Connector assembly

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of improving a mechanical strength of a connector assembly.SOLUTION: A connector assembly 300 according to a present disclosure, comprises: a plug connector 200 having a plurality of plug contacts 250, a plug housing 240 that holds the plurality of plug contacts 250, and a plug hold down 260 that is mounted to an outside of the plurality of plug contacts 250 in the plug housing 240; and a receptacle connector 100 having a plurality of receptacle contacts 120, and a receptacle housing 110 holding the plurality of receptacle contacts 120. By fitting the plug connector 200 and the receptacle connector 100 in a fitting direction each other, each plug contact 250 is brought into electrical contact with each receptacle contact 120.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector assembly. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 (JP 2015-185541 A) discloses a plug hold-down 960 of a plug connector in a connector assembly, as shown in Fig. 10 of the present application. The plug hold-down 960 includes a top surface portion 961, side surfaces 962 and 963, an end surface portion 964, and carrier cut surfaces 965 and 966. The carrier cut surfaces 965 and 966 are provided on the outer side of the plug connector at the top surface portion 961 (here, in the positive Y-axis direction). In other words, the carrier cut surfaces 965 and 966 are provided on the outer side of the plug housing in the pitch direction in the plug hold-down 960 (here, in the positive Y-axis direction).

[0003] An example of a method for manufacturing the plug hold-down 960 will be described. A plate material made of a metal material is punched to form a punched body. The punched body is then bent to form the plug hold-down 900 with a carrier shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the plug hold-down with a carrier. As shown in FIG. 11, the plug hold-down 900 with a carrier includes a carrier 910 and a plurality of plug hold-downs 960. In this embodiment, the plurality of plug hold-downs 960 are three plug hold-downs 960. In the plug hold-down 900 with a carrier, each plug hold-down 960 is mechanically connected to the carrier 910 via cut portions 968 and 969. Here, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, each plug hold-down 960 is a plate-like body having a top surface portion 961, side surface portions 962 and 963, and an end surface portion 964 that are continuous, and the end surfaces of this plate-like body are punched surfaces. Finally, the plurality of plug hold-downs 960 are separated from the carrier 910 by cutting the cutting portions 968, 969. Each of the separated plug hold-downs 960 has carrier cut surfaces 965, 966 shown in FIG. 10. The carrier cut surfaces 965, 966 are formed by cutting the cutting portions 968, 969. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-185541 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In such a connector assembly, plug hold-down 960 is attached to a plug housing of a plug connector. Furthermore, carrier cut surfaces 965, 966 are provided on the plug hold-down 960 on the outer side of the plug housing in the pitch direction. The shape of plug hold-down 960 is limited by carrier cut surfaces 965, 966. Therefore, plug hold-down 960 cannot cover a part of the plug housing of the plug connector that is disposed near carrier cut surfaces 965, 966. Therefore, in such a connector assembly, there is room for consideration of the shape of the plug hold-down from the viewpoint of the mechanical strength of the connector assembly.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for improving the mechanical strength of a connector assembly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a connector assembly comprising: a plug connector including a plurality of plug contacts, a plug housing that holds the plurality of plug contacts, and a plug hold-down attached to the outside of the plurality of plug contacts in the plug housing; and a receptacle connector including a plurality of receptacle contacts and a receptacle housing that holds the plurality of receptacle contacts, wherein each plug contact is brought into electrical contact with each receptacle contact by mating the plug connector and the receptacle connector with each other in a mating direction, and the plurality of plug contacts are arranged in a pitch direction a plug housing including two side walls extending in parallel in the pitch direction and an end wall connecting ends of the two side walls, the end wall including an outer circumferential surface facing the outside of the plug housing, an opposing surface that faces the receptacle housing when the plug connector and the receptacle connector are mated with each other, and a corner formed by the intersection of the outer circumferential surface and the opposing surface, the plug hold-down including a corner-drawing structure and a carrier cut surface, the carrier cut surface being provided on a side of the plug contacts in the plug hold-down, and the corner-drawing structure covering the corner. The outer peripheral surface of the end wall has an outer peripheral end face facing toward the outside of the plug housing in the pitch direction, and the plug hold down further has an end face portion covering the outer peripheral end face, the end face portion having first and second connection portions electrically connectable to terminals of a board on which the plug connector is provided, the first and second connection portions branch off from each other from the corner drawing structure in a width direction perpendicular to the pitch direction and the mating direction and extend toward the board, and the first and second connection portions have a tapered shape inclined with respect to the mating direction when viewed from outside the plug housing in the pitch direction. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to improve the mechanical strength of the connector assembly. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a receptacle connector and a plug connector in which the electrical connection is released; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the receptacle connector. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a plug hold down. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the plug hold down. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a side view of the plug hold down. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a front view of the plug hold down. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the plug hold down as viewed from the opposite side to that of FIG. 3. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a plug hold-down with a carrier. [Figure 10] FIG. 6E of Patent Document 1. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a plug hold-down with a carrier. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. In addition, the following description and drawings are appropriately simplified for clarity of explanation.

