Connector

Abstract

The invention provides a connector which can improve the positioning accuracy of a circuit substrate relative to a mounting object on the basis of ensuring the creepage distance between substrate connecting parts. A connector (1) is provided with a housing (30) and a pair of terminal fittings (10) housed in the housing. Each terminal fitting has a substrate connection portion (10B) protruding from a lower surface (30N) (one surface) of a terminal fixing portion (30A) of the housing and disposed inside a connection hole (H1) of the circuit substrate (S1). The housing has a plate-shaped insulating wall (30D) disposed between adjacent substrate connection portions and protruding downward from a lower surface (one surface) of the terminal fixing portion of the housing. The protruding end of the insulating wall is farther from the lower surface (one surface) of the terminal fixing portion of the housing than the protruding end of the substrate connecting portion. The insulating wall is positioned in an insertion hole (H2) of the circuit board.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector. Background Art

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a high-voltage power supply connector having a plurality of output protrusions protruding from a connector. The high-voltage power supply connector is provided with ribs in a manner that separates adjacent output protrusions. Thus, adjacent output protrusions are separated from each other. Patent document 2 also discloses a configuration similar to that of Patent document 1. Prior art literature Patent Literature

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 3-32376 Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-50745 Summary of the invention Problems to be solved by the invention

[0004] When the high voltage power supply connector as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is mounted on a substrate, the output protrusion and the rib are inserted into the receiving hole and the rib hole formed on the substrate. Considering the engagement with the other connector, it is preferable to prevent the high voltage power supply connector from being offset relative to the substrate.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector capable of improving positioning accuracy with respect to a circuit board to be mounted while ensuring a creepage distance between board connection portions. Solutions to Solve Problems

[0006] The connector of the present invention has Shell and A plurality of terminal parts housed in the housing, Each of the terminal parts has a substrate connection portion, which protrudes from one surface of the housing and is arranged inside a connection hole of the circuit substrate. The housing has a plate-shaped insulating wall, which is disposed between adjacent substrate connecting portions and protrudes from the one surface. The protruding end of the insulating wall is farther away from the one surface of the housing than the protruding end of the substrate connecting portion. The insulating wall is arranged in a positioned state at the insertion hole of the circuit board. Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, the positioning accuracy of the connector with respect to the circuit board to be mounted can be improved while ensuring the creepage distance between the board connecting portions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1It is a side cross-sectional view of the connector according to the embodiment. Figure 2 This is a bottom cross-sectional view of the connector mounted on the circuit board as seen from below. Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional view of the terminal parts. Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the terminal fixing portion of the connector as seen from below. Figure 5 This is a side view of a board connecting portion and an insulating wall of a connector mounted on a circuit board, as seen from the left. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] [Description of Embodiments of the Invention] First, embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of examples. (1) A connector having Shell and A plurality of terminal parts housed in the housing, Each of the terminal parts has a substrate connection portion, which protrudes from one surface of the housing and is arranged inside a connection hole of the circuit substrate. The housing has a plate-shaped insulating wall, which is disposed between adjacent substrate connecting portions and protrudes from the one surface. The protruding end of the insulating wall is farther away from the one surface of the housing than the protruding end of the substrate connecting portion. The insulating wall is arranged in a positioned state at the insertion hole of the circuit board.

[0010] The connector of (1) is positioned on the circuit board by the insulating wall, so that when the connector is assembled on the circuit board, the connector can be prevented from being offset relative to the circuit board. Here, the so-called positioned state refers to a state in which the insulating wall is arranged in the insertion hole without shaking in a direction perpendicular to the penetration direction of the insertion hole.

[0011] (2) In the connector described in (1), the insulating wall has a plurality of wall surfaces extending in a planar shape in the protruding direction, A rib is formed protrudingly on at least one of the wall surfaces, the rib extending in the protruding direction and contacting the inner peripheral surface of the connecting hole, The protruding tip portion of the rib has a guide inclined surface that is gradually tapered toward the tip.

[0012] The connector of (2) can realize a structure in which the wall surface does not contact the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole, and only the rib contacts the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole, which can easily suppress the insertion resistance of the insulating wall relative to the insertion hole. In addition, by guiding the inclined surface, the rib can be inserted into the insertion hole without getting stuck.

