Connector device, circuit board, circuit board unit, and electronic device

Abstract

The present application provides a connector device, a circuit board, a circuit board unit, and an electronic device, which can reduce unwanted radiation noise. The connector device has a housing, a plurality of first connecting members each having a first connecting portion electrically connected to a first counterpart connecting portion of a counterpart connector device, a plurality of second connecting members each having a second connecting portion electrically connected to a second counterpart connecting portion of the counterpart connector device, and a ground member electrically connected to a counterpart ground member of the counterpart connector device. The first connecting portions of the plurality of first connecting members are arranged and disposed to be exposed from the housing along a first surface. The second connecting portions of the plurality of second connecting members are arranged and disposed to be exposed from the housing along a second surface different from the first surface. The ground member is disposed between the plurality of first connecting members and the plurality of second connecting members and along a connecting direction in which the connector device and the counterpart connector device are connected.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to connector devices, circuit boards, circuit board units, and electronic devices. Background Technology

[0002] For example, there is an electrical connector for connecting circuit boards to each other as described in Patent Document 1.

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-273949

[0004] In electrical connectors like the described above, unwanted radiated noise (electromagnetic noise) is easily generated when high-frequency signals flow from one circuit board to another, thus requiring suppression of this unwanted radiated noise. In response, for example, a known countermeasure is to use a shielding plate covering the electrical connector to suppress unwanted radiated noise. To suppress unwanted radiated noise with the shielding plate, it is necessary to connect the shielding plate to a ground wire located on the circuit board. However, there is a problem: due to the obstruction of the electrical connector, it is difficult to sufficiently ensure the connection area between the shielding plate and the ground wire, and even with the shielding plate, unwanted radiated noise cannot be sufficiently suppressed. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The connector device of the present invention comprises: a housing electrically connected to a counterpart connector device; a plurality of first connectors held in the housing, each having a first connecting portion electrically connected to a first counterpart connector of the counterpart connector device; a plurality of second connectors held in the housing, each having a second connecting portion electrically connected to a second counterpart connector of the counterpart connector device; and a grounding member held in the housing and electrically connected to a counterpart grounding member of the counterpart connector device. The first connecting portions of the plurality of first connectors are arranged to protrude from the housing along a first surface, and the second connecting portions of the plurality of second connectors are arranged to protrude from the housing along a second surface different from the first surface. The grounding member is disposed between the plurality of first connectors and the plurality of second connectors, and is disposed along the connection direction connecting the connector device to the counterpart connector device.

[0006] One aspect of the circuit board of the present invention is characterized by having: the aforementioned connector device; and a circuit board body having the connector device disposed thereon.

[0007] The circuit board unit of the present invention includes: a first circuit board body having a first ground layer; a second circuit board body having a second ground layer; and a connector structure connecting the first circuit board body and the second circuit board body, relaying signal transmission between the first circuit board body and the second circuit board body. The connector structure includes: a connector device disposed on the first circuit board body; and a counterpart connector device disposed on the second circuit board body and connected to the connector device. The connector device includes: a housing; a plurality of first connectors held in the housing, each having a first connection portion; a plurality of second connectors held in the housing, each having a second connection portion; and a grounding member held in the housing. The first connection portions of the plurality of first connectors are arranged to expose from the housing along a first surface, and the second connection portions of the plurality of second connectors are arranged to expose from the housing along a second surface different from the first surface. The counterpart connector assembly includes: a counterpart housing; a plurality of first counterpart connectors held in the counterpart housing, each having a first counterpart connection portion electrically connected to the first connection portion; a plurality of second counterpart connectors held in the counterpart housing, each having a second counterpart connection portion electrically connected to the second connection portion; and a counterpart grounding member held in the counterpart housing and electrically connected to the grounding member. The first counterpart connection portions of the plurality of first counterpart connectors are arranged and exposed from the housing along a third surface. The second counterpart connection portions of the plurality of second counterpart connectors are arranged and exposed from the housing along a fourth surface different from the third surface. The grounding member is electrically connected to the first ground layer, disposed between the plurality of first connectors and the plurality of second connectors, and arranged along the connection direction connecting the connector assembly and the counterpart connector assembly. The counterpart grounding component is electrically connected to the second grounding layer, is disposed between the plurality of first counterpart connecting members and the plurality of second counterpart connecting members, and is disposed along the connection direction.

[0008] The electronic device of the present invention has the above-described circuit board.

[0009] The electronic device of the present invention has the above-described circuit board unit. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram showing the electronic device (projector) in the first embodiment.

[0011] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the circuit board unit in the first embodiment.

[0012] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the circuit board unit in the first embodiment, and a diagram showing the state in which the connection between the first circuit board and the second circuit board is released.

[0013] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the circuit board unit in the first embodiment. Figure 3 Sectional view IV-IV in the diagram.

[0014] Figure 5 This is a perspective view showing a portion of the first circuit board in the first embodiment.

[0015] Figure 6 This is a perspective view showing a portion of the second circuit board in the first embodiment.

[0016] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the circuit board unit in the second embodiment.

[0017] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the circuit board unit in the third embodiment.

[0018] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the circuit board unit in the fourth embodiment.

[0019] Figure 10 This is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the circuit board unit in Comparative Example 1.

[0020] Figure 11 This is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the circuit board unit in Comparative Example 2.

[0021] Figure 12 This is a diagram showing a portion of the circuit board unit in Comparative Example 2 as viewed from one side in the second horizontal direction.

[0022] Label Explanation

[0023] 1: Projector (electronic device); 60, 260, 360, 460: Circuit board unit; 61: First circuit board (circuit board); 62: Second circuit board (circuit board); 63: First circuit board body (circuit board body); 63b: First ground layer; 64: Second circuit board body; 64b: Second ground layer; 70, 270, 370, 470: Connector device; 71: First connector; 71e: First connection part; 72: Second connector; 72e: Second connection part; 73: Housing; 73d: Side (first side); 73e: Side (second side); 74, 274, 374, 474: Grounding component; 74a, 374a, 474a: Main body; 74b: Board connection part; 74c, 274c, 374c, 474c: Grounding connection part; 80, 280, 380, 480: Counterpart connector assembly; 81, 281: First counterpart connector; 81e: First counterpart connection; 82, 282: Second counterpart connector; 82e: Second counterpart connection; 83: Counterpart housing; 83d: Inner surface (third surface); 83e: Inner surface (fourth surface); 84, 284, 384, 484: Counterpart grounding component; 90: Connector structure; 274c, 374c, 474c: Grounding connection (clamping part); 281f, 282f: Bent portion; 374h, 475c: First clamping part; 374i, 476c: Second clamping part; 475: First component; 476: Second component; X: First horizontal direction (arrangement direction); Y: Second horizontal direction (clamping direction); Z: Up and down direction (connection direction). Detailed Implementation

[0024] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following embodiments, a projector will be used as an example of an electronic device.

[0025] Furthermore, the scope of this invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and modifications can be made freely within the scope of the technical concept of this invention. Additionally, in the following drawings, for ease of understanding of the structures, the scale, quantities, etc., of each construction are sometimes made different from the actual construction.

[0026] <First Implementation>

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of the projector (electronic device) 1 according to this embodiment.

[0028] The projector 1 in this embodiment is a projection-type image display device that projects color images onto a screen SCR. For example... Figure 1As shown, the projector 1 includes a light source device 2, a uniform illumination optical system 40, a color separation optical system 3, a light modulation device 4R, a light modulation device 4G, a light modulation device 4B, a combining optical system 5, a projection optical device 6, and a control device 50. The light source device 2 emits illumination light WL toward the uniform illumination optical system 40.

[0029] The uniform illumination optical system 40 includes an integrating optical system 31, a polarization conversion element 32, and an overlapping optical system 33. The integrating optical system 31 includes a first lens array 31a and a second lens array 31b. The uniform illumination optical system 40 homogenizes the intensity distribution of the illumination light WL emitted from the light source device 2 in the light modulation devices 4R, 4G, and 4B, which are the illuminated areas, respectively. The illumination light WL emitted from the uniform illumination optical system 40 is incident on the color separation optical system 3.

[0030] The color-separating optical system 3 separates the white illumination light WL into red light LR, green light LG, and blue light LB. The color-separating optical system 3 has a first dichroic mirror 7a, a second dichroic mirror 7b, a first reflecting mirror 8a, a second reflecting mirror 8b, a third reflecting mirror 8c, a first relay lens 9a, and a second relay lens 9b.

[0031] The first dichroic mirror 7a separates the illumination light WL from the light source device 2 into red light LR and other light (green light LG and blue light LB). The first dichroic mirror 7a allows the separated red light LR to pass through and reflects the other light (green light LG and blue light LB). On the other hand, the second dichroic mirror 7b separates the other light into green light LG and blue light LB. The second dichroic mirror 7b reflects the separated green light LG and allows the blue light LB to pass through.

[0032] The first reflector 8a is positioned in the optical path of the red light LR, reflecting the red light LR that has passed through the first dichroic mirror 7a toward the light modulation device 4R. On the other hand, the second reflector 8b and the third reflector 8c are positioned in the optical path of the blue light LB, reflecting the blue light LB that has passed through the second dichroic mirror 7b toward the light modulation device 4B. Additionally, the green light LG is reflected by the second dichroic mirror 7b toward the light modulation device 4G.

[0033] The first relay lens 9a and the second relay lens 9b are positioned on the light-emitting side of the second dichroic mirror 7b in the optical path of the blue light LB. The first relay lens 9a and the second relay lens 9b correct for the difference in illumination distribution of the blue light LB caused by the fact that the optical path length of the blue light LB is longer than that of the red light LR and the green light LG.

[0034] Optical modulation device 4R modulates the red light LR according to the image information to form an image light corresponding to the red light LR. Optical modulation device 4G modulates the green light LG according to the image information to form an image light corresponding to the green light LG. Optical modulation device 4B modulates the blue light LB according to the image information to form an image light corresponding to the blue light LB.

[0035] The light modulation devices 4R, 4G, and 4B use, for example, transmissive liquid crystal panels. Furthermore, polarizers (not shown) are disposed on the incident and emission sides of the liquid crystal panel, creating a structure that allows only linearly polarized light in a specific direction to pass through.

[0036] Field lenses 10R, 10G, and 10B are respectively disposed on the incident side of optical modulation devices 4R, 4G, and 4B. Field lenses 10R, 10G, and 10B parallelize the principal rays of red light LR, green light LG, and blue light LB incident on each optical modulation device 4R, 4G, and 4B.

[0037] The synthesizing optical system 5 synthesizes image lights corresponding to red light LR, green light LG, and blue light LB by incident image lights emitted from light modulation devices 4R, 4G, and 4B, and then emits the synthesized image lights toward the projection optical device 6. The synthesizing optical system 5 may use a cross-shaped dichroic prism, for example.

[0038] The projection optics 6 consists of multiple projection lenses. The projection optics 6 magnifies and projects the image light synthesized by the combining optics system 5 toward the SCR screen. Thus, the image is displayed on the SCR screen.

[0039] Next, the control device 50 will be described.

