Connector with circuit board

Abstract

To perform reliable mounting while improving the workability of mounting (fixing) a compression connector on a substrate.SOLUTION: A substrate-mounted connector 10 that mounts a compression type connector 31 to be pressed and connected to a connection target and a substrate 11 via a cage 21 comprises the compression connector 31 including a contact 32 in contact with the substrate 11, a housing 33 to which the contact 32 is fixed, and a cover shell 34 covering an upper surface of the housing 33. The compression connector 31 is inserted into the cage 21 fixed to the substrate 11. A lock hole 37 and a lock piece 24 entering the lock hole 37 and fixing a position of the compression connector 31 with respect to the cage 21 are formed in the compression connector 31 or the cage 21.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector with a substrate.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a compression type connector that is pressed against a connection object such as a substrate for connection is known. The structure of this type of connector is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 below. The conventional compression type connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 below is configured as an electrical connector (1) provided with a contact (20) having an elastic spring portion (23), as shown in FIG. 113. In this electrical connector (1), a plurality of contacts (20) are arranged in an aligned state.

[0003] The contact (20) has a substrate connection portion (22) soldered to the first circuit board (30) and a contact portion (24) that contacts the second circuit board (40). An elastic spring portion (23) having spring properties is provided between the substrate connection portion (22) and the contact portion (24). By pressing the second circuit board (40) from above the contact (20) attached by soldering on the first circuit board (30), the elastic spring portion (23) of the contact (20) exhibits spring properties, and a contact pressure is generated between the second circuit board (40) and the contact (20). Regarding the reference numerals in the description of the prior art documents, brackets are used to distinguish them from the embodiments of the present invention.

[0004] And in the conventional compression connector, screwing has been used for attachment (fixing) to the substrate.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0006] However, when fixing a compression connector to a circuit board with screws, the conventional method involves attaching the nut from the circuit board side opposite to the connector mounting side, and then tightening the screw from the connector mounting side. In this conventional technique, the worker has to hold the connector and nut in place with their hand while tightening the screw, which makes the connector installation (fixing) process difficult. In other words, the conventional screw-fastening structure for fixing compression connectors to circuit boards requires a separate component, the nut, in addition to the screw, which presents problems such as the possibility of losing the nut and increased labor costs.

[0007] In other words, conventional compression connectors required a configuration that improved ease of installation while ensuring secure attachment to the circuit board.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a configuration in which the installation (fixing) of the compression connector is simple when fixing the compression connector to the circuit board, and the compression connector can be fixed to the circuit board with fewer operations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The substrate-mounted connector according to the present invention is a substrate-mounted connector that attaches a compression-type connector, which connects by pressing it against an object to be connected, to a substrate via a cage, and comprises a compression connector having contacts that contact the substrate, a housing to which the contacts are fixed, and a cover shell that covers the upper surface of the housing, wherein the compression connector is inserted into the cage fixed to the substrate, and the compression connector or the cage is formed with a locking hole and a locking piece that enters the locking hole and fixes the position of the compression connector relative to the cage. The locking holes are formed in the cover shell of the compression connector, and the cage has one or more pressing springs that press the top surface of the cover shell toward the substrate, in the same direction as the alignment of the contacts, and one or more locking pieces that enter into the locking holes formed in the cover shell and fix the horizontal position of the cage and the compression connector, the cage is made of a flat metal plate material and has a cage top surface that forms the top surface, and a vertical front surface, a vertical right side surface, and a vertical left side surface that are formed as vertical surfaces by being bent vertically from the front and left and right sides of the cage top surface, the locking holes are formed at the left and right ends of the top surface of the cover shell, the locking pieces have a slanted shape and are formed to be wedge-shaped with a slanted surface that gradually protrudes toward the substrate side from the open rear side of the cage toward the vertical front surfaceIt is characterized by the following:

[0010] In other words, the substrate-mounted connector according to the present invention has a mechanism for attaching a compression-type connector to a substrate via a cage, and since the cage can be pre-attached to the substrate, it does not fall off or get lost like conventional screws and nuts. Furthermore, the substrate-mounted connector according to the present invention employs a mechanism for fixing with a latch, which reduces the amount of work required for installation and eliminates the need for torque management of screws as in the conventional method. Moreover, in the conventional technology, the height of the screw head and the protrusion amount of the screw tip and nut resulted in large device dimensions, but in the present invention, the height of the top surface of the connector and the amount of protrusion from the bottom surface of the substrate can be reduced, so the overall size of the device can be made more compact.

[0012] Another substrate-mounted connector according to the present invention is a substrate-mounted connector that attaches a compression-type connector, which connects by pressing it against an object to be connected, to a substrate via a cage, and comprises a compression connector having contacts that contact the substrate, a housing to which the contacts are fixed, and a cover shell that covers the upper surface of the housing, wherein the compression connector is inserted into the cage fixed to the substrate, and the compression connector or the cage has a locking hole and a locking piece that enters the locking hole and fixes the position of the compression connector relative to the cage, the cage consists of two members, a cage base and a cage cover, the cage cover has one or more pressing springs that press the top surface of the cover shell toward the substrate in the same direction as the alignment of the contacts, and the cage cover rotates relative to the cage base fixed to the substrate and has one or more springy locking pieces that enter the locking hole formed in the cage base and fix the cage cover to the cage base.

[0019] Furthermore, in the substrate-equipped connector according to the present invention, the compression connector may include a bottom shell that covers the lower surface of the housing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to the present invention, when fixing the compression connector to the substrate, the connector attachment (fixing) work is simple, and a configuration is realized in which the compression connector can be fixed to the substrate with fewer movements. In particular, with the present invention, the compression connector only needs to be installed on a cage that has been formed on the substrate in advance, and a latch mechanism is used as the attachment means, making positioning and fixing easy. Therefore, according to the present invention, reliable attachment can be achieved while improving the workability of attaching (fixing) the compression connector to the substrate. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0021] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the connector with a circuit board according to the first embodiment, as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 2] The external perspective view when the connector with a substrate according to the first embodiment is viewed from the upper left rear. [Figure 3] The external perspective view when the connector with a substrate according to the first embodiment is viewed from the lower right front. [Figure 4] In the connector with a substrate according to the first embodiment, the external perspective view when the compression connector is removed from the substrate with a cage and viewed from the upper right front. [Figure 5] In the connector with a substrate according to the first embodiment, the external perspective view when the compression connector is removed from the substrate with a cage and viewed from the upper left rear. [Figure 6] The external perspective view when the compression connector according to the first embodiment is viewed from the upper right front. [Figure 7] The external perspective view when the compression connector according to the first embodiment is viewed from the lower left rear. [Figure 8] The front view of the compression connector according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] The right side view of the compression connector according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] The longitudinal sectional view showing the cross section taken along the line A-A in FIG. 8. [Figure 11] The external perspective view when the cage of the connector with a substrate according to the first embodiment is viewed from the upper right front. [Figure 12] The external perspective view when the cage of the connector with a substrate according to the first embodiment is viewed from the lower left rear. [Figure 13] The front view of the cage of the connector with a substrate according to the first embodiment. [Figure 14] The rear view of the cage of the connector with a substrate according to the first embodiment. [Figure 15] The top view of the cage of the connector with a substrate according to the first embodiment. [Figure 16] The longitudinal sectional view showing the cross section taken along the line B-B in FIG. 13. [Figure 17] The external perspective view when the connector with a substrate according to the second embodiment is seen from the upper right front. [Figure 18] The external perspective view when the connector with a substrate according to the second embodiment is seen from the upper left rear. [Figure 19] The external perspective view when the connector with a substrate according to the second embodiment is seen from the lower right front. [Figure 20] The external perspective view when the compression connector is removed from the substrate with a cage in the connector with a substrate according to the second embodiment and seen from the upper right front. [Figure 21] The external perspective view when the compression connector is removed from the substrate with a cage in the connector with a substrate according to the second embodiment and seen from the upper left rear. [Figure 22] The external perspective view when the substrate with a cage of the connector with a substrate according to the second embodiment is seen from the upper right front. [Figure 23] The external perspective view when the substrate with a cage of the connector with a substrate according to the second embodiment is seen from the upper left rear. [Figure 24] The right side view of the cage of the connector with a substrate according to the second embodiment. [Figure 25] A diagram for explaining the operating state of the cage of the connector with a substrate according to the second embodiment. In the sub - diagram (a) in the figure, it shows the state where the cage cover is open for the cage base and the cage cover constituting the cage, and the sub - diagram (b) shows the state where the cage cover is closed for the cage base and the cage cover constituting the cage. [Figure 26] The external perspective view when the connector with a substrate according to the third embodiment is seen from the upper right front. [Figure 27] The external perspective view when the connector with a substrate according to the third embodiment is seen from the upper left rear. [Figure 28] The external perspective view when the connector with a substrate according to the third embodiment is seen from the lower right front. [Figure 29]This is a perspective view of the connector with a substrate according to the third embodiment, showing the compression connector removed from the substrate with a cage, as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 30] This is a perspective view of the connector with a substrate according to the third embodiment, showing the compression connector removed from the substrate with a cage, as seen from the rear left upper. [Figure 31] This is a perspective view of the compression connector according to the third embodiment, as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 32] This is a perspective view of the compression connector according to the third embodiment, as seen from the rear left upper side. [Figure 33] This is a perspective view of the compression connector according to the third embodiment, as seen from the rear left lower side. [Figure 34] This is a front view of a compression connector according to a third embodiment. [Figure 35] This is a right side view of a compression connector according to a third embodiment. [Figure 36] Figure 34 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the cross-section along the CC line. [Figure 37] Figure 34 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the cross-section along the DD line. [Figure 38] This is a perspective view of the cage of the connector with a circuit board according to the third embodiment, as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 39] This is a perspective view of the cage of the connector with a circuit board according to the third embodiment, as seen from the rear left and lower. [Figure 40] This is a perspective view of the connector with a circuit board according to the fourth embodiment, as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 41] This is a perspective view of the connector with a circuit board according to the fourth embodiment, as seen from the rear upper left. [Figure 42] This is a perspective view of the connector with a circuit board according to the fourth embodiment, as seen from the front right and lower. [Figure 43]This is a perspective view of the connector with a substrate according to the fourth embodiment, showing the compression connector removed from the substrate with a cage, as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 44] This is a perspective view of the connector with a substrate according to the fourth embodiment, showing the compression connector removed from the substrate with a cage, as seen from the rear left upper. [Figure 45] This is a perspective view of the compression connector according to the fourth embodiment, as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 46] This is a perspective view of the compression connector according to the fourth embodiment, as seen from the rear left upper side. [Figure 47] This is a perspective view of the compression connector according to the fourth embodiment, as seen from the rear left lower. [Figure 48] This is a front view of a compression connector according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 49] This is a right side view of a compression connector according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 50] Figure 48 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the cross-section along the EE line. [Figure 51] Figure 48 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the FF line section. [Figure 52] This is a perspective view of the cage of the connector with a circuit board according to the fourth embodiment, as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 53] This is an external perspective view of the cage of the connector with a circuit board according to the fourth embodiment, as seen from the rear left upper. [Figure 54] This is a perspective view of the cage of the connector with a circuit board according to the fourth embodiment, as seen from the rear left and lower. [Figure 55] This is a perspective view of the connector with a circuit board according to the fifth embodiment, as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 56] This is a perspective view of the connector with a circuit board according to the fifth embodiment, as seen from the rear upper left. [Figure 57]This is a perspective view of the connector with a circuit board according to the fifth embodiment, as seen from the front right and lower. [Figure 58] This is a perspective view of the connector with a substrate according to the fifth embodiment, showing the compression connector removed from the substrate with a cage, as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 59] This is a perspective view of the connector with a substrate according to the fifth embodiment, showing the external appearance when the compression connector has been removed from the substrate with the cage, as seen from the rear left upper. [Figure 60] This is a perspective view of the compression connector according to the fifth embodiment, as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 61] This is a perspective view of the compression connector according to the fifth embodiment, as seen from the rear left upper side. [Figure 62] This is a perspective view of the compression connector according to the fifth embodiment, as seen from the rear left lower side. [Figure 63] This is a front view of a compression connector according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 64] This is a right side view of a compression connector according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 65] Figure 63 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the cross-section along the GG line. [Figure 66] Figure 63 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the HH line section. [Figure 67] This is a perspective view of the cage of the connector with a circuit board according to the fifth embodiment, as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 68] This is a perspective view of the cage of the connector with a circuit board according to the fifth embodiment, as seen from the rear left upper. [Figure 69] This figure illustrates the operating state of the cage of the board-mounted connector according to the fifth embodiment. Figure (a) shows the cage base and cage cover that constitute the cage, with the cage cover in the open state, and Figure (b) shows the cage base and cage cover that constitute the cage, with the cage cover in the closed state. [Figure 70]This is a perspective view of the connector with a circuit board according to the sixth embodiment, as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 71] This is a perspective view of the connector with a circuit board according to the sixth embodiment, as seen from the rear left upper right. [Figure 72] This is a perspective view of the connector with a circuit board according to the sixth embodiment, as seen from the front right and lower. [Figure 73] This is a perspective view of the connector with a substrate according to the sixth embodiment, showing the compression connector removed from the substrate with a cage, as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 74] This is a perspective view of the connector with a substrate according to the sixth embodiment, showing the external appearance when the compression connector has been removed from the substrate with the cage, as seen from the rear left upper. [Figure 75] This is a perspective view of the connector with a substrate according to the sixth embodiment, showing the compression connector removed from the substrate with a cage, as seen from the front right and lower. [Figure 76] This is a perspective view of the compression connector according to the sixth embodiment, as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 77] This is a perspective view of the compression connector according to the sixth embodiment, as seen from the rear left upper side. [Figure 78] This is a perspective view of the compression connector according to the sixth embodiment, as seen from the rear left lower. [Figure 79] This is a front view of a compression connector according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 80] This is a right side view of a compression connector according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 81] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the section along line II in Figure 79. [Figure 82] Figure 79 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the section along the JJ line. [Figure 83] This is a perspective view of the cage of the connector with a circuit board according to the sixth embodiment, as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 84]This is an external perspective view of the cage of the connector with a circuit board according to the sixth embodiment, as seen from the rear left and lower. [Figure 85] This is a perspective view of the connector with a circuit board according to the seventh embodiment, as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 86] This is a perspective view of the connector with a circuit board according to the seventh embodiment, as seen from the rear left upper right. [Figure 87] This is a perspective view of the connector with a circuit board according to the seventh embodiment, as seen from the front right and lower. [Figure 88] This is a perspective view of the connector with a substrate according to the seventh embodiment, showing the compression connector removed from the substrate with a cage, as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 89] This is a perspective view of the connector with a substrate according to the seventh embodiment, showing the external appearance when the compression connector has been removed from the substrate with the cage, as seen from the upper left rear. [Figure 90] This is a perspective view of the compression connector according to the seventh embodiment, as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 91] This is a perspective view of the compression connector according to the seventh embodiment, as seen from the rear left lower. [Figure 92] This is a front view of a compression connector according to the seventh embodiment. [Figure 93] This is a right side view of a compression connector according to the seventh embodiment. [Figure 94] Figure 92 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the KK line section. [Figure 95] This is a perspective view of the cage of the connector with a circuit board according to the seventh embodiment, as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 96] This is a perspective view of the cage of the connector with a circuit board according to the seventh embodiment, as seen from the rear left upper. [Figure 97]This figure illustrates the operating state of the cage of the board-mounted connector according to the seventh embodiment. Figure (a) shows the cage base and cage cover that constitute the cage, with the cage cover in the open state, and Figure (b) shows the cage base and cage cover that constitute the cage, with the cage cover in the closed state. [Figure 98] This is a perspective view of the connector with a circuit board according to the eighth embodiment, as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 99] This is a perspective view of the connector with a circuit board according to the eighth embodiment, as seen from the rear left upper right. [Figure 100] This is a perspective view of the connector with a circuit board according to the eighth embodiment, as seen from the front right and lower. [Figure 101] This is a perspective view of the connector with a substrate according to the eighth embodiment, showing the compression connector removed from the substrate with a cage, as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 102] This is a perspective view of the connector with a substrate according to the eighth embodiment, showing the compression connector removed from the substrate with a cage, as seen from the rear left upper. [Figure 103] This is a perspective view of the compression connector according to the eighth embodiment, as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 104] This is a perspective view of the compression connector according to the eighth embodiment, as seen from the rear left lower. [Figure 105] This is a front view of a compression connector according to the eighth embodiment. [Figure 106] This is a right side view of a compression connector according to the eighth embodiment. [Figure 107] This is a top view of a compression connector according to the eighth embodiment. [Figure 108] Figure 105 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the section along the LL line. [Figure 109] Figure 105 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the MM line section. [Figure 110]This is an external perspective view of the cage of the connector with a circuit board according to the eighth embodiment, as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 111] This is a perspective view of the cage of the connector with a circuit board according to the eighth embodiment, as seen from the rear left and lower. [Figure 112] This figure illustrates the assembly method of a connector with a substrate according to the eighth embodiment. Figure (a) shows the compression connector removed from the substrate with a cage, Figure (b) shows the compression connector lowered vertically towards the substrate from a position diagonally above and behind the substrate with a cage, and Figure (c) shows the compression connector fixed to the substrate with a cage by sliding it forward from the state in Figure (b). [Figure 113] This is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional compression-type connector positioned between circuit boards. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0022] Preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. For the sake of clarity, the drawings define a first direction, a second direction, and a third direction. In this specification, the first direction is the front-back direction. In the drawings, the front-back direction is indicated as the X direction. Specifically, the front is the +X direction and the rear is the -X direction. In this specification, the second direction is the left-right direction. In the drawings, the left-right direction is indicated as the Y direction. Specifically, the right is the +Y direction and the left is the -Y direction. Furthermore, in this specification, the third direction is the up-down direction. In the drawings, the up-down direction is indicated as the Z direction. Specifically, the up is the +Z direction and the down is the -Z direction. However, the first direction (X direction), the second direction (Y direction), and the third direction (Z direction) as defined herein do not limit the direction in which the board-mounted connector of each embodiment can be used. The board-mounted connector of each embodiment can be used in any direction.

