Electric connector for circuit board

Abstract

The invention provides an electric connector for a circuit substrate, which allows a movable housing to move relative to a fixed housing and can realize good impedance matching. At least a part of an intermediate section (15) of the terminal (10) is positioned in an internal space (25) of the circuit board electrical connector (1), and the circuit board electrical connector (1) has an edge section (23) made of a dielectric material, which is positioned on the opposite side from the internal space (25) with respect to the intermediate section (15), and which extends along the intermediate section (15) with a gap therebetween. When the middle part (15) is elastically deformed in the connector width direction which is perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction, the edge arrangement part (23) can follow the middle part (15).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric connector for a circuit board which is arranged on a mounting surface of a circuit board. Background Art

[0002] As such an electrical connector for a circuit substrate, for example, the electrical connector of Patent Document 1 is known. In the electrical connector of Patent Document 1, a plurality of terminals arranged in a direction parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit substrate as the terminal arrangement direction are arranged in a bridge manner on a fixed housing and a movable housing that are separated from each other (independent components). The fixed housing is fixed to the circuit substrate via the terminals. The movable housing can move relative to the fixed housing by elastic deformation of the terminals.

[0003] The terminal is made by bending a metal strip in the plate thickness direction, and can be solder-connected to the mounting surface of the circuit board through a connection portion formed on the lower end side, and can be contacted with a counterpart terminal provided in a counterpart connector through a contact portion formed on the upper end side. In addition, a fixed side held portion held in a fixed housing, a movable side held portion held in a movable housing, and a deformation portion connecting the fixed side held portion and the movable side held portion are provided between the connection portion and the contact portion.

[0004] The deformable portion is not held by any of the fixed housing and the movable housing and extends between the two housings, and the movable housing is allowed to move by elastic deformation of the deformable portion. The deformable portion is covered by an impedance matching portion made of a dielectric material. The impedance matching portion is formed by integrally molding with the deformable portion so as to contact the outer surface of the deformable portion and can be elastically deformed together with the deformable portion. In Patent Document 1, the impedance of the terminal is adjusted by covering the deformable portion with the impedance matching portion, and as a result, impedance matching is achieved.

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-222576

[0006] In Patent Document 1, the impedance matching portion is formed to contact the deformed portion of the terminal. If the impedance matching portion made of a dielectric material contacts the deformed portion, the impedance in the deformed portion may be excessively reduced, making impedance matching in the terminal difficult. Summary of the invention

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector for a circuit board that allows a movable housing to move relative to a fixed housing and that can achieve good impedance matching.

[0008] (1) The electric connector for a circuit substrate involved in the present invention is an electric connector for a circuit substrate arranged on the mounting surface of the circuit substrate, and comprises: a plurality of terminals arranged in a direction parallel to the mounting surface as a terminal arrangement direction; a fixed housing fixed to the circuit substrate via the terminals; and a movable housing capable of moving relative to the fixed housing, wherein the terminals comprise a fixed-side retained portion retained by the fixed housing, a movable-side retained portion retained by the movable housing, and an elastically deformable intermediate portion located between the fixed-side retained portion and the movable-side retained portion, and the terminals are arranged on the fixed housing and the movable housing in a bridge manner.

[0009] In the above-mentioned electric connector for circuit substrate, in the present invention, it is characterized in that at least a part of the above-mentioned middle part is located in the internal space of the above-mentioned electric connector for circuit substrate, and the above-mentioned electric connector for circuit substrate has an edge portion, which is located on the side opposite to the above-mentioned internal space relative to the above-mentioned middle part, extends along the above-mentioned middle part with a gap between the above-mentioned middle part, and is made of dielectric material. When the above-mentioned middle part is elastically deformed in the connector width direction at right angles to the terminal arrangement direction, the above-mentioned edge portion can follow the above-mentioned middle part.

[0010] In the present invention, the along-arrangement part made of dielectric material is arranged to extend along the middle part with a gap between the along-arrangement part and the middle part of the terminal. In this way, the along-arrangement part extends along the middle part, thereby being able to adjust the impedance in the middle part, and as a result, impedance matching in the terminal can be achieved. At this time, since the along-arrangement part is located at a position with a gap between the along-arrangement part and the middle part, it does not contact the middle part. Therefore, the impedance in the middle part will not be excessively reduced, and thus good impedance matching can be easily achieved. In addition, since the along-arrangement part can follow the middle part, it will not hinder the elastic deformation of the middle part or even the movement of the movable shell.

[0011] (2) In the invention of (1), the edge portion may be formed as a part of the fixed housing and may be locked with the movable housing in the connector width direction.

[0012] (3) In the invention of (1), the edge portion may be formed as a member independent of the fixed housing and the movable housing, held by the fixed housing, and capable of being locked with the movable housing in the connector width direction.

[0013] By adopting the structure of the inventions of (2) and (3) above, when the movable housing moves in the width direction of the connector, the edge portion follows the middle portion that is elastically deformed in the width direction of the connector. As a result, even after the movable housing moves, it is easy to maintain a state in which the gap between the edge portion and the middle portion is ensured, or even a state in which impedance matching is well achieved.

[0014] (4) In the invention of (2) or (3), the above-mentioned edge portion may have no portion that abuts against the above-mentioned movable housing in the terminal arrangement direction, and the above-mentioned movable housing can move in the terminal arrangement direction without interfering with the above-mentioned edge portion. By adopting such a structure, the movable housing will not interfere with the edge portion, and can move smoothly in the terminal arrangement direction.

[0015] (5) In the invention of (1), the edge portion may be formed as a part of the movable housing and may be lockable with the fixed housing in the connector width direction.

[0016] (6) In the invention of (1), the edge portion may be formed as a member independent of the fixed housing and the movable housing, held by the movable housing, and capable of being locked with the fixed housing in the connector width direction.

[0017] By adopting the structure of the inventions of (5) and (6) above, when the movable housing moves in the width direction of the connector, the edge portion is displaced with the locking position with the fixed housing as a fulcrum, thereby following the middle portion of the terminal. As a result, even after the movable housing moves, it is easy to maintain a state in which the gap between the edge portion and the middle portion is ensured, or even a state in which impedance matching is well achieved.

[0018] (7) In the invention of (5) or (6), the edge portion may have no portion that abuts against the fixed housing in the terminal arrangement direction, does not interfere with the fixed housing, and can move together with the movable housing in the terminal arrangement direction. By adopting such a structure, when the movable housing moves in the terminal arrangement direction, the edge portion does not interfere with the fixed housing and moves together with the movable housing, so that the movement of the movable housing becomes smooth.

[0019] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electrical connector for a circuit board that allows a movable housing to move relative to a fixed housing and that can achieve good impedance matching. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 It is a perspective view of the receptacle connector and the plug connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state before being fitted and connected.

[0021] Figure 2 Yes Figure 1 A perspective view of the socket connector with the components separated and shown.

