Electrical connector

Abstract

To reduce the size in the arrangement direction of movable housings.SOLUTION: An electric connector 10 includes: a pair of mating connection portions 90D1 and 90D2 each bridged between a fixing housing 20 and a plurality of movable housings 50 and each connected to a mating terminal 16; and a plurality of terminals 90 each having an elastic deformation portion 90E that allows displacement of the plurality of movable housings 50 with respect to the fixing housing 20 by elastic deformation. One terminal 90 is provided per movable housing 50. The pair of mating connection portions 90D1 and 90D2 face each other in a bridging direction X perpendicular to an arrangement direction Y and an insertion direction Z. The elastic deformation portion 90E extends to one side in the crossing direction X with respect to the pair of mating connection portions 90D1 and 90D2. The movable housing 50 is formed such that the dimension in the arrangement direction Y is smaller than the dimension in the crossing direction X.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more specifically, to an electrical connector in which a plurality of movable housings into which an object to be connected is inserted are displaceable with respect to a fixed housing.

Background Art

[0002] The connector described in Patent Document 1 below includes a fixed housing fixed to a substrate, a movable housing provided with a plurality of fitting chambers (insertion chambers) into which an object to be connected is inserted, and a plurality of terminals respectively spanned between the fixed housing and the movable housing and each contacting an object to be connected inside each insertion chamber. On the front side in the insertion direction of each object to be connected with respect to each insertion chamber, a tapered guide surface is provided, and each object to be connected is guided into each insertion chamber by each guide surface. Further, the movable housing is divided into a plurality of parts, and relative displacement with respect to the fixed housing is allowed by elastic deformation of each terminal. Thereby, displacement of the insertion position of each object to be connected, vibration, etc. are absorbed by the relative displacement, and sliding between each terminal and each object to be connected is suppressed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] With the recent miniaturization of electronic devices, there is a demand for miniaturization of electronic components such as connectors.

[0005] In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain an electrical connector that can be miniaturized in the arrangement direction of the movable housing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The electrical connector according to the first aspect includes a fixed housing fixed to a substrate, a plurality of movable housings arranged to be displaceable with respect to the fixed housing, and connection objects are respectively inserted into the insertion rooms provided in each of the movable housings in an insertion direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction, a plurality of terminals each having a pair of mating connection portions bridged between the fixed housing and the plurality of movable housings and each connected to each of the connection objects inside each of the insertion rooms, and each having an elastic deformation portion that allows displacement of the plurality of movable housings with respect to the fixed housing by elastic deformation. Each of the movable housings has one of the terminals, the pair of mating connection portions face each other in a bridging direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction and the insertion direction, the elastic deformation portion extends to one side in the bridging direction with respect to the pair of mating connection portions, and the movable housing is formed such that the dimension in the arrangement direction is smaller than the dimension in the bridging direction.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the electrical connector of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the size in the arrangement direction of the movable housing.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

Mode for carrying out the invention

[0009] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 15, the electrical connector 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. For convenience of explanation, the arrow FR appropriately marked in each figure is taken as the front of the electrical connector 10, the arrow LH as the left side of the electrical connector 10, and the arrow UP as the upper side of the electrical connector 10. Hereinafter, when simply using the front-back, left-right, and up-down directions for explanation, it shall indicate the direction with respect to the electrical connector 10. These directions are irrelevant to the direction in the use state of the electrical connector 10. Also, in each figure, some reference numerals may be omitted for ease of viewing the drawing.

[0010] (Configuration) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the electrical connector 10 according to the present embodiment is mounted on the substrate 12 and is electrically connected to the mating connector 14 (see FIGS. 1 to 4), and includes a fixed housing 20, a plurality (here, six) of movable housings 50, and a plurality (here, six) of terminals 90. The mating connector 14 is composed of a plurality (here, six) of mating terminals 16 formed in a pin shape and an insulating member 18 that holds the plurality of mating terminals 16. The plurality of mating terminals 16 each correspond to the "object to be connected" in the present invention.

[0011] The fixed housing 20 is fixed to the substrate 12 using a fixing member 36 (see FIG. 15). The plurality of movable housings 50 are arranged in the left-right direction of the electrical connector 10 and are displaceable with respect to the fixed housing 20. Each of these movable housings 50 is provided with an insertion chamber 60. In each insertion chamber 60, the mating terminals 16 are respectively inserted in an insertion direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the plurality of movable housings 50. Further, on the front side of the insertion direction with respect to each insertion chamber 60, a plurality of tapered front-rear guiding surfaces 74 and a plurality of tapered left-right guiding surfaces 80 for guiding each mating terminal 16 into each insertion chamber 60 are provided. The left-right guiding surfaces 80 correspond to the "guiding surfaces" in the present invention.

