Connector assembly

Abstract

The present invention relates to a connector assembly connectable to a terminal formed on a printed circuit board. The present invention provides a connector assembly coupled to a terminal portion formed on one side of a printed circuit board and having at least one terminal formed on at least one surface, comprising: a connector body including a terminal insertion portion formed at the front for inserting the terminal portion and a connector pin coupling portion formed from the rear toward the front; a connector pin having a contact portion inserted into the connector pin coupling portion and contacting the terminal, the contact portion being exposed to the terminal insertion portion; and a pin pressing portion provided at the rear of the connector body and pressing a portion of the connector pin to cause the contact portion to spread upward or downward.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector assembly. More specifically, the present invention relates to a connector assembly connectable to a terminal formed on a printed circuit board. Background Technology

[0002] Vehicles are equipped with electronic control units that electronically control various devices. These electronic control units receive information from sensors or switches installed in various parts of the vehicle. By processing this received information, the electronic control units perform various electronic controls to control the vehicle, enhance ride comfort and safety, or provide conveniences to the driver and passengers.

[0003] In addition, circuit mechanisms or control devices for controlling various mechanical or electronic devices are widely used in fields other than vehicles.

[0004] Various types of connectors are used to connect electronic devices. Typically, a common method involves pairing a female connector with a male connector and connecting the male connector to the female connector.

[0005] Meanwhile, there also exists a connector connection structure in which a terminal is formed on a part of a printed circuit board and a connector is connected to said terminal.

[0006] However, when connecting a connector to a terminal on a printed circuit board, problems may occur such as damage caused by friction between the connector's lead and the terminal, poor contact between the lead and the terminal, or the connector becoming detached from the terminal on the printed circuit board. Prior art literature

[0007] Registered Patent Publication No. 10-2486422 The problem to be solved

[0008] The present invention aims to provide a connector assembly that is coupled to a terminal formed on a printed circuit board, which minimizes damage to the terminal caused by coupling of the connector and prevents contact failure between the lead portion of the connector and the terminal. means of solving the problem

[0009] The present invention provides a connector assembly coupled to a terminal portion formed on one side of a printed circuit board and having at least one terminal formed on at least one surface, comprising: a connector body including a terminal insertion portion formed at the front for inserting the terminal portion and a connector pin coupling portion formed from the rear toward the front; a connector pin having a contact portion inserted into the connector pin coupling portion and contacting the terminal, the contact portion being exposed to the terminal insertion portion; and a pin pressing portion provided at the rear of the connector body, which presses a portion of the connector pin to cause the contact portion to spread upward or downward.

[0010] In one embodiment, the connector pin comprises a pin body coupled to the connector pin coupling portion and a lead portion coupled to the pin body and having the contact portion at its end.

[0011] In one embodiment, the connector body is provided with an elastic part that elastically supports the pin body upward or downward of the connector body.

[0012] In one embodiment, the elastic member may be composed of a plate spring.

[0013] In addition, a first substrate insertion part and a second substrate insertion part are respectively provided on both sides of the connector body, into which a part of the printed circuit board is inserted, and a first substrate fixing member and a second substrate fixing member that penetrate and fix the printed circuit board can be respectively coupled to the first substrate insertion part and the second substrate insertion part.

[0014] In one embodiment, the terminal portion includes a first terminal portion having a first-1 terminal portion formed on a first surface and a first-2 terminal portion formed on a second surface opposite to the first surface, and the pin coupling portion includes a first connector pin coupling portion formed on the upper side of the connector body and a second connector pin coupling portion formed on the lower side of the connector body, and the connector pin includes a first connector pin having a first lead portion having a first contact portion that contacts the first-1 terminal portion and a first pin body coupled to the first connector pin coupling portion, and a second connector pin having a second lead portion having a second contact portion that contacts the first-2 terminal portion and a second pin body coupled to the second connector pin coupling portion.

[0015] Additionally, the pin pressing part may include a first pin pressing part capable of pressing the first pin body downward and a second pin pressing part capable of pressing the second pin body upward.

[0016] Additionally, the first pin body may include a first elastic member supported on one side of the first connector pin coupling portion to support the first pin body upward, and the second pin body may include a second elastic member supported on one side of the second connector pin coupling portion to support the second pin body downward.

