connector

Abstract

The present application provides a connector that can electrically connect a contact to a conductor of a connection object even if the conductor is exposed on either of a front surface and a back surface of the connection object. An inner contact (18) has a holding portion (18A) held in a recessed portion (13C) of a plug contact (13) and electrically connected to the plug contact (13), a flat plate portion (18B) opposite a back surface of a flange (13B) of the plug contact (13), a plurality of surface-side protrusions (18D) protruding from a surface of the flat plate portion, and a plurality of back surface-side protrusions (18E) protruding from a back surface of the flat plate portion at positions different from the plurality of surface-side protrusions. A portion of a sheet-like conductive member (15) is sandwiched between the back surface of the flange (13B) and the plurality of surface-side protrusions (18D) of the inner contact (18) in a direction along an insertion axis, the back surface of the flange (13B) is in contact with a surface of the sheet-like conductive member (15), and the plurality of surface-side protrusions (18D) are in contact with a back surface of the sheet-like conductive member (15).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a connector for connecting to a sheet-like connecting object with a conductor exposed on at least one side. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, so-called smart fabrics that can obtain users' biometric information such as heart rate and body temperature simply by wearing them have attracted attention. These smart fabrics have electrodes installed in the measuring areas, and by electrically connecting wearable devices, which serve as measuring devices, to the electrodes, biometric information can be transmitted to the wearable devices.

[0003] The connection between the electrodes and the wearable device can be made, for example, by using a connector that connects to a conductor led out from the electrode.

[0004] As such a connector, for example, is disclosed in Patent Document 1. Figure 21 The connector shown is a housing 2 and a base component 3 that sandwich a flexible substrate 1 in the middle and are disposed on both sides of the flexible substrate 1. The cylindrical portion 4A of the contact 4 passes through the contact through hole 2A of the housing 2, and the flange 4B of the contact 4 is sandwiched between the housing 2 and the conductor 1A exposed on the surface of the flexible substrate 1.

[0005] In this state, by pushing the base component 3 into the housing 2, as... Figure 22 As shown, the protrusion 3A of the base component 3 is inserted into the protrusion receiving portion 4C of the contact 4 in such a way that the flexible substrate 1 is sandwiched in the middle. The inner surface of the protrusion receiving portion 4C contacts the conductor 1A with a specified contact force, thereby electrically connecting the contact 4 to the conductor 1A.

[0006] In addition, such as Figure 21 As shown, the housing 2 and the base component 3 are fixed together by pressing the housing fixing post 3B protruding from the base component 3 into the post receiving portion 2B of the housing 2.

[0007] Existing technical documents

[0008] Patent documents

[0009] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-129244

[0010] By fitting the wearable device with the connector disclosed in Patent Document 1, the wearable device can be connected to an electrode made of conductors.

[0011] However, in the case where conductor 1A is exposed on the back side of flexible substrate 1, there is a problem in the connector of Patent Document 1 that conductor 1A cannot be electrically connected to contact 4. Summary of the Invention

[0012] The present invention was made to solve such conventional problems, and its object is to provide a connector that can electrically connect the contacts to the conductor of the connected object even if the conductor is exposed on either the front or back side of the connected object.

[0013] The connector of the present invention comprises:

[0014] A conductive plug contact has a cylindrical portion extending along a mating axis and having a recess formed on its inner side, and a flange extending from the end of the cylindrical portion in a direction orthogonal to the mating axis.

[0015] The bottom insulator has a supporting surface extending in an orthogonal direction; and

[0016] A conductive inner contact is disposed on the support surface, and a portion of it is inserted into the recess.

[0017] The inner contact has: a retaining portion held within a recess and in contact with the inner surface of the recess for electrical connection with a plug contact; a resiliently deformable flat plate portion connected to the retaining portion and extending in an orthogonal direction opposite to the back surface of the flange; a plurality of surface-side protrusions protruding from the surface of the flat plate portion toward the back surface of the flange; and a plurality of back-side protrusions protruding from the back surface of the flat plate portion at positions different from the surface-side protrusions toward a support surface.

[0018] A portion of a sheet-like connector with at least one exposed conductor is sandwiched between the back of the flange of the plug contact and a plurality of surface-side protrusions of the inner contact in the direction along the engagement axis. The back of the flange contacts the surface of the connector, and the plurality of surface-side protrusions contact the back of the connector. Thus, when the conductor is exposed on the surface of the connector, the plug contact is directly electrically connected to the conductor; when the conductor is exposed on the back of the connector, the plug contact is electrically connected to the conductor via the inner contact.

