Electrical connectors for circuit boards

Abstract

To provide an electrical connector for circuit boards that can ensure a large amount of floating space for the movable housing while avoiding an increase in the size of the connector. [Solution] The first intermediate portion of the first terminal 40 has a first fixed side plate portion 44 located on the fixed housing 20 side, a first movable side plate portion located on the movable housing side and held by the movable housing, and an elastically displaceable first elastic portion 46 connecting the first fixed side plate portion 44 and the first movable side plate portion. The second intermediate portion of the second terminal 50 has a second fixed side plate portion 54 located on the fixed housing 20 side, a second movable side plate portion located on the movable housing side and held by the movable housing, and an elastically displaceable second elastic portion 56 connecting the second fixed side plate portion 54 and the second movable side plate portion. The second fixed side plate portion 54 is held by the fixed housing 20, while the first fixed side plate portion 44 is not held by the fixed housing 20.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connector for a circuit board that is disposed on a mounting surface of a circuit board and to which a mating connector is fitted and connected.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a socket connector that is disposed on a mounting surface of a circuit board and to which a plug connector as a mating connector is fitted and connected. In this socket connector, a first socket terminal and a second socket terminal are provided so as to be bridged between a fixed housing and a movable housing. The movable housing is movable relative to the fixed housing due to elastic displacement of the first socket terminal and the second socket terminal.

[0003] The first socket terminal and the second socket terminal each have a shape in which a metal plate member is bent in the plate thickness direction, and are arranged so as to overlap each other in the plate thickness direction. Specifically, the first socket terminal is arranged so as to overlap the second socket terminal from above. The first socket terminal includes a first fixed-side attachment portion press-fitted and held in the fixed housing, a first movable-side attachment portion press-fitted and held in the movable housing, a leg portion extending downward from the first fixed-side attachment portion and connectable to the circuit board, a first terminal portion extending upward from the first movable-side attachment portion and contactable with the plug connector, and a first elastic portion that is elastically displaceable and connects the first fixed-side attachment portion and the first movable-side attachment portion.

[0004] The first fixed-side attachment portion and the first movable-side attachment portion form a single plate shape extending over the entire range of the first socket terminal in the terminal width direction. The leg portion, the first terminal portion, and the first elastic portion are formed as narrow strip pieces extending in the longitudinal direction of the first socket terminal, and are provided in a plurality of arrays in the terminal width direction.

[0005] Furthermore, the second socket terminal has almost the same shape as the first socket terminal and includes a second fixed mounting portion, a second movable mounting portion, a leg portion, a second terminal portion, and a second elastic portion. The second terminal portion is positioned offset from the first terminal portion in the terminal width direction. Therefore, when the first socket terminal and the second socket are stacked, the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion are arranged alternately in the terminal arrangement direction. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-192347 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] The objective is to provide an electrical connector for circuit boards that can ensure a large amount of floating space for the movable housing while avoiding an increase in the size of the connector. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] (1) The electrical connector for a circuit board according to the present invention is an electrical connector for a circuit board which is arranged on the mounting surface of a circuit board and mated with a mating connector, and has a plurality of terminals which are formed by bending a metal plate member in the thickness direction and which are arranged in a position in which the thickness surface is perpendicular to the mounting surface, and a housing which holds the plurality of terminals, and the housing has a fixed housing which is fixed to the circuit board via the terminals and a movable housing which is movable relative to the fixed housing.

[0009] The electrical connector for the circuit board has a plurality of terminals, the first terminal and the second terminal which is arranged to overlap the first terminal in the thickness direction of the board, the first terminal has a first connection portion formed on one end and connectable to the circuit portion of the circuit board, a first arm portion formed on the other end and contactable to the mating connector and a first intermediate portion located between the first connection portion and the first arm portion, the first intermediate portion has a first fixed side plate portion located on the fixed housing side, a first movable side plate portion located on the movable housing side and held by the movable housing, and an elastically displaceable first elastic portion which connects the first fixed side plate portion and the first movable side plate portion, the second terminal is on one end The device has a second connecting portion formed on the circuit board and connectable to the circuit portion of the circuit board, a second arm portion formed on the other end and in contact with a mating connector, and a second intermediate portion located between the second connecting portion and the second arm portion and extending along the first intermediate portion, wherein the second intermediate portion has a second fixed side plate portion located on the fixed housing side, a second movable side plate portion located on the movable housing side and held by the movable housing, and an elastically displaceable second elastic portion connecting the second fixed side plate portion and the second movable side plate portion, wherein one of the first fixed side plate portion and the second fixed side plate portion is held by the fixed housing, and the other is not held by the fixed housing.

[0010] In this circuit board electrical connector, one of the first fixed side plate portion of the first terminal and the second fixed side plate portion of the second terminal is held by the fixed housing, while the other is not held by the fixed housing. If the first fixed side plate portion is not held by the fixed housing, then in the first terminal, the first fixed side plate portion can be made elastically displaceable together with the first elastic portion. Therefore, compared to the case where the first fixed side plate portion is held by the fixed housing, the so-called spring length, which is the length of the elastically displaceable portion in the first terminal, can be increased. In this case, since it is not necessary to increase the overall length of the first terminal, the size of the first terminal and consequently the connector can be avoided.

[0011] On the other hand, if the second fixed side plate is not held by the fixed housing, the second fixed side plate can be made elastically displaceable together with the second elastic part at the second terminal. Therefore, the spring length at the second terminal can be increased compared to the case where the second fixed side plate is held by the fixed housing. In this case, it is not necessary to increase the overall length of the second terminal, so an increase in the size of the second terminal and consequently the connector can be avoided.

[0012] In this way, without increasing the size of the connector, a larger amount of floating space can be secured for the movable housing by increasing the spring length at either the first or second terminal.

[0013] (2) In the invention of (1), at least one of the first elastic portion and the second elastic portion may have a plurality of strip portions arranged in the terminal width direction perpendicular to the plate thickness direction. With this configuration, the elastic portion (first elastic portion or second elastic portion) provided with the plurality of strip portions will undergo elastic displacement at each strip portion with a small terminal width, so it will be easier to undergo elastic displacement compared to the case in which the plurality of strip portions are not provided. Therefore, the amount of movement of the movable housing, i.e., the amount of floating, can be further increased.

[0014] (3) In the invention of (1) or (2), the first terminal and the second terminal are press-fitted into the housing from the mounting surface side in the connector height direction perpendicular to the mounting surface, the first elastic portion is located on the opposite side of the second elastic portion from the mounting surface in the connector height direction, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion have plate surfaces extending along the mounting surface of the circuit board and are adjacent to each other in the terminal width direction, the first connecting portion has a contact piece extending toward the second connecting portion in the terminal width direction, the contact piece is located on the opposite side of the second connecting portion from the mounting surface in the connector height direction and may be able to contact the second connecting portion from the opposite side.

[0015] In this configuration, the first elastic portion of the first terminal is located on the opposite side of the mounting surface from the second elastic portion in the connector height direction. Therefore, when assembling the connector and attaching the terminals to the housing, the first terminal is press-fitted into the housing before the second terminal to avoid interference with the second terminal, and then the second terminal is press-fitted into the housing. By providing a contact piece on the first connection portion of the first terminal, which is attached to the housing first, the contact piece can contact the second connection portion when the second terminal is subsequently attached to the housing, thereby positioning the first or second connection portion in the connector height direction.

