Connector and method for manufacturing connector

Abstract

To provide a connector capable of simply improving filter performance.SOLUTION: The connector 1 is provided with a coil-shaped filter part 40 composed of a thin wire made of a coated wire and arranged so as to be wound around an 21a of an outer peripheral surface of the outer conductive body 20. The outer conductor 20 includes the first and second groove portions 26, 27 for individually routing the first terminal 41, which is one terminal of the thin wire, and the second terminal 42, which is the other terminal of the thin wire, outward in the second direction opposite to the first direction, which is the connecting direction from the filter 40 to the external connector, on a part of the outer peripheral portion of the outer conductor 20. The first front end 41a where the conductive body is exposed at the first end 41 is connected to a part of the central conductive body 10 exposed from the dielectric body 30 in the second direction. The second front end portions 42a where the conductors are exposed at the second terminals 42 are connected to the lead terminals 50.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector and a method for manufacturing the connector. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, signal transmission for in-vehicle cameras and other devices has become increasingly frequent and faster due to the increasing data volume associated with higher resolution. For example, signal standards for gigabit transmission are adopted for high-speed signal transmission in in-vehicle cameras. In this case, the wiring harness connection requires signal lines compatible with point-to-point communication between the ECU (electronic control unit), which includes the image processing circuit, and the camera. As a result, wiring is required for each camera's image sensor, and the wiring and connectors are concentrated around the ECU, which can lead to an increase in the diameter of the wiring harness or the overall size of the device. Therefore, a power superposition method is being adopted, which superimposes power onto a single signal line, such as a coaxial cable, thereby reducing the number of wires required by combining the functions of acquiring signals from the camera and supplying power to drive the camera.

[0003] However, in the power supply superposition method, a filter unit for merging or separating power and signals must be provided on both the ECU board to which one end of the coaxial cable is connected and the camera board to which the other end of the coaxial cable is connected. Therefore, even when the power supply superposition method is adopted, there is a concern that the mounting area on each board will increase.

[0004] In response to this, it is conceivable to provide a filter function that combines or separates power and signals in a connector attached to the end of a coaxial cable. Patent Document 1 discloses technology relating to a filter-integrated connector in which a coil and a capacitor that function as a filter are mounted on an earth member that serves as a lead frame. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-103403 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the connector disclosed in Patent Document 1, the coil is mounted on the lead frame, making it difficult to increase the inductor diameter, i.e., to set a large inductance. In addition, the coil and capacitor are connected to the lead frame by soldering, which complicates the manufacturing process.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the problems inherent in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector and a method for manufacturing the connector that can easily improve filter performance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] An embodiment of the present invention is a connector for connection to an external connector, comprising: a rod-shaped central conductor; a cylindrical outer conductor arranged coaxially with the central conductor; a cylindrical dielectric arranged between the central conductor and the outer conductor; a coil-shaped filter section composed of a thin wire made of coated electric wire and arranged to be wound around the outer surface of the outer conductor; a housing in which the outer conductor is inserted along a first direction which is the direction of connection to the external connector, and then a portion of the outer conductor closer to the base than the circumferential area in which the filter section is arranged is fitted with the inner surface; and a take-out terminal which is a conductor exposed on the outside of the housing, wherein the outer conductor has two grooves in part of the outer peripheral portion of the outer conductor for individually routing a first terminal which is one end of the thin wire and a second terminal which is the other end of the thin wire outward from the filter section in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction, and the first tip portion where the conductor is exposed at the first terminal is connected to a portion of the central conductor exposed in the second direction from the dielectric, and the second tip portion where the conductor is exposed at the second terminal is connected to the take-out terminal.

[0009] Another aspect of the present invention is a manufacturing method of a connector to be connected to an external connector, the manufacturing method including a first assembling step of assembling a rod-shaped central conductor with a cylindrical outer conductor sandwiching a cylindrical dielectric therebetween, and after the first assembling step, arranging a filter unit made of thin wires made of coated electric wire so as to be wound around the outer circumferential surface of the outer conductor, and through two grooves formed in advance in a part of the outer circumferential surface of the outer conductor, a first terminal which is one end of the thin wire and a second terminal which is the other end of the thin wire are individually routed outward from the filter unit in a second direction which is the opposite direction to a first direction which is the direction of connection to the external connector. a second assembling step, after the filter part arranging step, of inserting the outer conductor into the housing along a first direction and then fitting a part of the outer conductor that is closer to the base than the peripheral region where the filter part is arranged to the inner peripheral surface of the housing, thereby assembling the housing to the outer conductor; and a terminal processing step, after the filter part arranging step or the second assembling step, of connecting a first tip end portion where the conductor is exposed at the first terminal to a part of the central conductor that is exposed from the dielectric in the second direction and connecting a second tip end portion where the conductor is exposed at the second terminal to a take-out terminal that is a conductor exposed on the outside of the housing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector and a method for manufacturing the connector that can simply improve filter performance. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connector taken along line II-II in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 10 is an enlarged view of a filter retainer that prevents the filter from shifting. FIG. [Figure 4] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating a process of assembling a central conductor and a dielectric to an outer conductor. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the start of a process of arranging a filter section on an outer conductor. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the end of the process of arranging the filter section on the outer conductor. [Figure 7] 7 is a partially enlarged view of a second groove portion corresponding to part VII in FIG. 6. FIG. [Figure 8] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating a process of assembling a housing to an outer conductor. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged view showing an annular groove formed in an outer conductor according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The connectors according to the embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional proportions in the drawings are exaggerated for the sake of convenience and may differ from the actual proportions.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a connector 1 according to one embodiment. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connector 1 taken along line II-II in Fig. 1. The cut surface in Fig. 2 is an imaginary plane including the central axis of a central conductor 10, which will be described later.