[0019] Preferably, the plate portion elastically deforms by the multiple surface-side protrusions contacting the back of the object to be connected, and the multiple back-side protrusions contacting the support surface, such that the interval between the front ends of the multiple surface-side protrusions and the front ends of the multiple back-side protrusions along the fitting axis narrows, and the multiple surface-side protrusions elastically contact the back of the object to be connected.

[0020] Preferably, the flat plate portion bends and extends around the mating shaft.

[0021] Multiple surface-side protrusions and multiple rear-side protrusions are alternately arranged along the direction in which the flat plate extends.

[0022] Preferably, the retaining portion has a mating point portion that is separated from each other in an orthogonal direction and respectively contacts the inner surface of the recess.

[0023] It can be that the retaining part has a flat plate shape extending along a plane containing the fitting axis.

[0024] Preferably, the bottom insulator has a protrusion for temporarily holding the inner contact.

[0025] In this case, it is preferable that the retaining portion has a cutout extending toward the supporting surface.

[0026] The protrusion has a back side extending along the retaining portion and a protrusion that protrudes from the back side and is embedded in the cut.

[0027] Preferably, it includes a top insulator having a through hole for the plug contact, which is smaller than the flange, through which the cylindrical portion of the plug contact passes.

[0028] The top insulator is fixed to the bottom insulator in such a way that the cylindrical part of the plug contact passes through the through hole of the contact, and the flange of the plug contact, the object to be connected, and the flat part of the inner contact are sandwiched between the top insulator and the bottom insulator.

[0029] The effects of the invention:

[0030] According to the present invention, the inner contact has: a retaining portion held within a recess of the plug contact and in contact with the inner surface of the recess for electrical connection with the plug contact; an elastically deformable flat plate extending in a direction orthogonal to the engagement axis and facing the back side of the flange; a plurality of surface-side protrusions protruding from the surface of the flat plate toward the back side of the flange; and a plurality of back-side protrusions protruding from the back side of the flat plate at a different position from the plurality of surface-side protrusions toward a support surface. A portion of the object to be connected is sandwiched between the back side of the flange of the plug contact and the plurality of surface-side protrusions of the inner contact in a direction along the engagement axis, with the back side of the flange in contact with the surface of the object to be connected and the plurality of surface-side protrusions in contact with the back side of the object to be connected. Thus, when the conductor is exposed on the surface of the object to be connected, the plug contact is directly electrically connected to the conductor; when the conductor is exposed on the back side of the object to be connected, the plug contact is electrically connected to the conductor via the inner contact. Therefore, even if the conductor is exposed on either the surface or the back side of the object to be connected, the contact can be electrically connected to the conductor of the object to be connected. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the connector in the embodiment, viewed from an obliquely upward angle.

[0032] Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view of the connector in the embodiment.

[0033] Figure 3 This is a perspective view showing the top insulator used in the connector according to an embodiment.

[0034] Figure 4 This is a perspective view showing the plug contacts used in the connector according to an embodiment.

[0035] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view showing the plug contacts used in the connector according to an embodiment.

[0036] Figure 6 This is a perspective view showing the bottom insulator used in the connector according to an embodiment.

[0037] Figure 7 This is a perspective view showing the protrusion of the bottom insulator used in the connector according to an embodiment.

[0038] Figure 8 This is a perspective view showing the inner contact used in the connector according to an embodiment.

[0039] Figure 9 This is a top view showing the inner contact used in the connector according to an embodiment.

[0040] Figure 10 This is a front view of the inner contact used in the connector according to an embodiment.

[0041] Figure 11 This is a side view illustrating the inner contact used in the connector according to an embodiment.

[0042] Figure 12 This is a perspective view of the object to be connected to the connector in the implementation method, viewed from an oblique top.

[0043] Figure 13 This is a perspective view of the object to be connected to the connector in the implementation method, viewed from a slightly lower angle.

[0044] Figure 14 This is a perspective view showing the reinforcing sheet used in the connector according to the embodiment.

[0045] Figure 15 This is a perspective view showing the inner contact of the protrusion temporarily held in the bottom insulator.