[0040] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the circuit board unit 60 in the control device 50. Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the circuit board unit 60, and a diagram showing the state in which the connection between the first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 is released. Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the circuit board unit 60. Figure 3 Sectional view IV-IV in the diagram. Figure 5 This is a perspective view showing a portion of the first circuit board 61. Figure 6 This is a perspective view showing a portion of the second circuit board 62.

[0041] In each figure, the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are shown appropriately. The direction parallel to the X-axis is called "first horizontal direction (arrangement direction) X", the direction parallel to the Y-axis is called "second horizontal direction Y", and the direction parallel to the Z-axis is called "vertical direction (connection direction) Z". The first horizontal direction X, the second horizontal direction Y, and the vertical direction Z are mutually perpendicular. The side towards which the arrow of the Z-axis in the vertical direction Z points (+Z side) is called the "upper side", and the opposite side (-Z side) of the side towards which the arrow of the Z-axis in the vertical direction Z points is called the "lower side". The side towards which the arrow of the X-axis in the first horizontal direction X points (+X side) is called "one side of the first horizontal direction", and the opposite side (-X side) of the side towards which the arrow of the X-axis in the first horizontal direction X points is called "the other side of the first horizontal direction". The side towards which the arrow of the Y-axis in the second horizontal direction Y points (+Y side) is called "one side of the second horizontal direction", and the opposite side of the side towards which the arrow of the Y-axis in the second horizontal direction Y points (-Y side) is called "the other side of the second horizontal direction".

[0042] Furthermore, the vertical direction Z, the first horizontal direction X, and the second horizontal direction Y are merely names used to describe the relative positional relationships of the parts, etc. The actual configuration relationships may differ from those represented by these names.

[0043] The control device 50 is a mainboard that controls the various parts of the projector 1, including the light source device 2. For example... Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the control device 50 includes a circuit board unit 60. The circuit board unit 60 includes a first circuit board (circuit board) 61 and a second circuit board (circuit board) 62. The first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 are electrically connected to each other via a connector structure 90. The first circuit board 61 and the second circuit board 62 are connected in the vertical direction Z. The second circuit board 62 is located above the first circuit board 61.

[0044] The first circuit board 61 has a first circuit board body 63 and a connector device 70 disposed on the first circuit board body 63. The second circuit board 62 has a second circuit board body 64 and a counterpart connector device 80 disposed on the second circuit board body 64. The connector device 70 and the counterpart connector device 80 constitute a connector structure 90 connecting the first circuit board body 63 and the second circuit board body 64. The connector structure 90 relays signal transmission between the connector device 70 and the first circuit board body 63 and the second circuit board body 64. The connector structure 90 has the connector device 70 and the counterpart connector device 80.

[0045] Connector device 70 is mounted on the upper surface of the first circuit board body 63. The counterpart connector device 80 is mounted on the lower surface of the second circuit board body 64. Connector device 70 and counterpart connector device 80 are connected in the vertical direction Z. That is, in this embodiment, the connection direction between connector device 70 and counterpart connector device 80 is the vertical direction Z.

[0046] like Figure 2 As shown, the first circuit board body 63 and the second circuit board body 64 are plate-shaped with their surfaces facing the vertical direction Z. In this embodiment, the first circuit board body 63 and the second circuit board body 64 are printed circuit boards with wiring patterns made of copper foil. The first circuit board body 63 and the second circuit board body 64 are substrates with the same structure, but arranged in reverse order in the vertical direction Z. In the following description, since the second circuit board body 64 has the same structure as the first circuit board body 63 except for being reversed in the vertical direction Z, some of its descriptions are sometimes omitted.

[0047] The first circuit board body 63 has an insulating layer 63a, a first ground layer 63b, an insulating layer 63c, a wiring layer 63d, and a resist layer 63f. The insulating layer 63a, the first ground layer 63b, the insulating layer 63c, the wiring layer 63d, and the resist layer 63f are stacked sequentially from bottom to top. The lower surface of the insulating layer 63a constitutes the lower surface of the first circuit board body 63. The upper surface of the resist layer 63f constitutes the upper surface of the first circuit board body 63. The upper surface of the first circuit board body 63 is a mounting surface for mounting electronic components, etc. The first ground layer 63b is a layer whose potential becomes a reference potential in the circuit board unit 60. The first ground layer 63b is, for example, composed of a solid pattern of copper foil. The first ground layer 63b is also referred to as a reference plane.

[0048] The wiring layer 63d is formed by a plurality of wiring patterns made of copper foil. The wiring layer 63d has a ground pad portion 63e and a plurality of wiring pad portions 63g. The upper surface of the wiring layer 63d, except for the ground pad portion 63e and the plurality of wiring pad portions 63g, is covered by a resist layer 63f. The ground pad portion 63e and the plurality of wiring pad portions 63g are exposed on the upper side of the first circuit board body 63. In this embodiment, the plurality of wiring pad portions 63g includes a pair of wiring pad portions 63g separated from the ground pad portion 63e in the second horizontal direction Y. Although not shown in the figure, multiple pairs of these wiring pad portions 63g are provided at intervals in the first horizontal direction X.

[0049] like Figure 4As shown, the grounding pad portion 63e extends along the first horizontal direction X. The grounding pad portion 63e is electrically connected to the first ground layer 63b via a through-hole 63h. The through-hole 63h penetrates the insulating layer 63a, the first ground layer 63b, and the insulating layer 63c along the vertical direction Z. The upper end of the through-hole 63h is connected to the lower surface of the grounding pad portion 63e. A copper foil is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole 63h. The first ground layer 63b is electrically connected to the grounding pad portion 63e through the copper foil provided on the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole 63h. A plurality of through-holes 63h are provided. The plurality of through-holes 63h includes a plurality of through-holes 63h arranged along the first horizontal direction X. In addition, as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the plurality of through holes 63h includes a plurality of through holes 63h arranged along the second horizontal direction Y.

[0050] The second circuit board body 64 has an insulating layer 64a, a second ground layer 64b, an insulating layer 64c, a wiring layer 64d, and a resist layer 64f. The insulating layer 64a, the second ground layer 64b, the insulating layer 64c, the wiring layer 64d, and the resist layer 64f are stacked sequentially from top to bottom. The upper surface of the insulating layer 64a forms the upper surface of the second circuit board body 64. The lower surface of the resist layer 64f forms the lower surface of the second circuit board body 64. The lower surface of the second circuit board body 64 is a mounting surface for mounting electronic components, etc. The second ground layer 64b is a layer whose potential becomes a reference potential in the circuit board unit 60. The second ground layer 64b is, for example, composed of a solid pattern of copper foil. The second ground layer 64b is also referred to as a reference plane. The wiring layer 64d has a ground pad portion 64e and a plurality of wiring pad portions 64g. The grounding pad 64e is electrically connected to the second grounding layer 64b via multiple through holes 64h.

[0051] In this embodiment, connector device 70 is a male connector, and the counterpart connector device 80 is a female connector. Connector device 70 and counterpart connector device 80 are electrically connected to each other by mating in the vertical direction Z. That is, in this embodiment, the mating direction of connector device 70 and counterpart connector device 80 is the vertical direction Z.

[0052] The connector assembly 70 has a housing 73, a plurality of first connectors 71, a plurality of second connectors 72, and a grounding component 74. The housing 73 is a resin component that holds the plurality of first connectors 71, the plurality of second connectors 72, and the grounding component 74. The housing 73 is manufactured, for example, by inserting the plurality of first connectors 71, the plurality of second connectors 72, and the grounding component 74 as embedded components. Figure 5As shown, the housing 73 is a generally rectangular box-shaped structure with an upward opening. The housing 73 has a bottom wall portion 73a forming the lower sidewall, a peripheral wall portion 73b protruding upward from the outer periphery of the bottom wall portion 73a, and a protrusion 73c protruding upward from the bottom wall portion 73a on the inner side of the peripheral wall portion 73b. The peripheral wall portion 73b is a rectangular frame-like structure that is longer in the first horizontal direction X. The protrusion 73c is a rectangular parallelepiped extending along the first horizontal direction X. The outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 73c is separated from the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion 73b throughout its entire circumference. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the housing 73 is separated from the upper surface of the first circuit board body 63 by a gap.

[0053] Multiple first connectors 71 are held in the housing 73. A portion of each first connector 71 is embedded in the housing 73. Figure 5 As shown, the first connector 71 is a metal, elongated plate-shaped component. A plurality of first connectors 71 are arranged at intervals along a first horizontal direction X. Each first connector 71 has a first extension 71a, a second extension 71b, a third extension 71c, and a pad connection portion 71d.

[0054] The first extension 71a extends in the vertical direction Z. The lower end of the first extension 71a is embedded in the bottom wall portion 73a. The portion of the first extension 71a above the lower end is the first connecting portion 71e, which is electrically connected to the first opposing side connecting portion 81e described later. The first connecting portion 71e protrudes upward from the bottom wall portion 73a and is exposed from the housing 73. The protrusion 73c in the inner side of the peripheral wall portion 73b of the first connecting portion 71e is located on the second horizontal direction side (+Y side). The upper end of the first connecting portion 71e is located below the upper end of the peripheral wall portion 73b and the upper end of the protrusion 73c. ​​The first connecting portion 71e contacts the side surface (first surface) 73d of the side surface of the protrusion 73c located on the second horizontal direction side. That is, each of the first connecting portions 71e of the plurality of first connectors 71 is exposed from the housing 73 along the side surface 73d. Side surface 73d is a flat surface facing the second horizontal direction and perpendicular to the second horizontal direction Y. In this embodiment, side surface 73d is equivalent to "first surface". The first connecting portions 71e of the plurality of first connecting members 71 are arranged at intervals along side surface 73d in the first horizontal direction X.

[0055] The second extension 71b extends from the lower end of the first extension 71a toward the second horizontal direction (+Y side). The end of the second extension 71b on the second horizontal direction protrudes from the side of the housing 73 toward the second horizontal direction and protrudes from the housing 73. The portion of the second extension 71b, except for the end on the second horizontal direction, is embedded in the bottom wall portion 73a.

[0056] The third extension 71c extends downward and obliquely toward the second horizontal direction from the end of the second extension 71b on the second horizontal direction side (+Y side). For example... Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the lower end of the third extension 71c is located below the housing 73. The pad connection portion 71d extends from the lower end of the third extension 71c towards the second horizontal direction. The pad connection portion 71d is electrically connected to one of the plurality of wiring pad portions 63g located on the second horizontal direction side above the ground pad portion 63e. Thus, the first connector 71 is electrically connected to the first circuit board body 63. The pad connection portion 71d is connected to the wiring pad portion 63g, for example, by soldering.

[0057] Multiple second connectors 72 are held in the housing 73. A portion of each second connector 72 is embedded in the housing 73. Figure 5 As shown, the second connector 72 is a metal, elongated plate-shaped component. A plurality of second connectors 72 are arranged at intervals along a first horizontal direction X. Each second connector 72 is positioned at a location where a protrusion 73c is sandwiched between it and each first connector 71 along a second horizontal direction Y. The second connector 72 is a component having the same shape as the first connector 71. The first connectors 71 and the second connectors 72, sandwiching the protrusion 73c, are arranged symmetrically to each other in the second horizontal direction Y.

