Connector and contact

Abstract

To miniaturize a connector to be electrically connected to two boards by restraining a structure from becoming too long.SOLUTION: A connector 1 includes a housing 11 and contacts 12. The housing 11 is provided with a first opening 13 to which a first board 101 is fitted at one end side in a connection direction X1, and a second opening 14 to which a second board 102 is fitted at the other end side in the connection direction X1. The contacts 12 include a first connection portion 24, a second connection portion 25, and a connecting portion 26 for them. The first connection portion 24 includes a first cantilever portion 24a and a first contact portion 24b, and the second connection portion 25 includes a second cantilever portion 25a and a second contact portion 25b. The first connection portion 24 and the second connection portion 25 are connected to each other by the connecting portion 26 while displaced from each other in a width direction X2 perpendicular to the connection direction X1, and are arranged such that the first cantilever portion 24a and the second cantilever portion 25a cross each other when viewed from the width direction X2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector and contacts that electrically connect two boards. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, connectors have been used in which one board is fitted from one end side and another board is fitted from the other end side to electrically connect two boards. Also, contacts are provided in such connectors and electrically connect the two boards by connecting one board from one end side and connecting another board from the other end side. As such connectors and contacts for electrically connecting two boards, for example, those disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are known.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a double edge connector 10 including a housing 12 and a contact 24 held by the housing 12 inside the housing 12. The housing 12 has a first opening 14a at one end into which a board 30 is inserted and fitted, and a second opening 14b at the other end into which a board 32 is inserted and fitted. The contact 24 has a structure extending in the longitudinal direction and includes a central portion 24c, and a one-side release portion 24d and an other-side release portion 24e provided at both ends of the longitudinal direction of the central portion 24c. The one-side release portion 24d and the other-side release portion 24e are electrically connected to the board 30 and the board 32, respectively. The contact 24 is configured with the one-side release portion 24d connected to one of the boards 30 and 32, the central portion 24c, and the other-side release portion 24e connected to the other of the boards 30 and 32, arranged in series in this order along the longitudinal direction.

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a card edge connector 9 including a resin molded part 9a as a housing and a contact element 9b as a contact held by the resin molded part 9a inside the resin molded part 9a. The resin molded part 9a as a housing has a first opening at one end into which a first printed board 1' as a first substrate is inserted and fitted, and a second opening at the other end into which a second printed board 3 as a second substrate is inserted and fitted. The contact element 9b as a contact has a structure extending in the longitudinal direction, and has a first contact part 9b-2 to which the first printed board 1' is connected at one end in the longitudinal direction and a second contact part 9b-1 to which the second printed board 3 is connected at the other end in the longitudinal direction. The first contact portion 9b-2, a portion connecting the first contact portion 9b-2 and the second contact portion 9b-1, and the second contact portion 9b-1 are arranged in series in this order along the longitudinal direction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 62-98183 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-135836 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, the contacts 24 are configured with a one-side open portion 24d connected to one of the boards 30 and 32, a central portion 24c, and an other-side open portion 24e connected to the other of the boards 30 and 32, which are arranged in series in this order along the longitudinal direction. This causes a problem that the contacts 24 become long and large. Furthermore, because the contacts 24 become long and large, the housing 12 that holds the contacts 24 on the inside also becomes long and large, which causes a problem that the double edge connector 10 including the housing 12 and the contacts 24 also becomes long and large.

[0007] In the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 2, the contact 9b is configured with the first contact portion 9b-2, the portion connecting the first contact portion 9b-2 and the second contact portion 9b-1, and the second contact portion 9b-1, arranged in series in the longitudinal direction in this order. This causes a problem that the contact 9b as a contact becomes longer and larger. Furthermore, because the contact 9b becomes longer and larger, the resin molded portion 9a as a housing that holds the contact 9b inside also becomes longer and larger, which causes a problem that the card edge connector 9 including the resin molded portion 9a and the contact 9b also becomes longer and larger.

[0008] In view of the above-mentioned situation, the present invention aims to provide a connector and contact that electrically connect two boards, which can prevent the structure from becoming too long and achieve miniaturization. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] (1) A connector according to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object relates to a connector in which a first board is fitted from one end side and a second board is fitted from the other end side, thereby electrically connecting the first board and the second board. The connector according to an aspect of the present invention includes a housing having a first opening into which the first board is inserted and fitted at one end side in a connection direction in which the first board and the second board are fitted and connected to the connector, and a second opening into which the second board is inserted and fitted at the other end side in the connection direction, and contacts held by the housing on the inside of the housing, the contacts having a first connection portion connected to the first board inserted into the housing from the first opening, a second connection portion connected to the second board inserted into the housing from the second opening, and a first connection portion and a second connection portion connected to the second board inserted into the housing from the second opening. the first connection portion has a first cantilever portion extending in a cantilever manner from the connection portion and a first contact portion provided on the tip side of the first cantilever portion and in contact with and electrically connected to the first substrate, the second connection portion has a second cantilever portion extending in a cantilever manner from the connection portion and a second contact portion provided on the tip side of the second cantilever portion and in contact with and electrically connected to the second substrate, the first connection portion and the second connection portion are connected together by the connection portion while being shifted in a width direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the connection direction, and when viewed from the width direction, the first cantilever portion and the second cantilever portion are arranged in a crossing state.

[0010] According to this configuration, in the contact, the first connection portion connected to the first board and the second connection portion connected to the second board are integrally connected by the connecting portion in a state where they are shifted in the width direction perpendicular to the connection direction in which the first board and the second board are fitted and connected to the housing. The contact is configured such that the first cantilever portion of the first connection portion and the second cantilever portion of the second connection portion are arranged in a state where they cross when viewed from the width direction. That is, in the contact, the first connection portion and the second connection portion are arranged in a shifted state in a state where they appear to overlap in the width direction perpendicular to the connection direction. Therefore, the first connection portion, the connecting portion, and the second connection portion are not arranged in series along the connection direction, and the contact can be prevented from becoming large in length and the contact can be made small in size. Since the contact can be made small, the housing that holds the contact inside can also be prevented from becoming large in length in the connection direction, and the structure of the connector including the contact and the housing can be made small.

[0011] As described above, with the above configuration, it is possible to provide a connector that electrically connects two boards, which can prevent the structure from becoming too long and achieve miniaturization.

[0012] (2) The first connection portion and the second connection portion may have different shapes.

[0013] According to this configuration, since the shape of the first connection part and the shape of the second connection part can be made different, the first connection part can be set to a shape according to the connection specifications of the first board, and the second connection part can be set to a shape according to the connection specifications of the second board. For example, when the thickness of the first board is different from the thickness of the second board, the shape of the first connection part can be set to a shape according to the thickness of the first board, and the shape of the second connection part can be set to a shape according to the thickness of the second board. This makes it possible to appropriately connect the first board and the second board having different thicknesses according to their connection specifications. Furthermore, when it is required to set the contact pressure of the first connection part with respect to the first board and the contact pressure of the second connection part with respect to the second board to different contact pressures, the shape of the first connection part can be set to a shape having a springiness according to the required contact pressure, and the shape of the second connection part can be set to a shape having a springiness according to the required contact pressure. This makes it possible to appropriately connect the first board and the second board having different required contact pressures according to their connection specifications.

[0014] (3) The first cantilever portion may be provided as a first spring portion that elastically deforms when the first contact portion contacts the first substrate, and the second cantilever portion may be provided as a second spring portion that elastically deforms when the second contact portion contacts the second substrate, and the shape of the first connection portion and the shape of the second connection portion may be set to be different so that a spring force generated in the first spring portion when the first contact portion contacts the first substrate is different from a spring force generated in the second spring portion when the second contact portion contacts the second substrate.

[0015] According to this configuration, the shape of the first connection part and the shape of the second connection part are set differently so that the spring force generated in the first spring part as the first cantilever part of the first connection part is different from the spring force generated in the second spring part as the second cantilever part of the second connection part. That is, the shape of the first connection part and the shape of the second connection part are set differently so that the spring constant of the first connection part that determines the contact pressure of the first connection part with the first substrate is different from the spring constant of the second connection part that determines the contact pressure of the second connection part with the second substrate. Therefore, when it is required to set the contact pressure of the first connection part with the first substrate and the contact pressure of the second connection part with the second substrate to different contact pressures, the shape of the first connection part can be set to a shape having a spring property according to the required contact pressure, and the shape of the second connection part can be set to a shape having a spring property according to the required contact pressure. This makes it possible to appropriately connect the first substrate and the second substrate having different required contact pressures according to their connection specifications.

[0016] (4) A first thickness dimension, which is the dimension of the first cantilever portion in a thickness direction that is perpendicular to the direction in which the first cantilever portion extends and the width direction, and a second thickness dimension, which is the dimension of the second cantilever portion in a thickness direction that is perpendicular to the direction in which the second cantilever portion extends and the width direction, may be different.

