Substrate-mounted connector

Abstract

To perform reliable mounting while improving the workability of mounting (fixing) a compression connector on a substrate.SOLUTION: A substrate-mounted connector 10 that mounts a compression type connector 31 to be pressed and connected to a connection target and a substrate 11 via a cage 21 comprises the compression connector 31 including a contact 32 in contact with the substrate 11, a housing 33 to which the contact 32 is fixed, and a cover shell 34 covering an upper surface of the housing 33. The compression connector 31 is inserted into the cage 21 fixed to the substrate 11. An elastic body 21g causing an elastic force for fixing the compression connector 31 to the cage 21 is formed in either the cage 21 or the compression connector 31.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 19

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a board-mounted connector. [Background technology]

[0002] Compression type connectors that are pressed against a connection target such as a circuit board to connect have been known for some time. The structure of this type of connector is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1 below. The conventional compression type connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 below is configured as an electrical connector (1) equipped with contacts (20) having elastic spring portions (23), as shown in FIG. 36. In this electrical connector (1), a plurality of contacts (20) are arranged in an aligned state.

[0003] The contact (20) has a board connection portion (22) soldered to the first circuit board (30) and a contact portion (24) that contacts the second circuit board (40). An elastic spring portion (23) having spring properties is provided between the board connection portion (22) and the contact portion (24). When the second circuit board (40) is pressed from above the contact (20) attached to the first circuit board (30) by soldering, the elastic spring portion (23) of the contact (20) exerts spring properties and generates contact pressure between the second circuit board (40) and the contact (20). Note that the symbols related to the explanations of the prior art documents are distinguished from the embodiments of the present invention by adding parentheses.

[0004] Conventional compression connectors have been attached (fixed) to a board using screws. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2000-12123 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, when fixing a compression connector to a board with screws, a typical method is to attach a nut from the board surface opposite to the connector mounting surface on which the connector is mounted, and then tighten the screw from the connector mounting surface side. In the case of such conventional technology, the worker needs to hold the connector and nut with his / her hand while tightening the screw, which makes it difficult to install (fix) the connector. In other words, the conventional structure for fixing a compression connector to a board by screws requires a separate nut in addition to the screw, which creates problems such as the possibility of the nut being lost and the labor required.

[0007] In other words, in conventional compression connectors, there has been a demand for a configuration that improves the ease of attachment when attaching (fixing) the connector to a board while ensuring reliable attachment.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to realize a configuration that simplifies the connector installation (fixing) work when fixing a compression connector to a board and enables the compression connector to be fixed to the board with fewer operations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The connector with a board of the present invention is a connector with a board in which a compression type connector that is pressed against an object to be connected is attached to a board via a cage, and has a compression connector having contacts that contact the board, a housing to which the contacts are fixed, and a cover shell that covers the upper surface of the housing, and the compression connector is inserted into the cage fixed to the board, and either the cage or the compression connector is formed with an elastic body that exerts an elastic force to fix the compression connector to the cage.

[0010] That is, the board-attached connector according to the present invention is provided with a mechanism for attaching a compression-type connector and a board via a cage, and a simple and reliable fixed state can be obtained by using an elastic body that exerts an elastic force formed on the cage or connector. Also, since the elastic body that exerts the elastic force is a member formed on the cage or connector, it will not fall off or get lost like conventional screws or nuts. Furthermore, since the mechanism uses the elastic force exerted by the elastic body to fix the board, the number of installation steps is reduced, and torque management of the screws as in the past is not required.

[0011] In addition, in the board-mounted connector of the present invention, the cage has a spring piece that presses the compression connector against the pressing portion of the cage, and the spring piece can be formed on a protrusion formed on the connector insertion side of the cage.

[0012] In addition, in the board-mounted connector of the present invention, the spring piece may be formed at an angle from its base to its tip so that the compression connector can be inserted into the cage at an angle.

[0013] In the board-mounted connector according to the present invention, the board may be formed with a hole through which the tip of the spring piece can fit.

