Electrical connector

Abstract

To provide an electric connector having excellent waterproof performance.SOLUTION: The electric connector 1 includes an insulating housing 4 including a contact pin 3, a cylindrical holding part 41 for holding the contact pin 3 inside, and a cylindrical protruding part 42 protruding from a tip end surface of the holding part 41 toward a tip end side, an outer contact 5 including a cylindrical base part 51 for holding the holding part 41 of the housing 4 inside, a first cylindrical part 52 linearly extending from a tip end surface of the base part 51 toward a tip end side, and a first sealing member 8a provided in a second cylindrical part 53 of the outer contact 5 and sealing a gap between the contact pin 3 and the housing 4 and a gap between the housing 4 and the outer contact 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates generally to electrical connectors, and more particularly to an electrical connector for providing a coaxial connection between a plug connector connected to a coaxial cable of an electronic device such as an on-board camera and a plug connector connected to the coaxial cable of a control device that accepts input from the electronic device. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, in-vehicle cameras have been installed in vehicles, and images of the vehicle's surroundings captured by the in-vehicle cameras are used for autonomous driving, driving assistance, and the like. An in-vehicle camera typically includes a camera housing, a circuit board installed within the camera housing, an imaging element such as a CCD or CMOS sensor mounted on the circuit board, and an imaging optical system installed in front of the imaging element. Such in-vehicle cameras are attached to various locations on the vehicle (e.g., the front bumper or rear bumper) and connected to an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) that controls the operation of the vehicle. The cameras transmit captured images to the ECU and also receive power and commands from the ECU.

[0003] To provide a connection between an in-vehicle camera and an ECU, it is necessary to provide an electrical connection between the connection cable extending from the in-vehicle camera's circuit board and the connection cable extending from the ECU.In this case, an electrical connector (adapter connector) is used to relay the electrical connection between the connection cable of the in-vehicle camera's circuit board and the connection cable of the ECU, with the aim of achieving the environmental resistance required of in-vehicle cameras, such as improving connection reliability, waterproofing the connection, and improving impact resistance.

[0004] Furthermore, with the recent trend toward higher pixel counts for in-vehicle cameras, the amount of data transmitted from the in-vehicle camera to the ECU is increasing. To transmit large amounts of data in a short time, high-frequency signals must be exchanged between the in-vehicle camera and the ECU. This necessitates improving the electrical characteristics of the connection between the in-vehicle camera and the ECU, particularly the transmission characteristics in the high-frequency band. In response to this need, Patent Document 1 discloses an electrical connector 500 shown in FIG. 1. The electrical connector 500 is an adapter connector that provides a coaxial connection between a plug connector connected to an end of a coaxial cable of the in-vehicle camera and a plug connector connected to an end of a coaxial cable of the ECU. As is well known, a coaxial connection using a coaxial cable has superior transmission characteristics in the high-frequency band compared to a connection using multiple terminals. Connecting the in-vehicle camera and the ECU via such a coaxial connection using a coaxial cable can improve the transmission characteristics in the high-frequency band of the connection between the in-vehicle camera and the ECU.

[0005] As shown in FIG. 1, the electrical connector 500 includes contact pins 510, a cylindrical insulating housing 520 that holds the contact pins 510 therein, a metal outer contact 530 that holds the insulating housing 520 therein, a metal flange portion 540 that extends outward from the outer peripheral surface of the outer contact 530, a metal cover portion 550 that extends from the flange portion 540 so as to surround the outer contact 530 from the outside with a gap therebetween, a through hole 560 formed in the flange portion 540, a fixing bolt 570, and a gasket 580 provided on the outer contact 530.

[0006] The electrical connector 500 is mounted on the support member 600 such that the outer contacts 530 are inserted into the through holes 610 formed in the plate-shaped support member 600. As a result, one ends of the contact pins 510 and the outer contacts 530 are exposed to the space on the left side of the support member 600 in the figure, and the other ends of the contact pins 510 and the outer contacts 530 are exposed to the space on the right side of the support member 600 in the figure. Therefore, by bringing the contact pins 510 and the outer contacts 530 into contact with the contact pins and outer contacts of a plug connector connected to the coaxial cable of the in-vehicle camera and the contact pins and outer contacts of a plug connector connected to the coaxial cable of the ECU, respectively, a coaxial connection can be provided between the coaxial cable of the in-vehicle camera and the coaxial cable of the ECU. Furthermore, the electrical connector 500 is fixed on the support member 600 by inserting a fixing bolt 570 through the through hole 560 and press-fitting it into the through hole 620 formed in the support member 600. Furthermore, the gap between the through-hole 610 of the support member 600 and the outer contact 530 of the electrical connector 500 is liquid-tightly sealed by a gasket 580, thereby providing waterproof performance to the electrical connector 500.

[0007] In this way, the gap between the through hole 610 of the support member 600 and the outer contact 530 of the electrical connector 500 is liquid-tight sealed by the gasket 580. However, in the configuration of the electrical connector 500, the gap between the contact pin 510 and the insulating housing 520 and the gap between the insulating housing 520 and the outer contact 530 are not liquid-tight sealed, and waterproof performance cannot be provided inside the outer contact 530. The intrusion of water or dust from one side to the other inside the outer contact 530 reduces the connection reliability of the electrical connector 500 and the product life of the electrical connector 500.

[0008] Furthermore, as the pixel count of in-vehicle cameras increases, the amount of data transmitted from the in-vehicle cameras to the ECU increases, creating a demand for faster communication speeds between the cameras and the ECU. To meet these needs, mini-coaxial electrical connectors are beginning to be used in place of the FAKRA-standard electrical connectors that were previously used for coaxial connections between in-vehicle cameras and the ECU. Mini-coaxial electrical connectors are smaller than FAKRA-standard electrical connectors and are capable of faster signal transmission than FAKRA-standard electrical connectors.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the structure of an electrical connector 700 defined by the Mini-Coaxial standard. FIG. 2 shows one side of the electrical connector 700. One side of the illustrated electrical connector 700 is connected to a plug connector connected to a coaxial cable of an ECU that communicates with an in-vehicle camera. The Mini-Coaxial standard requires that an insulating housing 730, which holds contact pins 710 on the side connected to the ECU's coaxial cable, be further provided within an outer contact 720. The insulating housing 730 has a cylindrical holding portion 740 that holds the contact pins 710 and a protrusion 750 that protrudes from the distal end surface of the holding portion 740 toward the distal end. The protrusion 750 externally covers the proximal end of the exposed portion of the contact pin 710. The Mini-Coaxial standard also specifies the shape of the protrusion 750 and the amount of protrusion (e.g., 0.15 mm) toward the distal end from the holding portion 740. As described above, the mini-coaxial standard strictly specifies the structure of one side of electrical connector 700 that is coupled with a plug connector connected to the coaxial cable of an ECU. Therefore, on the side that is connected to the coaxial cable of an ECU, it was not possible to provide an additional member inside outer contact 720 for liquid-tight sealing the gap between contact pin 710 and insulating housing 730 and the gap between insulating housing 730 and outer contact 720.

