Electrical connector for printed circuit boards

Abstract

To create an electrical connector for printed circuit boards that is capable of achieving good impedance matching while allowing relative movement of the movable housing with respect to the stationary housing, the intermediate sections 15 of the terminals 10 are at least partially arranged within the interior 25 of the electrical connector for printed circuit boards 1. The electrical connector for printed circuit boards 1 has contour sections 23 made of a dielectric material, which are positioned on the side opposite the interior 25 with respect to the intermediate sections 15 and extend along the intermediate sections 15 while being spaced from them by a gap. The contour sections 23 are able to follow the intermediate sections 15 when the intermediate sections 15 are elastically deformed in the connector width direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction.

Description

BACKGROUND CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED REGISTRATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority over Japanese patent application JP 2023 - 123 123 A, filed on July 28, 2023, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. [Technical field]

[0002] The present invention relates to an electrical connector for printed circuit boards, which is arranged on a mounting surface of a printed circuit board. [State of the art]

[0003] Known electrical connectors for such printed circuit boards include, for example, the electrical connector according to patent document 1. In the electrical connector according to patent document 1, several terminals are provided, arranged such that the terminal arrangement direction is parallel to a mounting surface of a printed circuit board. These terminals extend between a stationary housing and a movable housing, which are separate parts (separate elements). The stationary housing is attached to the printed circuit board by means of the terminals. The movable housing is designed to be capable of relative movement with respect to the stationary housing due to elastic deformation of the terminals.

[0004] The connections, which are produced by bending strip-shaped metal parts in the through-thickness direction, are designed to be solderable to the mounting surface of the printed circuit board by means of connecting sections formed at their lower ends, while they are designed to make contact with mating connections provided in a mating connector by means of contact sections formed at their upper ends. Additionally, stationary-side retaining sections, which are held in the stationary housing, motion-side retaining sections, which are held in the moving housing, and deformation sections, which couple the stationary-side retaining sections and the motion-side retaining sections, are provided between the connecting sections and the contact sections.

[0005] The deformation sections, which extend between the two housings without being held in either the stationary or the movable housing, allow movement of the movable housing due to elastic deformation of the deformation sections. The deformation sections are covered by impedance-matching sections made of a dielectric material. These impedance-matching sections are formed integrally with the deformation sections in contact with their outer surface and are designed to be elastically deformable along with them. According to patent document 1, covering the deformation sections with the impedance-matching sections in this manner adjusts the impedance of the terminals, resulting in impedance matching. [Patent Documents][Patent Document 1]

[0006] JP 2014 - 222 576 A. SUMMARY [Problems to be solved]

[0007] In patent document 1, the impedance matching sections are formed in contact with the deformation sections of the terminals. If the impedance matching sections, which are made of a dielectric material, are brought into contact with the deformation sections in this way, there is a risk that the impedance of the deformation sections will become too low, making impedance matching in the terminals difficult to achieve.

[0008] In view of these circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector for printed circuit boards which is able to achieve good impedance matching while allowing relative movement of the movable housing with respect to the stationary housing. [Technical solution]

[0009] (1) The electrical connector for printed circuit boards according to the invention is an electrical connector for printed circuit boards arranged on a mounting surface of a printed circuit board, the connector comprising a plurality of terminals arranged such that the terminal arrangement direction is a direction parallel to the mounting surface, a stationary housing which is attached to the printed circuit board by the medium of the terminals, and a movable housing which is capable of relative movement with respect to the stationary housing, wherein the terminals comprise a stationary-side retaining section which is held in the stationary housing, a movement-side retaining section which is held in the movable housing, and an elastically deformable intermediate section.which is arranged between the stationary-side holding section and the movement-side holding section and is designed to span between the stationary housing and the moving housing.

[0010] In the present invention, such an electrical connector for printed circuit boards is characterized in that the intermediate sections are at least partially arranged in the interior of the electrical connector for printed circuit boards, the electrical connector for printed circuit boards has contour sections made of a dielectric material which are positioned on the side opposite the interior with respect to the intermediate sections and extend along the intermediate sections while being spaced apart from the intermediate sections by an intermediate gap, and the contour sections are able to follow the intermediate sections when the intermediate sections are elastically deformed in the connector width direction perpendicular to the connection arrangement direction.

[0011] In the present invention, contour sections made of a dielectric material are provided that extend along the intermediate sections of the terminals, while being spaced apart from them by a gap. The fact that the contour sections extend along the intermediate sections in this way makes it possible to adjust the impedance of the intermediate sections and, as a result, achieve impedance matching at the terminals. At this point, the contour sections are positioned spaced apart from the intermediate sections by a gap and are therefore not in contact with them. Consequently, the impedance of the intermediate sections does not drop too low, and good impedance matching is thus easily achieved.Since the contour sections are designed to be able to follow the intermediate sections, the elastic deformation of the intermediate sections and the movement of the movable housing due to expansion are not hindered.

[0012] (2) In the invention of (1) the contour sections can be formed as part of the stationary housing and are able to engage the movable housing in a locking manner in the connector width direction.

[0013] (3) In the invention of (1) the contour sections can be formed separately from the stationary housing and the movable housing and are able to engage the movable housing in a locking manner in the connector width direction while being held in the stationary housing.

[0014] In configurations such as those of inventions (2) and (3) described above, when the movable housing moves in the connector width direction, the contour sections follow the intermediate sections, which are elastically deformed in the connector width direction. This makes it easier to maintain a secure distance between the contour sections and intermediate sections and, through expansion, to maintain good impedance matching even after the movement of the movable housing.

[0015] (4) In the invention of (2) or (3), the contour sections may not have sections that abut the movable housing in the connection arrangement direction, and the movable housing may be able to move in the connection arrangement direction without disturbing the contour sections. In such a configuration, the movable housing does not disturb the contour sections and can thus move smoothly in the connection arrangement direction.

[0016] (5) In the invention of (1) the contour sections can be formed as part of the movable housing and be able to engage the stationary housing in a locking manner in the connector width direction.

[0017] (6) In the invention of (1) the contour sections can be formed separately from the stationary housing and the movable housing and are able to engage the stationary housing in a locking manner in the connector width direction while being held in the movable housing.

[0018] In configurations such as those of inventions (5) and (6) described above, when the movable housing moves in the connector width direction, the contour sections follow the intermediate sections of the terminals as a result of a displacement using the points of locking engagement with the stationary housing as pivot points. This makes it easier to maintain a secure distance between the contour sections and intermediate sections and, by extension, good impedance matching even after the movement of the movable housing.