[0016] Specifically, when the first fixed side plate portion of the first terminal is not held in the fixed housing, and the second terminal is attached to the housing and the second fixed side plate portion is held in the fixed housing, the second connection portion abuts against and supports the contact piece portion from the mounting surface side in the connector height direction, thereby ensuring that the first connection portion is properly positioned in the connector height direction.

[0017] On the other hand, when the first fixed side plate portion of the first terminal is held by the fixed housing, when the second terminal is attached to the housing, the contact piece portion contacts and supports the second connection portion from the opposite side of the mounting surface in the connector height direction, thereby restricting excessive movement of the second connection portion toward the opposite side. Therefore, the second connection portion is well positioned in the connector height direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] This provides an electrical connector for circuit boards that avoids increasing the size of the connector while ensuring a large amount of floating space for the movable housing. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0019] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the electrical connector together with the mating connector in the embodiment, illustrating the state immediately before the electrical connector and the mating connector are mated together. [Figure 2]It is a perspective view showing each member of the electrical connector separated. [Figure 3] It is a perspective view of the electrical connector, showing a part of the fixed housing and the movable housing omitted. [Figure 4] It is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector in a plane perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction, showing the cross-section at the position of the terminals. [Figure 5] It is a partial cross-sectional view of the electrical connector in a plane perpendicular to the connector width direction. (A) shows the cross-section at the position of the first fixed side plate portion of the first terminal, and (B) shows the cross-section at the position of the second fixed side plate portion of the second terminal. [Figure 6] It is a partial cross-sectional view of the electrical connector in a plane perpendicular to the connector fitting direction. (A) shows the cross-section at the positions of the movable side plate portion and the fixed side plate portion of the terminal, and (B) shows an enlarged view of a part of (A). [Figure 7] It is a perspective view of the first terminal alone. (A) shows the state seen from one end side in the connector width direction, and (B) shows the state seen from the other end side in the connector width direction. [Figure 8] It is a perspective view of the second terminal alone. (A) shows the state seen from one end side in the connector width direction, and (B) shows the state seen from the other end side in the connector width direction. [Figure 9] It is a perspective view of the terminal. (A) shows the state seen from one end side in the connector width direction, and (B) shows the state seen from the other end side in the connector width direction. [Figure 10] It is a side view of the terminals facing each other in the connector width direction. [Figure 11] (A) is a front view of the terminal, (B) is a rear view of the terminal, and (C) is a plan view of the terminal. [Figure 12] It is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector and the mating connector in a plane perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction, showing the cross-section at the position of the terminals. [Figure 13] (A) is a perspective view of the first terminal alone in a modified example, and (B) is a perspective view of the second terminal alone in a modified example. [Figure 14]These are cross-sectional views of a portion of an electrical connector in a modified example, taken from a plane perpendicular to the connector width direction. (A) shows a cross-section at the position of the first fixed side plate of the first terminal, and (B) shows a cross-section at the position of the second fixed side plate of the second terminal. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0020] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0021] In this embodiment, the electrical connector assembly is composed of an electrical connector 1 (hereinafter referred to as "connector 1") and a mating connector 2 that is mated to connector 1. Connector 1 and mating connector 2 are circuit board electrical connectors that are mounted on different circuit boards (not shown). In this embodiment, connector 1 and mating connector 2 are used for transmitting power signals.

[0022] Connector 1 is positioned on the mounting surface of a circuit board (not shown) that has a mounting surface perpendicular to the vertical direction (Z-axis direction), which is the height direction of the connector. Mating connector 2 is positioned on the mounting surface of another circuit board (not shown) that has a mounting surface perpendicular to the vertical direction. Both connectors 1 and 2 are mated together with the mounting surfaces of the circuit board and the other circuit board facing each other in the vertical direction, with the vertical direction being the connector mating direction. Specifically, as shown by the arrows in Figure 1, mating connector 2 is mated into connector 1 from above. In other words, the upper side (Z1 side) of connector 1 is the mating side with mating connector 2. Also, the lower side (Z2 side) of mating connector 2 is the mating side with connector 1 (mating side).

[0023] The connector 1 includes a housing 10 that extends longitudinally in one direction (Y-axis direction) parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board, a plurality of metal plate terminals 40, 50 arranged and held in the housing 10 with the longitudinal direction as the terminal arrangement direction, and two fixing brackets 60 held in the housing 10.

[0024] Furthermore, terminals 40 and 50 are both power terminals used for transmitting power signals, and consist of a first terminal 40 and a second terminal 50 with different shapes. When it is not necessary to distinguish between the first terminal 40 and the second terminal 50, for the sake of explanation, they are collectively referred to as "terminals 40 and 50". As shown in Figures 2 to 4, terminals 40 and 50 are arranged in a state where one first terminal 40 and one second terminal 50 are stacked on top of each other in the thickness direction, forming a pair (hereinafter referred to as "terminal pair"), with the plate thickness surface being perpendicular to the mounting surface of the circuit board (not shown). Two terminal pairs are arranged in the terminal arrangement direction (Y axis direction), with two opposing terminal rows in the connector width direction (X axis direction). In other words, connector 1 is provided with four terminal pairs.

[0025] The housing 10 is made of an electrical insulating material such as resin and has a fixed housing 20 that is attached to a circuit board via terminals 40 and 50, and a movable housing 30 that is a separate component from the fixed housing 20 and is movable relative to the fixed housing 20. The terminals 40 and 50 are provided spanning between the fixed housing 20 and the movable housing 30, and the relative movement (floating) of the movable housing 30 with respect to the fixed housing 20 is permitted by the elastic displacement of the terminals 40 and 50.

[0026] The fixed housing 20 has a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape with the terminal arrangement direction as its longitudinal direction, and has a rectangular frame-shaped peripheral wall with an internal space 24 that penetrates in the vertical direction. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the peripheral wall of the fixed housing 20 has two fixed-side wall walls 21 that extend in the terminal arrangement direction, and two fixed-side end wall walls 22 that extend in the connector width direction and connect the ends of the fixed-side wall walls 21. The upper ends of the two fixed-side wall walls 21 are connected at the central position in the terminal arrangement direction by a connecting portion 23 that extends in the connector width direction. Therefore, when the fixed housing 20 is viewed from above, the internal space 24 is divided into two by the connecting portion 23.

[0027] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the fixed-side wall 21 has an intermediate wall 21A that extends across the terminal arrangement range and restricting portions 21E located on both outer sides of the intermediate wall 21A. Two fixed-side recesses 21B are formed in the intermediate wall 21A, arranged in the terminal arrangement direction. As shown in Figure 4, the fixed-side recesses 21B are recessed from the inner surface (the surface perpendicular to the connector width direction) and extend in the vertical direction, accommodating a portion of the first terminal 40 (a portion of the first elastic portion 46 and the first fixed-side plate portion 44, described later) and a portion of the second terminal 50 (a portion of the second elastic portion 56 and the second fixed-side plate portion 54, described later). The upper part of the fixed-side recess 21B penetrates the intermediate wall 21A, and the lower end is open.

