Connectors

Abstract

Connectors (1), comprising: a cylindrical connection (30) which can be electrically connected to a cylindrical counter-connection (90); an internal connection (50) located in the cylindrical connection (30); and a housing (10) that accommodates the cylindrical connection (30), wherein the cylindrical terminal (30) has a contact section (36) which is formed by bending a plate-shaped conductor (30a) into a cylindrical shape, such that one edge section of the conductor (30a) touches an opposite edge section of the conductor (30a), wherein one edge section has a recessed shape at its circumferential end section by reducing its thickness in a radial direction outwards of the cylindrical connection to form a section (34) with reduced thickness, wherein the other edge section has a recessed shape at its circumferential end section by reducing its thickness in the radial direction inwards to form an opposing other section (35) of reduced thickness, wherein the contact section (36) is formed by overlapping one section (34) with reduced thickness and the other section (35) with reduced thickness, wherein the cylindrical connection (30) has: a large diameter section (31) that comes into contact with the mating connection (90), a small-diameter section (32) which has a smaller diameter than the large-diameter section (31) and is held in the housing (10), and a connecting section (33) located between the large-diameter section (31) and the small-diameter section (32), having a diameter that gradually decreases from the large-diameter section (31) to the small-diameter section (32), the connecting section (33) being pressed against an edge section of a connector receiving bore (13) provided in the housing (10) and accommodating the small-diameter section (32), and a locking piece (37) projecting from the small-diameter section (32), wherein the locking piece (37) engages with the housing (10) to regulate rotation in its circumferential direction relative to the housing (10), wherein the contact section (36) extends in an axial direction of the cylindrical connection (30) over both the large diameter section (31) and the small diameter section (32).

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector. State of the art

[0002] According to the prior art, a connector exhibiting high shielding properties is proposed for use with a coaxial cable or the like. For example, in a connector according to the prior art, the circumference of a termination section is covered with a metal tube, so that electromagnetic waves emitted from the outside of the connector towards the termination section and electromagnetic waves emitted from the termination section to the outside are shielded (collected). The metal tube has a structure in which a metal plate element is bent into a cylindrical shape, with one edge section and the other edge section of the plate element overlapping. The edge sections overlap in this way to prevent a reduction in shielding performance at a junction of the edge sections.

[0003] Details of the aforementioned connector are described in JP 2011-113 858 A.

[0004] The connector according to the prior art, as previously described, has a stepped shape that projects radially outwards at the connection point due to the overlap of the edge regions of the plate element. Therefore, when actually mounting the metal tube, for example, to a housing, it is necessary to provide a recess or similar feature corresponding to the previously described stepped shape on an inner wall surface of an entry hole provided in the housing. In other words, designing a mold or similar feature for manufacturing the housing is complicated, and it is difficult to improve the productivity of the housing (and the connector). Thus, according to the prior art, it is difficult to achieve both the shielding performance and the productivity of the connector.

[0005] Document DE 10 2012 201 565 A1 relates to a connector arrangement comprising: a central contact designed to be connected to a center conductor of a cable; a dielectric holding the central contact; an outer contact formed by stamping and forming, which encloses the dielectric and the central contact, the outer contact being designed to be connected to a braid of the cable; and an outer clamp formed by stamping and forming, which encloses at least part of the outer contact in such a way that the braid is sandwiched between the outer clamp and the outer contact.

[0006] Document JP 2009-32436A concerns a shielding element for a connector. One end and the other end of the metal plate are integrated, as the shielding element for the connector has a welded section that is joined to the other end by melting with a downward-facing laser beam in a direction perpendicular to the direction opposite to the other end at one end of the metal plate. Even if, for example, a tensile force is concentrated on one end of the connection, the joint between the two ends is loosened, preventing deformation of the shielding element. This ensures that the two ends of the metal plate are firmly joined together. Summary of the invention

[0007] One aspect of the non-restrictive embodiments of the present invention relates to the provision of a connector that can achieve both excellent shielding performance and improved productivity.

[0008] Aspects of certain non-restrictive embodiments of the present invention relate to the points described above and / or other points not described above. However, aspects of the non-restrictive embodiments are not necessary to address the points mentioned above, and it is possible that aspects of the non-restrictive embodiments of the present invention do not address the points described above.

[0009] The above problem is solved by a connector according to claim 1. Brief description of the drawings

[0010] An exemplary embodiment or embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following figures, wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a connector and a mating connector are mounted together according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the connector and the mating connector are separated from each other according to the embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 shows a perspective exploded view of the connector and mating connector according to the embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 a cross-sectional view along a line AA in Fig. 1 represents; Fig. 5 a cross-sectional view along a line BB in Fig. 2 represents; Fig. 6A is a perspective view showing an external connector as seen from the front, and Fig. 6B is a perspective view showing the external plug connector as seen from the rear; Fig. 7 is an enlarged view showing section C in Fig. 6A shows; Fig. Figure 8A is a perspective view showing a flat, plate-shaped conductor used to create the outer plug connector, and Fig. Figure 8B is a front view showing the flat, plate-shaped conductor; and Fig. Figures 9A to 9C show front views illustrating the manufacturing of the external connector. Description of the embodiments

[0011] A connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in the Fig. 1 and Fig. As shown in Figure 2, a plug housing 10 of connector 1 can be connected to a socket housing 60 of a mating connector 2. Connector 1 is a plug mounted on a printed circuit board 3 and is also referred to as a printed circuit board connector (PCB connector). Mating connector 2 is a socket connected to a coaxial cable 4 that transmits a high-frequency signal or similar. Both connector 1 and mating connector 2 have a shielding function that prevents the escape of electromagnetic waves caused by the signal transmitted by the coaxial cable 4 and prevents electromagnetic waves from penetrating connector 1 and mating connector 2 from the outside. Within the scope of the present invention, the plug housing 10 corresponds to a "housing".

