CONNECTORS AND CONNECTOR COMPONENT GROUP

Abstract

A connector 10 includes a plurality of terminal units 30A and 30B and a base housing 20 having a plurality of receiving portions 25 in which the plurality of terminal units 30A and 30B are housed. The plurality of terminal units 30A and 30B include a first terminal unit 30A (see FIGS. 5 and 6) and a second terminal unit 30B (see FIGS. 7 and 8) with different functions. The plurality of receiving portions 25 include a common receiving portion 25 capable of receiving each of the first terminal unit 30A and the second terminal unit 30B.

Description

BACKGROUNDTechnical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector and a connector component group. State of the art

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. JP-A 2023-28570 discloses a connector having two types of terminal units with different functions. The connector comprises a plurality of terminal units, including two types of terminal units, and a base housing. The base housing has a plurality of receiving portions in which the plurality of terminal units are housed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector and a connector component group that allow easy development of variations.

[0004] A connector according to a first aspect is a connector comprising: a plurality of terminal units and a base housing having a plurality of receiving portions in which the plurality of terminal units are accommodated, wherein the plurality of terminal units comprises a first terminal unit and a second terminal unit having different functions, and the plurality of receiving portions comprises a common receiving portion configured to receive each of the first terminal unit and the second terminal unit.

[0005] In the present aspect, the connector includes the plurality of terminal units and the base housing having the plurality of receiving portions in which the plurality of terminal units are housed. The plurality of terminal units includes a first terminal unit and a second terminal unit having different functions.

[0006] Therefore, it is possible to realize the connector with the first connection unit and the second connection unit with different functions.

[0007] An aspect in which a receiving portion in which the first terminal unit is accommodated among the plurality of receiving portions is a receiving portion dedicated to the first terminal unit, and a receiving portion in which the second terminal unit is accommodated among the plurality of receiving portions is a receiving portion dedicated to the second terminal unit is adopted (see JP-A No. 2023-28570). However, in such an aspect, in order to manufacture a connector having different arrangements of the first terminal unit and the second terminal unit, it is necessary to newly manufacture base housings having different structures. This is an obstacle to the development of variations of the connector.

[0008] Therefore, in this aspect, the plurality of accommodating portions includes a accommodating portion (common accommodating portion) capable of accommodating each of the first terminal unit and the second terminal unit.

[0009] This makes it possible to manufacture the connector with different arrangements of the terminal units and using the same base housing. This results in easy development of connector variations.

[0010] In an embodiment described below, the first connection unit is a coaxial connection unit, and the second connection unit is a differential transmission connection unit. However, this aspect is not limited to this. Specific examples of the first connection unit or the second connection unit include, in addition to the above examples, a signal connection unit (low-speed connection unit), an optical connection unit, and a power supply connection unit.

[0011] In the embodiment described below, the plurality of terminal units does not include any terminal units other than the first terminal unit and the second terminal unit. However, the plurality of terminal units according to this aspect is not limited to this and may include a third terminal unit, a fourth terminal unit, etc.

[0012] In the embodiment described below, the plurality of terminal units includes a plurality of types (two types) of terminal units having different functions, and the plurality of receiving portions includes a common receiving portion capable of receiving any one of the plurality of types (two types) of terminal units. That is, the common receiving portion is a receiving portion capable of receiving any one of all the types of terminal units included in the connector. However, the common receiving portion according to this aspect is not limited to this. For example, the common receiving portion may not be capable of receiving one or more types of terminal units among three or more types of terminal units included in the connector.

[0013] In the embodiment described below, each of the plurality of receiving sections is the common receiving section. However, this aspect is not limited to this. The plurality of receiving sections may include a receiving section that is not the common receiving section.

[0014] In the embodiment described below, the connector includes a regulating element. However, the connector according to this aspect is not limited thereto.

[0015] In the embodiment described below, the connector is a right-angle connector. However, this aspect is not limited to this.

[0016] In the embodiment described below, one terminal unit is configured to be coupled to two mating terminal units. However, the terminal unit according to this aspect is not limited thereto.

[0017] In the embodiment described below, the base housing includes at least one partition wall disposed between two adjacent receiving portions of the plurality of receiving portions. However, this aspect is not limited thereto, and the partition wall need not be provided between two adjacent receiving portions of the plurality of receiving portions.

[0018] According to a second aspect, in the connector according to the first aspect, each of the plurality of receiving portions is a common receiving portion capable of receiving any one of the first terminal unit and the second terminal unit.

[0019] In the present aspect, each of the plurality of receiving portions is the common receiving portion capable of receiving any one of the first terminal unit and the second terminal unit.

