Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector having a waterproof structure capable of surely preventing water or the like from entering along a terminal.SOLUTION: The connector 1 includes the terminals 20, the first and second holders 30, 40 for supporting the terminals 20, the shell 50 for supporting the first and second holders 30, 40 and the waterproof member 60 arranged in close contact with the terminals 20 and the shell 50. The terminal 20 includes the body portion 23 and the first connecting portion 21, and the waterproof member 60 is fit externally on the body portion 23. The shell 50 has a partition part 53 including an insertion hole 53b. An internal space of the shell 50 is partitioned into a connection space 54 and a holder accommodation space 55 by a partitioning portion 53. The first connecting portions 21 of the terminals 20 are arranged from the partitioning portion 53 to the connecting space 54 with the first holder 30 inserted into the insertion hole 53b and at least partially exposed in the connecting space 54. The main body 23 of the terminal 20 and the waterproof member 60 are arranged in the holder accommodation space 55.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, waterproof structures that prevent water and the like from entering from the outside have been known. Technology relating to such waterproof structures is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1, the source of which is shown below.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a connector having a waterproof structure. The connector comprises a connector outer shell, a core contact, an O-ring, and a fixing member. The connector outer shell is integrally formed with a case and has a through-hole formed inside the case. The core contact is inserted into the connector outer shell and has a terminal (contact pin in Patent Document 1) that penetrates the through-hole and protrudes into the case, and a contact portion into which the central conductor of a plug connected to the connector is inserted for electrical connection. The O-ring is inserted into the connector outer shell with the core contact terminal penetrating through the center, providing a seal between the inside and outside of the case. The fixing member is made of an insulating material and is press-fitted and engaged into the connector outer shell, thereby fixing the core contact and O-ring within the connector outer shell.

[0004] A connector with this waterproof structure does not require a waterproof structure between the connector and the case it is attached to. Furthermore, the installation is easy because the installation is completed by simply inserting the core contact with the O-ring attached into the outer shell of the connector, press-fitting the fixing member, and locking it in place with the protrusion formed on the inner wall of the outer shell of the connector. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 6-60069 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the connector described in Patent Document 1, when the terminal is thin, the compression rate of the O-ring at the contact point between the O-ring and the contact pin becomes small, which may make it difficult to ensure a sufficient waterproof structure, leaving room for improvement.

[0007] Therefore, there is a demand for a connector having a waterproof structure that can reliably prevent water or the like from entering along the terminals. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One embodiment of a connector according to the present disclosure includes: rod-shaped terminals made of a conductive material; cylindrical first and second holders made of an insulating material, into which the terminals are inserted and supported so as to be coaxial with the axial cores of the terminals; a cylindrical shell made of a conductive material, into which the first and second holders are inserted and supported so as to be coaxial with the axial cores; and a cylindrical waterproof member made of an elastic insulating material, which is disposed in close contact with the terminals and the shell; a connection portion, the waterproofing member being fitted onto the main body portion, the shell having a partition wall protruding radially inward from the inner peripheral surface and a partition portion including an insertion hole at the center of the partition wall which is a through hole coaxial with the axial core, the internal space of the shell being partitioned into a connection space and a holder accommodating space by the partition portion, the first connection portion of the terminal being arranged from the partition portion to the connection space with the first holder inserted into the insertion hole and at least a portion of the first connection portion being exposed to the connection space, and the main body portion of the terminal and the waterproofing member being arranged in the holder accommodating space.

[0009] According to this embodiment, in the connector, the waterproof member is made of an insulating material and fits over the terminal body, closely contacting the terminal and the shell. This configuration prevents water and other contaminants from entering the connection space between the second holder and the inner surface of the shell, and between the first holder and the terminal. Furthermore, because the terminal body has a larger diameter than the first connection portion, the inner diameter of the cylindrical waterproof member can be increased, thereby increasing the radial elastic deformation rate of the waterproof member at the contact point between the waterproof member and the terminal body and maintaining sufficient waterproofing properties. In this way, a connector with a waterproof structure that can reliably prevent water and other contaminants from entering along the terminals has been realized.

