Floating connector and connector device

Abstract

To enable more favorable connection of a power source terminal when a floating connector and a mating connector are fitted.SOLUTION: A floating connector is provided with a fixed housing, a movable housing, and a power source terminal 60. The power source terminal comprises: a first end part retained by the fixed housing; a second end part retained by the movable housing; and a coupling part 67. When the movable housing moves along a first direction, the second end part is able to follow the movable housing while the coupling part is elastically deformed. The coupling part comprises: a first bent section 68A2 that is located at a location separated from the second end part in the first direction; a first extended section 68B1 that extends from the first bent section toward the first end part; and a second extended section 68B2 that extends from the first bent section toward the second end part. As seen from a second direction intersecting a fitting direction and the first direction, the first extended section and the second extended section extend in a direction that inclines relative to the fitting direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a floating connector and connector arrangement. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a floating connector including a movable housing, a fixed housing supporting the movable housing, and signal contacts and power contacts attached across the movable housing and the fixed housing. In such a floating connector, the movable housing moves relative to the fixed housing to absorb misalignment between boards and misalignment of the mating position with the mating connector. In addition, the portions of each contact held by the movable housing deform so as to move relative to the portions held by the fixed housing as the movable housing moves. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-131161 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It is desirable to be able to better connect the power contacts when the floating connector is mated with a mating connector.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a floating connector that can better connect the power supply terminals when the floating connector is fitted to the mating connector. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The floating connector of the present disclosure is a floating connector into which a mating connector is mated, and includes a fixed housing, a movable housing provided to be movable relative to the fixed housing along a first direction intersecting a mating direction of the mating connector, and a power supply terminal bridged between the fixed housing and the movable housing, the power supply terminal including a first end held by the fixed housing, a second end held by the movable housing, and a connecting portion connecting the first end and the second end, the second end is capable of following the movable housing while the connecting portion elastically deforms when the movable housing moves along the first direction, the connecting portion has a first bent portion located away from the second end in the first direction, a first extending portion extending from the first bent portion toward the first end, and a second extending portion extending from the first bent portion toward the second end, and when viewed from the mating direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction, the first extending portion and the second extending portion extend in a direction inclined with respect to the mating direction, thereby forming a floating connector. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, the power terminals can be better connected when the floating connector and the mating connector are mated. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a floating connector and a connector device including the floating connector according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded front view showing the connector device shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded side view showing the connector device shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the floating connector shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a signal terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a power terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 is an exploded perspective view showing the mating connector shown in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing dimensions of the connecting portion of the power terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a power supply terminal according to a reference example. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a state immediately before the power terminal and the mating power terminal according to the first embodiment are mated with each other. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the movable housing according to the first embodiment has moved. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described.

[0010] The floating connector and connector device of the present disclosure are as follows.

[0011] (1) A floating connector into which a mating connector is mated, comprising: a fixed housing; a movable housing movable relative to the fixed housing along a first direction intersecting a mating direction of the mating connector; and a power terminal bridged between the fixed housing and the movable housing, wherein the power terminal includes a first end held by the fixed housing, a second end held by the movable housing, and a connecting portion connecting the first end and the second end, wherein the connecting portion elastically deforms when the movable housing moves along the first direction and the second end can follow the movable housing, and the connecting portion has a first bent portion located away from the second end in the first direction, a first extending portion extending from the first bent portion toward the first end, and a second extending portion extending from the first bent portion toward the second end, wherein when viewed from the mating direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction, the first extending portion and the second extending portion extend in a direction inclined with respect to the mating direction.

[0012] In the floating connector of (1), the first and second extending portions of the connecting portion of the power terminal extend in a direction inclined with respect to the fitting direction when viewed from the second direction, so that when the movable housing moves along the first direction and the connecting portion is elastically deformed, it is possible to suppress the second end from shifting in the first direction with respect to the connection position with the mating power terminal, thereby enabling a good connection between the power terminal and the mating power terminal.

[0013] (2) In the floating connector of (1), the connecting portion may have a second bent portion connected to an end of the second extending portion opposite to the first bent portion, and a third extending portion extending from the second bent portion toward the second end, and the third extending portion may extend in a direction inclined with respect to the fitting direction and the first direction as viewed from the second direction, and the first extending portion and the third extending portion may be located on either one of both sides of the second extending portion in the first direction as viewed from the second direction. This makes the connecting portion rectangular-wave shaped, which makes it easier to suppress the second end from shifting than when the connecting portion is triangular-wave shaped. This makes it easier to obtain a good connection between the power terminal and the mating power terminal.

[0014] (3) In the floating connector of (2), the second extension portion may be longer than the first extension portion and the third extension portion. This makes it easier to prevent the second end from shifting compared to when the second extension portion is the same length as or shorter than the first extension portion and the third extension portion. This makes it easier to obtain a good connection between the power terminal and the mating power terminal.

[0015] (4) In the floating connector of (2) or (3), the first bent portion may be located farther from the second end portion along the first direction than the second bent portion. This causes the second extension portion to extend from the first bent portion toward the second bent portion in the first direction so as to approach the second end portion. In this case, when the movable housing moves toward the first bent portion and the second bent portion along the first direction, it is easier to suppress the second end portion from shifting.

[0016] (5) The connector device of the present disclosure includes a floating connector according to any one of (1) to (4) and a mating connector to which the floating connector is connected, the mating connector includes a mating housing that fits with the movable housing and a mating power terminal that is held by the mating housing and connected to the second end of the power terminal, the mating power terminal includes a spring contact portion and a fixed contact portion that sandwich the second end, the spring contact portion and the fixed contact portion are spaced apart from each other along the first direction, and the first bent portion is located closer to the spring contact portion than the second end along the first direction. This prevents the second end from being significantly displaced toward the spring contact portion even if the connecting portion is elastically deformed when the movable housing moves and the second end is displaced toward the spring contact portion. This allows the power terminal and the mating power terminal to be connected well.

[0017] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the floating connector and connector device of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0018] [Embodiment 1] A floating connector according to a first embodiment and a connector device including the same will be described below.

[0019] <Connector device> The overall configuration of the connector device will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6. Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a floating connector 10 according to a first embodiment and a connector device 100 including the same. Fig. 2 is an exploded front view showing the connector device 100 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an exploded side view showing the connector device 100 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in Fig. 4. In each figure, mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z directions are shown.

[0020] The connector device 100 includes a floating connector 10 and a mating connector 80 that fits into the floating connector 10. As shown in FIG. 2 and other figures, in this embodiment, the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 are described as board connectors that are electrically connected to boards B1 and B2, respectively. When the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 are fitted together, a terminal of the floating connector 10 and a terminal of the mating connector 80 are electrically connected. As a result, the boards B1 and B2 to which the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 are connected are electrically connected to each other. The floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 may be connectors other than board connectors.

[0021] The floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 are mated by moving toward each other along the mating direction. In this embodiment, the mating direction is a direction perpendicular to the main surfaces of the boards B1 and B2, and is shown as the Z direction in each figure. Hereinafter, the Z direction may be referred to as the up-down direction. The X and Y directions in each figure are directions perpendicular to the mating direction and are directions along the main surfaces of the boards B1 and B2. The mating direction of the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 may be a direction other than the Z direction.

[0022] <Floating connector> The floating connector 10 will be described with further reference to Fig. 7 to Fig. 9. Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the floating connector 10 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the signal terminal 40 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the power terminal 60 according to the first embodiment.

[0023] The floating connector 10 comprises a fixed housing 20, a movable housing 30, a plurality of signal terminals 40, and a plurality of power terminals 60. The signal terminals 40 are terminals for signal transmission. The power terminals 60 are terminals for power supply. The fixed housing 20 is fixed to the board B1 via a fixture 70. The movable housing 30 is provided so as to be movable relative to the fixed housing 20. The signal terminals 40 and the power terminals 60 are bridged between the fixed housing 20 and the movable housing 30. In this embodiment, the movable housing 30 is supported in a floating state at a predetermined position relative to the fixed housing 20 via the signal terminals 40 and the power terminals 60. As a result, the movable housing 30 is supported so as to be movable relative to the fixed housing 20.

