JP7312531B2 - Connection structure between imaging device and movable connector and external connection case - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus in which an imaging system connector and an external connection terminal of an external connection case are connected.

As an imaging device, for example, an in-vehicle camera as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. In this prior art, a plurality of straight pin-shaped connector terminals (11b) are provided so as to penetrate through a partition wall (rear wall B) of an external connection case (rear case 9). One end of the connector terminal is inserted so as to be conductively connected to a board-side connector mounted on a board having an imaging device (3a), and the other end is inserted so as to be conductively connected to a harness connector (mating connector 100) at the terminal of a harness (connection object) that outputs the signal of the imaging device (3a) to an external device.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-001334, FIGS. 1 and 2 Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-220431, FIGS. 1 and 14

Miniaturization of automobile electrical components is being pursued, and miniaturization of on-vehicle cameras and harnesses is also being pursued. However, as the harness connector is miniaturized together with the harness, it is necessary to narrow the pitch between the connector terminals (11b) connected to the harness connector. However, since the arrangement interval of the one end side of the connector terminal (11b) does not match the arrangement interval of the connection chamber of the board-side connector, the connector terminal (11b) abuts against the housing of the board-side connector and cannot be inserted into the connection chamber.

One solution to this problem is to reduce the size of the board-side connector in accordance with the arrangement interval of the connector terminals (11b) on the one end side. However, if the board-side connector is a movable connector (see Patent Document 2 as an example), there is a reason why the size cannot be reduced without changing the dimensions. That is, the movable connector includes a fixed housing mounted on a substrate, a movable housing displaceable in the three-dimensional directions of the X, Y, and Z directions with respect to the fixed housing, and a terminal having, for example, an inverted U-shaped movable spring that displaceably supports the movable housing. The advantage of the movable connector is that the movable housing is displaced by the movable spring at the time of mating connection with the object to be connected, so that the displacement of the object to be connected to be inserted can be absorbed, and the displacement of the movable spring can absorb the vibrations and impacts that occur when the electrical equipment is used. If the board-side connector configured as such a movable connector is made smaller in accordance with the narrower pitch of the connector terminals (11b), the arrangement interval between the adjacent connection chambers becomes narrower, and the spread in the XY directions of the mortar-shaped guide surfaces for guiding the connector terminals (11b) inserted into the respective connection chambers also becomes smaller, and the amount of guiding the connector terminals (11b) using the guide surfaces becomes smaller. As a result, the allowable length of the insertion position of the connector terminal is shortened with respect to the insertion axis of the connection chamber.

In particular, in the case of a movable connector, the amount of guidance by the guide surface becomes the amount of displacement of the movable spring in the XY directions. Therefore, if the size of the movable connector is reduced, the function of displacing the movable spring in the XY directions cannot be fully utilized, and the displacement of the movable spring that absorbs the accumulated positional deviation due to the assembly of the electrical equipment is also limited.

The present invention was conceived against the background of the prior art as described above. The objective is to provide an imaging apparatus that can increase the allowable amount of deviation of the insertion position of the external connection terminal with respect to the connector of the imaging system while miniaturizing the external connection terminal and the external connection case that holds the external connection terminal in accordance with the miniaturization of the external equipment.

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

The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging system connector having a connector terminal for transmitting an output signal generated by an imaging system; and a connector housing for holding the connector terminal; an external connection terminal electrically connected to the connector terminal to transmit the output signal to an external device; and an external connection case for holding the external connection terminal. on the outer edge of the top surface facing the connection chamber, when the external connection terminal is inserted into the connection chamber, the guide protrusion is passed from the top surface to the side surface of the connector housing, and the external connection terminal positioned outside the insertion opening of the connection chamber is positioned in the insertion opening of the connection chamber.

According to the present invention, the external connection case has guide projections projecting along the side surface of the connector housing. On the other hand, the connector housing has, on the outer edge of the top surface portion facing the external connection case, a fitting guide surface that deflects the guide projection from the top surface portion to the side surface of the connector housing when inserting the external connection terminal into the connection chamber of the connector housing. Therefore, when fitting and connecting the external connection case to the housing of the image pickup system to which the image pickup system connector is attached, the external connection terminal positioned outside the insertion opening of the connection chamber can be positioned in the insertion opening of the connection chamber. Therefore, even if the external connection terminal is largely misaligned with respect to the connection chamber in the direction crossing the insertion direction when the external connection case is fitted to the housing of the image pickup system, the misalignment can be corrected, and the external connection terminal and the connector terminal can be conductively connected at the correct position. That is, even if the image pickup device is miniaturized and, for example, the range of the insertion opening is formed smaller, it is possible to sufficiently ensure the deviation allowance (guiding amount) in the crossing direction of the external connection terminal electrically connected to the connector terminal.

In the present invention, in the insertion direction in which the external connection terminal is inserted into the connection chamber, the distance between the guide projection and the fitting guide surface before fitting is smaller than the distance between the external connection terminal and the top surface portion.

According to the present invention, the imaging device is configured so that the distance in the insertion direction between the guide protrusion and the fitting guide surface is smaller than the distance between the external connection terminal and the top surface portion before fitting the external connection case to the housing of the imaging system. Therefore, when fitting the external connection case to the housing of the image pickup system, the guide protrusion can be brought into contact with the fitting guide surface before the external connection terminal and the top surface portion come into contact. Therefore, the misalignment between the external connection terminal and the connection chamber in the intersecting direction can be corrected more reliably, and the external connection terminal and the connector terminal can be conductively connected at the correct position. At that time, since the guide protrusion and the fitting guide surface are brought into contact with each other, the external connection terminal is inserted toward the connection chamber without coming into contact with the top surface of the connector housing.

According to the present invention, the guide projection may be positioned in the insertion direction relative to the external connection terminal.

According to the present invention, the guide protrusion is positioned in the insertion direction from the external connection terminal. Therefore, for example, even if the top surface of the connector housing does not have to be designed and processed to bulge the portion where the guide projection hits, when fitting the external connection case to the housing of the imaging system, the guide projection and the fitting guide surface can be brought into contact before the external connection terminal and the top surface contact each other. Since the positional relationship in the insertion direction between the external connection terminals and the guide projections is simply configured in this manner, the top surface of the connector housing can be formed in a simple shape, for example, a flat surface. Since the external connection terminals are inserted toward the connection chamber without coming into contact with the top surface of the connector housing, it is possible to prevent the external connection terminals and the connector housing from being damaged due to strong contact.

The guide projection may have an inclined portion tapered toward the tip, and the fitting guide surface may contact the inclined portion when the external connection terminal is inserted into the connection chamber.

