Connector

Abstract

To obtain a connector of which backlash of a terminal is suppressed.SOLUTION: Four cable wires 10 are fixed into a resin material housing 20. A spacer 30 is mounted from both sides of a x direction to the housing 20. In the connector 1, as a state where the space 30 is mounted to the housing 20, there are two types; a temporal locking state and a final locking state as a state that the spacer 30 is depressed further than the temporal locking state. In the final locking state, each terminal locking part to be provided to the spacer 30 energizes them to a y-direction positive side so as to be contacted to each terminal. On the other hand, in the temporal locking state, each terminal locking part of them is not contacted to each terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a structure of a connector used for connecting cable wires to each other.

Background Art

[0002] In automobiles and the like, when a large number of wirings (cable wires) are connected to a large number of electrical components and used, a large number of connectors are used to connect and fix the terminals of the plurality of wirings to each other. In such a connector, it is required that each terminal be securely fixed and that the connector in a state where each terminal is fixed can be connected to another connector to securely connect the wirings.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a connector that can particularly securely fix terminals. In this structure, each terminal is temporarily fixed to a resin housing that serves as the main body of the connector, and then a spacer is fixed to the housing, whereby each terminal is securely fixed. At this time, in the temporarily fixed state before the spacer is permanently fixed (locked), the fixing state of each terminal can be visually confirmed, so that it is suppressed that the terminals are fixed in an inappropriate state.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Disclosure of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the above connector, the position of the terminals in the housing, particularly the position along the extending direction of the wiring, is fixed by the spacer. However, due to the dimensional accuracy of the housing, spacer, etc., a gap may be formed between them after fixation, and play may occur in the terminals. Due to such play, the degree of contact between the terminals after the connector is connected may become unstable.

[0006] When this play becomes large, the electrical connection between the terminals may be interrupted. Also, for example, as wiring for transmitting a video signal by a camera, a coaxial cable having a shield layer provided outside the core wire may be used in order to reduce noise. When such a coaxial cable is fixed to the above connector, even if the electrical connection between the terminals is not interrupted due to the above play, noise may be mixed into the video signal due to this play. That is, when a coaxial cable is used, the occurrence of such play has become a particularly big problem.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to solve the above problems.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The present invention relates to a connector in which a cable wire is fixed inside, and by being connected to another connector, it has a configuration for electrically connecting the cable wire to another cable wire fixed inside the other connector. The connector is connected to the other connector by moving from one side to the other side in a first direction, and includes an insulating housing in which the cable wire is fixed inside, and is used for electrical connection with the other cable wire. It is connected to the wiring of the cable wire on the other side of the cable wire in the first direction, and is provided inside the housing so as to be electrically connected to the other cable wire when the other connector is connected. A terminal, which is made of an elastic material and is attached to the housing by moving from one side to the other side in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and has a terminal locking portion protruding toward the other side in the second direction. Depending on the position of the housing along the second direction, there is a temporary locking state in which the terminal locking portion is locked to the housing without contacting the terminal, and a main locking state in which the terminal locking portion is locked to the housing in a state of contacting the terminal, thereby restricting the movement of the terminal toward the one side in the first direction. It includes a spacer that is realized by switching between them. The terminal may include a flange portion whose outer diameter around the central axis along the first direction is locally enlarged in the first direction. In the main locking state, the terminal locking portion may contact the flange portion from the one side in the second direction. When the spacer shifts from the temporary locking state to the main locking state, the end portion on the other side of the terminal locking portion in the second direction does not contact the flange portion, and a portion on the one side in the second direction of the terminal locking portion rather than the end portion contacts the flange portion. The thickness of the terminal locking portion along the first direction may be made thinner toward the other side in the second direction. In the main locking state, the terminal locking portion may contact the surface of the terminal on the one side in the second direction. The cable wire includes a first wiring along the first direction and a second wiring that is insulated from the first wiring and provided outside around the extending direction of the first wiring, and the terminal may be connected to the second wiring.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] Since the present invention is configured as described above, a connector with reduced play of the terminal can be obtained.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] The connector according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this connector, each terminal of four cable wires is formed in a housing. At this time, in the same manner as the technique described in Patent Document 1, each terminal is fixed to the housing by fixing a spacer from a state where each terminal is temporarily fixed. At this time, each terminal is fixed in a state of being biased by a spacer toward the side where there is a connector to which this connector is connected, so that play is suppressed.