[0023] Furthermore, the following embodiments are not intended to limit the invention as described in each claim, and not all combinations of features described in each embodiment are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0024] [First Embodiment] Referring to Figures 1 to 16, the configuration of the substrate-mounted connector 10 according to the first embodiment will be described. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the substrate-mounted connector 10 according to the first embodiment includes a substrate 11, a cage 21 installed on the upper surface of the substrate 11, and a compression connector 31 attached to the substrate 11 via the cage 21.

[0025] The circuit board 11 includes printed circuits (not shown), and is configured to transmit electrical signals and power to the compression connector 31 via a cage 21 attached to the top surface of the circuit board 11.

[0026] Furthermore, the substrate 11 has multiple mounting holes (not shown) (see Figure 3). Multiple legs 22 of the cage 21, which will be described later, are inserted into multiple mounting holes (13 are assumed in the first embodiment) (not shown), thereby fixing the cage 21 to the substrate 11.

[0027] As shown in Figures 11 to 16, the cage 21 is a component formed by pressing and bending a flat metal plate, and has a cage top surface 21a that forms the top surface, and a vertical front surface 21b, a vertical right side surface 21c, and a vertical left side surface 21d that are formed as the vertical surfaces of the present invention by being bent vertically from the front and left and right sides of the cage top surface 21a. The area enclosed by these cage top surface 21a, vertical front surface 21b, vertical right side surface 21c, vertical left side surface 21d and the top surface of the substrate 11 is the area in which the compression connector 31 is housed and installed.

[0028] The lower end surfaces of the vertical front 21b, vertical right side 21c, and vertical left side 21d have multiple (number) 1In this embodiment, thirteen legs 22 are formed. These legs 22 are axial members extending downward and are inserted into a plurality of mounting holes (not shown) formed in the substrate 11, thereby ensuring secure fixation between the substrate 11 and the cage 21. As for the method of fixing the legs 22 to the plurality of mounting holes (not shown), secure fixation may be achieved by using solder or adhesive, or by bending the legs 22 after inserting them into the mounting holes (not shown).

[0029] Furthermore, a plurality of (six in the first embodiment) spring-like compression springs 23 are formed on the top surface 21a of the cage, which are curved in the direction of the substrate 11. When the compression connector 31 is not housed in the area enclosed by the top surface 21a, vertical front surface 21b, vertical right side surface 21c, vertical left side surface 21d that constitute the cage 21, and the top surface of the substrate 11, these compression springs 23 are positioned protruding into that area (see Figure 14). When the compression connector 31 is inserted and installed in the area enclosed by the top surface 21a, vertical front surface 21b, vertical right side surface 21c, vertical left side surface 21d that constitute the cage 21, and the top surface of the substrate 11, the top surface 34a of the cover shell 34 that constitutes the upper side of the compression connector 31 can be pressed in the direction of the substrate 11. Furthermore, since the six compression springs 23 of the cage 21 in the first embodiment are formed in a left-right direction on the top surface 21a of the cage, they can press against the top surface 34a of the cover shell 34 that constitutes the upper side of the compression connector 31, which will be described later, over its entire surface.

[0030] Furthermore, at the left and right ends of the top surface 21a of the cage, there are two locking pieces 24, one on each side, which fit into locking holes 37 formed in the cover shell 34 that constitutes the upper surface of the compression connector 31 (described later), thereby restricting the horizontal movement of the cage 21 and the compression connector 31.

[0031] As shown in more detail in Figure 16, the locking piece 24 has an external shape with a sloped surface in side view, and is formed to be a wedge shape with a slope that gradually protrudes toward the substrate 11 from the open rear side of the cage 21 toward the vertical front 21b. The wedge shape of the locking piece 24 is designed not to hinder the insertion operation of the compression connector 31, which is inserted from the rear side of the cage 21 toward the front, and is also designed so that the locking piece 24 is gradually lifted upward when the compression connector 31 is inserted into the cage 21. Furthermore, when the locking piece 24 is fitted into the locking hole 37 formed in the cover shell 34 which constitutes the upper side of the compression connector 31, the locking piece 24 functions as a retainer to prevent the compression connector 31 from coming out of the cage 21.

[0032] As shown in Figures 6 to 10, the compression connector 31 includes a contact 32 that contacts the substrate 11, a housing 33 to which the contact 32 is fixed, a cover shell 34 that covers the upper surface of the housing 33, and a bottom shell 35 that covers the lower surface of the housing 33.

[0033] Multiple contacts 32 are arranged side-by-side in the left-right direction, particularly as shown in Figures 7 and 8.

[0034] Furthermore, each of the multiple contacts 32 is fixed to the housing 33, as shown in Figure 10, and the front end 32a of the contact 32 is curved to have a spring-elastic shape. In other words, when the compression connector 31 is not in contact with the substrate 11, the front end 32a of the contact 32 is positioned to protrude downward from the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 (as shown in Figure 10). Therefore, when the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 constituting the compression connector 31 is pressed against the top surface of the substrate 11 in the -Z direction, the front ends 32a of the multiple contacts 32 that were protruding downward from the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 are pushed down to the position of the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 while exerting a spring-elastic force against the top surface of the substrate 11. In other words, the front ends 32a of the multiple contacts 32 are subjected to a force in the +Z direction. Therefore, when the compression connector 31 is attached to the substrate 11, each of the multiple contacts 32 is pressed against the upper surface of the substrate 11 by the force due to spring elasticity, so that, for example, a printed circuit (not shown) placed on the upper surface of the substrate 11 and the multiple contacts 32 can maintain a stable and reliable connection state.

[0035] On the other hand, the rear end 32b of the contact 32 has a straight, linear shape. As shown in Figure 10, an electrical cable 36 is connected to the rear end 32b of the contact 32 by solder or the like. Therefore, external electrical signals and power are transmitted to the substrate 11 side via the electrical cable 36 and the contact 32.

[0036] Locking holes 37 are formed at the left and right ends of the top surface 34a of the cover shell 34 that covers the top surface of the housing 33. There are two of these locking holes 37, one on each end of the top surface 34a of the cover shell 34, and they are formed to correspond to the positions where the locking pieces 24 are formed when the compression connector 31 is inserted into the cage 21, so that the locking pieces 24 can be fitted into the locking holes 37.

[0037] In the first embodiment, the components constituting the compression connector 31 are such that the multiple contacts 32 are made of a conductive metal material, and the housing 33 that fixes the multiple contacts 32 is made of a non-conductive resin material or the like. Furthermore, the cover shell 34 that covers the upper surface of the housing 33 and the bottom shell 35 that covers the lower surface of the housing 33 are combined vertically with the housing 33 enclosed between them to form the outer shape of the compression connector 31. The cover shell 34 and the bottom shell 35 are arranged to enclose the outer circumference of the housing 33 in which the multiple contacts 32 are embedded, thereby protecting the housing 33 in which the multiple contacts 32 that receive power from the electrical cable 36 are embedded. This protection includes not only physical protection from the external environment, but also electrical and magnetic protection such as electromagnetic shielding.

[0038] The configuration of the substrate-mounted connector 10 according to the first embodiment has been described above. Next, the method for attaching and detaching the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11 with the cage 21 that constitutes the substrate-mounted connector 10 according to the first embodiment will be described.

[0039] When attaching the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11 with the cage 21, the compression connector 31 is moved horizontally forward (+X direction) from the state shown in Figures 4 and 5. When the compression connector 31 is inserted toward the cage 21, the six compression springs 23, which are positioned protruding within the area enclosed by the cage top surface 21a, vertical front surface 21b, vertical right side surface 21c, vertical left side surface 21d of the cage 21 and the top surface of the substrate 11, are pushed upward (+Z direction) as the compression connector 31 is inserted into this area. As a result, the force based on the spring elasticity exerted by the six compression springs 23 acts downward (-Z direction), so the six compression springs 23 press the top surface 34a of the cover shell 34 that constitutes the top side of the compression connector 31 toward the substrate 11.

[0040] At this time, the compression connector 31 inserted into the substrate 11 with the cage 21 exerts a vertical contact reaction force on the substrate 11 due to the multiple contacts 32 of the compression connector 31. However, the vertical contact reaction force exerted by the multiple contacts 32 is offset by the force based on the spring elasticity of the six compression springs 23, and is also absorbed by the cage 21 that houses the compression connector 31, in particular by the cage top surface 21a that constitutes the upper surface of the cage 21, thus maintaining a stable fixed state of the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11.

[0041] In the first embodiment, the six compression springs 23 of the cage 21 are formed in a left-right direction on the top surface 21a of the cage, and this arrangement is in the same direction as the arrangement of the multiple contacts 32. Therefore, the six compression springs 23 can exert a force based on spring elasticity evenly in response to the contact reaction force exerted by the multiple contacts 32, so that the top surface 34a of the cover shell 34 that constitutes the upper side of the compression connector 31 can be suitably pressed over its entire surface.

[0042] Furthermore, as the compression connector 31 is moved horizontally forward (+X direction) relative to the substrate 11 with the cage 21, the two locking pieces 24 formed at the left and right ends of the top surface 21a of the cage gradually lift upward due to their wedge shape. As the insertion of the compression connector 31 continues, the locking pieces 24 fit into the locking holes 37 formed in the cover shell 34 that constitutes the upper surface of the compression connector 31. Once the locking pieces 24 fit into the locking holes 37, they function as retainers to prevent the compression connector 31 from coming out of the cage 21, thereby fixing the position of the compression connector 31 relative to the cage 21.

[0043] On the other hand, when removing the compression connector 31 from the substrate 11 with the cage 21, the user simply needs to lift the two locking pieces 24 formed at the left and right ends of the top surface 21a of the cage and move the compression connector 31 horizontally toward the rear (-X direction). In this case, the locking function of the locking pieces 24 to prevent the compression connector 31 from coming loose is released, and the vertical contact reaction force exerted by the multiple contacts 32 of the compression connector 31 is offset by the spring elasticity force exerted by the six compression springs 23 formed on the top surface 21a of the cage 21, so it is easy to move the compression connector 31 horizontally toward the rear (-X direction). By moving the compression connector 31 horizontally toward the rear (-X direction) in this way and completely pulling it out from the substrate 11 with the cage 21, the compression connector 31 can be removed from the substrate 11 with the cage 21.

[0044] As described above, in the substrate-equipped connector 10 according to the first embodiment, a locking hole 37 is formed in the cover shell 34 that constitutes the upper surface of the compression connector 31, and locking pieces 24 are formed at the left and right ends of the cage top surface 21a that constitutes the cage 21. The locking pieces 24 fit into the locking hole 37, thereby fixing the horizontal position of the compression connector 31 relative to the cage 21. Furthermore, since the cage 21 has multiple compression springs 23 formed in the same direction as the alignment of the contacts 32, which press the top surface 34a of the cover shell 34 toward the substrate 11, when the compression connector 31 is inserted and installed in the area enclosed by the cage top surface 21a, vertical front surface 21b, vertical right side surface 21c, vertical left side surface 21d that constitute the cage 21 and the top surface of the substrate 11, the entire top surface 34a of the cover shell 34 that constitutes the upper side of the compression connector 31 can be pressed toward the substrate 11, thus maintaining a stable fixed state of the compression connector 31 toward the substrate 11. In other words, according to the substrate-mounted connector 10 of the first embodiment, reliable attachment can be achieved while improving the workability of attaching (fixing) the compression connector 31 toward the substrate 11.

