Connection structure

Abstract

Provided is a connection structure that has a displacement management function but also has excellent high-speed transmission capability.　A connection structure that comprises a connection target 80 and a connector 100 that contacts the connection target 80 from another side in the Z direction. The connection target 80 comprises an inside conductor part 83 and an outside conductor part 84 that surrounds the inside conductor part 83. The connector 100 comprises: a signal terminal 30 that has a first connector contact part 34; a shield member 40, 50 that has a second connector contact part 51; and a housing 20. The inside conductor part 83 has an inside conductor contact part 83A that can abut the first connector contact part in the Z direction, and the outside conductor part 84 has an outside conductor contact part 84A that can abut the second connector contact part in the Z direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connection structure and a connector.

Background Art

[0002] The connection structure and the connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 are known. In this connection structure, the first connection terminal of the first case member and the second connection terminal of the connector mounted on the circuit board are in conductive contact. In this connection structure, even if the relative position between the circuit board and the first case member is slightly deviated from the normal position, a conductive contact state can be obtained.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In recent years, with the improvement in performance of electronic components, such connection structures and connectors are required to have improved high-speed transmission performance.

[0005] One object of the present disclosure is to provide a connection structure and a connector that have a function of coping with positional deviation and excellent high-speed transmission performance.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In the present disclosure, when explaining the structure and shape of an object, the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction, which are direction concepts based on the object and are perpendicular to each other, are used.

[0007] (Connection Structure) A connection structure according to the first embodiment comprises an object to be connected and a connector that contacts the object to be connected from the other side in the Z direction, wherein the object to be connected comprises an inner conductor portion and an outer conductor portion surrounding the inner conductor portion, the connector comprises a signal terminal having a first connector contact portion, a shielding member having a second connector contact portion, and a housing, wherein the inner conductor portion has an inner conductor contact portion that can be abutted with the first connector contact portion in the Z direction, and the outer conductor portion has an outer conductor contact portion that can be abutted with the second connector contact portion in the Z direction.

[0008] In the above embodiment, the connection structure is a connection structure between an object to be connected and a connector. The connector comprises a signal terminal having a first connector contact portion, a shielding member having a second connector contact portion, and a housing, and contacts the object to be connected from the other side in the Z direction. The object to be connected comprises an inner conductor portion and an outer conductor portion. The inner conductor contact portion of the inner conductor portion contacts the first connector contact portion of the connector, and the outer conductor contact portion of the outer conductor portion contacts the second connector contact portion of the connector.

[0009] In this configuration, the outer conductor surrounds the inner conductor. This shields the inner conductor, thereby improving high-speed transmission performance.

[0010] Furthermore, the inner conductor contact portion can be butted against the first connector contact portion in the Z direction, and the outer conductor contact portion can be butted against the second connector contact portion in the Z direction. As a result, both the contact between the first connector contact portion and the inner conductor contact portion, and the contact between the second connector contact portion and the outer conductor contact portion, are butt contacts in the Z direction. Therefore, relative positional misalignment between the object to be connected and the connector can be accommodated in the direction perpendicular to the Z direction, which is the butt direction.

[0011] In the connection structure according to the second embodiment, the inner conductor contact portion and the outer conductor contact portion are both planes whose normal direction is the other side in the Z direction, and their positions in the Z direction coincide.

[0012] In the above embodiment, both the inner conductor contact portion and the outer conductor contact portion are planes whose normal direction is the other side in the Z direction, and their positions in the Z direction coincide. Therefore, relative positional misalignment between the object to be connected and the connector can be handled more smoothly in the direction perpendicular to the Z direction, which is the butt joint direction.

[0013] In the third embodiment of the connection structure, in the first or second embodiment, the inner conductor portion and the outer conductor portion form a coaxial connector portion.

[0014] In the above embodiment, the coaxial connector portion formed by the inner conductor portion and the outer conductor portion is in butt contact with the first connector contact portion and the second connector contact portion of the connector.

[0015] In the fourth embodiment of the connection structure, in any of the first to third embodiments, the second connector contact portion and the outer conductor portion are in contact on one side in the Z direction relative to the housing.

[0016] In Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-162556, a recess is formed in the housing. The second connector contact portion and the outer conductor portion come into contact within this recess in the housing. That is, the second connector contact portion and the outer conductor portion come into contact on the inside of the housing in the Z direction. For this reason, it is necessary to form the housing large in a direction perpendicular to the Z direction in order to create a recess that can accommodate the outer conductor portion of the object to be connected. In contrast, in the above embodiment, it is not necessary to form a recess in the housing into which the outer conductor portion of the object to be connected can fit. Therefore, the housing can be miniaturized in a direction perpendicular to the Z direction, and thus the connection structure can be miniaturized. In addition, in the above embodiment, the first connector contact portion and the inner conductor portion may be configured to contact each other on one side in the Z direction relative to the housing.

[0017] The connection structure according to the fifth embodiment, in the fourth embodiment, has a top surface portion that faces the outer conductor contact portion in the Z direction and is located on one side of the housing in the Z direction, and the top surface portion has the second connector contact portion.

[0018] In the above embodiment, the shielding member has a top surface located on one side of the housing in the Z direction, and the top surface has a second connector contact portion, thereby realizing a second connector contact portion that contacts the outer conductor portion on one side of the housing in the Z direction.

[0019] The connection structure according to the sixth embodiment, in the fourth embodiment, has a shell, the shield member having a top surface portion that faces the outer conductor contact portion in the Z direction and is located on one side of the housing in the Z direction, and a side surface portion that surrounds the signal terminal from a direction perpendicular to the Z direction, the top surface portion having the second connector contact portion.

[0020] In the above embodiment, the shielding member has a shell, and the side portion of the shell surrounds the signal terminals from a direction perpendicular to the Z direction, thus providing noise countermeasures on the connector side of the connection structure. Furthermore, the top portion of the shell is located on one side of the housing in the Z direction and has a second connector contact portion, thereby realizing a second connector contact portion that contacts the outer conductor portion on one side of the housing in the Z direction.

[0021] The seventh aspect of the connection structure, in any of the first to fourth aspects, comprises a shield member having a shell having the second connector contact portion, the shell having a top surface portion with the Z direction as the plate thickness direction, and a side surface portion extending from the outer edge of the top surface portion to the other side in the Z direction, the shell being arranged to cover the housing from one side in the Z direction, an opening being formed in the top surface portion to expose the first connector contact portion, and the region of the upper surface of the top surface portion surrounding the opening contacts the outer conductor contact portion as the second connector contact portion.

[0022] Incidentally, the second connector contact portion of the connector needs to be able to contact the outer conductor contact portion, and in order to achieve this, the connector may be enlarged in the X direction and the Y direction. For example, in the connection structure described in JP-A-2016-162556, a recess is formed in the housing of the connector, and the second connector contact portion (the tip of the resegland pin) is disposed in this recess. Therefore, it is necessary to form a recess in the housing so that the outer conductor portion of the connection object can enter, and the housing is enlarged in the X direction and the Y direction, and as a result, the connector is enlarged. Here, in the above aspect, the connector has a shell having a top surface portion and a side surface portion, and the shell is disposed so as to cover the housing from one side in the Z direction. Then, the surface on one side in the Z direction of the top surface portion of the shell functions as the second connector contact portion. Therefore, it is not necessary to form a recess in the housing for the outer conductor portion of the connection object to enter, and furthermore, a wide area on one side in the Z direction of the connector can be made to function as the second connector contact portion. As a result, the connector can be miniaturized in the X direction and the Y direction.

[0023] The connection structure according to the eighth aspect is, in any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the housing has a pair of terminal proximity walls facing each other in the Y direction, the signal terminals are disposed between the pair of terminal proximity walls, the shield member has a pair of auxiliary plates, and the pair of auxiliary plates are disposed outside the pair of terminal proximity walls in the Y direction with the plate thickness direction facing the Y direction.

[0024] In the above aspect, the housing has a pair of terminal proximity walls facing each other in the Y direction, and the shield member has a pair of auxiliary plates. The signal terminals are disposed between the pair of terminal proximity walls. The pair of auxiliary plates are disposed outside the pair of terminal proximity walls in the Y direction with the plate thickness direction facing the Y direction. Therefore, a part of the housing is disposed so as to be adjacent to the signal terminal in the Y direction, and the auxiliary plate is disposed outside thereof, so that the impedance of the signal terminal is adjusted, and a connector suitable for high-speed transmission can be obtained.

[0025] In the connection structure according to the ninth aspect, in the eighth aspect, the signal terminal has a held portion held between the pair of terminal proximity walls, and in the pair of terminal proximity walls, the portion where the held portion is held has a surface on the outer side in the Y direction expanded outward in the Y direction more than other portions, and the pair of auxiliary plates are formed in a shape along the surfaces on the outer side in the Y direction of the pair of terminal proximity walls.

