Connector and connecting device

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a connector and a connection device capable of suppressing a relatively small resistance. The contact member (2) includes a contact portion (21), a base portion (22), a connecting portion (23), and a protruding portion (24). The contact portion (21) can contact the counterpart contact member (5). At least a part of the base portion (22) faces the contact portion (21) with a gap therebetween. The connecting portion (23) connects the contact portion (21) and the base portion (22). The protruding portion (24) protrudes from the contact portion (21) toward the base portion (22) in the facing direction in which the contact portion (21) and the base portion (22) face each other. The base portion (22) has a facing portion (221) facing the protruding portion (24). At least in the connected state, the contact portion 21 and the facing portion 221 are electrically connected through the second path (R2). The connected state is a state in which the contact portion (21) contacts the counterpart contact member (5). The second path (R2) is a path different from the first path (R1) including the connecting portion 23 and includes the protruding portion (24).

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application with the application date of April 18, 2019, the application number of 201910315799.6, and the invention title of "Contact, Connector and Connection Device". Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to a contact, a connector, and a connection device, and more particularly to a contact of a connector capable of being electrically connected to a counterpart connector, a connector including the contact, and a connection device including the contact. Background Art

[0003] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-294036 describes a board-to-board connection device including a socket as one connector and a plug as a counterpart connector.

[0004] The above connector includes a plurality of contacts (socket contacts) and a housing (socket body) that holds the contacts. Each contact is formed of a strip-shaped metal member and includes a holding portion and a flexure portion extending from the holding portion. The holding portion is formed in a U shape and is held by the housing in a form that clamps the peripheral wall of the housing. The flexure portion can be flexed in a direction in which the distance between the flexure portion and the holding portion changes. A contact portion (contact projection) that projects in a direction away from the holding portion is formed on the flexure portion. In a state where a counterpart connector is connected to the connector, the contact portion of the contact elastically contacts a part of the contact of the counterpart connector, and the two contacts are electrically connected. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In the connector having the above structure, with respect to the contact (especially the flexure portion), it is necessary to ensure a certain length so that the contact pressure between the two contacts can be ensured by the elasticity of the flexure portion of the contact. However, if the contact becomes longer, the resistance of the contact itself becomes larger, which hinders the reduction of losses in the connector.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a contact, a connector, and a connection device capable of suppressing the resistance to a small value.

[0007] A contact according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a contact of a connector that can be electrically connected to a mating connector. The contact includes a contact portion, a base portion, a connecting portion, and a protruding portion. The contact portion can contact the contact of the mating connector. At least a part of the base portion faces the contact portion with a gap therebetween. The connecting portion connects the contact portion and the base portion. The protruding portion protrudes from the contact portion toward the base portion side in the facing direction in which the contact portion and the base portion face each other. The base portion has a facing portion that faces the protruding portion. At least in the connected state, the contact portion and the facing portion are electrically connected through a second path. The connected state is a state in which the contact portion contacts the contact of the mating connector. The second path is a path different from a first path including the connecting portion, and includes the protruding portion.

[0008] A connector according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes the contact and a housing that holds the contact.

[0009] A connection device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes the connector and the mating connector.

[0010] The present disclosure has an advantage of being able to suppress the resistance to a small value. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1A is a schematic view of an end face of the connection device according to Embodiment 1 in a non-connected state.

[0012] Figure 1B is a schematic view of an end face of the connection device according to Embodiment 1 in a connected state.

[0013] Figure 2A is a perspective view of the connection device according to Embodiment 1 in a non-connected state.

[0014] Figure 2B is a perspective view of the connection device according to Embodiment 1 in a connected state.

[0015] Figure 3A Corresponds to Figure 2B a cross-sectional view taken along line X1-X1, and is a cross-sectional view showing the non-connected state of the connection device according to Embodiment 1.

[0016] Figure 3B Corresponds to Figure 2B a cross-sectional view taken along line X1-X1, and is a cross-sectional view showing the connected state of the connection device according to Embodiment 1.

[0017] Figure 4A is a perspective view of the contact according to Embodiment 1.

[0018] Figure 4B It is the front view of the contact member related to Embodiment 1.

[0019] Figure 4C It is the right side view of the contact member related to Embodiment 1.

[0020] Figures 5A - 5D It is a schematic diagram showing the main part of the contact member related to the modified example of Embodiment 1.

[0021] Figure 6A It is the perspective view of the connecting device related to Embodiment 2 in the non-connected state.

[0022] Figure 6B It is the perspective view of the connecting device related to Embodiment 2 in the connected state.

[0023] Figure 7A Equivalent to Figure 6B The sectional view taken along the line X1-X1, which is the sectional view showing the non-connected state of the connecting device related to Embodiment 2.

[0024] Figure 7B Equivalent to Figure 6B The sectional view taken along the line X1-X1, which is the sectional view showing the connected state of the connecting device related to Embodiment 2.

[0025] Figure 8A It is the sectional view showing the non-connected state of the connecting device related to Embodiment 3.

[0026] Figure 8B It is the sectional view showing the connected state of the connecting device related to Embodiment 3.

[0027] Figure 9A It is the perspective view of the intermediate product of the contact member of the connecting device related to the modified example of Embodiment 3.

[0028] Figure 9B It is the perspective view of the finished product of the contact member of the connecting device related to the modified example of Embodiment 3.

[0029] Figure 10A It is the sectional view of the main part showing the non-connected state of the connecting device related to Embodiment 4.

[0030] Figure 10B It is the sectional view of the main part showing the connected state of the connecting device related to Embodiment 4.

[0031] Figure 11A It is the perspective view of the contact member related to Embodiment 5.

[0032] Figure 11B It is the front view of the contact member related to Embodiment 5.

[0033] Figure 12A is a perspective view of other contact members according to Embodiment 5.

[0034] Figure 12B is a perspective view of another contact member according to Embodiment 5. Detailed Embodiment

[0035] (Embodiment 1)

[0036] (1) Overview

[0037] Hereinafter, with reference to Figures 1A - 2B , the connector 101 according to the present embodiment will be described. However, the respective figures described below are schematic figures, and the ratio of the lengths or sizes of the respective parts in the figures does not necessarily reflect the actual dimensional ratio.

[0038] The connector 101 according to the present embodiment can be electrically connected to the mating connector 102. The connector 101 and the mating connector 102 together constitute a connection device 100. In other words, the connection device 100 according to the present embodiment includes the connector 101 and the mating connector 102. In the connection device 100, two states, namely, a "connected state" in which the connector 101 is electrically connected to the mating connector 102 and a "non-connected state" in which the connector 101 is not electrically connected to the mating connector 102, can be switched. In the present embodiment, as an example, the connector 101 is a socket (female connector), and the mating connector 102 is a plug (male connector).

[0039] The connection device 100 is used, for example, for electrical connection between a plurality of circuit boards 71, 72 such as a rigid substrate (hard substrate) or a flexible printed wiring board (see Figure 3A ), that is, board-to-board electrical connection. As an example, the connection device 100 is used for electrical connection between a plurality of circuit boards 71, 72 mounted on a portable terminal such as a smart phone. However, the use of the connection device 100 is not limited to portable terminals. The connection device 100 can also be used, for example, for electronic devices other than portable terminals such as camera modules, in-vehicle devices, or home appliances. In addition, the connection device 100 is not limited to the use of electrically connecting between a plurality of circuit boards 71, 72. For example, it can also be used for electrical connection between a circuit board and a display, or between a circuit board and a battery, etc., between appropriate multiple connection objects.

[0040] The connector 101 according to the present embodiment includes a housing 1 and a plurality of contact members 2. The housing 1 holds the plurality of contact members 2. In the present embodiment, the plurality of contact members 2 have a common structure. Therefore, hereinafter, the structure described for any one of the plurality of contact members 2 is applicable to all of the plurality of contact members 2.

[0041] As Figure 1A and Figure 1B shown, the contact member 2 includes a contact portion 21, a base portion 22, a connecting portion 23, and a protruding portion 24. The contact portion 21 contacts the contact member 5 (hereinafter also referred to as the "opposite contact member 5") of the opposite connector 102 in the "connected state" where the opposite connector 102 is connected to the connector 101. At least a part of the base portion 22 is opposed to the contact portion 21 with a gap therebetween. The connecting portion 23 connects the contact portion 21 and the base portion 22. The protruding portion 24 protrudes from the contact portion 21 toward the base portion 22 in the opposing direction in which the contact portion 21 and the base portion 22 are opposed to each other.

[0042] Here, the base portion 22 has an opposing portion 221 that is opposed to the protruding portion 24 in the thickness direction of the base portion 22. In other words, the protruding portion 24 that protrudes from the contact portion 21 toward the base portion 22 is opposed to at least a part (opposing portion 221) of the base portion 22. In the contact member 2 configured in this way, at least in the "connected state", as Figure 1B shown, the contact portion 21 and the opposing portion 221 are electrically connected through the second path R2, and the second path R2 is a path different from the first path R1 that does not include the protruding portion 24 but includes the connecting portion 23, and includes the protruding portion 24.

[0043] That is, since the contact portion 21 and the base portion 22 are connected by the connecting portion 23, the contact portion 21 and the opposing portion 221 of the base portion 22 are always electrically connected via the first path R1 including the connecting portion 23. Further, at least in the "connected state", that is, in the state where the opposite connector 102 is connected to the connector 101, in addition to the first path R1, the contact portion 21 and the opposing portion 221 are also electrically connected via the second path R2. The second path R2 is a path different from the first path R1 including the connecting portion 23, and is a path that does not include the connecting portion 23 but includes the protruding portion 24.

[0044] In short, in the contact member 2, at least in the "connected state", two current paths (conductive paths), namely, the first path R1 including the connecting portion 23 and the second path R2 including the protruding portion 24, are formed between the contact portion 21 and the opposing portion 221. Therefore, at least in the "connected state", compared with the structure in which only the first path R1 conducts the contact portion 21 and the opposing portion 221, the resistance between the contact portion 21 and the base portion 22 (opposing portion 221) becomes smaller. As a result, in the contact member 2 according to the present embodiment, the connector 101 including the contact member 2, and the connection device 100 including the connector 101, the resistance can be suppressed to be small.

[0045] (2) Details

[0046] Hereinafter, with reference to Figures 1A - 4C, the contact member 2, the connector 101 including the contact member 2, and the connection device 100 including the contact member 2 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

[0047] Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the direction in which the connector 101 is coupled to or separated from the mating connector 102 is defined as the vertical direction (also referred to as the "first direction"), and when viewed from the connector 101, the mating connector 102 side is defined as the upper side. In addition, the direction orthogonal to the vertical direction and the short side direction of the housing 1 is defined as the left-right direction (also referred to as the "second direction"). In addition, the direction orthogonal to both the vertical direction and the left-right direction, that is, the length direction of the housing 1, is defined as the front-back direction (the direction orthogonal to the Figure 1A paper surface of, also referred to as the "third direction"). That is, in Figure 1A etc., as indicated by the arrows of "up", "down", "left", "right", "front", and "back", the directions of up, down, left, right, front, and back are defined. However, these directions do not mean to define the usage directions of the contact member 2, the connector 101, and the connection device 100. In addition, the arrows indicating the respective directions in the drawings are only marked for explanation and do not accompany the entity.

