Connectors and connector pairs

Abstract

The terminals maintain stable contact, making them suitable for high-speed signal transmission, allowing for multi-pole configurations, and featuring a simple structure, low cost, easy mating, compact size, low profile, and high reliability. [Solution] A connector comprising a terminal connected to a mating terminal of a mating connector, wherein the terminal includes a main body, a board connection portion connected to one end of the main body, and a contact portion connected to the other end of the main body, the contact portion including a first contact portion and a second contact portion, the second contact portion including a free end that contacts the mating terminal, and the first contact portion contacts the free end of the mating terminal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector and a connector pair.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in order to connect a semiconductor device to a circuit board or to connect boards to each other to transmit high-speed signals, a connector having a large number of terminals in a so-called pin grid array has been used (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing a conventional connector.

[0004] In the figure, 811 is the housing of the connector, which is integrally formed of an insulating material such as synthetic resin and has a substantially rectangular thick plate shape. And in the housing 811, on the side where a mating connector (not shown) is inserted, that is, on the mating surface side (the upper side in FIG. 23), a plurality of protruding walls 813 are formed so as to protrude from the bottom surface toward the mating surface side and extend in the longitudinal direction of the housing 811 in parallel. Further, between adjacent protruding walls 813, there are groove-shaped slots 812 extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing 811, and when mating with the mating connector, the protruding wall formed on the housing of the mating connector is inserted.

[0005] Furthermore, in each protruding wall 813, a grounding terminal row 850 is formed on one side and a hybrid terminal row 860 is formed on the other side. In the grounding terminal row 850, pairs of multiple grounding terminals 851 are arranged such that there is a wide gap between adjacent pairs. On the other hand, in the hybrid terminal row 860, pairs of multiple differential signal terminals 861 are arranged such that there is a wide gap between adjacent pairs, and one grounding terminal 851 is placed between pairs of differential signal terminals 861. Furthermore, in each protruding wall 813, pairs of grounding terminals 851 from the grounding terminal row 850 and pairs of differential signal terminals 861 from the hybrid terminal row 860 are positioned back to back, and in each slot 812, pairs of grounding terminals 851 from the grounding terminal row 850 and pairs of differential signal terminals 861 from the hybrid terminal row 860 are positioned facing each other.

[0006] As a result, ground terminals 851 are positioned on the front, back, left, and right sides of each pair of differential signal terminals 861, thereby suppressing crosstalk between pairs of differential signal terminals 861. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-108725 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] However, in the conventional connector described above, although grounding terminals 851 are arranged on the front, back, left, and right sides of each pair of differential signal terminals 861, the grounding terminals 851 are spaced far apart from each other, so a sufficient shielding effect cannot be obtained, and when the transmitted signal is at high speed (for example, a speed of 224 Gbps or higher), crosstalk cannot be sufficiently suppressed.

[0009] Furthermore, in the conventional connector's differential signal terminal 861, the contact point with the mating connector's differential signal terminal is located further away from the base than from the tip. This creates a stub in the signal transmission path, resulting in unstable impedance and making it unsuitable for high-speed signal transmission.

[0010] Furthermore, in recent years, electronic devices have become smaller and lower in profile, and connectors installed inside the casings of such devices have also become smaller and lower in profile. However, conventional connectors have difficulty meeting these size and profile requirements.

[0011] Furthermore, in recent years, there has been a trend towards multi-pin connectors used for high-speed signal transmission. However, in the case of the conventional connectors, the grounding terminal 851 and differential signal terminal 861 have high frictional resistance when they come into contact with the grounding terminal and differential signal terminal of the mating connector. Therefore, if the number of pins is increased, the mating force required for mating with the mating connector becomes excessively large. Moreover, no countermeasures have been taken against the force that the grounding terminal 851 and differential signal terminal 861 receive when they come into contact with the grounding terminal and differential signal terminal of the mating connector in the direction perpendicular to the mating direction (the width direction of the housing 811), making the mating process difficult.

[0012] The objective here is to solve the aforementioned problems of the conventional design and provide a reliable connector and connector pair that can stably maintain terminal contact, is suitable for high-speed signal transmission, can be made multi-pole, has a simple structure, is low-cost, is easy to mat, is small and low-profile. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] To that end, the connector is a connector that has a terminal that is connected to a mating terminal of a mating connector, the terminal includes a main body, a board connection portion connected to one end of the main body, and a contact portion connected to the other end of the main body, the contact portion includes a first contact portion and a second contact portion, the second contact portion includes a free end that contacts the mating terminal, and the first contact portion contacts the free end of the mating terminal.

[0014] In other connectors, the tip of the second contact portion, including the free end, further extends in a direction intersecting the extension axis of the mating terminal.

[0015] Furthermore, in other connectors, the terminal and the mating terminal have the same shape, and the first contact portion and the second contact portion of the terminal contact the second contact portion and the first contact portion of the mating terminal, respectively.

[0016] In other connectors, the first contact portion further includes a curved portion that guides the free end of the second contact portion of the mating terminal, and a straight portion that contacts the free end of the second contact portion of the mating terminal when mating between the connector and the mating connector is complete.

[0017] Furthermore, in other connectors, the free end of the second contact portion also contacts the straight portion of the mating terminal which is parallel to the mating axis.

[0018] Furthermore, in other connectors, the terminals are surrounded by shielding terminals.

[0019] Furthermore, in other connectors, the terminals are a pair of members arranged so that they face the same direction.

[0020] In other connectors, the terminals are arranged to form multiple pairs of rows extending in one direction, and in each pair, the terminals forming one row face each other.

[0021] In other connectors, the terminals are arranged to form multiple rows extending in one direction, and terminals in rows located on opposite sides of the center of the row arrangement direction, perpendicular to the one direction, face in opposite directions.

[0022] A connector pair comprises the connector of this disclosure and a mating connector that mates with the connector. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] According to the present disclosure, the connector and the connector pair can stably maintain the contact state of the terminals, are suitable for high-speed signal transmission, can be multi-polarized, can simplify the structure, can reduce the cost, are easy to fit, can be miniaturized and have a low profile, and have improved reliability.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view seen from the fitting surface side of the connector in the first embodiment. [Figure 2] It is an enlarged view of the main part of the connector in the first embodiment, which is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a perspective view seen from the mounting surface side of the connector in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a perspective view showing the state where the connector and the mating connector in the first embodiment are fitted, which is a perspective view seen from the mating connector side. [Figure 5] It is a three-view drawing of the connector in the first embodiment, where (a) is a plan view, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the B-B arrow in (a), and (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along the C-C arrow in (a). [Figure 6] It is a first perspective view of the terminal unit in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] It is a first exploded view of the terminal unit in FIG. 6, where (a) is a view showing a tab-shaped terminal and (b) is a view showing a signal terminal. [Figure 8] It is a second exploded view of the terminal unit in FIG. 6, where (a) is a view showing a terminal housing and (b) is a view showing a U-shaped terminal. [Figure 9] It is a third exploded view of the terminal unit in FIG. 6, which shows a state where the signal terminal is held by the terminal housing. [Figure 10] It is a second perspective view of the terminal unit in the first embodiment. [Figure 11]Figure 10 is a first exploded view of the terminal unit, where (a) shows the tab-shaped terminals and (b) shows the signal terminals. [Figure 12] Figure 10 shows a second exploded view of the terminal unit, where (a) is a diagram showing the terminal housing and (b) is a diagram showing the U-shaped terminal. [Figure 13] Figure 10 is a third exploded view of the terminal unit, showing the signal terminals held in the terminal housing. [Figure 14] This is a third perspective view of the terminal unit in the first embodiment. [Figure 15] A first two-view drawing of a terminal unit in the first embodiment, where (a) is a front view and (b) is a right side view. [Figure 16] A second two-view drawing of the terminal unit in the first embodiment, where (a) is a rear view and (b) is a left side view. [Figure 17] A third two-view drawing of the terminal unit in the first embodiment, where (a) is a bottom view and (b) is a top view. [Figure 18] This is a three-view drawing showing the terminal units connected to each other in the first embodiment, where (a) is a top view, (b) is a right side view, and (c) is a rear view. [Figure 19] The first embodiment shows a cross-sectional view in which terminal units are connected to each other, where (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow DD in Figure 18(a), and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow EE in Figure 18(a). [Figure 20] This is a perspective view showing the state immediately before the connector and the mating connector in the second embodiment are mated. [Figure 21] This is an enlarged view of the main part of the connector in the second embodiment, and is an enlarged view of part F in Figure 20. [Figure 22] This is a three-view drawing showing the state in which the connector and the mating connector are mated in the second embodiment, where (a) is a plan view seen from the mating connector side, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the GG arrow in (a), and (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along the HH arrow in (a). [Figure 23] This is a perspective view showing a conventional connector. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0025] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0026] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the connector in the first embodiment, viewed from the mating surface side; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the main part of the connector in the first embodiment, specifically an enlarged view of part A in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the connector in the first embodiment, viewed from the mounting surface side; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the connector in the first embodiment showing the state in which the connector and the mating connector are mated, viewed from the mating connector side; and Figure 5 is a three-view drawing of the connector in the first embodiment. In Figure 5, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a cross-sectional view in (a) taken along the BB arrow, and (c) is a cross-sectional view in (a) taken along the CC arrow.