[0020] This makes it easier to develop variations of the connector.

[0021] According to a third aspect, in the connector according to the first or second aspect, the connector is a right-angle connector mounted on a mounting surface of a circuit board, wherein, in a case where a normal direction of the mounting surface is defined as an upper direction, a direction in which a mating or counter connector is arranged with respect to the connector in a direction parallel to the mounting surface is defined as a front direction, and a direction perpendicular to both the upper direction and the front direction is defined as a width direction, the base housing includes a pair of side walls provided at a distance in the width direction and between which the plurality of receiving portions are formed, an upper wall connecting upper ends of the pair of side walls, and a lower wall connecting lower ends of the pair of side walls,and each of the plurality of receiving sections is open at a bottom.,

[0022] In the present aspect, the connector is a right-angle connector that is attached to the mounting surface of the circuit board. The base housing includes a pair of side walls spaced apart in the width direction, with the top wall connecting the upper ends of the pair of side walls and the bottom wall connecting the lower ends of the pair of side walls. The plurality of receiving portions is formed between the pair of side walls.

[0023] In this aspect, each of the multiple recording sections on the ground is open.

[0024] Therefore, the terminal unit and the circuit board can be coupled using the opened section.

[0025] According to a fourth aspect, in the connector according to the third aspect, the base housing has at least one partition wall arranged between two adjacent receiving sections of the plurality of receiving sections, the partition wall connecting the upper wall and the lower wall.

[0026] Incidentally, the base case may be warped and deformed, for example, in a case where a distance between the two side walls of the pair of side walls is large.

[0027] Therefore, in the present aspect, the base housing comprises at least one partition wall. The partition wall is arranged between two adjacent receiving sections from the plurality of receiving sections and connects the upper wall and the lower wall.

[0028] Therefore, the distortion of the base housing can be suppressed by the at least one partition wall.

[0029] In the embodiment described below, a rear surface of the partition wall and a rear surface of the top wall are flush with each other. However, this aspect is not limited to this.

[0030] In the embodiment described below, a lower surface of the partition wall and a lower surface of the bottom wall are flush with each other. However, this aspect is not limited to this.

[0031] According to a fifth aspect, in the connector according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the first terminal unit includes an inner terminal portion having at least one inner terminal, an outer terminal portion surrounding the inner terminal portion, and a dielectric portion holding the inner terminal portion and the outer terminal portion.

[0032] In the present aspect, the first terminal unit includes the inner terminal portion having at least one inner terminal, the outer terminal portion surrounding the inner terminal portion, and the dielectric portion holding the inner terminal portion and the outer terminal portion.

[0033] Therefore, a connector more suitable for high-speed transmission can be obtained compared with an aspect in which the first terminal unit does not include the outer terminal portions.

[0034] In the embodiment described below, the second terminal unit also includes an inner terminal portion, an outer terminal portion, and a dielectric portion. However, the second terminal unit according to this aspect is not limited thereto.

[0035] According to a sixth aspect, in the connector according to the fifth aspect, the dielectric portion is molded by insert molding using the inner terminal portion as an insert component, and the dielectric portion has an intermediate portion disposed between the inner terminal portion and the outer terminal portion.

[0036] In the present aspect, the dielectric portion is formed by overmolding or insert molding using the inner terminal portion as an insert component. The dielectric portion includes the intermediate portion disposed between the inner terminal portion and the outer terminal portion.

[0037] Therefore, the dielectric portion including the intermediate portion can be formed integrally.

[0038] According to a seventh aspect, in which connectors according to the first to fourth aspects, the first terminal unit comprises a first inner terminal portion having at least one first inner terminal, a second inner terminal portion having at least one second inner terminal, an outer terminal portion separately surrounding the first inner terminal portion and the second inner terminal portion, and a dielectric portion holding the first inner terminal portion, the second inner terminal portion, and the outer terminal portion.

[0039] In the present aspect, the first terminal unit includes the first inner terminal portion, the second inner terminal portion, the outer terminal portion separately surrounding the first inner terminal portion and the second inner terminal portion, and the dielectric portion holding the first inner terminal portion, the second inner terminal portion, and the outer terminal portion.

[0040] Therefore, the number of terminal units can be reduced compared with an aspect in which the first terminal unit does not include the second inner terminal portion.

[0041] In the embodiment described below, the second terminal unit also includes a first inner terminal portion, a second inner terminal portion, an outer terminal portion, and a dielectric portion. However, the second terminal unit according to this aspect is not limited thereto.

