Floating connector

Abstract

To provide a floating connector that prevents fatigue failure of components due to repeated sliding between the contact area and the object being connected. [Solution] A floating connector comprising an outer socket, an inner socket that is allowed to move relative to the outer socket, and at least one terminal into which at least one pin that is to be connected is inserted, wherein the terminal has a tip connection portion, a spring portion, an outer socket fixing portion, and a circuit connection portion, the tip connection portion has a base portion that is continuous in the circumferential direction and four retaining portions that branch out from the base portion toward the Z direction that defines the height direction of the inner socket, the four retaining portions comprising two X-direction retaining portions that hold the pin in the X direction that defines the length direction of the inner socket, and two Y-direction retaining portions that hold the pin in the Y direction that defines the width direction of the inner socket.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a floating connector that can move widely in multiple directions.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, in a connector provided with a movable housing, a floating connector that suppresses repeated sliding between a contact portion and a connection object is known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The floating connector described in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which a pin, which is a plug, is inserted into a socket, and multiple contact points formed on the terminals of the socket sandwich the pin from both sides to make an electrical connection. Furthermore, the terminal has a leaf spring that allows elastic deformation, so even if there is a misalignment between the pin and the terminal, the contact points of the terminal can be displaced to some extent, thereby absorbing the misalignment. In this configuration, it is necessary to increase the contact force between the contact points of the pin and the terminal in order to reduce sliding wear between them. However, in order to increase the contact force between the contact points of the pin and the terminal, the distance between the contact points of the terminal must be set narrowly, which puts a large stress on the contact points of the terminal when the pin is pressed into the terminal, and if the amount of displacement of the contact points of the terminal is not kept small, even more stress will be put on the contact points of the terminal. As a result, terminal failure is predicted in vibration tests. To avoid this, if the amount of displacement of the contact points of the terminal is increased, the pressing force of the pin onto the terminal must be reduced, which makes sliding wear between the contact points of the pin and the terminal more likely to occur. Thus, in conventional connection methods, there is a trade-off relationship between the contact force at the contact point between the pin and the terminal and the amount of displacement at the contact point of the terminal. As a result, it was not possible to efficiently address the problem of sliding wear between the pin and the terminal.

[0005] The present invention aims to address these problems and provides a floating connector that can prevent fatigue failure of components due to repeated sliding between the contact area and the object to be connected. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the above objective, a floating connector according to one aspect of the present invention comprises at least the following configurations.

[0007] A floating connector comprising an outer socket, an inner socket that is movable relative to the outer socket, and at least one terminal into which at least one pin that is to be connected is inserted, wherein the terminal has a tip connection portion, a spring portion, an outer socket fixing portion, and a circuit connection portion, the tip connection portion has a base portion that is continuous in the circumferential direction, and four retaining portions that branch out from the base portion toward the Z direction that defines the height direction of the inner socket, the four retaining portions comprising two X-direction retaining portions that hold the pin in the X direction that defines the length direction of the inner socket, and two Y-direction retaining portions that hold the pin in the Y direction that defines the width direction of the inner socket. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] Floating connectors with these features can prevent fatigue failure of components due to repeated sliding between the contact area and the object being connected. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the connection status using a connector set. [Figure 2] This figure shows a floating connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 2(a) is a front view, Figure 2(b) is a top view, Figure 2(c) is a bottom view, and Figure 2(d) is a side view. [Figure 3] This figure shows a floating connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 3(a) is a front cross-sectional view and Figure 3(b) is a side cross-sectional view. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view showing a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is an exploded view of a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] Figure 6(a) is a perspective view showing a pin inserted into a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6(a) shows the state in which a pin is inserted into the terminal shown in Figure 4, and Figure 6(b) shows the state in Figure 6(a) rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise in the axial direction of the pin. [Figure 7]This figure shows a floating connector according to another embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 7(a) is a front view, Figure 7(b) is a top view, Figure 7(c) is a bottom view, and Figure 7(d) is a side view. [Figure 8] This is a view from below of a floating connector according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The following describes an example of an embodiment of the floating connector according to the present invention, based on the drawings. However, the following drawings are created for illustrative purposes, and in order to make them easier to understand, some components that are not necessary for the explanation may be intentionally omitted. Also, components may be intentionally shown larger or smaller for illustrative purposes, and the drawings do not represent an accurate scale. In the following description, the same reference numerals in different figures indicate parts with the same function, and redundant explanations in each figure will be omitted as appropriate.