[0011] 1 and other drawings is for the sake of convenience in explaining the positional relationship of the components, and does not suggest the posture in actual use of receptacle connector 100, plug connector 200, etc., which will be described later. Usually, the X-axis direction is the width direction, the Y-axis direction is the pitch direction, the Z-axis direction is the mating direction in which receptacle connector 100 and plug connector 200, which will be described later, are mated, and the XY plane is the horizontal plane, which is common to all the drawings.

[0012] <Embodiment> Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 1, the connector assembly 300 includes a receptacle connector 100 and a plug connector 200. The receptacle connector 100 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is arranged so that the receiving space 116 faces upward (here, the positive direction of the Z axis). The plug connector 200 shown in Fig. 1 is arranged so that the receiving space 246 faces downward (here, the negative direction of the Z axis). Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the plug connector shown in Fig. 1. Unlike the plug connector 200 shown in Fig. 1, the plug connector 200 shown in Fig. 3 is arranged so that the receiving space 246 faces upward.

[0014] The receptacle connector 100 includes a plurality of receptacle contacts 120 and a receptacle housing 110 .

[0015] The receptacle housing 110 holds a number of receptacle contacts 120 .

[0016] 1 and 3, the plug connector 200 includes a plurality of plug contacts 250, a plug housing 240, and a plug hold-down 260. The plug housing 240 holds the plurality of plug contacts 250. The plug hold-down 260 is attached to the outside of the plurality of plug contacts 250 in the plug housing 240.

[0017] The receptacle connector 100 and the plug connector 200 according to the present embodiment can be mounted on different circuit boards. The receptacle connector 100 and the plug connector 200 can be used as surface mount components, and can be mounted on a printed circuit board, for example, by soldering. The receptacle connector 100 and the plug connector 200 can be used as connectors for circuit boards. By fitting the plug connector 200 and the receptacle connector 100 together in a fitting direction (here, the Z-axis direction), each plug contact 250 comes into electrical contact with each receptacle contact 120. This allows different circuit boards to be electrically connected to each other.

[0018] Next, the configuration of connector assembly 300 will be described in detail.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the receptacle housing 110 is, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. The receptacle housing 110 is molded using, for example, an electrically insulating material. The electrically insulating material is, for example, a resin material or the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the receptacle housing 110 includes a bottom 111, an island-shaped portion 112, two side walls 114, and an end wall 115. The bottom 111 may be a plate-shaped portion extending in the pitch direction (here, the Y-axis direction). The island-shaped portion 112 rises upward (here, the Z-axis positive direction) from the bottom 111 and extends in the pitch direction (here, the Y-axis direction). The two side walls 114 rise upward from the bottom 111 and extend in the pitch direction. The two side walls 114 are arranged in parallel, and the island-shaped portion 112 is arranged between the two side walls 114. The end wall 115 connects the ends of the two side walls 114. The end wall 115 and the island-shaped portion 112 may be spaced apart from each other. The receptacle housing 110 may include two end walls 115. The two end walls 115 connect the ends of two different side walls 114, respectively. The two side walls 114 and the two end walls 115 may surround the island-shaped portion 112. A receiving space 116 is formed between the two side walls 114, the two end walls 115, and the island-shaped portion 112. The receiving space 116 is a frame-shaped body that surrounds the island-shaped portion 112. When the plug connector 200 and the receptacle connector 100 are mated, the receiving space 116 has a size that can receive a part of the plug connector 200, for example, the side wall 244 and the end wall 245.

