connector

Abstract

To easily manufacture even a connector for relaying a plurality of electric wires.SOLUTION: A connector for connecting cords including a signal line and a ground line to each other, the connector comprising: a signal contact and a ground contact which are electrically conductive and respectively connected to contacts of a mating connector; a conductive shell surrounding a connection portion with a signal line of its own cord in the signal contact; and a conductive spring connection portion provided between the ground contact and the shell and elastically deformed to electrically connect both.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a connector capable of branching a cord including a ground wire into a plurality of cords.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a connector used for acquiring biological information, a relay connector that connects a plurality of induction cords connected to electrodes worn on the human body together and connects them to a measuring device is known (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] Inside such a connector, generally, a plurality of cords bundled into one cord on the device side and output terminals respectively connected to the plurality of branched cords are directly wired for each corresponding terminal (see Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] By the way, when relaying one cord from the measuring device side and induction cords connected to a plurality of electrodes as in a conventional relay connector, since each electrode has two electric wires, a signal wire and a ground wire, the connector requires a terminal for connecting two electric wires for each induction cord of the electrode.

[0006] As a result, with conventional relay connectors, it is necessary to connect the signal lines and ground lines of each of the multiple cords in the input cord to the corresponding multiple connection terminals for each of the multiple induction cords. Therefore, there was a problem in that the work was time-consuming each time a connection was made.

[0007] This invention has been made in view of the above, and aims to provide a connector that can be easily manufactured even when multiple electric wires are relayed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One embodiment of the connector of the present invention is A connector for connecting cords that include signal lines and ground lines, Conductive signal contacts and ground contacts, which are connected to the contacts of the mating connector, The aforementioned signal contact includes a conductive shell surrounding the connection point with the signal line of its own code, A conductive spring connector is provided between the ground contact and the shell, which elastically deforms to electrically connect the two. to have death, The shell has a contact plate portion that protrudes along the end of the self-cord and abuts against the shield of the self-cord which is exposed on the outer circumference of the end of the self-cord, The tip of the contact plate portion is provided with an engaging claw that protrudes perpendicular to the extending direction of the cord. The contact plate portion is fastened together with the end portion by fastening portions arranged to surround it on the shell side of the engaging claw. Adopt a structure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, even when multiple wires, including signal lines and ground lines, are relayed, the device can be easily manufactured. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the external appearance of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a front view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3]It is a perspective view showing the state where the first case is removed in the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] It is an exploded perspective view of the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] It is a sectional view taken along the line A - A of FIG. 2. [Figure 6] It is a diagram for explaining the main part configuration of the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams for explaining the second shell.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0012] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the state where the first case is removed in the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] In this embodiment, the expressions indicating directions such as front (tip), rear, left, and right used to explain the configuration and operation of each part of the connector are relative, not absolute. These expressions are appropriate when each part of the connector is in the posture shown in the figure, but when the posture changes, they should be interpreted according to the change in posture. Here, the direction connected to the mating connector is referred to as the front (tip) side and the front side, and the end side in the direction opposite to the tip is referred to as the rear end side and the base end side. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the arc-shaped side is defined as the upper side when looking at the shape of the connection space on the front of the connector, and the opposite side is defined as the lower side and the bottom side for explanation.

[0014] <Overall Configuration> The connector 30 branches from a single cord (its own cord) 20 into a plurality of cords each having a plurality of electric wires (including signal wires and ground wires) by connecting to a mating connector.

[0015] The connector 30 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is used, for example, on the electrode side of the relay cord 10 that connects a biological information measuring device (not shown) and an electrode such as a chest electrode attached to a patient's body when measuring biological information.

[0016] The connector 30 is provided at the end of the cord 20 and is electrically connected to the contacts of the mating connector via the contacts 60 (61, 62) in the tip portion 32 (tip opening 52) of the connector 30.