[0024] The movable housing 30 is movable relative to the fixed housing 20 along a first direction intersecting with the mating direction. In this embodiment, the movable housing 30 is movable relative to the fixed housing 20 along a second direction intersecting with the mating direction and the first direction. In this embodiment, the Y direction indicates the first direction, and the X direction indicates the second direction. However, it is sufficient that the movable housing 30 is movable along the first direction, and it is not necessary that the movable housing 30 is movable along both the first direction and the second direction.

[0025] In this embodiment, the movable housing 30 is movable in both the first direction and the second direction without being restricted by each other. That is, the movable housing 30 is movable relative to the fixed housing 20 not only in the X direction and the Y direction, but also in a direction inclined with respect to the X direction and the Y direction in the XY plane. The movable housing 30 is movable relative to the fixed housing 20 in any direction in a plane including the first direction and the second direction. It can also be understood that the movement vector indicating the direction and amount of movement of the movable housing 30 can be expressed as the sum of the movement vector in the first direction and the movement vector in the second direction.

[0026] In this embodiment, the signal terminals 40 and the power terminals 60 are arranged in the X direction and the Y direction. The power terminals 60 are arranged on both sides of the signal terminals 40 in the X direction. For example, the number of parallel connections of the signal terminals 40 in the X direction is 10 or more (75 in this example), and the number of parallel connections of the signal terminals 40 in the Y direction is 2. On one side and the other side of the signal terminals 40 in the X direction, the power terminals 60 are arranged in two rows in the X direction and the Y direction, respectively. However, the number of parallel connections of the terminals 40 and 60 in the X direction and the number of parallel connections of the terminals 40 and 60 in the Y direction are not particularly limited and can be set appropriately. As in the example of the embodiment, it is preferable that the number of parallel connections of the signal terminals 40 in the X direction is greater than the number of parallel connections of the signal terminals 40 in the Y direction.

[0027] A pair of adjacent signal terminals 40 along the X direction are oriented in the same direction. A pair of adjacent signal terminals 40 along the Y direction are oriented in opposite directions. Similarly, a pair of adjacent power terminals 60 along the X direction are oriented in the same direction, and a pair of adjacent power terminals 60 along the Y direction are oriented in opposite directions.

[0028] The fixed housing 20 is molded using an electrically insulating material such as synthetic resin. The fixed housing 20 includes a pair of wall portions 21X extending along the X direction and a pair of wall portions 21Y extending along the Y direction. The pair of wall portions 21X and the pair of wall portions 21Y are connected to form the peripheral wall 21. The upper portion of the peripheral wall 21 is open, and the lower portion is closed. The fixed housing 20 includes a bottom block portion 22 that closes the lower opening of the peripheral wall 21. A plurality of through holes are formed in the bottom block portion 22. Thus, the fixed housing 20 is formed in a cylindrical shape in which the upper portion of the peripheral wall 21 is open, and a plurality of through holes each smaller than the upper opening are formed in the lower portion of the peripheral wall 21. The lower portion of the movable housing 30 is disposed in the internal space of the peripheral wall 21 and above the bottom block portion 22. The upper portion of the movable housing 30 protrudes upward from the upper opening of the fixed housing 20. In the X and Y directions, the inner surface of the peripheral wall 21 and the outer surface of the movable housing 30 face each other with a gap therebetween. This gap is, for example, the same as the amount of movement of the movable housing 30 in the X and Y directions.

[0029] The fixed housing 20 includes a signal terminal holding portion 23, a power terminal holding portion 24, and a fixture holding portion 29. Here, the signal terminal holding portion 23 and the power terminal holding portion 24 are provided on the bottom block portion 22, and the fixture holding portion 29 is provided on the outer surface of the wall portion 21Y.

[0030] The signal terminal holding portion 23 is a portion that holds the first end 42 of the signal terminal 40. The portion of the bottom block portion 22 that is located in the middle in the X direction and in which the holding hole 23H is formed as a through hole is defined as the signal terminal holding portion 23. Two holding holes 23H are provided in the Y direction. Each of the two holding holes 23H has a plurality of first hole portions and one second hole portion. In each holding hole 23H, the plurality of first hole portions are aligned in the X direction. The plurality of signal terminals 40 aligned in the X direction are individually passed through the plurality of first hole portions. One second hole portion is located below the plurality of first hole portions. The plurality of first hole portions and the one second hole portion are continuous along the Z direction. The plurality of signal terminals 40 aligned in the X direction are collectively passed through the one second hole portion.

[0031] The power terminal holding portion 24 is a portion that holds the first end 61 of the power terminal 60. The power terminal holding portion 24 is a portion of the bottom block portion 22 that is located outside the signal terminal holding portion 23 in the X direction and in which a holding hole 24H is formed as a through hole. A pair of the power terminal holding portions 24 are provided spaced apart from each other in the X direction. The signal terminal holding portion 23 is located between the pair of power terminal holding portions 24. The holding holes 24H are provided in the same number as the power terminals 60. A power terminal 60 is individually accommodated in each of the holding holes 24H.

[0032] Here, a portion of the bottom block portion 22 located outside in the X direction relative to the pair of power terminal holding portions 24 serves as a housing support portion 25 that supports the lower end of the movable housing 30. The housing support portion 25 is surrounded by the ends of the pair of walls 21X along the X direction and the wall portion 21Y.

[0033] The fastener holding portion 29 is a portion that holds the fastener 70. The fastener holding portion 29 is formed in a slot shape into which the fastener 70 can be inserted from above.

[0034] The movable housing 30 is molded using an electrically insulating material such as synthetic resin. The movable housing 30 is formed in a block shape that is longer in the X direction than in the Y direction. The movable housing 30 includes a signal terminal holding portion 31 and a power terminal holding portion 36.

[0035] The signal terminal holding portion 31 is a portion that holds the second end 48 of the signal terminal 40. The signal terminal holding portion 31 includes a first block portion 32 and a second block portion 33. The first block portion 32 has a plurality of holding holes 32H formed therein. The second block portion 33 protrudes upward from the upper portion of the first block portion 32. The second block portion 33 is located between a pair of signal terminals 40 arranged in the Y direction. The second block portion 33 has a plurality of holding grooves 33G formed on its outer surface that faces outward in the Y direction. The plurality of holding holes 32H and the plurality of holding grooves 33G are provided in equal numbers and correspond one-to-one. Each of the holding holes 32H and each of the holding grooves 33G are continuous in the Z direction. The lower portions of the second end portions 48 of the plurality of signal terminals 40 are individually passed through the plurality of holding holes 32H. The upper portions of the second end portions 48 of the plurality of signal terminals 40 are individually accommodated in the plurality of holding grooves 33G.

[0036] Here, the signal terminal holding portion 31 includes a third block portion 34. The third block portion 34 protrudes downward from the lower portion of the first block portion 32. The third block portion 34 is located between a pair of signal terminals 40 aligned in the Y direction. Here, no groove such as the holding groove 33G is formed in the third block portion 34. The outer surface of the third block portion 34 facing outward along the Y direction covers a plurality of signal terminals 40 collectively.

[0037] The power terminal holding portion 36 holds the second end 64 of the power terminal 60. The power terminal holding portion 36 has two holding bodies formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped block. The two holding bodies are arranged apart from each other in the X direction. The signal terminal holding portion 31 is arranged between the two holding bodies. A plurality of holding holes 36H are formed in each holding body. A plurality of power terminals 60 are individually passed through the plurality of holding holes 36H. Here, the holding body has a portion continuing to the side of the first block portion 32 and the third block portion 34. The holding body does not have a portion continuing to the side of the second block portion 33.

[0038] Each of the retaining holes 36H includes a locking hole portion 36H1 and a receiving hole portion 36H2. The upper portion of each of the retaining holes 36H is the locking hole portion 36H1, and the lower portion is the receiving hole portion 36H2. The locking hole portion 36H1 is a portion where a part of the power terminal 60 is locked. The receiving hole portion 36H2 is a portion where another part of the power terminal 60 is accommodated without being locked. Here, in the X direction, the size of the locking hole portion 36H1 and the size of the receiving hole portion 36H2 are the same. In the Y direction, the size of the receiving hole portion 36H2 is larger than the size of the locking hole portion 36H1. At the upper portion of the locking hole portion 36H1, a portion that spreads around the periphery of the locking hole portion 36H1 is the first locking surface 36A. The first locking claw 66A of the power terminal 60 is locked to the first locking surface 36A. A portion of the lower portion of the locking hole 36H1 that extends around the periphery of the locking hole 36H1 serves as a second locking surface 36B. A second locking claw 66B of the power terminal 60 is locked onto the second locking surface 36B.

