Connectors

Abstract

A connector installed at the terminal of a flat cable and capable of being connected to a mating connector includes: a housing (40) having a plate-shaped portion (41) and a terminal receiving portion (42); and a plug terminal (50) received in the terminal receiving portion (42). The plug terminal (50) includes: a box portion (51) for inserting a pin terminal of the mating connector; and a cantilever beam-shaped spring piece (52) extending from the box portion (51) and protruding from the plate-shaped portion (41). The terminal of the flat cable is clamped by the plate-shaped portion (41) and the spring piece (52) of the plug terminal (50). The terminal receiving portion (42) receives a portion of the force applied to the spring piece (52) from the flat cable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector which is mounted on a terminal of a flat cable and connected to a mating connector. Background Art

[0002] As a conventional example of such a connector, Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 The plug connector 10 described in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent No. 6664111) is shown. Figure 1 FIG. 1 shows a plug connector 10 mounted on an FPC (flexible flat cable) 20. Figure 2 The plug connector 10 mounted on the FPC 20 and the receptacle connector 30 mated with the plug connector 10 are shown together.

[0003] The plug connector 10 includes a rectangular parallelepiped plug housing 11 and a plurality of plug terminals 12 housed in the plug housing 11. The plurality of plug terminals 12 are arranged in a row in the lateral direction (horizontal direction) in the plug housing 11.

[0004] The FPC 20 has an FPC terminal 23 in which the conductor layer 22 is exposed in a connection area 21 connected to the plug connector 10. The multiple plug terminals 12 of the plug connector 10 and the multiple FPC terminals 23 of the FPC 20 are connected by positioning the connecting portions 12a of the plug terminals 12 exposed from the plug housing 11 on the FPC terminals 23 respectively and soldering them to each other.

[0005] As described above, in the conventional plug connector 10 mounted on the FPC 20, the plurality of plug terminals 12 of the plug connector 10 and the plurality of FPC terminals 23 of the FPC 20 are connected by soldering, respectively. In order to solder the joint portions 12a of all the plug terminals 12 to the FPC terminals 23 well, the coplanarity of the joint portions 12a of each plug terminal 12 becomes a major factor. In this regard, it cannot be said that the workability of this connection based on soldering is good. Summary of the invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can be easily connected to a flat cable in a connector installed at a terminal of a flat cable in view of this problem. In addition, here, the flat cable refers to a sheet-like cable that can be deformed, such as a cable of an FPC (flexible printed circuit board) and an FFC (flexible flat cable), and they are collectively referred to.

[0007] The technical contents described herein are neither intended to explicitly or implicitly limit the inventions listed in the claims, nor to represent the possibility of such limitation being accepted by persons other than those who benefit from the invention (e.g., applicants and owners), and are merely described to facilitate understanding of the gist of the invention. For example, the gist of the invention can be understood from another perspective by referring to the claims when the present patent application was filed.

[0008] The connector of the present invention can be connected to a mating-side connector having pin terminals, and can be mounted to an end portion of a flat cable having a connection pad for electrical connection.

[0009] The connector includes a housing and plug terminals.

[0010] The housing includes a plate-shaped portion and a terminal receiving portion continuous with the plate-shaped portion. The terminal receiving portion has a receiving hole. The receiving hole passes through the terminal receiving portion and has an end portion opening to the plate-shaped portion. The receiving hole holds the plug terminal inside the receiving hole.

[0011] The plug terminal includes a box portion and a spring portion. The box portion is used to receive the pin terminal of the mating side connector. Therefore, the box portion will directly contact the pin terminal of the mating side connector. The spring portion has a cantilever shape and extends from the box portion through the end of the receiving hole to the plate-shaped portion.

[0012] The spring portion is separated from the plate-like portion in order to provide a space for the end portion of the flat cable as the end portion of the flat cable is inserted into the connector, and contacts the connection plate of the flat cable after the end portion of the flat cable is inserted, and further contacts the terminal receiving portion to transmit a portion of the force received by the spring portion from the end portion of the flat cable to the terminal receiving portion.

