Sensor device

Abstract

To stabilize the connection of a substrate and a power supply unit in a sensor device.SOLUTION: A sensor device 100 comprises: a substrate 1 which is electrically connected to a sensor unit; a battery 10 for supplying electric power to the substrate 1; a first connector 16 which is attached to the substrate 1; a second connector 17 which is attached to the battery 10 and is removably fitted to the first connector 16; and a case 20 for accommodating the substrate 1 and the battery 10. The case 20 includes a body unit 21 that forms an accommodation space S to accommodate the substrate 1 and the battery 10, and a cap unit 30 which is attached to the body unit 21 so as to seal the accommodation space S, the cap unit 30 being provided with a stopper unit 31 which faces the second connector 17, and restricts separation of the first connector 16 and the second connector 17 by contacting the second connector 17 that moves in a direction to separate from the first connector 16.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sensor device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a sensor unit in which a substrate and a battery inside a housing are connected by a connector.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] A sensor unit as described in Patent Document 1 may be used, for example, in an environment where vibration acts. In this sensor unit, since the substrate and the battery are connected by a connector, the connector may become detached due to vibration, and the electrical connection between the substrate and the battery may be interrupted.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to stabilize the connection between a substrate and a power supply unit in a sensor device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention relates to a sensor device, comprising a sensor unit, a substrate electrically connected to the sensor unit, a power supply unit for supplying power to the substrate, a connector unit for electrically connecting the substrate and the power supply unit, and a case for housing the substrate and the power supply unit. The connector unit has a first connector attached to the substrate and a second connector attached to the power supply unit and detachably fitted to the first connector. The case has a main body portion forming an accommodation space for housing the substrate and the power supply unit, and a cap portion attached to the main body portion so as to seal the accommodation space. The cap portion is provided with a stopper portion that faces one of the first connector and the second connector and contacts one of the first connector and the second connector that moves in a direction away from each other, thereby restricting the detachment of the first connector and the second connector.

[0007] Further, in the present invention, the stopper portion of the cap portion faces the first connector or the second connector with a gap in the attachment / detachment direction of the first connector and the second connector, and the size of the gap in the attachment / detachment direction is formed to be smaller than the fitting length of the first connector and the second connector.

[0008] In these inventions, even if the first connector or the second connector moves so as to be detached, the stopper portion of the cap portion contacts the first connector or the second connector that moves, and the detachment of the first connector and the second connector is restricted.

[0009] Further, in the present invention, the cap portion is characterized in that a groove into which an end portion of the substrate is inserted is formed.

[0010] In this invention, rattling of the substrate due to vibration or the like can be suppressed.

[0011] Further, in the present invention, the cap portion is characterized by having a holder portion for holding the power supply unit.

[0012] In this invention, the posture of the power supply unit can be stabilized.

Effects of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, the connection between the substrate of the sensor device and the power supply unit can be stabilized.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a sensor device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0016] In the present embodiment, a case where the sensor device 100 is a pressure sensor will be described.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sensor device 100 includes a sensor unit 4 that detects pressure as a physical quantity to be measured, a substrate 1 on which electronic components 5 such as resistors and capacitors are mounted, a battery 10 as a power supply unit that supplies power to an electric circuit provided on the substrate 1, a connector unit 15 that electrically connects the substrate 1 and the battery 10, and a case 20 that houses the substrate 1 and the battery 10.

[0018] The sensor unit 4 is electrically connected to the substrate 1. An electric circuit for converting the pressure detected by the sensor unit 4 into an electric signal and outputting it to a controller (not shown) is formed on the substrate 1. In the present embodiment, the substrate 1 is configured by joining a plurality of substrates (specifically, two substrates. Hereinafter, the two substrates are referred to as "first substrate 1a" and "second substrate 1b" respectively), but the substrate 1 may be configured by a single substrate.

[0019] The battery 10 is electrically connected to the substrate 1 through the connector portion 15, and supplies electricity to the electric circuit provided on the substrate 1.

[0020] The connector portion 15 has a first connector 16 attached to the substrate 1 and electrically connected to the substrate 1, and a second connector 17 electrically connected to the battery 10 through the wiring 18. In the present embodiment, the first connector 16 on the substrate 1 side is a female connector, and the second connector 17 on the battery 10 side is a male connector. The first connector 16 is fixed to the substrate 1 and configured not to move relative to the substrate 1. The second connector 17 is connected to the battery 10 via the wiring 18 and is movable relative to the battery 10.

[0021] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the periphery of the connector portion 15. FIG. 4 is a view showing the fitting state of the first connector 16 and the second connector 17, showing a cross-section different from that of FIG. 3. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first connector 16 and the second connector 17 are detachably fitted.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 4, the first connector 16 is made of metal and has a pair of female terminals 16a, 16b formed in a cylindrical shape. The terminals 16a, 16b of the first connector 16 project into the recess 16c formed in the first connector 16.