[0022] Figure 3 Yes means Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of a receptacle connector and a plug connector taken along a plane perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction, showing a state before mating connection.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the receptacle connector and the plug connector taken along a plane perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction, showing a state after being fitted and connected.

[0024] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the receptacle connector and the plug connector taken along a plane perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction, showing a floating state after mating connection.

[0025] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of a receptacle connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention, taken along a plane perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction.

[0026] Figure 7 It is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of a receptacle connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention, taken along a plane perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction.

[0027] Figure 8 It is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of a receptacle connector according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, taken along a plane perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction.

[0028] Fig. 9 1 is a side view of the receptacle connector according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention as viewed along the connector width direction.

[0029] Fig.10 It is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of a receptacle connector according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, taken along a plane perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction.

[0030] Fig.11 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of a receptacle connector according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, taken along a plane perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction.

[0031] Description of Reference Numerals

[0032] 1. 101. 201. 301. 401. 501. 601…socket connector; 10. 110. 210. 310. 410. 510. 610…socket terminal; 12. 612…fixed side retained portion; 14…movable side retained portion; 15. 515…middle portion; 20. 120. 220. 320. 420. 520. 620…fixed housing; 25…inner space; 30. 130. 230. 330. 430. 530. 630…movable housing; 23. 140. 237. 423. 523. 623…edge portion; 323…fixed side edge portion; 337…movable side edge portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

[0034] <First Embodiment>

[0035] Figure 1 This is a stereoscopic view of the socket connector 1 and the plug connector 2 involved in the present embodiment, showing the state before the mating connection. The socket connector 1 is an electrical connector for a circuit substrate mounted on the mounting surface of a circuit substrate (not shown). In addition, the plug connector 2, which is an object connection body (object connector) connected to the socket connector 1, is an electrical connector for a circuit substrate mounted on the mounting surface of another circuit substrate (not shown). The socket connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are matingly connected in a connector height direction (indicated as the up and down direction of the Z-axis direction) at right angles to the mounting surface, with the mounting surfaces of the circuit substrate facing each other, to form an electrical connector assembly. In the present embodiment, the plug connector 2 is matingly connected to the socket connector 1 from above.

[0036] The socket connector 1 comprises: a plurality of socket terminals 10 made of metal plates, arranged in a direction (Y-axis direction) parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit substrate as the terminal arrangement direction; and socket housings 20, 30 (a fixed housing 20 and a movable housing 30 described later) made of a dielectric material such as resin (made of an electrically insulating material) to hold the plurality of socket terminals 10.

[0037] Figure 2 It is a perspective view showing each component of the receptacle connector 1 separated from each other. Figure 3 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 before mating connection, taken along a plane perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction, and showing a cross section at the position of the receptacle terminal 10. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the socket terminals 10 are arranged in two rows. The socket terminals 10 in the two rows are arranged in a symmetrical orientation in the connector width direction (X-axis direction) which is perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction (Y-axis direction) and the up-down direction (Z-axis direction). In addition, in the present embodiment, the socket terminals 10 in the two rows are arranged in a staggered manner, and the socket terminals 10 in one row and the socket terminals 10 in the other row are located at different positions in the terminal arrangement direction.

[0038] The socket housings 20 and 30 include a fixed housing 20 fixed to a circuit board (not shown) via socket terminals 10, and a movable housing 30 movable relative to the fixed housing 20. The socket terminals 10 are provided on the fixed housing 20 and the movable housing 30 in a bridge manner.

[0039] The socket terminal 10 is made by bending a metal strip in the direction of its thickness. Figure 2 As shown, the terminal width direction (the direction perpendicular to the plate thickness direction of the socket terminal 10) is configured to coincide with the terminal arrangement direction (Y-axis direction). Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the socket terminal 10 has: a connecting portion 11 formed at one end portion located at the bottom; a fixed side held portion 12 extending upward from the connecting portion 11; a contact arm portion 13 formed at the other end portion located above the connecting portion 11 and on the inner side in the width direction of the connector; a movable side held portion 14 extending downward from the contact arm portion 13; and an intermediate portion 15 and a transition portion 16 located between the fixed side held portion 12 and the movable side held portion 14.

[0040] Before further describing the socket terminal 10, the structures of the fixed housing 20 and the movable housing 30 are described. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , the fixed housing 20 is formed into a square tube shape with a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and the length direction being the terminal arrangement direction (Y-axis direction). The fixed housing 20 has a pair of side walls 21 extending in the terminal arrangement direction, and a pair of end walls 24 extending in the connector width direction (X-axis direction) at both ends of the terminal arrangement direction and connected by the pair of side walls 21, and the pair of side walls 21 and the pair of end walls 24 form a peripheral wall. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the end wall 24 extends in the connector width direction to a range that is further outside than the side wall 21. Figure 3 As shown, the inner space 25 surrounded by the peripheral wall and extending in the vertical direction accommodates a part of the movable housing 30 and a part of the socket terminal 10. Examples of dielectric materials constituting the fixed housing 20 include engineering plastics such as polyamide (PA) and liquid crystal polymer (LCP), elastomers, rubber, and the like.

[0041] The side wall 21 includes a lower side wall portion 22 forming the lower portion of the side wall 21 and an edge portion 23 forming a portion other than the lower portion of the side wall 21. Figure 3 As shown, a groove-shaped fixed side holding portion 22A is formed on the lower side wall portion 22, which is sunken from the inner wall surface of the lower side wall portion 22 and extends in the vertical direction. The fixed side holding portion 22A is configured to have its lower end opened and to hold the fixed side held portion 12 of the socket terminal 10 pressed in from below.

[0042] like Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , the edge portion 23 is located inside the lower side wall portion 22 in the connector width direction and is formed thinner than the lower side wall portion 22. Figure 3As shown, the thickness dimension of the edge portion 23 gradually increases as it goes upward. In addition, the edge portion 23 is located on the outside relative to the first leg portion 15A described later of the socket terminal 10 in the connector width direction, that is, on the side opposite to the internal space 25. The edge portion 23 is located at a position with a small gap between the outer side surface of the first leg portion 15A (the plate surface located on the outside in the connector width direction) in the connector width direction, and extends along the first leg portion 15A in the up-down direction. In this embodiment, the edge portion 23 does not have an intermittent portion in the terminal arrangement direction, that is, it is continuous and solid throughout the entire area in the terminal arrangement direction.

[0043] In addition, if Figure 1 to Figure 3 As shown, a locking portion 23A capable of locking with the movable housing 30 is provided at multiple positions (three positions in this embodiment) in the terminal arrangement direction on the upper part of the edge portion 23. The locking portion 23A has a rising portion 23B extending upward from the upper end of the wall portion of the first leg portion 15A in the edge portion 23 and a claw portion 23C extending from the upper end of the rising portion 23B. Figure 1 to Figure 3 As shown, the claw portion 23C is formed in a hook shape that extends from the upper end of the rising portion 23B toward the inner side in the connector width direction and further extends downward.

