Connector assembly

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of reducing a size of a connector assembly.SOLUTION: A connector assembly 300 according to the present disclosure, comprises: a plug connector 200 having a plurality of plug contacts 250 and a plug housing 240; and a receptor connector 100 having a plurality of receptacle contacts 120, a receptacle housing 110, and a receptacle hold down 130 that is mounted to an outside of the plurality of receptacle contacts 120 in the receptacle housing 110. Each plug contact 250 is brought into electrical contact with each receptacle contact 120 by fitting the plug connector 200 and the receptor connector 100 to each other in a fitting direction. The receptacle hold down 130 comprises an Armor part 131 that covers one part of an island-like part 112, and the Armor part 131 comprises a coining molding part 132A.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 (JP 2015-185541 A) discloses a receptacle fitting of a receptacle connector in a connector assembly. One example of such a receptacle fitting is a receptacle hold-down 930 shown in FIG.

[0003] Receptacle hold-down 930 covers end wall 915 and island portion 912 of the receptacle connector. Receptacle hold-down 930 includes armor portion 931, bottom portion 933, and end portion 934. Receptacle hold-down 930 is a single plate-like body that conforms to a curved shape and is made of a metal material. Armor portion 931, bottom portion 933, and end portion 934 are connected in this order.

[0004] The armor portion 931 covers a portion of the island-shaped portion 912 of the receptacle connector. The armor portion 931 includes a protruding portion 931A and an arc-shaped portion 931B. The direction in which the receptacle connector and the plug connector in the connector assembly are mated is defined as the mating direction (here, the Z-axis direction). The protruding portion 931A protrudes in the mating direction while following the side wall 912A of the island-shaped portion 912. The arc-shaped portion 931B protrudes in the mating direction from the protruding portion 931A. The bottom portion 933 covers the bottom portion 915A of the end wall 915. The end portion 934 covers the end portion 915B of the end wall 915. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-185541 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] There is a demand for miniaturization of such connector assemblies. The receptacle hold-down affects the size of the connector assembly. In such connector assemblies, the shape of the receptacle hold-down will be considered from the viewpoint of miniaturization of the connector assembly.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for reducing the size of a connector assembly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] 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 and a plug housing that holds the plurality of plug contacts; and a receptacle connector including a plurality of receptacle contacts, a receptacle housing that holds the plurality of receptacle contacts, and a receptacle hold-down attached to the outside of the plurality of receptacle contacts in the receptacle housing, wherein each plug contact is in electrical contact with each receptacle contact by mating the plug connector and the receptacle connector with each other in a mating direction, wherein the plurality of receptacle contacts are arranged in a pitch direction, the receptacle housing has two side walls extending in parallel in the pitch direction, an end wall connecting ends of the two side walls, and an island-shaped portion surrounded by the two side walls and the end wall, the receptacle hold-down has an armor portion covering a portion of the island-shaped portion, and the armor portion has a coining formed portion. The coining portion may extend to a tip of the armor portion. The armor portion comprises a protrusion portion that protrudes in the mating direction along the end of the island-shaped portion, and an arc-shaped portion that extends from the protrusion portion in the mating direction, and the arc-shaped portion is preferably positioned on the island-shaped portion side in the pitch direction than the protrusion portion. The armor portion comprises an insertion portion that is inserted into the end of the island-shaped portion and extends in the mating direction, and an arc-shaped portion that protrudes from the insertion portion in the mating direction, and the arc-shaped portion is preferably positioned closer to the end wall in the pitch direction than the insertion portion. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce the size of the connector assembly. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [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] 1 is a plan view of the vicinity of an end portion of a receptacle connector. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a receptacle connector (first modified example). [Figure 7] 11 is a cross-sectional view of a receptacle connector (second modified example). [Figure 8] 13 is a cross-sectional view of a receptacle connector (third modified example). [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a receptacle fitting of Patent Document 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] 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.

[0012] 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.

[0013] <Embodiment> Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0014] 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. 5 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. 5 is arranged so that the receiving space 246 faces upward.

[0015] The receptacle connector 100 includes a plurality of receptacle contacts 120, a receptacle housing 110, and a receptacle hold-down 130.

[0016] The receptacle housing 110 holds a plurality of receptacle contacts 120. The receptacle hold-downs 130 are attached to the outside of the plurality of receptacle contacts 120 in the receptacle housing 110.

