Electrical Junction Box

Abstract

To provide an electric connection box capable of enhancing the degree of freedom of design in a terminal arrangement.SOLUTION: An electric connection box 1 comprises: a substrate 2; a terminal holder 3 fixed to the substrate; terminals 4 each having a first connection portion 41 connected to a mating terminal, held by the terminal holder in a state in which the first connection portion is protruded, and connected to the substrate; a housing 5 that accommodates the substrate and the terminal holder; and a conductor unit 6 fixed to the terminal holder or the housing. The conductor unit includes: a first conductor 7 having a frame portion 71 and fixed to the terminal holder or the housing; and a plurality of second conductors 8 each having a connection portion connected to the frame portion, and a second connection portion 82 connected to the mating terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical junction box. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are press-molded connectors. Patent Document 1 discloses a connector having a female connector portion and a press-molded plate-like body that is insert-molded into the female connector portion and has four connection terminals for electrical connection to the outside. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-087710 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It is desirable to improve the degree of freedom in designing an electrical junction box having a plurality of terminals when arranging the terminals, for example, to be able to easily change the design in accordance with the arrangement of the terminals of the connection partner.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an electric junction box that can improve the degree of freedom in designing the arrangement of terminals. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The electrical connection box of the present invention comprises a board, a terminal holder fixed to the board, a terminal having a first connection portion connected to a mating terminal, held by the terminal holder with the first connection portion protruding, and connected to the board, a housing that accommodates the board and the terminal holder, and a conductor unit fixed to the terminal holder or the housing, wherein the conductor unit includes a first conductor having a frame portion and fixed to the terminal holder or the housing, a joint portion joined to the frame portion, and a plurality of second conductors having a second connection portion connected to the mating terminal. Effect of the Invention

[0007] The electrical junction box according to the present invention includes a conductor unit fixed to a terminal holder or a housing, the conductor unit including a first conductor having a frame portion and fixed to the terminal holder or the housing, and a plurality of second conductors each having a joint portion joined to the frame portion and a second connection portion connected to a mating terminal. The electrical junction box according to the present invention has the effect of making it easy to change the position of the second conductor relative to the frame portion, thereby improving the design freedom in the arrangement of the terminals. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical junction box according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical junction box according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the housing according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the terminal holder according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a terminal holder that holds a terminal. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the conductor unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a development view of the second conductor according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a plan view of the conductor unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the conductor unit assembled in the terminal holder. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an electric junction box according to a first modified example of the embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a tuning fork terminal and a board connection portion according to a first modified example of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an electrical junction box according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. In addition, the components in the following embodiment include those that a person skilled in the art can easily imagine or that are substantially the same.

[0010] [Embodiment] An embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 9. The embodiment relates to an electrical junction box. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the electrical junction box according to the embodiment, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical junction box according to the embodiment, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a housing according to the embodiment, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a terminal holder according to the embodiment, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the terminal holder that holds terminals, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a conductor unit according to the embodiment, Fig. 7 is a development view of a second conductor according to the embodiment, Fig. 8 is a plan view of the conductor unit according to the embodiment, and Fig. 9 is a plan view of the conductor unit assembled to the terminal holder.

[0011] As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the electric junction box 1 of this embodiment has a substrate 2, a terminal holder 3, a terminal 4, a housing 5, and a conductor unit 6. The electric junction box 1 is mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile. The electric junction box 1 may have, for example, an electronic control unit (ECU) that controls devices mounted on the vehicle, and this electronic control unit may be a zone ECU. The substrate 2 is, for example, a rigid printed circuit board (PCB).