[0012] For the sake of simplicity, the terms "forward / backward direction", "latitude direction", "upward / downward direction", "above" and "below" will be defined below as they are used in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. Figure 3 and the like are shown. The "forward / backward direction", the "lateral direction", and the "upward / downward direction" are orthogonal to each other. The "forward / backward direction" coincides with an installation direction of connector 1 and mating connector 2.

[0013] For connector 1 and mating connector 2, a front end face in an installation direction in which the mating connector is installed is referred to as the front, and a rear end face in the installation direction opposite to the front is referred to as the back.

[0014] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the connector 1 comprises the plug housing 10, a shielding sleeve 20, an outer plug terminal 30, a plug guide sleeve 40, and an inner plug terminal 50. The mating connector 2 comprises the receptacle housing 60, an inner receptacle terminal 70, a receptacle guide sleeve 80, and an outer receptacle terminal 90. The elements forming the connector 1 are described below. Within the scope of the present invention, the outer plug terminal 30 corresponds to a "cylindrical terminal." Similarly, the inner plug terminal 50 corresponds to an "inner terminal," and the outer receptacle terminal 90 corresponds to a "mating terminal."

[0015] First, the connector housing 10 is described. The connector housing 10, molded from a plastic material, has a forward / backward extending shape. As shown in the Fig. 4 and Fig. As shown in Figure 5, a fitting recess 11, open at the front and recessed at the rear, is formed inside the connector housing 10. The socket housing 60 is inserted into the fitting recess 11 from the front. A connector receptacle bore 13, which has a circular cross-section and extends through the rear wall section 12 of the connector housing 10 in the forward / reverse direction, is formed in the rear wall section 12 of the connector housing 10. The rear wall section 12 forms a bottom wall of the fitting recess 11. The outer connector receptacle 30 is inserted into the connector receptacle bore 13 from the front. As described later, a locking element 37, provided on the rear of the outer connector receptacle 30, is bent downwards and locked with the shielding sleeve 20.A rear surface of the rear wall section 12 is shaped so that the shielding sleeve 20 can be fitted in from the rear.

[0016] A locking section 14 extending in the width direction is provided on an upper section of a front end section of the plug housing 10. When the plug housing 10 and the receptacle housing 60 are joined together, the locking section 14 engages with a locking section 65 of a locking arm 63 (described later) provided in the receptacle housing 60 (see also Fig. 1 and Fig. 2).

[0017] Next, the shielding sleeve 20 is described. The shielding sleeve 20 is manufactured from aluminum using a die-casting process and is an element that provides the shielding function of the connector 1 described above. The shielding sleeve 20 has an essentially U-shaped form that opens downwards when viewed from the front / backwards and has a forward / backwards extending shape.

[0018] A front end section of the shielding sleeve 20 has a shape that corresponds to the previously described fit of the rear wall section 12 of the connector housing 10. The shielding sleeve 20 is mounted to the rear wall section 12 of the connector housing 10 from the rear. A downwardly projecting leg section 21 is formed at each of the four corners of a lower end section of the shielding sleeve 20. A plurality of leg sections 21 are inserted into through holes (not shown) that correspond to the grounding sections formed in the printed circuit board 3, and the leg sections 21 are soldered (see also Fig. 4 and Fig. 5) This secures the shielding sleeve 20 to the circuit board 3 (see also Fig. 1 and Fig. 2).

[0019] Next, the outer connector 30 is described. As in the Fig. 6A and Fig. As shown in Figure 6B, the outer connector terminal 30 has a stepped cylindrical shape extending in the forward / reverse direction. The outer connector terminal 30 comprises a large-diameter cylindrical section 31 located at the front, a small-diameter cylindrical section 32 located at the rear and having a smaller diameter than the large-diameter section 31, and a connecting section 33 located between the large-diameter section 31 and the small-diameter section 32, with a diameter that gradually decreases from the large-diameter section 31 to the small-diameter section 32. The outer connector terminal 30 also provides the shielding function of connector 1 as described previously.An outer diameter of the large-diameter section 31 is essentially equal to an inner diameter of a bushing connection receiving bore 61 (described later) of the bushing housing 60, and the large-diameter section 31 can be inserted into the bushing connection receiving bore 61 (see . Fig. 4).

