JPH08185920A - Electrical connecting structure for circuit board - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To simplify a structure for electrically connecting a circuit board housed in a case to external equipment. CONSTITUTION: A circuit board 12 is housed in a case 11 having an opening 11a, and a connecting side section 14 with many electrode terminals formed in array on both upper and lower surfaces is integrated with the circuit board 12. Furthermore, a recess 20 is formed on a connector housing 18, and a connector 17 with terminals 19 is fitted in the recess 20, so as to close the opening 11a of the case 11. According to this construction, the side section 14 is relatively inserted in the recess 20, and each terminal 19 comes in contact with the electrode terminals under pressure. In this case, an engaging teeth 22 of the connector 17 are engaged with an engaging hole 11b of the case 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric connection structure of a circuit board for electrically connecting a circuit board in an electronic device mounted on a vehicle and an external device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a vehicle-mounted electronic device, a circuit board (printed wiring board) on which electronic parts and the like are mounted is hermetically sealed for the purpose of protecting the circuit board (printed wiring board) from dust and moisture (waterproofing) or electrostatic shield. It is housed in a case. In this case, conventionally, the electrical connection between the circuit board and the external device has been performed as shown in FIG. That is, the male connector 3 is attached to the circuit board 2 housed in the case 1 so as to be exposed at the outer surface of the case 1 at the end portion thereof. The connector 4 is adapted to be connected.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, the male connector 3 is required for connecting the circuit board 2 to the outside, so that the connection structure is relatively complicated and the number of parts is large. There was a problem that became expensive.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, one circuit board 5 is
Direct connection to the other circuit board 7 via the edge connector 6 is also performed, but the method using such an edge connector 6 is to electrically connect the circuit boards 5 and 7 to each other. Therefore, it is not suitable for the above-mentioned circuit board 2 housed in the case 1.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is for electrically connecting a circuit board housed in a case to an external device, and a circuit board capable of simplifying the configuration. To provide an electrical connection structure.

[0005]

An electrical connection structure for a circuit board according to claim 1 of the present invention is a structure for electrically connecting a circuit board housed in a case and an external device, An opening portion is formed in the case, and a connection side portion having an electrode terminal for connection is provided at an end portion of the circuit board on the opening portion side, and is fitted into the opening portion of the case from the outside. A connector housing to be fitted, an insertion portion provided at a front end portion of the connector housing and into which a connection side portion of the circuit board is relatively inserted, and a terminal provided in the insertion portion and contacting the electrode terminal. And a connector to be connected to the external device via a wire harness is detachably attached to the case.

In this case, the connector may be configured to also have a function as a lid for closing the opening formed in the case (the invention of claim 2), and in that case. Is more effective if a waterproof sealing member is provided between the connector and the case (the invention of claim 3).

[0007]

According to the electrical connection structure of the circuit board of claim 1 of the present invention, when the connector to be connected to the external device through the wire harness is mounted in the case, the connector housing is formed in the case. The connection side portion provided on the circuit board housed in the case while being fitted into the opening from the outside is relatively inserted into the insertion portion of the connector housing, so that the circuit board side The electrode terminal and the terminal of the connector are electrically connected.

At this time, since the circuit board is directly connected to the connector, a separate member connector on the circuit board side can be eliminated. Therefore, according to the circuit board electrical connection structure of claim 1 of the present invention, the circuit board housed in the case is electrically connected to the external device, and the configuration is simplified. Therefore, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced, which is an excellent practical effect.

In this case, if the connector is configured to also have a function as a lid for closing the opening formed in the case (electrical connection structure of the circuit board according to claim 2), the opening is formed. Since a separate lid for closing the case is not required, the functions such as waterproof and dustproof in the case can be ensured while simplifying the configuration. Further, in that case, if a waterproof seal member is provided between the connector and the case (electrical connection structure of the circuit board according to claim 3), the waterproof effect can be further improved. Especially, it becomes suitable for use in an environment requiring waterproofing.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a vehicle-mounted electronic device will be described below with reference to FIGS. The present embodiment corresponds to claims 1 and 2.
1 and 2 showing the overall configuration, the case 11 is
It is in the shape of a thin rectangular box, and the entire left side wall is an opening 11a in the figure. Further, the right inner wall portion of the case 11 and the front and rear inner wall portions except the left end side are located at a slightly lower portion in the height direction, and the circuit board 12 is inserted and held in a groove shape. The guide portion 13 is continuously and integrally formed. Further, an engaging hole 11b is formed in the central portion on the left end side of the upper wall portion of the case 11.