[0042] According to an eighth aspect, in the connector according to the seventh aspect, the dielectric portion is formed by insert molding or insert molding using the first inner terminal portion and the second inner terminal portion as insert components, and the dielectric portion includes a first intermediate portion disposed between the first inner terminal portion and the outer terminal portion, and a second intermediate portion disposed between the second inner terminal portion and the outer terminal portion.

[0043] In the present aspect, the dielectric portion is formed by overmolding or insert molding using the first inner terminal portion and the second inner terminal portion as insert components. The dielectric portion includes the first intermediate portion disposed between the first inner terminal portion and the outer terminal portion, and the second intermediate portion disposed between the second inner terminal portion and the outer terminal portion.

[0044] Therefore, the dielectric portion having the first intermediate portion and the second intermediate portion can be integrally formed.

[0045] A connector component group according to a ninth aspect is a connector component group for manufacturing a connector, the connector component group comprising: a plurality of types of terminal units, including a first terminal unit and a second terminal unit having different functions, and a base housing having at least one receiving portion in which the terminal unit is housed, the at least one receiving portion having a common receiving portion configured to receive each of the first terminal unit and the second terminal unit.

[0046] In the present aspect, the connector component group includes the plurality of terminal units and the base housing having at least one receiving portion in which the terminal unit is housed. The plurality of terminal units includes the first terminal unit and the second terminal unit having different functions.

[0047] Furthermore, in this aspect, the at least one receiving portion includes a receiving portion (common receiving portion) capable of receiving each of the first terminal unit and the second terminal unit.

[0048] This makes it possible to manufacture the connector with different arrangements of the terminal units and using the same base housing. This results in easy development of connector variations.

[0049] In the embodiment described below, the base housing has a plurality of receiving portions. However, the base housing according to this aspect is not limited to this and may also have only one receiving portion.

[0050] In the embodiment described below, the connector includes a plurality of terminal units, and the plurality of terminal units includes the first terminal unit and the second terminal unit. However, the connector manufactured from the connector component group according to this aspect is not limited thereto. For example, all of the terminal units included in the connector may be the first terminal units. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a printed circuit board connector, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the printed circuit board connector and a cable connector, Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the printed circuit board connector, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a first connection unit, Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the first terminal unit, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a second connection unit, Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the second terminal unit, Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of a receiving portion of a base housing, Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the printed circuit board connector at a cross-sectional position corresponding to the first terminal unit, and Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the printed circuit board connector at a cross-sectional position corresponding to the second terminal unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0051] A printed circuit board connector 10 according to an embodiment of a connector of the present disclosure will be described below.

[0052] An X-direction arrow shown in each figure indicates a side in a width direction of the connector, a Y-direction arrow indicates a front direction of the connector, and a Z-direction arrow indicates a top direction of the connector. However, these terms do not limit a position of the connector in use. Hereinafter, the directions referred to simply as the width direction, the front direction, and the top direction mean the width direction of the connector, the front direction of the connector, and the top direction of the connector, respectively.

[0053] As in the Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, the plug or printed circuit board connector 10 is attached to a mounting surface 92 of a printed circuit board 90, which serves as an "attachment target." The printed circuit board connector 10 is configured to be connected to a cable connector 200 (see Fig. 2), which serves as a "counter connector." A coupling direction in which the printed circuit board connector 10 and the cable connector 200 are coupled to each other is a forward-backward direction.

[0054] As in Fig. 3, the printed circuit board connector 10 comprises a base housing 20, a plurality of terminal units 30A and 30B housed in the base housing 20, a regulating member 40, and two reinforcing members 50. (Base housing 20)

[0055] The base housing 20 comprises a pair of side walls 21, a top wall 22, a bottom wall 23 (see Fig. 1) and a plurality of (five) partition walls 24.

[0056] The pair of side walls 21 are walls whose thickness direction is aligned with the width direction and are provided at a distance in the width direction. The upper wall 22 connects the upper ends of the pair of side walls 21 in the width direction. The lower wall 23 connects the lower ends of the pair of side walls 21 in the width direction.

[0057] A variety of recording sections 25 (see Fig. 3) in which the plurality of terminal units 30A and 30B are accommodated, are arranged at a portion corresponding to a rear connector portion 10R (see Fig. 9 and Fig. 10) is formed in a space between the pair of side walls 21. Each of the plurality of partition walls 24 is provided between two adjacent receiving sections 25 of the plurality of receiving sections 25. The structures (e.g., the width dimensions) of the respective receiving sections 25 are identical.

