Multipole electrical connector

Abstract

The utility model belongs to the technical field of electric connector discloses a kind of multi-pole number electric connectors including male side connector, female side connector and terminal position fixing piece;Female side connector includes female side shell and the multiple female terminals contained in female side shell, and female terminal is the first female terminal of tail part connection electric wire or the second female terminal of tail part connection flexible flat cable;The shape of first female terminal and second female terminal is consistent for the front end contact part for electric contact with male side connector;First installation groove for installing terminal position fixing piece is equipped in female side shell;Terminal position fixing piece is slidably installed in first installation groove, and have pre-lock position and locking position;When being in pre-lock position, terminal position fixing piece avoids the insertion path of female terminal;When being in locking position, the locking portion of terminal position fixing piece is resisted in the tail part of front end contact part.The utility model can realize efficient compatibility and cost saving, improve terminal locking reliability and connection stability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of electrical connector technology, and in particular to a multi-pole electrical connector. Background Technology

[0002] As electronic devices evolve towards higher density and modularity, multi-pole connectors are playing an increasingly crucial role in signal transmission and integration. Currently, the multi-pole electrical connectors on the market mainly include wire connectors and FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) cable connectors. Wire connectors use traditional discrete wires for signal connection, while FPC cable connectors use integrated flexible cables for signal connection.

[0003] Because the wire connectors and FPC ribbon cable connectors have completely independent structural designs, they are difficult to interchange. When users need to switch between the two types of electrical connectors, they need to completely discard the original electrical connectors and purchase new ones, which is costly and complicated. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this utility model provides a multi-pole electrical connector that achieves high efficiency, compatibility, and cost savings, while improving terminal locking reliability and connection stability.

[0005] The technical solution of this utility model is:

[0006] This utility model provides a multi-pole electrical connector, including a male connector, a female connector, and a terminal position fixing member. The female connector includes a female housing and multiple female terminals housed within the female housing. Each female terminal is either a first female terminal for connecting a wire at its tail or a second female terminal for connecting a flexible ribbon cable at its tail. The front contact portions of the first and second female terminals for electrical contact with the male connector have the same shape. The female housing has a first mounting groove for mounting the terminal position fixing member. The terminal position fixing member is slidably mounted in the first mounting groove and has a pre-locked position and a locked position. When in the pre-locked position, the terminal position fixing member avoids the insertion path of the female terminal. When in the locked position, the locking portion of the terminal position fixing member abuts against the tail of the front contact portion.

[0007] Optionally, the terminal position fixing member includes a main body and a locking part disposed on the main body along the thickness direction. One of the sidewalls of the main body and the first mounting groove is provided with a first protrusion and a second protrusion, and the other is provided with a limiting boss. When the first protrusion abuts against the limiting boss, the terminal position fixing member is in the pre-locked position; when the second protrusion abuts against the limiting boss, the terminal position fixing member is in the locked position.

[0008] Optionally, the first protrusion and the second protrusion are disposed on the main body, and the main body is provided with clearance notches corresponding to the positions of the first protrusion and the second protrusion.

[0009] Optionally, the main body has a first end and a second end in the sliding direction, wherein the width of the first end is smaller than the width of the second end.

[0010] Optionally, the terminal position fixing component further includes a first guide portion, and a second guide portion that cooperates with the first guide portion is provided on the other side wall of the first mounting groove.

[0011] Optionally, the locking part consists of a plurality of locking protrusions spaced apart along the length direction of the terminal position fixing member, and a groove is formed between two adjacent locking protrusions for the female terminal to pass through.

[0012] Optionally, the female housing is provided with multiple channels through which the female terminal passes, and the multiple channels are in communication with the first mounting groove.

[0013] Optionally, the female-side housing for accommodating the second female terminal has a slot for accommodating the flexible cable on the side away from the male-side connector, and the slot communicates with the channel.

[0014] Optionally, the male connector includes a male housing, and the female housing is configured to be inserted into the male housing in the longitudinal direction, wherein the male housing is provided with a first latching part, and the female housing is provided with a corresponding second latching part.