[0014] In this embodiment, as an example, the connection direction of the connector 1 to the external connector is defined as the Z direction, and the plane perpendicular to the Z direction is defined as the XY plane. The X direction and the Y direction are perpendicular to each other. Hereinafter, with reference to the connection direction of the connector 1, the upstream side in the Z direction, i.e., the side where the connector 1 is mounted on the board portion of the electronic device, may be referred to as the "rear," and the downstream side in the Z direction, i.e., the side where the connector 1 is mated with the external connector, may be referred to as the "front." Furthermore, the connection direction of the connector 1 may be referred to as the "first direction," and the direction opposite to the connection direction may be referred to as the "second direction." For convenience, the electronic device in which the connector 1 is installed and the external connector connected to the connector 1 are not shown.

[0015] The connector 1 is assumed to be used in a signal transmission path that employs a power supply superposition method. In this embodiment, as an example, the connector 1 is used in a signal transmission path in an in-vehicle camera that includes a camera module and an ECU that performs image processing, etc., in which the camera module and the ECU are electrically connected by a single coaxial cable. In this case, the connectors 1 are separately installed in the camera module and the ECU. That is, a first external connector attached to one end of the coaxial cable is connected to the connector 1 installed in the camera module. A second external connector attached to the other end of the coaxial cable is connected to the connector 1 installed in the ECU.

[0016] The connector 1 is a coaxial connector including a central conductor 10, an outer conductor 20, a dielectric 30, a filter section 40, an output terminal 50, a housing 60, a first connecting member 70, and a second connecting member 71.

[0017] The central conductor 10 is a rod-shaped member extending in the Z direction. In this embodiment, the central conductor 10 is cylindrical. A tip end 10a, which is the front end of the central conductor 10, is electrically connected to a core wire, which is the inner conductor of a coaxial cable, when an external connector is mated with the connector 1. A rear end 10b of the central conductor 10 is electrically connected to an IC (integrated circuit) on a board of an electronic device on which the connector 1 is installed. Specifically, in a connector 1 installed in an ECU, the rear end 10b is electrically connected to a deserializer IC mounted on the board of the ECU. On the other hand, in a connector 1 installed in a camera module, the rear end 10b is electrically connected to a serializer IC mounted on the board of the camera module.

[0018] The outer conductor 20 is a cylindrical member that is disposed coaxially with the central conductor 10, with at least a portion of the central conductor 10 penetrating therethrough. In this embodiment, the outer conductor 20 has a cylindrical main body 21, a seat portion 22, leg portions 23, and a fitting cylindrical portion 24.

[0019] The tubular body 21 is the main body of the outer conductor 20 and has a cylindrical shape with an outer peripheral surface 21a. When the external connector is mated with the connector 1, the front end of the tubular body 21 is electrically connected to the braided shield, which is the outer conductor of the coaxial cable.

[0020] The base 22 integrally supports the tubular main body 21 via the fitting tubular portion 24. The base 22 is, for example, a flat plate-like portion whose main plane parallel to the XY plane is substantially square. The legs 23 are electrically connected to the GND (ground) circuit of the electronic device in which the connector 1 is installed. In this embodiment, there are four legs 23, each of which has the same shape. Each leg 23 is a quadrangular prism whose axial direction is in the Z direction, and is arranged so that one is assigned to each of the four corners of the base 22. One end of each leg 23 is a fixed end that is integrated with the main plane of the base 22 opposite to the main plane that is directly continuous with the fitting tubular portion 24. The other end of each leg 23 is a free end.

