Connector with additional member

Abstract

To provide a connector having a locking mechanism capable of strengthening the locking force near each end portion in the length direction of the connector.SOLUTION: A connector includes a housing 110, and a terminal 120 and an additional member 150 which are held by the housing 110. The additional member 150 on at least one end side in a second direction includes a first lock portion 154 held on a first side wall portion 112, and a pair of second lock portions 155 held on a pair of second side wall portions 114, respectively. The first lock portion 154 constitutes at least a part of the inner wall of the first side wall portion 112 forming a receiving portion 118. The second lock portion 155 constitutes at least a part of the inner walls of the pair of second side wall portions 114 forming the receiving portion 118, and at least a part of the second lock portion 155 which constitutes at least a part of the inner wall of the second side wall portion 114 is provided to be nearer to the one end portion side than a fitting convex portion 116 in a second direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a connector having a locking mechanism for maintaining a mated state with a mating connector. [Background technology]

[0002] Japanese Patent No. 6530015 discloses an example of a connector equipped with the above-mentioned locking mechanism, in particular a plug connector and a receptacle connector. These plug connector and receptacle connector are of the so-called board-to-board type, which can be fitted to each other while fixed to the mounting surface of a circuit board.

[0003] The receptacle connector 1 disclosed in the above patent publication has a housing 10 having a roughly rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and a plurality of receptacle signal terminals 20 and receptacle reinforcing brackets 30 that are arranged and held in the housing 10 in the longitudinal direction by integral molding.

[0004] The receptacle reinforcement fittings 30 are provided on the housing 10 at both outer positions relative to the arrangement range of the receptacle signal terminals 20 in the connector length direction, and can function not only to reinforce the housing 10, but also as locking fittings and even as power terminals.

[0005] The receptacle reinforcement bracket 30 is also made by bending a metal plate member in the thickness direction, and when viewed from above, has a portion provided at the position of the housing's protruding wall 12 which rises upward from bottom wall 11 in the connector width direction and extends in the connector length direction, a portion provided at the position of each of the side walls 14 which serve as a pair of outer walls which rise from the edges of bottom wall 11 facing each other in the connector width direction and extend in the connector length direction, a portion provided at the position of end walls 15 which serve as a pair of outer walls which connect the ends of the pair of side walls 14 and extend in the connector width direction, and a portion provided at the position of a receiving portion 16 for receiving the mating portion of the plug connector 2 which opens upward between the protruding wall 12 and a square frame-shaped peripheral wall 13 which rises from the bottom wall 11 and surrounds the protruding wall 12.

[0006] The portion of the receptacle reinforcement bracket 30 that is provided at the position of the side wall 14 includes a locking plate portion 41 that extends downward along the inner surface of the side wall 14, and the locking plate portion 41 is held by the side wall 14 with the plate surface located on the receiving portion 16 side exposed from the inner surface of the side wall 14, and a rectangular locking recess 41A is formed in the exposed plate surface.

[0007] On the other hand, the plug connector 2 has a housing 50 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and a plurality of plug signal terminals 60 and plug reinforcing metal fittings 70 arranged and held in the housing 50 in the longitudinal direction by integral molding.

[0008] The plug connector has a frame-shaped fitting portion that fits into the receiving portion 16 of the receptacle connector, and the fitting portion fits into the receiving portion 16, thereby fitting and connecting the connectors together.

[0009] Plug reinforcing metal fitting 70 corresponds to receptacle reinforcing metal fitting 30 and not only has the function of reinforcing housing 50, but also has a locking function for locking with receptacle reinforcing metal fitting 30, and can also function as a power terminal that contacts and establishes electrical continuity with power contact arm 44 of receptacle reinforcing metal fitting 30. Plug reinforcing metal fitting 70 is provided on each end side of housing 10 in the connector length direction, corresponding to receptacle reinforcing metal fitting 30 of receptacle connector 1.

[0010] Like receptacle reinforcing bracket 30, plug reinforcing bracket 70 is made by bending a metal plate member in the thickness direction, and includes outer plate portion 71 extending along the outer surface of side wall 54 of housing 50. Outer plate portion 71 has a plate surface exposed from the outer surface of side wall 54, and the exposed plate surface has a stepped portion formed by sinking an upper portion of the plate surface to form a locked stepped portion 71A extending in the width direction of outer plate portion 71 (the connector length direction). Locked stepped portion 71A is designed to lock with locking recess 41A of receptacle reinforcing bracket 30 when mated with receptacle connector 1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6530015 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0012] The locking mechanism in the connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 is provided only in a predetermined range relatively close to the center along the connector length direction in each of the plug reinforcement bracket 70 of the plug connector and the receptacle reinforcement bracket 30 of the receptacle connector, more specifically, only within the range of the protruding wall of the housing in the connector length direction; no locking mechanism is provided at the end sides in the connector length direction or in the connector width direction.

[0013] In order to maintain the mated state of the plug connector and receptacle connector, it is important to strengthen the locking force near each end in the connector's length direction, where force is most likely to act when releasing the mating, but the connector in Patent Document 1 is configured so that the locked step 71A and the lock recess 41A engage only in a predetermined range relatively close to the center along the connector's length direction. Therefore, it is desirable to strengthen the locking force near each end in the connector's length direction.

[0014] The present invention has been made to solve the problems in the prior art described above, and has an object to provide a connector equipped with a locking mechanism that can strengthen the locking force near each end in the connector's longitudinal direction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] A connector according to one embodiment of the present invention is a connector including a housing, and a terminal and an additional member held in the housing, wherein the housing includes a mating convex portion protruding toward the mating side with the mating connector, and a pair of first side wall portions extending in a first direction and a pair of second side wall portions extending in a second direction, which protrude toward the mating side with the mating connector and circumferentially surround an outer wall of the mating convex portion, and a receiving portion that receives at least a part of the mating connector is formed between the outer wall of the mating convex portion and inner walls of the pair of first side wall portions and the pair of second side wall portions; The additional member on one end side includes a first locking portion held by the first side wall portion and a pair of second locking portions held by each of the pair of second side wall portions, the first locking portion constitutes at least a part of the inner wall of the first side wall portion forming the receiving portion, the second locking portion constitutes at least a part of the inner wall of the pair of second side wall portions forming the receiving portion, and at least a part of the second locking portion constituting at least a part of the inner wall of the second side wall portion is provided at a position closer to the one end side than the mating protrusion in the second direction. Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, there is provided a connector having a locking mechanism that can strengthen the locking force near each end in the connector's length direction. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a plug connector and a receptacle connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the plug side. [Diagram 2] 2 is a diagram showing only a plug addition member and a receptacle addition member included in the plug connector and the receptacle connector shown in FIG. 1, respectively. [Diagram 3] 1 is a side view of a plug connector and a receptacle connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4]4 is a cross-sectional view of the plug terminal and the receptacle terminal taken along the line AA in FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the power supply terminal and a portion where the power supply terminal makes contact, taken along cutting portion BB shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 6] 1 is a perspective view of a plug connector and a receptacle connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the receptacle side. [Figure 7] 7 is a diagram showing only a plug addition member and a receptacle addition member included in the plug connector and the receptacle connector shown in FIG. 6, respectively. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a top view showing the receptacle connector. [Figure 9] 9 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector taken along the cut point CC shown in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a top view showing the plug connector. [Figure 11] 11 is a cross-sectional view of the plug connector taken along the cutting line DD shown in FIG. [Figure 12] 13 is a view showing the plug addition member and the receptacle addition member in a fitted state as viewed from the power terminal side. FIG. [Figure 13] 13 is a top view of the plug addition member and the receptacle addition member when fitted together, as viewed from the plug side. FIG. [Figure 14] 14 is a cross-sectional view of the plug addition member and the receptacle addition member cut at the cutting portion EE shown in FIG. 13. [Figure 15] 14 is a cross-sectional view of the plug addition member and the receptacle addition member cut at the cutting point FF shown in FIG. 13. [Figure 16] 13 is a perspective view showing a receptacle connector having a receptacle addition member according to a modified example, together with pads provided on a substrate. FIG. [Figure 17] 13 is a perspective view showing a receptacle connector having a receptacle addition member according to a modified example, together with pads provided on a substrate. FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the recess addition member and the pad shown in FIG. 16. [Figure 19]FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing the recess addition member and the pad shown in FIG. 17. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, in all drawings for describing the embodiment, the same members are given the same reference numerals as a rule, and the repeated description thereof will be omitted. Furthermore, since the configuration and shape of the plug connector or receptacle connector according to one embodiment of the present invention are in a point-symmetrical relationship with respect to the center axis in the mating direction (Z-axis direction), the same reference numerals will basically be omitted for parts, members, parts, etc. that are point-symmetrical with respect to the parts, members, parts, etc. to which reference numerals are given. However, as will be clear from the following description, this configuration is not limited to the point-symmetrical shapes exemplified in the embodiment, and may also be an asymmetrical shape. Furthermore, although each embodiment is described independently, it does not exclude the combination of each of the components to form a plug connector or a receptacle connector. Furthermore, a configuration consisting of a plug connector and a receptacle connector is also called a connector device.