[0039] Here, the movable housing 30 includes a hood portion 37. The hood portion 37 surrounds the second block portion 33 of the signal terminal holding portion 31 and the portion of the power terminal 60 that protrudes above the power terminal holding portion 36. The hood portion 37 has a pair of walls 37X extending in the X direction and a pair of walls 37Y extending in the Y direction. The pair of walls 37X and the pair of walls 37Y are connected to form a peripheral wall of the movable housing 30. In the connector device 100, the tip of the mating connector 80 is accommodated inside the hood portion 37. Both ends of the hood portion 37 along the X direction are guide receiving portions 38 that receive the guide portion 84 of the mating connector 80. As shown in FIG. 6, a mating recess 38A into which the guide portion 84 is fitted is provided on the lower side of the guide receiving portion 38. The mating recess 38A is a portion surrounded by the ends of the pair of walls 37X in the X direction, one wall 37Y, and the power terminal holding portion 36. Furthermore, protrusions 39 supported by the housing support part 25 are provided at the four corners of the lower part of the movable housing 30. Here, the pair of walls 37X and the pair of walls 37Y extend downward beyond the fitting recess 38A on the outer side of the power terminal holding part 36 along the X direction of the movable housing 30. The protrusions 39 are provided on the lower part of the pair of walls 37X that are positioned outside the power terminal holding part 36.

[0040] As shown in Fig. 4, a portion of the wall 21X that extends upward beyond the power terminal holding portion 24 faces a wall 36X of the movable housing 30. The wall 36X is a wall portion that is located outward in the Y direction from the power terminal 60 among the walls that define the accommodating hole 36H2. When the movable housing 30 is in its initial position relative to the fixed housing 20 (a state in which there is no positional deviation relative to the fixed housing 20, hereinafter referred to as the initial state), the walls 21X and 36X face each other with a distance DY therebetween, as shown in Fig. 4. The distance DY is, for example, the same as the amount of movement of the movable housing 30 in the Y direction.

[0041] Each of the signal terminal 40 and the power terminal 60 is formed into a predetermined shape by pressing (punching and bending) a flat plate of a conductive material such as metal. The flat plate extends generally in the Z direction so as to be long in the Z direction while bending in the YZ plane. The cross section of the flat plate is, for example, rectangular. The short side of the rectangular cross section is the plate thickness direction, and the long side is the plate width direction. Each of the signal terminal 40 and the power terminal 60 is disposed in a posture in which the plate width direction of the flat plate is along the X direction. Also, the thickness of the flat plate in the Y direction at the part where the flat plate extends parallel to the Z direction is the plate thickness. Therefore, in this embodiment, the fitting direction is the extension direction of the plate material, the first direction (Y direction) is the plate thickness direction of the plate material, and the second direction (X direction) is the plate width direction of the plate material.

[0042] The signal terminal 40 includes a first end 42 held by the fixed housing 20, a second end 48 held by the movable housing 30, and a connecting portion 54 connecting the first end 42 and the second end 48. The first end 42 and the second end 48 are spaced apart from each other along the mating direction (here, the Z direction). The connecting portion 54 extends along the mating direction. When the movable housing 30 moves along the X direction or the Y direction, the connecting portion 54 is elastically deformed while the second end 48 can follow the movable housing 30.

[0043] The first end 42 has a board connecting portion 43 connected to the board B1 and a first held portion 44 held by the fixed housing 20. The board connecting portion 43 is exposed below the fixed housing 20. The board connecting portion 43 is formed in a shape extending along the main surface of the board B1 and is formed so as to be surface mountable to the board B1. The board connecting portion 43 may be formed in a pin shape or the like so as to be connectable to the board B1 by through-hole connection. The first held portion 44 is press-fitted and held in the holding hole 23H of the fixed housing 20. The first held portion 44 is provided with press-fit protrusions 45 at two locations along the longitudinal direction of the flat plate. Each press-fit protrusion 45 protrudes outward from both outer edges along the plate width direction (X direction). One of the two press-fit protrusions 45 is provided in a portion that fits into the first hole portion of the holding hole 23H, and the other is provided in a portion that fits into the second hole portion of the holding hole 23H.

[0044] The second end 48 has a terminal portion 49 which is connected to a mating signal terminal 85 of the mating connector 80, and a second held portion 51 which is held by the movable housing 30. The terminal portion 49 has a spring-shaped portion 50 which is a leaf spring bent in the plate thickness direction. The main portion of the second held portion 51 is lower than the spring-shaped portion 50, and here includes the portion which is inserted into the holding hole 32H.

[0045] Of the retaining hole 32H, inner surfaces facing opposite to each other along the plate thickness direction (here, the Y direction) of the signal terminal 40 are referred to as inner surfaces 32A and 32B. Here, the surface continuing to the bottom surface of the retaining groove 33G is referred to as inner surface 32A. The distance between inner surfaces 32A and 32B is greater than the plate thickness of the signal terminal 40. The distance between inner surfaces 32A and 32B is greater than the dimension of the spring-shaped portion 50 along the Y direction. This prevents the terminal portion 49 having the spring-shaped portion 50 from coming into contact with both the inner surface 32A and the inner surface 32B when passing through the retaining hole 32H.

[0046] The signal terminal 40 and the movable housing 30 are relatively movable in the mating direction. Here, the second held portion 51 is not provided with a press-fit protrusion that protrudes in the plate width direction and is press-fitted into the movable housing 30, like the press-fit protrusion 45 of the first end 42. The second end 48 is held by the movable housing 30 with a holding force weaker than that of the first end 42. For example, the first end 42 is held more difficult to move along the mating direction than the second end 48. For example, the first end 42 may be held by the fixed housing 20 so as not to move along the mating direction even by a force generated when the movable housing 30 moves. On the other hand, the second end 48 may be held by the movable housing 30 so as to be movable along the mating direction by a force generated when the movable housing 30 moves.

[0047] The second held portion 51 is bent in the plate thickness direction and is in contact with both the inner surface 32A and the inner surface 32B. The second held portion 51 is in slidable contact with both the inner surface 32A and the inner surface 32B, for example. More specifically, the second held portion 51 has two bent portions 52. The two bent portions 52 are bent so that the main surfaces facing in opposite directions are on the inner circumferential side. By having the two bent portions 52, the second held portion 51 can contact both the two inner surfaces 32A and 32B facing in opposite directions of the retaining hole 32H, which is larger than the plate thickness. The upper portion of the second held portion 51 above the two bent portions 52 extends upward while contacting the inner surface 32A or the bottom surface of the retaining groove 33G connected thereto. The portion of the second end 48 from the second held portion 51 to the spring-shaped portion 50 extends straight upward from the upper end of the second held portion 51 along the retaining groove 33G. Both sides of this portion in the X direction are separated by both side surfaces of the holding groove 33G from the adjacent signal terminal 40. A portion of the second held portion 51 below the lower bent portion 52 extends downward while contacting the inner surface 32B.

[0048] From one end of the signal terminal 40 to the other end, the board connecting portion 43, the first held portion 44, the connecting portion 54, the second held portion 51, and the terminal portion 49 are arranged in this order. When assembling the floating connector 10, the signal terminal 40 is passed through the holding holes 23H and 32H in this order, starting from the terminal portion 49. Since the terminal portion 49 is provided with the spring-shaped portion 50, the dimension of the terminal portion 49 in the Y direction is larger than the plate thickness. In order to allow the terminal portion 49 to pass through, the dimension of each of the holding holes 23H and 32H in the Y direction is larger than the plate thickness.

[0049] The connecting portion 54 connects the upper end of the first held portion 44 and the lower end of the second held portion 51. The upper end of the first held portion 44 and the lower end of the second held portion 51 are located at the same position along the Y direction. The lower part of the connecting portion 54 extends straight upward from the upper end of the first held portion 44. The upper part of the connecting portion 54 extends straight downward from the lower end of the second held portion 51. An elastic portion 55 is provided in the middle part along the longitudinal direction of the connecting portion 54.