[0012] The plurality of terminals 90 are bridged between the fixed housing 20 and the plurality of movable housings 50. These terminals 90 are configured to contact each mating terminal 16 inside each insertion chamber 60 and to allow displacement of the plurality of movable housings 50 with respect to the fixed housing 20 by respective elastic deformations.

[0013] Note that the arrow X appropriately shown in each figure is the bridging direction (crossing direction) of the plurality of terminals 90 between the fixed housing 20 and the plurality of movable housings 50. The arrow Y is the arrangement direction of the plurality of movable housings 50 and the plurality of terminals 90 (the longitudinal direction of the fixed housing 20). The arrow Z is the insertion / extraction direction of each mating terminal 16 with respect to each insertion chamber 60, and the arrow Z1 is the insertion direction of each mating terminal 16 with respect to each insertion chamber 60. The above-mentioned bridging direction X coincides with the front-rear direction of the electrical connector 10, the above-mentioned arrangement direction Y coincides with the left-right direction of the electrical connector 10, the above-mentioned insertion / extraction direction Z coincides with the up-down direction of the electrical connector 10, and the above-mentioned insertion direction Z1 coincides with the lower side of the electrical connector 10. In the following description, the bridging direction X may be referred to as the "front-rear direction", the arrangement direction Y may be referred to as the "left-right direction", and the insertion / extraction direction Z may be referred to as the "up-down direction".

[0014] (Regarding the fixed housing) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, the fixed housing 20 is formed in a box shape with the left-right direction (arrangement direction Y) as the longitudinal direction and the lower side open. This fixed housing 20 is manufactured from an insulating material such as synthetic resin, and includes a front wall 20A, a rear wall 20B, a left wall 20C, a right wall 20D, and an upper wall 20E. The front wall 20A and the rear wall 20B face each other in the front-rear direction, the left wall 20C and the right wall 20D face each other in the left-right direction, and the upper wall 20E connects the upper end portions of the front wall 20A, the rear wall 20B, the left wall 20C, and the right wall 20D in the front, rear, left, and right directions.

[0015] On the front side of the upper wall 20E, a long rectangular opening 22 extending in the left-right direction is formed. On the upper surface side of the edge of this opening 22, an inclined surface 24 inclined downward toward the opening 22 side is formed. Further, on the right edge of the opening 22, a right-end inclined surface 26 extending leftward and downward from a position farther below the inclined surface 24 is formed. Furthermore, on the left edge of the opening 22, a left-end inclined surface 28 extending rightward and downward from near the lower end of the inclined surface 24 is formed. The upper end of the right-end inclined surface 26 is located slightly below the lower end of the left-end inclined surface 28. The right-end inclined surface 26 corresponds to the "fourth inclined surface" in the present invention, and the left-end inclined surface 28 corresponds to the "fifth inclined surface" in the present invention. Hereinafter, the right-end inclined surface 26 will be referred to as the "fourth inclined surface 26", and the left-end inclined surface 28 will be referred to as the "fifth inclined surface 28".

[0016] On the lower surfaces of the left wall 20C and the right wall 20D, cylindrical positioning bosses 30 for positioning the fixed housing 20 on the substrate 12 are formed. These positioning bosses 30 are fitted into circular positioning holes (not shown) formed in the substrate 12. Further, on the lower portions of the left wall 20C and the right wall 20D, left and right legs 32 protruding outward in the left-right direction are formed. Fixed grooves 34 are formed in these legs 32, respectively. The fixed groove 34 formed in the left leg 32 is open toward the left, upward, and downward, and the fixed groove 34 formed in the right leg 32 is open toward the right, upward, and downward. These fixed grooves 34 correspond to the fixing member 36.

[0017] The fixing member 36 (see FIG. 15) is, for example, a metal plate punched into a predetermined shape and bent, and is attached to the left and right leg portions 32 respectively. Each fixing member 36 is composed of a housing fixing portion 36A formed in a rectangular plate shape with the left-right direction as the plate thickness direction, and a substrate fixing portion 36B extending outward in the left-right direction from the lower end portion of the housing fixing portion 36A. The housing fixing portion 36A is fitted into the fixing groove 34. A plurality of claw portions 37 protruding to both sides in the front-rear direction are formed side by side in the vertical direction at both front and rear end portions of the housing fixing portion 36A. By these claw portions 37 biting into the inner surface of the fixing groove 34, the housing fixing portion 36A is held by the leg portion 32. The substrate fixing portion 36B is disposed below the leg portion 32 and is fixed to the substrate 12 by means such as soldering.

