Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector which can improve positional accuracy of a terminal fitting with respect to a housing.SOLUTION: A connector 10 comprises: a terminal fitting 50 having a mating-side connection part 51; and a housing 70 which holds the terminal fitting 50 in such a manner that the mating-side connection part 51 protrudes forward. The housing 70 has an insertion hole 77, for inserting the terminal fitting 50 from the rear side, in a manner penetrating in a front-to-rear direction. The insertion hole 77 has: a first insertion part 84; and a second insertion part 85 located at the rear of the first insertion part 84. The terminal fitting 50 has a locking part 52 which is locked to right and left lateral faces 81 of the first insertion part 84. The second insertion part 85 has a greater width dimension in a right-to-left direction than the first insertion part 84, and a width dimension in the right-to-left direction of the locking part 52 is greater than that of the second insertion part 85.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to connectors. [Background technology]

[0002] The connector described in Patent Document 1 is a shielded connector that includes an inner conductor terminal, a dielectric that houses the inner conductor terminal, and an outer conductor terminal that houses the dielectric. The dielectric has a mounting hole that penetrates in the front-to-rear direction. The inner conductor terminal is inserted into the mounting hole of the dielectric from the rear. The inner conductor terminal has multiple protrusions that protrude on both the left and right sides. Each protrusion is engaged with the left and right side surfaces of the mounting hole, thereby attaching the inner conductor terminal to the dielectric in a non-disconnected state. Other prior art documents include Patent Documents 2 to 4. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-13748 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-19228 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-117064 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-125225 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the case of Patent Document 1, the accuracy of the mounting position (mounting posture) of the inner conductor terminal relative to the dielectric is determined when the inner conductor terminal is inserted into the mounting hole to the correct depth. Therefore, before inserting the inner conductor terminal into the mounting hole, it was necessary to align the tip position of the inner conductor terminal with the opening of the mounting hole.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector that can improve the positional accuracy of terminal fittings relative to a housing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The connector of the present disclosure comprises a terminal fitting having a mating connection portion, and a housing that holds the terminal fitting with the mating connection portion protruding forward, the housing having an insertion hole formed therethrough in the front-to-rear direction for inserting the terminal fitting from the rear, the insertion hole having a first insertion portion and a second insertion portion located rearward of the first insertion portion, the terminal fitting having locking portions that are locked to the left and right side surfaces of the first insertion portion rearward of the mating connection portion, the left-to-right width dimension of the second insertion portion being larger than that of the first insertion portion, and the locking portions being larger than that of the second insertion portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector that can improve the positional accuracy of terminal fittings relative to a housing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to a first embodiment, seen from the front, showing a state in which the connector is connected to a circuit board. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector connected to the circuit board, as seen from the rear. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the terminal assembly and the connector housing. [Figure 4] 4 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the connector in a state where it is connected to a circuit board, and corresponds to the cross-section taken along the line AA in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the connector, which is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the cross-section at the position BB in FIG. [Figure 6]FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the outer conductor terminal, the dielectric, and the inner conductor terminal are arranged side by side when assembling the terminal assembly. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the inner conductor terminal. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a side view showing the dielectric body holding the inner conductor terminal. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a rear view showing the dielectric body holding the inner conductor terminals. