Connector device and plug connector

Abstract

To provide a connector device and a plug connector, capable of securing a suction area onto a plug housing even if it has a key code structure.SOLUTION: A connector device C1 comprises: a plug connector 1; and a receptacle connector 2. Here, on an upper surface 10a of the plug housing 10 provided to the plug connector 1, a flat surface 16 is formed, and a code projection 17 to be projected to an upper direction is formed on the flat surface 16. Then, a length L1 of a first interval D1 between a front end face 171 of the code projection 17 and a front end 161 of the flat surface 16 is different from a length L2 of a second interval D2 between a rear end face 172 of the code projection 17 and a rear end 162 of the flat surface 16. Then, a suction area R1 that becomes a flat over a whole between an inner end 163 and an outer end 164 is formed in a region where a length of the first interval D1 and the second interval D2 in the flat surface 16 is longer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 22

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector device and a plug connector.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a connector device, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, there is known one including a plug connector having a plug housing and a receptacle connector having a receptacle housing capable of fitting with the plug housing.

[0003] In this Patent Document 1, a guide recess is provided in the top wall of the plug housing, and a guide protrusion is provided inside the top wall of the receptacle housing. Then, the plug housing is inserted and fitted into the receptacle housing while guiding the guide protrusion into the guide recess, so that the plug connector is fitted to the receptacle connector.

[0004] Such a guide protrusion and a guide recess can fit a corresponding plug connector and a receptacle connector, but also have a function as a key code structure for preventing a non-corresponding plug connector from being fitted to the receptacle connector. Therefore, it can be said that Patent Document 1 discloses a connector device having a key code structure.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] In Patent Document 1 mentioned above, a plug terminal is held in a plug housing, and the plug connector is mounted on a member to be connected by electrically connecting the plug terminal held in the plug housing to a conductor of a member to be connected such as a cable.

[0007] In this way, when mounting the plug connector on a member to be connected, the plug connector may be adsorbed by mounting equipment such as a robot arm and moved onto the member to be connected.

[0008] Even when the plug connector has a key code structure, it is preferable to ensure an adsorption area on the plug housing.

[0009] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to obtain a connector device and a plug connector capable of securing an adsorption area on a plug housing even when having a configuration with a key code structure. Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] A connector device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a plug connector, a receptacle connector capable of fitting the plug connector by relatively moving it along the front-rear axis with respect to the plug connector, the plug connector including a plug housing having an upper surface and a lower surface respectively positioned above and below the vertical axis, a plug terminal housed in an internal space of the plug housing with a part thereof exposed from the rear of the front-rear axis, and a lock portion capable of restricting relative movement of the plug connector along the front-rear axis with respect to the receptacle connector in a state where the plug connector and the receptacle connector are fitted together, the receptacle connector including a receptacle housing having a mating internal space capable of housing the plug housing, a receptacle terminal capable of being electrically connected to the plug terminal, and a locked portion engaged with the lock portion, the plug housing including a flat surface formed on the upper surface, a cord protrusion protruding upward from the flat surface, and a lock region formed adjacent to the flat surface in the left-right axis and where the lock portion is formed, the receptacle housing including a cord recess formed on an upper inner surface of the mating internal space and capable of housing the cord protrusion, the flat surface having a front end positioned at the frontmost end, a rear end positioned behind the front end, an inner end positioned on the lock region side in the left-right axis, and an outer end positioned outside the left-right axis relative to the inner end, the cord protrusion having a front end face positioned in the front and a rear end face positioned in the rear, the length of a first interval between the front end face of the cord protrusion and the front end of the flat surface being different from the length of a second interval between the rear end face of the cord protrusion and the rear end of the flat surface, and an adsorption region that is flat over the entire area between the inner end and the outer end being formed in a region where the length of the first interval and the second interval on the flat surface is longer.

[0011] A plug connector according to an aspect of the present disclosure is used in the above connector device.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] According to the present disclosure, a connector device and a plug connector capable of securing an adsorption region on a plug housing can be obtained even when the structure has a key code structure.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, a more detailed description than necessary may be omitted. For example, a detailed description of already well-known matters or a duplicate description of substantially the same configuration may be omitted.

[0015] Note that the accompanying drawings and the following description are provided for those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0016] Hereinafter, the plug connector 1 mounted on the flexible sheet-like cable (member to be connected) 1A as the connector will be exemplified. Further, the receptacle connector 2 mounted on the rigid sheet-like circuit board (member to be connected on the other side) 2A as the connector on the other side with which the plug connector 1 is to be fitted will be exemplified.

[0017] Also, in a state where the plug housing 10 is arranged above the sheet-like cable (member to be connected) 1A, the vertical axis, the front-rear axis, and the left-right axis (width axis) of the plug connector 1 are defined. These vertical axis, front-rear axis, and left-right axis are merely defined for convenience in explaining each configuration, and do not define the actual arrangement state of the plug connector 1. In the present embodiment, the insertion direction of the terminals into the housing of each connector coincides with the front-rear axis, and the direction orthogonal to the plane including the mounting surface (the normal direction of the plane including the mounting surface) in the state of being mounted on the member to be connected coincides with the vertical axis of the connector. At this time, the direction in which the terminals housed in the housing of each connector are arranged side by side is the left-right axis.

[0018] In the present embodiment, the axis extending along the Z-axis in three-dimensional orthogonal coordinates is the vertical axis, the axis extending along the X-axis is the front-rear axis, and the axis extending along the Y-axis is the left-right axis. That is, the axis orthogonal to the vertical axis (the direction extending along the Z-axis) is the front-rear axis (the direction extending along the X-axis), and the axis orthogonal to the vertical axis (the direction extending along the Z-axis) and the front-rear axis (the direction extending along the X-axis) is the left-right axis (the direction extending along the Y-axis).

[0019] Furthermore, when fitting the connectors together, the side facing the other connector is defined as the front on the front-rear axis.

[0020] Note that the following multiple types of connector devices include similar components. Therefore, hereinafter, the same reference numerals will be assigned to those similar components, and duplicate descriptions will be omitted.

[0021] [Configuration Example of Connector Device] The plug connector (connector) 1 according to the present embodiment is used in a connector device (connector set) C1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector device C1 includes the above-described plug connector 1 and a receptacle connector 2 into which the plug connector 1 is fitted.

[0023] In the present embodiment, the plug connector 1 is formed so as to be mountable on a cable (member to be connected) 1A such as an FPC or an FFC. Specifically, the plug connector 1 is mounted on the cable 1A by electrically connecting (mounting) the first and second mounting pieces (mounting portions: connection portions) 132 and 142 of the plug terminals (terminals) 13 and 14 provided in the plug connector 1 to the conductor exposed portion 151bA of the cable 1A.

[0024] On the one hand, the receptacle connector 2 is formed so as to be mountable on a circuit board (the mating member on the other side) 2A. Specifically, the receptacle connector 2 is mounted on the circuit board 2A by electrically connecting (mounting) the first and second mounting pieces (the mating mounting parts: the mating connection parts) 232 and 242 of the receptacle terminals (the mating terminals) 23 and 24 provided in the receptacle connector 2 to the conductor part 2bA of the circuit board 2A.

[0025] Then, the plug connector 1 with the plug terminals 13 and 14 held by the plug housing 10 and the first and second mounting pieces 132 and 142 mounted on the cable 1A is fitted to the receptacle connector (the mating connector on the other side) 2. By doing so, the plug terminals 13 and 14 are electrically connected to the receptacle terminals (the mating terminals) 23 and 24 provided in the receptacle connector 2.

[0026] In this way, the connector device C1 electrically connects the cable 1A and the circuit board 2A by fitting the plug connector 1 to the receptacle connector 2 and making the plug terminals 13 and 14 and the receptacle terminals 23 and 24 conductively connected (see FIGS. 2 to 4).

[0027] [Configuration example of cable 1A] Next, an example of the configuration of the cable 1A on which the plug connector 1 is mounted will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8.

[0028] The cable 1A has a sheet shape (flat plate shape) with a front surface (front side: one side) 1aA and a back surface (rear side: the other side) 1bA, and the front surface 1aA is the mounting surface on which the plug connector 1 is mounted. Further, the cable 1A has flexibility and can be bent (curved) in the cable thickness direction.

[0029] This cable 1A includes a connection region 11A used for connection with the plug connector 1 and an extension region 12A in which the conductor part 15bA extends for wiring with other circuits.

[0030] In this embodiment, the cable 1A is formed such that the connection region 11A is located on one end side of the extension region 12A. In a state where the plug connector 1 connected to the connection region 11A is fitted to the receptacle connector 2, the extension region 12A is located on the opposite side of the receptacle connector 2.

[0031] Further, the cable 1A has a multilayer structure and includes a base material 15aA, a conductor portion 15bA laminated on the base material 15aA, and a coating portion 15cA laminated on the base material 15aA so as to cover the conductor portion 15bA. The base material 15aA and the coating portion 15cA are made of an insulator film and cover the conductor portion 15bA. On the other hand, the conductor portion 15bA is a conductor film printed on the insulator film constituting the coating portion 15cA and forms a plurality of wiring patterns respectively corresponding to a plurality of plug terminals (lower plug terminal 13 and upper plug terminal 14) described later.

[0032] Also, a plurality of conductor exposed portions 151bA, which are the conductor portions 15bA exposed from the coating portion 15cA, are formed on the upper surface of the connection region 11A. The plurality of conductor exposed portions 151bA are formed in two rows along the front-rear axis, and the conductor exposed portions 151bA in each row are arranged at a predetermined pitch along the left-right axis (the extending direction of the Y axis). Further, in this embodiment, the plurality of conductor exposed portions 151bA are formed in a staggered pattern in a plan view (a state viewed along the normal direction of the mounting surface 1aA).

[0033] Such a structure can be formed, for example, by printing a plurality of conductor films on the base material 15aA to form the conductor portion 15bA and covering the conductor portion 15bA with the coating portion 15cA. At this time, if a through hole 151cA is provided in the coating portion 15cA so that the tip of the conductor portion 15bA is not covered, a cable 1A in which the tip of the conductor portion 15bA is exposed on one side (above the up-down axis) is formed.

[0034] Note that the method for forming the cable 1A is not limited to the above method and can be formed by various methods.

[0035] Also, on the upper surface of the connection region 11A, a fixing portion 15dA is formed to which a holding fitting 15 (to be described later) of the plug connector 1 is fixed. In the present embodiment, a pair of fixing portions 15dA are formed outside the plurality of conductor exposed portions 151bA arranged side by side in the left - right axis (the extending direction of the Y - axis) and on the front side in the front - rear axis (the extending direction of the X - axis). This fixing portion 15dA can be formed in the same manner as the conductor portion 15bA, for example, in the printing process of the conductor portion 15bA.

[0036] Also, in the present embodiment, in the connection region 11A of the cable 1A, a slit 11aA that is elongated in the left - right axis (the extending direction of the Y - axis) and opens forward is formed.

[0037] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the cable 1A includes a reinforcing plate (connection plate) 14A. This reinforcing plate 14A is formed using a glass - epoxy resin, stainless steel, or the like, and reinforces the connection region 11A of the cable 1A by sandwiching the connection region 11A of the cable 1A between it and the plug connector 1.

[0038] In the present embodiment, the reinforcing plate 14A has a shape corresponding to the shape of the connection region 11A of the cable 1A. That is, the reinforcing plate 14A has a contour shape in a plan view (a state viewed along the normal direction of the mounting surface 1aA) that is substantially the same as the contour shape of the connection region 11A. Therefore, a slit 14aA that is elongated in the left - right axis (the extending direction of the Y - axis) and opens forward is formed in the reinforcing plate 14A. And this reinforcing plate 14A is attached to the back surface side of the connection region 11A with an adhesive or the like.

[0039] At this time, in a plan view (a state viewed along the normal direction of the mounting surface 1aA), it is preferable that the entire conductor exposed portion 151bA overlaps with the reinforcing plate 14A. In this way, since the entire conductor exposed portion 151bA is supported by the reinforcing plate 14A, it is possible to suppress the conductor exposed portion 151bA from bending in the up - down axis (the extending direction of the Z - axis) or deflecting in the left - right axis (the extending direction of the Y - axis).

[0040] [Configuration Example of Plug Connector 1] Next, an example of the configuration of the plug connector 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 13.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 9, the plug connector (connector) 1 includes a plug housing (housing) 10, and plug terminals (terminals: lower plug terminal 13 and upper plug terminal 14) held by the plug housing 10. Further, the plug connector (connector) 1 includes a holding bracket 15 held by the plug housing 10.

[0042] The plug terminals (lower plug terminal 13 and upper plug terminal 14) held by the plug housing 10 are mounted on the conductor exposed portion 151bA of the cable 1A disposed outside the plug housing 10. By doing so, the plug connector 1 is mounted on the cable 1A as a connected member. Note that the plug terminals (lower plug terminal 13 and upper plug terminal 14) are mounted on the conductor exposed portion 151bA by soldering or the like. Further, the holding bracket 15 is fixed to the fixing portion 15dA of the cable 1A by soldering or the like while being held by the plug housing 10, so as to fix the plug housing 10 to the cable 1A.

[0043] The plug housing 10 includes a housing body 11 having rigidity, and this plug housing 10 can be formed using, for example, an insulating resin material.

[0044] Further, a lock portion 12 for holding or releasing the fitting state of the plug housing 10 and the receptacle housing 20 of the receptacle connector 2 is formed in the housing body 11. That is, a lock portion 12 capable of restricting relative movement along the front-rear axis of the plug connector 1 with respect to the receptacle connector 2 is formed in the housing body 11 in a state where the plug connector 1 and the receptacle connector 2 are fitted.