[0017] The connector 30 has a housing 40. Inside the tip portion 32 of the housing 40, the tip sides of the contacts 60 (61, 62) corresponding to the mating contacts are exposed. Also, in the connector 30, inside the housing 40, the electric wire 24 of the cord 22 in the corresponding cord 20 and the base end sides of the corresponding contacts 60 (61, 62) are electrically connected.

[0018] The housing 40 is formed in a rectangular shape, and depressions are formed on both side surfaces so that it is easy for the user's fingers to grip. One cord 20 is a multi-core cord 20 connected to the device side, and the multi-core cord 20 is connected to the rear end portion 34 so as to be led out from the rear end portion 34 of the housing 40. A bush 90 is externally inserted on the end side of the multi-core cord 20, and the bush 90 is fitted to the opening edge portion of the rear end portion 34 so as not to come off.

[0019] The connector 30 connects to the mating connector at the connection portion of the tip portion 32 and electrically connects the electric wire of the mating connector via the contacts 60 (61, 62) and each of the plurality of electric wires for each cord branched from the multi-core cord 20 connected at the rear end portion 34.

[0020] Specifically, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the connector 30 connects the signal line and ground line of the multi-core cord 20 to the signal line and ground line of each of the multiple induction cords connected to the multi-core cord 20, that is, the signal line and ground line of each of the multiple induction cords (not shown) branching off from the multi-core cord 20. In this configuration, the number of cords connected to the multi-core cord 20 via the connector 30 is three induction cords, each having a signal line and a ground line. However, the connector is not limited to this configuration, and may connect one cord, two cords, or four or more cords, each having multiple wires, to the multi-core cord.

[0021] Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 2, and Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the main components of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] The connector 30 comprises a first case 42 and a second case 44 that constitute the housing 40, a housing 50, a conductive contact 60 which is a connection terminal, a conductive shell 70, and an elastic annular member 80.

[0023] The housing 40 is formed in a rectangular shape by joining a first case 42 and a second case 44, and a housing 50 that opens at a tip opening 52 is attached to the tip openings 422 and 442. The housing 50 attached to the openings 422 and 442 constitutes the tip portion 32 of the connector 30. A multi-core cord 20 is led out from a bush 90 connected to the rear end opening of the housing 40. The rear end of the housing 40 constitutes the rear end portion 34 of the connector 30.

[0024] The housing 40 covers the housing body 54 of the housing 50, the contacts 60 (61, 62), the shell 70, and each of the cords 22 of the multi-core cord 20.

[0025] The housing 50 is insulating and holds the contacts 61 and 62 inside the housing body 54. The front end of the housing body 54 is provided with a tip opening 52 whose outer diameter is larger than that of the housing body 54.

[0026] The tip opening 52 is formed in the shape of a rectangular frame and has a concave cross-section, which constitutes the tip surface of the tip portion 32 of the connector 30. It mates with the mating connector within the concave shape.

[0027] A ring-shaped elastic annular member 80 is fitted onto the connection between the tip opening 52 and the housing body 54. The elastic annular member 80 is a packing material with a waterproof function. The elastic annular member 80 is flexible and deforms elastically to seal the space between the members sandwiching the elastic annular member 80, thereby providing waterproofing. This ensures waterproofing between the tip opening 52 of the housing 50 and the housing 40, preventing water from entering the housing 40.

[0028] Within the tip opening 52 of the housing 50, connection spaces 53 are provided, each formed by separating the left and right contacts 61 and 62 as a pair. Each connection space 53 is a connection space for each guide cord to be connected.

[0029] Each contact (e.g., a contact pin) 60 connects to a mating contact (e.g., a terminal with a pin hole) in the connector of the induction cord connected to an electrode (not shown). Contact 61 is a signal line contact that connects corresponding signal lines, and contact 62 is a ground line contact that connects ground lines.

[0030] The contacts 60 are provided in a single cord (inductor cord) to which the connector 30 is connected, corresponding to multiple wires, for example, two wires. Each inductor cord has a signal line and a ground line. The contacts 60 (61, 62) are conductive members formed in the shape of pins, for example, they are formed in the same shape.