[0058] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the second connector 72 has a first extension 72a, a second extension 72b, a third extension 72c, and a pad connection portion 72d. The portions of the second connector 72 are identical in shape to those of the first connector 71 with the same names, except that they are symmetrical in the second horizontal direction Y.

[0059] The portion of the first extension 72a that is above the lower end is the second connecting portion 72e, which is electrically connected to the second opposite connecting portion 82e described later. The second connecting portion 72e protrudes upward from the bottom wall portion 73a and protrudes from the housing 73. The protrusion 73c of the second connecting portion 72e is located on the other side (-Y side) in the second horizontal direction relative to the inner side of the peripheral wall portion 73b. The upper end of the second connecting portion 72e is located below the upper end of the peripheral wall portion 73b and the upper end of the protrusion 73c. ​​The upper end of the second connecting portion 72e is positioned in the vertical direction Z at the same position as the upper end of the first connecting portion 71e.

[0060] The second connecting portion 72e contacts the side surface (second surface) 73e of the protrusion 73c located on the other side (-Y side) in the second horizontal direction. That is, each of the second connecting portions 72e of the plurality of second connecting members 72 protrudes from the housing 73 along the side surface 73e. The side surface 73e is a flat surface facing the other side in the second horizontal direction and perpendicular to the second horizontal direction Y. In this embodiment, the side surface 73e corresponds to a "second surface" different from the side surface 73d, which is the first surface. Figure 5 As shown, the second connecting portions 72e of the plurality of second connectors 72 are arranged at intervals along the side surface 73e in the first horizontal direction X. That is, in this embodiment, the arrangement direction of the plurality of first connecting portions 71e and the arrangement direction of the plurality of second connecting portions 72e are the same as the first horizontal direction X. In this embodiment, each second connecting portion 72e is disposed at a position where a protrusion 73c is sandwiched between it and each first connecting portion 71e along the second horizontal direction Y.

[0061] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the pad connection portion 72d is electrically connected to one of the wiring pad portions 63g located on the opposite side (-Y side) in the second horizontal direction from the ground pad portion 63e. Thus, the second connector 72 is electrically connected to the first circuit board body 63. The pad connection portion 72d is connected to the wiring pad portion 63g, for example, by soldering.

[0062] Grounding member 74 is held in housing 73. In this embodiment, grounding member 74 is held in protrusion 73c. ​​A portion of grounding member 74 is embedded in housing 73. Grounding member 74 is made of metal. In this embodiment, grounding member 74 is a plate-shaped component. Grounding member 74 is disposed in the second horizontal direction Y between a plurality of first connectors 71 and a plurality of second connectors 72, and is disposed along the connection direction between connector assembly 70 and the counterpart connector assembly 80, i.e., vertical direction Z. Grounding member 74 extends in vertical direction Z. Grounding member 74 extends upward from the first circuit board body 63 and protrudes upward beyond the first connectors 71, second connectors 72, and housing 73.

[0063] like Figure 4As shown, the grounding member 74 extends along the first horizontal direction X, i.e., the arrangement direction of the first connecting portion 71e and the second connecting portion 72e. The end of the grounding member 74 on one side (+X side) of the first horizontal direction is located closer to the first horizontal direction than the plurality of first connecting members 71 and the plurality of second connecting members 72. The end of the grounding member 74 on the other side (-X side) of the first horizontal direction is located closer to the other side of the first horizontal direction than the plurality of first connecting members 71 and the plurality of second connecting members 72. Thus, the grounding member 74 is positioned outwards in the first horizontal direction X relative to any of the first connecting members 71 and the second connecting members 72 respectively located at both ends of the first horizontal direction X. Furthermore, the grounding component 74 only needs to be disposed on the outer side in the first horizontal direction X, relative to at least one of the four connectors: the first connector 71 disposed on one side (+X side) of the first horizontal direction, the first connector 71 disposed on the other side (-X side) of the first horizontal direction, the second connector 72 disposed on one side (+X side) of the first horizontal direction, and the second connector 72 disposed on the other side (-X side) of the first horizontal direction.

[0064] The grounding member 74 has a main body 74a and a substrate connecting portion 74b connected to the main body 74a. The main body 74a is a rectangular plate with its surface facing the second horizontal direction Y and longer in the first horizontal direction X. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the main body 74a extends through the bottom wall 73a and the protrusion 73c in the vertical direction Z. Both ends of the main body 74a in the vertical direction Z protrude from the housing 73 in the vertical direction Z. The upper end of the main body 74a is a grounding connection portion 74c, which is electrically connected to the counterpart-side grounding member 84 described later. The grounding connection portion 74c protrudes upward from the upper surface of the protrusion 73c and is exposed from the housing 73. The grounding connection portion 74c protrudes upward from the housing 73 in the connection direction (vertical direction Z) between the connector device 70 and the counterpart-side connector device 80.

[0065] The main body portion 74a is located in the second horizontal direction Y between the first extension portion 71a of the first connector 71 and the first extension portion 72a of the second connector 72. In this embodiment, the first extension portion 71a is the portion of the first connector 71 closest to the grounding member 74. In this embodiment, the first extension portion 72a is the portion of the second connector 72 closest to the grounding member 74. The distance between the main body portion 74a and the first extension portion 71a along the second horizontal direction Y, and the distance between the main body portion 74a and the first extension portion 72a along the second horizontal direction Y, are, for example, 300 μm or less. Resin constituting a part of the protrusion 73c is sandwiched between the main body portion 74a and the first extension portion 71a in the second horizontal direction Y, and between the main body portion 74a and the first extension portion 72a in the second horizontal direction Y.

[0066] The substrate connecting portion 74b is connected to the lower end of the main body portion 74a. The substrate connecting portion 74b protrudes downward from the housing 73. That is, the substrate connecting portion 74b protrudes from the housing 73 in the connection direction (vertical direction Z) where the connector device 70 connects to the counterpart connector device 80. The entire substrate connecting portion 74b is located outside the housing 73.

[0067] like Figure 5 As shown, the substrate connection portion 74b extends along the first horizontal direction X. The substrate connection portion 74b is a rectangular plate with its surface facing the vertical direction Z and being longer in the first horizontal direction X. The substrate connection portion 74b protrudes from the main body portion 74a in the second horizontal direction Y. In this embodiment, the second horizontal direction Y is a direction intersecting the connection direction (vertical direction Z) connecting the connector device 70 and the counterpart connector device 80, and is a direction different from the arrangement direction (first horizontal direction X) of the plurality of first connection portions 71e and the arrangement direction (first horizontal direction X) of the plurality of second connection portions 72e. In this embodiment, the substrate connection portion 74b protrudes from both sides of the main body portion 74a in the second horizontal direction Y.

[0068] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the substrate connection portion 74b is electrically connected to the ground pad portion 63e from above. Thus, the substrate connection portion 74b is electrically connected to the first circuit board body 63 on which the connector device 70 is mounted. The substrate connection portion 74b is connected to the ground pad portion 63e, for example, by soldering. The substrate connection portion 74b is electrically connected to the first ground layer 63b via the ground pad portion 63e and the through-hole 63h. Thus, the grounding member 74 is electrically connected to the first ground layer 63b via the ground pad portion 63e and the through-hole 63h.

[0069] The counterpart connector assembly 80 includes a counterpart housing 83, a plurality of first counterpart connectors 81, a plurality of second counterpart connectors 82, and a counterpart grounding component 84. The counterpart housing 83 is a resin component that holds the plurality of first counterpart connectors 81, the plurality of second counterpart connectors 82, and the counterpart grounding component 84. The counterpart housing 83 is manufactured, for example, by insert molding the plurality of first counterpart connectors 81, the plurality of second counterpart connectors 82, and the counterpart grounding component 84 as insert components.

[0070] like Figure 6 As shown, the opposite-side housing 83 is a generally rectangular box-shaped structure with an opening to the lower side. The opposite-side housing 83 has a top wall portion 83a forming the upper side wall and a peripheral wall portion 83b protruding downward from the center of the top wall portion 83a. The peripheral wall portion 83b is a rectangular frame-shaped structure that is longer in the first horizontal direction X. The outer peripheral edge of the peripheral wall portion 83b is located further inward than the outer peripheral edge of the top wall portion 83a. A recess 83f is formed by the top wall portion 83a and the peripheral wall portion 83b, recessed upward. The recess 83f opens downward. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the opposite-side housing 83 is separated from the lower surface of the second circuit board body 64 by a gap to the lower side.

[0071] like Figure 2 As shown, the opposing housing 83 and housing 73 are fitted together in the vertical direction Z. In this embodiment, the peripheral wall portion 83b of the opposing housing 83 is fitted into the inner side of the peripheral wall portion 73b of the housing 73 from the upper side. The lower end of the peripheral wall portion 83b is disposed opposite to the upper side of the bottom wall portion 73a of the housing 73 with a gap. The portion of the top wall portion 83a of the opposing housing 83 located on the outer side than the peripheral wall portion 83b contacts the upper end of the peripheral wall portion 73b of the housing 73. A protrusion 73c is inserted into the inner side of the peripheral wall portion 83b of the opposing housing 83, i.e., inside the recess 83f. The upper end of the protrusion 73c is located at a position separated from the bottom of the recess 83f to the lower side.

[0072] Multiple first opposing-side connectors 81 are held in the opposing-side housing 83. A portion of each first opposing-side connector 81 is embedded in the opposing-side housing 83. Figure 6 As shown, the first parallel-side connector 81 is a metal, elongated plate-shaped component. Multiple first parallel-side connectors 81 are arranged at intervals along a first horizontal direction X. The first parallel-side connectors 81 are components having approximately the same shape as the first connector 71. The first parallel-side connectors 81 are arranged in a position reversed relative to the first connector 71 in the vertical direction Z. The first parallel-side connector 81 has a first extension 81a, a second extension 81b, a third extension 81c, and a pad connection portion 81d.

[0073] The first extension 81a extends in the vertical direction Z. The upper end of the first extension 81a is embedded in the top wall portion 83a. The portion of the first extension 81a lower than the upper end is the first opposing side connecting portion 81e, which is electrically connected to the first connecting portion 71e. The first opposing side connecting portion 81e protrudes downward from the top wall portion 83a and is exposed from the opposing side housing 83. The first opposing side connecting portion 81e is located inside the peripheral wall portion 83b, i.e., within the recess 83f. The lower end of the first opposing side connecting portion 81e is located above the lower end of the peripheral wall portion 83b. The first opposing side connecting portion 81e contacts the inner surface (third surface) 83d of the inner surface of the peripheral wall portion 83b, i.e., the inner surface of the recess 83f, on the side of the second horizontal direction (+Y side). That is, each of the first opposing side connecting portions 81e of the plurality of first opposing side connectors 81 is exposed from the opposing side housing 83 along the inner surface 83d. The inner surface 83d is a flat surface facing the other side (-Y side) of the second horizontal direction and perpendicular to the second horizontal direction Y. In this embodiment, the inner surface 83d is equivalent to the "third surface".

