Connector components

Abstract

The present invention discloses a connector assembly, comprising a connector and a matching connector. The matching connector comprises a matching housing. The matching housing is formed with a release protrusion. The connector comprises a first housing and a second housing. The first housing is provided with a stopper. The second housing is provided with a stopped portion. One of the first housing and the second housing is provided with a second supporting portion, which supports the supported portion. When the second housing is mounted to the first housing, the stopped portion abuts with the stopper, and the movement of the second housing is limited by the stopper. When the second housing limited in this way is accommodated in the matching housing together with the first housing, one of the second supporting portion and the supported portion abuts with the release protrusion to release the movement restriction of the second housing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a connector assembly comprising a connector and a mating connector. Background Art

[0002] This type of connector assembly is disclosed, for example, in JP2010-56088 (Patent Document 1), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] like Figure 45 to Figure 47 As shown, patent document 1 discloses a connector assembly 900, which includes a female high-voltage connector 910, a female high-voltage interlocking loop (HVIL) connector 930, a male high-voltage connector 950 and a male HVIL connector 970. The female high-voltage connector 910 can be matched with the male high-voltage connector 950 along the X direction. The female high-voltage connector 910 has a latch device 918 and a sliding member 916 that can slide in the X direction. The latch device 918 has a latch handle 919 and a locking latch (not shown). The locking latch can be moved in the Z direction by the latch handle 919. The female HVIL connector 930 is detachable from the female high-voltage connector 910. The female HVIL connector 930 can be matched with the male HVIL connector 970 along the X direction. The female HVIL connector 930 has a low-voltage terminal 932 and an abutment 934. The male high-voltage connector 950 has a complementary groove 954. The male HVIL connector 970 is attached to the male high-voltage connector 950. The male HVIL connector 970 has a low voltage terminal 972 and a stopper 976. When the female HVIL connector 930 is matched with the male HVIL connector 970 so that the low voltage terminal 932 is connected to the low voltage terminal 972, the HVIL circuit is closed, and power is provided between the female high voltage connector 910 and the male high voltage connector 950. When the female HVIL connector 930 is separated from the male HVIL connector 970 so that the low voltage terminal 932 is disconnected from the low voltage terminal 972, the HVIL circuit is disconnected, and the power provided between the female high voltage connector 910 and the male high voltage connector 950 is cut off.

[0004] According to the connector assembly 900, in order to provide power between the female high voltage connector 910 and the male high voltage connector 950, the following operations need to be performed. First, Fig.47 As shown, the female high voltage connector 910 and the male high voltage connector 950 match each other along the X direction. At the same time, the locking latch of the latch device 918 is locked with the Fig.46 The complementary grooves 954 shown engage and lock the mating between the female high voltage connector 910 and the male high voltage connector 950. Then, the sliding member 916 is pushed in the positive X direction to move it to Fig.46As a result, the sliding member 916 is located below the negative Z side of the latch handle 919. Accordingly, even if the latch handle 919 is pushed in the negative Z direction, the locking latch moves in the positive Z direction so that the matching lock is not released. Fig.45 As shown, the female HVIL connector 930 is slid toward the male HVIL connector 970, so that the low voltage terminal 932 contacts the low voltage terminal 972. As a result, the HVIL circuit is closed and power is provided between the female high voltage connector 910 and the male high voltage connector 950. According to another operation, when the sliding member 916 is not pushed to Fig.46 In the state shown in the position, the female HVIL connector 930 is slid toward the male HVIL connector 970, Fig.45 The abutment portion 934 shown is Fig.46 The stopper 976 shown abuts, and therefore, the female HVIL connector 930 cannot be matched with the male HVIL connector 970. When the matching of the female high-voltage connector 910 and the male high-voltage connector 950 is released, the reverse operation to the above operation needs to be performed.

[0005] Since the connector assembly 900 of Patent Document 1 has a large number of parts, it has problems of complicated manufacturing process and increased manufacturing cost. Summary of the invention

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a new connector assembly which is more compact and has a smaller number of parts than existing connector assemblies, and is easier to handle than existing connector assemblies when its connectors are mated with and removed from each other.

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0008] In one aspect, the present invention provides a connector assembly, which includes a connector and a matching connector. The matching connector includes a first matching terminal, a second matching terminal and a matching housing. The matching housing holds the first matching terminal and the second matching terminal. The matching housing forms a receiving portion. The matching housing is formed with a release protrusion and a matching locking portion. The release protrusion extends into the receiving portion. The matching locking portion faces the receiving portion. The connector mates with the matching connector along a matching direction. The connector includes a first terminal, a first housing, a second terminal and a second housing. The first housing is configured to be received in the receiving portion along the matching direction. The first housing holds the first terminal. When the first housing is received in the receiving portion, the first terminal is connected to the first matching terminal. The first housing is provided with a stopper and a first structure, the first structure including a first supporting portion and a locking portion. The first supporting portion has a restoring force and supports the locking portion. By utilizing the restoring force of the first supporting portion, the locking portion is movable in a vertical direction perpendicular to the matching direction. When the first terminal is connected to the first matching terminal, the locking portion and the matching locking portion lock the state in which the first housing is received in the receiving portion. The second housing holds the second terminal. The second housing is provided with a stopped portion and a limiting portion. One of the first housing and the second housing is provided with a second supporting portion. The second supporting portion has a restoring force and supports the supported portion, which serves as one of the stopper and the stopped portion. By utilizing the restoring force of the second supporting portion, the supported portion is movable in the vertical direction. When the second housing is mounted to the first housing along the matching direction, the stopped portion abuts the stopper, and the second housing is in a limiting state, wherein the movement of the second housing along the matching direction is limited by the stopper. When the second housing in the limiting state is received in the receiving portion along the matching direction together with the first housing, the first terminal is connected to the first matching terminal, and then one of the second supporting portion and the supported portion abuts the release protrusion, so that the movement restriction of the second housing in the matching direction is released. When the second housing moves further in the matching direction after the movement restriction is released, the second terminal is connected to the second matching terminal, and the limiting portion is located in at least a portion of the first structure in the vertical direction to limit the movement of the locking portion in the vertical direction.

[0009] According to the connector assembly of one aspect of the present invention, the mating housing of the mating connector is formed with a release protrusion, the first housing of the connector is provided with a stopper, the second housing of the connector is provided with a stopped portion and a limiting portion, and one of the first housing and the second housing is provided with a second supporting portion, which supports the supported portion as one of the stopper and the stopped portion. As can be seen from the above description, the functions of the sliding part, the female HVIL connector and the male HVIL connector of patent document 1 are assigned to the mating connector and the connector of the connector assembly of one aspect of the present invention, so that the connector assembly of one aspect of the present invention is more compact and has a smaller number of parts than the connector assembly of patent document 1.

[0010] According to the connector assembly of one aspect of the present invention, when the second housing is mounted to the first housing along the mating direction, the stopped portion abuts against the stopper, and the second housing is in a restricted state, wherein the movement of the second housing in the mating direction is restricted by the stopper. When the second housing in the restricted state is received in the receiving portion of the mating connector along the mating direction together with the first housing, the first terminal is connected to the first mating terminal, and then one of the second supporting portion and the supported portion abuts against the release protrusion, thereby releasing the above restriction. After releasing the above restriction, when the second housing moves further in the mating direction, the second terminal is connected to the second mating terminal, and the restricting portion is located inside a part of the first structure in the vertical direction to restrict the movement of the locking portion in the vertical direction. As described above, the connector assembly of one aspect of the present invention is configured so that the connection between the connector and the mating connector is completed only by the operation of being in a state where the second housing is mounted to the first housing, the connector is mated with the mating connector, and then the second housing is pushed toward the first housing. Therefore, compared with the connector assembly of patent document 1, when the connectors of the present invention are mated with each other and removed from each other, the connector assembly of one aspect of the present invention is easier to operate than the existing connector assembly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1 1 is a perspective view of a connector assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the connector and the mating connector of the connector assembly are in an unmated state separated from each other, and the second housing of the connector is in a restricted state.

[0012] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a connector of a connector assembly is shown.

[0013] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A top view of the connector is shown.

[0014] Figure 4 yes Figure 3A IV-IV sectional view of the connector is shown, wherein the cross-section of the second terminal and the cable is not shown but is shown through the side surface thereof.

[0015] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 A VV sectional view of the connector is shown.

[0016] Figure 6 yes Figure 2 Another perspective view of the connector is shown, wherein the limiting portion of the connector limits the movement of the locking portion in the vertical direction.

[0017] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A top view of a connector is shown, wherein a portion of the connector enclosed by a dotted line is enlarged and shown.

[0018] Figure 8 yes Figure 6 A front view of the connector is shown.

[0019] Fig. 9 yes Figure 2 An exploded perspective view of a connector is shown, wherein modifications to the cable of the connector are shown with dashed circles.

[0020] Fig.10 yes Fig. 9 A top view of the first housing of the connector is shown.

[0021] Fig.11 yes Fig.10 A sectional view of the first shell taken along the line XI-XI is shown.

[0022] Fig.12 yes Fig.10 A cross-sectional view of the first shell taken along the line XII-XII is shown.

[0023] Fig.13 yes Fig. 9 A perspective view of the second housing of the connector is shown.

[0024] Fig.14 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a mating connector of the connector assembly is shown.

[0025] Fig.15 yes Fig.14 Another perspective view of the mating connector is shown.

[0026] Fig.16 yes Fig.14 Shown is a rear view of the mating connector.

[0027] Fig.17 It is used to illustrate Figure 1A top view of a connector assembly showing a mating process between the connector and the mating connector, wherein the connector and the mating connector are in an unmated state and the second housing is in a restricted state.

[0028] Fig.18 yes Fig.17 A cross-sectional view taken along the line XVIII-XVIII of the connector assembly is shown, wherein the cross-sections of the second terminal and the cable are not shown but are shown from the side thereof.

[0029] Fig.19 yes Fig.17 A cross-sectional view of the connector assembly taken along the XIX-XIX line is shown.

[0030] Fig. 20 It is used to illustrate Figure 1 Another top view showing the mating process between the connector of the connector assembly and the mating connector, wherein the first housing is received in the receiving portion and the second housing is in a restricted state.

[0031] Fig.21 yes Fig. 20 A sectional view taken along the line XXI-XXI of the connector assembly is shown, wherein the cross-section of the second terminal and the cable is not shown but is shown from the side thereof.

[0032] Fig. 22 yes Fig. 20 A sectional view taken along line XXII-XXII of the connector assembly is shown.

[0033] Fig.23 It is used to illustrate Figure 1 Another top view of the mating process between the connector of the connector assembly and the mating connector is shown, wherein a portion of the connector assembly surrounded by a dotted line is enlarged and shown, the connector and the mating connector are in a mating state matching each other, and the limiting portion limits the movement of the locking portion in the vertical direction.

[0034] Fig.24 yes Fig.23 A XXIV-XXIV sectional view of the connector assembly is shown, wherein the cross-section of the second terminal and the cable is not shown but is shown from the side thereof.

[0035] Fig.25 yes Fig.23 A sectional view taken along line XXV-XXV of the connector assembly is shown.

[0036] Fig.26 1 is a perspective view of a connector assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein a connector and a mating connector of the connector assembly are in an unmated state separated from each other, and a portion of the mating connector surrounded by a dotted line is enlarged and illustrated.

[0037] Fig. 27 yes Fig.26 A perspective view of a mating connector of the connector assembly is shown.

[0038] Fig.28 yes Fig. 27 A top view of the mating connector is shown.

[0039] Fig.29 yes Fig.28 A XXIX-XXIX cross-sectional view of the mating connector is shown, wherein a hidden outline of the mating locking portion is shown with a dotted line.

[0040] Fig.30 yes Fig.26 A perspective view of a connector of a connector assembly is shown.

[0041] Fig.31 yes Fig.30 Another perspective view of the connector is shown.

[0042] Fig.32 yes Fig.30 An exploded perspective view of a connector is shown, in which a portion of the connector surrounded by a dotted line is enlarged and shown.

[0043] Fig.33 yes Fig.32 A perspective view of a first housing of a connector is shown.

[0044] Fig.34 yes Fig.32 A perspective view of a second housing of a connector is shown, wherein a portion of the second housing surrounded by a dotted line is enlarged and shown.

[0045] Fig.35 yes Fig.30 A top view of the connector is shown.

[0046] Fig.36 yes Fig.35 A XXXVI-XXXVI cross-sectional view of the connector is shown.

[0047] Fig.37 yes Fig.35 A XXXVII-XXXVII sectional view of the connector is shown, wherein the cross-section of the second terminal and the cable is not shown but is shown through the side surface thereof.