[0058] As in the Fig. 9 and Fig. As shown in Figure 10, a rear end of the bottom wall 23 is located at a front side of the rear ends of the side walls 21 and the top wall 22. Therefore, the bottom wall 23 is not present in most of the rear connector portion 10R. Therefore, the receiving portion 25 is open at the bottom or a lower side. The inner terminals 61 and the outer terminals 71 and 72 of the terminal units 30A and 30B are electrically connected to the circuit board 90 via the open portions.

[0059] As in the Fig. 9 and Fig. As shown in FIG. 10, a portion corresponding to a front connector portion 10F in the space between the pair of side walls 21 is an insertion space 26 into which a part of the mating connector 200 is inserted. Front side portions of the inner terminals 61 and the outer terminals 71 and 72 included in the terminal units 30A and 30B are arranged in the insertion space 26.

[0060] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 8, the upper wall 22 has an upper engagement groove 22a. The upper engagement groove 22a is provided for each receiving portion 25. The plurality of upper engagement grooves 22a have the same structure. The upper engagement groove 22a is a groove formed on a lower surface side of the upper wall 22 and extending in the front-back direction. The upper engagement groove 22a occupies a part (an upper engagement portion 81, see Fig. 4 and Fig. 6) of each of the terminal units 30A and 30B. Consequently, the upper engagement groove 22a has a function of positioning each of the terminal units 30A and 30B in the width direction with respect to the base case 20. The upper engagement groove 22a is provided at a portion of the top wall 22 corresponding to the rear connector portion 10R.

[0061] As in Fig. As shown in Fig. 8, the lower wall 23 has a lower engagement groove 23a. The lower engagement groove 23a is provided for each receiving portion 25. The plurality of lower engagement grooves 23a have the same structure. The lower engagement groove 23a is a groove formed on an upper surface side of the lower wall 23 and extending in the front-back direction. The lower engagement groove 23a occupies a part (a lower engagement portion 82, see Fig. 4 and Fig. 6) of each of the terminal units 30A and 30B. Consequently, the lower engagement groove 23a has a function of positioning each of the terminal units 30A and 30B in the width direction with respect to the base case 20. The lower engagement groove 23a is provided at a portion of the bottom wall 23 corresponding to the rear connector portion 10R.

[0062] As in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the base case 20 includes regulating member holding portions 27 that hold the regulating member 40. The regulating member holding portions 27 are formed by a pair of projections 27. Each of the two projections 27 protrudes rearward from each of the two side walls 21. An upper end of the projection 27 is positioned below an upper surface of the upper wall 22. A press-fitting groove, into which a part (lower portion) of the regulating member 40 is press-fitted, is formed on an inner surface of each of the projections 27 in the width direction.

[0063] As in the Fig. 2 and Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the base housing 20 includes two reinforcement member holding portions 28 that hold the two reinforcement members 50. The reinforcement member holding portion 28 protrudes outward from the side wall 21 in the width direction. The reinforcement member 50 is press-fitted into the reinforcement member holding portion 28 from above. An upper end of the reinforcement member holding portion 28 is positioned below the upper surface of the top wall 22 and below the upper end of the projection 27. The reinforcement member 50 is held at a position corresponding to the front connector portion 10F. (Connection units 30A and 30B)

[0064] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the plurality of terminal units 30A and 30B includes a plurality of first terminal units 30A and a plurality of second terminal units 30B. The plurality of first terminal units 30A are provided on one side in the width direction, and the plurality of second terminal units 30B are provided on the other side in the width direction. The first terminal unit 30A is a coaxial terminal unit, and the second terminal unit 30B is a differential transmission terminal unit.

[0065] As in Fig. 2, the cable connector or mating connector 200 includes a mating base housing 220 and a plurality of mating terminal units 230A and 230B housed within the mating base housing 220. The cable connector 200 is connected to a plurality of cables 290. Specifically, each of the plurality of mating terminal units 230A and 230B is attached to the cable 290. A first terminal unit 30A can be connected to two first mating terminal units 230A, and a second terminal unit 30B can be connected to two second mating terminal units 230B.

[0066] The first terminal unit 30A and the second terminal unit 30B have many points in common. Therefore, corresponding elements and portions of the first terminal unit 30A and the second terminal unit 30B are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0067] Hereinafter, when describing a configuration common to the first terminal unit 30A and the second terminal unit 30B, the first terminal unit 30A and the second terminal unit 30B are simply referred to as the terminal unit 30.