[0026] In the above aspect, the held portion of the signal terminal is held between the pair of terminal proximity walls. Here, in the pair of terminal proximity walls, the portion where the held portion is held has a surface on the outer side in the Y direction expanded outward in the Y direction more than other portions. And the pair of auxiliary plates are formed in a shape along the surfaces on the outer side in the Y direction of the pair of terminal proximity walls. For this reason, the distance in the Y direction between the signal terminal and the holding plate approaches a constant regardless of the position in the X direction, so impedance is adjusted and transmission performance is improved.

[0027] In the connection structure according to the tenth aspect, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the shield member includes a shell having the second connector contact portion and a ground terminal having a shell contact portion in conductive contact with the shell, the signal terminal has a tip-side extension portion extending in a predetermined direction when viewed from the Z direction and having the first connector contact portion on the tip side in the extension direction, the ground terminal extends in the predetermined direction when viewed from the Z direction and has a pair of tip-side extension portions having the shell contact portion on the tip side in the extension direction, and the pair of tip-side extension portions of the ground terminal are arranged on both sides in the Y direction with respect to the tip-side extension portion of the signal terminal.

[0028] In the above aspect, the signal terminal has a tip-side extension portion having the first connector contact portion on the tip side in the extension direction, and the ground terminal has a pair of tip-side extension portions having the shell contact portion in contact with the shell on the tip side in the extension direction. Here, the tip extension of the signal terminal and the pair of tip extensions of the ground terminal both extend in the same predetermined direction when viewed from the Z direction. Furthermore, the pair of tip extensions of the ground terminal are positioned on both sides in the Y direction relative to the tip extension of the signal terminal. As a result, one tip extension of the ground terminal, the tip extension of the signal terminal, and the other tip extension of the ground terminal function as a GSG structure (Ground-Signal-Ground structure), improving transmission characteristics.

[0029] The connection structure according to the 11th embodiment is, in any of the 1st to 10th embodiments, the object to be connected is a rear member constituting a part of the outer shell of the camera module, and the rear member comprises a connector portion having an inner conductor portion and an outer conductor portion, the connector portion which electrically connects the inside and outside of the camera module.

[0030] In the above embodiment, the connection structure is a connection structure between the rear member of the camera module and the connector.

[0031] (connector) A connector according to the first embodiment comprises a signal terminal having a terminal contact portion that can conduct electrical contact with a first contact portion of an object to be connected, which is connected from one side in the Z direction; a housing that holds the signal terminal; and a shell that surrounds at least a part of the signal terminal, wherein the shell has a shield contact portion that can conduct electrical contact with a second contact portion of the object to be connected, and the shell is displaceable in the Z direction.

[0032] In the above embodiment, the connector comprises a signal terminal, a housing that holds the signal terminal, and a shell that surrounds at least a portion of the signal terminal. The signal terminal has a terminal contact portion that can conduct electrical contact with a first contact portion of an object to be connected, which is connected from one side in the Z direction, and the shell has a shield contact portion that can conduct electrical contact with a second contact portion of the object to be connected. Here, the shell having the shield contact portion is displaceable in the Z direction. Therefore, it can absorb positional misalignment in the Z-direction between the connector and the object being connected (for example, misalignment due to assembly tolerances).

[0033] In the second embodiment of the connector, the shell has a top surface located on one side in the Z direction of the housing, and an opening is formed in the center of the top surface to expose the terminal contact portion.

[0034] In the above embodiment, the shell has a top surface located on one side of the housing in the Z direction. An opening is formed in the center of the top surface to expose the terminal contact portion. Therefore, the area surrounding the opening on the top surface can be used as a shield contact area.

[0035] In the third embodiment, the connector, in the first or second embodiment, has a shell with side portions that surround the signal terminals from a direction perpendicular to the Z direction.

[0036] In the above embodiment, the shell has side portions. The side portions surround the signal terminals from a direction perpendicular to the Z direction. This improves noise suppression.

[0037] In the connector according to the fourth embodiment, in the third embodiment, the side portion is formed by bending a plate material to surround the signal terminal from a direction perpendicular to the Z direction, and a portion is formed in which the plate materials overlap each other so as not to create a gap in the shape that surrounds the signal terminal from a direction perpendicular to the Z direction.

[0038] In the above embodiment, the side portion is formed by bending a plate material to create a shape that surrounds the signal terminals from a direction perpendicular to the Z direction. Here, the plates overlap each other to form a shape that surrounds the signal terminals from a direction perpendicular to the Z direction, without any gaps. This improves noise protection for the signal terminals.

[0039] The connector according to the fifth embodiment, in the first embodiment, has a shell having a top surface portion located on one side in the Z direction of the housing, and a side surface portion located on the other side in the Z direction of the top surface portion that surrounds the signal terminals from a direction perpendicular to the Z direction, an opening is formed in the center of the top surface portion to expose the terminal contact portion, and each side surface portion is composed of a plurality of plate portions connected to the top surface portion via a curved portion, with adjacent plate portions overlapping each other.

[0040] In the above embodiment, the side surfaces of the shell are each composed of multiple plate sections connected to the top surface via curved sections. Here, among the multiple plate sections, adjacent plate sections overlap each other to some extent. This prevents gaps from forming between adjacent plate sections.

[0041] In the sixth embodiment, the connector, in any of the first to fifth embodiments, includes an elastic support portion that elastically supports the shell so that it can be displaced in the Z direction.

[0042] In the above embodiment, the connector includes an elastic support portion that elastically supports the shell so that it can be displaced in the Z direction. Therefore, by displacing the shell to the other side in the Z direction to achieve a connected state, the shield contact portion can be pressed into contact with the object to be connected.

[0043] The connector according to the seventh embodiment, in any of the first to sixth embodiments, has a housing having a pair of terminal proximity walls facing each other in the Y direction, the signal terminals being arranged between the pair of terminal proximity walls, and the connector comprises a pair of auxiliary plates whose thickness direction is oriented in the Y direction and which are arranged outward in the Y direction relative to the pair of terminal proximity walls.

[0044] In the above embodiment, the housing has a pair of terminal proximity walls facing each other in the Y direction, and the signal terminals are arranged between the pair of terminal proximity walls. Here, the connector has a pair of auxiliary plates. The pair of auxiliary plates are oriented with their thickness in the Y direction and are positioned outward in the Y direction relative to the pair of terminal proximity walls. As a result, a part of the housing is positioned adjacent to the signal terminals in the Y direction, and the auxiliary plates are positioned outside of that, so the impedance of the signal terminals is adjusted, making it possible to create a connector suitable for high-speed transmission.

[0045] In the connector according to the eighth embodiment, in the seventh embodiment, the signal terminal has a retained portion held between the pair of terminal proximity walls, the portion of the pair of terminal proximity walls in which the retained portion is held has a surface on the outer side in the Y direction that extends further outward in the Y direction than the other portion, and the pair of auxiliary plates are shaped to conform to the surface on the outer side in the Y direction of the pair of terminal proximity walls.

[0046] In the above embodiment, the portion of the signal terminal that is held is held between a pair of terminal proximity walls. Here, the portion of the pair of terminal proximity walls into which the retained portion is press-fitted has its Y-direction outer surface extended further outward than the other portions. The pair of auxiliary plates are shaped to conform to the Y-direction outer surfaces of the pair of terminal proximity walls. As a result, the Y-direction distance between the signal terminal and the retaining plate approaches a constant value regardless of the X-direction position, thus adjusting the impedance and improving transmission performance.

[0047] In the ninth embodiment, the connector, in any of the first to eighth embodiments, includes a ground terminal that electrically connects the object to which the connector is attached with the shell.

[0048] In the above embodiment, the connector includes a ground terminal that electrically connects the object to which the connector is attached and the shell. Therefore, compared to the embodiment in which the shell is not electrically connected to the object to which it is attached, stable high-speed transmission performance can be ensured.

[0049] In the connector according to the tenth embodiment, the shell and the ground terminal are separate, the ground terminal has an elastic support portion that elastically supports the shell so as to be displaceable in the Z direction, and the elastic support portion has a shell contact portion that electrically connects the ground terminal and the shell by electrically contacting the shell.

[0050] In the above embodiment, the shell and the ground terminal are separate components. The ground terminal has an elastic support portion that elastically supports the shell so that it can be displaced in the Z direction, and the elastic support portion has a shell contact portion that electrically connects the ground terminal and the shell by making electrical contact with the shell. Therefore, both the elastic support of the shell and the electrical connection between the shell and the ground terminal can be performed by the elastic support portion.

[0051] In the eleventh embodiment of the connector, in any of the first to ninth embodiments, the shell is integrally formed with an elastic support portion that elastically supports the shell so as to be displaceable in the Z direction by contacting the housing.

[0052] In the above embodiment, the shell is elastically supported so as to be displaceable in the Z direction, by configuring the elastic support portion, which is integrally formed with the shell, to contact the housing.

[0053] In the connector according to the twelfth embodiment, the shell and the ground terminal are separate, the shell is integrally formed with an elastic support portion that elastically supports the shell so as to be displaceable in the Z direction by contacting the housing, and the ground terminal has a shell contact portion that conducts electrical contact with the shell.