[0048] Fig.38 Yes Fig.35 The connectors shown and Fig.28 A top view of a connector assembly of a mating connector is shown, wherein the mating connector is only partially shown with a dotted line, the connector and the mating connector are in a mating state mating with each other, and the second housing of the connector is in a covering position.

[0049] Fig.39 yes Fig.38 A XXXIX-XXXIX cross-sectional view of the connector assembly is shown, wherein hidden outlines of the locking portion and the mating locking portion are shown in dotted lines.

[0050] Fig.40 yes Fig.38 An XL-XL sectional view of the connector assembly is shown, wherein the hidden outlines of the locking portion, the mating locking portion, the terminal and a portion of the mating terminal are shown with dotted lines, and the second terminal and the cable are not shown through their cross-sections but through their sides.

[0051] Fig.41 yes Fig.38 A top view of a connector assembly is shown with the mating connector only partially shown in phantom with the second housing of the connector in an exposed position.

[0052] Fig.42 yes Fig.41 A cross-sectional view taken along the line XLII-XLII of the connector assembly is shown, wherein hidden outlines of the locking portion and the mating locking portion are shown in dotted lines.

[0053] Fig.43 yes Fig.41 A XLIII-XLIII sectional view of the connector assembly is shown, wherein hidden outlines of the locking portion and the mating locking portion are shown with dotted lines, and the second terminal and the cable are not shown through their cross sections but through their side surfaces.

[0054] Fig.44 yes Fig.41 A front view of a connector assembly is shown with the mating connector only partially shown in phantom.

[0055] Fig.45 It is a cross-sectional view of the connector assembly of Patent Document 1, in which the female high voltage connector and the male high voltage connector are matched with each other, and the female HVIL connector and the male HVIL connector are matched with each other.

[0056] Fig.46 yes Fig.45 Another cross-sectional view of the connector assembly is shown, wherein the female high voltage connector and the male high voltage connector are mated with each other, but the female HVIL connector and the male HVIL connector are in an unmated state.

[0057] Fig.47 yes Fig.45 Yet another cross-sectional view of the connector assembly is shown, wherein the female and male high voltage connectors mate with each other, but the female HVIL connector is removed from the female high voltage connector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] (First embodiment)

[0059] like Figure 1 As shown, the connector assembly 10 of the first embodiment of the present invention includes a mating connector 60 and a connector 20. The connector 20 and the mating connector 60 can mate with each other. The connector assembly 10 has a connector position assurance (CPA) mechanism and a high voltage interlock circuit (HVIL) mechanism. The CPA mechanism locks the mating state between the connector 20 and the mating connector 60. The HVIL mechanism is used to prevent electric shock that may be caused by a high voltage power supply.

[0060] Reference Fig.16 The mating connector 60 of the present embodiment is configured to be mounted on a circuit board (not shown). The mating connector 60 includes a mating housing 70 , a first mating terminal 82 , and a second mating terminal 84 .

[0061] like Fig.16 As shown, the matching housing 70 of this embodiment holds the first matching terminal 82 and the second matching terminal 84. Fig.14 As shown, a mating housing 70 forms the receiving portion 62 .

[0062] like Fig.18 and Fig.19 As shown, the receiving portion 62 of this embodiment is a space extending in the front-to-back direction. The front-to-back direction of this embodiment is the X direction. The matching direction described later is the positive X direction. The forward direction is the positive X direction, and the backward direction is the negative X direction.

[0063] like Fig.19 As shown, the mating housing 70 has an upper plate 72 and a rear plate 78 .

[0064] like Fig.19 As shown, the upper plate 72 of this embodiment defines one of the opposite ends of the matching housing 70 in a vertical direction perpendicular to the matching direction. The vertical direction of this embodiment is the Z direction. The vertical direction is also the up-down direction. Upward is the positive Z direction, and downward is the negative Z direction. Therefore, the upper plate 72 defines the upper end of the matching housing 70 in the up-down direction.

[0065] like Fig.19 As shown, the rear plate 78 of the present embodiment defines the front end of the mating housing 70 in the front-rear direction. The receiving portion 62 is located behind the rear plate 78 in the front-rear direction.

[0066] Reference Fig.15 and Fig.18 , the mating housing 70 is formed with a release protrusion 722, an extension portion 728, two locking holes 724 and two matching locking portions 725. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the number of the locking hole 724 and the matching locking portion 725 may be one.

[0067] like Fig.16 As shown, the release protrusion 722 of the present embodiment protrudes into the receiving portion 62. The release protrusion 722 protrudes downward from the upper plate 72.

[0068] like Fig.19 As shown, the release protrusion 722 has a front surface 7222 and a rear surface 7224 .

[0069] like Fig.19 As shown, the front surface 7222 of this embodiment intersects with the front-to-back direction. The front surface 7222 faces forward and downward. The front surface 7222 is inclined backward and downward.

[0070] like Fig.19 As shown, the rear surface 7224 of this embodiment intersects with the front-to-back direction. The rear surface 7224 faces rearward and downward. The rear surface 7224 is inclined rearward and upward. The rear surface 7224 is located behind the front surface 7222 in the front-to-back direction.

[0071] like Fig.19 As shown, the extension 728 of this embodiment is located behind the rear plate 78 in the front-to-back direction. The extension 728 is located in front of the release protrusion 722 in the front-to-back direction. The extension 728 couples the rear plate 78 and the release protrusion 722 to each other in the front-to-back direction. The extension 728 has a lower end, which is located above the lower end of the release protrusion 722.

[0072] like Fig.18 As shown, each locking hole 724 of this embodiment penetrates the upper plate 72 in the up-down direction. Each locking hole 724 has an inner surface facing forward in the front-back direction. The inner surface of each locking hole 724 serves as a matching locking portion 725.

[0073] like Fig.18 As shown, each matching locking portion 725 of the present embodiment faces the receiving portion 62. Each matching locking portion 725 is a plane facing forward in the front-rear direction.

[0074] Reference Fig.18 , each first matching terminal 82 of the present embodiment is made of metal and has an L-shaped shape. Each first matching terminal 82 is a so-called pin contact. Each first matching terminal 82 has a lower end, which is configured to be fixed and connected to a pad (not shown) of a circuit board by welding or the like.

[0075] Reference Fig.18 , each second matching terminal 84 of the present embodiment is made of metal and has an L-shaped shape. Each second matching terminal 84 is a so-called pin contact. Each second matching terminal 84 has a lower end, which is configured to be fixed and connected to a pad (not shown) of a circuit board by welding or the like.

[0076] Reference Fig.17 , Fig. 20 and Fig.23 The connector 20 of this embodiment can be matched with the matching connector 60 along the matching direction. The connector 20 matched with the matching connector 60 can be removed from the matching connector 60 along the removal direction (negative X direction) opposite to the matching direction (positive X direction).

[0077] like Figure 8 As shown, the connector 20 of the present embodiment includes a first housing 30 , a plurality of first terminals 52 , a second housing 40 and two second terminals 54 .

[0078] like Fig.18 and Fig.21 As shown, the first housing 30 of the present embodiment is configured to be received in the receiving portion 62 along the mating direction. Figure 8 As shown, the first housing 30 holds the first terminal 52. Figure 8 and Fig.10 The first housing 30 has a mirror-symmetrical shape relative to a plane perpendicular to the transverse direction and passes through the middle of the first housing 30 in the transverse direction. The transverse direction of this embodiment is the Y direction. Fig.10 and Fig.11 , the first shell 30 is provided with an upper portion 305 , a stopper 350 , a first structure 36 , a receiving portion 33 , an additional stopper 34 , a partition wall 320 and a support portion receiving portion 325 .

[0079] like Fig.11 As shown, the upper portion 305 of the present embodiment extends in the front-to-back direction. The upper portion 305 has a lower surface 306 and a protrusion 307. The lower surface 306 is a plane facing downward in the up-down direction. Each protrusion 307 protrudes downward from the lower surface 306. Each protrusion 307 is located in the middle of the first housing 30 in the front-to-back direction. Each protrusion 307 has a rear surface facing rearward in the front-to-back direction. The rear surface of each protrusion 307 serves as a stopper 350.

[0080] like Fig.11 As shown, each stopper 350 of this embodiment intersects with the front-rear direction. Each stopper 350 is a plane facing rearward in the front-rear direction.

[0081] like Fig.10 and Fig.11As shown, the first structure 36 of the present embodiment includes two first supporting portions 362, two locking portions 365 and a first operating portion (operating portion) 368. Therefore, the first housing 30 is provided with a stopper 350 and a first structure 36, and the first structure 36 includes a first supporting portion 362 and a locking portion 365. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. When the number of matching locking portions 725 is one, the first structure 36 may include only one first supporting portion 362 and only one locking portion 365.

[0082] like Fig.11 As shown, each first support portion 362 of the present embodiment extends backward from the upper portion 305 in the front-to-back direction. Each first support portion 362 has a restoring force and supports one of the locking portions 365. Each first support portion 362 is elastically deformable in the vertical direction, that is, in the up-down direction. Each first support portion 362 has a locking protrusion 364.

[0083] As described above, each first support portion 362 of the present embodiment has a restoring force, which is its elastic force. However, the restoring force of each first support portion 362 of the present invention is not limited to the elastic force of the first support portion 362 itself. For example, each first support portion 362 can be supported by a spring (not shown) separated from the first shell 30 so as to be able to rotate around a fulcrum serving as the front end of the first support portion 362. Therefore, each first support portion 362 may have a restoring force caused by another component. In the present embodiment and the second embodiment described later, the modifications described above are applicable to each portion having a restoring force and each component having a restoring force.

[0084] like Fig.11 As shown, the locking protrusion 364 of this embodiment is located in the middle of the first structure 36 in the front-to-back direction. Each locking protrusion 364 protrudes upward in the up-down direction. Each locking protrusion 364 has a rear surface facing rearward in the front-to-back direction. Each rear surface of the locking protrusion 364 serves as a locking portion 365.

[0085] like Fig.11 As shown, each locking portion 365 of the present embodiment intersects with the front-to-back direction. Each locking portion 365 is a plane facing rearward in the front-to-back direction. Each locking portion 365 is respectively disposed on the first support portion 362. As described above, each first support portion 362 has a restoring force. Therefore, each locking portion 365 can move in a vertical direction perpendicular to the matching direction using the restoring force of the first support portion 362. More specifically, each locking portion 365 can move in an up-and-down direction using the restoring force of the first support portion 362. Fig.21 ,when Figure 8 When the illustrated first terminal 52 is connected to the first mating terminal 82 , the locking portion 365 and the mating locking portion 725 lock the state in which the first housing 30 is received in the receiving portion 62 .

[0086] like Fig.10 As shown, the first operating portion 368 of this embodiment is located at the rear end of the first structure 36 in the front-to-back direction. The first operating portion 368 is located near the rear end of the first housing 30 in the front-to-back direction. The first operating portion 368 is located behind the first support portion 362 in the front-to-back direction. The first operating portion 368 is located behind the locking portion 365 in the front-to-back direction. Fig.11 , by pressing the first operating portion 368 toward the inside of the first shell 30 in the vertical direction, the first support portion 362 can be elastically deformed so that the locking portion 365 moves toward the inside of the first shell 30 in the vertical direction. As described above, each first support portion 362 has a restoring force. Therefore, when the above-mentioned pressing on the first operating portion 368 is stopped, the first support portion 362 returns to its initial shape so that the locking portion 365 moves outside the first shell 30 in the vertical direction. More specifically, by pressing the first operating portion 368 downward, the first support portion 362 can be elastically deformed so that the locking portion 365 moves downward. When the above-mentioned pressing on the first operating portion 368 is stopped, the first support portion 362 returns to its initial shape so that the locking portion 365 moves upward.

[0087] like Fig.11 As shown, the receiving portion 33 of this embodiment is a hole that penetrates the first housing 30 in the front-to-back direction. The receiving portion 33 is located below the lower surface 306 of the upper portion 305 in the up-down direction. The receiving portion 33 is located below the first support portion 362 in the up-down direction. The receiving portion 33 is located below the locking portion 365 in the up-down direction. The receiving portion 33 is located below the first operating portion 368 in the up-down direction. Fig. 9 As shown, the receiving portion 33 is located in the middle of the first housing 30 in the lateral direction.

