Connector, mating connector and connector device

Abstract

To provide a connector and the like, capable of performing both power supply and signal transmission between substrates and electrically connecting between substrates even if a value of current flowing between the substrates is large, and having high durability.SOLUTION: A connector 2 includes two power terminals 3, a plurality of signal terminals 8 disposed between the two power terminals 3, and a housing 15 holding each power terminal 3 and each signal terminal 8. A contact part 5 of each power terminal 3 projects forward from the housing 15, is formed such that it cannot be elastically displaced, and comes into contact with a power terminal of a mating connector. A contact part 10 of each signal terminal 8 projects forward from the housing 15, is formed such that it can be elastically displaced backward, and comes into contact with a signal terminal of the mating connector while being pressed by the signal terminal of the mating connector to be elastically displaced backward.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector, a mating connector, and a connector device for making an electrical connection between, for example, boards. [Background technology]

[0002] A known connector for electrically connecting boards includes a plurality of terminals formed to be elastically deformable and a housing that holds the terminals, and the terminals protrude from the housing in one direction, but when connected to a mating connector, are pushed by the terminals of the mating connector and elastically deform in the opposite direction. JP 2006-164682 A (Patent Document 1) describes an example of such a connector.

[0003] The connector is sometimes used in small electrical and electronic devices, such as smartphones and compact digital cameras, to electrically connect a main body circuit board and a battery circuit board. In this case, the connector and its mating connector each have three or more terminals, two of which are power terminals and the remaining terminals are signal terminals. For example, the connector is attached to the main body circuit board of the electrical and electronic device, and the power and signal terminals of the connector are connected to the circuit on the main body circuit board. The mating connector is attached to the battery circuit board, and the power and signal terminals of the mating connector are connected to the circuit on the battery circuit board. Connecting the connector and the mating connector electrically connects the main body circuit board and the battery circuit board. This allows power current to flow from the battery to the main body via the two power terminals on the connector and the mating connector when the electrical and electronic device is in operation. Furthermore, when the electrical and electronic device is connected to a commercial power source to charge the battery, charging current can flow from the main body to the battery via the two power terminals on the connector and the mating connector. In addition, via the signal terminals provided on the connector and the mating connector, it becomes possible to transmit, for example, signals for monitoring the temperature of the battery and signals for monitoring the remaining charge of the battery between the main body and the battery. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-164682 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the above-mentioned connector has the following problems. Each terminal of the connector is formed by bending a thin strip of metal obtained by punching a metal plate such as a copper alloy. Therefore, it is difficult to increase the current capacity of the terminal. Therefore, when the value of the current flowing between one board and the other board is large, it may be difficult to use the above-mentioned connector as a connector for electrically connecting the boards. For example, when the value of the power supply current flowing from the battery board to the main body board during operation of an electrical electronic device is large, or when the value of the charging current flowing from the main body board to the battery board during battery charging is large, it may be difficult to use the above-mentioned connector as a connector for electrically connecting the boards.

[0006] Furthermore, because each terminal of the connector is formed by bending a thin strip of metal, it has low strength. Therefore, when an external object comes into contact with the terminal, the terminal may undergo abnormal plastic deformation, causing the terminal to change shape from its original shape. If the terminal undergoes abnormal plastic deformation, poor contact may occur between the terminal of the connector and the terminal of the mating connector when the connector is connected to the mating connector. Thus, the low strength of the terminal in the connector leads to low durability of the connector.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of problems such as those described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector, mating connector, and connector device that can connect boards and supply and receive power and transmit signals between the boards, that can pass a large power supply current or charging current from one board to another, and that is highly durable. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problem, the connector of the present invention comprises two first terminals, a second terminal arranged between the two first terminals, and a terminal holding portion that holds each of the first terminals and the second terminal, wherein each of the first terminals has a first contact portion that protrudes from the terminal holding portion in one direction, is formed so as not to be elastically displaceable, and comes into contact with a first mating terminal of a mating connector, and the second terminal has a second contact portion that protrudes from the terminal holding portion in the one direction, is formed so as to be elastically displaceable in a direction opposite to the one direction, and is pressed by a second mating terminal of the mating connector and elastically displaces in the direction opposite to the one direction, thereby coming into contact with the second mating terminal.

[0009] In the connector of the present invention, by configuring each of the two first terminals as a power terminal and the second terminal as a signal terminal, the connector of the present invention can be used to connect boards and supply and receive power and transmit signals between the boards. Furthermore, in the connector of the present invention, increasing the cross-sectional area of ​​the elastically deformable second terminal can result in the disadvantage of the second terminal being less susceptible to elastic deformation. However, increasing the cross-sectional area of ​​the non-elastically deformable first terminal does not result in such a disadvantage. Increasing the cross-sectional area of ​​each of the two non-elastically deformable first terminals can increase the current capacity of these first terminals. By configuring these first terminals as power terminals, a large power supply current, charging current, or the like can flow from one board to the other. In the connector of the present invention, the strength of each of the first terminals formed to be non-elastically deformable can be increased, for example, by increasing the area of ​​its cross section, and the protruding direction of the second terminal formed to be elastically deformable is the same as the protruding direction of each of the two first terminals, and the second terminal is disposed between the two first terminals. In this way, the second terminal can be disposed between the two first terminals that are non-elastically deformable and have high strength, and the second terminal can be protected by the two first terminals. This makes it possible to prevent the second terminals from coming into contact with an external object and causing abnormal plastic deformation, thereby increasing the durability of the connector.

[0010] In the connector of the present invention, the amount of protrusion of the first contact portion from the terminal holding portion may be greater than the amount of protrusion of the second contact portion from the terminal holding portion. In the connector of the present invention, the area of ​​a cross section of the first contact portion may be greater than the area of ​​a cross section of the second contact portion. In the connector of the present invention, the connector may include a plurality of the second terminals, and the plurality of second terminals may be arranged in a row from one of the two first terminals to the other first terminal.

[0011] The mating connector of the present invention is a mating connector to be connected to a connector comprising two first terminals, a second terminal disposed between the two first terminals, and a terminal holding portion that holds the first terminals and the second terminals, wherein the first terminals protrude from the terminal holding portion in one direction and are formed so as not to be elastically displaceable, and the second terminals protrude from the terminal holding portion in the one direction and are formed so as to be elastically displaceable in a direction opposite to the one direction, and the mating connector comprises two first mating terminals, a second mating terminal, and the first mating terminals and the second mating terminals. and a mating terminal holding portion that holds the second mating terminal, wherein two recesses are provided at two locations spaced apart from each other in the mating terminal holding portion, the two first mating terminals are arranged in the two recesses, each of the first mating terminals has a first mating contact portion that contacts the first terminal inserted into the recess, the second mating terminal is arranged between the two recesses, and the second mating terminal has a second mating contact portion that contacts the second terminal while pressing the second terminal to elastically displace it.

[0012] In addition, in the mating connector of the present invention, the first mating terminal has a base extending in the front-to-rear direction, and the first mating contact portion has a pair of first contact pieces extending upward from the left and right ends of the rear portion of the base, and contacting the first terminal while holding the first terminal inserted into the recess, a pair of extension portions extending upward from the left and right ends of the front portion of the base, and a pair of second contact pieces extending rearward from the pair of extension portions, and contacting the first terminal while holding the first terminal inserted into the recess, and the pair of first contact pieces are formed so that their upper ends can be elastically deformed so as to expand away from each other, with their lower ends as base points, and the pair of second contact pieces are formed so that their rear ends can be elastically deformed so as to expand away from each other, with their front ends as base points. In addition, in the mating connector of the present invention, the upper end of each of the pair of first contact pieces may be provided with a first guide portion that guides the first terminal inserted into the recess from above the recess into between the pair of first contact pieces, and the front end of each of the pair of second contact pieces may be provided with a second guide portion that guides the first terminal inserted into the recess from the front of the recess into between the pair of second contact pieces.

