Connector and vehicle wire harness

Abstract

To provide a connector and a vehicle wire harness capable of improving the degree of freedom in arrangement of terminals while suppressing increase in cost and size.SOLUTION: Provided is a connector 100 in which a first connector 51 and a second connector 61 are connectable. The first connector 51 has a first terminal 71A at the second connector 61 side and has a second terminal 71B at an opposite side to the second connector 61. The second connector 61 has a first terminal 71A at the first connector 51 side and has a second terminal 71B at an opposite side to the first connector 51. When the first connector 51 and the second connector 61 are fitted to a first connector fitting part 11 and a second connector fitting part 12 arranged on the same lateral face of a housing 10 in one direction, the first terminals of the first connector 51 and the second connector 61 are connected with terminal parts 32 of a first bus bar 31, and the second terminals 71B of the first connector 51 and the second connector 61 are connected with terminal parts 42 of a second bus bar 41.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector and a vehicle wire harness. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 shows a joint connector that has multiple bus bars and uses these bus bars to join multiple systems.This joint connector has multiple built-in bus bars, which makes it possible to reduce the size and improve assembly ease.

[0003] Patent Document 2 also shows a joint connector that includes a plurality of connection terminals and an inter-terminal connection part that is made of a multilayer substrate and electrically connects the connection terminals together. This joint connector improves the degree of freedom in arranging the terminals by shorting the circuit using the inter-terminal connection part made of the built-in multilayer substrate. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-204463 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-160235 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the joint connector described in Patent Document 1, circuits of the same system must be arranged adjacent to each other, which reduces the degree of freedom in arranging the terminals, and therefore requires that the mating connector be divided into small poles.

[0006] In contrast, the joint connector described in Patent Document 2 above improves the degree of freedom in arranging terminals, but because it has a structure that incorporates a multilayer board, the increase in components leads to increased costs and an increase in size.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its object is to provide a connector and a vehicle wire harness that can improve the freedom of terminal arrangement while suppressing increases in cost and size. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The above object of the present invention can be achieved by the following configuration.

[0009] A connector capable of connecting a first connector and a second connector, each having a first terminal of a wire harness functioning as a first bus and a second terminal of a wire harness functioning as a second bus, a housing in which first connector fitting portions and second connector fitting portions into which the first connector and the second connector are fitted are arranged in one direction on the same side surface; a first bus bar having a plurality of terminal portions extending in the same direction from a connection portion, the plurality of terminal portions being held in the housing in a state where they are arranged in the one direction; a second bus bar having a plurality of terminal portions extending in the same direction from a connection portion, the plurality of terminal portions being arranged in the one direction and separated on both outer sides of the terminal portions of the first bus bar and held in the housing; Equipped with the connection portion of the first bus bar and the connection portion of the second bus bar are held by the housing so as to be aligned at intervals in the extension direction of the terminal portions at the same positions in the one direction and in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the terminal portions, the first connector has the first terminal on the second connector side and the second terminal on the opposite side to the second connector, the second connector has the first terminal on the first connector side and the second terminal on the opposite side to the first connector, By fitting the first connector and the second connector into the first connector fitting portion and the second connector fitting portion, the first terminals of the first connector and the second connector are connected to the terminal portion of the first bus bar, and the second terminals of the first connector and the second connector are connected to the terminal portion of the second bus bar. connector. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector and a vehicle wire harness that can improve the degree of freedom in arranging terminals while suppressing increases in cost and size.

[0011] The present invention has been briefly described above. The details of the present invention will become clearer by reading the following detailed description of the invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector and a mating connector according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connector and the mating connector according to the first embodiment taken along the horizontal direction. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the connector according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to the first embodiment in an exploded state taken along the vertical direction. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a circuit using the connector according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a circuit using a connector according to a reference example. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a connector and a mating connector according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the connector and the mating connector according to the second embodiment taken along the horizontal direction. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the connector according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly procedure of the connector according to the second embodiment. [Figure 12]FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly procedure of the connector according to the second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a vehicle illustrating a vehicle wire harness provided with a connector according to this embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram of a connection portion between an instrument panel W / H and an engine room W / H connected using a connector according to this embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram of a connection portion between an instrument panel W / H and an engine room W / H connected without using a connector according to this embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0014] (First embodiment) Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a connector and a mating connector according to a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the connector and the mating connector according to the first embodiment. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the connector according to the first embodiment. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the connector according to the first embodiment in an exploded state.

[0015] 1 to 5, a connector 100 according to this embodiment includes a housing 10, a first bus bar 31, and a second bus bar 41. The housing 10 is molded from an insulating synthetic resin, and is provided with a first connector fitting portion 11 and a second connector fitting portion 12. The first connector fitting portion 11 and the second connector fitting portion 12 are formed in a concave shape, and are arranged on the front side of the housing 10 in one direction, that is, the width direction.