[0010] 1, the gaps between the fixing bolt 570 and the through hole 560 and the through hole 620 of the support member 600 are not liquid-tightly sealed, resulting in insufficient waterproofing of the electrical connector 500. Furthermore, in the configuration of the electrical connector 500, the cover portion 550 is made of a metal material and is integrally formed with the flange portion 540. Therefore, when a prying operation, tilting operation, or vibration is applied to the plug connector inserted into the cover portion 550, the cover portion 550 may be deformed or the flange portion 540 may be lifted from the support member 600, resulting in problems such as a decrease in the connection reliability of the electrical connector 500 and a shortened product lifespan. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-326017 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0012] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having excellent waterproof performance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] Such an object can be achieved by the present invention as defined by the following (1). (1) An electrical connector for providing a coaxial connection between a first plug connector inserted from a distal end side and a second plug connector inserted from a proximal end side, a contact pin including: a first contact portion extending linearly in the insertion / removal direction of the first plug connector and the second plug connector and coming into contact with a contact pin of the first plug connector; a press-fit portion extending from the first contact portion toward the base end; and a second contact portion extending linearly from the press-fit portion toward the base end and coming into contact with a contact pin of the second plug connector; an insulating housing including: a holding portion into which the press-fit portion of the contact pin is press-fitted; a protruding portion that protrudes from a tip surface of the holding portion toward the tip side and covers from the outside a base end side portion of the first contact portion of the contact pin; and a through hole that penetrates the holding portion and the protruding portion in the insertion / removal direction and through which the contact pin is inserted; an outer contact comprising: a base portion that holds the holding portion of the housing therein; a first tubular portion that extends linearly from a tip surface of the base toward the tip side and that comes into contact with an outer contact of the first plug connector; a second tubular portion that extends linearly from the base portion toward the base end side and that comes into contact with an outer contact of the second plug connector; and a through hole that penetrates the base portion, the first tubular portion, and the second tubular portion in the insertion / removal direction, and in which the contact pin and the housing are located; an electrical connector comprising: a first sealing member provided within the second cylindrical portion of the outer contact, the first sealing member sealing the gap between the contact pin and the housing, and the gap between the housing and the outer contact. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] The electrical connector of the present invention, whose structure is not regulated by the mini-coaxial standard and offers a high degree of design freedom, includes a first sealing member inside the second cylindrical portion of the outer contact that seals the gap between the contact pin and the housing and the gap between the housing and the outer contact, thereby improving the waterproof performance of the electrical connector. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional electrical connector. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the structure of an electrical connector defined by the mini-coaxial standard. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view showing an electrical connector according to the present invention and an in-vehicle camera to which the electrical connector is attached; [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] 4 is a perspective view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 3 from another angle. [Figure 6] 4 is a plan view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 3 as viewed from the +Z direction. [Figure 7] 4 is a plan view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 3, seen from the -Z direction. [Figure 8] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA shown in FIG. 6. [Figure 9] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB shown in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the base plate shown in FIG. 10 from another angle. [Figure 12] 11 is a perspective view of the contact pin shown in FIG. 10 from another angle. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the housing shown in FIG. 10 from another angle. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the housing shown in FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the outer contact shown in FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the cover shown in FIG. 10 from another angle. [Figure 17] 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing the electrical connector of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The electrical connector and manufacturing method of the electrical connector of the present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. The drawings referred to below are schematic diagrams prepared for the purpose of explaining the present invention. The dimensions (length, width, thickness, etc.) of each component shown in the drawings do not necessarily reflect the actual dimensions. In addition, the same or corresponding components in each drawing are given the same reference numerals. In the following description, the positive direction of the Z axis will be referred to as the "tip side," the negative direction of the Z axis will be referred to as the "base side," and the Z direction will sometimes be referred to as the "insertion / removal direction of the plug connector."

[0017] <Electrical connector> First, the electrical connector of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 16. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an electrical connector according to the present invention and an on-board camera to which the electrical connector is attached. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 3 from another angle. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 3 from the +Z direction. FIG. 7 is a plan view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 3 from the -Z direction. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the base plate shown in FIG. 10 from another angle. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the contact pins shown in FIG. 10 from another angle. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the housing shown in FIG. 10 from another angle. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the housing shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the outer contact shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the cover shown in FIG. 10 from another angle.

[0018] 3, the electrical connector 1 of the present invention is attached to the back plate 120 of the camera housing 110 of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 by any fixing means such as adhesive, adhesive tape, a retainer, or screws. The electrical connector 1 is an adapter connector for providing a coaxial connection between a first plug connector connected to a coaxial cable of a control device such as an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) of the vehicle (not shown), and a second plug connector connected to the coaxial cable of the vehicle-mounted camera 100.

[0019] One end of the coaxial cable of the control device is connected to a first plug connector, and the other end of the coaxial cable of the control device is connected to a circuit board of the control device. Similarly, one end of the coaxial cable of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 is connected to a second plug connector, and the other end of the coaxial cable of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 is connected to a circuit board of the vehicle-mounted camera 100. The first plug connector connected to the coaxial cable of the control device is connected to the electrical connector 1 from the tip side (+Z direction side). Furthermore, the second plug connector connected to the coaxial cable of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 is connected to the electrical connector 1 from the base side (-Z direction side). As a result, the electrical connector 1 provides a coaxial connection between the first plug connector connected to the coaxial cable of the control device and the second plug connector connected to the coaxial cable of the vehicle-mounted camera 100.

[0020] The electrical connector 1 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is a mini-coaxial connector. As an example, the electrical connector 1 has a width of 13.4 mm in the X and Y directions and a height of 18.5 mm in the Z direction. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the electrical connector 1 includes a base plate 2, contact pins 3, an insulating housing 4 that holds the contact pins 3 therein, an outer contact 5 that holds the housing 4 therein, an annular gasket 6 attached to the outer surface of the outer contact 5, a cover 7 that externally covers the outer contact 5, and a first sealing member 8a (see FIG. 8), a second sealing member 8b (see FIG. 9), and a third sealing member 8c (see FIG. 8) that seal gaps between the components of the electrical connector 1 to provide waterproof performance for the electrical connector 1. When the electrical connector 1 is assembled, the contact pins 3, the housing 4, and the outer contact 5 are coaxially arranged to form a coaxial structure.