[0012] The housing 5 shown in FIG. 1 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and includes a main body 51 and a cover 52. The main body 51 and the cover 52 are molded, for example, from an insulating synthetic resin. The housing 5 accommodates the board 2, the terminal holder 3, the terminals 4, and the conductor unit 6. The main body 51 is a flat plate-shaped member and holds the board 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal holder 3, the terminals 4, and the conductor unit 6 are assembled to the board 2. The cover 52 has a bottomed rectangular tube shape. The cover 52 engages with the main body 51 to cover the board 2, the terminal holder 3, the terminals 4, and the conductor unit 6.

[0013] 1, the cover 52 has a mating portion 53 that mates with a mating connector. The mating portion 53 is disposed at a position facing the terminal holder 3. In this specification, the direction in which the housing 5 and the mating connector mate is referred to as a mating direction Z. The mating direction Z is a direction perpendicular to the board 2. The main body 51 and the cover 52 engage with each other along the mating direction Z.

[0014] The fitting portion 53 has a cylindrical portion 54 and a bottom wall 55. The cylindrical portion 54 has a square cylindrical shape and protrudes from the top surface 52a of the cover 52 in the fitting direction Z. The bottom wall 55 is a wall portion that closes the cylindrical portion 54 and faces the terminal holder 3 in the fitting direction Z. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the bottom wall 55 is provided with a plurality of through holes 55a. The plurality of through holes 55a are arranged so that the first connecting portion 41 of the terminal 4 and the second connecting portion 82 of the conductor unit 6 can be inserted therein. The through holes 55a in this embodiment are arranged in a lattice pattern.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 4, the terminal holder 3 of this embodiment has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The terminal holder 3 is molded, for example, from an insulating synthetic resin. The terminal holder 3 has a plurality of through holes 31. The through holes 31 of this embodiment are arranged in a lattice pattern. That is, the plurality of through holes 31 are arranged in two directions perpendicular to each other. In this specification, one direction in which the through holes 31 are arranged is referred to as a "first direction X" and the other direction is referred to as a "second direction Y". The second direction Y is perpendicular to the first direction X. In addition, both the first direction X and the second direction Y are perpendicular to the fitting direction Z.

[0016] The terminal holder 3 is provided with a plurality of rows 32 of through holes 31. The rows 32 are arranged at equal intervals in the second direction Y. Each row 32 has a plurality of through holes 31 arranged at equal intervals in the first direction X. The illustrated terminal holder 3 has five rows 32. Each row 32 has four through holes 31. The number of through holes 31 in one row 32 and the number of rows 32 in the terminal holder 3 are arbitrary.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, the terminal 4 has a first connection portion 41 and a board connection portion 42. The illustrated terminal 4 is a male terminal and has a rectangular tube shape or a rectangular column shape. As shown in FIG. 5, the terminal 4 is inserted into the through hole 31 of the terminal holder 3 and held by the terminal holder 3. The terminal holder 3 holds the terminal 4 so that the first connection portion 41 and the board connection portion 42 protrude from the terminal holder 3. The first connection portion 41 protrudes from the through hole 31 to one side in the fitting direction Z. The board connection portion 42 protrudes from the through hole 31 to the other side in the fitting direction Z. The board connection portion 42 is inserted into the through hole 21 of the board 2 and soldered to the circuit of the board 2.

[0018] 5, the terminals 4 are inserted into some of the through holes 31. The other through holes 31 are left hollow without the terminals 4 being inserted into them. The other through holes 31 are positioned to receive second connection portions 82 of second conductors 8, which will be described later.

[0019] 6, the conductor unit 6 has a first conductor 7 and a second conductor 8. The first conductor 7 and the second conductor 8 are made of a conductive metal. The first conductor 7 and the second conductor 8 are formed by, for example, pressing a metal plate.

[0020] The first conductor 7 has a frame portion 71 and a substrate connection portion 72. The frame portion 71 is formed in a frame shape. The frame portion 71 illustrated in FIG. 6 has a rectangular frame shape. The frame portion 71 has four sides 73. The frame portion 71 may be closed or may be partially interrupted. For example, a slit may be provided in any one of the four sides 73. The width Wd1 of the sides 73 may be uniform. In the frame portion 71 of this embodiment, the four sides 73 have the same width Wd1.