[0044] The movable housing 30 is configured to be inserted into the inner space 25 of the fixed housing 20 from below. Figure 3 As shown, the lower portion of the movable housing 30 is accommodated in the upper portion of the internal space 25. Figure 2 As shown, the movable housing 30 has: a pair of long walls 31 extending along the terminal arrangement direction; a pair of locked wall portions 32 connected to the lower portion of the long wall 31 and extending along the terminal arrangement direction; a pair of short walls 33 extending along the connector width direction (X-axis direction) at both ends of the terminal arrangement direction, connected by a pair of long walls 31 and a pair of locked wall portions 32; and a bottom wall 34 (refer to Figure 3 ), and the space surrounded by the peripheral wall composed of a pair of long walls 31 and a pair of short walls 33 is closed from below. The space surrounded by the peripheral wall and open upward forms a socket-side receiving portion 35 for receiving a part of the plug connector 2. Examples of dielectric materials constituting the movable housing 30 include engineering plastics such as polyamide (PA) and liquid crystal polymer (LCP).

[0045] like Figure 3 As shown, a socket terminal groove 31A is formed on the upper part of the long wall 31 and is sunken from the inner wall surface of the long wall 31. The socket terminal groove 31A extends in the up-down direction along the upper part of the contact arm 13 of the socket terminal 10, and can allow the upper part of the contact arm 13 to be elastically deformed.

[0046] like Figure 3As shown, the locked wall portion 32 extends outward from the lower end of the long wall 31 in the connector width direction, and then extends upward, and the cross-sectional shape of the surface at a right angle to the terminal arrangement direction is claw-shaped. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the portion of the locked wall portion 32 located at a position corresponding to the locking portion 23A of the fixed housing 20 in the terminal arrangement direction forms a locked portion 32A that can be locked with the locking portion 23A. Figure 3 As shown, the locked portion 32A receives the claw portion 23C of the locking portion 23A in the groove portion opened upward, and as a result, the locked portion 32A and the claw portion 23C can be locked in the connector width direction.

[0047] In the present embodiment, the claw portion 23C does not have a portion that abuts in the terminal arrangement direction against the locked wall portion 32. Therefore, the entire movable housing 30 can move in the terminal arrangement direction without interfering with the fixed housing 20.

[0048] like Figure 3 As shown, the bottom wall 34 is provided with a movable side holding portion 34A for press-fitting and holding the movable side held portion 14 of the socket terminal 10 as a hole portion penetrating the bottom wall 34 in the up-down direction.

[0049] Return to the description of the socket terminal 10. Figure 3 As shown, the connection portion 11 extends outward in the connector width direction at a position lower than the bottom surface of the fixed housing 20, and is solder-connected to the corresponding circuit portion (not shown) on the mounting surface of the circuit substrate. The fixed-side held portion 12 is bent at the inner end of the connection portion 11 in the connector width direction and extends straight upward, and is held by the fixed-side holding portion 22A of the fixed housing 20 at the press-fit protrusions formed on the side edges (edges extending in the vertical direction on both sides in the terminal width direction).

[0050] The contact arm portion 13 extends in the up-down direction along the inner wall surface of the long wall 31 of the movable housing 30, and the upper portion can be elastically deformed in the connector width direction (the plate thickness direction of the contact arm portion 13). Figure 3 As shown, the lower portion of the contact arm portion 13 contacts the inner wall surface of the long wall 31 and is supported from the outside in the connector width direction by the inner wall surface. Figure 3 As shown, the upper portion of the contact arm portion 13 is located at a position corresponding to the socket terminal groove portion 31A of the long wall 31 in the vertical direction, and in a state of contacting the plug terminal 50 as a counterpart terminal, elastic deformation toward the outside in the connector width direction is allowed by the socket terminal groove portion 31A. The contact portion 13A for contacting the plug terminal 50 is formed at the upper end of the contact arm portion 13 in a curved manner so as to protrude toward the inner side in the connector width direction.

[0051] like Figure 3 As shown, the movable side held portion 14 extends linearly downward from the lower end of the contact arm portion 13 and is held by the bottom wall 34 of the movable housing 30. Specifically, the movable side held portion 14 is held by the movable side holding portion 34A of the movable housing 30 at the press-in protrusions formed on both side edges (edges extending in the up-down direction on both sides in the terminal width direction).

[0052] The middle portion 15 has a first leg portion 15A extending in the vertical direction and a second leg portion 15B extending in the connector width direction, and the overall shape is generally an inverted L-shaped. The first leg portion 15A extends linearly in the vertical direction along the inner wall surface of the along-set portion 23 of the fixed housing 20, and can be elastically deformed in the connector width direction. Through the elastic deformation of the first leg portion 15A, the movable housing 30 is allowed to move (float) in the connector width direction (refer to Figure 5 The first leg portion 15A is connected to the upper end of the fixed side held portion 12 via a transition portion 16 extending from its lower end toward the outer side in the connector width direction. Figure 3 As shown, the first leg portion 15A is provided at a position where a gap is formed between the first leg portion 15A and the inner wall surface of the edge portion 23 in the connector width direction.

[0053] The gap between the edge portion 23 and the first leg portion 15A is formed to a size that ensures appropriate impedance in the socket terminal 10. Here, the value of "appropriate impedance" is set within a predetermined allowable range, and therefore the above-mentioned size is also set within a predetermined allowable range. The edge portion 23 can be elastically deformed in the connector width direction together with the first leg portion 15A, and even in the elastically deformed state, a gap of the size within the above-mentioned allowable range can be ensured between the edge portion 23 and the first leg portion 15A (see Figure 5 ).

[0054] In addition, the first leg portion 15A can also be elastically deformed in the terminal arrangement direction. The elastic deformation of the first leg portion 15A allows the movable housing 30 to move (float) in the terminal arrangement direction.

[0055] The second leg portion 15B is bent at a right angle at the upper end of the first leg portion 15A and extends inward in the connector width direction, and is connected to the lower end of the movable side held portion 14. The second leg portion 15B extends linearly along the bottom surface (lower surface) of the locked wall portion 32 of the movable housing 30. Figure 3 As shown, the second leg portion 15B is provided at a position where a gap is formed between the second leg portion 15B and the bottom surface of the locked wall portion 32 in the connector width direction.

[0056] The gap between the locked wall portion 32 and the second leg portion 15B is formed to a size that ensures appropriate impedance in the socket terminal 10. Here, the value of "appropriate impedance" is set within a predetermined allowable range, and therefore the above-mentioned size is also set within a predetermined allowable range. Even in a state where the second leg portion 15B is elastically deformed, a gap of a size within the above-mentioned allowable range can be ensured between the locked wall portion 32 and the second leg portion 15B.