[0028] As shown in Figures 4 and 5(A) and (B), in the fixed-side recess 21B, a first fixed-side groove 21C and a second fixed-side groove 21D are formed on both sides in the terminal arrangement direction, forming part of the fixed-side recess 21B. The first fixed-side groove 21C accommodates a part of the first terminal 40 (the edge portion 44A described later). The second fixed-side groove 21D is formed inward from the first fixed-side groove 21C in the connector width direction and accommodates a part of the second terminal 50 (the second fixed-side retained portion 54A described later). Note that in Figure 5(B), the first terminal 40 shown in Figure 5(A) is omitted.

[0029] Hereafter, unless it is necessary to distinguish between the first fixed gutter section 21C and the second fixed gutter section 21D, for the sake of explanation, both will be collectively referred to as "fixed gutter sections 21C, 21D". The fixed gutter sections 21C, 21D are groove-shaped, extending vertically and recessed from the inner surface of the lower part of the fixed recess 21B (the surface perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction). As shown in Figures 5(A) and (B), the upper ends of the fixed gutter sections 21C, 21D are closed, and the lower ends are open. Furthermore, the second fixed gutter section 21D is formed to be longer vertically than the first fixed gutter section 21C, and its upper end is located above the upper end of the first fixed gutter section 21C.

[0030] As shown in Figure 5(A), the first fixed gutter section 21C houses the first terminal 40 with a gap between it and the edge 44A, without holding the edge 44A. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 5(B), the second fixed gutter section 21D houses the second fixed-side retained portion 54A of the second terminal 50 in a press-fitted state. In other words, the second fixed gutter section 21D functions as a fixed-side retaining portion that holds the second fixed-side retained portion 54A.

[0031] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6(A), in the second fixed side groove portion 21D, the inner surface of the outer corner in the connector width direction is formed as a slope 21D-1 that slopes outward in the terminal arrangement direction (Y axis direction) as it moves inward in the connector width direction (X axis direction) (X1 direction in Figure 6(A)). Therefore, a force component directed inward in the connector width direction acts on the corner of the second fixed side retained portion 54A that abuts against the slope 21D-1. As a result, the second fixed side retained portion 54A is pressed against the inner surface of the second fixed side groove portion 21D in the connector width direction (the X1 side surface in Figure 6(A)). Therefore, since the second fixed side retained portion 54A is supported by this inner surface, the posture of the second fixed side plate portion 54 can be stabilized.

[0032] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the restricting portion 21E has an upper part 21E-1 located inward in the connector width direction compared to the lower part 21E-2, and the boundary between the upper part 21E-1 and the lower part 21E-2 is stepped. The restricting portion 21E has a recessed restricting recess 21F formed on its inner surface, which accommodates a part of the movable housing 30 (the restricted portion 37 described later). The restricting recess 21F is formed in a range extending from the middle of the upper part 21E-1 to the lower end of the lower part 21E-2 in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the restricting recess 21F is formed in a range spanning the upper part 21E-1 and the lower part 21E-2 in the connector width direction, and penetrates the restricting portion 21E at the boundary portion. The inner surface of the restricting recess 21F is designed to restrict the movement of the movable housing 30 beyond a predetermined amount.

[0033] As shown in Figure 3, the fixed end wall 22 has a fitting holding portion 22A at its lower part for holding the fixing fitting 60. The fitting holding portion 22A is formed in the shape of a groove extending vertically at the central position in the width direction of the connector, and is designed to press-fit and hold the fixing fitting 60.

[0034] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the movable housing 30 has two mating portions 31 for mating with the mating connector 2, a central wall 35 located between the two mating portions 31, and guide portions 36 and restricted portions 37 connected to the ends of the mating portions 31. The movable housing 30 is housed in the internal space 24 of the fixed housing 20.

[0035] The two mating portions 31 are arranged in the direction of the terminal arrangement. Each mating portion 31 is a rectangular tube extending in the vertical direction and has two movable side walls 32 extending in the direction of the terminal arrangement and two movable end walls 33 extending in the connector width direction and connecting the ends of the movable side walls 32. The internal space of the mating portion 31, that is, the space enclosed by the movable side walls 32 and the movable end walls 33 and extending vertically, is formed as a receiving portion 34 for receiving a part of the mating connector 2.

[0036] As shown in Figure 4, the movable side wall 32 has a movable side recess 32A that is recessed from the inner surface (the surface perpendicular to the connector width direction) and extends in the vertical direction. The movable side recess 32A is closed at the upper end and open at the lower end. The movable side recess 32A accommodates a part of the first terminal 40 (the first arm portion 42 and the first movable side plate portion 45 described later) and a part of the second terminal 50 (the second arm portion 52 and the second movable side plate portion 55 described later). As shown in Figures 4 and 6(A) and (B), the movable side recess 32A has a first movable side groove portion 32B and a second movable side groove portion 32C that form part of the movable side recess 32A on both sides in the terminal arrangement direction. The first movable side groove portion 32B accommodates a part of the first terminal 40 (the first movable side retained portion 45A described later). The second movable side groove portion 32C is formed inward from the first movable side groove portion 32B in the connector width direction and accommodates a part of the second terminal 50 (the second movable side retained portion 55A, described later).

[0037] Hereafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the first movable gutter section 32B and the second movable gutter section 32C, for the sake of explanation, both will be collectively referred to as "fixed gutter sections 32B, 32C". The fixed gutter sections 32B, 32C are groove-shaped, extending vertically and recessed into the inner surface of the lower part of the movable recess section 32A (the surface perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction). The upper end of the fixed gutter sections 32B, 32C is closed, while the lower end is open.

[0038] As shown in Figures 6(A) and (B), the first movable side groove section 32B houses the first movable side retained portion 45A of the first terminal 40 in a press-fitted state. In other words, the first movable side groove section 32B functions as the first movable side retaining portion that holds the first movable side retained portion 45A. Similarly, as shown in Figures 6(A) and (B), the second movable side groove section 32C houses the second movable side retained portion 55A of the second terminal 50 in a press-fitted state. In other words, the second movable side groove section 32C functions as the second movable side retaining portion that holds the second movable side retained portion 55A.

[0039] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6(B), in the first movable side groove portion 32B, the inner surface of the corner on the inside in the connector width direction (X1 side in Figure 6(B)) is formed as a slope 32B-1 that slopes inward in the terminal arrangement direction as it extends inward in the connector width direction. Therefore, a force component directed outward in the connector width direction (X2 side in Figure 6(B)) acts on the corner of the first movable side retained portion 45A that abuts against the slope 32B-1. As a result, the first movable side plate portion 45 is pressed against the inner surface on the outside in the connector width direction (X2 side in Figure 6(B)) of the movable side recess 32A and the first movable side groove portion 32B. Therefore, the first movable side plate portion 45 is supported by this inner surface, and the posture of the first movable side plate portion 45 can be stabilized. Also, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 6(A) and (B), the wall portion located on the outside in the connector width direction relative to the first movable side plate portion 45 is thicker than the wall portion located on the inside. In this way, the first movable side plate portion 45 is pressed against the thicker wall portion, which reduces the load on the movable housing 30.

