Sheet-shaped conductive member and connector

Abstract

To provide a sheet-like conductive member capable of electrically connecting a flexible conductor arranged on each of front and back sides thereof to one contact without using a dedicated relay conductive member.SOLUTION: A sheet-like conductive member 15 has a tongue-shaped portion 15C that protrudes like a tongue, and a region R2 in which a contact of a connector is arranged is defined on a surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15. A shield layer 18D is exposed in the region R2, a shield layer 18F is exposed on a back surface of the tongue-shaped portion 15C. At least a part of the tongue-shaped portion 15C is folded back toward the surface side of the sheet-like conductive member 15 to form a contact connection portion C consisting of a part of the shield layer 18D and a part of the shield layer 18F in the region R2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet-shaped conductive member, and more particularly to a sheet-shaped conductive member having flexible conductors exposed on both sides thereof. The present invention also relates to a connector having a sheet-shaped conductive member. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, so-called smart clothing has been attracting attention because it can acquire a user's biometric information, such as heart rate and body temperature, simply by wearing the clothing. This smart clothing is equipped with electrodes placed at measurement locations, and by electrically connecting the electrodes to a wearable device acting as a measuring instrument, it becomes possible to transmit the biometric information to the wearable device. The electrode and the wearable device can be connected, for example, by using a connector connected to a flexible conductor extending from the electrode.

[0003] As a structure for connecting connector contacts to a flexible conductor, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a connection structure as shown in Fig. 30. Contacts 2 are arranged on a front surface 1A of a flexible substrate 1, and relay conductive members 3 are inserted into recesses 2A of the contacts 2, being pressed from a rear surface 1B of the flexible substrate 1 toward the front surface 1A. When the relay conductive members 3 are inserted into the recesses 2A of the contacts 2, the cut end portions 1C of the flexible substrate 1 are caught and sandwiched between the inner surface of the recesses 2A of the contacts 2 and the relay conductive members 3.

[0004] As a result, the front surface 1A of the flexible substrate 1 contacts the inner surface of the recess 2A of the contact 2, and the back surface 1B of the flexible substrate 1 contacts the relay conductive member 3. In addition, the contact portion 3A of the relay conductive member 3 contacts the inner surface of the recess 2A of the contact 2 at the deepest part of the recess 2A. Therefore, if a flexible conductor is exposed on the front surface 1A of the flexible substrate 1, the flexible conductor is directly connected to the contact 2, and if a flexible conductor is exposed on the back surface 1B of the flexible substrate 1, the flexible conductor is electrically connected to the contact 2 via the relay conductive member 3. Furthermore, if a flexible conductor is exposed on both the front surface 1A and the back surface 1B of the flexible substrate 1, both flexible conductors can be connected to one contact 2. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-187972 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In this way, the flexible conductor exposed on the front surface 1A of the flexible substrate 1 comes into direct contact with the contact 2 and is electrically connected to it, but for the flexible conductor exposed on the back surface 1B of the flexible substrate 1, the flexible conductor is connected to the contact 2 via a relay conductive member 3 arranged between the flexible conductor and the contact 2, so the number of contact points on the conductive path from the flexible conductor exposed on the back surface 1B of the flexible substrate 1 to the contact 2 increases. Furthermore, the use of a dedicated relay conductive member 3 also increases the number of parts.

[0007] This invention has been made to solve these conventional problems, and aims to provide a sheet-like conductive member that can electrically connect a first flexible conductor arranged on the front side of the sheet body and a second flexible conductor arranged on the back side of the sheet body to a single contact without using a dedicated relay conductive member. Another object of the present invention is to provide a connector having such a sheet-like conductive member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The sheet-shaped conductive member according to the present invention comprises: A sheet-like conductive member extending along a predetermined plane and attached to a connector, an insulating sheet body; a first flexible conductor arranged on the front side of the sheet body and a second flexible conductor arranged on the back side of the sheet body; Equipped with The sheet-like conductive member has a tongue-like portion that protrudes in a tongue shape within a predetermined plane, a contact arrangement area in which contacts of a connector are arranged is defined on a surface of the sheet-like conductive member; a first flexible conductor exposed in the contact arrangement area; The second flexible conductor is exposed on the back surface of the tongue. By folding back at least a portion of the tongue-shaped portion toward the front surface of the sheet-shaped conductive member, a contact connection portion consisting of a portion of the first flexible conductor and a portion of the second flexible conductor is formed in the contact arrangement area.

[0009] It is preferable that the sheet-like conductive member has an insertion hole that penetrates from the front surface to the back surface, and the tongue-like portion has an insertion portion at its tip that is wider than the insertion hole, and the insertion portion of the tongue-like portion that is folded back onto the front surface side of the sheet-like conductive member is inserted into the insertion hole, thereby holding the folded-back tongue-like portion. The insertion holes can be formed within the contact arrangement area or outside the contact arrangement area.

[0010] The tongue may be configured to extend outside the contact placement area in a direction away from the contact placement area. Alternatively, the contact placement area may have an opening formed therein, and the tongue may extend from the periphery of the contact placement area into the opening. In this case, it is preferable that the sheet-shaped conductive member has at least one protruding portion within the contact arrangement area that protrudes from the periphery of the contact arrangement area into the opening within a predetermined plane, and that the first flexible conductor is exposed on the surface of the at least one protruding portion.

