Electric connector, electric connector set, and method for manufacturing electric connector

Abstract

To provide an electric connector that is excellent in durability and conductivity and has high reliability, an electric connector set including the electric connector, and a method for manufacturing the electric connector.SOLUTION: A first electric connector 100 formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view is provided with a pair of reinforcement metal fittings 150A, 150B at both ends in a short direction. The pair of reinforcement metal fittings 150A, 150B each have a side wall part 151 having a contact part 160 that extends along a longitudinal direction, forming a contact surface in surface contact with a counterpart electric connector and forming an inner opposite surface opposite to a counterpart inner opposite surface in a substantially center part in the longitudinal direction. The first electric connector 100 has a plurality of connection terminals 130 arranged side by side along the longitudinal direction, each having a signal contact part (upper connection part 132) in contact with the counterpart electric connector. All the signal contact parts of the plurality of connection terminals 130 are arranged to be accommodated within a short direction range R11 that is defined between the inner opposite surfaces opposite to each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connector, an electrical connector set, and a manufacturing method for an electrical connector. In particular, the present invention relates to a socket-type or plug-type electrical connector that is attached to a circuit board and fits into each other, a manufacturing method thereof, and an electrical connector set consisting of a socket-type and plug-type electrical connectors. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, electrical connectors that connect boards to each other have been used to electrically connect circuit boards mounted on electronic devices, etc. Such electrical connectors are, for example, socket-type or plug-type electrical connectors, and an electrical connection state is maintained by fitting a pair of socket-type and plug-type electrical connectors to each other.

[0003] Also known as such electrical connectors are those equipped with reinforcing fittings that have the function of maintaining the strength of the electrical connector and the physical connection state of the pair of electrical connectors, and the function of connecting power lines between the pair of electrical connectors.

[0004] The following Patent Document 1 describes a connector equipped with a reinforcing metal fitting in which L-shaped members located at both ends in the longitudinal direction are connected by a connecting part located in the longitudinal center. In the connector described in Patent Document 1, the reinforcing metal fitting is U-shaped as a whole including the connecting part extending in the longitudinal direction, and a pair of reinforcing metal fittings are arranged at both ends in the lateral direction so as to face each other. The connecting part extending in the longitudinal direction improves the strength of the housing and functions as an electromagnetic shield.

[0005] Moreover, the connector described in Patent Document 1 is provided with a contact arm. In Patent Document 1, when the connector and the mating connector are mated, the contact arm provided on the reinforcing metal fitting of the connector clamps the reinforcing metal fitting of the mating connector, thereby engaging the connector and the mating connector and connecting the power line. By providing the contact arm on the reinforcing metal fitting of the connector in this way, it is possible to reliably maintain the engaged state between the reinforcing metal fitting and the mating reinforcing metal fitting, and also to reliably maintain the conductive state between the reinforcing metal fitting and the mating reinforcing metal fitting. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6245964 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] In the connector described in Patent Document 1, the signal line connection part (first terminal and second terminal) and the power line connection part (first contact arm and second reinforcing metal fitting) are arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction at the same position in the short side direction of the connector. Therefore, since the signal line interferes in the longitudinal direction, it is necessary to reduce the longitudinal dimension of the power line connection part, which results in a problem that the contact area of ​​the power line connection part between the connectors is limited.

[0008] If the contact area is limited, the contact resistance increases, making it easier for heat to be generated, which can lead to increased energy loss and the risk of connection failure or breakdown due to deformation or deterioration of the connector or board. For this reason, taking into consideration the occurrence of connection failure or breakdown, the problem of difficulty in increasing the allowable current when the connector is connected also arises.

[0009] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has an object to provide an electrical connector that is highly reliable and has excellent durability and conductivity, an electrical connector set that includes the electrical connector, and a method for manufacturing the electrical connector. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the electrical connector according to the present invention is an electrical connector having an insulating housing, a plurality of conductive connection terminals provided on the housing, and a pair of conductive reinforcing metal fittings attached to the housing, the electrical connector being formed into a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, the pair of reinforcing metal fittings are provided at both ends of the electrical connector in a short direction, and each of the reinforcing metal fittings has a side wall portion extending along a longitudinal direction of the electrical connector, the side wall portions of the pair of reinforcing metal fittings each have a contact portion at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction, the contact portion forming a contact surface that comes into surface contact with a mating electrical connector and forming inner facing surfaces that face each other, the plurality of connection terminals are arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction, and each of the connection terminals has a signal contact portion adapted to come into contact with a mating electrical connector; The signal contact portions of all of the plurality of connection terminals are arranged to be contained within a lateral range defined between the opposing inner facing surfaces.

[0011] According to the above configuration, the side walls of the pair of reinforcing metal fittings extend along the longitudinal direction of the electrical connector, improving the longitudinal rigidity of the rectangular electrical connector, which is relatively weak. In addition, the contact portion that forms the contact surface that comes into surface contact with the mating electrical connector can be located at a position that does not interfere with the signal contact portion of the connection terminal in the longitudinal direction, ensuring a large contact surface area of ​​the contact portion in the longitudinal direction. By increasing the contact area between the electrical connectors, the contact resistance can be reduced, the allowable current can be increased, and the retention force of the electrical connectors in the mated state can be improved. As a result, it is possible to provide an electrical connector that is highly reliable and has excellent durability and conductivity.

[0012] In the electrical connector according to the present invention having the above configuration, each of the plurality of connection terminals may have a shape extending in the short side direction.

[0013] According to the above configuration, it is easy to ensure a space for arranging a plurality of connection terminals side by side in the longitudinal direction without increasing the dimension of the electrical connector in the lateral direction.

[0014] In the electrical connector according to the present invention having the aforementioned configuration, each of the plurality of connection terminals may have a shape extending in the longitudinal direction.

[0015] According to the above configuration, it is possible to reduce the dimension of the electrical connector in the short direction without shortening the length of the connection terminal in the extending direction.

[0016] In the electrical connector according to the present invention, in the above configuration, all of the plurality of connection terminals may be arranged to be contained within the short-side range.

[0017] According to the above configuration, the contact portion which forms a contact surface that makes surface contact with the mating electrical connector can be positioned so as not to interfere with the connection terminal in the longitudinal direction, thereby ensuring a large contact surface area of ​​the contact portion in the longitudinal direction.

[0018] In the electrical connector of the present invention, in the above-mentioned configuration, all of the signal contact portions of the multiple connection terminals may be arranged so as to at least partially overlap within a longitudinal range defined by the longitudinal lengths of the contact portions.

[0019] According to the above configuration, at least a portion of all signal contact portions of the multiple connection terminals are positioned so as to overlap an area surrounded by a short-side range defined between the opposing inner opposing surfaces and a longitudinal range defined by the longitudinal length of the contact portions, thereby making it possible to reduce the longitudinal length of the electrical connector while ensuring a large contact surface area of ​​the contact portions in the longitudinal direction.

[0020] In the above-mentioned configuration, the electrical connector of the present invention may be arranged so that all of the signal contact portions of the multiple connection terminals are contained within a longitudinal range defined by the longitudinal lengths of the contact portions.

[0021] According to the above configuration, with respect to all signal contact portions of the multiple connection terminals, at least a portion is positioned so as to overlap an area surrounded by a short-side range defined between the opposing inner opposing surfaces and a longitudinal range defined by the longitudinal length of the contact portion, thereby making it possible to significantly reduce the longitudinal length of the electrical connector while ensuring a large contact surface area of ​​the contact portion in the longitudinal direction.

[0022] In the electrical connector according to the present invention, in the above configuration, the contact surface of the contact portion that comes into surface contact with the mating electrical connector may be provided with an engaging portion that is engageable with the mating electrical connector.

[0023] According to the above configuration, the electrical connectors can be engaged with each other via the engaging portion, so that the fitted state can be more reliably maintained.

[0024] According to the present invention, there is provided an electrical connector set comprising the above-mentioned electrical connector and a mating electrical connector that is mateable with the electrical connector.

[0025] According to the above configuration, an electrical connector set is provided that includes an electrical connector having the above characteristics. Note that only one of a pair of electrical connectors constituting the electrical connector set may be an electrical connector having the above characteristics, or both of the pair of electrical connectors may be electrical connectors having the above characteristics.

[0026] According to the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing the above-mentioned electrical connector, comprising the steps of: inserting a metal plate material processed into the shapes of the pair of reinforcing members and the plurality of connection terminals into a die; performing insert molding by filling and solidifying molten resin into a mold into which the metal plate is inserted to form the housing; and forming the plurality of connection terminals electrically isolated from the pair of reinforcing metal fittings by removing portions of the metal plate.

[0027] According to the above process, by performing insert molding, it is not necessary to separately manufacture the housing, the multiple connection terminals, and the pair of reinforcing members, and by performing insert molding, it is possible to manufacture an electrical connector in which the housing, the multiple connection terminals, and the pair of reinforcing members are reliably integrated. Effect of the Invention

[0028] The present invention provides an electrical connector, an electrical connector set, and a method for manufacturing an electrical connector that are highly reliable and have excellent durability and conductivity. In particular, the present invention has the effects of improving the longitudinal rigidity of a substantially rectangular electrical connector, reducing the contact resistance when the electrical connectors are mated together to increase the allowable current, and improving the retention force of the mated state of the electrical connectors. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electrical connector set according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a fitted state of an electrical connector set in a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 1A and 1B are perspective views of a first electrical connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 1A is a view from above, and FIG. [Figure 4]1A and 1B are perspective views of a connection terminal of a first electric connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a view from above, and (b) is a view from below. [Diagram 5] 1A and 1B are perspective views of a reinforcing metal fitting of a first electrical connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a view from above and (b) is a view from below. [Figure 6] 1A and 1B are perspective views showing a state before insert molding when manufacturing a first electrical connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a view from above and (b) is a view from below. [Figure 7] 1A and 1B are perspective views showing a state after insert molding when manufacturing the first electrical connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a view from above and (b) is a view from below. [Figure 8] 3A and 3B are perspective views of the second electric connector in the first embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 3A is a view from above and FIG. [Figure 9] 1A and 1B are perspective views of a connection terminal of a second electric connector in a first embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a view from above and (b) is a view from below. [Figure 10] 5A and 5B are perspective views of a reinforcing metal fitting of the second electric connector in the first embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a view from above and (b) is a view from below. [Figure 11] 5A and 5B are perspective views showing a state after insert molding when manufacturing the second electrical connector in the first embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a view from above and (b) is a view from below. [Figure 12] 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the mated state of the electrical connector set in the first embodiment of the present invention, taken along line X1-X1 in FIG. 2; [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the first electrical connector in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the second electrical connector in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of an electrical connector set according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a fitted state of an electrical connector set in a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] 11A and 11B are perspective views of a first electrical connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a view from above and (b) is a view from below. [Figure 18] 11A and 11B are perspective views of a housing of a first electrical connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a view from above and (b) is a view from below. [Figure 19] 13A and 13B are perspective views of a connection terminal of a first electric connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a view from above and (b) is a view from below. [Figure 20] 13A and 13B are perspective views of a reinforcing metal fitting of a first electrical connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a view from above and (b) is a view from below. [Figure 21] 13A and 13B are perspective views of a second electric connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a view from above and (b) is a view from below. [Figure 22] 13A and 13B are perspective views of a connection terminal of a second electric connector in a second embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a view from above, and (b) is a view from below. [Figure 23] 13A and 13B are perspective views of a reinforcing metal fitting of a second electric connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a view from above and (b) is a view from below. [Figure 24] 17A and 17B are cross-sectional views showing a mated state of the electrical connector set in the second embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X2-X2 in FIG. 16, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Y2-Y2 in FIG. [Diagram 25] FIG. 11 is a plan view of a first electrical connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 26] FIG. 11 is a plan view of a second electrical connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] Hereinafter, an electrical connector, an electrical connector set, and a method for manufacturing an electrical connector according to first and second embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0031] (First embodiment) First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0032] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an electrical connector set 10A according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a separated state, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an electrical connector set 10A according to the first embodiment of the present invention in a fitted state.