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the dielectric showing the insertion hole, which corresponds to the cross section taken along the CC line in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the connector showing how the inner conductor terminal is inserted into the insertion hole of the dielectric, and is a cross-sectional view taken at the same position as FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. [1] The connector of the present disclosure comprises a terminal fitting having a mating connection portion, and a housing that holds the terminal fitting with the mating connection portion protruding forward, the housing having an insertion hole formed therethrough in the front-to-rear direction for inserting the terminal fitting from the rear, the insertion hole having a first insertion portion and a second insertion portion located rearward of the first insertion portion, the terminal fitting having locking portions that are locked to the left and right side surfaces of the first insertion portion rearward of the mating connection portion, the width dimension in the left-to-right direction of the second insertion portion being larger than that of the first insertion portion, and the locking portion being larger than that of the second insertion portion. During the process of inserting the terminal into the insertion hole, the locking portions shallowly lock onto the left and right side surfaces of the second insertion portion, thereby aligning and positioning the terminal in the housing. When the terminal is inserted to the correct depth into the insertion hole, the locking portions deeply lock onto the left and right side surfaces of the first insertion portion, thereby fixing the terminal in a positioned state in the housing. In particular, the configuration [1] above allows the terminal to self-align and be positioned inside the housing before the locking portions lock onto the left and right side surfaces of the first insertion portion, thereby improving the positioning accuracy of the terminal relative to the housing. [2] In the connector described in [1] above, it is preferable that the width dimension in the left-right direction of the mating connection portion is equal to or smaller than the width dimension in the left-right direction of the first insertion portion. The mating connection portion can easily pass through the first insertion portion during the process of inserting the terminal fitting into the insertion hole. Furthermore, for example, when the width dimension of the mating connection portion is the same as or similar to the width dimension of the first insertion portion, the locking portions are locked onto the left and right side surfaces of the second insertion portion, and the mating connection portion is positioned in the left and right direction relative to the first insertion portion, making it difficult for the terminal fitting to tilt in the front-to-rear direction during the process of inserting it into the insertion hole. [3] In the connector described in [1] or [2] above, the terminal fitting has a board-side connection portion located at the end opposite the mating connection portion, and an intermediate portion located between the board-side connection portion and the locking portion and arranged in the second insertion portion, and it is preferable that the left-right width dimension of the intermediate portion is equal to or greater than the left-right width dimension of the second insertion portion. The terminal fitting is inserted to the normal depth into the insertion hole, the locking portion is locked onto the left and right side surfaces of the first insertion portion, and the intermediate portion is positioned in the left and right direction in the second insertion portion, so that the terminal fitting can be fixed in a state where tilting relative to the housing is suppressed. [4] The connector described in any one of [1] to [3] above may be a connector comprising an inner conductor terminal, an outer conductor terminal, and a dielectric arranged between the inner conductor terminal and the outer conductor terminal, wherein the terminal fitting constitutes the inner conductor terminal and the housing constitutes the dielectric. Since the inner conductor terminal can be self-aligned and positioned inside the dielectric before the locking portion is locked onto the left and right side surfaces of the first insertion portion, the positional accuracy of the inner conductor terminal relative to the dielectric can be improved. [5] In the connector described in [4] above, the dielectric may include a dielectric body and a cover, the insertion hole may be formed in the dielectric body, and the cover may cover a portion of the inner conductor terminal that is pulled out rearward from the insertion hole. With this configuration, the area where the dielectric covers the inner conductor terminal can be increased, thereby stabilizing communication performance.