[0011] It is also possible to provide a third flexible conductor disposed between the first and second flexible conductors and electrically insulated from the first and second flexible conductors.

[0012] The connector according to the present invention comprises: The sheet-like conductive member; a contact electrically connected to a contact connection portion formed of a part of the first flexible conductor and a part of the second flexible conductor in a contact arrangement region of the sheet-shaped conductive member; an insulating housing for holding the sheet-like conductive member and the contacts; The connector is fitted to the mating connector along the fitting direction.

[0013] The contact has a recessed projection receiving portion, The housing has a protrusion that is inserted into the protrusion receiving portion of the contact, It is preferable that when the protrusion is inserted into the protrusion accommodating portion of the contact together with the sheet-shaped conductive member, the first flexible conductor and the second flexible conductor arranged in the contact arrangement area are sandwiched between the side of the protrusion and the inner surface of the protrusion accommodating portion in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction and come into contact with the inner surface of the protrusion accommodating portion, thereby electrically connecting the contact to the first flexible conductor and the second flexible conductor.

[0014] Preferably, the contact has a cylindrical portion having the protrusion receiving portion formed therein and a flange formed at one end of the cylindrical portion, The housing has a top insulator in which a contact through-hole is formed, the contact through-hole being smaller than the flange and through which the cylindrical portion of the contact passes, and a bottom insulator in which a protrusion is formed, The cylindrical portion of the contact is passed through the contact through hole and the top insulator is fixed to the bottom insulator so that the sheet-like conductive member and flange are sandwiched between the top insulator and the bottom insulator, thereby holding the sheet-like conductive member and the contact in the housing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to this invention, the sheet-shaped conductive member has a tongue-shaped portion that protrudes like a tongue within a predetermined plane, and a contact arrangement area in which the connector contacts are arranged is defined on the surface of the sheet-shaped conductive member, a first flexible conductor is exposed in the contact arrangement area, and a second flexible conductor is exposed on the back surface of the tongue-shaped portion, and by folding back at least a portion of the tongue-shaped portion toward the front surface side of the sheet body, a contact connection portion consisting of a portion of the first flexible conductor and a portion of the second flexible conductor is formed in the contact arrangement area, so that it is possible to electrically connect the first flexible conductor arranged on the front surface side of the sheet body and the second flexible conductor arranged on the back surface side of the sheet body to a single contact without using a dedicated relay conductive member. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a connector according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a sheet-shaped conductive member used in the connector of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view of a sheet-shaped conductive member used in the connector of the first embodiment, viewed obliquely from above. [Figure 5] 1 is a perspective view of a sheet-shaped conductive member used in the connector of the first embodiment, viewed obliquely from below. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the sheet-shaped conductive member with its tongue-shaped portion folded back, seen from diagonally above. FIG. [Figure 7]10 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the sheet-shaped conductive member with its tongue-shaped portion folded back, as viewed from diagonally below. FIG. [Figure 8] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a contact used in the connector of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 9] 1 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the connector of the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a sheet-shaped conductive member according to a modified example of the first embodiment, viewed obliquely from above. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a sheet-shaped conductive member according to a modified example of the first embodiment, viewed obliquely from below. [Figure 12] 10 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a sheet-shaped conductive member according to a modification of the first embodiment, with the tongue-shaped portion folded back, viewed obliquely from above. FIG. [Figure 13] 10 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a sheet-shaped conductive member according to a modification of the first embodiment, with the tongue-shaped portion folded back, viewed obliquely from below. FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view showing a connector according to a second embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a partial exploded perspective view of a connector according to a second embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view showing a sheet-shaped conductive member used in a connector according to a second embodiment. [Figure 17] 10 is a partial plan view showing a sheet-shaped conductive member used in a connector according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 18] 10 is a partial bottom view showing a sheet-shaped conductive member used in a connector according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 19] 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a contact used in a connector according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view showing a bottom insulator used in the connector of the second embodiment. [Figure 21] 10 is a partial plan view showing a bottom insulator used in a connector according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 22] 22 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 21. [Figure 23]10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a top insulator used in a connector according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 24] 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a connected state between a tongue-shaped portion and a contact in a connector according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 25] 10 is a partial perspective cross-sectional view showing a connected state between a tongue-shaped portion and a contact in a connector according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 26] 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the connection state between the protrusion and the contact in the connector of the second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 27] 10 is a partial perspective cross-sectional view showing a connection state between a protruding portion and a contact in a connector according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 28] 10 is a partial plan view showing a sheet-shaped conductive member according to a modified example of the second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 29] 10 is a partial plan view showing a sheet-shaped conductive member according to another modified example of the second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 30] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional connection structure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Embodiment 1 1 shows a connector 11 according to a first embodiment. The connector 11 is used, for example, as a clothing connector for mating with a wearable device, and has a housing 12 made of an insulating material. Four contacts 13 are held in the housing 12, and the housing 12 also holds a reinforcing sheet 14 and a sheet-like conductive member 15 in a stacked state. The four contacts 13 are arranged in two parallel rows and are disposed so as to protrude perpendicularly from the sheet-like conductive member 15.