[0017] According to this configuration, the first thickness dimension, which is the thickness dimension of the first cantilever portion, and the second thickness dimension, which is the thickness dimension of the second cantilever portion, are set to be different. Therefore, the first thickness dimension can be set to a spring constant corresponding to the contact pressure of the first connection portion with respect to the first substrate, and the second thickness dimension can be set to a spring constant corresponding to the contact pressure of the second connection portion with respect to the second substrate. That is, by making the thickness dimensions of the first cantilever portion and the second cantilever portion different, the spring constants of the first connection portion and the second connection portion can be set to spring constants corresponding to the contact pressures required for the first substrate and the second substrate, respectively. Therefore, when it is required to set different contact pressures for the first substrate and the second substrate, the shape of each of the first connection portion and the second connection portion can be easily set to a shape having a spring property corresponding to the required contact pressure by changing the thickness dimension. Furthermore, the thickness direction of each of the first and second cantilever portions is perpendicular to the extension direction and width direction of each of the first and second cantilever portions, and is the direction along which the first and second cantilever portions elastically deform and bend. Therefore, by making the dimensions in the thickness direction different, the second moment of area of ​​the first and second cantilever portions can be easily set to a large change. This makes it even easier to set the spring constants of the first and second connection portions to spring constants corresponding to the contact pressures required by the first and second substrates, respectively.

[0018] (5) In order to achieve the above object, a contact according to one aspect of the present invention relates to a contact that electrically connects a first substrate and a second substrate by connecting a first substrate at one end and a second substrate at the other end. A contact according to one aspect of the present invention has a first connection portion connected to the first substrate, a second connection portion connected to the second substrate, and a connecting portion connecting the first connection portion and the second connection portion, wherein the first connection portion has a first cantilever portion extending from the connecting portion in a cantilever manner and a first contact portion provided at a tip side of the first cantilever portion and in contact with and electrically connected to the first substrate, and the second connection portion has a second cantilever portion extending from the connecting portion in a cantilever manner and a second contact portion provided at a tip side of the second cantilever portion and in contact with and electrically connected to the second substrate, wherein the first connection portion and the second connection portion are connected together by the connecting portion in a state shifted in a width direction that is a direction perpendicular to a connection direction in which the first substrate connected to the first connection portion and the second substrate connected to the second connection portion are aligned, and wherein the first cantilever portion and the second cantilever portion are arranged in a crossing state when viewed from the width direction.

[0019] According to this configuration, in the contact, the first connection portion connected to the first substrate and the second connection portion connected to the second substrate are integrally connected by the connecting portion in a state shifted in the width direction perpendicular to the connection direction in which the first substrate connected to the first substrate and the second substrate connected to the second connection portion are aligned. The contact is configured such that the first cantilever portion of the first connection portion and the second cantilever portion of the second connection portion are arranged in a crossed state when viewed from the width direction. That is, in the contact, the first connection portion and the second connection portion are arranged in a shifted state in a state where they appear to overlap in the width direction perpendicular to the connection direction. Therefore, the first connection portion, the connecting portion, and the second connection portion are not arranged in series along the connection direction, and the contact can be prevented from becoming long and made smaller.

[0020] As described above, according to the above configuration, a contact that electrically connects two substrates can be provided that can prevent the structure from becoming too long and achieve miniaturization.

[0021] (6) The first connection portion and the second connection portion may have different shapes.

[0022] According to this configuration, since the shape of the first connection part and the shape of the second connection part can be made different, the first connection part can be set to a shape according to the connection specifications of the first board, and the second connection part can be set to a shape according to the connection specifications of the second board. For example, when the thickness of the first board is different from the thickness of the second board, the shape of the first connection part can be set to a shape according to the thickness of the first board, and the shape of the second connection part can be set to a shape according to the thickness of the second board. This makes it possible to appropriately connect the first board and the second board having different thicknesses according to their connection specifications. Furthermore, when it is required to set the contact pressure of the first connection part with respect to the first board and the contact pressure of the second connection part with respect to the second board to different contact pressures, the shape of the first connection part can be set to a shape having a springiness according to the required contact pressure, and the shape of the second connection part can be set to a shape having a springiness according to the required contact pressure. This makes it possible to appropriately connect the first board and the second board having different required contact pressures according to their connection specifications.

[0023] (7) The first cantilever portion may be provided as a first spring portion that elastically deforms when the first contact portion contacts the first substrate, and the second cantilever portion may be provided as a second spring portion that elastically deforms when the second contact portion contacts the second substrate, and the shape of the first connection portion and the shape of the second connection portion may be set to be different so that a spring force generated in the first spring portion when the first contact portion contacts the first substrate is different from a spring force generated in the second spring portion when the second contact portion contacts the second substrate.

[0024] According to this configuration, the shape of the first connection part and the shape of the second connection part are set differently so that the spring force generated in the first spring part as the first cantilever part of the first connection part is different from the spring force generated in the second spring part as the second cantilever part of the second connection part. That is, the shape of the first connection part and the shape of the second connection part are set differently so that the spring constant of the first connection part that determines the contact pressure of the first connection part with the first substrate is different from the spring constant of the second connection part that determines the contact pressure of the second connection part with the second substrate. Therefore, when it is required to set the contact pressure of the first connection part with the first substrate and the contact pressure of the second connection part with the second substrate to different contact pressures, the shape of the first connection part can be set to a shape having a spring property according to the required contact pressure, and the shape of the second connection part can be set to a shape having a spring property according to the required contact pressure. This makes it possible to appropriately connect the first substrate and the second substrate having different required contact pressures according to their connection specifications.

[0025] (8) A first thickness dimension, which is the dimension of the first cantilever portion in a thickness direction that is perpendicular to the direction in which the first cantilever portion extends and the width direction, and a second thickness dimension, which is the dimension of the second cantilever portion in a thickness direction that is perpendicular to the direction in which the second cantilever portion extends and the width direction, may be different.

[0026] According to this configuration, the first thickness dimension, which is the thickness dimension of the first cantilever portion, and the second thickness dimension, which is the thickness dimension of the second cantilever portion, are set to be different. Therefore, the first thickness dimension can be set to a spring constant corresponding to the contact pressure of the first connection portion with respect to the first substrate, and the second thickness dimension can be set to a spring constant corresponding to the contact pressure of the second connection portion with respect to the second substrate. That is, by making the thickness dimensions of the first cantilever portion and the second cantilever portion different, the spring constants of the first connection portion and the second connection portion can be set to spring constants corresponding to the contact pressures required for the first substrate and the second substrate, respectively. Therefore, when it is required to set different contact pressures for the first substrate and the second substrate, the shape of each of the first connection portion and the second connection portion can be easily set to a shape having a spring property corresponding to the required contact pressure by changing the thickness dimension. Furthermore, the thickness direction of each of the first and second cantilever portions is perpendicular to the extension direction and width direction of each of the first and second cantilever portions, and is the direction along which the first and second cantilever portions elastically deform and bend. Therefore, by making the dimensions in the thickness direction different, the second moment of area of ​​the first and second cantilever portions can be easily set to a large change. This makes it even easier to set the spring constants of the first and second connection portions to spring constants corresponding to the contact pressures required by the first and second substrates, respectively. Effect of the Invention

[0027] According to the present invention, in a connector and contact for electrically connecting two substrates, it is possible to provide a connector and contact which can be made compact by preventing the structure from becoming large and long. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, together with a first board and a second board connected to the connector. [Diagram 2] 1 is a perspective view showing a connector together with a first board and a second board connected to the connector. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3(A) is a plan view showing the state before the connector is connected to the first and second boards, and FIG. 3(B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3(A). [Figure 4] FIG. 4(A) is a plan view showing a state in which the connector is connected to the first board and the second board, and FIG. 4(B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 4(A). [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 3(B). [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 4(B). [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a housing in the connector. [Figure 9] 9(A) is a front view of a first housing part in the housing, FIG. 9(B) is a rear view of the first housing part, and FIG. 9(C) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 9(A). [Figure 10] 10(A) is a front view of a second housing portion of the housing, FIG. 10(B) is a rear view of the second housing portion, and FIG. 10(C) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. 10(A). [Figure 11] 11(A) and 11(B) are enlarged perspective views showing one of the contacts in the connector. [Figure 12] FIG. 12(A) is a plan view of the contact, FIG. 12(B) is a left side view of the contact, FIG. 12(C) is a front view of the contact, FIG. 12(D) is a right side view of the contact, and FIG. 12(E) is a bottom view of the contact. [Figure 13] FIG. 13(A) is a rear view of the contact, and FIG. 13(B) is a front view of the contact. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a connector according to a first modified example, showing a first board and a second board. [Figure 15]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a contact in a connector according to a first modified example. [Figure 16] 16A to 16E are diagrams showing a contact of a first modified example, in which FIG. 16A is a plan view, FIG. 16B is a left side view, FIG. 16C is a front view, FIG. 16D is a right side view, and FIG. 16E is a bottom view. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a connector according to a second modified example, showing a first board and a second board. [Figure 18] 18(A) and 18(B) are perspective views of contacts in a connector according to a second modified example. [Figure 19] 19A is a plan view showing a contact of a second modified example, FIG. 19B is a left side view, FIG. 19C is a front view, FIG. 19D is a right side view, and FIG. 19E is a bottom view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a connector and a contact for electrically connecting two substrates; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a contact for electrically connecting two substrates;

[0030] [Outline of connector configuration] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention together with a first board 101 and a second board 102 connected to the connector 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the connector 1 together with the first board 101 and the second board 102 connected to the connector 1. FIG. 3(A) is a plan view showing a state before the connector 1 and the first board 101 and the second board 102 are connected, and FIG. 3(B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3(A). FIG. 4(A) is a plan view showing a state in which the connector 1 and the first board 101 and the second board 102 are connected, and FIG. 4(B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 4(A). FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 3(B). FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 4(B). FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the connector 1.

