 is only displaced toward the evacuation space portion 9a10 and comes into contact with the bottom surface of the bottom wall 9a4. There is no such thing. As a result, the contact portion 4f can be in pressure contact with the plug connector 2 by the contact pressure based on the spring structure of the elastic arm 4e and the contact portion 4f.

Fixing bracket 5
The fixing bracket 5 is provided on each of the pair of second side walls 8b of the fixing housing 6. Each fixing bracket 5 has a substrate fixing portion 5a, a press-fitting portion 5b to be press-fitted and fixed to the fixing portion 8b2 of the second side wall 8b, and a horizontal piece extending along the length direction (Y direction) of the second side wall 8b. It has a portion 5c.

The horizontal piece portion 5c is inserted into the fixing metal fitting insertion groove 9b2 of the movable housing 7 through a gap. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the locking piece 11a of the protective cap 11 is locked to the horizontal piece portion 5c. That is, the horizontal piece portion 5c functions as a "mounting portion" of the protective cap 11. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a "mounting portion" on the fixed housing 6, and since the fixing bracket 5 is a rigid metal body, the protective cap 11 can be securely mounted, and even if the protective cap 11 is attached or detached, the fixing bracket 11 can be securely attached. 5 is not damaged. When the socket connector 1 is provided with the protective cap 11, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering and adhering to the fitting chamber 9c or damaging the terminal 4 during transportation or mounting. Further, the protective cap 11 can be used as a suction point when the socket connector 1 is transferred by an automatic machine at the time of mounting on the first substrate P1.

Further, the lateral piece portion 5c is positioned so as to face the displacement regulating projection 9b1 of the movable housing 7, and is a “contact portion” that stops the movable housing 7 from being excessively displaced upward in the height direction (Z direction). Functions as. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a "contact portion" on the fixed housing 6, and the fixing bracket 5 can be effectively used for displacement regulation of the movable housing 7.

Mating connection between the socket connector 1 and the plug connector 2 Next, the fitting connection between the socket connector 1 and the plug connector 2 having the connector structure as described above will be described.

First, the connector structure of the plug connector 2 will be briefly described. The plug connector 2 is mounted on the second substrate P2 and has a housing 2a and a plurality of terminals 2b as shown in FIG. 7. The housing 2a has a plate-shaped fitting connection portion 2a1 to be inserted into the fitting chamber 9c, and is provided on one side surface and the other side surface along the longitudinal direction (Y direction) of the fitting connection portion 2a1. The terminal holding grooves 2a2 extending in the height direction (Z direction) of the housing 2a are formed in parallel along the width direction (Y direction). The contact portion 2b1 of the terminal 2b is arranged in each terminal holding groove 2a2.

When such a plug connector 2 is fitted and connected to the socket connector 1, as shown in FIG. 8, the second board P2 on which the plug connector 2 is mounted is turned inside out, and the plug connector 2 is connected to the socket connector 1. Place them in opposite positions. Then, by bringing the second substrate P2 closer to the first substrate P1, the plug connector 2 comes into contact with the socket connector 1. At this time, if the tip surface 2a3 of the housing 2a of the plug connector 2 is displaced and in contact with the guide region 10R of the insertion guide surface 10 including the insertion port 9c1, the plug connector 2 is inserted into the insertion port 9c1 by the insertion guide surface 10. Can be guided to. However, even if the tip surface 2a3 is detached from the insertion guide surface 10, the second substrate P2 may be moved in the X direction and the Y direction to be positioned in the guide region 10R of the insertion guide surface 10.

The most ideal position when the tip surface 2a3 comes into contact with the movable housing 7 is the inner position of the inner guide surface 10a in the X and Y directions, that is, the inner position of the insertion port 9c1. However, the socket connector 1 and the plug connector 2 for board-to-board connection tend to be miniaturized, and are sandwiched between the first board P1 and the second board P2, and the socket connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are sandwiched from the outside. It is extremely difficult for the operator to accurately align the position without seeing the connector. In many cases, the tip surface 2a3 not only shifts in the plane direction of the X direction and the Y direction, but also rotates around the axis in the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction, that is, the posture of the plug connector 2. Often tilted diagonally.

Here, FIG. 9 shows the contact position of the tip surface 2a3 with respect to the upper surface of the movable housing 7 by a two-dot chain line. For example, when the tip surface 2a3 comes into contact with the insertion guide surface 10 at the contact position C1, the tip surface 2a3 sequentially contacts the outer guide surface 10c and the intermediate guide surface 10b. This is the same regardless of whether the posture of the tip surface 2a3 at the time of contact is horizontal or inclined. This is because the posture of the tip surface 2a3 is corrected by the contact between the outer guide surface 10c and the intermediate guide surface 10b. Then, the tip surface 2a3 can slide on the inclined outer guide surface 10c and be guided to the contact position C2 whose entire surface is in contact with the intermediate guide surface 10b. When the tip surface 2a3 comes into contact with the intermediate guide surface 10b which is flat and horizontal, the plug connector 2 and the second substrate P2 are corrected to a posture without inclination, and the operator can know the change in the posture with a sense of hand. can. After that, when the second substrate P2 is moved in the X direction and the Y direction, the contact area of the tip surface 2a3 with the intermediate guide surface 10b decreases, while the area covering the insertion port 9c1 increases, the intermediate guide surface 10b Since the support balance is lost and a part or the entire surface of the tip surface 2a3 falls from the inner guide surface 10a to the inside of the insertion port 9c1, the entire fitting connection portion 2a1 can be inserted into the fitting chamber 9c. ..