[0018] For convenience, the reinforcing sheet 14 and the sheet-like conductive member 15 extend along the XY plane, the arrangement direction of the four contacts 13 is called the Y direction, and the direction in which each of the four contacts 13 protrudes is called the +Z direction. The Z direction is the mating direction in which the connector 11 mates with a mating connector.

[0019] 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector 11. The connector 11 has a bottom insulator 16 and a top insulator 17, and the bottom insulator 16 and the top insulator 17 form the housing 12.

[0020] The top insulator 17 has a recess 17A that opens toward the +Z direction, and four contact through holes 17B formed in the recess 17A. The recess 17A constitutes a mating connector accommodating portion that accommodates a part of a mating connector (not shown), and the four contact through holes 17B correspond to the four contacts 13. In addition, a plurality of bosses 17C that protrude in the -Z direction are formed on the surface of the top insulator 17 facing the -Z direction.

[0021] The reinforcing sheet 14 is intended to reinforce the mounting object, such as clothing (not shown), on which the connector 11 is mounted, and is made of an insulating material with an opening 14A formed in the center. Furthermore, along the periphery of the opening 14A of the reinforcing sheet 14, a plurality of notches 14B are formed corresponding to the plurality of bosses 17C of the top insulator 17.

[0022] Each of the four contacts 13 is a plug-type contact made of a conductive material such as metal, and is connected to a corresponding contact of a mating connector (not shown) when part of the mating connector is accommodated in the recess 17A of the top insulator 17. Each contact 13 has a cylindrical tubular portion 13A extending in the Z direction and a flange 13B extending along the XY plane from the -Z direction end of the tubular portion 13A. Of the four contacts 13, three contacts 13 are used as signal terminals for transmitting electrical signals, and the remaining contact 13 is connected to ground potential and used as a shield terminal.

[0023] Four contact placement areas 15A for placing four contacts 13 are defined on the surface facing the +Z direction of the sheet-like conductive member 15, and a plurality of through holes 15B corresponding to a plurality of bosses 17C of the top insulator 17 are formed on the peripheral portion of the sheet-like conductive member 15.

[0024] The bottom insulator 16 has a flat plate portion 16A, and four protrusions 16B are formed on the flat plate portion 16A, each protruding in the +Z direction. The four protrusions 16B correspond to the four contacts 13. Furthermore, the flat plate portion 16A is formed with a plurality of through holes 16C corresponding to the plurality of bosses 17C of the top insulator 17.

[0025] The four contact through holes 17B of the top insulator 17, the four contacts 13, the four contact arrangement areas 15A of the sheet-like conductive member 15, and the four protrusions 16B of the bottom insulator 16 are arranged in positions aligned with each other in the Z direction. Similarly, the multiple bosses 17C of the top insulator 17, the multiple notches 14B of the reinforcing sheet 14, the multiple through holes 15B of the sheet-like conductive member 15, and the multiple through holes 16C of the bottom insulator 16 are arranged in positions aligned with each other in the Z direction.

[0026] The contact through hole 17B of the top insulator 17 has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the tubular portion 13A of the contact 13 and smaller than the outer diameter of the flange 13B, and is configured to allow the tubular portion 13A of the contact 13 to be inserted smoothly. The notch 14B of the reinforcing sheet 14, the through hole 15B of the sheet-like conductive member 15, and the through hole 16C of the bottom insulator 16 each have a size slightly larger than the outer diameter of the boss 17C of the top insulator 17.

[0027] As shown in Figure 3, the sheet-shaped conductive member 15 has a sheet main body 18A made of an insulating material, and a signal wiring layer 18B (third flexible conductor) made of a conductive material, an insulating layer 18C, a shielding layer 18D (first flexible conductor) made of a conductive material, and an insulating layer 18E are sequentially stacked on the surface of the sheet main body 18A facing the +Z direction, and a shielding layer 18F (second flexible conductor) made of a conductive material and an insulating layer 18G are sequentially stacked on the back surface of the sheet main body 18A facing the -Z direction, resulting in a multilayer structure.

[0028] As shown in Figure 4, of the four contact arrangement areas 15A defined on the surface facing the +Z direction of the sheet-like conductive member 15, three contact arrangement areas 15A form an area R1 in which three contacts 13 used as signal terminals are arranged, and the remaining contact arrangement area 15A forms an area R2 in which a contact 13 used as a shield terminal is arranged.

[0029] In the region R1 where three contacts 13 serving as signal terminals are arranged, the insulating layer 18E, the shielding layer 18D, and the insulating layer 18C are removed, exposing the signal wiring layer 18B in the +Z direction. On the other hand, in the +X direction portion of region R2 where contacts 13 serving as shield terminals are arranged, insulating layer 18E is removed, thereby exposing shield layer 18D in the +Z direction. Also in the +X direction portion of sheet-like conductive member 15, shield layer 18D is exposed in the +Z direction and is integrally connected to shield layer 18D exposed in region R2. The remaining area of ​​the surface of the sheet-shaped conductive member 15 facing the +Z direction is covered with an insulating layer 18E.

[0030] The sheet-like conductive member 15 also has a tongue-like portion 15C that protrudes in the −X direction in the XY plane outside the contact arrangement region 15A that forms region R2. The surface of the tongue-like portion 15C facing the +Z direction is also covered with an insulating layer 18E. Furthermore, an insertion hole 15D is formed within region R2, extending in the Y direction and penetrating from the front surface to the back surface of the sheet-shaped conductive member 15, and an insertion portion 15E is formed at the -X direction end of the tongue-shaped portion 15C, which is wider in the Y direction than the insertion hole 15D. The plurality of through holes 15B of the sheet-shaped conductive member 15 are arranged so as to surround the four contact arrangement regions 15A.