[0013] In one aspect, the receiving hole of the terminal receiving portion has a protrusion protruding from the inner surface of the receiving hole. After the end of the flat cable is inserted, the protrusion serves as a support member to give the spring portion a support point between the base end of the spring portion and the free end of the spring portion, and receives a portion of the force received by the spring portion from the flat cable. The base end of the spring portion serves as a so-called "fixed end" regardless of the insertion of the end of the flat cable. In the connector, the contact between the spring portion and the protrusion caused by the insertion of the end of the flat cable into the connector provides a new support point to the cantilever, i.e., the spring portion, and causes a change in the leverage of the cantilever.

[0014] On the other hand, the spring portion has a bridging cut mark, which is located between the base end of the spring portion and the connecting portion of the spring portion. The connecting portion is used to contact the connecting plate. The connecting portion is plated as a whole. The bridging cut mark is a mark of cutting of a bridge piece used to connect the plug terminal to another socket terminal in the manufacturing process of the plug terminal. The spring portion has a wider width at the bridging cut mark, and preferably has a wider width at the bridging cut mark than the rest of the spring portion. Therefore, the protrusion of the storage hole can reliably and stably contact the spring portion at its bridging cut mark.

[0015] Effects of the Invention

[0016] According to the connector of the present invention, the connector can be mounted on the flat cable and the plug terminals of the connector can be electrically connected to the connection pads of the flat cable by inserting the flat cable into the connector, thereby making it possible to connect the flat cable extremely easy. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing a state where a conventional connector (plug connector) is mounted on an FPC.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a perspective view showing a state where a conventional connector (plug connector) is fitted into a receptacle connector.

[0019] Figure 3A This is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the connector of the present invention as seen from the front.

[0020] Figure 3B Observed from the rear Figure 3A A perspective view of the connector is shown.

[0021] Figure 4 It is used to illustrate Figure 3A Diagram of the connector shown. Figure 4 (a) Yes Figure 3A Front view of the connector shown. Figure 4 (b) is its side view. Figure 4 (c) Yes Figure 4 (a) D-D line cross-section.

[0022] Figure 5A yes Figure 4 (a) is an enlarged cross-sectional view along the E-E line.

[0023] Figure 5B is from Figure 5A An enlarged cross-sectional view with the cover removed.

[0024] Figure 6 yes Figure 5A A perspective view of the plug terminal in FIG.

[0025] Fig. 7A It is used to illustrate Figure 3A Figure (1) of the assembly of the connector shown.

[0026] Figure 7B It is used to illustrate Figure 3A Figure (2) of the assembly of the connector shown.

[0027] Fig. 8A It is used to illustrate Figure 3A Figure (3) of the assembly of the connector shown.

[0028] Figure 8B This is a diagram showing the completed assembly state.

[0029] Fig. 9 This is a diagram for explaining a connector. Fig. 9 (a) is a front view showing a state where the plug terminal is accommodated and held in the housing. Fig. 9 (b) Yes Fig. 9 (a) C-C line cross-section.

[0030] Fig.10 Yes means Figure 3A The illustrated connector is a perspective view of a state where it is connected to a mating connector.

[0031] Fig.11 Yes means Figure 3A A perspective view of the connector shown in the figure showing the connection state with the mating connector.

