Electrical component connection device and inspection device

Abstract

To enable electrical components to be electrically connected together and disconnected easily by only pushing operation in one direction.SOLUTION: An electrical component connection device comprises: a pressing part which is capable of moving up and down while being urged upward above a base, and which presses a first electrical component from above when descending to electrically connect it to a second electrical component located below via the base; an operation part which is capable of moving up and down while being urged upward above the base and which, when descending, descends the pressuring part; a latch part which is capable of moving up and down along with the operation part, and which is disposed so as to be outwardly retractable while being urged outward from the outer circumference of the operation part; a stopper part which is provided facing the outer circumference of the operation part and protruding inward and is capable of being engaged with the latch part at a lower position; and a lock part which is disposed to be capable of moving up and down along with the vertical movement of the pressuring part, is engaged with the latch part at a lower position apart from the stopper part, and unlocks the engagement with the latch part so as to prevent the latch part from being engaged with the stopper at an upper position where it is in contact with the stopper part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical component connecting device that connects and disconnects electrical components such as substrates having contacts to electrical components, and to an inspection device equipped with the same. [Background technology]

[0002] As a device for connecting an electrical component such as a board having contacts to another circuit board, for example, when inspecting an electrical component, a connection device is known which houses the electrical component to be inspected inside, places it on the board of the inspection device, and electrically connects the electrical component to the board of the inspection device.

[0003] The connection device, for example, uses a pusher to press an electrical component set inside the main body from above, bringing it into contact with the terminals on the bottom plate connected to the circuit board of the testing device. In this state, a latch on one side of the cover or the main body engages with the other, maintaining the connection between the electrical component and the circuit board of the testing device to which the terminals on the bottom plate are connected, and testing such as a continuity test of the electrical component can be performed in this state.

[0004] As an example of this configuration, Patent Document 1 discloses an IC socket that houses an electrical component such as an integrated circuit (IC) for electrical connection to an external device. In this IC socket, a pusher attached to a cover member presses the IC package. When the socket is closed, the cover member is pressed downward, causing a latch member supported by the cover member to engage with the housing, maintaining the cover member closed relative to the housing. With the latch member engaged with the housing, the cover member presses the electrical component downward via the pusher, electrically connecting the electrical component to a testing board located below the housing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-60496 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, when inspecting electrical components using a conventional connection device, it is generally necessary to connect the electrical component to the circuit board of the inspection device using a pusher, and then secure the cover to the housing with a latch member to maintain that state. Therefore, there has been a demand for simplifying the process of connecting an electrical component housed in a connection device to another external electrical component.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide an electrical component connection device and an inspection device that can easily electrically connect and disconnect electrical components with just a pressing operation in one direction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One aspect of the electrical component connection device of the present invention is An electrical component connection device that electrically connects an upper first electrical component to a lower second electrical component via a base, a pressing portion configured to support the first electric component below itself, and disposed above the base portion so as to be biased upward and movable up and down, and pressing the first electric component against the base portion when lowered to electrically connect the first electric component to the second electric component; an operating unit disposed above the base and biased upward so as to be movable up and down, configured to alternately ascend and descend with each downward pressing operation, and which causes the pressing unit to descend when descending; a latch portion that is arranged to be movable up and down along with the operating portion and to be biased outward from the outer periphery of the operating portion while being capable of appearing and disappearing outward; a stopper portion that faces the outer periphery of the operating portion, protrudes inward, and is engageable with the latch portion when the operating portion is in the lowered position; a locking portion that is arranged to be movable up and down between an upper position and a lower position in accordance with the up and down movement of the pressing portion, that engages with the latching portion at the lower position away from the stopper portion, and that releases the engagement with the latching portion so that the latching portion does not engage with the stopper portion at the upper position abutting against the stopper portion; The configuration has the following.

[0009] One aspect of the electrical component connection device of the present invention is The above-mentioned electrical component inspection device; the second electrical component disposed below the base, The first electric component supported by the pressing portion is subjected to an electrical test. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, electrical connection and disconnection between electrical components can be easily performed by simply pressing in one direction. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of the appearance of an electrical component connection device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a main part of the electrical component connecting device. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a connection structure of the electrical component connecting device. [Figure 5] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical component connection device taken along line AA. FIG. [Figure 6] 5 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical component connection device taken along line BB. FIG. [Figure 7] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical component connection device taken along line CC. FIG. [Figure 8] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical component connection device taken along line DD. FIG. [Figure 9] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical component connection device taken along line EE. FIG. [Figure 10]2 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical component connection device taken along line FF. FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. [Figure 13] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA, showing the electrical component connection device in a first state. FIG. [Figure 14] 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC, showing the electrical component connection device in a first state. FIG. [Figure 15] 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA, showing the electrical component connection device in a second state. FIG. [Figure 16] 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC, showing the electrical component connection device in a second state. FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA, showing the electrical component connection device in a third state. [Figure 18] 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC, showing the electrical component connection device in a third state. FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA, showing the electrical component connection device in a fourth state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0013] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an example of an electric component connecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a main part of the electric component connecting device.