[0019] In this specification and claims, in order to distinguish the two connectors, they are called a plug connector and a receptacle connector, and their respective members or parts are called a plug housing and a receptacle housing, a plug terminal and a receptacle terminal, a first plug locking portion and a first receptacle locking portion, a second plug locking portion and a second receptacle locking portion, a plug flat portion and a receptacle flat portion, etc.; however, when referring to the connectors without distinguishing them based on their shape, the expressions plug and receptacle (receptacle) will be omitted, and they will be simply called a connector, housing, terminal, first locking portion, second locking portion, flat portion, etc.

[0020] In addition, when no distinction is made based on the shape of the connectors, the connector that mates with one connector will be called the mating connector, and the first locking portion and second locking portion of the mating connector will be called the first mating locking portion and the second mating locking portion.

[0021] 1 to 7 show a plug connector and a receptacle connector according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows the appearance of the plug connector and the receptacle connector according to one embodiment of the present invention when viewed from the plug side (Z2 side). FIG. 2 shows only the plug additional member and the receptacle additional member included in the plug connector and the receptacle shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a side view of the plug connector and the receptacle connector according to one embodiment of the present invention when viewed from the side (Y1 side), FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the plug terminal and the receptacle terminal cut at the cutting point AA shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the power terminal and the portion where the power terminal contacts, cut at the cutting point BB shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 shows the appearance of each connector when viewed from the receptacle connector side (Z1 side) upside down from FIG. 1. FIG. 7 shows only the plug additional member and the receptacle additional member included in the plug connector and the receptacle shown in FIG. 6.

[0022] The plug connector and receptacle of the present invention can be used as internal components in small electronic devices such as mobile phones, smartphones, digital cameras, and notebook computers. The mating direction of the connectors is the Z1-Z2 direction (Z-axis direction) in the figure. The plug connector 200 mates with the receptacle connector 100, which is the mating connector, located on the Z1 side in the Z-axis direction, and the receptacle connector 100 mates with the plug connector 200, which is the mating connector, located on the Z2 side in the Z-axis direction, and they are electrically connected to each other. In the present invention, the longitudinal direction of the rectangular connector is the X1-X2 direction (X-axis direction), and the lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) is the Y1-Y2 direction (Y-axis direction).

[0023] Furthermore, regarding the top and bottom of receptacle connector 100 and receptacle terminal 120, the board side (the side attached to the board) is referred to as the "bottom" or "back" and the side that receives plug connector 200 and plug terminal 220 is referred to as the "top" or "front". Similarly, regarding the top and bottom of plug connector 200 and plug terminal 220, the board side (the side attached to the board) is referred to as the "bottom" or "back" and the side that receives receptacle connector 100 and receptacle terminal 120 is referred to as the "top" or "front".

[0024] The receptacle connector 100 and the plug connector 200 are mounted by soldering to a printed wiring board or a flexible flat cable, etc. Here, the printed wiring board, flexible flat cable, or other device on which the connectors are mounted is simply referred to as a "board." As shown in Fig. 1, the receptacle connector 100 is mounted on the board (only pads 300 on the board are shown), and as shown in Fig. 6, the plug connector 200 is mounted on the board (only pads 400 on the board are shown).

[0025] First, the configuration of receptacle connector 100 will be described with reference mainly to Figures 1 and 2. Receptacle connector 100 includes receptacle housing 110, receptacle terminals 120, and a receptacle attachment member 150 for maintaining a mated state with plug connector 200, which is a mating connector. Receptacle terminals 120 are made of a metal such as phosphor bronze, and are embedded in second side wall portion 114 extending in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of receptacle housing 110, and are held in receptacle housing 110 with a surface that comes into contact with plug terminals 220, which are mating terminals, exposed from second side wall portion 114. Receptacle terminals 120 include mounting portions 121 at their ends for mounting to a board (300) by soldering or the like. Receptacle attachment member 150 is made of a metal such as phosphor bronze, similar to receptacle terminals 120.

[0026] Receptacle housing 110 is made of an insulating resin such as liquid crystal polymer (LCP), and has a pair of first side wall portions 112 extending in the short direction (Y axis direction) at each end side (α1, α2) in the longitudinal direction (X axis direction), and a pair of second side wall portions 114 extending in the longitudinal direction (X axis direction) at each end side (β1, β2) in the short direction (Y axis direction), and further has a mating protrusion portion 116 extending in the longitudinal direction (X axis direction) in a central portion circumferentially surrounded by first side wall portions 112 and second side wall portions 114. These first side wall portion 112, second side wall portion 114, and fitting protrusion portion 116 are all provided in a state of protruding toward the fitting side with plug connector 200 (Z2 side in the Z-axis direction), and receptacle housing 110 includes fitting protrusion portion 116 on the movable portion 127 side of receptacle terminal 120 and second side wall portion 114 on the fixed portion 125 side of receptacle terminal 120. With the above configuration, receptacle housing 110 includes receiving portion 118 as a space capable of receiving at least a part of plug connector 200 between outer wall 116a of fitting protrusion portion 116 and inner walls 112b, 114b of first side wall portion 112 and second side wall portion 114, respectively, and a predetermined portion of plug connector 200 received in receiving portion 118 can be brought into contact with receptacle terminal 120.

[0027] When the receptacle connector 100 and the plug connector 200 are connected, the mating convex portion 116 is accommodated in the mating recess 216 (see Figure 6) of the plug connector 200, and the first side wall portion 212 and the second side wall portion 214 (see Figure 6) of the mating recess 216 are accommodated in the receiving portion 118 of the receptacle connector 100.