[0088] like Fig.12 As shown, the additional stopper 34 of the present embodiment is located in the middle of the first shell 30 in the front-to-back direction. The additional stopper 34 is located near the lower end of the first shell 30. The additional stopper 34 is located in the accommodating portion 33 and protrudes upward in the up-down direction. The additional stopper 34 has a front surface 342 and a rear surface 344. Both the front surface 342 and the rear surface 344 intersect with the front-to-back direction. The front surface 342 faces forward in the front-to-back direction. The rear surface 344 faces backward and upward. The rear surface 344 is inclined backward and downward. The rear surface 344 is located behind the front surface 342 in the front-to-back direction.

[0089] Reference Fig.11 and Fig.12, the partition wall 320 of this embodiment extends backward from the front end of the first housing 30. The partition wall 320 is located below the lower surface 306 of the upper portion 305. The partition wall 320 is located in front of the first support portion 362 in the front-to-back direction. The partition wall 320 is located in front of the locking portion 365 in the front-to-back direction. The partition wall 320 is located in front of the first operating portion 368 in the front-to-back direction. Figure 8 As shown, the partition wall 320 is located in the middle of the first housing 30 in the lateral direction.

[0090] like Fig.10 As shown, the support portion accommodating portion 325 of this embodiment is a space extending in the front-to-back direction. The support portion accommodating portion 325 is located in the middle of the first shell 30 in the lateral direction. The support portion accommodating portion 325 is located between the two first support portions 362 in the lateral direction. The support portion accommodating portion 325 is located between the two locking portions 365 in the lateral direction. The support portion accommodating portion 325 is located in front of the first operating portion 368 in the front-to-back direction. Fig.11 and Fig.12 As shown, the support portion receiving portion 325 is located above the partition wall 320 in the up-down direction.

[0091] like Fig.11 and Fig.12 As shown, the support portion receiving portion 325 has a main receiving portion 326 and two additional receiving portions 327 .

[0092] like Fig.10 As shown, the main receiving portion 326 of this embodiment is a channel extending in the front-to-back direction. The main receiving portion 326 is located in the middle of the first shell 30 in the lateral direction. The main receiving portion 326 is located between the two first supporting portions 362 in the lateral direction. The main receiving portion 326 is located between the two locking portions 365 in the lateral direction. Fig.12 As shown, the main receiving portion 326 communicates with the outside of the first housing 30 in the up-down direction. The main receiving portion 326 communicates with the outside of the first housing 30 in the front-to-back direction. The main receiving portion 326 is located in front of the first operating portion 368 in the front-to-back direction. Fig.11 and Fig.12 The main receiving portion 326 is located between the two additional receiving portions 327 in the lateral direction. The main receiving portion 326 is communicated with each additional receiving portion 327 in the lateral direction.

[0093] like Fig.11 As shown, each additional receiving portion 327 of the present embodiment is a space extending in the front-to-back direction. Each additional receiving portion 327 is connected to the outside of the first housing 30 in the front-to-back direction. Each additional receiving portion 327 is located below the locking portion 365 in the up-down direction. Each additional receiving portion 327 is located below the lower surface 306 of the upper portion 305 in the up-down direction.

[0094] like Fig.10 As shown, the first housing 30 further has an additional locked portion 370 .

[0095] like Fig.10 As shown, each additional locked portion 370 of the present embodiment is located near the rear end of the first housing 30 in the front-to-back direction. Each additional locked portion 370 intersects the front-to-back direction. More specifically, each additional locked portion 370 is a plane facing forward in the front-to-back direction. Each additional locked portion 370 is located behind the first operating portion 368 in the front-to-back direction.

[0096] Reference Fig. 9 , each first terminal 52 of the present embodiment is made of metal. Each first terminal 52 is a so-called socket contact and is connected to the cable 56. Figure 8 , Fig.16 and Fig.21 When the first housing 30 is received in the receiving portion 62, each first terminal 52 is respectively connected to each first matching terminal 82. The first terminal 52 and its corresponding first matching terminal 82 are configured to be connected to each other to transmit high voltage current.

[0097] like Figure 5 As shown, the second housing 40 of this embodiment is held by the first housing 30 and is movable relative to the first housing 30. Figure 4 As shown, the second housing 40 holds the second terminal 54. Figure 4 and Fig.13 As shown, the second housing 40 is provided with a main body 42, a head 44, a limiting portion 442, a second supporting portion 46, two stopped portions 464, two additional supporting portions 45, two additional locking portions 454, two second operating portions 458 and an additional stopped portion 424. Therefore, the second supporting portion 46 is provided to the second housing 40. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the second supporting portion 46 may be provided to the first housing 30. In other words, one of the first housing 30 and the second housing 40 should be provided with the second supporting portion 46. However, for a more flexible design of the connector 20, the second supporting portion 46 is preferably provided to the second housing 40.

[0098] like Fig.13 As shown in FIG. 1 , the main body 42 of the present embodiment has a rectangular cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction and has an upper surface 423 facing upward.

[0099] like Fig.13 As shown, the head portion 44 of this embodiment is located above the main body portion 42 in the up-down direction. The head portion 44 is disposed on the upper surface 423 of the main body portion 42. The head portion 44 defines the upper end of the second housing 40 in the up-down direction.

[0100] like Fig.13 As shown, the limiting portion 442 of this embodiment is in a plate-like shape. Figure 5 As shown, the restriction portion 442 extends forward from the head portion 44 in the front-to-back direction. The restriction portion 442 is located near the upper end of the head portion 44. The restriction portion 442 is separated from the main body portion 42 in the up-down direction and is located above the main body portion 42. The restriction portion 442 is separated from the second support portion 46 in the up-down direction and is located above the second support portion 46.

[0101] Reference Figure 4 , the second support portion 46 of the present embodiment has a restoring force and supports each stopped portion 464 as a supported portion 464. The second support portion 46 is elastically deformable in the vertical direction, that is, in the up and down direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When the second support portion 46 is provided to the first shell 30, the second support portion 46 can support each stopper 350 of the first shell 30 as a supported portion. In short, the second support portion 46 should have a restoring force and should support the supported portion, each supported portion being one of the stopper 350 and the stopped portion 464.

[0102] like Fig.13 As shown, the second supporting portion 46 has a protrusion supporting portion 465 , a protrusion 466 , and two stopped portion supporting portions 462 .

[0103] Reference Fig.13 The protrusion support portion 465 of this embodiment has a restoring force and extends forward from the middle of the upper surface 423 of the main body portion 42 in the front-rear direction. The protrusion support portion 465 is located in the middle of the second support portion 46 in the lateral direction. The protrusion support portion 465 is clamped by two stopper support portions 462 in the lateral direction. The protrusion support portion 465 couples each stopper support portion 462 in the lateral direction.

[0104] Reference Fig.13 , by utilizing the restoring force of the second support portion 46, the protrusion 466 of the present embodiment is movable in the vertical direction, that is, movable in the up-down direction. The protrusion 466 is located behind the front end of the main body portion 42 in the front-to-back direction. The protrusion 466 is located in front of the stopped portion 464 in the front-to-back direction. The protrusion 466 is located at the front end of the second support portion 46 in the front-to-back direction. The protrusion 466 is located at the front end of the protrusion support portion 465 in the front-to-back direction. The protrusion 466 is clamped by two stopped portions 464 in the lateral direction. The protrusion 466 couples each stopped portion 464 in the lateral direction. As Figure 5 As shown, the protrusion 466 protrudes upward in the up-down direction. The protrusion 466 is located below the restriction portion 442 in the up-down direction.

[0105] like Figure 5 As shown, the protrusion 466 of this embodiment has a front surface 467 and a rear surface 468.

[0106] like Figure 5 As shown, the front surface 467 of this embodiment intersects the front-rear direction. The front surface 467 faces forward and upward. The front surface 467 is inclined backward and upward.

[0107] like Figure 5 As shown, the rear surface 468 of this embodiment intersects the front-rear direction. The rear surface 468 faces rearward and upward. The rear surface 468 is inclined backward and downward. The rear surface 468 is located behind the front surface 467 in the front-rear direction.

[0108] Reference Fig.13 In this embodiment, each of the stopped portion support portions 462 has a restoring force and extends forward from the middle of the upper surface 423 of the main body 42 in the front-to-back direction. Each of the stopped portion support portions 462 is located at opposite sides of the second support portion 46 in the lateral direction. Each of the stopped portion support portions 462 has an upper end 463 in the up-down direction.

[0109] like Fig.13 As shown, the stopped portion 464 of the present embodiment is provided to the second support portion 46. As described above, the second support portion 46 has a restoring force. Therefore, by utilizing the restoring force of the second support portion 46, the stopped portion 464 is movable in the vertical direction, that is, the up-down direction. Therefore, by utilizing the restoring force of the second support portion 46, the supported portion 464 is movable in the vertical direction, that is, the up-down direction. Each stopped portion 464 intersects with the front-to-back direction. Each stopped portion 464 is a plane facing forward in the front-to-back direction. Each stopped portion 464 faces forward in the front-to-back direction. Each stopped portion 464 is located behind the front end of the main body portion 42 in the front-to-back direction. Each stopped portion 464 is located at the front end of the stopped portion support portion 462 in the front-to-back direction. Each stopped portion 464 is located behind the protrusion 466 in the front-to-back direction. The two stopped portions 464 sandwich the protrusion 466 in the lateral direction.

[0110] Reference Fig.13 In this embodiment, each additional support portion 45 has a restoring force. Each additional support portion 45 can be elastically deformed in the lateral direction. Each additional support portion 45 is located above the main body 42 in the vertical direction. Figure 3 As shown, each additional support portion 45 is located at opposite ends of the second housing 40 in the lateral direction. Each additional support portion 45 extends in the lateral direction from the outer end of the head 44 to the outside of the second housing 40. Each additional support portion 45 extends backward from the front end of the head 44. Each additional support portion 45 supports the additional locking portion 454 respectively.

[0111] like Figure 3As shown, each additional locking portion 454 of this embodiment is located at opposite ends of the second housing 40 in the transverse direction. Each additional locking portion 454 extends from the additional support portion 45 to the outside of the second housing 40 in the transverse direction. Each additional locking portion 454 intersects with the front-to-back direction. Each additional locking portion 454 is a plane facing rearward in the front-to-back direction. Fig.23 and Fig.24 It can be seen that when the second terminal 54 is connected to the second mating terminal 84 , the additional locking portion 454 and the additional locked portion 370 lock the state in which the second housing 40 is mounted to the first housing 30 .

[0112] like Figure 3 As shown, each second operating portion 458 of the present embodiment is respectively located at the opposite end of the second shell 40 in the lateral direction. Each second operating portion 458 is located at the rear end of the second shell 40 in the front-to-back direction. Each second operating portion 458 is respectively located behind the additional support portion 45 in the front-to-back direction. Each second operating portion 458 is respectively located behind the additional locking portion 454 in the front-to-back direction. By pressing the second operating portion 458 into the second shell 40 in the lateral direction, each additional support portion 45 can be elastically deformed to move each additional locking portion 454 into the second shell 40 in the lateral direction. As described above, each additional support portion 45 has a restoring force. Therefore, when the above-mentioned pressing on the second operating portion 458 stops, each additional support portion 45 returns to its original shape so that each additional locking portion 454 moves out of the second shell 40 in the lateral direction.

[0113] like Figure 4 As shown, the additional stopped portion 424 of the present embodiment protrudes downward from a portion of the main body 42, and the portion of the main body 42 is located at the lower end and the front end of the main body 42. The additional stopped portion 424 has a front surface 425 and a rear surface 426. The front surface 425 and the rear surface 426 both intersect with the front-to-back direction. The front surface 425 faces forward and downward. The front surface 425 is inclined backward and downward. The rear surface 426 faces rearward in the front-to-back direction. The rear surface 426 is located behind the front surface 425 in the front-to-back direction.

[0114] Reference Fig. 9 , each second terminal 54 of the present embodiment is made of metal. Each second terminal 54 is a so-called socket contact and is connected to the cable 58. The two second terminals 54 of the present embodiment are not short-circuited. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the two second terminals 54 may be short-circuited by the cable 59, such as Fig. 9 In other words, the number of the second terminals 54 may be two. The two second terminals 54 may be connected to each other. Figure 4 As shown, the second terminal 54 is received in the main body 42 .

[0115] Reference Fig.24 , each second terminal 54 and each second matching terminal 84 are configured to be connected to an HVIL circuit (not shown) and control the opening and closing of the HVIL circuit. More specifically, when each second terminal 54 is connected to each second matching terminal 84, the HVIL circuit is closed, and the current is Figure 8 The first terminals 52 are shown Fig.18 When each second terminal 54 is disconnected from each second matching terminal 84, the HVIL circuit is disconnected. Figure 8 The first terminals 52 are shown Fig.18 The power supply between the first mating terminals 82 is shown to be cut off. Therefore, the connector assembly 10 has an HVIL mechanism including the second terminals 54, the second mating terminals 84 and the HVIL circuit.