[0014] 1, electrical component connection device 10 of the present embodiment accommodates an electrical component such as substrate 2 (an example of a first electrical component of the present invention) inside housing 12, and when button 70 is pressed, the accommodated electrical component is pressed against bottom plate 22, which is connected to another external electrical component (a second electrical component) such as a circuit board, thereby locking the electrical connection between substrate 2 and the external electrical component. Pressing button 70 again releases the locked state. Bottom plate 22 is an example of a base of the present invention, and button 70 is an example of an operation unit of the present invention.

[0015] Electrical component connection device 10 can be used as an inspection device that performs electrical tests such as continuity tests on electrical components. The inspection device includes electrical component connection device 10 and an inspection board as the external electrical component described above.

[0016] 1 to 12, the components of the electrical component connection device 10 will be described assuming that a board 2 serving as an electrical component is accommodated within the electrical component connection device 10, but that the board 2 is not electrically connected and is held freely (reference state). A Cartesian coordinate system (X, Y, Z) is used to describe the structure of the electrical component connection device 10 of this embodiment. The same Cartesian coordinate system (X, Y, Z) is also used in the drawings described below. The board moves in the up-down direction, which includes both the Z direction and the -Z direction, and the pressing direction is the -Z direction.

[0017] The electrical component connection device 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, but can be appropriately modified depending on the shape of the board to be housed and connected to the circuit board. Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the main configuration of the electrical component connection device 10. Note that, for convenience, fastening members such as screws used to join components together and hold the board 2 are not shown in Figure 3.

[0018] Electrical component connection device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 has housing 12 and operating mechanism 14 that is operated via button section 70 and that holds substrate 2 movably within housing 12.

[0019] The housing 12 has a main body 20 having a bottom plate portion (pressure receiving portion) 22 that abuts against the board 2 and electrically connects the board 2 to the circuit board, and a cover portion 40 that is stacked on the main body 20 and to which the operating mechanism portion 14 is attached.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the connection structure, showing the configuration of the main parts of the connection structure. The operation mechanism unit 14 is detachably attached to the main body 20 via the cover unit 40, and holds the substrate 2 inside so that it can move toward and away from the main body 20.

[0021] The operation mechanism unit 14 has a button unit 70 that is movably inserted into the opening 42 of the cover unit 40, as well as a pressing unit 50, a locking unit 60, a latch unit 80, and biasing members (a latch spring 93, a locking spring 95, and a contact pressure spring 97 shown in FIG. 5).

[0022] <Main body 20> 5 to 10 are cross-sectional views of electric component connection device 10 taken along lines AA, BB, CC, DD, EE, and FF, respectively.

[0023] Main body 20 constitutes the bottom of electrical component connection device 10, and together with cover 40 disposed on top, constitutes housing 12. Housing 12 accommodates substrate 2 so that it can move toward and away from the bottom (main body 20 side).

[0024] The main body 20 is a planar body that is placed on the circuit (circuit board) of a measuring device or the like, and the board 2 abuts on the upper part of the main body 20. The main body 20 has a plurality of probe pins 23 that connect to the circuit of the circuit board, and the abutting board 2 and the underlying circuit board are electrically connected via the probe pins 23.

[0025] The main body 20 is formed, for example, in the shape of a long rectangular plate. The main body 20 has a bottom plate portion 22 on which a plurality of probe pins 23 are arranged, and a main body frame portion 24 that is provided so as to surround the bottom plate portion 22 and hold the bottom plate portion 22.

[0026] The bottom plate portion 22 is exposed at the bottom surface of the main body 20, and is disposed on the upper surface side facing the substrate 2 in the Z direction, with the probe pins 23 disposed so as to extend in the thickness direction (Z direction) and in the pressing direction of the substrate 2. The bottom plate portion 22 is pressed by the substrate 2 within the housing 12, and comes into contact with the circuit of the substrate, connecting the circuit of the substrate 2 with the circuit of the underlying circuit board.

[0027] The upper surface of bottom plate portion 22 is lower than the upper surface of main body frame portion 24 and forms the concave upper surface of main body 20. Substrate 2 can be disposed within the concave portion of main body 20. Bottom plate portion 22 is fixed to main body frame portion 24 from the underside thereof via fastening members such as bolts and screws so that it is positioned within main body frame portion 24.

[0028] The main body frame 24 is provided with mounting holes 242 into which fastening members 26 (see FIG. 10) that detachably attach the main body 20 and the cover 40 are screwed. A pair of parallel, spaced-apart sides of the main body frame 24 (both ends spaced apart in the longitudinal (Y) direction) may be provided with protrusions so as to form recesses between the main body frame 24 and the cover 40, making it easier to peel the cover 40 off. By removing the cover 40 from the main body frame 24, the board 2 can be attached to or detached from the operation mechanism 14, and the operation mechanism 14 can also be removed.

[0029] <Cover part 40> Fig. 11 is a plan view of the cover part, and Fig. 12 is a bottom view of the cover part. The cover part 40 shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 5, Fig. 11 and Fig. 12 has a hollow part 41 that opens downward, and an opening part 42 is formed in the hollow part 41 and on the top surface, and is a rectangular box-shaped body extending in the X direction.

[0030] The cover portion 40 movably accommodates the pressing portion 50 of the operation mechanism portion 14 that is arranged inside the opening 42 within the hollow portion 41 of the housing 12 that is configured together with the main body 20 .

[0031] The cover part 40 is disposed on the upper part of the main body 20 so as to cover the bottom plate part 22. As shown in Fig. 10, the cover part 40 has through holes 402 formed at both ends spaced apart in the longitudinal direction (X direction) at positions facing the mounting holes 242 in the Z direction.