[0015] Optionally, it also includes a connector position fixing member. The female side housing is provided with a second mounting groove for installing the connector position fixing member. The second mounting groove is located below the second snap-fit ​​portion. The connector position fixing member includes a third snap-fit ​​portion that snaps into the second snap-fit ​​portion and a first limiting protrusion that is limited and connected to the female side housing.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the multi-pole electrical connector of this utility model has the following significant advantages:

[0017] This utility model of a multi-pole electrical connector utilizes the feature that the front contact portions of the first female terminal (such as a wire terminal) and the second female terminal (such as an FPC cable terminal) are designed with identical shapes, resulting in two female-side housings with the same external structure. This achieves core compatibility for different types of multi-pole electrical connectors. This allows core structures such as the male connector, terminal position fixing component, and connector position fixing component to be completely shared in both wire-type electrical connectors and flat cable (such as FPC or FFC) type electrical connectors. When switching conductor types during production or maintenance, users only need to replace the corresponding female-side housing, without replacing the entire multi-pole electrical connector, greatly reducing material costs, inventory management costs, and switching risks. The terminal position fixing component is slidably installed within the female-side housing and is designed with a dual position of pre-locked and locked, providing a secondary locking mechanism. In the pre-locked position, the female terminal can be inserted into the female housing without obstruction and complete the initial locking; in the locked position, the locking part directly abuts against the tail of the terminal front contact part, forming mechanical interference, which greatly enhances the holding force of the terminal, effectively prevents the terminal from loosening due to vibration or accidental pulling, and significantly improves the assembly reliability and long-term stability of multi-pole electrical connectors. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the multi-pole electrical connector according to the first embodiment of this utility model;

[0019] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Exploded view of the structure;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the terminal position fixing component in the pre-locked position from a first-view perspective;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the terminal position fixing component in the pre-locked position from a second perspective;

[0022] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 A first-person sectional view (terminal position retainer in locked position);

[0023] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 A second-view sectional view (terminal position fastener in locked position);

[0024] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 A third-person sectional view;

[0025] Figure 8 yes Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure of the central male side shell;

[0026] Figure 9 yes Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure of the middle mother-side shell;

[0027] Figure 10 yes Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure of the connector position fixing component;

[0028] Figure 11 yes Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of the first female terminal in the middle;

[0029] Figure 12 yes Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the middle terminal position fixing component;

[0030] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second embodiment of the present utility model;

[0031] Figure 14 yes Figure 13 Exploded view of the structure;

[0032] Figure 15 yes Figure 14 A schematic diagram of the structure of the second female terminal in the diagram;

[0033] Figure 16 yes Figure 14 A schematic diagram of the structure of the middle shell.

[0034] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0035] A multi-pole electrical connector 100 includes a male connector 10, a male housing 11, a first snap-fit ​​part 111, a plug rib 112, and a male terminal 12; a female connector 20 includes a female housing 21, a second snap-fit ​​part 211, a plug groove 212, a first mounting groove 213, a limiting boss 2131, a limiting surface 2132, a second guide part 2133, a second mounting groove 214, a second limiting protrusion 2141, a channel 215, a slot 216, a first female terminal 221, a second female terminal 222, a front contact part 223, a terminal position fixing member 30, a main body part 31, a locking part 32, a locking tooth 321, a groove 322, a first protrusion 33, a second protrusion 34, a limiting wall 35, a clearance notch 36, a first end 37, a second end 38, a first guide part 39, a connector position fixing member 40, a third snap-fit ​​part 41, and a first limiting protrusion 42. Detailed Implementation

[0036] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0037] For ease of interpretation and precise definition in the claims, the terms "upper," "lower," "inner," "outer," "left," and "right," as well as "front" and "rear," are used to describe these features with reference to their positions in the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. "Longitudinal" refers to the direction in which the terminals extend in a multi-pole electrical connector, while "lateral" refers to the horizontal direction perpendicular to "longitudinal." Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0038] Example 1

[0039] Please see Figures 1 to 12 As shown, this utility model provides a preferred embodiment of a multi-pole electrical connector 100. The multi-pole electrical connector 100 includes a male connector 10, a female connector 20, and a terminal position fixing member 30. The female connector 20 can be inserted longitudinally into the male connector 10, and the male terminal 12 forms a stable electrical contact with the first female terminal 221, thereby achieving reliable signal transmission.

