Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector that has a plurality of press-fit terminals arranged in an arrangement pattern in which the positions of terminal rows are shifted from each other, and that, when press-fitting and connecting the press-fit terminals into through holes of a circuit board, does not require pressing the terminal rows of the press-fit terminals at positions shifted from each other in the same plane.SOLUTION: In a connector 1, groups of a plurality of press-fit terminals 2 are arranged in at least two rows including a near row and a far row, as terminal rows in each of which the plurality of press-fit terminals 2 are arranged along a parallel direction intersecting a projection direction of projection parts 21 and a suspension direction of suspension parts 22. The positions of substrate connection parts 24 are shifted from each other in the parallel direction between the near row and the far row. In the far row, the positions of the substrate connection parts 24 are separated from the housing 3 along the projection direction compared to the near row. In the far row, the positions of shoulder parts 25 and bent parts 23 are close to a leading end in the suspension direction compared to the near row.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to connectors. [Background technology]

[0002] A connector 9 having a press-fit terminal 2, as shown in FIG. 6, is used to electrically connect an electronic circuit formed on a circuit board to a member outside the circuit board. The press-fit terminal 2 has a board connection portion 24 having an elastic contact piece at its tip. When the board connection portion 24 of the press-fit terminal 2 is press-fitted into a through-hole of the circuit board, the board connection portion 24 elastically contacts the inner wall surface of the through-hole and is electrically connected to the through-hole. In the connector 9, a large number of the press-fit terminals 2 are arranged and held by a common housing 3. One typical connector structure is one in which multiple terminal rows are arranged in multiple stages in the front-rear direction (±x direction) as shown in the figure. In this structure, multiple press-fit terminals 2 are arranged in the horizontal direction (±y direction) to form a terminal row, and the multiple terminal rows protrude backward (+x direction) from the housing 3 at different positions in the up-down direction (±z direction). Each press-fit terminal 2 protruding from housing 3 is bent at its midpoint to hang down, and the tip of the hanging part has board connection part 24. At the midpoint of the hanging part, shoulder part 25 for applying force when pressing board connection part 24 into a through hole is provided so as to protrude in the lateral direction (±y direction).

[0003] A press-fitting jig is used to simultaneously press-fit and connect a large number of press-fit terminals 2 provided in a connector 9 into a plurality of through holes provided in a circuit board. The press-fitting jig is configured to abut against the shoulder portion 25 of each press-fit terminal 2 and press the shoulder portion 25. Specifically, for example, in the form of Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 6, a press-fitting jig 8 is used in which a comb-shaped structure is formed by grooves 83 and abutting portions 81 are formed on the edges of the grooves 83. In this type of press-fitting jig 8, the grooves 83 are dug in the vertical direction (±z direction), and the press-fit terminals 2 are inserted between the comb-shaped grooves from the rear side (+z side) of each press-fit terminal 2 along the vertical direction. Then, the abutting portion 81 is brought into abutment with the shoulder portion 25, and a pressing force F is applied to the shoulder portion 25 from the rear side. As another example, in the form of Patent Document 2, a press-fitting jig is used in which a groove is dug in the front-rear direction (±x direction). In this type of press-fit jig, the press-fit terminal is inserted into the groove between the comb teeth from the bent portion side (from the +x side) in the front-to-back direction, and then the press-fit terminal is moved in the up-and-down direction (±z direction) inside the groove, so that the shoulder portion of the press-fit terminal abuts against the abutment portion formed on the edge of the groove.