[0032] The fastening member 26 (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 10) is inserted into the through-hole 402. The head of the fastening member 26 (see FIG. 10) engages in the through-hole 402, and the tip of the fastening member 26 protrudes toward the mounting hole 242 and screws into a receiving portion in the mounting hole 242 to be fastened to the main body 20.

[0033] The cover portion 40 supports the pressing portion 50 in the hollow portion 41 via the guide pillar portions 404 so as to be movable in the vertical direction (Z direction), and also restricts the range of movement in the vertical direction. The guide pillars 404 are disposed at the four corners of the hollow portion 41 of the pressing portion 50, extending in the vertical direction and parallel to one another.

[0034] Specifically, at both ends of the cover portion 40 (the ends spaced apart in the X direction), as shown in Figures 5 to 7 and 10, guide pillar portions 404 are vertically attached to the inner upper surface portion 46 that separates the upper surface of the hollow portion 41, and through which both ends of the pressing portion 50 (flange portions 53a, 53b) are inserted.

[0035] The guide column 404 has a shaft and a head 4041, and is attached by joining the tip of the shaft to the inner upper surface 46 on both end sides of the cover 40 with the head 4041 facing downward.

[0036] A guide spring 91 (see FIGS. 5 and 10) serving as a biasing member 90 is wound around the shaft of the guide column 404. The guide spring 91 is interposed between the pressing portion 50 (specifically, flanges 53a, 53b) and the head 4041. The guide spring 91 receives a reaction force from the head 4041 and constantly biases the upper pressing portion 50 upward.

[0037] In the cover 40, the rising pressing portion 50 comes into contact with the inner upper surface portion 46, thereby restricting the upward movement of the pressing portion 50 and the movement in the direction away from the bottom plate portion 22. When the pressing portion 50 moves downward, that is, toward the main body 20, it moves against the biasing force of the biasing member 90 including the guide spring 91.

[0038] In this way, the cover portion 40 accommodates the pressing portion 50 in the housing 12 that is configured together with the main body 20 so that the pressing portion 50 can move up and down while being biased upward.

[0039] The cover part 40 has a stopper part 44 provided so as to protrude from the inner surface of the opening part 42 toward the center of the opening part 42. The stopper part 44 engages with a latch part 80 of the operation mechanism part 14 including a pressing part 50, and maintains the state in which the operation mechanism part 14 presses the board 2.

[0040] The stopper portion 44 faces the outer periphery of the button portion 70, protrudes inward, and can engage with the latch portion 80 when it is in the lowered position. As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the stopper portions 44 are provided in opposing directions on the opposing, spaced-apart sides of the rectangular opening 42 of the cover portion 40, and are configured to engage with the moving operating mechanism portion 14.

[0041] The stopper portion 44 engages with the operation mechanism portion 14 moving in the opening direction (Z direction) of the opening 42, thereby restricting the movement of the operation mechanism portion 14. Specifically, the stopper portion 44 engages with a claw portion (first hook portion 81) provided at the tip of the latch portion 80, thereby restricting the upward movement of the latch portion 80.

[0042] In addition, when the pressing portion 50 in the rising engaged state comes into contact with the latch portion 80, that is, when the latch portion 80 rises in an engaged state with the lock portion 60 and abuts against the stopper portion 44, the stopper portion 44 engages with the lock portion 60 and releases the engaged state between the latch portion 80 and the lock portion 60.

[0043] The upper surface of the stopper portion 44 is a curved surface that extends downward from the inner surface of the opening 42 toward the center of the opening 42. The lower surface of the stopper portion 44 is configured as a downwardly sloping surface. Note that this sloping surface may have any shape as long as it restricts the upward movement of the latch portion 80 when it abuts only against the latch portion 80, and may be, for example, a horizontal surface.

[0044] The upper surface of the stopper portion 44 may be a downwardly inclined surface, and the lower surface may have any shape that restricts the movement of the lock portion 60 when the lock portion 60 abuts against it from below.

[0045] Additionally, protruding ridges 45 are formed along a pair of opposing edges of opening 42. The height of the top of protruding ridge 45 is set to a position where first latching portion 81 latches onto stopper portion 44 when top surface portion (operation surface portion 74) of button portion 70 moves to that height position.

[0046] When the top surface of the button portion 70 (the surface of the operation surface portion 74) is located at the position of the top of the protrusion portion 45, the stopper portion 44 and the first hook portion 81 engage with each other while the substrate 2 and the bottom plate portion 22 are securely electrically connected, resulting in a locked state in which the connection between the two is maintained.

[0047] Specifically, the protrusion 45 serves as a guide for defining the first pressing amount of the button unit 70 until it is locked when the upper part (operation surface 74) of the button unit 70 located above the top of the protrusion 45 is pressed into the housing 12. Therefore, the user can stop pressing at that position to enter the connected state, and the protrusion 45 functions as a bumper that regulates the degree to which the button unit 70 is pressed.

[0048] <Pressing unit 50> The pressing unit 50 presses the substrate 2 against the bottom plate 22 to connect it to the probe pins 23 of the bottom plate 22, and also separates the substrate 2 from the bottom plate 22 to release the connection with the probe pins 23. The substrate 2 is detachably attached to the underside of the pressing unit 50 via fastening members such as screws.