Further, for example, when the tip surface 2a3 rotates around the axis in the Z direction and comes into contact with the insertion guide surface 10 at the contact position C3 shown in FIG. 9, the plug connector is also contacted at the contact position C1. 2 is induced. That is, when the tip surface 2a3 comes into contact with the outer guide surface 10c and the intermediate guide surface 10b, the tip surface 2a3 slides on the outer guide surface 10c and comes into contact with the intermediate guide surface 10b as shown by the contact position C4 to contact the plug connector 2. The second substrate P2 is corrected to a posture without inclination. In this state, when the second substrate P2 is moved in the X direction and the Y direction and moved to the position of the contact position C5, the support balance by the intermediate guide surface 10b is lost, and the front end surface 2a3 passes through the inner guide surface 10a. It falls into the insertion slot 9c1 so that the entire fitting connection portion 2a1 can be inserted into the fitting chamber 9c.

Action effect of socket connector 1 As described above, according to the socket connector 1, even if the insertion position of the plug connector 2 with respect to the insertion port 9c1 is deviated, the insertion guide surface 10 guides the plug connector 2 to the insertion port 9c1 while eliminating the misalignment. This allows the fitting connection portion 2a1 of the plug connector 2 to be correctly inserted from the insertion port 9c1 into the fitting chamber 9c. Therefore, since the fitting work can be easily performed in this way, the socket connector 1 and the plug connector 2 can be miniaturized. In addition to what has already been described, the socket connector 1 can exert the following effects.

The insertion guide surface 10 of the socket connector 1 has different angles with respect to the reference line L of the inner guide surface 10a, the intermediate guide surface 10b, and the outer guide surface 10c. Can be made.

Since the angle θ2 of the outer guide surface 10c with respect to the reference line L is larger than the angle (0 degree) of the horizontal and flat intermediate guide surface 10b with respect to the reference line L, the plug is inserted inside the insertion port 9c1 closer to the insertion port 9c1 than the outer guide surface 10c. The connector 2 can be easily guided. Further, since the angle θ1 of the inner guide surface 10a is larger than the angle (0 degree) of the intermediate guide surface 10b with respect to the reference line L, the plug connector 2 is directly connected to the insertion port 9c1 from the intermediate guide surface 10b to the inner guide surface 10a. It can be guided smoothly.

Since the intermediate guide surface 10b is a flat surface parallel to the first substrate P1, the movable distance of the plug connector 2 in the horizontal direction can be increased as compared with the case where the intermediate guide surface 10b is an inclined surface. It is possible to widen the allowable range (induction region) of the displacement of the position of the plug connector 2 on the intermediate induction surface 10b. Further, when the intermediate guide surface 10b is an inclined surface, height is generated between the inner edge side and the outer edge side of the intermediate guide surface 10b, so that the movable housing 7 becomes larger in the height direction (Z direction). However, in the above embodiment, since the intermediate guide surface 10b is a horizontal plane, it is possible to suppress the increase in size of the movable housing 7.

In the above embodiment, since the inclination angle θ2 of the outer guide surface 10c is smaller than the inclination angle θ1 of the inner guide surface 10a, the movement distance of the plug connector 2 is secured from the outer edge side to the inner edge side of the outer guide surface 10c. The outer guide surface 10c can prevent the movable housing 7 from becoming larger in the height direction (Z direction). Further, since the inclination angle θ2 of the outer guide surface 10c is smaller than the inclination angle θ1 of the inner guide surface 10a, the plug connector 2 is first roughly moved to the insertion port 9c1 side by moving it on the outer guide surface 10c having a gentle inclination. Then, the plug connector 2 can be quickly inserted from the insertion port 9c1 into the fitting chamber 9c through the inner guide surface 10a having a larger inclination angle than the outer guide surface 10c.

In the above embodiment, since the short outer guide surface 10c2 of the outer guide surface 10c is provided on the upper surface of the protrusion 9e, the outer guide surface 10c is expanded in the direction away from the insertion port 9c1 without increasing the thickness of the peripheral wall 9. This makes it possible to widen the allowable range of misalignment of the plug connector 2.

In the above embodiment, since the upper surface of the peripheral wall 9 has the intermediate guide surface 10b and the longitudinal outer guide surface 10c1, the upper surface of the peripheral wall 9 can be effectively utilized, and the large size of the movable housing 7 such that the thickness of the peripheral wall 9 is increased. The intermediate guide surface 10b can be provided without depending on the formation.

Modification Example Since the socket connector 1 according to the embodiment can be implemented according to the modification, an example thereof will be described.