[0046] Figure 16 This is a perspective view of the connector in the embodiment, viewed from a slightly lower angle.

[0047] Figure 17 This is a partial front sectional view showing the state of a plug with an inner contact inserted into a connector in an embodiment of a connection to a connected object.

[0048] Figure 18 This is a partial side cross-sectional view showing the state of a plug with an inner contact inserted into a connector in an embodiment of a connection to a connected object.

[0049] Figure 19 This is a front view showing the state of the inner contact after the plate part has undergone elastic deformation.

[0050] Figure 20 This is a side view showing the inner contact after the plate portion has undergone elastic deformation.

[0051] Figure 21 This is an exploded 3D view of an existing connector.

[0052] Figure 22 This is a partial cross-sectional view showing the existing connector.

[0053] Figure Labels

[0054] 1 Flexible substrate, 1A Conductor, 2 Housing, 2A Through hole for contact, 2B Post receiving portion, 3 Base component, 3A Protrusion, 3B Post for housing fixing, 4 Contact, 4A Cylindrical portion, 4B Flange, 4C Protrusion receiving portion, 11 Connector, 12 Housing, 13 Plug contact, 13A Cylindrical portion, 13B Flange, 13C Recess, 14 Reinforcing piece, 14A Opening, 14B Cutout, 15 Sheet conductive component, 15A Contact placement area, 15B Opening, 15C 15E wiring layer, 15D and 15F insulating layers, 15G through hole, 16 top insulator, 16A recess, 16B through hole for contact, 16C protrusion, 17 bottom insulator, 17A flat plate, 17B recess, 17C protrusion, 17D through hole, 17E support surface, 18 inner contact, 18A holding part, 18B flat plate, 18C cutout, 18D surface side protrusion, 18E back side protrusion, P1 contact part, D1 and D2 spacer, C mating shaft. Detailed Implementation

[0055] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0056] Figure 1 The connector 11 is shown as an embodiment. The connector 11, for example, serves as a clothing-side connector for fitting wearable devices, and has a housing 12 made of insulating material. Four plug contacts 13 are held in the housing 12. Furthermore, a reinforcing tab 14 and a sheet-like conductive member 15 are held in an overlapping manner through the housing 12. The sheet-like conductive member 15 constitutes the connection object for connecting the connector 11.

[0057] The four plug contacts 13 are arranged in two parallel rows and protrude perpendicularly relative to the sheet-like conductive component 15.

[0058] For convenience, the reinforcing piece 14 and the sheet-like conductive component 15 extend along the XY plane. The arrangement direction of the four plug contacts 13 is called the Y direction, and the direction in which the four plug contacts 13 protrude is called the +Z direction. The Z direction is the mating direction of the connector 11 and the other side connector.

[0059] Figure 2 An exploded perspective view of connector 11 is shown. Connector 11 has a top insulator 16 and a bottom insulator 17, which together form housing 12.

[0060] The top insulator 16 houses four plug contacts 13. Furthermore, a reinforcing plate 14 is disposed on the back side of the top insulator 16 in the -Z direction, and a sheet-like conductive member 15 is disposed on the -Z direction side of the reinforcing plate 14. Additionally, four inner contacts 18 are disposed on the -Z direction side of the sheet-like conductive member 15, and a bottom insulator 17 is disposed on the -Z direction side of the inner contacts 18. The four inner contacts 18 correspond to the four plug contacts 13 respectively.

[0061] like Figure 3 As shown, the top insulator 16 has a recess 16A opening in the +Z direction and four contact through holes 16B formed within the recess 16A. The recess 16A constitutes a counterpart connector receiving portion that accommodates a part of a counterpart connector (not shown), and the four contact through holes 16B correspond to four plug contacts 13. Furthermore, a plurality of protrusions 16C protruding in the -Z direction are formed on the surface of the top insulator 16.

[0062] The four plug contacts 13 are each formed of a conductive material such as metal, and are connected to the corresponding contacts of the opposite side connector when the recess 16A of the top insulator 16 accommodates a part of the opposite side connector (not shown).

[0063] like Figure 4 As shown, the plug contact 13 has a cylindrical portion 13A extending in the Z direction along the mating axis C and a flange 13B extending along the XY plane from the -Z direction end of the cylindrical portion 13A.

[0064] like Figure 5 As shown, a recess 13C that opens toward the -Z direction is formed inside the cylindrical portion 13A.