[0049] The pressing portion 50 is connected to the locking portion 60 and the button portion 70, and moves as the button portion 70 moves. For example, when the button portion 70 moves down, the pressing portion 50 presses the board 2 against the bottom plate portion 22, connecting the board 2 to a circuit board (not shown). When the button portion 70 moves up, the board 2 is separated from the bottom plate portion 22, and the connection state of the board 2 with the circuit board is released.

[0050] In this way, the pressing unit 50 is configured to support the board 2 (first electrical component) below itself, and is arranged above the bottom plate portion (base) 22 so as to be freely movable up and down while being biased upward. When the pressing unit 50 descends, it presses the board 2 against the bottom plate portion 22, electrically connecting it to a second electrical component such as an inspection device or an inspection board.

[0051] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 10, the pressing portion 50 has a rectangular parallelepiped pressing portion main body 52 that opens upward in the center and has a slit-like recess 54 extending in the X direction, and flanges 53a, 53b provided on both ends of the pressing portion main body 52 that are spaced apart in the X direction.

[0052] The flanges 53a and 53b are arranged to sandwich the slit-shaped recess 54 in the X direction. Each of the flanges 53a and 53b is provided with a guide hole that penetrates in the vertical direction and through which the guide post 404 is inserted.

[0053] The flanges 53a and 53b are biased upward toward the inner upper surface portion 46 by the guide pillar portion 404 and a guide spring (biasing member) fitted onto the guide pillar portion 404, and the pressing portion 50 and the substrate 2 are biased downward so as to move away from the bottom plate portion 22 of the main body 20. The position where the flanges 53a and 53b abut against the inner upper surface portion 46 is defined as the initial position of the pressing portion 50.

[0054] The substrate 2 is attached to the underside of the pressing unit main body 52. ​​The substrate 2 is positioned by fitting holes in the substrate 2 into positioning bosses 56a, 56b (see FIG. 5) provided on the underside of the pressing unit main body 52, and is attached using a fastening member or the like. Note that the bosses 56a, 56b are also inserted into positioning holes in the bottom plate portion 22, enabling the substrate 2 to be positioned relative to the bottom plate portion 22 on the main body 20 side. The bosses 56a, 56b have different diameters, and the diameters of the holes in the substrate 2 into which they are inserted and the positioning hole in the main body 20 (bottom plate portion 22) are also set to correspond to the diameters of the bosses 56a, 56b. This allows the substrate 2 to be connected to the bottom plate portion 22 in an accurate orientation that corresponds to the orientation of each other in the X direction.

[0055] As shown in Figures 4, 8 and 9, the lower part of the lock part 60 and the lower part of the button part 70 are arranged in the slit-shaped recess 54 in the center of the pressing part main body 52, connected via the connecting shaft 32.

[0056] Specifically, the insertion connection portions 72 of the button portion 70 that sandwich the lock portion 60 on both sides in the Y direction are arranged extending in the X direction within the recess 54 of the pressing portion main body 52. ​​Within the recess 52, the insertion connection portions 72 and the side wall portions of the pressing portion main body 52 are arranged close to each other so as to sandwich the lock portion 60 in the short direction (Y direction) perpendicular to the movement direction.

[0057] The side wall of the pressing portion main body 52 has an elongated hole extending in the pressing direction (Z direction), and the connecting shaft 32 is inserted into this elongated hole, passing through the insertion connecting portion 72 and the locking portion 60 in the short direction (Y direction). The connecting shaft 32 is inserted into the elongated hole of the locking portion 60, and further inserted into a hole of the same diameter formed in the insertion connecting portion 72.

[0058] The connecting shaft 32 is inserted through a hole of the same diameter in the insertion connection part 72, so that movement relative to the insertion connection part 72 is restricted in any direction other than the shaft axial direction (Y direction).

[0059] The pressing portion 50 is connected to the lock portion 60 and the button portion 70 via the connecting shaft 32 so as to be freely movable in the pressing direction (vertical direction, Z direction) with the range of movement restricted.

[0060] The connecting shaft 32 may be fixed to the insertion connection portion 72, and if fixed, the movement of the connecting shaft 32 in the axial direction (Y direction) is also restricted, and the pressing portion 50, the locking portion 60 and the button portion 70 are connected to each other via the connecting shaft 32 so that they do not come apart.

[0061] The pressing portion main body 52 has spring accommodating portions 55 provided on both wall portions extending along the extension direction of the recess 54, and the spring accommodating portions 55 accommodate the other end of a pressure spring 97, which is a biasing member 90 whose one end is accommodated in the spring accommodating portion 75 of the button portion 70.

[0062] The pressing portion main body 52 is biased in a direction away from the button portion 70 by a contact pressure spring 97 (biasing member 90), and is configured so that the pressing portion 50 and the button portion 70 repel each other. With this configuration, when the substrate 2 is connected to the probe pin 23, a contact pressure is ensured to ensure a reliable connection.

[0063] The biasing force of the contact pressure spring 97 is greater than the biasing force of the other biasing members. The biasing force of the contact pressure spring 97 is greater than the repulsive force of the probe pin 23 of the bottom plate portion 22, so that when the substrate 2 is pressed against the bottom plate portion 22, they make reliable contact.