[0032] Description of Reference Numerals

[0033] 10 Plug connector

[0034] 11 Plug housing

[0035] 12 Plug terminals

[0036] 12a Joint

[0037] 20 FPC

[0038] 21 Linking Area

[0039] 22 Conductor layer

[0040] 23 FPC terminal

[0041] 30 socket connector

[0042] 40 Shell

[0043] 41 plate-shaped part

[0044] 41a Upper surface

[0045] 42 Terminal receiving portion

[0046] 43 Receiving hole

[0047] 44 Protrusion

[0048] 45 Insertion hole

[0049] 46 protruding piece

[0050] 46a Protrusion

[0051] 47 protrusion

[0052] 48 protrusion

[0053] 50 Plug terminal

[0054] 51 Box

[0055] 51a Backend

[0056] 51b, 51c side wall

[0057] 51d upper plate part

[0058] 52 Spring Leaf

[0059] 52a Inclined portion

[0060] 52b Horizontal part

[0061] 52c Contact part

[0062] 53, 54 Internal spring

[0063] 55 protuberance

[0064] 56, 57 windows

[0065] 58 protrusion

[0066] 59a, 59b, 59c Bridge cut marks

[0067] 60 hood

[0068] 61 protuberance

[0069] 62 Locking arm

[0070] 100 Connectors

[0071] 200 FPC

[0072] 201 Connection plate

[0073] 210 reinforcement plate

[0074] 220 holes

[0075] 300 Mating side connector DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0076] Embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0077] Figure 3A , 3B , 4 and 5A show an embodiment of the connector of the present invention mounted on a terminal of an FPC (cable of the FPC). The connector 100 is composed of a housing 40, a plurality of plug terminals 50 and a cover 60. In this example, the FPC 200 is a structure in which a reinforcing plate 210 is mounted on the terminal connected to the connector 100.

[0078] Figure 6 The plug terminal 50 is shown in detail. Fig. 7A , B and Fig. 8A , B sequentially shows a state where the connector 100 is mounted on a terminal of the FPC 200 together with the assembly of the connector 100 .

[0079] like Figure 6 As shown, the plug terminal 50 has a box portion 51 having a square tube-shaped outer shape into which the pin terminal of the mating connector is inserted, and a spring piece 52 having a cantilever beam shape is extended rearward from a rear end 51 a of the box portion 51 .

[0080] Inside the box portion 51, as shown in FIG. Figure 5A As shown, a pair of inner spring pieces 53 and 54 are arranged along the front-rear direction of the box portion 51 with their free ends overlapping each other. These inner spring pieces 53 and 54 are formed by bending and extending from the lower end side of one side wall 51 b of the box portion 51.

[0081] like Figure 5A As shown, two protrusions 55 protruding toward the inner surface are formed on the upper plate portion 51d of the box portion 51, and these protrusions 55 and the internal spring sheet 53 with elastic force strengthened by the internal spring sheet 54 form a contact portion that clamps the pin terminals of the mating side connector inserted into the box portion 51 and contacts the pin terminals.

[0082] A window 56 for checking the position (height position) of the internal spring piece 53 is formed on a pair of side walls 51b and 51c of the box portion 51, and two windows 57 for checking the height of the protrusions 55 are formed at each corner formed by the side walls 51b and 51c and the upper plate portion 51d. In addition, protrusions 58 are formed on the pair of side walls 51b and 51c by cutting and raising them outwards.

[0083] The spring piece 52 is formed by extending from the upper plate portion 51d of the box portion 51, and includes an inclined portion 52a extending downward from the upper plate portion 51d, a horizontal portion 52b continuous with the inclined portion 52a, and a contact portion 52c continuous with the horizontal portion 52b. The contact portion 52c has a front end (free end) bent upward in an L-shape.

[0084] The plug terminal 50 having the above-mentioned shape is formed by punching a metal plate. Figure 6 In FIG. 5 , 59 a to 59 c represent bridge cut marks. In this example, the contact portion 52 c on the front end side of the spring piece 52 is plated with gold.

[0085] like Figure 6 As shown, the bridge cut mark 59a is located at the front end of the box portion 51, and the bridge cut marks 59b and 59c are located on both sides of the horizontal portion 52b of the spring piece 52 in the width direction. The reason for providing the bridge in addition to the box portion 51 and also in the spring piece 52 is to stabilize the shape and quality in the stamping process and the plating process. In addition, in the spring piece 52, by providing the bridge cut marks 59b and 59c in the horizontal portion 52b, the entire contact portion 52c can be plated well.

