Connector for flat flexible cable

Abstract

A connector (10) for a flat flexible cable (20) includes: a housing portion (110, 150) having a retaining section (120, 160) and a crimping section (130, 170), the retaining section (120, 160) having a plurality of terminal receiving passages (122, 162), and a plurality of terminals (300) each having a contact portion (330) held in one of the plurality of terminal receiving passages (122, 162) and a crimping portion (350) exposed in the crimping section (130, 170). A plurality of conductors (21) exposed in a window (26) of an insulating material (22) extending through the flat flexible cable (20) are each crimped in the crimping portion (350) of one of the plurality of terminals (300).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a connector, and more particularly to a connector for flat flexible cables. Background Technology

[0002] As those skilled in the art will understand, flat flexible cable (FFC) or flat flexible circuit is an electrical component consisting of at least one conductor (e.g., a metal foil conductor) embedded within a thin, flexible strip of insulation. Flat flexible cables are gaining popularity in many industries due to their advantages over their traditional “round wire” cables. Specifically, in addition to having a lower profile and lighter weight, FFC allows for the implementation of large circuit paths that are significantly easier compared to round wire-based architectures. Therefore, the use of FFC in many complex and / or high-capacity applications involving wire harnesses, such as those used in automotive manufacturing, is being considered.

[0003] Implementing or integrating FFC into existing wiring environments is not without challenges. In automotive applications, to name just one example, FFC-based wiring harnesses would need to mate with potentially hundreds of existing components, including sub-harnesses and various electronic devices (e.g., lights, sensors, etc.), each with established and, in some cases, standardized connector or interface types. Accordingly, key obstacles preventing the implementation of FFC in these applications include the need to develop fast, robust, and low-resistance termination techniques that allow FFC connections to mate with these existing connections.

[0004] A typical FFC can be achieved by applying an insulating material to either side of a pre-patterned thin foil conductor and bonding those sides together via an adhesive to enclose the conductor within. Current FFC terminals include piercing crimp terminals, where the sharp teeth of the terminals are used to pierce the insulating and adhesive materials of the FFC in an attempt to establish a fixed electrical connection with the embedded conductor.

[0005] Partly due to the fragile nature of the thin foil conductor material, these types of terminals have several drawbacks, including resistance much higher than conventional round wire F-crimping, inconsistent electrical connectivity between the conductor and the terminal, and mechanical unreliability over time in harsh environments. Furthermore, FFC-terminated connectors contain multiple terminals, each of which must be crimped to establish an electrical connection with the embedded conductor. Current FFC terminal connectors require complex equipment for crimping and are inefficient due to the need for individualized crimping of the terminals. Summary of the Invention

[0006] A connector for a flat flexible cable includes a housing portion and a plurality of terminals. The housing portion has a retaining section and a crimping section. The retaining section has a plurality of terminal receiving passages. Each of the plurality of terminals has a contact portion held in one of the plurality of terminal receiving passages and a crimping portion exposed in the crimping section. A plurality of conductors exposed in a window of insulation material extending through the flat flexible cable are each crimped in the crimping portion of one of the plurality of terminals. Attached Figure Description

[0007] The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0008] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the connector assembly according to an embodiment;

[0009] Figure 2 This is a 3D view of the flat, flexible cable of the connector assembly;

[0010] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the first inner housing portion of the connector assembly's inner housing;

[0011] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of multiple terminals of the connector assembly in the first inner housing section;

[0012] Figure 5 This is a top perspective view of the inner housing of a connector assembly with multiple terminals and a flat, flexible cable in the crimped position.

[0013] Figure 6 It is a bottom-view perspective view of the inner casing with multiple terminals and a flat, flexible cable;

[0014] Figure 7 It is a perspective view of the outer shell of the connector assembly having an inner shell in the assembled position;

[0015] Figure 8 It is a side cross-sectional view of a connector assembly having an inner housing disposed within an outer housing;

[0016] Figure 9 It is a side cross-sectional view of a connector assembly having an inner housing in a reserved position within the housing; and

[0017] Figure 10 It is a side cross-sectional view of a connector assembly having an inner housing in a secondary locked position within the outer housing. Detailed Implementation

[0018] like Figure 1As shown, the connector assembly 1 according to an embodiment includes a connector 10 and a flat flexible cable 20 connected to the connector 10. The connector 10 includes an inner housing 100 that can be inserted into a housing 200 and a plurality of terminals 300 held in the inner housing 100 (e.g., in...). Figure 7-10 (See image). Connector assembly 1 is in Figure 1 The image shows the fully assembled state, as will be described in more detail below.