[0064] <Lock part 60> The locking portion 60 moves together with the pressing portion 50 in response to the movement of the button portion 70, engages with the latch portion 80, and is capable of moving upward together with the button portion 70. When the locking portion 60 moves upward, it abuts against the stopper portion 44.

[0065] The locking portion 60 mainly functions when the stopper portion 44 and the latch portion 80 are engaged with each other, releasing the locked state in which the circuit board 2 presses against the bottom plate portion 22 to maintain an electrically connected state. As the latch portion 80, which is engaged with the stopper portion 44, further descends, the locking portion 60 retracts the latch portion 80 inward and engages with the latch portion 80. The locking portion 60 rises while maintaining the engaged state with the latch portion 80 until it reaches a position where it cannot engage with the stopper portion 44, and then abuts against the stopper portion 44.

[0066] The locking portion 60 has a locking portion main body 62 and a locking hooking portion 64 that engages with the latch portion 80. The locking portion 60 is connected to an insertion connection portion 72 that is the lower portion of the button portion 70 so as to be able to move up and down. A locking spring 95 is interposed between the locking portion 60 and the button portion 70, and the locking portion 60 is biased in a direction away from the button portion 70, that is, toward the pressing portion 50 below the button portion 70.

[0067] As a result, the locking portion 60 is pressed against the bottom of the pressing portion main body 52, i.e., the bottom of the pressing portion 50, within the recess 54 of the pressing portion 50 by the biasing force of the locking spring 95. The locking portion 60 is, for example, a plate-like body that is arranged upright and perpendicular to the pressing portion 50, with its thickness direction in the Y direction, and is arranged so that the insertion connection portions 72 are located on both sides of the locking portion 60.

[0068] The locking spring 95 is disposed in a portion of the locking body 62 that faces the button 70, for example, between the spring stop portion 622 at the top of the locking body 62 and the bottom of the insertion connection portion 72 of the button 70. The locking body 62 has multiple spring stop portions 622, and multiple locking springs 95 can be disposed thereon. This makes it possible to appropriately adjust the biasing force with which the locking body 60 is pressed against the pressing portion 50. In this embodiment, one locking spring 95 is used.

[0069] Furthermore, an elongated hole through which the connecting shaft 32 is inserted is formed in the locking portion main body 62 in the thickness direction (Y direction). Note that this elongated hole may be formed in a position that faces the elongated hole of the pressing portion 50 when the locking portion 60 abuts against the bottom surface of the recess 54 of the pressing portion 50. When the locking portion 60 presses the pressing portion 50, a downward pressing force can be applied via the connecting shaft 32 at approximately the same time.

[0070] The lock engaging portion 64 is formed so as to be able to engage with the latch portion 80. The lock engaging portion 64 is disposed below the stopper portion 44 so as to be able to move up and down.

[0071] The lock hook portion 64 hooks onto the second hook portion 82 when the latch portion 80 is pushed downward from the lock position.

[0072] The locking hooking portion 64 guides the latching portion 80 inward in a retracting direction and engages with the latching portion 80 (specifically, the second hooking portion) at a position below the stopper portion 44 and at a position that does not overlap in the vertical direction with the engagement position between the stopper portion 44 and the latching portion 80 (specifically, the engagement position with the first hooking portion 81).

[0073] The lock engaging portion 64 is formed so that its upper portion is located within the concave cutout 86 when the latch portion 80 is in the locked position, that is, when the latch portion 80 is positioned at a position where the first engaging portion 81 of the latch portion 80 and the stopper portion 44 are engaged (see FIG. 14). As a result, when the latch portion 80 moves downward, the lock engaging portion 64 guides the latch portion 80 in a direction away from the stopper portion 44 and engages with the second engaging portion 82.

[0074] The lock hook portion 64 is configured to come into contact with the stopper portion 44 when it moves upward in a state where it is hooked with the second hook portion 82.

[0075] The locking hooking portion 64 has one side extending from the locking portion main body 62, and is provided above the tip of an L-shaped arm portion that rises and extends from the end of that side, and a claw is formed at the upper end of the rising part of the arm portion that is bent toward the locking portion main body 62. When the lock engaging portion 64 engages with the second engaging portion 82 , the base end of the claw of the lock engaging portion 64 is disposed within the notch 86 and faces the lower surface of the stopper portion 44 .

[0076] As shown in Figure 5, in the released state in which the substrate 2 is separated from the bottom plate portion 22, that is, in the free state (in the initial position), the locking portion 64 is not in contact with the stopper portion 44 and is positioned below the stopper portion 44 and separated from the stopper portion 44.

[0077] The locking portion 60 is arranged to be movable up and down between an upper position and a lower position in accordance with the up and down movement of the pressing portion 50. The locking portion 60 engages with the latching portion 80 at a lower position (see FIG. 15) away from the stopper portion 44, and disengages from the latching portion 80 at an upper position (see FIGS. 15 and 17) where the locking portion 60 abuts against the stopper portion 44 so that the latching portion 80 is not engaged with the stopper portion 44.

[0078] <Button section 70> A portion of button unit 70 is exposed to the outside through opening 42 of housing 12, and moves within housing 12 through opening 42 in the direction in which it is pressed against board 2, for example, in the vertical direction. Button unit 70 has a predetermined stroke length and moves in the vertical direction within housing 12. The position at which the top surface of button unit 70 protrudes most from opening 42 is the initial position of button unit 70.