[0016] A first connector 51 and a second connector 61, which are mating connectors, are fitted into the first connector fitting portion 11 and the second connector fitting portion 12. As a result, the first connector 51 and the second connector 61 are connected to the front portion of the connector 100.

[0017] The housing 10 of the connector 100 has a pair of bus bar accommodating portions 23 spaced apart in the height direction. Each of the pair of bus bar accommodating portions 23 has a first groove 24 and a plurality of second grooves 25 that open toward the first connector fitting portion 11 and the second connector fitting portion 12. The first groove 24 is formed along the width direction of the housing 10. The second grooves 25 are formed upward along the height direction of the housing 10. These second grooves 25 are spaced apart in the width direction of the housing 10 and are each connected to the first groove 24. The second grooves 25 have a smaller depth dimension than the first grooves 24.

[0018] The housing 10 has guide grooves 26 and locking grooves 27 formed along the front-to-rear direction of the housing 10 on the inner surface above the recesses that become the first connector fitting portion 11 and the second connector fitting portion 12. The guide grooves 26 are formed on both sides and in the center of the recesses that become the first connector fitting portion 11 and the second connector fitting portion 12, and the center guide groove 26 has a width wider than the guide grooves 26 on both sides. The locking groove 27 is provided between the guide grooves 26 and has a locking portion (not shown) on the back side.

[0019] The first bus bars 31 and the second bus bars 41 are each formed from a conductive metal material, and each are provided in pairs.

[0020] The first bus bar 31 has a plurality of (four in this example) terminal portions 32 extending in the same direction, and a connection portion 33 connecting these terminal portions 32. The terminal portions 32 are arranged at equal intervals. The connection portion 33 of the first bus bar 31 has ribs 34 at both ends. The ribs 34 are provided by bending the vicinity of both ends of the connection portion 33 in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the terminal portions 32, and the ribs 34 have locking projections 35 formed on their end faces.

[0021] The second bus bar 41 has a plurality of (four in this example) terminal portions 42 extending in the same direction, and a connection portion 43 connecting these terminal portions 42. The plurality of terminal portions 42 also extend in the same direction as the plurality of terminal portions 32 of the first bus bar 31. The terminal portions 42 have a length dimension greater than that of the terminal portions 32 of the first bus bar 31, and are arranged in pairs near both ends of the connection portion 43 with a gap therebetween. The space between each pair of terminal portions 42 has a dimension that allows the first bus bar 31 to be placed therebetween. The connection portion 43 of the second bus bar 41 has ribs 44 at both ends. The ribs 44 have locking projections 45 formed on their end faces.

[0022] In the housing 10, the second bus bar 41 and the first bus bar 31 are housed and held in the bus bar housing portion 23 in this order. To accommodate the second bus bar 41 in the housing 10, the second bus bar 41 is inserted into the bus bar accommodating portion 23 from the connection portion 43 side. When the connection portion 43 of the second bus bar 41 is inserted into the bus bar accommodating portion 23, the connection portion 43 is pushed all the way into the first groove portion 24 of the bus bar accommodating portion 23, and the ribs 44 having locking protrusions 45 on both ends of the connection portion 43 press against the inner surfaces of both ends of the first groove portion 24. As a result, the second bus bar 41 is accommodated in a press-fit state in the bus bar accommodating portion 23. In this state, the terminal portions 42 of the second bus bar 41 are disposed in the first connector fitting portion 11 and the second connector fitting portion 12 of the housing 10.

[0023] To accommodate the first bus bar 31 in the housing 10, the first bus bar 31 is inserted into the bus bar accommodating portion 23 from the connection portion 33 side. At this time, the first bus bar 31 is inserted into the bus bar accommodating portion 23 from between the pair of terminal portions 42 of the second bus bar 41 accommodated in the housing 10. When the connection portion 33 of the first bus bar 31 is inserted into the bus bar accommodating portion 23, the connection portion 33 is pressed into the first groove portion 24 of the bus bar accommodating portion 23, and the ribs 34 having locking protrusions 35 at both ends of the connection portion 33 are pressed into the second groove portion 25. As a result, the inner surfaces of the ends of the second groove portion 25 are pressed by the ribs 34, and the first bus bar 31 is accommodated in a press-fit state in the bus bar accommodating portion 23. In this state, the ribs 34 abut against the end surfaces of the second groove portion 25 in the depth direction, restricting movement of the first bus bar 31 in the insertion direction into the bus bar accommodating portion 23. Therefore, the first bus bar 31 is accommodated in the bus bar accommodating portion 23 without contacting the second bus bar 41 that was previously accommodated in the bus bar accommodating portion 23, and the terminal portion 32 is positioned within the first connector fitting portion 11 and the second connector fitting portion 12 of the housing 10.

