Contact structure

Abstract

To sufficiently reduce the incidence of a contact failure between a first electrical device and a second electrical device.SOLUTION: A second terminal 38 includes a contact convex portion 38ca that is electrically connected to a first terminal 34, and a cleaning convex portion 38cb located on the opening side of a mounting portion 16 of a second electrical device 14 than the contact convex portion 38ca and in contact with the first terminal 34. In the contact structure 10, before the cleaning convex portion 38cb relatively gets over the first terminal 34, the contact convex portion 38ca is configured so as to be in a non-contact state to the surface of an outer shell 18 of a first electrical device 12 and the surface of the first terminal 34. The contact structure 10 is configured such that when the cleaning convex portion 38cb relatively gets over the first terminal 34, the contact convex portion 38ca comes into contact with the surface of the first terminal 34.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4B

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a contact structure for electrically connecting a first electrical device and a second electrical device in a state where the first electrical device is mounted on a concave mounting portion of the second electrical device.

Background Art

[0002] A general contact structure for electrically connecting a first electrical device such as a battery and a second electrical device such as a charger includes a first terminal provided on an outer shell of the first electrical device and a second terminal provided on an inner wall side of a mounting portion of the second electrical device and contacting a surface of the first terminal. The second terminal includes a convex portion protruding inwardly of the mounting portion of the second electrical device, and the convex portion has a function as a contact for electrically connecting to the first terminal and also has a function for cleaning the first terminal and the second terminal.

[0003] Therefore, when the first electrical device is mounted on the mounting portion of the second electrical device, dirt such as dust and dirt attached to the surface of the first terminal can be scraped off by rubbing between the convex portion of the second terminal and the surface of the first terminal. Thereby, the first electrical device and the second electrical device can be electrically connected in a state where the first terminal and the like are cleaned, and contact failure (poor contact) between the first electrical device and the second electrical device can be suppressed.

[0004] Note that there is a prior art shown in Patent Document 1 related to the present invention.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] By the way, in a general contact structure, dirt scraped off by the rubbing between the convex portion of the second terminal and the surface of the first terminal may accumulate around the convex portion of the second terminal. In such a case, there is a problem that a contact failure may occur between the first electrical device and the second electrical device due to cleaning.

[0007] On the other hand, in the contact structure described in Patent Document 1, in addition to providing a second terminal including a convex portion on the inner wall side of the mounting portion of the second electrical device, an elastic piece including a cleaning convex portion for cleaning the first terminal is provided. The cleaning convex portion is located on the opening side of the mounting portion of the second electrical device rather than the convex portion of the second terminal, and protrudes inward of the mounting portion of the second electrical device. Therefore, before the convex portion of the second terminal contacts the surface of the first terminal, the dirt attached to the surface of the first terminal can be scraped off by the rubbing between the cleaning convex portion of the elastic piece and the surface of the first terminal. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the dirt scraped off by the rubbing between the convex portion of the second terminal and the surface of the first terminal, and suppress the occurrence of a contact failure between the first electrical device and the second electrical device due to cleaning.

[0008] However, in the contact structure described in Patent Document 1, when the first electrical device is mounted on the mounting portion of the second electrical device, the convex portion of the second terminal may contact the surface of the outer shell (the first outer shell) of the first electrical device, and dirt may adhere to the convex portion of the second terminal. In such a case, there is a problem that a contact failure may occur between the first electrical device and the second electrical device due to the contact between the convex portion of the second terminal and the outer shell of the first electrical device.

[0009] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel contact structure that can sufficiently reduce the occurrence rate of contact failures between a first electrical device and a second electrical device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] The first embodiment is a contact structure (terminal structure) for electrically connecting a first electrical device and a second electrical device in a state where the first electrical device is mounted on a concave mounting portion of the second electrical device. The contact structure includes a first terminal provided at a position immersed with respect to the surface of the outer shell of the first electrical device, and a second terminal provided on the inner wall side of the mounting portion of the second electrical device and contacting the surface of the first terminal. The second terminal is composed of a leaf spring or a wire spring, and includes a contact convex portion that protrudes inward of the mounting portion of the second electrical device and is electrically connected to the first terminal, and a cleaning convex portion that is located on the opening side of the mounting portion of the second electrical device with respect to the contact convex portion, protrudes inward, and contacts the first terminal. The contact structure is configured such that, before the cleaning convex portion relatively overrides the first terminal due to relative movement in the mounting direction of the first electrical device with respect to the second electrical device, the cleaning convex portion is pushed outward of the mounting portion by the outer shell of the first electrical device or the first terminal, so that the contact convex portion moves outward and is in a non-contact state with respect to the surface of the outer shell of the first electrical device and the surface of the first terminal. The contact structure is configured such that, when the cleaning convex portion relatively overrides the first terminal, the contact convex portion contacts the surface of the first terminal because the cleaning convex portion is no longer pushed by the outer shell of the first electrical device or the first terminal.

