Electric connector and connection structure

Abstract

To provide an electric connector capable of realizing reduction of a noise.SOLUTION: An electric connector comprises: a ferrule; a plurality of electric wires; and a conductor. The ferrule contains: a tip end surface; and a plurality of insertion holes opened to the tip end surface while being extended along a first direction crossed to the tip end surface. The plurality of electric wires is arranged to a plurality of insertion holes. The conductor is provided to the ferrule. The ferrule contains a groove that is formed to between a pair of insertion holes at least adjacent to each other of the plurality of insertion holes. The conductor contains: a main body part arranged to the groove; and a projection part that can be elastically deformed in the first direction while being projected from the tip end surface in the first direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to electrical connectors and connection structures. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known an electrical connector that includes a housing, a plurality of terminals provided inside the housing, and a shield disposed outside the housing (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such an electrical connector, the shield is electrically connected to a ground pad of the mating connector, thereby reducing noise. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-96933 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the electrical connector as described above, the multiple terminals are provided inside the housing, whereas the shield is disposed outside the housing, so there is a limit to the noise reduction.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an electrical connector and a connection structure that can achieve noise reduction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The electrical connector of the present disclosure comprises a ferrule including a tip surface and a plurality of insertion holes extending along a first direction intersecting the tip surface and opening to the tip surface, a plurality of electric wires arranged in the plurality of insertion holes, and a conductor provided on the ferrule, wherein the ferrule includes a groove formed between at least a pair of adjacent insertion holes among the plurality of insertion holes, and the conductor includes a main body portion arranged in the groove and a protrusion protruding from the tip surface in the first direction and elastically deformable in the first direction. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an electrical connector and a connection structure that can achieve noise reduction. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of a connection structure according to one embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector taken along line IV-IV shown in FIG. [Diagram 5] 5 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector taken along line VV shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the connection structure shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a connection structure according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, the contents of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described.

[0010] The electrical connector of the present disclosure is [1] "an electrical connector comprising: a ferrule including a tip surface and a plurality of insertion holes extending along a first direction intersecting the tip surface and opening at the tip surface, a plurality of electric wires arranged in the plurality of insertion holes, and a conductor provided on the ferrule, the ferrule including a groove formed between at least a pair of adjacent insertion holes among the plurality of insertion holes, the conductor including a main body portion arranged in the groove, and a protrusion protruding from the tip surface in the first direction and elastically deformable in the first direction."

[0011] In the electrical connector described in [1] above, the conductor includes a main body portion located at least between a pair of adjacent insertion holes. This allows the conductor to be closer to the electric wire placed in the insertion hole than when the conductor is placed outside the ferrule. This allows noise reduction to be achieved. Moreover, the conductor includes a protruding portion that protrudes from the tip surface and is elastically deformable. This allows the main body portion to be suitably connected to the ground electrode by contacting the protruding portion with the ground electrode of the mating connector that is placed opposite the tip surface, which contributes to noise reduction. Therefore, this electrical connector allows noise reduction to be achieved.

[0012] The electrical connector of the present disclosure may be the electrical connector described in [1] above, [2] "wherein the plurality of insertion holes are configured with a first insertion hole row aligned along the second direction when viewed from the first direction, and a second insertion hole row positioned adjacent to the first insertion hole row in a third direction intersecting the second direction when viewed from the first direction and aligned along the second direction, the groove including a first groove region positioned between the first insertion hole row and the second insertion hole row and extending along the second direction when viewed from the first direction, a second groove region positioned between at least a pair of adjacent insertion holes in the first insertion hole row, and a third groove region positioned between at least a pair of adjacent insertion holes in the second insertion hole row, the main body portion including a first body region disposed in the first groove region, a second body region disposed in the second groove region, and a third body region disposed in the third groove region, and the protrusion protrudes from each of the first body region, the second body region, and the third body region." This makes it possible to bring the conductors closer to each of the multiple electric wires arranged in the multiple insertion holes, thereby making it possible to reduce noise more efficiently.