[0013] The connector device of the present invention is a connector device including a connector and a mating connector to be connected to the connector, wherein the connector includes two first terminals, a second terminal disposed between the two first terminals, and a terminal holding portion that holds the first terminals and the second terminals, wherein each of the first terminals protrudes from the terminal holding portion in one direction, is formed so as not to be elastically displaceable, and has a first contact portion that comes into contact with a first mating terminal of the mating connector, and the second terminal protrudes from the terminal holding portion in the one direction, is formed so as to be elastically displaceable in a direction opposite to the one direction, and is pushed by a second mating terminal of the mating connector to elastically displace in the direction opposite to the one direction while moving the second terminal. The mating connector has a second contact portion that contacts a second mating terminal, and the mating connector comprises two of the first mating terminals, the second mating terminal, and a mating terminal holding portion that holds each of the first mating terminals and the second mating terminal, and two recesses are provided at two locations separated from each other in the mating terminal holding portion, the two first mating terminals are arranged in the two recesses, each of the first mating terminals has a first mating contact portion that contacts the first contact portion inserted into the recess, the second mating terminal is arranged between the two recesses, and the second mating terminal has a second mating contact portion that contacts the second contact portion while pressing the second contact portion to elastically displace it. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to connect boards, supply and receive power and transmit signals between the boards, pass a large power supply current or charging current from one board to the other, and increase the durability of the connector. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an electric / electronic device provided with a connector device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is an external view showing a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention, a mating connector, and the like. [Figure 3] 1 is an external view showing a state in which a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a mating connector are connected to each other. [Figure 4] 1 is an external view showing a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the upper front left. [Figure 5] 1 is an external view showing the connector of the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the rear lower left. FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is an external view showing a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector cut along the cutting line aa in FIG. 6 as viewed from the left. [Figure 8] (A) is an external view showing the power terminal of the connector of the first embodiment of the present invention as seen from the upper left front, (B) is an external view showing the power terminal as seen from the left, (C) is a cross-sectional view showing the power terminal cut along the cutting line bb in Figure 8(B) as seen from the front, and (D) is a cross-sectional view showing the power terminal cut along the cutting line cc in Figure 8(B) as seen from the front. [Figure 9] 9(A) is an external view showing the signal terminal of the connector of the first embodiment of the present invention as seen from the upper left front, (B) is an external view showing the signal terminal as seen from the left, and (C) is a cross-sectional view showing the signal terminal cut along the cutting line dd in FIG. 9(B) as seen from below. [Figure 10] 1 is an external view showing a mating connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the upper front left. [Figure 11] 1 is an external view showing the mating connector of the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the rear lower left. FIG. [Figure 12] 1 is an external view showing a mating connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above. [Figure 13] 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the mating connector cut along the cutting line ee in FIG. 12 as viewed from the left. [Figure 14](A) is an external view showing the power terminal of the mating connector of the first embodiment of the present invention as seen from the upper left front, (B) is an external view showing the power terminal as seen from the left, (C) is a cross-sectional view showing the power terminal cut along the cutting line ff in Figure 14(B) as seen from the front, and (D) is a cross-sectional view showing the power terminal cut along the cutting line gg in Figure 14(B) as seen from above. [Figure 15] 1 is an external view showing a signal terminal of a mating connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the upper front left. [Figure 16] 5A and 5B are explanatory views showing another method of connecting the connector of the first embodiment of the present invention to a mating connector. [Figure 17] 1 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a connector and a mating connector are misaligned in the left-right direction in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 18] 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams showing correction of left-right positional deviation between a connector and a mating connector when the connector and the mating connector are connected while approaching each other in the vertical direction in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] 10A and 10B are explanatory views showing the correction of misalignment in the left-right direction between a connector and a mating connector when the connector and the mating connector are connected while approaching each other in the front-rear direction in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is an external view showing a connector device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is an external view showing a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] 22 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector cut along the cutting line mm in FIG. 21 as viewed from the left. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is an external view showing a mating connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 24] 24 is a cross-sectional view showing the mating connector cut along the cutting line nn in FIG. 23 as viewed from the left. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Embodiments of the connector, mating connector, and connector device of the present invention will be described using an example in which they are used as a connector, mating connector, and connector device that connects between a board on the main body side and a board on the battery side of an electrical and electronic device.

[0017] (First embodiment) [Electrical and electronic equipment] 1 shows an electric / electronic device 61. The electric / electronic device 61 includes a main body 62 and a battery 65. The battery 65 is detachable from the main body 62. The main body 62 is provided with a battery mounting recess 63 into which the battery 65 fits when the battery 65 is mounted to the main body 62. The main body 62 is also provided with a main body-side board 64. The battery 65 is provided with a battery-side board 66.

[0018] [Connector device] 2 shows only the main body side board 64, connector 2, battery side board 66, and mating connector 31 in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows the state in which the connector 2 and mating connector 31 are connected to each other. A connector device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided in an electrical / electronic device 61, and electrically connects the main body side board 64 and the battery side board 66. As shown in FIG. 2, the connector device 1 includes the connector 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention and the mating connector 31 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The connector 2 and the mating connector 31 can be connected to each other in a separable manner. The connector 2 is mounted on the main body side board 64, and the mating connector 31 is mounted on the battery side board 66.

[0019] When the battery 65 is mounted in the battery mounting recess 63 of the main body 62, the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 are connected to each other as shown in Fig. 3. That is, the mounting position of the connector 2 on the main body side board 64 and the mounting position of the mating connector 31 on the battery side board 66 are each determined so that the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 are connected in this manner when the battery 65 is mounted in the battery mounting recess 63 of the main body 62.

[0020] [connector] 4 to 9 are diagrams relating to the connector 2. For ease of explanation, the directions of up (U1), down (D1), front (F1), back (B1), left (L1), and right (R1) in the connector 2 follow the arrows drawn at the bottom right in FIGS.

[0021] Fig. 4 shows the connector 2 as viewed from the upper left and front. Fig. 5 shows the connector 2 as viewed from the lower left and rear. Fig. 6 shows the connector 2 as viewed from above. Fig. 7 shows a cross section of the connector 2 taken along the cutting line aa in Fig. 6 as viewed from the left (bottom in Fig. 6).

[0022] The connector 2 includes two power terminals 3, a plurality of (e.g., eight) signal terminals 8, and a housing 15 that holds each of the power terminals 3 and each of the signal terminals 8. The power terminals 3 are a specific example of a "first terminal," the signal terminals 8 are a specific example of a "second terminal," and the housing 15 is a specific example of a "terminal holding portion."

[0023] [Connector housing] The housing 15 of the connector 2 is made of an insulating material such as resin. As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the housing 15 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape when viewed from above, and has a front surface 16, a rear surface 17, a top surface 18, a bottom surface 19, a left surface 20, and a right surface 21.

[0024] The left and right parts of the housing 15 each hold two power terminals 3 .

[0025] A signal terminal holding portion 22 is provided at the rear of the housing 15. As shown in Fig. 7, the signal terminal holding portion 22 protrudes rearward from the lower part of the rear surface of the housing 15, and extends from the left end to the right end of the housing 15 as shown in Fig. 5. The rear portions of the signal terminals 8 are held in the left-right intermediate portion of the signal terminal holding portion 22 as shown in Fig. 7.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 5 , a plurality of grooves 23 are formed in the middle of the housing 15 in the left-right direction. Each groove 23 extends rearward from the front surface 16 of the housing 15 to a portion of the housing 15 immediately in front of the signal terminal holding portion 22, and also extends from the top surface 18 to the bottom surface 19 of the housing 15. As a result, each groove 23 is continuously open from the upper portion of the rear surface 17 of the housing 15 through the top surface 18 and the front surface 16 to the rear portion of the bottom surface 19. The plurality of grooves 23 are arranged parallel to one another in a line in the left-right direction at equal intervals. The number of grooves 23 is the same as the number of signal terminals 8. As shown in FIG. 7 , a portion of a signal terminal 8 forward of the portion held by the signal terminal holding portion 22 is displaceably disposed within each groove 23.

[0027] The housing 15 is formed by insert molding, and is integrated with the rear portions of the power terminals 3 and the signal terminals 8 by insert molding.

[0028] [Connector power terminal] Figure 8(A) shows the power terminal 3 of the connector 2 as seen from the upper left front. Figure 8(B) shows the power terminal 3 as seen from the left. Figure 8(C) shows a cross section of the power terminal 3 taken along section line bb in Figure 8(B) as seen from the front (right in Figure 8(B)). Figure 8(D) shows a cross section of the power terminal 3 taken along section line cc in Figure 8(B) as seen from the front (right in Figure 8(B)).

[0029] The two power terminals 3 of the connector 2 have the same configuration. Each power terminal 3 is made of a metal material such as a copper alloy. As shown in Figure 8(A), each power terminal 3 is formed in the shape of a rod, column, or blade that extends in the front-rear direction. Each power terminal 3 is formed by bending a flat metal piece of a predetermined shape obtained by punching a metal plate.

[0030] A fixing portion 4 is formed at the rear of each power terminal 3 to fix it to the housing 15. As shown in Fig. 8(C), the cross section of the fixing portion 4 is U-shaped.

[0031] Furthermore, a contact portion 5 is formed at the front of each power terminal 3, which comes into contact with a power terminal 32 of the mating connector 31 when the connector 2 is connected to the mating connector 31. The contact portion 5 of each power terminal 3 is formed so as not to be elastically deformable. As shown in FIG. 8(D), the cross section of the contact portion 5 is rectangular. The contact portion 5 is a specific example of a "first contact portion."

[0032] In addition, a chamfered portion 6A is formed by chamfering the upper left corner of the contact portion 5. In addition, chamfered portions 6B to 6J are also formed at the upper right corner, lower left corner, lower right corner, front left corner, front right corner, upper left corner, upper right corner, lower left corner, and lower right corner of the contact portion 5, respectively.