[0028] 1 and 2, and referring to Fig. 4, receptacle terminal 120 has leg portion 122 extending from a portion bent upward (toward the Z2 side in the Z-axis direction) from mounting portion 121. Leg portion 122 faces fixed contact 124 and fixed portion 125 across second side wall portion 114 of receptacle housing 110, and leg portion 122 is connected to fixed contact 124 and fixed portion 125 via top portion 123 located at the upper end of second side wall portion 114.

[0029] The periphery of leg 122 is entirely covered with the resin of receptacle housing 110 (the resin of peripheral wall 113 and second side wall 114) except for the portion adjacent to top 123. That is, leg 122 is embedded in second side wall 114 by peripheral wall 113 that surrounds first side wall 112 and second side wall 114, and is held in receptacle housing 110, except for the portion adjacent to top 123. The back surfaces (surfaces opposite to the surface that contacts the mating terminal) of leg 122, top 123, fixed contact 124, and fixed portion 125 are supported by second side wall 114. That is, the opposing surfaces of leg 122 and fixed portion 125 of receptacle terminal 120 are supported by second side wall 114.

[0030] Fixed contact 124 of receptacle terminal 120 protrudes toward mating protrusion 116 beyond the surface of second side wall 114, and contact side surface 129 of fixed contact 124 is exposed from second side wall 114. Fixed contact 124 abuts and is electrically connected to outer leg 225 when mated with plug terminal 220, which is the mating terminal (see FIG. 4). Fixed contact 124 and fixed portion 125 are supported and fixed at the surface opposite to the surface that contacts the mating terminal by first side wall 112 so as not to move when mated with the mating terminal.

[0031] 4, receptacle terminal 120 is insert-molded (integrally molded) with receptacle housing 110, so that the receptacle terminal 120 is in close contact with receptacle housing 110, except for the portion on the side of movable portion 127. In addition, the space surrounded by leg portion 122, top portion 123, fixed contact 124, and fixed portion 125 of receptacle terminal 120 is filled with resin (housing).

[0032] Receptacle terminal 120 includes bottom portion 126 between fixed portion 125 and movable portion 127 and connected thereto. Bottom portion 126 extends in the short-side direction (Y-axis direction) of receptacle connector 100, and is connected to fixed portion 125 and movable portion 127 via a portion bent at a right angle. The plate thickness direction of bottom portion 126 is along the mating direction (Z-axis direction), and the surface of bottom portion 126 on the receiving portion 118 side (Z2-side surface) is exposed from bottom wall 119 of receptacle housing 110. A portion of the surface (i.e., back surface) on the board side (opposite (Z1 side) to the surface (Z2-side surface) that receives the mating terminal) of bottom portion 126 is exposed from the back surface of bottom wall 119 of receptacle housing 110, and the portion other than the exposed portion is supported by second side wall portion 114 and resin near mating protrusion 116 (see FIG. 6). Therefore, the movable part 127 cannot be seen from the rear surface side of the bottom wall.

[0033] Movable portion 127 is a free end that does not touch the side wall of mating protrusion 116, and includes movable contact 128 formed by protruding the periphery of the end toward fixed contact 124. When movable portion 127 receives and fits plug terminal 220, which is the mating terminal, it is pushed toward mating protrusion 116 by its elasticity and deformed, and in the mated state, movable contact 128 comes into contact with inner leg portion 222 of plug terminal 220 and is electrically connected.

[0034] The receptacle addition members 150 are disposed on both sides of the receptacle connector 100, sandwiching the central portion of the second side wall portion 114 in which the receptacle terminals 120 are held. That is, the receptacle addition members 150 are provided on each end side (α1, α2) on both sides of the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the receptacle connector 100. By providing them on both sides in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction), the locking force in the connector length direction can be strengthened on both end sides in the longitudinal direction. However, it is not necessarily required to provide them on both sides, and when provided only on one end side, the locking force can be strengthened on the one end side. The receptacle addition member 150 includes one first receptacle locking portion 154 and a pair of second receptacle locking portions 155. The receptacle housing 110 holds the first receptacle locking portion 154 on the first side wall portion 112, and holds the second receptacle locking portion 155 on the second side wall portion 114. The receptacle addition member 150 is provided with second receptacle locking portions 155 extending in a direction perpendicular to the first receptacle locking portion 154 (X-axis direction) on both sides (Y1 and Y2 sides) of the first receptacle locking portion 154 held on the first side wall portion 112. That is, the first receptacle locking portion 154 is located between the pair of second receptacle locking portions 155 in the short direction (Y-axis direction). The portion including the first receptacle locking portion 154 and the portion including the second receptacle locking portion 155 are connected via a receptacle connecting portion 165. Receptacle coupling portion 165 is embedded in receptacle housing 110, positioned on the side (Z1) opposite to the side (Z2) that mates with plug connector 200 in the mating direction (Z-axis direction) from the positions at which first locking portion 154 and second locking portion 155 are provided. By positioning receptacle coupling portion 165 as described above, first locking portion 154 and second locking portion 155 can be coupled without interfering with their locking functions.

[0035] Here, the configuration of a receptacle connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9 in addition to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 8 is a top view of the receptacle connector according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above, and Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector cut at cut point CC shown in Figure 8. Figure 8 can also be considered to show the outermost surface of the receptacle connector on the side that mates with plug connector 200, among orthogonal planes orthogonal to an axis (Z axis) extending along the mating direction (Z axis direction). As a result, in the receptacle connector of one embodiment of the present invention, the receptacle addition member 150A provided at one end side (α1) in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) and the receptacle addition member 150B provided at the other end side (α2) opposite the one end side (α1) are arranged in point symmetry on the outermost surface (orthogonal plane) with respect to the central axis, in particular, of the axis (Z-axis) extending along the mating direction (Z-axis direction).Furthermore, it can be said that the receptacle addition member 150A provided at one end side (α1) and the receptacle addition member 150B provided at the other end side (α2) each include a first locking portion 154 and a pair of second locking portions 155 on the orthogonal plane.

[0036] The receptacle addition member 150 includes a first mounting portion 151A and a second mounting portion 151B for mounting to the substrate (300) by soldering or the like, and further includes receptacle legs 152A, 152B via portions bent upward (to the Z2 side in the Z-axis direction) from the first mounting portion 151A and the second mounting portion 151B. Here, the first mounting portion 151A is provided on the outer wall 112a side of the first side wall 112 facing the inner wall 112b of the first side wall 112 in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) across the first side wall 112, while the second mounting portion 151B is provided on the outer wall 114a side of the second side wall 114 facing the inner wall 114b of the second side wall 114 in the lateral direction (Y-axis direction) across the second side wall 114. The first receptacle locking portion 154 and the receptacle leg 152A face each other across the first sidewall 112, and the first receptacle locking portion 154 and the receptacle leg 152A are connected to each other via the end of the first sidewall 112, i.e., the first apex 153A located on the outermost surface of the receptacle connector 100 on the side mated with the plug connector 200, of the orthogonal plane perpendicular to the axis (Z-axis) extending along the mating direction (Z-axis direction). Similarly, the second receptacle locking portion 155 and the receptacle leg 152B face each other across the second sidewall 114, and the second receptacle locking portion 155 and the receptacle leg 152B are connected to each other via the second apex 153B located on the outermost surface.