[0021] 10 and 11, the base plate 2 is a plate-like member made of a metal material such as aluminum. The base plate 2 includes a plate-like main body 21, a through hole 22 formed in the main body 21, four fixing holes 23 formed outside the through hole 22, a flange 24 protruding linearly from the distal end surface of the main body 21 toward the distal end (+Z direction), four circular recesses 25 formed on the proximal end surface of the main body 21 so as to surround the four fixing holes 23, respectively, and four crimping regions 26 formed on the proximal end surface of the main body 21 so as to be adjacent to the through holes 22.

[0022] The main body 21 is a plate-like portion having a distal end surface and a proximal end surface perpendicular to the Z direction (the insertion / removal direction of the first plug connector and the second plug connector). When the electrical connector 1 is attached to the back plate 120 of the vehicle-mounted camera 100, the proximal end surface of the main body 21 is fixed to the back plate 120 by any fixing means such as adhesive, adhesive tape, a retainer, or a screw. When the electrical connector 1 is attached to the back plate 120 of the vehicle-mounted camera 100, the outer contact 5 extends into the camera housing 110 through a through hole 130 (see FIG. 3 ) formed in the back plate 120. The through hole 22 is a circular through hole formed linearly penetrating the main body 21 in the Z direction. As shown in FIG. 8 , the outer contact 5 is inserted into the through hole 22 and held by the base plate 2.

[0023] 10 and 11 , the four fixing holes 23 are circular holes formed in the main body 21 that are spaced apart from one another outside the through-hole 22 and that linearly penetrate the main body 21 in the Z direction. The four fixing holes 23 are formed at equal angular intervals of 90 degrees outside the through-hole 22. As shown in FIG. 5 , the four bosses 74 of the cover 7 are inserted through the four fixing holes 23, respectively, and are further thermocompression bonded to the main body 21, thereby holding the cover 7 by the base plate 2.

[0024] Returning to Figure 10, the flange portion 24 is a square annular portion that protrudes linearly from the tip surface of the main body portion 21 toward the tip side. The flange portion 24 is formed so as to surround the through hole 22 and the four fixing holes 23 from the outside. As shown in Figure 8, the cover 7 is fitted into the flange portion 24, thereby supporting the cover 7 from the outside and preventing the cover 7 from swinging or rotating on the base plate 2.

[0025] Returning to FIG. 11 , the four circular recesses 25 are formed on the base end surface of the main body 21 so as to surround the four fixing holes 23, respectively. Therefore, the four fixing holes 23 communicate between the bottom surfaces (surfaces facing the base end) of the four circular recesses 25 and the tip end surface of the main body 21. The four crimping regions 26 are arc-shaped recesses formed on the base end surface of the main body 21 so as to be spaced apart from one another and adjacent to the through hole 22 at equal angular intervals of 90 degrees. Each of the four crimping regions 26 extends in an arc shape adjacent to the through hole 22 with a constant width. As will be described later, when the outer contact 5 is inserted into the through hole 22, the four crimping regions 26 are crimped inward so as to press the outer contact 5 from the outside, thereby fixedly holding the outer contact 5 by the base plate 2.

[0026] Returning to FIG. 10 , contact pin 3 functions as an electrical path between a contact pin of a first plug connector inserted into electrical connector 1 from the tip end and a contact pin of a second plug connector inserted into electrical connector 1 from the base end. Contact pin 3 is a rod-shaped member formed of a metal material such as brass. As shown in FIG. 12 , contact pin 3 includes a first contact portion 31 located at the tip end and contacting a contact pin of the first plug connector, a press-fit portion 32 extending from first contact portion 31 toward the base end and press-fitted into housing 4, and a second contact portion 33 extending linearly from press-fit portion 32 toward the base end and contacting a contact pin of the second plug connector. First contact portion 31, press-fit portion 32, and second contact portion 33 are integrally formed so as to be concentric.

[0027] The first contact portion 31 is a cylindrical portion extending linearly in the Z direction. As shown in FIG. 8, when the electrical connector 1 is assembled, the first contact portion 31 protrudes from the housing 4 toward the tip end and is exposed within the outer contact 5. Therefore, the first contact portion 31 comes into contact with a contact pin of a first plug connector inserted into the electrical connector 1 from the tip end. Returning to FIG. 12, the press-fit portion 32 is a portion extending from the first contact portion 31 toward the base end. The press-fit portion 32 includes a small-diameter portion 321 extending from the first contact portion 31 toward the base end and a large-diameter portion 322 extending linearly from the small-diameter portion 321 toward the base end.

[0028] The small diameter portion 321 is a cylindrical portion extending linearly from the base end of the first contact portion 31 toward the base end. The diameter of the small diameter portion 321 is larger than the diameter of the first contact portion 31. The large diameter portion 322 is a cylindrical portion extending linearly from the base end of the small diameter portion 321 toward the base end. The diameter of the large diameter portion 322 is larger than the diameter of the small diameter portion 321. The connection portion between the small diameter portion 321 and the large diameter portion 322 has a tapered surface whose diameter increases from the tip end toward the base end. The second contact portion 33 is a cylindrical portion extending linearly from the base end of the large diameter portion 322 toward the base end. The diameter of the second contact portion 33 is smaller than the diameter of the large diameter portion 322 and larger than the diameter of the small diameter portion 321. 8, when the electrical connector 1 is assembled, the second contact portion 33 protrudes from the housing 4 toward the base end and is exposed within the outer contact 5. Therefore, the second contact portion 33 comes into contact with the contact pin of a second plug connector that is inserted into the electrical connector 1 from the base end side.

[0029] 10 , the housing 4 is a cylindrical member made of an elastic insulating material such as a liquid crystal polymer or nylon. The contact pin 3 is press-fitted into the housing 4, whereby the contact pin 3 is fixedly held by the housing 4. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 , the housing 4 includes a cylindrical holding portion 41 that holds the press-fit portion 32 of the contact pin 3 therein, a cylindrical protruding portion 42 that protrudes from the tip surface of the holding portion 41 toward the tip side, four ribs 43 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the holding portion 41, and a through-hole 44 that linearly penetrates the holding portion 41 and the protruding portion 42 in the Z direction and through which the contact pin 3 is inserted.

[0030] The holding portion 41 is a cylindrical portion into which the press-fit portion 32 of the contact pin 3 is press-fitted and which holds the press-fit portion 32 from the outside. The holding portion 41 is provided with a cylindrical small-diameter portion 411 located on the tip side and extending linearly in the Z direction, and a cylindrical large-diameter portion 412 extending linearly from the base end of the small-diameter portion 411 toward the base end side. The tip surface of the small-diameter portion 411 and the base end surface of the large-diameter portion 412 are flat surfaces perpendicular to the Z direction. The small-diameter portion 411 and the large-diameter portion 412 are integrally formed so as to be concentric with each other. The outer diameter of the large-diameter portion 412 is larger than the outer diameter of the small-diameter portion 411.

