connector

Abstract

A connector for electrically connecting a module substrate having electrodes and a main substrate, comprising: a housing mounted on the main substrate; a contact having a contact portion and a connection portion connected to the main substrate and held on the housing; a frame having a flat plate portion fixed to the main substrate and a pair of side plate portions, wherein one of a cam groove and a protrusion is formed on the pair of side plate portions; a slider having the other of a cam groove and a protrusion formed on a pair of opposite side portions, wherein the slider is mounted between the pair of side plate portions by inserting the protrusion into the cam groove; and a plate housed between the pair of side plate portions, forming an insertion space between the slider and the housing, wherein the slider presses the module substrate toward the contact portion via the plate by sliding in the same direction as the insertion direction of the module substrate into the insertion space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a connector for making electrical connections between substrates. Background Technology

[0002] As an existing example of a connector, Figures 1-3 The structure and operation of a card connector described in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent No. 3021370) are shown. The card connector includes a cover insulator 10, a base insulator 20, a contact 30, and an ejection mechanism 40.

[0003] like Figure 3 As shown, the contact 30 consists of a fixing part 30a fixed on the lower surface part 21 of the base insulator 20, a contact part 30b that can contact the pad 51 of the IC card 50, a spring part 30c that applies upward force to the contact part 30b, and a terminal part 30d connected to a printed circuit board (not shown).

[0004] The cover insulator 10 includes: a card support surface 11 that supports the upper surface 50a of the IC card 50; a side surface 12 that supports the two sides of the IC card 50; an abutment portion 13 that abuts against the front end portion 52 of the IC card 50 in the insertion direction; a support portion 14 that supports the two side edges of the lower surface 50b of the IC card 50; and a guide surface 15 that guides the IC card 50 to the abutment portion 13. The card support surface 11 is located above the contact portion 30b of the contact 30 and opposite to the lower surface portion 21 of the base insulator 20. Cylindrical protrusions 16 and 17 are respectively provided on the side surface portion 12.

[0005] An opening 23 is formed on the upper surface portion 22 of the base insulator 20, and cam grooves 25 and 26 are formed on the two side portions 24. Cam groove 25 is located on the rear side in the card insertion direction D, and cam groove 26 is located on the front side in the card insertion direction D. The length direction of cam groove 25 is parallel to the card insertion direction D, and cam groove 25 guides protrusion 16. The length direction of cam groove 26 is inclined relative to the card insertion direction D, and cam groove 26 obliquely guides protrusion 17. Therefore, the cover insulator 10 can move between a first position close to the contact portion 30b of the contact 30 and a second position away from the contact portion 30b of the contact 30.

[0006] In this card connector, before the IC card 50 is inserted, the protrusions 16 and 17 of the cover insulator 10 are located at the rear end 25a of the cam groove 25 and the rear end 26a of the cam groove 26 of the base insulator 20, respectively. In this state, when the IC card 50 is inserted into the card insertion slot 27 of the base insulator 20, the two side edges of the lower surface 50b of the IC card 50 are supported by the support portion 14 of the cover insulator 10, and the IC card 50 is guided to the abutment portion 13 in a state parallel to the card insertion direction D. The lower surface 50b of the IC card 50 is located above the contact portion 30b of the contact 30, and the IC card 50 does not contact the contact portion 30b of the contact 30 (see reference). Figure 3 (a)

[0007] When the IC card 50 is inserted beyond the specified insertion depth (until it reaches the insertion depth of the abutment portion 13 of the cover insulator 10), the front end 52 of the IC card 50 abuts against the abutment portion 13 of the cover insulator 10. Then, the protrusion 17 of the cover insulator 10 is guided obliquely downward along the cam groove 26, and the front end of the cover insulator 10 in the card insertion direction approaches the lower surface portion 21 of the base insulator 20. Since the upper surface 50a of the IC card 50 is pressed downward by the card support surface 11, the solder pad 51 of the IC card 50 contacts the contact portion 30b of the contact 30 (see reference). Figure 2 , 3 (b)). As a result, the IC card 50 and the printed circuit board are electrically connected.