[0031] 5, on the rear surface of tongue-shaped portion 15C facing the -Z direction, insulating layer 18G is removed, thereby exposing shielding layer 18F in the -Z direction. Also, on the rear surface of sheet-shaped conductive member 15 facing the -Z direction in the +X direction, shielding layer 18F is exposed in the -Z direction and is integrally connected to shielding layer 18F exposed in tongue-shaped portion 15C. The other area on the rear surface of the sheet-shaped conductive member 15 facing the -Z direction is covered with an insulating layer 18G.

[0032] When tongue portion 15C protruding in the −X direction outside region R2 of sheet-like conductive member 15 is folded back toward the front surface of sheet-like conductive member 15, shielding layer 18F exposed on the back surface of tongue portion 15C faces in the +Z direction, as shown in Fig. 6. In this state, insertion portion 15E formed at the end of tongue portion 15C is inserted into insertion hole 15D of sheet-like conductive member 15 from the +Z direction side to the −Z direction side, as shown in Fig. 7.

[0033] Because the insertion portion 15E is formed wider in the Y direction than the insertion hole 15D, when the insertion portion 15E is inserted into the insertion hole 15D, the tongue portion 15C is held in a state folded back toward the front surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15, as shown in Fig. 6. As a result, in the region R2 defined on the front surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15, the shielding layer 18F exposed on the back surface of the tongue portion 15C is disposed on the -X direction side of the insertion hole 15D. That is, shield layer 18D is exposed in a portion on the +X direction side of region R2, shield layer 18F is exposed in a portion on the −X direction side of region R2, and a contact connection portion C consisting of a portion of shield layer 18D and a portion of shield layer 18F is formed in region R2. Contact connection portion C is electrically connected to contact 13 that is disposed in region R2 in connector 11 and is used as a shield terminal.

[0034] As shown in Figure 8, a concave protrusion accommodating portion 13C that opens toward the -Z direction is formed inside the cylindrical portion 13A of the contact 13, and a flange 13B extends from the open end of the protrusion accommodating portion 13C along the XY plane.

[0035] When assembling connector 11, first, multiple bosses 17C of top insulator 17 are inserted into multiple cutouts 14B of reinforcing sheet 14. At this time, four contact through holes 17B of top insulator 17 are positioned within openings 14A of reinforcing sheet 14.

[0036] Next, the cylindrical portions 13A of the contacts 13 corresponding to the four contact through holes 17B of the top insulator 17 are inserted from the -Z direction, and the bottom insulator 16 is pressed in the +Z direction toward the top insulator 17, with the sheet-like conductive member 15 sandwiched therebetween. At this time, the flanges 13B of each contact 13 are positioned above the corresponding contact arrangement areas 15A of the sheet-like conductive member 15, and the corresponding protrusions 16B of the bottom insulator 16 are inserted into the protrusion accommodating portions 13C of the contacts 13 while pushing in the sheet-like conductive member 15. At this time, if the sheet-like conductive member 15 is highly elastic, the protrusion 16B will be wrapped in the sheet-like conductive member 15 before being inserted into the protrusion accommodating portion 13C. However, if the sheet-like conductive member 15 is not very elastic, it is preferable to first cut open the sheet-like conductive member 15 at a position corresponding to the protrusion 16B before inserting it into the protrusion accommodating portion 13C.

[0037] In addition, by pressing the bottom insulator 16 against the top insulator 17, the multiple bosses 17C of the top insulator 17 sequentially pass through the multiple through holes 15B of the sheet-like conductive member 15 and the multiple through holes 16C of the bottom insulator 16, and by thermally deforming the tips of the multiple bosses 17C protruding toward the -Z direction side of the bottom insulator 16, the top insulator 17 and the bottom insulator 16 are fixed to each other, and the assembly of the connector 11 is completed. Each contact 13 is fixed to the top insulator 17 and the bottom insulator 16 by sandwiching the flange 13B between the top insulator 17 and the bottom insulator 16.

[0038] In region R2 of sheet-like conductive member 15, where contacts 13 used as shield terminals are disposed, shield layer 18D is exposed on the +X-direction side of region R2, and shield layer 18F is exposed on the −X-direction side of region R2, as shown in Fig. 6 . Therefore, when protrusion 16B of bottom insulator 16 is inserted into protrusion accommodating portion 13C of contact 13 disposed in region R2, sheet-like conductive member 15 is sandwiched between the side surface of protrusion 16B and the inner surface of protrusion accommodating portion 13C of contact 13, as shown in Fig. 9 . Shield layer 18D contacts the inner surface of protrusion accommodating portion 13C of contact 13 on the +X-direction side with a predetermined contact pressure, and shield layer 18F contacts the inner surface of protrusion accommodating portion 13C of contact 13 on the −X-direction side with a predetermined contact pressure. As a result, both shield layers 18D and 18F forming contact connection portion C are electrically connected to contact 13 disposed in region R2.