[0040] It should be noted that the multi-pole electrical connector 100 in this embodiment has a double-row structure, including an upper row connector and a lower row connector. However, this utility model is not limited to this; in other embodiments, the connector may also be configured as a single row or multiple rows. Furthermore, the number of poles of the connector can be flexibly expanded, for example, to 28, 32, 36, or 40 poles, to meet the needs of different application scenarios.

[0041] Please see Figures 1 to 8 As shown, the male connector 10 includes a male housing 11 and multiple male terminals 12. The male housing 11 is made of insulating engineering plastic (such as PBT, nylon, etc.) and has a rectangular socket structure with a hollow insertion cavity inside to accommodate the female connector 20. Multiple notches are provided on the sidewall of the insertion cavity to allow the male terminals 12 to extend into the cavity through these notches. A first latching part 111 is provided on the inner sidewall of the insertion cavity of the male housing 11. This first latching part 111 is an elastic cantilever hook structure, and its guide slope facilitates elastic deformation during insertion. After full insertion, it automatically engages with the second latching part 211 on the female housing 21, producing a clear "click" sound, providing the operator with tactile and audible feedback indicating that the connection is complete.

[0042] In addition, the male housing 11 has a number of insertion ribs 112 extending into the insertion cavity, which are used to mate with the insertion grooves 212 on the female housing 21 to ensure that the male housing 11 and the female housing 21 are aligned and inserted to avoid misalignment.

[0043] The male terminal 12 is made of copper alloy such as phosphor bronze, stamped and then electroplated (such as tin plating or gold plating) to improve conductivity and corrosion resistance. The male terminal 12 has a pin-like structure, with the front end connecting to the female terminal and the rear end being the soldering area for soldering to the PCB.

[0044] Please see Figure 9 and Figure 10 and combined Figures 1 to 8 As shown, the female connector 20 includes a female housing 21 and a female terminal. In this embodiment, the female terminal is the first female terminal 221 of the tail wire connection.

[0045] The female housing 21 is made of insulating material, and its external dimensions are in clearance fit with the insertion cavity of the male housing 11, so that the female housing 21 can be inserted into the insertion cavity of the male housing 11 in the longitudinal direction, ensuring smooth insertion and removal.

[0046] The female housing 21 is provided with a second snap-fit ​​part 211 for precise engagement with the first snap-fit ​​part 111 on the male housing 11. The male housing 11 and the female housing 21 are snapped together by the first snap-fit ​​part 111 and the second snap-fit ​​part 211, and can be disassembled and connected so as to quickly replace the female housing 21 as needed.

[0047] The second latching part 211 is preferably an elastic arm formed on the upper side wall of the female housing 21, with a latching groove on its upper part. When the male housing 11 is inserted into the female housing 21, the first latching part 111 extends into the latching groove and engages with the second latching part 211, achieving a detachable connection. This design keeps the top surfaces of the male housing 11 and the female housing 21 flush, forming a continuous plane, which not only results in a compact structure but also facilitates the installation of upper components.

[0048] On both sides of the second latching part 211, a plurality of insertion slots 212 are provided above the female housing 21. These insertion slots 212 cooperate with the corresponding insertion ribs 112 on the male housing 11 to provide precise guidance and preliminary positioning for the process of inserting the female housing 21 into the male housing 11.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment, the female connector 20 further includes a connector position retainer 40 (CPA) for providing secondary locking for the mated male connector 10 and female connector 20 to prevent accidental loosening (e.g., Figure 10 (As shown). The connector position fixing member 40 achieves stable installation and reliable locking with the female housing 21 through the following structure.

[0050] Specifically, the female housing 21 is provided with a second mounting groove 214 for mounting the connector position fixing member 40, which is located below the second latching portion 211 of the female housing 21. The connector position fixing member 40 body is provided with a third latching portion 41. When the male connector 10 and the female connector 20 are fully inserted and the connector position fixing member 40 is pushed to the final locked position, the third latching portion 41 will pass over the second latching portion 211 and engage with it on the side opposite to the first latching portion 111 of the male connector 10. At this point, the second latching portion 211 is effectively clamped between the first latching portion 111 of the male housing 11 and the third latching portion 41 of the connector position fixing member 40, forming bidirectional mechanical interference, preventing the main latching mechanism from disengaging and realizing the secondary locking function.