[0033] Furthermore, a board connection portion 7 is formed at the rear end of each power terminal 3 to connect to a circuit on the main body side board 64. The board connection portion 7 extends rearward from the lower part of the rear end of the fixed portion 4.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 , the fixed portion 4 of one power terminal 3 is embedded within the left portion of the housing 15 and is fixed to the left portion of the housing 15. The contact portion 5 of the one power terminal 3 protrudes forward from the front surface 16 of the left portion of the housing 15. The board connection portion 7 of the one power terminal 3 is located at the lower rear of the left portion of the housing 15 and is exposed to the outside. The board connection portion 7 of the one power terminal 3 is disposed so that its lower surface is flush with the lower surface 19 of the housing 15. The fixed portion 4 of the other power terminal 3 is embedded within the right portion of the housing 15 and is fixed to the right portion of the housing 15. The contact portion 5 of the other power terminal 3 protrudes forward from the front surface 16 of the right portion of the housing 15. The board connection portion 7 of the other power terminal 3 is located at the lower rear of the right portion of the housing 15 and is exposed to the outside of the housing 15. The board connection portion 7 of the other power terminal 3 is arranged so that its lower surface is flush with the lower surface 19 of the housing 15. The two power terminals 3 extend parallel to each other in the front-to-rear direction, and the contact portions 5 of the two power terminals 3 protrude from the housing 15 in the same direction.

[0035] [Connector signal terminal] Figure 9(A) shows the signal terminal 8 of the connector 2 as seen from the upper left front. Figure 9(B) shows the signal terminal 8 as seen from the left. Figure 9(C) shows a cross section of the signal terminal 8 cut along cutting line dd in Figure 9(B) as seen from below.

[0036] The multiple signal terminals 8 of the connector 2 have the same configuration. Each signal terminal 8 is made of a metal material such as a copper alloy. Each signal terminal 8 is a compression terminal or a spring terminal. Each signal terminal 8 is formed by punching a thin strip of metal from a metal plate and then bending it as shown in FIG. 9(A).

[0037] A fixing portion 9 is formed at the rear of each signal terminal 8 to fix it to the housing 15. As shown in Fig. 9(B) , the fixing portion 9 is the portion at the rear of each signal terminal 8 that extends in the up-down direction as a whole between the dashed lines tt and uu.

[0038] Furthermore, a contact portion 10 is formed at the front of each signal terminal 8, which contacts a signal terminal 41 of the mating connector 31 when the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 are connected. The contact portion 10 is formed to be elastically deformable. The contact portion 10 has a spring portion 11, a contact portion 12, and a bent portion 13. The spring portion 11 extends forward from the upper end of the fixed portion 9, then bends downward and forward, and then extends downward and forward. The contact portion 12 is located at the lower end of the portion of the spring portion 11 that extends downward and forward. In other words, the contact portion 12 is the frontmost portion of the contact portion 10. The bent portion 13 extends downward and backward from the contact portion 12, then bends upward, and then extends upward. The contact portion 10 is a specific example of a "second contact portion."

[0039] Furthermore, a board connection portion 14 is formed at the rear end of each signal terminal 8 to be connected to a circuit on the main body side board 64. The board connection portion 14 extends rearward from the lower end of the fixed portion 9.

[0040] In FIG. 7, the lower portion of the fixing portion 9 of each signal terminal 8 is embedded inside the signal terminal holding portion 22 of the housing 15 and is fixed to the signal terminal holding portion 22.

[0041] The contact portion 10 of each signal terminal 8 is displaceably disposed in the groove 23 of the housing 15. That is, the contact portion 10 can move within the groove 23 of the housing 15. When the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 are not connected, the contact portion 10 is not elastically displaced. When the contact portion 10 is not elastically displaced, the rear portion of the spring portion 11 extends forward so as to fit along the top surface 18 of the housing 15 (so that the upper surface of the rear portion of the spring portion 11 is flush with the top surface 18 of the housing 15), and the front portion of the spring portion 11 and the contact portion 12 protrude from the groove 23. That is, the front portion of the spring portion 11 protrudes forward from the front surface 16 of the housing 15, and the contact portion 12 is located forward of the front surface 16 of the housing 15. On the other hand, when the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 are connected, the portion of the contact portion 10 that protrudes forward from the groove 23 of the housing 15 is pushed backward (in the direction of the arrow B1 at the bottom right in FIG. 7) by the signal terminal 41 of the mating connector 31. This causes elastic displacement of the contact portion 10. More specifically, the spring portion 11 of the contact portion 10 elastically deforms as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 7, causing most of the contact portion 10 to enter the groove 23 and displacing the contact portion 12 of the contact portion 10 backward.

[0042] Furthermore, the rear end of the bent portion 13 of the contact portion 10 is always positioned within the groove 23, whether the contact portion 10 is not elastically displaced or is elastically displaced. By always positioning the rear end of the bent portion 13 of the contact portion 10 (i.e., the tip end of the free end side of the contact portion 10) within the groove 23, it is possible to prevent a thread-like or string-like object from getting caught on the part of the free end side of the contact portion 10, causing abnormal plastic deformation of the contact portion 10 and causing the shape of the contact portion 10 to change from the shape it had when it was first manufactured.

[0043] Furthermore, the board connection portion 14 of each signal terminal 8 is exposed to the outside of the housing 15 from the lower portion of the signal terminal holding portion 22 of the housing 15. Furthermore, each board connection portion 14 is arranged so that its lower surface is flush with the lower surface 19 of the housing 15.

[0044] 4 to 6, the signal terminals 8 are arranged in parallel with one another. The signal terminals 8 are also arranged in a line in the left-right direction from one power terminal 3 to the other power terminal 3, at equal intervals. When the contact portions 10 of the signal terminals 8 are not elastically displaced, the contact portions 10 of the signal terminals 8 protrude from the housing 15 in the same direction, and the protruding direction of these contact portions 10 from the housing 15 is the same as the protruding direction of the contact portions 5 of the power terminals 3 from the housing 15.

[0045] [Cross-sectional area of ​​each terminal of the connector] 8(D) and 9(C), in connector 2, the cross-sectional area of ​​contact portion 5 of each power terminal 3 is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​contact portion 10 of each signal terminal 8. For power terminal 3, a thick metal plate is used, and the punching shape and bending method are set so that the cross-sectional area of ​​power terminal 3 is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​signal terminal 8. That is, both power terminal 3 and signal terminal 8 are manufactured by bending metal pieces obtained by punching metal plate material, but the thickness of the metal plate material used to manufacture power terminal 3 is thicker than the thickness of the metal plate material used to manufacture signal terminal 8. Furthermore, signal terminal 8 is punched out of metal plate material into thin strips, while power terminal 3 is punched out of metal plate material into flat plates having a predetermined shape. In addition, the contact portion 10 of the signal terminal 8 is formed by bending a thin strip of metal obtained by punching a metal material so that one part of the metal piece does not overlap with another part, whereas the contact portion 5 of the power terminal 3 is formed by bending a flat metal piece of a predetermined shape obtained by punching a metal plate material and overlapping two parts of the metal piece with each other.

[0046] Furthermore, when comparing the power supply terminals 3 and the signal terminals 8, the cross-sectional areas of not only the contact portions 5 and 10 but also the portions other than the contact portions 5 and 10 are larger in the power supply terminals 3 than in the signal terminals 8. Therefore, the current capacity of the power supply terminals 3 is larger than the current capacity of the signal terminals 8. Therefore, when the electrical and electronic device 61 is operating, a power supply current having a value larger than that of the signal current can be passed from the battery-side substrate 66 to the main body-side substrate 64 via each power supply terminal 3. Furthermore, when the battery 65 is being charged, a charging current having a value larger than that of the signal current can be passed from the main body-side substrate 64 to the battery-side substrate 66 via each power supply terminal 3.

[0047] [Strength and arrangement of each connector terminal] In the connector 2, each power terminal 3 is formed so as not to be elastically deformable, and has a larger cross-sectional area than the signal terminals 8. Therefore, each power terminal 3 is stronger than the signal terminals 8. As shown in FIG. 6 , each signal terminal 8 is disposed between two power terminals 3. Each signal terminal 8 and each power terminal 3 protrudes forward from the front surface 16 of the housing 15, and the signal terminals 8 and each power terminal 3 protrude in the same direction. In this way, in the connector 2, each signal terminal 8 is disposed between two strong power terminals 3. With this configuration, each signal terminal 8 can be protected by the two power terminals 3, and the durability of the connector 2 can be increased.

[0048] That is, since the signal terminals 8 are formed so as to be elastically deformable by bending thin strips of metal, if an external object comes into contact with the signal terminals 8, the signal terminals 8 may undergo abnormal plastic deformation, and the shape of the signal terminals 8 may change from the shape at the time of manufacture. However, by arranging each signal terminal 8 between two strong power terminals 3, the power terminals 3 can prevent external objects approaching the connector 2 from coming into contact with the signal terminals 8.