[0013] The electrical connector of the present disclosure may be [3] "the electrical connector according to the above [1] or [2], in which the protrusion has a first elastic body protruding from the main body and a second elastic body protruding from the main body, and the first elastic body and the second elastic body are arranged to cross each other." In this way, even if the first elastic body does not contact the ground electrode of the mating connector, the second elastic body contacts the ground electrode, so that the protrusion can be reliably contacted with the ground electrode.

[0014] The electrical connector of the present disclosure may be [4] "the electrical connector according to any one of the above [1] to [3], in which the conductor is integrally formed from one plate-like member." This makes the distribution of the thermal expansion coefficient of the conductor more uniform than when the conductor is formed from multiple plate-like members connected by welding or the like, thereby improving the reliability of the conductor.

[0015] The electrical connector of the present disclosure may be [5] "the electrical connector according to any one of [1] to [4] above, in which the surface of the protrusion is plated." This improves the reliability of the electrical connection of the protrusion to the ground electrode of the mating connector.

[0016] The electrical connector of the present disclosure may be [6] "the electrical connector according to any one of the above [1] to [5], wherein the plurality of electric wires are a plurality of electric wires of a flexible flat cable." This makes it possible to reduce noise from the plurality of electric wires of the flexible flat cable.

[0017] The connection structure of the present disclosure is [7] "a connection structure comprising an electrical connector as described in any one of [1] to [6] above, and a mating connector having a substrate and a ground electrode provided on a main surface of the substrate, wherein the electrical connector is connected to the mating connector such that the tip surface faces the main surface, and the protrusion is in contact with the ground electrode in an elastically deformed state."

[0018] According to the connection structure described in [7] above, it is possible to reduce noise as described above. In addition, since the protrusion is in contact with the ground electrode of the mating connector in an elastically deformed state, the protrusion can be reliably contacted with the ground electrode.

[0019] The connection structure of the present disclosure may be [8] "the connection structure according to the above [7], wherein the substrate includes a protruding surface that protrudes from the main surface and abuts against the ferrule of the electrical connector." This allows the ferrule to be reliably fixed to the mating connector while reliably bringing the protruding portion into contact with the ground electrode of the mating connector.

[0020] The connection structure of the present disclosure may be the connection structure described in [7] above, in which the ferrule further includes an abutment surface that protrudes from the tip surface and abuts against the board of the mating connector, the abutment surface being located between the tip of the protrusion and the tip surface in the first direction. This allows the ferrule to be securely fixed to the mating connector while the protrusion is securely brought into contact with the ground electrode of the mating connector.

[0021] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the connector structure of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present disclosure is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are given the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions will be omitted.

[0022] Fig. 1 is a front view of the connection structure of this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the electrical connector shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the connection structure 1 includes an electrical connector 2 and a mating connector 3 (see Fig. 6). The electrical connector 2 includes a ferrule 4, a first cable 5, a second cable 6 (see Fig. 4), a pair of positioning pins 7, and a conductor 8.

[0023] The ferrule 4 includes a first main surface 4a, a second main surface 4b, a pair of side surfaces 4c, a front end surface 4d, and a rear end surface 4e. Each of the first main surface 4a and the second main surface 4b is a flat surface that intersects with the Z-axis direction. The second main surface 4b faces the opposite side to the first main surface 4a. The side surfaces 4c are flat surfaces that intersect with the X-axis direction. The pair of side surfaces 4c face the opposite sides to each other. Each of the front end surface 4d and the rear end surface 4e is a flat surface that intersects with the Y-axis direction (first direction). The rear end surface 4e faces the opposite side to the front end surface 4d.

[0024] The ferrule 4 includes a first insertion hole row F1 and a second insertion hole row F2. The first insertion hole row F1 includes a plurality of insertion holes 4f aligned along the X-axis direction (a second direction intersecting the first direction) when viewed from the Y-axis direction. The insertion holes 4f extend along the Y-axis direction and open in each of the front end surface 21d and the rear end surface 21e. The second insertion hole row F2 is located next to the first insertion hole row F1 in the Z-axis direction (a third direction intersecting both the first and second directions) when viewed from the Y-axis direction. The second insertion hole row F2 includes a plurality of insertion holes 4g aligned along the X-axis direction when viewed from the Y-axis direction. The insertion holes 4g extend along the Y-axis direction and open in each of the front end surface 21d and the rear end surface 21e. In this way, the plurality of insertion holes 4f and the plurality of insertion holes 4g of the ferrule 4 are configured by the first insertion hole row F1 and the second insertion hole row F2.

