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. The electric connector for the circuit board is provided with a dielectric component (40), the dielectric component (40) is arranged in an inner space formed in a fixed housing (20) and is assembled on a movable housing (30), the dielectric component (40) is provided with an edge arrangement part (42A), and the edge arrangement part (42A) extends along an intermediate part (15) of a terminal (10) with a gap between the edge arrangement part (42A) and the intermediate part (15). When the intermediate portion (15) is elastically deformed in the connector width direction at a right angle with respect to the terminal arrangement direction, the edge arrangement portion (42A) can follow the intermediate portion (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 provided to be mounted on a fixed housing and a movable housing independent of each other. 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 direction of the plate thickness, and can be soldered to the mounting surface of the circuit board through a connection portion formed on the lower end side, and can contact with a counterpart terminal provided in a counterpart connector through a contact portion formed on the upper end side. In addition, between the connection portion and the contact portion, there are provided: 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.

[0004] The deformable portion extends between the fixed housing and the movable housing without being held by any one of the fixed housing and the movable housing, and allows the movable housing to move by elastic deformation of the deformable portion. The deformable portion is covered with an impedance matching portion made of a dielectric material. The impedance matching portion is formed by integrally forming 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 in 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: 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, there is a risk that the impedance in the deformed portion will 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 circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electric connector for a circuit board that allows a movable housing to move relative to a fixed housing and 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, comprising: a plurality of terminals arranged in a terminal arrangement direction in a direction parallel to the mounting surface; a fixed housing fixed to the circuit substrate via the terminals; and a movable housing capable of relative movement 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 intermediate portion located between the fixed-side retained portion and the movable-side retained portion and capable of elastic deformation, wherein the terminals are arranged to be mounted on the fixed housing and the movable housing.

[0009] The present invention is characterized in that the electrical connector for the circuit substrate comprises a dielectric component, at least a portion of which is arranged in an internal space formed in at least one of the fixed housing and the movable housing, and is assembled to the fixed housing or the movable housing, and the dielectric component comprises an edge portion, and the edge portion extends along the middle portion with a gap therebetween, and when the middle portion is elastically deformed in a connector width direction at right angles to the terminal arrangement direction, the edge portion can follow the middle portion.

[0010] In the present invention, the dielectric component assembled in the movable housing has an edge portion extending along the middle portion with a gap between the dielectric component and the middle portion of the terminal. In this way, the characteristic impedance in the middle portion is adjusted by extending the edge portion of the dielectric component along the middle portion, and as a result, characteristic impedance matching in the terminal can be achieved. At this time, the edge portion is located at a position with a gap between the dielectric component and the middle portion, so it does not contact the middle portion. Therefore, the characteristic impedance in the middle portion is not excessively reduced, so it is easy to achieve good characteristic impedance matching. In addition, the edge portion can follow the middle portion, so it does not hinder the elastic deformation of the middle portion or even the movement of the movable housing.

[0011] (2) In the invention of (1), the dielectric member may be assembled to the movable housing and may include a restricted portion that can abut against the fixed housing in the connector width direction at a position different from the edge portion.

[0012] By setting such a structure, when the movable housing moves in the width direction of the connector, the restricted portion of the dielectric abuts against the fixed housing, and is restricted to follow the movement of the movable housing. As a result, the along-mounted portion of the dielectric component is displaced with the abutting position of the restricted portion and the fixed housing as a fulcrum, and follows the movement of the movable housing together with the middle portion of the terminal. As a result, even after the movable housing moves, it is easy to maintain a state in which a gap is ensured between the along-mounted portion and the middle portion, or even a state in which characteristic impedance matching is well achieved.

[0013] (3) In the invention of (1) or (2), the dielectric member may not have a portion that contacts the fixed housing in the terminal arrangement direction, and the entire dielectric member may be movable in the terminal arrangement direction together with the movable housing.

[0014] With such a configuration, when the movable housing moves in the terminal arrangement direction, the entire dielectric member can smoothly follow the movement of the movable housing without interfering with the fixed housing.

[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electric connector for a circuit board that allows a movable housing to move relative to a fixed housing and that can achieve good characteristic impedance matching. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] 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.

[0017] Figure 2 Yes Figure 1 A perspective view of the various components of the socket connector are separated and shown.

[0018] Figure 3 Yes means Figure 1 A sectional view of a receptacle connector and a plug connector taken on a plane perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction shows a state before mating connection.

[0019] Figure 4 (A) and (B) are cross-sectional views showing the assembly method of the dielectric component to the movable housing, wherein (A) shows the state before assembly and (B) shows the state after assembly.

[0020] Figure 5 It 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, and shows a state after being fitted and connected.

[0021] Figure 6 The figure 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, and shows a floating state after the fitting connection.