[0057] In this embodiment, as described above, the edge portion 23 and the first leg portion 15A, and the locked wall portion 32 and the second leg portion 15B are located at positions with a gap of a size that ensures appropriate impedance and do not contact each other. Therefore, the characteristic impedance in the middle portion 15 is not excessively reduced, and good characteristic impedance matching can be achieved.

[0058] Next, the assembly method of the socket connector 1 is described. First, the socket terminal 10 is mounted on the movable housing 30 by pressing the movable side held portion 14 of the socket terminal 10 into the movable side holding portion 34A of the movable housing 30 from below. Then, the movable housing 30 with the socket terminal 10 mounted thereon is made to enter the internal space 25 of the fixed housing 20 from below, and the fixed side held portion 12 of the socket terminal 10 is pressed into the fixed side holding portion 22A of the fixed housing 20. As a result, the socket terminal 10 is mounted on the fixed housing 20. At this time, the claw portion 23C of the locking portion 23A of the fixed housing 20 enters the groove portion of the locked portion 32A of the movable housing 30 from above. In this way, the assembly of the socket connector 1 is completed.

[0059] Next, the structure of the plug connector 2 as the counterpart connector is described. The plug connector 2 includes a plurality of metal plate plug terminals 50 as counterpart terminals, and a plug housing 60 made of a dielectric material (electrically insulating material) such as resin for holding the plug terminals 50. Examples of the dielectric material constituting the plug housing 60 include engineering plastics such as polyamide (PA) and liquid crystal polymer (LCP). Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the plug terminals 50 are arranged in two rows with the same direction (Y-axis direction) as the arrangement direction of the socket terminals 10. The two rows of plug terminals 50 are arranged in a staggered manner corresponding to the socket terminals 10.

[0060] The plug terminal 50 is made by bending a metal strip in the direction of its plate thickness, and is configured so that the terminal width direction is consistent with the terminal arrangement direction. Figure 3 As shown, the plug terminal 50 has a Figure 3 The connecting portion 51 formed at the other end ( Figure 3 A contact arm portion 52 (the lower end portion in the middle), and a connecting portion 53 bent in a step-like shape between the connecting portion 51 and the contact arm portion 52.

[0061] Before further describing the plug terminal 50, the structure of the plug housing 60 will be described. Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1 , the plug housing 60 is formed into a rectangular parallelepiped shape with the terminal arrangement direction (Y-axis direction) as the length direction. The plug housing 60 has a pair of side walls 61 extending in the terminal arrangement direction, and a pair of end walls 62 extending in the connector width direction (X-axis direction) and connecting the ends of the pair of side walls 61 to each other, and the pair of side walls 61 and the pair of end walls 62 form a peripheral wall. Figure 3 As shown in the figure, the inner space surrounded by the peripheral wall is divided up and down by the middle wall 63 provided at the middle position in the up-down direction, and a part of the receptacle connector 1 can be received by the plug-side receiving portion 64 as the inner space at the lower side. In addition, a protruding wall 65 protruding downward from the lower surface of the middle wall 63 and extending in the terminal arrangement direction is provided in the plug-side receiving portion 64. At the lower part of the protruding wall 65, a plug terminal groove portion 65A is arranged and formed, which is sunken from the side surface of the protruding wall 65 and extends in the up-down direction.

[0062] Returning to the description of the plug terminal 50, the connection portion 51 is located at a position lower than the bottom surface ( Figure 3 The contact arm portion 52 is formed in the same shape as the contact arm portion 13 of the socket terminal 10. Figure 3 As shown, the contact arm portion 52 extends downward from the lower end of the connecting portion 53 along the side of the protruding wall 65 of the plug housing 60, and can be elastically deformed in the connector width direction (the plate thickness direction of the contact arm portion 52). Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , the upper portion of the contact arm portion 52 contacts the side surface of the protruding wall 65 and is supported from the inside in the connector width direction by the side surface. Figure 3 As shown, the lower portion of the contact arm portion 52 is located at a position corresponding to the plug terminal groove portion 65A of the protruding wall 65 in the vertical direction, and elastic deformation toward the inner side in the connector width direction is allowed by the plug terminal groove portion 65A in the state of contacting the socket terminal 10. The contact portion 52A for contacting the socket terminal 10 is formed at the lower end of the contact arm portion 52 in a curved manner so as to protrude toward the outer side in the connector width direction.

[0063] The plug terminal 50 is provided from the bottom surface side ( Figure 3 Specifically, the lower end of the connecting portion 53 is pressed and held by a plug terminal holding hole portion 63A formed through the intermediate wall 63, and the upper end of the connecting portion 53 is pressed and held by a plug terminal holding groove portion 61A formed by sinking from the inner wall surface of the side wall 61.

[0064] Next, the mating operation of the socket connector 1 and the plug connector 2 will be described. First, the socket connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are respectively mounted on the mounting surface of the corresponding circuit substrate (not shown) by solder connection. That is, the connection portion 11 of the socket terminal 10 is solder-connected to the corresponding circuit portion of the circuit substrate, and the connection portion 51 of the plug terminal 50 is solder-connected to the corresponding circuit portion of the other circuit substrate, thereby mounting the socket connector 1 and the plug connector 2 on the corresponding circuit substrate.

[0065] Next, if Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the plug connector 2 is provided with a plug-side receiving portion 64 (see Figure 3 ) is positioned above the receptacle connector 1 with the receptacle connector 2 opened downward. Then, the plug connector 2 is lowered while maintaining its original position, so that the protruding wall 65 enters the receptacle side receiving portion 35 of the movable housing 30 of the receptacle connector 1 from above. At the same time, the peripheral wall of the movable housing 30 enters the plug side receiving portion 64 of the plug connector 2 from below. As a result, Figure 4 As shown, the socket connector 1 is mated with the plug connector 2 .

[0066] When the plug connector 2 is mated with the socket connector 1, Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 1 , the contact arm portion 13 of the socket terminal 10 elastically deforms and contacts the upper portion, i.e., the root portion, of the contact arm portion 52 of the plug terminal 50 at the contact portion 13A by contact pressure. Also, the contact arm portion 52 of the plug terminal 50 elastically deforms and contacts the lower portion, i.e., the root portion, of the contact arm portion 13 of the socket terminal 10 at the contact portion 52A by contact pressure. That is, as shown in FIG. Figure 4 As shown, the socket terminal 10 and the plug terminal 50 are in contact at two points and are electrically connected. In this embodiment, the upper part of the contact arm portion 52 is supported by the protruding wall 65 of the plug housing 60, and the lower part of the contact arm portion 13 is supported by the long wall 31 of the movable housing 30, so that the socket terminal 10 and the plug terminal 50 are in contact with each other with a sufficiently high contact pressure. In this way, the mating connection action of the socket connector 1 and the plug connector 2 is completed.