[0020] The outer plug connector 30 is formed by bending a flat, plate-shaped conductor 30a, which is inserted into the Fig. 8A and Fig. 8C is shown, into a stepped cylindrical shape and by forming a contact section 36 (see Fig. 6A and Fig. 6B) in the forward / backward direction, which is formed by bringing one edge section of conductor 30a and the other edge section into contact with each other, both of which extend in the forward / backward direction. As in the Fig. 6A and Fig. As shown in Figure 6B, the contact section 36 extends in the forward / reverse direction at an upper end position in a circumferential direction of the outer connector terminal 30. A configuration of the contact section 36 and a method for manufacturing the outer connector terminal 30 from the flat, plate-shaped conductor 30a ( Fig. 9A to 9C) will be described in detail later.

[0021] A locking element 37 is formed on a lower end section of a rear end face of the small-diameter section 32 such that it projects rearward from the lower end section. When the connector 1 is assembled, a rear end section of the locking element 37 is bent downward to lock with the shielding sleeve 20 and is inserted into a predetermined locking hole of the connector guide sleeve 40 (see Fig. 4 and Fig. 5) Accordingly, the outer connector terminal 30 is prevented from rotating in the circumferential direction relative to the connector housing 10, and a position of the outer connector terminal 30 in the circumferential direction is defined such that the contact section 36 is held at the upper end position in the circumferential direction of the outer connector terminal 30.

[0022] Next, the connector guide sleeve 40 is described. As in the Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the plug guide sleeve 40, formed from an insulating resin, comprises a cylindrical body section 41 extending in the forward / reverse direction and a hanging section 42 hanging downwards from a rear end section of the body section 41, which are formed in one piece.

[0023] A body section 51 (described later) of the inner connector 50 is inserted into the body section 41 from the rear. The body section 41 is also inserted from the rear into the small-diameter section 32 of the outer connector 30. Accordingly, the body section 41 serves to isolate the inner connector 50 and the outer connector 30 from each other and to maintain a state in which the inner connector 50 and the outer connector 30 are coaxially aligned.

[0024] Next, the inner plug connector 50 is described. The inner plug connector 50, formed from a single piece of metal, comprises the rod-shaped body section 51, which extends in the forward / reverse direction, and a rod-shaped hanging section 52, which hangs downward from a rear end section of the body section 51, both formed in one piece. A front end section of the body section 51 serves as a tip end section 53, the diameter of which is reduced compared to the other section of the body section 51. The tip end section 53 is connected to the inner socket connector 70 when the plug housing 10 and the socket housing 60 are mated (see Figure 1). Fig. 4) The suspension section 52 is inserted into a through hole 3b, which is connected to a conductor pattern 3a formed on an upper surface of the circuit board 3 (see Fig. 5). Accordingly, the inner connector 50 is electrically connected to the circuit board 3.

[0025] Next, an assembly procedure for connector 1 is described. To assemble connector 1, the shielding sleeve 20 is first mounted to the rear wall section 12 of the connector housing 10 from the rear. Then, the small-diameter section 32 of the outer connector terminal 30 is inserted from the front into the terminal receiving bore 13 of the connector housing 10. This insertion continues until the connecting section 33 of the outer connector terminal 30 comes into contact with a front edge section of the terminal receiving bore 13. Finally, the rear end section of the locking piece 37 is bent downwards and locked to the shielding sleeve 20.This positions section 31 with the large diameter of the outer connector terminal 30 in the fitting recess section 11 of the connector housing 10, and section 32 with the small diameter of the outer connector terminal 30 comes into contact with a predetermined section of the shielding sleeve 20 inside the shielding sleeve 20.

[0026] Next, the body section 51 of the inner connector terminal 50 is pressed into the body section 41 of the connector guide sleeve 40 from the rear. The pressing continues until the hanging section 52 of the inner connector terminal 50 comes into contact with the hanging section 42 of the connector guide sleeve 40. As a result, the tip end section 53 of the inner connector terminal 50 protrudes forward from a front end opening of the body section 41 of the connector guide sleeve 40.

[0027] Next, the body section 41 of the connector guide sleeve 40, into which the inner connector terminal 50 is pressed, is pressed from the rear into the small-diameter section 32 of the outer connector terminal 30. The pressing continues until a predetermined section of the connector guide sleeve 40 comes into contact with a predetermined section of the shielding housing 20. As a result, the tip end section 53 of the inner connector terminal 50 is positioned within the large-diameter section 31 of the outer connector terminal 30. Furthermore, the body section 51 of the inner connector terminal 50 is covered by the outer connector terminal 30, and the hanging section 52 of the inner connector terminal 50 is covered by the shielding sleeve 20. Consequently, the shielding sleeve 20 and the outer connector terminal 30 provide a shielding function with respect to the inner connector terminal 50.This completes the assembly of connector 1.

[0028] The assembled connector 1 is mounted on the circuit board 3, as shown in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 shown. When the connector 1 is mounted on the circuit board 3, a lower surface of the connector housing 10 is attached to a predetermined section of the upper surface of the circuit board 3, the multiple leg sections 21 of the shielding sleeve 20 are inserted into the through holes corresponding to the grounding sections formed in the circuit board 3, and the leg sections 21 are soldered, and a tip end section of the hanging section 52 of the inner connector terminal 50 is inserted into the through hole 3b formed in the circuit board 3 (see Fig. 5) is inserted and the tip end section of the hanging section 52 is soldered.