[0022] Figure 7 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 connector width direction.

[0023] Figure 8 It is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along a plane perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction of a receptacle connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Fig. 9 It is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along a plane perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction of a receptacle connector according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Description of Reference Numerals

[0026] 1. 101. 201. 301. Socket connector (electrical connector for circuit board); 10. 110. 210. 310. Socket terminal; 12. 312. Fixed side held portion; 14. Movable side held portion; 15. 215. 315. Middle portion; 20. 120. 220. 320. Fixed housing; 23. 123. 223. 323. Internal space; 30. 130. 230. 330. Movable housing; 40. 140. 240. 340. Dielectric component; 42A. 142A. 242A. 342A. First edge portion; 43B. 243B. 343B. Second edge portion; 44. Restricted portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

[0028] <First embodiment>

[0029] 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 relative to the socket connector 1 from above.

[0030] 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 board as the terminal arrangement direction; socket housings 20, 30 (a fixed housing 20 and a movable housing 30 described later) made of a dielectric material such as resin for holding the plurality of socket terminals 10; and a dielectric member 40 (see FIG. 1 ) made of a dielectric material such as resin assembled to the movable housing 30. Figure 2 and Figure 3). Examples of dielectric materials constituting the socket housings 20 and 30 include engineering plastics such as polyamide (PA) and liquid crystal polymer (LCP). In addition, examples of dielectric materials constituting the dielectric component 40 include engineering plastics such as polyamide (PA) and liquid crystal polymer (LCP), elastomers, rubber, and the like.

[0031] Figure 2 This 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 at a right angle to the terminal arrangement direction, and shows 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 two rows of socket terminals 10 are arranged in symmetrical directions with respect to 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 two rows of socket terminals 10 are arranged in a zigzag shape, 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.

[0032] 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 relatively movable with respect to the fixed housing 20. The socket terminals 10 are provided so as to bridge between the fixed housing 20 and the movable housing 30.

[0033] The socket terminal 10 is made by bending a metal strip along its thickness direction. Figure 2 As shown, the terminal width direction (a direction perpendicular to the plate thickness direction of the socket terminal 10) is arranged in a manner consistent 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 retained portion 12 extending upward from the connecting portion 11; a contact arm portion 13 formed at the other end portion above the connecting portion 11 and located on the inner side in the width direction of the connector; a movable side retained 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 retained portion 12 and the movable side retained portion 14.

[0034] Before further describing the socket terminal 10, the structures of the fixed housing 20 and the movable housing 30 will be described. Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown in FIG. 1 , the fixed housing 20 is in the shape of a square tube with a cubic shape and a length direction along the terminal arrangement direction (Y-axis direction). The fixed housing 20 has a pair of side walls 21 extending along the terminal arrangement direction, and a pair of end walls 22 extending along the connector width direction (X-axis direction) to connect the ends of the pair of side walls 21 to each other, and the pair of side walls 21 and the pair of end walls 22 form a peripheral wall. Figure 3 As shown, the internal space 23 surrounded by the peripheral wall and penetrating in the up-down direction accommodates a part of the movable housing 30 , a part of the socket terminal 10 , and the dielectric member 40 .

[0035] like Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , a groove-shaped fixed-side holding portion 21A is formed at the lower portion of the side wall 21, which is sunken from the inner wall surface of the side wall 21 and extends in the vertical direction. The fixed-side holding portion 21A has an open lower end, and holds the fixed-side held portion 12 of the socket terminal 10 pressed in from below. In addition, at the lower portion of the side wall 21, portions located on both sides of each fixed-side holding portion 21A in the terminal arrangement direction constitute a limiting portion 21B for limiting the movement of the dielectric member 40 in the connector width direction by a predetermined amount or more.

[0036] The movable housing 30 is configured to be inserted into the inner space 23 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 23. Figure 2 As shown, the movable housing 30 has: a pair of long walls 31 extending in the terminal arrangement direction; a pair of short walls 32 extending in the connector width direction to connect the ends of the pair of long walls 31 to each other; and a bottom wall 33 (see FIG. 1 ) that closes the space surrounded by the peripheral wall composed of the pair of long walls 31 and the pair of short walls 32 from below. Figure 3 The space surrounded by the peripheral wall and open upward constitutes a socket-side receiving portion 34 for receiving a portion of the plug connector 2.

[0037] 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 vertical direction along the upper part of the contact arm part 13 of the socket terminal 10, and can allow the upper part of the contact arm part 13 to be elastically deformed.

