Substrate connector

Abstract

A substrate connector includes an inner terminal, an inner housing, an outer terminal, a shield cover, an outer housing, and a cover member. The outer terminal includes a large diameter portion that contacts and is conducted with a mating outer terminal, a link portion that is positioned by abutting against the outer housing, and a small diameter portion that accommodates the inner housing. A spring lock piece portion that is bent into a hairpin shape is formed at a tip end portion of the small diameter portion, and the spring lock piece portion is interposed between the shield cover and the cover member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a substrate connector. Background Technology

[0002] For example, in the prior art, a substrate connector mounted on a circuit board is known. Patent document JP2023-8309A discloses a technology related to a substrate connector, also known as a PCB connector, which is configured to mate with a mating connector. The mating connector is connected to a coaxial cable for transmitting high-frequency signals, etc. Both the connector and the mating connector include a shielding function that suppresses electromagnetic wave leakage caused by signals transmitted through the coaxial cable and the entry of electromagnetic waves from the outside. From this perspective, the aforementioned connector is also referred to as a shielded connector. Furthermore, the aforementioned connector includes a housing, a shielding cover, front and rear partitions, external terminals, a guide sleeve, and internal terminals. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The external terminals are inserted from the front of the housing, through the receiving holes of the shield, and subsequently secured by a bending locking tab. However, when an external force is applied to the mating connector while it is already mated into the connector, the load is transferred to the external terminals of the connector, and the locking tabs of the external terminals may deform, which could reduce the retaining force.

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a substrate connector that can improve the retention force of external terminals relative to the shield.

[0005] The substrate connector according to the present invention includes: an internal terminal electrically connected to a circuit board and in contact with a mating internal terminal of a mating connector; an inner housing including a receiving portion for accommodating the internal terminal; an external terminal covering a portion of the internal terminal, electrically connected to the circuit board and in contact with a mating external terminal of the mating connector; a shield including a retaining hole for holding the external terminal through which it passes; an outer housing accommodating and retaining the external terminal and the shield; and a cover member assembled to the shield. The external terminal includes: a large-diameter portion in contact with and communicating with the mating external terminal; a connecting portion positioned by abutting against the outer housing; and a small-diameter portion accommodating the inner housing. A spring-locking tab bent into a folded-back shape is formed at the end of the small-diameter portion, the spring-locking tab being sandwiched between the shield and the cover member.

[0006] Based on the above structure, a substrate connector can be provided that can improve the retention force of the external terminals relative to the shield. Attached Figure Description

[0007] Figure 1This is a perspective view showing the state in which the substrate connector according to this embodiment is mounted on the circuit board.

[0008] Figure 2 This is a 3D view of the substrate connector.

[0009] Figure 3 This is an exploded perspective view of the substrate connector.

[0010] Figure 4 This is a side cross-sectional view of the substrate connector.

[0011] Figure 5 It is along Figure 4 The cross-sectional view taken from line AA.

[0012] Figure 6 It is along Figure 4 The cross-sectional view of line BB.

[0013] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 An enlarged view of part C in the image.

[0014] Figure 8 This is a side view of the internal terminals at the lower section.

[0015] Figure 9 This is a plan view of the inner shell at the top section, viewed from above.

[0016] Figure 10 This is a front view of the inner shell at the upper section, viewed from the front side.

[0017] Figure 11 It is along Figure 10 The cross-sectional view of line DD.

[0018] Figure 12 This is a front view of the lower section of the inner shell, viewed from the front side.

[0019] Figure 13 It is along Figure 12 The cross-sectional view of line EE.

[0020] Figure 14 This is a front view of the outer casing, viewed from the front side.

[0021] Figure 15 This is a plan view of the outer shell as seen from above.

[0022] Figure 16 This is a side view of the outer casing.

[0023] Figure 17 It is along Figure 14 The cross-sectional view taken from the line FF.

[0024] Figure 18This is a front view of the shield, viewed from the front side.

[0025] Figure 19 It is along Figure 18 The cross-sectional view of line GG.

[0026] Figure 20 This is a rear view of the shield, viewed from the rear side.

[0027] Figure 21 This is a plan view of the shielding cover as seen from below.

[0028] Figure 22 This is a front view of the outer casing, viewed from the front side.

[0029] Figure 23 It is along Figure 22 The cross-sectional view taken from line HH.

[0030] Figure 24 This is a rear view of the outer casing, viewed from the rear side.

[0031] Figure 25 This is a front view of the cover, viewed from the front side.

[0032] Figure 26 This is a plan view of the lid as seen from above.

[0033] Figure 27 This is an illustrative diagram illustrating the assembly process of the substrate connector.