[0027] In the figure, 10 is the connector in this embodiment, and here it is described as one of a pair of board-to-board connectors used to connect boards together, a surface-mount type connector mounted on the surface of a board such as a circuit board (not shown), and a so-called pin grid array connector. Furthermore, the connector 10 in this embodiment is a type of so-called hermaphroditic connector, and as shown in Figure 4, it mates with another connector 10 of the same configuration to function as a pair of board-to-board connectors. Here, when identifying and describing each of the connectors 10 that make up the connector pair, one will be referred to as connector 10A and the other as the mating connector 10B, and when describing connector 10A and the mating connector 10B together, they will be described as connector 10.

[0028] The substrate may be, for example, a printed circuit board used in electronic devices, a flexible flat cable (FFC), a flexible printed circuit board (FPC), or any other type of substrate.

[0029] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the expressions indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and back used to describe the configuration and operation of each part of the connector 10 are relative, not absolute. They are appropriate when each part of the connector 10 is in the position shown in the figure, but should be modified and interpreted accordingly if the position changes.

[0030] The connector 10 has a connector housing 11 which is integrally formed from an insulating material such as synthetic resin. As shown in the figure, the connector housing 11 has a roughly rectangular, plate-like shape and has a pair of parallel long sides 11a that extend in the longitudinal direction of the connector 10 and a pair of parallel short sides 11b that extend in the width direction of the connector 10. Furthermore, on the side of the connector housing 11 that mates with the mating connector 10B, i.e., the mating surface 11c side (upper side in Figure 1), a roughly rectangular recess 12 is formed, the bottom surface of which is defined by the upper surface 16a of the bottom plate portion 16 and the periphery surrounded by the side wall portion 14, and a plurality of terminal units 60 are arranged therein.

[0031] The connector 10 is a low-profile connector with a height dimension (Z-axis direction) of approximately 5 mm or less, and is suitable for ultra-high-speed signal transmission of 100 Gbps or more, for example, around 224 Gbps, but is not necessarily limited to this. The vertical (X-axis direction) and horizontal (Y-axis direction) dimensions of the connector 10 vary depending on the number of terminal units 60 arranged, i.e., the number of poles. In the example shown in the figure, the connector 10 has 185 poles, but it is possible to reduce the number of poles or increase the number of poles to make it a multi-pole connector with several hundred or even more poles, and the vertical and horizontal dimensions will vary according to the number of poles.

[0032] Furthermore, within the recess 12, a plurality of protruding portions 13 are integrally formed with the connector housing 11. In this case, the protruding portions 13 project upward from the upper surface 16a of the bottom plate portion 16 and extend in the width direction of the connector housing 11. As a result, elongated groove portions 12a extending in the width direction of the connector housing 11 are formed on both sides of the protruding portions 13. In the example shown in the figure, there are 10 protruding portions 13, but the number may be one or more, or any number.

[0033] Here, terminal unit housing cavities 15 are formed on the side walls on both sides of the protruding portion 13, serving as terminal housing cavities for accommodating terminal units 60. Multiple such terminal unit housing cavities 15 are formed on each of the side walls on both sides of each protruding portion 13, for example, at a pitch of approximately 1 mm. One terminal unit 60 is housed in each of the terminal unit housing cavities 15. The pitch and number of the terminal unit housing cavities 15 and terminal units 60 can be set as appropriate.

[0034] Although the terminal units 60 of connector 10A and the terminal units 60 of the mating connector 10B have the same configuration, when describing them separately, the terminal unit 60 of connector 10A will be referred to as terminal unit 60A, and the terminal unit 60 of the mating connector 10B will be referred to as mating terminal unit 60B. As shown in Figure 4, when connector 10A and mating connector 10B are mated, each terminal unit 60A is connected to the corresponding mating terminal unit 60B.

[0035] As shown in Figure 1, the side wall portion 14 includes a relatively tall high wall portion 14a and a low wall portion 14b that is shorter than the high wall portion 14a. The high wall portion 14a extends along the entire length of the short side portion 11b at one end in the longitudinal direction of the connector housing 11, and extends from both ends of the short side portion 11b along the long side portion 11a for a predetermined length toward the other short side portion 11b. The low wall portion 14b extends along most of the long side portion 11a, and above the low wall portion 14b is a notch portion 14c, which is formed by removing the portion near the upper end of the high wall portion 14a. As shown in Figure 4, the notch portion 14c is the part into which the low wall portion 14b of the mating connector 10B fits when the connector 10A is mated with the mating connector 10B. Furthermore, protruding wall portions 14d are formed at both ends of the short side portion 11b at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the connector housing 11, so as to protrude upward. As shown in Figure 4, these protruding wall portions 14d are the parts that are inserted into the recess 12 near the short side portion 11b of the mating connector 10B when the connector 10A is mated with the mating connector 10B.

[0036] As shown in Figure 3, housing legs 16c are formed at multiple locations around the lower surface 16b of the bottom plate portion 16 of the connector housing 11, projecting downward. The lower surfaces of these housing legs 16c abut against the surface of the substrate, thereby functioning as spacers to maintain a predetermined distance between the surface of the substrate and the mounting surface 11d, which is the lower surface of the connector housing 11.

[0037] Furthermore, the terminal unit housing cavity 15 is formed to communicate from the upper surface of the protruding ridge portion 13 to the lower surface 16b of the bottom plate portion 16, and a terminal unit holding opening 15c, which is a through hole that penetrates the lower surface 16b in the vertical direction, is formed in the lower surface 16b of the bottom plate portion 16. The lower end portion of each terminal unit 60 is housed and held within each terminal unit holding opening 15c, and the tail portions 62 and 72 of each terminal unit 60, which will be described later, are exposed to the lower surface 16b of the bottom plate portion 16. The tail portions 62 and 72 are so-called solder tails and are connected to terminal connection pads connected to conductive traces on the substrate by soldering or the like.

[0038] Next, the configuration of the terminal unit 60 will be described.

[0039] Figure 6 is a first perspective view of the terminal unit in the first embodiment, Figure 7 is a first exploded view of the terminal unit in Figure 6, Figure 8 is a second exploded view of the terminal unit in Figure 6, Figure 9 is a third exploded view of the terminal unit in Figure 6, showing the signal terminals held in the terminal housing, Figure 10 is a second perspective view of the terminal unit in the first embodiment, Figure 11 is a first exploded view of the terminal unit in Figure 10, Figure 12 is a second exploded view of the terminal unit in Figure 10, Figure 13 is a third exploded view of the terminal unit in Figure 10, showing the signal terminals held in the terminal housing, Figure 14 is a third perspective view of the terminal unit in the first embodiment, Figure 15 is a first two-view drawing of the terminal unit in the first embodiment, Figure 16 is a second two-view drawing of the terminal unit in the first embodiment, and Figure 17 is a third two-view drawing of the terminal unit in the first embodiment. In Figure 7, (a) shows a tab-shaped terminal and (b) shows a signal terminal; in Figure 8, (a) shows a terminal housing and (b) shows a U-shaped terminal; in Figure 11, (a) shows a tab-shaped terminal and (b) shows a signal terminal; in Figure 12, (a) shows a terminal housing and (b) shows a U-shaped terminal; in Figure 15, (a) is a front view and (b) is a right side view; in Figure 16, (a) is a rear view and (b) is a left side view; and in Figure 17, (a) is a bottom view and (b) is a top view.

