Circuit Board Connector

Abstract

A circuit board connector is provided. [Solution] The device comprises a base (1) having an opening (10) and an insertion / removal space (11) communicating with the opening, at least one contact terminal (2) assembled in the base and used for signal connection with a circuit board (5), and at least one positioning terminal assembled in the base and having at least the board and an elastic body (41) that generates an elastic action to support the board, and an interference portion (42) and an operating portion are provided on the board, the interference portion is used to engage the circuit board, and the operating portion is used to apply pressure to the board, changing the relative position of the interference portion with the support of the elastic force of the elastic body.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a structure used for connecting circuit board signals, which provides elastic locking and unlocking after the circuit board is inserted into the connector. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Electrical connectors are electronic components that are widely used in various electronic products, and allow electrical connections between equipment or devices to transmit and communicate signals between them.

[0003] Electrical connectors are generally connected to signal sources by soldering, clamping, or pressure contact. For example, in electrical connectors used to connect wires and transmit signals, the built-in terminals are usually connected to the wires by welding, and then the terminals are assembled and positioned on the electrical connector. Electrical connectors used to connect to circuit boards such as flexible printed circuits (FPCs) or flexible flat cables (FFCs) usually clamp or pressure contact the terminal sets designed in the electrical connector with the plate- or sheet-like circuit board to be inserted, thereby transmitting the signals passing through.

[0004] In order to stabilize the electrical connection of a circuit board such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC) or a flexible flat cable (FFC) after it is inserted into a connector, the connector disclosed in the Republic of China Utility Model Publication No. M512828, which was previously obtained by the inventor, has a rigid, non-elastic locking portion (71) on the base (7) that is aligned with a notch (91) on the circuit board, and the locking portion (71) interferes with the movement of the circuit board after the circuit board is inserted into the connector, thereby achieving a secure hold. While this mechanical design does indeed secure the circuit board, the locking portion (71) interferes with the entire process of inserting and removing the circuit board, which means that even slight carelessness or the application of inappropriate force increases the risk of twisting and breaking the circuit board. Furthermore, although the circuit board can be secured by the locking portion (71) after being inserted into the connector, if the engagement of the locking portion (71) with the circuit board is incomplete, the circuit board may come off from its fixed state if subjected to abnormal external force interference such as vibration, causing poor contact between the circuit board and the connector and interrupting signal transmission, and there is still room for improvement. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-138262 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a novel circuit board connector that has a more reliable and efficient fixing ability during the insertion and removal process of the circuit board, is less susceptible to external force interference affecting the signal connection relationship between the circuit board and the connector, and also allows the circuit board ejection mechanism to be operated easily and without any practical difficulties. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the objectives of the present invention, the circuit board connector of the present invention includes a base having an opening and an insertion / removal space communicating with the opening, at least one contact terminal assembled in the base and used for signal connection with the circuit board, and at least one positioning terminal assembled in the base and having at least a circuit board and an elastic body that generates an elastic force to support the circuit board. An interference portion and an operating portion are provided on the circuit board, the interference portion is used to lock the circuit board, and the operating portion is used to apply pressure to the circuit board, changing the relative position of the interference portion with the support of the elastic force of the elastic body. The interference portion is a diagonal protrusion formed by punching upward from the circuit board and facing the opening of the base, forming an elastic piece mechanism that deforms when pressed as the circuit board passes and returns to its original shape when it reaches the notch in the circuit board, thereby locking it. The interference portion can only pass through the notch portion of the circuit board in one direction, and attempts to pull it out in the opposite direction are severely hindered, which makes the fixation of the circuit board more stable and naturally makes the signal connection between the contact terminal and the circuit board more reliable.

[0008] In one preferred technical solution, the connector of the present invention further includes at least one ground terminal, the ground terminal having an assembly part, a resilient arm, a contact part, and a ground part, the resilient arm being connected between the assembly part and the contact part to generate a resilient action to support the contact part, the resilient arm extending from the top of the base toward the insertion / removal space of the connector to make resilient contact with the contact part after the circuit board is inserted into the connector, and the ground part extending out of the base to contact the ground terminal of an external electric circuit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The circuit board connector of the present invention has a more flexible and reliable fixing ability during the insertion and removal process of the circuit board, and the signal connection relationship between the circuit board and the connector is less likely to be affected by external force interference. The circuit board ejection mechanism can also be operated easily, eliminating practical difficulties. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the connection between the connector and the circuit board of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is an exploded view of a connector according to the present invention; [Figure 3] 1 is a structural diagram of a positioning terminal according to the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is a structural diagram of a ground terminal according to the present invention; [Figure 5] 4A-4C are side cross-sectional views of the connector of the present invention, illustrating the sequential operation of interference locking after the circuit board is inserted into the connector; [Figure 6] 4A-4C are side cross-sectional views of the connector of the present invention, illustrating the sequential operation of interference locking after the circuit board is inserted into the connector; [Figure 7] 4A-4C are side cross-sectional views of the connector of the present invention, illustrating the sequential operation of interference locking after the circuit board is inserted into the connector; [Figure 8] 5A to 5C are front cross-sectional views of the connector of the present invention, illustrating successive states in which the positioning terminals release interference with the circuit board. [Figure 9] 5A to 5C are front cross-sectional views of the connector of the present invention, illustrating successive states in which the positioning terminals release interference with the circuit board. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the operation of the circuit board being removed from the connector according to the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Referring to Figures 1 to 10, the present invention is a circuit board connector, which is mainly used for connecting circuit boards such as flexible printed circuits (FPC) or flexible flat cables (FFC), but is not limited thereto.