[0045] Thus, in this embodiment, the plug housing 10 includes a housing body 11 and a locking portion 12 formed on the housing body 11. Therefore, the plug connector 1 includes the plug housing 10 having the housing body 11 and the locking portion 12 formed on the housing body 11.

[0046] The housing body 11 includes a top wall 111, a bottom wall 112, a pair of side walls 113 that connect both ends of the top wall 111 and the bottom wall 112 in the left - right axis (the extending direction of the Y - axis), and a front wall 114 that is connected to the front ends of the top wall 111, the bottom wall 112, and the side walls 113, 113.

[0047] In addition, the housing body 11 includes a partition wall 115 that is connected to the pair of side walls 113 and the front wall 114 and vertically partitions the space defined by the top wall 111, the bottom wall 112, the side walls 113, 113, and the front wall 114.

[0048] Furthermore, the housing body 11 includes a plurality of upper partition walls 116 that are connected to the top wall 111, the partition wall 115, and the front wall 114. The upper partition walls 116 partition the upper space partitioned by the partition wall 115 into a plurality of spaces. Also, the housing body 11 includes a plurality of lower partition walls 117 that are connected to the bottom wall 112, the partition wall 115, and the front wall 114. The lower partition walls 117 partition the lower space partitioned by the partition wall 115 into a plurality of spaces.

[0049] And the locking portion 12 is formed at the central portion of the left - right axis in the upper part of the housing body 11.

[0050] Specifically, inside the left - right axis of the top wall 111, a pair of inner guide protrusions 1111 that extend in the front - rear axis and protrude upward are formed in a state of being spaced apart in the left - right axis. These inner guide protrusions 1111 are inserted into inner guide grooves 211a (described later) of the receptacle housing 20.

[0051] Further, at both ends of the left - right axis of the ceiling wall 111, a pair of outer guide protrusions 1112 extending in the front - rear axis and protruding upward are formed. These outer guide protrusions 1112 are inserted into outer guide grooves 211b (described later) of the receptacle housing 20.

[0052] Furthermore, on the ceiling wall 111, a rear side protruding wall 1113 extending in the left - right axis and protruding upward is formed so as to connect the rear ends of the inner guide protrusion 1111 and the outer guide protrusion 1112. In the present embodiment, a pair of rear side protruding walls 1113 are formed. One rear side protruding wall 1113 connects the rear ends of the inner guide protrusion 1111 and the outer guide protrusion 1112 located on one side of the left - right axis, and the other rear side protruding wall 1113 connects the rear ends of the inner guide protrusion 1111 and the outer guide protrusion 1112 located on the other side of the left - right axis.

[0053] Note that, in the present embodiment, the inner guide protrusion 1111, the outer guide protrusion 1112, and the rear side protruding wall 1113 are formed such that their protruding amounts are substantially the same (height positions are substantially the same).

[0054] In this way, in the present embodiment, by forming a pair of inner guide protrusions 1111, a pair of outer guide protrusions 1112, and a pair of rear side protruding walls 1113 on the ceiling wall 111, a recess 11a defined by the pair of inner guide protrusions 1111 and the pair of rear side protruding walls 1113 is formed at the central portion of the left - right axis above the ceiling wall 111.

[0055] And a locking portion 12 is formed in the recess 11a formed at the central portion of the left - right axis of the housing body 11. Therefore, in the present embodiment, this recess 11a serves as a locking region where the locking portion 12 is formed.

[0056] The locking portion 12 includes a lever portion 121 that is continuously provided at the front end of the top wall 111 and extends rearward. The rear side of this lever portion 121 is capable of relative movement with respect to the top wall 111 (housing body 11) along the vertical axis. An operation portion 121a for operating the lever portion 121 is formed at the rear end of the lever portion 121, and an engaging protrusion 121b that engages with an engaging recess (engaging portion) 221a formed in the receptacle connector 2 is formed at the central portion of the lever portion 121 along the front-rear axis.

[0057] In this embodiment, when the plug housing 10 and the receptacle housing 20 of the receptacle connector 2 are fitted together, the engaging protrusion 121b engages with the engaging recess 221a so that the housings of the respective connectors can be locked (maintained in the fitted state). Then, by pressing down the operation portion 121a of the lever portion 121 and moving the lever portion 121 downward, the engaging protrusion 121b also moves downward, and the engagement with the engaging recess 221a is released, enabling the disengagement of the fitting between the housings of the respective connectors.

[0058] Furthermore, on both sides of the lever portion 121 along the left-right axis in the recess 11a, an insertion space S6 into which a slide member 3 described later is inserted is formed. Also, below the lever portion 121 (between the lever portion 121 and the top wall 111) in the recess 11a, a deflection allowance space S7 that allows the downward deflection (relative movement with respect to the housing body 11) of the lever portion 121 is formed.

[0059] Note that the insertion space S6 is partitioned by an inner guide protrusion 1111 that defines the recess 11a and a protruding wall 1111a formed to protrude inward (toward the recess 11a) along the left-right axis into a space into which the lower arm portion 32 of the slide member 3 is inserted and a space into which the upper arm portion 33 is inserted.

[0060] Also, a step portion 1111b is formed at the center in the front-rear direction below the protruding wall 1111a of the inner guide protrusion 1111 that defines the concave portion 11a. The space into which the lower arm portion 32 is inserted is formed such that the front side is wider in plan view. By locking a locking protrusion 32a formed to protrude outside the left-right axis at the tip (front end) of the lower arm portion 32 to this step portion 1111b, the slide member 3 is prevented from coming off the housing body 11.

[0061] And, a regulating protrusion (slide regulating portion) 1114 having a substantially L shape in plan view is formed at the rear portion of the top wall 111. This regulating protrusion 1114 regulates the slide member 3 from sliding from the initial position to the slide completion position when the fitting of the plug housing 10 into the receptacle housing 20 is not completed. In the present embodiment, the regulating protrusion 1114 is extended so as to extend upward from the inner ends of the pair of rear side protruding walls 1113 on the left-right axis.

[0062] Also, in the present embodiment, a through hole 114a is formed in the front wall 114 so as to communicate with a plurality of spaces partitioned by a partition wall 115, an upper side partition wall 116, and a lower side partition wall 117. Thus, in the present embodiment, a plurality of spaces penetrating in the front-rear axis are formed in the housing body 11. And, plug terminals (lower plug terminal 13 and upper plug terminal 14) are respectively press-fitted (inserted) into the spaces penetrating in the front-rear axis.

[0063] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a plurality of spaces arranged in parallel in the left-right axis (the extending direction of the Y axis) are formed in two stages in the up-down axis (the extending direction of the Z axis) in the housing body 11. And, when the housing body 11 is viewed from the rear in the front-rear axis, the plurality of spaces are formed in a staggered pattern. By doing so, miniaturization of the plug connector 1 in the left-right axis is achieved.

[0064] Specifically, a plurality of spaces defined by a bottom wall 112, a partition wall 115, and a lower partition wall 117 are arranged side by side in the left - right axis (the extending direction of the Y - axis) on the lower side of the housing body 11 (the mounting surface 1aA side). And the space formed on the lower side of this housing body 11 (the mounting surface 1aA side) is a first space (lower space: internal space) S1 into which the lower plug terminal 13 is press - fitted (inserted).

[0065] On the other hand, on the upper side of the housing body 11 (a position farther from the mounting surface 1aA than the first space S1), a plurality of spaces defined by a top wall 111, a partition wall 115, and an upper partition wall 116 are arranged side by side in the left - right axis (the extending direction of the Y - axis). And the space formed on the upper side of this housing body 11 is a second space (upper space: internal space) S2 into which the upper plug terminal 14 is press - fitted (inserted).

[0066] In this embodiment, 16 spaces (first space S1) are arranged side by side in the left - right axis on the lower side of the housing body 11. On the other hand, 16 spaces (second space S2) are also arranged side by side in the left - right axis on the upper side of the housing body 11.

[0067] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the upper partition wall 116 and the lower partition wall 117 are formed at positions shifted in the left - right axis. That is, the first space S1 and the second space S2 are formed so that a part of them overlaps in plan view. In other words, when the plug housing 10 is viewed along the normal direction (up - down axis) of the mounting surface 1aA in a state where the plug terminals (lower plug terminal 13 and upper plug terminal 14) are held by the plug housing 10 and mounted on the cable 1A, the first space S1 and the second space S2 overlap each other.

[0068] And the lower plug terminal 13 is configured to be press-fitted (inserted) forward from the opening on the rear end side of the first space S1, and the opening on the rear end side of this first space S1 serves as the insertion port S1a. Also, the opening on the front end side of the first space S1 is smaller than the insertion port S1a so that the lower plug terminal 13 does not fall out. That is, the forward movement of the lower plug terminal 13 press-fitted (inserted) from the insertion port S1a is restricted by the front wall 114. Note that the opening on the front end side of the first space S1 serves as the introduction port S1b for introducing the contact portion 230a of the lower receptacle terminal 23 of the receptacle connector 2 described later into the first space S1. The peripheral edge of this introduction port S1b is formed in a tapered shape so that the contact portion 230a of the lower receptacle terminal 23 can be easily introduced.

[0069] Similarly, the upper plug terminal 14 is configured to be press-fitted (inserted) forward from the opening on the rear end side of the second space S2, and the opening on the rear end side of this second space S2 serves as the insertion port S2a. Also, the opening on the front end side of the second space S2 is smaller than the insertion port S2a so that the upper plug terminal 14 does not fall out. That is, the forward movement of the upper plug terminal 14 press-fitted (inserted) from the insertion port S2a is restricted by the front wall 114. Note that the opening on the front end side of the second space S2 also serves as the introduction port S2b for introducing the contact portion 240a of the upper receptacle terminal 24 of the receptacle connector 2 described later into the second space S2. The peripheral edge of this introduction port S2b is also formed in a tapered shape so that the contact portion 240a of the upper receptacle terminal 24 can be easily introduced.

[0070] Also, at the lower part of the rear end of the top wall 111, a groove portion 1115 that opens rearward and downward is formed so as to communicate with the second space S2. In the present embodiment, the groove portions 1115 are formed on both sides of the left-right axis of the second space S2, and the upper ends of the side walls 144 of the upper plug terminal 14 described later are inserted into the groove portions 1115. In the present embodiment, the groove portion 1115 is formed such that the groove width (the length of the left-right axis) is slightly wider than the plate thickness of the side wall 134.

[0071] Similarly, at the lower part of the rear end of the partition wall 115, a groove portion 115a that opens rearward and downward is formed so as to communicate with the first space S1. In the present embodiment, the groove portion 115a is formed on one side of the left - right axis of the first space S1 (the right side in FIG. 11(b)), and the upper end of the side wall 134 of the lower plug terminal 13 described later is inserted into the groove portion 115a. In the present embodiment, this groove portion 115a is also formed such that the groove width (the length of the left - right axis) is slightly wider than the plate thickness of the side wall 134.

[0072] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, at the rear end of the partition wall 115, a groove portion 115b that opens rearward, upward, and downward is formed so as to communicate with the first space S1 and the second space S2. This groove portion 115b is formed so as to be opposed to the groove portion 1115 with respect to the vertical axis, and the upper part of the second leg portion (leg portion) 141 of the upper plug terminal 14 is inserted into this groove portion 115b. In the present embodiment, the groove portion 115b is formed such that the groove width (the length of the left - right axis) is slightly wider than the plate thickness of the second leg portion (leg portion) 141.

[0073] Also, in the present embodiment, the pair of side walls 113, 113 each include a side wall main body 1131 and an extension portion 1132 connected to the rear end of the side wall main body 1131. And the bottom wall 112 includes a bottom wall main body 1121 connected to the lower ends of the pair of side wall main bodies 1131, 1131, and a plurality of grooves 1121a extending in the front - rear axis are formed on the bottom wall main body 1121 so as to be arranged in the left - right axis.

[0074] In the present embodiment, at the rear end of this bottom wall main body 1121, a groove portion 1121c extending in the vertical axis and having an upper end opening to the first space S1 is formed. Specifically, when the plug housing 10 is viewed from the rear in the front - rear axis, one (the right side in FIG. 11(b)) of the groove portion 1115, the groove portion 115b, and the groove portion 1121c are arranged in a straight line with respect to the vertical axis. This groove portion 1121c is for inserting the lower part of the second leg portion (leg portion) 141 of the upper plug terminal 14 in the state where the press - fitting (insertion) is completed.

[0075] Furthermore, a groove portion 1121d extending in the vertical axis and opening to the first space S1 is formed at the rear end of the bottom wall body 1121. Specifically, the groove portion 1121d is formed so as to communicate with one first space S1 and is formed to face the groove portion 115a in the vertical axis.

[0076] That is, as shown in FIG. 11(b), when the plug housing 10 is viewed from the rear of the front-rear axis, the groove portion 115a and the groove portion 1121d are arranged so as to be aligned in a straight line on the vertical axis. This groove portion 1121d is for inserting the first leg portion (leg portion) 131 of the lower plug terminal 13 in the state where the press-fitting (insertion) is completed.

[0077] In addition, a recess 1121b that opens downward and rearward and extends in the front-rear axis is formed at the rear end portion of the bottom wall body 1121 so as to be continuously provided with the groove portion 1121d. This recess 1121b houses the first mounting piece 132 of the lower plug terminal 13 in the state where the press-fitting (insertion) is completed.

[0078] Here, in the present embodiment, extending portions 1132, 1132 extending rearward are formed on each of the pair of side wall bodies 1131, 1131, and the pair of extending portions 1132, 1132 are formed to face each other on the left-right axis. And the region where the pair of extending portions 1132, 1132 face each other is a recess 1133 that houses the first and second mounting pieces 132, 142 of the plug terminals 13, 14.