[0021] When the housing 60 is assembled to the outer conductor 20, the fitting cylindrical portion 24 holds the housing 60 by fitting with a part of the inner circumferential surface 63 of the housing 60. The fitting cylindrical portion 24 is an annular portion that is integrated and coaxial with the cylindrical portion main body 21. Specifically, the cylindrical portion main body 21 is integrated with the front side of the fitting cylindrical portion 24, and the base portion 22 is integrated with the rear side of the fitting cylindrical portion 24. In this embodiment, the center of gravity of the main plane of the base portion 22 is on an extension of the central axis of the fitting cylindrical portion 24.

[0022] The fitting cylindrical portion 24 has an annular surface 24a as a front surface perpendicular to the axial direction along the Z direction on the front side opposite to the rear side continuous with the base portion 22. The fitting cylindrical portion 24 also has a tapered surface 24b as part of its outer circumferential surface to facilitate insertion of the fitting cylindrical portion 24 into the housing 60 when assembling the housing 60. Furthermore, the fitting cylindrical portion 24 has an annular protrusion 24c as part of its outer circumferential portion that engages with an engagement ring portion 64 formed in advance on the inner circumferential surface 63 of the housing 60 in the direction opposite to the insertion direction to prevent the outer conductor 20 from coming loose after fitting.

[0023] Here, the outer diameter at any point of the fitting cylindrical portion 24 is larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion main body 21, i.e., the diameter at the outer peripheral surface 21a. Furthermore, assuming that the center of gravity of the main plane of the base portion 22 is on an extension of the central axis of the fitting cylindrical portion 24, the outer diameter at any point of the fitting cylindrical portion 24 is smaller than the dimension of one side of the main plane of the base portion 22.

[0024] The inner peripheral surface of the through hole formed in the base portion 22 , the inner peripheral surface of the fitting cylindrical portion 24 , and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion main body 21 are continuous in the Z direction and form an inner peripheral surface 25 of the outer conductor 20 .

[0025] Furthermore, the outer conductor 20 has two types of grooves extending along a virtual plane including the central axis of the outer conductor 20 on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting tubular portion 24, which is a portion closer to the base than the circumferential region where the filter portion 40 is disposed, and on the outer surface of the base portion 22. The outer conductor 20 has a first groove 26 for routing a first terminal 41, which is one end of the thin wire constituting the filter portion 40. The outer conductor 20 also has a second groove 27 for routing a second terminal 42, which is the other end of the thin wire constituting the filter portion 40. As shown in FIG. 2 , the second groove 27 extends along the XZ plane including the central axis of the outer conductor 20 at the lower part of the outer conductor 20. One end of each of the first groove 26 and the second groove 27 is located on the annular surface 24a of the fitting tubular portion 24. The other end of each of the first groove 26 and the second groove 27 is located on the main plane on which the four legs 23 of the base portion 22 are disposed. 2, the first groove portions 26 are simply drawn by dashed lines, but in reality, they are provided on the side not visible in the drawings such as FIG. 4, and have the same shape as the second groove portions 27. In addition, in each of the first groove portions 26 and the second groove portions 27, the width dimension perpendicular to the extension direction of the groove portions is set to be at least larger than the diameter of one of the thin wires that make up the filter portion 40.

[0026] The dielectric 30 is a cylindrical member made of ceramics or the like and disposed between the central conductor 10 and the outer conductor 20. In this embodiment, the dielectric 30 is cylindrical in shape to match the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the central conductor 10 and the shape of the inner peripheral surface 25 of the outer conductor 20. The outer peripheral surface 30a of the dielectric 30 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface 25 of the outer conductor 20. The inner peripheral surface 30b of the dielectric 30 is in close contact with at least a part of the outer peripheral surface of the central conductor 10. However, the dielectric 30 has an opening 30c at its front side for exposing the tip end 10a of the central conductor 10.

[0027] The filter section 40 is a filter circuit that functions as an inductor. The filter section 40 is arranged on a partial circumferential region of the outer peripheral surface 21a of the outer conductor 20. In this embodiment, the filter section 40 is in the form of a coil in which a single thin wire, which is a coated electric wire, is wound along the shape of the outer peripheral surface 21a. When the filter section 40 is arranged on the outer peripheral surface 21a, the rear peripheral edge of the filter section 40 is in contact with or close to the annular surface 24a of the fitting tubular section 24. The number of turns or stages of the thin wire that constitutes the filter section 40 can be changed as appropriate, and the number shown in FIG. 2 and other figures is just an example.

[0028] The first terminal 41 is one end of the thin wire constituting the filter section 40. At least a portion of the first terminal 41 routed in the first groove 26 formed in the outer conductor 20 is led out rearward from the base 22. At the first tip 41a, which is the tip of the first terminal 41, the insulating coating is removed, exposing the conductor core wire. The first connecting member 70 maintains a connection state in which the first tip 41a remains in contact with the part of the central conductor 10 exposed rearward from the base 22. An excess portion of the first terminal 41 led out rearward from the base 22 may be wound around the central conductor 10, as shown in FIG. 2 .