According to the invention, the guide projection has an inclined portion, and the mating guide surface is configured to contact the inclined portion. Therefore, when inserting the external connection terminal into the connection chamber of the connector housing, the guide projection can be smoothly moved from the top surface portion to the side surface of the connector housing.

The connector housing may have, at the insertion opening, a guide inclined surface that is inclined from the top surface portion of the connector housing extending in a direction crossing the insertion direction and guides insertion of the external connection terminal into the connection chamber, and the fitting guide surface may be configured to position the external connection terminal at least on the guide inclined surface when the external connection terminal is inserted into the connection chamber.

According to the present invention, the connector housing has the guiding inclined surface at the insertion opening, and the fitting guiding surface is configured to position the external connection terminal on the guiding inclined surface that guides the insertion of the external connection terminal into the connection chamber when the external connection case is fitted and connected to the housing of the imaging system. Therefore, the external connection terminal can be smoothly inserted into the connection chamber when fitting the external connection case to the housing of the imaging system.

The external connection terminals include a first external connection terminal and a second external connection terminal arranged along the cross direction, the connection chamber includes a first connection chamber and a second connection chamber arranged along the cross direction, the guiding inclined surface includes a first guiding inclined surface provided at the insertion opening of the first connection chamber and a second guiding inclined surface provided at the insertion opening of the second connection chamber, and the external connection case sandwiches the external connection terminal. The connector housing has a pair of guide protrusions positioned in the cross direction, and the connector housing has a pair of fitting guide surfaces positioned in the cross direction with the connection chamber interposed therebetween. When the external connection terminal is inserted into the connection chamber, when the first external connection terminal is positioned outside the range of the first guide slope in the cross direction, one of the pair of guide protrusions and one of the pair of fit guide surfaces come into contact, and the second external connection terminal is positioned on the second guide slope. When positioned outside the range, the other of the pair of guide protrusions and the other of the pair of fitting guide surfaces are brought into contact with each other so that the external connection terminal is positioned on the guide inclined surface.

According to the present invention, when the external connection case is fitted to the housing of the imaging system, even if the first external connection terminal is largely deviated in the intersecting direction beyond the guiding inclined surface with respect to the first connection chamber, the positional deviation can be corrected, and the external connection terminal and the connector terminal can be conductively connected at the correct position. Similarly, even if the second external connection terminal is largely deviated in the cross direction on the opposite side beyond the guiding inclined surface with respect to the second connection chamber, the positional deviation can be corrected, and the external connection terminal and the connector terminal can be fitted and connected at the correct position. That is, even if the image pickup device is miniaturized and, for example, the space between the first connection chamber and the second connection chamber is formed narrower, it is possible to sufficiently ensure the allowable amount of misalignment (guiding amount) in the crossing direction of the external connection terminal electrically connected to the connector terminal.

The connector terminal may have a leg portion connected to the board, the fitting guide surface may be formed to protrude further outward in the cross direction than the leg portion, and may have a concave portion lacking inward in the cross direction corresponding to the leg portion.

According to the present invention, even if the fitting guide surface is formed in a wider range in the crossing direction, since the fitting guide surface is formed with a concave portion that allows the leg portion of the connector terminal to be visually recognized in the insertion direction, the joint state of the leg portion to the substrate can be confirmed visually or by image inspection. Therefore, it is possible to improve the reliability of the imaging device while sufficiently ensuring the allowable amount of misalignment (guiding amount) in the crossing direction of the external connection terminals electrically connected to the connector terminals.

The imaging system connector may have a fixed housing separate from the connector housing, the connector housing may be arranged to be relatively movable with respect to the fixed housing, and the connector terminals may be configured to have elastically deformable portions supporting the connector housing so as to be relatively movable with respect to the fixed housing.

According to the present invention, since the imaging system connector is configured such that the connector housing can move with respect to the fixed housing, the positional deviation of the imaging system connector when the external connection terminal is inserted can be absorbed by the movement of the imaging system connector itself. Furthermore, since the imaging system connector has a floating structure, it is possible to absorb external vibrations and impacts to some extent to prevent disconnection, damage, etc., and to prevent stress from concentrating on connector terminal mounting portions and conductive connection portions.

According to the present invention, the connector housing can also be configured to have a protective portion extending in the insertion direction from the fitting guide surface so as to cover the elastically deformable portion.

According to the present invention, since the protection part is formed so as to cover the elastically deformable part, it is possible to prevent the elastically deformable part from being damaged due to unintentional contact with the operator's finger, an external component, or the like.

According to the imaging device of the present invention, the external device to be connected to the external connection terminal can be miniaturized, and the external connection terminal and the connector terminal can be reliably connected by utilizing the alignment structure of the guide protrusion of the external connection case and the fitting guide surface of the connector housing. Furthermore, according to the imaging device of the present invention, even if the amount of guiding of the connector housing cannot be sufficiently ensured, the deviation of the insertion position of the external connection terminal can be absorbed, so the connector housing can be miniaturized.

1 is an external perspective view including the front, right side, and bottom of an external connection case according to one embodiment; FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the camera module corresponding to the II-II line cross section of FIG. 1; 1 is an external perspective view including a front surface, a right side surface, and a plan view of an imaging system connector according to an embodiment; FIG. 4 is a plan view of the imaging system connector of FIG. 3; FIG. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view at the beginning of fitting for explaining the operation of the camera module of FIG. 2; FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view during fitting for explaining the action of the camera module in FIG. 2 ; FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a state in which fitting has progressed further from FIG. 6 for explaining the operation of the camera module of FIG. 2; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing a fitting connection state of the camera module of FIG. 2;

An embodiment of an "imaging device" according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, an example in which the "imaging device" of the present invention is applied to the camera module 1 will be shown. However, the "imaging device" of the present invention is not limited to this.

The terms "first" and "second" used in the specification and claims are used to distinguish different components of the invention, and are not used to indicate a particular order or superiority. In the present specification and claims, for convenience, the width direction (horizontal direction) of the imaging system connector 30 provided in the camera module 1 is described as the X direction, the depth direction (front-rear direction) as the Y direction, and the height direction (vertical direction) as the Z direction. However, these directions do not limit the method of mounting or using the camera module 1 .

Camera module 1

The camera module 1 is, for example, a component of an in-vehicle camera mounted in an automobile. The camera module 1 has an external connection section 10 and an imaging section 20 . The imaging unit 20 has a function as an "imaging system" that converts light (image) into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal. The external connection unit 10 has a function of transmitting an output signal generated by the imaging unit 20 to an external device.

As shown in FIG. 2, the external connection unit 10 has, for example, an external connection case 11 as a housing, and the imaging unit 20 has, for example, an imaging component case 21 as a housing. One of the external connection case 11 and the imaging component case 21 is formed like a lid with an open bottom, and the other like a box with an open top, so that they can be fitted to each other. The camera module 1 can integrate the external connection case 11 and the imaging component case 21 in a fitted state by fixing them with various fasteners such as screws and adhesives. One or more external connection cases 11 and imaging component cases 21 may be provided, and a plurality of cases may be provided.