[0079] The button portion 70 is disposed above the bottom plate portion 22 and is biased upward while being movable up and down, and is configured to alternately rise and fall each time it is pressed downward. When the button portion 70 descends, it causes the pressing portion 50 to descend.

[0080] The button section 70 has an insertion connection section 72 and an operation surface section 74 that is provided at the base end of the insertion connection section and is disposed within the opening 42 .

[0081] The insertion connection part 72 is a plate-like body that protrudes from the operation surface part 74 toward the main body 20, and its lower end side is composed of a pair of walls that sandwich the lock part 60 in the thickness direction (Y direction). Between the pair of walls of the insertion connection part 72, the lock part 60 can move up and down.

[0082] The operation surface 74 is the top surface of the button unit 70, and is operated by the user by pressing the surface exposed to the outside. A spring accommodating portion 75 is formed on the back surface of the operation surface 74, adjacent to the insertion connection portion 72 and facing the lower spring accommodating portion 55. A contact pressure spring 97 is interposed between the spring accommodating portions 55, 75, and biases them in a direction separating them from each other.

[0083] A latch portion 80 is arranged on the outer periphery of the operation surface portion 74 so as to appear and disappear from within the opening portion 42 toward the cover portion 40 portion surrounding the opening portion 42.

[0084] The latch portion 80 is arranged so as to be movable up and down along with the button portion 70, and so as to be able to appear and disappear outward while being biased outward from the outer periphery of the button portion.

[0085] Specifically, the base end of the latch portion 80 is rotatably attached to both ends of the outer periphery of the operating surface portion 74 that are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction (X direction) via a latch shaft 76, and the tip end swings outward from the opening 42 side.

[0086] The latch portion 80 has its base end pivotally attached to the operation surface portion 74 so that its tip end is positioned further toward the pressing direction than the base end, and is disposed to sandwich the insertion connection portion 72 in the X direction.

[0087] The latch portion 80 has a claw portion at its tip that engages with the outer stopper portion 44 or lock engaging portion 64 .

[0088] The latch portion 80 is biased toward the mating end by a latch spring 93, which is a biasing member 90 interposed between the latch portion 80 and the insertion connection portion 72, so that the tip end engages with the mating end.

[0089] The claw portion has, for example, a first hook portion 81 that hooks onto the stopper portion 44 and a second hook portion 82 that hooks onto the lock hook portion 64.

[0090] The first hook portion 81 and the second hook portion 82 are formed on the outer surface of the claw portion (tip portion) of the latch portion 80. The first hook portion 81 is positioned closer to the opposing stopper portion 44 and higher than the second hook portion 82. The first hook portion 81 hooks onto the stopper portion 44 and restricts the upward movement of the button portion 70 itself.

[0091] The second hooking portion 82 is formed in a notch 86 formed in the center of the outer surface of the tip portion, i.e., in the notch 86 formed by cutting out a part of the first hooking portion 81 in the shape of a groove extending in the rotation direction, and hooks onto the lock hooking portion 64 of the locking portion 60. The lock hooking portion 64 fits into the notch 86 and hooks onto it. The degree of engagement between the second hooking portion 82 and the lock hooking portion 64 is weaker than the degree of engagement between the first hooking portion 81 and the stopper portion 44.

[0092] The second hook portion 82 has an upper notch cut out on the outer surface of the tip portion between the first hook portions 81. The lock hook portion 64 hooked onto the second hook portion 82 is disposed within the notch, and its upper surface is adjacent to the hook surface of the first hook portion 81. When the second hooking portion 82 hooks onto the lock hooking portion 64 and the button portion 70 returns from the pressed state to the free state, the substrate 2 is released from the connected state with the bottom plate portion 22.

[0093] <Operation of the Electrical Component Connection Device 10> The operation of electrical component connecting device 10 will be described with reference to Figures 13 to 19. Note that biasing member 90 is not shown in Figures 13 to 19.

[0094] <Lock operation> Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the electric component connection device in the first state, and Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of the electric component connection device in the first state. Note that the initial state of electric component connection device 10 is the free state shown in Figs. 5 to 10, whereas the first state is the state after a locking operation has been performed from the initial state, i.e., the locked state.

[0095] 5 and 7, electric component connection device 10 accommodates board 2, which is to be connected to a circuit board on which electric component connection device 10 is provided. Board 2 is attached to the underside of pressing portion 50, and cover portion 40 is fixed to main body 20 via fastening member 26. In this state, board 2 is positioned apart from bottom plate portion 22 (more specifically, probe pins 23 of bottom plate portion 22), which is connected to the circuit board.

[0096] In addition, in electrical component connection device 10, main body 20 and cover 40 are detachably fixed together via fastening member 26. Cover 40 is provided with pressing portion 50 via guide post 404 within hollow portion 41 of cover 40 so as to be movable toward and away from inner upper surface 46, i.e., in the Z direction including the pressing direction.

[0097] The guide spring 91 wound around the guide column portion 404 urges the pressing portion 50 and the button portion 70 in a direction away from the substrate 2 (disconnection direction), and the pressing portion 50 and the button portion 70 are urged in a direction away from each other by repelling each other via the contact pressure spring 97.