[0012] FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view showing a form when this connector 1 is used by being connected to a board-side connector 200, and FIG. 1(b) is a perspective view showing a form before these are connected. Here, the board-side connector 200 is fixed to the surface of a board (not shown). In FIG. 1(a), the direction of detachment of the connector 1 with respect to the board-side connector 200 is the y direction (first direction), the normal direction of the said board is the z direction, and the direction perpendicular to these is the x direction (second direction). In FIG. 1, the connector 1 is connected to the board-side connector 200 by moving from the negative side (one side) to the positive side in the y direction (first direction).

[0013] In the board-side connector 200, four board-side cable wires are fixed inside a board-side connector housing 201 made of a resin material. The board-side cable wires are appropriately connected to patterns on the board for electrical connection on the board.

[0014] Also on the connector 1 side, four cable wires 10 are fixed in a housing 20 made of a resin material. When the connector 1 is attached to the board-side connector 200, each cable wire 10 is electrically connected to each board-side cable wire. Here, both the board-side cable wires and the cable wires 10 are coaxial cables. As will be described later, a core wire is provided on the central axis side, and a braided wire (shield wire) is provided on the outside thereof via an insulating layer. Both the core wire and the braided wire extend along the extending direction of these cable wires 10. By connecting the connector 1 and the board-side connector 200, the core wire and the braided wire of the cable wire 10 on the connector 1 side are electrically connected to the core wire and the braided wire of the corresponding board-side cable wire on the board-side connector 200 side, respectively. Here, spacers 30 are attached to both sides of the housing 20 in the x direction.

[0015] In Fig. 2(a), the forms of the four cable wires 10 on the connector 1 side and the four (only three are shown in the figure) board-side cable wires 210 in the board-side connector 200 before the connector 1 and the board-side connector 200 are connected are shown. In Fig. 2(b), the forms of the cable wire 10 and the board-side cable wire 210 when the connector 1 and the board-side connector 200 are connected are shown.

[0016] Figs. 3(a) and (b) are perspective views of the connector 1 and the board-side connector 200 seen from a direction different from that in Fig. 1. In Fig. 3(a), the structure of the terminal side of the cable wire 10 in the connector 1 is shown, and in Fig. 3(b), the structure of the terminal side of the board-side cable wire 210 in the board-side connector 200 is shown.

[0017] In FIG. 3(a), at the end of each cable wire 10, an inner housing 16 with a small opening formed on the central axis of the cable wire 10 and a substantially cylindrical outer terminal (terminal) 17 surrounding the inner housing 16 are formed. An inner terminal 15 (not shown) to be described later is provided inside the inner housing 16. Correspondingly, in FIG. 3(b), at the end of the board-side cable wire 210, an elongated metal board-side inner terminal 211 on the central axis of the board-side cable wire 210 and a substantially cylindrical board-side outer terminal 212 surrounding the board-side inner terminal 211 are provided. In the state of FIG. 2(b) where the connector 1 and the board-side connector 200 are connected, the cable wire 10 and the board-side cable wire 210 are connected by the inner terminal 15 and the board-side inner terminal 211, and the outer terminal 17 and the board-side outer terminal 212 coming into contact with each other respectively.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the cross-sectional structure of the connector 1 in the xy plane including the central axes of two cable wires 10 arranged side by side in the x direction on the negative side in the z direction in the state of FIG. 1(a), and the structure on the housing 20 side related thereto. In FIG. 4, the situations before (a) and after (b) the connector 1 and the board-side connector 200 are connected are shown respectively. Here, the description of the lance to be described later is omitted. The structure related to the two cable wires 10 arranged side by side in the x direction on the positive side in the z direction in the state of FIG. 1(a) is the same as this.

[0019] In FIG. 4, cable lines 10 are respectively fixed in the housing 20 vertically in the figure. Each cable line 10 is composed of a thin core wire (first wiring) 11 extending on the central axis along the y direction, a metal mesh-like braided wire (shield wire: second wiring) 13 provided via an insulating layer 12 on the outside thereof, and an insulating coating layer 14 covering the braided wire 13 further outside. The insulating layer 12, the braided wire 13, and the coating layer 14 are formed so as to surround the core wire 11. The core wire 11 and the braided wire 13 can be respectively used as wirings in this cable line 10. This structure is the same for the board-side cable line 210, and the core wire and the braided wire in the board-side cable line 210 are respectively connected to the board-side inner terminal 211 and the board-side outer terminal 212 in FIG. 3(b).

