Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector that can be made smaller while determining the position of a board connection portion of a terminal metal fitting.SOLUTION: A connector 1 includes a terminal fitting 11 having a mating connection portion 11A and a board connection portion 11B, a housing 10 through which the mating connection portion 11A is passed and held, and an alignment plate 12 attached to the housing 10 and having an insertion hole 12D capable of positioning the board connection portion 11B. The portion of the board connection portion 11B that is disposed within the insertion hole 12D is configured as an elastic portion 11D that is elastically deformable in a width direction perpendicular to the axial direction Ad of the board connection portion 11B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an alignment plate in which a plurality of positioning holes through which contacts (substrate connection portions) are inserted are formed. A plurality of elastic pieces are provided in each positioning hole of this alignment plate. The elastic pieces elastically contact the contacts inserted into the positioning holes and act to support the contacts so that the positions of the contacts are determined. Patent Documents 2 and 3 disclose techniques for simply inserting a substrate connection portion into an insertion hole formed in an alignment plate to thereby determine the position of the substrate connection portion. Patent Document 4 discloses a technique for connecting substrates using press fit.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] After implementation, if the alignment plate expands, contracts, or deforms due to heating or cooling, the terminal fitting inserted through the positioning hole of the alignment plate will also be pulled and moved with the alignment plate, which may apply stress to the substrate. In the case of the configuration as in Patent Document 1, even if the alignment plate deforms, the elastic piece elastically deforms so that the substrate connection portion does not deform. However, in the case of Patent Document 1, since it is necessary to secure a space for providing the elastic piece around each positioning hole, the distance between adjacent contacts cannot be made too close. Therefore, the technology of Patent Document 1 is disadvantageous when miniaturizing the connector. Accordingly, a technology that can realize miniaturization of the connector while determining the position of the contact is desired.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector that can be miniaturized while determining the position of the substrate connection portion.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The connector of the present disclosure includes a terminal fitting having a mating connection portion and a substrate connection portion, a housing in which the mating connection portion is held through, and an alignment plate mounted on the housing and having an insertion hole capable of positioning the substrate connection portion. The portion of the substrate connection portion of the terminal fitting disposed within the insertion hole is configured as an elastic portion that can elastically deform in a width direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the substrate connection portion.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to miniaturize the connector while determining the position of the substrate connection portion.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. (1) A terminal fitting having a mating connection portion and a board connection portion, A housing in which the mating connection portion is held in a penetrating manner, An alignment plate attached to the housing and having an insertion hole capable of positioning the board connection portion, Comprising, A portion of the board connection portion of the terminal fitting disposed within the insertion hole is configured as an elastic portion that is elastically deformable in a width direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the board connection portion, a connector.

[0010] When the alignment plate is heated or cooled, its volume expands or contracts. At this time, the insertion holes also expand or contract, becoming larger or smaller. Therefore, when the alignment plate expands or contracts, a pressing force is applied to the board connection portion from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the alignment plate, which may cause stress on the circuit board to which the board connection portion is connected. The connector of (1) can be configured to absorb the pressing force from the alignment plate by the elastic portion of the terminal fitting even when the alignment plate expands or contracts, preventing stress from being applied to the circuit board to which the board connection portion is connected. Further, since the alignment plate does not require a configuration that elastically deforms and it is easy to narrow the distance between the insertion holes, it is advantageous when miniaturizing the connector.

[0011] (2) The connector according to (1), wherein a portion of the board connection portion located within the through hole of the circuit board is configured as a press-fit portion that can elastically deform in the width direction.

[0012] (2) Since the press-fit portion of the connector of (2) can elastically deform, even if the board connection portion is moved by the alignment plate, it is possible to make it less likely to apply stress to the circuit board.

[0013] (3) The connector according to (2), wherein the maximum width dimension of the press-fit portion in the width direction is smaller than the minimum dimension of the insertion hole in the width direction.

[0014] (3) The connector of (3) can suppress the insertion resistance generated when inserting the press-fit portion into the insertion hole.

[0015] (4) The elastic portion has a pair of extending portions extending in the axial direction and connected at both ends in the axial direction, and a hole portion formed between the pair of extending portions. The connector according to (2) or (3), wherein the axial dimension of the hole portion is larger than the axial dimension of the eye hole of the press-fit portion.

[0016] The connector of (4) can be formed such that the elastic part is more flexible than the press-fit part, making it easier to flexibly absorb the pressing force applied from the alignment plate. As a result, less stress is likely to be applied to the circuit board.

[0017] (5) The opening shape of the insertion hole is circular. The connector according to any one of (1) to (4).