[0031] Protrusion 42 is a cylindrical portion formed on the tip surface of small diameter portion 411 so as to be concentric with small diameter portion 411. The tip surface of protrusion 42 is a flat surface perpendicular to the Z direction. The outer diameter of protrusion 42 is smaller than the outer diameter of small diameter portion 411 and gradually increases from the tip side toward the base end side. As shown in FIG. 8, protrusion 42 protrudes from the tip surface of small diameter portion 411 toward the tip side and covers the base end portion of first contact portion 31 of contact pin 3 from the outside.

[0032] 13, the four ribs 43 are protrusions formed at equal angular intervals on the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 411 and extending linearly in the Z direction. The through hole 44 is a circular hole formed so as to penetrate linearly in the Z direction through the central portions of the holding portion 41 and the protrusion 42. As shown in FIG. 14, the through hole 44 includes a first section 441, a second section 442, a third section 443, and a fourth section 444, which are arranged concentrically from the tip side.

[0033] The first section 441 is a cylindrical space that penetrates the protrusion 42 in the Z direction and communicates with the outside. The first section 441 is defined by the inner circumferential surface of the protrusion 42 and has a constant diameter along the Z direction. The diameter of the first section 441 is approximately equal to the diameter of the first contact portion 31 of the contact pin 3. The second section 442 is a cylindrical space located on the base end side of the first section 441 and communicates with the first section 441. The second section 442 is defined by the inner circumferential surface of the small diameter portion 411 and has a constant diameter along the Z direction. The diameter of the second section 442 is larger than the diameter of the first section 441 and approximately equal to the diameter of the small diameter portion 321 of the contact pin 3. The connecting portion between the first section 441 and the second section 442 has a tapered surface whose diameter gradually increases from the tip end side to the base end side.

[0034] The third section 443 is located on the proximal side of the second section 442 and is a cylindrical space that communicates with the second section 442. The third section 443 is defined by the inner circumferential surfaces of the small diameter section 411 and the large diameter section 412 and has a constant diameter along the Z direction. The diameter of the third section 443 is larger than the diameter of the second section 442 and is approximately equal to the diameter of the large diameter section 322 of the contact pin 3. The connecting portion between the second section 442 and the third section 443 has a tapered surface whose diameter gradually increases from the distal end side to the proximal end side. The fourth section 444 is located on the proximal side of the third section 443 and is a tapered space that communicates with the third section 443. The fourth section 444 penetrates the proximal end surface of the large diameter section 412 in the Z direction and communicates with the outside. The fourth section 444 has a tapered shape in which the diameter gradually increases from the distal end to the proximal end. The maximum diameter of the fourth section 444, i.e., the diameter of the fourth section 444 on the proximal end surface of the large diameter portion 412, is larger than the diameter of the large diameter portion 322.

[0035] 8, the contact pin 3 is inserted through the through-hole 44 of the housing 4, and the press-fit portion 32 of the contact pin 3 is press-fit into the holding portion 41 of the housing 4, whereby the contact pin 3 is held by the housing 4. In this state, the protruding portion 42 of the housing 4 covers the base end portion of the first contact portion 31 from the outside. Furthermore, the first contact portion 31 of the contact pin 3 is inserted through the first section 441 and protrudes toward the tip end, and the second contact portion 33 of the contact pin 3 protrudes from the fourth section 444 toward the base end.

[0036] With the contact pin 3 held by the housing 4, the small diameter portion 321 of the contact pin 3 is press-fitted into the second section 442, and further, the large diameter portion 322 of the contact pin 3 is press-fitted into the third section 443. The contact pin 3 is prevented from coming off the housing 4 by friction between the small diameter portion 321 and the inner circumferential surface of the small diameter portion 411 that defines the second section 442, and friction between the large diameter portion 322 and the inner circumferential surfaces of the small diameter portion 411 and the large diameter portion 412 that define the third section 443.

[0037] The contact pin 3 is press-fitted into the through-hole 44 of the housing 4, but the contact pin 3 is made of a metal material, and the housing 4 is made of an elastic insulating material. When two parts made of different materials with different hardness are press-fitted together, a small gap is created between the two parts. Therefore, a gap exists between the contact pin 3 and the through-hole 44 of the housing 4.

[0038] Returning to FIG. 10 , the outer contact 5 is a tubular member made of a metal material such as a zinc alloy. The outer contact 5 functions as an outer conductor layer that holds the contact pin 3 and the housing 4 therein. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 15 , the outer contact 5 includes a cylindrical base portion 51 that holds the holding portion 41 of the housing 4 therein, a first tubular portion 52 that extends from the base portion 51 toward the tip end, a second tubular portion 53 that extends from the base portion 51 toward the base end, and a through-hole 54 that linearly penetrates the base portion 51, the first tubular portion 52, and the second tubular portion 53 in the Z direction and through which the contact pin 3 and the housing 4 are located. The base portion 51, the first tubular portion 52, and the second tubular portion 53 are integrally formed so as to be concentric.

[0039] The base 51 is a cylindrical portion that passes through the through hole 22 of the base plate 2. The base 51 includes a cylindrical main body 511, a retaining groove 512 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the main body 511, and a fitting protrusion 513 that protrudes from the distal end surface of the main body 511 toward the distal end. The main body 511 is a cylindrical portion that extends linearly in the Z direction with a constant diameter. The distal end surface and the proximal end surface of the main body 511 are flat surfaces that are perpendicular to the Z direction. The retaining groove 512 is a recess formed around the outer circumferential surface of the main body 511. A gasket 6 made of an elastic material such as silicone rubber is attached in the retaining groove 512. As shown in FIG. 8 , when the outer contact 5 is inserted through the through hole 22 of the base plate 2, the main body 511 is positioned within the through hole 22. In this state, the gasket 6 attached in the retaining groove 512 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 22, sealing the gap between the outer contact 5 and the through hole 22 liquid-tight.

[0040] 10 and 15, the fitting protrusion 513 is an annular portion extending from the tip surface of the main body 511 toward the tip side. The fitting protrusion 513 is formed on the tip surface of the main body 511 so as to surround the first tubular portion 52. The tip surface of the fitting protrusion 513 is a flat surface perpendicular to the Z direction. The outer diameter of the fitting protrusion 513 is smaller than the outer diameter of the main body 511.