[0048] (2.1) Overall Structure of Connector

[0049] First, the overall structure of the connector 101 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0050] In the present embodiment, as described above, the connector 101 is a socket that can be electrically connected to the mating connector 102 as a plug, as Figures 2A - 3B shown, and includes a housing 1 and a plurality (here, 40) of contact members 2. In addition, in the present embodiment, the connector 101 further includes a pair of mounting metal members 3.

[0051] The housing 1 is a resin molded body. The housing 1 has electrical insulation. The housing 1 has a bottom wall 11 and a peripheral wall 12. The bottom wall 11 is formed in a rectangular shape that is longer in the front-back direction than in the left-right direction when viewed from above. The peripheral wall 12 projects upward from the entire circumference of the outer peripheral portion of one surface (upper surface) in the thickness direction of the bottom wall 11. In other words, the housing 1 is in the shape of a flat rectangular parallelepiped in the vertical direction, and in the central portion of the upper surface 13 that is the opposing surface to the mating connector 102 among the two surfaces in the vertical direction, there is a recess 14 surrounded by the peripheral wall 12.

[0052] The peripheral wall 12 includes a pair of first peripheral walls 121 and a pair of second peripheral walls 122. The pair of first peripheral walls 121 are parts of the peripheral wall 12 that extend substantially parallel to the third direction (the length direction of the housing 1), and are opposed to each other in the left-right direction with the recess 14 therebetween. The pair of second peripheral walls 122 are parts of the peripheral wall 12 that extend substantially parallel to the second direction (the short side direction of the housing 1), and are opposed to each other in the front-rear direction with the recess 14 therebetween. The pair of second peripheral walls 122 connect the ends of the pair of first peripheral walls 121 to each other. That is, the housing 1 has a shape in which one opening surface (the lower surface) of the peripheral wall 12 having a rectangular tube shape in cross section is closed by the bottom wall 11.

[0053] A plurality of contact members 2 are held on the pair of first peripheral walls 121 of the housing 1. In the present embodiment, the plurality of contact members 2 are fixed to the pair of first peripheral walls 121 by press-fitting. That is, the plurality of contact members 2 are held on the housing 1 by being press-fitted into the pair of first peripheral walls 121 from one direction (upward in Figures 2A - 3B this case). Here, on each of the pair of first peripheral walls 121, 20 contact members 2 are held. The 20 contact members 2 held on each first peripheral wall 121 are arranged at equal intervals in the length direction (the front-rear direction) of the first peripheral wall 121.

[0054] That is, the 40 contact members 2 are divided into a pair of contact member groups with 20 contact members in each group. The 20 contact members constituting one contact member group are held on one first peripheral wall 121, and the 20 contact members constituting the other contact member group are held on the other first peripheral wall 121. In other words, the 20 contact members constituting each contact member group are arranged in a row in the front-rear direction. Further, the 20 contact members constituting one contact member group and the 20 contact members constituting the other contact member group are arranged symmetrically with respect to a reference plane that bisects the housing 1 in the left-right direction. In other words, the contact members 2 constituting the pair of contact member groups are symmetrically arranged so as to face each other with the recess 14 therebetween.

[0055] As described above, the contact member 2 includes a contact portion 21, a base portion 22, a connecting portion 23, and a protruding portion 24. In addition, in the present embodiment, the contact member 2 further includes a connecting portion 25. These contact portion 21, base portion 22, connecting portion 23, protruding portion 24, and connecting portion 25 are seamlessly formed as one body. In a state where the contact member 2 is held on the housing 1, the connecting portion 25 protrudes from each end surface of the housing 1 in the left-right direction. The connecting portion 25 protrudes from the lower end portion of the housing 1, and the lower surface of the connecting portion 25 is located slightly below the lower surface 15 of the housing 1 (see Figure 3A ). Therefore, for example, the connecting portion 25 is joined to the circuit board 71 by a joining means such as welding, so that the circuit board 71 is electrically and mechanically connected to the contact member 2.

[0056] Furthermore, in a state where the contact member 2 is held in the housing 1, at least a part of the contact portion 21 protrudes from a pair of opposed surfaces of the pair of first peripheral walls 121. In other words, at least a part of the contact portion 21 in the contact member 2 protrudes from a pair of inner side surfaces that are opposed to each other in the left-right direction among the inner side surfaces of the recess 14 in the housing 1. Thereby, in the connected state, the contact portion 21 contacts the other-side contact member 5, and the connector 101 is electrically connected to the other-side connector 102.

[0057] The contact member 2 is made of a conductive metal material. As an example, it is made of a copper alloy such as Cosen-based copper alloy or phosphor bronze. A plating such as gold plating is appropriately formed on the surface of the contact member 2. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the contact member 2 has elasticity at least in the connecting portion 23. Therefore, in the connected state, at least the connecting portion 23 elastically deforms, whereby a force acting in the direction pressing against the other-side contact member 5 acts on the contact portion 21, ensuring the contact pressure between the contact portion 21 and the other-side contact member 5. The structure of the contact member 2 will be described in more detail in the section of "(2.3) Contact member".

[0058] A pair of mounting metal members 3 are respectively fixed to both end portions of the housing 1 in the front-rear direction. The mounting metal member 3 is made of a metal material. As an example, it is made of a copper alloy. The mounting metal member 3 is fixed to the housing 1 in a state where at least a part thereof is buried in each second peripheral wall 122 in the housing 1. Each mounting metal member 3 has a pair of mounting pieces 31 that protrude from both surfaces of the housing 1 in the left-right direction, that is, protrude from the pair of first peripheral walls 121 to both sides in the left-right direction. The pair of mounting pieces 31 protrude from the lower end portion of the housing 1, and the lower surfaces of the mounting pieces 31 are located in the same plane as the lower surface of the connecting portion 25.

[0059] The pair of mounting metal members 3 have a function of reinforcing the housing 1 (especially the second peripheral wall 122). In addition, the mounting metal member 3 can be joined to the circuit board 71 by joining means such as welding through the pair of mounting pieces 31 in the same manner as the connecting portion 25 of the contact member 2. Thereby, the stress generated between the connector 101 and the circuit board 71 can be borne by the mounting metal member 3, and the stress applied to the contact member 2 can be reduced. In the present embodiment, the connector 101 includes a pair of mounting metal members 3, and each mounting metal member 3 has a pair of mounting pieces 31. Therefore, a total of four mounting pieces 31 are located at the four corners of the housing 1 in a top view. Therefore, the connector 101 can be mounted to the circuit board 71 relatively firmly.

[0060] In the present embodiment, the housing 1 is an insert molding product with the pair of mounting metal members 3 as inserts. Each mounting metal member 3 is formed such that the portion (joining portion) that joins with the circuit board 71 in the mounting piece 31 extends substantially parallel to the circuit board 71. That is, the thickness direction of the joining portion of each mounting piece 31 is the same as the up-down direction.

[0061] As an example, the size of the housing 1 in the up-down direction (height direction) is several [mm] or less. Further, as an example, the size of the housing 1 in the front-back direction (length direction) is more than ten [mm]. Further, as an example, the size of the housing 1 in the left-right direction (short side direction) is several [mm]. Furthermore, as an example, the interval between the plurality of contact members 2, that is, the pitch is several tenths [mm].

[0062] (2.2) Structure of the mating connector

[0063] Hereinafter, the structure of the mating connector 102 will be described.

[0064] In the present embodiment, as described above, the mating connector 102 is a plug that can be electrically connected to the connector 101 serving as a socket, as Figures 2A - 3B shown, and includes a mating housing 4 and a plurality (here, 40) of mating contact members 5. In other words, the mating housing 4 is a plug-side housing, and the mating contact members 5 are plug-side contact members. Further, in the present embodiment, the mating connector 102 further includes a pair of mating mounting metal members 6 (plug-side mounting metal members).

[0065] The mating housing 4, the plurality of mating contact members 5, and the pair of mating mounting metal members 6 respectively correspond to the housing 1, the plurality of contact members 2, and the pair of mounting metal members 3 in the connector 101.

[0066] That is, the mating housing 4 is a resin molded body and has electrical insulation properties. The mating housing 4 holds the plurality of mating contact members 5. The mating housing 4 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is longer in the front-back direction than in the left-right direction in plan view. Here, the mating housing 4 is formed in a shape and size corresponding to the concave portion 14 such that at least a part of the mating housing 4 is inserted into the concave portion 14 of the housing 1 in the connected state where the mating connector 102 is connected to the connector 101.

[0067] Twenty of the plurality of mating contact members 5 are held on each of the left and right side surfaces of the mating housing 4. The plurality of mating contact members 5 are fixed to the mating housing 4 in a state where at least a part thereof is buried in the mating housing 4. The plurality of mating contact members 5 held by the mating housing 4 are arranged at equal intervals in the length direction (front-back direction) of the mating housing 4.

[0068] That is, the 40 mating contact members 5 are divided into a pair of contact member groups, with 20 members in each group. The 20 mating contact members 5 constituting one contact member group and the 20 mating contact members 5 constituting the other contact member group are symmetrically arranged with respect to a reference plane that bisects the mating housing 4 in the left-right direction.

[0069] As Figure 3AAs shown, the mating-side contact 5 includes a contact piece 51, a winding piece 52, and a connecting piece 53. These contact piece 51, winding piece 52, and connecting piece 53 are seamlessly formed as one body. The contact piece 51 extends along the height direction of the mating-side housing 4, that is, the up-and-down direction. In the connected state, the contact portion 21 of the contact 2 is the contacting part. The winding piece 52 is a part protruding from the lower end portion of the contact piece 51 and is formed in a U shape that winds around the lower end portion of the mating-side housing 4. The connecting piece 53 is a part protruding from the upper end portion of the contact piece 51. The connecting piece 53 is formed to protrude from the respective end faces in the left-and-right direction of the mating-side housing 4 and extends in the short-side direction (left-and-right direction) of the mating-side housing 4. Therefore, for example, by joining means such as welding, the connecting piece 53 is joined to the circuit board 72, so that the circuit board 72 is electrically and mechanically connected to the mating-side contact 5.

[0070] Here, the contact piece 51 has a protrusion 511 and a recess 512 on the surface facing the contact 2 in the connected state. The protruding amount of the protrusion 511 increases upward. The recess 512 is located above the protrusion 511 and is formed at a position corresponding to the contact portion 21 of the contact 2 in the connected state.

[0071] According to the above structure, when transitioning from the non-connected state (released state) to the connected state (engaged state), as the mating-side housing 4 is pressed into the recess 14 of the housing 1, the contact portion 21 of the contact 2 of the connector 101 crosses over the protrusion 511 and fits into the recess 512. Therefore, when transitioning from the connected state to the non-connected state, the contact portion 21 comes out of the recess 512, and it is necessary to pull the mating-side housing 4 out of the recess 14 of the housing 1 with a force greater than or equal to a certain value that can cross over the protrusion 511. In this way, the protrusion 511 and the recess 512 constitute a locking mechanism that can maintain the connected state of the connector 101 and the mating-side connector 102.

[0072] The mating-side contact 5 is made of a conductive metal material. As an example, it is made of a copper alloy such as a Cosen-based copper alloy or phosphor bronze. A plating such as gold plating is appropriately formed on the surface of the mating-side contact 5.