[0049] 1, when a user mounts the battery 65 in the main body 62, the user holds the battery 65 in his / her hand and fits the battery 65 into the battery mounting recess 63 of the main body 62. At that time, the user first holds the battery 65 in his / her hand and positions the battery 65 so that, when the main body 62 is viewed from above in FIG. 1, the battery 65 fits snugly into the battery mounting recess 63 and the lower surface of the battery 65 is parallel to the bottom surface of the battery mounting recess 63. Then, while keeping the lower surface of the battery 65 parallel to the bottom surface of the battery mounting recess 63, the user moves the battery 65 vertically downward in FIG. 1 to fit it into the battery mounting recess 63. When the battery 65 is fitted into the battery mounting recess 63 in this way, the connector 2 is properly connected to the mating connector 31. However, it is conceivable that a user may attempt to fit the battery 65 into the battery mounting recess 63 in a state that is contrary to the correct method of mounting the battery 65 into the main body 62, with the battery 65 significantly misaligned from the battery mounting recess 63 when viewed from above the main body 62, or with the underside of the battery 65 significantly tilted relative to the bottom surface of the battery mounting recess 63. In such a case, if each signal terminal 8 is not disposed between two power supply terminals 3 and there are no objects protruding forward from the front surface 16 of the housing 15 on either side of the arrangement of the signal terminals 8, parts of the battery 65 other than the parts where the mating connector 31 is provided may come into contact with the signal terminals 8, which may result in abnormal plastic deformation of the signal terminals 8. In the connector 2 of this embodiment, each signal terminal 8 is arranged between two power terminals 3, and there are power terminals 3 protruding forward from the front surface 16 of the housing 15 on both the left and right sides of the arrangement of the signal terminals 8. Therefore, if a user attempts to attach the battery 65 to the main body 62 in a manner that is contrary to the correct method of attaching the battery 65 to the main body 62, as described above, the parts of the battery 65 other than the part where the mating connector 31 is provided will come into contact with the power terminals 3. This prevents the parts of the battery 65 other than the part where the mating connector 31 is provided from coming into contact with the signal terminals 8. Therefore, abnormal plastic deformation of the signal terminals 8 can be prevented.

[0050] Furthermore, the multiple signal terminals 8 are lined up in a row from one power supply terminal 3 to the other power supply terminal 3. With this configuration, all of the multiple signal terminals 8 can be arranged between the two power supply terminals 3, and all of the multiple signal terminals 8 can be protected by the two power supply terminals 3.

[0051] [Protrusion amount of each connector terminal] As can be seen from Figure 6, in the connector 2, the amount by which the contact portion 5 of each power terminal 3 protrudes from the housing 15 is greater than the amount by which each signal terminal 8 protrudes from the housing 15. In this embodiment, the amount by which the contact portion 5 of each power terminal 3 protrudes from the housing 15 is more than twice the amount by which each signal terminal 8 protrudes from the housing 15. This makes it more difficult for external objects to come into contact with the signal terminals 8. Therefore, the two power terminals 3 can enhance the effect of preventing external objects from coming into contact with the signal terminals 8, and the durability of the connector 2 can be further improved.

[0052] [Mating connector] 10 to 15 are diagrams relating to the mating connector 31. For ease of explanation, the directions of top (U2), bottom (D2), front (F2), back (B2), left (L2), and right (R2) in the mating connector 31 follow the arrows drawn at the bottom right in FIGS.

[0053] Fig. 10 shows the mating connector 31 as viewed from the upper left and front. Fig. 11 shows the mating connector 31 as viewed from the lower left and rear. Fig. 12 shows the mating connector 31 as viewed from above. Fig. 13 shows a cross section of the mating connector 31 cut along cutting line ee in Fig. 12 as viewed from the left (bottom in Fig. 12).

[0054] The mating connector 31 includes two power terminals 32, a plurality of (e.g., eight) signal terminals 41, and a housing 46 that holds each of the power terminals 32 and each of the signal terminals 41. The power terminals 32 are a specific example of a "first mating terminal," the signal terminals 41 are a specific example of a "second mating terminal," and the housing 46 is a specific example of a "mating terminal holding portion."

[0055] [Mating connector housing] The housing 46 of the mating connector 31 is formed of an insulating material such as resin. As shown in Figures 10 to 12, the housing 46 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape when viewed from above, and has a front surface 47, a rear surface 48, a top surface 49, a bottom surface 50, a left surface 51, and a right surface 52.

[0056] The housing 46 is provided with two recesses 53 at two locations spaced apart from each other. One recess 53 is located on the left side of the housing 46, and the other recess 53 is located on the right side of the housing 46. Each recess 53 opens continuously to the front surface 47 and top surface 49 of the housing 46. One power terminal 32 is held in the left recess 53, and the other power terminal 32 is held in the right recess 53. A plurality of signal terminals 41 are held in the left-right intermediate portion of the housing 46. The housing 46 is formed by insert molding. The housing 46 is integrated with the bases 33 of the power terminals 32 and the signal terminals 41 by insert molding.

[0057] [Mating connector power terminal] Figure 14(A) shows the power terminal 32 of the mating connector 31 as viewed from the upper left front. Figure 14(B) shows the power terminal 32 as viewed from the left. Figure 14(C) shows a cross section of the power terminal 32 cut along cutting line ff in Figure 14(B) as viewed from the front (right in Figure 14(B)). Figure 14(D) shows a cross section of the power terminal 32 cut along cutting line gg in Figure 14(B) as viewed from above.

[0058] The two power terminals 32 of the mating connector 31 have the same configuration. Each power terminal 32 is made of a metal material such as a copper alloy. Each power terminal 32 is formed by bending a flat metal piece of a predetermined shape obtained by punching a metal plate.

[0059] 14(A) and 14(B), each power terminal 32 has a base 33, a pair of first contact pieces 34, a pair of extensions 35, a pair of second contact pieces 36, and a board connection portion 37. In the power terminal 32, the portion consisting of the pair of first contact pieces 34, the pair of extensions 35, and the pair of second contact pieces 36 is a specific example of a "first mating contact portion."

[0060] The base 33 extends in the front-to-rear direction. A pair of first contact pieces 34 extend upward from the left and right ends of the rear of the base 33. A pair of extension portions 35 extend upward from the left and right ends of the front of the base 33. A pair of second contact pieces 36 extend rearward from the tops of the pair of extension portions 35. A board connection portion 37 is formed at the rear end of the base 33.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 14C , the pair of first contact pieces 34 are curved inward at their vertically intermediate portions so that they are closer to each other than their upper and lower ends. A contact portion 38 is provided at the vertically intermediate portion of each of the pair of first contact pieces 34. Of the pair of first contact pieces 34, the left first contact piece 34 has a guide portion 40A at its upper end, and the right first contact piece 34 has a guide portion 40B at its upper end. That is, the upper ends of the pair of first contact pieces 34 are flared upward. Of the flared upper ends of the pair of first contact pieces 34, the inner surface of the upper end of the left first contact piece 34 is the guide portion 40A, and the inner surface of the upper end of the right first contact piece 34 is the guide portion 40B. The guide portions 40A and 40B each have the function of guiding the contact portion 5 of the power terminal 3 of the connector 2 inserted into the recess 53 from above the recess 53 into between the pair of first contact pieces . The guide portions 40A and 40B are specific examples of "first guide portions."

[0062] Furthermore, a guide portion 40C is formed at the right front corner of the left extension portion 35, connecting the right surface and the front end surface of the extension portion 35 with a gently curved or inclined surface. Furthermore, a guide portion 40D is formed at the left front corner of the right extension portion 35, connecting the left surface and the front end surface of the extension portion 35 with a gently curved or inclined surface. Each of the guide portions 40C and 40D has the function of guiding the contact portion 5 of the power terminal 3 of the connector 2 inserted into the recess 53 from the front of the recess 53 between the pair of extension portions 35.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 14(D), the pair of second contact pieces 36 are curved inward at their respective front-rear intermediate portions so that they are closer to each other than their respective front and rear ends. A contact portion 39 is provided at the front-rear intermediate portion of each of the pair of second contact pieces 36. A guide portion 40E is formed at the front end of the left second contact piece 36 of the pair of second contact pieces 36. That is, the surface on the inner surface of the front end of the left second contact piece 36 that slopes to the right (inward) toward the rear is the guide portion 40E. A guide portion 40F is formed at the front end of the right second contact piece 36. That is, the surface on the inner surface of the front end of the right second contact piece 36 that slopes to the left (inward) toward the rear is the guide portion 40F. Guide portions 40E and 40F each have the function of guiding contact portion 5 of power terminal 3 of connector 2, which is inserted into recess 53 from the front of recess 53, between a pair of second contact pieces 36. Guide portions 40E and 40F are specific examples of "second guide portions."

[0064] When the connector 2 is connected to the mating connector 31, the contact portions 38 of the pair of first contact pieces 34 and the contact portions 39 of the pair of second contact pieces 36 each contact the contact portions 5 of the power terminals 3 of the connector 2 inserted into the recesses 53 of the housing 46 while clamping the contact portions 5.

[0065] Each first contact piece 34 is also formed to be elastically deformable. That is, when the connector 2 is connected to the mating connector 31, the contact portion 5 of the power terminal 3 of the connector 2 enters between the pair of first contact pieces 34 and the pair of second contact pieces 36. When the contact portion 5 of the power terminal 3 of the connector 2 enters between the pair of first contact pieces 34, each first contact piece 34 is pressed by the contact portion 5 of the power terminal 3 of the connector 2 and elastically deforms. Then, as shown by the two-dot chain lines in FIG. 14(C), the pair of first contact pieces 34 are displaced such that their upper ends spread apart from their lower ends. As a result, the contact portions 38 of the pair of first contact pieces 34 press against the left and right surfaces of the contact portion 5 of the power terminal 3 of the connector 2, respectively, and make strong contact with the left and right surfaces of the contact portion 5.

