Electric connector terminal

Abstract

To provide an electric connector terminal that does not require soldering for electrical connection with an electrode part.SOLUTION: An electrical connector terminal 1 includes: a cable connection part 4 made of a conductive material that is to be electrically connected to a conducting wire part of an electric cable C; a connection terminal part 2 made of a conductive material that is provided to integrally communicate with the cable connection part 4; and a conductive adhesive part 3 having conductive and adhesive properties and provided over at least a part of an outer surface of the connection terminal 2. The connection terminal 2 is jointed to a mating connection terminal part (not shown) through the conductive adhesive part 3. The connection terminal 2 is electrically connected to the mating connection terminal part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connector terminal used for electrical connection.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an invention of a planar heating element and a vehicle seat using the same. The planar heating element in Patent Document 1 has a resistor that generates heat by power supply, forms a conductive layer made of silver paste or the like on a planar insulating layer, and is covered with a protective layer such as resin that protects the conductive layer and has excellent flexibility.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In order to connect an electric cable or the like to such a sheet-like heating element to conduct electricity, conventionally, it has been performed by soldering a cable to an electrode portion. However, since the surface of the planar heating element is covered with a protective layer and this protective layer has low heat resistance, there is a problem that the protective layer is affected by heat when soldering is performed, and an electrical connection that does not require soldering is required.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide an electrical connector terminal capable of electrically connecting a sheet-like heating element and an electric cable without requiring soldering and relatively easily.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the electrical connector terminal according to the present invention includes a cable connection portion made of a conductive material that is electrically connected to the conductor portion of the electrical cable, a connection terminal portion made of a conductive material provided integrally with the cable connection portion, and a conductive adhesive portion provided on at least a part of the outer surface of the connection terminal portion and having conductivity and adhesiveness. The connection terminal portion is joined to the mating terminal portion by the conductive adhesive portion, and the connection terminal portion is configured to be electrically connected to the mating terminal portion.

[0007] In the electrical connector terminal according to the present invention, it is preferable that the connection terminal portion is formed in a plate shape, and the conductive adhesive portion is provided on one plate-shaped surface of the plate-shaped connection terminal portion.

[0008] In the electrical connector terminal according to the present invention, it preferably has a protective member that removably covers the conductive adhesive portion, and the connection terminal portion is configured to be joined to the mating terminal portion by the conductive adhesive portion in a state where the protective member is peeled off to expose the conductive adhesive portion.

[0009] In the electrical connector terminal according to the present invention, the conductive adhesive portion is configured using a double-sided tape in which an adhesive having electrical conductivity is provided on both surfaces of a sheet-like base material having electrical conductivity, and at least one surface is covered with a protective sheet member that can be peeled off. One surface of the sheet-like base material not covered by the protective sheet member is adhered to the plate-shaped surface of the connection terminal portion by the adhesive to attach the double-sided tape to the connection terminal portion, and the other surface of the sheet-like base material is preferably configured to be removably covered by the protective sheet member. 。

Advantages of the Invention

[0010] According to the electrical connector terminal of the present invention, since the connection terminal portion is joined to the mating terminal portion by a conductive adhesive portion and the connection terminal portion is electrically connected to the mating terminal portion, electrical connection between the conductive wire portion of the electrical cable and the electrode of the mating terminal portion becomes possible. Further, since the connection terminal portion may be connected to the mating terminal portion by the conductive adhesive portion, workability at the time of connecting the electrical cable and the electrode is improved without using a special tool, and mass production becomes easy.

[0011] In the electrical connector terminal having the above configuration, it is preferable that the connection terminal portion is formed in a plate shape, and it can be connected to the electrode of the connection destination by surface contact, and reliable joining with the electrode of the mating destination by the conductive adhesive portion can be realized.

[0012] In the electrical connector terminal having the above configuration, it is preferable that the conductive adhesive portion is configured to be covered with a peelable protective member, and the protective member is peeled off when joining the connection terminal portion to the mating terminal portion by the conductive adhesive portion. By doing so, the adhesive force of the conductive adhesive portion before joining to the mating terminal portion can be protected by the protective member. Therefore, it is possible to prevent dust from adhering to, soiling, or sticking to other parts on the conductive adhesive portion, and handling becomes easy. Further, when joining the connection terminal portion to the mating terminal portion, the protective member is peeled off to expose the conductive adhesive portion, and the connection terminal portion can be easily connected to the mating terminal portion by the exposed conductive adhesive portion.