[0040] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6(B), in the second movable side groove 32C, the inner surface of the outer corner in the connector width direction (X2 side in Figure 6(B)) is formed as a slope 32C-1 that slopes inward in the terminal arrangement direction as it extends outward in the connector width direction. Therefore, a force component directed inward in the connector width direction (X1 side in Figure 6(B)) acts on the corner of the second movable side retained portion 55A that abuts against the slope 32C-1. As a result, the second movable side retained portion 55A is pressed against the inner surface of the second movable side groove 32C on the inner side in the connector width direction (X1 side in Figure 6(B)). Therefore, since the second movable side retained portion 55A is supported by this inner surface, the posture of the second movable side plate portion 55 can be stabilized. Also, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 6(A) and (B), the wall portion located on the inside in the connector width direction relative to the second movable side retained portion 55A is thicker than the wall portion located on the outside. In this way, the second movable side retained portion 55A is pressed against the thicker wall, thus reducing the load on the movable housing 30.

[0041] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the central wall 35 is located between the two mating portions 31 and connects the inner movable end walls 33 in the terminal arrangement direction. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the guide portion 36 is connected to the outer surface of the movable end wall 33 located on the outside in the terminal arrangement direction and has a roughly rectangular prism shape that extends vertically. The upper end of the guide portion 36 has a tapered shape and is located above the mating portion 31. The guide portion 36 is designed to guide the mating connector 2 to the correct mating position during the connector mating process.

[0042] As shown in Figure 2, the restricted portion 37 is located on both sides of the guide portion 36 in the connector width direction and is connected to the corners of the mating portion 31. The restricted portion 37 has a roughly rectangular prism shape extending in the vertical direction, with a portion of it positioned offset downward relative to the mating portion 31. As shown in Figure 1, the restricted portion 37 is housed in the restricting recess 21F, and the inner surface of the restricting recess 21F restricts movement of more than a predetermined amount upward, outward in the terminal arrangement direction, and outward in the connector width direction.

[0043] The first terminal 40 is made by bending a metal plate member in the thickness direction and is arranged in a position where the terminal arrangement direction (Y-axis direction) is the terminal width direction (direction perpendicular to the thickness direction). Figures 7(A) and 7(B) are perspective views of the first terminal 40 alone provided in the terminal row on the X2 side. As shown in Figures 7(A) and 7(B), the first terminal 40 has a first leg portion 41 formed on one end, two first arm portions 42 formed on the other end, and a first intermediate portion 43 located between the first leg portion 41 and the first arm portions 42. The first intermediate portion 43 has a first fixed side plate portion 44 housed in the fixed housing 20, a first movable side plate portion 45 housed and held in the movable housing 30, and an elastically displaceable first elastic portion 46 connecting the first fixed side plate portion 44 and the first movable side plate portion 45.

[0044] As shown in Figure 7(A), the first leg portion 41 extends from the lower end of the Y2 side portion of the first fixed side plate portion 44. The first leg portion 41 has a first extension portion 41A extending downward from the lower end of the first fixed side plate portion 44, a first connecting portion 41B that is bent at the lower end of the first extension portion 41A and extends outward in the connector width direction, and a contact piece portion 41C that extends from the first connecting portion 41B in the terminal width direction. The first connecting portion 41B is placed on the circuit portion on the mounting surface of the circuit board and soldered to the circuit portion.

[0045] The contact piece 41C extends from the Y1-side side edge of the first connection portion 41B. As shown in Figure 5(A), the contact piece 41C is bent in a crank shape from the side edge of the first connection portion 41B and extends toward the Y1 side, and is located above the first connection portion 41B by the thickness dimension of the terminals 40 and 50. When the first terminal 40 and the second terminal 50 are arranged overlapping each other, as shown in Figure 5(A), the lower surface of the contact piece 41C contacts the upper surface of the second connection portion 51B of the second terminal 50 from above (on the opposite side of the mounting surface of the circuit board in the vertical direction).

[0046] The two first arms 42 are provided adjacent to each other in the terminal width direction. As shown in Figure 7(B), the first arm 42 has a first extension portion 42A that extends upward from the upper end of the first movable side plate portion 45, i.e., toward the other end of the first terminal 40, and a first contact portion 42B that is located above the first extension portion 42A. As shown in Figure 4, the first extension portion 42A extends so as to be inclined inward in the connector width direction. As a result, the first contact portion 42B protrudes from the movable side recess 32A and is located within the receiving portion 34. The first arm 42 is elastically displaceable in the plate thickness direction (X-axis direction) and is configured to contact the mating terminal 80 provided on the mating connector 2, as described later, at the first contact portion 42B (see Figure 12).

[0047] The first extension portion 42A extends such that the terminal width dimension (width dimension in the Y-axis direction) continuously decreases as it extends upward. In addition, both side edges of the first extension portion 42A extend inclined toward the Y1 side in the terminal width direction as they extend upward. Specifically, as shown in Figure 11(B), in the first extension portion 42A located on the Y1 side, the side edge 42A-2 on the Y2 side is inclined at a larger angle than the side edge 42A-1 on the Y1 side. Also, in the first extension portion 42A located on the Y2 side, the side edge 42A-3 on the Y1 side is inclined at the same angle as the side edge 42A-2, and the side edge 42A-4 on the Y2 side is inclined at a larger angle than the side edge 42A-3 on the Y1 side. Therefore, the two first contact portions 42B are provided adjacent to each other at a position closer to the Y1 side in the terminal width direction.

[0048] In this way, the first extension portion 42A extends upwards while decreasing in terminal width dimension. In other words, the lower end portion (root portion) of the first extension portion 42A is larger in the terminal width direction than the upper end portion, i.e., it is formed to be wider. By making the lower end portion of the first extension portion 42A wider in this way, the cross-sectional area of ​​the lower end portion can be increased, so that a larger current can flow through the first terminal 40 than in the conventional case.

[0049] As shown in Figures 7(A) and 7(B), the first fixed side plate portion 44 is plate-shaped with the terminal width direction as its longitudinal direction, and is positioned such that the plate surface is perpendicular to the connector width direction. The first fixed side plate portion 44 has a larger terminal width dimension than the first elastic portion 46, and the edges 44A on both sides in the terminal width direction are located further out than the first elastic portion 46. As shown in Figures 4 and 5(A), the first fixed side plate portion 44 is housed in the fixed side recess 21B of the fixed housing 20. The edges 44A are housed in the first fixed side groove portion 21C. At this time, the edges 44A are positioned with a gap between them and the inner surface of the first fixed side groove portion 21C, and are displaceable within the range of this gap.

[0050] As shown in Figures 7(A) and 7(B), the first movable side plate portion 45 is plate-shaped with the terminal width direction as its longitudinal direction, and is positioned such that the plate surface is perpendicular to the connector width direction. The terminal width dimension of the first movable side plate portion 45 is larger than that of the first elastic portion 46, and the first movable side retained portions 45A formed on both edges in the terminal width direction are located outside the first elastic portion 46. As shown in Figures 4 and 6(A) and 6(B), the first movable side retained portions 45A are housed in the movable side recess 32A of the movable housing 30. The first movable side retained portions 45A are also housed in the first movable side groove portion 32B. At this time, the first movable side retained portion 45A is press-fitted and held in the first movable side groove portion 32B by having a plurality of press-fitting protrusions 45A-1 (see Figures 7(A) and (B)) that protrude outward in the terminal width direction bite into the inner surface of the first movable side groove portion 32B.