[0116] The mating operation between the connector 20 and the mating connector 60 will be described in detail below.

[0117] Reference Figure 4 and Fig.13 First, the second housing 40 is mounted to the first housing 30 along the mating direction. In this operation, the first housing 30 and the second housing 40 are arranged so that the main body 42 of the second housing 40 is located behind the receiving portion 33 of the first housing 30. Then, the second housing 40 is moved forward relative to the first housing 30 so that the main body 42 of the second housing 40 is accommodated in the receiving portion 33 of the first housing 30. At the end of this operation, the front surface 425 of the additional stopped portion 424 of the second housing 40 contacts the rear surface 344 of the additional stopper 34 located in the receiving portion 33 of the first housing 30.

[0118] When the second housing 40 moves further forward relative to the first housing 30, the additional stopped portion 424 of the second housing 40 passes over the additional stopper 34 of the first housing 30, and the rear surface 426 of the additional stopped portion 424 faces the front surface 342 of the additional stopper 34 in the front-to-back direction. Afterwards, the stopped portions 464 of the second housing 40 abut against the stoppers 350 of the first housing 30, and the connector 20 is in Figure 4 The restriction status shown.

[0119] exist Figure 4In the restricted state shown, each of the stopped portions 464 abuts against each of the stoppers 350, and the movement of the second housing 40 in the matching direction is restricted by the stoppers 350. Specifically, each of the stopped portions 464 abuts against each of the stoppers 350 from behind, and the forward movement of the second housing 40 in the front-to-back direction is restricted by the stoppers 350. In this restricted state, because the rear surface 426 of the additional stopped portion 424 faces the front surface 342 of the additional stopper 34 in the front-to-back direction, the rearward movement of the second housing 40 in the front-to-back direction is also restricted. Therefore, when the second housing 40 is in this restricted state, the additional stopper 34 restricts the movement of the additional stopped portion 424 in the removal direction, so that the second housing 40 cannot be removed from the first housing 30.

[0120] In this restricted state, the aforementioned mechanism restricts the forward and backward movement of the second housing 40 in the front-to-rear direction relative to the first housing 30. In summary, when the second housing 40 is mounted to the first housing 30 in the matching direction, each of the stopped portions 464 abuts against each of the stoppers 350, and the second housing 40 is in a restricted state, in which the movement of the second housing 40 in the matching direction is restricted by the stoppers 350.

[0121] like Figures 17 to 19 As shown, the connector 20 is arranged to face the mating connector 60 in the mating direction while its second housing 40 is in the restricted state. Thereafter, the connector 20 and the mating connector 60 are moved close to each other in the mating direction, and the first housing 30 is received in the receiving portion 62. During this operation, Figure 8 The first terminals 52 are shown connected to the first mating terminals 82 , respectively, and then the front surface 467 of the protrusion 466 of the second housing 40 of the connector 20 contacts the rear surface 7224 of the release protrusion 722 of the mating connector 60 .

[0122] After the connector 20 and the mating connector 60 are in a state where the front surface 467 of the protrusion 466 contacts the rear surface 7224 of the release protrusion 722, they move closer to each other in the mating direction. During this operation, the second support portion 46 is elastically deformed so that the protrusion 466 is pushed downward by the release protrusion 722, and the connector 20 and the mating connector 60 are in a state where the front surface 467 of the protrusion 466 contacts the rear surface 7224 of the release protrusion 722. Figure 20 to Figure 22 Status shown.

[0123] like Fig. 22 As shown, in this state, the protrusion 466 of the second support portion 46 of the connector 20 is adjacent to the release protrusion 722 of the mating connector 60, and the second support portion 46 is elastically deformed downward. Fig.21As shown, in this state, each stopped portion 464 of the second housing 40 is located below each stopper 350 of the first housing 30 in the up-down direction. Therefore, the above-mentioned restriction, that is, the movement restriction is released.

[0124] To sum up, when the second shell 40 in the above-mentioned restricted state is received in the receiving portion 62 together with the first shell 30 along the matching direction, each first terminal 52 is connected to each first matching terminal 82, and then the second support portion 46 abuts against the release protrusion 722 so that the movement restriction of the second shell 40 in the matching direction is released.

[0125] like Fig.21 As shown, in this state, the locking protrusions 364 of the connector 20 are respectively accommodated in the locking holes 724 of the mating connector 60, and the locking portions 365 are respectively oriented in the front-rear direction toward the mating locking portions 725. Therefore, in this state, the locking portions 365 and the mating locking portions 725 lock the state in which the first housing 30 is received in the receiving portion 62.

[0126] like Fig.21 As shown, in this state, because each second terminal 54 is not connected to each second matching terminal 84, the HVIL circuit is disconnected. Figure 8 The first terminals 52 are shown Fig.18 The power supply between the first matching terminals 82 is shown to be cut off.

[0127] When the above movement restriction is released, the second housing 40 moves further in the mating direction, and the connector assembly 10 is in Figure 23 to Figure 25 Status shown.

[0128] like Fig.24 and Fig.25 As shown, in this state, the second support portion 46 is accommodated in the support portion accommodating portion 325 and restored to its original shape. In detail, in this state, the stopped portion 464 and the stopped portion supporting portion 462 are accommodated in the additional accommodating portion 327, and the protrusion 466 and the protrusion supporting portion 465 are accommodated in the main accommodating portion 326. In this state, the upper end of the protrusion 466 does not contact the lower end of the extension portion 728, and the lower end of the protrusion 466 does not contact the partition wall 320. In this state, the protrusion supporting portion 465 does not contact the release protrusion 722.

[0129] like Fig.24 As shown, in this state, each second terminal 54 of the connector 20 is connected to each second matching terminal 84 of the matching connector 60, so that the HVIL circuit is closed and the current is Figure 8 The first terminals 52 are shown Fig.18368. In this state, the limiting portion 442 moves inwardly into the first operating portion 368 in the vertical direction to limit the vertical movement of the locking portion 365. More specifically, in this state, the limiting portion 442 is located below the first operating portion 368 in the up-down direction to limit the downward movement of the locking portion 365.

[0130] In summary, when the second housing 40 moves further in the matching direction after the above-mentioned movement restriction is released, each second terminal 54 is connected to each second matching terminal 84, and the limiting portion 442 is located inside the first operating portion 368 in the vertical direction to limit the movement of the locking portion 365 in the vertical direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The limiting portion 442 can be located inside at least a portion of the first structure 36 in the vertical direction to limit the movement of the locking portion 365 in the vertical direction. Therefore, when the movement restriction is released, when the second housing 40 moves further in the matching direction, each second terminal 54 can be connected to each second matching terminal 84, and the limiting portion 442 can be located inside at least a portion of the first structure 36 in the vertical direction to limit the movement of the locking portion 365 in the vertical direction.

[0131] from Fig.24 It can be seen that in this state, even when the first operating portion 368 is pressed in the vertical direction toward the first housing 30, the first operating portion 368 abuts against the limiting portion 442. Therefore, this operation cannot release the lock produced by the locking portion 365 and the matching locking portion 725, so that the state in which the first housing 30 is received in the receiving portion 62 is locked. In this state, the current is Figure 8 The first terminals 52 are shown Fig.18 368 to release the mating state between the connector 20 and the mating connector 60. Therefore, the connector assembly 10 has a CPA mechanism that locks the mating state between the connector 20 and the mating connector 60.

[0132] like Fig.23 As shown, in this state, each additional locking portion 454 faces each additional locked portion 370 in the front-rear direction. Therefore, in this state, each additional locking portion 454 and each additional locked portion 370 lock the state in which the second housing 40 is mounted to the first housing 30.

[0133] Hereinafter, an operation of releasing the mating state between the connector 20 and the mating connector 60 will be described in detail.

[0134] When the connector assembly 10 is in Fig.23In the state shown, each second operating portion 458 of the connector 20 is pressed into the second housing 40 in the lateral direction. As a result, each additional locking portion 454 moves in the lateral direction toward the inside of the second housing 40 relative to the additional locked portion 370. Therefore, this operation releases the lock of the second housing 40 in the state of being mounted to the first housing 30.

[0135] While the above-described pressed state of the second operating portion 458 is maintained, the second housing 40 moves rearward away from the first housing 30. At the end of this operation, the rear surface 468 of the protrusion 466 of the second housing 40 of the connector 20 contacts the front surface 7222 of the release protrusion 722 of the mating connector 60.

[0136] The second housing 40 further moves backwards to be away from the first housing 30 after the rear surface 468 of the protrusion 466 contacts the front surface 7222 of the release protrusion 722. During this operation, the second support portion 46 is elastically deformed so that the protrusion 466 is pushed downward by the release protrusion 722, and the second housing 40 and the first housing 30 are in a state of being in contact with each other. Figure 20 to Figure 22 Status shown.

[0137] like Fig.21 As shown, in this state, each second terminal 54 is disconnected from each second matching terminal 84. Therefore, the HVIL circuit is disconnected, and Figure 8 The first terminals 52 are shown Fig.18 The power supply between the first matching terminals 82 is cut off. In this state, the limiting portion 442 is located behind the first operating portion 368 in the front-to-back direction. Therefore, when the first operating portion 368 is pressed into the first housing 30 in the vertical direction, the first operating portion 368 does not contact the limiting portion 442.

[0138] In this state, the first operating portion 368 is pressed vertically, ie, downwardly, into the interior of the first housing 30. As a result, since each locking portion 365 moves downwardly relative to each matching locking portion 725, the lock of the state in which the first housing 30 is received in the receiving portion 62 is released.

[0139] While the above-described pressed state of the first operation portion 368 is maintained, the connector 20 moves rearward to be away from the mating connector 60. As a result, the connector 20 can be removed from the mating connector 60, and the mating state of the connector 20 and the mating connector 60 can be released.

[0140] The present invention has been specifically described above with reference to the embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications are possible.

[0141] The matching connector 60 of the present embodiment includes a first matching terminal 82 and a second matching terminal 84 configured to be connected to a pad of a circuit board. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the matching connector 60 may include a terminal for a cable instead of the first matching terminal 82 and the second matching terminal 84, wherein each terminal is configured to be connected to a cable. Therefore, the connector assembly 10 can be used as a relay connector including the connector 20 and the matching connector 60 each forming a cable harness.

[0142] According to the connector assembly 10 of the present embodiment, each matching locking portion 725 is an inner surface of each locking hole 724, and each locking portion 365 is a rear surface of each locking protrusion 364. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, each matching locking portion 725 may be a front surface of a protrusion protruding downward from the upper plate 72. Each locking portion 365 may be an inner surface of a hole penetrating the first support portion 362 in the up-down direction, and each inner surface may face rearward.

[0143] According to the connector assembly 10 of the present embodiment, when the second housing 40 in the above-mentioned restricted state is received in the receiving portion 62 of the matching connector 60 together with the first housing 30 along the matching direction, the protrusion 466 of the second support portion 46 abuts against the release protrusion 722, so that the aforementioned movement restriction is released. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the second housing 40 in the above-mentioned restricted state is received in the receiving portion 62 of the matching connector 60 together with the first housing 30 along the matching direction, the supported portion 464 may abut against the release protrusion 722, so that the movement restriction is released. Therefore, when the second housing 40 in the above-mentioned restricted state is received in the receiving portion 62 together with the first housing 30 along the matching direction, each first terminal 52 should be connected to each first matching terminal 82, and then, one of the second support portion 46 and the supported portion 464 abuts against the release protrusion 722, so that the movement restriction is released.

[0144] (Second embodiment)

[0145] The present invention is not limited to the first embodiment described above, and can be used in various applications. The second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below. The detailed description includes the description of the structure and modifications that are not specifically described in the first embodiment.

[0146] like Fig.26As shown, the connector assembly 10A according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a connector 20A and a matching connector 60A. The connector 20A can be matched with the matching connector 60A along the matching direction (positive X direction). The connector 20A matched with the matching connector 60A can be removed from the matching connector 60A along the removal direction opposite to the matching direction. The matching direction of this embodiment is the positive X direction pointing forward in the front-to-back direction (X direction). The removal direction of this embodiment is the negative X direction pointing backward in the front-to-back direction (X direction).

[0147] The connector 20A of the present embodiment is a cable connector, and the cable connector is connected to cables 56A and 58A. The connector 20A forms a wiring harness together with cables 56A and 58A. The matching connector 60A of the present embodiment is a plate-type connector mounted on a circuit board (not shown). However, the present invention is not limited thereto and can also be applied to various connector assemblies including various connectors and matching connectors. For example, similar to the connector 20A, the matching connector 60A can be connected to a cable to form a cable harness.