[0038] like Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , the movable side holding portion 33A for press-fitting and holding the movable side held portion 14 of the socket terminal 10 is formed as a hole portion penetrating the bottom wall 33 in the vertical direction. In addition, the bottom wall 33 has assembly protrusions 33B for assembling the dielectric component 40 at multiple positions (three positions in the present embodiment) in the terminal arrangement direction (see also FIG. 1 ). Figure 4(A), (B)). The assembly protrusion 33B is located at the center in the connector width direction, and protrudes from the bottom surface of the bottom wall 33 in a quadrangular column shape.

[0039] Let's return to the description of the socket terminal 10. Figure 3 As can be seen, 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 soldered to the corresponding circuit portion (not shown) of 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 pressed and held by the fixed side holding portion 21A of the fixed housing 20 through the press-in protrusions formed on the edge portions on both sides (edge ​​portions extending in the vertical direction on both sides in the terminal width direction).

[0040] 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 is in contact with the inner wall surface of the long wall 31, and is supported from the outside by the inner wall surface in the width direction of the connector. Figure 3 As shown in the figure, the upper part of the contact arm part 13 is located at a position corresponding to the socket terminal groove part 31A of the long wall 31 in the vertical direction, and in a state of contacting the plug terminal 50 as a counterpart terminal, the socket terminal groove part 31A allows elastic deformation toward the outside in the connector width direction. At the upper end of the contact arm part 13, a contact part 13A for contacting the plug terminal 50 is formed in a bent manner so as to protrude toward the inside in the connector width direction.

[0041] 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 33 of the movable housing 30. Specifically, the movable side held portion 14 is pressed and held by the movable side holding portion 33A of the movable housing 30 through the press-in protrusions formed on both side edge portions (edge ​​portions extending in the up-down direction on both sides in the terminal width direction).

[0042] 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-shape. The first leg portion 15A extends linearly in the vertical direction along the inner wall surface of the side wall 21 of the fixed housing 20, and can be elastically deformed in the connector width direction. The elastic deformation of the first leg portion 15A allows the movable housing 30 to move (float) in the connector width direction (see Figure 6 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 3As 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 side wall 21 in the connector width direction.

[0043] The first leg portion 15A is also elastically deformable 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.

[0044] The second leg 15B is bent at a right angle at the upper end of the first leg 15A and extends inward in the connector width direction to be connected to the lower end of the movable-side held portion 14. The second leg 15B extends linearly along the bottom surface (lower surface) of the bottom wall 33 of the movable housing 30.

[0045] The dielectric member 40 is assembled to the movable housing 30 from below and is disposed in the internal space 23 of the fixed housing 20 (see Figure 3 ), located at a position including the terminal arrangement range of all the socket terminals 10 in the terminal arrangement direction (refer to Figure 4 (B)). Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown in the figure, the dielectric component 40 has: a plate-shaped bottom plate portion 41 facing the mounting surface (not shown) of the circuit board and extending in the terminal arrangement direction; side plate portions 42 extending upward from both ends of the bottom plate portion 41 in the connector width direction; and an upper plate portion 43 connecting the upper ends of the two side plate portions 42 and extending in the terminal arrangement direction. In this embodiment, the bottom plate portion 41, the side plate portion 42 and the upper plate portion 43 have no discontinuous parts in the terminal arrangement direction, that is, they are continuous and solid throughout the entire area in the terminal arrangement direction.

[0046] like Figure 3 As shown, the bottom plate portion 41 is located at the lower part of the internal space 23 of the fixed housing 20, and its bottom surface (lower surface) is located at the same height as the bottom surface of the fixed housing 20. The side surfaces (surfaces located at both ends in the connector width direction) of the bottom plate portion 41 face the inner wall surface of the internal space 23, in other words, the inner wall surface of the restricting portion 21B, with a small gap therebetween in the connector width direction.

[0047] The side plate portion 42 is arranged over the same range as the bottom plate portion 41 in the terminal arrangement direction, and is in the shape of a thin plate with the connector width direction as the plate thickness direction. The lower portion of the side plate portion 42 is located slightly outside the other portions of the side plate portion 42 in the connector width direction, and faces the inner wall surface of the internal space 23, in other words, the inner wall surface of the limiting portion 21B, with a small gap in the connector width direction. The side surface of the lower portion of the side plate portion 42 and the side surface of the bottom plate portion 41 are formed at the same position in the connector width direction and form a flat surface. In the present embodiment, the lower portion of the side plate portion 42 and the side portion of the bottom plate portion 41, that is, the portion forming the above-mentioned flat surface, function as a restricted portion 44 that can abut against the limiting portion 21B of the fixed housing 20.