[0054] In the above embodiment, the shell is elastically supported so that it can be displaced in the Z direction, by configuring the elastic support portion, which is integrally formed with the shell, to contact the housing. Furthermore, the electrical connection between the ground terminal and the shell is achieved by the shell contact portion of the ground terminal making electrical contact with the shell.

[0055] In the connector according to the 13th embodiment, in the 10th embodiment, the signal terminal extends in a predetermined direction when viewed from the Z direction and has a tip-side extension portion having the terminal contact portion on the tip side in the extension direction, the ground terminal extends in the predetermined direction when viewed from the Z direction and has a pair of tip-side extension portions having the shell contact portion on the tip side in the extension direction, and the pair of tip-side extension portions of the ground terminal are arranged on both sides in the Y direction with respect to the tip-side extension portion of the signal terminal.

[0056] In the above embodiment, the signal terminal has an extended tip portion having a terminal contact portion on the tip side in the extension direction, and the ground terminal has a pair of extended tip portions having shell contact portions that contact the shell on the tip side in the extension direction. Here, the tip extension of the signal terminal and the pair of tip extensions of the ground terminal both extend in the same predetermined direction when viewed from the Z direction. Furthermore, the pair of tip extensions of the ground terminal are positioned on both sides in the Y direction relative to the tip extension of the signal terminal. As a result, one tip extension of the ground terminal, the tip extension of the signal terminal, and the other tip extension of the ground terminal function as a GSG structure (Ground-Signal-Ground structure), improving transmission characteristics.

[0057] In the connector according to the 14th embodiment, in any of the 1st to 13th embodiments, the direction in which the shield contact portion contacts the second contact portion of the object to be connected and the direction in which the terminal contact portion contacts the first contact portion of the object to be connected are both in the Z direction.

[0058] In the above embodiment, the direction in which the shield contact portion contacts the second contact portion of the object to be connected, and the direction in which the terminal contact portion contacts the first contact portion of the object to be connected, are both in the Z direction. Therefore, the shape of the signal terminal can be simplified compared to, for example, an embodiment in which the contact direction of the terminal contact portion is perpendicular to the Z direction.

[0059] In the connector according to the 15th embodiment, in any of the 1st to 14th embodiments, in the initial state, the shield contact portion is located on one side in the Z direction relative to the terminal contact portion.

[0060] In the above embodiment, in the initial state, the shield contact portion is located on one side in the Z direction relative to the terminal contact portion. Therefore, when contacting the object to be connected, the shield contact portion is more likely to make contact first.

[0061] The connector according to the 16th embodiment further comprises a pair of movable auxiliary plates, in any of the 1st to 15th embodiments, whose plate thickness direction is oriented in the Y direction and which are displaced in the Z direction in conjunction with the Z direction displacement of the shell, wherein a portion of the signal terminal that protrudes from the housing to one side in the Z direction is located between the pair of movable auxiliary plates.

[0062] In the above embodiment, the connector is oriented in the Y direction in the thickness direction and includes a pair of movable auxiliary plates that displace in the Z direction in conjunction with the Z direction displacement of the shell. The portion of the signal terminal that protrudes from the housing to one side in the Z direction is located between the pair of movable auxiliary plates. As a result, the impedance of the portion of the signal terminal that protrudes from the housing to one side in the Z direction is adjusted, improving high-speed transmission performance.

[0063] The connector according to the 17th embodiment further comprises a pair of movable auxiliary plates, in the 7th or 8th embodiment, whose thickness direction is oriented in the Y direction and which are displaced in the Z direction in conjunction with the Z direction displacement of the shell, wherein a portion of the signal terminal that protrudes from the housing to one side in the Z direction is located between the pair of movable auxiliary plates.

[0064] In the above embodiment, the impedance of the signal terminals is adjusted by a pair of auxiliary plates and a pair of movable auxiliary plates, further improving high-speed transmission performance. In addition, in the above embodiment, the movable auxiliary plate and the auxiliary plate may be configured to be in electrically conductive contact. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0065] [Figure 1] This is an exploded perspective view of the connector according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the connector during assembly according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the connector (initial state) according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of the connector according to the first embodiment (with the shell in a significantly displaced state). [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 3. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 4. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 4. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view of the housing. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view of the signal terminals. [Figure 10] This is a perspective view of the ground terminal. [Figure 11] This is a perspective view of the shell from below. [Figure 12] This is a disassembled cross-sectional view of the camera module. [Figure 13] This is a cross-sectional view of the camera module during assembly. [Figure 14] This is a cross-sectional view of the camera module. [Figure 15] This is a perspective view showing the rear component and connector. [Figure 16] This is a cross-sectional view showing a magnified view of the connection structure in the camera module. [Figure 17] This is an exploded perspective view of the connector according to the second embodiment. [Figure 18] This is a perspective view of the connector according to the second embodiment. [Figure 19] This is a plan view of the connector according to the second embodiment. [Figure 20] This is a cross-sectional view taken along line 20-20 in Figure 19. [Figure 21] This is a cross-sectional view taken along line 21-21 in Figure 19. [Figure 22] This is an exploded perspective view of the connector according to the third embodiment. [Figure 23] This is a perspective view of the connector according to the third embodiment. [Figure 24] This is an exploded perspective view of the connector according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 25] This is a perspective view of the connector during assembly according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 26] This is a perspective view of the connector according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 27] This is an exploded perspective view of the connector according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 28] This is a perspective view of the connector during assembly according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 29] This is a perspective view of the connector according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 30] This is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 31] This is an exploded perspective view of the connector according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 32] This is a perspective view of the connector during assembly according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 33] This is a perspective view of the connector according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 34] This is a perspective view of the connector according to the sixth embodiment, seen from a different angle. [Figure 35] This is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 36] This is a perspective view of the spring fitting provided in the connector according to the sixth embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0066] For the sake of explanation, the ±X direction may be described as the front-to-back direction, the ±Y direction as the width direction, and the ±Z direction as the up-and-down direction.

[0067] Figure 12 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the camera module 1 according to this embodiment. The connector 100 is a connector for electrically connecting the circuit board 71, which is the "object to be mounted," and the rear member 80, which is the "object to be connected."

[0068] First, the connector 100 according to the first embodiment will be described, and then the camera module 1 equipped with the connector 100 will be described. After that, other embodiments will be described.

[0069] [First Embodiment: Connector 100] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of connector 100. The connector 100 comprises a housing 20, a signal terminal 30, two ground terminals 40L and 40R, and a shell 50.

[0070] Connector 100 is assembled using the following procedure (Figures 1-3). First, the signal terminals 30 and ground terminals 40 are attached to the housing 20. Specifically, the signal terminals 30 are press-fitted into the housing 20 from the +X direction, and the pair of ground terminals 40 are press-fitted from the +Z direction. Then, the shell 50 is attached to the housing 20, to which the signal terminal 30 and ground terminal 40 are attached, from the +Z direction.

[0071] Next, we will describe each component in detail.

[0072] [Housing 20] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the housing 20. The material that makes up the housing 20 is an insulator such as synthetic resin.

[0073] The housing 20 has a bottom wall 21, a pair of side walls 22, and a rear wall 23. Furthermore, the housing 20 has a pair of terminal proximity walls 24. The pair of terminal proximity walls 24 are located close to the left and right sides of the signal terminal 30. The pair of terminal proximity walls 24 are connected in the width direction by a connecting wall 27 at their rear and top.

[0074] A pair of terminal proximity walls 24 are formed on the inside of a pair of side walls 22 in the width direction, with the wall thickness direction oriented in the width direction. A signal terminal 30 is positioned between the pair of terminal proximity walls 24. The retaining portion 32 of the signal terminal 30 is press-fitted into the lower end of the front portion 24A of the pair of terminal proximity walls 24.

[0075] The housing 20 has a bulge 26 that protrudes upward relative to the bottom wall 21. The bulge 26 is formed at the rear between the side wall 22 and the terminal proximity wall 24. The bulge 26 has an inclined surface 26A. The inclined surface 26A is inclined so that it is approximately parallel to the first elongated portion 45A of the elastic portion 45 when the ground terminal 40 is significantly deformed (see Figure 7). This improves the strength of the housing 20 by the bulge 26 while preventing the deformation of the ground terminal 40 from being hindered.

[0076] The housing 20 has a ground terminal holding portion 25 for holding the ground terminal 40. A pair of ground terminal holding portions 25 are formed on the outside of a pair of terminal proximity walls 24. The ground terminal holding portions 25 are formed as walls that connect the bulging portion 26 and the rear portion 24B of the terminal proximity wall 24 in the width direction.

[0077] The housing 20 has upper restricting portions 22A that restrict the movement of the shell 50 in the +Z direction. The upper restricting portions 22A are projections formed on the widthwise outer surfaces of a pair of side walls 22. The upper restricting portions 22A are located at the upper ends of the side walls 22. Two upper restricting portions 22A are formed on each side wall 22, for a total of four locations.