[0021] The board connection portion 72 is a portion that is connected to the circuit of the board 2. The illustrated board connection portion 72 is bent into an L-shape and has a base end portion 72a and a tip end portion 72b. The base end portion 72a is connected to the outer edge of the frame portion 71 and protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the fitting direction Z. The tip end portion 72b protrudes from the base end portion 72a toward the fitting direction Z.

[0022] The second conductor 8 is joined to the frame portion 71 and electrically connected to the frame portion 71. The second conductor 8 has a joint portion 81, a second connection portion 82, and a link portion 83. The joint portion 81 is a portion that is joined to the frame portion 71 and has a flat plate shape. The second connection portion 82 is a portion that is connected to a mating terminal and has a cylindrical or rod shape. The link portion 83 is a portion that connects the joint portion 81 and the second connection portion 82. The second conductor 8 has a bent portion 84 that is bent so as to bring the link portion 83 into contact with the terminal holder 3. The bent portion 84 positions the link portion 83 on the same plane as the frame portion 71.

[0023] 7 shows an example of a development view of the second conductor 8. The second connection portion 82 of this embodiment is formed by bending a metal plate into a cylindrical shape. The shape of the second connection portion 82 is, for example, a square cylindrical shape similar to that of the first connection portion 41. The shape of the linking portion 83 is a shape that connects the joint portion 81 and the second connection portion 82 while bypassing the terminal 4. The shape of the linking portion 83 shown in FIG. 7 is an L-shape.

[0024] FIG. 8 shows a conductor unit 6 corresponding to the arrangement of the terminals 4 shown in FIG. 6. The conductor unit 6 in FIG. 8 has three second conductors 8. The second conductors 8 can be joined to any of the four sides 73 of the frame portion 71. In the conductor unit 6 shown in FIG. 8, two second conductors 8 are joined to the side 73 having the board connection portion 72. The other second conductor 8 is joined to the side 73 facing the board connection portion 72. The joints 81 are joined to the frame portion 71 by welding or the like. Note that the joining method of the joints 81 to the frame portion 71 is not limited to welding, and may be pressure welding or the like. It is preferable that the frame portion 71 is provided with a mark for positioning the joints 81. The mark is, for example, a marking line or a point marking.

[0025] The conductor unit 6 is placed on the terminal holder 3 and fixed to the terminal holder 3. The conductor unit 6 may have an engagement portion that engages with the terminal holder 3. FIG. 9 shows the conductor unit 6 assembled to the terminal holder 3. The second conductor 8 is fixed to the frame portion 71 so that the first connection portion 41 and the second connection portion 82 are arranged in a lattice pattern. The connecting portion 83 of the second conductor 8 extends between the arranged terminals 4. That is, the second conductor 8 is joined to the frame portion 71 so that the connecting portion 83 is positioned midway between the two adjacent terminals 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the second connection portion 82 is positioned on an extension line of the through hole 31. That is, the conductor unit 6 positions the second connection portion 82 on an extension line of the through hole 31 into which the terminal 4 is not inserted.

[0026] The terminal holder 3 assembled with the conductor unit 6 is fixed to the board 2. When the terminal holder 3 is placed at a predetermined position on the board 2, the board connection portion 42 of the terminal 4 and the board connection portion 72 of the conductor unit 6 are inserted into the through holes 21 of the board 2. The terminal holder 3 may be fixed to the board 2 by pegs. The board connection portion 42 of the terminal 4 and the board connection portion 72 of the conductor unit 6 are soldered to the circuit of the board 2. The board 2 assembled with the terminal holder 3 is fixed to the main body 51 of the housing 5.

[0027] The second conductors 8 may be male terminals for GND. In this case, the second conductors 8 serving as ground terminals are electrically connected to each other by the frame portion 71. The second conductors 8 are connected to the circuit of the substrate 2 via the substrate connection portion 72.