The circuit board 12 has a substantially rectangular plate shape that is supported by the guide portion 13. Although not shown, a required conductive pattern is formed by printing on the plate surface, and a predetermined conductive pattern is formed. The electronic components are mounted and a predetermined circuit is formed accordingly. Then, in the left end portion of the circuit board 12 on the side of the opening portion 11a of the case 11, the connection side portion 14 is integrally provided in a form of being slightly narrowed and extending to the left. As shown in FIG. 3, a large number of electrode terminals 15 that are continuous with the conductive pattern are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the connection side portion 14 at predetermined intervals in an aligned state.

To connect the circuit board 12 to an external device (not shown), a connector 17 connected to the tip of the external device side wire harness 16 is used. The connector 17 is configured by providing a connector housing 18 made of an insulating material (plastic) with a large number of metal terminals 19 corresponding to the electrode terminals 15.

The connector housing 18 has a substantially rectangular block shape having a size corresponding to the opening 11a of the case 11, and the tip side (right side in the drawing) of the connector housing 18 is the opening 11.
The base end side is slightly larger than the front end side through the step portion 18a (although it is larger than the wall thickness of the case 11) while it is fitted in the inside of a substantially densely. The connector housing 18 is located at a lower end portion corresponding to the height position of the circuit board 12 at the tip portion thereof, and the circuit board 12 is provided.
An insertion recess 20 as an insertion portion into which the connection side portion 14 is relatively inserted is formed.

On the base end side of the connector housing 18, the wire harness 16 is located near the lower portion.
A large number of accommodation holes 21 for accommodating the respective lead wires 16a and the terminals 19 constituting the above are provided so as to communicate with the insertion recesses 20 in two steps in the upper and lower stages. The terminal 19 has a coupling portion 19a on the base end side and a contact portion 19b on the tip end side. The contact portion 19b is formed by folding a metal piece in a U-turn shape and has a spring property. The terminal 19 on the upper stage side and the terminal 19 on the lower stage side have the contact portions 19b turned upside down.

Each lead wire 16 of the wire harness 16
The tip of the a is the connecting portion 19 of the terminal 19.
It is inserted into each accommodation hole 21 in a state where it is caulked to a, for example. At this time, each terminal 19 (each lead wire 16a) is prevented from being pulled out and fixed by a lance (not shown) provided inside each accommodation hole 21. Needless to say, the tip of each lead wire 16a is stripped of the insulating coating and electrically connected to the terminal 19. Then, the contact portion 1 on the tip side of the terminal 19
9b is located in the insertion recess 20.

Further, on the upper surface of the connector housing 18, an engaging claw 22 having a sloped tip end is integrally provided at a position corresponding to the engaging hole 11b of the case 11. The engaging claw 22 is used for the connector housing 1.
A hollow portion 18b (see FIG. 1) that opens at the tip side is formed in the middle portion on the upper side of 8, and two front and rear cuts 18c extending from the tip side to the base end side are formed in a wall on the upper side of the hollow portion 18b (see FIG. Two
The elastic piece portion 18d is formed by forming (see), and is provided so as to be located at the tip of the elastic piece portion 18d and to be convex upward. With this, the engagement claw 22 is
It is elastically deformable downward. In addition, a pressing operation portion 23 that is convex upward is integrally formed in the middle of the elastic piece portion 18d.

In the above structure, when electrically connecting the circuit board 12 housed in the case 11 to an external device, the connector 17 provided at the tip of the wire harness 16 is connected to the opening 11a of the case 11. And push in from the outside (left side in FIGS. 1 and 2). Then, the tip end side portion of the connector housing 18 of the connector 17 is fitted into the case 11 almost densely, and the opening 1
It also functions as a lid for closing 1a.

At this time, the connection piece portion 14 of the circuit board 12 is relatively inserted into the insertion recess 20 formed at the tip of the connector housing 18, and the contact portion 19b of each terminal 19 is formed. However, while the connection piece portion 14 is sandwiched from above and below, the connection terminal portion 14 comes into pressure contact with each electrode terminal 15, and thus the circuit board 12 and the external device are electrically connected.

Further, when the connector 17 is fitted, the engaging claws 22 formed on the upper surface of the connector housing 18 are
It comes to be engaged with the engagement hole 11b. At this time, the engaging claw 22 is elastically deformed downward by the elastic piece portion 18d,
The engaging hole 11b can be easily crossed over the lower surface of the upper wall of the case 11.
It will fit in. The engaging claw 22 and the engaging hole 11b
The connector 17 is fixed in the retaining state by engagement with. When the connector 17 is detached from the case 11, by pressing the pressing operation portion 23, the elastic piece portion 18d is elastically deformed downward and the engagement of the engaging claw 22 with the engaging hole 11b is released. Therefore, if the connector housing 18 is pulled out in this state, it can be easily removed.