[0073] A pair of mating-side mounting metal parts 6 are respectively fixed to the front-and-rear direction ends of the mating-side housing 4. The mating-side mounting metal parts 6 are made of a metal material. As an example, they are made of a copper alloy. The mating-side mounting metal parts 6 are fixed to the mating-side housing 4 in a state where at least a part is buried in the mating-side housing 4.

[0074] A pair of mating-side mounting metal members 6 has the function of strengthening the mating-side housing 4. The mating-side mounting metal members 6 can be joined to the circuit board 72 by joining means such as welding, similarly to the connection piece 53 of the mating-side contact member 5. Thus, the stress generated between the mating-side connector 102 and the circuit board 72 can be borne by the mating-side mounting metal members 6, and the stress applied to the mating-side contact member 5 can be reduced.

[0075] In the present embodiment, the mating-side housing 4 is an insert-molded product in which a plurality of mating-side contact members 5 and a pair of mating-side mounting metal members 6 are inserts.

[0076] Protrusions 511 or recesses 512 formed in the mating-side contact member 5 (plug-side contact member) may be appropriately omitted.

[0077] (2.3) Contact member

[0078] Hereinafter, with reference to Figure 1A , Figure 1B , Figure 4A , Figure 4B and Figure 4C , the structure of the contact member 2 in the connector 101 will be described in more detail. In Figure 1A and Figure 1B , in the end-face view of the cut portion showing the same cross-section as Figure 3A and Figure 3B , only one contact member 2 and one mating-side contact member 5 are illustrated. Figure 1A represents the "non-connected state" in which the mating-side connector 102 is not connected to the connector 101, Figure 1B represents the "connected state" in which the mating-side connector 102 is connected to the connector 101. In addition, in Figure 1A and Figure 1B , the "shading" indicating the cross-section is omitted.

[0079] As described above, the contact member 2 according to the present embodiment includes a contact portion 21, a base portion 22, a connecting portion 23, a protruding portion 24, and a connecting portion 25. In the present embodiment, the contact member 2 is formed of a strip-shaped plate material having a predetermined thickness (for example, 0.1 [mm] or less), and is formed by performing bending processing on the plate material to bend the plate material in the thickness direction. That is, the contact portion 21, the base portion 22, the connecting portion 23, the protruding portion 24, and the connecting portion 25 are integrally formed of a single plate material.

[0080] In Figure 1BIn the connection state shown, the contact portion 21 contacts the counterpart contact 5. In the present embodiment, as described above, in the connection state, the contact portion 21 is inserted into the recess 512 so that the contact portion 21 contacts the bottom surface of the recess 512 of the counterpart contact 5. Such a contact portion 21 faces at least a portion of the base portion 22 with a gap therebetween. In other words, at least a portion of the base portion 22 faces the contact portion 21 with a gap therebetween. In the present embodiment, at least the facing portion 221 of the base portion 22 faces the contact portion 21 in the left-right direction.

[0081] In addition, the contact portion 21 has a protrusion 211 that protrudes in a direction away from the base portion 22 in the opposing direction of the contact portion 21 and the base portion 22. In the present embodiment, since the contact portion 21 and the base portion 22 are opposed in the left-right direction, which is the short side direction of the housing 1, the opposing direction of the contact portion 21 and the base portion 22 is the left-right direction. Figure 1A In the example of FIG. 1 , since the base 22 is located on the left side when viewed from the contact portion 21, the protrusion 211 protrudes to the right in the direction away from the base 22 in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, the contact portion 21 is formed into a substantially V-shaped shape open to the left by bending a plate material substantially at a right angle in the thickness direction. The top corner of the substantially V-shaped contact portion 21 constitutes the protrusion 211.

[0082] Furthermore, in this embodiment, if Figure 4A As shown in FIG. 1 , the surface of the contact portion 21 facing the counterpart contact 5 is formed in a shape in which the center of the short side direction of the contact 2 is raised toward the counterpart contact 5. That is, the surface of the contact portion 21 facing the counterpart contact 5 is formed in a substantially V-shaped cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the contact 2. In other words, the surface of the contact portion 21 facing the counterpart contact 5 is formed in a substantially triangular shape with the protrusion 211 as the vertex and the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the front-back direction. In other words, the contact portion 21 is formed in a shape that tapers toward the front end of the counterpart contact 5, and more specifically, is formed in a substantially quadrangular pyramid shape with the protrusion 211 as the vertex. Thus, even if a foreign object is sandwiched between the contact portion 21 and the counterpart contact 5, the contact between the contact portion 21 and the counterpart contact 5 can be reliably ensured.

[0083] At least a portion of the base 22 (the opposing portion 221 in this embodiment) is opposed to the contact portion 21 via a gap. The contact 2 is held on the housing 1 by the base 22. In this embodiment, the base 22 is fixed to the first peripheral wall 121 of the housing 1 by press-fitting (see Figure 3A ).

[0084] Specifically, the base 22 includes a pair of leg pieces 22a and 22b that extend substantially parallel in the vertical direction, and a connecting piece 22c that connects the upper end portions of the pair of leg pieces 22a and 22b to each other. The base 22 is formed by these pair of leg pieces 22a and 22b and the connecting piece 22c into a substantially U-shaped that is open downward. The base 22 of such a shape is pressed into the first peripheral wall 121 from above, so as to be fixed to the first peripheral wall 121 in a state where the first peripheral wall 121 is sandwiched between the pair of leg pieces 22a and 22b. Here, the dimension (width dimension) in the short side direction of the base 22 is set to be larger than those of the contact portion 21, the connecting portion 23, the protruding portion 24, and the connecting portion 25. On the other hand, grooves for receiving the pair of leg pieces 22a and 22b are respectively formed on both sides in the thickness direction (left and right direction) of the first peripheral wall 121. The width dimension of each groove is set to be smaller than the dimension in the short side direction of the base 22, so the base 22 is fixed to the first peripheral wall 121 by being pressed in. That is, the base 22 is fixed to the housing 1 such that at least the pair of leg pieces 22a and 22b are buried in the grooves of the first peripheral wall 121.

[0085] Here, the base 22 has an opposing portion 221 that opposes the protruding portion 24. In the present embodiment, the opposing portion 221 is constituted by a part of the leg piece 22a among the pair of leg pieces 22a and 22b, which is located on the inner side surface side of the concave portion 14 (refer to Figure 3A ) on the center side in the short side direction of the housing 1.

[0086] The protruding portion 211 of the contact portion 21 and the opposing portion 221 of the base 22 are located on a straight line L1 (refer to Figure 4B ) along the opposing direction (left and right direction) between the contact portion 21 and the base 22. In other words, the opposing portion 221, the protruding portion 24, and the protruding portion 211 are arranged side by side on a straight line L1 extending in the left and right direction, and the protruding portion 24 is located between the opposing portion 221 and the protruding portion 211.

[0087] The connecting portion 23 connects the contact portion 21 and the base 22. In the present embodiment, the connecting portion 23 connects the lower end portion of the leg piece 22a located on the center side in the short side direction of the housing 1 among the pair of leg pieces 22a and 22b to the lower end portion of the contact portion 21. The connecting portion 23 is formed into a substantially U-shaped that is open upward. In other words, the connecting portion 23 has a folded-back portion 231 that protrudes downward. The folded-back portion 231 is formed into a substantially semi-circular arc shape that protrudes downward. The folded-back portion 231 includes an arm portion 232 connected to the contact portion 21, and supports the contact portion 21 such that the arm portion 232 is away from the base 22. The connecting portion 23 has elasticity at least in the folded-back portion 231, and can be elastically deformed at least in the direction of reducing the radius of curvature of the folded-back portion 231, that is, reducing the interval between the contact portion 21 and the base 22.

[0088] That is, the folded-back portion 231 functions as a spring. When a force pressing the contact portion 21 toward the base portion 22 acts on the contact portion 21, at least the folded-back portion 231 elastically deforms, and the contact portion 21 moves in a direction approaching the base portion 22, and the contact member 2 becomes Figure 1B the shape shown. On the other hand, when the force pressing the contact portion 21 toward the base portion 22 is released, the contact portion 21 moves in a direction away from the base portion 22 by the elastic force (resilience force) of the folded-back portion 231, and the contact member 2 becomes Figure 1A the shape shown.

[0089] The protruding portion 24 protrudes from the contact portion 21 toward the base portion 22 side in the facing direction in which the contact portion 21 and the base portion 22 face each other. In the present embodiment, as described above, the facing direction of the contact portion 21 and the base portion 22 is the left-right direction. In Figure 1A the example, since the base portion 22 is located on the left side when viewed from the contact portion 21, the protruding portion 24 protrudes from the contact portion 21 toward the base portion 22 side in the left-right direction, that is, the left side. Here, in Figure 1A the non-connected state shown, that is, the state where the contact portion 21 does not contact the other contact member 5, the protruding portion 24 faces the facing portion 221 with a gap therebetween.

[0090] Specifically, the protruding portion 24 is connected to the upper end portion of the contact portion 21. The protruding portion 24 has a substantially V-shaped bent portion 241 that protrudes upward. In the present embodiment, the folded-back portion 231 of the connecting portion 23 is located below the bent portion 241. In other words, the protruding portion 24 has a bent portion 241 that protrudes in a direction away from the connecting portion 23 (upward). Further, the connecting portion 23 has a folded-back portion 231 that protrudes in a direction away from the bent portion 241 (downward). Moreover, the bent portion 241 has a larger curvature than the folded-back portion 231. That is, when comparing the substantially semicircular arc-shaped folded-back portion 231 and the substantially V-shaped bent portion 241, the bent portion 241 has a larger curvature. In other words, the radius of curvature of the bent portion 241 is smaller than the radius of curvature of the folded-back portion 231.

[0091] In addition, in the present embodiment, the protruding portion 24 further has an extension piece 242, and the extension piece 242 extends downward from the end portion on the side opposite to the contact portion 21 of the substantially V-shaped bending portion 241. The extension piece 242 includes a portion extending downward in parallel with the base portion 22 from the bending portion 241, and a portion extending obliquely downward in such a manner that the distance from its front end (lower end) to the base portion 22 gradually increases. Here, the protruding portion 24 faces the opposing portion 221 of the base portion 22 at least at the portion of the extension piece 242 that is substantially parallel to the base portion 22. With such a shape, the distance between the protruding portion 24 and the base portion 22 in the left-right direction is minimized at the portion of the extension piece 242 that is substantially parallel to the base portion 22. In other words, the portion of the base portion 22 where the distance to the protruding portion 24 is minimized at least in the opposing direction to the protruding portion 24 constitutes the opposing portion 221.

[0092] The protruding portion 24 is elastic at least at the bending portion 241, and can be elastically deformed at least in the direction of reducing the curvature radius of the bending portion 241, that is, reducing the distance between the extension piece 242 and the contact portion 21.

[0093] Moreover, the opposing surface of the protruding portion 24 that faces the opposing portion 221 includes a flat surface 243. On the other hand, the opposing surface of the opposing portion 221 that faces the protruding portion 24 includes a base-side flat surface 222. Therefore, the protruding portion 24 and the opposing portion 221 face each other such that the flat surfaces 243 and the base-side flat surfaces 222 that are respectively flat face each other.