[0050] The elastic portion 55 extends in a trapezoidal wave shape from the first end 42 to the second end 48. In the example shown in Fig. 4, the trapezoid is an isosceles trapezoid. The trapezoid may have a shape other than an isosceles trapezoid. The elastic portion 55 may have a shape other than a trapezoidal wave shape, such as a stepped shape.

[0051] The elastic portion 55 can be considered to have two offset portions 55A and 55B. The offset portions 55A and 55B offset the position of the signal terminal 40 along the Y direction, which extends straight in the Z direction. Of the two offset portions 55A and 55B, the one located on the first end 42 side is the first offset portion 55A, and the one located on the second end 48 side is the second offset portion 55B. The position of the connecting portion 54 extending in the Z direction from the first end 42 to the second end 48 is shifted from the outside to the inside in the Y direction by the first offset portion 55A, and shifted from the inside to the outside in the Y direction by the second offset portion 55B. The offset amount of the first offset portion 55A and the offset amount of the second offset portion 55B are the same along the Y direction. In addition, the first offset portion 55A and the second offset portion 55B are provided so as to have inclined surfaces of the same angle.

[0052] The first offset portion 55A is provided in the same direction as the offset portion of the second held portion 51. The offset amount of the first offset portion 55A and the offset amount of the offset portion of the second held portion 51 are the same along the Y direction. Here, the first offset portion 55A and the offset portion of the second held portion are provided to have slopes with the same angle. The slope of the first offset portion 55A may be provided to be steeper than the slope of the offset portion of the second held portion 51.

[0053] The fixed housing 20 and the movable housing 30 each have a retaining hole 23H, 32H through which the signal terminal 40 passes. The retaining hole 32H of the movable housing 30 is located on an extension line of the first hole portion of the retaining hole 23H of the fixed housing 20. The first hole portion of the retaining hole 23H of the fixed housing 20 and the retaining hole 32H of the movable housing 30 have the same shape and size in the XY plane except for the guide surface. The first hole portion of the retaining hole 23H and the retaining hole 32H are located at the same position on the XY plane and overlap when viewed from the fitting direction. For example, the size of the first hole portion of the retaining hole 23H and the retaining hole 32H in the X direction is approximately the same as the plate width at a portion of the flat plate without the press-fit protrusion 45 (for example, the same or slightly smaller). The size of the first hole portion of the retaining hole 23H and the retaining hole 32H in the Y direction is the same as the offset amount in the Y direction of the second retained portion 51 and the elastic portion 55.

[0054] The power terminal 60 has a conductor cross-sectional area larger than that of the signal terminal 40. The power terminal 60 is also held in a press-fit state in the fixed housing 20. Like the signal terminal 40, the power terminal 60 also has a first end 61 held by the fixed housing 20, a second end 64 held by the movable housing 30, and a connecting portion 67 connecting the first end 61 and the second end 64.

[0055] The first end 61 of the power terminal 60 is longer in the Y direction than the first end 42 of the signal terminal 40. The first end 61 of the power terminal 60 also has three orthogonal bent portions, and the portion between the first and third orthogonal bent portions is fitted into the holding hole 24H of the power terminal holding portion 24. The first end 61 has a board connecting portion 62 and a held portion 63. Here, a press-fit protrusion 63A is formed on the held portion 63, and the held portion 63 is press-fitted and held in the power terminal holding portion 24 of the fixed housing 20.

[0056] The second end 64 of the power terminal 60 has a larger dimension in the plate thickness direction than the first end 61. For example, the flat plate constituting the power terminal 60 is folded back and stacked at the second end 64 to increase the dimension in the plate thickness direction. Of the two layers of plate material constituting the second end 64, the plate material located on the outside in the Y direction is the outer plate portion 64B, and the plate material located on the inside in the Y direction is the inner plate portion 64C. Here, the lower portion of the inner plate portion 64C is connected to the connecting portion 67. The lower portion of the outer plate portion 64B may be connected to the connecting portion 67. For example, the second end 64 of the two layers is inserted and held in the holding hole 36H of the power terminal holding portion 36 of the movable housing 30. The tip portion of the second end 64 is the terminal portion 65 that is connected to the mating power terminal 90, and the portion on the first end 61 side from the terminal portion 65 is the held portion 66 that is held by the movable housing 30.

[0057] The terminal portion 65 extends straight in the Z direction. The mating power terminal 90 is provided with a spring-shaped portion 94, and the power terminal 60 is not provided with a spring-shaped portion. However, the power terminal 60 may be provided with a spring-shaped portion.

[0058] The held portion 66 is provided with a first locking claw 66A and a second locking claw 66B. The first locking claw 66A and the second locking claw 66B are provided on the outer plate portion 64B. The first locking claw 66A and the second locking claw 66B are provided apart from each other in the Z direction.

[0059] The first locking claw 66A is located above the second locking claw 66B. The first locking claw 66A is provided in the Z-direction middle part of the outer plate portion 64B. The first locking claw 66A is formed by cutting and raising a part of the X-direction middle part of the outer plate portion 64B in the Y direction. The first locking claw 66A is locked to the first locking surface 36A. The first locking claw 66A is locked to one side (here, the upper side) along the fitting direction with respect to the movable housing 30. The first locking claw 66A is provided so as to be able to elastically deform and pass through the locking hole portion 36H1.

[0060] The second locking claw 66B is provided on the lower end of the outer plate portion 64B. The second locking claw 66B is formed by bending the entire lower end of the outer plate portion 64B in the Y direction. The second locking claw 66B locks with the second locking surface 36B. There may or may not be a gap between the second locking claw 66B and the second locking surface 36B in the fitting direction, and the second locking claw 66B only needs to face the second locking surface 36B so as to be able to lock with the second locking surface 36B from the other side along the fitting direction. The second locking claw 66B locks with the movable housing 30 on the other side along the fitting direction (here, the lower side). For example, if the power terminal 60 is tilted in the X-axis direction (here, the left-right direction) with respect to the fitting direction (here, the up-down direction), the second locking claw 66B abuts against the second locking surface 36B from below, preventing the power terminal 60 from tilting further, thereby preventing the power terminal 60 from tilting excessively. A part of the power terminal holding portion 36 of the movable housing 30 is disposed between the first locking claw 66A and the second locking claw 66B.

[0061] Moreover, the fixed housing 20 supports the movable housing 30 from the other side (here, the lower side) along the fitting direction. For example, the fixed housing 20 supports the movable housing 30 from below by abutting against the protrusion 39 of the movable housing 30 from below. The fixed housing 20 restricts the downward movement of the movable housing 30.

[0062] When the power terminal 60 is inserted into the locking hole 36H1 from the tip of the terminal portion 65, the first locking claw 66A comes into contact with the periphery of the lower opening of the locking hole 36H1 (here, the second locking surface 36B) and is deformed so as to shrink. Then, when the first locking claw 66A passes the locking hole 36H1, it elastically returns to its original state and locks with the first locking surface 36A. Note that there may or may not be a gap between the first locking claw 66A and the first locking surface 36A in the fitting direction, and the first locking claw 66A only needs to face the first locking surface 36A so as to be able to be locked with the first locking surface 36A. When the movable housing 30 moves upward relative to the first locking claw 66A, the first locking claw 66A abuts against the first locking surface 36A to prevent further upward movement of the movable housing 30.

[0063] The power terminal 60 is held by the power terminal holding portion 36 so as to be movable along the X direction. When the movable housing 30 moves in the X direction, the connecting portion 67 of the power terminal 60 does not deform, and the second end portion 64 of the power terminal 60 does not move with the movable housing. When the movable housing 30 moves in the X direction, the power terminal 60 and the mating power terminal 90 can be connected while allowing for positional deviation.

[0064] When the movable housing 30 moves in the Y direction, the second end 64 of the power terminal 60 can follow the movable housing 30 while the connecting portion 67 of the power terminal 60 is deformed. The connecting portion 67 of the power terminal 60 is also provided with an elastic portion 68. The elastic portion 68 extends in a trapezoidal wave shape along the fitting direction, similar to the elastic portion 55. Furthermore, in the middle portion along the extension direction of the power terminal 60, a slit 69 is formed in the middle portion in the plate width direction of the flat plate, extending along the extension direction. As a result, in the middle portion along the extension direction of the power terminal 60, the flat plate is divided in the plate width direction. Here, two parallel slits 69 are provided in one flat plate, and one flat plate is divided into three. One slit may be provided in one flat plate, and one flat plate may be divided into two. Three or more parallel slits 69 may be provided in one flat plate, and one flat plate may be divided into four or more. The slits 69 are formed over the entire connecting portion 67 along the extension direction. The slit 69 also reaches a part of the first end 61 and a part of the second end 64 .