[0019] (7) In the invention of (5) or (6), the contour sections may not have sections that abut the stationary housing in the connection arrangement direction and may be able to move in the connection arrangement direction together with the movable housing without disturbing the stationary housing. In such an arrangement, when the movable housing moves in the connection arrangement direction, the contour sections move together with the movable housing without disturbing the stationary housing, thus providing smooth movement of the movable housing. [Effects of the invention]

[0020] The present invention can create an electrical connector for printed circuit boards that is able to achieve good impedance matching while allowing relative movement of the movable housing with respect to the stationary housing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a socket connector and a plug connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention, shown in a state prior to the plug connection. Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the individual components of the socket connector. Fig. 1 represents in isolation. Fig. Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view, which shows a cross-section of the socket connector and the plug connector of Fig. 1 represents in a plane perpendicular to the connection arrangement direction, which is shown in a state before the plug connection. Fig. Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view representing a cross-section of the socket connector and the plug connector in a plane perpendicular to the connection arrangement direction, shown in a state after the plug connection. Fig. Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view representing a cross-section of the socket connector and the plug connector in a plane perpendicular to the connection arrangement direction, shown in a floating state after the plug connection. Fig. Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view representing a cross-section of a socket connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a plane perpendicular to the connection arrangement direction. Fig. Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view representing a cross-section of a socket connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention in a plane perpendicular to the connection arrangement direction. Fig. Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view representing a cross-section of a socket connector according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention in a plane perpendicular to the connection arrangement direction. Fig. Figure 9 shows a side view depicting a socket connector according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention as seen in the connector width direction. Fig. Figure 10 shows a cross-sectional view representing a cross-section of a socket connector according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention in a plane perpendicular to the connection arrangement direction. Fig. Figure 11 shows a cross-sectional view representing a cross-section of a socket connector according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention in a plane perpendicular to the connection arrangement direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. <Erste Ausführungsform>

[0022] Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a socket connector 1 and a plug connector 2 according to the present embodiment, shown in a state prior to the connection. The socket connector 1 is an electrical connector for printed circuit boards (PCBs) mounted on a mounting surface of a PCB (not shown). Additionally, the plug connector 2, which serves as a mating connector (mother connector) connected to the socket connector 1, is an electrical connector for printed circuit boards mounted on a mounting surface of another PCB (not shown). The socket connector 1 and the plug connector 2 are mated in the vertical direction (the top-bottom direction, referred to as the Z-axis direction) perpendicular to the mounting surfaces in an orientation in which the mounting surfaces of the PCBs are in an opposite relationship, thus forming an electrical connector assembly.In the present embodiment, the connector 2 is designed to be mate-to-mate with the socket connector 1 from above.

[0023] The socket connector 1 has several sheet metal socket terminals 10 arranged side by side such that the terminal arrangement direction is a direction parallel to the mounting surface of the printed circuit board (Y-axis direction), and socket housings 20, 30 (the stationary housing 20 and the movable housing 30, which are described below) made of plastic or another dielectric material (of electrically insulating material) which hold the several socket terminals 10.

[0024] Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective view that isolates the respective components of the socket connector 1. Fig. Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view representing a cross-section of the socket connector 1 and the plug connector 2 prior to the plug connection in a plane perpendicular to the connection arrangement direction at the location of the socket terminals 10. As in Fig. 2 and Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the socket terminals 10 are arranged in two rows. The two rows of socket terminals 10 are arranged in mutually symmetrical orientations in the connector width direction (X-axis direction) perpendicular to both the connection arrangement direction (Y-axis direction) and the top-bottom direction (Z-axis direction). Additionally, in the present embodiment, the two rows of socket terminals 10 are arranged in an offset pattern, with the socket terminals 10 in one row and the socket terminals 10 in the other row being positioned differently in the connection arrangement direction.

[0025] The socket housings 20, 30 comprise a stationary housing 20, which is attached to the printed circuit board (not shown) by the medium of the socket terminals 10, and a movable housing 30, which is capable of relative movement with respect to the stationary housing 20. The socket terminals 10 are arranged to span between the stationary housing 20 and the movable housing 30.

[0026] The socket connections 10 are produced by bending strip-shaped metal parts in their through-thickness direction and, as in Fig. 2 shown, arranged such that their connection width direction (direction perpendicular to the through-thickness direction of the socket connections 10) coincides with the connection arrangement direction (Y-axis direction). As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the socket terminals 10 have a connecting section 11 formed at one end which is arranged at the bottom, a stationary-side retaining section 12 extending upwards from the connecting section 11, a contact arm section 13 formed at the other end which is arranged upwards and inwards from the connecting section 11 in the connector width direction, a movement-side retaining section 14 extending downwards from the contact arm section 13, and an intermediate section 15 and a transition section 16 arranged between the stationary-side retaining section 12 and the movement-side retaining section 14.

[0027] The configuration of the stationary housing 20 and the movable housing 30 is described before a further description of the socket connections 10. As in Fig. 1 and Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the stationary housing 20 has a rectangular cylindrical configuration with a generally rectangular parallelepiped-like outer shape, the longitudinal direction of which is the connection arrangement direction (Y-axis direction). The stationary housing 20 has a pair of side walls 21 extending in the connection arrangement direction and a pair of end walls 24 extending in the connector width direction (X-axis direction) at opposite ends in the connection arrangement direction and coupled by the pair of side walls 21, the pair of side walls 21 and the pair of end walls 24 forming a circumferential wall. As shown in Figure 2, the side walls 21 and the pair of end walls 24 are connected by the side walls 21 and the pair of end walls 24. Fig. 2 and Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the end walls 24 span an area extending outwards from the side walls 21 in the direction of the connector width. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, an interior space 25, enclosed by the circumferential wall and oriented in the top-bottom direction, accommodates a section of the movable housing 30 and a section of the socket terminals 10. Examples of the dielectric material comprising the stationary housing 20 are polyamide (PA) or liquid crystal polymers (LCP) and other engineering plastics or elastomers, rubbers, and the like.

[0028] The side walls 21 have lower walls 22, which form the bottom sections of the side walls 21, and contour sections 23, which form sections other than the bottom sections of the side walls 21. As in Fig. Figure 3 shows groove-shaped stationary-side retaining sections 22A, which are recessed from the inner wall surface of the lower walls 22 while extending in the top-bottom direction. The stationary-side retaining sections 22A, whose bottom ends are open, are designed to retain the stationary-side retaining sections 12 of the socket terminals 10, which are pressed in from below.

[0029] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the contour sections 23, which are positioned inwards from the lower walls 22 in the connector width direction, are thinner than the lower walls 22. In the present embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the contour sections 23 are thinner than the lower walls 22. Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the thickness dimensions of the contour sections 23 gradually increase as they move upwards. Additionally, the contour sections 23 are positioned outwards in the connector width direction relative to the first leg sections 15A of the socket connections 10, as described below, i.e., on the side opposite the interior, 25. Positioned a small distance apart from the outer side faces (main faces facing outwards in the connector width direction) of the first leg sections 15A in the connector width direction, the contour sections 23 extend along the first leg sections 15A in the top-bottom direction. In the present embodiment, the contour sections 23 are free of intermittent sections in the connection arrangement direction, i.e., they are solid throughout their entire extent in the connection arrangement direction.

[0030] Additionally, as in the Fig. 1 to Fig. Figure 3 shows engagement sections 23A, which can be brought into locking engagement with the movable housing 30, provided in the upper sections of the contour sections 23 at several locations (3 locations in the present embodiment) in the connection arrangement direction. The engagement sections 23A have a rising section 23B extending upwards from the upper end of the wall parallel to the first leg section 15A in the contour section 23, and a hook section 23C extending from the upper end of the rising section 23B. As shown in the Fig. 1 to Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the hook section 23C has a claw-like configuration extending inwards from the upper end of the rising section 23B in the connector width direction and then extending further downwards.