[0024] Then, with the first bus bar 31 and the second bus bar 41 accommodated in this bus bar accommodating portion 23, terminal portions 42 are arranged on both sides of terminal portion 32. Furthermore, the terminal portions 32, 42 have the same protruding dimensions from base portions 10a of first connector fitting portion 11 and second connector fitting portion 12.

[0025] A first connector 51 and a second connector 61, which are mating connectors, are fitted into a first connector fitting portion 11 and a second connector fitting portion 12 of the connector 100. The first connector 51 is connected to an end of a first wire harness 52, and the second connector 61 is connected to an end of a second wire harness 62.

[0026] The first wire harness 52 and the second wire harness 62 constitute, for example, a CAN communication circuit of an in-vehicle LAN, and include twisted pair electric wires that are a pair of communication lines that constitute a balanced communication line for differential transmission.

[0027] The first wire harness 52 has two pairs of twisted pair electric wires 70A that form the first bus and two pairs of twisted pair electric wires 70B that form the second bus, while the second wire harness 62 has one pair of twisted pair electric wires 70A that form the first bus and one pair of twisted pair electric wires 70B that form the second bus.

[0028] One wire of the twisted pair electric wire 70A constituting the first bus is a communication line constituting the CAN-H circuit, and the other wire is a communication line constituting the CAN-L circuit. A first terminal 71A is connected to an end of the twisted pair electric wire 70A constituting the first bus.

[0029] Similarly, one wire of twisted pair electric wire 70B constituting the second bus is a communication line constituting the CAN-H circuit, and the other wire is a communication line constituting the CAN-L circuit. A second terminal 71B is connected to an end of twisted pair electric wire 70B constituting the second bus.

[0030] The first connector 51 has a first terminal 71A on the second connector 61 side that is connected to the twisted pair wires 70A of the wire harness 52 that functions as the first bus, and a second terminal 71B on the opposite side of the second connector 61 that is connected to the twisted pair wires 70B of the wire harness 52 that functions as the second bus.

[0031] Similarly, the second connector 61 has a first terminal 71A on the first connector 51 side that is connected to the twisted pair wire 70A of the wire harness 62 that functions as the first bus, and a second terminal 71B on the opposite side of the first connector 51 that is connected to the twisted pair wire 70B of the wire harness 62 that functions as the second bus.

[0032] The first connector 51 and the second connector 61 each have a guide ridge 75 and a locking projection 76 at their top. The guide ridges 75 are provided on both sides in the width direction at the top of the first connector 51 and the second connector 61, and are formed along the fitting direction of the connector 100 to the first connector fitting portion 11 and the second connector fitting portion 12.

[0033] The locking protrusion 76 is provided in the widthwise center of the upper part of the first connector 51 and the second connector 61, and is formed on the front side in the mating direction with the first connector mating portion 11 and the second connector mating portion 12 of the connector 100.

[0034] The guide ridges 75 of the first connector 51 and the second connector 61 enter the guide grooves 26 of the housing 10 when they are mated with the first connector mating portion 11 and the second connector mating portion 12 of the connector 100. This allows the first connector 51 and the second connector 61 to be mated while being guided relative to the housing 10.

[0035] Furthermore, when the first connector 51 and the second connector 61 are fitted into the first connector fitting portion 11 and the second connector fitting portion 12 of the connector 100, the locking protrusions 76 passed through the locking grooves 27 are locked into the locking portions of the locking grooves 27 of the housing 10. This locks the first connector 51 and the second connector 61 in a fitted state with respect to the first connector fitting portion 11 and the second connector fitting portion 12 of the connector 100.

[0036] When the first connector 51 and the second connector 61 are mated with the first connector mating portion 11 and the second connector mating portion 12 of the connector 100, the first terminal 71A of the twisted pair electric wire 70A constituting the first bus is connected to the terminal portion 32 of the first bus bar 31, and the second terminal 71B of the twisted pair electric wire 70B constituting the second bus is connected to the terminal portion 42 of the second bus bar 41. As a result, the communication lines of the first wire harness 52 and the communication lines of the second wire harness 62 are all connected for each bus.

[0037] Therefore, the first wire harness 52 and the second wire harness 62 are relay-connected via the first bus bar 31 and the second bus bar 41 within the housing 10, and the communication lines of the first wire harness 52 and the communication lines of the second wire harness 62 are branch-connected.

[0038] Here, a circuit configuration in a branched connection of a wire harness will be described. 6 and 7 show an example of a branch connection between a sub-wire harness W1 of an electrical component D1 and a sub-wire harness W23 of electrical components D2 and D3. The sub-wire harnesses W1 and W23 include twisted pair electric wires 70A and 70B connected to the first bus bar 31 and the second bus bar 41, respectively.