[0074] The first opposing side connecting portions 81e of a plurality of first opposing side connectors 81 are arranged at intervals along the inner surface 83d in the first horizontal direction X. For example... Figure 2 As shown, with the housing 73 and the counterpart housing 83 engaged, the lower portion of the first counterpart connecting portion 81e contacts the upper portion of the first connecting portion 71e in the connector device 70 from the second horizontal direction side (+Y side). Thus, the first connecting member 71 is electrically connected to the first counterpart connecting member 81.

[0075] The second extension 81b extends from the upper end of the first extension 81a toward the second horizontal direction (+Y side). The end of the second extension 81b on the second horizontal direction protrudes from the side of the opposite housing 83 toward the second horizontal direction and is exposed from the opposite housing 83. The portion of the second extension 81b, except for the end on the second horizontal direction, is embedded in the top wall portion 83a.

[0076] The third extension 81c extends upward and obliquely towards the second horizontal direction from the end of the second extension 81b on the second horizontal direction side (+Y side). The upper end of the third extension 81c is located above the opposite side housing 83. The pad connection portion 81d extends from the upper end of the third extension 81c towards the second horizontal direction side. The pad connection portion 81d is electrically connected to one of the plurality of wiring pad portions 64g located on the second horizontal direction side above the ground pad portion 64e. Thus, the first opposite side connector 81 is electrically connected to the second circuit board body 64. The pad connection portion 81d is connected to the wiring pad portion 64g, for example, by soldering.

[0077] Multiple second opposing-side connectors 82 are held in the opposing-side housing 83. A portion of each second opposing-side connector 82 is embedded in the opposing-side housing 83. Figure 6 As shown, the second opposing side connector 82 is a metal, elongated plate-shaped component. Multiple second opposing side connectors 82 are arranged at intervals along the first horizontal direction X. Each second opposing side connector 82 is positioned opposite each first opposing side connector 81 at intervals on the other side (-Y side) of the second horizontal direction. The second opposing side connector 82 is a component having the same shape as the first opposing side connector 81. The first opposing side connector 81 and the second opposing side connector 82 are arranged symmetrically to each other in the second horizontal direction Y.

[0078] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the second parallel connector 82 has a first extension 82a, a second extension 82b, a third extension 82c, and a pad connection portion 82d. Each part of the second parallel connector 82 has the same shape as the parts with the same name in the first parallel connector 81, except that they are symmetrical in the second horizontal direction Y.

[0079] The portion of the first extension 82a that is lower than its upper end is the second opposing side connecting portion 82e, which is electrically connected to the second connecting portion 72e. The second opposing side connecting portion 82e protrudes downward from the top wall portion 83a and is exposed from the opposing side housing 83. The second opposing side connecting portion 82e is located inside the peripheral wall portion 83b, i.e., inside the recess 83f. The lower end of the second opposing side connecting portion 82e is located above the lower end of the peripheral wall portion 83b. The lower end of the second opposing side connecting portion 82e is positioned in the vertical direction Z at the same position as the lower end of the first opposing side connecting portion 81e.

[0080] The second opposing side connecting portion 82e contacts the inner side surface (fourth surface) 83e of the inner surface surface of the peripheral wall portion 83b, i.e., the inner surface surface of the recess 83f, located on the other side (-Y side) in the second horizontal direction. That is, each of the second opposing side connecting portions 82e of the plurality of second opposing side connectors 82 protrudes from the opposing side housing 83 along the inner surface surface 83e. The inner surface surface 83e is a flat surface facing the side in the second horizontal direction (+Y side) and perpendicular to the second horizontal direction Y. In this embodiment, the inner surface surface 83e corresponds to a "fourth surface" that is different from the inner surface surface 83e, which is the third surface.

[0081] like Figure 6As shown, the second opposing side connecting portions 82e of a plurality of second opposing side connectors 82 are arranged at intervals along the inner surface 83e in the first horizontal direction X. That is, in this embodiment, the arrangement direction of the plurality of first opposing side connectors 81e and the arrangement direction of the plurality of second opposing side connectors 82e are the same as the first horizontal direction X. In this embodiment, each second opposing side connector 82e is disposed inside the peripheral wall portion 83b, i.e., inside the recess 83f, at a position opposite to each first opposing side connector 81e in the second horizontal direction Y. Figure 2 As shown, with the housing 73 and the opposing housing 83 engaged, the lower portion of the second opposing connecting portion 82e contacts the upper portion of the second connecting portion 72e in the connector device 70 from the other side (-Y side) in the second horizontal direction. Thus, the second connecting member 72 is electrically connected to the second opposing connecting member 82.

[0082] The pad connection portion 82d is electrically connected to one of the multiple wiring pad portions 64g located on the opposite side (-Y side) in the second horizontal direction from the ground pad portion 64e. Thus, the second parallel-side connector 82 is electrically connected to the second circuit board body 64. The pad connection portion 82d is connected to the wiring pad portion 64g, for example, by soldering.

[0083] The counterpart grounding component 84 is held in the counterpart housing 83. In this embodiment, the counterpart grounding component 84 is held in the portion of the top wall portion 83a located inside the peripheral wall portion 83b. In other words, the counterpart grounding component 84 is held in the bottom of the recess 83f. A portion of the counterpart grounding component 84 is embedded in the counterpart housing 83. The counterpart grounding component 84 is made of metal. In this embodiment, the counterpart grounding component 84 is a plate-shaped component. The counterpart grounding component 84 is disposed in the second horizontal direction Y between a plurality of first counterpart connectors 81 and a plurality of second counterpart connectors 82, and is disposed along the connection direction of the connector device 70 and the counterpart connector device 80, i.e., the vertical direction Z. The counterpart grounding component 84 extends in the vertical direction Z. The counterpart grounding component 84 extends downward from the second circuit board body 64, penetrates the top wall portion 83a, and protrudes into the recess 83f.

[0084] like Figure 4As shown, the counterpart grounding member 84 extends along the first horizontal direction X, that is, the arrangement direction of the first counterpart connecting portion 81e and the second counterpart connecting portion 82e. The end of the counterpart grounding member 84 on one side (+X side) of the first horizontal direction is located on the side of the first horizontal direction closer than the plurality of first counterpart connecting members 81 and the plurality of second counterpart connecting members 82. The end of the counterpart grounding member 84 on the other side (-X side) of the first horizontal direction is located on the other side of the first horizontal direction closer than the plurality of first counterpart connecting members 81 and the plurality of second counterpart connecting members 82. Thus, the counterpart grounding member 84 is positioned outward in the first horizontal direction X relative to any of the first counterpart connecting members 81 and the second counterpart connecting members 82 respectively provided at both ends in the first horizontal direction X. Similarly, for the opposite-side grounding component 84, at least one of the four connectors—two first connectors 81 provided at the end on one side (+X side) and the end on the other side (-X side) of the first horizontal direction, and two second connectors 82 provided at the end on one side (+X side) and the end on the other side (-X side) of the first horizontal direction—can be provided to the outside in the first horizontal direction X.

[0085] The counterpart-side grounding component 84 includes a counterpart-side main body portion 84a, a counterpart-side substrate connecting portion 84b connected to the counterpart-side main body portion 84a, and a counterpart-side grounding connecting portion 84c. The counterpart-side main body portion 84a is a rectangular plate with its surface facing the second horizontal direction Y and being longer in the first horizontal direction X. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the upper end of the counterpart-side main body 84a protrudes upward from the counterpart-side housing 83. The lower end of the counterpart-side main body 84a is the counterpart-side grounding connection portion 84c, which is electrically connected to the grounding connection portion 74c of the grounding member 74. The counterpart-side grounding connection portion 84c protrudes downward from the top wall portion 83a and is exposed from the counterpart-side housing 83. The counterpart-side grounding connection portion 84c is exposed inside the peripheral wall portion 83b, i.e., inside the recess 83f. The counterpart-side grounding connection portion 84c protrudes downward from the bottom of the recess 83f. That is, the counterpart-side grounding connection portion 84c protrudes downward from the counterpart-side housing 83 in the connection direction of the connector device 70 and the counterpart-side connector device 80. The counterpart-side grounding connection portion 84c is located above the lower end of the first counterpart-side connector 81 and the lower end of the second counterpart-side connector 82, i.e., inside the recess 83f (+Z side).

[0086] The lower portion of the opposing main body 84a is located in the second horizontal direction Y between the first extension 81a of the first opposing connector 81 and the first extension 82a of the second opposing connector 82. In this embodiment, the first extension 81a is the portion of the first opposing connector 81 closest to the opposing grounding member 84. In this embodiment, the first extension 82a is the portion of the second opposing connector 82 closest to the opposing grounding member 84. The distance between the opposing main body 84a and the first extension 81a along the second horizontal direction Y, and the distance between the opposing main body 84a and the first extension 82a along the second horizontal direction Y, are, for example, 300 μm or less. Resin or voids constituting part of the top wall portion 83a are sandwiched between the opposing main body 84a and the first extension 81a in the second horizontal direction Y, and between the opposing main body 84a and the first extension 82a in the second horizontal direction Y.

[0087] The mating substrate connecting portion 84b is connected to the upper end of the mating main body portion 84a. The mating substrate connecting portion 84b protrudes upward beyond the mating housing 83. That is, the mating substrate connecting portion 84b protrudes from the mating housing 83 in the connection direction (vertical direction Z) connecting the connector device 70 and the mating connector device 80. The entire mating substrate connecting portion 84b is located outside the mating housing 83.

[0088] like Figure 6 As shown, the parallel-side substrate connection portion 84b extends along the first horizontal direction X. The parallel-side substrate connection portion 84b is a rectangular plate with its surface facing the vertical direction Z and being longer in the first horizontal direction X. The parallel-side substrate connection portion 84b protrudes from the parallel-side main body portion 84a in the second horizontal direction Y. In this embodiment, the second horizontal direction Y is a direction intersecting the connection direction (vertical direction Z) connecting the connector device 70 and the parallel-side connector device 80, and is a direction different from the arrangement direction (first horizontal direction X) of the plurality of first parallel-side connection portions 81e and the arrangement direction (first horizontal direction X) of the plurality of second parallel-side connection portions 82e. In this embodiment, the parallel-side substrate connection portion 84b protrudes from both sides of the parallel-side main body portion 84a toward the second horizontal direction Y.

[0089] like Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the parallel substrate connection portion 84b is electrically connected to the ground pad portion 64e from below. Thus, the parallel substrate connection portion 84b is electrically connected to the second circuit board body 64 on which the parallel connector device 80 is mounted. The parallel substrate connection portion 84b is connected to the ground pad portion 64e, for example, by soldering. The parallel substrate connection portion 84b is electrically connected to the second ground layer 64b via the ground pad portion 64e and the through-hole 64h. Thus, the parallel grounding component 84 is electrically connected to the second ground layer 64b via the ground pad portion 64e and the through-hole 64h.

[0090] Next, the effects of this embodiment will be explained while comparing it with Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2. Figure 10 This is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the circuit board unit 560 in Comparative Example 1. Figure 11 This is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the circuit board unit 660 in Comparative Example 2. Figure 12 This is a view of a portion of the circuit board unit 660 in Comparative Example 2 from the second horizontal direction (+Y side). Regarding Comparative Examples 1 and 2, for structures identical to those described in the above embodiments, descriptions are sometimes omitted by appropriately using the same reference numerals, etc.