[0048] The portion extending upward from the above-mentioned lower portion in the side plate portion 42 is formed as a first edge portion 42A that can be elastically deformed in the connector width direction. The first edge portion 42A is located at a position with a slight gap in the connector width direction between the inner surface of the first leg portion 15A in the middle portion 15 of the socket terminal 10 (the plate surface located on the inner side in the connector width direction), and extends in the up-down direction along the first leg portion 15A. The gap between the first edge portion 42A and the first leg portion 15A is formed with a size that ensures appropriate impedance in the socket terminal 10. Here, the value of "appropriate impedance" is set based on a prescribed allowable range, and therefore the above-mentioned size is also set based on the prescribed allowable range. The first edge portion 42A 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 a size within the above-mentioned allowable range can be ensured between the first leg portion 15A and the first leg portion 15A (refer to Figure 6 ).

[0049] The upper plate portion 43 is arranged to extend in the terminal arrangement direction along the bottom surface of the bottom wall 33 of the movable housing 30. The upper plate portion 43 has: an assembly plate portion 43A arranged in the central area in the connector width direction; and second edge portions 43B arranged on both sides of the assembly plate portion 43A in the connector width direction.

[0050] The assembly plate portion 43A is thicker than the second edge portion 43B and thinner than the bottom plate portion 41, and its upper surface protrudes upward from the second edge portion 43B. Figure 2As shown, the assembly plate portion 43A has assembly holes 43A-1 for assembly to the movable housing 30 formed at a plurality of positions (three positions in this embodiment) corresponding to the assembly protrusions 33B of the movable housing 30 so as to penetrate the assembly plate portion 43A in the vertical direction. The assembly hole 43A-1 has a shape that matches the assembly protrusion 33B, that is, a rectangular shape when viewed in the vertical direction. The assembly protrusions 33B are respectively pressed into the corresponding assembly holes 43A-1 from above, so that the dielectric component 40 is assembled to the movable housing 30.

[0051] like Figure 3 As shown, the second edge portion 43B is in the shape of a plate having the same thickness as the side plate portion 42, and connects the side end of the upper portion of the assembly plate portion 43A to the upper end of the first edge portion. The second edge portion 43B is located at a position with a small gap between the lower surface of the second leg portion 15B in the middle portion 15 of the socket terminal 10 in the vertical direction, and extends along the lower surface of the second leg portion 15B in the connector width direction. The gap between the second edge portion 43B and the second leg portion 15B is formed with a size that ensures appropriate impedance in the socket terminal 10. Here, the value of "appropriate impedance" is set based on the specified allowable range, and therefore, the above-mentioned size is also set based on the specified allowable range.

[0052] In this embodiment, as described above, the first edge portion 42A and the first leg portion 15A, and the second edge portion 43B and the second leg portion 15B are positioned with a gap of a size to ensure 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 is achieved.

[0053] In this embodiment, if Figure 3 As shown, the dielectric component 40 is provided as a whole so as to be separated from the inner surface of the fixed housing 20, and has no portion overlapping with the fixed housing 20 when viewed in the terminal arrangement direction. That is, the dielectric component 40 has no portion abutting against the fixed housing 20 in the terminal arrangement direction. Therefore, the dielectric component 40 as a whole can move in the terminal arrangement direction together with the movable housing 30 without interfering with the fixed housing 20.

[0054] Next, the assembly method of the socket connector 1 is described. First, the movable side held portion 14 of the socket terminal 10 is pressed into the movable side holding portion 33A of the movable housing 30 from below, thereby assembling the socket terminal 10 to the movable housing 30. Then, the dielectric component 40 is assembled to the movable housing 30 from below. Specifically, Figure 4 As shown in (A), the dielectric member 40 is moved from below toward the bottom wall 33 of the movable housing 30 (see Figure 4 (A) arrow), such as Figure 4As shown in FIG. 2(B) , the assembly protrusion 33B of the movable housing 30 is press-fitted into the assembly hole 43A- 1 of the dielectric member 40 from above.

[0055] Then, the movable housing 30 in which the socket terminal 10 and the dielectric member 40 are assembled is inserted from below into the internal space 23 of the fixed housing 20, and the fixed-side held portion 12 of the socket terminal 10 is pressed into the fixed-side holding portion 21A of the fixed housing 20. As a result, the socket terminal 10 is assembled to the fixed housing 20, and the assembly of the socket connector 1 is completed.

[0056] 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 terminal arrangement direction being 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 zigzag pattern corresponding to the socket terminals 10.

[0057] The plug terminal 50 is made by bending a metal strip along its thickness direction, and is arranged in such a way that its 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 is formed at the other end ( Figure 3 and a connecting portion 53 bent in a step-like manner between the connecting portion 51 and the contact arm portion 52.

[0058] 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 has a cubic 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 3As 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. A plug terminal groove portion 65A is formed and arranged at the lower part of the protruding wall 65, which is sunken from the side surface of the protruding wall 65 and extends in the up-down direction.