[0020] The end side on the positive y-direction side of this cable line 10 becomes the terminal in this connector 1. Therefore, on the end side of the core wire 11, a metal inner terminal 15 having a shape that becomes the terminal of the core wire 11 and sandwiches the board connector-side inner terminal on the positive y-direction side is connected. This end side provided with the inner terminal 15 is covered with a substantially cylindrical inner housing 16 made of an insulating resin material. A small opening through which the board-side inner terminal 211 is inserted is formed on the positive y-direction side of the inner housing 16.

[0021] Furthermore, an outer terminal (terminal) 17, which is substantially cylindrical and made of metal, is mounted outside the inner housing 16. The outer terminal 17 is connected to the braided wire 13 on the negative y-direction side of the inner housing 16 and is fixed to the braided wire 13 (cable line 10) by sandwiching an annular sleeve 18 mounted on the braided wire 13 therebetween.

[0022] The housing 20 is formed with a cable wire accommodation hole into which the cable wire 10 having the terminal-side structure as described above is fitted. By fitting the above structure thereto, each cable wire 10 is fixed to the housing 20. In FIG. 4, only two cable wires are shown, but the other two cable wires 10 in FIG. 2 also have the same structure and are similarly fixed to the housing 20.

[0023] In FIG. 4(b), when this connector 1 is connected to the board-side connector 200, the elongated board-side inner terminal 211 passes through the opening of the inner housing 16 and is clamped by the tip of the inner terminal 15. On the other hand, the inner diameter of the substantially cylindrical board-side outer terminal 212 is set to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the substantially cylindrical outer terminal 17, and as shown in FIG. 4(b), the board-side outer terminal 212 can be fitted and mounted outside the outer terminal 17. Thereby, the core wire 11 and the braided wire 13 in the cable wire 10 can be electrically connected to the core wire and the braided wire in the board-side curved wire 210, respectively.

[0024] In the structure of FIG. 4, the positional relationship of the inner terminal 15 and the outer terminal 17, which are the terminals on the cable wire 10 side, with respect to the housing 20 can be determined with high precision in the x direction and the z direction. On the other hand, compared with the x direction, it is not easy to determine the positional relationship along the y direction, which is the extending direction of the cable wire 10, with high precision. That is, the positions of the inner terminal 15 and the outer terminal 17 along the y direction are relatively likely to vary, and thereby play in the terminals during connection is likely to occur.

[0025] When such play occurs, the electrical connection between the cable wire 10 and the board-side curved wire 210 as described above becomes unstable. In particular, even when disconnection does not occur between the two, for example, when a video signal is transmitted by these wires, noise may be mixed into the video signal. For this reason, it is required to reduce such play of the terminals in the y direction.

[0026] On the other hand, in this connector 1, the spacer 30 mounted on the housing 20 in FIG. 1 biases the above-mentioned terminal in the cable wire 10 in the positive y direction (the side where the board-side connector 200 is located). As a result, such looseness is reduced.

[0027] A specific structure for this will be described. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the terminal structure on the cable wire 10 side. Here, FIG. 5(a) shows the state before the inner housing 16 and the outer terminal 17 are mounted on the cable wire 10, FIG. 5(b) shows the state where the inner housing 16 is mounted thereon, and FIG. 5(c) shows the state where the outer terminal 17 is further mounted thereon.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 5(a), an elongated inner terminal 15 is mounted and exposed on the positive y direction side of the cable wire 10. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5(b), the inner terminal 15 is protected by mounting a substantially cylindrical inner housing 16 made of an insulating resin material. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5(c), the inner housing 16 is covered and protected by mounting a substantially cylindrical metal outer terminal 17. At this time, since the inner housing 16 is insulating, the insulation between the inner terminal 15 and the outer terminal 17 is also ensured.

[0029] At this time, the outer terminal 17 is firmly fixed to the cable wire 10 via the sleeve 18. Therefore, by fixing the position of the outer terminal 17 in the housing 20, the positions of the cable wire 10, the inner terminal 15, etc. are also fixed.