[0051] To further secure the connector position fixing member 40 itself, a first limiting protrusion 42 is provided on the side of the connector position fixing member 40 facing the bottom surface of the second mounting groove 214, and a second limiting protrusion 2141 is provided at the corresponding position on the bottom surface of the second mounting groove 214 near the opening, thereby reliably limiting the connector position fixing member 40 in the mounting groove and preventing it from slipping out due to accidental external force or long-term vibration.

[0052] Optionally, the female housing 21 is provided with multiple channels 215 for the first female terminal 221 to pass through. The multiple independent channels 215 provide physical isolation space for each first female terminal 221, ensuring electrical insulation between terminals and preventing short-circuit risks. Simultaneously, the channel 215 structure also provides precise positioning for the terminals, ensuring that all terminals are arranged parallel and neatly, facilitating mating with the male connector 10, and improving the electrical performance and assembly quality of the multi-pole connector.

[0053] Please see Figure 11 As shown, the first female terminal 221 is typically made of a highly conductive and elastic copper alloy (such as phosphor bronze) through precision stamping and electroplating (such as tin plating or gold plating) to improve corrosion resistance and contact performance. The first female terminal 221 includes a front contact portion 223 and a rear connection portion arranged along its extension direction. The front contact portion 223 has a BOX structure, which is a square cylindrical sleeve. It typically contains one or more elastic contact arms for forming surface contact with the insertion portion of the male terminal 12, ensuring a low-resistance and highly reliable electrical connection. The rear connection portion is a wire crimping area for connecting to discrete wires.

[0054] A resilient latch is provided at the front contact portion 223 of the first female terminal 221. When the first female terminal 221 is inserted into the corresponding channel 215 of the female housing 21 in the correct direction, the guide slope of the resilient latch will contact the guide structure of the inner wall of the channel 215, causing the resilient latch to deform elastically and allowing the terminal to penetrate smoothly. When the terminal reaches the preset correct position, the resilient latch will rebound instantly, and its locking surface will firmly engage with the specially designed locking step in the channel 215, producing a clear "click" sound, thereby achieving the initial locking of the first female terminal 221 in the female housing 21.

[0055] Although the primary locking provides basic fixation, the first female terminal 221 is still at risk of loosening under harsh environments such as vibration and shock. Therefore, the multi-pole electrical connector 100 also includes a terminal position retainer 30 (TPA) to provide more reliable secondary locking.

[0056] Terminal position fastener 30 is typically an injection-molded, independent component made of insulating engineering plastic (such as PBT or nylon) to ensure that the terminal position fastener 30 has sufficient mechanical strength, wear resistance and elasticity, while maintaining good insulation performance.

[0057] A first mounting groove 213 for mounting the terminal position fixing member 30 is provided inside the female housing 21. The first mounting groove 213 is arranged laterally (i.e., perpendicular to the terminal insertion direction) inside the female housing 21 and communicates with the plurality of channels 215 on the female housing 21. This arrangement allows the terminal position fixing member 30 to act on all inserted first female terminals 221 simultaneously during sliding, providing a structural basis for achieving systematic secondary locking.

[0058] Furthermore, the terminal position fixing component 30 is slidably installed in the first mounting groove 213 to simplify the assembly process, reduce the risk of mismatch, and through the standardization of the sliding interface, it provides conditions for different versions of the female connector 20 (such as adapter wires or FPCs) to be used at the same terminal position, reducing the types of parts, lowering material costs and inventory management complexity.

[0059] Please see Figure 12 and combined Figures 1 to 6 As shown, the terminal position fixing member 30, as the core component for achieving secondary locking, mainly includes a main body 31 and a locking part 32 integrally formed along its thickness direction.