[0059] 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 located at a position above the upper surface of the connector (in the figure), extending from the upper end of the connecting portion 53 toward the outside in the width direction of the connector, and is soldered to the corresponding circuit portion of the mounting surface of the circuit substrate (not shown). The contact arm portion 52 has 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 surface 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, the upper portion of the contact arm portion 52 is in contact with the side surface of the protruding wall 65, and is supported from the inside by the side surface in the connector width direction. Figure 3 As shown in the figure, the lower part of the contact arm part 52 is located at a position corresponding to the plug terminal groove part 65A of the protruding wall 65 in the up-down direction, and the plug terminal groove part 65A allows elastic deformation toward the inside in the connector width direction when in contact with the socket terminal 10. At the lower end of the contact arm part 52, a contact part 52A for contacting the socket terminal 10 is formed in a bent manner so as to protrude toward the outside in the connector width direction.

[0060] 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.

[0061] 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 surfaces of the corresponding circuit substrates (not shown) by soldering. That is, the connection portion 11 of the socket terminal 10 is soldered to the corresponding circuit portion of the circuit substrate, and the connection portion 51 of the plug terminal 50 is soldered to the corresponding circuit portion of the other circuit substrate, so that the socket connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are respectively assembled to the corresponding circuit substrates.

[0062] 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 its opening facing downward. Then, the plug connector 2 is lowered while maintaining its original posture, so that the protruding wall 65 enters the receptacle side receiving portion 34 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. Figure 5 As shown, as a result, the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are mated with each other.

[0063] If the plug connector 2 is engaged with the socket connector 1, Figure 5 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 with contact pressure through the contact portion 13A. In addition, 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 with contact pressure through the contact portion 52A. That is, as shown in FIG. Figure 5 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 portion of the contact arm portion 52 is supported by the protruding wall 65 of the plug housing 60, and the lower portion 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 operation of the socket connector 1 and the plug connector 2 is completed.

[0064] At the moment when the mating connection action is completed, when 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 in a Figure 5 . In this 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 side wall 21 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 bottom wall 33 of the movable housing 30 in the vertical direction. In addition, the first edge portion 42A of the dielectric component 40 is located at a position with a predetermined gap between the inner wall surface of the first leg portion 15A of the socket terminal 10 in the connector width direction. The second edge portion 43B of the dielectric component 40 is located at a position with a predetermined gap between the lower surface of the second leg portion 15B of the socket terminal 10 in the vertical direction.

[0065] Assuming that the relative positions of the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are offset immediately before the connector mating connection operation starts, 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 achieved in a state where the offset is absorbed (see Figure 6 ).

[0066] In addition, even at the moment when the mating connection operation is completed, the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are in the normal position (refer to Figure 5 ), 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.

[0067] Figure 6 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector 1 and the plug connector 2 that have been mated and connected, showing a state in which the movable housing 30 is floating. Figure 6 In FIG. 1 , a cross section on a plane perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction at the position of the socket terminal 10 is shown. Figure 6 , the movable housing 30 is shown to be floating toward the X1 side in the connector width direction (X-axis direction). When the movable housing 30 is floating toward the X1 side, Figure 6 The first leg portions 15A of the two socket terminals 10 shown, i.e., the socket terminals 10 located on the X1 side and the X2 side, are elastically deformed in an inclined manner toward the X1 side with the vicinity of the lower end of the first leg portion 15A as a fulcrum. At this time, the first leg portion 15A of the socket terminal 10 on the X1 side is elastically deformed within the range of the gap formed between the inner wall surface of the side wall 21 of the fixed housing 20.

[0068] like Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 1 , if the movable housing 30 floats toward the X1 side in the connector width direction, the dielectric member 40 assembled to the movable housing 30 first moves slightly toward the X1 side together with the movable housing 30 as a whole, and the restricted portion 44 on the X1 side abuts against the restricting portion 21B on the X1 side of the fixed housing 20. In this way, the restricted portion 44 on the X1 side abuts against the restricting portion 21B, thereby restricting the movement of the entire dielectric member 40. At this time, on the X2 side, the restricted portion 44 moves so as to be separated from the restricting portion 21B, so that the restricted portion 44 and the restricting portion 21B do not abut.

[0069] If the movable housing 30 moves further toward the X1 side, Figure 6As shown, the first edge portion 42A on the X1 side of the dielectric member 40 is elastically deformed obliquely toward the X1 side following the elastic deformation of the first leg portion 15A on the X1 side of the socket terminal 10, with the contact position between the restricted portion 44 and the restricting portion 21B as a fulcrum. At this time, the first edge portion 42A on the X2 side is elastically deformed toward the X1 side following the elastic deformation of the first leg portion 15A on the X2 side.