[0066] Furthermore, each second contact piece 36 is formed to be elastically deformable. That is, when the contact portion 5 of the power terminal 3 of the connector 2 enters between the pair of second contact pieces 36, each second contact piece 36 is pressed by the contact portion 5 of the power terminal 3 of the connector 2 and elastically deforms. As a result, the pair of second contact pieces 36 are displaced such that their rear ends spread apart from each other, starting from their respective front ends, as shown by the two-dot chain lines in Figure 14(D). As a result, the contact portions 39 of the pair of second contact pieces 36 press against the left and right surfaces of the contact portion 5 of the power terminal 3 of the connector 2, respectively, and make strong contact with the left and right surfaces of the contact portion 5.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 10 , in one power terminal 32, the first contact pieces 34, the extensions 35, and the second contact pieces 36 are disposed in a recess 53 on the left side of the housing 46. Also, as shown in FIG. 11 , the base 33 of one power terminal 32 is disposed so that its lower surface is flush with the lower surface 50 of the housing 46. Most of the base 33, excluding its lower surface, is embedded within the lower left portion of the housing 46 and is fixed to the lower left portion of the housing 46. Also, the board connection portion 37 of one power terminal 32 is located at the rear of the lower left portion of the housing 46 and is exposed to the outside. Also, the board connection portion 37 is disposed so that its lower surface is flush with the lower surface 50 of the housing 46. Also, as shown in FIG. 10 , in the other power terminal 32, the first contact pieces 34, the extensions 35, and the second contact pieces 36 are disposed in a recess 53 on the right side of the housing 46. 11 , the base 33 of the other power terminal 32 is disposed so that its lower surface is flush with the lower surface 50 of the housing 46. Most of the base 33, except for its lower surface, is embedded inside the lower right portion of the housing 46 and is fixed to the lower right portion of the housing 46. The board connection portion 37 of the other power terminal 32 is located at the rear of the lower right portion of the housing 46 and is exposed to the outside from the housing 46. The board connection portion 37 is disposed so that its lower surface is flush with the lower surface 50 of the housing 46. The arrangement of the two power terminals 32 of the mating connector 31 corresponds to the arrangement of the two power terminals 3 of the connector 2, respectively.

[0068] [Mating connector signal terminal] Figure 15 shows the signal terminal 41 of the mating connector 31 as viewed from the upper left front. The multiple signal terminals 41 of the mating connector 31 each have the same configuration. Each signal terminal 41 is made of a metal material such as a copper alloy. Each signal terminal 41 is formed by punching a thin strip of metal from a metal plate and then bending it as shown in Figure 15.

[0069] Each signal terminal 41 has a base 42 extending in the front-to-rear direction, a contact portion 43 extending upward from the front end of the base 42, a bent portion 44 extending rearward from the upper end of the contact portion 43, then bending downward and extending downward again, and a board connection portion 45 located at the rear end of the base 42. The contact portion 43 also has a flat front surface. When the connector 2 is connected to the mating connector 31, the contact portion 43 presses and elastically displaces the contact portion 10 of the signal terminal 8 of the connector 2, thereby making contact with the contact portion 10. The contact portion 43 is a specific example of a "second mating contact portion."

[0070] As shown in FIGS. 10 to 13 , in each signal terminal 41, the lower surface of the base portion 42, the front surface of the contact portion 43, and the upper surface of the front portion of the bent portion 44 are exposed to the outside from the housing 46. In each signal terminal 41, the base portion 42 is disposed at the bottom of the housing 46 so that its lower surface is flush with the lower surface 50 of the housing 46. The contact portion 43 is disposed at the front portion of the housing 46 so that its front surface is flush with the front surface 47 of the housing 46. The front portion of the bent portion 44 is disposed so that its upper surface is flush with the upper surface 49 of the housing 46. In each signal terminal 41, the portions excluding the lower surface of the base portion 42, the front surface of the contact portion 43, the upper surface of the front portion of the bent portion 44, and the board connection portion 45 are embedded within the housing 46 and fixed to the housing 46. In addition, the rear portion of the bent portion 44, i.e., the portion extending downward at the bent portion 44, is embedded in the housing 46, thereby firmly fixing the signal terminal 41 to the housing 46. Furthermore, the board connection portion 45 of each signal terminal 41 is located at the lower rear of the housing 46 and is exposed to the outside from the housing 46. Furthermore, the board connection portion 45 is disposed so that its lower surface is flush with the lower surface 50 of the housing 46.

[0071] The signal terminals 41 are arranged between two recesses 53 formed in the housing 46. The signal terminals 41 are arranged in parallel with one another. The signal terminals 41 are also arranged in a line in the left-right direction from one recess 53 to the other recess 53, at equal intervals. The arrangement of the signal terminals 41 of the mating connector 31 is set to correspond to the arrangement of the signal terminals 8 of the connector 2.

[0072] [Cross-sectional area of ​​each terminal of the mating connector] In the mating connector 31, both the power terminals 32 and the signal terminals 41 are manufactured by bending metal pieces obtained by punching a metal plate material, but the thickness of the metal plate material used to manufacture the power terminals 32 is greater than the thickness of the metal plate material used to manufacture the signal terminals 41. Therefore, the cross-sectional area of ​​each portion of the power terminals 32 is greater than the cross-sectional area of ​​each portion of the signal terminals 41, and therefore the current capacity of the power terminals 32 is greater than the current capacity of the signal terminals 41. Therefore, when the electrical and electronic device 61 is operating, a power supply current having a value larger than the value of the signal current can flow from the battery-side board 66 to the main-side board 64 via each power terminal 32. Furthermore, when the battery 65 is charging, a charging current having a value larger than the value of the signal current can flow from the main-side board 64 to the battery-side board 66 via each power terminal 32.

[0073] [Mounting each connector to the board] As shown in Fig. 4, the connector 2 is surface-mounted on the upper surface of the main body-side board 64 by soldering the board connection portions 7 of each power supply terminal 3 and the board connection portions 14 of each signal terminal 8 to a plurality of pads formed on the upper surface of the main body-side board 64. Also, as shown in Fig. 10, the mating connector 31 is surface-mounted on the upper surface of the battery-side board 66 by soldering the board connection portions 37 of each power supply terminal 32 and the board connection portions 45 of each signal terminal 41 to a plurality of pads formed on the upper surface of the battery-side board 66.

[0074] Furthermore, in the connector 2, when the contact portions 10 of the signal terminals 8 are not elastically displaced, the upper surfaces of the rear portions of the spring portions 11 are flush with the upper surface 18 of the housing 15. The left-right dimension of the rear portion of the spring portion 11 is approximately equal to the left-right dimension of the grooves 23 of the housing 15. Strictly speaking, the left-right dimension of the rear portion of the spring portion 11 is slightly smaller than the left-right dimension of the grooves 23 to allow for displacement of the contact portions 10. As a result, although the upper surfaces of the rear portions of the spring portions 11 of the multiple signal terminals 8 are exposed on the upper surface 18 of the housing 15 as shown in FIG. 4 , the upper surface 18 is generally flat, without irregularities or gaps. With this configuration, when the connector 2 is surface-mounted on the main body substrate 64, the upper surface 18 of the housing 15 can be used to easily attach the connector 2 to a mounting device. This facilitates surface mounting of the connector 2 on the main body substrate 64.

[0075] [Connecting connectors] As shown in FIG. 1, in an electrical / electronic device 61, a main body-side board 64 on which a connector 2 is mounted is attached to a main body 62 so that the upper surface of the main body-side board 64 faces upward in FIG. 1. Therefore, the connector 2 is arranged so that the upper surface 18 of its housing 15 faces upward in FIG. 1. On the other hand, a battery-side board 66 on which a mating connector 31 is mounted is attached to a battery 65 so that the upper surface of the battery-side board 66 faces downward in FIG. 1. Therefore, the mating connector 31 is arranged so that the upper surface 49 of its housing 46 faces downward in FIG. 1. Furthermore, the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 are arranged so that the front surface 16 of the housing 15 of the connector 2 and the front surface 47 of the housing 46 of the mating connector 31 face each other when their vertical positions are aligned.

[0076] Furthermore, when attaching the battery 65 to the main body 62, the user holds the battery 65 in their hand and positions the battery 65 so that the battery 65 fits snugly into the battery attachment recess 63 when the main body 62 is viewed from above in FIG. 1 and the lower surface of the battery 65 is parallel to the bottom surface of the battery attachment recess 63. Then, while keeping the lower surface of the battery 65 parallel to the bottom surface of the battery attachment recess 63, the user moves the battery 65 downward in FIG. 1 to fit the battery 65 into the battery attachment recess 63.

[0077] 1 together with the battery 65, and at approximately the same time that the battery 65 enters the battery mounting recess 63, the contact portions 5 of the power terminals 3 of the connector 2 enter the recesses 53 through openings in the upper surface 49 of the housing 46 of the mating connector 31. The contact portions 5 of the power terminals 3 of the connector 2 then enter between the pair of first contact pieces 34 and the pair of second contact pieces 36 of the power terminals 32 of the mating connector 31, respectively. The contact portions 5 of the power terminals 3 of the connector 2 then come into contact with the contact portions 38 of the pair of first contact pieces 34 and the contact portions 39 of the pair of second contact pieces 36 of the power terminals 32 of the mating connector 31, respectively.