[0031] 1 to 7 is configured as a connector that electrically connects two substrates (101, 102). More specifically, the connector 1 is configured as a connector that electrically connects the first substrate 101 and the second substrate 102 by fitting the first substrate 101 from one end side and fitting the second substrate 102 from the other end side.

[0032] 1 to 7, the connector 1 includes a housing 11 and a plurality of contacts 12. The housing 11 is made of an insulating resin material, and in this embodiment, the housing 11 is made by combining a first housing portion 11a and a second housing portion 11b. The plurality of contacts 12 are made of a conductive metal material. The contacts 12 of the connector 1 constitute contacts according to one embodiment of the present invention. The contacts 12 are configured as contacts that electrically connect two substrates (101, 102). More specifically, the contacts 12 are configured as contacts that electrically connect the first substrate 101 and the second substrate 102 by connecting the first substrate 101 at one end and connecting the second substrate 102 at the other end.

[0033] The first board 101 and the second board 102 are inserted into the housing 11 from opposite directions along the same straight line and fitted to it. That is, the housing 11 is configured so that the first board 101 is inserted and fitted to one end side, and the second board 102 is inserted and fitted to the other end side opposite to the one end side. The multiple contacts 12 are held by the housing 11 on the inside of the housing 11. The contacts 12 held by the housing 11 are configured so that when the first board 101 and the second board 102 are fitted to the housing 11, they come into contact with and are electrically connected to the first board 101 and the second board 102. That is, the contacts 12 come into contact with and are electrically connected to the first board 101 fitted to the housing 11, and also come into contact with and are electrically connected to the second board 102 fitted to the housing 11. As a result, the first board 101 and the second board 102 are electrically connected via the connector 1.

[0034] 1 to 4, the first board 101 and the second board 102 that fit into the connector 1 are shown in a partially cut-out state, showing the ends that fit into and connect with the connector 1 and the parts nearby. The first board 101 and the second board 102 are configured as boards with conductive circuit patterns on the front and back surfaces. Note that the conductive circuit patterns on the front and back surfaces of the first board 101 and the second board 102 are omitted from the illustration in FIGS. 1 to 4. The end 101a of the first board 101 is provided as a part that is inserted into and fitted into the connector 1. A plurality of conductive parts 101b are provided on the front and back surfaces of the end 101a of the first board 101. When the first substrate 101 is fitted and connected to the connector 1, the conductive portion 101b provided on the end 101a of the first substrate 101 comes into contact with and connects to the contact 12, thereby electrically connecting the first substrate 101 and the contact 12. The end 102a of the second substrate 102 is provided as a portion that is inserted into and fitted into the connector 1. A plurality of conductive portions 102b are provided on the front and back surfaces of the end 102a of the second substrate 102. When the second substrate 102 is fitted and connected to the connector 1, the conductive portion 102b provided on the end 102a of the second substrate 102 comes into contact with and connects to the contact 12, thereby electrically connecting the second substrate 102 and the contact 12.

[0035] The configuration of the connector 1 will be described in more detail below. In the following description, the connection direction X1, width direction X2, and height direction X3 of the connector 1 are defined as shown by double-ended arrows X1, X2, and X3 in Figs. 1 to 7 and the drawings described later. The connection direction X1 is configured as a direction in which the first board 101 and the second board 102 are fitted and connected to the connector 1. The connection direction X1 is a direction parallel to the direction in which the first board 101 is fitted and connected to the connector 1, and is also a direction parallel to the direction in which the second board 102 is fitted and connected to the connector 1. The direction in which the first board 101 is fitted and connected to the connector 1 and the direction in which the second board 102 is fitted and connected to the connector 1 are opposite directions in the connection direction X1. The width direction X2 is configured as a direction perpendicular to the connection direction X1, and is a direction in which a plurality of contacts 12 are arranged side by side in the connector 1. In this embodiment, the contacts 12 are arranged in two rows along the width direction X2 in the connector 1. The height direction X3 is configured as a direction perpendicular to both the connection direction X1 and the width direction X2.

[0036] [housing] Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the housing 11 of the connector 1. Fig. 9(A) is a front view of the first housing portion 11a of the housing 11, Fig. 9(B) is a rear view of the first housing portion 11a, and Fig. 9(C) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in Fig. 9(A). Fig. 10(A) is a front view of the second housing portion 11b of the housing 11, Fig. 10(B) is a rear view of the second housing portion 11b, and Fig. 10(C) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD in Fig. 10(A).

[0037] 1 to 10, the housing 11 is configured to hold a plurality of contacts 12 and to connect the first board 101 and the second board 102 by fitting them together. The housing 11 is provided with a first opening 13 at one end in the connection direction X1 into which the first board 101 is inserted and fitted, and a second opening 14 at the other end in the connection direction X1 into which the second board 102 is inserted and fitted. The opening 13 is provided to open at one end in the connection direction X1 of the housing 11 and to extend and spread in the width direction X2, and is configured to receive the end 101a of the first board 101 inserted and fitted therein. The opening 14 is provided to open at the other end in the connection direction X2 of the housing 11 and to extend and spread in the width direction X2, and is configured to receive the end 102a of the second board 102 inserted and fitted therein.

[0038] A plurality of contacts 12 are held in a row inside the housing 11. The plurality of contacts 12 held in the housing 11 are arranged in two rows along the width direction X2 inside the housing 11. One row and the other row of the two rows of the plurality of contacts 12 inside the housing 11 are arranged in a row in the height direction X3. When the end 101a of the first board 101 is inserted from the first opening 13 of the housing 11 and fitted into the housing 11, the plurality of conductive parts 101b of the first board 101 and the plurality of contacts 12 come into contact with each other inside the housing 11 and are electrically connected. When the end 102a of the second board 102 is inserted from the second opening 14 of the housing 11 and fitted into the housing 11, the plurality of conductive parts 101b of the second board 102 come into contact with each other inside the housing 11 and are electrically connected.

[0039] 1 to 10, the housing 11 has a first housing portion 11a and a second housing portion 11b, and is configured by combining the first housing portion 11a and the second housing portion 11b. A plurality of contacts 12 are held inside the housing 11 configured by combining the first housing portion 11a and the second housing portion 11b.

[0040] 1 to 9, the first housing portion 11a has a basic external shape of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, and is configured to accommodate a plurality of contacts 12 inside. With reference to FIGS. 5, 6, 8, and 9, the first housing portion 11a has a contact accommodating chamber 15 formed inside, which is widely open at one end side in the connection direction X1. The contact accommodating chamber 15 accommodates a plurality of contacts 12 arranged in two rows along the width direction X2. The first housing portion 11a has a second opening 14 opened at the other end side in the connection direction X2 (see FIGS. 5, 6, and 9). The second opening 14 communicates with the contact accommodating chamber 15. When the first housing portion 11a and the second housing portion 11b are combined to form the housing 11, the second opening 14 provided in the first housing portion 11a opens at the other end side in the connection direction X1 of the housing 11.

[0041] 5, 6, 8, and 9, the first housing portion 11a has a plurality of contact holding portions 16 arranged in a row in the contact accommodating chamber 15. The plurality of contact holding portions 16 are arranged in two rows in the width direction X2 in the contact accommodating chamber 15. The contact holding portions 16 are provided as portions to which the contacts 12 are attached in the contact accommodating chamber 15. The contacts 12 are attached and held in the contact holding portions 16 by press-fitting press-fit portions 27 of the contacts 12, which will be described later, into the contact holding portions 16. The contact holding portions 16 are provided in the contact accommodating chamber 15 so as to extend from the other end side toward one end side in the connection direction X1. A press-fit hole 16a into which the press-fit portion 27 of the contact 12 is press-fitted is opened at one end side of the contact holding portions 16 in the connection direction X1.

[0042] 7 to 9, the first housing part 11a is provided with an engagement recess 17 that engages with an engagement claw portion 21a of an engagement arm 21 of the second housing part 11b (described later). The engagement recess 17 is provided on one side in the height direction X3 and on both sides in the width direction X2 at the end of the other end side in the connection direction X1 of the first housing part 11a. The engagement recess 17 is provided as a recess recessed inward in the width direction X2 on both sides in the width direction X2 of the end of the other end side in the connection direction X1 of the first housing part 11a. When the first housing part 11a and the second housing part 11b are combined, the engagement claw portion 21a of the engagement arm 21 of the second housing part 11b engages with the engagement recess 17 of the first housing part 11a, and the first housing part 11a and the second housing part 11b are combined.