[0067] When the mating connection is completed and the relative positions of the socket connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are not offset, the socket connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are located Figure 4 In the normal position, the first leg portion 15A of the socket terminal 10 is located at a position with a predetermined gap between the inner wall surface of the edge portion 23 of the fixed housing 20 in the connector width direction. The second leg portion 15B of the socket terminal 10 is located at a position with a predetermined gap between the bottom surface of the locked wall portion 32 of the movable housing 30 in the vertical direction.

[0068] Assuming that the relative positions of the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are offset immediately before the connector mating connection operation begins, the movable housing 30 moves (floats) in the direction of the offset during and after the connector mating, and as a result, the mating connection can be performed in a state where the offset has been absorbed (see Figure 5 ).

[0069] In addition, even if the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are in the normal position (see Figure 4 ), thereafter, when the connector is used in an environment where vibration occurs, for example, the movable housing 30 of the receptacle connector 1 floats to absorb the vibration.

[0070] Figure 5 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 after being fitted and connected, showing a floating state of the movable housing 30. Figure 5 , a cross section of a surface perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction at the position of the socket terminal 10 is shown. Figure 5 , the movable housing 30 is shown floating toward the X1 side in the connector width direction (X-axis direction). When the movable housing 30 floats toward the X1 side, Figure 5 The first leg portions 15A of the two socket terminals 10 shown, that is, the two socket terminals 10 located on the X1 side and the X2 side, are elastically deformed so as to be inclined toward the X1 side with the vicinity of the lower end portion of the first leg portion 15A as a fulcrum.

[0071] When the movable housing 30 moves toward the X1 side, as shown in FIG. Figure 5 As shown, the edge portion 23 on the X1 side of the fixed housing 20 is elastically deformed in a manner that it is inclined toward the X1 side by following the elastic deformation of the first leg portion 15A on the X1 side of the socket terminal 10, with the vicinity of its lower end portion as a fulcrum. At this time, the edge portion 23 on the X2 side is elastically deformed toward the X1 side by following the elastic deformation of the first leg portion 15A on the X2 side. In this embodiment, the thickness dimension (dimension in the X-axis direction) of the edge portion 23 is smallest at the lower end of the edge portion 23. Therefore, the edge portion 23 is easy to elastically deform in the connector width direction (X-axis direction) with the vicinity of the lower end portion as a fulcrum, and can easily follow the first leg portion 15A of the socket terminal 10.

[0072] In this embodiment, as described above, when the movable housing 30 floats in the connector width direction, the two edge portions 23 of the fixed housing 20 are elastically deformed in the connector width direction together with the first leg portion 15A adjacent to the edge portions 23. In this way, the edge portions 23 can follow the first leg portion 15A, so that the elastic deformation of the first leg portion 15A and even the movement of the movable housing 30 are not hindered.

[0073] Furthermore, even in the elastically deformed state, the edge portion 23 maintains a gap with the first leg portion 15A within the above-specified allowable range and does not contact the first leg portion 15A. Figure 5 As shown, the second leg portion 15B of the socket terminal 10 does not elastically deform when floating in the connector width direction.

[0074] Thus, even if the movable housing 30 floats, a gap can be maintained between the edge portion 23 of the fixed housing 20 and the first leg portion 15A of the socket terminal 10. Therefore, the characteristic impedance in the first leg portion 15A does not decrease excessively, and the characteristic impedance matching in the socket terminal 10 can be maintained.

[0075] In addition, in the present embodiment, as described above, the edge portion 23 of the fixed housing 20 uses the vicinity of the lower end thereof as a fulcrum, and elastically deforms together with the first leg portion 15A of the socket terminal 10 to follow the movement of the movable housing 30. Therefore, even when the edge portion 23 and the first leg portion 15A are elastically deformed, it is easy to maintain a state in which a gap is ensured between the two, or even a state in which characteristic impedance matching is well achieved.

[0076] In addition, when the movable housing 30 floats in the terminal arrangement direction, the floating is allowed by elastic deformation of the middle portion 15 of the socket terminal 10 in the terminal arrangement direction. In this embodiment, the edge portion 23 does not have a portion that abuts against the movable housing 30 in the terminal arrangement direction. Therefore, the movable housing 30 does not interfere with the edge portion 23, and can move smoothly in the terminal arrangement direction.

[0077] At this time, the edge portion 23 itself does not elastically deform in the terminal arrangement direction, but moves following the elastically deformed middle portion 15 while maintaining the state of covering the first leg portion 15A of the socket terminal 10. In the present embodiment, the edge portion 23 is continuously formed solid over the entire area in the terminal arrangement direction, so that even when the middle portion 15 is in a state of elastic deformation in the terminal arrangement direction, the first leg portion 15A of the middle portion 15 is reliably covered, and as a result, the state of achieving characteristic impedance matching in the socket terminal 10 can be well ensured.

[0078] <Second Embodiment>

[0079] In the first embodiment, the edge portion 23 is formed as a part of the fixed housing 20, but in the second embodiment, the edge portion is formed as a component independent of the fixed housing and the movable housing, and the structure is different from the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the description is centered on the differences from the first embodiment, and except for the edge portion, the parts that are the same as the first embodiment are marked with the reference numerals in the first embodiment plus "100" and the description is omitted.

[0080] Figure 6 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of a surface perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction of the receptacle connector 101 according to the second embodiment. Figure 6 , a cross section at the position of the socket terminal 110 in the terminal arrangement direction (Y-axis direction) is shown. In the present embodiment, the edge portion 140 is made of a dielectric material (electrically insulating material) and forms a component independent of the fixed housing 120 and the movable housing 130. Examples of dielectric materials constituting the edge portion 140 include engineering plastics such as polyamide (PA) and liquid crystal polymer (LCP), elastomers, rubber, and the like. The fixed housing 120 is formed in a shape in which the edge portion 23 is omitted from the fixed housing 20 of the first embodiment. In addition, examples of dielectric materials constituting the fixed housing 120 and the movable housing 130 include engineering plastics such as polyamide (PA) and liquid crystal polymer (LCP), and the like.

[0081] The edge portion 140 is formed in a shape in which a fixing portion 141 held by the fixed housing 120 is provided at the lower end of the edge portion 23 of the first embodiment. Figure 6 As shown, the fixing portion 141 extends outward from the lower end of the wall portion of the along-mounted portion 140 extending along the first leg portion 115A of the socket terminal 110 in the connector width direction, and further extends downward, and the cross-sectional shape at right angles to the terminal arrangement direction is an inverted L-shape. The fixing portion 141 is embedded and fixed to the lower side wall portion 122 of the fixed housing 120. In the present embodiment, the fixing portion 141 is retained in the lower side wall portion 122 by being integrally molded with the lower side wall portion 122. The portion other than the fixing portion 141 in the along-mounted portion 140 has the same shape as the along-mounted portion 23 of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. Figure 6 As shown, the edge portion 140 can be locked in the connector width direction by the locking portion 142 provided at the upper portion and the locked portion 132A of the movable housing.