[0029] The second terminal 42 is the other end of the thin wire that constitutes the filter section 40. Similar to the first terminal 41, at least a portion of the second terminal 42 routed in the second groove 27 formed in the outer conductor 20 is led out rearward from the base section 22. Similar to the first terminal 41, the second terminal 42 has a second tip section 42a, which is the tip of the second terminal 42, from which the coating is removed and the core wire is exposed. The second connecting member 71 maintains a connection state in which the second tip section 42a remains in contact with a portion of the extracting terminal 50 supported by the base section 62 of the housing 60. An excess portion of the second terminal 42 led out rearward from the base section 22 may be wound around the extracting terminal 50, as shown in FIG. 2 .

[0030] The output terminal 50 is a cylindrical or columnar conductor. As described above, one end of the output terminal 50 is supported on the base 62 of the housing 60 so as to be exposed to the outside of the housing 60. The other end of the output terminal 50 is electrically connected to an IC chip or the like on a board of an electronic device on which the connector 1 is installed. Specifically, in a connector 1 installed in an ECU, the output terminal 50 is electrically connected to a power supply path and receives a supply of power. That is, the second terminal 42 in the ECU functions as a power input line. On the other hand, in a connector 1 installed in a camera module, the output terminal 50 is electrically connected to a serializer IC mounted on a board of the camera module and supplies power for driving the camera module. That is, the second terminal 42 in the camera module functions as a power output line.

[0031] In this way, the first terminal 41 of the filter section 40 is electrically connected to the central conductor 10, and the second terminal 42 of the filter section 40 serves as an input / output line for power. In other words, the filter section 40 has a shunt-type structure branched from the central conductor 10, and can be regarded as an inductor that functions as a low-pass filter that is assumed to transmit only DC (direct current).

[0032] In addition to the filter section 40, a filter circuit that functions as a capacitor having a series connection structure in the signal path may be provided inside the central conductor 10. According to this example, both a filter section that functions as an inductor and a filter section that functions as a capacitor can be built into one connector 1.

[0033] The materials of the central conductor 10, the outer conductor 20 and the lead terminal 50 are not particularly limited, but may be an aluminum alloy, a copper alloy or the like.

[0034] The housing 60 is an exterior member formed of a synthetic resin or the like, and holds and protects a unit composed of the central conductor 10, the outer conductor 20, the dielectric 30, and the filter section 40. In this embodiment, the housing 60 has a fitting section 61, a base section 62, and a filter pressing section 65.

[0035] The fitting portion 61 is a portion into which an external housing constituting the external connector fits when the external connector is fitted to the connector 1. In this embodiment, the fitting portion 61 is cylindrical. In the internal space surrounded by the inner peripheral surface 63 of the housing 60, at least a portion of each of the central conductor 10, the outer conductor 20, and the dielectric 30, and the filter portion 40 are coaxially arranged.

[0036] The base portion 62 is a plate-like portion integrated with the rear end portion of the fitting portion 61. As described above, the engaging ring portion 64 is formed on the portion of the inner circumferential surface 63 of the housing 60 that corresponds to the inner surface of the base portion 62, and the fitting cylindrical portion 24 of the outer conductor 20 is fitted into the engaging ring portion 64.

[0037] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the filter retainer 65. As shown in FIG.

[0038] The filter retaining portion 65 prevents the filter unit 40 from shifting relative to the outer conductor 20 when the connector 1 is assembled. The filter retaining portion 65 may be, for example, a pin whose one end is integrally supported on the inner circumferential surface 63 of the housing 60 and protrudes toward the outer circumferential surface 21a of the outer conductor 20. When the filter retaining portion 65 is a pin, when the connector 1 is assembled, the tip of the pin contacts or is close to the outer circumferential surface 21a of the outer conductor 20 and faces at least a portion of the front periphery of the filter unit 40 in the Z direction along the axial direction of the outer conductor 20. Additionally, the tip of the pin contacts or is close to at least a portion of the front periphery of the filter unit 40 in the Z direction. Therefore, in the Z direction, a portion of the filter unit 40 is sandwiched between a portion of the filter retaining portion 65 and a portion of the annular surface 24a of the fitting tubular portion 24, thereby restricting movement of the filter unit 40.

[0039] Furthermore, the housing 60 may have a claw portion 66 on the outer periphery of the mating portion 61 that engages with a part of the external housing that constitutes the external connector when the external connector is mated to the connector 1, thereby preventing the external connector from falling off from the connector 1.