[0011] <Embodiments of the Invention> Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the connection by a connector set to illustrate the premise of a floating connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, Figure 1 shows how a floating connector FC having an inner socket IS that is displaced relative to a circuit board as the object to be mounted, and a plug PL that is mounted on another circuit board are connected via pin PN. Figures 2 and 3 show the floating connector FC according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figures 4, 5 and 6 show the terminal TR which is a component of the floating connector FC according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] The connector set serves to establish an electrical connection between the plug PL and the pin PN extending from it, while allowing for physical displacement. Schematically, as shown in Figure 1, it consists of a floating connector FC, a plug PL, and pin PN. The connector set is used, for example, to connect different circuit boards in automotive parts and is used in vibration environments such as those found in automobiles.

[0013] As shown in Figure 2, the floating connector FC comprises an outer socket OS fixed to an object to be mounted, such as a circuit board, and an inner socket IS that is displaceable relative to the circuit board. The outer socket OS and the inner socket IS are fixed to each other via a terminal TR. The terminal TR has a tip connection portion 1, a spring portion 2, an outer socket fixing portion 3, a circuit connection portion 4, and an inner socket fixing portion 8, and the outer socket fixing portion 3 and the inner socket fixing portion 8 are fixed to the outer socket OS and the inner socket IS, respectively. Here, the floating connector FC shown in Figure 2 is drawn upside down compared to the floating connector FC shown in Figure 1. From here on, as shown in Figure 2, the direction defining the length direction of the inner socket IS will be the X direction, the direction defining the width direction of the inner socket IS will be the Y direction, and the direction defining the height direction of the inner socket IS will be the Z direction.

[0014] As shown in Figure 3(a), the outer socket OS is fixed by soldering multiple circuit connection parts 4 and multiple board connection parts 7 to the connection points on the circuit board. On the other hand, as shown in Figures 3(b) and 4, the inner socket IS is held in place of the outer socket OS by the terminal TR being fixed to the outer socket fixing part 3 and the inner socket fixing part 8, respectively. The inner socket IS is able to be displaced in three axial directions: X, Y, and Z, by the bending of the spring part 2 of the terminal TR. As shown in Figure 3(a), the inner socket IS is provided with a mortar-shaped pin guide PG that guides the pin PN.

[0015] The plug PL is mounted on a circuit board separate from the circuit board to which the floating connector FC is attached. For example, when used to connect circuit boards of automotive parts, the connection between the pin PN on the plug PL and the terminal TR of the floating connector FC will be exposed to the vibration environment of the automobile. However, the terminal TR to which the pin PN is connected has a spring portion 2 that is designed to absorb the vibrations transmitted from the pin PN. Specifically, the four terminals TR are depicted in Figure 2(c) as extending alternately up and down, and these extending portions are configured to include two bent portions 21 and 22 as shown in Figure 3(b), and together with the straight portion connecting the bent portions, they function as a spring portion 2.