[0091] like Figure 10 As shown, the circuit board unit 560 of Comparative Example 1 includes a first circuit board 561 and a second circuit board 562. The first circuit board 561 includes a first circuit board body 563 and a connector device 570. The second circuit board 562 includes a second circuit board body 564 and a peer-side connector device 580. The first circuit board body 563 has the same structure as the first circuit board body 63 described above, except that it does not have a ground pad portion 63e. The second circuit board body 564 has the same structure as the second circuit board body 64 described above, except that it does not have a ground pad portion 64e. The connector device 570 has the same structure as the connector device 70 described above, except that it does not have a grounding member 74. The peer-side connector device 580 has the same structure as the peer-side connector device 80 described above, except that it does not have a peer-side grounding member 84.

[0092] In Comparative Example 1, consider, for example, the following situation: high-frequency signal currents flowing through the wiring layer 63d of the first circuit board body 563 flow to the second circuit board body 64 via the first connector 71 and the first opposite-side connector 81. The wiring layer 63d is disposed on the first circuit board body 563 along the first ground layer 63b. Therefore, when current flows in the wiring layer 63d, the first ground layer 63b becomes a return path, and a return current flows in the first ground layer 63b in the opposite direction to the current flowing in the wiring layer 63d. As a result, the electromagnetic field generated by the current flowing in the wiring layer 63d cancels out the electromagnetic field generated by the return current flowing in the first ground layer 63b, and the generation of unwanted radiated noise N caused by the current flowing in the wiring layer 63d can be suppressed. In other words, the energy of the current flowing in the wiring layer 63d and the return current flowing in the first ground layer 63b are balanced, making it difficult to generate excess energy, and thus it is possible to suppress the release of this excess energy as unwanted radiated noise N.

[0093] The current flowing through the wiring layer 63d flows from the wiring pad portion 63g to the first connector 71. The current flowing to the first connector 71 flows sequentially from the pad connection portion 71d through the third extension portion 71c, the second extension portion 71b, and the first extension portion 71a, and flows to the first opposite-side connector 81 connected to the first connector 71. The third extension portion 71c, the second extension portion 71b, and the first extension portion 71a separate upwards from the first circuit board body 563. Therefore, the current flowing through the first connector 71 is separated from the first ground layer 63b of the first circuit board body 563. Thus, even if current flows through the first connector 71, no return current flows through the first ground layer 63b. That is, in Comparative Example 1, no return path is provided for the current flowing from the wiring layer 63d to the first connector 71, so no return current corresponding to the current flowing to the first connector 71 flows. Therefore, the electromagnetic field generated by the current flowing through the first connector 71 is not canceled out, and useless radiated noise N caused by the current flowing through the first connector 71 is emitted. In other words, the current flowing through the first connector 71 becomes larger relative to the return current, and the energy that cannot be returned as a return current is emitted as useless radiated noise N.

[0094] The current flowing to the first opposing connector 81 flows sequentially from the first extension 81a through the second extension 81b, the third extension 81c, and the pad connection 81d, and flows to the wiring layer 64d of the second circuit board body 564 connected to the first opposing connector 81. The first opposing connector 81 is also disposed separately from the second ground layer 64b of the second circuit board body 564, just like the first connector 71. Therefore, as described above, unwanted radiated noise N caused by the current flowing through the first opposing connector 81 is emitted. Similarly to the unwanted radiated noise N caused by the current flowing in the wiring layer 63d of the first circuit board body 563, the emission of unwanted radiated noise N caused by the current flowing in the wiring layer 64d of the second circuit board body 564 is suppressed.

[0095] As described above, in the circuit board unit 560 of Comparative Example 1, the ground plane forming the return path in the connector device 570 and the counterpart connector device 580 is interrupted, and no return current flows between the circuit boards. Therefore, unwanted radiated noise N is emitted due to the current flowing through the first connector 71 and the first counterpart connector 81. In addition, similar to the first connector 71 and the first counterpart connector 81, unwanted radiated noise N is also emitted due to the current flowing through the second connector 72 and the second counterpart connector 82.

[0096] Furthermore, if a reference plane such as the first ground layer 63b is not provided for the current flowing to the first connector 71 and the first counterpart connector 81, the characteristic impedances of the first connector 71 and the first counterpart connector 81 will change relative to the characteristic impedances of the first ground layer 63b of the first circuit board body 563 and the second ground layer 64b of the second circuit board body 564. Therefore, the design of the characteristic impedances of the first connector 71 and the first counterpart connector 81 becomes difficult. Consequently, the quality of signals such as high-frequency signals flowing through the first connector 71 and the first counterpart connector 81 may also deteriorate. The same applies to the second connector 72 and the second counterpart connector 82.

[0097] Compared to the circuit board unit 560 of Comparative Example 1, previous attempts have attempted to reduce unwanted radiated noise N by adopting a structure similar to that of the circuit board unit 660 of Comparative Example 2. For example... Figure 11 and Figure 12As shown, the circuit board unit 660 of Comparative Example 2 has a first circuit board 661 and a second circuit board 662. The first circuit board 661 has a first circuit board body 663 and a connector device 670. The second circuit board 662 has a second circuit board body 664 and a counterpart connector device 680. The first circuit board body 663 has the same structure as the first circuit board body 563 of Comparative Example 1, except that it has a pad portion (not shown) that is electrically connected to the connecting leg 677b described later. The second circuit board body 664 has the same structure as the second circuit board body 564 of Comparative Example 1, except that it has a pad portion (not shown) that is electrically connected to the counterpart connecting leg 687b described later. Figure 12 The diagram shows the state where the connection between the first circuit board 661 and the second circuit board 662 is disconnected.

[0098] Connector assembly 670 has a connector assembly body 670a and a shielding member 677. The connector assembly body 670a has the same structure as the connector assembly 570 of Comparative Example 1. The shielding member 677 is a metal component surrounding the connector assembly body 670a. Figure 12 As shown, the shielding component 677 has a shielding component body 677a and a plurality of connecting legs 677b. The shielding component body 677a is a rectangular frame surrounding the connector assembly body 670a. The shielding component body 677a is disposed separately from the first circuit board body 663 upward. The plurality of connecting legs 677b extend downward from the shielding component body 677a. The lower ends of the plurality of connecting legs 677b are electrically connected to a pad portion (not shown) provided on the first circuit board body 663. This pad portion is electrically connected to the first ground layer 63b. The connecting legs 677b are connected to this pad portion, thereby electrically connecting the shielding component 677 to the first ground layer 63b. The number of connecting legs 677b is less than the number of the first connector 71 and the number of the second connector 72.

[0099] The counterpart connector device 680 has a counterpart connector device body 680a and a counterpart shielding member 687. The counterpart connector device body 680a has the same structure as the counterpart connector device 580 of Comparative Example 1. The counterpart shielding member 687 is a metal component surrounding the counterpart connector device body 680a. The counterpart shielding member 687 includes the counterpart shielding member body 687a and a plurality of counterpart connecting legs 687b. The counterpart shielding member body 687a is a rectangular frame surrounding the counterpart connector device body 680a. The counterpart shielding member body 687a is disposed separately from the second circuit board body 664 and positioned downwards. Figure 11As shown, the lower end of the shielding component body 687a on the opposite side is electrically connected to the upper end of the shielding component body 677a. Thus, the shielding component 677 is electrically connected to the shielding component 687 on the opposite side.

[0100] like Figure 12 As shown, a plurality of opposing-side connecting legs 687b extend upward from the opposing-side shielding member body 687a. The upper ends of the plurality of opposing-side connecting legs 687b are electrically connected to a pad portion (not shown) provided on the second circuit board body 664. This pad portion is electrically connected to the second ground layer 64b. The opposing-side connecting legs 687b are connected to this pad portion, thereby electrically connecting the opposing-side shielding member 687 to the second ground layer 64b. The number of opposing-side connecting legs 687b is less than the number of the first opposing-side connector 81 and the second opposing-side connector 82.

[0101] In Comparative Example 2, the first ground layer 63b of the first circuit board body 663 and the second ground layer 64b of the second circuit board body 664 are electrically connected via a shielding member 677 and a counter-shielding member 687. Therefore, a path for current to flow between the first circuit board body 663 and the second circuit board body 664 is formed through the shielding member 677 and the counter-shielding member 687.

[0102] Here, the connection between the shielding member 677 and the first circuit board body 663 needs to be performed around the connector device 670, avoiding the connectors in the connector device body 670a that are connected to the first circuit board body 663. Therefore, due to the obstruction of the connectors in the connector device body 670a, the number of configurable connecting legs 677b cannot be sufficiently large relative to the number of connectors. Similarly, the connection between the opposing shielding member 687 and the second circuit board body 664 needs to be performed around the opposing connector device 680, avoiding the connectors in the opposing connector device body 680a that are connected to the second circuit board body 664. Therefore, due to the obstruction of the connectors in the opposing connector device body 680a, the number of configurable opposing connecting legs 687b cannot be sufficiently large relative to the number of connectors. Thus, although a current flow path is formed through the shielding member 677 and the opposing shielding member 687, this path alone cannot ensure a return path that properly allows only the return current corresponding to the current flowing in each connector to flow.

[0103] Furthermore, because the connector assembly body 670a is surrounded from the outside by the shielding member 677, the shielding member 677 cannot be positioned sufficiently close to the first connector 71 and the second connector 72. Similarly, because the counterpart-side shielding member 687 is surrounded from the outside by the counterpart-side shielding member 687, the counterpart-side shielding member 687 cannot be positioned sufficiently close to the first counterpart-side connector 81 and the second counterpart-side connector 82. Consequently, it is difficult for return current corresponding to the current flowing through each connector to flow through the shielding member 677 and the counterpart-side shielding member 687.

[0104] Based on the above, even with shielding component 677 and counterpart shielding component 687 provided as in Comparative Example 2, it is impossible to sufficiently increase the return current relative to the high-frequency signal current flowing in the first connector 71, the second connector 72, the first counterpart connector 81, and the second counterpart connector 82. Therefore, unwanted radiated noise N caused by the current flowing through each connector cannot be sufficiently suppressed. Furthermore, the structures of shielding component 677 and counterpart shielding component 687 tend to become more complex, and the manufacturing cost of the circuit board unit 660 tends to increase. Additionally, similar to Comparative Example 1, the design of the characteristic impedance of each connector becomes difficult, and the quality of the signal flowing through each connector may deteriorate.

[0105] To address the above problems, according to this embodiment, the connector device 70 includes: a housing 73; a plurality of first connectors 71 held in the housing 73, each having a first connecting portion 71e electrically connected to a first counterpart connector 81 of the counterpart connector device 80; a plurality of second connectors 72 held in the housing 73, each having a second connecting portion 72e electrically connected to a second counterpart connector 82 of the counterpart connector device 80; and a grounding member 74 held in the housing 73 and electrically connected to a counterpart grounding member 84 of the counterpart connector device 80. The first connecting portions 71e of the plurality of first connectors 71 are arranged and exposed from the housing 73 along a side surface (first surface) 73d. The second connecting portions 72e of the plurality of second connectors 72 are arranged and exposed from the housing 73 along a side surface (second surface) 73e different from the side surface (first surface) 73d. The grounding component 74 is disposed between a plurality of first connectors 71 and a plurality of second connectors 72, and is disposed along the connection direction (vertical direction Z) connecting the connector device 70 and the counterpart connector device 80.