[0051] As shown in Figures 7(A) and (B), the first elastic portion 46 is bent in the thickness direction at multiple positions along the longitudinal direction of the first terminal 40, connecting the upper end of the first fixed side plate portion 44 and the lower end of the first movable side plate portion 45. The first elastic portion 46 has multiple slit portions 46A formed at multiple positions along the terminal width direction, extending in the longitudinal direction and penetrating in the thickness direction. The first elastic portion 46 also has multiple strip portions 46B formed along the slit portions 46A. The first elastic portion 46 is elastically displaceable in the connector width direction, terminal arrangement direction, and vertical direction by the strip portions 46B. Thus, in this embodiment, the first elastic portion 46 is elastically displaceable by the strip portions 46B which have a small terminal width dimension, making it easier to elastically displace compared to when strip portions are not provided. Therefore, the amount of movement of the movable housing 30, i.e., the amount of floating, can be further increased.

[0052] As shown in Figure 10, the first elastic portion 46 has an outer piece 46B-1 extending upward from the upper end of the first fixed side plate portion 44, an upper piece 46B-2 that is bent at the upper end of the outer piece 46B-1 and extends inward in the connector width direction, an inner piece 46B-3 that is bent at the inner end (the inner end in the connector width direction) of the upper piece 46B-2 and extends downward, and a lower piece 46B-4 that is bent at the lower end of the inner piece 46B-3 and extends inward in the connector width direction and is connected to the lower end of the first movable side plate portion 45. As shown in Figures 7(A) and (B), the middle portion of the inner piece 46B-3 in the vertical direction has a smaller terminal width dimension than the other parts, i.e., it is formed to be narrow. By making the middle portion of the inner piece 46B-3 narrow in this way, the inner piece 46B-3 becomes even more elastically displaceable.

[0053] The second terminal 50 is made by bending a metal plate member having the same plate thickness and terminal width dimensions as the first terminal 40 in the thickness direction, and is arranged in a position where the terminal arrangement direction (Y-axis direction) is the terminal width direction (direction perpendicular to the plate thickness direction). Figures 8(A) and (B) are perspective views of the second terminal 50 alone provided in the terminal row on the X2 side. As shown in Figures 8(A) and (B), the second terminal 50 has a second leg portion 51 formed on one end, two second arm portions 52 formed on the other end, and a second intermediate portion 53 located between the second leg portion 51 and the second arm portions 52. The second intermediate portion 53 has a second fixed side plate portion 54 housed and held in the fixed housing 20, a second movable side plate portion 55 housed and held in the movable housing 30, and an elastically displaceable second elastic portion 56 connecting the second fixed side plate portion 54 and the second movable side plate portion 55.

[0054] As shown in Figure 8(A), the second leg portion 51 extends from the lower end of the Y1 side portion of the second fixed side plate portion 54. The second leg portion 51 has a second extension portion 51A that extends downward from the lower end of the second fixed side plate portion 54, and a second connecting portion 51B that is bent at the lower end of the second extension portion 51A and extends outward in the connector width direction. The second connecting portion 51B is placed on the circuit portion on the mounting surface of the circuit board and is soldered to the circuit portion.

[0055] The two second arms 52 are provided adjacent to each other in the terminal width direction. As shown in Figures 8(A) and (B), the second arms 52 have a second extension portion 52A that extends upward from the upper end of the second movable side plate portion 55, i.e., toward the other end of the second terminal 50, and a second contact portion 52B that is located above the second extension portion 52A. As shown in Figure 4, the second extension portion 52A extends so as to be inclined inward in the connector width direction. As shown in Figure 4, the inclination angle of the second extension portion 52A is smaller than the inclination angle of the first extension portion 42A. The second contact portion 52B protrudes from the movable side recess 32A and is located within the receiving portion 34. The second arms 52 are elastically displaceable in the plate thickness direction (X-axis direction) and are configured to contact the mating terminal 80, described later, provided on the mating connector 2, at the second contact portion 52B (see Figure 12).

[0056] The second extension portion 52A extends such that the terminal width dimension decreases continuously as it extends upward. In addition, both side edges of the second extension portion 52A extend upward with an inclination toward the Y2 side in the terminal width direction. Specifically, as shown in Figure 11(B), in the second extension portion 52A located on the Y2 side, the side edge 52A-2 on the Y1 side is inclined at a larger angle than the side edge 52A-1 on the Y1 side. Also, in the second extension portion 52A located on the Y1 side, the side edge 52A-3 on the Y2 side is inclined at the same angle as the side edge 52A-2, and the side edge 52A-4 on the Y1 side is inclined at a larger angle than the side edge 52A-3 on the Y2 side. Therefore, the two second contact portions 52B are provided adjacent to each other at a position closer to the Y2 side in the terminal width direction.

[0057] In this way, the second extension portion 52A extends upwards while decreasing in terminal width dimension. In other words, the lower end portion (root portion) of the second extension portion 52A is larger in the terminal width direction than the upper end portion, i.e., it is formed to be wider. By making the lower end portion of the second extension portion 52A wider in this way, the cross-sectional area of ​​the lower end portion can be increased, so that a larger current can flow through the second terminal 50 than in the conventional case.

[0058] As shown in Figures 8(A) and 8(B), the second fixed side plate portion 54 is plate-shaped with the terminal width direction as its longitudinal direction, and is positioned such that the plate surface is perpendicular to the connector width direction. As shown in Figure 4, the second fixed side plate portion 54 is formed to be larger than the first fixed side plate portion 44 in the vertical direction and is located inward in the connector width direction compared to the first fixed side plate portion 44. The second fixed side plate portion 54 is formed to be larger than the first fixed side plate portion 44 in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the terminal width dimension of the second fixed side plate portion 54 is larger than that of the second elastic portion 56, and the second fixed side retained portion 54A formed on both edges in the terminal width direction is located outward from the second elastic portion 56.

[0059] The second fixed side plate portion 54 is housed in the fixed side recess 21B of the fixed housing 20, as shown in Figures 4, 5(B), and 6(A). The second fixed side retained portion 54A is housed in the second fixed side groove portion 21D. At this time, the second fixed side retained portion 54A is press-fitted and held in the second fixed side groove portion 21D by having a plurality of press-fit protrusions 54A-1 (see Figures 8(A), (B)) that protrude outward in the terminal width direction bite into the inner surface of the second fixed side groove portion 21D.

[0060] As shown in Figures 8(A) and 8(B), the second movable side plate portion 55 is plate-shaped with the terminal width direction as its longitudinal direction, and is positioned such that its plate surface is perpendicular to the connector width direction. As shown in Figure 4, the second movable side plate portion 55 is formed to be approximately the same size as the first movable side plate portion 45 in the vertical direction, and is located inward from the first movable side plate portion 45 in the connector width direction.

[0061] The second movable side plate portion 55 has a larger terminal width dimension than the second elastic portion 56, and the second movable side retained portions 55A formed on both edges in the terminal width direction are located outside the second elastic portion 56. The second movable side retained portions 55A are housed in the movable side recess 32A of the movable housing 30. The second movable side retained portions 55A are also housed in the second movable side groove portion 32C. At this time, the second movable side retained portions 55A are press-fitted and held in the second movable side groove portion 32C by engaging a plurality of press-fitting protrusions 55A-1 (see Figures 8(A) and (B)) that protrude outward in the terminal width direction with the inner surface of the second movable side groove portion 32C.