[0082] like Figure 6As shown in the figure, the edge portion 140 is provided so as to form a small gap between the edge portion 140 and the first leg portion 115A of the socket terminal 110 in the connector width direction. The gap is set to a size that ensures appropriate impedance in the socket terminal 110, similarly to the first embodiment. When the movable housing 130 floats in the connector width direction, the edge portion 140 elastically deforms in a manner of tilting in accordance with the elastic deformation of the first leg portion 115A and even the movement of the movable housing 130, with the vicinity of the lower end of the wall portion extending along the first leg portion 115A, that is, the vicinity of the upper end of the fixing portion 141, as a fulcrum. Even in this floating state, the state in which the gap is formed between the edge portion 140 and the first leg portion 115A is maintained, and as a result, the state in which the characteristic impedance matching in the socket terminal 110 is maintained.

[0083] <Third Embodiment>

[0084] In the second embodiment, the edge portion 140 is formed as a component independent of the fixed housing 120 and the movable housing 130, but in the third embodiment, the edge portion is formed as a part of the movable housing, and the structure is different from the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the description is centered on the differences from the second embodiment, and the parts that are the same as the second embodiment, except for the edge portion, are marked with reference numerals obtained by adding "100" to the reference numerals in the second embodiment, and the description is omitted.

[0085] Figure 7 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of a surface perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction of the receptacle connector 201 according to the third embodiment. Figure 7 , the illustration of the half portion on the X1 side in the width direction of the connector is omitted. In the present embodiment, the movable housing 230 is formed into a shape in which the movable housing 130 of the second embodiment is provided with an edge portion and a fixed portion. Examples of dielectric materials constituting the movable housing 230 include engineering plastics such as polyamide (PA) and liquid crystal polymer (LCP), elastomers, and rubber. In addition, examples of dielectric materials constituting the fixed housing 220 include engineering plastics such as polyamide (PA) and liquid crystal polymer (LCP). As Figure 7 As shown, the movable housing 230 does not have a portion corresponding to the locked wall portion 132 in the second embodiment. The movable housing 230 in this embodiment has an edge portion 237 extending from the lower end of the long wall 231 and a fixing portion 238 extending from the lower end of the edge portion 237.

[0086] The edge portion 237 extends outward from the lower end of the long wall 231 in the connector width direction and then extends downward, and has a substantially inverted L-shaped cross-section relative to the terminal arrangement direction. Figure 7As shown, the wall portion extending along the first leg portion 215A of the socket terminal 210 in the along-mounted portion 237 is formed into a plate-like shape whose thickness gradually increases as it goes upward, similarly to the first and second embodiments. In addition, the fixed portion 238 is formed into the same shape as the second embodiment, and is embedded and fixedly held in the lower side wall portion 222 of the fixed housing 220.

[0087] like Figure 7 As shown in the figure, the edge portion 237 is provided so as to form a small gap between the edge portion 237 and the first leg portion 215A of the socket terminal 210 in the connector width direction. The gap is set to a size that ensures appropriate impedance in the socket terminal 210, similarly to the first embodiment and the second embodiment. When the movable housing 230 floats in the connector width direction, the edge portion 237 elastically deforms in a tilted manner following the elastic deformation of the first leg portion 215A and even the movement of the movable housing 230, with the vicinity of the lower end of the wall portion extending along the first leg portion 215A, that is, the vicinity of the upper end of the fixed portion 238 as a fulcrum. Even in this floating state, the state in which the gap is formed between the edge portion 237 and the first leg portion 215A is maintained, and as a result, the state in which the characteristic impedance matching in the socket terminal 210 is maintained.

[0088] In this embodiment, since the fixed portion 238 extending from the lower end of the along-mounted portion 237 is held by the fixed housing 220, the along-mounted portion 237 and even the movable housing 230 will not move in the terminal arrangement direction, but as a modified example to replace this structure, the movable housing can also be able to move in the terminal arrangement direction. Specifically, instead of the fixed portion 238, for example, a stopper having the same shape as the stopper 23A of the first embodiment may be extended from the lower end of the along-mounted portion 237, and a stopper having the same shape as the stopper 32A of the first embodiment may be provided on the upper portion of the lower side wall portion 222 of the fixed housing 220.

[0089] In this modified example, the above-mentioned locking portion and the above-mentioned locked portion are locked to each other in the width direction of the connector. Therefore, when the movable housing floats in the width direction of the connector, the edge portion is elastically deformed in an inclined manner with the locking position of the above-mentioned locking portion and the above-mentioned locked portion as a fulcrum, thereby following the first leg portion of the middle part of the terminal. In addition, the above-mentioned locking portion and the above-mentioned locked portion will not abut (interfere) with each other in the terminal arrangement direction. Therefore, it is possible to achieve smooth movement, i.e. floating, of the movable housing in the terminal arrangement direction.

[0090] <Fourth Embodiment>

[0091] In the second embodiment, the edge portion 140 is formed as a component independent of the fixed housing 120 and the movable housing 130, but in the fourth embodiment, a part of the edge portion is formed as a part of the fixed housing, and the other part of the edge portion is formed as a part of the movable housing, and the structure is different from the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the description is centered on the differences from the second embodiment, and the parts that are the same as the second embodiment are marked with reference numerals obtained by adding "200" to the reference numerals in the second embodiment, and the description is omitted.

[0092] Figure 8 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of a surface perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction of the receptacle connector 301 according to the fourth embodiment. Figure 8 In the figure, the half portion on the X1 side in the width direction of the connector is omitted. In the present embodiment, the fixed housing 320 has a fixed side edge portion 323, and the movable housing 330 has a movable side edge portion 337. Examples of dielectric materials constituting the fixed housing 320 and the movable housing 330 include engineering plastics such as polyamide (PA) and liquid crystal polymer (LCP), elastomers, rubber, and the like.

[0093] The fixed side edge portion 323 extends upward from the upper end of the lower side wall portion 322 of the fixed housing 320, and is formed so that the edge portion 23 of the first embodiment (see Figure 3 The movable side edge portion 337 extends downward from the lower end of the long wall 331 of the movable housing 330 in a substantially inverted L shape, and is formed by omitting the edge portion 237 of the third embodiment (see Figure 7 )’s lower part.

[0094] The upper end of the fixed side edge portion 323 is cut in the outer half in the thickness direction (connector width direction) and is thinner than the other parts. The lower end of the movable side edge portion 337 is cut in the inner half in the thickness direction (connector width direction) and is thinner than the other parts. As a result, Figure 8 As shown, the upper end of the fixed-side edge portion 323 and the lower end of the movable-side edge portion 337 are locked with each other in the connector width direction.