[0106] Therefore, by electrically connecting the grounding component 74 to the opposite grounding component 84, a return path for the return current to flow between the first circuit board body 63 and the second circuit board body 64 can be established using the grounding component 74 and the opposite grounding component 84. Since the grounding component 74 is disposed between the first connector 71 and the second connector 72, it can be connected to the first circuit board body 63 by protruding downward from the housing 73 as in this embodiment. That is, it is not necessary to avoid the first connector 71 and the second connector 72 around the connector device 70 when connecting the grounding component 74 to the first circuit board body 63, and the first connector 71 and the second connector 72 will not become obstacles when connecting the grounding component 74 to the first circuit board body 63. Therefore, the area where the grounding component 74 is connected to the first circuit board body 63 can be appropriately increased depending on the number of first connectors 71 and second connectors 72. Specifically, in this embodiment, since the through holes 63h can be adequately provided, the grounding component 74 can be adequately electrically connected to the first grounding layer 63b according to the number of each connector, thus ensuring a sufficient return path.

[0107] Furthermore, since the grounding component 74 is disposed between the plurality of first connectors 71 and the plurality of second connectors 72, the distance between the grounding component 74 and the first connectors 71, and the distance between the grounding component 74 and the second connectors 72, can be easily reduced. Therefore, the return current corresponding to the current flowing in the first connectors 71 and the second connectors 72 can easily flow through the grounding component 74. For example, by setting the distance between the grounding component 74 and the first connectors 71, and the distance between the grounding component 74 and the second connectors 72, respectively, to 300 μm or less, the return current corresponding to the current flowing through the first connectors 71 and the second connectors 72 can be appropriately allowed to flow through the grounding component 74. Therefore, a sufficient amount of return current can flow in the return path adequately provided using the grounding component 74 and the opposite-side grounding component 84. Therefore, the electromagnetic field generated by the return current flowing in the grounding component 74 and the opposite-side grounding component 84 can appropriately cancel the electromagnetic field generated by the current flowing in each connector. Therefore, the generation of unwanted radiated noise N caused by the current flowing through each connector can be appropriately suppressed. In other words, the energy of the current flowing through each connector and the return current are balanced, and excess energy is not easily generated, thus the unwanted radiated noise N caused by this excess energy can be appropriately suppressed.

[0108] The aforementioned configuration allows for the provision of grounding layers along the signal transmission path for each connector via grounding member 74 and the opposite-side grounding member 84, such as a first grounding layer 63b on the first circuit board body 63 and a second grounding layer 64b on the second circuit board body 64. This configuration, where grounding layers are provided along the signal transmission path, is also referred to as a microstrip configuration. In other words, this embodiment enables signal transmission between the first circuit board body 63 and the second circuit board body 64 while appropriately maintaining the microstrip configuration.

[0109] Furthermore, reference planes such as the first ground layer 63b and the second ground layer 64b can be provided for each connector via the grounding component 74 and the opposite-side grounding component 84. Therefore, even if each connector is separated from the main body of each circuit board, a reference plane can be provided for each connector separated from the main body of each circuit board via the grounding component 74 and the opposite-side grounding component 84. As a result, changes in the characteristic impedance of each connector relative to the characteristic impedance of each wiring layer provided on each circuit board can be suppressed. Therefore, the characteristic impedance of each connector can be easily designed, and the quality degradation of signals flowing in each connector can be suppressed.

[0110] Furthermore, the configuration of providing grounding component 74 and counterpart grounding component 84 is simpler than the configuration of shielding component 677 and counterpart shielding component 687 in Comparative Example 2, which surrounds connector device 70 and counterpart connector device 80 from the outside. Specifically, for example, grounding component 74 and counterpart grounding component 84 can be provided by arranging metal plate-like components between the plurality of first connectors 71 and the plurality of second connectors 72, and between the plurality of first counterpart connectors 81 and the plurality of second counterpart connectors 82. As a result, compared with the configuration of Comparative Example 2, the complexity of the configuration of connector device 70 and counterpart connector device 80 can be suppressed. Therefore, the increase in manufacturing cost of circuit board unit 60 can be suppressed.

[0111] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the arrangement direction of the plurality of first connection portions 71e and the arrangement direction of the plurality of second connection portions 72e are the same as each other (first horizontal direction X). The grounding member 74 extends along the arrangement direction. Therefore, the grounding member 74 can be appropriately arranged along the plurality of first connection portions 71 and the plurality of second connection portions 72. As a result, the return current corresponding to the current flowing in the plurality of first connection portions 71 and the return current corresponding to the current flowing in the plurality of second connection portions 72 can be appropriately flowed through the grounding member 74. Therefore, the unwanted radiated noise N caused by the current flowing through each connection portion can be further reduced. In addition, the characteristic impedance design of the plurality of first connection portions 71 and the characteristic impedance design of the plurality of second connection portions 72 can be performed more easily.

[0112] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the grounding member 74 is disposed outward in the arrangement direction relative to at least one of the first connectors 71 respectively disposed at both ends in the arrangement direction of each connector (first horizontal direction X) and the second connectors 72 respectively disposed at both ends in the arrangement direction of each connector (first horizontal direction X). Therefore, the electromagnetic field generated by the return current flowing in the grounding member 74 can be appropriately canceled outward in the arrangement direction by the electromagnetic field generated by at least one of the connectors disposed at the ends in the arrangement direction. As a result, unwanted radiated noise N can be further reduced. In this embodiment, the grounding member 74 protrudes outward in the arrangement direction compared to any connector disposed at the ends in the arrangement direction. Therefore, unwanted radiated noise N can be reduced more appropriately.

[0113] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the grounding member 74 has a grounding connection portion 74c, which protrudes from the housing 73 in the connection direction (vertical direction Z) connecting the connector device 70 and the counterpart connector device 80 and is electrically connected to the counterpart grounding member 84. Therefore, it is easy to electrically connect the grounding connection portion 74c to the counterpart grounding member 84.

[0114] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the grounding member 74 has a substrate connection portion 74b, which is electrically connected to the first circuit board body 63 on which the connector device 70 is mounted. The substrate connection portion 74b protrudes from the housing 73 in the connection direction (vertical direction Z) where the connector device 70 is connected to the counterpart connector device 80. Therefore, the grounding member 74 can be easily connected to the first ground layer 63b of the first circuit board body 63.

[0115] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the grounding member 74 has a main body 74a connected to the substrate connection portion 74b. The substrate connection portion 74b protrudes from the main body 74a in a direction that intersects the connection direction (vertical direction Z) of the connector device 70 and the counterpart connector device 80, and in a direction (second horizontal direction Y) that is different from the arrangement direction (first horizontal direction X) of the plurality of first connection portions 71e and the arrangement direction (first horizontal direction X) of the plurality of second connection portions 72e. Therefore, it is easy to appropriately increase the size of the substrate connection portion 74b, and it is easy to stably connect the substrate connection portion 74b to the first circuit board body 63. In addition, it is easy to increase the area where the substrate connection portion 74b is connected to the first circuit board body 63, and it is easier to more appropriately ensure the return path of the return current flow. Specifically, in this embodiment, it is easy to increase the number of through holes 63h that electrically connect the substrate connection portion 74b to the first ground layer 63b, and it is possible to increase the connection portion between the substrate connection portion 74b and the first ground layer 63b. This allows for a more appropriate assurance of the return path for the return current flow.

[0116] Furthermore, by using the portion of the opposite-side connector device 80 that has the same structure as the connector device 70, the same effect as that described for the connector device 70 can also be obtained.

[0117] <Second Implementation Method>

[0118] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the circuit board unit 260 of this embodiment. In the following description, structures identical to those in the above-described embodiment are sometimes omitted from the description by appropriately using the same reference numerals, etc.

[0119] like Figure 7 As shown, in the circuit board unit 260 of this embodiment, the grounding member 274 of the connector device 270 has a grounding connection portion (clamping portion) 274c. The grounding connection portion 274c is a clamping portion that clamps a part of the opposite-side grounding member 284. More specifically, the grounding connection portion 274c clamps the opposite-side grounding connection portion 284c in the second horizontal direction Y. In this embodiment, the second horizontal direction Y is the clamping direction. Viewed along the first horizontal direction X, the grounding connection portion 274c has a generally U-shaped shape with an upward opening. Figure 7 As shown, with the housing 73 and the opposite housing 83 engaged, the opposite grounding connection 284c engages with the inner side of the grounding connection 274c from above. The grounding connection 274c and the opposite grounding connection 284c are in contact with each other and electrically connected. Thus, the opposite grounding component 284 and the grounding component 274 are electrically connected.

[0120] In the first opposing-side connector 281 of the opposing-side connector assembly 280, the first extension 281a has a bent portion 281f that bends from the first opposing-side connector 81e toward the opposing-side grounding member 284. In this embodiment, the bent portion 281f extends upward and obliquely toward the other side (-Y side) in the second horizontal direction from the upper end of the first opposing-side connector 81e. A portion 281g of the first extension 281a located above the bent portion 281f extends linearly upward from the upper end of the bent portion 281f and connects to the end of the second extension 81b on the other side of the second horizontal direction. The bent portion 281f is embedded in the top wall portion 83a. The distance along the second horizontal direction Y between the portion 281g and the opposing-side grounding member 284 is the same as the distance along the second horizontal direction Y between the first extension 71a and the grounding member 274 in the first connector 71 of the connector assembly 270.

[0121] In the second opposing-side connector 282 of the opposing-side connector assembly 280, the first extension 282a has a bent portion 282f that bends from the second opposing-side connector 82e toward the opposing-side grounding member 284. In this embodiment, the bent portion 282f extends upward and obliquely toward the second horizontal direction (+Y side) from the upper end of the second opposing-side connector 82e. A portion 282g of the first extension 282a located above the bent portion 282f extends linearly upward from the upper end of the bent portion 282f and connects to the end of the second extension 82b on the second horizontal direction side. The bent portion 282f is embedded in the top wall portion 83a. The distance along the second horizontal direction Y between the portion 282g and the opposing-side grounding member 284 is the same as the distance along the second horizontal direction Y between the first extension 72a and the grounding member 274 in the second connector 72 of the connector assembly 270.

[0122] The other structures of connector device 270 are the same as those of connector device 70 in the first embodiment. The other structures of the counterpart connector device 280 are the same as those of counterpart connector device 80 in the first embodiment. The other structures of circuit board unit 260 are the same as those of circuit board unit 60 in the first embodiment.