[0040] In the example shown in the figure, the terminal unit 60 includes a terminal housing 51 as a housing integrally formed from an insulating material such as synthetic resin, a signal terminal 61 as an elastic terminal formed by punching, bending, etc., from a conductive plate material such as a metal plate, and a shield terminal 71 as an elastic shielding member formed by punching, bending, etc., from a conductive plate material such as a metal plate.

[0041] The shield terminal 71 includes a U-shaped terminal 71A, which is a first shield terminal with a roughly U-shaped form when viewed from above, and a tab-shaped terminal 71B, which is a second shield terminal with an overall shape roughly resembling a tab. Here, when the U-shaped terminal 71A and the tab-shaped terminal 71B are described together, they will be described as the shield terminal 71, and when they are described individually, they will be described as the U-shaped terminal 71A and the tab-shaped terminal 71B.

[0042] Furthermore, the signal terminal 61 is a pair of components connected to the mating terminal, i.e., the signal terminal 61 of the mating terminal unit 60B. It is suitable for transmitting signals such as differential signals, and as shown in Figures 7(b) and 11(b), it is arranged parallel to each other, spaced apart, and facing the same direction, and is used while being held by the terminal housing 51. The signal terminal 61 has the same shape as the mating terminal, i.e., the signal terminal 61 of the mating terminal unit 60B. The signal terminal 61 may also be attached to the terminal housing 51 by means of press-fitting or other means, but for the sake of explanation, here we will describe the case in which it is integrated with the terminal housing 51 by overmolding or insert molding.

[0043] In this case, the terminal housing 51 is formed by filling an insulating material such as synthetic resin into a cavity of a mold in which at least a portion of the signal terminals 61 is pre-set, and as shown in Figures 9 and 13, at least a portion of the main body portion 63 of the signal terminals 61 is integrally connected to the pair of signal terminals 61. It is desirable that the main body portion 63 has through holes 63a, as shown in Figures 7(b) and 11(b), so that the insulating material is also filled into the through holes 63a, thereby making the connection between the main body portion 63 and the terminal housing 51 strong. Although the integrated terminal housing 51 and the signal terminals 61 do not exist separately, in Figures 7 and 8, and Figures 11 and 12, for explanatory purposes, the terminal housing 51 and the signal terminals 61 are shown as existing separately. The recess 54 shown in Figure 8(a) is the part in which the main body portion 63 of the signal terminals 61 is housed.

[0044] On the other hand, the U-shaped terminal 71A and the tab-shaped terminal 71B may be integrated with the terminal housing 51 by overmolding or insert molding, but here we will describe the case in which they are attached to the terminal housing 51 by means of press-fitting or the like. In this case, the U-shaped terminal 71A is attached to the terminal housing 51 by press-fitting the engagement recess 71A2a and its vicinity formed at the front end of a pair of side plate portions 71A2 into a slit-shaped U-shaped terminal mounting recess 55A formed in the terminal housing 51, and by press-fitting the rear projection 56A formed at the rear end of the terminal housing 51 into the engagement hole 71A1a formed in the main body portion 71A1. The tab-shaped terminal 71B is attached to the terminal housing 51 by press-fitting the main body portion 73B into a tab-shaped terminal mounting recess 55B formed on the front surface of the terminal housing 51.

[0045] Each of the signal terminals 61, as shown in Figures 7(b) and 11(b), includes a roughly rectangular plate-shaped main body portion 63 extending in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction), a tail portion 62 connected to the lower end of the main body portion 63 via a curved portion 62b and extending forward (positive X-axis direction) as a substrate connection portion, and a contact portion 64 connected to the upper end of the main body portion 63 as a first contact portion. The contact portion 64 is a strip-shaped member with a substantially constant width dimension extending in the vertical direction, but in a side view, that is, viewed in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the terminal unit 60, it is a member that is curved to be roughly S-shaped. Furthermore, since the main body portion 63 extends downward (negative Z-axis direction) from the lower end of the contact portion 64, it can also be said that the signal terminal 61 as a whole is roughly S-shaped in a side view.

[0046] The contact portion 64 includes a first contact portion 64A located below and a second contact portion 64B located above (in the positive Z-axis direction).

[0047] The second contact portion 64B includes a free end 64B1 located at its tip and a gently curved second curved portion 64B2. The free end 64B1 is the portion that contacts the signal terminal 61 of the mating terminal unit 60B when the terminal unit 60A is connected to the mating terminal unit 60B. The tip of the second contact portion 64B, including the free end 64B1, extends in a direction intersecting (for example, perpendicular to) the extension axis of the signal terminal 61 of the mating terminal unit 60B (the axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the signal terminal 61). The second curved portion 64B2 is a portion that curves to bulge diagonally downward in the forward direction (positive X-axis direction), as shown in Figure 7(b), etc. As described above, since the contact portion 64 is curved to be roughly S-shaped in a side view, the tip of the second contact portion 64B, including the free end 64B1, is located in front of the main body portion 63. In other words, the main body 63 is located slightly towards the rear of the terminal unit 60, while the tip of the second contact portion 64B, including the free end 64B1, is located slightly towards the front of the terminal unit 60.

[0048] Furthermore, the first contact portion 64A includes a straight portion 64A1 located at its lower end adjacent to the main body portion 63, and a gently curved first curved portion 64A2. The straight portion 64A1 is the portion that contacts the free end 64B1 of the signal terminal 61 of the mating terminal unit 60B when the terminal unit 60A is connected to the mating terminal unit 60B. The first curved portion 64A2 is a portion that curves upward and diagonally towards the rear (negative X-axis direction), as shown in Figure 7(b), and is the curved portion that guides the free end 64B1 of the signal terminal 61 of the mating terminal unit 60B when the terminal unit 60A is connected to the mating terminal unit 60B.

[0049] When the tail portion 62 is connected to a terminal connection pad linked to a conductive trace on the substrate by soldering or the like, a solder ball is preferably applied to its lower surface (side in the negative Z-axis direction). Therefore, in the example shown in the figure, the tip is formed in a semicircular shape to accommodate the solder ball. Furthermore, it is desirable that a slot 62a, which is a through hole to prevent solder buildup, is formed in the curved portion 62b.

[0050] As shown in Figures 8(b) and 12(b), the U-shaped terminal 71A includes a roughly rectangular plate-shaped main body portion 71A1 extending in the vertical and widthwise directions (Y-axis direction), a pair of left and right side plate portions 71A2 extending forward from both ends of the main body portion 71A1 in the widthwise direction, and a tail portion 72 as a substrate connection portion that is connected to the lower ends of the main body portion 71A1 and the side plate portions 71A2 via a curved portion 72b and extends outward.

[0051] Furthermore, near the upper end of each side plate portion 71A2, an elastically deformable lateral contact portion 74A, which serves as a second contact portion extending upward, is integrally connected. In a side view, that is, when viewed in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the terminal unit 60, the lateral contact portion 74A includes a second elastically deformable portion 74A2 that is roughly right-angled triangular in shape, and a first elastically deformable portion 74A1 that is a strip-shaped plate with a substantially constant width and extends upward from the upper end of the second elastically deformable portion 74A2. The first elastically deformable portion 74A1 is the portion that comes into contact with the side plate portion 71A2 of the mating terminal unit 60B when the terminal unit 60A is connected to the mating terminal unit 60B, and in a side view, it extends upward at a position offset towards the front end of the side plate portion 71A2. As a result, when the terminal unit 60A is connected to the mating terminal unit 60B, the first elastic deformation portion 74A1 can contact a flat portion of the side plate portion 71A2 of the mating terminal unit 60B that is biased toward the rear end, without interfering with the first elastic deformation portion 74A1 of the mating terminal unit 60B.