[0004] In recent years, there has been a demand for miniaturization and space saving in connectors for circuit boards. As one of the means for achieving this, there is a method of arranging through holes in an arrangement pattern in which the positions are shifted between rows, such as a staggered arrangement, so that the through holes can be arranged on the circuit board at a high density. In this case, the position of the board connection part of the press-fit terminal in the connector is shifted for each terminal row. Then, when using a comb-shaped press-fit jig having a groove as in the forms of Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above, it becomes necessary to hold the press-fit terminal in the groove in the press-fit jig and to shift the position where the abutment part abuts against the shoulder part of the press-fit terminal for each row. An example of a press-fit jig applied to a connector in which the positions of the board connection parts of the press-fit terminals are shifted between terminal rows is disclosed in Patent Document 3. In Patent Document 3, as in Patent Document 2, in a press-fit jig in which grooves are dug in the front-rear direction, a guide groove is provided at the tip of a comb-shaped guide part into which the terminals arranged on the innermost side of the housing in the staggered arrangement are introduced. Furthermore, Patent Document 4 discloses a contact press-fitting device that includes a press-fit head having an abutment portion that abuts against the shoulder (shoulder portion) of the contact, so that the contacts can be pressed-fit reliably even when the arrangement pitch of the contacts (press-fit terminals) is irregular. The press-fitting device also includes a support member that is inserted into the press-fitting head from a direction perpendicular to the press-fitting direction of the press-fitting head and supports the side of the contact that is not abutted by the abutment portion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-342363 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2004-200066 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2004-273214 A [Patent Document 4] JP 2005-197029 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As described above, in a connector 9 in which press-fit terminals 2 are arranged in multiple terminal rows, the press-fit terminals 2 often protrude from the housing 3 at different heights for each terminal row. In this case, the height positions of the shoulder portions 25 of the press-fit terminals 2 are usually aligned for all terminal rows, as shown in Fig. 6. By aligning the height positions of the shoulder portions 25, it is possible to press the shoulder portions 25 of all the press-fit terminals 2 in the same plane when pressing the shoulder portions 25 using a press-fitting jig. However, in the connector 9 in which the heights of the shoulder portions 25 are uniform, if the press-fit terminals 2 are arranged in an arrangement pattern in which the positions of the board connection portions 24 are shifted for each terminal row, such as a staggered arrangement, in order to reduce the size and space of the connector 9, when pressing each shoulder portion 25 using a press-fitting tool to press the board connection portion 24 of each press-fit terminal 2 into the through-hole, it becomes necessary to press the shoulder portion 25 at a position shifted in the horizontal direction (±y direction) for each terminal row within the same plane. If the pressing position is shifted for each terminal row within a limited plane, the area of ​​the portion where the shoulder portion 25 of each press-fit terminal 2 is pressed tends to be small. Also, in the press-fitting tool, a portion where the thickness of the constituent material is thinner than other portions tends to occur, such as the portion of the guide groove in the form of Patent Document 3 (see FIG. 7 of Patent Document 3). This raises concerns that it may become difficult to reliably press the shoulder portion 25 of the press-fit terminal 2 with a predetermined pressing force, or that the strength of the constituent material may decrease at certain points of the press-fit jig. Even if an auxiliary member such as the support member of Patent Document 4 is used, it is difficult to solve these problems. Furthermore, if the arrangement of press-fit terminals becomes even more dense in the future as connectors become smaller, these problems may become even more serious.

[0007] The objective of the present invention is to provide a connector in which a plurality of press-fit terminals are arranged in an arrangement pattern, such as a staggered arrangement, in which the positions of each terminal row are shifted, and in which, when press-fitting and connecting each press-fit terminal into a through-hole in a circuit board, it is not necessary to press each press-fit terminal at a position shifted for each terminal row on the same plane. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The connector of the present disclosure has a plurality of press-fit terminals and a housing that collectively holds the plurality of press-fit terminals, and each of the plurality of press-fit terminals is integrally provided with a protruding portion that protrudes outward from a wall surface of the housing, a board connection portion that extends in a downward direction different from the protruding direction of the protruding portion and is press-fit connected to a through hole of a circuit board, a hanging portion that has a shoulder portion that protrudes in a direction intersecting the hanging direction at a midpoint in the hanging direction, and a bent portion that connects the protruding portion and the hanging portion, The group of press-fit terminals is arranged in at least two rows, including a near row and a far row, as a terminal row in which a plurality of press-fit terminals are lined up along a parallel direction intersecting the protruding direction and the hanging direction, and the positions of the board connection portions in the parallel direction are shifted between the near row and the far row, the positions of the board connection portions in the far row are farther from the housing along the protruding direction than the near row, and the positions of the shoulder portion and the bend portion in the far row are closer to the tip side in the hanging direction than the near row. Effect of the Invention

[0009] The connector according to the present disclosure is a connector in which a plurality of press-fit terminals are arranged in an arrangement pattern, such as a staggered arrangement, in which the positions of each terminal row are shifted, and when press-fitting each press-fit terminal into a through-hole in a circuit board, it is not necessary to press each press-fit terminal at a position shifted for each terminal row on the same plane. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the terminal portion of FIG. [Diagram 3] 3 is a front view of the connector, in which the third row of press-fit terminals is indicated by hatching. [Figure 4] 4 is a plan view showing the connector, in which the press-fit terminals in the third row are shown hatched. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the connector together with a press-fitting jig. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a side view showing a conventional connector equipped with a plurality of press-fit terminals. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