[0094] As Figure 1A shown, with the above structure, the base portion 22, the connecting portion 23, the contact portion 21, and the protruding portion 24 are continuously combined to form a through-current path R0 along a plane. Moreover, one end portion (lower end portion) of the contact portion 21 in the extending direction of the through-current path R0 is combined with the connecting portion 23, and the other end portion (upper end portion) is combined with the protruding portion 24. In other words, the contact member 2 formed of a single sheet of plate material forms a continuous through-current path R0 that sequentially passes through the base portion 22, the connecting portion 23, the contact portion 21, and the protruding portion 24. In the present disclosure, "a plane" is a virtual plane, and in the present embodiment, it is a plane orthogonal to the length direction (front-rear direction) of the housing 1.

[0095] In addition, as Figure 4B and Figure 4CAs shown, in the above-mentioned one plane, in the height direction (vertical direction) intersecting with the facing direction of the contact portion 21 and the base portion 22, the height dimension H2 of the protruding portion 24 as observed from the connecting portion 23 is smaller than the height dimension H1 of the base portion 22 as observed from the connecting portion 23. Here, both height dimensions H1 and H2 are based on the lower end of the connecting portion 23. The height dimension H1 is the distance from the lower end of the connecting portion 23 to the upper end of the base portion 22, and the height dimension H2 is the distance from the lower end of the connecting portion 23 to the upper end of the protruding portion 24. In short, in the present embodiment, the upper end of the protruding portion 24 is located at a position (below) lower than the upper end of the base portion 22.

[0096] The connecting portion 25 is electrically connected to the base portion 22. The connecting portion 25 is, as described above, a portion joined to the circuit board 71 by joining means such as welding. In other words, the contact member 2 can be connected to the circuit board 71 through the connecting portion 25. Here, as Figure 1A shown, the base portion 22 is located between the connecting portion 25 and the connecting portion 23 on the current-carrying path R0. That is, one end portion of the base portion 22 in the extending direction of the current-carrying path R0 is joined to the connecting portion 25, and the other end portion is joined to the connecting portion 23. Specifically, the connecting portion 25 is joined to the lower end portion of the leg piece 22b located on the opposite side of the center in the short side direction of the housing 1 among the pair of leg pieces 22a and 22b. More specifically, the connecting portion 25 is formed to extend substantially orthogonally to the leg piece 22b from the lower end portion of the leg piece 22b toward the opposite side of the leg piece 22b in the facing direction (left-right direction) of the pair of leg pieces 22a and 22b. In other words, the corner portion between the leg piece 22b and the connecting portion 25 is formed by bending the plate material constituting the contact member 2 at substantially a right angle in its thickness direction. The connecting portion 25 extends substantially parallel to the circuit board 71 and is joined to the circuit board 71 in a state where its lower surface (the surface facing the circuit board 71) is in contact with the circuit board 71. The front end surface (the end surface on the side opposite to the leg piece 22b) of the connecting portion 25 extending from the leg piece 22b is substantially orthogonal to the surface of the circuit board 71. In other words, the contact member 2 formed of a single plate material forms a continuous current-carrying path R0 that sequentially passes through the connecting portion 25, the base portion 22, the connecting portion 23, the contact portion 21, and the protruding portion 24.

[0097] Furthermore, the dimension (width dimension) in the short side direction of the contact member 2 is not the same among the contact portion 21, the base portion 22, the connecting portion 23, the protruding portion 24, and the connecting portion 25, and is different according to each portion as described below. That is, as Figure 4CAs shown, the width dimension of the contact member 2 generally has dimensions in four stages, namely width dimensions W1, W2, W3, and W4. The relative relationship of the width dimensions W1, W2, W3, and W4 in these four stages is represented by "W1 < W2 < W3 < W4". Moreover, the width dimensions of the contact portion 21, the connecting portion 23, the protruding portion 24, and the connecting portion 25 are the smallest width dimension W1 among the width dimensions W1, W2, W3, and W4. On the other hand, the width dimension of at least the connecting piece 22c in the base portion 22 is the width dimension W2 (>W1). The width dimension of the leg piece 22a in the base portion 22 is basically the same as that of the connecting piece 22c, which is the width dimension W2, but the width dimension at the central portion in the length direction (vertical direction) of the leg piece 22a is the width dimension W3 (>W2). In addition, the width dimension of the leg piece 22b in the base portion 22 is the largest width dimension W4 (>W3) among the width dimensions W1, W2, W3, and W4. In other words, in the base portion 22, the width dimensions of the respective portions are also set in the order of the leg piece 22b, the leg piece 22a, and the connecting piece 22c so that the width dimension becomes smaller. Thus, the base portion 22 is fixed to the first peripheral wall 121 of the housing 1 by press-fitting (refer to Figure 3A ).

[0098] However, in the contact member 2 according to the present embodiment, at least in the "connected state", as Figure 1B shown, the contact portion 21 is electrically connected to the opposing portion 221 through the second path R2 that includes the protruding portion 24 and is different from the first path R1 that includes the connecting portion 23. Since the contact portion 21 and the base portion 22 are connected by the connecting portion 23, the contact portion 21 and the opposing portion 221 of the base portion 22 are always electrically connected via the first path R1 that includes the connecting portion 23. The first path R1 is the path that connects the contact portion 21 and the opposing portion 221 in the above-mentioned conduction path R0 (refer to Figure 1A ). Moreover, at least in the "connected state", that is, in the state where the mating connector 102 is connected to the connector 101, in addition to the first path R1, the contact portion 21 and the opposing portion 221 are also electrically connected via the second path R2. The second path R2 is a path different from the first path R1 that includes the connecting portion 23 and is a path that does not include the connecting portion 23 but includes the protruding portion 24.

[0099] In the present embodiment, in Figure 1BIn the connected state shown, the protruding portion 24 is in contact with the opposing portion 221, so that the protruding portion 24 and the opposing portion 221 are electrically connected. In other words, at least the portion of the base portion 22 that is in contact with the protruding portion 24 in the connected state constitutes the opposing portion 221. That is, in the non-connected state as shown in FIG. 1A, as described above, the protruding portion 24 faces the opposing portion 221 with a gap therebetween, and the protruding portion 24 and the opposing portion 221 are in a non-contact state. Therefore, in the non-connected state, only the first path R1 is formed between the contact portion 21 and the opposing portion 221, and the second path R2 is not formed. In contrast, in the connected state, a force that presses the contact portion 21 toward the base portion 22 acts from the opposing contact member 5 on the other side on the contact portion 21, the connecting portion 23 elastically deforms, and the contact portion 21 moves in a direction approaching the base portion 22. Along with this, the protruding portion 24 also moves in a direction approaching the base portion 22, as Figure 1B shown, the protruding portion 24 is in contact with the opposing portion 221. Therefore, in the connected state, the protruding portion 24 and the opposing portion 221 are directly electrically connected without passing through the connecting portion 23, and the second path R2 is formed between the contact portion 21 and the opposing portion 221.

[0100] In short, at least in the "connected state", a second path R2 that is different from the first path R1 and includes the protruding portion 24 is formed between the contact portion 21 and the opposing portion 221, and the contact portion 21 and the opposing portion 221 are electrically connected not only through the first path R1 but also through the second path R2. Therefore, at least in the "connected state", compared with the structure in which only the first path R1 electrically connects the contact portion 21 and the opposing portion 221, the resistance between the contact portion 21 and the base portion 22 (opposing portion 221) becomes smaller. As a result, in the contact member 2 according to the present embodiment, the connector 101 including the contact member 2, and the connection device 100 including the connector 101, the resistance can be suppressed to be small. In Figure 1A and Figure 1B , the dashed lines indicating the conduction path R0, the first path R1, and the second path R2 only pass through the center in the thickness direction of the contact member 2, but they only conceptually represent each path, and do not mean that the position where the current flows is limited to the center in the thickness direction of the contact member 2.

[0101] Moreover, in the present embodiment, as described above, the protruding portion 211 of the contact portion 21 and the opposing portion 221 of the base portion 22 are located on a straight line L1 (see Figure 4B ) along the opposing direction (left-right direction) of the contact portion 21 and the base portion 22. According to such a positional relationship, in the connected state, a pressure F2 acts from the protruding portion 24 on the opposing portion 221 along the direction of the force F1 received by the contact portion 21 from the opposing contact member 5 on the other side. That is, in the connected state, the contact portion 21 receives from the opposing contact member 5 on the other side a direction approaching the base portion 22 along the left-right direction (in Figure 1Ba force F1 directed leftward in the [ ]. Thus, the protruding portion 24 is pressed against the opposing portion 221 with a pressure F2 having the same orientation as the force F1 (directed leftward in the [ ]). Therefore, the contact pressure between the protruding portion 24 and the opposing portion 221 can be sufficiently ensured. Figure 1B In the [ ], the protruding portion 24 is pressed against the opposing portion 221 with a pressure F2 having the same orientation as the force F1 (directed leftward in the [ ]). Therefore, the contact pressure between the protruding portion 24 and the opposing portion 221 can be sufficiently ensured.

[0102] In addition, in the present embodiment, in the Figure 1B connection state shown, the path length between the contact portion 21 and the connection portion 25 is shorter via the second path R2 than via the first path R1. That is, in the connection state, the contact portion 21 and the connection portion 25 are electrically connected through two paths: a path via the first path R1 and a path via the second path R2. Moreover, when comparing the path lengths of these paths, the latter (the second path R2) is shorter than the former (via the first path R1). In other words, in the connection state, between the contact portion 21 and the connection portion 25, current flows through the second path R2, thereby enabling a shortcut for the current path. Therefore, according to the above structure, while ensuring a certain length for the contact member 2 (especially the connecting portion 23) so as to ensure sufficient contact pressure between the contact member 2 and the opposing contact member 5, the resistance of the contact member 2 itself can be suppressed to be small.

[0103] Here, since the second path R2 is a path formed by the contact between the protruding portion 24 and the opposing portion 221, the second path R2 includes the contact resistance between the protruding portion 24 and the opposing portion 221. In the present embodiment, even considering this contact resistance, the resistance between the contact portion 21 and the connection portion 25 is smaller via the path of the second path R2 than via the path of the first path R1.

[0104] (3) Modification

[0105] Embodiment 1 is merely one of various embodiments of the present disclosure. As long as Embodiment 1 can achieve the object of the present disclosure, various changes can be made according to design and the like. Hereinafter, modification examples of Embodiment 1 will be listed. The basic structures of the modification examples described below are the same as those of the connector 101 or the connection device 100 of Embodiment 1, so descriptions of common points may sometimes be omitted. The modification examples described below can be combined and applied as appropriate.

[0106] The shape of the protruding portion 24 in the contact member 2 is not limited to the above shape. For example, as shown in Figure 5A to FIG. 5D, it can be appropriately changed.