[0010] [Details of the embodiments of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0011] [Embodiment 1] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, connector 10 is a shielded connector for a circuit board that is connected to circuit board 11. Multiple through holes 12 are formed in circuit board 11. In the following description, each component will be described with the positive X-axis side in each figure as the front side, the negative X-axis side as the rear side, the positive Y-axis side as the left side, the negative Y-axis side as the right side, the positive Z-axis side as the upper side, and the negative Z-axis side as the lower side. The X-axis is parallel to the mating direction with a mating connector (not shown). The Z-axis is perpendicular to the surface of circuit board 11. "Parallel" includes both strictly parallel and roughly parallel states. "Vertical" includes both strictly perpendicular and roughly perpendicular states. The directions do not indicate the positional relationship or direction in actual use.

[0012] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the connector 10 includes a connector housing 20 and four terminal assemblies 13. Fixing members 21 are attached to both the left and right sides of the connector housing 20. Protruding pins 22 of the fixing members 21 are inserted into through holes 12 in the circuit board 11 and soldered thereto. The connector housing 20 is fixed to the top surface of the circuit board 11 by the fixing members 21.

[0013] The connector housing 20 is made of synthetic resin and has a hood portion 23 and four terminal accommodating portions 24. The hood portion 23 is open to the front. A mating connector fits into the inside of the hood portion 23. The hood portion 23 surrounds the front ends of the four terminal assemblies 13 collectively.

[0014] 4 and 5, each terminal accommodating portion 24 is open on both the front and rear sides. The terminal assembly 13 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating portion 24 from the rear.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 6, the terminal assembly 13 includes an outer conductor terminal 30, two inner conductor terminals 50, and a dielectric 70.

[0016] The outer conductor terminal 30 is formed by bending a conductive metal plate material, etc. The outer conductor terminal 30 has an outer conductor main body 31, an outer conductor lid 32, and six ground connection portions 33.

[0017] 4 and 5, the outer conductor main body 31 has a square cylindrical shape that opens forward. An outer conductor terminal of a mating connector (not shown) enters the inside of the outer conductor main body 31 and is electrically connected to the outer conductor terminal 30.

[0018] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the outer conductor main body 31 has a top plate 34, left and right side plate portions 35, a bottom plate portion 36, and a front plate portion 37. The top plate portion 34 and the bottom plate portion 36 are opposed to each other in the vertical direction. The left and right side plate portions 35 extend downward from both left and right end edges of the top plate portion 34. The left and right side plate portions 35 are provided with terminal locking portions 38 that lock onto the connector housing 20. The terminal assembly 13 is prevented from coming off rearward from the terminal accommodating portion 24 by the locking of the terminal locking portions 38 with the inner surface of the terminal accommodating portion 24. The front plate portion 37 extends downward from the rear end of the bottom plate portion 36.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 6, the outer conductor lid portion 32 has a rear plate portion 39 and left and right outer plate portions 41. The rear plate portion 39 extends downward from the rear end 34R of the top plate portion 34. The lower portion of the rear plate portion 39 faces the front plate portion 37 in the front-rear direction (see Fig. 4). During the assembly of the connector 10, the outer conductor lid portion 32 is formed so that the opening on the rear surface of the outer conductor main body 31 is closed by bending the rear end 34R of the top plate portion 34 at a right angle from the state shown in Fig. 6 in which the opening on the rear surface of the outer conductor main body 31 is open.

[0020] The left and right outer plate portions 41 extend forward from both left and right edges of the lower portion of the rear plate portion 39. The left and right outer plate portions 41 overlap the left and right outer sides of the left and right side plate portions 35. The left and right outer plate portions 41 and the left and right side plate portions 35 are held together by side locking portions 42 so that they do not separate.

[0021] 4 and 6, the ground connection portions 33 extend downward from the lower end of the front plate portion 37, the lower end of the rear plate portion 39, and the lower end of the outer plate portion 41. Each ground connection portion 33 is inserted into a through-hole 12 of the circuit board 11 and soldered to a conductive portion for grounding.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 6, the inner conductor terminal 50 has an elongated L-shape. The inner conductor terminal 50 has a mating connection portion 51, a locking portion 52, an intermediate portion 53, a wide portion 54, a terminal bent portion 55, and a board-side connection portion 56. The mating connection portion 51, the locking portion 52, the intermediate portion 53, and the wide portion 54 are linearly connected in the front-to-rear direction. The intermediate portion 53 is located in the middle portion of the inner conductor terminal 50 excluding both ends in the longitudinal direction (the mating connection portion 51 and the board-side connection portion 56), and more specifically, is located between the locking portion 52 and the wide portion 54.

[0023] The board-side connection portion 56 extends downward from the terminal bent portion 55. The board-side connection portion 56 has an upper portion 57 and a lower portion 58. The width dimension in the left-right direction of the upper portion 57 is greater than the width dimension in the left-right direction of the lower portion 58. The lower portion 58 of the board-side connection portion 56 is inserted into the through-hole 12 of the circuit board 11 and soldered to the conductive portion for signals.