[0017] In one embodiment, the terminal portion is provided protruding further than the first terminal portion and further includes a second terminal portion having a second-1 terminal portion formed on the first surface and a second-2 terminal portion formed on the second surface, and the pin coupling portion includes a third connector pin coupling portion and a fourth connector pin coupling portion formed between the first connector pin coupling portion and the second connector pin coupling portion, and the connector pin includes a third connector pin having a third lead portion having a third contact portion that contacts the second-1 terminal portion and a third pin body coupled to the third connector pin coupling portion, and a fourth connector pin having a fourth lead portion having a fourth contact portion that contacts the second-2 terminal portion and a fourth pin body coupled to the fourth connector pin coupling portion.

[0018] Additionally, the pin pressing part may include a third pin pressing part capable of pressing the third pin body downward and a fourth pin pressing part capable of pressing the fourth pin body upward.

[0019] Additionally, the third pin body may include a third elastic member supported on one side of the third connector pin coupling portion to support the third pin body upward, and the fourth pin body may include a fourth elastic member supported on one side of the fourth connector pin coupling portion to support the fourth pin body downward. Effects of the invention

[0020] According to the present invention, when a connector assembly is coupled to a terminal portion of a printed circuit board, a lead portion that contacts a terminal of the terminal portion is spread apart, and after coupling to the terminal portion, the lead portion adheres to the terminal of the terminal portion by means of elastic force, thereby preventing damage to the terminal portion caused by coupling of the connector and enabling reliable contact between the lead portion and the terminal. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0021] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a connector assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a connector assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a state in which a connector assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention is coupled to a terminal portion of a printed circuit board. FIG. 4 is a drawing showing a connector assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention coupled to a terminal portion of a printed circuit board, with partial cross-sectional processing (cross-section in the BB' direction of FIG. 3). FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a connector assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing the cross-section in the AA' direction of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a drawing showing a state in which the pin pressing part is not pressed in a connector assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a drawing showing the state in which a pin pressing part is pressed in a connector assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a side view of a connector assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention being coupled to a terminal portion of a printed circuit board. FIG. 9 is a side view of a connector assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention coupled to a terminal portion of a printed circuit board. FIG. 10 is a drawing illustrating another embodiment of a terminal portion of a printed circuit board to which a connector assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention is coupled. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0022] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, it should be noted that in assigning reference numerals to the components of each drawing, the same components are given the same reference numeral whenever possible, even if they are shown in different drawings. Furthermore, in describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known components or functions may obscure the essence of the present invention, such detailed description is omitted. Additionally, while preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below, the technical concept of the present invention is not limited or restricted thereto and can be modified and implemented in various ways by those skilled in the art.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a state in which a connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention is coupled to a terminal portion of a printed circuit board, and FIG. 4 is a drawing showing a state in which a connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention is coupled to a terminal portion of a printed circuit board with partial cross-sectional processing (cross-section in the BB' direction of FIG. 3). In addition, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a cross-section in the AA' direction of FIG. 1.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a connector assembly (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a connector body (10) and a plurality of connector pins (40, 42, 44, 46) assembled to the connector body (10). A terminal insertion portion (12) is formed on one side of the connector body (10) to which a terminal portion (110) provided on a printed circuit board (100) is inserted. A first guide rib (13a) and a second guide rib (13b) may be provided at the top and bottom of the terminal insertion portion (12) to guide the insertion of the terminal portion (110) of the printed circuit board (110).

[0025] Connector fixing parts (14, 16) for coupling the connector body (10) to a printed circuit board (100) are provided on both sides of the connector body (10). The connector fixing parts (14, 16) include a first connector fixing part (14) provided on one side of the connector body (10) and a second connector fixing part (16) provided on the other side.

[0026] Each of the first connector fixing part (14) and the second connector fixing part (16) includes a first substrate insertion part (14a) and a second substrate insertion part (16a) into which an end of the printed circuit board (100) is inserted, and each of the first substrate insertion part (14a) and the second substrate insertion part (16a) is provided with a first substrate fixing member (18a) and a second substrate fixing member (18b) that penetrate and connect to the printed circuit board (100).

[0027] Referring to FIG. 4, a terminal portion (110) of a printed circuit board (100) has a series of terminal portions (112a, 112b, 114a, 114b) formed on at least one surface. In one embodiment, the terminal portion (110) includes a first terminal portion (112) and a second terminal portion (114) formed on the end side of the terminal portion (110) relative to the first terminal portion (112). The first terminal portion (112) includes a first-1 terminal portion (112a) formed on one surface and a first-2 terminal portion (112b) formed on a surface opposite to the first-1 terminal portion (112a). The second terminal portion (114) includes a second-1 terminal portion (114a) formed on one surface and a second-2 terminal portion (114b) formed on a surface opposite to the second-1 terminal portion (114a). However, in the implementation of the present invention, it is possible to provide only one of the first terminal part (112) and the second terminal part (114), and it is also possible to provide only one of the first-1 terminal part (112a) and the first-2 terminal part (112b) or only one of the second-1 terminal part (114a) and the second-2 terminal part (114b).