[0070] In the present embodiment, as described above, when the movable housing 30 floats in the connector width direction, the two first edge portions 42A of the dielectric member 40 are elastically deformed in the connector width direction together with the first leg portion 15A adjacent to the first edge portions 42A. In this way, the first edge portions 42A can follow the first leg portion 15A, so that the elastic deformation of the first leg portion 15A and the movement of the movable housing 30 are not hindered.

[0071] Furthermore, even in the elastically deformed state, the first edge portion 42A maintains a gap with the first leg portion 15A within the predetermined allowable range described above, and does not contact the first leg portion 15A. Figure 6 As shown, when floating in the connector width direction, the second leg portion 15B of the socket terminal 10 and the second edge portion 43B of the dielectric member 40 do not elastically deform. Therefore, the gap between the second leg portion 15B and the second edge portion 43B in the vertical direction is maintained, so the two do not contact each other.

[0072] Thus, even if the movable housing 30 floats, a gap is maintained between the first edge portion 42A and the second edge portion 43B of the dielectric member 40 and the middle portion 15 of the socket terminal 10. Therefore, the characteristic impedance in the middle portion 15 does not decrease excessively, and thus the state in which the characteristic impedance matching in the socket terminal 10 is achieved can be maintained.

[0073] In addition, in the present embodiment, as described above, the first edge portion 42A of the dielectric member 40 elastically deforms along with the first leg portion 15A of the socket terminal 10 following the movement of the movable housing 30, with the contact position between the restricted portion 44 of the dielectric member 40 and the restricting portion 21B of the fixed housing 20 as a fulcrum. Therefore, even when the first edge portion 42A 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.

[0074] 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 the present embodiment, the dielectric component 40 does not have a portion that abuts against the fixed housing 20 in the terminal arrangement direction. Therefore, the dielectric component 40 as a whole does not interfere with the fixed housing 20 in the terminal arrangement direction, and can smoothly follow the movement of the movable housing 30.

[0075] At this time, the first edge portion 42A and the second edge portion 43B do not elastically deform in the terminal arrangement direction, but move following the elastically deformed middle portion 15 while maintaining the state of covering the middle portion 15 of the socket terminal 10. In the present embodiment, the first edge portion 42A and the second edge portion 43B are continuously and solidly formed over the entire area in the terminal arrangement direction, so that even when the middle portion 15 is in a state of elastically deforming in the terminal arrangement direction, the middle portion 15 can be reliably covered, and as a result, the state of achieving characteristic impedance matching in the socket terminal 10 can be well ensured.

[0076] <Second embodiment>

[0077] In the first embodiment, the first edge portion 42A and the second edge portion 43B are formed continuously and solidly throughout the entire area in the terminal arrangement direction, but in the second embodiment, the first edge portion and the second edge portion are formed with slits at predetermined intervals in the terminal arrangement direction, so that they are discontinuous in the terminal arrangement direction, 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 parts that are the same as the first embodiment are marked with the reference numerals in the first embodiment plus the reference numeral "100" and the description is omitted.

[0078] Figure 7 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the receptacle connector 101 according to the second embodiment, taken along a plane perpendicular to the connector width direction. Figure 7 , a cross section at a central position in the connector width direction of the receptacle connector 101 is shown. Figure 7 In the embodiment, the end portion on the Y2 side in the terminal arrangement direction (Y-axis direction) is omitted. In the present embodiment, the lower portion of the dielectric component 140 is fixed to the lower portion of the fixed housing 120. In this point, the structure is different from the socket connector 1 of the first embodiment in which the dielectric component 40 is not fixed to the fixed housing 20.

[0079] like Figure 7 As shown, in the first edge portion 142A and the second edge portion (in Figure 7In the connector (not shown in the figure), slits 144 are formed at positions corresponding to the socket terminals 110 in the terminal arrangement direction. The slits 144 are formed to extend continuously over substantially the entire range of the first edge portion 142A in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction) and substantially the entire range of the second edge portion in the connector width direction (X-axis direction), and penetrate the first edge portion 142A and the second edge portion in the plate thickness direction. As a result, in the first edge portion 142A and the second edge portion, thin strips 145 are formed on both sides of each slit 144 in the terminal arrangement direction. The thin strips 145 are aligned with the middle portion (in the middle portion) of the socket terminal 110. Figure 7 Therefore, the thin strip piece 145 covers the middle part located at a position corresponding to the thin strip piece 145 from the inside and below in the width direction of the connector.

[0080] In this embodiment, the first edge portion 142A and the second edge portion are formed by a plurality of thin strips 145 and are discontinuous in the terminal arrangement direction. Therefore, in this embodiment, compared with the case where the first edge portion 42A and the second edge portion 43B are continuously and solidly formed throughout the entire area in the terminal arrangement direction as in the first embodiment, the first edge portion 42A and the second edge portion 43B are more easily elastically deformed in the connector width direction, and the floating of the movable housing 130 in the above direction becomes easier.