[0065] At the connecting portion 67 of the power terminal 60, the dimension in the Y direction is smaller than the dimension in the X direction. The dimension in the X direction of the connecting portion 67 of the power terminal 60 is the sum of the three portions divided by the slits 69, and is the plate width dimension. The dimension in the Y direction of the connecting portion 67 of the power terminal 60 is the plate thickness dimension. For this reason, the connecting portion 67 of the power terminal 60 is more easily deformed in the Y direction than in the X direction. Furthermore, since the elastic portion 68 is provided here, the connecting portion 67 of the power terminal 60 is more easily deformed in the Y direction.

[0066] Before the floating connector 10 is connected to the mating connector 80, the movable housing 30 is positioned in an initial state. Here, in the initial state, the position of the movable housing 30 in the X and Y directions is, for example, a position where the center of the movable housing 30 coincides with the center of the peripheral wall 21 of the fixed housing 20. Also, in the initial state, the position of the movable housing 30 in the Z direction is, for example, a position where the lower part of the movable housing 30 is supported by the fixed housing 20. Such positioning is performed, for example, as follows.

[0067] The signal terminals 40 fit into the retaining holes 32H and the retaining grooves 33G, thereby positioning the movable housing 30 in the X and Y directions. The power terminals 60 engage with the locking holes 36H1, thereby positioning the movable housing 30 in the Y and Z directions. The lower part of the movable housing 30 is supported by the fixed housing 20, thereby positioning the movable housing 30 in the Z direction. In other words, the positioning of the movable housing 30 in the X direction is determined mainly by the signal terminals 40. The positioning of the movable housing 30 upward in the Z direction is determined mainly by only the first locking claws 66A.

[0068] <About the mating connector> The mating connector 80 will be described with further reference to Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing the mating connector 80 shown in Fig. 1.

[0069] The mating connector 80 has a mating housing 81, a plurality of mating signal terminals 85, and a plurality of mating power terminals 90. The mating signal terminals 85 are terminals for signal transmission. The mating power terminals 90 are terminals for power supply. The mating connector 80 is fixed to the board B2 by a fixture 87, similar to the floating connector 10. The mating housing 81 holds the plurality of mating terminals 85, 90 in the same arrangement as the plurality of terminals 40, 60. The mating housing 81 has a signal terminal holding portion 82 that holds the mating signal terminal 85, a power terminal holding portion 83 that holds the mating power terminal 90, and a guide portion 84 that contacts the guide receiving portion 38. The signal terminal holding portion 31 of the movable housing 30 and the signal terminal holding portion 82 of the mating connector 80 are fitted together, and the power terminal 60 of the floating connector 10 and the mating power terminal 90 of the mating connector 80 are fitted together. Before these are fitted together, the guide receiving portion 38 and the guide portion 84 come into contact with each other, thereby correcting any misalignment in the X and Y directions.

[0070] The guide portions 84 are provided on both ends of the movable housing 30 along the X direction. Two power terminal holding portions 83 are located between the two guide portions 84, and one signal terminal holding portion 82 is located between the two power terminal holding portions 83. The guide portions 84 are the portions that first come into contact with the floating connector 10 when the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80, which are located apart from each other, approach each other along the mating direction. By providing the guide portions 84, misalignment between the movable housing 30 of the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 in the X direction and Y direction is corrected before the terminals come into contact with each other.

[0071] The mating signal terminal 85 is press-fitted into the holding hole of the signal terminal holding portion 82. The mating signal terminal 85 has a spring-shaped portion 86. The mating power terminal 90 has a spring-shaped portion 94 and is formed in a cylindrical shape into which the second end 64 of the power terminal 60 is inserted.

[0072] The mating power terminal 90 is press-fitted into the holding hole 83H of the power terminal holding portion 83. The mating power terminal 90 has a board connecting portion 91, a tube portion 92, a spring contact portion 95A, and a fixed contact portion 96. The board connecting portion 91 connects the mating power terminal 90 to the board B2. The tube portion 92 surrounds the periphery of the power terminal 60. The tube portion 92 is formed by bending the plate material constituting the mating power terminal 90 into a tube shape. Here, the tube portion 92 is a square tube shape. The tube portion 92 may be another square tube shape, a cylindrical shape, or the like. The tube portion 92 has a pair of wall portions 92X extending in the X direction and a pair of wall portions 92Y extending in the Y direction. A press-fit protrusion 93 for press-fitting into the power terminal holding portion 83 is provided on the outer surface of the pair of wall portions 92Y. One of the pair of wall portions 92X is two-layered with plate materials stacked on top of each other. Of the two layers of plate material, the one located on the inside of the tube portion 92 is referred to as an inner plate portion 92X1, and the one located on the outside is referred to as an outer plate portion 92X2.

[0073] A part of the inner plate portion 92X1 is cut and raised toward the inside of the cylindrical portion 92 to form a spring-shaped portion 94. The spring-shaped portion 94 is bent so that the Z-direction intermediate portion is closest to the other of the pair of wall portions 92X. The plate portion constituting the spring-shaped portion 94 is curved so that the X-direction intermediate portion (here, the center portion) is located more inside the cylindrical portion 92 than both X-direction ends. The inner surface of the spring-shaped portion 94 is a curved surface that is curved when viewed from the fitting direction. A spring contact portion 95A is provided on the curved surface. The spring contact portion 95A is a portion that comes into contact with the power terminal 60 and is electrically connected. The portion of the curved surface that protrudes most toward the inside of the cylindrical portion 92 is the spring contact portion 95A.

[0074] In the mating power terminal 90, of the pair of wall portions 92X, the wall portion 92X facing the spring-shaped portion 94 is provided with a convex fixed contact portion 96 that protrudes toward the spring-shaped portion 94. The spring contact portion 95A and the fixed contact portion 96 are provided apart from each other in the Y direction. Since the fixed contact portion 96 is a convex portion, the terminal portion 65 can be firmly clamped by the convex fixed contact portion 96 and the spring contact portion 95A.

[0075] Furthermore, in the mating power terminal 90, a cut-and-raised piece 97 may be formed on a portion of the outer plate portion 92X2 that faces a portion of the inner plate portion 92X1 that includes the spring contact portion 95A. When the power terminal 60 is not connected, the distance between the spring contact portion 95A and the fixed contact portion 96 in the Y direction is smaller than the thickness of the terminal portion 65 (here, the thickness of two overlapping plate materials). When the fixed contact portion 96 and the spring contact portion 95A clamp the terminal portion 65, the spring-shaped portion 94 bends toward the outer plate portion 92X2. At this time, the cut-and-raised piece 97 can prevent the spring-shaped portion 94 from bending too much toward the outer plate portion 92X2.

[0076] <Mating the floating connector with the mating connector> When connecting the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80, the worker moves the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 relatively in the fitting direction. Here, the boards B1 and B2 are moved relatively to each other in the fitting direction.

[0077] When the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 approach each other, if there is no misalignment in the X and Y directions between the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80, the signal terminal holding portions 31, 82 will fit together as they are, and the power terminal holding portions 36, 83 will fit together, without the movable housing 30 moving. As a result, the signal terminals 40, 85 are electrically connected to each other, and the power terminals 60, 90 are electrically connected to each other.

[0078] When the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 approach each other, if there is a displacement in the X direction or the Y direction between the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80, the guide portion 84 of the mating connector 80 contacts the guide receiving portion 38 of the floating connector 10 and is guided, and the movable housing 30 moves in the direction in which the displacement occurs. Here, on the tip portions of one side surface facing the outside in the X direction and two side surfaces facing the outside in the Y direction among the side surfaces of one guide portion 84, guide surfaces inclined with respect to the Z direction are provided. The guide surfaces facing the outside in the X direction of the two guide portions 84 are a pair of guide surfaces in the X direction. Also, the guide surfaces facing the outside in the Y direction of the two guide portions 84 are two pairs of guide surfaces in the Y direction. Hereinafter, each of the correction of the displacement in the X direction and the Y direction will be described more specifically. When the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 are displaced in both the X direction and the Y direction, both the correction of the displacement in the X direction and the correction of the displacement in the Y direction are performed.