[0029] As a result, a high-frequency signal transmitted from the inner connector terminal 50 is passed on to the conductor pattern 3a of the printed circuit board 3. Additionally, a very small current generated in the shielding sleeve 20 and the outer connector terminal 30 when the shielding sleeve 20 and the outer connector terminal 30 shield (collect) electromagnetic waves is grounded to the grounding sections of the printed circuit board 3. The connector 1 is configured as previously described.

[0030] The elements that form the mating connector 2 are described below. First, the socket housing 60 is described. The socket housing 60, which is made of plastic, has a shape that extends in the forward / reverse direction. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the socket connection receiving bore 61 is formed inside the socket housing 60, which runs through the socket housing 60 in the forward / reverse direction (see also Figure 4). Fig. 2) The outer socket connector 90 is inserted into the socket connector receiving bore 61 from the rear.

[0031] A lance 62 extends forward in a cantilevered manner, facing the bushing connection receiving bore 61, and the lance 62 is formed at a lower section of a substantially central section in the forward / backward direction of the bushing connection receiving bore 61. The lance 62 is elastically deformable in the upward / downward direction and engages in a lance locking hole 93 (which will be described later) of the outer bushing connection 90 to prevent the outer bushing connection 90 from disengaging towards a rear side.

[0032] As in the Fig. 2 and Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the locking arm 63, which extends cantilevered to the rear, is formed on an upper section of the bushing housing 60. The locking arm 63 is elastically deformable in the upward / downward direction, and an extended end section (rear end section) of the locking arm 63 functions as an actuating section 64, which is operated by a user. A locking section 65, which is an upwardly projecting and laterally extending projection, is formed on a central section in the forward / reverse direction of the locking arm 63.

[0033] As in the Fig. 3 and Fig. As shown in Figure 4, a side bracket 66 is attached to a lower section of the socket housing 60 from below to cover the locking lance 62 from below. As shown in the Fig. 3 and Fig. As shown in Figure 4, a locking element 67 is attached to the upper section of the bushing housing 60 from the rear, such that the locking element 67 enters a lower chamber of the locking arm 63. The functions of the side retainer 66 and the locking element 67 are described later.

[0034] Next, the inner socket connector 70 is described. As in the Fig. 3 and Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the inner socket terminal 70, formed from a metal, has a cylindrical shape extending in the forward / reverse direction. An inner conductor terminal section 70a is provided on the rear side of the inner socket terminal 70. A linear inner conductor 4a (see Fig. 3), which is exposed at one end (front end section) of the coaxial cable 4, is connected to the inner conductor connection section 70a. At the end of the coaxial cable 4, as shown in the Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 shows a cylindrical sleeve 5 formed from a metal, crimped and fastened to an outer circumference of an exposed cylindrical braided conductor 4b at a position behind the exposed inner conductor 4a, and the exposed braided conductor 4b, located in front of the sleeve 5, is folded back so that it covers an outer circumference of the sleeve 5.

[0035] Next, the bushing guide sleeve 80 is described. As in the Fig. 3 and Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the bushing guide sleeve 80, which is formed from an insulating resin, has a stepped cylindrical shape extending in the forward / reverse direction. The bushing guide sleeve 80 comprises a large-diameter cylindrical section 81 located at the rear and a small-diameter cylindrical section 82 located at the front, which has a smaller diameter than the large-diameter section 81.

[0036] The inner socket connector 70 is inserted into the socket guide sleeve 80 from the rear. The socket guide sleeve 80 is also inserted into the outer socket connector 90 from the rear. This isolates the inner socket connector 70 and the outer socket connector 90 from each other and maintains a coaxial orientation between them.

[0037] Next, the external socket connector 90 is described. As in the Fig. 3 and Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the outer socket connector 90, formed from a metal, has a stepped cylindrical shape extending in the forward / reverse direction. The outer socket connector 90 comprises a large-diameter cylindrical section 91 located at the rear and a small-diameter cylindrical section 92 located at the front, which has a smaller diameter than the large-diameter section 91. The small-diameter section 92 is provided with an elastic part 92a formed into a cantilevered shape (formed by so-called cutting and lifting) so that it projects slightly radially outward. The outer socket connector 90 is an element that provides the shielding function of the mating connector 2 described above.The outer diameter of the small-diameter section 92 is essentially the same as the inner diameter of the large-diameter section 31 of the outer plug connector 30, and the small-diameter section 92 can be inserted into the large-diameter section 31. A lance locking hole 93 (see . Fig. 4) is formed in a lower section of the large-diameter section 91. On the back side of the large-diameter section 91, a braided conductor connection section 91a and an outer sheath crimp section 91b are provided in this order from the front to the back.

[0038] Next, an assembly procedure for the mating connector 2 is described. To assemble the mating connector 2, the side retainer 66 is first attached from below to a lower section of the bushing housing 60 to cover the lance 62, and the side retainer 66 is locked in a temporary locking position (not shown). The locking element 67 is attached from the rear to an upper section of the bushing housing 60 so that it engages in a lower space of the locking arm 63, and the locking element 67 is locked in a temporary locking position (not shown).

[0039] Next, the inner conductor 4a, exposed at the end of the coaxial cable 4, is connected to the inner conductor connection section 70a on the rear side of the inner socket connector 70. Next, the inner socket connector 70 is inserted from the rear into the socket guide sleeve 80 and secured to the socket guide sleeve 80 by a predetermined fastening mechanism. Next, the socket guide sleeve 80 is inserted from the rear into the outer socket connector 90 and secured to the outer socket connector 90 by a predetermined fastening mechanism.