[0011] The second embodiment is a contact structure (terminal structure) that electrically connects the first electrical device and the second electrical device in a state where the first electrical device is mounted in the concave mounting portion of the second electrical device, and includes a first terminal provided at a position immersed with respect to the surface of the outer shell of the first electrical device, and a second terminal provided on the inner wall side of the mounting portion of the second electrical device and in contact with the surface of the first terminal. The second terminal is composed of a leaf spring or a wire spring, and includes a contact convex portion that protrudes inwardly of the mounting portion of the second electrical device and is electrically connected to the first terminal, and a cleaning convex portion that is located on the opening side of the mounting portion of the second electrical device with respect to the contact convex portion, protrudes inwardly, and contacts the first terminal. In a state where the cleaning convex portion contacts the surface of the outer shell of the first electrical device or the surface of the first terminal, the contact structure is configured such that the cleaning convex portion is pushed outwardly of the mounting portion by the outer shell of the first electrical device or the first terminal, so that the contact convex portion moves outwardly and is in a non-contact state with respect to the surface of the outer shell of the first electrical device and the surface of the first terminal. When the cleaning convex portion switches from the contacted state to the non-contact state due to relative movement in the mounting direction of the first electrical device with respect to the second electrical device, the contact structure is configured such that the cleaning convex portion is no longer pushed by the outer shell of the first electrical device or the first terminal, so that the contact convex portion moves inwardly and contacts the surface of the first terminal.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, the occurrence rate of contact failure between the first electrical device and the second electrical device can be sufficiently reduced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3A

Figure 3B

Figure 4A

Figure 4B

Figure 5A

Figure 5B

Figure 5C

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5C.

[0015] In the specification and claims of the present application, the "mounting direction" refers to the direction for mounting the first electrical device on the concave mounting portion of the second electrical device. The "inner direction of the mounting portion" refers to the direction approaching the center of the mounting portion. The "outer direction of the mounting portion" refers to the direction away from the center of the mounting portion, which is the opposite direction of the inner direction of the mounting portion of the second electrical device. In the drawings, "FF" indicates the front direction, "FR" indicates the rear direction, "L" indicates the left direction, "R" indicates the right direction, "U" indicates the upper direction, and "D" indicates the lower direction, respectively.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4B, the contact structure 10 according to the present embodiment is a structure for electrically connecting the battery 12 as the first electrical device and the charger 14 as the second electrical device in a state where the battery 12 is mounted on the concave mounting portion 16 of the charger 14. Before explaining the specific configuration of the contact structure 10, the configurations other than those related to the contact structure 10 among the configurations of the battery 12 and the charger 14 will be briefly explained.

[0017] The battery 12 is an electrical device that is detachably attached to a wireless device body (not shown) of a portable wireless device and is an example of the first electrical device as described above. The battery 12 includes a battery outer shell (battery housing) 18 that extends in the vertical direction as a first outer shell, and the battery outer shell 18 is made of, for example, synthetic resin or the like. Further, a secondary battery (not shown) such as a lithium-ion secondary battery is built in the battery outer shell 18. A thermistor (not shown) and a discrimination resistor (not shown) are provided inside the battery outer shell 18. Further, engaging grooves 20 that extend in the longitudinal direction of the battery outer shell 18 are respectively provided at the tip ends of both side surfaces in the short-side direction of the battery outer shell 18.

[0018] The charger 14 is an electrical device that charges the battery 12 and is an example of the second electrical device as described above. The charger 14 includes a charger outer shell 22 (charger housing) in the shape of a housing as the second outer shell, and the charger outer shell 22 is made of, for example, synthetic resin or the like. The charger outer shell 22 has a rectangular bottom plate 24 and a cover case 26 provided above the bottom plate 24. A concave mounting portion 16 is formed at the center of the cover case 26 as described above, and the planar shape of the mounting portion 16 is substantially rectangular.

[0019] A circuit board 28 is provided inside the charger outer shell 22, and a charging control circuit (not shown) for charging the battery 12 is mounted on the circuit board 28. Input connectors 30 are provided at appropriate positions on the front and rear sides of the charger outer shell 22, and the input connectors 30 are connected to a power cable (not shown) of an AC adapter (not shown). A DC power supply is supplied to the charger 14 via the AC adapter. Also, in order to set the battery 12 at a predetermined position of the mounting portion 16 of the charger 14, engaging guides 32 that can engage with the engaging grooves 20 of the battery outer shell 18 are respectively provided on the inner walls on both the left and right sides of the mounting portion 16 of the charger 14 (cover case 26), and each engaging guide 32 extends in the vertical direction.