[0025] The ferrule 4 includes a pair of through holes 4h. The pair of through holes 4h are located on both sides of the multiple insertion holes 4f and the multiple insertion holes 4g in the X-axis direction when viewed from the Y-axis direction. The through holes 4h penetrate the ferrule 4 in the Y-axis direction and open to each of the front end face 4d and the rear end face 4e.

[0026] Each positioning pin 7 is inserted into each through hole 4h. In this embodiment, the positioning pins 7 are, for example, press-fitted into the through holes 4h. The tip of the positioning pin 7 protrudes from the tip face 4d of the ferrule 4. The rear end of the positioning pin 7 protrudes from the rear end face 4e of the ferrule 4. The ferrule 4 is positioned with respect to the mating connector 3 by the pair of positioning pins 7. Specifically, the ferrule 4 is connected to the mating connector 3 such that the positioning pins 7 are inserted into the positioning holes of the mating connector 3.

[0027] The first cable 5 is, for example, a flexible flat cable (FFC). The first cable 5 has a plurality of electric wires 51, a plurality of electric wires 52, and a coating 53. In this embodiment, two adjacent electric wires 51 and two adjacent electric wires 52 are alternately arranged along the X-axis direction. The coating 53 bundles the plurality of electric wires 51 and the plurality of electric wires 52. The tip portions of the electric wires 51 and the electric wires 52 are exposed from the coating 53 and disposed in the insertion hole 4f. The tips of the electric wires 51 and the electric wires 52 reach the tip surface 4d of the ferrule 4. The electric wire 51 functions, for example, as a working electrode. The electric wire 52 functions, for example, as a ground electrode.

[0028] The second cable 6 (see FIG. 4) is, for example, a flexible flat cable (FFC) similar to the first cable 5. The second cable 6 has a plurality of electric wires 61, a plurality of electric wires 62, and a coating 63 (see FIG. 4). In this embodiment, two adjacent electric wires 61 and two adjacent electric wires 62 are alternately arranged along the X-axis direction. The two electric wires 51 of the first cable 5 and the two electric wires 61 of the second cable 6 are arranged along the Z-axis direction. The two electric wires 52 of the first cable 5 and the two electric wires 62 of the second cable 6 are arranged along the Z-axis direction. The coating 63 bundles the plurality of electric wires 61 and the plurality of electric wires 62. The tip portions of the electric wires 61 and the electric wires 62 are exposed from the coating 63 and are disposed in the insertion hole 4g. The tips of the electric wires 61 and the electric wires 62 reach the tip surface 4d of the ferrule 4. The electric wire 61 functions as, for example, a ground electrode. The wire 62 functions, for example, as an actuating electrode.

[0029] Fig. 3 is a partially enlarged view of the electrical connector 2 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector 2 taken along line IV-IV shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector 2 taken along line VV shown in Fig. 3.

[0030] 3 to 5, the ferrule 4 includes a groove 4s. The groove 4s is formed between at least a pair of adjacent insertion holes among the multiple insertion holes 4f and the multiple insertion holes 4g. The groove 4s includes a first groove region 4t, multiple second groove regions 4w, and multiple third groove regions 4x.

[0031] The first groove region 4t is located between the first insertion hole row F1 and the second insertion hole row F2 when viewed from the Y-axis direction. The first groove region 4t extends along the X-axis direction. Both ends of the first groove region 4t in the X-axis direction are located outside both ends of the first insertion hole row F1 in the X-axis direction and both ends of the second insertion hole row F2 in the X-axis direction. The first groove region 4t opens to both the front end surface 4d and the rear end surface 4e. The first groove region 4t does not reach the pair of side surfaces 4c.