[0081] In addition, in the present embodiment, the dielectric member 140 is fixed to the movable housing 130 by its upper portion, and is fixed to the fixed housing 120 by its lower portion. Therefore, when the movable housing 130 floats in the terminal arrangement direction, if the middle portion of the socket terminal 110 is elastically deformed in the terminal arrangement direction, the thin strip piece 145 of the dielectric member 140 follows the middle portion and elastically deforms in the terminal arrangement direction. Therefore, even in the state where the movable housing 130 floats, the thin strip piece 145 of the dielectric member 140 covers the middle portion of the socket terminal 110. In addition, at this time, the state where a predetermined gap is formed between the thin strip piece 145 and the middle portion is also maintained. As a result, it is possible to well ensure the state where the characteristic impedance matching in the socket terminal 110 is achieved.

[0082] <Third embodiment>

[0083] 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 third embodiment, the middle portion of the socket terminal has a portion bent into a substantially S-shaped portion, 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 "200" to the reference numerals in the first embodiment and the description will be omitted.

[0084] Figure 8 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of a receptacle connector 201 according to the third embodiment, taken along a plane perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction. Figure 8 In the figure, the half portion on the X1 side in the connector width direction is omitted. Figure 8 As shown, in this embodiment, the first leg portion 215A of the middle portion 215 of the socket terminal 210 has a bent elastic portion 217 bent in a substantially horizontal S-shape and elastically deformable at its lower portion. The bent elastic portion 217 has an outer leg portion 217A, an intermediate leg portion 217C, and an inner leg portion 217E extending in the up-down direction; and an upper bent portion 217B and a lower bent portion 217D connecting two of the legs to each other.

[0085] Specifically, the outer leg portion 217A, the middle leg portion 217C, and the inner leg portion 217E are arranged in parallel from the outer side in the connector width direction, the upper ends of the outer leg portion 217A and the middle leg portion 217C are connected to each other by the upper bent portion 217B, and the lower ends of the middle leg portion 217C and the inner leg portion 217E are connected to each other by the lower bent portion 217D. In this embodiment, by providing the bent elastic portion 217 on a part of the first leg portion 215A, the spring length of the first leg portion 215A can be ensured to be long without increasing the size of the first leg portion 215A in the vertical direction.

[0086] In addition, if Figure 8 As shown in FIG. 1 , the first edge portion 242A of the dielectric member 240 has an extended protrusion 246 extending upward to a position just below the upper bent portion 217B between the outer leg portion 217A and the middle leg portion 217C. The extended protrusion 246 is located at a position where there is a gap of a predetermined size between the outer leg portion 217A, the upper bent portion 217B, and the middle leg portion 217C. The gap is formed with a size that ensures appropriate impedance in the socket terminal 210. Here, the value of "appropriate impedance" is set based on a predetermined allowable range, and therefore, the above-mentioned size is also set based on the predetermined allowable range.

[0087] The extended protrusion 246 is formed in a part of the first edge portion 242A that can be elastically deformed, and can be displaced in the connector width direction together with the approximately inverted U-shaped portion formed by the outer leg portion 217A, the upper side bending portion 217B and the middle leg portion 217C. If the above-mentioned approximately inverted U-shaped portion is elastically deformed, the extended protrusion 246 will be displaced in a manner following the approximately inverted U-shaped portion. As a result, even in the state where the approximately inverted U-shaped portion is elastically deformed, a gap of a size within the above-mentioned allowable range is ensured between the approximately inverted U-shaped portion and the extended protrusion 246.

[0088] In addition, if Figure 8 As shown, a recessed portion 247 opening upward is formed between the extended protrusion 246 and other parts of the first edge portion 242A, specifically, between the portion 242A-1 located inside the extended protrusion 246 in the connector width direction and located in the same range as the extended protrusion 246 in the vertical direction. The recessed portion 247 accommodates a substantially U-shaped portion formed by the middle leg portion 217C, the lower side bent portion 217D, and the inner leg portion 217E. The substantially U-shaped portion is located at a position having a gap of a predetermined size between the recessed portion 247 and the inner wall surface. The gap is formed with a size that ensures appropriate impedance in the socket terminal 210. Here, the value of "appropriate impedance" is set based on a predetermined allowable range, and therefore, the above-mentioned size is also set based on a predetermined allowable range. Even when the substantially U-shaped portion is elastically deformed, a gap of a size within the above-mentioned allowable range is ensured between the substantially U-shaped portion and the inner wall surface of the recessed portion 247.