[0040] The first connecting member 70 maintains the connection state with the central conductor 10 while bringing the first tip portion 41a of the first terminal 41 in the filter section 40 into contact with a part of the central conductor 10. The first connecting member 70 is, for example, a C-ring that engages with the outer peripheral surface of the central conductor 10 while pressing the first tip portion 41a so that it contacts the central conductor 10. When the first connecting member 70 is a C-ring, a groove may be formed in advance in the C-ring so that the first tip portion 41a can be held between the C-ring and the outer peripheral surface of the central conductor 10.

[0041] The second connecting member 71 maintains the connection state with the extractable terminal 50 while bringing the second tip portion 42a of the second end 42 of the filter section 40 into contact with a part of the extractable terminal 50. The second connecting member 71 is, for example, a C-ring that engages with the outer peripheral surface of the extractable terminal 50 while pressing the second tip portion 42a so that it contacts the extractable terminal 50. When the second connecting member 71 is a C-ring, a groove may be formed in advance in the C-ring so that the second tip portion 42a can be held between the C-ring and the outer peripheral surface of the extractable terminal 50.

[0042] Next, the manufacturing process of the connector 1 will be described.

[0043] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a first assembling step in which the central conductor 10 and the dielectric 30 are assembled to the outer conductor 20. As shown in FIG.

[0044] First, in the first assembling step, as shown in FIG. 4, the central conductor 10, the outer conductor 20, and the dielectric 30 are prepared, and then the dielectric 30 and the central conductor 10 are fitted into the outer conductor 20 in that order.

[0045] Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating the start of the filter portion arranging step of arranging the filter portion 40 on the outer conductor 20. Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating the end of the filter portion arranging step.

[0046] Next, the filter unit arrangement process is a process performed after the first assembly process. In the filter unit arrangement process, first, the unit assembled in the first assembly process is held in a base jig 100. Specifically, the base jig 100 has four leg accommodating holes 110. Each leg accommodating hole 110 accommodates and holds one of the legs 23 of the outer conductor 20. The base jig 100 also has a center conductor accommodating hole 120. The center conductor accommodating hole 120 accommodates the rear end 10b of the center conductor 10, with the leg 23 held in each leg accommodating hole 110. Note that a first connecting member 70 to be used in a subsequent termination process may be held in the opening of the center conductor accommodating hole 120 via a first gripping portion 121. The first connecting member 70 held by the first holding portion 121 is removed and stored, for example, by an operator, at the stage when the unit assembled in the first assembly step is held on the base jig 100.

[0047] Furthermore, the base jig 100 may include, for example, a second gripping portion 130 on a side surface of the base jig 100, which grips the side surface of the extracting terminal 50. The extracting terminal 50 gripped by the second gripping portion 130 may have a second connecting member 71 pre-assembled thereto.

[0048] Although the shape of the base jig 100 is a rectangular parallelepiped in this embodiment, it is not particularly limited and may be changed as appropriate in conjunction with the other structures described above.

[0049] Secondly, in the filter unit arrangement step, the filter unit 40 is arranged by being wound around the outer peripheral surface 21a of the outer conductor 20. Specifically, in this embodiment, the filter unit 40 is formed in a coil shape by winding a thin wire in advance. Then, the coil-shaped filter unit 40 is fitted into the outer conductor 20 in the direction opposite to the Z direction, and is arranged on the outer peripheral surface 21a of the outer conductor 20.

[0050] Here, before the filter section 40 is fitted into the outer conductor 20, the first terminal 41 is held by the first terminal holding jig 200 via the first terminal gripping portion 210, and the second terminal 42 is held by the second terminal holding jig 300 via the second terminal gripping portion 310. Note that, although the shapes of the first terminal holding jig 200 and the second terminal holding jig 300 are rectangular parallelepipeds in this embodiment, they are not particularly limited and may be changed as appropriate.

[0051] Then, at the stage where the filter section 40 is fitted into the outer conductor 20, the first terminal holding jig 200 and the second terminal holding jig 300 also move to the vicinity of the base jig 100 in accordance with the movement of the filter section 40, as shown in Fig. 6. After the first terminal holding jig 200 has moved, the first terminal 41 may be removed from the first terminal gripping portion 210 by an operator, and guided into the center conductor accommodating hole 120 for temporary wiring. Meanwhile, after the second terminal holding jig 300 has moved, the second terminal 42 is removed from the second terminal gripping portion 310 by an operator, and as shown in Fig. 6, is guided to the extracting terminal 50 and temporarily fastened to the extracting terminal 50 by the second connecting member 71.

[0052] FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of the second groove portion 27 corresponding to portion VII in FIG.