[0079] <Regarding the correction of the displacement in the X direction> When the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 are displaced in the X direction, either one of the pair of guide surfaces in the X direction of the mating connector 80 contacts the tip of either one of the pair of wall portions 37Y of the movable housing 30. As a result, the movable housing 30 receives a force in the X direction from the mating connector 80, and the movable housing 30 moves in the X direction.

[0080] In the X direction, when the movable housing 30 moves by receiving a force from the guide portion 84, the second end portion 48 of the signal terminal 40 receives a force from the movable housing 30 at the contact surface with the movable housing 30. As a result, the elastic portion 55 of the signal terminal 40 is elastically deformed, and the second end portion 48 of the signal terminal 40 moves following the movable housing 30.

[0081] On the other hand, the movable housing 30 is also movable along the X direction relative to a portion of the power terminal 60 including the second end 64. Here, the dimension of the locking hole portion 36H1 in the X direction is larger than the dimension of the held portion 66. Even if the movable housing 30 moves in the X direction, the second end 64 of the power terminal 60 is not in contact with the movable housing 30 and therefore does not receive force from the movable housing 30. Therefore, although the power terminal holding portion 36 of the movable housing 30 moves in the X direction, the second end 64 of the power terminal 60 does not move.

[0082] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the power terminal 60 includes a pair of first outer surfaces 64A facing opposite directions along the X direction. The movable housing 30 includes a pair of first inner surfaces 36C covering the pair of first outer surfaces 64A, respectively. For example, in the X direction, the inner surface of the holding hole 36H of the movable housing 30 is the first inner surface 36C, and the outer surface of the portion of the power terminal 60 that fits into the holding hole 36H is the first outer surface 64A. In the initial state, the opposing surfaces of the pair of first outer surfaces 64A and the pair of first inner surfaces 36C are separated from each other. The distance DX1 shown in FIG. 6 is the distance between the first outer surface 64A and the first inner surface 36C that face each other in the initial state.

[0083] As shown in FIG. 6, the movable housing 30 includes a pair of second outer surfaces 37YA facing opposite each other along the X direction. The fixed housing 20 includes a pair of second inner surfaces 21YA covering the pair of second outer surfaces 37YA, respectively. For example, the second outer surface 37YA is an outer surface of the wall portion 37Y, and the second inner surface 21YA is an inner surface of the wall portion 21Y. In the initial state, the opposing surfaces of the pair of second outer surfaces 37YA and the pair of second inner surfaces 21YA are separated from each other. The distance DX2 shown in FIG. 6 is the distance between the opposing second outer surfaces 37YA and second inner surfaces 21YA in the initial state.

[0084] The distance DX2 is, for example, the amount of movement of the movable housing 30 on one side in the X direction relative to the fixed housing 20. Even at the other end in the X direction (not shown), the outer surface of the wall 37Y of the movable housing 30 faces the inner surface of the wall 21Y of the fixed housing 20 across the distance DX2. In the initial state, the movable housing 30 can move by the distance DX2 on both sides in the X direction.

[0085] 6 is the distance between the inner surfaces of a pair of wall portions 92Y of the tube portion 92. The distance DX3 is approximately equal to the sum of the dimension of the terminal portion 65 in the X direction and twice the dimension of the distance DX1. For example, when there is a slight clearance between the movable housing 30 and the mating housing 81 in the X direction, the distance DX3 may be slightly smaller than the sum of the dimension of the terminal portion 65 in the X direction and twice the dimension of the distance DX1 by the amount of the clearance. Such clearance may be equal to or smaller than one-tenth of the distance DX1.

[0086] In this embodiment, the distance DX1 is the same as the distance DX2. This allows the movable housing 30 to move relative to the power terminal 60 in the X direction by the same amount as the movable amount of the movable housing 30 relative to the fixed housing 20. This means that when the movable housing 30 moves in the X direction relative to the fixed housing 20, the amount of movement of the second end 64 of the power terminal 60 is substantially zero. This means that the second end 64 of the power terminal 60 does not need to deform in the X direction so as to follow the movable housing 30. This allows the fitting force to be reduced.

[0087] The spring contact portion 95A of the mating power terminal 90 and the terminal portion 65 of the power terminal 60 are in point-to-surface contact (point-surface contact). Here, when misalignment in the X direction is corrected, the position of the terminal portion 65 of the power terminal 60 along the X direction within the tubular portion 92 of the mating power terminal 90 may change. In this case, regardless of the position of the terminal portion 65 along the X direction within the tubular portion 92, approximately the same portion of the spring contact portion 95A contacts the terminal portion 65 of the power terminal 60. On the other hand, when misalignment in the X direction is corrected, the portion of the terminal portion 65 that contacts the spring contact portion 95A may change.

[0088] As described above, when there is a displacement between the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 in the X direction, the movable housing 30 and the second end portion 48 of the signal terminal 40 move, and the displacement is corrected. The second end portion 64 of the power supply terminal 60 is not moved and is connected to the mating power supply terminal 90 while allowing the displacement.

[0089] <Regarding correction of displacement in the Y direction> When the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 are displaced in the Y direction, two guide surfaces on one side along the Y direction among the pair of guide surfaces of the mating connector 80 in the Y direction contact the tip of either one of the pair of wall portions 37X of the movable housing 30. As a result, the movable housing 30 receives a force in the Y direction from the mating connector 80. Thereby, the movable housing 30 moves in the Y direction with respect to the fixed housing 20.

[0090] In the Y direction, when the movable housing 30 moves under the force from the guide portion 84, the second end portion 48 of the signal terminal 40 and the second end portion 64 of the power supply terminal 60 receive a force from the movable housing 30 at the contact surface with the movable housing 30. For example, when the movable housing 30 moves to the right from the state shown in FIG. 4, the left and right power supply terminals 60 receive a rightward force from the inner surface facing the right along the Y direction in the locking hole portion 36H1, respectively. Similarly, when the movable housing 30 moves to the right from the state shown in FIG. 5, the right signal terminal 40 receives a rightward force from the inner surface 32B and the bottom surface of the holding groove 33G. The left signal terminal 40 receives a rightward force from the inner surface 32A. From these, the elastic portions 55 of the signal terminal 40 and the elastic portions 68 of the power supply terminal 60 are elastically deformed, and the second end portion 48 of the signal terminal 40 and the second end portion 64 of the power supply terminal 60 move following the movable housing 30. Thereby, the displacement between the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 along the Y direction is corrected.

[0091] The deformation of the power terminal 60 when the movable housing 30 moves in the Y direction will be described with further reference to Figs. 11 to 14. Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the dimensions of the connecting portion 67 of the power terminal 60 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a power terminal 160 according to a reference example. Fig. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the state immediately before the power terminal 60 according to the first embodiment and the mating power terminal 90 are mated. Fig. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the movable housing according to the first embodiment has moved. Note that Figs. 11 and 12 show the state in which the power terminals 60 and 160 are in the initial state. Fig. 14 shows the state in which the movable housing 30 has moved in the Y direction and is mated. In Fig. 14, the movable housing 30 has moved to one side (the right side of the drawing) along the Y direction. In Fig. 14, the amount of movement of the movable housing 30 in the Y direction is almost at its maximum.

[0092] As shown in FIG. 11, the elastic portion 68 of the connecting portion 67 includes a plurality of bent portions and a plurality of extending portions. Each bent portion is a portion where the plate material constituting the power terminal 60 is bent in the plate thickness direction, and each extending portion is a portion where the plate material extends linearly. Here, four bent portions 68A1, 68A2, 68A3, and 68A4 are provided as the plurality of bent portions. Here, three extending portions 68B1, 68B2, and 68B3 are provided as the plurality of extending portions. The four bent portions 68A1, 68A2, 68A3, and 68A4 and the three extending portions 68B1, 68B2, and 68B3 are arranged in the following order from the first end portion 61 side: bent portion 68A1, extending portion 68B1, bent portion 68A2, extending portion 68B2, bent portion 68A3, extending portion 68B3, and bent portion 68A4.