[0065] In addition, the mating shaft C is a shaft that passes through the center of the cylindrical portion 13A and extends in the mating direction of the connector 11 and the other side connector.

[0066] Furthermore, the cylindrical portion 13A has a cylindrical shape, but as long as it has a recess 13C inside, the cross-sectional shape is not limited to a circle, and can also have various cross-sectional shapes such as ellipse or polygon.

[0067] In addition, all four plug contacts 13 can be used as terminals for transmitting electrical signals.

[0068] like Figure 6 As shown, the bottom insulator 17 has a flat plate portion 17A, on which four recesses 17B are formed, each opening in the +Z direction. The four recesses 17B correspond to four plug contacts 13. Four protrusions 17C are formed in each of the four recesses 17B, protruding from the center of the recess 17B in the +Z direction.

[0069] In addition, a plurality of through holes 17D are formed in the flat plate portion 17A, corresponding to a plurality of protrusions 16C of the top insulator 16.

[0070] like Figure 7 As shown, the bottom surface of the recess 17B of the bottom insulator 17 forms a support surface 17E that extends along the XY plane and faces the +Z direction.

[0071] In addition, the protrusion 17C is used to temporarily hold the inner contact 18, and has a back surface 17F extending along the YZ plane and facing the +X direction, and a protrusion 17G in the central part of the back surface 17F in the Y direction and protruding from the -Z direction side of the back surface 17F in the +X direction.

[0072] like Figures 8-11 As shown, the inner contact 18 is made of a bent conductive metal plate, having a retaining portion 18A and a flat plate portion 18B connected to the -Z direction end of the retaining portion 18A. When the connector 11 is assembled, the retaining portion 18A is inserted into the recess 13C of the corresponding plug contact 13, and the flat plate portion 18B is disposed on the support surface 17E of the corresponding recess 17B of the bottom insulator 17.

[0073] The retaining part 18A has a flat plate shape extending along the YZ plane including the fitting axis C, and a pair of mating points P1 that are separated from each other in the Y direction are formed at the +Y direction end and the -Y direction end of the retaining part 18A.

[0074] Furthermore, a cutout 18C is formed in the retaining portion 18A, extending from near the +Z direction end of the retaining portion 18A in the -Z direction and opening in the -Z direction. When the connector 11 is assembled, the protrusion 17G of the protrusion 17C of the bottom insulator 17 is inserted into the cutout 18C of the retaining portion 18A.

[0075] In addition, the Y-direction spacing of a pair of contact portions P1 is set to be slightly larger than the inner diameter of the recess 13C of the portion of the contact portion P1 that is in contact with the retaining portion 18A when it is inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact 13.

[0076] Therefore, if the retaining portion 18A of the inner contact 18 is inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact 13, a pair of contact portions P1 will elastically displace in the direction toward the fitting shaft C and contact the inner surface of the recess 13C with a specified contact pressure.

[0077] The flat plate portion 18B is a strip-shaped component that is bent around the fitting shaft C and extends along the XY plane. Multiple surface side protrusions 18D protruding in the +Z direction are formed on the surface of the flat plate portion 18B facing the +Z direction. On the other hand, multiple back side protrusions 18E protruding in the -Z direction are formed on the back side of the flat plate portion 18B facing the -Z direction.

[0078] like Figure 9 As shown, the plate portion 18B has a U-shaped or horseshoe-shaped shape that extends in a manner that includes a retaining portion 18A on the inner side, and a plurality of surface-side protrusions 18D and a plurality of back-side protrusions 18E are alternately arranged in the direction in which the plate portion 18B extends.

[0079] If no external force is applied to the inner contact 18, such as Figure 10 As shown, the +Z direction end of the surface side protrusion 18D and the -Z direction end of the back side protrusion 18E are separated by a distance D1 in the Z direction.

[0080] The sheet-like conductive component 15 has a multilayer structure with multiple wiring layers and multiple insulating layers formed of conductors stacked on top of each other.

[0081] like Figure 12 As shown, four contact configuration areas 15A for arranging four plug contacts 13 are divided on the surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15 facing the +Z direction. A circular opening 15B extending through the sheet-like conductive member 15 in the Z direction is formed at the center of each contact configuration area 15A. Around the opening 15B, a wiring layer 15C is exposed in the +Z direction, surrounding the opening 15B. An insulating layer 15D is exposed outside the four contact configuration areas 15A.