[0039] Thus, according to the connector 11 of embodiment 1, it is possible to electrically connect both the shielding layer 18D (first flexible conductor) arranged on the front side of the sheet-shaped conductive member 15 and the shielding layer 18F (second flexible conductor) arranged on the back side to one contact 13 arranged in region R2 without using a dedicated relay conductive member.

[0040] Furthermore, of the four contact arrangement regions 15A partitioned on the surface of the sheet-like conductive member 15, the signal wiring layer 18B is exposed in three regions R1 where three contacts 13 used as signal terminals are arranged. Therefore, when the protrusion 16B of the bottom insulator 16 is inserted into the protrusion accommodating portion 13C of the contact 13 arranged in region R1, the sheet-like conductive member 15 is sandwiched between the side of the protrusion 16B and the inner surface of the protrusion accommodating portion 13C of the contact 13, although not shown, and the signal wiring layer 18B (third flexible conductor) contacts the inner surface of the protrusion accommodating portion 13C of the contact 13 with a predetermined contact pressure and is electrically connected to the contact 13 arranged in region R1.

[0041] The signal wiring layer 18B is patterned in a predetermined manner, and three wirings formed from the signal wiring layer 18B and insulated from each other are connected to the three contacts 13 arranged in the three regions R1. As shown in Figure 3, the signal wiring layer 18B is laminated between the shield layer 18D arranged on the front side of the sheet-like conductive member 15 and the shield layer 18F arranged on the back side thereof while being insulated from these shield layers 18D and 18F. Therefore, by connecting the contacts 13 arranged in region R2 and connected to the shield layers 18D and 18F to ground potential, a shielding effect is exerted on the signal wiring layer 18B, making it possible to perform high-precision signal transmission while suppressing the effects of disturbances such as electromagnetic waves.

[0042] In the above-mentioned embodiment 1, the insertion hole 15D of the sheet-shaped conductive member 15 is formed within the region R2, and the insertion portion 15E of the tongue-shaped portion 15C is inserted into the insertion hole 15D, but this is not limited to this, and for example, the insertion hole 25D may be formed outside the region R2 and in the vicinity of the region R2, as in the sheet-shaped conductive member 25 shown in Figure 10. In the sheet-like conductive member 25, insertion holes 25D extending in the Y direction are formed on both the +Y side and the −Y side of the region R2, sandwiching the region R2, and a pair of insertion portions 25E are formed spaced apart in the Y direction at the −X-direction end of the tongue-shaped portion 25C of the sheet-like conductive member 25. Each insertion portion 25E is formed wider in the Y direction than the corresponding insertion hole 25D.

[0043] The sheet-shaped conductive member 25 has the same multilayer structure as the sheet-shaped conductive member 15 shown in FIG. 3, and the shield layer 18D is exposed in the +Z direction in the +X direction side portion of the region R2. As shown in FIG. 11, the shield layer 18F is exposed in the −Z direction on the rear surface of the tongue-shaped portion 25C facing the −Z direction.

[0044] When the tongue-shaped portion 25C is folded back toward the front surface of the sheet-shaped conductive member 25, as shown in Figure 12, the shielding layer 18F exposed on the back surface of the tongue-shaped portion 25C is oriented in the +Z direction, and in this state, as shown in Figure 13, a pair of insertion portions 25E formed at the end of the tongue-shaped portion 25C are inserted into a pair of insertion holes 25D of the sheet-shaped conductive member 25 from the +Z direction side to the -Z direction side. As a result, as shown in Figure 12, tongue-shaped portion 25C is held in a folded state toward the surface side of sheet-shaped conductive member 25, shield layer 18D is arranged on the +X direction side of region R2, shield layer 18F is arranged on the -X direction side of region R2, and contact connection portion C consisting of part of shield layer 18D and part of shield layer 18F is formed in region R2.

[0045] Even when such a sheet-shaped conductive member 25 is used, as in the above-mentioned embodiment 1, it is possible to electrically connect both the shielding layer 18D (first flexible conductor) arranged on the front side of the sheet-shaped conductive member 25 and the shielding layer 18F (second flexible conductor) arranged on the back side to one contact 13 arranged in region R2 without using a dedicated relay conductive member.

[0046] Embodiment 2 Fig. 14 shows a connector 31 according to embodiment 2. Like connector 11 of embodiment 1, connector 31 is used, for example, as a clothing connector for mating with a wearable device, and has four contacts 33. However, Fig. 14 shows only the vicinity of contact 33 used as a shield terminal, and the other contacts used as signal terminals are not shown.

[0047] The connector 31 has a housing 32 made of an insulating material, a sheet-like conductive member 35 held by the housing 32, and contacts 33. 15, the connector 31 has a bottom insulator 36 and a top insulator 37, which form a housing 32. The sheet-like conductive member 35 and the contacts 33 are disposed between the bottom insulator 36 and the top insulator 37.

[0048] On the surface of the sheet-like conductive member 35 facing the +Z direction, four contact arrangement areas 35A are defined, similar to the sheet-like conductive member 15 in embodiment 1. However, as shown in Figures 16 and 17, an approximately circular opening 35B that penetrates the sheet-like conductive member 35 in the Z direction is formed inside the contact arrangement area 35A where the contacts 33 used as shield terminals are arranged.