[0078] At approximately the same time that the contact portions 5 of the power terminals 3 of the connector 2 enter the recesses 53 of the mating connector 31, the signal terminals 41 of the mating connector 31 come into contact with the portions of the contact portions 10 of the signal terminals 8 of the connector 2 that protrude forward from the front surface 16 of the housing 15, from above in FIG. 1. Then, as the mating connector 31 moves downward in FIG. 1, the signal terminals 41 of the mating connector 31 press the contact portions 10 of the signal terminals 8 of the connector 2. This causes the contact portions 10 of the signal terminals 8 of the connector 2 to elastically displace so as to enter deeply into the grooves 23 of the housing 15 of the connector 2. Then, the contact portions 12 of the signal terminals 8 of the connector 2 come into contact with the contact portions 43 of the signal terminals 41 of the mating connector 31.

[0079] [Another way to connect connectors] When connecting the connector 2 of the first embodiment to the mating connector 31, the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 are brought close to each other in the vertical direction. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 2, the positions of the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 are determined so that the top surface 18 of the housing 15 of the connector 2 faces upward in Fig. 2, the top surface 49 of the housing 46 of the mating connector 31 faces downward in Fig. 2, and the top surfaces of the contact portions 5 of the power terminals 3 of the connector 2 face the openings of the recesses 53 in the housing 46 of the mating connector 31 that open in the top surface 49 of the housing 46. Then, for example, the mating connector 31 is moved downward in Fig. 2 (in the direction of arrow P) to bring it close to the connector 2, and the mating connector 31 is connected to the connector 2.

[0080] However, when the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 of the first embodiment are applied to an electrical electronic device other than the electrical electronic device 61 shown in Fig. 1 , the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 can be connected by moving them close to each other in the front-to-rear direction. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 16 , the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 can be positioned so that the top surface 18 of the housing 15 of the connector 2 faces upward in Fig. 16 , the top surface 49 of the housing 46 of the mating connector 31 faces upward in Fig. 16 , and the front surfaces of the contact portions 5 of the power terminals 3 of the connector 2 face the openings of the recesses 53 of the housing 46 of the mating connector 31 that open to the front surface 47 of the housing 46. Then, for example, the mating connector 31 can be moved forward in Fig. 16 (in the direction of arrow Q) to move it closer to the connector 2, thereby connecting the mating connector 31 to the connector 2. Note that in Fig. 16 , the connector 2 is mounted on a main body-side board 68 of the other electrical electronic device, and the mating connector 31 is mounted on a battery-side board 69 of a battery used in the other electrical electronic device.

[0081] [Connector misalignment correction function] The connector 2 and mating connector 31 of the first embodiment have a function (misalignment correction function) of correcting misalignment in the left-right direction between the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 when the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 are connected.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 2 , when connecting the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 by bringing them closer together in the vertical direction, the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 are positioned so that the contact portions 5 of the power terminals 3 of the connector 2 and the recesses 53 of the housing 46 of the mating connector 31 face each other in the vertical direction, and then, for example, the mating connector 31 is moved downward to bring it closer to the connector 2. At this time, the mating connector 31 may become misaligned left and right relative to the connector 2. Also, as shown in FIG. 16 , when connecting the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 by bringing them closer together in the front-to-rear direction, the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 are positioned so that the contact portions 5 of the power terminals 3 of the connector 2 and the recesses 53 of the housing 46 of the mating connector 31 face each other in the front-to-rear direction, and then, for example, the mating connector 31 is moved forward to bring it closer to the connector 2. At this time, the mating connector 31 may also become misaligned left and right relative to the connector 2. The positional misalignment correction function of the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 allows for correction of left-right positional misalignment between the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 both when the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 are brought close to each other in the vertical direction and when the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 are brought close to each other in the front-to-back direction and connected.

[0083] First, correction of left-right positional deviation between the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 when the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 are brought close to each other in the vertical direction and connected will be described.

[0084] 17 shows a state in which the mating connector 31 is misaligned to the left relative to the connector 2 when the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 are brought close to each other in the vertical direction for connection. In FIG. 17, if the amount of leftward positional misalignment S of the mating connector 31 relative to the connector 2 is within a predetermined positional misalignment correction range, the positional misalignment correction function of the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 can correct the leftward positional misalignment of the mating connector 31 relative to the connector 2, thereby eliminating the positional misalignment. Furthermore, although not shown, if the amount of rightward positional misalignment of the mating connector 31 relative to the connector 2 is within a predetermined positional misalignment correction range, the positional misalignment correction function of the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 can correct the rightward positional misalignment of the mating connector 31 relative to the connector 2, thereby eliminating the positional misalignment.

[0085] Correction of left-right misalignment between connector 2 and mating connector 31 when connector 2 and mating connector 31 are connected by bringing them closer together in the vertical direction is mainly achieved by chamfered portions 6A, 6B (see Figure 8(D)) formed respectively at the upper left and right corners of the contact portion 5 of each power terminal 3 of connector 2, and guide portions 40A, 40B (see Figure 14(C)) formed respectively at the upper ends of a pair of first contact pieces 34 of each power terminal 32 of mating connector 31.

[0086] Figure 18(A) shows the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 as viewed from the left when they are brought close together in the vertical direction for connection. Figures 18(B) and 18(C) show cross sections of the contact portion 5 of the power terminal 3 of the connector 2 and the pair of first contact pieces 34 of the power terminal 32 of the mating connector 31, taken along the cutting line hh in Figure 18(A), as viewed from the left in Figure 18(A).

[0087] For example, when the mating connector 31 is moved downward (in the direction of arrow P in FIG. 18A) to approach the connector 2 in order to connect the connector 2 and the mating connector 31, the mating connector 31 is misaligned leftward relative to the connector 2, and the amount of misalignment is within a predetermined range for correcting misalignment. In this case, as the mating connector 31 approaches the connector 2, as shown in FIG. 18B, the guide portion 40B formed on the upper end of the right-side first contact piece 34 of each power terminal 32 of the mating connector 31 approaches the chamfered portion 6B formed on the upper right corner of the contact portion 5 of each power terminal 3 of the connector 2. Then, as shown in FIG. 18C, the guide portion 40B comes into contact with the chamfered portion 6B. As a result, the pair of first contact pieces 34 of each power terminal 32 of the mating connector 31 moves rightward, and the pair of first contact pieces 34 become positioned as indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 18C. That is, the contact portion 5 of the power terminal 3 of the connector 2 is guided between the pair of first contact pieces 34 by the guide portion 40B of the first contact pieces 34 of the power terminal 32 of the mating connector 31, and as a result, the left-right positions of the pair of first contact pieces 34 and the contact portion 5 accurately match each other. Then, as the pair of first contact pieces 34 move, the mating connector 31 moves to the right relative to the connector 2. As a result, the leftward positional deviation of the mating connector 31 relative to the connector 2 is eliminated.

[0088] Next, a description will be given of how to correct misalignment in the left-right direction between the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 when the connector 2 and the mating connector 31 are brought close to each other in the front-rear direction and connected.

[0089] Correction of left-right misalignment between connector 2 and mating connector 31 when connector 2 and mating connector 31 are connected by bringing them close to each other in the front-to-back direction is mainly achieved by chamfered portions 6E, 6F formed respectively at the left front corner and right front corner of the contact portion 5 of each power terminal 3 of connector 2, guide portions 40C, 40D formed respectively at the right front corner and left front corner of the left extension portion 35 of each power terminal 32 of the mating connector 31, and guide portions 40E, 40F formed respectively at the front ends of the pair of second contact pieces 36 of each power terminal 32 of the mating connector 31.

[0090] Figure 19(A) shows the connector 2 and mating connector 31 when they are brought close to each other in the front-to-rear direction and connected, as viewed from the right of the mating connector 31. Figures 19(B) to 19(C) show cross sections of the contact portion 5 of the power terminal 3 of the connector 2 and the front portion of the power terminal 32 of the mating connector 31, cut along cutting line kk in Figure 19(A), as viewed from the left in Figure 19(A).