[0033] The electrical connector set 10A in the first embodiment of the present invention is configured to include a pair of electrical connectors consisting of a socket-type electrical connector and a plug-type electrical connector. In the following description, the socket-type electrical connector will be referred to as the first electrical connector 100, and the plug-type electrical connector will be referred to as the second electrical connector 200. The first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 have their respective board-facing surfaces 102, 202 attached to different boards (not shown) and serve to connect the boards together.

[0034] The first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 can be separated from each other (separated state) as shown in FIG. 1, or can be connected to each other (engaged state) with the mating surfaces 101 and 201 facing each other as shown in FIG. 2.

[0035] In the perspective view of FIG. 1, the mating surface 101 of the first electrical connector 100 and the mating surface 201 of the second electrical connector 200 are shown facing the same direction. By facing the mating surface 101 and the mating surface 201 to each other as shown typically by the arrow A, the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 can be mated as shown in FIG. 2. Note that in this specification, one electrical connector may be used as a reference and the other electrical connector may be described as a mating electrical connector. The mating electrical connector for the first electrical connector 100 is the second electrical connector 200, and the mating electrical connector for the second electrical connector 200 is the first electrical connector 100.

[0036] (First electrical connector 100) A first electric connector 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 3 to 7. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the first electric connector 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a connection terminal 130 of the first electric connector 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of reinforcing metal fittings 150A and 150B of the first electric connector 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views showing the states before and after insert molding when manufacturing the first electric connector 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In each of Figs. 3 to 7, (a) is a view from above, and (b) is a view from below.

[0037] Fig. 3 shows the first electrical connector 100 in an assembled state (assembled state). As shown in Fig. 3, the first electrical connector 100 is configured to include a housing 110, a plurality of connection terminals 130, and a pair of reinforcing metal fittings 150A and 150B. The first electrical connector 100 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a shape on the mating surface 101 side that allows detachable female-male mating (convex-concave mating) with the second electrical connector 200.

[0038] In the description of the first electrical connector 100, the direction approximately perpendicular to the mating surface 101 and the board-facing surface 102 of the first electrical connector 100 (the direction facing the second electrical connector 200) is defined as the vertical direction (z-axis in FIG. 3), the mating surface 101 side is defined as the upper side, and the board-facing surface 102 side is defined as the lower side. When viewed from the vertical direction (plan view), the first electrical connector 100 has an approximately rectangular shape, and the direction along the long side of this approximately rectangular shape is defined as the longitudinal direction (x-axis in FIG. 3), and the direction along the short side is defined as the short direction (y-axis in FIG. 3).

[0039] (Housing 110 of first electrical connector 100) The housing 110 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin, and constitutes the connector body of the first electrical connector 100. The housing 110 can be formed into a desired shape, for example, by injection molding molten resin. As will be described later with reference to Figures 6 and 7, the housing 110 may be manufactured integrally with the connection terminals 130 and the reinforcing metal fittings 150A and 150B by insert molding.

[0040] The housing 110 of the illustrated first electrical connector 100 is manufactured by insert molding. The housing 110 shown in Fig. 3 is integrated with the connection terminal 130 and the reinforcing metal fittings 150A and 150B, and forms the substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape of the first electrical connector 100 together with the reinforcing metal fittings 150A and 150B.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 3, the housing 110 is integrally configured to include a pair of support connecting portions 111 located at both longitudinal ends of the first electrical connector 100, a bottom surface portion 112 that forms the bottom surface of the first electrical connector 100, a central protrusion portion 113 that protrudes upwardly from approximately the center of the bottom surface portion 112, and a connection terminal accommodating portion 114 for accommodating the connection terminal 130.

[0042] The pair of support connecting portions 111 form end faces located at both ends of the first electrical connector 100 in the longitudinal direction, and the bottom surface portion 112 forms a flat surface connecting the pair of support connecting portions 111 together.

[0043] The central protrusion 113 is adapted to be fitted into the recess 213 (see FIG. 8(a)) of the second electric connector 200, and has, for example, a rectangular ring-shaped protrusion. The central protrusion 113 is provided with a connection terminal accommodating portion 114 for supporting and fixing a plurality of connection terminals 130 arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction. The connection terminal accommodating portion 114 has, for example, an accommodating groove extending in the lateral direction to accommodate the connection terminals 130. The upper connection portion 132 of the connection terminal 130 is accommodated and fixed in the accommodating groove as shown in FIG. 3(a). Also, the lower connection portion 131 of the connection terminal 130 penetrates the bottom surface portion 112 and is exposed on the lower surface side of the first electric connector 100 as shown in FIG. 3(b).

[0044] As shown in FIG. 3(a), a rectangular ring-shaped concave fitting portion 120 is formed between the central protrusion portion 113 and the inner wall surface of the reinforcing fittings 150A, 150B (the inner wall surface formed by the corner wall portion 155 and the contact inner wall portion 163 shown in FIG. 5).

[0045] In the electrical connector set 10A, the concave mating portion 120 of the first electrical connector 100 is configured to be mated female-male (convex-concave mating) with the second electrical connector 200, and further, the central protrusion portion 113 of the first electrical connector 100 is configured to be mated female-male (concave-convex mating) with the recessed portion 213 of the second electrical connector 200. When the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 are mated with each other, the mated state is maintained between the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200, and the connection state of the signal line and the power line is maintained.

[0046] (Connection terminal 130 of first electrical connector 100) The connection terminal 130 is made of a conductive material such as metal, and is formed by, for example, bending a plate-like member. The connection terminal 130 is electrically connected to the connection terminal 230 of the second electrical connector 200, and serves as a signal terminal (signal contact) that electrically connects signal lines between boards. As will be described later with reference to Figures 6 and 7, the connection terminal 130 may be manufactured integrally with the housing 110 and the reinforcing metal fittings 150A and 150B by insert molding.

[0047] 4, the connection terminals 130 are integrally configured to include a lower connection portion 131 and an upper connection portion 132. In the first electrical connector 100, the connection terminals 130 are arranged so that their longitudinal direction (extension direction of the lower connection portion 131 and the upper connection portion 132) coincides with the short side direction of the first electrical connector 100. That is, each connection terminal 130 is arranged so as to extend elongatedly along the short side direction of the first electrical connector 100.

[0048] The lower connection portion 131 constitutes the lower surface side of the connection terminal 130. The upper connection portion 132 constitutes a portion curved above the lower connection portion 131 into a substantially U-shape.

[0049] The first electrical connector 100 may be provided with a plurality of connection terminals 130. The plurality of connection terminals 130 are arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the first electrical connector 100, for example. The number of the connection terminals 130 and the separation distance (pitch) in the longitudinal direction are not particularly limited. In this embodiment, three connection terminals 130 are arranged in parallel at equal pitches as shown in FIG. 4, but two or four or more connection terminals 130 may be provided. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of connection terminals 130 may be provided such that adjacent connection terminals 130 in the longitudinal direction are oriented in opposite directions.

[0050] (Reinforcing fittings 150A, 150B of first electrical connector 100) The reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B are made of a conductive material such as metal, and are formed, for example, by processing a plate-like member such as bending. Here, the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B have different shapes, but they may also have the same shape.

[0051] The reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B not only serve to reinforce the first electrical connector 100 and improve its strength, but also serve as power terminals (power contacts) that connect power lines between boards by electrically connecting to the reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B of the second electrical connector 200, and to maintain the mated state between the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200. As will be described later with reference to Figures 6 and 7, the reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B may be produced integrally with the housing 110 and the connection terminals 130 by insert molding.

[0052] The pair of reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B are provided at both ends in the short side direction of the first electrical connector 100. The pair of reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B face each other across a central axis C1 (see FIG. 3) along the longitudinal direction of the first electrical connector 100, and are disposed spaced apart from each other in the short side direction.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 5, each of the reinforcing metal fittings 150A and 150B is integrally formed with a side wall portion 151, an end wall portion 152, an upper surface portion 153, and a lower surface portion 154.

[0054] The side wall 151 is an elongated plate-like member that forms part of the longitudinal side surface (longer side surface substantially perpendicular to the short side direction) of the first electrical connector 100. Both longitudinal end portions of the side wall 151 are gently curved to approach the central axis C1 along the longitudinal direction.

[0055] End walls 152 are disposed on both ends of the reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B. The end walls 152 are plate-like members forming a surface having a perpendicular line that is substantially aligned with the longitudinal direction, and constitute part of the short-side end faces (short side faces substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction) of the first electrical connector 100. When the first electrical connector 100 is viewed from the vertical direction, the side walls 151 and the end walls 152 form a substantially right angle, and the reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B are generally U-shaped.

[0056] 5, upper surface portion 153 is a plate-like member smoothly connected to the upper edge of end wall portion 152, and lower surface portion 154 is a plate-like member smoothly connected to the lower edge of side wall portion 151 and the lower edge of end wall portion 152. Upper surface portion 153 and lower surface portion 154 are disposed inside the four corners of first electrical connector 100.

[0057] The upper surface portion 153 and the lower surface portion 154 overlap in the vertical direction to form surfaces that are approximately parallel to each other. As shown in Fig. 3, the support connection portion 111 of the housing 110 is disposed between the upper surface portion 153 and the lower surface portion 154, and the bottom surface portion 112 of the housing 110 is disposed on the upper surface side of the lower surface portion 154.

[0058] When viewed from the vertical direction, top surface portion 153 is generally L-shaped along side wall portions 151 and end wall portions 152. Corner wall portions 155 are smoothly connected to the inner edge of the generally L-shaped top surface portion 153. Corner wall portions 155 are curved plate-like members, and form inner wall surfaces parallel to side wall portions 151 and end wall portions 152 on the inside of the four corners of first electrical connector 100. The inner wall surfaces of corner wall portions 155 form part of the wall surfaces of concave fitting portion 120.

[0059] Furthermore, side wall 151 of reinforcing brackets 150A, 150B has a contact portion 160 in the longitudinal center. In first electrical connector 100, contact portion 160 is provided integrally with side wall 151, and has outer wall portion 161, which is part of the longitudinal center of side wall 151, curved portion 162, and contact inner wall portion 163, as shown in FIG.

[0060] The outer wall portion 161 forms the surface of the first electrical connector 100 facing outward.

[0061] The curved portion 162 is a plate-like member curved in an approximately U-shape. One end side of the curved portion 162 is smoothly connected to the upper edge of the outer wall portion 161, and the other end side of the curved portion 162 is smoothly connected to the upper edge of the contacting inner wall portion 163.

[0062] The contact inner wall portion 163 is a plate-like member that forms an inner wall surface facing the inside of the first electrical connector 100. The inner wall surface of the contact inner wall portion 163 forms a part of the wall surface of the concave fitting portion 120 and forms a contact surface that comes into surface contact with the second electrical connector 200. In addition, the inner wall surface of the contact inner wall portion 163 forms inner facing surfaces that face each other between the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B.

[0063] One end of the contact inner wall portion 163 is smoothly connected to the other end of the substantially U-shaped curved portion 162, while the other end (lower end) of the contact inner wall portion 163 is not fixed but is a free end. This allows the contact inner wall portion 163 to elastically deform in a direction perpendicular to its inner wall surface. Also, the contact inner wall portion 163 is inclined so that its lower end is positioned slightly inward, allowing it to reliably press against the outer surface of the mated second electrical connector 200.

[0064] The contact portion 160 has the role of coming into contact with the contact portions 260 of the reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B of the second electrical connector 200 when the first electrical connector 100 is mated with the second electrical connector 200, thereby connecting the power lines.

