JPH0822871A - Connector for electronic unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate any unnecessary connections from an electrical connection between an electronic unit and wire harness. CONSTITUTION:A male connector 2 having a pressure-contact type terminal 4 is provided at the end of wire harness 1. A female connector into which the male connector 2 is fitted comprises a socket 8 provided in the case 7 of an electronic unit 6 and electrode pads 11 located on a case-in circuit board 10, eliminating any special housing and terminals. When the terminal 4 is thus directly pressed into contact with the electrode pads 11, an electrical connection can be achieved by a single connector, and the need for connecting the electrode pads to the terminal is eliminated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector for an electronic unit, which enables easy and inexpensive electrical connection between the electronic unit and a wire harness.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When connecting a wiring harness for power supply or signal transmission to an electronic unit constructed by housing a circuit board on which electronic components are mounted, a pair of male and female connectors is often used.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the male and female connectors 20 and 30 each have a pair of connectors provided with terminals 22 and 32 in housings 21 and 31, one of which is shown in FIG. As shown in (a), it is attached to the circuit board 10 in the case 7. In this way, one connector is provided on the electronic unit side, and the other connector is attached to the end of the wire harness 1 so that they are fitted together.

[0004]

The above-mentioned conventional connection method requires two male and female connectors, each of which has a housing and a terminal, which is costly. Further, since it is necessary to attach one connector to the circuit board in the case and connect the terminal of the connector to the circuit on the board, the number of work steps is increased. Further, the connector to be mounted on the circuit board requires a housing material having high heat resistance because it is mounted on the board and is then passed through a reflow furnace to solder the terminals (16 in FIG. 5 (a) is a soldering portion). It will be even more disadvantageous.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate these problems.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, a female connector is formed by a connector receiving hole penetrating through a case of an electronic unit and an electrode portion provided on a circuit board in the case. The female connector is combined with the male connector provided at the end of the wire harness, and the terminal of the male connector contacts the electrode portion on the circuit board at the position where the male connector is fitted in the connector receiving port.

It is desirable that the terminals of the male connector are pressure contact type terminals that are elastically deformed at the insertion end point of the male connector into the connector receiving port and pressed against the electrode portion. Further, when this pressure contact type terminal is used, a means for holding the fitted state of both the male and female connectors is provided so that the male connector does not come off from the receiving port due to the elastic restoring force of the terminal.

[0008]

In the connector of the present invention, the male connector is fitted by using the connector receiving port provided in the case of the electronic unit as a substitute for the housing, and in this state, the terminal of the male connector is directly connected to the electrode portion on the circuit board. , A single female connector consisting of a housing and terminals, which has been used in the past, is no longer required, and the connection cost is reduced.

Further, it is not necessary to connect the electrode portion of the circuit board to the terminal in advance, which simplifies the wiring and reduces the number of working steps. The pressure contact type terminal is effective in reducing the contact resistance.

[0010]

FIG. 1 shows an example of the connector of the present invention.
In the figure, 1 is a wire harness, 2 is a male connector attached to the end of the harness, 3 is a housing of the male connector, 4
Is a terminal of the male connector. The terminal 4 is configured such that the root side is bent downward to elastically deform this bent portion, and the warped bent portion 4a at the tip is pressed against the mating conductor by the elastic restoring force generated at that portion. In addition, protrusions 5 extending vertically are provided on both side surfaces of the housing 3.

Reference numeral 6 denotes an electronic unit constructed by housing a circuit board 10 in a case 7. The case 7 of this electronic unit is provided with a receptacle 8 into which the male connector 2 is inserted. The receiving port 8 penetrates the inside of the case, and the electrode pad 11 formed at the circuit end on the circuit board.
Is near the socket 8. In addition, in the receiving port 8,
A vertical groove 9 is provided which serves as an insertion guide for the protrusion 5.

Here, the vertical groove 9 is provided with a tightening allowance, so that the male connector 2 is press-fitted into the receiving port and fixed at the fitting end point. If this fixing is performed by press fitting, the shapes of the receiving port 8 and the housing 3 can be simplified, but the holding means in the fitted state may be a check claw and a groove for locking the check claw.

In the illustrated connector, a female connector is constituted by the receiving port 8 and the electrode pad 11, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the male connector 2 is pressed into the receiving port 8. The tip of the terminal 4 hits the circuit board 10 during the press-fitting, and the terminal 4 is slightly pushed up at the end of the press-fitting, and the elastic restoring force generated at the bent portion of the base causes the electrode pad 1 on the circuit board 10 to move.
The wire harness 1 and the circuit on the board are electrically connected to each other by pressing the wire 1 against the wire.

The housing 3 may be either a molded housing in which the terminals 4 are embedded or a housing in which the terminals attached to the ends of the wire harness are attached in advance. 2 and 3 show a male connector using the latter type of housing. In FIG. 2, the housing 3 with a lance (barb) is attached with the terminal 4 at the end of the wire harness through the hole of the housing, and the lance 12 is used. The terminal 4 is bent after being prevented from coming off and attached. In addition, the male connector shown in FIG.
Is attached to the split-type housing 3 so as to sandwich the groove on the housing mating surface. In addition, in FIG.
The divided state of the housing is held by a simple locking mechanism including an elastic locking piece 13 and a claw 14 that engages with the locking piece. You may integrate. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, if the divided bodies are connected by a hinge 15, handling is easy.

[0015]

As described above, in the connector of the present invention, the female connector is constituted by the case of the electronic unit and the electrodes on the circuit board, and the single female connector consisting of the housing and the terminal is omitted. Can be reduced.

Further, since the terminals of the male connector are brought into direct contact with the electrodes on the circuit board, there is no need for electrical connection by soldering the electrodes to the connector terminals, which is effective in simplifying the wiring and improving work efficiency. is there.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 (a) is a perspective view showing an example of a connector of the present invention in a state of uncoupling (b): a sectional view of the connector of the same as above.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing another example of the male connector.

FIG. 3 is a divided perspective view showing another example of the male connector.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another example of the housing.

5A is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional electrical connection example. FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of a connector used in the above-mentioned connection portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 wire harness 2 male connector 3 housing 4 terminal 4a warp bending part 5 ridge 6 electronic unit 7 case 8 receptacle 9 vertical groove 10 circuit board 11 electrode pad 12 lance 13 elastic locking piece 14 claw 15 hinge 20 male connector 30 female connector 21, 31 Housing 22, 32 Terminal

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A connector receiving port, which is formed of a male connector provided at an end of a wire harness and a female connector into which the male connector is fitted, the female connector penetrating a case of an electronic unit, and a circuit board in the case. An electronic unit connector, which comprises an electrode section provided on the connector, and a terminal of the male connector contacts an electrode section on the circuit board at a position where the male connector is fitted in the connector receiving port. 2. A male connector and a female connector are provided with a holding means for maintaining the fitted state of the both, and the terminal of the male connector is elastically deformed at the insertion end point of the male connector into the connector receiving port and pressed against the electrode portion. The electronic unit connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector is a pressure contact type terminal.