[0008] According to the aforementioned card connector, when the IC card 50 is inserted, the front end 52 of the IC card 50 abuts against the abutment portion 13 of the cover insulator 10. Then, the cover insulator 10 is pushed by the IC card 50, and the protrusions 16 and 17 are guided by the cam grooves 25 and 26 of the base insulator 20, thereby moving from the second position to the first position. The distance by which the IC card 50 slides is shorter than the distance by which the cover insulator 10 moves from the second position to the first position.

[0009] In Patent Document 1, as the IC card 50 is inserted, the distance between the IC card 50 and the contact 30 is shortened to suppress damage to the IC card 50 and wear on the contact portion 30b of the contact 30 during insertion and removal.

[0010] However, in the structure described in Patent Document 1, as the IC card 50 is inserted, the IC card 50 and the contact 30 slide, so it can be said that the suppression of wear or damage is not sufficient and there is room for improvement. Summary of the Invention

[0011] In view of the above, the object of the present invention is to provide a connector that, compared with the prior art, can further suppress wear of the contacts that accompany the insertion and removal of the module substrate and wear of the electrodes of the module substrate that contact the contacts.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a connector is provided for electrically connecting a module substrate and a main substrate. The module substrate has a plurality of electrodes arranged longitudinally and transversely on one side. The connector comprises: a flat housing mounted on the main substrate; a plurality of contacts having contact portions protruding from a side of the housing opposite to the mounting surface of the main substrate and connection portions connecting to the electrodes of the main substrate, and being arranged and held on the housing corresponding to the electrodes of the module substrate; a frame having a flat plate portion fixed to the plate surface of the main substrate and a pair of side plate portions erected from the flat plate portion, wherein one of a cam groove and a protrusion constituting a cam mechanism is formed on the pair of side plate portions; and a sliding member, which is plate-shaped, having a cam mechanism formed on a pair of opposite side portions. The other of the cam groove and protrusion is installed between a pair of side plates by inserting the protrusion into the cam groove; the plate is plate-shaped and has protrusions at the four corners, the two protrusions at the front are located on the cuts formed at the front end of the pair of side plates, and the two protrusions at the rear are located on the support portions formed by the rearward protrusion of the rear end of a pair of opposite side portions of the slider, and are housed between the pair of side plates, thereby forming an insertion space for the module substrate between the slider and the housing mounted on the main substrate. The slider has the following structure: that is, by sliding in the same direction as the insertion direction of the module substrate into the insertion space and by displacement using the cam mechanism, the module substrate is pressed towards the contact portion via the plate.

[0013] Invention Effects

[0014] According to embodiments of the present invention, compared with conventional examples, wear of the contacts accompanying the insertion and removal of the module substrate and wear of the electrodes of the module substrate in contact with the contacts can be suppressed, thereby obtaining a connector with a long service life. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a 3D diagram showing an existing card connector.

[0016] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The image shows a side view of the card connector.

[0017] Figure 3 (a) means Figure 1 The diagram shown is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the card connector before card insertion is complete. (b) shows the state of the card connector. Figure 1 The diagram shows a longitudinal cross-section of the card connector when the card is fully inserted.

[0018] Figure 4 (a) is a front view showing the connector of embodiment 1 of the present invention mounted on the main substrate, (b) is a side view thereon, (c) is a perspective view from the front thereon, and (d) is a perspective view from the rear thereon.

[0019] Figure 5 It refers to both the main substrate and the module substrate. Figure 4 The connector shown is an exploded perspective view.

[0020] Figure 6 (a) is from Figure 4 (a) is a perspective view of the slider from the front, and (b) is a perspective view from the rear. Figure 4 A 3D view of the sliding component.

[0021] Figure 7 It is to maintain Figure 5 An enlarged 3D view of the housing of the contact in the image.

[0022] Figure 8 (a) indicates that in Figure 4 (a) is a front view of the connector with the module substrate inserted, (b) is a side view, (c) is a perspective view from the front, and (d) is a perspective view from the rear.