[0053] The first terminal 41 and the second terminal 42 guided by the first terminal holding jig 200 or the second terminal holding jig 300 are routed in the first groove 26 or the second groove 27 formed in the outer conductor 20. As an example, referring to FIG. 7 , focusing on the routing of the second terminal 42, the second terminal 42 drawn from the coil-shaped filter portion 40, which is disposed on the outer peripheral surface 21 a of the outer conductor 20, is routed in the second groove 27. The cross-sectional shape of the second groove 27 is designed to accommodate the second terminal 42. Therefore, even when the housing 60 is assembled to the outer conductor 20 in a later second assembly process, the second terminal 42 can be routed outward from the filter portion 40 in the direction opposite to the Z direction without interfering with the engagement between the outer conductor 20 and the housing 60. The same applies to the first terminal 41 routed in the first groove 26.

[0054] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a second assembling step in which the housing 60 is attached to the outer conductor 20. As shown in FIG.

[0055] Next, the second assembling process is a process performed after the filter unit arranging process. In the second assembling process, the housing 60 is assembled to the outer conductor 20 in the direction opposite to the Z direction. First, the outer conductor 20 is inserted into the housing 60 along the Z direction. Then, the housing 60 is assembled to the outer conductor 20 by fitting a part of the outer conductor 20 on the base side relative to the peripheral region in which the filter unit 40 is arranged into the inner circumferential surface 63 of the housing 60.

[0056] Then, after the filter unit arrangement process or the second assembly process, a terminal processing process is performed. In the terminal processing process, the first tip portion 41a, where the core wire is exposed at the first terminal 41, is connected to a part of the central conductor 10 exposed in the opposite direction from the dielectric 30 in the Z direction. At this time, if the core wire is not yet exposed at the tip of the first terminal 41, a process is performed in which a part of the coated wire is removed to form the first tip portion 41a. In addition, the excess part of the first terminal 41 extending behind the base portion 22 is wound around the central conductor 10 as shown in FIG. 2 to perform excess length processing. Finally, the first tip portion 41a is held in an appropriate position on the central conductor 10 by the first connecting member 70.

[0057] Similarly, in the terminal processing step, the second tip portion 42a, where the core wire is exposed at the second terminal 42, is connected to a portion of the extractable terminal 50. At this time, if the core wire is not yet exposed at the tip of the second terminal 42, a process is performed in which a portion of the coated wire is removed to form the second tip portion 42a. Furthermore, the excess portion of the second terminal 42 extending rearward from the base portion 22 is wound around the extractable terminal 50 as shown in FIG. 2, thereby processing the excess length. The second tip portion 42a is held in an appropriate position on the extractable terminal 50 by the second connecting member 71. Finally, the portion of the extractable terminal 50 holding the second tip portion 42a is fitted into and supported by a support hole 62a provided in advance in the base portion 62 of the housing 60.

[0058] This completes the manufacturing process of the connector 1.

[0059] Next, the effects of the connector 1 and the method for manufacturing the connector 1 will be described.

[0060] A connector 1 for connection to an external connector includes a rod-shaped central conductor 10, a cylindrical outer conductor 20 coaxially disposed about the central conductor 10, and a cylindrical dielectric 30 disposed between the central conductor 10 and the outer conductor 20. The connector 1 includes a coil-shaped filter section 40 formed of a thin wire made of a coated electric wire and wound around an outer peripheral surface 21a of the outer conductor 20. The connector 1 includes a housing 60 into which the outer conductor 20 is inserted along a first direction, which is the direction of connection to the external connector, and in which a portion of the outer conductor 20 closer to the base than the peripheral region in which the filter section 40 is disposed is fitted into an inner peripheral surface 63. The connector 1 also includes a lead terminal 50, which is a conductor exposed on the outside of the housing 60. The outer conductor 20 has two grooves in a portion of the outer peripheral portion of the outer conductor 20 for routing a first terminal 41, which is one end of the thin wire, and a second terminal 42, which is the other end of the thin wire, individually outward from the filter section 40 in a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction. The first end 41a where the conductor is exposed at the first terminal 41 is connected to a part of the central conductor 10 exposed in the second direction from the dielectric 30. The second end 42a where the conductor is exposed at the second terminal 42 is connected to the extraction terminal 50.

[0061] In the above example, the first direction corresponds to the Z direction, and the second direction corresponds to the direction opposite to the Z direction. In the above example, the two grooves correspond to the first groove 26 and the second groove 27. The part of the outer periphery of the outer conductor 20 on which the first groove 26 and the second groove 27 are provided corresponds to the pedestal 22 and the fitting tubular part 24.

[0062] First, in the connector 1, the first terminal 41 and the second terminal 42 of the filter section 40 are routed outward in the second direction through the corresponding grooves. Therefore, according to the connector 1, the first terminal 41 and the second terminal 42 are connected to the center conductor 10 or the extracting terminal 50 as thin wires in the shortest possible manner, eliminating the need for conventional connections such as those via a lead frame. Furthermore, routing the first terminal 41 and the second terminal 42 through such grooves has the advantage of being less likely to generate stray capacitance and therefore less likely to adversely affect high-frequency characteristics.