[0049] Arranged within the opening 35B are a tongue-shaped portion 35C extending along the X direction from the periphery on the −X direction side of the contact arrangement region 35A within the XY plane into the opening 35B, and a pair of protrusions 35D protruding along the Y direction from the periphery on the +Y direction side and the periphery on the −Y direction side of the contact arrangement region 35A within the XY plane into the opening 35B. The tongue-shaped portion 35C has a length in the X direction longer than the radius of the approximately circular opening 35B, and the pair of protrusions 35D each have a length in the Y direction shorter than the radius of the approximately circular opening 35B.

[0050] As shown in Figure 17, the shielding layer 18D arranged on the front side of the sheet-shaped conductive member 35 is exposed on the surface of a pair of protruding portions 35D facing the +Z direction, and as shown in Figure 18, the shielding layer 18F arranged on the back side of the sheet-shaped conductive member 35 is exposed on the back side of the tongue-shaped portion 35C facing the -Z direction.

[0051] As shown in Figure 19, contact 33, like contact 13 in embodiment 1, is a plug-type contact made of a conductive material such as metal, and has a cylindrical tubular portion 33A extending in the Z direction and a flange 33B extending along the XY plane from the -Z direction end of tubular portion 33A, and a concave protrusion accommodating portion 33C opening toward the -Z direction is formed inside tubular portion 33A.

[0052] 20 to 22, the bottom insulator 36 has a flat plate portion 36A, on which a protrusion 36B protruding in the +Z direction is formed. When the connector 31 is assembled, the protrusion 36B is inserted into the protrusion accommodating portion 33C of the contact 33 together with the sheet-like conductive member 35, and a pressing portion 36C is formed on the side surface of the protrusion 36B on the -X direction side, which presses the tongue-shaped portion 35C of the sheet-like conductive member 35 against the inner surface of the protrusion accommodating portion 33C of the contact 33.

[0053] Since the tongue-shaped portion 35C is folded back at the middle of the tongue-shaped portion 35C in the X direction and sandwiched between the protrusion 36B and the inner surface of the protrusion accommodating portion 33C, the pressing portion 36C has a width slightly wider than the width dimension of the tongue-shaped portion 35C along the circumference of the protrusion 36B, and has a shape that is recessed in the direction of the central axis of the protrusion 36B more than the side surface on the +Y direction side and the side surface on the -Y direction side of the protrusion 36B.

[0054] 23, the top insulator 37 has a contact through hole 37A. The contact through hole 37A has an inner diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the tubular portion 33A of the contact 33 and smaller than the outer diameter of the flange 33B, and is configured to allow the tubular portion 33A of the contact 33 to be inserted smoothly.

[0055] 24 , when assembling the connector 31, the cylindrical portions 33A of the contacts 33 are inserted into the contact through holes 37A of the top insulator 37 from the −Z direction, and the bottom insulator 36 is pressed in the +Z direction toward the top insulator 37 with the sheet-like conductive member 35 sandwiched therebetween. At this time, the tongue-like portions 35C of the sheet-like conductive member 35 are folded back at the middle in the longitudinal direction of the tongue-like portions 35C, so that the shielding layer 18F exposed on the back surface of the tongue-like portions 35C is oriented in the +Z direction. The tongue-like portions 35C are bent in the +Z direction by the protrusions 36B of the bottom insulator 36, and inserted into the protrusion accommodating portions 33C of the contacts 33.

[0056] In this way, the tongue-shaped portion 35C is sandwiched between the pressing portion 36C of the protrusion 36B and the inner surface of the protrusion accommodating portion 33C of the contact 33, but because the tongue-shaped portion 35C is folded back, the shielding layer 18F comes into contact with the inner surface on the -X direction side of the protrusion accommodating portion 33C of the contact 33 with a predetermined contact pressure, and the shielding layer 18F is electrically connected to the contact 33. The state of contact between the shield layer 18F of the tongue portion 35C of the sheet-like conductive member 35 and the inner surface of the protrusion accommodating portion 33C of the contact 33 at this time is shown in FIG.

[0057] Also, as shown in Figure 26, a pair of protrusions 35D of the sheet-like conductive member 35 are bent in the +Z direction by the protrusions 36B of the bottom insulator 36, inserted into the protrusion accommodating portion 33C of the contact 33, and sandwiched between the side of the protrusions 36B and the inner surface of the protrusion accommodating portion 33C of the contact 33.

[0058] In these protrusions 35D, the shield layer 18D is exposed on the surface facing the +Z direction, so that the shield layer 18D of the pair of protrusions 35D comes into contact with the inner surface on the +Y direction side and the inner surface on the -Y direction side of the protrusion accommodating portion 33C of the contact 33 with a predetermined contact pressure, and the shield layer 18D is electrically connected to the contact 33. The state of contact between the shield layer 18D of the protruding portion 35D of the sheet-like conductive member 35 and the inner surface of the protrusion accommodating portion 33C of the contact 33 at this time is shown in FIG.

[0059] As a result, the shield layer 18F of the tongue-shaped portion 35C and the shield layer 18D of the pair of protruding portions 35D are electrically connected to the contacts 33, respectively. In this way, even with the connector 31 of embodiment 2, it is possible to electrically connect both the shielding layer 18D (first flexible conductor) arranged on the front side of the sheet-like conductive member 35 and the shielding layer 18F (second flexible conductor) arranged on the back side to one contact 33 arranged in the contact arrangement area 35A without using a dedicated relay conductive member.