[0031] Each contact 60 (61, 62) has a main body 601 that contacts the mating contact of the mating connector at its tip and is fixed to the housing 50 at its rear end, a connecting portion 602 that connects to the electric wire 24, and a rear end holding portion 603 that secures the electric wire 24.

[0032] The contacts 61 and 62 are fixed to the central part of the housing body 54 at the base end of the main body 601.

[0033] As a result, the contacts 61 and 62 are arranged such that the tip of the main body portion 601 protrudes into the connection space on the tip side of the housing body 54, and the joint portion 602 on the rear end side of the main body portion 601 and the rear end holding portion 603, which is the base end, are exposed within the housing 40.

[0034] Furthermore, the contacts 60 are arranged such that, for example, contacts 61 for the same type of signal are placed side by side in the same configuration, and ground contacts 62 are also placed side by side in the same configuration.

[0035] Contact 60 connects the cords within the multi-core cord 20 to the signal lines and ground lines of the contacts of the mating connector provided on the multiple branching induction cords, respectively. The joint 602 is fixed to the wire 24 at the end of the cord 22 by crimping, soldering, or crimp-soldering. The rear end holding part 603 crimps and holds the outer sheath covering the wire on the cord 22 at the rear end of the contact 60. Because the rear end holding part 603 crimps the cord 22 together with its outer sheath, even if the cord 22 is pulled in the direction of removal, no load is placed on the connection point between the terminal of the cord 22 and the contact 60, preventing the cord 22 from coming loose from the contact 60.

[0036] Each of the contacts 61 positioned on the upper side of the housing 50 connects to the electric wire 24 protruding from the cord 22 at the tip of the multi-core cord 20 at the joint portion 602 which constitutes the connection part, and holds the cord 22 by crimping the outer sheath of the cord 22 at the rear end holding portion 603.

[0037] Furthermore, the contact 62 located on the lower side of the housing 50 is electrically connected to the shield 23 of the cord (multi-core cord 20) via the spring connector 76 and the shell 70. Since the ground is common to all inductive cords, it is connected to a single shield 23.

[0038] In contact 62, specifically, the rear end retaining portion 603 at the rear end is a U-shaped barrel when viewed from the axial direction, and is arranged to be in contact with the spring connection portion 76. The housing body 54 has a shape in which the lower and rear sides of the rear end retaining portion 603 of the contact 62 are cut out. The rear end retaining portion 603 is exposed in each direction at the cut-out portion. The spring connector 76 is provided so as to be able to contact and connect in the direction in which the rear end retaining portion 603 is exposed due to the cut-out portion. The rear end retaining portion 603 of the contact 62 is pressed against and contacted by the spring connector 76 located on the lower side, and is electrically connected.

[0039] As shown in Figure 6, the contact 60 is held in the housing 50 by being inserted from the rear into each of the contact holding portions that are open to the rear and into which the contact 60 can be inserted.

[0040] The shell 70 is formed in a rectangular tube shape and is positioned inside the housing 40 so as to cover the rear end of the housing body 54. Inside the housing 40, the shell 70 covers the connection point between the contact 61 and the electric wire 24, as well as the contact point between the contact 62 and the spring connection part 76, and functions as an electromagnetic shield. The shell 70 surrounds the connection point (the connection point between the electric wire 24 and the contact 61) of the signal contact 61 with the signal line of its own code (the electric wire 24 of the code 22).

[0041] The shell 70 is formed by combining a divided part consisting of a first shell 72 and a second shell 74. The first shell 72 and the second shell 74 are each formed by processing sheet metal.

[0042] The first shell 72 is positioned to cover the housing body 54 from above and has a strip-shaped connecting piece (contact plate portion) 77 provided on the upper portion 721 and engaging portions (e.g., claw portions) 732 provided on both side portions 724 that hang down from both sides of the upper portion 721.

[0043] The strip-shaped connecting piece 77 protrudes rearward from the rear end of the first shell 72 and is positioned along the multi-core cord 20. The strip-shaped connecting piece 77 is tightly fixed onto a conductive tape 25 that is wrapped around the outer surface of a shield 23 positioned on the outer circumferential surface of the end of the multi-core cord 20.