[0040] Consequently, the large-diameter section 81 and the small-diameter section 82 of the bushing guide sleeve 80 are located within the large-diameter section 91 or the small-diameter section 92 of the outer bushing connection 90 (see Fig. 4) Furthermore, the braided conductor 4b, located on the outer circumference of the sleeve 5 attached to one end of the coaxial cable 4, is connected to the braided conductor connection section 91a of the large-diameter section 91 of the outer jack connector 90, and an outer jacket 4c of the coaxial cable 4 is attached to the outer jacket crimp section 91b. The inner jack connector 70 is also covered by the outer jack connector 90. Accordingly, the outer jack connector 90 provides a shielding function with respect to the inner jack connector 70.

[0041] The outer socket connector 90 is then inserted from the rear into the socket connector receiving bore 61 of the socket housing 60. This insertion is continued until the lance locking hole 93 engages in the lance 62 (until the outer socket connector 90 has reached a correct insertion position).

[0042] Next, the side retainer 66, which is in the temporary locking position, is pressed upwards against the socket housing 60, so that the side retainer 66 is in a Fig. The final locking position shown in section 4 is moved, which is higher than the temporary locking position. The side bracket 66 is positioned in the position shown in the diagram. Fig. The final locking position shown in Figure 4 is maintained, so that the side retainer 66 has the function of ensuring that the lance 62 engages in the lance locking hole 93 (i.e., ensuring that the outer connector socket 90 is in a correct insertion position), and has the function of preventing the lance 62 and the lance locking hole 93 from disengaging due to downward elastic deformation of the lance 62 (so-called double locking function). This completes the assembly of the mating connector 2.

[0043] As in the Fig. 1 and Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the assembled mating connector 2 is placed onto the connector 1 mounted on the circuit board 3. Assembly continues until the locking section 14 of the plug housing 10 engages with the locking section 65 of the locking arm 63 of the socket housing 60, so that the socket housing 60 is inserted into the fitting recess section 11 of the plug housing 10, the large-diameter section 31 of the outer plug terminal 30 is inserted into the socket terminal receiving bore 61 of the socket housing 60, and the small-diameter section 92 of the outer socket terminal 90 is inserted into the large-diameter section 31 of the outer plug terminal 30.

[0044] When the small-diameter section 92 of the outer socket terminal 90 is inserted into the large-diameter section 31 of the outer plug terminal 30, the elastic piece 92a provided in the small-diameter section 92 (see Fig. 3) in contact with the large diameter section 31.

[0045] After the locking section 14 has engaged with the locking section 65 of the locking arm 63, the locating element 67 is pressed in the temporary locking position towards the connector housing 10, so that the locating element 67 is inserted into the Fig. 4 is moved to the final locking position shown, which is further forward than the temporary locking position. When the fitting locking element 67 is in the Fig. When the final locking position shown in Figure 4 is held, a rear end section 68 of the locking element 67 engages a lower side of the actuating section 64 of the locking arm 63, and a pointed end section 69 of the locking element 67 is positioned in front of the locking section 65. As a result, the locking element 67 has the function of ensuring that the locking section 14 of the plug housing 10 is engaged with the locking section 65 (i.e., ensuring that the plug housing 10 and the receptacle housing 60 are in a fully fitted state), and the function of preventing the locking section 14 and the locking section 65 from disengaging due to downward elastic deformation of the locking arm 63 (so-called double locking function). This completes the assembly of the plug connector 1 and the mating connector 2 (see Figure 4). Fig. 1).

[0046] In a state where the assembly of connector 1 and mating connector 2 is complete, the tip end section 53 of the inner plug terminal 50 and the inner socket terminal 70 are electrically connected. Consequently, a high-frequency signal transmitted through the coaxial cable 4 is transmitted via the inner plug terminal 50 to the conductor pattern 3a of the printed circuit board 3. Furthermore, the small-diameter section 92 of the outer socket terminal 90 and the large-diameter section 31 of the outer plug terminal 30 are electrically connected. As a result, a very small current generated in the outer socket terminal 90 due to the absorption of electromagnetic waves by the outer socket terminal 90 is grounded to the grounding sections of the printed circuit board 3 via the outer plug terminal 30 and the shielding sleeve 20.

[0047] The configuration of the contact section 36 of the outer connector 30 and the manufacturing process of the outer connector 30 are described in detail below. For the sake of simplicity, the radial direction and circumferential direction of the outer connector 30, which has a stepped cylindrical shape, will be referred to as "radial direction" and "circumferential direction," respectively.

[0048] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 7, the contact section 36 is designed such that a section 34 with reduced thickness (see also Fig. 8A and Fig. 8C), which is located at one end of a forward-backward extending edge section of conductor 30a (see Fig. 8A and Fig. 8C) is formed and extends in a forward-backward direction, and a section 35 with reduced thickness (see also Fig. 8A and Fig. 8C), which is formed at one end of the other forward-backward extending edge section of conductor 30a and extends in the forward / backward direction, are brought into contact with each other, such that the reduced-thickness section 34 is stacked on a radially outer side of the reduced-thickness section 35 (so that the reduced-thickness section 34 and the reduced-thickness section 35 overlap radially). The contact section 36 is continuous in the forward / backward direction of the outer connector terminal 30 (the large-diameter section 31, the connecting section 33, and the small-diameter section 32).