[0024] 4 and 5, the mating connection portion 51 protrudes forward from a front surface 71F of the dielectric 70. The mating connection portion 51 can be connected to a mating terminal fitting (not shown).

[0025] 7, the width W1 in the left-right direction of the mating connection part 51 is substantially constant except for the tip part. The width W1 of the mating connection part 51 is equal to or smaller than the width W4 of the first insertion part 84 of the insertion hole 77, which will be described later.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 7 , the locking portion 52 has locking protrusions 59 on both the left and right sides. Each locking protrusion 59 protrudes outward in the left-right direction on both the left and right sides of the locking portion 52. Two locking protrusions 59 are provided on each of the left and right sides of the locking portion 52, one at the front and one at the rear. The tip of the rear locking protrusion 59 is positioned outward in the left-right direction from the tip of the front locking protrusion 59. Each locking protrusion 59 is locked by biting into a side surface 81 of a first insertion portion 84 of the insertion hole 77, which will be described later. The left-right width dimension W2 of the locking portion 52 is larger than the width dimension W1 of the mating connection portion 51. The width dimension W2 of the locking portion 52 is the left-right distance between the tips of the left and right locking protrusions 59.

[0027] The intermediate portion 53 is provided behind the locking portion 52. The width W3 of the intermediate portion 53 in the left-right direction is substantially constant in the front-rear direction. The width W3 of the intermediate portion 53 is equal to the width W2 at the tip position of the locking protrusion 59 on the rear side of the locking portion 52.

[0028] The wide portion 54 is provided behind the intermediate portion 53. The wide portion 54 has a rectangular shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the front-to-rear direction. The front end of the wide portion 54 is a stopper portion 61 that abuts against a step portion 88 of the insertion hole 77, which will be described later. The rear end of the wide portion 54 is a pressing portion 62 that is pressed by a jig (not shown). The stopper portion 61 and the pressing portion 62 extend in a direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction.

[0029] The dielectric 70 is made of synthetic resin and holds two inner conductor terminals 50 as shown in Fig. 5. The dielectric 70 is disposed between the inner conductor terminal 50 and the outer conductor terminal 30.

[0030] 8 and 9, the dielectric 70 has a dielectric body 71 and a cover 72. The area over which the dielectric 70 covers the inner conductor terminal 50 is made larger than in the past by providing the cover 72. This makes communication performance more stable than in the past.

[0031] 4 and 5, the dielectric body 71 is housed inside the outer conductor body 31. A front protrusion 89 that protrudes forward by one step is provided on the front surface 71F of the dielectric body 71.

[0032] The dielectric body 71 has an insertion hole 77 formed therein, into which the inner conductor terminal 50 is inserted. The insertion hole 77 penetrates the dielectric body 71 in the front-rear direction. The insertion hole 77 penetrates the front protrusion 89 and opens forward. The insertion hole 77 will be described in detail later.

[0033] As shown in Figures 6, 8 and 9, the cover portion 72 is provided behind the dielectric body portion 71. The cover portion 72 has a top surface portion 73, left and right side surface portions 74, a front surface portion 75 and a partition wall 76. The rear end of the cover portion 72 is located behind the board-side connecting portion 56 of the inner conductor terminal 50. The cover portion 72 covers the terminal bend portion 55 of the inner conductor terminal 50 and the upper portion 57 of the board-side connecting portion 56.

[0034] The top surface portion 73 extends rearward along the top surface of the dielectric main body portion 71. The left and right side surface portions 74 extend downward from both left and right ends of the top surface portion 73. The front surface portion 75 extends downward from a position slightly below the insertion hole 77. The partition wall 76 is provided at the center in the left-right direction of the front surface portion 75. The partition wall 76 protrudes rearward from the front surface portion 75. The partition wall 76 extends from the upper end to the lower end of the front surface portion 75. The partition wall 76 is arranged between the board-side connection portions 56 of the left and right inner conductor terminals 50.

[0035] 9, a first space S1 and a second space S2 are formed inside the cover portion 72. The first space S1 is formed above the second space S2. The first space S1 and the second space S2 are connected to each other and open to the rear.