[0039] 6, when the connector 100 according to this embodiment is used, a connecting connector Ca is provided on the sub-wire harness W1, and a connecting connector Cb is provided on the sub-wire harness W23. Then, by connecting the connecting connectors Ca and Cb provided on the sub-wire harnesses W1 and W23 to the connector 100, the sub-wire harnesses W1 and W23 can be branched and connected.

[0040] 7, when a connector 100A is used in which a first bus bar 31 and a second bus bar 41 having the same shape as the first bus bar 31 are arranged side by side in the width direction, a connecting connector Cc is provided on the sub-wire harness W1, and connecting connectors Cd and Ce are provided on the sub-wire harness W23. The connecting connectors Cc, Cd, and Ce provided on the sub-wire harnesses W1 and W23 are then connected to the connector 100A. This increases the number of parts required for the branch connection.

[0041] As described above, according to the connector 100 of the first embodiment, by mating the first connector 51 and the second connector 61 with the first connector mating portion 11 and the second connector mating portion 12 provided on the same side of the housing 10 along one width direction, the first terminals 71A of the wire harnesses 52, 62 constituting the first bus can be connected to the terminal portions 32 of the first bus bar 31, and the second terminals 71B of the wire harnesses 52, 62 constituting the second bus can be connected to the terminal portions 42 of the second bus bar 41. This saves space, relays the wire harnesses 52, 62 via the first bus bar 31 and the second bus bar 41 in the housing 10, and further allows branch connections between the communication lines of the wire harnesses 52, 62. This improves the flexibility of terminal arrangement and the ease of assembly, while suppressing increases in cost due to increases in size and the number of parts.

[0042] Furthermore, since the first bus bar 31 can be held in the bus bar accommodating portion 23 just before the second bus bar 41, the first bus bar 31 and the second bus bar 41 can be held in the bus bar accommodating portion 23 without being short-circuited.

[0043] Moreover, the ribs 34, 44 provided on the connection portions 33, 43 of the first bus bar 31 and the second bus bar 41 can increase the holding force of the first bus bar 31 and the second bus bar 41 in the bus bar accommodating portion 23.

[0044] (Second embodiment) Next, a connector according to a second embodiment will be described. The same components as those in the connector 100 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a connector and a mating connector according to the second embodiment, Fig. 9 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the connector and the mating connector according to the second embodiment, and Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the connector according to the second embodiment.

[0045] 8 to 10, a connector 200 according to the second embodiment includes a housing 10A that is made up of a front housing 13, an inner housing 14, and a rear cover 15. The first connector fitting portion 11 and the second connector fitting portion 12 are provided in the front housing 13 of the housing 10A and are separated from each other by a partition wall 13a. The rear cover 15 is formed in a recessed shape that is open on the front side, and is attached by covering the rear portion of the front housing 13.

[0046] The connector 200 also includes a plurality of ferrite pieces 17 each having a rectangular shape in front view and each having two insertion holes 16, and these ferrite pieces 17 are attached to the inner housing 14. The ferrite pieces 17 suppress disturbances (ringing) in communication waveforms in high-speed communication circuits, and are preferably made of a material containing Ni-Zn as an ingredient. The ferrite pieces 17 may also be made of Mn-Zn ferrite, silicon steel plate, permalloy, or amorphous metal magnetic material, which have low material resistance.

[0047] The front housing 13 has an accommodating recess 81 at its rear, and the inner housing 14 is assembled to this accommodating recess 81. The front housing 13 has a partition wall 82 that separates the first connector fitting portion 11 and the second connector fitting portion 12 from the accommodating recess 81, and this partition wall 82 has terminal insertion holes 83 formed therein, through which the terminal portions 32 of the first bus bar 31 and the terminal portions 42 of the second bus bar 41 are inserted.

[0048] The inner housing 14 has a plurality of ferrite holding portions 85 made of recesses at the front portion where it is assembled to the front housing 13, and the ferrite 17 is fitted into these ferrite holding portions 85 and attached.

[0049] The inner housing 14 also has a pair of first grooves 86 for fitting the first bus bars 31 and a pair of second grooves 87 for fitting the second bus bars 41. The first grooves 86 are formed in the center of the width direction in the front part of the inner housing 14 and are spaced apart in the vertical direction. The second grooves 87 are formed in the rear part of the inner housing 14 and are spaced apart in the vertical direction.

[0050] The inner housing 14 has a plurality of holes 88 that communicate with the second grooves 87. These holes 88 are formed at positions corresponding to the terminals 42 of the second bus bars 41 that are attached to the inner housing 14.

[0051] The connection portion 33 of the first bus bar 31 is press-fitted into the first groove 86, and the connection portion 43 of the second bus bar 41 is press-fitted into the second groove 87. The connection portion 33 of the first bus bar 31 press-fitted into the first groove 86 extends laterally without bending both ends. This connection portion 33 has ribs 34 at both ends, and locking projections 35 are formed on the end faces of the ribs 34.