[0020] The receptacle contacts 120 are arranged in the pitch direction (here, the Y-axis direction) in the receptacle housing 110. The pitch direction is the same as the longitudinal direction of the receptacle housing 110. The receptacle contacts 120 shown in FIG. 2 are arranged in two rows in the pitch direction. The side wall 114 may include a plurality of contact holding grooves 117. The receptacle housing 110 may hold the plurality of receptacle contacts 120 by arranging each of the receptacle contacts 120 in each of the contact holding grooves 117. The contact holding grooves 117 may be arranged at equal intervals in the pitch direction. The two side walls 114 may each include a plurality of contact holding grooves 117. The receptacle contacts 120 may be arranged symmetrically with respect to a straight line extending in the longitudinal direction of the island-shaped portion 112 as a center line. Each contact holding groove 117 may extend continuously on the side surface of the island-shaped portion 112, the upper surface of the bottom portion 111, and the inner surface of the side wall 114. The inner surface of the side wall 114 faces the side surface of the island-shaped portion 112.

[0021] The receptacle connector 100 may further include a receptacle hold-down 130. The receptacle hold-down 130 is attached to the outside of the multiple receptacle contacts 120 in the receptacle housing 110. Specifically, the receptacle hold-down 130 is attached by being integrally molded or press-fitted into parts of the two side walls 114 and the end wall 115. The receptacle hold-down 130 reinforces the receptacle housing 110. A stamped body is formed by stamping out a plate material made of a metal material. The receptacle hold-down 130 may also be manufactured by bending the stamped body. The receptacle hold-down 130 may be used as a terminal that can be electrically connected to a power source or the like on a circuit board (not shown). If receptacle hold down 130 and plug hold down 260 are mateable, plug connector 200 can be smoothly mated with receptacle connector 100. In other words, receptacle hold down 130 can be used for electrical connection and mating between plug connector 200 and receptacle connector 100.

[0022] 1 and 3, the plug housing 240 is, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. The plug housing 240 is molded, for example, using an electrically insulating material. The electrically insulating material is, for example, a resin material. As shown in FIG. 3, the plug housing 240 includes a bottom 241, two side walls 244, and an end wall 245.

[0023] The bottom portion 241 may be a plate-like portion extending in the pitch direction (here, the Y-axis direction). The two side walls 244 rise upward from the bottom portion 241 and extend in the pitch direction. The two side walls 244 are arranged in parallel. The end wall 245 connects the ends of the two side walls 244 to each other.

[0024] The end wall 245 has an outer peripheral surface 245A, an opposing surface 245B, and a corner portion 245C. The outer peripheral surface 245A faces the outside of the plug housing 240. The opposing surface 245B faces the receptacle housing 110 when the plug connector 200 and the receptacle connector 100 are mated with each other. The opposing surface 245B shown in FIG. 3 faces upward (here, in the positive direction of the Z axis). The corner portion 245C is formed by the intersection of the outer peripheral surface 245A and the opposing surface 245B. The outer peripheral surface 245A has an outer peripheral side surface 245D and an outer peripheral end surface 245E. The outer peripheral side surface 245D is continuous with the surface of the side wall 244. The outer peripheral end surface 245E intersects with the outer peripheral side surface 245D. The outer peripheral side surface 245D faces the width direction (here, the X-axis direction), and the outer peripheral end surface 245E faces the pitch direction (here, the Y-axis direction).

[0025] The plug housing 240 may include two end walls 245. The two end walls 245 connect ends of two different side walls 244, respectively. The two side walls 244 and the two end walls 245 may be frame-shaped. A receiving space 246 is formed between the two side walls 244 and the two end walls 245. The receiving space 246 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. When the plug connector 200 and the receptacle connector 100 (see FIG. 1) are mated, the receiving space 246 has a size that can receive a part of the receptacle connector 100, for example, the island-shaped portion 112 shown in FIG. 1.

