WO2020171204A1

WO2020171204A1 - Conversion connector and substrate connection structure

Info

Publication number: WO2020171204A1
Application number: PCT/JP2020/007064
Authority: WO
Inventors: 修司須藤
Original assignee: Ｎｅｃプラットフォームズ株式会社
Priority date: 2019-02-22
Filing date: 2020-02-21
Publication date: 2020-08-27
Also published as: JP2020136160A; JP6659065B1

Abstract

Provided is a conversion connector comprising: a connector main body which is configured to comprise a gap wherein a first connector is inserted, and to be restorable in a direction which narrows the gap; a first electrode which is disposed within the connector main body at a position corresponding to a connection electrode of the first connector; a second electrode which is electrically connected to the first electrode and which is positioned in correspondence with a connection electrode of a second connector which differs from the first connector; and a substrate on which the second electrode is disposed and which is inserted in the second connector.

Description

Conversion connector and board connection structure

The present invention relates to a conversion connector and a board connection structure.

When attempting to connect a connector of one circuit board on which an electric circuit is mounted and a connector of another circuit board, a conversion connector may be provided between these connectors.
Technologies related to this conversion connector include those described in Patent Documents 1 to 3.
Since the conversion connector of Patent Document 1 connects the connector having the connection pin and the card edge substrate having the electrode at the edge, the electrode on the female side into which the connection pin (the electrode on the male side) is inserted and the card edge are A structure including a female electrode to be inserted is adopted.
The conversion connector of Patent Document 2 adopts a structure including electrodes on the female side in different directions so that the card edge substrate can be inserted from different directions.
The conversion connector of Patent Document 3 has a connection portion with one board and another board so that the other board can be inserted into the connector provided upward on the one board from a direction orthogonal to the board. The structure provided with the hinge between the connection part and is connected.

JP-A-59-203382 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-17735 JP, 2006-260858, A

By the way, the connector into which the card edge board is inserted has a structure in which the card edge is inserted into a slit having a predetermined width. Therefore, the thickness of the insertable card edge substrate is limited to the width of the slit. That is, there is an upper limit on the thickness of the connectable card edge substrate.

On the other hand, the card edge substrate tends to have a multi-layer structure in order to meet the demand for higher circuit density, and the board thickness inevitably increases as the number of layers increases. As a result, the number of layers constituting the card edge board must be limited by the standard of the connector (allowable maximum plate thickness that can be inserted). Further, such a limitation on the number of layers limits the scale of the circuit mounted on one circuit board.
Further, when the size of the connector is increased in consideration of the maximum plate thickness to be coupled, there is a problem that it is difficult to connect the connector of the circuit board having an unexpectedly thin thickness, that is, the number of layers is small.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a conversion connector into which connectors of various thicknesses can be inserted.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes the following means.
A conversion connector according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a connector main body having a gap into which the first connector is inserted and configured to be recoverable in a direction to narrow the gap, and the first main body in the connector main body. A first electrode provided in an arrangement corresponding to the connection electrode of the connector and an electrode electrically connected to the first electrode and arranged corresponding to the connection electrode of a second connector different from the first connector. A second electrode and a substrate on which the second electrode is provided and which is inserted into the second connector.

According to the present invention, it is possible to insert connectors of various thicknesses by deforming the connector body so that the gap is widened.

It is sectional drawing of the minimum structural example of the conversion connector of this invention. It is a front view of the conversion connector concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a view of the conversion connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a view of the conversion connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a view of the conversion connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention taken along the line VV of FIG. 2. It is a perspective view of a modification of the conversion connector concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention.

An example of the minimum configuration of the conversion connector according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The connector body 1 has a gap 2 into which one connector (not shown) is inserted. The connector body 1 is made of, for example, an elastically deformable material such as rubber, and is configured to be able to restore in the direction in which the gap 2 is narrowed. A first electrode 3 is provided in the connector body 1 in an arrangement corresponding to a connection electrode (not shown) of the one connector. That is, the first electrode 3 is provided on the gap side surface of the connector body 1 so as to correspond to the arrangement of the connection electrodes of one connector inserted into the connector body 1. In the illustrated example, a plurality of first electrodes 3 are arranged at predetermined mutual intervals in the depth direction of the paper surface. The first electrode 3 is connected to a connecting portion 4 made of, for example, a linear metal.

The connector body 1 is provided with a board 5 to be inserted into another connector (not shown) different from the one connector. A second electrode 6 is arranged on the outer surface of the substrate 5 so as to correspond to a connection electrode of another connector. The second electrode 6 is electrically connected to the first electrode 3 by the connecting portion 4. The second electrode 6 is provided in an arrangement corresponding to the arrangement of connection electrodes (not shown) of the other connector. That is, the second electrode 6 is provided on the outer surface of the substrate 5 so as to correspond to the arrangement of the connection electrodes of other connectors. In the illustrated example, a plurality of second electrodes 6 are arranged at a predetermined mutual interval in the depth direction of the paper surface.