[0013] In the electrical connector terminal having the above configuration, the conductive adhesive portion may be configured using a double-sided tape provided with an electrically conductive sheet-like base material and an adhesive, and at least one side is covered with a peelable protective sheet member. By doing so, since one of the two surfaces of the double-sided tape can be joined to the electrical connector terminal by the adhesive and the other surface can be manufactured while being protected by the protective sheet member, it can be manufactured efficiently. Further, the conductive adhesive portion before joining to the mating terminal portion can be protected by the protective sheet member.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] The electrical connector terminal according to the present invention is an electrical connector terminal that connects an electrical cable and a metal such as an electrode. The electrical connector terminal 1 which is the first embodiment of the electrical connector terminal according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a state before joining the cable C to the electrical connector terminal 1, and FIG. 2 shows the electrical connector terminal 1 in a state where the cable C is joined.

[0017] The electrical connector terminal 1 is made by processing a metal plate material having conductivity such as a copper alloy, and includes a connection terminal portion 2 formed in a plate shape, and a cable connection portion 4 that is integrally connected to the connection terminal portion 2 and is electrically connected to the electrical cable and is composed of a cable connection portion 4 that is electrically connected. A conductive adhesive portion 3 having electrical conductivity and adhesiveness is provided on one side of the connection terminal portion 2.

[0018] The connection terminal part 2 is formed in a flat plate shape. A conductive adhesive part 3 is provided on one surface 2a of the flat plate surface of the connection terminal part 2. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the connection terminal part 2 has a substantially rectangular shape of a thin plate, but it does not necessarily have to be rectangular, and it may have a shape adapted to the shape of the connection destination.

[0019] The conductive adhesive part 3 is provided on one surface 2a of the flat plate surface of the connection terminal part 2 and has conductivity and adhesiveness. The conductive adhesive part 3 is provided by directly applying a conductive adhesive to one surface 2a of the connection terminal part 2, etc., but it may be formed by other methods such as forming using a double-sided tape as described later.

[0020] The cable connection part 4 is provided integrally connected to the connection terminal part 2 and electrically connects the electrical connector terminal 1 and the cable C. The cable connection part 4 has a wire holding part 5 that is integrally connected to the connection terminal part 2 and bent upward in a U shape, and a coating holding part 6 that is integrally connected to the wire holding part 5 via a connection part 7 and bent upward in a U shape. The electrical cable C is configured by covering the periphery of the wire C1 with an insulating coating part C2. The wire C1 is electrically connected to the wire holding part 5, and the insulating coating part C2 is held by the coating holding part 6 to firmly connect the electrical cable C and the cable connection part 4. When connecting the electrical cable C to the cable connection part 4 in this way, the insulating coating part C2 is peeled off at the tip of the electrical cable C to expose the wire C1 as shown in FIG. 1. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the exposed part C1 of the wire of the cable C is crimped by the wire holding part 5 to electrically connect the two. At the same time, the insulating coating part C2 is clamped by the coating holding part 6 at a location close to the exposed part of the wire C1 to physically or mechanically firmly bond the two. Note that the connection between the wire of the cable and the cable connection part 4 may be such that the cable C is held by pressure welding in addition to such holding by crimping.

[0021] On the inner surfaces of the wire holding portion 5 and the coating holding portion 6, grooves 5a as shown in FIG. 1 may be provided. By providing the grooves 5a, accidental removal of the electric wire can be prevented. The grooves 5a are not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 1, and may be configured by performing processing such as providing a plurality of irregularities on the surface. Note that FIG. 1 shows an example in which the grooves 5a are provided on the inner surface of the wire holding portion 5.

[0022] When joining the electrical connector terminal 1 having such a configuration to the terminal portion (electrode) of the mating partner, the conductive adhesive portion 3 is adhered to and joined to the terminal portion (electrode) of the mating partner by the adhesive force of the conductive adhesive portion 3. Thereby, conduction can be performed from the electrical cable, through the electrical connector terminal 1, to the terminal portion (electrode), and also from the terminal portion (electrode), through the electrical connector terminal 1, to the electrical cable.