[0045] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the first embodiment above. Various modifications or improvements can be made to the first embodiment described above.

[0046] For example, in the first embodiment described above, an example was shown in which six compression springs 23 are formed on the cage top surface 21a constituting the cage 21. However, regarding the number of compression springs according to the present invention, any number of installations can be selected as long as there is one or more.

[0047] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, two lock holes 37 are formed in the cover shell 34 that constitutes the upper surface of the compression connector 31, and two lock pieces 24 are formed, one each at the left and right ends of the cage top surface 21a that constitutes the cage 21. However, the formation positions of the lock holes and lock pieces according to the present invention may be reversed. That is, the lock holes may be formed on the cage side and the lock pieces may be formed on the compression connector side. Moreover, the number of lock holes and lock pieces according to the present invention can also be arbitrarily selected as long as there is one or more of each.

[0048] The configuration of the substrate-mounted connector 10 according to the first embodiment has been described above with reference to Figures 1 to 16. Next, the substrate-mounted connector 100 according to the second embodiment, which is another possible form of the substrate-mounted connector according to the present invention, will be described with reference to Figures 17 to 25. In the following description, components that are the same as or similar to those described in the first embodiment above may be denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions may be omitted.

[0049] [Second Embodiment] Referring to Figures 17 to 25, the configuration of the substrate-mounted connector 100 according to the second embodiment will be described. As shown in Figures 17 to 19, the substrate-mounted connector 100 according to the second embodiment includes a substrate 11, a cage 21 installed on the upper surface of the substrate 11, and a compression connector 31 attached to the substrate 11 via the cage 21.

[0050] The circuit board 11 includes printed circuits (not shown), and is configured to transmit electrical signals and power to the compression connector 31 via a cage 21 attached to the top surface of the circuit board 11.

[0051] Furthermore, the substrate 11 has multiple mounting holes (not shown) (see Figure 19). Multiple legs 22 of the cage 21, which will be described later, are inserted into multiple mounting holes (not shown), of which 13 are assumed in the second embodiment, thereby fixing the cage 21 to the substrate 11.

[0052] The cage 21 according to the second embodiment is composed of two members, a cage base 121 and a cage cover 131, as shown in Figures 22 to 25.

[0053] The cage base 121 has a plurality of legs 22 (13 in the second embodiment). These legs 22 are shaft-shaped members that extend downward from the bottom surface of the cage base 121 and are inserted into a plurality of mounting holes (not shown) formed in the substrate 11, thereby ensuring secure fixation between the substrate 11 and the cage base 121. The method of fixing the legs 22 to the plurality of mounting holes (not shown) may be to use solder or adhesive, or to bend the legs 22 after inserting them into the mounting holes (not shown) to ensure secure fixation.

[0054] The cage cover 131 rotates relative to the cage base 121, which is fixed to the circuit board 11. When the cage cover 131 is open relative to the cage base 121 (see state in Figure 25(a)), the compression connector 31, which will be described later, can be installed on and removed from the circuit board 11. When the cage cover 131 is closed relative to the cage base 121 (see state in Figure 25(b)), the compression connector 31 can be stored and installed in the area enclosed by the cage cover 131, the cage base 121, and the top surface of the circuit board 11.

[0055] Furthermore, multiple (six in the second embodiment) spring-like compression springs 133, which are curved in the direction of the substrate 11 and have spring properties, are formed on the cage top surface 131a of the cage cover 131. When the cage cover 131 is open, that is, when no external force is applied to the compression springs 133, the curved portion of each spring protrudes from the cage top surface 131a. When the compression connector 31 is housed in the cage base 121 fixed to the substrate 11, and the cage cover 131 is closed from that state, the six springs 133 press the top surface 34a of the cover shell 34, which constitutes the upper side of the compression connector 31, toward the substrate 11. Furthermore, since the six compression springs 133 of the cage 21 in the second embodiment are formed in a left-right direction on the top surface 131a of the cage, they can press against the top surface 34a of the cover shell 34 that constitutes the upper side of the compression connector 31, which will be described later, over its entire surface.

[0056] Furthermore, four locking holes 127 are formed at the left and right ends of the cage base 121, two on each side. On the other hand, four spring-loaded locking pieces 134 are formed at the left and right ends of the cage cover 131, two on each side, to secure the cage cover 131 to the cage base 121 by fitting into the locking holes 127 formed in the cage base 121. These four locking holes 127 and four locking pieces 134 are configured such that when the cage cover 131 is closed to the cage base 121, the locking pieces 134 fit into the locking holes 127 at four different positions.

[0057] Furthermore, as shown in more detail in Figure 25, the locking piece 134 has an external shape with a sloped surface, and is formed to have a wedge shape with slopes that gradually protrude outward to the left and right from the bottom to the top when the cage cover 131 is closed relative to the cage base 121. The wedge shape of the locking piece 134 is designed not to hinder the insertion operation when inserting the locking piece 134 into the locking hole 127, and once the locking piece 134 is fitted into the locking hole 127, it functions as a retainer to prevent the locking piece 134 from coming out of the locking hole 127.

[0058] The compression connector 31 according to the second embodiment has the same configuration as the compression connector 31 of the first embodiment described above, except that it lacks the locking hole 37 formed in the cover shell 34 that constitutes the upper surface of the compression connector 31, and the shape of the housing 33 is different, so its description will be omitted.

[0059] The configuration of the substrate-mounted connector 100 according to the second embodiment has been described above. Next, the method for attaching and detaching the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11 with the cage 21 that constitutes the substrate-mounted connector 100 according to the second embodiment will be described.

[0060] When attaching the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11 with the cage 21, the compression connector 31 is moved vertically downward (-Z direction) from the state shown in Figures 20, 21, and 25, that is, the state in which the cage cover 131 is open relative to the cage base 121. After positioning the compression connector 31 on the cage base 121, the cage cover 131 is rotated to close the top surface of the cage base 121 fixed to the substrate 11. At this time, the rotation of the cage cover 131 also rotates the four locking pieces 134, and each of them enters into the four locking holes 127. Once the locking pieces 134 enter the locking holes 127, the closing operation of the cage cover 131 relative to the cage base 121 is completed, and the compression connector 31 is housed in the area enclosed by the cage cover 131, the cage base 121, and the top surface of the substrate 11.

[0061] When the compression connector 31 is housed within the area enclosed by the cage cover 131, the cage base 121, and the upper surface of the substrate 11, the six compression springs 133 formed on the cage top surface 131a of the cage cover 131 exert a force based on spring elasticity downward (in the -Z direction). As a result, the six compression springs 133 press the top surface 34a of the cover shell 34, which constitutes the upper side of the compression connector 31, toward the substrate 11.

[0062] Furthermore, at this time, the compression connector 31 inserted into the substrate 11 with the cage 21 exerts a vertical contact reaction force on the substrate 11 due to the multiple contacts 32 of the compression connector 31. However, the vertical contact reaction force exerted by the multiple contacts 32 is offset by the spring elasticity force exerted by the six compression springs 133, and is also absorbed by the cage cover 131 that forms the upper surface of the cage 21 that houses the compression connector 31, thus maintaining a stable fixed state of the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11.

[0063] In the second embodiment, the six compression springs 133 of the cage cover 131 are formed in a left-right direction on the top surface 131a of the cage, and this arrangement is in the same direction as the arrangement of the multiple contacts 32. Therefore, the six compression springs 133 can exert a force based on spring elasticity evenly in response to the contact reaction force exerted by the multiple contacts 32, so that the top surface 34a of the cover shell 34 that constitutes the upper side of the compression connector 31 can be suitably pressed over its entire surface.

[0064] Furthermore, the aforementioned contact reaction force is ultimately absorbed by the cage base 121 fixed to the upper surface of the substrate 11 and the cage cover 131 fixed via a locking piece 134 fitted into a locking hole 127 of the cage base 121, thereby ensuring a secure fixation of the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11 with the cage 21 attached.

[0065] On the other hand, when removing the compression connector 31 from the substrate 11 with the cage 21, the user operates the locking piece 134 to pull out the locking piece 134 that is fitted into the locking hole 127, thereby releasing the constraint on the cage cover 131 from the cage base 121. Then, the cage cover 131 is rotated to open the top surface of the cage base 121 fixed to the substrate 11. In other words, by opening the cage cover 131 relative to the cage base 121 (see the state in Figure 25(a)), the compression connector 31 can be removed as shown in Figures 20 and 21.

[0066] As described above, the substrate-equipped connector 100 according to the second embodiment has a cage cover 131 that rotates relative to a cage base 121 fixed to the substrate 11, and a locking piece 134 formed on the cage cover 131 fits into a locking hole 127 formed on the cage base 121, thereby securely fixing the compression connector 31 placed in the area enclosed by the cage cover 131, the cage base 121 and the upper surface of the substrate 11. In addition, the cage cover 131 has multiple pressure springs 133 formed in the same direction as the alignment of the contacts 32 that press the top surface 34a of the cover shell 34 toward the substrate 11, so when the compression connector 31 is inserted and installed in the area enclosed by the cage cover 131 and cage base 121 that constitute the cage 21 and the upper surface of the substrate 11, the pressure springs 133 can press the entire top surface 34a of the cover shell 34 that constitutes the upper side of the compression connector 31 toward the substrate 11. Therefore, according to the second embodiment of the substrate-mounted connector 100, a stable fixed state of the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11 is maintained. In other words, according to the second embodiment of the substrate-mounted connector 100, reliable attachment can be performed while improving the workability of attaching (fixing) the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11.

[0067] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the second embodiment above. Various modifications or improvements can be made to the second embodiment described above.

[0068] For example, in the second embodiment described above, an example was shown in which six compression springs 133 are formed on the cage cover 131 that constitutes the cage 21. However, regarding the number of compression springs according to the present invention, any number of springs, one or more, can be selected.

[0069] For example, in the second embodiment described above, a total of four lock holes 127 are formed, two on each side of the cage base 121, and four lock pieces 134 are formed, two on each side of the cage top surface 131a constituting the cage cover 131. However, the formation positions of the lock holes and lock pieces according to the present invention may be reversed. That is, the lock holes may be formed on the cage cover side and the lock pieces may be formed on the cage base side. Furthermore, the number of lock holes and lock pieces according to the present invention can also be arbitrarily selected as long as there is one or more of each.

[0070] The configuration of the substrate-mounted connector 100 according to the second embodiment has been described above with reference to Figures 17 to 25. Next, the substrate-mounted connector 200 according to the third embodiment, which is another possible form of the substrate-mounted connector according to the present invention, will be described with reference to Figures 26 to 39. In the following description, components that are the same as or similar to those described in the first and second embodiments above may be denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions may be omitted.

[0071] [Third Embodiment] Referring to Figures 26 to 39, the configuration of the substrate-mounted connector 200 according to the third embodiment will be described. As shown in Figures 26 to 28, the substrate-mounted connector 200 according to the third embodiment includes a substrate 11, a cage 21 installed on the upper surface of the substrate 11, and a compression connector 31 attached to the substrate 11 via the cage 21.

[0072] The circuit board 11 includes printed circuits (not shown), and is configured to transmit electrical signals and power to the compression connector 31 via a cage 21 attached to the top surface of the circuit board 11.

[0073] Furthermore, the substrate 11 has multiple mounting holes (not shown) (see Figure 28). Multiple legs 22 of the cage 21, which will be described later, are inserted into the multiple mounting holes (not shown), which are assumed to be 12 in the third embodiment, thereby fixing the cage 21 to the substrate 11.

[0074] As shown in Figures 38 and 39, the cage 21 is a component formed by pressing and bending a flat metal plate, and has a cage top surface 21a that forms the top surface, and a vertical front surface 21b, a vertical right side surface 21c, and a vertical left side surface 21d that are formed as the vertical surfaces of the present invention by being bent vertically from the front and left and right sides of the cage top surface 21a. The area enclosed by these cage top surface 21a, vertical front surface 21b, vertical right side surface 21c, vertical left side surface 21d and the top surface of the substrate 11 is the area in which the compression connector 31 is housed and installed.

[0075] Multiple (12 in the third embodiment) leg portions 22 are formed on the lower end faces of the vertical front 21b, vertical right side 21c, and vertical left side 21d. These leg portions 22 are axial members that extend downward and are inserted into multiple mounting holes (not shown) formed in the substrate 11, thereby ensuring secure fixation between the substrate 11 and the cage 21. The leg portions 22 can be fixed to the multiple mounting holes (not shown) by using solder or adhesive, or by bending the leg portions 22 after inserting them into the mounting holes (not shown) to ensure secure fixation.

[0076] On the other hand, the top surface 21a of the cage is the part that, when the cage 21 and the substrate 11 house and install the compression connector 31, cooperates with the substrate 11 to receive the vertical contact reaction force exerted from the compression connector 31. The central part of the top surface 21a of the cage in the third embodiment has a convex shape that rises upward, and two lock holes 223 are formed in this convex central part into which the lock claws 238 formed on the lock piece 237 of the compression connector 31, which will be described later, fit. By having the lock claws 238 formed on the lock piece 237 of the compression connector 31, which will be described later, fit into each of these two lock holes 223, the horizontal movement of the compression connector 31 relative to the cage 21 can be restricted.

[0077] As shown in Figures 31 to 37, the compression connector 31 includes a contact 32 that contacts the substrate 11, a housing 33 to which the contact 32 is fixed, a cover shell 34 that covers the upper surface of the housing 33, and a bottom shell 35 that covers the lower surface of the housing 33.

[0078] Multiple contacts 32 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, particularly as shown in Figures 33 and 34.

[0079] Furthermore, each of the multiple contacts 32 is fixed to the housing 33, as shown in Figure 36, and the front end 32a of the contact 32 is curved to have a spring-elastic shape. In other words, when the compression connector 31 is not in contact with the substrate 11, the front end 32a of the contact 32 is positioned to protrude downward from the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 (as shown in Figure 36). Therefore, when the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 constituting the compression connector 31 is pressed against the top surface of the substrate 11 in the -Z direction, the front ends 32a of the multiple contacts 32 that were protruding downward from the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 are pushed down to the position of the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 while exerting a spring-elastic force against the top surface of the substrate 11. In other words, the front ends 32a of the multiple contacts 32 are subjected to a force in the +Z direction. Therefore, when the compression connector 31 is attached to the substrate 11, each of the multiple contacts 32 is pressed against the upper surface of the substrate 11 by the force due to spring elasticity, so that, for example, a printed circuit (not shown) placed on the upper surface of the substrate 11 and the multiple contacts 32 can maintain a stable and reliable connection state.