[0023] Figure 9 (a) is Figure 4 (a) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the E-E line, and (b) is... Figure 8 Enlarged cross-sectional view of the E-E line in (a).

[0024] Figure 10 (a) is a front view showing the connector of embodiment 2 of the present invention mounted on the main substrate, (b) is a side view thereon, (c) is a perspective view from the front thereon, and (d) is a perspective view from the rear thereon.

[0025] Figure 11 It refers to both the main substrate and the module substrate. Figure 10 The connector shown is an exploded perspective view.

[0026] Figure 12 (a) indicates that in Figure 10 (a) is a front view of the connector with the module substrate inserted, (b) is a side view, (c) is a perspective view from the front, and (d) is a perspective view from the rear.

[0027] Figure 13 (a) is Figure 10 (a) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the E-E line, and (b) is... Figure 13 Enlarged cross-sectional view of the E-E line in (a). Detailed Implementation

[0028] The embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] [Example 1]

[0030] Figure 4 The appearance of the connector of Embodiment 1, which represents an embodiment of the present invention, is shown in [the diagram]. Figure 4 The diagram shows the state where connector 100 is mounted on main substrate 200. Furthermore, only the portion of main substrate 200 where connector 100 is mounted is shown; other parts are omitted from the diagram.

[0031] The connector 100 consists of a frame 60, a slider 70, a housing 80, multiple contacts 90, four screws 110, a plate 120, and a back plate 130. Figure 5 It is Figure 4 The diagram shown is a breakdown of the structure into its parts, and also illustrates the module substrate 300, which is electrically connected to the main substrate 200 via connector 100. First, the structure of each part will be explained.

[0032] The frame 60 is made of metal plate and has a square flat plate 61 and a pair of side plates 62 rising from the left and right ends of the flat plate 61. A pair of upward-cut and opposing protruding pieces 63 are formed at the center of the front end of the flat plate 61, and further, on the flat plate 61... Figure 5 As shown, it has four holes 64.

[0033] Two cam grooves 65 are formed on each of the pair of side plate portions 62 in a front-rear direction. The cam grooves 65 are formed as holes penetrating the side plate portions 62, and have two elongated holes 65a and 65b extending parallel to the surface of the flat plate portion 61 and located at offset positions in the vertical direction, connected to each other by an elongated hole 65c inclined relative to the surface of the flat plate portion 61. The elongated hole 65a forming the front side of the cam groove 65 is located closer to the flat plate portion 61 than the elongated hole 65b forming the rear side. Furthermore, recesses 66 extending from the upper end of the side plate portion 62 to the elongated hole 65b are formed on the opposing inner surfaces of the pair of side plate portions 62, and cutouts 67 are formed at the front ends of each pair of side plate portions 62.

[0034] The slider 70 is made of a metal plate and has a square plate portion 71, thus being plate-shaped. Two protrusions 72 are formed on each of the two opposite sides located at the left and right ends of the plate portion 71, and guide portions 73 are also formed on each side.

[0035] like Figure 6 As shown in (b), the guide portion 73 is composed of an elongated support piece 73a and two extension pieces 73b. The support piece 73a is opposite to the back surface 71a of the plate portion 71 and extends in the front-rear direction. The two extension pieces 73b are bent and extended from the plate portion 71 to the support piece 73a. A guide piece 73c is formed at the rear end of the support piece 73a, and the guide piece 73c extends in a direction away from the back surface 71a of the plate portion 71.

[0036] Furthermore, on the slider 70, at the rear end of a pair of opposing sides where the guide portion 73 is formed, support portions 74 are formed in a rearward-protruding manner, similar to the guide piece 73c. ​​For example... Figure 6 As shown in (b), the support portion 74 is formed by extending the plate surface of the rear extension portion 73b of the two extension portions 73b.

[0037] The housing 80 is made of resin and has a flat shape. Multiple contacts 90 are arranged longitudinally and transversely on the housing 80. Additionally, in... Figure 5 and will Figure 5 Enlarged Figure 7 In this diagram, contacts 90 only represent the contacts located at the left and right ends of the housing 80; the contacts 90 located in the middle portion are omitted. These contacts 90, along with multiple electrodes arranged longitudinally and transversely on one side of the module substrate 300 (in... Figure 5 (The elements that are hidden and not visible are arranged accordingly.)