[0023] The second connector 17 is made of metal and has a pair of male terminals 17a, 17b formed in a pin shape to be inserted into the terminals 16a, 16b of the first connector 16. The terminals 17a, 17b of the second connector 17 project into the recess 17c formed in the second connector 17.

[0024] The second connector 17 is inserted into the recess 16c of the first connector 16, and the terminals 17a and 17b of the second connector 17 are inserted into the terminals 16a and 16b of the first connector 16 so that the first connector 16 and the second connector 17 are fitted together. Thereby, the terminals 16a and 16b of the first connector 16 and the terminals 17a and 17b of the second connector 17 come into contact with each other and are electrically connected. The first connector 16 and the second connector 17 are configured to be detachable in a direction along the central axis of the main body portion 21 of the case 20 described later. The direction along the central axis of the main body portion 21 is the detaching direction of the first connector 16 and the second connector 17.

[0025] The case 20 is formed of metal or resin. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the case 20 has a main body portion 21 formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having an opening 21a at one end, and a cap portion 30 attached to the main body portion 21 so as to seal the opening 21a of the main body portion 21.

[0026] The main body portion 21 includes a cylindrical portion 21b formed in a cylindrical shape, a bottom portion 21c closing one end of the cylindrical portion 21b, and a cylindrical protruding portion 21d protruding from the bottom portion 21c to the side opposite to the cylindrical portion 21b. An accommodation space S for accommodating the substrate 1, the battery 10, and a mounting member 6 described later is formed in the cylindrical portion 21b. A sensor portion 4 is accommodated in the protruding portion 21d (see FIG. 2). A through hole (not shown) through which wiring for connecting the sensor portion 4 and the substrate 1 is inserted is provided in the bottom portion 21c of the main body portion 21.

[0027] The cap portion 30 is inserted into the opening 21a of the main body portion 21 and is prevented from coming off by locking the snap ring 9 to the main body portion 21. As shown in FIG. 1, a groove 30a into which the end portion of the second substrate 1b of the substrate 1 is inserted is formed in the cap portion 30. The end portion of the second substrate 1b is in contact with the bottom of the groove 30a in the axial direction of the main body portion 21 of the case 20. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the cap portion 30 includes a holder portion 35 that holds the battery 10. The holder portion 35 is formed in a substantially semi-cylindrical shape. The battery 10 is held by being inserted into the holder portion 35. Note that the groove 30a provided in the cap portion 30 is not an essential configuration, and the groove 30a may not be provided in the cap portion 30.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, an O-ring 7 as a seal member is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the main body portion 21 of the case 20 and the outer peripheral surface of the cap portion 30. Thereby, a sealed accommodation space S is formed by the main body portion 21 and the cap portion 30.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, the cap portion 30 is provided with a stopper portion 31 that faces the second connector 17 with a gap G in the attachment / detachment direction (the central axis direction of the main body portion 21) of the connector portion 15. More specifically, the stopper portion 31 faces a part of the second connector 17 in the attachment / detachment direction. That is, the stopper portion 31 is provided so as to overlap a part of the second connector 17 when viewed in the axial direction of the main body portion 21. Note that the stopper portion 31 is not in contact with the first substrate 1a, and a gap is also formed between the stopper portion 31 and the first substrate 1a in the attachment / detachment direction.

[0030] The dimension L1 (see FIG. 3) of the gap G between the stopper portion 31 and the second connector 17 along the attachment / detachment direction of the connector portion 15 is smaller than the fitting length L2 (see FIG. 4) between the first connector 16 and the second connector 17.

[0031] The fitting length L2 is, as shown in Fig. 4, the distance in the attachment / detachment direction from the state where the second connector 17 is inserted to the innermost part of the first connector 16 (the state shown in Fig. 4 where the second connector 17 contacts the first connector 16 and cannot be inserted further) until the connection between the terminals 16a, 16b of the first connector 16 and the terminals 17a, 17b of the second connector 17 is interrupted. In other words, the fitting length L2 corresponds to the length by which the terminals 16a, 16b of the first connector 16 and the terminals 17a, 17b of the second connector 17 overlap in the attachment / detachment direction when the second connector 17 is inserted to the innermost part of the first connector 16.