[0078] The housing 20 has a guide portion 22B that guides the vertical movement of the shell 50. The guide portion 22B bulges outward in the width direction from each of the pair of side walls 22. The guide portion 22B extends in the vertical direction. Near the upper end of the guide portion 22B, the width dimension decreases upward, and the amount of outward bulging in the width direction also decreases upward. The lower end of the guide portion 22B coincides with the lower end of the side wall 22 in the vertical direction.

[0079] The housing 20 has tail protection sections 28. Four tail protection sections 28 are formed corresponding to the corners of the housing 20, which is roughly rectangular in plan view. The tail protection sections 28 protect the tails (connection sections 31, 42A, 44) of the signal terminal 30 and the ground terminal 40 (see Figure 3).

[0080] A groove 21A is formed in the bottom wall 21 of the housing 20, corresponding to the position where the first vertical plate portion 41 of the ground terminal 40 is positioned, with the groove recessed on the lower side.

[0081] [Signal terminal 30] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the signal terminal 30. The signal terminal 30 integrally comprises, in this order, a connection portion 31 connected to the circuit board 71 (see Figure 12) as the "object to be attached", a held portion 32 held by the housing 20, an elastic portion 33 that elastically supports the contact portion 34 (described later) so that it can be displaced substantially in the vertical direction, and a contact portion 34 that contacts the central conductor contact portion 83A of the rear member 80 as the "object to be connected".

[0082] The connecting portion 31 is oriented vertically in the thickness direction. The held portion 32 is oriented vertically in the thickness direction. Protrusions are formed on both sides of the held portion 32 in the width direction, which are press-fitted into the housing 20. The width dimension of the held portion 32 (width dimension of the portion excluding the protrusions) is greater than the width dimension of the elastic portion 33.

[0083] The elastic portion 33 has a first extension portion 33A, a first folded portion 33B, a second extension portion 33C, a second folded portion 33D, and a third extension portion 33E in this order. The first extension portion 33A extends in the -X direction, the second extension portion 33C extends in the +X direction, and the third extension portion 33E extends in the -X direction. In the first folded portion 33B and the second folded portion 33D, the plate material constituting the signal terminal 30 is bent in the thickness direction. The extension direction of the first extension portion 33A is slightly inclined in the +Z direction with respect to the -X direction, creating a vertical gap between it and the bottom wall 21 of the housing 20 (see Figure 5). Since the elastic portion 33 has two bent portions 33B and 33D, the contact portion 34 is displaced approximately parallel to the vertical direction.

[0084] [Ground terminal 40] Figure 10 is a perspective view of the two ground terminals 40. The two ground terminals 40 consist of a right-side member 40R and a left-side member 40L. The right-side member 40R and the left-side member 40L have a symmetrical structure. Hereafter, unless otherwise specified, they will be referred to as the ground terminal 40.

[0085] The ground terminal 40 has a first vertical plate portion 41 as an "auxiliary plate", a second vertical plate portion 42, a third vertical plate portion 43, connection portions 42A and 44 connected to the substrate 71, a contact portion 46 that makes conductive contact with the shell 50, and an elastic portion 45 that elastically supports the contact portion 46.

[0086] The first vertical plate portion 41 is oriented with its thickness direction in the width direction. Specifically, the first vertical plate portion 41 has a front portion 41A and a rear portion 41C. Both the front portion 41A and the rear portion 41C are flat plates with their thickness direction oriented in the width direction, and a stepped portion 41B is formed between the front portion 41A and the rear portion 41C. The front portion 41A of the first vertical plate portion 41 is located further outward in the width direction than the rear portion 41C of the first vertical plate portion 41. As a result, the first vertical plate portion 41 is shaped to conform to the outer surface in the width direction of the terminal proximity wall 24 of the housing 20.

[0087] The rear portion 41C of the first vertical plate portion 41 functions as a retained portion held by the housing 20. Specifically, a notch 41C1 is formed in the rear portion 41C of the first vertical plate portion 41, cut upward from the lower end of the rear portion 41C. Protrusions facing each other in the front-rear direction are formed in the notch 41C1. The wall of the housing 20, which serves as the ground terminal retaining portion 25, is press-fitted into this notch 41C1, thereby holding the ground terminal 40 in the housing 20.

[0088] The second vertical plate portion 42 is formed by bending the rear side of the first vertical plate portion 41 outward in the width direction. An elastic portion 45 extends from the upper end of the second vertical plate portion 42. The second vertical plate portion 42 is positioned in front of the rear wall 23 of the housing 20.

[0089] The third vertical plate portion 43 is formed by bending the front side of the first vertical plate portion 41 outward in the width direction.

[0090] The first vertical plate section 41, the second vertical plate section 42, and the third vertical plate section 43 orient the plate thickness direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, and form C-shaped vertical wall sections 41, 42, and 43 in plan view.

[0091] The connecting portions 42A and 44 have a front connecting portion 44 and a rear connecting portion 42A. The front connecting portion 44 is formed by bending the lower side of the third vertical plate portion 43 forward. The rear connecting portion 42A is connected to the second vertical plate portion 42 without a curved portion and is formed on the same plane as the second vertical plate portion 42.

[0092] The elastic portion 45 has a first extension portion 45A and a second extension portion 45B. The first extension portion 45A is inclined in the -Z direction toward the +X direction. The second extension portion 45B is inclined in the -X direction toward the +Z direction.

[0093] A curved portion is formed between the second elongation portion 45B of the elastic portion 45 and the contact portion 46. The contact portion 46 elongates in one direction when viewed from the side. The inclination angle of the contact portion 46 in the +Z direction relative to the -X direction is smaller than that of the second elongation portion 45B of the elastic portion 45. When the ground terminal 40 is greatly deformed, the elongation direction of the contact portion 46 becomes approximately parallel to the X direction (see Figure 7).

[0094] The contact portion 46 is shaped to be wider inward than the elastic portion 45. As a result, the inner end of the contact portion 46 in the width direction is located wider inward than the inner end of the elastic portion 45 in the width direction. The width dimension of the contact portion 46 (width dimension without considering the cut-off portion 46B described later) is larger than the width dimension of the elastic portion 45. In other words, an enlarged portion 46A is formed on the contact portion 46, which is wider inward. The formation of the enlarged portion 46A reduces the distance in the width direction between the contact portion 46 of the ground terminal 40 and the third extension portion 33E and contact portion 34 of the signal terminal 30.

[0095] A cut-out portion 46B is formed on the contact portion 46, where the outer side in the width direction is cut off. The formation of the cut-out portion 46B reduces the rigidity of the contact portion 46.

[0096] [Shell 50] Figure 11 is a perspective view of the shell 50 from below. The shell 50 is formed from a single sheet of metal.

[0097] The shell 50 has a top surface 51 and side surfaces 52. As a result, the shell 50 has a rectangular box shape with the bottom open.

[0098] An opening 51A is formed in the top surface 51. The opening 51A exposes the contact portion 34 of the signal terminal 30 to the upper side (see Figure 3). In addition, the formation of the opening 51A prevents the shell 50 from making electrical contact with the central conductor portion 83 of the rear member 80 (see Figure 16). The opening 51A is a rectangle with a shape that is approximately similar to the top surface 51. The top surface 51 has electrical contact with the outer conductor contact portion 84A of the outer conductor portion 84 of the rear member 80, and functions as a "shield contact portion". The lower surface of the top surface 51 has electrical contact with the contact portion 46 of the ground terminal 40.

[0099] The side section 52 is composed of four plate sections 53, 54, 55, and 56 connected to the top section 51 via a curved section where the outer edge of the top section 51 is bent downwards. The four plate sections 53, 54, 55, and 56 are composed of two front and rear plate sections 53 and 54 and two left and right plate sections 55 and 56. Each of the two front and rear plate sections 53 and 54 consists of a general section 53A, 54A whose thickness direction is oriented in the X direction and is directly connected to the top surface section 51 via a curved section, and a pair of overlapping sections 53B, 54B in which the outer side in the width direction of the general section 53A, 54A is bent inward in the X direction. Each of the two left and right plate sections 55 and 56 consists only of general sections 55A and 56A, which are oriented with the plate thickness direction in the width direction and are directly connected to the top surface section 51 via a curved section.

[0100] The overlapping portions 53B and 54B of the front and rear plate portions 53 and 54 are superimposed on the general portions 55A and 56A of the left and right plate portions 55 and 56 from the inside in the width direction. This prevents gaps from being formed at the corners of the shell 50.

[0101] The shell 50 has a guided portion 57 that engages with the guide portion 22B of the housing 20. The guided portion 57 is a groove-shaped portion that extends vertically and is the part of the housing 20 where the guide portion 22B is located. The guided portion 57 is formed between the rear end of the overlapping portion 53B of the front plate portion 53 and the front end of the overlapping portion 54B of the rear plate portion 54.