[0026] The plug contacts 250 are arranged in the pitch direction (here, the Y-axis direction) in the plug housing 240. The pitch direction is the same as the longitudinal direction of the plug housing 240. The plug contacts 250 shown in FIG. 2 are arranged in two rows in the pitch direction. A metal plate is punched to form a strip. The plug contacts 250 may be manufactured by bending the strip. Each plug contact 250 may be integrally molded or press-fitted between two side walls 244, thereby allowing the plug housing 240 to hold the plug contacts 250. The plug contacts 250 may be arranged at equal intervals in the pitch direction in the plug housing 240.

[0027] The plug connector 200 further includes a plug hold-down 260. The plug hold-down 260 is attached to the outside of the multiple plug contacts 250 in the plug housing 240. Specifically, the plug hold-down 260 is attached by being press-fitted into parts of the two side walls 244 and into the end wall 245. In this way, the plug hold-down 260 reinforces the plug housing 240. A stamped body is formed by stamping out a sheet of metal material. Alternatively, the plug hold-down 260 may be manufactured by bending the stamped body. The plug hold-down 260 can be used as a terminal that can be electrically connected to a power source or the like on a circuit board (not shown).

[0028] 3 to 7, plug hold down 260 includes an upper surface portion 261, a side surface portion 262, an end surface portion 264, a first connecting portion 264A, a second connecting portion 264B, and a corner-drawing structure portion 267. It is preferable that upper surface portion 261, side surface portion 262, end surface portion 264, first connecting portion 264A, second connecting portion 264B, and corner-drawing structure portion 267 are formed of a single plate. Plug hold down 260 may include two side surface portions 262.

[0029] The upper surface portion 261 covers the opposing surface 245B of the end wall 245. The corner drawn structure 267 is provided on the outer edge of the upper surface portion 261 and covers the corner portion 245C. The side surface portion 262 extends from the width direction end of the upper surface portion 261 and covers the outer peripheral side surface 245D. The end surface portion 264 extends from the pitch direction end of the upper surface portion 261 and covers the outer peripheral end face 245E.

[0030] The end surface portion 264 may further include a first connecting portion 264A and a second connecting portion 264B. The first connecting portion 264A and the second connecting portion 264B are electrically connectable to a terminal of a board on which the plug connector 200 is provided. As shown in Fig. 4, the first connecting portion 264A and the second connecting portion 264B branch off from each other in the width direction (here, the X-axis direction) from the square drawing structure portion 267 and extend toward the board side (here, the Z-axis negative direction). When viewed from the outside of the plug housing 240 (here, the Y-axis direction), the first connecting portion 264A and the second connecting portion 264B have a tapered shape inclined with respect to the fitting direction (here, the Z-axis direction).

[0031] 3, the carrier cut surfaces 265, 266 are provided on the plug hold-down 260 on the side of the multiple plug contacts 250. Specifically, as shown in FIG 4, the carrier cut surfaces 265, 266 are provided on the upper surface portion 261 on the inner side of the plug housing 240 in the pitch direction.

[0032] Here, an example of a method for manufacturing the plug hold down 260 will be described.

[0033] First, a plate material made of a metal material is punched to form a punched body.

[0034] Next, the punched body is bent to form the plug hold-down with carrier 400 shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the plug hold-down with carrier. The plug hold-down with carrier 400 includes a carrier 410 and a plurality of plug hold-downs 260. In this embodiment, the plug hold-down with carrier 400 includes three plug hold-downs 260, but may include one, two, or four or more plug hold-downs 260. In the plug hold-down with carrier 400, each plug hold-down 260 is mechanically connected to the carrier 410 via a cut portion 268, 269, respectively. Here, each plug hold-down 260 is a plate-like body in which a top surface portion 261, a side surface portion 262, an end surface portion 264, and a corner drawing structure portion 267 are connected, and the end surface of this plate-like body is a punched surface.

[0035] Finally, the multiple plug hold-downs 260 are separated from the carrier 410 by cutting the cut portions 268, 269. Each of the separated plug hold-downs 260 has carrier cut surfaces 265, 266 shown in Figures 3 to 8. The carrier cut surfaces 265, 266 are formed by cutting the cut portions 268, 269. In this manner, the plug hold-down 260 can be manufactured.