[0023] Next, the electrical connector terminal 10 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The electrical connector terminal 10 according to the second embodiment has a configuration in which a double-sided tape type conductive adhesive portion 30 is used instead of the conductive adhesive portion 3 of the electrical connector terminal 1 according to the first embodiment. This double-sided tape uses a tape having conductivity at least in part. Thus, the electrical connector terminal 10 according to the second embodiment is the same as the electrical connector terminal 1 according to the first embodiment, except that the double-sided tape type conductive adhesive portion 30 is used instead of the conductive adhesive portion 3. The same reference numerals are given to the same constituent parts as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0024] Since the electrical connector terminal 10 has a configuration in which a double-sided tape type conductive adhesive portion 30 is used instead of the conductive adhesive portion 3 of the electrical connector terminal 1 according to the first embodiment, the electrical connector end As a schematic perspective view of the electrical connector terminal 10, refer to FIGS. 1 and 2 with the conductive adhesive portion 3 replaced by the conductive adhesive portion 30. The electrical connector terminal 10 is composed of a connection terminal portion 2 formed in a plate shape and a cable connection portion 4 integrally connected to the connection terminal portion 2 and electrically connected to an electrical cable. A conductive adhesive portion 30 having electrical conductivity and adhesiveness is provided on one side of the connection terminal portion 2. The conductive adhesive portion 30 generally has a configuration called a double-sided tape. As shown in FIG. 3, it is composed of a conductive base material layer 31, adhesive layers 32 and 33 having adhesiveness and conductivity provided on both sides of the base material layer 31, and a protective sheet member 34 covering one of the adhesive layers 33, and is wound around a core material 35. Note that FIG. 3(A) shows a state in which the tape-shaped conductive adhesive portion 30 is wound around the core material 35 and the tip portion is pulled out. FIG. 3(B) shows an enlarged view of the pulled-out tape-shaped conductive adhesive portion 30. The protective sheet member 34 is lightly joined to the adhesive layer 33 but can be peeled off from the adhesive layer 33. Also, the adhesive layer 32 is lightly joined to the protective sheet member 34 of the conductive adhesive portion 30 wound around its lower layer in the wound state, but can be peeled off from the surface 34a of the protective sheet member 34, and the tape-shaped conductive adhesive portion 30 wound around the core material 35 can be pulled out as shown in the figure.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 3, the tape-shaped conductive adhesive portion 30 is drawn out and cut to a required length. Then, the adhesive layer 32 on the exposed side (the side not covered by the protective sheet member 34) is joined to one side surface 2a of the flat surface of the connection terminal portion 2 by its adhesive force. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the conductive adhesive portion 30 is joined and formed on one side surface 2a of the connection terminal portion 2. In this state, the adhesive layer 32 is adhesively joined to one side surface 2a of the connection terminal portion 2, and the base material layer 31 and the adhesive layer 33 are provided thereon, and the adhesive layer 33 is covered by the protective sheet member 34. Note that the double-sided tape may not be configured to be wound around the core material as shown in FIG. 3, but may be configured such that the adhesive layers 32 and 33 provided on both sides of the base material layer 31 are each covered by the protective sheet member 34. In that case, one of the protective sheet members 34 on one side is peeled off to expose the adhesive layer, and this adhesive layer is joined to one side surface 2a of the flat surface of the connection terminal portion 2. By using a double-sided tape type in which one of the adhesive layers 32 and 33 is covered by the protective sheet member 34, the working efficiency of assembling the electronic connector terminal 10 can be improved.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a tape-shaped conductive adhesive portion 30 in which only one adhesive layer 33 is covered by a protective sheet member 34 is adhered to a connection terminal portion 2 to assemble an electronic connector terminal 10, and then joined to an external mating connection terminal portion (electrode E) for electrical connection. First, a conductive adhesive portion 33 cut to a required length is prepared (see FIG. 5(a)). Then, the adhesive layer 32 on the side not covered by the protective sheet member 34 is adhered to the surface 2a of the connection terminal portion 2 to assemble the electrical connector terminal 10 (see FIG. 5(b)). Then, the protective sheet member 34 covering the other adhesive layer 33 is peeled off and joined to the external electrode E (see FIG. 5(c)). Thereby, the electrical connector terminal 10 can be joined to the terminal portion (electrode) of an external connection partner.