[0017] 1 and 5, 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.

[0018] 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.

[0019] Next, the configuration of connector assembly 300 will be described in detail.

[0020] 1 and 2, receptacle housing 110 is, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. Receptacle housing 110 is molded, for example, using an electrically insulating material. The electrically insulating material is, for example, a resin material. As shown in FIG. 2, receptacle housing 110 includes a bottom portion 111, an island-shaped portion 112, two side walls 114, and an end wall 115.

[0021] The bottom 111 may be a plate-like 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 to each other. The end wall 115 and the island-shaped portion 112 may be spaced apart. The receptacle housing 110 may include two end walls 115. The two end walls 115 connect the ends of two different side walls 114 to each other. 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, such as the side walls 244 and the end walls 245.

[0022] The end wall 115 includes a bottom portion 115A, an end portion 115B, and side portions 115C and 115D. The bottom portion 115A is a plate-shaped portion extending in the pitch direction from the bottom portion 111. The side portions 115C and 115D rise upward from the bottom portion 111 and extend in the pitch direction. The side portions 115C and 115D are arranged in parallel and face each other. The end portion 115B connects the end of the side portion 115C and the end of the side portion 115D.

[0023] 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.

[0024] The receptacle hold-down 130 is attached to the outside of the receptacle contacts 120 in the receptacle housing 110. Specifically, the receptacle hold-down 130 is attached by being press-fitted into a portion of the two side walls 114, the end wall 115, and the island-shaped portion 112. The receptacle hold-down 130 reinforces the receptacle housing 110. The receptacle hold-down 130 can be used as a terminal that can be electrically connected to a power source or the like on a circuit board (not shown). If the receptacle hold-down 130 and the plug hold-down 260 can be mated, the plug connector 200 and the receptacle connector 100 can be smoothly mated. In other words, the receptacle hold-down 130 can be used for electrical connection and mating between the plug connector 200 and the receptacle connector 100.

[0025] 2 to 4, receptacle hold-down 130 covers end wall 115 and a portion of island portion 112. Receptacle hold-down 130 includes an armor portion 131, a bottom portion 133, an end portion 134, and side portions 135 and 136.

[0026] The armor portion 131 is a single plate-like body conforming to a curved shape, and is made of a metal material. The end portion 134, the bottom portion 133, and the armor portion 131 are connected in this order in the pitch direction (here, the Y-axis direction). The side portion 136, the bottom portion 133, and the side portion 135 are connected in this order in the width direction (here, the X-axis direction). The bottom portion 133 covers the bottom portion 115A of the end wall 115, and the end portion 134 covers the end portion 115B of the end wall 115. The side portion 135 covers the side portion 115C of the end wall 115, and the side portion 136 covers the side portion 115D of the end wall 115.

[0027] The armor portion 131 covers a part of the island-shaped portion 112 of the receptacle connector 100. The armor portion 131 includes a protruding portion 131A, an arc-shaped portion 131B, and a tip portion 131D. The protruding portion 131A protrudes toward the plug connector 200 side (here, the Z-axis positive direction) in the mating direction (here, the Z-axis direction) while extending along the end portion 112A of the island-shaped portion 112. An example of the protruding portion 131A shown in FIG. 4 extends along the wall surface 112B of the end portion 112A. The arc-shaped portion 131B protrudes from the protruding portion 131A toward the plug connector 200 side in the mating direction. The arc-shaped portion 131B is bent with a curvature radius Rb. The tip portion 131D extends from the arc-shaped portion 131B toward the receptacle connector 100 side in the mating direction (here, the Z-axis negative direction). An example of a tip portion 131D shown in FIG. 4 is inserted into a hole 112C of the end portion 112A.

[0028] The armor portion 131 includes a coining formed portion 132A. The coining formed portion 132A is provided on the arc-shaped portion 131B. Specifically, the coining formed portion 132A is provided on the inner surface of the arc-shaped portion 131B, in other words, on the surface on the receptacle connector 100 side in the fitting direction. The coining formed portion 132A is formed by a coining process. The thickness of the coining formed portion 132A is smaller than the thickness of other portions of the receptacle hold-down 130. The other portions of the receptacle hold-down 130 are, for example, the protrusion 131A and the end portion 134, and it is preferable that the coining process is not performed.