[0043] 5, 6 and 9, the first housing part 11a is provided with an engagement protrusion 18 that engages with an engagement protrusion 22a of an engagement plate 22 of the second housing part 11b (described later). The engagement protrusion 18 is provided in a central portion in the width direction X3 at an end portion on the other side in the height direction X3 of the first housing part 11a. Note that engagement recesses 17 are provided on both sides in the width direction X2 of an end portion on one side in the height direction X3 of the first housing part 11a, and an engagement protrusion 18 is provided in a central portion in the width direction X2 of an end portion on the other side in the height direction X3 of the first housing part 11a. When the first housing part 11a and the second housing part 11b are combined, the engagement protrusion 22a of the engagement plate 22 of the second housing part 11b engages with the engagement protrusion 18 of the first housing part 11a, and the first housing part 11a and the second housing part 11b are combined.

[0044] 8 and 9, the first housing portion 11a is provided with positioning holes 19 into which positioning protrusions 23 (described later) in the second housing portion 11b are inserted and fitted. The positioning holes 19 are provided as holes penetrating the first housing portion 11a in the connection direction X1, and are provided on both sides in the width direction X2 on the other side of the height direction X3 in the first housing portion 11a. That is, the positioning holes 19 are provided in pairs in the first housing portion 11a on both sides in the width direction X2 on the other side of the height direction X3. When the first housing portion 11a and the second housing portion 11b are assembled, the pair of positioning protrusions 23 of the second housing portion 11b are inserted into the pair of positioning holes 19 of the first housing portion 11a from one end side in the connection direction X1 and fitted therein. The position of the second housing part 11b in the width direction X2 and height direction X3 relative to the first housing part 11a is determined by inserting and fitting each of the pair of positioning protrusions 23 of the second housing part 11b into each of the pair of positioning holes 19 of the first housing part 11a.

[0045] 1 to 8 and 10, the second housing portion 11b includes a main body portion 20, and an engagement arm 21, an engagement plate 22, and a positioning protrusion 23 that are integral with the main body portion 20. The main body portion 20 has a basic rectangular shape that spreads flat along a plane perpendicular to the connection direction X1. The main body portion 20 is provided in a cover shape that covers one end side of the contact accommodating chamber 15 of the first housing portion 11a in the connection direction X1 when the first housing portion 11a and the second housing portion 11b are combined. The main body portion 20 is provided with a first opening 13 that penetrates the main body portion 20 in the connection direction X1. When the first housing portion 11a and the second housing portion 11b are combined to form the housing 11, the first opening 13 provided in the main body portion 20 opens at one end side of the housing 11 in the connection direction X1.

[0046] 1 to 4, 7, 8, and 10, the engagement arm 21 of the second housing part 11b is provided so as to protrude in a cantilever shape from the main body part 20 along the connection direction X1. The engagement arm 21 is provided as a part for engaging with the engagement recess 17 of the first housing part 11a when the first housing part 11a and the second housing part 11b are assembled. The engagement arms 21 are provided in a pair, and are provided on both sides in the width direction X2 on one side of the main body part 20 in the height direction X3. Each of the pair of engagement arms 21 provided on both sides in the width direction X2 on one side of the main body part 20 in the height direction X3 protrudes in a cantilever shape from the main body part 20 toward the other end side in the connection direction X1. The engagement arm 21 is provided with an engagement claw part 21a at the tip side extending in a cantilever shape, which engages with the engagement recess 17 of the first housing part 11a. When the first housing part 11a and the second housing part 11b are combined, the engagement claw portion 21a of the engagement arm 21 of the second housing part 11b engages with the engagement recess 17 of the first housing part 11a, and the first housing part 11a and the second housing part 11b are joined together.

[0047] 5, 6, 8, and 10, the engagement plate 22 of the second housing portion 11b is provided so as to protrude in a plate shape from the main body portion 20 along the connection direction X1. The plate-shaped engagement plate 22 protrudes in a cantilever shape from the main body portion 20 along the connection direction X1. The engagement plate 22 is provided as a portion for engaging with the engagement protrusion 18 of the first housing portion 11a when the first housing portion 11a and the second housing portion 11b are combined. The engagement plate 22 is provided in the main body portion 20 at the other side in the height direction X3 and at the center in the width direction X2. Note that the engagement arms 21 are provided on both sides in the width direction X2 on one side in the height direction X3 of the second housing portion 11b, and the engagement plate 22 is provided at the center in the width direction X2 on the other side in the height direction X3 of the second housing portion 11b. The engagement plate 22 provided in the center of the width direction X2 on the other side of the body portion 20 in the height direction X3 protrudes so as to extend from the body portion 20 toward the other end side in the connection direction X1. The engagement plate 22 is provided with an engagement protrusion 22a at the tip side extending in a cantilever shape, which engages with the engagement protrusion 18 of the first housing portion 11a. When the first housing portion 11a and the second housing portion 11b are combined, the engagement protrusion 22a of the engagement plate 22 of the second housing portion 11b engages with the engagement protrusion 18 of the first housing portion 11a, and the first housing portion 11a and the second housing portion 11b are joined together.

[0048] 8 and 10, the positioning protrusion 23 of the second housing part 11b is provided so as to protrude in a plate shape from the main body part 20 along the connection direction X1. The plate-shaped positioning protrusion 23 protrudes in a cantilever shape from the main body part 20 along the connection direction X1. The positioning protrusion 23 is provided as a part to be inserted into and fitted into the positioning hole 19 of the first housing part 11a when the first housing part 11a and the second housing part 11b are combined. The positioning protrusions 23 are provided in a pair, and are provided on both sides in the width direction X2 on the other side in the height direction X3 of the main body part 20. Each of the pair of positioning protrusions 23 provided on both sides in the width direction X2 on the other side in the height direction X3 of the main body part 20 protrudes in a cantilever shape from the main body part 20 toward the other end side in the connection direction X1. When the first housing part 11a and the second housing part 11b are assembled together, the pair of positioning protrusions 23 of the second housing part 11b are inserted into and fitted into the pair of positioning holes 19 of the first housing part 11a from one end side in the connection direction X1. The pair of positioning protrusions 23 of the second housing part 11b are inserted into and fitted into the pair of positioning holes 19 of the first housing part 11a, thereby positioning the second housing part 11b relative to the first housing part 11a in the width direction X2 and height direction X3.

[0049] When the first housing part 11a and the second housing part 11b are assembled to form the housing 11, first, the contacts 12 are attached to the first housing part 11a. The contacts 12 are attached to the contact holding parts 16 of the first housing part 11a, respectively. By attaching the contacts 12 to the contact holding parts 16, the contacts 12 are arranged in the contact accommodating chambers 15 of the first housing part 11a. When the contacts 12 are attached to the first housing part 11a and arranged in the contact accommodating chambers 15, the second housing part 11b is assembled and attached to the first housing part 11a. The second housing part 11b is assembled and attached to the first housing part 11a along the connecting direction X1. When the first housing part 11a and the second housing part 11b are assembled, the pair of positioning protrusions 23 of the second housing part 11b are inserted into the pair of positioning holes 19 of the first housing part 11a, respectively, and fitted. This positions the second housing portion 11b relative to the first housing portion 11a in the width direction X2 and the height direction X3. When the first housing portion 11a and the second housing portion 11b are assembled together, the engagement claw portion 21a of the engagement arm 21 of the second housing portion 11b engages with the engagement recess 17 of the first housing portion 11a, and the engagement protrusion 22a of the engagement plate 22 of the second housing portion 11b engages with the engagement protrusion 18 of the first housing portion 11a. This joins the first housing portion 11a and the second housing portion 11b together. When the first housing portion 11a and the second housing portion 11b are assembled and joined together to form the housing 11, the contacts 12 are held inside the housing 11.

[0050] [contact] 11(A) and 11(B) are perspective views showing an enlarged view of one of the contacts 12 in the connector 1. FIG. 12(A) is a plan view of the contact 12, FIG. 12(B) is a left side view of the contact 12, FIG. 12(C) is a front view of the contact 12, FIG. 12(D) is a right side view of the contact 12, and FIG. 12(E) is a bottom view of the contact 12. Note that FIG. 11(A) and FIG. 11(B) are perspective views of the contact 12 viewed from different directions. With reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 3 to FIG. 7, FIG. 11, and FIG. 12, the connector 1 includes a plurality of contacts 12. The plurality of contacts 12 are held by the housing 11 inside the housing 11. Inside the housing 11, the plurality of contacts 12 are arranged in two rows along the width direction X2. One row and the other row of the multiple contacts 12 arranged in two rows inside the housing 11 are arranged side by side in the height direction X3. The contacts 12 arranged in one row in the height direction X3 and the contacts 12 arranged in the other row in the height direction X3 are held in the housing 11 in a state of line symmetry with each other in the height direction X3.

[0051] The contact 12 is configured as a contact provided in the connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is also configured as a contact according to an embodiment of the present invention. The contact 12 according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured as a contact that electrically connects the first substrate 101 and the second substrate 102 by connecting the first substrate 101 at one end side and connecting the second substrate 102 at the other end side.