[0082] The opening 15B extends through the sheet-like conductive member 15 in the Z direction, therefore... Figure 13 As shown, on the back side of the sheet-like conductive member 15 facing the -Z direction, openings 15B can also be observed at positions corresponding to the four contact configuration areas 15A.

[0083] On the back side of the sheet-like conductive member 15 facing the -Z direction, around the opening 15B formed at a position corresponding to the four contact configuration areas 15A, the wiring layer 15E is exposed in the -Z direction in a manner that surrounds the opening 15B, and the insulating layer 15F is exposed in the other areas.

[0084] In addition, such as Figure 12 and Figure 13 As shown, a plurality of through holes 15G corresponding to a plurality of protrusions 16C of the top insulator 16 are formed on the periphery of the sheet-like conductive member 15.

[0085] like Figure 14 As shown, the reinforcing piece 14, which is used to reinforce the mounting object such as clothing (not shown) on which the connector 11 is mounted, is made of insulating material and has an opening 14A formed in the center. In addition, a plurality of cutouts 14B corresponding to a plurality of protrusions 16C of the top insulator 16 are formed along the periphery of the opening 14A of the reinforcing piece 14.

[0086] The four contacts of the top insulator 16 are arranged in a position aligned with each other in the Z direction by the through hole 16B, the four plug contacts 13, the four contact arrangement areas 15A of the sheet conductive member 15, the four inner contacts 18, and the four recesses 17B of the bottom insulator 17.

[0087] In addition, the plurality of protrusions 16C of the top insulator 16, the plurality of cuts 14B of the reinforcing sheet 14, the plurality of through holes 15G of the sheet-like conductive member 15, and the plurality of through holes 17D of the bottom insulator 17 are arranged in positions aligned with each other in the Z direction.

[0088] When assembling connector 11, firstly, as Figure 15 As shown, the inner contact 18 is temporarily held in the protrusion 17C of the corresponding recess 17B of the bottom insulator 17. At this time, the flat portion 18B of the inner contact 18 is inserted into the recess 17B of the bottom insulator 17, and the protrusion 17G of the protrusion 17C of the bottom insulator 17 is embedded in the cutout 18C of the holding portion 18A, and the -X direction side surface of the holding portion 18A is in contact with the back surface 17F of the protrusion 17C.

[0089] In addition, a plurality of back side protrusions 18E formed on the back side of the flat plate portion 18B of the inner contact 18 are disposed on the support surface 17E of the recess 17B of the bottom insulator 17.

[0090] Next, the multiple protrusions 16C of the top insulator 16 are inserted into the multiple cuts 14B of the reinforcing plate 14. At this time, the four contacts of the top insulator 16 are located in the openings 14A of the reinforcing plate 14 through holes 16B.

[0091] Furthermore, the cylindrical portion 13A of the plug contact 13, which corresponds to the four contacts of the top insulator 16 respectively via the through hole 16B, is inserted from the -Z direction, and the bottom insulator 17 is pressed toward the top insulator 16 in the +Z direction in such a way that the sheet-like conductive member 15 is sandwiched in the middle.

[0092] At this time, the holding portion 18A of the inner contact 18 temporarily held in the protrusion 17C of the bottom insulator 17 is inserted into the recess 13C of the corresponding plug contact 13 through the opening 15B of the sheet conductive member 15. The flange 13B of the plug contact 13 is located above the corresponding contact arrangement area 15A of the sheet conductive member 15. The sheet conductive member 15 is sandwiched between a plurality of surface-side protrusions 18D formed on the +Z direction surface of the flat plate portion 18B of the inner contact 18 and the back side of the -Z direction side of the flange 13B of the plug contact 13.

[0093] Furthermore, by pressing the bottom insulator 17 against the top insulator 16, the plurality of protrusions 16C of the top insulator 16 sequentially penetrate the plurality of cuts 14B of the reinforcing sheet 14, the plurality of through holes 15G of the sheet-like conductive member 15, and the plurality of through holes 17D of the bottom insulator 17. And, as... Figure 16 As shown, by thermally deforming the front ends of the plurality of protrusions 16C protruding toward the -Z direction side of the bottom insulator 17, the top insulator 16 and the bottom insulator 17 are fixed together, thus completing the assembly of the connector 11.