[0010] In another embodiment of the connector of the present disclosure, the terminal is positioned on the opposite side of the main body portion from the first connection portion, extends in another direction along the axis from the main body portion, and has a second connection portion with a smaller diameter than the main body portion, the first holder is fixed in close contact with the main body portion and the first connection portion, and the second holder is fixed in close contact with the main body portion and the second connection portion.

[0011] According to this embodiment, the first holder is fixed in close contact with the main body and the first connecting portion, and the second holder is fixed in close contact with the main body and the second connecting portion. The main body is disposed between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion. Because the main body is exposed between the first holder and the second holder, a single waterproofing member can seal the gaps between the terminals and the first holder and the gaps between the shell and the second holder, thereby achieving a waterproof structure. This more reliably prevents water and other contaminants from seeping into the second holder from between the second holder and the inner circumferential surface of the shell and between the first holder and the terminals.

[0012] In another embodiment of the connector according to the present disclosure, the outer diameter of the first holder is equal to or smaller than the outer diameter of the main body portion of the terminal.

[0013] According to this embodiment, the waterproofing member can be easily fitted onto the main body of the terminal.

[0014] In another embodiment of the connector according to the present disclosure, the terminal is supported by the first holder and the second holder, at least one of which is formed by insert molding.

[0015] According to this embodiment, in the manufacturing process of the connector, the step of inserting the terminals into the first holder and the second holder and assembling them can be eliminated compared to when the terminals and the first and second holders are manufactured separately and then assembled, thereby reducing the cost of the connector.

[0016] In another embodiment of the connector according to the present disclosure, the corner of the inner surface of the partition wall that constitutes the insertion hole, which is closer to the main body portion of the terminal, is enlarged in diameter by a notch that is cut out around the entire circumference.

[0017] According to this embodiment, when the first holder and the terminal are inserted into the shell, the tip of the first connection portion of the terminal is guided into the insertion hole along the notch, so that the first terminal portion can be easily inserted into the insertion hole. Also, the insulation distance (clear distance and creepage distance) between the partition portion of the shell and the main body portion of the terminal can be increased, so that air discharge and dielectric breakdown (short circuit) between the shell and the terminal can be reliably prevented.

[0018] In another embodiment of the connector according to the present disclosure, when the waterproofing member is viewed in a radial direction, at least a portion of the waterproofing member overlaps with the first holder.

[0019] According to this embodiment, the insulation distance (spatial distance and creepage distance) between the partition portion of the shell and the main body portion of the terminal can be further increased, thereby more reliably preventing aerial discharge and dielectric breakdown between the shell and the terminal. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1]FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] 3A and 3B are a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view and a partial enlarged view of the connector; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments of a connector according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are examples for explaining the connector, and the connector is not limited to these embodiments. Therefore, the connector according to the present disclosure can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0022] [Connector configuration] A connector 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Figures 1 and 2 are exploded perspective views of the connector 1. Figure 3 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view and a partial enlarged view of the connector 1.

[0023] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the connector 1 in this embodiment is configured as a receptacle connector and includes a housing 10, terminals 20, a first holder 30, a second holder 40, a shell 50, a first gasket 60 (an example of a waterproof member), a second gasket 70, and a shield case 80.

[0024] The terminal 20 has a circular, rod-shaped cross section. In Figures 1 to 3, the direction along the axis X passing through the center of the cross section of the terminal 20 is defined as the Z direction. As shown in Figure 3, the direction or side of the first holder 30 relative to the second holder 40 is defined as the Z1 direction (an example of one direction) or Z1 side. Similarly, the direction or side of the second holder 40 relative to the first holder 30 is defined as the Z2 direction (an example of the other direction) or Z2 side.