[0036] The first space S1 has a shape that is long in the left-right direction when viewed from the rear. The first space S1 has two insertion holes 77 that open rearward. The terminal bent portion 55 of the inner conductor terminal 50 is disposed in the first space S1.

[0037] The second spaces S2 are formed on both the left and right sides of the partition wall 76. When viewed from the rear, each second space S2 has a shape that is long in the vertical direction. The second spaces S2 are open downward. The upper portions 57 of the board-side connection portions 56 of the inner conductor terminals 50 are disposed in the second spaces S2, except for the lower end side.

[0038] As shown in Figure 9, when viewed from the rear, each insertion hole 77 has a rectangular shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the up-down direction. Each insertion hole 77 is surrounded by an upper surface 78, a lower surface 79, and left and right side surfaces 81. The upper surface 78 and the lower surface 79 face each other in the up-down direction. The left and right side surfaces 81 face each other in the left-right direction. Recesses 82 are formed in the upper surface 78 and the lower surface 79. The recesses 82 are formed in the left-right centers of the upper surface 78 and the lower surface 79.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 10 , the insertion hole 77 has a first insertion portion 84, a second insertion portion 85, and a hole rear end portion 86. The front end of the first insertion portion 84 is formed in a front protrusion 89. The left-right width dimension W4 of the first insertion portion 84 (the distance between the left and right side surfaces 81) is substantially constant in the front-rear direction. The width dimension W4 of the first insertion portion 84 is smaller than the width dimension W2 of the locking portion 52 of the inner conductor terminal 50. The width dimension W4 of the first insertion portion 84 is set so that the tips of the locking protrusions 59 can be inserted into the left and right side surfaces 81. The width dimension W4 of the first insertion portion 84 is equal to or larger than the width dimension W1 of the mating connection portion 51. In other words, the width dimension W4 of the first insertion portion 84 is equal to or larger than the width dimension W1 of the mating connection portion 51. The front-rear dimension of the first insertion portion 84 is larger than the width dimension W4 of the first insertion portion 84.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 10 , the second insertion portion 85 is provided rearward of the first insertion portion 84. A tapered portion 87 is provided between the rear end of the first insertion portion 84 and the front end of the second insertion portion 85. A width dimension W5 in the left-right direction of the second insertion portion 85 is larger than a width dimension W4 of the first insertion portion 84. A dimension in the front-rear direction of the second insertion portion 85 is larger than a width dimension W5 of the second insertion portion 85. A dimension in the front-rear direction of the second insertion portion 85 is larger than a dimension in the front-rear direction of the first insertion portion 84. The width dimension W5 of the second insertion portion 85 is equal to or smaller than a width dimension W3 of the intermediate portion 53 of the inner conductor terminal 50.

[0041] As shown in Figure 10, the hole rear end 86 is provided rearward of the second insertion portion 85. A width dimension W6 in the left-right direction of the hole rear end 86 is greater than a width dimension W5 of the second insertion portion 85. The hole rear end 86 has a step portion 88 extending in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The dimension of the hole rear end 86 in the front-rear direction is smaller than the width dimension W6 of the hole rear end 86.

[0042] Next, an example of the assembly work of the connector 10 will be described. First, the dielectric 70 is accommodated in the outer conductor terminal 30. The dielectric 70 is inserted (press-fit) horizontally into the outer conductor main body 31 from the opening on the rear surface of the outer conductor main body 31. The dielectric 70 is held inside the outer conductor main body 31.