[0020] Subsequently, the specific configuration of the contact structure 10 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4B, on the lower end side of the battery outer case 18, four battery terminals 34 as a plurality of first terminals are provided at intervals along the short side direction of the battery 12. Each battery terminal 34 is formed of a flat metal piece and is immersed with respect to the surface of the battery outer case 18. The four battery terminals 34 are a positive electrode terminal 341, a negative electrode terminal 342, an S terminal (battery discrimination terminal) 343, and a T terminal (temperature detection terminal) 344. The positive electrode terminal 341 is connected to the positive electrode of the secondary battery, and the negative electrode terminal 342 is connected to the negative electrode of the secondary battery. The S terminal 343 is connected to a discrimination resistor, and the T terminal 344 is connected to a thermistor. In addition, an indication mark 36 for indicating the type of each battery terminal 34 is attached in the vicinity of each battery terminal 34 on the surface of the battery outer case 18.

[0022] On the circuit board 28, four charging terminals 38 as a plurality of second terminals that respectively contact the plurality of battery terminals 34 are mounted at intervals in the left - right direction. Each charging terminal 38 protrudes inward of the mounting portion 16 through each notch portion 40 formed on the inner wall on the rear side of the mounting portion 16 of the charger 14. In other words, on the inner wall side on the rear side of the mounting portion 16 of the charger 14, four charging terminals 38 as a plurality of second terminals are provided at intervals in the left - right direction. The four charging terminals 38 are a positive electrode terminal 381, a negative electrode terminal 382, an S terminal 383, and a T terminal 384. The positive electrode terminal 381 is connected to a charge control circuit and can contact the surface of the positive electrode terminal 341 of the battery 12. The negative electrode terminal 382 is connected to the ground potential and can contact the surface of the negative electrode terminal 342 of the battery 12. The S terminal 383 can contact the surface of the S terminal 343 of the battery 12, and the T terminal 384 can contact the surface of the T terminal 344 of the battery 12. In addition, an indication mark 42 for indicating the type of each charging terminal 38 is attached in the vicinity of each charging terminal 38 on the bottom surface of the mounting portion 16 of the charger 14.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, each charging terminal 38 is composed of a leaf spring and has a rising portion 38a mounted on the circuit board 28, a bent portion 38b formed continuously at the upper end portion of each rising portion 38a, and a folded-back portion 38c formed continuously with each bent portion 38b. Each rising portion 38a is in pressure contact with the rib portion 26r of the cover case 26. Each folded-back portion 38c is elastically deformable in the inner and outer directions of the mounting portion 16 about the deformation center Ac on the bent portion 38b side. In a state before the battery 12 is mounted on the mounting portion 16 of the charger 14, the lower end portion (tip portion) of each folded-back portion 38c is in pressure contact with the lower edge portion of each notch portion 40. Incidentally, instead of each charging terminal 38 being composed of a leaf spring, it may be composed of a wire spring.