[0031] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the movable housing 30 is inserted from below into and arranged in the interior 25 of the stationary housing 20, and the lower section of the movable housing 30 is received in the upper section of the interior 25. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the movable housing 30 has a pair of long walls 31 extending in the connection arrangement direction, a pair of engageable walls 32 coupled to the lower sections of the long walls 31 as they extend in the connection arrangement direction, a pair of short walls 33 extending in the connector width direction (X-axis direction) at opposite ends in the connection arrangement direction and coupled through the pair of long walls 31 and the pair of engageable walls 32, and a lower wall 34 (see Figure 2). Fig. 3) which seals the space enclosed by the perimeter wall, which consists of the pair of long walls 31 and the pair of short walls 33, from below. The upwardly open space enclosed by the aforementioned perimeter wall forms a socket-side receiving section 35, which is designed to receive a part of the connector 2. Examples of the dielectric material comprising the movable housing 30 include polyamide (PA), liquid crystal polymers (LCP), and other engineering plastics and the like.

[0032] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, socket connection groove sections 31A, which are recessed from the inner wall surface of the long walls 31, are formed in a side-by-side arrangement in the upper section of the long walls 31. The socket connection groove sections 31A, which extend in the top-bottom direction along the upper sections of the contact arm sections 13 of the socket connections 10, are able to allow elastic deformation of the upper sections of the contact arm sections 13.

[0033] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the engageable walls 32 extend first outwards from the lower end sections of the long walls 31 in the connector width direction and then upwards, and the shape of their cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the connection arrangement direction has a claw-like configuration. As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the sections of the engageable walls 32, which are positioned in the connection arrangement direction in alignment with the engagement sections 23A of the stationary housing 20, form engageable sections 32A that can be engaged with the engagement sections 23A in a locking manner. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the engageable sections 32A are designed to receive the hook sections 23C of the engagement sections 23A in the upwardly open groove sections, enabling the hook sections 23C to engage the engageable sections 32A in a locking manner in the connector width direction.

[0034] In the present embodiment, the hook sections 23C have no sections that abut the engaging walls 32 in the connection arrangement direction. Accordingly, the movable housing 30 as a whole is able to move in the connection arrangement direction without disturbing the stationary housing 20.

[0035] As in Fig. Figure 3 shows movement-side holding sections 34A, which are provided for press-fit holding of the movement-side holding sections 14 of the socket connections 10, formed in the bottom wall 34 as opening sections which are arranged through the bottom wall 34 in the top-bottom direction.

[0036] Referring to the description of the socket connections 10, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the connecting sections 11, which extend downwards from the base surface of the stationary housing 20 in the connector width direction, are designed to be soldered to corresponding circuits (not shown) on the mounting surface of the printed circuit board. The stationary-side retaining sections 12, which are bent in the connector width direction at the inner ends of the connecting sections 11 and extend upwards in a straight configuration, are held in a press-fit configuration by the stationary-side retaining sections 22A of the stationary housing 20 by means of press-fit projections formed on opposite side edges (edges extending in the top-bottom direction on opposite sides in the connection width direction).

[0037] The upper sections of the contact arm segments 13, which extend in the top-bottom direction along the inner wall surfaces of the long walls 31 of the movable housing 30, are designed to be elastically deformable in the connector width direction (in the through-thickness direction of the contact arm segments 13). In particular, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the lower sections of the contact arm sections 13, which are in surface contact with the inner wall surfaces of the long walls 31, are supported by the inner wall surfaces from the outside in the connector width direction. Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the upper sections of the contact arm sections 13 are positioned in the top-bottom direction in alignment with the socket connection groove sections 31A of the long walls 31, and elastic deformation of these sections, directed outwards in the connector width direction, is enabled by the socket connection groove sections 31A when they are placed in contact with plug terminals 50, i.e., the mating terminals. Contact sections 13A, which are intended for contacting the plug terminals 50, are formed by being bent so that they project inwards in the connector width direction at the upper ends of the contact arm sections 13.

[0038] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the motion-side retaining sections 14, which extend downwards from the lower ends of the contact arm sections 13 in a straight configuration, are held by the bottom wall 34 of the movable housing 30. In particular, the motion-side retaining sections 14 are held in an interference fit by the motion-side retaining sections 34A of the movable housing 30 by means of press-fit projections formed on opposite side edges (edges that extend in the top-bottom direction on opposite sides in the connection width direction).

[0039] The overall shape of the intermediate sections 15, which have a first leg section 15A extending in the top-bottom direction and a second leg section 15B extending in the connector width direction, is generally an inverted L-shaped configuration. The first leg sections 15A, which extend in a straight configuration along the inner wall surfaces of the contour sections 23 of the stationary housing 20, are designed to be elastically deformable in the connector width direction. The movement (floating) of the movable housing 30 in the connector width direction is due to an elastic deformation of these first leg sections 15A (see Fig. 5) enabled. The first leg sections 15A are coupled to the upper ends of the stationary-side holding sections 12 by means of transition sections 16, which extend outwards from their lower ends in the connector width direction. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the first leg sections 15A are provided in positions that are spaced apart by a gap from the inner wall surfaces of the contour sections 23 in the connector width direction.

[0040] The gap between the contour sections 23 and the first leg sections 15A is dimensioned to ensure a suitable impedance in the socket connections 10. Here, the value of the "suitable impedance" is set within a predetermined permissible range, and accordingly, the aforementioned dimensions are set within a predetermined permissible range. The contour sections 23, which are elastically deformable in the connector width direction together with the first leg sections 15A, are also designed such that a gap dimensioned within the aforementioned permissible range remains with respect to the first leg sections 15A even in the elastically deformed state (see Fig. 5) is ensured.

[0041] Additionally, the first leg sections 15A are also elastically deformable in the connection arrangement direction. The movement (floating) of the movable housing 30 in the connection arrangement direction is made possible by elastic deformation of the first leg sections 15A.

[0042] The second leg sections 15B, which are bent at right angles at the upper ends of the first leg sections 15A and extend inwards in the connector width direction, are coupled to the lower ends of the movement-side retaining sections 14. The second leg sections 15B extend in a straight configuration along the bottom surfaces (lower surfaces) of the engageable walls 32 of the movable housing 30. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the second leg sections 15B are provided in positions that are spaced apart by a gap from the bottom surfaces of the walls 32 that can be engaged in the connector width direction.

[0043] The gap between the engaging walls 32 and the second leg sections 15B is dimensioned to ensure a suitable impedance at the socket connections 10. Here, the value of the "suitable impedance" is set within a predetermined permissible range, and accordingly, the aforementioned dimensions are set within a predetermined permissible range. Even in the elastically deformed state of the second leg sections 15B, a gap dimensioned within the aforementioned permissible range is ensured between the engaging walls 32 and the second leg sections 15B.

[0044] In the present embodiment, as described above, the contour sections 23 and the first leg sections 15A, as well as the engageable walls 32 and the second leg sections 15B, are positioned spaced apart by an intermediate gap dimensioned to ensure a suitable impedance and are not in contact with each other. Accordingly, good characteristic impedance matching is achieved without an excessive drop in the characteristic impedance of the intermediate sections 15.