[0037] The first receptacle locking portion 154 is connected to the mounting portion 151A via the receptacle leg portion 152A, and by attaching the mounting portion 151A to the board (300) by soldering or the like, it can withstand the force applied to the receptacle addition member 150 when connecting the connectors to each other. Similarly, the second receptacle locking portion 155 is connected to the mounting portion 151B via the receptacle leg portion 152B, and by attaching the mounting portion 151B to the board (300) by soldering or the like, it can withstand the force applied to the receptacle addition member 150 when connecting the connectors to each other.

[0038] The periphery of receptacle legs 152A, 152B, except for first top portion 153A and second top portion 153B and further portions adjacent thereto, is entirely covered with the resin of receptacle housing 110. In other words, receptacle legs 152A, 152B, except for first top portion 153A and second top portion 153B and further portions adjacent thereto, are embedded in first side wall portion 112 and second side wall portion 114 by peripheral wall portion 113 that surrounds first side wall portion 112 and second side wall portion 114, and are held in receptacle housing 110. In other words, first top portion 153A and second top portion 153B, as well as portions adjacent thereto, are exposed from receptacle connector 110, and when receptacle connector 100 and plug connector 200 are mated and connected, these strong portions made of metal can collide with plug connector 200, effectively preventing damage to receptacle connector 100. Also, as described above, first top portion 153A and second top portion 153B are both positioned on the outermost surface, and therefore, when receptacle connector 100 and plug connector 200 are mated and connected, it is possible to effectively prevent plug connector 200 from colliding with only one of the top portions and applying excessive load. The back surfaces of the receptacle leg portion 152A, the first top portion 153A and the first receptacle lock portion 154 are supported by the first side wall portion 112, and the back surfaces of the receptacle leg portion 152B, the second top portion 153B and the second receptacle lock portion 155 are supported by the second side wall portion 114.

[0039] First receptacle locking portion 154, more specifically, at least a portion of first receptacle locking portion 154 constituting at least a portion of inner wall 112b of first sidewall portion 112, is configured to have a curved surface that protrudes in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) toward receiving portion 118 from the surface of inner wall 112b of first sidewall portion 112, and extends in the lateral direction (Y-axis direction) as a curved surface having the same cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the lateral direction (Y-axis direction). By having a protruding curved surface structure, first receptacle locking portion 154 can be more reliably engaged with mating locking portion (234) when receptacle connector 100 and plug connector 200 are mated and connected. Furthermore, the portion of first receptacle locking portion 154 formed as a curved surface can face, in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction), outer wall 116a of mating protrusion 116 constituting at least a part of receiving portion 118, in particular surface 161a formed by part (161) of metal receptacle addition member 150. Therefore, the space of receiving portion 118 sandwiched between the portion of first receptacle locking portion 154 and part (161) of receptacle addition member 150 has the opposing side formed by a metal member, thereby improving the strength when receptacle connector 100 and plug connector 200 are mated and connected.

[0040] Similarly, second receptacle locking portion 155, more specifically, at least a portion of second locking portion 155 constituting at least a portion of inner wall 114b of second sidewall portion 114, is configured to have a curved surface that protrudes further toward receiving portion 118 in the short direction (Y-axis direction) than the surface of inner wall 114b of second sidewall portion 114, and extends in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) as a curved surface having the same cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction). By having a protruding curved surface structure, second receptacle locking portion 155 can be more reliably engaged with mating locking portion (235) when receptacle connector 100 and plug connector 200 are mated and connected. Furthermore, the portion of second receptacle locking portion 155 formed as a curved surface can face, in the short direction (Y-axis direction), outer wall 116a of mating protrusion 116 constituting at least a part of receiving portion 118, in particular surface 161b formed by part (161) of metal receptacle addition member 150. Therefore, the space of receiving portion 118 sandwiched between the portion of second receptacle locking portion 156 and part (161) of receptacle addition member 150 has the opposing side formed of a metal member, thereby improving the strength when receptacle connector 100 and plug connector 200 are mated and connected.

[0041] As described above, the second receptacle locking portion 155 is held by the second side wall portion 114. Even in this case, at least a part of the second receptacle locking portion 155 (the range indicated by "m" and "n" in FIG. 1) is exposed on the inner wall 114b of the second side wall portion 114 along the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) and constitutes at least a part of the inner wall 114b. Here, at least a part "m" of the part of the second receptacle locking portion 155 included in the range indicated by "m" and "n" is provided at a position closer to one end side (α1) than the mating protrusion 116 in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction). With this configuration, the locking function can be made effective even at a position closer to one end side (α1) than the mating protrusion 116, and the locking force near the end in the connector length direction can be strengthened. Here, it is preferable that at least the portion "m" extends beyond the mating protrusion 116 in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) toward the other end side (α2) opposite to the one end side (α1), as indicated by "n". This increases the possibility of widening the lockable range and further strengthening the locking mechanism. Similarly, it is preferable that the range indicated by "n" extends to the contact 164 of the movable part 163 of the power terminal 160 in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction). Even with this configuration, when the second receptacle locking part 155 is used as a power terminal, the function of the connector is not affected.

[0042] The first receptacle locking portion 154 may have a similar configuration to that described above. The first receptacle locking portion 154 is held by the first sidewall portion 112, but even in this case, at least a portion of the first receptacle locking portion 154 (the range indicated by "s" and "t" in FIG. 8) is exposed on the inner wall 112b of the first sidewall portion 112 along the short side direction (Y-axis direction) and constitutes at least a portion of the inner wall 112b. Here, at least a portion "t" of the portion of the first receptacle locking portion 154 included in the range indicated by "s" and "t" extends from the central region 116a of the fitting protrusion 116 beyond the fitting protrusion 116 in the short side direction (Y-axis direction) to, for example, each side (β1, β2) of the pair of second sidewall portions 114. With this configuration, the locking function can be made effective even at positions closer to each side (β1, β2) of the second side wall portion 114 than the mating protrusion 116, and the locking force near the end portions in the connector length direction can be strengthened.

[0043] The first receptacle locking portion 154 and the second receptacle locking portion 155 expose receptacle locking side surfaces 159A, 159B from the first side wall portion 112 and the second side wall portion 114, respectively. The receptacle adding member 150 is provided with receptacle flat portions 156A, 156B located on the first side wall portion 112 and the second side wall portion 114 side of the first receptacle locking portion 154 and the second receptacle locking portion 155, on the bottom side (Z1 side) of the receptacle housing 110 from the positions where the first receptacle locking portion 154 and the second receptacle locking portion 155 are provided, in other words, on the side (Z1 side) opposite to the side (Z2 side) where the mating connector, plug connector 200, is mated with.

[0044] The receptacle addition member 150 includes a T-shaped portion 158 facing the first receptacle locking portion 154, and the T-shaped portion 158 is connected to the first receptacle locking portion 154 via a bottom portion 157 and a receptacle flat portion 156A. The T-shaped portion 158 is held by a receptacle fixing portion 161 extending in the fitting direction (Z-axis direction) so as to cover the side wall of the end portion in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the fitting protrusion 116, and the receptacle addition member 150 can be fixed to the receptacle housing 110.