[0049] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 7, the reduced-thickness section 34 is a section where the thickness of one end segment of the conductor 30a is reduced, such that it is radially recessed outwards. Therefore, a stepped surface 34b, facing the circumferential direction and extending in the forward / backward direction, is formed on an inner circumferential surface of a boundary between the reduced-thickness section 34 and a section where the thickness of one end segment of the conductor 30a is not reduced. No step is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the boundary between the reduced-thickness section 34 and the section where the thickness of one end segment of the conductor 30a is not reduced. A tip end surface 34a in the circumferential direction of the reduced-thickness section 34 faces the circumferential direction and extends in the forward / backward direction.

[0050] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 7, the reduced-thickness section 35 is a section where the thickness of the other end section of the conductor 30a is reduced, such that it is radially recessed inwards. Thus, a stepped surface 35b, facing the circumferential direction and extending in the forward / backward direction, is formed on an outer circumferential surface of a boundary between the reduced-thickness section 35 and a section where the thickness of the other end section of the conductor 30a is not reduced. No step is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the boundary between the reduced-thickness section 35 and the section where the thickness of the other end section of the conductor 30a is not reduced. A tip end surface 35a in the circumferential direction of the reduced-thickness section 35 faces the circumferential direction and extends in the forward / backward direction.

[0051] The pointed end surface 34a of the reduced-thickness section 34 and the stepped surface 35b of the reduced-thickness section 35 face each other circumferentially. The pointed end surface 35a of the reduced-thickness section 35 and the stepped surface 34b of the reduced-thickness section 34 face each other circumferentially. In other words, in the contact section 36, the reduced-thickness section 34 and the reduced-thickness section 35 face each other radially, the pointed end surface 34a and the stepped surface 35b face each other circumferentially, and the pointed end surface 35a and the stepped surface 34b face each other circumferentially, thus forming a so-called labyrinth structure.

[0052] In the present example, the radial thickness of section 34 with reduced thickness and section 35 with reduced thickness is essentially half the thickness of the section without thickness reduction (i.e., the plate thickness of conductor 30a). Therefore, the radial thickness of the contact section 36 formed by stacking the reduced-thickness section 34 and the reduced-thickness section 35 is essentially equal to the thickness of the section without thickness reduction. Consequently, almost no step extending in the forward / backward direction is formed on a section corresponding to contact section 36 on an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface of the outer plug terminal 30 (the large-diameter section 31, the connecting section 33, and the small-diameter section 32) (see Fig. 6A, Fig. 6B and Fig. 7) Even if a step is formed because edge sections with reduced thicknesses are stacked, the protruding height of the step is reduced compared to a step formed in the previously described connector (in which edge sections are stacked without reduction of thickness) according to the prior art. That is, the degree of unevenness of the contact section 36 is less than in the previously described connector according to the prior art.

[0053] Furthermore, in the present example, the reduced-thickness section 34 and the reduced-thickness section 35 are pressed against each other circumferentially. In other words, a case arises in which the pointed end surface 34a of the reduced-thickness section 34 and the stepped surface 35b of the reduced-thickness section 35, which face each other circumferentially, are in pressure contact with each other, and / or a case arises in which the pointed end surface 35a of the reduced-thickness section 35 and the stepped surface 34b of the reduced-thickness section 34, which face each other circumferentially, are in pressure contact with each other.

[0054] Next, a manufacturing process for achieving such a pressure contact is described. In particular, a method for manufacturing the outer connector terminal 30 from the flat, plate-shaped conductor 30a (see Fig. 8A and Fig. 8C) with reference to Fig. Sections 9A to 9C are described. First, the flat, plate-shaped conductor 30a (see Fig. 8A and Fig. 8C) into a cylindrical shape. At this point, as in Fig. Figure 9A shows the conductor 30a in a state where no external force is applied, intentionally and excessively bent (plastically deformed) such that the reduced-thickness section 34 is arranged radially inward from the reduced-thickness section 35, and a circumferential position of the stepped surface 34b of the reduced-thickness section 34 and a circumferential position of the stepped surface 35b of the reduced-thickness section 35 are substantially aligned with each other. A radius of curvature on one side of the edge section (reduced-thickness section 34) is r1, and a radius of curvature on the other side of the edge section (reduced-thickness section 35) is r2 (r1 > r2). Here, r1 is smaller than the inner diameter of the outer connector terminal 30.

[0055] Next, a cylindrical core metal 6 with an outer diameter having a radius r3 larger than the radius of curvature r1 is inserted into the cylindrically bent conductor 30a, as shown in Fig. 9A is shown, and conductor 30a is enlarged radially outwards (see arrows in Fig. 9B). Here, r3 is larger than the inner diameter of the outer connector pin 30. Consequently, as in Fig. Figure 9B shows that the conductor 30a, bent into a cylindrical shape, is elastically deformed in a radially enlarged direction to such an extent that the tip end face 34a of the section 34 with reduced thickness and the tip end face 35a of the section 35 with reduced thickness are separated from each other in the circumferential direction. In this state, the conductor 30a presses against an outer circumferential surface of the core metal 6 due to an elastic restoring force of the conductor 30a.