[0060] The sidewalls of the main body 31 and the first mounting groove 213 define the pre-lock position and the locked position through the cooperation structure of the protrusion and the limiting boss 2131. Specifically, one of the sidewalls of the main body 31 and the first mounting groove 213 is provided with a first protrusion 33 and a second protrusion 34, and the other is provided with a limiting boss 2131. When the first protrusion 33 abuts against the limiting boss 2131, the terminal position fixing member 30 is in the pre-lock position; when the second protrusion 34 abuts against the limiting boss 2131, the terminal position fixing member 30 is in the locked position. This arrangement provides a secondary locking mechanism. In the pre-locked position, the first female terminal 221 can be inserted into the female housing 21 without obstruction and complete the initial locking. In the locked position, the locking part 32 directly abuts against the tail of the terminal front contact part 223, forming mechanical interference, which greatly enhances the terminal's holding force and effectively prevents the terminal from loosening due to vibration or accidental pulling, significantly improving the assembly reliability and long-term stability of the multi-pole electrical connector 100. In addition, the protrusions and limiting bosses 2131 provide clear feedback, making the assembly process intuitive and with a low error rate, suitable for both manual and automated assembly.

[0061] In this embodiment, as Figure 12 As shown, the first protrusion 33 and the second protrusion 34 are disposed on one side of the main body 31 of the terminal position fixing member 30, and a limiting boss 2131 is correspondingly provided on the side wall of the first mounting groove 213. When the terminal position fixing member 30 is inserted into the first mounting groove 213 and pushed to the pre-locked position (e.g., Figure 3 and Figure 4 When the terminal position fixing member 30 is temporarily fixed (as shown), its locking part 32 completely avoids the insertion channel 215 of the first female terminal 221, allowing the operator to insert the first female terminal 221 without obstruction. After all the first female terminals 221 are inserted and the initial locking is completed, the terminal position fixing member 30 is further pushed in, and the second protrusion 34 passes over the limiting boss 2131 and engages with the limiting boss 2131 through the limiting groove 322. At this time, the terminal position fixing member 30 is stably held in the locked position (as shown). Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the locking part 32 moves to the rear of the front end of the first female terminal 221. The cooperation between the protrusion and the limiting boss 2131 provides clear auditory and tactile feedback (such as a "click"), allowing the operator to clearly perceive the position status of the terminal position fixing member 30 and prevent misoperation. This mechanism ensures that the terminal position fixing member 30 can only switch in the correct position, improving the reliability and efficiency of assembly.

[0062] When in a locked position (e.g.) Figure 5 and Figure 6As shown, the locking part 32 directly abuts against the tail of the front contact part 223 of the first female terminal 221, forming mechanical interference. By setting a secondary locking mechanism, the holding force of the first female terminal 221 is greatly enhanced, effectively preventing the first female terminal 221 from loosening due to vibration or accidental pulling, thereby significantly improving the assembly reliability and long-term stability of the multi-pole electrical connector 100.

[0063] Furthermore, the locking portion 32 comprises a plurality of locking protrusions 321 spaced apart along the length of the terminal position fixing member 30, with a groove 322 formed between adjacent locking protrusions 321 for the passage of the first female terminal 221. In the pre-locked position, the groove 322 aligns with the channel 215 of the female housing 21, allowing the first female terminal 221 to be inserted; in the locked position, the locking protrusions 321 move forward, their end faces abutting against the tail of the front contact portion 223 of the first female terminal 221, forming a surface contact mechanical block. This structure ensures that the locking force is evenly distributed on each of the first female terminals 221, avoiding stress concentration and achieving independent locking of each first female terminal 221. This significantly increases the overall pull-out force of the first female terminal 221, effectively preventing the first female terminal 221 from retracting or loosening under vibration, impact, or accidental pulling, greatly improving the reliability of the multi-pole electrical connector 100 in harsh environments.

[0064] Furthermore, to prevent the terminal position fixing member 30 from being excessively pushed into the first mounting groove 213 and thus detaching or being damaged, a limiting wall 35 is provided at the end of the terminal position fixing member 30. The limiting wall 35 abuts against the limiting surface 2132 on the first mounting groove 213, thereby physically limiting the sliding stroke.

[0065] Furthermore, the main body 31 is provided with a clearance notch 36 corresponding to the positions of the first protrusion 33 and the second protrusion 34. This clearance notch 36 is a partially thinned or hollowed-out area, giving the side wall where the protrusion is located elastic deformation capability. This design has a dual beneficial effect: first, when the protrusion crosses the limiting boss 2131, the elastic deformation reduces sliding resistance, making the operation smoother and less strenuous; second, the interference feeling generated by the elastic deformation enhances the clarity of position feedback, while avoiding rigid collisions between components, effectively reducing wear, thereby extending the service life of the terminal position fixing member 30 and the female housing 21.