The operation of the conversion connector having the above configuration will be described together with the step of connecting one connector and another connector.
The connector body 1 is elastically deformed and supported in a state where the gap 2 is widened, and the one connector (not shown), for example, a card edge provided with a conductor electrode on an edge of a circuit board is inserted. When the support of the connector body 1 is released after the card edge is inserted, the connector body 1 is restored by its elasticity in the direction of narrowing the gap 2. Here, the first electrode 3 is arranged corresponding to the electrode of the one connector. Therefore, by inserting the one connector into the gap 2, the electrodes are arranged so as to face each other.

When the support of the connector body 1 with the gap 2 widened is released, the connector body 1 restores to the direction of narrowing the gap 2 by its elasticity. When the gap 2 is narrowed, the electrode of the one connector inserted into the gap 2 and the first electrode 3 come into contact with each other, and the electrodes are electrically connected. Further, since the connector body 1 has one connector in the gap 2, the elastically deformed state is maintained. Due to this elastic force, the electrode of one connector and the first electrode 3 come into contact with each other at a predetermined pressure, and the electrical connection between them is maintained.

Also, the first electrode 3 is electrically connected to the electrode of the one connector. Therefore, also for the second electrode 6 electrically connected to the first electrode 3 via the connection portion 4, the one connector, and further, one circuit board having the one connector at the edge It is electrically connected. Then, by inserting the board 5 into another connector, another circuit board provided with the other connector and the one circuit board are electrically connected.

Thus, according to the conversion connector of FIG. 1, it is possible to insert the one connector into the gap 2 while elastically deforming the connector body 1 regardless of the thickness of the one circuit board.

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals to simplify the description. FIG. 2 is a front view of the conversion connector according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a view of the conversion connector shown in FIG. 2, taken along the line III-III. FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line IV-IV of the conversion connector shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line VV of the conversion connector shown in FIG.
The connector body 1 has a pair of

connector pieces

1a and 1b which are superposed on each other. These

connector pieces

1a and 1b form the connector body 1 as a whole by integrally molding rubber, for example. Alternatively, the

connector pieces

1a and 1b constitute the connector body 1 as a whole by bonding two members at both ends or fixing them by mechanical means.

The first electrode 3 is arranged on the inner surfaces of the

connector pieces

1a and 1b. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the arrangement interval of the first electrodes 3 is set to an interval corresponding to the electrodes 11 of the one connector 10 inserted into the gap 2 of the connector body 1. The connector 10 of the illustrated example is a so-called female connector, for example, a card edge, because it is inserted into the gap 2.

The board 5 is sandwiched and integrated between the

connector pieces

1a and 1b. The second electrode 6 on the surface of the substrate 5 is inserted into another connector 12 into which the substrate 5 is inserted, as shown in FIGS. That is, the second electrode 6 is inserted into the other connector 12 shown in FIG. The substrate 5 and the second electrode 6 are so-called card-edge type male connectors, and are inserted into other female type connectors 12. Further, the second electrodes 6 are provided at mutual intervals corresponding to the arrangement of the electrodes 13 of the other connector 12. Therefore, when the substrate 5 is inserted into the other connector 12, the second electrode 6 and the electrode 13 of the other connector 12 come into contact with each other.

The connecting portion 4 that connects the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 6 is made of, for example, a metal wire, but a conductor pattern on a substrate such as a flexible circuit substrate may be used. Further, the first electrode 3, the connecting portion 4, and the second electrode 6 may be formed by a conductor pattern on the same circuit board.

The operation of the conversion connector of the first embodiment will be described together with the step of connecting to another connector.
The conversion connector is in a state as shown in FIG. 4 when no external force is applied, in other words, when the mating connector is not inserted. That is, the electrode 3 of the connector piece 1a on one side and the electrode 3 of the connector piece 1b on the other side face each other with a slight gap. The electrodes 3 facing each other may be in contact with each other. That is, the connector piece 1a on one side and the connector piece 1b on the other side are slightly elastically deformed in a direction away from each other in a state of being in contact with each other, and a force is applied to the electrode 3 in a direction toward each other. May be.

The connector body 1 is elastically deformed and supported with the gap 2 widened, and after the one connector 10 is inserted, the support of the connector body 1 is released. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the connector body 1 is restored by its elasticity in the direction of narrowing the gap 2. Here, the first electrode 3 is arranged so as to correspond to the electrode 11 of the one connector 10. Therefore, by inserting the one connector 10 into the gap 2, the

electrodes

3 and 11 are arranged so as to face each other.

The operation of widening the gap 2 of the connector body 1 can be realized as follows. For example, a force is applied inwardly from the end portion in the horizontal direction (horizontal direction) of FIG. 4 to elastically deform the upper connector piece 1a upward and the lower connector piece 1b downward so that the whole swells Deform. The gap 2 of the connector body 1 is widened by holding the deformed state with the fingers of the operator or maintaining the same state with the work machine.

When the gap 2 is widened (the size in the direction of the arrow a in FIG. 3 is increased), the

connector pieces

1a and 1b made of an elastic body such as rubber are elastically deformed in a stretched or bent state. ing. Therefore, a force that restores the gap 2 in the direction of narrowing acts. As a result, the one connector 10 is sandwiched between the pair of

connector pieces

1a and 1b. Since the pair of

connector pieces

1a and 1b are elastically deformable, the connection with the one connector 10 can be maintained at a predetermined pressure regardless of the thickness of the one connector 10. That is, the connection with the connector 10 having various thicknesses can be maintained.