[0052] It is desirable that the second elastic deformation portion 74A2 has a triangular opening 75A, which is a through hole that is roughly right-angled triangular in shape when viewed from the side. This reduces the rigidity of the second elastic deformation portion 74A2, making it easier for the second elastic deformation portion 74A2 to elastically deform. Furthermore, the second elastic deformation portion 74A2 has an offset curved portion 74A3 that offsets the first elastic deformation portion 74A1 outward in the width direction from the side plate portion 71A2 by a dimension approximately corresponding to the thickness of the side plate portion 71A2. The offset curved portion 74A3 is a portion that is curved to be roughly crank-shaped when viewed from the front-rear direction (X-axis direction), so that when the terminal unit 60A is connected to the mating terminal unit 60B, the inner surface of the first elastic deformation portion 74A1 can smoothly contact the outer surface of the side plate portion 71A2 of the mating terminal unit 60B.

[0053] Furthermore, the first elastic deformation portion 74A1 includes a free end 74A1a located at its tip and a gently curved outward-curved portion 74A1b located below the free end 74A1a. As shown in Figure 8(b), the outward-curved portion 74A1b is a curved portion that bulges outwards diagonally upward in the width direction of the U-shaped terminal 71A. As a result, the free end 74A1a faces outwards diagonally upward in the width direction of the U-shaped terminal 71A, and the vicinity of the free end 74A1a becomes a return, or inclined surface, that smoothly guides the outer surface of the side plate portion 71A2 of the mating terminal unit 60B along the inner surface of the first elastic deformation portion 74A1 when the terminal unit 60A is connected to the mating terminal unit 60B.

[0054] When the tail portion 72 of the U-shaped terminal 71A is connected to a terminal connection pad connected to a conductive trace on a circuit board by soldering or the like, a solder ball is preferably applied to its lower surface (side in the negative Z-axis direction). Therefore, in the example shown in the figure, it is formed in a roughly circular shape to accommodate the solder ball. Furthermore, in order to prevent solder buildup, it is desirable that the curved portion 72b be narrower than the tail portion 72, that is, to have a slender neck. In the example shown in the figure, two tail portions 72 are connected to the lower end of the main body portion 71A1 and two to the lower end of each side plate portion 71A2, but the number and arrangement of the tail portions 72 can be changed as needed.

[0055] As shown in Figures 7(a) and 11(a), the tab-shaped terminal 71B includes a roughly rectangular plate-shaped main body portion 73B extending in the vertical and widthwise directions (Y-axis direction), a tail portion 72 connected to the lower end of the main body portion 73B via a curved portion 72b and extending forward (positive X-axis direction) as a substrate connection portion, and a contact portion 74B connected to the upper end of the main body portion 73B as a third contact portion.

[0056] The contact portion 74B is a member that consists of a strip-shaped member with a nearly constant width extending vertically, to which a trapezoidal plate with a gradually decreasing width is connected. However, when viewed from the side, that is, in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the terminal unit 60, it is a member that is curved to form an approximate S shape. Furthermore, since the main body portion 73B extends downward (negative Z-axis direction) from the lower end of the contact portion 74B, it can also be said that the tab-shaped terminal 71B as a whole is approximately S-shaped when viewed from the side.

[0057] Furthermore, it is desirable that a rectangular opening 75B, which is a roughly rectangular through hole, be formed in the contact portion 74B. This reduces the rigidity of the contact portion 74B, making it easier for the contact portion 74B to undergo elastic deformation.

[0058] The contact portion 74B includes a third curved portion 74B3 located below, a first curved portion 74B1 located above (in the positive Z-axis direction), and an intermediate curved portion 74B2 located between the third curved portion 74B3 and the first curved portion 74B1.

[0059] Furthermore, the contact portion 74B includes a free end 74B1a located at its tip and a gently curved outward-curving portion 74B1b located below the free end 74B1a. As shown in Figure 6, the outward-curving portion 74B1b is a curved portion that bulges outwards diagonally upward and forward of the U-shaped terminal 71A. As a result, the free end 74B1a faces diagonally upward and forward of the U-shaped terminal 71A, and the vicinity of the free end 74B1a becomes a return, or inclined surface, that smoothly guides the outer surface of the main body portion 71A1 of the mating terminal unit 60B along the inner surface of the first curved portion 74B1 when the terminal unit 60A is connected to the mating terminal unit 60B.

[0060] When the tail portion 72 of the tab-shaped terminal 71B is connected to a terminal connection pad connected to a conductive trace on a circuit board by soldering or the like, a solder ball is preferably applied to its lower surface (side in the negative Z-axis direction). Therefore, in the example shown in the figure, it is formed in a roughly circular shape to accommodate the solder ball. Furthermore, in order to prevent solder buildup, it is desirable that the curved portion 72b be narrower than the tail portion 72, that is, to have a slender neck. In the example shown in the figure, two tail portions 72 are connected to the lower end of the main body portion 73B, but the number and arrangement of the tail portions 72 can be changed as needed.

[0061] In the example shown in Figures 8(a) and 12(a), the terminal housing 51 includes a roughly thick plate-shaped main body portion 53 integrally formed from an insulating material having a certain degree of elasticity, such as synthetic resin, a projection 53a projecting upward from the upper surface of the main body portion 53, a recess 54, a U-shaped terminal mounting recess 55A, a tab-shaped terminal mounting recess 55B, and a rear projection 56A. The projection 53a is located at the front end of the recess 54 and, as shown in Figure 13, abuts against the front surface of the main body portion 63 of the signal terminal 61 integrated with the terminal housing 51, preventing the main body portion 63 from tilting forward when the second contact portion 64B receives a forward pressing force from the signal terminal 61 of the mating terminal unit 60B.

[0062] Furthermore, the terminal housing 51 includes a rearward projection 56A, a lateral projection 56B, and a front projection 56C, which are crush ribs that protrude outward near the lower end of the terminal unit 60. As shown in the figure, the rearward projection 56A protrudes rearward from the outer surface of the main body portion 71A1 of the U-shaped terminal 71A, the lateral projection 56B protrudes outward in the width direction from the outer surface of the side plate portion 71A2 of the U-shaped terminal 71A, and the front projection 56C protrudes forward from the front end of the side plate portion 71A2 of the U-shaped terminal 71A. As a result, when the terminal unit 60 is housed in the terminal unit housing cavity 15 formed in the connector housing 11, the vicinity of the lower end of the terminal unit 60 is housed in the terminal unit holding opening 15c formed near the lower end of the terminal unit housing cavity 15, and the rear projection 56A, lateral projection 56B, and front projection 56C that protrude outward near the lower end of the terminal unit 60 abut against the inner wall surface of the terminal unit holding opening 15c, thereby holding the terminal unit 60. That is, since the rear projection 56A, lateral projection 56B, and front projection 56C of the terminal housing 51 abut against the inner wall surface of the terminal unit holding opening 15c and hold the terminal unit 60, the terminal unit 60 is housed and held in the terminal unit housing cavity 15 with the shield terminal 71 and signal terminal 61 not in contact with the connector housing 11.

[0063] In this manner, the terminal unit 60 is held in contact with the connector housing 11 by its rear projection 56A, lateral projection 56B, and front projection 56C, which are elastic and outwardly projecting crush ribs, while the shield terminal 71 does not come into contact with the connector housing 11. Therefore, since no external force is transmitted to the shield terminal 71 from the connector housing 11, the shield terminal 71 does not deform, the distance between the signal terminal 61 and the shield terminal 71 remains constant, resonance does not occur between the signal terminal 61 and the shield terminal 71, and the SI characteristics of the high-frequency signal transmitted by the signal terminal 61 do not deteriorate.

[0064] As shown in Figures 2 and 5, in the connector 10, the terminal units 60 located on both sides of each protrusion 13 face each other. In other words, the terminal units 60 face each other in a position where each is facing forward (positive X-axis direction). More specifically, the terminal unit 60 housed in the terminal unit housing cavity 15 formed on the right side wall of one protrusion 13 and the terminal unit 60 housed in the terminal unit housing cavity 15 formed on the left side wall are oriented so that the side with the tab-shaped terminal 71B faces the protrusion 13 and they face each other.