[0025] The housing 10 corresponds to the housing of the receptacle connector. The housing 10 includes a base portion 11, a connection portion 12, and a shell insertion portion 13. In this embodiment, the base portion 11 has a pentagonal shape when viewed along the Z direction (hereinafter also referred to as a plan view). The base portion 11 has a plate-shaped top plate portion 11a and a wall portion 11b extending in the Z2 direction from the top plate portion 11a. The inside surrounded by the top plate portion 11a and the wall portion 11b is a hollow space. A through hole 11c communicating with a shell accommodating space 13a (described later) is formed on the Z2-side surface of the top plate portion 11a of the base portion 11. In addition, a packing accommodating portion 11d, which is an annular groove for accommodating a second packing 70, is formed around the through hole 11c so as to be coaxial with the through hole 11c.

[0026] The connecting portion 12 extends in the Z1 direction, which is the opposite direction to the wall portion 11b relative to the top plate portion 11a of the base portion 11. The outer shape of the connecting portion 12 is smaller than the outer shape of the base portion 11, and is formed integrally with the base portion 11 when placed on the base portion 11. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the shell insertion portion 13 is arranged in the space inside the connecting portion 12 and is configured in a cylindrical shape. The axis of the shell insertion portion 13 is coaxial with the axis X. A shell accommodating space 13a is formed radially inside the shell insertion portion 13. The shell accommodating space 13a is a hollow space.

[0027] In this embodiment, the housing 10 is made of an insulating material such as resin, but it may also be made of a metal material. Alternatively, the housing 10 may be made of an insulating material, and its surface may be covered with a metal material by plating or vapor deposition.

[0028] The shell 50 is formed into a cylindrical shape from a conductive material such as iron, copper, or aluminum, and at least a portion of the shell 50 is accommodated in the shell accommodation space 13a of the housing 10. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the shell 50 has a tubular portion 51 extending along the axial direction Z, and a flange portion 52 having a circular outer shape in a plan view and protruding radially outward from the outer peripheral surface near the Z2-side end of the tubular portion 51. The axial centers of the tubular portion 51 and the flange portion 52 are coaxial with the axial center X. A recess 52a is formed near the outer edge of the flange portion 52, recessed toward the Z2 side more than the inner diameter side portion.

[0029] A partition portion 53 is formed in the internal space of the cylindrical portion 51 on the Z1 side of the flange portion 52 of the shell 50. The partition portion 53 has a partition wall 53a that protrudes radially inward from the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 51, and an insertion hole 53b that is a through-hole with a circular cross section formed in the center of the partition wall 53a. The axis of the insertion hole 53b is coaxial with the axis X. A notch portion 53c that is cut out obliquely with respect to the Z direction along the entire circumference is formed at a corner on the Z2 side of the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 53b of the partition portion 53. Due to the notch portion 53c, the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 53b increases in the Z2 direction.

[0030] The internal space of the cylindrical portion 51 of the shell 50 is divided into two by a partition portion 53. Of the two divided internal spaces, the internal space on the Z1 side of the partition portion 53 is referred to as a connection space 54, and the internal space on the Z2 side of the partition portion 53 is referred to as a holder accommodating space 55. The connection space 54 and the holder accommodating space 55 are connected via an insertion hole 53b.

[0031] The shell 50 can be formed by cutting using a lathe or the like. This allows the cylindrical portion 51, the flange portion 52, and the insertion hole 53b to be easily formed coaxially. Furthermore, forming the shell 50 by cutting allows for easy adjustment (i.e., while maintaining coaxiality) of the characteristic impedance of the connector 1, which is determined by the material properties and shapes of the first holder 30 and the second holder 40, the shape of the terminals 20, and the distance between the shell 50 and the terminals 20, etc. Furthermore, if the shell 50 were formed by sheet metal processing, there would be a risk of noise radiating from the joints used to form the cylindrical shape, which would degrade the EMC characteristics. However, cutting allows the shell 50 to be formed without including the joints from which noise that degrades the EMC characteristics is radiated, which is advantageous in terms of EMC characteristics.