When the gap 2 in the state where the connector piece 1a does not receive an external force is larger than the thickness of the one connector 10, a similar electrode arrangement is provided between the one connector 10 and the

connector pieces

1a, 1b. A spacer may be interposed to fill the gap.
Further, the edges of the

connector pieces

1a and 1b are chamfered or tapered. Alternatively, the tip of the one connector 10 is formed in a tapered shape (tapered thickness is gradually reduced). Accordingly, it is possible to push the gap 2 wide by simply inserting one connector 10 into the gap 2.

When the support is released with the gap 2 of the connector body 1 widened, the connector body 1 restores in the direction of narrowing the gap 2 due to its elasticity. By narrowing the gap 2, the electrode 11 of the one connector 10 inserted into the gap 2 and the first electrode 3 come into contact with each other and are electrically connected. Further, the connector body 1 maintains the elastically deformed state because the one connector 10 is present in the gap 2. Due to this elastic force, the electrode 11 of the one connector 10 and the first electrode 3 come into contact with each other at a predetermined pressure, and the electrical connection between them is maintained.

Also, the first electrode 3 is electrically connected to the electrode 11 of the one connector 10. As a result, the second electrode 6 electrically connected to the first electrode 3 via the connection portion 4 includes the one connector 10, and further, one circuit board having the one connector 10 at the edge ( (Not shown) is electrically connected. Then, by inserting the board 5 into the other connector 12, the other circuit board (not shown) provided with the other connector 12 and the one circuit board (not shown) are electrically connected. R.

Further, when the centers of the one connector 10 and the other connector 12 are deviated (when the position in the left-right direction in FIG. 3 is deviated), the connector 1 is moved in the direction of arrow b in FIG. Elastically deforms in the direction. As a result, the positional deviation between the one connector 10 and the other connector 12 is absorbed.
Also, when the one connector 10 and the other connector 12 are arranged so as to intersect at a predetermined angle, the connector 1 is also elastically deformed in the arrow b direction or the arrow c direction in FIG. By doing so, the deviation of the angle is absorbed.

As described above, according to the conversion connector of FIG. 2, the connector body 1 is elastically deformed in the arrow a direction of FIG. 3 regardless of the thickness of the one circuit board and the edge connector (the one connector 10) thereof. The one connector 10 can be inserted into the gap 2.
Further, by elastically deforming the connector body 1 in the arrow b direction or the c direction in FIG. 3, it is possible to absorb the displacement such as the position and the angle between the one connector 10 and the other connector 12.

The connector 1 has a structure in which both ends of a pair of connector pieces 1a each formed in a thin plate are fixed to each other and integrated. However, as shown in FIG. 6, only one end of each of the

connector pieces

1a and 1b may be connected to each other, and the other end may be connected by a detachable mechanism such as concave and convex fitting, or may be sandwiched by a clip or the like. As a result, the one connector 10 is sandwiched between the pair of

connector pieces

1a and 1b. Further, both ends of the pair of

connector pieces

1a, 1b may be joined by a similar detachable mechanism.
Further, the electrode 3 may be provided on only one of the

connector pieces

1a and 1b that form the connector body 1. Further, the second electrode 6 may be provided only on one surface of the substrate 5.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes design changes and the like without departing from the scope of the present invention.

This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-030426 filed on February 22, 2019 in Japan, and incorporates all the disclosure thereof.

The present invention can be used for connecting a connector provided on a circuit board.

1

Connector Main Body

1a, 1b Connector Piece 2 Gap 3 (First) Electrode 4 Connection Part 5 Board 6 (Second) Electrode 10 One Connector 11 Electrode 12 Other Connector 13 Electrode

Claims

A connector body having a gap into which the first connector is inserted and configured to be recoverable in a direction of narrowing the gap;
A first electrode provided in the connector body in an arrangement corresponding to the connection electrode of the first connector;
A second electrode electrically connected to the first electrode and arranged corresponding to a connection electrode of a second connector different from the first connector;
A conversion connector having a substrate provided with the second electrode and inserted into the second connector.
The conversion connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector main body has a pair of elastic body pieces arranged to face each other.
The connector body is elastically deformable in a direction intersecting a direction in which the first connector is inserted,
The conversion connector according to claim 2.
The conversion connector according to claim 2, wherein the first electrodes are arranged on inner surfaces of the pair of elastic body pieces that face each other.
The conversion connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second electrode is arranged on the surface of the substrate.
The gap is formed in a slit shape along the arrangement direction of the first electrode,
The conversion connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the substrate is arranged along a plane including a slit formed by the gap.
The conversion connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A first connector inserted into the gap of the connector body;
A second connector into which the board is inserted;
Substrate connection structure having.
An insertion direction of the first connector into the gap of the connector body,
The insertion direction of the board into the second connector is different from each other,
The board connection structure according to claim 7, wherein the connector body is bent between the first connector and the second connector.