[0079] In this way, in the present embodiment, the first and second mounting pieces 132, 142 of the plug terminals 13, 14 are mounted on the conductor exposed portion 151bA of the cable 1A on the front side of the rear ends of the extending portions 1132, 1132. At this time, the connecting region 11A of the cable 1A is sandwiched by the extending portions 1132, 1132 and the reinforcing plate 14A.

[0080] By doing so, when the cable 1A is lifted and moves away from the reinforcing plate 14A, it is possible to more surely suppress the peeling of the adhesion between the cable 1A and the reinforcing plate 14A. Further, in the present embodiment, the first and second mounting pieces 132 and 142 of the plug terminals 13 and 14 are positioned on the front side of the front ends (rear ends) of the extending portions 1132 and 1132. By doing so, it is possible to suppress the deformation of the first and second leg portions 131 and 141 and the first and second mounting pieces 132 and 142 of the plug terminals 13 and 14 due to the lifting of the cable 1A. That is, the connection portion between the plug terminals 13 and 14 and the cable 1A can be protected from the lifting of the cable 1A.

[0081] In addition, at the front end portions of the pair of side walls 113 and 113, holding metal fitting mounting portions 1134 and 1134 for holding the holding metal fitting 15 are respectively formed.

[0082] This holding metal fitting mounting portion 1134 includes a concave portion 1134a that opens outward in the vertical axis and the horizontal axis, and slits 1134b and 1134b that are continuously provided inside the horizontal axis of the concave portion 1134a and into which both ends of the front-rear axis of the main body portion 151 of the holding metal fitting 15 are inserted. Then, with the holding metal fitting 15 held by the plug housing 10, the plug housing 10 is fixed to the cable 1A by fixing the fixing piece 152 continuously provided at the lower end of the main body portion 151 to the fixing portion 15dA of the cable 1A.

[0083] Further, on the lower side (back side) of the bottom wall body 1121, a protrusion 1122 is formed so as to protrude downward. By forming such a protrusion 1122 on the bottom wall body 1121, a recess 1123 is formed on the lower surface of the bottom wall body 1121. When the plug connector 1 is mounted on the cable 1A, the connection region 11A to which the reinforcing plate 14A is attached is accommodated in this recess 1123 (see Fig. 10(b)). Thus, in this embodiment, the connection region 11A to which the reinforcing plate 14A is attached serves as the connected portion 10A that is accommodated and held in the recess 1123. And the protrusion 1122 is formed on the bottom wall body 1121 such that the protruding amount is equal to or greater than the thickness of the connected portion 10A (the sum of the thickness of the cable 1A and the thickness of the reinforcing plate 14A).

[0084] As described above, in this embodiment, the plug housing 10 includes a pair of wall portions (the top wall 111 and the bottom wall 112) facing each other in the housing thickness direction (the direction extending along the vertical axis: Z-axis), and has an upper surface 10a and a lower surface 10b located above and below the vertical axis, respectively. And a recess 1123 for accommodating the connected portion 10A of the cable 1A (the connection region 11A to which the reinforcing plate 14A is attached) is formed in the bottom wall 112, which is one of the pair of wall portions (the top wall 111 and the bottom wall 112). That is, the plug housing 10 has a receiving portion (recess 1123) for receiving the cable (connected member: mounted member) 1A on one of the wall portions (the bottom wall 112) in the housing thickness direction (vertical axis). In other words, the plug housing 10 has a receiving recess (recess 1123) in which the cable (connected member) 1A is arranged at the lower end of the plug connector 1.

[0085] And with such a configuration, when the plug housing 10 is fitted into the receptacle housing 20, the lower end of the protrusion 1122 slides on the inner surface of the receptacle housing 20. That is, when the plug housing 10 is fitted into the receptacle housing 20, it is possible to prevent the connected portion 10A of the cable 1A from interfering with the receptacle housing 20.

[0086] Further, in the present embodiment, the protrusions 1122 are formed only at the peripheral edge of the bottom wall 112, and no protrusions 1122 are formed inside the bottom wall 112.

[0087] Specifically, the protrusion 1122 is constituted only by a pair of front protrusions 11221 elongated along the left - right axis formed at the front ends on both sides of the left - right axis of the bottom wall 112, and a pair of rear protrusions 11222 elongated along the front - rear axis formed at the rear ends on both sides of the left - right axis of the bottom wall 112.

[0088] These front protrusions 11221 and rear protrusions 11222 are formed at the portions where the side walls 113 of the bottom wall 112 are continuously provided. Specifically, the front protrusion 11221 is formed in front of the retainer fitting attachment portion 1134 along the front edge of the front end of the plug housing 10, and the rear protrusion 11222 is formed outside the left - right axis of the extension portion 1132 along the outer edge of the extension portion 1132. Thus, in the present embodiment, the protrusions 1122 are formed only at the four corners of the bottom wall 112.

[0089] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the shape of the connected portion 10A of the cable 1A is such that a part of the contour line corresponds to the inner contour line of the protrusion 1122. Specifically, when the connected portion 10A of the cable 1A is accommodated in the recess 1123, the front edges on both sides of the left - right axis where the notches 11aA and 14aA are not formed are along the inner (rear) contour line of the front protrusion 11221, and the rear ends on both sides of the left - right axis are formed along the inner contour line of the left - right axis of the rear protrusion 11222. By doing so, the forward displacement of the connected portion 10A is suppressed by the front protrusion 11221, and the displacement of the connected portion 10A to both sides of the left - right axis is suppressed by the rear protrusion 11222. Note that the connected portion 10A may have any shape as long as it can be accommodated in the recess 1123.

[0090] And, as in the present embodiment, if the protrusions 1122 are formed only at the four corners of the bottom wall 112, when the plug housing 10 in a state where the plug terminals 13 and 14 are held side by side along the left - right axis (Y - axis) is viewed along the front - rear axis (the direction in which the X - axis extends), the protrusions 1122 can be made not to overlap with the mounting pieces 132 and 142 of the plug terminals 13 and 14.

[0091] Further, in the present embodiment, the extended portion 1132 is continuously provided at the rear end of the side wall main body 1131 such that the end faces on the left - right axis are located outside the end faces on the left - right axis of the side wall main body 1131. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the housing main body 11 (plug housing 10) is formed to be wider at the rear than at the front in plan view.

[0092] And, the narrow - width portion (the portion where the side wall main body 1131 is formed) in front of the extended portion 1132 of the housing main body 11 serves as the insertion portion 118 that is inserted into the fitting space S5 of the receptacle housing 20. Also, the portion (wide - width portion) where the extended portion 1132 is formed in the housing main body 11 serves as the exposed portion 119 that is exposed from the receptacle housing 20 when the plug housing 10 is fitted to the receptacle housing 20.

[0093] Furthermore, on the rear - end side of the extended portion 1132, a hook protrusion (hooking portion) 1132a that protrudes outward in the left - right axis direction is formed to extend in the up - down axis (the direction in which the Z - axis extends: the thickness direction of the housing main body 11).

[0094] And, by providing such a hook protrusion 1132a on the exposed portion 119, when an operator holds the plug connector 1 by hand, a finger can be hooked on the hook protrusion 1132a. By doing so, the plug connector 1 fitted to the receptacle connector 2 can be pulled out more easily. In the present embodiment, the side surface (exposed surface 119a) of the extended portion 1132 is formed to be a substantially rectangular flat surface.

[0095] In addition, in the present embodiment, a hook projection 1132a that protrudes outward from the left-right axis is formed on the rear end side of the extension portion 1132 so as to extend in the up-down axis. Therefore, even in the case of the miniaturized connector device C1, the pulling-out performance from the receptacle connector 2 of the plug connector 1 can be improved.

[0096] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the exposed portion 119 is provided with a contact projection (contact portion) 1132b that can come into contact with another plug housing 10 adjacent along the left-right axis (Y axis) on the insertion portion 118 side (front of the front-rear axis) rather than the hook projection 1132a. By doing so, while improving the pulling-out performance from the receptacle connector 2, it is possible to suppress the plug housing 10 from changing its posture during conveyance by the parts feeder.

[0097] Next, a specific configuration of the plug terminal (terminal) will be described based on FIGS. 12 and 13.

[0098] In the present embodiment, the plug terminal (terminal) includes a main body portion inserted into a space formed in the plug housing 10, a leg portion extending from the main body portion toward the mounting surface 1aA of the cable 1A in a state where the plug terminal is mounted on the cable (member to be connected) 1A, and a mounting portion (connection portion) connected to the leg portion and capable of being mounted on the cable 1A. That is, the plug terminal has a mounting portion that can be connected to the cable (member to be connected) 1A below the plug housing 10.

[0099] Specifically, the plug terminal includes a lower plug terminal 13 that is press-fitted (inserted) into a first space S1 formed on the lower side (mounting surface 1aA side) of the housing main body 11. Further, the plug terminal includes an upper plug terminal 14 that is press-fitted (inserted) into a second space S2 formed on the upper side of the housing main body 11 (a position farther from the mounting surface 1aA than the first space S1).

[0100] In this embodiment, the lower plug terminal 13 has conductivity and a plurality of them are arranged side by side in the left - right axis (the extending direction of the Y - axis) of the plug housing 10. As shown in FIG. 12, the lower plug terminal 13 has a shape formed by bending a single strip - shaped metal member in the plate - thickness direction, and is substantially U - shaped when viewed along the insertion direction (the front - rear axis; the extending direction of the X - axis) (see FIGS. 12(e) and 12(f)). Such a lower plug terminal 13 can be formed, for example, by performing a bending process on a strip - shaped metal member punched into a predetermined shape.

[0101] Further, the lower plug terminal 13 includes a first main body portion (main body portion) 130 that is press - fitted (inserted) into the first space S1. Furthermore, the lower plug terminal 13 includes a first leg portion (leg portion) 131 that extends from the first main body portion 130 toward the mounting surface 1aA in a state where the lower plug terminal 13 is mounted on a cable (member to be connected) 1A. And the lower plug terminal 13 includes a first mounting piece (connection portion) 132 that is connected to the first leg portion 131 and can be mounted on the cable 1A. This first mounting piece (connection portion) 132 is formed so as to protrude rearward from the rear end of the housing main body 11 while being held by the plug housing (housing) 10.

[0102] The first main body portion 130 includes a bottom wall 133 and side walls 134 continuously provided at both ends of the bottom wall 133 in the left - right axis (the extending direction of the Y - axis).

[0103] The bottom wall 133 includes a bottom - wall main body 135 to which the lower ends of the side walls 134 are continuously provided, and a contact - protection portion 136 that is continuously provided at the front end of the bottom - wall main body 135 and protrudes forward. This contact - protection portion 136 suppresses the contact of the contact portion 130a of the lower plug terminal 13 with the housing main body 11 when the first main body portion 130 is press - fitted (inserted) into the first space S1.

[0104] In addition, on the bottom wall body 135 and the contact protection part 136, restricting pieces 135a and 136a that protrude outward from both ends in the left - right axis (the extending direction of the Y - axis) are respectively formed. And by these restricting pieces 135a and 136a, when the first main body part 130 is press - fitted (inserted) into the first space S1, it is suppressed that the first main body part 130 is press - fitted (inserted) obliquely.

[0105] The side wall 134 includes a side wall body 137 whose lower end is continuously provided to the bottom wall body 135, and a contact piece 138 that is elastically deformably and continuously provided at the front end of the side wall body 137 and contacts the contact part of the receptacle connector.

[0106] A restricting protrusion 137a is formed at the upper end of the side wall body 137. By this restricting protrusion 137a, when the first main body part 130 is press - fitted (inserted) into the first space S1, it is suppressed that the first main body part 130 floats up.

[0107] In addition, the contact piece 138 includes an inner bending piece 138a that is continuously provided at the front end of the side wall body 137 so as to bend inward of the left - right axis, and an outer bending piece 138b that is continuously provided at the front end of the inner bending piece 138a so as to bend outward of the left - right axis.

[0108] In this embodiment, this contact piece 138 is continuously provided on each of the pair of side wall bodies 137, 137, and is formed to be substantially line - symmetric in plan view. That is, the pair of contact pieces 138, 138 includes inner bending pieces 138a, 138a that are bent in a direction approaching each other as they go forward, and outer bending pieces 138b, 138b that are bent in a direction away from each other as they go forward.

[0109] Then, at the part where the pair of contact pieces 138, 138 are closest (the connecting part of the inner bending piece 138a and the outer bending piece 138b), the contact part 230a of the receptacle connector 2 is clamped (see Fig. 3(b)). Thus, in this embodiment, the pair of contact pieces 138, 138 function as the contact part 130a of the lower plug terminal 13. And the pair of outer bending pieces 138b function as a guide part for more smoothly introducing the contact part 130a of the receptacle connector 2.

[0110] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an extended wall 139 protruding rearward is connected to the rear end of one of the pair of side wall bodies 137, 137, and the first main body part 130 has a shape with one side protruding rearward.

[0111] A press - fit protrusion 139a is formed at the upper end of this extended wall 139. By having the press - fit protrusion 139a bite into the housing main body 11, the first main body part 130 is press - fit into the first space S1.

[0112] In this embodiment, a groove part 115a is formed into which the upper end of the side wall 134 of the lower plug terminal 13 is inserted to guide the press - fit (insertion) of the lower plug terminal 13 into the lower space S1. Therefore, even when the lower plug terminal 13 is press - fit (inserted) into the lower space S1 by pressing the one - side side wall 134 protruding rearward of the main body part 130, the displacement of the lower plug terminal 13 is suppressed. As a result, the lower plug terminal 13 can be press - fit (inserted) into the lower space S1 more smoothly and accurately.

