Connector
The connector design addresses the issue of terminal positional accuracy by incorporating press-fitting portions with wraps in both width and height directions, resulting in improved accuracy and stability of terminal placement.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2023165963
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-09-27
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-08
AI Technical Summary
Existing connectors lack positional accuracy in terminal placement due to the absence of a wrap in the housing height direction, leading to variations in terminal height positions.
The connector design incorporates a terminal with a pair of first press-fitting portions and a pair of second press-fitting portions, where the first press-fitting portions are press-fitted with a wrap in the width direction, and the second press-fitting portions are bent at right angles and press-fitted with a wrap in the height direction, ensuring accurate terminal positioning.
This design enhances the positional accuracy of terminals within the connector, stabilizes coplanarity, and improves the holding force of the terminals, thereby reducing dimension variations and enhancing press-fitting accuracy.
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Figure 2025056469000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a connector. [Background technology]
[0002] Connectors for connecting circuits are available in various structures, and Patent Document 1 discloses a connector that is surface-mounted on a board. This connector includes a housing and a plurality of terminals held by the housing. One end of each terminal is positioned inside the housing, and the other end is positioned outside the housing and soldered to the board, and the center is pressed into a terminal press-fit hole in the housing. A pair of press-fit projections that protrude outward in the width direction are formed in the center. The length between the tips of the pair of press-fit projections is formed to be slightly larger than the width direction length of the terminal press-fit hole. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2021-182487 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] In the above-mentioned connector, the terminals have a pair of press-fitting projections, and are press-fitted into the terminal press-fit holes with an overlap in the width direction of the housing, but do not have an overlap in the height direction of the housing, which can cause variations in the height position of the terminals.
[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to improve the positional accuracy of terminals in a connector. [Means for solving the problem]
[0006] The present invention is a connector comprising a housing and a terminal inserted into and held by the housing, the terminal having a first connection portion, a second connection portion, a band-shaped connecting portion connecting the first connection portion and the second connection portion, and a pair of first press-fit portions and a pair of second press-fit portions pressed into the housing, the pair of first press-fit portions protrude in directions away from each other from both widthwise ends of the connecting portion and are formed flush with the connecting portions, the pair of first press-fit portions are pressed into the housing with an overlap in a first direction which is the width direction of the connecting portion, the pair of second press-fit portions are bent at right angles at both widthwise ends of the connecting portion and face each other, and the pair of second press-fit portions are pressed into the housing with an overlap in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Effect of the Invention
[0007] According to the present invention, since the terminal has a pair of first press-fit portions and a pair of second press-fit portions, it is possible to improve the positional accuracy of the terminal in the connector. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the connector in FIG. 1 (the cover is not shown). [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the terminal of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of the terminal of FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the connector in FIG. 1 (the cover is not shown). [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a side view of the connector in FIG. 5 (the cover is not shown). [Figure 7] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 5. [Figure 8] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 9] 9 is a diagram for explaining the shape of a cavity in the housing of FIG. 8. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0009] A "connector" according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs.
[0010] 1 is surface-mounted on an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuits) 10 to form a board assembly 1. This connector 2 mates with a mating connector (not shown).
[0011] 2, the FPC 10 has a wiring pattern (not shown) and pads 12, 13 formed on the surface of a base film 11. The pad 12 is a portion to which a peg 20 (described later) is soldered. The pad 13 is a portion to which a second connection portion 32 of a terminal 3 (described later) is soldered. Solder paste is applied onto the pads 12, 13 in advance, and the peg 20 and terminal 3 are mounted thereon, and then soldered in a reflow furnace.
[0012] As shown in FIG. 2, the connector 2 includes a housing 4, a plurality of terminals 3 held in the housing 4, a pair of pegs 20 that secure the housing 4 and the FPC 10 by soldering, and a cover 5 (shown in FIG. 1) attached to the housing 4.
[0013] The housing 4 is made of insulating synthetic resin. The housing 4 integrally comprises a rectangular parallelepiped main body 40, peg attachment parts 42 connected to both side surfaces of the main body 40, and a lock arm 43 connected to the top surface of the main body 40. The lock arm 43 is a part that maintains the mated state of the connector 2 and the mating connector by engaging with the mating connector.