[0080] On the other hand, the rear end 32b of the contact 32 has a straight, linear shape. As shown in Figure 36, an electrical cable 36 is connected to the rear end 32b of the contact 32 by solder or the like. Therefore, external electrical signals and power are transmitted to the substrate 11 side via the electrical cable 36 and the contact 32.

[0081] A locking piece 237 is formed at the center of the top surface 34a of the cover shell 34 that covers the upper surface of the housing 33. This locking piece 237 is formed to curve upward from the front, and further curve and extend backward. As shown in Figures 35 to 37, this locking piece 237 is formed to be roughly J-shaped in side view.

[0082] Furthermore, the locking piece 237 according to the third embodiment has two locking claws 238 extending upward from the left and right sides. As shown in more detail in Figure 37, the locking claws 238 have an external shape with a sloped surface when viewed from the side, and are formed to have a wedge shape with a slope that gradually increases in protrusion upward from the front side to the rear side of the compression connector 31. The wedge shape of the locking claws 238 is designed not to hinder the insertion operation of the compression connector 31, which is inserted from the rear side to the front side of the cage 21, and also, when the compression connector 31 is inserted into the cage 21, the locking claws 238 gradually bend downward as they come into contact with the top surface 21a of the cage. When the compression connector 31 is further inserted into the cage 21 from this state, each of the two locking claws 238 will fit into each of the two locking holes 223 formed in the top surface 21a of the cage.

[0083] Each of the two locking claws 238 formed on the locking piece 237 of the compression connector 31 fits into each of the two locking holes 223 formed on the top surface 21a of the cage. As a result, the locking piece 237, which is bent downwards, is released from its restraint on the top surface 21a of the cage, and returns to its original shape, which is roughly J-shaped in side view. In this state, the locking claws 238 are fully engaged with the locking holes 223, thus restricting the horizontal movement of the compression connector 31 relative to the cage 21. In other words, the locking claws 238 and the locking holes 223 work together to function as a retainer, preventing the compression connector 31 from coming out of the cage 21.

[0084] In the third embodiment, the components constituting the compression connector 31 are such that the multiple contacts 32 are made of a conductive metal material, and the housing 33 that fixes the multiple contacts 32 is made of a non-conductive resin material or the like. Furthermore, the cover shell 34 that covers the upper surface of the housing 33 and the bottom shell 35 that covers the lower surface of the housing 33 are combined vertically with the housing 33 enclosed between them to form the outer shape of the compression connector 31. The cover shell 34 and the bottom shell 35 are arranged to enclose the outer circumference of the housing 33 in which the multiple contacts 32 are embedded, thereby protecting the housing 33 in which the multiple contacts 32 that receive power from the electrical cable 36 are embedded. This protection includes not only physical protection from the external environment, but also electrical and magnetic protection such as electromagnetic shielding.

[0085] The configuration of the substrate-mounted connector 200 according to the third embodiment has been described above. Next, the method for attaching and detaching the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11 with the cage 21 that constitutes the substrate-mounted connector 200 according to the third embodiment will be described.

[0086] When attaching the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11 with the cage 21, the compression connector 31 is moved horizontally forward (+X direction) from the state shown in Figures 29 and 30. Then, when the compression connector 31 is inserted into the area enclosed by the cage top surface 21a, vertical front surface 21b, vertical right side surface 21c, vertical left side surface 21d of the cage 21 and the top surface of the substrate 11, the compression connector 31 exerts a vertical contact reaction force on the substrate 11 due to the multiple contacts 32 of the compression connector 31. However, the vertical contact reaction force exerted by the multiple contacts 32 is received by the cage 21 that houses the compression connector 31, in particular by the cage top surface 21a that constitutes the top surface of the cage 21, thus maintaining a stable fixed state of the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11.

[0087] Furthermore, when the compression connector 31 is moved horizontally forward (+X direction) and inserted into the substrate 11 with the cage 21, the two locking claws 238 formed on the locking piece 237 formed on the cover shell 34 of the compression connector 31 come into contact with the cage top surface 21a that constitutes the cage 21, causing them to gradually bend and sink downwards. When the compression connector 31 is further inserted into the cage 21 from this state, each of the two locking claws 238 formed on the locking piece 237 engages with each of the two locking holes 223 formed on the cage top surface 21a.

[0088] When each of the two locking claws 238 formed on the locking piece 237 of the compression connector 31 is fully engaged with each of the two locking holes 223 formed on the top surface 21a of the cage, the horizontal movement of the compression connector 31 relative to the cage 21 (particularly movement in the -X direction) is restricted because the locking claws 238 have a wedge shape.

[0089] On the other hand, when removing the compression connector 31 from the circuit board 11 with the cage 21, the user can release the engagement between the two locking claws 238 and the two locking holes 223 by pushing the locking piece 237 downward (in the -Z direction). In this released state, the compression connector 31 can be moved horizontally towards the rear (in the -X direction) and smoothly removed from the circuit board 11 with the cage 21.

[0090] Furthermore, since the vertical contact reaction force exerted by the multiple contacts 32 of the compression connector 31 is received by the cage top surface 21a of the cage 21, the compression connector 31 can be easily moved horizontally toward the rear (-X direction). By moving the compression connector 31 horizontally toward the rear (-X direction) in this way and completely pulling it out from the substrate 11 with the cage 21 attached, the compression connector 31 can be removed from the substrate 11 with the cage 21 attached.

[0091] As described above, in the third embodiment of the substrate-equipped connector 200, two locking claws 238 are formed on the locking piece 237 of the cover shell 34 that constitutes the upper side of the compression connector 31, and two locking holes 223 are formed on the cage top surface 21a that constitutes the cage 21. The horizontal position of the compression connector 31 relative to the cage 21 can be fixed by the locking claws 238 entering the locking holes 223. 1 is Therefore, the top surface 34a of the cover shell 34 can stably receive the contact reaction force exerted by the contact 32, thus maintaining a stable fixed state of the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11. In other words, according to the substrate-mounted connector 200 of the third embodiment, reliable attachment can be achieved while improving the workability of attaching (fixing) the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11.

[0092] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the third embodiment above. Various modifications or improvements can be made to the third embodiment described above.

[0093] For example, in the third embodiment described above, two locking holes 223 are formed on the top surface 21a of the cage 21, and a locking piece 237 is formed on the cover shell 34 that constitutes the upper side of the compression connector 31, with two locking claws 238 formed on this locking piece 237. However, the member on which the locking holes and the locking piece with locking claws are formed according to the present invention may be either the cage or the compression connector. That is, the locking holes may be formed on the compression connector side, and the locking piece with locking claws may be formed on the cage side. Furthermore, the number of locking holes and locking claws according to the present invention can also be arbitrarily selected as long as there is one or more of each.

[0094] The configuration of the substrate-mounted connector 200 according to the third embodiment has been described above with reference to Figures 26 to 39. Next, the substrate-mounted connector 300 according to the fourth embodiment, which is another possible embodiment of the substrate-mounted connector according to the present invention, will be described with reference to Figures 40 to 54. In the following description, components that are the same as or similar to those described in the first to third embodiments above may be denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions may be omitted.

[0095] [Fourth Embodiment] Referring to Figures 40 to 54, the configuration of the substrate-mounted connector 300 according to the fourth embodiment will be described. As shown in Figures 40 to 42, the substrate-mounted connector 300 according to the fourth embodiment includes a substrate 11, a cage 21 installed on the upper surface of the substrate 11, and a compression connector 31 attached to the substrate 11 via the cage 21.

[0096] The circuit board 11 includes printed circuits (not shown), and is configured to transmit electrical signals and power to the compression connector 31 via a cage 21 attached to the top surface of the circuit board 11.

[0097] Furthermore, the substrate 11 has multiple mounting holes (not shown) (see Figure 42). Multiple legs 22 of the cage 21, which will be described later, are inserted into the multiple mounting holes (not shown), which are assumed to be 13 in the fourth embodiment, thereby fixing the cage 21 to the substrate 11.

[0098] As shown in Figures 52 to 54, the cage 21 is a component formed by pressing and bending a flat metal plate, and has a cage bottom surface 321a that forms the bottom surface of the present invention, a vertical front surface 321b and a vertical rear surface 321e which are formed as vertical surfaces of the present invention by bending the front and rear of the cage bottom surface 321a vertically upward, and a vertical right side surface 321c and a vertical left side surface 321d which are formed as vertical surfaces of the present invention by bending the left and right ends of the vertical front surface 321b toward the rear. The area enclosed by these cage bottom surface 321a, vertical front surface 321b, vertical right side surface 321c, vertical left side surface 321d and vertical rear surface 321e is the area in which the compression connector 31 is housed and installed.

[0099] Multiple (13 in the fourth embodiment) leg portions 22 are formed on the lower end faces of the vertical front surface 321b, the vertical right side surface 321c, and the vertical left side surface 321d. These leg portions 22 are axial members that extend downward and are inserted into multiple mounting holes (not shown) formed in the substrate 11 to securely fix the substrate 11 to the cage 21. As for the method of fixing the leg portions 22 to the multiple mounting holes (not shown), secure fixing may be achieved by using solder or adhesive, or by bending the leg portions 22 after inserting them into the mounting holes (not shown).

[0100] On the other hand, the cage bottom surface 321a has a contact housing hole 326, which is a hole according to the present invention, for accommodating the multiple contacts 32 of the compression connector 31, which will be described later. When the cage 21 is attached to the substrate 11, the contact housing hole 326 is closed by the upper surface of the substrate 11, so that a groove with a depth equal to the thickness of the metal plate constituting the cage bottom surface 321a is formed where the contact housing hole 326 is formed. By arranging the multiple contacts 32 at the position of this groove, the compression connector 31 is positioned within the area enclosed by the cage bottom surface 321a, vertical front surface 321b, vertical right side surface 321c, vertical left side surface 321d, and vertical rear surface 321e that constitute the cage 21.

[0101] Furthermore, two locking holes 327 are formed on each of the two vertical surfaces, the vertical front surface 321b and the vertical rear surface 321e, which are erected in the +Z direction upward in a third direction from the cage bottom surface 321a that forms the bottom surface of the present invention, for a total of four locking holes 327. These locking holes 327 are used to fix the compression connector 31 to the cage 21 by fitting the locking claws 338 formed on each of the pair of locking pieces 337 formed on the two surfaces facing the first direction of the compression connector 31, which will be described later. In other words, the locking holes 327 are the parts that receive the vertical contact reaction force exerted from the compression connector 31 via the locking claws 338 when the cage 21 and the substrate 11 are housed and installed with the compression connector 31, and the locking holes 327 and the locking claws 338 work together to restrict the vertical movement of the compression connector 31 relative to the cage 21.

[0102] As shown in Figures 45 to 51, the compression connector 31 includes a contact 32 that contacts the substrate 11, a housing 33 to which the contact 32 is fixed, a cover shell 34 that covers the upper surface of the housing 33, and a bottom shell 35 that covers the lower surface of the housing 33.

[0103] Multiple contacts 32 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, particularly as shown in Figures 47 and 48.

[0104] Furthermore, each of the multiple contacts 32 is fixed to the housing 33, as shown in Figure 50, and the front end 32a of the contact 32 is curved to have a spring-elastic shape. In other words, when the compression connector 31 is not in contact with the substrate 11, the front end 32a of the contact 32 is positioned to protrude downward from the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 (as shown in Figure 50). Therefore, when the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 constituting the compression connector 31 is pressed against the top surface of the substrate 11 in the -Z direction, the front ends 32a of the multiple contacts 32 that were protruding downward from the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 are pushed down to the bottom surface of the cage bottom surface 321a located below the bottom shell 35, exerting a spring-elastic force against the top surface of the substrate 11. In other words, the front ends 32a of the multiple contacts 32 are subjected to a force in the +Z direction. Therefore, when the compression connector 31 is attached to the substrate 11, each of the multiple contacts 32 is pressed against the upper surface of the substrate 11 by the force due to spring elasticity, so that, for example, a printed circuit (not shown) placed on the upper surface of the substrate 11 and the multiple contacts 32 can maintain a stable and reliable connection state.

[0105] On the other hand, the rear end 32b of the contact 32 has a straight, linear shape. As shown in Figure 50, an electrical cable 36 is connected to the rear end 32b of the contact 32 by solder or the like. Therefore, external electrical signals and power are transmitted to the substrate 11 side via the electrical cable 36 and the contact 32.

[0106] Furthermore, in the compression connector 31 according to the fourth embodiment, a pair of locking pieces 337 are formed at the center of the front and rear surfaces, which are the two surfaces facing the first direction (the front-to-back direction, or X direction) of the compression connector 31. The pair of locking pieces 337 are plate-shaped members that are erected upward from the center of the front and rear surfaces of the bottom shell 35, and each of the pair of locking pieces 337 has two locking claws 338, for a total of four.

[0107] The locking claw 338 formed on the locking piece 337 is formed as a claw member extending outward from the front and rear surfaces. As shown in more detail in Figure 50, the locking claw 338 has an external shape with a sloped surface in side view, and is formed as a wedge shape with a slope that gradually increases the amount of outward protrusion from the lower side to the upper side of the compression connector 31. The wedge shape of the locking claw 338 is designed to facilitate insertion into the locking hole 327 when it moves from top to bottom. In other words, the wedge shape of the locking claw 338 is designed not to hinder the insertion operation of the compression connector 31 when it is inserted into the cage 21 from the upper side downward. Furthermore, when the compression connector 31 is inserted into the cage 21, the locking claw 338 comes into contact with the vertical front surface 321b and vertical rear surface 321e where the locking hole 327 is formed, causing the locking piece 337 to gradually bend inward. If the compression connector 31 is further inserted into the cage 21 from this state, the locking claws 338 will fully engage with the locking holes 327 formed in the vertical front surface 321b and the vertical rear surface 321e.