[0018] (5) The connector is such that even when the elastic part is inclined around the axis of the board connection part, it is easy to stabilize the contact state of the insertion hole with respect to the elastic part.

[0019] (6) The terminal fitting has an overhanging part that projects in the width direction on the side opposite to the press-fit part with the elastic part interposed therebetween. Of both axial ends of the overhanging part, the end located on the side opposite to the press-fit part is configured as a jig pressing surface along the width direction. The outer edge in the width direction of the elastic part is continuously connected without kinking to the outer edge in the width direction of the overhanging part. The connector according to any one of (2) to (4).

[0020] (6) The connector can integrally form the elastic part and the overhanging part, making it easy to simplify the formation process of the terminal fitting.

[0021] [Details of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] <Embodiment 1> Embodiment 1 in which the connector 1 of the present disclosure is embodied will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. In the figures, “front side”, “rear side”, “upper side”, “lower side”, “right side”, and “left side” are represented by “F”, “B”, “U”, “D”, “R”, and “L”, respectively. Note that the reference of the direction is defined for convenience and does not necessarily match the direction in the state where the connector 1 is mounted on a vehicle or the like. For example, the vertical direction is not limited to the gravitational direction.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 1 includes a housing 10, a plurality of terminal fittings 11, and an alignment plate 12. The housing 10 is made of synthetic resin and has a terminal holding portion 10A, a hood portion 10B, and a pair of symmetric side wall portions 10C. The terminal holding portion 10A has a rectangular wall shape with the wall thickness direction oriented in the front-rear direction. The hood portion 10B projects forward in a square tube shape from the outer peripheral edge of the terminal holding portion 10A.

[0023] The side wall portions 10C have the wall thickness direction oriented in the left-right direction (a direction perpendicular to the wall thickness direction of the terminal holding portion 10A) and project rearward from both left and right ends at the rear surface of the terminal holding portion 10A. A pair of symmetric locking portions 10D are formed on each of the side wall portions 10C. The locking portions 10D of the housing 10 extend in the front-rear direction and project inward in the left-right direction from the lower end edge portion on the inner side in the left-right direction of the side wall portions 10C. A guide groove 10E is formed at the center in the front-rear direction of each locking portion 10D. The guide groove 10E is formed to be recessed outward in the left-right direction in each locking portion 10D. Only the guide groove 10E in the left locking portion 10D appears in FIG. 1.

[0024] Each of the plurality of terminal fittings 11 has a shape formed by bending an elongated metal material into an L shape. Each terminal fitting 11 has a mating connection portion 11A extending in the front-rear direction and a board connection portion 11B extending downward at a right angle from the rear end of the mating connection portion 11A. The upper end portion (base end portion) of the board connection portion 11B is continuous with the rear end of the mating connection portion 11A. In FIG. 1, not all of the terminal fittings 11 appear, and only some of the terminal fittings 11 are shown.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of overhanging portions 11C, an elastic portion 11D, and a press-fit portion 11E are provided at the lower end portion (tip portion) of the substrate connection portion 11B. The pair of overhanging portions 11C are provided so as to project outward in the left-right direction (in the width direction). The end portions of both ends of the overhanging portion 11C in the axial direction Ad, which are located on the side opposite to the press-fit portion 11E, are configured as jig pressing surfaces 11K along the left-right direction (width direction). When the substrate connection portion 11B is inserted into the through-hole H of the circuit board S, a jig (not shown) is pressed against the jig pressing surface 11K from above.

[0026] The elastic portion 11D is provided so as to be continuous with the lower sides of the pair of overhanging portions 11C. The elastic portion 11D has a pair of extending portions 11F and a hole portion 11G formed between the pair of extending portions 11F. The upper ends of the pair of extending portions 11F are connected to each other and extend downward from the lower ends of the respective overhanging portions 11C. Also, the lower ends of the pair of extending portions 11F are connected to each other. The pair of extending portions 11F extend in the axial direction Ad of the substrate connection portion 11B, and both ends in the axial direction Ad are connected.

[0027] The pair of overhanging portions 11C and the pair of extending portions 11F are continuously connected without being chamfered so that their outer edges in the left-right direction are flush. In other words, the outer edges in the left-right direction (width direction) of the elastic portion 11D are continuously connected without being chamfered to the outer edges in the left-right direction (width direction) of the pair of overhanging portions 11C. The lower portions of the pair of extending portions 11F are formed to be curved so that the width dimension in the left-right direction becomes smaller. When the pair of extending portions 11F are pressed inward in the left-right direction from the outside in the left-right direction, they elastically deform inward in the left-right direction so as to narrow the width dimension in the left-right direction and enter into the hole portion 11G. Then, when the pressing is stopped, the pair of extending portions 11F elastically return.