[0032] Also, as shown in Fig. 1, on the end face of the cap portion 30 on the side opposite to the stopper portion 31, a locking portion 32 is provided for locking a tool or the like when attaching the cap portion 30 to the main body portion 21. The locking portion 32 is a columnar protrusion extending along the central axis of the main body portion 21 and is exposed outside the case 20. A locking hole 32a for locking a tool or the like is formed in the locking portion 32. By locking a tool to the locking portion 32 through the locking hole 32a and moving the cap portion 30 forward and backward with respect to the main body portion 21 along the axial direction of the main body portion 21, the cap portion 30 can be attached to and detached from the main body portion 21.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 2, the sensor unit 4 includes a sensor main body 41, a collar 42, and an O-ring 43. The O-ring 43 is provided on the outer periphery of the sensor main body 41 and seals between the outer peripheral surface of the sensor main body 41 and the inner peripheral surface of the protruding portion 21d. Also, the collar 42 restricts the axial movement of the O-ring 43.

[0034] The mount member 6 has an outer shape along the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 21b. The mount member 6 is provided with a groove 6a (see Fig. 1) into which the end of the first substrate 1a of the substrate 1 is inserted and a through hole (not shown) through which wiring connecting the sensor unit 4 and the substrate 1 is inserted. The mount member 6 is fixed to the bottom portion 21c and housed inside the cylindrical portion 21b.

[0035] Next, the assembly of the sensor device 100 will be described. Note that the following assembly procedure is an example, and the order can be changed as appropriate.

[0036] First, the mounting member 6 is housed in the main body 21 and fixed by adhesion, press-fitting, etc. so as to be in contact with the bottom 21c of the main body 21.

[0037] Next, one end of the substrate 1 (the end of the first substrate 1a) is inserted into the groove 6a formed in the mounting member 6. At this time, the wiring connecting the substrate 1 and the sensor main body 41 is inserted through the through-hole of the mounting member 6 and the through-hole of the main body 21 into the protruding portion 21d.

[0038] Next, the battery 10 is inserted into the holder portion 35, and the first connector 16 provided on the substrate 1 and the second connector 17 connected to the battery 10 are fitted together.

[0039] After that, the O-ring 7 is attached to the main body 21, and the cap portion 30 is inserted into the opening 21a of the main body 21 by inserting the other end of the substrate 1 (the end of the second substrate 1b) into the groove 30a. Finally, the snap ring 9 is attached to the main body 21. Also, the substrate 1 and the sensor main body 41 are connected, and the sensor portion 4 is inserted into and attached to the protruding portion 21d.

[0040] In the sensor device 100 assembled in this way, both ends of the substrate 1 are held by the groove 6a of the mounting member 6 and the groove 30a of the cap portion 30. Thereby, even if vibration or the like acts on the sensor device 100, it is possible to prevent the substrate 1 from rattling within the main body 21.

[0041] Also, when vibration or the like acts on the sensor device, there is a possibility that the second connector mainly moves so as to be separated from the first connector, and the fitting of the connector portion is released.

[0042] In contrast, in the sensor device 100, the size L1 of the gap G between the stopper portion 31 of the cap portion 30 and the second connector 17 is smaller than the fitting length L2 between the first connector 16 and the second connector 17 (the length in which the terminals 16a and 16b of the first connector 16 overlap with the terminals 17a and 17b of the second connector 17). Therefore, even if the second connector 17 moves away from the first connector 16 due to vibration, before the fitting between the first connector 16 and the second connector 17 is released (in other words, before the terminals 16a and 16b of the first connector 16 and the terminals 17a and 17b of the second connector 17 become non-contact), the stopper portion 31 of the cap portion 30 contacts the second connector 17. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the terminals 16a and 16b of the first connector 16 and the terminals 17a and 17b of the second connector 17 from becoming non-contact. That is, in a state where the cap portion 30 is appropriately attached to the main body portion 21, the range in which the second connector 17 can move is restricted by the stopper portion 31, and the fitting of the connector portion 15 cannot be released. Thereby, the fitting of the connector portion 15, and thus the electrical connection between the substrate 1 and the battery 10, can be stabilized.

[0043] Further, if the fitting of the connector portion 15 is incomplete (inappropriate), the second connector 17 is separated from the first connector 16 toward the cap portion 30 side as compared with a state where the connector portion 15 is appropriately fitted (the state shown in FIG. 4). Since the stopper portion 31 is provided so as to face the second connector 17, if the fitting of the connector portion 15 is incomplete, the stopper portion 31 contacts the second connector 17 during the assembly of the sensor device 100, and the cap portion 30 cannot be appropriately attached to the main body portion 21. In this way, during the assembly of the sensor device 100, the stopper portion 31 interferes with the second connector 17 of the incompletely fitted connector portion 15 and the cap portion 30 cannot be attached to the main body portion 21, so that it becomes possible to easily notice that the fitting of the connector portion 15 is inappropriate. Therefore, it is possible to prevent assembly defects of the sensor device 100.