[0113] And the first leg portion 131 extends downward (cable 1A: connected member) from the rear end portion of the extending wall 139. Thus, in the present embodiment, the first leg portion 131 extends in the housing thickness direction from the first main body portion 130 in a state of being press-fitted (inserted) into the first space S1. Further, a first mounting piece 132 is continuously provided at the lower end of the first leg portion 131. In the present embodiment, the flat lower end surface of the first mounting piece 132 extending in a substantially horizontal direction serves as a first mounting surface (mounting surface) 132a that can be mounted on the cable (connected member) 1A.

[0114] At this time, the first leg portion 131 and the first mounting piece 132 are formed in a thin plate shape (plate shape), and are formed such that the plate thickness direction is substantially the same as the plate thickness direction of the side wall main body 137.

[0115] Therefore, in a state where the first main body portion 130 is inserted into the first space S1 and the first mounting piece (connection portion) 132 is mounted on the cable (connected member) 1A, the plate thickness direction of the first leg portion 131 becomes the left - right axis (the extending direction of the Y - axis). That is, in a state where the plug connector 1 is mounted on the cable 1A, the plate thickness direction of the first leg portion 131 intersects the insertion direction of the first main body portion 130 into the first space S1 and the normal direction of the mounting surface 1aA.

[0116] On the other hand, the upper plug terminal 14 also has conductivity and is arranged in a plurality in parallel in the left - right axis (the extending direction of the Y - axis) of the plug housing 10. As shown in FIG. 13, the upper plug terminal 14 has a shape in which a single strip - shaped metal member is bent in the plate thickness direction, and is substantially U - shaped when viewed along the insertion direction (front - rear axis; the extending direction of the X - axis) (see FIGS. 13(e) and 13(f)). Such an upper plug terminal 14 can also be formed, for example, by performing bending processing on a strip - shaped metal member punched into a predetermined shape.

[0117] In addition, the upper plug terminal 14 includes a second main body portion (main body portion) 140 that is press-fitted (inserted) into the second space S2. Further, the upper plug terminal 14 includes a second leg portion (leg portion) 141 that extends from the second main body portion 140 toward the mounting surface 1aA in a state where the upper plug terminal 14 is mounted on the cable (member to be connected) 1A. And the upper plug terminal 14 includes a second mounting piece (connection portion) 142 that is connected to the second leg portion 141 and can be mounted on the cable 1A. This second mounting piece (connection portion) 142 is also formed so as to protrude rearward from the rear end of the housing main body 11 while being held by the plug housing (housing) 10. Thus, in the present embodiment, the plug terminals (lower plug terminal 13, upper plug terminal 14) are housed in the internal spaces (first space S1, second space S2) of the plug housing (housing) 10 with a part thereof exposed from the rear of the front-rear axis.

[0118] The second main body portion 140 includes a bottom wall 143 and side walls 144 that are continuously provided at both ends of the bottom wall 143 in the longitudinal direction of the left-right axis (Y axis).

[0119] The bottom wall 143 includes a bottom wall main body 145 to which the lower ends of the side walls 144 are continuously provided, and a contact protection portion 146 that is continuously provided at the front end of the bottom wall main body 145 and protrudes forward. This contact protection portion 146 suppresses the contact between the contact portion 140a of the upper plug terminal 14 and the housing main body 11 when the second main body portion 140 is press-fitted (inserted) into the second space S2.

[0120] In addition, restricting pieces 145a and 146a that protrude outward from both ends in the longitudinal direction of the left-right axis (Y axis) are respectively formed on the bottom wall main body 145 and the contact protection portion 146. And by these restricting pieces 145a and 146a, when the second main body portion 140 is press-fitted (inserted) into the second space S2, the second main body portion 140 is prevented from being press-fitted (inserted) obliquely.

[0121] The side wall 144 includes a side wall body 147 whose lower end is continuously provided on the bottom wall body 145, and a contact piece 148 that is elastically deformably connected to the front end of the side wall body 147 and contacts the contact portion 240a of the receptacle connector 2.

[0122] At the upper end of the side wall body 147, a regulating projection 147a is formed. When the second main body portion 140 is press-fitted (inserted) into the second space S2 by this regulating projection 147a, the second main body portion 140 is prevented from lifting up.

[0123] Further, the contact piece 148 includes an inner bent piece 148a that is continuously provided at the front end of the side wall body 147 so as to bend inward of the left-right axis, and an outer bent piece 148b that is continuously provided at the front end of the inner bent piece 148a so as to bend outward of the left-right axis.

[0124] In this embodiment, the contact piece 148 is continuously provided on each of the pair of side wall bodies 147, 147, and is formed to be substantially line-symmetric in plan view. That is, the pair of contact pieces 148, 148 includes inner bent pieces 148a, 148a that are bent in a direction approaching each other as they go forward, and outer bent pieces 148b, 148b that are bent in a direction away from each other as they go forward.

[0125] And at the portion where the pair of contact pieces 148, 148 are closest to each other (the continuous portion of the inner bent piece 148a and the outer bent piece 148b), the contact portion 240a of the receptacle connector 2 is clamped (see Fig. 4(b)). Thus, in this embodiment, the pair of contact pieces 148, 148 function as the contact portions 140a of the upper plug terminals 14. And the pair of outer bent pieces 148b function as guide portions for more smoothly introducing the contact portion 240a of the receptacle connector 2.

[0126] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an extending wall 149 that protrudes rearward is continuously provided at the rear end of one of the pair of side wall bodies 147, 147, and the second main body portion 140 has a shape in which one side protrudes rearward.

[0127] At the upper end of the extended wall 149, a press-fit projection 149a is formed. By pressing this press-fit projection 149a into the housing body 11, the second main body portion 140 is press-fitted into the second space S2.

[0128] In this embodiment, at the upper end of the side wall 144 of the upper plug terminal 14, a groove portion 1115 is formed to guide the press-fitting (insertion) of the upper plug terminal 14 into the upper space S2. Therefore, even when the upper plug terminal 14 is press-fitted (inserted) into the upper space S2 by pressing one side wall 144 protruding rearward of the main body portion 140, displacement of the upper plug terminal 14 is suppressed. As a result, the upper plug terminal 14 can be press-fitted (inserted) into the upper space S2 more smoothly and accurately.

[0129] And the second leg portion 141 extends downward (cable 1A: connected member) from the rear end portion of the extended wall 149. The length of the second leg portion 141 in the vertical axis direction is longer than that of the first leg portion 131. Thus, in this embodiment, the second leg portion 141 extends in the housing thickness direction from the second main body portion 140 in a state press-fitted (inserted) into the second space S2. Further, at the lower end of the second leg portion 141, a second mounting piece 142 is continuously provided so as to protrude rearward. In this embodiment, the flat lower end surface of the second mounting piece 142 extending in a substantially horizontal direction serves as a second mounting surface (mounting surface) 142a that can be mounted on the cable (connected member) 1A.

[0130] In addition, the first leg portion 131 and the second leg portion 141 are configured such that, with the first main body portion 130 and the second main body portion 140 inserted into the first space S1 and the second space S2, the positions of the front-rear axes are substantially the same (see FIGS. 7 and 21). And the first leg portion 131 and the second leg portion 141 are configured such that, with the first main body portion 130 and the second main body portion 140 inserted into the first space S1 and the second space S2, the positions of the left-right axes are shifted by approximately half a pitch. Therefore, in the present embodiment, with the plurality of plug terminals 13, 14 held by the plug housing 10, the mounting portions (connection portions: the first mounting piece 132 and the second mounting piece 142) are arranged in a staggered manner.

[0131] Furthermore, the first mounting piece 132 is configured to be accommodated in a recess 1121b formed at the rear end portion of the bottom wall main body 1121 with the first main body portion 130 inserted into the first space S1. On the other hand, the second mounting piece 142 is configured to be positioned behind the insertion port S2a of the second space S2 with the second main body portion 140 inserted into the second space S2.

[0132] Therefore, in a plan view in a state where the plurality of plug terminals 13, 14 are held by the plug housing 10 and mounted on the cable 1A, the first mounting piece 132 overlaps with the plug housing 10. On the other hand, in a plan view in a state where the plurality of plug terminals 13, 14 are held by the plug housing 10 and mounted on the cable 1A, the second mounting piece 142 is exposed from the plug housing 10.

[0133] That is, when the plug connector 1 is mounted on the cable 1A and the plug housing 10 is viewed along the normal direction of the mounting surface 1aA, one of the first mounting piece 132 and the second mounting piece 142 (mounting portion: connection portion) overlaps with the plug housing 10.

[0134] Thus, in this embodiment, with a plurality of plug terminals 13 and 14 held by the plug housing 10, the mounting portions (connection portions: the first mounting piece 132 and the second mounting piece 142) are arranged in a staggered manner on both sides sandwiching the insertion opening (rear edge) of the space.

[0135] Also, the second leg portion 141 and the second mounting piece 142 are also formed in a thin plate shape (plate shape), and are formed such that the plate thickness direction is substantially the same as the plate thickness direction of the side wall main body 147.

[0136] Therefore, when the second main body portion 140 is inserted into the second space S2 and the second mounting piece (connection portion) 142 is mounted on the cable (member to be connected) 1A, the plate thickness direction of the second leg portion 141 becomes the left - right axis (the extending direction of the Y - axis). That is, in the state where the plug connector 1 is mounted on the cable 1A, the plate thickness direction of the second leg portion 141 intersects the insertion direction of the second main body portion 140 into the second space S2 and the normal direction of the mounting surface 1aA.

[0137] Also, in this embodiment, the insertion opening S1a is divided into two regions by the second leg portion 141 when viewed from the rear in the front - rear axis direction with the first and second main body portions 130 and 140 of the plug terminals 13 and 14 inserted into the first and second spaces S1 and S2. That is, in the state where the plug connector 1 is mounted on the cable 1A, when viewed along the insertion direction of the plug housing 10 into the first and second spaces S1 and S2 of the first and second main body portions 130 and 140, the insertion opening S1a of the first space S1 is divided into two regions by the second leg portion 141.

[0138] Furthermore, in this embodiment, at the press-fitting (insertion) completion position of the first main body portion 130 into the first space S1, the first leg portion 131 is inserted into the groove portion 1121d and is held in a state where movement in the left-right axis (Y-axis; plate thickness direction) is restricted. That is, the groove portion 1121d formed in the bottom wall main body 1121 of the housing main body 11 functions as a leg portion holding portion that holds the first leg portion 131. In this way, the plug connector 1 is connected to the plug housing 10 and includes a leg portion holding portion that holds the first leg portion 131. In this embodiment, the leg portion holding portion is integrally formed with the plug housing 10. Note that a leg portion holding portion may be formed by connecting a member separate from the plug housing 10 to the plug housing 10.

[0139] Also, at the press-fitting (insertion) completion position of the second main body portion 140 into the second space S2, the second leg portion 141 is inserted into the groove portion 115b and the groove portion 1121c and is held in a state where movement in the left-right axis (Y-axis; plate thickness direction) is restricted. That is, the groove portion 115b formed in the partition wall 115 of the housing main body 11 and the groove portion 1121c formed in the bottom wall main body 1121 function as a leg portion holding portion that holds the second leg portion 141. In this way, the plug connector 1 is connected to the plug housing 10 and includes a leg portion holding portion that holds the second leg portion 141. In this embodiment, the leg portion holding portion is also integrally formed with the plug housing 10, but it may be formed separately.

[0140] By doing so, deformation of the first and second leg portions 131 and 141 is suppressed when the plug terminals 13 and 14 are press-fitted (inserted) into the first and second spaces S1 and S2 of the first and second main body portions 130 and 140, or when the plug terminals 13 and 14 press-fitted (inserted) into the first and second spaces S1 and S2 are mounted on the cable 1A.

[0141] [Configuration Example of Receptacle Connector 2] Next, an example of the configuration of the receptacle connector 2 will be described based on FIGS. 14 to 19.

[0142] As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the receptacle connector 2 includes a receptacle housing (the mating housing) 20. Further, the receptacle connector 2 includes receptacle terminals (mating terminals: lower receptacle terminal 23 and upper receptacle terminal 24) held by the receptacle housing 20. Also, the receptacle connector 2 includes a retaining bracket (mating retaining bracket) 25 held by the receptacle housing 20.

[0143] The receptacle terminals 23 and 24 held by the receptacle housing 20 are mounted on the conductor portion 2bA of the circuit board 2A disposed outside the receptacle housing 20. By doing so, the receptacle connector 2 is mounted on the circuit board 2A as a mating member to be connected. Note that the receptacle terminals 23 and 24 are also mounted on the conductor portion 2bA by soldering or the like. Also, the retaining bracket 25 is fixed to the fixing portion 2cA of the circuit board 2A by soldering or the like while being held by the receptacle housing 20, and is for fixing the receptacle housing 20 to the circuit board 2A.

[0144] Note that the circuit board 2A has a substantially rectangular plate shape and includes a board body 2aA formed of a resin material or the like having rigidity and insulation. The conductor portion 2bA and the fixing portion 2cA are formed so as to be exposed on the surface 21aA of the board body 2aA. Thus, in the present embodiment, the surface 21aA of the board body 2aA serves as a mounting surface.

[0145] The receptacle housing 20 includes a housing body 21 having rigidity, and the receptacle housing 20 can be formed using, for example, an insulating resin material.

[0146] Also, a lock portion insertion portion (locked portion) 22 into which a lock portion 12 for holding the plug housing 10 and the receptacle housing 20 in a fitted state or releasing the fitted state is inserted is formed at the upper portion of the housing body 21.

[0147] Thus, in this embodiment, the receptacle housing 20 includes a housing body 21 and a lock portion insertion portion 22 formed in the housing body 21.