[0107] In the Figure 5A example, the protruding portion 24 has a substantially U-shaped bent portion 241 that opens downward instead of the substantially V-shaped bent portion 241 that protrudes upward. In the Figure 5BIn the example, the protruding portion 24 has the following shape, that is, one side of the protruding portion 24 side of the substantially V-shaped contact portion 21 is linearly extended obliquely upward, and the upper end portion of the extension piece 242 is linearly extended upward, and the intersection of the two is set as the bending portion 241. In Figure 5C In the example of, the bending portion 241 of the protruding portion 24 is omitted, and the portion extending upward from the front end portion linearly extending obliquely upward of one side of the protruding portion 24 side of the substantially V-shaped contact portion 21 constitutes the extension piece 242. In these Figures 5A - 5C structures, compared with the contact member 2 according to the first embodiment, in the height direction (vertical direction), it is difficult to suppress the height dimension H2 of the protruding portion 24 observed from the connecting portion 23 to be small. In other words, in the contact member 2 according to the first embodiment, the protruding portion 24 has a substantially V-shaped bending portion 241 protruding upward in a form sharing one side with one side of the protruding portion 24 side of the substantially V-shaped contact portion 21, thereby reducing the height dimension H2 of the protruding portion 24 observed from the connecting portion 23. In addition, in Figure 5A and Figure 5B structures, compared with the contact member 2 according to the first embodiment, in the connected state, the contact area between the protruding portion 24 and the opposing portion 221 becomes larger, so that the contact resistance between the protruding portion 24 and the opposing portion 221 in the second path R2 can be suppressed to be small.

[0108] In addition, in Figure 5D the example of, the extension piece 242 of the protruding portion 24 is omitted. In this structure, compared with the contact member 2 according to the first embodiment, in the connected state, the contact area between the protruding portion 24 and the opposing portion 221 becomes smaller, so that it is difficult to suppress the contact resistance between the protruding portion 24 and the opposing portion 221 in the second path R2 to be small. Moreover, in Figure 5C and Figure 5D structures, compared with the contact member 2 according to the first embodiment, the overall length of the contact member 2 can be shortened, and the materials required for the contact member 2 can be suppressed to be less.

[0109] In the connector 101 according to Embodiment 1, the electrical connection with the mating connector 102 is not limited to the contact members 2, and can also be made by the mounting metal members 3. That is, the electrical connection between the connector 101 and the mating connector 102 can also be made by bringing the mounting metal member 3 into contact with the mating mounting metal member 6 of the mating connector 102, and using the mounting metal member 3 and the mating mounting metal member 6. In addition, the number of the mounting metal members 3 is not limited to a pair (two), and can be appropriately increased or decreased. For example, the connector 101 can also include one or more than three mounting metal members 3. When there is one mounting metal member 3, the mounting metal member 3 is disposed, for example, only on one of the second peripheral walls 122 of the housing 1. Moreover, the mounting metal member 3 is not an essential structure of the connector 101, and the mounting metal member 3 can be appropriately omitted.

[0110] In addition, the number of the mounting pieces 31 in each mounting metal member 3 is not limited to a pair (two), and can be appropriately increased or decreased. For example, each mounting metal member 3 can also have one or more than three mounting pieces 31. For example, even when each mounting metal member 3 has only one mounting piece 31, the mounting metal member 3 is located at the four corners of the housing 1 in a plan view. Thus, as in Embodiment 1, a total of four mounting pieces 31 are located at the four corners of the housing 1 in a plan view. When each mounting metal member 3 has more than three mounting pieces 31, the connector 101 can be more firmly mounted on the circuit board 71.

[0111] In addition, in the present Embodiment 1, the connector 101 includes 40 contact members 2, but the number of the contact members 2 is not limited to 40. Moreover, the plurality of contact members 2 are not limited to a structure in which they are separated into a pair of contact member groups and arranged in two columns, and can also be arranged in a single column. In the present Embodiment 1, the plurality of contact members 2 are arranged at equal intervals, but are not limited to this structure, and can also be arranged at unequal intervals.

[0112] In addition, the contact members 2 are not limited to copper alloys such as Cossen-based copper alloys or phosphor bronze, and can also be made of other conductive materials. Moreover, in the present Embodiment 1, a plating layer is formed on the surface of the contact members 2, but the plating layer is not an essential structure of the contact members 2, and can be appropriately omitted.

[0113] In addition, the opposing surface of the protruding portion 24 that opposes the opposing portion 221 is not limited to the flat surface 243, and can include, for example, a curved surface that protrudes toward the opposing portion 221.

[0114] In addition, in the present Embodiment 1, in the non-connected state, the protruding portion 24 faces the opposing portion 221 with a gap therebetween. However, the structure is not limited thereto, and in the non-connected state, the protruding portion 24 may also be in contact with the opposing portion 221. As described above, the protruding portion 24 has elasticity at least in the bent portion 241. Therefore, even in the non-connected state, when the protruding portion 24 is in contact with the opposing portion 221, the protruding portion 24 can ensure the contact pressure between itself and the opposing portion 221 through its elasticity. Moreover, in the connected state, the contact portion 21 receives a force from the opposing contact member 5, so that the protruding portion 24 is further pressed against the opposing portion 221, and the contact pressure between the protruding portion 24 and the opposing portion 221 is increased.

[0115] In addition, in the present Embodiment 1, the housing 1 has a shape that is longer in the direction in which the pair of second peripheral walls 122 face each other (front-rear direction) than in the direction in which the pair of first peripheral walls 121 face each other (left-right direction). However, the structure is not limited thereto. For example, the housing 1 may also have a shape that is longer in the direction in which the pair of first peripheral walls 121 face each other than in the direction in which the pair of second peripheral walls 122 face each other, or may be square when viewed from above.

[0116] In addition, in the present Embodiment 1, the contact member 2 has elasticity at least in the connecting portion 23. However, the structure is not limited thereto. For example, the contact member 2 may also have elasticity in the base portion 22 or the contact portion 21 other than the connecting portion 23.

[0117] In addition, in the present Embodiment 1, the housing 1 is integrated with the mounting metal member 3 by insert molding. However, the mounting metal member 3 may also be fixed to the housing 1 by press-fitting or the like in the same manner as the contact member 2. Conversely, the housing 1 is formed by insert molding with the contact member 2 as an insert molded product, so that the contact member 2 can also be fixed to the housing 1 in a state where at least a part thereof is buried in the housing 1 in the same manner as the mounting metal member 3.

[0118] In addition, the bonding means between the connector 101 and the circuit board 71, and the bonding means between the opposing connector 102 and the circuit board 72 are not limited to welding. For example, it may also be a conductive paste or crimping.

[0119] In the connecting device 100 according to Embodiment 1, the connector 101 is a socket and the opposing connector 102 is a plug. However, it is not limited thereto. That is, in the connecting device 100, the connector 101 may be a plug and the opposing connector 102 may be a socket. Moreover, it may also be that both the plug and the socket constituting the connecting device 100 are provided with the contact member 2. In the contact member 2, at least in the connected state, the contact portion 21 is electrically connected to the opposing portion 221 through a second path R2 that is different from the first path R1 including the connecting portion 23 and includes the protruding portion 24.

[0120] (Embodiment 2)

[0121] As Figures 6A - 7B shown, the specific shapes of the connector 101A and the mating connector 102A of the connecting device 100A according to this embodiment are different from those of the connecting device 100 according to Embodiment 1. Hereinafter, for the same structures as those in Embodiment 1, the same reference numerals as those in Embodiment 1 are assigned and the description is appropriately omitted.

[0122] In this embodiment, the connector 101A includes a housing 1A and a plurality (here, 40) of contacts 2A. This connector 101A does not include the mounting metal member 3 (refer to Figure 2A ).

[0123] Similar to the housing 1 in Embodiment 1, the housing 1A has a recess 14A at the center of the upper surface 13A which is the mating surface with the mating connector 102A on both the upper and lower surfaces in the vertical direction.

[0124] The plurality of contacts 2A are held in the housing 1A by press-fitting. Twenty contacts 2A constituting one contact group and twenty contacts 2A constituting the other contact group are symmetrically arranged with respect to the reference plane that bisects the housing 1A in the left-right direction.

[0125] The mating connector 102A includes a mating housing 4A and a plurality (here, 40) of mating contacts 5A. This mating connector 102A does not include the mating mounting metal member 6 (refer to Fig. 2A).

[0126] The mating housing 4A is formed in a shape and size corresponding to the recess 14A such that at least a part of the mating housing 4A is inserted into the recess 14A of the housing 1A in the connected state where the mating connector 102A is connected to the connector 101A.

[0127] Here, the housing 1A has a first restricting portion 11A at at least one corner of the inner side surface of the recess 14A for preventing reverse assembly of the mating connector 102A with respect to the connector 101A. In Figure 6A the example, in a plan view, the first restricting portions 11A each formed of a tapered surface are formed at two corner portions at the right front and the right rear. On the other hand, the mating housing 4A has a second restricting portion 41A at at least one corner of the outer side surface of the portion inserted into the recess 14A of the housing 1A for preventing reverse assembly of the mating connector 102A with respect to the connector 101A. In Figure 6A the example, in a plan view, the second restricting portions 41A each formed of a tapered surface are formed at two corner portions at the right front and the right rear.

[0128] The first restricting portion 11A is formed asymmetrically with respect to the center point of the housing 1A in a plan view. The second restricting portion 41A is formed asymmetrically with respect to the center point of the other housing 4A in a plan view. Thus, when the other connector 102A is combined with the connector 101A in a direction opposite to the normal direction, the other housing 4A does not fit into the recess 14A of the housing 1A, and reverse assembly of the other connector 102A with respect to the connector 101A can be prevented. In the present disclosure, "reverse assembly" means that the other connector 102A is combined with the connector 101A in a direction opposite to the normal direction. Specifically, it means that the other connector 102A is combined with the connector 101A in a state where the state shown in Figure 6A is turned upside down front and back.

[0129] A plurality of the other contact members 5A are held in the other housing 4A by press-fitting. Twenty of the other contact members 5A constituting one contact member group and twenty of the other contact members 5A constituting the other contact member group are symmetrically arranged with respect to a reference plane that bisects the other housing 4A in the left-right direction.

[0130] As Figure 7A shown, the contact member 2A includes a contact portion 21A, a base portion 22A, a connecting portion 23A, a protruding portion 24A, and a connecting portion 25A. These contact portion 21A, base portion 22A, connecting portion 23A, protruding portion 24A, and connecting portion 25A are integrally formed seamlessly. In a state where the contact member 2A is held in the housing 1A, the connecting portion 25A protrudes from each end face of the housing 1A in the left-right direction. For example, the connecting portion 25A is joined to the circuit board 71 by a joining means such as welding, so that the circuit board 71 is electrically and mechanically connected to the contact member 2A.

[0131] Moreover, in a state where the contact member 2A is held in the housing 1A, at least a part of the contact portion 21A of the contact member 2A protrudes from a pair of inner side faces that face each other in the left-right direction among the inner side faces of the recess 14A in the housing 1A. Thus, in a connected state, the contact portion 21A contacts the other contact member 5A, and the connector 101A is electrically connected to the other connector 102A.

[0132] In the present embodiment, the connecting portion 23A connects the upper end portion of the base portion 22A and the upper end portion of the contact portion 21A. The connecting portion 23A is formed in a substantially U shape that opens downward. The protruding portion 24A is connected to the lower end portion of the contact portion 21A. The protruding portion 24A has a substantially U-shaped bent portion 241A that bulges downward. The base portion 22A has an opposing portion 221A that opposes the protruding portion 24A.