[0038] The plate 120 is a roughly square plate made of metal. Protrusions 121 are formed at each of the four corners, and a stepped portion 122 is formed in the center, protruding downwards in a square island shape. Additionally, a clearance portion 123 is formed at the front end cut to accommodate a pair of protruding pieces 63 relative to the frame 60, and clearance portions 124 are formed at the left and right end cuts to accommodate guide portions 73 relative to the slider 70.

[0039] The square-shaped rear plate 130 is made of metal plate and has threaded holes 131 at each of the four corners.

[0040] Multiple connectors are arranged on the main substrate 200 on which the connector 100 is mounted. Figure 5 The electrodes connected to the contacts 90 are hidden and not visible. In addition, four holes 201 corresponding to the four holes 64 of the frame 60 are formed on the main substrate 200.

[0041] Next, the assembly of connector 100 and its installation on main substrate 200 will be described.

[0042] First, the housing 80 of the contact 90 is surface-mounted and mounted on the main substrate 200. The electrodes of the contact 90 and the main substrate 200 are soldered together.

[0043] Next, the flat plate portion 61 of the frame 60 is mounted on the main substrate 200, and the rear plate 130 is positioned on the back (lower surface) side of the main substrate 200. Four screws 110 pass through the holes 64 of the frame 60, the holes 201 of the main substrate 200, and the threaded holes 131 of the rear plate 130, thereby threading the frame 60 and the rear plate 130 onto the main substrate 200. The main substrate 200 is held between the flat plate portion 61 of the frame 60 and the rear plate 130, and the housing 80 is located within the frame of the flat plate portion 61 of the frame 60.

[0044] Next, the slider 70 is overlapped on the plate 120, and the slider 70 and the plate 120 are assembled with the support portion 74 of the slider 70 drilled under the two protrusions 121 located behind the plate 120, respectively. In this state, the slider 70 is mounted on the frame 60. The mounting is performed by inserting two protrusions 72 of each of a pair of opposite side portions of the slider 70 from the recess 66 into the cam grooves 65 formed in a pair of side plate portions 62 of the frame 60.

[0045] Thus, the assembly of connector 100 and its installation onto the main substrate 200 are completed, becoming... Figure 4 The structure shown. The two protrusions 121 at the front of the plate 120 are respectively located on the cutouts 67 at the front ends of a pair of side plate portions 62, and the two protrusions 121 at the rear are respectively located on the support portion 74 of the slider 70 and between the pair of side plate portions 62.

[0046] Plate 120 is held in the left-right direction by a pair of side plate portions 62, and the two protrusions 121 in the front-back direction are as follows: Figure 4 As shown, it is positioned on the frame 60 in the front-to-back direction by clamping the side plate portion 62. In addition, the positioning in the left-to-right and front-to-back directions is somewhat loose.

[0047] Figure 8 The diagram shows the module substrate 300 inserted into the connector 100 and the module substrate 300 and the main substrate 200 electrically connected to each other. The insertion and connection of the module substrate 300 into the connector 100 will be described below.

[0048] Figure 9 (a) represents a cross-section of the module substrate 300 before insertion. Figure 4 (As shown in the cross-section), the slider 70 is positioned such that the protrusion 72 of the cam groove 65 into the frame 60 is located at the rear end of the cam groove 65, i.e., the elongated hole 65b. The plate portion 71 of the slider 70 is parallel to the housing 80 and the main base plate 200. Plate 120 as... Figure 9 As shown in (a), it is tilted (tilted), forming an insertion space 101 for the module substrate 300 between the plate 120 and the housing 80.