[0065] As shown in Figures 6, 10, and 14-17, in the terminal unit 60 of this embodiment, the shield terminal 71, including the U-shaped terminal 71A and the tab-shaped terminal 71B, has a roughly rectangular tube shape and surrounds the signal terminal 61. Specifically, the shield terminal 71 covers most of the four sides of the signal terminal 61, from its lower end to its upper end. Therefore, the shield terminal 71 exhibits effective electromagnetic shielding performance, the signal terminal 61 is reliably shielded, no crosstalk occurs, and the SI characteristics of the high-frequency signal transmitted by the signal terminal 61 do not deteriorate.

[0066] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 17, the tail portion 62 of the signal terminal 61 is located approximately in the center of the area surrounded by the numerous tail portions 72 of the shield terminal 71. Also, while the signal terminal 61 is roughly S-shaped in a side view, the tab-shaped terminal 71B is also roughly S-shaped in a side view. Therefore, the distance between the signal terminal 61 and the surrounding shield terminal 71 does not change significantly over the range from the lower end to the upper end of the signal terminal 61. Consequently, the terminal unit 60 has a configuration similar to a coaxial cable in which the signal line located in the center is covered with a shielding member, that is, a pseudo-coaxial cable configuration. As a result, crosstalk does not occur, and the SI characteristics of the high-frequency signal transmitted by the signal terminal 61 do not deteriorate.

[0067] Next, we will explain the process of mating connector 10A with the mating connector 10B.

[0068] Figure 18 is a three-view drawing showing the terminal units connected to each other in the first embodiment, and Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view showing the terminal units connected to each other in the first embodiment. In Figure 18, (a) is a top view, (b) is a right side view, and (c) is a rear view. In Figure 19, (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along the DD arrow in Figure 18(a), and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the EE arrow in Figure 18(a).

[0069] Here, the connector 10A is assumed to be surface-mounted on a circuit board (not shown). Specifically, with the mounting surface 11d of the connector housing 11 facing the surface of the circuit board and the housing legs 16c of the connector housing 11 in contact with the surface of the circuit board, the tail portions 62 of the signal terminals 61 and the tail portions 72 of the shield terminals 71 of each terminal unit 60A are soldered to terminal connection pads connected to conductive traces on the circuit board (not shown). In this way, the connector 10A is fixed to the circuit board.

[0070] In this case, it is desirable that solder balls are pre-applied to the underside of the tail portion 62 of the signal terminal 61 and the underside of the tail portion 72 of the shield terminal 71, and that soldering is performed by melting these solder balls. Furthermore, the conductive trace connected to the terminal connection pad to which the tail portion 62 of the signal terminal 61 is connected is a signal line that transmits high-frequency signals, etc., and the conductive trace connected to the terminal connection pad to which the tail portion 72 of the shield terminal 71 is connected is a ground line.

[0071] Similarly, the mating connector 10B is assumed to be surface-mounted on a substrate (not shown). Specifically, with the mounting surface 11d of the connector housing 11 facing the surface of the substrate and the housing legs 16c of the connector housing 11 in contact with the surface of the substrate, the tail portion 62 of the signal terminal 61 and the tail portion 72 of the shield terminal 71 of each mating terminal unit 60B are soldered to terminal connection pads connected to conductive traces on the substrate (not shown). In this way, the mating connector 10B is fixed to the substrate.

[0072] In this case, it is desirable that solder balls are pre-applied to the underside of the tail portion 62 of the signal terminal 61 and the underside of the tail portion 72 of the shield terminal 71, and that soldering is performed by melting these solder balls. Furthermore, the conductive trace connected to the terminal connection pad to which the tail portion 62 of the signal terminal 61 is connected is a signal line that transmits high-frequency signals, etc., and the conductive trace connected to the terminal connection pad to which the tail portion 72 of the shield terminal 71 is connected is a ground line.

[0073] The operator then positions the mating surface 11c of the connector housing 11 of connector 10A and the mating surface 11c of the connector housing 11 of the mating connector 10B facing each other, and adjusts the position of the protruding wall portions 14d formed at both ends of the short side portion 11b at one longitudinal end of the connector housing 11 of connector 10A to coincide with the position of the recess 12 near the short side portion 11b at one longitudinal end of the connector housing 11 of the mating connector 10B, and the position of the recess 12 near the short side portion 11b at the other longitudinal end of the connector housing 11 of connector 10A to coincide with the position of the protruding wall portions 14d formed at both ends of the short side portion 11b at the other longitudinal end of the connector housing 11 of the mating connector 10B. This completes the alignment of connector 10A and the mating connector 10B.

[0074] In this state, when connector 10A and / or mating connector 10B are moved toward the mating side, i.e., in the mating direction, the protruding wall portion 14d of the connector housing 11 of connector 10A is inserted into the recess 12 near the short side portion 11b at one longitudinal end of the connector housing 11 of the mating connector 10B, and the protruding wall portion 14d of the connector housing 11 of the mating connector 10B is inserted into the recess 12 near the short side portion 11b at one longitudinal end of the connector housing 11 of connector 10A. Also, the low wall portion 14b of the connector housing 11 of connector 10A fits into the notch portion 14c of the connector housing 11 of the mating connector 10B, and the low wall portion 14b of the connector housing 11 of the mating connector 10B fits into the notch portion 14c of the connector housing 11 of connector 10A.

[0075] As a result, as shown in Figure 4, when connector 10A and mating connector 10B are mated together, each of the multiple terminal units 60A on connector 10A and the corresponding mating terminal units 60B on mating connector 10B are mated and connected to each other, resulting in the state shown in Figures 18 and 19.

[0076] As shown in the diagram, when terminal unit 60A and mating terminal unit 60B are mated and connected to each other, the shield terminals 71 come into contact with each other and become electrically conductive.

[0077] Specifically, the inner surface of the first elastically deformable portion 74A1 of the lateral contact portion 74A of the U-shaped terminal 71A of terminal unit 60A slides relatively upward (positive Z-axis direction) along the outer surface of the side plate portion 71A2 of the U-shaped terminal 71A of the mating terminal unit 60B and makes contact, and the inner surface of the first elastically deformable portion 74A1 of the lateral contact portion 74A of the U-shaped terminal 71A of the mating terminal unit 60B slides relatively downward (negative Z-axis direction) along the outer surface of the side plate portion 71A2 of the U-shaped terminal 71A of terminal unit 60A and makes contact.

[0078] In this case, the first elastically deformable portion 74A1 of the lateral contact portion 74A of the U-shaped terminal 71A extends upward at a position offset towards the front end of the side plate portion 71A2. Therefore, it can smoothly slide and contact the flat outer surface of the portion of the side plate portion 71A2 of the mating U-shaped terminal 71A that is offset towards the rear end without interfering with the first elastically deformable portion 74A1. Furthermore, because the first elastically deformable portion 74A1 is offset outward in the width direction from the side plate portion 71A2 of the U-shaped terminal 71A by the offset curved portion 74A3 formed in the second elastically deformable portion 74A2 of the lateral contact portion 74A, the first elastically deformable portion 74A1 can smoothly contact the outer surface of the side plate portion 71A2 of the mating U-shaped terminal 71A. Furthermore, since the free end 74A1a of the first elastic deformation portion 74A1 faces diagonally upward and outward in the width direction of the U-shaped terminal 71A, and the vicinity of the free end 74A1a is an inclined surface, it can smoothly guide the outer surface of the side plate portion 71A2 of the mating U-shaped terminal 71A. In addition, the triangular opening 75A formed in the second elastic deformation portion 74A2 of the lateral contact portion 74A makes the second elastic deformation portion 74A2 more elastically deformable, so that the first elastic deformation portion 74A1 smoothly displaces elastically in accordance with the outer surface of the side plate portion 71A2 of the mating U-shaped terminal 71A, and can reliably maintain contact with the side plate portion 71A2 of the mating U-shaped terminal 71A.