[0018] A notch portion 38 cut out from the lower side is formed in the lower part of the front wall 20A. This notch portion 38 has a rectangular shape when viewed in the front-rear direction. The lower end portion of the rear wall 20B is disposed spaced upward from the substrate 12, and a gap 40 is formed between the lower end portion of the rear wall 20B and the substrate 12. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a plurality (here, six) of terminal fixing grooves 42 extending in the vertical direction are formed side by side in the left-right direction on the front surface (the surface facing the front wall 20A) of the rear wall 20B. These terminal fixing grooves 42 are formed wider in the left-right direction on the rear side than on the front side and correspond to the terminals 90. Further, a plurality (here, six) of convex portions 44 protruding downward are formed side by side in the arrangement direction on the lower surface of the rear portion of the upper wall 20E. The plurality of convex portions 44 and the plurality of terminal fixing grooves 42 are arranged with their positions in the left-right direction aligned.

[0019] (Regarding the movable housing) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 and FIGS. 10 to 13, the plurality of movable housings 50 are formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with the vertical direction (insertion / extraction direction Z) as the longitudinal direction, and the dimension in the left-right direction (arrangement direction Y) is set smaller than the dimension in the front-rear direction (bridging direction X). These movable housings 50 are all formed in the same shape and are arranged side by side in the left-right direction and housed inside the fixed housing 20. The dimension in the left-right direction of the plurality of movable housings 50 is set so that a slight gap is secured between them and between the left wall 20C and the right wall 20D of the fixed housing 20.

[0020] At the front end portion of the lower part of each movable housing 50, a front protruding portion 52 that protrudes forward and downward is formed. The front part on the lower part of this front protruding portion 52 is chamfered obliquely. This front protruding portion 52 is inserted into the notch portion 38 of the fixed housing 20. Also, at both left and right ends of the rear end portion of the lower part of each movable housing 50, a pair of left and right rear leg portions 54 that protrude downward are formed. The protruding amount of the left and right rear leg portions 54 from the lower surface of each movable housing 50 is set to be equal to the protruding amount of the front protruding portion 52 from the lower surface of each movable housing 50. The dimension in the vertical direction of each movable housing 50 is set to be slightly smaller than the distance from the lower surface of the upper wall 20E of the fixed housing 20 to the upper surface of the substrate 12.

[0021] The front surface of each movable housing 50 faces the front wall 20A of the fixed housing 20 in proximity. At the upper part of each movable housing 50, a rear protruding portion 56 protruding rearward is formed. As a result, in the upper part of each movable housing 50, the front-rear dimension of each movable housing 50 is enlarged. On the rear surface of the rear protruding portion 56, a vertical groove 58 extending in the vertical direction is formed. This vertical groove 58 opens upward and rearward. The convex portion 44 of the fixed housing 20 is inserted into this vertical groove 58. By this convex portion 44 and the front wall 20A of the fixed housing 20, the displacement of each movable housing 50 in the front-rear direction with respect to the fixed housing 20 is restricted within a predetermined (constant) range. Also, the left-right dimension of the convex portion 44 is set slightly smaller than the left-right dimension of the vertical groove 58, and the displacement of each movable housing 50 in the left-right direction with respect to the fixed housing 20 is restricted within a predetermined (constant) range. That is, each movable housing 50 is capable of relative displacement with respect to the fixed housing 20 within a predetermined (constant) range in the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions.

[0022] At approximately the central portion in the vertical direction view of each movable housing 50, an insertion chamber (terminal fitting chamber) 60 extending in the vertical direction is formed. The insertion chamber 60 has a rectangular shape in the vertical direction view and opens at the lower surface of each movable housing 50. As shown in FIG. 13, at the front-right corner portion of the insertion chamber 60, a groove portion 62 recessed forward is formed, and at the rear-left corner portion of the insertion chamber 60, a groove portion 64 recessed leftward is formed. Also, at the upper end portion of the insertion chamber 60, a top wall 66 is provided, and at the central portion of the top wall 66, an insertion opening 68 having a rectangular shape in the vertical direction view is formed.