[0091] In order to connect the connector 2 and the mating connector 31, for example, when the mating connector 31 is moved forward (in the direction of arrow Q in FIG. 19A) to approach the connector 2, the mating connector 31 is misaligned leftward in FIG. 19B relative to the connector 2, and the amount of misalignment is within a predetermined range for correcting misalignment. In this case, as the mating connector 31 approaches the connector 2, as shown in FIG. 19B, the guide portion 40D formed at the left front corner of the right extension portion 35 of each power terminal 32 of the mating connector 31 approaches the chamfered portion 6E formed at the left front corner (the right front corner in FIG. 19B) of the contact portion 5 of each power terminal 3 of the connector 2. Then, as shown in FIG. 19C, the guide portion 40D comes into contact with the chamfered portion 6E. As a result, each power terminal 32 of the mating connector 31 moves rightward in FIG. 19C, and the position of each power terminal 32 becomes the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 19C. That is, the contact portion 5 of the power terminal 3 of the connector 2 is guided between the pair of extension portions 35 of the power terminal 32 of the mating connector 31 by the guide portion 40D of the extension portions 35 of the power terminal 32 of the mating connector 31. Next, when the mating connector 31 approaches the connector 2 further, as shown in Fig. 19(D), the guide portion 40F formed on the front end of the second contact piece 36 on the right side of each power terminal 32 of the mating connector 31 comes into contact with the chamfered portion 6E formed on the left front corner (the right front corner in Fig. 19(D)) of the contact portion 5 of each power terminal 3 of the connector 2. This causes each power terminal 32 of the mating connector 31 to move right in Fig. 19(D), and the position of each power terminal 32 becomes the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 19(D). That is, the contact portion 5 of the power terminal 3 of the connector 2 is guided between the pair of second contact pieces 36 by the guide portion 40F of the second contact pieces 36 of the power terminal 32 of the mating connector 31, and as a result, the left-right positions of the pair of second contact pieces 36 and the contact portion 5 accurately match with each other. Then, with this movement of the power terminals 32 of the mating connector 31, the mating connector 31 moves to the right relative to the connector 2. As a result, the leftward positional deviation of the mating connector 31 relative to the connector 2 is eliminated.

[0092] By eliminating the misalignment in the left-right direction between connector 2 and mating connector 31, not only do the left-right positions of the two power terminals 3 of connector 2 and the two power terminals 32 of the mating connector 31 match, but the left-right positions of the multiple signal terminals 8 of connector 2 and the multiple signal terminals 41 of the mating connector 31 also match. Therefore, contact portion 5 of each power terminal 3 of connector 2 reliably contacts each contact portion 38 of the pair of first contact pieces 34 of each power terminal 32 of the mating connector 31 and each contact portion 39 of the pair of second contact pieces 36, and at the same time, contact portion 12 of contact portion 10 of each signal terminal 8 of connector 2 reliably contacts each contact portion 43 of each signal terminal 41 of the mating connector 31.

[0093] (Second embodiment) FIG. 20 shows a connector device 71 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 20, the connector device 71 includes a connector 72 according to the second embodiment of the present invention and a mating connector 90 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Comparing the connector device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention with the connector device 71 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the protruding direction of each terminal of the connector is different between the two. That is, in the connector device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the terminals 3 and 8 of the connector 2 protrude forward from the front surface 16 of the housing 15, and the protruding direction of each terminal 3 and 8 is parallel to the upper surface of the main body substrate 64. In contrast, in the connector device 71 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the terminals 73 and 75 of the connector 72 protrude upward from the upper surface 85 of the housing 82, and the protruding direction of each terminal 73 and 75 is perpendicular to the upper surface of the main body substrate 108.

[0094] Furthermore, connector 72 is surface-mounted on a main body-side substrate 108 of an electric / electronic device other than electric / electronic device 61 shown in Fig. 1. Furthermore, mating connector 90 is surface-mounted on a battery-side substrate 109 of a battery other than battery 65 shown in Fig. 1. For example, mating connector 90 is connected to connector 72 upside down as shown in Fig. 20.

[0095] Figure 21 shows a front view of a connector 72 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 21, the connector 72 includes two power terminals 73, a plurality of (e.g., six) signal terminals 75, and a housing 82 that holds the power terminals 73 and the signal terminals 75. The power terminals 73 are a specific example of a "first terminal," the signal terminals 75 are a specific example of a "second terminal," and the housing 82 is a specific example of a "terminal holding portion."

[0096] The housing 82 of the connector 72 is formed from an insulating material such as resin into a rectangular parallelepiped overall shape, and has a front surface 83, a rear surface 84, a top surface 85, a bottom surface 86, a left surface 87, and a right surface 88. A plurality of grooves are formed in the middle of the housing 82 in the left-right direction to displaceably position the contact portions 77 of the plurality of signal terminals 75. Each groove extends downward from the top surface 85 of the housing 82 to the bottom of the housing 82, and also extends from the front surface 83 to the rear surface 84 of the housing 82. As a result, each groove is continuously open from the top of the front surface 83 of the housing 82, through the top surface 85, and to the top of the rear surface 84. The housing 82 is integrated with the bottoms of the power terminals 73 and the signal terminals 75 by insert molding.

[0097] In the connector 72, two power terminals 73 are arranged on the left and right sides of the housing 82. The configuration of each power terminal 73 itself is the same as that of the power terminal 3 in the first embodiment. The contact portion 74 of each power terminal 73 is formed to be non-elastically deformable, similar to the contact portion 5 of the power terminal 3 in the first embodiment. However, unlike the power terminal 3 in the first embodiment, each power terminal 73 extends in the vertical direction, and the contact portion 74 of each power terminal 73 protrudes upward from the top surface 85 of the housing 82. The contact portion 74 is a specific example of a "first contact portion."

[0098] In the connector 72, a plurality of signal terminals 75 are arranged between two power terminals 73. The signal terminals 75 are arranged in parallel with one another and are also arranged in a row in the left-right direction from one power terminal 73 to the other power terminal 73 at equal intervals. Each signal terminal 75 is a compression terminal or a spring terminal. Like the signal terminal 8 in the first embodiment, each signal terminal 75 is formed by bending a thin, strip-shaped metal piece obtained by punching a metal plate material.

[0099] FIG. 22 shows a cross section of connector 72 taken along section line mm in FIG. 21, viewed from the left. As shown in FIG. 22, each signal terminal 75 has a fixed portion 76, a contact portion 77, and a board connection portion 81, and contact portion 77 has a spring portion 78, a contact point portion 79, and a bent portion 80. As can be seen by comparing signal terminal 75 in FIG. 22 with signal terminal 8 of the first embodiment in FIG. 7, the overall orientation of signal terminal 75 is different from the overall orientation of signal terminal 8, and the shape of board connection portion 81 is different from the shape of board connection portion 14 of signal terminal 8. Except for these points, signal terminal 75 is substantially similar to signal terminal 8. Note that contact portion 77 is a specific example of a "second contact portion."

[0100] In connector 72, fixed portion 76 of each signal terminal 75 is embedded in the lower portion of housing 82 and is fixed to housing 82. Furthermore, contact portion 77 of each signal terminal 75 is formed to be elastically deformable. Furthermore, contact portion 77 of each signal terminal 75 is disposed to be displaceable within a groove in housing 82. That is, when contact portion 77 is not elastically deformed, the upper portion of spring portion 78 and contact portion 79 protrude from the groove, the upper portion of spring portion 78 protrudes upward from top surface 85 of housing 82, and contact portion 79 is located above top surface 85 of housing 82. On the other hand, when connector 72 is connected to mating connector 90, the portion of contact portion 77 protruding upward from the groove in housing 82 is pressed downward by signal terminal 93 of mating connector 90, causing elastic deformation of contact portion 77, with most of contact portion 77 entering the groove and contact portion 79 moving downward. The board connecting portion 81 extends rearward from the rear end of the fixing portion 76 and is exposed to the outside of the housing 82 from the lower rear portion of the housing 82. The board connecting portion 81 is also arranged so that its lower surface is flush with the lower surface 86 of the housing 82.

[0101] Furthermore, in connector 72, the cross-sectional area of ​​each portion of power terminal 73 is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​each portion of signal terminal 75, and therefore the current capacity of power terminal 73 is larger than the current capacity of signal terminal 75. Therefore, connector 72, like connector 2 of the first embodiment, can pass a large power supply current or a large charging current.

[0102] Furthermore, in connector 72, each signal terminal 75 has a large cross-sectional area and is disposed between two strong power terminals 73. With this configuration, similar to connector 2 of the first embodiment, the two power terminals 73 can prevent external objects from contacting signal terminals 75, thereby increasing the durability of connector 72.

[0103] Furthermore, in connector 72, the amount by which contact portion 77 of each power terminal 73 protrudes from housing 82 is greater than the amount by which each signal terminal 75 protrudes from housing 82. This enhances the effect of preventing external objects from contacting signal terminals 75 by two power terminals 73, similar to connector 2 of the first embodiment, and further increases the durability of connector 2.

[0104] Figure 23 shows a mating connector 90 according to a second embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front. In Figure 23, the mating connector 90 includes two power terminals 91, a plurality of (e.g., six) signal terminals 93, and a housing 99 that holds the power terminals 91 and the signal terminals 93. The power terminals 91 are a specific example of a "first mating terminal," the signal terminals 93 are a specific example of a "second mating terminal," and the housing 99 is a specific example of a "mating terminal holding portion."

[0105] The housing 99 of the mating connector 90 is formed from an insulating material such as resin into a rectangular parallelepiped when viewed from above, and has a front surface 100, a rear surface 101, a top surface 102, a bottom surface 103, a left surface 104, and a right surface 105. The housing 99 is also provided with two recesses 106, one of which is located on the left side of the housing 99 and the other on the right side of the housing 99. Each recess 106 is open continuously to the top surface 102 and the front surface 100 of the housing 99. The housing 99 is also integrated with portions of the power terminals 91 and the signal terminals 93 by insert molding.