[0056] Next, the core metal 6 is extracted from the in Fig. The condition shown in Figure 9B is removed. As a result, due to the elastic restoring force of conductor 30a, it attempts to elastically return in a direction in which conductor 30a contracts radially until it enters a position that is in Fig. The shape shown in 9A has returned (see the arrows in Fig. 9C). In an intermediate stage during elastic recovery, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 9C, a case occurs in which the tip end face 34a of the reduced-thickness section 34 and the stepped surface 35b of the reduced-thickness section 35 are brought into surface contact, and / or a case occurs in which the tip end face 35a of the reduced-thickness section 35 and the stepped surface 34b of the reduced-thickness section 34 are brought into surface contact. This interrupts the elastic recovery of the conductor 30a, and a state is reached in which the reduced-thickness section 34 is stacked on the radially outer side of the reduced-thickness section 35 (a state in which the reduced-thickness section 34 and the reduced-thickness section 35 overlap each other in the radial direction). Accordingly, the contact section 36 is formed, and thus the one shown in the Fig. 6A and Fig. 6B shown outer connector 30.

[0057] In the outer connector terminal 30, which is obtained by interrupting the elastic return in this way, the elastic return force of the conductor 30a is maintained. Therefore, the following occurs: the tip end face 34a of the reduced-thickness section 34 and the stepped surface 35b of the reduced-thickness section 35 are in pressure contact with each other, and / or the tip end face 35a of the reduced-thickness section 35 and the stepped surface 34b of the reduced-thickness section 34 are in pressure contact with each other. That is, a so-called springback effect is achieved. In other words, the reduced-thickness section 34 and the reduced-thickness section 35 are pressed against each other circumferentially.

[0058] As previously described, according to connector 1 in the present embodiment, the outer connector terminal 30 is formed by bending the plate-shaped conductor 30a into a cylindrical shape and by bringing one edge section and the other edge section of the conductor 30a into contact, and the outer connector terminal 30 can have a shielding function for shielding (collecting) electromagnetic waves.The contact section 36, formed by bringing one edge section and the other edge section of the conductor 30a into contact, has a so-called labyrinth structure. In this structure, the reduced-thickness section 34, where one end section is reduced in thickness in the circumferential direction of one edge section so that it is radially recessed outwards, and the reduced-thickness section 35, where one end section is reduced in thickness in the circumferential direction of the other end section so that it is radially recessed inwards, overlap each other in the radial direction. Accordingly, the radial thickness of the contact section 36 can be essentially equal to the thickness of the plate-shaped conductor 30a, thus eliminating the previously described step on the outer circumferential surface of the outer connector terminal 30.As a result, a structure of a mold or the like for shaping the connector housing 10 can be simplified compared to the connector according to the prior art.

[0059] Since the contact section 36 of the outer connector terminal 30 has a labyrinthine structure, the creepage distance at the overlapping sections 34 and 35 with reduced thickness is increased, and the shielding performance is improved. Furthermore, the thickness of the contact section 36 is set to be substantially equal to the plate thickness of the plate-shaped conductor 30a, so that an outer circumferential surface of the small-diameter section 32 of the outer connector terminal 30 is less likely to be pinched by the connector housing 10 when the small-diameter section 32 of the outer connector terminal 30 is inserted into the connector terminal receiving bore 13 of the connector housing 10, and the insertability of the outer connector terminal 30 into the connector housing 10 is improved.

[0060] Furthermore, according to connector 1 in the present embodiment, section 34 with reduced thickness at one edge section and section 35 with reduced thickness at the other edge section are pressed together circumferentially. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the size of a gap in contact section 36 from increasing or decreasing due to a dimensional tolerance (a so-called manufacturing variation) that may occur during production. It is also possible to prevent contact section 36 from being opened by an unintentional external force exerted on the outer connector terminal 30. This prevents a reduction in the shielding performance of the outer connector terminal 30.

[0061] Furthermore, according to the connector 1 of the present embodiment, the outer connector terminal 30 comprises the large-diameter section 31 and the small-diameter section 32, which has a smaller diameter than the large-diameter section 31 and is held in the connector housing 10. Therefore, when the small-diameter section 32 of the outer connector terminal 30 is inserted into the connector housing 10, the connecting section 33 between the large-diameter section 31 and the small-diameter section 32 of the outer connector terminal 30 is pressed against the connector housing 10, thus ensuring that the outer connector terminal 30 is correctly positioned in the connector housing 10 in one installation direction.Furthermore, the contact section 36 extends in an axial direction that intersects both the large-diameter section 31 and the small-diameter section 32, thus eliminating the previously described step on an outer circumferential surface of the connection section 33 in addition to the large-diameter section 31 and the small-diameter section 32. This improves the positioning accuracy of the outer connector terminal 30 in an installation direction of the outer connector terminal 30 in the connector housing 10.