[0093] In an initial state, the bent portion 68A1 is provided at a portion of the power terminal 60 immediately emerging from the holding hole 24H. The bent portion 68A1 is provided at the same position as the second end 64 in the Y direction. The extending portion 68B1 extends from the bent portion 68A1 inward in the Y direction and upward in the Z direction. The bent portion 68A2 is provided inward from the second end 64 in the Y direction. The extending portion 68B2 extends from the bent portion 68A2 outward in the Y direction and upward in the Z direction. The bent portion 68A3 is provided inward from the second end 64 in the Y direction and outward from the bent portion 68A2. The extending portion 68B3 extends from the bent portion 68A3 outward in the Y direction and upward in the Z direction. For example, the extending portion 68A1 and the extending portion 68B3 are located on either one of both sides of the extending portion 68B2 in the first direction (Y direction) when viewed from the second direction (X direction). The bent portion 68A4 is provided at the same position in the Y direction as the second end portion 64. The second end portion 64 extends straight upward in the Z direction from the bent portion 68A4.

[0094] The connecting portion 67 has a first bent portion 68A1 and a second bent portion 68A2 at both ends of the second extending portion 68B2, and has a first extending portion 68B1 and a third extending portion 68B3 on both sides of the second extending portion 68B2 in the fitting direction, so that the connecting portion 67 has, for example, a rectangular wave shape when viewed from the second direction (X direction). The first extending portion 68B1, the second extending portion 68B2, and the third extending portion 68B3 have, for example, a trapezoid shape when viewed from the second direction.

[0095] Angles A1-A5 shown in FIG. 11 are angles when the power terminal 60 is in the initial state. Angle A1 is the angle between the plate materials on both sides of bent portion 68A1. Angle A2 is the angle between the plate materials on both sides of bent portion 68A2. Angle A3 is the angle between the plate materials on both sides of bent portion 68A3. Angle A4 is the angle between the plate materials on both sides of bent portion 68A4. Angle A5 is an angle inclined with respect to the extending portion 68B1 and the fitting direction. Angle A1 is equal to the sum of angle A2 and angle A5. Angle A4 is equal to the difference between angle A3 and angle A5.

[0096] Here, angle A4 is greater than angle A1. However, angle A1 and angle A4 may be the same, or angle A1 may be greater than angle A4. Angle A4 may be greater than angle A1. The difference between angle A4 and angle A1 may be, for example, the same as or greater than angle A5. Here, the difference between angle A4 and angle A1 is, for example, about 10 degrees.

[0097] Here, angle A5 is 3 degrees. Angle A5 may be, for example, about 1 to 10 degrees, or about 1 to 5 degrees. Angle A3 is greater than angle A2. The difference between angle A3 and angle A2 is, for example, equal to the sum of the difference between angle A4 and angle A1 and twice the magnitude of angle A5.

[0098] Length dimensions D1-D3 shown in FIG. 11 are length dimensions when the power terminal 60 is in an initial state. Dimension D1 is the length dimension of extension portion 68B1. Dimension D2 is the length dimension of extension portion 68B2. Dimension D3 is the length dimension of extension portion 68B3. Dimension D2 may be larger than dimensions D1 and D3. Dimension D1 may be the same as or larger than dimension D3. Here, dimension D1 is slightly larger than dimension D3.

[0099] The bent portion 68A2 is an example of a first bent portion located at a position away from the second end 64 in the first direction (Y direction). The extending portion 68B1 is an example of a first extending portion extending from the first bent portion 68A2 toward the first end 61. The extending portion 68B2 is an example of a second extending portion extending from the first bent portion 68A2 toward the second end 64. The bent portion 68A3 is an example of a second bent portion continuing to an end of the second extending portion 68B2 on the opposite side to the first bent portion 68A2. The first bent portion 68A2 is located at a position away from the second end 64 along the Y direction than the second bent portion 68A3. The extending portion 68B3 is an example of a third extending portion extending from the second bent portion 68A3 toward the second end 64. When viewed from the second direction (X direction), the first extension portion 68B1, the second extension portion 68B2, and the third extension portion 68B3 extend in a direction inclined with respect to the fitting direction (Z direction).

[0100] 14, the second end 64 is sandwiched between the spring contact portion 95A and the fixed contact portion 96 from both sides in the Y direction. As shown in Fig. 4, the first bent portion 68A2 is located closer to the spring contact portion 95A than the second end 64 in the first direction.

[0101] In the initial state, the distance in the Y direction between the second extending portions 68B2 of a pair of power terminals 60 adjacent to each other in the Y direction gradually increases from the first bent portion 68A2 to the second bent portion 68A3.

[0102] 12, the shape of the elastic portion 168 differs from the shape of the elastic portion 68 of the power terminal 60. In the elastic portion 168, the second extending portion 168B2 is configured to extend straight without inclining with respect to the fitting direction. The elastic portion 168 is formed in a trapezoidal wave shape similar to the elastic portion 55 of the signal terminal 40. The other points of the power terminal 160 are similar to those of the power terminal 60.

[0103] Fig. 13 shows the state immediately before the movable housing 30 moves to the right side of the drawing from the state in Fig. 4 to engage with the mating connector. Fig. 14 shows the state in which the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 have moved in the engaging direction from the state in Fig. 13 and are engaged with each other.

[0104] In Fig. 13, the power terminal 60 indicated by a solid line indicates the power terminal 60 in the same position as the power terminal 60 on the left side of Fig. 4. Also, in Fig. 13, the power terminal 160 indicated by a virtual line indicates the state of the power terminal 160 when the power terminal 160 of the reference example is used instead of the power terminal 60 and the movable housing 30 moves in the same manner.

[0105] 13, the second end 64 of the power terminal 160 is located closer to the spring contact portion 95A in the Y direction than the second end 64 of the power terminal 60. When the second end 64 moves into the cylindrical portion in the fitting direction, the second end 64 of the power terminal 60 comes into contact with the spring contact portion 95A and deforms the spring contact portion 95A in a direction away from the fixed contact portion 96. At this time, if the rigidity of the second end 64 is greater than the rigidity (spring reaction force) of the spring contact portion 95A, it may be difficult for the spring contact portion 95A to move the second end 64 toward the fixed contact portion 96.

[0106] The second end 64 of the power terminal 60 is located closer to the fixed contact portion 96 in the Y direction than the second end 64 of the power terminal 160. When the second end 64 moves into the cylindrical portion in the fitting direction, the second end 64 of the power terminal 60 comes into contact with the fixed contact portion 96. This allows the second end 64 of the power terminal 60 to be better connected to the fixed contact portion 96 than the second end 64 of the power terminal 160.

[0107] The results of stress analysis using CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) also confirmed that the contact stress between the second end 64 of the power terminal 60 and the fixed contact portion 96 is more preferable than the contact stress between the second end 64 of the power terminal 160 and the fixed contact portion 96.

[0108] Here, in the state shown in FIG. 13, various factors can be considered as the reason why the second end 64 of the power terminal 60 is located closer to the fixed contact portion 96 than the second end 64 of the power terminal 160. One such factor, for example, is as follows.

[0109] That is, the dimension of the locking hole 36H1 in the Y direction may be slightly larger than the dimension of the held portion 66. The difference between the dimension of the locking hole 36H1 and the dimension of the held portion 66 in the Y direction is smaller than the above-mentioned interval DY, which is the movement amount of the movable housing in the Y direction. When the movable housing 30 moves in the Y direction, one of the outer surfaces of the held portion 66 in the Y direction is pressed by the inner surface of the opposing locking hole 36H1. At this time, since there is a slight gap between the inner surface of the opposite locking hole 36H1 and the outer surface of the held portion 66, the second end 64 of the power terminal 60 may be inclined with respect to the fitting direction.

[0110] At this time, since the second extending portion 68B2 is inclined with respect to the Z direction, the force acting to straighten the plate material on both sides of the bent portion 68A3 and the bent portion 68A4 in the Z direction is more likely to act than in the elastic portion 168 having the second extending portion 168B2 extending straight in the Z direction. As a result, it is considered that the elastic portion 68 is less likely to incline the second end portion 64 than the elastic portion 168.