[0106] In the mating connector 90, two power terminals 91 are respectively arranged in two recesses 106 of the housing 82. The configuration of each power terminal 91 itself is substantially the same as the configuration of the power terminal 32 in the first embodiment, with the pair of first contact pieces 34 removed. Each power terminal 91 has a pair of contact pieces 92. The pair of contact pieces 92 are configured substantially similarly to the pair of second contact pieces 36 of the power terminal 32 in the first embodiment. The pair of contact pieces 92 is a specific example of a "first mating contact portion."

[0107] In the mating connector 90, the signal terminals 93 are arranged between two recesses 106 formed in the housing 99. The signal terminals 93 are arranged in parallel with one another and are also arranged in a line at equal intervals in the left-right direction from one recess 106 to the other recess 106. The arrangement of the signal terminals 93 is set to correspond to the arrangement of the signal terminals 75 of the connector 72. Similar to the signal terminals 41 in the first embodiment, each signal terminal 93 is formed by bending a thin strip of metal obtained by punching a metal plate material.

[0108] FIG. 24 shows a cross section of the mating connector 90 cut along cutting line nn in FIG. 23 as viewed from the left. As shown in FIG. 24, each signal terminal 93 has a base 94, a contact portion 95, a bent portion 96, and a board connecting portion 97. As can be seen by comparing the signal terminal 93 in FIG. 24 with the signal terminal 41 of the first embodiment in FIG. 13, the overall orientation of the signal terminal 93 is different from the overall orientation of the signal terminal 41, and the shape of the board connecting portion 81 is different from the shape of the board connecting portion 45 of the signal terminal 41. Except for these points, the signal terminal 75 is substantially similar to the signal terminal 41. The contact portion 95 is a specific example of a "second mating contact portion."

[0109] In each signal terminal 93 of the mating connector 90, the rear surface of the base 94, the upper surface of the contact portion 95, and the front surface of the upper part of the bent portion 96 are exposed to the outside from the housing 99. The rear surface of the base 94 is flush with the rear surface 101 of the housing 99, the upper surface of the contact portion 95 is flush with the upper surface 102 of the housing 99, and the front surface of the upper part of the bent portion 96 is flush with the front surface 100 of the housing 99. In addition, in each signal terminal 93, the portion excluding the rear surface of the base 94, the upper surface of the contact portion 95, the front surface of the upper part of the bent portion 96, and the board connection portion 97 is embedded inside the housing 99 and fixed to the housing 99. In addition, the board connection portion 97 of each signal terminal 93 is located at the bottom of the housing 99. The board connection portion 97 extends forward from the bottom end of the base 94, and its bottom surface and front end are exposed to the outside from the housing 99. Furthermore, the board connection portion 97 is disposed so that its lower surface is flush with the lower surface 103 of the housing 99 .

[0110] Furthermore, in mating connector 90, the cross-sectional area of ​​each portion of power terminal 91 is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​each portion of signal terminal 93, and therefore the current capacity of power terminal 91 is larger than the current capacity of signal terminal 93. Therefore, mating connector 90, like mating connector 31 of the first embodiment, can pass a large power supply current or a large charging current.

[0111] In the connector 2 (72) and mating connector 31 (90) of each of the above embodiments, the number of signal terminals is not limited. The number of signal terminals of the connector and the number of signal terminals of the mating connector may each be one.

[0112] In addition, in each of the above embodiments, examples have been given of the connector, mating connector, and connector device of the present invention being used as a connector, mating connector, and connector device that connects between a board on the main body side of an electrical and electronic device and a board on the battery side, but the connector, mating connector, and connector device of the present invention can be widely used as a connector, mating connector, and connector device that connects boards together, regardless of the application.

[0113] In addition, in the above embodiments, the first terminal of the connector of the present invention is a power terminal and the second terminal of the connector of the present invention is a signal terminal, but the first terminal of the connector of the present invention can be used as a terminal other than a power terminal through which a large current flows, and the second terminal of the connector of the present invention can be used as a terminal other than a signal terminal through which a small current flows. The same applies to the first mating terminal and the second mating terminal of the mating connector.

[0114] Furthermore, the present invention can be modified as appropriate within the scope that does not contradict the gist or concept of the invention that can be read from the claims and the entire specification, and connectors, mating connectors, and connector devices that involve such modifications are also included in the technical concept of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0115] 1, 71 Connector device 2, 72 connector 3, 73 Power terminal (first terminal) 5, 74 Contact part (first contact part) 8, 75 Signal terminal (second terminal) 10, 77 Contact part (second contact part) 15, 82 Housing (terminal holding part) 31, 90 Mating connector 32, 91 Power terminal (first mating terminal) 34 First contact piece (first mating contact portion) 35 Extension portion (first mating contact portion) 36 Second contact piece (first mating contact portion) 40A, 40B Lead-in section (first lead-in section) 40E, 40F Guide section (second guide section) 41, 93 Signal terminal (second mating terminal) 43, 95 Contact part (second mating contact part) 46, 99 Housing (Mating terminal holding part) 53, 106 recess 92 contact piece (first mating contact portion)

Claims

1. two first terminals, a second terminal disposed between the two first terminals, and a terminal holding portion that holds the first terminals and the second terminal; Each of the first terminals includes: a first contact portion that protrudes in one direction from the terminal holding portion, is formed so as not to be elastically deformable, and comes into contact with a first mating terminal of a mating connector; The second terminal is A connector characterized by having a second contact portion that protrudes from the terminal holding portion in the one direction, is formed to be elastically displaceable in the direction opposite to the one direction, and is pressed by a second mating terminal of the mating connector to elastically displace in the direction opposite to the one direction and come into contact with the second mating terminal.

2. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the first contact portion protrudes from the terminal holding portion by a larger amount than the second contact portion protrudes from the terminal holding portion.

3. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of ​​the first contact portion is greater than the cross-sectional area of ​​the second contact portion.

4. a plurality of the second terminals; 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of second terminals are arranged in a row from one of the two first terminals to the other of the two first terminals.

5. A mating connector to be connected to a connector comprising two first terminals, a second terminal disposed between the two first terminals, and a terminal holding portion that holds the first terminals and the second terminals, wherein the first terminals protrude from the terminal holding portion in one direction and are formed so as not to be elastically displaceable, and the second terminals protrude from the terminal holding portion in the one direction and are formed so as to be elastically displaceable in a direction opposite to the one direction, two first mating terminals, a second mating terminal, and a mating terminal holding portion that holds the first mating terminals and the second mating terminal; Two recesses are provided at two locations spaced apart from each other in the mating terminal holding portion, the two first mating terminals are disposed in the two recesses, respectively; each of the first mating terminals has a first mating contact portion that comes into contact with the first terminal inserted into the recess; the second mating terminal is disposed between the two recesses, a mating connector, characterized in that the second mating terminal has a second mating contact portion that contacts the second terminal while pressing the second terminal to cause elastic displacement;

6. the first mating terminal has a base portion extending in the front-rear direction, The first mating contact portion includes: a pair of first contact pieces extending upward from left and right ends of a rear portion of the base, respectively, and sandwiching and contacting the first terminal inserted into the recess; a pair of extensions extending upward from the left and right ends of the front of the base, respectively; a pair of second contact pieces extending rearward from the pair of extension portions, and contacting the first terminal while sandwiching the first terminal inserted into the recess; A mating connector as described in claim 5, characterized in that the pair of first contact pieces are formed so that their upper ends can be elastically displaced so as to spread apart from each other, with their respective lower ends as base points, and the pair of second contact pieces are formed so that their rear ends can be elastically displaced so as to spread apart from each other, with their respective front ends as base points.

7. a first guide portion is provided at an upper end of each of the pair of first contact pieces to guide the first terminal inserted into the recess from above the recess into a space between the pair of first contact pieces; A mating connector as described in claim 6, characterized in that a second guide portion is provided at the front end of each of the pair of second contact pieces to guide the first terminal inserted into the recess from the front of the recess into between the pair of second contact pieces.

8. A connector device including a connector and a mating connector to be connected to the connector, the connector includes two first terminals, a second terminal disposed between the two first terminals, and a terminal holder that holds the first terminals and the second terminal; Each of the first terminals includes: a first contact portion that protrudes in one direction from the terminal holding portion, is formed so as not to be elastically deformable, and comes into contact with a first mating terminal of the mating connector; The second terminal is a second contact portion that protrudes from the terminal holding portion in the first direction, is formed to be elastically displaceable in a direction opposite to the first direction, and is pressed by a second mating terminal of the mating connector to be elastically displaced in the direction opposite to the first direction and come into contact with the second mating terminal; the mating connector includes two of the first mating terminals, the second mating terminal, and a mating terminal holding portion that holds the first mating terminals and the second mating terminals; Two recesses are provided at two locations spaced apart from each other in the mating terminal holding portion, the two first mating terminals are disposed in the two recesses, respectively; each of the first mating terminals has a first mating contact portion that contacts the first contact portion inserted into the recess; the second mating terminal is disposed between the two recesses, a second mating terminal having a second mating contact portion that presses the second contact portion to elastically displace it and comes into contact with the second contact portion;

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