[0068] As in the Fig. 4 to 7, the terminal unit 30 comprises two inner terminal sections 60K and 60L, outer terminal sections 71, 72K and 72L and a dielectric section 80. The two inner terminal sections 60K and 60L comprise a first inner terminal section 60K and a second inner terminal section 60L.

[0069] Hereinafter, when describing a configuration common to the first inner terminal portion 60K and the second inner terminal portion 60L, the first inner terminal portion 60K and the second inner terminal portion 60L are simply referred to as the inner terminal portion 60.

[0070] As in the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the inner terminal portion 60 of the first terminal unit 30A includes a first inner terminal 61A.

[0071] As in the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, the inner terminal portion 60 of the second terminal unit 30B includes a second inner terminal 61B and a third inner terminal 61C.

[0072] Hereinafter, when describing a configuration common to the first inner terminal 61A, the second inner terminal 61B, and the third inner terminal 61C, the first inner terminal 61A, the second inner terminal 61B, and the third inner terminal 61C are simply referred to as the inner terminal 61.

[0073] As in the Fig. 9 and Fig. As shown in Figure 10, the inner terminals 61 included in a terminal unit 30 extend in the same cross-section (a cross-section perpendicular to the width direction). The inner terminal 61 includes a contact portion 61a that contacts a terminal of the cable connector 200, a coupling portion 61b that couples to the circuit board 90, and a connecting portion 61c that connects the contact portion 61a and the coupling portion 61b.

[0074] As in the Fig. 9 and Fig. As shown in Figure 10, the contact portion 61a is exposed from the dielectric portion 80 and extends in the front-back direction. The coupling portion 61b is exposed from the dielectric portion 80 and extends in the vertical direction. The connecting portion 61c is held in a state buried in the dielectric portion 80. The connecting portion 61c has an inclined portion 61d extending in a direction inclined downward toward the rear or back direction.

[0075] Next, the second inner terminal 61B and the third inner terminal 61C included in the inner terminal portion 60 of the second terminal unit 30B will be described with reference to Fig. 10 described.

[0076] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 10, the contact portion 61a of the second inner terminal 61B and the contact portion 61a of the third inner terminal 61C extend parallel to each other. The coupling portion 61b of the second inner terminal 61B and the coupling portion 61b of the third inner terminal 61C extend parallel to each other. The inclined portion 61d of the second inner terminal 61B and the inclined portion 61d of the third inner terminal 61C extend parallel to each other.

[0077] As in Fig. 10, a distance between the inclined portion 61d of the second inner terminal 61B and the inclined portion 61d of the third inner terminal 61C is smaller than a distance between the contact portion 61a of the second inner terminal 61B and the contact portion 61a of the third inner terminal 61C and smaller than a distance between the coupling portion 61b of the second inner terminal 61B and the coupling portion 61b of the third inner terminal 61C. As a result, an electrical length of the third inner terminal 61C is brought close to an electrical length of the second inner terminal 61B.

[0078] As in the Fig. 4 to 7, the outer terminal portions 71, 72K and 72L separately surround the first inner terminal portion 60K and the second inner terminal portion 60L.

[0079] Specifically, the outer terminal portions 71, 72K, and 72L include a first outer terminal 71 and two second outer terminals 72K and 72L. Both the first outer terminal 71 and the two second outer terminals 72K and 72L are formed from a metal plate. The two second outer terminals 72K and 72L are arranged on the other side in the width direction with respect to the first outer terminal 71. One inner terminal portion 60K of the two inner terminal portions 60K and 60L is surrounded by the first outer terminal 71 and a second outer terminal 72K. The other inner terminal portion 60L of the two inner terminal portions 60K and 60L is surrounded by the first outer terminal 71 and the other second outer terminal 72L.

[0080] Hereinafter, when describing a configuration common to the one second outer terminal 72K and the other second outer terminal 72L, the one second outer terminal 72K and the other second outer terminal 72L are simply referred to as the second outer terminal 72.

[0081] As in the Fig. 5 and Fig. 7, the first external terminal 71 includes a first main plate portion 71a whose thickness direction is aligned in the width direction, and a plurality of coupling piece portions 71c protruding from the first main plate portion 71a and coupled to the circuit board 90.

[0082] As in the Fig. 5 and Fig. 7, the second external terminal 72 includes a second main plate portion 72a whose thickness direction is aligned in the width direction, a pair of side plate portions 72b extending from ends of the second main plate portion 72a toward the first main plate portion 71a of the first external terminal 71, and a plurality of coupling piece portions 72c protruding from the second main plate portion 72a and coupled to the circuit board 90.