[0032] The second groove region 4w is located at least between a pair of adjacent insertion holes 4f in the first insertion hole row F1. In this embodiment, each second groove region 4w is formed between two insertion holes 4f in which two electric wires 51 are arranged and two other insertion holes 4f in which two electric wires 52 adjacent to the two electric wires 51 are arranged, and on both sides of the first insertion hole row F1 in the X-axis direction. The second groove region 4w communicates with the first groove region 4t. The second groove region 4w opens to each of the front end surface 4d and the first main surface 4a. The second groove region 4w does not reach the rear end surface 4e.

[0033] The third groove region 4x is located at least between a pair of adjacent insertion holes 4g in the second insertion hole row F2. In this embodiment, each third groove region 4x is formed between two insertion holes 4g in which two electric wires 61 are arranged and two other insertion holes 4g in which two electric wires 62 adjacent to the two electric wires 61 are arranged, and on both sides of the second insertion hole row F2 in the X-axis direction. The third groove region 4x communicates with the first groove region 4t. The third groove region 4x opens to each of the front end surface 4d and the second main surface 4b. The third groove region 4x does not reach the rear end surface 4e. When viewed from the Y-axis direction, the ferrule 4 is symmetrical with respect to each of a center line parallel to the Z-axis direction and a center line parallel to the X-axis direction.

[0034] The conductor 8 is provided in the ferrule 4. The conductor 8 includes a main body portion 81 and a plurality of protrusions 82. The main body portion 81 and the protrusions 82 are each a partial region of a conductor integrally formed from the same material. The material of the conductor 8 is, for example, copper (Cu). The main body portion 81 is disposed in the groove 4s. Specifically, the main body portion 81 includes a first main body region 81a, a second main body region 81b, and a third main body region 81c.

[0035] The first body region 81a is disposed in the first groove region 4t. The first body region 81a is, for example, plate-shaped. Both ends of the first body region 81a in the X-axis direction reach both ends of the first insertion hole row F1 in the X-axis direction and both ends of the second insertion hole row F2 in the X-axis direction. One end of the first body region 81a in the Y-axis direction reaches the tip surface 4d. The other end of the first body region 81a in the Y-axis direction reaches the rear end surface 4e. When viewed from the Z-axis direction, the first body region 81a overlaps with the first insertion hole row F1 and the second insertion hole row F2.

[0036] The second body region 81b is disposed in the second groove region 4w. The second body region 81b is, for example, plate-shaped. The tip of the second body region 81b in the Z-axis direction reaches the first main surface 4a. The base end of the second body region 81b in the Z-axis direction is connected to the first body region 81a. One end of the second body region 81b in the Y-axis direction reaches the tip surface 4d. The other end of the second body region 81b in the Y-axis direction does not reach the rear end surface 4e. When viewed from the X-axis direction, the second body region 81b overlaps with the insertion hole 4f.

[0037] The third body region 81c is disposed in the third groove region 4x. The third body region 81c is, for example, plate-shaped. The tip of the third body region 81c in the Z-axis direction reaches the second main surface 4b. The base end of the third body region 81c in the Z-axis direction is connected to the first body region 81a. One end of the third body region 81c in the Y-axis direction reaches the tip surface 4d. The other end of the third body region 81c in the Y-axis direction does not reach the rear end surface 4e. When viewed from the X-axis direction, the third body region 81c overlaps with the insertion hole 4g.

[0038] The multiple protrusions 82 protrude from the front end surface 4d of the ferrule 4 in the Y-axis direction. When viewed from the X-axis direction or the Z-axis direction, the multiple protrusions 82 are located on the opposite side of the front end surface 4d from the rear end surface 4e. A protrusion 82 is formed between each of the second body regions 81b of the first body region 81a. These protrusions 82 protrude from the front end of the first body region 81a. A protrusion 82 is formed at the front end of each of the second body regions 81b. These protrusions 82 protrude from the front end of the second body region 81b. A protrusion 82 is formed at the front end of each of the third body regions 81c. These protrusions 82 protrude from the front end of the third body region 81c. In this way, the multiple protrusions 82 are uniformly distributed around each of the insertion holes 4f, 4g when viewed from the Y-axis direction.