[0012] The connector of the present invention mainly includes an insulating base 1, at least one contact terminal 2 assembled in the base 1, at least one ground terminal 3 assembled in the base 1, and at least one positioning terminal 4 assembled in the base 1.

[0013] The base 1 has an opening 10 and an insertion / withdrawal space 11 communicating with the opening 10, through which the circuit board 5 to be connected is inserted into the insertion / withdrawal space 11 to connect with the contact terminal 2. At least one first groove 12 serves to insert the positioning terminal 4 into the base 1, and at least one second groove 13 serves to insert the ground terminal 3 into the base 1. Preferably, in each drawing of the embodiment disclosed in the present invention, there are two first grooves 12 and two second grooves 13, which are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the base 1. Here, the first groove 12 is opened at the bottom 1a of the base 1, and the second groove 13 is opened at the top 1b of the base 1.

[0014] 3, the positioning terminal 4 mainly includes a substrate 40 and an elastic body 41 that generates an elastic action to support the substrate 40. The substrate 40 has an interference portion 42 and an operating portion 43 that is used to generate an elastic action on the substrate 40. In the embodiment disclosed in the present invention, the interference portion 42 is a diagonal protrusion that is punched upward from the substrate 40 and faces the opening 10 of the base 1, forming an elastic piece mechanism that is deformed by the pressure of the circuit board 5 as it passes through, and returns to its original shape when it reaches the notch 50 of the circuit board 5, generating a locking action and preventing the circuit board 5 from escaping in the opposite direction, thereby forming a substantial interference.

[0015] In the embodiment disclosed in the present invention, the elastic body 41 extends from the substrate 40 toward the bottom of the first groove 12 and includes a base portion 410 that abuts the bottom of the first groove 12 and a bent portion 411 connected between the substrate 40 and the base portion 410, and the base portion 410 and the bent portion 411 generate elasticity to support the substrate 40. One side of the base portion 410 further has at least one barb 412 used to fix the base portion 410. Preferably, the bent portion 411 is formed at an end of the substrate 40 farther from the opening 10 of the base 1, and the interference portion 42 and the operating portion 43 are located at opposite ends of the bent portion 411, so that the interference portion 42 can exert better elasticity and the operating portion 43 can be operated with less effort.

[0016] In the embodiment disclosed in the present invention, the operating part 43 includes an operating handle 430 and an operating lever 431 connected between the operating handle 430 and the base plate 40. When a force is applied to the operating handle 430, the operating lever 431 can press the base plate 40 downward, and the relative position of the interference part 42 can be changed through the support of the elastic force of the elastic body 41.

[0017] During assembly, the elastic body 41 of the positioning terminal 4 is placed in the first groove portion 12 of the base 1, the barb 412 pierces the wall surface of the first groove portion 12 to fix the base portion 410, and the interference portion 42 and the operating portion 43 are exposed to the outside of the first groove portion 12 so as to be supported by the elastic force of the elastic body 41.

[0018] The ground terminal 3 has an assembly part 30, a resilient arm 31, a contact part 32, and a ground part 33. The resilient arm 31 is connected between the assembly part 30 and the contact part 32 and is used to generate a resilient action to support the contact part 32. Here, the assembly part 30 is incorporated into the second groove part 13 of the base 1, and the resilient arm 31 extends from the upper part 1b of the base 1 toward the insertion / removal space 11 of the connector, so as to make resilient contact with the contact part 32 after the circuit board 5 is inserted into the connector. The ground part 33 extends out of the base 1 and contacts the ground terminal 60 of the external circuit board 6.

[0019] 5 to 7 show the use of the present invention. When the circuit board 5 enters the insertion / removal space 11 through the connector opening 10, the circuit board 5 first comes into contact with the protruding interference portion 42. Supported by the elastic body 41, the interference portion 42 is pressed downward by the circuit board 5 and elastically deforms, allowing the circuit board 5 to pass through the interference portion 42 more easily. This continues until the interference portion 42 falls into the notch 50 on the circuit board 5 (which is an existing feature of the flexible printed circuit FPC), and the circuit board 5 is locked by the interference portion 42, thereby achieving positioning and fixation. At the same time, the contact points on the circuit board 5 come into contact with the contact terminals 2 in the base 1, enabling signals to be transmitted and received.