[0083] The dielectric portion 80 is formed from a resin material. Specifically, the dielectric portion 80 is molded by insert molding or insert molding, using the plurality of inner terminals 61 contained in the two inner terminal portions 60K and 60L as insert components. The first outer terminal 71 and the two second outer terminals 72K and 72L contained in the outer terminal portions 71, 72K, and 72L are then connected to the insert-molded articles 60 and 80.

[0084] As in the Fig. 4 and Fig. As shown in Figure 6, the dielectric portion 80 includes the upper engagement portion 81. The upper engagement portion 81 is a portion that engages the upper engagement groove 22a of the base case 20. The upper engagement portion 81 is a protruding portion that protrudes upward from an upper surface 80a of the dielectric portion 80 and extends in the front-back direction. The upper engagement portion 81 has a front portion 81f with a small width dimension and a rear portion 81r with a small width dimension.

[0085] As in the Fig. 4 and Fig. As shown in Figure 6, the dielectric portion 80 includes the lower engagement portion 82. The lower engagement portion 82 is a portion that engages with the lower engagement groove 23a of the base case 20. The lower engagement portion 82 is a protruding portion that protrudes downward. The lower engagement portion 82 is provided at a front end portion of the dielectric portion 80.

[0086] As in the Fig. 4 and Fig. 6, the dielectric portion 80 has a rear engagement portion 83. The rear engagement portion 83 projects rearwardly from a rear surface of the dielectric portion 80. As shown in Fig. 2, the rear engagement portion 83 is a portion which fits into a recess 42 (see Fig. 3) of the regulating element 40. The rear engaging portion 83 is provided at a lower end portion of the dielectric portion 80.

[0087] An arrangement and structure of the upper engaging portion 81, the lower engaging portion 82, and the rear engaging portion 83 described above are the same for the first terminal unit 30A and the second terminal unit 30B. As a result, the first terminal unit 30A and the second terminal unit 30B are compatible with each other with respect to the accommodation in the accommodation portion 25. (Regulating element 40)

[0088] As in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the regulating element 40 is pressed between the pair of projections 27 of the regulating element holding portions 27 of the base housing 20. The regulating element 40 has a pair of outer projections 41. Accordingly, the regulating element 40 is held by the base housing 20.

[0089] The regulating member 40 has the recess 42. The recess 42 is provided corresponding to each of the terminal units 30A and 30B. The rear engaging portion 83 of each of the terminal units 30A and 30B is press-fitted into the recess 42. The recess 42 is a recess provided at a lower portion of the regulating member 40 and is open at the bottom.

[0090] In other words, as in Fig. 3, the regulating member 40 includes a main body portion 40a and a plurality of extension portions 40b extending downward from the main body portion 40a. Each of the extension portions 40b has protrusions on both sides in the width direction. A recess formed between two adjacent extension portions 40b of the plurality of extension portions 40b is the above-described recess 42. One of a pair of protruding portions included in the outermost extension portion 40b in the width direction among the plurality of extension portions 40b is the above-described outer protrusion 41. The regulating member 40 is formed, for example, from a metal plate. The regulating member 40 has no region where a plate, which is a material, is bent. (Reinforcing element 50)

[0091] The reinforcement member 50 is held by the reinforcement member holding portion 28 of the base housing 20 and is fixed to the circuit board 90 by soldering. Therefore, the reinforcement member 50 has a function of enhancing a fixing strength of the connector 10 to the circuit board 90.

[0092] The printed circuit board connector 10 according to the present embodiment is assembled according to the following method.

[0093] First, the plurality of terminal units 30A and 30B are mounted to the base case 20. That is, the plurality of terminal units 30A and 30B are inserted into the plurality of receiving portions 25 of the base case 20 from the rear side of the base case 20.

[0094] Next, the regulating member 40 is held by the regulating member holding portions 27 of the base case 20, and the rear engaging portion 83 of the dielectric portion 80 of each of the terminal units 30A and 30B is press-fitted into each recess 42 of the regulating member 40.

[0095] The above steps assemble the printed circuit board connector 10. (Actions and effects)

[0096] The actions and effects of the embodiment are then described.

[0097] In the Fig. 3, the connector 10 comprises the plurality of terminal units 30A and 30B and the base housing 20 having the plurality of receiving portions 25 in which the plurality of terminal units 30A and 30B are accommodated. The plurality of terminal units 30A and 30B comprise the first terminal unit 30A (see Fig. 5 and Fig. 6) and the second connection unit 30B (see Fig. 7 and Fig. 8) with different functions.

[0098] Therefore, it is possible to realize the connector 10 with the first connection unit 30A and the second connection unit 30B with different functions.