[0028] In the following description, the part of the connector body (10) where the terminal insertion part (12) is formed is the front of the connector body (10), the rear part opposite to the front is the rear of the connector body (10), the direction along the terminal part (110) of the printed circuit board (100) is the width direction, and the direction perpendicular to the width direction is the up-down direction.

[0029] The detailed configuration of the connector assembly (1) will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

[0030] In one embodiment, the connector body (10) includes a terminal insertion part (12) formed at the front, connector fixing parts (14, 16) provided on both sides, a pin pressing part (20, 22) formed at the rear, and a connector pin coupling part (30, 32, 34, 36) provided inside to which connector pins (40, 42, 44, 46) are coupled. The connector pins (40, 42, 44, 46) of the same type are provided in a row along the width direction of the connector body (10), and connector pins of different types (40, 42, 44, 46) may be arranged along the up and down direction of the connector body (10). The connector pins (40, 42, 44, 46) may include a lead portion (40a, 42a, 44a, 46a) having a contact portion (40b, 42b, 44b, 46b) at the end, and a pin body (40c, 42c, 44c, 46c) coupled to the connector pin coupling portion (30, 32, 34, 36).

[0031] The connector pin coupling portions (30, 32, 34, 36) include a first connector pin coupling portion (30), a second connector pin coupling portion (32), a third connector pin coupling portion (34), and a fourth connector pin coupling portion (36) that are paired with each other.

[0032] The first connector pin coupling part (30) and the second connector pin coupling part (32) are positioned on the upper and lower sides in the vertical direction of the connector body (10), and the third connector pin coupling part (34) and the fourth connector pin coupling part (36) are positioned in the vertical direction between the first connector pin coupling part (30) and the second connector pin coupling part (32).

[0033] The first to fourth connector pin coupling portions (30, 32, 34, 36) each have first to fourth pin exposure portions (30a, 32a, 34a, 36a) formed in a forward-facing opening. The first pin exposure portion (30a) includes a first support wall (30b) in an arc shape facing the direction of the terminal insertion portion (12), and the second pin exposure portion (32a) also includes a second support wall (32b) in an arc shape facing the direction of the terminal insertion portion (12). The third pin exposure portion (34a) and the fourth pin exposure portion (36a) include a third support wall (34b) and a fourth support wall (36b).

[0034] The connector pins (40, 42, 44, 46) include a first connector pin (40), a second connector pin (42), a third connector pin (44), and a fourth connector pin (46) that form pairs with each other. The first to fourth connector pins (40, 42, 44, 46) are each coupled to the first to fourth connector pin coupling portions (30, 32, 34, 36).

[0035] The first connector pin (40) and the second connector pin (42) are arranged in an up-and-down direction and contact the first-1 terminal portion (112a) and the first-2 terminal portion (112b) of the first terminal portion (112). The third connector pin (44) and the fourth connector pin (46) are arranged in an up-and-down direction and contact the second-1 terminal portion (114a) and the second-2 terminal portion (114b) of the second terminal portion (114). The second terminal portion (114) is provided protruding further from the printed circuit board (100) compared to the first terminal portion (112). Accordingly, the first contact portion (40b) and the second contact portion (42b) of the first connector pin (40) and the second connector pin (42) are located further forward in the terminal insertion portion (12) than the third contact portion (44b) and the fourth contact portion (46b) of the third connector pin (44) and the fourth connector pin (46).

[0036] At the bottom of the first pin body (40c) of the first connector pin (40) which is inserted into and fixed to the first pin coupling part (30), a first elastic part (40d) is provided, which is supported by one side wall of the first connector pin coupling part (30) and elastically supports the first pin body (40c) upward (in a direction opposite to the direction in which the first contact part (40b) contacts the first-1 terminal part (112a). By the first elastic part (40d), the first pin body (40c) is supported upward so that the first contact part (40b) can be in close contact with the first-1 terminal part (112a).

[0037] In the same way, a second elastic part (42d) is provided at the top of the second pin body (42c) of the second connector pin (42) which is inserted into and fixed to the second connector pin coupling part (32), and is supported by one side wall of the second pin coupling part (32) to elastically support the second pin body (42c) downward (in the opposite direction to the direction in which the second contact part (42b) contacts the first-second terminal part (112b). Accordingly, the second contact part (42b) can be made to be in close contact with the first-second terminal part (112b).