[0030] Here, as shown in FIG. 5(c), a flange portion 171 having a locally larger diameter in the y direction is formed on the substantially cylindrical outer terminal 17 whose central axis is in the y direction. The flange portion 171 can be used to bias the outer terminal 17 and the cable wire 10 in the positive y direction.

[0031] This biasing is performed by the spacer 30 described above. Below, the spacer 30 for this purpose and the structure on the housing 20 side will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, since the spacers 30 are symmetrically mounted on the negative x-direction side and the positive x-direction side with respect to the housing 20, the structure for mounting the spacer 30 on the housing 20 side is also a symmetric structure on the negative side and the positive side in the x direction. In FIG. 1, the spacer 30 mounted on the negative x-direction side biases the terminals of the two cable lines 10 on the negative x-direction side as described above, and the spacer 30 mounted on the positive x-direction side biases the terminals of the two cable lines 10 on the positive x-direction side as described above. Below, the spacer 30 mounted particularly on the negative x-direction side and the related structure and operation will be described. The structure of the spacer 30 mounted on the positive x-direction side and the related operation are symmetric with this in the x direction.

[0032] The spacer 30 is formed of an elastic material softer than the housing 20. FIG. 6 is an external view of the spacer 30 viewed from various directions. FIGS. 6(a) to (c) are perspective views of the spacer 30 viewed from various sides, and FIG. 6(d) is a side view of the spacer 30 viewed from the negative x-direction side. This spacer 30 is mounted on the housing 20 from the negative side (one side) to the positive side (the other side) in the x direction (the second direction) in FIG. 1.

[0033] FIG. 7(a) is a perspective view of the housing 20 in a state where the spacer 30 is not mounted, and FIG. 7(b) is an enlarged view of the portion where the spacer 30 is mounted. FIG. 7(c) is a side view of the same portion as FIG. 7(b) viewed from the negative x-direction side. The shape of the spacer 30 in FIG. 6(d) corresponds to the shape of the housing 20 in FIG. 7(c).

[0034] The housing 20 is formed of an elastic material (resin material) harder than the spacer 30, and the housing 20 is provided with a spacer housing portion 20A which is an opening for housing the spacer 30. Further, as shown in FIG. 7(a), on the end face on the negative side in the y direction in the housing 20, four cable wire accommodation holes 20B for inserting each of the four cable wires 10 having the form shown in FIG. 5(c) on the tip side are formed.

[0035] In FIG. 7(c), on the inner surface on the positive side in the y direction of the spacer housing portion 20A, there are provided spacer guiding portions 21A, 21B, 21C having shapes corresponding to and guiding respectively the guided portions 31A, 31B, 31C which are regions near the vertices on the positive side in the y direction and the positive side in the z direction, regions near the vertices on the positive side in the y direction and the negative side in the z direction, and a guided portion 31C which is provided so as to locally project on the negative side in the y direction near the middle in the z direction of the spacer 30 shown in FIG. 6(d). As shown in FIG. 6(d), steps are provided in the guided portions 31A, 31B, and corresponding steps are also provided in the guiding portions 21A, 21B in FIG. 7(c). Therefore, the spacer 30 can be fitted and attached to the spacer housing portion 20A from the negative side in the x direction (front side of the paper surface) to the positive side in the x direction (back side of the paper surface) in FIG. 7(c).

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 6(a) to 6(c), arms 32A, 32B projecting toward the positive side in the x direction are respectively formed at the positive side end portion and the negative side end portion in the z direction of the spacer 30. At the tip of the arm 32A, a housing locking portion 32A1 bent toward the negative side in the z direction is formed, and at the tip of the arm 32B, a housing locking portion 32B1 bent toward the positive side in the z direction is formed.

[0037] On the other hand, in Fig. 7(b), on the positive and negative sides in the z direction with respect to the spacer guide part 21C in the housing 20, spacer support parts 22A and 22B that protrude toward the negative side in the x direction and support the spacer 30 during mounting are respectively provided. On the positive side in the z direction of the spacer support part 22A, a temporary locking part 23A and a main locking part 24A that locally protrude in the positive side in the z direction so as to lock the housing locking part 32A1 when the spacer 30 is mounted in the housing accommodation hole 20A of the spacer 30 are respectively formed corresponding to the housing locking part 32A1 on the spacer 30 side. The temporary locking part 23A is formed in parallel with the main locking part 24A on the negative side in the x direction. Similarly, on the negative side in the z direction of the spacer support part 22B, a temporary locking part 23B and a main locking part 24B (not shown) are formed in the same manner symmetrically in the z direction with the temporary locking parts 23A and 24A.