[0020] On the other hand, when the circuit board 5 reaches its position and is fixed, the contact portion 32 of the ground terminal 3 simultaneously comes into contact with the ground point on the circuit board 5 (which is an existing feature of the circuit board) and is simultaneously pressed by the elastic arm 31, thereby allowing the ground signal to be transmitted between the two with reliability.

[0021] As can be clearly seen from the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the interference portion 42 described in the present invention can only pass through the notch 50 of the circuit board 5 in one direction, and any attempt to pull out in the opposite direction will be severely hindered, which makes the fixation of the circuit board 5 more stable and naturally makes the signal connection between the contact terminal 2 and the circuit board 5 more reliable.

[0022] 8 to 10. When the circuit board 5 is to be removed from the connector, pressure is applied to the operating portion 43 to deform the elastic body 41, thereby changing the position of the interference portion 42, and the interference portion 42 is released from the engagement of the circuit board 5, whereby the circuit board 5 can be pulled away from the opening 10 of the connector.

[0023] From the above, it can be seen that, compared with the prior art, the novel structure of the positioning terminal 4 provided in the connector has optimized elasticity, thereby providing a lighter and more reliable fixing ability during the insertion and removal of the circuit board 5, and the signal connection relationship between the circuit board 5 and the connector is less likely to be affected by external force interference. Furthermore, the ejection mechanism of the circuit board 5 can also be operated easily and does not cause any practical difficulties. This is a truly advanced design, and a utility model application has been filed in accordance with the law.

[0024] The above-listed examples and drawings do not limit the form and style of the product of the present invention, and any equivalent changes or modified designs made by those skilled in the art should still be deemed to fall within the scope of the registered claims of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0025] 1 base 1a bottom 1b Upper 10 Opening 11 Insertion / removal space 12 First groove 13 Second groove 2 contact terminals 3 Ground terminal 30 Assembly Department 31 Elastic Arm 32 Contact area 33 Grounding part 4 Positioning terminal 40 boards 41 Elastic Body 410 Base 411 Bend 412 Barb 42 Interference part 43 Operation section 430 Operating Handle 431 Operating lever 5 Circuit Board 50 Notch 6 External Circuit Board 60 Ground terminal

Claims

1. A circuit board connector, a base having an opening and an insertion / removal space communicating with the opening; At least one contact terminal assembled in the base and used for signal connection with the circuit board; at least one positioning terminal assembled in the base and having an elastic body that generates an elastic action to support at least the substrate and the substrate; Including, An interference portion and an operating portion are provided on the board, the interference portion is used to engage the circuit board, and the operating portion is used to apply pressure to the board, and the relative position of the interference portion is changed by the support of the elastic force of the elastic body.

2. 2. The circuit board connector according to claim 1, wherein the bottom of the base has a first groove for receiving the positioning terminal, and the interference portion and the operating portion are exposed in the first groove.

3. 3. The circuit board connector of claim 2, wherein the elastic body is formed by extending from the substrate toward the bottom of the first groove portion, and includes a base portion that abuts the bottom of the first groove portion, and a bending portion connected between the substrate and the base portion, and the base portion and the bending portion generate an elastic action that supports the substrate.

4. 4. The circuit board connector according to claim 3, wherein one side of the base portion has at least one barb that pierces a wall surface of the first groove portion to fix the base portion.

5. 4. The circuit board connector according to claim 3, wherein the bent portion is formed at one end of the board farther from the opening of the base, and the interference portion and the operating portion are provided on the board at the opposite end of the bent portion.

6. The operating portion includes an operating handle and an operating lever connected between the operating handle and the board, and by applying force to the operating handle, the operating lever presses the board downward, changing the relative position of the interference portion through support of the elastic force of the elastic body. A circuit board connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The circuit board connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the interference portion is a diagonal protrusion facing the opening of the base formed by punching upward from the board, and forms an elastic piece mechanism that deforms when pressed as the circuit board passes through and returns to its original shape when it reaches the cutout portion of the circuit board, thereby engaging the circuit board.

8. 6. The circuit board connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector further includes at least one ground terminal, the ground terminal having an assembly portion, a resilient arm, a contact portion, and a ground portion, the resilient arm being connected between the assembly portion and the contact portion and generating a resilient action that supports the contact portion.

9. 9. The circuit board connector according to claim 8, wherein the upper part of the base has a second groove portion into which the assembly portion of the ground terminal is fitted, the elastic arm extends from the upper part of the base toward the insertion / removal space of the connector to make elastic contact with the contact portion after the circuit board is inserted into the connector, and the ground portion extends outside the base to connect to the ground terminal of an external electric circuit.

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