[0038] A third elastic part (44d) supported on one side wall of the third connector pin joint (34) is provided at the bottom of the third pin body (44c) of the third connector pin (44) inserted into the third connector pin joint (34), and a fourth elastic part (46d) supported on one side wall of the fourth connector pin joint (36) is provided at the top of the fourth pin body (46c) of the fourth connector pin (46) inserted into the fourth connector pin joint (36).

[0039] The pin pressing portion (20, 22) can press the first to fourth connector pins (40, 42, 44, 46) to move the first to fourth contact portions (40b, 42b, 44b, 46b) of the first to fourth connector pins (40, 42, 44, 46) in a direction away from the first terminal portion (112) and the second terminal portion (114).

[0040] In one embodiment, the pin pressing portion (20, 22) may be provided in a plate shape protruding from the rear end of the connector body (10). The pin pressing portion (20, 22) includes an upper pin pressing portion (20) and a lower pin pressing portion (22).

[0041] The upper pin pressing part (20) includes a first pin pressing part (20a) capable of pressing the first pin body (40c) of the first connector pin (40) downward, and a third pin pressing part (20b) capable of pressing the third pin body (44c) of the third connector pin (44) downward. The lower pin pressing part (22) includes a second pin pressing part (22a) capable of pressing the second pin body (42c) of the second connector pin (42) upward, and a fourth pin pressing part (22b) capable of pressing the fourth pin body (46c) of the fourth connector pin (46) upward.

[0042] FIG. 6 is a drawing showing a state in which the pin pressing part is not pressed in a connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a drawing showing a state in which the pin pressing part is pressed in a connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a side view of a state in which a connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention is coupled to a terminal part of a printed circuit board, and FIG. 9 is a side view of a state in which a connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention is coupled to a terminal part of a printed circuit board.

[0043] When coupling the connector assembly (1) to the terminal portion (110) of the printed circuit board (100), the user can apply pressure to the pin pressure portion (20, 22) to expand the spacing of the first to fourth contact portions (40b, 42b, 44b, 46b).

[0044] Referring to FIG. 6, when the pressure portions (20, 22) are not pressed, the distance between the first contact portion (40b) and the second contact portion (42b) is a1, and the distance between the third contact portion (44b) and the fourth contact portion (46b) is b1.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 7, when the pressing part (20, 22) is pressed so that the pressing part (20, 22) presses the first to fourth pin bodies (40c, 42c, 44c, 46c) inward, the first to fourth lead parts (40a, 42a, 44a, 46a) move outward, the gap between the first contact part (40b) and the second contact part (42b) is expanded to a2, and the gap between the third contact part (44b) and the fourth contact part (46b) is expanded to b2. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8, it becomes easy to connect the terminal part (110) of the printed circuit board (100) to the terminal insertion part (12) of the connector assembly (1). In addition, friction between the first to fourth contact portions (40b, 42b, 44b, 46b) and each of the first-1 terminal portions to the second-2 terminal portions (112a, 112b, 114a, 114b) is minimized, thereby preventing damage caused by friction.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 9, when the connector assembly (1) is coupled to the terminal portion (110) of the printed circuit board (100) and the external force applied to the pressure portion (20, 22) is removed, the first to fourth contact portions (40b, 42b, 44b, 46b) can be reliably contacted with each of the first-1 terminal portions to the second-2 terminal portions (112a, 112b, 114a, 114b) by the elastic force of the first to fourth elastic portions (40d, 42d, 44d, 46d) and the elastic force of the first to fourth lead portions (40a, 42a, 44a, 46a).

[0047] FIG. 10 is a drawing illustrating another embodiment of a terminal portion of a printed circuit board to which a connector assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention is coupled.

[0048] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the second terminal portion (114) is shown to be formed with a thinner thickness than the first terminal portion (112), but in FIG. 10, the first terminal portion (112) and the second terminal portion (114) are shown to be formed with the same thickness. With respect to the printed circuit board (100) of FIG. 10, the spacing between the first contact portion (40b) and the second contact portion (42b) of the connector assembly (1), and the spacing between the third contact portion (44b) and the fourth contact portion (46b) can be configured to be the same. Meanwhile, in FIG. 10, the first and second connector fixing holes (102a, 102b) are holes into which the first and second substrate fixing members (18a, 18b) are inserted.