[0019] Flat flexible cable (FFC) 20 in Figure 2 As shown in the figure. FFC 20 includes a plurality of conductors 21 embedded within an insulating material 22. In an embodiment, each conductor 21 is a metal foil, such as copper foil, which is patterned in any desired configuration only as an example. The insulating material 22, such as a polymer insulating material, may be applied to any side or both sides of the conductors 21 via an adhesive material.

[0020] like Figure 2 As shown, FFC 20 includes multiple segments 23 and 24, including a first segment 23 and a pair of second segments 24. Each of segments 23 and 24 has multiple conductors 21 embedded in an insulating material 22. The insulating material 22 of each of the pair of second segments 24 is connected to the insulating material 22 of the first segment 23 by a carrier strip 25.

[0021] FFC 20 has multiple windows 26 and multiple openings 28 extending through the insulating material 22 of sections 23 and 24, such as Figure 2 As shown. Window 26 and opening 28 have no insulating material 22. The conductor 21 of each of segments 23 and 24 is exposed in window 26. The opening 28 of FFC 20 is formed in the insulating material 22 of segments 23 and 24, outside of window 26 and not connected to window 26. In the illustrated embodiment, conductor 21 is not exposed in window 26.

[0022] The inner housing 100 includes a first inner housing portion 110, in Figure 3 As shown in the figure, the first inner housing portion 110 has a mating end 112 and a rear end 114 opposite to the mating end 112 in the longitudinal direction L. The first inner housing portion 110 has an inner surface 116 and an outer surface 118 opposite to the inner surface 116 in the height direction H, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L.

[0023] like Figure 3 As shown, the first inner housing portion 110 has a retaining section 120 that begins at the mating end 112 and a crimping section 130 that extends from the retaining section 120 to the rear end 114 in the longitudinal direction L. Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, the first inner housing portion 110 is formed as a single sheet from insulating material.

[0024] like Figure 3As shown, the retention section 120 has a plurality of terminal receiving passages 122 extending through the retention section 120 in the longitudinal direction L. The retention section 120 has a plurality of retention protrusions 124 and a plurality of locking recesses 126 positioned on the outer surface 118. The retention protrusions 124 extend from the outer surface 118 in the height direction H, and the locking recesses 126 extend through the outer surface 118 of the retention section 120 in the height direction H. Each of the locking recesses 126 is aligned with one of the terminal receiving passages 122 in the height direction H. A plurality of partition walls 128 separate the terminal receiving passages 122 from each other. On the inner surface 116, as Figure 6 As shown, the retention section 120 has a plurality of nail recesses 129 extending in the height direction H into the retention section 120.

[0025] like Figure 3 As shown, the crimping section 130 has a base 132 and a plurality of gaps 134 extending in the height direction H from the outer surface 118 through the base 132 to the inner surface 116. In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of gaps 134 in the base 132, separated from each other in the longitudinal direction L, are aligned in the longitudinal direction L with each of the terminal receiving passages 122. The crimping section 130 has a plurality of retaining elements 136 extending in the height direction H from the outer surface 118. In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining elements 136 are positioned at the rear end 114. In other embodiments, the retaining elements 136 may be positioned elsewhere on the base 132 along the longitudinal direction L.

[0026] Terminal 300 in Figure 4 It is shown as being disposed in the first inner housing portion 110. For example... Figure 4 As shown, each terminal 300 has a mating end 310 and a rear end 320 opposite to the mating end 310 in the longitudinal direction L. Each terminal 300 has a contact portion 330 at the mating end 310, a piercing portion 340 at the rear end 320, and a crimping portion 350 between the contact portion 330 and the piercing portion 340. The contact portion 330 is adapted to be electrically connected to the mating contact portion. In the illustrated embodiment, the contact portion 330 is a female contact portion, but in another embodiment it can be a male contact portion. The contact portion 330 has a locking feature 332. In the illustrated embodiment, the piercing portion 340 has a pair of piercing teeth 342, and the crimping portion 350 has a pair of crimping wings 352. In other embodiments, the piercing portion 340 and the crimping portion 350 may each have other types of piercing elements and crimping elements used in electrical terminals.