[0133] In the contact member 2A, in Figure 7AIn the non-connected state shown, the protrusion 24A faces the opposing portion 221A with a gap therebetween, and the protrusion 24A and the opposing portion 221A are in a non-contact state. In contrast, in Figure 7B the connected state shown, the protrusion 24A contacts the opposing portion 221A, so that the protrusion 24A and the opposing portion 221A are electrically connected. That is, in the connected state, a force that presses the contact portion 21A toward the base portion 22A acts from the mating contact member 5A on the contact portion 21A, the connecting portion 23A is elastically deformed, and the contact portion 21A moves in a direction approaching the base portion 22A. Along with this, the protrusion 24A also moves in a direction approaching the base portion 22A, and the protrusion 24A contacts the opposing portion 221A. Therefore, in the connected state, the protrusion 24A and the opposing portion 221A are directly electrically connected without passing through the connecting portion 23A, and a second path R2 (see Figure 1B ) is formed between the contact portion 21A and the opposing portion 221A.

[0134] Therefore, in the connecting device 100A according to the present embodiment, at least in the "connected state", the contact portion 21A and the opposing portion 221A are electrically connected through a second path R2 (see Figure 1B ) that is a path different from the first path R1 (see Figure 1B ) including the connecting portion 23A and includes the protrusion 24A. As a result, in the contact member 2A according to the present embodiment, the connector 101A including the contact member 2A, and the connecting device 100A including the connector 101A, the resistance can be suppressed to be small.

[0135] The various structures described in Embodiment 2 can be appropriately combined and applied with the various structures (including modified examples) described in Embodiment 1. As an example, the structures (the first restricting portion 11A and the second restricting portion 41A) for preventing reverse assembly of the mating connector 102A with respect to the connector 101A can also be applied to the connecting device 100 according to Embodiment 1. Specifically, as long as Figure 2A the housing 1 in has at least one rib as the first restricting portion on a part of the inner side surface of the recess 14, and the mating housing 4 has at least one groove portion as the second restricting portion on a part of the outer side surface. At least one rib as the first restricting portion is formed non-point-symmetrically with respect to the center point of the housing 1 in a top view. At least one groove portion as the second restricting portion is formed non-point-symmetrically with respect to the center point of the mating housing 4 in a top view. Thus, when the mating connector 102 is assembled with respect to the connector 101 in a direction opposite to the normal direction, the mating housing 4 does not fit into the recess 14 of the housing 1, and reverse assembly of the mating connector 102 with respect to the connector 101 can be prevented. The relationship between the rib and the groove portion may be reversed, that is, the first restricting portion is at least one groove portion, and the second restricting portion may also be at least one rib.

[0136] (Embodiment 3)

[0137] As Figure 8A and Figure 8B shown, in the connecting device 100B according to the present embodiment, the specific shapes of the connector 101B and the counter connector 102B are different from those of the connecting device 100 according to Embodiment 1. Hereinafter, the same structures as those in Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in Embodiment 1, and the description thereof is appropriately omitted.

[0138] In the present embodiment, the connector 101B is a two-point contact type connector, and each contact member 2B contacts the counter contact member 5B of the counter connector 102B at two portions, i.e., the first contact portion (contact portion 21B) and the second contact portion (contact portion 26B). If it is a two-point contact type connector, it is possible to suppress the vertical dimension, i.e., the protruding dimension protruding from the circuit board 71, to be smaller while ensuring the reliability of electrical connection, and to achieve further low height.

[0139] In the present embodiment, the connector 101B includes a housing 1B and a plurality of contact members 2B.

[0140] The housing 1B has an upper surface 13B that becomes the opposed surface of the counter connector 102B on both the upper and lower surfaces in the vertical direction, and has a pair of concave portions 14B arranged in the left-right direction.

[0141] A plurality of contact members 2B are held by the housing 1B. A plurality of contact members 2B constituting one contact member group and a plurality of contact members 2B constituting another contact member group are symmetrically arranged with respect to a reference plane that bisects the housing 1B in the left-right direction.

[0142] The counter connector 102B includes a counter housing 4B and a plurality of counter contact members 5B.

[0143] The counter housing 4B is formed in a shape and size corresponding to the pair of concave portions 14B, so that at least a part of the counter housing 4B is inserted into the pair of concave portions 14B of the housing 1B in the connected state where the counter connector 102B is connected to the connector 101B.

[0144] A plurality of counter contact members 5B are held by the counter housing 4B. A plurality of counter contact members 5B constituting one contact member group and a plurality of counter contact members 5B constituting another contact member group are symmetrically arranged with respect to a reference plane that bisects the counter housing 4B in the left-right direction.

[0145] As Figure 8AAs shown, the contact 2B includes a (first) contact portion 21B, a base portion 22B, a connecting portion 23B, a protruding portion 24B, a connection portion 25B, and a (second) contact portion 26B. These contact portion 21B, base portion 22B, connecting portion 23B, protruding portion 24B, connection portion 25B, and contact portion 26B are seamlessly formed as a single body. In a state where the contact 2B is held in the housing 1B, the connection portion 25B protrudes from each end face in the left-right direction of the housing 1B. For example, by joining the connection portion 25B to the circuit board 71 using joining means such as welding, the circuit board 71 is electrically and mechanically connected to the contact 2B.

[0146] In the present embodiment, the connecting portion 23B connects the upper end portion of the base portion 22B and the upper end portion of the contact portion 21B. The connecting portion 23B is formed in a substantially U shape that opens downward. The protruding portion 24B is connected to the lower end portion of the contact portion 21B. The protruding portion 24B has a tab 244B that protrudes toward the base portion 22B in the left-right direction. The tab 244B is formed in a substantially U shape that opens in a direction away from the base portion 22B in the left-right direction. Moreover, the front end portion (the end portion on the side opposite to the contact portion 21B) of the protruding portion 24B is connected to the contact portion 26B. The contact portion 21B as the first contact portion and the contact portion 26B as the second contact portion are opposed to each other in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, at least the connecting portion 23B and the protruding portion 24B in the contact 2B have elasticity.

[0147] In a state where the contact 2B is held in the housing 1B, at least a part of the contact portion 21B and the contact portion 26B protrudes from a pair of inner side faces that are opposed to each other in the left-right direction among the pair of concave portions 14B in the housing 1B. Thus, in the connected state, the contact portion 21B and the contact portion 26B come into contact with the opposing contact 5B, and the connector 101B and the opposing connector 102B are electrically connected. Specifically, the opposing housing 4B holding the opposing contact 5B is inserted between the contact portion 21B and the contact portion 26B, whereby the opposing contact 5B is clamped between the contact portion 21B and the contact portion 26B. At this time, due to the elasticity of the protruding portion 24B, the contact portion 21B and the contact portion 26B are pressed toward the opposing contact 5B.

[0148] In addition, in this contact 2B, in the non-connected state as shown in Figure 8A the protruding portion 24B is opposed to the opposing portion 221B with a gap through the tab 244B, and the protruding portion 24B and the opposing portion 221B are in a non-contact state. In contrast, in as shown in Figure 8BIn the connected state shown, the protrusion 24B contacts the opposing portion 221B through the tab 244B, so that the protrusion 24B is electrically connected to the opposing portion 221B. That is, in the connected state, a force that presses the contact portion 21B toward the base portion 22B acts on the contact portion 21B from the mating contact 5B on the other side, the connecting portion 23B is elastically deformed, and the contact portion 21B moves in a direction approaching the base portion 22B. Along with this, the tab 244B of the protrusion 24B also moves in a direction approaching the base portion 22B, and the protrusion 24B contacts the opposing portion 221B through the tab 244B. Therefore, in the connected state, the protrusion 24B is directly electrically connected to the opposing portion 221B without passing through the connecting portion 23B, and a second path R2 (see Figure 1B ) is formed between the contact portion 21B and the opposing portion 221B.

[0149] Therefore, in the connecting device 100B according to the present embodiment, at least in the "connected state", the contact portion 21B and the opposing portion 221B are electrically connected through a second path R2 (see Figure 1B ) that is a path different from the first path R1 (see Figure 1B ) including the connecting portion 23B and includes the protrusion 24B. As a result, in the contact 2B according to the present embodiment, the connector 101B including the contact 2B, and the connecting device 100B including the connector 101B, the resistance can be suppressed to be small. In particular, in the two-point contact type connector 101B as in the present embodiment, not only the (first) contact portion 21B, but also a first path R1 (see FIG. 1B) and a second path R2 (see Figure 1B ) are formed between the (second) contact portion 26B and the opposing portion 221B. Therefore, the resistance can be suppressed to be even smaller.

[0150] In addition, as shown in Figure 9A and Figure 9B , as a modification of Embodiment 3, the contact 2Bx can be configured such that the protrusion 24Bx is separated from the opposing portion 221Bx through the cutout portion 272Bx. As shown in Figure 9A and Figure 9B , the contact 2Bx includes a (first) contact portion 21Bx, a base portion 22Bx, a connecting portion 23Bx, a protrusion 24Bx, a connecting portion 25Bx, and a (second) contact portion 26Bx. These contact portion 21Bx, base portion 22Bx, connecting portion 23Bx, protrusion 24Bx, connecting portion 25Bx, and contact portion 26Bx respectively correspond to the contact portion 21B, base portion 22B, connecting portion 23B, protrusion 24B, connecting portion 25B, and contact portion 26B of the contact 2B of Embodiment 3. Moreover, the tab 244Bx of the protrusion 24Bx corresponds to the tab 244B of the contact 2B of Embodiment 3.

[0151] As a manufacturing method of the above-mentioned contact member 2Bx, there are a method of directly manufacturing the Figure 9B shown contact member 2Bx from a plate material (metal plate), and a method of first generating Figure 9A the shown intermediate product from the plate material and finally manufacturing Figure 9B the shown contact member 2Bx.

[0152] In the former manufacturing method, for the plate material (metal plate), for example, by blanking process, etc., as Figure 9B shown, a contact member 2Bx in a state where a cutout portion 272Bx is formed between the protruding portion 24Bx and the opposing portion 221Bx is formed. That is, in this contact member 2Bx, as Figure 9B shown, the tab 244Bx of the protruding portion 24Bx faces the opposing portion 221Bx with the cutout portion 272Bx therebetween.

[0153] In the intermediate product of the contact member 2Bx in the latter manufacturing method, as Figure 9A shown, the tab 244Bx of the protruding portion 24Bx is connected to the opposing portion 221Bx through the connecting portion 271Bx. The tab 244Bx, the connecting portion 271Bx, and the opposing portion 221Bx are seamlessly formed as one body. For such an intermediate product of the contact member 2Bx, for example, by blanking process, etc., the connecting portion 271Bx is removed, and thus a cutout portion 272Bx is formed between the protruding portion 24Bx and the opposing portion 221Bx. That is, in this contact member 2Bx, by forming the Figure 9A shown cutout portion 272Bx in the intermediate product of the contact member 2Bx as Figure 9B shown, the protruding portion 24Bx and the opposing portion 221Bx are formed.

[0154] According to the structure of the contact member 2Bx according to this modification example, during the manufacturing process of the contact member 2Bx, by adjusting the size of the cutout portion 272Bx, the interval (gap) between the protruding portion 24Bx and the opposing portion 221Bx can be adjusted.