[0062] The foregoing description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention serves for illustration and description purposes. It is not intended that the description be exhaustive or that the invention be limited to the disclosed exact forms. Obviously, many modifications and changes will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The embodiments have been selected and described to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, and thereby enable other skilled persons to understand the invention in various embodiments and with the various modifications suitable for the respective uses under consideration. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

[0063] In the embodiment described above, the outer connector terminal 30 has a stepped cylindrical shape and comprises the large-diameter section 31 and the small-diameter section 32. Alternatively, the outer connector terminal 30 can have a cylindrical shape with a constant outer diameter in the forward / reverse direction.

[0064] In the embodiment described above, the section 34 with reduced thickness at one edge section and the section 35 with reduced thickness at the other edge section of the outer connector 30 are pressed together circumferentially. Alternatively, the section 34 with reduced thickness at one edge section and the section 35 with reduced thickness at the other edge section need not be pressed together circumferentially.

[0065] According to the connector according to the present invention with the above configuration, the cylindrical terminal has a structure in which the plate-shaped conductor is bent into a cylindrical shape and one edge section of the conductor and the other edge section are brought into contact with each other, and the cylindrical terminal has a shielding function for shielding (collecting) electromagnetic waves by isolating the inner terminal from the periphery.The contact section, formed by bringing one edge section and the other edge section into contact, has a configuration in which the reduced-thickness section, where one end section is reduced in thickness in the circumferential direction of one edge section so that it is radially recessed outwards, and the reduced-thickness section, where one end section is reduced in thickness in the circumferential direction of the other edge section so that it is radially recessed inwards, overlap each other in the radial direction. That is, since the contact section has a so-called labyrinthine structure, the creepage distance is increased and the shielding performance of the contact section is improved. Furthermore, because the reduced-thickness sections overlap, it is possible to reduce the influence of the contact section on the outer shape of the cylindrical connection (i.e.,(to reduce the degree of unevenness). Consequently, the productivity of the connector is likely to improve by avoiding a complex shape or similar design for the housing, while preventing a decrease in the shielding performance of the contact section. Therefore, with this configuration, the connector can achieve both excellent shielding performance and improved productivity compared to the state-of-the-art connector.

[0066] Furthermore, the cylindrical connector comprises the large-diameter section and the small-diameter section. When the small-diameter section of the cylindrical connector is inserted into the housing, a boundary section (i.e., a connecting section) between the large-diameter and small-diameter sections is pressed against the housing, thus enabling the cylindrical connector to be positioned within the housing. Consequently, the assembly of the cylindrical connector to the housing is facilitated, and the productivity of the connector can be further improved. Moreover, since the contact section is designed to intersect the entire large-diameter and small-diameter sections, it is also possible to reduce the degree of unevenness of the outer circumferential surface of the connecting section, in addition to the large-diameter and small-diameter sections.As a result, the positioning accuracy of the previously described cylindrical connector is improved. Therefore, with this configuration, the connector can further improve productivity.

[0067] In the connector (1) one section (34) with reduced thickness and the other section (35) with reduced thickness can be pressed against each other in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical connection (30).

[0068] According to the connector with the configuration described above, the reduced-thickness section of one edge segment and the reduced-thickness section of the other edge segment are pressed together circumferentially. This prevents the size of any gap in the contact segment from increasing or decreasing due to dimensional tolerances (so-called manufacturing variations) that may occur during the production of the cylindrical connector. It also prevents the contact segment from opening due to an unintentional external force applied to the cylindrical connector. Therefore, the cylindrical connector with the configuration described above can provide the desired shielding performance.

[0069] As previously described, according to the present invention it is possible to provide a connector that can achieve both excellent shielding performance and an improvement in productivity.

Claims

[1] Connectors (1), comprising: a cylindrical connection (30) which can be electrically connected to a cylindrical counter-connection (90); an internal connection (50) located in the cylindrical connection (30); and a housing (10) that accommodates the cylindrical connection (30), wherein the cylindrical terminal (30) has a contact section (36) which is formed by bending a plate-shaped conductor (30a) into a cylindrical shape, such that one edge section of the conductor (30a) touches an opposite edge section of the conductor (30a), wherein one edge section has a recessed shape at its circumferential end section by reducing its thickness in a radial direction outwards of the cylindrical connection to form a section (34) with reduced thickness, wherein the other edge section has a recessed shape at its circumferential end section by reducing its thickness in the radial direction inwards to form an opposing other section (35) of reduced thickness, wherein the contact section (36) is formed by overlapping one section (34) with reduced thickness and the other section (35) with reduced thickness, wherein the cylindrical connection (30) has: a large diameter section (31) that comes into contact with the mating connection (90), a small-diameter section (32) which has a smaller diameter than the large-diameter section (31) and is held in the housing (10), and a connecting section (33) located between the large-diameter section (31) and the small-diameter section (32), having a diameter that gradually decreases from the large-diameter section (31) to the small-diameter section (32), the connecting section (33) being pressed against an edge section of a connector receiving bore (13) provided in the housing (10) and accommodating the small-diameter section (32), and a locking piece (37) projecting from the small-diameter section (32), wherein the locking piece (37) engages with the housing (10) to regulate rotation in its circumferential direction relative to the housing (10), wherein the contact section (36) extends in an axial direction of the cylindrical connection (30) over both the large diameter section (31) and the small diameter section (32). [2] Connector (10) according to claim 1, wherein one section (34) with reduced thickness and the other section (35) with reduced thickness are pressed against each other in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical connector (30).

Images