[0044] Next, a modified example of the present embodiment will be described.

[0045] In the above embodiment, the sensor device 100 is a pressure sensor, but it is not limited thereto. The sensor device 100 may be any other sensor device such as a temperature sensor, a flow rate sensor, a displacement sensor, etc.

[0046] Also, in the above embodiment, the first connector 16 connected to the battery 10 is a female connector, and the second connector 17 connected to the substrate 1 is a male connector. On the contrary, the first connector 16 connected to the battery 10 may be a male connector, and the second connector 17 connected to the substrate 1 may be a female connector.

[0047] Also, in the above embodiment, the stopper portion 31 is formed as a part of the cap portion 30. That is, the stopper portion 31 is integral with the cap portion 30. On the contrary, the stopper portion 31 may be formed separately from the cap portion 30 and provided so as to be attached to the cap portion 30.

[0048] Also, in the above embodiment, the case where the mount member 6 is configured separately from the main body portion 21 has been described as an example, but the mount member 6 and the main body portion 21 may be integrally configured.

[0049] Hereinafter, the configuration, operation, and effects of the embodiments of the present invention will be collectively described.

[0050] The sensor device 100 includes a sensor unit 4, a substrate 1 electrically connected to the sensor unit 4, a battery 10 that supplies power to the substrate 1, a connector unit 15 that electrically connects the substrate 1 and the battery 10, and a case 20 that houses the substrate 1 and the battery 10. The connector unit 15 has a first connector 16 attached to the substrate 1 and a second connector 17 attached to the battery 10 and detachably fitted to the first connector 16. The case 20 has a main body portion 21 that forms a housing space S for housing the substrate 1 and the battery 10, and a cap portion 30 attached to the main body portion 21 so as to seal the housing space S. The cap portion 30 is provided with a stopper portion 31 that faces one of the first connector 16 and the second connector 17 and contacts one of the first connector 16 and the second connector 17 that moves in a direction of separating from each other, thereby restricting the separation of the first connector 16 and the second connector 17.

[0051] Further, in the sensor device 100, the stopper portion 31 of the cap portion 30 faces the first connector 16 or the second connector 17 with a gap G in the attachment / detachment direction of the first connector 16 and the second connector 17, and the size L1 of the gap G in the attachment / detachment direction is formed to be smaller than the fitting length L2 of the first connector 16 and the second connector 17.

[0052] With these configurations, even if the first connector 16 and / or the second connector 17 moves so as to separate from each other, the stopper portion 31 of the cap portion 30 contacts the first connector 16 or the second connector 17 that moves, and the separation of the first connector 16 and the second connector 17 is restricted. Therefore, the connection between the substrate 1 and the battery 10 of the sensor device 100 can be stabilized.

[0053] Further, in the sensor device 100, a groove 30a into which an end portion of the substrate 1 is inserted is formed in the cap portion 30.

[0054] With this configuration, rattling of the substrate 1 due to vibration or the like can be suppressed.

[0055] Further, in the sensor device 100, the cap portion 30 has a holder portion 35 that holds the battery 10.

[0056] In this configuration, the posture of the battery 10 can be stabilized in the sensor device 100. Therefore, the connection between the substrate 1 and the battery 10 can be further stabilized.

[0057] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, the above embodiments merely show a part of the application examples of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention to the specific configurations of the above embodiments.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0058] 100... sensor device, 1... substrate, 4... sensor unit, 10... battery (power supply unit), 15... connector unit, 16... first connector, 17... second connector, 20... case, 21... main body unit, 30... cap unit, 31... stopper unit

Claims

1. A sensor unit, a substrate electrically connected to the sensor unit, a power supply unit that supplies power to the substrate, a connector unit that electrically connects the substrate and the power supply unit, and a case that houses the substrate and the power supply unit, The connector unit has a first connector attached to the substrate and a second connector attached to the power supply unit and detachably fitted to the first connector. The case has a main body portion that forms a housing space for housing the substrate and the power supply unit, and a cap portion attached to the main body portion so as to seal the housing space. The cap portion is provided with a stopper portion that faces one of the first connector and the second connector and contacts one of the first connector and the second connector that moves in a direction of separating from each other, thereby restricting detachment of the first connector and the second connector. A sensor device characterized by that.

2. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the stopper portion of the cap portion faces the first connector or the second connector with a gap in the attachment / detachment direction of the first connector and the second connector, and the size of the gap in the attachment / detachment direction is formed to be smaller than the fitting length of the first connector and the second connector. A sensor device characterized by that.

3. The sensor device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a groove into which an end portion of the substrate is inserted is formed in the cap portion. A sensor device characterized by that.

4. The sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cap portion has a holder portion for holding the power supply unit. A sensor device characterized by that.

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