The external connection section 10 has a pin terminal 12 as an "external connection terminal". The pin terminal 12 is held by the external connection case 11 and has a function of transmitting an electrical signal to an external device. On the other hand, an imaging system connector 30 is attached to the imaging unit 20 . The imaging system connector 30 has a function of transmitting an output signal generated by the "imaging system".

In the camera module 1, as shown in FIG. 2, before the external connection case 11 and the imaging component case 21 are fitted together, the external connection case 11 is arranged above the imaging component case 21 in the Z direction, for example. At that time, the pin terminal 12 and the imaging system connector 30 face each other, and the pin terminal 12 is arranged to be inserted into the imaging system connector 30 downward in the Z direction. The camera module 1 is configured such that when the external connection case 11 is fitted and connected to the imaging component case 21 , the pin terminals 12 are conductively connected to the imaging system connector 30 . Accordingly, the camera module 1 is configured to transmit the electrical signal generated by the "imaging system" to the external device.

External connection part 10

An external connection case 11, which is a housing for the external connection unit 10, has a plurality of pin terminals 12, as shown in FIG. The external connection case 11 has an outer cylinder 11a, an inner cylinder 11b, and a partition wall 11c. The inner cylinder 11b extends in a tubular shape, for example, in a square tubular shape so as to pass through the outer cylinder 11a both up and down in the Z direction. The inner cylinder 11b is configured such that a harness connector attached to a harness extending from an external device (not shown) is inserted thereinto. The partition 11c is provided so as to vertically divide the space inside the inner cylinder 11b in the Z direction. The external connection case 11 is a molded body made of, for example, a hard resin, and the plurality of pin terminals 12 are integrally embedded in the partition wall 11c of the external connection case 11 by, for example, insert molding. All of the plurality of pin terminals 12 extend along the Z direction.

The plurality of pin terminals 12 specifically includes a plurality of first pin terminals 13 as "first external connection terminals" and a plurality of second pin terminals 14 as "second external connection terminals". Each of the first pin terminals 13 is arranged along the X direction (width direction) that intersects the direction in which the pin terminals 12 are inserted, and each of the second pin terminals 14 is similarly arranged along the X direction. The first pin terminal 13 and the second pin terminal 14 are arranged side by side in the Y direction (depth direction).

The first pin terminal 13 has a connector connection portion 13a, an external output connection portion 13b, and a bent portion 13c. The second pin terminal 14 also has a connector connection portion 14a, an external output connection portion 14b, and a bent portion 14c similar to the first pin terminal 13. The connector connection portion 13a and the connector connection portion 14a extend toward the imaging component case 21 from the lower surface of the partition wall 11c. The external output connection portion 13b and the external output connection portion 14b extend from the upper surface of the partition wall 11c to the opposite side of the connector connection portion 13a. The bent portion 13c and the bent portion 14c are embedded in the partition wall 11c.

As shown in FIG. 1, four of each of the first pin terminals 13 and the second pin terminals 14 are arranged along the X direction in this embodiment. The first pin terminals 13 are arranged such that the external output connection portions 13b, 13b adjacent to each other in the X direction all have the same separation distance. Similarly, the first pin terminals 13 are arranged such that the connector connection portions 13a, 13a adjacent to each other in the X direction all have the same separation distance. In addition, the bent portions 13c, 13c are configured to bend in the X direction so that the distance between the external output connection portions 13b, 13b is shorter than the distance between the connector connection portions 13a, 13a.

Further, the bent portions 13c, 13c are also bent in the Y direction so that the distance between the external output connection portions 13b, 13b is shorter than the distance between the connector connection portions 13a, 13a. All the first pin terminals 13 have the same bending amount in the Y direction. Thus, the bent portion 13c has a twisted bent shape that bends not only in the X direction but also in the Y direction. Such arrangement of the first pin terminals 13 is the same for the second pin terminals 14 as well.

Guide protrusion 15

The external connection case 11 has a guide protrusion 15 that protrudes along a side surface 32a of the imaging system connector 30, which will be described later. The guide projection 15 is positioned in a direction that intersects the Z direction, which is the direction in which the connector connection portions 13a and 14a of the pin terminal 12 extend, that is, in a direction that absorbs displacement of the insertion positions of the connector connection portions 13a and 14a. The guide protrusion 15 is configured to contact the side surface 32 a of the imaging system connector 30 when the external connection case 11 is fitted to the imaging component case 21 .

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pair of guide protrusions 15, 15 extend downward along the XZ plane from the lower end in the Z direction of the inner cylinder 11b in the form of flat plates on both sides of the first pin terminal 13 and the second pin terminal 14. The pair of guide protrusions 15, 15 respectively have inclined portions 15a, 15a tapered in length in the Y direction toward the lower ends in the Z direction. The slant portions 15a, 15a are slanted on the opposing surface sides, respectively, and are configured such that the slant portions 15a, 15a are separated from each other toward the tips of the guide projections 15, 15. As shown in FIG.

Imaging unit 20

The imaging unit 20 includes an imaging component case 21 , an optical component 22 , an imaging element 23 , substrates 24 a and 24 b , an internal connector 25 , and an imaging system connector 30 . The imaging component case 21 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, an optical component 22 such as a lens unit is mounted so as to block a hole penetrating vertically through a bottom wall located on the lower side of the imaging component case 21 in the Z direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the imaging component case 21 accommodates an imaging element 23, a substrate 24a, an internal connector 25, a substrate 24b, and an imaging system connector 30, which are stacked in order on the optical component 22. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the imaging element 23 is mounted on the lower surface of the substrate 24a in the Z direction, and has the function of converting light guided from the adjacent optical component 22 into an electric signal and outputting it to the outside. The substrates 24a and 24b have various electrical elements and circuit wiring. The internal connector 25 connects the substrates 24a and 24b. 2, the imaging system connector 30 is mounted on the upper surface of the substrate 24b in the Z direction. The imaging element 23, the substrate 24a, the internal connector 25, the substrate 24b, and the imaging system connector 30 can also be collectively referred to as an imaging component.

Imaging system connector 30

The imaging system connector 30 has a connector terminal 33 that transmits an output signal generated by the “imaging system” and a “connector housing” that holds the connector terminal 33 . The imaging system connector 30 connects the imaging components to an external device via the pin terminals 12 . The imaging system connector 30 may be a rigid type connected to the substrate 24b, and the imaging system connector 30 connected to the substrate 24b may be configured so as not to move in any of the pitch direction (X direction), row-to-row direction (Y direction), and fitting direction (Z direction).