[0028] In the electric connection box 1 of this embodiment, the second connection portion 82 can be positioned at any through hole 31 of the terminal holder 3. The connecting portion 83 is bent so as not to interfere with the terminal 4, and the second connection portion 82 is positioned on an extension line of the through hole 31. The position of the ground terminal of the mating connector varies depending on the vehicle and specifications. In the electric connection box 1 of this embodiment, the position of the second connection portion 82 can be easily changed according to the mating connector, so that the design freedom is high and the cost can be reduced. In addition, it is not necessary to provide a joint pattern for connecting multiple ground terminals on the board 2. Therefore, the cost of the board 2 can be reduced and the space of the board 2 can be saved.

[0029] As described above, the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment has the board 2, the terminal holder 3, the terminal 4, the housing 5, and the conductor unit 6. The terminal holder 3 is fixed to the board 2. The terminal 4 has a first connection portion 41 that is connected to a mating terminal. The terminal 4 is held by the terminal holder 3 with the first connection portion 41 protruding, and is connected to the board 2. The housing 5 accommodates the board 2 and the terminal holder 3. The conductor unit 6 of this embodiment is fixed to the terminal holder 3.

[0030] The conductor unit 6 includes a first conductor 7 having a frame portion 71, and a plurality of second conductors 8. The first conductor 7 of this embodiment is fixed to the terminal holder 3. The second conductor 8 has a joint portion 81 joined to the frame portion 71, and a second connection portion 82 connected to a mating terminal. In the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment, a plurality of second conductors 8 are joined to the frame portion 71 of the first conductor 7. The second conductors 8 can be freely positioned according to the terminal position of the connection counterpart. Thus, the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment has a high degree of design freedom.

[0031] The first conductors 7 of the present embodiment have board connection portions 72 connected to the board 2. The multiple second conductors 8 are connected to the board 2 via the board connection portions 72. By connecting the multiple second conductors 8 to the board 2 via the board connection portions 72, it is possible to simplify the circuitry in the board 2 and reduce the size of the board 2.

[0032] The terminal holder 3 of this embodiment has a plurality of through holes 31. The terminals 4 are inserted into some of the plurality of through holes 31. The first conductor 7 is fixed to the terminal holder 3 so that the second connection portion 82 is positioned on an extension line of some of the other through holes 31 of the plurality of through holes 31. Therefore, in the electrical junction box 1 of this embodiment, some of the arranged first connection portions 41 can be replaced with the second connection portion 82.

[0033] The second conductor 8 is not limited to a terminal for ground. The second conductor 8 may be a terminal for power supply, a terminal for signals, or other terminals. The second conductor 8 may have a plurality of second connection portions 82. In this case, the plurality of second connection portions 82 are connected to the frame portion 71 by one joint portion 81. The shape of the connecting portion 83 in a plan view is not limited to an L-shape. The shape of the connecting portion 83 may be any shape that bypasses the first connection portion 41 of the terminal 4.

[0034] [First Modification of the Embodiment] A first modified example of the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 10 and Fig. 11. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an electric junction box according to the first modified example of the embodiment, and Fig. 11 is a diagram showing a conductor unit according to the first modified example of the embodiment. The electric junction box 1 shown in Fig. 10 differs from the electric junction box 1 of the above-described embodiment in that, for example, a first conductor 7 is held by a housing 5.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 10, the housing 5 according to the first modified example of the embodiment has a holding portion 56 that holds the first conductor 7. The illustrated holding portion 56 is provided in the fitting portion 53 of the cover 52. The holding portion 56 is, for example, a groove or a recess into which the outer edge of the frame portion 71 is inserted. The holding portion 56 has a claw 56a that engages the frame portion 71. The claw 56a protrudes from the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 54. The frame portion 71 is engaged with the holding portion 56 along, for example, the fitting direction Z. At this time, the second connection portion 82 of the second conductor 8 is inserted into the through hole 55a of the housing 5. The holding portion 56 holds the first conductor 7 so that the second connection portion 82 is positioned on an extension line of the through hole 31 of the terminal holder 3. The first conductor 7 held by the holding portion 56 faces the bottom wall 55 of the fitting portion 53 in the fitting direction Z.