[0045] The assembly process of the socket connector 1 is described below. First, the socket terminals 10 are attached to the movable housing 30 by pressing the movement-side retaining sections 14 of the socket terminals 10 into the movement-side retaining sections 34A of the movable housing 30 from below. The movable housing 30, to which the socket terminals 10 are attached, is then inserted from below into the interior 25 of the stationary housing 20, and the stationary-side retaining sections 12 of the socket terminals 10 are pressed into the stationary-side retaining sections 22A of the stationary housing 20. As a result, the socket terminals 10 are secured to the stationary housing 20. At this point, the hook sections 23C of the engagement sections 23A of the stationary housing 20 engage from above into the groove sections of the engaging sections 32A of the movable housing 30.This completes the assembly of the socket connector 1.

[0046] The configuration of connector 2, i.e., the mating connector, is described next. Connector 2 has several plug terminals 50, which are made of sheet metal and serve as mating terminals, and a plug housing 60, which is made of plastic or another dielectric material (electrically insulating material) and holds the plug terminals 50. Examples of the dielectric material comprising the plug housing 60 are polyamide (PA), liquid crystal polymers (LCP), and other engineering plastics, etc. As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the plug terminals 50 are arranged in two rows such that the terminal arrangement direction is the same direction (Y-axis direction) as the arrangement direction of the socket terminals 10. The two rows of plug terminals 50 are arranged in an offset pattern in alignment with the socket terminals 10.

[0047] The connector terminals 50, which are produced by bending strip-shaped metal parts in the through-thickness direction, are arranged such that their terminal width direction coincides with the terminal arrangement direction. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the plug connectors 50 have a connecting section 51 which extends to one end (upper end in Fig. 3) is formed, a contact arm section 52 which is at the other end (lower end in Fig. 3) is formed, and a coupling section 53 which is bent in a stepped configuration between the connecting section 51 and the contact arm section 52.

[0048] The configuration of the connector housing 60 is described before a further description of the connector terminals 50. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the connector housing 60 has a rectangular parallelepiped-like outer shape, the longitudinal direction of which is the connection arrangement direction (Y-axis direction). The connector housing 60 has a pair of side walls 61 extending in the connection arrangement direction and a pair of end walls 62 extending in the connector width direction (X-axis direction), coupling the end sections of the pair of side walls 61, with the pair of side walls 61 and the pair of end walls 62 forming a circumferential wall. As shown in Figure 1, the connector housing 60 has a rectangular parallelepiped-like outer shape, the longitudinal direction of which is the connection arrangement direction (Y-axis direction). The end sections of the pair of side walls 61 and the pair of end walls 62 couple to each other, forming a circumferential wall. Fig. As shown in Figure 3, an interior space formed by being enclosed by this circumferential wall is divided into upper and lower parts by an intermediate wall 63, which is provided at an intermediate position in the top-bottom direction. This intermediate wall is designed to receive a section of the socket connector 1 in a plug-side receiving section 64, i.e., the lower interior space. Additionally, a projecting wall 65, extending downwards from the lower surface of the intermediate wall 63 in the direction of the connection arrangement, is provided within the plug-side receiving section 64. Plug connection groove sections 65A, recessed into the side surfaces of the projecting wall 65 in the top-bottom direction, are formed in a side-by-side arrangement in the lower section of the projecting wall 65.

[0049] Referring to the description of the plug terminals 50, the connecting sections 51 extend upwards from the bottom surface of the plug housing 60 (upper surface in Fig. 3) are located and extend outwards from the upper ends of the coupling sections 53 in the connector width direction, designed to be soldered to corresponding circuits on the mounting surface of the printed circuit board (not shown). The contact arm sections 52 have the same shape as the contact arm sections 13 of the socket terminals 10. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the contact arm sections 52, which extend downwards from the lower ends of the coupling sections 53 along the side faces of the projecting wall 65 of the connector housing 60, are designed to be elastically deformable in the connector width direction (in the through-thickness direction of the contact arm sections 52). In particular, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the upper sections of the contact arm sections 52, which are in surface contact with the side faces of the projecting wall 65, are supported from the inside in the connector width direction by the side faces. The lower sections of the contact arm sections 52, as shown in Figure 3, are supported from the inside in the connector width direction by the side faces. Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the connector terminal sections 65A are positioned in the top-bottom direction in alignment with the connector terminal groove sections 65A of the projecting wall 65, and the elastic deformation thereof, directed inwards in the connector width direction, is enabled by the connector terminal groove sections 65A when they are placed in contact with the socket terminals 10. Contact sections 52A, which are provided for contacting the socket terminals 10, are formed in the lower end sections of the contact arm sections 52 by being bent so that they project outwards in the connector width direction.

[0050] The connector pins 50 are attached to the connector housing 60 from the side of the lower surface (upper surface side in Fig. 3) of the connector housing 60. In particular, while the lower end sections of the coupling sections 53 are held in a press-fit manner by connector retaining opening sections 63A formed by the intermediate wall 63, the upper end sections of the coupling sections 53 are held in a press-fit manner by connector retaining groove sections 61A recessed in the inner wall surfaces of the side walls 61.

[0051] The process of connecting socket connector 1 and plug connector 2 is described next. First, socket connector 1 and plug connector 2 are mounted to the mounting pads of their respective printed circuit boards (not shown) using solder connections. Specifically, the connecting sections 11 of socket terminals 10 are soldered to corresponding circuits on one printed circuit board, and the connecting sections 51 of plug terminals 50 are soldered to corresponding circuits on the other printed circuit board, thereby securing socket connector 1 and plug connector 2 to their respective printed circuit boards.

[0052] Next, as in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 shown, the connector 2 positioned above the socket connector 1 in an orientation in which the plug-side receiving section 64 (see Fig. 3) is open downwards. The connector 2, while held in this orientation, is lowered, and the protruding wall 65 is inserted from above into the socket-side receiving section 35 of the movable housing 30 of the socket connector 1. Simultaneously, the circumferential wall of the movable housing 30 enters the plug-side receiving section 64 of the connector 2 from below. As a result, as shown in Fig. Figure 4 shows the socket connector 1 and the connector 2 plugged together.

[0053] When connector 2 is plugged together with socket connector 1, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the contact arm sections 13 of the socket terminals 10, while undergoing elastic deformation, contact the upper sections, i.e., the proximal sections, of the contact arm sections 52 of the plug terminals 50 under contact pressure using the contact sections 13A. Additionally, while undergoing elastic deformation, the contact arm sections 52 of the plug terminals 50 contact the lower sections, i.e., the proximal sections, of the contact arm sections 13 of the socket terminals 10 under contact pressure using the contact sections 52A. Specifically, as shown in Figure 4, the contact arm sections 13 of the socket terminals 10 contact the upper sections, i.e., the proximal sections, of the contact arm sections 52 of the plug terminals 50 under contact pressure using the contact sections 52A. Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the socket terminals 10 and the plug terminals 50 are placed in 2-point contact and are in electrical communication. Since, in the present embodiment, the upper sections of the contact arm sections 52 are supported by the projecting wall 65 of the plug housing 60, and the lower sections of the contact arm sections 13 are additionally supported by the long walls 31 of the movable housing 30, the socket terminals 10 and the plug terminals 50 are brought into contact with each other under sufficiently high contact pressure. This completes the process of connecting the socket connector 1 and the plug connector 2.