[0039] The protruding portion 82 is elastically deformable in the Y-axis direction. Specifically, the protruding portion 82 has a first elastic body 82a and a second elastic body 82b. The first elastic body 82a and the second elastic body 82b each protrude from the main body portion 81. The base ends of the first elastic body 82a and the second elastic body 82b are connected to the main body portion 81. The tip ends of the first elastic body 82a and the second elastic body 82b are curved in a convex shape toward the same direction as the tip surface 4d.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 5, the first elastic body 82a and the second elastic body 82b of the protrusion 82 formed at the tip of the first main body region 81a are arranged to intersect with each other when viewed from the Z-axis direction. When viewed from the Y-axis direction, the first elastic body 82a and the second elastic body 82b are aligned along the Z-axis direction. When viewed from the Z-axis direction, the base end of the first elastic body 82a and the base end of the second elastic body 82b are separated from each other in the X-axis direction. When viewed from the Z-axis direction, the tip of the first elastic body 82a and the tip of the second elastic body 82b are separated from each other in the X-axis direction. When viewed from the Z-axis direction, the first elastic body 82a is inclined toward one end of the ferrule in the X-axis direction as it moves away from the tip surface 4d. When viewed from the Z-axis direction, the second elastic body 82b is inclined toward the other end of the ferrule in the X-axis direction as it moves away from the tip surface 4d. When viewed from the Z-axis direction, a part of the first elastic body 82a and a part of the second elastic body 82b overlap each other.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 4, the first elastic body 82a and the second elastic body 82b of the protrusion 82 formed at the tip of the second main body region 81b are arranged to intersect with each other when viewed from the X-axis direction. When viewed from the X-axis direction, the base end of the first elastic body 82a and the base end of the second elastic body 82b are separated from each other in the Z-axis direction. When viewed from the X-axis direction, the tip of the first elastic body 82a and the tip of the second elastic body 82b are separated from each other in the Z-axis direction. When viewed from the X-axis direction, the first elastic body 82a is inclined toward one end of the ferrule in the Z-axis direction as it moves away from the tip surface 4d. When viewed from the X-axis direction, the second elastic body 82b is inclined toward the other end of the ferrule in the Z-axis direction as it moves away from the tip surface 4d. When viewed from the X-axis direction, a part of the first elastic body 82a and a part of the second elastic body 82b overlap each other. The first elastic body 82a and the second elastic body 82b of the protrusion 82 formed at the tip of the third main body region 81c are also arranged so as to intersect with each other when viewed from the X-axis direction, similar to the first elastic body 82a and the second elastic body 82b of the protrusion 82 formed at the tip of the second main body region 81b.

[0042] When the first elastic body 82a and the second elastic body 82b receive a load along the Y-axis direction, they elastically deform in the Y-axis direction. The surfaces of the first elastic body 82a and the second elastic body 82b are plated with, for example, gold or tin.

[0043] The conductor 8 is integrally formed by one plate-like member. The conductor 8 is formed by bending one plate-like member. When the conductor 8 is taken out of the groove 4s and then stretched, it becomes one plate-like member. The conductor 8 includes a plurality of plate-like regions. Of the first main body region 81a of the main body portion 81, the region located between the two insertion holes 4f and the two insertion holes 4g is composed of two plate-like regions stacked on each other. The second main body region 81b of the main body portion 81 is composed of two plate-like regions stacked in a connected state. The third main body region 81c of the main body portion 81 is composed of two plate-like regions stacked in a connected state. In each of the above plate-like regions, the first elastic body 82a or the second elastic body 82b of the protruding portion 82 is formed. Each of the first elastic body 82a and each of the second elastic body 82b is formed by punching out one plate-like member.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 4, the ferrule 4 includes a first arrangement surface 4m and a second arrangement surface 4n. Each of the first arrangement surface 4m and the second arrangement surface 4n is a flat surface intersecting the Z-axis direction. The first arrangement surface 4m faces the same direction as the first main surface 4a and is recessed from the first main surface 4a. The first arrangement surface 4m and the first main surface 4a are connected by a first connecting surface 4j. The first connecting surface 4j is a flat surface intersecting the Y-axis direction. The insertion holes 4f of the first insertion hole row F1 open in the first arrangement surface 4m in the same direction as the first arrangement surface 4m. That is, in the first arrangement surface 4m, the insertion holes 4f are grooves. In this case, the electric wires 51 and the electric wires 52 can be guided to the tip surface 4d while being arranged in the insertion holes 4f (grooves) in the first arrangement surface 4m.