[0034] Figure 28 This is an illustrative diagram illustrating the assembly process of the substrate connector.

[0035] Figure 29 This is an illustrative diagram illustrating the assembly process of the substrate connector.

[0036] Figure 30 This is an illustrative diagram illustrating the assembly process of the substrate connector. Detailed Implementation

[0037] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the substrate connector according to this embodiment will be described in detail below. Note that the dimensions in the drawings are exaggerated for ease of explanation and may differ from the actual scale.

[0038] like Figure 1 As shown, the substrate connector 1 according to this embodiment is a male connector for high-frequency use, also known as a printed circuit board (PCB) connector, and can be mated to a female connector (not shown in the figure).

[0039] like Figures 1 to 7As shown, the substrate connector 1 includes internal terminals 10, an inner housing 20, external terminals 30, a shielding cover 40, an outer housing 50, and a cover component (cover 60). The substrate connector 1 is mounted on the circuit board 2 and used (see...). Figure 1 In this embodiment, the side of the housing 50 with opening 50a is referred to as the front side FR, and the side with circuit board 2 is referred to as the rear side RR.

[0040] Figure 8 The internal terminal 10 shown is electrically connected to the circuit board 2 and contacts the mating internal terminal of the mating connector (omitted in the figure). The internal terminal 10 is also referred to as an internal conductor. In this embodiment, the internal terminal 10 is configured in two segments, with two segments located in the upper segment and two segments located in the lower segment.

[0041] like Figure 8 As shown, the internal terminal 10 at the lower section is formed as a rod of metal or the like, and includes a main body 11 and a drooping portion 12, and is formed in an L-shape. The main body 11 is housed in the receiving portion 21 of the inner housing 20. The end portion 13 of the main body 11 contacts and communicates with the mating internal terminal (omitted in the figure). A press-fit protrusion 14 is formed at the main body 11. A plurality of (four in this embodiment) press-fit protrusions 14 are formed at the main body 11 and are configured such that the internal terminal 10 is press-fitted into the receiving portion 21 of the inner housing 20. The drooping portion 12 extends downward from the rear end of the main body 11. An abutment surface 15 is formed at the end face of the front side FR of the drooping portion 12, which abuts against the inner housing 20 when the internal terminal 10 is assembled. A connecting portion 16 is formed at the lower end of the drooping portion 12. The connecting portion 16 contacts and communicates with the circuit board 2. The connecting part 16 is inserted into a through hole formed in the circuit board 2 and fixed to the through hole by solder.

[0042] Although the internal terminal 10 at the upper section is different in length from the internal terminal 10 at the lower section, their structures are similar, and therefore their detailed description is omitted.

[0043] like Figures 9 to 13 As shown, the inner housing 20 includes a receiving portion 21 for accommodating the internal terminals 10. The inner housing 20 is configured in two sections, with two terminals located in the upper section and two terminals located in the lower section.

[0044] like Figures 9 to 11As shown, the inner shell 20 at the upper section is formed of synthetic resin or the like, and includes a main body 22 and a drooping portion 23, and is formed in an L-shape. The main body 22 is formed in a cylindrical shape and includes a receiving portion 21 for accommodating the internal terminal 10. The main body 22 is housed in the small-diameter portion 33 of the external terminal 30. Furthermore, cutouts 24 are formed on the left and right sides of the main body 22. The drooping portion 23 is positioned to connect the internal terminal 10 to the circuit board 2, and the drooping portion 23 extends downward from the rear end of the main body 22. An abutting surface 25 that abuts against the shielding cover 40 is formed on the front surface of the drooping portion 23 (see...). Figure 11 Furthermore, the rear portion of the drooping portion 23 is cut off to accommodate the internal terminal 10, and an abutment surface 26 abutting the internal terminal 10 is formed at the end face inside the cut-off drooping portion 23 (see...). Figure 11 ).

[0045] Although Figure 12 and Figure 13 The inner shell 20 at the lower section shown is different in length from the inner shell 20 at the upper section, but their structures are similar, and therefore only the differences between them are described.

[0046] like Figure 12 As shown, ribs 27 are provided on the left and right sides of the inner shell 20 at the lower section.

[0047] Figures 14 to 17 The external terminal 30 shown covers a portion of the internal terminal 10, is electrically connected to the circuit board 2, and contacts the mating external terminal of the mating connector (omitted in the figure). The external terminal 30 is also referred to as the external conductor. The external terminal 30 is configured in two segments, with two located in the upper segment and two in the lower segment.