[0065] In addition, when the first electrical connector 100 is mated with the second electrical connector 200, the contact portion 160 has the role of pressing the contact portions 260 of the reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B of the second electrical connector 200, thereby maintaining the mated state.

[0066] It is also possible to provide engaging portions on the reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B, and also on the reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B of the second electrical connector 200, so that these engaging portions engage with each other, thereby more reliably maintaining the fitted state.

[0067] The engaging portions may have, for example, concave and convex shapes that fit each other. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, two engaging recesses 165 are provided on the contact inner wall portions 163 of the reinforcing metal fittings 150A and 150B, and two engaging protrusions 265 are also provided at corresponding positions on the reinforcing metal fittings 250A and 250B of the second electrical connector 200, as described later (see Fig. 10). This allows the engaging recesses 165 and the engaging protrusions 265 to engage with each other, thereby more reliably maintaining the fitted state.

[0068] (Method of manufacturing the first electrical connector 100) The method for manufacturing the first electrical connector 100 is not particularly limited, but for example, the connection terminals 130 and the reinforcing metal fittings 150A and 150B may be integrally produced with the housing 110 by insert molding.

[0069] Specifically, a single metal plate 190 that forms the connection terminal 130 and the reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B is prepared, and the single metal plate 190 is processed into the shapes of the connection terminal 130 and the reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B. Fig. 6 shows the state (before insert molding) of the metal plate 190 processed into the shapes of the connection terminal 130 and the reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B.

[0070] Next, metal plate 190 processed to have the shapes of connection terminal 130 and reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B is inserted into a metal mold, and molten resin is filled into the metal mold and solidified by insert molding to form housing 110. Fig. 7 shows the state after insert molding in which housing 110 is integrally formed with metal plate 190 processed to have the shapes of connection terminal 130 and reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B.

[0071] Here, a single metal plate 190 is processed to have the shapes of connection terminal 130 and reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B, and in metal plate 190, connection terminal 130 and reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B are connected at connecting portion P shown in Figures 6(b) and 7(b). From this state, connecting portion P of connection terminal 130 and reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B is removed to form connection terminal 130 that is electrically isolated from the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B, thereby manufacturing first electrical connector 100 in which housing 110, connection terminal 130, and reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B are reliably integrated.

[0072] It is not necessary to use insert molding when manufacturing the first electrical connector 100. For example, the housing 110, the multiple connection terminals 130, and the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 150A and 150B may be produced separately, and the multiple connection terminals 130 and the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 150A and 150B may be attached to the housing 110 to manufacture the first electrical connector 100.

[0073] (Second electrical connector 200) The second electric connector 200 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 8 to 11. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the second electric connector 200 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a connection terminal 230 of the second electric connector 200 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 10 is a perspective view of reinforcing metal fittings 250A and 250B of the second electric connector 200 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the state after insert molding when manufacturing the second electric connector 200 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In all of Figs. 8 to 11, (a) is a view from above, and (b) is a view from below.

[0074] Fig. 8 shows the second electrical connector 200 in an assembled state (assembled state). As shown in Fig. 8, the second electrical connector 200 is configured to include a housing 210, a plurality of connection terminals 230, and a pair of reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B. The second electrical connector 200 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a shape on the mating surface 201 side that allows detachable female-male mating (convex-concave mating) with the first electrical connector 100.

[0075] In the description of the second electrical connector 200, the direction substantially perpendicular to the mating surface 201 and the board-facing surface 202 of the second electrical connector 200 (the direction facing the first electrical connector 100) is defined as the vertical direction (z-axis in FIG. 8), the mating surface 201 side is defined as the upper side, and the board-facing surface 202 side is defined as the lower side. When viewed from the vertical direction (plan view), the second electrical connector 200 has a substantially rectangular shape, and the direction along the long side of this substantially rectangular shape is defined as the longitudinal direction (x-axis in FIG. 8), and the direction along the short side is defined as the short direction (y-axis in FIG. 3).

[0076] (Housing 210 of second electrical connector 200) Housing 210 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin, and constitutes the connector body of second electrical connector 200. Housing 210 can be formed into a desired shape by, for example, injection molding molten resin. As will be described later with reference to Fig. 11, housing 210 may be produced integrally with reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B by insert molding.

[0077] The housing 210 of the illustrated second electrical connector 200 is manufactured by insert molding. The housing 210 shown in Fig. 8 is integrated with the reinforcing metal fittings 250A and 250B, and together with the reinforcing metal fittings 250A and 250B, forms the substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape of the second electrical connector 200.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 8, the housing 210 is integrally configured to include a pair of support connecting portions 211 located at both ends of the longitudinal direction of the second electrical connector 200, and a pair of lateral support portions 212 located at both ends of the transverse direction of the second electrical connector 200.

[0079] The pair of support connecting parts 211 are arranged to connect the pair of opposing reinforcing brackets 250A, 250B, and the pair of side support parts 212 extend in the longitudinal direction of the second electrical connector 200 and connect the pair of support connecting parts 211. The pair of support connecting parts 211 and the pair of side support parts 212 are arranged to form four sides.

[0080] A bottomed recess 213 is formed on the inside surrounded by the pair of support connecting parts 211 and the pair of side support parts 212. The rectangular annular central protrusion 113 of the first electrical connector 100 can be inserted into the recess 213.

[0081] The recessed portion 213 is provided with a connection terminal accommodating portion 214 for supporting and fixing a plurality of connection terminals 230 arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction. The connection terminal accommodating portion 214 forms an uneven surface that fits the connection terminals 230, and has an accommodating groove extending in the short direction so that the connection terminals 230 can be attached and fixed. A part of the connection terminal accommodating portion 214 penetrates to the lower surface side, and the extension portion 231 and the lower connection portion 233 of the connection terminal 230 attached to the connection terminal accommodating portion 214 are exposed to the lower surface side of the second electric connector 200 as shown in FIG. 8(b).

[0082] As described above, in the electrical connector set 10A, the second electrical connector 200 is configured to engage with the concave mating portion 120 of the first electrical connector 100 in a female-male manner (convex-concave mating), and further, the concave portion 213 of the second electrical connector 200 is configured to engage with the central protrusion portion 113 of the first electrical connector 100 in a female-male manner (concave-convex mating).

[0083] (Connection terminal 230 of second electrical connector 200) The connection terminal 230 is made of a conductive material such as metal, and is formed by, for example, bending a plate-like member. The connection terminal 230 is electrically connected to the connection terminal 130 of the first electrical connector 100, and serves as a signal terminal (signal contact) that electrically connects signal lines between boards. The connection terminal 230 is produced, for example, by processing a metal plate into a predetermined shape.

[0084] The connection terminal 230 has an elongated shape, and is configured by integrally connecting an extension portion 231, a first connection portion 232, a lower connection portion 233, and a second connection portion 234 in this order. In the second electric connector 200, the connection terminals 230 are arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the connection terminals 230 coincides with the lateral direction of the second electric connector 200. That is, each connection terminal 230 is arranged so as to extend elongatedly along the lateral direction of the second electric connector 200.

[0085] The extending portion 231 and the lower connection portion 233 form the lower surface side of the connection terminal 230. A first connection portion 232 having a substantially U-shape and curved so as to protrude upward is connected between the extending portion 231 and one end of the lower connection portion 233. In addition, a second connection portion 234 having a substantially U-shape and curved so as to protrude upward is connected to the other end of the lower connection portion 233. As shown in FIG. 9, the first connection portion 232 and the second connection portion 234 are separated from each other to leave a gap.

[0086] The second connection portion 234 formed of a plate-like member is elastically deformable in a direction toward or away from the first connection portion 232. When the second electrical connector 200 is mated with the first electrical connector 100, the central protrusion portion 113 provided on the first electrical connector 100 is inserted between the first connection portion 232 and the second connection portion 234.

[0087] The second electrical connector 200 may be provided with a predetermined number of connection terminals 230 at predetermined positions in accordance with the plurality of connection terminals 130 of the first electrical connector 100. This allows the signal lines to be appropriately connected to the first electrical connector 100.

[0088] (Reinforcing fittings 250A, 250B of second electrical connector 200) The reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B are made of a conductive material such as metal, and are formed, for example, by processing a plate-like member such as bending. Here, the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B have the same shape, but they may have different shapes.

[0089] The reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B not only serve to reinforce the second electrical connector 200 and improve its strength, but also serve as power terminals (power contacts) that connect power lines between the boards by electrically connecting to the reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B of the first electrical connector 100, and also serve to maintain the mated state between the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200. As will be described later with reference to Fig. 11, the reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B may be produced by being integrally formed with the housing 210 by, for example, insert molding.

[0090] The pair of reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B are provided at both ends in the short side direction of the second electrical connector 200. The pair of reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B face each other across a central axis C2 (see FIG. 8) along the longitudinal direction of the second electrical connector 200, and are disposed spaced apart from each other in the short side direction.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 10, the reinforcing metal fittings 250A and 250B are integrally formed with a side wall portion 251, an end wall portion 252, an upper surface portion 253, and a lower surface portion 254.

[0092] The side wall portion 251 is a long and thin plate-like member, and constitutes a part of the side surface in the longitudinal direction of the second electrical connector 200 (the long side surface approximately perpendicular to the short side direction).

[0093] End walls 252 are disposed on both ends of reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B. End wall 252 is a plate-like member forming a surface having a perpendicular line that approximately coincides with the longitudinal direction, and constitutes part of a short-side end face (short side surface approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal direction) of second electrical connector 200. When second electrical connector 200 is viewed from the vertical direction, side wall 251 and end wall 252 form a substantially right angle, and reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B are generally U-shaped.

[0094] 10, upper surface portion 253 is a plate-like member smoothly connected to the upper edges of side wall portion 251 and end wall portion 252, and lower surface portion 254 is a plate-like member smoothly connected to the lower edge of end wall portion 252. Upper surface portion 253 and lower surface portion 254 are disposed on the inside of the four corners of second electrical connector 200.

[0095] The upper surface portion 253 and the lower surface portion 254 overlap each other in the vertical direction to form surfaces that are approximately parallel to each other. As shown in Fig. 8, the support connection portion 211 and the side support portion 212 of the housing 210 are disposed between the upper surface portion 253 and the lower surface portion 254.

[0096] Furthermore, the side wall 251 of the reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B has a contact portion 260 in the longitudinal center. In the second electrical connector 200, the longitudinal center of the side wall 251 forms the contact portion 260, and its outer wall surface forms the contact outer wall 261. The contact outer wall 261 forms a contact surface that comes into surface contact with the first electrical connector 100. Also, an inner edge 262 of the contact portion 260 forms inner facing surfaces that face each other between the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B.

[0097] The contact portion 260 has the role of coming into contact with the contact portions 160 of the reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B of the first electrical connector 100 when the second electrical connector 200 is mated with the first electrical connector 100, thereby connecting the power lines.

[0098] Furthermore, when the second electrical connector 200 is mated with the first electrical connector 100, the contact portion 260 is pressed by the contact portions 160 of the reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B of the first electrical connector 100, thereby maintaining the mated state.

[0099] It is also possible to provide engaging portions on the reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B, and also on the reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B of the first electrical connector 100, so that these engaging portions engage with each other, thereby more reliably maintaining the fitted state.

[0100] The engaging portions may have, for example, projections and recesses that fit each other. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 10, two engaging projections 265 are provided on the contact portions 260 of the reinforcing metal fittings 250A and 250B, and as described above, two engaging recesses 165 are also provided at corresponding positions on the reinforcing metal fittings 150A and 150B of the first electrical connector 100. This allows the engaging recesses 165 and the engaging projections 265 to engage with each other, thereby more reliably maintaining the fitted state.

[0101] (Method of Manufacturing the Second Electrical Connector 200) The method for manufacturing the second electrical connector 200 is not particularly limited, but for example, the reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B and the housing 210 may be integrally manufactured by insert molding.