On the other hand, the imaging system connector 30 connected to the board 24b can be configured as a movable (floating) connector that can move in at least one of the pitch direction, the inter-row direction, and the fitting direction, and absorbs the fitting deviation. 3 and 4, the imaging system connector 30 of this embodiment includes a fixed housing 31, a movable housing 32 as a "connector housing", a plurality of connector terminals 33, and a fixing bracket 34. The imaging system connector 30 is configured such that a fixed housing 31 is mounted on the substrate 24 b and a movable housing 32 is movably supported with respect to the fixed housing 31 by connector terminals 33 . That is, the imaging system connector 30 is configured so that the movable housing 32 can move in three-dimensional directions combining the X, Y and Z directions with respect to the fixed housing 31 (floating structure).

Here, positional deviations (errors) within the range of assembly (mounting) tolerances are included between the respective parts housed in the imaging parts case 21 . The imaging system connector 30 is mounted on various components accommodated in the imaging component case 21 in a stacked manner. Therefore, in the imaging system connector 30 attached to the substrate 24b, positional deviation accumulated due to lamination occurs within the range of the accumulated tolerance. For example, the substrate 24b has a positional deviation g to the left in the Y direction indicated by the solid line from the designed assembly position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIGS.

However, since the imaging system connector 30 is configured such that the movable housing 32 is movable with respect to the fixed housing 31, the displacement of the imaging system connector 30 when the pin terminal 12 is inserted can be absorbed by the movement of the imaging system connector 30 itself. In the camera module 1, as shown in FIG. 8, when the external connection case 11 is fitted to the imaging component case 21 and the pin terminals 12 are inserted into the imaging system connector 30, the connector terminals 33 are deformed and the movable housing 32 is displaced with respect to the fixed housing 31, thereby absorbing this positional deviation. As a result, the imaging component case 21 and the external connection case 11 are fitted together with the pin terminals 12 correctly inserted into the imaging system connector 30, even though the board 24b and the imaging system connector 30 are misaligned with respect to the imaging component case 21.

Since the imaging system connector 30 has a floating structure, it absorbs external vibrations and shocks to some extent to prevent disconnection and damage, and also has the function of preventing stress from concentrating on the mounting portions and conductive connection portions of the connector terminals 33.

Fixed housing 31

The fixed housing 31 is formed of a frame-shaped peripheral wall 31a (see FIG. 3), and a receiving chamber 31b for the movable housing 32 is formed inside thereof (see FIG. 5). A pair of side walls 31c extending along the X direction (longitudinal direction) of the peripheral wall 31a are formed with a plurality of terminal fixing portions 31d extending along the Z direction (height direction) of the fixed housing 31 and arranged in parallel along the terminal arrangement direction (X direction) (see FIGS. 5 to 7). One end side of the connector terminal 33 (fixed housing fixing portion 33b) is press-fitted and fixed to each terminal fixing portion 31d. Fixing brackets 34 are fixed to a pair of side walls 31e along the Y direction (transverse direction) of the peripheral wall 31a (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

movable housing 32

The movable housing 32 has a rectangular parallelepiped lower portion 32 b along the peripheral wall 31 a of the fixed housing 31 . The movable housing 32 has an upper portion 32c that widens in a shade shape, and is formed in a T shape when viewed from the front and from the side. In other words, the upper portion 32c of the side surface 32a of the movable housing 32 protrudes in the X and Y directions from the rectangular parallelepiped lower portion 32b, and the top surface portion 32d has a larger area than the lower portion 32b in the XY plane.

The movable housing 32 has a connection chamber 35 into which the pin terminal 12 is inserted and electrically connected to the connector terminal 33 . The connection chambers 35 are provided in the same number as the pin terminals 12 in order to electrically connect with the plurality of pin terminals 12 of the external connection case 11 . The movable housing 32 of the present embodiment is provided with four connection chambers (four rows) along the X direction (width direction) and two connection chambers (two columns) along the Y direction (depth direction), for a total of eight connection chambers 35 . That is, the connection chamber 35 is formed symmetrically about the center line along the X direction (longitudinal direction) of the movable housing 32 .

The connection chamber 35 into which the first pin terminal 13 is inserted corresponds to the first connection chamber 36 , and the connection chamber 35 into which the second pin terminal 14 is inserted corresponds to the second connection chamber 37 .

Each connection chamber 35 is formed through the movable housing 32 in the Z direction (height direction), has a rectangular cross section in the XY direction (horizontal direction), and has a side wall 38a along the X direction and a side wall 38b along the Y direction. A side wall 38b of each connection chamber 35 is formed with a terminal fixing portion 38c into which the other end side of the connector terminal 33 (movable housing fixing portion 33d) is press-fitted and fixed.

A connection chamber 35 penetrating through the movable housing 32 is formed with an insertion port 39 that opens in the top surface portion 32 d of the movable housing 32 . The movable housing 32 is configured such that the pin terminal 12 is inserted into the connection chamber 35 through the insertion opening 39 .

The movable housing 32 is formed with a displacement restricting protrusion 32e that protrudes outward in the X direction (width direction) (see FIG. 3). The displacement restricting projection 32e has a function of restricting excessive displacement of the movable housing 32 by contacting the fixed housing 31 downward in the Y and Z directions and contacting the fixture 34 upward in the Z direction.

connector terminal 33

The plurality of connector terminals 33 are formed by bending conductive metal pieces, and all have the same shape. Each connector terminal 33 has a leg portion 33a, a stationary housing fixing portion 33b, an elastic deformation portion 33c, a movable housing fixing portion 33d, an elastic arm 33e, and a contact portion 33f. The leg portion 33a is a portion connected to the substrate 24b and is soldered to the substrate 24b. The fixed housing fixing portion 33b is press-fitted into the terminal fixing portion 31d of the fixed housing 31 and fixed. The elastic deformation portion 33c extends in an inverted U shape. The movable housing fixing portion 33d is press-fitted and fixed to the terminal fixing portion 38c of the movable housing 32 in the X direction (plate width direction). The elastic arm 33e extends from the upper end of the movable housing fixing portion 33d. The contact portion 33f is formed at the tip of the elastic arm 33e and is bent in a mountain shape.

The elastic deformation portion 33c is formed as a spring that supports the movable housing 32 relative to the fixed housing 31 so as to be relatively movable in three-dimensional directions combining the X direction (width direction), Y direction (depth direction), and Z direction (height direction).