[0038] As described above, since the spacer 30 (arms 32A and 32B) is formed of a soft elastic material, when the spacer 30 is mounted in the spacer accommodation part 20A, the arm 32A can be deformed so that the housing locking part 32A1 gets over the temporary locking part 23A and the main locking part 24A. The same applies to the housing locking part 32B1 (arm 32B) side. For this reason, in Fig. 7(b), when the spacer 30 is pushed in from the negative side in the x direction, in the state immediately after the housing locking part 32A1 gets over the temporary locking part 23A, the spacer 30 is fixed in the spacer accommodation part 20A with the housing locking part 32A1 locked to the temporary locking part 23A, and when the spacer 30 is further pushed in and in the state immediately after the housing locking part 32A1 gets over the main locking part 24A, the spacer 30 is fixed in the spacer accommodation part 20A on the more positive side in the x direction with the housing locking part 32A1 locked to the main locking part 24A. The same applies to the housing locking part 32B1 (arm 32B) side.

[0039] Hereinafter, the state in which the housing locking portion 32A1 (32B1) is locked to and fixed by the temporary locking portion 23A (23B) in this way is called the temporary locking state. From this state, when the spacer 30 is further pushed in, the housing locking portion 32A1 (32B1) is locked to the main locking portion 24A (24B) and fixed in the spacer housing portion 20A on the positive side in the x direction. This state is called the main locking state. That is, in this connector 1, as the state in which the spacer 30 is attached to the housing 20, there are two types: the temporary locking state and the main locking state in which the spacer 30 is pushed in further than this. The state when this connector 1 is actually used is the main locking state, and the temporary locking state is a state realized during the assembly of this connector 1.

[0040] Also, in FIG. 7(b), inside the spacer housing portion 20A of the housing 20, beam-shaped lances 25A, 25B are formed on the positive side and negative side in the z direction, respectively, so as to incline toward the positive side in the x direction (the central axis side of the corresponding cable wire 10) as they go toward the positive side in the y direction. As will be described later, these are respectively used as retaining means when the upper and lower cable wires 10 in FIG. 4 are attached to the housing 20, and are provided at positions where each cable wire 10 is located in the z direction.

[0041] The structure corresponding to the spacer 30 attached to the positive side in the x direction in FIG. 1 on the housing 20 side is symmetric with the above structure in the x direction. For this reason, the spacer 30 attached to the positive side in the x direction can also take two states: the temporary locking state and the main locking state. The lances are formed symmetrically in the same way.

[0042] Here, as shown in FIGS. 6(b) and 6(c), on the positive side in the y direction of this spacer 30, terminal locking portions 33A, 33B, and 33C that protrude toward the positive side in the x direction are sequentially formed from the positive side to the negative side in the z direction. As will be described later, in the main locking state of the spacer 30, the terminal locking portion 33A abuts on the terminal (outer terminal 17) of the upper cable wire 10 in FIG. 4, the terminal locking portion 33B abuts on the terminal (outer terminal 17) of the upper cable wire 10 and the terminal (outer terminal 17) of the lower cable wire 10, and the terminal locking portion 33C abuts on the terminal (outer terminal 17) of the lower cable wire 10, thereby biasing each terminal (cable wire 10) toward the positive side in the y direction. That is, in the main locking state, each terminal locking portion provided on the spacer 30 abuts on each terminal and biases these terminals toward the positive side in the y direction. On the other hand, in the temporary locking state, these terminal locking portions do not abut on the terminals.

[0043] Hereinafter, the assembly process from the attachment of each cable wire 10 to the housing 20 to the state where the spacer 30 is in the main locking state in the above structure will be described. FIGS. 8(a) to 8(c) are cross-sectional views corresponding to FIG. 4 showing this process. Here, a cross-sectional view of the xy plane along the central axes of the two cable wires 10 on the negative side in the z direction in FIG. 1 is shown. Also, as described above, since the inner terminals 15 and the like on each cable wire 10 side are indirectly fixed to the outer terminal 17, the positions of the inner terminals 15 and the like change in conjunction with the position of the outer terminal 17. For this reason, in FIG. 8, only the outer terminal 17, the housing 20, and the spacer 30 are shown, and the description of other components is omitted. FIGS. 9(a) to 9(c) are perspective views showing only the state (positional relationship) of the outer terminal 17 and the spacer 30 in each state of FIGS. 8(a) to 8(c).