[0108] Each of the four locking claws 338 formed on the two locking pieces 337 of the compression connector 31 fits into each of the four locking holes 327 formed on the vertical front surface 321b and the vertical rear surface 321e. As a result, the locking pieces 337, which are in a state of being bent inward, are released from their constraints on the vertical front surface 321b and the vertical rear surface 321e, and the inward bending is resolved, returning them to their original shape. In this state, the locking claws 338 are fully engaged with the locking holes 327, thus restricting the vertical movement of the compression connector 31 relative to the cage 21. In other words, the locking claws 338 and the locking holes 327 work together to function as a retainer, preventing the compression connector 31 from coming out of the cage 21.

[0109] In the fourth embodiment, the components constituting the compression connector 31 are such that the multiple contacts 32 are made of a conductive metal material, and the housing 33 that fixes the multiple contacts 32 is made of a non-conductive resin material or the like. Furthermore, the cover shell 34 that covers the upper surface of the housing 33 and the bottom shell 35 that covers the lower surface of the housing 33 are combined vertically with the housing 33 enclosed between them to form the outer shape of the compression connector 31. The cover shell 34 and the bottom shell 35 are arranged to enclose the outer circumference of the housing 33 in which the multiple contacts 32 are embedded, thereby protecting the housing 33 in which the multiple contacts 32 that receive power from the electrical cable 36 are embedded. This protection includes not only physical protection from the external environment, but also electrical and magnetic protection such as electromagnetic shielding.

[0110] The configuration of the substrate-mounted connector 300 according to the fourth embodiment has been described above. Next, the method for attaching and detaching the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11 with the cage 21 that constitutes the substrate-mounted connector 300 according to the fourth embodiment will be described.

[0111] When attaching the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11 with the cage 21, the compression connector 31 is moved vertically downward (-Z direction) from the state shown in Figures 43 and 44. Then, when the compression connector 31 is inserted into the area enclosed by the cage bottom surface 321a, vertical front surface 321b, vertical right side surface 321c, vertical left side surface 321d, and vertical rear surface 321e that constitute the cage 21, the compression connector 31 exerts a vertical contact reaction force on the substrate 11 due to the multiple contacts 32 that the compression connector 31 has. Furthermore, by applying a force to counteract the vertical contact reaction force exerted by the multiple contacts 32, the compression connector 31 is inserted downward (in the -Z direction). As a result, the locking claws 338 formed on the locking piece 337 formed on the bottom shell 35 of the compression connector 31 gradually bend inward as they come into contact with the vertical front surface 321b and vertical rear surface 321e, where the locking holes 327 are formed. If the compression connector 31 is further inserted into the cage 21 from this state, the locking claws 338 formed on the locking piece 337 will engage with the locking holes 327 formed on the vertical front surface 321b and vertical rear surface 321e, respectively.

[0112] When each of the four locking claws 338 formed on a pair of locking pieces 337 of the compression connector 31 fully engages with each of the four locking holes 327 formed on the vertical front surface 321b and the vertical rear surface 321e, the vertical movement of the compression connector 31 relative to the cage 21 (movement in the +Z direction) is restricted because the locking claws 338 have a wedge shape. In particular, the vertical contact reaction force exerted by the multiple contacts 32 of the compression connector 31 on the substrate 11 constantly exerts a force on the compression connector 31 in a direction that pulls it upward away from the cage 21. However, when the locking claws 338 engage with the locking holes 327, the locking holes 327 and the locking claws 338 work together to absorb the contact reaction force.

[0113] On the other hand, when removing the compression connector 31 from the circuit board 11 with the cage 21, the user can release the engagement between the four locking claws 338 and the four locking holes 327 by pushing each of the pair of locking pieces 337 inward. In this released state, the compression connector 31 can be smoothly removed from the circuit board 11 with the cage 21 by moving it vertically upward (+Z direction).

[0114] Furthermore, the vertical contact reaction force exerted by the multiple contacts 32 of the compression connector 31 is received by the cooperation of the locking hole 327 and the locking claw 338. Therefore, by releasing the engagement between the locking claw 338 and the locking hole 327, the compression connector 31 can be easily moved vertically upward (+Z direction). By moving the compression connector 31 vertically upward (+Z direction) in this way and completely pulling it out from the substrate 11 with the cage 21, the compression connector 31 can be removed from the substrate 11 with the cage 21.

[0115] As described above, in the substrate-mounted connector 300 according to the fourth embodiment, the vertical position of the compression connector 31 relative to the cage 21 can be fixed by fitting the locking claws 338 formed on each of the pair of locking pieces 337 formed on the two faces of the compression connector 31 facing the first direction into the locking holes 327 formed on the vertical front surface 321b and vertical rear surface 321e that constitute the cage 21. Furthermore, since the locking holes 327 and the locking claws 338 can cooperate to receive the contact reaction force, a stable fixed state of the compression connector 31 relative to the substrate 11 is maintained. In other words, according to the substrate-mounted connector 300 according to the fourth embodiment, reliable attachment can be performed while improving the workability of attaching (fixing) the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11.

[0116] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the fourth embodiment above. Various modifications or improvements can be made to the fourth embodiment described above.

[0117] For example, in the fourth embodiment described above, an example was shown in which locking holes 327 are formed on the vertical front surface 321b and vertical rear surface 321e constituting the cage 21, and a locking piece 337 having a locking claw 338 is formed on the bottom shell 35 constituting the bottom side of the compression connector 31. However, the member on which the locking holes and the locking piece with locking claws are formed according to the present invention may be either the cage or the compression connector. That is, the locking holes may be formed on the compression connector side, and the locking piece with locking claws may be formed on the cage side. Furthermore, the number of locking holes and locking claws according to the present invention can also be arbitrarily selected as long as there is one or more of each.

[0118] The configuration of the substrate-mounted connector 300 according to the fourth embodiment has been described above with reference to Figures 40 to 54. Next, the substrate-mounted connector 400 according to the fifth embodiment, which is another possible embodiment of the substrate-mounted connector according to the present invention, will be described with reference to Figures 55 to 69. In the following description, components that are the same as or similar to those described in the first to fourth embodiments above may be denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions may be omitted.

[0119] [Fifth Embodiment] Referring to Figures 55 to 69, the configuration of the substrate-mounted connector 400 according to the fifth embodiment will be described. As shown in Figures 55 to 57, the substrate-mounted connector 400 according to the fifth embodiment includes a substrate 11, a cage 21 installed on the upper surface of the substrate 11, and a compression connector 31 attached to the substrate 11 via the cage 21.

[0120] The circuit board 11 includes printed circuits (not shown), and is configured to transmit electrical signals and power to the compression connector 31 via a cage 21 attached to the top surface of the circuit board 11.

[0121] Furthermore, the substrate 11 has multiple mounting holes (not shown) (see Figure 57). Multiple legs 22 of the cage 21, which will be described later, are inserted into multiple mounting holes (not shown) (13 are assumed in the fifth embodiment), thereby fixing the cage 21 to the substrate 11.

[0122] As shown in Figures 67 to 69, the cage 21 is composed of two components: a cage base 421 and a cage cover 431.

[0123] The cage base 421 is a component formed by pressing and bending a flat metal plate, and is fixedly installed on the substrate 11. The cage base 421 according to the fifth embodiment has a vertical front surface 421b that constitutes the front side, and a vertical right side surface 421c and a vertical left side surface 421d formed by bending the left and right ends of the vertical front surface 421b toward the rear.

[0124] Multiple (13 in the fifth embodiment) leg portions 22 are formed on the lower end faces of the vertical front surface 421b, the vertical right side surface 421c, and the vertical left side surface 421d. These leg portions 22 are axial members that extend downward and are inserted into multiple mounting holes (not shown) formed in the substrate 11 to securely fix the substrate 11 to the cage 21. As for the method of fixing the leg portions 22 to the multiple mounting holes (not shown), secure fixing may be achieved by using solder or adhesive, or by bending the leg portions 22 after inserting them into the mounting holes (not shown).

[0125] On the other hand, the cage cover 431 is a member that is rotatably attached to the cage base 421. The cage cover 431 according to the fifth embodiment, as shown in Figure 69(b), has a cage top surface 431a that covers the upper side of the cage base 421 when the upper side of the cage base 421 is closed, and a cover right side surface 431c and a cover left side surface 431d formed by bending the left and right ends of the cage top surface 431a downwards.

[0126] On the right side surface 431c and the left side surface 431d of the cover, a rotating shaft 432, which is the rotating part of the present invention, is formed so that the cage cover 431 can rotate relative to the cage base 421, and the cage cover 431 is configured to rotate relative to the cage base 421 which is fixed to the substrate 11.

[0127] Furthermore, the top surface 431a of the cage has two locking holes 433 that receive locking claws 438 formed on the locking piece 437 of the compression connector 31, which will be described later. These two locking holes 433 are used to restrict the movement of the compression connector 31 relative to the cage 21 by allowing the locking claws 438 formed on the locking piece 437 of the compression connector 31 to fit into them. In other words, when the cage 21 and the substrate 11 house and install the compression connector 31, the locking holes 433 and the locking claws 438 work together to restrict the horizontal and vertical movement of the compression connector 31 relative to the cage 21.

[0128] As shown in Figure 69(b), when the cage cover 431 closes the upper side of the cage base 421, the area enclosed by the cage top surface 431a, the vertical front surface 421b, the vertical right side surface 421c, the vertical left side surface 421d, and the top surface of the substrate 11 is the area where the compression connector 31 is housed and installed. Therefore, the cage top surface 431a is the surface that, in cooperation with the substrate 11, receives the vertical contact reaction force exerted from the compression connector 31.

[0129] As shown in Figures 60 to 66, the compression connector 31 includes a contact 32 that contacts the substrate 11, a housing 33 to which the contact 32 is fixed, a cover shell 34 that covers the upper surface of the housing 33, and a bottom shell 35 that covers the lower surface of the housing 33.

[0130] Multiple contacts 32 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, particularly as shown in Figures 62 and 63.

[0131] Furthermore, each of the multiple contacts 32 is fixed to the housing 33, as shown in Figure 65, and the front end 32a of the contact 32 is curved to have a spring-elastic shape. In other words, when the compression connector 31 is not in contact with the substrate 11, the front end 32a of the contact 32 is positioned to protrude downward from the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 (as shown in Figure 65). Therefore, when the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 constituting the compression connector 31 is pressed against the top surface of the substrate 11 in the -Z direction, the front ends 32a of the multiple contacts 32 that were protruding downward from the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 are pushed down to the position of the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 while exerting a spring-elastic force against the top surface of the substrate 11. In other words, the front ends 32a of the multiple contacts 32 are subjected to a force in the +Z direction. Therefore, when the compression connector 31 is attached to the substrate 11, each of the multiple contacts 32 is pressed against the upper surface of the substrate 11 by the force due to spring elasticity, so that, for example, a printed circuit (not shown) placed on the upper surface of the substrate 11 and the multiple contacts 32 can maintain a stable and reliable connection state.

[0132] On the other hand, the rear end 32b of the contact 32 has a straight, linear shape. As shown in Figure 65, an electrical cable 36 is connected to the rear end 32b of the contact 32 by solder or the like. Therefore, external electrical signals and power are transmitted to the substrate 11 side via the electrical cable 36 and the contact 32.

[0133] Furthermore, in the compression connector 31 according to the fifth embodiment, one locking piece 437 is formed at the central position of the cover shell 34 constituting the compression connector 31. This locking piece 437 is a plate-shaped member that extends rearward from the central position of the upper surface of the cover shell 34, and furthermore, a total of two locking claws 438 are formed on the locking piece 437, one on the left and one on the right.

[0134] The locking claw 438 formed on the locking piece 437 is formed as a plate-shaped member bent upward, as shown in more detail in Figure 64, etc. This locking claw 438 is designed to fit into a locking hole 433 formed on the top surface 431a of the cage. More specifically, with the cage cover 431 open relative to the cage base 421 fixed to the substrate 11, the compression connector 31 is moved from above to below the cage base 421, and when the cage cover 431 is closed with the bottom surface of the compression connector 31 in contact with the top surface of the substrate 11, the locking claw 438 formed on the cover shell 34 of the compression connector 31 is configured to fit completely into the locking hole 433 formed on the top surface 431a of the cage cover 431.

[0135] Each of the two locking claws 438 formed on the locking piece 437 of the compression connector 31 fits into each of the two locking holes 433 formed on the cage top surface 431a of the cage cover 431, causing the locking claws 438 and the locking holes 433 to engage firmly with each other through friction. In this state, the compression connector 31, which is housed and installed within the area enclosed by the cage top surface 431a, the vertical front surface 421b, the vertical right side surface 421c, the vertical left side surface 421d, and the top surface of the substrate 11, is restricted from moving in the horizontal and vertical directions. In other words, the locking claws 438 and the locking holes 433 work together to function as a retainer, preventing the compression connector 31 from coming out of the cage 21.

[0136] In the fifth embodiment, the components constituting the compression connector 31 are such that the multiple contacts 32 are made of a conductive metal material, and the housing 33 that fixes the multiple contacts 32 is made of a non-conductive resin material or the like. Furthermore, the cover shell 34 that covers the upper surface of the housing 33 and the bottom shell 35 that covers the lower surface of the housing 33 are combined vertically with the housing 33 enclosed between them to form the outer shape of the compression connector 31. The cover shell 34 and the bottom shell 35 are arranged to enclose the outer circumference of the housing 33 in which the multiple contacts 32 are embedded, thereby protecting the housing 33 in which the multiple contacts 32 that receive power from the electrical cable 36 are embedded. This protection includes not only physical protection from the external environment, but also electrical and magnetic protection such as electromagnetic shielding.

[0137] The configuration of the substrate-mounted connector 400 according to the fifth embodiment has been described above. Next, the method for attaching and detaching the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11 with the cage 21 that constitutes the substrate-mounted connector 400 according to the fifth embodiment will be described.

[0138] When attaching the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11 with the cage 21, as shown in Figures 58 and 59, the compression connector 31 is moved vertically downward (-Z direction) from a state where the cage cover 431 is open relative to the cage base 421 fixed to the substrate 11. Then, the compression connector 31 is lowered into the area enclosed by the vertical front 421b, vertical right side 421c, and vertical left side 421d that constitute the cage base 421 and the top surface of the substrate 11, and pressed against the top surface of the substrate 11. As a result, the compression connector 31 exerts a vertical contact reaction force on the substrate 11 due to the multiple contacts 32 that it has. When the cage cover 431 is rotated from this state to close the upper side of the cage base 421, each of the two locking claws 438 formed on the locking piece 437 of the compression connector 31 fits into each of the two locking holes 433 formed on the cage top surface 431a of the cage cover 431. The locking claws 438 and the locking holes 433 fit together firmly while exerting frictional force on each other, so that the cage top surface 431a of the cage cover 431 presses down on the upper side of the compression connector 31 downwards (-Z direction). In this state, the compression connector 31, which is housed and installed in the area enclosed by the cage top surface 431a, the vertical front surface 421b, the vertical right side surface 421c, the vertical left side surface 421d, and the upper surface of the substrate 11, is restricted from moving in the horizontal and vertical directions. Furthermore, the vertical contact reaction force exerted by the multiple contacts 32 of the compression connector 31 is absorbed by the substrate 11 and the cage top surface 431a of the cage cover 431.