[0052] 5, 6, 11 and 12, contact 12 has a first connection portion 24 connected to first board 101 inserted into housing 11 from first opening 13, a second connection portion 25 connected to second board 102 inserted into housing 11 from second opening 14, and a linking portion 26 linking first connection portion 24 and second connection portion 25. First connection portion 24, second connection portion 25 and linking portion 26 are provided integrally.

[0053] In the following description of the contacts 12, the connection direction X1, width direction X2, and height direction X3 of the contacts 12 are defined as shown by double-ended arrows X1, X2, and X3 in Figs. 3 to 6, 11, 12, and drawings described later. The connection direction X1 of the contacts 12 corresponds to the connection direction X1 of the connector 1, and corresponds to the direction in which the first board 101 connected to the first connection portion 24 and the second board 102 connected to the second connection portion 25 are aligned. The width direction X2 of the contacts 12 is perpendicular to the connection direction X1 of the contacts 12. The width direction X2 of the contacts 12 corresponds to the width direction X2 of the connector 1, and corresponds to the direction in which the contacts 12 are aligned in the housing 11 when the contacts 12 are held in the housing 11. The height direction X3 of the contacts 12 is perpendicular to the connection direction X1 and width direction X3 of the contacts 12, and corresponds to the height direction X3 of the connector 1.

[0054] 5, 6, 11, and 12, the connecting portion 26 of the contact 12 connects the first connecting portion 24 and the second connecting portion 25, and is provided as a base that supports the first connecting portion 24 and the second connecting portion 25. The connecting portion 26 is provided so as to extend in an elongated plate shape along the connection direction X1 while spreading by a predetermined width dimension in the width direction X2. In this embodiment, the connecting portion 26 extending in a plate shape along the connection direction X1 is provided with a bent portion 26a that is bent at approximately 90° from the width direction X2 toward the height direction X3.

[0055] A first connection portion 24 is provided integrally with the other end side of the connecting portion 26 in the connection direction X1. The first connection portion 24 is provided so as to extend in a cantilever manner from the other end side of the connecting portion 26 in the connection direction X1. A second connection portion 25 is provided integrally with one end side of the connecting portion 26 in the connection direction X1. The second connection portion 25 is provided so as to extend in a cantilever manner from one end side of the connecting portion 26 in the connection direction X1.

[0056] The connecting portion 26 is provided with a press-fit portion 27 that is press-fitted into the contact holding portion 16 of the first housing portion 11a when the contact 12 is attached to and held in the first housing portion 11a of the housing 11. The press-fit portion 27 is provided as a plate-like portion that protrudes in the connection direction X1 from a bent portion 26a that is bent at approximately 90° from the width direction X2 toward the height direction X3 in the connecting portion 26. When the contact 12 is attached to and held in the first housing portion 11a, the press-fit portion 27 is press-fitted into the press-fit hole 16a of the contact holding portion 16 in the first housing portion 11a. The press-fit portion 27 is provided with a press-fit claw that is firmly press-fitted into the inner wall of the press-fit hole 16a when pressed into the press-fit hole 16a. The press-fit portion 27 is press-fitted into the contact holding portion 16 of the first housing portion 11a, so that the contact 12 is attached to and held in the first housing portion 11a.

[0057] 5, 6, 11 and 12, the first connection portion 24 has a first cantilever portion 24a extending in a cantilever manner from the connecting portion 26, and a first contact portion 24b provided at the tip side of the first cantilever portion 24a and in contact with and electrically connected to the first substrate 101.

[0058] The first cantilever portion 24a extends in a cantilever shape from the other end side of the connecting portion 26 in the connection direction X1. The first cantilever portion 24a is provided so as to extend in a cantilever shape from the connecting portion 26 on one side in the width direction X2 of the connecting portion 26 at the other end side of the connecting portion 26 in the connection direction X1. The first cantilever portion 24a is provided so as to bend once in a semicircular arc shape from the other end side of the connecting portion 26, and then extend linearly from the other end side in the connection direction X1 toward the one end side and also incline in the height direction X3 along a direction away from the connecting portion 26. The first cantilever portion 24a is provided as a first spring portion that elastically deforms when the first contact portion 24b contacts the first board 101.

[0059] The first contact portion 24b is provided on the tip side of the first cantilever portion 24a extending in a cantilever shape from the connecting portion 26, and is provided as a portion bent in an arc shape. The first contact portion 24b is provided as a portion that contacts the first board 101 inserted from the first opening 13 of the housing 11 in a state in which the contact 12 is held in the housing 11, and is electrically connected to the first board 101. In a state in which the contact 12 is held in the housing 11, the first contact portion 24b is disposed at a position facing the first opening 13 of the housing 11 inside the housing 11. When the end portion 101a of the first board 101 is inserted into the first opening 13, the conductive portion 101b provided on the end portion 101a of the first board 101 comes into contact with the first contact portion 24b of the first connecting portion 24 inside the housing 11. When conductive portion 101b of first substrate 101 comes into contact with first contact portion 24b, first substrate 101 and contact 12 are electrically connected.

[0060] 5, 6, 11 and 12, the second connection portion 25 has a second cantilever portion 25a extending in a cantilever manner from the connecting portion 26, and a second contact portion 25b provided at the tip side of the second cantilever portion 25a and in contact with and electrically connected to the second substrate 102.

[0061] The second cantilever 25a extends in a cantilever shape from one end of the connecting portion 26 in the connection direction X1. The second cantilever 25a is provided at one end of the connecting portion 26 in the connection direction X1, and at the other side of the connecting portion 26 in the width direction X2, so as to extend in a cantilever shape from the connecting portion 26. The second cantilever 25a is provided at an end of the bending portion 26a in the height direction X3, which is bent at an angle of approximately 90° from the width direction X2 to the height direction X3 of the connecting portion 26. The second cantilever 25a is provided to extend in a cantilever shape from the bending portion 26a from one end to the other end in the connection direction X1, and also inclined in the height direction X3 along a direction away from the connecting portion 26. The second cantilever 25a is provided as a second spring portion that elastically deforms when the second contact portion 25b contacts the second board 102.

[0062] The second contact portion 25b is provided on the tip side of the second cantilever portion 25a extending in a cantilever shape from the connecting portion 26, and is provided as a thick, raised portion. The second contact portion 25b is provided as a portion that contacts the second board 102 inserted from the second opening 14 of the housing 11 in a state in which the contact 12 is held in the housing 11, and is electrically connected to the second board 102. In a state in which the contact 12 is held in the housing 11, the second contact portion 25b is disposed at a position facing the second opening 14 of the housing 11 inside the housing 11. When the end portion 102a of the second board 102 is inserted into the second opening 14, the conductive portion 102b provided on the end portion 102a of the second board 102 and the second contact portion 25b of the second connecting portion 25 come into contact with each other inside the housing 11. When the conductive portion 102b of the second substrate 102 comes into contact with the second contact portion 25b, the second substrate 102 and the contact 12 are electrically connected to each other.

[0063] Here, the characteristic configuration of the first connection portion 24 and the second connection portion 25 of the contact 12 will be further described. The first connection portion 24 is provided so as to extend in a cantilever shape from the other end side of the connecting portion 26 in the connection direction X1, and to extend in a cantilever shape from the connecting portion 26 on one side in the width direction X2 of the connecting portion 26. The second connection portion 25 is provided so as to extend in a cantilever shape from one end side of the connecting portion 26 in the connection direction X1, and to extend in a cantilever shape from the connecting portion 26 on the other side in the width direction X2 of the connecting portion 26. Therefore, the first connection portion 24 and the second connection portion 25 are integrally connected by the connecting portion 26 in a state shifted in the width direction X2, which is a direction perpendicular to the connection direction X1. That is, the first connection portion 24 and the second connection portion 25 integrally connected via the connecting portion 26 are connected to the connecting portion 26 at positions shifted in the width direction X2, and are arranged side by side in the width direction X2.

[0064] The first cantilever 24a of the first connection portion 24 extending from the coupling portion 26 in a cantilever shape is provided so as to extend linearly from the other end side to the one end side in the connection direction X1, and also inclined in the height direction X3, along a direction away from the coupling portion 26. The second cantilever 25a of the second connection portion 25 extending from the coupling portion 26 in a cantilever shape in a state shifted from the first connection portion 24 in the width direction X2 is provided so as to extend linearly from the one end side to the other end side in the connection direction X1, and also inclined in the height direction X3, along a direction away from the coupling portion 26. For this reason, the first cantilever 24a of the first connection portion 24 and the second cantilever 25a of the second connection portion 25 are disposed in a crossed state when viewed from the width direction X2. That is, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the first connection portion 24 and the second connection portion 25 are connected by the connecting portion 26 in a shifted state in the width direction X2, and when viewed from the width direction X2, the first cantilever portion 24a of the first connection portion 24 and the second cantilever portion 25a of the second connection portion 25 are arranged so that they appear to intersect and partially overlap when viewed from the width direction X2.