[0014] The main body 40 is formed with cavities 41 each accommodating the terminals 3 in the same number as the terminals 3. The cavities 41 extend in the front-rear direction (arrow Z direction) of the main body 40 and open to the front (front surface) and rear (rear surface) of the main body 40. The terminals 3 are inserted into the cavities 41 from the opening on the rear surface of the main body 40. Mating terminals of a mating connector are inserted into the cavities 41 from the opening on the front surface of the main body 40 and fitted with the terminals 3. The cavities 41 are lined up in the width direction of the main body 40 (arrow X direction) and lined up in two rows, vertically (arrow Y direction).
[0015] In this specification, the mating connector side of the connector 2 in the mating direction (arrow Z direction) is defined as the "front", and the side away from the mating connector in the mating direction (FPC 10 side) is defined as the "rear". For convenience of explanation, "upper", "lower", "left", and "right" are expressed based on the orientation of the paper surface of the drawings. These front, rear, upper, lower, left, and right directions do not have to match the actual directions in the usage situation of the connector 2.
[0016] The peg 20 is a metal part that is attached to a peg attachment portion 42 of the housing 4 and soldered to a pad 12 of the FPC 10. The peg 20 is a part for fixing the housing 4 and the FPC 10, and is not a part that constitutes a circuit.
[0017] The cover 5 is made of insulating synthetic resin. The cover 5 is attached to the rear side of the housing 4, and protects the FPC 10 by positioning the FPC 10 between the cover 5 and the housing 4. The cover 5 is provided with an operating portion 53, and pressing the operating portion 53 can bend the lock arm 43 in a direction to detach it from the mating connector.
[0018] The terminal 3 is formed by punching a metal plate into a predetermined shape and bending the metal plate of the predetermined shape. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the terminal 3 has a first connection portion 31, a second connection portion 32, a belt-shaped linking portion 33 that links the first connection portion 31 and the second connection portion 32, and a pair of first press-fit portions 34 and a pair of second press-fit portions 35 that are press-fitted into the housing 4.
[0019] The first connection part 31 is formed in a rectangular tube shape capable of receiving a rod-shaped mating terminal provided in a mating connector. The first connection part 31 has a spring piece inside the rectangular tube shape that elastically contacts the mating terminal. That is, the mating terminal is a male terminal, and the terminal 3 is a female terminal, and the two are fitted together.
[0020] The second connection portion 32 is formed by folding a rectangular metal plate in half. The second connection portion 32 is placed on the FPC 10 and soldered to the pad 13.
[0021] The connecting portion 33 is continuous with one wall of the rectangular cylindrical body of the first connecting portion 31. The width of the connecting portion 33 is formed slightly smaller than the width of the first connecting portion 31.
[0022] The pair of first press-fit portions 34 protrude in directions away from each other from both widthwise ends of the connecting portion 33 and are formed flush with the connecting portion 33 .
[0023] The pair of second press-fit portions 35 are bent at right angles and opposed to each other at both widthwise ends of the connecting portion 33. The pair of second press-fit portions 35 are disposed closer to the second connecting portion 32 than the pair of first press-fit portions 34.
[0024] A step 36 is formed on the first connecting portion 31 side of the pair of first press-fit portions 34 of the connecting portion 33. The step 36 is formed by bending the connecting portion 33 into a crank shape. Due to the formation of this step 36, the pair of first press-fit portions 34 and the pair of second press-fit portions 35 are vertically misaligned with the first connecting portion 31 in a state in which the terminal 3 is held in the housing 4. In addition, a bent portion 37 bent at a right angle is formed on the second connecting portion 32 side of the pair of second press-fit portions 35 of the connecting portion 33. With the terminal 3 held in the housing 4, a portion of the connecting portion 33 between the step 36 and the bent portion 37 extends in the front-rear direction of the main body portion 40 (the direction of the arrow Z).
[0025] 5 to 9, the terminal 3 is positioned such that the first connection portion 31 side of the bent portion 37 is located inside the cavity 41, and the second connection portion 32 side of the bent portion 37 is located outside the cavity 41. The terminal 3 is inserted into the cavity 41 from the opening on the back surface of the main body 40, and is inserted into the cavity 41 from the first connection portion 31 side to the second connection portion 32 side, with the first connection portion 31 side at the front.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 9, the cavity 41 includes a portion 41a through which the first connection portion 31 passes and is accommodated, a portion 41b through which the connecting portion 33 passes and is accommodated, a portion 41c through which the pair of first press-fit portions 34 pass and are respectively accommodated, and a portion 41d through which the pair of second press-fit portions 35 are respectively accommodated.