[0049] The foregoing description is merely an illustrative explanation of the technical concept of the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will be able to make various modifications, changes, and substitutions within the scope of the essential characteristics of the present invention. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention and the accompanying drawings are intended to explain, not limit, the technical concept of the present invention, and the scope of the technical concept of the present invention is not limited by such embodiments and accompanying drawings. The scope of protection of the present invention shall be interpreted by the claims below, and all technical concepts within an equivalent scope shall be interpreted as being included within the scope of rights of the present invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0050] 1: Connector assembly 10: Connector body 20: Upper pin pressing part 22: Lower pin pressing part 30: 1st connector pin connection part 32: 2nd connector pin connection part 34: 3rd connector pin connection part 36: 4th connector pin connection part 40: 1st connector pin 42: 2nd connector pin 44: 3rd connector pin 46: 4th connector pin 100: Printed circuit board 110: Terminal section

Claims

Claim 1 A connector assembly coupled to a terminal portion formed on one side of a printed circuit board and having at least one terminal formed on at least one surface, comprising: a connector body including a terminal insertion portion formed at the front for inserting the terminal portion and a connector pin coupling portion formed from the rear toward the front; a connector pin having a contact portion inserted into the connector pin coupling portion and contacting the terminal, the contact portion being exposed to the terminal insertion portion; and a pin pressing portion provided at the rear of the connector body and pressing a portion of the connector pin by a user's pressure to cause the contact portion to spread upward or downward; wherein the connector pin comprises a pin body coupled to the connector pin coupling portion and a lead portion coupled to the pin body and having the contact portion at its end, wherein the pin body is provided with an elastic portion that elastically supports the pin body upward or downward of the connector body, and the elastic portion is supported on one side wall of the connector pin coupling portion. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 delete Claim 4 A connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic part is composed of a plate spring. Claim 5 A connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein a first substrate insertion part and a second substrate insertion part into which a portion of the printed circuit board is inserted are respectively provided on both sides of the connector body, and a first substrate fixing member and a second substrate fixing member that penetrate and fix the printed circuit board are respectively coupled to the first substrate insertion part and the second substrate insertion part. Claim 6 A connector assembly according to any one of claims 1, 4, and 5, wherein the terminal portion comprises a first terminal portion having a first-1 terminal portion formed on a first surface and a first-2 terminal portion formed on a second surface opposite to the first surface, and the pin coupling portion comprises a first connector pin coupling portion formed on the upper side of the connector body and a second connector pin coupling portion formed on the lower side of the connector body, and the connector pin comprises a first connector pin having a first lead portion having a first contact portion that contacts the first-1 terminal portion and a first pin body coupled to the first connector pin coupling portion, and a second connector pin having a second lead portion having a second contact portion that contacts the first-2 terminal portion and a second pin body coupled to the second connector pin coupling portion. Claim 7 A connector assembly according to claim 6, wherein the pin pressing part comprises a first pin pressing part capable of pressing the first pin body downward and a second pin pressing part capable of pressing the second pin body upward. Claim 8 A connector assembly according to claim 6, wherein the first pin body includes a first elastic member supported on one side of the first connector pin coupling portion and supporting the first pin body upward, and the second pin body includes a second elastic member supported on one side of the second connector pin coupling portion and supporting the second pin body downward. Claim 9 A connector assembly according to claim 6, wherein the terminal portion is provided protruding further than the first terminal portion and further comprises a second terminal portion having a 2-1 terminal portion formed on the first surface and a 2-2 terminal portion formed on the second surface, and the pin coupling portion includes a third connector pin coupling portion and a fourth connector pin coupling portion formed between the first connector pin coupling portion and the second connector pin coupling portion, and the connector pin comprises a third connector pin having a third lead portion having a third contact portion that contacts the 2-1 terminal portion and a third pin body coupled to the third connector pin coupling portion, and a fourth connector pin having a fourth lead portion having a fourth contact portion that contacts the 2-2 terminal portion and a fourth pin body coupled to the fourth connector pin coupling portion. Claim 10 A connector assembly according to claim 9, wherein the pin pressing part comprises a third pin pressing part capable of pressing the third pin body downward and a fourth pin pressing part capable of pressing the fourth pin body upward. Claim 11 A connector assembly according to claim 9, wherein the third pin body includes a third elastic member supported on one side of the third connector pin coupling portion and supporting the third pin body upward, and the fourth pin body includes a fourth elastic member supported on one side of the fourth connector pin coupling portion and supporting the fourth pin body downward.

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