[0065] Fig. 13(A) is a rear view of the contact 12, and Fig. 13(B) is a front view of the contact 12. Referring to Figs. 5, 6, 11 to 13, in the contact 12, the first connecting portion 24 and the second connecting portion 25 are configured to have different shapes. More specifically, the cross-sectional shape of the first cantilever portion 24a of the first connecting portion 24 and the cross-sectional shape of the second cantilever portion 25a of the second connecting portion 25 are formed to be different, so that the first connecting portion 24 and the second connecting portion 25 are configured to have different shapes. That is, the first connecting portion 24 and the second connecting portion 25 are configured to have different shapes, so that the cross-sectional shape of the first cantilever portion 24a in a cross section perpendicular to the direction in which the first cantilever portion 24a extends in a cantilever shape and the cross-sectional shape of the second cantilever portion 25a in a cross section perpendicular to the direction in which the second cantilever portion 25a extends in a cantilever shape are formed to be different. In this embodiment, the shape of the first connection portion 24 and the shape of the second connection portion 25 are also different from each other in the shape of the first contact portion 24b and the shape of the second contact portion 25b. In this embodiment, the shape of the first connection portion 24 and the shape of the second connection portion 25 are also different from each other in the shape of the portion where the first cantilever portion 24a is connected to the coupling portion 26 and the shape of the portion where the second cantilever portion 25a is connected to the coupling portion 26.

[0066] The first cantilever 24a of the first connection portion 24 is provided as a first spring portion that elastically deforms when the first contact portion 24b contacts the first substrate 101, and the second cantilever 25a of the second connection portion 25 is provided as a second spring portion that elastically deforms when the second contact portion 25b contacts the second substrate 102. The cross-sectional shape of the first cantilever 24a and the cross-sectional shape of the second cantilever 25a are configured to be different, and thus the shape of the first connection portion 24 and the shape of the second connection portion 25 are set to be different so that the spring force generated in the first cantilever 24a as the first spring portion when the first contact portion 24b contacts the first substrate 101 is different from the spring force generated in the second cantilever 25a as the second spring portion when the second contact portion 25b contacts the second substrate 102. That is, the cross-sectional shape of the first cantilever portion 24a and the cross-sectional shape of the second cantilever portion 25a are configured to be different, so that the first connecting portion 24 and the second connecting portion 25 are configured to have different shapes so that they have different spring constants. In this embodiment, the first connecting portion 24 and the second connecting portion 25 are configured to have different shapes so that the spring constant of the second connecting portion 25 is larger than the spring constant of the first connecting portion 24.

[0067] Here, the difference in cross-sectional shape between the first cantilever 24a of the first connection part 24 and the second cantilever 25a of the second connection part 25 will be further described. With reference to Fig. 12 and Fig. 13, the first cantilever 24a of the first connection part 24 has a first thickness dimension t1 set as the dimension of the first cantilever 24a in the thickness direction perpendicular to both the direction in which the first cantilever 24a extends in a cantilever shape and the width direction X2. Also, the second cantilever 25a of the second connection part 25 has a second thickness dimension t2 set as the dimension of the second cantilever 25a in the thickness direction perpendicular to both the direction in which the second cantilever 25a extends in a cantilever shape and the width direction X2.

[0068] In the contact 12, the first thickness dimension t1 of the first cantilever portion 24a and the second thickness dimension t2 of the second cantilever portion 25a are set to be different. By setting the first thickness dimension t1 and the second thickness dimension t2 to be different, the spring constant of the first connection portion 24 and the spring constant of the second connection portion 25 are set to be different from each other. That is, in the contact 12, the first thickness dimension t1 and the second thickness dimension t2 are set to be different, so that the spring force generated in the first cantilever portion 24a as the first spring portion when the first contact portion 24b contacts the first board 101 is different from the spring force generated in the second cantilever portion 25a as the second spring portion when the second contact portion 25b contacts the second board 102.

[0069] In this embodiment, the second thickness dimension t2 of the second cantilever portion 25a is set to be larger than the first thickness dimension t1 of the first cantilever portion 24a. In the contact 12, the second thickness dimension t2 of the second cantilever portion 25a is set to be larger than the first thickness dimension t1 of the first cantilever portion 24a, and thus the spring constant of the second connection portion 25 is set to be larger than the spring constant of the first connection portion 24. Since the spring constant of the first connection portion 24 is set to be relatively small, when the first board 101 and the first contact portion 24b of the first connection portion 24 come into contact with each other, the first connection portion 24 is more likely to bend and is more likely to absorb the positional fluctuation in the height direction X3 of the housing 11 of the first board 101. Furthermore, since the spring constant of the second connection portion 25 is set to be relatively large, when the second substrate 102 and the second contact portion 25b of the second connection portion 25 come into contact with each other, the second connection portion 25 is less likely to bend, making it easier to suppress fluctuations in the position of the second substrate 102 in the housing 11 in the height direction X3.

[0070] [Connector and board connection] Next, a connection operation between the connector 1 and the first and second boards 101 and 102 will be described. When the connector 1 is connected to the first and second boards 101 and 102, the end 101a of the first board 101 is inserted from the first opening 13 of the housing 11 and fitted into the housing 11. As a result, the first board 101 is fitted and connected to the connector 1 from one end side in the connection direction X1. Also, the end 102a of the second board 102 is inserted from the second opening 14 of the housing 11 and fitted into the housing 11. As a result, the second board 102 is fitted and connected to the connector 1 from the other end side in the connection direction X1.

[0071] The end 101a of the first board 101 inserted from the first opening 13 of the housing 11 comes into contact with the first contact portion 24b of the first connection portion 24 of the contact 12 held inside the housing 11. At this time, the conductive portion 101b provided on the end 101a of the first board 101 comes into contact with the first contact portion 24b of the first connection portion 24 of the contact 12, thereby electrically connecting the first board 101 and the contact 12. Also, the end 102a of the second board 102 inserted from the second opening 14 of the housing 11 comes into contact with the second contact portion 25b of the second connection portion 25 of the contact 12 held inside the housing 11. At this time, the conductive portion 102b provided on the end 102a of the second board 102 comes into contact with the second contact portion 25b of the second connection portion 25 of the contact 12, thereby electrically connecting the second board 102 and the contact 12.

[0072] The first board 101 has step portions 101c recessed in a stepped shape on both sides in the width direction X2 of a portion adjacent to the end portion 101a in the connection direction X1 (see FIGS. 1 to 4). When the end portion 101a of the first board 101 is fitted into the housing 11, the step portions 101c abut against edge portions on both sides in the width direction X2 of the first opening 13 in the housing 11. This restricts the amount of insertion of the end portion 101c of the first board 101 into the housing 11. Therefore, when the end portion 101a of the first board 101 is fitted into the housing 11, the tip portion of the end portion 101a of the first board 101 is positioned in the vicinity of the center in the width direction X2 within the housing 11. Further, the second board 102 is provided with step portions 102c recessed in a step shape on both sides in the width direction X2 of a portion adjacent to the end portion 102a in the connection direction X1 (see FIGS. 1 to 4). When the end portion 102a of the second board 102 is fitted into the housing 11, the step portions 102c come into contact with edge portions on both sides in the width direction X2 of the second opening 14 in the housing 11. This restricts the amount of insertion of the end portion 102a of the second board 102 into the housing 11. Therefore, when the end portion 102a of the second board 102 is fitted into the housing 11, the tip portion of the end portion 102a of the second board 102 is positioned in the vicinity of the center in the width direction X2 within the housing 11. When the first substrate 101 and the second substrate 102 are fitted into the housing 11, inside the housing 11, the tip end portion of the end portion 101a of the first substrate 101 and the tip end portion of the end portion 102a of the second substrate 102 are arranged facing each other with a gap between them.

[0073] [Actions and Effects of the Present Embodiment] According to this embodiment, in the contact 12, the first connection portion 24 connected to the first board 101 and the second connection portion 25 connected to the second board 102 are integrally connected by the connecting portion 26 in a state where they are shifted in the width direction X2 perpendicular to the connection direction X1. The contact 12 is configured such that the first cantilever portion 24a of the first connection portion 24 and the second cantilever portion 25a of the second connection portion 25 are arranged in a crossing state when viewed from the width direction X2. That is, in the contact 12, the first connection portion 24 and the second connection portion 25 are arranged in a shifted state in a state where they appear to overlap in the width direction perpendicular to the connection direction X1. Therefore, the first connection portion 24, the connecting portion 26, and the second connection portion 25 are not arranged in series along the connection direction X1, and the contact 12 can be prevented from becoming long and made smaller. Furthermore, since the contacts 12 can be made smaller, the housing 11 that holds the contacts 12 inside can be prevented from becoming too long in the connection direction X1, and the structure of the connector 1 equipped with the contacts 12 and the housing 11 can be made smaller.

[0074] As described above, according to this embodiment, the contact 12 that electrically connects two boards can be made smaller by preventing the structure from becoming large and long. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the connector 1 that electrically connects two boards can be made smaller by preventing the structure from becoming large and long.