[0086] like Fig. 7A As shown, the housing 40 includes a plate-like portion 41 and a terminal receiving portion 42 continuous with the plate-like portion 41. The terminal receiving portion 42 is in the shape of a flat cubic. In the terminal receiving portion 42, a plurality of receiving holes 43 are formed through the terminal receiving portion 42 in a manner that is arranged in a row and the rear end is open on the side of the plate-like portion 41. In this example, 13 receiving holes 43 are formed.

[0087] The plug terminals 50 are respectively inserted into the receiving holes 43. Fig. 7A As shown, the spring piece 52 is inserted into the accommodation hole 43 from the front side of the terminal accommodation portion 42 (the side opposite to the side where the plate-like portion 41 is located).

[0088] Fig. 9 The state in which the plug terminal 50 is accommodated in the accommodation hole 43 of the terminal accommodation portion 42 of the housing 40 is shown, and a pair of protrusions 58 provided on the box portion 51 of the plug terminal 50 are hooked on the protrusion 44 protruding from the inner surface of the accommodation hole 43, so that the plug terminal 50 is accommodated and held in the accommodation hole 43 in a manner that prevents it from falling out. In addition, the spring piece 52 of the plug terminal 50 is located at a position protruding from the plate-like portion 41 of the housing 40.

[0089] In this way, the FPC 200 is installed in the housing 40 with the plug terminal 50 installed. Figure 7BAs shown, the plug 52 is inserted from the rear of the plate-shaped portion 41 along the upper surface 41 a of the plate-shaped portion 41 and inserted between the plate-shaped portion 41 and the spring piece 52 of the plug terminal 50 .

[0090] Figure 5B The state in which the FPC 200 is installed is shown in which the terminal of the FPC 200 is inserted between the plate-shaped portion 41 of the housing 40 and the spring piece 52 of the plug terminal 50 located on the plate-shaped portion 41. The terminal of the FPC 200 is clamped by the plate-shaped portion 41 and the spring pieces 52 of the 13 plug terminals 50 and mechanically connected, and the spring pieces 52 are respectively in contact with the connection lands 201 formed in the arrangement of the terminal of the FPC 200, so that the 13 plug terminals 50 are respectively electrically connected to the connection lands 201 of the FPC 200. The force received by the spring piece 52 from the FPC 200 is borne by the terminal receiving portion 42 of the housing 40.

[0091] After the FPC 200 is installed in this way, the cover 60 is installed. Fig. 8A As shown, it is mounted on the housing 40 from above the housing 40.

[0092] At this time, in this example, two protrusions 61 provided on the cover 60 are respectively inserted into two insertion holes 45 formed in the plate-like portion 41 of the housing 40 through two holes 220 formed through the reinforcing plate 210 at the terminal end of the FPC 200, thereby preventing the FPC 200 from falling off.

[0093] The cover 60 is fixed relative to the housing 40 by hooking the cover 60 on the inner side of the cover 60 with protrusions 46a formed at the front end of the protruding piece 46 respectively formed at both ends in the width direction of the plate-like portion 41 of the housing 40 and protrusions 47 formed on the two side surfaces in the width direction of the terminal accommodating portion 42. Figure 8B and Figure 3B Similarly, the state where the FPC 200 is mounted and the connector 100 is assembled is shown.

[0094] According to the above-mentioned connector 100, the plug terminal 50 has a spring piece 52 located on the plate-like portion 41 of the housing 40. The FPC 200 and the connector 100 can be connected only by inserting the terminal of the FPC 200 between the spring piece 52 and the plate-like portion 41, thereby making it extremely easy to install the connector 100 on the FPC 200.

[0095] In order to stabilize the shape and quality of the plug terminal 50 formed by the stamping process, a bridge portion is also provided on the spring piece 52. As mentioned above, the spring piece 52 has a portion where the bridge portion is provided, that is, a horizontal portion 52b where the bridge cut marks 59b and 59c are located. Due to the existence of such a horizontal portion 52b, the spring piece 52 becomes longer and the elastic force becomes weaker, but in this example, a structure for strengthening the elastic force is provided. This point will be explained below.