[0013] (3) In the connector described in (3), the protruding end of the insulating wall has a tapered surface that becomes thinner toward the top end. When viewed from the direction in which the substrate connecting portions are arranged, the tapered surface is located outside the outer shape of the substrate connecting portions.

[0014] The connector of (3) can easily insert the insulating wall into the insertion hole and can ensure the creepage distance between the substrate connection parts.

[0015] (4) In the connector described in any one of (1) to (3), the housing has a recessed portion that is recessed from the one surface and surrounds the base end portion of the insulating wall. A curved surface is formed at the base end portion, and the curved surface is inclined so as to spread in the recess toward the bottom surface of the recess.

[0016] The connector of (4) has the base end of the insulating wall reinforced by the curved surface, and when the lower surface of the housing is brought close to the circuit board, the curved surface does not interfere with the insertion hole, so that the housing is less likely to tilt relative to the circuit board.

[0017] [Details of Embodiments of the Invention] <Implementation Method 1> Reference Figures 1 to 5 Embodiment 1 that embodies the connector 1 of the present invention is described. In the figure, "front side", "rear side", "upper side", "lower side", "right side" and "left side" are represented by "F", "B", "U", "D", "R" and "L", respectively. In addition, the reference of the direction is defined for convenience and may not be consistent with the direction of the connector 1 when it is mounted on a vehicle or the like. For example, the up and down direction is not limited to the direction of gravity.

[0018] like Figure 1 As shown, the connector 1 can connect the terminal parts 10 accommodated in the housing 30 to the counterpart terminals 51 of the counterpart connector 50, and the counterpart connector 50 is mounted on the circuit board S2. The connector 1 includes a pair of terminal parts 10 and the housing 30. The connector 1 is mounted on the circuit board S1.

[0019] [Circuit board structure] The circuit substrate S1 is in the form of a flat plate. Electronic components (not shown) are mounted on the upper and lower surfaces of the circuit substrate S1. A pair of connection holes H1 and an insertion hole H2 are formed through the circuit substrate S1 in the thickness direction. Figure 2As shown, when the circuit substrate S1 is viewed from below, a pair of connection holes H1 and a through hole H2 are formed longer in one direction (front-back direction). The two ends of the long side direction of the pair of connection holes H1 are formed in a semicircular shape. The through hole H2 is a rectangular shape with four corners formed in an arc shape. The through hole H2 is sandwiched by the pair of connection holes H1. On the lower surface of the circuit substrate S1, a conductive portion L is provided in a manner surrounding the connection hole H1. The substrate connection portion 10B of the terminal part 10 is fixed to the conductive portion L by solder, and the substrate connection portion 10B is inserted into the connection hole H1 and protrudes to the lower surface of the circuit substrate S1 (refer to Figure 1 ).

[0020] [Terminal parts configuration] The terminal part 10 is formed by stamping a conductive metal plate, etc. The terminal part 10 is a so-called male terminal part. A pair of terminal parts 10 are of the same form. Therefore, the description of the terminal part 10 will be described with reference to one terminal part 10. Figure 3 As shown, the terminal part 10 has a tab 10A and a substrate connecting portion 10B.

[0021] The protruding piece 10A is formed by folding a metal plate so as to overlap in the plate thickness direction and to be elongated in the vertical direction. A pair of locking pieces 10C are formed at the lower end of the protruding piece 10A so as to protrude in the width direction. The substrate connecting portion 10B is formed so as to be connected to the lower end edge of the protruding piece 10A and extend downward. The substrate connecting portion 10B is formed by folding so as to overlap in the plate thickness direction.

[0022] [Case Structure] The housing 30 is made of synthetic resin. Figure 1 As shown, the housing 30 includes a plate-shaped terminal fixing portion 30A with its plate thickness oriented in the up-down direction and a cover portion 30B in the shape of a square tube extending upward from the outer peripheral edge of the terminal fixing portion 30A.

[0023] A pair of terminal insertion holes 30C are formed in the terminal fixing portion 30A so as to penetrate in the plate thickness direction (vertical direction). Figure 4 As shown in the figure, when the terminal fixing portion 30A is viewed from the plate thickness direction (below), a pair of terminal insertion holes 30C are formed long in one direction (front-back direction). The two ends (front end and rear end) in the long side direction of the lower part of each terminal insertion hole 30C are formed with a wide portion 30M having a width greater than that of the upper part of each terminal insertion hole 30C.