[0139] On the other hand, when removing the compression connector 31 from the circuit board 11 with the cage 21, the user pushes the rear end of the locking piece 437 downwards (-Z direction) toward the circuit board, thereby releasing the locking claw 438 that was fitted into the locking hole 433. From this released state, the user rotates the cage cover 431 in the opening direction, which opens the upper side of the cage base 421. With the top surface of the cage open in this way, the compression connector 31 can be moved vertically upwards (+Z direction) and smoothly removed from the circuit board 11 with the cage 21.

[0140] As described above, in the substrate-equipped connector 400 according to the fifth embodiment, the compression connector 31 is positioned toward the area enclosed by the vertical front surface 421b, vertical right side surface 421c, and vertical left side surface 421d constituting the cage base 421, and the top surface of the substrate 11. Then, by rotating the cage cover 431 to close the top surface of the cage base 421, each of the two locking claws 438 formed on the locking piece 437 of the compression connector 31 is fitted into each of the two locking holes 433 formed on the cage top surface 431a of the cage cover 431, thereby fixing the horizontal and vertical position of the compression connector 31 relative to the cage 21. At this time, the top surface of the substrate 11 and the cage top surface 431a of the cage cover 431 can cooperate to receive the contact reaction force, so that a stable fixed state of the compression connector 31 relative to the substrate 11 is maintained. In other words, according to the fifth embodiment of the substrate-equipped connector 400, reliable attachment can be achieved while improving the workability of attaching (fixing) the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11.

[0141] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the fifth embodiment above. Various modifications or improvements can be made to the fifth embodiment described above.

[0142] For example, in the fifth embodiment described above, an example was shown in which one locking piece 437 and two locking claws 438 are formed on the cover shell 34 constituting the compression connector 31, and two locking holes 433 are formed on the cage top surface 431a of the cage cover 431 constituting the cage 21. However, the member on which the locking holes and locking pieces with locking claws are formed according to the present invention may be either the cage or the compression connector. That is, the locking holes may be formed on the compression connector side, and the locking pieces with locking claws may be formed on the cage side. Furthermore, the number of locking holes and locking claws according to the present invention can also be arbitrarily selected as long as there is one or more of each.

[0143] The configuration of the board-mounted connector 400 according to the fifth embodiment has been described above with reference to Figures 55 to 69. Next, the board-mounted connector 500 according to the sixth embodiment, which is another possible embodiment of the board-mounted connector according to the present invention, will be described with reference to Figures 70 to 84. In the following description, components that are the same as or similar to those described in the first to fifth embodiments above may be denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions may be omitted.

[0144] [Sixth Embodiment] Referring to Figures 70 to 84, the configuration of the substrate-mounted connector 500 according to the sixth embodiment will be described. As shown in Figures 70 to 72, the substrate-mounted connector 500 according to the sixth embodiment includes a substrate 11, a cage 21 installed on the upper surface of the substrate 11, and a compression connector 31 attached to the substrate 11 via the cage 21.

[0145] The circuit board 11 includes printed circuits (not shown) and is configured to transmit electrical signals, power, etc., by electrically connecting to a compression connector 31 mounted on the top surface of the circuit board 11.

[0146] Furthermore, the substrate 11 has multiple mounting holes (not shown) and openings 13, particularly as shown in Figure 72. Multiple mounting holes (not shown) (twelve are assumed in the sixth embodiment) into which multiple legs 22 of the cage 21, which will be described later, are inserted, thereby fixing the cage 21 to the substrate 11. Multiple openings 13 (three in the sixth embodiment) are formed so that when the compression connector 31, which will be described later, is fixed to the substrate 11, the lower end of the locking piece 537 of the compression connector 31 fits into them, so that the presence of the openings 13 does not hinder the fixed connection between the substrate 11 and the compression connector 31.

[0147] As shown in Figures 83 and 84, the cage 21 is a component formed by bending a flat metal plate into a roughly U-shape. Twelve legs 22 are formed on the bottom side of the cage 21, extending downwards. As described above, the cage 21 is fixed to the substrate 11 by inserting the twelve legs 22 into a plurality of mounting holes (not shown) formed in the substrate 11.

[0148] Furthermore, the cage 21 has a total of three locking holes 523: one at the front and one each on the left and right sides. These three locking holes 523 are used to securely hold the compression connector 31.

[0149] As shown in Figures 76 to 82, the compression connector 31 includes a contact 32 that contacts the substrate 11, a housing 33 to which the contact 32 is fixed, a cover shell 34 that covers the upper surface of the housing 33, and a bottom shell 35 that covers the lower surface of the housing 33.

[0150] Multiple contacts 32 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, particularly as shown in Figures 78 and 79.

[0151] Furthermore, each of the multiple contacts 32 is fixed to the housing 33, as shown in Figure 81, and the front end 32a of the contact 32 is curved to have a spring-elastic shape. In other words, when the compression connector 31 is not in contact with the substrate 11, the front end 32a of the contact 32 is positioned to protrude downward from the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 (as shown in Figure 81). Therefore, when the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 constituting the compression connector 31 is pressed against the top surface of the substrate 11 in the -Z direction, the front ends 32a of the multiple contacts 32 that were protruding downward from the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 are pushed down to the position of the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 while exerting a spring-elastic force against the top surface of the substrate 11. In other words, the front ends 32a of the multiple contacts 32 are subjected to a force in the +Z direction. Therefore, when the compression connector 31 is attached to the substrate 11, each of the multiple contacts 32 is pressed against the upper surface of the substrate 11 by the force due to spring elasticity, so that, for example, a printed circuit (not shown) placed on the upper surface of the substrate 11 and the multiple contacts 32 can maintain a stable and reliable connection state.

[0152] On the other hand, the rear end 32b of the contact 32 has a straight, linear shape. As shown in Figure 81, an electrical cable 36 is connected to the rear end 32b of the contact 32 by solder or the like. Therefore, external electrical signals and power are transmitted to the substrate 11 side via the electrical cable 36 and the contact 32.

[0153] In the sixth embodiment, the components constituting the compression connector 31 are such that the multiple contacts 32 are made of a conductive metal material, and the housing 33 that fixes the multiple contacts 32 is made of a non-conductive resin material or the like. Furthermore, the cover shell 34 that covers the upper surface of the housing 33 and the bottom shell 35 that covers the lower surface of the housing 33 are combined vertically with the housing 33 enclosed between them to form the outer shape of the compression connector 31. The cover shell 34 and the bottom shell 35 are arranged to enclose the outer circumference of the housing 33 in which the multiple contacts 32 are embedded, thereby protecting the housing 33 in which the multiple contacts 32 that receive power from the electrical cable 36 are embedded. This protection includes not only physical protection from the external environment, but also electrical and magnetic protection such as electromagnetic shielding.

[0154] In the sixth embodiment, the cover shell 34 is equipped with three locking pieces 537, as shown in Figures 76 to 80. In the cover shell 34 of the sixth embodiment, one of the three locking pieces 537 is positioned in the front center of the cover shell 34, one is positioned towards the rear right side of the cover shell 34, and one is positioned towards the rear left side of the cover shell 34.

[0155] The three locking pieces 537, as shown particularly in Figures 79 and 80, have a shape that extends downward from the front and left and right sides of the cover shell 34, then bends into a roughly U-shape before rising upward. At the center of each of these rising sections, a locking claw 537a is formed, projecting outward. The lower side of this locking claw 537a is sloped, and the upper side is cubic (see Figures 79 to 82 in particular). In other words, the locking claw 537a is formed to gradually project upward from the lowest position on the surface of the locking piece 537. These three locking claws 537a are positioned corresponding to the formation locations of the three locking holes 523 formed in the cage 21 described above. Therefore, when the compression connector 31 is moved in the -Z direction and pressed against the cage 21 located on the upper surface of the substrate 11, the force due to the spring elasticity of the roughly U-shaped locking piece 537 and the action of the shape of the lower slope of the locking claw 537a push the locking piece 537 towards the cover shell 34, causing the locking claw 537a to gradually enter the locking hole 523. Finally, the outward pressing force due to the spring elasticity of the locking piece 537 acts, causing the locking claw 537a to be fully fitted into the locking hole 523, and the cover shell 34 engages with the cage 21. In this state, the compression connector 31 is fixedly held in place with respect to the substrate 11.

[0156] In the sixth embodiment, when the compression connector 31 is fixed and held to the substrate 11 with the cage 21, a force is applied to the cover shell 34 during connection. Furthermore, since the cover shell 34 is formed from a thin metal plate with a long shape in the left-right direction, it is preferable to have a structure that prevents deformation of the cover shell 34 itself when subjected to the force for connection and fixing. Therefore, in the cover shell 34 according to the sixth embodiment, multiple protrusions 534a extending in the left-right direction are formed on the upper surface. The shape of these multiple protrusions 534a helps to strengthen the deformation resistance of the cover shell 34 itself.

[0157] The configuration of the substrate-mounted connector 500 according to the sixth embodiment has been described above. Next, the method for attaching and detaching the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11 with the cage 21 that constitutes the substrate-mounted connector 500 according to the sixth embodiment will be described.

[0158] When attaching the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11 with the cage 21, as shown in Figures 73 to 75, the compression connector 31 is positioned above the cage 21 fixed to the substrate 11, and the compression connector 31 is moved vertically downward (in the -Z direction). Then, the compression connector 31 is lowered towards the inside of the cage 21, which is roughly U-shaped when viewed from above, and pressed against the top surface of the substrate 11. During this pressing operation, the locking claw 537a formed on the locking piece 537 contacts the inner wall surface of the cage 21 and pushes the inner wall surface outward as it descends. At this time, the force due to the spring elasticity of the roughly U-shaped locking piece 537 and the action of the shape of the lower slope of the locking claw 537a push the locking piece 537 downward towards the cover shell 34, causing the locking claw 537a to gradually enter the locking hole 523. Finally, the outward pressing force due to the spring elasticity of the locking piece 537 acts, causing the locking claw 537a to be fully fitted into the locking hole 523. This fully fitted state of the locking claw 537a in the locking hole 523 is reliably maintained by the spring elasticity of the locking piece 537 and the force due to material plasticity that tries to maintain its shape. As described above, the engagement of the cover shell 34 with respect to the cage 21 is easily achieved by pushing the compression connector 31 against the cage 21. In this state, the compression connector 31 is fixedly held against the substrate 11 with the cage 21 attached.

[0159] When the compression connector 31 is fixedly held to the substrate 11 with the cage 21, the compression connector 31 exerts a vertical contact reaction force on the substrate 11 due to the multiple contacts 32 it has. However, this contact reaction force is absorbed by the locking hole 523 and the locking claw 537a fitted into the locking hole 523 working together, so that the compression connector 31 is securely fixed to the substrate 11 with the cage 21.

[0160] On the other hand, when removing the compression connector 31 from the circuit board 11 with the cage 21, the user grasps the three locking pieces 537 and tilts them inward, which releases the locking claws 537a from the locking holes 523. Once this release state is created, the compression connector 31 can be moved vertically upward (+Z direction) to smoothly remove it from the circuit board 11 with the cage 21.

[0161] As described above, in the substrate-mounted connector 500 according to the sixth embodiment, a locking hole 523 is formed in the cage 21 to accommodate the locking claw 537a formed on the locking piece 537 of the compression connector 31, and the vertical position of the compression connector 31 relative to the cage 21 is fixed by fitting the locking claw 537a into the locking hole 523. At this time, the locking hole 523 and the locking claw 537a fitted into the locking hole 523 can cooperate to receive the contact reaction force, so that a stable fixed state of the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11 with the cage 21 is maintained. In other words, according to the substrate-mounted connector 500 according to the sixth embodiment, reliable attachment can be performed while improving the workability of attaching (fixing) the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11.

[0162] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the sixth embodiment above. Various modifications or improvements can be made to the sixth embodiment described above.

[0163] For example, in the sixth embodiment described above, three locking pieces 537 are provided on the cover shell 34 constituting the compression connector 31, and one locking claw 537a is formed on each of the three locking pieces 537, for a total of three locking claws 537a. In addition, three locking holes 523 are formed in the cage 21 to correspond to the positions where the three locking claws 537a are formed. When these three sets of locking claws 537a and locking holes 523 are engaged, a stable fixing state of the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11 with the cage 21 is achieved. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the form exemplified in the sixth embodiment, and there only needs to be one or more sets of locking claws and locking holes in the present invention. In other words, in the present invention, the number of locking pieces on which the locking claws are formed and the number of locking holes can be arbitrarily changed.

[0164] Furthermore, for example, in the sixth embodiment described above, a configuration was shown in which a locking hole 523 is formed in the cage 21 and a locking piece 537 having a locking claw 537a is formed in the cover shell 34 constituting the compression connector 31. However, in the present invention, a locking piece having a locking claw may be formed in the cage and a locking hole may be formed in the compression connector. In other words, in the present invention, the arrangement positions of the locking piece with the locking claw and the locking hole can be arbitrarily changed.

[0165] The configuration of the board-mounted connector 500 according to the sixth embodiment has been described above with reference to Figures 70 to 84. Next, the board-mounted connector 600 according to the seventh embodiment, which is another possible embodiment of the board-mounted connector according to the present invention, will be described with reference to Figures 85 to 97. In the following description, components that are the same as or similar to those described in the first to sixth embodiments above may be denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions may be omitted.

[0166] [Seventh Embodiment] Referring to Figures 85 to 97, the configuration of the substrate-mounted connector 600 according to the seventh embodiment will be described. As shown in Figures 85 to 87, the substrate-mounted connector 600 according to the seventh embodiment includes a substrate 11, a cage 21 installed on the upper surface of the substrate 11, and a compression connector 31 attached to the substrate 11 via the cage 21.

[0167] The circuit board 11 includes printed circuits (not shown), and is configured to transmit electrical signals and power to the compression connector 31 via a cage 21 attached to the top surface of the circuit board 11.