[0014] Furthermore, in the board-attached connector of the present invention, the compression connector may be formed with a lock lever that is rotatable in the direction of insertion into the cage, and the cage may be formed with a lock hole into which the locking portion of the lock lever fits.

[0015] In addition, in the board-mounted connector of the present invention, the cage can have a top surface that receives the contact reaction force of the compression connector, and a locking hole can be formed in a vertical surface bent perpendicularly from the top surface.

[0016] Furthermore, in the board-mounted connector of the present invention, the compression connector may include a bottom shell that covers a lower surface portion of the housing. Effect of the Invention

[0017] According to the present invention, when fixing a compression connector to a board, the work of attaching (fixing) the connector is simple, and a configuration can be realized in which the compression connector can be fixed to the board with few operations. In particular, with the present invention, the compression connector only needs to be placed in a cage that is formed in advance on the board, and positioning and fixing are simple. Therefore, according to the present invention, the workability of attaching (fixing) the compression connector to the board can be improved while ensuring reliable attachment. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is an external perspective view of a board-mounted connector according to a first embodiment, as viewed from the upper right front side. [Diagram 2] 1 is an external perspective view of a board-mounted connector according to a first embodiment, seen from the upper left rear. [Diagram 3] 1 is an external perspective view of a board-mounted connector according to a first embodiment, as viewed from the lower front right. [Figure 4]1 is an external perspective view of the board-mounted connector according to the first embodiment, showing a state in which a compression connector has been detached from a cage-equipped board, as viewed from the upper right front side. FIG. [Diagram 5] 1 is an external perspective view of the board-mounted connector according to the first embodiment, showing a state in which a compression connector has been detached from a cage-equipped board, as viewed from the upper left rear. FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is an external perspective view of a compression connector according to a first embodiment, as viewed from the upper right front side. FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is an external perspective view of a compression connector according to a first embodiment, as viewed from the rear lower left. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a front view of a compression connector according to a first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the compression connector according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a cross section along line AA in FIG. [Figure 11] 1 is an external perspective view of the board-mounted connector according to the first embodiment, with a cage detached from the board, as viewed from the upper right front side. [Figure 12] 1 is an external perspective view of the board-mounted connector according to the first embodiment, with a cage detached from the board, as viewed from the lower front right. [Figure 13] 1 is an external perspective view of a cage of a board-mounted connector according to a first embodiment, as viewed from the upper right front side. [Figure 14] 1 is an external perspective view of a cage of a board-mounted connector according to a first embodiment, as viewed from the lower left rear. [Figure 15] 1 is a front view of a cage of a board-mounted connector according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 16] 2 is a top view of a cage of the board-mounted connector according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 17] 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a cross section along line BB in FIG. 15. [Figure 18]1 is a right side view showing a posture when a compression connector is inserted into a cage of a board-mounted connector according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. 1 is a reference diagram showing a vertical cross section of a board-mounted connector according to a first embodiment, illustrating a state in which a compression connector is inserted into a board with a cage. [Figure 20] 11 is an external perspective view of a board-mounted connector according to a second embodiment, as viewed from the front upper right. FIG. [Figure 21] 11 is an external perspective view of the board-mounted connector according to the second embodiment, as viewed from the upper left rear. FIG. [Figure 22] 11 is an external perspective view of the board-mounted connector according to the second embodiment, as viewed from the lower front right. FIG. [Figure 23] 13 is an external perspective view of the board-mounted connector according to the second embodiment, showing a state in which the compression connector has been detached from the cage-equipped board, as viewed from the upper right front side. FIG. [Figure 24] 13 is an external perspective view of the board-mounted connector according to the second embodiment, seen from the upper left and rear, showing a state in which the compression connector has been detached from the cage-equipped board. FIG. [Diagram 25] 11 is an external perspective view of a compression connector according to a second embodiment, as viewed from the upper right front side. FIG. [Figure 26] FIG. 11 is an external perspective view of a compression connector according to a second embodiment, as viewed from the rear lower left. [Figure 27] FIG. 11 is a front view of a compression connector according to a second embodiment. [Figure 28] FIG. 11 is a top view of a compression connector according to a second embodiment. [Figure 29] 13 is a right side view of the compression connector according to the second embodiment, illustrating an example of the operation of a lock lever provided in the compression connector. FIG. [Diagram 30] 28 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a cross section along line CC in FIG. 27. [Diagram 31]13 is an external perspective view of a board with a cage of a board connector according to a second embodiment, as viewed from the upper right front side. FIG. [Diagram 32] 13 is a front view of a board with a cage included in a board-mounted connector according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 33] 13 is a rear view of a board with a cage included in a board connector according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 34] 13 is a right side view of a board with a cage provided in the board connector according to the second embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 35] 33 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a cross section along line DD in FIG. 32. [Diagram 36] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional compression type connector disposed between circuit boards. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, a first direction, a second direction, and a third direction are defined for the convenience of explanation. In this specification, the first direction is the front-rear direction. In the drawings, the front-rear direction is shown as the X direction. In particular, the front is the +X direction, and the rear is the -X direction. In addition, in this specification, the second direction is the left-right direction. In the drawings, the left-right direction is shown as the Y direction. In particular, the right side is the +Y direction, and the left side is the -Y direction. In addition, in this specification, the third direction is the up-down direction. In the drawings, the up-down direction is shown as the Z direction. In particular, the upper side is the +Z direction, and the lower side is the -Z direction. However, the first direction, the X direction, the second direction, the Y direction, and the third direction, the Z direction, defined in this specification do not limit the direction when the board-mounted connector of each embodiment is used. The board-mounted connector of each embodiment can be used in any direction.