[0024] Leg portions 30K that protrude downward from a lower surface 30N (one surface of the housing 30 ) of the terminal fixing portion 30A are provided at four corners of the terminal fixing portion 30A, respectively.

[0025] The terminal fixing portion 30A is provided with a plate-shaped insulating wall 30D protruding downward from the lower surface 30N of the terminal fixing portion 30A. The insulating wall 30D is disposed between the pair of terminal insertion holes 30C. When the terminal fixing portion 30A is viewed from below, the insulating wall 30D is a rectangular shape with four arc-shaped corners (see FIG. Figure 2 ). The insulating wall 30D has four wall surfaces 30E. Each wall surface 30E extends downward from the lower surface 30N of the terminal fixing portion 30A. In other words, each wall surface 30E extends in a planar shape in a protruding direction (downward) toward the insulating wall 30D in different directions. When the terminal fixing portion 30A is viewed from below, the long sides of the pair of terminal insertion holes 30C and the insulating wall 30D extend in the same direction (front-back direction) (see Figure 2 ).

[0026] The protruding end of the insulating wall 30D has four tapered surfaces 30G that are formed to be inclined so as to become thinner toward the protruding end. Each tapered surface 30G is disposed in a continuous manner corresponding to each wall surface 30E.

[0027] Each wall surface 30E is formed with a rib 30F (see Figure 2 ). Each rib 30F protrudes from each wall surface 30E in a semicircular shape and is formed to extend in the vertical direction. In other words, each rib 30F extends in the protruding direction (vertical direction) of the insulating wall 30D. Each rib 30F is arranged in the center of the width direction of each wall surface 30E (refer to Figure 2 ). These ribs 30F are so-called crushed ribs. The lower end portion (top end portion) of each rib 30F has a guide inclined surface 30L, and the guide inclined surface 30L is formed in an inclined manner so as to become thinner and thinner toward the lower end (top end) and approach each wall surface 30E. The lower end portion of each rib 30F is an end portion on the side away from the housing 30 in the protruding direction of the insulating wall 30D. The guide inclined surface 30L is inclined in a manner approaching the wall surface 30E as it moves downward away from the lower surface 30N of the terminal fixing portion 30A of the housing 30. The top end of each rib 30F is arranged in each wall surface 30E above the tapering surface 30G.

[0028] A recess 30J is formed on the lower surface 30N of the terminal fixing portion 30A so as to be recessed upward and surround the base end of the insulating wall 30D. A curved surface 30H is formed on the base end of the insulating wall 30D located in the recess 30J, and the curved surface 30H is inclined so as to widen toward the bottom surface of the recess 30J (see Figure 1 ). Specifically, the curved surface 30H is a surface that is curved in a concave manner.

[0029] [An example of assembling terminal parts into a housing] like Figure 1As shown, each terminal component 10 is inserted into each terminal insertion hole 30C from the bottom of the housing 30. Then, the locking piece 10C is pressed into each terminal insertion hole 30C from the bottom. In this way, each terminal component 10 is accommodated in the housing 30, and the connector 1 is completed.

[0030] In the completed connector 1, the protrusion 10A is arranged in the cover portion 30B. The substrate connection portion 10B protrudes downward from the lower surface 30N of the terminal fixing portion 30A of the housing 30. A pair of substrate connection portions 10B and insulating walls 30D are arranged in such a manner that their respective plate surfaces are parallel. The insulating wall 30D is arranged between adjacent substrate connection portions 10B (see Figure 2 ). The protruding end of the insulating wall 30D is further away from the lower surface 30N of the terminal fixing portion 30A of the housing 30 than the protruding end of the substrate connecting portion 10B. That is, the protruding dimension of the insulating wall 30D protruding from the circuit substrate S1 is larger than the protruding dimension of the substrate connecting portion 10B. Figure 5 As shown in the figure, when viewed from the direction in which the substrate connection parts 10B are arranged, the outer shape of the insulating wall 30D is located outside the outer shape of each substrate connection part 10B. The two end edges of the insulating wall 30D in the front-back direction are wider than the two end edges of the substrate connection part 10B in the front-back direction. In detail, the tapered surface 30G corresponding to the wall surface 30E at both ends in the long side direction is located outside the outer shape of each substrate connection part 10B.