[0054] If there is no misalignment in the relative positions of socket connector 1 and connector 2 at the time of completion of the connection process, socket connector 1 and connector 2 are in the Fig. 4 shown in the standard position. In this standard position, the first leg sections 15A of the socket connectors 10 are positioned such that they provide a predetermined gap from the inner wall surfaces of the contour sections 23 of the stationary housing 20 in the connector width direction. The second leg sections 15B of the socket connectors 10 are positioned such that they provide a predetermined gap from the bottom surfaces of the engaging walls 32 of the movable housing 30 in the top-bottom direction.

[0055] Even if the relative positions of socket connector 1 and plug connector 2 are misaligned immediately before the start of the connector mating process, the movable housing 30 moves (floats) in the direction in which the misalignment occurred during and after the connector mating process, thus enabling mating by absorbing the misalignment (see Fig. 5).

[0056] Additionally, even if the socket connector 1 and the connector 2 are in the standard position at the time the connection process is completed (see Fig. 4) when the connectors are used later, for example in a vibration-generating environment, their vibrations are absorbed by the floating effect of the movable housing 30 of the socket connector 1.

[0057] Fig. Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the socket connector 1 and the plug connector 2 after the plug connection, with the movable housing 30 shown in a floating state. Fig. Figure 5 represents a cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the connection arrangement direction at the location of a socket connection 10. Additionally, it represents Fig. 5 represents a state in which the movable housing 30 floats towards the X1 side in the connector width direction (X-axis direction). When the movable housing 30 floats towards the X1 side, the first leg sections 15A of the two socket terminals 10, which are in Fig. 5 are shown, i.e. the two socket terminals 10, which are arranged on the X1 side and on the X2 side, are elastically deformed in such a way that they are inclined towards the X1 side, with the areas near the lower end sections of the first leg sections 15A being used as pivot points.

[0058] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 5, when the movable housing 30 moves towards the X1 side, the contour section 23 of the stationary housing 20 on the X1 side is elastically deformed such that it is inclined towards the X1 side, in accordance with the elastic deformation of the first leg section 15A of the socket connector 10 on the X1 side, with the area near its lower end section serving as the pivot point. At this time, the contour section 23 on the X2 side is also elastically deformed towards the X1 side, in accordance with the elastic deformation of the first leg section 15A on the X2 side. In the present embodiment, the thickness dimensions (dimensions in the X-axis direction) of the contour sections 23 are smallest at their lower end sections.Accordingly, the contour sections 23, which are made more elastically deformable in the connector width direction (X-axis direction), with the areas near the lower end sections being used as pivot points, can easily follow the first leg sections 15A of the socket connections 10.

[0059] In the present embodiment, as described above, when the movable housing 30 is suspended in the connector width direction, the two contour sections 23 of the stationary housing 20 are elastically deformed in the connector width direction together with the first leg sections 15A adjacent to the contour sections 23. In this way, the contour sections 23 are able to follow the first leg sections 15A and therefore do not interfere with the elastic deformation of the first leg sections 15A and, by extension, with the movement of the movable housing 30.

[0060] In addition, the contour sections 23 maintain a gap between themselves and the first leg sections 15A within the previously discussed predetermined permissible range, even in the elastically deformed state, and do not come into contact with the first leg sections 15A. Furthermore, as in Fig. Figure 5 shows that the second leg sections 15B of the socket connectors 10 do not deform elastically when floating in the connector width direction.

[0061] Even when the movable housing 30 floats in this way, the gap formed between the contour sections 23 of the stationary housing 20 and the first leg sections 15A of the socket terminals 10 is maintained. Accordingly, the characteristic impedance of the first leg sections 15A does not fall too low, and the characteristic impedance matching achieved in the socket terminals 10 can therefore be maintained.

[0062] In addition, in the present embodiment, as described above, the contour sections 23 of the stationary housing 20 are elastically deformed in accordance with the movement of the movable housing 30, together with the first leg sections 15A of the socket terminals 10, with the areas near the lower end sections being used as pivot points. Accordingly, it becomes easier to maintain a secure gap between them and, through expansion, a good characteristic impedance matching even in the elastically deformed state of the contour sections 23 and the first leg sections 15A.

[0063] When the movable housing 30 floats in the connection arrangement direction, its floating effect is further enabled by the fact that the intermediate sections 15 of the socket connections 10 undergo elastic deformation in the connection arrangement direction. In the present embodiment, the contour sections 23 have no sections that abut the movable housing 30 in the connection arrangement direction. Accordingly, the movable housing 30 does not interfere with the contour sections 23 and can thus move smoothly in the connection arrangement direction.

[0064] At this point, the contour sections 23 themselves move in accordance with the elastically deformed intermediate sections 15, while the first leg sections 15A of the socket connections 10 remain covered and are free from elastic deformation in the connection arrangement direction. In the present embodiment, the contour sections 23 are solid throughout their entire extent in the connection arrangement direction and thus reliably cover the first leg sections 15A of the intermediate sections 15 even when the intermediate sections 15 are elastically deformed in the connection arrangement direction, thereby ensuring good characteristic impedance matching in the socket connections 10. <Zweite Ausführungsform>

[0065] While in the first embodiment the contour sections 23 were formed as part of the stationary housing 20, in the second embodiment the configuration differs from the first in that the contour sections are formed separately from the stationary housing and the movable housing. In the present embodiment, the discussion focuses on differences from the first embodiment, and sections that are identical to the first embodiment, with the exception of the contour sections, are assigned reference numerals obtained by adding "100" to the reference numerals used in the first embodiment, and further discussion of these is omitted.

[0066] Fig. Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view representing a cross-section of a socket connector 101 according to the second embodiment in a plane perpendicular to the connection arrangement direction. Fig. Figure 6 shows a cross-section at the location of the socket terminals 110 in the terminal arrangement direction (Y-axis direction). In the present embodiment, the contour sections 140 are made of a dielectric material (electrically insulating material) and form elements that are separate from the stationary housing 120 and the movable housing 130. Examples of the dielectric material comprising the contour sections 140 are polyamide (PA) or liquid crystal polymers (LCP) and other engineering plastics or elastomers, rubbers, and the like. The shape of the stationary housing 120 is obtained by omitting the contour sections 23 from the stationary housing 20 of the first embodiment. Additionally, examples of the dielectric material comprising the stationary housing 120 and the movable housing 130 are polyamide (PA) or liquid crystal polymers (LCP) and other engineering plastics, etc.

[0067] The shape of the contour sections 140 is obtained by providing fastening sections 141, which are held by the stationary housing 120, at the lower end sections of the contour sections 23 of the first embodiment. Regarding the fastening sections 141, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 6, the contour sections 140 extend outwards from the lower ends of the walls, which extend along the first leg sections 115A of the socket terminals 110, in the connector width direction and then extend further downwards, and the shape of their cross-section perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction has an inverted L-shaped configuration. The fastening sections 141 are embedded and fastened in the lower walls 122 of the stationary housing 120. In the present embodiment, the fastening sections 141 are held by the lower walls 122, as they are integrally formed with the lower walls 122. The other sections of the contour sections 140 besides the fastening sections 141 have the same shape as the contour sections 23 of the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 6, the contour sections 140 are able to engage the engageable sections 132A of the movable housing in the connector width direction using the engagement sections 142 provided above.