[0075] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the shape of the first connection portion 24 and the shape of the second connection portion 25 can be made different, so that the first connection portion 24 can be set to a shape according to the connection specifications of the first substrate 101, and the second connection portion 25 can be set to a shape according to the connection specifications of the second substrate 102. For example, when the thickness of the first substrate 101 and the thickness of the second substrate 102 are different, the shape of the first connection portion 24 can be set to a shape according to the thickness of the first substrate 101, and the shape of the second connection portion 25 can be set to a shape according to the thickness of the second substrate 102. This allows the first substrate 101 and the second substrate 102, which have different thicknesses, to be appropriately connected according to their connection specifications. Furthermore, when it is required to set the contact pressure of the first connection portion 24 with the first substrate 101 and the contact pressure of the second connection portion 25 with the second substrate 102 to different contact pressures, the shape of the first connection portion 24 can be set to a shape having a springiness according to the required contact pressure, and the shape of the second connection portion 25 can be set to a shape having a springiness according to the required contact pressure. This makes it possible to appropriately connect the first substrate 101 and the second substrate 102, which have different required contact pressures, according to their connection specifications.

[0076] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the shape of the first connection portion 24 and the shape of the second connection portion 25 are set differently so that the spring force generated in the first spring portion as the first cantilever portion 24a of the first connection portion 24 is different from the spring force generated in the second spring portion as the second cantilever portion 25a of the second connection portion 25. That is, the shape of the first connection portion 24 and the shape of the second connection portion 25 are set differently so that the spring constant of the first connection portion 24 that determines the contact pressure of the first connection portion 24 with the first substrate 101 is different from the spring constant of the second connection portion 25 that determines the contact pressure of the second connection portion 25 with the second substrate 102. Therefore, when it is required to set the contact pressure of the first connection portion 24 with the first substrate 101 and the contact pressure of the second connection portion 25 with the second substrate 102 to different contact pressures, the shape of the first connection portion 24 can be set to a shape having a springiness according to the required contact pressure, and the shape of the second connection portion 25 can be set to a shape having a springiness according to the required contact pressure. This makes it possible to appropriately connect the first substrate 101 and the second substrate 102, which have different required contact pressures, according to their connection specifications.

[0077] Moreover, according to this embodiment, the first thickness dimension t1, which is the thickness dimension of the first cantilever portion 24a, and the second thickness dimension t2, which is the thickness dimension of the second cantilever portion 25a, are set to be different from each other. Therefore, the first thickness dimension t1 can be set to a spring constant corresponding to the contact pressure of the first connection portion 24 with the first substrate 101, and the second thickness dimension t2 can be set to a spring constant corresponding to the contact pressure of the second connection portion 25 with the second substrate 102. That is, by making the thickness dimensions of the first cantilever portion 24a and the second cantilever portion 25a different from each other, the spring constants of the first connection portion 24 and the second connection portion 25 can be set to spring constants corresponding to the contact pressures required by the first substrate 101 and the second substrate 102, respectively. Therefore, when it is required to set different contact pressures for the first substrate 101 and the second substrate 102, the shape of each of the first connection portion 24 and the second connection portion 25 can be easily set to a shape having spring properties according to the required contact pressure by changing the thickness dimension. In addition, the thickness direction of each of the first cantilever portion 24a and the second cantilever portion 25a is a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first cantilever portion 24a and the second cantilever portion 25a extend and the width direction X2, and is a direction along the direction in which the first cantilever portion 24a and the second cantilever portion 25a elastically deform and bend. Therefore, by making the dimensions in the thickness direction different, the second moment of area of ​​the first cantilever portion 24a and the second cantilever portion 25a can be easily set to be greatly changed. This makes it even easier to set the spring constant of the first connection portion 24 and the second connection portion 25 to a spring constant according to the contact pressure required for each of the first substrate 101 and the second substrate 102.

[0078] [Variations] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. For example, the following modifications may be made.

[0079] (1) Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a connector 1a according to a first modified example, showing a first board 101 and a second board 102. Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a contact 12a in the connector 1a of the first modified example. Fig. 16 shows a contact 12a of the first modified example, where Fig. 16(A) is a plan view, Fig. 16(B) is a left side view, Fig. 16(C) is a front view, Fig. 16(D) is a right side view, and Fig. 16(E) is a bottom view.

[0080] The connector 1a according to the first modified example is configured similarly to the connector 1 according to the previously described embodiment, but differs from the connector 1 according to the previously described embodiment in the configuration relating to the shapes of the first connecting portion 24 and the second connecting portion 28 of the contact 12a of the connector 1a. Only the configurations of the connector 1a and the contact 12a according to the first modified example that are different from the connector 1 and the contact 12 according to the previously described embodiment will be described below. Elements configured similarly to the previously described embodiment and elements configured corresponding to the previously described embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings or by quoting the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0081] 14 to 16, contact 12a of connector 1a, like contact 12 of connector 1 of the above-mentioned embodiment, is configured to include a first connection portion 24 connected to first board 101, a second connection portion 28 connected to second board 102, and a linking portion 26 that integrally links first connection portion 24 and second connection portion 28. However, contact 12a differs from contact 12 of the above-mentioned embodiment in that first connection portion 24 and second connection portion 28 have the same shape.

[0082] The first connection portion 24 of the contact 12a is formed in the same shape as the first connection portion 24 of the contact 12 of the above embodiment. The first connection portion 24 of the contact 12a is configured to have a first cantilever portion 24a and a first contact portion 24b configured in the same way as the first connection portion 24 of the contact 12. The second connection portion 28 of the contact 12a is formed in the same shape as the first connection portion 24 of the contact 12a. The second connection portion 28 of the contact 12a is configured to have a second cantilever portion 28a formed in the same shape as the first cantilever portion 24a of the first connection portion 24, and a second contact portion 28b formed in the same shape as the first contact portion 24b of the first connection portion 24. The first connection portion 24 and the second connection portion 28 formed in the same shape in the contact 12a are arranged in a point-symmetrical positional relationship when viewed with the height direction X3 as the rotation axis direction with the connecting portion 26 as the center.

[0083] In the contact 12a, the first connection portion 24 is provided so as to extend in a cantilever manner from the other end side of the connecting portion 26 in the connection direction X1, and also extend in a cantilever manner from the connecting portion 26 on one side in the width direction X2 of the connecting portion 26. The second connection portion 28 is provided so as to extend in a cantilever manner from one end side of the connecting portion 26 in the connection direction X1, and also extend in a cantilever manner from the connecting portion 26 on the other side in the width direction X2 of the connecting portion 26. For this reason, the first connection portion 24 and the second connection portion 28 are integrally connected by the connecting portion 26 in a state where they are shifted in the width direction X2, which is a direction perpendicular to the connection direction X1.

[0084] The first cantilever portion 24a of the first connection portion 24 extending in a cantilever shape from the coupling portion 26 is provided so as to extend linearly from the other end side to the one end side in the connection direction X1, and also inclined in the height direction X3 along the direction away from the coupling portion 26. The second cantilever portion 28a of the second connection portion 28 extending in a cantilever shape from the coupling portion 26 in a state shifted from the first connection portion 24 in the width direction X2 is provided so as to extend linearly from the one end side to the other end side in the connection direction X1, and also inclined in the height direction X3 along the direction away from the coupling portion 26. For this reason, the first cantilever portion 24a of the first connection portion 24 and the second cantilever portion 28a of the second connection portion 28 are disposed in a crossed state when viewed from the width direction X2.

[0085] In the contact 12a, the first connection portion 24 and the second connection portion 28 are formed in the same shape. Therefore, the spring force generated in the first cantilever portion 24a as the first spring portion when the first contact portion 24b contacts the first board 101 is the same as the spring force generated in the second cantilever portion 28a as the second spring portion when the second contact portion 28b contacts the second board 102. That is, since the shape of the first connection portion 24 and the shape of the second connection portion 28 are the same, the first connection portion 24 and the second connection portion 28 are set to the same spring constant. Note that the spring constant of the first connection portion 24 and the spring constant of the second connection portion 28 of the contact 12a are set relatively smaller than the spring constant of the second connection portion 25 of the contact 12 of the above-mentioned embodiment. As a result, in the contact 12a, when the first board 101 comes into contact with the first contact portion 24b of the first connecting portion 24, the first connecting portion 24 is more likely to bend and absorb positional fluctuations in the height direction X3 of the housing 11 of the first board 101. When the second board 102 comes into contact with the second contact portion 28b of the second connecting portion 28, the second connecting portion 28 is more likely to bend and absorb positional fluctuations in the height direction X3 of the housing 11 of the second board 102.

[0086] According to this modification, as in the above embodiment, the contact 12a that electrically connects two boards can be prevented from becoming too long and the structure can be made smaller. Furthermore, according to this modification, the connector 1a that electrically connects two boards can be prevented from becoming too long and the structure can be made smaller.

[0087] (2) Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a connector 1b according to a second modified example, showing the first board 101 and the second board 102. Figs. 18(A) and 18(B) are perspective views of a contact 12b in the connector 1b of the second modified example. Fig. 19 shows a contact 12b of the second modified example, with Fig. 19(A) being a plan view, Fig. 19(B) being a left side view, Fig. 19(C) being a front view, Fig. 19(D) being a right side view, and Fig. 19(E) being a bottom view.