[0052] To attach the first bus bar 31 to the inner housing 14, the first bus bar 31 is inserted into the first groove 86 from the connecting portion 33 side. When the connecting portion 33 of the first bus bar 31 is inserted into the first groove 86, the ribs 34 having the locking projections 35 on both ends of the connecting portion 33 press against the inner surfaces of both ends of the first groove 86. As a result, the first bus bar 31 is attached to the inner housing 14 with the connecting portion 33 pressed into the first groove 86.

[0053] To attach the second bus bar 41 to the inner housing 14, first, the second bus bar 41 is brought close to the rear side of the inner housing 14 with the terminal portion 42 facing the inner housing 14, and the terminal portion 42 is inserted into the hole 88. Then, the second bus bar 41 is pushed toward the inner housing 14, thereby inserting the connection portion 43 of the second bus bar 41 into the second groove 87. Then, the ribs 44 having the locking protrusions 45 on both ends of the connection portion 43 press against the inner surfaces of both ends of the second groove 87. As a result, the second bus bar 41 is attached to the inner housing 14 with the connection portion 43 pressed into the second groove 87.

[0054] Figure 11 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly procedure of the connector according to the second embodiment. Figure 12 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly procedure of the connector according to the second embodiment.

[0055] 11, the first bus bar 31 and the second bus bar 41 are first assembled to the inner housing 14. Then, the terminal portions 32 of the first bus bar 31 and 42 of the second bus bar 41 protrude forward of the inner housing 14 by the same amount.

[0056] Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the multiple ferrites 17 are fitted into and held in the ferrite holding portion 85 of the inner housing 14 while the terminal portion 32 of the first bus bar 31 or the terminal portion 42 of the second bus bar 41 is passed through the insertion hole 16.

[0057] Thereafter, the inner housing 14 is assembled to the accommodating recess 81 of the front housing 13 while the terminal portions 32 of the first bus bar 31 and the terminal portions 42 of the second bus bar 41 are passed through the terminal insertion holes 83 of the partition wall 82. Then, the rear cover 15 is attached to the rear of the front housing 13 to which the inner housing 14 has been assembled. In this way, the connector 200 equipped with the plurality of ferrites 17 is assembled.

[0058] In the case of the connector 200 according to the second embodiment, by mating the first connector 51 and the second connector 61 with the first connector mating portion 11 and the second connector mating portion 12 of the housing 10A, the first terminals 71A of the wire harnesses 52, 62 constituting the first bus can be connected to the terminal portions 32 of the first bus bar 31, and the second terminals 71B of the wire harnesses 52, 62 constituting the second bus can be connected to the terminal portions 42 of the second bus bar 41. This saves space, relays the wire harnesses 52, 62 to each other via the first bus bar 31 and the second bus bar 41 in the housing 10A, and further allows branch connections between the communication lines of the wire harnesses 52, 62. This improves the flexibility of terminal arrangement and the ease of assembly, while suppressing increases in cost due to increases in size and the number of parts.

[0059] Furthermore, according to the connector 200 of the second embodiment, the first bus bar 31 and the second bus bar 41 can be held in the inner housing 14 provided in the housing 10A, thereby improving the workability of assembling the first bus bar 31 and the second bus bar 41.

[0060] Furthermore, since the terminal portions 32, 42 of the first bus bar 31 and the second bus bar 41 are inserted into the insertion hole 16 of the ferrite 17 held in the ferrite holding portion 85 of the inner housing 14, disturbance (ringing) of the communication waveform in the high-speed communication circuit can be suppressed.

[0061] Next, application examples of the connectors 100 and 200 according to the first and second embodiments will be described. FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a vehicle illustrating a vehicle wire harness provided with a connector according to this embodiment.

[0062] 13, the connectors 100, 200 according to the first and second embodiments are used, for example, in the connection portions of an engine room W / H, an instrument panel W / H, and a floor W / H of a vehicle S. The engine room W / H is a wire harness connected to electrical equipment provided in the engine room of the vehicle S, the instrument panel W / H is a wire harness connected to electrical equipment provided in the instrument panel of the vehicle S, and the floor W / H is a wire harness connected to electrical equipment provided on the floor of the vehicle S.

[0063] In the vehicle S, the engine room W / H and the instrument panel W / H are connected by connectors 100, 200, and the instrument panel W / H and the floor W / H are also connected by connectors 100, 200. As a result, in the vehicle S, the engine room W / H, the instrument panel W / H, and the floor W / H are connected by connectors 100, 200 to form a vehicle wire harness that allows electrical components to communicate with each other. In other words, the vehicle S has multiple areas such as the engine room, the instrument panel, and the floor, and a wire harness is routed in each area. The connectors 100, 200 are capable of connecting the wire harnesses in each area.