[0148] The cables 56A and 58A of this embodiment are connected to an electric device (not shown). A circuit board (not shown) equipped with a matching connector 60A is installed in a matching electronic device (not shown). In a matching state where the connector 20A and the matching connector 60A match each other, the matching electronic device is electrically connected to the electric device, and the electric device provides high voltage electricity to the matching electronic device. As described later, the connector assembly 10A has a connector position assurance mechanism (CPA mechanism) for locking the matching state and a high voltage interlocking circuit mechanism (HVIL mechanism) for preventing electric shock that may be caused by a high voltage power supply.

[0149] Next, the structure of the mating connector 60A will be described.

[0150] Reference Fig.26 The mating connector 60A of the present embodiment includes a mating housing 70A made of an insulator, two additional components 64A made of metal, a plurality of first mating terminals 82A made of a conductor, and a plurality of second mating terminals 84A made of a conductor.

[0151] The first matching terminal 82A of the present embodiment is a terminal for power supply. The second matching terminal 84A of the present embodiment is a part of the HVIL mechanism. The matching connector 60A of the present embodiment is provided with six pairs of first matching terminals 82A, i.e., twelve first matching terminals 82A, and a pair of second matching terminals 84A, i.e., two second matching terminals 84A. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the number of the first matching terminals 82A can be designed according to the purpose. The number of the second matching terminals 84A can be designed according to the necessary HVIL mechanism. When the HVIL mechanism is not provided, it is not necessary to provide the second matching terminal 84A. The HVIL mechanism can be formed by a component different from the second matching terminal 84A. The additional component 64A can be provided as needed. Therefore, the matching connector 60A of the present invention should include a matching housing 70A and one or more first matching terminals 82A. On the contrary, the matching connector 60A may also include other components in addition to the above-mentioned components.

[0152] Reference Fig.26 and Fig. 27 The matching housing 70A of the present embodiment has an upper plate 72A, two side plates 74A, a bottom plate 76A and a rear plate 78A. The upper plate 72A, the side plates 74A, the bottom plate 76A and the rear plate 78A all have a rectangular flat plate shape. The upper plate 72A, the side plates 74A, the bottom plate 76A and the rear plate 78A are connected to each other to form a rectangular parallelepiped box that opens backwards.

[0153] The upper plate 72A is located at the upper end of the matching housing 70A in a vertical direction (up-down direction: Z direction) perpendicular to the X direction, and extends along a horizontal plane (XY plane) perpendicular to the Z direction. The bottom plate 76A is located at the lower end of the matching housing 70A, and extends along an XY plane parallel to the upper plate 72A. The two side plates 74A are located on opposite sides of the matching housing 70A in a lateral direction (Y direction) perpendicular to both the X direction and the Z direction, and extend parallel to each other along a predetermined plane (XZ plane). The rear plate 78A extends along a vertical plane (YZ plane) and is connected to the front ends (positive X-side ends) of the upper plate 72A, the side plates 74A, and the bottom plate 76A.

[0154] Reference Fig.26 , the mating housing 70A formed as described above has a receiving portion 62A, and the connector 20A can be received in the receiving portion 62A. In other words, the mating housing 70A forms the receiving portion 62A of the mating connector 60A. The receiving portion 62A of the present embodiment is a rectangular parallelepiped space, which is surrounded by the upper plate 72A, the side plate 74A, the bottom plate 76A and the rear plate 78A and is open to the rear. The rear plate 78A defines the front end of the receiving portion 62A.

[0155] The mating housing 70A of the present embodiment has the aforementioned structure as a whole. However, the structure of the mating housing 70A is not limited to the present embodiment as long as the mating connector 60A is provided with the receiving portion 62A.

[0156] like Fig.26 As shown, the matching housing 70A is formed with a release protrusion 722A and two matching locking portions (locking holes) 724A. The release protrusion 722A and the matching locking portion 724A are part of the CPA mechanism of the connector assembly 10A. According to the present embodiment, the number of the release protrusion 722A is one, and the number of the matching locking portions 724A is two. The two matching locking portions 724A are arranged in the Y direction, and the release protrusion 722A is located between them. However, the number of the release protrusions 722A and the number of the matching locking portions 724A can be designed according to the necessary CPA mechanism. In addition, the release protrusion 722A and the matching locking portion 724A can be arranged according to the necessary CPA mechanism.

[0157] like Fig.26 and Fig.29 As shown, the release protrusion 722A of the present embodiment is arranged on the upper plate 72A. The release protrusion 722A is located at the rear end (negative X side end) of the upper plate 72A in the X direction, and is located in the middle of the upper plate 72A in the Y direction. The release protrusion 722A protrudes downward from the lower surface (negative Z side surface) of the upper plate 72A, that is, in the negative Z direction. Therefore, the release protrusion 722A protrudes into the receiving portion 62A. The release protrusion 722A of the present embodiment has a rear end formed with a guide surface, and a front end formed with a stop surface. The guide surface of the release protrusion 722A is a gentle slope that is relatively gently inclined forward and downward. The stop surface of the release protrusion 722A is a steep slope that is sharply inclined forward and downward. However, the structure of the release protrusion 722A is not limited to the present embodiment, but can be modified as needed, as long as the release protrusion 722A is at least partially located in the receiving portion 62A.

[0158] like Figure 26 to Figure 29 As shown, the matching locking portion 724A of the present embodiment is formed in the upper plate 72A. Each matching locking portion 724A is a hole formed in the upper plate 72A and has a rectangular shape on the XY plane. Each matching locking portion 724A passes through the upper plate 72A in the Z direction to communicate with the receiving portion 62A. Therefore, each matching locking portion 724A faces the receiving portion 62A. Each matching locking portion 724A of the present embodiment has the above-mentioned structure. However, as long as each matching locking portion 724A faces the internal space of the receiving portion 62A, the structure of each matching locking portion 724A can be variously modified. For example, each matching locking portion 724A can be a protrusion instead of a hole. When each matching locking portion 724A is a protrusion, each matching locking portion 724A can protrude into the receiving portion 62A.

[0159] Reference Fig.26 , Fig. 27 and Fig.29 , the matching housing 70A holds the first matching terminal 82A and the second matching terminal 84A. The first matching terminal 82A and the second matching terminal 84A of the present embodiment are insert-molded into the rear plate 78A of the matching housing 70A and held. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the first matching terminal 82A and the second matching terminal 84A can be held by the matching housing 70A in any manner.

[0160] Reference Fig.26 and Fig. 27 , each second matching terminal 84A is located in the middle of the rear plate 78A in the Y direction and is arranged in the Y direction. Each first matching terminal 82A is divided into two rows in the Z direction. The first matching terminal 82A of each row is arranged along the Y direction so that each second matching terminal 84A is located between two first matching terminals 82A. The first matching terminal 82A and the second matching terminal 84A of the present embodiment are arranged as described above. However, the arrangement of the first matching terminal 82A and the second matching terminal 84A is not limited to the present embodiment.

[0161] Reference Fig.29 , each first matching terminal 82A is a so-called pin contact formed by bending a metal rod. Each first matching terminal 82A has a matching contact portion 822A and a matching fixed portion 828A. Each matching contact portion 822A is located in the receiving portion 62A. In detail, each matching contact portion 822A extends from the rear plate 78A toward the opening of the receiving portion 62A along the negative X direction, and extends to the same position as each other. Each matching fixed portion 828A protrudes from the rear plate 78A to the outside of the matching housing 70A and extends downward as a whole. When using the matching connector 60A, each matching fixed portion 828A is fixed and connected to a circuit board (not shown) by welding or the like.

[0162] Each second matching terminal 84A is a so-called pin contact formed by bending a metal rod. Each second matching terminal 84A has a matching contact portion 842A and a matching fixed portion 848A. Each matching contact portion 842A is located in the receiving portion 62A. In detail, the matching contact portion 842A extends from the rear plate 78A toward the opening of the receiving portion 62A along the negative X direction, and extends to the same position as each other. Each matching fixed portion 848A protrudes from the rear plate 78A to the outside of the matching housing 70A, and extends downward as a whole. When using the matching connector 60A, each matching fixed portion 848A is fixed and connected to a circuit board (not shown) by welding or the like.

[0163] The matching contact portion 842A of the second matching terminal 84A extends to the same position as the matching contact portion 822A of the first matching terminal 82A along the negative X direction. In other words, the position of the rear end of the matching contact portion 822A in the X direction is the same as the position of the rear end of the matching contact portion 842A in the X direction. The first matching terminal 82A and the second matching terminal 84A of the present embodiment both have the above structure. However, the structures of the first matching terminal 82A and the second matching terminal 84A are not limited to the present embodiment.

[0164] The structure of the connector 20A will be described below (see Fig.26 ).

[0165] Reference Fig.26 and Fig.32 The connector 20A of the present embodiment includes a first housing 30A made of an insulator, a second housing 40A made of an insulator, a plurality of first terminals 52A made of a conductor, and a plurality of second terminals 54A made of a conductor.

[0166] Each first terminal 52A of the present embodiment is a terminal for supplying power. When the connector 20A is used, each first terminal 52A is respectively connected to a cable 56A for supplying power. Each second terminal 54A is part of the HVIL mechanism. When the connector 20A is used, each second terminal 54A is respectively connected to a cable 58A for transmitting a signal. Each first terminal 52A of the present embodiment corresponds to each first matching terminal 82A (see Fig.26 ). Each second terminal 54A of this embodiment corresponds to each second matching terminal 84A. Therefore, the connector 20A of this embodiment is provided with six pairs of first terminals 52A, namely twelve first terminals 52A, and one pair of second terminals 54A, namely two second terminals 54A.

[0167] The connector 20A of the present embodiment has the aforementioned components. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the number of the first terminals 52A can be designed according to the purpose. The number of the second terminals 54A can be designed according to the necessary HVIL mechanism. When the HVIL mechanism is not provided, the second terminal 54A does not need to be provided. The HVIL mechanism can be formed by a component different from the second terminal 54A. Therefore, the connector 20A of the present invention should include a first housing 30A, a second housing 40A and one or more first terminals 52A. Alternatively, the connector 20A may include other components in addition to the aforementioned components.

[0168] Reference Fig.26, the first housing 30A can be partially inserted into the receiving portion 62A of the mating connector 60A. When the connector 20A is mated with the mating connector 60A, the first housing 30A is inserted into the receiving portion 62A along the positive X direction to be received in the receiving portion 62A. Therefore, the first housing 30A is configured to be received in the receiving portion 62A along the positive X direction.

[0169] Reference Fig.26 , Fig.30 and Fig.31 , the first shell 30A of the present embodiment has a base 32A, a first structure 36A and an additional structure 38A. The base 32A has a shape corresponding to the receiving portion 62A of the matching connector 60A. The first structure 36A is a part of the CPA mechanism of the connector assembly 10A. The first structure 36A of the present embodiment is connected to the upper side (positive Z side) of the base 32A. The additional structure 38A is connected to the lower side (negative Z side) of the base 32A. The first shell 30A of the present embodiment has the above structure as a whole. However, the structure of the first shell 30A can be modified as needed.

[0170] Reference Fig.30 and Fig.31 The base 32A is formed with a housing portion 33A and a plurality of first terminal housing portions 35A. The housing portion 33A is a hole that passes through the base 32A in the X direction and opens forward and backward. The housing portion 33A has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. Each first terminal housing portion 35A is a hole that passes through the base 32A in the X direction and opens forward and backward.

[0171] Reference Fig.32 and Fig.36 The accommodation portion 33A is a space that accommodates a portion of the second housing 40A but allows the second housing 40A to move. Fig.33 The receiving portion 33A is located in the middle of the base portion 32A in the Y direction. The receiving portion 33A is provided with an upper wall 332A and a bottom wall 334A. The upper wall 332A is an upper inner wall of the receiving portion 33A. The bottom wall 334A is a lower inner wall of the receiving portion 33A.

[0172] Reference Fig.36, the bottom wall 334A is formed with an additional stopper 34A. Therefore, the first shell 30A is provided with an additional stopper 34A. The additional stopper 34A is a portion for retaining a portion of the second shell 40A in the accommodating portion 33A. The additional stopper 34A protrudes upward from the bottom wall 334A, that is, in the positive Z direction. Therefore, the additional stopper 34A protrudes into the accommodating portion 33A. The additional stopper 34A of the present embodiment has a rear end formed with a guide surface, and a front end formed with a stop surface. The guide surface of the additional stopper 34A is a gentle slope that is relatively gently inclined forward and upward. The stop surface of the additional stopper 34A is a steep slope that is sharply inclined forward and upward. The accommodating portion 33A of the present embodiment has the above-mentioned structure. However, the structure of the accommodating portion 33A is not limited to the present embodiment.