[0045] The second arrangement surface 4n faces the same direction as the second main surface 4b and is recessed from the second main surface 4b. The second arrangement surface 4n and the second main surface 4b are connected by the second connecting surface 4k. The second connecting surface 4k is a flat surface that intersects with the Y-axis direction. The insertion holes 4g of the second insertion hole row F2 open in the second arrangement surface 4n in the same direction as the second arrangement surface 4n. That is, in the second arrangement surface 4n, the insertion holes 4g are grooves. In this case, the electric wire 61 and the electric wire 62 can be guided to the tip surface 4d while being arranged in the insertion holes 4g (grooves) in the second arrangement surface 4n.

[0046] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the connection structure 1 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 6, the mating connector 3 has a substrate 31 and a ground electrode 32. The substrate 31 includes a main surface 31a and a protruding surface 31b. Each of the main surface 31a and the protruding surface 31b is a flat surface that intersects with the Y-axis direction. Each of the main surface 31a and the protruding surface 31b faces the tip surface 4d of the ferrule 4. The protruding surface 31b faces the same direction as the main surface 31a. The protruding surface 31b protrudes from the main surface 31a in the Y-axis direction. The protruding surface 31b abuts against the tip surface 4d of the ferrule 4.

[0047] The ground electrode 32 is provided on the main surface 31a. The surface 32a of the ground electrode 32 is located between the main surface 31a and the protruding surface 31b in the Y-axis direction. The distance W1 between the protruding surface 31b and the surface 32a in the Y-axis direction is smaller than the natural length W2 of the protruding portion 82 in the Y-axis direction. The natural length W2 of the protruding portion 82 is the distance between the tip of the protruding portion 82 and the tip surface 4d in the Y-axis direction when the protruding portion 82 is not elastically deformed.

[0048] The electrical connector 2 is connected to the mating connector 3 so that the tip surface 4d faces the main surface 31a. The tip surface 4d of the electrical connector 2 and the protruding surface 31b of the mating connector 3 abut against each other. When the tip surface 4d and the protruding surface 31b abut against each other, the protruding portion 82 comes into contact with the surface 32a of the ground electrode 32 in an elastically deformed state. This electrically connects the conductor 8 of the electrical connector 2 to the ground electrode 32 of the mating connector 3.

[0049] As described above, in the electrical connector 2, the conductor 8 includes the main body 81 arranged between the first insertion hole row F1 and the second insertion hole row F2, between the adjacent insertion holes 4f, and between the adjacent insertion holes 4g. This allows the conductor 8 to be closer to the electric wires 51, 52 arranged in each insertion hole 4f and the electric wires 61, 62 arranged in each insertion hole 4g ​​than when the conductor is arranged outside the ferrule. This allows noise reduction. Moreover, the conductor 8 includes a protruding portion 82 that protrudes from the tip surface 4d and is elastically deformable. This allows the main body 81 to be suitably connected to the ground electrode 32 by contacting the protruding portion 82 with the ground electrode 32 of the mating connector 3 that is arranged to face the tip surface 4d, which contributes to noise reduction. Therefore, the electrical connector 2 allows noise reduction.