[0063] Furthermore, in connector 1, coil-shaped filter section 40 can have a large winding diameter for the outer diameter of outer conductor 20, which makes it easier to obtain a larger inductance (filter effect) than with a small diameter like a conventional chip inductor. For example, in order to obtain a large inductance with a chip inductor, it is necessary to further thin the wire and increase the number of windings without changing the outer diameter, but this may result in a lower current rating.

[0064] For example, in the case of a chip inductor, the outer diameter is limited to about 2 mm at most, but in the case of a cylindrical inductor such as that of this embodiment, the outer diameter can be set to twice that, 4 mm. In this case, the inductance value is the square of the radius (2 2 = 4 times), resulting in a large inductance. Here, as an example, a filter unit 40 is assumed to be cylindrical with a diameter of 4 mm, a thin wire diameter of 30 μm, and approximately 100 turns. With such a filter unit 40, an inductance exceeding 30 μH can be obtained, and a large filtering effect exceeding −10 dB can be achieved from 1 MHz, which is a low-frequency component contained in low-speed signals such as control signals. It is also expected that a larger filtering effect can be achieved for high frequencies greater than 1 MHz, such as 100 MHz or 1 GHz.

[0065] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a connector 1 that can easily improve filter performance.

[0066] The connector 1 may also include a first connecting member 70 that engages with the outer peripheral surface of the central conductor 10 while pressing the first tip portion 41a into contact with the central conductor 10. The connector 1 may also include a second connecting member 71 that engages with the outer peripheral surface of the extracting terminal 50 while pressing the second tip portion 42a into contact with the extracting terminal 50.

[0067] According to the connector 1, since the terminal processing of the first terminal 41 and the second terminal 42 of the filter portion 40 does not require a complicated process such as soldering, the manufacturing process can be simplified.

[0068] The connector 1 may also have a filter pressing portion 65 that is integrally supported by the inner peripheral surface 63 of the housing 60 and protrudes toward the outer peripheral surface 21a of the outer conductor 20. A tip portion 65a of the filter pressing portion 65 may face, in the second direction, at least a part of the downstream peripheral edge portion of the filter section 40 in the first direction.

[0069] In this case, in the first direction or the second direction, a part of the filter portion 40 is sandwiched between a part of the filter holding portion 65 and a part of the outer conductor 20, thereby restricting movement of the filter portion 40. Therefore, according to the connector 1, it is possible to prevent the filter portion 40 from shifting relative to the outer conductor 20, and ultimately to prevent the filter portion 40 from coming off the outer conductor 20.

[0070] Furthermore, a manufacturing method of a connector 1 to be connected to an external connector includes a first assembling step of assembling a rod-shaped central conductor 10 to a cylindrical outer conductor 20 with a cylindrical dielectric 30 sandwiched therebetween. The manufacturing method includes a filter portion arranging step after the first assembling step. In the filter portion arranging step, a filter portion 40 made of a thin wire that is a coated electric wire is arranged so as to be wound around the outer peripheral surface 21a of the outer conductor 20. In the filter portion arranging step, a first terminal 41, which is one end of the thin wire, and a second terminal 42, which is the other end of the thin wire, are individually routed outward in a second direction from the filter portion 40 through two grooves pre-formed in part of the outer peripheral portion of the outer conductor 20. The manufacturing method includes a second assembling step after the filter portion arranging step. In the second assembling step, the outer conductor 20 is inserted into the housing 60 along the first direction, and then a portion of the outer conductor 20 that is closer to the base than the peripheral region where the filter section 40 is arranged is fitted into the inner peripheral surface 63 of the housing 60, thereby assembling the housing 60 to the outer conductor 20. The manufacturing method also includes a termination step after the filter section arranging step or the second assembling step. In the termination step, the first tip portion 41a, where the conductor is exposed at the first terminal 41, is connected to a portion of the central conductor 10 exposed in the second direction from the dielectric 30, and the second tip portion 42a, where the conductor is exposed at the second terminal 42, is connected to the take-out terminal 50, which is a conductor exposed on the outside of the housing 60.

[0071] According to the manufacturing method of the connector 1, it is possible to manufacture a connector 1 that has the advantageous effects described above, that is, it is possible to provide a manufacturing method of a connector 1 that simply improves filter performance.

[0072] In the manufacturing method of the connector 1, the filter section 40 may be formed in advance into a coil shape by winding a thin wire. In the filter section arrangement step, the filter section 40 may be arranged on the outer peripheral surface 21a of the outer conductor 20 by fitting it into the outer conductor 20 in the second direction.

[0073] According to the manufacturing method of the connector 1, the terminal processing of the first terminal 41 and the second terminal 42 of the filter portion 40 does not require a complicated process such as soldering, so the manufacturing process can be simplified.