[0029] An example of a manufacturing method of the receptacle hold-down 130 will be described. First, a plate material made of a metal material is punched to form a punched body. Next, a coining process is performed on a portion of the punched body corresponding to the armor portion 131 to form a portion corresponding to the coining-formed portion 132A. Finally, the punched body is bent by a press process to form the armor portion 131, the bottom portion 133, the end portion 134, and the side portions 135 and 136. As described above, the thickness of the coining-formed portion 132A is smaller than the thickness of the other portions of the receptacle hold-down 130, so that the radius of curvature Rb of the arc-shaped portion 131B of the formed armor portion 131 is small. From the above, the receptacle hold-down 130 can be manufactured.

[0030] 1 and 5, 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. 5, the plug housing 240 includes a bottom 241, two side walls 244, and an end wall 245.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] The plug connector 200 may further include a plug hold-down 260. The plug hold-down 260 is attached to the outside of the plurality of plug contacts 250 in the plug housing 240. Specifically, the plug hold-down 260 is attached to a part of the two side walls 244 and the end wall 245 by integral molding or press-fitting. In this way, the plug hold-down 260 reinforces the plug housing 240. A stamped body is formed by stamping out a sheet-like body made of a metal material. The plug hold-down 260 may also 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).

[0035] As described above, according to the configuration of connector assembly 300, the thickness of coining-formed portion 132A is smaller than the thickness of other portions of receptacle hold-down 130. As a result, in the press working of the example of the manufacturing method of receptacle hold-down 130 described above, armor portion 131 having arc-shaped portion 131B that is bent with a small radius of curvature Rb can be formed. Since the radius of curvature Rb of arc-shaped portion 131B is small, it is possible to shorten length L1 in the pitch direction of armor portion 131, in other words, length L1 from protrusion 131A to tip portion 131D. This makes it possible to shorten length LA shown in FIG. 3. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of connector assembly 300.

[0036] (First Modification) Next, a first modified example of receptacle hold-down 130 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Receptacle hold-down 130A shown in Fig. 6 is a first modified example of receptacle hold-down 130, and has the same configuration as receptacle hold-down 130 except for the coining formed portion.

[0037] The receptacle hold-down 130A includes a coining formed portion 132B. The coining formed portion 132B is provided on the arc-shaped portion 131B. Specifically, the coining formed portion 132B is provided on the inner surface of the arc-shaped portion 131B, in other words, on the surface of the receptacle connector 100 in the mating direction. The coining formed portion 132B extends from the arc-shaped portion 131B to the tip portion 131D. The thickness of the coining formed portion 132B is smaller than the thickness of other portions of the receptacle hold-down 130, similar to the thickness of the coining formed portion 132A. In the press processing of the manufacturing method of the receptacle hold-down 130A, an armor portion 131 including an arc-shaped portion 131B that is bent with a small radius of curvature Rb can be formed, similar to the press processing of the example of the manufacturing method of the receptacle hold-down 130 described above. Since the radius of curvature Rb of the arc-shaped portion 131B is small, the length L2 in the pitch direction of the armor portion 131, in other words, the length L2 from the protruding portion 131A to the tip portion 131D, can be shortened. Therefore, the connector assembly 300 can be made smaller.

[0038] (Second Modification) Next, a second modified example of receptacle hold down 130 will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Receptacle hold down 130B shown in Fig. 7 is a second modified example of receptacle hold down 130, and has the same configuration as receptacle hold down 130 except for the arc-shaped portion.

[0039] Receptacle hold down 130B includes insertion portion 131E, arc-shaped portion 131C, and tip portion 131D. Arc-shaped portion 131C is bent with a radius of curvature Rc. Insertion portion 131E extends in the mating direction while being inserted into hole 112C in end portion 112A of island-shaped portion 112. Insertion portion 131E extends toward plug connector 200 in the mating direction (here, the Z-axis positive direction). Arc-shaped portion 131C protrudes from insertion portion 131E toward plug connector 200 in the mating direction. Arc-shaped portion 131C extends toward end wall 115 in the pitch direction (here, the Y-axis negative direction) further than insertion portion 131E. Tip portion 131D extends from arc-shaped portion 131C toward receptacle connector 100 in the mating direction (here, the Z-axis negative direction). An example of tip portion 131D shown in FIG. 7 is aligned with wall surface 112B of end portion 112A. The thickness of coining formed portion 132A is smaller than the thickness of other portions of receptacle hold-down 130. In the press processing of the manufacturing method of receptacle hold-down 130B, similar to the press processing of the manufacturing method of receptacle hold-down 130 described above, armor portion 131 having arc-shaped portion 131C that bends with a small radius of curvature Rc can be formed. Since the radius of curvature Rc of arc-shaped portion 131C is small, length L3 in the pitch direction of armor portion 131, in other words, length L3 from insertion portion 131E to tip portion 131D, can be shortened. Therefore, similar to receptacle hold-down 130, connector assembly 300 can be made smaller.