[0089] In addition, in this embodiment, if Figure 8 As shown, the second leg portion 215B of the socket terminal 210 is larger than the second leg portion 15B of the first embodiment (see Figure 5 ) is shorter, and accordingly, the second edge portion 243B of the dielectric member 240 is also shorter than the second edge portion 43B of the first embodiment (see Figure 5 )short.

[0090] <Fourth embodiment>

[0091] In the first embodiment, the socket connector 1 is connected to the plug connector 2 as the counterpart connector in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface of the circuit substrate on which the socket connector 1 is mounted, but in the fourth embodiment, the plug connector is connected to the counterpart connector in a direction parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit substrate, and 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 marked with reference numerals in the first embodiment with "300" added to the reference numerals, and the description is omitted.

[0092] Fig. 9 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of a receptacle connector 301 according to the fourth embodiment, taken along a plane perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction. Fig. 9 , a cross section at the position of the socket terminal 310 in the terminal arrangement direction (Y-axis direction) is shown. Fig. 9 As shown, in this embodiment, the socket connector 301 is parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit substrate (not shown) in the left-right direction ( Fig. 9The X-axis direction in the figure is the connection direction, and the connector is mated and connected with a plug connector (not shown) which is a counterpart connector.

[0093] The socket connector 301 of the present embodiment is configured by combining the socket connector 1 of the first embodiment (see Figure 3 ) is turned sideways and one end side portion of the socket terminal 10 on which the connection portion 11 is provided is extended. Fig. 9 As shown, in this embodiment, the socket terminal 310 is provided with an extension portion 318 bent at the right end (the end on the X1 side) of the fixed side holding portion 312 and extending linearly downward, and the connecting portion 311 is provided to extend from the lower end of the extension portion 318 toward the right. Fig. 9 As shown, the extension portion 318 of the socket terminal 310 on the upper side ( Z1 side) is located to the right ( X1 side) of the extension portion 318 of the socket terminal 310 on the lower side ( Z2 side) and is formed longer than the extension portion 318 .

[0094] In the receptacle connector 301 of the present embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the gap between the first edge portion 342A of the dielectric member 340 and the first leg portion 315A of the receptacle terminal 310 and the gap between the second edge portion 343B of the dielectric member 340 and the second leg portion 315B of the receptacle terminal 310 are formed to have dimensions that ensure appropriate impedance in the receptacle terminal 310. Even when the movable housing 330 is in the floating state, the state in which the gaps are formed between the first edge portion 342A and the first leg portion 315A and between the second edge portion 343B and the second leg portion 315B is maintained.

[0095] In the first to fourth embodiments described above, the entire dielectric component is accommodated in the internal space formed in the fixed housing, but as an alternative modification, only a part of the dielectric component may be accommodated. In addition, in the first to fourth embodiments, the dielectric component is accommodated in the internal space of the fixed housing, but as an alternative modification, an internal space may be formed in the movable housing and the dielectric component may be accommodated in the internal space.

[0096] In the first to fourth embodiments, the dielectric component is assembled to the movable housing, but as an alternative modification, the dielectric component may be assembled to the fixed housing instead of the movable housing. In this modification, the restricted portion formed on a portion of the dielectric component can abut against the restricting portion formed on the movable housing in the connector width direction. As a result, when the movable housing floats in the connector width direction, the restricted portion abuts against the restricting portion, so that the first edge portion of the dielectric component elastically deforms in the connector width direction in a manner following the socket terminal. In addition, in this modification, the dielectric component may not have a portion that abuts against the movable housing in the terminal arrangement direction. In this case, even if the movable housing floats in the terminal arrangement direction, the dielectric component will not move together with the movable housing.

[0097] In the first to fourth 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 the circuit substrate, It has: 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, The terminal comprises: a fixed side held portion held by the fixed housing; The movable side held portion is held by the movable housing; and the intermediate portion is located between the fixed side held portion and the movable side held portion and is elastically deformable, wherein the terminal is arranged to be mounted on the fixed housing and the movable housing, The electrical connector for the circuit board is characterized in that: A dielectric component is provided, at least a part of which is arranged in an internal space formed in at least one of the fixed housing and the movable housing, and is assembled to the fixed housing or the movable housing. The dielectric member has an edge portion extending along the middle portion with a gap therebetween. When the intermediate portion is elastically deformed in a connector width direction that is at right angles 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, wherein: The dielectric member is assembled to the movable housing, and has a restricted portion that can abut against the fixed housing in the connector width direction at a position different from the edge portion.

3. The electric connector for a circuit board according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The dielectric member does not have a portion that abuts against the fixed housing in the terminal arrangement direction, and the entire dielectric member is movable in the terminal arrangement direction together with the movable housing.

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