[0048] like Figures 14 to 17 As shown, the external terminal 30 is formed as a stepped cylindrical shape made of metal or the like. The external terminal 30 includes a large-diameter portion 31, a connecting portion 32, and a small-diameter portion 33. The large-diameter portion 31 contacts and is conductive to a mating external terminal (omitted in the figure). The connecting portion 32, located between the large-diameter portion 31 and the small-diameter portion 33, is positioned by abutting against the outer casing 50. The small-diameter portion 33 is the portion in which the inner casing 20 is housed. At the small-diameter portion 33, a plurality of locking portions 34 are formed by cutting and lifting to lock the inner casing 20. At the end of the small-diameter portion 33 (the end on the rear RR), a spring locking plate portion 35 is formed that is pre-folded back (bent into a folded shape) towards the front FR, and the spring locking plate portion 35 is locked after being assembled to the shield 40. Slits 36 are formed on both sides of the spring locking plate portion 35.

[0049] Figures 18 to 21The shield 40 shown includes a retaining hole 41 for holding an external terminal 30 through which the external terminal 30 passes. The shield 40 is formed of metal or the like.

[0050] like Figures 18 to 21 As shown, the shield 40 includes a front portion 42 assembled to the housing 50 and a retaining hole portion 41 for receiving external terminals 30. An abutting surface 43 is formed at the end face of the front portion 42 that abuts against the housing 50 (see...). Figure 19 At the end face of the retaining hole 41, an abutting surface 44 is formed that abuts against the inner housing 20 (see...). Figure 19 At the end of the retaining hole 41 (the end on the rear RR), a receiving recess 41a is formed (see...). Figure 7 The recessed portion 41a accommodates the spring locking piece 35 formed at the end of the small-diameter portion 33 of the outer terminal 30 (the end on the rear RR). Furthermore, at the lower part of the groove where it assembles with the inner housing 20, guide rail cutouts 45 are formed in pairs on the left and right sides, and the ribs 27 of the lower section of the inner housing 20 can be inserted into these cutouts 45. At the shielding cover 40, a plurality of legs 46 (four in this embodiment) protruding downward from the lower surface of the shielding cover 40 are formed. The legs 46 are electrically connected to the circuit board 2. The legs 46 are inserted into through holes formed in the circuit board 2 and fixed to the through holes by solder. Furthermore, in the lower surface of the shielding cover 40 where the legs 46 are formed, an opening is formed for assembling and accommodating the cover 60 (see...). Figure 21 ).

[0051] Figures 22 to 24 The housing 50 shown houses and holds the external terminals 30 and the shield 40.

[0052] like Figures 22 to 24 As shown, the housing 50 includes a main body 51 formed of synthetic resin or the like. A latching portion 52 (omitted in the figure) for locking mating connectors is formed at the upper part of the main body 51. Inside the main body 51, a receiving chamber 53 is formed to receive the front portion 42 of the shielding cover 40, and an abutting surface 54 abutting the shielding cover 40 is formed at the end face of the receiving chamber 53 (see figure). Figure 23 Furthermore, a receiving hole portion 55 for assembling the external terminal 30 is formed inside the main body portion 51, and a cylindrical protrusion 56 for the external terminal 30 to abut on the inner periphery of the receiving hole portion 55 is formed. The receiving hole portion 55 is configured in two sections, with two sections located in the upper section and two sections located in the lower section. In this embodiment, a plurality of cylindrical protrusions 56 (four in this embodiment) are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0053] Figure 25 and Figure 26 The cover 60 shown is assembled to the shield 40.

[0054] like Figure 25 and Figure 26 As shown, the cover 60 is assembled to the shield 40 and includes the function of dividing the interior of the shield 40 into a front, rear, right, and left section. The cover 60 includes a cover body 61 formed in a plate shape such as metal. Press-fit protrusions 62 are formed on the left and right sides of the cover body 61, respectively. The press-fit protrusions 62 are configured to press-fit and assemble the cover 60 into the receiving portion 47 of the shield 40. At the cover body 61, a leg 63 is formed that protrudes downward from the lower end surface of the cover body 61. The leg 63 is inserted into a through hole corresponding to a ground portion of a conductor pattern formed on the circuit board 2 and is fixed to the through hole by solder. Furthermore, the cover body 61 of the cover 60 extends to the external terminal 30 at the upper section, and the upper end of the cover body 61 is at approximately the same height as the upper end of the hanging portion 23 of the inner housing 20 at the upper section. Furthermore, a cutout 64 is formed in the upper end of the cover body 61, through which the main body portion 22 of the upper inner shell 20 can pass. In this embodiment, two cutouts 64 are formed corresponding to the upper inner shell 20. In addition, a protrusion 65 is formed inside the cutout 64, which engages with the cutout 24 formed in the main body portion 22 of the inner shell 20.