[0020] Furthermore, the following embodiments do not limit the inventions related to the claims, and not all of the combinations of features described in each embodiment are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0021] [First embodiment] The configuration of a board-mounted connector 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 19. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the board-mounted connector 10 according to the first embodiment has a board 11, a cage 21 installed on the upper surface of the board 11, and a compression connector 31 attached to the board 11 via the cage 21.

[0022] The substrate 11 includes a printed circuit (not shown) and is electrically connected to a compression connector 31 via a cage 21 attached to the upper surface of the substrate 11, thereby enabling the transfer of electrical signals, power supply power, and the like.

[0023] Further, the board 11 is formed with a plurality of mounting holes (not shown) and openings 13 as holes of the present invention (see FIG. 3). A plurality of legs 22 of a cage 21 described later are inserted into the plurality of mounting holes (not shown) (13 are assumed in the first embodiment), thereby fixing the cage 21 to the board 11. Further, the plurality of openings 13 (two in the first embodiment) are formed so that when a spring piece 21g as an elastic body of the present invention of the cage 21 described later is pushed downward from above when inserting the compression connector 31, the tip of the spring piece 21g enters the opening 13, so that the spring piece 21g can constantly exert elastic force. That is, in the board-attached connector 10 according to the first embodiment, the presence of the openings 13 does not hinder the fixed connection between the board 11 with the cage 21 and the compression connector 31.

[0024] 13 to 17, the cage 21 is a member formed by bending a flat metal plate, and has a top surface 21a forming the upper surface, and a vertical front surface 21b, a vertical right side surface 21c, and a vertical left side surface 21d formed as vertical surfaces of the present invention by bending the front and left and right sides of the top surface 21a vertically. The area surrounded by the top surface 21a, the vertical front surface 21b, the vertical right side surface 21c, the vertical left side surface 21d, and the upper surface of the board 11 is the area for storing and installing the compression connector 31.

[0025] A plurality of legs 22 (13 in the second embodiment) are formed on the lower end faces of the vertical front side 21b, the vertical right side 21c, and the vertical left side 21d. The legs 22 are shaft-shaped members extending downward, and are inserted into a plurality of mounting holes (not shown) formed in the substrate 11 to reliably fix the substrate 11 and the cage 21. Note that the legs 22 may be fixed to the multiple mounting holes (not shown) using solder or adhesive, or may be inserted into the mounting holes (not shown) and then bent to reliably fix the legs 22.