[0012] [1] A connector according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of press-fit terminals and a housing that collectively holds the plurality of press-fit terminals, each of the plurality of press-fit terminals having a protruding portion protruding outward from a wall surface of the housing, a board connection portion at a tip thereof that extends in a downward direction different from the protruding direction of the protruding portion and is press-fit connected to a through hole of a circuit board, a hanging portion having a shoulder portion at a midpoint in the hanging direction that protrudes in a direction intersecting the hanging direction, and a bent portion connecting the protruding portion and the hanging portion, The group of press-fit terminals is arranged in at least two rows, including a near row and a far row, as a terminal row in which a plurality of press-fit terminals are lined up along a parallel direction intersecting the protruding direction and the hanging direction, and the positions of the board connection portions in the parallel direction are shifted between the near row and the far row, the positions of the board connection portions in the far row are farther from the housing along the protruding direction than the near row, and the positions of the shoulder portion and the bend portion in the far row are closer to the tip side in the hanging direction than the near row.

[0013] In the above connector, the positions of the board connection parts of the press-fit terminals are shifted from each other between the near row and the far row, but the height positions of the shoulder parts are also different from each other. Therefore, when the shoulder parts are pressed from the downward upward direction to press-fit the board connection parts of each press-fit terminal into the through holes of the circuit board, the pressing positions are shifted up and down between the near row and the far row, not only in the parallel direction and the protruding direction, but also in the downward direction. In other words, the press-fit terminals are not pressed at positions shifted for each terminal row on the same plane. By shifting the pressing positions up and down between the terminal rows, it becomes easier to ensure the area of ​​the places where the shoulder parts of each press-fit terminal are pressed. In addition, when pressing is performed using a press-fit jig, it is sufficient to hold each press-fit terminal in the press-fit jig and form the parts that abut against the shoulder parts at different height positions for each terminal row, so that it is not necessary to provide the pressing jig with extremely thin parts as in the case of forming those parts on the same plane.

[0014] Furthermore, in the above connector, the shoulder portion is located at the tip end side in the hanging direction, i.e., downward, in the distant row that is provided to protrude to a position away from the housing, of the near row and the far row. As a result, when pressing the shoulder portion of each press-fit terminal, the portion where the press-fit jig needs to be located at a low position is located at a position away from the housing, and the press-fit jig does not need to be located so low at a position close to the housing. Since the press-fit jig does not need to be located at a low position near the housing where each press-fit terminal is densely packed, it becomes easier to avoid interference between each press-fit terminal and the press-fit jig. In addition, since not only the shoulder portion but also the bent portion is provided downward in the far row, the portion where the protrusion extends long to a position away from the housing is located downward, and therefore it becomes easier to avoid interference between the protrusion that extends long and the press-fit jig. In this way, the positions of the shoulder portions and bent portions are lower in the distal row than in the proximal row, making it less likely that interference will occur between the press-fit terminals and the press-fit jig.

[0015] [2] In the embodiment of [1] above, the group of the press-fit terminals may have three or more terminal rows, and the positions of the board connection parts in the parallel direction may be shifted between adjacent terminal rows in the three or more terminal rows, and the distance of the board connection parts from the housing along the protruding direction may vary for each terminal row, and the shoulder and the bent parts may be located closer to the tip end in the hanging direction in the terminal row where the board connection parts are located farther from the housing. In this way, even when a large number of press-fit terminals are arranged in three or more terminal rows, the press-fit terminals can be arranged by shifting the positions of the board connection parts between adjacent terminal rows while avoiding a situation in which each press-fit terminal is pressed at a shifted position for each terminal row in the same plane. In addition, interference between each press-fit terminal and a press-fit jig can be suppressed.

[0016] [3] In the above aspect [2], the group of the press-fit terminals may have the board connection parts arranged in a staggered arrangement. Here, the staggered arrangement refers to an arrangement structure in which, in a certain terminal row among the plurality of terminal rows, the board connection parts of the terminal row adjacent to the certain terminal row are arranged midway between the positions of the board connection parts along the parallel direction. In this case, by using the staggered arrangement, it is possible to form three or more terminal rows and arrange a large number of press-fit terminals at a high density.