[0123] According to this embodiment, the first parallel-side connector 281 has a buckling portion 281f that bends from the first parallel-side connection portion 81e toward the parallel-side grounding member 284. Therefore, even if the first parallel-side connection portion 81e is connected to the side (+Y side) away from the parallel-side grounding member 284 relative to the first connection portion 71e, the buckling portion 281f can bring a portion of the first parallel-side connector 281 closer to the parallel-side grounding member 284. Thus, as in this embodiment, for example, the distance between the parallel-side grounding member 284 and a portion 281g of the first parallel-side connector 281 can be made the same as the distance between the grounding member 274 and the first extension 71a of the first connector 71. Therefore, it is easy to make the distance between the first connector 71 and the grounding member 274 the same as the distance between the first parallel-side connector 281 and the parallel-side grounding member 284. Therefore, it is easy to optimize the characteristic impedance of the first connector 71 and the characteristic impedance of the first parallel-side connector 281. The same applies to the second connector 72 and the second opposite-side connector 282.

[0124] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the grounding member 274 has a grounding connection portion 274c as a clamping portion that clamps a part of the opposite-side grounding member 284. Therefore, the grounding member 274 can be easily and stably electrically connected to the opposite-side grounding member 284.

[0125] Furthermore, the buckling portion structure described in this embodiment can also be provided in the connector device. That is, the first connector can also have a buckling portion that buckles from the first connector portion toward the grounding member. In this case, the same effect as the buckling portion structure described above can be obtained.

[0126] Furthermore, the construction of the grounding member 274 can be the opposite of that of the grounding member 284 on the other side. That is, the clamping part can also be provided on the grounding member 284 on the other side.

[0127] <Third Implementation Method>

[0128] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the circuit board unit 360 of this embodiment. In the following description, structures identical to those in the embodiments described above are sometimes omitted from the description by appropriately using the same reference numerals, etc.

[0129] In the circuit board unit 360, the grounding member 374 of the connector device 370 has a main body 374a and a grounding connection (clamping part) 374c. The main body 374a is a rectangular plate with its surface facing the second horizontal direction Y. The grounding connection 374c is a clamping part that clamps a portion of the grounding member 384 on the opposite side. In this embodiment, the grounding connection 374c has a plurality of first clamping parts 374h and a plurality of second clamping parts 374i. The plurality of first clamping parts 374h and the plurality of second clamping parts 374i are connected to the upper end of the main body 374a. In this embodiment, the plurality of first clamping parts 374h and the plurality of second clamping parts 374i are rectangular plates with their surfaces facing the second horizontal direction Y. Multiple first clamping portions 374h and multiple second clamping portions 374i are alternately arranged along a first horizontal direction X, which intersects the connection direction (vertical direction Z) connecting the connector device 370 and the counterpart connector device 380, and the clamping direction (second horizontal direction Y) in which the grounding connection portion 374c, as a clamping portion, clamps the counterpart grounding member 384. That is, the multiple first clamping portions 374h and multiple second clamping portions 374i are arranged along the arrangement direction of at least one of the multiple first connecting portions 71e, multiple second connecting portions 72e, multiple first counterpart connecting portions 81e, and multiple second counterpart connecting portions 82e, and are arranged staggered from each other in the arrangement direction when viewed from the second horizontal direction Y. When viewed from the second horizontal direction Y, the multiple first clamping portions 374h and multiple second clamping portions 374i may be configured to partially overlap each other, or they may be configured to partially not overlap each other.

[0130] Multiple first clamping portions 374h are located on the side of the second horizontal direction (+Y side) relative to the main body portion 374a. Multiple second clamping portions 374i are located on the other side of the second horizontal direction (-Y side) relative to the main body portion 374a. That is, the multiple first clamping portions 374h and multiple second clamping portions 374i are arranged separately in the second horizontal direction Y. In the second horizontal direction Y, a counterpart grounding connection portion 384c provided at the lower end of the counterpart side main body portion 384a of the counterpart side grounding member 384 is inserted from above between the multiple first clamping portions 374h and the multiple second clamping portions 374i, thereby electrically connecting the grounding member 374 to the counterpart side grounding member 384. The distance between the first clamping portions 374h and the second clamping portions 374i along the second horizontal direction Y is designed according to the dimension of the counterpart side grounding connection portion 384c along the second horizontal direction Y.

[0131] Multiple first clamping portions 374h and multiple second clamping portions 374i are manufactured, for example, by dividing the upper part of the main body portion 374a in the first horizontal direction X using a cut or the like, and then alternately bending each of the divided portions in the second horizontal direction Y.

[0132] The other structures of connector device 370 are the same as those of connector device 70 in the first embodiment. The other structures of the counterpart connector device 380 are the same as those of counterpart connector device 80 in the first embodiment. The other structures of circuit board unit 360 are the same as those of circuit board unit 60 in the first embodiment.

[0133] According to this embodiment, the grounding connection portion 374c, which serves as a clamping portion, has a plurality of first clamping portions 374h and a plurality of second clamping portions 374i alternately arranged along the connection direction connecting the connector device 370 and the counterpart connector device 380, and in the direction where the grounding connection portion 374c clamps the counterpart grounding component 384. The plurality of first clamping portions 374h and the plurality of second clamping portions 374i are arranged separately in the clamping direction (second horizontal direction Y). Therefore, the counterpart grounding component 384 can be stably clamped by the plurality of first clamping portions 374h and the plurality of second clamping portions 374i. In addition, as described above, the plurality of first clamping portions 374h and the plurality of second clamping portions 374i can be fabricated by dividing the upper end of the main body portion 374a, thereby enabling the provision of a plurality of first clamping portions 374h and a plurality of second clamping portions 374i while reducing the number of components.

[0134] Alternatively, at least a portion of the plurality of first clamping portions 374h and the plurality of second clamping portions 374i may be provided with a protrusion extending toward the opposite-side grounding member 384. In this case, the plurality of first clamping portions 374h and the plurality of second clamping portions 374i can be made to contact the opposite-side grounding member 384 more appropriately. The protrusion may also be provided on the opposite-side grounding member 384.

[0135] Additionally, multiple first clamping portions 374h and multiple second clamping portions 374i may also be provided on the opposite-side grounding member 384. In this case, for example, the shape of the grounding connection portion 374c can be formed to match... Figure 8 It has the same shape as the grounding connection part 384c shown on the other side.

[0136] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the grounding member 374 only needs to have at least one first clamping portion and at least one second clamping portion. For example, it may be configured such that the grounding member has one first clamping portion and one second clamping portion, the first clamping portion extending from one end of the grounding connection portion in the first horizontal direction X (+X side) toward the other side (-X side) in the first horizontal direction to a middle position, and the second clamping portion extending from the middle position in the first horizontal direction X to the end of the grounding connection portion in the other side (-X side) in the first horizontal direction. Also, for example, it may be configured such that the grounding member has two first clamping portions and one second clamping portion, and the two first clamping portions and one second clamping portion are alternately arranged along the first horizontal direction X.

[0137] <Fourth Implementation>

[0138] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the circuit board unit 460 of this embodiment. In the following description, structures identical to those in the above-described embodiment are sometimes omitted from the description by appropriately using the same reference numerals, etc.

[0139] In the circuit board unit 460, the grounding component 474 of the connector device 470 has a first component 475 and a second component 476 separate from the first component 475. The first component 475 and the second component 476 coincide in the second horizontal direction Y to form the grounding component 474. The second component 476 is located on the other side (-Y side) of the first component 475 in the second horizontal direction.

[0140] The first component 475 has a first component body 475a and a first clamping portion 475c. The second component 476 has a second component body 476a and a second clamping portion 476c. The first component body 475a and the second component body 476a are rectangular plates with their surfaces facing the second horizontal direction Y. The first component body 475a and the second component body 476a overlap in the second horizontal direction Y, forming the main body 474a of the grounding component 474.

[0141] The grounding connection portion (clamping portion) 474c of the grounding member 474 is composed of a first clamping portion 475c and a second clamping portion 476c. The grounding connection portion 474c is a clamping portion that clamps a part of the opposing grounding member 484. The first clamping portion 475c is provided at the upper end of the first member body 475a. The second clamping portion 476c is provided at the upper end of the second member body 476a. The first clamping portion 475c is located on the side of the second horizontal direction (+Y side) of the first member body 475a. The second clamping portion 476c is located on the other side of the second horizontal direction (-Y side) of the second member body 476a. The first clamping portion 475c and the second clamping portion 476c are arranged separately in the clamping direction (second horizontal direction Y) in which the grounding connection portion 474c, which serves as a clamping portion, clamps the opposing grounding member 484. The first clamping part 475c is, for example, formed by bending the upper end of the first component body 475a toward the second horizontal direction. The second clamping part 476c is, for example, formed by bending the upper end of the second component body 476a toward the other side of the second horizontal direction.

[0142] Between the first clamping portion 475c and the second clamping portion 476c in the second horizontal direction Y, a counter-side grounding connection portion 484c, which is disposed at the lower end of the counter-side main body portion 484a in the counter-side grounding member 484, is inserted from above, thereby electrically connecting the grounding member 474 and the counter-side grounding member 484. The distance between the first clamping portion 475c and the second clamping portion 476c along the second horizontal direction Y is designed according to the dimension of the counter-side grounding connection portion 484c along the second horizontal direction Y. In this embodiment, the shape of the counter-side grounding member 484 is the same as the shape of the counter-side grounding member 384 in the third embodiment.

[0143] The other structures of connector device 470 are the same as those of connector device 70 in the first embodiment. The other structures of the counterpart connector device 480 are the same as those of counterpart connector device 80 in the first embodiment. The other structures of circuit board unit 460 are the same as those of circuit board unit 60 in the first embodiment.

[0144] According to this embodiment, the grounding connection portion 474c, which serves as a clamping portion, has a first clamping portion 475c and a second clamping portion 476c that are separately arranged in the clamping direction (second horizontal direction Y) in which the grounding connection portion 474c clamps the grounding component 484 on the opposite side. The grounding component 474 has: a first component 475, which has the first clamping portion 475c; and a second component 476, which is separate from the first component 475 and has the second clamping portion 476c. In this way, by using two components to constitute the grounding component 474 and providing the first clamping portion 475c and the second clamping portion 476c on each component, the clamping portion for clamping the grounding component 484 on the opposite side can be easily manufactured.

[0145] Alternatively, at least one of the first clamping portion 475c and the second clamping portion 476c may be provided with a protrusion protruding toward the opposite-side grounding member 484. In this case, the first clamping portion 475c and the second clamping portion 476c can make more appropriate contact with the opposite-side grounding member 484. The protrusion may also be provided on the opposite-side grounding member 484.

[0146] Furthermore, the construction of the grounding component 474 can be the opposite of that of the grounding component 484 on the other side. That is, the grounding component 484 on the other side can also be composed of a first component having a first clamping portion and a second component having a second clamping portion.

[0147] The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the embodiments described above, and the following structures and methods can also be adopted. The grounding component, as long as it is disposed between the plurality of first connectors and the plurality of second connectors, can be arbitrarily configured and can have any shape. The same applies to the grounding component on the opposite side. The shape of the portion where the grounding component connects to the grounding component on the opposite side can be any shape. Multiple grounding components can also be provided. Multiple grounding components on the opposite side can also be provided.