[0045] The T-shaped portion 158 is provided with a third apex 153C having the same function and configuration as the first apex 153A and the second apex 153B. The third apex 153C is exposed from the mating protrusion 116 like the first apex 153A and the second apex 153B, and is provided on the outermost surface of the receptacle connector 100 on the side mated with the plug connector 200 within the same plane as the first apex 153A and the second apex 153B, that is, within an orthogonal plane perpendicular to an axis (Z axis) extending along the mating direction (Z axis direction). As a result, when the receptacle connector 100 and the plug connector 200 are mated and connected, it is possible to effectively prevent a situation in which the plug connector 200 collides only with any one of the apexes of the first apex 153A, the second apex 153B, and the third apex 153C positioned on the outermost surface, causing an excessive load to be applied to one place. However, even if such an excessive load is applied, damage to receptacle connector 100 can be effectively prevented because top portions 153A to 153C are all made of metal.

[0046] The third top portion 153C is preferably located in a state where it is connected to the first lock portion 154 via the bottom portion 157 and the receptacle fixing portion 161 (161a) in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) and is located on one end side (α1 side or α2 side) of the fitting protrusion 116 in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction). Furthermore, it is preferably provided over the entire fitting protrusion 116 in the short direction (Y-axis direction). With this configuration, the end side of the fitting protrusion 116, which is at high risk of breakage, can be effectively protected by a strong metal.

[0047] The third apex 153C is preferably provided over the entire mating protrusion 116 in the short-side direction (Y-axis direction). It is also preferable that the third apex 153C has an extension extending from at least one end side (β1 or β2) in the short-side direction (Y-axis direction) toward the direction (Z1) opposite to the direction (Z2) of mating with the plug connector 200 along the mating direction (Z-axis direction), and that the extension forms at least a part of the surface 161b of the outer wall 116a of the mating protrusion 116. With this configuration, not only the apex side but also the outer wall 116a of the mating protrusion 116 can be protected by a strong metal.

[0048] The bottom 157, receptacle flat portion 156A, and receptacle fixing portion 161 of the receptacle addition member 150, which are connected to the T-shaped portion 158, face the receiving portion 118 while being exposed from the receptacle housing 110. The receptacle addition member 150 also has a power terminal 160 on the side adjacent to the receptacle terminal 120 (the X2 side of the receptacle addition member 150 on the X1 side, and the X1 side of the receptacle addition member 150 on the X2 side). The power terminal 160 is a terminal for supplying power of about several amperes. The power terminals 160 of the receptacle addition member 150 are arranged at equal intervals on both sides (the X1 side and the X2 side) of the receptacle terminal 120.

[0049] Here, referring to Figure 5 in addition to Figures 1 and 2, the receptacle leg portion 152B of the receptacle addition member 150 faces the second receptacle lock portion 155 and the receptacle flat portion 156B across the second side wall portion 114 of the receptacle housing 110, and the receptacle leg portion 152B is connected to the second receptacle lock portion 155 and the receptacle flat portion 156B via a second top portion 153B located at the upper end of the second side wall portion 114.

[0050] The periphery of the receptacle leg 152B is entirely covered with the resin of the receptacle housing 110 (the resin of the peripheral wall portion 113 and the second side wall portion 114) except for the portion adjacent to the second top portion 153B. That is, the receptacle leg 152B is embedded in the second side wall portion 114 by the peripheral wall portion 113 that surrounds the first side wall portion 112 and the second side wall portion 114, except for the portion adjacent to the second top portion 153B, and is held in the receptacle housing 110. The receptacle leg 152B, the second top portion 153B, the second receptacle lock portion 155, and the back surface of the receptacle flat portion 156B (the surface opposite to the surface that contacts the second plug lock portion 235) are supported by the second side wall portion 114. In other words, the receptacle leg portion 152B and the receptacle flat portion 156B on the second receptacle lock portion 155 side of the receptacle addition member 150 are supported by the second side wall portion 114 at their opposing surfaces.

[0051] Power terminal 160 extends from receptacle flat portion 156B toward mating protrusion 116, and includes a bottom portion 162 between receptacle flat portion 156B and movable portion 163, and connected thereto. Bottom portion 162 extends in the short-side direction (Y-axis direction) of receptacle connector 100, and is connected to receptacle flat portion 156B and movable portion 163 via a portion bent at a right angle. A portion of the surface (i.e., the back surface) of bottom portion 162 on the board side (the opposite side (Z1 side) from the surface (Z2 side surface) that receives the mating terminal) is exposed from the back surface of receptacle housing 110, and the portion other than the exposed portion is supported by resin near second side wall portion 114 and mating protrusion 116 (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

[0052] 5, receptacle addition member 150 is insert-molded (integrally molded) with receptacle housing 110, so that the receptacle addition member 150 is in close contact with receptacle housing 110, except for the portion on the movable portion 163 side of power terminal 160. In addition, the space surrounded by receptacle leg portion 152B, second top portion 153B, second receptacle lock portion 155, and receptacle flat portion 156B of receptacle addition member 150 is filled with resin (housing).

[0053] The movable portion 163 is a free end that does not touch the side wall of the mating protrusion 116, and includes a movable contact 164 formed by protruding the periphery of the end toward the second receptacle lock portion 155. When the movable portion 163 receives and fits the plug addition member 230, which is a mating addition member, it is pushed toward the mating protrusion 116 by its elasticity and deformed, and in the mated state, the movable contact 164 comes into contact with the plug leg 232 of the plug addition member 230 and is electrically connected.

[0054] Next, the configuration of the plug connector 200 will be described with reference mainly to Figures 6 and 7. The plug connector 200 includes a plug housing 210, a plug terminal 220, and a plug additional member 230 for maintaining a mated state with the receptacle connector 100, which is a mating connector. The plug terminal 220 is made of a metal such as phosphor bronze, and is embedded in a second side wall portion 214 extending in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the plug housing 210, and is held by the plug housing 210 with a surface that contacts the receptacle terminal 120 exposed from the second side wall portion 214. The plug terminal 220 includes a mounting portion 221 at an end portion for mounting the plug terminal 220 to a board (400) by soldering or the like. The plug additional member 230 is made of a metal such as phosphor bronze, similar to the plug terminal 220.

[0055] Plug housing 210 is made of an insulating resin such as liquid crystal polymer (LCP), and includes first side wall portions 212 that protrude toward the mating side with receptacle connector 100 (Z1 side in the Z-axis direction) and extend in the short direction (Y-axis direction) at each end side (α1, α2) in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction), and a pair of second side wall portions 214 that protrude toward the mating side with receptacle connector 100 (Z1 side in the Z-axis direction) and extend in the long direction (X-axis direction) at each end side (β1, β2) in the short direction (Y-axis direction).Furthermore, plug housing 210 includes a mating recess 216 in a central portion circumferentially surrounded by inner wall 212b of first side wall portion 212 and inner wall 214b of second side wall portion 214, as a space for accommodating mating protrusion 116, which is a part of receptacle connector 100.

[0056] When the plug connector 200 and the receptacle connector 100 are mated and connected, the mating recess 216 accommodates the mating protrusion 116 of the receptacle connector 100, and at the same time, the first side wall portion 212 and the second side wall portion 214 of the mating recess 216 are accommodated in the receiving portion 118 of the receptacle connector 100 with the outer walls 212a and 214a of the first side wall portion 212 and the second side wall portion 214 respectively circumferentially surrounded.