[0062] As shown in Figures 8(A) and (B), the second elastic portion 56 is bent in the thickness direction at multiple positions along the longitudinal direction of the second terminal 50, connecting the upper end of the second fixed side plate portion 54 and the lower end of the second movable side plate portion 55. The second elastic portion 56 has multiple slit portions 56A that are the same shape as the slit portions 46A of the first terminal 40, extending in the longitudinal direction and penetrating in the thickness direction, at the same multiple positions along the terminal width direction as the slit portions 46A of the first terminal 40. In addition, the second elastic portion 56 has multiple strip portions 56B that are the same shape as the strip portions 46B of the first terminal 40, extending along the slit portions 56A, at the same multiple positions along the terminal width direction as the strip portions 46B of the first terminal 40. The second elastic portion 56 is elastically displaceable in the connector width direction, terminal arrangement direction, and vertical direction by the strip portions 56B. Thus, in this embodiment, the second elastic portion 56 is designed to undergo elastic displacement at the strip portion 56B with a small terminal width dimension, making it easier to undergo elastic displacement compared to the case where the strip portion is not provided. Therefore, the amount of movement of the movable housing 30, i.e., the amount of floating, can be further increased.

[0063] As shown in Figure 10, the second elastic portion 56 has an outer piece 56B-1 extending upward from the upper end of the second fixed side plate portion 54, an upper piece 56B-2 that is bent at the upper end of the outer piece 56B-1 and extends inward in the connector width direction, an inner piece 56B-3 that is bent at the inner end (the inner end in the connector width direction) of the upper piece 56B-2 and extends downward, and a lower piece 56B-4 that is bent at the lower end of the inner piece 56B-3 and extends inward in the connector width direction and is connected to the lower end of the second movable side plate portion 55. As shown in Figure 10, the outer piece 56B-1 is formed to be shorter than the outer piece 46B-1, the upper piece 56B-2 is formed to be shorter than the upper piece 46B-2, the inner piece 56B-3 is formed to be approximately the same length as the inner piece 46B-3, and the lower piece 56B-4 is formed to be longer than the lower piece 56B-4. As shown in Figures 8(A) and (B), the middle section of the inner piece 56B-3 has a smaller terminal width dimension in the vertical direction than the other sections, i.e., it is formed to be narrow. By making the middle section of the inner piece 56B-3 narrow in this way, the inner piece 56B-3 becomes even more elastically displaceable.

[0064] The first terminal 40 and the second terminal 50, which constitute the terminal pair, are arranged to overlap in the thickness direction of the plate. Specifically, the first terminal 40 is positioned so as to overlap the second terminal 50 from above. In this case, the first terminal 40 and the second terminal 50 are located within the same range in the terminal width direction, as shown in Figures 9(A), (B) and 11(A), (B), (C).

[0065] In the terminal pair, as shown in Figures 9(A) and 11(A) and (C), the second connecting portion 51B is adjacent to the first connecting portion 41B at a position closer to Y1 than the first connecting portion 41B, and contacts the contact piece portion 41C from below. Also, as shown in Figure 10, the second extension portion 51A is located in front of the first extension portion 41A.

[0066] As shown in Figure 10, the second fixed side plate portion 54 is located in front of the first fixed side plate portion 44, with a gap between them. The second movable side plate portion 55 is located in front of the first movable side plate portion 45, with a gap between them.

[0067] In this embodiment, the first extension portion 42A extends with an inclination toward the Y1 side in the terminal width direction (Y-axis direction), and the second extension portion 52A extends with an inclination toward the Y2 side. Therefore, in the terminal pair, as shown in Figures 9(A), (B) and 11(B), (C), the first contact portion 42B is located closer to the Y1 side, and the second contact portion 52B is located closer to the Y2 side. As a result, the two first contact portions 42B and the two second contact portions 52B are arranged at equal intervals in the connector width direction. Furthermore, since the first extension portion 42A is inclined at a larger angle than the second extension portion 52A in the connector width direction (X-axis direction), in the terminal pair, as shown in Figure 10, the first contact portion 42B and the second contact portion 52B are located at the same position in the connector width direction and in the vertical direction.

[0068] Furthermore, in the terminal pair, the first extended portion 42A and the second extended portion 52A are positioned so that they partially overlap each other when viewed in the thickness direction, i.e., the connector width direction, as shown in Figures 9(B) and 11(B). In other words, the lower end portion of the first extended portion 42A can be formed with a terminal width dimension that extends to the second extended portion 52A in the terminal width direction. Similarly, the lower end portion of the second extended portion 52A can be formed with a terminal width dimension that extends to the first extended portion 42A in the terminal width direction. Therefore, without increasing the size of terminals 40 and 50 in the terminal width direction, the base portions of the first extended portion 42A and the second extended portion 52A can be made as wide as possible. As a result, the maximum cross-sectional area can be secured in each base portion, allowing a larger current to flow.

[0069] In this embodiment, the slit portion 46A and strip portion 46B of the first elastic portion 46 and the slit portion 56A and strip portion 56B of the second elastic portion 56 are provided at the same position and with the same shape in the connector width direction. Therefore, as shown in Figures 11(A) and (C), when viewed in the vertical direction and the connector width direction, the slit portion 46A and the slit portion 56A are located in an overlapping position, and the strip portion 46B and the strip portion 56B are located in an overlapping position.

[0070] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10, in the second elastic portion 56, the outer piece 56B-1 is located inward in the connector width direction compared to the outer piece 46B-1. The upper piece 56B-2 is located below the upper piece 46B-2. The inner piece 56B-3 is located outward in the connector width direction compared to the inner piece 46B-3. The lower piece 56B-4 is located below the lower piece 46B-4. In other words, the second elastic portion 56 is located with a gap between it and the first elastic portion 46 along its entire length. Therefore, when the first elastic portion 46 and the second elastic portion 56 undergo elastic displacement, they do not come into contact with each other.

[0071] The terminal pairs of the terminal rows on the X1 side and the terminal pairs of the terminal rows on the X2 side are arranged in a position rotated 180 degrees around an axis extending in the vertical direction, in other words, in a position that is point-symmetrical to each other when viewed in the vertical direction, and face each other in the connector width direction (X-axis direction). At this time, the first contact portion 42B of the first terminal 40 on the X1 side and the second contact portion 52B of the second terminal 50 on the X2 side face each other, and the second contact portion 52B of the second terminal 50 on the X1 side and the first contact portion 42B of the first terminal 40 on the X2 side face each other (see Figure 10). Therefore, in the connector mating connection state, as shown in Figure 12, the mating contact portion 83 of the mating terminal 80, which will be described later, is sandwiched between the opposing first contact portion 42B and second contact portion 52B.

[0072] The fixing bracket 60 is made by bending a metal plate member in the thickness direction. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the fixing bracket 60 has a base portion 61 that extends vertically and has a plate surface perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction, and a fixing portion 62 that is bent at the lower end of the base portion 61 and extends outward in the terminal arrangement direction. As shown in Figure 3, the base portion 61 is press-fitted from below into the bracket holding portion 22A of the fixing housing 20 and held in place. The fixing portion 62 is fixed to the corresponding portion (not shown) on the mounting surface of the circuit board by being placed on the corresponding portion and soldered.

[0073] Connector 1 is assembled by attaching the first terminal 40 and the second terminal 50 to the housing 10 in that order from below (from the side facing the circuit board in the vertical direction), and by attaching the fixing bracket 60 to the housing 10. By attaching the first terminal 40 to the housing 10 before the second terminal 50 in this way, interference between the first terminal 40 and the second terminal 50 is avoided.