[0095] like Figure 8As shown in the figure, the wall portion formed by the fixed side edge portion 323 and the movable side edge portion 337 is formed in a plate shape whose thickness gradually increases as it goes upward, similarly to the first to third embodiments. The wall portion is provided so as to form a small gap between the wall portion and the first leg portion 315A of the socket terminal 310 in the connector width direction. The gap is set to a size that ensures appropriate impedance in the socket terminal 310, similarly to the first to third embodiments. When the movable housing 330 floats in the connector width direction, the wall portion is elastically deformed in a manner of tilting in accordance with the elastic deformation of the first leg portion 315A and even the movement of the movable housing 330, with the vicinity of the lower end of the fixed side edge portion 323 as a fulcrum. Even in this floating state, the state in which the gap is formed between the wall portion and the first leg portion 315A is maintained, and as a result, the state in which the characteristic impedance matching in the socket terminal 310 is maintained.

[0096] In this embodiment, the upper end of the fixed side edge portion 323 and the lower end of the movable side edge portion 337 do not have a portion that abuts against each other in the terminal arrangement direction. Therefore, the movable housing 330 can smoothly move (float) in the terminal arrangement direction.

[0097] <Fifth Embodiment>

[0098] In the first embodiment, the edge portion 23 is continuously formed as a solid throughout the entire area in the terminal arrangement direction, but in the fifth embodiment, the edge portion is formed with slits at predetermined intervals in the terminal arrangement direction, so that it is discontinuous in the terminal arrangement direction, and in this respect, the structure is different from the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment, and the same parts as the first embodiment are marked with the reference numerals in the first embodiment plus "400" and the description will be omitted.

[0099] Fig. 9 FIG. 4 is a side view of the receptacle connector 401 according to the fifth embodiment as viewed along the connector width direction. Fig. 9 In the figure, the end portion on the Y2 side in the terminal arrangement direction (Y-axis direction) is omitted. In this embodiment, the upper portion of the edge portion 423 of the fixed housing 420 is fixed to the lower portion of the movable housing 430. In this point, the structure is different from the socket connector 1 of the first embodiment in which the edge portion 23 is not fixed to the movable housing 30.

[0100] like Fig. 9As shown in FIG. 1 , a slit 426 is formed at a position corresponding to the socket terminal 410 in the terminal arrangement direction in the along-arrangement portion 423 provided in the fixed housing 420. The slit 426 extends continuously over substantially the entire range in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) of the along-arrangement portion 423 and is formed in the plate thickness direction of the along-arrangement portion 423. As a result, thin strips 427 are formed on both sides of each slit 426 in the terminal arrangement direction in the along-arrangement portion 423. The thin strips 427 are formed so as to be aligned with the middle portion (at the Z-axis direction) of the socket terminal 410. Figure 7 Therefore, the thin strip piece 427 covers the middle part at the position corresponding to the thin strip piece 427.

[0101] In this embodiment, the edge portion 423 is formed by a plurality of thin strips 427 and is discontinuous in the terminal arrangement direction. Therefore, in this embodiment, compared with the case where the edge portion 23 is continuously formed solid over the entire area in the terminal arrangement direction as in the first embodiment, the edge portion 423 is more easily elastically deformed in the connector width direction, and the movable housing 430 becomes easy to float in these directions.

[0102] In addition, in the present embodiment, the edge portion 423 of the fixed housing 420 is fixed to the movable housing 430 at its upper portion. Therefore, when the movable housing 430 floats in the terminal arrangement direction, when the middle portion of the socket terminal 410 is elastically deformed in the terminal arrangement direction, the thin strip piece 427 of the edge portion 423 is elastically deformed in the terminal arrangement direction in a manner of following the middle portion. Therefore, even in the state where the movable housing 430 is floating, the state where the thin strip piece 427 of the edge portion 423 covers the middle portion of the socket terminal 410 is maintained. In addition, at this time, the state where a predetermined gap is formed between the thin strip piece 427 and the middle portion is also maintained. As a result, the state where the characteristic impedance matching in the socket terminal 410 is achieved can be well ensured.

[0103] <Sixth Implementation>

[0104] In the first embodiment, the overall shape of the middle portion 15 of the socket terminal 10 is substantially inverted L-shaped, but the shape of the middle portion is not limited thereto. In the sixth embodiment, the middle portion of the socket terminal has a portion bent substantially in an S-shape, and in this respect, the structure is different from the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the description will be centered on the differences from the first embodiment, and the same parts as the first embodiment are denoted by adding "500" to the reference numerals in the first embodiment, and the description will be omitted.

[0105] Fig.10 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of a surface perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction of a receptacle connector 501 according to the sixth embodiment. Fig.10 In the figure, the half portion on the X1 side in the width direction of the connector is omitted. Fig.10 As shown, in this embodiment, the first leg portion 515A of the middle portion 515 of the socket terminal 510 has a curved elastic portion 517 at its lower portion that is curved in a substantially horizontal S-shape and elastically deformable. The curved elastic portion 517 has an outer leg portion 517A, an intermediate leg portion 517C, and an inner leg portion 517E extending in the up-down direction, and an upper curved portion 517B and a lower curved portion 517D that connect two of these legs to each other.

[0106] Specifically, the outer leg portion 517A, the middle leg portion 517C, and the inner leg portion 517E are arranged in order from the outer side in the connector width direction, and the upper ends of the outer leg portion 517A and the middle leg portion 517C are connected to each other through the upper curved portion 517B, and the lower ends of the middle leg portion 517C and the inner leg portion 517E are connected to each other through the lower curved portion 517D. In this embodiment, by providing the curved elastic portion 517 on a part of the first leg portion 515A, the spring length of the first leg portion 515A can be ensured to be large without increasing the vertical dimension of the first leg portion 515A.

[0107] In addition, if Fig.10 As shown, the upper end of the edge portion 523 provided as a part of the fixed housing 520 is fixedly held at the lower part of the movable housing 330. Specifically, the movable housing 530 is formed with an extension portion 536 extending from the lower end of the long wall 531 in the connector width direction, and the upper end of the edge portion 523 is held by the extension portion 536, for example, by integral molding. Fig.10 As shown, the edge portion 523 has an extension portion 523D extending downward between the middle leg portion 517C and the inner leg portion 517E to a position just above the lower curved portion 517D. The extension portion 523D is located at a position with a gap of a predetermined size between the middle leg portion 517C, the lower curved portion 517D, and the inner leg portion 517E. The gap is formed with a size that ensures appropriate impedance in the socket terminal 510. Here, the value of "appropriate impedance" is set within a predetermined allowable range, and therefore, the above-mentioned size is also set within a predetermined allowable range.

[0108] The extension portion 523D is formed as a part of the elastically deformable along-set portion 523, and can be displaced in the connector width direction together with the approximately U-shaped portion formed by the middle leg portion 517C, the lower curved portion 517D, and the inner leg portion 517E. When the above-mentioned approximately U-shaped portion is elastically deformed, the extension portion 523D is displaced in a manner following the approximately U-shaped portion. As a result, even in the state where the approximately U-shaped portion is elastically deformed, a gap of a size within the above-mentioned allowable range can be ensured between the approximately U-shaped portion and the extension portion 523D.