[0026] In addition, a protrusion 21e is formed on the rear end faces of the vertical right side face 21c and the vertical left side face 21d, extending toward the rear, which is the connector insertion side of the cage 21, and further, a roughly L-shaped standing portion 21f is formed at the rear end of the protrusion 21e, and further, a spring piece 21g is formed at an angle with respect to the upper surface of the substrate 11 at the upper end of the roughly L-shaped standing portion 21f.

[0027] Spring piece 21g is formed to extend forward from the connection side with erected portion 21f, which is the base of spring piece 21g, and is formed obliquely downward from the base to the tip, so that the tip, which is the front end, is closer to substrate 11 than the base at the rear side. Spring piece 21g is configured to guide compression connector 31 toward the area surrounded by top surface 21a, vertical front surface 21b, vertical right side surface 21c, vertical left side surface 21d, and the upper surface of substrate 11, which is the area where compression connector 31 is stored and installed, thereby enabling compression connector 31 to be smoothly inserted obliquely into cage 21.

[0028] Furthermore, when the compression connector 31 is inserted obliquely into the cage 21, an external force is applied to the spring piece 21g pressing it downward, but even if the spring piece 21g is bent downward when such an external force is applied, the opening 13 is formed in the board 11, so the tip of the spring piece 21g can enter inside the opening 13. Therefore, in the board-mounted connector 10 according to the first embodiment, the insertion operation of the compression connector 31 is not hindered. Furthermore, when the compression connector 31 is completely inserted into the cage 21, the external force from the compression connector 31 on the spring piece 21g is released, so the tip of the spring piece 21g comes out of the opening 13 and moves to an upper position. 19, the position of the tip of the spring piece 21g that is not subjected to external force corresponds to the center of the back surface of the compression connector 31 that is fully inserted into the cage 21, so the spring piece 21g exerts a function of preventing the compression connector 31 from moving in a direction to slip out rearward relative to the cage 21. In other words, the spring piece 21g according to the first embodiment is a member that not only exerts a function of guiding the compression connector 31 when it is inserted obliquely into the cage 21, but also exerts a function of preventing it from slipping out.

[0029] As shown in Figures 6 to 10, the compression connector 31 has contacts 32 that contact the board 11, a housing 33 to which the contacts 32 are fixed, a cover shell 34 that covers the upper surface of the housing 33, and a bottom shell 35 that covers the lower surface of the housing 33.

[0030] As shown particularly in FIGS. 7 and 8, a plurality of contacts 32 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction.

[0031] As shown in Fig. 10, each of the contacts 32 is fixed to the housing 33, and the front end 32a of the contact 32 is curved to have a shape having spring elasticity. That is, when the compression connector 31 is not in contact with the board 11, the front end 32a of the contact 32 is arranged to protrude downward from the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 (as shown in Fig. 10). Therefore, when the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 constituting the compression connector 31 is pressed against the upper surface of the board 11 in the -Z direction, the front end 32a of the contacts 32 protruding downward from the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 is pressed down to the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 while exerting a force due to the spring elasticity on the upper surface of the board 11. That is, the front end 32a of the contacts 32 receives a force in the +Z direction. Therefore, when the compression connector 31 is attached to the board 11, each of the multiple contacts 32 is pressed against the upper surface of the board 11 by the force of the spring elasticity, so that, for example, a printed circuit (not shown) or the like arranged on the upper surface of the board 11 and the multiple contacts 32 can maintain a stable and reliable connection state.

[0032] On the other hand, the rear end 32b of the contact 32 has a straight, linear shape. As shown in Fig. 10, an electric cable 36 is connected to the rear end 32b of the contact 32 by soldering or the like. Therefore, an electric signal, power from a power source, etc. from the outside are transmitted to the board 11 side via the electric cable 36 and the contact 32.