[0043] Next, the inner conductor terminal 50 is inserted into the dielectric 70. The inner conductor terminal 50 is bent in advance at the terminal bending portion 55. As shown in FIG. 11 , the inner conductor terminal 50 is held by a jig (not shown) and inserted horizontally into each insertion hole 77 of the dielectric 70. In the case of the first embodiment, the inner conductor terminal 50 is temporarily held in a temporary locking position relative to the dielectric 70. FIG. 11 shows a state in which one inner conductor terminal 50 is arranged in the temporary locking position. In the temporary locking position, the mating connection portion 51 is arranged so that it can be positioned in the left-right direction relative to the first insertion portion 84. Both left and right surfaces of the mating connection portion 51 and the left and right side surfaces 81 of the first insertion portion 84 are in contact with or close to each other. In the temporary locking position, the locking portion 52 is arranged in the second insertion portion 85 and positioned in the left-right direction. The tips of the locking projections 59 contact or are slightly pressed into the left and right side surfaces 81 of the second insertion portion 85, and are shallowly locked compared to the locking with the first insertion portion 84 in the main locking position described below. The mating connection portion 51 and the locking portion 52 of the inner conductor terminal 50 are positioned in the left-right direction relative to the first insertion portion 84 and the second insertion portion 85 of the insertion hole 77, so that the axis of the inner conductor terminal 50 is positioned and aligned in the center of the insertion hole 77.

[0044] Next, as shown in Fig. 5, the inner conductor terminal 50 is pushed from the provisionally locked position to the fully locked position. The pressing portion 62 of the inner conductor terminal 50 is pushed forward by a press-fitting jig (not shown). The press-fitting jig is thin enough to enter the first space S1. The inner conductor terminal 50 pressed by the jig advances along the insertion hole 77.

[0045] The intermediate portion 53 enters the second insertion portion 85 and is positioned in the left-right direction relative to the second insertion portion 85. The axis of the inner conductor terminal 50 is prevented from shifting from the center of the insertion hole 77 when moving forward from the temporary locking position to the full locking position.

[0046] The mating connecting portion 51 moves forward from the first insertion portion 84 and protrudes forward from the front surface 71F of the dielectric body portion 71. The locking portion 52 moves forward from the second insertion portion 85 and is press-fitted into the first insertion portion 84. The locking protrusions 59 bite into the left and right side surfaces 81 of the first insertion portion 84 with a larger press-fitting margin than they do into the left and right side surfaces 81 of the second insertion portion 85. In other words, the locking protrusions 59 are more deeply locked into the left and right side surfaces 81 of the first insertion portion 84 than they are into the second insertion portion 85 in the provisionally locked position. This prevents the inner conductor terminal 50 from slipping out of the insertion hole 77.

[0047] Next, the outer conductor terminal 30 is bent. The outer conductor cover 32 is rotated from an open state to a closed state around the rear end 34R of the top plate 34. The left and right outer plate portions 41 overlap the outsides of the left and right side plate portions 35, and the side locking portions 42 lock. In this way, the terminal assembly 13 shown in Figure 3 is assembled.

[0048] The connector housing 20 is installed horizontally with the side connected to the circuit board 11 facing upward. In this state, the terminal assembly 13 is accommodated in the connector housing 20. The outer conductor terminals 30 of the terminal assembly 13 are inserted horizontally into the terminal accommodating portions 24, and the terminal locking portions 38 are locked to the inner surfaces of the terminal accommodating portions 24. This prevents the outer conductor terminals 30 from coming outward from the connector housing 20, and the terminal assembly 13 is held in the terminal accommodating portions 24. This completes the assembly process of the connector 10.

[0049] Also, in the case of the first embodiment, when the inner conductor terminal 50 is in the temporarily locked position with respect to the dielectric 70, the locking portion 52 is automatically positioned in the second insertion portion 85 inside the dielectric 70. Therefore, the position setting of the inner conductor terminal 50 with respect to the dielectric 70 can be easily performed rather than positioning and adjusting it outside the dielectric 70.