[0102] Specifically, first, a metal plate is processed to produce a pair of reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B. Next, the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B are inserted into a metal mold, and molten resin is filled into the metal mold and solidified by insert molding to form the housing 210. Fig. 11 shows the state after insert molding in which the housing 210 is integrally formed with the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B.

[0103] The above-described insert molding makes it possible to produce a member in which housing 210 and reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B are reliably integrated. Second electrical connector 200 can be manufactured by separately producing multiple connection terminals 230 and attaching the multiple connection terminals 230 to the member in which housing 210 and reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B are integrated.

[0104] It is not necessary to use insert molding when manufacturing the second electrical connector 200. For example, the housing 210, the multiple connection terminals 230, and the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B may be produced separately, and the multiple connection terminals 230 and the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B may be attached to the housing 210 to manufacture the second electrical connector 200.

[0105] (Electrical connector set 10A in mated state) The mated state of the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 constituting the electrical connector set 10A will be described with reference to Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the mated state of the electrical connector set 10A in the first embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line X1-X1 in Fig. 2.

[0106] As shown in FIG. 12, in the electrical connector set 10A, the entire second electrical connector 200 fits into the concave mating portion 120 of the first electrical connector 100, and further, the central protrusion portion 113 of the first electrical connector 100 fits into the recessed portion 213 of the second electrical connector 200, allowing the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 to be interlocked.

[0107] The lower ends of the contact inner walls 163 of the reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B of the first electrical connector 100 are free ends and are capable of elastic deformation. When the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 are mated, the reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B of the first electrical connector 100 elastically deform, and the contact inner walls 163 of the first electrical connector 100 come into contact with the contact outer walls 261 of the second electrical connector 200.

[0108] Further, the second connection portion 234 of the connection terminal 230 of the second electrical connector 200 is adapted to be elastically deformable in a direction moving away from or toward the first connection portion 232. When the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 are mated, the connection terminal 230 of the second electrical connector 200 elastically deforms, and the upper connection portion 132 of the first electrical connector 100 comes into contact with the first connection portion 232 and the second connection portion 234 of the second electrical connector 200.

[0109] (Characteristic Configuration and Function of the First Electrical Connector 100) The characteristic configuration and operation of the first electrical connector 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 13. Fig. 13 is a plan view of the first electrical connector 100 in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0110] 13, the first electrical connector 100 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, and has a pair of reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B at both ends in the short side direction that function as power contacts with the second electrical connector 200. The pair of reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B are disposed to face each other across a central axis C1 extending in the longitudinal direction of the first electrical connector 100.

[0111] The pair of reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B each have a side wall portion 151 arranged along both longitudinal side surfaces of the first electrical connector 100. The side wall portion 151 extends without being interrupted at the longitudinal center portion of the first electrical connector 100, and the reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B have a shape that extends overall in the longitudinal direction of the first electrical connector 100. The side wall portion 151 is provided, for example, so as to connect a pair of end wall portions 152 arranged at both longitudinal ends of the first electrical connector 100.

[0112] The first electrical connector 100 has a plurality of connection terminals 130 that function as signal contacts with the second electrical connector 200. The plurality of connection terminals 130 are arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the first electrical connector 100. Note that, although the plurality of connection terminals 130 are arranged on the same longitudinal axis as shown in FIG. 13, the plurality of connection terminals 130 do not necessarily have to be arranged on the same longitudinal axis. For example, if a certain connection terminal 130 and another connection terminal 130 are arranged at different positions in the longitudinal direction, even if they are arranged at different positions in the lateral direction, this is included in the aspect in which the connection terminals 130 are arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction.

[0113] Each of the multiple connection terminals 130 has a signal contact portion that comes into contact with the connection terminal 230 of the second electrical connector 200. In the first electrical connector 100, the upper connection portion 132 of the connection terminal 130 constitutes the signal contact portion.

[0114] The side walls 151 of the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B each have a contact portion 160 integrally formed in the longitudinal center of the first electrical connector 100, the contact portion 160 including a contact surface capable of contacting the second electrical connector 200. The contact portion 160 has an outer wall portion 161 which is part of the longitudinal center of the side walls 151, a curved portion 162, and a contact inner wall portion 163. The contact inner wall portion 163 forms a contact surface which comes into surface contact with the second electrical connector 200. In FIG. 13, the contact portion 160 corresponds to the member surrounded by the dotted line in the figure.

[0115] The contact portions 160 of the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B are arranged to face each other across a central axis C1 extending in the longitudinal direction, and have inner facing surfaces facing each other in the short direction. The inner facing surfaces are the facing surfaces where the contact portions 160 of the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B are closest to each other. In the first electrical connector 100, the contact surface formed by the contact inner wall portion 163 constitutes the inner facing surface.

[0116] The inner facing surfaces of the contact portions 160 of the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 150A, 150B are disposed apart in the short-side direction, and a short-side range R11 is defined between the inner facing surfaces of the contact portions 160. In Fig. 13, the short-side range R11 is the range between a short-side position Y11 of the inner facing surface of one reinforcing metal fitting 150A and a short-side position Y12 of the inner facing surface of the other reinforcing metal fitting 150B.

[0117] In the first electrical connector 100, all the signal contact portions of the multiple connection terminals 130 are arranged so as to be accommodated within the above-mentioned short-side range R11. Here, "arranged so that the signal contact portions are accommodated within the short-side range R11" means that, when viewed from the vertical direction (in a plan view), the signal contact portions of the connection terminals 130 do not protrude from the short-side range R11 and are accommodated within the short-side range R11. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, all the upper connection portions 132, which are signal contact portions, are accommodated within the short-side range R11 that is inside the short-side positions (positions Y11 and Y12 in FIG. 13) of the inner opposing surface. Note that, by preventing the contact portions 160 of the reinforcing metal fittings 150A and 150B and the signal contact portions of the connection terminals 130 from being arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction, the signal contact portions of the connection terminals 130 can be accommodated within the short-side range R11.

[0118] By adjusting the positions of the contact portions 160 of the reinforcing metal fittings 150A and 150B and the signal contact portion (upper connection portion 132) of the connection terminal 130 in this manner, the contact portion 160 that forms the contact surface that comes into surface contact with the second electric connector 200 can be located at a position that does not interfere with the signal contact portion of the connection terminal 130 in the longitudinal direction, and the contact surface of the contact portion 160 can be secured to be large in the longitudinal direction. This increases the contact area between the first electric connector 100 and the second electric connector 200, reduces the contact resistance, and increases the allowable current. In addition, the increased contact area improves the frictional force, and improves the retention force of the mated state between the first electric connector 100 and the second electric connector 200.

[0119] In the first electrical connector 100, each of the multiple connection terminals 130 has a shape that extends in the short side direction. This makes it easy to ensure space for arranging the multiple connection terminals 130 side by side in the longitudinal direction without increasing the dimension of the first electrical connector 100 in the short side direction.

[0120] In the first electrical connector 100, all of the connection terminals 130 are arranged to be accommodated within the short-side range R11. This ensures that all of the signal contact portions of the connection terminals 130 are accommodated within the short-side range R11.

[0121] In the first electrical connector 100, all the signal contact portions of the multiple connection terminals 130 are arranged to at least partially overlap within a longitudinal range R12 defined by the longitudinal length of the contact portion 160. In Fig. 13, the longitudinal range R12 is a range between a longitudinal position X11 on one end side of the contact portion 160 and a longitudinal position X12 on the other end side. For example, as shown in Fig. 13, all the upper connection portions 132, which are signal contact portions, are arranged to at least partially fall inside the longitudinal positions of the contact portion 160 (positions X11 and X12 in Fig. 13).

[0122] As a result, at least a portion of all signal contact portions of the multiple connection terminals 130 are arranged to overlap within the longitudinal range R12, thereby making it possible to reduce the longitudinal length of the first electrical connector 100 while ensuring a large contact surface area of ​​the contact portion 160 in the longitudinal direction.

[0123] Furthermore, in the first electrical connector 100, all of the signal contact portions of the multiple connection terminals 130 are arranged to be accommodated within the longitudinal range R12. This further limits the arrangement positions of all of the signal contact portions of the multiple connection terminals 130, and makes it possible to significantly reduce the longitudinal length of the first electrical connector 100 while ensuring a large contact surface of the contact portion 160 in the longitudinal direction.

[0124] (Characteristic Configuration and Function of the Second Electrical Connector 200) The characteristic configuration and operation of the second electrical connector 200 will be described with reference to Fig. 14. Fig. 14 is a plan view of the second electrical connector 200 in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0125] 14, the second electrical connector 200 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, and has a pair of reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B at both ends in the short side direction that function as power contacts with the second electrical connector 200. The pair of reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B are provided to face each other across a central axis C2 extending in the longitudinal direction of the second electrical connector 200.

[0126] The pair of reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B each have a side wall portion 251 arranged along both longitudinal side surfaces of the second electrical connector 200. The side wall portion 251 extends without being interrupted at the longitudinal center portion of the second electrical connector 200, and the reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B have a shape that extends overall in the longitudinal direction of the second electrical connector 200. The side wall portion 251 is provided, for example, so as to connect a pair of end wall portions 252 arranged at both longitudinal ends of the second electrical connector 200.

[0127] The second electrical connector 200 has a plurality of connection terminals 230 that function as signal contacts with the first electrical connector 100. The plurality of connection terminals 230 are arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the second electrical connector 200. Note that, here, the plurality of connection terminals 230 are arranged on the same axis in the longitudinal direction as shown in FIG. 14, but the plurality of connection terminals 230 do not necessarily need to be arranged on the same axis in the longitudinal direction. For example, if a certain connection terminal 230 and another connection terminal 230 are arranged at different positions in the longitudinal direction, even if they are arranged at different positions in the lateral direction, this is included in the aspect in which the connection terminals 230 are arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction.

[0128] Each of the multiple connection terminals 230 has a signal contact portion that comes into contact with the connection terminal 130 of the first electrical connector 100. In the second electrical connector 200, the first connection portion 232 and the second connection portion 234 of the connection terminal 230 form the signal contact portion.

[0129] The side walls 251 of the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B each have a contact portion 260 integrally formed therewith, at the longitudinal center of the second electrical connector 200, and including a contact surface capable of contacting the first electrical connector 100. The outer wall surface of the contact portion 260 constitutes a contact outer wall portion 261, and forms a contact surface that comes into surface contact with the first electrical connector 100. In Fig. 14, the contact portion 260 corresponds to the member surrounded by the dotted line in the figure.

[0130] The contact portions 260 of the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B are arranged to face each other across a central axis C2 extending in the longitudinal direction, and have inner facing surfaces facing each other in the short direction. The inner facing surfaces are the facing surfaces where the contact portions 260 of the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B are closest to each other. In the second electrical connector 200, an inner edge 262 of the contact portion 260 forms the inner facing surface.

[0131] The inner facing surfaces of the contact portions 260 of the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 250A, 250B are disposed apart in the short-side direction, and a short-side range R21 is defined between the inner facing surfaces of the contact portions 260. In Fig. 14, the short-side range R21 is the range between a short-side position Y21 of the inner facing surface of one reinforcing metal fitting 250A and a short-side position Y22 of the inner facing surface of the other reinforcing metal fitting 250B.

[0132] In the second electrical connector 200, all the signal contact portions of the multiple connection terminals 230 are arranged so as to be accommodated within the above-mentioned short-side range R21. Here, "arranged so that the signal contact portions are accommodated within the short-side range R21" means that, when viewed from the vertical direction (in a plan view), the signal contact portions of the connection terminals 230 do not protrude from the short-side range R21 and are accommodated within the short-side range R21. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, all the first connection portions 232 and the second connection portions 234, which are signal contact portions, are accommodated within the short-side range R21 that is inside the short-side positions (positions Y21 and Y22 in FIG. 14) of the inner opposing surface. Note that, by preventing the contact portions 260 of the reinforcing metal fittings 250A and 250B and the signal contact portions of the connection terminals 230 from being arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction, a state in which the signal contact portions of the connection terminals 230 are accommodated within the short-side range R21 can be realized.