[0017] [4] In the above aspect [3], in each of the terminal rows arranged at the third row or further from the side closer to the housing, the protrusion of the press-fit terminal may be curved so as not to come into contact with the press-fit terminal of the terminal row arranged closer to the housing than the terminal row. In the staggered arrangement, in the terminal rows at the third row or further from the side closer to the housing, the position of the board connection portion in the arrangement direction is aligned with the terminal row two rows closer to the housing than the terminal row. Therefore, the protrusion is likely to interfere with the press-fit terminal closer to the housing. However, by curving the protrusion of the press-fit terminals at the third row or further, the press-fit terminals can be arranged at high density while avoiding interference with the press-fit terminals closer to the housing at the protrusion.

[0018] [5] In the above aspect [4], in two terminal rows including the first and second rows from the side closest to the housing, the protrusions of the press-fit terminals may protrude straight from the wall surface of the housing along the protruding direction. In the staggered arrangement, in the two terminal rows from the side closest to the housing, the positions of the board connection parts of the press-fit terminals are offset from each other, so that even if the protrusions extend straight along the protruding direction, the protrusions of the press-fit terminals do not interfere with other press-fit terminals. Therefore, by forming the protrusions of the press-fit terminals straight, the structure of the connector can be kept simple.

[0019] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] Hereinafter, a connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0020] <Connector structure> Figures 1 to 5 show the structure of a connector 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 1 is a perspective view, Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing a terminal portion, Figure 3 is a front view, and Figure 4 is a plan view (top view). Figure 5 is a side view showing the connector 1 together with a press-fitting jig 5 in a simplified manner.

[0021] The connector 1 according to this embodiment has a plurality of press-fit terminals 2 and a housing 3. The housing 3 holds the plurality of press-fit terminals 2 together. The press-fit terminals 2 are electrical connection terminals having a long and thin shaft portion, which is bent at a bent portion 23 midway along the shaft portion. In detail, the press-fit terminal 2 has a protruding portion 21 protruding outward from a rear wall surface 31 of the housing 3 and a hanging portion 22 extending in a hanging direction different from the protruding direction of the protruding portion 21, and the bent portion 23 is a portion that integrally connects the protruding portion 21 and the hanging portion 22, which extend in different directions. Preferably, the protruding direction of the protruding portion 21 and the hanging direction of the hanging portion 22 are perpendicular to each other.

[0022] Hereinafter, as shown in each figure, the protruding direction of press-fit terminal 2 protruding from rear wall surface 31 of housing 3 is referred to as the rear (+x direction), and the opposite direction is referred to as the forward (-x direction). In addition, the tip side of hanging portion 22 extending from bent portion 23 in the hanging direction is referred to as the downward (-z direction), and the opposite direction is referred to as the upward (+z direction). In addition, the arrangement direction perpendicular to the ±x and ±z directions, in which multiple press-fit terminals 2 are arranged in a terminal row as described later, is referred to as the horizontal direction (±y direction).

[0023] As described above, press-fit terminal 2 integrally includes protruding portion 21, hanging portion 22, and bent portion 23, and has board connection portion 24 at the tip (lower end) of hanging portion 22. Board connection portion 24 is an electrical connection portion that is press-fit connected to a through-hole of a circuit board and can form an electrical connection with the inner wall surface of the through-hole. Board connection portion 24 has a press-fit structure, and in the illustrated embodiment, has a needle-eye type press-fit structure. That is, board connection portion 24 has a pair of elastic contact pieces each of which protrudes outward in the lateral direction.

[0024] The press-fit terminal 2 further has a shoulder portion 25 at the middle of the hanging portion 22. The shoulder portion 25 is formed integrally with the shaft portion as a portion that protrudes from the shaft portion in a direction intersecting the up-down direction (±z direction), here in both lateral directions (±y direction). When the board connection portion 24 of the press-fit terminal 2 is press-fitted into the through-hole of the circuit board, a jig is pressed against the shoulder portion 25 from above (+z side), thereby moving the press-fit terminal 2 downward (-z side) toward the back of the through-hole, and the press-fit connection of the board connection portion 24 into the through-hole can be easily performed.

[0025] The housing 3 is configured as a case-shaped member made of an insulating material. It has an opening (not shown) at the front (-x side), and the mating connector can be accommodated in the opening. Although not shown in the figure, the press-fit terminal 2 protrudes into the opening from the rear wall surface 31 of the housing 3 at the tip side (-x side) of the protrusion 21, and a terminal connection part is provided at the tip side of the protrusion 21. When the connector 1 of this embodiment is mated with the mating connector, the terminal connection part of the press-fit terminal 2 is mated and connected with the connection terminal of the mating connector, and an electrical connection is formed between the press-fit terminal 2 and the mating connection terminal.