[0044] As shown in Figure 5, the strip-shaped connecting piece 77 is positioned on the conductive tape 25 on the outer surface of the multi-core cord 20 and is wound around and tightened together with the multi-core cord 20 using a band (fastening part) 28. As a result, the first shell 72 is electrically connected to the shield 23 of the multi-core cord 20 and is in a conductive state.

[0045] Furthermore, at the end of the strip-shaped connecting piece 77 that extends rearward along the direction of extension of the multi-core cord 20, a retaining piece (engaging claw) 77a is formed that protrudes planarly to the left and right (protruding perpendicular to the direction of extension of the cord itself). The retaining piece 77a has the function of preventing the band 28, which is wound around the main body of the strip-shaped connecting piece 77, from coming off towards the rear end by engaging with the band 28.

[0046] The multi-core cord 20 has multiple cords 22 (for example, three cords) inside, and these multiple cords are covered with an insulating layer, a coating layer, and a shielding layer made of resin or the like. The shielding layer may be constructed by bundling the ground wires led out from each of the three cords and winding them into a cylindrical shape. The shield 23 on the outer surface of the end is constructed, for example, by bundling the shields of the three cords into a cylindrical shape and folding it back at the end.

[0047] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the second shell 74. Figure 7A is a front view of the second shell 74, and Figure 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in Figure 7A.

[0048] The second shell 74 is positioned within the housing 40 so as to cover the housing body 54 from below. The second shell 74 is provided with engaged portions 734 that engage with the engaging portion 732 of the first shell 72 on both side portions 744 that rise from both sides of the rectangular bottom portion 741.

[0049] The second shell 74 is provided with a spring connector 76. The spring connector 76 may be provided in any way as long as it is electrically connected to the second shell 74 or the first shell 72. The second shell 74 is connected to the contact 62 (specifically, the rear end retaining portion 603, which is a U-shaped barrel) via the spring connector 76, and is electrically connected to the first shell 72 by the engagement of the engaging portion 732 and the engaged portion 734.

[0050] The spring connector 76 is conductive and elastically deforms to electrically connect the shell 70 and the contact 62. Preferably, the spring connector 76 is made of a leaf spring or the like. The spring connector 76 is formed continuously with the second shell 74 and is elastically deformable relative to the bottom surface 741 of the second shell 74. The spring connector 76 is provided continuously with the rear surface 746 that rises from the rear end of the bottom surface 741 of the second shell 74. The spring connector 76 may also be formed to extend from the front side of the bottom surface 741.

[0051] The rear section 746 has a concave cutout in the center to allow the cord 22 to pass through, and the left and right sections extend upward. Spring connection sections 76 are provided extending from the left and right upper ends 75 towards the tip. As a result, the rear section 746 is formed to close off as much as possible, thus preventing the intrusion of noise from the outside.

[0052] The spring connection portion 76 has an inclined portion 763 that bends and extends from the upper end portion 75 toward the tip portion, and a main body surface portion 761, which is positioned opposite the bottom surface portion 741, is joined to the tip of the inclined portion 763. A contact arm 764 is provided on the main body surface portion 761 so as to rise toward the contact 62, and a contact portion 762 is provided at the tip of the contact arm 764.

[0053] The spring connector 76 is formed integrally with the second shell 74 by processing a single sheet of metal, and is continuous with the second shell 74. With the main body surface 761 of the spring connector 76 floating above the bottom surface 741, the inclined portion 763, contact arm 764, and contact portion 762 undergo elastic deformation. As a result, the entire spring connector 76 is displaced, and the contact portion 762 presses against the rear end retaining portion 603, which is the rear end of the contact 62, from below.