[0168] Furthermore, the substrate 11 has multiple mounting holes (not shown) (see Figure 87). Multiple legs 22 of the cage 21, which will be described later, are inserted into the multiple mounting holes (not shown), which are assumed to be 13 in the seventh embodiment, thereby fixing the cage 21 to the substrate 11.

[0169] The cage 21 according to the seventh embodiment is composed of two members, a cage base 621 and a cage cover 631, as shown in Figures 95 to 97.

[0170] The cage base 621 has a plurality of legs 22 (13 in the seventh embodiment). These legs 22 are axial members that extend downward from the bottom surface of the cage base 621 and are inserted into a plurality of mounting holes (not shown) formed in the substrate 11, thereby ensuring secure fixation between the substrate 11 and the cage base 621. The method of fixing the legs 22 to the plurality of mounting holes (not shown) may be to use solder or adhesive, or to bend the legs 22 after inserting them into the mounting holes (not shown) to ensure secure fixation.

[0171] The cage cover 631 is installed on the cage base 621, which is fixed to the circuit board 11, via three mounting shafts 611, and rotates relative to the cage base 621 while being fixed in place. When the cage cover 631 is open relative to the cage base 621 (see state in Figure 97(a)), the compression connector 31, which will be described later, can be installed on and removed from the circuit board 11. When the cage cover 631 is closed relative to the cage base 621 (see state in Figure 97(b)), the compression connector 31 can be stored and installed in the area enclosed by the cage cover 631, the cage base 621, and the upper surface of the circuit board 11.

[0172] Furthermore, multiple (six in the seventh embodiment) compression springs 633, which are curved in the direction of the substrate 11 and have spring properties, are formed on the cage top surface 631a of the cage cover 631. When the cage cover 631 is open, that is, when no external force is applied to the compression springs 633, the curved portion of each compression spring 633 protrudes from the cage top surface 631a. When the compression connector 31 is housed in the cage base 621 fixed to the substrate 11, and the cage cover 631 is closed from that state, the six compression springs 633 press the top surface 34a of the cover shell 34, which constitutes the upper side of the compression connector 31, toward the substrate 11. Furthermore, since the six compression springs 633 of the cage 21 in the seventh embodiment are formed in a left-right direction on the top surface 631a of the cage, they can press against the top surface 34a of the cover shell 34 that constitutes the upper side of the compression connector 31, which will be described later, over its entire surface.

[0173] Furthermore, two locking holes 637 are formed at the left and right ends of the cage cover 631, one on each side. On the other hand, two locking claws 625 are formed at the left and right ends of the cage base 621, one on each side of the spring-loaded locking piece 624, which secures the cage cover 631 to the cage base 621 by fitting into the locking holes 637 formed in the cage cover 631. These two locking holes 637 and the locking claws 625 formed on the locking piece 624 are configured such that when the cage cover 631 is closed to the cage base 621, the locking claws 625 fit into the locking holes 637 at two different positions.

[0174] Furthermore, as shown in more detail in Figures 96 and 97(a), the locking claw 625 has an external shape with a sloped surface, and is formed to have a wedge shape with slopes that gradually protrude inward to the left and right from the top to the bottom. The wedge shape of the locking claw 625 is designed not to hinder the insertion operation when inserting the locking claw 625 into the locking hole 637, and once the locking claw 625 is fitted into the locking hole 637, it functions as a retainer to prevent the locking claw 625 from coming out of the locking hole 637.

[0175] As shown in Figures 90 to 94, the compression connector 31 includes a contact 32 that contacts the substrate 11, a housing 33 to which the contact 32 is fixed, a cover shell 34 that covers the upper surface of the housing 33, and a bottom shell 35 that covers the lower surface of the housing 33.

[0176] Multiple contacts 32 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, as shown in Figures 91 and 92.

[0177] Furthermore, each of the multiple contacts 32 is fixed to the housing 33, as shown in Figure 94, and the front end 32a of the contact 32 is curved to have a spring-elastic shape. In other words, when the compression connector 31 is not in contact with the substrate 11, the front end 32a of the contact 32 is positioned to protrude downward from the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 (as shown in Figure 94). Therefore, when the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 constituting the compression connector 31 is pressed against the top surface of the substrate 11 in the -Z direction, the front ends 32a of the multiple contacts 32 that were protruding downward from the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 are pushed down to the position of the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 while exerting a spring-elastic force against the top surface of the substrate 11. In other words, the front ends 32a of the multiple contacts 32 are subjected to a force in the +Z direction. Therefore, when the compression connector 31 is attached to the substrate 11, each of the multiple contacts 32 is pressed against the upper surface of the substrate 11 by the force due to spring elasticity, so that, for example, a printed circuit (not shown) placed on the upper surface of the substrate 11 and the multiple contacts 32 can maintain a stable and reliable connection state.

[0178] On the other hand, the rear end 32b of the contact 32 has a straight, linear shape. As shown in Figure 94, an electrical cable 36 is connected to the rear end 32b of the contact 32 by solder or the like. Therefore, external electrical signals and power are transmitted to the substrate 11 side via the electrical cable 36 and the contact 32.

[0179] In the seventh embodiment, the components constituting the compression connector 31 are such that the multiple contacts 32 are made of a conductive metal material, and the housing 33 that fixes the multiple contacts 32 is made of a non-conductive resin material or the like. Furthermore, the cover shell 34 that covers the upper surface of the housing 33 and the bottom shell 35 that covers the lower surface of the housing 33 are combined vertically with the housing 33 enclosed between them to form the outer shape of the compression connector 31. The cover shell 34 and the bottom shell 35 are arranged to enclose the outer circumference of the housing 33 in which the multiple contacts 32 are embedded, thereby protecting the housing 33 in which the multiple contacts 32 that receive power from the electrical cable 36 are embedded. This protection includes not only physical protection from the external environment, but also electrical and magnetic protection such as electromagnetic shielding.

[0180] The configuration of the substrate-mounted connector 600 according to the seventh embodiment has been described above. Next, the method for attaching and detaching the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11 with the cage 21 that constitutes the substrate-mounted connector 600 according to the seventh embodiment will be described.

[0181] When attaching the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11 with the cage 21, the compression connector 31 is moved vertically downward (-Z direction) from the state shown in Figures 88 and 89, that is, the state in which the cage cover 631 is open relative to the cage base 621. After positioning the compression connector 31 at the position of the cage base 621, the cage cover 631 is rotated to close the top surface of the cage base 621 fixed to the substrate 11. At this time, the rotational movement of the cage cover 631 also rotates the two lock holes 637, and each of them receives the two lock claws 625. When the lock claws 625 enter the lock holes 637, the closing operation of the cage cover 631 relative to the cage base 621 is completed, and the compression connector 31 is housed in the area enclosed by the cage cover 631, the cage base 621, and the top surface of the substrate 11.

[0182] When the compression connector 31 is housed within the area enclosed by the cage cover 631, the cage base 621, and the upper surface of the substrate 11, the six compression springs 633 formed on the cage top surface 631a of the cage cover 631 exert a force based on spring elasticity downward (in the -Z direction). As a result, the six compression springs 633 press the top surface 34a of the cover shell 34, which constitutes the upper side of the compression connector 31, toward the substrate 11.

[0183] Furthermore, at this time, the compression connector 31 inserted into the substrate 11 with the cage 21 exerts a vertical contact reaction force on the substrate 11 due to the multiple contacts 32 of the compression connector 31. However, the vertical contact reaction force exerted by the multiple contacts 32 is offset by the force based on the spring elasticity of the six compression springs 633, and the cage 21 housing the compression connector 31, in particular, the cage top surface 631a of the cage cover 631 that constitutes the upper surface of the cage 21, thus maintaining a stable fixed state of the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11.

[0184] In the seventh embodiment, the six compression springs 633 of the cage cover 631 are formed in a left-right direction on the top surface 631a of the cage, and this arrangement is in the same direction as the arrangement of the multiple contacts 32. Therefore, the six compression springs 633 can exert a force based on spring elasticity evenly in response to the contact reaction force exerted by the multiple contacts 32, so that the top surface 34a of the cover shell 34 that constitutes the upper side of the compression connector 31 can be suitably pressed over its entire surface.

[0185] Furthermore, the contact reaction force described above is ultimately absorbed by the cage base 621 fixed to the upper surface of the substrate 11, the locking claw 625 formed on the locking piece 624 of the cage base 621, and the cage cover 631 fixed through the locking hole 637 into which the locking claw 625 fits. This ensures that the compression connector 31 is securely fixed to the substrate 11 with the cage 21.

[0186] On the other hand, when removing the compression connector 31 from the substrate 11 with the cage 21, the user uses a special tool to bend the locking piece 624 of the cage base 621 outwards to the left and right, thereby releasing the locking claw 625 from the locking hole 637. By achieving this release state, the cage cover 631 is released from the constraint on the cage base 621. Then, the cage cover 631 is rotated to open the top surface of the cage base 621 fixed to the substrate 11. In other words, by opening the cage cover 631 relative to the cage base 621 (see the state in Figure 97(a)), the compression connector 31 can be removed as shown in Figures 88 and 89.

[0187] As described above, the substrate-equipped connector 600 according to the seventh embodiment has a cage cover 631 that rotates relative to a cage base 621 fixed to the substrate 11, and a locking claw 625 of a locking piece 624 formed on the cage base 621 fits into a locking hole 637 formed in the cage cover 631, thereby securely fixing the compression connector 31 placed in the area enclosed by the cage cover 631, the cage base 621 and the upper surface of the substrate 11. In addition, the cage cover 631 has a plurality of pressure springs 633 formed in the same direction as the alignment of the contacts 32 that press the top surface 34a of the cover shell 34 toward the substrate 11, so when the compression connector 31 is inserted and installed in the area enclosed by the cage cover 631 and the cage base 621 that constitute the cage 21 and the upper surface of the substrate 11, the pressure springs 633 can press the entire top surface 34a of the cover shell 34 that constitutes the upper side of the compression connector 31 toward the substrate 11. Therefore, according to the seventh embodiment of the substrate-mounted connector 600, a stable fixed state of the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11 is maintained. In other words, according to the seventh embodiment of the substrate-mounted connector 600, reliable attachment can be performed while improving the workability of attaching (fixing) the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11.

[0188] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the seventh embodiment above. Various modifications or improvements can be made to the seventh embodiment described above.

[0189] For example, in the seventh embodiment described above, an example was shown in which six compression springs 633 are formed on the cage cover 631 that constitutes the cage 21. However, regarding the number of compression springs according to the present invention, any number of springs, one or more, can be selected.

[0190] For example, in the seventh embodiment described above, two locking holes 637 are formed, one each at the left and right ends of the cage top surface 631a constituting the cage cover 631, and two locking pieces 624 having locking claws 625 are formed, one each at the left and right ends of the cage base 621. However, the formation positions of the locking holes and the locking pieces having locking claws according to the present invention may be reversed. That is, the locking pieces having locking claws may be formed on the cage cover side, and the locking holes may be formed on the cage base side. Furthermore, the number of locking holes and locking pieces having locking claws according to the present invention can also be arbitrarily selected as long as there is one or more of each.

[0191] The configuration of the board-mounted connector 600 according to the seventh embodiment has been described above with reference to Figures 85 to 97. Next, the board-mounted connector 700 according to the eighth embodiment, which is another possible embodiment of the board-mounted connector according to the present invention, will be described with reference to Figures 98 to 112. In the following description, components that are the same as or similar to those described in the first to seventh embodiments above may be denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions may be omitted.

[0192] [Eighth Embodiment] Referring to Figures 98 to 112, the configuration of the substrate-mounted connector 700 according to the eighth embodiment will be described. As shown in Figures 98 to 100, the substrate-mounted connector 700 according to the eighth embodiment includes a substrate 11, a cage 21 installed on the upper surface of the substrate 11, and a compression connector 31 attached to the substrate 11 via the cage 21.

[0193] The circuit board 11 includes printed circuits (not shown) and is configured to transmit electrical signals, power, etc., by electrically connecting to a compression connector 31 mounted on the top surface of the circuit board 11.

[0194] Furthermore, the substrate 11 has multiple mounting holes (not shown), particularly as shown in Figure 100. Multiple mounting holes (13 are assumed in the eighth embodiment) (not shown) into which multiple legs 22 of the cage 21, which will be described later, are inserted, thereby fixing the cage 21 to the substrate 11.

[0195] As shown in Figures 110 and 111, the cage 21 is a component formed by bending a flat metal plate into a roughly U-shape. Thirteen legs 22 are formed on the bottom side of the cage 21, extending downwards. As described above, the cage 21 is fixed to the substrate 11 by inserting the thirteen legs 22 into a plurality of mounting holes (not shown) formed in the substrate 11.

[0196] Furthermore, the cage 21 has a total of five locking holes 725, 727: three at the front and one on each side. The three locking holes 725 at the front and the two locking holes 727, one on each side, are used to securely hold the compression connector 31.

[0197] As shown in Figures 103 to 109, the compression connector 31 includes a contact 32 that contacts the substrate 11, a housing 33 to which the contact 32 is fixed, a cover shell 34 that covers the upper surface of the housing 33, and a bottom shell 35 that covers the lower surface of the housing 33.

[0198] Multiple contacts 32 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, particularly as shown in Figures 104 and 105.

[0199] Furthermore, each of the multiple contacts 32 is fixed to the housing 33, as shown in Figure 108, and the front end 32a of the contact 32 is curved to have a spring-elastic shape. In other words, when the compression connector 31 is not in contact with the substrate 11, the front end 32a of the contact 32 is positioned to protrude downward from the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 (as shown in Figure 108). Therefore, when the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 constituting the compression connector 31 is pressed against the top surface of the substrate 11 in the -Z direction, the front ends 32a of the multiple contacts 32 that were protruding downward from the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 are pushed down to the position of the bottom surface of the bottom shell 35 while exerting a spring-elastic force against the top surface of the substrate 11. In other words, the front ends 32a of the multiple contacts 32 are subjected to a force in the +Z direction. Therefore, when the compression connector 31 is attached to the substrate 11, each of the multiple contacts 32 is pressed against the upper surface of the substrate 11 by the force due to spring elasticity, so that, for example, a printed circuit (not shown) placed on the upper surface of the substrate 11 and the multiple contacts 32 can maintain a stable and reliable connection state.

[0200] On the other hand, the rear end 32b of the contact 32 has a straight, linear shape. As shown in Figure 108, an electrical cable 36 is connected to the rear end 32b of the contact 32 by solder or the like. Therefore, external electrical signals and power are transmitted to the substrate 11 side via the electrical cable 36 and the contact 32.