[0098] Furthermore, the locking portion 60 is biased by a locking spring 95 in a direction that repels the button portion 70, that is, in a direction that presses the button portion 70 against the bottom plate portion 22. Furthermore, the latching portion 80 is constantly biased by a latching spring 93 toward the outside of the button portion 70 (the cover portion 40 side), that is, toward the inner peripheral surface of the opening 42 where the stopper portion 44 is formed.

[0099] When connecting the board 2 to the inspection device, the button portion 70 of the electrical component connection device 10 is lowered to a position where the board 2 is locked. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 , the user presses the button portion 70 once in the direction G. At this time, the button portion 70 is pressed against the biasing forces of the guide spring 91, the locking spring 95, the contact pressure spring 97, etc.

[0100] As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the operation surface portion 74 of the button portion 70 is pressed and moved up to the top of the protrusion portion 45.

[0101] Then, the pressing portion 50 connected via the connecting shaft 32 connected to the insertion connecting portion 72 presses down the substrate 2 to bring it into contact with the probe pin 23 of the bottom plate portion 22. At this time, the substrate 2 connects to the probe pin 23 while receiving the reaction force of the probe pin 23.

[0102] That is, when the button portion 70 moves downward, the latch portion 80 is forced outward from the operation surface portion 74 and slides along the inner circumferential surface of each of the openings 42 to move downward.

[0103] At this time, the latch portion 80 slides from the upper surface side to the lower surface side of the stopper portion 44 until it is positioned flush with the protrusion portion 45. This position is the locked position, and the latch portion 80 in this position engages with the first hook portion 81. When pressure on the button portion is stopped, the biasing force of the guide spring 91 biases the latch portion 80 upward toward the stopper portion 44, so that movement is restricted by the stopper portion 44.

[0104] That is, the upward movement of button portion 70 is restricted, and button portion 70 does not return to its original position, the free position, but remains locked, that is, remains electrically connected with substrate 2 pressed against bottom plate portion 22. The stroke of button portion 70 up to protrusion 45 is half of the total stroke of button portion 70.

[0105] <Unlocking action> Next, the unlocking operation will be described. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA showing the electric component connection device in the second state, and FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC showing the electric component connection device in the second state.

[0106] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA showing the electric component connection device in the third state, and FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC showing the electric component connection device in the third state.

[0107] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA, showing the electrical component connection device in a fourth state. In the unlocking operation, the state of electrical component connection device 10 transitions from a first state (locked state) to a second state, a third state, and a fourth state in that order, and finally returns to the initial state (free state).

[0108] With electrical component connection device 10 in the locked state (see FIGS. 13 and 14), button 70 is pressed again in the same direction (direction G2) as the first time to further press button 70. For example, press button 70 to the same height as top surface 47 of cover 40 (see FIGS. 15 and 16).

[0109] 15 and 16, this pushing action causes the first hooking portion 81, which has been biased toward the stopper portion 44 and engaged with the stopper portion 44, to move downward. As a result, the first hooking portion 81 is released from the engagement with the stopper portion 44 (see FIG. 16), and the tip end portion including the first hooking portion 81 is guided along the upper end of the lock hooking portion 64 arranged below the stopper portion 44.

[0110] At approximately the same time, the tip of the latch portion 80 moves downward and reaches the lock portion 60, and the second hook portion 82 of the latch portion 80 engages with the lock hook portion 64 of the lock portion 60 (see Figure 15), and is held by the lock portion 60 inside the stopper portion 44 in the opening 42.

[0111] In this way, by pressing the button portion 70 again in the locked state, the locked state is released, and the latch portion 80 changes from an engagement state between the first hook portion 81 and the stopper portion 44 to an engagement state between the second hook portion 82 and the lock portion 60 (lock hook portion 64).

[0112] When the pressing state that moves the button part 70 downward is released or weakened, that is, when the pressing load on the button part 70 disappears or becomes loose, the biasing force of the guide spring 91 causes the pressing part 50 to move upward.

[0113] Next, as the pressing portion 50 moves upward, the claw portions (first hook portion 81 and second hook portion 82) of the latch portion 80 of the button portion 70, which moves upward, move upward while engaging with the lock hook portion 64 of the lock portion 60.

[0114] Then, the flange 53a of the pressing portion 50 comes into contact with the inner upper surface portion 46, thereby restricting the upward movement of the pressing portion 50. Furthermore, the upper end of the claw portion (first hook portion 81) of the latch portion 80 during the upward movement passes beside, i.e., on the side (inside) of, the stopper portion 44 (see FIG. 18), and the lock hook portion 64 hooked on the second hook portion 82 comes into contact with the stopper portion 44, as shown in FIG. 17.

[0115] The locking portion 60 cannot move upward due to the stopper portion 44, but the latch portion 80 attempts to move upward. As a result, a force acts on the locking hook portion 64 of the locking portion 60 and the second hook portion 82 in directions that move them away from each other. In addition, the locking portion 60 is biased by the locking spring 95 in a direction that moves it away from the button portion 70, that is, downward.

[0116] 19 shows the state immediately after the locking portion 60 comes into contact with the stopper portion 44 (cover portion 40) and disengages from the latch portion 80. As shown in Fig. 19, a force acts in a direction that moves the locking portion 60 and the latch portion 80 away from each other, and the engagement between the lock hooking portion 64 and the second hooking portion 82 is released. The locking portion 60 is pressed against the bottom surface of the pressing portion 50 by the locking spring 95.