[0032] The terminal 20 is a rod-shaped member with a circular cross section made of a conductive material such as iron, copper, or aluminum. The terminal 20 is disposed from the connection space 54 of the shell 50 to the holder accommodation space 55 with its axis X aligned along the Z direction. The terminal 20 has a first connection portion 21, a second connection portion 22, and a main body 23. The first connection portion 21 extends from the main body 23 in the Z1 direction, and the second connection portion 22 extends from the main body 23 in the Z2 direction. That is, the second connection portion 22 is disposed on the opposite side of the main body 23 from the first connection portion 21. The first connection portion 21 and the second connection portion 22 have approximately the same outer diameter, but may have different outer diameters. The outer diameters of the first connection portion 21 and the second connection portion 22 are smaller than the outer diameter of the main body 23. The terminal 20 is formed by cutting using a lathe or the like.

[0033] The first connecting portion 21 is disposed from the insertion hole 53b of the partition portion 53 of the shell 50 to the connection space 54. The main body portion 23 is disposed in the holder accommodating space 55, and the second connecting portion 22 is disposed at least partially in the holder accommodating space 55. The first connecting portion 21 is formed with a first holder fixing portion 21a that fixes the first holder 30, and the second connecting portion 22 is formed with a second holder fixing portion 22a that fixes the second holder 40. The first holder fixing portion 21a is formed so as to protrude radially outward from the middle of the first connecting portion 21 in the Z direction. The second holder fixing portion 22a is formed so as to protrude radially outward from the middle of the second connecting portion 22 in the Z direction.

[0034] The main body portion 23 has an inclined surface 23a at the boundary with the first connecting portion 21, which is inclined in the Z2 direction as it goes radially outward (see the enlarged view of FIG. 3).

[0035] The first holder 30 is formed by insert molding so as to fit closely to the outer peripheral surface of the first connection portion 21 of the terminal 20. That is, the terminal 20 is partially inserted into the first holder 30. The first holder 30 is made of an insulating material such as resin. The first holder 30 is formed along the Z direction from the boundary with the main body portion 23 to the end face on the Z1 side of the first holder fixing portion 21a. The outer diameter of the first holder 30 is the same as or smaller than the outer diameter of the main body portion 23 of the terminal 20, and is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the insertion hole 53b of the partition portion 53 of the shell 50.

[0036] At least a portion of the first holder 30 is disposed in the connection space 54, so that when the mating connector of the connector 1 is inserted into the connection space 54 to connect, the outer conductor of the mating connector is guided by the first holder 30 and disposed coaxially with the axial core X of the connector 1. This makes it possible to prevent a decrease in coaxiality and deterioration of transmission characteristics and EMC characteristics.

[0037] The second holder 40 is formed by insert molding simultaneously with the first holder 30 so as to fit closely to the outer circumferential surface of the second connection portion 22 of the terminal 20. That is, the terminal 20 is partially inserted into the second holder 40. The second holder 40 is made of the same insulating material as the first holder 30. The second holder 40 is formed along the Z direction from the boundary with the main body portion 23 to the Z2-side end face of the second holder fixing portion 22a. The outer diameter of the second holder 40 is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 51 that defines the holder accommodating space 55 of the shell 50, and has a shape that follows the shape of the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 51 that defines the holder accommodating space 55. The outer circumferential surface of the second holder 40 has multiple protrusions 42 that are press-fit portions when inserted into the shell 50 and are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction. The first holder 30 and the second holder 40 are formed separately from each other and are not connected. The axes of the first holder 30 and the second holder 40 are coaxial with the axis X.