[0023] Above the insertion port 68 and on the left side of the upper part of the movable housing 50, a lateral protruding portion 70 that protrudes stepwise toward the left side (one side in the arrangement direction Y) is formed. Also, above the insertion port 68 and on the right side of the upper part of the movable housing 50, a lateral recessed portion 72 that is recessed stepwise toward the left side is formed. Therefore, the upper part of the movable housing 50 is formed in a substantially crank shape when viewed in the front-rear direction. The lower surface of the lateral protruding portion 70 is a stepped surface 70A facing downward, and the lower surface of the lateral recessed portion 72 is a stepped surface 72A facing upward. This stepped surface 72A is located slightly below the stepped surface 70A.

[0024] Also, above the insertion port 68 and on the upper part of each movable housing 50, a tapered front-rear guiding surface (bridging direction guiding surface) 74 and a left-right guiding surface (arrangement direction guiding surface) 80 for guiding the mating terminal 16 to the insertion port 68 (insertion chamber 60) are provided. The front-rear guiding surface 74 is composed of a front inclined surface 76 that extends downwardly from the front end of the upper end of the movable housing 50 toward the insertion port 68 and a rear inclined surface 78 that extends downwardly from the rear end of the upper end of the movable housing 50 toward the insertion port 68. The front inclined surface 76 and the rear inclined surface 78 face each other in the front-rear direction (bridging direction X) and are inclined in a tapered shape so as to approach each other toward the insertion port 68 side. The upper end of the front inclined surface 76 and the upper end of the rear inclined surface 78 are located at the same height and are arranged at the upper end of the movable housing 50.

[0025] The left and right guiding surfaces 80 include a left inclined surface 82 that extends downwardly and obliquely from the left end of the upper end of the movable housing 50 toward the insertion port 68, and a right inclined surface 84 that extends downwardly and obliquely from the right end of the upper end of the movable housing 50 toward the insertion port 68. The left inclined surface 82 and the right inclined surface 84 face each other in the left-right direction (arrangement direction Y), and are inclined in a tapered shape so as to approach each other toward the insertion port 68 side. The upper end of the left inclined surface 82 is located below the upper ends of the front inclined surface 76 and the rear inclined surface 78, and the upper end of the right inclined surface 84 is located below the upper end of the left inclined surface 82. The upper end of this right inclined surface 84 is connected to the stepped surface 72A of the side recess 72 described above. Further, on the upper part of the movable housing 50, an outer inclined surface 86 is formed that extends downwardly and obliquely from the upper end of the left inclined surface 82 toward the left and downward sides. This outer inclined surface 86 is formed on the side protrusion 70 described above. The lower end of this outer inclined surface 86 is located slightly above the upper end of the right inclined surface 84.

[0026] The above-mentioned left inclined surface 82 corresponds to the "first inclined surface" in the present invention, the above-mentioned right inclined surface 84 corresponds to the "second inclined surface" in the present invention, and the above-mentioned outer inclined surface 86 corresponds to the "third inclined surface" in the present invention. Hereinafter, the left inclined surface 82 will be referred to as the "first inclined surface 82", the right inclined surface 84 will be referred to as the "second inclined surface 84", and the outer inclined surface 86 will be referred to as the "third inclined surface 86".

[0027] (Regarding the terminals) The plurality of terminals 90 (see FIG. 14) are formed, for example, by punching and bending a metal plate having conductivity into a predetermined shape, and are formed in a long shape with the front-rear direction (bridging direction X) as the longitudinal direction. Each terminal 90 integrally includes a fixed portion 90A fixed to the fixed housing 20, a substrate connection portion 90B extending from the fixed portion 90A and connected to the substrate 12, a movable-side fixed portion 90C fixed to the movable housing 50, a pair of front and rear mating-side connection portions 90D1, 90D2 extending from the movable-side fixed portion 90C and connected to the mating terminal 16, and an elastic deformation portion 90E bridged between the fixed portion 90A and the movable-side fixed portion 90C.

[0028] The fixing part 90A is formed in a plate shape with the front-rear direction being the plate thickness direction, and is fitted into the left and right fixing grooves 34 formed in the fixing housing 20 from the lower side. A plurality of claw portions 91 protruding to both sides in the left-right direction are formed side by side in the vertical direction at both left and right end portions of the fixing part 90A. By these claw portions 91 biting into the inner surface of the fixing groove 34, the fixing part 90A is held by the fixing housing 20. The substrate connection part 90B extends to the rear side of the rear wall 20B through the gap 40 between the lower end of the rear wall 20B of the fixing housing 20 and the substrate 12, and is fixed (electrically connected) to the substrate 12 by means such as soldering.