[0041] The first cylindrical portion 52 is a cylindrical portion extending linearly from the distal end surface of the main body 511 of the base 51 toward the distal end. The outer diameter of the first cylindrical portion 52 is smaller than the outer diameter of the main body 511 of the base 51 and the outer diameter of the fitting protrusion 513. The second cylindrical portion 53 is a cylindrical portion extending linearly from the proximal end surface of the main body 511 of the base 51 toward the proximal end. The outer diameter of the second cylindrical portion 53 is larger than the outer diameter of the first cylindrical portion 52 and smaller than the outer diameter of the base 51.

[0042] The through-hole 54 is a circular hole that linearly penetrates the base 51, the first cylindrical portion 52, and the second cylindrical portion 53 in the Z direction. The through-hole 54 includes a first section 541, a second section 542, a third section 543, and a fourth section 544 that are arranged concentrically with one another in this order from the tip side.

[0043] The first compartment 541 is a cylindrical space that penetrates the first cylindrical portion 52 linearly in the Z direction and communicates with the outside. The first compartment 541 is defined by the inner circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion 52 and has a constant diameter along the Z direction. The diameter of the first compartment 541 is slightly larger than the small diameter portion 411 of the housing 4. Therefore, when the housing 4 is held by the outer contact 5, a gap exists between the inner circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion 52 that defines the first compartment 541 and the small diameter portion 411.

[0044] The second compartment 542 is located on the proximal side of the first compartment 541 and is a cylindrical space communicating with the first compartment 541. The second compartment 542 is located inside the main body 511. The second compartment 542 is defined by the inner circumferential surface of the main body 511 and has a constant diameter along the Z direction. The diameter of the second compartment 542 is approximately equal to the large diameter portion 412 of the housing 4. The connecting portion between the first compartment 441 and the second compartment 442 has a tapered surface whose diameter gradually increases from the distal end to the proximal end. The third compartment 543 is located on the proximal side of the second compartment 542 and is a cylindrical space communicating with the second compartment 542. The third compartment 543 is defined by the inner circumferential surfaces of the main body 511 and the second tubular portion 53 and has a constant diameter along the Z direction. The diameter of the third section 543 is larger than the diameter of the second section 542 and the outer diameter of the large diameter section 412. The connecting section between the second section 542 and the third section 543 is a flat surface perpendicular to the Z direction. The fourth section 544 is located on the proximal side of the third section 543 and is a tapered space that communicates with the third section 543.

[0045] The housing 4 is inserted into the through-hole 54 of the outer contact 5 from the base end side, and the large diameter portion 412 of the housing 4 is press-fit into the second section 542. This allows the housing 4 to be held by the outer contact 5. As shown in FIG. 8 , when the housing 4 is held by the outer contact 5, the tip end portion of the small diameter portion 411 of the housing 4 is located in the first section 541, and the large diameter portion 412 of the housing 4 is located in the second section 542. In this state, the four ribs 43 of the housing 4 abut against the connection between the first section 541 and the second section 542, and the large diameter portion 412 contacts the second section 442. Friction between the large diameter portion 412 and the inner circumferential surface of the main body portion 511 that defines the second section 542 prevents the housing 4 from coming off the outer contact 5. In this state, the base end surface of the large diameter portion 412 of the housing 4 and the connection portion between the second section 542 and the third section 543 are positioned on approximately the same plane.

[0046] The large diameter portion 412 of the housing 4 is press-fitted into the second compartment 542. The housing 4 is made of an elastic insulating material, and the outer contact 5 is made of a metal material. As described above, when two components made of different materials with different hardnesses are press-fitted together, a small gap is created between the two components. Therefore, a gap exists between the large diameter portion 412 and the inner circumferential surface of the main body portion 511 that defines the second compartment 542. In this state, the first contact portion 31 of the contact pin 3 is exposed within the first cylindrical portion 52 and spaced apart from the first cylindrical portion 52, and the second contact portion 33 of the contact pin 3 is exposed within the second cylindrical portion 53 and spaced apart from the second cylindrical portion 53.

[0047] With the contact pin 3 and the housing 4 held by the outer contact 5, the outer contact 5 is inserted from the base end side through the through hole 22 of the base plate 2. Then, the crimping area 26 of the base plate 2 is crimped inward, thereby fixedly holding the outer contact 5 by the base plate 2. In this state, the gasket 6 attached in the holding groove 512 of the outer contact 5 liquid-tightly seals the gap between the base 51 of the outer contact 5 and the through hole 22.

[0048] 10, the cover 7 is a tubular member that covers the first tubular portion 52 of the outer contact 5 while spaced apart from the outside. The cover 7 is made of a resin material such as nylon or polyamide resin, and is attached to the base plate 2 to guide the connection of the first plug connector to the electrical connector 1 from the tip side. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 16, the cover 7 includes a plate-shaped base 71, a tubular portion 72 that extends from the tip surface of the base 71 toward the tip side, a through-hole 73 that linearly penetrates the base 71 in the Z direction, and four bosses 74 that protrude from the base end surface of the base 71 toward the base end.

[0049] The base 71 is a plate-like portion having a planar shape corresponding to the inner space of the flange portion 24 of the base plate 2. When the cover 7 is attached to the base plate 2, the base 71 is held within the inner space of the flange portion 24. The distal end surface and the proximal end surface of the base 71 are flat surfaces perpendicular to the Z direction. The tubular portion 72 is a rectangular tubular portion extending linearly from the distal end surface of the base 71 toward the distal end. As shown in FIG. 8 , when the electrical connector 1 is assembled, the tubular portion 72 covers the first tubular portion 52 of the outer contact 5 while being spaced apart from the outside. When the first plug connector is connected to the electrical connector 1 from the distal end side, the first plug connector slides on the inner circumferential surface of the tubular portion 72, thereby guiding the connection of the first plug connector to the electrical connector 1.

[0050] Furthermore, when the first plug connector is connected to the electrical connector 1, the cylindrical portion 72 supports the first plug connector from the outside. Therefore, even if the first plug connector is subjected to a prying operation, tilting operation, or vibration, significant displacement or vibration of the first plug connector can be prevented. Furthermore, because the cover 7 is separate from the base plate 2 and is formed of a resin material that is more flexible than a metal material, even if the first plug connector is subjected to a prying operation, tilting operation, or vibration, the cylindrical portion 72 elastically deforms and absorbs the displacement or vibration of the first plug connector. As a result, application of a large load to the base plate 2 and the outer contacts 5 can be prevented. Therefore, lifting of the base plate 2 from the back plate 120 of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 and deformation of the outer contacts 5 can be prevented, improving the connection reliability of the electrical connector 1 and extending the product life of the electrical connector 1.