[0016] As shown in the perspective view of Figure 4 and the exploded view of Figure 5, terminal TR has a spring portion 2, a base portion 5 that is continuous in the circumferential direction, four retaining portions 6 that branch out from the base portion 5 in the Z direction which defines the height direction of the inner socket IS, a circuit connection portion 4, an outer socket fixing portion 3, and an inner socket fixing portion 8. The base portion 5, the four retaining portions 6, and the inner socket fixing portion 8 constitute the tip connection portion 1. The spring portion 2 connects the base portion 5 and the outer socket fixing portion 3, thereby allowing the inner socket IS to be displaced relative to the outer socket OS. The circuit connection portion 4 is fixed to the circuit board by soldering, and the outer socket fixing portion 3, which is adjacent to the circuit connection portion 4, is fixed to the outer socket OS. The circuit connection portion 4 performs the function of electrical connection with the circuit board, as well as the function of fixing the outer socket OS to the circuit board. The four retaining parts 6 consist of two X-direction retaining parts 61 and 63 that hold the pin PN in the X direction which defines the length direction of the inner socket IS, and two Y-direction retaining parts 62 and 64 that hold the pin PN in the Y direction which defines the width direction of the inner socket IS. The terminal TR is formed into the shape shown in Figure 4 by a combination of press working and bending after die punching as shown in the exploded view of Figure 5.

[0017] While conventional floating connectors are configured to connect by sandwiching pins in one direction or along one axis with terminals, the floating connector FC of the present embodiment is configured to sandwich pins in two axes, the X direction and the Y direction, with terminals. As a result, while reducing the contact pressure applied per axis, the holding force as a whole in the two axes can be made comparable to that of conventional floating connectors. As a result, the amount of displacement of the contact portion of the terminal TR can be increased.

[0018] In the terminal of the present embodiment, the two X-direction pressing portions 61 and 63 and the two Y-direction pressing portions 62 and 64 that sandwich the pin PN as a whole have four contact portions that contact the pin PN. That is, the two X-direction pressing portions 61 and 63 have two X-direction contact portions 611 and 631 that contact the pin PN, and the two Y-direction pressing portions 62 and 64 have two Y-direction contact portions 621 and 641 that contact the pin PN. As shown in FIG. 4, these two X-direction contact portions 611 and 631 and two Y-direction contact portions 621 and 641 are arranged at different positions with respect to the Z direction. From this, it is possible to avoid contact pressure being applied from two axes at the same height position with respect to the pin PN, and the contact pressure with respect to the pin PN is dispersed in the height direction, leading to prevention of fatigue failure of parts due to repeated sliding between the contact portion and the connection object.

[0019] FIG. 4 shows the terminal TR at the stage before the pin PN is inserted, with the two X-direction pressing portions 61 and 63 inserted between the two Y-direction pressing portions 62 and 64. In other words, in the state before the pin PN is inserted, the distance between the two X-direction contact portions 611 and 631 is set to be smaller than the distance between the two Y-direction contact portions 621 and 641.

[0020] Also, as shown in FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b), the pressing of the pin PN in the X direction is such that the X-direction contact portions 611 and 631 press the pin PN by the linear contact of the pressing bent portion itself, while the pressing of the pin PN in the Y direction is such that the straight portions continuously formed on the pressing bent portions 622 and 642 function as the Y-direction contact portions 621 and 641 to press the pin PN.

[0021] In other words, by having the contact portion in the Y direction contact the pin PN in a planar manner, fatigue failure of the component due to repeated sliding between the contact portion and the object being connected can be prevented more effectively.

[0022] One of the two Y-direction retaining portions, Y-direction retaining portion 62, has a protrusion 623 at the base portion 5 that follows it. This protrusion 623 restricts the pin PN from tilting when a force is applied in the direction that would cause the pin PN to tilt. The other of the two Y-direction retaining portions, Y-direction retaining portion 64, does not have a protrusion. The two Y-direction retaining portions 62 and 64 are configured to be continuous by the base portion 5, as shown in Figure 5.