[0029] The movable-side fixing part 90C includes a front wall 90C1 and a rear wall 90C2 facing each other in the front-rear direction, and a right wall 90C3 connecting the right end portions of the front wall 90C1 and the rear wall 90C2 in the front-rear direction, and has a substantially U-shaped (substantially C-shaped) with the left side being open when viewed in the vertical direction. This movable-side fixing part 90C is fitted into the insertion chamber 60 of the movable housing 50 from the lower side. A plurality of claw portions 93 protruding to the left side are formed side by side in the vertical direction at the left end portion of the rear wall 90C2, and a plurality of claw portions 92 protruding to the front side are formed side by side in the vertical direction at the front end portion of the right wall 90C3. The plurality of claw portions 92 are inserted into the groove portion 62 formed at the front and right corner portions of the insertion chamber 60 and bite into the inner surface of the groove portion 62, and the plurality of claw portions 93 are inserted into the groove portion 64 formed at the rear and left corner portions of the insertion chamber 60 and bite into the inner surface of the groove portion 64. Thereby, the movable-side fixing part 90C is held by the movable housing 50.

[0030] A pair of front and rear mating connection parts 90D1, 90D2 extend upward from the upper ends of the front wall 90C1 and the rear wall 90C2 of the movable-side fixing part 90C. Contact portions CP1, CP2 bent so as to approach each other are formed at the vertical intermediate portions of the mating connection parts 90D1, 90D2. A mating terminal 16 inserted into the insertion chamber 60 is inserted between the mating connection parts 90D1, 90D2 including these contact portions CP1, CP2. Thereby, each contact portion CP1, CP2 comes into contact with the mating terminal 16, and the terminal 90 is configured to be electrically connected to the mating terminal 16 in the insertion chamber 60.

[0031] The elastic deformation part (spring part) 90E constitutes the middle part in the longitudinal direction of the terminal 90 and is arranged below the rear protruding part 56 of the movable housing 50 within the fixed housing 20. This elastic deformation part 90E is composed of a fixed-side longitudinal extension part 90E1 extending upward from the upper end of the fixed part 90A, an upper-side horizontal extension part 90E2 extending from the upper end of the fixed-side longitudinal extension part 90E1 to the front side and slightly upward, a movable-side longitudinal extension part 90E3 extending downward from the front end of the upper-side horizontal extension part 90E2, and a lower-side horizontal extension part 90E4 extending from the lower end of the movable-side longitudinal extension part 90E3 to the front side. The front end part of the lower-side horizontal extension part 90E4 is bent upward and is integrally connected to the lower end of the rear wall 90C2 of the movable-side fixed part 90C. Due to the elastic deformation of this elastic deformation part 90E, a configuration is formed that allows relative displacements in the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions of the movable housing 50 with respect to the fixed housing 20.

[0032] Here, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, in a pair of movable housings 50 adjacent to each other in the left-right direction (array direction Y) (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as "adjacent movable housings 50"), the side protruding part 70 of the right movable housing 50 enters inside the side recessed part 72 of the left movable housing 50. That is, the adjacent movable housings 50 partially overlap when viewed from the insertion direction Z1 (insertion / extraction direction Z). Hereinafter, the right movable housing 50 among the pair of movable housings 50 adjacent to each other in the left-right direction may be referred to as the "right-adjacent movable housing 50", and the left movable housing 50 may be referred to as the "left-adjacent movable housing 50".

[0033] In addition, in the present embodiment, a part of the left - right guiding surfaces 80 that guide the mating terminal 16 to the insertion chamber 60 provided in the movable housing 50 on the left adjacent side (i.e., one of the adjacent movable housings 50) is formed in the movable housing 50 on the right adjacent side (i.e., the other of the adjacent movable housings 50). Specifically, the left - right guiding surfaces 80 that guide the mating terminal 16 to the insertion chamber 60 provided in the movable housing 50 on the left adjacent side include a first inclined surface 82 and a second inclined surface 84 formed in the movable housing 50 on the left adjacent side, and a third inclined surface 86 formed in the movable housing 50 on the right adjacent side on the front side (upper side; arrow UP side) of the insertion direction Z1 with respect to the second inclined surface 84 of the movable housing 50 on the left adjacent side. This third inclined surface 86 faces the first inclined surface 82 of the movable housing 50 on the left adjacent side in the arrangement direction Y. And when viewed from the insertion direction Z1, the second inclined surface 84 of the movable housing 50 on the left adjacent side and the third inclined surface 86 of the movable housing 50 on the right adjacent side partially overlap.