[0051] Returning to FIG. 16 , the through hole 73 is a circular hole formed so as to linearly penetrate the central portion of the base portion 71 in the Z direction. The through hole 73 includes a straight portion 731 extending in the Z direction and an annular abutment portion 732 formed so as to protrude inward from the inner circumferential surface of the straight portion 731. The straight portion 731 is a circular hole extending in the Z direction with a constant diameter. The diameter of the straight portion 731 is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the main body portion 511 of the outer contact 5. The abutment portion 732 is an annular portion protruding inward from the tip portion of the inner circumferential surface of the straight portion 731. The inner diameter of the abutment portion 732 is smaller than the outer diameter of the main body portion 511 and approximately equal to the outer diameter of the fitting protrusion 513 of the outer contact 5. The tip surface of the abutment portion 732 is continuous with the tip surface of the base portion 71.

[0052] 8, when the electrical connector 1 is assembled, the main body 511 of the outer contact 5 is fitted into the straight portion 731 and abuts against the abutment portion 732 from the base end side, and further, the fitting protrusion 513 of the outer contact 5 is fitted into the abutment portion 732. In this state, the tip surfaces of the base 71 and abutment portion 732 of the cover 7 and the tip surface of the fitting protrusion 513 of the outer contact 5 are positioned on approximately the same plane.

[0053] Returning to FIG. 16 , the four bosses 74 are cylindrical portions formed on the base end surface of the base 71 at positions corresponding to the four fixing holes 23 of the base plate 2. As shown in FIG. 9 , when the cover 7 is attached to the base plate 2, the four bosses 74 are inserted through the four fixing holes 23 and protrude toward the base end. With the cover 7 attached to the base plate 2, a thermocompression process is performed on the four bosses 74 to crush the portions of the four bosses 74 that protrude toward the base end from the main body 21 of the base plate 2, thereby preventing the cover 7 from being detached from the base plate 2. The four bosses 74 are formed of a resin material, and the base plate 2 is formed of a metal material. When thermocompression bonding is performed between two components made of such dissimilar materials, a small gap is created between the two components. Therefore, even after thermocompression bonding of each boss 74 and attaching the cover 7 to the base plate 2, a gap remains between each boss 74 and the corresponding fixing hole 23.

[0054] 8 and 9, the first sealing member 8a, the second sealing member 8b, and the third sealing member 8c are members that liquid-tightly seal the gaps between the components of the electrical connector 1. Each of the first sealing member 8a, the second sealing member 8b, and the third sealing member 8c is formed by applying a curable material such as a thermosetting resin or a photocurable resin to a predetermined location and then curing the material by a curing process such as a heating process or a light irradiation process.

[0055] 8 , the first sealing member 8a is provided in the second cylindrical portion 53 of the outer contact 5 and liquid-tightly seals the gap between the large diameter portion 322 of the contact pin 3 and the third compartment 443 of the through hole 44 of the housing 4, and the gap between the large diameter portion 412 of the housing 4 and the second compartment 542 of the through hole 54 of the outer contact 5. The first sealing member 8a is formed in the second cylindrical portion 53 by the following procedure: A sufficient amount of hardenable material is applied from the base end side onto the base end surface of the large diameter portion 412 located in the second cylindrical portion 53 and the connection portion between the second compartment 542 and the third compartment 543, and the hardenable material is filled into the gap between the large diameter portion 322 and the third compartment 443 and the gap between the large diameter portion 412 and the second compartment 542. The applied curable material is then subjected to a curing process and hardened, thereby forming a first sealing member 8a that closes the gap between large diameter portion 322 and third section 443 and the gap between large diameter portion 412 and second section 542. The first sealing member 8a liquid-tightly seals the gap between contact pin 3 and housing 4 and the gap between housing 4 and outer contact 5 within second tubular portion 53. This makes it possible to prevent water, dust, water vapor, etc. from entering from the tip end to the base end within outer contact 5, or from the base end to the tip end, thereby improving the waterproof performance of electrical connector 1.

[0056] As described in the Background Art section, the structure of the distal end portion of the electrical connector 1, to which the first plug connector connected to the coaxial cable of the control device is connected, i.e., the structure inside the first tubular portion 52 of the outer contact 5, is strictly regulated by the Mini-Coaxial Standard, leaving little flexibility in design. Therefore, if the Mini-Coaxial Standard is followed, an additional sealing member such as the first sealing member 8a cannot be provided inside the first tubular portion 52. In contrast, the electrical connector 1 of the present invention provides the first sealing member 8a inside the proximal end portion of the electrical connector 1, i.e., the second tubular portion 53 of the outer contact 5, which has a high degree of design freedom and is not regulated by the Mini-Coaxial Standard. This configuration satisfies the Mini-Coaxial Standard and improves the waterproof performance of the electrical connector 1.

[0057] 9, the second sealing members 8b are provided in the four circular recesses 25 formed on the base end surface of the main body 21 of the base plate 2, respectively, and liquid-tightly seal the gaps between the bosses 74 of the cover 7 and the circular recesses 25. Note that although the portions of the four bosses 74 that protrude from the main body 21 toward the base end are not crushed in each drawing, it should be noted that when the cover 7 is attached to the base plate 2, the portions of the four bosses 74 that protrude from the main body 21 toward the base end are crushed by thermocompression bonding.

[0058] The second sealing member 8b is formed in each of the four circular recesses 25 in the following manner. After the cover 7 is attached to the base plate 2 by thermocompression bonding to the four bosses 74, a curable material is applied to the bottom surfaces of the four circular recesses 25 from the base end to fill the gaps between the fixing holes 23 in each circular recess 25 and the corresponding bosses 74. The applied curable material is then cured to form the second sealing member 8b in each of the four circular recesses 25, filling the gaps between the fixing holes 23 in each circular recess 25 and the corresponding bosses 74. The second sealing member 8b liquid-tightly seals the gaps between the base plate 2 and the cover 7. This prevents water, dust, water vapor, and the like from penetrating from the tip end to the base end or from the base end to the tip end via the base plate 2, thereby improving the waterproof performance of the electrical connector 1.

[0059] Returning to FIG. 8 , the third sealing member 8c is provided within the cylindrical portion 72 of the cover 7 and liquid-tightly seals the gap between the fitting protrusion 513 of the base portion 51 of the outer contact 5 and the abutting portion 732 of the through-hole 73 of the cover 7. The third sealing member 8c is formed within the cylindrical portion 72 in the following procedure. A sufficient amount of hardenable material is applied from the tip side to the tip surface of the fitting protrusion 513 of the outer contact 5 and the tip surfaces of the base portion 71 and the abutting portion 732 of the cover 7, and the hardenable material is filled into the gap between the fitting protrusion 513 and the abutting portion 732. The applied hardenable material is then hardened to form the third sealing member 8c so as to close the gap between the fitting protrusion 513 and the abutting portion 732. The third sealing member 8c liquid-tightly seals the gap between the outer contact 5 and the cover 7 within the cylindrical portion 72. This prevents water, dust, water vapor, etc. from entering the cover 7 from the tip side to the base side, or from the base side to the tip side, thereby improving the waterproof performance of the electrical connector 1.