[0148] The housing body 21 includes a top wall 211, a bottom wall 212, a pair of side walls 213 that continuously connect both ends of the top wall 211 and the bottom wall 212 in the left - right axis (the extending direction of the Y - axis), and a rear wall 214 that is continuously connected to the rear ends of the top wall 211, the bottom wall 212, and the side walls 213, 213.

[0149] And a lock portion insertion portion 22 is formed at the center of the left - right axis of the top wall 211. Specifically, the lock portion insertion portion 22 is formed below the center of the left - right axis of the top wall 211 and includes a housing portion 221 that houses the lever portion 121. At the center of the front - rear axis of this housing portion 221, an engaging concave portion (engaging portion) 221a with which the engaging protrusion 121b of the lock portion 12 engages is formed.

[0150] Also, an inner guide groove 211a is formed inside the left - right axis of the top wall 211, and outer guide grooves 211b are formed on both sides of the left - right axis of the top wall 211. The inner guide groove 211a is formed to correspond to the inner guide protrusion 1111, and the outer guide groove 211b is formed to correspond to the outer guide protrusion 1112. When fitting the plug housing 10 into the receptacle housing 20, the inner guide protrusion 1111 is inserted into the inner guide groove 211a, and the outer guide protrusion 1112 is inserted into the outer guide groove 211b. By doing so, the positioning of the left - right axis of the plug housing 10 is achieved.

[0151] On both sides of the left - right axis of the housing portion 221, an insertion space S8 into which the upper arm portion 33 of the slide member 3 is inserted is formed. And on the top wall 211, a protrusion (engaged portion) 211c protruding downward is formed so as to be disposed in the insertion space S8 when viewed along the insertion direction (front - rear axis; X - axis). This protrusion 211c is for deflecting the upper arm portion 33 downward or locking the engaging protrusion 33b formed at the tip of the upper arm portion 33. In this embodiment, the housing portion 221, a pair of insertion spaces S8, and a pair of inner guide grooves 211a are formed in one space located at the upper center of the left - right axis of the housing body 21.

[0152] Also, at the central portion of the left - right axis of the bottom wall 212, a positioning protrusion 212b protruding upward is formed. This positioning protrusion 212b is formed so as to correspond to the notch 11aA and the notch 14aA. When the plug housing 10 is fitted into the receptacle housing 20, the positioning protrusion 212b is inserted into the notch 11aA and the notch 14aA, and the positioning of the left - right axis of the cable 1A is achieved by this positioning protrusion 212b.

[0153] Also, a plurality of spaces penetrating in the front - rear axis are formed in the rear wall 214. In this embodiment, spaces arranged in parallel in the left - right axis (the extending direction of the Y - axis) are formed in two stages in the up - down axis (the extending direction of the Z - axis). Further, when the housing body 21 is viewed from the rear in the front - rear axis, the plurality of spaces are formed in a staggered pattern. By doing so, miniaturization of the left - right axis of the receptacle connector 2 is achieved.

[0154] And the lower receptacle terminal 23 and the upper receptacle terminal 24 are press - fitted (inserted) into the space penetrating in the front - rear axis, respectively.

[0155] Specifically, the space formed on the lower side (the mounting surface 21aA side) of the housing body 21 is the first space S3 into which the lower receptacle terminal 23 is press - fitted (inserted).

[0156] On one hand, a space formed above the housing body 21 (at a position farther from the mounting surface 21aA than the first space S3) serves as a second space S4 into which the upper receptacle terminal 24 is press-fitted (inserted).

[0157] And the lower receptacle terminal 23 is press-fitted (inserted) forward from the opening at the rear end side of the first space S3, and the opening at the rear end side of this first space S3 serves as an insertion port S3a. Similarly, the upper receptacle terminal 24 is press-fitted (inserted) forward from the opening at the rear end side of the second space S4, and the opening at the rear end side of this second space S4 serves as an insertion port S4a.

[0158] Also, a fitting space S5 having an opening S5a that opens forward (toward the plug connector 1 side) is formed in the housing body 21. This fitting space S5 is a space into which the housing body 11 of the plug housing 10 is inserted and fitted, and is defined by a top wall 211, a bottom wall 212, a pair of side walls 213, 213, and a rear wall 214. Therefore, the first space S3 and the second space S4 are each formed to communicate with the fitting space S5. In this embodiment, a part of the fitting space S5 is used as a housing portion 221 of the lock portion insertion portion 22, an insertion space S8 into which the upper arm portion 33 of the slide member 3 is inserted, and an inner guide groove 211a into which the inner guide projection 1111 is inserted.

[0159] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a ridge 214a protruding rearward is provided at the rear end of the rear wall 214.

[0160] Also, a recess 212a that opens downward and rearward and extends in the front-rear direction is formed at the rear end portion of the bottom wall 212. This recess 212a houses the second mounting piece (the mating mounting portion) 242 of the upper receptacle terminal 24 in the press-fitted (inserted) completed state.

[0161] Also, on a pair of side walls 213, 213, there are respectively formed fitting member mounting portions 213a, 213a for holding the holding fitting 25.

[0162] In this embodiment, the holder fitting attachment portion 213a includes a recess 213b that opens outward in the vertical and horizontal axes, and slits 213c, 213c that are continuously provided inside the horizontal axis of the recess 213b and into which both ends of the front-rear axis of the main body portion 251 of the holder fitting 25 are inserted. Then, with the holder fitting 25 held in the receptacle housing 20, the receptacle housing 20 is fixed to the circuit board 2A by fixing the fixing piece 252 continuously provided at the lower end of the main body portion 251 to the fixing portion 2cA of the circuit board 2A.

[0163] Also, in this embodiment, the receptacle terminal includes a main body portion that is inserted into a space formed in the receptacle housing 20, a leg portion that extends from the main body portion toward the mounting surface 21aA of the circuit board 2A in a state where the receptacle terminal is mounted on the circuit board (member to be connected) 2A, and a mounting portion (connection portion) that is continuously provided on the leg portion and can be mounted on the circuit board 2A.

[0164] Specifically, the receptacle terminal includes a lower receptacle terminal 23 that is press-fitted (inserted) into a first space S3 formed on the lower side (mounting surface 21aA side) of the housing main body 21. Further, the receptacle terminal includes an upper receptacle terminal 24 that is press-fitted (inserted) into a second space S4 formed on the upper side of the housing main body 21 (a position farther from the mounting surface 21aA than the first space S3).

[0165] In this embodiment, the lower receptacle terminal 23 has conductivity and a plurality of them are arranged in parallel in the horizontal axis (the extending direction of the Y-axis) of the receptacle housing 20. As shown in FIG. 18, the lower receptacle terminal 23 is formed in a thin plate shape and is press-fitted (inserted) into the first space S3 formed in the housing main body 21 from the rear in a state where the plate thickness direction substantially coincides with the horizontal axis (the extending direction of the Y-axis). Such a lower receptacle terminal 23 can be formed, for example, by punching a thin plate metal.

[0166] In addition, the lower receptacle terminal 23 includes a first main body portion (the main body portion on the mating side) 230 that is press-fitted (inserted) into the first space S3. Further, the lower receptacle terminal 23 includes a first leg portion (the leg portion on the mating side) 231 that extends from the first main body portion 230 toward the mounting surface 21aA in a state where the lower receptacle terminal 23 is mounted on a circuit board (member to be connected) 2A, and a first mounting piece (the connection portion on the mating side) 232 that is connected to the first leg portion 231 and can be mounted on the circuit board 2A.

[0167] And at the front end of the first main body portion 230, a substantially rod-shaped contact portion (the contact portion on the mating side) 230a is formed to protrude forward. Further, press-fit protrusions 230b are formed at the upper and lower ends of the first main body portion 230, and by biting the press-fit protrusions 230b into the housing main body 21, the first main body portion 230 is press-fitted into the first space S3. And in a state where the first main body portion 230 is press-fitted (inserted) into the first space S3, the contact portion 230a is arranged within the fitting space S5.

[0168] In addition, in the present embodiment, the first leg portion 231 extends downward (toward the circuit board 2A: member to be connected) from the rear end portion of the first main body portion 230. Specifically, the first leg portion 231 has a bent shape like a crank, and the lower end is positioned behind the first main body portion 230. Thus, in the present embodiment, the first leg portion 231 extends in the housing thickness direction (vertical axis) from the first main body portion 230 in a state where the first main body portion 230 is press-fitted (inserted) into the first space S3. And the first mounting piece 232 is connected to the lower end of the first leg portion 231.

[0169] On the other hand, the upper receptacle terminal 24 also has conductivity and is arranged in a plurality in parallel in the left-right axis (the extending direction of the Y axis) of the receptacle housing 20. As shown in FIG. 19, the upper receptacle terminal 24 is formed in a thin plate shape and is press-fitted (inserted) into the second space S4 formed in the housing main body 21 with the plate thickness direction substantially coinciding with the left-right axis (the extending direction of the Y axis) from the rear. Such an upper receptacle terminal 24 can also be formed, for example, by punching a thin plate metal.

[0170] In addition, the upper receptacle terminal 24 includes a second main body portion (the mating main body portion) 240 that is press-fitted (inserted) into the second space S4. Further, the upper receptacle terminal 24 includes a second leg portion (the mating leg portion) 241 that extends from the second main body portion 240 toward the mounting surface 21aA in a state where the upper receptacle terminal 24 is mounted on the circuit board (the member to be connected) 2A. Also, the upper receptacle terminal 24 includes a second mounting piece (the mating connection portion) 242 that is connected to the second leg portion 241 and can be mounted on the circuit board 2A.

[0171] And at the front end of the second main body portion 240, a substantially rod-shaped contact portion (the mating contact portion) 240a is formed to protrude forward. Also, press-fitting protrusions 240b are formed at the upper and lower ends of the second main body portion 240, and by causing the press-fitting protrusions 240b to bite into the housing main body 21, the second main body portion 240 is press-fitted into the second space S4. And in a state where the second main body portion 240 is press-fitted (inserted) into the second space S4, the contact portion 240a is arranged within the fitting space S5.

[0172] Also, in the present embodiment, the second leg portion 241 extends substantially linearly downward (toward the circuit board 2A: the member to be connected: the member to be mounted) from the rear end portion of the second main body portion 240. Thus, in the present embodiment, the second leg portion 241 extends in the housing thickness direction (the vertical axis) from the second main body portion 240 in a state where it is press-fitted (inserted) into the second space S4. The length of the second leg portion 241 in the vertical axis is longer than that of the first leg portion 231. And the second mounting piece 242 is connected to the lower end of the second leg portion 241.

[0173] Thus, in the present embodiment, the second mounting piece (the mounting portion) 242 is connected to the second leg portion 241 so as to protrude forward (one side) in the front-rear axis (X axis: the insertion direction of the main body portion into the space). Also, the first mounting piece 232 is connected to the first leg portion 231 so as to protrude rearward (the other side) in the front-rear axis (X axis: the insertion direction of the main body portion into the space).

[0174] With a plurality of receptacle terminals held in the receptacle housing 20, the mounting portions (connection portions: the first mounting piece 232 and the second mounting piece 242) are arranged in a staggered pattern.

[0175] Furthermore, with the second main body portion 240 inserted into the second space S4, the second mounting piece 242 is configured to be received in a recess 212a formed at the rear end portion of the bottom wall 212. On the other hand, with the first main body portion 230 inserted into the first space S3, the first mounting piece 232 is positioned behind the insertion opening S3a of the first space S3.

[0176] Accordingly, in a plan view of the state where the plurality of receptacle terminals 23, 24 are held in the receptacle housing 20 and mounted on the circuit board 2A, the second mounting piece 242 will overlap with the receptacle housing 20. On the other hand, in a plan view of the state where the plurality of receptacle terminals 23, 24 are held in the receptacle housing 20 and mounted on the circuit board 2A, the first mounting piece 232 will be exposed from the receptacle housing 20.

[0177] That is, when the receptacle housing 20 is viewed along the normal direction of the mounting surface 21aA with the receptacle connector 2 mounted on the circuit board 2A, one of the first mounting piece 232 and the second mounting piece 242 (mounting portion) overlaps with the receptacle housing 20.

[0178] In this way, in the present embodiment, with the plurality of receptacle terminals 23, 24 held in the receptacle housing 20, the mounting portions (connection portions: the first mounting piece 232 and the second mounting piece 242) are arranged in a staggered pattern on both sides sandwiching the insertion opening (rear edge) of the space.

[0179] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, at the completion position of press-fitting (inserting) the first main body portion 230 into the first space S3, the first leg portion 231 is held between the ridges 214a in a state where movement in the left-right axis (Y-axis; plate thickness direction) is restricted. That is, the ridge 214a formed on the rear wall 214 of the housing main body 21 functions as a leg holding portion for holding the first leg portion 231. In this way, the receptacle connector 2 is connected to the receptacle housing 20 and includes a leg holding portion for holding the first leg portion 231. In the present embodiment, the leg holding portion is integrally formed with the receptacle housing 20. Note that a leg holding portion may be formed by connecting a member separate from the receptacle housing 20 to the receptacle housing 20.

[0180] Also, at the completion position of press-fitting (inserting) the second main body portion 240 into the second space S4, the second leg portion 241 is held between the ridges 214a in a state where movement in the left-right axis (Y-axis; plate thickness direction) is restricted. That is, the ridge 214a formed on the rear wall 214 of the housing main body 21 also functions as a leg holding portion for holding the second leg portion 241. In this way, the receptacle connector 2 is connected to the receptacle housing 20 and includes a leg holding portion for holding the second leg portion 241. In the present embodiment, the leg holding portion is also integrally formed with the receptacle housing 20, but it may be formed separately.