[0111] 14, the second end 64 is inclined so that the tip end is closer to the fixed contact portion 96 in the Y direction than the base end. Therefore, the second end 64 can be well connected to the fixed contact portion 96 in the power terminal 60 on the right side of the paper in FIG.

[0112] When there is misalignment in the X or Y direction between the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80, the misalignment is corrected as described above. When the floating connector 10 and the mating connector 80 move closer in the mating direction with the misalignment in the X and Y directions corrected, the signal terminal holding portions 31, 82 fit together and the power terminal holding portions 36, 83 fit together. As a result, the signal terminals 40, 85 are electrically connected to each other and the power terminals 60, 90 are electrically connected to each other.

[0113] The spring-shaped portion 86 of the mating signal terminal 85 contacts between the spring-shaped portion 50 and the second held portion 51 of the signal terminal 40. The length between the spring-shaped portion 50 and the second held portion 51 of the signal terminal 40 is longer than the length of the spring-shaped portion 86 of the mating signal terminal 85. If the positions of the boards B1 and B2 are misaligned in the Z direction, the position where the spring-shaped portion 86 of the mating signal terminal 85 contacts the signal terminal 40 along the Z direction changes. In addition, the terminal portion 65 of the power terminal 60 extends linearly. The insertion amount of the terminal portion 65 of the power terminal 60 into the cylindrical portion 92 of the mating power terminal 90 can be changed. If the positions of the boards B1 and B2 are misaligned in the Z direction, the insertion amount of the power terminal 60 into the mating power terminal 90 changes. As a result, the positional deviation in the Z direction is also absorbed.

[0114] <Effects, etc.> According to the floating connector 10 and connector device 100 configured as described above, the first extension portion 68B1 and the second extension portion 68B2 of the connecting portion 67 of the power terminal 60 extend in a direction inclined with respect to the fitting direction (Z direction) when viewed from the second direction (X direction), so that when the movable housing 30 moves along the first direction (Y direction) and the connecting portion 67 is elastically deformed, it is possible to suppress deviation of the terminal portion 65 of the second end portion 64 from the connection position with the mating power terminal 90 in the first direction (Y direction). This allows the power terminal 60 and the mating power terminal 90 to be connected well.

[0115] Furthermore, by having the second bent portion 68A3 and the third extending portion 68B3, the connecting portion 67 has a rectangular wave shape, which makes it easier to suppress the misalignment of the terminal portion 65 of the second end portion 64 than in the case of a triangular wave shape. This makes it easier to obtain a good connection between the power supply terminal 60 and the mating power supply terminal 90.

[0116] In addition, since the second extending portion 68B2 is longer than the first extending portion 68B1 and the third extending portion 68B3, it is easier to suppress misalignment of the terminal portion 65 of the second end portion 64 compared to a case in which the second extending portion 68B2 is the same length as or shorter than the first extending portion 68B1 and the third extending portion 68B3. This makes it easier to obtain a good connection between the power supply terminal 60 and the mating power supply terminal 90.

[0117] Moreover, the first bent portion 68A2 is located farther from the second end 64 in the first direction than the second bent portion 68A3. As a result, the second extending portion 68B2 extends from the first bent portion 68A2 toward the second bent portion 68A3 so as to approach the second end 64 in the first direction (Y direction). In this case, when the movable housing 30 moves toward the first bent portion 68A2 and the second bent portion 68A3 along the first direction (Y direction), it is easier to suppress deviation of the terminal portion 65 of the second end 64.

[0118] Furthermore, according to the connector device 100, the first bent portion 68A2 is located in the first direction (Y direction) closer to the spring contact portion 95A than the second end portion 64. This prevents the terminal portion 65 of the second end portion 64 from significantly shifting toward the spring contact portion 95A even if the connecting portion 67 elastically deforms during movement of the movable housing 30 and the second end portion 64 shifts toward the spring contact portion 95A.

[0119] [Note] In the first embodiment, the elastic portion 68 is described as including the bent portion 68A3 and the extending portion 68B3, but this is not a required configuration. The bent portion 68A3 and the extending portion 68B3 may be omitted from the elastic portion. In this case, the elastic portion has a triangular wave shape in which the extending portion 68B2 is connected to the bent portion 68A4.

[0120] In the first embodiment, the connecting portion 67 is described as not elastically deforming in response to the movement of the movable housing 30 in the X direction, but this is not a required configuration. The connecting portion may be configured to elastically deform when the movable housing 30 moves in the X direction, so that the second end 64 follows the movable housing 30.

[0121] The configurations described in the above embodiments and modifications can be combined as appropriate as long as they are not mutually inconsistent. [Explanation of symbols]

[0122] 10 Floating Connector 20 Fixed Housing 21 Peripheral wall 21X, 21Y, 36X, 37X, 37Y, 92X, 92Y wall section 21YA 2nd inner surface 22 Bottom block part 23, 31, 82 Signal terminal holding part 23H, 24H, 32H, 36H holding hole 24, 36, 83 Power terminal holding part 25 Housing support 29 Fixture holding part 30 Movable Housing 32 First Block 32A, 32B inner surface 33 Second Block Section 33G retaining groove 34 3rd Block 36A First locking surface 36B 2nd locking surface 36C First inner surface 36H1 Locking hole 36H2 Receiving hole 37 Food Section 37YA 2nd outer surface 38 Guide receiving part 39 Protrusion 40 Signal terminal 42, 61 1st end 43, 62, 91 Board connection part 44 First held part 45, 63A, 93 Press-fit projection 48, 64 2nd end 49, 65 Terminal section 50, 86, 94 Spring shape part 51 2nd held part 52, 68A1, 68A4 Bending section 54, 67 Connection part 55, 68 Elastic part 55A, 55B offset section 60 Power terminal 64A 1st outer surface 66 Holding part 66A 1st locking claw 66B Second locking claw 68A2 First bending section (bending section) 68A3 Second bending section (bending section) 68B1 1st extension part (extension part) 68B2 2nd extension part (extension part) 68B3 Third extension part (extension part) 69 Slit 70, 87 Fixtures 80 Mating Connector 81 Mating housing 84 Guide part 85 Mating signal terminal 90 Mating power terminal 92 Cylinder part 92X1 Inner plate part 92X2 outer plate part 95A Spring contact part 96 Fixed contact section 97 Cut-out piece 100 Connector device B1, B2 board

Claims

1. A floating connector to which a mating connector is fitted, A fixed housing; a movable housing provided to be movable relative to the fixed housing along a first direction intersecting a mating direction of the mating connector; a power terminal extending between the fixed housing and the movable housing; Equipped with the power terminal includes a first end held by the fixed housing, a second end held by the movable housing, and a connecting portion connecting the first end and the second end, When the movable housing moves along the first direction, the connecting portion is elastically deformed so that the second end portion can follow the movable housing, the connecting portion has a first bent portion located at a position separated from the second end portion in the first direction, a first extending portion extending from the first bent portion toward the first end portion, and a second extending portion extending from the first bent portion toward the second end portion, When viewed from the mating direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction, the first extension portion and the second extension portion extend in a direction inclined with respect to the mating direction.

2. 2. The floating connector according to claim 1, the connecting portion has a second bent portion connected to an end portion of the second extending portion opposite to the first bent portion, and a third extending portion extending from the second bent portion toward the second end portion, When viewed from the second direction, the third extension portion extends in a direction inclined with respect to the fitting direction and the first direction, A floating connector, wherein the first extension portion and the third extension portion are located on either one of both sides of the second extension portion in the first direction when viewed from the second direction.

3. 3. The floating connector according to claim 2, A floating connector, wherein the second extension portion is longer than the first extension portion and the third extension portion.

4. The floating connector according to claim 2 or 3, A floating connector, wherein the first bent portion is located farther from the second end along the first direction than the second bent portion.

5. A floating connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3; a mating connector to which the floating connector is connected; Equipped with the mating connector includes a mating housing that mates with the movable housing, and a mating power terminal that is held by the mating housing and is connected to the second end of the power terminal, the mating power terminal includes a spring contact portion and a fixed contact portion that sandwich the second end portion, The spring contact portion and the fixed contact portion are spaced apart from each other along the first direction, A connector device, wherein the first bent portion is located closer to the spring contact portion than the second end portion along the first direction.

Images