[0102] The shell 50 has a restricting arrangement portion 58 in which the upper restricting portion 22A of the housing 20 is positioned. The restricting arrangement portion 58 is made up of vertically extending elongated holes 53B1 and 54B1 formed in the overlapping portions 53B and 54B.

[0103] Next, we will describe the completed connector 100.

[0104] In the completed connector 100, the shell 50 can be displaced in the Z direction (see Figures 3 to 7). Figures 3 and 5 show the connector 100 in its initial state. The initial state refers to a state in which no external force is applied to the shell 50. The contact portions 46 of the pair of ground terminals 40 are in contact with the lower surface of the top portion 51 of the shell 50 from below. When the connector 100 is positioned with gravity in the downward direction, the shell 50 is supported by the shell contact portions 46 of the pair of ground terminals 40. In the initial state, the contact portion 46 of the ground terminal 40 is displaced slightly downward from its free state, and the elastic portion 33 is slightly elastically deformed. As a result, the shell 50 is biased upward by the elastic restoring force of the elastic portion 33. Furthermore, the upper restricting portion 22A of the housing 20 is located at the lower end of the restricting position portion 58 of the shell 50, and the shell 50 is receiving a downward reaction force from the upper restricting portion 22A. In other words, in the initial state, it is in a so-called preloaded state. When the shell 50 is displaced downward from its initial state, the deformation of the elastic part 45 of the ground terminal 40 increases, and the elastic restoring force of the elastic part 45 biases the shell 50 upward.

[0105] [Camera Module 1] Figure 12 is an exploded cross-sectional view of camera module 1. The camera module 1 comprises a front member 60 having a front case 61, a rear member 80 having a rear case 81, and an internal unit 70 including a connector 100, a circuit board 71, a lens 72, and an image sensor 74.

[0106] Camera module 1 is assembled using the following procedure (see Figures 12-14). 1. The internal unit 70, including the connector 100 and the circuit board 71, is housed in the front case 61. 2. Secure the circuit board 71 to the front case 61 using screws, adhesive, or the like. 3. Assemble the rear component 80 to the front case 61. 4. Adjust the position of the rear case 81 and the front case 61, and then fix the rear case 81 and the front case 61 together by welding, gluing, screws, etc.

[0107] [Front component 60] The front member 60 has a front case 61. The front case 61 is made of an insulator such as synthetic resin. The front case 61 has a peripheral wall 61A, a front wall 61B, and a lens holding portion 61C. The peripheral wall 61A is roughly rectangular in shape. The lens holding portion 61C is cylindrical in shape. The front wall 61B is formed to connect the front end of the peripheral wall 61A and the front end of the lens holding portion 61C. The front case 61 has substrate fixing portions 61D. The substrate fixing portions 61D are formed at the inner corners (4 locations) of the approximately rectangular cylindrical peripheral wall 61A. The substrate fixing portions 61D are approximately rectangular prism-shaped and are erected in the +Z direction from the front wall 61B.

[0108] [Rear component 80] The rear member 80 includes a rear case 81 made of an insulator such as synthetic resin, and a coaxial connector portion 82.

[0109] The rear case 81 has a circumferential wall 81A, a rear wall 81B, and a case projection 81C that protrudes from the rear wall 81B in the +Z direction. The circumferential wall 81A is roughly rectangular in shape. The case projection 81C is roughly cylindrical in shape.

[0110] The coaxial connector section 82 has a central conductor section 83, an outer conductor section 84, and an insulating section 85 that insulates the central conductor section 83 and the outer conductor section 84.

[0111] The central conductor portion 83 extends in the vertical direction. The lower end surface of the central conductor portion 83 is designated as the central conductor contact portion 83A (see Figure 15). The central conductor contact portion 83A is a circular plane with its normal direction oriented in the -Z direction. The outer conductor portion 84 is cylindrical and extends in the vertical direction. The lower end surface of the outer conductor portion 84 is the outer conductor contact portion 84A. The outer conductor contact portion 84A is a plane with its normal direction oriented in the -Z direction and extends circumferentially around the central conductor contact portion 83A (see Figure 15).

[0112] The insulating portion 85 has a main body portion 85A and a tip portion 85B. The main body portion 85A constitutes the upper part of the insulating portion 85, and the tip portion 85B constitutes the lower part of the insulating portion 85. The tip portion 85B functions to smoothly connect the lower end surface of the central conductor portion 83 (central conductor contact portion 83A) and the lower end surface of the outer conductor portion 84 (outer conductor contact portion 84A), thereby forming the contact surface 82A of the coaxial connector portion 82 (see Figure 15). The contact surface 82A of the coaxial connector portion 82 is a circular plane with the -Z direction as the normal direction.

[0113] The rear case 81 is configured such that a portion of the opening side (-Z direction side) of the peripheral wall 81A of the rear case 81 fits inside the peripheral wall 61A of the front case 61. This ensures that the relative position of the rear case 81 in the XY direction to the front case 61 is determined to some extent even before the rear case 81 and the front case 61 are fixed together by welding, bonding, screws, etc.

[0114] [Built-in unit 70] As shown in Figure 12, the internal unit 70 comprises a connector 100, a circuit board 71, a lens 72, a holder 73, and an image sensor 74. The connector 100 is mounted on the upper surface of the circuit board 71. The image sensor 74 is mounted on the lower surface of the circuit board 71. The lens 72 is mounted on the lower side of the circuit board 71 via the holder 73. The lens 72 and the image sensor 74 are fixed in place with precise alignment.

[0115] The circuit board 71 is rectangular when viewed from the Z direction, and the holder 73 is circular when viewed from the Z direction. The four corners of the circuit board 71 are fixed to the upper surface (the surface on the +Z direction side) of the circuit board fixing part 61D of the front case 61 using screws, adhesive, or the like.

[0116] When assembling the rear component 80, the coaxial connector portion 82 of the rear component 80 comes into contact with the shell 50 of the connector 100 from the +Z direction. As a result, the shell 50 is pushed in the -Z direction.

[0117] The relative position of the connector 100 and the coaxial connector section 82 in the completed state of the camera module 1 is affected by the assembly tolerances of the front case 61 and the rear case 81, as well as the mounting position of the circuit board 71 relative to the front case 61. However, since the contact surface 82A of the coaxial connector portion 82 is a plane facing the -Z direction, it can accommodate misalignment in the XY direction. Also, since the shell 50 of the connector 100 is displaceable downward, it can absorb misalignment in the Z direction. The contact portion 34 of the signal terminal 30 and the shell 50 are elastically displaced downward and biased in the +Z direction, so the coaxial connector portion 82 and the signal terminal 30 and shell 50 make conductive contact with contact pressure.

[0118] <Effects and Effects> Next, the effects and advantages of this embodiment will be described.

[0119] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the connector 100 comprises a signal terminal 30, a housing 20 that holds the signal terminal 30, and a shell 50 that surrounds at least a portion of the signal terminal 30. The signal terminal 30 has a terminal contact portion 34 that can make conductive contact with the inner conductor contact portion 83A of the object to be connected 80, which is connected from one side in the Z direction, and the shell 50 has a shield contact portion 51 that makes conductive contact with the outer conductor contact portion 84A of the object to be connected 80. Here, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the shell 50 having the shield contact portion 51 is displaceable in the Z direction. Therefore, it is possible to absorb the Z-direction positional misalignment between the connector 100 and the object to be connected 80 (for example, misalignment due to assembly tolerances).

[0120] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the shell 50 has a flat top surface portion 51 with its thickness direction oriented in the Z direction. An opening 51A is formed in the center of the top surface portion 51 to expose the terminal contact portion 34. Therefore, the area of ​​the upper surface of the top surface portion 51 surrounding the opening 51A can be made to function as a shield contact portion 51.

[0121] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the shell 50 has a side portion 52 that extends downward from the outer edge of the top portion 51. The side portion 52 of the shell 50 surrounds the signal terminal 30 from a direction perpendicular to the Z direction. This improves noise suppression. Furthermore, when the connector 100 is connected to the object 80 (hereinafter referred to as the connected state), the shell 50 is positioned lower (towards the -Z direction) compared to the initial state (Figure 3). Therefore, in the connected state, the unshielded area below the side portion 52 of the shell 50 is reduced compared to the initial state.

[0122] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 11, the side portion 52 of the shell 50 is composed of a plurality of plate portions 53, 54, 55, and 56 connected to the top portion 51 via a curved portion. Here, among the plurality of plate portions 53, 54, 55, and 56, adjacent plate portions overlap each other to some extent. As a result, the formation of gaps between adjacent plate portions 53, 54, 55, and 56 is suppressed.

[0123] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the connector 100 includes elastic support parts 45 and 46 that elastically support the shell 50 so that it can be displaced in the Z direction. Therefore, by displacing the shell 50 to the other side in the Z direction to achieve a connected state, the shield contact part 51 can be pressed into contact with the object to be connected 80.