[0033] Regarding the members constituting the compression connector 31 of the first embodiment, the contacts 32 are made of a conductive metal material, and the housing 33 for fixing the contacts 32 is made of a non-conductive resin material or the like. The cover shell 34 covering the upper surface of the housing 33 and the bottom shell 35 covering the lower surface of the housing 33 are combined in the vertical direction with the housing 33 enclosed between them to form the outer shape of the compression connector 31. The cover shell 34 and the bottom shell 35 are arranged to wrap the outer periphery of the housing 33 in which the contacts 32 are embedded, thereby protecting the housing 33 in which the contacts 32 that receive electricity from the electric cable 36 are embedded. This protection includes not only physical protection from the external environment, but also electrical and magnetic protection such as electromagnetic shielding.

[0034] The above has described the configuration of the board connector 10 according to the first embodiment. Next, a method for attaching and detaching the compression connector 31 to and from the board 11 with the cage 21 that constitutes the board connector 10 according to the first embodiment will be described.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 18, when the compression connector 31 is attached to the board 11 with the cage 21, the compression connector 31 is guided in an oblique direction in accordance with the angle of the front downward angle of the spring piece 21g of the cage 21. Then, when the compression connector 31 is inserted toward the cage 21, the compression connector 31 applies a downward external force to the spring piece 21g against the elastic force exerted by the spring piece 21g. The spring piece 21g to which the downward external force is applied is bent downward, but since an opening 13 is formed at a position of the board 11 below the tip of the spring piece 21g, the tip of the spring piece 21g enters inside the opening 13. Therefore, the spring piece 21g is in a state in which it always exerts an upward elastic force as a reaction force against the compression connector 31 exerting the external force. Furthermore, when the compression connector 31 is inserted toward the cage 21 and is finally completely housed in the area surrounded by the top surface 21a, the vertical front surface 21b, the vertical right side surface 21c, and the vertical left side surface 21d of the cage 21 and the upper surface of the board 11, the spring piece 21g is released from the external force exerted by the compression connector 31, and the tip of the spring piece 21g comes out of the opening 13 and moves to an upper position. This state is shown in FIG. 19. In the state shown in FIG. 19, the tip of the spring piece 21g is located at the center of the back surface of the compression connector 31 that is completely inserted and installed in the cage 21, so that the spring piece 21g exerts a function of preventing the compression connector 31 from moving in a direction of coming out backward with respect to the cage 21. In other words, the spring piece 21g according to the first embodiment exerts a function of guiding the compression connector 31 when it is inserted obliquely into the cage 21 and a function of preventing it from coming out.

[0036] The compression connector 31 inserted and fixed into the board 11 with the cage 21 exerts a vertical contact reaction force on the board 11 from the multiple contacts 32 of the compression connector 31. However, the vertical contact reaction force exerted by the multiple contacts 32 is received by the cage 21 housing the compression connector 31, particularly by the top surface 21a constituting the upper surface of the cage 21. Furthermore, the spring piece 21g functions to prevent the compression connector 31 from coming off, so that the compression connector 31 is maintained in a stably fixed state on the board 11.

[0037] On the other hand, when removing the compression connector 31 from the substrate 11 with the cage 21 in the state shown in Figure 19, the user pushes the spring piece 21g downward to release the anti-detachment function of the compression connector 31, and from that state, pulls the compression connector 31 rearward and diagonally upward from the cage 21, thereby removing the compression connector 31 from the substrate 11 with the cage 21.

[0038] As described above, in the board-attached connector 10 according to the first embodiment, the spring piece 21g is used as an elastic body that exerts an elastic force formed on the cage 21, so that the compression connector 31 can be easily and reliably fixed to the board 11 with the cage 21. In addition, since the spring piece 21g as an elastic body that exerts an elastic force is a member formed on the cage 21, it will not fall off or get lost like conventional screws or nuts. Furthermore, since the mechanism uses the elastic force exerted by the spring piece 21g to fix the connector, the number of installation steps is reduced, and torque management of the screws is not required as in the past. In other words, according to the board-attached connector 10 according to the first embodiment, the compression connector 31 can be installed reliably while improving the workability of installing (fixing) the board 11.

[0039] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the first embodiment. Various modifications and improvements can be made to the first embodiment.