[0024] Each folded-back portion 38c includes a contact convex portion 38ca that is electrically connected to each battery terminal 34, and each contact convex portion 38ca protrudes in a mountain shape in the inner direction of the mounting portion 16 of the charger 14. Each folded-back portion 38c includes a cleaning convex portion 38cb for cleaning each battery terminal 34 and each charging terminal 38, and each cleaning convex portion 38cb contacts (touches) each battery terminal 34 and each charging terminal 38. Each cleaning convex portion 38cb is located on the opening side (the side farther from the bottom surface of the mounting portion 16) of the mounting portion 16 of the charger 14 than each contact convex portion 38ca and protrudes in a mountain shape in the inner direction of the mounting portion 16 of the charger 14. And, in a state before the battery 12 is mounted on the mounting portion 16 of the charger 14, the protruding amount of each cleaning convex portion 38cb is set to be larger than the protruding amount of each contact convex portion 38ca.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4B, in the vicinity of the charging terminal 38 and the battery terminal 34 on the battery outer case 18, a concave (groove-shaped) accommodating portion 44 for accommodating a plurality of cleaning protrusions 38cb is formed, and the accommodating portion 44 extends in the short side direction of the battery 12. Instead of forming one concave accommodating portion 44 in the battery outer case 18, a plurality of concave accommodating portions (not shown) for respectively accommodating the plurality of cleaning protrusions 38cb may be formed. As long as the accommodating portion 44 can accommodate the plurality of cleaning protrusions 38cb, it may be formed in other shapes such as a stepped shape instead of a concave shape.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, when each cleaning protrusion 38cb contacts the surface of the battery outer case 18 due to the relative movement of the battery 12 with respect to the mounting direction PB of the charger 14, the contact protrusions 38ca are configured to move outward of the mounting portion 16 of the charger 14 against the elastic force of the folded portion 38c of each charging terminal 38. Further, the contact structure 10 is configured such that the contact protrusions 38ca are in a non-contact state with respect to the surface of the battery outer case 18 and the surfaces of the battery terminals 34 before each cleaning protrusion 38cb relatively overrides each battery terminal 34 due to the relative movement of the battery 12 with respect to the mounting direction PB of the charger 14. In other words, the contact structure 10 is configured such that the contact protrusions 38ca are in a non-contact state with respect to the surface of the battery outer case 18 and the surfaces of the battery terminals 34 when each cleaning protrusion 38cb is in contact with the surface of the battery outer case 18 or the surfaces of the battery terminals 34.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, when each cleaning convex portion 38cb rides over each battery terminal 34 and is received in the accommodating portion 44 of the battery 12, each contact convex portion 38ca moves inward of the mounting portion 16 of the charger 14 by the elastic force of the folded-back portion 38c of each charging terminal 38 and contacts the surface of each battery terminal 34. In other words, the contact structure 10 is configured such that when each cleaning convex portion 38cb switches from the contacted state to the non-contacted state due to the relative movement in the mounting direction PB of the battery 12 with respect to the charger 14, each contact convex portion 38ca contacts the surface of each battery terminal 34.

[0028] Subsequently, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.

[0029] As described above, the folded-back portion 38c of each charging terminal 38 includes a cleaning convex portion 38cb for cleaning each battery terminal 34 and each charging terminal 38 in addition to the contact convex portion 38ca that is electrically connected to each battery terminal 34. Each cleaning convex portion 38cb is located on the opening side of the mounting portion 16 of the charger 14 with respect to each contact convex portion 38ca. Therefore, before the contact convex portion 38ca of each charging terminal 38 contacts the surface of each battery terminal 34, dirt such as dust and grime adhering to the surface of each battery terminal 34 can be scraped off by the rubbing between the cleaning convex portion 38cb of each charging terminal 38 and the surface of each battery terminal 34. Thereby, the dirt scraped off by the rubbing between the contact convex portion 38ca of each charging terminal 38 and the surface of each battery terminal 34 can be reduced, and the occurrence of contact failure between the battery 12 and the charger 14 due to cleaning can be suppressed.

[0030] Also, as described above, when each cleaning convex portion 38cb contacts the surface of the battery outer case 18 due to the relative movement of the mounting direction PB of the battery 12 with respect to the charger 14, each contact convex portion 38ca is configured to move outward in the mounting portion 16 of the charger 14. The contact structure 10 is configured such that each contact convex portion 38ca is in a non-contact state with respect to the surface of the battery outer case 18 and the surface of each battery terminal 34 before each cleaning convex portion 38cb relatively overrides each battery terminal 34. The contact structure 10 is configured such that each contact convex portion 38ca contacts the surface of each battery terminal 34 when each cleaning convex portion 38cb relatively overrides each battery terminal 34 and is accommodated in the accommodation portion 44 of the battery 12. Therefore, the contact convex portion 38ca of each charging terminal 38 can contact the surface of each battery terminal 34 without contacting the surface of the battery outer case 18 of each battery 12. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a contact failure between the battery 12 and the charger 14 due to the contact between the contact convex portion 38ca of each charging terminal 38 and the battery outer case 18 of the battery 12.

[0031] Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the occurrence rate of contact failure between the battery 12 and the charger 14 can be significantly reduced.

[0032] Note that the present invention is not limited to the description of the above-described embodiment. For example, the technical idea applied to the contact structure 10 can be applied to a contact structure that electrically connects a first electrical device other than the battery 12 and a second electrical device other than the charger 14, and can be implemented in various modes. Further, the scope of rights included in the present invention extends not only to the contact structure 10 that electrically connects the battery 12 and the charger 14, but also to a contact structure that electrically connects a first electrical device other than the battery 12 and a second electrical device other than the charger 14.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0033] 10 Contact structure 12 Battery (first electrical device) 14 Charger (second electrical device) 16 Mounting portion 18 Battery outer shell (first outer shell) 20 Engagement groove 22 Charger outer shell (second outer shell) 24 Bottom plate 26 Cover case 26r Rib portion 28 Circuit board 30 Input connector 32 Engagement guide 34 Battery terminal (first terminal) 341 Positive terminal (first terminal) 342 Negative terminal (first terminal) 343 S terminal (first terminal) 344 T terminal (first terminal) 36 Indication mark 38 Charging terminal (second terminal) 381 Positive terminal (second terminal) 382 Negative terminal (second terminal) 383 S terminal (second terminal) 384 T terminal (second terminal) 38a Rising portion 38b Bending portion 38c Folding-back portion 38ca Contact convex portion 38cb Cleaning convex portion 40 Notch 42 Indication mark 44 Accommodation portion Ac Deformation center PB Mounting direction