[0036] As described above, according to the configuration of the connector assembly 300, the carrier cut surfaces 265, 266 are provided on the plug contacts 250 side of the plug hold-down 260. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide the carrier cut surfaces on the opposite side of the plug contacts 250 side of the plug hold-down 260, in other words, on the outside of the plug housing 240 in the pitch direction of the plug hold-down 260. This allows the corner drawn structure 267 to be formed on the plug hold-down 260 on the outside of the plug connector 200 in the pitch direction. In addition, the corner drawn structure 267 is improved in press workability. In addition, the corner drawn structure 267 is bent, which increases the mechanical strength of the plug hold-down 260. In addition, the corner drawn structure 267 reinforces the end wall 245 by covering the corner 245C of the end wall 245. Therefore, the mechanical strength of the plug connector 200 can be improved. In addition, the corner drawn structure 267 has a curved surface, which increases the attraction of the plug connector 200. Specifically, the surface of the corner drawing structure 267 extends in an arc shape, connecting the top surface 261 and the end surface 264, thereby making it easier to guide the plug connector 200 into the receptacle connector 100 when the receptacle connector 100 and the plug connector 200 are mated.

[0037] Moreover, the first connection portion 264A and the second connection portion 264B branch off from each other in the width direction perpendicular to the pitch direction and the mating direction from the square drawing structure 267 and extend toward the board side. When viewed from the outside of the plug housing 240, the first connection portion 264A and the second connection portion 264B have a tapered shape inclined with respect to the mating direction. This allows the first connection portion 264A and the second connection portion 264B to be firmly soldered to terminals of a board (not shown), respectively. That is, the mounting strength of the first connection portion 264A and the second connection portion 264B can be improved.

[0038] The plug connector and receptacle connector of the present disclosure can be used as connectors mounted in various electronic devices. The plug connector and receptacle connector of the present disclosure can be used to connect, for example, a substrate such as a printed circuit board or an FPC (flexible printed circuit).

[0039] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 300 Connector Assembly 100 Receptacle Connector 110 Receptacle Housing 111 Bottom 112 Island 114 Side wall 115 End Wall 116 Reception Space 117 Contact retention groove 120 Receptacle Contact 130 Receptacle Hold Down 200 Plug Connector 240 Plug Housing 241 Bottom 244 Side wall 245 End Wall 245A Outer surface 245B Opposite side 245C Corner 245D outer circumferential side 245E Outer edge 246 Reception Space 250 plug contacts 260 Plug Hold Down 261 Top part 262 Side part 264 End section 264A 1st Connection 264B second connection 265, 266 Carrier cut surface 267 Square Drawing Structure 268, 269 cutting section 400 Plug Hold Down with Carrier 410 Carrier

Claims

1. a plug connector including a plurality of plug contacts, a plug housing for holding the plurality of plug contacts, and a plug hold-down attached to an outer side of the plurality of plug contacts in the plug housing; a receptacle connector including a plurality of receptacle contacts and a receptacle housing that holds the plurality of receptacle contacts; Equipped with When the plug connector and the receptacle connector are mated with each other in a mating direction, each plug contact is brought into electrical contact with each receptacle contact.

1. A connector assembly comprising: The plurality of plug contacts are arranged in a pitch direction, The plug housing includes two side walls extending in parallel in the pitch direction and an end wall connecting end portions of the two side walls, the end wall includes an outer circumferential surface facing the outside of the plug housing, an opposing surface facing the receptacle housing when the plug connector and the receptacle connector are mated with each other, and a corner portion formed by an intersection of the outer circumferential surface and the opposing surface, The plug hold down comprises an angle drawing structure and a carrier cutting surface; the carrier cut surface is provided on a side of the plug contacts in the plug hold-down; The corner squeeze structure covers the corner portion. Connector assembly.

2. The outer circumferential surface of the end wall includes an outer circumferential end surface facing toward an outside of the plug housing in the pitch direction, The plug hold-down further includes an end surface portion covering the outer circumferential end surface, the end surface portion includes first and second connection portions that are electrically connectable to terminals of a substrate on which the plug connector is provided, The first and second connection portions branch off from the corner drawing structure portion in a width direction perpendicular to the pitch direction and the fitting direction and extend toward the substrate, the first and second connection portions have a tapered shape inclined with respect to the fitting direction when viewed from outside the plug housing in the pitch direction; 2. The connector assembly of claim 1.

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