[0079] Furthermore, the inner surface of the contact portion 74B of the tab-shaped terminal 71B of terminal unit 60A slides relatively upward (positive Z-axis direction) along the outer surface of the main body portion 71A1 of the U-shaped terminal 71A of the mating terminal unit 60B and makes contact, and the inner surface of the contact portion 74B of the tab-shaped terminal 71B of the mating terminal unit 60B slides relatively downward (negative Z-axis direction) along the outer surface of the main body portion 71A1 of the U-shaped terminal 71A of terminal unit 60A and makes contact.

[0080] In this case, the contact portion 74B of the tab-shaped terminal 71B is curved to be roughly S-shaped when viewed in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the terminal unit 60A, and the first curved portion 74B1 of the contact portion 74B is offset forward (positive X-axis direction) from the front end of the lateral contact portion 74A of the U-shaped terminal 71A, so that the first curved portion 74B1 can smoothly contact the outer surface of the main body portion 71A1 of the mating U-shaped terminal 71A. Furthermore, the free end 74B1a of the first curved portion 74B1 faces diagonally upward and forward outward of the U-shaped terminal 71A, and the vicinity of the free end 74B1a is an inclined surface, so that it can smoothly guide the outer surface of the main body portion 71A1 of the mating U-shaped terminal 71A. Furthermore, the rectangular opening 75B formed in the contact portion 74B makes the contact portion 74B more elastically deformable, so the first curved portion 74B1 smoothly and elastically displaces in accordance with the outer surface of the main body portion 71A1 of the mating U-shaped terminal 71A, and can reliably maintain contact with the main body portion 71A1 of the mating U-shaped terminal 71A.

[0081] Furthermore, when terminal unit 60A and the mating terminal unit 60B are mated and connected to each other, the signal terminals 61 make contact with each other and conduct electricity.

[0082] Specifically, in the example shown in Figure 19(a), the free end 64B1 of the second contact portion 64B of each signal terminal 61 of terminal unit 60A slides relatively upward (positive Z-axis direction) along the rear side surface of the first contact portion 64A of the corresponding signal terminal 61 of the mating terminal unit 60B, that is, the surface opposite to the direction in which the tail portion 62 extends, and makes contact. The free end 64B1 of the second contact portion 64B of each signal terminal 61 of the mating terminal unit 60B slides relatively downward (negative Z-axis direction) along the rear side surface of the first contact portion 64A of the corresponding signal terminal 61 of terminal unit 60A, that is, the surface opposite to the direction in which the tail portion 62 extends, and makes contact.

[0083] In this process, the free end 64B1 of the second contact portion 64B abuts against the rear surface of the gently curved first curved portion 64A2 of the mating first contact portion 64A, then slides relative to it, guided along the rear surface, and reaches and contacts the rear surface of the straight portion 64A1 that extends in the fitting direction, i.e., the straight portion parallel to the fitting axis. As a result, the tip of the second contact portion 64B, including the free end 64B1 that extends in a direction intersecting the extension axis of the mating signal terminal 61, is in line contact with the rear surface of the straight portion 64A1 of the mating. Note that, as shown in Figure 19(a), in a side view, the tip of the second contact portion 64B, including the free end 64B1, and the rear surface of the straight portion 64A1 of the mating appear to be in point contact. Since the conductive material constituting the signal terminal 61 does not extend beyond the tip of the second contact portion 64B, in the signal transmission path from the tail portion 62 of the signal terminal 61, through the main body portion 63, to the free end 64B1 of the second contact portion 64B, which makes line contact with the first contact portion 64A of the other party, and from the main body portion 63 to the tail portion 62 of the other party's signal terminal 61, a so-called stub is not formed at the contact point between the free end 64B1 of the second contact portion 64B and the first contact portion 64A of the other party. Therefore, the signal transmission path formed by each signal terminal 61 and the other party's signal terminal 61 has stable impedance and is suitable for high-speed signal transmission.

[0084] As shown in Figure 19(a), two signal transmission paths are formed between the first contact portion 64A of one signal terminal 61 and the first contact portion 64A of the other signal terminal 61, passing through two contact portions 64. However, since each transmission path is kept in a constant state and the impedances of the two transmission paths are matched, the conditions are suitable for high-speed signal transmission.

[0085] Furthermore, each of the contact portions 64 constituting the two signal transmission paths is smoothly curved in a roughly S-shape when viewed from the side, so that the SI characteristics of the signal transmitted through the transmission path are well maintained.

[0086] Furthermore, one signal terminal 61 and the other signal terminal 61 that are in contact with each other are surrounded by the other shield terminal 71 and the other shield terminal 71 that are in contact with each other. Also, as shown in Figure 19(a), in a side view, the tab-shaped terminal 71B is smoothly curved to be roughly S-shaped, and its shape is similar to the contact portion 64 that constitutes the transmission path of the two signals. As a result, the change in distance between the signal transmission path from the main body 63 of one signal terminal 61 to the main body 63 of the other signal terminal 61 and the shield formed by the tab-shaped terminal 71B and the main body 71A1 of the other shield terminal 71 that the tab-shaped terminal 71B contacts is suppressed and reduced. Therefore, when one terminal unit 60 and the other terminal unit 60 are connected to each other, a configuration similar to a coaxial cable in which the signal line located in the center is covered with a shielding member, that is, a pseudo-coaxial cable configuration, is realized, so that crosstalk does not occur and the SI characteristics of the high-frequency signal transmitted by the signal terminal 61 do not deteriorate.

[0087] Furthermore, when terminal unit 60A and the mating terminal unit 60B are connected to each other, as shown in Figures 18(b) and (c), more than half of the signal terminal 61 surrounded by the shield terminal 71 is not visible from the side view or from the front-to-back view. Therefore, the signal terminal 61 is electromagnetically shielded from the environment outside terminal unit 60, so no crosstalk occurs and the SI characteristics of the high-frequency signal transmitted by the signal terminal 61 do not deteriorate.

[0088] Furthermore, when terminal unit 60A and mating terminal unit 60B are mated together, three types of mating forces are generated.

[0089] The first mating force is maximized when the first curved portion 74B1 of the contact portion 74B of the tab-shaped terminal 71B abuts against the main body portion 71A1 of the mating U-shaped terminal 71A. When the inner surface of the first curved portion 74B1 slides along the outer surface of the main body portion 71A1 of the mating U-shaped terminal 71A, only frictional force remains, and the first mating force decreases.

[0090] Next, the second mating force is maximized when the first elastically deformable portion 74A1 of the lateral contact portion 74A of the U-shaped terminal 71A comes into contact with the side plate portion 71A2 of the mating U-shaped terminal 71A. As the first elastically deformable portion 74A1 slides along the outer surface of the side plate portion 71A2 of the mating U-shaped terminal 71A, only frictional force remains, and the second mating force decreases.

[0091] Finally, the third mating force is maximized when the free end 64B1 of the second contact portion 64B of the signal terminal 61 abuts against the first contact portion 64A of the mating signal terminal 61. As the free end 64B1 slides along the rear side surface of the first contact portion 64A of the mating signal terminal 61, only frictional force remains, and the third mating force decreases.

[0092] In this embodiment, the timing at which the first to third mating forces reach their maximum, that is, the timing at which the first to third mating forces reach their peak, is set to be staggered. This reduces the peak force required to mate the terminal unit 60A with the mating terminal unit 60B, and reduces the force required to mate the connector 10A with the mating connector 10B.

[0093] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 18 and 19, when terminal unit 60A and mating terminal unit 60B are mated together, the lateral contact portions 74A of the U-shaped terminal 71A are a pair, one on the left and one on the right, and are designed to sandwich the side plate portions 71A2 of the mating U-shaped terminal 71A from both sides in the width direction (Y-axis direction). Therefore, neither terminal unit 60A nor mating terminal unit 60B is subjected to a force that would cause it to be deflected in the width direction. In other words, when terminal unit 60 is mated with the mating terminal unit 60, it is not subjected to a force component that is oriented in the width direction (Y-axis direction).