[0057] 6 and 7, and referring to FIG. 4, plug terminal 220 includes mounting portion 221 at an end portion on the board side (Z2 side), and includes inner leg portion 222 via a portion bent at a right angle upward (Z1 side) from mounting portion 221. Inner leg portion 222 faces outer leg portion 225 across second side wall portion 214 of plug housing 210, and inner leg portion 222 and outer leg portion 225 are connected via end portion of second side wall portion 214, i.e., apex portion 223 located on the outermost surface of plug connector 200 on the side mated with receptacle connector 100, among orthogonal planes perpendicular to an axis (Z axis) extending along the mating direction (Z axis direction). Inner leg portion 222, apex portion 223, protrusion portion 224, and back surface (surface opposite to the surface contacting the mating terminal) of outer leg portion 225 are supported by second side wall portion 214.

[0058] Protrusion 224 is formed by protruding a portion of outer leg 225 adjacent to top 223 outward. Contact side surface 226 of protrusion 224 is exposed from second side wall 214. When mated with receptacle terminal 120, which is the mating terminal, protrusion 224 can engage with second receptacle locking portion 155 to maintain the mated state (locked state). Inner leg 222, top 223, protrusion 224 and outer leg 225 are fixed by second side wall 214 so as not to move when mated with the mating terminal.

[0059] 4, plug terminal 220 is in close contact with plug housing 210 by insert molding (integral molding) with plug housing 210. In addition, the space surrounded by inner leg portion 222, top portion 223, protrusion portion 224, and outer leg portion 225 of plug terminal 220 is filled with resin (housing).

[0060] The plug additional members 230 are disposed on both sides of the plug connector 200, sandwiching the central portion of the second side wall portion 214 where the plug terminal 220 is held. That is, the plug additional members 230 are provided on each end side (α1, α2) on both sides of the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the plug connector 200. By providing them on both sides in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction), the locking force in the connector length direction can be strengthened at both end sides in the longitudinal direction. However, it is not necessarily required to provide them on both sides, and when provided only on one end side, the locking force can be strengthened at the one end side. The plug additional member 230 includes two first plug locking portions 234 and a pair of second plug locking portions 235. The plug housing 210 holds the first plug locking portion 234 by the first side wall portion 212, and holds the second plug locking portion 235 by the second side wall portion 214. The plug addition member 230 includes second plug locking portions 235 extending in a direction (X-axis direction) perpendicular to the first plug locking portion 234 on both sides (Y1 and Y2 sides) of the first plug locking portion 234 held by the first side wall portion 212. That is, the two first plug locking portions 234 are located between the pair of second receptacle locking portions 155 in the short side direction (Y-axis direction). The portion including the first plug locking portion 234 and the portion including the second plug locking portion 235 are connected via a plug connecting portion 238. The plug connecting portion 238 is exposed from the plug housing 210.

[0061] 5, plug addition member 230 has mounting portion 231 for mounting to substrate (400) by soldering or the like, and has plug leg portion 232 via a portion bent upward (toward Z1 in the Z-axis direction) from mounting portion 231. Second plug lock portion 235 and plug leg portion 232 face each other across second sidewall portion 214, and second plug lock portion 235 and plug leg portion 232 are connected via an end portion of second sidewall portion 214, i.e., top portion 233B located on the outermost surface of plug connector 200 on the side mating with receptacle connector 100, of an orthogonal plane orthogonal to an axis (Z-axis) extending along the mating direction (Z-axis direction).

[0062] 5, the plug addition member 230 is in close contact with the plug housing 210 by insert molding (integral molding) with the plug housing 210. In addition, the space surrounded by the plug leg portion 232, the top portion 233B, the second plug lock portion 235, and the plug flat portion 236B of the plug addition member 230 is filled with resin (housing).

[0063] Plug leg 232 is exposed from second side wall 214. The portion between plug leg 232 and mounting portion 231 is covered with the resin of plug housing 210 and is held by plug housing 210. First plug locking portion 234 and the backside of top 233A are supported by first side wall 212, and second plug locking portion 235, top 233A and the backside of plug leg 232 are supported by second side wall 214. Top 233A is located at the end of first side wall 212, i.e., the outermost surface of plug connector 200 on the side mated with receptacle connector 100, in an orthogonal plane perpendicular to an axis (Z-axis) extending along the mating direction (Z-axis direction), similar to top 223B. The effect of providing a top is as described in the description of the receptacle connector.

[0064] Here, the configuration of a plug connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 10 and 11 in addition to Figures 6 and 7. Figure 10 is a top view of the plug connector according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above, and Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the plug connector cut at the cut point DD shown in Figure 10. The plug leg 232 of the plug additional member 230 is held by the second side wall 214 at equal intervals on both sides (X1 side and X2 side) of the plug leg 232 of the plug terminal 220.

[0065] The first plug locking portion 234 is configured to be a curved surface protruding from the surface of the first side wall portion 212, and extends in the short direction (Y-axis direction) as a curved surface having the same cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the short direction (Y-axis direction). The second plug locking portion 235 is configured to be a curved surface protruding from the surface of the second side wall portion 214, and extends in the long direction (X-axis direction) as a curved surface having the same cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the long direction (X-axis direction). The first plug locking portion 234 and the second plug locking portion 235 expose a plug lock side surface 237 from the first side wall portion 212 and the second side wall portion 214, respectively. The plug additional member 230 includes plug flat portions 236A and 236B on the bottom side (Z1 side) of the plug housing 210 from the positions where the first plug locking portion 234 and the second plug locking portion 235 are provided.

[0066] The first plug locking portion 234 is divided in a direction (X-axis direction) perpendicular to the first side wall portion 212 extending in the short side direction (Y-axis direction). The ends of the divided first plug locking portion 234 and plug flat portion 236A are not provided with mounting portions for mounting to the board (400) by soldering or the like. In other words, the ends of the divided first plug locking portion 234 and plug flat portion 236A are free ends. On the other hand, the receptacle flat portions 156A and 156B of the first receptacle locking portion 154 and second receptacle locking portion 155 of the receptacle addition member 150 are fixed to the board (300) by mounting portions 151A and 151B, respectively.

[0067] In this way, first receptacle locking portion 154 and second receptacle locking portion 155 are firmly fixed to receptacle housing 110, so that receptacle addition member 150 serves as a reference, and by adjusting the amount of interference with plug addition member 230, it becomes possible to finely adjust the force (herein referred to as the "locking force") applied when and during connection between plug connector 200 and receptacle connector 100. In other words, by configuring first plug locking portion 234, which is divided into two, and plug flat portion 236A not to be fixed to substrate (400), it becomes easier to deform first side wall portion 212 that holds first plug locking portion 234 together with first plug locking portion 234, which is divided into two, when the connectors are fitted together, so that the force applied to first plug locking portion 234 can be released and the locking force can be adjusted.