The elastic arm 33e and the contact portion 33f are accommodated in the connection chamber 35 and configured to be conductively connected by pressing against the pin terminal 12 inserted into the connection chamber 35. As shown in FIG. That is, the pin terminal 12 inserted into the connection chamber 35 presses against the contact portion 33f, and the spring force (reaction force) of the elastic arm 33e against the press contact causes the contact portion 33f to contact the pin terminal 12 with a predetermined contact pressure, thereby obtaining good conductive connection.

Fitting guide surface 40

The movable housing 32 has a fitting guide surface 40 on the outer edge of the top surface portion 32 d facing the external connection case 11 . When the pin terminal 12 is inserted into the connection chamber 35, the fitting guide surface 40 has the function of passing the guide projection 15 from the top surface portion 32d to the side surface 32a of the movable housing 32 and positioning the pin terminal 12, which is out of the insertion opening 39 of the connection chamber 35, in the insertion opening 39 of the connection chamber 35.

Therefore, when fitting and connecting the external connection case 11 to the imaging component case 21 having the imaging system connector 30, the pin terminal 12 positioned outside the insertion opening 39 of the connection chamber 35 can be positioned in the insertion opening 39 of the connection chamber 35. Therefore, when the external connection case 11 is fitted and connected to the imaging component case 21, even if there is a large deviation in the direction crossing the insertion direction of the pin terminal 12 with respect to the connection chamber 35, the positional deviation can be corrected. Further, according to the camera module 1 of the present embodiment, the pin terminals 12 and the connector terminals 33 can be conductively connected at the correct positions. That is, even if the camera module 1 is miniaturized and, for example, the range of the insertion opening 39 is formed to be smaller, it is possible to sufficiently secure the misalignment allowance (guiding amount) in the intersecting direction of the pin terminals 12 conductively connected to the connector terminals 33, for example, in the Y direction as shown in FIG.

In the camera module 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 and the like, before the external connection case 11 is fitted and connected to the imaging component case 21, the distance d2 between the guide projection 15 and the fitting guide surface 40 is smaller than the distance d1 between the pin terminal 12 and the top surface portion 32d in the Z direction, which is the insertion direction in which the pin terminal 12 is inserted into the connection chamber 35.

Therefore, when connecting the external connection case 11 to the imaging component case 21, the guide projection 15 and the fitting guide surface 40 can be brought into contact before the pin terminals 12 and the top surface portion 32d come into contact. Therefore, according to the camera module 1, the misalignment between the pin terminal 12 and the connection chamber 35 in the direction crossing the insertion direction can be corrected more reliably, and the pin terminal 12 and the connector terminal 33 can be conductively connected at the correct position. At this time, the pin terminal 12 is inserted toward the connection chamber 35 without contacting the top surface portion 32 d of the movable housing 32 due to the contact between the guide projection 15 and the fitting guide surface 40 . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the pin terminal 12 and the movable housing 32 from being damaged due to strong contact or friction.

Here, in order to bring the guide protrusion 15 into contact with the fitting guide surface 40 before the pin terminal 12 and the top surface portion 32d contact each other, the top surface portion 32d may be configured to protrude upward in the Z direction near the end portion of the movable housing 32 in the intersecting direction. However, in this configuration, the imaging system connector 30 does not have a simple shape.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the guide protrusion 15 is positioned below the pin terminal 12 in the Z direction, which is the insertion direction. Therefore, for example, even if the top surface portion 32d of the movable housing 32 is not designed or processed to bulge the portion where the guide projection 15 abuts, when fitting the external connection case 11 to the imaging component case 21, the guide projection 15 and the fitting guide surface 40 can be brought into contact with each other before the pin terminal 12 and the top surface portion 32d come into contact. Since the positional relationship in the insertion direction between the pin terminal 12 and the guide projection 15 is configured simply as described above, the top surface portion 32d of the movable housing 32 can have a simple shape, for example, a flat surface. Since the pin terminal 12 is inserted toward the connection chamber 35 without coming into contact with the top surface part 32d of the movable housing 32, the pin terminal 12 and the movable housing 32 can be prevented from being damaged due to strong contact or rubbing.

The fitting guide surface 40 is formed as an oblique slope between the top surface portion 32d and the side surface 32a. For example, as shown in FIG. 3 and the like, the fitting guide surface 40 has a flat surface extending in the X direction where the corner between the top surface portion 32d and the side surface 32a is chamfered at 45° (C chamfer). The fitting guide surface 40 is configured to contact the inclined portion 15 a of the guide projection 15 .

Since the camera module 1 has the fitting guide surface 40 and the inclined portion 15a, the camera module 1 functions to generate a force component in the Y direction when the fitting guide surface 40 and the inclined portion 15a are in contact with each other and move relative to each other in the Z direction. Then, when the guide projection 15 is moved downward in the Z direction relative to the top surface portion 32d of the movable housing 32 of the imaging system connector 30, it is positioned outside the side surface 32a of the movable housing 32 of the imaging system connector 30 in the Y direction. Therefore, when the pin terminal 12 is inserted into the connection chamber 35 of the movable housing 32, the guide projection 15 can be smoothly received by the side surface 32a of the movable housing 32 from the top surface portion 32d.

The camera module 1 may have only one of the fitting guide surface 40 and the inclined portion 15a. Even if the camera module 1 has only one of the fitting guide surface 40 and the inclined portion 15a, the component of force in the Y direction is generated when the camera module 1 collides with the opposite corner, so the guide projection 15 can be smoothly parried from the top surface portion 32d by the side surface 32a of the movable housing 32. However, the camera module 1 preferably has both the fitting guide surface 40 and the inclined portion 15a, and even if the pin terminal 12 is largely displaced in the Y direction with respect to the connection chamber 35 by the sum of the Y-direction component lengths of the fitting guide surface 40 and the inclined portion 15a, the misalignment can be corrected.

The fitting guide surface 40 and the inclined portion 15a may function so as to generate a force component in the Y direction when the guide projection 15 contacts the outer edge of the top surface portion 32d.

For example, the fitting guide surface 40 and the inclined portion 15a do not have to have an angle of 45° in a side view as shown in FIGS. This angle is in the range of 0 to 90 degrees, and the smaller it is (approaching the horizontal), the larger the displacement of the pin terminal 12 in the Y direction with respect to the connection chamber 35 can be absorbed. The fitting guide surface 40 and the inclined portion 15a may have angles different from each other. Furthermore, the fitting guide surface 40 and the inclined portion 15a do not have to be flat, and for example, they may be configured so as to face each other in a convex shape so as to function to reduce the sliding resistance. The guide projection 15 and the fitting guide surface 40 may not be caught by chamfering the corners of the starting and ending points of the fitting guide surface 40 and the inclined portion 15a.