[0040] For example, in the above-described first embodiment, an example was shown in which the spring piece 21g serving as an elastic body exerting an elastic force was formed on the cage 21, but the elastic body exerting an elastic force may also be formed on the compression connector.

[0041] The configuration of the board-mounted connector 10 according to the first embodiment has been described above with reference to Figs. 1 to 19. Next, a board-mounted connector 100 according to a second embodiment, which is another possible form of the board-mounted connector according to the present invention, will be described with reference to Figs. 20 to 35. In the following description, members that are the same as or similar to those described in the above-mentioned first embodiment may be given the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof may be omitted.

[0042] [Second embodiment] The configuration of a board-mounted connector 100 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 20 to 35. As shown in Figures 20 to 22, the board-mounted connector 100 according to the second embodiment has a board 11, a cage 21 installed on the upper surface of the board 11, and a compression connector 31 attached to the board 11 via the cage 21.

[0043] The substrate 11 includes a printed circuit (not shown) and is electrically connected to a compression connector 31 via a cage 21 attached to the upper surface of the substrate 11, thereby enabling the transfer of electrical signals, power supply power, and the like.

[0044] Further, a plurality of mounting holes (not shown) are formed in the substrate 11 (see FIG. 22). A plurality of legs 22 of a cage 21 (described later) are inserted into the plurality of mounting holes (not shown) (assuming 13 in the second embodiment), thereby fixing the cage 21 to the substrate 11.

[0045] 31 to 35, the cage 21 is a member formed by bending a flat metal plate, and has a top surface 21a forming the upper surface, and a vertical front surface 21b, a vertical right side surface 21c, and a vertical left side surface 21d formed as vertical surfaces of the present invention by bending the front and left and right sides of the top surface 21a vertically. The area surrounded by the top surface 21a, the vertical front surface 21b, the vertical right side surface 21c, the vertical left side surface 21d, and the upper surface of the board 11 is the area for storing and installing the compression connector 31.

[0046] A plurality of legs 22 (13 in the second embodiment) are formed on the lower end faces of the vertical front side 21b, the vertical right side 21c, and the vertical left side 21d. The legs 22 are shaft-shaped members extending downward, and are inserted into a plurality of mounting holes (not shown) formed in the substrate 11 to reliably fix the substrate 11 and the cage 21. Note that the legs 22 may be fixed to the multiple mounting holes (not shown) using solder or adhesive, or may be inserted into the mounting holes (not shown) and then bent to reliably fix the legs 22.

[0047] A lock hole 23 is formed in the center of the vertical front surface 21b, into which a lock portion 37a of a lock lever 37 provided on the compression connector 31 (described later) fits. The lock hole 23 functions as a fixing means when the compression connector 31 is attached to the substrate 11 with the cage 21.

[0048] As shown in Figures 25 to 30, the compression connector 31 has contacts 32 that contact the board 11, a housing 33 to which the contacts 32 are fixed, a cover shell 34 that covers the upper surface of the housing 33, a bottom shell 35 that covers the lower surface of the housing 33, and a lock lever 37 as an elastic body of the present invention that can be rotated in the direction of insertion into the cage 21.

[0049] As shown particularly in FIGS. 26 and 27, a plurality of contacts 32 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction.

[0050] As shown in Fig. 30, each of the contacts 32 is fixed to the housing 33, and the front end 32a of the contact 32 is curved to have a shape having spring elasticity. That is, when the compression connector 31 is not in contact with the board 11, the front end 32a of the contact 32 is arranged to protrude downward from the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 (as shown in Fig. 30). Therefore, when the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 constituting the compression connector 31 is pressed against the upper surface of the board 11 in the -Z direction, the front end 32a of the contacts 32 protruding downward from the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 is pressed down to the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 while exerting a force due to the spring elasticity on the upper surface of the board 11. That is, the front end 32a of the contacts 32 receives a force in the +Z direction. Therefore, when the compression connector 31 is attached to the board 11, each of the multiple contacts 32 is pressed against the upper surface of the board 11 by the force of the spring elasticity, so that, for example, a printed circuit (not shown) or the like arranged on the upper surface of the board 11 and the multiple contacts 32 can maintain a stable and reliable connection state.