[0060] Furthermore, as described above, the gasket 6 liquid-tightly seals the gap between the base 51 of the outer contact 5 and the through hole 22 of the base plate 2. Therefore, in the electrical connector 1 of the present invention, all of the gaps between the components of the electrical connector 1 are liquid-tightly sealed by the gasket 6, the first sealing member 8a, the second sealing member 8b, and the third sealing member 8c. This configuration prevents the intrusion of water, dust, water vapor, etc. from the tip end side to the base end side, or from the base end side to the tip end side, thereby improving the waterproof performance of the electrical connector 1.

[0061] Furthermore, in the electrical connector 1 of the present invention, the cover 7 is formed of a resin material that is more flexible than a metal material, and further, the cover 7 is formed separately from the base plate 2. Therefore, even if the first plug connector is twisted, tilted, or vibrated while connected to the electrical connector 1, the cover 7 elastically deforms and can absorb the displacement and vibration of the first plug connector. As a result, it is possible to prevent a large load from being applied to the base plate 2 and the outer contacts 5. This prevents the base plate 2 from lifting off the back plate 120 of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 and the outer contacts 5 from deforming, improving the connection reliability of the electrical connector 1 and extending the product life of the electrical connector 1.

[0062] <Manufacturing method for electrical connectors> Next, a detailed description will be given of a method for manufacturing the above-mentioned electrical connector 1. Figure 17 is a flowchart showing the method for manufacturing the electrical connector of the present invention.

[0063] The manufacturing method S100 of the electrical connector 1 of the present invention is performed by a manufacturing machine that automatically manufactures the electrical connector 1 or by an operator that manually manufactures the electrical connector 1. First, in step S110, the contact pin 3 is held by the housing 4. Specifically, the contact pin 3 is press-fitted into the through-hole 44 of the housing 4 from the base end side. The press-fitting of the contact pin 3 into the through-hole 44 is completed when the small-diameter portion 321 of the contact pin 3 is press-fitted into the second section 442 of the housing 4 and the large-diameter portion 322 of the contact pin 3 is press-fitted into the third section 443 of the housing 4. As shown in FIG. 8 , in this state, the first contact portion 31 of the contact pin 3 protrudes from the holding portion 41 of the housing 4 toward the tip end, and the second contact portion 33 of the contact pin 3 protrudes from the holding portion 41 toward the base end. Furthermore, the protruding portion 42 of the housing 4 covers the base end portion of the first contact portion 31 from the outside.

[0064] 17, in step S120, the housing 4, which holds the contact pins 3 therein, is held by the outer contact 5. Specifically, the housing 4 is press-fitted into the through-hole 54 of the outer contact 5 from the base end side. Press-fitting of the housing 4 into the through-hole 54 is completed when the four ribs 43 of the housing 4 abut against the connection between the first section 541 and the second section 542 of the outer contact 5 from the base end side. As shown in FIG. 8, in this state, the base end surface of the large diameter section 412 of the housing 4 and the connection between the second section 542 and the third section 543 of the outer contact 5 are positioned on approximately the same plane.

[0065] 17 , in step S130, a first sealing member 8a is formed inside the second cylindrical portion 53 of the outer contact 5. Specifically, a sufficient amount of hardenable material is applied from the base end side onto the base end surface of the large diameter portion 412 of the housing 4 located inside the second cylindrical portion 53 and onto the connection portion between the second section 542 and the third section 543 of the outer contact 5, and the hardenable material is filled into the gap between the large diameter portion 322 of the contact pin 3 and the third section 443 of the housing 4, and the gap between the large diameter portion 412 and the second section 542 of the outer contact 5. The applied hardenable material is then subjected to a hardening process to harden, thereby forming the first sealing member 8a so as to close the gap between the large diameter portion 322 and the third section 443 and the gap between the large diameter portion 412 and the second section 542. In this state, the first sealing member 8a liquid-tightly seals the gap between the contact pin 3 and the housing 4, and the gap between the housing 4 and the outer contact 5, within the second cylindrical portion 53 of the outer contact 5. Furthermore, at any time before step S140, the gasket 6 is attached to the retaining groove 512 of the outer contact 5.

[0066] Next, in step S140, the cover 7 is attached to the outer contacts 5. Specifically, the outer contacts 5 are inserted into the through-holes 73 of the cover 7 from the base end side. The insertion of the outer contacts 5 into the through-holes 73 is completed when the main body portions 511 of the outer contacts 5 are fitted into the straight portions 731 of the cover 7 and abut against the abutting portions 732 of the cover 7 from the base end side, and further when the fitting protrusions 513 of the outer contacts 5 are fitted into the abutting portions 732. As shown in FIG. 8 , in this state, the tip surfaces of the base portion 71 and abutting portions 732 of the cover 7 and the tip surface of the fitting protrusions 513 of the outer contacts 5 are positioned on approximately the same plane. Furthermore, the tubular portion 72 of the cover 7 covers the first tubular portion 52 of the outer contacts 5 from the outside, with a gap between them.

[0067] 17 , in step S150, the outer contact 5 and the cover 7 are held by the base plate 2. Specifically, the cover 7 and the outer contact 5 are placed from the tip side onto the tip surface of the main body 21 of the base plate 2 in such a position that the four bosses 74 of the cover 7 are inserted into the four fixing holes 23 of the base plate 2, respectively, and the base 51 of the outer contact 5 is inserted into the through hole 22 of the base plate 2. Then, a thermocompression process is performed to crush the portions of the four bosses 74 that protrude from the main body 21 toward the base end, and the cover 7 is fixedly held by the base plate 2. Next, the crimping areas 26 of the base plate 2 are crimped inward, so that the outer contact 5 is fixedly held by the base plate 2. In this state, the gasket 6 attached in the holding groove 512 of the outer contact 5 liquid-tightly seals the gap between the base 51 and the through hole 22.

[0068] Next, in step S160, second sealing members 8b are formed in each of the four circular recesses 25 of the base plate 2. A hardenable material is applied to the bottom surface of each of the four circular recesses 25 from the base end side, filling the gap between the fixing hole 23 in each circular recess 25 and the corresponding boss 74 of the base plate 2. The applied hardenable material is then subjected to a hardening treatment to form second sealing members 8b in each of the four circular recesses 25, closing the gap between the fixing hole 23 in each circular recess 25 and the corresponding boss 74. The second sealing members 8b liquid-tightly seal the gap between the base plate 2 and the cover 7.