[0038] The first packing 60 is a cylindrical part made of an elastic insulating material such as rubber. The first packing 60 is fitted onto the main body 23 of the terminal 20, with its outer circumferential surface contacting the inner circumferential surface of the tubular portion 51 of the shell 50. The inner diameter of the first packing 60 is expanded by elastic deformation when fitted onto the main body 23, so that it fits tightly against the outer circumferential surface of the main body 23. The outer diameter of the first packing 60 is expanded by elastic deformation when fitted onto the tubular portion 51 of the shell 50, so that it fits tightly against the inner circumferential surface of the tubular portion 51 that defines the holder accommodating space 55. The first packing 60 has a plurality of annular first protrusions 62 (two in this embodiment) formed on its inner and outer circumferential surfaces, and a plurality of first protrusions 64 (six in this embodiment) formed on its upper and lower bottom surfaces (see FIG. 3). The first packing 60 has the first protrusions 62, which reduces the contact area during tight contact, thereby increasing the contact pressure. The first packing 60 ensures waterproofness by a plurality of first convex rings 62 formed on both the inner and outer peripheral surfaces. The plurality of first protrusions 64 are intended to prevent unevenness in the degree of adhesion in the Z direction, which would otherwise cause unevenness in the radial compression rate of the first convex rings 62 depending on the location, thereby achieving good waterproofness. Note that the first packing 60 is not limited to a cylindrical shape, and may be an annular part such as an O-ring.

[0039] The second packing 70 is a cylindrical part made of an elastic insulating material such as rubber. Similar to the first packing 60, the second packing 70 has multiple (two in this embodiment) annular second convex rings 72 formed on its inner and outer peripheral surfaces, and multiple (six in this embodiment) second protrusions 74 formed on its upper and lower bottom surfaces. The second packing 70 is fitted onto the tubular portion 51 of the shell 50. The second packing 70 has the second convex rings 72, which reduce the contact area during tight contact, thereby increasing the contact pressure. The second packing 70 ensures waterproofing through the multiple second convex rings 72 formed on its inner and outer peripheral surfaces. The multiple second protrusions 74 prevent uneven contact in the Z direction, which would otherwise result in uneven radial compression of the second convex rings 72, thereby achieving excellent waterproofing. The second packing 70 is not limited to a cylindrical shape; it may also be an annular part, such as an O-ring.

[0040] The shielding case 80 is made of a conductive material such as iron or aluminum, and has a shape and size that allows it to fit tightly against the inner surfaces of the top plate 11a and wall 11b of the base 11. The shielding case 80 is provided with an opening 82 that is coaxial with the axis of the through-hole 11c provided in the top plate 11a of the base 11 and has an inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the packing accommodating portion 11d. Note that the shielding case 80 does not need to fit tightly against the inner surfaces of the top plate 11a and wall 11b, as long as it is at least partially accommodated in the base 11.

[0041] The connector 1 may be a coaxial connector in which the shell 50 serves as a coaxial shield and the terminal 20 serves as a center pin. When the connector 1 is a coaxial connector, the outer diameter of the main body 23 can be adjusted to control the characteristic impedance of the terminal 20. That is, a portion of the first connecting portion 21 is exposed from the first holder 30, and the characteristic impedance of that portion increases. This is because the relative dielectric constant of the insulating material constituting the first holder 30 is smaller than the relative dielectric constant of air. However, increasing the outer diameter of the main body 23 reduces the characteristic impedance of the main body 23, thereby preventing the characteristic impedance of the first connecting portion 21 from increasing. This allows the impedance of the connector 1 to be adjusted, resulting in a coaxial connector with excellent transmission characteristics.