[0109] In addition, if Fig.10 As shown, a recessed portion 528 opening downward is formed between the extension portion 523D and other portions of the along-set portion 523, specifically, a portion 523E located outside the extension portion 523D in the connector width direction and located in the same range as the extension portion 523D in the vertical direction. The recessed portion 528 accommodates a substantially inverted U-shaped portion formed by the outer leg portion 517A, the upper curved portion 517B, and the middle leg portion 517C. The substantially inverted U-shaped portion is located at a position having a gap of a predetermined size between the recessed portion 528 and the inner wall surface. The gap is formed with a size that ensures appropriate impedance in the socket terminal 510. Here, the value of "appropriate impedance" is set within a predetermined allowable range, and therefore, the above-mentioned size is also set within a predetermined allowable range. Even in a state where the substantially inverted U-shaped portion is elastically deformed, a gap of a size within the above-mentioned allowable range can be ensured between the substantially inverted U-shaped portion and the inner wall surface of the recessed portion 528.

[0110] In addition, in this embodiment, if Fig.10 As shown, the second leg portion 515B of the socket terminal 510 is larger than the second leg portion 15B of the first embodiment (see Figure 3 )short.

[0111] In this embodiment, since the upper end of the along-mounted portion 523 is held by the extension portion 536 of the movable housing 330, the along-mounted portion 523 and even the movable housing 530 will not move in the terminal arrangement direction, but as a modified example to replace this structure, the movable housing can also be moved in the terminal arrangement direction. Specifically, a stopper having the same shape as the stopper 23A of the first embodiment can be provided at the upper end of the along-mounted portion 523, and a stopper having the same shape as the stopper 32A of the first embodiment can be provided at the lower part of the movable housing 530 instead of the extension portion 536.

[0112] <Seventh Implementation>

[0113] In the first embodiment, the socket connector 1 is connected to the plug connector 2 as the counterpart connector by fitting it in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface of the circuit substrate on which the socket connector 1 is mounted, but in the seventh embodiment, the socket connector is connected to the plug connector as the counterpart connector by fitting it in a direction parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit substrate, and the structure is different from the first embodiment in this respect. In this embodiment, the description will be centered on the differences from the first embodiment, and the same parts as the first embodiment are marked with reference numerals obtained by adding "600" to the reference numerals in the first embodiment, and the description will be omitted.

[0114] Fig.11 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of a surface perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction of the receptacle connector 601 according to the seventh embodiment. Fig.11 , a cross section at the position of the socket terminal 310 in the terminal arrangement direction (Y-axis direction) is shown. Fig.11 As shown, in this embodiment, the socket connector 601 is parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit substrate (not shown) in the left-right direction ( Fig.11 The connector is connected to a plug connector (not shown) as a counterpart connector by fitting it in the X-axis direction (in the direction of connection).

[0115] The socket connector 601 of the present embodiment is configured by combining the socket connector 1 of the first embodiment (see Figure 3 ) is tilted horizontally, and one end side portion of the socket terminal 10 on which the connection portion 11 is provided is extended. Fig.11 As shown, in this embodiment, the socket terminal 610 is provided with an extension portion 618 that is bent at the right end (the end on the X1 side) of the fixed side held portion 612 and extends linearly downward, and the connecting portion 611 is extended from the lower end of the extension portion 618 toward the right. Fig.11 As shown, the extension portion 618 of the socket terminal 610 on the upper side ( Z1 side) is located to the right ( X1 side) of the extension portion 618 of the socket terminal 610 on the lower side ( Z2 side), and is formed longer than the extension portion 618 .

[0116] In the socket connector 601 of the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the gap between the edge portion 623 of the fixed housing 620 and the first leg portion 615A of the socket terminal 610 is formed to have a size that ensures appropriate impedance in the socket terminal 610. When the movable housing 630 is in the floating state, the state in which the gap is formed between the edge portion 623 and the first leg portion 615A is also maintained.

[0117] In the first to seventh embodiments described above, the entire middle portion of the terminal is accommodated in the internal space formed in the fixed housing, but as a modified example of replacing this structure, only a part of the middle portion may be accommodated. In addition, in the first to seventh embodiments, the middle portion of the terminal is accommodated in the internal space of the fixed housing, but as a modified example of replacing this structure, an internal space may be formed in the movable housing and the middle portion may be accommodated in the internal space.

[0118] In the first to seventh embodiments, the edge portion of the dielectric member elastically deforms when following the middle portion of the socket terminal. However, the edge portion is not necessarily elastically deformed and may be displaced without elastic deformation.

Claims

1. An electrical connector for a circuit substrate, arranged on a mounting surface of a circuit substrate, characterized in that: The circuit board electrical connector comprises: a plurality of terminals arranged in a direction parallel to the mounting surface as a terminal arrangement direction; a fixed housing fixed to the circuit board via the terminals; and a movable housing capable of moving relative to the fixed housing, The terminal comprises a fixed side held portion held by the fixed housing, a movable side held portion held by the movable housing, and an elastically deformable intermediate portion located between the fixed side held portion and the movable side held portion, and the terminal is arranged on the fixed housing and the movable housing in a bridging manner. In the electrical connector for the circuit board, At least a portion of the intermediate portion is located in the internal space of the circuit board electrical connector. The circuit board electrical connector has an edge portion made of a dielectric material, the edge portion is located on the side opposite to the internal space relative to the middle portion, and extends along the middle portion with a gap between the middle portion and the edge portion. When the intermediate portion is elastically deformed in a connector width direction that is perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction, the edge portion can follow the intermediate portion.

2. The electric connector for a circuit board according to claim 1, characterized in that: The edge portion is formed as a part of the fixed housing and can be locked with the movable housing in the connector width direction.

3. The electric connector for a circuit board according to claim 1, characterized in that: The edge portion is formed as a member independent of the fixed housing and the movable housing, is held by the fixed housing, and can be locked with the movable housing in the connector width direction.

4. The electric connector for a circuit board according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The edge portion does not have a portion that abuts against the movable housing in the terminal arrangement direction. The movable housing is movable in the terminal arrangement direction without interfering with the edge portion.

5. The electric connector for a circuit board according to claim 1, characterized in that: The edge portion is formed as a part of the movable housing and can be locked with the fixed housing in the connector width direction.

6. The electric connector for a circuit board according to claim 1, characterized in that: The edge portion is formed as a member independent of the fixed housing and the movable housing, is held by the movable housing, and can be locked with the fixed housing in the connector width direction.

7. The electric connector for a circuit board according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that: The edge portion has no portion that abuts against the fixed housing in the terminal arrangement direction, does not interfere with the fixed housing, and is movable in the terminal arrangement direction together with the movable housing.

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