[0074] Furthermore, in the manufacturing method of the connector 1, the outer conductor 20 may have an annular groove 21b in a circumferential region of the outer peripheral surface 21a where the filter portion 40 is disposed. In addition, in the filter portion disposing step, the filter portion 40 may be disposed on the outer peripheral surface 21a of the outer conductor 20 by winding a thin wire around the annular groove 21b.

[0075] FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged view showing an annular groove 21b formed in an outer peripheral surface 21a of an outer conductor 20 in a connector according to another embodiment.

[0076] In this case, the filter portion 40 is configured by winding a thin wire directly around the annular groove 21 b. Therefore, according to the manufacturing method of the connector 1, it is possible to prevent the filter portion 40 from shifting relative to the outer conductor 20 while achieving the above-described advantageous effects and without requiring a component such as a filter retaining portion 65 formed on the housing 60.

[0077] Although one embodiment has been described above, the embodiment is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 1 connector 10 Center conductor 20 outer conductor 21a Outer surface 21b Annular groove 22 Base 24 Fitting cylinder 26 First groove 27 Second groove 30 Dielectric 40 Filter section 41 Terminal 1 41a 1st tip 42 Terminal 2 42a 2nd tip 50 Output terminal 60 cabinets 63 Inner peripheral surface 65 Filter holder 70 first connecting member 71 second connecting member

Claims

1. A connector for connecting to an external connector, a rod-shaped central conductor; a cylindrical outer conductor arranged coaxially with the central conductor; a cylindrical dielectric disposed between the central conductor and the outer conductor; a coil-shaped filter portion formed of a thin wire made of a coated electric wire and arranged so as to be wound around an outer peripheral surface of the outer conductor; a housing in which the outer conductor is inserted along a first direction that is a connection direction to the external connector, and then a part of the outer conductor closer to a base than a peripheral region in which the filter section is disposed is fitted into an inner peripheral surface; and a lead terminal that is a conductor exposed to the outside of the housing, the outer conductor has, in a part of an outer periphery thereof, two grooves for individually routing a first terminal which is one end of the thin wire and a second terminal which is the other end of the thin wire from the filter portion outward in a second direction which is a direction opposite to the first direction, a first tip portion where the conductor is exposed at the first terminal is connected to a part of the central conductor exposed from the dielectric in the second direction; A second tip portion where the conductor is exposed at the second end is connected to the extraction terminal.

2. a first connecting member that engages with an outer peripheral surface of the central conductor while pressing the first tip portion so as to contact the central conductor; 2. The connector according to claim 1, further comprising: a second connection member that engages with an outer peripheral surface of the take-out terminal while pressing the second tip portion so as to contact the take-out terminal.

3. the housing has a filter pressing portion that is integrally supported by the inner peripheral surface of the housing and protrudes toward the outer peripheral surface of the outer conductor, The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a tip end portion of the filter pressing portion faces, in the second direction, at least a part of a peripheral edge portion of the filter portion on a downstream side in the first direction.

4. A method for manufacturing a connector to be connected to an external connector, a first assembling step of assembling a rod-shaped central conductor to a cylindrical outer conductor with a cylindrical dielectric sandwiched therebetween; a filter part arrangement step of, after the first assembling step, arranging a filter part made of thin wires made of coated electric wires so as to be wound around the outer peripheral surface of the outer conductor, and individually routing a first terminal which is one end of the thin wire and a second terminal which is the other end of the thin wire through two grooves pre-formed in part of the outer peripheral part of the outer conductor outward from the filter part in a second direction which is opposite to a first direction which is a direction of connection to the external connector; a second assembling step of inserting the outer conductor into the housing along the first direction after the filter portion arranging step, and then assembling the housing to the outer conductor by fitting a part of the outer conductor that is closer to a base than a peripheral region in which the filter portion is arranged to an inner peripheral surface of the housing; a terminal processing step, after the filter unit arrangement step or the second assembling step, of connecting a first tip end portion, where a conductor is exposed at the first terminal, to a part of the central conductor exposed from the dielectric in the second direction, and connecting a second tip end portion, where a conductor is exposed at the second terminal, to a take-out terminal, which is a conductor exposed outside the housing; A method for manufacturing a connector comprising the steps of:

5. The filter portion is configured in a coil shape by winding the thin wire in advance, The method for manufacturing a connector according to claim 4 , wherein in the filter portion arranging step, the filter portion is arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the outer conductor by fitting the filter portion into the outer conductor in the second direction.

6. the outer conductor has an annular groove in the circumferential region of the outer peripheral surface where the filter portion is disposed, The method for manufacturing a connector according to claim 4 , wherein the filter portion arranging step arranges the filter portion on the outer peripheral surface of the outer conductor by winding the thin wire around the annular groove.

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