[0069] Next, in step S170, a third sealing member 8c is formed inside the cylindrical portion 72 of the cover 7. A sufficient amount of hardenable material is applied from the tip end to the tip surfaces of the fitting protrusions 513 of the outer contact 5 and the base portion 71 and abutting portion 732 of the cover 7, and the hardenable material is filled into the gap between the fitting protrusions 513 of the outer contact 5 and the abutting portion 732 of the cover 7. The applied hardenable material is then subjected to a hardening process to form the third sealing member 8c so as to close the gap between the fitting protrusions 513 and the abutting portion 732. The third sealing member 8c liquid-tightly seals the gap between the outer contact 5 and the cover 7 inside the cylindrical portion 72 of the cover 7. The order in which steps S160 and S170 are performed is not particularly limited, and steps S160 and S170 may be performed in any order, or steps S160 and S170 may be performed simultaneously. When the formation of the first sealing member 8a, the second sealing member 8b, and the third sealing member 8c is completed, the manufacturing method S100 is completed.

[0070] While the electrical connector and the method for manufacturing the electrical connector of the present invention have been described above based on the illustrated embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these. Each component of the present invention can be replaced with any component that can perform the same function, or any component can be added to each component of the present invention.

[0071] Those skilled in the art and technology to which the present invention pertains will be able to modify the configuration of the electrical connector of the present invention as described without significantly departing from the principles, concepts, and scope of the present invention, and electrical connectors having modified configurations are also within the scope of the present invention.

[0072] Furthermore, the number and types of components of the electrical connector shown in Figures 4 to 16 are merely examples for the purpose of explanation, and the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. The scope of the present invention also includes embodiments in which any components are added or combined, or any components are deleted, as long as they do not deviate from the principles and intent of the present invention. The number and types of steps in the method for manufacturing the electrical connector shown in Figure 17 are merely examples for the purpose of explanation, and the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. The scope of the present invention also includes embodiments in which any steps are added or combined for any purpose, or any steps are deleted, as long as they do not deviate from the principles and intent of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1...electrical connector 2...base plate 21...main body portion 22...through hole 23...fixing hole 24...flange portion 25...circular recess 26...crimping area 3...contact pin 31...first contact portion 32...press-fit portion 321...small diameter portion 322...large diameter portion 33...second contact portion 4...housing 41...retaining portion 411...small diameter portion 412...large diameter portion 42...projection portion 43...rib 44...through hole 441...first section 442...second section 443...third section 444...fourth section 5...outer contact 51...base portion 511...main body portion 512...retaining groove 513...mating protrusion 52...first cylindrical portion 53...second cylindrical portion 54...through hole 541...first section 542...Second compartment 543...Third compartment 544...Fourth compartment 6...Gasket 7...Cover 71...Base 72...Cylindrical portion 73...Through hole 731...Straight portion 732...Abutment portion 74...Boss 8a...First sealing member 8b...Second sealing member 8c...Third sealing member 100...In-vehicle camera 110...Camera housing 120...Back plate 130...Through hole 500...Electrical connector 510...Contact pin 520...Insulating housing 530...Outer contact 540...Flange portion 550...Cover portion 560...Through hole 570...Fixing bolt 580...Gasket 600...Support member 610...Through hole 620...Through hole 700...Electrical connector 710...Contact pin 720...Outer contact 730...insulating housing 740...holding portion 750...protrusion S100...manufacturing method S110, S120, S130, S140, S150, S160, S170...processes

Claims

1. 1. An electrical connector for providing a coaxial connection between a first plug connector inserted from a distal end and a second plug connector inserted from a proximal end, comprising: a contact pin including: a first contact portion extending linearly in the insertion / removal direction of the first plug connector and the second plug connector and coming into contact with a contact pin of the first plug connector; a press-fit portion extending from the first contact portion toward the base end; and a second contact portion extending linearly from the press-fit portion toward the base end and coming into contact with a contact pin of the second plug connector; an insulating housing including: a holding portion into which the press-fit portion of the contact pin is press-fitted; a protruding portion that protrudes from a tip surface of the holding portion toward the tip side and covers from the outside a base end side portion of the first contact portion of the contact pin; and a through hole that penetrates the holding portion and the protruding portion in the insertion / removal direction and through which the contact pin is inserted; an outer contact comprising: a base portion that holds the holding portion of the housing therein; a first cylindrical portion that extends linearly from a tip surface of the base toward the tip side and that comes into contact with an outer contact of the first plug connector; a second cylindrical portion that extends linearly from the base portion toward the base end side and that comes into contact with an outer contact of the second plug connector; and a through hole that penetrates the base portion, the first cylindrical portion, and the second cylindrical portion in the insertion / removal direction, and in which the contact pin and the housing are located; an electrical connector comprising: a first sealing member provided within the second cylindrical portion of the outer contact, the first sealing member sealing the gap between the contact pin and the housing, and the gap between the housing and the outer contact.

2. 2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the first sealing member seals the gap between the press-fit portion of the contact pin and the through hole of the housing, and the gap between the retaining portion of the housing and the through hole of the outer contact.

3. a metal base plate including a plate-shaped main body portion and a through hole formed in the main body portion so as to pass through the main body portion in the insertion / removal direction, the through hole receiving the base portion of the outer contact; an annular gasket attached to an outer peripheral surface of the base portion of the outer contact, 2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the gap between the base of the outer contact and the through hole of the base plate is sealed by the gasket.

4. a cover that covers the first cylindrical portion of the outer contact while being spaced apart from the outside, the cover includes a plate-shaped base, a cylindrical portion extending from a tip surface of the base toward the tip side, and a through hole formed in the base so as to penetrate the base in the insertion / removal direction, 2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the base portion of the outer contact is inserted into the through hole of the cover so that the first cylindrical portion of the outer contact protrudes from the through hole of the cover toward the tip side.

5. the connector further includes a metal base plate including: a plate-shaped main body portion; a through hole formed in the main body portion so as to pass through the main body portion in the insertion / removal direction and through which the base portion of the outer contact is inserted; a fixing hole formed in the main body portion so as to pass through the main body portion in the insertion / removal direction; and a circular recess formed on a base end surface of the main body portion so as to surround the fixing hole, the cover further includes a boss protruding from a base end surface of the base portion toward the base end side, 5. The electrical connector according to claim 4, wherein the bosses of the cover are inserted into the fixing holes of the base plate.

6. 6. The electrical connector according to claim 5, further comprising a second sealing member provided in the circular recess of the base plate for sealing a gap between the boss of the cover and the fixing hole of the base plate.

7. 5. The electrical connector according to claim 4, further comprising a third sealing member provided within the cylindrical portion of the cover for sealing a gap between the base of the outer contact and the through hole of the cover.

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