[0028] The press fit portion 11E is provided so as to be continuous with the lower side of the elastic portion 11D. That is, the overhanging portion 11C is disposed on the opposite side of the press fit portion 11E with the elastic portion 11D interposed therebetween. The press fit portion 11E has a pair of curved extending portions 11H and an eye hole 11J. The pair of curved extending portions 11H extend in the vertical direction, and each of the upper end portion and the lower end portion thereof is connected to each other, and the central portion in the vertical direction is curved so as to be separated outward in the horizontal direction.

[0029] The eye hole 11J is formed between the pair of curved extending portions 11H. The dimension of the hole portion 11G in the axial direction Ad is larger than the dimension of the eye hole 11J in the axial direction Ad. The elastic portion 11D and the press fit portion 11E are continuous such that the outer edges in the horizontal direction are constricted inward in the horizontal direction. The maximum width dimension of the press fit portion 11E in the horizontal direction is made smaller than the maximum width dimension of the elastic portion 11D in the horizontal direction. When the pair of curved extending portions 11H are pressed inward in the horizontal direction from the outside in the horizontal direction, they are elastically deformed inward in the horizontal direction so as to narrow the width dimension in the horizontal direction, and bend and enter into the eye hole 11J. Then, when the pressing is stopped, the pair of curved extending portions 11H elastically return.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, the terminal fitting 11 is held by the terminal holding portion 10A in a state where the mating connection portion 11A penetrates the terminal holding portion 10A in the front-rear direction. In a state where a plurality of terminal fittings 11 are attached and fixed to the housing 10, the mating connection portions 11A are parallel to each other and arranged in parallel, and the board connection portions 11B are parallel to each other and arranged in parallel. The front end portion of the mating connection portion 11A protrudes forward into the hood portion 10B from the front surface of the terminal holding portion 10A (not shown).

[0031] The rear end portion of the mating connection portion 11A and the entire board connection portion 11B are exposed behind the terminal holding portion 10A. The lower end portion of the elastic portion 11D and the press fit portion 11E protrude below the lower end edge of the side wall portion 10C (see FIG. 4).

[0032] The alignment plate 12 is made of synthetic resin. As shown in FIG. 1, the alignment plate 12 has a plate body 12A, a pair of locking pieces 12B, and a pair of guide pieces 12C. The plate body 12A is in the shape of a flat plate with the plate thickness direction oriented in the vertical direction (a direction parallel to the axial direction Ad of the substrate connection portion 11B). The plate body 12A is rectangular with its long sides oriented in the left - right direction. A plurality of insertion holes 12D for individually inserting the plurality of substrate connection portions 11B are formed in the plate body 12A. The opening shape of the insertion hole 12D is circular (see FIG. 5). The insertion hole 12D is formed so as to gradually reduce in diameter from the upper end to the lower end (see FIG. 6). Note that in FIGS. 1 and 5, only the insertion holes 12D at both left - right ends of the plate body 12A are shown. In FIGS. 1 and 5, the insertion holes 12D at the center in the left - right direction are not shown.

[0033] The pair of locking pieces 12B are provided one by one at each of the left and right side edges of the plate body 12A. The pair of locking pieces 12B rise upward from each of the left and right side edges of the plate body 12A, and the upper ends are provided so as to protrude outward in the left - right direction.

[0034] The pair of guide pieces 12C are provided one by one at each of the left and right side edges of the plate body 12A. The pair of guide pieces 12C are arranged in front of the pair of locking pieces 12B. The pair of guide pieces 12C are provided so as to protrude outward in the left - right direction from each of the left and right side edges of the plate body 12A. The guide piece 12C can be fitted into the guide groove 10E (not shown).

[0035] As shown in FIG. 7, the alignment plate 12 is mounted between a pair of side wall portions 10C of the housing 10 with the substrate connection portion 11B passing through the insertion hole 12D. Specifically, the substrate connection portion 11B in a state where the terminal fitting 11 is attached to the housing 10 is inserted into the insertion hole 12D of the alignment plate 12 from above. At this time, first, the press-fit portion 11E is inserted into the insertion hole 12D from above. The maximum width dimension of the press-fit portion 11E in the left-right direction (width direction) is smaller than the minimum dimension in the left-right direction (width direction) of the insertion hole 12D (the inner diameter dimension at the lower end of the insertion hole 12D). For this reason, the press-fit portion 11E passes downward through the insertion hole 12D with little or no contact resistance generated between it and the insertion hole 12D.