[0036] Similar to the electric junction box 1 of the above embodiment, the terminals 4 are inserted into some of the through holes 31 of the terminal holder 3. The through holes 31 corresponding to the second connection portions 82 are hollow and do not have the terminals 4 inserted therein.

[0037] The conductor unit 6 according to the first modified example of the embodiment has a tuning fork terminal 74. The board connection portion 72 is connected to the board 2 via the tuning fork terminal 74. The tuning fork terminal 74 is inserted into a holding hole 33 provided in the terminal holder 3 and is held by the holding hole 33. The tuning fork terminal 74 has a pair of clamping pieces 74a and a board connection portion 74b. The pair of clamping pieces 74a are configured to clamp the board connection portion 72 of the first conductor 7. The board connection portion 74b is inserted into a through hole 21 of the board 2 and soldered to the circuit of the board 2.

[0038] When the cover 52 engages with the main body 51 of the housing 5, the board connection portion 72 of the first conductor 7 is inserted between the pair of clamping pieces 74a as shown in Fig. 11. As a result, the first conductor 7 is connected to the circuit of the board 2 via the tuning fork terminal 74.

[0039] [Second Modification of the Embodiment] A second modified example of the embodiment will be described. The first conductor 7 of the conductor unit 6 does not need to have the board connecting portion 72. In this case, a joint connector may be connected to the second connecting portion 82 of the second conductor 8. When the second conductor 8 is a ground terminal, the second conductor 8 is grounded to the vehicle body via the joint connector.

[0040] The second conductor 8 is not limited to a terminal for grounding. The joint connector connected to the second conductor 8 may be one for connecting a power line for illumination, a signal line for LIN communication, or other power lines or signal lines.

[0041] The contents disclosed in the above-mentioned embodiments and modifications can be implemented in appropriate combinations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1: Electrical junction box 2: Board, 3: Terminal holder, 4: Terminal, 5: Housing 6: conductor unit; 7: first conductor; 8: second conductor 21:Through hole 31: through hole, 32: row 41: first connection portion, 42: substrate connection portion 51: main body, 52: cover, 52a: top surface, 53: fitting portion, 54: cylindrical portion 55: Bottom wall, 55a: Through hole, 56: Holding part 71: frame portion, 72: board connection portion, 72a: base end portion, 72b: tip portion, 73: side 74: tuning fork terminal, 74a: clamping piece, 74b: board connection part 81: Joint portion, 82: Second connection portion, 83: Joint portion X: First direction, Y: Second direction, Z: Mating direction

Claims

1. A substrate; a terminal holder fixed to the board; a terminal having a first connection portion to be connected to a mating terminal, the terminal being held by the terminal holder in a state in which the first connection portion protrudes, and the terminal being connected to the board; a housing that accommodates the board and the terminal holder; a conductor unit fixed to the terminal holder or the housing; Equipped with The conductor unit is a first conductor having a frame portion and fixed to the terminal holder or the housing; A plurality of second conductors each having a joint portion joined to the frame portion and a second connection portion connected to a mating terminal; Includes An electrical junction box comprising:

2. the first conductor has a board connection portion connected to the board, The second conductors are connected to the substrate via the substrate connection portions.

2. The electrical junction box according to claim 1.

3. the terminal holder has a plurality of through holes, and the terminals are inserted into some of the through holes; The first conductor is fixed to the terminal holder or the housing so that the second connection portion is positioned on an extension line of another part of the through holes.

3. The electrical junction box according to claim 1 or 2.

Images