[0051] On the other hand, the rear end 32b of the contact 32 has a straight, linear shape. As shown in Fig. 30, an electric cable 36 is connected to the rear end 32b of the contact 32 by soldering or the like. Therefore, an electric signal, power from a power source, etc. from the outside are transmitted to the board 11 side via the electric cable 36 and the contact 32.

[0052] The lock lever 37 is a member formed by bending a rod-shaped metal wire. The lock lever 37 is a roughly C-shaped member, and both ends of the lock lever 37 are attached to the left and right side surfaces of the housing 33 toward the rear in a freely rotatable state. As shown in FIG. 28 and other figures, the front center position of the lock lever 37 when the lock lever 37 is tilted forward of the compression connector 31 is a lock portion 37a that is curved and recessed toward the inside (connector side). This lock portion 37a is formed to enter a lock hole 23 formed at the center position of the vertical front surface 21b that constitutes the cage 21 when the lock lever 37 is tilted forward with the compression connector 31 inserted into the cage 21. The lock portion 37a of the lock lever 37 and the lock hole 23 of the cage 21 work together to function as a fixing means for the compression connector 31 to the cage 21.

[0053] Regarding the members constituting the compression connector 31 of the second embodiment, the contacts 32 are made of a conductive metal material, and the housing 33 for fixing the contacts 32 is made of a non-conductive resin material or the like. The cover shell 34 covering the upper surface of the housing 33 and the bottom shell 35 covering the lower surface of the housing 33 are combined in the vertical direction with the housing 33 enclosed between them to form the outer shape of the compression connector 31. The cover shell 34 and the bottom shell 35 are arranged to wrap the outer periphery of the housing 33 in which the contacts 32 are embedded, thereby protecting the housing 33 in which the contacts 32 that receive electricity from the electric cable 36 are embedded. This protection includes not only physical protection from the external environment, but also electrical and magnetic protection such as electromagnetic shielding.

[0054] The above has described the configuration of the board connector 100 according to the second embodiment. Next, a method for attaching and detaching the compression connector 31 to and from the board 11 with the cage 21 that constitutes the board connector 100 according to the second embodiment will be described.

[0055] When mounting the compression connector 31 to the board 11 with the cage 21, the compression connector 31 is inserted by moving it horizontally from the rear of the cage 21 as shown in Figures 23 and 24. At this time, the lock lever 37 of the compression connector 31 is rotated upward to an upright position as shown by the dashed line in Figure 29.

[0056] From this state, the compression connector 31 is moved horizontally to insert and store the compression connector 31 into the area surrounded by the top surface 21a, the vertical front surface 21b, the vertical right side surface 21c, and the vertical left side surface 21d of the cage 21 and the upper surface of the board 11. Furthermore, the lock lever 37 is rotated toward the front of the cage 21 to fit the lock portion 37a of the lock lever 37 into the lock hole 23 of the cage 21. At this time, since the lock lever 37 is a member formed by bending a rod-shaped metal wire, it has elasticity as the elastic body of the present invention. Therefore, when an attempt is made to rotate the lock lever 37 to release the fit between the lock portion 37a and the lock hole 23, the elastic force of the metal material as an elastic body functions, and a force that tries to maintain the fit state is applied. Furthermore, if an attempt is made to pull out the compression connector 31 from the cage 21 with the locking portion 37a fitted in the locking hole 23, the locking lever 37 gets caught on the cage 21, preventing the compression connector 31 from being pulled out. In other words, by fitting the locking portion 37a of the locking lever 37 into the locking hole 23 of the cage 21, the fixed state of the compression connector 31 to the board 11 with the cage 21 is appropriately maintained.