[0034] In addition, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the left - right guiding surfaces 80 that guide the mating terminal 16 to the insertion chamber 60 provided in the movable housing 50 at the right end (the right - most side) (corresponding to the "movable housing located at one end in the arrangement direction" in the present invention) are constituted by a first inclined surface 82 and a second inclined surface 84 formed in the movable housing 50 at the right end, and a fourth inclined surface 26 formed in the fixed housing 20 on the front side of the insertion direction Z1 with respect to the second inclined surface 84 of the movable housing 50 at the right end. This fourth inclined surface 26 faces the first inclined surface 82 of the movable housing 50 at the right end in the arrangement direction Y. That is, in the present embodiment, the left - right guiding surfaces 80 that guide the mating terminal 16 to the insertion chamber 60 provided in the movable housing 50 at the right end are constituted by a part of the movable housing 50 at the right end and a part of the fixed housing 20. Also, when viewed from the insertion direction Z1, the second inclined surface 84 of the movable housing 50 at the right end and the fourth inclined surface 26 partially overlap.

[0035] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the left and right guiding surfaces 80 for guiding the mating terminal 16 into the insertion chamber 60 provided in the movable housing 50 at the left end (the leftmost side) (corresponding to the "movable housing located at the other end in the arrangement direction" in the present invention) are composed of a first inclined surface 82 and a second inclined surface 84 formed on the movable housing 50 at the left end, a third inclined surface 86 formed on the movable housing 50 adjacent to the right of the movable housing 50 at the left end, and a fifth inclined surface 28 formed on the fixed housing 20 on the front side of the insertion direction Z1 with respect to the first inclined surface 82 of the movable housing 50 at the left end. That is, in the present embodiment, the left and right guiding surfaces 80 for guiding the mating terminal 16 into the insertion chamber 60 provided in the movable housing 50 at the left end are composed of a part of the movable housing 50 at the left end, a part of the movable housing 50 adjacent to the right of the movable housing 50 at the left end, and a part of the fixed housing 20. And when viewed from the insertion direction Z1, the first inclined surface 82 of the movable housing 50 at the left end and the fifth inclined surface 28 partially overlap.

[0036] Also, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, between adjacent movable housings 50, a movable gap 94 (the reference numeral is omitted other than in FIG. 6) for allowing relative displacement in the insertion direction Z1 between the two (that is, relative displacement in the insertion and extraction direction Z between adjacent movable housings 50) is formed. This movable gap 94 is formed between a stepped surface 72A of the movable housing 50 on the left adjacent (see FIGS. 10 to 13; the reference numeral is omitted in FIG. 6) and a stepped surface 70A of the movable housing 50 on the right adjacent (see FIGS. 10 to 13; the reference numeral is omitted in FIG. 6).

[0037] (Operation and Effect) Next, the operation and effect of the present embodiment will be described.

[0038] In the electrical connector 10 configured as described above, a plurality of movable housings 50 are arranged so as to be displaceable with respect to the fixed housing 20 fixed to the substrate 12. And, mating terminals 16 are respectively inserted into the insertion chambers 60 provided in each movable housing 50 in an insertion direction Z1 orthogonal to the arrangement direction Y of each movable housing 50. On the front side of the insertion direction Z1 with respect to each insertion chamber 60, a plurality of tapered left and right guiding surfaces 80 for guiding each mating terminal 16 into each insertion chamber 60 are provided. Further, a plurality of terminals 90 are bridged between the fixed housing 20 and the plurality of movable housings 50. These terminals 90 come into contact with the respective mating terminals 16 inside each insertion chamber 60 and allow relative displacement of the plurality of movable housings 50 with respect to the fixed housing 20 by respective elastic deformations. Thereby, displacement of the insertion position of each mating terminal 16, vibration, etc. can be absorbed by the above relative displacement, and sliding between each terminal 90 and each mating terminal 16 can be suppressed.

[0039] Moreover, in the present embodiment, the movable housings 50 adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction Y partially overlap when viewed from the insertion direction Z1 of the mating terminal 16. Also, a part (outer inclined surface 86) of the left and right guiding surfaces 80 for guiding the mating terminal 16 into the insertion chamber 60 provided in one of the adjacent movable housings 50 is formed in the other of the adjacent movable housings 50 (the movable housing 50 on the right). Thereby, even when aiming for a narrow pitch of the arrangement intervals of the terminals 90 (that is, a narrow pitch of the insertion chambers 60), it becomes easier to secure a space for providing the left and right guiding surfaces 80. Thus, while sufficiently securing the guiding amount of the mating terminal 16 by the left and right guiding surfaces 80, the electrical connector 10 can be miniaturized in the arrangement direction Y. As a result, miniaturization of the electronic device in which the electrical connector 10 is provided becomes possible.