[0027] like Figure 4As shown, in the locked position of the terminals 300 in the first inner housing portion 110, the contact portion 330 of each of the terminals 300 is held in one of a plurality of terminal receiving passages 122, and the crimping portion 350 of each of the terminals 300 is exposed in the crimping section 130. The locking feature 332 of each terminal 300 engages one of the locking recesses 126 of the retaining section 120 to hold the terminal 300 in the locked position in the first inner housing portion 110. When the terminals 300 are in the locked position, the contact portion 330 of each of the terminals 300 protrudes beyond the mating end 112 of the first inner housing portion 110 in the longitudinal direction L. The piercing portion 340 of each of the terminals 300 is aligned with one of the gaps 134 in the height direction H, and the crimping portion 350 of each of the terminals 300 is aligned with one of the gaps 134 in the height direction H.

[0028] exist Figure 5 and Figure 6 In the illustrated embodiment, the inner housing 100 includes a first inner housing portion 110 described in detail above and a pair of second inner housing portions 150 separate from the first inner housing portion 110. Each of the second inner housing portions 150 (as described in more detail below) is structurally similar to the first inner housing portion 110 and similarly receives the terminal 300. Figure 5 and Figure 6 In order to make the illustration clear, only one of the components in the second inner housing portion 150 is labeled with reference numerals; however, the second inner housing portion 150 is the same, and the labeled reference numerals and corresponding descriptions apply to both second inner housing portions 150.

[0029] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, each of the second inner housing portions 150 has a mating end 152 and a rear end 154 opposite to the mating end 152 in the longitudinal direction L. Each second inner housing portion 150 has an inner surface 156 and an outer surface 158 opposite to the inner surface 156 in the height direction H perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L.

[0030] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, each second inner housing portion 150 has a retaining section 160 starting from the mating end 152 and a crimping section 170 extending from the retaining section 160 to the rear end 154 in the longitudinal direction L. Figure 5 and Figure 6 In the embodiment shown, each of the second inner housing portions 150 is formed into a single sheet by a monolithic insulating material.

[0031] like Figure 5As shown, the reserved section 160 has a plurality of terminal receiving passages 162 extending through the reserved section 160 in the longitudinal direction L. In the illustrated embodiment, the width of each of the second inner housing portions 150 in the width direction W perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and the height direction H is smaller than the width of the first inner housing portion 110. The number of terminal receiving passages 162 in each of the second inner housing portions 150 is less than the number of terminal receiving passages 122 in the first inner housing portion 110. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the second inner housing portions 152 has three terminal receiving passages 162, and the first inner housing portion 110 has ten terminal receiving passages 122. In other embodiments, the second inner housing portion 150 may have any other number of terminal receiving passages 162 relative to the number of terminal receiving passages 122 in the first inner housing portion 110.

[0032] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the retention section 160 has a plurality of retention protrusions 164 and a plurality of locking recesses 166 positioned on the outer surface 158. The retention protrusions 164 extend from the outer surface 158 in the height direction H, and the locking recesses 166 extend through the outer surface 158 of the retention section 160 in the height direction H. Each of the locking recesses 166 is aligned in the height direction H with one of the terminal receiving passages 162. A plurality of partition walls 168 separate the terminal receiving passages 162 from each other. Figure 6 As shown, on the inner surface 156, the retention section 160 has a plurality of pins 169 extending from the retention section 160 in the height direction H.

[0033] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, each of the second inner housing portions 150 has a crimping section 170 having a base 172 and a plurality of gaps 174 extending in the height direction H from the outer surface 158 through the base 172 to the inner surface 156. In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of gaps 174 in the base 172, separated from each other in the longitudinal direction L, are aligned in the longitudinal direction L with each of the terminal receiving passages 162. The crimping section 170 has a plurality of retaining elements 176 extending in the height direction H from the outer surface 158. In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining elements 176 are positioned at the rear end 154. In other embodiments, the retaining elements 176 may be positioned elsewhere on the base 172 along the longitudinal direction L.

[0034] Terminal 300 in Figure 5 and Figure 6The diagram shows the terminal 300 in a locked position within the second inner housing portion 150. In the locked position, the contact portion 330 of each of the terminals 300 is held in one of a plurality of terminal receiving passages 162, and the crimp portion 350 of each of the terminals 300 is exposed in a crimp section 170. The locking feature 332 of each terminal 300 engages one of the locking recesses 166 of the retaining section 160 to hold the terminal 300 in the locked position within the second inner housing portion 150. When the terminals 300 are in the locked position, the contact portion 330 of each of the terminals 300 protrudes beyond the mating end 152 of the second inner housing portion 150 in the longitudinal direction L. The piercing portion 340 of each of the terminals 300 is aligned with one of the gaps 174 in the height direction H, and the crimp portion 350 of each of the terminals 300 is aligned with one of the gaps 174 in the height direction H.