[0040] (Third Modification) Next, a third modified example of receptacle hold-down 130 will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Receptacle hold-down 130C shown in Fig. 8 is a third modified example of receptacle hold-down 130, and has the same configuration as receptacle hold-down 130 except for the coining formed portion and the arc-shaped portion.

[0041] Receptacle hold-down 130C includes coining formed portion 132B and arcuate portion 131C. Coining formed portion 132B is provided on arcuate portion 131C. Specifically, coining formed portion 132B is provided on the inner surface of arcuate portion 131C, in other words, on the surface on the receptacle connector 100 side in the mating direction (here, the Z-axis negative direction). Coining formed portion 132B extends from arcuate portion 131C to tip portion 131D. The thickness of coining formed portion 132B is smaller than the thickness of other portions of receptacle hold-down 130, similar to the thickness of coining formed portion 132A shown in FIG. 4. In the press working method of manufacturing receptacle hold-down 130C, similar to the press working of the example of the manufacturing method of receptacle hold-down 130 described above, it is possible to form armor section 131 having arc-shaped section 131C that is bent with a small radius of curvature Rc. Because the radius of curvature Rc of arc-shaped section 131C is small, it is possible to shorten length L4 in the pitch direction of armor section 131, in other words, length L4 from insertion section 131E to tip section 131D. Therefore, similar to receptacle hold-down 130, it is possible to reduce the size of connector assembly 300.

[0042] 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).

[0043] 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]

[0044] 300 Connector Assembly 100 Receptacle Connector 110 Receptacle Housing 111 Bottom 112 Island 112A End 112B Wall 112C hole 114 Side wall 115 End Wall 115A bottom 115B End 115C, 115D Side 116 Reception Space 117 Contact retention groove 120 Receptacle Contact 130, 130A, 130B, 130C Receptacle Hold Down 131 Armor Division 131A Protrusion 131B, 131C arcuate part 131D Tip 131E Insertion section 132A, 132B Coining molding section 133 Bottom 134 End 135, 136 Side 200 Plug Connector 240 Plug Housing 241 Bottom 244 Side wall 245 End Wall 246 Reception Space 250 plug contacts 260 Plug Hold Down L1, L2, L3, L4, LA length Rb, Rc radius of curvature

Claims

1. a plug connector including a plurality of plug contacts and a plug housing that holds the plurality of plug contacts; a receptacle connector including a plurality of receptacle contacts, a receptacle housing that holds the plurality of receptacle contacts, and a receptacle hold-down that is attached to the outside of the plurality of receptacle contacts in the receptacle housing; 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 receptacle contacts are arranged in a pitch direction, the receptacle housing includes two side walls extending in parallel in the pitch direction, an end wall connecting end portions of the two side walls, and an island-shaped portion surrounded by the two side walls and the end wall, The receptacle hold-down includes an armor portion covering a portion of the island portion, The armor portion includes a coining portion. Connector assembly.

2. The coining portion extends to the tip of the armor portion.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1.

3. The armor portion includes a protruding portion that protrudes in the fitting direction along an end of the island-shaped portion, and an arc-shaped portion that protrudes from the protruding portion in the fitting direction, the arc-shaped portion is disposed closer to the island-shaped portion in the pitch direction than the protruding portion.

3. A connector assembly according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The armor portion includes an insertion portion that is inserted into an end portion of the island-shaped portion and extends in the fitting direction, and an arc-shaped portion that protrudes from the insertion portion in the fitting direction, the arc-shaped portion is disposed closer to the end wall in the pitch direction than the insertion portion; 3. A connector assembly according to claim 1 or 2.

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