[0173] Reference Fig.32 , each first terminal accommodating portion 35A is provided to correspond to each first terminal 52A. Each first terminal accommodating portion 35A is a space for accommodating a corresponding first terminal 52A. Fig.26 The positions of the first terminal accommodating portions 35A in the YZ plane correspond to the positions of the matching contact portions 822A of the first matching terminals 82A of the matching connector 60A in the YZ plane. Therefore, the first terminal accommodating portions 35A are arranged so that the matching contact portions 822A can be received therein.

[0174] Reference Fig.32 , each first terminal 52A is a so-called socket contact formed by bending a single metal plate. Therefore, each first terminal 52A is a single metal plate with a bend. Each first terminal 52A of the present embodiment has the same shape as each other. Each first terminal 52A has a contact portion 522A and a connected portion 528A.

[0175] Reference Fig.32 and Fig.26 , each contact portion 522A can receive a part of the matching contact portion 822A of the corresponding first matching terminal 82A, thereby can contact with the matching contact portion 822A. When the first housing 30A is received in the receiving portion 62A of the matching connector 60A, each first terminal 52A formed in this way is connected to each first matching terminal 82A respectively. At the same time, each connected portion 528A is connected to a corresponding cable 56A. Each first terminal 52A of the present embodiment has the above structure. However, the structure of each first terminal 52A is not limited to the present embodiment.

[0176] Reference Fig.32Each first terminal 52A is inserted into the corresponding first terminal accommodating portion 35A together with one end of the cable 56A, and is held therein so as to be immovable relative to the base 32A. Therefore, the first housing 30A holds the first terminal 52A. When the first terminal 52A is held by the first housing 30A, the contact portion 522A of each first terminal 52A is located near the front end of the base 32A.

[0177] Reference Fig.31 and Fig.32 , the second housing 40A is partially insertable into the accommodation portion 33A of the first housing 30A. The second housing 40A is inserted into the accommodation portion 33A from the rear and accommodated therein, so that the connector 20A is assembled.

[0178] Reference Fig.34 The second housing 40A of this embodiment has a main body 42A, an additional structure 43A, a coupling portion 44A and a second structure 46A. The main body 42A has a Fig.32 ) of the receiving portion 33A (see Fig.32 ). The additional structure 43A is connected to the lower surface of the main body 42A and extends backward beyond the rear end of the main body 42A. The coupling portion 44A is connected to the rear end of the upper surface (positive Z-side surface) of the main body 42A and extends upward from the upper surface of the main body 42A. The second structure 46A is part of the CPA mechanism of the connector assembly 10A (see Fig.26 ). The second structure 46A of this embodiment is connected to the upper end of the coupling portion 44A. Most of the second structure 46A extends forward from the coupling portion 44A, while a portion of the second structure 46A protrudes backward from the coupling portion 44A. Therefore, the coupling portion 44A couples the second structure 46A to the main body 42A.

[0179] The second housing 40A of the present embodiment has the aforementioned structure as a whole. However, the structure of the second housing 40A may be modified as needed.

[0180] The main body 42A of the present embodiment is formed with two second terminal accommodating portions 428A and a bottom plate 422A having an additional stopped portion 424A. Therefore, the second housing 40A of the present embodiment is provided with the second terminal accommodating portions 428A and the additional stopped portion 424A.

[0181] Reference Fig.32 Each second terminal accommodating portion 428A is a hole that passes through the main body portion 42A in the X direction and opens forward and backward. Each second terminal accommodating portion 428A is provided to correspond to each second terminal 54A. Each second terminal accommodating portion 428A is a space for accommodating the corresponding second terminal 54A. Fig.26The positions of the second terminal accommodating portions 428A in the YZ plane correspond to the positions of the matching contact portions 842A of the second matching terminals 84A of the matching connector 60A in the YZ plane. Therefore, the second terminal accommodating portions 428A are arranged so that the matching contact portions 842A can be received therein.

[0182] Reference Fig.34 The main body 42A is formed with a recessed portion 421A that is recessed backward. The bottom plate 422A is the lower inner wall of the recessed portion 421A. The bottom plate 422A has a very thin thickness, that is, it has a small size in the Z direction. The bottom plate 422A formed in this way is easy to be bent. The additional stopped portion 424A is located at the front end of the bottom plate 422A and protrudes downward from the lower surface of the bottom plate 422A. Fig.36 and Fig.37 The additional stopped portion 424A of this embodiment has a front end formed with a guided surface, and a rear end formed with a stopped surface. The guided surface of the additional stopped portion 424A is a gentle slope that is relatively gently inclined backward and downward. The stopped surface of the additional stopped portion 424A is a steep slope that is sharply inclined backward and downward.

[0183] The main body portion 42A of the present embodiment has the aforementioned structure. However, the structure of the main body portion 42A is not limited to the present embodiment.

[0184] Reference Fig.32 Each second terminal 54A is a so-called socket contact formed by bending a single metal plate. Therefore, each second terminal 54A is a bent single metal plate. The second terminals 54A of this embodiment have the same shape as each other. Each second terminal 54A has a contact portion 542A and a connected portion 548A. Fig.32 and Fig.26 , each contact portion 542A can receive a part of the matching contact portion 842A of the corresponding second matching terminal 84A, thereby can contact with the matching contact portion 842A. At the same time, each connected portion 548A is connected to the corresponding cable 58A. Therefore, each second terminal 54A is connected to the cable 58A respectively. Each second terminal 54A of the present embodiment has the above structure. However, the structure of each second terminal 54A is not limited to the present embodiment.

[0185] Reference Fig.32 and Fig.37 Each second terminal 54A is inserted into the corresponding second terminal accommodating portion 428A together with one end of the cable 58A, and is held therein so as to be immovable relative to the main body 42A. Therefore, the second housing 40A holds each second terminal 54A. When each second terminal 54A is held by the second housing 40A, the contact portion 542A of each second terminal 54A is located near the front end of the main body 42A.

[0186] Reference Fig.36 and Fig.37 , the main body 42A of the second shell 40A is inserted into the accommodating portion 33A of the first shell 30A from the rear. When the main body 42A is inserted into the accommodating portion 33A, the guide surface of the front end of the additional stopped portion 424A is guided by the guide surface of the rear end of the additional stopper 34A. While the bottom plate 422A is bent, the additional stopped portion 424A guided in this way moves forward beyond the additional stopper 34A. In the assembled connector 20A, the additional stopped portion 424A is located in front of the additional stopper 34A and is opposite to the additional stopper 34A in the X direction. If an attempt is made to remove the second shell 40A from the accommodating portion 33A, the stop surface of the rear end of the additional stopped portion 424A is stopped by the stop surface of the front end of the additional stopper 34A, so that the backward movement of the second shell 40A is stopped.

[0187] As described above, the additional stopper 34A and the additional stopped portion 424A are combined with each other to prevent the main body 42A of the second housing 40A from falling off from the receiving portion 33A of the first housing 30A. Therefore, the second housing 40A is firmly held so as not to be separated from the first housing 30A.

[0188] Reference Fig.32 and Fig.37 When the main body portion 42A of the second housing 40A is accommodated in the accommodating portion 33A of the first housing 30A, that is, when the connector 20A is assembled, each contact portion 542A of the second terminal 54A is located behind the contact portion 522A of each first terminal 52A.

[0189] Reference Fig.26 According to the present embodiment, the first structure 36A of the first housing 30A and the second structure 46A of the second housing 40A together with the release protrusion 722A and the mating locking portion 724A of the mating connector 60A form the CPA mechanism of the connector assembly 10A. The structures of the first structure 36A and the second structure 46A will be described below.

[0190] Reference Fig.33 The first structure 36A of the first housing 30A of the present embodiment includes two first support portions 362A, two locking portions (locking protrusions) 364A, two stoppers 366A, a cover portion (operating portion) 368A, and two coupling arms 369A. Therefore, the first housing 30A is provided with the first support portion 362A, the locking portion 364A, the stopper 366A, the cover portion 368A, and the coupling arm 369A.

[0191] Each first support portion 362A is arranged to be separated from each other in the Y direction. Each first support portion 362A has a front end as a fixed end, and the fixed end is fixed to the front end of the base 32A. Each first support portion 362A extends backwards in parallel to each other from these fixed ends, away from the upper surface of the base 32A at the same time. Each coupling arm 369A is arranged to correspond to each first support portion 362A respectively. Each coupling arm 369A is connected to the rear end of the corresponding first support portion 362A and extends backwards on the upper side of the base 32A. The cover portion 368A extends along the Y direction, and couples the rear ends of two coupling arms 369A to each other. In other words, each coupling arm 369A couples the cover portion 368A to the corresponding first support portion 362A.

[0192] As can be seen from the above structure, each first support portion 362A is used as a cantilever spring and is elastically deformable. In particular, each first support portion 362A has a thinner thickness, that is, has a small size in the Z direction, and is easily elastically deformed. On the contrary, each coupling arm 369A has a thicker thickness, that is, a larger size along the Z direction, and is hardly elastically deformed. For example, when the cover portion 368A is pressed downward, the first support portion 362A is mainly elastically deformed. Therefore, each first support portion 362A of the present embodiment has a restoring force as its elastic force.

[0193] Two locking portions 364A are arranged to correspond to the first supporting portion 362A, respectively. Each locking portion 364A is located near the rear end of the corresponding first supporting portion 362A and protrudes upward from the first supporting portion 362A. Therefore, each first supporting portion 362A supports the corresponding locking portion 364A. Each locking portion 364A can be moved along the Z direction by using the restoring force of the corresponding first supporting portion 362A. For example, when the cover portion 368A is pressed downward, the first supporting portion 362A is elastically deformed, and the locking portion 364A moves downward. When the pressing of the cover portion 368A is stopped, the first supporting portion 362A returns to its initial state, and the locking portion 364A moves upward.

[0194] Each locking portion 364A of the present embodiment has a front end formed with a guided surface, and a rear end formed with a stopped surface. The guided surface of each locking portion 364A is a gentle slope that is relatively gently inclined backward and upward. The stopped surface of each locking portion 364A is a vertical surface extending along the YZ plane.

[0195] Reference Fig.39 , each locking portion 364A formed as described above is respectively combined with each matching locking portion 724A in the mating state where the first housing 30A is received in the receiving portion 62A of the matching connector 60A. The locking portion 364A and the matching locking portion 724A combined as described above can prevent the first housing 30A from falling off from the receiving portion 62A. Fig.40In the mating state, each first terminal 52A of the connector 20A is respectively connected to each first mating terminal 82A of the mating connector 60A. Therefore, when each first terminal 52A is connected to each first mating terminal 82A, the locking portion 364A and the mating locking portion 724A lock the state in which the first housing 30A is received in the receiving portion 62A.

[0196] Reference Fig.39 , each locking portion 364A of the present embodiment has the above-mentioned structure. However, the structure of each locking portion 364A is not limited to the present embodiment, as long as each locking portion 364A is arranged to correspond to each matching locking portion 724A respectively. For example, in the case where each matching locking portion 724A is a protrusion, each locking portion 364A may be a hole arranged in the first supporting portion 362A. Moreover, only one locking portion 364A may be provided. In this case, only one first supporting portion 362A may be provided.

[0197] Reference Fig.33 , the two stoppers 366A of the present embodiment are arranged to correspond to the first supporting portions 362A respectively. Each stopper 366A is located at the same position as the locking portion 364A in the X direction, and protrudes from the corresponding first supporting portion 362A into the first housing 30A in the Y direction. Therefore, each first supporting portion 362A supports the corresponding stopper 366A. Each stopper 366A can be moved in the Z direction by utilizing the restoring force of the corresponding first supporting portion 362A. Each stopper 366A of the present embodiment has a rear end formed with a stopper surface. The stopper surface of each stopper 366A is a vertical surface extending along the YZ plane.

[0198] Reference Fig.34 The second structure 46A of the second housing 40A of the present embodiment includes a limiting portion 461A, a second supporting portion 462A, a stopped portion (supported portion) 464A, an end portion 468A, and a moving stopped portion 47A. Therefore, the second housing 40A is provided with a limiting portion 461A, a second supporting portion 462A, a stopped portion 464A, an end portion 468A, and a moving stopped portion 47A.