[0124] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, the housing 20 has a pair of terminal proximity walls 24 facing each other in the Y direction, and the signal terminal 30 is arranged between the pair of terminal proximity walls 24. Here, the connector 100 has a pair of auxiliary plates 41. The pair of auxiliary plates 41 are oriented with their thickness in the Y direction and are positioned outward in the Y direction relative to the pair of terminal proximity walls 24. As a result, a part of the housing 20 is positioned adjacent to the signal terminal 30 in the Y direction, and the auxiliary plates 41 are positioned outside of it, so that the impedance of the signal terminal 30 is adjusted, making the connector 100 suitable for high-speed transmission.

[0125] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the retained portion 32 of the signal terminal 30 is press-fitted and held between a pair of terminal proximity walls 24 from one side in the X direction. Here, the portion of the pair of terminal proximity walls 24 into which the retained portion 32 is press-fitted (the front portion 24A of the terminal proximity wall 24) has a surface that extends further outward in the Y direction than the other portions. The pair of auxiliary plates 41 are shaped to conform to the Y-direction outer surface of the pair of terminal proximity walls 24. As a result, the distance in the Y direction between the signal terminal 30 and the auxiliary plates 41 approaches a constant value regardless of the position in the X direction, thus adjusting the impedance and improving transmission performance.

[0126] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the connector 100 includes a ground terminal 40 that electrically connects the mounting object 71 to which the connector 100 is attached and the shell 50. Therefore, compared to an embodiment in which the shell 50 is not electrically connected to the mounting object 71, stable high-speed transmission performance can be ensured.

[0127] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the shell 50 and the ground terminal 40 are separate components. The ground terminal 40 has elastic support portions 45 and 46 that elastically support the shell 50 so that it can be displaced in the Z direction, and the elastic support portions 45 and 46 have shell contact portions 46 that electrically connect the ground terminal 40 and the shell 50 by making electrical contact with the shell 50. Therefore, both the elastic support of the shell 50 and the electrical connection between the shell 50 and the ground terminal 40 can be performed by the elastic support portions 45 and 46.

[0128] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the signal terminal 30 has tip-side extension portions 33E, 34 having a first connector contact portion 34 on the tip side in the extension direction, and the ground terminal 40 has a pair of tip-side extension portions 46 having a shell contact portion 46 that contacts the shell 50 on the tip side in the extension direction. Here, the tip extensions 33E and 34 of the signal terminal 30 and the pair of tip extensions 46 of the ground terminal 40 both extend in the same predetermined direction when viewed from the Z direction. Furthermore, the pair of tip extensions 46 of the ground terminal 40 are arranged on both sides in the Y direction relative to the tip extensions 33E and 34 of the signal terminal 30. As a result, one tip extension 46 of the ground terminal 40, the tip extensions 33E and 34 of the signal terminal 30, and the other tip extension 46 of the ground terminal 40 function as a GSG structure (ground-signal-ground structure), improving transmission characteristics.

[0129] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the direction in which the shield contact portion 51 contacts the second contact portion 84A of the object to be connected 80, and the direction in which the terminal contact portion 34 contacts the first contact portion 83A of the object to be connected 80, are both in the Z direction. Therefore, the shape of the signal terminal 30 can be simplified compared to, for example, an embodiment in which the contact direction of the terminal contact portion 34 is perpendicular to the Z direction.

[0130] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, in the initial state, the shield contact portion 51 is located on one side in the Z direction relative to the terminal contact portion 34. Therefore, when contacting the object to be connected 80, the shield contact portion 51 is more likely to make contact first.

[0131] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the connection structure is a connection structure between the object to be connected 80 and the connector 100, as shown in Figure 15. The connector 100 comprises a signal terminal 30 having a first connector contact portion 34, shield members 40 and 50 having a second connector contact portion 51, and a housing 20, and contacts the object to be connected 80 from the other side in the Z direction. The object to be connected 80 comprises an inner conductor portion 83 and an outer conductor portion 84. The inner conductor contact portion 83A of the inner conductor portion 83 contacts the first connector contact portion 34 of the connector 100, and the outer conductor contact portion 84A of the outer conductor portion 84 contacts the second connector contact portion 51 of the connector 100. Here, the outer conductor portion 84 surrounds the inner conductor portion 83. As a result, the outer conductor portion 84 shields the inner conductor portion 83, improving high-speed transmission performance. Furthermore, the inner conductor contact portion 83A can be abutted against the first connector contact portion 34 in the Z direction, and the outer conductor contact portion 84A can be abutted against the second connector contact portion 51 in the Z direction. As a result, both the contact between the first connector contact portion 34 and the inner conductor contact portion 83A, and the contact between the second connector contact portion 51 and the outer conductor contact portion 84A, are abutted contacts in the Z direction. Therefore, relative positional misalignment between the object to be connected 80 and the connector 100 can be accommodated in a direction perpendicular to the Z direction, which is the abutting direction.

[0132] Furthermore, in this embodiment, both the inner conductor contact portion 83A and the outer conductor contact portion 84A are planes whose normal direction is the other side in the Z direction, and their positions in the Z direction coincide. Therefore, relative positional misalignment between the object to be connected 80 and the connector 100 in the direction perpendicular to the Z direction, which is the butt joint direction, can be handled more smoothly.

[0133] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the coaxial connector portion 82 formed by the inner conductor portion 83 and the outer conductor portion 84 is in butt contact with the first connector contact portion 34 and the second connector contact portion 51 of the connector 100.

[0134] Incidentally, the second connector contact portion 51 of the connector 100 needs to be able to contact the outer conductor contact portion 84A, and in order to achieve this, the connector 100 may be enlarged in the X and Y directions. For example, in the connection structure described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-162556, a recess is formed in the housing of the connector, and the second connector contact portion (the tip of the receptacle land pin) is placed in this recess. For this reason, it is necessary to form a recess in the housing so that the outer conductor portion of the object to be connected fits into it, which enlarges the housing in the X and Y directions, and as a result the connector is enlarged. In this embodiment, the connector 100 has a shell 50 having a top surface 51 and a side surface 52, and the shell 50 is positioned to cover the housing 20 from one side in the Z direction. The surface of the top surface 51 of the shell 50 on one side in the Z direction functions as the second connector contact portion 51. Therefore, it is not necessary to form a recess in the housing for the outer conductor portion of the object to be connected to fit into, and furthermore, a wide area on one side of the connector in the Z direction can be used as the second connector contact portion 51. As a result, the connector can be miniaturized in the X and Y directions. Furthermore, this allows the signal line formed by the signal terminal 30 and the central conductor portion 83 to be surrounded by the outer conductor portion 84 and the shell 50. In other words, no gap is created between the outer conductor portion 84 and the shell 50.

[0135] [Second Embodiment] Figures 17 to 21 show the connector 200 according to the second embodiment.

[0136] The connector 200 comprises a housing 20, a signal terminal 30, two ground terminals 40L and 40R, and a shell 50.

[0137] Each of the ground terminals 40 has a first vertical plate portion 41 with its thickness direction oriented in the width direction, and a connecting portion 44 formed by bending the lower side of the first vertical plate portion 41. The first vertical plate portion 41 functions as a retained portion that is press-fitted into and held in the housing 20. The first vertical plate portion 41 is positioned on the widthwise outer side of the pair of terminal proximity walls 24 of the housing 20 and functions as an auxiliary plate. The widthwise outer surface of the first vertical plate portion 41 is in electrical contact with the shell 50 and functions as a shell contact portion. The connecting portion 44 is connected to the substrate 71.

[0138] As shown in Figure 20, the shell 50 has inner bent portions 55C and 56C. The inner bent portions 55C and 56C are in electrical contact with the outer surface in the width direction of the first vertical plate portion 41 of the ground terminal 40. The inner bent portions 55C and 56C are formed by bending the lower part of the left and right plate portions 55 and 56 of the shell 50, in the width direction (front-to-back direction) at the center, inward by approximately 180 degrees.

[0139] As shown in Figure 21, the shell 50 has spring pieces 55D and 56D as "elastic support parts". The spring pieces 55D and 56D elastically support the shell 50 itself so that it can be displaced in the vertical direction. Specifically, the spring pieces 55D and 56D are formed by bending the lower parts of the left and right plate portions 55 and 56 of the shell 50 inward in the width direction. The spring pieces 55D and 56D contact the inclined surface 24D of the housing 20. The inclined surface 24D of the housing 20 is a plane whose normal direction is oriented in the direction of inclination in the +Z direction relative to the outside in the width direction. When the shell 50 is displaced downward, the amount of deformation of the spring pieces 55D and 56D increases. Therefore, when the shell 50 is displaced downward, the restoring force of the spring pieces 55D and 56D biases the shell 50 in the +Z direction. Thus, in this embodiment, the elastic support portions 55D and 56D, which are integrally formed with the shell 50, are configured to contact the housing 20, thereby elastically supporting the shell 50 so that it can be displaced in the Z direction.

[0140] [Third Embodiment] Figures 22 and 23 show the connector 300 according to the third embodiment.