[0066] Furthermore, the main body 31 has a first end 37 and a second end 38 in the sliding direction, with the width of the first end 37 being smaller than the width of the second end 38. This arrangement allows the narrower first end 37 to act as a guide when the terminal position fixing member 30 is initially inserted into the first mounting groove 213, making it easier to align and slide in, thus reducing assembly difficulty. The wider design of the second end 38 provides a larger contact area, enhancing the stability of the terminal position fixing member 30 in the locked position, preventing it from shaking or shifting in a vibration environment, and ensuring the durability of the locked state.

[0067] Optionally, the terminal position fixing member 30 further includes a first guide portion 39 (e.g., a protrusion) disposed on the main body 31, and a second guide portion 2133 (e.g., a groove) corresponding to the first guide portion 39 is disposed on the other side wall of the first mounting groove 213. The precise cooperation between the first guide portion 39 and the second guide portion 2133 provides precise trajectory guidance for the sliding of the terminal position fixing member 30, preventing it from tilting, jamming, or falling off the track. This ensures that the locking portion 32 can move accurately to the predetermined position and reliably abut against the tail of the first female terminal 221, improving the consistency and reliability of the locking action. In addition, the upper and lower flanges forming the groove constitute the limiting surface 2132 on the first mounting groove 213, which can abut against the limiting wall 35 of the terminal position fixing member 30 to achieve the aforementioned anti-over-push function.

[0068] Example 2

[0069] like Figures 13 to 16 The following is a second embodiment of the present invention. The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that the female terminal is a second female terminal 222 for connecting a flexible ribbon cable (such as an FPC or FFC) at the tail. A slot 216 for accommodating the flexible ribbon cable is provided on the female-side housing 21 on the side away from the male-side connector 10.

[0070] Please see Figure 15 As shown, the second female terminal 222 is made of a highly conductive copper alloy through stamping and electroplating. The front contact portion 223 of the second female terminal 222 is completely identical to the front contact portion 223 of the first female terminal 221 in shape, size, and key mating dimensions, ensuring the same electrical contact performance with the same male connector 10, which is the basis for achieving compatibility. The front contact portion 223 has an elastic contact arm inside for forming a reliable surface contact with the male terminal 12. The tail connection portion of the second female terminal 222 is the crimping area of ​​the flexible ribbon cable, which is provided with sharp teeth to connect with the conductive pad of the flexible ribbon cable (such as FPC or FFC) using a piercing connection. Multiple second female terminals 222 are often pre-arranged and fixed on a carrier strip to facilitate synchronous crimping of the entire row, improving assembly efficiency.

[0071] Please see Figure 16As shown, a slot 216 for accommodating the flexible ribbon cable is provided on the female housing 21 on the side away from the male connector 10. The width and height of the slot 216 are precisely calculated to smoothly accommodate the thickness and width of the flexible ribbon cable without significantly weakening the mechanical strength of the housing. The guiding design of the slot 216 also provides stress relief for the flexible ribbon cable, preventing damage to the cable at the tail of the multi-pole connector 100 due to bending or pulling.

[0072] In this embodiment, the female-side housing 21 is simply modified by adding a slot 216 for accommodating the ribbon cable, thus its structural size is the same as in the first embodiment. This ensures complete compatibility with the male-side connector 10, terminal position fixing member 30, and connector position fixing member 40. Users only need to change the female-side housing 21 and the type of female terminal to switch from a wire-based solution to a flexible ribbon cable solution, significantly reducing material costs, inventory management costs, and switching risks.

[0073] Of course, in other embodiments, if the insulation of multiple discrete wires in the wiring scheme is guaranteed (e.g., by adding isolation walls or using high insulation materials), then the mother-side housing 21 in the second embodiment can be shared in the wiring scheme of the first embodiment, thereby further reducing costs and improving versatility.