[0060] Although not shown, other contacts 33 used as signal terminals are arranged in the contact arrangement region of the sheet-like conductive member 35 where the signal wiring layer 18B is exposed, and are electrically connected to the signal wiring layer 18B, as in the first embodiment. The signal wiring layer 18B is laminated between the shield layer 18D arranged on the front side of the sheet-like conductive member 35 and the shield layer 18F arranged on the back side thereof while being insulated from these shield layers 18D and 18F. Therefore, by connecting the contacts 33 connected to the shield layer 18D and the shield layer 18F to the ground potential, a shielding effect for the signal wiring layer 18B is exerted, and high-precision signal transmission with suppressed effects of disturbances such as electromagnetic waves is possible.

[0061] 28 can be used instead of the sheet-like conductive member 35. Similar to the sheet-like conductive member 35, an opening 45B is formed inside a contact arrangement region 45A defined on the surface of the sheet-like conductive member 45 facing the +Z direction, and a tongue-shaped portion 45C extending in the +X direction and a pair of protrusions 45D each extending in the Y direction are disposed in the opening 45B. Although not shown, it is assumed that the shield layer 18F is exposed on the back surface of the tongue-shaped portion 45C facing the -Z direction, and the shield layer 18D is exposed on the surfaces of the pair of protrusions 45D facing the +Z direction. In the sheet-like conductive member 45, an insertion hole 45F is formed at the base of the tongue-shaped portion 45C and inside the contact arrangement area 45A, penetrating from the front to the back of the sheet-like conductive member 45, and an insertion portion 45E is formed at the +X-direction end of the tongue-shaped portion 45C, which is wider in the Y-direction than the insertion hole 45F.

[0062] By using a sheet-like conductive member 45 having such a configuration, when the tongue-shaped portion 45C is folded back at the middle of the tongue-shaped portion 45C in the X direction, as in embodiment 1, the insertion portion 45E formed at the end of the tongue-shaped portion 45C is inserted into the insertion hole 45F of the sheet-like conductive member 45, thereby maintaining the tongue-shaped portion 45C in a folded state toward the surface side of the sheet-like conductive member 45. This makes it possible to improve the workability when assembling the connector.

[0063] 29 may also be used. Similar to the sheet-like conductive member 45, an opening 55B is formed inside a contact arrangement region 55A defined on the surface of the sheet-like conductive member 55 facing the +Z direction, and a tongue-shaped portion 55C extending in the +X direction and a pair of protrusions 55D each extending in the Y direction are disposed within the opening 55B. Although not shown, it is assumed that the shield layer 18F is exposed on the back surface of the tongue-shaped portion 55C facing the -Z direction, and the shield layer 18D is exposed on the surfaces of the pair of protrusions 55D facing the +Z direction. In the sheet-like conductive member 55, an insertion hole 55F is formed on the -X direction side of the tongue-shaped portion 55C and outside the contact arrangement area 55A, penetrating from the front surface to the back surface of the sheet-like conductive member 55, and an insertion portion 55E is formed at the +X direction end of the tongue-shaped portion 55C, and is wider in the Y direction than the insertion hole 55F.

[0064] By using a sheet-like conductive member 55 having such a configuration, when the tongue-shaped portion 55C is folded back at the middle of the tongue-shaped portion 55C in the X-direction, the insertion portion 55E formed at the end of the tongue-shaped portion 55C is inserted into the insertion hole 55F of the sheet-like conductive member 55, thereby maintaining the tongue-shaped portion 55C in a folded state toward the surface side of the sheet-like conductive member 55. Therefore, even when the sheet-like conductive member 55 is used, it is possible to improve the workability when assembling the connector.

[0065] The sheet-shaped conductive members 15, 25, and 35 used in the above-mentioned embodiments 1 and 2 have a multilayer structure as shown in FIG. 3, but are not limited to this and may have at least a first flexible conductor arranged on the front side of the sheet body and a second flexible conductor arranged on the back side of the sheet body. In addition, in the above-described first and second embodiments, two conductive layers consisting of shield layer 18D and shield layer 18F of sheet-like conductive member 15, 25, 35 are connected to one contact 13, 33 used as a shield terminal, but this is not limited to this. For example, by forming multiple tongue-shaped portions on a sheet-like conductive member having three or more conductive layers and folding back these tongue-shaped portions, contact connection portions consisting of a portion of each conductive layer can be formed in the contact arrangement area in the same way, and three or more conductive layers can be connected to one contact.

[0066] Furthermore, the connector 11 according to the above-mentioned embodiment 1 and the connector 31 according to the above-mentioned embodiment 2 have four contacts 13, 33 including a contact used as a shield terminal and a contact used as a signal terminal, but the number of contacts is not limited, and it is sufficient to have at least one contact electrically connected to the first flexible conductor arranged on the front side of the sheet body of the sheet-shaped conductive member 15, 25, 35 and the second flexible conductor arranged on the back side of the sheet body.