[0044] In FIG. 8(a), first, with the spacer 30 in a temporarily locked state and attached to the housing 20, the cable wire 10 with its end side in the form shown in FIG. 5(c) is inserted into the cable wire accommodation hole 20B from the negative side to the positive side in the y direction. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, in the outer terminal 17, the flange portion 171 has a locally larger diameter. However, in the state of FIG. 8(a), the flange portion 171 is on the negative side in the y direction relative to the tip of the lance 25B and is also separated from the terminal locking portions 33B and 33C of the spacer 30. Therefore, the outer terminal 17 (cable wire 10) can be easily set to the state of FIG. 8(a).

[0045] From this state, if the cable wire 10 (outer terminal 17) is further pushed in the positive side in the y direction, the flange portion 171 comes into contact with the lance 25B. However, as described above, the lance 25B inclines so as to approach the central axis side of the cable wire 10 as it goes in the positive side in the y direction, and since the lance 25B elastically deforms, as shown in FIG. 8(b), the flange portion 171 can be moved to the positive side in the y direction beyond the tip of the lance 25B. On the other hand, moving the flange portion 171 to the negative side in the y direction from this state is not easy because the tip of the lance 25B becomes an obstacle. That is, the lance 25B functions as a retaining means for the cable wire 10 (outer terminal 17).

[0046] FIGS. 9(a) and (b) show the positional relationship between the outer terminal 17 (flange portion 171) and the spacer 30 (terminal locking portion 33B) in the states of FIGS. 8(a) and (b). In these states, the flange portion 171 does not contact the terminal locking portion 33B or the terminal locking portion 33C (not shown in FIG. 9). Therefore, the spacer 30 (terminal locking portions 33B and 33C) does not become an obstacle in the above operation.

[0047] By pushing each spacer 30 toward the housing 20 from the state of FIG. 8(b), the spacer 30 can be brought into the main locked state as shown in FIG. 8(c). The tips of the terminal locking portions 33B and 33C are set to contact the flange portion 171 on the negative y-direction side of the flange 171 and to protrude toward the central axis side of the cable wire 10 (outer terminal 17) rather than the outer periphery of the flange portion 171 in this case. Therefore, in FIGS. 9(a) and (b), the flange portion 171 and the terminal locking portion 33B do not contact each other, whereas in FIG. 9(c), they contact each other.

[0048] FIGS. 10(a) and (b) are perspective views showing an enlarged view of the situation around the flange portion 171 and the flange portion 171 in FIG. 9(b) corresponding to the temporary locked state and FIG. 9(c) corresponding to the main locked state. Further, in FIG. 11(a), a schematic front view (upper side) of the positional relationship between the flange portion 171 and the terminal locking portions 33B and 33C in the temporary locked state (FIGS. 9(b) and 10(a)) as viewed from the negative y-direction side and a top view (lower side) as viewed from the positive z-direction side are shown. In FIG. 11(b), similar views in the main locked state (FIGS. 9(c) and 10(b)) are shown.

[0049] In FIGS. 10(a) and 11(a) corresponding to the temporary locked state, the flange portion 171 or the flange surface 171A, which is an annular surface on the negative y-direction side of the flange portion 171, does not contact the terminal locking portions 33B and 33C. On the other hand, in FIGS. 10(b) and 11(b) corresponding to the main locked state, since the terminal locking portions 33B and 33C move more in the positive x-direction than in the states of FIGS. 10(a) and 11(a), the flange surface 171A contacts the surfaces on the positive y-direction side of the terminal locking portions 33B and 33C. At this time, as shown in FIG. 11(a), if the surfaces on the positive y-direction side of the terminal locking portions 33B and 33C are set to be slightly on the positive y-direction side than the flange surface 171A in this state and the vertices of the flange portion 171A and the terminal locking portions 33B and 33C are formed in an R shape, the terminal locking portions 33B and 33C can be elastically deformed by pushing the spacer 30, and can be easily shifted to the state of FIG. 11(b).