[0181] By doing so, when the first and second main body portions 230 and 240 of the receptacle terminals 23 and 24 are press-fitted (inserted) into the first and second spaces S3 and S4, deformation of the first and second leg portions 231 and 241 is suppressed.

[0182] As described above, in the present embodiment, the receptacle connector 2 includes a receptacle housing 20 having a mating internal space (fitting space S5) capable of accommodating the plug housing 10, receptacle terminals (lower receptacle terminal 23, upper receptacle terminal 24) capable of being electrically connected to plug terminals (lower plug terminal 13, upper plug terminal 14), and a lock portion insertion portion (locked portion) 22 that engages with the lock portion 12.

[0183] When the above-described plug connector 1 is mated with the receptacle connector 2 configured as described above by relatively moving the plug connector 1 along the longitudinal axis with respect to the receptacle connector 2, the lock portion 12 of the plug housing 10 is inserted into the lock portion insertion portion 22 of the receptacle housing 20, and the housing body 11 is inserted into the fitting space S5.

[0184] At this time, the engaging protrusion 121b of the lever portion 121 is pressed downward by the top wall 211 of the receptacle housing 20. In this way, when the engaging protrusion 121b is pressed downward by the top wall 211, the rear end portion (operation portion 121a) of the lever portion 121 elastically deforms so as to move downward, and the engaging protrusion 121b can move to the inner side of the lock portion insertion portion 22.

[0185] When the engaging protrusion 121b is moved to the inner side of the lock portion insertion portion 22, the pressing of the engaging protrusion 121b downward by the top wall 211 is released, and the engaging protrusion 121b moves upward due to the elastic restoring force of the lever portion 121. Then, when the engaging protrusion 121b moves upward, it engages with the engaging concave portion 221a formed in the receptacle connector 2, and the plug connector 1 and the receptacle connector 2 are locked in a mated state.

[0186] Also, during the process of fitting the plug connector 1 into the receptacle connector 2, the tip of the contact portion 230a of the lower receptacle terminal 23 is introduced into the first space S1 formed in the plug housing 10 from the introduction port S1b and contacts the contact portion 130a of the lower plug terminal 13. In this embodiment, the substantially rod-shaped contact portion 230a is inserted between the pair of contact pieces 138, 138 and is clamped by the pair of contact pieces 138, 138, thereby electrically connecting the lower plug terminal 13 and the lower receptacle terminal 23 in a conductive manner.

[0187] Similarly, the tip of the contact portion 240a of the upper receptacle terminal 24 is introduced into the second space S2 formed in the plug housing 10 from the introduction port S2b and contacts the contact portion 140a of the upper plug terminal 14. In this embodiment, the substantially rod-shaped contact portion 240a is inserted between the pair of contact pieces 148, 148 and is clamped by the pair of contact pieces 148, 148, thereby electrically connecting the upper plug terminal 14 and the upper receptacle terminal 24 in a conductive manner.

[0188] In this way, by fitting the plug connector 1 into the receptacle connector 2 and electrically connecting the plug terminals 13, 14 and the receptacle terminals 23, 24 in a conductive manner respectively, a connector device C1 is formed that electrically connects the cable 1A and the circuit board 2A.

[0189] On one hand, when removing the plug connector 1 from the receptacle connector 2, first, press down the operation part 121a of the lever part 121 to move the lever part 121 downward. By doing so, the engaging protrusion 121b also moves downward, and the engagement between the engaging protrusion 121b and the engaging recess 221a is released. Then, when pulling the plug connector 1 in the removal direction with respect to the receptacle connector 2 in the state where the engagement between the engaging protrusion 121b and the engaging recess 221a is released, the plug connector 1 will relatively move in the removal direction with respect to the receptacle connector 2. In this way, when the plug connector 1 is relatively moved in the removal direction with respect to the receptacle connector 2, first, the electrical connection between the terminals is released, and then the fitting between the housings is released. Thus, the plug connector 1 is removed from the receptacle connector 2.

[0190] Here, in the present embodiment, the connector device C1 can fit a plug connector and a receptacle connector that correspond to each other, but has a key code structure to prevent a non-corresponding plug connector from being fitted to the receptacle connector.

[0191] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 20, the plug housing 10 of the plug connector 1 is provided with a cord protrusion 17, and the receptacle housing 20 of the receptacle connector 2 is provided with a cord recess S9 capable of accommodating the cord protrusion 17. The cord recess S9 capable of accommodating the cord protrusion 17 is formed at a position corresponding to the cord protrusion 17 on the upper inner surface S5b of the fitting space (the mating-side internal space) S5.

[0192] And even in the case of having such a key code structure, a sufficient adsorption area for adsorption by mounting equipment such as a robot arm can be secured on the plug housing 10.

[0193] Specifically, a flat surface 16 extending in a substantially horizontal direction is formed on the upper surface 10a of the plug housing 10. And a cord projection 17 is formed on this flat surface 16 so as to project upward.

[0194] In the present embodiment, the inner side of the left - right axis of the flat surface 16 is defined by the inner guide projection 1111, and the outer side of the left - right axis is defined by the outer guide projection 1112. Further, the rear side of the front - rear axis of the flat surface 16 is defined by the rear side protruding wall 1113. In the present embodiment, the flat surface 16 is formed to be open in front of the front - rear axis. That is, the flat surface 16 is defined by the inner guide projection 1111, the outer guide projection 1112, and the rear side protruding wall 1113 on three sides, and is substantially rectangular in plan view (see FIGS. 21 and 22).

[0195] And the inner guide projection 1111, the outer guide projection 1112, and the rear side protruding wall 1113 are formed one by one on both sides of the left - right axis with the lock region (recess 11a) where the lock portion 12 is formed in between. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a pair of flat surfaces 16 are formed on both sides of the left - right axis with the lock region (recess 11a) in between.

[0196] Thus, in the present embodiment, on the upper surface 10a of the plug housing 10, a lock region (recess 11a) and a pair of flat surfaces 16 adjacent to the left - right axis are formed. And each flat surface 16 has, around it, a front end 161 located at the foremost end in the front, a rear end 162 located on the rear side of the front end 161 and defined by the rear side protruding wall 1113, an inner end 163 located on the lock region side on the left - right axis and defined by the inner guide projection 1111, and an outer end 164 located outside the inner end 163 on the left - right axis and defined by the outer guide projection 1112.

[0197] And one code projection 17 is formed on each flat surface 16. In the present embodiment, the code projections 17 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape are formed on the respective flat surfaces 16. Therefore, in the present embodiment, each code projection 17 has a front end surface 171 located at the front, a rear end surface 172 located at the rear, an inner end surface 173 located inside the left - right axis, and an outer end surface 174 located outside the left - right axis.

[0198] Here, in the present embodiment, the code projections 17 are formed in a state where the region adsorbed by mounting equipment such as a robot arm is formed on the flat surface 16. Specifically, the flat surface 16 is present at least on either the front or the rear of the code projection 17.

[0199] In the present embodiment, the code projections 17 are formed such that the flat surfaces 16 exist on both the front and rear sides. That is, the length L1 of the first interval D1 between the front end surface 171 of the code projection 17 and the front end 161 of the flat surface 16 is greater than zero, and the length L2 of the second interval D2 between the rear end surface 172 of the code projection 17 and the rear end 162 of the flat surface 16 is also greater than zero.

[0200] In the present embodiment, the code projection 17 is formed at the center of the left - right axis of the flat surface 16, and the flat surfaces 16 also exist on both sides of the left - right axis of the code projection 17.

[0201] Furthermore, the length L1 of the first interval D1 between the front end surface 171 of the code projection 17 and the front end 161 of the flat surface 16 is made different from the length L2 of the second interval D2 between the rear end surface 172 of the code projection 17 and the rear end 162 of the flat surface 16. Specifically, the length L1 of the first interval D1 between the front end surface 171 of the code projection 17 and the front end 161 of the flat surface 16 is made shorter than the length L2 of the second interval D2 between the rear end surface 172 of the code projection 17 and the rear end 162 of the flat surface 16.

[0202] As described above, in this embodiment, the connector device C1 has a key code structure for enabling the mating of the plug connector 1 and the receptacle connector 2 that correspond to each other, while preventing the mating of a non-corresponding plug connector 1 with the receptacle connector 2.

[0203] A flat surface 16 is provided on the upper surface 10a of the plug housing 10, and a code projection 17 is provided at a position biased to one side of the longitudinal axis on this flat surface 16.

[0204] By doing so, an adsorption region R1 that is flat over the entire area between the inner end 163 and the outer end 164 is formed on the side of the second interval D2 (behind the code projection 17) where the length of the first interval D1 and the second interval D2 on the flat surface 16 is longer. In this way, it becomes possible to provide an adsorption region R1 with a relatively large area around the code projection 17, and even when having a configuration with a key code structure, an adsorption region R1 can be secured on the plug housing 10.

[0205] Particularly, when aiming to reduce the size of the connector device C1, it becomes difficult to secure an adsorption region on the plug housing 10. However, with the connector device C1 shown in this embodiment, even when having a configuration with a key code structure while aiming to reduce the size of the connector device C1, an adsorption region R1 can be secured on the plug housing 10.

[0206] Further, if the length L1 of the first interval D1 is made shorter than the length L2 of the second interval D2, it becomes possible to determine whether or not the corresponding plug connector 1 and receptacle connector 2 are engaged with each other at the initial stage of inserting the plug housing 1 into the receptacle housing 2. As a result, the fitting operation between the plug connector 1 and the receptacle connector 2 can be made smoother, and the workability of fitting the plug connector 1 and the receptacle connector 2 can be further improved. Further, if it becomes possible to determine whether or not the corresponding plug connector 1 and receptacle connector 2 are engaged with each other at the initial stage of inserting the plug housing 1 into the receptacle housing 2, it becomes easy to design the connector device C1 so that the plug terminal and the receptacle terminal are not electrically connected (contacted) at the stage when it is found that the non-corresponding plug connector 1 has been inserted into the receptacle connector 2. By doing so, it becomes possible to more reliably suppress wear between the plug terminal and the receptacle terminal, and it becomes possible to more reliably improve the connection reliability of the terminals.

[0207] Furthermore, if the length L1 of the first interval D1 is made larger than zero, it becomes possible to determine whether or not the corresponding plug connector 1 and receptacle connector 2 are engaged with each other in a state where the tip of the plug housing 10 is inserted into the receptacle housing 20. By doing so, it is no longer necessary to simultaneously determine whether or not the plug housing 10 can be inserted into the receptacle housing 20 and whether or not the corresponding plug connector 1 and receptacle connector 2 are engaged with each other.

[0208] For example, if the length L1 of the first interval D1 is set to zero, it becomes necessary to simultaneously determine whether or not the plug housing 10 can be inserted into the receptacle housing 20 and whether or not the corresponding plug connector 1 and receptacle connector 2 are engaged with each other.

[0209] In this case, although the correct plug connector 1 is selected, it is difficult to determine whether it is a situation where it cannot be fitted into the receptacle connector 2 due to misalignment or the like, or a situation where the wrong plug connector 1 is selected and thus cannot be fitted into the receptacle connector 2. Therefore, there is a risk of misjudging that it is a situation where the wrong plug connector 1 is selected but the correct plug connector 1 cannot be properly inserted while being selected. And if such a misjudgment is made, there is a risk that the plug housing 10 or the receptacle housing 20 will be damaged when trying to force the plug housing 10 into the receptacle housing 20.

[0210] On the other hand, as in this embodiment, if it is determined whether the correct plug connector 1 is selected with the plug housing 10 inserted into the receptacle housing 20, it is possible to avoid misjudging that the correct plug connector 1 is selected but it cannot be fitted into the receptacle connector 2 due to misalignment or the like. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent the plug housing 10 or the receptacle housing 20 from being damaged when trying to force the plug housing 10 into the receptacle housing 20. By doing so, the fitting operation between the plug connector 1 and the receptacle connector 2 can be made smoother, and the workability of fitting the plug connector 1 and the receptacle connector 2 can be further improved.

[0211] Note that such a technique (making the length L1 of the first interval D1 greater than zero) is particularly effective when it becomes difficult to insert the plug housing 10 into the receptacle housing 20 by reducing the size of the connector device C1.

[0212] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as described above, a pair of flat surfaces 16 are formed on both sides of the left - right axis with the lock region (recess 11a) therebetween, and one code projection 17 is formed on each of the flat surfaces 16. And, behind each code projection 17, an adsorption region R1 that is flat across the entire area between the inner end 163 and the outer end 164 is formed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the adsorption region R1 has a first adsorption region R11 formed on one side of the left - right axis with respect to the lock region (recess 11a) and a second adsorption region R12 formed on the other side of the left - right axis with respect to the lock region (recess 11a).

[0213] And, in the present embodiment, the center of gravity G of the plug connector 1 is positioned between the first adsorption region R11 and the second adsorption region R12 in a plan view.

[0214] By doing so, the plug connector 1 can be moved more stably by mounting equipment such as a robot arm, and the workability of mounting the plug connector 1 to the cable (member to be connected) 1A can be further improved.

[0215] And, a connector device having such a key - code structure can be formed in a plurality of types, for example, by deforming the shape of the code projection 17 or changing the position of the code projection 17.

[0216] For example, by changing the position of the code projection 17, it is possible to obtain a connector device C2 shown in FIGS. 23 to 27 separately from the connector device C1.

[0217] The connector device C2 also includes the plug connector 1 and the receptacle connector 2, and is the same as the connector device C1 in other configurations except that the positions of the code projection 17 and the code recess S9 are different from those of the connector device C1.