[0057] The compression connector 31 inserted and fixed into the board 11 with the cage 21 exerts a vertical contact reaction force on the board 11, which is exerted by the multiple contacts 32 of the compression connector 31. However, the vertical contact reaction force exerted by the multiple contacts 32 is received by the cage 21 housing the compression connector 31, particularly by the top surface 21a constituting the upper surface of the cage 21. Furthermore, the locking portion 37a of the locking lever 37 and the locking hole 23 of the cage 21 work together to prevent the compression connector 31 from coming off, so that the compression connector 31 is maintained in a stably fixed state on the board 11.

[0058] On the other hand, when removing the compression connector 31 from the substrate 11 with the cage 21 in the state shown in Figures 20 and 21, the user rotates the lock lever 37 to release the engagement between the lock portion 37a and the lock hole 23, and from that state, the compression connector 31 can be removed from the substrate 11 with the cage 21 by pulling it horizontally out from the cage 21 toward the rear.

[0059] As described above, in the board-attached connector 100 according to the second embodiment, by using the lock lever 37 as an elastic body that exerts an elastic force formed on the compression connector 31, it is possible to easily and reliably fix the compression connector 31 to the board 11 with the cage 21. In addition, since the lock lever 37 as an elastic body that exerts an elastic force is a member formed on the compression connector 31, it will not fall off or get lost like a conventional screw or nut. Furthermore, since the mechanism uses the elastic force exerted by the lock lever 37 to fix the board 11, the number of installation steps is reduced and torque management of the screw is not required as in the conventional case. In other words, according to the board-attached connector 100 according to the second embodiment, it is possible to perform a reliable installation while improving the workability of installing (fixing) the compression connector 31 to the board 11.

[0060] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above-mentioned second embodiment. Various modifications and improvements can be made to the above-mentioned second embodiment.

[0061] For example, in the above-described second embodiment, an example has been shown in which the lock lever 37, as an elastic body that exerts an elastic force, is formed on the compression connector 31, but the elastic body that exerts an elastic force may be formed on the cage 21. In that case, a lock hole into which the lock portion of the lock lever is fitted may be formed on the compression connector.

[0062] It will be apparent from the description of the claims that such modified or improved forms may also be included within the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 10 (First embodiment) connector with substrate 100 (Second embodiment) connector with substrate 11 Substrate 13 Opening (hole) 21 Cage 21a Top 21b Vertical front (vertical surface) 21c Vertical right side (vertical surface) 21d Vertical left side (vertical surface) 21e Protrusion 21f Standing section 21g Spring piece (elastic body) 22 Legs 23 Lock hole 31 Compression Connector 32 Contacts 32a Front end 32b Rear end 33 Housing 34 Cover shell 35 Bottom Shell 36 Electrical Cable 37 Lock lever (elastic body) 37a Lock section

Claims

1. A connector with a board in which a compression type connector that is pressed against a connection object to connect and a board are attached via a cage, a compression connector including a contact that contacts the board, a housing to which the contact is fixed, and a cover shell that covers an upper surface of the housing; the compression connector is inserted into the cage fixed to the substrate; A connector with a board, characterized in that either the cage or the compression connector is formed with an elastic body that exerts an elastic force to fix the compression connector to the cage.

2. 2. The connector with board according to claim 1, The cage has a spring piece that presses the compression connector against a pressing portion of the cage, The connector with board is characterized in that the spring piece is formed on a protrusion formed on the connector insertion side of the cage.

3. 3. The connector with board according to claim 2, The spring piece is formed at an angle from its base to its tip so that the compression connector can be inserted at an angle into the cage.

4. 3. The connector with board according to claim 2, A connector with a board, characterized in that a hole is formed in the board so that the tip of the spring piece can fit therein.

5. 2. The connector with board according to claim 1, The compression connector is formed with a lock lever that is rotatable in a direction of insertion into the cage, The connector with a board is characterized in that the cage is formed with a lock hole into which the lock portion of the lock lever fits.

6. 6. The connector with board according to claim 5, The cage has a top surface that receives the contact reaction force of the compression connector, and a lock hole is formed in a vertical surface that is bent perpendicularly from the top surface.

7. The connector with board according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The compression connector is a board-mounted connector characterized in that it includes a bottom shell that covers a lower surface portion of the housing.

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