[0042] [Connector manufacturing method] Next, a manufacturing method of the connector 1 will be described. First, the terminals 20 machined into the above-described shape are placed in a mold, and the first holder 30 and the second holder 40 are molded into the above-described shape by insert molding. As a result, the first holder 30 is fixed in close contact with the main body 23 and the first connecting portion 21. The second holder 40 is fixed in close contact with the main body 23 and the second connecting portion 22. Then, the first gasket 60 is inserted from the side of the first connecting portion 21 of the terminal 20 and fitted onto the main body 23. Because the outer diameter of the first holder 30 is equal to or smaller than the outer diameter of the main body 23 of the terminal 20, the first gasket 60 can be inserted through the first holder 30 and fitted onto the main body 23. During fitting, the inner circumferential surface of the first gasket 60 elastically deforms and expands in diameter, so that the first convex ring 62 on the inner circumferential surface of the first gasket 60 comes into close contact with the main body 23. The first packing 60 is inserted until the first protrusion 64 on one bottom surface abuts against the second holder 40. At this time, as shown in the partially enlarged view of FIG. 3, at least a portion of the first packing 60 overlaps with the first holder 30 when viewed along a radial direction perpendicular to the axis X. Hereinafter, the assembly of the terminal 20 with the first holder 30, the second holder 40, and the first packing 60 will be referred to as a "terminal assembly."

[0043] Next, the terminal assembly is press-fitted into the holder accommodating space 55 of the shell 50 from the Z2 side toward the Z1 side. Since the inner peripheral surface of the holder accommodating space 55 has a step, and the second holder 40 also has a corresponding step, the terminal assembly is press-fitted until the step of the second holder 40 abuts against the step of the holder accommodating space 55. Due to the press-fitting, the multiple protrusions 42 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the second holder 40 are pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the holder accommodating space 55 and crushed. As a result, the first holder 30 and the second holder 40 are inserted into the shell 50, and the terminal assembly is fixed to the shell 50. At this time, the first connecting portion 21 of the terminal 20 and the first holder 30 are guided by the notch 53c of the partition portion 53 of the shell 50, allowing them to easily pass through the insertion hole 53b.

[0044] When the press-fitting is complete, the outer peripheral surface of the first packing 60 of the terminal assembly elastically deforms and contracts in diameter, and the first convex ring 62 on the outer peripheral surface of the first packing 60 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the holder accommodating space 55. Also, the first protrusion 64 on the other bottom surface of the first packing 60 is in close contact with or close to the partition wall 53a of the partition portion 53. That is, the first packing 60 is elastically deformed and is disposed in the holder accommodating space 55 in a state of being in close contact with or close to the outer peripheral surface of the main body 23 of the terminal 20, the inner peripheral surface of the holder accommodating space 55 of the shell 50, the partition wall 53a, and the second holder 40.

[0045] When the press-fitting is complete, the first connecting portion 21 of the terminal 20 and the first holder 30 pass through the insertion hole 53b of the partition portion 53, and at least a portion of the first connecting portion 21 and the first holder 30 are exposed to the connection space 54. That is, the first connecting portion 21 and the first holder 30 are arranged from the partition portion 53 to the connection space 54. The tip of the first connecting portion 21 and the tip of the first holder 30 are located within the connection space 54. At this time, the holder accommodating space 55 is filled with the second connecting portion 22 and main body portion 23 of the terminal 20, the second holder 40, and the first gasket 60 with almost no gaps. The tip of the second connecting portion 22 protrudes further toward the Z2 side than the shell 50 and is located within the space inside the base portion 11 of the housing 10.

[0046] Next, the second packing 70 is inserted from the Z1 side toward the Z2 direction. The second packing 70 is fitted onto the outside of the cylindrical portion 51. At this time, the inner peripheral surface of the second packing 70 elastically deforms and expands in diameter, and the second convex ring 72 on the inner peripheral surface of the second packing 70 comes into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 51. The second packing 70 is inserted until the second protrusion 74 on one bottom surface abuts against the flange portion 52. Hereinafter, the terminal assembly press-fitted into the shell 50 and the second packing 70 fitted onto the outside will be referred to as the "shell assembly."

[0047] Next, the shield case 80 is attached to the inner surfaces of the top plate 11a and wall 11b of the base 11 of the housing 10. In this state, the shell assembly is inserted in the Z1 direction from the side of the housing 10 opposite to the side where the connection portion 12 is formed, so that the cylindrical portion 51 of the shell 50 is inserted into the shell accommodating space 13a of the shell insertion portion 13. The shell assembly is inserted until the flange 52 of the shell 50 abuts against the Z2-side surface of the top plate 11a of the base 11 of the housing 10.