[0027] 7 and 9, the pair of first press-fit portions 34 are press-fitted into the portion 41c of the cavity 41 with an overlap in a first direction (the direction of the arrow X, that is, the width direction of the housing 4) which is the width direction of the connecting portion 33. That is, the length W1 between the tips of the pair of first press-fit portions 34 is formed to be slightly larger than the width W2 of the cavity 41, as shown in FIG.
[0028] 8 and 9, the pair of second press-fit portions 35 are press-fitted into the portion 41d of the cavity 41 with an overlap in a second direction (the direction of arrow Y, which is the height direction of the housing 4) perpendicular to the first direction. That is, the height H1 (see FIG. 4) of each of the second press-fit portions 35 is formed slightly larger than the height H2 of the portion 41d of the cavity 41.
[0029] In this manner, the terminal 3 has a pair of first press-fit portions 34 that have an overlap in the first direction and are press-fitted into the cavity 41, and a pair of second press-fit portions 35 that have an overlap in the second direction and are press-fitted into the cavity 41. This can increase the holding force and positional accuracy of each terminal 3 in the connector 2. This can stabilize the coplanarity of the multiple terminals 3.
[0030] Furthermore, when inserting the terminal 3 into the cavity 41, the pair of second press-fitting portions 35 can be used as a contact surface for the insertion jig. By pressing the insertion jig against the pair of second press-fitting portions 35, workability is improved, dimensional variation during press-fitting is reduced, and press-fitting accuracy is improved.
[0031] In addition, the pair of first press-fitting portions 34 and the pair of second press-fitting portions 35 of the terminal 3 are misaligned in the vertical direction with the first connecting portion 31. This configuration can prevent the terminal 3 from becoming large. That is, when the pair of first press-fitting portions 34 are disposed at the same height as the first connecting portion 31, the pair of first press-fitting portions 34 cannot be press-fitted into the housing 4 unless the length W1 between the tips of the pair of first press-fitting portions 34 is formed larger than the width of the first connecting portion 31, and the terminal 3 becomes large in the width direction. Similarly, when the pair of second press-fitting portions 35 are disposed at the same height as the first connecting portion 31, the pair of second press-fitting portions 35 cannot be press-fitted into the housing 4 unless the height H1 of each second press-fitting portion 35 is formed larger than the height of the first connecting portion 31, and the terminal 3 becomes large in the height direction. In this example, such an increase in size of the terminal 3 can be prevented.
[0032] In the above-described embodiment, the connector 2 is surface-mounted on the FPC 10 which is a flexible substrate, but the connector of the present invention may also be surface-mounted on a rigid substrate.
[0033] In the above-described embodiment, the first connection portion 31 is formed in a rectangular tube shape, but in the present invention, the first connection portion may be formed in a rod shape.
[0034] The above-described embodiment merely shows a typical form of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In other words, the present invention can be embodied in various modifications without departing from the gist of the present invention. As long as the configuration of the present invention is still provided even with such modifications, it is of course included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]
[0035] 2 Connector 3 Terminal 4. Housing 31 First connection part 32 Second connection part 33 Connecting part 34 First press-fit section 35 Second press-fit section
Claims
1. A housing and a terminal inserted into and held by the housing, the terminal has a first connection portion, a second connection portion, a band-shaped coupling portion that couples the first connection portion and the second connection portion, and a pair of first press-fit portions and a pair of second press-fit portions that are press-fitted into the housing, The pair of first press-fitting portions protrude in directions away from each other from both widthwise ends of the connecting portion and are formed flush with the connecting portion, The pair of first press-fit portions are press-fitted into the housing with an overlap in a first direction that is a width direction of the connecting portion, The pair of second press-fitting portions are bent at right angles at both ends of the connecting portion in the width direction and are opposed to each other, The pair of second press-fit portions are press-fitted into the housing with an overlap in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A connector characterized by:
2. The terminal is inserted into the housing from the first connection portion side to the second connection portion side, with the first connection portion side being the leading end, The pair of second press-fitting portions are disposed closer to the second connection portion than the pair of first press-fitting portions.
2. The connector according to claim 1 .
3. The first connection portion is formed in a cylindrical shape capable of receiving a mating terminal, A step is formed on the first connection portion side of the pair of first press-fit portions of the coupling portion.
3. The connector according to claim 2.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Substrate mounting type connector, and substrate with connector
JP2021182487A