[0035] FFC 20 Figure 5 and Figure 6 The diagram shows the inner housing 100 positioned at crimp position C. The first inner housing portion 110 and the second inner housing portion 150 are positioned such that their outer surfaces 118 and 158 face the same direction. The conductor 21 exposed in the window 26 of the first segment 23 is positioned within the crimp portion 350 of the terminal 300 in the crimp section 130 of the first inner housing portion 110. The conductor 21 exposed in the window 26 of the second segment 24 is positioned within the crimp portion 350 of the terminal 300 in the crimp section 170 of the second inner housing portion 150.

[0036] like Figure 5 As shown, with the FFC 20 positioned on the inner housing 100, a piercing portion 340 of each of the terminals 300 extends through and is secured to the insulating material 22. In the illustrated embodiment, piercing teeth 342 bend over the insulating material 22 to secure it to the insulating material 22. A tool may be disposed under the piercing portion 340 in gaps 134, 174 to support the piercing portion 340 during bending of the piercing teeth 342. Retaining elements 136, 176 extend through openings 28 in the insulating material 22. The piercing portion 340 and the retaining elements 136, 176 provide a stress-relieving form for the resulting connection, mechanically securing the position of the FFC 20 relative to the terminals 300 and the inner housing 100.

[0037] from Figure 5 and Figure 6In the crimping position C shown, the conductor 21 exposed in the window 26 of the first segment 23 is crimped in the crimping portion 350 of the terminal 300 within the first inner housing portion 110. The conductor 21 exposed in the window 26 of the second segment 24 is crimped in the crimping portion 350 of the terminal 300 within the second inner housing portion 150. The terminals 300 in the first inner housing portion 110 and the second inner housing portion 150 are positioned in a single row in crimping position C and are simultaneously crimped to the conductor 21. A portion of the crimping tool is disposed in the gaps 134, 174 below the crimping portion 350 to support the crimping portion 350 during crimping.

[0038] from Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown in the crimping position C, the inner housing 100 crimped to the FFC 20 is moved to... Figure 7 Assembly position A is shown in the diagram. (For reasons related to...) Figure 5 and Figure 6 The clear and corresponding orientation of the elements shown is easy to understand, with the piercing portion 340 and the crimping portion 350 in... Figure 7 The image shows an uncrimped portion. However, in assembly position A, the puncture portion 340 and the crimping portion 350 are crimped as described above, and as follows... Figure 8-10 The image shows the part being crimped.

[0039] like Figure 7 As shown, the second inner housing portion 150 is rotated 180° about the first inner housing portion 110 from the crimping position C to the assembly position A and attached to the first inner housing portion 110. In assembly position A, the carrier strip 25 has been removed, separating segments 23 and 24 of the FFC20. In assembly position A, the inner surface 116 of the first inner housing portion 110 faces and abuts the inner surface 156 of each of the second inner housing portions 150.

[0040] like Figure 9 As shown, each of the engagement pins 169 has a recess 129 to attach the pair of second inner housing portions 150 to the first inner housing portion 110. Terminal 300 is located at... Figure 7 The diagram shows a pair of rows R1 and R2 positioned in assembly position A, separated from each other in the height direction H, with the terminal 300 in the first inner housing portion 110 positioned in the first row R1 and the terminal 300 in the second inner housing portion 150 positioned in the second row R2.

[0041] In the above Figure 5-7In the embodiments shown and described, the inner housing 100 includes a first inner housing portion 110 and a pair of second inner housing portions 150 to position the terminals in the pair of rows R1, R2. In another embodiment, where only one row R1 of the connector 10 requires the terminals 300, the inner housing 100 may include only the first inner housing portion 110. In such an embodiment, the first inner housing portion 110 may alternatively be referred to simply as a "housing portion" or "inner housing portion".

[0042] like Figure 7 At any time, the outer casing 200 has an inner casing receiving passage 210 for receiving the inner casing 100 in the assembly position A. The outer casing 200 extends along the longitudinal direction L from the mating end 220 to the casing receiving end 230.

[0043] like Figure 8 As shown, at the mating end 220, the housing 200 has a plurality of terminal openings 222 that extend along the longitudinal direction L through the housing 200 and into the inner housing receiving passage 210. Each of the terminal openings 222 has a guide ramp 224 facing the inner housing receiving passage 210.