[0199] The limiting portion 461A of the present embodiment is a plane parallel to the XY plane and located behind and above the second supporting portion 462A. The moving stopped portion 47A is provided at the rear end of the limiting portion 461A and protrudes upward from the limiting portion 461A. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the shape of the limiting portion 461A is not limited to a planar shape. The moving stopped portion 47A may be provided as required.

[0200] The second support portion 462A of the present embodiment has a flat plate shape parallel to the XY plane. The second support portion 462A extends forward from the coupling portion 44A above the main body portion 42A. The second support portion 462A is cantilever supported by the coupling portion 44A and is elastically deformable. In other words, the second support portion 462A has a restoring force. The second support portion 462A has a predetermined upper surface located on its rear end portion. The predetermined upper surface is provided with a mechanically readable mark 48A. Therefore, the second shell 40A is provided with a mark 48A.

[0201] The mark 48A of the present embodiment is a two-dimensional code such as a data matrix code (DMC). However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the mark 48A can be set in any manner as long as the mark 48A can be read by a reading device (not shown). For example, the mark 48A can be a number engraved on the second support portion 462A, or can be a pattern of multiple protrusions formed on the second support portion 462A.

[0202] The stopped portion 464A of the present embodiment has a flat plate shape that is roughly parallel to the XY plane. The stopped portion 464A extends forward from the front end of the second support portion 462A. The stopped portion 464A is formed with two stopped surfaces 465A and an inclined surface 466A. Each stopped surface 465A is a vertical surface parallel to the YZ plane. Each stopped surface 465A is located at the front end of the stopped portion 464A and clamps the inclined surface 466A in the Y direction. The inclined surface 466A is inclined upward and backward from the front end of the stopped portion 464A. The end 468A of the present embodiment protrudes forward from the front end of the stopped portion 464A. The end 468A is located below the stopped surface 465A and the inclined surface 466A.

[0203] Reference Fig.33 and Fig.34 The first structure 36A and the second structure 46A of this embodiment both have the above-mentioned structure. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the first structure 36A and the second structure 46A can be modified as needed.

[0204] Next, the positional relationship between the first housing 30A and the second housing 40A in a state where the connector 20A has not yet been mated with the mating connector 60A will be described (see FIG. Fig.26 ).

[0205] Reference Fig.37, when the main body 42A of the second shell 40A is inserted into the accommodating portion 33A of the first shell 30A so that the additional stopped portion 424A is located in front of the additional stopper 34A, the stop surfaces at the respective rear ends of the stopper 366A respectively contact the respective stopped surfaces 465A of the stopped portion 464A, or respectively face the respective stopped surfaces 465A in the X direction. If the second shell 40A is pushed forward, the stopped surface 465A is stopped by the stop surface of the stopper 366A so that the forward movement of the second shell 40A is stopped. Therefore, the stopper 366A and the stopped portion 464A prevent the second shell 40A from moving forward relative to the first shell 30A. The position of the second shell 40A thus positioned relative to the first shell 30 (see Figure 35 to Figure 37 The position shown in the figure is called the "covering position". As described above, when the second housing 40A is mounted to the first housing 30A along the positive X direction, the stopped portion 464A abuts against the stopper 366A, and the second housing 40A is in a restricted state in which the movement of the second housing 40A in the positive X direction is restricted by the stopper 366A. Therefore, when the second housing 40A is in the covering position, the second housing 40A is in a restricted state. In other words, the second housing 40A in the restricted state is in the covering position.

[0206] Reference Fig.36 and Fig.37 , when the second housing 40A is located at the covering position, that is, when the second housing 40A is in the restricted state, the additional stopper 34A restricts the movement of the additional stopped portion 424A in the negative X direction so that the second housing 40A cannot be removed from the first housing 30A. Therefore, the second housing 40A located at the covering position cannot be removed from the first housing 30A and cannot be further inserted into the first housing 30A. For example, if the cover portion 368A is pushed downward to move the stopper 366A downward, the end portion 468A is pushed by the stopper 366A to be moved downward. As a result, the stopped portion 464A moves downward together with the stopper 366A and continues to contact or face the stopper 366A in the X direction.

[0207] Reference Fig.35 and Fig.34, when the second housing 40A is in the covering position, the front end of the mark 48A is located directly below the cover portion 368A, so as to be covered by the cover portion 368A and hidden behind the cover portion 368A. The reading device (not shown) cannot correctly read the mark 48A thus hidden, and thus it can be found that the second housing 40A is in the covering position. According to the present embodiment, when the second housing 40A is in the covering position, the mark 48A is partially covered by the cover portion 368A and hidden behind the cover portion 368A. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the second housing 40A is in the covering position, the mark 48A can be completely covered by the cover portion 368A and hidden behind the cover portion 368A. In short, when the second housing 40A is in the covering position, the mark 48A should be at least partially covered by the cover portion 368A and hidden behind it.

[0208] Hereinafter, a mating operation between the connector 20A and the mating connector 60A and the CPA mechanism of the connector assembly 10A will be described.

[0209] Reference Fig.39 and Fig.40 When the connector 20A is mated with the mating connector 60A, the connector 20A is inserted into the mating connector 60A. Specifically, the second housing 40A located at the covering position is inserted into the receiving portion 62A of the mating connector 60A together with the first housing 30A along the positive X direction. When the connector 20A is inserted into the mating connector 60A, the mating contact portions 822A of each first mating terminal 82A are in contact with the contact portions 522A of each first terminal 52A.

[0210] When the connector 20A is further inserted into the mating connector 60A, the guide surface of the front end of each locking portion 364A of the connector 20A abuts against the rear end of the upper plate 72A of the mating housing 70A. When the connector 20A is further inserted into the mating connector 60A, each first supporting portion 362A is elastically deformed, so that each locking portion 364A moves together with each stopper 366A to be located below the upper plate 72A and is received in the receiving portion 62A.

[0211] When the connector 20A is further inserted into the mating connector 60A, each locking portion 364A moves to each mating locking portion 724A of the mating connector 60A. Each locking portion 364A thus positioned moves upward together with each stopper 366A by the restoring force of the first supporting portion 362A to be received in each mating locking portion 724A, respectively. At this time, the connector 20A and the mating connector 60A are in Figures 38 to 40 The matching state shown in FIG. 1 is that they are matched with each other and the second housing 40A is held in the covering position. The matching state at this time is called "incomplete matching state".

[0212] If the first housing 30A of the connector 20A is pulled back in the incompletely mated state, the stopped surface of the rear end of each locking portion 364A is stopped by the inner wall surface of each matching locking portion 724A. Therefore, the first housing 30A cannot be removed from the receiving portion 62A simply by pulling it back. However, the first housing 30A can be removed from the receiving portion 62A by pushing the cover portion 368A downward so that each locking portion 364A moves to a position below each matching locking portion 724A.

[0213] According to the present embodiment, when the connector 20A is in a mating state including an incomplete mating state, the front end of the first housing 30A contacts the rear plate 78A of the mating housing 70A. Therefore, the first housing 30A cannot be further inserted into the receiving portion 62A. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when the connector 20A is in the mating state, the rear plate 78A restricts further forward movement of the first housing 30A. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and some portion other than the rear plate 78A of the mating housing 70A may also restrict further forward movement of the first housing 30A.

[0214] Reference Fig.39 As described above, when the connector 20A is inserted into the mating connector 60A, each locking portion 364A moves together with each stopper 366A to below the upper plate 72A. At the same time, the second support portion 462A is elastically deformed, and the stopped portion 464A moves downward. The inclined surface 466A of the stopped portion 464A thus moved is guided by the guide surface of the rear end of the release protrusion 722A, so that the stopped portion 464A moves to below the release protrusion 722A. When each locking portion 364A is received in each matching locking portion 724A, the restoring force of the second support portion 462A forces the stopped portion 464A to abut against the release protrusion 722A located above the stopped portion 464A. When the connector 20A is in an incompletely mated state, the stopped portion 464A is located below the stopper 366A, so that the second housing 40A can move forward from the covering position relative to the first housing 30A.

[0215] refer to Figures 38 to 43 , when the second housing 40A is from the covering position, that is, from Figures 38 to 43 When the second housing 40A moves forward in the state shown in FIG. 1 , the restricting portion 461A of the second housing 40A moves to below the cover portion 368A of the first housing 30A. The position of the second housing 40A thus positioned relative to the first housing 30A (see FIG. 1 ) Figure 41 to Figure 43 The position shown in FIG. 1 is called the "exposed position". The matching state at this time is called the "complete matching state".

[0216] Reference Fig.42 and Fig.43According to the present embodiment, when the second housing 40A is located in the exposed position, the front end of the second housing 40A contacts the rear plate 78A of the matching housing 70A. In addition, the movement of the second housing 40A is stopped by the stopper 47A and contacts the cover 368A of the first housing 30A. Therefore, the second housing 40A cannot move forward further. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when the second housing 40A is located in the exposed position, the rear plate 78A and the cover 368A limit the further forward movement of the second housing 40A. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, only the cover 368A may also limit the further forward movement of the first housing 30A.

[0217] If the cover 368A or the coupling arm 369A is pushed downward when the second housing 40A is in the exposed position, the cover 368A is stopped by the limiting portion 461A of the second housing 40A, so that the first support portion 362A does not deform elastically. Moreover, the first support portion 362A is almost entirely received in the receiving portion 62A of the mating connector 60A (see Fig.26 ) and is difficult to be directly operated. Therefore, when the second shell 40A is in the exposed position, the locking portion 364A is difficult to move downward. In other words, when the second shell 40A is in the exposed position, the matching state is firmly locked.

[0218] Reference Fig.41 and Fig.34 When the second housing 40A is in the exposed position, the mark 48A is located in front of the cover 368A and is completely exposed from the cover 368A. As described above, the reading device (not shown) can correctly read the fully exposed mark 48A, so it can be found that the second housing 40A is in the exposed position and the matching state is locked.

[0219] refer to Figures 38 to 43 To summarize the above description, the second housing 40A of the present embodiment is held by the first housing 30A so as to be positioned in the Figures 38 to 40 The coverage positions shown and Figure 41 to Figure 43 In other words, the second housing 40A is held by the first housing 30A so as to be movable relative to the first housing 30A. However, when the second housing 40A is in the covering position, the stopper 366A restricts the movement of the stopped portion 464A in the positive X direction so that the second housing 40A cannot move along the positive X direction to the exposure position.

[0220] When the second housing 40A located at the covering position and in the restricted state is received in the receiving portion 62A along the positive X direction together with the first housing 30A, each first terminal 52A is connected to each first matching terminal 82A, and then the stopped portion (supported portion) 464A abuts against the release protrusion 722A to release the movement restriction of the stopped portion 464A by the stopper 366A. Therefore, the release protrusion 722A releases the movement restriction of the second housing 40A in the positive X direction.

[0221] When the second housing 40A moves to the exposed position in the positive X direction after the movement restriction is released, the restriction portion 461A is located in the cover portion 368A in the Z direction to restrict the movement of the locking portion 364A in the Z direction. As a result, the mating state in which the first housing 30A is received in the receiving portion 62A cannot be released. Therefore, the connector assembly 10A of the present embodiment has a CPA mechanism that locks the mating state of the connector 20A and the mating connector 60A.

[0222] Reference Fig.38 When the second housing 40A is in the covering position, the machine-readable mark 48A of the second housing 40A is covered and hidden, and thus cannot be mechanically read. Fig.41 When the second housing 40A is in the exposed position, the mark 48A is completely exposed from the cover 368A, so that it can be mechanically read by a reading device (not shown). By mechanically reading the mark 48A, it is possible to accurately detect and control whether the mating state of the connector 20A is locked without using visual detection. Therefore, the present embodiment provides a connector assembly 10A that allows for more reliable detection of whether the mating state is locked compared to existing detection.

[0223] Reference Fig.42 and Fig.43 According to the present embodiment, the first structure 36A of the first housing 30A and the second structure 46A of the second housing 40A are used as a CPA mechanism together with the release protrusion 722A and the matching lock portion 724A of the mating connector 60A. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications may be made to the CPA mechanism of the present invention as described below.

[0224] Reference Fig.36 and Fig.37 In this embodiment, the stopper 366A of the first housing 30A is supported by the first support portion 362A to be movable. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the stopper 366A may be arranged not to move relative to the first housing 30A.