[0096] like Figure 5A , 5B As shown, in this example, a protrusion 48 for bearing the force received by the spring piece 52 from the FPC 200 is formed on the inner surface of the receiving hole 43 of the terminal receiving portion 42 of the housing 40, and is located between the rear end 51a of the box portion 51 on which the spring piece 52 is extended and formed and the front end (free end) of the spring piece 52, and functions as a fixed end of the spring piece 52 when the spring piece 52 contacts the connection plate 201. By having such a protrusion 48, the effective length of the spring piece 52 is shortened, so that the elastic force can be strengthened accordingly. In addition, the protrusion 48 contacts the horizontal portion 52b of the spring piece 52 to limit the movement of the horizontal portion 52b, so that the horizontal portion 52b is a substantial fixed end.

[0097] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. Since the FPC 200 is prevented from coming off by the projection 61 of the cover 60, even if an external force such as pulling is applied to the FPC 200, the contact portion between the spring piece 52 and the connection pad 201 is not affected and a good contact state can be maintained.

[0098] In addition, in order to make the connection between the spring piece 52 and the connection plate 201 more stable, the contact portion between the spring piece 52 and the connection plate 201 may be connected by soldering in addition to the spring connection according to the use conditions. Since the contact portion 52c of the spring piece 52 is plated as a whole, it can be soldered well. Figure 5B As shown, when the terminal end of the FPC 200 is inserted between the plate-shaped portion 41 and the spring piece 52 , the upper side of the spring piece 52 is open, so that the soldering work and the inspection of the soldering state can be easily performed.

[0099] Furthermore, since the spring piece 52 and the connection land 201 are covered by the cover 60 , it is possible to prevent dirt or the like from entering the contact portion between the spring piece 52 and the connection land 201 and contaminating the contact portion.

[0100] Fig.10 The above connector 100 is shown to be connected to the mating connector 300. Fig.11 The state in which the connection between the connector 100 and the mating connector 300 is completed is shown. The cover 60 is provided with a lock arm 62 that is hooked on the mating connector 300 to maintain the connection.

Claims

1. A connector that can be connected to a mating side connector, the mating side connector having a pin terminal and can be mounted to an end of a flat cable, the end having a connection pad for electrical connection, the connector comprising: a housing including a plate-shaped portion and a terminal receiving portion continuous with the plate-shaped portion, the terminal receiving portion having receiving holes, each of the receiving holes passing through the terminal receiving portion and having an end portion opened to the plate-shaped portion, each of the receiving holes having a protrusion protruding from an inner surface of the receiving hole; as well as plug terminals are respectively held in the receiving holes, each of the plug terminals includes a box portion and a spring portion, the box portion is used to receive a corresponding one of the pin terminals of the mating side connector, and the spring portion has a cantilever shape and extends from the box portion through the end of the corresponding one of the receiving holes to the plate-like portion, Wherein, the spring part is constructed as follows: As the end of the flat cable is inserted, the plate-shaped portion is separated to leave a space for the end of the flat cable; After inserting the end of the flat cable, contacting a corresponding one of the connection pads of the flat cable; and contacting the terminal receiving portion to transfer a portion of the force received by the spring portion from the end portion of the flat cable to the terminal receiving portion, After the end of the flat cable is inserted, the protrusion serves as a support member to give the spring portion a support point between the base end of the spring portion and the free end of the spring portion and receives a part of the force received by the spring portion from the flat cable.

2. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connector further includes a cover that is mountable to the housing of the connector and is configured to cover the connection pad and each of the spring portions.

3. The connector according to claim 2, characterized in that: The flat cable is designed to have a through hole, The plate-like portion has an insertion hole, and, The cover has a protruding portion that passes through the through hole in the flat cable and thereby enters the insertion hole.

4. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The spring portion has a bridge cut mark between a base end of the spring portion and a connecting portion of the spring portion, the connecting portion being used to engage with a corresponding one of the connecting pads, the bridge cut mark being a trace of cutting of a bridge member for connecting the plug terminals to each other during the manufacturing process of the plug terminal, and, The connecting portion is entirely plated.

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