[0094] like Figure 17 and Figure 18 As shown, the retaining portion 18A of the inner contact 18 is inserted into the recess 13C of the plug contact 13. A pair of mating portions P1 formed at the +Y direction end and the -Y direction end of the retaining portion 18A are pressed by the inner surface of the recess 13C of the plug contact 13, and the inner contact 18 is electrically connected to the plug contact 13.

[0095] Furthermore, by pressing the bottom insulator 17 against the top insulator 16, a -Z-direction pressing force is applied from the top insulator 16 to the plurality of surface-side protrusions 18D on the +Z-direction surface of the flat plate portion 18B formed on the inner contact 18 via the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 and the sheet-like conductive member 15. At this time, the plurality of back-side protrusions 18E on the back side of the flat plate portion 18B formed on the inner contact 18 in the -Z direction are disposed on the support surface 17E of the recess 17B of the bottom insulator 17. Therefore, by applying the -Z-direction pressing force to the plurality of surface-side protrusions 18D, the flat plate portion 18B of the inner contact 18 elastically deforms in such a way that the interval along the Z direction between the +Z-direction end of the surface-side protrusion 18D and the -Z-direction end of the back-side protrusion 18E narrows.

[0096] The plurality of surface-side protrusions 18D and the plurality of back-side protrusions 18E in the flat plate portion 18B of the inner contact 18 are alternately arranged in the direction in which the flat plate portion 18B extends, thus as Figure 19 and Figure 20As shown, the flat plate 18B elastically deforms relative to the XY plane, thereby increasing the distance D2 along the Z direction between the +Z direction end of the surface-side protrusion 18D and the -Z direction end of the back-side protrusion 18E. Figure 10 The interval D1 shown is narrow.

[0097] As a result, multiple surface protrusions 18D are pressed toward the back side of the sheet-like conductive member 15 in the +Z direction, and the surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15 is pressed toward the back side of the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 in the +Z direction.

[0098] Here, as Figure 12 and Figure 13 As shown, in the contact configuration area 15A on the surface of the sheet conductive member 15, the wiring layer 15C is exposed around the opening 15B, and in the back side of the sheet conductive member 15, the wiring layer 15E is exposed around the opening 15B at the position corresponding to the contact configuration area 15A.

[0099] Therefore, the wiring layer 15C on the surface of the sheet conductive member 15 contacts the back side of the flange 13B of the plug contact 13 with a specified contact pressure. In addition, the wiring layer 15E on the back side of the sheet conductive member 15 contacts the plurality of surface-side protrusions 18D of the inner contact 18 with a specified contact pressure.

[0100] Therefore, the wiring layer 15C exposed on the surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15 is directly electrically connected to the plug contact 13, and the wiring layer 15E exposed on the back side of the sheet-like conductive member 15 is electrically connected to the plug contact 13 via the inner contact 18. That is, both wiring layers 15C and 15E are connected to the plug contact 13.

[0101] Thus, according to connector 11, by using inner contact 18, both wiring layer 15C, which is composed of conductors disposed on the surface side of sheet conductive member 15, and wiring layer 15E, which is composed of conductors disposed on the back side, can be electrically connected to a plug contact 13.

[0102] Therefore, if connector 11 is connected to a sheet-like conductive member where the conductor is exposed only on the surface side, the plug contact 13 can be electrically connected to the conductor on the surface side of the sheet-like conductive member. Furthermore, if connector 11 is connected to a sheet-like conductive member where the conductor is exposed only on the back side, the plug contact 13 can be electrically connected to the conductor on the back side of the sheet-like conductive member.

[0103] Furthermore, as with the sheet-like conductive member 15 in this embodiment, if the connector 11 is connected to the sheet-like conductive member where the conductors are exposed on the surface side and the back side respectively, the plug contact 13 can be electrically connected to both the conductors on the surface side and the conductors on the back side of the sheet-like conductive member. For example, if the conductors constituting the shielding layer are exposed on the surface side and the back side respectively, and if the sheet-like conductive member, which is a multilayer structure in which the conductors constituting the signal wiring layer are stacked between these shielding layers in a state of insulation from the shielding layers on both sides, is used as the connection object, then by connecting the plug contact 13, which is connected to the shielding layers on the surface side and the back side, to the ground potential, the shielding effect of the signal wiring layer can be achieved, and high-precision signal transmission can be performed with the interference caused by electromagnetic waves, etc., suppressed.