[0094] On the other hand, when terminal unit 60A and mating terminal unit 60B are mated with each other, a force is applied to the contact portion 74B of the tab-shaped terminal 71B of terminal unit 60A, causing it to deflect forward (in the positive X-axis direction) from the main body portion 71A1 of the U-shaped terminal 71A of mating terminal unit 60B, and a force is applied to the main body portion 71A1 of the U-shaped terminal 71A of terminal unit 60A, causing it to deflect forward from the contact portion 74B of the tab-shaped terminal 71B of mating terminal unit 60B. Similarly, a force is applied to the free end 64B1 of the second contact portion 64B of the signal terminal 61 of terminal unit 60A, deflecting it forward from the straight portion 64A1 of the first contact portion 64A of the signal terminal 61 of the mating terminal unit 60B. A force is also applied to the straight portion 64A1 of the first contact portion 64A of the signal terminal 61 of terminal unit 60A, deflecting it forward from the free end 64B1 of the second contact portion 64B of the signal terminal 61 of the mating terminal unit 60B. In other words, when terminal unit 60 mates with the mating terminal unit 60, it receives a force component that is directed forward (in the positive X-axis direction).

[0095] However, when the terminal unit 60 is attached to the connector 10, that is, when it is housed in the terminal unit housing cavity 15 of the connector housing 11, as described above, each terminal unit 60 is located on both sides of each protrusion 13 and faces each other in a forward-facing (positive X-axis direction) orientation. Therefore, when the connector 10A and the mating connector 10B are mated and terminal unit 60A and the mating terminal unit 60B are mated with each other, the forces that terminal unit 60A receives from the mating terminal unit 60B on both sides of each protrusion 13 cancel each other out.

[0096] Therefore, when connector 10A and mating connector 10B are mated, the connector housing 11, which houses the terminal unit 60, is not subjected to force in the width direction (Y-axis direction) or the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) via the terminal unit 60. Furthermore, since each terminal unit 60 is directly connected to the circuit board without going through the connector housing 11 by soldering the tail portion 62 of the signal terminal 61 and the tail portion 72 of the shield terminal 71 to the terminal connection pad, the connector housing 11 is not subjected to force in the height direction (Z-axis direction). As a result, even if the connector 10 has a large number of pins, the connector housing 11 is not subjected to force when the connector 10 is mated with the mating connector 10, and therefore does not deform or break.

[0097] In the examples shown in Figures 1-5, the number of terminal units 60 located in front of the protruding section 13 (positive X-axis direction) is less than the number of terminal units 60 located behind it (negative X-axis direction), so strictly speaking, a longitudinal force is generated. However, the total number of terminal units 60 in the examples shown in Figures 1-5 is 185, and the number of terminal units 60 located in front of the protruding section 13 is only 2 fewer than the 9 terminal units 60 located behind the protruding section 13, so the resulting longitudinal force is practically negligible. Also, in the examples shown in Figures 1-5, there are no opposing terminal units 60 for the 7 terminal units 60 lined up in the width direction at the rearmost position (negative X-axis direction), so strictly speaking, a longitudinal force is generated. However, as mentioned above, the total number of terminal units 60 is 185, so the longitudinal force generated by these 7 terminal units 60 is practically negligible.

[0098] Furthermore, as described above, the rear projection 56A, lateral projection 56B, and front projection 56C, which are elastic and outwardly projecting crush ribs, abut and are held against the connector housing 11, and the terminal unit 60 does not come into contact with the connector housing 11. Therefore, since the force received by the terminal unit 60 is not directly transmitted to the connector housing 11, the connector housing 11 does not receive any force when the connector 10 mates with the mating connector 10, and is not deformed or damaged.

[0099] Thus, in this embodiment, connector 10A includes a signal terminal 61 that is connected to the signal terminal 61 of mating connector 10B. The signal terminal 61 includes a main body 63, a tail portion 62 connected to the lower end of the main body 63, and a contact portion 64 connected to the upper end of the main body 63. The contact portion 64 includes a first contact portion 64A and a second contact portion 64B. The second contact portion 64B includes a free end 64B1 that contacts the signal terminal 61 of mating connector 10B, and the first contact portion 64A contacts the free end 64B1 of the signal terminal 61 of mating connector 10B.

[0100] Furthermore, the tip of the second contact portion 64B, including the free end 64B1, extends in a direction intersecting the extension axis of the signal terminal 61 of the mating connector 10B. In addition, the signal terminal 61 and the signal terminal 61 of the mating connector 10B have the same shape, and the first contact portion 64A and the second contact portion 64B of the signal terminal 61 of the signal terminal 61 contact the second contact portion 64B and the first contact portion 64A of the signal terminal 61 of the mating connector 10B, respectively. Furthermore, the first contact portion 64A includes a curved portion 64A2 that guides the free end 64B1 of the second contact portion 64B of the signal terminal 61 of the mating connector 10B, and a straight portion 64A1 that contacts the free end 64B1 of the second contact portion 64B of the signal terminal 61 of the mating connector 10B when the mating of the connector 10A and the mating connector 10B is completed. Furthermore, the free end 64B1 of the second contact portion 64B contacts the straight portion 64A1 of the signal terminal 61 of the mating connector 10B, which is parallel to the mating axis. Furthermore, the signal terminal 61 is surrounded by the shield terminal 71. Furthermore, the signal terminal 61 is a pair of members arranged to face the same direction. Furthermore, the signal terminals 61 are arranged to form multiple pairs of rows extending in one direction, and in each pair, the signal terminals 61 forming one row and the signal terminals 61 forming the other row face each other.

[0101] As a result, the connector 10 can stably maintain the contact state of the signal terminals 61, is suitable for high-speed signal transmission, can be made multi-pole, its structure can be simplified, costs can be reduced, mating is easy, it can be made smaller and lower profile, and reliability can be improved.

[0102] Next, a second embodiment will be described. Components having the same structure as those in the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will be omitted. Similarly, the same operation and effects as those in the first embodiment will also be omitted from the description.

[0103] Figure 20 is a perspective view showing the state just before the connector and mating connector are mated in the second embodiment, Figure 21 is an enlarged view of the main part of the connector in the second embodiment, which is an enlarged view of part F in Figure 20, and Figure 22 is a three-view drawing showing the state in which the connector and mating connector are mated in the second embodiment. In Figure 22, (a) is a plan view seen from the mating connector side, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the GG arrow in (a), and (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along the HH arrow in (a).

[0104] In the first embodiment described above, the protruding portion 13 formed within the recess 12 of the connector housing 11 extends in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the connector housing 11, whereas in this embodiment, the protruding portion 13 formed within the recess 12 of the connector housing 11 extends in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the connector housing 11.

[0105] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the terminal unit housing cavity 15 for housing the terminal unit 60 is formed on each of the side walls on both sides of each protrusion 13, whereas in this embodiment, the terminal unit housing cavity 15 for housing the terminal unit 60 is formed only on one side wall of each protrusion 13. Therefore, in the first embodiment, when the terminal unit 60 is attached to the connector 10, that is, when it is housed in the terminal unit housing cavity 15 of the connector housing 11, each terminal unit 60 faces each other in a position that faces forward (positive X-axis direction), whereas in this embodiment, when the terminal unit 60 is attached to the connector 10, that is, when it is housed in the terminal unit housing cavity 15 of the connector housing 11, each terminal unit 60 does not face each other.

[0106] In this embodiment, the connector housing 11 is divided into four sections from the viewpoint of the orientation of the terminal unit 60, as shown in Figure 20. Specifically, it is divided into a right front section 11f1 located on the right side (negative Y-axis direction) of the longitudinal front side (positive X-axis direction) of the connector housing 11, a left front section 11f2 located on the left side (positive Y-axis direction) of the longitudinal front side (positive X-axis direction) of the connector housing 11, a right rear section 11r1 located on the right side (negative Y-axis direction) of the longitudinal rear side (negative X-axis direction) of the connector housing 11, and a left rear section 11r2 located on the left side (positive Y-axis direction) of the longitudinal rear side (negative X-axis direction) of the connector housing 11. When the right front section 11f1 and the left front section 11f2 are described together, they are described as the front section 11f, and when the right rear section 11r1 and the left rear section 11r2 are described together, they are described as the rear section 11r.