[0064] FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram of a connection portion between an instrument panel W / H and an engine room W / H connected using a connector according to this embodiment. 14, connectors 100, 200 according to this embodiment and a relay connector 300 are provided at the connection between the engine room W / H and the instrument panel W / H. The communication lines Wc of the engine room W / H and the instrument panel W / H are connected to each other by the connectors 100, 200 for each bus, and other electric wires Wo such as signal lines are connected to each other by the relay connector 300.

[0065] FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram of a connection portion between an instrument panel W / H and an engine room W / H connected without using a connector according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 15, when the connectors 100, 200 according to this embodiment are not used in the connection between the engine room W / H and the instrument panel W / H, a relay connector 400 is used to connect the electric wires Wo to each other. Furthermore, a plurality of joint connectors 500 are used for connecting the communication lines Wc of the instrument panel W / H to the communication lines Wc of the engine room W / H for each bus. In this way, when the connectors 100, 200 are not used, a large relay connector 400 is required, as well as a plurality of joint connectors 500 for connecting the communication lines Wc to each bus, and electric wires Wl for connecting the relay connectors 400 and the joint connectors 500 are also required.

[0066] In this way, by using the connectors 100, 200 at the connection between the engine room W / H and the instrument panel W / H, the connectors 100, 200 can relay and branch circuits, thereby reducing the number of parts and saving space.

[0067] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified, improved, etc. Furthermore, the material, shape, size, number, location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary and not limited as long as they can achieve the present invention.

[0068] Here, the features of the connector and the vehicle wire harness according to the embodiment of the present invention described above will be briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [6]. [1] A connector (100, 200) capable of connecting a first connector (51) and a second connector (61) having a first terminal (71A) of a wire harness (52) functioning as a first bus and a second terminal (71B) of a wire harness (62) functioning as a second bus, a housing (10, 10A) in which a first connector fitting portion (11) and a second connector fitting portion (12) into which the first connector (51) and the second connector (61) are fitted are arranged in one direction on the same side; a first bus bar (31) having a plurality of terminal portions (32) extending in the same direction from a connection portion (33), the plurality of terminal portions (32) being held in the housing (10, 10A) in a state where they are arranged in the same direction; a second bus bar (41) having a plurality of terminal portions (42) extending in the same direction from a connection portion (43), the plurality of terminal portions (42) being arranged in the one direction and separately disposed on both outer sides of the terminal portions (32) of the first bus bar (31), and held in the housing (10, 10A); Equipped with the first connector (51) has the first terminal (71A) on the second connector (61) side and the second terminal (71B) on the opposite side to the second connector (61); the second connector (61) has the first terminal (71A) on the side of the first connector (51) and the second terminal (71B) on the side opposite to the first connector (51); By fitting the first connector (51) and the second connector (61) into the first connector fitting portion (11) and the second connector fitting portion (12), the first terminals (71A) of the first connector (51) and the second connector (61) are connected to the terminal portion (32) of the first bus bar (31), and the second terminals (71B) of the first connector (51) and the second connector (61) are connected to the terminal portion (42) of the second bus bar (41). connector.

[0069] According to the connector having the configuration [1] above, by mating the first connector and the second connector with the first connector mating portion and the second connector mating portion provided in one direction on the same side of the housing, the first terminal of the wire harness constituting the first bus can be connected to the terminal portion of the first bus bar, and the second terminal of the wire harness constituting the second bus can be connected to the terminal portion of the second bus bar. This saves space, allows relay connections between wire harnesses via the first bus bar and the second bus bar in the housing, and further allows branch connections between communication lines of the wire harnesses. This improves the flexibility of terminal arrangement and assembly workability while suppressing cost increases due to increases in size and the number of parts.

[0070] [2] The housing (10) has a bus bar accommodating portion (23) that holds the first bus bar (31) and the second bus bar (41), the bus bar accommodating portion (23) has a first groove portion (24) extending along the one direction and a second groove portion (25) extending from the first groove portion (24) in a direction intersecting the one direction and the extending direction of the terminal portions (32, 42), The second bus bar (41) is held in the bus bar accommodating portion (23) with the connecting portion (43) press-fitted into the first groove portion (24), The first bus bar (31) has a portion at the connection portion (33) that protrudes in the one direction and in a direction intersecting an extending direction of the terminal portion (32), and the connection portion (33) is press-fitted into the first groove portion (24) and the second groove portion (25) and is held in the bus bar accommodating portion (23) before the second bus bar (41). The connector according to [1] above.