[0141] The connector 300 comprises a housing 20, signal terminals 30, and shielding members 40 and 50. The shielding members 40 and 50 integrally have two ground terminals 40L and 40R and a shell 50. Since the ground terminals 40 and the shell 50 are integrally formed, the number of parts is reduced.

[0142] The elastic part 45 (elastic support part) of the left ground terminal 40L is connected to the front plate part 53 of the shell 50, and the elastic part 45 (elastic support part) of the right ground terminal 40R is connected to the rear plate part 54 of the shell 50 (not shown). The left and right ground terminals 40L and 40R are 180 degrees rotationally symmetric with respect to the vertical axis.

[0143] The housing 20 has a bottom wall 21 and a pair of terminal proximity walls 24, but does not have a pair of side walls 22. The left and right plate portions 55 and 56 of the shell 50 are positioned close to the widthwise outer edges of the pair of terminal proximity walls 24 of the housing 20. The elastic portion 45 of the ground terminal 40 is located outside the side portion 52 of the shell 50.

[0144] [Fourth Embodiment] Figures 24 to 26 show the connector 400 according to the fourth embodiment.

[0145] The connector 400 comprises a housing 20, a signal terminal 30, a ground terminal 40, and a shell 50.

[0146] The ground terminal 40 has a pair of first vertical plate portions 41. The first vertical plate portions 41 are press-fitted into the housing 20 from below and positioned on the widthwise outer side of the terminal proximity wall 24 of the housing 20, functioning as auxiliary plates. The housing 20 has a pair of side walls 22, each of which has a press-fit hole 22F. The widthwise inner portion of the side wall 22 with respect to the press-fit hole 22F functions as the terminal proximity wall 24.

[0147] The ground terminal 40 has a surrounding portion 47 that surrounds the housing 20 from the XY plane. The surrounding portion 47 is open in part on the front side, and a portion of the signal terminal 30 is located in this portion. The surrounding portion 47 of the ground terminal 40 shields the lower part of the housing 20 that is not shielded by the side portion 52 of the shell 50.

[0148] Although the housing 20 does not have a guide portion 22B (see Figure 8), the left and right elastic portions 45 of the ground terminal 40 are shaped to be 180 degrees rotationally symmetric with respect to the vertical axis, thus stabilizing the orientation of the shell 50.

[0149] [Fifth Embodiment] Figures 27 to 30 show the connector 500 according to the fifth embodiment.

[0150] The connector 500 comprises a housing 20, a signal terminal 30, a ground terminal 40, a shell 50, and four coil springs 45C.

[0151] The four coil springs 45C function as elastic support parts that elastically support the shell 50 so that it can be displaced in the vertical direction. The lower ends of the coil springs 45C are held in coil retaining parts 21C formed at four locations corresponding to the corners of the housing 20.

[0152] The ground terminal 40 has a pair of first vertical plate portions 41 (auxiliary plates). When the ground terminal 40 is press-fitted into the housing 20 from below, the pair of first vertical plate portions 41 are positioned on the widthwise outer side of the pair of terminal proximity walls 24 of the housing 20.

[0153] As shown in Figure 30, the connector 500 has a pair of movable auxiliary plates 59. The movable auxiliary plates 59 are positioned in approximately the same location as the first vertical plate portion 41 (auxiliary plate) in the width direction. The movable auxiliary plates 59 are displaced vertically in conjunction with the vertical displacement of the shell 50. The movable auxiliary plates 59 are formed integrally with the top surface portion 51 and the side surface portion 52 of the shell 50. The movable auxiliary plates 59 are formed by bending a part of the outer edge of the top surface portion 51 diagonally downward and inward in the width direction. The movable auxiliary plates 59 are in electrical contact with the first vertical plate portion 41.

[0154] The movable auxiliary plate 59 has a main body portion 59A and a tip portion 59B. The state shown in Figure 30 is the initial state, in which the tip portion 59B of the movable auxiliary plate 59 is in contact with the first vertical plate portion 41. In the initial state, the main body portion 59A of the movable auxiliary plate 59 is inclined inward in the width direction toward the downward direction.

[0155] When the shell 50 is displaced downward from its initial state, the main body 59A of the movable auxiliary plate 59 comes into contact with the first vertical plate portion 41. In this state, the inclination of the main body 59A of the movable auxiliary plate 59 is eliminated, and it extends approximately parallel to the downward direction (not shown). Furthermore, when the shell 50 is displaced downward, the movable auxiliary plate 59 fits between the side wall 22 of the housing 20 and the first vertical plate portion 41 of the ground terminal 40.

[0156] The movable auxiliary plate 59 is positioned on the widthwise side of the portion of the signal terminal 30 that protrudes upward from the housing 20 (terminal proximity wall 24). As a result, the impedance of the portion of the signal terminal 30 that protrudes upward from the housing 20 is also adjusted, improving high-speed transmission performance. In other words, the movable auxiliary plate 59 creates a structure in which the auxiliary plate 41 (first vertical plate portion) is extended upward. Therefore, the movable auxiliary plate 59 can influence the portion of the signal terminal 30 that is difficult to influence by the auxiliary plate 41 (the portion that protrudes upward from the terminal proximity wall 24 of the housing 20), thereby adjusting the impedance and improving high-speed transmission performance. Furthermore, it is preferable that the width of the movable auxiliary plate 59 (dimension in the X direction) is greater than the dimension in the X direction of the portion bent upwardly to protrude from the tip of the signal terminal 30 (the portion corresponding to the contact portion 34). It is also preferable that the range in the X direction in which the movable auxiliary plate 59 exists encompasses the range in the X direction in which the portion bent upwardly to protrude from the tip of the signal terminal 30 exists. In the structure shown in Figure 30, the distance in the Y direction between the signal terminal 30 and the movable auxiliary plate 59 is large at the height position corresponding to the contact portion 34 of the signal terminal 30. However, the movable auxiliary plate 59 may be configured such that the distance in the Y direction between the signal terminal 30 and the movable auxiliary plate 59 is the same as the distance at the height position where the movable auxiliary plate 59 and the auxiliary plate 41 are in contact, even at the height position corresponding to the contact portion 34 of the signal terminal 30.

[0157] [Sixth Embodiment] Figures 31 to 35 show the connector 600 according to the sixth embodiment.

[0158] The connector 600 comprises a housing 20, a signal terminal 30, a ground terminal 40, a shell 50, and two spring fittings 140 as "elastic support parts".

[0159] The two spring fittings 140 are identical in shape. As shown in Figure 36, each spring fitting 140 has a base portion 141, a spring portion 142, and a support portion 143 in that order.

[0160] The support portion 143 is the part that supports the shell 50. The support portion 143 has an upward extension portion 143A extending upward from the spring portion 142, a first support portion 143B, a connecting portion 143C, and a second support portion 143D. The support portion 143 supports the shell 50 at two points separated in the front-rear direction, the first support portion 143B and the second support portion 143D. Since there are two spring fittings 140, the shell 50 is supported at a total of four points. The first support portion 143B and the second support portion 143D are both bent so as to be convex upward. The connecting portion 143C connects the first support portion 143B and the second support portion 143D at a position below the apex of the first support portion 143B and the second support portion 143D. As a result, the connecting portion 143C avoids a part (upper part) of the movable auxiliary plate 59 of the shell 50 (see Figure 35). In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 35, the connecting portion 143C contacts a part (upper part) of the movable auxiliary plate 59 from below, which makes it easier to maintain the correct posture of the shell 50. However, the connecting portion 143C may be configured so as not to contact a part (upper part) of the movable auxiliary plate 59.

[0161] The spring section 142 has a first curved section 142A, a first extended section 142B, a second curved section 142C, and a second extended section 142D. The first curved section 142A changes the extension direction of the spring section 142 from one side in the front-rear direction to the other, and the second curved section 142C changes the extension direction of the spring section 142 from the other side in the front-rear direction to the one side. In other words, the spring section 142 has two folded sections that change its extension direction in the front-rear direction. Because there are two folded sections, the posture of the support section 143 is stable. The second curved section 142C has a larger radius of curvature than the first curved section 142A.

[0162] As shown in Figure 31, the housing 20 has two spring placement holes 29, each of which contains two spring fittings 140. The spring placement holes 29 are open upwards. The spring fittings 140 are not press-fitted into the housing 20, but are simply placed in position, making assembly easy.

[0163] The two spring fittings 140 are positioned so that their front-to-back directions are reversed relative to each other. This prevents the shell 50, which is elastically supported by the two spring fittings 140, from tilting to either the front or the rear.

[0164] As shown in Figure 34, the housing 20 has an inspection window 29A for confirming that the spring fitting 140 is correctly positioned in the spring placement hole 29. The inspection window 29A is formed in two locations, front and rear, for each spring placement hole 29. The inspection window 29A is configured to allow one end and the other end (first curved portion 142A side) of the base 141 of the spring fitting 140 to be confirmed from the outside in the width direction of the housing 20.