[0044] The outer casing 200 has a flange 232 at the casing receiving end 230 and a plurality of secondary locking mechanisms 260 extending from the flange 232, such as Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown. Figure 8 As shown, each of the secondary locking mechanisms 260 has a cantilever 262 extending from the flange 232 to a wedge-shaped portion 264 at the opposite end of the flange 232. The secondary locking mechanisms 260 are positioned relative to the housing 200 in... Figure 8 The opening position O shown is... Figure 10 The secondary locking positions P2 shown are each pivotable.

[0045] The outer casing 200 has an upper surface 240 and a lower surface 250 opposite to the upper surface 240 in the height direction H, such as Figure 7 and Figure 9 As shown. The upper surface 240 has a plurality of upper hook recesses 242 extending through the upper surface 240 in the height direction H, and the lower surface 250 has a plurality of lower hook recesses 252 extending through the lower surface 250 in the height direction H.

[0046] like Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, with the inner housing 100 in assembly position A, the inner housing 100 is inserted into the inner housing receiving passage 210. The contact portion 330 of each of the terminals 300 abuts a guide ramp 224 of one of the plurality of terminal openings 222, such that the contact portion 330 is aligned with one of the plurality of terminal openings 222 in the longitudinal direction L.

[0047] When the secondary locking mechanism 260 is in the open position O, such as Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, the inner casing 100 reaches Figure 9 The reserved position P1 is shown. In the reserved position P1, the reserved protrusions 124 of the first inner housing portion 110 each engage one of the lower hook recesses 252, and the reserved protrusions 164 of the second inner housing portion 150 each engage one of the upper hook recesses 242. The inner housing 100 is thus retained in the outer housing 200 in the reserved position P1.

[0048] With the inner housing 100 in the reserved position P1, the secondary locking mechanism 260... Figure 9 The shown opening position O pivots to Figure 10 The secondary locking position P2 is shown. In the secondary locking position P2, the wedge-shaped portion 264 of each of the secondary locking mechanisms 260 is positioned adjacent to the terminal 300 in the first inner housing portion 110 or the second inner housing portion 150. The secondary locking mechanism 260 in the secondary locking position P2 prevents the terminal 300 from retracting in the longitudinal direction L, thus completing the assembly of the connector assembly 1. Figure 1 and Figure 10 The fully assembled connector assembly 1 is shown in the figure.

Claims

1. A connector (10) for a flat flexible cable (20), comprising: The housing portion (110, 150) has a retaining section (120, 160) and a crimping section (130, 170), the retaining section (120, 160) having a plurality of terminal receiving passages (122, 162); and Multiple terminals (300), each having a contact portion (330) held in one of the multiple terminal receiving passages (122, 162) and a crimp portion (350) exposed in the crimp sections (130, 170), multiple conductors (21) exposed in windows (26) of the insulation material (22) extending through the flat flexible cable (20) are each crimped in the crimp portion (350) of one of the multiple terminals (300), the crimp sections (130, 170) having bases (132, 172), the bases (132, 172) having a contact portion (330) perpendicular to the terminal receiving passage (122, 162). The terminals (300) extend from the outer surface (118) of the base (132, 172) through the base (132, 172) to the inner surface (116) in the height direction (H) of the longitudinal direction, and the plurality of gaps (134, 174) open in the height direction (H) to the outside and inside of the base (132, 172), and the crimping portion (350) of each of the terminals (300) is aligned with one of the gaps (134, 174) in the height direction (H).

2. The connector (10) according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of terminals (300) has a piercing portion (340) extending through and secured to the insulation material (22) of the flat flexible cable (20), and the piercing portion (340) of each of the terminals (300) is aligned with one of the gaps (134, 174) in the height direction (H).

3. The connector (10) according to claim 1, wherein the crimping section (130, 170) has a retaining element (136, 176) extending outside the window (26) through an opening (28) in the insulating material (22).