[0218] In the connector device C2 shown in FIGS. 23 to 27, the cord projection 17 is formed at a position shifted inward of the left - right axis. Specifically, the cord projection 17 is formed so as to be connected to the inner end 163 of the flat surface 16. By doing so, a horizontal region R2 that is continuous with the adsorption region R1 and is flat over the entire area between the cord projection 17 and the outer end 164 is formed on the flat surface 16.

[0219] In this way, a larger - area adsorption region (adsorption region R1 and horizontal region R2) can be secured on the plug housing 10, improving the workability of mounting the cable (member to be connected) 1A of the plug connector 1. Also, it becomes possible to easily visually confirm whether the correct plug connector 1 is selected, so that it is possible to more reliably prevent the selection of the wrong plug connector 1.

[0220] Also, by changing the position of the cord projection 17, it is possible to obtain a connector device C3 shown in FIGS. 28 to 32, which is different from the connector device C1 and the connector device C2.

[0221] The connector device C3 also includes the plug connector 1 and the receptacle connector 2. The positions of the cord projection 17 and the cord recess S9 are different from those of the connector device C1, but other configurations are the same as those of the connector device C1.

[0222] In the connector device C3 shown in FIGS. 28 to 32, the cord projection 17 is formed at a position shifted outward of the left - right axis. Specifically, the cord projection 17 is formed so as to be connected to the outer end 164 of the flat surface 16. By doing so, a horizontal region R2 that is continuous with the adsorption region R1 and is flat over the entire area between the cord projection 17 and the inner end 163 is formed on the flat surface 16.

[0223] By doing so, it becomes possible to secure a larger adsorption area (adsorption area R1 and lateral area R2) on the plug housing 10, and the workability of mounting the cable (member to be connected) 1A of the plug connector 1 can be further improved. Also, it becomes possible to easily visually confirm whether the correct plug connector 1 is selected, so that it becomes possible to more reliably prevent the selection of the wrong plug connector 1.

[0224] And if a plurality of types of connector devices in which cord projections 17 having the same shape are formed at different positions are prepared, it becomes possible to prevent a different type of plug connector 1 (non-corresponding plug connector 1) from being fitted to a certain type of receptacle connector 2. That is, it becomes possible for each connector device to have a different key code structure.

[0225] Therefore, for example, when using two or more connector devices with the same number of cores on a single substrate 2A, it is preferable to prevent misfitting by mounting connector devices having different key code structures on a single substrate 2A.

[0226] For example, as shown in FIG. 33, when the mounting structure K1 of the connector device on the substrate is a structure in which two connector devices are mounted on a single substrate 2A, one connector device can be designated as connector device C1 and the other connector device can be designated as connector device C2. Note that the two connector devices mounted on a single substrate 2A may be connector device C1 and connector device C3, or may be connector device C2 and connector device C3.

[0227] Thus, if two connector devices mounted on a single substrate 2A are made into connector devices (connector device C1 and connector device C2) having different key code structures, as shown in FIG. 34, when the plug connector 1 of connector device C1 is fitted into the receptacle connector 2 of connector device C2, the code projection 17 interferes with the receptacle housing 20, and the plug connector 1 cannot be moved further to the back side.

[0228] Therefore, it becomes possible to more easily determine that an incorrect plug connector 1 has been selected.

[0229] Note that the length L1 of the first interval D1 and the length L2 of the second interval D2 formed on the flat surface 16 when forming the code projection 17 can be set as appropriate.

[0230] For example, as shown in FIGS. 35 to 39, it is also possible to use a connector device C4 in which the code projection 17 is formed so that the length L1 of the first interval D1 becomes zero.

[0231] This connector device C4 also includes a plug connector 1 and a receptacle connector 2, and except that the position of the front-rear axis of the code projection 17 is different from that of the connector device C1, the other configurations are the same as those of the connector device C1.

[0232] In FIGS. 35 to 39, an example is shown in which the code projection 17 formed on the plug connector 1 used in the connector device C1 is translated in parallel along the front-rear axis to the front end, but it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the code projection 17 formed on the plug connector 1 used in the connector devices C2 and C3 is translated in parallel along the front-rear axis to the front end.

[0233] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as described above, the lock regions (recesses 11a) formed in the connector devices C1 to C4 are held so as to be slidable along the longitudinal axis on the plug connector 1, and an insertion space S6 is provided into which a slide member 3 that can confirm the completion of the fitting between the plug connector 1 and the receptacle connector 2 is inserted. That is, the plug connector 1 is configured such that the slide member 3 is slidably held thereon.

[0234] When the fitting of the plug connector 1 to the receptacle connector 2 is not completed, the slide member 3 is slidably attached to the plug connector 1 so that the slide movement from the initial position as the first position to the slide completion position as the second position is restricted. Note that the first position and the second position can be set as appropriate.

[0235] When the fitting of the plug connector 1 to the receptacle connector 2 is completed, the slide movement from the initial position to the slide completion position is allowed. With such a configuration, it is possible to confirm the completion of the fitting between the plug connector 1 and the receptacle connector 2 by the slide of the slide member 3 from the initial position to the slide completion position.

[0236] Therefore, it is also possible to have a connector device C5 in which the mounting structure K1 of the connector device on the substrate has a Connector Position Assurance (CPA) function and the slide member 3 functions as a CPA member.

[0237] Although FIGS. 40 to 49 illustrate an example in which the slide member 3 is slidably held on the plug connector 1 used in the connector device C1, the slide member 3 can also be slidably held on the plug connectors 1 used in the connector devices C2 to C4 in the same manner.

[0238] [Configuration Example of Slide Member 3] Next, an example of the configuration of the slide member 3 will be described based on FIGS. 41 and 42.

[0239] The slide member 3 includes a substantially rectangular plate-shaped main body portion 31, and a handle 31a is formed on the upper portion of the main body portion 31.

[0240] Also, on both sides of the left and right axis at the lower portion of the main body portion 31, a pair of lower arm portions 32 are continuously provided so as to extend forward of the front and rear axis. The pair of lower arm portions 32 are continuously provided to the main body portion 31 in a cantilever state, and are formed so as to be elastically deformable in the left and right axis. At the tip (front end) of the lower arm portion 32, a locking protrusion (anti-disengagement portion) 32a is formed so as to protrude outside the left and right axis.

[0241] On the other hand, on both sides of the left and right axis at the upper portion of the main body portion 31, a pair of upper arm portions 33 are continuously provided so as to extend forward of the front and rear axis. The pair of upper arm portions 33 are continuously provided to the main body portion 31 in a cantilever state, and are formed so as to be elastically deformable in the up and down axis (a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the terminal). In the present embodiment, the pair of upper arm portions 33 are formed such that the base side (the side continuously provided to the main body portion 31) is wider. And at the tip (front end) of the upper arm portion 33, an engaging protrusion (engaging portion) 33b is formed so as to protrude upward.

[0242] Also, at a substantially central portion of the front and rear axis of the upper arm portion 33, a protrusion 33a protruding upward is formed.

[0243] And at the center of the left and right axis at the lower portion of the main body portion 31, a regulating protrusion (regulating portion) 31b extending forward and upward is formed.

[0244] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a protrusion 32b protruding upward is formed at the tip (front end) of the lower arm portion 32, and the thickness of the lower arm portion 32 at the vertical axis of the tip is made larger than the gap (maximum distance in the vertical axis) between the lower arm portion 32 and the upper arm portion 33. That is, in the slide member 3 of the present embodiment, the protrusion 32b is formed at the tip of the lower arm portion 32. And the thickness of the lower arm portion 32 at the site where the protrusion 32b is formed is made larger than the gap (maximum distance in the vertical axis) between the lower arm portion 32 and the upper arm portion 33. Also, a protrusion 33c protruding downward is formed at the tip (front end) of the upper arm portion 33, and the thickness of the upper arm portion 33 at the vertical axis of the tip is made larger than the gap (maximum distance in the vertical axis) between the lower arm portion 32 and the upper arm portion 33. That is, in the slide member 3 of the present embodiment, the protrusion 33c is formed at the tip of the upper arm portion 33. And the thickness of the upper arm portion 33 at the site where the protrusion 33c is formed is made larger than the gap (maximum distance in the vertical axis) between the lower arm portion 32 and the upper arm portion 33. At this time, the lower arm portion 32 is formed such that its tip protrudes forward more than the tip of the upper arm portion 33, so that the protrusion 33c and the protrusion 32b do not interfere when the upper arm portion 33 is elastically deformed in the vertical axis.

[0245] Furthermore, the width of the tip side of the lower arm portion 32 protruding forward is also made larger than the gap (maximum distance in the vertical axis) between the lower arm portion 32 and the upper arm portion 33.

[0246] By doing so, it is possible to prevent the lower arm portion 32 or the upper arm portion 33 of another slide member 3 from being inserted into the gap between the lower arm portion 32 and the upper arm portion 33 of the slide member 3 and the arm portions from getting entangled. Thus, the slide member 3 according to the present embodiment is configured to be able to suppress the entanglement of the arm portions without interfering with the elastic deformation of the upper arm portion 33 in the vertical axis.

[0247] Next, an example of the operation of the slide member 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 43 to 49.

[0248] As described above, in this embodiment, this slide member 3 functions as a CPA member. That is, the slide member 3 is slidably attached to the plug housing 10 so that the slide movement from the initial position (first position) to the slide completion position (first position) is restricted in a state where the fitting of the plug housing 10 into the receptacle housing 20 is not completed. And when the fitting of the plug housing 10 into the receptacle housing 20 is completed, it is configured to allow the slide movement from the initial position to the slide completion position.

[0249] Specifically, the slide member 3 is inserted into the insertion space S6 with the tip of the lower arm portion 32 bent inward of the left - right axis. At this time, the tip of the upper arm portion 33 is also inserted into the insertion space S6.

[0250] Then, with the tips of the lower arm portion 32 and the upper arm portion 33 inserted into the insertion space S6, when the slide member 3 is moved forward (inserted) by a predetermined amount, the tip of the lower arm portion 32 moves forward of the step portion 1111b formed on the inner guide protrusion 1111 that defines the concave portion 11a. In this way, when the tip of the lower arm portion 32 moves forward of the step portion 1111b, the lower arm portion 32 moves in a direction of opening from each other (outward of the left - right axis) due to the elastic restoring force, and the locking protrusion 32a of the lower arm portion 32 is locked to the step portion 1111b. Thus, the slide member 3 is slidably held (temporarily held) by the plug housing 10 in a state where detachment from the housing body 11 is suppressed (see FIG. 46).

[0251] Note that in a state where the locking protrusion 32a of the lower arm portion 32 is locked to the step portion 1111b, the upper arm portion 33 is arranged such that the protrusion 33a is behind the restricting protrusion (slide restricting portion) 1114 and faces the restricting protrusion (slide restricting portion) 1114 (see FIG. 47).

[0252] Therefore, when attempting to slide the slide member 3 forward with the slide member 3 temporarily held by the plug housing 10 not fitted to the receptacle housing 20, since the protrusion 33a of the upper arm portion 33 abuts against the regulating protrusion 1114, further forward movement of the slide member 3 is restricted.

[0253] In the present embodiment, with such a configuration, when the fitting of the plug housing 10 to the receptacle housing 20 is not completed, the slide member 3 cannot be slid from the initial position to the slide completion position. In the present embodiment, the state where the locking protrusion 32a of the lower arm portion 32 is locked to the stepped portion 1111b is defined as the initial position of the slide member 3.

[0254] Then, when the plug housing 10 with the slide member 3 temporarily held is fitted to the receptacle housing 20, during the period from the start of fitting to the completion of fitting, the engaging protrusion 33b of the upper arm portion 33 abuts against the protrusion 211c of the top wall 211 and is pushed downward. And in the state where the fitting of the plug housing 10 and the receptacle housing 20 is completed, the tip of the engaging protrusion 33b abuts against the lower surface of the protrusion 211c, and the upper arm portion 33 is in a state of being bent downward. At this time, the protrusion 33a of the upper arm portion 33 also moves downward and is positioned below the regulating protrusion (slide regulating portion) 1114 (see FIG. 48).

[0255] Therefore, when the plug housing 10 is fitted to the receptacle housing 20, the regulation of the forward movement of the protrusion 33a by the regulating protrusion 1114 is released, and thus the slide member 3 can be slid forward. Thus, in the present embodiment, the upper arm portion 33 that can be elastically deformed vertically and the protrusion 33a formed on the upper arm portion 33 so as to be able to abut against the regulating protrusion 1114 function as a slide lock mechanism.

[0256] Then, by sliding the slide member 3 forward and locking the engaging protrusion 33b of the upper arm portion 33 to the front end of the protrusion 211c of the top wall 211, the plug housing 10 and the receptacle housing 20 are also locked in a fitted state by this slide member 3 (see Fig. 49). In this embodiment, the state where the engaging protrusion 33b of the upper arm portion 33 is locked to the front end of the protrusion 211c of the top wall 211 is defined as the slide completion position (completion position: second position) of the slide member 3.

[0257] By doing so, the connector device C5 is doubly locked by the lever portion 121 and the slide member 3.

[0258] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the slide member 3 is slid to the slide completion position (completion position), the regulating protrusion (regulating portion) 31b is inserted into the deflection allowance space S7. Then, the downward movement of the lever portion 121 is regulated by the regulating protrusion 31b inserted into the deflection allowance space S7. At this time, it is preferable to set the upward protrusion amount of the regulating protrusion 31b such that the engaging protrusion 121b and the engaging recess 221a are engaged even when the lever portion 121 abuts against the regulating protrusion 31b. In this way, the lock by the lever portion 121 cannot be released unless the lock by the slide member 3 is released, and the locked state can be maintained more reliably.