[0117] At this time, the pressing portion 50 moves upward and separates from the main body 20, so that the contact between the contact points is released.

[0118] Then, the button portion 70 rises further, and the contact point of the substrate 2 moves away from the probe pin 23 of the bottom plate portion 22, returning to the free state (see FIGS. 5 to 10) in which the contact point is not in contact with the probe pin 23.

[0119] According to the configuration of this embodiment, when electrically connecting the upper board 2 (first electrical component) to the lower circuit board (second electrical component (not shown)) via the bottom plate portion (base portion) 22, the process starts from the initial state, and when a first pressing operation is input, the latch portion 80 descends and engages with the stopper portion 44. This engaged state maintains the connection between the board 2 (first electrical component) and the circuit board (second electrical component), not shown, even after the first pressing operation is released. When a second pressing operation is input, the latch portion 80 descends further, disengages from the engaged state with the stopper portion 44, and engages with the lock portion 60. When the second pressing operation is released, the latch part rises, taking the lock part 60 in the engaged state with it, and raises the pressing part 50 via the lock part 60. When the lock part 60 rises until it abuts against the stopper part 44, the latch part 80 releases its engagement with the lock part 60, rises without again engaging with the stopper part 44, and returns to the initial state.

[0120] Thus, according to this embodiment, by pressing the button portion 70 once, the board 2 can be easily electrically connected to the circuit board, and by simply pressing the button portion 70 again, the lock can be easily released and the connection between the board 2 and the circuit board can be released. That is, electrical connection and disconnection between electrical components can be easily performed by simply pressing in one direction.

[0121] This alternate action, or push-on / push-off mechanism, allows the button 70 to remain in its activated state even after the pressing force is released, and then returns to its original free state when pressed again. To achieve this structure, a well-known heart cam can be used. However, heart cams are not practical in electrical component connection devices. For example, the device's structure requires compact placement on the peripheral wall, but heart cams require a certain amount of width, making it difficult to secure the required space. To effectively implement this mechanism by applying it to two latches, two heart cams could be installed and driven simultaneously. However, this would make it difficult to secure the required space for each, creating problems with miniaturization. In contrast, the configuration of the present invention includes a pressing portion 50, button 70, latch 80, stopper 44, and lock 60 above the bottom plate 22, allowing for vertical movement without consuming much space.

[0122] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Industrial Applicability]

[0123] The electrical component connection device and inspection device of the present invention have the effect of easily connecting and disconnecting electrical components to each other with just a pressing operation in one direction, and are useful for use in devices that switch between connecting and disconnecting one board to another. [Explanation of symbols]

[0124] 2. Board (first electrical component) 10 Electrical component connection device 12. Case 14 Operation mechanism section 20 Main Unit 22 Bottom plate (base) 23 Probe pin (connection terminal) 24 Main body frame 26 Fastening member 32 Connecting shaft 40 Cover 41 Hollow part 42 Opening 44 Stopper part 45 Projection part 46 Inner top section 47 Top 50 Pressing section 52 Pressing unit body 53a, 53b flanges 54 Recess 55 Spring housing 60 Lock Section 62 Lock body 64 Locking part 70 Button section (operation section) 72 Insertion joint 74 Operation surface section 75 Spring housing 76 Latch shaft 80 Latch section 81 1st hook part 82 Second hook part 86 Notch 90 biasing member 91 Guide spring 93 Latch spring 95 Locking spring 97 Contact pressure spring 242 Mounting hole 402 Through hole 404 Guide column 622 Spring stopper 4041 Head

Claims

1. An electrical component connection device that electrically connects an upper first electrical component to a lower second electrical component via a base portion, a pressing portion configured to support the first electrical component below itself, and disposed above the base portion so as to be biased upward and movable up and down, and which presses the first electrical component against the base portion when it moves down to electrically connect the first electrical component to the second electrical component; an operating unit disposed above the base and biased upward so as to be movable up and down, configured to alternately ascend and descend with each downward pressing operation, and which causes the pressing unit to descend when descending; a latch portion that is arranged to be movable up and down along with the operating portion and to be biased outward from the outer periphery of the operating portion while being capable of appearing and disappearing outward; a stopper portion that faces the outer periphery of the operating portion, protrudes inward, and is engageable with the latch portion when the operating portion is in the lowered position; a locking portion that is arranged to be movable up and down between an upper position and a lower position in accordance with the up and down movement of the pressing portion, that engages with the latching portion at the lower position away from the stopper portion, and that releases the engagement with the latching portion so that the latching portion does not engage with the stopper portion at the upper position abutting against the stopper portion; An electrical component connection device having:

2. the locking portion causes the latching portion, which is engaged with the stopper portion, to sink inward and engage with the latching portion as the latching portion further descends.

2. The electrical component connection device according to claim 1.

3. the locking portion rises while maintaining the engagement with the latching portion until the latching portion reaches a position where it cannot engage with the stopper portion, and comes into contact with the stopper portion.

3. The electrical component connection device according to claim 2.

4. The locking mechanism further includes a biasing member that biases the operating portion and the locking portion in directions that separate them from each other, The latch portion and the lock portion release their engagement by utilizing the biasing force of the biasing member.

2. The electrical component connection device according to claim 1.

5. The electrical component connection device according to claim 1 ; the second electrical component disposed below the base, performing an electrical test on the first electrical component supported by the pressing portion; Inspection equipment.

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