[0133] By adjusting the positions of the contact parts 260 of the reinforcing metal fittings 250A and 250B and the signal contact parts (first connecting part 232 and second connecting part 234) of the connection terminal 230 in this way, the contact parts 260 that form the contact surface that comes into surface contact with the first electric connector 100 can be provided at a position that does not interfere with the signal contact parts of the connection terminal 230 in the longitudinal direction, and the contact surface of the contact parts 260 can be secured to be large in the longitudinal direction. This increases the contact area between the first electric connector 100 and the second electric connector 200, reduces the contact resistance, and increases the allowable current. In addition, the increased contact area improves the frictional force, and improves the retention force of the mated state between the first electric connector 100 and the second electric connector 200.

[0134] In the second electrical connector 200, the multiple connection terminals 230 each have a shape that extends in the short side direction. This makes it easy to ensure a space for arranging the multiple connection terminals 230 side by side in the longitudinal direction without increasing the dimension of the second electrical connector 200 in the short side direction.

[0135] In the second electrical connector 200, all the signal contact portions of the multiple connection terminals 230 are arranged to at least partially overlap within a longitudinal range R22 defined by the longitudinal length of the contact portion 260. In Fig. 14, the longitudinal range R22 is a range between a longitudinal position X21 on one end side of the contact portion 260 and a longitudinal position X22 on the other end side. For example, as shown in Fig. 14, all the first connection portions 232 and second connection portions 234, which are signal contact portions, are arranged to at least partially fall inside the longitudinal positions of the contact portion 260 (positions X21 and X22 in Fig. 14).

[0136] As a result, at least a portion of all signal contact portions of the multiple connection terminals 230 are arranged to overlap within the longitudinal range R22, thereby making it possible to reduce the longitudinal length of the second electrical connector 200 while ensuring a large contact surface area of ​​the contact portion 260 in the longitudinal direction.

[0137] Furthermore, in the second electrical connector 200, all of the signal contact portions of the multiple connection terminals 230 are arranged to be accommodated within the longitudinal range R22. This further limits the arrangement positions of all of the signal contact portions of the multiple connection terminals 230, and makes it possible to significantly reduce the longitudinal length of the second electrical connector 200 while ensuring a large contact surface of the contact portion 260 in the longitudinal direction.

[0138] Second embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0139] Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing an electrical connector set 10B in a separated state according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 16 is a perspective view showing an electrical connector set 10B in a fitted state according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0140] The electrical connector set 10B in the second embodiment of the present invention is configured to include a pair of electrical connectors consisting of a socket-type electrical connector and a plug-type electrical connector, similarly to the above-mentioned first embodiment. In the following, the socket-type electrical connector will be described as a first electrical connector 1100, and the plug-type electrical connector will be described as a second electrical connector 1200. The first electrical connector 1100 and the second electrical connector 1200 have their respective board-facing surfaces 1102, 1202 attached to different boards (not shown), and serve to connect the boards together.

[0141] As in the first embodiment described above, the first electrical connector 1100 and the second electrical connector 1200 can be separated from each other (separated state) as shown in FIG. 15, or can be connected to each other (engaged state) with the mating surfaces 1101 and 1201 facing each other as shown in FIG. 16.

[0142] In the perspective view of Fig. 15, the mating surface 1101 of the first electrical connector 1100 and the mating surface 1201 of the second electrical connector 1200 are shown facing the same direction. By arranging the mating surfaces 1101 and 1201 facing each other as shown typically by arrow B, the first electrical connector 1100 and the second electrical connector 1200 can be mated as shown in Fig. 16. The mating electrical connector for the first electrical connector 1100 is the second electrical connector 1200, and the mating electrical connector for the second electrical connector 1200 is the first electrical connector 1100.

[0143] (First electrical connector 1100) A first electric connector 1100 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 17 to Fig. 20. Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the first electric connector 1100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a housing 1110 of the first electric connector 1100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 19 is a perspective view of a connection terminal 1130 of the first electric connector 1100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 20 is a perspective view of reinforcing metal fittings 1150A and 1150B of the first electric connector 1100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In each of Figs. 17 to 20, (a) is a view seen from above, and (b) is a view seen from below.

[0144] Fig. 17 shows the first electrical connector 1100 in an assembled state (assembled state). As shown in Fig. 17, the first electrical connector 1100 is configured to include a housing 1110, a plurality of connection terminals 1130, and a pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1150A and 1150B. The first electrical connector 1100 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a shape on the mating surface 1101 side that allows detachable female-male mating (concave-convex mating) with the second electrical connector 1200.

[0145] In the description of the first electrical connector 1100, the direction approximately perpendicular to the mating surface 1101 and the board-facing surface 1102 of the first electrical connector 1100 (the direction facing the second electrical connector 1200) is defined as the vertical direction (z-axis in FIG. 17), the mating surface 1101 side is defined as the upper side, and the board-facing surface 1102 side is defined as the lower side. When viewed from the vertical direction (plan view), the first electrical connector 1100 has an approximately rectangular shape, and the direction along the long side of this approximately rectangular shape is defined as the longitudinal direction (x-axis in FIG. 17), and the direction along the short side is defined as the short direction (y-axis in FIG. 17).

[0146] (Housing 1110 of first electrical connector 1100) The housing 1110 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin, and constitutes the connector body of the first electrical connector 1100. The housing 1110 can be formed into a desired shape, for example, by injection molding molten resin. The housing 1110, together with the reinforcing metal fittings 1150A and 1150B, forms the outer shape of the first electrical connector 1100, which is approximately a rectangular parallelepiped.

[0147] As shown in FIG. 18, the housing 1110 is integrally configured to include a pair of support connecting portions 1111 located at both longitudinal ends of the first electrical connector 1100, a pair of lateral support portions 1112 located at both transverse ends of the first electrical connector 1100, a bottom surface portion 1113 forming the bottom surface of the first electrical connector 1100, a central protrusion portion 1114 protruding upwardly at approximately the center of the bottom surface portion 1113, and a connection terminal accommodating portion 1115 for accommodating the connection terminal 1130.

[0148] The pair of support connecting portions 1111 are disposed at both ends of the first electrical connector 1100 in the longitudinal direction, and the pair of side support portions 1112 are disposed at both ends of the first electrical connector 1100 in the lateral direction. The pair of support connecting portions 1111 and the pair of side support portions 1112 are disposed so as to be connected to each other to form the four sides of the first electrical connector 1100, and the bottom surface portion 1113 is disposed in the inner region thereof.

[0149] The central protrusion 1114 is adapted to fit into the recess 1213 (see FIG. 21(a)) of the second electrical connector 1200, and has, for example, a rectangular ring-shaped protrusion shape. By providing the central protrusion 1114 on the housing 1110, a rectangular ring-shaped recessed fitting portion 1120 is formed between the central protrusion 1114 and the inner wall surfaces of the reinforcing metal fittings 1150A and 1150B (the inner wall surfaces formed by the corner wall portions 1155 and the contact inner wall portions 1163 shown in FIG. 20(a)), as shown in FIG. 17(a).

[0150] The connection terminal accommodating portion 1115 has an uneven surface adapted to the connection terminal 1130 so that the connection terminal 1130 can be accommodated therein. Here, as an example, the connection terminal accommodating portion 1115 is formed on both ends of the central protrusion portion 1114 in the longitudinal direction. Each connection terminal accommodating portion 1115 is, for example, an accommodating groove for accommodating the connection terminal 1130, and the accommodating groove is shaped to extend in the longitudinal direction of the first electric connector 1100 so that the connection terminal 1130 can be attached and fixed. In addition, a part of each accommodating groove penetrates to the lower surface side, and the lower connection portion 1133 of the connection terminal 1130 is exposed to the lower surface side of the first electric connector 1100 as shown in FIG. 17(b).

[0151] In the electrical connector set 10B, the concave mating portion 1120 of the first electrical connector 1100 is configured to be mated female-male (convex-concave mating) with the second electrical connector 1200, and further, the central protrusion portion 1114 of the first electrical connector 1100 is configured to be mated female-male (concave-convex mating) with the recessed portion 1213 of the second electrical connector 1200. When the first electrical connector 1100 and the second electrical connector 1200 are mated with each other, the mated state is maintained between the first electrical connector 1100 and the second electrical connector 1200, and the connection state of the signal line and the power line is maintained.

[0152] (Connection terminal 1130 of first electrical connector 1100) The connection terminal 1130 is made of a conductive material such as metal, and is formed by, for example, bending a plate-like member. The connection terminal 1130 is electrically connected to the connection terminal 1230 of the second electrical connector 1200, and serves as a signal terminal (signal contact) that electrically connects the signal lines between the boards.

[0153] As shown in Fig. 19, the connection terminal 1130 has a configuration in which an extension portion 1131, a first connection portion 1132, a lower connection portion 1133, and a second connection portion 1134 are integrally connected in this order. In the first electric connector 1100, the connection terminal 1130 is arranged so that its longitudinal direction (the direction connecting the extension portion 1131 and the second connection portion 1134) coincides with the longitudinal direction of the first electric connector 1100. That is, the two connection terminals 1130 of the first electric connector 1100 are arranged so as to extend elongatedly along the longitudinal direction of the first electric connector 1100. Moreover, the two connection terminals 1130 are arranged so as to overlap on the same axis in the longitudinal direction.

[0154] The extending portion 1131 and the lower connecting portion 1133 form the lower surface side of the connecting terminal 1130. A first connecting portion 1132 having a substantially U-shape and curved so as to protrude upward is connected between the extending portion 1131 and one end of the lower connecting portion 1133. In addition, a second connecting portion 1134 having a substantially U-shape and curved so as to protrude upward is connected to the other end of the lower connecting portion 1133. As shown in FIG. 19, the first connecting portion 1132 and the second connecting portion 1134 are separated from each other to leave a gap.

[0155] The second connection portion 1134, which is made of a plate-like member, is elastically deformable in a direction toward or away from the first connection portion 1132. When the second electrical connector 1200 is mated with the first electrical connector 1100, the support linking portion 1211 of the second electrical connector 1200 is inserted between the first connection portion 1132 and the second connection portion 1134, and the second connection portion 1134 comes into contact with the connection terminal 1230 of the second electrical connector 1200.

[0156] The first electrical connector 1100 may be provided with a plurality of connection terminals 1130. The plurality of connection terminals 1130 are arranged, for example, in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the first electrical connector 1100. The number of the connection terminals 1130 and the longitudinal separation distance are not particularly limited. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, two connection terminals 1130 are provided, but three or more connection terminals 1130 may be provided.

[0157] (Reinforcing fittings 1150A, 1150B of the first electrical connector 1100) The reinforcing metal fittings 1150A and 1150B are made of a conductive material such as metal, and are formed by, for example, bending a plate-like member. Here, the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1150A and 1150B have the same shape, but they may have different shapes.

[0158] The reinforcing brackets 1150A, 1150B not only reinforce the first electrical connector 1100 to improve its strength, but also serve as power terminals (power contacts) that connect the power lines between the boards by electrically connecting to the reinforcing brackets 1250A, 1250B of the second electrical connector 1200, and maintain the mated state between the first electrical connector 1100 and the second electrical connector 1200.

[0159] The pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1150A, 1150B are provided at both ends in the short side direction of the first electrical connector 1100. The pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1150A, 1150B face each other across a central axis C3 (see FIG. 17) along the longitudinal direction of the first electrical connector 1100, and are disposed spaced apart from each other in the short side direction.