[0201] In the eighth embodiment, the components constituting the compression connector 31 are such that the multiple contacts 32 are made of a conductive metal material, and the housing 33 that fixes the multiple contacts 32 is made of a non-conductive resin material or the like. Furthermore, the cover shell 34 that covers the upper surface of the housing 33 and the bottom shell 35 that covers the lower surface of the housing 33 are combined vertically with the housing 33 enclosed between them to form the outer shape of the compression connector 31. The cover shell 34 and the bottom shell 35 are arranged to enclose the outer circumference of the housing 33 in which the multiple contacts 32 are embedded, thereby protecting the housing 33 in which the multiple contacts 32 that receive power from the electrical cable 36 are embedded. This protection includes not only physical protection from the external environment, but also electrical and magnetic protection such as electromagnetic shielding.

[0202] In the eighth embodiment, the cover shell 34 has one locking piece 735 formed on the top, as shown in Figures 103 to 109, and two locking pieces 737 formed on each of the left and right sides.

[0203] One locking piece 735 positioned on top has a roughly inverted J-shape in side view, as shown particularly in Figures 108 and 109, where it bends in a roughly U-shape from the rear of the upper surface of the cover shell 34 further rearward, and then extends forward. Three locking claws 735a are formed at the tip of the forward-extending piece, protruding outward. These three locking claws 735a are curved so that the front side slopes slightly downward (see Figures 103, 106, 108, and 109 in particular). These three locking claws 735a are positioned to correspond to the formation locations of the three locking holes 725 formed on the front side of the cage 21 described above. Therefore, when the compression connector 31 is slid in the first direction, the +X direction, toward the cage 21 located on the upper surface of the substrate 11, the force due to the spring elasticity of the locking piece 735, which is bent into a roughly inverted J shape when viewed from the side, and the action of the downwardly curved shape of the locking claw 735a push the locking piece 735 toward the substrate 11, causing the locking claw 735a to gradually enter the locking hole 725. Finally, the upward pressing force due to the spring elasticity of the locking piece 735 and the frictional force exerted by the locking claw 735a working together with the locking hole 725 act together, causing the locking claw 735a to be fully fitted into the locking hole 725.

[0204] Furthermore, the two locking pieces 737 positioned on the left and right sides, as shown particularly in Figures 103 and 107, bend from the front side of the cover shell 34 to the left and right sides, and have a flat plate shape that extends from the front to the rear of the left and right sides. Nearly in the center of the locking piece 737 that extends to the rear, a locking claw 737a is formed that protrudes outward from each of the left and right sides. The front side of this locking claw 737a is sloped, and the rear side is cubic (see Figure 107 in particular). In other words, the locking claw 737a is formed to gradually protrude from the surface of the locking piece 737 from the foremost position toward the rear. These two locking claws 737a are positioned corresponding to the formation positions of the two locking holes 727 formed in the cage 21 described above. Therefore, when the compression connector 31 is slid in the first direction, the +X direction, toward the cage 21 located on the upper surface of the substrate 11, the force due to the spring elasticity of the flat shape of the locking piece 737 and the action of the shape of the front slope of the locking claw 737a push the locking piece 737 toward the cover shell 34, i.e., toward the inside, as the locking claw 737a gradually enters the locking hole 727. Finally, the outward pressing force due to the spring elasticity exerted by the locking piece 737 acts, causing the locking claw 737a to be fully fitted into the locking hole 727, thereby achieving engagement of the cover shell 34 with the cage 21. In this state, where the three locking claws 735a are fitted into the three locking holes 725 and the two locking claws 737a are fitted into the two locking holes 727, the compression connector 31 is firmly fixed and held to the substrate 11.

[0205] In the eighth embodiment, when the compression connector 31 is fixed and held to the substrate 11 with the cage 21, a force is applied to the cover shell 34 during connection. In particular, since the lock piece 735 positioned above the cover shell 34 is formed from a thin metal plate having a long shape in the left-right direction, it is preferable to have a structure that prevents deformation of the lock piece 735 itself when subjected to a force for connection and fixing. Therefore, in the lock piece 735 according to the eighth embodiment, a single protrusion 735b extending in the left-right direction is formed on the upper surface. The shape effect of this single protrusion 735b strengthens the deformation of the lock piece 735 itself and maintains a state in which the lock piece 735 can appropriately exert force due to spring elasticity.

[0206] The configuration of the substrate-mounted connector 700 according to the eighth embodiment has been described above. Next, the method for attaching and detaching the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11 with the cage 21 that constitutes the substrate-mounted connector 700 according to the eighth embodiment will be described.

[0207] When attaching the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11 with the cage 21, the compression connector 31 is positioned diagonally above and behind the substrate 11 with the cage 21, as shown in Figure 112(a). From this position, the compression connector 31 is moved vertically downward (-Z direction), which is the third direction, to the position shown in Figure 112(b).

[0208] Then, the compression connector 31 is slid inward toward the inside of the cage 21, which is roughly U-shaped when viewed from above, that is, toward the first direction, forward (+X direction). During this sliding movement, the compression connector 31 is kept pressed against the upper surface of the circuit board 11. During this downward (-Z direction) pressing motion and forward (+X direction) sliding motion, on the front side of the cover shell 34, the force due to the spring elasticity of the lock piece 735, which is bent into a roughly inverted J shape when viewed from the side, and the action of the downward-curving shape of the lock claw 735a push the lock piece 735 towards the substrate 11, causing the lock claw 735a to gradually enter the lock hole 725. Finally, the upward pressing force due to the spring elasticity of the lock piece 735 and the frictional force exerted by the lock claw 735a working together with the lock hole 725 act together, causing the lock claw 735a to be fully fitted into the lock hole 725. Simultaneously, on the left and right sides of the cover shell 34, the force due to the spring elasticity of the flat shape of the locking piece 737 and the action of the shape of the front slope of the locking claw 737a push the locking piece 737 toward the cover shell 34, i.e., toward the inside, causing the locking claw 737a to gradually enter the locking hole 727. Finally, the outward pressing force due to the spring elasticity exerted by the locking piece 737 causes the locking claw 737a to be fully fitted into the locking hole 727. The state in which the locking claws 735a and 737a are fully fitted into the locking holes 725 and 727 is reliably maintained by the frictional force exerted by the locking holes 725 and 727 and the locking claws 735a and 737a working together, as well as the force due to the spring elasticity of the locking pieces 735 and 737 and the force due to material plasticity that tries to maintain their shape. As described above, the engagement of the cover shell 34 with the cage 21 can be easily achieved by pressing the compression connector 31 against the cage 21. In this state, the compression connector 31 is firmly fixed and held to the substrate 11 with the cage 21 attached.

[0209] When the compression connector 31 is fixedly held to the substrate 11 with the cage 21, the compression connector 31 exerts a vertical contact reaction force on the substrate 11 due to the multiple contacts 32 it has. However, this contact reaction force is absorbed by the locking holes 725, 727 and the locking claws 735a, 737a fitted into the locking holes 725, 727 working together, so that the compression connector 31 is securely fixed to the substrate 11 with the cage 21.

[0210] On the other hand, when removing the compression connector 31 from the circuit board 11 with the cage 21, the user pushes down on one of the upper locking pieces 735, tilting it downwards, and pushes inward on the two locking pieces 737 located on the left and right sides, tilting them inward. This releases the locking claws 735a and 737a from the locking holes 725 and 727. After creating this released state, the compression connector 31 is slid in the first direction, the rearward direction (-X direction) (state shown in Figure 112(b)), and then moved vertically in the third direction, the upward direction (+Z direction) (state shown in Figure 112(a)), allowing the compression connector 31 to be smoothly removed from the circuit board 11 with the cage 21.

[0211] As described above, in the substrate-mounted connector 700 according to the eighth embodiment, locking holes 725 and 727 are formed in the cage 21 to accommodate the locking claws 735a and 737a formed on the locking pieces 735 and 737 of the compression connector 31, and the horizontal and vertical position of the compression connector 31 is fixed to the cage 21 by fitting the locking claws 735a and 737a into the locking holes 725 and 727. At this time, the locking holes 725 and 727 and the locking claws 735a and 737a fitted into the locking holes 725 and 727 can cooperate to receive the contact reaction force, so that a stable fixed state of the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11 with the cage 21 is maintained. In other words, according to the substrate-mounted connector 700 according to the eighth embodiment, reliable attachment can be performed while improving the workability of attaching (fixing) the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11.

[0212] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the eighth embodiment above. Various modifications or improvements can be made to the eighth embodiment described above.

[0213] For example, in the eighth embodiment described above, three locking pieces 735, 737 are provided on the cover shell 34 constituting the compression connector 31, and three locking claws 735a are formed on one upper locking piece 735, and two locking claws 737a are formed on each of the two left and right side locking pieces 737. Furthermore, three locking holes 725 and two locking holes 727 are formed on the cage 21 to correspond to the formation positions of the three locking claws 735a and the two locking claws 737a. When these five sets of locking claws 735a, 737a and locking holes 725, 727 are engaged, a stable fixing state of the compression connector 31 to the substrate 11 with the cage 21 is achieved. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the form exemplified in the eighth embodiment, and there only needs to be one or more sets of locking claws and locking holes in the present invention, and furthermore, they may be formed in any position. In other words, in this invention, the number and position of the locking piece on which the locking claw is formed, as well as the number of locking holes, can be arbitrarily changed.

[0214] It is clear from the claims that such modified or improved forms may also fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0215] The above has described specific configuration examples of the connector with a substrate according to the present invention by showing the first to eighth embodiments. The connector with a substrate according to the present invention shown in the first to eighth embodiments is a connector with a substrate in which a compression type connector that presses against and connects to a connection object and the substrate are attached via a cage, and has a compression connector having a contact that contacts the substrate, a housing to which the contact is fixed, and a cover shell that covers the upper surface portion of the housing. The compression connector is inserted into a cage fixed to the substrate, and the compression connector or the cage is characterized in that a lock hole and a lock piece that enters the lock hole and fixes the position of the compression connector with respect to the cage are formed. And, in the connector with a substrate according to the present invention, the lock hole and the lock piece that enters the lock hole are fitting and fixing means based on a so-called latch mechanism, and the attachment (fixing) of the compression connector to the substrate with a cage can be performed firmly and simply. Thus, the connector with a substrate according to the present invention can exhibit an operational effect that could not be achieved by the prior art in the technical field of connectors.

Explanation of Signs

[0216] 10 Connector with a substrate (of the first embodiment) 100 Connector with a substrate (of the second embodiment) 200 Connector with a substrate (of the third embodiment) 300 Connector with a substrate (of the fourth embodiment) 400 Connector with a substrate (of the fifth embodiment) 500 Connector with a substrate (of the sixth embodiment) 600 Connector with a substrate (of the seventh embodiment) 700 Connector with a substrate (of the eighth embodiment) 11 Substrate 13 Opening 21 Cage 21a Top surface of the cage 21b Vertical front surface (vertical surface) 21c Vertical right side surface (vertical surface) 21d Vertical left side (vertical surface) 22 Leg 23 Pressing spring 24 Lock piece 31 Compression connector (compression type connector) 32 Contact 32a Front end 32b Rear end 33 Housing 34 Cover shell 34a Top surface (of the cover shell) 35 Bottom shell 36 Electric cable 37 Lock hole 121 Cage base 127 Lock hole 131 Cage cover 131a Cage top surface 133 Pressing spring 134 Lock piece [[ID=4 ]]223 Lock hole 237 Lock piece 238 Lock claw 321a Cage bottom surface (bottom surface) 321b Vertical front surface (vertical surface) S321c Vertical right side (vertical surface) 321d Vertical left side (vertical surface) 321e Vertical rear surface (vertical surface) 326 Contact storage hole (hole) 327 Lock hole 337 Lock piece 338 Lock claw 421 Cage base 421b Vertical front surface (vertical surface) 421c Vertical right side (vertical surface) 421d Vertical left side (vertical surface) 431 Cage cover 431a Cage top surface o431c Cover right side 431d Cover left side 432 Rotation axis (rotation part) 433 Lock hole 437 Rock fragments 438 Locking claw 523 lock holes 534a Convex part 537 lock fragments 537a Locking claw 611 Mounting shaft 621 Cage Base 624 lock fragments 625 Locking claw 631 Cage cover 631a Cage top 633 Press it down 637 Lock hole 725 lock holes 727 Lock holes 735 Rock Pieces 735a Locking claw 735b protrusion 737 Rock fragments 737a Locking claw

Claims

1. A connector with a circuit board, which attaches a compression-type connector that connects by pressing it against the object to be connected, to a circuit board via a cage, The compression connector has a contact that contacts the substrate, a housing to which the contact is fixed, and a cover shell that covers the upper surface of the housing. The compression connector is inserted into the cage fixed to the substrate, The compression connector or the cage includes: Lock hole and A locking piece is formed that enters the locking hole and fixes the position of the compression connector relative to the cage. The locking hole is formed in the cover shell of the compression connector, The cage has one or more compression springs that press the top surface of the cover shell toward the substrate, oriented in the same direction as the alignment of the contacts, and one or more locking pieces that enter into the locking holes formed in the cover shell and fix the horizontal position of the cage and the compression connector. The cage is made of a flat metal plate and has a cage top surface that forms the upper surface, and a vertical front, a vertical right side, and a vertical left side that are formed as vertical surfaces by being bent vertically from the front and left and right sides of the cage top surface. The aforementioned locking holes are formed at the left and right ends of the top surface of the cover shell, The connector with a substrate is characterized in that the locking piece has a slanted shape and is formed to be wedge-shaped with a slanted surface that gradually protrudes toward the substrate side from the open rear side of the cage toward the vertical front side.

2. A connector with a substrate, wherein a compression-type connector that connects by being pressed against an object to be connected and a substrate are attached via a cage, The compression connector has a contact that contacts the substrate, a housing to which the contact is fixed, and a cover shell that covers the upper surface of the housing. The compression connector is inserted into the cage fixed to the substrate, The compression connector or the cage includes: Lock hole and A locking piece is formed that enters the locking hole and fixes the position of the compression connector relative to the cage. The cage consists of two components: a cage base and a cage cover. The cage cover has one or more pressure springs that press the top surface of the cover shell toward the substrate, and these springs are oriented in the same direction as the alignment of the contacts. A connector with a substrate, characterized in that the cage cover rotates relative to the cage base which is fixed to the substrate, and has one or more springy locking pieces that enter into locking holes formed in the cage base to secure the cage cover to the cage base.

3. A connector with a substrate according to claim 1 or 2, The compression connector is a circuit board-mounted connector characterized by including a bottom shell that covers the lower surface of the housing.

Images