[0225] The second support portion 462A of this embodiment is provided to the second housing 40A. The second support portion 462A supports the stopped portion 464A as the supported portion. This structure makes the design more flexible. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in addition to the first support portion 362A, the first housing 30A may also be provided with a second support portion, which supports the stopper 366A to make the stopper 366A movable. In this case, the stopped portion 464A may be set to be immovable relative to the second housing 40A. Therefore, the first housing 30A and the second housing 40A should be provided with a second support portion having a restoring force. The second support portion should support the supported portion, which is one of the stopper 366A and the stopped portion 464A. By utilizing the restoring force of the second support portion, the supported portion should be able to move in the Z direction.

[0226] Reference Figures 38 to 43 As described above, when the second housing 40A is received in the receiving portion 62A along the positive X direction together with the first housing 30A, each first terminal 52A is connected to each first matching terminal 82A. Thereafter, not the stopped portion (supported portion) 464A but the second supporting portion 462A may abut against the release protrusion 722A, so that the movement restriction of the stopped portion 464A by the stopper 366A is released. Therefore, one of the second supporting portion 462A and the supported portion 464A should abut against the release protrusion 722A, so that the movement restriction of the stopped portion 464A by the stopper 366A, that is, the movement restriction of the second housing 40A in the positive X direction is released.

[0227] Reference Fig.33 , the cover portion 368A of the present embodiment is a part of the first structure 36A. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the cover portion 368A may be a part other than the first structure 36A. Figure 41 to Figure 43 In this case, when the second shell 40A moves to the exposed position, a portion of the second shell 40A should be located below the first supporting portion 362A or the locking portion 364A and serve as a restricting portion.

[0228] As described above, the cover portion 368A may be a part that is integral with the first structure 36A or a part that is separate from the first structure 36A. In any case, the first housing 30A should be provided with the cover portion 368A and the first structure 36A including the first support portion 362A and the locking portion 364A. According to the present embodiment and its variations, when the movement restriction of the stopped portion 464A by the stopper 366A is released, and the second housing 40A moves to the exposed position along the positive X direction, the restriction portion 461A is positioned in at least a portion of the first structure 36A in the Z direction to restrict the movement of the locking portion 364A in the Z direction.

[0229] Next, the HVIL mechanism of the connector assembly 10A will be described.

[0230] Reference Fig.40 As described above, when the connector 20A is in an incompletely mated state, each first terminal 52A is connected to each first mating terminal 82A. In contrast, when the connector 20A is in an incompletely mated state, the contact portion 542A of each second terminal 54A does not contact the matching contact portion 842A of each second mating terminal 84A. In other words, each second terminal 54A is not connected to each second mating terminal 84A. According to the present embodiment, the high voltage power supply is not provided to the mating connector 60A until each second terminal 54A is respectively connected to each second mating terminal 84A.

[0231] Reference Fig.43 , when the second housing 40A moves from the covering position to the exposed position, the matching contact portions 842A of each second matching terminal 84A are in contact with the contact portions 542A of each second terminal 54A, respectively. Therefore, when the second housing 40A moves further in the positive X direction after the stopper 366A releases the movement restriction of the stopped portion 464A, each second terminal 54A is connected to each second matching terminal 84A, and the second housing 40A moves to the exposure position. According to the present embodiment, when the second housing 40A moves to the exposed position along the positive X direction after the movement restriction is released, each second terminal 54A is connected to each second matching terminal 84A. As a result, the high voltage power starts to be supplied to the matching connector 60A.

[0232] When the high voltage power starts to be supplied to the mating connector 60A, as described above, the restricting portion 461A restricts the movement of the locking portion 364A in the Z direction. As described above, when the second housing 40A further moves in the positive X direction after the movement restriction is released, the second terminals 54A are connected to the second mating terminals 84A, respectively, and the restricting portion 461A is positioned in at least a portion of the first structure 36A in the Z direction to restrict the movement of the locking portion 364A in the Z direction.

[0233] The connector assembly 10A of the present embodiment has the above-mentioned HVIL mechanism, which is configured to prevent electric shock that may be caused by a high voltage power supply. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the structure of the HVIL mechanism can also be modified as needed. For example, referring to Fig. 9 , the number of the second terminals 54A may be two, and the two second terminals 54A may be connected to each other similarly to the modification of the first embodiment.

[0234] Reference Fig.42The connector 20A of this embodiment has a mechanism for firmly holding the second housing 40A in the exposed position when the second housing 40A is in the exposed position. The mechanism is formed by the additional structure 38A of the first housing 30A and the additional structure 43A of the second housing 40A. The structures of the additional structure 38A and the additional structure 43A will be described below.

[0235] Reference Fig.31 and Fig.44 , the additional structure 38A of this embodiment includes two support plates 382A and an additional locked portion 384A. Therefore, the first shell 30A is provided with a support plate 382A and an additional locked portion 384A. Each support plate 382A is arranged along the Y direction and extends downward from the base 32A. The additional locked portion 384A extends along the Y direction and is connected to the lower ends of the two support plates 382A. Therefore, the first shell 30A has an additional locked portion 384A supported by the support plate 382A. The additional locked portion 384A of this embodiment has a rear end formed with a guide surface and a front end formed with a stop surface. The guide surface of the additional locked portion 384A is a gentle slope that is relatively gently tilted backward and downward. The stop surface of the additional locked portion 384A is a vertical surface extending along the YZ plane.

[0236] Reference Fig.31 and Fig.34 , the additional structure 43A of the present embodiment includes an additional support portion 432A and an additional locking portion 434A. Therefore, the second shell 40A is provided with an additional support portion 432A and an additional locking portion 434A. The additional support portion 432A is connected to the lower surface of the main body portion 42A and extends backward while being away from the lower surface of the main body portion 42A. Therefore, the additional support portion 432A can be a cantilever spring and can be elastically deformed. In other words, the additional support portion 432A of the present embodiment has a restoring force as its elastic force.

[0237] Reference Fig.36 , the additional locking portion 434A protrudes downward from the additional supporting portion 432A. Therefore, the additional supporting portion 432A supports the additional locking portion 434A. By using the restoring force of the additional supporting portion 432A, the additional locking portion 434A is movable in the Z direction. The additional locking portion 434A of the present embodiment has a front end formed with a guided surface and a rear end formed with a stopped surface. The guided surface of the additional locking portion 434A is a gentle slope that is relatively gently inclined backward and downward. The stopped surface of the additional locking portion 434A is a vertical surface extending along the YZ plane.

[0238] Reference Fig.39 and Fig.40 When the second housing 40A is located at the covering position, the additional locking portion 434A is located behind the additional locked portion 384A. Fig.42 and Fig.43 When the second shell 40A moves from the covering position to the exposing position, the guided surface of the front end of the additional locking portion 434A is guided by the guiding surface of the rear end of the additional locked portion 384A so that the additional locking portion 434A moves beyond the additional locked portion 384A.

[0239] When the second housing 40A moves to the exposed position, the additional locking portion 434A is located in front of the additional locked portion 384A. When the second housing 40A is pulled backward, the stopped surface at the rear end of the additional locking portion 434A is stopped by the stopping surface at the front end of the additional locked portion 384A, so that when the second housing 40A is located in the exposed position, the additional locking portion 434A and the additional locked portion 384A lock the second housing 40A in the exposed position.

[0240] The additional structure 38A and the additional structure 43A of this embodiment both have the aforementioned structure. However, the structures of the additional structure 38A and the additional structure 43A are not limited to this embodiment and can be modified as needed. In addition, the additional structure 38A and the additional structure 43A can be set as needed.

[0241] Reference Fig.42 and Fig.43 When the additional support portion 432A is lifted upward, the locking of the additional locking portion 434A and the additional locked portion 384A can be released. After the aforementioned locking is released, when the second shell 40A is pulled backward, the second shell 40A is moved to the covering position. Fig.39 and Fig.40 When the second shell 40A is moved to the covering position, the first shell 30A can be removed from the receiving portion 62A together with the second shell 40A by moving the locking portion 364A to a position below the matching locking portion 724A.

[0242] The above are preferred embodiments of the present invention and the technical principles used therein. For those skilled in the art, any obvious changes such as equivalent transformations, simple replacements, etc. based on the technical solution of the present invention, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A connector assembly comprising a connector and a matching connector, Features: The matching connector includes a first matching terminal, a second matching terminal and a matching housing; The matching housing holds the first matching terminal and the second matching terminal; The matching housing forms a receiving portion; The matching housing is formed with a release protrusion and a matching locking portion; The release protrusion extends into the receiving portion; The matching locking portion faces the receiving portion; The connector is matched with the matching connector along a matching direction; The connector comprises a first terminal, a first housing, a second terminal and a second housing; The first housing is configured to be received in the receiving portion along the mating direction; The first housing holds the first terminal; When the first housing is received in the receiving portion, the first terminal is connected to the first matching terminal; The first housing is provided with a stopper and a first structure, wherein the first structure includes a first supporting portion and a locking portion; The first supporting portion has a restoring force and supports the locking portion; The locking portion is movable in a vertical direction perpendicular to the matching direction by utilizing a restoring force of the first supporting portion; When the first terminal is connected to the first mating terminal, the locking portion and the mating locking portion lock a state in which the first housing is received in the receiving portion; The second housing holds the second terminal; The second shell is provided with a stopped portion and a limiting portion; One of the first shell and the second shell is provided with a second supporting portion; The second supporting portion has a restoring force and supports the supported portion, the supported portion serving as one of the stopper and the stopped portion; By utilizing the restoring force of the second supporting portion, the supported portion is movable in the vertical direction; When the second housing is mounted to the first housing in the mating direction, the stopped portion abuts against the stopper and the second housing is in a restricted state, wherein movement of the second housing in the mating direction is restricted by the stopper; When the second housing in the restricted state is received in the receiving portion along the mating direction together with the first housing, the first terminal is connected to the first mating terminal, and then one of the second supporting portion and the supported portion abuts against the release protrusion, so that the movement restriction of the second housing in the mating direction is released; as well as When the second housing further moves in the mating direction after the movement restriction is released, the second terminal is connected to the second mating terminal, and the restriction portion is located within at least a portion of the first structure in the vertical direction to restrict the movement of the locking portion in the vertical direction.

2. The connector assembly according to claim 1, Features: The second housing is held by the first housing so as to be movable relative to the first housing.

3. The connector assembly according to claim 1, Features: The second shell is provided with the second supporting portion; and The second supporting portion supports the stopped portion as the supported portion.

4. The connector assembly according to claim 1, Features: The first structure further includes an operating portion; and When the second housing further moves in the mating direction after the movement restriction is released, the second terminal is connected to the second mating terminal, and the restriction portion is located inside the operating portion in the vertical direction to restrict movement of the locking portion in the vertical direction.

5. The connector assembly according to claim 1, Features: The second housing is provided with an additional locking portion and an additional supporting portion; The additional supporting portion has a restoring force and supports the additional locking portion; The first housing has an additional locked portion; as well as When the second terminal is connected to the second mating terminal, the additional locking portion and the additional locked portion are locked in a state where the second housing is mounted to the first housing.

6. The connector assembly according to claim 2, Features: The first shell is provided with a cover; The second housing is provided with a mechanically readable mark; The second housing is held by the first housing so as to be positionable in either a covering position or an exposing position; The second shell in the restricted state is located in the covering position; When the second housing further moves in the mating direction after the movement restriction is released, the second terminal is connected to the second mating terminal, and the second housing moves to the exposed position; When the second housing is in the covering position, the marking is at least partially covered by the covering position and hidden behind the covering position; as well as When the second housing is in the exposing position, the marking is fully exposed from the covering position.

7. The connector assembly according to claim 6, Features: The second shell is provided with the second supporting portion; and The second supporting portion supports the stopped portion as the supported portion.

8. The connector assembly according to claim 6, Features: The covering location is part of the first structure; and When the second housing moves to the exposed position along the matching direction after the movement restriction is released, the restriction portion is located within the covering position in the vertical direction to restrict the movement of the locking portion in the vertical direction.

9. The connector assembly according to claim 6, Features: The second housing is provided with an additional locking portion and an additional supporting portion; The additional supporting portion has a restoring force and supports the additional locking portion; The first housing has an additional locked portion; as well as When the second housing is located at the exposed position, the additional locking portion and the additional locked portion lock the second housing at the exposed position.

10. The connector assembly according to claim 6, Features: The mark is a QR code.

11. The connector assembly according to claim 1, Features: The first housing is provided with an additional stopper; The second housing is provided with an additional stopped portion; and When the second shell is in the restricted state, the additional stopper restricts movement of the additional stopped portion in a removal direction opposite to the matching direction, so that the second shell cannot be removed from the first shell.

12. The connector assembly according to claim 1, Features: The second terminal is connected to a cable.

13. The connector assembly according to claim 1, Features: The second terminals are two second terminals connected to each other.

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