[0099] An aspect in which the receiving portion 25 in which the first terminal unit 30A is received among the plurality of receiving portions 25 is a receiving portion dedicated to the first terminal unit 30A, and the receiving portion 25 in which the second terminal unit 30B is received among the plurality of receiving portions 25 is a receiving portion dedicated to the second terminal unit 30B is adopted (see JP-A No. 2023-28570). However, in such an aspect, in order to manufacture a connector having different arrangements of the first terminal unit 30A and the second terminal unit 30B, it is necessary to newly prepare base housings with different structures. This poses an obstacle to the development of variations of the connector.

[0100] In the Fig. 3 and Fig. 9, the plurality of receiving portions 25 therefore includes a receiving portion 25 (common receiving portion 25) capable of receiving any one of the first terminal unit 30A and the second terminal unit 30B.

[0101] Therefore, it is possible to manufacture the connector 10 with different arrangements of the terminal units 30A and 30B using the base housing 20 with the same structure. As a result, easy variation expansion of the connector 10 is achieved.

[0102] In this embodiment, each of the plurality of receiving portions 25 is the common receiving portion 25 capable of receiving any one of the first terminal unit 30A and the second terminal unit 30B.

[0103] This makes it easier to develop variations of the connector 10.

[0104] In the Fig. 10 and Fig. 11, the connector 10 is a right-angle connector that is attached to the mounting surface 92 of the circuit board 90. As shown in Fig. 3, the base case 20 includes the pair of side walls 21 provided at a distance in the width direction, the upper wall 22 connecting the upper ends of the pair of side walls 21, and the lower wall 23 connecting the lower ends of the pair of side walls 21 (see Fig. ). The plurality of receiving sections 25 are formed between the two side walls 21.

[0105] Here, each of the plurality of receiving sections 25 is open at the bottom.

[0106] Therefore, as in the Fig. 10 and Fig. 11, the terminal units 30A and 30B and the circuit board 90 are coupled using the opened portions.

[0107] Incidentally, the base housing 20 may be warped and deformed, for example, if a distance between the two side walls 21 is large.

[0108] Therefore, in this embodiment, the base housing 20 includes at least one partition wall 24. As shown in Fig. 9, the partition wall 24 is arranged between two adjacent receiving sections 25 of the plurality of receiving sections 25 and the partition wall 24 connects the upper wall 22 and the lower wall 23.

[0109] Therefore, the distortion of the base housing 20 can be suppressed by the at least one partition wall 24.

[0110] In the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, the first terminal unit 30A comprises the inner terminal portion 60 having at least one inner terminal 61, the outer terminal portions 71, 72K and 72L surrounding the inner terminal portion 60, and the dielectric portion 80 holding the inner terminal portion 60 and the outer terminal portions 71, 72K and 72L.

[0111] Therefore, a connector 10 more suitable for high-speed transmission can be obtained compared with an appearance in which the first terminal unit 30A does not include the outer terminal portions 71, 72K and 72L.

[0112] In addition, the Fig. 6, the dielectric portion 80 is formed by insert molding or overmolding using the inner terminal portion 60 as an insert component. As shown in Fig. 10, the dielectric section 80 includes an intermediate section 86K located between the inner terminal section 60 and the outer terminal sections 71, 72K and 72L.

[0113] Therefore, the dielectric portion 80 including the intermediate portion 86K can be formed integrally.

[0114] In the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, the first terminal unit 30A includes the first inner terminal portion 60K, the second inner terminal portion 60L, the outer terminal portions 71, 72K, and 72L separately surrounding the first inner terminal portion 60K and the second inner terminal portion 60L, and the dielectric portion 80 holding the first inner terminal portion 60K, the second inner terminal portion 60L, and the outer terminal portions 71, 72K, and 72L.

[0115] Therefore, the number of terminal units 30A and 30B can be reduced compared with an embodiment in which the first terminal unit 30A does not include the second inner terminal portion 60L.

[0116] In the Fig. 6, the dielectric portion 80 is formed by insert molding or overmolding using the first inner terminal portion 60K and the second inner terminal portion 60L as the insert components. As shown in Fig. 10, the dielectric portion 80 includes the first intermediate portion 86K disposed between the first inner terminal portion 60K and the outer terminal portions 71, 72K, and 72L, and a second intermediate portion 86L disposed between the second inner terminal portion 60L and the outer terminal portions 71, 72K, and 72L.

[0117] Therefore, the dielectric portion 80 including the first intermediate portion 86K and the second intermediate portion 86L may be integrally formed.