[0148] Furthermore, in the connector structure 90 of the first embodiment described above, when the connector device 70 and the counterpart connector device 80 are engaged, the upper (+Z side) end of the grounding connection portion 74c of the grounding member 74 in the vertical direction contacts the lower (-Z side) end of the counterpart grounding connection portion 84c of the counterpart grounding member 84 in the vertical direction, but this is not limited to this. For example, it may also be constructed such that the end of the grounding connection portion on one side (+Y side) in the second horizontal direction contacts the end of the counterpart grounding connection portion on the other side (-Y side) in the second horizontal direction and is electrically connected.

[0149] The shapes of the first connector, the second connector, the first counterpart connector, and the second counterpart connector are not particularly limited. For example, in the first embodiment described above, the first extension 71a of the first connector 71 and the first extension 72a of the second connector 72 held by the connector device 70 are straight when viewed from the first horizontal direction X, but each of the first extensions of the first and second connectors may be bent or bent. In this case, for example, a portion of each first extension may be disposed inside the housing, and the first and second connecting portions of each first extension may be exposed from the housing. Similarly, the first extensions of the first and second counterpart connectors held by the counterpart connector device may also be bent or bent.

[0150] Furthermore, there is no particular limitation on the number of the first connector, the number of the second connector, the number of the first opposing side connector, and the number of the second opposing side connector. The arrangement direction of the first connecting portions of the plurality of first connectors and the arrangement direction of the second connecting portions of the plurality of second connectors may also be different. Similarly, the arrangement direction of the first opposing side connecting portions of the plurality of first opposing side connectors and the arrangement direction of the second opposing side connecting portions of the plurality of second opposing side connectors may also be different.

[0151] In addition, in the first embodiment described above, the grounding connection portion 74c of the grounding member 74 and the grounding connection portion 84c of the opposite side grounding member 84 are columnar in shape when viewed from the first horizontal direction X, but one of the grounding connection portion 74c and the grounding connection portion 84c of the opposite side may also be the clamping portion in the second to fourth embodiments described above.

[0152] The connector device of the present invention can also be configured to be electrically connected to a counterpart connector device and includes: a housing; a first connector held in the housing, having a first connecting portion electrically connected to the first counterpart connector of the counterpart connector device; and a grounding member held in the housing and electrically connected to a counterpart grounding member of the counterpart connector device. The housing has a protrusion protruding in the connection direction between the connector device and the counterpart connector device, the grounding member is held in the protrusion, and the first connecting portion is disposed on one side of the protrusion in a direction intersecting the connection direction. In this structure, as in the embodiment described above, unwanted radiated noise can be suppressed. The protrusion in this structure is, for example, the protrusion 73c of the embodiment described above. In this structure, the second connector may not be provided.

[0153] Alternatively, the connector device of the present invention can also be configured to be electrically connected to a counterpart connector device, and includes: a housing; a first connector held in the housing, having a first connecting portion electrically connected to the first counterpart connector of the counterpart connector device; and a grounding member held in the housing and electrically connected to a counterpart grounding member of the counterpart connector device, wherein the housing has a recess recessed in the connection direction between the connector device and the counterpart connector device, the grounding member is held at the bottom of the recess, and the first connecting portion is disposed along the inner surface of the recess. The recess in this structure is, for example, the recess 83f of the above embodiment. In this structure, the second connector may not be provided.

[0154] In the above description, the structure described as a "connector device" can all be a "parallel connector device" structure. Furthermore, the structure described as a "parallel connector device" in the above description can all be a "connector device" structure. Alternatively, the connector device can be a female connector, and the parallel connector device can be a male connector.

[0155] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, an example of applying the present invention to a transmissive projector was given, but the present invention can also be applied to a reflective projector. Here, "transmissive" refers to a type in which a liquid crystal light valve, including a liquid crystal panel, transmits light. "Reflective" refers to a type in which a liquid crystal light valve reflects light. Additionally, the light modulation device is not limited to liquid crystal panels, etc., and may, for example, be a light modulation device using micromirrors.

[0156] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, an example of a projector 1 using three optical modulation devices 4R, 4G, and 4B was given, but the present invention can also be applied to projectors using only one optical modulation device or projectors using four or more optical modulation devices.

[0157] Furthermore, electronic devices equipped with circuit boards and electronic devices equipped with circuit board units are not limited to projectors, but can also be other electronic devices.

[0158] Furthermore, the various structures described in this specification can be appropriately combined within a range that does not contradict each other.

Claims

1. A connector device electrically connected to a counterpart connector device, characterized in that it comprises: case; A plurality of first connectors are held in the housing and each has a first connection portion that is electrically connected to a first counterpart connector of the counterpart connector device; A plurality of second connectors, held in the housing, each having a second connecting portion electrically connected to a second counterpart connector of the counterpart connector assembly; and A grounding component, which is held in the housing, is electrically connected to a peer-side grounding component of the peer-side connector assembly. The first connecting portions of the plurality of first connectors are arranged and exposed from the housing along the first surface. The second connecting portions of the plurality of second connectors are arranged and exposed from the housing along a second surface different from the first surface. The grounding component is disposed between the plurality of first connectors and the plurality of second connectors, and is arranged along the connection direction connecting the connector assembly to the counterpart connector assembly. The housing has a recess that is recessed in the connection direction to the side opposite to the side where the other connector device is located. The side of the inner surface of the recess located on the side of the intersection direction that intersects with the connection direction is the first surface. A portion of the grounding component is embedded in the wall portion forming the bottom of the recess in the housing. Each of the first connecting members has: A first extension portion, which extends along the connection direction; and The second extension extends from the end of the first extension on the side opposite to the side where the counterpart connector device is located in the connection direction, in a direction intersecting the connection direction. The first extension has: The first connecting portion; and The buckling portion bends from the first connecting portion toward the grounding component. The first connecting portion protrudes from the wall portion toward the side where the opposite connector device is located in the connecting direction, and contacts the first surface. The buckling portion is located in the portion between the end of the first extension connected to the second extension and the first connecting portion, and is embedded in the wall portion.

2. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein, The arrangement direction of the plurality of first connecting parts and the arrangement direction of the plurality of second connecting parts are the same as each other. The grounding component extends along the arrangement direction.

3. The connector device according to claim 2, wherein, The grounding component is disposed on the outer side in the arrangement direction relative to at least one of the first connectors and the second connectors disposed on both ends in the arrangement direction.

4. The connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The grounding component has a grounding connection portion that protrudes from the housing in the connection direction and is electrically connected to the grounding component on the opposite side.

5. The connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The grounding component has a substrate connection portion, which is electrically connected to the main body of the circuit board on which the connector device is mounted. The substrate connecting portion protrudes from the housing in the connecting direction.

6. The connector device according to claim 5, wherein, The grounding component has a main body portion that is connected to the substrate connection portion. The substrate connecting portion protrudes from the main body portion in a direction that intersects the connecting direction and is different from the arrangement direction of the plurality of first connecting portions and the arrangement direction of the plurality of second connecting portions.

7. The connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The grounding component has a clamping portion that clamps a portion of the opposite-side grounding component.

8. The connector device according to claim 7, wherein, The clamping portion has a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion arranged in a direction that intersects both the connection direction and the clamping direction in which the clamping portion clamps the opposite-side grounding component. The first clamping part and the second clamping part are separately arranged in the clamping direction.

9. The connector device according to claim 7, wherein, The clamping portion has a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion separately arranged in the clamping direction in which the clamping portion clamps the opposite-side grounding component. The grounding component has: The first component, having the first clamping portion; and The second component is separate from the first component and has the second clamping part.

10. A circuit board, characterized in that, The circuit board has the following features: The connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 9; and The circuit board body is equipped with the connector device.

11. A circuit board unit, characterized in that, The circuit board unit has: The first circuit board body has a first ground layer; The second circuit board body has a second ground layer; and The connector is configured to connect the first circuit board body and the second circuit board body, and to relay signal transmission between the first circuit board body and the second circuit board body. The connector configuration includes: a connector device disposed on the first circuit board body; And a counterpart connector device, which is disposed on the second circuit board body and connected to the connector device. The connector device has: case; A plurality of first connectors are held in the housing and each has a first connecting portion; Multiple second connectors, which are held in the housing, each have a second connecting portion; and A grounding component, which is held in the housing. The first connecting portions of the plurality of first connectors are arranged and exposed from the housing along the first surface. The second connecting portions of the plurality of second connectors are arranged and exposed from the housing along a second surface different from the first surface. The counterpart connector device has: The other side of the shell; A plurality of first counter-side connectors are held in the counter-side housing, each having a first counter-side connector electrically connected to the first connector; A plurality of second counter-side connectors, held in the counter-side housing, each having a second counter-side connector electrically connected to the second connector; and A grounding component on the opposite side, which is held in the opposite-side housing and electrically connected to the grounding component. The first pair of connecting portions of the plurality of first pair of connecting members are arranged and exposed from the housing along the third surface. The second parallel-side connecting portions of the plurality of second parallel-side connectors are arranged and exposed from the housing along a fourth surface different from the third surface. The grounding component is electrically connected to the first ground layer, disposed between the plurality of first connectors and the plurality of second connectors, and arranged along the connection direction of the connector assembly and the counterpart connector assembly. The counterpart-side grounding component is electrically connected to the second grounding layer, disposed between the plurality of first counterpart-side connectors and the plurality of second counterpart-side connectors, and disposed along the connection direction. The housing has a recess that is recessed in the connection direction to the side opposite to the side where the other connector device is located. The side of the inner surface of the recess located on the side of the intersection direction that intersects with the connection direction is the first surface. A portion of the grounding component is embedded in the wall portion forming the bottom of the recess in the housing. Each of the first connecting members has: A first extension portion, which extends along the connection direction; and The second extension extends from the end of the first extension on the side opposite to the side where the counterpart connector device is located in the connection direction, in a direction intersecting the connection direction. The first extension has: The first connecting portion; and The buckling portion bends from the first connecting portion toward the grounding component. The first connecting portion protrudes from the wall portion toward the side where the opposite connector device is located in the connecting direction, and contacts the first surface. The buckling portion is located in the portion between the end of the first extension connected to the second extension and the first connecting portion, and is embedded in the wall portion.

12. The circuit board unit according to claim 11, wherein, The arrangement direction of the plurality of first connecting parts and the arrangement direction of the plurality of second connecting parts are the same as each other. The grounding component extends along the arrangement direction.

13. The circuit board unit according to claim 12, wherein, The grounding component is disposed on the outer side in the arrangement direction relative to at least one of the first connectors and the second connectors disposed on both ends in the arrangement direction.

14. The circuit board unit according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein, The grounding component has a grounding connection portion that protrudes from the housing in the connection direction and is electrically connected to the grounding component on the opposite side.

15. The circuit board unit according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein, The grounding component has a substrate connection portion that is electrically connected to the first grounding layer. The substrate connecting portion protrudes from the housing in the connecting direction.

16. The circuit board unit according to claim 15, wherein, The grounding component has a main body portion that is connected to the substrate connection portion. The substrate connecting portion protrudes from the main body portion in a direction that intersects the connecting direction and is different from the arrangement direction of the plurality of first connecting portions and the arrangement direction of the plurality of second connecting portions.

17. An electronic device, characterized in that, The electronic device has the circuit board as described in claim 10.

18. An electronic device, characterized in that, The electronic device has a circuit board unit as described in any one of claims 11 to 16.

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