4. A connector (10) for a flat flexible cable (20), comprising: An inner housing (100) includes a first inner housing portion (110) and a pair of second inner housing portions (150) separate from the first inner housing portion (110), each of the first inner housing portion (110) and the pair of second inner housing portions (150) having a crimping section (130, 170) and a retaining section (120, 160) having a plurality of terminal receiving passages (122, 162); and Multiple terminals (300), each having a contact portion (330) held in one of the multiple terminal receiving passages (122, 162) and a crimp portion (350) exposed in the crimp sections (130, 170), multiple segments (23, 24) of the flat flexible cable (20) each having multiple conductors (21) exposed in windows (26) of insulating material (22) extending through the segment (23, 24), multiple conductors (21) of the first segment (23) of the multiple segments (23, 24) being respectively crimped in the crimp portion (350) of one of the multiple terminals (300) in the first inner housing portion (110), and multiple conductors (21) of a pair of second segments (24) of the multiple segments (23, 24) being respectively crimped in the pair of second inner housing portions (150). A crimping portion (350) is crimped onto one of the plurality of terminals (300), the crimping section (130, 170) having a base (132, 172) having a plurality of discontinuous gaps (134, 174) extending from the outer surface (118) of the base (132, 172) through the base (132, 172) to the inner surface (116) in a height direction (H) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the terminals (300), the plurality of gaps (134, 174) opening in the height direction (H) to the outside and inside of the base (132, 172), the crimping portion (350) of each of the terminals (300) being aligned with one of the gaps (134, 174) in the height direction (H).

5. The connector (10) according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of conductors (21) are crimped in a crimped position, wherein a plurality of terminals (300) in the first inner housing portion (110) and a plurality of terminals (300) in the second inner housing portion (150) are positioned in a single row.

6. The connector (10) according to claim 5, wherein the second inner housing portion (150) is attached to the first inner housing portion (110) in an assembly position (A) of the inner housing (100), wherein in the assembly position (A) of the inner housing (100), the plurality of terminals (300) are positioned in a pair of separate rows (R1, R2) in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L) of the plurality of terminals (300).

7. The connector (10) according to claim 6, wherein the first inner housing portion (110) has a plurality of pin recesses (129) on an inner surface (116), and each of the pair of second inner housing portions (150) has a pin (169) on an inner surface (156), the pin (169) on each of the pair of second inner housing portions (150) engaging one of the plurality of pin recesses (129) to attach the pair of second inner housing portions (150) to the first inner housing portion (110).

8. The connector (10) according to claim 6 further includes a housing (200) having an inner housing receiving passage (210) for receiving the inner housing (100) in the assembly position (A).

9. The connector (10) according to claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of terminals (300) has a locking feature (332) that engages a locking recess (126, 166) of the retaining section (120, 160) to hold the plurality of terminals (300) in a locked position in each of the first inner housing portion (110) and the pair of second inner housing portions (150).

10. The connector (10) according to claim 8, wherein the first inner housing portion (110) and the second inner housing portion (150) each have a retention protrusion (124, 164) positioned in the assembly position (A) on the outer surface (118, 158) of the retention section (120, 160).

11. The connector (10) according to claim 10, wherein the retention protrusions (124, 164) on each of the first inner housing portion (110) and the pair of second inner housing portions (150) engage the hook recesses (242, 252) of the outer housing (200) to retain the inner housing (100) in the assembled position (A) within the outer housing (200).

12. The connector (10) according to claim 11, wherein the housing (200) has a plurality of secondary locking mechanisms (260) pivotable about the housing (200) between an open position (O) and a secondary locked position (P2).

13. The connector (10) according to claim 12, wherein the wedge portion (264) of each of the secondary locking mechanisms (260) is positioned in the secondary locking position (P2) adjacent to the plurality of terminals (300) in the first inner housing portion (110) or in one of the pair of second inner housing portions (150), and prevents the plurality of terminals (300) from retracting in the longitudinal direction (L).

14. A connector assembly (1), comprising: A flat flexible cable (20) has an insulating material (22) and a plurality of conductors (21) embedded in the insulating material (22), the plurality of conductors (21) being exposed in a window (26) extending through a portion of the insulating material (22), the insulating material (22) being removed from each surface of each of the plurality of conductors (21) in the window (26) to continuously expose the conductors around their outer periphery; as well as The connector (10) includes a housing portion (110, 150) and a plurality of terminals (300), the housing portion (110, 150) having a retaining section (120, 160) and a crimping section (130, 170), the retaining section (120, 160) having a plurality of terminal receiving passages (122, 162), each of the plurality of terminals (300) having a contact portion (330) held in one of the plurality of terminal receiving passages (122, 162) and a crimping portion (350) exposed in the crimping section (130, 170), and a plurality of conductors (21) exposed in the window (26) being crimped in the crimping portion (350) of one of the plurality of terminals (300).

Images