[0074] Specifically, first, the first movable side retaining portion 45A is press-fitted into the first movable side groove portion 32B from below, and the first terminal 40 is attached to the movable housing 30. Next, the movable housing 30 is housed in the internal space 24 of the fixed housing 20 from below, and the edge portion 44A of the first terminal 40 is housed in the first fixed side groove portion 21C of the fixed housing 20 from below.

[0075] Next, the second fixed-side retained portion 54A is press-fitted into the second fixed-side groove portion 21D from below, and the second movable-side retained portion 55A is press-fitted into the second movable-side groove portion 32C from below, thereby attaching the second terminal 50 to the fixed housing 20 and the movable housing 30. At this time, the second connecting portion 51B of the second leg portion 51 contacts and supports the contact piece portion 41C of the first leg portion 41 from below, thereby ensuring that the first connecting portion 41B is well positioned in the vertical direction.

[0076] Next, the base 61 of the fixing bracket 60 is pressed into the bracket holding portion 22A of the fixing housing 20 from below, thereby attaching the fixing bracket 60 to the fixing housing 20. In this way, the assembly of the connector 1 is completed.

[0077] The assembly order of connector 1 is not limited to the order described above. For example, the movable housing 30 may be housed in the internal space 24 of the fixed housing 20, then the first terminal 40 may be attached to the housing 10, and then the second terminal 50 may be attached to the housing 10. Also, the attachment of the fixing bracket 60 to the fixed housing 20 may be before or at the same time as the attachment of terminals 40 and 50.

[0078] As shown in Figure 1, the mating connector 2 has a mating housing 70 and a plurality of mating terminals 80 arranged and held in the mating housing 70. In this embodiment, two mating terminals 80 are provided. The mating housing 70 has a roughly rectangular parallelepiped body portion 71 whose longitudinal direction is in one direction (Y-axis direction) parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board, and guided wall portions 72 that extend downward from both ends of the body portion 71 in the longitudinal direction.

[0079] As shown in Figure 1, the main body 71 is formed with a plurality of holding holes 71A arranged in the longitudinal direction for holding the mating terminal 80. As shown in Figure 12, the holding holes 71A penetrate the main body 71 in the vertical direction and press-fit and hold the mating terminal 80. The guided wall portion 72 has a guided groove portion 72A that is recessed from the inner surface in the terminal arrangement direction and extends in the vertical direction. During the connector mating process, the guided wall portion 72 receives the guide portion 36 of the connector 1 from below into the guided groove portion 72A and is guided into the internal space 24 of the fixed housing 20 by the guide portion 36.

[0080] The mating terminal 80 is formed by punching out a metal plate member that is thicker than terminals 40 and 50, and is positioned so that its plate surface is perpendicular to the connector width direction. As shown in Figures 1 and 12, the mating terminal 80 has a mating retained portion 81 that is held in the retaining hole portion 71A of the mating housing 70, a mating connecting portion 82 that extends upward from the mating retained portion 81, and a mating contact portion 83 that extends downward from the mating retained portion 81.

[0081] The mating connector 82 is formed with a smaller terminal width dimension (in the Y-axis direction) than the mating retained portion 81. The upper end of the mating connector 82 extends above the mating housing 70, and this upper end is soldered to the circuit portion (not shown) of the circuit board. The mating contact portion 83 is formed with a smaller terminal width dimension than the mating retained portion 81 and a larger terminal width dimension than the mating connector 82. The mating contact portion 83 extends downward from the mating retained portion 81 to approximately the same position as the lower end of the guided wall portion 72. As shown in Figure 12, the mating contact portion 83 is configured to contact the terminals 40 and 50 with its plate surface as the contact surface. In this embodiment, the mating contact portion 83 is formed with approximately the same width dimension as the terminals 40 and 50, and two first contact portions 42B and two second contact portions 52B contact each of their respective contact surfaces.

[0082] The mating connector 2 is assembled by press-fitting the mating retained portion 81 into the retaining hole portion 71A of the mating housing 70 from above.

[0083] Next, the mating connection operation between connector 1 and the mating connector 2 will be described. First, connector 1 is soldered to the mounting surface of a circuit board (not shown), and the mating connector 2 is soldered to the mounting surface of another circuit board (not shown). Next, as shown in Figures 1 and 12, connector 1 is positioned with the mating portion 31 facing upwards, and the mating connector 2 is positioned above connector 1 with the mating contact portion 83 of the mating terminal 80 extending downwards. Then, the mating connection operation with connector 1 is started by moving the mating connector 2 downwards.

[0084] During the connector mating process, the guide portion 36 of connector 1 enters the guided groove portion 72A of the mating connector 2 from below, guiding the guided wall portion 72 into the internal space 24. At the same time, the mating contact portion 83 of the mating terminal 80 enters the receiving portion 34 of connector 1, and further enters while pushing apart the space between the first contact portion 42B and the second contact portion 52B, which are opposite each other in the connector width direction. At this time, the first arm portion 42 and the second arm portion 52 are elastically displaced outward in the connector width direction, and as a result, further entry of the mating contact portion 83 is permitted.

[0085] Furthermore, as the connector mating process progresses and connector 1 reaches the correct mating position, as shown in Figure 12, connector 1 and the mating connector 2 become mated, and the connector mating operation is completed. In the mated state, the elastic displacement state of the first arm 42 and the second arm 52 is maintained, and the mating contact portion 83 and the first contact portion 42B and the second contact portion 52B make contact with contact pressure. As a result, terminals 40 and 50 and the mating terminal 80 become electrically conductive.

[0086] Immediately before or after mating connectors 1 and 2 are connected, the mating position of connector 1 and the mating connector 2 is not necessarily in the correct position in the terminal arrangement direction and the connector width direction, and may be misaligned in these directions. In this embodiment, the misalignment between connectors 1 and 2 is absorbed by so-called floating, in which the movable housing 30 moves in the direction of the misalignment under the elastic displacement of the elastic parts 46 and 56 of terminals 40 and 50.

[0087] In this embodiment, the second fixed side plate portion 54 of the second terminal 50 is held by the fixed housing 20, but the first fixed side plate portion 44 of the first terminal 40 is not held by the fixed housing 20. Therefore, in the first terminal 40, the first fixed side plate portion 44 can be made elastically displaceable together with the first elastic portion 46. Consequently, compared to the case where the first fixed side plate portion 44 is held by the fixed housing 20, the so-called spring length, which is the length of the elastically displaceable portion in the first terminal 40, can be increased, and a larger amount of floating of the movable housing 30 can be secured. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to increase the overall length of the first terminal 40, an increase in the size of the first terminal 40 and, consequently, the connector 1 can be avoided.

[0088] In the embodiments described above, the first fixed side plate portion 44 of the first terminal 40 is not held by the fixed housing 20, and the second fixed side plate portion 54 of the second terminal 50 is held by the fixed housing 20. However, as a modified example, the first fixed side plate portion of the first terminal may be held by the fixed housing, and the second fixed side plate portion of the second terminal may not be held by the fixed housing.

[0089] The above modified example will now be explained based on Figures 13 and 14. In Figures 13 and 14, parts corresponding to each part of the member in the previously described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the previously described embodiment explained based on Figures 1 to 12, plus "100". This modified example will be explained focusing on the parts that differ from the previously described embodiment, and the common parts will not be explained.