[0068] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 6, the contour sections 140 are provided with a small gap from the first leg sections 115A of the socket terminals 110, which are formed in the connector width direction. As in the first embodiment, this gap is dimensioned to ensure a suitable impedance in the socket terminals 110. When the movable housing 130 floats in the connector width direction, the contour sections 140 are elastically deformed in such a way that they incline the movement of the movable housing 130 in accordance with the elastic deformation of the first leg sections 115A and by extension, using the areas near the lower end sections of the walls extending along the first leg sections 115A as pivot points, i.e., the areas near the upper end sections of the fastening sections 141.Even in such a floating state, the gap formed between the contour sections 140 and the first leg sections 115A is maintained, and as a result, the characteristic impedance matching achieved in the socket terminals 110 can be maintained. <Dritte Ausführungsform>

[0069] Although in the second embodiment the contour sections 140 form elements separate from the stationary housing 120 and the movable housing 130, the configuration of the third embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that the contour sections are formed as part of the movable housing. In the present embodiment, the discussion focuses on the differences from the second embodiment, and sections identical to the second embodiment, with the exception of the contour sections, are assigned reference numerals obtained by adding "100" to the reference numerals used in the second embodiment, and further discussion of these is omitted.

[0070] Fig. Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view representing a cross-section of a socket connector 201 according to the third embodiment in a plane perpendicular to the connection arrangement direction. Fig. Figure 7 shows half of the X1 side in the connector width direction. In the present embodiment, the shape of the movable housing 230 is obtained by providing contour sections and fastening sections in the movable housing 130 of the second embodiment. Examples of the dielectric material comprising the movable housing 230 are polyamide (PA) or liquid crystal polymers (LCP) and other engineering plastics or elastomers, rubbers, and the like. Additionally, examples of the dielectric material comprising the stationary housing 220 are polyamide (PA) or liquid crystal polymers (LCP) and other engineering plastics, etc. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 7, the movable housing 230 does not have sections corresponding to the engageable walls 132 in the second embodiment. The movable housing 230 of the present embodiment has contour sections 237 extending from the lower end sections of the long walls 231 and fastening sections 238 extending from the lower end sections of the contour sections 237.

[0071] The contour sections 237 project outwards from the lower end sections of the long walls 231 in the connector width direction and then extend downwards, the shape of their cross-section having a generally inverted L-shaped configuration relative to the connection arrangement direction. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 7, in the same way as in the first and second embodiments, the walls in contour sections 237, which extend along the first leg sections 215A of the socket terminals 210, have a plate-like configuration whose thickness gradually increases as one moves upwards. Additionally, the fastening sections 238, which have a similar shape to the second embodiment, are embedded in the lower walls 222 of the stationary housing 220 and rigidly held in place.

[0072] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 7, the contour sections 237 are provided with a small gap from the first leg sections 215A of the socket terminals 210, which are formed in the connector width direction. As in the first and second embodiments, this gap is dimensioned to ensure a suitable impedance in the socket terminals 210. When the movable housing 230 floats in the connector width direction, the contour sections 237 are elastically deformed in such a way that they incline the movement of the movable housing 230 in accordance with the elastic deformation of the first leg sections 215A and by extension, using the areas near the lower end sections of the walls extending along the first leg sections 215A as pivot points, i.e., the areas near the upper end sections of the fastening sections 238.Even in such a floating state, the gap formed between the contour sections 237 and the first leg sections 215A is maintained, and as a result, the characteristic impedance matching achieved in the socket terminals 210 can be maintained.

[0073] Although in the present embodiment the fastening sections 238, which extend from the lower end sections of the contour sections 237, are held by the stationary housing 220, and the contour sections 237 and, by extension, the movable housing 230 therefore do not move in the connection arrangement direction, the movable housing can, as an alternative variation, be capable of moving in the connection arrangement direction. In particular, for example, instead of the fastening sections 238, engagement sections with the same shape as the engagement sections 23A of the first embodiment can be provided, extending from the lower end sections of the contour sections 237, and engageable sections with the same shape as the engageable sections 32A of the first embodiment can be provided in the upper sections of the lower walls 222 of the stationary housing 220.

[0074] In this variation, the engagement sections and the engageable sections are locked in engagement with each other in the connector width direction. Therefore, when the movable housing floats in the connector width direction, the contour sections follow the first leg sections of the intermediate sections of the connectors by undergoing elastic deformation in an inclined manner, with the points of locking engagement of the aforementioned engagement sections and the aforementioned engageable sections acting as pivot points. Additionally, the aforementioned engagement sections and the aforementioned engageable sections do not abut (interfere with) each other in the connector arrangement direction. Accordingly, a smooth movement, i.e., a floating motion, of the movable housing in the connector arrangement direction is enabled. <Vierte Ausführungsform>

[0075] Although in the second embodiment the contour sections 140 form elements separate from the stationary housing 120 and the movable housing 130, the configuration of the fourth embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that some of the contour sections are formed as part of the stationary housing and others as part of the movable housing. In the present embodiment, the discussion focuses on differences from the second embodiment, and sections identical to the second embodiment are assigned reference numerals obtained by adding "200" to the reference numerals used in the second embodiment, and further discussion of these is omitted.

[0076] Fig. Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view representing a cross-section of a socket connector 301 according to the fourth embodiment in a plane perpendicular to the connection arrangement direction. Fig. Figure 8 shows half of the X1 side in the connector width direction. In the present embodiment, the stationary housing 320 has stationary-side contour sections 323, and the movable housing 330 has movement-side contour sections 337. Examples of the dielectric material comprising the stationary housing 320 and the movable housing 330 are polyamide (PA) or liquid crystal polymers (LCP) and other engineering plastics or elastomers, rubbers, and the like.

[0077] The shape of the stationary-side contour sections 323, which extend upwards from the upper end sections of the lower walls 322 of the stationary housing 320, is obtained by omitting the upper half of the contour sections 23 of the first embodiment (see Fig. 3) The shape of the movement-side contour sections 337, which extend downwards from the lower end sections of the long walls 331 of the movable housing 330 in a generally inverted L-shaped configuration, is obtained by omitting the lower half of the contour sections 237 of the third embodiment (see Fig. 7).

[0078] The upper end sections of the stationary-side contour sections 323 have their outer half cut away in the thickness direction (connector width direction), making them thinner than other parts. The lower end sections of the moving-side contour sections 337 have their inner half cut away in the thickness direction (connector width direction), making them thinner than other parts. As a result, as shown in Fig. Figure 8 shows the upper end sections of the stationary-side contour sections 323 and the lower end sections of the movement-side contour sections 337 engaging in the connector width direction, interlocking with each other.