[0050] In the states of FIGS. 10(b) and 11(b), the flange portion 171 is biased in the positive y direction by the elastic forces of the terminal locking portions 33B and 33C. Therefore, (1) as shown in FIG. 9(a), with the spacer 30 in a temporarily locked state, the cable wire 10 is inserted into the cable wire receiving hole 20B in the housing 20, (2) then, as shown in FIG. 9(b), the flange portion 171 is moved deeper (in the positive y direction) from the tip of the lance 25B, and (3) then the spacer 30 is pushed in to bring it into the fully locked state, whereby the cable wire 10 is fixed to the housing 20 and the connector 1 is formed. At this time, since the outer terminal 17 and the inner terminal 15 indirectly fixed thereto are also biased by the spacer 30 in the positive y direction (the side where the board-side connector 200 is located), play between the terminals during connection is suppressed. Also, at this time, although the spacer 30 is biased in the negative x direction from the flange portion 171 (outer terminal 17) side, the movement of the spacer 30 in the negative x direction is restricted by the housing locking portion 32A1 (32B1) being locked to the fully locking portion 24A (24B). Therefore, in this state, the spacer 30 is stably mounted on the housing 20.

[0051] During temporary locking, it does not contact the flange portion 171, and as long as it can contact the flange portion 171 (outer terminal 17) during full locking and bias it in the positive y direction, the shape of the terminal locking portion can be set as appropriate. FIG. 12 is a view corresponding to FIG. 11 when a spacer 60 which is a modified example having such a terminal locking portion is used.

[0052] In this spacer 60, the cross-sectional shape along the xy plane is different from that of the terminal locking portions 33A, 33B, and 33C, and the cross-sectional shapes of the terminal locking portions 63B and 63C shown in FIG. 2 are tapered shapes that become thinner (thinner) toward the central axis side of the cable wire 10 (outer terminal 17). The same applies to the terminal locking portion located on the most positive z side (corresponding to the terminal locking portion 33A) which is not shown. Also, the structure other than this point is the same as that of the spacer 30 described above.

[0053] In FIG. 12(a) where the spacer 60 is in the temporary locking state, similar to FIG. 11(a), the terminal locking portions 63B and 63B do not contact the flange portion 171. However, when the spacer 60 is pushed in the positive x direction to bring it into the main locking state, the regions on the base side (negative x direction) rather than the tips of the terminal locking portions 63B and 63C can be brought into contact with the flange surface 171A without bringing the tips of the terminal locking portions 63B and 63C into contact with the flange portion 171. Therefore, compared with the spacer 30 described above, the spacer 60 can be pushed in more smoothly and can be easily brought into the main locking state. Similarly, the shape of the terminal locking portion can be appropriately set so that the above operation is performed smoothly.

[0054] In the above example, it is assumed that the terminal locking portion of the spacer 30 contacts the negative y side of the flange portion 171 (outer terminal 17) from the outside as viewed from the central axis of the cable wire 10 (outer terminal 17) in the main locking state, whereby the outer terminal 17 and the cable wire 10 are biased in the positive y direction. In this way, by bringing the terminal locking portion into contact with the flange portion 171 from the negative y side (the side opposite to the side where the substrate-side connector 200 to be connected is located), the outer terminal 17 and the like can be biased in the positive y direction (the side where the substrate-side connector 200 is located).

[0055] However, for example, even if the terminal locking portion made of an elastic material is brought into contact with the flange portion 171 in the positive x direction, the movement of the outer terminal 17 within the housing 20 can be suppressed. That is, in order to suppress the movement (play) of the outer terminal 17, it is not necessarily required that the terminal locking portion contact the flange portion 171 from the negative y side.

[0056] As described above, the play that becomes a problem in the outer terminal 17 mainly occurs in the y direction (the direction of attachment and detachment between the connector and the board-side connector), but play in the outer terminal (cable wire) may also exist in other directions. Such play includes, for example, that caused by rotation around the central axis of the cable wire 10 (outer terminal 17). In response to this, for example, even if a terminal locking portion made of an elastic material is brought into contact with the flange portion 171 from the negative side in the x direction, the rotation of the outer terminal 17 can be suppressed. Also, although the effect is reduced compared to the case where the terminal locking portion is brought into contact from the negative side in the y direction, even in this case, the movement of the outer terminal 17 along the y direction can be suppressed. That is, as long as the movement of at least the outer terminal 17 to the negative side in the y direction (the side opposite to the side where the board-side connector 200 is located) can be restricted to a certain extent, the location where the flange portion 171 (outer terminal 17) and the terminal locking portion come into contact can be set as appropriate. When the terminal locking portion is not brought into contact in the y direction, it is not necessary to provide a flange portion with a locally larger diameter on the terminal side along the y direction.