[0104] In addition, such as Figure 9 As shown, the flat plate portion 18B of the inner contact 18 has a U-shaped or horseshoe-shaped shape, but is not limited to this. It can also be formed into a ring shape extending along the XY plane, similar to the flange 13B of the plug contact 13.

[0105] In the above embodiment, the plug contact 13 disposed in the contact configuration region 15A of the sheet conductive member 15 is connected to both the wiring layer 15C exposed on the surface side of the sheet conductive member 15 and the wiring layer 15E exposed on the back side of the sheet conductive member 15. However, for example, it is also possible to connect only the wiring layer 15E exposed on the back side of the sheet conductive member 15 to the plug contact 13 disposed in the contact configuration region 15A.

[0106] The sheet-like conductive component 15 used in the above embodiments has a multilayer structure, but is not limited thereto, as long as it has a conductor exposed on at least one side.

[0107] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the two layers of conductors formed by the wiring layer 15C and wiring layer 15E of the sheet conductive member 15 are connected to a plug contact 13. However, it is not limited to this, and three or more layers of conductors can also be connected to a plug contact 13.

[0108] Furthermore, the connector 11 of the above embodiment has four plug contacts 13, but is not limited to the number of plug contacts 13, as long as it has at least one plug contact 13 that is electrically connected to a conductor exposed on at least one side of the sheet-like conductive member 15.

[0109] In the above embodiment, a reinforcing piece 14 is provided between the bottom insulator 17 and the top insulator 16. However, if it is not necessary to reinforce the object to which the connector 11 is installed, such as clothing, the reinforcing piece 14 may be omitted.

Claims

1. A connector, characterized in that, have: A conductive plug contact has a cylindrical portion extending along a mating axis and having a recess formed on its inner side, and a flange extending from the end of the cylindrical portion in a direction orthogonal to the mating axis. The bottom insulator has a support surface extending in the orthogonal direction; as well as A conductive inner contact is disposed on the support surface and a portion thereof is inserted into the recess. The inner contact has: a retaining portion held within the recess and in contact with the inner surface of the recess for electrical connection with the plug contact; an elastically deformable flat plate portion connected to the retaining portion and extending in the orthogonal direction opposite to the back surface of the flange; and a plurality of surface-side protrusions protruding from the surface of the flat plate portion toward the back surface of the flange. And multiple back-side protrusions, which protrude from the back of the plate portion toward the support surface at positions different from the multiple surface-side protrusions. A portion of a sheet-like connector, with at least one exposed side, is sandwiched between the back of the flange of the plug contact and the plurality of surface-side protrusions of the inner contact in a direction along the engagement axis. The back of the flange contacts the surface of the connector, and the plurality of surface-side protrusions contact the back of the connector. Thus, when the conductor is exposed on the surface of the connector, the plug contact is directly electrically connected to the conductor; when the conductor is exposed on the back of the connector, the plug contact is electrically connected to the conductor via the inner contact.

2. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plate portion elastically deforms by the narrowing of the interval along the fitting axis between the front ends of the plurality of surface-side protrusions and the front ends of the plurality of back-side protrusions, through contact between the plurality of surface-side protrusions and the back of the connected object, and the plurality of surface-side protrusions contact the back of the connected object.

3. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The flat plate portion bends and extends around the fitting shaft. The plurality of surface-side protrusions and the plurality of back-side protrusions are alternately arranged along the direction in which the flat plate extends.

4. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The retaining portion has a mating point portion, which is separated from each other in the orthogonal direction and respectively contacts the inner surface of the recess.

5. The connector according to claim 4, characterized in that, The retaining portion has a flat plate shape extending along a plane containing the fitting axis.

6. The connector according to claim 5, characterized in that, The bottom insulator has protrusions for temporarily holding the inner contact.

7. The connector according to claim 6, characterized in that, The retaining portion has a cutout extending toward the supporting surface. The protrusion has a backrest extending along the retaining portion and a convex portion protruding from the backrest and embedded in the cutout.

8. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The connector includes a top insulator with a through hole for the cylindrical portion of the plug contact, which is smaller than the flange. The top insulator is fixed to the bottom insulator such that the cylindrical portion of the plug contact passes through the through hole for the contact, and the flange of the plug contact, the connecting object, and the flat portion of the inner contact are sandwiched between the top insulator and the bottom insulator.

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