The insertion opening 39 of the movable housing 32 corresponding to the upper end of the connection chamber 35 is formed with a guiding inclined surface 41 for guiding the insertion of the pin terminal 12, as shown in FIGS. The guiding inclined surface 41 is inclined from the top surface portion 32d (horizontal direction) of the movable housing 32 extending in the X direction and the Y direction, which are directions intersecting the Z direction, which is the insertion direction of the pin terminal 12 . The guiding inclined surface 41 has a pair of longitudinal side guiding inclined surfaces 41a along the X direction (longitudinal direction) of the imaging system connector 30 and a pair of short side guiding inclined surfaces 41b along the Y direction (lateral direction) of the imaging system connector 30, and is formed as a tapered surface (concave surface) in the shape of a truncated square pyramid.

If the camera module 1 has such a guide slope 41, it is sufficient that the fitting guide surface 40 receives the guide protrusion 15 and positions the pin terminal 12 at least on the guide slope 41 when the pin terminal 12 is inserted into the connection chamber 35. That is, by locating the pin terminal 12 on the guide slope 41 , it can be slid along the guide slope 41 and dropped into the connection chamber 35 . Therefore, the pin terminal 12 can be smoothly inserted into the connection chamber 35 when fitting the external connection case 11 to the imaging component case 21 . At this time, since the camera module 1 has the guide protrusion 15 and the fitting guide surface 40, even if the range of the guide inclined surface 41 is formed to be smaller, the pin terminal 12 fittingly connected to the image pickup system connector 30 is sufficiently secured in the Y direction deviation allowance (guiding amount).

The guiding inclined surface 41 is formed as a flat surface as shown in FIG. 5 and the like. However, the guiding inclined surface 41 may be formed as a curved surface. For example, if the guiding inclined surface 41 is a curved surface convex upward (in the Z direction), the reaction force received by the pin terminal 12 becomes lighter as the insertion of the pin terminal 12 into the connection chamber 35 progresses, so that the pin terminal 12 can be smoothly inserted into the connection chamber 35.

Here, a configuration in which two pin terminals 12, two connection chambers 35, two guide projections 15, and two fitting guide surfaces 40 are arranged along the Y direction will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the pin terminals 12 include a first pin terminal 13 and a second pin terminal 14, which are arranged along the Y direction that intersects the insertion direction of the pin terminal 12. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 4 and the like, the connection chamber 35 includes a first connection chamber 36 and a second connection chamber 37, which are arranged along the Y direction. The guide slopes 41 include a pair of first guide slopes 42 at the insertion port 39 of the first connection chamber 36 and a pair of second guide slopes 43 at the insertion port 39 of the second connection chamber 37 . As shown in FIG. 5 and the like, the pair of first guide slopes 42 and the pair of second guide slopes 43 extend downward in the Z direction with an angle of 45° in side view starting from the boundary between the top surface portion 32d and the insertion opening 39. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 and the like, the pair of fitting guide surfaces 40, 40 are positioned on both sides of the first connection chamber 36 and the second connection chamber 37 in the Y direction.

The camera module 1 is configured such that when the first pin terminal 13 is positioned outside the range of the first guiding inclined surface 42 in the Y direction, for example, on the right side in FIG. When the pin terminal 12 is inserted into the connection chamber 35, when one of the guide projections 15 and one of the fitting guide surfaces 40 come into contact with each other, the fitting guide surface 40 receives a component force in the Y direction from the guide projection 15, thereby displacing the "connector housing" (here, the imaging system connector 30; FIGS. 5 to 7 show a state in which the movable housing 32 is not displaced with respect to the fixed housing 31) relative to the external connection case 11 to the right in the Y direction. As a result, when the pin terminal 12 is first inserted into the connection chamber 35, the first guiding inclined surface 42 is positioned below the first pin terminal 13 (see FIG. 5), which is shifted to the right of the insertion opening 39 (see FIG. 6). In this manner, the camera module 1 is configured such that when the pin terminal 12 is inserted into the connection chamber 35 , the pin terminal 12 is positioned at the insertion opening 39 or at least the guiding inclined surface 41 .

The camera module 1 is configured such that when the second pin terminal 14 is positioned outside the range of the second guiding inclined surface 43, for example, on the left side in FIG. Therefore, the displacement direction of the movable housing 32 is only leftward, and the rest is the same as described above.

Thus, according to the camera module 1, when the external connection case 11 is fitted to the imaging component case 21, even if the first pin terminal 13 is largely deviated in the Y direction beyond the guiding inclined surface 41 with respect to the first connection chamber 36, the positional deviation can be corrected, and the first pin terminal 13 and the imaging system connector 30 can be fitted and connected at the correct position. Similarly, even if the second pin terminal 14 is greatly deviated in the Y direction on the opposite side beyond the guiding inclined surface 41 with respect to the second connection chamber 37, the positional deviation can be corrected, and the second pin terminal 14 and the imaging system connector 30 can be fitted and connected at the correct position. That is, even if the camera module 1 is miniaturized and, for example, the gap between the first connection chamber 36 and the second connection chamber 37 is formed narrower, it is possible to sufficiently secure the deviation allowance (guiding amount) in the Y direction of the pin terminal 12 electrically connected to the imaging system connector 30.

When the external connection case 11 is fitted and connected to the imaging component case 21 , the effect of the camera module 1 can be exerted by shifting the relative position in the Y direction. However, if the imaging system connector 30 on the imaging component case 21 side is a movable connector, the camera module 1 is more effective. 8 shows a state in which the movable housing 32 is displaced with respect to the fixed housing 31 compared to the state before the external connection case 11 is fitted and connected to the imaging component case 21 shown in FIG.

That is, when the external connection case 11 is fitted and connected to the imaging component case 21, if a pressing force in the Z direction acts between the fitting guide surface 40 and the inclined portion 15a of the guide projection 15, a force component in the Y direction is generated. At this time, in the case of a movable connector, since the movable housing 32 can be displaced with respect to the fixed housing 31, the movable housing 32 is displaced even if the external connection case 11 itself is not displaced in the Y direction, and the pin terminals 12 are positioned in the insertion openings 39 of the connection chambers 35. Therefore, by applying the camera module 1 to the movable connector, the displacement in the Y direction between the pin terminal 12 and the connection chamber 35 can be semi-automatically absorbed without the operator being conscious of moving the external connection case 11 in the Y direction with respect to the imaging component case 21.例文帳に追加

3 and 5, the movable housing 32 has a protective portion 44 extending downward in the Z direction from the fitting guide surface 40 so as to cover the elastically deformable portion 33c. The elastic deformation portion 33c is arranged between the frame-shaped peripheral wall 31a of the fixed housing 31 and the rectangular parallelepiped lower portion 32b of the movable housing 32, as described above. Since the elastically deformable portion 33c is configured to extend in an inverted U shape in order to secure the spring length as a movable connector, it is likely to be exposed at a portion near the surface of the imaging system connector 30 as it is. A protective portion 44 is provided on the outer side of the peripheral wall 31a in the Y direction corresponding to the elastic deformation portion 33c.