[0026] In the connector 1 according to this embodiment, a group of a plurality of press-fit terminals 2 is arranged in at least two terminal rows and held in the housing 3. In each terminal row, a plurality of press-fit terminals 2 are arranged in a parallel direction. The parallel direction is a direction intersecting the protruding direction of the protruding portion 21 and the hanging direction of the hanging portion 22, and is the horizontal direction (±y direction) in the illustrated embodiment.

[0027] The number of terminal rows is not particularly limited as long as it is two or more rows, but in the illustrated embodiment, three terminal rows are provided: a first row L1, a second row L2, and a third row L3. In Figs. 3 and 4, only the press-fit terminals 2 in the third row L3 are hatched. In each terminal row, the positions of the board connection parts 24 of the press-fit terminals 2 are shifted in the parallel direction (±y direction) between adjacent rows. In addition, the distance of the board connection parts 24 from the housing 3 in the front-rear direction (±x direction) differs for each terminal row. And, the farther the position of the board connection parts 24 is from the housing 3 in the terminal row (the closer the board connection parts 24 are to the +x side), the lower the shoulder parts 25 and the bent parts 23 are in the vertical direction (-z side).

[0028] Specifically, first, in terms of the position along the horizontal direction (±y direction), the positions of the board connection parts 24 of the press-fit terminals 2 are shifted between the first row L1 and the second row L2, and between the second row L2 and the third row L3. In terms of the position along the front-rear direction (±x direction), the positions of the board connection parts 24 are different in all three terminal rows, and are arranged in the order of the first row L1, the second row L2, and the third row L3 from the front side (-x side) close to the housing 3 to the rear side (+x side) far from the housing 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the board connection parts 24 of the group of press-fit terminals 2 are arranged in a staggered arrangement. The staggered arrangement refers to an arrangement structure in which, in a certain terminal row among a plurality of terminal rows, the board connection parts 24 of the terminal row adjacent to the certain terminal row are arranged in the middle of the positions where the board connection parts 24 are arranged along the parallel direction. That is, with respect to the positions of the board connection parts 24 in the horizontal direction (±y direction), the board connection parts 24 in the second row L2 are disposed midway between the positions of the board connection parts 24 in the first row L1, and the board connection parts 24 in the third row L3 are disposed midway between the positions of the board connection parts 24 in the second row L2. The positions of the board connection parts 24 in the first row L1 and the third row L3 are aligned. The positions of the board connection parts 24 in the up-down direction (±z direction) are the same for all rows of press-fit terminals 2.

[0029] Since the hanging portion 22 of each press-fit terminal 2 faces in the up-down direction (±z direction), the shoulder portion 25 and the bent portion 23 are arranged in the same manner as the board connecting portion 24 in terms of the positions in the horizontal direction (±y direction) and the front-rear direction (±x direction), i.e., the positions in the xy plane. That is, the shoulder portion 25 and the bent portion 23 are also arranged in a staggered arrangement. However, unlike the board connecting portion 24, the positions of the shoulder portion 25 and the bent portion 23 in terms of the positions in the up-down direction (±z direction) are different for each terminal row. That is, the positions of the shoulder portion 25 and the bent portion 23 are lowered downward (in the -z direction) as the positions of the board connecting portions 24 move away from the side closer to the housing 3 to the side farther away from the housing 3, that is, from the -x side to the +x side, i.e., the first row L1, the second row L2, and the third row L3. In other words, the positions of the shoulder portions 25 and bends 23 in the third row L3, in which the board connection portions 24 are furthest from the housing 3, are the lowest, the positions of the shoulder portions 25 and bends 23 in the intermediate second row L2 are next lowest, and the positions of the shoulder portions 25 and bends 23 in the first row L1, in which the board connection portions 24 are closest to the housing 3, are the highest.