[0067] In the first and second embodiments described above, plug-type contacts 13, 33 are used, but the present invention is not limited to this, and similarly, a connector having receptacle-type contacts can also be configured. In connector 11 of embodiment 1, reinforcing sheet 14 is disposed between bottom insulator 16 and top insulator 17, but reinforcing sheet 14 can be omitted if there is no need to reinforce the mounting object, such as clothing, to which connector 11 is attached. Also, reinforcing sheet 14 as used in embodiment 1 may be disposed between bottom insulator 36 and top insulator 37 of connector 31 of embodiment 2. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 1 flexible substrate, 1A surface, 1B back surface, 1C cut end, 2 contact, 2A recess, 3 relay conductive member, 3A contact portion, 11, 31 connector, 12, 32 housing, 13, 33 contact, 13A, 33A cylindrical portion, 13B, 33B flange, 13C, 33C protrusion accommodating portion, 14 reinforcing sheet, 14A opening, 14B cutout, 15, 25, 35, 45, 55 sheet-like conductive member, 15A, 35A, 45A, 55A contact arrangement area, 15B, 16C through hole, 15C, 25C, 35C, 45C, 55C tongue-shaped portion, 15D, 25D, 45F, 55F insertion hole, 15E, 25E, 45E, 55E insertion portion, 16 Bottom insulator, 16A, 36A flat plate portion, 16B, 36B protrusion, 17 top insulator, 17A recess, 17B, 37A contact through hole, 17C boss, 18A sheet body, 18B signal wiring layer (third flexible conductor), 18C, 18E insulating layer, 18D shield layer (first flexible conductor), 18F shield layer (second flexible conductor), 35B, 45B, 55B opening, 35D, 45D, 55D protruding portion, 36C pressing portion, R1, R2 area, C contact connection portion.

Claims

1. A sheet-like conductive member extending along a predetermined plane and attached to a connector, an insulating sheet body; a first flexible conductor disposed on the front surface side of the sheet body and a second flexible conductor disposed on the back surface side of the sheet body; Equipped with the sheet-like conductive member has a tongue-like portion that protrudes in a tongue-like shape within the predetermined plane, a contact arrangement area in which contacts of the connector are arranged is defined on a surface of the sheet-like conductive member; the first flexible conductor is exposed in the contact arrangement area; the second flexible conductor is exposed on the back surface of the tongue-shaped portion; A sheet-shaped conductive member characterized in that a contact connection portion consisting of a portion of the first flexible conductor and a portion of the second flexible conductor is formed in the contact arrangement area by folding back at least a portion of the tongue-shaped portion toward the surface side of the sheet-shaped conductive member.

2. The sheet-shaped conductive member has an insertion hole penetrating from the front surface to the back surface thereof, the tongue-shaped portion has an insertion portion at a tip end that is wider than the insertion hole, 2. The sheet-shaped conductive member according to claim 1, wherein the folded tongue-shaped portion is held by inserting the insertion portion of the tongue-shaped portion folded over onto the surface side of the sheet-shaped conductive member into the insertion hole.

3. 3. The sheet-shaped conductive member according to claim 2, wherein the insertion holes are formed within the contact arrangement area.

4. 3. The sheet-shaped conductive member according to claim 2, wherein the insertion holes are formed outside the contact arrangement area.

5. The sheet-shaped conductive member according to claim 1 , wherein the tongue-shaped portion extends outside the contact arrangement area in a direction away from the contact arrangement area.

6. an opening formed in the contact placement area; The sheet-shaped conductive member according to claim 1 , wherein the tongue-shaped portion extends from a periphery of the contact arrangement region into the opening.

7. the sheet-like conductive member has, within the contact arrangement region, at least one protruding portion that protrudes from a periphery of the contact arrangement region into the opening within the predetermined plane; The sheet-shaped conductive member according to claim 6 , wherein the first flexible conductor is exposed on a surface of the at least one protruding portion.

8. 2. The sheet-shaped conductive member according to claim 1, further comprising a third flexible conductor disposed between the first flexible conductor and the second flexible conductor and electrically insulated from the first flexible conductor and the second flexible conductor.

9. The sheet-shaped conductive member according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the contact electrically connected to the contact connection portion formed of a part of the first flexible conductor and a part of the second flexible conductor in the contact arrangement region of the sheet-shaped conductive member; an insulating housing for holding the sheet-like conductive member and the contacts; A connector comprising: a first connector and a second connector;

10. The contact has a recessed projection receiving portion, the housing has a protrusion that is inserted into the protrusion accommodating portion of the contact, A connector as described in claim 9, wherein when the protrusion is inserted into the protrusion accommodating portion of the contact together with the sheet-shaped conductive member, the first flexible conductor and the second flexible conductor arranged in the contact arrangement area are sandwiched between the side of the protrusion and the inner surface of the protrusion accommodating portion in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction and come into contact with the inner surface of the protrusion accommodating portion, thereby electrically connecting the contact to the first flexible conductor and the second flexible conductor.

11. The contact has a cylindrical portion in which the protrusion accommodating portion is formed, and a flange formed at one end of the cylindrical portion, the housing has a top insulator in which a contact through-hole is formed, the contact through-hole being smaller than the flange and through which the cylindrical portion of the contact passes, and a bottom insulator in which the protrusion is formed, The connector of claim 10, wherein the sheet-like conductive member and the contact are held in the housing by passing the tubular portion of the contact through the contact through hole and fixing the top insulator to the bottom insulator so that the sheet-like conductive member and the flange are sandwiched between the top insulator and the bottom insulator.

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