[0049] One end of the contact 90 held in the housing 80 becomes a connecting portion 91 that connects to the electrode (not shown) of the main substrate 200, and the connecting portion 91 is soldered to the electrode of the main substrate 200. The other end of the contact 90 becomes a contact portion 92 that contacts the electrode of the module substrate 300 inserted into the insertion space 101, and protrudes from the upper surface of the housing 80 (the opposite side to the mounting surface of the main substrate). In this example, the contact 90 also has a spring portion 93 bent into a U-shape, and the free end of the spring portion 93 becomes the contact portion 92. The contact portion 92 extends in the insertion direction of the module substrate 300.

[0050] The module substrate 300 is inserted between the plate portion 71 and the guide portion 73 of the slider 70. The guide portion 73 supports the two side edges of the lower surface of the module substrate 300, which has electrodes arranged therein, guiding the module substrate 300 into the insertion space 101. The module substrate 300 is thus inserted without contacting the contact 90, supported and guided by the guide portion 73.

[0051] The module substrate 300 inserted into the insertion space 101 is positioned in the left-right direction (width direction) by two protrusions 63 provided at the front end of the flat plate portion 61 of the frame 60 engaging with two cutouts 301 formed at the front end in the insertion direction, and further insertion is restricted by abutting against the two protrusions 63.

[0052] After the module substrate 300 is inserted, the slider 70 slides in the same direction as the insertion direction of the module substrate 300. The protrusion 72 of the slider 70 moves in the cam groove 65 of the frame 60, reaching the front end side of the cam groove 65, i.e., the elongated hole 65a. The slider 70 moves towards the housing 80, pressing the module substrate 300, which is inserted into the insertion space 101, against the contact portion 92 of the contact 90 via the plate 120. As a result, the electrodes of the module substrate 300 and the contact 90 come into contact and are electrically connected. Figure 9 (b) represents the state.

[0053] The above describes Embodiment 1 of the connector according to the present invention. Based on the connector 100 described above, the following effects can be obtained.

[0054] (1) Unlike existing examples, in the contact portion where the module substrate 300 is not inserted, i.e., the module substrate 300 does not slide integrally with the slider 70, after the module substrate 300 is inserted into the predetermined position, the slider 70 is slid, which can press the module substrate 300 against the contact portion 92 of the contact 90. Therefore, unlike existing examples, the module substrate 300 and the contact 90 do not slide as the module substrate 300 is inserted. In this respect, compared with existing examples, wear of the electrodes of the contact 90 and the module substrate 300 can be suppressed, and the increase in contact resistance caused by wear can be suppressed. Therefore, compared with existing examples, the lifespan of the connector can be extended accordingly.

[0055] (2) The slider 70 is slid in the opposite direction to the insertion direction, causing the module substrate 300 to move away from the contact 90, thereby removing the module substrate 300 from the connector 100. However, since the plate 120 is sandwiched between the slider 70 and the module substrate 300, it is less likely that the module substrate 300 will move together with the slider 70 as it slides. In this respect, even when the module substrate 300 is removed, wear on the contacts 90 and the electrodes of the module substrate 300 can be suppressed.

[0056] (3) The stepped portion 122 provided on the plate 120 in a square island shape defines the contact range between the plate 120 pressed by the slider 70 and the module substrate 300, so that the pressing force on the module substrate 300 is concentrated. As a result, the warping of the module substrate 300 in the connected state can be suppressed, and good contact force between the electrodes of the module substrate 300 and the contacts 90 can be obtained.

[0057] [Example 2]

[0058] Figure 10 Is with Figure 4 Similarly, the figure shows the appearance of Embodiment 2 of the connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 11 Is with Figure 5 Similarly, Figure 10 The diagram shown is a breakdown of the structure into its parts. The parts corresponding to those in Example 1 are labeled with the same symbols, and their detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0059] Compared with the connector 100 in Embodiment 1, the connector 100' in Embodiment 2 has a different configuration structure of frame 60', such as... Figure 10 As shown, the flat plate portion 61 of the frame 60' is located on the opposite surface of the main substrate 200, which is opposite to the mounting surface of the housing 80, and a pair of side plate portions 62 are located at the positions of the portion of the main substrate 200 on which the housing 80 is mounted.