[0030] As long as the press-fit terminals 2 in each terminal row are arranged as described above, the specific shapes, dimensions, and spacing of the press-fit terminals 2 are not particularly limited. In the illustrated embodiment, the protrusions 21 of the press-fit terminals 2 in the third row L3 have a curved shape. If the press-fit terminals 2 in all the staggered terminal rows had protrusions 21 extending straight in the front-rear direction (±x direction), the protrusions 21 of the press-fit terminals 2 in the third row L3, which are the lowest among the three rows in the vertical direction and protrude backward (+x direction), would interfere with the hanging parts 22 of the press-fit terminals 2 in the first row L1 with which the protrusions 21 coincide in the horizontal direction (±y direction). However, the curved shape of the protrusions 21 of the press-fit terminals 2 in the third row L3 avoids interference with the press-fit terminals 2 in the first row L1. That is, the protrusions 21 of the press-fit terminals 2 in the third row L3 are curved in the horizontal direction (±y direction) at positions corresponding to the hanging portions 22 of the press-fit terminals 2 in the first row L1. The amount of curvature in the horizontal direction is set within a range that can sufficiently avoid contact with the press-fit terminals 2 in the first row L1 and does not cause contact with the press-fit terminals 2 in the second row L2. The details of the curved shape of the protrusions 21 are not particularly limited, but it is preferable that the protrusions 21 are curved in a smooth curve. The press-fit terminals 2 in the first row L1 and the second row L2 are shifted from each other in the horizontal direction (±y direction) in the staggered arrangement, and therefore are unlikely to interfere with each other or with other terminal rows, so that the protrusions 21 have a simple shape that protrudes straight along the front-rear direction (±x direction).

[0031] <Pressing with a press-fit jig> Next, a process of using a press-fitting jig 5 to press-fit and connect the board connecting portions 24 of the press-fit terminals 2 into the through-holes of the circuit board for the connector 1 having the above structure will be described.

[0032] 5, the press-fit jig 5 may preferably have a comb-like structure similar to that disclosed in Patent Document 1, and apply a pressing force F to the shoulder portion 25 from the rear side, i.e., from above (+z side), along the press-fit direction of the press-fit terminal 2 to press the shoulder portion 25 downward (-z side). However, in the press-fit jig disclosed in Patent Document 1, the abutment portions that abut against and press the shoulder portion 25 of each press-fit terminal 2 are all provided at the same vertical position, whereas in the connector 1 according to this embodiment, the height positions of the shoulder portions 25 of the press-fit terminals 2 differ for each terminal row, and accordingly, the heights of the abutment portions 51 of the press-fit jig 5 that is compatible with the connector 1 differ for each row. Specifically, in the press-fitting jig 5 that fits the connector 1, the abutment portion 51 formed on the edge of the groove 53 is formed at a position lower (-z side) in the vertical direction toward the rear side (-x side) with respect to the direction of the press-fit terminal 2 to be pressed. Accordingly, the main body portion 52 of the press-fitting jig 5 that is partitioned into a comb-tooth shape by the groove 53 extends longer to a position lower (-z side) in the vertical direction toward the rear side (-x side). In other words, the press-fitting jig 5 has a stepped shape that extends to the lowest position (-z side) at a position corresponding to the third row L3 of the connector 1 and stops shortest at the highest position (+z side) at a position corresponding to the first row L1.

[0033] As described above, in the connector 1 according to the present embodiment, the press-fit terminals 2 are arranged in a plurality of terminal rows, as typified by a staggered arrangement, and are arranged with the positions in the horizontal direction (±y direction) shifted between adjacent rows. However, unlike a conventional connector 9 as shown in FIG. 6, the positions in the vertical direction (±z direction) of the shoulder parts 25 of the press-fit terminals 2 are not aligned between the plurality of terminal rows, and are different from each other. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, when each press-fit terminal 2 is pressed into a through hole of a circuit board, the position at which the shoulder parts 25 are pressed is shifted vertically for each terminal row. In other words, it is not necessary to press the shoulder parts 25 of the press-fit terminals 2 included in the plurality of terminal rows, which are shifted from each other in the horizontal direction (±y direction), in the same plane. Therefore, the area of ​​the part where the shoulder parts 25 are pressed can be secured with a margin at each of the vertical positions shifted from each other for each terminal row. Therefore, it becomes easier to stably press each press-fit terminal 2 with a predetermined force. Furthermore, in the press-in jig 5 used for pressing, structures such as grooves 53 for holding the press-fit terminals 2 of each terminal row and abutment portions 51 for pressing the press-fit terminals 2 do not need to be formed at positions shifted in the horizontal direction (±y direction) between rows in the same plane, so there is no need to provide portions that are extremely thin compared to other portions, which may occur when those structures are formed in the same plane. This is because if the height positions at which the press-fit terminals 2 are pressed differ for each terminal row, those structures can be formed in steps at different height positions in the press-in jig 5. By minimizing the provision of thin-walled portions in the press-in jig 5 as much as possible, the material strength of the press-in jig 5 can be easily ensured.