[0054] The spring connection section 76 is provided with contact arms 764 equal to the number of induction cords. Specifically, between the contact 62 and the bottom surface 741 of the second shell 74, there is a contact portion 762 for connecting to each of the multiple cord ground wire contacts 62, and a spring connector 76 is provided that electrically connects the contact 62 and the second shell 74 through elastic deformation. Multiple contact arms 764, each having a contact portion 762 at its tip, are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, with the same shape and angle. As a result, as shown in Figure 6, by simply attaching the second shell 74 to the housing 50 with the contacts already installed, the connection of the ground wires to the multi-core cord 20 can be completed all at once for the contacts corresponding to the number of induction cords.

[0055] The spring connection portion 76 may be made of a separate component from the second shell 74, directly attached to the bottom surface portion 741 so as to be electrically conductive, and protruding upward so that the contact portion 762 contacts the rear end holding portion 603 of the contact 62. Alternatively, instead of a leaf spring, it may be formed from a conductive, elastically deformable member such as a coil spring. In the case of a coil spring, it is preferable to position the coil spring so as to press both the bottom surface portion 741 and the rear end holding portion 603 of the contact 62 together, thereby creating an electrically connected state. If the coil spring is erected at a predetermined position on the bottom surface portion 741, the connection between the contact 60 and the shield can be easily made by simply attaching the second shell 74 to the housing body 54 on which the contact 60 is disposed, similar to the case where the spring connection portion 76 is a leaf spring. Alternatively, the spring connection portion 76 may be provided on the first shell 72.

[0056] Embodiments of the present invention have been described above. It should be noted that the above description illustrates preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. In other words, the description of the configuration of the apparatus and the shape of each part is merely an example, and it is clear that various modifications and additions to these examples are possible within the scope of the present invention. [Industrial applicability]

[0057] The connector according to the present invention has the advantage of being easy to manufacture even when relaying multiple electric wires, and is useful as a connector for branching a cord into multiple parts. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0058] 10 relay code 20-core multi-core cord 22 Guidance Code 23 Shields 24 Electric wire 25 Conductive Tape 28 Band (fastening part) 30 connectors 32 Tip 34 Rear end 40 cabinets 42 Case 1 44. Case 2 50 Housing 52 Tip opening 53 Connection Spaces 54 Housing body 60, 61, 62 Contact 70 shells 72 First Shell 74 Second Shell 75 Upper end 76 Spring connection 77. Strip-shaped connecting piece (contact plate portion) 77a Latch piece 80 Elastic annular member 90 Bush 422, 442 openings 601 Main body 602 Joint 603 Rear end retaining part 721 Upper face 724 Side profile 732nd Division 734 The unit was connected 741 Bottom surface 744 Side profile 746 Back side 761 Main Face 762 Contact Department 763 Inclined section 764 Contact アーム

Claims

1. A connector for connecting cords that include signal lines and ground lines, Conductive signal contacts and ground contacts, which are connected to the contacts of the mating connector, The aforementioned signal contact includes a conductive shell surrounding the connection point with the signal line of its own code, A conductive spring connector is provided between the ground contact and the shell, which elastically deforms to electrically connect the two. It has, The shell has a contact plate portion that protrudes along the end of the self-cord and abuts against the shield of the self-cord which is exposed on the outer circumference of the end of the self-cord, The tip of the contact plate portion is provided with an engaging claw that protrudes perpendicular to the extending direction of the cord. The contact plate portion is fastened together with the end portion by a fastening portion that is arranged to surround it on the shell side of the engaging claw. connector.

2. The spring connection portion is provided on the shell, Connected to the aforementioned ground contact, The connector according to claim 1.

3. The spring connection portion is provided integrally with the shell. The connector according to claim 2.

4. The spring connection portion is a leaf spring that presses against the ground contact by elastic deformation and makes contact. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The aforementioned code is configured to allow multiple codes to be connected, Multiple sets of the signal contacts and ground contacts are provided, corresponding to the contacts of the mating connector for each of the multiple cords. Multiple signal contacts are connected to corresponding signal lines in the code. Between the multiple ground contacts and the shell, there is a contact portion that connects to each of the multiple ground contacts, and a spring connection portion is provided that electrically connects the multiple ground contacts and the shell through elastic deformation. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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