In the above embodiment, the example in which the longitudinal outer guide surface 10c1 is provided on the upper surface of the peripheral wall 9 is shown, but it may be formed on the upper surface of the protruding portion 9e or may be formed over the upper surface of the protruding portion 9e and the upper surface of the peripheral wall 9. good. Further, in the above embodiment, although the example in which the short outer guide surface 10c2 is provided on the upper surface of the protruding portion 9e is shown, it may be formed over the upper surface of the peripheral wall 9. Further, in the above embodiment, an example in which the longitudinal outer guide surface 10c1 is formed shorter than the lateral guide surface 10c2 in the inclined direction is shown, but the same may be applied, and conversely, the lateral guide surface 10c2 may be shortened. ..

In the above embodiment, the example in which the intermediate guide surface 10b is provided on the upper surface of the peripheral wall 9 is shown, but it may be formed over the upper surface of the protrusion 9e.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the inclination angle θ2 of the outer guide surface 10c is made smaller than the inclination angle θ1 of the inner guide surface 10a is shown, but even if the inclination angle of the outer guide surface 10c is increased or the inclination angle is the same. good. Further, in the above embodiment, the example in which the intermediate guide surface 10b is a non-inclined surface is shown, but it may be formed as an inclined surface descending toward the inner guide surface 10a.

In the above embodiment, the inner guide surface 10a, the intermediate guide surface 10b, and the outer guide surface 10c are all formed as flat surfaces, but they may be formed as curved surfaces.

In the above embodiment, the example in which the socket connector 1 is a floating connector is shown, but the socket connector having no floating function may be provided with the same configuration as the insertion guide surface 10 of the movable housing 7.

1 Socket connector (connector)
2 Plug connector 2a Housing 2a1 Fitting connection part 2a2 Terminal holding groove 2a3 Tip surface 2b Terminal 2b1 Contact part 3 Housing 4 Terminal 4a Board fixing part 4b Fixed housing fixing part (fixing part)
4c Spring part 4c1 Outer extension part 4c2 Bending part 4c3 Inner inclined piece part (inclined piece part)
4d Movable housing fixing part (fixing part)
4e Elastic arm 4e1 Lower bending part 4e2 Extension part 4f Contact part 5 Fixing bracket 5a Board fixing part 5b Press-fitting part 5c Horizontal piece part (mounting part, contact part)
6 Fixed housing 7 Movable housing 8 Peripheral wall (fixed housing)
8a First side wall 8a1 Terminal fixing part 8a2 Inner inclined surface 8a3 Contact escape part 8b Second side wall 8b1 Recess 8b2 Fixed part 8c Storage chamber 9 Peripheral wall (movable housing)
9a First side wall 9a1 Terminal fixing part 9a2 Terminal holding groove (terminal accommodating part)
9a3 Side wall 9a4 Bottom wall 9a5 Opening 9a6 Board side opening 9a7 Lower vertical surface 9a8 Inner inclined surface 9a9 Upper vertical surface 9a10 Eaves space 9a11 Outer inclined surface 9b Second side wall 9b1 Displacement control protrusion 9b2 Insertion groove for fixing bracket 9c Joint room 9c1 Insertion port 9d Outer peripheral surface 9e Protruding part (eaves)
10 Insertion guide surface 10a Inner guide surface 10a1 Longer inner guide surface 10a2 Short inner guide surface 10b Intermediate guide surface 10b1 Longer intermediate guide surface 10b2 Short intermediate guide surface 10c Outer guide surface 10c1 Longer outer guide surface 10c2 Short outer guide surface 10R Guidance area 11 Protective cap 11a Locking piece L Reference line θ1, θ2 Angle P1 First board P2 Second board X Width direction, Left-right direction Y Depth direction, Front-back direction Z Height direction, Up-down direction

Claims (5)

A terminal having a contact part that is displaced by pressing contact with the object to be connected,
With a fixed housing
In a movable connector having a movable housing movably supported by the terminal with respect to the fixed housing.
The movable housing has a terminal fixing portion and has a terminal fixing portion.
The terminal is
The movable housing fixing part fixed to the terminal fixing part,
It has an elastic arm located between the movable housing fixing portion and the contact portion, and has an elastic arm.
The elastic arm has a U-shaped bent portion that extends from the movable housing fixing portion in the fitting direction of the connecting object and then folds back in the removing direction of the connecting object, and the fitting of the bent portion. A movable connector characterized in that it can be elastically deformed in an intersecting direction with respect to the fitting direction with a side extending in the mating direction as a fulcrum.
The movable connector according to claim 1, wherein the terminal has an extension portion extending along the removal direction of the connection object between the contact portion and the end portion of the bent portion folded back in the removal direction.
The movable housing fixing portion is located on the lower end side of the movable housing.
The movable connector according to claim 2, wherein the extended portion extends from the end portion of the bent portion folded back in the removal direction beyond the movable housing fixing portion in the removal direction.
The movable connector according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the extended portion extends obliquely from the end portion of the bent portion folded back in the removal direction in a direction away from the connection object.
It is further equipped with a fixing bracket for fixing the fixed housing to the board.
The movable connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fixing bracket has a mounting portion for mounting a protective cap forming a surface above the movable housing.

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