According to this embodiment, the case 11
The circuit board 12 housed inside is directly connected to the connector 17
Can be connected to. Therefore, unlike the conventional connector shown in FIG. 5 in which the male connector 3 is provided on the circuit board 2, a separate member connector on the circuit board 12 side can be dispensed with, resulting in a simplified structure. Therefore, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced. Further, particularly in the present embodiment, the connector 17 is configured to also have a function as a lid for closing the opening 11a of the case 11, so that a separate lid is not required and further simplification of the configuration is achieved. It is possible to obtain the advantage that it can.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment (corresponding to claim 3) of the present invention. In this embodiment, the configurations of the case 11 and the circuit board 12 and the basic configuration of the connector 17 are common to those in the above-described embodiment, and therefore the common parts are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the above-described embodiment and will be described in detail. And omit
Only the different points will be described below.

In the present embodiment, on the upper side of the connector housing 18, a hollow portion 18b, a notch 18c,
The elastic piece 18b and the engaging claw 22 are formed at a position slightly retracted from the tip to the base end side (left side in the drawing). Therefore,
A fitting contact portion 31 that fits over the entire inner wall surface of the case 11 is provided at the tip of the connector housing 18.

A concave groove portion 31a is formed on the fitting contact portion 31 over the entire circumference thereof.
At a, a rubber packing (O-ring) 32 as a waterproof sealing member is attached. Further, in each housing hole 21 of the connector housing 18, there is provided a rubber bush 33 which is fitted to the outer periphery of the insulating coating of each lead wire 16 a of the wire harness 16 and is pressed against the inner wall of the housing hole 21.

In this structure, when the connector 17 is fitted in the opening 11a of the case 11, the fitting contact portion 31
Fits into the case 11 substantially tightly, and at this time, the rubber packing 32 comes into pressure contact with the entire inner wall surface of the case 11, so that the fitting contact portion 31 and the case 11 are liquid-tightly closed. Like Further, the housing hole 21 that allows the inside and the outside of the case 11 to communicate with each other is also liquid-tightly closed by the rubber bush 33.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the circuit board 12 housed in the case 11 can be directly connected to the connector 17, and the structure can be simplified. Of course, the same effect can be obtained, and the waterproof effect becomes extremely excellent, which makes it suitable for use in an environment such as a vehicle-mounted environment where waterproofing is particularly required.

In the embodiment described above, the receiving portion of the connector 17 is formed integrally with the case 11 having one end opened.
It is important to have a structure in which the electrodes arranged in line on one side of the opening side of the circuit board 12 installed in the case 11 and the electrodes of the connector 17 are directly connected. This allows a simple configuration. Moreover, from the viewpoint of ensuring waterproofness, it is important that the connector 17 and the case 11 are fitted with a waterproof structure. At this time, the entire surface of the case 11 on one end side is open, and the connector 17
Has a size corresponding to the opening, and the rubber packing 32 as a seal member is interposed between the four surfaces surrounding the opening of the case 11 and the connector 17 to obtain a simple and reliable waterproof structure. Important above.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but the connector housing may be fitted to the outside of the case, and one of the side walls of the case may be used. Various modified examples of the shape of the connector, the shape and structure of the case and the circuit board, and the like may be considered such that an opening may be formed in the portion. Furthermore, the fixing structure of the connector is not limited to the engagement between the engaging hole and the engaging claw, and a screwing structure or the like can be adopted, for example, with appropriate modifications without departing from the scope of the invention. It is possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, which is taken along the line aa in FIG.
Front view in vertical section along the line

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state where the connector is fitted in the case.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an enlarged part of a connection side portion.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional front view of a main part showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

In the drawings, 11 is a case, 11a is an opening, 11b is an engagement hole, 12 is a circuit board, 14 is a connecting piece, 15 is an electrode terminal, 6 is a wire harness, 17 is a connector, 18 is a connector housing, and 19 is A terminal, 20 is an insertion concave portion (insertion portion), 22 is an engaging claw, 31 is a fitting contact portion, 31a
Is a groove, 32 is a rubber packing (sealing member), and 33 is a rubber bush.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A structure for electrically connecting a circuit board housed in a case to an external device, wherein an opening is formed in the case, and an end of the circuit board on the opening side is formed. A connector housing that is located at a portion and has an electrode terminal for connection and that is fitted from the outside into the opening of the case, and the circuit board provided at the tip of the connector housing. A connector having a connecting portion in which the connection side portion is relatively inserted, and a terminal provided in the inserting portion and contacting the electrode terminal, and a connector connected to the external device via a wire harness, An electrical connection structure for a circuit board, which is detachably attached to the case. 2. The circuit board electrical connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the connector also has a function as a lid for closing an opening formed in the case. 3. The electrical connection structure for a circuit board according to claim 2, wherein a waterproof seal member is provided between the connector and the case.