[0057] Also, as described above, the cable wire 10 is a coaxial cable, but as long as an outer terminal or the like that can be energized by the terminal locking portion can be used, the structure of the cable wire used is arbitrary. The shapes of the outer terminal (terminal) and the terminal locking portion can also be set as appropriate according to this. However, when a coaxial cable that is likely to mix in noise due to play in the terminal is used, the above structure is particularly effective.

[0058] Also, as shown in FIG. 1 and the like, in the above example, four cable wires 10 are used, and two spacers 30 provided with corresponding terminal locking portions and the like are used. Even when the number of cable wires is other than four, spacers provided with corresponding terminal locking portions as appropriate can be used as appropriate. In this case, by setting the number of spacers to three or more, or one, the play of the terminals of all the cable wires can be reduced. The arrangement of the cable wires in the connector can also be set as appropriate according to this.

[0059] In the above example, the structure on the connector 1 side in FIG. 1 was shown, but the same structure can also be used on the substrate side connector side. That is, the above structure can be adopted in any connector used for electrical connection of cable wires.

[0060] As described above, the present invention has been described based on the embodiments. These embodiments are illustrative, and it is understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible for the combination of each of these components, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0061] 1 Connector 10 Cable wire 11 Core wire (first wiring) 12 Insulation layer 13 Braided wire (shield wire: second wiring) 14 Coating layer 15 Inner terminal 16 Inner housing 17 Outer terminal (terminal) 18 Sleeve 20 Housing 20A Spacer accommodation part 20B Cable wire accommodation hole 21A, 21B, 21C Spacer guiding part 22A, 22B Spacer support part 23A, 23B Temporary locking part 24A, 24B Main locking part 25A, 25B Lance 30, 60 Spacer 31A, 31B, 31C Guided part 32A, 32B Arm 32A1, 32B1 Housing locking part 33A, 33B, 33C, 63B, 63C Terminal locking part 171 Flange part 171A Flange surface 200 Substrate side connector 201 Substrate side connector housing 210 Substrate-side cable wire 211 Substrate-side inner terminal 212 Substrate-side outer terminal

Claims

1. A connector in which a cable wire is fixed inside, and when connected to another connector, it has a configuration to electrically connect the cable wire to another cable wire fixed inside the other connector. The connector is connected to the other connector by moving from one side to the other side in a first direction. An insulating housing in which the cable wire is fixed inside. It is used for electrical connection with the other cable wire, is connected to the wiring of the cable wire on the other side of the cable wire in the first direction, and is provided inside the housing so as to be electrically connected to the other cable wire when the other connector is connected. A terminal. It is made of an elastic material, is attached to the housing by moving from one side to the other side in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and has a terminal locking portion protruding toward the other side in the second direction. Depending on the position of the housing along the second direction, a temporary locking state in which the terminal locking portion is locked to the housing without contacting the terminal, and the terminal locking portion is brought into contact with the terminal. A spacer that is realized by switching between a main locking state in which the movement of the terminal in the one side in the first direction is restricted by being locked to the housing. A connector characterized by comprising the above.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the terminal has a flange portion whose outer diameter around the central axis along the first direction is locally enlarged in the first direction.

3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein in the main locking state, the terminal locking portion abuts on the flange portion from the one side in the second direction.

4. When the spacer shifts from the temporary locking state to the main locking state, the end portion on the other side of the terminal locking portion in the second direction does not contact the flange portion, and the one side in the second direction from the end portion of the terminal locking portion. The connector according to claim 3, wherein the thickness of the terminal locking portion along the first direction is made thinner toward the other side in the second direction so that the portion contacts the flange portion.

5. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the terminal locking portion abuts against the surface on one side of the terminal in the second direction in the main locked state.

6. The cable wire includes a first wiring along the first direction and a second wiring provided outside the first wiring in the circumferential direction of the extending direction of the first wiring and insulated from the first wiring, and the terminal is connected to the second wiring. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that.

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