[0027] As described above, by using the electrical connector terminals 1 and 10, electrical connection with the terminal (electrode) of a connection partner can be easily performed without requiring soldering.

[0028] Next, FIGS. 6 and 7 show an example of conducting electricity to a planar heating element using the electrical connector terminal according to the present invention. FIGS. 6 and 7 are schematic perspective views showing how the electrical connector terminal 1 or 10 is joined to the planar heating sheet 100 which is a planar heating element, showing the state before joining (FIG. 6) and after joining (FIG. 7). Note that the electrical connector terminal 1 or 10 is denoted as 1(10) in the figures, and the conductive adhesive portion 3 or 30 is denoted as 3(30) in the figures.

[0029] The planar heating sheet 100 is a planar heating element that generates heat by power supply from the outside. As the planar heating sheet 100, for example, a planar heating sheet of Okura Industries Co., Ltd. can be used. The planar heating sheet 100 includes an electrode portion 120 which is an electrode portion formed in a planar shape, and a heating member 130 which is a resistor formed in a planar shape, and is configured by being sandwiched from both sides by an electrically insulating insulating sheet 110. At this time, it has an electrode exposed portion 120a where the electrode portion 120 is exposed without being covered by the insulating sheet 110 or the heating member 130. The insulating sheet 110 is required to have the purpose and function of covering the heating member 130 to ensure insulation and protecting it. It is required to have a desired strength, but not particularly high heat resistance, and does not have very high heat resistance. For this reason, as described in the "Problems to be Solved by the Invention" section of this specification, when the electrical connector terminals 1 and 10 are connected to the electrode exposed portion 120a by soldering, there is a problem that the insulating sheet 110 melts or is damaged by the heat during soldering. However, in the present embodiment, since the electrical connector terminals 1 and 10 are configured to be connected to the electrode exposed portion 120a by the conductive adhesive portion 3, such a problem does not occur. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the electrical connector terminals 1 and 10 to which the cable C is electrically connected are joined to the electrode exposed portion 120a of such a planar heating sheet 100.

[0030]

[0031] ​In the planar heating sheet 100 configured as described above, when power is supplied to the planar heating sheet 100 from the outside via the cable C and the electrical connector terminals 1 and 10 as shown by the arrow in FIG. 7, the heating member 130 receives the supplied power and generates heat.

[0032] Although the above embodiments have been described, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be appropriately improved without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0033] 1, 10 Electrical connector terminals 2 Connection terminal portion 3, 30 Conductive adhesive portions 4 Cable connection portion C Cable E Connection partner terminal portion (electrode) 100 Planar heating sheet 110 Insulating sheet 120 Electrode portion 130 Heating member

Claims

1. A cable connection part made of a conductive material that is electrically connected to the conductor part of an electric cable, A connection terminal part made of a conductive material integrally connected to the cable connection part, A conductive adhesive part provided on at least a part of the outer surface of the connection terminal part, having conductivity and adhesiveness, and comprising: An electrical connector terminal configured to join the connection terminal part to a mating terminal part by the conductive adhesive part and electrically connect the connection terminal part to the mating terminal part.

2. The electrical connector terminal according to claim 1, wherein the connection terminal part is formed in a plate shape, and the conductive adhesive part is provided on one plate-shaped surface of the plate-shaped connection terminal part.

3. Having a protective member that removably covers the conductive adhesive part, The electrical connector terminal according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connection terminal part is configured to be joined to the mating terminal part by the conductive adhesive part in a state where the protective member is peeled off to expose the conductive adhesive part.

4. The conductive adhesive part is configured using a double-sided tape in which an adhesive having electrical conductivity is provided on both sides of a sheet-shaped base material having electrical conductivity, and at least one side is covered by a protective sheet member that can be peeled off. The electrical connector terminal according to claim 2, wherein one surface of the sheet-shaped base material not covered by the protective sheet member is adhered to the plate-shaped surface of the connection terminal part by the adhesive to attach the double-sided tape to the connection terminal part, and the other surface of the sheet-shaped base material is removably covered by the protective sheet member.

Images