[0034] Here, if the height position of the portion where shoulder portion 25 is pressed when press-fitting press-fit terminal 2 is simply made different between terminal rows in the vertical direction (±z direction), other setting patterns for the height position of shoulder portion 25 of each terminal row can be considered in addition to the above-described form in which shoulder portion 25 is provided downward (-z side) in the order in which board connecting portion 24 is located from the side closer to housing 3 to the side farther from housing 3. However, by providing shoulder portion 25 downward (-z side) in the above-described form in which board connecting portion 24 is located from the side closer to housing 3 to the side farther from housing 3, the shape of press-fitting jig 5 is such that comb-tooth-shaped main body portion 52 extends downward a long way at a position farther from housing 3, while comb-tooth-shaped main body portion 52 does not need to be provided so far downward at a position closer to housing 3. At a position close to the housing 3, the protrusions 21 of the three rows of the press-fit terminals 2 are densely packed, and interference between the press-fit terminals 2 and the press-fit jig 5 is more likely to occur than at a position farther from the housing 3. However, since the press-fit jig 5 is not arranged to extend downward at the position close to the housing 3, interference between the press-fit terminals 2 and the press-fit jig 5 can be easily avoided. If, contrary to the above-described embodiment, the shoulder portion 25 is provided at the upper side (+z side) in accordance with the position of the board connection portion 24 moving away from the side closer to the housing 3 to the side farther from the housing 3, the press-fit jig is arranged to extend downward in order to press the shoulder portion 25 provided at the lower side (-z side) at the position close to the housing 3. Then, interference is more likely to occur at the position close to the housing 3 between the group of press-fit terminals 2 with the protrusions 21 densely packed and the press-fit jig. Even if the heights of the shoulder portions 25 of the three terminal rows are made uniform, interference is likely to occur between the press-fit terminals 2, in which the protrusions 21 are densely packed, and the press-fit jig at a position close to the housing 3.

[0035] Furthermore, in the connector 1 according to the present embodiment, in each press-fit terminal 2, not only the shoulder portion 25, which is a portion pressed when the press-fit terminal is pressed into the through-hole, but also the height of the bent portion 23, which is not directly related to the pressing, is arranged downward (-z side) in the order of the position of the board connecting portion 24 from the side closer to the housing 3 to the side farther from the housing 3, similarly to the shoulder portion 25, so that interference between the press-fit terminal 2 and the pressing jig 5 can be easily avoided. In the press-fit terminal 2, the longer the protrusion 21 extends toward the rear (+x side), the more likely it is that the protrusion 21 will interfere with the pressing jig 5, but the farther the board connecting portion 24 is positioned from the housing 3 and the longer the protrusion 21 extends in the press-fit terminal 2, the less likely it is to come into contact with the pressing jig 5 arranged from above (+z side) relative to the connector 1, since the protrusion 21 passes through a lower position downward (-z side). If, contrary to the form described above, the bent portion 23 were provided at the upper part (+z side) in such a way that the position of the board connection portion 24 moves from the side closer to the housing 3 to the side farther away, the protrusion 21 extending far from the housing 3 would pass through a high position at the upper part (+z side), making the protrusion 21 more likely to come into contact with the press-in jig.

[0036] As described above, in the connector 1 according to the present embodiment, the positions of the shoulder portion 25 and the bent portion 23 are lower in the vertical direction (±z direction) for the press-fit terminals 2 in the terminal rows in which the board connection portion 24 is located farther from the housing 3. As a result, even if the horizontal (±y direction) positions of the board connection portion 24 are shifted between adjacent terminal rows as in the staggered arrangement, when the press-fit terminals 2 are press-fitted into the through holes of the circuit board, it is not necessary to press the press-fit terminals 2 at positions shifted for each terminal row in the same plane. As a result, it becomes easier to ensure a sufficient area for pressing the press-fit terminals 2, and it is not necessary to provide a portion in the press-fit jig 5 that performs the pressing that is extremely thinner than other portions. In addition, interference is less likely to occur between the press-fit terminals 2 and the press-fit jig 5.

[0037] <Other forms> In the connector 1 of the above-described embodiment, the groups of press-fit terminals 2 are arranged in three terminal rows, and the board connection parts 24 are arranged in a staggered pattern. However, the connector according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to such a pattern in which the three terminal rows are arranged in a staggered pattern. In a pattern in which the groups of press-fit terminals 2 are arranged in at least two rows, including a near row and a far row, as terminal rows in which a plurality of press-fit terminals 2 are arranged in the horizontal direction (±y direction), the positions of the board connection parts 24 in the horizontal direction (±y direction) between the near row and the far row may be shifted from each other, and the positions of the board connection parts 24 in the far row may be farther from the housing 3 in the front-rear direction (±x direction) than the near row. In addition, the positions of the shoulder part 25 and the bent part 23 in the far row may be lower (-z side) in the vertical direction than the near row. In other words, when the press-fit terminals 2 are arranged in two terminal rows, or when the press-fit terminals 2 are arranged in three or more terminal rows, preferably in any two adjacent rows, the horizontal (±y) positions of the board connection portions 24 are offset from each other, and in the terminal row in which the board connection portion 24 is located away from the housing 3, the shoulder portion 25 and the bent portion 23 are located downward (-z side) in the up-down direction.