[0036] Next, a pair of locking pieces 12B of the alignment plate 12 come into contact with a pair of locking portions 10D of the housing 10 and elastically deform inward in the left-right direction. At the same time, a pair of guide pieces 12C fit into a pair of guide grooves 10E of the housing 10 (not shown).

[0037] When the upward movement of the alignment plate 12 continues, next, the elastic portion 11D is inserted into the insertion hole 12D. The maximum width dimension of the elastic portion 11D is smaller than the maximum dimension in the left-right direction (width direction) of the insertion hole 12D (the inner diameter dimension at the upper end of the insertion hole 12D) and is formed larger than the minimum dimension in the left-right direction (width direction) of the insertion hole 12D (the inner diameter dimension at the lower end of the insertion hole 12D). For this reason, when the elastic portion 11D is inserted halfway in the vertical direction with respect to the insertion hole 12D, the outer edges of the pair of extending portions 11F come into contact with the inner surface of the insertion hole 12D and stop. At this time, the hole portion 11G is arranged so as to protrude above and below the plate body 12A. That is, the portion of the substrate connection portion 11B disposed within the insertion hole 12D is configured as an elastic portion 11D that can elastically deform in the left-right direction (width direction) orthogonal to the axial direction Ad of the substrate connection portion 11B. Then, the upper end portions of the pair of locking pieces 12B pass upward through the pair of locking portions 10D of the housing 10, and the pair of locking pieces 12B elastically return.

[0038] In this way, the insertion holes 12D of the alignment plate 12 position the relative positions of the respective substrate connection portions 11B that have been penetrated by the contact of the outer edges of the pair of extending portions 11F with the inner surface thereof, and are mounted on the housing 10. The insertion holes 12D can position the substrate connection portions 11B.

[0039] Attach the connector 1 to the circuit board S as shown in FIG. 8. Specifically, a plurality of through holes H are formed to penetrate the circuit board S in the plate thickness direction. A pair of curved extending portions 11H of the press fit portion 11E are inserted into each through hole H in a state of being elastically deformed. For example, by pressing a jig against the jig pressing surface 11K, each press fit portion 11E is press-fitted into each through hole H. When the press fit portion 11E is inserted into the through hole H, the pair of curved extending portions 11H elastically deform in a direction approaching each other. As a result, the pair of curved extending portions 11H of the press fit portion 11E elastically contact the inner surface of the through hole H. In this way, the connector 1 is attached to the circuit board S. That is, the portion of the substrate connection portion 11B located within the through hole H of the circuit board S is configured as a press fit portion 11E that is elastically deformable in the left-right direction (width direction).

[0040] Next, the operation of Embodiment 1 will be described.

[0041] The connector 1 includes a terminal fitting 11 having a mating connection portion 11A and a substrate connection portion 11B, a housing 10 through which the mating connection portion 11A is penetrated and held, and an alignment plate 12 that is mounted on the housing 10 and has insertion holes 12D capable of positioning the substrate connection portion 11B. The portion of the substrate connection portion 11B of the terminal fitting 11 disposed within the insertion holes 12D is configured as an elastic portion 11D that is elastically deformable in the left-right direction (width direction) orthogonal to the axial direction Ad of the substrate connection portion 11B.

[0042] When the alignment plate 12 is heated or cooled, its volume expands or contracts. At this time, the insertion hole 12D also expands or contracts, and the insertion hole 12D becomes larger or smaller. For this reason, when the alignment plate 12 expands or contracts, a pressing force is applied to the substrate connection portion 11B from a direction orthogonal to the axial direction Ad from the alignment plate 12, and thus, there is a risk that stress is applied to the circuit board S to which the substrate connection portion 11B is connected. The connector 1 of the present disclosure can be configured to absorb the pressing force from the alignment plate 12 by the elastic portion 11D even when the alignment plate 12 expands or contracts, and prevent stress from being applied to the circuit board S to which the substrate connection portion 11B is connected. Further, since the alignment plate 12 does not require a configuration that elastically deforms and the distance between the insertion holes 12D is easily narrowed, it is advantageous when the connector 1 is miniaturized.

[0043] The portion of the substrate connection portion 11B located within the through hole H of the circuit board S is configured as a press-fit portion 11E that can elastically deform in the width direction. According to this configuration, since the press-fit portion 11E can elastically deform, even if the substrate connection portion 11B is moved by the alignment plate 12, it is possible to make it difficult for more stress to be applied to the circuit board S.