The protective portion 44 may be formed at least outward in the Y direction from the elastic deformation portion 33c. In the present embodiment, the protective portion 44 is arranged on the outer side of the peripheral wall 31a in the Y direction as a guideline to prevent contact with the elastic deformation portion 33c when the movable housing 32 is displaced.

As described above, in the camera module 1, the protective portion 44 is formed so as to cover the elastically deforming portion 33c, so that it is possible to prevent the elastically deforming portion 33c from being damaged by unintentional contact with the operator's finger, an external component, or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the fitting guide surface 40 is formed to protrude outward in the Y direction from the leg portion 33a. As a result, the pin terminal 12 to be fitted and connected to the imaging system connector 30 is sufficiently secured for deviation (guiding amount) in the Y direction. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, recesses 45 missing inward in the Y direction corresponding to the leg portions 33a are formed on the fitting guide surface 40 formed to have a larger length in the Y direction. Since the protective portion 44 is formed in contact with the fitting guide surface 40 of the present embodiment, the concave portion 45 is formed as a quadrangular prism-shaped gap passing through the fitting guide surface 40 and the protective portion 44 .

In this embodiment, four legs 33a are arranged along the X direction. The fitting guide surface 40 is formed between the outer leg portions 33a, 33a in the X direction. Accordingly, the recess 45 is provided corresponding to the two inner leg portions 33a, 33a in the X direction.

As shown in FIG. 4 and the like, the concave portion 45 is formed to be longer than the leg portion 33a in the X direction. Therefore, the legs 33a, 33a can be visually recognized through the concave portion 45 even if the viewpoint is slightly shifted in the X direction from right above the movable housing 32 in the Z direction, or the movable housing 32 is shifted in the X direction.

In this way, even if the fitting guide surface 40 is formed to have a larger range in the Y direction, such as by being formed large or protruding greatly outward in the Y direction, the fitting guide surface 40 is formed with a concave portion 45 that allows the legs 33a of the connector terminals 33 to be visually recognized in the Z direction. Therefore, in the camera module 1, the joint state of the leg portion 33a to the substrate 24b can be confirmed by visual inspection or image inspection. Therefore, the reliability of the camera module 1 can be enhanced while sufficiently ensuring the allowable amount of misalignment (guiding amount) in the Y direction of the pin terminals 12 electrically connected to the connector terminals 33 .

As described above, according to this embodiment, the external connection case 11 has the guide protrusion 15 that protrudes along the side surface 32 a of the movable housing 32 . On the other hand, the movable housing 32 has, on the outer edge of the top surface portion 32d facing the external connection case 11, a fitting guiding surface 40 that receives the guide protrusion 15 from the top surface portion 32d to the side surface 32a of the movable housing 32 when the pin terminal 12 is inserted into the connection chamber 35 of the movable housing 32.

For example, when the size of the external connection case 11 is reduced in response to the miniaturization of the harness connector and the arrangement interval between the first pin terminal 13 and the second pin terminal 14 is narrowed, the interval between the first connection chamber 36 and the second connection chamber 37 is also narrowed. Under such circumstances, it becomes difficult to form the first inclined guiding surface 42 and the second inclined guiding surface 43 to be large, and to sufficiently secure the allowable deviation of the insertion position of the imaging system connector 30 connected to the external connection case 11 (the amount of guidance and the amount of movement of the movable housing 32).

However, in the present embodiment, an alignment structure by the guide projection 15 of the external connection case 11 and the fitting guide surface 40 of the movable housing 32 is used instead of the guide inclined surface 41 to absorb the misalignment of the pin terminal 12 with respect to the connection chamber 35 . That is, even when the pin terminal 12 is out of the range of the guiding inclined surface 41 , the guide projection 15 contacts the fitting guiding surface 40 , thereby causing the external connection case 11 to move relative to the imaging system connector 30 . Therefore, according to the present embodiment, even if the intervals between the pin terminals 12 and the connection chambers 35 are narrowed, it is possible to sufficiently ensure the allowable displacement of the insertion position of the imaging system connector 30 connected to the external connection case 11 (the amount of guidance and the amount of movement of the movable housing 32).

As described above, according to the camera module 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to reliably connect the pin terminals 12 and the connector terminals 33 by utilizing the positioning structure formed by the guide projections 15 of the external connection case 11 and the fitting guide surfaces 40 of the movable housing 32 while reducing the size of the external device to be connected to the pin terminals 12. Furthermore, according to the camera module 1 of the present embodiment, even if the amount of guiding of the movable housing 32 cannot be sufficiently ensured, the displacement of the insertion position of the pin terminal 12 can be absorbed, so the movable housing 32 and, in turn, the imaging system connector 30 can be made smaller.

Modified example of the embodiment

Since the camera module 1 as described above can be modified, an example thereof will be described.

In the above embodiment, an example of absorbing the positional deviation in the Y direction has been shown. However, the displacement of the pin terminal 12 with respect to the connection chamber 35 can also be absorbed in the X direction. This can be realized, for example, by providing a fitting guide surface 40 on the outer edge of the top surface portion 32d in the X direction and providing a guide protrusion 15 on the external connection case 11 along the side surface 32a of the imaging system connector 30 in the X direction. Further, the fitting guide surface 40 and the guide protrusion 15 may be provided in a circular fashion instead of being provided separately in the X direction and the Y direction.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the number of pin terminals 12 is eight has been shown. However, the number of pin terminals 12 may be any number as long as it is one or more.

In the above-described embodiment, an example was shown in which the distances between the connector connection portions 13a and the connector connection portions 14a that are adjacent to each other are all the same length. However, these spacing distances may be different. For example, some of the separation distances may be longer and some shorter. According to this, the configuration of the connection chamber 35 provided in the movable housing 32 of the imaging system connector 30 can be diversified. Such a modified example can be similarly applied to the external output connection portion 13b and the external output connection portion 14b, and according to this, the shape of the harness connector can be diversified.

In the above-described embodiment, all the bent portions 13c and 14c of the pin terminals 12 are twisted and bent in two directions of the X direction and the Y direction. However, the bent portion 13c and the bent portion 14c may have a shape bent only in the X direction or only in the Y direction. Further, one pin terminal 12 adjacent to each other, for example, the first pin terminal 13, may have a straight pin shape lacking the bent portion 13c, and the other pin terminal 12, for example, the second pin terminal 14 may be provided with a bent portion 14c.