[0118] Fig. 3 can also be viewed as a representation of a connector component group 10 for producing the connector 10.

[0119] That is, the connector component group 10 includes the plurality of types (two types) of terminal units 30A and 30B, including the first terminal unit 30A and the second terminal unit 30B having different functions, and the base housing 20 having at least one receiving portion 25 in which the terminal unit 30A or 30B is housed. The at least one receiving portion 25 includes the receiving portion 25 (common receiving portion 25) capable of receiving any one of the first terminal unit 30A and the second terminal unit 30B.

[0120] Therefore, it is possible to manufacture the connector 10 with different arrangements of the terminal units 30A and 30B using the base housing 20 with the same structure. As a result, easy development of variations of the connector 10 is achieved.

[0121] For example, the first terminal unit 30A may be accommodated in all of a plurality of (six) common receiving portions 25 included in the base case 20. Furthermore, for example, the first terminal unit 30A may be accommodated in five common receiving portions 25 of the six common receiving portions 25 included in the base case 20, and the second terminal unit 30B may be accommodated in the remaining common receiving portion 25.

[0122] Although the preferred embodiment of the connector of the disclosure has been described above, the disclosure is not limited thereto. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 10 PCB connectors (connectors and connector component group) 20 base housings 21 Side wall 22 Upper Wall 23 Lower Wall 24 Partition wall 25 Recording section (common recording section) 30A First connection unit (connection unit) 30B Second connection unit (connection unit) 60K First inner connection section (inner connection section) 60L Second inner connection section (inner connection section) 61A First inner terminal (inner terminal) 61B Second inner connection (inner connection) 61C Third inner connection (inner connection) 71, 72K, 72L Outer connection section 80 Dielectric section 86K First intermediate section (intermediate section) 86L Second intermediate section (intermediate section) 90 circuit board 92 mounting surface 200 cable connectors, cable plugs (counter connectors) QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

[0000] JP-A No. 2023-28570 [0002, 0007, 0099]

Claims

[1] Connector comprising: a variety of connection units and a base housing having a plurality of receiving sections in which the plurality of connection units are accommodated, wherein the plurality of connection units comprises a first connection unit and a second connection unit with different functions and the plurality of receiving portions includes a common receiving portion configured to receive each of the first terminal unit and the second terminal unit. [2] The connector according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of receiving portions is a common receiving portion configured to receive one of the first terminal unit and the second terminal unit. [3] Connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connector is a right-angle connector attached to a mounting surface of a printed circuit board, wherein in a case where a normal direction of the mounting surface is defined as an upper direction, a direction in which a mating connector is arranged with respect to the connector in a direction parallel to the mounting surface is defined as a front direction, and a direction perpendicular to both the upper direction and the front direction is defined as a width direction, the base housing includes: a pair of side walls provided at a distance in the width direction and between which the plurality of receiving portions are formed, an upper wall connecting upper ends of the pair of side walls, and a lower wall connecting lower ends of the pair of side walls, wherein each of the plurality of receiving sections is open at a bottom. [4] Connector according to claim 3, wherein the base housing at least one partition wall arranged between two adjacent receiving sections from the plurality of receiving sections, and wherein the partition wall connects the upper wall and the lower wall [5] A connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first terminal unit comprises: an inner connection section with at least one inner connection, an outer terminal section surrounding the inner terminal section, and a dielectric portion holding the inner terminal portion and the outer terminal portion. [6] Connector according to claim 5, wherein the dielectric portion is molded by overmolding using the inner terminal portion as an insert component and the dielectric section has an intermediate section, which is arranged between the inner terminal section and the outer terminal section. [7] A connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first terminal unit comprises: a first inner connection section with at least one first inner connection, a second inner connection section with at least one second inner connection, an outer terminal portion separately surrounding the first inner terminal portion and the second inner terminal portion, and a dielectric portion holding the first inner terminal portion, the second inner terminal portion, and the outer terminal portion. [8] Connector according to claim 7, wherein the dielectric portion is molded by overmolding using the first inner terminal portion and the second inner terminal portion as insert components, and the dielectric section includes: a first intermediate portion disposed between the first inner terminal portion and the outer terminal portion, and a second intermediate portion disposed between the second inner terminal portion and the outer terminal portion. [9] Connector component group for producing a connector, the connector component group comprising: a plurality of types of connection units, including a first connection unit and a second connection unit with different functions, and a base housing with at least one receiving section in which the connection unit is accommodated, wherein the at least one receiving portion comprises a common receiving portion configured to receive each of the first terminal unit and the second terminal unit.

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