[0071] According to the connector having the configuration [2] above, the second bus bar can be easily held in the bus bar accommodating portion by press-fitting the connection portion of the second bus bar into the first groove, and the first bus bar can be easily held in the bus bar accommodating portion by press-fitting the connection portion of the first bus bar into the first and second grooves. Furthermore, since the first bus bar can be held in the bus bar accommodating portion just before the second bus bar, the first bus bar and the second bus bar can be held in the bus bar accommodating portion without short-circuiting.

[0072] [3] The connection portion (33) of the first bus bar (31) has a rib (34) that projects in a direction intersecting the one direction and the extending direction of the terminal portion (32) and presses an inner surface at an end of the second groove portion (25), The connection portion (43) of the second bus bar (41) has ribs (44) that protrude outward from both ends and press against inner surfaces of both ends of the first groove portion (24). The connector according to [2] above.

[0073] According to the connector having the configuration [3] above, it is possible to increase the holding force of the first bus bar and the second bus bar, whose connection portions are press-fitted and held in the bus bar accommodating portions.

[0074] [4] The housing (10A) includes an inner housing (14), The inner housing (14) has a first groove (86) that holds the connection portion (33) of the first bus bar (31) that is inserted from the side of the first connector fitting portion (11) and the second connector fitting portion (12), and a second groove (87) that holds the connection portion (43) of the second bus bar (41) that is inserted from the side opposite to the first connector fitting portion (11) and the second connector fitting portion (12). The connector according to [1] above.

[0075] According to the connector having the configuration [4] above, the first bus bar and the second bus bar can be held in the inner housing provided in the housing, thereby improving the workability of assembling the first bus bar and the second bus bar.

[0076] [5] The housing (10A) includes a plurality of ferrites (17) having insertion holes (16) through which the terminal portions (32, 42) of the first bus bar (31) and the second bus bar (41) can be inserted, The ferrite (17) is held by a ferrite holding portion (85) formed in the inner housing (14), and the terminal portions (32, 42) of the first bus bar (31) and the second bus bar (41) are inserted into the insertion holes (16). The connector according to [4] above.

[0077] According to the connector having the configuration [5] above, the terminal portions of the first bus bar and the second bus bar are inserted into the insertion holes of the ferrite held in the ferrite holding portion of the inner housing, thereby suppressing disturbance (ringing) of the communication waveform in the high-speed communication circuit.

[0078] [6] A vehicle wire harness comprising the connector (100, 200) according to any one of [1] to [5] above, a first wire harness (instrument panel W / H) connected to the first terminal (71A) and the second terminal (71B) of the first connector (51) and connected to an electrical component installed in a first area of ​​the vehicle; a second wire harness (engine room W / H) connected to the first terminal (71A) and the second terminal (71B) of the second connector (61) and connected to an electrical component installed in a second area of ​​the vehicle; Equipped with The first connector (51) of the first wire harness (instrument panel W / H) is fitted into the first connector fitting portion (11), and the second connector (61) of the second wire harness (engine room W / H) is fitted into the second connector fitting portion (12). Vehicle wiring harness.

[0079] According to the vehicle wire harness having the configuration [6] above, by fitting the first connector of the first wire harness of the vehicle into the first connector fitting portion and fitting the second connector of the second wire harness of the vehicle into the second connector fitting portion, a vehicle wire harness in which the first wire harness and the second wire harness are connected in a relay connection and a branch connection can be easily constructed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 10,10A housing 10a base 11 First connector fitting portion 12 Second connector mating portion 13 Front housing 13a Wall 14 Inner housing 15 Rear cover 16 Insertion hole 17 Ferrite 23 Bus bar housing 24 First groove 25 Second groove 26 Guide groove 27 Locking groove 31 First bus bar 32 Terminal section 33 Connection 34 Ribs 35,45 Locking protrusion 41 Second bus bar 42 Terminal section 43 Connection 44 Ribs 51 First Connector 52 First wire harness (wire harness) 61 Second Connector 62 Second wire harness (wire harness) 70A, 70B twisted pair wire 71A 1st terminal 71B 2nd terminal 75 Guide ridge 76 Locking protrusion 85 Ferrite retainer 86 First groove 87 Second groove 100,200 connectors 300 relay connector

Claims

1. A connector capable of connecting a first connector and a second connector, the first connector having a first terminal of a wire harness functioning as a first bus and a second terminal of a wire harness functioning as a second bus, a housing in which first connector fitting portions and second connector fitting portions into which the first connector and the second connector are fitted are arranged in one direction on the same side surface; a first bus bar having a plurality of terminal portions extending in the same direction from a connection portion, the plurality of terminal portions being held in the housing in a state where they are arranged in the one direction; a second bus bar having a plurality of terminal portions extending in the same direction from a connection portion, the plurality of terminal portions being arranged in the one direction and separated on both outer sides of the terminal portions of the first bus bar and held in the housing; Equipped with the connection portion of the first bus bar and the connection portion of the second bus bar are held by the housing so as to be aligned at intervals in the extension direction of the terminal portions at the same positions in the one direction and in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the terminal portions, the first connector has the first terminal on a side of the second connector and the second terminal on a side opposite to the second connector, the second connector has the first terminal on a side of the first connector and the second terminal on a side opposite to the first connector, By fitting the first connector and the second connector into the first connector fitting portion and the second connector fitting portion, the first terminals of the first connector and the second connector are connected to the terminal portion of the first bus bar, and the second terminals of the first connector and the second connector are connected to the terminal portion of the second bus bar. connector.