[0050] Next, the operations and effects of the embodiment configured as described above will be described. The connector 10 includes an inner conductor terminal 50 and a dielectric 70. The inner conductor terminal 50 has a mating connection portion 51. The dielectric 70 holds the inner conductor terminal 50 in a state where the mating connection portion 51 protrudes forward. An insertion hole 77 for inserting the inner conductor terminal 50 from the rear is formed to penetrate in the front-rear direction in the dielectric 70. The insertion hole 77 has a first insertion portion 84 and a second insertion portion 85 located behind the first insertion portion 84. The width dimension W5 in the left-right direction of the second insertion portion 85 is larger than the width dimension W4 in the left-right direction of the first insertion portion 84. The inner conductor terminal 50 has a locking portion 52. The locking portion 52 is press-fitted with a press-fitting allowance capable of suppressing the withdrawal of the inner conductor terminal 50 with respect to the first insertion portion 84. Before reaching the first insertion portion 84, the locking portion 52 contacts the second insertion portion 85 and has a width dimension W2 that is positioned in the left-right direction. That is, the width dimension in the left-right direction is larger in the second insertion portion 85 than in the first insertion portion 84 (W4 < W5), and larger in the locking portion 52 than in the second insertion portion 85 (W5 < W2).

[0051] During the process of inserting the inner conductor terminal 50 into the insertion hole 77, the locking portions 52 are shallowly locked on the left and right side surfaces 81 of the second insertion portion 85 at a provisional locking position, thereby aligning and positioning the inner conductor terminal 50 with respect to the dielectric 70. When the inner conductor terminal 50 is inserted into the insertion hole 77 to the normal depth (full locking position), the locking portions 52 are deeply locked on the left and right side surfaces 81 of the first insertion portion 84, thereby fixing the inner conductor terminal 50 in a positioned state with respect to the dielectric 70. In particular, because the inner conductor terminal 50 can be self-aligned and positioned inside the dielectric 70 before the locking portions 52 are locked on the left and right side surfaces 81 of the first insertion portion 84, the positional accuracy of the inner conductor terminal 50 with respect to the dielectric 70 can be improved.

[0052] Furthermore, the width dimension of the mating connection portion 51 is equal to or less than the width dimension of the first insertion portion 84 (W1≦W4). The mating connection portion 51 can easily pass through the first insertion portion 84 during the process of inserting the inner conductor terminal 50 into the insertion hole 77. For example, when the width dimension W1 of the mating connection portion 51 is the same as or similar to the width dimension W4 of the first insertion portion 84, the locking portions 52 are locked to the left and right side surfaces 81 of the second insertion portion 85, and the mating connection portion 51 is positioned in the left and right direction in the first insertion portion 84, making it possible to prevent the inner conductor terminal 50 from tilting in the front-to-rear direction during the process of inserting it into the insertion hole 77.

[0053] The inner conductor terminal 50 also has a board-side connecting portion 56 located at the end opposite to the mating connecting portion 51, and an intermediate portion 53 located between the board-side connecting portion 56 and the locking portion 52 and disposed in the second insertion portion 85. The width dimension of the intermediate portion 53 is equal to or greater than the width dimension of the second insertion portion 85 (W5≦W3). When the inner conductor terminal 50 is inserted into the insertion hole 77 to the normal depth (full locking position), the locking portions 52 are locked by the left and right side surfaces 81 of the first insertion portion 84, and the intermediate portion 53 is disposed in the second insertion portion 85 in a state where it is positioned in the left-right direction, the inner conductor terminal 50 can be fixed in a state where tilting with respect to the dielectric 70 is suppressed.

[0054] Furthermore, the dielectric 70 includes a dielectric body 71 and a cover 72. The insertion hole 77 is formed in the dielectric body 71. The cover 72 covers the portion of the inner conductor terminal 50 that is pulled out rearward from the insertion hole 77. This configuration increases the area that the dielectric 70 covers the inner conductor terminal 50, thereby stabilizing communication performance.