1 Camera module (imaging device)
10 External connection part 11 External connection case 11a Outer cylinder 11b Inner cylinder 11c Partition wall 12 Pin terminal (external connection terminal)
13 first pin terminal (first external connection terminal)
13a connector connection portion 13b external output connection portion 13c bent portion 14 second pin terminal (second external connection terminal)
14a Connector connection portion 14b External output connection portion 14c Bending portion 15 Guide protrusion 15a Inclined portion 20 Imaging portion 21 Imaging component case 22 Optical component 23 Imaging element 24a Board 24b Board 25 Internal connector 30 Imaging system connector 31 Fixed housing 31a Peripheral wall 31b Accommodating chamber 31c Side wall 31d Terminal fixing portion 31e Side wall 32 Movable housing (connector housing)
32a side surface 32b lower portion 32c upper portion 32d top surface portion 32e displacement regulating projection 33 connector terminal 33a leg portion 33b stationary housing fixing portion 33c elastic deformation portion 33d movable housing fixing portion 33e elastic arm 33f contact portion 34 fixing metal fitting 35 connection chamber (first connection chamber, second connection chamber)
36 First connection chamber 37 Second connection chamber 38a Side wall 38b Side wall 38c Terminal fixing portion 39 Insertion port 40 Fitting guiding surface 41 Guiding inclined surface 41a Long side inclined guiding surface 41b Short side inclined guiding surface 42 First inclined guiding surface 43 Second inclined guiding surface 44 Protective portion 45 Recess d1 Distance d2 Distance g Positional deviation X Width direction, left-right direction Y Depth direction, Front-back direction Z Height direction, up-down direction

Claims (9)

an imaging system connector;
having an external connection case that can be connected to the imaging component case,
The imaging system connector is
a fixed housing having a peripheral wall ;
a connector housing arranged to be relatively movable with respect to the fixed housing;
and a connector terminal for transmitting an output signal generated by the imaging system,
The connector housing is
a lower portion disposed inside the peripheral wall;
a side surface of the connector housing having an upper portion that protrudes toward the outside of the peripheral wall more than the lower portion;
the connector terminal has an elastically deformable portion that supports the connector housing so as to be relatively movable with respect to the fixed housing;
The imaging device, wherein the external connection case includes an external connection terminal electrically connected to the connector terminal to transmit the output signal to an external device,
The external connection case is
a guide protrusion protruding along a side surface of the connector housing;
and a portion that can be connected to the imaging component case,
The connector housing is
a connection chamber into which the external connection terminal is inserted and electrically connected to the connector terminal;
a fitting guide surface provided on the outer edge of the top surface portion facing the external connection case, when the external connection terminal is inserted into the connection chamber, the guide protrusion is moved from the top surface portion side to the side surface side of the connector housing so that the external connection terminal positioned outside the insertion opening of the connection chamber is positioned in the insertion opening of the connection chamber;
The image pickup device is configured such that the external connection case can be integrated with the image pickup component case in a state in which the connector housing moves while being supported by the elastic deformation portion by the guide protrusion coming into contact with the fitting guide surface ,
When the external connection case is integrated with the imaging component case, the guide projection is positioned outside the side surfaces of the peripheral wall and the connector housing, and overlaps the side surfaces of the peripheral wall and the connector housing from a viewpoint in a direction that intersects an extension direction of the guide projection. 2. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein in the insertion direction in which the external connection terminal is inserted into the connection chamber, the distance between the guide projection and the fitting guide surface is smaller than the distance between the external connection terminal and the top surface portion before fitting. 3. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide projection is positioned in the insertion direction of the external connection terminal from the external connection terminal. The guide projection has an inclined portion tapered toward the tip,
The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fitting guide surface is configured to come into contact with the inclined portion when inserting the external connection terminal into the connection chamber. The connector housing has, at the insertion opening of the connection chamber, a guiding inclined surface that is inclined from the top surface portion of the connector housing that extends in a direction crossing the insertion direction of the external connection terminal and that guides insertion of the external connection terminal into the connection chamber,
The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fitting guide surface is configured to position the external connection terminal at least on the guide inclined surface when the external connection terminal is inserted into the connection chamber. The external connection terminals include first external connection terminals and second external connection terminals arranged along the cross direction,
The connection chamber includes a first connection chamber and a second connection chamber arranged along the cross direction,
The guiding inclined surface includes a first guiding inclined surface provided at the insertion opening of the first connection chamber and a second guiding inclined surface provided at the insertion opening of the second connection chamber,
The external connection case has a pair of the guide projections positioned in the cross direction with the external connection terminals interposed therebetween,
the connector housing has a pair of fitting guide surfaces positioned in the cross direction with the connection chamber interposed therebetween;
When inserting the external connection terminal into the connection chamber, in the cross direction:
6. The imaging device according to claim 5, wherein when the first external connection terminal is positioned outside the range of the first inclined guide surface, one of the pair of guide protrusions and one of the pair of fitting guide surfaces come into contact with each other, and when the second external connection terminal is located outside the range of the second guide slope, the other of the pair of guide projections and the other of the pair of fitting guide surfaces come into contact with each other, thereby positioning the external connection terminal on the guide slope. The connector terminal has a leg connected to the substrate,
The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the fitting guide surface is formed to protrude further outward in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the external connection terminal than the leg portion, and has a recess corresponding to the leg portion and lacking inward in the intersecting direction. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the connector housing has a protective portion extending in the insertion direction of the external connection terminal from the fitting guide surface so as to cover the elastically deformable portion. a movable connector;
having an external connection case that can be connected to the imaging component case,
The movable connector is
a fixed housing having a peripheral wall ;
a connector housing arranged to be relatively movable with respect to the fixed housing;
a connector terminal;
The connector housing is
a lower portion disposed inside the peripheral wall;
a side surface of the connector housing having an upper portion that protrudes toward the outside of the peripheral wall more than the lower portion;
the connector terminal has an elastically deformable portion that supports the connector housing so as to be relatively movable with respect to the fixed housing;
The external connection case is
an external connection terminal electrically connected to the connector terminal;
a guide protrusion protruding along a side surface of the connector housing;
and a portion that can be connected to the imaging component case,
The connector housing is
a connection chamber into which the external connection terminal is inserted and electrically connected to the connector terminal;
a fitting guide surface located on the outer edge of the top surface facing the external connection case,
The external connection case can be integrated with the imaging component case in a state in which the connector housing supported by the elastic deformation portion is displaced in a direction crossing the insertion direction of the external connection terminal by the guide projection abutting against the fitting guide surface .
A connection structure between a movable connector and an external connection case, wherein the guide projection is positioned outside the side surfaces of the peripheral wall and the connector housing when the external connection case is integrated with the imaging component case, and overlaps the side surfaces of the peripheral wall and the connector housing from a viewpoint in a direction that intersects the extending direction of the guide projection.

Images