2. A connector capable of connecting a first connector and a second connector having a first terminal of a wire harness functioning as a first bus and a second terminal of a wire harness functioning as a second bus, a housing in which first connector fitting portions and second connector fitting portions into which the first connector and the second connector are fitted are arranged in one direction on the same side surface; a first bus bar having a plurality of terminal portions extending in the same direction from a connection portion, the plurality of terminal portions being held in the housing in a state where they are arranged in the one direction; a second bus bar having a plurality of terminal portions extending in the same direction from a connection portion, the plurality of terminal portions being arranged in the one direction and separated on both outer sides of the terminal portions of the first bus bar and held in the housing; Equipped with the first connector has the first terminal on a side of the second connector and the second terminal on a side opposite to the second connector, the second connector has the first terminal on a side of the first connector and the second terminal on a side opposite to the first connector, By fitting the first connector and the second connector into the first connector fitting portion and the second connector fitting portion, the first terminals of the first connector and the second connector are connected to the terminal portion of the first bus bar, and the second terminals of the first connector and the second connector are connected to the terminal portion of the second bus bar, the housing has a bus bar accommodating portion that holds the first bus bar and the second bus bar, the bus bar accommodating portion has a first groove portion extending along the one direction and a second groove portion extending from the first groove portion in a direction intersecting the one direction and an extending direction of the terminal portion, the second bus bar is held in the bus bar accommodating portion by press-fitting the connection portion into the first groove portion, the first bus bar has a portion that protrudes from the connection portion in the one direction and in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the terminal portion, and the connection portion is press-fitted into the first groove portion and the second groove portion and is held in the bus bar accommodating portion before the second bus bar; connector.

3. a portion of the connection portion of the first bus bar that protrudes in the one direction and in a direction intersecting with the extending direction of the terminal portion serves as a rib that presses an inner surface at an end of the second groove portion, the connection portion of the second bus bar has ribs that protrude outward from both ends and press against inner surfaces of the first groove portion at both ends. The connector according to claim 2 .

4. A connector capable of connecting a first connector and a second connector having a first terminal of a wire harness functioning as a first bus and a second terminal of a wire harness functioning as a second bus, a housing in which first connector fitting portions and second connector fitting portions into which the first connector and the second connector are fitted are arranged in one direction on the same side surface; a first bus bar having a plurality of terminal portions extending in the same direction from a connection portion, the plurality of terminal portions being held in the housing in a state where they are arranged in the one direction; a second bus bar having a plurality of terminal portions extending in the same direction from a connection portion, the plurality of terminal portions being arranged in the one direction and separated on both outer sides of the terminal portions of the first bus bar and held in the housing; Equipped with the first connector has the first terminal on a side of the second connector and the second terminal on a side opposite to the second connector, the second connector has the first terminal on a side of the first connector and the second terminal on a side opposite to the first connector, By fitting the first connector and the second connector into the first connector fitting portion and the second connector fitting portion, the first terminals of the first connector and the second connector are connected to the terminal portion of the first bus bar, and the second terminals of the first connector and the second connector are connected to the terminal portion of the second bus bar, The housing includes an inner housing, the inner housing has a first groove portion that holds the connection portion of the first bus bar inserted from the side of the first connector fitting portion and the second connector fitting portion, and a second groove portion that holds the connection portion of the second bus bar inserted from the side opposite to the first connector fitting portion and the second connector fitting portion. connector.

5. the housing includes a plurality of ferrite pieces each having an insertion hole through which the terminal portions of the first bus bar and the second bus bar can be inserted, The ferrite is held in a ferrite holding portion formed in the inner housing, the terminal portions of the first bus bar and the second bus bar are inserted into the insertion holes; The connector according to claim 4.

6. A vehicle wire harness comprising the connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, a first wire harness connected to the first terminal and the second terminal of the first connector and connected to an electrical component installed in a first area of ​​the vehicle; a second wire harness connected to the first terminal and the second terminal of the second connector and connected to an electrical component installed in a second area of ​​the vehicle; Equipped with The first connector of the first wire harness is fitted into the first connector fitting portion, and the second connector of the second wire harness is fitted into the second connector fitting portion. Vehicle wiring harness.

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