Claims

1. A contact structure for electrically connecting a first electrical device and the second electrical device when the first electrical device is mounted in a concave mounting portion of the second electrical device, wherein the first electrical device comprises a first terminal provided at a position immersed in the surface of the outer shell of the first electrical device, and a receiving portion provided in the vicinity of the first terminal in the outer shell for receiving a cleaning projection of a second terminal; and the second electrical device comprises a second terminal provided on the inner wall side of the mounting portion of the second electrical device and contacting the surface of the first terminal; the second terminal integrally includes a contact projection protruding inwardly of the mounting portion of the second electrical device and electrically connected to the first terminal in a plate spring or wire spring shape, and a cleaning projection located on the opening side of the mounting portion of the second electrical device relative to the contact projection, protruding inwardly, and contacting the first terminal, and before the cleaning projection overrides the first terminal by relative movement of the first electrical device in the mounting direction with respect to the second electrical device, the cleaning projection is pushed outwardly of the mounting portion by the outer shell or the first terminal of the first electrical device so that the contact projection moves outwardly and is configured to be non-contact with the surface of the outer shell of the first electrical device and the surface of the first terminal, and when the cleaning projection overrides the first terminal and is received in the receiving portion of the first electrical device, the contact projection passes through the outer shell of the first electrical device in a non-contact state, and when the cleaning projection is received in the receiving portion of the first electrical device, the contact projection is configured to move inwardly by the stress of the plate spring or wire spring shape of the second terminal and contact the surface of the first terminal. A contact structure.

2. A contact structure for electrically connecting a first electrical device and the second electrical device when the first electrical device is mounted in a concave mounting portion of the second electrical device, wherein the first electrical device comprises a first terminal provided at a position immersed in the surface of the outer shell of the first electrical device, and a receiving portion provided in the vicinity of the first terminal in the outer shell for receiving a cleaning projection of a second terminal; and the second electrical device comprises a second terminal provided on the inner wall side of the mounting portion of the second electrical device and contacting the surface of the first terminal; and ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The second terminal projects inwardly of the mounting portion of the second electrical device in the form of a leaf spring or a wire spring and has a contact projection that is electrically connected to the first terminal, and is located on the opening side of the mounting portion of the second electrical device with respect to the contact projection and projects inwardly and is in contact with the first terminal. It integrally includes a cleaning projection, in a state where the cleaning projection is in contact with the surface of the outer shell of the first electrical device or the surface of the first terminal, the cleaning projection is pushed outwardly of the mounting portion by the outer shell of the first electrical device or the first terminal, so that the contact projection moves outwardly, and the surface of the outer shell of the first electrical device and the surface of the first terminal are in a non-contact state. It is configured such that when the cleaning projection relatively overrides the first terminal by the relative movement of the first electrical device in the mounting direction with respect to the second electrical device and is accommodated in the accommodation portion of the first electrical device, the contact projection passes through the outer shell of the first electrical device in a non-contact state. When the cleaning projection is accommodated in the accommodation portion of the first electrical device, the contact projection is configured to move inwardly due to the stress of the leaf spring or wire spring shape of the second terminal and contact the surface of the first terminal. Contact structure.

3. When the cleaning projection contacts the surface of the outer shell of the first electrical device due to the relative movement of the first electrical device in the mounting direction with respect to the second electrical device, the contact projection is configured to move outwardly of the second electrical device. When the cleaning projection relatively overrides the first terminal by the relative movement of the first electrical device in the mounting direction with respect to the second electrical device, the contact projection is configured to move inwardly and contact the surface of the first terminal. The contact structure according to claim 1 or 2.

4. Engagement grooves are respectively provided on the tip sides of both side surfaces in the short side direction of the outer shell of the first electrical device, and engagement guides that can engage with the engagement grooves are provided on the inner walls on both the left and right sides of the mounting portion of the second electrical device. The contact structure according to claim 1 or 2.

5. In a state before the first electrical device is mounted on the mounting portion of the second electrical device, the protruding amount of the cleaning projection is set to be larger than the protruding amount of the contact projection. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The contact structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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