[0055] The assembly process of substrate connector 1 is described below.

[0056] like Figure 27 As shown, the shield 40 is assembled to the outer shell 50.

[0057] like Figure 28 As shown, the external terminal 30 is assembled to the housing 50.

[0058] like Figure 29 As shown, the inner housing 20, pre-assembled with internal terminals 10, is assembled to the shield 40.

[0059] like Figure 30 As shown, the cover 60 is assembled to the shield 40.

[0060] When the cover 60 is assembled to the shield 40, the spring locking tab 35 of the external terminal 30 contacts the cover body 61 of the cover 60 assembled to the shield 40. In this state, the spring locking tab 35 of the lower external terminal 30 is sandwiched between the shield 40 and the cover 60, and the cover 60 covers the back of the lower external terminal 30 (see...). Figure 4 A cutout 64 located at the upper end of the cover body 61 penetrates the inner housing 20 at the upper section, and therefore there is almost no gap between the front surface of the cover body 61 and the rear end of the inner housing 20 at the upper section (see...). Figure 6 and Figure 7Furthermore, a cutout 64 provided in the upper end of the cover body 61 penetrates the inner housing 20, and thus the cover 60 covers the back of the outer terminal 30 at the upper section (see...). Figure 6 and Figure 7 ).

[0061] As described above, the substrate connector 1 according to this embodiment includes an internal terminal 10 and a receiving portion 21. The internal terminal 10 is electrically connected to the circuit board 2 and contacts the mating internal terminal of the mating connector. The receiving portion 21 includes an inner housing 20 for accommodating the internal terminal 10. The substrate connector 1 includes an external terminal 30 and a shield 40. The external terminal 30 covers a portion of the internal terminal 10, is electrically connected to the circuit board 2 and contacts the mating external terminal of the mating connector. The shield 40 includes a retaining hole 41 for holding the external terminal 30 through which it passes. The substrate connector 1 includes a housing 50 and a cover member (cover 60). The housing 50 accommodates and holds the external terminal 30 and the shield 40, and the cover member is assembled to the shield 40. The external terminal 30 includes: a large-diameter portion 31 that contacts and communicates with the mating external terminal; a connecting portion 32 that is positioned by abutting against the housing 50; and a small-diameter portion 33 in which the inner housing 20 is accommodated. A spring locking piece 35, bent into a folded-back shape, is formed at the end of the small diameter portion 33 (the end on the rear RR), and the spring locking piece 35 is sandwiched between the shield 40 and the cover member (cover 60).

[0062] The spring-locking tab 35 of the external terminal 30 contacts the shielding cover 40 under spring load, enabling reliable contact between the external terminal 30 and the shielding cover 40 and absorbing manufacturing deviations. Furthermore, the shielding performance of the shielding cover 40 and the crosstalk reduction characteristics between the terminals at the upper section are improved by extending the external terminal 30 from the cover 60 to the upper section, and the holding force of the inner housing 20 is also ensured.

[0063] According to the above embodiment, a substrate connector 1 can be provided that can improve the holding force of the external terminal 30 relative to the shield 40.

[0064] In the substrate connector 1, a plurality of spring locking plates 35 may be formed at intervals in the circumferential direction of the small diameter portion 33.

[0065] Thus, the external terminal 30 and the shield 40 can reliably contact each other through the spring locking plate 35 of the external terminal 30 using the spring load, and manufacturing deviations can be absorbed.

[0066] While specific embodiments have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. In fact, the novel embodiments described herein can be implemented in various other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and modifications in the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The appended claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications that fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A substrate connector, comprising: Internal terminals, which are electrically connected to the circuit board and contact the mating internal terminals of the mating connector; An inner housing, the inner housing including a receiving portion for accommodating the internal terminals; An external terminal, which covers a portion of the internal terminal, is electrically connected to the circuit board and contacts the mating external terminal of the mating connector; A shielding cover, the shielding cover including a retaining hole for holding the external terminal through which the external terminal passes; An outer housing that accommodates and retains the external terminals and the shielding cover; as well as Cover component, which is assembled to the shield, wherein, The external terminals include: A large-diameter portion that contacts and is connected to the mating external terminal; The connecting part, which is positioned by abutting against the outer casing; and A small-diameter portion, which accommodates the inner housing, and A spring locking piece is formed at the end of the small diameter portion, which is bent into a folded shape and is sandwiched between the shield and the cover component.

2. The substrate connector according to claim 1, wherein, Multiple spring locking plates are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction of the small diameter portion.

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