[0040] In addition, in the present embodiment, the left-right guiding surface 80 that guides the mating terminal 16 into the insertion chamber 60 provided in one of the movable housings 50 adjacent to each other in the array direction Y (left-right direction) (the left adjacent movable housing 50) includes a first inclined surface 82, a second inclined surface 84, and a third inclined surface 86. The first inclined surface 82 and the second inclined surface 84 are formed in the left adjacent movable housing 50 and face each other in the array direction Y. The third inclined surface 86 is formed in the right adjacent movable housing 50 and is disposed on the front side in the insertion direction Z1 with respect to the second inclined surface 84 of the left adjacent movable housing 50. The third inclined surface 86 can guide the mating terminal 16 to the second inclined surface 84 and the second inclined surface 84 can guide the mating terminal 16 into the insertion chamber 60. Since the insertion chamber 60 into which the mating terminal 16 is guided and the second inclined surface 84 described above are formed in the same movable housing 50 (the left adjacent movable housing 50), the guiding of the mating terminal 16 into the insertion chamber 60 is stabilized.

[0041] That is, for example, if the second inclined surface 84 of the left adjacent movable housing 50 is omitted and the third inclined surface 86 of the right adjacent movable housing 50 is extended downward (the lower end side of the omitted second inclined surface 84), the left-right guiding surface 80 can be constituted by only the first inclined surface 82 and the third inclined surface 86. However, in that case, since the mating terminal 16 is directly guided from the third inclined surface 86 of the right adjacent movable housing 50 into the insertion chamber 60 of the left adjacent movable housing 50, the guiding of the mating terminal 16 into the insertion chamber 60 may become unstable due to the relative displacement between the third inclined surface 86 and the insertion chamber 60, but this can be avoided in the present embodiment.

[0042] Moreover, in the present embodiment, when viewed from the insertion direction Z1, the second inclined surface 84 of the left adjacent movable housing 50 and the third inclined surface 86 of the right adjacent movable housing 50 partially overlap. Thereby, when viewed from the insertion direction Z1, it is possible to prevent a gap, a step, or the like from being formed between the second inclined surface 84 and the third inclined surface 86, so that it is possible to prevent the mating terminal 16 from being damaged by being caught by the above-described gap, step, or the like.

[0043] Further, in the present embodiment, the left and right guiding surfaces 80 that guide the mating terminal 16 into the insertion chamber 60 of the movable housing 50 at the right end are configured to include a fourth inclined surface 26 formed on the fixed housing 20 on the front side of the insertion direction Z1 with respect to the second inclined surface 84 of the movable housing 50 at the right end. Therefore, the left and right guiding surfaces 80 that guide the mating terminal 16 into the insertion chamber 60 of the movable housing 50 at the right end can be expanded in the arrangement direction Y by the fourth inclined surface 26 described above.

[0044] Moreover, in the present embodiment, when viewed from the insertion direction Z1, the second inclined surface 84 of the movable housing 50 at the right end and the fourth inclined surface 26 of the fixed housing 20 partially overlap. Thereby, when viewed from the insertion direction Z1, it is possible to prevent a gap, a step, or the like from being formed between the second inclined surface 84 and the fourth inclined surface 26, so that the mating terminal 16 can be prevented from being damaged by being caught on the gap, the step, or the like.

[0045] Also, in the present embodiment, the left and right guiding surfaces 80 that guide the mating terminal 16 into the insertion chamber 60 of the movable housing 50 at the left end are configured to include a fifth inclined surface 28 formed on the fixed housing 20 on the front side of the insertion direction Z1 with respect to the first inclined surface 82 formed on the movable housing 50 at the left end. Therefore, the left and right guiding surfaces 80 that guide the mating terminal 16 into the insertion chamber 60 of the movable housing 50 at the left end can be expanded in the arrangement direction Y by the fifth inclined surface 28.

[0046] Moreover, in the present embodiment, when viewed from the insertion direction Z1, the first inclined surface 82 of the movable housing 50 at the left end and the fifth inclined surface 28 of the fixed housing 20 partially overlap. Thereby, when viewed from the insertion direction Z1, it is possible to prevent a gap, a step, or the like from being formed between the first inclined surface 82 and the fifth inclined surface 28, so that the mating terminal 16 can be prevented from being damaged by being caught on the gap, the step, or the like.