[0044] The maximum width dimension of the press-fit portion 11E in the left-right direction (width direction) is smaller than the minimum dimension of the insertion hole 12D in the left-right direction (width direction). According to this configuration, it is possible to suppress the insertion resistance generated when the press-fit portion 11E is inserted into the insertion hole 12D.

[0045] The elastic portion 11D has a pair of extending portions 11F that extend in the axial direction Ad and whose both end portions in the axial direction Ad are connected, and a hole portion 11G formed between the pair of extending portions 11F. The dimension of the hole portion 11G in the axial direction Ad is larger than the dimension of the eye hole 11J of the press fit portion 11E. According to this configuration, the elastic portion 11D can be made more flexible than the press fit portion 11E, and it becomes easier to flexibly absorb the pressing force applied from the alignment plate 12. As a result, it is possible to make it less likely that stress is applied to the circuit board S.

[0046] The opening shape of the insertion hole 12D is circular. According to this configuration, even when the elastic portion 11D is inclined around the axis of the board connection portion 11B, it is easy to stabilize the contact condition of the insertion hole 12D with respect to the elastic portion 11D.

[0047] The terminal fitting 11 has an overhanging portion 11C that projects in the width direction on the side opposite to the press fit portion 11E with the elastic portion 11D interposed therebetween. The end portion located on the side opposite to the press fit portion 11E among both end portions of the overhanging portion 11C in the axial direction Ad is configured as a jig pressing surface 11K along the width direction, and the outer edge of the elastic portion 11D in the width direction is continuously connected flush with the outer edge of the overhanging portion 11C in the width direction. According to this configuration, the elastic portion 11D and the overhanging portion 11C can be integrally formed, and it is easy to simplify the forming process of the terminal fitting 11.

[0048] [Other Embodiments] It should be considered that the embodiments disclosed this time are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed this time, but is indicated by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0049] Unlike Embodiment 1, even in a form in which the extending portion of the elastic portion and the overhanging portion are connected so as to be constricted, it can be used as a board connection portion.

[0050] Unlike Embodiment 1, a configuration may be adopted in which no press-fit portion is provided, the board connection portion is inserted into the through hole, and it is fixed to the circuit board using solder.

[0051] Unlike Embodiment 1, the opening shape of the insertion hole may be an elliptical shape or a rectangular shape.

[0052] Unlike Embodiment 1, forms such as a Z shape or an M shape in which no eye hole is provided in the press-fit portion may be adopted.

[0053] Unlike Embodiment 1, the elastic portion and the press-fit portion may be arranged to be elastically deformable in the front-rear direction.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0054] 1: Connector 10: Housing 10A: Terminal holding portion 10B: Hood portion 10C: Side wall portion 10D: Locking portion 10E: Guide groove 11: Terminal fitting 11A: Mate connection portion 11B: Board connection portion 11C: Overhanging portion 11D: Elastic portion 11E: Press-fit portion 11F: Extension portion 11G: Hole portion 11H: Curved extension portion 11J: Eye hole 11K: Fixture pressing surface 12: Alignment plate 12A: Plate body 12B: Locking piece 12C: Guide piece 12D: Insertion hole Ad: Axial direction of the board connection portion H: Through hole S: Circuit board

Claims

1. A terminal fitting having a mating connection portion and a board connection portion, a housing in which the mating connection portion is held in a penetrating manner, an alignment plate attached to the housing and having an insertion hole capable of positioning the board connection portion, comprising: A connector, wherein a portion of the board connection portion of the terminal fitting disposed within the insertion hole is configured as an elastic portion that is elastically deformable in a width direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the board connection portion.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the board connection portion located within a through hole of a circuit board is configured as a press-fit portion that is elastically deformable in the width direction.

3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein a maximum width dimension of the press-fit portion in the width direction is smaller than a minimum dimension of the insertion hole in the width direction.

4. The elastic portion has a pair of extending portions that extend in the axial direction and are connected at both axial ends, and a hole portion formed between the pair of extending portions, The connector according to claim 3, wherein an axial dimension of the hole portion is larger than an axial dimension of an eye hole of the press-fit portion.

5. The connector according to claim 1, wherein an opening shape of the insertion hole is circular.

6. The terminal fitting has an overhanging portion that projects in the width direction to the side opposite to the press-fit portion with the elastic portion interposed therebetween, An end portion of the overhanging portion located on the side opposite to the press-fit portion among both axial ends in the axial direction is configured as a jig pressing surface along the width direction, The connector according to claim 4, wherein an outer edge of the elastic portion in the width direction is continuously connected to an outer edge of the overhanging portion in the width direction without being constricted.

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