[0155] The various structures (including modification examples) described in Embodiment 3 can be appropriately combined and applied with the various structures (including modification examples) described in Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2. For example, in the contact member 2 described in Embodiment 1, as described as a modification example of Embodiment 3, the protruding portion 24 can adopt a structure separated from the opposing portion 221 through a cutout portion.

[0156] (Embodiment 4)

[0157] As Figure 10A and Figure 10BAs shown, the specific shape of the mating connector 102C of the connection device 100C according to this embodiment is different from that of the connection device 100 according to Embodiment 1. Hereinafter, for the same structures as those in Embodiment 1, the same reference numerals as those in Embodiment 1 are used and the descriptions are appropriately omitted.

[0158] In this embodiment, the connector 101C includes a housing 1C and a plurality of contacts 2C. Since the housing 1C has the same structure as the housing 1 of the connector 101 according to Embodiment 1, the description thereof is omitted here.

[0159] The contact 2C includes a contact portion 21C, a base portion 22C, a connecting portion 23C, and a protruding portion 24C. The contact portion 21C, the base portion 22C, the connecting portion 23C, and the protruding portion 24C have the same structures as the contact portion 21, the base portion 22, the connecting portion 23, and the protruding portion 24 of the contact 2 according to Embodiment 1, respectively, and thus the descriptions thereof are omitted here. In this embodiment, the portion of the base portion 22C that is at the minimum distance from the protruding portion 24C in the direction opposite to the protruding portion 24C constitutes the opposing portion 221C.

[0160] The mating connector 102C includes a mating housing 4C and a plurality of mating contacts 5C. Since the mating housing 4C has the same structure as the mating housing 4 of the mating connector 102 according to Embodiment 1, the description thereof is omitted here.

[0161] As Figure 10A shown, the mating contact 5C includes a contact piece 51C, a winding piece 52C, a connecting piece 53C, and an insertion piece 54C. These contact piece 51C, winding piece 52C, connecting piece 53, and insertion piece 54C are seamlessly formed as a single body. Since the contact piece 51C, the winding piece 52C, and the connecting piece 53C have the same structures as the contact piece 51, the winding piece 52, and the connecting piece 53 of the mating contact 5 according to Embodiment 1, respectively, the descriptions thereof are omitted here.

[0162] The insertion piece 54C extends downward from a part of the connecting piece 53C. Both the insertion piece 54C and the contact piece 51C extend substantially parallel in the vertical direction and are opposed to each other with a gap therebetween in the horizontal direction. As an example, the insertion piece 54C is formed by cutting up a part of the plate material forming the mating contact 5C. The insertion piece 54C is a conduction member that is sandwiched between the protruding portion 24C and the opposing portion 221C in the connected state.

[0163] In the connection device 100C according to this embodiment, in Figure 10A the non-connected state shown, the protruding portion 24C and the opposing portion 221C are opposed to each other with a gap therebetween, and the protruding portion 24C and the opposing portion 221C are in a non-contact state. In contrast, in Figure 10BIn the connected state shown, an insertion piece 54C is inserted into the gap between the protruding portion 24C and the opposing portion 221C, and the insertion piece 54C is sandwiched between the protruding portion 24C and the opposing portion 221C. In this state, the protruding portion 24C contacts the insertion piece 54C, and since the opposing portion 221C contacts the insertion piece 54C, the protruding portion 24C and the opposing portion 221C are electrically connected via the insertion piece 54C. In short, in the connected state, the protruding portion 24C and the opposing portion 221C are indirectly electrically connected via the insertion piece 54C as a conduction member, and a second path R2 (see Figure 1B ) including the insertion piece 54C as a conduction member is formed between the contact portion 21C and the opposing portion 221C.

[0164] As described above, in the connected state, the protruding portion 24C and the opposing portion 221C are electrically connected by the conduction member (insertion piece 54C) sandwiched between the protruding portion 24C and the opposing portion 221C. Therefore, in the connecting device 100C according to the present embodiment, at least in the "connected state", the contact portion 21C and the opposing portion 221C are electrically connected through a second path R2 (see Figure 1B ) that is different from the first path R1 (see Figure 1B ) including the connecting portion 23C and includes the protruding portion 24C. As a result, in the contact member 2C according to the present embodiment, the connector 101C including the contact member 2C, and the connecting device 100C including the connector 101C, the resistance can be suppressed to a small value.

[0165] As a modification of Embodiment 4, in the connected state, the conduction member sandwiched between the protruding portion 24C and the opposing portion 221C is not limited to the insertion piece 54C that is a part of the other-side contact member 5C. For example, it may be a metal member different from the other-side contact member 5C. Even in this case, in the connected state, the protruding portion 24C and the opposing portion 221C are electrically connected through the conduction member clamped between the protruding portion 24C and the opposing portion 221C.

[0166] In addition, in Embodiment 4, in the non-connected state, the protruding portion 24C and the opposing portion 221C face each other with a gap therebetween, but the structure is not limited thereto. In the non-connected state, the protruding portion 24C may also contact the opposing portion 221C.

[0167] The various structures (including modifications) described in Embodiment 4 can be appropriately combined with the various structures (including modifications) described in Embodiments 1 to 3 and applied.

[0168] (Embodiment 5)

[0169] As Figure 11A and Figure 11BAs shown, the specific shape of the connecting device according to this embodiment for the contact 2D of the connector is different from that of the connecting device 100B according to Embodiment 3. Hereinafter, for the structures that are the same as those in Embodiment 3, the same reference numerals as in Embodiment 3 are assigned and the description is appropriately omitted.

[0170] The contact 2D is held in the same housing as the housing 1B of the connector 101B according to Embodiment 3. Here, for the connector according to this embodiment, as long as at least one of the multiple contacts held in the housing is Figure 11A and Figure 11B the contact 2D shown as above is sufficient.

[0171] As Figure 11A shown, the contact 2D includes a (first) contact portion 21D, a base portion 22D, a connecting portion 23D, a protruding portion 24D, a connecting portion 25D, and a (second) contact portion 26D. These contact portion 21D, base portion 22D, connecting portion 23D, protruding portion 24D, connecting portion 25D, and contact portion 26D respectively correspond to the contact portion 21B, base portion 22B, connecting portion 23B, protruding portion 24B, connecting portion 25B, and contact portion 26B of the contact 2B in Embodiment 3.

[0172] The contact 2D has multiple sets of combinations of the contact portion 21D and the contact portion 26D (here, 3 sets). More specifically, the portion of the contact 2D from the contact portion 21D to the contact portion 26D is divided into three parts in the front - rear direction. In other words, the contact 2D respectively has the contact portion 21D and the contact portion 26D that are divided into three parts, that is, the three - branched contact portion 21D and the contact portion 26D. Such a contact 2D is particularly suitable for applications where a relatively large current flows, such as a power supply terminal.

[0173] In the contact member 2D, a protrusion 24D is provided between at least one set of the contact portions 21D and the contact portions 26D among these multiple sets (here, three sets), namely, between the contact portions 21D and the contact portions 26D of at least one set. That is, at least one set of the contact portions 21D and the contact portions 26D are connected by the protrusion 24D. The protrusion 24D is connected to the lower end portion of the contact portion 21D. The protrusion 24D has a tab 244D that protrudes toward the base portion 22D in the left-right direction. The tab 244D is formed in a substantially U-shaped that is open in the direction away from the base portion 22D in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the front end portion (the end portion on the side opposite to the contact portion 21D) of the protrusion 24D is connected to the contact portion 26D. On the other hand, for the combination of the contact portions 21D and the contact portions 26D among the multiple sets (here, three sets) where the protrusion 24D is not provided, the contact portion 21D is directly connected to the contact portion 26D. That is, the lower end portion of the contact portion 21D extends in the direction away from the base portion 22D, and its front end portion (the end portion on the side opposite to the contact portion 21D) is connected to the contact portion 26D.

[0174] In Figure 11A and Figure 11B example, the protrusion 24D is provided only between the central set of the contact portions 21D and the contact portions 26D among the three sets of the contact portions 21D and the contact portions 26D arranged in the front-rear direction. However, it is not limited to this structure. For example, as Figure 12A shown, among the three sets of the contact portions 21D and the contact portions 26D arranged in the front-rear direction, the protrusion 24D may be provided between the two sets of the contact portions 21D and the contact portions 26D located on the front and rear sides, respectively. In addition, for example, as Figure 12B shown, the protrusion 24D may be provided between all (three sets) of the contact portions 21D and the contact portions 26D among the three sets of the contact portions 21D and the contact portions 26D arranged in the front-rear direction, respectively.

[0175] In the connecting device according to the present embodiment, at least in the "connected state", through the second path R2 (refer to Figure 1B ) that is a path different from the first path R1 including the connecting portion 23D (refer to Figure 1B ) and includes the protrusion 24D, the contact portion 21D is electrically connected to the opposing portion 221D. As a result, in the contact member 2D according to the present embodiment, the connector including the contact member 2D, and the connecting device including the connector, the resistance can be suppressed to be small. In particular, for the contact member 2D having a combination of multiple sets of the contact portions 21D and the contact portions 26D as in the present embodiment, the number of contact points with the mating connector increases, and the resistance can be suppressed to be even smaller.

[0176] As a modification of the fifth embodiment, the contact member 2D may also have a combination of two sets or four or more sets of the contact portions 21D and the contact portions 26D.

[0177] The various structures (including modifications) described in the fifth embodiment can be appropriately combined with the various structures (including modifications) described in the first to fourth embodiments and applied.

[0178] (Summary)

[0179] As described above, the contact members (2, 2A to 2D) according to the first aspect are the contact members of the connectors (101, 101A to 101C) that can be electrically connected to the mating connectors (102, 102A to 102C). The contact members (2, 2A to 2D) include contact portions (21, 21A to 21D), base portions (22, 22A to 22D), connecting portions (23, 23A to 23D), and protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D). The contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) can contact the contact members (mating contact members 5, 5A to 5C) of the mating connectors (102, 102A to 102C). At least a part of the base portions (22, 22A to 22D) faces the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) with a gap therebetween. The connecting portions (23, 23A to 23D) connect the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) and the base portions (22, 22A to 22D). The protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D) protrude from the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) toward the base portions (22, 22A to 22D) in the facing direction in which the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) and the base portions (22, 22A to 22D) face each other. The base portions (22, 22A to 22D) have opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D) that oppose the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D). At least in the connected state, the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) and the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D) are electrically connected through the second path (R2). The connected state is a state in which the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) are in contact with the mating contact members (5, 5A to 5C). The second path (R2) is a path different from the first path (R1) including the connecting portions (23, 23A to 23D), and includes the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D).

[0180] According to this method, at least in the connected state, between the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) and the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D), a first path (R1) including a connecting portion (23, 23A to 23D) and a second path (R2) different from the first path (R1) are formed. Therefore, in the connected state, compared with a structure in which only the first path (R1) conducts the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) and the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D), the resistance between the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) and the base portions (22, 22A to 22D) becomes smaller. As a result, in the contact members (2, 2A to 2D), the resistance can be suppressed to be small.