[0074] In summary, the multi-pole electrical connector 100 of this invention utilizes the characteristic that the front contact portion 223 of the first female terminal 221 (such as a wire terminal) and the second female terminal 222 (such as an FPC cable terminal) are designed with the same shape, resulting in two female-side housings 21 with identical external structures. This achieves core compatibility between different types of multi-pole electrical connectors 100. This allows core structures such as the male connector 10, terminal position fixing member 30, and connector position fixing member 40 to be completely shared in both wire-strength electrical connectors and flat-wire (e.g., FPC or FFC) type electrical connectors. When switching conductor types during production or maintenance, users only need to replace the corresponding female-side housing 21, without replacing the entire multi-pole electrical connector 100, greatly reducing material costs, inventory management costs, and switching risks. The terminal position fixing member 30 is slidably installed within the female-side housing 21 and is designed with a dual position of pre-locked and locked position, providing a secondary locking mechanism. In the pre-locked position, the female terminal can be inserted into the female housing 21 without obstruction and complete the primary locking; in the locked position, the locking part 32 directly abuts against the tail of the terminal front contact part 223, forming mechanical interference, which greatly enhances the holding force of the terminal, effectively prevents the terminal from loosening due to vibration or accidental pulling, and significantly improves the assembly reliability and long-term stability of the multi-pole electrical connector 100.

Claims

1. A multi-pole electrical connector, characterized in that, It includes a male connector, a female connector, and a terminal position fixing component; the female connector includes a female housing and a plurality of female terminals housed within the female housing, wherein the female terminal is a first female terminal for connecting a tail wire or a second female terminal for connecting a tail flexible ribbon cable; the shape of the front contact portion of the first female terminal and the second female terminal for making electrical contact with the male connector is consistent; The female housing has a first mounting groove for installing the terminal position fixing member; the terminal position fixing member is slidably installed in the first mounting groove and has a pre-locked position and a locked position; When in the pre-locked position, the terminal position fixing member avoids the insertion path of the female terminal; when in the locked position, the locking part of the terminal position fixing member abuts against the tail of the front contact part.

2. The multi-pole electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The terminal position fixing member includes a main body and a locking part disposed on the main body along the thickness direction. One of the main body and the side wall of the first mounting groove is provided with a first protrusion and a second protrusion, and the other is provided with a limiting boss. When the first protrusion abuts against the limiting boss, the terminal position fixing member is in the pre-locked position; when the second protrusion abuts against the limiting boss, the terminal position fixing member is in the locked position.

3. The multi-pole electrical connector according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first protrusion and the second protrusion are disposed on the main body, and the main body is provided with clearance notches corresponding to the positions of the first protrusion and the second protrusion.

4. The multi-pole electrical connector according to claim 2, characterized in that, The main body has a first end and a second end in the sliding direction, and the width of the first end is smaller than the width of the second end.

5. The multi-pole electrical connector according to claim 2, characterized in that, The terminal position fixing component also includes a first guide portion, and a second guide portion that cooperates with the first guide portion is provided on the other side wall of the first mounting groove.

6. The multi-pole electrical connector according to claim 2, characterized in that, The locking part consists of a plurality of locking protrusions spaced apart along the length direction of the terminal position fixing member, and a groove is formed between two adjacent locking protrusions for the female terminal to pass through.

7. The multi-pole electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The female side housing is provided with multiple channels for the female terminal to pass through, and the multiple channels are connected to the first mounting slot.

8. The multi-pole electrical connector according to claim 7, characterized in that, The female-side housing for accommodating the second female terminal has a slot for accommodating the flexible cable on the side away from the male-side connector, and the slot communicates with the channel.

9. The multi-pole electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The male connector includes a male housing, and the female housing is configured to be inserted into the male housing in the longitudinal direction. The male housing is provided with a first latching part, and the female housing is provided with a corresponding second latching part.

10. The multi-pole electrical connector according to claim 9, characterized in that, It also includes a connector position fixing component. The female side housing is provided with a second mounting groove for installing the connector position fixing component. The second mounting groove is located below the second snap-fit ​​portion. The connector position fixing component includes a third snap-fit ​​portion that snaps into the second snap-fit ​​portion and a first limiting protrusion that is limited and connected to the female side housing.

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