[0031] [An example of assembling a connector onto a circuit board] First, the insulating wall 30D and the substrate connection portion 10B are brought close to the circuit substrate S1 from the upper surface side. Then, the insulating wall 30D of the housing 30 is inserted through the insertion hole H2 of the circuit substrate S1. Next, the substrate connection portions 10B of each terminal component 10 are simultaneously inserted through each connection hole H1 of the circuit substrate S1.

[0032] In the process of bringing the housing 30 close to the upper surface of the circuit board S1, the ribs 30F of the insulating wall 30D are slightly compressed by the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole H2, and the insulating wall 30D is inserted into the insertion hole H2 (see Figure 2 ). At this time, all the ribs 30F are slightly flattened. The wall surfaces 30E of the insulating wall 30D do not contact the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole H2 (see Figure 2 In addition, when the housing 30 is brought close to the upper surface of the circuit board S1, the outer peripheral surface of the board connecting portion 10B facing the inner peripheral surface of the connection hole H1 does not contact the inner peripheral surface of the connection hole H1 (see Figure 2 ).

[0033] Furthermore, at the place where the leg portion 30K of the housing 30 contacts the upper surface of the circuit board S1, the board connection portion 10B is connected and fixed to the conductive portion L of the circuit board S1 using solder. In this way, the connector 1 is assembled to the circuit board S1 (see Figure 1At this time, a part of the substrate connection portion 10B is arranged inside the connection hole H1 of the circuit substrate S1 (see Figure 1 ). The substrate connection portion 10B is arranged below the circuit substrate S1 except for a part thereof. In addition, a part of the insulating wall 30D contacts the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole H2 of the circuit substrate S1 through the rib 30F, thereby suppressing the shaking in the direction perpendicular to the penetration direction of the insertion hole H2, and is arranged in a positioned state (refer to Figure 2 ). Except for a part of the insulating wall 30D, the rest of the insulating wall 30D is arranged below the circuit substrate S1. Figure 5 As shown, when viewed from the direction in which each substrate connection portion 10B is arranged (left-right direction), the tapered surface 30G is arranged outside the outer shape of each substrate connection portion 10B in a manner that does not overlap with the outer shape of each substrate connection portion 10B. Figure 5 In the figure, the substrate connecting portion 10B arranged on the back side of the insulating wall 30D is not shown.

[0034] Next, the mating connector 50 is inserted into the cover 30B from above. As a result, the mating terminals 51 (female terminal parts) of the mating connector 50 and the terminal parts 10 are connected (see Figure 1 ).

[0035] Next, the effects of the first embodiment will be described.

[0036] The connector 1 includes a housing 30 and a pair of terminal parts 10 housed in the housing 30. Each terminal part 10 has a substrate connection part 10B, which protrudes from the lower surface 30N (one surface) of the terminal fixing part 30A of the housing 30 and is arranged inside the connection hole H1 of the circuit substrate S1. The housing 30 has a plate-shaped insulating wall 30D with a large width in the front-back direction, which is arranged between adjacent substrate connection parts 10B and protrudes downward from the lower surface 30N (one surface) of the terminal fixing part 30A of the housing 30. The protruding end of the insulating wall 30D is farther away from the lower surface 30N (one surface) of the terminal fixing part 30A of the housing 30 than the protruding end of the substrate connection part 10B. In other words, the insulating wall 30D protrudes longer than the substrate connection part 10B relative to the lower surface 30N (one surface) of the terminal fixing part 30A. The insulating wall 30D is arranged in a positioned state in the insertion hole H2 of the circuit substrate S1.

[0037] According to this configuration, the connector 1 is positioned on the circuit board S1 by the insulating wall 30D. Therefore, when the connector 1 is mounted on the circuit board S1, it is possible to avoid the connector 1 being displaced relative to the housing 30.

[0038] The insulating wall 30D has a plurality of wall surfaces 30E, and the plurality of wall surfaces 30E extend in a planar shape in the protruding direction and face different directions. Ribs 30F extending in the protruding direction and contacting the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole H2 are formed protrudingly on the plurality of wall surfaces 30E. The top end portion of the rib 30F in the protruding direction has a guide inclined surface 30L that becomes thinner and thinner toward the top end. According to this structure, the wall surface 30E does not contact the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole H2, and only the rib 30F contacts the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole H2, which makes it easy to suppress the insertion resistance of the insulating wall 30D relative to the insertion hole H2. In addition, by guiding the inclined surface 30L, the rib 30F can be inserted into the insertion hole H2 without getting stuck.