[0048] At this time, the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 51 of the shell 50 of the shell assembly is press-fitted into the inner peripheral surface of the shell insertion portion 13. Furthermore, the outer peripheral surface of the second packing 70 elastically deforms and contracts in diameter, so that the second convex ring 72 on the outer peripheral surface of the second packing 70 comes into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the packing accommodating portion 11d of the base 11, and the second protrusion 74 on the other bottom surface comes into contact with the bottom surface of the packing accommodating portion 11d. In other words, due to elastic deformation, the second packing 70 comes into close contact with or is close to the outer peripheral surface and flange portion 52 of the cylindrical portion 51 of the shell 50 and the inner peripheral surface and bottom surface of the packing accommodating portion 11d of the base 11 of the housing 10. At this time, the radially outer portion of opening 82 of shield case 80 fits into recess 52a of flange 52 and is electrically connected to shell 50, and electrical continuity between shell 50 and shield case 80 electromagnetically shields the space inside base 11 of housing 10 from the space outside. Shield case 80 is supported by being sandwiched between the Z2-side surface of top plate 11a of base 11 and recess 52a. This completes connector 1.

[0049] In the connector 1 of this embodiment, as shown in the partially enlarged view of Fig. 3, a notch 53c is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the insertion hole 53b of the partition portion 53 of the shell 50. This allows the first connection portion 21 of the terminal 20 and the first holder 30 to be easily inserted into the insertion hole 53b, and also increases the insulation distance (spatial distance and creepage distance) between the partition portion 53 of the shell 50 and the main body portion 23 of the terminal 20, thereby preventing air discharge and dielectric breakdown (short circuit) between the shell 50 and the terminal 20. Furthermore, when viewed in a radial direction perpendicular to the axis X, at least a portion of the first packing 60 and the first holder 30 overlap, further increasing the insulation distance between the partition portion 53 and the main body portion 23, thereby preventing air discharge and dielectric breakdown between the shell 50 and the terminal 20.

[0050] In the connector 1 of this embodiment, the first packing 60 is made of an insulating material, is radially contractible, and has a deformable cross-sectional shape. The first packing 60 is fitted onto the main body 23 of the terminal 20 and is sandwiched between the inner circumferential surface of the tubular portion 51 of the shell 50 and the main body 23. When the first packing 60 is sandwiched between the inner circumferential surface of the tubular portion 51 and the main body 23 in this manner, water or the like that has seeped in from the connection space 54 can be prevented from seeping into the gap between the second holder 40 and the inner circumferential surface of the tubular portion 51 of the shell 50, and between the second holder 40 and the terminal 20, toward the Z2 side of the second holder 40. Furthermore, because the main body 23 of the terminal 20 has a larger diameter than the first connecting portion 21, the inner diameter of the cylindrical first packing 60 can be increased. This increases the radial elastic deformation rate of the first packing 60 at the contact portion between the first packing 60 and the main body 23 of the terminal 20, thereby maintaining sufficient waterproof properties.

[0051] The connector 1 described above can be used, for example, in a vehicle to transmit image signals and audio signals. Such a connector 1 can be used to configure a system for inputting and outputting signals between an electronic device and the outside world via a coaxial cable, and can therefore be used in systems that transmit high-frequency signals and high-speed digital signals. For example, it can be used in an in-vehicle camera system that transmits high-definition video signals. Furthermore, since the connector 1 can be configured compactly, it can be mounted on, for example, a circuit board provided in an electronic device. In this case, the connector 1 can be used as a circuit board connector, and a coaxial cable can be connected to the circuit board via the connector 1. By connecting such a coaxial cable, the connector 1 can be used to transmit image signals and audio signals, supply power, and so on.

[0052] Other Embodiments (1) In the above embodiment, the connector 1 has the shield case 80, but the connector 1 may be configured without the shield case 80.