[0023] As shown in Figure 4, the spring section 2 has two bent sections 21 and 22. Furthermore, the bent sections 21 and 22 are R-shaped. Conventional floating connectors were designed to allow displacement only in one direction within the water surface, where vibration is empirically known to be high, and in the Z-direction. However, the two R-shaped bent sections 21 and 22 with large curvatures allow displacement not only in the Y-direction (the bending direction) but also in the X-direction perpendicular to it. When a vehicle is in motion, vibrations can occur in multiple directions depending on the road surface conditions, so being able to allow displacement in three axial directions is advantageous.

[0024] <Another Embodiment of the Invention> Figures 7 and 8 show alternative embodiments of the present invention. Figure 7 shows a floating connector according to another embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 7(a) is a front view, Figure 7(b) is a top view, Figure 7(c) is a bottom view, and Figure 7(d) is a side view. Figure 8 is a view from below showing a floating connector according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] The previously described embodiment was a connector with a 4-pin connection, but another embodiment is a connector with a 5-pin connection. As shown in Figures 7(c) and 8, the spring portion 2 of terminal TR has two extensions in one direction in the Y direction and three extensions in the other direction in the Y direction. From Figure 8, it can be seen that the two R-shaped bent portions 21 and 22 are widely arranged in the upper and lower directions in the Z direction. As shown in the figure, the two R shapes have a large curvature, making it possible to follow not only the movement of pin PN in the Y direction but also its movement in the X direction.

[0026] Although embodiments of the present invention and floating connectors according to other embodiments have been described in detail above, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and any design changes, etc., that do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are also included. For example, in addition to 4-pin and 5-pin connectors, there may also be connectors with 3 or fewer pins, or 6 or more pins. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0027] 1. Tip connection part 2 Spring section 21 Folded section 22 Folding section 3. Outer socket fixing part 4. Circuit connection section 5. Base 6. Pressing part 61 X-direction retaining part 611 X direction contact part 62 Y-direction retaining part 621 Y direction contact part 622 Pressing and bending section 623 Protrusion 63 X-direction retaining part 631 X direction contact part 64 Y-direction retaining part 641 Y direction contact part 642 Pressing and bending section 7. Board connection section 8. Inner socket fixing part TR terminal IS Inner Socket PG pin guide OS outer socket FC Floating Connector PN Pin PL Plug

Claims

1. A floating connector comprising an outer socket, an inner socket that is movable relative to the outer socket, and at least one terminal into which at least one pin of the object to be connected is inserted, The terminal has a tip connection portion, a spring portion, an outer socket fixing portion, and a circuit connection portion. The aforementioned tip connection portion has a base portion that is continuous in the circumferential direction, and four retaining portions that branch out from the base portion in the Z direction which defines the height direction of the inner socket. The four retaining portions consist of two X-direction retaining portions that hold the pin in the X-direction which defines the length direction of the inner socket, and two Y-direction retaining portions that hold the pin in the Y-direction which defines the width direction of the inner socket. A floating connector characterized by the following:

2. The X-direction pressing portion has an X-direction contact portion that contacts the pin, and the Y-direction pressing portion has a Y-direction contact portion that contacts the pin, and the X-direction contact portion and the Y-direction contact portion are positioned at different locations with respect to the Z-direction. The floating connector according to feature 1.

3. In the state before the pin is inserted, the distance between the two X-direction contact points is smaller than the distance between the two Y-direction contact points. The floating connector according to feature 2.

4. The pressing portion in the Y direction is composed of a pressing and bending portion and a straight portion. The straight section is the contact section in the Y direction. The floating connector according to feature 2.

5. The base portion, which is connected to one of the two Y-direction retaining portions, has a protrusion that restricts the pin from tilting. The floating connector according to feature 4.

6. The spring portion is formed on one of the Y-direction retaining portions via the base portion. The floating connector according to feature 5.

7. One of the aforementioned Y-direction pressing portions is connected to the other by the base portion. The floating connector according to feature 4.

8. The aforementioned spring portion has two bent portions, The aforementioned bent portion is R-shaped. The floating connector according to feature 1.

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