[0039] The protruding end of the insulating wall 30D has a tapered surface 30G that becomes increasingly tapered toward the top, and when viewed from the direction in which the substrate connecting portions 10B are arranged (left-right direction), the tapered surface 30G is located outside the outer shape of the substrate connecting portions 10B. According to this configuration, the insulating wall 30D can be easily inserted into the insertion hole H2, and the creepage distance between the substrate connecting portions 10B can be ensured.

[0040] The housing 30 has a recessed portion 30J that is recessed upward from the lower surface 30N (one surface) of the terminal fixing portion 30A of the housing 30 and surrounds the base end of the insulating wall 30D. A curved surface 30H is formed at the base end of the insulating wall 30D, and the curved surface 30H is inclined in a manner that widens and expands toward the bottom surface of the recess 30J in the recess 30J. According to this configuration, the base end of the insulating wall 30D is reinforced by the curved surface 30H, and when the lower surface 30N of the terminal fixing portion 30A of the housing 30 is brought close to the circuit substrate S1, the curved surface 30H can be prevented from interfering with the insertion hole H2, so that the housing 30 is less likely to tilt relative to the circuit substrate S1.

[0041] [Other embodiments] The embodiments disclosed herein are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and non-restrictive. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein but is indicated by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0042] The number of terminal parts relative to the housing is not limited to the number in the above-described embodiment.

[0043] The present invention can also be applied to a housing equipped with female terminal parts having a substrate connecting portion.

[0044] Unlike the above-described embodiment, a configuration may be adopted in which the mating-side connecting portion and the substrate connecting portion are not folded back.

[0045] The number of wall surfaces of the insulating wall may be three, or five or more.

[0046] The position and number of the ribs relative to the wall surface are not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, by providing ribs at both ends of the long side direction (front-back direction) on the wall surface located in the longitudinal direction, the displacement of the connector relative to the rotation direction of the circuit board can be well suppressed. In addition, it is sufficient to form the ribs on at least one of the multiple wall surfaces.

[0047] Unlike the above-described embodiment, the curved surface formed at the base end portion of the insulating wall may be formed as an inclined surface inclined in a planar shape.

[0048] Unlike the above-described embodiment, the tapered surface may be formed as a curved surface that is continuous with the wall surface and that curves so as to bulge outward. Description of Reference Numerals

[0049] 1: Connector 10: Terminal parts 10A: Tab 10B: Board connection part 10C: Stopper 30: Shell 30A: Terminal fixing part 30B: Hood 30C: Terminal insertion hole 30D: Insulation wall 30E: Wall 30F: Ribs 30G: Surface 30H: Curved surface 30J: concave part 30K: Legs 30L: Guide slope 30M: Wide width 30N: Lower surface of the terminal fixing part (one surface) 50: Connector on the other side 51: Terminal on the other side H1: Connection hole H2: Through hole L: Conductive part S: Circuit board

Claims

1. A connector having Shell and A plurality of terminal parts housed in the housing, Each of the terminal parts has a substrate connection portion, which protrudes from one surface of the housing and is arranged inside a connection hole of the circuit substrate. The housing has a plate-shaped insulating wall, which is disposed between adjacent substrate connecting portions and protrudes from the one surface. The protruding end of the insulating wall is farther away from the one surface of the housing than the protruding end of the substrate connecting portion. The insulating wall is arranged in a positioned state at the insertion hole of the circuit board.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein: The insulating wall has a plurality of wall surfaces extending in a planar shape in a protruding direction. A rib is formed protrudingly on at least one of the plurality of wall surfaces, the rib extending in the protruding direction and contacting the inner peripheral surface of the connecting hole, The tip end portion of the rib in the protruding direction has a guide inclined surface which is gradually tapered toward the tip end.

3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein: The protruding end of the insulating wall has a tapered surface that becomes thinner and thinner toward the top end. When viewed from the direction in which the substrate connecting portions are arranged, the tapered surface is located outside the outer shape of the substrate connecting portions.

4. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The housing has a recessed portion that is recessed from the one surface and surrounds the base end portion of the insulating wall. A curved surface is formed at the base end portion, and the curved surface is inclined so as to spread in the recess toward the bottom surface of the recess.

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