[0079] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 8, the walls formed jointly by the stationary-side contour sections 323 and the movement-side contour sections 337 have a plate-like configuration, similar to the first to third embodiments. Their thickness gradually increases with upward movement. These walls are provided with a small gap between them and the first leg sections 315A of the socket connections 310, which are formed in the connector width direction. As in the first to third embodiments, this gap is dimensioned to ensure a suitable impedance in the socket connections 310.When the movable housing 330 is suspended in the connector width direction, the aforementioned walls are elastically deformed in such a way that, in accordance with the elastic deformation of the first leg sections 315A and by extension, they incline the movement of the movable housing 330, using the areas near the lower end sections of the stationary-side contour sections 323 as pivot points. Even in such a suspended state, the gap formed between the aforementioned walls and the first leg sections 315A is maintained, and as a result, the characteristic impedance matching achieved in the socket terminals 310 can be maintained.

[0080] In addition, in the present embodiment, the upper end sections of the stationary contour sections 323 and the lower end sections of the movement-side contour sections 337 do not have sections that abut each other in the connection arrangement direction. Accordingly, the movable housing 330 is able to move smoothly (float) in the connection arrangement direction. <Fünfte Ausführungsform>

[0081] While in the first embodiment the contour sections 23 are designed to be solid throughout their entire extent in the connection arrangement direction, in the fifth embodiment the contour sections have slots formed in them at predetermined intervals in the connection arrangement direction, thus making them discontinuous in the connection arrangement direction, and in this respect the configuration differs from the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the emphasis is on the differences from the first embodiment, and sections that are identical to the first embodiment are assigned reference numerals obtained by adding "400" to the reference numerals used in the first embodiment, and further discussion thereof is omitted.

[0082] Fig. Figure 9 shows a side view depicting a socket connector 401 according to the fifth embodiment, viewed in the connector width direction. Fig. Figure 9 omits a representation of the end section on the Y2 side in the connection arrangement direction (Y-axis direction). In the present embodiment, the upper sections of the contour sections 423 of the stationary housing 420 are attached to the lower section of the stationary housing 430, and in this respect the configuration differs from the socket connector 1 of the first embodiment, in which the contour sections 23 are not attached to the movable housing 30.

[0083] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 9, slots 426 are formed at locations between each pair of socket terminals 410 in the terminal arrangement direction within the contour sections 423 provided in the stationary housing 420. The slots 426, which extend continuously over substantially the entire extent of the contour sections 423 in the top-bottom direction (Z-axis direction), are designed to extend in the thickness direction of the contour sections 423. Consequently, thin strips 427 are formed on opposite sides of each slot 426 in the terminal arrangement direction within the contour sections 423. The thin strips 427 have substantially the same width dimensions as the intermediate sections of the socket terminals 410 (in Figure 9). Fig. 7 not shown). Accordingly, the thin strips 427 cover the intermediate sections, which are positioned in alignment with the thin strips 427.

[0084] In the present embodiment, the contour sections 423 are formed by the several thin strips 427 and are discontinuous in the connection arrangement direction. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, compared to the first embodiment, in which the contour sections 23 are designed to be solid throughout their entire extent in the connection arrangement direction, the contour sections 423 are more elastically deformable in the connector width direction, which facilitates the floating effect of the movable housing 430 in this direction.

[0085] In addition, in the present embodiment, the contour sections 423 of the stationary housing 420 are attached to the movable housing 430 with their upper sections. Accordingly, when the intermediate sections of the socket connections 410 are elastically deformed in the connection arrangement direction when the movable housing 430 is suspended in the connection arrangement direction, the thin strips 427 of the contour sections 423 are elastically deformed in the connection arrangement direction in accordance with the intermediate sections. Thus, even when the movable housing 430 is in a suspended state, the thin strips 427 of the contour sections 423 cover the intermediate sections of the socket connections 410. Furthermore, the predetermined gap formed between the thin strips 427 and the intermediate sections is maintained at this time.This ensures good characteristic impedance matching in the 410 socket connections. <Sechste Ausführungsform>

[0086] Although in the first embodiment the overall shape of the intermediate sections 15 of the socket terminals 10 had a generally inverted L-shaped configuration, the shape of the intermediate sections is not limited to this. In a sixth embodiment, sections curved in a generally S-shaped configuration are present in some of the intermediate sections of the socket terminals, and in this respect the configuration differs from the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the emphasis is on the differences from the first embodiment, and sections identical to the first embodiment are assigned reference numerals obtained by adding "500" to the reference numerals used in the first embodiment, and further discussion thereof is omitted.

[0087] Fig. Figure 10 shows a cross-sectional view representing a cross-section of a socket connector 501 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention in a plane perpendicular to the connection arrangement direction. Fig. In section 10, the representation of half on the X1 side in the connector width direction is omitted. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 10, in the present embodiment, the first leg sections 515A of the intermediate sections 515 of the socket terminals 510 have elastically deformable curved elastic sections 517 in their lower sections, which are bent in a generally horizontal S-shaped configuration. The curved elastic sections 517 have an outer leg section 517A, an intermediate leg section 517C, and an inner leg section 517E extending in the top-bottom direction, as well as an upper curved section 517B and a lower curved section 517D, each of which couples two of these leg sections.

[0088] In particular, the outer leg section 517A, the intermediate leg section 517C, and the inner leg section 517E are arranged side by side in a sequence from the outside in the connector width direction, wherein the upper ends of the outer leg section 517A and the intermediate leg section 517C are coupled by the upper curved section 517B, and the lower ends of the intermediate leg section 517C and the inner leg section 517E are coupled by the lower curved section 517D. In the present embodiment, providing a curved elastic section 517 in a portion of the first leg section 515A in this way makes it possible to ensure a greater spring length for the first leg section 515A without increasing the dimensions of the first leg section 515A in the top-bottom direction.

[0089] Additionally, as in Fig. Figure 10 shows that the contour sections 523, which are provided as part of the stationary housing 520, are rigidly held by their upper end sections in the lower section of the movable housing 530. In particular, strip sections 536, which project in the connector width direction from the lower end sections of the long walls 531, are formed in the movable housing 530, and the upper end sections of the contour sections 523 are held by the strip sections 536, for example, by integral forming. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 10, the contour sections 523 have a projecting section 523D that extends downwards to a position directly above the lower curved section 517D between the intermediate leg section 517C and the inner leg section 517E. The projecting section 523D is positioned spaced from the intermediate leg section 517C, the lower curved section 517D, and the inner leg section 517E by a gap of predetermined dimensions. This gap is dimensioned to ensure a suitable impedance in the socket terminals 510. Here, the value of the "suitable impedance" is set within a predetermined permissible range, and accordingly, the aforementioned dimensions are set within a predetermined permissible range.

[0090] The foregoing section 523D, formed in part of the elastically deformable contour section 523, is designed to be displaceable in the connector width direction together with a generally U-shaped section formed by the intermediate leg section 517C, the lower curved section 517D, and the inner leg section 517E. When the aforementioned generally U-shaped section is elastically deformed, the foregoing section 523D is displaced in accordance with the generally U-shaped section. Consequently, even in the elastically deformed state of the generally U-shaped section, a gap dimensioned within the aforementioned permissible range is ensured between the generally U-shaped section and the foregoing section 523D.