[0038] When there are three or more terminal rows, it is preferable that the relationship between the near row and the far row is established between adjacent terminal rows in all of the three or more terminal rows, as in the embodiment described above. In other words, the positions of the board connection parts 24 between adjacent rows are shifted in the lateral direction (±y direction), and the distances of the board connection parts 24 from the housing 3 along the front-rear direction (±x direction) are different from each other. In addition, it is preferable that the shoulder parts 25 and the bent parts 23 are located lower in the up-down direction (-z side) in the terminal row in which the board connection parts 24 are located farther from the housing 3. In the connector 1 described in detail above, the relationship between the near row and the far row is established in both cases in which the first row is the near row and the second row is the far row, and in which the second row is the near row and the third row is the far row.

[0039] When there are three or more terminal rows, it is particularly preferable that the board connection portions 24 of the press-fit terminals 2 of each terminal row are arranged in a staggered arrangement. In this case, it is preferable that the protrusions 21 of the press-fit terminals 2 in the terminal rows arranged beyond the third row from the side closer to the housing 3, i.e., the third row and the terminal rows further back (+x side), are curved so as not to come into contact with the press-fit terminals 2 of the terminal rows arranged closer to the housing 3 than the terminal rows. For the two terminal rows from the side closer to the housing 3, i.e., the first and second rows of press-fit terminals 2, the protrusions 21 may be made to protrude straight backward (+x side) from the rear wall surface 31 of the housing 3.

[0040] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1,9 Connector 2 Press-fit terminals 21 Protrusion 22 Drooping part 23 Bend 24 Board connection part 25 Shoulder 3. Housing 31 Rear wall 5,8 Press-fitting tool 51,81 Contact part 52 Main body 53,83 Groove F Pressure L1 first row L2 second row L3 third row +x Back (protruding direction) -x forward ±y Lateral direction (parallel direction) +z upward -z Downward (downward direction)

Claims

1. A plurality of press-fit terminals; a housing that collectively holds the plurality of press-fit terminals, Each of the plurality of press-fit terminals is a protrusion protruding outward from a wall surface of the housing; a hanging portion that extends in a hanging direction different from the protruding direction of the protruding portion, the hanging portion having a board connection portion at a tip thereof that is press-fitted into a through hole of a circuit board, and a shoulder portion that protrudes in a direction intersecting the hanging direction and is provided at a midpoint of the hanging direction; a bent portion that connects the protruding portion and the hanging portion, the group of the plurality of press-fit terminals is arranged in at least two rows including a near row and a far row as terminal rows in which the plurality of press-fit terminals are arranged in a parallel direction intersecting the protruding direction and the hanging direction, the positions of the board connection portions in the parallel direction are shifted from each other between the near row and the far row; the substrate connection portions of the distal row are located farther from the housing along the protruding direction than the substrate connection portions of the proximal row; A connector, wherein the distal row has positions of the shoulder portion and the bent portion that are further toward the tip side in the hanging direction than the proximal row.

2. The group of the plurality of press-fit terminals includes three or more terminal rows, In these three or more terminal rows, The positions of the board connection portions in the parallel direction are shifted between adjacent terminal rows, and A distance of the board connection portion from the housing along the protruding direction varies for each terminal row, 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the shoulder portion and the bent portion are located closer to the tip end in the hanging direction in a terminal row in which the board connection portion is located farther from the housing.

3. 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the group of the plurality of press-fit terminals has board connection portions arranged in a staggered manner.

4. 4. The connector as described in claim 3, wherein in each of the terminal rows arranged at the third row or further from the side closer to the housing, the protrusion of the press-fit terminal is curved so as not to come into contact with the press-fit terminal of a terminal row arranged at a side closer to the housing than the terminal row.

5. 5. The connector as described in claim 4, wherein in two rows of terminal rows including a first row and a second row from the side closer to the housing, the protrusion portion of the press-fit terminal protrudes straight from the wall surface of the housing along the protruding direction.

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