[0088] The connector 1b according to the second modified example is configured similarly to the connector 1 according to the previously described embodiment, but differs from the connector 1 according to the previously described embodiment in the configuration relating to the shapes of the first connecting portion 29 and the second connecting portion 25 of the contact 12b of the connector 1b. Only the configurations of the connector 1b and the contact 12b according to the second modified example that are different from the connector 1 and the contact 12 according to the previously described embodiment will be described below. Elements configured similarly to the previously described embodiment and elements configured corresponding to the previously described embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings or by quoting the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0089] 17 to 19, contact 12b of connector 1b, like contact 12 of connector 1 of the above-mentioned embodiment, is configured to include a first connection portion 29 connected to first board 101, a second connection portion 25 connected to second board 102, and a linking portion 26 that integrally links first connection portion 29 and second connection portion 25. However, contact 12b differs from contact 12 of the above-mentioned embodiment in that the shape of first connection portion 29 and the shape of second connection portion 25 are set to be the same.

[0090] The second connection portion 25 of the contact 12b is formed in the same shape as the second connection portion 25 of the contact 12 of the above embodiment. The second connection portion 25 of the contact 12b is configured to have a second cantilever portion 25a and a second contact portion 25b configured in the same way as the second connection portion 25 of the contact 12. The first connection portion 29 of the contact 12b is formed in the same shape as the second connection portion 25 of the contact 12b. The first connection portion 29 of the contact 12b is configured to have a first cantilever portion 29a formed in the same shape as the second cantilever portion 25a of the second connection portion 25, and a first contact portion 29b formed in the same shape as the second contact portion 25b of the second connection portion 25. The first connection portion 29 and the second connection portion 25 formed in the same shape in the contact 12b are arranged in a point-symmetrical positional relationship when viewed with the height direction X3 as the rotation axis direction with the connecting portion 26 as the center.

[0091] In the contact 12b, the first connection portion 29 is provided so as to extend in a cantilever manner from the other end side of the connecting portion 26 in the connection direction X1, and also extend in a cantilever manner from the connecting portion 26 on one side in the width direction X2 of the connecting portion 26. The second connection portion 25 is provided so as to extend in a cantilever manner from one end side of the connecting portion 26 in the connection direction X1, and also extend in a cantilever manner from the connecting portion 26 on the other side in the width direction X2 of the connecting portion 26. For this reason, the first connection portion 29 and the second connection portion 25 are integrally connected by the connecting portion 26 in a state where they are shifted from each other in the width direction X2, which is a direction perpendicular to the connection direction X1.

[0092] The first cantilever 29a of the first connection portion 29 extending from the coupling portion 26 in a cantilever shape is provided so as to extend linearly from the other end side to the one end side in the connection direction X1, and also inclined in the height direction X3, along a direction away from the coupling portion 26. The second cantilever 25a of the second connection portion 25 extending from the coupling portion 26 in a cantilever shape in a state shifted from the first connection portion 29 in the width direction X2 is provided so as to extend linearly from the one end side to the other end side in the connection direction X1, and also inclined in the height direction X3, along a direction away from the coupling portion 26. For this reason, the first cantilever 29a of the first connection portion 29 and the second cantilever 25a of the second connection portion 25 are disposed in a crossed state when viewed from the width direction X2.

[0093] In the contact 12b, the first connection portion 29 and the second connection portion 25 are formed in the same shape. Therefore, the spring force generated in the first cantilever portion 29a as the first spring portion when the first contact portion 29b contacts the first board 101 is the same as the spring force generated in the second cantilever portion 25a as the second spring portion when the second contact portion 25b contacts the second board 102. That is, since the shape of the first connection portion 29 and the shape of the second connection portion 25 are the same, the first connection portion 29 and the second connection portion 25 are set to the same spring constant. Note that the spring constant of the first connection portion 29 and the spring constant of the second connection portion 25 of the contact 12b are set relatively larger than the spring constant of the first connection portion 24 of the contact 12 of the above-mentioned embodiment. As a result, in the contact 12b, when the first board 101 comes into contact with the first contact portion 29b of the first connection portion 29, the first connection portion 29 is less likely to bend, making it easier to suppress fluctuations in the position of the first board 101 in the housing 11 in the height direction X3. When the second board 102 comes into contact with the second contact portion 25b of the second connection portion 25, the second connection portion 25 is less likely to bend, making it easier to suppress fluctuations in the position of the second board 102 in the housing 11 in the height direction X3.

[0094] According to this modification, as in the above embodiment, the structure of the contact 12b that electrically connects the two boards can be prevented from becoming large and long, thereby achieving miniaturization. Furthermore, according to this modification, the structure of the connector 1b that electrically connects the two boards can be prevented from becoming large and long, thereby achieving miniaturization. [Industrial Applicability]

[0095] The present invention can be widely applied to connectors and contacts that electrically connect two boards. [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 1, 1a, 1b: connector, 11: housing, 12, 12a, 12b: contact, 13: first opening, 14: second opening, 24, 29: first connection portion, 24a, 29a: first cantilever portion, 24b, 29b: first contact portion, 25: second connection portion, 25a, 28a: second cantilever portion, 25b, 28b: second contact portion, 101: first board, 102: second board

Claims

1. A connector in which a first board is fitted from one end side and a second board is fitted from the other end side, thereby electrically connecting the first board and the second board, a housing having a first opening into which the first board is inserted and fitted at one end side in a connection direction in which the first board and the second board are fitted and connected to the connector, and a second opening into which the second board is inserted and fitted at the other end side in the connection direction; a contact held by the housing on the inside of the housing; the contact has a first connection portion connected to the first board inserted into the housing through the first opening, a second connection portion connected to the second board inserted into the housing through the second opening, and a connection portion connecting the first connection portion and the second connection portion, the first connection portion has a first cantilever portion extending in a cantilever shape from the coupling portion, and a first contact portion provided on a tip side of the first cantilever portion and in contact with the first substrate to be electrically connected thereto; the second connection portion has a second cantilever portion extending in a cantilever shape from the coupling portion, and a second contact portion provided on a tip side of the second cantilever portion and in contact with the second substrate to be electrically connected thereto; the first connection portion and the second connection portion are integrally connected by the connecting portion in a state where the first connection portion and the second connection portion are shifted in a width direction that is a direction perpendicular to the connection direction, A connector, characterized in that, when viewed from the width direction, the first cantilever portion and the second cantilever portion are arranged in a crossing state.

2. 2. The connector of claim 1, A connector, wherein the first connection portion and the second connection portion have different shapes.

3. 3. The connector of claim 2, the first cantilever portion is provided as a first spring portion that elastically deforms when the first contact portion comes into contact with the first substrate, the second cantilever portion is provided as a second spring portion that elastically deforms when the second contact portion comes into contact with the second substrate, A connector characterized in that the shape of the first connection portion and the shape of the second connection portion are set to be different so that a spring force generated in the first spring portion when the first contact portion contacts the first board is different from a spring force generated in the second spring portion when the second contact portion contacts the second board.

4. 4. The connector of claim 3, A connector characterized in that a first thickness dimension, which is the dimension of the first cantilever portion in a thickness direction that is perpendicular to the direction in which the first cantilever portion extends and the width direction, and a second thickness dimension, which is the dimension of the second cantilever portion in a thickness direction that is perpendicular to the direction in which the second cantilever portion extends and the width direction, are different.

5. A contact that electrically connects a first substrate and a second substrate by connecting the first substrate at one end and connecting the second substrate at the other end, a first connection portion connected to the first substrate, a second connection portion connected to the second substrate, and a connection portion connecting the first connection portion and the second connection portion, the first connection portion has a first cantilever portion extending in a cantilever shape from the coupling portion, and a first contact portion provided on a tip side of the first cantilever portion and in contact with the first substrate to be electrically connected thereto; the second connection portion has a second cantilever portion extending in a cantilever shape from the coupling portion, and a second contact portion provided on a tip side of the second cantilever portion and in contact with the second substrate to be electrically connected thereto; the first connection portion and the second connection portion are integrally connected by the connecting portion in a state where they are shifted in a width direction that is a direction perpendicular to a connection direction in which the first substrate connected to the first connection portion and the second substrate connected to the second connection portion are aligned, A contact, characterized in that, when viewed from the width direction, the first cantilever portion and the second cantilever portion are arranged in a crossing state.

6. The contact according to claim 5, A contact, wherein the first connection portion and the second connection portion have different shapes.

7. The contact according to claim 6, the first cantilever portion is provided as a first spring portion that elastically deforms when the first contact portion comes into contact with the first substrate, the second cantilever portion is provided as a second spring portion that elastically deforms when the second contact portion comes into contact with the second substrate, A contact characterized in that the shape of the first connection portion and the shape of the second connection portion are set to be different so that a spring force generated in the first spring portion when the first contact portion contacts the first substrate is different from a spring force generated in the second spring portion when the second contact portion contacts the second substrate.

8. The contact according to claim 6 or 7, A contact characterized in that a first thickness dimension, which is the dimension of the first cantilever portion in a thickness direction that is perpendicular to the direction in which the first cantilever portion extends and the width direction, is different from a second thickness dimension, which is the dimension of the second cantilever portion in a thickness direction that is perpendicular to the direction in which the second cantilever portion extends and the width direction.

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