[0259] When releasing the fitting of the connector device C5 doubly locked by the lever portion 121 and the slide member 3, first, the slide member 3 at the slide completion position is slid back to the initial position. In this embodiment, by strongly pulling the slide member 3 backward (toward the initial position side), the locking between the engaging protrusion 33b and the protrusion 211c is released. Therefore, for example, if an operator or the like grips the handle 31a and strongly pulls the slide member 3 backward, the slide member 3 will slide back to the initial position.

[0260] In this way, by sliding the slide member 3 to the initial position, the restriction on the downward movement of the lever portion 121 is released, and the lock by the lever portion 121 can be released.

[0261] Then, by performing the removal operation of the plug connector 1 from the receptacle connector 2 of the plug connector 1 described above, the plug connector 1 will be removed from the receptacle connector 2.

[0262] Even with such a connector device C5, when it has a key code structure, an adsorption region can be secured on the plug housing 10.

[0263] (Appendix) From the description of the above embodiments, the following technology is disclosed.

[0264] (Technology 1) A plug connector and a receptacle connector capable of fitting the plug connector by relatively moving it along the front-rear axis with respect to the plug connector, the plug connector having a plug housing having an upper surface and a lower surface respectively located above and below the vertical axis, a plug terminal accommodated in the internal space of the plug housing with a part exposed from the rear of the front-rear axis, and a lock portion capable of restricting relative movement of the plug connector along the front-rear axis with respect to the receptacle connector in a state where the plug connector and the receptacle connector are fitted together; the receptacle connector having a receptacle housing having a mating internal space capable of accommodating the plug housing, a receptacle terminal capable of being electrically connected to the plug terminal, and a locked portion engaged with the lock portion; the plug housing having a flat surface formed on the upper surface, a cord projection protruding upward from the flat surface, and a lock region formed adjacent to the flat surface on the left-right axis and having the lock portion; the receptacle housing having a cord recess formed on the upper inner surface of the mating internal space and capable of accommodating the cord projection; the flat surface having a front end located at the frontmost end, a rear end located behind the front end, an inner end located on the lock region side on the left-right axis, and an outer end located outside the left-right axis relative to the inner end; the cord projection having a front end face located in the front and a rear end face located in the rear; the length of a first interval between the front end face of the cord projection and the front end of the flat surface being different from the length of a second interval between the rear end face of the cord projection and the rear end of the flat surface; and an adsorption region that is flat over the entire area between the inner end and the outer end being formed in the region of the flat surface where the length of the first interval and the second interval is longer. A connector device.

[0265] Thus, the connector device of Technology 1 is a device having a key code structure for enabling mating of a corresponding plug connector and receptacle connector with each other, but preventing mating of a non-corresponding plug connector with the receptacle connector.

[0266] Then, a flat surface is provided on the upper surface of the plug housing, and a cord protrusion is provided at a position biased to one side of the longitudinal axis on this flat surface. By doing so, it becomes possible to provide a relatively large adsorption area around the cord protrusion.

[0267] Therefore, in the case of the connector device of Technology 1, even when having a configuration with a key code structure, it becomes possible to secure an adsorption area on the plug housing.

[0268] In particular, when aiming to miniaturize the connector device, it becomes difficult to secure an adsorption area on the plug housing. However, in the case of the connector device of Technology 1, even when having a configuration with a key code structure while aiming to miniaturize the connector device, it becomes possible to secure an adsorption area on the plug housing.

[0269] (Technology 2) The connector device according to Technology 1, wherein the length of the first interval is shorter than the length of the second interval.

[0270] By doing so, at the initial stage of inserting the plug housing into the receptacle housing, it becomes possible to determine whether the corresponding plug connector and receptacle connector are fitted to each other. As a result, it becomes possible to make the fitting operation of the plug connector and the receptacle connector smoother, and it becomes possible to further improve the fitting workability of the plug connector and the receptacle connector.

[0271] (Technology 3) The connector device according to Technology 1 or Technology 2, wherein the adsorption area has a first adsorption area formed on one side of the lateral axis with respect to the lock area and a second adsorption area formed on the other side of the lateral axis with respect to the lock area, and the center of gravity of the plug connector is located between the first adsorption area and the second adsorption area in a plan view.

[0272] By doing so, it becomes possible to move the plug connector more stably by means of mounting equipment such as a robot arm. As a result, it becomes possible to further improve the workability of mounting the plug connector to the member to be connected.

[0273] (Technique 4) The connector device according to any one of Techniques 1 to 3, wherein the length of the first interval is greater than zero.

[0274] By doing so, it becomes possible to determine whether or not the corresponding plug connector and receptacle connector are mated with each other with the tip of the plug housing inserted into the receptacle housing. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to simultaneously determine whether or not the plug housing can be inserted into the receptacle housing and whether or not the corresponding plug connector and receptacle connector are mated with each other.

[0275] For example, if the length of the first interval is zero, it becomes necessary to simultaneously determine whether or not the plug housing can be inserted into the receptacle housing and whether or not the corresponding plug connector and receptacle connector are mated with each other.

[0276] In this case, although the correct plug connector is selected, it is difficult to determine whether it cannot be mated with the receptacle connector due to misalignment or the like, or whether it cannot be mated with the receptacle connector because the wrong plug connector is selected. Therefore, there is a risk of misinterpreting a situation where the wrong plug connector is selected and the correct plug connector is not properly inserted while being selected. And if such a misinterpretation occurs, there is a risk that the plug housing or the receptacle housing may be damaged by trying to force the plug housing into the receptacle housing.

[0277] On the other hand, if, like in Technique 4, it is determined whether the correct plug connector is selected with the plug housing inserted into the receptacle housing, it becomes possible to avoid misjudging a situation where the correct plug connector is selected but cannot be fitted to the receptacle connector due to misalignment or the like. As a result, it becomes possible to more reliably prevent the plug housing or the receptacle housing from being damaged by forcibly pushing the plug housing into the receptacle housing. By doing so, the fitting operation between the plug connector and the receptacle connector can be made smoother, and the workability of fitting the plug connector and the receptacle connector can be further improved.

[0278] Note that such a technique (configured as Technique 4) is particularly effective when it becomes difficult to insert the plug housing into the receptacle housing by reducing the size of the connector device.

[0279] (Technique 5) The cord protrusion is formed so as to be connected to the inner end or the outer end of the flat surface. A horizontal region that is flat is formed on the flat surface continuously with the adsorption region and extends over the entire area between the cord protrusion and the outer end or between the cord protrusion and the inner end. The connector device according to any one of Techniques 1 to 4.

[0280] By doing so, it becomes possible to secure a larger adsorption area on the plug housing, and the workability of mounting the plug connector to the member to be connected can be further improved. Also, it becomes possible to easily visually confirm whether the correct plug connector is selected, so that it becomes possible to more reliably prevent the selection of an incorrect plug connector.

[0281] (Technique 6) The plug terminal has a mounting portion that can be connected to a member to be connected below the plug housing, and the plug housing has a receiving recess in which the member to be connected is disposed at the lower end of the plug connector. The connector device according to any one of Techniques 1 to 5.

[0282] By doing so, even when a so-called horizontal type plug connector has a key code structure, an adsorption area can be secured on the plug housing.

[0283] (Technique 7) The lock area has an insertion space into which a slide member that is held so as to be slidable along the front-rear axis in the plug connector and can confirm the completion of the fitting between the plug connector and the receptacle connector is inserted. The connector device according to any one of Techniques 1 to 6.

[0284] By doing so, even when a connector device having a Connector Position Assurance (CPA) function has a key code structure, an adsorption area can be secured on the plug housing.

[0285] (Technique 8) A plug connector used in the connector device according to any one of Techniques 1 to 7.

[0286] By doing so, even when a plug connector having a key code structure is used, an adsorption area can be secured on the plug housing.

[0287] [Others] As described above, the contents of the connector device and the plug connector according to the present disclosure have been described. However, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to these descriptions, and various modifications and improvements are possible.

[0288] For example, the present disclosure can be applied to embodiments in which changes, replacements, additions, omissions, etc. are made to the configurations shown in the above-described embodiments and their modifications. It is also possible to combine the components described in the above-described embodiments and their modifications to form a new embodiment.

[0289] In the above-described embodiments and their modifications, an example is shown in which a plurality of terminals are arranged in two upper and lower stages. However, it is also possible to use a connector in which a plurality of terminals are arranged in three or more stages.

[0290] It is also possible to provide the code protrusions on the flat surface so that the length of the first interval is longer than the length of the second interval.

[0291] In the above-described embodiments and their modifications, an example is shown in which two types of connector devices are mounted on a single substrate. However, it is also possible to mount three or more types of connector devices on a single substrate. In this case, it is preferable to prepare (design) connector devices of types more than the types to be mounted on a single substrate.

[0292] The mounting structure of the connector device on the substrate can also be configured such that a connector device having a CPA function and a connector device not having a CPA function are mounted on a single substrate.

[0293] In the above-described embodiments and their modifications, an example is shown in which a connector device having an insertion space into which a slide member is inserted, that is, a connector device capable of having a CPA function, is used as a connector device not having a CPA function. However, as a connector device not having a CPA function, it is also possible to use a connector device not having an insertion space into which a slide member is inserted, that is, a connector device that cannot have a CPA function.

[0294] An example of a connector in which the shapes of the terminals arranged in the same stage are the same shape is shown. However, it is also possible to use a connector in which a plurality of types of terminals are arranged in the same stage.

[0295] In addition, in the above-described embodiment and its modifications, a so-called horizontal type receptacle connector has been exemplified. However, it is also possible to use a so-called vertical type receptacle connector in which the receptacle terminals are mounted on the mating substrate on the rear end side of the longitudinal axis of the receptacle housing.

[0296] In addition, the present disclosure may be applied to connectors (plug connectors and receptacle connectors) that electrically connect substrates or cables to each other. Further, the present disclosure may be applied to connectors (plug connectors and receptacle connectors) that electrically connect an electric wire and a substrate.

[0297] In addition, the housing (plug housing and receptacle housing), terminals (plug terminals and receptacle terminals), and other detailed specifications (shape, size, layout, etc.) can be appropriately changed.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0298] 1 Plug connector 10 Plug housing 10a Upper surface 10b Lower surface 11a Recess (lock region) 1123 Recess (accommodation recess) 12 Lock portion 13 Lower plug terminal (plug terminal) 14 Upper plug terminal (plug terminal) 16 Flat surface 161 Front end 162 Rear end 163 Inner end 164 Outer end 17 Code projection 171 Front end face 172 Rear end face 1A Cable (member to be connected) 2 Receptacle connector 20 Receptacle housing 22 Lock portion insertion portion (portion to be locked) 23 Lower receptacle terminal (receptacle terminal) 24 Upper receptacle terminal (receptacle terminal) 3 Slide member C1 Connector device C2 Connector device C3 Connector device C4 Connector device C5 Connector device D1 First interval (front side) D2 Second interval (rear side) G Center of gravity of the plug connector L1 Length of the first interval L2 Length of the second interval R1 Adsorption area R11 First adsorption area R12 Second adsorption area R2 Lateral area S1 First space (internal space) S2 Second space (internal space) S5 Fitting space (mate's internal space) S6 Insertion space S9 Cable recess

Claims

1. A plug connector, a receptacle connector capable of fitting the plug connector by relatively moving the plug connector along the front-rear axis, comprising: The plug connector includes: a plug housing having an upper surface and a lower surface respectively positioned above and below the vertical axis; a plug terminal accommodated in the internal space of the plug housing with a part exposed from the rear of the front-rear axis; a lock portion capable of restricting relative movement of the plug connector along the front-rear axis with respect to the receptacle connector in a state where the plug connector and the receptacle connector are fitted; comprising: The receptacle connector includes: a receptacle housing having a mating internal space capable of accommodating the plug housing; a receptacle terminal capable of being electrically connected to the plug terminal; a locked portion engaged with the lock portion; comprising: The plug housing includes: a flat surface formed on the upper surface; a cord protrusion protruding upward from the flat surface; a lock region formed adjacent to the flat surface on the left-right axis and having the lock portion; comprising: The receptacle housing includes a cord recess formed on the upper inner surface of the mating internal space and capable of accommodating the cord protrusion; The flat surface has a front end located at the foremost end in the front, a rear end located rearward of the front end, an inner end located on the lock region side on the left-right axis, and an outer end located outside the left-right axis of the inner end; The cord protrusion has a front end surface located in the front and a rear end surface located in the rear; The length of a first interval between the front end surface of the cord protrusion and the front end of the flat surface is different from the length of a second interval between the rear end surface of the cord protrusion and the rear end of the flat surface; An adsorption region that is flat across the whole between the inner end and the outer end is formed in a region with a longer length of the first interval and the second interval on the flat surface; A connector device.

2. The length of the first interval is shorter than the length of the second interval, The connector device according to claim 1.

3. The adsorption region has a first adsorption region formed on one side of the left-right axis with respect to the lock region and a second adsorption region formed on the other side of the left-right axis with respect to the lock region. The center of gravity of the plug connector is located between the first adsorption region and the second adsorption region in a plan view. The connector device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. The length of the first interval is greater than zero. The connector device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

5. The cord projection is formed so as to be connected to the inner end or the outer end of the flat surface. On the flat surface, a horizontal region that is continuous with the adsorption region and is flat over the entire area between the cord projection and the outer end or between the cord projection and the inner end is formed. The connector device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

6. The plug terminal has a mounting portion that can be connected to a member to be connected below the plug housing. The plug housing has a housing recess in which a member to be connected is disposed at the lower end of the plug connector. The connector device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

7. The lock region has an insertion space into which a slide member that is held so as to be slidable along the front-rear axis in the plug connector and can confirm the completion of the fitting between the plug connector and the receptacle connector is inserted. The connector device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

8. The plug connector used in the connector device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

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