[0181] In the contact members (2, 2A to 2D) according to the second method, in the first method, in the connected state, the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D) are in contact with the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D). Thereby, the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D) and the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D) are conductively connected.

[0182] According to this method, in the connected state, by bringing the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D) into contact with the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D), the second path (R2) can be easily realized.

[0183] In the contact members (2, 2A to 2D) according to the third method, in the second method, in a state where the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) and the opposing contact members (5, 5A to 5C) on the other side are not in contact, the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D) are opposed to the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D) with a gap therebetween.

[0184] According to this method, only in the connected state, the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D) are in contact with the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D). Therefore, compared with a structure in which the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D) are always in contact with the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D), a decrease in elastic force such as plastic deformation of the contact members (2, 2A to 2D) can be suppressed.

[0185] In the contact members (2, 2A to 2D) according to the fourth method, in the second or third method, in the connected state, along the direction of the force (F1) received by the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) from the opposing contact members (5, 5A to 5C) on the other side, a pressure (F2) acts from the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D) on the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D).

[0186] According to this method, the force (F1) received by the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) from the mating contact members (5, 5A to 5C) effectively acts on the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D) from the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D). Therefore, it is easy to ensure the contact pressure between the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D) and the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D).

[0187] In the contact members (2, 2A to 2D) according to the fifth method, in the first method, in the connected state, the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D) and the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D) are electrically connected through the conduction member sandwiched between the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D) and the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D).

[0188] According to this method, since the gap between the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D) and the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D) can be filled with the conduction member, the degree of freedom in designing the size of the gap between the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D) and the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D) becomes higher.

[0189] In the contact members (2, 2A to 2D) according to the sixth method, in any one of the first to fifth methods, the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) have a protruding portion (211) that protrudes in the opposing direction to the side opposite to the base portions (22, 22A to 22D). The protruding portion (211) and the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D) are located on a straight line (L1) along the opposing direction.

[0190] According to this method, the force received by the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) from the mating contact members (5, 5A to 5C) effectively acts on the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D) from the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D). Therefore, it is easy to ensure the contact pressure between the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D) and the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D).

[0191] In the contact members (2, 2A to 2D) according to the seventh method, in any one of the first to sixth methods, the base portions (22, 22A to 22D), the connecting portions (23, 23A to 23D), the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D), and the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D) are continuously combined to form an electric conduction path (R0) along a plane. One end portion of the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) in the extending direction of the electric conduction path (R0) is combined with the connecting portions (23, 23A to 23D), and the other end portion is combined with the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D).

[0192] According to this method, the second path (R2) is connected to the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D) on the side opposite to the first path (R1) in the extending direction of the energization path (R0) with respect to the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D). Therefore, it is possible to suppress the size of the contact members (2, 2A to 2D) in the direction orthogonal to one plane while providing the first path (R1) and the second path (R2).

[0193] In the contact members (2, 2A to 2D) according to the eighth method, in the seventh method, the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D) have bent portions (241, 241A) protruding in a direction away from the connecting portions (23, 23A to 23D).

[0194] According to this method, it is possible to suppress deformation (plastic deformation) of the contact members (2, 2A to 2D) caused by the opposing contact members (5, 5A to 5C) getting stuck at the front ends of the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D). That is, when the connectors (101, 101A to 101C) are connected to the opposing connectors (102, 102A to 102C), the opposing contact members (5, 5A to 5C) come into contact with the bent portions (241, 241A), and thus are less likely to get stuck at the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D).

[0195] In the contact members (2, 2A to 2D) according to the ninth method, in the eighth method, the connecting portions (23, 23A to 23D) have folded-back portions (231) protruding in a direction away from the bent portions (241, 241A). The bent portions (241, 241A) have a larger curvature than the folded-back portions (231).

[0196] According to this method, it is possible to suppress the size of the contact members (2, 2A to 2D) in the opposing direction in which the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) and the base portions (22, 22A to 22D) are opposed.

[0197] In the contact members (2, 2A to 2D) according to the tenth method, in any of the seventh to ninth methods, in a plane and in the height direction intersecting the opposing direction, the height dimension (H2) of the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D) as observed from the connecting portions (23, 23A to 23D) is smaller than the height dimension (H1) of the base portions (22, 22A to 22D) as observed from the connecting portions (23, 23A to 23D).

[0198] According to this method, it is easy to suppress the deformation (plastic deformation) of the contact members (2, 2A to 2D) caused by the contact members (5, 5A to 5C) on the other side being stuck at the front ends of the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D). In addition, during the assembly of the connectors (101, 101A to 101C), it is also easy to suppress the deformation (plastic deformation) of the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D).

[0199] In the contact members (2, 2A to 2D) according to the 11th method, in any one of the 7th to 10th methods, the contact members further include connection portions (25, 25A, 25B, 25D) that are electrically connected to the base portions (22, 22A to 22D) and can be connected to the circuit board (71). The base portions (22, 22A to 22D) are located between the connection portions (25, 25A, 25B, 25D) and the connection portions (23, 23A to 23D) on the current conduction path (R0).

[0200] According to this method, the base portions (22, 22A to 22D) located between the connection portions (25, 25A, 25B, 25D) and the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) are conducted to the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) through the second path (R2) at least in the connected state. Therefore, compared with the structure in which the connection portions (25, 25A, 25B, 25D) and the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) are conducted only through the first path (R1), the resistance between the connection portions (25, 25A, 25B, 25D) and the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) becomes smaller.

[0201] In the contact members (2, 2A to 2D) according to the 12th method, in the 11th method, in the connected state, the path length between the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) and the connection portions (25, 25A, 25B, 25D) is shorter via the second path (R2) than via the first path (R1).

[0202] According to this method, in the connected state, current flows between the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) and the connection portions (25, 25A, 25B, 25D) through the second path (R2), thereby enabling a shortcut of the current path. Therefore, the resistance between the connection portions (25, 25A, 25B, 25D) and the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) can be made smaller.

[0203] In the contact members (2, 2A to 2D) according to the 13th method, in any one of the 1st to 12th methods, the opposing surfaces of the protruding portions (24, 24A to 24D) that oppose the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D) include flat surfaces (243).

[0204] According to this method, since surface contact based on the flat surface (243) can be achieved between the protrusions (24, 24A to 24D) and the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D), the contact resistance generated on the second path (R2) can be suppressed to a small value.

[0205] In the contact members (2, 2A to 2D) according to the 14th method, in any of the 1st to 13th methods, the opposing surface of the opposing portion (221, 221A to 221D) that opposes the protrusion (24, 24A to 24D) includes a base-side flat surface (222).

[0206] According to this method, since surface contact based on the base-side flat surface (222) can be achieved between the protrusions (24, 24A to 24D) and the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D), the contact resistance generated on the second path (R2) can be suppressed to a small value.

[0207] In the contact members (2, 2A to 2D) according to the 15th method, in any of the 1st to 14th methods, at least a part of the connecting portion (23, 23A to 23D) has elasticity.

[0208] According to this method, through the elasticity of the connecting portion (23, 23A to 23D), the contact pressure between the contact portion (21, 21A to 21D) and the other-side contact member (5, 5A to 5C) can be ensured.

[0209] The connectors (101, 101A to 101C) according to the 16th method include the contact members (2, 2A to 2D) according to any of the 1st to 15th methods and a housing (1, 1A to 1C) that holds the contact members (2, 2A to 2D).

[0210] According to this method, at least in the connected state, between the contact portion (21, 21A to 21D) and the opposing portion (221, 221A to 221D), a first path (R1) including the connecting portion (23, 23A to 23D) and a second path (R2) different from the first path (R1) are formed. Therefore, in the connected state, compared with a structure in which the contact portion (21, 21A to 21D) and the opposing portion (221, 221A to 221D) are electrically connected only through the first path (R1), the resistance between the contact portion (21, 21A to 21D) and the base (22, 22A to 22D) becomes smaller. As a result, in the connectors (101, 101A to 101C), the resistance can be suppressed to a small value.

[0211] The connecting devices (100, 100A to 100C) according to the 17th mode include the connectors (101, 101A to 101C) and the mating connectors (102, 102A to 102C) according to the 16th mode.

[0212] According to this mode, at least in the connected state, a first path (R1) including a connecting portion (23, 23A to 23D) and a second path (R2) different from the first path (R1) are formed between the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) and the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D). Therefore, in the connected state, compared with the structure in which the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) and the opposing portions (221, 221A to 221D) are electrically connected only through the first path (R1), the resistance between the contact portions (21, 21A to 21D) and the base portions (22, 22A to 22D) becomes smaller. As a result, in the connecting devices (100, 100A to 100C), the resistance can be suppressed to a small value.

[0213] For the structures according to the 2nd to 15th modes, they are not essential structures for the contacts (2, 2A to 2D) and can be appropriately omitted.

Claims

1. A connector, comprising: a housing; and a contact member, held by the housing, wherein the contact member comprises: a first contact portion; a second contact portion, different from the first contact portion; a connecting portion, connecting the first contact portion and the second contact portion; a linking portion, linking with the first contact portion; a base portion, linked with the first contact portion via the linking portion; and a connection portion, linked with the base portion and joined to a circuit board, wherein the linking portion is bent to protrude toward the mating connector side in a state where the mating connector is connected to the connector, wherein the base portion faces the connecting portion with a gap therebetween in a state where the first contact portion and the second contact portion are not in contact with the mating contact members of the mating connector, wherein both the first contact portion and the second contact portion are capable of contacting the mating contact members of the mating connector, wherein the connecting portion has a contact portion that contacts the base portion in a connected state where the first contact portion and the second contact portion contact the mating contact members of the mating connector, wherein in the connected state, the conduction path between the connection portion and the first contact portion has a first path and a second path, the first path includes the linking portion, and the second path is a path different from the first path and includes the contact portion of the connecting portion.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein in the connected state, the mating connector is disposed between the first contact portion and the second contact portion.

3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein in the connected state, the mating housing of the mating connector is disposed between the first contact portion and the second contact portion.

4. A connection device, comprising: a connector, having a housing and a contact member held by the housing; and a mating connector, having a mating housing and mating contact members held by the mating housing, wherein the contact member comprises: a first contact portion; a second contact portion, different from the first contact portion; a connecting portion, connecting the first contact portion and the second contact portion; a linking portion, linking with the first contact portion; a base portion, linked with the first contact portion via the linking portion; and a connection portion, linked with the base portion and joined to a circuit board, wherein the linking portion is bent to protrude toward the mating connector side in a state where the mating connector is connected to the connector, wherein both the first contact portion and the second contact portion are capable of contacting the mating contact members, wherein the mating contact member has a recess for receiving and contacting the second contact portion, wherein the connecting portion has a contact portion that contacts the base portion in a connected state where the first contact portion and the second contact portion contact the mating contact members, wherein the contact member has a void surrounded by the portion of the contact member including the contact portion and the linking portion, In the connected state, the conduction path between the connecting portion and the first contact portion has a first path and a second path. The first path includes the connecting portion, and the second path is a path different from the first path and includes the contact portion.

5. The connecting device according to claim 4, wherein in the connected state, the mating connector is disposed between the first contact portion and the second contact portion.

6. The connecting device according to claim 5, wherein in the connected state, the mating housing is disposed between the first contact portion and the second contact portion.

Images