[0091] Additionally, as in Fig. Figure 10 shows a downwardly open recessed section 528 formed between the preceding section 523D and another section of the contour section 523, in particular section 523E, which is positioned outwards from the preceding section 523D in the connector width direction and within the same area as the preceding section 523D in the top-bottom direction. The recessed section 528 accommodates a generally inverted U-shaped section formed by the outer leg section 517A, the upper curved section 517B, and the intermediate leg section 517C. This generally inverted U-shaped section is spaced from the inner wall surfaces of the recessed section 528 by a gap of predetermined dimensions. This gap is dimensioned to ensure a suitable impedance in the socket terminals 510.Here, the value of the "suitable impedance" is set within a predetermined permissible range, and accordingly, the aforementioned dimensions are set within a predetermined permissible range. Even in the elastically deformed state of the aforementioned generally inverted U-shaped section, the gap, which is dimensioned within the aforementioned permissible range, between the generally inverted U-shaped section and the inner wall surfaces of the recessed section 528 is ensured.

[0092] In addition, in the present embodiment, as in Fig. 10 shows that the second leg sections 515B of the socket connections 510 are shorter than the second leg sections 15B of the first embodiment (see Fig. 3).

[0093] Although in the present embodiment the upper end sections of the contour sections 523 are held by the strip sections 536 of the movable housing 330, and therefore the contour sections 523 and, by extension, the movable housing 530 do not move in the connection arrangement direction, the movable housing can, as an alternative variation, be capable of moving in the connection arrangement direction. In particular, engagement sections with the same shape as the engagement sections 23A of the first embodiment can be provided in the upper end sections of the contour sections 523, and instead of the strip sections 536, engageable sections with the same shape as the engageable sections 32A of the first embodiment can be provided in the lower section of the movable housing 530. <Siebte Ausführungsform>

[0094] Although in the first embodiment the socket connector 1 was mated to the connector 2, i.e. the mating connector, so that the connection direction was a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface of the printed circuit board on which the socket connector 1 was mounted, in the seventh embodiment it is designed to be mated to a connector, i.e. a mating connector, so that the connection direction is a direction parallel to the mounting surface of the printed circuit board, and in this respect the configuration differs from the first embodiment.In the present embodiment, the emphasis is on the differences from the first embodiment, and sections that are identical to the first embodiment are assigned reference numerals obtained by adding “600” to the reference numerals used in the first embodiment, and further discussion thereof is omitted.

[0095] Fig. Figure 11 shows a cross-sectional view representing a cross-section of a socket connector 601 according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention in a plane perpendicular to the connection arrangement direction. Fig. Figure 11 represents a cross-section at the location of the socket connections 610 in the connection arrangement direction (Y-axis direction). As in Fig. As shown in Figure 11, the socket connector 601 in the present embodiment is designed to be mated with a connector (not shown), i.e., a mating connector, so that the connection direction is a left-right direction (X-axis direction in Fig. 11) parallel to the mounting surface of the printed circuit board (not shown).

[0096] The socket connector 601 of the present embodiment is configured by the socket connector 1 of the first embodiment (see Fig. 3) is laid on its side and an end section extends on the side where the connecting sections 11 are provided in the socket connections 10. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 11, in the present embodiment, extension sections 618, which are bent at the right ends (ends on the X1 side) of the stationary holding sections 612 and extend downwards in a straight line, are provided in the socket connections 610, and connecting sections 611 are provided which extend to the right from the lower ends of the extension sections 618. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 11, the extension section 618 of the upper (Z1-side) socket connector 610 is positioned to the right (on the X1 side) of the extension section 618 of the lower (Z2-side) socket connector 610 and has a greater length than the extension section 618.

[0097] In the socket connector 601 of the present embodiment, the gap between the contour sections 623 of the stationary housing 620 and the first leg sections 615A of the socket terminals 610 is dimensioned in the same way as in the first embodiment to ensure a suitable impedance in the socket terminals 610. The gap formed between the contour sections 623 and the first leg sections 615A is maintained even when the movable housing 630 is in a suspended state.

[0098] Although in the first to seventh embodiments discussed above the intermediate sections of the terminals are entirely enclosed within the interior space formed in the stationary housing, as an alternative variation the intermediate sections can only be partially enclosed therein. Additionally, although in the first to seventh embodiments the intermediate sections of the terminals are enclosed within the interior space of the stationary housing, as an alternative variation an interior space can be formed in the movable housing, and the intermediate sections can be enclosed within such an interior space.

[0099] Although in the first to seventh embodiments the contour sections of the dielectric element are elastically deformed as they follow the intermediate sections of the socket terminals, it is not necessary for the contour sections to be elastically deformed, and they can be designed to be displaced without any associated elastic deformation. [Description of reference symbols] 1, 101, 201, 301, 401, 501, 601 socket connectors 10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610 socket connections 12, 612 stationary stopping section 14. Movement-side holding section 15,515 Intermediate section 20, 120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 620 stationary housing 25 Interior 30, 130, 230, 330, 430, 530, 630 movable housing 23, 140, 237, 423, 523, 623 contour sections 323 stationary side contour section 337 movement-side contouring section QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 2023 - 123 123 A

[0001] JP 2014 - 222 576 A

[0006]

Claims

[1] Electrical connector for printed circuit boards arranged on a mounting surface of a printed circuit board, wherein the electrical connector comprises a plurality of terminals arranged such that the terminal arrangement direction is a direction parallel to the mounting surface, a stationary housing fixed to the circuit board through the medium of the terminals, and a movable housing capable of relative movement with respect to the stationary housing, and wherein the terminals have a stationary-side holding portion held in the stationary housing, a moving-side holding portion held in the movable housing, and an elastically deformable intermediate portion arranged between the stationary-side holding portion and the moving-side holding portion and spanning between the stationary housing and the movable housing, wherein: the intermediate sections are at least partially arranged in the interior of the electrical connector for printed circuit boards, the electrical connector for printed circuit boards comprises contour sections made of a dielectric material positioned with respect to the intermediate sections on the side opposite the interior space and extending along the intermediate sections while being spaced from the intermediate sections by a gap, and the contour portions are capable of following the intermediate portions when the intermediate portions are elastically deformed in the connector width direction perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction. [2] An electrical connector for printed circuit boards according to claim 1, wherein the contour portions are formed as part of the stationary housing and are capable of lockingly engaging the movable housing in the connector width direction. [3] An electrical connector for printed circuit boards according to claim 1, wherein the contour portions are formed separately from the stationary housing and the movable housing and are capable of lockingly engaging the movable housing in the connector width direction while being held in the stationary housing. [4] Electrical connector for printed circuit boards according to claim 2, wherein the contour sections do not have any sections that abut against the movable housing in the terminal arrangement direction, and the movable housing is capable of moving in the terminal arrangement direction without disturbing the contour sections. [5] An electrical connector for printed circuit boards according to claim 1, wherein the contour portions are formed as part of the movable housing and are capable of lockingly engaging the stationary housing in the connector width direction. [6] An electrical connector for printed circuit boards according to claim 1, wherein the contour portions are formed separately from the stationary housing and the movable housing and are capable of lockingly engaging the stationary housing in the connector width direction while being held in the movable housing. [7] An electrical connector for printed circuit boards according to claim 5, wherein the contour portions have no portions abutting against the stationary housing in the terminal arranging direction and are capable of moving in the terminal arranging direction together with the movable housing without interfering with the stationary housing.

Images