[0165] As shown in Figure 31, the ground terminal 40 has a pair of first vertical plate portions 41 (auxiliary plates). When the ground terminal 40 is press-fitted into the housing 20 from below, the pair of first vertical plate portions 41 are positioned on the outside in the width direction of the pair of terminal proximity walls 24 (see Figure 35) of the housing 20.

[0166] As shown in Figure 35, the connector 600 has a pair of movable auxiliary plates 59. The movable auxiliary plates 59 move vertically in conjunction with the vertical displacement of the shell 50. The movable auxiliary plates 59 are integrally formed with the top surface 51 and side surface 52 of the shell 50. The movable auxiliary plates 59 are formed by bending a part of the outer edge of the top surface 51 diagonally downward and inward in the width direction.

[0167] As the shell 50 is displaced downward from the initial state shown in Figure 35, the bulging portion 59D of the movable auxiliary plate 59 comes into contact with the first vertical plate portion 41 from the inside in the width direction. The movable auxiliary plate 59 is also inserted into the gap between the terminal proximity wall 24 and the first vertical plate portion 41. Therefore, in the housing 20 in which the spring placement hole 29 is formed, there is no need to form a gap on the outside in the width direction of the first vertical plate portion 41, and each component can be arranged efficiently. As a result, the connector 600 can be made smaller.

[0168] The movable auxiliary plate 59 is positioned on the outside in the width direction with respect to the portion of the signal terminal 30 that protrudes upward from the housing 20 (terminal proximity wall 24). As a result, the impedance of the portion of the signal terminal 30 that protrudes upward from the housing 20 is also adjusted, improving high-speed transmission performance.

[0169] [Supplementary explanation of the above embodiment] In the above embodiment, the object to be connected is the rear member 80 of the camera module 1, but the object to be connected in this disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the object to be connected may be another substrate arranged in the +Z direction relative to the connector.

[0170] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the direction in which the terminal contact portion 34 contacts the object to be connected 80 is the Z direction, and the terminal contact portion 34 is displaceable in the Z direction. However, the terminal contact portion of this disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the terminal contact portion may contact the object to be connected by sandwiching it from the X direction or the Y direction.

[0171] In the above embodiment, the ground terminal 40 has connection portions 44 and 42A that connect to the substrate 71, but the shielding member and ground terminal of this disclosure are not limited to this.

[0172] In the above embodiment, both the inner conductor contact portion 83A and the outer conductor contact portion 84A are planes whose normal direction is the other side in the Z direction. However, the inner conductor contact portion and the outer conductor contact portion of this disclosure are not limited to this and may be curved surfaces.

[0173] In the above embodiment, the housing 20 is held by the signal terminal 30 by press-fitting the held portion 32 of the signal terminal 30 into the housing 20. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the held portion of the signal terminal may be held by the housing by insert molding the signal terminal together with the housing.

[0174] In the above embodiment, the shell 50 of the connector 100 is in a so-called preloaded state in its initial state, but the disclosure is not limited thereto, and it does not have to be in a preloaded state in its initial state.

[0175] As shown in Figure 11, the side portion 52 of the shell 50 in the first embodiment described above is composed of a plurality of plate portions 53, 54, 55, 56, and adjacent plate portions 53, 54, 55, 56 overlap each other to some extent, completely surrounding the signal terminal 30 from all directions (360 degrees) perpendicular to the Z direction. However, the side portion of this disclosure is not limited to this, and there may be portions that are not surrounded in some directions out of all directions (360 degrees), as in the second to fifth embodiments. If the side portion is formed in approximately four directions, namely the ±X direction and the ±Y direction, as in the second to fifth embodiments, it corresponds to the "side portion that surrounds the signal terminal from directions perpendicular to the Z direction" in this disclosure. Furthermore, the “side portion” of this disclosure is not limited to surrounding the signal terminals from a direction perpendicular to the Z direction, but may cover the signal terminals from any direction perpendicular to the Z direction. For example, the two front and rear plate portions 53 and 54 in the shell 50 of the first embodiment may be omitted, and the signal terminals 30 may not be covered on the front and rear sides, but only on the right and left sides of the signal terminals 30 may be covered by the side portion 52.

[0176] In the above embodiment, the side portion 52 of the shell 50 is composed of a plurality of plate portions 53, 54, 55, and 56 connected to the top portion 51 via a curved portion, but the side portion of this disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the side portion may be composed of a single plate portion connected to the top portion via a curved portion. In other words, in the shell 50 of the first embodiment (Figure 11), three of the four plate portions 53, 54, 55, and 56 are omitted, and the size of one plate portion 53 is enlarged, so that the signal terminal 30 is surrounded by only that plate portion 53 from a direction perpendicular to the Z direction. Furthermore, in this case, the region near one end of the single plate portion and the region near the other end of the plate portion overlap, so that the formation of a gap between the one end of the plate portion and the other end of the plate portion is suppressed. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0177] 1 Camera Module 20 Housing 21 Bottom wall 23 Back wall 24 Terminal proximity wall 30 signal terminals 33E,34 Tip side extension part 34 Contact points (terminal contact points, first connector contact points) 40 Ground terminal 40, 50 Shielding members 41 First vertical plate section (auxiliary plate) 45,46 Elastic support section 46 Shell contact area 45C Coil spring (elastic support part) 46 Contact part (tip side extension part) 50 shells 51 Top surface (shield contact area, second connector contact area) 51A opening 52 Side part 53, 54, 55, 56 Multiple plate sections 55D, 56D Spring section (elastic support section) 71. Circuit board (object to be mounted) 80 Rear component (to be connected) 82 Coaxial connector section 83. Central conductor section (inner conductor section) 83A Center conductor contact area (inner conductor contact area, first contact area) 84 Outer conductor section 84A Outer conductor contact part (second contact part) 140 Spring fitting 140 (elastic support part) 100 connectors 200 connectors 300 connectors 400 connectors 500 connectors 600 connectors

Claims

1. A connection structure comprising an object to be connected, and a connector that contacts the object to be connected from the other side in the Z direction, The object to be connected comprises an inner conductor portion and an outer conductor portion surrounding the inner conductor portion. The connector comprises a signal terminal having a first connector contact portion, a shielding member having a second connector contact portion, and a housing. The inner conductor portion has an inner conductor contact portion that can be abutted with the first connector contact portion in the Z direction, The outer conductor portion has an outer conductor contact portion that can be abutted against the second connector contact portion in the Z direction, The housing has a pair of terminal proximity walls facing each other in the Y direction, The signal terminal is positioned between the pair of terminal proximity walls. The shield member has a pair of auxiliary plates, the pair of auxiliary plates are oriented with their thickness direction in the Y direction and are positioned outward in the Y direction relative to the pair of terminal proximity walls. Connection structure.

2. The signal terminal has a retained portion that is held between the pair of terminal proximity walls, Of the pair of terminal proximity walls, the portion in which the retained portion is held has a surface that extends outward in the Y direction compared to the other portions. The pair of auxiliary plates are shaped to conform to the outer surface in the Y direction of the pair of terminal proximity walls. The connection structure according to claim 1.

3. A connection structure comprising an object to be connected, and a connector that contacts the object to be connected from the other side in the Z direction, The object to be connected comprises an inner conductor portion and an outer conductor portion surrounding the inner conductor portion. The connector comprises a signal terminal having a first connector contact portion, a shielding member having a second connector contact portion, and a housing. The inner conductor portion has an inner conductor contact portion that can be abutted with the first connector contact portion in the Z direction, The outer conductor portion has an outer conductor contact portion that can be abutted against the second connector contact portion in the Z direction, The shield member is The shell having the second connector contact portion, The system comprises a ground terminal having a shell contact portion that makes conductive contact with the shell, The signal terminal extends in a predetermined direction when viewed from the Z direction, and has an extended tip portion on the tip side in the extension direction that has the first connector contact portion. The ground terminal extends in the predetermined direction when viewed from the Z direction and has a pair of tip-side extensions having the shell contact portion on the tip side in the extension direction, The pair of tip-side extensions of the ground terminal are arranged on both sides in the Y direction relative to the tip-side extensions of the signal terminal. Connection structure.

4. A connection structure comprising an object to be connected, and a connector that contacts the object to be connected from the other side in the Z direction, The object to be connected comprises an inner conductor portion and an outer conductor portion surrounding the inner conductor portion. The connector comprises a signal terminal having a first connector contact portion, a shielding member having a second connector contact portion, and a housing. The inner conductor portion has an inner conductor contact portion that can be abutted with the first connector contact portion in the Z direction, The outer conductor portion has an outer conductor contact portion that can be abutted against the second connector contact portion in the Z direction, The shielding member has a top surface portion that faces the outer conductor contact portion in the Z direction and is located on one side of the housing in the Z direction, The top surface portion has the second connector contact portion, The object to be connected is a rear member that constitutes part of the outer shell of the camera module. The rear member comprises a connector portion having an inner conductor portion and an outer conductor portion, the connector portion which electrically connects the inside and outside of the camera module. Connection structure.

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