[0050] The multiple insertion holes 4f are configured by a first insertion hole row F1 aligned along the X-axis direction when viewed from the Y-axis direction, and the multiple insertion holes 4g are configured by a second insertion hole row F2 located next to the first insertion hole row F1 in the Z-axis direction and aligned along the X-axis direction when viewed from the Y-axis direction. The groove 4s includes a first groove region 4t located between the first insertion hole row F1 and the second insertion hole row F2 and extending along the X-axis direction when viewed from the Y-axis direction, a second groove region 4w located between two insertion holes 4f of the first insertion hole row F1 and two other insertion holes 4f adjacent to the two insertion holes 4f, and a third groove region 4x located between two insertion holes 4g of the second insertion hole row F2 and two other insertion holes 4g adjacent to the two insertion holes 4g. The main body 81 includes a first main body region 81a arranged in the first groove region 4t, a second main body region 81b arranged in the second groove region 4w, and a third main body region 81c arranged in the third groove region 4x. Each protrusion 82 protrudes from the first main body region 81a, the second main body region 81b, and the third main body region 81c. This makes it possible to bring the conductor 8 closer to each of the electric wires 51, 52 arranged in each insertion hole 4f and each of the electric wires 61, 62 arranged in each insertion hole 4g, and to reduce noise more efficiently.

[0051] The protruding portion 82 has a first elastic body 82a protruding from the main body portion 81 and a second elastic body 82b protruding from the main body portion 81. The first elastic body 82a and the second elastic body 82b are arranged to intersect with each other. As a result, even if the first elastic body 82a does not contact the ground electrode 32 of the mating connector 3, the second elastic body 82b contacts the ground electrode 32, so that the protruding portion 82 can be reliably contacted with the ground electrode 32.

[0052] The conductor 8 is integrally formed from a single plate-like member. This makes the distribution of the thermal expansion coefficient of the conductor 8 more uniform than when the conductor is formed from a plurality of plate-like members connected by welding or the like, thereby improving the reliability of the conductor. Also, since the distribution of the impedance of the conductor 8 is more uniform than when the conductor is formed from a plurality of plate-like members connected by welding or the like, noise can be reduced more efficiently.

[0053] The surface of the protrusion 82 is plated, which improves the reliability of the electrical connection of the protrusion 82 to the ground electrode 32 of the mating connector 3.

[0054] The electric wires 51, 52 are a plurality of electric wires of a flexible flat cable (first cable 5), and the electric wires 61, 62 are a plurality of electric wires of a flexible flat cable (second cable 6). This makes it possible to reduce noise from the plurality of electric wires of the flexible flat cable.

[0055] As described above, it is possible to reduce noise according to the connection structure 1. Furthermore, since the protrusion 82 is in contact with the ground electrode 32 of the mating connector 3 in an elastically deformed state, the protrusion 82 can be reliably brought into contact with the ground electrode 32.

[0056] The substrate 31 of the mating connector 3 includes a protruding surface 31b that protrudes from the main surface 31a and abuts against the ferrule 4 of the electrical connector 2. This allows the ferrule 4 to be reliably fixed to the mating connector 3 while the protruding portion 82 is reliably brought into contact with the ground electrode 32 of the mating connector 3.

[0057] [Variations] Although one embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

[0058] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a connection structure according to a modified example. As shown in FIG. 7, the ferrule 4 may further include an abutment surface 4y protruding from the tip surface 4d in the Y-axis direction. The abutment surface 4y is a flat surface intersecting the Y-axis direction. The abutment surface 4y faces the same direction as the tip surface 4d. The abutment surface 4y faces the board 31 of the mating connector 3. The abutment surface 4y abuts against the protruding surface 31b of the mating connector 3. The abutment surface 4y is located between the tip of the protruding portion 82 and the tip surface 4d in the Y-axis direction. In other words, the distance W3 between the abutment surface 4y and the tip surface 4d in the Y-axis direction is smaller than the natural length W2 of the protruding portion 82 in the Y-axis direction.

[0059] The abutment surface 4y of the electrical connector 2 and the protruding surface 31b of the mating connector 3 abut against each other. When the abutment surface 4y and the protruding surface 31b abut against each other, the protrusion 82 comes into contact with the surface 32a of the ground electrode 32 in an elastically deformed state. This electrically connects the conductor 8 of the electrical connector 2 to the ground electrode 32 of the mating connector 3. Even in such a case, the ferrule 4 can be reliably fixed to the mating connector 3 while the protrusion 82 is reliably brought into contact with the ground electrode 32 of the mating connector 3.