[0053] (2) In the above embodiment, the connector 1 has one terminal 20, but it may be a multi-pole connector having multiple terminals 20. It may also be one of multiple connectors 1 provided in an electronic device.

[0054] (3) In the above embodiment, the housing 10 has been described as including the base 11 having a pentagonal shape in a plan view and the connection portion 12 formed integrally with the base 11. However, the base 11 and the connection portion 12 may have other shapes, and the housing 10 may be formed only with the connection portion 12.

[0055] (4) In the above embodiment, the main body 23 of the terminal 20 has the inclined surface 23a. However, the main body 23 may not have the inclined surface 23a and may have a surface perpendicular to the axis X. Even in this case, by overlapping at least a portion of the first packing 60 with the first holder 30 when viewed in a radial direction perpendicular to the axis X, an insulating distance between the partition portion 53 and the main body 23 can be secured, and aerial discharge and dielectric breakdown between the shell 50 and the terminal 20 can be prevented.

[0056] (5) In the above embodiment, the first packing 60 and the second packing 70 have convex rings or protrusions, but they may be configured to have surface contact without these.

[0057] (6) The connector 1 of the above embodiment can be a board-mounted connector. In this case, the housing 10 may have a self-standing shape so that it can be mounted vertically or horizontally on a board (not shown) as a housing for the board-mounted connector.

[0058] (7) The connector 1 of the above embodiment can be a cable assembly connector. In this case, the housing 10 may have a structure as a housing for the cable assembly connector, holding a cable assembly with a cable connected to the second connection portion 22, and mating with a mating connector. [Industrial Applicability]

[0059] The present disclosure is applicable to connectors. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1: Connector 20: Terminal 21: First connection part 22: Second connection part 23: Main body 30: First holder 40: Second holder 50: Shell 53: Partition 53a: Compartment wall 53b: Insertion hole 53c: Notch 54: Connected Space 55: Holder storage space 60: First packing (waterproof material) X: shaft center

Claims

1. a rod-shaped terminal made of a conductive material; a first holder and a second holder each having a cylindrical shape and made of an insulating material, the first holder and the second holder each having a cylindrical shape and configured to insert and support the terminal so that the first holder and the second holder are coaxial with the terminal; a cylindrical shell made of a conductive material, into which the first holder and the second holder are inserted and supported so as to be coaxial with the axis; a cylindrical waterproof member made of an elastic insulating material and arranged in close contact with the terminal and the shell; The terminal has a main body portion and a first connection portion extending in one direction along the axis from the main body portion and having a smaller diameter than the main body portion, the waterproof member is fitted onto the body portion, the shell has a partition portion including a partition wall protruding radially inward from an inner peripheral surface and an insertion hole which is a through-hole at a center of the partition wall and is coaxial with the axis, The internal space of the shell is divided into a connection space and a holder accommodating space by the partition, the first connection portion of the terminal is disposed from the partition portion to the connection space in a state where the first holder is inserted into the insertion hole and at least a portion of the first connection portion is exposed to the connection space, The connector has the main body portion of the terminal and the waterproof member disposed in the holder accommodating space.

2. the terminal is disposed on an opposite side of the main body portion from the first connection portion, extends from the main body portion in another direction along the axis, and has a second connection portion having a smaller diameter than the main body portion; the first holder is fixed to the main body portion and the first connection portion in close contact with each other, The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the second holder is fixed to the main body and the second connecting portion in close contact with each other.

3. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the first holder is equal to or smaller than an outer diameter of the main body of the terminal.

4. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the terminals are supported by the first holder and the second holder, at least one of which is formed by insert molding.

5. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a corner of an inner peripheral surface of the partition wall that defines the insertion hole, which is closer to the main body of the terminal, has an enlarged diameter due to a notch that is cut out along the entire periphery.

6. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the waterproofing member overlaps with the first holder when viewed in a radial direction of the waterproofing member.

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