[0160] As shown in FIG. 20, each of the reinforcing metal fittings 1150A, 1150B is integrally formed with a side wall portion 1151, an end wall portion 1152, and an upper surface portion 1153.

[0161] The side wall 1151 is an elongated plate-like member, and constitutes a part of the side surface in the longitudinal direction of the first electrical connector 1100 (the long side surface approximately perpendicular to the short side direction).

[0162] End walls 1152 are disposed on both ends of the reinforcing metal fittings 1150A and 1150B. The end walls 1152 are plate-like members forming a surface having a perpendicular line that is substantially aligned with the longitudinal direction, and constitute a part of the short-side end face (short side surface substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction) of the first electrical connector 1100. When the first electrical connector 1100 is viewed from the vertical direction, the side walls 1151 and the end walls 1152 form a substantially right angle, and the reinforcing metal fittings 1150A and 1150B are generally U-shaped.

[0163] 20, the upper surface portion 1153 is a plate-like member that is smoothly connected to the upper edges of the side wall portions 1151 and the upper edges of the end wall portions 1152. The upper surface portions 1153 are disposed on the inside of the four corners of the first electrical connector 1100.

[0164] When viewed from the vertical direction, the upper surface portion 1153 is substantially L-shaped along the side wall portion 1151 and the end wall portion 1152. The corner wall portion 1155 is smoothly connected to the inner edge of the substantially L-shaped upper surface portion 1153. The corner wall portion 1155 is a curved plate-like member, and forms an inner wall surface parallel to each of the side wall portion 1151 and the end wall portion 1152 on the inside of the four corners of the first electrical connector 1100. The inner wall surface of the corner wall portion 1155 constitutes a part of the wall surface of the concave fitting portion 1120. In addition, the groove formed between the side wall portion 1151 or the end wall portion 1152 and the corner wall portion 1155 is designed so that the support connection portion 1111 and the lateral support portion 1112 of the housing 1110 can be fitted into it.

[0165] Furthermore, the side wall 1151 of the reinforcing brackets 1150A and 1150B has a contact portion 1160 at the longitudinal center. In the first electrical connector 1100, the contact portion 1160 is provided integrally with the side wall 1151, and has an outer wall portion 1161, which is part of the longitudinal center of the side wall portion 1151, a curved portion 1162, and a contact inner wall portion 1163, as shown in FIG.

[0166] The curved portion 1162 is a plate-like member curved in an approximately U-shape. One end side of the curved portion 1162 is smoothly connected to the upper edge of the outer wall portion 1161, and the other end side of the curved portion 1162 is smoothly connected to the upper edge of the contact inner wall portion 1163.

[0167] The contact inner wall portion 1163 is a plate-like member that forms an inner wall surface facing the inside of the first electrical connector 1100. The inner wall surface of the contact inner wall portion 1163 forms a part of the wall surface of the concave fitting portion 1120 and forms a contact surface that comes into surface contact with the second electrical connector 1200. In addition, the inner wall surface of the contact inner wall portion 1163 forms inner facing surfaces that face each other between the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1150A, 1150B.

[0168] One end of the contact inner wall portion 1163 is smoothly connected to the other end of the substantially U-shaped curved portion 1162, while the other end (lower end) of the contact inner wall portion 1163 is not fixed but is a free end. This allows the contact inner wall portion 1163 to elastically deform in a direction perpendicular to its inner wall surface. Also, the contact inner wall portion 1163 is inclined so that its lower end is positioned slightly inward, allowing it to reliably press against the outer surface of the second electrical connector 1200.

[0169] The contact portion 1160 has the role of coming into contact with the contact portions 1260 of the reinforcing metal fittings 1250A and 1250B of the second electrical connector 1200 when the first electrical connector 1100 is mated with the second electrical connector 1200, thereby connecting the power lines.

[0170] Furthermore, when the first electrical connector 1100 is mated with the second electrical connector 1200, the contact portion 1160 has the role of pressing the contact portions 1260 of the reinforcing metal fittings 1250A and 1250B of the second electrical connector 1200, thereby maintaining the mated state.

[0171] It is also possible to provide engaging portions on reinforcing metal fittings 1150A, 1150B, and also on reinforcing metal fittings 1250A, 1250B of second electrical connector 1200, so that these engaging portions engage with each other, thereby more reliably maintaining the fitted state.

[0172] The engaging portions may have, for example, concave and convex shapes that fit each other. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 20, two engaging recesses 1165 are provided on the contact inner wall portions 1163 of the reinforcing metal fittings 1150A and 1150B, and two engaging protrusions 1265 are also provided at corresponding positions on the reinforcing metal fittings 1250A and 1250B of the second electrical connector 1200, as described later (see Fig. 23). This allows the engaging recesses 1165 and the engaging protrusions 1265 to engage with each other, thereby more reliably maintaining the fitted state.

[0173] (Manufacturing method of the first electrical connector 1100) The manufacturing method of the first electrical connector 1100 is not particularly limited, but for example, the housing 1110, the multiple connection terminals 1130, and the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1150A and 1150B may be manufactured separately, and the multiple connection terminals 1130 and the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1150A and 1150B may be attached to the housing 1110 to manufacture the first electrical connector 1100. Furthermore, like the first electrical connector 100 and the second electrical connector 200 in the first embodiment described above, the first electrical connector 1100 may be manufactured using insert molding.

[0174] (Second electrical connector 1200) A second electrical connector 1200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 21 to 23. Figure 21 is a perspective view of the second electrical connector 1200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, Figure 22 is a perspective view of a connection terminal 1230 of the second electrical connector 1200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 23 is a perspective view of reinforcing fittings 1250A and 1250B of the second electrical connector 1200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0175] Fig. 21 shows the second electrical connector 1200 in an assembled state (assembled state). As shown in Fig. 21, the second electrical connector 1200 is configured to include a housing 1210, a plurality of connection terminals 1230, and a pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1250A and 1250B. The second electrical connector 1200 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a shape on the mating surface 1201 side that allows detachable female-male mating (convex-concave mating) with the first electrical connector 1100.

[0176] In the description of the second electrical connector 1200, the direction approximately perpendicular to the mating surface 1201 and the board-facing surface 1202 of the second electrical connector 1200 (the direction facing the first electrical connector 1100) is defined as the vertical direction (z-axis in FIG. 21), the mating surface 1201 side is defined as the upper side, and the board-facing surface 1202 side is defined as the lower side. When viewed from the vertical direction (plan view), the second electrical connector 1200 has an approximately rectangular shape, and the direction along the long side of this approximately rectangular shape is defined as the longitudinal direction (x-axis in FIG. 21), and the direction along the short side is defined as the short direction (y-axis in FIG. 21).

[0177] (Housing 1210 of second electrical connector 1200) The housing 1210 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin, and constitutes the connector body of the second electrical connector 1200. The housing 1210 can be formed into a desired shape, for example, by injection molding molten resin. As with the first electrical connector 100 of the above-described first embodiment, the housing 1210 may be manufactured integrally with the connection terminals 1230 and the reinforcing metal fittings 1250A and 1250B by insert molding.

[0178] The housing 1210 of the illustrated second electrical connector 1200 is produced by insert molding. The housing 1210 shown in Fig. 21 is integrated with the connection terminal 1230 and the reinforcing metal fittings 1250A and 1250B, and forms the substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape of the second electrical connector 1200 together with the reinforcing metal fittings 1250A and 1250B.

[0179] As shown in FIG. 21, the housing 1210 is integrally configured to include a pair of support connecting portions 1211 located at both ends of the longitudinal direction of the second electrical connector 1200, and a pair of lateral support portions 1212 located at both ends of the transverse direction of the second electrical connector 1200.

[0180] The pair of support connecting parts 1211 are arranged to connect the pair of opposing reinforcing metal fittings 1250A, 1250B, and the pair of side support parts 1212 extend in the longitudinal direction of the second electrical connector 1200 to connect the pair of support connecting parts 1211. The pair of support connecting parts 1211 and the pair of side support parts 1212 are arranged to form four sides.

[0181] A bottomed recess 1213 is formed on the inside surrounded by the pair of support connecting parts 1211 and the pair of side support parts 1212. The rectangular annular central protrusion 1114 of the first electrical connector 1100 can be inserted into the recess 1213.

[0182] The recessed portion 1213 is provided with a connection terminal accommodating portion 1214 for accommodating a plurality of connection terminals 1230 arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction. The connection terminal accommodating portion 1214 has an uneven surface that fits the connection terminals 1230, and for example, as shown in FIG. 21, a plurality of accommodating grooves for accommodating the connection terminals 1230 are provided so as to face both edges in the longitudinal direction of the recessed portion 1213. Each accommodating groove has a shape that extends in the longitudinal direction, and the connection terminals 1230 accommodated in the accommodating grooves are arranged so that their longitudinal direction coincides with the longitudinal direction of the second electric connector 1200. In addition, a part of the connection terminal accommodating portion 1214 penetrates to the lower surface side, and the lower connection portion 1231 of the connection terminal 1230 accommodated in the connection terminal accommodating portion 1214 is exposed to the lower surface side of the second electric connector 1200 as shown in FIG. 21(b).

[0183] As described above, in the electrical connector set 10B, the second electrical connector 1200 is configured for male-female mating (convex-concave mating) with the concave mating portion 1120 of the first electrical connector 1100, and further, the concave portion 1213 of the second electrical connector 1200 is configured for male-female mating (concave-convex mating) with the central protrusion portion 1114 of the first electrical connector 1100.

[0184] (Connection terminal 1230 of second electrical connector 1200) The connection terminal 1230 is made of a conductive material such as metal, and is formed by, for example, bending a plate-like member. The connection terminal 1230 is electrically connected to the connection terminal 1130 of the first electrical connector 1100, and serves as a signal terminal (signal contact) that electrically connects signal lines between boards. As with the first electrical connector 100 of the first embodiment described above, the connection terminal 1230 may be manufactured integrally with the housing 1210 and the reinforcing metal fittings 1250A and 1250B by insert molding.

[0185] 22, the connection terminal 1230 is configured to integrally include a lower connection portion 1231 and an upper connection portion 1232. In the second electric connector 1200, the connection terminal 1230 is arranged so that its longitudinal direction (extension direction of the lower connection portion 1231 and the upper connection portion 1232) coincides with the longitudinal direction of the second electric connector 1200. That is, the two connection terminals 1230 of the second electric connector 1200 are arranged so as to extend elongatedly along the longitudinal direction of the second electric connector 1200. Moreover, the two connection terminals 1230 are arranged so as to overlap on the same axis in the longitudinal direction.

[0186] The lower connection portion 1231 constitutes the lower surface side of the connection terminal 1230. The upper connection portion 1232 constitutes a portion curved above the lower connection portion 1231 into a substantially U-shape.

[0187] The second electrical connector 1200 may be provided with a predetermined number of connection terminals 1230 at predetermined positions in accordance with the plurality of connection terminals 1130 of the first electrical connector 1100. This allows the signal lines to be appropriately connected to the first electrical connector 1100.

[0188] (Reinforcing fittings 1250A, 1250B of the second electrical connector 1200) The reinforcing metal fittings 1250A and 1250B are made of a conductive material such as metal, and are formed by, for example, bending a plate-like member. The pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1250A and 1250B have the same shape, but may have different shapes.

[0189] The reinforcing metal fittings 1250A, 1250B not only serve to reinforce the second electrical connector 1200 and improve its strength, but also serve as power terminals (power contacts) that connect power lines between boards by electrically connecting to the reinforcing metal fittings 1150A, 1150B of the first electrical connector 1100, and also serve to maintain the mated state of the first electrical connector 1100 and the second electrical connector 1200. As with the first electrical connector 100 of the first embodiment described above, the reinforcing metal fittings 1250A, 1250B may be produced integrally with the housing 1210 and the connection terminals 1230 by insert molding.