[0090] As shown in Figure 13(A), the first fixed side plate portion 144 of the first terminal 140 has the same shape as the second fixed side plate portion 54 of the second terminal 50 in the previously described embodiment (see Figures 8(A) and (B)). That is, both edges of the first fixed side plate portion 144 in the terminal width direction are formed as the first fixed side retained portion 144A, and as shown in Figure 14(A), the press-fit projection 144A-1 of the first fixed side plate portion 144 is press-fitted and retained in the first fixed side groove portion 121C of the fixed housing 120. Also, as shown in Figure 14(A), the first fixed side groove portion 121C has the same shape as the second fixed side groove portion 21D in the previously described embodiment.

[0091] As shown in Figure 13(B), the second fixed side plate portion 154 of the second terminal 150 has the same shape as the first fixed side plate portion 44 of the first terminal 40 in the previously described embodiment (see Figures 7(A) and (B)). In other words, both edges 154A in the terminal width direction of the second fixed side plate portion 154 are housed in the second fixed side groove portion 121D of the fixed housing 120, as shown in Figure 14(B). As shown in Figure 14(B), the second fixed side groove portion 121D has the same shape as the first fixed side groove portion 21C in the previously described embodiment. The edge portion 154A is housed in the first fixed side groove portion 21C with a gap formed between it and the inner surface of the first fixed side groove portion 21C, and is displaceable within the range of this gap. Note that the first terminal 140 shown in Figure 14(A) is omitted in Figure 14(B).

[0092] In this modified example, the second fixed side plate portion 154 of the second terminal 150, where the edge portion 154A is not held, can be made elastically displaceable together with the first elastic portion 156. Therefore, compared to the case where the second fixed side plate portion 154 is held by the fixed housing 20, the so-called spring length, which is the length of the elastically displaceable portion of the second terminal 150, can be increased, and a larger amount of floating of the movable housing can be secured. In addition, since it is not necessary to increase the overall length of the second terminal 150, an increase in the size of the second terminal 150 and consequently the connector can be avoided.

[0093] In this modified example as well, when assembling the connector, the first terminal 140 and the second terminal 150 are attached to the housing 110 from below in this order. At this time, when attaching the second terminal 150, the first fixed side plate portion 144 of the first terminal 140 is already held in place by the fixed housing 120, so as shown in Figure 14(A), the lower surface of the contact piece portion 141C of the first terminal 140 contacts and supports the upper surface of the second connecting portion 151B of the second terminal 150 from above. Therefore, excessive upward movement of the second leg portion 151 is restricted, and the second connecting portion 151B is properly positioned in the connector height direction.

[0094] In the embodiments and modifications described above, the first extensions 42A and 142A of the first terminals 40 and 140 and the second extensions 52A and 152A of the second terminals 50 and 150 extend such that the terminal width dimension decreases continuously as it extends upward. However, it is not necessary for the terminal width dimension to decrease continuously; it may decrease discontinuously. In that case, for example, the first extensions 42A and 142A and the second extensions 52A and 152A may have stepped portions on their side edges, and the terminal width dimension may decrease at the position of the stepped portion as it extends upward.

[0095] In the embodiments and modifications described above, both the first terminals 40, 140 and the second terminals 50, 150 are power terminals. However, it is not essential that both terminals are power terminals; for example, at least one of the first and second terminals may be a signal terminal. In this case, if one of the first and second terminals is a signal terminal and the other is a power terminal, the first terminal is not provided with a contact piece to avoid contact between the two terminals.

[0096] In the embodiments and modifications described above, two first extending portions 42A, 142A and two second extending portions 52A, 152A are provided, but the number of first and second extending portions is not limited to these; there may be one of each, or three or more of each.

[0097] In the embodiments and modifications described above, slit portions 46A, 146A and strip portions 46B, 146B are formed in the first elastic portions 46, 146, and slit portions 56A, 156A and strip portions 56B, 156B are formed in the second elastic portions 56, 156. However, if sufficient elasticity can be ensured in the first and second elastic portions, the slit portions and strip portions are not essential, and each of the first and second elastic portions may be formed as a single continuous strip in the terminal width direction. Alternatively, slit portions and strip portions may be formed in only one of the first or second elastic portions. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0098] 1 Connector 2. The other connector 10 Housing 20,120 Fixed Housing 30 Movable Housing 40,140 First terminal 41B First connection section 41C,141C Contact piece 42 First arm 42A,142A First extension part 42B First contact part 43 First intermediate part 44,144 First fixed side plate part 45 First movable side plate part 46,146 First elastic section 46B,146B strip part 50,150 Second terminal 51B, 151B Second connection section 52 Second arm 52A, 152A Second extension part 52B Second contact part 53 Second intermediate part 54,154 Second fixed side plate part 55 Second movable side plate part 56,156 Second elastic section 56B,156B strip part

Claims

1. An electrical connector for a circuit board, which is placed on the mounting surface of the circuit board and mated with a mating connector, A metal plate member is bent in the thickness direction, and a plurality of terminals are arranged so that the thickness surface is perpendicular to the mounting surface, It has a housing that holds the plurality of terminals, In an electrical connector for a circuit board, the housing comprises a fixed housing that is fixed to the circuit board via the terminals and a movable housing that is movable relative to the fixed housing, The plurality of terminals include a first terminal and a second terminal arranged to overlap the first terminal in the thickness direction of the plate, The first terminal has a first connection portion formed on one end and connectable to the circuit portion of the circuit board, a first arm portion formed on the other end and contactable to the mating connector, and a first intermediate portion located between the first connection portion and the first arm portion. The first intermediate portion includes a first fixed side plate portion located on the fixed housing side, a first movable side plate portion located on the movable housing side and held by the movable housing, and a first elastic portion that is elastically displaceable and connects the first fixed side plate portion and the first movable side plate portion. The second terminal has a second connection portion formed on one end and connectable to the circuit portion of the circuit board, a second arm portion formed on the other end and contactable with the mating connector, and a second intermediate portion located between the second connection portion and the second arm portion and extending along the first intermediate portion. The second intermediate portion includes a second fixed side plate portion located on the fixed housing side, a second movable side plate portion located on the movable housing side and held by the movable housing, and a second elastic portion that is elastically displaceable and connects the second fixed side plate portion and the second movable side plate portion. One of the first fixed side plate portion and the second fixed side plate portion is held by the fixed housing, and the other is not held by the fixed housing. An electrical connector for circuit boards characterized by the following features.

2. The circuit board electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first elastic portion and the second elastic portion has a plurality of strip portions arranged in the terminal width direction perpendicular to the plate thickness direction.

3. The first terminal and the second terminal are press-fitted into the housing from the mounting surface side in the connector height direction perpendicular to the mounting surface and are held in place. The first elastic portion is located in the connector height direction opposite to the mounting surface relative to the second elastic portion, The first and second connection portions have plate surfaces that extend along the mounting surface of the circuit board and are adjacent to each other in the terminal width direction. The first connecting portion has a contact piece that extends toward the second connecting portion in the terminal width direction, The contact piece is located on the opposite side of the mounting surface in the connector height direction relative to the second connection portion, and is capable of contacting the second connection portion from the opposite side, as described in claim 1 or claim 2 of the circuit board electrical connector.

Images