[0107] Furthermore, the number of terminal units 60 included in each of the right front compartment 11f1, left front compartment 11f2, right rear compartment 11r1, and left rear compartment 11r2, i.e., the number of poles, is the same, and in the example shown in the figure, each has 32 poles. Therefore, the number of poles of the connector 10 in this embodiment is 128.

[0108] Furthermore, within each of the aforementioned compartments—the right front compartment 11f1, the left front compartment 11f2, the right rear compartment 11r1, and the left rear compartment 11r2—all terminal units 60 are facing the same direction.

[0109] Specifically, within the right front section 11f1, all terminal units 60 face the protruding portion 13 in an orientation that faces inward in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the connector housing 11. Therefore, when connector 10A and mating connector 10B are mated and terminal unit 60A and mating terminal unit 60B are mated with each other, all terminal units 60 within the right front section 11f1 receive a force from the mating terminal unit 60 that is directed outward in the width direction of the connector housing 11, i.e., a force directed to the right (negative Y-axis direction).

[0110] Meanwhile, within the left front section 11f2, all terminal units 60 face the protruding portion 13 in a position that faces inward in the width direction of the connector housing 11. Therefore, when connector 10A and mating connector 10B are mated and terminal unit 60A and mating terminal unit 60B are mated with each other, all terminal units 60 within the left front section 11f2 receive a force from the mating terminal unit 60 that is directed outward in the width direction of the connector housing 11, i.e., a force directed to the left (positive Y-axis direction).

[0111] Thus, when connector 10A and mating connector 10B are mated and terminal unit 60A and mating terminal unit 60B are mated with each other, all terminal units 60 in the right front section 11f1 receive a force directed to the right, and all terminal units 60 in the left front section 11f2 receive a force directed to the left. Therefore, for the entire front section 11f, the forces that each terminal unit 60 receives from the mating terminal unit 60 cancel each other out.

[0112] Furthermore, within the right rear compartment 11r1, all terminal units 60 face the protruding portion 13 in a position that faces outward in the width direction of the connector housing 11. Therefore, when connector 10A and mating connector 10B are mated and terminal unit 60A and mating terminal unit 60B are mated with each other, all terminal units 60 within the right rear compartment 11r1 receive a force from the mating terminal unit 60 that is directed inward in the width direction of the connector housing 11, i.e., a force directed to the left.

[0113] Meanwhile, within the left rear compartment 11r2, all terminal units 60 face the protruding portion 13 in a position that faces outward in the width direction of the connector housing 11. Therefore, when connector 10A and mating connector 10B are mated and terminal unit 60A and mating terminal unit 60B are mated with each other, all terminal units 60 within the left rear compartment 11r2 receive a force from the mating terminal unit 60 that is directed inward in the width direction of the connector housing 11, i.e., a force directed to the right.

[0114] Thus, when connector 10A and mating connector 10B are mated and terminal unit 60A and mating terminal unit 60B are mated with each other, all terminal units 60 in the right rear section 11r1 receive a force directed to the left, and all terminal units 60 in the left rear section 11r2 receive a force directed to the right. Therefore, for the rear section 11r as a whole, the forces that each terminal unit 60 receives from the mating terminal unit 60 cancel each other out.

[0115] Furthermore, similar to the first embodiment described above, when the terminal unit 60 is mated with the other terminal unit 60, it does not receive any force in the width direction of the terminal unit 60, and therefore does not receive any force in the longitudinal direction of the connector housing 11.

[0116] Thus, in this embodiment, the signal terminals 61 are arranged to form multiple rows extending in one direction, and the signal terminals 61 included in the rows located on opposite sides of the center of the row arrangement direction are facing in opposite directions.

[0117] Therefore, in this embodiment, when connector 10A and mating connector 10B are mated, the connector housing 11 housing the terminal unit 60 is not subjected to force in the width direction (Y-axis direction) or the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) via the terminal unit 60. Also, as in the first embodiment, since each terminal unit 60 is directly connected to the substrate without going through the connector housing 11, the connector housing 11 is not subjected to force in the height direction (Z-axis direction). As a result, even if the connector 10 has a large number of poles, the connector housing 11 is not subjected to force when the connector 10 is mated with the mating connector 10, and therefore does not deform or break.

[0118] Note that the basic configuration of the other aspects of the connector 10 in this embodiment is the same as in the first embodiment, so its description will be omitted. Also, the operation of mating the connector 10A and the mating connector 10B in this embodiment, and the basic configuration and effects of the other aspects of the state in which the connector 10A and the mating connector 10B are mated, are the same as in the first embodiment, so their description will be omitted.

[0119] Furthermore, the disclosure herein describes features relating to preferred and exemplary embodiments. Various other embodiments, modifications, and variations within the scope and spirit of the claims herein would be readily apparent to those skilled in the art by reviewing the disclosure herein. [Industrial applicability]

[0120] This disclosure can be applied to connectors and connector pairs. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0121] 10, 10A connector 10B mating connector 11 Connector Housing 11a Long side 11b Short side 11c Mating surface 11d Implementation side 11f front compartment 11f1 Front right section 11f2 Front left section 11r Rear compartment 11r1 Right rear compartment 11r2 Left rear compartment 12, 54 recess 12a Groove 13. Convex part 14 Side wall section 14a High wall section 14b Low wall section 14c Notch 14d Projection wall part 15 Terminal unit housing cavity 15c Terminal unit retaining opening 16 Bottom plate part 16a Top side 16b Bottom side 16c Housing Legs 51 Terminal Housing 53, 63, 71A1, 73B Main body 53a Protrusion 55A U-shaped terminal mounting recess 55B Tab-shaped terminal mounting recess 56A Rear protrusion 56B Lateral protrusion 56C Forward protrusion 60, 60A terminal unit 60B Mating terminal unit 61 Signal terminals 62, 72 Tail section 62a, 812 slots 62b, 72b curved section 63a Through hole 64, 74B contact part 64A First contact section 64A1 Straight section 64A2, 74B1 First curved section 64B 2nd contact part 64B1, 74A1a, 74B1a free end 64B2 Second Curve Section 71 Shield terminal 71A U-shaped terminal 71A1a Engagement hole 71A2 Side plate part 71A2a Engaging recess 71B Tab-shaped terminal 74A Side contact part 74A1 First elastic deformation section 74A1b, 74B1b Outward curve 74A2 Second Elastic Deformation Section 74A3 Offset curved section 74B2 Intermediate curved section 74B3 Third Curve Section 75A triangular opening 75B rectangular opening 811 Housing 813 Projecting wall 850 Ground terminal row 851 Ground terminal 860 Hybrid Terminal Row 861 Differential signal terminal

Claims

1. (a) A connector having a terminal that is connected to the mating terminal of the mating connector, (b) The terminal includes a main body, a circuit board connection portion connected to one end of the main body, and a contact portion connected to the other end of the main body. (c) A connector characterized in that the contact portion includes a first contact portion and a second contact portion, the second contact portion includes a free end that contacts the mating terminal, and the first contact portion contacts the free end of the mating terminal.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the tip of the second contact portion, including the free end, extends in a direction intersecting the extension axis of the mating terminal.

3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the terminal and the mating terminal have the same shape, and the first contact portion and the second contact portion of the terminal contact the second contact portion and the first contact portion of the mating terminal, respectively.

4. The connector according to claim 3, wherein the first contact portion includes a curved portion that guides the free end of the second contact portion of the mating terminal, and a straight portion that contacts the free end of the second contact portion of the mating terminal when mating between the connector and the mating connector is completed.

5. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the free end of the second contact portion contacts a straight portion of the mating terminal that is parallel to the mating axis.

6. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is surrounded by a shield terminal.

7. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the terminals are a pair of members arranged so as to be in the same orientation.

8. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the terminals are arranged to form a plurality of pairs of rows extending in one direction, and in each pair, the terminals forming one row and the terminals forming the other row face each other.

9. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the terminals are arranged to form multiple rows extending in one direction, and terminals in rows located on opposite sides of each other from the center of the row arrangement direction perpendicular to the one direction are facing in opposite directions.

10. A pair of connectors comprising a connector according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and a mating connector that mates with the connector.

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