[0068] Also, by configuring the first receptacle locking portion 154 and the second receptacle locking portion 155 of the receptacle addition member 150 and the first plug locking portion 234 and the second plug locking portion 235 of the plug addition member 230 to have curved surfaces that protrude from the surfaces of the first sidewall portions 112, 212 and the second sidewall portions 114, 214, respectively, it is possible to reduce manufacturing costs by eliminating the process of machining metal members (the receptacle addition member 150 and the plug addition member 230) to provide convex portions and concave portions during the manufacturing process. Furthermore, the first receptacle locking portion 154 and the second receptacle locking portion 155 of the receptacle addition member 150 and the first plug locking portion 234 and the second plug locking portion 235 of the plug addition member 230 are curved surfaces supported by the sidewall portions, respectively, which prevents the force applied when attaching and detaching the connector from concentrating on one point, and provides a structure that is resistant to deformation and wear.

[0069] In addition, the configuration in which the first plug lock portion 234 of the plug addition member 230 is divided into two can also be applied to the first receptacle lock portion 154 of the receptacle addition member 150, and the first receptacle lock portion 154 of the receptacle addition member 150 can be divided into two and configured so that the end of the receptacle leg portion 152A connected to the first receptacle lock portion 154 via the first top portion 153A is not fixed to the substrate (300).

[0070] 12 is a view from the power terminal side showing the state in which the plug addition member and the receptacle addition member are fitted together. The power terminal 160 has a movable part 163 which is a part bent upward (Z2 side) from a bottom part 162 which extends in the short direction (Y-axis direction) from a receptacle flat part 156B which extends vertically below (Z1 side) the second receptacle lock part 155. The movable part 163 is a free end which is not fixed by the resin of the receptacle housing 110, and includes a movable contact 164 at the end of the movable part 163. When the inner leg part 222 of the plug addition member 230 is received between the second receptacle lock part 155 and the movable part 163, the movable part 163 is elastically pressed toward the mating protrusion part 116 and deformed, and in the received state, the movable contact 164 abuts against the surface of the inner leg part 222 of the plug addition member 230 and is electrically connected.

[0071] Fig. 13 is a top view of the plug addition member and the receptacle addition member when fitted together, as viewed from the plug side, and Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the plug addition member and the receptacle addition member cut at the cutting point EE shown in Fig. 13. Also, Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the plug addition member and the receptacle addition member cut at the cutting point FF shown in Fig. 13.

[0072] 14 shows the state of engagement between the first receptacle locking portion 154 and the first plug locking portion 234. When the receptacle connector 100 is connected to the plug connector 200, which is the mating connector, the first receptacle locking portion 154 engages with the first plug locking portion 234, which is the first mating locking portion, and the receptacle flat portion 156A of the first receptacle locking portion 154 is configured to receive the first plug locking portion 234. Similarly, when the plug connector 200 is connected to the receptacle connector 100, which is the mating connector, the first plug locking portion 234 engages with the first receptacle locking portion 154, which is the first mating locking portion, and the plug flat portion 236A of the first plug locking portion 234 is configured to receive the first receptacle locking portion 154. In this way, the receptacle flat portion 156A and the curved surface of the first plug locking portion 234 face each other in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction), and the plug flat portion 236A and the curved surface of the first receptacle locking portion 154 face each other in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction).

[0073] With this configuration, first receptacle locking portion 154 and first plug locking portion 234 engage with each other, and the mated state of receptacle connector 100 and plug connector 200 can be maintained. As described above, first plug locking portion 234 and plug flat portion 236A are not fixed to the board (300), so that when the connectors are mated, first side wall portion 212 that holds first plug locking portion 234 together with first plug locking portion 234 is easily deformed, thereby dissipating the force applied to first plug locking portion 234 and making it possible to adjust the locking force.

[0074] 15 shows the engagement between the second receptacle locking portion 155 and the second plug locking portion 235. When the receptacle connector 100 is connected to the plug connector 200, which is the mating connector, the second receptacle locking portion 155 engages with the second plug locking portion 235, which is the second mating locking portion, and the receptacle flat portion 156B of the second receptacle locking portion 155 is configured to receive the second plug locking portion 235. Similarly, when the plug connector 200 is connected to the receptacle connector 100, which is the mating connector, the second plug locking portion 235 engages with the second receptacle locking portion 155, which is the second mating locking portion, and the plug flat portion 236B of the second plug locking portion 235 is configured to receive the second receptacle locking portion 155. In this way, the receptacle flat portion 156B and the curved surface of the second plug locking portion 235 face each other in the short direction (Y-axis direction), and the plug flat portion 236B and the curved surface of the second receptacle locking portion 155 face each other in the short direction (Y-axis direction).

[0075] With this configuration, second receptacle locking portion 155 and second plug locking portion 235 engage with each other, thereby maintaining the mated state between receptacle connector 100 and plug connector 200. In addition, receptacle fixing portion 161 extending downward in the mating direction (toward the Z1 side in the Z-axis direction) from T-shaped portion 158 of receptacle addition member 150 faces plug leg portion 232 of plug addition member 230 when the connectors are mated with each other.

[0076] As described above, the first plug locking portion 234 is held by the first side wall portion 212, but even in this case, at least a portion of the first plug locking portion 234 is exposed at the outer wall 212a of the first side wall portion 212 along the short direction (Y-axis direction) and constitutes at least a portion of the outer wall 212a of the first side wall portion 212 that is received in the receiving portion 118 of the receptacle connector 200 when a portion of the receptacle connector 200 is engaged with the engaging recess 216.

[0077] Further, second plug locking portion 235 is held by first sidewall portion 212, but even in this case, at least a portion of second plug locking portion 235 (the range indicated by "v" and "w" in FIG. 10) is exposed at outer wall 212a of first sidewall portion 212 along the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) and constitutes at least a portion of outer wall 214a of second sidewall portion 214 that is received in receiving portion 118 of receptacle connector 200 when a portion of receptacle connector 200 is mated with mating recess 216. Here, at least a portion "w" of the portion of second plug locking portion 235 included in the range indicated by "v" and "w" is provided at a position closer to one end side (α1) than mating recess 216 in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction). With this configuration, the locking function can be made effective even at a position closer to one end (α1) than the mating recess 216, and the locking force near the end in the connector length direction can be strengthened.

[0078] A modified example of the receptacle addition member 150 will be described with reference to Figs. 16 to 19. Figs. 16 and 17 are perspective views showing a receptacle connector 100-1 having a receptacle addition member 150-1 according to a modified example, together with pads 300B-1 and 300B-2 provided on a board, in which Fig. 16 is a perspective view seen from the mating side with the plug connector, and Fig. 17 is a perspective view seen from the opposite side to the mating side with the plug connector. Figs. 18 and 19 are perspective views showing the receptacle addition member 150-1 and pad 400 shown in Figs. 16 and 17, respectively, in the same manner as Figs. 16 and 17. In these figures, the same members as those in Fig. 1 and the like are given the same reference numbers as those in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and the like.

[0079] The second mounting part of the receptacle addition member 150-1 according to the modified example is different from that of the receptacle addition member 150 shown in FIG. 1 and the like, and includes a plurality of parts along the longitudinal direction, which are divided by cutting out a part in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the connector, here, the second mounting parts 151B-1 and 151B-2. Correspondingly, the pad of the board also includes a plurality of parts along the longitudinal direction, which are divided in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction, that is, the pad parts 300B-1 and 300B-2. The second mounting parts 151B-1 and 151B-2 can be soldered to the pad parts 300B-1 and 300B-2, respectively. In this way, by dividing the second mounting part, and correspondingly, by dividing the pad of the board, the amount of solder required to solder the second mounting part to the pad can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced. In addition, such a divided configuration also exerts an effect of preventing the second mounting part from bending. Furthermore, for example, if too much solder is applied to the second mounting portion, some of the solder may be pushed out to the inside of the second mounting portion, and as a result, it may travel along the bottom 126 of the power terminal 160 to the movable portion 127, adversely affecting the electrical connection at the movable contact 128. However, with this configuration, the excess solder enters the gap 151B-3 between the second mounting portion 151B-1 and the second mounting portion 151B-2 formed by the division, allowing some of the solder to escape, thereby reducing the possibility of such a problem occurring.