[0060] The flat plate portion 61 of the frame 60' is not frame-shaped, but plate-shaped. In this example, a stepped portion 68 is formed on the flat plate portion 61 in a square island shape that protrudes upward. Since the flat plate portion 61 of the frame 60' is located on the back (lower surface) side of the main substrate 200, there is no back plate 130 in this example.

[0061] The main substrate 200 is mounted on the flat plate portion 61 of the frame 60'. Two screws 110 pass through two holes 201 in the main substrate 200 and engage with two threaded holes 69 formed on the flat plate portion 61, thereby fixing the main substrate 200 to the flat plate portion 61 by threads. In addition, two cutouts 202 are formed at the front end of the main substrate 200, and a pair of protruding pieces 63 of the frame 60' are embedded in these cutouts 202, thereby positioning the main substrate 200 on the frame 60'.

[0062] Figure 12 The diagram shows the completed connection state where the module substrate 300 is inserted into the connector 100' and the module substrate 300 and the main substrate 200 are electrically connected. Figure 13 (a) shows a cross-section of the module substrate 300 before insertion. Figure 10 (The cross-section shown is in the indicated state). Figure 13 (b) shows a cross-section of the completed connection state.

[0063] The insertion and connection of the module substrate 300 in the connector 100' is the same as the operation of the connector 100 in Embodiment 1 above.

[0064] Furthermore, the stepped portion 68 provided on the flat plate portion 61 of the frame 60' corresponds to the stepped portion 122 of the plate 120, defining the contact range of the flat plate portion 61 on the portion of the main substrate 200 where the housing 80 is mounted. By clamping the main substrate 200, housing 80, and module substrate 300 by these stepped portions 68 and 122, good contact force between the electrodes and contacts 90 of the module substrate 300 can be obtained. Deflection of the main substrate 200 and module substrate 300 can be effectively suppressed.

[0065] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the cam groove and protrusion constituting the cam mechanism are not limited to the structures of embodiments 1 and 2. The cam groove can also be provided on the sliding member and the protrusion can be provided on the frame.

Claims

1. A connector for electrically connecting a module substrate and a main substrate, the module substrate having a plurality of electrodes arranged longitudinally and transversely on one side, the connector being characterized in that it comprises: A flat housing mounted on the main base plate; Multiple contacts, each having a contact portion protruding from the opposite side of the housing opposite to the mounting surface of the main substrate and a connection portion connected to the electrodes of the main substrate, are arranged and held on the housing in correspondence with the electrodes of the module substrate; A frame having a flat plate portion fixed to the plate surface of the main base plate and a pair of side plate portions erected from the flat plate portion, wherein one of a cam groove and a protrusion constituting a cam mechanism is formed on the pair of side plate portions. A sliding member, which is plate-shaped, has one of a cam groove and a protrusion forming the cam mechanism on one of a pair of opposite side portions, and is mounted between the pair of side plate portions by inserting the protrusion into the cam groove; The plate, which is plate-shaped, has protrusions at its four corners. The two protrusions located at the front are situated on cutouts formed at the front ends of the pair of side plates, and the two protrusions located at the rear ends of the pair of opposite sides of the slider are situated on support portions formed by rearward protrusions, and are housed between the pair of side plates, thereby forming an insertion space for the module substrate between the module substrate and the housing mounted on the main substrate. The slider has the following structure: that is, by sliding in the same direction as the insertion direction of the module substrate into the insertion space and by using the cam mechanism for displacement, the module substrate is pressed towards the contact portion via the plate.

2. The connector as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The slider has guide portions on its pair of opposite sides. These guide portions support the two side edges of one side of the module substrate inserted into the insertion space in the width direction and guide the module substrate into the insertion space. A clearance portion relative to the guide portion is provided on the plate.

3. The connector as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The module substrate has a notch at the front end in the insertion direction. A protruding piece is formed on the flat plate portion to be embedded in the cutout and to position the module substrate.

4. The connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The flat plate portion is located on the opposite surface of the main substrate, opposite to the housing mounting surface. The pair of side plates are erected in such a way that they clamp the portion of the main substrate on which the housing is mounted.

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