[0047] Also, in the present embodiment, a movable gap 94 that allows relative displacement between adjacent movable housings 50 along the insertion direction Z1 is formed therebetween. As a result, the adjacent movable housings 50 can be displaced independently of each other along the insertion direction Z1 of the mating terminal 16, making it easier to absorb displacement and vibration of the insertion position of each mating terminal 16.

[0048] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the plurality of movable housings 50 are all formed in the same shape. This enables, for example, the manufacture of a plurality of movable housings 50 using the same molding die, thereby improving the manufacturing efficiency.

[0049] Also, in the present embodiment, the plurality of terminals 90 have a bridging direction X perpendicular to the arrangement direction Y as the longitudinal direction when viewed from the insertion direction Z1, and an elastically deformable elastic deformation portion 90E is provided at the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of each terminal 90. For this reason, while setting the dimensions of each terminal 90 in the arrangement direction Y to be small, it is possible to sufficiently ensure the elastic deformation amount of each terminal 90.

[0050] <Supplementary Explanation of the Embodiment> In the above embodiment, the plurality of movable housings 50 are all formed in the same shape, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the movable housing 50 at the right end may be formed in a shape different from that of the other movable housings 50. In that case, for example, by extending the second inclined surface 84 of the movable housing 50 at the right end upward, the fourth inclined surface 26 of the fixed housing 20 may be omitted.

[0051] Also, in the above embodiment, the fixed housing 20 has the fifth inclined surface 28, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the fixed housing 20 may be configured not to have the fifth inclined surface 28.

[0052] Further, in the above embodiment, when viewed from the insertion direction Z1, the second inclined surface 84 of the movable housing 50 adjacent on the left and the third inclined surface 86 of the movable housing 50 adjacent on the right partially overlap each other. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, when viewed from the insertion direction Z1, the second inclined surface 84 of the movable housing 50 adjacent on the left and the third inclined surface 86 of the movable housing 50 adjacent on the right may be configured to be adjacent to each other without an interval therebetween. This also applies to the relationship between the second inclined surface 84 of the movable housing 50 at the right end and the fourth inclined surface 26 of the fixed housing 20, and the relationship between the first inclined surface 82 of the movable housing 50 at the left end and the fifth inclined surface 28 of the fixed housing 20.

[0053] Further, in the above embodiment, the left and right guiding surfaces 80 that guide the mating terminal 16 to the insertion chamber 60 provided in the movable housing 50 adjacent on the left include the first inclined surface 82, the second inclined surface 84, and the third inclined surface 86. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the second inclined surface 84 of the movable housing 50 adjacent on the left may be omitted, and the third inclined surface 86 of the movable housing 50 adjacent on the right may be extended downward (the lower end side of the omitted second inclined surface 84), and the left and right guiding surfaces 80 may be configured only by the first inclined surface 82 and the third inclined surface 86.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0054] 10 Electrical connector 12 Substrate 16 Mating terminal (object to be connected) 20 Fixed housing 50 Movable housing 60 Insertion chamber 90 Terminal 90D1, 90D2 Mating connection portion 90E Elastic deformation portion X Crossing direction Y Arrangement direction Z1 Insertion direction

Claims

1. a fixed housing fixed to the substrate; a plurality of movable housings arranged displaceably with respect to the fixed housing, and into which connection objects are inserted in an insertion direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of an insertion chamber provided in each of the movable housings; a plurality of terminals respectively bridged between the fixed housing and the plurality of movable housings, each having a mating connection portion connected to each of the connection objects within each of the insertion chambers, and each having an elastic deformation portion that allows the displacement of the plurality of movable housings with respect to the fixed housing by elastic deformation; Equipped with The dimensions of the plurality of movable housings in the arrangement direction are set so as to ensure gaps between the movable housings, No part of the fixed housing is interposed between the plurality of movable housings, the fixed housing includes an upper wall having an opening that opens toward a front side in the insertion direction, An inclined surface is formed on the edge of the opening, The movable housing is positioned further back in the insertion direction than the opening, and an end of the movable housing in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction and the insertion direction faces a portion of the fixed housing where the inclined surface is formed in the insertion direction.

2. 2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of movable housings are all formed in the same shape.

3. 3. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein each of the terminals has a longitudinal direction in the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction, and an intermediate portion of each of the terminals in the longitudinal direction serves as the elastic deformation portion.

4. An electrical connector described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the multiple movable housings have an inclined surface formed on the front side of the insertion chamber in the insertion direction.

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