[0060] In the embodiment, an example has been shown in which the protrusions 82 are formed in each of the first body region 81a, the second body region 81b, and the third body region 81c of the body portion 81, but the protrusions 82 do not have to be formed in any of the first body region 81a, the second body region 81b, or the third body region 81c. The multiple protrusions 82 do not have to be uniformly distributed around each of the insertion holes 4f, 4g when viewed from the Y-axis direction. It is sufficient that the conductor 8 has at least one protrusion 82.

[0061] In the embodiment, an example is shown in which one protrusion 82 has a first elastic body 82a and a second elastic body 82b, but one protrusion 82 does not have to have either the first elastic body 82a or the second elastic body 82b. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1. Connection structure 2…Electrical connector 3…Mating connector 4…Ferrule 4a…First main surface 4b…Second main surface 4c...side 4d…Tip surface 4e…Rear end surface 4f, 4g...insertion hole 4h...Through hole 4j...1st connection surface 4k…Second connection surface 4m…1st placement surface 4n…Second placement surface 4s…Groove 4t…1st groove area 4w…Second groove area 4x…3rd groove area 4y…Contact surface 5...1st cable (flexible flat cable) 6...Second cable (flexible flat cable) 7...Positioning pin 8...Conductor 31...Substrate 31a…main surface 31b…Protruding surface 32...Ground electrode 32a…Surface 51,52,61,62…Electric wire 53,63…Covering 81…Main body 81a…First body region 81b…Second body area 81c…Third body area 82...Protruding part 82a...first elastic body 82b...Second elastic body F1: First insertion hole row F2: Second insertion hole row

Claims

1. a ferrule including a front end surface and a plurality of insertion holes extending along a first direction intersecting the front end surface and opening into the front end surface; A plurality of electric wires disposed in the plurality of insertion holes; a conductor provided on the ferrule, the ferrule includes a groove formed between at least a pair of adjacent insertion holes among the plurality of insertion holes, The electrical connector includes a main body portion disposed in the groove, and a protrusion portion protruding from the tip surface in the first direction and elastically deformable in the first direction.

2. the plurality of insertion holes are configured by a first insertion hole row aligned along the second direction when viewed from the first direction, and a second insertion hole row positioned next to the first insertion hole row in a third direction intersecting the second direction when viewed from the first direction and aligned along the second direction, the groove includes a first groove region located between the first insertion hole row and the second insertion hole row when viewed from the first direction and extending along the second direction, a second groove region located between at least a pair of adjacent insertion holes in the first insertion hole row, and a third groove region located between at least a pair of adjacent insertion holes in the second insertion hole row, the main body portion includes a first body region disposed in the first groove region, a second body region disposed in the second groove region, and a third body region disposed in the third groove region, The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion protrudes from each of the first body region, the second body region and the third body region.

3. The protrusion has a first elastic body protruding from the main body and a second elastic body protruding from the main body, 3. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the first elastic body and the second elastic body are arranged so as to intersect with each other.

4. 3. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the conductor is integrally formed from a single plate-like member.

5. 3. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein a surface of said protrusion is plated.

6. 3. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electric wires are a plurality of electric wires of a flexible flat cable.

7. The electrical connector according to claim 1 or 2; a substrate and a mating connector having a ground electrode provided on a main surface of the substrate; the electrical connector is connected to the mating connector such that the tip surface faces the main surface, A connection structure, wherein the protrusion is in contact with the ground electrode in an elastically deformed state.

8. The connection structure according to claim 7 , wherein the substrate includes a protruding surface that protrudes from the main surface and abuts against the ferrule of the electrical connector.

9. The ferrule further includes a contact surface that protrudes from the tip surface and contacts the board of the mating connector, The connection structure according to claim 7 , wherein the contact surface is located between the tip of the protruding portion and the tip surface in the first direction.

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