[0080] The first mounting part of the receptacle addition member 150-1 according to the modified example can have a divided configuration similar to that of the second mounting part. This point is also shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and the like. That is, the first mounting part of the receptacle addition member 150-1 may include a plurality of parts along the short side direction, i.e., the first mounting parts 151A-1 and 151A-2, which are divided by cutting out a part in a direction intersecting the short side direction (Y-axis direction) of the connector, and correspondingly, the pad of the board may also include a plurality of parts along the short side direction, i.e., the pad parts 300A-1 and 300A-2, which are divided in a direction intersecting the short side direction. In this short side direction, the problem of solder wicking at the terminal described above does not occur, but the effect of reducing the amount of solder can be obtained as in the longitudinal direction.

[0081] As described above, the individual embodiments of the present invention are not independent, but can be appropriately combined with each other to be implemented. In addition, this embodiment can be modified in various ways without going beyond the scope of the present invention. For example, in this embodiment, the additional members are provided on both end sides in the longitudinal direction, but it is not necessary to provide them on both end sides, and they may be provided on either end side. [Industrial Applicability]

[0082] The connector according to the present invention can be used for applications such as connecting boards with a flat cable in electronic devices such as smartphones and mobile phones that transmit electrical signals at high speeds. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 100 Receptacle Connector 110 Receptacle Housing 112 First side wall 113 Peripheral wall section 114 Second side wall 116 Fitting protrusion 118 Receptor 119 Bottom wall 120 Receptacle Terminal 121 Mounting section 122 Legs 123 Top 124 Fixed contacts 125 Fixed part 126 Bottom 127 Moving parts 128 Movable contact 129 Contact side 150 Receipt additional parts 151A, 151B Mounting section 152A, 152B Receiving leg 153A 1st top 153B 2nd top 153C 3rd top 154 First Reselock Section 155 2nd Reselock Section 156A,156B Receiver flat part 157 Bottom 158 T-section 159A, 159B Reselock side 160 Power terminal 161 Rece fixing part 162 Bottom 163 Moving parts 164 Movable contact 165 Rece connection part 200 Plug Connector 210 Plug housing 212 First side wall 214 Second side wall 216 Fitting recess 220 Plug Terminal 221 Mounting section 222 Medial leg 223 Top 224 Protrusion 225 Outer leg 226 Contact side 230 Plug attachment parts 231 Mounting section 232 Plug leg 233A,233B Top 234 First plug lock part 235 Second plug lock part 236A, 236B Plug flat section 237A, 237B Plug lock side 238 Plug connection part 300 Substrates 400 Substrates

Claims

1. A connector including a housing, a terminal held in the housing, and an additional member held in the housing by insert molding, The housing includes: a mating protrusion protruding from a mating side with a mating connector; a pair of first side wall portions extending in a first direction and a pair of second side wall portions extending in a second direction, the pair of first side wall portions protruding toward a mating side with the mating connector and circumferentially surrounding an outer wall of the mating protrusion, a receiving portion that receives at least a part of the mating connector is formed between an outer wall of the fitting protrusion and inner walls of the pair of first side wall portions and the pair of second side wall portions, The additional member at least on one end side in the second direction is It has a locking mechanism, a first inner wall portion that extends in the first direction and that constitutes at least a portion of an inner wall side of the first side wall portion; a first outer wall portion extending in the first direction, the first outer wall portion being located distal to the fitting protrusion in the second direction relative to the first inner wall portion and constituting at least a portion of an outer wall side of the first side wall portion; a first connection portion located on a mating side with the mating connector and connecting the first inner wall portion and the first outer wall portion; A portion constituting at least a part of the fitting protrusion; a bottom portion that is located on the opposite side to the mating side with the mating connector and that connects at least a portion of the mating protrusion and the first inner wall portion; an extension portion extending in the second direction and connected to both ends of the first outer wall portion in the first direction via a connecting portion; Equipped with The extension portion is a second inner wall portion extending in the second direction and constituting at least a portion of an inner wall side of the second side wall portion; a second outer wall portion extending in the second direction, the second outer wall portion being located distal to the fitting protrusion in the first direction relative to the second inner wall portion and constituting at least a portion of an outer wall side of the second side wall portion; a second connection portion located on the mating side with the mating connector and connecting the second inner wall portion and the second outer wall portion. A connector comprising:

2. A portion constituting at least a part of the fitting protrusion is a portion located on the mating side of the mating connector and constituting an outermost surface of the mating protrusion; a portion constituting at least a part of an outer wall of the fitting protrusion, 2. The connector as described in claim 1, wherein a portion constituting at least a portion of the outer wall of the mating convex portion includes a first surface facing the first inner wall portion in the second direction and a second surface facing the second inner wall portion in the first direction.

3. 3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein a portion constituting at least a part of an outer wall of the mating convex portion is connected to the bottom portion on the side opposite to the mating side with the mating connector through a length portion forming the first surface.

4. A connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least a portion of the first inner wall portion forms a curved surface that protrudes toward the receiving portion in the second direction further than the surface of the inner wall of the first side wall portion, and the cross-sectional shape of the curved surface perpendicular to the first direction extends along the first direction.

5. 5. The connector according to claim 1, wherein both end portions in the first direction of the first connection portion are bent toward an opposite side to a mating side with the mating connector to form free ends.

6. A connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least a portion of the second inner wall portion forms a locking portion by a curved surface that protrudes toward the receiving portion in the first direction further than the surface of the inner wall of the second side wall portion, and the cross-sectional shape of the curved surface perpendicular to the second direction extends along the second direction.

7. 7. The connector according to claim 1, wherein both end portions in the first direction of the first connection portion are bent toward an opposite side to a mating side with the mating connector to form free ends.

8. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the second connection portion forms a curved surface that protrudes toward a side where the second connection portion is to be fitted to the mating connector.

9. 9. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the extension portion is provided with a power terminal.

10. the power supply terminal is located farther from the first outer wall portion in the second direction than a portion that constitutes at least a part of the fitting protrusion, a bottom portion connected to the second inner wall portion and located on the opposite side to the mating side with the mating connector; a movable portion that is deformable in the first direction and is connected to the bottom portion on a proximal side of the fitting protrusion in the first direction relative to the second inner wall portion and extends toward a fitting side with the mating connector; A movable contact provided at a free end of the movable portion; Including, 10. A connector as described in claim 9, wherein at least the cross-sectional shapes of the movable portion and the movable contact perpendicular to the second direction are the same as the cross-sectional shapes of the corresponding portions of the signal terminals located farther from the first outer wall portion in the second direction than the power terminals.

11. A connector as described in claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism includes a first locking portion held in the first side wall portion and / or a second locking portion held in the second side wall portion.

Images