[0055] [Another embodiment of the present disclosure] The first embodiment disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. In the first embodiment, the connector 10 is a shielded connector, but in other embodiments, the connector does not have to be a shielded connector. Specifically, the connector may have a housing with a hood portion, and the terminal fittings may be held in insertion holes formed through the back wall of the hood portion. In the first embodiment, the locking portion 52 has the locking protrusions 59 on both the left and right sides, but in other embodiments, the locking portion does not have to have the locking protrusions on both the left and right sides. In the first embodiment, the inner conductor terminal 50 (terminal metal fitting) is configured to stop at the temporary locking position relative to the dielectric 70 (housing) and then move to the full locking position. In contrast, in another embodiment, the inner conductor terminal 50 (terminal metal fitting) may be configured to move to the full locking position relative to the dielectric 70 (housing) without stopping at the temporary locking position. The connector assembly procedure is not limited to that of the above-described embodiment 1. For example, an assembly procedure may be adopted in which the dielectric is first inserted into the outer conductor terminal, the outer conductor terminal containing the dielectric is inserted into the connector housing, the inner conductor terminal is then inserted into the dielectric, and the outer conductor terminal is then bent and closed with the outer conductor cover. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 10...Connector 11...Circuit board 12...Through hole 13...Terminal assembly 20...Connector housing 21...Fixing member 22...Protruding pin 23...Food section 24...Terminal housing 30...Outer conductor terminal 31...Outer conductor body 32...Outer conductor cover 33...Ground connection 34...Top plate 34R...Rear end of top plate 35...Side plate part 36...Bottom plate part 37…Front plate part 38...Terminal locking part 39...Rear plate part 41...Outer panel part 42...Side locking part 50...Inner conductor terminal (terminal metal fitting) 51...Mating connection part 52...Latching part 53...Middle section 54...Wide section 55...Terminal bent part 56...Board side connection part 57...Top of the board side connection part 58...Bottom of the board side connection 59...Latching protrusion 61...Stopper part 62...Pressing part 70...Dielectric (housing) 71...Dielectric body 71F: Front of the dielectric body 72...Cover 73…Top part 74…Side part 75...Front part 76…Bulkhead 77...insertion hole 78...Top surface of insertion hole 79...Underside of insertion hole 81...Left and right side surfaces of the insertion hole 82...recess 84...First insertion part 85...Second insertion part 86...Hole rear end 87...Tapered section 88...Dan section 89...Front protrusion S1…first space S2…Second space W1: Width dimension of the mating connection part in the left-right direction W2: Width of the locking part in the left-right direction W3: Width of the middle part in the left-right direction W4: Width dimension of the first insertion section in the left-right direction W5: Width of the second insertion section in the left-right direction W6: Width dimension in the left-right direction at the rear end of the hole

Claims

1. a terminal fitting having a mating connection portion; a housing that holds the terminal fitting with the mating connection portion protruding forward, The housing has an insertion hole formed therethrough in the front-rear direction, into which the terminal fitting is inserted from the rear, The insertion hole has a first insertion portion and a second insertion portion located rearward of the first insertion portion, the terminal fitting has a locking portion that is located rearward of the mating connection portion and that is locked to the left and right side surfaces of the first insertion portion, A connector, wherein the width dimension in the left-right direction of the second insertion portion is larger than that of the first insertion portion, and the locking portion is larger than that of the second insertion portion.

2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein a width dimension in the left-right direction of the mating connection portion is equal to or smaller than a width dimension in the left-right direction of the first insertion portion.

3. the terminal fitting has a board-side connecting portion located at an end opposite to the mating-side connecting portion, and an intermediate portion located between the board-side connecting portion and the locking portion and disposed in the second insertion portion, The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the width dimension in the left-right direction of the intermediate portion is equal to or greater than the width dimension in the left-right direction of the second insertion portion.

4. an inner conductor terminal, an outer conductor terminal, and a dielectric disposed between the inner conductor terminal and the outer conductor terminal; the terminal fitting constitutes the inner conductor terminal, The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the housing constitutes the dielectric.

5. the dielectric body includes a dielectric body portion and a cover portion; the insertion hole is formed in the dielectric body, The connector according to claim 4 , wherein the cover portion covers a portion of the inner conductor terminal that is pulled out rearward from the insertion hole.

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