[0190] The pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1250A, 1250B are provided at both ends in the short side direction of the second electrical connector 1200. The pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1250A, 1250B face each other across a central axis C4 (see FIG. 21) along the longitudinal direction of the second electrical connector 1200, and are disposed spaced apart from each other in the short side direction.

[0191] As shown in FIG. 23, the reinforcing metal fittings 1250A and 1250B are integrally formed with a side wall portion 1251, an end wall portion 1252, and an upper surface portion 1253.

[0192] The side wall portion 1251 is a long and thin plate-like member, and constitutes a part of the side surface in the longitudinal direction of the second electrical connector 1200 (the long side surface approximately perpendicular to the short side direction).

[0193] End walls 1252 are disposed on both ends of the reinforcing metal fittings 1250A and 1250B. The end walls 1252 are smoothly connected to both end edges of the side walls 1251. The end walls 1252 are plate-like members forming a surface having a perpendicular line that is substantially coincident with the longitudinal direction, and constitute a part of the short-side end face (short side surface substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction) of the second electrical connector 1200. When the second electrical connector 1200 is viewed from the vertical direction, the side walls 1251 and the end walls 1252 form a substantially right angle, and the reinforcing metal fittings 1250A and 1250B are generally U-shaped.

[0194] 23, the upper surface portion 1253 is a plate-like member that is smoothly connected to the upper edge of the end wall portion 1252. The upper surface portion 1253 is disposed on the inside of the four corners of the second electrical connector 1200.

[0195] Furthermore, the side wall 1251 of the reinforcing metal fittings 1250A, 1250B has a contact portion 1260 at the longitudinal center. In the second electrical connector 1200, the contact portion 1260 is provided integrally with the side wall 1251, and has a contact outer wall portion 1261, which is part of the longitudinal center of the side wall portion 1251, a curved portion 1262, an inner wall portion 1263, and a bottom surface portion 1264, as shown in FIG.

[0196] The contact outer wall portion 1261 forms a surface facing outward of the second electrical connector 1200. The contact outer wall portion 1261 constitutes a contact surface that comes into surface contact with the first electrical connector 1100.

[0197] The curved portion 1262 is a plate-like member curved in an approximately U-shape at the upper edge of the side wall portion 1251. One end edge of the curved portion 1262 is smoothly connected to the upper edge of the contact outer wall portion 1261, and the other end edge of the curved portion 1262 is smoothly connected to the upper edge of the inner wall portion 1263.

[0198] The inner wall portion 1263 forms a surface facing the side wall portion 1251, and constitutes inner facing surfaces facing each other between the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1250A, 1250B. A bottom surface portion 1264 is smoothly connected to the lower edge of the inner wall portion 1263. The bottom surface portion 1264 is a surface approximately parallel to the fitting surface 1201, and is exposed on the bottom surface side of the second electrical connector 1200 as shown in FIG.

[0199] The contact portion 1260 has the role of coming into contact with the contact portions 1160 of the reinforcing metal fittings 1150A and 1150B of the first electrical connector 1100 when the second electrical connector 1200 is mated with the first electrical connector 1100, thereby connecting the power lines.

[0200] Furthermore, when the second electrical connector 1200 is mated with the first electrical connector 1100, the contact portions 1260 are pressed by the contact portions 1160 of the reinforcing metal fittings 1150A, 1150B of the first electrical connector 1100, thereby maintaining the mated state.

[0201] It is also possible to provide engaging portions on the reinforcing metal fittings 1250A, 1250B, and also on the reinforcing metal fittings 1150A, 1150B of the first electrical connector 1100, so that these engaging portions engage with each other, thereby more reliably maintaining the fitted state.

[0202] The engaging portions may have, for example, projections and recesses that fit each other. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 23, two engaging projections 1265 are provided on the contact portions 1260 of the reinforcing metal fittings 1250A and 1250B, and as described above, two engaging recesses 1165 are also provided at corresponding positions on the reinforcing metal fittings 1150A and 1150B of the first electrical connector 1100. This allows the engaging recesses 1165 and the engaging projections 1265 to engage with each other, thereby more reliably maintaining the fitted state.

[0203] (Method of Manufacturing the Second Electrical Connector 1200) The manufacturing method of the second electrical connector 1200 is not particularly limited, but for example, similar to the first electrical connector 1100 in the first embodiment described above, the connection terminals 1230 and the reinforcing fittings 1250A and 1250B may be integrally manufactured with the housing 1210 by insert molding.

[0204] It is not necessary to use insert molding when manufacturing the second electrical connector 1200. For example, the housing 1210, the multiple connection terminals 1230, and the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1250A and 1250B may be produced separately, and the multiple connection terminals 1230 and the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1250A and 1250B may be attached to the housing 1210 to manufacture the second electrical connector 1200.

[0205] (Electrical connector set 10B in mated state) The mated state of the first electrical connector 1100 and the second electrical connector 1200 constituting the electrical connector set 10B will be described with reference to Fig. 24. Fig. 24 is a cross-sectional view showing the mated state of the electrical connector set 10B in the second embodiment of the present invention, (a) being a cross-sectional view taken along X2-X2 in Fig. 16, and (b) being a cross-sectional view taken along Y2-Y2 in Fig. 16.

[0206] As shown in FIG. 24, in the electrical connector set 10B, the entire second electrical connector 1200 fits into the concave mating portion 1120 of the first electrical connector 100, and further, the central protrusion portion 1114 of the first electrical connector 1100 fits into the recessed portion 1213 of the second electrical connector 1200, allowing the first electrical connector 1100 and the second electrical connector 1200 to be interlocked.

[0207] The lower ends of the contact inner walls 1163 of the reinforcing metal fittings 1150A and 1150B of the first electrical connector 1100 are free ends and are capable of elastic deformation. When the first electrical connector 1100 and the second electrical connector 1200 are mated, the reinforcing metal fittings 1150A and 1150B of the first electrical connector 1100 elastically deform, and the contact inner walls 1163 of the first electrical connector 1100 come into contact with the contact outer walls 1261 of the second electrical connector 1200, as shown in FIG. 24(a).

[0208] Further, the second connection portion 1134 of the connection terminal 1130 of the first electrical connector 1100 is adapted to be elastically deformable in a direction approaching or moving away from the first connection portion 1132. When the first electrical connector 1100 and the second electrical connector 1200 are mated, the connection terminal 1130 of the second electrical connector 1200 elastically deforms, and the second connection portion 1134 of the first electrical connector 1100 comes into contact with the upper connection portion 1232 of the second electrical connector 1200, as shown in Fig. 24(b).

[0209] As shown in Fig. 24(b), the connection terminal 1130 of the first electric connector 1100 and the connection terminal 1230 of the second electric connector 1200 are both arranged to be elongated along the longitudinal direction of the second electric connector 1200. This allows, for example, the lower connection portion 1133 of the connection terminal 1130 of the first electric connector 1100 to be lengthened, and a sufficient length (spring span) between the first connection portion 1132 on the fixed end side and the second connection portion 1134 on which the contact force with the second electric connector 1200 acts can be secured. If the spring span is secured sufficiently, the connection terminal 1130 becomes more easily elastically deformed, and a structure with excellent durability can be realized by suppressing plastic deformation of the connection terminal 1130.

[0210] (Characteristic configuration and function of the first electrical connector 1100) The characteristic configuration and operation of the first electrical connector 1100 will be described with reference to Fig. 25. Fig. 25 is a plan view of the first electrical connector 1100 in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0211] 25, the first electrical connector 1100 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, and has a pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1150A, 1150B at both ends in the short side direction that function as power contacts with the second electrical connector 1200. The pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1150A, 1150B are disposed to face each other across a central axis C3 extending in the longitudinal direction of the first electrical connector 1100.

[0212] The pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1150A, 1150B each have a side wall portion 1151 arranged along both longitudinal side surfaces of the first electrical connector 1100. The side wall portion 1151 extends without being interrupted at the longitudinal center portion of the first electrical connector 1100, and the reinforcing metal fittings 1150A, 1150B have a shape that extends overall in the longitudinal direction of the first electrical connector 1100. The side wall portion 1151 is provided, for example, so as to connect a pair of end wall portions 1152 arranged at both longitudinal ends of the first electrical connector 1100.

[0213] The first electrical connector 1100 has a plurality of connection terminals 1130 that function as signal contacts with the second electrical connector 1200. The plurality of connection terminals 1130 are arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the first electrical connector 1100. Note that, here, the plurality of connection terminals 1130 are arranged on the same axis in the longitudinal direction as shown in FIG. 25, but the plurality of connection terminals 1130 do not necessarily need to be arranged on the same axis in the longitudinal direction. For example, if a certain connection terminal 1130 and another connection terminal 1130 are arranged at different positions in the longitudinal direction, even if they are arranged at different positions in the lateral direction, this is included in the aspect in which the connection terminals 1130 are arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction.

[0214] The multiple connection terminals 1130 each have a signal contact portion that comes into contact with the connection terminal 1230 of the second electrical connector 1200. In the first electrical connector 1100, the second connection portion 1134 of the connection terminal 1130 constitutes the signal contact portion.

[0215] The side walls 1151 of the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1150A, 1150B each have a contact portion 1160 integrally formed in the longitudinal center of the first electrical connector 1100, the contact portion 1160 including a contact surface capable of contacting the second electrical connector 1200. The contact portion 1160 has an outer wall portion 1161 which is a part of the longitudinal center of the side walls 1151, a curved portion 1162, and a contact inner wall portion 1163. The contact inner wall portion 1163 forms a contact surface which comes into surface contact with the second electrical connector 1200. In FIG. 25, the contact portion 1160 corresponds to the member surrounded by the dotted line in the figure.

[0216] The contact portions 1160 of the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1150A, 1150B are arranged to face each other across a central axis C3 extending in the longitudinal direction, and have inner facing surfaces facing each other in the short direction. The inner facing surfaces are the facing surfaces where the contact portions 1160 of the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1150A, 1150B are closest to each other. In the first electrical connector 1100, the contact surface formed by the contact inner wall portion 1163 constitutes the inner facing surface.

[0217] The inner facing surfaces of the contact portions 1160 of the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1150A, 1150B are disposed apart in the short-side direction, and a short-side range R31 is defined between the inner facing surfaces of the contact portions 1160. In Fig. 25, the short-side range R31 is the range between a short-side position Y31 of the inner facing surface of one reinforcing metal fitting 1150A and a short-side position Y32 of the inner facing surface of the other reinforcing metal fitting 1150B.

[0218] In the first electrical connector 1100, all the signal contact portions of the multiple connection terminals 1130 are arranged so as to be accommodated within the above-mentioned short-side range R31. Here, "arranged so that the signal contact portions are accommodated within the short-side range R31" means that when viewed from the vertical direction (in a plan view), the signal contact portions of the connection terminals 1130 do not protrude from the short-side range R31 and are accommodated within the short-side range R31. For example, as shown in FIG. 25, all the second connection portions 1134, which are signal contact portions, are accommodated within the short-side range R31 that is inside the short-side positions (positions Y31 and Y32 in FIG. 25) of the inner facing surface. Note that the contact portions 1160 of the reinforcing metal fittings 1150A and 1150B and the signal contact portions of the connection terminals 1130 are not arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction, thereby realizing a state in which the signal contact portions of the connection terminals 1130 are accommodated within the short-side range R31.

[0219] By adjusting the positions of the contact parts 1160 of the reinforcing metal fittings 1150A and 1150B and the signal contact part (second connection part 1134) of the connection terminal 1130 in this way, the contact part 1160 forming the contact surface that comes into surface contact with the second electric connector 1200 can be provided at a position that does not interfere with the signal contact part of the connection terminal 1130 in the longitudinal direction, and the contact surface of the contact part 1160 can be secured to be large in the longitudinal direction. This increases the contact area between the first electric connector 1100 and the second electric connector 1200, reduces the contact resistance, and increases the allowable current. In addition, the increase in the contact area improves the frictional force, and improves the retention force of the mated state between the first electric connector 1100 and the second electric connector 1200.

[0220] In the first electrical connector 1100, each of the connection terminals 1130 has a shape that extends in the longitudinal direction. This makes it possible to reduce the dimension of the first electrical connector 1100 in the short side direction without shortening the length of the connection terminals 1130 in the extension direction.

[0221] In the first electrical connector 1100, all of the connection terminals 1130 are arranged to be accommodated within the short-side range R31. This ensures that all of the signal contact portions of the connection terminals 1130 are accommodated within the short-side range R31.

[0222] In the first electrical connector 1100, all the signal contact portions of the multiple connection terminals 1130 are arranged to at least partially overlap within a longitudinal range R32 defined by the longitudinal length of the contact portion 1160. In Fig. 25, the longitudinal range R32 is a range between a longitudinal position X31 on one end side of the contact portion 1160 and a longitudinal position X32 on the other end side. For example, as shown in Fig. 25, all the second connection portions 1134, which are signal contact portions, are arranged to at least partially fall inside the longitudinal positions of the contact portion 1160 (positions X31 and X32 in Fig. 25).

[0223] As a result, at least a portion of all signal contact portions of the multiple connection terminals 1130 are arranged to overlap within the longitudinal range R32, thereby making it possible to reduce the longitudinal length of the first electrical connector 1100 while ensuring a large contact surface area of ​​the contact portion 1160 in the longitudinal direction.

[0224] Furthermore, in the first electrical connector 1100, all of the signal contact portions of the multiple connection terminals 1130 are arranged to be accommodated within the longitudinal range R32. This further limits the arrangement positions of all of the signal contact portions of the multiple connection terminals 1130, and makes it possible to significantly reduce the longitudinal length of the first electrical connector 1100 while ensuring a large contact surface of the contact portion 1160 in the longitudinal direction.

[0225] (Characteristic configuration and function of the second electrical connector 1200) The characteristic configuration and operation of the second electrical connector 1200 will be described with reference to Fig. 26. Fig. 26 is a plan view of the second electrical connector 1200 in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0226] 26, the second electrical connector 1200 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, and has a pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1250A, 1250B at both ends in the short side direction that function as power contacts with the second electrical connector 1200. The pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1250A, 1250B are disposed to face each other across a central axis C4 extending in the longitudinal direction of the second electrical connector 1200.

[0227] The pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1250A, 1250B each have a side wall portion 1251 arranged along both longitudinal side surfaces of the second electrical connector 1200. The side wall portion 1251 extends without being interrupted at the longitudinal center portion of the second electrical connector 1200, and the reinforcing metal fittings 1250A, 1250B have a shape that extends overall in the longitudinal direction of the second electrical connector 1200. The side wall portion 1251 is provided, for example, so as to connect a pair of end wall portions 1252 arranged at both longitudinal ends of the second electrical connector 1200.

[0228] The second electrical connector 1200 has a plurality of connection terminals 1230 that function as signal contacts with the first electrical connector 1100. The plurality of connection terminals 1230 are arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the second electrical connector 1200. Note that, here, the plurality of connection terminals 1230 are arranged on the same axis in the longitudinal direction as shown in FIG. 26, but the plurality of connection terminals 1230 do not necessarily need to be arranged on the same axis in the longitudinal direction. For example, if a certain connection terminal 1230 and another connection terminal 1230 are arranged at different positions in the longitudinal direction, even if they are arranged at different positions in the lateral direction, this is included in the aspect in which the connection terminals 1230 are arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction.

[0229] The multiple connection terminals 1230 each have a signal contact portion that comes into contact with the connection terminal 1130 of the first electrical connector 1100. In the second electrical connector 1200, the upper connection portion 1232 of the connection terminal 1230 constitutes the signal contact portion.

[0230] The side walls 1251 of the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1250A, 1250B each have a contact portion 1260 integrally formed therewith, at the center in the longitudinal direction of the second electrical connector 1200, and including a contact surface capable of contacting the first electrical connector 1100. The outer wall surface of the contact portion 1260 constitutes a contact outer wall portion 1261, and forms a contact surface that comes into surface contact with the first electrical connector 1100. In FIG. 26, the contact portion 1260 corresponds to the member surrounded by the dotted line in the figure.

[0231] The contact portions 1260 of the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1250A, 1250B are arranged to face each other across a central axis C4 extending in the longitudinal direction, and have inner facing surfaces facing each other in the short direction. The inner facing surfaces are the facing surfaces where the contact portions 1260 of the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1250A, 1250B are closest to each other. In the second electrical connector 1200, the inner wall portion 1263 of the contact portion 1260 forms the inner facing surface.

[0232] The inner facing surfaces of the contact portions 1260 of the pair of reinforcing metal fittings 1250A, 1250B are disposed apart in the short-side direction, and a short-side range R41 is defined between the inner facing surfaces of the contact portions 1260. In Fig. 26, the short-side range R41 is the range between a short-side position Y41 of the inner facing surface of one reinforcing metal fitting 1250A and a short-side position Y42 of the inner facing surface of the other reinforcing metal fitting 1250B.

[0233] In the second electrical connector 1200, all the signal contact portions of the multiple connection terminals 1230 are arranged so as to be accommodated within the above-mentioned short-side range R41. Here, "arranged so that the signal contact portions are accommodated within the short-side range R41" means that when viewed from the vertical direction (in a plan view), the signal contact portions of the connection terminals 1230 do not protrude from the short-side range R41 and are accommodated within the short-side range R41. For example, as shown in FIG. 26, all the upper connection portions 1232, which are signal contact portions, are accommodated within the short-side range R41 that is inside the short-side positions (positions Y41 and Y42 in FIG. 26) of the inner facing surface. Note that the contact portions 1260 of the reinforcing metal fittings 1250A and 1250B and the signal contact portions of the connection terminals 1230 are not arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction, thereby realizing a state in which the signal contact portions of the connection terminals 1230 are accommodated within the short-side range R41.

[0234] In this way, by adjusting the position of the contact portion 1260 of the reinforcing metal fittings 1250A and 1250B and the signal contact portion (upper connection portion 1232) of the connection terminal 1230, the contact portion 1260 forming the contact surface that comes into surface contact with the first electric connector 1100 can be provided at a position that does not interfere with the signal contact portion of the connection terminal 1230 in the longitudinal direction, and the contact surface of the contact portion 1260 can be secured to be large in the longitudinal direction. This increases the contact area between the first electric connector 1100 and the second electric connector 1200, reduces the contact resistance, and increases the allowable current. In addition, the increase in the contact area improves the frictional force, and improves the retention force of the mated state between the first electric connector 1100 and the second electric connector 1200.

[0235] In the second electrical connector 1200, each of the connection terminals 1230 has a shape that extends in the longitudinal direction. This makes it possible to reduce the dimension of the second electrical connector 1200 in the short side direction without shortening the length of the connection terminals 1230 in the extension direction.

[0236] In the second electrical connector 1200, all of the connection terminals 1230 are arranged to be accommodated within the short-side range R41. This ensures that all of the signal contact portions of the connection terminals 1230 are accommodated within the short-side range R41.

[0237] In the second electrical connector 1200, all the signal contact portions of the multiple connection terminals 1230 are arranged to at least partially overlap within a longitudinal range R42 defined by the longitudinal length of the contact portion 1260. In Fig. 26, the longitudinal range R42 is a range between a longitudinal position X41 on one end side of the contact portion 1260 and a longitudinal position X42 on the other end side. For example, as shown in Fig. 26, all the upper connection portions 1232, which are signal contact portions, are arranged to at least partially fall inside the longitudinal positions of the contact portion 1260 (positions X41 and X42 in Fig. 26).

[0238] As a result, at least a portion of all of the signal contact portions of the multiple connection terminals 1230 are arranged to overlap within the longitudinal range R42, thereby making it possible to reduce the longitudinal length of the second electrical connector 1200 while ensuring a large contact surface area of ​​the contact portion 1260 in the longitudinal direction.

[0239] As described above, the present invention has the effects of improving longitudinal rigidity, reducing contact resistance when electrical connectors are mated to increase allowable current, and improving the retention force of the mated state of electrical connectors, thereby providing a highly reliable electrical connector with excellent durability and conductivity, and is useful for electrical connectors in general that are attached to circuit boards. [Explanation of symbols]

[0240] 10A, 10B Electrical Connector Set 100, 1100 First electrical connector 101, 201, 1101, 1201 Mating surface 102, 202, 1102, 1202 Substrate facing surface 110, 210, 1110, 1210 Housing 111, 1111, 211, 1211 Support connection part 112, 1113 Bottom part 113, 1114 Central protrusion 114, 214, 1115, 1214 Connection terminal housing 120, 1120 Concave fitting part 130, 230, 1130, 1230 Connection terminal 131, 233, 1133, 1231 Lower connection 132, 1232 Upper connection 150A, 150B, 250A, 250B, 1150A, 1150B, 1250A, 1250B Reinforcement bracket 151, 251, 1151, 1251 Side wall 152, 252, 1152, 1252 End wall 153, 253, 1153, 1253 Top part 154, 254, 1264 Bottom part 155, 1155 corner wall 160, 260, 1160, 1260 Contact 161, 1161 External wall part 162, 1162, 1262 Curved section 163, 1163, 1263 Contact inner wall 165, 1165 Engagement recess 190 Metal plate material 200, 1200 Second Electrical Connector 212, 1112, 1212 Lateral support 213, 1213 Depression 231, 1131 extension part 232, 1132 First connection part 234, 1134 Second connection part 261, 1261 Contact outer wall part 262 Medial margin 265, 1265 Engagement protrusion

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising an insulating housing, a plurality of conductive connection terminals provided on the housing, and a pair of conductive reinforcing metal fittings attached to the housing, the electrical connector being formed into a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, the pair of reinforcing metal fittings are provided at both ends of the electrical connector in a short direction, and each of the reinforcing metal fittings has a side wall portion extending along a longitudinal direction of the electrical connector, the side wall portions of the pair of reinforcing metal fittings each have a contact portion at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction, the contact portion forming a contact surface that comes into surface contact with a mating electrical connector and forming inner facing surfaces that face each other, the plurality of connection terminals are arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction, and each of the connection terminals has a signal contact portion adapted to come into contact with a mating electrical connector; An electrical connector, characterized in that all of the signal contact portions of the plurality of connection terminals are arranged to be contained within a short-side range defined between the opposing inner facing surfaces.

2. 2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of connection terminals has a shape extending in the short side direction.

3. 2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of connection terminals has a shape extending in the longitudinal direction.

4. 2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein all of the plurality of connection terminals are arranged to be accommodated within the short-side range.

5. 2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein all of the signal contact portions of the plurality of connection terminals are arranged so as to at least partially overlap within a longitudinal range defined by the longitudinal lengths of the contact portions.

6. 2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein all of the signal contact portions of the plurality of connection terminals are arranged to be contained within a longitudinal range defined by the longitudinal lengths of the contact portions.

7. 2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the contact surface of the contact portion that comes into surface contact with the mating electrical connector is provided with an engaging portion that is engageable with the mating electrical connector.

8. 8. An electrical connector set comprising: the electrical connector according to claim 1; and a mating electrical connector that is matable with the electrical connector.

9. A method for manufacturing the electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising the steps of: inserting a metal plate material processed into the shapes of the pair of reinforcing members and the plurality of connection terminals into a die; performing insert molding by filling and solidifying molten resin into a mold into which the metal plate is inserted to form the housing; and forming the plurality of connection terminals electrically isolated from the pair of reinforcing metal fittings by removing portions of the metal plate.

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